Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Mar 24th 2010, 8:25 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 49
Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
When i first came to Sydney it was all new and exciting, everyone was preparing for the olympics, new buildings going up everywhere, tunnels being dug linking the city together, the place had a real buzz about it.
I never really gave it much thought until recently when i came back from a trip to Melbourne -the first time i'd been back there in 12 yrs, and was blown away by how much it had changed. It seemed so much bigger and flasher than i had remembered with huge skyscrapers everywhere and i was really impressed by the whole pavement dining euro style culture, great shops and proper boozers.
Walking through Sydney today it just struck me as a bit old and tired, as if it had had its day 10 yrs ago and been left behind. If you took away the Harbour and beaches is there much else because IMO, as a city, its pretty crap! any thoughts?
I never really gave it much thought until recently when i came back from a trip to Melbourne -the first time i'd been back there in 12 yrs, and was blown away by how much it had changed. It seemed so much bigger and flasher than i had remembered with huge skyscrapers everywhere and i was really impressed by the whole pavement dining euro style culture, great shops and proper boozers.
Walking through Sydney today it just struck me as a bit old and tired, as if it had had its day 10 yrs ago and been left behind. If you took away the Harbour and beaches is there much else because IMO, as a city, its pretty crap! any thoughts?
Mar 24th 2010, 9:09 am
#2
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 8,913
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
When i first came to Sydney it was all new and exciting, everyone was preparing for the olympics, new buildings going up everywhere, tunnels being dug linking the city together, the place had a real buzz about it.
I never really gave it much thought until recently when i came back from a trip to Melbourne -the first time i'd been back there in 12 yrs, and was blown away by how much it had changed. It seemed so much bigger and flasher than i had remembered with huge skyscrapers everywhere and i was really impressed by the whole pavement dining euro style culture, great shops and proper boozers.
Walking through Sydney today it just struck me as a bit old and tired, as if it had had its day 10 yrs ago and been left behind. If you took away the Harbour and beaches is there much else because IMO, as a city, its pretty crap! any thoughts?
I never really gave it much thought until recently when i came back from a trip to Melbourne -the first time i'd been back there in 12 yrs, and was blown away by how much it had changed. It seemed so much bigger and flasher than i had remembered with huge skyscrapers everywhere and i was really impressed by the whole pavement dining euro style culture, great shops and proper boozers.
Walking through Sydney today it just struck me as a bit old and tired, as if it had had its day 10 yrs ago and been left behind. If you took away the Harbour and beaches is there much else because IMO, as a city, its pretty crap! any thoughts?
I was in Sydney 2008 for a month and felt really tall amongst all the Asian folk shuffling about the joint lol...
Mar 24th 2010, 9:59 am
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 371
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Sydney has been taken over by NIMBYs, who at all costs fight against ANY development of any kind.
The biggest example is the fight against the Barangaroo proposal. The NIMBYs want it scaled back so far that it will not be worthwhile for corporations to set up shop. But the NIMBYs want another big park that only tourists and rich elites will stroll through.
Lots of foreign corporations will not establish a presence in Sydney until there is sufficient corporate floor space. This means BIG skyscrapers - Exactly what NIMBYs fight against. This means a GIGANTIC lack of serious job creation. Leading to decay and increased poverty.
Oh, but the NIMBYs get a new park.....
The biggest example is the fight against the Barangaroo proposal. The NIMBYs want it scaled back so far that it will not be worthwhile for corporations to set up shop. But the NIMBYs want another big park that only tourists and rich elites will stroll through.
Lots of foreign corporations will not establish a presence in Sydney until there is sufficient corporate floor space. This means BIG skyscrapers - Exactly what NIMBYs fight against. This means a GIGANTIC lack of serious job creation. Leading to decay and increased poverty.
Oh, but the NIMBYs get a new park.....
Mar 24th 2010, 10:10 am
#7
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 11,948
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Mr Grumpy strikes again!
Mar 24th 2010, 10:12 am
#8
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 14,284
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
What is a NIMBY?
Mar 24th 2010, 10:17 am
#9
not sure...
Joined: May 2007
Location: out in the boonies
Posts: 1,537
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Not In My Back Yard - NIMBY
Mar 24th 2010, 10:36 am
#10
Account Closed
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,708
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Ever wonder why Sydneysiders come to Melbourne to do their clothes shopping?
Formula 1 is on in Melbourne this week. Another thing Sydney hasn't got!
Mar 24th 2010, 10:40 am
#11
Account Closed
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,708
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Lots of foreign corporations will not establish a presence in Sydney until there is sufficient corporate floor space. This means BIG skyscrapers - Exactly what NIMBYs fight against. This means a GIGANTIC lack of serious job creation. Leading to decay and increased poverty.
Mar 24th 2010, 8:58 pm
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: Lower North Shore Sydney (again)
Posts: 85
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
When i first came to Sydney it was all new and exciting, everyone was preparing for the olympics, new buildings going up everywhere, tunnels being dug linking the city together, the place had a real buzz about it.
I never really gave it much thought until recently when i came back from a trip to Melbourne -the first time i'd been back there in 12 yrs, and was blown away by how much it had changed. It seemed so much bigger and flasher than i had remembered with huge skyscrapers everywhere and i was really impressed by the whole pavement dining euro style culture, great shops and proper boozers.
Walking through Sydney today it just struck me as a bit old and tired, as if it had had its day 10 yrs ago and been left behind. If you took away the Harbour and beaches is there much else because IMO, as a city, its pretty crap! any thoughts?
I never really gave it much thought until recently when i came back from a trip to Melbourne -the first time i'd been back there in 12 yrs, and was blown away by how much it had changed. It seemed so much bigger and flasher than i had remembered with huge skyscrapers everywhere and i was really impressed by the whole pavement dining euro style culture, great shops and proper boozers.
Walking through Sydney today it just struck me as a bit old and tired, as if it had had its day 10 yrs ago and been left behind. If you took away the Harbour and beaches is there much else because IMO, as a city, its pretty crap! any thoughts?
However, he tends to back-track when we're picnicking by the harbour, swimming at the beach or taking a ferry for a Sunday day trip !
Mar 24th 2010, 9:20 pm
#13
Lets Rock !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 599
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Would totally agree...Sydney is very tired looking and grubby.
Great for a weekend, but would never consider living anywhere near the place.
I was amazed how grubby and run down the area around the Opera House was when i last visited, the place is iconic and is probably the most visited place in Australia !!!!!!
Great for a weekend, but would never consider living anywhere near the place.
I was amazed how grubby and run down the area around the Opera House was when i last visited, the place is iconic and is probably the most visited place in Australia !!!!!!
Mar 24th 2010, 9:33 pm
#15
Auntie Fa
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Seattle
Posts: 7,344
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
It's true, Sydney CBD has no soul. It's tired, it's rough - we had dinner last night on Sussex St and, on the way back to the car, had to cross the road to avoid a huge fight. This was about 9.30. (Last time I had an afterwork drink with a girlfriend in The Rocks, we had to jump out of the way as a bloke and bouncer came flying through the door, scrapping.)
It's also true that it's all about the water. I work in the CBD (well actually I don't, I work in a heritage building on the edge of it) but I don't live there or play there.
Shopping's crap in both Sydney and Melbourne, IMHO.
It's also true that it's all about the water. I work in the CBD (well actually I don't, I work in a heritage building on the edge of it) but I don't live there or play there.
Shopping's crap in both Sydney and Melbourne, IMHO.