The Bizarre Hidden History of Sydney | Tony Robinson's Time Walks | Absolute History

[@gaiagreen2690]

Tony is such a living legend! He has a unique talent to make any topic interesting, informative and entertaining. "I don't go to any place I can't spell."

[@r-robertson-d]

I adore Tony Robinson, whenever I'm stressed or anxious I but him on in the background. He gets genuinely happy prancing down streets with a balloon in his hand or making people re-eneact a historical shooting in their own house.

[@magicpyroninja]

I agree he's been very consistent throughout his career and the man's never worked a day in his life because he seems to love what he does

[@iainburgess8577]

Sir Tony Robinson seems to adore People, just as much as the subject matter of the piece, and has the amazing presentation and narrative capacity to share.

[@bretnielsen5502]

Sir Tony........... Your "Eternity" message brought a tear to my eye. as a presenter you are unsurpassed.

[@hyperbunnygirl101]

I love this man's enthusiasm for the content and history he presents. My favorite presenter without question.

[@cleverusername9369]

Tony, Dan Snow, and Richard Hammond are my favorite Brit presenters.

[@thermitebanana]

Omg - I met Tony when he was filming this! (Waited till the camera was off before saying hi) He's such a pleasant and curious guy. So weird that KZbin has recommended this specific episode to me.

[@whatamachine89]

They're watching... always watching 👽🤣

[@melissavancl_2090]

Love this. Tony is lovely. Loved how he continues the show thru all the tourist and his speech. Thank you.

[@jamesclark3119]

Great show. Brings back memories of when I lived at the Cross in the 60s and visited the pubs in the Loo. I went back 3 years ago and disappointed to see so many of the old buildings replaced with high-rise people boxes..

[@WMH-MUSIC]

Excellent subject matter and location Woolloomooloo rocks and Tony Robinson is the best historian to tell its story for sure! What a wonderful documentary hats off to you and your crew ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kindest regards Nigel WMH Team - Australia 2:03

[@ZootZinBootZ]

Fat tulip is sitting on my chair... My parents used to venture out for picnics in The Domain all summer long.. Swimming at the Boy Charlton pool & eating pies every summer... The joy to go and sit in her chair with the very same view Mrs Macquarie had , to go on and see my childhood memories mixed with the voice of my kid tv watching days , Tony you have been a long time hero type aspect of my life and it's still a family reference to your show when you have any appearance we have caught... Happy stuff indeed.

[@lewissmith350]

Tony Robinson is brilliant. Great style.

[@menagers]

How wonderful! I didn’t know Tony had done this programme before I had my own recent, similar walk in Wooloomooloo. It’s a lovely place.

[@ZestySea]

We’ve spent a few hours wandering around Woolloomooloo and love it. Interestingly a lot of the old architecture around Sydney was saved by the Union - the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) who took it upon themselves to protect some of the special parts Sydney including the Domain, the Rocks, Kings Cross and Kelly’s Bush from developers with an eye for quick and easy profits - known as Green Bans, starting a movement around the world

[@ZestySea]

Opps - watched the end of the video!! I only recently learned about the Green Bans and found them fascinating.

[@colkellahan6676]

For people who don't know Sir Tony Robinson is a walking legend please watch everything he has been involved with then you will understand how enormous this little fella is

[@destinyssister]

Tony is starting to convince me I want to go to Australia.

[@magicpyroninja]

Tony's speech on the soapbox needs to be played for all of Australia cuz they're going through some tough times and they need people to stand up

[@neddyladdy]

What will standing up do apart from Australians having their heads in the clouds?

[@lewissmith350]

​@@neddyladdyclouds are high.

[@MichaelTaylor-vw2ms]

“Tied up” many times at No2 Woolloomooloo many times in my career at sea loading for the UK and Europe. Wonderful memories and parties.

