For more than 3 decades, the City of Sydney under successive Lord Mayors, has been progressively acquiring properties opposite Town Hall to create a future Town Hall Square.
That’s because Sydney is Australia’s global city, and like other major cities, it needs large welcoming civic spaces for growing residential and working populations and for millions of local, national and international visitors.
In 2004, I was elected as Lord Mayor with an Independent Team committed to light rail.
The City commissioned international architect and urban designer, Jan Gehl, who showed us a way to transform Sydney with 3 city squares – at Circular Quay, Town Hall and Railway Square – that were linked by light rail and a pedestrian boulevard.
Since 2015, the City has spent over $300 million transforming George Street as part of the light rail. When completed, the pedestrianised George Street and adjacent streets will have reclaimed over 26,000 square metres of space for people.
Light rail on George St
We have planted 100 more trees, provided wide, granite-paved footpaths, modern street furniture and lighting. This has attracted $8 billion worth of private investment and most importantly there are people everywhere – on our seats, having conversations, on their devices, or just watching passers-by.
Sydney Square
In May 2023, Council unanimously resolved to develop a concept design for Sydney Square between our historic Town Hall and St Andrew’s Cathedral as the next stage in the transformation of central Sydney and as an extension of public domain work in George Street.
Constructed in the 1970s, we need to bring this area up to the same standard as the high-quality upgrades along George Street.
Improvements are being planned with $35 million committed towards the staged upgrade of around 6,500 square metres of public space at Sydney Square, and Council will consider the scope of work for that later this year.
The site for Town Hall Square currently
Accelerating Town Hall Square
Notwithstanding, the City remains committed to the long-term vision for a Town Hall Square – opposite the Town Hall – and has continued to acquire buildings as opportunities arise.
When we negotiated the commercial leases in these buildings, we were severely affected by the financial impacts of the pandemic and not in a position to deliver the Square.
So, in May 2023, the Council unanimously resolved to extend the leases and allocate the rents to a reserve to help cover the costs of a future Town Hall Square.
However, these buildings are all around 50 years old. I have been informed that because of their age, the costs to maintain and upgrade them to comply with current standards are increasing and becoming prohibitive.
Investing in buildings we intend to demolish for the future Town Hall Square is not prudent.
Also post covid, we are trying to retain tenants and entice new ones at a time when vacancy rates in older office and retail buildings are high because tenants prefer newer blue ribbon floor space.
Therefore, I believe Council must re-evaluate and adapt to changing conditions to maximise benefits for the City and its communities.
And we need to provide for the future.
More people have returned to the city for work and to visit. Nightlife has increased and is planned to grow even further under our proposed Special Entertainment Precincts, which include areas around Town Hall. The new Metro Station, Gadigal on Park Street, is also bringing thousands of extra commuters to this area.
Jan Gehl said: ‘Cultures and climates differ all over the world, but people are the same. They will gather in public if you give them a good place to do it.’
What Town Hall Square could look like when complete
Recommendation
Rather than budgeting to maintain and upgrade these buildings, I recommend the Chief Executive Officer investigates and reports on financially responsible options to accelerate the delivery of Town Hall Square as part of the 2025/26 budget, including a project scope with costings, and for demolition to start this term.
