Surry Hills
Template:Distinguish Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Australian place
Surry Hills is an inner-east suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Surry Hills is immediately south-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney. Surry Hills is surrounded by the suburbs of Darlinghurst to the north, Chippendale and Haymarket to the west, Moore Park and Paddington to the east and Redfern to the south.<ref>Gregory's Sydney Street Directory, Gregory's Publishing Company, 2002, Map 19</ref> It is often colloquially referred to as "Surry".
It is bordered by Elizabeth Street and Chalmers Street to the west, Cleveland Street to the south, South Dowling Street to the east, and Oxford Street to the north. Crown Street is a main thoroughfare through the suburb with numerous restaurants, pubs and bars. Central is a locality in the north-west of the suburb around Central station. Prince Alfred Park is located nearby. Strawberry Hills is a locality around Cleveland and Elizabeth Streets and Brickfield Hill to the east of that.
A multicultural suburb, Surry Hills has had a long association with the Portuguese community of Sydney.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
HistoryEdit
The first land grants in Surry Hills were made in the 1790s. Major Joseph Foveaux received Template:Convert. His property was known as Surry Hills Farm, after the Surrey Hills in Surrey, England. Foveaux Street is named in his honour.<ref>The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Frances Pollon, Angus & Robertson, 1990, p. 249 Template:ISBN</ref> Commissary John Palmer received Template:Convert. He called the property George Farm and in 1800 Palmer also bought Foveaux's farm. In 1792, the boundaries of the Sydney Cove settlement were established between the head of Cockle Bay to the head of Woolloomooloo Bay. West of the boundary, which included present-day Surry Hills, was considered suitable for farming and was granted to military officers and free settlers.
After Palmer's political failures, his reduced financial circumstances forced the first subdivision and sale of his estate in 1814. Isaac Nichols bought Allotment 20, comprising over Template:Convert. Due to the hilly terrain, much of the suburb was considered remote and 'inhospitable'. In the early years of the nineteenth century the area around what is now Prince Alfred Park was undeveloped land known as the Government Paddocks or Cleveland Paddocks. A few villas were built in the suburb in the late 1820s. The suburb remained one of contrasts for much of the nineteenth century, with the homes of wealthy merchants mixed with that of the commercial and working classes.
.jpg){kind=link}
In 1820, Governor Macquarie ordered the consecration of the Devonshire Street Cemetery. A brick wall was erected before any interments took place to enclose its Template:Convert. Within a four-year period the cemetery was expanded by the addition of Template:Convert to its south. A road was formed along the southern boundary of the cemetery in the first half of the 1830s and was called Devonshire Street. The Devonshire Street Cemetery, where many of the early settlers were buried, was later moved to build the Sydney railway terminus. Central railway station was opened on 4 August 1906. The area around Cleveland and Elizabeth streets was known as Strawberry Hills. Strawberry Hills post office was located at this intersection for many years.<ref>Book of Sydney Suburbs, p. 249</ref>
In 1833, the Nichols estate was subdivided and sold. One purchase was by Thomas Broughton and subsequently acquired by George Hill who constructed Durham Hall on this and adjoining lots. Terrace houses and workers' cottages were built in Surry Hills from the 1850s. Light industry became established in the area, particularly in the rag trade (clothing industry). It became a working class suburb, predominately inhabited by Irish immigrants. The suburb developed a reputation for crime and vice. The Sydney underworld figure Kate Leigh (1881–1964), lived in Surry Hills for more than 80 years.
In 1896 Patineur Grotesque one of Australia's first films and first comedy routine filmed was shot in Prince Alfred Park by Marius Sestier.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Surry Hills was favoured by newly arrived families after World War II when property values were low and accommodation was inexpensive. From the 1980s, the area was gentrified, with many of the area's older houses and building restored and many new upper middle-class residents enjoying the benefits of inner-city living. The suburb is now a haven for the upper middle class and young rich.<ref>Christopher Keating. "Surry Hills, The City's Backyard". Halstead Press, Australia. 1991 (Template:ISBN)</ref>
TramsEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The West Kensington via Surry Hills Line operated from 1881 down Crown Street as far as Cleveland Street as a steam tramway. It was extended to Phillip Street in 1909, Todman Avenue in 1912, and then to its final terminus down Todman Avenue in 1937. When the line was fully operational it branched from the tramlines in Oxford Street and proceeded down Crown Street to Cleveland Street in Surry Hills, then south along Baptist Street to Phillip Street, where it swung left into Crescent Street before running south along Dowling Street. It passed the Dowling Street Depot, then turned left into Todman Avenue, where it terminated at West Kensington. The line along Crown Street closed in 1957, the remainder stayed open until 1961 to allow access to Dowling Street Tram Depot. Transdev John Holland routes 301, 302 and 303 generally follow the route down Crown and Baptist Streets as far as Phillip Street.<ref>David R. Keenan. CITY LINES of the Sydney Tramway System. Transit Press Australia,1991. (Template:ISBN)</ref>
Urban characterEdit
Surry Hills has a mixture of residential, commercial and light industrial areas. It remains Sydney's main centre for fashion wholesale activities, particularly on the western side. The area is also home to a large LGBTQIA+ community, where Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (Pride Parade) takes place each year.
