Darlinghurst is an inner eastern suburb of Sydney immediately east of the Sydney CBD and Hyde Park. It is a densely-populated suburb with the majority of residents living in apartments or 2 story terraced houses. From a slum in the 1920s and a red-light prostitution district, Darlinghurst has undergone urban renewal since the 1990s and early 2000s to become a rather upmarket, cosmopolitan and diverse area.
Interest in Darlinghurst, nearby Paddington and other inner Sydney suburbs began in the 1960s. i first noticed it when actor Gordon Chater moved into Paddington and developed 2 adjoining terraced houses adding gold taps and other luxury fittings. Until then these suburbs were considered as poorer class areas and attracted little interest. Suddenly it was realised that they were cheap, close to the city and nightclubs, and a whole new interest developed.

Oxford Street is the main thoroughfare of Darlinghurst and well-known around the world as the hub of Sydney's gay community and the street on which the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is held annually. There are a number of gay venues in the area and it is now rivalling nearby Kings Cross as Sydney's premier "nightclub strip", Popular with both gay and straight clubbers, drug use and crime rates, particularly assaults and robberies, have increased in the area.
Oxford Street is also the main thoroughfare to the popular eastern beachside suburbs of Bondi, Coogee and Maroubra.

Originally called Eastern Hill and then Henrietta Town, after Governor Lachlan Macquarie's wife it eventually became Darlinghurst in honour of Elizabeth Darling, the popular wife of Governor Ralph Darling.

Darlinghurst has two of Sydney's museums: the Australian Museum (a natural history museum) and the Sydney Jewish Museum.
The Darlinghurst Court House at Taylor Square is one of Sydney's most historic buildings and is adjacent to historic Darlinghurst Gaol, which is now the East Sydney campus of the National Art School formerly the Sydney Institute of Technology.

Oxford St is the major commercial street of Darlinghurst, running from the south-east corner of Hyde Park, through to Taylor Square and beyond through Paddington, Woollahra and Bondi Junction. It was originally called the South Head Road, and work was commenced on the road in 1811 (Faro, 2000). It was a toll road in its early years with the toll gates being located near present day Glenmore Road. Oxford St assumed its current name in 1875. Oxford Square is located at the intersection of Oxford Street and Burton Street. Oxford Square is also the name of the small shopping centre located opposite, at the corner of Oxford Street and Riley Street.

There are a large number of cafés, restaurants and take-away food stores throughout Darlinghurst, as well as a large number of pubs and nightclubs, many of which are on Oxford Street. There is also a significant retail presence, including fashion retailers.

The 380 bus between Circular Quay and Bondi Beach travels through Darlinghurst along Oxford Street. The 378 bus between Railway Square and Bronte also travels through Darlinghurst along Oxford Street. The 392, 394, 396 and 399 buses also travel through the suburb on Oxford Street. Buses that travel through the centre of Darlinghurst are the 311 and the 389 buses.