Street Seen: A History of Oxford Street Sydney

Hard cover with dust jacket in excellent as new condition 324 pages

This text is the story of how Sydney's famous Oxford Street came to be built, the cultural and commercial uses to which it has been put, the people who have paraded on it and the very fabric of its buildings. The book presents a rich and textured account of Sydney life over nearly two centuries. It treats the history of Oxford Street chronologically, with each chapter organized around a particular theme. A major focus is on the people and how they lived and worked. The use of Oxford Street in public life, especially as a place for official and popular parades, is richly described and contributes to the telling of Australian history.

From European settlement to the end of the 20th century. A cultural history. Generously illustrated with b/w images and some colour plates. This book traces the fortunes of Oxford Street one of Sydney arteries. Built in 1811 as a route to the South Head signal station its Darlinghurst section evolved into a gay enclave and its Paddington section into a consumer's haven.