The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.
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Letters of Complaint
2SER Breakfast listeners had a special treat today as Lisa talked about Letters of Complaint, just one of the projects she's been working on in her role as the City Historian at the City of Sydney. A cliff-face stair-way, Darlinghurst…
On the buses
'6 o'clock - Rush home' from 'The Hours of the Day in Sydney' , Illustrated Sydney News, 6 September 1879, p12 There’s been a lot of talk this week about Sydney’s buses and the NSW Government’s plans to privatise a section…
Bricks!
Brick chimneys St Peters 2008 by Paul Howard They are one of the most ubiquitous building materials in Sydney, so you probably haven't given them much thought, but the history of bricks in Sydney is actually rather fascinating! Listen…
The Australian Blondin: The dangerous adventures of Henri L’Estrange
Harry L'Estrange c1877 Pic: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW (a928408 / P1/987) There are some very colourful characters to be found in the Dictionary of Sydney. The showman, aeronaut and tightrope walker, Henri L’Estrange, wowed Sydney audiences in the 1870s…
Paul Irish, Hidden in Plain View: The Aboriginal People of Coastal Sydney
Paul Irish, Hidden in Plain View: The Aboriginal People of Coastal Sydney NewSouth Publishing, (May) 2017, ISBN 9781742235110, pp 1-149 pages, plus scholarly apparatus and Index, (pp. 150-207) Formats: Paperback, ebook, ePDF Walking along the foreshores of Rozelle Bay and Black Wattle Bay in Sydney’s…
The Art of the Scott Sisters
Helena Forde, nee Scott c1866 Pic: © Australian Museum Harriet Scott, Ash Island 1856 Pic: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW (a9971002 / MLMSS 1694, 23b) A few weeks ago Nicole talked about The Australian Museum which is 190 years old this…
David Stephens and Alison Broinowski (eds) The Honest History Book
David Stephens and Alison Broinowski (eds) The Honest History Book, NewSouth Publishing, 2017, pp1-344, ISBN 9781742235264 (paperback) ‘Australia is more than Anzac – and always has been.’[1] The Honest History Book, recently published by NewSouth, is a compelling, at times confronting and yet convincing…
Louis Nowra, Woolloomooloo, A Biography,
Louis Nowra, Woolloomooloo, A Biography New South Publishing, University of New South Wales, 2017, pp1-334, ISBN 9781742234953 (paperback) Local histories of suburbs or villages can be yawningly dull and somewhat parochial. What is of interest and deep meaning to the writer is…
Sydney's first theatre
A direct north general view of Sydney Cove c1794 Courtesy Dixson Galleries, State Library of New South Wales (a795001 / DG 60) When do you think Sydney got its first theatre? (Hint: it's earlier than you might think.) Listen now Sydney was…
Deborah Beck, Rayner Hoff: The Life of a Sculptor
Deborah Beck, Rayner Hoff: The Life of a Sculptor. NewSouth Publishing, NSW: 2017 272 pages. Ills. (B/W and sepia) ISBN: 9781742235325 (paperback); 978174228080 (ePDF). RRP A$49.99 As ANZAC day approaches on 25 April 2017, commemorative services will be held around Australia. Many…