Author(s): Joan Lawrence

Travel & Pictorial

This 2010 edition has stunning new photographs and revised and updated text. The suburbs of Bankstown, Bardwell Park, Bass Hill, Belfield, Belmore, Beverly Hills, Campsie, Canterbury, Chester Hill, Chullora, Condell Park, Croydon Park, Earlwood, East Hills, Hurlstone Park, Lakemba, Regents Park, Revesby, Undercliffe, Villawood and Yagoona are included. A history of this diverse, multicultural area covering the Aboriginal history, white settlement, early land division, speculating and subdivision, commercial growth, trams and trains and waterways in a generously illustrated book. Canterbury and Bankstown areas were linked for the Aboriginal people by pathways and streams. The Cooks and Georges rivers were explored by officers of the First Fleet and some of the earliest land grants were given out to constables. The area supplied Sydney's timber and fruit and vegetables but land speculation boomed after the building of the railway. Further land subdivision created other booms in the 1920s and 1930s and by the 1960s huge shopping centres were built and new immigrants moved into these areas. both cities are homes to cultural diversity.