High Heels Newtown: The Story Behind Sydney’s Iconic Costume & Lingerie Store
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
From Surry Hills to Newtown: The 20-Year Story of High Heels
By Rita Bratovich
High Heels started with a simple idea. Having emigrated from the UK in 1987, Richard spent years running a pool business before working as a tradie. Ready for a change, he spotted a gap in the market: supplying shoes to Sydney's strip clubs and brothels.
With just $1,000 to his name, a small consignment of shoes from a friend in Adelaide, and plenty of determination, he began driving from venue to venue across Sydney. It was a grassroots business in every sense, built one customer at a time.
"This was in 2003 just at the beginning of the internet age. Believe it or not online shopping didn't exist!” laughs Richard.
The business quickly evolved. Customers weren't just asking for footwear—they wanted clothing, costumes and accessories too. Richard listened, expanding his range to meet demand.
Within two years, he had saved enough to open the first High Heels store on Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills in 2005. What began as a specialist shoe retailer soon transformed into something much bigger. The shelves filled with lingerie, costumes, bikinis, hosiery, dresses, jewellery, wigs and performance wear.
“That's what we sell today,” says Richard, “so many different but sexy items, but no adult products - and parents with children are welcome. We are not a sex shop - we are a sexy shop!
After a decade on Elizabeth Street, High Heels relocated to Crown Street, where it spent another ten successful years. The proximity to Oxford Street put it in the hub of Sydney’s queer and adult industry scene.
"The Surry Hills location created the perfect blend of the Sex Worker Community, the Pole Dance Community and the LGBTQI+ community," Richard says. "It became a place of inclusion, awareness, expression and love."
The shop wasn't simply somewhere to browse clothing. Customers swapped styling tips, shared industry knowledge, discussed upcoming events and formed lasting friendships. Richard counts those relationships among his proudest achievements.
While High Heels has sponsored countless adult industry and pole dancing competitions over the years—including Miss Nude and Miss Pole Dance Australia—Richard says one recent highlight was participating in Sydney WorldPride.
Yet, for him, the greatest reward has never been the events themselves.
"The lasting connections made and the laughter and fun we all have together in the store" remain his favourite memories.
As redevelopment transformed Surry Hills, soaring rents made it increasingly difficult for small businesses like High Heels to survive.
“It is a long standing issue in the area which can be seen in the many current empty shops across Oxford Street and surrounding streets. The Team at High Heels put a great deal of effort into illuminating these rental issues to the local community and government.”
Rather than compromise the future of the business, High Heels made a fresh start, relocating in August last year to Enmore Road, Newtown.
The move has proven to be a perfect fit.
The larger premises offer more space, easier parking, better public transport connections and "an amazing landlord."
"We love the openness and non-judgmental vibe that Newtown and Enmore have always had," Richard says. "We're honoured to contribute to that continual ethos of love, acceptance and radical expression."
High Heels is a truly unique shopping experience.
“There is nothing like our shop anywhere in Australia,” says Richard. “We sell so many different things that cannot be bought in any shop anywhere — and we have the best hosiery range in Australia! We sell a lot of one-off things also. Everything in our shop is sexy and we are your One-Stop Sexy Shop. We pride ourselves on great customer service — it’s fun to shop at High Heels! We hope to be here for years to come.”
We hope so too.
High Heels Newtown
3/80 Enmore Rd, Newtown
