On the southern edge of Sydney’s Central Business District lies the popular suburb of Chippendale. The suburb is known for its creative arts movement with dozens of galleries and community centres in the neighbourhood. Home to festivals, fabulous dining, independent shops and outdoor cafe spaces, it is just a few minutes’ walk from Chinatown and the CBD.
Walking the streets of Chippendale, travellers will delve deep into the creative heart of the suburb. Bold murals are painted on walls and pavements, art galleries line the streets and locals sip coffee, chatting animatedly by the roadside. The cutting-edge architecture and cool cafes attract the “in crowd” and students from the nearby university. To discover the historic side of the suburb visit Regent Street Railway Station. Formerly known as “Mortuary Station” it was once used for trains departing for Rookwood Cemetery. The Gothic building is impressive dating back to 1869. Visitors looking to escape from the vibrant atmosphere of downtown Chippendale will find peace and tranquillity in 19th century Victoria Park. Visitors will find a children’s playground, picnic area and even a swimming pool. Shopping is fun at state of the art Central Park Mall. Open until late, Victoria Park is the ideal place to browse the latest fashions and homewares, enjoy lunch with friends or catch a movie at the cinema. Chippendale is not short of dining establishments. There’s a vast choice of Modern Australian pub grub on offer, in addition to Asian, Mexican, Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine.
Chippendale is easy to navigate on foot. Buses can transport visitors to Cleveland Street, Broadway and the perimeter of Victoria Park. Two train stations lie north and south of the suburb. Disembark at Redfern to explore the lower quarter of Chippendale and Central Station for the North. The Sydney Light Rail Network operates to Capitol Square, a 15-minute walk away. Taxis are available throughout Sydney and can be booked or hailed from the street. The city has several taxi services which include Uber and iHail.
Chippendale was once covered with dense vegetation which provided food for early settlers. Over the centuries, it became a worker’s suburb lined with old industrial buildings and 19th century terraces. Today, it’s an eclectic creative neighbourhood which is relaxed and trendy. The arrival of large malls and skyscrapers combined with old warehouses and galleries makes it more interesting than ever before.