Walsh Bay

Short description

Located within the traditional lands of the Gadigal people, Walsh Bay has been a place of gathering for thousands of years. Tucked beneath the western edge of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it is now home to the city’s most dramatic district. The famous timber-clad wharves were built between 1913 and 1920, housing cargo sheds and maritime warehouses. The wharves were revitalised in the 1980s with the arrival of the Sydney Theatre Company and the area has just undergone another major revamp to create the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. Australia’s latest arts destination, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct is home to nine of the nation’s foremost performing arts companies including Sydney Dance Company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Bell Shakespeare, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and more.
 

Walsh Bay
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Dotted among these cultural institutions you'll find cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as exceptional views of Sydney Harbour, historic sites, secret stairways, open-air sculptures and green spaces. Watch a show, join a dance class or simply soak up the scenery. You can also spend the night on one of the wharves at the Pier One Sydney, a hotel housed in a beautifully repurposed heritage building. Choose one of the rooms with a bath tub that looks right out at the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

During Vivid Sydney, the historic wharves of Walsh Bay take on new forms under the lights.

How to get there: Catch the bus, train, light rail or ferry to Circular Quay and take a picturesque 20-minute walk around the waterfront to reach Walsh Bay. You can also take a bus straight to Hickson Road in the centre of Walsh Bay's theatre district.

This is an image of an electric blue lighting display in Walsh Bay that was part of Vivid Sydney

Light Events

Monad

For aeons, the circle has been revered as a symbol of endless life and equilibrium. Pythagoras declared it a perfect shape and a symbol of 'Monad' - a...

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Monad
Location: Walsh Bay Price: Free

SPIROGRAPH

Sydney's newest fountain doesn't feature a drop of water – instead, light flows in an impressive illusion. Don't worry about any spray in the wind, either...

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SPIROGRAPH
Location: Walsh Bay Price: Free

Bump and Sway

Eternally in motion, the waters of Walsh Bay are constantly pushed and pulled into different sized ripples and swell. This installation draws our attention...

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Bump and Sway
Location: Walsh Bay Price: Free

Ghosts

In Japan, origami cranes are given to ill family members and friends to wish them well, referencing an old saying that the birds live for up to 1,000 years. A...

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Ghosts
Location: Walsh Bay Price: Free