Inner West Icons: the other side of Sydney

Sydney, Australia is an iconic city, full of unique things. But why does the Harbour hog all the icons? Grassroots stories of Sydney's inner west, in sound-rich, playful, compact documentary shows. It's local history done different! There's the Witches Houses of Annandale - the green asylum of Callan Park - inner west street art - Boomalli, Australia's first city-based Aboriginal artists cooperative - Reverse Garbage, a creative reuse centre in Marrickville - bandicoots and bikes of the GreenWay - and dogs of the inner west. Hosted by long-time inner westie and ex-ABC TV presenter Bernie Hobbs. Produced by award-winning podcast and documentary producer Jane Curtis with support from Inner West Council. Mixed by award-winning sound engineer John Jacobs. Artwork by Dylan Tonkin. Visit the website http://innerwesticons.com for detailed Show Notes with videos, photos and stories on each episode, extra inner west history, and where to get inner west souvenirs made by local makers.

Last refreshed: July 8th, 2025 at 6:13 PM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Dogs - dingoes to puppaccinos

Inner west Sydney is one of the doggiest places in the Australia. Even our most famous resident, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, meets world leaders with First Dog Toto. This episode is about the stories and history of dogs in the inner west. Hear about... the original dog, dingoes dogs in the Frontier Wars of Sydney hunting dogs of the early colony Sydney's most valuable dog of the 19th century, the Kangaroo Dog how Australia's policy of poisoning dogs started here the world's first dog-friend...

Jun 30, 2023•34 min•Season 2Ep. 1

Trailer Season 2: Dogs - The flight path - Petersham Bowling Club - Boomalli - Cooks River

Sydney, Australia is an iconic city, full of unique things. But why does the Harbour hog all the icons? Come to the other side of Sydney, Gadigal and Wangal Country, with long-time inner westie Bernie Hobbs. In Season 2, hear stories and the history of: 🐶 dogs in inner west Sydney 🖼️ Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative, an Australian first ⚡Petersham Bowling Club, a community club reborn without pokies ✈️ The flight path and the third runway, and 🌊 Australia's most wonky and toxic river (...

Jun 29, 2023•2 min

Callan Park - the green asylum

Callan Park is where you’ll find Callan Park Hospital for the Insane - closed but still standing. It's the biggest green space in the inner west. And it’s got a chequered history. Find out.. Why this spot was chosen for mental health? How ‘green therapy’ came and went? What is the crocodile of Callan Park? How the community fights to keep it going? And how the quality of our parks impacts mental health. Guests Hall Greenland, President of Friends of Callan Park Drew Roberts, Shared Knowledge Deb...

Jul 18, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Street art of the inner west

The inner west is home to Sydney’s street art. Find out.. How a world-famous, graffiti health campaign started here? Why the inner west has the most murals in Sydney? How its most iconic mural was painted? (illegally, in the middle of the night) What stencil inspired a top selling kids book? The other street art - stickers, pasteups, yarn bombing... And how it all still challenges us... Guests Tour guide, author and photographer Melinda Vassallo Not Quite Newtown: Author Peter Warrington and pho...

Jun 14, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Witches Houses of Annandale

A group of spooky homes in Sydney’s inner west are an unmissable landmark. How did these gothic mansions get here? What school song are they in? Why might they be Australia’s ‘first real estate display homes’? How did they become the setting for a best-selling YA novel? Host Bernie Hobbs is a long-time inner westie, and an award winning science writer and presenter on TV and radio. Guests Jane Fox : Assistant Principal at Annandale North Primary School Vanessa Berry : Writer and artist who works...

May 28, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 3

The GreenWay from Cooks River to Iron Cove - Sydney's urban green corridor

History and stories of the GreenWay - a 5.8km long green space that runs down the guts of Sydney's inner west. In this episode, meet an original 'guerilla gardener' and and hear how a 'creepy canal' was transformed by the community and local councils the fight to get it finished...with the help of a special hat, and how people use the GreenWay, and why it's good for us? Read the Show Notes....

May 14, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Reverse Garbage in Marrickville - Sydney's creative reuse centre

The history and stories of Reverse Garbage , a creative reuse centre in Sydney's inner west. Why did a bunch of schoolteachers start Australia’s first green social enterprise? What was it like in the 70s and 80s? What's the connection between Reverse Garbage and Sydney Mardi Gras? Why is the social impact of Reverse Garbage as important as their environmental impact? And, their most popular and weirdest donations.... Read the Show Notes Transcript in Google Drive...

May 10, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Trailer Season 1: Reverse Garbage - GreenWay - Callan Park - Witches Houses - street art

Sydney, Australia is an iconic city, full of unique things. But why does the Harbour hog all the icons? Come to the other side of Sydney, Gadigal Wangal Country, with long-time inner westie Bernie Hobbs. Hear histories and stories of... Reverse Garbage, Marrickville - Leichardt’s Boomalli Aboriginal Artist Co-operative - The Witches Houses of Annandale - The GreenWay from Lilyfield to Hurlstone Park - Callan Park, Balmain - Street art and murals (Everywhere in the inner west) and Bonus episode: ...

Apr 26, 2022•2 min

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android