Town Hall Square is not a vanity project; it’s a legacy for future generations

October 5, 2026 — 11:30am

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Recently, the City of Sydney’s proposal for Town Hall Square was called in by the state government for review after a public outcry. Critics either opposed the demolition of buildings to create a square as a waste of public money or opposed the design itself.

Meanwhile, the City has spent decades of bipartisan planning and property acquisition to achieve its vision. This has set the stage for a battle not only between two tiers of government, but also of ideology, with fiscal conservatism versus the common good.

The concept for a square was originally proposed by then-lord mayor Doug Sutherland in 1982, with Sydney City Council resolving to acquire the seven properties required to complete the square. The first property was purchased in 1985 and acquisition continued up until 2019, leaving one remaining property for compulsory acquisition. These buildings will be demolished to create a public space.

This is not the first time a government has demolished property to create open space for the public –........

© The Sydney Morning Herald