On top of your game

You would need to be. On top of your game, that is. To work within eye-shot of this, you would need to be on top of your game. I have shown it before, from a different angle. No angle, that I have managed, has ameliroated the assault to one's eyes and to one's brain. It does my head in, no matter the angle.

Taylor Square, Darlinghurst, at the top of Bourke Street, Surry Hills

Always was, always will be

This is the third year of the City of Sydney 'Streetware' programme for emerging artists. Reko Rennie is a Kamilaroi man, born in Melbourne. He is an urban aborigine drawing inspiration from his heritage to explore issues of identity, race, law and justice, land rights, and stolen generations. Here he uses geometric diamonds, reminiscent of the traditional markings of his Kamilaroi people. Rennie is exploring what it means to be an urban Aborigine in contemporary Australia. This is a temporary art work. But Rennie's meaning is clear – this was Gadigal country and always will be Gadigal. However, come March 2013 the building, which was an old Commonwealth Bank built in 1910, will revert back to its Anglo heritage status. It is across from my physiotherapist; and they abhor it! Taylor Square, Darlinghurst, Sydney

Taylor Street - Warehouse conversion

This old warehouse at No. 24 has been converted into an open plan 2 bedroom apartment with garden, which rented in the middle of 2011 for $1,300 per week.


It is on the opposite side of the street to the terraces I showed you yesterday. I forgot to mention that at least 6 of yesterday's terraces had a garage entry from the rear lane.

Taylor Street, Darlinghurst

Taylor Street is a one-way street that cuts through from Flinders Street to South Dowling Street. Indeed, not far from Taylor Square.

The Dictionary of Sydney states that Taylor Square (and, presumably, the street) is named in honour of Allen Arthur Taylor who had a couple of stints as Lord Mayor of Sydney in the early years of the 20th century. It was he who progressed the idea of widening Oxford Street following the 1909 Royal Commission. It was he who 'convinced' all the ratepayers that they were getting value with the mandatory resumption of lands.

And this is where one needs to be careful when blogging. Because there is another site that claims a much more colourful possible derivation of the naming of the area. Darlinghurst.Biz acknowledges Allen Taylor, but also tells the story of ex-convict, Robert Taylor, who wheeled and dealed into land and property ownership before his demise in 1850. Who to believe? Who to believe?

The Dictionary of Sydney is produced by academics and historians and receives government funding. I have no idea about the Darlinghurst.biz site. But it reads so well ... It is convincing, but I have no idea whether it is accurate.

And so to the terraces along Taylor Street. Judging by styles nearby and dates nearby, I would judge them to be c. 1870-1880, but with a number of changes over the years, notably the 'verandah' which has an almost Federation look about it.

More than its belly can

Chef Jean Francois opened his contemporary French Basque bistro in this sandstone terrace in Bourke Street, close to Taylor Square, in 2006. The terrace was built in 1852 and is heritage listed. Most of the wine on their extensive list is French, with just a couple of home-grown wines, perhaps for appearance's sake. The menu is restrained, but for mine, I would find it hard to go past the Redgate farm duck, with Medjool dates, and a hazelnut & radish sauce for $37.

Bon appetit!

A member of the Walk in the Street community.

Talk to the hand

Red pillar box

I am finding more and more of these old red post boxes. This one is still in use.

Theme Day - Action Shot

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La Patine du grunge - Taylor Square

If you recall, on Tuesday I featured a terrace in Paddington which had an interesting patina to the paintwork. Here is another, more extreme, example. This bar plus hair and beauty parlor, is on Taylor Square which is at the top of Oxford Street. On the left, out of sight, is the Supreme Court of NSW.


What do you think of the masonry and paint work? I really like it, but can understand that it might not be everyone's cup-of-tea. There has certainly been a lot of thought, time and effort gone into the design and implementation of the patina.

Darlinghurst - A wrinkle in the fabric of a city

Sydney is a city riddled with wrinkles. It is the ‘Benjamin Button’ of cities. Founded on the edge of a steep drowned valley, the topography is ‘wrinkle’ personified: ‘a small furrow, ridge or crease caused by crumpling, folding or shrinking.’ Sydney was born wrinkled and its inhabitants are doing their best to iron these out, to flatten them.


As you travel east from the city centre, it is all up hill and down dale, and onto these furrows and ridges and creases cling small, dishevelled suburbs that are a testament to man’s vision and perseverance. One such suburb is Darlinghurst, which sits atop the second ridge east of the town, wedged in by old cart tracks which are now eight lane highways.


Darlinghurst is a balagan, similar to Kings Cross but minus the sleaze and the criminal element. It is chaotic and messy, but with a warm welcoming embrace. The people hail from the furthest crevaces of the planet, encompassing all ages, all religions and all colours. Darlinghurst is a joy.



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