Cook and Phillip Park

Gazing across Cook and Phillip Park, can you envision a bustling convict garden? Cook and Phillip Park, a vibrant green space today, holds a captivating history. Opened in 1999, this almost 4-hectare park near St Mary’s Cathedral was once a walled garden for convicts. Established in 1819, the garden struggled due to poor soil and was abandoned by 1831. The land remained vacant until College Street divided it from Hyde Park in 1832. The area we know as Cook and Phillip Park wasn’t always a unified space. Originally, two separate parks, Cook Park and Phillip Park, existed. Divided by Boomerang Street, they honored Captain James Cook and Captain Arthur Phillip. The parks hosted a bowling club, playground, and even Sydney Council’s plant nursery. A Fragrance Garden was added in 1962 for workers at the nearby Industrial Blind Institute. This institute later made way for the Park Lane Towers apartments. Cook and Phillip Park underwent a significant transformation in 1997. Boomerang Street and the bowling club were removed. A modern swimming pool complex and paved concourse were built in front of the Cathedral. This redevelopment, completed in 1999, created the contemporary park we see today. It’s a popular spot with a gym, indoor courts, and multiple pools. From a convict garden to a modern recreation hub, Cook and Phillip Park’s journey reflects the ever-evolving story of Sydney.