"The Infamous Suicide Towers” A walk-through Sydney’s high density housing estates - Into The Hood
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
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Welcome to the first episode of "Into the Hood"
On this episode Spanian walks through the "Infamous Suicide Towers” which is a part of Sydney City's Public housing estates. From Surry hills, to Redfern and finishing at Waterloo, Spanian showcases the remaining Public Houses of the inner city.
Produced by Spanian Media
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Thank you for this! I used to live in one of those million dollar houses on the edge of one of these housing commission communities until one day I left the abuse, with nowhere to go. I had one friend I could trust & he lived 2 blocks away, in Northcote, Devonshire St, so that's where I spent the next almost 2yrs. Literally from one side of the financial street to the other. From my million dollar home to housing commission, in an instant ! It was a shock for about a week and then I met & made friends with some of the most wonderful, supportive people I've ever had the privilege of knowing. I will always consider myself as lucky for these new friends, picked me up & cared for me (a snooty upper class twit who had been beaten down to nothing) & built me back up, to stand on my own 2 feet again. Without them, I would not be here today! Unfortunately those were the pre mobile phone days, so all contact was lost but remember, in life, NEVER EVER judge a book by its cover. I am alive today thanks to Jules, Drew & Steve primarily & all their friends. The most caring, loving & inclusive people I've ever had the privilege of knowing. Hugs x
PS love Kirsten sunny Maguire (just incase Jules or Drew see this post. Or Leilani, #1 daughter X)😍
You use your words so well brother. Thank you for sharing this story, and emphasising the facts that you where able to get back on your feet because of people you said yourself, not so long ago you would’ve basically feared and wanted not to make eye contact with if they where crossing the same street as you. This is so candid, and respectful, you shout out to those boys who saved you. I love that brother. It’s a perception that society more often than not has of people who are simply from a different walk of life than they are. And as it so often turns out, those people more often than not actually end up being not just better, but actually real. That book that you mention, is far more valuable than any book you’ll ever find on the other side. Amongst those who just look down on everyone, not thinking for one second that there might actually be a really good story in that book, and behind that cover. That they could actually take something away of true value, instead of the false value they perceive within their pathetic obsession with materialism and status. Life has so much more to offer, and people, REAL people will actually give you so much if you just let them. And if you learn to appreciate them. Glad you found your feet king. Respect. 🙏🏻
That is interesting to know… I didn’t even know there were so many housing commission places so close to city… I knew there were some but not that many…
Anyway on another note, the videos on the playlist on my channel might interest some people!
No you didn’t 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@fuckgoogle9628because nothing can ever be true, right?
The amount of respect the locals have for spanian is incredible, such a positive role model for people who have walked a similar path. Looking forward to this new series
bro does Spanian still live in the housos? why does he if he's got the youtube big bucks?
@@Wooplotno he does not
Except that bloke in Woollo that time
@@rustykettle123 that aboriginal that spanian slapped. "Come down the lane you smelly ass"
My son and his partner often talked about "Spanian" and I never gave it a second thought. Then I saw the thumbnail for this and recognized it right away. We lived in the Suicide towers in the 70's. I was 9 to 11. Once a month someone would go to the 14th floor and jump. Mum worked overtime and me a few kids in the block would go into the laneway behind the shops in Elizabeth St and go through their garbage. Playboys in the Newsagent's garbage, syringes in the chemists which we used as water pistols till some of the older kids started buying them off us for 20cents each. We had no concept of drugs at that time, just that we could get money for pinball machines. I had no concept of the dangers or the lower social economic environment, I thought it was great. We could see the harbour bridge from our lounge room and had the city as our back yard. We walked to the Easter show and went to the top floor with binoculars to watch the Rabito's home game, and walked to the Crystal Palace (pinball palpour) in George St . It wasn't till I had grown up and started connecting incidents of my youth with the real world that I realized how dangerous it was and how lucky we were to not get into too much trouble. Now when my kids talk about Spanian I know who that is :-) . This bought back many great memories. Thank you.
I really enjoyed reading your comment. It felt like these were my own memories
Awesome description of your childhood in this infamous part of Sydney. I kept wanting to hear more.
no one cares
@@charlielittle3524 yeah nah Charlie, 181 people care enough to upvote it. What you mean to say, is that you live a sad life and you don't care.
Spanian the real meaning of turning your life around. From a mad junkie to a well known RUclipsr who has fans and inspires the youth that the world can be your oyster when you put your mind to it. ITS ALL EATS ❤️
Couldn’t agree more. He has completely turned his life around. An inspiration to all of us.
Hundred boys
Bit of a hectic way to compliment someone
@Bl60dmoney oath I was gonna say... needed a lil more respect than saying it like that 😂
Well facts are facts
this is a series i can watch all day, really looking forward to more of these
My abuelita lives in the Northcott. She came from Peru in the 70's and has lived here since. She's 101 now and still keeps her little apartment looking like any other grandmothers house. She's never wanted to leave because of the views, and the proximity to everything else. This building housed a lot of immigrants, now sadly there are a lot of people struggling with drug abuse. There's always a fight going on, but overall there is a lot of respect in this community. We've never had any trouble and the security guards are doing a really great job. Thanks for this video, it's a side to Surry Hills not many people see or understand.
