Hyde Park Improvements

Restoration works within Hyde Park South, the oldest designated city park in Australia. 

Museum Station underwent upgrades to enhance accessibility, including the addition of a new lift connecting the street and Hyde Park to the concourse and platforms. Transport for NSW constructed the lift, leading to the demolition of the existing café, and the City of City tendered works for a new café. Turf Design Studio handled the Public Domain upgrade, while Andrew Burns Architects managed the new café.

This important entry to Hyde Park was degraded, marked by aging pavements, inconsistent path layouts, varied materials, and visual clutter. This impacted the site’s formal quality and its heritage connection with the park.

The project faced challenges due to the heritage-listed building and the presence of a railway line, concourse, and platforms. It was imperative to connect to the site’s heritage, referring to the original Norman Weekes Master Plan and heritage archives. Important heritage items were retained in situ, and the new public domain integrated the Weekes plan while updating materials.

Park accessibility was improved with new ramps and stair flights connecting Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets to the park. The project also included an accessible pathway to the Anzac Memorial Education Centre and water cascades, addressing previous limitations. Turf was engaged from concept design through to construction.