COFFEE @ Bootsdarling – Darlinghurst 2010.

Bootsdarling; what a great name!!! Bootsdarling cafe, located on the corner of South Dowling Street and Taylor Street is a charming and quirky little café.

Bootsdarling has a terrific floorplan; pretty much wherever you sit you can have a private conversation without feeling like the people on the next table are listening in.

The bustle of the open kitchen along with the great background music creates a truly relaxed homely ambiance.

Recycled timber fence palings have been used for the walls and furniture to great effect. White walls, mirrors and plentiful natural daylight balance out the ‘heaviness’ of all the timber. The light fittings, saloon doors, hanging plants and various other interesting details make the space really appealing.

The coffee and food are good quality. Bootsdarling is the type of café you could easily spend hours in.

NOW & THEN around Darlinghurst, Sydney

Although Darlinghurst is in close proximity to Sydney, Europeans did not develop the area until the early 1800s as the shallow soil and rocky ridges made the area less attractive than more arable sites in the settlement. However, sandstone from the area was quarried by convict labour and used to develop Sydney.

In 1822 works commenced on the construction of Darlinghurst Gaol. At that time the gaol was on the outskirts of the settlement. Between 1835 and 1844 a new courthouse was constructed on the site. Public hangings took place at the front of the gaol until 1853, at which time they were moved inside. The gaol closed in 1912 and is now the National Art School.

A recession in the 1840s resulted in changes to the ‘one building per allotment’ rule, and before long the first Darlinghurst subdivisions began to take place. By the 1890s many of the mansions built along the ridgeline were converted into boarding houses to accommodate the increasing population of migrant workers and the poor.

World War II saw European migrants move into the area, finding the location convenient and affordable. By the 1960s the area began to attract artists, students and young professionals, and the process of gentrification began.

A photographic record of my visit to Darlinghurst

Almost all of Darlinghurst falls within heritage conservation areas. With a high number of heritage listed buildings, the suburb successfully demonstrates that it is possible to integrate contemporary building works into an established and valued historic context.

The following images showcase some of the interesting contemporary works that can be viewed from within the public domain. Enjoy!

The following images depict some of the modern infill developments in the Darlinghurst area.

Darlinghurst falls within the local government area of the City of Sydney. The City of Sydney Heritage Development Control Plan provides information and guidelines about caring for and making changes to heritage listed buildings and buildings within heritage conservation areas.

The document may also apply to buildings that are over fifty years old even if they are not heritage listed or within a heritage conservation area.

References:
City of Sydney Council website, Dictionary of Sydney, Office of Environment & Heritage – State Heritage Inventory, Pictorial history South Sydney by Anne-Maree Whitaker.
Historical images courtesy Flickr Commons & the State Library of New South Wales.