Sadly the way to resolve some of these percussion problems, is to have tougher stand on drug issue. Otherwise, there is no end to the tunnel. Have u ever wonder? How the average Joe like us is working our ass off, and these people are living day to day on Centrelink payment puffing away abusing the system!
Man this is unreal. I've lived my whole life in Sydney and this just shows how much I don't know about the city I live in. I hear and see stuff on the news but its nothing like this proper look, you really opened my eyes.
I love this Idea, It will be really interesting to see you walk through some of the hoods in South America like the favelas in Brazil. I had a walk through them a few years ago and it's a completely different wold.
same 🤯
Yea I didn’t know had so many housing commission places near the city… I knew there were some but not that many…
On another note, the videos on the playlist on my channel might interest some people!
@@Younis1446 I didn't know either until I was employed as a receptionist at the little pharmacy in Poet's Corner Spanian was literally standing in front of. It was extremely eye-opening how this is the centre of the biggest city in Australia, and it makes me wonder if the HUGE communities of Aboriginals/Torres Strait Islander and Eastern European immigrants in Redfern plays any part of this urban decay.
I mean Sydney is fucking huge so no surprise
As a delivery driver, I delivered appliances into all of those towers. Scary times back in 2013. Sad to see people live like they do. Great episode Spanian. Make sure you take Columbia with you to South America. LOL
Yeah same bro I’ve delivered been in a lot those units a lot funny experiences.. good people but straight out I rather deliver to them then people on the beaches 💯
@@keputaukafa3254 agree totally.
sad because it so expensive how are you meant to live a better life when you can hardly pay the rent .
I was also delivery driver and I have been in similar situation. I am not from Sydney, but I live in another major city in Australia. Do you mind sharing what's scary about?
@zarnitintunzanyzack delivered a fridge to an apartment once, person inside only had a mattress for furniture. When they opened the door they had a syringe in their hand. As we installed the fridge, they sat on the mattress, injected and passed out. This happened on multiple occasions. We left quietly, but the risk in there was high and the security would always warn us of risk. We are talking 10 years ago.
What a blast from the past, I was a cop in the area around 2004-2006 and again in 2009-2014, I have so many memories, it was one of the best places I worked. While people think cops are dogs, I personally had a laugh with a lot of those people, admidst to chasing them through the pottery and being shoved around on those tiny balconies in Northcott. Very well done doco, no better way to see the perception through the lens of someone who lived the life.
Are you still in the force? Where are you now? My friend just got out of the academy and is based at Red fern Station. Fuck that....
@@Looking-great watch out they will report you hear for any comment they dont like or shines bigger than them sadly. The 2002 lol thats when the heroin drought started now wonder he was paying $1800 a day for a shot say no more
1000% you should take Columbia with ya to all the other hoods. You two vibe so good together.
The haunted series are still my favourite 👌
Yup
was just about to say the same thing!!
Yep, give us what we want Spanios
Columbia laughing at that rando hollering out at Spanian from his ute was my favourite part of the whole vid - a kind of reminder that no matter how big or famous someone from the block gets there's always going to be the OG bro to keep them grounded.
It was either that moment or that tweaker who was all "I heard you're a rich cunt now Spanian."
More Columbia ! 😍
Worked as a furniture removalist for decades, contracted to the government moving housing commission residents in these areas and towers, units. Some wild days were had, some wild things were seen. Never forgotten.
my bf does the same thing... some of the stories he tells me are crazy
My mates mum was a social worker for years doing visits to these types, some of the stuff she said was wild get to truly see into peoples private lives all the weird shit.
Were you with the Giraffe guys, our friendly bed bug removal specialists? We used the term "Northcott removals" - drop it straight over down to the main entrance. When I first started working around there you could still park out the front of the building. The minute you caught something moving out of the corner of your eye, you'd instinctively put your arm up to cover your head. Not that it would have done much good with a mattress if it was tossed from high enough. How some things were shoehorned into the lifts was another source of amazement.
@@PedTubeYou Awesome!! No, Turner and Son. We used to do a lot of evictions...that was fun. We'd arrive with a locksmith and the sheriff, sheriff would turf the resident and locksmith would change lock then they'd leave. We'd start packing shit, then 9/10 times resident would come back and want to punch on and take there shit back. Had a bloke attack me with a hacksaw one day, worst was a day out the back of Liverpool and a bloke shot a hole in the side of the truck!!!!!
I'm studying urban planning at uni and have learnt more from this video than I have in my lectures. We briefly touched on "disorderly cities" and "urban decay" but it was quickly glossed over. Love this 😄😄
this isn't urban decay bruh
Stay in class my g hahah
I say this with all respect to your endeavour and will. Unfortunately, urban planning is not about planning, at all. It's about representing the will of others and appeasing those that govern and those with their own self interest. An urban planner is essentially a de facto lawyer. I hope that you are able to put yourself in a professional position in which you are acting on behalf of the community, rather than in the interest of those that seek to exploit it.
@@davidbrayshaw3529 an urban planner is not a lawyer lmao, the reason we have shit cities is because the government doesn't listen to urban planners. They just let developers have free reign and build more toll roads instead of public transport. It's all about money.
No, they're not "a lawyer" at all, that is why I described them as "de facto lawyers", as they represent the wants of their clients, be they government or the private sector.
They don't sit around sketching drawings with community centres, playgrounds and daycare facilities included. They go into battle on behalf of those that wish to instigate such a project. I have spent many, many nights in the company of a town planner, and on a number of occasions, her professional piers. I reserve my appraisal.@@moefoemonkey
Never seen this geezer in my life but the respect the locals have for him shows he must be a class dude. Can't believe i just watched a sydney hoods tour for 50 min.
My mum and me were the fifth people to move into Danial Solander when it opened my mum is still there after 40 plus years .
It was a very peaceful place were I spent my childhood
I moved away in 1982
No crime,no graffiti, had my first drink across the road in the summer set pub
My mum was on the news as the longest resident in the area
She can still be seen in the community garden out back on most days
Thanks for the memories
Mad respect to your mum! As someone who lived at Northcott at its worst, I salute your mum! She's out-lived a LOT of others who were housed there!
amazing, why didnt she move when the place went down hill? Just curious if you dont mind.
@@krisb-travel she always said she never was going to move she wants to live out her life there.
She has been there 48 years I was 14 when we mov d there
She is quite upset about the government wanting to remove them units
She has formed a group which protests against the demolition
That's how she ended up on current affairs
Huge love to your Mum! 💫
Hi Spanian, I was an Emergency Nurse RN. Worked RPA caring for the Redfern community. I always knew the crime, hardships, the drugs that altered your lives. You have courage and can make a change for the youths, give them hope and a future. Stay positive, you cant change your history, but help change others.
Thanks for de-stigmatising our housos. My work involves looking after people in Surry Hills, Woolloomooloo, Waterloo and Redfern and I've been inside many different public housing units. There are a lot of good and old and super disadvantaged people who live in these places. Love this vid!
It's a shame they are making some people that have been there for decades and appreciate what they have and look after it move into outer areas that kind of move can be stressful and put people in dark places and dark state of mind like they're useless
A lot of junkies, dangerous and generally unpleasant people. It's good they're being moved further away
@@HULKHOGAN1 I got an unpleasant neighbour should I tell him to move to the stick's? Also once their in the new ghettos they want to keep them in people will be crying about tax payers dollars being spent on new apartments that aren't being maintained you lot will still find something to complain about if a few bad apple's give the complex a bad name deal with them not the entire community especially the elderly and those with mental issues but I get a feeling there's no point trying to explain anything to some people enjoy your new rich snoody migrant suburbia you'll be crying about in 5 years time
I wish the Australian media would learn a thing or two from this guy.
This is the Australian media
@@CapitalPiratez it is ignorant comments and mindset like yours that keeps their strong grip on the news cycle and narrative. Stop living in your grandiose delusional and work this grass root movement to reach its peak.
@@CapitalPiratezbruh this guy aint the media he js a vlogger
Yes if not vaccinated no freedom for years 🖤💉
@@Daichi123he never said he was the media “brah” 😂😂😂😂
Bro, I don't know you from a bar of soap but I have to say, it is really inspiring how you have taken your life of troubles and turned it into your life of dreams and hopes while touring the globes enjoying what everybody's life should be. Congrats brother and all the best to you, the goals and dreams you want to pursue and that it all keeps going for you. Well done
He's a cockwomble
You don't know a bar of soap?😮
Please Spanian do this series. I have travelled around the world and did a similar thing and i found different countries put stuff into perspective and make you really grateful for AUS.
What do you mean?
😂😂
@@honeymilk4160spanian in the favelas would be fucking mad
@@GeneralRection1997in Mexico or Latin America but they have most journalists killed in the world im mexican half chilean it’s bad there
@@honeymilk4160 he's probably referring to the fact that ghettos in other countries are much worse than the ghettos in aus. Check out the hood drive through videos of Mexico and the US.
What makes this so much better is that he's from the hood. The fact that he feels comfortable there and doesn't have to fear approaching people and getting their stories.
Bosanac, lol. Means Bosnian. Nothing to be scared of in the hood as most hoodrats never left their locale, they're only tough in their little corner where they ironically feel safe as its all they know. Dudes used to try to pull some sh*t on me back in the day, they step off quickly when they realise you are not to be played with.
@wigwam1747makes sense cause he said it's been years since he lived in the area
@wigwam1747there's some creatures out there
Been living in Northcott with my mum since 1991. I was born and raised here. We have been waiting for a transfer for years now, bur sadly we have never been able to get approved. Honestly from personal experience, growing up here has been very rough! Especially when it comes to night time. Most nights my mum and I will have to double lock our main door plus screen door due to the random banging and them trying to break our door open. I’ve also been followed multiple times to my door by strangers who I have never seen before. There’s rats everywhere, people shitting in the stairwell, needles on the floor, people stealing and damaging our plants. I don’t allow my teenager to roam around the area without me. I’m hoping and praying that our new application for transfer will be approved this time.
