DASCO Gathers Thousands at Danks St Celebration

The Waterloo Spring Festival saw the local community come together in a vibrant celebration of food, culture, art and connection.

Held on the planned site of Danks St District—a landmark Sydney mixed-use development by DASCO—the event welcomed more than 2500 pre-registered guests for a day of family fun, live entertainment and community engagement. 

Free ice-cream was on offer, as well as freshly shucked Sydney Rock Oysters and free food coupons redeemable at a range of food stalls serving local favourites.

The lively atmosphere was complemented by live music, market stalls and family-friendly activities throughout the day. 

Festival guests were offered insight into the Danks St District masterplan through the onsite information desk, while prospective buyers were taken across the road to the display suite for sales appointments.

▲ Four-legged friends joined the festivities at the Waterloo Spring Festival.

The festival garnered a strong level of interest, with multiple groups expressing enthusiasm about purchasing an apartment within the precinct.

The development will comprise six residential buildings, vibrant retail and dining laneways, a public park and curated public art spaces, designed to create a connected and culturally rich neighbourhood. 

The festival opened with a smoking ceremony led by Connection to Country consultants Bangawarra, acknowledging Country and welcoming the community to the site.

Bangawarra also hosted a stall to discuss their two artworks—Unforgetting Daragun and the Dalwah Circle, integrating First Nations knowledge through storytelling and local community workshops, which helped shape the project design and added uniqueness to the Danks St Precinct. 

D'harawal eora Knowledge Keeper and Bangawarra director Shannon Foster said, “The energy at the Waterloo Spring Festival was incredible and we were genuinely thrilled to be part of an event that brought so many people together in such a positive and generous way.

▲ Families enjoyed a day of art, music and food at DASCO’s community event.

“Sharing the stories of Country at the festival sparked so many meaningful conversations and it was great to see how many community members stopped by to try out string making, listen to stories and even share their own stories of the area,” Foster said.

“The festival was the perfect opportunity to not only share culture and tell stories but to also listen and learn as much as we shared.”

Danks St District is designed with the community, for the community. The six Public Art Programs are flagships of the precinct with two uniquely featured at the festival, as described by UAP principal and senior curator Danielle Robson; 

“DASCO's Spring Festival was a fantastic celebration of community and culture. 

“If you stopped by the oyster bar, you might have chatted with Keg de Souza about her artwork Follow the Water, a community table made of bespoke terrazzo layers that speak to different histories of the site. One of those layers will be made from crushed Sydney Rock oysters shells collected at the festival oyster bar, a nod to the deep time and ancient histories embedded here. 

▲ Danks St District will create a vibrant, connected community in the heart of Sydney.

 “Or perhaps you met artist/curator Heidi Axelsen in or between the Field Rooms, two custom designed spaces by MAPA art and architecture to host residencies over the next three years and beyond.

“Heidi is also developing a new artwork, Making the Invisible Visible, made from salvaged Sydney Water pipes and valves. The work playfully brings together the epic and the everyday dimensions of essential infrastructures, reimagining systems of maintenance as acts of joy, care and connection. 

“The Waterloo Spring Festival was a wonderful opportunity for the artists to connect with community and share stories about how this precinct will be a welcoming place for all.’’ 

The Waterloo Spring Festival was a celebration of what’s to come and a reflection of developer and builder DASCO’s commitment to building a connected, inclusive and creative community for generations to enjoy.

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