Summary

Surry Hills is one of the inner-city suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. It sits just below the city's central business district to the southeast. This location makes it a fairly well-developed area, although a bit densely populated. Its postcode is 2010.

Surroundings

Surry Hills is bounded by Haymarket and Chippendale to the west, Paddington and Moore Park to the east, Darlinghurst up north, and Redfern down south.

Name derivation and history

Surry Hills is named after England's Surrey Hills. It was originally owned by Major Joseph Foveaux, a former government official; one of the streets is now named after him. It became a prime relocation spot after World War II, when home prices were low, which explains its distinctly diverse population today.   read more

Geography

Surry Hills is a mix of commercial, industrial, and residential parts, although much of the activity now happens in the commercial areas. Because of its inland location, it remains fairly dry most of the year.

Attractions

The Surry Hills Shopping Village is a popular stop for city-goers, with its wide selection of shops, cafes, and restaurants. The schools and churches are also a popular attraction because of their unique architecture; some of the most prominent are the Chinese Presbyterian Church and the Cleveland Street High School.

Transport

Surry Hills is home to the Central Railway Station, the largest stop on the CityRail system. Many bus routes of the State Transit Authority also serve Surry Hills, with daily trips to the CBD and other areas of Sydney. Main thoroughfares include the streets of Foveaux, Crown, Bourke, and Cleveland.

Recreation

Surry Hills offers several parks and open spaces where one can take a walk, hike, or ride a bike and enjoy the scenery. Some of the most popular are Moore Park and Prince Alfred Park. There are also swimming pools, tennis courts, and golf courts. The Palace Academy Cinemas is a major venue for art film screenings.

Alternative places

The Sydney CBD just 1km away offers more leisure options, from small indie cafes to high-end fashion boutiques. Darlinghurst and Moore Park offer more cultural activities.