The Lumo Sydney Tours - Wonderful Woollahra (part 1)..

I am so thrilled to let you know that one of my lovely readers

is coming to Sydney in July. She goes under the the name 'Lumo'

and is based in beautiful Finland, way up there on top of the world.

A little while ago she asked if I could collate some of my fave

Sydney spots for her and post these here on Space for Inspiration.

I'd do anything for my friends and so with camera & note book in

hand I marched off to a divine area of town called 'Woollahra'

which is located in the heart of the 'Eastern Suburbs' of Sydney.

 Photos by Charlotta Ward

Woollahra is old money. It's distinguished yet unpretentious and

wonderfully eccentric with a European feel. We used to live in 

one of the tree-lined back streets of this part of town, and I felt

so at home here and would spend hours exploring every corner.

 Photos by Charlotta Ward

The people are all quality but in a very understated manner and

at the same time they are charmingly quirky with a nice artsy

feel to them. In between clusters of international consulates the

quaint streets are packed with great little cafes, boutiques, galleries

antique stores, restaurants and amazing town houses. It is a pleasure

to go for a walk here and I always feel so inspired having done so.

 

 When the lovely Lumo-girl comes to town I want her to grab 

her man by the hand and follow the dotted pink trail... Prepare

to spend the entire day in this area and also ensure you brief your
other half on the necessity of being a patient & good boy

whilst you browse the amazing shops I am about to show you.. 

(The blue trail is the upper part of Woollahra into Paddington -

and is an entirely separate post.. To come very soon. xx)

 Lumo-dear, just click on the map to enlarge it. Saved in XL format so that you can print easily.. xx

Sooo. Though you can walk here from where you'll be staying, I

would propose you hop on the train from Town Hall and get off

at Edgecliff station. Please don't let the sight of the station get you

down, as soon as you have walked up the first big chunk of Ocean

Street you will start to experience the true beauty of Woollahra.

In fact when you come up past Trelawney Street you will soon see

an amazing little antique store called 'Imagine This' - an absolute

treasure trove for home grown and French Continental furniture etc.

How great aren't this encased Compoise clock (left), and the 12 panel zinc mirror!!? 

Across the street (on the corner of Forth and Ocean Street) you will

find another of cute shopping spot called 'Piggots Store'. This is

a quaint & colourful little boutique - like a lolly shop for decor

hungry gals like us really. Make sure you check out the fabulous

black base pineapple lamps when you are in there. I love them!

You can tell from the shop front what a playful & happy place this is!!

Whilst having crossed the street, just walk up to the next

corner of Ocean Street and Queen Street and pop into another 

amazing little antiques store called 'Par Terre Collectibles'.

 Photos by 'Par Terre'

This place is Heaven on Earth and their fantastic pieces sell

quicker than lightening. Watching them unload their delivery

trucks onto the storage port is like watching a catwalk parade!

Here you can buy anything from an intact 18thC wishing well

for the garden and to 17thC over-sized church bells, to mid-C

lighting, old French shipping lanterns and exquisite furniture.

OK, so now I should tell you to turn left onto Queen Street so

that you can pop into yet another amazing antiques store called

'Sally Beresford Antiques', however I know that your husband is

in dire need of either a stiff drink or a strong cup of coffee now..

 Photos by Charlotta Ward

So cross the street and walk down onto Queens Street towards

the cafes and restaurants. Pretend you need to catch your breath

when you pass 'Shapiro Auctioneers'.. This little gallery is very
reputable and highly regarded in the industry for their collections.

Photos by Charlotta Ward

Now grab a coffee, a freshly squeezed juice, or a little bite to eat

for that matter, and plonk yourselves on one of the stone benches

on the side walk like a local. Or sit down at one of the cute little

bistros across the street and enjoy the stream of people and their

well dressed dogs (dogues!) for a moment before you continue..

image via Dani Soul on Flickr

Here, I too will take a break. I'll be back later with part 2

of this 'Wonderful Woollahra' tour for the lovely Lumo-girl.

xx Charlotta