New Year's Day at the Hotel Australia
New Year's Day at the Hotel Australia
Description
In the late 1930s an apprentice potter made a solemn pledge with some of his young work mates to meet up on New Year's Day, in the year 2000, in the famous Long Bar of the Hotel Australia. But the reunion never took place because, while sixty years later the young man in question, the author's father, was still going strong, the venue was longer standing. The Hotel Australia, Sydney's premier hotel throughout much of the twentieth century, had been demolished in 1972 to make way for the MLC Centre, a concrete skyscraper which was at the cutting edge of the city's redevelopment as a global business hub.
Charting a course through modernist literature, popular fiction, rugby league, shopping centres, suburban kitsch and prefab concrete, this book looks at the impact of the ethic of progress on Australia in the middle of the twentieth century, and the way in which a particular version of masculinity - the self-made man - became enshrined as a new version of Australian identity. At a time when the average tradesman is now a media celebrity, and as property developers scour the urban landscape for profit as never before, New Year's Day at the Hotel Australia looks back at the heyday of the self-made man, and the world he was busy building, even as forces much more powerful than he could muster were in the process of redeveloping it into something much bigger, blander and more corporate.
Customers Also Viewed
Discover your next great read at BookLoop, Australia's trusted online bookstore offering a vast selection of titles across various genres and interests. Whether you're curious about what's trending or searching for graphic novels that captivate, thrilling crime and mystery fiction, or exhilarating action and adventure stories, our curated collections have something for every reader. Delve into imaginative fantasy worlds or explore the realms of science fiction that challenge the boundaries of reality.
For those with a green thumb, our comprehensive range of gardening books provides insights and tips for all levels of enthusiasts. If you're aiming to enhance your financial acumen, our selection of finance, business, and management books offers valuable knowledge from industry experts. Craft lovers will appreciate our assortment of handicrafts, decorative arts, and crafts books, perfect for inspiring your next project. Engage your mind with our collection of hobbies, quizzes, and games books, or explore the mystical with our fortune-telling and divination guides.
Transportation aficionados can immerse themselves in our extensive transportation books, including detailed works on road and motor vehicles. Young readers are not left out, with a delightful array of picture books and early learning concepts designed to educate and entertain. Fans of contemporary narratives will find compelling stories in our contemporary fiction section. Embark on epic journeys with our fantasy and science fiction titles, or gain inspiration from real-life tales in our biographies and true stories collection. Health-conscious readers can explore our health and wholefood cooking books, focusing on specific diets and conditions.
Stay updated with the literary world by browsing our trending books, featuring the latest bestsellers and critically acclaimed works. Explore titles from popular brands like Minecraft, Pokemon, Star Wars, Bluey, Lonely Planet, ABIA award winners, Peppa Pig, and our specialized collection of ADHD books. At BookLoop, we are committed to providing a diverse and enriching reading experience for all.