Urban renewal: a new Ultimo
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.
Running time: 3 minutes

'Ultimo: A typically industrial suburb’*
Howard McKern started work at the Sydney Technological Museum in Ultimo in 1945 as an assistant chemist, he left as deputy director in 1977.He describes many of the changes he saw in Ultimo and the Museum.
Running time: 8 minutes

Pyrmont development through an artist’s eyes
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.
Running time: 6 minutes

Ultimo development and protest
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.
Running time: 6 minutes

Pyrmont in the past
Phillip O’Toole (1913-2007) describes life in Pyrmont during the first half of the 20th century.  Phillip  was one of nine children, he 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.
Running time: 8.5 minutes

A diverse community
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.

Ultimo is home to a large Chinese community. 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.
Running time: 12 minutes