Kings Cross, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kings CrossSydney, New South Wales |
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Coca-Cola billboard, Kings Cross
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| Population | 4,948 (2019) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 2 km (1 mi) east of Sydney CBD | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Sydney | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Sydney | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Sydney | ||||||||||||||
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Kings Cross is a lively area in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 2 kilometres east of the main city centre. This area is part of the City of Sydney local government area. Kings Cross is surrounded by other suburbs like Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay, Rushcutters Bay, and Darlinghurst.
People often call Kings Cross "The Cross." In the past, it was famous for its music halls and big theatres. After World War II, many soldiers returned or visited from the nearby naval base. This led to Kings Cross becoming a popular spot for night entertainment. Today, it offers many services like a railway station, gyms, supermarkets, and bakeries. You can also find fun places like bars, restaurants, and nightclubs here.
Contents
History of Kings Cross
British Settlement and Early Names
The main intersection in Kings Cross was first named Queen's Cross in 1897. This was to celebrate Queen Victoria's 60th year as queen. Because it sounded similar to Queen's Square in the city, its name was changed. In 1905, it became Kings Cross, named after King Edward VII.
In the early 1800s, the Darlinghurst area, which included Kings Cross, was a very fancy place in Sydney. It was far enough from the city's noise and smells but still easy to reach. People also loved the amazing views of the harbour and even the Blue Mountains.
In 1828, the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Ralph Darling, divided the area. He gave large pieces of land to important people and businessmen. They built grand mansions with huge gardens. Many street names today, like Roslyn and Orwell, remember these old estates. Most of the big houses were later pulled down. However, some still exist, like Elizabeth Bay House nearby.
How Kings Cross Grew
The land given by Governor Darling helped shape Kings Cross. The mansions built on these lands, like Tusculum, are great examples of old Australian architecture.
Maps from the mid-1800s to mid-1900s show how land was sold. These maps help us see how Sydney grew as large estates became new suburbs.
The names of the old estates and mansions are still used for streets today. You can see them in names like Roslyn, Orwell, and Kellett.
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Barncleuth Estate, Darlinghurst – Elizabeth Bay Rd, Rushcutter's Bay Rd, 1883.
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Tusculum, Potts Point – Victoria St, Tusculum St, Macleay St, Albert St, Manning St, 1904.
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Darlinghurst, Bayswater Rd subdivision – Bayswater Rd, Woolcott St, Surrey St, Roslyn St, 1916
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Potts Point, Orwell House Estate – Hughes St, Victoria St, Orwell St, Macleay St, Orwell Lane, Hughes Lane, Hughes Place, 1921.
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Springfield House and grounds, Darlinghurst – Earl St, Earl Place, Springfield Ave, Llankelly Lane, Orwell St, Elizabeth Bay Rd, Barncleuth Square, Roslyn St, Macleay St, Darlinghurst Rd, 1923.
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Alberto Terrace – Kellett Lane, Kellet St, Darlinghurst Rd, Bayswater Rd, Victoria St, William St, Woolcot St, Brougham Lane, Penny's Lane, Goderich Lane, 1923.
A Place for Artists and Creatives
From the early 1900s, Kings Cross was known as Sydney's creative centre. It was a hub for entertainment with many clubs and cafes. The Kings Cross Theatre was one of Sydney's first movie theatres. Many artists, writers, and actors lived here. Famous people like Kenneth Slessor, Peter Finch, and Sir William Dobell called it home.
Kings Cross Today
Today, Kings Cross has a mix of people living and visiting there. There are places for tourists to stay, social housing, and health care services. It also has good public transport to the city. This makes it a very diverse area. In 2014, new rules for nightlife were put in place, which led to some clubs closing. However, these rules were changed in 2021 to help the area become lively again.
Important Heritage Sites
Kings Cross has several places that are protected for their historical importance:
- Macleay Street: The El Alamein Memorial Fountain.
- Darlinghurst Road: The front of the Bourbon & Beefsteak building, Kingsley Hall, and the Empire Hotel.
Famous Landmarks
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- The El Alamein Fountain is at the entrance to Fitzroy Gardens. It was built in 1961 to remember soldiers who died in World War II battles in El Alamein, Egypt. The fountain's unique "dandelion" design was created by architect Robert Woodward.
- The Coca-Cola billboard is a well-known sign in the area. The original sign was replaced in 2016. Parts of the old sign were sold to raise money for charity.
- The Fire Station on Darlinghurst Road was built between 1910 and 1912. It has a special architectural style and is now a protected heritage site.
- Kings Cross railway station is an underground train station. It is part of Sydney's train network.
- The Les Girls building, now called the Empire Hotel, was a famous spot. From 1963 to 1993, it hosted the popular "drag queen" show Les Girls, starring Carlotta.
Culture in Kings Cross
Events and Celebrations
- The Kings Cross Food and Wine Festival is an event held every autumn. It is organized by local businesses.
Kings Cross in Popular Culture
- The TV show Kings Cross ER: St Vincent's Hospital shows medical emergencies that happen in Kings Cross.
- Kings Cross is mentioned in Paul Kelly's song "From St Kilda to Kings Cross."
- The 1999 Australian film Two Hands, starring Heath Ledger, was partly filmed in Kings Cross.
- The novel The Golden Day by Ursula Dubosarsky is set in a fictional girls' school in Kings Cross. It tells the story of a teacher who disappears in 1967.
- The novel Down in the City (1957) by Elizabeth Harrower mostly takes place in Kings Cross.
- The Australian TV series Underbelly: The Golden Mile was set in Kings Cross. It showed a dramatic story about the area in the 1980s and 1990s.
- The Australian TV series Love Child was also set in Kings Cross.
- The Australian TV series Les Norton is set in Kings Cross in 1985. The main character works as a bouncer there.
- The Australian TV series Last King of the Cross is set in Kings Cross. It shows the early life of John Ibrahim in the area.
- A documentary called The Rise & Fall Of Kings Cross is planned to air in 2025.
Population
In 2019, about 4,948 people lived in the Kings Cross area. This area is quite small, about 0.17 square kilometres. In 2018, the wider area, including Potts Point and Woolloomooloo, was one of the most densely populated places in Australia.
