Barangaroo park brings headland back for the people

A new park of native trees and winding pathways has opened in Sydney. You’ve never seen the harbour like this | MORE PICS

Barangaroo Point as seen from the water, close to the opening day. Picture Craig Greenhill

Sydney CBD has a new 6ha park planted with natives and threaded with paths that reveal new angles of the world-famous harbour. Entry is free and it is open 24/7 from today.

Horticultural consultant Stuart Pittendrigh: Barangaroo Reserve is 6ha of public park on the western harbour foreshore of Sydney’s CBD, at the northern end of the 22ha Barangaroo site. When I was shown the site 4½ years ago and in­vited to join the design team, it was just a huge concrete slab, a former container wharf. I was told the new parkland, inspired by the original harbour 1836 headland before it was levelled for industry, would rise from the water’s edge, up to 18m at the top where it would adjoin Merryman Street. It would include a foreshore walk from Walsh Bay, replicating the natural edge of the harbour with sandstone boulders, and allow total freedom to walk to the water’s edge. It would traverse a series of terraces through bushland settings, with a large grassed area at the top to accommodate special events. And that is exactly what we now have. It’s a remarkable project, designed by international landscape architect Peter Walker in conjunction with Johnson Pilton Walker. As horticultural consultant, I’ve been responsible for selecting the plant species, negotiating with the plant growers and overseeing the plants’ installation, working as part of a large professional team.

Sydney’s new view

What makes it special?

We’ve brought back a broad range of vegetation native to a Sydney Harbour headland. It’s a diverse mix of 84 species selected to suit various microclimates on the site depending on topography, soil type and aspect. More than 76,000 plants have been installed, from semi-mature trees to native grasses. Even the couch grass of the lawns is a native plant. Our failure rate was less than 1 per cent, which is exceptional. Growth rates have been spectacular.

What were the biggest challenges?

Handling the advanced plants within the growing nursery at Mangrove Mountain, west of Gosford, and then preparing and transporting them to site without damage. The biggest trees were 11m tall and 5m wide, weighing 6 tonnes. Another big challenge was designing and specifying suitable manufactured soils. Simon Leake masterminded this, using crushed sandstone from the site; recycled, crushed and rumbled glass; and some recycled organics.

Favourite part?

Strolling along the bush walk defined by a curving 3m-tall Corten steel wall, enjoying glimpses of the harbour through the vegetation. Plants have been arranged to provide a wonderful framing of the outlooks towards Anzac Bridge, across to northern Sydney and through to the Harbour Bridge.

What do you hope visitors will do?

Experience a park that is exciting because it continuously reveals various aspects of Sydney Harbour through enticing pathways. There are areas of surprise as you walk through, and from the south side you’d have no idea what’s on the north side. There are so many places to spend leisure time and not be surrounded by hordes of people. What makes it wonderful is that it was designed to meet the needs of the people, not just the aspirations of the designers.

Identify the special features.

The foreshore was created using 7600 sandstone blocks reclaimed from the site, each numbered and placed in their exact position. Tidal rock pools have formed in some parts and a new cove was created to allow small craft to come ashore. The 1836 wall follows the harbour edge as shown on an 1836 survey map, while a section of seawall from the 1920s has been preserved. Hidden inside the new hill is a cultural space for special exhibits, with 300 car spaces below and a future cafe. The foreshore walk accommodates pedestrians and cyclists, and there is disabled access to most parts of the park.

Details: The site is owned by the NSW government and the estimated $250 million cost was funded by payments from the commercial development at Barangaroo South. Lighting, cameras and security guards support the 24-hour public access. Barangaroo Reserve, Millers Point, Sydney, open 24/7 from today. Entry Free

Barang­aroo Reserve, on Sydney Harbour foreshore, opens

Go to barangaroo.com for a video gallery and more. Design: pwpla.com.