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Breaking News

  • Soccer clinic announced!

    We're putting on a football (soccer) skills clinic in Centennial Park. 22 March 2010. Just $15 each child ($10 if Friends of Centennial Parklands member). Find out more.

  • Twitter/Facebook

    NEW! Join us on Facebook and Twitter for latest news and activities across Centennial Parklands. Includes competitions, photo and information sharing.

  • CALENDAR SALE!

    We're running out our remaining stock, so pick up a Centennial Parklands 2010 Calendars with stunning photography for just $4 (normally $12.50). Buy now.

Events Calendar

History and Heritage

Feeding the DucksCentennial Parklands is not only one of Australia's best known and loved Parklands, but one of its most historic.

Originally a swamp and then set aside as land for the water source for Sydney, Centennial Park was reconstructed as a public park and opened in 1888. Sir Henry Parkes vision was to create a "People's Park" in which the citizens of Sydney could "take in the air" away from the Sydney town centre.

While the first set of Parklands' regulations in 1889 included: "No person shall walk on the grass...." and "No person shall engage in any game, or train for any race..." the Parklands have come a long way to becoming one of the most popularly visited and vibrant green spaces in Australia.

Historical information

Learn about the fascinating and - at times - quirky history behind these public lands through the following links: