Sydney CBD’s main artery, George Street, will soon be pedestrianised all the way from Chinatown to near Circular Quay, after the state government and City of Sydney council announced plans to shut the road to cars north of Wynyard.
George Street will be closed to traffic between Hunter Street and Grosvenor/Bridge streets from January 9, technically on a trial basis, though the council has released a formal planning proposal to make the change permanent.
Cars turning left into Essex Street. The pedestrian boulevard currently ends at Hunter Street, near Wynyard Station, but will be extended north to Essex Street.Credit: Oscar Colman
Under the plans, the boulevard will extend from its current end at Hunter Street to Essex Street, outside the EY building. That is still a block south of Circular Quay, where George Street meets Alfred Street and the light rail terminates, that is slated for pedestrianisation at a later stage.
At present, cars can turn right into George Street from Hunter Street and head north to Bridge Street, and the road has one lane each way for vehicles between Bridge Street and Circular Quay.
Cities and Infrastructure Minister Rob Stokes and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the light rail and pedestrianisation of George Street south had turned an ugly thoroughfare for vehicles into an exemplary public space for all Sydneysiders to enjoy.
“George Street’s transformation from a traffic-clogged arterial route to a destination in its own right is nothing short of remarkable,” Moore said.
“In a post-COVID world, the role of public space in the heart of our city is vital as we strive to ensure a thriving, liveable and accessible city for all.”
Stokes said the state government was contributing $3 million for the project on top of its ongoing work to create new public squares at Central and Circular Quay, book ending “one of the world’s great boulevards”.
“Every city needs a central spine ... this will change the way people move around our city, bringing more foot traffic for businesses and allowing more venues to open their doors for outdoor dining,” Stokes said.
An artist’s impression of the proposed pedestrianisation of George Street north.Credit: City of Sydney
Moore said there were 18 outdoor dining applications for George Street south in just two months following its pedestrianisation. She said the council would continue to waive outdoor dining fees until the end of this financial year to encourage businesses to use public space.
Asked why the pedestrianisation will end at Essex Street for now, the council affirmed its long-term vision to extend the boulevard all the way to Circular Quay, but said it was undertaking the works in stages to minimise disruption to residents and businesses.
There is also a section of the southern end of George Street between Ultimo Road in Chinatown and Railway Square that remains open to cars.
This “penultimate piece of the pedestrianisation puzzle” will create another 5900 square metres of pedestrian space, contributing to 20,000 square metres of reclaimed roadway between Central and Circular Quay by the time the project is complete.
Moore raised an extended pedestrianisation of George Street at Premier Dominic Perrottet’s CBD Summit in February, a brainstorming session between government, business and industry groups that was designed to rebuild the city centre following the scourge of COVID lockdowns.
While conditions have improved since then, Sydney office occupancy is still hovering just above 50 per cent according to Property Council surveys as working at home remains popular among professionals.
The George Street pedestrianisation plan is on public exhibition until November 10 and feedback will be incorporated into the final scheme.
The council is also consulting the public on plans to pedestrianise Loftus Street and Reiby Place near Circular Quay.
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