Letters of complaint

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Introducing a new podcast from City of Sydney's history team: Letters of Complaint. Part live-action, part discussion, Letters of Complaint is a lively exploration of Sydney residents' grievances in the 19th century. Join City of Sydney historian Dr Lisa Murray as she delves into the city archives t…

City of Sydney


    • May 8, 2017 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 7m AVG DURATION
    • 6 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Letters of complaint

    Episode 6: The Daily Complain Off

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2017 7:17


    Be transported to a time before electricity and public bathrooms via letters of complaint that were escalated into petitions to the council.

    Episode 5: Urban Impediments

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2017 7:31


    This episode delves into the difficulties Sydneysiders had moving about the city such as low-hanging signs threatening to smack tall pedestrians in the head. Roadworks and the construction of tramlines threw traffic into chaos, and streetlights weren't lit on nights of the full moon.

    Episode 4: Language, Please!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2017 7:57


    City of Sydney historian Dr Lisa Murray returns with complaints about offensive language and disorderly conduct by youths and men. We also hear from a letter about ladies' cricket and requests that the council take women's sport as seriously as men's.

    Episode 3: Sydney's Chinese Community

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2017 7:23


    In this episode, City of Sydney historian Dr Lisa Murray reflects on the thinly veiled xenophobia in some letters of complaint and discusses anti-Chinese sentiments of the 19th century.

    Episode 2: Chooks And Goats

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2017 6:00


    Imagine, if you can, Woolloomooloo crawling with farm animals. This episode explores just one of the many neighbourhood complaints made over the wicked smells and loud bleating from the goats that ran rampant in the city.

    Episode 1: Cesspits And Smells

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2017 8:06


    Meet the Nuisance Inspector, the City employee in charge of regulating sounds, smells and suspicious solids bothering the good people of Sydney.

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