We spend so much money on foreign travel to explore new cultures - but have you ever really explored the area that you've lived your whole life? This was photographer Louise Hawsons mission whenever she began the 52 suburb project, it was an effort to appreciate the unique features and cultures in the suburbs of Sydney before modern culture and development make them disappear forever:

My name is Louise. I've lived in Sydney for over 30 years but had never set foot in most of its 600+ suburbs. So from September 2009 to October 2010, I explored and photographed one new Sydney suburb a week in search of the beauty in the 'burb.

By beauty I mean... the re-purposed, recycled, reborn, happy marriages of old + new, that which may soon pass, to be replaced by some souless horror, the existence of difference, in cultures and religions, art, architecture and urban design that surprises + inspires, hope, in all its guises.

http://www.52suburbs.com/