Description
Date: Saturday, 21 November 2026
Time: 2pm – 3pm
Where: Level 3, Rockdale Library, 444 Princes Highway, Rockdale
Cost: Free
In the beginning, there was the river – before the beach, before the drain, before the dredging, before the dams, before numerous other actions that altered the stream.
River Dreams reveals the complex history of the Cooks River in south-eastern Sydney – a river renowned as Australia’s most altered and polluted. While nineteenth century developers called it ‘improvement’, the sugar mill, tanneries, and factories that lined the banks of Sydney’s Cooks River had drastic consequences for the health of the river. Local Aboriginal people became fringe dwellers, and over time the river became severely compromised, with many ecosystems damaged or destroyed. Later, a large section was turned into a concrete canal, and in the late 1940s the river was rerouted for the expansion of Sydney Airport.
While much of the river has been rehabilitated in recent decades by passionate local groups and through government initiatives, it continues to be a source of controversy with rapid apartment development placing new stresses on the region.
Presenter: Professor Ian Tyrrell, author of River Dreams.
Afterward, enjoy afternoon tea with a delightful selection of cakes, biscuits, and slices, including gluten-free choices.
Entry is free ($5 donation gratefully accepted)
All welcome!
