Darling Harbour

Last updated

An aerial view of Darling Harbour and its surrounds, looking east 2019-04-10 Sydney CBD view from Pyrmont at sunset.jpg
An aerial view of Darling Harbour and its surrounds, looking east

Darling Harbour is a harbour adjacent to the city centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia that is made up of a large recreational and pedestrian precinct that is situated on western outskirts of the Sydney central business district.

Contents

Originally named Long Cove, the locality extends northwards from Chinatown, along both sides of Cockle Bay to King Street Wharf on the east, and to the suburb of Pyrmont on the west. Cockle Bay is just one of the waterways that makes up Darling Harbour, which opens north into the much larger Port Jackson.

The precinct and its immediate surroundings are administered independently of the local government area of the City of Sydney, by Property NSW.

History

Darling Harbour as an industrial port in 1900 Darling Harbour, 1900.jpg
Darling Harbour as an industrial port in 1900

Darling Harbour is named after Lieutenant-General Ralph Darling, who was Governor of New South Wales from 1825 to 1831. The area was originally known as Long Cove, but was generally referred to as Cockle Bay until 1826 when Governor Darling renamed it after himself. The name Cockle Bay has recently been restored in reference to the headwaters of the harbour. [1] It was originally part of the commercial port of Sydney, including the Darling Harbour Railway Goods Yard. During the Great Depression, the eastern part of Darling Harbour (Barangaroo) became known as The Hungry Mile, a reference to the waterside workers searching for jobs along the wharves. [2]

Redevelopment and urban renewal of the area in the early 1980s Pyrmont-darling-harbour-western-distributor-construction-early-eighties.jpg
Redevelopment and urban renewal of the area in the early 1980s

Much of the land had been the site of the NSW Railways central marshalling yards and freight consolidation centre. The Enquiry into the NSW industry, including rail/road competition (1978–80), under Commissioner Gavan McDonell, [3] found that this centre was inefficient, should be moved, and the land used for other public purposes. These recommendations were acted upon and by the mid-to-late 1980s, when the area had become largely derelict it was redeveloped as a pedestrian and tourist precinct as an initiative of then New South Wales Minister for Public Works, Laurie Brereton. The Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour was a venue of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games and a key meeting venue of APEC Australia 2007.

The heritage listed Pyrmont Bridge spans the width of the harbour CeBIT Signage and Flags-1460.jpg
The heritage listed Pyrmont Bridge spans the width of the harbour
The southern end of Darling Harbour 2021-04-30 Darling Harbour panorama.jpg
The southern end of Darling Harbour

On 26 January 1994, Charles III then Prince of Wales, was giving a speech during the Australia Day celebrations. David Kang ran at the Prince whilst firing two blanks before falling onto the ground and being promptly held and arrested. The Prince was unhurt and was ushered off the podium. [4]

Heritage listings

Darling Harbour has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Attractions

The Darling Harbour precinct is home to a number of major public facilities and attractions, including: [6]

Cockle Bay Wharf Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney IMG 5348 - panoramio (cropped).jpg
Cockle Bay Wharf
The Ribbon 20230909 W Sydney.jpg
The Ribbon

Former

The former Harbourside Shopping Centre Harbourside shopping centre, Sydney.jpg
The former Harbourside Shopping Centre

Transport

King Street Wharf, looking north towards Barangaroo in October 2019. Sydney (AU), Darling Harbour, King Street Wharf -- 2019 -- 2086.jpg
King Street Wharf, looking north towards Barangaroo in October 2019.

Darling Harbour is accessible via various modes of public transport. The precinct is served by the Inner West Light Rail of Sydney's light rail network, with access via Paddy's Markets, Convention, Exhibition and Pyrmont Bay stations. [9] Ferry wharves including Barangaroo and Pyrmont Bay provide access to the Pyrmont Bay ferry services to Circular Quay and other suburbs while the Barangaroo wharf also provides access to the Parramatta River ferry services. King Street Wharf is accessible by private boat charters. [10] The Goods Line is a park and pedestrian pathway connecting Darling Harbour to Railway Square and Central station. The nearest train station is Town Hall.

Proposed Metro station

Darling Harbour will be served by Pyrmont as a future rapid transit station that will be built as part of the Sydney Metro West project. [11]

Redevelopment

Darling Quarter has been the focus of a major mixed-use redevelopment in recent years View over Haymarket and Ultimo from World Tower, Sydney (cropped).jpg
Darling Quarter has been the focus of a major mixed-use redevelopment in recent years
The International Convention Centre and the Sofitel Hotel ICC Sydney and Sofitel (cropped).jpg
The International Convention Centre and the Sofitel Hotel

East Darling Harbour has been part of a large urban renewal development. Plans for the 18-hectare (44-acre) site include half business and residential developments, while the other half to be reserved for open public space. The state government of NSW declared plans for "Globe Street", a street designed to become Australia's and Asia Pacific's centre for corporate trade (styled on New York's Wall Street district). The urban renewal development was expected to be completed by 2020. East Darling Harbour is now known as a part of the Barangaroo precinct.

