The Rocks; Circular Quay

As the night was slowly falling over the city, town, and bush; From a slum in Bludgers Alley slunk the Captain of the Push; And his whistle loud and piercing woke the echos of The Rocks; and a dozen ghouls came sloping round the corners of the blocks...

Henry Lawson, "The Captain of the Push", 1892

'It's a funny thing', Jean said. 'You go to a new country, and you expect everything to be different, and then you find there's such a lot that stays the same'.

Nevil Shute, A Town Like Alice, 1950