Sydney in 1963

My first visit to Sydney was back in sixty three, yes 1963 !
The iconic scenes were in place, except the Opera House, the Architect and the City Hall were arguing about the scale of the interior, the accountants had got in on the act and Utzons brilliant grandiose concept was being watered down. The splendidly beautiful dome roof or sails were under construction and it was some time before Joan Sutherland sang, bringing tears to the eyes of those hardened Aussies.


The Harbour Bridge, built to last, reminded one of an age when designs were simple, big and strong like the confidence of the people behind it. Things were made to last and last.

This concept, at that time, was the basis of much of our understanding of value, a far cry from today's built in obsolescence.


The evidence of Colonial days lay in the dark, time worn buildings in the city centre, can be seen in many countries around the world where the British have been influential. 
In those days it was satisfying to be British. One felt history all around, our own history which had infected other peoples, their concepts towards law and order, towards the system of government and much else.


Sydney has its own Soho,  Kings Cross a rabbit warren of clubs and bars,prostitutes, and sleaze. You could buy anything you wanted in the Cross. LSD parties were the norm within certain circles. 


I saw the perils of that particular drug with friends hallucinating, loosing their minds and whilst I enjoyed the trip down to the pub to loose my inhibitions but never a total disconnect !!

The harbour was magical with the ferries bolting out of Circular Key to Manly for a visit to the beaches, to Curl Curl and De Why. 

The yachts heeling over on a stiff breeze, sailing under the Bridge to explore the nooks and crannies of this beautiful harbour, the banks lined with expensive suburban real estate.

The harbour and its tributaries are the salient geographical factor which govern the ability to move around this sprawling, ever expanding city. The suburban growth, each house and family having multiple cars, has a road system that creaks every morning and evening as commuters try to get to work.     

Overall, the beauty, the scale, the interlink with real estate and the water, the iconic landscape on the other side of the world, in an ideal climate with sunshine and a lifestyle that adores the open air. Very different from the "mother country"that spawned her.