Description'O! Sydney I Love You' was the prize winning song in a competition for the 'Sydney Sun' newspaper. The competition aimed to generate tourism in Sydney and promote the city's beachside culture. This music sheet was printed in the 191 edition of the Paling Song Series and the 'SUN' paper on 6 March 1927. McLeod was living in Wagga Wagga when he wrote the piece and won the £100 first prize.HistorySheet music offers an insight into popular culture and social values at the time of their production. The widely distributed pieces were sold fairly cheaply, making them popular purchases with the general public. Music was an integral part of people's social life in the home and at public events such as balls, recitals, concerts and theatre shows.
By the 20th century the beach was a popular destination for holidays and outdoor leisure activities. Many Sydney beach sides including Bondi and Manly were modelled on British seaside resorts of the 19th century with promenades and amusement activities. Commercial posters began displaying seaside scenes, demonstrating how the beach was increasingly becoming a symbol of Australian culture and life.
Significance'O! Sydney I Love You' with its images of sailing and surfing, illustrates the influence of outdoor beach recreation on Australian popular culture. It is an example of material produced to reflect the development of Australia's tourist industry and water culture.
