Callan Park is located on the foreshore of the Parramatta River, spanning 61 hectares. Greater Sydney Parklands manages 38 of the 61 hectares, including the waterfront and central park areas (see Callan Park Management Precincts map [PDF 2.3MB]). The remaining 22 hectares are owned by NSW Health, which manages education, community and health functions on the park's periphery.
Greater Sydney Parklands also manages some of Sydney's most iconic parks, including Centennial Parklands, Western Sydney Parklands, Parramatta Park and Fernhill Estate.
Callan Park is on Gadigal Wangal Country and encompasses several important cultural heritage sites with a strong connection to Country for our First Nations people. Callan Park is cherished for its rich architectural heritage and its history as a hospital for the treatment of mental health disorders, which began in the 1870s and continued until the hospital closed in the early 2000s.
Activities in Callan Park are governed by the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002 to ensure the site remains in public ownership and the community have ongoing access to the park's open spaces and foreshore.