Darling Square Darling Square Sydney.jpg
Darling Square

The Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre site was replaced by the new International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), opened in December 2016. The new site includes a 40,000-square-metre (430,000 sq ft) exhibition facility, and was developed by a consortium comprising AEG Ogden, Lend Lease, Capella Capital and Spotless Facilities Services, with AEG Ogden playing the role of venue operator. Other new facilities within the Darling Harbour region include the recently opened ICC Theatre, an 8,000 seat mixed purpose venue for concerts and intimate shows, replacing the Sydney Entertainment Centre, a gallery, and an upcoming new 25 story multi purpose venue called The Ribbon which will be replacing the IMAX Theatre which was closed and demolished in late 2016, which was reopened on 11 October 2023 with a new, updated theatre. [12] [13] [14]

This area was the site of the Sydney Port Authority and featured an Overseas Passenger Terminal (Wharf 8) which was mainly used by the Pacific Dawn of the P&O Australia fleet and the Sun Princess , operated by Princess Cruises.[ citation needed ] The passenger terminal is now in White Bay and the container terminal has since closed.[ citation needed ]

Darling Harbour from the National Maritime Museum, looking towards King Street Wharf 3. The area is a major tourist attraction Darling harbour from national maratime museum.jpg
Darling Harbour from the National Maritime Museum, looking towards King Street Wharf 3. The area is a major tourist attraction

Darling Harbour is the location of the season residence on MTV's reality TV show, The Real World: Sydney , which aired in late 2007. The house has a large "Darling Harbour" sign along its edge, and the World Tower high rise building can be seen behind it. [15] [16]

20th Century Fox's 1995 film Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie was shot in Sydney, and featured some scenes filmed in Darling Harbour.[ citation needed ]

Seven's Saturday morning TV Music Show Eclipse Music TV is filmed weekly at the precinct's shopping centre, Harbourside. [17]

On 27 August 2010, the soap opera Neighbours filmed scenes in the harbour and on board the cruise ship, Pacific Jewel. [18]

Canadian post-hardcore band Silverstein recorded a song entitled "Darling Harbour" on their Transitions EP.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Street Wharf</span> Wharf in Sydney, Australia

King Street Wharf is a mixed-use tourism, commercial, residential, retail and maritime development on the eastern shore of Darling Harbour, an inlet of Sydney Harbour, Australia. Located on the western side of the city's central business district, the complex served as a maritime industrial area in the early and mid 20th century. It was redeveloped as part of extensive urban renewal projects around Sydney Harbour in the 1980s and 90s. The complex is host to a cluster of nine wharves, with the first two wharves currently in use by private ferry operator Captain Cook Cruises and a third decommissioned by Sydney Ferries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrmont, New South Wales</span> Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Pyrmont is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia 2 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney. It is also part of the Darling Harbour region. As of 2011, it is Australia's most densely populated suburb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrmont Bridge</span> Heritage-listed bridge across Cockle Bay in Sydney, Australia

The Pyrmont Bridge, a heritage-listed swing bridge across Cockle Bay, is located in Darling Harbour, part of Port Jackson, west of the central business district in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. Opened in 1902, the bridge initially carried motor vehicle traffic via the Pyrmont Bridge Road between the central business district and Pyrmont. Since 1981 the bridge has carried pedestrian and bicycle traffic only, as motor vehicles were diverted to adjacent freeway overpasses. The bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 28 June 2002, the centenary of its opening.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney central business district</span> Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Sydney central business district (CBD) is the historical and main commercial centre of Sydney. The CBD is Sydney's city centre, or Sydney City, and the two terms are used interchangeably. Colloquially, the CBD or city centre is often referred to simply as "Town" or "the City". The Sydney city centre extends southwards for about 3 km (2 mi) from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement in which the Sydney region was initially established.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Sydney</span>

Tourism in Sydney, Australia forms an important part of the city's economy. The city received 12 million domestic visitors and 4.1 million international visitors in year ending June 2019. The most famous attractions include the Sydney Opera House, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Other attractions include the Sydney Mardi Gras, Royal Botanical Gardens, Luna Park, the beaches and Sydney Tower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cockle Bay (Sydney)</span> Bay in Sydney, New South Wales

Cockle Bay is a small bay in inner-city Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the western edge of the Sydney central business district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hungry Mile</span> Docklands area in Sydney, New South Wales

The Hungry Mile is the name harbourside workers gave to the docklands area of Darling Harbour East, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in the Great Depression. Workers would walk from wharf to wharf in search of a job, often failing to find one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balmain East ferry wharf</span>

Balmain East ferry wharf is located on Sydney Harbour serving the Sydney suburb of Balmain East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barangaroo, New South Wales</span> Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Barangaroo is an area of central Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the north-western edge of the Sydney central business district and the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney. The area was used for fishing and hunting by Indigenous Australians prior to colonial settlement. The area is inclusive of The Hungry Mile, the name harbourside workers gave to the docklands area of Darling Harbour East during The Great Depression, where workers would walk from wharf to wharf in search of a job, often failing to find one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrmont Bay ferry wharf</span>

