Suburb No 35: Darlinghurst

Why Darlo, a suburb seemingly familiar? Because last weekend when I went to a photography seminar,
it happened to be held at the amazing old Darlinghurst Goal - now National Art School (NAS) - and
I needed to go back. Despite having driven past that long stretch of golden sandstone many times, I had
never once set foot inside. In fact, I assumed it was part of the Court House - which made me also think,
I've never visited that grand old beauty either. So, once again, a suburb thought familiar turns out to
be surprisingly foreign. 

To Darlo. Named after Elizabeth Darling, wife of Governor Ralph Darling (and 'hurst', an old English word
meaning wooded area). Long-time slum turned swanky, bursting at the seams with cafes, pubs,
restaurants, nightclubs - and some heavy-duty institutions aside from the Court House and NAS, including
the Australian Museum, Jewish Museum and St Vincent's Hospital. 

In fact, there's so much to cover in this large and jam-packed suburb (it includes the localities of
East Sydney and Taylor's Square, and extends all the way along Victoria Street up to King's Cross) that I
ended up leaving out large chunks. (I'll save them for when I do 52 Suburbs Revisited when I'm old
and grey!)

Part 1: New inmates of Darlinghurst Goal

The former goal now hangs art not people. NAS offers painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics
and photography - and a collection of wonderfully rotund, golden buildings built by convict labour
between 1836 -1840. (Last hanging, 1907. Sure to be haunted.)

past lives as a goal then technical college, now art school

fabulous Freya

Jenny, Building x :: 1

Jenny, Building x :: 2

unless interestingly attired

Marko, Building 28

Building 28

Alana, the Library :: 1

Alana, the Library :: 2

light and shade

the girl with the beret :: 1

the girl with the beret :: 2

don't i know you?

off the wall

i'll never have a shadow like yours

playing with perspective

any ghosts?

4 means death in Chinese

Part 2: Court House

NAS may have liberated itself from its former role but its neighbour, the Darlinghurst Court House,
still functions as a place of judgement. Architect, Mortimer Lewis, 1844, in the Greek Revival
style (they loved a column didn't they?)

your future set in stone

judgement day





 

pillars of society

both been there forever

a certain kind of liberty

Part 3: The faces behind the sirens

The fireies and the ambos - where would we be without them? The ones based in Darlo are lucky enough
to call a heritage listed fire station and one of the city's major hospitals, St Vincent's, 'home'. It's hard
work but at least they're never short of good coffee.

fire and ice

and took me to the hospital

stopping for coffee

halo

smiles to light up a room

fire-engine red lips

hearts of gold

Part 4: 100 metres of Oxford Street - a day in the life

Saturday morning, 8.30am, on her way to work

three sisters on a Hen's Night :: 1

three sisters on a Hen's Night ::2

three sisters on a Hen's Night :: 3

pals

Ferrari red lips

at Betty's :: 1

at Betty's :: 2

three stages of man

x 4 Danish

reflections

Chaos, his tattoo and his nickname

ready for a big night

Marie - heading home from a day at the races

no dancing tonight for Marie

old-timer

Rory - off to a friend's house

Indian on Oxford :: 1

Indian on Oxford :: 2

let the games begin

old school charm

Part 5: The morning after

even if you feel like a dog you need to stay calm and carry on

i'll grab you a coffee from the Arch

coffee and walkies

primary colours

coffee in a corridoor

cook on coffee break

Part 6: A car called Regal

You've probably noticed I have a soft spot for old cars. I used to drive an Austin 1800 - hardly a
classic but it had character at least. Character I found hard to appreciate when it broke down at
the slightest suggestion of precipitation but still. I now drive an anonymous car so find myself
perving at the delicious colours and strong lines of other people's old dears. One was a car called Regal.

nice type

where retro is always in

inside the Regal

flash

keeps the sun out of your eyes

Part 7: Random bits of buildings

pastels :: 1

pastels :: 2

the Jewish War Memorial

1907

blue arches

neighbours

fine lines

brings to mind wedding cake

patterns

the view from Darlo

Beauty in Darlo... The grand and not so grand. The streets that support all walks of life. And those
charcoal drawings from great artists of tomorrow.

I'll see you Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday.