Shop owners are worried the gay character of Sydney’s Oxford Street will be diluted by new developments, despite planning rules to protect its history and character.
Anger at the construction of new bike lanes and the delayed three-block Oxford and Foley redevelopment has added to the woes of business owners struggling with a downturn in consumer spending caused by the cost-of-living crisis.
Small business operators say Oxford Street’s character had been diluted by gentrification and an influx of young families with kids and dogs.Credit: James Brickwood
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said redeveloping the historic council-owned buildings, new cycleway and streetscape improvements will “breathe new life into the iconic strip” in Darlinghurst.
Moore maintained the council’s Oxford Street LGBTQIA+ social and cultural place strategy would protect the identity and culture of the precinct by recognising historic places, creating rainbow crossings and new cultural spaces such as queer museum Qtopia Sydney and boosting safety.
“We want the strip to be a celebration of LGBTQIA+ culture and community, a destination and workplace for culture and creatives, with more businesses and local services in the street’s heritage buildings,” she said.
However, the plight of Oxford Street will be an issue at the upcoming council elections in September, with mayoral candidate Yvonne Weldon blaming Moore for the strip’s “sad state”.
Anger at the construction of new bike lanes and the delayed Oxford and Foley has added to the woes of local business owners.Credit: James Brickwood
Travel agent Marty Naseef, whose shop is off Oxford Street, said the area’s character had been diluted by gentrification and an influx of young families with kids and dogs.
“King Street, Newtown and Enmore Road clearly have a lot more vibe and buzz because there are heaps of cafes, shops and different cultures,” he said.
Naseef said Oxford Street was dominated by convenience stores and vape shops as well as empty shopfronts: “There are only a few token gay establishments really left.”
He said the stalled Oxford and Foley development added to Oxford Street’s woes and did not appear to aim for the LGBTQ market.
Dancers high-kick down Oxford Street in the 2024 Mardi Gras parade.Credit: Jessica Hromas
A spokeswoman for its developer, Toga, said more than half of the development has been leased to hospitality operators Esca, Mapo Gelato and Fishbowl as well as well-known LGBT book store The Bookshop Darlinghurst.
Retail tenants were encouraged to sign up to the pride business charter, which seeks to increase job and business opportunities for LGBTQ people around Oxford Street, she said.
The redevelopment is on track to be completed in 2025.
Darlinghurst Business Partnership president Stephan Gyory said the street was losing its old school gay and lesbian character.
Gyory said younger people might not identify as strongly with their sexuality but still cherish values long associated with Oxford Street such as diversity, inclusion, partying and not conforming.
“I don’t think any intolerant or prejudiced business will survive for long in this area,” he said.
Burdekin Hotel general manager Aran Tanaka Van de Ven does not believe Oxford Street is at risk of “completely losing” its distinctive character.
“Oxford Street’s identity is queer Sydney’s oldest and richest,” he said. “It actively identifies as LGBTQIA+ and celebrates queer cultures. It’s rebellious, provocative and resilient.”
‘The tendency to declare Oxford Street ‘dead’ is a common one, but it isn’t true yet.’
Chris Pepin-Neff from Sydney University
Qtopia chief executive Greg Fisher said the street had been hit by “those shockingly hurtful lockout laws” followed by the COVID lockdown, construction works and the cost of living crisis.
“But the pubs and clubs are surviving and gradually regaining their mojo,” he said. “Queer people still live in the area, confidence is illuminating signs of improvement.”
Sydney University public policy senior lecturer Chris Pepin-Neff said Oxford Street remained the most important safe place for queer, trans and gender-diverse people in Australia.
“The tendency to declare Oxford Street ‘dead’ is a common one, but it isn’t true yet,” they said.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore (right) and state MP Alex Greenwich during this year’s Mardi Gras celebrations.Credit: Getty / Jenny Evans
But Pepin-Neff said the number of queer, trans and gender-diverse patrons is down, while anti-LGBTQ violence has increased.
“The number of venues closing is up, the number of gay-owned businesses is down, and the Oxford Street nightlife is more mixed with straight patrons,” they said.
Pepin-Neff’s colleague, Professor Kane Race, said gentrification and policing had depressed nightlife in urban gay centres around the world.
Affordable housing and a friendlier approach to policing and outdoor socialising would go a “long way” towards making Oxford Street more vibrant, Race said.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras chief executive Gil Beckwith said Oxford Street had always been the “spiritual home” of the event, with the NSW government last year adding the event’s Oxford Street parade route to the state’s heritage register.
“While it’s important to allow the neighbourhood to grow and evolve, we must ensure that the spirit of acceptance and pride that defines Oxford Street is never lost,” she said.
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