Woolloomooloo

It was no wonder I was glad to be down in Woolloomooloo. The Old Fitzroy reminded me of how Kings Cross used to be.Told in his vivid and entertaining style Louis Nowra writes Woolloomooloo's biography drink in hand from the vantage point of the Old Fitzroy Hotel the cosy eccentric and wonderful pub on Dowling Street Woolloomooloo. It's a world of sex sin sly grog sailors razor gangs larrikins workers artisans murderers fishermen activists drinkers fashion designers tradies artists and the downright dangerous. It's also a story of courage resilience tolerance compassion. And though the pub has a real theatre it's the cast of real-life characters that are the stars of this show.Woolloomooloo's past wraps around its present. Louis - often accompanied by Coco the Chihuahua and other two-legged locals often walks the streets uncovering history - some official some never revealed. He stumbles across pockets of beauty and charm and the derelict and abandoned. Unforgettable - and unspellable - Woolloomooloo in this book is a place as fascinating as its name.