Dictionary of Sydney
  1. The Dictionary of Sydney
  2. Browse Entities
  3. Structure
  4. McElhone Stairs

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

McElhone Stairs

Steps or stairs

Stairway of 113 steps, known colloquially as the 'Stairs of Doom' or 'Stairs of Death', which connects the socially and financially diverse suburbs of Potts Point and Woolloomooloo. They were originally called Challis Stairs.

-33.869041457076, 151.22304855287

Milestone
Constructed
1903 - 1904
Name
Commemorates
McElhone, John
Alternate
Challis Street Stairs
1904 - 1918
Type
Steps or stairs

McElhone Stairs

CC BY-SA 2.5 AU
by
Jennifer Preston
,
2018

McElhone Stairs in Woollomooloo is one of three stairways that connect Brougham Street to Victoria Street the others being Hordern Stairs and Butler Stairs). The wide variety of experiences encountered on the stairs, from the arduous nature of the climb,  the vibrant and colourful users, the sexual encounters and the physical dangers have given them a special place in Sydney's artistic history.

more »