100 Sydney Ghost Signs
Posted: September 22, 2017 | Author: Vanessa Berry | Filed under: Signs | Tags: ghost signs, sydney signs |
With the reappearance of the Peapes sign at Wynyard has come a wave of interest in Sydney’s ghost signs. A gift to the city wanderer who thinks to look up, these traces of a city past lurk on the facades and side walls of city commercial buildings and former suburban grocers. They are uncovered during demolitions and disappear again as new buildings are constructed. Some are painted over, others are repainted and restored, but most continue to slowly fade until they become indecipherable.
Over the five years I have been writing Mirror Sydney, I have recorded as many as I have come across, to make up this gallery of 100 Sydney ghost signs from the city and the suburbs. Some remain, others have disappeared, and others will, with time, reveal themselves.
For more on ghost signs, I recommend Nick Gadd’s excellent blogs on Melbourne and Mildura, the Ghost Signs Australia blog, Ghost Signs UK and the books Signs of the Times by Geoff Hocking, and the forthcoming Signs of Australia by Brady Michaels and Dale Campisi.
Goldenia Tea, St Peters
Hardie Tyres, Parramatta Road, Homebush
Shelleys, Ashfield
BF Goodrich, St Peters
LINO, Granville
K.S Weir, Granville
Overalls and Workshirts, Surry Hills
Presto, Granville
Shelleys, St Peters
Granville
Canterbury Rd, Lakemba
Parramatta Road, Leichhardt
Lewisham
Passiona, Dulwich Hill
Penfolds, Summer Hill
Shelleys, Hunters Hill
Slacks, St Marys
Taubmans, Ashfield
Vental Blinds, Surry Hills
Newsagent, St Peters
Bushells, Kingsford
Surgical, Surry Hills
Penfolds/Dr Morse’s Indian Root Pills, Surry Hills
Rex Simpson, Pitt St, Sydney
Confectioner, Newtown
Slug and Snail Killer, Lane Cove
Sydenham Theatre
Printers, Surry Hills
New World, Cabramatta
Keys Cut, Marrickville
Trade Winds, Maroubra
Personalised Liquor, Rose Bay
Knox Schlapp, Alexandria
Florist, Rockdale
Mona Lisa Marrickville
Coin Op, Arncliffe
Palcolor/Shelleys, King St, Newtown
Tooheys, Taverners Hill
Riviera Coffee Lounge, Leichhardt
Hurlstone Park
Radio Repairs, Leichhardt
Karp Chemist,
Arncliffe
Eastlakes
Insurance, Wynyard
Bushells, Newtown
Switch to Tea (repainted), The Rocks
Amuseuments, Gladesville
Coffee and Tea, Erskineville
The Big Event, Terminus Hotel, Ultimo
Ice Cream, Epping
Boot Palace, Leichhardt
Shelley’s, Strathfield
Florist, Kogarah
Chippendale
Shelleys Kola, Croydon
Red Rose, Rockdale
For, Bankstown
Hurlstone Park
Benzine, Hurlstone Park
Shepherd and Newman, Printers, Darlinghurst
Penfolds, Liverpool St, City
Leather Goods, Castlereagh St, Sydney
Palcolor, Newtown
Wear Bonds, Stanmore
Video Movies, Surry Hills
Bexley
Fosters, Ultimo
Plume, Bankstown
Fielders, Arncliffe
Kinkara, Newtown
2KY, Sydney
Bexley
Soul Pattinson, Surry Hills
Kinkara, Dulwich Hill
Lan-Choo (repainted), Chiswick
KB, Leichhardt
Surry Hills
Poultry Feeds, Auburn
Duty Shoes, Burwood
Ice Cream, Liverpool
Hotel Westend, Pitt Street
Alberta St, Surry Hills
Rambo, Mad Max, Hurlstone Park
Commonwealth Bank, Harbour Bridge
Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills
Bristol Real Estate, Pitt St
Bushells, Robur, Earlwood
Tip Top/ETA, Summer Hill
Bushells, Lilyfield
Bushells, Annandale
Wood, Coal and Coke, Marrickville
Nestle Milk Chocolate, Lane Cove
Capstan, Peters, Canterbury
Institute, Ashfield
Tarpaulins, Car Covers, George St, Sydney
J. Walder, Sussex St, Sydney
Daily, Parker Lane, City
Gelato, Ice Cream, Cigarettes, Quay St, City
BJ Ball, City
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Hi Vanessa,
The SMH article on ghost signs said you have a book coming out next month. Is this true? (I hope so)
Andrew
Hi Andrew – it’s true and actually it’s out now! Official release date is October 1st but it has come into stores a bit early – it is pretty widely available in bookstores now, and here’s a link to the publisher’s website: http://giramondopublishing.com/product/mirror-sydney/ Thanks for your enthusiasm! 🙂
Fantastic work Vanessa, they’re so familiar and so sad thank you (the book’s now on our list :-)).
Thanks Peter, it was fun putting the gallery together, there were more than I thought there would be!
Hi Vanessa. I enjoy seeing Sydney through your eyes. On my explorations of Sydney suburbs (www.travelwithjoanne.com) I have come across some great signs. I never knew they had the name ‘ghost signs’. You may be interested in the ones I remember off the top of my head – in Windsor, Summer Hill and Surry Hills 1. Joanne
Thanks Joanne, I’ve come across a few in those places, Surry Hills especially. There’s some good Windsor ones, I’ll have to do another 100 and include them!
A fabulous collection of signs Vanessa! So many great signs and lots of names I’d never seen before. I was pleased to see ETA peanut butter, one of my local favourites, popping up in Sydney. I think my favourite though is Rex Simpson with the ghostly figure. Thanks for the mention, and big congrats on your book, I can’t wait to read it.
Thanks Nick – it was satisfying to put the collection together as Sydney’s not known for its ghost signs… but they are around. Rex Simpson is perfect – a ghost within a ghost. I’ve been meaning to send you a note – I loved your Meanjin article! Am coming to Melbourne to launch Mirror Sydney at the end of October so will let you know when 🙂
Great, I’ll be there!