Dancing in the streets: Time for a festival vibe in Sydney

Village high streets across the City of Sydney will be transformed into lively festival hubs over the coming months as part of the Sydney Streets program.

The roads will be closed to traffic for the day as the street festivals kick off at 11am and run until late in the evening.

The festivals feature live music performances, outdoor dining from local restaurants and food vendors, street entertainment and roving performers.

Local businesses and organisations will host pop-up shops and outdoor market stalls, offering giveaways, competitions and exclusive deals.

The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO, said the series had grown significantly since it was first introduced during the pandemic. 

“Sydney Streets provides a platform for local shops, restaurants and businesses to connect with their communities and visitors in a friendly, open-air environment,” Moore said.

“It’s an opportunity for locals to shop, eat and explore their neighbourhood, with unique experiences and surprises at every corner.”

Surrounding street closures and special event clearways set the stage for the events, opening with a Welcome to Country and traditional smoking ceremony.

Activities to keep kids entertained will include a circus playground, origami workshops, face painting, art classes and reading areas.

Some events will feature a fun dog agility course, while others include fitness sessions, craft workshops, health checks and games.

February 15: Macleay Street, Potts Point

February 22: Stanley Street, Darlinghurst

March 8: Harris Street, Pyrmont

March 15: Glebe Point Road, Glebe

March 29: Redfern Street, Redfern

April 5: Crown Street, Surry Hills

A special Sydney Streets event will also take place as part of the Sydney Lunar Festival in Haymarket from 5:15-9:30pm on Saturday, February 1.

Three live entertainment sites on Sussex Street, Ultimo Road and Harbour Street will feature traditional and contemporary performances including lion and dragon dancers, dance groups, martial arts and singers.

To welcome the Year of the Snake, food trucks and market stalls with meals and gifts will be set up throughout Haymarket, 12 zodiac animal lanterns will line George Street and DJs will entertain visitors throughout the night.

For more information see whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Image: Sydney Streets: Glebe Point Road. Katherine Griffiths for City of Sydney

New lease of life for historic Sydney kiln

The historic brick kilns in Sydney Park are a local landmark - and one of them is soon to be given a new purpose as a venue for art exhibitions and small-scale community events.

The City of Sydney is restoring the interior of one of the brick kilns as part of a transformative project that will also improve park access, stabilise the structures as well as creating a publicly accessible space.

The internal space in Down Draught Kiln 2, near Sydney Park Road, will be available for community gatherings and City of Sydney events each year.

“This is the largest intact precinct of brick kilns in the state and opening up a small part of it for art exhibitions and other community events is a fantastic result for our communities,” Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore AO said.

“I can’t wait to see what our team and communities have in store for this vitally important part of our industrial heritage, which is now part of our cultural future.

“But this work is about more than just the brick kilns. At the City of Sydney, we work hard to continually improve our parks and this project will improve access for the people of St Peters, Newtown, Erskineville and Alexandria.

“Sydney Park has space to move, sporting and fitness facilities, a cycling centre, playground, a skate park, our city farm and a host of native wildlife. This project to restore the brick kilns and chimneys site will further improve this award-winning park.”

Down Draught Kiln 2 will have a raised lawn area and plaza spaces for small outdoor gatherings.

The selected kiln is the only one of the structures that can accommodate internal gatherings, with the larger brick kilns having very small internal spaces that are hard to access.

A tender process will be undertaken to appoint a contractor with construction onsite due to start within the next 12 months.

The kilns were built in the 19th century and are located in the north-west corner of the park. They are seen as a symbol of the city’s industrial heritage and hold historical and cultural significance.

The Sydney Park brick kiln and chimney precinct contains substantial remains from the brick making industry that once dominated the area. Shale was extracted from deep pits, crushed and pressed into green bricks that were fired in the large kilns.

Sydney artists on fast track for Lunar New Year

Sydney is being transformed into a an open-air gallery with art celebrating Asian cultures on display to usher in Lunar New Year celebrations.

