Sydney Harbour Trust opens Wirra Birra Park

Sydney Harbour Trust’s opening this Easter of Wirra Birra Park - a new Neutral Bay foreshore park at Sub Base Platypus - reflects its commitment to protect and provide access to extraordinary places on Sydney Harbour for generations to come.

Formerly a torpedo factory, submarine base and gas works, Sub Base Platypus is a community recreation and work hub in North Sydney, homeland of the Cammeraygal people.

From 2016 to 2019, Sub Base Platypus underwent stage one of its transformation – seeing the site go from former naval base to recreational urban park and community space. When Sub Base Platypus was opened by the Harbour Trust in May 2018, it marked the first time the site had been accessible to the public in 150 years.

From 2022 to 2024, Sub Base Platypus underwent stage two of its transformation, known as the Torpedo Factory Renewal Project. This project comprises demolition of the harbour-facing portion of the former Torpedo Factory building to create a new foreshore park and public domain spaces that explore the site’s history.

The Harbor Trust’s unveiling of Wirra Birra Park will see it open to the public from Good Friday, 29th March 2024. This marks another significant milestone since Sub Base Platypus was handed to the Harbour Trust to rehabilitate and revitalise the site into a fresh, new harbourside precinct for all to experience.

‘Wirra Birra’ is a First Nations name for Neutral Bay and means a forest of gum trees near running water. This name was chosen for the new park to respect and acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the area, the Cammeraygal people. The Harbour Trust engaged with First Nations consultant Yerrabingin on the Torpedo Factory Renewal Project, as well as an art commission by First Nations artist, Dennis Golding, to put caring for Country and connection to Country and First Nations culture at the centre of the design.

On Monday 25th March, the Harbour Trust hosted an intimate native tree-planting event attended by the Sub Base Platypus Community Advisory Committee and guests. The Harbour Trust acknowledged and thanked the Sub Base Platypus Community Advisory Committee for their support on this project.

Known as the Torpedo Factory Renewal Project, the former Royal Australian Navy Torpedo Maintenance Establishment (RANTME) building was partially demolished and revitalised as a sheltered public space. These works also revealed a sandstone bench, which Wirra Birra Park is now situated on. This new foreshore park provides visitors with a landscaped modern leisure space to enjoy native plants, seating and a glorious outlook overlooking Neutral Bay.

With the completion of the Torpedo Factory Renewal Project, the Harbour Trust looks forward to attracting more visitors to Sub Base Platypus with regular events and activities. In addition to the fortnightly guided tours, the Harbour Trust is set to host its first Swap and Save event on Saturday, 20th April as part of Earth Day celebrations.

For more information on Sydney Harbour Trust go to www.harbourtrust.gov.au/

To register for SBP Swap and Save Event and to find out more go to www.harbourtrust.gov.au/SBP-swap-save

Images. Credit: Harbour Trust