Remnant Sydney brick kilns to become community arts facility

City of Sydney councillors have approved a project to restore the interior of a brick kiln at Sydney Park to create a space for art exhibitions and small-scale community events.

Sydney parks was once home to a large brick-making facility thanks to the abundance of clay soil. The remnant structures, including the brick kilns and chimneys, are locally heritage listed for cultural and historic significance.

The restoration of Down Draught Kiln 2 will be part of the Sydney Park Brick Kilns Precinct Renewal project, originally endorsed by the council in August 2022. Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and JMD Design were appointed to create a concept design for the renewal project.

"The history of the Brick Kilns Precinct has been made visible and celebrated as a sculpture garden. Lost elements such as the railway tracks, the processing plant, and some kiln structures will be reinterpreted in the design, unearthing and linking the narrative of its hidden history," said Tonkin Zulaikha Greer in a statement on its website.

Since then, the council has undertaken investigation to determine the feasibility of activating one more kiln for community use.

Down Draught Kiln 2 was identified as the only one of the structures capable of accommodating internal gatherings. The newly endorsed scope of works also includes creating a raised lawn area and plaza spaces for small outdoor gatherings, improving access to Sydney Park from Princes Highway and stabilising the brick kilns and reinstating roofs on the structures. Two larger kilns - the Hardy and Hoffman kilns - will also be restored as part of the project scope.

"This is the largest intact precinct of brick kilns in the state and opening up a small part of it for art exhibitions and other community events is a fantastic result for our communities," said lord mayor Clover Moore.

Sydney Park has space to move, sporting and fitness facilities, a cycling centre, playground, a skate park, our city farm and a host of native wildlife. This project to restore the brick kilns and chimneys site will further improve this award-winning park."

Construction on the project will begin within the next year.