Sydney Darling Harbour Harbourside shopping centre to be demolished

One of Australia’s most iconic shopping centres will soon be demolished as part of a major tourism ‘facelift‘.

Darling Harbour’s Harbourside shopping centre will be scrapped and replaced by a 42-storey residential tower as part of Sydney‘s $2billion plan to revamp its iconic harbour.

Work on the building will begin in January 2023 – some 35 years after Queen Elizabeth II opened the centre in 1988 as part of Australia’s Bicentennial celebrations.

Property giant Mirvac will oversee the project which will add 300 luxury homes, commercial offices, a retail precinct and outdoor areas to the waterfront.

Sydney’s Harbourside shopping centre (above) will be demolished in January 2023 as part of a $2billion plan to remodel the harbour

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The entire harbourside remodelling is scheduled to be complete by mid-2027.

The shopping centre has been left largely empty since Covid took a hit on the retail industry in 2021.

However, store owners that stuck through the tough times and remained in the centre are upset they’re now being forced out. 

Shops to be affected include the Hard Rock Cafe, Typo, McDonald’s, Ally Fashion and Pancakes on the Rocks. 

‘All the businesses are very upset about having to close down, but what do we do, it’s beyond us,’ Lilly Makhoul from Marco Gianni Shoes told 7News. 

Minister for Cities Rob Stokes said the difficult process will put Sydney back on the world stage.

‘From Bays West to Circular Quay, we’re breathing new life into Sydney’s harbour foreshore to make it greener, more accessible and more beautiful,’ Mr Stokes said.

‘The project will deliver a hectare of precious public open space, include a 3,500sqm new park and a widening of the waterfront promenade.’

Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Alister Henskens said the project is set to support more than 2,000 construction jobs and create nearly 4,500 jobs once complete.

‘This project will create an iconic new precinct in the heart of Sydney that will boost our economy, create jobs and strengthen our visitor economy,’ Mr Henskens said.

‘The NSW Government has achieved another significant milestone entering into an agreement with Mirvac to redevelop the site at no cost to taxpayers.’