Newtown, Sydney is where people go for good books – and quiet pubs to read them in. Music fans can pick up band biographies and see where they played.

The Sunnyboys on King Street

Newtown is special. I wrote about it in my first novel, Single White Email and joined a long list of authors and musicians who’ve been ‘Newtowned’.

The Sunnyboys filmed the clip for You Need A Friend at 128 King Street, Newtown and in this part of Sydney, you can buy the book too. Here Comes the Sun is Jeremy Oxley’s memoir written with his wife Mary Oxley Griffiths.

Newtown is the place to come to for music, memories and more. It’s been years since the Sunnyboys filmed themselves on the rooftop (with Hills Hoist washing line) at 128 King Street, but the beat goes on.

If you’re visiting Sydney for the first time, allow half a day to wander along King Street.

Elizabeth’s Bookshop

Rock’n’roll biographies and autobiographies which are out of print are in good supply here, at 257 King Street.

You can also buy mystery books wrapped in brown paper, handpicked by staff for a bargain price.

AC/DC in Newtown

Angus Young is remembered in photographs on pub walls in Newtown because this is where the band rehearsed. In fact, The Newtown Gym stands where the band prepared for their first gig. It’s at 294 King Street.

Murray Engleheart wrote the definitive book about the band, Maximum Rock & Roll. We found a good selection of band biographies at Gould’s Book Arcade, 536 King Street – along with a classic photograph of Gough Whitlam.

Better Read Than Dead

Buy new books further along the street, to read about the bands who played Newtown, no matter if they were at The Sandringham (now tragically closed) or if they are as famous as Coldplay.

Even the Rolling Stones played Newtown, at The Enmore Theatre, to a select 2000 fans in the know.

Better Read Than Dead is a good source for music books at 265 King Street.

Below, is the Chris Martin and Coldplay clip which put Newtown on the world music map.

A Sky Full of Stars

One billion YouTube views for A Sky Full of Stars later and this music-friendly, book-friendly part of Sydney they call King Street is now world famous.

Everybody wants to know the pub where Coldplay fans gathered on the day. It’s The Courthouse Hotel – at 202 Australia Street.

Newtown Pubs

The Courthouse is big enough, with a large outdoor area, for all the Coldplay clip extras in the world – but if you want to take some of your books into a cosy space, try The Botany View Hotel at 597 King Street.

They let out their rooms (like The Purple Room) for private parties for small numbers of people, but if you go on a weekday afternoon using your tourist advantage, you can find most of these spaces empty.

The Empty Purple Room

Velvet armchairs, ornate vintage mirrors, old paintings and a good wine list. What could be better, than finding a retro space at The Botany with a book under your arm?

There is also a big rooftop bar at The Botany View if it’s sunny.

Bands play at The Main Stage here too. So maybe you’ll catch the next Sunnyboys or AC/DC.
You can even bring your dog. Pups are allowed inside and outside the pub.

Band T-Shirts

Buy band T-Shirts at Newtown’s permanent street market at the Martin Luther King mural close to the corner of Mary Street and King Street. We found The Smiths and The Stray Cats when we walked past.
There must be a Coldplay T-Shirt in there somewhere.

Doing a Chris Martin

You can finish by doing a Chris Martin and walking the length of King Street back into the city (Sydney CBD is around 30 minutes away) or just do a Sunnyboys and catch the train from Newtown Station.

Need I add that this is a great place to go out at night for bands and beer? With that certain velvet jacket/velvet armchair je ne sais quoi?

Books by day, bohemian rhapsody by night. It has to be Newtown.