The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinarsUrbanity
Industry Excellence
Urban Leader
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
Urban Leader Awards Logos RGB White
NOMINATIONS CLOSE SEPTEMBER 12 RECOGNISING THE INDIVIDUALS BEHIND THE PROJECTS
NOMINATIONS CLOSING SEPTEMBER 12 URBAN LEADER AWARDS
LEARN MOREDETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
SHARE
print
Print
RetailClare BurnettWed 24 Apr 24

New Queer Future Beckons for Former Sydney Police Station

Qtopia EDM

Not-for-profit Qtopia has applied to permanently transform a former police station into the Sydney Centre for Queer History and Culture. 

Along with Create NSW—the NSW Government’s arts and culture driver—Qtopia has submitted plans to permanently dedicate the building at 301 Forbes Street as a celebration of queer culture.

The building is of particular significance to the LGBTQIA+ community because it is the former Darlinghurst Police Station where the original 1978 Mardi Gras protesters were detained.

It was decommissioned in the 1980s before being used as the offices for health services responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis.

“The use of this building for the purpose of the Centre for Queer History and Culture represents a unique and significant opportunity to renew the history and future of this building for an important community purpose,” the development application said.

The $330,000 proposal, filed with the City of Sydney Council, plans to use the property for what Qtopia said would be the first facility in NSW to represent the history, culture and stories of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Under the plan there would be internal reconfigurations, retail uses provided and minor internal updates made to the building.

Since December, 2023 the ground floor of the site has been temporarily used by Qtopia as a museum, having been inaugurated at the 2024 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

null
▲ The 1978 Mardi Gras started as a peaceful march and degenerated into a violent clash with police. Image: The Pride History Group

Now, Create NSW and Qtopia want to ensure that the site be used permanently for the cultural landmark, and add an ancillary entertainment and office space to be housed within the building. 

The site is within the Oxford Street Cultural and Creative Precinct, identified as a key cultural centre that has undergone significat development in recent years, including the development of new headquarters for Sony.

Transforming a site with a chequered history into an important gathering place to learn about and celebrate Queer cultures will “encourage activation located off Oxford Street for a new and unique use, drawing diverse audiences and helping to stimulate the local economy during the festival,” the application said.

There is extensive potential for placemaking, it said, building upon the area’s rich history of creative and cultural uses, and close to employment and educational institutions including the National Art School and UNSW Art and Design Campus.

RetailOfficeEducationdo not useAustraliaPlanningPolicyMarketingPlanningPolicy
AUTHOR
Clare Burnett
More articles by this author
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
Stockland bumps up its apartment pipeline in melbourne and sydney
Exclusive

Stockland Re-Enters Density in $5bn Apartment Play

Renee McKeown
4 Min
Woolloongabba Precinct Vulture St
Exclusive

Brisbane Developer in Cross River Rail Compensation Tussle

Clare Burnett
4 Min
The Mondrian Gold Coast hotel's food and beverage is driving profits
Exclusive

Touch, Taste, Theatre: What’s Driving Mondrian’s Success

Renee McKeown
6 Min
Fortis’ display suites are designed as brand environments first, with tactile details and curated design to build buyer confidence before project specifics.
Exclusive

Relevant or Redundant: Will Tech Kill Display Suites?

Vanessa Croll
7 Min
Exclusive

Missing Heart: Why The Gold Coast Needs a CBD

Phil Bartsch
7 Min
View All >
South Melbourne social housing precinct
Affordable & Social Housing

South Melbourne Housing Precinct Revamp Takes Next Step

Leon Della Bosca
Aerial view of Caboolture and Bruce highway to Brisbane with Bribie Island Road crossing, Queensland, Australia
Policy

Queensland’s $2bn Push Opens New Housing Front

Vanessa Croll
Stockland bumps up its apartment pipeline in melbourne and sydney
Exclusive

Stockland Re-Enters Density in $5bn Apartment Play

Renee McKeown
The property giant’s strategic shift to higher density is in full flight as details of two landmark projects are made pu…
LATEST
South Melbourne social housing precinct
Affordable & Social Housing

South Melbourne Housing Precinct Revamp Takes Next Step

Leon Della Bosca
2 Min
Aerial view of Caboolture and Bruce highway to Brisbane with Bribie Island Road crossing, Queensland, Australia
Policy

Queensland’s $2bn Push Opens New Housing Front

Vanessa Croll
2 Min
Stockland bumps up its apartment pipeline in melbourne and sydney
Exclusive

Stockland Re-Enters Density in $5bn Apartment Play

Renee McKeown
4 Min
JQZ Parramatta EDM
Residential

JQZ Plots 10-Storey Addition to Parramatta ‘Auto Alley’ Plans

Clare Burnett
3 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/queer-history-museum-darlinghurst-sydney