Sydney in the 1990s

[@simo6730]

Best time of my life. Working in the city and living in the burbs with my parents. No real commitments, just my girl, workmates and not a care in the world. Now I feel old, out of place and lonely.

[@sanctuaryism]

I think a lot of people do now.

[@bigmaxy07]

I am pretty sure you are me. LOL

[@Marc-io8qm]

Blame it on the real estate lobby, the politicians and the globalist elite who sold us the lie that diversity is strength. What a bunch of horseshit. If a Korean wants to protect her people/culture it’s Ok. If an Aussie does? “Racist”. “Nazi”

[@SirenofRed]

The word is “saudade”, it is Portuguese but means not just feeling nostalgic, but *longing* for the past. I started feeling this way recently when going through childhood photos (from 1991 to 2000 were my favourite years, I had next to no anxiety, I was close with my family, I had best friends, and everything felt calm. I compare the scenes above to a weekend in Sydney CBD now, and there are thousands more people, and not as many looking up at the world around them. I’m sure I am romanticising it (there had to be unhappy people in the 90’s), but things seemed easier then. X

[@Pablodwnunda]

Yeah mate I feel the same. I started working for roses only when they first opened in Sydney. I spent my while life running the streets and now I can't stand it. No good vibes anymore. Depressing.

[@vickib1433]

Is it just me or did everyone look stress free and smiling just to be alive Thank you for the great memories

[@sarumokidesu]

Glad you said that. I used to live in Sydney back in those days, I was late teens and early 20s. Have always wondered whether It was simply my younger years, or living there that I always recall as being a great time in my life. Have not been able to recreate the feeling, the sense of freedom, excitement and exploration that I felt in those days.

[@vickib1433]

@@sarumokidesu Yes I experience that Offen here, I love N.S.W Australia 🌏🖤🥰😘 being a woman here has a sense of freedom. I am blessed to have a great life most days 💖 Lots of love from Australia 🌏🖤🥰

[@sarumokidesu]

@@vickib1433 Would love to go back there one day. Thank you for such a lovely message. Love from England too.

[@vickib1433]

@@sarumokidesu England half of my family are from there, looking forward to visiting soon 😘

[@trisblackshaw1640]

@Zero Down 🤣

[@maxskeltoncomedy]

This footage is so precious, sydney in its peak.

[@ajs41]

Why was this its peak? Actually I agree with you in general that life in the West was best around 1988 to 1996, with 1993 right in the middle of that period.

[@ajs41]

London is like that, always interesting but you feel lonely after about 2 hours if you're by yourself. Trying to make friends is very difficult unless you're either very rich or very attractive (or both).

[@blokeabouttown2490]

I noticed from about 1995 Sydney started to become more aggressive, violent, expensive, pretentious, overcrowded and increased social problems in general. I think 1988 was the peak for Sydney, living standards were high, housing was gaining value but still affordable, plenty of jobs, infrastructure was good. Also 1988 was the bicentennial year and there were huge celebrations in Sydney, new monuments and plaques, restored streetscapes and parks. The city really looked beautiful and there was a sense of hope and optimism. Back then it really felt like Australia was the greatest place on earth to live, we had it all. Then came greed, corruption, cultural marxism and DIEversity. Today Sydney is a mess.

[@everfreebrumby8385]

Father Bertolucci unfortunately I must agree with you.

[@Bennyboy1985]

@@blokeabouttown2490 Depends what parts of Sydney we're talking in regards to being violent or with social problems. There are many areas that were more 'grungy' and crime-ridden 30 years ago that have become gentrified since. The big problem I see is that people who work in Sydney should be able to afford to live in the city they work in, without being pushed to the satellite suburbs or even the Central Coast/ Blue Mountains/ Illawarra and have to commute for at least 2 hours combined 5 days a week just to go sit at a desk. Where's the collective identity in that, or in working in a city where you don't recognise the population?

[@thesequelvintage]

So glad people were keen to lug around a camera back then so we could have access to this!

[@GRDwashere]

Working in I.T. in the 80's and 90's in Sydney as a young single guy was the absolute best time of my life.... The social life was amazing!

[@Elainerulesutube]

I wish the 1990's never ended!

[@ajs41]

I think a lot of people would agree with you. I wanted to visit Australia in the 1990s when I was a teenager but it didn't happen. I finally got over there (from England) in August last year at the age of 36 but it was never going to be the same as going when I was a younger. I visited Sydney and Melbourne for about 4 days each. Interesting how people seemed to be more serious and reserved in Melbourne compared to Sydney where they appeared to be slightly more optimistic. Probably the weather!

[@blokeabouttown2490]

Sydney in the 1980s and 1990s was less crowded, more optimistic, less high rise apartments full of opportunistic immigrants and a lot cheaper.

[@claudiamartinez2693]

And the 80’s

[@sanctuaryism]

@tobagotb10 I would have imagined it would have been pretty friendly in 1986... I was only born the year before that so can't relate much.

[@sanctuaryism]

@@blokeabouttown2490 and no smart phones...

[@jase77.]

Some of the best times of my life, Sydney had a great nightlife. From 91-94 I used to go to Neo Pharos nightclub on a wed, kings head tavern on a fri, some rave on a sat and a recovery on a sun. I don’t know how I did it looking back . I feel sorry for the kids today stuck to their phones.

[@JBSbass]

white doves, blue caps and kelly splits. thats how ya dunnit, same here!

[@jase77.]

@@JBSbass your not wrong there 😂. If only we had a time machine. When I hear of kids taking 5-10 jack’n jills nowadays I just smh.

