№ 19 of 24
№ 19 · Darling Square

Little Hay Street West

Inside Darling Square, connecting to Chinatown · 8.6 m wide
Little Hay Street West
©Sam Shepherd
The reading

Little Hay Street, within the Darling Square precinct, functions as a retail and pedestrian laneway, supporting movement through the precinct alongside a strong offer of retail, food and beverage uses.

It is lined with a concentration of casual dining and everyday hospitality that serves residents, workers and visitors across the day and into the evening.

Little Hay Street plays a practical role in connecting the precinct's internal laneways and public spaces to broader Chinatown, and given the quantum of retail on the lane it is somewhat destinational in its own right.

CLAW reading
C
Connectivity
High

Connects Darling Square to Chinatown, with workers, residents and visitors flowing through all day.

L
Liveability
High

A varied set of operators trade morning to late evening. The precinct design keeps it comfortable, and outdoor seating helps people stay.

A
Activation
High

Small 3–4 m shopfronts, 50–70% glass, and outdoor tables reaching the middle of the lane. About as steady as new-build gets.

W
Width suitability
Medium

At 8.6 m it is wider relative to most pedestrian-only lanes, but it works — the volume of pedestrians and the on-street dining fill it.

A plain high, medium or low read on each of the four. Read across the four to see where the lane is strong and where it falls short.

On the ground
Type
New build pedestrian laneway
Width
8.6 m
Length
~65 m
Orientation
East–West
Businesses
15 businesses
Primary uses
Food and beverage
Shopfront types
Fine grain, ~3–4 m
Shopfront glazing
~50–70%
Built form
Contemporary new build, fine grain
Activity
Morning till late evening
Location
Approx. 300 m across · north up · Darling Square, Haymarket
©Sam Shepherd
©Dallas Kilponen
"Smaller tenancies drive activation and independence." Key takeout · 06
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