Darlinghurst Suburb Review

Summary: Sydney’s flagship suburb for same-sex pride has come a long way since its flamboyant past of brothels, drugs and gang activity, while its city-adjacent convenience has never been in doubt and remains a major plus for those who like things lively.

Darlinghurst still has its grittier aspects & has had to battle with those wanting to shut down its nighttime entertainment elements for years now, but now serves as a more desirable springboard to city life brimming with restaurants and pubs, along with solid public transport connectivity and easy CBD access.

Given the sheer price of property this close to the city, for many living here will be very much a matter of sacrificing dwelling size for convenience, as it’s largely apartment-only living on offer here… and even those have continued to climb massively in price.

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Purely a dodgy base for sordid activity no longer, Darlinghurst is another suburb which has been swept up in the wave of inner-city Sydney gentrification and now serves as a launchpad for an easy on-foot commute for those working in the city, and a busy hub for enjoying more active livestyles in general.

The whole suburb is largely centered around its main thoroughfare of Oxford Street, which famously serves as the route for the annual gay Mardi Gras parade yet offers much more than that – it’s dotted with countless cafes, takeaway eats, pubs and other smaller retail vendors that provide daily convenience.

For those who enjoy dining and drinking, few suburbs in all of Sydney can compete with Darlinghurst. Despite various periods of government flailing, it’s still packed with pubs and bars both large and small, and boasts multiple pockets of both higher-end and quick-eats type dining options, with the ability to wander down to neighbouring Surry Hills opening up yet more options as well.

Darlinghurst’s streetscape in the present day is a pretty eclectic mix of housing densities, with all of historic terraces, mid-rises and higher density all making an appearance.

What was once historically considered housing for lower-income families has in the present day ballooned to being achingly-desirable property, and prices in Darlinghurst have soared alongside the rest of Sydney as the city’s grown.

These days, the average aspiring resident on an average income intending to live or rent here will need to ensure they are satisfied with apartment living in most cases, as property prices are just as exorbitant as most other inner-city suburbs, and parking comes at an absolute premium.

It’s not uncommon for 2-bedroom apartments – without parking – to sell for around the $1.7 million dollar mark, while even a terrace (not even a truly detached house) will likely set you back a cool $3 million or so.

It’s a lot to ask in return for a suburb in which you’ll still likely be frequently asked for spare change as you walk down the street. Even though Darlinghurst has cleaned up its act over the years, the suburb still boasts a much-higher-than-average per capita crime rate (0.35% vs. the Sydney average of around 0.10%); a side effect of both its nightlife venues/alcohol on offer, and large public spaces which populate it.

Homelessness has become an increasing occurrence in Darlinghurst, as its proximity to (the otherwise lovely) Hyde Park makes for an obvious settling point for some of the disenfranchised, and Oxford Street is still a hub for plenty of “characters”, to say the least.

On the one hand, at least this gives the suburb some personality and life compared to other, more vanilla Sydney; on the other, getting accosted while you’re rushing to catch the morning train isn’t always the best of experiences.

The suburb also tends to be quite noisy given its orientation around evening entertainment and dining, although Sydney’s night time regulations have worked to kill off some of this vibrancy that used to give the suburb a hefty slice of its extra character at various points throughout the years.

Ironically, this can either be seen as a plus or a minus, depending on which stage of your life you’re at while living here.

Darlinghurst is ‘technically’ disconnected from the transport network, lacking its own train station, however both Kings Cross and Museum stations are within reasonable access and open up further opportunities for exploring further, with Kings Cross only a bit of a walk if you happen to live in the southern portion of the suburb.

Balancing things out

It’s far from all doom and gloom, however, as Darlinghurst’s streets are wide and pleasant enough to walk down, and it’s largely pet-friendly given its slices of park and access to the massive and excellent Rushcutters Bay Park on the suburb’s north-eastern tip.

Reasonably-priced takeaway eats abound if you’re willing to be selective, and it’s got full-sized supermarkets available as opposed to the more limited and expensive “metro” miniature versions that some other city suburbs have to deal with.

If you’re the type who can survive without a car and for whom downsizing is not an issue, Darlinghurst has a lot going for it. Traffic is as terrible as one might expect, however if you’re able to subsist on a diet of public transport, this will be a non-issue.

“If you’re the type who can survive without a car and for whom downsizing is not an issue, Darlinghurst has a lot going for it.”

Younger professionals, partygoers, and same-sex residents will likely find much appealing about living here – at least temporarily – as it provides a sense of energy and “city life” that few other suburbs of Sydney can offer.

It’s also one of the most accepting suburbs in Sydney in terms of alternative lifestyles, while offering entertainment establishments to cater as well.

The Verdict

Darlinghurst is definitely a mixed bag to the point of being polarising, that will greatly appeal to some, and turn off others. Cashed-up executives and other well-heeled residents may find it to their liking as well, as the CBD is just down the road and the suburb offers several high-end apartment blocks that rank amongst the more luxurious in this adjacent area to the Sydney CBD.

Families and those after any kind of space or grassed areas of their own will almost certainly want to look elsewhere, however, as Darlinghurst living can feel quite cramped even if you have the cash to afford a terrace.

If you’re after an upbeat and vibrant lifestyle with easy access to the city and want a dose of “true” Sydney city living in an urban apartment environment, Darlinghurst has plenty of entertainment, and its convenience is hard to match.