Paddington Reservoir Gardens

One of Sydney's most top-secret art grottoes and unique abandoned spaces has been reborn. The Paddington Reservoir, built 142 years ago, was decommissioned in 1914 and became a garage. In 1993, the servo's roof caved-in, leaving the site derelict but for hordes of feral cats and a shadowy graffiti movement who under the cover of night filled the walls of the 1023-square-metre site with stunning frescoes and murals. Now, with almost $10 million worth of restoration work complete, the new Paddington Reservoir Gardens has a stunning Romanesque sunken garden with a lake of contemplation at its centre, a hanging garden canopy around the perimeter and an eastern chamber left empty but for the wall art. This blank canvas 'cultural precinct' hosts markets, art and film festivals.