For visitors seeking Sydney accommodation Darlinghurst is a convenient and trendy location. It has a hip vibe and is immediately next to the city centre. Known by the locals as Darlo, the suburb is a cosmopolitan concoction of bohemian hangouts. Its vibrant feel is that of an urban village similar to may close-knit neighbourhoods in Manhattan, London or Paris. Iconic sites like the Opera House and Harbor Bridge are all just an easy walk away.
The area exudes a party atmosphere and flamboyance that is truly distinctive. Darlo broadly sits in a small gully and its surrounding hills bounded by William Street to the north, Oxford Street to the south, Darlinghurst Road to the east and College Street to the west along Hyde Park. The tall, gothic St Mary cathedral overlooks the area from its vantage point on a hill to the north west.
At the very core of Darlinghurst sits Little Italy. This tiny quarter, covering only two or three blocks, was densely populated by migrant Italians for several decades during the 1900s. Today it is an interesting mix of small terrace homes, modern apartments, converted commercial offices, cafes and restaurants. Oxford Street is always pumping with vibrant energy. People are always gathered in its pubs, bars, eateries, stores, fashion boutiques, galleries, salons, and gyms. It is the spiritual heart of the world famous Gay Mardi Gras hosted by Sydney each year. The carnival attracts more than 300,000 spectators, many from overseas. City Gym on Crown (near William) Street is somewhat of a local institution. The fitness conscious and friends go there to see and be-seen. It was the first gym in Australia to hold aerobics classes.
Darlo is home to the Sydney Jewish Museum, considered by some to be one of the best museums of its type in the world. It is situated along Darlinghurst Road near its intersection with Burton Street. It contains powerful exhibits focused on the history of Jews in Australia as well as poignant documents and objects relating to the holocaust and the Jewish culture generally. The exhibits include audiovisual displays and interactive media. There’s also a museum shop, a resource center, a small theatre, and a kosher cafe.
The suburb is well-served by public buses. Bus 378 leave from Railway Square (Central Station) and buses 380, 389 and L82 leave from Circular Quay. They all take passengers to Darlinghurst and run along Oxford Street east to harbor-side suburbs such as Vaucluse and Watsons Bay or the famous ocean beach of Bondi. Taxis are always a whistle away. That said, the best way to experience the history and eclectic variety of the area is by foot.
There are literally hundreds of eateries, many open at all hours and offering a delicious range of tempting cuisines. Most streets in Darlo have at least a few cafes or restaurants but most are situated along Darlinghurst Road as well as Oxford, Stanley, Palmer and Victoria Streets. Entertainment is non-stop, dominated by the discos, all-night dance clubs, pubs and cafes along Oxford Street and Darlinghurst Road in Kings Cross. Historically, the area has had a colourful past associated with both the affluent and the down-and-out. Darlinghurst, along with Kings Cross, was for decades the hangout for gangsters and the home of many brothels, particularly along Palmer and Forbes Streets. Today, those activities have been largely eliminated and the neighbourhood has become a lot safer since the 1980s.
The jail has the shape of a wheel with spokes. Several wings radiate from a central hub with narrow courtyards between each wing. It remained the main Sydney penitentiary until 1912, when a new facility at Long Bay was completed. During its long life, Darlinghurst Goal hosted many public executions by hanging on temporary gallows outside the main gate in Forbes Street. Regular private executions on permanent gallows were performed inside the walls near the intersection of Darlinghurst Road and Burton Street. In all, 79 criminals were executed at the goal including the bushranger Captain Moonlight and Jimmy Governor.
The goal buildings were used as an internment camp during WWI. The site was handed over to the education department in 1921. It was converted to become Sydney Accommodation Darlinghurst to train students as a technical college. Today, its fashion faculty has established a strong reputation.
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