I hope you get the transfer that you have been applying for. I have been told by many people who have been to visit their friends at Northcotte that it is quite a dangerous place, but I've never actually known anyone who lives there. You mentioned at night that you need to double lock both the screen door & the main door, so nobody can get in your flat. I always wondered what it's like at night in Northcotte estate, maybe that's why, in Spanian's hood video, there was hardly anyone around. Probably everyone is around at night. Is there a lot of rats?
anyway, all the best.
Hey thanks for commenting really appreciate it! We just got a call from housing and they said our transfer hasn’t been approved, which really brought me down yesterday. Anyway yeah Northcott is definitely different when it comes to night time, wouldn’t recommend anyone to live here.
And yes the rats here are disgusting, there’s so many of them just running around. You can smell it too which makes me wanna vomit
Hi Carlee, I'm really sorry that you got the call from housing, stating that your transfer once again has been denied, I can totally understand this news upsetting you.
Is there an option to appeal the decision? as I thought social housing tenants were allowed to transfer, on the provisor that if the initial transfer offer was rejected, by a tenant, then a second offer was granted, however if the second offer was declined by a tenant then no more transfere offers granted.
Having said this, I would have thought if transfer offers have been made by housing and a tenant declines the offer on reasonable grounds, for instance, unable to accept a transfer offer due to the property being unsuitable because of medical issues, then I'd have thought a third offer of housing that is more appropriate to a tenants circumstance would be granted.
Just a suggestion, perhaps take the matter to your local MP? They may or may not be able to assist with your transfer, though you might have already tried this avenue.
How awful bout the rats being everywhere and causing a stench that isn't healthy for all you tenants and either housing or the council should be doing a mass fumigation to eliminate rats.🐀
Anyway, best wishes to you and your family, I hope that somehow a positive solution for a transfere is found.
Carlee, please don't give up on your quest for a transfer. Sometimes, we have to try thousands of times before success, and you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by perseverance.
Yes I know you may think it's easy for me to sit here and say this but believe me and, I never thought I'd be saying this but after many times struggling to achieve a positive outcome and failing I got back up and tried again and eventually succeded in getting what I fought so hard for, your transfer issue might seem unachievable but definitely not impossible.
Being in the uk its hard to imagine australia being any different to what we grew up watching on neighbours lol,seeing stuff like this makes it feel real familia to how our housing estates are and makes u realise there are hoods everywhere,brilliant work spanian
People in the UK know about neighbors? Wtf 😂😂😂 tbh everyone takes the mick out of that show over here
@@icewallowcome1448 yea neighbours and home n away has been on uk tvs everyday for like 35 years
@@icewallowcome1448 bro neighbours is HUGE in the uk it's crazy
its in many countries bro
@@icewallowcome1448
Neighbours represents upper middle class. Fast disappearing.
It actually speaks volumes with how many people know and come up, or yell out greetings to you. Man of the people.
My family were one of the intial tenants in Northcott (9th floor), back then it was a great place to live, a community in itself. It was very interesting to see how things and the suburb has changed over the decades.
Just a side note....Queen Elizabeth actually visited and opened the complex!
My grandparents lived in D block from the time it opened (early 60’s?????) until they passed in the late 90’s. I absolutely loved visiting them there, playing over at the park. It’s pretty heartbreaking watching this to see what has happened to the place
Woah Spanian!! This is amazing! I’m an urban planner and seeing a city through this lense is so important!! One of my favourite things about your book was the way you described all the different parts of Sydney and where all the jails and juvenile detention centres were!!
Please keep these videos coming!!
Booooooooo
Proper fan ✊🏾💯
Wtf 😂
No stealing “ intellectual property”.
I worked as a courier in the 90's in Sydney and remember the Waterloo hood was absolutely scary. Was always getting yelled at by someone or threatened just for doing deliveries. I remember large groups always loitering around the place. Looks so tame and quiet now.
i worked in Waterloo at Farmer Bros liquor in 95 and everyday we had issues with tha bruvas coming in trying to high tail it with grog and getting held up sometimes , i am amazed i didn't get shot or beaten up for the 12 months i was there but i was huge back then so i guess that might explain it.
It's not. It might not be as bad, but it is still very bad.
so bad in fact the cabs refuse to pick up anyone after dark there , even if they are straight looking and white as snow.@@aaronmckechnie4467
Yeah a shame they didn’t do South West Sydney (Claymore, Airds ,minto ) back in early 90s all those housing estates nearly gone and gentrified
@Sargsi That's a good thing. Finally light at the end of the tunnel for Claymore
The thing I enjoyed the most is that you were part of that environment, did time and obviously were one of “bad guys” seeing you have turned your life around and sharing these areas on video is fantastic. Very impressed to the cleanliness of all the areas . I’m sure there are lots of people living there that are not addicts of one sort or another and just life’s twists and turns that have put them here. Thank you for sharing and look forward to watching further tours
This is mad brah! Need Colombia on more things for sure, absolute character!
I often go through these areas on my more "adventurous" lunch time walks and I've always wondered what the story was with the estates and what life must be like there. For the record, I've never had any issues and never felt unsafe. Thanks for the education!
My Uncle lived at Northcot for over 10 years. We visited him often & some of the things we’ve witnessed in there is by far the most heart breaking realities of generational crime just like you say in the video. The amount of over doses that had gone down whilst we were there is unimaginable. The death rate of that building is scarier than the building/people itself.
