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William Street runs from Kings Cross to Hyde Park where it turns into Park Street. The street forms the border between the two suburbs of Woolloomooloo and Darlinghurst. Today the newly completed Cross City Tunnel follows much of the route of William Street. It was constructed in an attempt to ease traffic congestion in the CBD.
The street was built through the farm land of the valley between the city centre and Potts Point in the 1840's to allow traffic to and from the fashionable and expensive Eastern suburbs around Elizabeth Bay. Originally the NSW Surveyor-General Thomas Mitchell wanted the street to be further to the south, but whilst he was away exploring the interior of Australia, the street was constructed in its now location.
In the 1880's notable Australian poet Henry Lawson lived in a boarding house along William Street before he became famous for his poetry. In 1909 it was decided to resume the south side of the street to widen the street into a more larger boulevard style. The resuming was conducted between 1910 and 1914.
The street was built through the farm land of the valley between the city centre and Potts Point in the 1840's to allow traffic to and from the fashionable and expensive Eastern suburbs around Elizabeth Bay. Originally the NSW Surveyor-General Thomas Mitchell wanted the street to be further to the south, but whilst he was away exploring the interior of Australia, the street was constructed in its now location.
In the 1880's notable Australian poet Henry Lawson lived in a boarding house along William Street before he became famous for his poetry. In 1909 it was decided to resume the south side of the street to widen the street into a more larger boulevard style. The resuming was conducted between 1910 and 1914.
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It seems Kings Cross is not directly named after its London counterpart. A century ago it was actually called Queens Cross until a change in the monarchy. Apparently "the Cross" part relates to the crossing of 3 major thoroughfares - Darlinghurst Road, Victoria Street and William Street.
Until American G.I.s made it their home away from home starting with WWII, through the Vietnam War and on, it was a quiet hamlet of the aristocrats. Now its home to the full gamut, the 'down on their luck', nouveau riche, inherited, TV/Film celebrities, writers, artists - you bump into them all.
Until American G.I.s made it their home away from home starting with WWII, through the Vietnam War and on, it was a quiet hamlet of the aristocrats. Now its home to the full gamut, the 'down on their luck', nouveau riche, inherited, TV/Film celebrities, writers, artists - you bump into them all.
More Sydney Streets
George Street; Bridge Street; Bent Street; King Street;
Martin Place; Market Street; Macquarie Street; Pitt Street
Ridge Street (North Sydney); Sydney Road (Manly)
William Street; York Street;
Canterbury Road and Constitution Road (Meadowbank)
Other Sydney Streets (College Street; Oxford Street; Queen Square; Argyle Cut; O'Connel Street)
George Street; Bridge Street; Bent Street; King Street;
Martin Place; Market Street; Macquarie Street; Pitt Street
Ridge Street (North Sydney); Sydney Road (Manly)
William Street; York Street;
Canterbury Road and Constitution Road (Meadowbank)
Other Sydney Streets (College Street; Oxford Street; Queen Square; Argyle Cut; O'Connel Street)