Sydney's Next Great Gathering Place Takes Shape

A major transformation is set for the heart of the city, with designs for a striking new public square opposite Sydney Town Hall released today. The City of Sydney designs promise a unique and contemporary plaza, surrounded by a curved grove of distinctly Australian trees, that will reshape how people gather, celebrate and move through the CBD. Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO, said creating a magnet for people in the city centre is an investment in Sydney's economic and cultural life. "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," the Lord Mayor said. "Four decades after Council purchased the first building to enable a square at Town Hall, we are at the precipice of realising the ambitious promise of a beautiful open space right in the heart of our CBD. "The design is tailored to our environment and culture and will be a uniquely Sydney square – a contemporary public space, with circular paving patterns and water elements that connect seamlessly with 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. "And as Sydney's newest outdoor venue, it will welcome large-scale events and gatherings, activations and celebrations day and night. Everything from markets and festivals to concerts and sporting event live-sites. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform a major space in the heart of the city and deliver a generous, welcoming place destined to become the city's living room and an iconic place to gather." The Lord Mayor said that with as many as double the number of people expected in the city by 2050, the square was essential infrastructure to support growth. "Cities change and must evolve to thrive economically and socially. Town Hall square is essential and exciting new infrastructure that will bring energy and fresh investment to the heart of the city," the Lord Mayor said. "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. "We have incentivised development to create employment floor space for tens of thousands of new jobs and already, nearly 200,000 people commute through the transport precinct on heavy rail, metro, bus and light rail each day. "A new square at Town Hall will provide people with much-needed space to move between transport modes and a welcoming city entrance, in what is one of the busiest parts of the CBD." JPW is the lead design consultant and architect for the Town Hall square project, working alongside ASPECT Studios as landscape architects. "The square will provide generous, flexible civic space found in the world's great cities. It is designed for Sydney to come together for major events and celebrations, and for the everyday moments of pause, meeting and enjoyment that define urban life," Matthew Morel, Director at JPW, said. "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." "A grove of native trees will provide shade and softness in a warming climate, generous seating will invite people to linger, and cool moving water brings movement and a sense of delight. The tree canopy will light up and ensure the square is safe and welcoming," Sacha Coles, Global Design Director at ASPECT Studios, said. "The square's personality will change across the seasons, with ample shade in summer and sun-filled places throughout the colder months. It is a calm and generous setting where Sydney itself becomes the focus. Open and flexible, the square is conceived as a stage for Sydney's civic life, both for today and for generations to come." Margy Osmond, Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF), said creating an iconic square would attract investment and visitation. "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," Ms Osmond said. "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, which in turn will attract more investment into the surrounding precinct." Council has committed to giving the square a First Nations name, using a local Aboriginal word in line with the principles and guidance in our Naming Policy. The City of Sydney is planning opportunities for the recognition and practice of First Nations cultures in this space. Council has allocated $150 million to the project's design, demolition and construction. All costs for the square, including costs associated with the termination of existing leases and funds to acquire the remaining property, have been factored into the City of Sydney's long-term financial plans. "Sound financial management over the last two decades has 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 Lord Mayor said. "A new square at Town Hall is a good idea whose time has come. We are ready and willing to make this long-term investment to retain Sydney's position as one of the world's great cities." The City of Sydney will also start an upgrade of the area between Sydney Town Hall and St Andrew's Cathedral next year, with new paving, seating and lighting to further improve the entire precinct. A development application for Town Hall square will be lodged in the coming months, and the community will have a chance to provide feedback on the design. Demolition is expected to start in 2028 and the square is expected to be complete in 2031.