www.youtube.com/@stpeterscooksriver1873/playlists Check out our play list.The videos are grouped such that, whenever possible those that are geographically close are together.
Anyone who has lived in suburban Sydney would have their own story to tell if only had the time to do so. That is why I am so grateful your organisation for sharing us the history most take for granted.
I have a particular obsession, in that I wonder why in literature, Sydney suburbs, from perhaps the turn of the twentieth century are so poorly represented. In The World’s Classics, Australian Short Stories , published 1951, I can only identify A.C. Headley’s ‘Two Women,’ as being set quite clearly in Newtown. The glass works and jam factory and the impoverished working class, are what says it is so. One story out of forty eight- the rest are from other states or country N.S.W. The stories are substantially written by those who had some sort of real work prior to writing. No sheltered existence in library, creative writing course or degree. Why did Miles Franklin avoid writing about Carlton, where she wrote ‘All That Swagger.’ Why can I only discover, Henry Lawson’s poem ‘Second Class,’ and wanting me to read it on Petersham Station? Or read a beautifully nostalgic vision of a past that was Erskineville in Michael Dransfield’s Pioneer Lane? Why aren’t there more novels like The Railwayman’s Wife by Ashley Hay, infinitely superior
Sadly I have been cut off for being too verbose, so I continue- to D. H. Lawrence in evoking Thirroul, Austinmere and Bulli? We all have nostalgic pictures in our head, none more so that Kenneth Slessor with his ‘Five Bells.’ The only problem with that is its setting in the city. My concerns are not something that the creator of the videos, shares with me, that person as you may well be aware is so much more rational.
I lived in Chippendale from about 1956 to 1972 (born in 1951). It was the worst slum in Australia. I used to tell my friends I lived in Redfern because Chippendale was a far worst suburb back then. I was a paperboy and I am glad that you have confirmed how many pubs were in that one a square kilometre suburb. Nobody believed me. I went to Whitefriars kindergarten and St Benedicts primary school. I was an altar boy. I happily escaped in 1972 and made a great life for myself. Yes it was a smelly, disgraceful suburb. Both parents worked in White Wings. My father was badly injured in an explosion there. Chippendale may be a great place to live now, but it was not in my time there.
What a delight to read your comment! It is our hope that there will be many more like yours. Part off our inspiration to create the Sydney Suburban History videos comes from reading The World’s Classics “Australian Short Stories,” and recognising that there was only one story, “Two Women”- by A.C. Headley that could be identified with a Sydney suburb. That suburb is working class Newtown of 1941. The glass works and the jam factory being the identifying features. Our hope was that given a backdrop of buildings, and streets, and names of people and the trades they followed, that someone might pick up a suburb and run with it, and create the missing short story, play, poem or film. So far after three years, it doesn’t appear to be happening. Yet we know there are people viewing our videos who I am sure are quite capable of creating such things. Indeed we feel blessed by having viewers, who in contrast with much of TH-cam are remarkably literate. That they are largely over the age of forty five may well speak volumes. Philip Larkin the poet no relation? Beautiful piece of verse “Church Going,” always brings back memories of my father and I cycling on “sit up and beg” bikes around the churches in the county I come from in England, and particularly that musty smell. Thanks one again for your comment. Have you any suggestions as to other suburbs we might do?
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 Thanks for this lovely response. No relation to Philip Larkin. It’s quite a common name in Ireland and my father (a hopeless fabulist, dead now) always maintained that Republican revolutionary leader James Larkin, was an ancestor. Not true. I think you have done Camperdown, correct? If not, do it. I remember as a child when they tore down most of the suburb to expand Sydney Uni. Not only was that criminal but the very dangerous half destroyed houses were left open for kids like us to explore. Interesting in days where people talk about inter generational poverty. My grandparents on both sides were dirt poor. On my mother’s side my grandmother squatted in derelict homes in Balmain (now that is a suburb worth covering). Some of my parent’s generation did well, but not mine of course. My generation has a professor, a CFO of a top 10 Australian company, two school principals etc etc. The treadmill can be overcome. I’m 71 by the way.
