In 2023, the NSW Government made an election commitment to support music venues, trading hours and outdoor performance through a Cultural SEPP. The Night Time Economy Explanation of Intended Effect (EIE) proposed changes to the planning system to support more creative, hospitality and cultural uses contributing to the 24-hour economy.[...]

A NSW Government Planning Proposal seeks to amend the Woollahra LEP 2014 to enable increased density of the site located at 8-10 New McLean Street Edgecliff with approximately 246 dwellings incorporating affordable housing in an 18-storey residential building with basement parking and loading bay. Information in the Department of Planning,[...]

In Oct 2023, the NSW State Government announced that 20 hectares of the Moore Park Golf Course will be transformed into a new public park, leaving a 9-hole golf course. The community is being asked to share views.

The NSW Government Draft Heritage Strategy aims to ensure heritage is valued as an integral part of the culture and wellbeing of our communities and our sense of place. Heritage includes the places, objects and stories we have inherited from the past and want to protect for generations to come.[...]

The City of Sydney have reviewed their heritage conservation areas. Proposed boundary changes aim to place sites in the most appropriate conservation area, correct mapping errors, remove buildings that detract from heritage significance and include more contributory buildings. There are currently 75 conservation areas within the Sydney. There are more[...]

Choosing the Right Paint: How Colour Shapes Paddington’s Heritage Streetscape In heritage suburbs like Paddington, paint isn't just a decorative choice it’s a vital tool in preserving the architectural integrity and visual harmony of the streetscape. Colour schemes play a powerful role in highlighting the features of historic buildings, unifying[...]

The many pedestrian users of the pathway and staircase at Trumper Park from the Glenmore Road playground leading to New McLean Street are delighted to have discovered that Woollahra Council’s upgrade works are nearing completion with some handrails yet to be installed. Scheduled to commence on 28 April with an[...]

An update for those in the community interested in the status of this significant landmark at the site of the former Royal Hospital for Women, 6-22 Young St, Paddington. Storm Event and Structural Damage Following a series of storm events and a lighting strike in early December 2024, the upper[...]

The Paddington Society and Woollahra Council formally recognise the valuable contribution Peter Poland OAM made to the preservation and protection of history and heritage in the Woollahra Local Government Area during his life, and the collaborative way in which he worked with Council and Council staff on many local history[...]

E-scooter and rider. CREDIT: LUIS ASCUI Update: 13 May 2025 The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that E-scooters will become legal to ride on shared paths and neighbourhood roads across NSW under a new state government plan. The plan is due to be announced by Premier Chris Minns.[...]

Last Update: 13 May 2025 The Sydney Morning Herald has reported on Paddington Residents legal action over the proposed cycleway[..]

Update: 13 May 2025 Under strain: Bondi waste water treatment centre. CREDIT: STEVEN SIEWERT The Sydney Morning Herald has recently reported that Woollahra Municipal Council has requested a temporary suspension of state government reforms in the town centres of Rose Bay, Double Bay and Edgecliff. An eastern suburbs[...]

Update: 9 May, 2025 Resident John Patmore in photo by Dion Georgopoulos (click to enlarge) The campaign to save the Selwyn Street boarding house may not have saved the homes for the residents, but the ongoing battle has chalked up one notable milestone. Sydney Morning Herald photographer Dion[...]

The New South Wales State Government has recently unveiled the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Bill 2025. The purpose of the Amendment Bill is to streamline the planning process and increase housing supply, avoiding further ‘bottlenecking’ of the planning system, and remedying uncertainties caused by recent decisions of the Court[...]

Busby's Bore piping at Hyde Park What is Busby's Bore? In 1824, Governor Darling appointed engineer John Busby to find a new water source for Sydney. He identified the Lachlan Swamps at Centennial Park, a vital water source for local Aboriginal people, as suitable. To transport the water,[...]

Update 12 December 2024. The Paddington Society has provided a submission to the Council with outline comments regarding the third round of EV chargers and the three newly proposed sites for Paddington. Many consider the site opposite 12 Ormond Street site unsuitable, and the Society suggests adding it to those[...]

