Paddington, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Paddington is an inner-city, eastern
suburb
of Sydney
, in the state of New South Wales
, Australia
. 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 the Municipality of Woollahra
. It is often colloquially referred to as "Paddo".
Paddington is located primarily on the northern slope down from a ridgeline at the crest of 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
.
people. These people belonged to the Dharug (or Eora
) language group, and were also the traditional owners of what is now the Sydney central business district
. It is known that the ridge on which Oxford Street was built was also a walking track used by Aboriginal people. Much of the Aboriginal population of Sydney was decimated by the smallpox
outbreak of 1789, only one year after the First Fleet
arrived in Sydney (City of Sydney, 2005). Settlers' records from the time indicate that only three members of the Cadigal tribe were left after this outbreak. However, some anthropologists maintain that the tribe dispersed into other areas of the shared Eora language group. The history of the Aboriginal population in the Paddington area is hard to find, but it is known that, at the time when Robert Cooper began to build his first house there, approximately 200 Koori
people were living in Woolloomooloo
in huts which Governor Macquarie had built for them.
Paddington has never been a suburb with a dense indigenous population. In the 1930s, when parts of Sydney such as Redfern and Glebe became hubs for Aborigines entering the labour force, Paddington continued to be a white working-class suburb.
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 a 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.
, straddling the arterial route of Oxford Street, Sydney
, 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 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.
towards Circular Quay and Central Station in one direction, and towards Bronte
, Bondi
, or Bondi Junction in another.
Its clock tower stands 32 metres high and, sitting on the ridge of Oxford Street, dominates the Paddington skyline.
Whilst the eastern, southern, and western faces of the clock display the conventional Roman clock-face numerals, the Roman numerals on the northern (Oxford Street) side of the clock have been replaced as follows: 1:D, 2:U, 3:S, 4:T, 5:H, 6:E, 7:VII, 8:E, 9:D, 10:V, 11:A, 12:R. This was done to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII; and, commencing at where the VIII ought to be, the northern clock-face reads E.D.V.A.R.D.U.S T.H.E VII.
The clock was officially set in motion on Wednesday, 30 August 1905, by Mr. J.H. Carruthers
, the Premier of New South Wales
, who mentioned in passing that "he thought that the day on which peace had been declared between Russia and Japan
was a fitting time to set it in motion" and that "he hoped there would be peace and goodwill on earth as long as the clock continued to go".
The hall now houses radio studios, a cinema and a local library, and is a venue for private functions. Paddington Town Hall was the site of a meeting of Rugby League players in 1908, at which the Eastern Suburbs Roosters Rugby League club, now the Sydney Roosters, was officially formed.
Victoria Barracks
is an Australian Army
base, set back from Oxford Street south of the Paddington Town Hall. It is constructed of Hawkesbury sandstone
, which was sourced from the area and beyond, and was built by convict labour over seven years, opening in 1848. For much of the early part of Australia's history, and continuing from Federation in 1901, the barracks were the premier site for military training in Australia. It is currently home to Headquarters Land Command and Headquarters Training Command. It is open every Sunday from 10am until 3pm.
, NSW Waratahs and Sydney FC
, and can be seen best from the top of Oatley Road, just outside the Paddington Town Hall.
Juniper Hall was built by Robert Cooper, an ex-convict, in the 1820s and is the oldest house in Paddington. It is a large, dominating structure which lies diagonally opposite the Paddington Town Hall. It has undergone significant restoration and was owned for some time by the National Trust as a Heritage House. Today it is leased privately and is not open to the public, but can still be seen from Oxford Street.
was originally used as an Aboriginal walking track, then as a faster route to South Head, and has had various incarnations as a shopping strip. Once serving the needs of the local residents, Paddington's Oxford Street has changed to now serve a middle- and upper-class population, as well as being a focal point for the tourist industry. Many visitors to Paddington come solely for the experience of shopping on Oxford Street.
:
Paddington is known for its Victorian terrace houses which, having been slums for much of the post-World War II
period, were later gentrified
and are highly sought after. The suburb is characterised by an array of interconnecting streets and laneways, some too narrow for many of today's cars. These streets contrast to some other much wider avenues, such as Paddington Street or Windsor Street.
and Ireland
. 70% of people in the suburb live in typical Victorian terrace houses, with the majority of the rest living in apartments. The suburb is a high-wealth area, with 40% of households indicating they earned more than A$2000 per week.
Eastern Suburbs (Sydney)
The Eastern Suburbs is a general term used to describe the metropolitan area directly to the east and south-east of the Sydney central business district in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Eastern Suburbs can refer to the suburbs within the local government areas of Woollahra, Waverley, Dover...
suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, in the state of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Paddington is located 3 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district
Sydney central business district
The Sydney central business district is the main commercial centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It extends southwards for about 3 kilometres from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement. Its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in the north to Central railway station in...
and lies across the local government areas of the City of Sydney
City of Sydney
The City of Sydney is the Local Government Area covering the Sydney central business district and surrounding inner city suburbs of the greater metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia...
and the Municipality of Woollahra
Municipality of Woollahra
The Municipality of Woollahra is a Local Government Area in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The administrative centre of the Municipality of Woollahra is located on New South Head Road at Double Bay....
