Paddington Reservoir, Heritage garden in Oxford Street, Paddington, Australia.
Paddington Reservoir Gardens is a heritage park on Oxford Street that preserves original 19th-century brick chambers and iron support columns from its days as a water storage facility. The layout spans multiple levels, with sunken garden areas, open lawns, and elevated walkways connecting different sections throughout the grounds.
Construction took place between 1866 and 1878, and it supplied water to Sydney's elevated residential areas until the late 1800s. A larger facility then took over the water supply role, leading to the site's eventual conversion into a public garden.
The name references its former purpose as a water storage facility, and locals now gather here for exhibitions and community events that bring the neighborhood together. People move through the space for both social meetings and quiet moments of reflection.
The gardens are open daily with access points along Oxford Street near bus stops and parking options. Comfortable shoes are recommended because the pathways involve navigating multiple levels and steps throughout the grounds.
What sets this place apart is how the original water tank structure remains visible and has been incorporated into the modern garden design. This blend of Victorian industrial infrastructure with contemporary landscaping came about through deliberate choices to honor the site's past while giving it new purpose.
Location: New South Wales
GPS coordinates: -33.88530,151.22700
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:04
Sydney offers many places to photograph beyond the usual tourist routes. The city spreads from the harbor to outer suburbs, combining coastal landscapes with historic neighborhoods and modern urban spaces. Those looking for less common subjects will find small waterside parks, old industrial sites, tidal pools, and viewpoints that show the city from different angles. Architecture ranges from colonial-era buildings to contemporary structures, and the coastline reveals coves and rock formations that differ from the well-known harbor scenes. In Lavender Bay, Wendy's Garden is a terraced garden with views of the harbor bridge. The Queen Victoria Building in the city center has a whispering gallery where sound travels in unusual ways across the space. Bare Island at La Perouse is a former military installation on a small island connected by a causeway. Cockatoo Island in the harbor once served as a shipyard and prison, and still shows the old machinery and warehouses. Hornby Lighthouse at Watsons Bay stands on a cliff above the ocean. Ballast Point Park in Balmain East has a narrow beach and remnants of old industrial buildings. Susannah Place Museum in The Rocks preserves four terrace houses from the 19th century. The Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbour follows traditional design principles with pavilions, water, and constructed paths.
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