Sydney’s Inner West is renowned for its vibrant and progressive community. Inspired by its rich Aboriginal, multicultural and industrial history, it has now evolved into a destination to experience creativity at its best and an arts capital of Australia.
The suburb of Marrickville was recently named number ten in Time Out’s Top 40 Coolest Neighbourhoods in the world, which ranks “places to be for food and fun, art and culture, atmosphere and personality”.
To further boost this global recognition, Inner West icon, Marrickville Metro, was thrilled to partner with Inner West Council to deliver an exciting new arts program.
Centre Manager, Dean Young, explained: “The public arts program developed with Inner West Council is a fantastic corporate, local government, community and creative partnership, unique in its co-curatorial approach. The model for the program is to partner local artists with their neighbours and community to collaboratively develop original artworks, each individually inspired by shared stories, history and ideas of Marrickville.”
The first round of commissions installed throughout September and October 2020 responded to an open call out run by the Inner West Council and Marrickville Metro late last year, with installations continuing until April 2021. The incredible local and internationally renowned artists selected through the open EOI process include Georgia Hill, Liz Shreeve, Helen Proctor and Fintan Magee.
The artworks will be displayed on the exterior of the new centre located on Smidmore Street, Edinburgh Road and Murray Street in Marrickville.
“With further commissions to be announced, this program consolidates Inner West Council and Marrickville Metro’s firm commitment to support talented local artists and the creative sector, expanding local employment opportunities and showcasing the valuable contribution they make to our Inner West community,” said Caroline McLeod, Acting Director City Living.
Marrickville Metro’s highly anticipated community-focused development is set to open mid-2021.
The new community-inspired hub will include an exciting fresh food precinct and a mix of specialty retailers handpicked from some of the best names in local produce and hospitality. It will also feature a market-style showcase of artisan fresh produce, food products, authentic ethnic cuisines and a variety of indoor and alfresco dining and drinking destinations. The food precinct will be anchored by a new Coles supermarket, which brings another fresh food choice in addition to current offerings, Woolworths and ALDI.
About the development:
- The new development will be located at 20 Smidmore Street, Marrickville.
- The development is estimated to cost in excess of $142 million.
- Currently the centre is 22,000m2. The development will add an additional 11,000m2 making the total finished project 33,000m2.
- Coles makes up 3,942m2 of the additional 11,000m2
- The development will add an additional: • Full-service Coles supermarket in addition to Woolworths and ALDI
- A dedicated fresh food precinct
- Indoor and al fresco dining with cafés and restaurants
- Up to 44 new retail stores
- A pedestrian bridge and a street level ‘pedestrian only’ walkway connecting the new and old development space as well as a ‘pedestrian safe zone’ with wheelchair access.
- The new development will create an additional 455 parking spaces, taking the total car spaces to 1,473 on completion.
- Upon completion, the redevelopment is expected to bring at least 600 new jobs to the Inner West area.
- Hames Sharley have been engaged as the project architects.
- ADCO Constructions have been engaged as the project builders.