[@NB0301]

Yep Stun or Brave on a Wednesday and don't forget Lunacy at Metropolis then Zoom later and legendary Flash on Fridays at Kinselas.....then a rave in Alexandria or inner city Saturday nights.......memories.

[@jase77.]

@@NB0301 was trying to remember Wednesday at Neo’s , yep stun. And Cloud 9 on Friday at the kings head. The Hardcore Cafe. Spoilt for choice back then. PLUR my friend.

[@jase77.]

@@NB0301just noticed we are both born in 77 also. You could be my long lost twin sister , just joking. 😂

[@kateford8649]

Amazing to see this. A big thank you to the person who filmed this - so interesting. This is still so strong in my memory of how it used to be. I was in my 20s then.

[@sourcreampudding]

RIP Sydney. We miss you.

[@westbourne]

Matthew Lowe Sydney still exists what are you talking about oh btw don’t woooosh me

[@aussieraver7182]

@@westbourne I think he is talking about the vibe and atmosphere Sydney used to be back in the days. Of course, this is all a personal preference.

[@samschlossberg476]

@@westbourne you mean chinese city of sydney

[@peterkehoe1984]

@@samschlossberg476 Yep while it will always be home I'm glad I left in 2015. Take out the Harbour and you'd swear blind you were in Shanghai or Beijing. Sydney CBD has become one big Chinese ghetto. Hurstville in the southern suburbs is even worse.

[@KingFahtah]

@@peterkehoe1984 I grew up on the North Shore. It is the same thing there now.

[@Hook9d]

Nobody on their mobile phones! What a time to be alive.

[@katiebrent3332]

I worked at Grace Bros and my boyfriend worked at Gowings around this time in the 90's. The old Woolworths building with the cafeteria on the top floor - I can still smell that place 😂

[@vitamc1213]

If Sydney stayed as it was in the 90s, it would be probably the top city to live in the world.

[@tigermotive2378]

Unfortunately mass immigration has destroyed it

[@thearty8954]

I agree, it has certainly gone downhill.

[@rawdonwaller]

So says every generation. It's all relative.

[@richardbug3094]

exactly its all just subjective, but when we look at facts 90's sydney is objectively worse then today, higher crime, aids epidemic, and corruption all of which are much better in modern day sydney@@rawdonwaller

[@davechristian7543]

@@rawdonwaller its truly spot the aussie now in the cbd. bring back the 80s n Cabramatta rock

[@paulsydney7597]

Back when Sydney was a great Australian town. Worked to live not lived to work.

[@canopyfields]

Watching old footages from years ago, is like watching your life experience from your afterlife Z. Reviewing your life experience

[@sheriddantsherassi8564]

And in this new world, long days without familiar and friendly faces. The heart burns with anger, this is not the expected life. It is not the Australian life so desired.

[@sophiepooks2174]

Only the lucky country for a privileged few now, but of course if you are a multi-millionaire mostly everywhere is still your wonderland.

[@alanjohncabusi3853]

First thing i noticed .. people actually watching where they’re going, no phones!

[@beercanbarka7678]

How refreshing to see people walking around without there face buried in a mobile phone ,

[@KH-rc7tl]

Yes agree. And all smartly dressed not looking like they just got out of bed !

[@spillingthetea-na1642]

I'm bawling my eyes out watching this. Thank you to the person who filmed this, I'm so grateful for you 🙏 So lucky to have been a teenager during this incredible time. When I heard the clock in Pitt Street Mall the tears of nostalgia started pouring. A truly magical decade ❤

[@eseoleimeseoleim5254]

same here i just search around 80-90 s sydney. cuz i spent twenties there bondi n bondi junction .time has passed 30yrs ago .and now that i m in my 60s i feel a bit tears of nostalgia even in faraway Korea .as people get older. they start to feel bitter about the past.

[@spillingthetea-na1642]

@@eseoleimeseoleim5254 I'm just sad because all things with character and vintage beauty seem to have been replaced with soulless things 🥺 Thankfully The Queen Victoria building and The Strand Arcade are still historically beautiful ❤️

[@Mynewlife2025]

I was 18 years old and working in the newly built Park lane hotel. Sydney was at its best in 1993. The old Woolworths logo before they became the fresh food people, the cafeteria upstairs, merivale where the yuppies hung out, monorail and centre point pre renovations, was truly the best city in the world. Here we still see some big hair and shoulder pads, you could have a chat to random people. It was quite a friendly city. Now its a cold, total capitalist takeover place with no soul. If this video is toward the end of 1993, I had my 19th birthday in a cafe called "cascade" in town hall arcade. I remember the service was impeccable, we ordered "coffee" not like today's choices of latte, mocha, soy choices etc and I remember them bringing me an ashtray because I lit up my cigarette and this was indoors mind you.

[@sanctuaryism]

I always loved that old woolworths logo... even as a kid.

[@overworlder]

Friend got his first job in what's now Pullman Sydney Hyde Park when it was new, early 80s. He was bursting with pride to work there.

[@RebellionWarrior]

I prefer now. I think smoking 🚬 inside was just so totally wrong. Imagine the children having to endure that? I never smoked but back then when I was a child very hard to avoid I tried it once but it felt so horrible that I vowed never to do it again. The Vegan alternative options is absolutely wonderful compared to the past. I miss the monorail 🚝 but I most of the time stayed in Perth.

[@traker01mtp]

I was 16 years old in 1993. Sydney in the 90s they were the glory days.

[@cgoody9913]

Hobbico, looking in the window, Movie cinemas Greater Union, Hoyt's. The comic book stores, land beyond beyond. I crave the 90's.

