Callan Park

Located in Sydney’s inner west on the Parramatta River, historic Callan Park offers parklands, sporting grounds and green space.

Callan Park is part of Greater Sydney Parklands, which also manages some of Sydney’s most iconic parks: Centennial Parklands (including Moore Park and Queens Park), Western Sydney Parklands, Parramatta Park, and Fernhill Estate.

Combined, Greater Sydney Parklands oversees more than 6000 hectares of parklands across Sydney and hosts over 40 million visits each year.

Within Callan Park, Greater Sydney Parklands manages 38 hectares of the 61-hectare site, including the waterfront and central park areas (see Callan Park Management Precincts map (PDF 2.3MB)).

A draft Landscape Structure Plan (LSP), proposing a series of improvements to Callan Park, was publicly exhibited between 20 July and 14 September 2020. 

Over 1900 responses were received from individuals, organisations and government agencies. The feedback has informed the final LSP and several key changes have been made based on feedback including:

  • providing an accessible amenities block at Waterfront Green servicing Waterfront Green, Glover Street Sporting Ground and the Bay Run as part of Stage 1 upgrades
  • changes to vehicle access including retention of vehicle access to Military Drive, a ‘kiss n ride’ drop off area, new disabled parking near building 497, and 90-degree shoulder parking on the eastern side of Wharf Road
  • building a new pathway from Wharf Road to the Bay Run, which will provide access to the new amenities and connect the new carpark with the Bay Run
  • providing new pathway lighting, seating, and picnic facilities as part of Waterfront Green upgrade
  • preparing a Companion Animals Management Plan in consultation with the community and Inner West Council in early 2021.

The LSP has been endorsed by the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces as the blueprint for the park’s transformation, ensuring the unique heritage and picturesque waterfront setting of Callan Park is celebrated and enhanced. Further community engagement will be included in the next phase of planning and design of works to achieve this transformation.

You can view the final LSP and read a summary of community feedback and how it informed the final LSP on the Callan Park Landscape Structure Plan webpage.

Callan Park is the site of the former Rozelle Psychiatric Hospital which closed in 2008. The park continues to host a range of health, tertiary education and not-for-profit community purposes together with tranquil green spaces and heritage buildings. Activities in Callan Park are determined by the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002 which prohibits commercial activities and provides ongoing community access to the park. 

Sporting grounds in Callan Park

Inner West Council manages Callan Park's Balmain Road, Glover Street and Waterfront Drive sporting grounds and their associated buildings, B499 toilets (the Pavilion), B498 (Air Raid Shelter), B504 (Refugee Centre), B696 (Public Toilet Block) and B703 (Electrical Store), under a 10-year lease with the Health Administration Corporation. The lease also allows community and sporting clubs to use the sporting grounds.

You can view the Inner West Council lease boundaries in the boundaries map (PDF 573KB).

COVID-19 update

Safeguarding the health and safety of our staff and visitors is our priority and we are following advice from state and federal governments to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

To protect the health of staff and park visitors no bookings for events or activities will be taken until further notice. We ask you to practice social distancing while visiting Callan Park and follow government and health advice on public gatherings. For up-to-date information on COVID-19 please visit the NSW Government website.

Getting to Callan Park

The main vehicle entries to Callan Park are from Balmain Road into Wharf Road, and gate A from Balmain road opposite Cecily Street.

Callan Park is easy to reach on public transport – see Transport for NSW.

Callan Park map

The map below shows entry points, street names, and the location of government and non-government organisations, sporting grounds and amenities.

To view a larger map, please click on the map image (PDF 2.1MB).

Callan Park site map

Dogs in Callan Park

The Companion Animals Act which stipulates that dogs must be leashed in public places and sets a maximum of 4 dogs per owner (or person in charge) in public places, has applied to all accessible areas of Callan Park, including its open space and foreshores, since the Act’s introduction in 1998. Inner West Council, as the relevant local authority, is the body responsible for administering this Act in Callan Park.

Designated off-leash areas in Callan Park are restricted to the 3 sporting grounds when organised sporting activities are not taking place and following the Council off-leash maps. See signage at each sporting ground for more information.

Activities, events and ceremonies in Callan Park

Private non-commercial and non-for-profit community events and ceremonies in Callan Park will be considered on application.

You can complete the application form (DOCX 71KB) and email it to callan.park@environment.nsw.gov.au.

