Publisher's Synopsis
Leichhardt is a rich tapestry of an area just to the west of Sydney's CBD covering twleve square kilometres. Before the arrival of the British it was the territory of the Wangal but they were soon expelled from their traditional lands. The whole process of creating and peopling Leichhardt's streets is examined against a background of demographic change, improved methods of transportation and the availability of land and capital. The vibrant, close-knit communities in the schools, churches and pubs that sprang up while local government went about the task of laying down the basic urban structure of the municipality have been penetratingly analysed. The residential character of areas close to the city was increasingly threatened by the growing industrialisation of the early twentieth century and the enforced intimacy of work and social life bred a strong sense of place in the inhabitants of the new suburb, making for easy industrial and political organisation and the birth of Labor Leagues. As Leichhardt began to take shape, however, its social geography was undergoing a metamorphosis as its more affluent residents moved further out from the city.;The period from 1914 to 1918 was one of trial and tragedy as the First World War imposed financial hardship on the dependants of more than 900 local residents killed in the war. Balmain, Glebe, Leichhardt and Annandale each had its own distinct municipal identity for decades and, up to 1920, these local councils were dominated by self-employed businessmen. However as these near-city municipalities became more distinctly working-class in their identity and public life, the Labor Party became a force in local affairs. The Depression, World War II and rent control contributed to the decay of many of Sydney's inner-city housing schemes, but their residents continued to enjoy social and recreational activities, with the picture show, dance hall and sports field looming large in many lives. The optimism of post-war reconstruction was reflected in the Housing Commission's agenda of increasing public housing for low-income earners. Immigrants from Italy poured into the suburb of Leichhardt, giving it the distinctive ethnic identity it has today.;The real transformation in the residential character of Leichhardt began in the 1960s as the percentage of professional and other white-collar workers moving into the area rose and the number of blue-workers declined. Current trends suggest that the popularity of the inner-city suburbs with young professionals will continue. Local government has also changed, with 'open council' or participatory democracy, first introduced in 1971, now a feature of Leichhardt Municipality.