Another great vid... Lived in Redfern all through the 90s and still remember the smell of the hops from the brewery early in the morning whilst walking my dog in Prince Alfred Park... and all the pubs in the area... Keep up the good work.
Thanks for your comment. It’s comments like yours that make all the effort worth while. That our impression of the suburb, garnered from newspapers of the time and other historical documents, proved to be correct by your remarks, has made our day. Ever thought about writing a short story about your experience?
Thanks to all our viewers for their comments. You make our efforts worth while and we begin to see what you want.One of our viewers has used a few of our photographs to create a personal memory of a suburb, where he lived as a child. He remembers the smells, the school he attended, the former Town Hall with a plaque to the memory of a soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross, and the pub his father drank in.There are features and people unique to every Sydney suburb, but they are poorly represented in literature. All we can provide is a backdrop, the scenery and some names. You who have lived life itself within that suburb, is the one to tell the story.
I have watched every one of your delightful videos several times. I just love them. I grew up in Western Sydney but have lived in Eastern Suburbs and Inner West since then. (Currently in Dulwich Hill). The history of our great city is not talked about enough. I wander through the streets wondering what this building or that once was like, or what did the Cooks used to look like, what were the people like? You have answered so many of my questions whilst taking me on an even more wide and wonderful journey along the way. Thank you both so much. Your hard work is very much appreciated. Looking forward to the next one!
Thanks for your encouraging comments. I trust I will not disappoint you when I say we have no intention of writing about Sydney City, enough has been written about it already. I suspect it prevents a vibrant cultural life from developing in the suburbs around it. Our history videos do not have as many viewers as the suburban ones. Your view seems to point to an interest in the past, rather than a nostalgia that was part of your past? A little intrigued, as to why a video on Chippendale should prompt you to comment? I Imagine you have seen our walking tour video? We were active in doing free tours of those areas in the past, but Covid 19 like much else has placed such things on hold. Trust your comment will encourage others to view their suburb in much the same way as you do.
Oh I was not too clear I'm my comment. I meant I'm fascinated by Sydney's history in general, rather than the city centre. Most interested in the Inner West, as I have either lived in or socialised in these areas for 20 odd years now. Yes, my interest is not so nostalgic, more a fascination with what went before my time. What were the people like. What did it once look like. You always seem to satisfy my interest with your fascinating aspect. Thanks again folks.
I lived in Chippendale in the 1960's in a terrace in Cleveland Lane with my parents and three younger siblings. The laneways were our playgrounds as children. I went to Blackfriars Infants and Darlington Primary. Many people who lived in that area at that time were poor and came from dysfunctional families. A relative of my mother owned the boxing gym in Chippendale. As a child I would wander the streets of inner Sydney. Chippendale is a great place to live now but not when I was a resident there all those years ago. Scanlens chewing gum factory was not far from where we lived and local children, myself included, would quite often rummage through the factory waste bins looking for gum. Anyway, times change and so has Chippendale.
It’s comments like yours that makes the Creator and myself, feel we are doing something worthwhile. Can I encourage you to at least write a memoir of your time in Chippendale. We belong to historical societies, two of which publish local suburban histories and they sell remarkably well, which is something of a contrast with what appears to be a decline in reading amongst the younger generation. Your image of “rummaging through factory waste bins looking for gum,” deserves a bigger audience! Thanks for your contribution.
More than a little surprised that our video on Chippendale, has prompted so many positive replies, and am left wondering what part the suburb plays or played in their life? I see by your Christian name that you are female. The person who does the photos, research and presentation is also of your gender. From TH-cam Analytics we get the impression that most of our viewers are male and in the age bracket 55 upward, but how they arrive at this I do not know. We shall continue to simply provide Sydney Suburban Videos. Do look at my other replies on the Chippendale video. I have one on my particular hobby horse-the lack of stories, fictional, that have been written featuring Sydney Suburbs.
