Sydney’s George Street Is Getting A $15.8M Pedestrian-Friendly Extension Into The Rocks

Not too long ago, making your way down George Street meant navigating a smoggy procession of buses, taxis and impatient commuters. The arrival of the light rail—and the pedestrian-friendly boulevard surrounding it—has completely reshaped the CBD thoroughfare. Now, the transformation is heading into its final stretch.

The NSW Government and City of Sydney have announced plans to extend the George Street pedestrian corridor north from Essex Street to Jack Mundey Place in The Rocks. The $15.8 million project will reclaim more road space for walking, outdoor dining and public events, completing a 2.5-kilometre pedestrian-friendly route stretching from Central Station to Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood.

Construction is expected to begin in 2027, subject to approvals, and wrap up by late 2028. Here’s what’s planned.

In a hurry? Skip to:

• What’s Changing On George Street?
• How Will The Upgrade Transform The Rocks?
• When Will Construction Begin?
• How Can You Provide Feedback?

What’s Changing On George Street?

The project will upgrade two sections of George Street between Essex Street and Jack Mundey Place, with slightly different plans for each.

Between Essex and Alfred Streets, the eastern side of George Street will close to traffic and become a wide pedestrian boulevard running alongside the light rail tracks. New trees, seating, lighting and paving will be added, while a single southbound vehicle lane remains on the western side of the street.

Traffic lights at the George Street intersections with Essex and Alfred Streets will also be removed as part of the changes.

Further north, the temporary road closure between Alfred Street and Jack Mundey Place—first introduced during the pandemic to support outdoor dining—will become permanent. One-way southbound vehicle access will remain, but the other traffic lane will be permanently repurposed for pedestrians, hospitality and public space.

The completed upgrade will include:

• Wider pedestrian areas between Essex Street and Jack Mundey Place
• New trees, seating, lighting and paving
• Additional outdoor dining space in The Rocks
• Room for public events and activations
• One southbound traffic lane retained
• The removal of traffic lights at two George Street intersections
• A continuous 2.5-kilometre pedestrian-friendly corridor from Central to The Rocks

The new section will complete the wider George Street transformation, which has already converted more than 39,000 square metres of former roadway into pedestrian-friendly public space.

How Will The Upgrade Transform The Rocks?

The northern extension is designed to create a more walkable connection between the CBD and The Rocks while giving the heritage precinct’s restaurants and bars more room to move outdoors.

The temporary dining arrangements introduced during the pandemic have already become a major part of the area’s hospitality scene. According to the NSW Government, some local food and beverage operators now attribute up to 35 per cent of their annual turnover to outdoor dining.

The Rocks welcomed 14.3 million visitors during the last financial year, and the government expects permanent pedestrian and dining space to further increase visitation while supporting local businesses.

The extra public space could also be used for events and activations, allowing visitors to walk, dine and spend time in the precinct without competing with two full lanes of traffic.

When Will Construction Begin?

Construction is scheduled to start in 2027, subject to planning approvals, with the completed transformation expected to open by late 2028.

The NSW Government has committed $15.8 million to the project, while the City of Sydney is contributing $10 million towards the majority of the George Street North pedestrian boulevard between Essex and Alfred Streets.

The current timeline is:

• 2026: Community feedback and planning approvals
• 2027: Construction expected to begin
• Late 2028: George Street’s northern transformation scheduled for completion

Once finished, the corridor will extend approximately 2.5 kilometres from Central Station through the CBD and into The Rocks.

How Can You Provide Feedback?

The City of Sydney’s proposal for the section between Essex and Alfred Streets is currently open for public feedback.

The designs have already been informed by community consultation completed in 2021, including workshops, surveys, pop-up events and public submissions. Sydneysiders can now review the latest plans and submit additional feedback through the Sydney Your Say website until 5pm on Monday 26 October 2026.

After years of construction, temporary closures and a fairly dramatic CBD makeover, George Street’s shift from traffic-clogged thoroughfare to pedestrian boulevard is finally approaching the finish line—with The Rocks set to score more space for long lunches, public events and harbourside wandering.

Main image credit: City of Sydney | Website