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The first of 13 sculptural timber elements have been installed at The Cutaway, a below-ground event space near the waterfront at Barangaroo Reserve. Carved out of concrete and sandstone, The Cutaway is expected to open in early 2026 and will feature a grand, sandstone main hall and two versatile event levels. Mr Minns said installation of the 16m tall timber “trees”, which form the centre piece of the The Cutaway’s design, marked 85 per cent completion of the project. “This is one of the most beautiful venues in the world, not just in Australia,” Mr Minns said. “They (the builders) have delivered a space that’s on par with the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and our iconic harbour. “I can’t wait for the people of Sydney to see it, and I can’t wait to brag to every other city and state around Australia at how good and how beautiful Sydney is.” Mr Minns said The Cutaway would “be used for decades to come”. “We continue our work to bring Sydney back to life and restore our reputation as one of the great global cities for culture, night life and tourism,” he said. “Projects like The Cutaway show what’s possible when we invest in world-class venues that attract visitors, create jobs and re-energise our night-time economy. “We’re rebuilding Sydney’s vibrancy by backing our creative industries, our venues and our local jobs.” Lands and property manager Steve Kamper said The Cutaway would become “the beating heart of Barangaroo”. “Delivering this new unique venue will ensure Barangaroo is a must-visit destination,” he said. “Once completed, it will be another iconic institution set on the harbour, hosting a diverse range of events that will really assist in unlocking the potential of the precinct.” Guided by the principle of Connecting of Country, the redesign of The Cutaway draws on collaboration with First Nations designers Shannon Foster and Jake Nash. It will also reflect the curved forms of the giba-gunya or rock shelter. Arts Minister John Graham said the venue would host leading events, such as the Sydney Festival, Sydney Fringe Festival and Vivid. He said there was “real demand” for some of Sydney’s existing venues, namely the International Convention Centre and White Bay Power Station, “I’d be hopeful of other arts and cultural events such as the Biennale over time will be hosted at The Cutaway, Mr Graham said. “It’ll also link to the ICC and you’ll see the space used to really welcome in large groups of people, some of those commercial arrangements as well. “So it’ll be a mix of those things, but this will be a place for Sydney to celebrate.”