[@electricink3908]

You could party 24/7 , there was something open any time of any day of the week...great memories

[@drewsale7288]

It was a great party town. Venues open 24/7 from Broadway to Circular Quay to Kings Cross. What a time!!

[@masteryoda498]

The 90’s was a good time, with the exception of the early 90’s recession, jobs were relatively easy to get, and there was a good nightlife in Sydney.

[@__Babaaaa]

2020 and just seeing the monorail go around Sydney is such a blessing. Thankyou for such videos.

[@tahiyya4926]

I come back to this video every year makes me wish I could go back in time🥺

[@luouns]

Me too. Sometimes I wonder can we ever get those times back

[@whatthehell1012]

Maybe it's because I was just a kid and had moved from Tasmania but I remember the joy and excitement even now watching this video😊 Sydney's heart has grown cold

[@mobilephone4045]

Timezone, next to Brashs. Ah the memories

[@denisjovanovic7781]

You ruined everything lol

[@AK_Russki]

And then walking a few meters up on the same side going to see a film at Greater Union... The good ol days

[@KingFahtah]

I worked in that neighbourhood at the time. Good days.

[@sirsillybilly]

Except when the Lebs would roll you for your sneakers

[@riffraff3382]

When I was a kid in the 90s, my family worked in the city so I got the chance to hop on the monorails often, almost weekly. Never got bored after so many times but my mum wasn't enjoying the run rides as much as I was! Wish I can go back in time and re-experience those memories again. Sydney has changed so much over the years and it will keep changing.

[@tahiyya4926]

Flash forward 2020, oh how time flies, Sydney is soo different now

[@kwas101]

So many memories. I had an XY Falcon (remember those?) used to park it in the parking station there, catch the Monorail into the city, do some shopping, have a good feed. I remember getting my first mobile phone around this time (or might have been 94?) it was not really a brick. I think it was a Nokia? Anyway, it was an "on call" work phone, it wasn't mine. I was going to UTS at the time, the first time I brought it into a lecture everyone wanted to see it!

[@bastianfromkwhbsn8498]

I first visited Sydney in 2003 and loved it. Came back in 2012 and was really disappointed. I bet it's even worse now. Sad really.

[@joshpritchard5333]

What disappointed you?

[@bastianfromkwhbsn8498]

@@joshpritchard5333 It was way more crowded, expensive, hectic, unfriendly and especially less free to a degree I didn't like it anymore.

[@gggumball]

@@bastianfromkwhbsn8498 first and only time i ever visited Sydney was in 2012 and I didn't like it for the same reasons you said, and partially because my parents didn't let me do anything I considered fun as a 7 year old. I don't know if I want to go back there

[@gavinlee2881]

I lived in Sydney for 20 years and came back to visit in 2015 the traffic is so insane. But love to visit the Harbour and Chinatown.

[@markferguson7563]

I was a mere 10 years of age in 1964 and remember going on three or four days out to Manly from about that time up until 1970. In 1972, I left home and lived in the Cross, and would walk into the city and circular quay at least once a week. By the mid-70s quite a few more buildings had gone up nearby and in the streets that ran down to the Quay. Since then, an absolute plethora of buildings have risen out of nowhere, down in that precinct and, indeed, all the way down to Central, across to Darling Harbour, etc, etc. From the late 1990s, and in after 210, and right up until now there are at least 100 high-rise apartment complexes that have sprung up south of Park St between Elizabeth, and George Streets, and, also, in the Haymarket precinct. And in EVERY SINGLE INSTANCE almost all of the occupants are recolonists from Asia - ostensibly China. One prime instance of this is with the 9 high-rise residentials that now exist in Haymarket where the Entertainment Centre once stood, up until 2014. Effectively, this was the last vestige of where people of Anglo/European heritages had cultural relevance to the CBD of the City of Sydney. Just in this small area, from 2016, until completion of these buildings at the end of 2018, culminated with over 4000 Asiatics re-colonising that space. However, in the near on quarter of a century from 2000, an estimated 27,000 Chinese have inundated apartment buildings south of Park St, and west of Elizabet St. have swarmed into that precinct. However, if you include the Broadway, Ultimo, and Pyrmont the total number of Asians who have inundated that sphere is in excess of 50,000: with about 35,000 of them being international students. With hindsight, it’s now abundantly clear that, it was an agenda way, way back in the mid-1980s to Asianise Australia. And I should know, because I stood against the arch-traitor, PM Bob Hawke, in 1984, in his seat of Wills, running on the platform of opposing MASS ASIAN immigration. Hawke, and Keating were right on side with the big business agenda to Asianise the country. And, indeed, every other non-European immigrant group they could muster.

[@bellablue9520]

Oh wow! This takes me back. The nostalgia I feel as I watch this. I just can't describe it. People back then were much more friendly, no-one got offended over everything and could take a joke. People weren't so anti-social. You could chat to a total stranger and people actually smiled at you. No mobile phones to distract and people were living the moment. Jobs were easier to get. I could go on, but the more I think about it, the more I feel broken inside. The 80's and 90's era is unforgettable. There will never be great times like this ever again.

[@sarumokidesu]

Totally agree with you Bella.

[@johhnmorgan8329]

Start of the early 2000s racial matters were a topic and new laws were taking in place house prices were going up

[@Yobbie72]

I miss the Australia that I grew up in back in the 80s adn 90s. Agreed. People and culture were so much better then! It was just normal...now we are in ABNORMAL times.

[@cindycarter644]

I miss it tooo, to see past visions is surreal

[@tonesmehomes55]

"Jobs were easier to get"?? Unemployment in the early 90s was 11.6%, now it's below 4%.

[@francoiseo4542]

Loved seeing the Monorail and the views from it too.

