Published alongside the 50th anniversary of the murder of eastern Sydney publisher Juanita Nielsen, Views To Die For focusses on the 1970s urban warfare in Kings Cross and Woolloomooloo which represented a turning point for Sydney's future.
To find out more about the book, and to subscribe for a notification telling you when the book is published, please go to this link.
At this event, you'll hear from:
- The author, Mark Skelsey
- Journalist and activist Wendy Bacon, who played a key role in the Victoria St conflict and debate during the 1970s
- Andrew Jakubowicz, Professor of Sociology at the University of Technology Sydney, who as then chair of the Coalition of Resident Action Groups, took part in negotiations for new planning laws during the Victoria St conflict.
- Sue Weatherley, NSW branch president of the Planning Institute of Australia, who is playing an important present-day role in Sydney's urban planning debate.
The event will be an opportunity to hear more about the contents of the book, including: - The formation of Victoria St and Woolloomooloo in the 19th century
- The decline of these areas in the 20th century, along with the little-known role of Victoria St as a famous artist's colony in the 1950s and 60s
- The botched attempt by the NSW Government to comprehensively redevelop the areas in the late 1960s
- The subsequent street battles between developers and activists in Victoria St in the 1970s, which ultimately led to Nielsen's murder but also sparked major reforms and new laws in the area of heritage, affordable housing and public participation, and inspired action to block inner Sydney freeways and build new women's shelters.
The event's panel will examine both historic events and the debate over planning and housing affordability in Sydney today.
Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase.
PLEASE NOTE: While water and juice will be available (donations appreciated for this) lunch is not included
