Barangaroo Reserve Opens to the Public

We made it people. After shivering through one of the coldest winters on record, the season of track pants and weekend hibernation is finally at an end. Time to put down the remote, get off the couch and go and enjoy the sunshine — and what better place to do so than in Sydney's newest public park on the CBD's north-western foreshore?

Open today, Barangaroo Reserve consists of six hectares of waterfront parkland with views of the western harbour. The foreshore was constructed in the shape of the natural, pre-1836 shoreline from more than 10,000 sandstone blocks, while the park itself includes lookouts, grassed areas, cycling paths and a natural amphitheatre, along with 75,000 plants native to the Sydney area. With a design by American landscape architect Peter Walker (who previously designed the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan) and an outspoken ambassador in former Prime Minister Paul Keating, the park project took two-and-a-half years to complete at a cost of around $250 million.

The opening of the park marks the first time in more than a century that this section of the harbour has been accessible to the public. It's also step one in the ambitious $6 billion Barangaroo project, which has the been the subject of controversy for some time now, mostly surrounding James Packer's plans for a $2 billion hotel, casino and apartment complex. Beyond that, the precinct is expected to welcome 80 retailers, including 50 bars and restaurants.

In the meantime, the Barangaroo Delivery Authority will celebrate the opening of the park with a 12-week program of free live entertainment, beginning with a giant picnic and welcome party on Sunday September 6 that will shine a light on the Indigenous history of the area and its traditional custodians the Gadigal people. The free live shows will continue throughout spring, with performances by the likes of Casey Donovan, The Morrisons and 2015 National Indigenous Music Awards Song of the Year winner Thelma Plum.

Images: Hamilton Lund & Kata Bayer