A sublime combination of charm and convenience, Lavender Bay was recently crowned Sydney’s most liveable suburb. Naturally, ‘stunning harbour views’ was a contributing factor in the judging panel’s decision; but its unique village atmosphere and rich, living heritage were just as influential, as were its proximity to schools, shops, cafés and restaurants as well as its train, bus and ferry services. Lavender Bay is a special place with its sweeping harbour views, grand Victorian Italianate mansions and yachts bobbing by the foreshore. This village enclaves set in a magical environment. Named after George Lavender, the boatswain of the infamous prison hulk ‘The Phoenix’, moored in the bay during the 1820s, Lavender Bay has been home to convicts and cultural icons alike. It was the inspiration for the late Australian artist Brett Whiteley’s series of paintings depicting the marine beauty of Sydney Harbour. It’s still home to Brett’s widow, Wendy Whiteley, who has created Wendy's Secret Garden on the bay's foreshore – a wonderful public space for a walk through the lush, local garden paths. If you like the romanticism of a magical village enclave coupled with the convenience of a vibrant city lifestyle, there is no other place like Lavender Bay in Sydney. Or anywhere else.