Cobblers in Sydney

Finding shoe repair in Sydney means knowing your neighbourhood — Sydney's repair trade is split between the inner city and the suburban centres. Surry Hills, Newtown, Kings Cross and the CBD carry the shops you would walk past on a lunch break, while Chatswood and Hurstville serve the north and south with established, long-running businesses.

Boots, in particular

Sydney has a noticeably stronger showing for boot work than the other capitals — proportionally more shops here list it as something they take on. That matters, because boots are not simply large shoes. Welted work boots and riding boots can be rebuilt almost indefinitely, but the job needs a last of the right size and a cobbler willing to take the upper off.

If you own a pair worth keeping, it is worth calling ahead rather than walking in. The shops that do this well are usually booked, and the ones that do not will tell you so.