Named because of its 1800's cattle and corn markets, Haymarket is best known today for exotic Chinatown. Sydney’s original Chinatown was located in The Rocks but the city’s Chinese community moved to the Haymarket area in the early 1900s.

Many of the early Chinese Sydneysiders were market gardeners and traders, so wherever the markets went, so did the Chinese. Shops and restaurants followed, especially in Dixon Street, which has become the focus of Chinatown. Here you will find signs in Chinese writing, dozens of Asian restaurants, traditional herbalists, butchers and grocery shops, selling foods such as pressed duck, dried mushrooms and Chinese greens.

Haymarket is also home to the innovative Asia-Australia Arts Centre and the magnificently restored Capitol Theatre that once housed a fruit and vegetable market. Nearby Liverpool Street boasts Sydney’s growing Spanish Quarter and George Street is well known for its cinemas.

Also in the region are Central Station, Belmore Park and the Light Rail terminus, the vast World Square development and Ultimo, home to the Powerhouse Museum, ABC Centre and University of Technology.

Shopping

This area is famous for Paddy’s Markets, selling everything from vegetables to clothing. Above Paddy’s is the Market City complex, with Sydney ’s largest Asian supermarket and several factory outlets. Nearby Dixon Street and surrounds feature shops selling Chinese clothing and homewares as well as many other imported Asian items.

Dining

Chinatown and Haymarket feature some 60 restaurants and food courts, offering an amazing array of cuisines including many Chinese regional specialties, plus Taiwanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese and Malaysian. Participating in lunchtime yum cha is particularly popular, or head to Liverpool Street for some fine Spanish fare.

Leisure & Entertainment

The City’s self guided walking tour, Community, will introduce you to the colourful social history of this district. Pick up a copy of the free brochure from Council's CBD location. Attend a Sunday concert at the ABC’s Eugene Goossens Hall, catch a movie at the Hoyts or Reading cinemas or take in a show at the Metro or Capitol Theatres. There are plenty of pubs in the area, as well as the City of Sydney RSL and Sydney Entertainment Centre, the venue for major concerts and sporting events.

Did You Know?

The City's Chinese New Year Festival is renowned as one of the largest and most spectacular Lunar New Year celebrations outside Asia.

Central Station, which opened in 1906, was built on the site of the old Devonshire Street Cemetery. All tombstones and bodies were removed and reinterred elsewhere to make way for the new station.