Belmore Park — Attraction in Sydney

Belmore Park is a public park at the southern end of the Sydney central business district in the Australian state of New South Wales. Adjacent to the Central railway station, the park is bounded by Hay Street, Eddy Avenue, Elizabeth Street and Pitt Street. The area was previously known as Police Paddock and was part of a section of Crown land which included the Police Barracks, Devonshire Street Cemetery, Female Refuge of the Good Samaritan, Benevolent Asylum and a common.

The area was landscaped and in 1868 it opened as a park dedicated to Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore the then Governor of New South Wales. In 1901 the whole area was resumed[2] for the construction of Sydney's Central railway station with the majority of excavated earth placed on the common, burying the original layout.[1] During the 1908–09 Royal Commission for the Improvement of the City of Sydney and Its Suburbs major landscaping works for the area were proposed by commissioner Norman Selfe.[3]

Due to its proximity to the city, and especially to Central station, the park has long been a place for groups to gather—for protests, markets, events or performances. For example, in 1878 in front of a large crowd, Henri L'Estrange unsuccessfully tried twice to launch himself in a gas balloon, while during the 2000 Summer Olympics the park became one of five "live sites" where the games were publicly broadcast.[4] In the late 1860s "Belmore Produce Markets" and Paddy's Markets were built in the area opposite the current park—now known as Haymarket.

The park is a key public transport hub. The final section of above-ground railway track forms the eastern edge of the park before going underground as the City Circle. Transdev John Holland buses in the direction of the Eastern Suburbs including express buses to the University of New South Wales depart from Eddy Avenue along which the CBD and South East Light Rail now runs. The western edge of the park is defined by a roadway ramp to the concourse level of the railway station. The terminus loop of the Inner West Light Rail line forms a ring around the entire park using ramps on both eastern and western edges to access the train...

On 19 May 1868 Belmore Park was dedicated for public recreation. The park was named after the Governor of NSW, the Rt Hon Somerset Richard Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl of Belmore in Ireland, who arrived in the colony in January 1868. Belmore Park of the 1880s and 1890s had a strong diagonal path system with an avenue of trees along its axis. A fountain was located with the pathway at the centre of park and the entrances were marked by stone pillars.

In 1901 the whole area was resumed for the construction of Central railway station. This included Hay Street Presbyterian church and manse or clergy residence, the cemetery, Belmore Park, police barracks, female refuge and the Benevolent Asylum. The sandstone manse building survived, and remains in-situ on the corner of Pitt and Hay streets. The majority of earth fill (80,000 cubic yards) from the railway station excavations was placed on Belmore Park, burying the original layout.

From 1900 to 1906 the park was bare earth with a few trees, and was rented for circus performances. It is believed the 3 Moreton Bay figs on the Eddy Avenue frontage are survivors of the original park. The park was returned to council management in 1907 and replanted with 'one of the city’s most spectacular single row plantations' of London plane trees. The bandstand was...

This park is located in Central Sydney. It’s a shortcut to go to Chinatown or Market City.

This park is probably not the best to do BBQ or a picnic as it’s not so clean.

It’s a great park to walk through but not to sit around and eat, and a little too small to exercise, there is no walking tracks etc and there are few homeless people sleeping in that park with tents & there are a few dodgy characters as well (so if you walk at night, maybe walk with a few other people) just be safe!!

If you are looking for a park to have a picnic at then I would suggest to head to Prince Albert park also in central, you can BBQ or have a picnic or exercise there!!!

If you do visit this park, please ensure you sit on the bench, as you might see rats running around in the park!! I always see it cross my path!!! Now you don’t want it jumping on your lap do you? Hahaha 😂 😂

But it’s nice park to visit. If you head there, make sure you visit market city or China town for the best foodie...