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Centennial Parklands

Acknowledgement

Centennial Parklands acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of the country on which the Parklands has been constructed. As part of our custodianship role, we wish to continue moving forward in a respectful partnership with the Australian community in Caring for Country together.

Centennial Parklands

Centennial Parklands encompasses Centennial Park, Moore Park (including the Entertainment Precinct) and Queens Park, in total around 360 hectares. The three main parks (excluding the Entertainment Precinct) are listed on the State Heritage Register of NSW, and various components within the Parklands are of national, state or local heritage significance.

Centennial Parklands is approximately 5 km south-east of Sydney’s central business district. The boundaries of the Parklands are across or adjacent to four local government authorities:

Centennial Parklands is owned in fee simple by the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust (Trust), acting as trustee for the NSW Government. Administratively the Trust is an agency within the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

Download Centennial Parklands boundaries (extracted from the Centennial Parklands Conservation Management Plan 2010).

The Parks

Centennial Park is a grand park in the European tradition. Covering 189 hectares, it features formal gardens, ponds, grand avenues, statues, heritage buildings and sporting fields. It is used by walkers, joggers, roller-bladers and cyclists and offers horse riding facilities. It has diverse flora and fauna with significant tree plantings including Norfolk Island pines, Port Jackson figs and Holm oaks. It has a restaurant, café, kiosk and visitor information counter, event space, an education centre, an exhibition space within the historic Superintendant’s Residence, and the Trust’s offices. The Park also contains two main areas of the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub endangered ecological community.

Queens Park is set within a natural amphitheatre at the foot of sandstone cliffs with panoramic views of the Sydney skyline, comprising 26 hectares. During the 19th Century, it housed a golf club, and today it is used for organised sports, such as soccer, rugby, touch football and cricket and as a children’s playground. It also contains a small area of the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub endangered ecological community.

Moore Park comprises 146 hectares of which 115 hectares is open space. Moore Park contains playing fields, the E.S. Marks Athletics Field, an 18-hole golf course and a tennis centre. It also has open spaces which are host outdoor events. A significant section of Moore Park contains what was previously the Royal Agricultural Society’s Showgrounds and is now known as the Entertainment Precinct. This area now comprises an Equestrian Centre, as well as entertainment-related facilities which are on lease from the Trust (Fox Studios, Entertainment Quarter, Royal Hall of Industries and the Hordern Pavilion).

Visitation

Almost 31 million visits are made to Centennial Parklands each year. Our research has found that people value the Parklands for its nature and beauty, landscape, environmental value, a place to spend time with others and a place of entertainment.

Since 2015, nearly $28 million has been invested into upgrading heritage assets, facilities, sports fields, horticulture, education, volunteering and programs across the board. The incredibly popular Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden, Fearnley Grounds and the new accessibility upgrades and Driving Range at Moore Park Golf have seen visitation numbers soar in the Parklands.