In his book, Sydney historian Trevor McAlister takes us on a series of tours throughout the metropolitan Sydney area. On each one he highlights a wealth of buildings and sites, giving us insights into the history of Australia’s first and largest city. Each tour takes a leisurely half-day to day to complete on foot. Most tours start and finish at a railway station or ferry wharf. Packed full of the things you might walk past every day without noticing, this is a catalogue of the largest and smallest, the oldest and the youngest, the unexpected and bizarre. Sometimes these details are indeed hidden, but each has a story to tell. Whether taking to the pavements or simply enjoying an armchair tour, the swathe of information in his book will fascinate any Sydneysider.
In his talk on Monday, Trevor will speak to us about Kings Cross. This tour takes in stories of the ‘colourful’ underworld of the past including Kate Leigh, Tilley Devine, Abe Saffron, Frank Theeman and Roger Rogerson. All proceeds from the sale of his book go to the Rotary Foundation.