The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia, cover 29 hectares of gardens and 51 hectares of surrounding parkland. Established in 1816, it is the oldest colonial botanic garden in Australia, attracting 4 million visitors annually. With historical significance dating back to 1788, the Gardens reflect changing landscape styles and serve as a popular public space.
Category: Cultural icon
Beulah and Sydney’s Urban Sprawl
Beulah estate, Sydney's urban sprawl and the Appin Road
Lost Campbelltown heritage
The lost built heritage of a country town on Sydney's urban fringe at Campbelltown
History is nice, but…
The value of history is more important now than almost at any other time in the past.
Westies, Bogans and Yobbos. What’s in a name?
The article explores regional identity in Sydney's Macarthur district, focusing on the communities of Campbelltown, Camden, and Picton. It discusses the strong local attachment to identity, which is challenged by perceptions of western Sydney as a cultural wasteland. Jeff McGill’s criticism of regional labeling sparked significant community response, revealing a conflict over identification and stereotypes. While Macarthur's regionalism reflects urban expansion, it struggles for acceptance amidst historical, cultural, and emotional ties that residents hold with their distinct localities.
Discover Camden’s Iconic Milk Bars and Cafes
Camden's milk bars, established by Australian-Greek immigrants in the Interwar period, significantly influenced local food culture. With Art Deco designs, these cafes blended American food trends with Australian cuisine, offering various refreshments and meals. They served as social hubs, fostering community connections and breaking down social barriers, with lasting cultural nostalgia today.
John Hawdon of Elderslie in a settler society
John Hawdon of Elderslie was part of the story of settler colonialism in New South Wales in the early 19th century.
The seaside holiday
Seaside holidays on the NSW South Coast has been a popular holiday spot for Camden families. This is the story of seaside holidays in the Wollongong area.
Governor Macquarie’s visit to the Cowpasture 1810
In November 1810, Governor Lachlan Macquarie (1762-1824) and Mrs Elizabeth Macquarie visited the Cowpastures. On that occasion, the Governor and Elizabeth Macarthur met the Dharawal people.
Do or Die! Heritage and urban planning in the burbs
There is a loss of Edwardian farming heritage on the urban-rural interface on Sydney’s edge. There is a distinct lack appreciation amongst many contemporaries of simple robust country farm cottages.
