The former Inglis stables have an incredibly rich history. The Newmarket Randwick neighbourhood that has begun to transform the site draws upon this history through its masterplan and the design of its diverse housing and public spaces, creating a new place where Randwick’s past thoughtfully stitches into its present.
At the core of the strategy for Newmarket Randwick is the responsibility to create an urban environment that activates the site from an economic, sustainable and social perspective, as well as providing a connection to the significant historical elements on the site. With five residential apartment and mixed-use buildings delivered, the newly established vibrant local centre has connected a diverse community of local residents and visitors alike and instilled a legacy outcome precedent for the site and wider Randwick LGA.
The brief for Newmarket Randwick called for an integrated precinct offering new high-quality housing, with over 30 per cent of Newmarket Randwick designated as public open space, including a 5,000 sqm public park, food and beverage plaza and village square, streetscape, and public through-site links connecting Barker Street. The team recognised an unmissable opportunity to create a new destination for Randwick built on the significant local history, creating a place that feels embedded in the local community and the fabric of Randwick’s thoroughbred racing history so that it feels true to its place.
Working with master plan architects Bates Smart, a pivotal decision was made to re-orientate the site, challenging the building massing on the existing Development Control Plans. This created a framework that preserves and celebrates key heritage features, including the restored Newmarket House, the re-imagined Sales Ring with its famous Moreton Bay fig tree, the state heritage-listed Big Stable and the site’s mature landscape. The new axis has delivered a visual and physical connection from Barker Street, drawing people into the site and through the dining precinct to the Inglis Park & Playground and the Figtree Pocket residences, terminating the vista with the iconic Big Stable.
Arcadia’s innovative strategy for Newmarket Randwick weaves interpretive layers through the site to creatively tell the story of the precinct through the public realm. In particular, Inglis Park, the Sales Ring Playground, and the retail plaza have become focal points with an array of opportunities including soundscape, public art, interpretive elements and significant reuse of timber and bricks, salvaged from the original stables. This consistent language in material and form throughout the public realm succeeds in establishing a precinct-wide urban design response.
A collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach was taken at all stages of the project to resolve key challenges, including heritage and tree protection, integration with the Randwick public domain, and creating an access strategy that balanced the needs of residents, retail tenants, and the wider public to ensure the highly successful and activated place that Newmarket has become following its completion.
Retail and Dining
The Barker Street entrance has been designed to give a sense of place to Newmarket Randwick, activating this new neighbourhood with retail space, significant open space amenity and through site links from the busy northern end of the site.
People are drawn and connected to the civic and retail plaza which fronts Barker Street, fast becoming a destination. A central horse-shoe canopy, integrated fixed furniture, combined with the lighting and amenity, has created a unique personality for the central retail seating areas within the dining precinct.
Recognising the importance of pedestrian amenity, pathways lead visitors past characteristic features and heritage elements. Public streetscape interfaces and parkland exemplify a progressive approach to shared urban dwelling.
Park & Play
Envisioned as the new heart of Randwick, the 5,000 sqm Inglis Park has provided much needed accessible green space and pedestrian connections for the Randwick residents, students, staff and visitors at the nearby Hospital precinct. Inglis Park allows for a range of amenities, from meeting friends at the playground to yoga under the fig tree or kicking a soccer ball on the lawn.
A huge drawcard for Inglis Park is the Sales Ring Playground. Arcadia’s vision transformed the original framework into a suspended climbing and play structure that provides hours of play for children of all ages.
With its iconic Inglis lettering, the roof of the Big Stable is ever visible at the far end of the central axis, connecting people to the rich history of the site. People have pedestrian access through the southern residential Figtree Pocket, with the gates opening to the public during daylight hours.
Newmarket Eastern Precinct ( Newmarket Randwick)
Location: Randwick (Sydney), NSW, Australia
Landscape Architect: Arcadia Landscape Architecture
Master Plan Architects: Bates Smart
Landscape Contractors: Solutions Contracting
Branding, Environments and Wayfinding: BrandCulture
Statutory Planners: Urbis
Arborist: Tree IQ
Civil Engineering: AT&L
Retail: Angela Bonnerfin
Canopy Structure: HDR
Engineers: AT&L drainage and SCP Structural
Lighting Designers: Point of View
Landscape Contractors: Solutions Contracting
Branding, Environments and Wayfinding: BrandCulture
Heritage Consultants: OCP Architects
Client: Cbus Property
Photographers:
Brett Boardman
Paul McMillan
Felix Mooneeram