[@shoallasoala]

Here's how you remember how to spell Woolloomooloo - sheep, toilet, cow, toilet (wool, loo, moo, loo)

[@rockhopper88]

Incidentally an apt description of the suburb too 😂

[@oliverforrester-mount6921]

Thank you Sir Tony for showing a respectful representation of my home town. :)

[@urbansk8r231]

What fascinates me about video like this, is that I've wondered the streets of Sydney many times without a destination in mind- just let my curiosity take me wherever. It's very interesting to find out the history of where I've explored. It gives the places a whole new perspective. It makes me wonder what pockets of this City and it's a joining Suburbs still keep the history alive through architecture ... a plaque on a wall or statue etc. As the modern world washes away a bygone era. Like I didn't know about the soap box speakers as I'm not a local just a soul from out west. Or what other forms of free entertainment goes on that I'm unaware of. It piques my Curiosity even more.

[@OstblockLatina]

Well I'm truly happy there are none of those raving maniacs standing on top of soap boxes, screaming their lungs out to preach hatred in the park I go to in search for solitude, birds' singing and absence of people.

[@GenDischarges]

I want the statue of the street walker back! Thanks Tony!

[@violetdreams1799]

very enjoyable show! 😊

[@Dogwalkingmom22]

Always enjoy his shows! I guess I’ll have to get the Channel!

[@kellyhood7139]

Tony Robinson is my happy place!💖

[@glenchapman3899]

An interesting tidbit about Arthur Stace. I remember going into the city one morning about 15 years after he passed and the footpaths were littered with his distinctive "Eternity" sign. Only time I have ever heard of that happening. And one famous landmark missed in his wanderings is a round about called Gilligan's Island - famous for the single palm tree growing in the center of it.

[@apcolleen]

Tony can hold an audience.

[@rodgallagher5566]

Sydney,what a beautiful history, best city in the world!

[@Not_mera]

It would be great if the date of release was included in the description. Itd help add context and such

[@micaltoy824]

I love this channel ❤

[@ashleelarsen5002]

Ditto

[@jayfielding1333]

As an Australian, I understand there are two errors in this video. Firstly, the Rocks is the oldest part of Sydney. Secondly, Kate Leigh was arguably a more powerful crime figure and at the very least Tilly Devine's equal.

[@gloryglory5688]

He’s talking about Tilly being the most powerful around Dario & the Loo whereas Kate Leigh was more Surry Hills

[@nicolestewart]

I didn’t know anything about these stories. This was cool

[@petesmith9472]

About 50 years ago I offered to knock off Jack Mundy. I was wrong because without Mundy we would have lost the Rocks and plenty of houses.

[@ZestySea]

😳 You did good there

[@elipotter369]

Pretty sure i read somewhere the Australian crawl style was developed from how some indigenous people in Australia swam very well and fast.

[@SeeNoEvil777]

My mother would take us to the old wharf at Woolloomooloo, she'd catch Yellow Tail and make the best ever fish soup, yum

[@ZestySea]

@@SeeNoEvil777 I love this story. To this day the never knew there was a fish called a Yellow Tail. I thought it was a wine label

[@hangonsnoop]

Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce the man from pommyland who is joinin' us this year in the philosophy department at the university of Walamaloo.

[@LoganLavery]

I owned a small home unit there when this was filmed (2012). If only I could turn back time 😢😮

[@bryannordtvedt6095]

As a yank, I have never heard it called the American Crawl. I have only heard that term from Tony. We called it the Australian Crawl, and more commonly, the Crawl. I suspect the American Crawl is a UK term blamed upon the USA just like soccer.😉. No worries, though.

[@nannys_3045]

I love this guy!!

[@khylerin70]

Great video, I do as an Australian have to correct you on one point. Governor Macquarie was no elitist, on the contrary his tenure was made difficult BY elitists. Governor Macquarie was the greatest thing to happen to the young colony since 1788. The resistance he was met with by the established elitists wasn't unlike his predecessor's experience. Macquarie persevered, and the nation prospered and emerged from near subsistence as a result. Governor Macquarie is an icon in Australia 🇦🇺 👍🥳

[@carokat1111]

Correct

[@lobsterwhisperer7932]

Spot on.

[@darrengifford7442]

Woolloomooloo bay hotel was the roughest in woolloomooloo they raffled women back in the day. The place was full with prostitution for all the sailers coming into port.

[@Axle-F]

Love to learn about my beautiful city

[@ElTelBaby]

@ 9:44 Tony Robinson... ROFL Your speech either killed that dog or board it to fall over...

