Town Life in Australia
Apr 2nd 2006, 7:52 am
#1
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Town Life in Australia
by Richard Twopeny (1883)
Just picked this up from my local 2nd bookshop. Chapters like A Walk Around Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Furniture, Shopping, Houses, Food. You guys would love it!
He starts by saying how similar it all looks to the UK on first inspection; this would be before pre-Americanisation.
The bloke comments on how dowdily dressed Sydneysiders are, compared to Melbournians, although smarter than towns in the UK, how you can cook on 12d a week, he even mentions prices for a load of things. He talks about a time when Melbourne gets more attraction than Sydney. Lots of quotes about how "the young working class man in Australia is paid more than in the old country" and "the houses look well appointed on first inspection, but I find that they have been assembled in haste."
"Melbourne's protected market has more goods de luxe, but Sydney's free trade speaks volumes."
Quite a good read, and easy too.
Just picked this up from my local 2nd bookshop. Chapters like A Walk Around Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Furniture, Shopping, Houses, Food. You guys would love it!
He starts by saying how similar it all looks to the UK on first inspection; this would be before pre-Americanisation.
The bloke comments on how dowdily dressed Sydneysiders are, compared to Melbournians, although smarter than towns in the UK, how you can cook on 12d a week, he even mentions prices for a load of things. He talks about a time when Melbourne gets more attraction than Sydney. Lots of quotes about how "the young working class man in Australia is paid more than in the old country" and "the houses look well appointed on first inspection, but I find that they have been assembled in haste."
"Melbourne's protected market has more goods de luxe, but Sydney's free trade speaks volumes."
Quite a good read, and easy too.
Apr 2nd 2006, 8:00 am
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Town and Bush (1896)
Another one, by Nat Gould.
There are some great social and economic histories about Australia. The fact that the written history is only 200 hundred years seem to make it more credible for some reason.
This one has a quote " I don't recommend Collingwood. The citizens are as liable to leave you for dead" . The truth is still correct for Collingwood Football fans lol.
"300 pounds is the same as 500 pounds in Australia. I don't know the Englishman survives on his wage".
"Rent is high, but the price of meat makes up for it".
"The working class man seems to revel in his own importance".
"Melbourne, like Sydney, suffers the Chinese curse, as well as Larrikanism". lol.
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There are some great social and economic histories about Australia. The fact that the written history is only 200 hundred years seem to make it more credible for some reason.
This one has a quote " I don't recommend Collingwood. The citizens are as liable to leave you for dead" . The truth is still correct for Collingwood Football fans lol.
"300 pounds is the same as 500 pounds in Australia. I don't know the Englishman survives on his wage".
"Rent is high, but the price of meat makes up for it".
"The working class man seems to revel in his own importance".
"Melbourne, like Sydney, suffers the Chinese curse, as well as Larrikanism". lol.
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