[@everfreebrumby8385]

I think Sydney was more magical in the 90s. Maybe it was because i was a kid then, but there seemed to be more interesting shops in the 90s.

[@hayekianman]

You realize that's exactly what children of 2020s are going to say 30 yrs from now?

[@crxdelsolsir]

@@hayekianman Yes, because life in Australia is degrading. If it was improving people will not be longing for the past as much. Over population, too much too soon and the wrong type of people destroys the culture, values and total way of life. Back then most things were Australian made, future was bright with employment, affordable and improving cost of living. Now, with wages stagnant the last 11-15 years, de-industrialisation with loss of car industry, footware and textiles industry, train industry etc. the future of Australia and Australians are not as bright. Hence going back to the your point people will be longing for today when it deteriorates tomorrow.

[@hayekianman]

@@crxdelsolsir nobody likes change. adapt or perish

[@crxdelsolsir]

@@hayekianman No doubt adaptation is a neccessity, but as an observation it is unfortunately to adapt to negative changes.

[@vindolanda6974]

Yes, I'm older but I remember days in 1993 when I was 18 when I started visiting the city by myself. There were so many things to do and look at even alone. Great record stores, clothes, nerdy gaming shops, book shops, bizarre antique stores, great movies on George Street. The city felt so exciting and lively.

[@southerndiy1]

First time I went to Sydney was in 1993. Seeing this footage is amazing, kinda takes my breath away.

[@fractalign]

This was Sydney at its finest. You could go out three or four nights a week to multiple events and not see a single sniffer dog. Police were not armed to the teeth harassing punters just for having a beer on the beach. People were still smoking weed on the streets. Music festivals were taking off and Reclaim The Streets was kicking off big time. Sydney was a giant party before the lockout laws.

[@shanewright2772]

One would tend to think the Olympics ruined it long before lockout laws.

[@eymanyouwell]

Still smoking weed? That's not Sydney at it's "finest"...

[@shanewright2772]

@JW And now they are ruining Brisbane!

[@shanewright2772]

@stevvvvveperry Wow. Move to Perth. You think it's going to be that bad 🙂

[@TheGadgetPanda]

This is Sydney as I remember it. I left in 95 and haven’t been back properly since. I refuse to believe it’s any different today.

[@MarcoCholo-iz9js]

It's better in many ways, if you can ignore mini Singapore in downtown George Street

[@GG-ud8id]

@@MarcoCholo-iz9js Singapore? Try Beijing or Mumbai. They've overrun the place.

[@andymate2006]

Oh I miss how Sydney use to be back in the 90’s. Also hearing the monorail noises again on this brings back memories. Darling Harbour is just an ugly mess now. To many high rise buildings and overcrowded.

[@shanewright2772]

You think the 90's were great? Should been there in the 70's! :-)

[@rosshilton]

Sydney has never shook off the Rum Corps attitude. Want to build s nuclear fuel dump in the CBD? Pay the right assholes and its a done deal. This year they knocked down an entire historic city block for a train station - with of course two 40 story tower blocks on top. Imagine who is making a dollar out of that..... And its within a tennis ball throw of Town hall. They could have knocked down Woolworths and built it there - but the council already own that. Better to compulsory purchase an knock down a bit of history.

[@jade5615]

@@shanewright2772 nah, more culture in the 90s.

[@shanewright2772]

@@jade5615 Well, if by culture you mean panhandling junkies, ethnic no-go zones and Souths winning the spoon every year, then it's 90's all the way!

[@Joshua-jj4xn]

Too*

[@Roger-un9vb]

This is an awesome video!!! Being new to Sydney, and have walked over the Pyrmont Bridge in Darling Harbour so many times, it's utterly surprising for me to note that there was a monorail system which passed right through the same bridge! Superb!👌🏻

[@sarumokidesu]

You know, once I walked from North Sydney to Warringah Mall (from Girlfriends house), it literally took me nine hours all through the night. We do silly things when we are young!

[@nikid3690]

My first impression is people interact and talk more. Before the days of phones and everyone having aversion to each other

[@anthonyreed480]

It's not phones, it's the people.

[@larazeesk7080]

I’m 51 & the 90s in Australia were awesome - sadly what once was has been lost forever - I left Australia in 1989 & have lived in America ever since

[@WhiteChocolate74]

Why did you leave?

[@sg-yq8pm]

Were you drunk when you wrote that illogical nonsense?

[@mindimoom9142]

I suspect a lot of Americans probably feel the same about where they live. The entire world has changed since then. Captured by the globalist agenda. It's not doing the common people any good.

[@matthewbrown6163]

I worked 50m away & loved it. I was there the day of the reopening & when the mono rail was first opened & took a loop on it too.

[@Stansman63]

Between 1992 and 1994 I visited Sydney four or five times so this really brings back some memories.

