Walsh Bay Arts Precinct Wins National Trust Heritage Award

By Amber Griffin

One of Sydney’s most characterful and creative waterfronts has been acknowledged by the National Trust at its annual Heritage Awards, in time for the Australian Heritage Festival. Earlier this year, the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct was unveiled following a major redevelopment on Sydney’s historically remarkable Pier 2/3 and Wharf 4/5, designed by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects (TZG), undertaken by Richard Crookes Constructions.

It was recently announced during a special ceremony that the State Heritage listed precinct won in the ‘Adaptive Reuse’ category at the National Trust Heritage Awards 2022. The Walsh Bay Arts Precinct was presented with the award by ABC’s Simone Marnie at Sydney’s Doltone House on Friday, May 13.

TZG architects shared their commitments to the category with City Hub.

“TZG endeavoured to conserve and exhibit as much of the open, industrial character of the original buildings as possible, whilst accommodating within them an ambitious and technically demanding functional program.

“The adaptive re-use of Pier 2/3 and refurbishment of existing facilities in Wharf 4/5 createsan arts ‘ecosystem’, where the synergy of co-located creatives will generate a powerfulcultural energy, open and visible to the public. Significantly, this creative activity will be in one of the city’s most characterful waterfronts, a place where Sydney’s maritime history joins its contemporary spirit.”

The Walsh Bay Arts Precinct is located on the Sydney Harbour foreshore and is a hub for arts and culture, home to nine of the nation’s top performing arts companies. Former cargo wharves built between 1913 and 1920, Wharf 4/5 and Pier 2/3 are a fundamental part of Sydney’s history and now feature a heritage-sensitive design by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects.

“Prior to the initiation of the project, Pier 2/3 was the last undeveloped wharf in Walsh Bay and considered to be of the highest heritage significance.” TKG informed City Hub.

When asked by City Hub how they achieved this heritage–sensitive design, TZG stated that their architecture prioritises and celebrates the robust existing structure with contemporary insertions expressed as distinct complementary elements.

Following the revitalisation of the precinct, The Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Theatre for Young People and Bell Shakespeare have relocated to their new premises at Pier 2/3 to unite with the existing arts companies operating at Wharf 4/5. These include the Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Dance Company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Gondwana Choirs and The Song Company.