. It is often colloquially referred to as "Paddo".
Paddington is located primarily on the northern slope down from a ridgeline at the crest of which runs Oxford Street. Paddington is bordered to the west by Darlinghurst
Darlinghurst, New South Wales
Darlinghurst is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Darlinghurst is located immediately east of the Sydney central business district and Hyde Park, within the local government area of the City of Sydney...
, to the east by Centennial Park
Centennial Park, New South Wales
Centennial Park is a large public, urban park that occupies 220 hectares in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Centennial Park is located 4 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the City of Randwick...
and Woollahra
Woollahra, New South Wales
Woollahra is a suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Woollahra is located 5 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Woollahra. The Municipality of Woollahra takes its name from the...
, to the north by Edgecliff
Edgecliff, New South Wales
Edgecliff is a small suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Edgecliff is located 4 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Woollahra. The postcode is 2027.Edgecliff is surrounded by...
and Kings Cross
Kings Cross, New South Wales
Kings Cross is an inner-city locality of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately 2 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Sydney...
and to the south by Moore Park
Moore Park, New South Wales
Moore Park is a large area of parkland in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of Centennial Parklands, a collective of three parks being Moore Park, Centennial Park and Queens Park. Centennial Parklands is administered by the Centennial Park &...
.
Aboriginal culture
The suburb of Paddington is considered to be part of the land associated with the stories and rituals of the CadigalCadigal
The Cadigal, also spelled as Gadigal, are a group of Aboriginal Australians who originally inhabited the area that they called 'Cadi', part of which later became known as the Marrickville Local Government Area of Sydney. Cadigal territory lies south of Port Jackson and stretches from South Head to...
people. These people belonged to the Dharug (or Eora
Eora
The Eora are the Aboriginal people of the Sydney area, south to the Georges River, north to the Hawkesbury River, and west to Parramatta. The indigenous people used this word to describe where they came from to the British. "Eora" was then used by the British to refer to those Aboriginal people...
) language group, and were also the traditional owners of what is now the Sydney central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. It is known that the ridge on which Oxford Street was built was also a walking track used by Aboriginal people. Much of the Aboriginal population of Sydney was decimated by the smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
outbreak of 1789, only one year after the First Fleet
First Fleet
The First Fleet is the name given to the eleven ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 with about 1,487 people, including 778 convicts , to establish the first European colony in Australia, in the region which Captain Cook had named New South Wales. The fleet was led by Captain ...
arrived in Sydney (City of Sydney, 2005). Settlers' records from the time indicate that only three members of the Cadigal tribe were left after this outbreak. However, some anthropologists maintain that the tribe dispersed into other areas of the shared Eora language group. The history of the Aboriginal population in the Paddington area is hard to find, but it is known that, at the time when Robert Cooper began to build his first house there, approximately 200 Koori
Koori
The Koori are the indigenous Australians that traditionally occupied modern day New South Wales and Victoria....
people were living in Woolloomooloo
Woolloomooloo, New South Wales
Woolloomooloo is a harbourside, inner-city eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Woolloomooloo is located 1.5 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Sydney. The suburb is located in a low-lying, former...
in huts which Governor Macquarie had built for them.
Paddington has never been a suburb with a dense indigenous population. In the 1930s, when parts of Sydney such as Redfern and Glebe became hubs for Aborigines entering the labour force, Paddington continued to be a white working-class suburb.
European settlement
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
estate at the top of Paddington's ridgeline, affording excellent views. He named the area Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
after a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
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
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper 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
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
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
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...
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.
Commercial area
A bustling, cosmopolitan suburb of the Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs (Sydney)
The Eastern Suburbs is a general term used to describe the metropolitan area directly to the east and south-east of the Sydney central business district in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Eastern Suburbs can refer to the suburbs within the local government areas of Woollahra, Waverley, Dover...
, straddling the arterial route of Oxford Street, Sydney
Oxford Street, Sydney
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in Sydney, Australia running from Whitlam Square on the south-east corner of Hyde Park in the central business district of Sydney to Bondi Junction in the Eastern Suburbs. Close to the CBD in particular, the street is lined with numerous shops, bars and...
, 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 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 Markets
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.Transport
Paddington is serviced by public transport, primarily buses. Oxford Street is the hub, with bus routes through DarlinghurstDarlinghurst, New South Wales
Darlinghurst is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Darlinghurst is located immediately east of the Sydney central business district and Hyde Park, within the local government area of the City of Sydney...
towards Circular Quay and Central Station in one direction, and towards Bronte
Bronte, New South Wales
Bronte is a beachside suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bronte is located 8 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the Waverley Council local government area of the Eastern Suburbs....
, Bondi
Bondi, New South Wales
Bondi is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bondi is located seven kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council. The postcode is 2026.-Location:...
, or Bondi Junction in another.
