Acclaimed musician Perry Keyes will share often untold stories of the working class suburbs of western Sydney in his new album, Sunnyholt.
Mr Keyes, whose album The Last Ghost Train Home was named ABC Radio National Album of the Year, previewed the album at the Sydney Festival.
Sunnyholt tells the story of his family and the 150,000 people who were moved out to Sydney's west from the inner city by the Department of Housing, now known as Housing NSW.
Mr Keyes said his aunt and uncle were forced to move from their two-bedroom terrace in Redfern during the 1960s, when rents shot up.
"Department of Housing moved a lot of people out of the inner city to the west," he said.
"They moved to Mt Druitt. I'd never heard of Mt Druitt.
"I remember it seemed like they were moving a long, long way away.
"It seems silly now that I think about it."
The musician recalled visiting their home and recalling how secluded the now bustling suburb was.
"The one thing I noticed as I was travelling down the Great Western Highway was the further we went, the less and less there was.
"I remember this . . . van would come around twice a day.
"It sold groceries — milk, eggs, bread, cigarettes, beer.
"That was sort of impressive when you're eight years old."
The van showed how isolated they were.
It contrasts with where they come from.
Mr Keyes laments what his aunt and uncle — who have since died — went through.
"I have to say my aunt and uncle weren't happy," he said.
"I think a lot of people, particularly the white working class, found it very hard to adjust."
Keyes is finalising production of The Great Western Highway, a new album to be released soon as the second part of Sunnyholt.
Sunnyholt will be available to pre-order here.