Surry Hills Markets are held in Shannon Reserve at the corner of Crown and Collins Streets, on the first Saturday of every month,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the Surry Hills Festival is an annual community event, attracting tens of thousands of visitors, held in and around Ward Park, Shannon Reserve, Crown Street and Hill Street.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Surry Hills Library and Community Centre sits opposite Shannon Reserve and houses the local branch of the city library and the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In popular cultureEdit
LiteratureEdit
The Harp in the South is a novel by Ruth Park. Published in 1948, it portrays the life of a Catholic Irish-Australian family in Surry Hills, which was an inner city slum at the time. A sequel, Poor Man's Orange, was published in 1949.
TransportEdit
Central railway station, the largest station on the Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink networks, sits on the western edge of Surry Hills. Surry Hills is also serviced by Transdev John Holland and Transit Systems buses. The Eastern Distributor is a major road, on the eastern edge of the suburb. Major thoroughfares are Crown Street, Cleveland Street, Bourke Street and Foveaux Street. Surry Hills is within easy walking distance of the Sydney CBD, and is included in a widening network of cycleways.
Major construction took place on the Surry Hills section of the CBD and South East Light Rail which opened in December 2019 and April 2020 respectively.<ref>About Sydney Light Rail</ref> Transport for NSW managed this project.<ref>Sydney light rail opening delayed another two months to May 2020, Sydney Morning Herald, 4 October 2018</ref> It has been reported that there has been some disruption to local businesses because of the construction work taking place.<ref>Surry Hills businesses count the toll of light rail construction, Daily Telegraph, 2 February 2017</ref>
Places of worshipEdit
- Chinese Presbyterian Church
- Christian Israelite Church
- Cityside Church (Australian Christian Churches)
- Dawn of Islam Mosque
- Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
- King Faisal Mosque
- Self-Realization Fellowship Sydney Centre
- Society of Friends
- St Francis De Sales Catholic Church
- St Michael's Anglican Church<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- St Peter's Catholic Church
- Surry Hills Baptist Church
- Sydney Streetlevel Mission (The Salvation Army)
- Vine Church<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- St Peter's Catholic Church-Front.jpg
St Peter's Catholic Church
- (1)Surry Hills Orthodox Church.jpg
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
- Surry Hills Church 2.JPG
Chinese Presbyterian Church
- (1)Christian Israelite Church.jpg
Christian Israelite Church, Campbell Street
- Surry Hills The Kirk.JPG
The Kirk, a deconsecrated Methodist church
- StMichael'sAnglicanChurchSurryHills.jpg
St Michael's Anglican Church
- (1)St Davids Hall Arthur Street-a.jpg
Heritage-listed St David's Hall, Arthur Street
- Buddhist Temple Surry Hills 006.jpg
Buddhist Temple, 117 Albion Street
LandmarksEdit
.jpg){kind=link}
- Sydney Police Centre <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Centennial Plaza
- Belvoir Street Theatre
- Prince Alfred Park & Swimming Pool
- Tom Mann Theatre
- Harmony Park
- Ward Park, Devonshire Street
- Rainbow Crossing, Taylor Square
- Surry Hills Library and Community Centre, Crown Street
- The Kirk, Cleveland Street
RestaurantsEdit
Surry Hills boasts a diverse range of cafes and restaurants serving a wide variety of cooking styles and cultures.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The suburb has one of the highest, if not the highest, concentration of restaurants in Sydney.<ref>Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide</ref> Local chefs include Andrew Cibej and Bill Granger.
Pubs and barsEdit
Because of its industrial and commercial history, the Surry Hills area contains a significant number of pubs. The style of pubs range from the Victorian period to Federation and Art Deco pubs from the mid-1900s. Many of these have been refurbished in recent years to include restaurants and modern facilities.