Paddington Town Hall
Paddington Town Hall was built in the late 19th century at a cost of £15,000. It opened in 1891 and remains a distinctive example of European architecture in Sydney.Its clock tower stands 32 metres high and, sitting on the ridge of Oxford Street, dominates the Paddington skyline.
Whilst the eastern, southern, and western faces of the clock display the conventional Roman clock-face numerals, the Roman numerals on the northern (Oxford Street) side of the clock have been replaced as follows: 1:D, 2:U, 3:S, 4:T, 5:H, 6:E, 7:VII, 8:E, 9:D, 10:V, 11:A, 12:R. This was done to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII; and, commencing at where the VIII ought to be, the northern clock-face reads E.D.V.A.R.D.U.S T.H.E VII.
The clock was officially set in motion on Wednesday, 30 August 1905, by Mr. J.H. Carruthers
Joseph Carruthers
Sir Joseph Hector McNeil Carruthers KCMG was an Australian politician and Premier of New South Wales.According to Percival Serle, few premiers of New South Wales succeeded in doing so much distinguished work...
, the Premier of New South Wales
Premiers of New South Wales
The Premier of New South Wales is the head of government in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Government of New South Wales follows the Westminster system, with a Parliament of New South Wales acting as the legislature...
, who mentioned in passing that "he thought that the day on which peace had been declared between Russia and Japan
Treaty of Portsmouth
The Treaty of Portsmouth formally ended the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War. It was signed on September 5, 1905 after negotiations at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine in the USA.-Negotiations:...
was a fitting time to set it in motion" and that "he hoped there would be peace and goodwill on earth as long as the clock continued to go".
The hall now houses radio studios, a cinema and a local library, and is a venue for private functions. Paddington Town Hall was the site of a meeting of Rugby League players in 1908, at which the Eastern Suburbs Roosters Rugby League club, now the Sydney Roosters, was officially formed.
Victoria Barracks
Victoria Barracks, Sydney
Victoria Barracks is an Australian Army base in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Victoria Barracks is located in the suburb of Paddington, between Oxford Street and Moore Park Road...
is an Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
base, set back from Oxford Street south of the Paddington Town Hall. It is constructed of Hawkesbury sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, which was sourced from the area and beyond, and was built by convict labour over seven years, opening in 1848. For much of the early part of Australia's history, and continuing from Federation in 1901, the barracks were the premier site for military training in Australia. It is currently home to Headquarters Land Command and Headquarters Training Command. It is open every Sunday from 10am until 3pm.
Sydney Football Stadium
The Football Stadium on Moore Park Road on Paddington's southern border. It is the home ground of the Sydney RoostersSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, NSW Waratahs and Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
, and can be seen best from the top of Oatley Road, just outside the Paddington Town Hall.
Juniper Hall
Oxford Street
Oxford StreetOxford Street, Sydney
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in Sydney, Australia running from Whitlam Square on the south-east corner of Hyde Park in the central business district of Sydney to Bondi Junction in the Eastern Suburbs. Close to the CBD in particular, the street is lined with numerous shops, bars and...
was originally used as an Aboriginal walking track, then as a faster route to South Head, and has had various incarnations as a shopping strip. Once serving the needs of the local residents, Paddington's Oxford Street has changed to now serve a middle- and upper-class population, as well as being a focal point for the tourist industry. Many visitors to Paddington come solely for the experience of shopping on Oxford Street.
Heritage buildings
The following buildings are on the Register of the National EstateRegister of the National Estate
The Register of the National Estate is a listing of natural and cultural heritage places in Australia. The listing was initially compiled between 1976 and 2003 by the Australian Heritage Commission. The register is now maintained by the Australian Heritage Council...
:
- Victoria Barracks, Oxford Street
- Paddington Town Hall, Oxford Street
- Paddington Court House, Jersey Road
- Paddington Public School, Oxford Street
- Uniting Church and Parsonage, Oxford Street
- St Matthias Church Group, Oxford Street
- Former Rectory, 495 Oxford Street
- St Matthias Church Hall, Oxford Street
- Royal Hotel, Glenmore Road
Houses
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
period, were later gentrified
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
and are highly sought after. The suburb is characterised by an array of interconnecting streets and laneways, some too narrow for many of today's cars. These streets contrast to some other much wider avenues, such as Paddington Street or Windsor Street.
Demographics
The population of Paddington, at the 2001 census, was 11,817 people (ABS, 2001). The area has a high level of foreign ancestry, with only 25% of people in the 2001 census identifying that their parents were born in Australia. In contrast, 67% had parents who were born in North-West European nations, such as EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. 70% of people in the suburb live in typical Victorian terrace houses, with the majority of the rest living in apartments. The suburb is a high-wealth area, with 40% of households indicating they earned more than A$2000 per week.
Further reading
- Paddington. Its History, Trade and Industries 1860-1910. Published by Paddington Municipal Council, 1910. Second publishing by Salux Pty Ltd,1980. (ISBN 0959454411).
- Andrew Starr & Janet Morice. Paddington Stories. Published by Andrew Starr & Associates. Australia, 2000. (ISBN 0646404032).