Newtown Main Street directory:
Newtown Main Street directory:
Originally settled in the 1850s when the New Town store opened to serve travellers en route to the Cooks River, Newtown today offers a funky, alternative and vibrant street life - with cafés, pubs, theatres, affordable restaurants, emerging designers, vintage clothing and specialty stores including independent book and music outlets.
The precinct, which takes in the surrounding suburbs of Enmore and Erksineville as well as Newtown, is characterised by Victorian terraced housing, contemporary apartment developments and the heritage streetscape of its major thoroughfare King Street, one of the longest continuous shopping strips in Australia.
You'll find every tribe imaginable represented here, living in harmony. Newtownites, as the locals call themselves, take pride in their acceptance of everyone.
Enmore, the suburb next to Newtown, is characterised by eclectic Enmore Road which has a good variety of cafes, inexpensive restaurants serving major ethnic cuisines, several pubs and the famed Enmore Theatre. Enmore is also home to a cluster of gothic and fetish stores and hosts the annual gothic and alternative arts festival Under the Blue Moon in September/October.
The Newtown Entertainment Precinct offers:
Newtown's civic heart is located around the train station, at the junction of King Street and Enmore Road.
Across from the station is Newtown Square containing the Town Hall, occupied by the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, which provides services to disadvantaged members of the community and rents out space in the building for community use.
Around the corner is the Police Station and Newtown Court House, but don't get mixed up - if a local says to meet them at the 'Town Hall' or the 'Court House', they're probably referring to the pubs with these names!
Events are a key feature of Newtown life and there is normally something happening at all times of the year, whether a large-scale festival or some avant-garde revelry organised by locals. Some of the more established events are:
Newtown is well-served by public transport, with regular buses and taxis travelling along its main arteries of King Street, Enmore and Erskineville Roads, and two train lines.
4.5 km south-west of the CBD
422, 423, 426, 428, 355 and 370
Alight at Newtown on the Inner West line or at Erskineville or St Peters on the Bankstown line
Parking is in short supply, metered and time-limited - take public transport or cycle instead if possible. For timetable information and a trip planner please visit the Transport Infoline website or call 131 500.
Marrickville Council currently operates a Main Street program in Newtown, which will be replaced from 1 July 2009 by the new Urban Centres Program.
For more information contact the Newtown Main Street Coordinator by phoning 9519 6910 or emailing mainstne@marrickville.nsw.gov.au.
The Newtown Precinct Business Association (NPBA) is a new organisation made up of business owners and operators located in the Newtown, Enmore and Erksineville area. Members are currently working on a number of exciting projects such as a brand and marketing strategy for Newtown and a business plan to deliver a program of activities over the next three years. To get involved, please contact the association via the below details.