This is great ! Bringing perspective and an insight into the world that not all of us experience and a world that is often silenced and misrepresented amongst society that would rather pretend it doesn’t exist !! Mad love spanian ✊🏽
Thanks for sharing this man, really love watching what you got going and I cant wait to see you grow bigger. Your helping alot of people get through tough times in life with your content belive it or not. Respect brother and thank you again
I grew up in the Northcott buildings and left when I was 15. There was such a thin line separating the wealthier parts of surry hills with the run down housing estates and yet it couldn't feel more worlds apart. So detached from the rest of the world. A place that truly does feel like a world of its own. And now, 18 years later, every now and then I'll be in the area and go around to check it out. Now being on the "other side" but I still feel this deep sense of connection and attachment to the area. It's so hard to explain to my well to do friends exactly what it was like growing up there. They'll never truly understand.
I think you explained a lot to me, here in Croatia like all former socialist countries we have lots of this housing but they aren't dirty or full of gangs and drugs like similar blocks in "Western" Europe. What you say about being next to affluent areas could be a reason why it so bad in Paris London etc - While here we don't have such rich/poor divide & it's not a stigma to live in social housing, maybe that's it? Stockholm is now very bad & I hate to say the hoods there are 99%immigrants (sadly often from Balkans) Anyway glad you doing OK- must say these areas of Sydney seem looked after compared to most cities but I'm sure it has it problems too Take care
What an amazing video that gets into the heart of this area. I spent a few years living in Surry Hills and working in Waterloo & Moore Park in the early 2000’s & this walk around tour brings back so many great memories. Parking on the street was the only problem I ever encountered as the car used to get broken into all the time to the point where I just left it unlocked with nothing inside. Amazingly it was never stolen, they were just looking for small things. Spanian has done an awesome job of documenting this & it’s doubtful a film crew for a major network would be able to equal the honesty of this video. Pure class 100%!
Mate what can I say. You've had a rough start to life, but still managed to pull yourself up and make this awesome channel. Your videos can show the young folks that even if they've made some mistakes, or grown up rough, it doesn't have to be your entire life, and you can do well for yourself outside of all that. Props to you mate, big time. Myself I'm living in public housing, as a 50 year old, but I'm lucky that in my part of country NSW it's not like these towers, or other hoods in Sydney. It's just a normal house in a normal street, with no, obvious in your face, issues.
It's inspiring to see you explore your roots. To spread awareness about these disadvantaged communities and educate the people stresses how IMPORTANT it is to advocate for change in these areas. You are so humble, unashamed and respectful as vlogger. To see my city in a different light is really interesting. PLUS I love how you described the kebab, almost made me drool. Keep up the good work!!
It's not disadvantage when you have housing, the dole, basically free school/tafe/uni, medicare oh AND soft on crime courts to get by.
Don't feel sorry for these people when they cry their crocodile tears.
@@Thisisfifty gee you make it sound like they live like king's
Im an immigrant from the Philippines, I moved and live in Sydenham for two years before Covid. Used to cycle in that area redfern waterloo surryhills, those housing looks like a middle class rich condominium in the Philippines. Never experienced problems, maybe because of fully tatted. Now im moving to Logan City, it does have bad reputation too but seems fine to me. Hood actually have many good people just don’t messed with them they’re realest people that u will meet.
My friend took his own life just 2 or so days ago, he used to watch me watching Spanian videos during ICT. I remember one time a couple new videos of creators he knew I watched (including Spanian) popped up on my RUclips feed, and he said to me “we eating good tonight”. He was only 17 years old, he was a smart student who achieved good grades, he had been grinding at McDonalds to save up for a car and was doing a lot of hours to get his drivers licence. He was the funniest one in the group. Rest in peace mate, I’ll miss you everyday
sorry for your loss brother
I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. Deepest condolences.
sorry cuz, sad when a youngy does himself in.
@@TempestKarma No he had a great house I have been there to have his birthday party once
When I was homeless (for about ten years) I used to stay at refuges ( mostly Oasis and Don Bosco) half the time and the other half I slept in parks in Surry hills and sometimes we would sleep in the laundry rooms of Northcott. I was homeless from a young age, about 13-14 years old. Living on the street was safer than what I had going on at home. It is not a time I miss at all. I am now older, have a lovely stable home and beautiful children who will NEVER deal with the crap I did!
Bro I love how you walk around and always say hi to everyone that recognizes you, best lad
Best episode you have ever produced. The way you’re growing as a content creator has to be admired. Well done mate, enjoyed every second of that. Eets 💪🏻
Thank you for doing this walk through. I’m so glad I found this by accident. When you say “imagine this place in 1998?” I can say I was there! No security back then just madness. I’m living off the nostalgia right now.
You have such a nice smile. Unlike absolutely *everyone* who passed you on the street, I've never heard of you before but it's clear to see why you're so well known and liked. I remember when I first moved to Sydney, I would nod & smile at everyone I passed on the street, which was generally met with looks of confusion & surprise. Over time I began to do it less & less, but I've never stopped smiling at those less fortunate; be it old, crippled, homeless, etc. Except for 1-2 super cranky homeless guys, it's always these people who smile back. The world would be a much better place if we all took a second to acknowledge each other more often. Anyway, great video, great idea for content, looking forward to more - and hope to see you filming in Marrickville one day soon!
