Sydney Insiders Blog

There is a hidden slice of vintage Australiana that reveals a big idea which was never fully realized. Most people would probably be aware located in front of the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, in the heart of Hollywood, is a footpath bearing the handprints and signatures of cinema’s biggest stars, dating all the way back to…

Located to the south of Sydney, approximately 35 minutes drive from the CVD is a small, rocky island. Connecting to the mainland with an old wooden build, this island was once the main defensive deterrent against possible invasion. In 1885 concerned British members of society thought an invasion by Russia was imminent. To ease their…

Dug deep into the sandstone headland in 1908, the Queenscliff tunnel or the Manly wormhole indeed feels like a passage through the unknown. Perhaps that’s why it is called a wormhole. The fishermen who dug it up sure had the best of the Queenscliff rocks and the freshwater beach region connected up easier than clambering…

Tourists who discover Sydney on foot will often follow their feet into the Grand lady of Sydney shopping, The Strand Arcade in George Street. This majestic (and sadly last) great shopping arcade originated in the 19th century. The arcade today is must for all visitors to Sydney, but many do not venture into the upper…

With Christmas not too far away, there can be pressure on some to find that one of a kind present. This is something very unique that you cannot find in an every day gift shop. Located in Sydney’s oldest neighborhood is the “Bottom of The Harbour Antiques” who specialize in Nautical Antiques. This store was…

Anime at Abbotsford is one of Sydney’s hidden landmarks. It is also the premiere Anime merchandise store in the city. They have a stunning variety of authentic Anime collectibles, plus a massive range of toys, figurines and trading cards. It is breathtaking to discover how much can be packed into one little shop. Anime at…

If you’ve ever dreamed of the life of a lighthouse-keeper, why not discover the historic Grotto Point Lighthouse and imagine what it’s been like to live and work there? This active beacon, located on a rocky headland near Dobroyd Head, lights the way across the scenic northern waters of Sydney Harbour National Park, near Manly…

If you ever known the experience of squeezing into some tight jeans, then how about squeezing into the thinnest house in Sydney! Located at 43 ½ Edgeware Road Enmore, this sad looking residence is apparently one of the narrowest homes in Sydney.  You will need to be flexible as you walk through the tiny kitchen…

When completed in 1950, Rose Seidler House was ‘the most talked about house in Sydney’. Designed by the young Harry Seidler for his parents Rose and Max, the house overturned almost every convention of suburban home design. It was in fact the promise of designing a house for his mother that brought Harry to Australia,…

Sitting majestically upon the headland of the lower north shore of Sydney is Innisfallen Castle, the landmark gothic-style mansion after which Castle Cove was named. The extensive grounds and sweeping harbour views make this one of  Sydney’s premier properties but also, one of its most secret. This is the vast 8300-square-metre estate with the heritage-listed…

Money boxes were designed to encourage children to save, and to experience the growth of coins into sums of money. The Commonwealth Bank money box originated in 1921. The previous year the Bank had taken over the Queensland Government Savings Bank, and its existing stocks of money boxes were relabeled with images of the Commonwealth…

Sydney has many unique and specialized stores for all manner of items. Some are very expensive with small collections of expensive objects. But there is one store that is just as mind blowing even though it stocks the little things in life. One of Sydney’s insiders’ best tips. Welcome to “All Buttons Great and Small”….