In the early 20th century, homes, shops, factories – and sometimes entire neighbourhoods – across Sydney were demolished as the city underwent a period of rapid urbanisation. Photos of the 'old, unsanitary and ruinous' buildings were all captured in the City of Sydney's demolition books. These images, from 1900 to 1931, now give us a fascinating insight into working class life during a time of great social change. 1️⃣ Three boys and a dog pose for the camera outside a timber cottage at 6 Smith Street, Surry Hills. Freestanding timber cottages like this one with a timber shingle roof, were becoming increasingly rare by the turn of the century. City of Sydney Archives - A-0100027 2️⃣ Anthony Hordern’s Palace Emporium in the Haymarket covered an entire city block. On 10 July 1901, a fire swept through the department store. Five people died and half a million pounds worth of merchandise was destroyed. The majority of the facade was taken down with dynamite, but the 'big front wall' withstood the blast. The wall finally fell when it was pulled down by a rope dragged by two steam tram motors. City of Sydney Archives - A-0100021 3️⃣ A woman stands next to a timber lean-to at the back of a 5-roomed stone cottage at 1 Church Street, Pyrmont. The backyard is a quarried sandstone platform, typical of the geological landform of this area. In 1902, the council issued an order for the tenant and owner to demolish the building. City of Sydney Archives - A-01000156 4️⃣ Goulburn House, on the southeast corner of Druitt and Kent streets, was a boarding house in circa 1901, when this photograph was taken. This elegant building, with balconies around it, was previously a pub named the Goulbourn Hotel in the 1880s. Sydney Town Hall dominates the horizon behind. This site is now Town Hall House. City of Sydney Archives - A-01000175 Hit the link in our bio to explore an interactive photo map of more than 90 sites of demolished buildings across Sydney. #historyweek #sydney #HistoryWeek2022