A new era for Haymarket unfolds with urban renewal

In the heart of Haymarket, Sydney’s Chinatown and Thaitown are undergoing a vibrant transformation. With upgrade works under way and a calendar of cultural events and attractions, this historic precinct is buzzing with fresh energy.

Reviving the ceremonial gates

One of Haymarket’s most cherished features, the ceremonial gates at the entrance to Dixon Street, have been lovingly restored. These gates, which have stood proudly since 1980, are adorned with intricate tiles and flanked by majestic granite lions, embodying the cultural significance of Chinatown.

We've upgraded the decorative timber panels, replaced the ceramic roof tiles and deteriorated concrete lions with granite lions. The gates are a treasured part of Haymarket, and a celebration of the Chinese community's roots in Sydney.

This project is part of broader improvements to Dixon Street, including new creative lighting and seating, paving upgrades and cultural motifs designed to share Chinatown stories. Paving and ground works will be completed by mid 2026. The full upgrade including lighting is expected to be completed by late 2027.

Improving public spaces

A range of public domain projects are part of a multimillion dollar vision to improve streets and public spaces, shopfronts, parks and lighting. They include:

• The transformation of George Street south
• A paving upgrade on Goulburn Street
• Ultimo Road improvements. Works included an expanded footpath for outdoor dining and events, new street trees, dedicated bike lane and street calming.
• Concept designs to revitalise Belmore Park and upgrade Campbell Street to celebrate Thaitown.
  

  

Championing local businesses

Supporting Haymarket’s vibrant economy is an important focus of our revitalisation work. A dedicated grant is helping Dixon Street retailers join in on the journey. Our Dixon Street improvement grant funds building façade and shopfront enhancements. This grant aims to bring the artistry of food preparation onto the street, increase neon signs and enhance the area's visual appeal. We're offering up to $60,000 matched funding for 3 years, totalling $1.2 million.

Our dedicated precinct coordinator for Haymarket plays a vital role in helping local businesses and community groups to work together to create even more opportunities for growth and success in the area.

Injecting energy into the streets

From our annual Sydney Lunar Festival and exhibitions at the 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art to yearly fixtures like Vivid, a great diversity of events bring cultural celebrations and new visitors to the precinct. 2025 to 2026 highlights included:

• Asia Live, a 16 day celebration of arts, culture and community in Haymarket with live performances, street pop-ups and immersive experiences in April 2026. This event was supported by a City of Sydney precinct activation grant and presented by Bespok3.
• Sydney Lunar Festival is one of our largest major event celebrations, brought outdoor festivities, dragon boat races, art installations, lanterns, cultural performances and lion dancing to the city each year. From 14 February to 1 March the celebrations returned for the Year of the Horse, finding their focus in Chinatown.
• New cultural finds and exhibitions to explore at MOCA – Museum of Chinese in Australia – on George Street, The Passage Gallery in the Prince Centre and 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art on Hay Street. All of these projects are supported by the City of Sydney.
• Neon Playground returned in 15 March to 16 April 2025. Known for its stunning light installations and interactive art, this event was supported by a City of Sydney precinct activation grant and presented by the Haymarket Alliance.
• A Paddy's Market upgrade in 2025 introduced bars and dine-in eateries alongside produce stalls at Hay Street Market bringing even more reasons to explore this diverse culinary hub.

The revival of Haymarket's energy, culture, and community is well underway, bringing together all the elements that make this neighbourhood so special.

For the latest events and activities in Haymarket, visit What’s On.