The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

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Arthur K Syer, Capturing everyday life on Sydney streets

Chinese labourers c1885-90 By Syer, Arthur K. From the collection of the State Library of New South Wales, a844023 / PXA 394/23, 1885 - 1890 Photography is an amazing medium. In certain frames it can give us a candid glimpse of…

Writing in Sydney

Portrait of Patrick White, Kings Cross, New South Wales 1980. By Yang, William. Contributed by National Library of Australia, nla.pic-vn4247784 The Sydney Writers’ Festival is underway, with a range of interesting events centred around storytelling and the nice tagline ‘it’s thinking…

Celebrating Sydney's volunteers

Volunteers from the Milperra district in response to an urgent broadcast appeal. work in blinding rain to sandbag a point in the Georges River where flooding was imminent, 16 June 1950. From the collection of the State Library of New…

Market Development Manager position

We're looking for a Market Development Manager! The Dictionary of Sydney is looking for a Market Development Manager for a short term four month contract, one day a week, starting in June 2015. The Market Development Manager will be responsible for establishing…

Book Review: Fractured Families

Fractured Families: Life on the margins in colonial New South Wales By Tanya Evans, Paperback, Apr 2015, UNSW Press, ISBN 9781742232577, 336pp Review by Dr Catie Gilchrist Fractured Families: Life on the Margins in Colonial New South Wales, by Tanya Evans. Published…

Dictionary of Sydney launches new First Fleet histories

The Supply at anchor, and the Sirius with her convoy coming into Botany Bay 20 January 1788 (detail) by Charles Gore, 1789 courtesy Dixson Galleries, State Library of New South Wales (a2060001 / DG V1A/8) Today I was pleased to help…

Creative responses to history

Seher Aydinlik, In Our Hearts (Postcards Series), 2015. Mixed media on paper. Image courtesy Peacock Gallery, Auburn Arts Studio. Anniversaries and events often prompt us to reflect on historical narratives. Not just what happened, but also the historical meanings of events,…

Anzac Day commemorations in Sydney

Legacy club members march past the Cenotaph 1930. By Hood, Sam. From the collection of the State Library of New South Wales, hood_05013 / DG ON4/5013 This Saturday will mark 100 years since Australian troops landed at the Gallipoli peninsula and…

Sydney's rainbow crossing

Rainbow Crossing, Oxford Street at Railway Square. By Hicks, Megan. Contributed by Megan Hicks Around this time in 2013 the business of the Rainbow Crossing on Oxford Street at Taylor Square came to a head. It followed a decision in 2012…

Pedestrian crossings in Sydney

Pedestrians crossing at corner of Market and Pitt streets 1929. Contributed by City of Sydney Archives 034213 We have two excellent articles on the Dictionary by writer and curator Megan Hicks: Reading the Roads and The Decorated Footpath. So we were…