Oh, Town Hall Square. Fondly known as the home of pigeons, loitering teenagers, and those questionable red plastic benches that could probably be declared a biohazard. While it may have once been an impressive patch of civic design, these days it mostly reeks of neglect — but not for much longer.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new and improved Town Hall Square, and when you can expect to start enjoying it.
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What's Changing At Town Hall
If you weren't already aware, Sydney's Town Hall was built on the site of an old cemetery in the 19th century—super freakin' spooky. Built from yellow sandstone blocks, it is regarded as one of Australia’s most impressive civic buildings, celebrated for both its scale and intricate carvings. Since 2012, it’s been getting some serious TLC, with the final round of conservation kicking off in 2020. Heritage architects Peter McKenzie and Tonkin Zulaikha Greer teamed up with two squads of expert stonemasons to make sure every repair was done with a careful, skilled hand.
But now that the Town Hall building is reaching completion, the square beside it is desperately calling for an upgrade—and it's going to get one. Lord Mayor Clover Moore acknowledged that the plans for the square have been underway for more than 40 years, stating "For more than three decades, the City of Sydney has been progressively acquiring properties opposite Town Hall to create space for a future Town Hall Square".
The redesign will extend George Street’s transformation into a pedestrian precinct. Expect trees, seating, and space for weekday lunch breaks as well as large-scale festivals, markets, and gatherings—all at a meeting spot as iconic as the Town Hall steps. The City of Sydney has already committed $150 million, with construction expected to begin in 2028.
What’s Next For The Project
As of early 2025, the square has entered the acquisition and design phase. As part of the 2025–26 draft budget, the government has allocated funding toward acquiring the block opposite Town Hall. That block will need to be demolished to make way for the new square's footprint.
A draft concept design is due to be released for public consultation, to gather community feedback on layout, materials, seating, lighting, and event infrastructure. After that, the project will move into approvals, tendering, and construction phases, with the City still targeting a 2028 start.
Other upgrades in the precinct will include new paving, street furniture, lighting, and improved connections to George, Pitt, and Park Streets, plus an integration with nearby heritage sites like St Andrew’s Cathedral.
What You Can Do
Town Hall Square isn’t just a restoration project—it’s a public space designed for the people who’ll use it every day, which means your voice matters. Draft designs will be released for consultation in 2026, and while the NSW 2025–26 budget has already invited feedback, there will be more opportunities to share your views as the project progresses.
We recommend staying connected to the City of Sydney for updates, as this is the best way to keep track of when your input is needed. Who knows, you might just have the opportunity to shape the design of our city for the better.
Main image credit: City of Sydney | Supplied