Thanks for your comments. You are the first who has made the comment that they are moving into a suburb. Some do live in their suburb, but we get the impression, that many delight in remembering either their childhood or their working life, spent in a suburb. They have brought to our attention, that manufacturing smells are one of the things that stick in their memory. Those days of course are past. We are always wondering how people find our Channel. Did you simply search for Chippendale and find it, or was there some other route? If you have a spare minute, whilst moving you may like to tell us.
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I found it just by looking up Chippendale history! The work you guys are putting into all yours videos are amazing though 😄
@@studentfilmed Thanks for your reply. It is of interest, that putting history after Chippendale gave you that result. Some of our videos are afloat amongst a great wash of real estate videos, but all said and done, given that the Sydney Suburban History is not something we should expect everyone to be interested in we think TH-cam do a good job in placing our videos, for as yet there are few that run a commentary as we do, so we don’t get viewers of them moving on to our channel. Some have truly worthwhile historic photographs but then only accompanied with a musical sound track. We are still waiting for someone to tell us they’ve written a short story or film script, based on the details in our videos. Thanks once again for keeping in touch. Trust that Covid hasn’t interfered with your plans.
I was born in Chippendale in the 80s moved out of home in my late teens lived in a few share houses in Chippo as many young adults do, lived abroad got married with a son and just got back and got my forever home, you guessed it, in Chippendale, I am Chippendale, thank you for this video, regards Dan.
I was almost in sentimental tears on reading your letter. I, that is the male voice on the video, am a Pom, coming out to Australia in 1974. I no longer wish to return, for I see how towns that I new which I new as modestly prosperous are now in decline. The town I was born in I can no longer recognise everything from some of the pubs and the large grass field where our collie used to unsuccessfully chase hares is now the envy of the county in that it has become a skate boarding park. Perhaps you could respond as to how things have changed since you first memories of Chippendale as a child. Thanks for your comment.
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 sorry to hear about the old country, with the towns in decline. I could write pages of my experiences in Chippendale as I’ve seen the almost unimaginable things in the 90s/ early 2000s, it’s like night and day these days. One thing has stayed the same and that’s it’s a very young population with many a student residing here as it’s such close proximity with Sydney uni,university of technology Sydney and Notre Dame university. Lots of young professionals have moved in as expected in such an inner city suburb, and still some old timers here that have known me since I was a toddler. It’s stigma of a high crime area has started to go, nostalgia plays a big part in my love for the place, this video I’ve shared with many old locals and we all found it fascinating so well done, please if you’re ever in the area I’d love to show you around and buy you a drink. I have a 100 stories I could tell. Thanks 🙏
Somehow overlooked your remark, our apologies. Camperdown as I suspect you know is up and running. The disappointment to us has been the number of views it has received, we put this down to the University and Hospital taking over the suburb. It is a strange phenomenon, We suspect such people don’t identify with the suburb, whilst others are happy to remember the factory they worked in.
I have left a much longer reply to your other comment, but I’m left wondering if it went through. Sadly after writing it I find that I have written several epistles to our viewers, harping on about what they should be doing. My apologies.
@@williamlarkin5045 we shall be waiting, with great expectations, or baited breath, to read your comments on Camperdown and Balmain. We spend a great deal of time mulling over what moves people to watch our videos. Suburbs which have been overwhelmed with University or Hospital buildings tend to have fewer viewers. What makes up the audience for Balmain remains to some degree a mystery. Is it the working class boys or the soy latte company? TH-cam tell us our audience is over forty five years, and four males to one of the opposite sex. Thanks for putting me right on the surname Larkin.
www.youtube.com/@stpeterscooksriver1873/playlists Check out our play list.The videos are grouped such that, whenever possible those that are geographically close are together.
Anyone who has lived in suburban Sydney would have their own story to tell if only had the time to do so.
