Make me a city

William Smart has designed some of Sydney’s most remarkable recent buildings, including Indigo Slam, Judith Neilson’s grand, curvaceous “habitable sculpture” in Chippendale, and Bundarra in Surry Hills. Would these amazing designs be possible without hand drawing, by hand, on paper? William Smart is a staunch defender of drawing, he joins Elizabeth Farrelly on The Sydneyist, [...]Read More... from DRAWING THE LINE

On this episode of The Sydneyist podcast Elizabeth Farrelly chats with former NSW planning minister,Dr Dr Rob Stokes, now CEO of The Faith Housing Alliance about power, politics, affordable housing and beauty. Plus local news tidbits about the changing face of our city. LISTEN UP, LISTEN IN! THE SYDNEYIST 6pm Thursday 21st May 2026 Eastside [...]Read More... from Make me a city

FACT OR FICTION?IS ARCHI-PORN A REAL THING? John Gollings is far and away Australia’s most celebrated architectural photographer. But he has never limited himself to architecture, nor hidden the fact that his images are artworks in themselves. What is the job? To tell the truth? Sell architecture? Or reveal something new about both? JOHN GOLLINGS [...]Read More... from John Gollings, Architectural Photographer

What makes a better street? Architect Sara Stace on how to change local streets. [...]Read More... from How to make better streets

Step inside Victoria Barracks Paddington on an exclusive tour with Elizabeth Farrelly and Major General Fergus McLachlan, uncovering 200 years of Sydney’s military history. A rare tour of Victoria Barracks Paddington and discover why this extraordinary Georgian military landmark is one of Sydney’s irreplaceable treasures. [...]Read More... from ANZAC DAY: VICTORIA BARRACKS TOUR

The native eels that throng in Sydney’s waterways, including the ponds of Centennial Park, the Botanic Gardens and Victoria Park, compete eagerly for any scrap of food. But did you also know that there comes a time in every eel’s life when it feels the call to, well, mate. Then, it slithers out of the [...]Read More... from The Secret sex life of Sydney’s Eels

How can it enrich your life? Patrick Franklyn is a landscape architect and academic who spends his spare moments planting what he calls the ‘paddocks’ of his Tamarama street. Trees, herbs, vegetables feed the locals but also create biodiversity corridors through out our city, supporting everything from owls to insects. How to get started? What [...]Read More... from Street gardening as a shared purpose

On this episode of The Sydneyist podcast we discuss urban heat. How hot is too hot? How does heat affect your body and what can we do about it? Elizabeth Farrelly spoke with Ollie Jay, Professor of Heat and Health at the University of Sydney to talk about what you can do to stay cool. [...]Read More... from Urban Heat and Health

ROOFTOP CITY Could Sydney save itself, solve affordability, generate density, combat climate change, maintain heritage and create a whole new way of living just by adding a storey or two on top? Warren Livesey thinks so, and his argument is compelling.  Livesey is founder of ARAD, the Association for Rooftop and Airspace Development with 15,000 members internationally and 75 rooftop developments [...]Read More... from Gentle Density

Does Sydney have theatres to spare? In this episode of The Sydneyist, host Elizabeth Farrelly sits down with investigative journalist and author Duncan McNab to discuss the cultural battle over saving the historic, Art Deco Metro-Minerva theatre in Sydney’s Potts Point. Originally opened in 1939, this prominent piece of Sydney’s architectural history faces an uncertain [...]Read More... from Murdering Minerva