A slice of Western Sydney's rich history will be sensitively restored and adapted to support jobs of the future with the plan to create a Startup Hub in the historic Parramatta North Heritage Core being approved.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the Sydney Central City Planning Panel's approval of the Western Sydney Startup Hub proposal was a significant milestone for the project.
"We can activate part of this prized heritage precinct in a way that will not only respect and conserve its past but ensure its viable future as the heart of startup business and innovation in Western Sydney," Mr Ayres said.
The approval will allow for three heritage buildings, which form part of the circa 1876 Hospital Spinal Range Building and circa 1892 Kitchen Block, to be adapted to create unique spaces for emerging entrepreneurs and local community use.
These spaces include 1,500sqm of affordable co-working space, a café, and a shared event space. Sensitive upgrades to the surrounding public area will also be undertaken.
"The Government is putting innovation at the centre of its COVID-19 Recovery Plan and the Western Sydney Startup Hub will have a key role in giving emerging businesses the opportunity to be involved in that recovery," Mr Ayres said.
"We are giving them the space to turn their ideas into commercial realities that will lead to more investment and jobs in the region.
"We will employ best-practice conservation methods to sensitively reinstate the national heritage-listed buildings for their future use."
Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said this is going to be a transformational project for Parramatta.
"We cannot wait to start welcoming startups, scaleups, businesses and the local community to the Western Sydney Startup Hub by the end of this year. It will be a transformative place and puts the Central City on the startup and innovation ecosystem map."
The project complements the broader Westmead Health and Innovation District, including the recently announced Innovation Quarter development, which will deliver over 1,000 jobs and 28,000sqm of health, research, education, and commercial space.
