Picture Perfect Paddington

Paddington or “Paddo” as it is called by the locals, located just three kilometres east of Sydney’s Central Business District resembles parts of London. The median age of the population of approximately 26,000 residents’ hovers around 33 years. An eclectic bunch of designers and traders sell their wares from the tiny shops and terraced houses.

Paddington’s History

In 1788 the first fleet arrived and settled in Paddington and a year later an outbreak of smallpox affected several Cadigal Aboriginals that lived in the area. After which, the Aboriginal people moved to Redfern and Glebe and Paddington became a suburb mostly inhabited by European working-class people. In 1862 the suburb had 1,800 residents and 535 houses, but by 1883 the population increased to 2,347 and by 1891 the population increased by over 300%. Around 1960 many professionals who returned from living abroad recognised the suburb’s potential because of its proximity to the Central Business District and settled here.

There are many historic buildings in the suburb which are on the Register of the National Estate. It is the home of Victoria Barracks a main Australian Army base which was built in 1848. Paddington Public School which opened in 1856 is still in existence and the nearby Centennial Park is used as the school’s playing field.

Modern Day Paddington

Paddington’s popularity has risen in recent years and has become a highly sort after area for singles and young couples. There are many Georgian and Victorian style terraced houses in Paddington which have been restored on the outside and renovated on the inside.

Shopping centres, clothing shops, fine art galleries, designer boutiques, trendy cafes, fine dining and pubs stretch invitingly along this suburb’s streets. This tree-lined suburb with its backdrop of Victorian terraces and wrought iron laced balconies was transformed from uninteresting to trendy and pricey.

The one-kilometre long shopping strip on Oxford Street included a range of speciality shops, cafes and clothing boutiques and Oxford Street became a tourist attraction. Bookstores and cinemas could be found in Darlinghurst end of Paddington. By the 2000s the low-rise office and retail developments complemented the rest of the buildings on Oxford Street except for the multi-storey Telstra building. Oxford Street is also the venue for the annual Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.

Public transport and cycling are the best methods to get around in Paddington because parking is scarce and the narrow streets just add to a driver’s nightmare.

The popular Paddington Market initiated by the Uniting Church in 1973 is open every Saturday. Predominantly intended to blend faith, justice and creativity it has become an attraction where crowds throng to explore what the local artisans produce. The crafts people ply their crafts from clothing, jewellery, photography, crockery and food stalls that offer exotic cuisines ranging from Turkish gozlemes to Malaysian laksas.

With over 100 schools, bars, restaurants, cafes, public transport and with the St Vincent’s Hospital and the St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Wolper Jewish Hospital on the outskirts of this suburb, all your needs are taken care of.

So, if you plan to join the excitement that this suburb has to offer, then you might want to consider using SmartBox to store your goods until you make your move to this now, multi-cultural suburb. SmartBox can provide you with the ability to store your goods safely for short or long periods. From only $99 a month, it is affordable, and you have the peace of mind that your loved possessions are safe. Call us and we will deliver a mobile self-storage unit to your doorstep. Our SmartBox trailers are manoeuvrable even around tight corners, narrow laneways and underground carparks. All you need to do is pack your goods, lock the unit up and inform us that it is ready for collection. We will pick it up and store it for you until you decide to move.