Heritage buildingsEdit
Surry Hills has a number of heritage-listed sites, including the following sites listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register:
- 197, 199, 201 Albion Street: 197, 199, 201 Albion Street terrace cottages<ref name=nswshr-64>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
- 203–205 Albion Street: 203–205 Albion Street cottages<ref name=nswshr-443>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
- 207 Albion Street: Durham Hall<ref name=nswshr-221>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
- 626–630 Bourke Street: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Surry Hills<ref name=nswshr-1816>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
- Centennial Park to College Street: Busby's Bore<ref name=nswshr-568>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
- Chalmers Street: Railway Institute Building<ref name=nswshr-1257>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
- 146–164 Chalmers Street: Cleveland House, Surry Hills<ref name=nswshr-65>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
- 356 Crown Street: Crown Street Public School<ref name=nswshr-562>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
- 285 Crown Street: Crown Street Reservoir<ref name=nswshr-1323>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
- 397 Crown Street: 1849 Stonemasonry workshop
- 416 Bourke Street: Hopetoun Hotel<ref>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
The following buildings are listed on the now defunct Register of the National Estate:<ref>The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, p.2/88</ref>
- Bourke Street Public School, established in 1880 and located in heritage-listed buildings<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Children's Court, Albion Street<ref>Template:Cite NSW HD</ref>
- Former Police Station, 703 Bourke Street (designed by Walter Liberty Vernon)
- Former Wesleyan Chapel, 348A Bourke Street
- Riley Street Infants School, 378–386 Riley Street
- Society of Friends Meeting House, Devonshire Street<ref>Template:Cite NSW HD</ref>
- St David's Hall, Arthur Street<ref>Template:Cite NSW HD</ref>
- St Michael's Anglican Church, hall and rectory, Albion Street
HousingEdit
_Nichols_Street_Homes.JPG){kind=link}
Surry Hills is largely composed of grand Victorian terraced houses and some complexes of public housing units to the west of Riley Street. Examples of converted buildings previously used as hospitals include Crown Street Hospital and St. Margaret's, in addition to other building conversions.
SchoolsEdit
Bourke Street Public School, Crown Street Public School, Inner Sydney High School, Sydney Community College, Sydney Boys High School and Sydney Girls High School are notable examples. The Australian Institute of Music's Sydney Campus is also located in Surry Hills.
- Cleveland st boys high sydney.jpg
Cleveland Street Intensive English High School at its old site, now the location of Inner Sydney High School
- Surry Hills Crown Street Public School 1.JPG
Crown Street Public School
- Surry Hills Bourke Street Public School.JPG
Bourke Street Public School
PopulationEdit
Demographically, Surry Hills is now characterised as a mixture of wealthy newcomers who have gentrified the suburb, and long-time residents.
At the Template:CensusAU, the population of Surry Hills was 15,828.<ref name="census2021">Template:Census 2021 AUS</ref> At the Template:CensusAU, it had a population of 16,412.<ref name="census2016">Template:Census 2016 AUS</ref>
In 2021, 68.5% of dwellings were flats, units or apartments, compared to the Australian average of 14.2%. 29.1% are semi-detached terraced houses or townhouses, compared to the Australian average of 12.6%. Only 1.1% of dwellings are separate houses, compared to the Australian average of 72.3%. Surry Hills was categorised as a high wealth area, with a median weekly household income of $2,308, compared to the Australian average of $1,746.<ref name="census2021"/> Historically, the suburb had an influx of post-war immigrants from Europe, particularly those from Greece, Portugal<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Italy.
In 2021, 48.7% of people were born in Australia. The most common foreign countries of birth were England 6.4%, New Zealand 3.4%, China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) 3.3%, Thailand 3.0% and the United States of America 2.1%. 73.0% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Cantonese 4.0%, Mandarin 3.0%, Thai 3.0%, Greek 2.0% and French 2.0%. <ref name="Microburbs 2023">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
47.5% of dwellings have no cars, compared to the Australian average of 7.3%. 11.0% of the population walked to work, compared to the Australian average of 2.5%, and 9.1% travelled to work by public transport, compared to the Australian average of 4.6%. 57.0% worked at home, compared to the Australian average of 21.0%. <ref name="census2021"/>
In 2021 Surry Hills was a significantly more irreligious suburb than the Australian average. Most (55.3%) reported no religion whilst 8.4% did not answer the question. The most common religions reported were Catholic 14.0%, Buddhism 4.8% and Anglican 4.8%.<ref name="census2021"/>
Notable peopleEdit
- Tilly Devine (1900–1970), a prominent English-born crime syndicate figure and madam
- Jimmy Hannan (1937–2019), radio and television host
- Kate Leigh (1881–1964), (resided) a figure in the notorious Sydney razor gang wars
- Hugh Donald "Huge Deal" McIntosh (1876–1942), theatrical entrepreneur, sporting promoter and newspaper proprietor
- Jessica Mauboy, (born 1989) singer and actress
- Ruth Park (1917–2010), author, resided for a time in Surry Hills, where her first book, The Harp in the South (1948), was set
- Kenneth Slessor Template:Post-nominals (1901–1972), poet and author, many of whose poems were set in Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Kings Cross
- Catherine Sutherland, (born 1974) actress
- Brett Whiteley Template:Post-nominals (1939–1992), artist who resided and had a studio in Surry Hills, now the Brett Whiteley Studio
- Mike Whitney (born 1959), cricketer and television host
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Sister project Template:Sister project
- {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }} [CC-By-SA]
- {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }} [CC-By-SA]