OXFORD STREET IS GETTING A GLOW UP

The Minns Labor Government released renders showing how a new approach to the iconic thoroughfare will make life easier and safer for the thousands of pedestrians and cyclists who use Oxford Street every day, as well as increasing trade and outdoor dining for the businesses dotted along it. 

Under the activation plan, Oxford Street East would see wider, upgraded footpaths with more opportunities for outdoor dining, more open space, over 50 new trees, lighting, seating, artwork, signage and five additional pedestrian crossings.

Minister for Transport, John Graham said, “Oxford Street has a special place in the hearts of so many people in Sydney, but it’s well overdue for a makeover."

The recently opened Oxford Street West cycleway between Taylor Square and Hyde Park has set new records, quickly surpassing the Sydney Harbour Bridge as the city’s most popular cycleway, with more than 3,000 trips a day and growing. Its popularity has now made Oxford Street east a crucial missing link, with a new separated 1.8km bike path part of the overall Oxford Street Public Domain and Activation Strategy to breathe new life into the street from Taylor Square to the Centennial Parklands gates.

This proposal would ensure Oxford Street is fully realised with improved design, street festivals and public art to boost visitation and support local businesses, while the completed cycle connection from Liverpool Street in the CBD to the world-famous Taylor Square, and onwards to Centennial Park would complete the missing bike link between Sydney’s CBD and eastern suburbs.

Committee for Sydney Policy Manager for Planning and Housing, Estelle Grech said, “The transformation of Oxford Street is a major win for Sydney – turning a traffic-heavy corridor back into a people-focused high street that works better for everyone."

The plan ties in neatly with the city’s broader revitalisation efforts, including the lifting of the concert cap at Centennial Park and the state-wide Special Entertainment Precinct project. 

This push to bring life back to the area also aligns with the Oxford Street Markets which started the first weekend of November. At the Friday night market you can expect live performances from our local Aussie musicians, stalls of treats both savoury and delectably sweet  and plenty of fashionable pieces. To top it off, the crowd-favourite Oxford Hotel will be sharing its licence with the area, which means glasses of good ol’ wine are yours to leisurely sip while perusing.

The Saturday morning farmer's market is held at Taylor Square and it’s the perfect spot to grab a morning coffee, soak up the sunshine, and fill your basket with local produce, flowers and artisanal goods.

As Sydney follows the lead of other global cities where bikes now outnumber cars in city centres, Oxford Street’s evolution aims to reimagine the area as a safer, more progressive, more people-focused high street. To ease the transition, a $3 million activation fund has been set aside to support businesses through the construction phase, ensuring street life stays lively before, during and after the upgrade.