[@ashleelarsen5002]

Better then Lassie

[@justinbell4844]

Man, people of Sydney used to have balls! Now property developers rule the land unfortunately.

[@kw5732]

I love this but have to point out that most of it is filmed in Darlinghurst. Please correct me if i'm wrong?

[@ZestySea]

@@kw5732 I don’t think so. If you look at the map, he’s walked about mostly on the flat, in the form of a narrow valley leading in from the Bay where the finger wharf is. I’d place Darlinghurst above the cliffs between Kings Cross and Paddington

[@wazzanose]

@@ZestySea Technically speaking Kings Cross is in Darlinghurst as the Cross is actually a location, not a suburb unless things have changed.

[@gus3247365]

I've been to Sydney many a time . but never visited Woolloomooloo

[@mainlyfine]

These days you have to be a multi-millionaire to live n Woolloomooloo

[@khylerin70]

😂😂👍

[@ZestySea]

At least with a waterfront view. Last time we visited Woolloomooloo (which I admit was more than ten years ago) there was still a lot of people living in community housing

[@deborahharris2962]

Wonderful, especially your speech in the Domain. Words of truth about free speech, which today, the right to, is under threat.

[@notit340]

Are they holding you captive in Australia!? 🤣 Did one show there, now it's just Aussie history cuz they won't let you leave.

[@ashleelarsen5002]

Awww, like a mama Kangaroo, and I'm the baby Kangaroo?!? 😆 Yes please!!

[@Toby3610]

Naa we are descended from convicts. We won’t let him leave or he might just be a convict himself😂 (just joking)🎉

[@jamesscanlon5969]

The usual twaddle about Arthur Stace being illiterate. I found his war record in the archives. He wrote several letters to the veterans dept. over the years.

[@donnyboon2896]

Yes

[@ashleelarsen5002]

👍

[@TheFixIsIn-fe1jy]

Beautiful country, bloody Politicians and sickening history.

[@howardsimpson489]

I still see Blackadder.

[@milo-md8yb]

Closest to first comment ever...I'll take runner up. Lol.. I do dig this channel tho.

[@ashleelarsen5002]

Ya the little man is decent ;) The wartime one is my favorite though

[@MissDutch2]

omg tony was ballsy just walking into that lady's house

[@ZestySea]

Mmm - not sure it happened exactly like that …

[@MissDutch2]

@ZestySea I hope not, hopefully they asked beforehand

[@3tapsnu0ut87]

The freedom to speak is well understood but the ability to listen, imo, needs more work before we can all express ourselves safely.

[@si_vis_amari_ama]

Not quite sure what version of the side-stroke that was. Never seen that before. Many years ago, the Pool had a big concrete wall around it and you couldn't see over the top. It was an ugly concrete thing, the facelift now looks nice.

[@julieielasi4156]

I watched Tony Robertson he a very good storyteller good on you sir do you live in Australia now i hope so 😁 f rh om Adelaide south Australia

[@johno9507]

Thanks to my sister who lived in Woolloomooloo, I can now spell Woolloomooloo out loud in 1.5 seconds. 🙂🇦🇺

[@flexworshipper7541]

Ayo bought the rights to a Tony documentary lessgo

[@ML-fc3je]

After reading the thumbnail my shirt changed colors from red to blue.

[@ryanblack2986]

Explain?

[@SirHorned19]

@@ryanblack2986 "Woolloomooloo" almost the same as the Age of empires monk conversion sound (wololo"). When they convert an enemy unit it changes colour to match the monks team.

[@richardellis69]

I enjoy you in general, but I do not enjoy seeing content repeated in different videos. And your whole bit about the exploding balloon? Just saw it 2 days ago in your video about what woebegone explorers. Not so cool my friend, not so cool

[@willblake72]

You should request a refund mate

[@richardellis69]

@@willblake72 🤣🤣🤣. I admit, I was a touch grouchy last night

[@willblake72]

@@richardellis69 LOL it happens, I got a laugh out of it

[@ashleelarsen5002]

13:30 I thought he was drawing balls... I will delete this later ...