[@markferguson7563]

I was a mere 10 years of age in 1964 and remember going on three or four days out to Manly from about that time up until 1970. In 1972, I left home and lived in the Cross, and would walk into the city and circular quay at least once a week. By the mid-70s quite a few more buildings had gone up nearby and in the streets that ran down to the Quay. Since then, an absolute plethora of buildings have risen out of nowhere, down in that precinct and, indeed, all the way down to Central, across to Darling Harbour, etc, etc. From the late 1990s, and in after 210, and right up until now there are at least 100 high-rise apartment complexes that have sprung up south of Park St between Elizabeth, and George Streets, and, also, in the Haymarket precinct. And in EVERY SINGLE INSTANCE almost all of the occupants are recolonists from Asia - ostensibly China. One prime instance of this is with the 9 high-rise residentials that now exist in Haymarket where the Entertainment Centre once stood, up until 2014. Effectively, this was the last vestige of where people of Anglo/European heritages had cultural relevance to the CBD of the City of Sydney. Just in this small area, from 2016, until completion of these buildings at the end of 2018, culminated with over 4000 Asiatics re-colonising that space. However, in the near on quarter of a century from 2000, an estimated 27,000 Chinese have inundated apartment buildings south of Park St, and west of Elizabet St. have swarmed into that precinct. However, if you include the Broadway, Ultimo, and Pyrmont the total number of Asians who have inundated that sphere is in excess of 50,000: with about 35,000 of them being international students. With hindsight, it’s now abundantly clear that, it was an agenda way, way back in the mid-1980s to Asianise Australia. And I should know, because I stood against the arch-traitor, PM Bob Hawke, in 1984, in his seat of Wills, running on the platform of opposing MASS ASIAN immigration. Hawke, and Keating were right on side with the big business agenda to Asianise the country. And, indeed, every other non-European immigrant group they could muster.

[@cgoody9913]

How wonderful, this whole video was just my life, teen years, adventures, mistakes but what a place in the 90's.

[@1908fcim]

I lived there in the mid 90s and mostly enjoyed it. When I went back to visit in 2019 it seemed like an absolute dump

[@peterkehoe1984]

NSW Labor flooding the place with Asians for 18 years certainly helped turn it into a dump.

[@redastair]

Not too long after this and Bob Carr would declare that Sydney was already full. Now the place is far too crowded due to successive governments ignoring anything but property prices and stamp duty. Bring in the people! Bang them into Sydney! And that’s to suggest that there haven’t been some nice developments in some areas but getting around the place makes us all so parochial in Sydney. Shame.

[@MarcoCholo-iz9js]

More metros and high rise should fix this problem quick smart

[@sarumokidesu]

I spent most of the 90s in Sydney and loved living there. It was a very free and open city.

[@MarcoCholo-iz9js]

Lots of brothels too

[@ryanbasilio9548]

I miss hearing the music in the shops and corridors like that.😯

[@tigermotive2378]

Back when white australia still ruled the country, t was a beautiful time to be alive in Australia

[@TheAxelay]

Nowadays it would called noise pollution, but it's great hearing store staff on a microphone trying to lure patrons in their stores..

[@OK-wb1dy]

I’m searching for myself in the crowds ❤️

[@maxitaxi76]

It was one of the greatest city’s in the world bringing back some great memories would of died for this country !! Some of the best leaders ran this place from 1969 -1998 wow

[@time2kickarse]

Yeah if you removed Paul Keating and Johnny Howard this country would have flourished. They should have listened to Pauline Hanson instead of arresting her, she absolutely nail it in today's prediction of 2021.

[@cdgh99]

I remember Darling Harbour as a bit of a dump in the 90's, it always seemed to be dead and a bit dodgy but it was where you might wander about if you were bored on a Saturday afternoon. Now that shopping centre is full of expensive shops and restaurants, king st wharf etc are there and its always quite busy especially on a Saturday afternoon.

[@blokeabouttown2490]

When Darling Harbour first opened in 1988 for the bicentenary it was very nice with good shops and a great atmosphere. Harbourside Shopping Centre had a nice open area under the large perspex arches where there was a sculpture with a waterfall. That was then all changed as they put in an ugly and crowded food court that is no different from any mundane suburban shopping centre. Most of the shops became over priced places catering to tourists with bad taste. That's why it went to shit in the 90s. The Cockle Bay side was much nicer with it's restaurants.

[@louisafarmer2385]

Well that was like a time machine!! How crazy and cool.

[@SVR1968]

Sydney was great in the 1990’s, but after the Olympics it’s all been downhill.

[@KingFahtah]

And the loser was....Sydeneee

[@khylerin70]

The QVB. How close were we to losing this to the wreckers in the 70s?. A beautiful piece of restored history, as elegant as you could hope for. Thanks for posting this video 👍👍

[@markferguson7563]

I was a mere 10 years of age in 1964 and remember going on three or four days out to Manly from about that time up until 1970. In 1972, I left home and lived in the Cross, and would walk into the city and circular quay at least once a week. By the mid-70s quite a few more buildings had gone up nearby and in the streets that ran down to the Quay. Since then, an absolute plethora of buildings have risen out of nowhere, down in that precinct and, indeed, all the way down to Central, across to Darling Harbour, etc, etc. From the late 1990s, and in after 210, and right up until now there are at least 100 high-rise apartment complexes that have sprung up south of Park St between Elizabeth, and George Streets, and, also, in the Haymarket precinct. And in EVERY SINGLE INSTANCE almost all of the occupants are recolonists from Asia - ostensibly China. One prime instance of this is with the 9 high-rise residentials that now exist in Haymarket where the Entertainment Centre once stood, up until 2014. Effectively, this was the last vestige of where people of Anglo/European heritages had cultural relevance to the CBD of the City of Sydney. Just in this small area, from 2016, until completion of these buildings at the end of 2018, culminated with over 4000 Asiatics re-colonising that space. However, in the near on quarter of a century from 2000, an estimated 27,000 Chinese have inundated apartment buildings south of Park St, and west of Elizabet St. have swarmed into that precinct. However, if you include the Broadway, Ultimo, and Pyrmont the total number of Asians who have inundated that sphere is in excess of 50,000: with about 35,000 of them being international students. With hindsight, it’s now abundantly clear that, it was an agenda way, way back in the mid-1980s to Asianise Australia. And I should know, because I stood against the arch-traitor, PM Bob Hawke, in 1984, in his seat of Wills, running on the platform of opposing MASS ASIAN immigration. Hawke, and Keating were right on side with the big business agenda to Asianise the country. And, indeed, every other non-European immigrant group they could muster.

