Clocktower Square The Rocks: Heritage Council, business owners speak out over redevelopment plans

A heritage protection battle is brewing over plans to redevelop one of Sydney’s most prominent shopping centres into a luxury high rise hotel precinct with fears it could ‘dominate’ its historic surroundings.

The new development would stand up to eight storeys tall.

A heritage protection battle is brewing over one of Sydney’s most prominent shopping centres after multimillion plans were released to knock down the site to make way for a luxury hotel.

Plans to redevelop Clocktower Square in The Rocks have sparked a string of concerns from the NSW Heritage Council amid fears it could “dominate” the skyline of the historic precinct.

They state significant development would stand up to eight storeys tall and would have a high-end hotel as well as food and retail outlets.

A NSW Heritage Council meeting has this month raised a string of concerns over the “proposed bulk and scale” of the development – saying it could have “detrimental impacts to the heritage values of the precinct.”

The Heritage Council has called for more consideration about how the proposed building would impact views from Sydney Harbour, The Rocks and Circular Quay.

The Clocktower Square building is a local landmark at The Rocks.

The National Trust has also weighed in on the plans – saying it was “extremely concerned” about the impact the development would have on The Rocks Conservation Area.

“The height of the proposed building at this site represents a major change for this part of The Rocks, and crucially it seeks to raise the building heights beyond what currently exists and what is currently allowed,” the National Trust stated.

“This increased height and bulk would have an unacceptable and long term negative effect on the most precious Rocks precinct.”

A concept image of the development.

Clocktower Square was built in 1989 and is home to offices and shops including cafes, a hairdresser and the Ugg boot store.

The building sits at the highest point in The Rocks and serves as a landmark for Sydneysiders and visitors looking to orient themselves towards the district.

Ron Danieli – who owns Danieli Cafe at Clocktower Square – said current businesses have been told they will have to relocate as part of the proposal.

“(The development) will be the biggest mistake for heritage in the precinct,” he said.

The demolition would also impact ECOO Opal Jewellery which has traded at The Rocks for more than 20 years.

“We’ve just recovered from Covid and the tourists have been coming back again,” co-owner Lily Chao said.

“Everyone in the area knows us and we wish we could stay here and not move because it’s really hard to find anywhere else to rent in the area.”

The redevelopment plans have been lodged by Singaporean group Far East Rocks which stated the current building “detracts from the surrounding heritage context”

The Heritage Council has raised concerns over impacts on the historic precinct.

“The existing built form fails to respond positively to the opportunities provided by such a prominent, strategic site (and) relates very poorly to the surrounding context,” the company’s plans for the site stated.

“It is also limited in commercial functionality, has limited pedestrian connectivity, and offers limited street activation.”

The plans come after Far East reportedly acquired the Clocktower Square complex for $72m in 2013 with the aim to create a “very high-quality” development that would “complement the character of The Rocks”.

Plans stated the development could also support tourism to the precinct by “providing a high quality hotel development supported by enhanced retail and commercial uses”.

A concept image of the development.

“The proposal will revitalise and rejuvenate a key landholding and deliver a range of public benefits that complement the quintessential character of The Rocks and enhance the visitor experience,” the plans stated.

Plans show the redevelopment includes connecting the site to the existing Rendezvous Hotel at 75 Harrington St which will also undergo refurbishment works as part of the proposal.

The plans have been lodged to the Department of Planning and remain under assessment.