Barangaroo Reserve, Sydney, Port-to-Park Transformation

Barangaroo Reserve, opened in 2015, represents the rehabilitation of approximately 6 hectares of former port and container terminal land on Sydney Harbour into a public park and recreation area (Landscape Architecture Foundation, 2017). The project transforms a decommissioned container port site into a reconstructed headland approximating pre settlement topography, with about 75,000 native trees and shrubs planted across the site (Barangaroo Sydney, n.d.).

The rehabilitation involved, among others, removal of legacy port structures and infrastructure, environmental remediation of the former brownfield site, reconstruction of the headland topography using locally sourced sandstone, planting of native species representative of pre settlement ecosystems, and provision of public access through pathways, stairs, and waterfront promenades (Landscape Architecture Foundation, 2017). The design retained references to the site's Aboriginal and industrial heritage while creating contemporary public amenity.

Barangaroo Reserve shows what can follow once a port use has moved: rehabilitation of the former site, rather than decommissioning planned from the design stage. While the original port infrastructure was not designed for deconstruction, the redevelopment demonstrated the scope for ambitious rehabilitation of former port sites. The project is documented in the Landscape Performance Series, which reports sustainability and performance outcomes.