Sydney Fringe Festival Announces 2017 Program at the “HPG Hub”

A huge vacant warehouse space, gifted by Chinese-owned developer HPG Australia, will become the headquarters for the Sydney Fringe Festival held in September.

The festival, Sydney's largest independent festival, has announced its 2017 program to be held at the former FedEx Warehouse complex on Euston Road in Alexandria.

The Sydney Fringe Festival will partner with the Hailiang Property Group Pty Ltd (HPG), the Australian arm of Chinese-based Hailiang Group. HPG has received DA approval for a mixed-use development at the site.

[Related reading: Approval Granted For Landmark Lifestyle & Cultural Precinct On Sydney Park Fringe]

The 7000 sq m space, dubbed the "HPG Festival Hub" will house the festival which features an incredible program of bold, brave, exceptional artists, mind-blowing one-off events and immersive theatrical experiences.

Over 350 events are planned across September as part of the Sydney Fringe, and according to HPG’s Managing Director, Dr Adrian Liu, the company is tremendously proud to support the 2017 Festival.

“It is fantastic to see this completely empty, disused and enormous space be literally brought to life with a diverse array of installations, activations, performances and events for all ages by the immensely talented artists of the Sydney Fringe,” Dr Liu said.

“We are at the start of a dramatic and transformative journey for this unique site, which in future will be home to our upcoming project, ‘Sydney Park Life’ – the only residential development to adjoin a spectacular 44-hectare landscape-designed public park.

“This is an amazing opportunity and we are delighted that an arts festival as much loved and celebrated as the Sydney Fringe Festival is a part of that story.”

Concept image of Sydney Park Life siteThe "Sydney Park Life" site to be developed by HPG spans approximately 2.1 hectares and aims to become one of Sydney’s most revitalised, mixed-use precincts, incorporating world-class architecture, public art, vibrant retail spaces, green spaces and common areas.

When completed, it will be Sydney’s only inner-city residential community to be incorporated within a 44-hectare park environment. A City of Sydney public park, Sydney Park is the third largest park in inner-city Sydney.

Dr Liu also outlined how the Sydney Fringe is a natural fit with the Sydney Park Life project.

“The Festival embodies and embraces the very principles which we will be delivering at Sydney Park Life, which is set to become a vibrant new precinct in the heart of Sydney’s culturally-rich inner-west.

“This partnership is also allowing us to open our doors and welcome the community in to explore this huge, cavernous space and be a part the transformation which will take place over the coming years.”

HPG entered the Australian marketplace in 2015. Controlled by billionaire Feng Hailiang, HPG is one of China’s largest copper tubing and alloy manufacturers and owns five listed companies in mainland China, Hong Kong and the US.

The company is responsible for the delivery of around AUD$500 million worth of sales in Sydney to date.