Sydney wears a lot of its history in plain sight, from sandstone buildings and heritage pubs to old industrial sites that have found entirely new lives. But some remnants of the city’s past are considerably easier to miss. Hidden beneath street level in Paddington is one of the most striking examples of this: a sprawling 19th-century reservoir that once stored millions of litres of Sydney’s drinking water. Today, Paddington Reservoir Gardens bears little resemblance to the piece of essential infrastructure it once was. Its old brick chambers, towering arches and weathered columns now surround a lush sunken garden, creating a space that looks remarkably like an ancient Roman ruin. And the story of how it got here stretches back more than 150 years. Here’s everything you need to know.
How Paddington Reservoir supplied Sydney with water
Paddington Reservoir was built as part of Sydney’s expanding water network, with its first chamber completed in 1866 and a second added in 1878. The expansion increased its capacity to around two million gallons, with its elevated position allowing water to flow by gravity to surrounding parts of the city. But its working life was relatively short. The reservoir was decommissioned in 1899, after which the site took on a succession of very different uses, including as a garage and service station.
Decades later, parts of the reservoir fell into disrepair, with sections of its roof eventually collapsing. Rather than getting rid of the remnants, the site was beautifully transformed around the surviving structure, with the now-famous Paddington Reservoir Gardens opening in 2009. Much of the original fabric has been retained, allowing the old brickwork, arches and columns to become part of the new design. The result is an unusual meeting of preserved industrial architecture and greenery, with the City of Sydney comparing its atmosphere to the ancient Baths of Caracalla in Rome.
Today, visitors can descend into the striking sunken garden, wander beneath the exposed brick arches and through the old reservoir chambers, or follow the elevated walkway overlooking the space. Native planting, lawns and a reflective pond soften the weathered structure, while the open ruins provide some of the garden’s best views.
Visiting Paddington Reservoir Gardens
Paddington Reservoir Gardens is located on Oxford Street in Paddington, around 3km from the Sydney CBD. The gardens are free to visit and open daily, with buses from the city stopping nearby. Allow around 30 minutes to explore the sunken garden, walkways and surviving reservoir chambers, or linger longer with a coffee from one of Paddington’s many nearby cafes. Plan your trip on Transport for NSW.
