The Minns Labor Government is today unveiling the completed transformation of the Cutaway in Barangaroo, Sydney's new arts, cultural and events space that can operate 24/7 - further cementing Sydney's reputation as a world-class events and tourism destination.
The Minns Labor Government is today unveiling the completed transformation of the Cutaway in Barangaroo, Sydney's new arts, cultural and events space that can operate 24/7 - further cementing Sydney's reputation as a world-class events and tourism destination.
This former concrete shell beneath Barangaroo Reserve, has transformed into a flexible, world-class venue ready to host some of the nation's biggest creative events.
Featuring refined acoustics and purpose‑built facilities including dressing rooms, green room, ticketing office, commercial kitchen and multiple event spaces, the Cutaway is set to become a must-visit destination for festivals, exhibitions and installations.
Following the intervention of Minister for Planning Paul Scully, the space is able to operate 24/7, despite concerted opposition to this proposal.
With capacity of up to 3,000 people and direct access to Barangaroo Metro Station, the venue will attract thousands of visitors with communities in North West and South West Sydney soon able to travel to the Cutaway in around 30 minutes.
This project is part of the Minns Labor Government's broader effort to recharge Sydney's vibrancy, boosting the visitor economy by relaxing restrictions on nighttime trading, lifting concert caps, and investing in world-class events and attractions across the state.
Delivered by Infrastructure NSW in partnership with FDC Construction & Fitout and architects fjcstudio with Shannon Foster and Jake Nash, the fitout embeds First Nations cultural expression and sustainability throughout the design.
The Cutaway will open with a weekend of events, and creativity in May. The free opening event will feature live music alongside access to the new gallery spaces, workshops and tours. The Cutaway will undergo final event preparations over the coming months and open from 1 August for bookings.
Key features of the Cutaway include:
- Size and capacity: 10,000m2 of cultural and events space including two mezzanine levels, with a total capacity of up to 3,000 people.
- Architectural features: 13 sculptural timber trees using up to 115 timber pieces puzzled together per tree. Each piece weighs between 7kg and 950kg and is between 7 and 17 metres tall.
- Event and back‑of‑house spaces designed to scale up or down: The venue includes a main event hall, pre-function space, gallery and exhibition rooms, a ticketing office, commercial kitchen, green rooms, dressing rooms, multi-purpose educational space and rigging infrastructure.
- Accessibility: Step free access from Barangaroo Metro Station, public lifts connecting the basement carpark right through the venue to the parkland above and accessible amenities throughout the venue.
- Premium acoustics: The open voids have been enclosed with 2-layers of glass separated by an air pocket to improve acoustics, enhancing natural light while delivering high-quality sound suitable for premium music and major events.
For more information, visit: NSW Government | The Cutaway
NSW Premier Chris Minns, said:
"The new Cutaway space joins the Opera Houe as one of the great cultural and event locations on the iconic shore of Sydney Harbour - confirming Sydney's status as a world-class city for arts, culture and major events.
"This extraordinary space is unlike anything else in Australia-deeply connected to Sydney, architecturally striking and built to host major events that draw visitors, investment and creative talent to our city.
Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:
"The Cutaway provides Sydney something much-needed: a large‑scale, flexible, indoor cultural venue capable of supporting everything from live performances to festivals, art installations and community gatherings.
"The space is so well-positioned by Sydney Harbour and so well-connected to the nearby Barangaroo Metro Station. It will be a very welcome boost for the creative industries and the night-time and visitor economies."
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
"We've set the Cutaway up to be a must-visit destination for locals and visitors who can expect to attend everything from festivals to art exhibitions, performances and community gatherings at the new venue.
"Now just a few weeks away from hosting its first event, the Minns Labor Government has made sure Sydney's growing event calendar can make the most of the Cutaway, by enabling it to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week as needed."
Minister for Jobs and Tourism and Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
"The Cutaway will be the beating heart of Barangaroo, drawing crowds from near and far, boosting the local economy and cementing Sydney as a must-visit global destination.
"This world-class indoor cultural venue shows what's possible when we invest in great design, sustainability and culture, supporting local jobs and energising our night-time economy for years to come."
