Hyde Park improvement works

We've replaced 4 Hills fig trees around the Archibald Fountain, which were previously removed due to poor health. We planted 6 new Hills figs, and 1 new Moreton Bay fig east of the fountain to take the place of the previous trees.

Works included preparing the garden beds and installing new drainage and irrigation. We’ve added new soil and planted shrubs and the fig trees. Seating around the garden beds has been replaced.

The Pool of Reflection upgrade in Hyde Park south has been completed. Leakages and disrepair of the pool due to its age were addressed.

Works included repairing and retiling the pool, replacing pool pumps and improving maintenance access. New garden beds and irrigation was installed and 22 new trees have been planted to replace the poplar trees that were removed due to poor health. The pavement around the pool was also repaired, with new seating installed along surrounding pathways.

While the main paths of Hyde Park north have been refurbished, much of the secondary path network needed upgrading. We restored the path network to improve connections between different parts of the park.

Works included simplifying the layout of some of the smaller paths in Hyde Park north and improving accessibility at the park entrances along College Street.

As part of this work on our pathways, at the College Street entrance we planted 7 cabbage tree palms and replaced 9 cocos (weed species) palms, 2 mature fig trees, 1 Norfolk Island palm and 1 lacebark tree.

We've also improved services for the increasing number of events held in the park by upgrading water, power and sewer supply points.

We’ve built a new cafe and outdoor seating area, alongside Museum station.

A stylish, open-plan cafe (artist’s impression above) has replaced the old kiosk in Hyde Park south as part of works to make Museum station more accessible.

Transport for NSW has installed new lifts, ramps and an accessible toilet at the station.

The works, which are sensitive to the Museum station building's character, included:

• a new cafe and paved outdoor seating area for around 90 people
• a lift lobby with new paving in the cafe and station surrounds
• 2 unisex toilets with 1 accessible to park users
• landscaping, more accessible paths from the station to the Anzac Memorial and stairs around the cafe and station
• accessible entry points from Hyde Park to the cafe.

A cafe operator has been chosen and will move in as soon as we’ve obtained the necessary approvals.