Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Green Park
sits at the start of the Victoria St restaurant strip, flanked by the Sydney Jewish Museum, St
Vincent's Hospital and Sacred Heart Hospice. Both the hospital and the hospice found themselves at the front
line of the AIDS epidemic when it hit in the 1980s.
Head west on Burton St, following the sandstone walls of the
National Art School
- formerly Darlinghurst
Gaol. As you enter, look for the creepy morgue on your right. Turn right at the circular chapel, exit onto Forbes
St and head left past the stolid
Darlinghurst Courthouse
and enter
Taylor Square
, the heart of
Sydney's main gay strip, Oxford St.
Cross over to the Surry Hills side. Before you head up Bourke St, note the art deco
Belgenny apartment
building
and the
antique red post box
.
The first block of Bourke St boasts reminders of the neighbourhood's once-prominent Greek community.
Christopher's Cake Shop
has been selling Greek sweets since 1955. A few doors down is
St Sophia and
Three Daughters Greek Orthodox Church
.
Shuffle along Bourke St to the old
St Margaret's Hospital
site, now housing the Object Gallery. Pricey
apartments and restaurants stand in stark contrast to the sandstone
Wesleyan Chapel
(1847) across the
road, where the Edward Eager Lodge assists the Hills' many homeless.
Continuing along Bourke St you'll pass some interesting houses, including a sandstone Georgian block with a
deep verandah and some hefty Victorian terraces, gentrified and otherwise. Just after number 454, tiny
Fred
Miller Park
commemorates a very Surry Hills character. Miller (1926-1992) was a plumber turned Labor
politician who, despite being married with children, was a staunch supporter of gay rights.
Hook right into Arthur St, which spits you out onto
Crown Street
, Surry Hills' main cafe, bar and hipster
strip.