This is your best video, we can feel your enthusiasm for the area, you know the people, lifestyle and how the suburb moves. And knowing facts about the area adds some credibility to the video. Great work ! Subbed and eager for this new series.
I used to live near redfern station, where the housing is private and very, very expensive, in a share house where the 3 of us, white-collar peeps could barely afford to split the rent. It's amazing how such expensive properties are mere steps away from these projects. I used to walk through them during my evening walks in summer. I grew up in Campbelltown though so I never felt too out-of-place.
Spanian - this is the most interesting video made about Sydney / Australia - better than any journo’s work. Amazing! More of these and you should have a Netflix series.
Looking forward to this series... Great work. This channel has come so far.
You can see the vision that the architects and the community had in mind when designing these places. Which could easily be restored to continue supporting families to live inner a city, but in some instances allowed to get rundown to justify the gentrification. Locations designated as high rise surrounded by open green spaces are a dream for the real estates developers to the detriment of the community currently living there who are being forced out.
I'm keen for this series. Great idea! The housing estate in Wollongong near Belmore basin is similar to this with the views. The estate is right next to the beach and has the nicest views of the ocean.
I'm Portugese and i just wanted to clarify that drugs aren't LEGAL in Portugal the way everyone here in aus says. Drug use is DECRIMINALISED because they feel drug use should be treated as a public health issue and those people should be offered help rather than prison. So if your selling drugs, you still go to prison. Everyone talks about Portugal here in Aus like you can shoot up in the streets and they will let you there when they still won't.
Dayummm your beautiful 😍❤️ of deffo marry you and choke you around abit hehhe
He should do a walk around wollongong do mangerton and suburbs like bellambi, dapto etc
My Grandmother & Uncle lived at the end of Dowling St in Woollo for at least 25 years, I have lots of memories of Woollo from the 90s and early 2000s and whenever I go back down to kick it with mates who still live in the area, its crazy to see how much its all changed, the same can be said about Waterloo and Redfern, its definitely a lot safer now.
How good were the old days lad I used to get around there in 2001 2002
i lived and worked around there (Waterloo) in the 90's and managed to get thru it without a scratch !@@doingadlay
My brother was murdered there in 2008 he was thrown off a balcony at Northcott flats police wouldn’t even investigate it properly because of the stigma around the building put it down to suicide didn’t even make the paper news nothing very sad 💯
I'm really sorry about your brother and how that loss was handled. Thats horrible and you and your family deserved better. I wish you well.
I got to hand it to Spanian
When he was doing fairly silly, shallow Tiktok videos, I didn't see it leading to actual high-quality, informative, entertaining videos like this.
Excellent work!!
T
Yeah grew through it all
fkn good propaganda ay(edit) marketing ***
Thats crazy you ran into colombia, what happened to the ghost hunts those were the best videos. Perhaps you should bring colombia into the hood series as he was your right hand man back in the days in the hood, would only be fitting.
15:27 thank you for shedding light on this situation mate. First time I've come across your channel. This is good stuff Spanian. Love the idea of walking through hoods around different cities around the world, and showing the humanity in those areas too.
Proper content every time. My life is a world apart from this but I am 100% invested.
You have a legitimate gift that the planet needs to appreciate.
Cheers, man.
@@TempestKarmaYou're so angry 😂😂😂
This is the best video from Spanian!
I use to do volunteer work on Wellington St near the Joseph Banks tower in Waterloo. I remember having lunch at the Chicken Express that used to be on the corner of Raglan St and Henderson Rd. I was walking once on Wellington St with a friend and then I pointed to an apartment building stating that I wanted to live in it, whilst not realising at the time it was a housing commission.
For anyone interested .... look up the documentary that was made in the 1970s called "Waterloo" by Tom Zubryicki. The original intention was to rehouse people from Waterloo to the then new housing commission estate of Minto. The goverment failed at this plan due to the Green bans led by Jack Mundey so they couldn't move everyone but looks like they are now getting their way.
I think its surreal and amazing how the poor got to live near the Water in Millers Point/The Rocks. Sadly the poor have now lost the battle to those greedy developers who are making Sydney unaffordable.
Much love and respect to you Spanian for all you are and doin xx You are not only sharing and documenting our history, homes and struggles of past & present for the world see but also giving us great memories in the future when watching your walk throughs. Can you please do a walk through of Newcastle's public housing please xx
Spannian lad you've blown TF up fr I still remember when your vids didn't even hit 10k , just goes to show ya put in the work you'll see results no matter how long it take ❤️ congrats bruz glad to see ya living well
Did some community work in these areas helpin out, and im tellin ya. Once you get to know the people and listening to their story it honestly shocked me at how strong they are to keep fightin the good fight. It was mad good times, not as scary for me coz i grew up in similar areas my whole life. Madd love spanian
Really looking forward to seeing the rest of this series. So interesting to see how people live around the world, and how governments provide different services, etc.
I moved to a private house on cope st 9 years ago, a small white girl in her early 20s and I can say this community is lovely. I never judged and treated the community with respect. You look after the locals and they look after you. Never once had an issue and it brings back memories seeing you walking around and everyone knowing everyone.
