Erskineville gay village grows up
THE name Erskineville conjures images of quaint narrow streets full of Victorian era terraces, an endless parade of Hen’s nights at the Imperial, and the casual gay “village” atmosphere of Erskineville Road on a weekend.
Gay and lesbian professional couples now make up a large part of the local Erskineville community, and the area remains popular with students and singles due to proximity to the city and Sydney University. This has led to enormous competition and high prices for Erskineville terraces.
Despite the meteoric price rises of the last ten years, Erskineville still has an almost completely ignored industrial neighbourhood, nestled between Sydney Park in the south and Alexandria to the East. The entire industrial area has now been rezoned by the City of Sydney as a new residential and parkland area called the Ashmore Precinct, which will eventually house 6,000 new residents.
The area is already well serviced by transport links to the city, with train stations at Erskineville, St Peters, and McDonaldtown. The 355 bus links Erskineville to Surry Hills, Newtown, Entertainment Quarter, Centennial Park, Bondi Junction, and the public swimming pool at Enmore Park.
When it comes to cafes and places to hang out with friends on a weekend, Erskineville is a short easy walk away from the legendary cafes and restaurants of King Street and Enmore Road Newtown. Local food highlights in Erskineville village include the French café fare at Bitton Gourmet Grocer, middle eastern inspired food at Café Shenkin, and the incredibly hyped Nutella fuelled madness of Foodcraft Espresso & Bakery.
One of the first new shoots of the budding Ashmore precinct transformation is the OneA apartment development, located in Coulson Street, adjacent to the planned 7,400 sq metre McPherson park. Designed as a collaboration by architects Kannfinch and Breakspear, the modernist inspired building incorporates inset balconies with retractable shades that link living areas to the leafy streetscape. A dramatic building entrance visually integrates the new park to an inner tree shaded courtyard designed by the renowned landscapers 360 Degrees. Highly respected interior design firm Burley Katon Halliday has designed interiors combining authentic materials with a modernist design aesthetic.
On the topic of investing in an apartment in the new Ashmore Precinct, David Milton from CBRE said “The gay community discovered Erskineville property early. The laid back café culture, superb transport links and great local parks have underpinned the recent price rises in the area. Properties like the new OneA apartments are designed for discerning owner occupiers, with generous space, well designed layouts, and great finishes. Over a ten year timeframe, the best property investments are typically in places where people really love the lifestyle and have everything at their doorstep, and Erskineville has that in spades.”
The OneA development includes large 2 level 3 bedroom penthouses, as well as 1 and 2 bedroom apartments with generous storage. The interiors have a modernist style, with Corian kitchen benchtops, terrazzo or marble shelves, oak floors, and bespoke carpets in bedrooms.
OneA Apartments
1a Coulson Street Erskineville
Apartments, includes 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, 3 bedroom 2 storey penthouses.
Developer: Linear and Abacus. Architect: KANNFINCH Design and Breakspear Architects
Building includes leafy views from every apartment, dramatic entrance architecture and internal garden courtyard. Development is designed to complement the planned McPherson Park village green.
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Local Culture
New Theatre
542 King Street Newtown
Enmore Theatre
118 Enmore Road Newtown
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Local Dining & Bars
Swanson Hotel
106 Swanson Street Erskineville
Foodcraft Espresso & Bakery
33 Bridge Street Erskineville
https://www.facebook.com/Foodcraftespressoandbakery/timeline
Café Shenkin
53a Erskineville Road Erskineville
The Grounds of Alexandria
7A, 2 Huntley Street Alexandria
Brewtown Newtown
6 O’Connell Street Newtown
Young Henrys
76 Wilford Street Newtown
Bank Hotel
324 King Street Newtown
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Local Shopping
Woolworths Erskineville
21 Erskineville Road Newtown
Eveleigh Market
245 Wilson Street Eveleigh
Bitton Gourmet Grocer & Cafe
36 Copeland Street Alexandria
Victoria’s Basement
1 Euston Road Alexandria
Petbarn Alexandria
175 McEvoy Street Alexandria
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Local Fitness
Sydney Park
Sydney Park Road St Peters
Sports fields, Walking paths, cycling centre, BBQ facilities
Professional Edge Personal Fitness
20 Maddox Street
Alexandria
Fitness Playground
1/672 King Street Newtown
www.thefitnessplayground.com.au
Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym
