Attractions, gardens and precincts to be transformed for Sydney WorldPride 2023

Attractions, botanical gardens, and beach precincts are among the spaces contributing to Sydney’s transformation into a Rainbow City for Sydney WorldPride 2023.

Organisations across Greater Sydney including the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, and the Scenic Skyway in Katoomba will be installing free, public artworks to celebrate the 17-day LGBTQIA+ festival and welcome the world to Sydney.

The installations include a 50-metre-long abstract floral rainbow wall made up of around 18,000 colourful plants at The Calyx inside the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney – one of the largest living green walls in the Southern Hemisphere.

The floral rainbow wall forms part of the Garden’s new Love Your Nature horticultural exhibition, which fittingly celebrates the diverse world of plant-love with a kaleidoscope of colour, plants and passion.

Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Denise Ora advised “we are so proud to transform our iconic green wall inside The Calyx at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney into a stunning floral rainbow display to celebrate plant diversity, Sydney WorldPride and our vibrant LGBTQIA+ community. Our talented horticulture and design teams are also converting the fountain at the entrance to The Calyx into in a unique circular style rainbow of plants to support World Pride month”.

The City of Sydney will install its own floral installations, including planter boxes and a floral wall, which will be created using hundreds of plants and foliage in the colours of the rainbow flag.

Randwick Council will also update its famous 27-metre-long rainbow walkway at Coogee Beach to add the colours of the Progress Flag, a version of the traditional rainbow flag that includes additional stripes to represent people of colour and the trans community.

Mayor of Randwick, Dylan Parker shared “the Coogee Rainbow is a celebration for our vibrant queer community. Positioned right at the entry of Coogee Beach the rainbow celebrates diversity, inclusion and boldly acknowledges our LGBTQIA+ community. Currently, the Coogee Rainbow includes the six colours of the Pride Flag in the shape of a rainbow, linked to Pride and Mardi Gras.

“In 2023, I am proud to announce that for Sydney World Pride we will be updating the Coogee Rainbow to include the progressive pride flag colours, as a show of support for diversity and inclusiveness.”

In the Blue Mountains, Katoomba’s famous Scenic Skyway will be transformed into a giant progress flag, a dramatic vision set against the World Heritage landscapes of the Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley.

Anthea Hammon, Managing Director of Scenic World enthused “It is an absolute thrill and privilege to be part of Rainbow City.  What a sight it will be to see the Scenic Skyway transform into a giant Progress Flag floating above the Jamison Valley! 

“Being able to host a rainbow in regional centres, such as the Blue Mountains, is really fantastic – not only for international visitors to experience more of our beautiful country, but also for our local LGBTQIA+ community, to feel part of the bigger celebrations."

Meanwhile, the University of Sydney will showcase a night-time rainbow mural throughout the festival at its Footbridge Gallery at the University’s Camperdown campus. Made of rainbow LED lights, the mural will mark the 45th anniversary of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2023. Designed by award-winning interactive designer and diversity advocate, Dr Xavier Ho, the mural will be unveiled to coincide with the University’s inaugural Hunt-Simes Institute in Sexuality Studies, which is being launched to coincide with Sydney WorldPride 2023.

The aim is to have 45 artworks as part of Rainbow City, to celebrate 45 years of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Public space holders in Greater Sydney can contact Sydney WorldPride to express their interest, as long as the artworks are free to access, substantial and have no branding as part of the artwork. Artworks can take any form – from flowers and lights to water and sculpture, and can be based on any interpretation of the rainbow.

A Rainbow City map will be published in early February to allow Sydneysiders and visitors alike to travel the city to view the glorious kaleidoscope of rainbow art.

Sydney WorldPride Chief Executive, Kate Wickett notes “it is so exciting to see organisations from all sectors across Sydney – from public institutions to businesses –embrace WorldPride in such a positive way.

“Sydney is a world-class city that celebrates diversity, and I can’t wait for visitors to see the fantastic display of support for the LGBTQIA+ community when more than 500,000 take part in Sydney WorldPride next year.”

Clover Moore, the Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney, said: “We’re excited to be part of the Rainbow City project and look forward to seeing our city dressed in the vibrant colours of the rainbow.

“Complementing the project and our Living Colour program, will be our iconic rainbow crossing at Taylor Square in the heart of Sydney's LGBTQIA+ district.”

The full list of rainbows will be turned into an interactive map which people can use to visit all the activations during Sydney WorldPride 2023.

Sydney WorldPride is accepting applications from public space holders who would like to be part of Rainbow City.

Sydney WorldPride is taking place between 17th February to 5th March 2023. Over 17 days, Sydney will host more than 300 LGBTQIA+ events, including Rainbow Republic presented by Optus, Blak & Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert, as well as the much-loved Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, which will be returning to Oxford Street for the first time in three years.

Sydney WorldPride is supported by Principal Partner, American Express, Strategic Partner, Destination NSW and Government Partner, City of Sydney.

To see the Rainbow City grow in number in the coming months, please visit www.sydneyworldpride.com/rainbow-city