Be part of the new face of Sydney
The New Sydney Waterfront Company is an exciting collaboration
taking a really good part of Sydney, and making it great!
An internationally proven partnership model with a place for everyone – businesses small and large, residents, visitors, State and Local Government. Join in now. Be part of the new face of Sydney.
CONNECTED: Spring showcases a vibrant array of events in our Precinct
I am excited to update you on a wonderful past few months in the Western Harbour Precinct, with the always fantastic Sydney Fringe delighting visitors in Barangaroo and Darling Quarter. There’s more to come in and around our Precinct over the next few months, with SXSW Sydney due to start in just 14 days, and Spring into the Streets Barangaroo organised by Placemaking NSW set to bring live music to Barangaroo on Friday evenings.
Our bespoke data and insights tell us that while total precinct visitation was down 1% year on year during August, there was a 39% increase after the opening of the new metro station in Barangaroo with King Street Wharf experiencing the largest increase of all our Precincts in the Western Harbourfront. The NSW Visitor Economy has also been booming with a 35.6 per cent increase in the number of international visitors to NSW.
CONNECTED: Help Shape the World’s Best Waterfront – Our Perception Analysis Survey is Live!
It's been another wonderful winter season on our Waterfront, with Vivid once again delivering record visitation for our Precinct. The final full weekend of Vivid saw a peak for visitor numbers with a 22 per cent increase on the average for other weekends in June. Overall total precinct visits improved 2 per cent in June and 5 per cent in May on the previous year's numbers, with the strongest performance experienced by Cockle Bay, Blackwattle Bay, Darling Square and King Street Wharf. According to Accommodation Australia, hotels reported occupancy rates of 75 per cent on weeknights and up to 90 per cent on weekends, a stellar result that translated into more patronage at restaurants, cafes and bars. Vivid continues to attract visitors during the cold winter months and boosts our local visitor economy, delighting audiences from far and wide.
Connected - Vivid Lights up our Precinct & The Sydney Waterfront Destination Platform is now Live
We’re excited to share some fantastic highlights and events from our vibrant Precinct. From the official launch of The Sydney Waterfront to the dazzling displays of Vivid Sydney, and the delightful Pyrmont Food and Wine Festival, there’s plenty to celebrate. Read on to discover more about these events and the incredible efforts of our community (with plenty more happening over the coming months!).
In mid-May, we proudly launched our new destination marketing platform, The Sydney Waterfront, alongside our partners, members, and friends. This innovative platform highlights the exceptional work of businesses and communities within our Precinct to a global audience.
Connected - Visitors to the Precinct up thanks to Summer and Swift
I’m excited to share my first message with our valued members and partners.
After recently joining the New Sydney Waterfront Co as BID Director (following my role as Chief Operating Officer for Fleet Street Quarter BID in London) I’ve been grateful for the warm welcome from everyone in our community (as well as the climate!). It should also go without saying a huge thank you to our outgoing CEO - Jace Tyrrell – who has been pivotal in driving the momentum for the improvement district concept during his time in Sydney. We’re pleased to have him remain committed to New Sydney Waterfront Co as he transitions into his new role as a Board Advisor.
Improving partnerships: A new venture for a New Sydney Waterfront
An innovative partnership between the UK’s largest operator of Business Improvement Districts and Australia’s first major Improvement District is announced today. The agreement will see Primera Corporation, the U.K.’s leading operator of Business improvement Districts, partner with the New Sydney Waterfront Company to grow Australia’s leading improvement district on Sydney’s iconic Western Harbour.
An operational team from Primera, to be led on the ground in Sydney by experienced BID executive, Rachael Smith, has been contracted from February 2024, to assist the New Sydney Waterfront Company’s Board take forward their strategic vision for the Western Harbour area and achieve fully operational status in late 2024/early 2025.
CEO Update - 500 Days of Progress & Partnership: Moving Forward, Together
This week we hosted our annual Summit at the ICC Sydney, marking a major milestone, 500 Days of Partnerships and Progress, and we officially launched our Charter for Partnership for the World’s Best Waterfront. We were encouraged that Minister John Graham MLC gave a keynote speech where he officially announced the government is a step closer to formalising BIDs in NSW with plans to release exposure draft enabling legislation before the end of the year.
2023 Annual Review: Highlights of 500 days of Progress and Partnerships
The Business Improvement District (BID) movement is gaining momentum, with over 50 businesses and organisations coming on board across our Western Harbour from the Harbour Bridge to the Anzac Bridge. Together with the community and government, we can collectively turn our great precinct into “the world’s best waterfront”.
Sydney’s Western Harbour Precinct: A Charter for the World’s Best Waterfront
The 2023 Charter is an evidence-based framework for collaboration to inspire and guide the business members of the New Sydney Waterfront Business Improvement District (BID) to invest and collaborate with each other, the community, the City of Sydney and NSW Government, in a collective aspiration to make a great waterfront precinct even better.
Great Waterfronts: Benchmark Study
The Sydney waterfront is of singular and enduring significance to the economic prosperity, cultural vitality and social connectivity of the city. This new study has been commissioned by the New Sydney Waterfront Company, to explore the central question of what characterises a world class waterfront.
CEO Update - Working Together and Supercharging into Spring
I am excited to report on yet another busy few months for our great Waterfront, with real progress being made towards formally establishing the Business Improvement District (BID) model in New South Wales.
Billion Dollar Boost set to transform Sydney’s Waterfront
The transformation of Sydney’s western harbour precinct has the potential to inject $6.2bn a year into the local economy, according to a report released by the New Sydney Waterfront Company.
CEO Update: VIVID Lights up our Precinct & Working Together to Connect Our Great Waterfront
Its been a truly dynamic few months for our Western Harbour Precinct.