Old Sydney

Old Sydney by Paul Ashton is a richly illustrated Australian history book that lets you wander the city streets as they once were, from early colonial settlement to the lead-up to the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Built around carefully chosen archival photographs, it’s an absorbing visual journey through a changing harbour city, showing how Sydney’s identity was shaped block by block.

As you browse, familiar landmarks—George Street, Martin Place and Bennelong Point—appear in strikingly different guises. Alongside the cityscape, the images capture everyday life: what people wore, how they got around, and where they spent their leisure time, offering a vivid sense of Sydney’s social history without needing to be a specialist.

Perfect for lovers of local history, photography collections, and Sydney nostalgia, as well as anyone looking for a thoughtful gift.

Add this to your shelves and rediscover Sydney through a century of change.