White Bay Power Station – A New Life for a Historic Landmark
Clients: Place Management NSW C/- CBRE Development and Infrastructure
Project Type: Transport
A Century-Old Icon Reimagined
On the shores of Sydney Harbour, the White Bay Power Station (WBPS) stands as a commanding relic of Australia’s industrial rise. First commissioned in 1912, the station once powered Sydney’s growing tram and rail network — a literal engine room for progress. But after decades of partial demolition and repurposing, the station fell dormant in 1983.
Today, after more than 40 years of silence, WBPS is entering a bold new chapter. Following extensive remediation and interim activation, the site is transforming into a vibrant cultural, community and active transport hub.
Douglas Partners is proud to be playing a role in this transformation — supporting safe access and design development through expert geotechnical investigation services.
Urban Renewal at a Historic Scale
The revitalisation of WBPS is one of Sydney’s most ambitious urban renewal projects.
At the centre of this vision is the Power Station itself — a heritage-listed structure that retains rare, intact examples of early 20th-century machinery, steelwork, and turbine halls.
In 2024, WBPS hosted the 24th Biennale of Sydney, marking the first time the public had access to its cavernous interior in decades. Over 180,000 visitors walked through its iron gates during the 10-week event.
Why It Matters: Community, Culture and Connection
The project is more than a heritage facelift — it’s about building places people can use, move through and feel connected to.
The next phase focuses on delivering active transport infrastructure to improve pedestrian safety, reduce reliance on cars, and better connect the site to nearby public transport. This includes:
- A shared pedestrian and cycle path along Victoria Road
- New signalised crossings at key intersections
- Landscaping and place enhancements to improve amenity and accessibility
These upgrades are critical to re-integrating the WBPS precinct into the broader urban fabric — supporting safe, walkable access to major event venues.
Douglas Partners’ Role: Safe Ground for Smart Infrastructure
Douglas Partners is contributing geotechnical expertise to help inform the design and construction of these crucial upgrades.
Our work is focused on investigating ground conditions across several transport and public domain projects that support the activation of WBPS. These include:
- Southern Link pedestrian and cycleway: Improving access through the precinct and connecting to the light rail
- Victoria Road shared path widening: Addressing safety and accessibility between Rozelle Interchange and the WBPS boundary
- Roberts / Mullens Street signalisation: Upgrading intersections to improve pedestrian navigation and visibility
Douglas Partners managed the geotechnical investigation and coordinated underground utility mapping and topographic survey services, which were delivered by Durkin under a sub-consultant agreement. These investigations provided valuable data to support informed decision-making by engineers and designers. All works were undertaken with consideration for underground utilities, heritage sensitivities and environmental requirements.
Respecting the Heritage, Enabling the Future
One of the biggest challenges — and opportunities — of working on a project like WBPS is balancing technical complexity with heritage significance.
The station’s historic architecture is protected under NSW heritage laws. That means any infrastructure upgrades must be designed and built with minimal disturbance to the fabric of the site.
Douglas Partners’ decades-long experience with brownfield, constrained and high-risk urban sites is a key enabler here. Our team understands the layered history of places like WBPS — and we know how to support progress without compromising what makes them special.
Environmental Considerations and Urban Liveability
The revitalisation of WBPS aligns with NSW Government goals to improve urban sustainability and liveability. Key principles include:
- Reducing car dependency through better active transport
- Creating inclusive and accessible public spaces
- Restoring degraded land for community benefit
- Supporting cultural uses and creative industries
Geotechnical planning plays a pivotal role in each of these. Whether it’s stabilising ground for new footpaths or helping map subsurface constraints for landscaping, these investigations are a foundational part of building better places.
How It All Comes Together
The White Bay Power Station transformation brings together:
- Heritage preservation: Safeguarding industrial architecture for the next generation
- Community access: Creating safe, practical ways for people to move through and engage with the space
- Sustainable infrastructure: Delivering greener, people-first transport connections
- Cultural opportunity: Supporting local and global events in a one-of-a-kind venue
Douglas Partners is proud to be part of this once-in-a-generation project, working with Place Management NSW and its delivery partners to help create something lasting for the people of Sydney.
The Road Ahead
The revitalisation of White Bay Power Station is already making waves. It’s a reminder of what smart, strategic planning — grounded in trust, expertise and practical investigation — can help achieve.
Learn More About Our Services
Douglas Partners continues to deliver the geotechnical and environmental solutions for Australia’s most ambitious infrastructure programs. If you’d like to discuss your project needs, get in touch with us.