The Cross is not dying, it's evolving and returning to its artistic heritage

By now you have probably read Matt Barrie's opinion piece on several news sites after it was originally published on LinkedIn.

Matt Barrie penned a piece saying Sydney has died because of the lockout laws which followed the deaths of Thomas Kelly and Daniel Christie after being killed by one punch.

There are a few things people should know about Kings Cross, the suburb in which these attacks happened.

Kings Cross has long been remembered as a red light district, a place of drunken debauchery and drugs.  For several years it has been known as a place of crime.

However there is another side to Kings Cross people don't talk about.  That's its arts and culture side.

Most people probably don't know it used to house theatres and even the ABC at one point.  Several Australian celebrities like Charlotte Dawson and Jodi Anasta (née Gordon) have lived there.

Kings Cross has housed many poets, writers and journalists like Mary Gilmore and the late Juanita Neilson.  Neilson was a journalist who went missing on July 4th 1975 and whose body has never been found.

When people say Kings Cross is dying that's simply untrue.  It's changing, but change isn't a bad thing.

The locals, such as myself, know there's a sense of community with the cafe owners at places like Bella Vita (best Eggs Benedict in Sydney) and Five Boroughs).  There is the El Alamein Fountain on McLaey Street.  

Has anyone noticed the pavement plaques and the old heritage buildings?  They tell the story of the area's history and give insight into who the locals are.

It's time people realised there is more to Kings Cross than alcohol and drugs; and it's rather sad nobody has delved into the area's history which consists of arts and writers.