Page 131 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

KINGS CROSS , D ARLINGHURST AND P ADDINGT ON  129

come rain or shine, in the tCentennial Park yThe
grounds of Paddington Village Map 6 E5. Tel (02) 9339 6699. Entertainment
Uniting Church. It is probably @ Clovelly, Coogee, Maroubra, Bronte, Quarter
the most colourful in Sydney – Randwick, City, Bondi Beach & Bondi
a place to meet and be seen as Junction routes, Bondi Explorer Bus. Lang Rd, Moore Park. Map 5 C5.
much as to shop. Stallholders Open permanently, but cars permitted Tel 8117 6700. @ 339, 355.
come from all over the world only between sunrise and sunset. 7 Open most retail shops: 10am–10pm;
and young designers, hoping 0 - 8 see website for details. markets: 8am–2pm Wed & Sat.
to launch their careers, display ∑ centennialparklands.com.au ∑ eqmoorepark.com.au
their wares. Other offerings are
jewellery, pottery and other Entering this 220-ha (544-acre) There is a vibrant atmosphere
arts and crafts, as well as new park through one of its in the Entertainment Quarter,
and second-hand clothing. sandstone and wrought-iron which is located next door to the
Whatever you are looking for gates, the visitor may wonder working studios that produced
you are more than likely to how such an extensive and some very famous movies, such
find it here. idyllic place has survived so as The Matrix and The Matrix and The Matrix Moulin Rouge.
close to the centre of the city. There are 16 cinema screens
Formerly a common, Centennial showing the latest movies, and
Park was dedicated “to the at the La Premiere cinema you
enjoyment of the people of can enjoy your movie with wine
New South Wales forever” in and cheese, sitting on sofas.
1888 as part of the centenary Four live-entertainment venues,
of the foundation of the colony. including Sydney’s premier
On 1 January 1901, 100,000 comedy venue, regularly feature
people gathered here to the latest local and international
witness the Commonwealth acts. You can also enjoy bungy
of Australia come into being, trampolining, bowling or
when the first Australian seasonal ice-skating, and
federal ministry was sworn in children love the play areas.
by the first governor-general There are many restaurants,
(see p60). cafés and bars offering a range
The park boasts landscaped of snacks, meals and drinks.
Paddington Street terrace house lawns, a rose garden, statues On Wednesdays and
and a coordinated series of Saturdays, you can savour fresh
rPaddington walks. Once the source of the produce, and enjoy workshops
Street city’s water supply, the swamps and cooking demonstrations,
at the EQ Produce Markets.
are home to many species of
Map 6 D3. @ 333, 378, 380, 382. waterbirds. Picnickers, painters, More than 100 stalls feature
runners, cyclists, skaters and regional products, with many
With its huge plane trees shading horse-riders all share this vast offering free tastings.
the road and fine terrace houses park. Equipment hire is available, Shops are open until late
on each side, Paddington Street as well as barbecues and a every day, and there is a good
is one of the oldest and loveliest scenic café and restaurant. selection of products. There is
of the suburb’s streets. An adjacent golf course with plenty of undercover parking
Paddington grew rapidly as a large driving range, and and the Entertainment Quarter
a commuter suburb in the late tennis courts offer even more is a pleasant stroll from the
19th century and most of the sporting opportunities. Paddington end of Oxford Street.
terraces were built for renting
to Sydney’s artisans. They were
decorated with iron lace, Grecian-
style friezes, worked parapets
and cornices, pilasters and scrolls.
By the 1900s, the terraces
became unfashionable and
people moved out to newly
emerging “garden suburbs”.
In the 1960s, however, their
architectural appeal came to
be appreciated again and the
area was reborn.
Paddington Street now has a
chic atmosphere where small
art galleries operate out of
quaint and grand shopfronts. The lush green expanse of Centennial Park