Developing a community vision for Victoria Barracks

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Pin your feedback by 5pm on Friday 19 September.

Strategic Planning and Urban Design

: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

Why we’re doing this

Victoria Barracks is a 15ha site on Oxford Street near Moore Park. It’s located in a densely populated area of Paddington and currently has limited public access.

In 2023 the federal government carried out an audit of Australian Defence Force (ADF) land, including Victoria Barracks in Paddington. The audit assessed if its sites still met military needs. The recommendations of the audit have not been made public.

If the site is no longer required for ADF purposes, it could offer new opportunities for housing, improved access to green space, cultural activities and other uses.

A key consideration for any future use of Victoria Barracks is how to fund the ongoing maintenance of its historic buildings and the site. Long-term maintenance will need sustainable funding – through government investment or where appropriate, compatible commercial uses.

If the site becomes available for the future, we’re inviting the community to help shape the vision for the site.

What we’re doing

We’re developing guiding principles for how the Victoria Barracks site could be used if it is divested by the ADF.

If adopted by Council, these principles will guide our efforts to ensure any future redevelopment of Victoria Barracks meets community needs and aligns with City of Sydney goals.

The guiding principles will reflect the site’s significant heritage value and will be shaped by community priorities.

We invite you to tell us what you’d like to see and do at Victoria Barracks.

Next steps

Your feedback will help us create a community vision and guiding principles for Victoria Barracks.

The draft vision and principles will be reported to Council in late 2025.

Aerial view of a large urban site outlined in red, featuring buildings, car parks, green spaces, and surrounding streets labelled with names.

A historic stone building with a long verandah stands behind a grassy lawn, with an old black cannon and a leafy tree in the foreground.

About Victoria Barracks

Victoria Barracks in Paddington is on the traditional land of the Gadigal people. The site sits on a high ridgeline of what was sand dunes and rocky outcrops¹.

Victoria Barracks has been a major part of Sydney’s military story for more than 175 years. The site is one of the most significant and impressive examples of a colonial-era military barracks in Australia – and across the former British Empire.

The barracks were built to replace the original military facilities in George Street, which had become unsuitable as Sydney’s population grew and commercial development expanded².

Designed by Lieutenant Colonel George Barney, construction began in 1841 on what was then a more remote site along South Head Road (now Oxford Street), using mainly convict labour and skilled tradespeople. Sandstone for the buildings was quarried on the site and from adjoining areas and the design reflected both British military architecture and local building traditions. Building cement was obtained from burnt seashells gathered at Rushcutters Bay³.

British troops were stationed at Victoria Barracks until 1870, after which the site was taken over by the Australian military (NSW artillery)⁴. Over time, new buildings were added to support changing defence needs and the site became an important hub for Australian military operations following Federation in 1901⁵.

Victoria Barracks remains an active military site today and a powerful symbol of Australia’s defence history. Many of its original buildings are still in use, making it a rare and tangible link to the colonial and post-Federation periods in Australia⁶.

The Heritage Homes of the Australian Defence Force, Defence Housing Authority, 1996, p.6

The Victoria Barracks, Sydney: An Historical Summary, Clive Lucas Pty Ltd and Commonwealth Department of Housing and Construction, 1982, p.36

The Victoria Barracks, Sydney: An Historical Summary, Clive Lucas Pty Ltd and Commonwealth Department of Housing and Construction, 1982, p.48

The Victoria Barracks, Sydney: An Historical Summary, Clive Lucas Pty Ltd and Commonwealth Department of Housing and Construction, 1982, p.49

What divestment means

Across Sydney and around the world, former military sites have been transformed into public places. These examples show how sites were divested and repurposed for local communities.

Image: Terroir

Image: Friends of Callan Park

Image: Sydney Morning Herald

Landowner: NSW Government

About: Callan Park is a 61ha site in Lilyfield, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register and managed by Greater Sydney Parklands. Since hospital operations ceased in 1994, the site has hosted different uses, with a focus on education, health, and community use. The NSW Government allocates annual funding for the ongoing care and management of Callan Park, including dedicated investment in the restoration of its significant heritage buildings.

Status: Ongoing. An expression of interest process began in 2020 and continues to seek long-term tenants for education, health and community-based uses.
Image: COX Architecture

Image: Harbour Trust

Image: Headland Preservation Group

Landowner: Australian Government

About: Middle Head is a 33ha site of national and state heritage significance. Formerly used by the military, the land was returned to the public in 2003 and is now managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. The site has since been used as public parkland, for community events and limited commercial uses. The trust receives an annual budget to operate and manage its portfolio of sites. Middle Head has received further funding for upgrade and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings onsite.

Status: Ongoing. A final master plan was adopted in 2023 with infrastructure projects scheduled to begin in 2025.
Image: Taylor Brammer

Image: Whitlam Institute

Image: dwp suters

Landowner: Western Sydney University

About: This 20ha state heritage listed site, formerly Rydalmere Psychiatric Hospital, was purchased by Western Sydney University from the NSW Government in 1995. Significant restoration works have been carried out to heritage buildings since 2000, funded from federal and state government grants and university funding.

Status: Ongoing. Continued development and investment in the campus with the Indigenous Centre of Excellence (announced in 2025) supported by a grant from the NSW Government.
Image: Paris Habitat

Image: Frédéric Delangle

Image: AC Presse

Landowner: City of Paris

About: The 2ha former military barracks was originally built in the 17th century and rebuilt in 1847. The site was purchased by the City of Paris from the Government of France in 2012 and ownership transferred to Paris Habitat, the largest social housing agency in France. Planning, construction and renewal works took place from 2013 to 2020, which was resourced by a combination of local, state and federal funding and financial institutions.

Status: Completed. Renewal of the site as a mixed-use urban neighbourhood including about 600 social, affordable and rent controlled homes plus shops, commercial premises, community spaces and public gardens.

How you can give feedback

Consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 19 September 2025.

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Email or post your feedback

You can give your feedback by email to [email protected] or post to:

Joe Burraston
Senior Specialist Planner
City of Sydney
456 Kent Street
Sydney NSW 2000