The 80s saw many buildings demolished, precious few still saw activity.  Others were abandoned and left derelict until redevelopment and renovation began in the mid-90s.  The case with the homes that lined English St was a little different.  Residents were removed from all properties in the street and the area flattened in last 1980s.

20 years later, and not a lot has happened on the site.  A multi-story car park for the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital runs along what was the northern side of English Street.  Since the early 2000s, the southern side of the road has been used as overflow car parking.

English Street was marked on Google Earth/Maps as recently as 2009.

The only sign that the English Street ever existed are the old concrete gutters which still curve off Church Street.

Corner of Layton St & English St, Camperdown, c.1930s. (Sydney City Council SRC7193)

View Larger Map The same view 80 years later.  The old gutters can just be made out curving to the left of the photo up what used to be English Street.

From the new look English Street ‘portal’ you can find links to my Blog, Music and Photography as well as details on my book and any other projects that might be around the corner.

You can download a copy of the book at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/51721 or http://itunes.apple.com/au/book/no-one-told-us-it-would-be/id433062291?mt=11

No One Told Us It Would Be Like This

A Collection of Writing

by Wesley Gleeson

Paperback

978-0-9870652-0-9

Now Available at:

http://www.blurb.com/books/1955223

The light in our eyes was extinguished that day
No one told us it would be like this
Love and hate forged in bloody sacrifice
I’m coming home

No one told us it would be like this is the debut collection of writing from Wagga Wagga author, Wesley Gleeson.

At times deeply personal and in part autobiographical, No one told us it would be like this is a selected compilation of 15 years of poetry and essays.

Gleeson’s poetry grows out of the themes of the monotony of city life, culture, family, history, religion and living daily with a six year battle with depression.  The collection also includes four essays: a personal tribute to an Australian sporting hero, an exploration into the dark history of Australia and biographical pieces on two of his most influential role-models.

No one told us it would be like this is also the first publication from English Street Press, and will be available in paperback and e-book in early 2011.

$1 from the sale of each book and e-book will be donated to beyoundblue: the national depression initiative (www.beyondblue.org.au)

We have managed to pull a few pieces of juicy gossip out of the fire, the man married to a brothel owner, the second wife who was trying to kill the husband the mother who died of self inflicted strychnine poisoning, leaving her child to fend for himself on the banks of a river.  There is the circus and the Tivolli theatre, Strathfield council, links to Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy and Sierra Leone.

Amongst what will become a steady stream of history postings, the family history spanning the Dunns, Duncums, Di Salvias, Gleesons and Pilgrims with a few others pitched in on along the way.