Wollongong here and I must catch up train up that way and look about. It looks good
It's so weird seeing how much Northcott has changed since I was living there. (14th floor). I was there in the early 2000's, and it was a dump! That was when it was really bad, with a lot of scary shit going down on nearly an hourly basis. If it wasn't drug dealing, it was bashings, stabbings, "jumpers" - you name it. I even remember someone being thrown from the top balcony!
It's just a shame that it's these instances the wider public hears about, and not the good, respectable residents that also live there
This really brought back memories - some great, and some that a pretty effing terrifying. Thanks for doing this Spanian!
Good video lad , there’s so much history through out Sydney that would blows peoples minds.
My family has been here since the mid 1800’s, established themselves in woolloomooloo , I got a taste of that city life growing up and it was by far the best experience, not on the same scale of what you had going on but so much that my great great grandfathers face was painted on the back of the pcyc building.
Sydney city represent 👊🏽
Would Love to see more tours Around aussie cities man, our cities need this type of documentation
Loving your content so much bro ❤️❤️❤️
@@jqkexv Haha aye brother wsg
I loved that Spanian. I grew up around there back in the 70's. Brought back some good memories. The name of the Tower was Marton Tower. Keep up the good work.❤
I've never heard of Spanian, but he's obviously pretty famous (a lot of fans on the street).
As someone who doesn't know about him, I can say he definitely knows how to tell a story and the person editing this video knows what they're doing. Really interesting content.
Spanian this channel is gold, you are gold mate… The search, It’s all eats and now hood tours. You’re a dead set legend, hope I run into you one day.
Aim higher
Man, I’ve lived in Sydney my whole life and have never seen this side of it. Love this video. Almost got a mil views, great work.
that situational awareness at 46:48 is incredible. you want this guy to have your back when the going gets tough.
This was a very well made and insightful video with a rawness to it which made it even more compelling to watch from start to finish. Great job Spanian!
I worked in those blocks for years.. more fun things going on in those buildings than all of sydney city combined.. awesome people.. this brings back so many memories..
As someone who has spent a fair amount of time in this area, and has friends there, I think this is a great description, of its scenic and gritty aspects, and the changes. Nice work!
I moved from country far north qld to the eastern suburbs of Sydney in '81. I was 19 and to scared to drive through Redfern. Two years in the city was enough for me so back to the country I went. Great vid!
What a great idea for a series! This is awesome. We live just around the corner and its great to hear the stories and history. Cant wait to see your other videos of other places
Hey Spanian. Your life story is amazing. The way you have turned your life around is so motivating. To see how successful you are becoming after your previous life is inspirational. Your vids rock cous.
This is such good content Spanian!! It’s refreshing seeing you film everything by yourself and just talking us through it! You’ve definitely improved the quality of your videos. You’re also a very knowledgeable person so it’s awesome to learn new things. One of my favourite RUclipsrs 👏🏼
Thank you so much for making this.. I live in the Gong and had no idea we had such high-density living in Syd. We have a commission apartment that overlooks Wollongong Harbor.. they have incredible views too.. Waiting on the council to announce they are demolishing them for the same reasons..
Thanks for this episode, I lived in this area in my twenties, thirties, Redfern at the Block, Surry Hills, Glebe. I can't say it was good times but it taught me another side of life, drugs, survival, the streets of Sydney... thank God I got out.
It does my head in that people glorify that garbage. Hood life is not the good life, you could not pay me all the money in the world to go back to living in it.
Always enjoy seeing Columbia and Span together
i'm from eastern europe and what always amazes me in videos like that is that at least on the surface your project housing looks like our wet dream for real
No one cares buddy. Every human can say that. Somone from Kenya can say Eastern Europe is paradise and that you're soft.
Sick content!! Intresting, on point. Raw, unfiltered and respectful. Keep up the good work Spanian. 10/10
Coming from living in dep housing for 25 years, this is a such a great insight into Sydney’s other side. Great content, subbed!
yo spanian i have mad respect for ya your a stand up bloke ...i just wanna say i really enjoy your videos ...thankyou brutha ....your vids have made me laugh made me cry made me feel joy your a legend with oldschool values god bless mate
Thanks so much for this video!! As a housing worker that used to manage the properties in Redern, it really shows the public what's its really like!! Love your work 🫶🏾
Very informative and well put together and the local knowledge shines through . Great eye opener for others. Definitely what main stream media wouldn’t show.
I grew up visiting my Nan in twin towers in the 80’s, then spent first 13 yrs of my NSW paramedic career caring for all residents and visitors…
Nicely done Spanian RESPECT ✊🏽
Respect for you too mate
i was born in Glebe in a housing house and that house sold for 1.8 mil about 10 yr ago, so sad the way things happened for the battlers, working class that biult the city of Sydney, love ya work bruh. keep putting your message, stories and experiances out, its too good no too.
a 40 K house in the early 80's now worth 2-3 million in original condition is bonkers eh !
my family been in glebe since the 50s my old boy used to say that the city 20 years ago was nothing compared to the 70s and 80s
my dad's family came out early 1800's , one being a convict orig from Scotland who de bowelled a bloke in a knife fight when he travelled to London for work , then got pinched by the bobbies . they moved around the Glebe area and Liechardt, Petersham area@@Sub0x-x40
@@Sub0x-x40not true, the 90s were categorically the worst time for that area. The prolific use of heroin absolutely devastated that community and it led to worst living conditions for a 1st world nation. That combined with a booming economy else where it was stark comparison to everything going on around it.
