Overview
The NSW Government has announced that nearly half of Moore Park Golf Course will be reclaimed and turned into a public park from June 2026.
The popular 18-hole golf course currently sits on 45 hectares of public land via a series of service agreements dating back to 1913 — the final of which will expire in 2026. From that point, 20 hectares of the land will revert back to public ownership, with NSW Premier Chris Minns promising to transform it into a thriving green space for all to use.
The reclaiming of the 20 hectares of land will see the golf course reduce its number of holes from 18 holes to just nine, as originally floated when the City of Sydney started discussing the plan back in 2020— but will not disrupt the course's clubhouse, depots, parking or driving range. In place of those reclaimed holes will be areas dedicated to recreation and community sports, as well as general public park space.
"Over the past century, Sydney has changed significantly. When the golf course was first established, the surrounding areas were largely industrial lands," said the Premier. "Significant urban regeneration has seen housing density around Green Square and Zetland transform industrial land into a vibrant community."
"As we work to tackle the housing crisis facing NSW by building up, we know that delivering public infrastructure including parks is more important than ever before."
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully backed the plan, saying: "The communities of Redfern, Waterloo, Green Square and Zetland are crying out for more green space, and this change will go a long way to satisfying their needs."
The decision has received mixed feedback online, with some praising the added green space while others questioning the need for more parkland so close to Centennial Park.
In the lead up to 2026, the NSW Government will be consulting the City of Sydney, the local community and stakeholders in order to create a detailed plan on how best to utilise the land surrendered by Moore Park Golf Course.
The plan to transform this patch of land is a long time coming, and isn't unprecedented; in Queensland, the Brisbane City Council turned Victoria Park Golf Course in Brissie's inner city into a huge new public park, for instance.
For more information on the plan to reclaim 20 hectares of Moore Park Golf Course, head to the NSW Government website.