The character and configuration of the Centennial Parklands landscape has been influenced by:

• natural evolution and ecological processes;
• Indigenous occupation and management;
• establishment of the Sydney Common in 1811;
• creation of part of the Common as the Lachlan Water Reserve in 1820 and the modification and management of wetlands and water courses;
• transformation of the Common lands into three public parks during the latter half of the 19th century, each with its own distinctive and varied recreational uses; and
• ongoing management and evolution of the maturing cultural landscape.
  

The overall landscape character unites the Centennial Parklands, in particular the consistent use of plants, especially the native figs and introduced evergreen oaks. The landscape is consistent with Victorian period planting styles, and is defined by expanses of grassed fields surrounded by umbrageous trees. 

Late 19th century Gardenesque landscape plantings include occasional groves and clumps of trees which contrast and punctuate views, the minimal use of shrubs to maintain the flow of space and provide areas of useful shade, as well as the various ornamental ponds, gardens, monuments, statues and artworks which form focal points within the parklands. Strongly defined formal linear tree plantations reinforce the dominant road layout within Moore Park and Centennial Park, and contrast strongly with the naturalistic groupings in other locations. 

Changes in planting have occurred and reflect fashion and the influence of a relatively small number of people, in particular the long association of the parks with the Royal Botanic Gardens through directors Moore and Maiden, and overseers Jones, Forsyth and Sawkeld.

The spatial structure of Moore Park is a broad, flat and low lying area punctuated by modified remnant sand hills and water bodies with relatively straight lines of plantings following road alignments.  Linear plantings have subdivided the park into a series of spaces, open in character yet defined by walls of trees.

Cleveland Street and Anzac Parade with their massive bordering figs may be read as grand 19th century boulevards bisecting the relatively empty open spaces. The South Dowling Street edge of Moore Park formerly bordered by a row of Moreton Bay Figs is visually dissipated in comparison.

In contrast, Centennial Park and Queens Park are partially contained by Hawkesbury Sandstone that has eroded into terraced slopes, gullies and cliffs providing greater spatial heterogeneity, and the opportunity for the development of a more artistically contrived landscape composition.

Centennial Park is distinguished from Moore and Queens Park by features such as a dwarf stone wall with iron palisade perimeter fence; a series of grandly conceived sandstone gates and associated lodges which mark the major access points; the encircling Grand Drive with its associated avenue plantation, and the picturesque quality of vistas and views across ponds and open fields punctuated by informal and ornamental plantings.  

Gardenesque features such as the Busby’s Pond horticultural precinct indicate the adoption of evolving design concepts from the more purely Picturesque taste represented in Moore Park. 

The initial design has been modified by a succession of Directors, Head Gardeners, Overseers, Superintendents, Landscape Gardeners and Landscape Architects, as they responded to site conditions, Indigenous plants and changing styles. Thus the extant parklands landscape is the evolved outcome of that series of layers and interventions now present as a mature landscape composition.