Ultimo is an inner-city suburb of Sydney located between Glebe, Pyrmont, Broadway, Chippendale and Haymarket, only around 2 kilometres from Sydney’s central business district. Besides its proximity to the Sydney centre and the city’s various exciting attractions and amenities, Ultimo is known for being home to the prestigious University of Technology Sydney and the Sydney Institute of TAFE. Beyond a hub for education and students, Ultimo is a vibrant city encompassing many tourist attractions and recreation facilities for visitors. Find out all the interesting facts about Ultimo on this page.

Also read, Things to Do in Ultimo

Ultimo is one of the closest suburbs to Sydney CBD and enjoys city-like amenities and connectivity.

The famous Darling Harbour is situated east of Ultimo.

Ultimo is considered a major education hub of Sydney due to the presence of leading institutions, including the University of Technology Sydney and a TAFE campus. It’s also home to the Sydney School of Entrepreneurship.

The population of Ultimo, as of 2021, was 7,410.

The area’s postcode is 2007.

Ultimo is the sixth most walkable suburb in Sydney. It’s within walking distance from Central Station (10 minutes), fish market, Darling Square, Central Park, Blackwattle Bay, Glebe and Victoria Park.

Ultimo is considered a top technology, media and startup centre in NSW. The suburb has the highest number of startups by area in Australia.

Ultimo was named after the estate of Dr John Harris, one of the first landowners in the area. Harris Street, which passes through Ultimo and Pyrmont, is named after John Harris.

The first residences in Ultimo were constructed by the descendants of John Harris in and after 1859. The residential developments in the area particularly accelerated between the 1880s and 1900.

The area witnessed significant commercial and industrial development in the early 20th century, which led to a steady decline in the suburb’s population over the next decades.

Wattle Street is home to multiple warehouses and buildings constructed in the Federation Warehouse style during the 20th century.

The headquarters of Festival Records, one of Australia's top independent record companies in the 20th century, were located on Harris Street for almost 10 years between the 1950s and 1966.

The residential development of the area re-started in the 1980s, with most new residences being developed as apartments to offer affordable housing options for immigrants.

The headquarters of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation were established in Ultimo in 1991 in a building called Ultimo Centre.

Some of the major attractions and places to visit in Ultimo include the Powerhouse Museum, the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre and the Le Culinaire Hospitality Institute.

Some of the popular eateries in Ultimo offering various local and international cuisines include Kopitiam Cafe (Malaysian restaurant), The Q Cafe (Indonesian coffee), Foundry Sixonesix (unlimited pizza) and the Lord Wolseley Hotel (craft beers and classics).

The Lord Wolseley Hotel is one of the oldest in the region and was established in 1881.

The major heritage-listed sites in the suburb include the Ultimo Road railway underbridge, Ultimo Post Office, Ultimo Substation and Ultimo Sewage Pumping Station.

Ultimo is a major student and youth hub, with almost 60 per cent of the suburb’s population aged between 15 and 30.

It’s also home to the biggest population of university staff and workers, including teachers, administration staff, cleaners and cooks.

The majority of the city’s population lives on rent. Over 90 per cent of all houses are apartments, of which almost 70 per cent are rental properties. (source: domain.com.au)

In terms of affordable housing, Ultimo is a preferred destination offering value for money, especially compared to other inner suburbs of Surry Hills and Pyrmont.

Broadway is a major urban locality in Ultimo and is home to a large number of apartments and retail precincts.