Barangaroo South: a landmark new waterside district for Sydney

Work has completed on Barangaroo South, a major new mixed-use waterfront neighbourhood that has transformed a former industrial site on the western edge of Sydney’s central business district into a vibrant, people-focused destination.

Grant Associates was appointed as one of the landscape architects for the project, working in close collaboration with architects and masterplanners RSHP (Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners), and a multidisciplinary design team for developer Lendlease.

Barangaroo South forms part of one of Australia’s most ambitious urban regeneration schemes — reconnecting the city with its harbour through a rich sequence of public spaces, promenades and green terraces that weave nature into the urban fabric.

A layered public realm inspired by Sydney’s coastal ecology

Grant Associates’ contribution to the public domain celebrates Sydney’s maritime character and native planting, bringing together sandstone edges, water features and lush subtropical greenery to create an immersive waterfront experience.

A key feature of the Grant Associates’ design is Waterman’s Cove, a dramatic amphitheatre-style public space on the water’s edge, complemented by Hickson Park — a generous green oasis framed by mature trees and lawns that provides a calm counterpoint to the surrounding urban density. Sustainable water management systems and native species planting enhance biodiversity and reflect the ecology of the Sydney foreshore.

The result is a dynamic sequence of outdoor spaces that balance civic energy with a sense of calm, establishing Barangaroo South as a model for biophilic urban design.

Collaboration and long-term legacy

Grant Associates has collaborated closely with RSHP and Lendlease from concept through to delivery over the last 15 years to ensure the landscape formed an integral part of the architecture and public experience.

The project has redefined this part of Sydney as a new cultural and commercial hub — a place for people to live, work and enjoy the harbour.

“Barangaroo South demonstrates how integrated landscape and architecture can create an urban district that feels connected to nature, culture, and community,” said Andrew Grant, Founder and Director, Grant Associates. “We’re proud to have contributed to the public realm of this landmark project.”

Image credits: NSW Government