8. Sydney

Sited in a magnificent natural setting, the city of Sydney is characterised by its inner harbour and multitude of bays and inlets nestling in the estuary of the Parramatta River around Sydney Cove.

Now the capital of the State of New South Wales, it was originally founded as Port Jackson by Arthur Phillip sent out from Britain in 1788.

More often recognised by the Sydney Harbour Railway Bridge (the ‘coat hanger’) and the white sail like roof of the modern Sydney Opera House, designed by Utzon/Arup, on Bennelong Point, its active Darling Harbour and Circular Quay are prominent central features before the extenuating suburbs that stretch out southwards and across to Mosman and the northern shores.

Its characteristics were recognised by DH Lawrence in his visit there in the 1920’s, still an emerging city before these two newer engineering features were built in the ‘30s and ‘70’s respectively.

“(In which state of mind) they drove through the city, catching a glimpse from the top of a hill of the famous harbour spreading out with its many arms and legs. Or at least they saw one bay with warships and steamers lying between the houses and the wooded, bank-like shores, and they saw the centre of the harbour, and the opposite squat cliffs – the whole low wooded tableland reddened with suburbs and interrupted by the pale spaces of the many-lobed harbour. The sky had gone grey, and the low tableland into which the harbour intrudes squatted dark looking and monotonous and sad, as if lost on the face of the earth: the same Australian atmosphere, even here within the area of huge, restless, modern Sydney whose million inhabitants seemed to slip like fishes from one side of the harbour to another. Murdoch Street was an old sort of suburb, little squat bungalows with corrugated iron roofs, painted red. And there went the long street… the little square bungalows dot-dot-dot, close together and yet apart… each one fenced round with a square rail fence.”*

Now in the 21st century, the city has spread accordingly, as new infrastructure has been realised both road and rail plus enlargement and additional international airport.

The north-south axis crosses to North Sydney and connects via both the truss bridge and later tunnel, built during the ‘90’s, to Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) whilst the east-west axis is developing west to Strathfield, Lidcombe and beyond.

The realisation of the Western Sydney International Airport at Badgerys Creek is beginning to change outer development patterns and as the Metro is extended.

Notwithstanding this the centre of the city retains its urban charm, style and parks with its coastal features, bays and jagged inlets, ferries and water crossings and beaches.

Yet the threat of climate change is rising with the increased frequency of bush fires and in addition storm events and flooding in the region.

More specifically during the so-called ‘Black Summer’ of 2019-20, this was one of the most intense climatic periods in SE Australia and in the Greater Sydney Region.

As a result, much land was burnt, buildings destroyed and animal life lost, and the combined effects of the drought, heat and smoke were severe and caused great economic cost.

The issue that remains is policy driven, as how to best secure readiness and adequate response strategies in order to mitigate against and combat such future events in the situation of ongoing climate change.

*D.H. Lawrence – Kangaroo – London, 1923.