Barangaroo Reserve Turns 10: A Decade of Transformation on Sydney’s Harbour

Today marks a major milestone in Sydney’s urban renewal journey — the 10-year anniversary of Barangaroo Reserve.

Since opening to the public in 2015, this once-disused container terminal on the western foreshore has become a vibrant space for reflection, movement, and connection, welcoming thousands of visitors each year. To mark the milestone, we’re spotlighting  8 surprising facts about the building of Barangaroo Reserve:

1. A Tribute to Barangaroo - The Reserve is named after Barangaroo, a powerful Cammeraygal woman, honouring thousands of years of First Nations connection to land and sea. Her legacy lives on in the spirit and design of the space. 
2. Inspired by History - Designers drew inspiration from the 1836 headland, studying historical maps and paintings to digitally model and recreate the original shoreline.
3. A Sandstone Marvel - Over 10,000 sandstone blocks were used to shape the headland shoreline — 93% of which were quarried onsite. Each block was tagged and placed to recreate the natural curve of the historic headland.
4. Swimming in the Harbour - Two coves were formed during construction, with Marrinawi Cove opening for public harbour swimming in 2023 — a rare and welcome addition to Sydney’s waterfront.
5. A Hidden Cultural Venue - Beneath the headland lies the Cutaway, one of Australia’s largest internal event spaces. It’s currently undergoing a fitout to become a fully functional cultural and events venue.
6. Connecting the Harbour - Barangaroo Reserve added nearly 1km of forshore path, completing the “missing middle” of the now 14km Sydney Harbour Walk.
7. A Native Garden - Around 75,000 native plants were planted across the Reserve, representing 84 species — 79 of which are native to Sydney Harbour.
8. Buzzing with Biodiversity - Two native bee colonies were introduced to support pollination and biodiversity. One hive is visible near the Cutaway, offering a glimpse into the Reserve’s ecological care.

Barangaroo Reserve was designed by PWP Landscape Architecture under the leadership of Peter Walker, FASLA, in association with Johnson Pilton Walker (JPW). The project was delivered by the Barangaroo Delivery Authority (now Infrastructure NSW) with contractor Baulderstone (now  Lendlease).