CONNECTED: Spring showcases a vibrant array of events in our Precinct

1 October 2024

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.  

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank a great supporter of NSW Co. Greg Dyer the outgoing CEO of the Sydney Fish Markets. Greg has been critical to the development of the new Sydney Fish Market, and the transformation of the site into what we see coming out of the ground today, a world-class destination for Australia’s home of seafood and a key visitor attraction in the Western Harbour Precinct. His contribution to the Board of NSW Co. has been vital as we have grown over the past few years, and we are very grateful for his guidance and commitment to the future of the Precinct. 

Our team has been hard at work meeting with members across the Precinct on the next steps towards becoming the first formal Community Improvement District in NSW, ahead of draft legislation being finalised. Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide your insights opinions to our Perception Analysis Survey. I look forward to updating you as we progress on the 5-year business plan and vision for the Western Harbour, and the transformational potential of collaboration across the Precinct. 

Rachael Smith

BID Director 

Credit: Placemaking NSW