A plan for Sydney City’s new $150 million town hall square featuring illuminated native trees have been made public.
And residents will be able to have their say on the final design with the development application yet to be lodged.
All costs for the project, which will also cover the termination of leases and buying property, have been factored into council’s long-term financial planning, Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore says.
She adds that the project should be debt free; click here to read more.
“Sound financial management over the last two decades helped us provide high-quality services alongside an ambitious, multibillion-dollar local capital works program, while accumulating significant cash and investment balances that will help fund this transformative project debt free.”
The square is expected carry a local First Nations name, Sydney City Council says.
It will also start upgrading the area between Sydney Town Hall and St Andrew’s Cathedral next year with new paving, seats and lights.
A development application for the square will be lodged in coming months; demolition is expected to start in 2028 with construction complete in 2031.
Click here to learn more about the town hall.
PLAN FOR A ‘VITAL’ SOCIAL HUB
“Like other major cities around the world, we need large, lively, welcoming civic spaces for the growing number of people living in and visiting Sydney,” Moore says.
“Four decades after council purchased the first building to enable a square at town hall, we are at the precipice of realising the promise of beautiful open space right in the heart of our CBD.”
She says the square “will be uniquely Sydney” with circular paving patterns and flowing water connected to adjacent historic buildings and George Street.
“The impressive canopy of native trees as well as ample seating will ensure this is a wonderful place to stop and linger, to meet people or have a bite to eat,” Moore says.
“As Sydney’s newest outdoor venue, it will welcome large-scale events, gatherings and celebrations day and night; everything from markets and festivals to concerts and sporting event live-sites.”
Moore says that with the city’s population expected to double by 2050, the square is essential to support that growth.
“Town Hall square is essential and exciting new infrastructure that will bring energy and fresh investment to the heart of the city,” she says.
“You only need to look at the successful revitalisation of George Street to see how more space for people boosts a city, with room to move, meet, eat and shop.”
With nearly 200,000 people commuting through the area via heavy rail, metro, bus and light rail every day, Moore says the new square will provide “much-needed” space to switch transport modes.
SQUARE, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
The plan’s lead design consultant and town hall square architect is JPW who will work with ASPECT Studios, the landscape architects.
“The square will provide generous, flexible civic space … it is designed for Sydney to come together for major events and celebrations and to pause, meet and enjoy that defines urban life,” Matthew Morel, Director at JPW, says.
“Within one of Sydney’s most significant heritage precincts, where thousands of people arrive each day by bus, light rail, train and metro, the square will be uniquely Sydney,” he says.
The tree grove will be illuminated, says Sacha Coles, Global Design Director at ASPECT Studios.
“(There) … will be ample shade in summer and (sunlit) places throughout the colder months,” he says.
TOURISM BOOST PREDICTED
Margy Osmond, Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism & Transport Forum, believes the square will attract visitors.
“This is fantastic for Sydney’s visitor economy and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a new landmark in the heart of the city. This will be somewhere Sydneysiders love and visitors make a point of adding to their itinerary,” she says of the plan.
“It has the potential to change the way people experience this part of the city, drawing more visitors and encouraging them to stay longer and spend more.
“A new square at Town Hall is a good idea whose time has come.”
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