Sydney Lunar Festival begins on Saturday and will welcome the Year of the Dragon, an animal that symbolises good luck, great power and intelligence in Asian cultures.

Among the artworks are 12 zodiac lanterns, a bespoke dragon adorning the light rail, banner galleries and child-friendly illustrations.

“Our city is a canvas and after painting the town in Christmas and New Year Eve’s colours, we’re ready to welcome the Year of the Dragon with the Sydney Lunar Festival - one of the biggest Lunar New Year festivals outside Asia,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore AO. 

“One in six people globally celebrate this date and our festival is vitally important to our Asian communities. We’re so excited to host it again for the 28th year running.

“Every year, our employees work tirelessly to make this festival great. But our work doesn’t stop there - last year Council unanimously approved a $44 million strategy that’ll revitalise Haymarket and Chinatown and bring the area back to its former glory.”

Colourful lanterns representing the 12 zodiac animals will be on display along George Street throughout the festival. The 12 animals combine modern shapes, traditional aesthetics and colours like deep reds which denote luck in Chinese culture.

The lanterns and floral plinth artworks were designed by artist Erika Zhu. 

“Style-wise, I leaned towards softer rounded outlines to evoke a friendlier and welcoming vibe, a gesture of open arms to the Asian-Australian community in a moment of celebration for the Lunar New Year,” Zhu said.

For the first time, the City of Sydney has collaborated with the NSW Government, Transdev and artist Andrew Yee to cover a light rail with a dragon that will fly along the tracks throughout the festival.



"My artwork intends to capture generations of Haymarket’s community, tied together by the idealism of the dragon," said Yee (above). 

"With the announcement of Chinatown’s $44 million upgrade, the potential for change is brimming with optimism. It is the perfect time to recognise the community’s storied history and carry its significance into the future.” 

The Lunar banner galleries return in 2024 with the creations of Chrissy Lau, Dongwang Fan, Yonny and William Tse, and Yuqing Wei. Their creations will fly at Circular Quay and along George, Sussex and Harbour streets.

Images: Chris Southwood/City of Sydney

Sydney's $44 million facelift for Chinatown and Haymarket

Sydney's Chinatown/Haymarket precinct was looking decidedly down at heel when I visited a few weeks ago.

The Haymarket and Chinatown are now set for a $44 million facelift, with ambitious plans for the area endorsed unanimously by the City of Sydney Council.

The Haymarket and Chinatown Revitalisation Strategy and Public Domain Plan were shaped by one of the largest multilingual consultations in the City’s history, with more than 1,150 residents, businesses and community members taking part in discussions over the early plans and 350 responses to the formal public exhibition.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the community warmly welcomed the City’s commitment to more space for people walking, sitting and dining outdoors, creative lighting, support for business and recognition of Asian culture.

“Haymarket is one of Sydney’s most iconic urban villages and has long been recognised as a focal point for Asian food, cultures, and communities both locally and internationally, Moore said. "But the last few years have been incredibly challenging for the area.

“This is a perfect time for a new overarching plan for the area, and our communities have enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to work with us to celebrate the important precinct’s past and help safeguard its future.

“Through our extensive consultation we heard the community’s desire for a diverse, friendly and safe area that’s easy to navigate, with a range of food options and a streetscape that respects and celebrates the social and cultural history of the area.

“Our plans include a long-term upgrade of public space, with more trees, seats, lighting and integrated public art, as well as a proposed review of planning controls to support vibrant building signage and renewal of smaller buildings as a point of difference from the city centre.

“The community told us clearly that our first priority should be the heart of Chinatown, Dixon Street, so that work is already underway, and we will be restoring the iconic Ceremonial Gates next year.

“We will also begin public domain improvements to strengthen the identity of Thai Town on Campbell Street.”

The City will explore opportunities to boost community space in the area and increase cultural activities, as well as encourage landowners to upgrade rundown buildings and ensure vacant space is occupied. Innovative ways to improve maintenance and waste management in the area will also feature in the final strategy.

