Inner West
Suburbs: Camperdown (South of Parramatta Road), Chippendale, Darlington, Newtown - North of King Street & East of Church Street, Erskineville
Localities: Sydney Uni, Golden Grove, Macdonaldtown
Local Action Plan
Download the Local Action Plan here as a PDF document.
- Local Action Plan Inner West | PDF 250Kb
About the Inner West
Inner West comprises Camperdown, Chippendale, Darlington, Erskineville, Eveleigh, Golden Grove, Macdonaldtown and Newtown.
Camperdown
The people of Camperdown appreciate the “heritage and modern architecture” of the area, characterised by a range of old warehouse buildings, terraces and modern apartment buildings, some taking their design style from the industrial character of the area. The Camperdown community values being close to the CBD, the universities, the attractions of King Street and Glebe Point Road, the parks and open spaces with Blackwattle Bay and the Harbour not too far away.
Chippendale
Chippendale is “close to everything, work in the city, Chinatown, shops, restaurants, buses and trains.” The community values it as ‘lively and accessible”.
An established community, Chippendale is undergoing change with inner city professionals moving into the area. They appreciate the character of its quiet and leafy terrace lined streets, and while seeking improvements, do not want the intrinsic “working class” character of Chippendale to be lost.
Locals enjoy access to Broadway Shopping Centre, value the grandeur of Victoria Park and the outdoor swimming pool and the links to Glebe and Sydney University. Heritage buildings line the streets alongside working and converted warehouses. The quiet, narrow and leafy streets are valued with many households claiming the footpaths as a garden space.
It’s a community with “heritage conservation attitude”, who have spoken with a spirited voice and asserted their needs as a community in the face of major urban renewal at the Carlton and United Brewery site.
Darlington, Eveleigh, Golden Grove and Macdonaldtown
These four small neighbourhoods of quiet tree lined streets are close to the City, Glebe and Newtown and enjoy all that lively King Street has to offer.
Darlington residents are seeking more identity as a suburb and value their weatherboard cottages.
The grand terraces of Golden Grove form a small and somewhat secret suburb.
Eveleigh and Macdonaldtown communities enjoy Erskineville Village, the small neighbourhood shops, and art and craft galleries dotted throughout the Inner West.
Erskineville
The people of Erskineville love the village atmosphere, valued by locals as a “small country town minutes to the city and coast”. Erskineville Road, with its friendly “community vibe”, is a place with no pretension. The “village feel” is reinforced by the school, the station, the square, the community centre, local shops, leafy trees and relaxed café hubs. Residents say Erskineville is a tight community with a strong sense of local identity.
Newtown
Newtown’s community has undergone a number of transformations since 1862 when it began life as a bourgeois suburb. By the 1900s it was working class, by the 1950s a migrant hub laying the foundations for its contemporary cosmopolitan feel. The 1970s saw more change with Newtown attracting a young, educated and politically active population.
Today Newtown community life is built on this foundation of free speech and ideas, progressive and green thinking. Many who came in the 1970s never left, while generations of students have come and gone, and new cohorts continue to hang out in King Street Newtown.
Located around 5kms south of the Sydney CBD, Newtown was named after the New Town store, but was originally known as Devine’s Farm after the original landowner.
Newtown’s main street, King Street, lives up to its reputation as a “shopper’s delight”. Lined with art and craft galleries, music and bookstores, home wares, new and recycled fashion, bakeries, delicatessens, antiques, specialty shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes - it has it all.
Share Community Values
As a result of the City’s review of the material gathered in the consultation period, shared community values have been developed as a framework for the long- term revitalisation of the Inner West. Below is a snapshot of what people in the Inner West indicated were their community values and aspirations as well as some of the suggested ideas that reflect them.
Protecting the character
“Sense of community.”
- Heritage interpretation story-telling program
- Main street program and streetscape improvements for King Street
- Area wide footpath, roadway and lighting improvements
- Heritage grants for building owners
- Development controls to protect heritage buildings
Reclaiming the streets
“Good public transport, close to the city, close to local shops and facilities and no need to drive much.”
- Streetscape upgrades to enhance pedestrian spaces
- Pedestrian and cycleway programs
- Public transport improvements
- Local speed limits
- Better access to Victoria Park
Green streets and parks
“The industrial edge and history should not be lost.”
“Old established trees, Victoria Park and the little parks, and tree-lined streets that are beautiful and quiet.”
- Street and laneway container gardening
- Street tree planting in all areas
- Park greening program
- Park and street trees in Lyons Road
- Enhancement of small neighbourhood parks
- Promoting the community garden
Creative and cultural community
“Café culture, art galleries, creative atmosphere - it’s vibrant at all hours”
- Community spaces for cultural activities
- Graffiti art
- Community arts and creative projects
- Telling the stories of community as part of public art and streetscape improvements
- Website for the Inner West
Diverse and progressive
“Older people and others on low incomes should be assisted to remain in the area.”
- Youth involvement
- Responsible pet ownership programs
- Community health and service projects
- Economic and tourism strategies
Downloads
- Inner West Community Forum March 2009 | PDF 12Mb
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