A community vision for Victoria Barracks
In August and September 2025, we asked you to help us imagine what the future of the site could look like. The community vision for Victoria Barracks was endorsed by Council in November 2025.
We invited our communities to share their ideas about Victoria Barracks, should the land be available for public use in the future.
In 2023, the federal government carried out an audit of Australian Defence Force land, including Victoria Barracks in Paddington. The audit assessed if its sites still met military needs. Recommendations of the audit haven’t been made public.
What we heard
Our communities envision the future of Victoria Barracks as an activated, publicly accessible precinct that honours its military heritage, provides open space, community and cultural uses and supports Sydney’s housing needs.
Feedback helped establish the following guiding principles for the Victoria Barracks site if it’s no longer used by the Australian Defence Force.
- Conserve and enhance heritage and military significance
- Maximise public accessibility and maintain public ownership
- Enhance and expand green open space
- Prioritise cultural and community uses
- Incorporate diverse residential development including public housing
- Encourage compatible and viable commercial uses
- Support resilience and environmental sustainability
- Use careful planning, implementation and management