That is why I am so grateful your organisation for sharing us the history most take for granted.
I have a particular obsession, in that I wonder why in literature, Sydney suburbs, from perhaps the turn of the twentieth century are so poorly represented. In The World’s Classics, Australian Short Stories , published 1951, I can only identify A.C. Headley’s ‘Two Women,’ as being set quite clearly in Newtown. The glass works and jam factory and the impoverished working class, are what says it is so. One story out of forty eight- the rest are from other states or country N.S.W. The stories are substantially written by those who had some sort of real work prior to writing. No sheltered existence in library, creative writing course or degree. Why did Miles Franklin avoid writing about Carlton, where she wrote ‘All That Swagger.’
Why can I only discover, Henry Lawson’s poem ‘Second Class,’ and wanting me to read it on Petersham Station? Or read a beautifully nostalgic vision of a past that was Erskineville in Michael Dransfield’s Pioneer Lane? Why aren’t there more novels like The Railwayman’s Wife by Ashley Hay, infinitely superior
Sadly I have been cut off for being too verbose, so I continue- to D. H. Lawrence in evoking Thirroul, Austinmere and Bulli? We all have nostalgic pictures in our head, none more so that Kenneth Slessor with his ‘Five Bells.’ The only problem with that is its setting in the city. My concerns are not something that the creator of the videos, shares with me, that person as you may well be aware is so much more rational.
I lived in Chippendale from about 1956 to 1972 (born in 1951). It was the worst slum in Australia. I used to tell my friends I lived in Redfern because Chippendale was a far worst suburb back then. I was a paperboy and I am glad that you have confirmed how many pubs were in that one a square kilometre suburb. Nobody believed me. I went to Whitefriars kindergarten and St Benedicts primary school. I was an altar boy. I happily escaped in 1972 and made a great life for myself. Yes it was a smelly, disgraceful suburb. Both parents worked in White Wings. My father was badly injured in an explosion there.
Chippendale may be a great place to live now, but it was not in my time there.
What a delight to read your comment! It is our hope that there will be many more like yours. Part off our inspiration to create the Sydney Suburban History videos comes from reading The World’s Classics “Australian Short Stories,” and recognising that there was only one story, “Two Women”- by A.C. Headley that could be identified with a Sydney suburb. That suburb is working class Newtown of 1941. The glass works and the jam factory being the identifying features. Our hope was that given a backdrop of buildings, and streets, and names of people and the trades they followed, that someone might pick up a suburb and run with it, and create the missing short story, play, poem or film. So far after three years, it doesn’t appear to be happening. Yet we know there are people viewing our videos who I am sure are quite capable of creating such things. Indeed we feel blessed by having viewers, who in contrast with much of TH-cam are remarkably literate. That they are largely over the age of forty five may well speak volumes. Philip Larkin the poet no relation? Beautiful piece of verse “Church Going,” always brings back memories of my father and I cycling on “sit up and beg” bikes around the churches in the county I come from in England, and particularly that musty smell. Thanks one again for your comment. Have you any suggestions as to other suburbs we might do?
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 Thanks for this lovely response. No relation to Philip Larkin. It’s quite a common name in Ireland and my father (a hopeless fabulist, dead now) always maintained that Republican revolutionary leader James Larkin, was an ancestor. Not true.
I think you have done Camperdown, correct? If not, do it. I remember as a child when they tore down most of the suburb to expand Sydney Uni. Not only was that criminal but the very dangerous half destroyed houses were left open for kids like us to explore.
Interesting in days where people talk about inter generational poverty. My grandparents on both sides were dirt poor. On my mother’s side my grandmother squatted in derelict homes in Balmain (now that is a suburb worth covering). Some of my parent’s generation did well, but not mine of course. My generation has a professor, a CFO of a top 10 Australian company, two school principals etc etc. The treadmill can be overcome.
I’m 71 by the way.
Another great vid...
