World Film Locations: Sydney

The capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia, Sydney has been represented onscreen since the earliest days of cinema. The site of the first British colony, the city constantly ranks highly for the quality of life afforded to Sydneysiders. An eclectic combination of tough inner city suburbs, beachside communities and greener outlying suburbs, Sydney as a setting for movies offers many intriguing possibilities. The tensions and differences found between its multi-cultural inhabitants, poorer and wealthier suburbs and central business district and beaches are reflected, exaggerated and critiqued in memorable movies such as The Last Wave, Puberty Blues, Strictly Ballroom and Little Fish among many others. Sydney is a city where sun, sport and surf rub shoulders with crime, racial tensions and class divides. 

Which spotlight articles would you propose to include in the book as a good reflection of your City’s relationship to film?

Kings Cross - a look at the use of Sydney's 'red light district; in films set in the city

Life's a Beach - how representations of Sydney's many beaches in movies have played into/exaggerated or reflected how we think of the spaces and those that frequent them.

UBU Films - a piece on the experimental film group who shot shorts and features in and around Sydney's inner city suburbs during the '60s and early '70s.

Sydney Opera House - a look at how one of the world's most recognisable landmarks has been used in movies - both Australian and international.

Crash, Bang, Wallop: Brian Trenchard-Smith's Sydney - how Trenchard-Smith used Sydney in his 'Ozploitation' movies set in the city.

Sojourner Cinema - a piece on the view of the city from an outsiders point of view - immigrants, tourists and non-Sydneysider Australians.