Introduction
Known affectionately as “Paddo” by the locals, Paddington is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney. Paddington is located 3 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of the City of Sydney and theMunicipality of Woollahra.
Named after the London suburb, Paddington is located primarily on the northern slope down from a ridgeline at the crest off which runs Oxford Street. Paddington is bordered to the west by Darlinghurst, to the east by Centennial Park and Woollahra, to the north by Edgecliff and Kings Cross and to the south by Moore Park.
Lifestyle
Paddington is Sydney’s answer to Notting Hill; originally an over crowded working class suburb which has undergone a natural metamorphosis since the 1960s. With its colourful terraces homes, mostly dating from the 1800s, and land mark buildings like the Town Hall, Victoria Barracks and Juniper Hall (the oldest house in Paddington) the area is steeped in history. A bustling, cosmopolitan suburb, straddling the arterial route of Oxford Street, this is one of the most historically rich, culturally vibrant and recognisable districts of Sydney. Paddington is famous for its plethora of boutique and chain fashion stores as well as many cafés, pubs and restaurants. Five Ways is a multiple intersection located in the backstreets of Paddington which is popular with local residents and tourists because of its range of cafés and bars.
Paddington has a popular open-air market held every Saturday in the grounds of the heritage-listed sandstone Paddington Uniting Church on Oxford Street. There are 250 stalls selling Australian contemporary art, craft and fashion, directly by the artists and craft makers.
History
Oxford Street was built was originally a walking track used by Aboriginal (Cadigal) people. In the early 1820s, ex-convict entrepreneur and gin distiller Robert Cooper set out to build a grand Georgian estate at the top of Paddington's ridgeline, affording excellent views. He named the area Paddington after the London borough. He called the estate Juniper Hall, which remains Paddington's oldest home. The district's first cottages were built around Victoria Barracks, formerly a major army base. In the latter part of the 19th century, many terrace houses were constructed to house the city's burgeoning working population and an emerging middle class. Over time, these houses filled up almost every parcel of land, causing the suburb to become overpopulated. The unfashionable nature of the suburb continued until the mid-1960s, when gentrification took hold. At this time the area developed a bohemian aspect with a large arts community attracting creative and alternative residents. The suburb is now an example of uncoordinated urban renewal and restoration, where desirable location and heritage charm have contributed to flourishing real-estate values. Old boot-repair and linen shops have given way to designer fashion outlets and gourmet food. Since 1973, the suburb has also featured a bohemian market, conducted each Saturday in the grounds of the Paddington Uniting Church and the playground of the adjacent Paddington Public School.