RENEWAL OF REDFERN'S PARKS

The aim of this project is to use the open space to create a neighbourhood that celebrate culture, nurture connection and provide safe, welcoming places for everyone:

• celebrates its Aboriginal culture and history
• is green and cool with native trees and plants
• lets communities come together to socialise and celebrate
• is safe to move around and play.

As part of this initiative, three pivotal community spaces are set to be overhauled: the Redfern Community Centre Open Space, Yellomundee Park and Hugo Street Reserve. The parks are located in the heart of the inner-city neighbourhood, nationally known for its Aboriginal history and cultural activism.

At the core of the project is a deep respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history, which will guide every stage of the design and upgrade process. To this end, the City of Sydney has partnered with Yerrabingin, an Indigenous design studio known for weaving cultural storytelling into urban landscapes, to work closely with the local community and ensure the upgrades reflect Redfern’s unique identity. Yerrabingin’s work will address urban heat and increase biodiversity to invite in birds, bees and other non-human kin.

“Redfern has a significant legacy in the Aboriginal civil rights movement,” said Yerrabingin senior associate, Simon Trick, noting its importance to Aboriginal people from outside the area as well as within. “For people coming to the city, Redfern is known as a safe place from a cultural perspective, so we need to understand those stories.”

The vision is to create a neighbourhood that is both green and cool, with an abundance of native trees and plants, while encouraging social gatherings, play and community celebrations.

“We look forward to designing with Country to support social and cultural cohesion and ensure these parks meet current and future community needs as Redfern evolves,” said Mr Trick.

The plans for these parks are ambitious and thoughtful. Redfern Community Centre’s open space will see new seating, improved lighting and revitalised pathways that will make it safer and more accessible. Hugo Street Reserve will benefit from an upgraded basketball court with noise reduction measures, an improved off-leash dog area and expanded lawns designed for free play and community events. Yellomundee Park will be reshaped into a place where gathering is easy and natural, with shaded areas, new native plantings and space to host pop-up attractions. 

The proposal for the three parks also includes:

• a new playground for children of all ages
• a new shaded barbecue and seating area
• gathering spaces and more seating opportunities throughout the parks
• new trees and plants, increasing greening and tree canopy cover
• improving the path network with better access through the parks
• activating Redfern terrace with capacity to tell local stories through a ‘living museum’, as outlined in the Eora Journey.

This is more than a makeover of public spaces. It is an opportunity to redefine Redfern’s open areas as places that embrace culture, connection and community. By creating green, inclusive and culturally rich spaces, the project will leave a lasting legacy, one that honours Redfern’s past while building a vibrant future.