Cambridge Street sketchbook ...

In their 1975 book, "Paddington Sketchbook", the artist Cedric Emanuel and author Patricia Thompson devote a couple of pages to Cambridge Street.  The illustrations come from that book as does the following extract:

"Paddington is surrounded on three sides by first-class parks and sportsgrounds.  Its own municipal council created, or helped to create, those to the north and east - Weigall Ground, White City, and Trumper Park. There was also Sydney Stadium which, until it was demolished to make way for the Eastern Suburbs railway, stood at the corner of Neild Avenue and New South Head Road.

In the early days, terra firm began at Lawson Street and lower Glenmore Road. Then New South Head Road was built and the land between came into use. A family named Ridley cultivated vegetable gardens very successfully. For a time Paddington was Sydney's main supplier of fresh vegetables. Later the land was leased to Chinese market gardeners, who were gradually dispossessed as the council pressed forward with its reclamation programme.

Near the foot of Cambridge Street, which runs into Glenmore Road behind White City, was a dairy. During the great storm of 1900 there was an abnormally high tide and the unfortunate cows were washed into the bay, bellowing mournfully."