Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Mar 25th 2010, 5:01 am
#31
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Originally nr Blackpool now Canberra
Posts: 58
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Your right it hasn't got 'that' much and once you've seen it you've seen it..... we live about 12kms away so its we're far enough away to dodge the crap but close enough to go for the day. Will also be handy for when family & friends come to visit - ha ha ha!! They are just finishing a shopping centre near to us & its lovely great shops, walk ways, outside seating, cinema etc don't need the city.
We're here for 2yrs..... where next???
We're here for 2yrs..... where next???
Mar 25th 2010, 6:14 am
#32
has lost The Game
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Chippendale, Sydney
Posts: 8,735
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 don't mind Sydney, but I do think that it is a bit bland and superficial in places. You only have to enter a pub in the CBD to see - it's all about shiny chrome and tiles, nothing about developing character or atmosphere, more about extracting money from gamblers with pokie machines. Not that you should judge a city on the quality of its pubs, but it's a good place to start. Sadly I suspect it's down to the rules of the NSW Hotel Association - pubs have to have so many damn pokie machines to pay the exorbitant licencing fees that are required to sell alcohol.
Huge mega-club places like The Ivy don't help either - So much of Sydney pub culture seems to be about size - the bigger the better. I don't think it's just a Sydney thing either - I've been all across NSW, and pubs are the same just about everywhere. Just huge, cavernous spaces with no character or atmosphere. The handfull of bars in Civic in Canberra are much nicer than most Sydney pubs.
There are some standout places though - Surry Hills is really developing, and the Mayor's drive to encourage small bars seems to be gradually filtering through. Newtown and surrounds has successfully developed it's own alternative culture, and Balmain is great for a night out with a meal.
I probably sound very pub centric, which is probably true, but having a nice place to meet your friends and socialise in can really add to an evening out. I guess this is why most of Sydney CBD is deserted at the weekend.
S
Mar 25th 2010, 7:41 am
#33
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Sydney, previously Northern Ireland
Posts: 729
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Totally agree that once you take away the harbour, Sydney CBD is pretty lacking...just corporate, soulless sky scrapers. Melbourne really impressed me, though, very visitor friendly: street cafes, theatres, parks, museums, free tram in CBD, interesting wee boutiques and everything was so cheap compared to Sydney. Sydney's the style and Melbourne's the substance.
Mar 25th 2010, 7:42 am
#34
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,188
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
I don't mind Sydney, but I do think that it is a bit bland and superficial in places. You only have to enter a pub in the CBD to see - it's all about shiny chrome and tiles, nothing about developing character or atmosphere, more about extracting money from gamblers with pokie machines. Not that you should judge a city on the quality of its pubs, but it's a good place to start. Sadly I suspect it's down to the rules of the NSW Hotel Association - pubs have to have so many damn pokie machines to pay the exorbitant licencing fees that are required to sell alcohol.
Huge mega-club places like The Ivy don't help either - So much of Sydney pub culture seems to be about size - the bigger the better. I don't think it's just a Sydney thing either - I've been all across NSW, and pubs are the same just about everywhere. Just huge, cavernous spaces with no character or atmosphere. The handfull of bars in Civic in Canberra are much nicer than most Sydney pubs.
There are some standout places though - Surry Hills is really developing, and the Mayor's drive to encourage small bars seems to be gradually filtering through. Newtown and surrounds has successfully developed it's own alternative culture, and Balmain is great for a night out with a meal.
I probably sound very pub centric, which is probably true, but having a nice place to meet your friends and socialise in can really add to an evening out. I guess this is why most of Sydney CBD is deserted at the weekend.
S
Huge mega-club places like The Ivy don't help either - So much of Sydney pub culture seems to be about size - the bigger the better. I don't think it's just a Sydney thing either - I've been all across NSW, and pubs are the same just about everywhere. Just huge, cavernous spaces with no character or atmosphere. The handfull of bars in Civic in Canberra are much nicer than most Sydney pubs.
There are some standout places though - Surry Hills is really developing, and the Mayor's drive to encourage small bars seems to be gradually filtering through. Newtown and surrounds has successfully developed it's own alternative culture, and Balmain is great for a night out with a meal.
I probably sound very pub centric, which is probably true, but having a nice place to meet your friends and socialise in can really add to an evening out. I guess this is why most of Sydney CBD is deserted at the weekend.
S
Mar 25th 2010, 9:21 am
#35
Australia's Doorman
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: The Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia
Posts: 11,056
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
I don't know whether Melbourne's the swinging city the usual suspects make it out to be because I've never been there. And to be quite honest I don't have much inclination to go either. However I was asked by a (south african) workmate whether I preferred Sydney to London the other day. I found an old photo I had of the view out of my window and London and compared it to the view out of my office in Sydney ...
