Demolition For Town Hall Square Inches Closer, As Sole Opposed Councillor Pushes Martin Place Alternative

Plans for a large square outside Town Hall are progressing, with the City of Sydney approving the project’s scope and appointing a chief designer to undertake detailed design work.

The square is to encompass the half-block bounded by George, Park and Pitt streets. Save for the Woolworths building on the corner of George and Park streets, the City has acquired the existing, ill-fated properties, which include Hotel Coronation. 

City made to reconsider other projects due to expense, says councillor

Independent Yvonne Weldon is the only voice on the ten-member council opposed to the plan. At the most recent meeting, she said that the “decision to bring the project forward, against previous advice from staff, is reckless.”

“I’m really concerned about the cost and that we’re putting the organisation under serious financial stress.” Weldon later claimed that the City is “having to reconsider a range of other projects and plans” accordingly.

She said that the proposal has been “significantly” downgraded. “Gone is the veranda strip along the southern border for hospitality and retail.”

Weldon opposes the demolition of the “iconic” Woolworths building, “a landmark inter-war build, with a rich history, that we’ve only just spent $20 million restoring!”

“I also think there’ll be mutiny when city residents realise their one full-line supermarket is on the chopping block. Instead, they’ll have to pay double the price for half the options at a nearby Metro store.”

She proposes upgrading Martin Place instead, arguing that the mall needs it “and could be transformed to be a more prominent public space, at a fraction of the cost.”

Lord mayor posits “near unanimous” support for “transformational” project

Lord Mayor Clover Moore is undeterred, set on realising a dream held by a string of her predecessors. She has compared the plan to London’s Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.

“There will always be critics ready to rally against transformation or investment, and vested interests keen to maintain the status quo. But, there is near unanimous support for the project in the community, so we must be brave and deliver this transformational project, decades in the making.” 

The concept of a square in front of Town Hall was first floated over four decades ago. The City has spent much of that time acquiring buildings on the site.

“Like other major cities around the world, we need large, lively, welcoming civic spaces for the growing number of people living in and visiting Sydney,” Moore continued.

Her vision is rosy.  ”With ample trees and seats, it will be a place to sit on a weekday lunch break, home to large scale events and gatherings like festivals, markets, celebrations and protests, and a meeting spot as iconic as the Town Hall steps.”

She said that the construction of light rail along George Street “has transformed the city centre, and this square will take our work creating a city for people even further.” 

Art Deco Woolworths building in the spotlight 

Architecture firm DunnHillam lately released a proposal which would see the Woolworths building transformed but retained, with a large hole for sunlight, and the ground and first floors eliminated.

Moore is not eager to retain any of the present buildings. “The buildings we have purchased to create the square are all at least 50 years old. Because of their age, the costs to maintain and upgrade them to comply with current standards are increasing and becoming prohibitive.”  

“Even if we did upgrade the buildings, there is no guarantee we’d be able to tenant them, at a time when vacancy rates in older office and retail buildings are high because tenants prefer newer blue ribbon floor space.”

“All costs for the square, including lost revenue from the rental properties, has been factored into the City’s long-term financial plan.”

‘Town Hall Square’ is expected to receive an Aboriginal name. Journalist Peter FitzSimons recently suggested ‘Patyegarang Place’ — after the important interlocutor between once-distant peoples in early Sydney.

In addition, the City envisions squares adjoining Circular Quay and Central station.