I don't live in my suburb, which is just 8km from the CBD. Then again, nobody does
An author explores Tottenham, a Melbourne suburb with a recorded population of zero, describing its industrial character and the people who work there.Summary
The article is an opinion piece about Tottenham, a Melbourne suburb located just 8 kilometers from the Central Business District, which officially recorded a population of zero in the 2021 census. The author, who does not live there but is familiar with the area, describes Tottenham as a purely industrial zone characterized by factories, shipping container facilities, warehouses, and fenced-off sites. Through personal anecdotes and interviews with long-term workers like Kylie and Dave, the piece highlights the suburb's gritty, functional identity. It references the area's history, including a significant industrial fire in 2018, and explores the resilience of the local Stony Creek. The author concludes that Tottenham serves as the essential, unseen 'engine room' for Melbourne's wealthier suburbs, a role that its regular inhabitants accept and even appreciate for its chaotic, industrial nature.
(Source：The Sydney Morning Herald)
