Tag: Surry Hills

I have lived in Sydney’s Surry Hills since 1995, and have seen lots of changes in that time, though many things remain the same. These are some of my blog posts about Slurry, Scruffy…

Light Rail Construction

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For most people photographs of the construction of a light-rail (tram) aren't that interesting. For me, they are, especially as it's happening in my neighbourhood, and will continue to do so for the next 12-18 months. For the most part, it's still lots of photographs of holes in the ground, but eventually it will get [...]

Devonshire Street Light Rail

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Sydney is undergoing a revolution. 50 or so years since the trams were removed, they're returning as "light rail". Pretty soon, I'll have a tram heading up Devonshire Street, not far from where I live. As construction work is underway, I thought I'd share a few photographs. (Hi Highriser). I'm planning on sharing some more [...]

Night Out

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"Oh my goodness, we can book in for 9.30", I told my friend, as we made plans for a meal AFTER seeing a play last night. Having visited New York together about eighteen months ago, with all of the lock out laws rhetoric, and with Sydney's stupidly restrictive restaurant trading laws, I was convinced our [...]

New Year, New Words

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I was afraid of making eye contact. This city can amplify loneliness. Character runs far deeper. A gaze that starts a conversation. I wanted to be a local. I first blogged about the public artwork "Village Voices" in my nearby lane-way a few months ago. In the time since the words have been updated a [...]

Surry Hills Santa

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On the way to the supermarket this morning, I ran into Santa. It's worth noting, however, that in Surry Hills, Santa looks a little different. The Surry Hills Santa was young, good looking and wearing thongs. And when I asked him for a photograph, he gave me a free pair of thongs. But not your [...]

Back Laneway

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"Do you mind if I pop in and take a few photographs?", I asked the bloke with legs covered in clay, as I walked around the back laneway of the street where I live. "I have a couple of colleagues who are really into pottery, and I'd love to show them what you're doing", I [...]

Bei Jing Dumpling

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A couple of weeks ago I was sitting at the bus-stop near the corner of Cleveland and Crown Streets (Surry Hills) and a Chinese guy came up to me, asking for directions. He showed me a piece of paper with the address "432 Cleveland Street" written on it. As I don't speak Chinese and his [...]

Finally Porteño

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"How long before you move?", I asked the waiter tonight. "About five weeks, or thereabouts", he told me. Once the home of Greek restaurant, Dimitri's (with associated plate breaking), the building on Cleveland Street will be looking for a new life, as Porteño is moving to another Surry Hills location. In contrast to Dimitri's, which [...]

Surry Hills Saturday

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There's a row of terraces opposite the Brett Whitley Gallery in Sydney's Surry Hills. As I waited for my friend outside the gallery (she was using their bathroom), I noticed one of the houses had a front garden consisting entirely of succulents. "I guess it saves on watering", my friend joked. Meanwhile, I couldn't resist [...]