One of the key aspects of the Dictionary of Sydney is the way that it aggregates and shares information about places and suburbs. Newtown is an inner city suburb that is represented in the Dictionary in lots of of different ways. Its mentioned in the history of Enmore and the history of drag and cross-dressing. Newtown has connections to the Jewish community and brickmakers. Murrawina Aboriginal-run childcare originated as a breakfast program for Aboriginal kids in Newtown. And there are some groovy images. Check out: Playing croquet and archery on the lawn at Enmore House and The toll bar on King Street at Newtown Station c.1870s. One of my favourite images and quotes is about Saturday night in Newtown in 1889. The illustration shows a bustling retail strip with trams, horse drawn omnibuses and thronging crowds. The Illustrated Sydney News wrote:

King street Newtown is always more or less busy, but on Saturday night it is seen at its best and brightest. Fancy a double line, more than a mile long, of brilliantly lighted shops; and 'side-walks' so inconveniently crowded, that it is often a matter of some difficulty to push one's way through the throng of people on business and on pleasure bent.

That was in 1889, but it equally applies to 2014. This quote opens a little walking tour that the Dictionary of Sydney is invovled with. The Dictionary partnered with the City of Sydney to provide extra content in their new walking tour app: Sydney Culture Walks. There are six history walks - including Newtown - and six public art walks currently in the app. You can choose a curated walk and then see points of interest along the way. Each site has image and text and then has a link to the Dictionary of Sydney, where you can find more images and stories. On the Newtown walk you can discover the history of Newtown Railway Station, the Newtown Bridge and the Hub. There were once produce markets in Newtown, and of course there is the civic precinct with Newtown Town Hall, the courthouse, fire station and school of arts. And did you know, the grand department store Marcus Clark and Co first started in Newtown? It's all there waiting to be discovered. Sydney Culture Walks is a great app. The Dictionary of Sydney is very proud to have contributed to the content in the app and making your discovery of Sydney's history that extra bit special. It is the ideal companion for discovering the city on foot - you can discover hidden laneways and new neighbourhoods while learning about Sydney's fascinating history and the stories behind the city's most loved public artworks. So get out there and explore Sydney's history. Download the Sydney Culture Walk app from Google Play or the Apple Store or visit http://www.sydneyculturewalksapp.com/ --- If you missed Lisa this morning on 2SER breakfast you can catch up with the podcast here. Lisa and Mitch talk about Sydney history every Wednesday morning at 8:20am on 107.3. Tune in!