Commercial activities are not permitted within Callan Park, under the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002.

For further information about activities and events in the park, you can:

Callan Park, sporting ground club house, Lilyfield NSW

Purpose

The guideline provides direction for the application, approval and management of booked activities and events at Callan Park.

The guideline has been developed to ensure approved activities and events align with the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002 (the Act), appropriate risk, safety, traffic and management planning is undertaken, and the conditions of use which form part of the activity approval process are met.

Where necessary, activities and events will need Inner West Council DA approval, consistent with the requirements of the Act.

Aims and objectives

The Act protects and preserves the existing open space, historical buildings and landscape and ensures public access to Callan Park, including for active and passive recreation.

The Act restricts activities in Callan Park to education and community not-for-profit uses, as well as health uses.

Proposed activities and events in Callan Park will:
  • encourage fair community access, use and enjoyment of Callan Park
  • be non-commercial and aligned to the Callan Park Act
  • respect and protect the heritage buildings, gardens and landscape features
  • be considerate and minimise disruption and impact to other park users, including NSW Health-related tenants across the site
  • have appropriate risk and management plans in place, and approvals from all other relevant authorities.

Approval

All activities, regardless of scale, must have written approval from the landowner NSW Health, or the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment as the agent acting on their behalf. This includes activities and events that are based in the sporting grounds under lease to Inner West Council, and in Health managed precincts, where any part of the proposed activity will take place on Department managed land.

The Department may refer the applicant to Inner West Council for advice on whether the activity or event will require Planning Approval by Inner West Council's Development Assessment and Regulatory Services team.

Approval for an activity or event in Callan Park is at the absolute discretion of NSW Health.

Activity application

A minimum 3 months is required to process all activity applications, including for repeat or annual events. The applicant should seek early advice from the Department on whether DA approval will be required, and make appropriate allowances.

Applicants must complete the Callan Park Event application form (DOCX 71KB), and complete the Callan Park Conditions of Use form (DOCX 54KB).

The application review process considers

  • compliance with the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002
  • event scale and activity type
  • management plans for traffic, risk, safety and security
  • event schedule, including contact details of the event coordination team
  • relevant certificates of currency
  • DA consent and conditions, or other approvals (i.e. Roads and Maritime Services) where required
  • scheduling conflicts with other events or activities
  • site conditions, including alternative weather plans.

A recommendation of approval is made by the Department to the landowner, NSW Health.

Where the event starts and finishes outside Callan Park, or on a part of the Park not managed by the Department, organisers must also seek approval to access Callan Park by completing and submitting the Callan Park Event application form.

Fees

Activity fees, and an application processing fee, may apply. A security bond may also be required.

Separate fees may apply if the proposed activity is also on leased land, for example, the sporting grounds leased by Inner West Council, or is in a part of Callan Park managed by NSW Health. Extra fees will apply if the event requires DA approval by Inner West Council.

Event organisers are responsible for operational costs and other fees.

Responsibilities

The Department assesses applications for events and activities on behalf of NSW Health.

The Department will refer activity applications to Inner West Council for further planning approval assessment as required.

The applicant is responsible for managing the event, including risk and safety, waste management and site security.

Commercial filming

Activities in Callan Park are subject to the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002.

Under the Act, commercial filming or photography undertaken by a business or for advertising or commercial gain is not permitted. This applies to all interiors and exteriors in Callan Park, including buildings and courtyards in the Kirkbride complex.

Non-commercial, not-for-profit and student filming

Non-commercial filming, including by students, may be possible in Callan Park for exteriors only. Filming inside buildings is not permitted.

A written application for non-commercial, not-for-profit or student filming is required for all filming requests, with a minimum notice period of 3 weeks before your preferred date.

Please complete the application form (DOCX 71KB), filling out all details and providing a copy of your current certificate of currency for public liability (minimum $10 million cover) and submit to callan.park@environment.nsw.gov.au.

Applicants will be advised via email of the outcomes of their application.

For more information please contact us by email callan.park@environment.nsw.gov.au.

Speed limits and parking

Pedestrians and cyclists have the right-of-way at all times in Callan Park. The speed limit is 25 kilometres except in the shared zone at Waterfront Drive (the Bay Run), where a 10 kilometres speed limit applies.

There is free parking in designated parking areas. Vehicles must not be parked on grass, or where they will affect pedestrian and cyclist safety or other traffic.