Delivery of Australia’s first new city in 100 years is moving full steam ahead, with the plans for Bradfield City Centre’s iconic Central Park now approved.
Set to open in line with the Bradfield Metro Station, the stunning two-hectare park will welcome visitors arriving to the city through bus and the Western Sydney Airport line currently under construction.
A critical piece of social infrastructure in Australia’s first new city in 100 years, Central Park will provide green, open space for workers, residents, and visitors to gather, play, and relax. It is an important new resource for the growth of the Aerotropolis and joins other notable Western Sydney parks in providing important amenity for residents and businesses.
Designed with Country at its core, Central Park showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Dharug people. A standout feature is the iconic Sky Ring, celebrating, protecting and focusing on the sky while providing shelter, directing rainwater, and supporting misting water technology systems.
More than 550 mature trees and 70,000 species of native plants will create a green oasis with public art, active learning, and gathering spaces. The design also features a multi-generational interwoven play area and a Gathering Green for major community events.
Central Park will be supported by innovative technology to best care for the park and its users, adapting to a changing climate and a new, growing city.
With the design now approved, a construction partner will be appointed to deliver the park.
This follows significant progress in Bradfield City Centre, with the approval of the Bradfield City Centre Master Plan in 2024 and the recent opening of the First Building, housing Stage 1 of the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF).
The NSW Government has invested more than $1 billion to kickstart Bradfield City Centre, providing the early commercial buildings, infrastructure, and services needed to unlock billions in private development that will create more than 10,000 new homes and 20,000 new jobs.
Bradfield Development Authority CEO Ken Morrison said:
“Iconic cities need iconic open spaces, and Bradfield’s Central Park will create a new green anchor for Australia’s first new city in 100 years.
“In the future thousands of people will pour out of the metro station directly into Central Park, which will become a gathering spot for people to live, work, and play for generations to come.
“Alongside the completion of the First Building, this progress underscores how we’re transforming the vision for Bradfield into reality.”
Background:
- Designed in collaboration with landscape architect firm ASPECT Studios and Traditional Custodians.
- At two hectares, Central Park is roughly the size of three football fields.
- Central Park will be created over the top of the station box of the new metro station on the Western Sydney Airport line now under construction. The park is due to open in line with the opening of the Bradfield Metro Station.
- Key features of Central Park include:
- An iconic Skyring installation celebrating Sky Country.
- Gathering Ground for community and cultural events, with a capacity of more than 5,000 people.
- Interwoven Heart featuring Dharug weaving and woven play to enhance exploration, play, education, shade and celebration of First Nations culture.
- Integrated public art encouraging curiosity and discovery of the landscape.
- Extensive greenery, with minimum 65 per cent tree canopy cover of native species.
- Trees and native plants were chosen in collaboration with the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, First Nations nurseries and Traditional Custodians.
- A national design excellence competition was held to determine the design of Central Park. The esteemed jury included:
- NSW Government Architect Abbie Galvin
- Renowned landscape architect and designer of Manhattan’s iconic High Line in New York City James Corner
- Jiwah’s Clarence Slockee
- FLUMINIS Design Advisory Services’ Kate Luckraft
- Gallagher Studio’s Dr Libby Gallagher.