Paddington is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, located 3 kilometres east of the CBD. Paddington is bordered to the west by Darlinghurst, to the east by Centennial Park and Woollahra, to the north by Edgecliff and Rushcutters Bay and to the south by Moore Park.

The first land grant in the Paddington area, of 100 acres was made to Robert Cooper, James Underwood, and Francis Ewen Forbes by Governor Brisbane in 1823, allowing them to commence work on the Sydney distillery at the eastern end of Glenmore Road. Cooper built his mansion, Juniper Hall, on the South Head Road ridge while Underwood built his house on Glenmore Road, between today’s Soudan Lane and the former distillery. The suburb’s name came about when in October 1839 James Underwood subdivided 50 of his 97 acres. He called his subdivision the Paddington Estate after the London Borough of that name. It extended from Oxford Street down to present day Paddington Street.

Paddington is a rare and largely intact example of an early Victorian residential suburb. Its unique qualities may be attributed to its close proximity to the city, the topography of its harbour location, the process of development and subdivision of early land grants.

The distinctly Australian ‘terrace’ evolved from earlier Georgian and Regency models to form an exceptionally cohesive dormitory suburb. The heritage conservation status of Paddington, its streets and houses, its rooms and details is recognised as being of National and State significance.

Paddington is a highly multicultural community and has been so since the late 1940’s when the newly arrived migrants from Europe found Paddington an affordable and convenient place to live. Today Paddington is popular with professionals due to its proximity to the Sydney CBD. People in the suburb live in semi-detached, row or terrace houses or townhouse (many typical Victorian terrace houses) with more apartment buildings emerging.

Paddington is popular amongst the Art community of Sydney and its back streets are home to many art galleries, design studios and antique dealers. Naturally some notable residents of the area are in the arts.

• Andrew Andersons, architect
• David Boyd, artist
• Noel Ferrier, actor
• Marea Gazzard, sculptor and ceramicist
• Margaret Olley, artist
• Jacki Weaver, actor