Balmain is full of historic big houses as well as sweet old little homes. If you journey down Darling Street past all those cafes and wonderful shops you will find Balmain East, also known as Old Balmain.
I could walk and sketch for days about the small suburb and still have more old buildings to choose from. On the corner of Johnston and Darling Streets I found a fine cafe to settle at and drew this building opposite. I'm not sure of its original purpose but it was established in 1870 and the cracked walls and peeling paint just added to the character of the interesting facade.
My old neighbourhood! (Well I lived in Balmain proper, but I loved wandering all those leafy crooked streets in East Balmain). It's where I lived when I first moved to Sydney, and it definitely helped me fall in love with the city. Such a beautiful part of the world, looking forward to seeing more of your Balmain sketches...
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place for you to first see Sydney from Emily! Its such a fun place to wander. I will have to get back soon - perhaps make it a monthly mission :)
DeleteYou must have quite a map of the city by now!
ReplyDeleteSlowly getting there! A friend reminded recently that another Sydneysider spent a week taking photographs of 52 different suburbs to create a coffee table book.So I think I still have about 45 yet to sketch ;)
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