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Paradise, Purgatory and Hellhole: a history of Pyrmont and Ultimo
Audio tour and video interviews
Audio tour by curator, Anni Turnbull
[recorded July 2005]
18 minutes
Anni Turnbull takes you on an audio tour of the exhibition Paradise, Purgatory and Hellhole: a history of Pyrmont and Ultimo. Anni provides an outline of the exhibition as well as some behind-the-scenes information about what she discovered while developing the exhibition. You can use the audio to complement your visit, or just to get an idea of what's covered in the exhibition.
The video interviews below are now available in the exhibition, and will be added to the website in the coming weeks
Video interview of Phillip O'Toole, former Ultimo resident
[recorded 20 August 2004]
8 minutes
30 seconds
Phillip (born 1913), one of nine children, has vivid memories of a busy childhood — swimming in the baths, playing soccer and rugby for local teams — and a strong sense of local community.
His father, Joseph O'Toole started off as a carrier with his own horses and carts, and in 1916 bought three motor lorries and founded the Austral Sawdust Company.
Video interview of Howard McKern
[recorded 16 December 2004]
7 minutes 45 seconds
Howard McKern worked at the Museum from 1945 to 1977, starting as an assistant chemist and leaving as deputy director.
He describes many of the changes he saw in Ultimo and at the Museum.
Video interview of residents, Jennice and Raymond Kersh
[15 November 2004]
7 minutes
Jennice and Raymond Kersh
recall their childhood in Ways Terrace, public housing in Pyrmont in the 1950s. They evocatively describe growing up poor - but, as Jennice quotes Coco Chanel: 'There are those who have money, and those who are rich'. And Jennice says that they were rich, despite having very little money. They describe their family, extended family of 'aunties and uncles' and their Pyrmont tribe.
Video interview of residents, Mrs May Sue Kee Ng and Mr Ze Tao Zheng
[5 August 2004]
5 minutes 50 seconds
Mrs May Sue Kee Ng and her son-in-law, Mr Ze Tao Zheng, describe their lives in Ultimo during the past 30 years. Mrs Ng tells how she asked her relatives in China to buy mung beans and send them to her in Australia. With those, and 40 buckets in her backyard, she grew mung beans which she supplied to restaurants around Sydney.
Video interview of conservationist, Narelle Thirkettle, and artist, Jane Bennett [6 December 2004]
12 minutes
Narelle Thirkettle describes the transformation of Ultimo since she moved here in the 1980s, and about campaigning for open space in the suburb. Narelle is one of many residents in Pyrmont and Ultimo who have worked to keep building heights down, create parks and open space. Some of the parks are Macarthur Street, Mary Ann Street and Fig Street Parks.
Jane Bennett talks about the changes in Pyrmont, some of which she has documented through painting from 1986 to 1996. You can see some of her paintings on this website at Industrial heartland and Rapid change. Jane originally came to Pyrmont looking for cheap studio space. She became engaged with the landscape and started to paint it. She found that she could leave her easels and canvases in various locations around the suburb, and come back to them daily.
Video interview of of David Hegarty, CEO of multimedia company, Cadre Design
David Hegarty explains why he decided to move his educational multimedia company, Cadre Design, to Ultimo, and describes why he prefers the business to be here. This company is one of the new types of industry to come to Pyrmont and Ultimo in recent years. Others include the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Channel 10, Fox, and other information, entertainment, multimedia and design companies.
