Sydney Push was mainly a left wing, anti- intellectual, sub-culture, which spread in Sydney during the late 1950’s and continued till the early 1970’s. The members of the Sydney Push had strong opinions about different social issues but they were mainly anti-activist. The group grew mainly due to circumstances that were specific to post-war Australia. Many of these members were actors, designers, filmmakers, writers, musicians and artists who were against the elite culture of Australia.
The Sydney Push group was formed by forces, which were part of the University of Sydney. The group derived its name from the term ‘The Push’, which was used during the late 19th century for a gang of small street criminals in The Rock’s District of Sydney.
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The Sydney Push group had a defiant outlook towards life that was in strict conflict with the conservative Australian values of 1950s and 1960s. The members were engaged in drinking, sex, criticism, abusing and an anarchical lifestyle. The group members gradually moved away from the University grounds and met at the public cafes and pubs in the downtown area.
The chief members of the Sydney Push group were Lex Banning, David Makinson, Germaine Greer, John Flaus, Eva Cox, Harry Hooton, Frank Moorhouse, Paddy McGuinness and Lillian Roxon among many others. Gradually during the 1970s the Push group declined when the Australian society became far more tolerant and such radical ideas were not supported in the society.
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