Barangaroo Reserve was designed by Peter Walker, FASLA, of PWP Landscape Architecture in association with the Australian design practice Johnson Pilton Walker (JPW).  

Large shell middens and rock engravings close to the site indicate occupation dating back around 6,000 years. The team aimed to recreate what was once a popular and culturally significant hunting and fishing area for the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. 

Using the earliest historical maps and landscape paintings of the area, the team generated computer models to mirror the previous terrain.  

Today, Barangaroo Reserve is the crowning achievement of the Barangaroo project and a major civic contribution embraced by Sydneysiders and visitors. 

Indigenous educators keep the history and majesty of Barangaroo Reserve alive through Aboriginal Cultural Tours where participants learn of the area’s connections to Country while hearing and seeing the many layers of the Reserve’s history.  

The 75,000 native trees and shrubs planted at Barangaroo cover 45 species. This whole-of-site, whole-of-life sustainable approach uses a compost of re-used crushed sandstone and recycled sand from building excavations, green garden bins and wood mulch.  

This is the most scientifically significant planting program of its kind in central Sydney for decades – and it is thriving. Port Jackson figs have doubled in size since they were planted and shrubs such as wattle and callistemon are filling out to cover construction elements.  

Of the 10,000 sandstone blocks used to create the extraordinary Barangaroo Reserve, 93% come from Barangaroo itself. Extraction works purposefully allowed for blocks – tagged and organised to align with the design – that give a sense of scale and height, allowing people to experience the sensation of travelling ever nearer to the water’s edge from the top of the reserve to the waterfront. 

Sandstone also shaped the construction of The Cutaway, a sensational 75-cubic metre concrete space with a 120m column-free area. This is an engineering masterpiece - one of the largest internal spaces in Australia, sheltered under 12,000 cubic metres of rock, grass and mature trees. This versatile and atmospheric canvas allows The Cutaway to metamorphosise to suit events and celebrations.