[@richardellis69]

@@ashleelarsen5002 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤪♥️

[@professornuke7562]

On the day that I was born It was a cold and frosty morn In that famous suburb known as Woolloomooloo. It was down in Riley Street My folks first heard me bleat. 'Cos at the time, I'd nothing else to do. Well me Mother died of fright When she saw me in the light Me Father thought he'd send me to the zoo But I.......owe a lot to him 'Cos he taught me how to swim. WHEN HE HEAVED ME OFF THE PEIR AT WOOLLOOMOOLOO!!!! The Bushwhackers, "Woolloomooloo Lair"

[@Gunnercv]

I went there in 2011 but I can’t afford to return

[@junkettarp8942]

Is this guy on Ritlin?

[@darrengifford7442]

Burton street is not woolloomooloo

[@joelhungerford8388]

Macquarie was a bad fella

[@turtusking5062]

Jesus this guy walked all over australia? his legs must be fkn huuugeee

[@menyjackets593]

the problem with this history is that it is irrelevant because no-one can afford to live in Sydney from honest hard work unless they inherit something. I as a once proud Sydneysider know the quality of its history needs to fall on deaf ears until the shocking and appalling economic crisis is resolved. Also, it’s owned by China!

[@ZestySea]

Yes, it’s very sad - and you’re absolutely right

[@johnburkhart5561]

What a great vid! I wonder if they got the story about the name of Woolloomooloo from a real estate agent. Woolloomooloo = desirable location ??? Never heard that one before. A story I'd heard was that there was a Windmill on top of the hill and the local aboriginals mispronounced it as Woolloomooloo (like woola moola). The white fellas thought it was funny and the name stuck. Another story was a white fella pointed at the area and asked an aboriginal what they called it. The aboriginal answered "Woolloomooloo" which in their language meant something like "I don't have the foggiest idea what you're talking about mate". And I've heard that story applied to the word Kangaroo as well. I loved the impromptu shanghai'ing of locals into his stories. That's a credit to Sydneysiders for their trust and Tony for his perceptiveness.

[@ZestySea]

So, strangely - indigenous people often occupied the best locations. As colonists moved in, they’d move the local people out - go figure 🤷‍♀️

[@wazzanose]

I was taught it was the word for a small type of wallaby.

[@fonce9965]

After living in America for almost 70 years I have NEVER heard the term "American Crawl". Although I support the Olympic Shooting Team only & my ancestor General Dobrius was an Olympic Charioteer atop the fact that I am a voting member of the Olympic committee, I feel that the entire United Kingdom is NOW plagued with the same nationalist PROPAGANDA! EVERYONE in American public schools is taught the Australian Crawl in swimming classes.

[@darrengifford7442]

When you don't believe check the postcodes

[@CH-yp5by]

More recently outdoor concert goers??? How do you define recent lol

[@worldpeac3]

Bro reminds me of Mr. Beans but in the best way possible

[@musicman9434]

I find it horribly ironic that Tony visits free speech area, gets on literal soap box and speaks about the absolute critical need for free speech not realizing that Australia, like Britian has no free speech and never did.... its chilling what both of those countries are doing to their own citizens and how quickly they clamped down.

[@Chris-ci8vs]

Yep

[@gdawwg1125]

shut up noob

[@Elitist20]

Who, specifically, is being clamped down on?

[@squishy1706]

There is free speech in Australia about the government. There are are laws, both federal and state supporting speech such as right to protest and right to spread your message on the street corner and what not. However, you are correct that it is not that well protected in the constitution (apart from freedom of speech against politicians), and many rail against defamation laws that are often used to scare people into not attacking the rich and powerful. There are also a handful of strange rules about protests, but it's largely free.

[@locktite401]

They're cookers! @@Elitist20

[@winniedhaouadi1973]

I like the english people

[@ashleelarsen5002]

Ditto, American boys are boring

[@winniedhaouadi1973]

@@ashleelarsen5002 i dont know if They are boring I think not all

[@ashleelarsen5002]

@@winniedhaouadi1973 they are all yours :)

[@winniedhaouadi1973]

@@ashleelarsen5002 wow Thank you 😊😊😊

[@ashleelarsen5002]

@@winniedhaouadi1973 of course girl, stay safe!

