Surry Hills is one of the best known and most loved suburbs in the Inner City, with a rich history and an appeal that never fades. You can enjoy the hustle and bustle on Cleveland, Crown, and Foveaux Streets with their hip boutiques and galleries, or escape to the backstreets for a quiet moment.
The suburb has a booming wine bar, cafe, and restaurant scene that regularly puts it at the top of the list of Sydney food and dining destinations.
Cleveland and Crown Streets are dotted with both affordable and high-end restaurants, while the Cleveland and Clock Hotels are popular gathering places for drinks and pub-style meals. The Belvoir Theatre is a local institution where internationally acclaimed actors regularly grace the stage in world-class productions before mingling with audiences post-performance at the theatre bar.
Car and pedestrian traffic increase as you venture along Foveaux Street towards Central Station and the build up of shopfronts and offices provide evidence of the suburb’s traditional place in Sydney’s media, advertising and fashion industries.
The Prince Alfred Park swimming pool, Moore Park Golf Club, Sydney Cricket Ground and Royal Randwick Race Course are just around the corner (if you’re a sports enthusiast or in search of more active pursuits).
Housing in Surry Hills is mostly low to medium rise, with terraces, townhouses, warehouse conversions and new apartments all forming part of the mix.
Surry Hills streets are undeniably high density but there are several tree lined streets and welcome pockets of greenery – Eddie Ward and Harmony Parks both provide spots to take a breather in the sunshine, and Shannon Reserve is the perfect place to enjoy a gelato from the acclaimed Messina on Crown Street, which is just across the road. The reserve, which features a shaded playground for kids, is also host to a community market on the first Saturday of each month.
Current average rents in Surry Hills are $950 pw for a three-bedroom house and $700 pw for a two-bedroom unit.
Central Station is Surry Hills’ closest major transport hub and centre for train and bus services to the CBD and wider Sydney regions.
The light rail network connects Surry Hills to the city and Circular Quay to the north and Kingsford and Randwick to the south.
Surry Hills is a particularly “walkable” suburb and an easy stroll will get you to most of the area’s main attractions. Plus, strategies to make the Inner City friendlier to pedestrians and cyclists are constantly evolving, and improving Surry Hills’ shared paths and cycleways are a key part of the plans.
