Green light for Belmore Park upgrade

Belmore Park near Central Station will become a more inviting green space with renewal plans given the go ahead at this week’s City of Sydney Council meeting.

The upgrade will see better lighting, larger lawn areas, more seats, new garden beds and simpler paths in the park alongside Eddy Avenue.

A new paved space with amphitheatre seating will enable music and dance performances, community events, protests, markets and other activities at Belmore Park.

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said improvements are part of an extensiverevitalisation of the Haymarket precinct, including the restoration of the historic Chinatown gates and upgrades to paving, lighting and shopfronts on Dixon Street. 

“Upgrading Belmore Park was identified as an integral part our broader revitalisation of the Haymarket precinct, following extensive consultation with the community about the area’s future,” the Lord Mayor said.

“This pocket of green in Central Sydney could be so much more.

“Our new design really taps into the park’s potential, with better lighting, larger lawn areas and an event space making it altogether a more welcoming place to visit.”

The dilapidated bandstand will be removed and remembered in the design of a new play space, set to become a jewel at the centre of the park.

Making travel through the park smoother for people walking and riding is also a priority with a wider, clearly marked path among the planned improvements. 

The park is significant for many in the local community and an important part of the diverse cultural heritage of the area. Earmarked for public recreation in 1868, the park withstood significant changes in the first decades of the 20th century to build transport infrastructure for Sydney, including the development of Central Station and associated railway and tramway networks.

The park design will now be refined with construction expected to start in 2028.

 Read about the history of Belmore Park and plans for its renewal.