[@adamski-l5w]

So actually, yeah, you can just ask to invade someone’s home or ask a perfect stranger to stand on a plinth and pretend to be a statue IF you are the star of a beloved TV show and in fact it’s most beloved character. So, there’s that. As far as the claims Australia doesn’t have free speech. From a strictly constitutional perspective there are some arguments there. It is more a privilege than a right here. However a lot of Australia’s best features are conventions rather than laws. And these are upheld just as strongly. So in a practical sense yes we definitely have freedom of speech. ❤ Australia

[@brettphillips3091]

sydney isn't so free anymore, from what i've seen.

[@mistaman4638]

Longer you walk the bigger your gut gets lmao.. 😁.. walk to the dentist maybe

[@TheRandomINFJ]

The lady trying to act all chipper but isn't in the intro is annoying AF. Redo your intro please 🙏

[@brucestratford5838]

Tony is the sexiest presenter ever

[@ZestySea]

"No joy here" 😂😂😂

[@julieielasi4156]

Lol i meant Tony Robinson 😀

[@brontewcat]

Tony’s characterisation of Governor Macquarie is totally unfair. Macquarie had a policy of encouraging Emancipists (convicts who had completed their sentences) to become law abiding members of society and some to be leaders. This created enemies of the elites who had benefited from the corrupt practices before Macquarie arrived in 1810. Macquarie clamped down on those practices, helped by dispatching the corrupt NSW Corps back to Britain. He was the commander of his own corps. This gave him the power and authority to undermine the wealthy few who were oppressing the rest of the settlers. However some of the elites complained to London, and so in 1819 a commission was established to look into Macquarie’s governance lead by a man named Bigge. Macquarie was not perfect - he was vain and ambitious, and was responsible in the latter part of his governorship for the massacre of Aboriginal peoples, but he also initiated many reforms and set Australia on the road to being more than a penal colony. It was the criticisms of Bigge that led to offering his resignation a few times, not because his wife and he hated the colony.

[@khylerin70]

@@brontewcat I agree, except the part of the aboriginal massacre. That misnomer has been peddled for too long, those poor people were terrified and either leapt or slipped to their deaths along the sheer faces of the Nepean River near Broughton pass. There's a huge difference in people in panic accidentally dying through misadventure, and murder.

[@timothy6283]

Loved it when when it was a working city, now tourists sucking on ice creams

[@MrAkaacer]

Haha... well Woolloomooloo doesn't have any low income housing anymore.

[@dr6614]

To hell with that city and its “icons” too expensive no more hope lived here my whole life cant wait to leave

[@sixfoot6films]

Look Tony's great, but a half hour show and no mention or representation of the original custodians of the land is terrible. Make no mistake 1788 was an invasion and what followed was genocide.....but not a peep about that.

[@cianpadraiglyons2884]

The arrogance of the British, is the failure to acknowledge their past.

[@Chris-ci8vs]

I love it, talking about free speech when Australia doesn't actually have free speech.

[@CryptoSteve007]

APom. No way

[@DevilGhost-sf8fl]

Any indian here after listening woollomooloo woolloomoloo song...

[@kellyanneree3252]

Look how far this place and the world has fallen today. Feel free today, anyone??

[@lazystalker1]

What, fallen from the razor gangs and whore houses?

[@rjmun580]

I feel free today and everyday. I certainly wouldn't want to go back to the world I knew in the 1940s and 1950s.

[@daviddenham2971]

If Tony Robinson knocked on my door and invited himself into my house like that I would be calling 000 straight away.

[@sirsillybilly]

Woolloomooloo has a weird vibe not really shown or expressed. The vast majority is housing commission (on the non harbour side, across the road is the wharf shown where Russel Crowe has a $25m apartment. Extremes of poverty and wealth. The housing commissions is on prime land that really should be handed over to developers. It’s ugly as sin and is a ghetto itself with third generation welfare recipients promoting a negative culture of drug dealing conveniently right next to the red light district of Kings Cross. That’s like if the government put bank robbers up in a hotel next to the Mint. Bad analogy but you get the idea.

[@darrengifford7442]

your not even in woolloomooloo ya scammer I'm from woolloomooloo. You have by passed it . The old border was tree at the corner of Bourke and cathedral street

[@tiatamara11]

My home is better than this documental....more like a comedy.

[@Angelicwings1]

The Brit’s no nothing about Australia anymore. They never really did. Don’t go doing our history.