@@LMB1991 well i wasnt around in the 70s or 80s when they were all gangsters and bank robbers so i couldnt tell ya but i was in the 90s and my old boy was around in the 70s and 80s and can tell u who what and how heroin came to the area, he moved us away coz it was fucked kids started jumping on heroin in grade 7 n doin ram raids in wrxs. Wasnt much better where we moved to but anyway 😂
I grew up in sydney, and lived in Surry Hills for many years, I was terrified of the houso area! So this was sooo interesting to watch! 👏🏼 Thank you for this vlog!
I worked in these buildings a lot in 2016-17 and the state some of these people lived in was just depressing to see, serious drug addiction intrenched in these communities. Countless times we were offered drugs while working in these communities. Amazing to see span giving people an insight on how some of us survive in this world
What?? You blame housing on these scum CHOOSING TO BECOME JUNKIES. THEY CHOOSE THAT LIFESTYLE.
I was a Cop in Redfern from 2002 till 2008. Straight out of The Academy. I saw it all. As a kid I grew up visiting my Nan in The Kendall Building in The 3 Sisters, Morehead street Redfern. She was bashed and robbed at the Poet Corner shops. My uncle still lives there. This guy is right. Back in the day Redfern was downright dangerous. I saw some brutal things whilst working there as a Cop. Now I live in Asia, another world away. PS: Poets Corner received its name from a bureaucratic politician back in the 1960's. The name has stuck until this day.
What do you do now for a job and how come?
@@vladimirvladstorf I'm 57yo and retired now. Over here (in Asia) they have never heard of the word "Woke", there is little to no Political Correctness, my dollar goes about 3X further, the weather is great and the food is awesome. I recently returned to Sydney for 2 weeks the first time in 8 years. Honestly, I have no desire to go back. You know Vladimir its a shame, I was raised at Newport on the Northern Beaches, but today its nothing like the place I once called home. Peace.
I knew an elderly woman in a nearby suburb who was raped in her home by an intruder. The DNA test and fingerprints traced it back to an Aboriginal guy in Redfern nearly 30 years later who was already in jail but is now serving a longer sentence after being convicted. To all the idiots who believe in abolishing jails and lenient sentencing, people like him should never have been released in the first place. R*pists and p*dos never change.
Should come back to Redfern. It's an attractive place now. Very expensive and affluent.
@@TheTruthIsFictionI grew up in the area and don't recognise the place anymore. The character is gone.
a few agos i walked through millers point and it was housing commissions. they had yellow flags on their doors/windows hoping to save their community. recently, i walked there, and all those homes had been sold off and consists of multimillion dollar townhouses with porches and mercedes all parked out the front. i'm so sad for the community and most vulnerable people being broken up like that.
Man the amount of love and respect Spanian gets from the locals is astounding.
Best documentary about Sydney you're ever gonna see, ABC and those other airhead flops will never be able to interact like Spanian does. Legend.
We lived in Waterloo in the council flats (Madden Place on Pitts Street Waterloo opposite Waterloo Park) for one year when we first came to Australia in 1978, and it was pretty rough even back then. I was only 4 but I vividly remember staring at the twin towers from our back verandah at night being fascinated by all the lights.
I lived in walker St Redfern in 2000 had boys out the back running through the units knocking on my door for a hideout to lay low for a bit lol till they knocked em down i loved living in the community we all had each other's back love your video bringing awareness to how these corporations make us live in a corupted system set up and designed for track and trace to cause breakdowns and failure in family structures and in our society to cause an injust life to most 🙏 ❤
@wigwam1747wtf you wish🤣🤣
I lived down the hill from the Northcote Complex on Belvoir Street between 2000-2017, and although it was obvious there was a lot of picking up and dropping off going on, I never had a single issue with anyone. I walked past those towers on my way to Crown St hundreds of times.
same here, lucky i guess
@@coopsawright7225nah you guys just weren’t sticky beaks I guess … you’ll get left alone in areas like that until you affect business or you know the wrong people
sticky beak putrid dumb c**ts deserve to get popped@@snekktikhays1780
I took was a gentrifier living around there. I didn't feel unsafe walking around there but i obviously never actually went into the complexes.
I used to work in these areas as a social worker. Always kept me on my toes! Thanks for the tour!
It's so good to see Columbia again.
Really enjoyed your insight and descriptions as well as how you explained comparisons between estates👍 I was born in inner Syd, live in Adelaide but late 20s back in Syd and always intrigued with the stories and tales of da hoods wherever they may be and the peeps and background stories that have made them what they are from where they came .Lookin forward to when you get go euro and we see the world wide inner ghetto hood tours your gonna vid. Well done, good stuff 👏
Thank you for the walk thru & yarns 🖤💛❤️I’ve done that exact walk back in the 90’s 🙌🏽 such nostalgia to see my old building on John St Waterloo