Save Fitzroy Gardens > Neglect of the Fitzroy Gardens

Sydney Council's Neglect of the Fitzroy Gardens
Kings Cross, Sydney


Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Cross, neglect (image 2b)

Broken and crumbling tiles, cavities and uneven surfaces in the Fitzroy Gardens.


On 17th May 2011 council issued a media release stating these gardens will be preserved, with Clover Moore stating:

"I believe the best way forward is to preserve the park -- to keep it just the way it is with only some vital heritage and maintenance work undertaken." [my emphasis]

This statement followed a Lord Mayoral Minute of 16th May 2011 item 3.2 stating:

"It is resolved that:
(A) Council not continue with the development of a concept plan for Fitzroy Gardens or concept design for Lawrence Hargrave Reserve;

(B) the Chief Executive Officer be requested to prepare a maintenance regime and site management plan for Fitzroy Gardens and Lawrence Hargrave Reserve; [my emphasis] ... "

However, a site inspection by members of our group today found:

• many broken and crumbling tiles causing trip and public safety hazards, about 80 such tiles uneven surfaces and large cavities between tiles, more than one finger's width between tiles
• decayed rendering around bollards
• delamination on the northern-most wall
• more than 4,000 broken tiles on the northern side pavement between the gardens and The Rex apartment building. This has been caused by council allowing heavy-weight trucks into this area in the past: these thin tiles are loosely laid on sand and were never design to take the weight of trucks delivering goods for the markets or Maggies Cafe

The following images show the current situation:

Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Cross, neglect (image 1b)

More broken tiles with spaces up to a finger width between them.


Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Cross, neglect (image 3b)

Delamination on the northern-most wall in the Fitzroy Gardens.


Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Cross, neglect (image 4b)

Unrepaired gap in one of the planters.


In November 2012 Mr Andrew Woodhouse sent an email to Ms Monica Barone, CEO of the Council of the City of Sydney, giving the above facts and images showing the neglect of the Fitzroy Gardens.

In that email he also made a request for information from Ms Barone:


"Please provide the following information:

1. the maintenance plan for Fitzroy Gardens referred to in the Lord Mayor's Minute of 16th May 2011

2. the site management plan for Fitzroy Gardens referred to in the Lord Mayor's Minute of 16th May 2011

3. an explanation of why vital maintenance work referred to in council's media release of 17th May 2011 has not been undertaken

4. when all the maintenance matters I refer to above will be completed

5. why it is unreasonable for members of our community think council is indulging in "demolition by neglect" of this sensitive site."

To date, none of this information has been provided by Council.

* * * * *

The Friends of Fitzroy Gardens thanks Mr Andrew Woodhouse, President of the Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage Conservation Society, for the above report.


Author: Andrew Woodhouse, Potts Point, Sydney.

Andrew Woodhouse is a heritage writer.



Related Page:
Council's Neglect of the Fitzroy Gardens: Weeks to Repair a Public Toilet





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