Lived in Redfern all through the 90s and still remember the smell of the hops from the brewery early in the morning whilst walking my dog in Prince Alfred Park... and all the pubs in the area... Keep up the good work.
Thanks for your comment. It’s comments like yours that make all the effort worth while. That our impression of the suburb, garnered from newspapers of the time and other historical documents, proved to be correct by your remarks, has made our day. Ever thought about writing a short story about your experience?
Thanks to all our viewers for their comments. You make our efforts worth while and we begin to see what you want.One of our viewers has used a few of our photographs to create a personal memory of a suburb, where he lived as a child. He remembers the smells, the school he attended, the former Town Hall with a plaque to the memory of a soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross, and the pub his father drank in.There are features and people unique to every Sydney suburb, but they are poorly represented in literature.
All we can provide is a backdrop, the scenery and some names. You who have lived life itself within that suburb, is the one to tell the story.
I have watched every one of your delightful videos several times. I just love them. I grew up in Western Sydney but have lived in Eastern Suburbs and Inner West since then. (Currently in Dulwich Hill). The history of our great city is not talked about enough. I wander through the streets wondering what this building or that once was like, or what did the Cooks used to look like, what were the people like? You have answered so many of my questions whilst taking me on an even more wide and wonderful journey along the way. Thank you both so much. Your hard work is very much appreciated. Looking forward to the next one!
Thanks for your encouraging comments. I trust I will not disappoint you when I say we have no intention of writing about Sydney City, enough has been written about it already. I suspect it prevents a vibrant cultural life from developing in the suburbs around it. Our history videos do not have as many viewers as the suburban ones. Your view seems to point to an interest in the past, rather than a nostalgia that was part of your past? A little intrigued, as to why a video on Chippendale should prompt you to comment? I Imagine you have seen our walking tour video? We were active in doing free tours of those areas in the past, but Covid 19 like much else has placed such things on hold. Trust your comment will encourage others to view their suburb in much the same way as you do.
Oh I was not too clear I'm my comment. I meant I'm fascinated by Sydney's history in general, rather than the city centre. Most interested in the Inner West, as I have either lived in or socialised in these areas for 20 odd years now. Yes, my interest is not so nostalgic, more a fascination with what went before my time. What were the people like. What did it once look like. You always seem to satisfy my interest with your fascinating aspect. Thanks again folks.
Hopefully when Covid is over you start your walking tours again. I would be there with bells on!
I lived in Chippendale in the 1960's in a terrace in Cleveland Lane with my parents and three younger siblings. The laneways were our playgrounds as children. I went to Blackfriars Infants and Darlington Primary. Many people who lived in that area at that time were poor and came from dysfunctional families. A relative of my mother owned the boxing gym in Chippendale. As a child I would wander the streets of inner Sydney.
Chippendale is a great place to live now but not when I was a resident there all those years ago. Scanlens chewing gum factory was not far from where we lived and local children, myself included, would quite often rummage through the factory waste bins looking for gum. Anyway, times change and so has Chippendale.
It’s comments like yours that makes the Creator and myself, feel we are doing something worthwhile. Can I encourage you to at least write a memoir of your time in Chippendale. We belong to historical societies, two of which publish local suburban histories and they sell remarkably well, which is something of a contrast with what appears to be a decline in reading amongst the younger generation. Your image of “rummaging through factory waste bins looking for gum,” deserves a bigger audience! Thanks for your contribution.
Thank you. I really enjoy your videos. Fantastic photos , research and presentation.
More than a little surprised that our video on Chippendale, has prompted so many positive replies, and am left wondering what part the suburb plays or played in their life? I see by your Christian name that you are female. The person who does the photos, research and presentation is also of your gender. From TH-cam Analytics we get the impression that most of our viewers are male and in the age bracket 55 upward, but how they arrive at this I do not know. We shall continue to simply provide Sydney Suburban Videos. Do look at my other replies on the Chippendale video. I have one on my particular hobby horse-the lack of stories, fictional, that have been written featuring Sydney Suburbs.
