Camperdown was initially established as a residential and farming community back in the early 19th century.  Victorian terrace houses remain a feature of its streets – some have been restored in a manner faithful to their original architecture and some have been renovated into more modern, inner city dwellings.

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital was built on what was initially a race course.

The Inner West has also had a strong connection to dog racing and but the local tracks were closed down a few years ago.  The land was sold and, you guessed it, is now home to blocks of glistening apartment blocks which have been built to accomodate the demand for (relatively) reasonably priced places to live that are close to both the city and an array of family and life in general friendly amenities.

Camperdown Commons is in the process of being transformed as part of the Camperdown Project.

Part of the project is a sustainable vegetable garden whose produce is used at Acre, the cafe and restauarant located on the commons.

There are also facilities for yoga classes and community activities next to the restaurant.

One of the really beautiful things about Camperdown Commons is the ability for anyone in the community to just pop in and have a look around at what’s happening in the vegetable patches.  It’s a little bit of the country slap bang in the middle of the inner west and it’s such a restful place to be in.  The park next door is often full of runners, dog walkers and sporting teams but here on the commons?  You can just sit back and be at one with agriculture.

And coffee, of course.  Because we are in the inner west, after all.  Acre has converted a storage crate into a kind of coffee cart where you can get takeaways to either enjoy on the property or else take back home to your groovy terrace or apartment.

There was a whole fridge of fancy juices under this display of sweets (quite a few of which were delicious looking raw food cakes and slices).

I rate the coffee 11/10 and not because I could nestle my cup in this back to nature arrangement in the play area.

A coop for rescued chickens has been built in one corner of the garden.

And this is the childrens’ play area next to the chicken coop.

The activity walls were both created especially for Camperdown Commons and feature lots of repurposed building materials.  The tree stump steps/seats next to the walls also feature little doors to open and hidey holes to fill.

Camperdown Commons and Acre are a wonderful addition to the landscape of the Inner West and I hope there will be more sustainable produce and community orientated initiatives like this to follow all around the city.

Have you been to Camperdown Commons yet?  Is there something similar where you live?