Special Entertainment Precincts to be opened on the northern beaches: How Sydney night-life will be more than just the CBD

Thriving night-life hubs with the best food, drinks, and live music Sydney has to offer will be rolled out from the northern beaches to the eastern suburbs, Parramatta, Fairfield, and even Kiama.

Thriving night-life hubs with the best food, drinks, and live music Sydney has to offer will be rolled out from the northern beaches to the eastern suburbs, Parramatta, Fairfield, and even Kiama.

The Saturday Telegraph can exclusively reveal six councils across NSW will follow in the footsteps of Inner West and City of Sydney councils to establish night-life entertainment precincts, while a further 20 councils have revealed to Night-time Economy Minister John Graham they are waiting to roll out their own entertainment precincts for the future.

John Graham. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

Mr Graham said Sydney “needs a thriving 24-hour economy and a greater mix of night-time precincts to reach its full potential as Australia’s only truly global city”.

“The old model of a night out in Sydney beginning and ending within a couple of kilometres of the Sydney CBD has run its course,” he said. “The City of Sydney and City of Parramatta are now in lock-step with the government for the first time in their aims to become true 24-hour economies.

“Twenty other councils are now queuing to explore the establishment of their own late night entertainment precinct.

“Each of these are forward-looking councils that are taking on the NIMBYs and backing their community. We now require property buyers in an entertainment zone to be notified that they are moving into a place that may not be as tranquil as other parts.”

Lachlan Mason-Cox, Taylor Vermilyea and Murray Smith enjoy a Friday afternoon beer at Felons Brewing Co, Manly. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Artemus Group boss Luke Fraser – who recently added the Manly Wharf precinct including Felons Brewing Co to his hospitality portfolio – said a new special entertainment precinct, alongside his vision for the future, would result in a cultural hub the northern beaches could celebrate: “We look forward to continuing our important work with the Manly community to create a future that reflect Manly’s unique culture and charm”.

The Point Group chief executive Brett Robinson, the operator of Shell House, said when he opened the doors during the pandemic “there were rumours that the CBD was over and everyone was moving to Byron Bay”.

Culinary Director Joel Bickford with Brett Robinson from The Point Group. Pictured at the soon to be launched venue, The International. Picture: Rohan Kelly.

“We were very scared but very ambitious and believed that the city would come back and the importance of the city as a cultural hub,” he said.

Mr Robinson’s five-year plan for the revival of Fort Denison could result in construction starting as early as next year: “Sydney needs new landscapes to celebrate and Fort Denison is one of them”.

Do you have a story for The Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Special Entertainment Precincts to be opened on the northern beaches: How Sydney night-life will be more than just the CBD