Sydney - Paddington

The best-known of Sydney's inner suburbs is Paddington, familiarly known as Paddo, only a 2 km walk along Oxford Street from the southeast end of Hyde Park. Thanks to the efforts of local people many of the old terraced houses lining the steep streets have been saved from demolition.

Many young artists have made their homes in Paddington, which has interesting art galleries and craft shops as well as some very attractive restaurants.

The main feature of interest in Paddington is the Victorian Barracks, on the south side of Oxford Street. Built by convict labor between 1841 and 1847, they are the best preserved large complex of colonial Georgian architecture in Australia. The main block - 225 m long, two-storied, simply and clearly articulated by columns and terraces - housed a British regiment of 800 men. The barracks have remained in use since 1848. Part of the building is now occupied by a military museum.