Pyrmont Bay ferry wharf is located on the western side of Darling Harbour serving the inner-city Sydney suburb of Pyrmont. It is located adjacent to the Australian National Maritime Museum and close to The Star Casino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glebe Island</span>

Glebe Island was a major port facility in Sydney Harbour and, in association with the adjacent White Bay facility, was the primary receiving venue for imported cars and dry bulk goods in the region until 2008. It is surrounded by White, Johnstons, and Rozelle Bays. Whilst retaining its original title as an "island", it has long been infilled to the shoreline of the suburb of Rozelle and connected by the Glebe Island Bridge to Pyrmont.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tumbalong Park</span>

Tumbalong Park is a park in Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia. The park was designed using native Australian foliage decorated with fountains as an urban stream. The name "Tumbalong" is from Dharug as spoken by the Eora people and means "place where seafood is found".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inner West Light Rail</span> Light rail line in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Inner West Light Rail is a 12.8-kilometre (8.0 mi) light rail line in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, running from Central railway station through the Inner West to Dulwich Hill and serving 23 stops. It is the original line of the Sydney light rail network, and was originally known as Sydney Light Rail. Light rail services on the line are now branded as the L1 Dulwich Hill Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barangaroo ferry wharf</span>

Barangaroo ferry wharf is a ferry wharf located on the eastern side of Darling Harbour, in Sydney, Australia. The wharf is the major public transport link of the Barangaroo precinct, situated west of the Sydney central business district. The complex consists two wharves, with provision for a third wharf in the future. It is serviced by Sydney Ferries' F3 Paramatta River and F4 Pyrmont Bay services. It opened on 26 June 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrmont Bay ferry services</span> Commuter ferry service in Sydney, Australia

The Pyrmont Bay ferry service, officially known as F4 Pyrmont Bay, is a commuter ferry service in Sydney, New South Wales. Part of the Sydney Ferries network, it is operated by Transdev Sydney Ferries and services the Lavender Bay and Darling Harbour areas. It began operation on 25 October 2020, and replaced the western half of the F4 Cross Harbour ferry service. Emerald-class ferries and SuperCat ferries operate the service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Convention Centre Sydney</span> Building in Darling Harbour

The International Convention Centre Sydney is an exhibition and convention centre which opened in December 2016, in Sydney, Australia. ICC Sydney has over 70 meeting rooms, three theatres and two formal ballrooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harbourside Shopping Centre</span> Shopping mall in New South Wales, Australia

Harbourside was a shopping centre in Darling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Built in 1988 as part of the urban redevelopment of the Darling Harbour area during the 1980s, it was located in close proximity to other notable buildings such as the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Australian National Maritime Museum. On 9 December 2022, the centre closed permanently preceding its demolition. The site will be redeveloped for a mixed-use tower and retail complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Sydney</span> Overview of and topical guide to Sydney

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Sydney:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urban renewal in Sydney</span> Ongoing land redevelopment of the new urban centres in Sydney, Australia

The urban renewal of Sydney is an ongoing land redevelopment process that is creating and reviving new urban centres across Sydney, Australia. Urban renewal refers to the refurbishment of derelict buildings, streets or neighbourhoods and is accompanied with the process of gentrification attributed by changes in land use and deindustrialisation of areas. In 2020, there are several projects underway and planned including Barangaroo, The Bays Precinct and Green Square.

References

  1. Johnson, Wayne (2008). A history of Sydney's Darling Harbour. Sydney: Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. p. 7. ISBN   9780980545326.
  2. "Hungry Mile gets minor role". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 September 2006. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  3. "Commission of Enquiry into the NSW transport industry, 6 vols, Sydney 1980". Opac.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  4. "Shots fired at Prince Charles (1994) | RetroFocus" via YouTube.
  5. "Darling Harbour Woodward Water Feature". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01933. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  6. "Darling Harbour". Sydney.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  7. "Timeline". INSW. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  8. Gorrey, Megan (9 December 2022). "Iconic Harbourside shopping centre shuts for demolition after three decades" . The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  9. Transdev Archived 1 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 4 October 2013
  10. Our Boats Sydney Charter Boat
  11. "New Metro Station for Pyrmont". Transport for NSW. 11 December 2020. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  12. "The Ribbon". Grocon.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  13. Cummins, Carolyn (13 June 2018). "The Ribbon or The Snail? The new hotel heading for one of Sydney's iconic sites". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  14. Maddox, Garry (10 October 2023). "After seven years, Sydney's IMAX is reopening, just in time for Taylor Swift". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  15. Kaplan, Don. "Real World' Off to Sydney" Archived 15 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine , The New York Post , 9 January 2007.
  16. Former OneWorld Sport Building Archived 22 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine , Realworldhouses.com, 25 May 2010, accessed 14 February 2011
  17. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1995) – IMDb, archived from the original on 24 April 2023, retrieved 20 April 2023
  18. "Neighbours become good Friends with Pacific Jewel". Travel Blackboard. 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.

33°52′20″S151°11′56″E / 33.87230°S 151.19896°E / -33.87230; 151.19896