Image: Revamped Harbour Street. Provided.

Bridging the gap: Sydney's night-time economy is bouncing back

On a recent visit to Sydney it was impressive to see restaurants busy and bustling - even early in the week.

An now data released this week by the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCCLM) has reported an uptick in Sydney’s night-time economy with a growing number of establishments across the city and a boost in overall sales turnover.

Notable increases were reported across the retail, accommodation, food, drink, leisure and entertainment sectors, highlighting an opportunity for more consumer-facing businesses to adjust their trading patterns to service the growing night-time demand.

The Measuring the Australian Night Time Economy Report covers the 2021-2022 financial year, and despite the impact of Covid restrictions during part of this period, reported encouraging results for Sydney’s night-time economy.

“It’s heartening to see the trajectory of these results as we want to keep our city safe, open and welcoming for everyone at all times of day,” Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said.

“For years our communities have told us they want a vibrant night-time city where businesses big and small can flourish.

“The report highlights an opportunity for businesses to extend, improve or diversify their evening activities to support a more interesting and successful night-time economy.”

Of the 89 local government areas analysed in the report, Sydney hosts the highest density of night-time establishments per square kilometre in Australia.

Across the week, most businesses remain open at some point on a Thursday night, (particularly for late night shopping), and Friday and Saturday nights have the highest concentration of businesses operating in later hours from 9pm to 3am.

View the complete Measuring the Australian Night Time Economy Report here.

Sydney gears up for New Year's Eve

There is nothing like being prepared.

The City of Sydney this week sent out a press release on its preparations for New Year's Eve.

That is fully four months away, but hey.

Apparently, Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations are coming back with a bang, with free access to many vantage points around the harbour and ticketing scrapped for all City of Sydney sites.

Restrictions introduced during the pandemic will be dropped, giving more people the opportunity to view and enjoy Sydney’s iconic celebrations.

The official New Year’s Eve website - sydneynewyearseve.com - has launched with details of all the City of Sydney’s vantage points, as well as key viewing locations extending from Cockatoo Island to Dover Heights and Manly.

The website includes details about each location’s entry points, opening and closing times, alcohol policy, capacity, food and beverage options and accessibility services.

More vantage points, location information road closures and transport details will be added to the website in the coming weeks.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the website and resources would help people to make a plan for the big night and explore the many ways to celebrate and watch the fireworks.

“Sydney New Year’s Eve is an iconic event and a wonderful celebration of our safe, harmonious and vibrant city,” Moore said.

"With Covid restrictions lifted and more parkland access available we anticipate there will be large crowds across the city keen to see the fireworks. I encourage everyone to check out sydneynewyearseve.com and plan ahead.

“Whether you’re watching at home or coming to join us along the foreshore, the event is a great way to reflect on the year past and look with hope to the year ahead. I hope locals and visitors alike enjoy the show!”

While the majority of sites around the harbour will be free, some will be ticketed to manage crowd numbers including the Cahill Expressway (which is balloted), Clark, Goat and Shark islands, Strickland Estate and Bradley’s Head (Mast Precinct, Athol Lawn, Amphitheatre).

Separate paid events around the harbour include at Taronga Zoo and the Royal Botanic Garden’s Foundation & Friends NYE Picnic.

Spicy future envisaged for Chinatown

A new plan to upgrade and reinvigorate Dixon Street in Chinatown has been unanimously endorsed by the City of Sydney Council. 

Consultation with more than 1,150 residents and businesses helped shaped the plan, which includes $5 million to revive Dixon Street Mall, restore its famed gates, install new seating as well as creative lighting overlays and improved services to support events.

 

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said it was important for the City to work with local communities to breathe new life into the historic area, especially following the impacts of Covid-19.    

 

“Our community in Chinatown was one of the first and hardest hit by the pandemic, and it continues to suffer while international tourism and study has not yet fully returned,” Moore said.

