Woollahra is an Aboriginal word for “meeting ground” and if you head to the village shopping centre on a Saturday, you’ll notice that little has changed.

In 1856, the Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly, Sir Daniel Cooper, was granted the land that is now Woollahra. From that time on, it has grown into a gracious village with its fine architecture superbly maintained. There is a sense of peace so close to the heart of the city.

Woollahra is home to some of Australia’s finest Victorian and Edwardian grand houses, and rows of exquisitely detailed terrace houses. Their lovingly maintained gardens give Woollahra the feel of an English village.

First stop for dedicated foodies is Jones the Grocer with its brilliant produce, books, kitchen equipment, and fabulous coffee and snacks of course. Definitive pub food is at Damien Pignolet’s award winning Bistro Moncur, or perhaps the fashionable Centennial. Down in the village are Agostini’s, Nostimo and the robust Big Mama’s.

Woollahra Primary and Holy Cross are within the borders, and Scots College, Cranbrook, Ascham, Kincoppal, S.C.E.G.G.S and Waverley College only a short drive.

On the southern border are the wooded acres and recreational opportunities of Centennial Park. Many of the houses in Queen Street are registered on the National Estate, and many of their occupants can be found in the other local landmark, the venerable Lord Dudley Hotel in Jersey Road.

Its probably easier to have a random selection for the long list of rich and famous. Broadcaster John Laws, former Premiers and business luminaries Neville Wran QC and Nick Greiner, and veteran TV personality, Diana “Bubbles” Fisher can all be found in Woollahra.

With 220ha of land available, Centennial Park has plenty of room for running, walking, horse riding, cycling or roller blading. If you’ve still got any energy, then there are gyms in adjacent Bondi and Double Bay, or a quick drive to the surf.

Woollahra is 4 km east of the CBD, and has ample buses along Oxford Street and Edgecliff Road. The fast and frequent trains from Edgecliff Station are only 5 minutes walk.