Paddington: The Arts Hub

Presented by Dr Peter McNeil

Paddington is possibly Australia’s most loved suburb. It is renowned as an almost intact nineteenth-century precinct. Once shabby and down at heel, by the 1960s it was Sydney’s ‘arts hubs’. How and why did this happen? What makes Paddington so loved by our creatives? How did the galleries start up? By the 1970s the suburb was brimming with artists, writers, musicians, designers, journos and film-makers. We walk by Margaret Olley’s object-strewn studio. We see Paddington inspired textiles and wallpapers. We pass entertainer Jeanne Little and decorator husband Barrie in Paddington St. We look through the window at the antique shops, florists and interior designers of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Lunch at Lucio’s is included (but only via imagery).

Dates and Locations

Sunday 12 April 2026 Cairns (QLD)

Wednesday 15 April 2026 Toowoomba (QLD)

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