The City of Sydney will transform its Bay Street depot with a major new building that will help provide essential services for Sydney's growing communities.
Following the approval of a stage 1 development application in late 2025, acclaimed teams Andrew Burges Architects and Second Edition won a design competition for the project.
The new depot building has been conceived to create a facility with a 100-year civic life, combining modern operational infrastructure with innovative sustainability features, flexible workspaces and a design that responds to the history and character of Blackwattle Bay and Ultimo.
Including administration and staff facilities, storage, workshop and maintenance spaces, and fleet parking, the depot’s flexible internal structure will adapt to future technologies and changing operational needs, ensuring it will stand as a community asset for decades to come.
Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said the City of Sydney's investment in the depot will ensure it has the infrastructure required to support frontline services when they’re needed most.
"The new facility is a fit-for-purpose depot that will enable our teams to continue providing the high-quality cleansing, waste and civil maintenance services our community relies on every day," the Lord Mayor said.
"By upgrading this existing site, we’re creating a more efficient and sustainable operational hub that will improve workplace safety, support our workforce and enhance services for residents.
"The new depot will also provide a more efficient and better connected workplace, helping our teams continue to provide the services that keep Sydney clean, safe and resilient."
Inspired by the site’s location near Blackwattle Bay, the depot’s design will feature a landscaped raingarden to help manage stormwater, increase biodiversity and reduce urban heat while providing a greener edge to the precinct.
Where possible, bricks from the existing site will be reused in the new building's façade, creating a contemporary interpretation of the masonry character reflective of historic warehouses in the surrounding area.
"We're delighted and honoured to have been selected for the Bay Street East Depot,” said Andrew Burges, principal, Andrew Burges Architects.
“It's a rare chance to shape essential city infrastructure in such a significant part of Sydney, and to design for a 100-year project life, accommodating both neighbourhood and functional changes over that time period, is a really exciting challenge for us".
The redevelopment forms part of the City of Sydney’s long-term investment in the essential infrastructure that underpins clean, safe and well-maintained communities.
For more information visit: cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Media contact: Elaine Kelly – phone 0477 362 550 or email ekelly@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact lordmayormedia@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au