Darlinghurst Suburb Review

Alternative lifestyles, city convenience, and a bit of grit.

Summary: Sydney’s flagship suburb for same-sex pride has come a long way since its dirty past of brothels, drugs and gang activity. While it still has its grittier elements, Darlinghurst now serves as a desirable springboard to city life brimming with restaurants and pubs, with the city just down the street; however it’s very much a matter of sacrificing size for convenience and a little grit, as it’s largely apartment-only living on offer here.

Key stats

A dodgy base for gangland 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.

The whole suburb is largely centered around its main thoroughfare of Oxford Street, which serves as the route for the annual gay Mardi Gras parade and is dotted with countless cafes, takeaway eats, pubs and other smaller retail vendors.

The average resident 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 $1.4 million dollar mark, while even a terrace (not a standalone house) will set you back a cool $3.5 million on average.

It’s a lot to ask in return for a suburb in which you’ll likely be frequently asked for spare change as you walk down the street. Homelessness has become an increasing black mark on Darlinghurst, as its proximity to (the otherwise lovely) Hyde Park makes for an obvious settling point for some of the disenfranchised.

The suburb also tends to be quite noisy given its orientation around evening entertainment and dining, although Sydney’s night time lockout laws have killed off some of this vibrancy that used to give the suburb a hefty slice of its extra character. This will likely be either a plus or a minus, depending on which stage of your life you’re at while here.

Darlinghurst is slightly disconnected from the transport network as well, lacking its own train station, however both Kings Cross and Museum stations are within reasonable access and open up further opportunities for exploring further.

Balancing things out

It’s not 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.

Oxford Street offers nearly endless dining & drinking opportunities

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. 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 the southern portion of 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.

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.