Annandale

The phantasmagorical spires of the famous gothic ‘witches’ houses’ on Johnston Street are the perfect introduction to Annandale’s eclectic array of Victorian and Federation homes, some freestanding, some semi-detached, some terraces, almost all with lovingly established gardens.

At the other end of the spectrum is Annandale’s rainbow range of apartments – from sleek, architect-designed modern residences to more traditional flats, many of them with the charm of always changing and always eye-catching views of the city or the harbour.

This wedge of Sydney’s inner west is a reminder of a gentler, more tranquil age. Wide and peaceful streets are shaded by a green canopy of brush box, jacaranda and bottlebrush trees; a child on a scooter rolls gently along a pavement; a corner café provides a warm atmosphere where customers laugh and chat as they sit at the outdoor tables.

Annandale’s sought-after local schools are the glue that welds the community together and Annandale residents are spoiled for choice with a huge assortment of niche restaurants, hipster bars, cafes and artisan grocers. In the main thoroughfares of Johnston and Booth Streets, busy retailers sell everything from chai lattes to preserved lemons.

MOVING AROUND

Surrounded by serene parks, including Bicentennial Park with the Anzac Bridge providing a soaring backdrop, Annandale is still within a rapid commute of Sydney’s city centre. With a Light Rail stop at the suburb’s northern point on Rozelle Bay, and a nearby entrance lane for the Anzac Bridge, the CBD is five kilometres and often only a matter of minutes away.