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PlayOn Group request termination of Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern Pavilion lease due to COVID-19 impacts

Published on 16 Apr 2020

As a result of the current economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lease over Moore Park’s Hordern Pavilion and Royal Hall of Industries has been terminated following a request from the PlayOn Group to do so.

The site is owned by the Centennial Park & Moore Park Trust and was leased to the PlayOn Group, which is a partnership between Playbill Venues and the Sydney Swans.
 
The lease, which commenced on 1 May 2019, required a significant capital works and investment program totalling approximately $70 million.
 
It would have seen Playbill Venues enhance its long-term management of the Hordern Pavilion as an iconic live music venue and the Sydney Swans significantly refurbish the Royal Hall of Industries to establish a new training, administration and community facility.
 
The new facility would have housed the Swans, the NSW Swifts, GO Foundation, Clontarf Foundation and an Australian Red Cross Blood Bank donation centre.
 
However, the PlayOn Group has advised the NSW Government that this is no longer possible due to the significant financial impact of COVID-19.
 
Following the PlayOn Group’s request to terminate the Lease, and a direction by the NSW Government, The Centennial Park & Moore Park Trust has agreed with PlayOn Group to terminate the Lease effective 15 April 2020, bringing the building back under the direct control of the Trust.
 
The Centennial Park & Moore Park Trust will consider future options for both buildings to ensure the ongoing viability of the precinct as one of Sydney’s most iconic and historic public spaces.