Where would we be without ice? It's not something we give much thought to these days but in fact, ice has played a surprisingly important role in creating the world as we know it today. As Lisa explained on 2SER breakfast this morning, a cold drink on a summer's day in the 19th century was a rare and beautiful thing. But before refrigeration came along (and even the mechanical production of ice was difficult), there was an international trade in frozen water  - natural ice. Ice first arrived in Sydney on 16 January 1839 after a voyage of four months and five days from Boston. About 250 tons arrived, although reportedly 400 tons was sent - the rest had melted on the journey. For six years (1839 to 1840 and 1853 to 1856) natural ice kept Sydneysiders and their food cool during summer, introducing them to such delights as 'iced sherry cobblers' and  'iced brandy smashers' as well as iced lemonade and soda water. It was extremely popular in 1855 when on one January day the thermometer hit 44 degrees Celsius. But for the savvy entrepreneurs who gambled their fortunes in a highly risky business, we would not have fridges and freezers in every home or readily available cool drinks and ice creams. Ice brought dramatic improvements in food hygiene, enabled fresh and frozen food exports and led to the development of new industries such as the thermal insulation used in today's buildings and appliances. When the ice trade with Boston suddenly stopped, it was not because of a fall in interest but because advances in technology permitted the manufacture of ice closer to home. From 1857, manufactured ice traveled to Sydney by ship from Melbourne but from 1864 the Sydney Ice Company's works, located on West Street, Darlinghurst, provided a local source, free from the vagaries of transport or weather. You can read more about Sydney's first ice in the Dictionary. And if you are enjoying Lisa's summer-themed Sydney stories as much as we are, don't forget to tune in again next week to hear her on 2SER breakfast with Tim Higgins at 107.3.