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DARLINGHURST, NSW: merging old and new to create relevant buildings.

September 8, 2015 by Suzanne Fuchs 1 Comment

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.

Darlinghurst Gaol 1870 SLNSW
c.1870 view of Darlinghurst Gaol as seen from Burton Street.
2015 view of the former Darlinghurst Gaol.
2015 view of the former Darlinghurst Gaol.

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.

Late 1800s view looking down Bourke Street.
Late 1800s view looking down Bourke Street.
2015 view looking along Bourke Street.
2015 view looking along Bourke Street.

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.

c.1912 view of the Darlinghurst Fire Station.
c.1912 view of the Darlinghurst Fire Station.
2015 view of the Darlinghurst Fire Station.
2015 view of the Darlinghurst Fire Station.

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!

48 Little Oxford Street
Refurbishment and rooftop addition to former warehouse building in the Oxford Street Heritage Conservation Area by Smart Design Studio
Boundary Street
Rooftop addition and adaptive reuse of former warehouse style building in the Barcom Heritage Conservation Area.
303 Liverpool Street
Modern rooftop addition by Burley Katon Halliday. The building is located in the East Sydney Heritage Conservation Area.
169 William Street
Alterations and additions by SJB Architects. The building is located in the William Street South Heritage Conservation Area.
50 Stanley Street
Steel rooftop addition and redevelopment of 1940s warehouse building by JPR Architects. The building is located in the East Sydney Heritage Conservation Area.
196 Campbell Street
Rear addition to the heritage listed Christian Israelite Sancturary in the Ryder Street Heritage Conservation Area.
144 - 150 Liverpool Street
Modern residential rooftop apartments constructed above existing commercial buildings in the East Sydney Heritage Conservation Area. Design by Ian Moore Architects.
Kings Lane - Oxford Foundry
The Oxford Foundry building has been converted to provide a ‘residential address’ to the apartments above the commercial buildings fronting Liverpool Street. Design by Ian Moore Architects.
5 Kings Lane
Modern rooftop addition atop a heritage listed terrace group in the East Sydney Heritage Conservation Area.
320 Liverpool Street
Land & Environment approved mixed use development to 1926 former telephone exchange building in the Barcom Avenue Heritage Conservation Area. Additions by H Y Koo & Associates.
10 Nimrod Street
Adaptive reuse of former horse stables now occupied by the Griffin Theatre Company. Recent alterations by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects.
10 Nimrod Street - THEATRE
Adaptive reuse of former horse stables. Recent alterations by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects.
57 Yurong Street
Heritage listed Victorian Georgian style terrace with modern alterations by Prescott Architects. The dwelling is located in the East Sydney Heritage Conservation Area.
39 Burton Street - Eternity Playhouse
Adaptive reuse of the heritage listed Burton Street Tabernacle to an arts and cultural facility. Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects.
Palmer Street view of Eternity Playhouse
Palmer Street view of the modern additions to the heritage listed former Burton Street Tabernacle. Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects.
207 Darlinghurst Road
NEARING COMPLETION – Refurbishment of original villa in the Rosebank Heritage Conservation Area and the construction of a residential flat building behind. Stanisic Architects.
334 Victoria Street
Modern alterations and additions to an original terrace fronting Victoria Street in the Oxford Street and Victoria Street Heritage Conservation Area.
Neild Avenue
The heritage listed former car assembly hall known as the Advanx Building has been incorporated into the redevelopment of the immediate area. Designed by Daryl Jackson Robin Dyke Architects. Until recently the building was used as a bar/restaurant.
National Art School - Old Gaol site
Modern access facilities on the former Darlinghurst Gaol site. Now the National Art School.
Victoria Street & Burton Street
Modern forecourt adjacent to the Free Classical style de Lacy building, St Vincent’s Hospital (c.1868).
31 Woomera Street
Contemporary facade detailing in the Barcom Avenue Heritage Conservation Area.
475 Liverpool Street
First floor studio at the rear of a traditional terrace in the Barcom Avenue Heritage Conservation Area. Day Bukh Architects

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

Green Park Hotel Victoria Street
The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, by BVN Donovan Hill Architects, adjoining the heritage listed 1893 Green Park Hotel.
Forbes Street SCEGGS
Modern educational building on the heritage listed former St.Peter’s Church of England site now incorporated into the SCEGGS Darlinghurst campus. Located in the East Sydney Heritage Conservation Area.
St Peters Street- SCEGGS
Multi-use educational infill development by Tanner Kibble Denton in the East Sydney Heritage Conservation Area. The Horizon Apartments by Harry Seidler can be seen in the background.
Palmer Street
Residential infill development on the former Sargents pie factory site in the East Sydney Heritage Conservation Area. Palmer Street view. Design by Burley Katon Halliday.
Corner Palmer and Burton Street
Residential infill development on the former Sargents pie factory site in the East Sydney Heritage Conservation Area. Burton Street view. Design by Burley Katon Halliday.
Forbes Street former St Vincents building
1867 heritage listed Caritas House and site has been adaptively reused and redeveloped for residential purposes. Design by Group GSA Architects.
Corner Forbes and Burton Street
View of the redeveloped heritage listed Caitas site as seen from the corner of Burton Street and Forbes Street. Design by Group GSA Architects.
138 Barcom Street
Residential infill fronting the Barcom Avenue Heritage Conservation Area. Designed by Ian Moore Architects.
Kirketon Road
‘The Art Wall’ by Dale Jones-Evans is located in the Rosebank Heritage Conservation 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.

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Filed Under: AUSTRALIA, Eastern Suburbs, NEW SOUTH WALES

Comments

  1. renee says

    September 8, 2015 at 10:28 pm

    this one is fabulous. I will try it soon. Look as though it feeds the soul as well.Rare in a café. Outstanding find.

    Reply

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