A Real Urban Garden

As our schedule is becoming normalized with a consistent daily routine in place I have been exploring different walking routes to my new office. Granted it is really only a 10 minute walk (with a coffee stop along the way), but Darlinghurst (my neighbourhood) and Surry Hills (where the office is located) are full of interesting alleyways, or laneways as they are referred to here.

Laneways are a part of Sydney’s urban geography. Honestly, the Sydney laneway—which tends to be more alienated, mostly residential, with a sprinkle of boutique shops, restaurants, and bars—has nothing on the Melbourne laneway. Melbourne has a network of graffiti-filled, populated, narrow streets with hip cafes, restaurants, hip bars, and some of the best shopping in Australia. The Melbourne laneway may be incomparable but every once in a while you happen on a strange and particularly unique condition in Sydney.

Last week I passed McElhone Place. This is one of those particularly special and unique conditions. The laneway was transformed into an urban garden, an outdoor oasis for the residents, covered in plant life, colorful flowers (or should I write colourful), with strange garden sculptures, several benches randomly dispersed, a cat that keeps guard, and a hidden plaque in Memory of its founder, Olive (Ollie) Batty, from the South Sydney mayor that reads:

 It felt like a movie set, almost artificial from a distance but once inside, somewhat of a utopian experience.

It has consistently won the council's Greening of Sydney Award. Have a look at this article if you want to learn more.

McElhone Place has now become a regular stop on my short trek home. I even think the cat (not to mention the residents and spirit of Ollie) are beginning to recognize me....