suburb info

Pyrmont’s colourful history dates back to 1799, when it was purchased by John Macarthur for a gallon of rum. Since then, the suburb has transformed from a thriving industrial area to one of the most derelict parts of Sydney, to the trendy, diverse community it is now. The rich industrial history of Pyrmont began in 1815, when Australia’s first steam-powered mill was built in Darling Harbour. The 1870’s saw the rise of a successful wool industry in the area, with auctions being transferred from London to Sydney. By the 1890’s, wool stores, power stations and mills created employment for thousands of local residents and continued to do so until well into the 1960’s, particularly during World War II. As early as 1900, Pyrmont was the Australian centre for distribution of flour, milk, sugar and wool, and was providing Sydney with all its power for lights and trams. The first Pyrmont Bridge opened in 1858, and a larger bridge with a central swingspan which opened to allow larger ocean craft to pass through opened in 1902. As well as its thriving wool industry, Pyrmont was the home of Sydney’s best sandstone, creating a highly profitable quarrying business. Some of Sydney’s most reputable and well-known buildings were built using Pyrmont’s yellow block sandstone, including Sydney Town Hall, the Art Gallery of NSW and the University of Sydney. Unfortunately, this industrial boom was not to last. By the early 1980’s freight services had been moved elsewhere and the railway goods yard closed down, leaving thousands unemployed. Even though Darling Harbour was officially opened as an entertainment and leisure centre in 1988, Pyrmont was largely derelict, with its thriving population of thousands reduced to a mere 900 by 1990. Today, Pyrmont is a lively mixture of industry, small businesses and residential areas. An initiative by the government called the ‘Better Cities Programme’ led to great improvements within the suburb, attracting a wide variety of new residents and establishing a pleasant, village-style atmosphere in a place that was almost ravaged beyond repair.

There are a number of different options when it comes to living in Pyrmont, and different choices will suit different people. While there isn’t much for garden fanatics seeking wide-open spaces and room for a big dog, or those with McMansion designs, it is possible to accommodate quite a decent sized family in this harbour-side suburb. Here are some of the options when it comes to living in Pyrmont, from shoe-boxes to palatial apartments. Studios: There aren’t substantial numbers of studios in Pyrmont, but those that are around go for quite cheap. (Generally under the $250,000 mark). Pyrmont studios are of a fairly standard size, between 29-35 square metres and are often in large apartment complexes with resort-style facilities. Renting a studio apartment in Pyrmont will set you back a little over $300 per week. Standard 1-2 Bedroom Apartments:A standard 1-2 bedroom apartment in Pyrmont will set you back between $310,000 and $600,000. Most of these apartments are fairly spacious, upwards of 55squaremeters for a one bedroom and seventy five square metres for a two bedroom. There are plenty of apartments in this category to be found in Pyrmont, and they generally tend to be located in large, secure apartment blocks with resort-style facilities. Common features include bathtubs, small balconies, built-ins and open plan kitchens. It is possible to find cheaper, smaller apartments in Pyrmont (they are often in older buildings), but they certainly aren’t as common as their more expensive cousins. Warehouse Conversions: Pyrmont’s warehouse conversions tend to be a little pricier than a standard apartment, costing upwards of $400,000 for a one bedroom, and often over $600,000 for a two-bedder. Warehouse conversions feature ultra-trendy interior design, high-end fittings, and soaring ceilings. Often split-level, these homes are compared to New York style lofts. They are less likely to have balconies, or roof-top gardens than apartments in larger complexes, but on the plus side, they have more space, thicker walls, and polished wooden floors. Luxury Apartments: Pyrmont’s luxury apartments can cost well over the million dollar mark. Pyrmont’s luxury apartments have harbour views, spacious in-complex private gardens, spa-baths, expansive balconies and all the other trappings of wealth. They tend to be located in new, or near new complexes near the harbour. Like standard apartments, Pyrmont’s luxury apartment complexes come with resort facilities, which are often ultra high end in themselves. How much you will pay depends on a number of factors, but prices start at around $700,000 for a large one bedder. Luxury penthouse apartments in Pyrmont have been known to sell for $4,000,000. Terraces: While certainly not as prevalent as apartments, those who prefer the comfort and ground-level feeling of a house still have plenty of options in Pyrmont. Like the rest of the inner-suburbs, terraces dominate the Pyrmont house market, and they range from about $600,000 for un-renovated 2 bedders to over a million for state of the art, refurbished, three bedroom numbers. Pyrmont’s terraces vary wildly when it comes to features, but almost all have small back gardens.

We have added links to valuable resources for the Pyrmont area below.

Pyrmont Village eNewsletter

Map of Pyrmont and Ultimo

This map can be used to guide you on a walking tour. It shows a selection of buildings still visible in Pyrmont and Ultimo, including:

- tiny terraces of Hackett Street (renamed from Bulwarra Lane after local Labor member Charlie Hackett who pushed for lanes to be renamed streets in the 1950s to help their inhabitants secure jobs);

- sites of the fabulously named quarries (Paradise, Purgatory and Hellhole);

- the last standing flour mill in Pyrmont or Ultimo, the Edwin Davey Flour Mill on Gipp Street, visible from the Anzac Bridge as you head towards the city.

As you follow the numbers on the map you can see that many of the street names reflect the people and industries influential to the area. From the Harris family with Harris, William Henry and Mary Ann Streets, to Bunn and Murray Streets after Captain Bunn and Anna Maria Murray, his wife, to Quarry Lane and Mill Street.

Legend to the map
1. Ways Terrace
2. Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) gatehouse
3. Terminus Hotel
4. Sandstone bakery
5. John Street Public School
6. Paradise quarry
7. Pyrmont Power Station facade
8. War memorial
9. Union Square housing
10. Guardian Square plaque
11. St Bedes
12. Purgatory quarry
13. Hellhole quarry
14. Fig Park
15. Goldsborough and Mort wool store
16. Lord Wolseley Hotel
17. Farmers and Graziers wool store
18. Hackett Street terraces
20. Mary Ann Street terraces plaque
21. Sydney Technical College, Bldg A - stained glass and date stone
22. Ultimo House (no remains)
23. Davey flour mill
24. Scott Street cottages