[@jonathanng5218]

the monorail... so sad its gone i never got to try it :(

[@roadtonowherefilms]

Great retrospective on the monorail

[@PLANETIA01]

Great "blast from the past". Thanks for sharing. This brings back so many happy memories for me. I don't know the politics of it as I now no longer live in Sydney however, I have no idea why the monorail was removed from Sydney. I used to ride it so often. Thanks again! DM.

[@TheOnlyPommyman]

Me too. Was always a fun ride, though the back section behind Darling Harbour was always dull.

[@glennanthony6757]

hey, thanks a lot. the sky garden was a bit of a secret hideaway right up top at that round window - a little bar at the end - a cold Moosehead beer and some time out to write and be alone from the noise below. Does anyone remember the tavern from the 80s below also? - the CenterPoint tavern I think...? Great, I mean fantastic meals and cozy dining, very wholesome, and a low-light piano bar where Seth played the tunes and shared his marshmallows. It was a fine way to spend time with friends. Many precious and happy memories. Lovely.

[@Mermaidmotel74]

Happiest and best days......RIP AMALA XO

[@kathygodfrey3158]

Thank you for sharing. Good memories 🥰

[@gardeneden]

Feeling a little nostalgic for 90s and 00s Sydney and goodness how I miss the monorail.

[@horserenior6246]

Glad I got to ride the monorail before Gladys ripped it all down. The CBD was a place you were excited to visit because it offered an experience you could not get elsewhere. Shame its just feels cold and boring these days…. To me anyway

[@anthonyvandyk5150]

Was a teenager in 50's I loved that city Saw 'The Beatles' at the stadium in 1964 . Great City

[@marthanewsome6375]

NOTE: no one texting or talking to themselves on mobile phones.

[@ajs41]

I guess quite a lot of business people would have had mobile phones in the financial area.

[@TrainTransportShortsOfficial]

crazy shrimp lady amazing

[@TrainTransportShortsOfficial]

Andy JS they didn’t come out in Australia until about 1999 and they were bricks even then

[@blokeabouttown2490]

Queen Mummy Mobile phones were available in Australia long before 1999. They were available in the late 80s, they were big and expensive and were mostly used by stock brokers, lawyers and bankers. By the early 1990s tradies, builders and certain technicians were using them. I knew a guy who had one around 1991, he was a photocopier repair technician. The phone was huge, and he wore it on a shoulder strap like a large handbag. I got my first mobile in 1997 and it was a big, thick Nokia, the network was rubbish back then and calls would drop out all the time.

[@zebjaffer7813]

And yet you commented on a YT video which totally represents cultural technology change. Probs did it via mobile too haha

[@RocketBoom1966]

Ahh yes, back when busy footpaths were full of people walking with intent, staying to the left and no zombies to dodge.

[@RaindancerAU]

Within seconds seeing Gowings and the ABC Shop, the memories that flooded back.

[@un7768]

Aw the monorail. I arrived Australia in 2007 and had rode monorail for a few times. Where time goes😮

[@Trev-mh2fr]

Worked in the city from 1987 to 2004, can relate to all this footage. Great memories, different times. Checking to see if I made the film cut.

[@elishifter7995]

no smartphone, everything is still cheap, music is still smart, brother is still beside me, sister is still beside me, boyfriend or girlfriend is still in a serious relationship, still many friend, and Mom and Dad are still very beside me... I miss those days, but those days have disappeared, replaced by a gloomy and boring future. 😣😣😞😞😢

[@TheOnlyPommyman]

8:51 3 years later I would be working in that building for British Telecom. Great times, and a great city but I'm glad to have moved away and only go back for visits now.

[@Bennyboy1985]

If you're looking for who to blame over what Sydney has become since this footage was shot, you can blame both the major parties for different reasons: You can blame the ALP for supporting more lax immigration policies under the dogma of "tolerance", "compassion" ,"diversity is our strength" and "multiculturalism is wonderful", allowing more people incompatible with our western culture or values to move in and become a new bloc of people most likely to vote Labor- knowing they'll continue pandering to them in the form of handouts and social programs. So we inherit many of the negative traits of these cultures, crime goes up, people feel alienated in the parts of Sydney they've grown up in all their lives and they move out. You can blame the LNP for openly supporting more immigration because they see the dollar signs and are happy to sell out the social/ economic future of our existing population for financial and political power. Wealthy Chinese and Koreans mean more tax dollars, while low-skilled immigration drives down wages which benefits their corporate donors. They've been happy to turn Sydney into a playground for wealthy Asian businessmen, who have bought up apartments and property in Sydney en masse and priced the traditional population out of the housing market. Barangaroo casino was approved because the LNP government recognised it would be a massive cash cow on account of how much the Chinese love to gamble. If we can stop the same thing happening to regional centres like Newcastle and Wollongong then there may be hope for the future yet...

[@electricink3908]

You can blame people who voted for the major parties

[@peterkehoe1984]

This 20 times over.

[@TheAxelay]

Tbh this was planned decades in advance by both parties here. The 1980/90's would be the last time we'd ever see life like this again, it happened in Melbourne too as all other cities around Australia. The real blame is the 1975/80's lima agreement and globalism/NWO as well. If we want this kinda lifestyle back, we must embrace nationalism/populism but I fear it's too late now...

[@sirsillybilly]

I blame the small hats

[@electricink3908]

It was a much better, freer place back then

[@traker01mtp]

The Hobbyco sign in 2:14 that hobby shop is still there today after all these years.

[@melglobus]

I think this video is from the mid city centre era. Prior to that it was downstairs under the old BBC Hardware on George st, And before that again in the stand arcade where jb hifi is now!

[@infernal_monkey]

God the monorail felt so futuristic. I hate visiting the city these days, it's regressed so much.

[@mathew4609]

Not sure why they’ve removed the monorail?

[@TheCarin12]

this is when I arrived in Sydney. Somebody told me, 'you never know your luck in a big city'. the were right. I somehow feel like we are losing something in Sydney and Its not as good as it was.

[@MarcoCholo-iz9js]

It's not as white as it was, but it's still pretty good

[@markferguson7563]

I was a mere 10 years of age in 1964 and remember going on three or four days out to Manly from about that time up until 1970. In 1972, I left home and lived in the Cross, and would walk into the city and circular quay at least once a week. By the mid-70s quite a few more buildings had gone up nearby and in the streets that ran down to the Quay. Since then, an absolute plethora of buildings have risen out of nowhere, down in that precinct and, indeed, all the way down to Central, across to Darling Harbour, etc, etc. From the late 1990s, and in after 210, and right up until now there are at least 100 high-rise apartment complexes that have sprung up south of Park St between Elizabeth, and George Streets, and, also, in the Haymarket precinct. And in EVERY SINGLE INSTANCE almost all of the occupants are recolonists from Asia - ostensibly China. One prime instance of this is with the 9 high-rise residentials that now exist in Haymarket where the Entertainment Centre once stood, up until 2014. Effectively, this was the last vestige of where people of Anglo/European heritages had cultural relevance to the CBD of the City of Sydney. Just in this small area, from 2016, until completion of these buildings at the end of 2018, culminated with over 4000 Asiatics re-colonising that space. However, in the near on quarter of a century from 2000, an estimated 27,000 Chinese have inundated apartment buildings south of Park St, and west of Elizabet St. have swarmed into that precinct. However, if you include the Broadway, Ultimo, and Pyrmont the total number of Asians who have inundated that sphere is in excess of 50,000: with about 35,000 of them being international students. With hindsight, it’s now abundantly clear that, it was an agenda way, way back in the mid-1980s to Asianise Australia. And I should know, because I stood against the arch-traitor, PM Bob Hawke, in 1984, in his seat of Wills, running on the platform of opposing MASS ASIAN immigration. Hawke, and Keating were right on side with the big business agenda to Asianise the country. And, indeed, every other non-European immigrant group they could muster.

[@NB0301]

​@markferguson7563 well said. I myself am an immigrant from the UK but east African Indian heritage and I learnt how to speak English the Aussie way and swim like a pro in the ocean and have an abundance of mates of all walks of life. I love Australia and Bob Hawke absolute champion.

[@davegoldspink5354]

WOW now this takes me back to before the world went really stupid note no mobile phones and the monorail was still running. Was funny seeing the monorail going through the City Centre building (7:37) I worked for a short time there supervising the guards and running the security control room in 2008-09. Haven’t been back to Sydney since the monorail got pulled down.

[@denisjovanovic7781]

Looked so good I remember going on excursions at school to the city.

[@Roma69ful]

Me too

[@Koroodetto]

I remember the Queen Victoria Building like this in 1990 when I lived in Balmain. I was looking for work in the city.

[@crxdelsolsir]

Back when Sydney and life in Australia was more organised, cleaner, safer with a brighter future looking ahead with the Olympics fever building up for 2000. People actually looked at each other, had more patience, understanding and helped one another more. Before the chaos of today, failed multi culture, excessive migration before assimilation, house prices sky rocketing out of reach, terrorism was overseas and the tech causing people to walk slow like a zombie holding everyone behind up, walking in front of a bus and people in a world of their own with their phones never existed.

[@Joshua-jj4xn]

Christ what a load of shit. Rose coloured glasses.

[@harleyguy7]

@@Joshua-jj4xn id say you're a 20 year old purple haired lefty who hates Australia had you grown up in the 90s you'd understand. Idiot

[@RolllikeDyse]

you understand imigration, particularly from poor countries raises the wages of everyone already there and boosts the economy right? as in sydney would be far poorer and have much worse crime without that

[@KenrickLeiba]

"failed multiculture" oh look the mating call of the racist! I was born in the early 80s and you are talking absolute crap. Don't get me wrong, today isn't perfect, I don't like rising house prices either but that is caused by bad policies the sort of policies supported by the same anti-immigration crowd that you probably follow (that's an assumption, but I'm guessing a pretty fair one since there aren't many anti-immigration parties that have offered any solutions, beyond lip-service, to the housing market). We had a chance to get rid of negative gearing (which is just one of many things we need to do to fix the market) and then we voted the bloody coalition back in. The old days weren't some paradise you are making it out to be. Terrorism is way overblown (I don't even know what terrorism you are talking about, Australia has barely had any terrorism - literally a handful of people killed in the last 20 years not counting foreign acts that killed citizens like the Bali Bombing). It makes up a tiny percentage of deaths. More people have died from coronavirus in the last couple of years than in the last 20 years from terrorism. We'd have even less terrorism if we didn't take part in stupid wars that the US started. All those countries we were meant to be "liberated" are now worse off than they were, and don't get me wrong the dictators were bad, but the destablisation of multiple warring ethnic groups caused by the power vacuum in those regions are worse. The US armed those groups and we helped them destablise that region worse than before. The US basically armed ISIS and the Taliban and the damage to those courtries has helped radicalise a whole new generation of terrorists.

[@peterkehoe1984]

@@RolllikeDyse Really? If that was the case how do you explain Japan who has the most ethnically homogenous population on earth are currently the 4th richest country in the world?.They did all that without immigration from the 3rd world.

[@videodoodler]

This is brilliant. Thank you so much for uploading. You wouldn't happen to have a complete video of the musical clock on Skygarden seen at 2:38 would you?

[@sharongoodsell9341]

The centre point Tavan My mum and i use to meet for lunch , sat alot of people , great food 73/74/75

[@brettvjward170]

This is great old video footage that is a TIMEMACHINE!

[@petersmith9771]

Always great to go back

[@Millez]

4:40 Dire Straits - Heavy Fuel (On The Night version). Man I wish I could've grown up in this Sydney. I was born well after the 90s unfortunately.

[@GG-ud8id]

Beautiful caucasian sydney. Why did we go so wrong.

[@AotonSoft]

2:25　SEIKOマーチングバンド時計（汎用）

[@ryanbasilio9548]

Wow..even more bookstores..You would hardly see ANY anymore.😬😭

[@Wishitwasnttrue.]

Wow it looks like an Australian city full of Australian people

[@littlesparks]

Early 90s was peak humanity

[@kascade9145]

At 5:17 the Hemmes family turned this Merivale clothing shop back into a pub and restaurant which was hugely successful .

[@peterkehoe481]

That's what is now the Angel Hotel on Angel Pl/Pitt St isn't it? It looks very, very familiar.

[@ryanbasilio9548]

And... people are actually TALKING to each other..😯

[@cwwan]

I don’t see the arcade in town hall that I used to go 😢

[@vladsnape6408]

The 1990s in Sydney is now very much a blur to me, but I am glad to see that this is not because of my fading memory - it was actually a blur.

[@jamesfrench7299]

1980s was even better and more fascinating but this is bliss compared to now.

[@larazeesk7080]

The 80s in Sydney were incredible mate / where did you grow up in Sydney?

[@jamesfrench7299]

@@larazeesk7080 Eastwood/Epping. It was magic. Early 80s even more so.

[@larazeesk7080]

@@jamesfrench7299 awesome mate I grew up in Hornsby - used to take the Strathfield line 100s of times in the 80s as a kid - miss the old red rattlers mate - Sydney has changed so much now it’s sad - I left Australia in 1989 and haven’t lived there since but visited a lot

[@larazeesk7080]

HaHa how many times at Strathfield running down the ramps to get from one platform to the other - miss those days mate

[@larazeesk7080]

@@jamesfrench7299 My brother in law still drinks at the Epping Hotel as he had for 20 + years

[@MoreLocations]

Great footage 👍🏻. I love Sydney ❤

[@markferguson7563]

I was a mere 10 years of age in 1964 and remember going on three or four days out to Manly from about that time up until 1970. In 1972, I left home and lived in the Cross, and would walk into the city and circular quay at least once a week. By the mid-70s quite a few more buildings had gone up nearby and in the streets that ran down to the Quay. Since then, an absolute plethora of buildings have risen out of nowhere, down in that precinct and, indeed, all the way down to Central, across to Darling Harbour, etc, etc. From the late 1990s, and in after 210, and right up until now there are at least 100 high-rise apartment complexes that have sprung up south of Park St between Elizabeth, and George Streets, and, also, in the Haymarket precinct. And in EVERY SINGLE INSTANCE almost all of the occupants are recolonists from Asia - ostensibly China. One prime instance of this is with the 9 high-rise residentials that now exist in Haymarket where the Entertainment Centre once stood, up until 2014. Effectively, this was the last vestige of where people of Anglo/European heritages had cultural relevance to the CBD of the City of Sydney. Just in this small area, from 2016, until completion of these buildings at the end of 2018, culminated with over 4000 Asiatics re-colonising that space. However, in the near on quarter of a century from 2000, an estimated 27,000 Chinese have inundated apartment buildings south of Park St, and west of Elizabet St. have swarmed into that precinct. However, if you include the Broadway, Ultimo, and Pyrmont the total number of Asians who have inundated that sphere is in excess of 50,000: with about 35,000 of them being international students. With hindsight, it’s now abundantly clear that, it was an agenda way, way back in the mid-1980s to Asianise Australia. And I should know, because I stood against the arch-traitor, PM Bob Hawke, in 1984, in his seat of Wills, running on the platform of opposing MASS ASIAN immigration. Hawke, and Keating were right on side with the big business agenda to Asianise the country. And, indeed, every other non-European immigrant group they could muster.

[@Dru-v9u]

When Aussie were free

[@Dru-v9u]

@@Rodney_1984 fucking ay 🇦🇺👍

[@munnsie100]

I remember the city being mostly like this when I first visited as a young boy in 2006. I wish it were still the same :-(

[@blokeabouttown2490]

By 2006 it had already changed quite a bit from what you see here, although at least the monorail was still running then.

[@munnsie100]

Father Bertolucci indeed, it had changed quite a bit, but not too drastically. I enjoyed the monorail, shame it’s gone. I can see the lack of practicality but it was quite novel.

[@dboe]

Walking tours in the 90’s this guy was before his time 😂. Haha strange how how footage from back them can be so relevant now. This video brought back a lot of nostalgia for me i enjoyed watching.

[@OK-wb1dy]

all the office workers are out getting fresh air, shopping or going to coffee shops - having left their bulky computers behind at the offices

[@ryanbasilio9548]

At 2:45...A huge sign on the building that says CHRISTMAS ..😳 You don't see hardly any Christmas signs now.

[@SISTERHENDRICKS23]

It offends the wokie folkies 🙄

[@TheIndohobo]

Thank you for this