Sydney's historic Callan Park to be transformed into significant urban parkland

The NSW Government looks to end the neglect of Callan Park in Sydney’s inner west and is investing to restore more quality green space for the growing local community.

1.6 hectares of parkland will be returned to the people of the Inner West via a $4.8 million investment in the 2025-26 Budget.

For years, central areas of Callan Park have been neglected and locked up by condemned buildings which are not only an eyesore but a safety hazard and a target for vandals.

The investment will enable the demolition of nine derelict buildings over two years.

This work is crucial not only to remove unsafe buildings but to deliver more green and open space for the park’s 2.4 million yearly visitors and the area’s growing population.

By 2041 the five kilometres around Callan Park is expected to be home to 415,000 people.

Home to the popular Bay Run, Callan Park is a special place not just for locals but for visitors from all over Sydney and New South Wales, and an important link in Sydney’s broader network of parklands and waterways.

This investment is part of the ongoing transformation of Callan Park into one of Sydney’s significant urban parklands, providing quality open space and recreation areas for locals and people from across Sydney and New South Wales.

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully noted “Callan Park is a jewel in the crown of the Inner West, but these nine buildings have been left to deteriorate beyond repair becoming a stain on the park’s reputation. 

“By demolishing these buildings, we will return 1.6 hectares of green open space to the community which is the equivalent of 4000 large picnic blankets or two football fields.”