Balmain

Sydney

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Once a tough, working-class neighbourhood, Balmain now rivals Paddington in Victorian-era desirability – with the added advantage of being surrounded by water and city-bound ferries. Darling St traverses the spine of Balmain’s peninsula, and makes for a decent pub crawl. Balmain’s frangipani-scented streets contain dozens of historically significant buildings, most of which are privately owned.

The most notable is the graciously proportioned Hampton Villa. Nearby is the squat, shingle-roofed Clontarf Cottage; and the semiderelict St Mary’s Hall. Darling St has the Watch House; Waterman’s Cottage; and Cahermore.

Transportation

  • bus: 433, 441-5
  • ferry: Balmain, Balmain East

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Nearby Sydney attractions

1. Watch House

0.04 MILES

One of Balmain's many notable historic buildings, the Watch House, is Sydney’s oldest surviving lockup (1854). It now operates on Saturdays (combine it…

2. St Mary’s Hall

0.09 MILES

This brick former church hall, built around 1851, is in a rather dilapidated state.

3. Clontarf Cottage

0.13 MILES

Balmain’s jacaranda-filled streets contain dozens of historically significant buildings, most of which are privately owned. The squat, shingle-roofed…

4. Hampton Villa

0.22 MILES

Balmain’s hibiscus-scattered streets contain dozens of historically significant buildings, most of which are privately owned. The most notable is this…

5. Cahermore

0.48 MILES

Balmain’s hibiscus-studded streets contain dozens of historically significant buildings, most of which are privately owned. Darling St has Cahermore,…

6. Waterman’s Cottage

0.54 MILES

Just up from the ferry slip, this cute sandstone cottage was built in 1841. It's one of many historic houses of this era scattered through Balmain.

7. Goat Island

0.75 MILES

Goat Island, west of the Harbour Bridge, has been a shipyard, a quarantine station and a gunpowder depot in its previous lives. Heritage tours are offered…

8. Anzac Bridge

0.75 MILES

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