Balmain

Balmain-watercolor and charcoal

Balmain is a inner west suburb of Sydney, 6 km west of the central business district.  It is on a peninsula with Port Jackson surrounding three sides.  The urban landscape is mainly a result of the industrialisation of the area.  In the 1800's onwards into the 20th century there were shipyards, metal foundries, boilermaking, a coal mine and many other industries and engineering companies.  These industries created a demand for cheap housing and this is what we still see today.  Gentrification began in the 1960's as industries moved out and people wanted to live close to the city and  the harbour. It is a charming area and now an expensive suburb in which to buy a home.
I sketched this scene from the car on a cold and windy day.