Sydney has for much of its history been regarded as a relative backwater. Australia was far removed from the center of the British Empire and the British Commonwealth. It was considered peripheral by Europe and by the United States, and somewhat of an anomaly by Asia. Recently this has all changed. Australia has become increasingly culturally and commercially oriented toward Asia and the 2000 Sydney Olympics has thrust the city into the international spotlight. This historical dictionary is not a guide book, but it provides an overall view of the city, its history, its culture, and it's people. There are historical and current sketches of major areas and geographic features and an overview of notable institutions and architectural works. The chronology is an excellent reference and overview. It also includes a broad and wide-ranging bibliography of literature.