Mar 25th 2010, 11:07 am
#36
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
I've come to really appreciate Melbourne.
I haven't been to Melbourne so I'm not really the best person to comment, but friends have told me the climate is similar to the UK's.
My home town in the UK had beautiful architecture, good shopping, art festivals and cafe culture, so it sounds like I'd feel at home in Melbourne.
However, it was too bloody cold, damp and grey to enjoy it.
If Melbourne's climate really is like the UK's, I think it would be a great place for a hit of retail therapy and culture but not to live on a daily basis. There would've been little point in moving all the way here to replicate life back home.
Looking forward to a visit to Melb so I can be proved wrong !
My home town in the UK had beautiful architecture, good shopping, art festivals and cafe culture, so it sounds like I'd feel at home in Melbourne.
However, it was too bloody cold, damp and grey to enjoy it.
If Melbourne's climate really is like the UK's, I think it would be a great place for a hit of retail therapy and culture but not to live on a daily basis. There would've been little point in moving all the way here to replicate life back home.
Looking forward to a visit to Melb so I can be proved wrong !
What makes me laugh is the British people who perpetuate this myth!
Mar 25th 2010, 11:09 am
#37
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 691
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?
Mar 25th 2010, 11:26 am
#38
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 371
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
The problem with Sydney is that rich people are in charge of all planning and infrastructure decisions. Not so in the majority of Australia.
As a result no new substantial skyscrapers will be built as it will block multi-million $ views, no substantial development of the lower north shore to make high rise apartments as the NIMBYs will only allow mansions.
No interest in public transport as NIMBYs drive everywhere.
No interest in 'alternative' culture scenes as NIMBYs are conservative religious weirdos.
No interest in reducing cost of housing or general goods and services as NIMBYs want to keep prices high to keep the 'riff-raff' out.
I could go on.
Mar 25th 2010, 2:00 pm
#39
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,039
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Melbourne's laneway local designer shops are fun and the variety, style and ambience of the cafe's is great + very urban inner city suburbs which the trams just make so accessible...nice parks, state library, attractions and every local has a stadium built just for them and their friends I think?
Sydney has great things but I always feel I could do with a true local to take me around as various pockets to visit seem more spread out.
Sydney has great things but I always feel I could do with a true local to take me around as various pockets to visit seem more spread out.
Last edited by fish.01; Mar 25th 2010 at 2:06 pm.
Mar 25th 2010, 8:58 pm
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 14,284
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
To be honest, I tend to think that somebody who goes about saying things like:
"<insert name of capital city here> is a bit boring"
is showing a lack of imagination and it probably reflects more on them than on the city in question.
"<insert name of capital city here> is a bit boring"
is showing a lack of imagination and it probably reflects more on them than on the city in question.
Mar 25th 2010, 9:01 pm
#42
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,188
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Ahhhh the old "only boring people find places boring' defence. Not seen that old friend for a while.
Mar 25th 2010, 9:03 pm
#43
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 14,284
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
Well you said that not me. I just feel to dismiss an entire city as being "boring" is plain daft and the kind of thing I would expect to hear from a stroppy teenager. There must be something to do there.
Mar 25th 2010, 9:09 pm
#44
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,188
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
...and that's despite the fact that Sydney gets twice as much rainfall as London.
Mar 25th 2010, 9:20 pm
#45
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Sydney, bit boring, had its day?
I haven't been to Melbourne so I'm not really the best person to comment, but friends have told me the climate is similar to the UK's.
My home town in the UK had beautiful architecture, good shopping, art festivals and cafe culture, so it sounds like I'd feel at home in Melbourne.
However, it was too bloody cold, damp and grey to enjoy it.
If Melbourne's climate really is like the UK's, I think it would be a great place for a hit of retail therapy and culture but not to live on a daily basis. There would've been little point in moving all the way here to replicate life back home.
Looking forward to a visit to Melb so I can be proved wrong !
My home town in the UK had beautiful architecture, good shopping, art festivals and cafe culture, so it sounds like I'd feel at home in Melbourne.
However, it was too bloody cold, damp and grey to enjoy it.
If Melbourne's climate really is like the UK's, I think it would be a great place for a hit of retail therapy and culture but not to live on a daily basis. There would've been little point in moving all the way here to replicate life back home.
Looking forward to a visit to Melb so I can be proved wrong !
Visit Nice in the middle of winter and people will have the heating on.