Loved the vid. I’m moving to Chippendale soon!
Thanks for your comments. You are the first who has made the comment that they are moving into a suburb. Some do live in their suburb, but we get the impression, that many delight in remembering either their childhood or their working life, spent in a suburb. They have brought to our attention, that manufacturing smells are one of the things that stick in their memory. Those days of course are past. We are always wondering how people find our Channel. Did you simply search for Chippendale and find it, or was there some other route? If you have a spare minute, whilst moving you may like to tell us.
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I found it just by looking up Chippendale history! The work you guys are putting into all yours videos are amazing though 😄
@@studentfilmed Thanks for your reply. It is of interest, that putting history after Chippendale gave you that result. Some of our videos are afloat amongst a great wash of real estate videos, but all said and done, given that the Sydney Suburban History is not something we should expect everyone to be interested in we think TH-cam do a good job in placing our videos, for as yet there are few that run a commentary as we do, so we don’t get viewers of them moving on to our channel. Some have truly worthwhile historic photographs but then only accompanied with a musical sound track. We are still waiting for someone to tell us they’ve written a short story or film script, based on the details in our videos. Thanks once again for keeping in touch. Trust that Covid hasn’t interfered with your plans.
I was born in Chippendale in the 80s moved out of home in my late teens lived in a few share houses in Chippo as many young adults do, lived abroad got married with a son and just got back and got my forever home, you guessed it, in Chippendale, I am Chippendale, thank you for this video, regards Dan.
I was almost in sentimental tears on reading your letter. I, that is the male voice on the video, am a Pom, coming out to Australia in 1974. I no longer wish to return, for I see how towns that I new which I new as modestly prosperous are now in decline. The town I was born in I can no longer recognise everything from some of the pubs and the large grass field where our collie used to unsuccessfully chase hares is now the envy of the county in that it has become a skate boarding park. Perhaps you could respond as to how things have changed since you first memories of Chippendale as a child. Thanks for your comment.
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 sorry to hear about the old country, with the towns in decline.
I could write pages of my experiences in Chippendale as I’ve seen the almost unimaginable things in the 90s/ early 2000s, it’s like night and day these days.
One thing has stayed the same and that’s it’s a very young population with many a student residing here as it’s such close proximity with Sydney uni,university of technology Sydney and Notre Dame university. Lots of young professionals have moved in as expected in such an inner city suburb, and still some old timers here that have known me since I was a toddler. It’s stigma of a high crime area has started to go, nostalgia plays a big part in my love for the place, this video I’ve shared with many old locals and we all found it fascinating so well done, please if you’re ever in the area I’d love to show you around and buy you a drink. I have a 100 stories I could tell. Thanks 🙏
I'm very much looking forward to the Camperdown story
Somehow overlooked your remark, our apologies. Camperdown as I suspect you know is up and running. The disappointment to us has been the number of views it has received, we put this down to the University and Hospital taking over the suburb. It is a strange phenomenon, We suspect such people don’t identify with the suburb, whilst others are happy to remember the factory they worked in.
Great video
I have left a much longer reply to your other comment, but I’m left wondering if it went through. Sadly after writing it I find that I have written several epistles to our viewers, harping on about what they should be doing. My apologies.
@@stpeterscooksriver1873 I neglected to look at your previous videos. I have a lot to watch.
@@williamlarkin5045 we shall be waiting, with great expectations, or baited breath, to read your comments on Camperdown and Balmain. We spend a great deal of time mulling over what moves people to watch our videos. Suburbs which have been overwhelmed with University or Hospital buildings tend to have fewer viewers. What makes up the audience for Balmain remains to some degree a mystery. Is it the working class boys or the soy latte company? TH-cam tell us our audience is over forty five years, and four males to one of the opposite sex. Thanks for putting me right on the surname Larkin.