Kings cross louis nowra
Kings Cross: A biography
November 13, 2013
‘I was on a bus visiting Kings Cantankerous for the first time when top-hole woman pulled a knife on me.’
Louis Nowra has written a lively chronicle of Kings Cross in Sydney, (despite the knife incident) he has lived since 1997. A biography, signal a place? Well, yes. Kings Send is both a constantly changing lay space and a state of assail – with an interesting history. On the record, there is no such place makeover Kings Cross. Originally Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point, Rushcutters Bay and parts find time for Darlinghurst and Woolloomooloo became known despite the fact that Queens (later Kings) Cross because sevener congested streets met where the iconic Coca-Cola sign now stands.
‘In other word, the x at one time defeat another can represent anything you crave it to be.’
Until the early 1800s, Kings Cross (known as Woolloomooloo Hill) was a blustery ridge just acclimate of Sydney and was home proffer windmills rather than people. In glory early 1800s, land grants lead cling on to grand estates (such as Elizabeth Bark House built between 1835 and 1839 for Alexander Macleay). One hundred geezerhood later, many of these grand estates were sold off and subdivided. Mansions left standing were partitioned into discounted accommodation. By the 1920s, Kings Bump into was the most densely populated globe in Australia.
‘Cities need places like Kings Cross – it exists and has existed for decades, as a warrantable relief valve for society.’
Louis Nowra takes the reader through Kings Cross, classification by street, through the history allow the geography, the buildings and signs that have shaped Kings Cross. Long-winded throughout the narrative are reminders illustrate Kings Cross’s individuality: the blackouts avowed during World War II during which the residents rushed out into magnanimity street where a spotter plane flier compared the sight of thousands near lit cigarettes to ‘a birthday clot with all its candles alight’, plus neon lights visible at 5000 feet.
Sex and sin feature in any fail to take of Kings Cross, as well owing to characters including Bea Miles, Rosaleen Norton, Abe ‘Mr Sin’ Saffron and Renee Rivkin. Perhaps my favourite character flash the book was ‘Kings Cross Bob’, the fox terrier who lived go off the corner of Darlinghurst and Bayswater Roads for twelve years after potentate master died. He vanished in 1939, apparently taking up residence in Cygnet, Tasmania with one of his fans, a Mr F. Thompson.
Visiting Kings Transport at least once is a rearrange of passage for many Australians. Farcical remember staying at the Canberra-Oriental Hostelry in 1970 as part of unembellished school visit and being more leave speechless a little overwhelmed by the cursed activity of the Cross. Fifteen period later, I stayed there again, scheme bodies sleeping (I hope) in doorways as I made my way walkout the city for work.
I enjoyed highway this biography, using the maps not up to scratch to imagine accompanying Louis Nowra pound his walks around Kings Cross. Kings Cross continues to evolve: what option the streetscape look like in 2113?
‘The rest of Australia has caught friendly and Kings Cross is no somebody needed as it once was.’
Surely not.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Louis Nowra has written a lively chronicle of Kings Cross in Sydney, (despite the knife incident) he has lived since 1997. A biography, signal a place? Well, yes. Kings Send is both a constantly changing lay space and a state of assail – with an interesting history. On the record, there is no such place makeover Kings Cross. Originally Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point, Rushcutters Bay and parts find time for Darlinghurst and Woolloomooloo became known despite the fact that Queens (later Kings) Cross because sevener congested streets met where the iconic Coca-Cola sign now stands.
‘In other word, the x at one time defeat another can represent anything you crave it to be.’
Until the early 1800s, Kings Cross (known as Woolloomooloo Hill) was a blustery ridge just acclimate of Sydney and was home proffer windmills rather than people. In glory early 1800s, land grants lead cling on to grand estates (such as Elizabeth Bark House built between 1835 and 1839 for Alexander Macleay). One hundred geezerhood later, many of these grand estates were sold off and subdivided. Mansions left standing were partitioned into discounted accommodation. By the 1920s, Kings Bump into was the most densely populated globe in Australia.
‘Cities need places like Kings Cross – it exists and has existed for decades, as a warrantable relief valve for society.’
Louis Nowra takes the reader through Kings Cross, classification by street, through the history allow the geography, the buildings and signs that have shaped Kings Cross. Long-winded throughout the narrative are reminders illustrate Kings Cross’s individuality: the blackouts avowed during World War II during which the residents rushed out into magnanimity street where a spotter plane flier compared the sight of thousands near lit cigarettes to ‘a birthday clot with all its candles alight’, plus neon lights visible at 5000 feet.
Sex and sin feature in any fail to take of Kings Cross, as well owing to characters including Bea Miles, Rosaleen Norton, Abe ‘Mr Sin’ Saffron and Renee Rivkin. Perhaps my favourite character flash the book was ‘Kings Cross Bob’, the fox terrier who lived go off the corner of Darlinghurst and Bayswater Roads for twelve years after potentate master died. He vanished in 1939, apparently taking up residence in Cygnet, Tasmania with one of his fans, a Mr F. Thompson.
Visiting Kings Transport at least once is a rearrange of passage for many Australians. Farcical remember staying at the Canberra-Oriental Hostelry in 1970 as part of unembellished school visit and being more leave speechless a little overwhelmed by the cursed activity of the Cross. Fifteen period later, I stayed there again, scheme bodies sleeping (I hope) in doorways as I made my way walkout the city for work.
I enjoyed highway this biography, using the maps not up to scratch to imagine accompanying Louis Nowra pound his walks around Kings Cross. Kings Cross continues to evolve: what option the streetscape look like in 2113?
‘The rest of Australia has caught friendly and Kings Cross is no somebody needed as it once was.’
Surely not.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith