Trees in Sydney

Sydney is so beautiful. The sparkling blue of the ageless harbour is framed by the verdant foliage of aged angophoras, she-oaks and Moreton Bay figs. On the other hand, they're blocking the view of the harbour and the houses overlooking it. This leads to outbreaks of midnight pruning. "Nature is amazing. It took this Moreton a century to grow. Pass the chainsaw. It'll take it a century to grow back. Imagine the price of this place then!" Jean Kittson is an Australian performer, writer and comedian in theatre and print, on radio and television. Quoted from Sydney Magazine (The Sydney Morning Herald)

Used to be...

The magic of Sydney is fading for Sydney Magazine's editor who thrives on the creative buzz of New York. "I've noticed Sydney's changing a lot. There's a new aggression and road rage. Sydney used to be all about good sportmanship and politeness. In the last couple of years, there's been a negative energy: a sense of money, greed, and no fair game like there used to be. I say this with certain amount of sadness, as someone who really loves Sydney." Brana Wolf, Sydney Magazine (SMH), May 2008

Sydney - the other side

"Sydney, it's a bit like Melbourne. More money, less society, more beauty, less substance. Better weather, minus the golf ball hail storms. Illogical urban planning, with buses polluting. Restaurants with views, and long queues. Bigger nightlife, with little soul. Slaves to fashion with little sense of personal style. Leggy blondes that show lots of skin and not much within. More stockbrokers, publicists and unwarranted pretension, with not a hint of discernment or culture." Jessica Smith, Sydney Magazine (SMH), April 2008