Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Historic Links
Sydney's oldest extant lock-up,
The Watch House (1854)
0
at
No. 179 Darling Street, has
been restored, but a ghostly
female form remains. Further
along, enjoy a drink at The
London Hotel (1870)
q
, where
the balcony stools are made
of old-fashioned tractor seats.
After the roundabout, visit
St Andrew's Church
w
before
losing yourself to the book-
shops, cafés and delicatessens
of Balmain. Every Saturday,
Balmain Market fills the
churchyard
(see p203)
.
At the shops' far end, the
Victorian Post Office
(1887)
e
and neighbour-
ing Court House
r
reflect
1880s Sydney's prosperity.
The Town Hall
t
dome was
removed during World War II
for fear of air raids. Across the
street is the Fire Station
y
(1894). Set on the crest of a
hill, its horse-drawn vehicles
always travelled downhill on
their outward journey.
Distant views of the city and Sydney Harbour Bridge from Snails Bay
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Balmain to Birchgrove
Retrace your steps to Rowntree
Street. Turn left and wander
down to Birchgrove (about 10
minutes' walk). From Birch-
grove shops
u
, take Cameron
Street left and Grove Street
right, to Birchgrove Park
i
and Snails Bay. Walk down
Rose Street to Louisa Road.
Two of the most notable
homes are Nos. 12 and
14, Keba (1878) and
Vidette (1876)
o
, where
deep verandas and iron-
lace balconies hint at
colonial opulence. A
poem in praise of the
nearby park is
inscribed on a plaque
at Keba's entrance.
Amid Vidette's formal
greenery, a
deep well is
still fed by
a natural
spring.
There is a wealth of interest
in the homes that follow: a
tiny porch, Victorian entrance
tiles, ornate iron lace - plus
occasional glimpses of water
frontage and private moorings.
At the road's end, the reserve
at Yurulbin Point
p
marks the
mouth of Parramatta River. A
fishing nook on its eastern cor-
ner is a perfect vantage point
for taking in the city skyline
and passing harbour traffic.
Balmain War
Memorial
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#BZ
Shops nestled in the quiet
Birchgrove village
u
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Mort Bay
Reserve
TIPS FOR WALKERS
Starting point:
Darling Street
Wharf.
Length:
5.5 km (31/2 miles).
Getting there:
Ferries regularly
leave Circular Quay for Darling
Street Wharf. The 442 bus from
the Queen Victoria Building stops
in Darling Street. To return, there
is a 15-minute ferry ride at hourly
intervals from Birchgrove (pick up
a schedule at Circular Quay).
Alternatively, take Bus 441 from
Grove Street (Snails Bay) back to
the city (weekdays only).
Stopping-off points:
Darling
Street, in particular, has many
good delicatessens, patisseries,
restaurants and cafés. Places to
picnic include Mort Bay Reserve,
Gladstone Park, Birchgrove Park
and Yurulbin Point.
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Walk route
Viewpoint
Bus stop
0 metres
250
Ferry boarding point
0 yards
250
