Page 34 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

32  INTRODUCING SY DNEY

Modern Sydney

The postwar baby boom and mass immigration, initially from
Britain and Europe, created a suburban sprawl. The 1970s saw
rapid social transformation, with political unrest around the
Vietnam War, increased migration from Asia, the start of the
sky scraper boom and the opening of the Sydney Opera House
(see pp76–9). In the 1980s, Darling Harbour was redeveloped
as a cultural and entertainment hub for Australia’s bicentenary. Growth of the City
Sydney came of age as a global city after hosting the 2000 Today 1966
Olympics. As the population continues to grow, major high- Nighttime light projections
rise residential, commercial and parkland developments, such transfom major landmarks into an
as Barangaroo (see p134), are transforming the city. outdoor canvas of art during the
Vivid Sydney festival.

Green Bans
In the 1970s, the Builders’ Labourers
Federation placed work bans on develop-
ments in the inner city in order to preserve
the environment or cultural heritage and
protect low-cost housing from destruc tion
and redevelopment.

Vivid Sydney
From its humble beginnings in 2009 with just 25 light
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras installations around Circular Quay, Vivid Sydney has
This parade lasts for one night (see p51), grown into the world’s biggest festival of outdoor lights,
but the sur rounding international festival music and ideas. More than 80 installations across the
offers a month of art, sporting and city and 1,500 hours of talks and music events take
community events. place over three weeks from May to June (see p52).

1958 Qantas
1950 Petrol, Airlines embarks 1965 Conscription 1973 Official 1979 Sydney’s
butter and tea on its first re-introduced; first opening of Eastern Suburbs
rationing ends round-the- Johnny regular army battalion the Sydney Railway opens
world flights O’Keefe sent to Vietnam Opera House
1950 1960 1970 1980
1954 Elizabeth II is 1964 Rocker 1973 Patrick White 1978 Brett Whiteley
the first reigning 1959 Population Johnny O’Keefe, wins the Nobel wins Archibald Prize,
monarch to visit of Australia “The Wild One”, Prize for Literature Wynne Prize and
Australia reaches 10 million continues to top Sulman Prize for
the music charts three works of art
Patrick White

032-033_EW_Sydney_Version3.indd 32 29/05/17 12:15 pm