Gugara Park proposed toilet block locations Woollahra Municipal Council (WMC) proposes installing a public toilet at Gugara Park in Paddington and would like to know your preferred location from two options. The Society believes neither option is suitable and has prepared a submission to the Council. Download The[...]

Update: 29 November, 2024 The Land and Environment Court Decision Handed Down The Land and Environment Court’s decision has dismissed the appeal by the Applicant and determined that Development Application no. DA 243/2023 for a change of use from the existing hotel to a retail and commercial use and minor[...]

Purchase PADDINGTON CASCADE Janet Luxton Limited Edition Print. While stocks last. This painting was inspired by 18 years of morning walks enjoying the many architectural styles and functions expressed in Paddington which have achieved such a successful medium density enclave [...]

The ABC has reported that the City of Sydney has reduced rent for Palace Cinemas to keep the Chauvel Cinema, a beloved venue in Paddington Town Hall, operational. Facing poor ticket sales and a deteriorating building, Palace had considered closing the two-screen cinema, which has been running at a loss.[...]

The NSW Electoral Commission has completed its distribution of preferences for the 2024 Elections and announced Council members for the City of Sydney and Woollahra Municipal Council for the coming term [...]

In late 2021, the Planning and Public Spaces Minister, Rob Stokes, determined that the site of the abandoned Paddington Bowling Club in Quarry Street should be returned to the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC), clearing the path for the title to be transferred to La Perouse LALC as[...]

The Committee has actively participated in two recent community-led forums on this issue. "Community Need Not Developer Greed" Sponsored by Nicola Grieve, Greens Councillor for Woollahra 23 July at Waverley Community Centre The first speaker was James Ryan, Solicitor, recently for The Total Environment Centre. He warned that, as currently[...]

The "Save Our Oxford Street” Community Rally is on Wednesday 7th August at the Paddington RSL. Residents and local business owners in Paddington say there is a rising tide of resentment against a plan by the City of Sydney Council and Transport for New South Wales to build a cycleway along iconic Oxford Street [...]

Your opportunity to meet your Ward Councillors to discuss key issues in your area Throughout the year, Woollahra Municipal Council (WMC) holds sessions for residents to meet their Ward Councillors and discuss key issues or concerns. Sessions are organised if there is high demand from the community and Councillors. These[...]

Forum at NSW Parliament Theatrette Wednesday 7 August at 6.30pm In late April, The Paddington Society met with the Better Planning Network (BPN)  to discuss the State Government's planning changes that encourage more housing - known as the 'Diverse and Well located Housing Reform' and the 'Low and Mid-Rise Housing[...]

NSW Local Government Election 2024 and Constitutional Referendum. 2024 NSW Local Government elections are coming up for residents in both the City of Sydney and Woollahra. At this year's Local Government Election on 14 September 2024 Woollhara voters will be asked to vote for your Ward Councillors. You will also be[...]

2021 - Draft Edgecliff Commercial Centre (ECC) Planning and Urban Design Strategy  In 2021 Woollahra Municipal Council released a suite of Draft Strategy documents with the aim of revitalising the Edgecliff Commercial Centre (ECC). This included the majority of sites, 20 in all, along both sides of New South Head[...]

The Paddington Society is proud to announce its new website, providing a rich and valuable community resource for historical and current information. The Paddington Society Inc. is a community association dedicated to celebrating the distinctive qualities of Paddington, an early Victorian suburb nestled in the east of Sydney, NSW, Australia.

The Hughenden Hotel located at 8-16 Queen Street Woollahra recently submitted Development Application DA 474/2023/1 “Redevelopment of the Hughenden Boutique Hotel, including extensive demolition of all but the two-storey Victorian Villa which is to be retained; construction of a new four storey hotel with 43 hotel rooms/suites and ancillary ground[...]

The NSW Parliament has established an Inquiry into the highly controversial Transport-Oriented Development State Environment Planning Policy (TOD SEPP) and the diverse and well-located homes program. These changes are part of a series that the State Government is implementing to meet its pre-election housing targets and will result in density changes without Council or community consent.

In December the NSW Planning Department released a proposal, Changes to Create Low and Mid Rise Housing to increase housing density in well located areas in Sydney, to help with the housing crisis. The Department has also released proposals to create high-rise housing around certain train and metro stops, but none in the eastern part of the city.