Visitors to Sydney are being encouraged to shift their focus from the Rocks towards the Haymarket end of town as the area undergoes significant regeneration.
The area which incorporates Central Station and runs down to Darling Harbour is the site of significant new developments, green spaces and public facilities such as swimming pools and tennis courts. It will also soon feature a laneway precinct filled with cafes, bars, restaurants and galleries.
To coincide with the regeneration, the 517-room Mercure Sydney located at the Haymarket end of George Street has refurbished its interiors, with an overhaul of its conference facilities set to commence in January.
Sales and marketing director Kirsty Forbes told Travel Today that although the area is already popular with visitors from eastern markets such as China and India, it is not currently front of mind for those from western markets who are instead more interested in being close to the city’s icons such as the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
But the new developments such as the linking of Darling Harbour with Central via the Goods Line pedestrian precinct and new buildings designed by big names from the architecture world such as Frank Gehry and Norman Foster among others, are expected to boost Haymarket’s appeal.
“As the area becomes more up and coming, I think the mix will change a little bit,” she predicted.
In addition, the closure of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre will impact the flow of visitors through the city, with larger events to be held at the interim Glebe Island facility and contracts for many of the medium size events secured by the city’s five-star hotels. However, she was optimistic the closure would produce rising demand for its conference facilities, with its proximity to once the new facility opens at Darling Harbour
Meanwhile, architect Eoghan Lewis who operates Sydney Architecture Walks in some of the nearby areas said the changes all represent part of Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s plan to “connect the pieces of the puzzle”.
“It’s taken between 20 and 30 years of trying to mend Darling Harbour,” he said. “It’s about connecting it and making it a part of the city rather than an enclave with a monoculture of tourism.”
