BertandErnie

Redfern which was originally known as Strawberry Fields, is a mix of the 'eclectic', there are the old Italians and Greeks who have lived here for years, there are the older people alot of which are Russian who live in the Government Supported Housing, there are young upwardly mobile singles and young families with childen. Be sure though like any major capital city in the world, this inner suburb also has its share of drug addicts and brothels.
This however helps in the fabric of what is a funky and cool comsopolitan lifestyle. If you've ever seen 'Pretty Woman', where the guy is walking down the Street saying Las Angeles the City where dreams come true, the same can be said of Redfern. It is a suburb where people come from all walks of life, however you could be Sydney's No. 1. Personality on AM Radio, a few well known TV identities, Movie Stars or Department of Housing residents, everyone treats everyone with respect and it is a fun place to be.
The Streets are really well kept by the City of Sydney and most have been landscaped and done up in the last 5 years, it is a green zone and extremely 'Pet' and 'Bicycle' friendly, one of the successful and liveable 'City of Villages' that the Sydney City Council has developed over the last 5 years.
There are amazing Farmers Markets at the Old Eveleigh Train Yards on the Weekends, to cool cafe's and restaurants hidden in Laneway's and back Streets. Lots of true artists and teachers live in and around Redfern, as well as our own Lord Mayor of Sydney.
There are chic ad agencies that create and set most of the trends that the rest of Australia takes on months after they have been the norm in little old Redfern.
There are institutions like "Roger" the best shoe repair man in the whole of Australia and Doytao Thai, the best Thai in Australia, There is 'M Mall' as it is affectionately known by the locals which is actually located in Redfern - but the Shopping Centre owners renamed it "Surry Hills Shopping Mall" 10 years ago - many a fun sight to be seen here, just pop in and sit down on one of the seats for an hour of people watching, its better than any reality TV show you'll ever see. There is Bar Cleveland which was named boutique pub of the year for a few years running, as well as 'Peters Seafood Fish and Chips' on Bourke Street best in the inner city. Nothing beats the First Drop or the Bull Penn for a coffee or Sunday brekky or brunch. Or Danks Street, Waterloo is just a hop skip and a jump around the corner and the Fashionable Shops and Pubs of Surry Hills.
All in all Redfern is a fantastic suburb of Sydney and if you've ever been to New York it is quite similar to parts of Brooklyn.