Pride Square, Newtown: Inner West Council pushes for Bedford Square name change for Sydney WorldPride 2023

A public area in Sydney’s inner west may soon be renamed ‘Pride Square’ in a bid to celebrate and recognise the area’s LGBTQ+ community.

A public square in Sydney’s inner west may soon be renamed ‘Pride Square’ in a bid to celebrate and recognise the area’s LGBTQ+ community.

A formal request will be lodged to the Geographic Names Board to rename Bedford Square, located near Newtown Town Hall, to ‘Pride Square’ to celebrate and recognise the area’s vibrant and large LGBTQ+ community.

The name change, if approved, is expected to coincide with Sydney WorldPride in 2023, the first time the global pride event will have taken place in the southern hemisphere.

Inner West independent councillor Pauline Lockie recently tabled an unanimously approved motion to begin immediate planning work to deliver a rainbow path in Newtown.

A promotional design of a rainbow path in Newtown to be built in time for Sydney WorldPride. Picture: Pauline Lockie

A promotional design of a rainbow path in Bedford Square, which could soon be known as Pride Square. Picture: Pauline Lockie

The motion was then amended by Mat Howard, a Labor councillor, to include the renaming of the square to Pride Square.

“Applying to the Geographical Names Board to rename the square as ‘Pride Square’ recognises the special place Newtown and the inner west holds in LGBTQ+ Sydney,” Cr Howard, who lives in Marrickville with his husband and two adopted sons, said.

“I know when I first moved to Sydney, Newtown was the first place I came to looking for connection and support.

“I hope future generations of young LGBTQ+ people will do the same, see Pride Square at the heart of the suburb, and know that this is a community where they can be safe, be valued, and thrive.”

Cr Lockie’s motion also included ways to incorporate elements which would share and celebrate LGBTQ+ history as part of the project, as well as develop options for funding the initiative as part of the upcoming budget.

The square is currently home to one of seven rainbow ‘Pride Seats’, which recognise the inner west’s LGBTQ+ community and council’s support for it.

Councillor Pauline Lockie tabled the unanimously approved motion on March 8.

Councillor Mat Howard said the initiatives send a clear message to the community and wider Sydney.

Each Pride Seat contains a unique plaque dedicated to an inner west person or organisation which has campaigned for or contributed to LGBTQ+ rights.

Cr Howard believed the square renaming sends a clear message.

“This strong and vocal community has played an important role in shaping the character of our area,” he said.

“They are the beating heart and soul of the struggle for equality and civil rights in Australia.

“It sends a strong message that our inner west community is diverse, welcoming and proud.”