Woolloomoloo
Starting the new year with new theme, exploration. My friend Ben and I plan to explore lots of Sydney suburbs that we have never been to and document a little of what we learned, saw and experienced. Initial guidance from Travel with Joanne and Chat gpt!
We were going to follow a route set out by the above but ended up just wandering which was really the best way to find out about the suburb. That and talking to various locals (one who had lived there for 25 years and another, homeless, who was making the area his own for a short period of time) made our journey around this old and quirky subject interesting and evocative.
We started at the Butler Street Stairs and made our way down the slope, stopping to see into the backyards of the apartments and townhouses along the way.
We descended to Brougton Street which had terrace houses either side. Continuing further we found a community garden, op shop and coffee shop. I found a fetching red woollen hat for $1.00 to add to my wardrobe and we got to chat with the proprietor who told us it was the best in Sydney (her assistant added that it might not be the best, but was the cheapest).
I liked the cobwebs set against the drooping curtain in this shot.
Lots of pubs in this area - some cheap and some expensive. Loved this sign - look at those chaps - so contented with life.
There were lots of little laneways which broadened out to small gardens. Very haphazard and characteristic of the way that Sydney was developed over time. More about Woolloomooloo history here at the now unfortunately defunct Dictionary of Sydney (Shirley Fitzgerald, State Library NSW)
First, but not the last, sighting of the train line running over the suburb. Look at the way this tree has grown between the house and the concrete structure.
Pointedly did not include any pictures of the Cross City Tunnel which slices through suburb. One can be VERY close to fast traffic with not much of a barrier.
(see The Changing Face Of The Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf
Poor Barbie
Teeny tiny church - closed unfortunately. Keeping cool.
This might be an interesting night out.... (and there is that train line once again).
Cheap and cheerful meal at the famous Harry's Cafe de Wheels
We watched a father and son fishing off the pier and looked at the warships.
We joined the ranks of the famous by eating here.
Moving along, more interesting architecture.
Big Brother is watching you...or is it Clover Moore?
Community Centre with a gym, meeting rooms and a place to refill on the water. Super hot day.
The house with the artwork covering its frontage had a big sign saying that they were being evicted as they refused to remove the art banners. Nice chat with a homeless gent who told us that it was fair enough that they were being evicted.
Many many stairs. Good view of the city from halfway up.
Murals and plants
Once we had finished walking about we headed up to Oxford Street and had a well earned drink at Kinselas before a bus ride home.
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