City Guide: Sydney

This Sydney guide,the first of our Global City Guide Series, features the highlights from Share Sydney, a guide released earlier this year by the City of Sydney.

How shareable is Sydney?  Very. The city enables residents to share everything from creative work spaces to cars, skills and utilities. There’s lots of opportunities around the city to live a collaborative consumption lifestyle. If you’re ready to connect with people who can help you save money, enjoy your passions, and reduce waste, here’s a a list of our favourite services in the city.

FOOD

Can’t think of anything to cook for dinner? From social cooking and dining, to garden and produce sharing these are fun ways to get grub.

• MamaBake-reduce the high costs of baking by connecting with local cooks to share the load of baking and to bulk buy ingredients in groups.
• EatWithMe-a social networking site where foodies come together and meet new people.
• Community Garden Network-an informal, community-based organisation linking people interested in community gardening around Australia.

mamabake.com

CLOTHES

Do you have absolutely nothing to wear in your closet again? Scour through other people’s misses to find yourself a fashion hit.

• Dressed Up–rents out designer garments for a week. It delivers within two days and also has free return shipping.
• Find a Uniform–share and trade school, sporting and activity uniforms from pre-school to high-school age.
• The Clothing Exchange-refresh your wardrobe at one of these nationwide clothing swap events.

STUFF

Why buy something expensive for a one-off job? These companies encourage swapping and sharing to build human connections in the process.

• Openshed–borrow tools, equipment and furniture from your neighbours. Gain some handy tips for your next DIY project too.
• Tushare-this site is for people to share things for free. This door-to-door service will pick up or deliver any item less than 25kg.
• Friends with Things-Connects people in the community by allowing them to share things and skills.

jalopyjournal.com

CARS

Navigating and finding parking in Sydney is a real pain. Ease the load, check these transport companies to make it easier to go ’round a Sydney road.

• Car Next Door-Locals list their cars so others in the neighbourhood can use them for as little as $25 a day.
• Divvy–Divvy connects motorists idle driveways, garages and car parks for cheap.
• GoGet–this car-hire service lets you book cars for an hour-plus, swipe for access then swing back to the same spot.

HOUSING

Buying a home may be out of reach for now, but shared ownership might be the ticket.

• Roomz–Has thousands of spaces for rent and screens potential roomies,sets up a living agreement and automates rent-paying.
• Greatspace Inc–Connects travellers and hosts keen to rent and share everything from swanky to modest accommodation.

roomz.com

SKILLS

Don’t know how to build an IKEA bookcase or need someone to pick up your Christmas fancy dress hire? Outsource your chores and errands to a mobile task force in your area.

• Airtasker–Get those tasks you’ve never got around to doing done by enlisting the help of the able and willing. Get others to help you pack boxes, assemble furniture or move things around.
• MmmuLe–Post what you want and someone brings it for a favour/trade in return.

airtasker.com

HUBS

Desks are available for rent an hour or more. Beyond the economic benefits are the shared resources: meeting rooms, Skype booths and recreation spaces where co-workers group to talk shop and trade concepts.

• Homework–Offers cheap rent for urban revival projects and creative teams such as Ideaction, Yammer, Native Digital, Bicycle Film Festival and the Collaborative Consumption. 66 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
• StartNest Sydney–StartNest is a coworking space for technology focused businesses and freelancers in Sydney’s North Shore. StartNest gives members access to continuous mentoring, high level business education and a vast network of supporting partners and investors. 65 Hume St, Crows Nest NSW 2065 (entrance via Pole Lane)
• Tank Stream Labs-Co-working space that houses high-profile startups such as Carmony, Roomz, Airtasker and more. Lvl 1, 17-19 Bridge St, Sydney.

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FUNDING

Support a worthy foundation or startup you believe in.

• Lending Hub–Peer-to-peer lending is the focus of this hub which bypasses the banks to raise a more organic breed of funding from friends, family, colleagues and mates via the best rates using their loan bidding system.
• Pozible–Third biggest crowd funder in the world. Pozible has raised  $11 million at a project success rate of 55%. Some of their pledge projects are for a research fund for Deakin University and Keir Foundation for the Underbelly Arts festival.

Do you live in a Shareable City too? Tell us why and you might find your city being featured next!

View more services in your area, search our global directory.