There's more to Sydney than the bridge, beaches and bars – the New South Wales capital is a world-class destination for the arts.
In the inner-city precincts — where Sydney's arts, culture and heritage truly shine — you'll find intriguing galleries, design-led hotels, interesting architecture and of course some creative food along the way.
Here you can gallery-hop through Sydney's creative precincts, dine in cool, converted warehouse spaces and shop for handcrafted local products at markets and boutiques. Here's some of what's on offer culturally in Australia's largest city of close to six million people.
Art galleries
Sydney is home to many renowned art galleries with a roster of world-class exhibitions. On the eastern side of the city near Hyde Park is the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which presents more than 30 exhibitions each year including the flagship Archibald Prize.
Its collection spans colonial and 19th century Australian works, European masterpieces, modern and contemporary art and galleries dedicated to the work of Asian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
At The Rocks in central Sydney, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) – shown on the left in the lead picture – presents more than 4,000 works by Australian artists, also with a strong commitment to work by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Its permanent collection includes photography, sculpture, painting and moving image, complemented by a calendar of intriguing exhibitions.
Next, King Street Gallery on William is situated in the heart of the Sydney city arts district, within walking distance of the Art Gallery of NSW and MCA. The gallery represents many of Australia's most prominent established artists, including Elisabeth Cummings, Euan Macleod, Lucy Culliton, Idris Murphy, Wendy Sharpe and Guy Warren, across a number of media, including paintings, sculptures and works on paper.
Also in the city centre, Wentworth Galleries embraces both European-style contemporary art and Australian Aboriginal art, eschewing the curatorial division between them by showing both together based on merit — with a strong leaning towards popular and collectible Australian Aboriginal artists.
When refreshments are needed, the conveniently located Arthouse Hotel, a bar, cocktail lounge and function venue can be found within the 19th-century School of Arts building on Pitt Street. Here you can enjoy classic cocktails and carafes while gazing at the heritage-listed architecture.
Inner suburbs
In the Eastern Suburbs, Arthouse Gallery in Rushcutters Bay is a must — it exhibits the work of emerging and established contemporary Australian artists, representing a stylistically varied, comprehensive view of contemporary art showcased in a beautiful space.
Tim Olsen's Olsen Gallery, in the leafy suburb of Woollahra, hosts a stable of contemporary emerging and established Australian artists. Foremost in the gallery's stable is Tim's father John Olsen, now regarded as Australia's most esteemed living artist.
White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale, just off the city centre, showcases one of the world's most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art. Opened in 2009, the gallery today has a collection that includes more than 2,000 thought-provoking works by almost 700 artists.
In the nearby suburb of Surry Hills – take a City Circle Line train to Central station or the light rail to Surry Hills – you can visit the Brett Whiteley Studio, a gallery housed within the acclaimed artist's former workplace and home.
In the 1960s Whiteley left Australia to live and paint in Europe and the United States and later in Fiji.He became the youngest artist to be purchased by the Tate Gallery in London when it acquired his only two works at the time, Red Painting and White Painting. He won the Art Gallery of NSW Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes several times, including first place in the Archibald Prize in 1976 for Self Portrait in the Studio, pictured below.
After returning to Australia he bought the former warehouse in 1985 and converted it into a studio and exhibition space. He lived and worked there from 1987 until June 1992, when a drug overdose ended his life at the age of 53.
Visitors are offered the unique opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the space – the studio with his unfinished paintings, art equipment and collections of reference books, and the graffiti wall covered with quotes and images. The living area has memorabilia such as photographs, objects, postcards, furniture, his music collection and sketchbooks.
Also in Surry Hills, the Michael Reid Gallery represents the work of established contemporary Australian and New Zealand artists. Many of the gallery's practitioners have a strong focus on contemporary photography as well as urban Australian Aboriginal artists. Michael Reid's new gallery outpost in Newport, on Sydney's Northern Beaches, is the home to emerging artists and ceramic exhibitions.
While in Surry Hills, evening options include catching a performance at Belvoir Street Theatre, one of Australia's most celebrated theatre companies. For more than 30 years, this much-loved venue has engaged prominent and promising playwrights, actors and directors for an evocative annual program.
In Marrickville, the gin hall at Poor Toms is well worth a visit. At this discreet gin bar, tucked beside a motorcycle repair shop, you can sample the spirits in a tasting flight or cocktail, with a sandwich on the side.
In inner-city Redfern is concept café Henry Lee's, located within the warehouse space and courtyard of the 16 Eveleigh Street Creative Precinct. Redfern, Marrickville and Chippendale can all be reached by train or bus from Sydney's CBD.
Places to stay
Back in Chippendale, The Old Clare Hotel is a good place to stay and in keeping with the arts theme of this itinerary. Perhaps splash out on the Showroom Suite that features a vintage bar, salvaged and restored from the former brewery building onsite.
The beautifully appointed room includes vintage furniture and lamps, a super king-sized bed and a modern oversized bathroom.
And tucked into the former headquarters of Paramount Picture Studios in Surry Hills, Paramount House Hotel blends heritage details with modern comforts. Each room has its own personality, while guests can enjoy access to the rooftop Paramount Recreation Club with a day pass. Guests and visitors can catch a movie at Golden Age Cinema right downstairs.