 

“While we have been safely activating public places and inviting people back to experience all Chinatown has to offer since Covid restrictions were eased, we’re excited to ensure its long-term future by reinvigorating Dixon Street as a dynamic space for people, daily life and culture.

 

“Our communities have enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to help us shape the Dixon Street precinct and painted a picture that celebrates the diversity of Asian cultures, food and history. 

 

“We know the renewal of the Chinatown Gates is incredibly important and it is a focus for us as we move forward with our plans.”  

 

Since 2010, Sydney has has initiated several public space investments in the Chinatown precinct. 

 

“Now, through our proposed public domain improvements in the heart of Chinatown, we will make the area an even more attractive environment for people to walk around and spend time, which will in turn support local businesses and economic activity,” Moore says.

 

Residents, businesses and visitors were invited to complete surveys and attend community forums in English and Asian languages to ensure they were part of the plans for the area. 

                                                                                                  

Contributors highlighted the need to reflect the cultural diversity of the area, increasing authentic and affordable food and retail experiences. They said it was important to respect the heritage and traditions of Chinatown while exploring exciting new ways to express culture. 

 

Key long-term priorities for Haymarket are:   

 

• boosting lighting to create a safe and colourful atmosphere 
• increasing events, activities and outdoor dining on the streets 
• more seating  

• preserving the local character and cultural heritage 
• extending trading hours to boost the thriving nightlife 
• more public art. 

 

Dixon Street’s management is split between the City of Sydney and the NSW Government, with Placemaking NSW (a name obviously created by a committee of creatives) taking over Dixon Street north between Goulburn and Liverpool streets and the City of Sydney managing the pedestrianised area between Goulburn and Hay streets. 

For more details see cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/haymarket-precinct  

Sydney CBD to get a new produce market

Sydney is to get a new gourmet produce market when Quay Quarter Lanes Markets launches on November 9.

The market will bring farm-fresh food to the Sydney CBD and aims to attract over 40 stallholders, including farmers, bakers, makers, cooks, picklers, roasters, growers and gourmet retailers.

The market will be held once a month and bring the laneways of Quay Quarter, on Loftus Lane, to life.

The market is a new event from Cambridge Markets Sydney in collaboration with Quay Quarter Lanes and City of Sydney.



It will feature local retailers including Zini Gelato, Adora Chocolates and Bubble Nini Teas.

The market will also showcase Cambridge Markets’ stallholders, from Prickle Hill Farms, Brickfields, Berliner Bakery, Stephen Hodges Fish, Savannah Estate Winery, Brother Mountain Macadamias, Rita’s Organic Farms, Noble Organics meats, West Walla organic eggs, Le Saucier pasta sauces and Bacca cured meats.

There will also be coffee and pastry from the bakery of CBD restaurant, Grana, which neighbours Quay Quarter Lanes. Adding to the mix will be tacos from Jeerys and sweet treats from Thicc Cookies.

Quay Quarter Lanes Markets will take place on the second Wednesday of the month, from 8am-2pm.

There will also be live music and entertainment.

Cambridge Markets director and organiser Rebecca Fox said the launch of the market would be an important step in connecting people who live and work in the city centre with fresh local food and quality producers.

“One of the great things about markets is the connections they cultivate,” Fox said. “When we take a produce market to a community, it’s an opportunity for people to get out and actually talk to a farmer, or a grower, or the man who baked the bread, people they might not meet regularly.

“We have producers and markers at our markets who do everything from cure fish to pickle olives to make small-batch gin and they have such great stories about how and why they do what they do."

The market has been made possible due to a Precinct Activation Grant from City of Sydney. The grant is being overseen by The Freelance Consultancy Group (TFCG).

“We are delighted to bring a new event back to the area after a few challenging years,” said Genevieve Deslandes of TFCG. “You can expect many surprises, live music and plenty of community initiatives on a monthly basis.”

See cambridgemarkets.com.au