Sydney and Melbourne Buildings precinct revitalisation

The Sydney and Melbourne Buildings have a special place in the hearts of Canberrans.

They are landmarks, framing the gateway to Northbourne Avenue and City Hill. Upgrades to the laneways and façades will unify the look of the buildings and enhance the safety and appearance of the heritage buildings.

Constructed between 1926 and 1946, the buildings were designed as the city's premier "retail trader's block". The buildings defined the early character of Civic and continue to contribute to the experience of Civic today.

The buildings have a unique ownership structure in that they are privately owned by many owners, each responsible for their own property. There is no single body responsible for maintaining the buildings. As a result of this large and diverse ownership structure, there are significant challenges in achieving a uniform approach to the maintenance and appearance of the buildings.

Sydney and Melbourne Buildings Revitalisation Program

Recognising the unique nature of the ownership structure and the significant value these heritage buildings represent to the community, the City Renewal Authority is supporting the owners to achieve a consistent appearance of the buildings through repainting the street facing façades. The Authority is currently finalising details of the façade restoration, with repainting works expected to commence soon.

Upgrade to Odgers and Verity Lanes

Verity and Odgers Lanes in Civic provide important functional requirements for businesses in the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings including:

• waste storage and disposal
• deliveries
• customer parking
• alfresco dining.

Recognising the important role these lanes play to the functionality of the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings and their potential for further activation, the Authority, in partnership with Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS), is upgrading both lanes as part of the broader revitalisation of the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings precinct.

Construction in the laneways was completed in June 2023, with works including:

• new asphalt paving
• upgrades to the stormwater infrastructure
• better lighting for safety and ambience in the form of festoon lighting at lane entry points
• improvements to the centre island
• changes to loading zones.

To support local business and outdoor dining in the lanes, there are some changes to traffic conditions. Verity Lane will be closed to traffic from 4pm-10pm Monday to Sunday. Odgers Lane will remain open to traffic but closed for special events.

Project benefits

• Help create attractive small-scale spaces
• Improve safety and connectivity
• Reinforce the buildings as a distinctive gateway to the city.

Find out more

If you have questions about the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings precinct revitalisation, contact the City Renewal Authority on:

• 02 6205 1878
• cityrenewal@act.gov.au
• act.gov.au/cityrenewal