Lang Walker unveils new Parramatta Square precinct

He once described it as having a “shitty environment” and people thought he had “lost my marbles” when he revealed his plans. Now Lang Walker has thrown open the doors of stage one of the $3.2 Parramatta Square Project. EXCLUSIVE TOUR AND VIDEO

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Billionaire property mogul Lang Walker is the first to admit he used to say Parramatta was terrible and he would be crazy to build there. But not now.

The Walker Corporation founder has given The Sunday Telegraph an exclusive tour of the first complete stage of the $3.2 billion Parramatta Square project.

The four-tower project will be finished in 2022 and, by the following year, the City of Parramatta Council said the city will officially overtake both North Sydney and Macquarie Park as Sydney’s second CBD in terms of office space.

Tradies taking a break at the Smith St end of the new Parramatta Square development. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

Mr Walker said the influx of 35,000 white collar jobs into Parramatta will make a huge difference to the lives of people who spend hours commuting into the CBD from Western Sydney.

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“This was a shitty environment and we completely revamped the whole thing,” Mr Lang said.

“If you looked at what I started here with when I came out I thought why would you tackle this? Everyone thought I had lost my marbles.

“This hub of buildings is as good as Barangaroo and any group of buildings in Australia.”

By next month about 5000 state government workers will have relocated to 4 Parramatta Square and last week the Parramatta Square underground pedestrian mall opened beneath Parramatta railway station.

The new Parramatta Square. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

Lang Walker with Walker Corporation general manager of project delivery Nathan Campbell on top of their new tower at Parramatta Square. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts.

Mr Walker has also revealed banking giant Westpac will relocate an estimated 1000 workers to Parramatta Square within the next two years.

He’s also announced the team behind Sydney’s District Brasserie will open Ruse Bar & Brasserie in Parramatta, making it one of the first venues to open in the new public domain.

Other food offerings include Betty’s Burgers, Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches, Fishbowl and Threefold Pastry.

Chef Rob Ackroyd at District Brasserie in the Sydney CBD.

The new underground link between Parramatta Station and Parramatta Square will be lined with food and beverage outlets. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts.

“The activation of the outdoor dining hub within Parramatta Square will play a big part in creating a destination in which Western Sydney people can work, dine and relax, seven days a week,” Mr Lang said of the restaurants, which open their doors late April.

Western Sydney director of the Sydney Business Chamber David Borger said Parramatta Council’s vision to realise the project with Mr Walker will be a game-changer for the area.

“When I was growing up if you wanted to go out for a night you would meet someone on the steps of Sydney Town Hall,” Mr Borger said.

NSW Government department Property NSW will be one of the major tenants.

“Kids in Western Sydney are going to say let’s meet at the steps of Parramatta Square.”

City of Parramatta council CEO Brett Newman said the council is installing “smart bins” that send an alert when they are full, trialling soil moisture and temperature sensors to help council manage temperatures in the city (whether through misting, water features, or plant irrigation) and installing charging devices in public furniture where people can charge their phones and laptops.

An artist's impression of what Parramatta Square will look like when it is completed in 2022.

“The City of Parramatta is expected to top one million square metres of office space by 2023,” Mr Newman said.

“Based on information by Knight Frank, factoring in developments currently under construction, we can estimate that Macquarie Park could top 950,000sq m of office stock by 2023, while North Sydney is expected to eclipse 900,000sq m.

City of Parramatta Council CEO Brett Newman.

Western Sydney Business Chamber executive director David Borger.

Parramatta is no longer just the capital of Western Sydney.

“It is fast emerging as the economic powerhouse at the centre of global Sydney and is attracting big investors, developers and universities such as Sydney University and Western Sydney University.”

Mr Newman said the Parramatta Light Rail and the Sydney Metro West will further grow the city.

Originally published as Lang Walker unveils new Parramatta Square precinct