By Cindy Yin
Crumbling buildings at Callan Park in Sydney’s inner west will be demolished to make way for more green space, amid community concerns about a proposed legal tweak that would allow commercial activities on the parklands.
The NSW government will spend $4.8 million knocking down nine condemned buildings at the heart of the park over the next two years, freeing up 1.6 hectares of land for recreation.
Locals Cynthia Nadai, Bronwen Campbell and Hall Greenland with one of several old buildings in Callan Park that will be demolished.Credit: Janie Barrett
The government is eager to bulldoze the dilapidated structures, which it has labelled an “eyesore” as well as safety hazards and targets for vandals.
“Callan Park is a jewel in the crown of the inner west, but these nine buildings have been left to deteriorate beyond repair, becoming a stain on the park’s reputation,” Planning Minister Paul Scully said.
But while the planned demolition is overwhelmingly supported by the community, it comes as a parliamentary committee in June put forward controversial recommendations to change laws restricting commercial use of the park.
Under the Callan Park Act, venues such as cafes and restaurants cannot operate unless they are run by not-for-profits.
Callan Park buildings to be demolished
- Now-defunct Callan Park Hospital wards
- The old engineer’s store
- The now-defunct pharmacy
- Former weighbridges
- Garage close to the heritage-listed Bonnyview Cottage
- The former canteen
Balmain Greens MP Kobi Shetty said any moves to wind back the Act’s protections were “of grave concern”.
“Time after time our community has had to fend off attempts to sell Callan Park to developers and other private interests,” she said.
“By allowing commercialisation by undermining the Callan Park Act for a cafe is a Trojan horse for so much … It’s a very slippery slope.
The state government is seeking to increase green space in the park, but locals are concerned by a concurrent commercialisation plan. Credit: Janie Barrett
“We can have some of the derelict buildings removed, and the important ones restored for community and not-for-profit use, without having to commercialise the park.”
Callan Park has long been a contested parcel of land. In 2021, former planning minister Rob Stokes similarly wanted to amend the act to allow commercial activities to take place.
Pushes for commercialisation have consistently been met with staunch opposition from Friends of Callan Park’s long-serving president Hall Greenland, a former NSW Greens convener and former local councillor.
“We oppose any tinkering with the Act. Those changes aren’t in the public interest,” he said.
“Every blade of it is valuable and should be available for public access. If anyone fences it off or reserves it for private or commercial use, it’s a loss to the public and a loss we can’t afford.”
Some of the buildings to be demolished are wards from the now defunct Callan Park Hospital, which have been severely fire damaged by vandalism. Demolition is slated to begin in mid-2026 and expected to be completed by early 2027.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne welcomed the state government’s move to knock the buildings down.
“Callan Park is a special place for our community. But the feedback we get consistently from local people is they want to see it used more, not closed off,” he said.
Design work is also underway for a swim site at Callan Park, including an accessible pathway to integrate the tidal baths with existing parkland.
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