Darling Harbour News April 2016

Signs of the City

April sees Sign City inhabit Darling Harbour-a unique mix of outdoor art exhibition, Signspotting, and a free school holiday program.



Doug Lansky, author of Lonely Planet's bestselling Signspotting books, has come across many 'lost in translation' signs during his travels. Signspotting brings together the quirky, humorous or just downright weird. At this free outdoor exhibition, visitors can explore over 100 examples of delightfully strange global miscommunication.



Children can also enjoy drop-in workshops in a creative construction zone, where they'll be decked out in hard hats and high-vis vests before enjoying interactive artist-led sessions. The workshops are recommended for ages 6-12 and all children must be accompanied by an adult.



Signspotting Exhibition

Sat 16 April - Sun 1 May

Open all hours

Cockle Bay South

Free



Sign City Kids' Workshops

Sat 16 - Mon 25 April

11am - 3pm

Palm Grove

Free

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ICC Sydney raises the roof!

ICC Sydney recently celebrated a major milestone, with the lift of the exhibition centre roof. This engineering feat is usually reserved for aircraft hangers, bridges and stadiums, and NSW Premier Mike Baird was on site with Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance to see it happen.

Premier Baird said ICC Sydney is on track for completion in December and will provide a boost to the NSW economy of $200 million every year. "ICC Sydney is making great progress - it will truly cement Sydney as the number one place to live, work and do business, and retain its rightful place on the international stage," Mr Baird said.

Close to 40 major international conventions and 50 exhibitions have now been secured for ICC Sydney. Kicking off the 2017 exhibition season is the Reed Gift Fairs, which takes up all halls across the centre and is expected to attract 500 exhibitors and 20,000 buyers.

Already more than 7,000 people have worked across the site, and ICC Sydney is currently recruiting the 2,000 people that will help deliver superior event experiences.

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Is your favourite playground in Darling Harbour?

The Darling Harbour Children's Playground is nominated as Australia's Best Playground in the People's Choice awards run by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. The playground keeps children entertained for hours with its water games, climbing ropes, swings, slides and flying foxes.



We've always believed that Darling Harbour's playground is one of Australia's best. If you agree, please join us and vote for it.



Voting closes on 28 April 2016 with finalists announced the very next day. The national winner will be known on 24 May this year. We'll keep you posted on the results.

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Work begins on Cockle Bay marine structures

Harbourside Jetty, Promenade and Steps will be closed in late April in preparation for demolition works as part of the planned renewal of marine structures in Cockle Bay. These structures are at the end of their working lives and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) has development consent to remove them.



Demolition works will begin at the end of April. The safety hoardings will carry bright wayfinding signage and will be see-through wherever possible, to preserve views to the water.



All works will be completed from the water and are expected to have minimal impact on commercial and residential premises and visitors to Cockle Bay. The works are expected to take around 12 weeks and be finished before the annual Sydney International Boat Show.



The approved site working hours are 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 3pm on Saturday and no noisy works will be undertaken between 12 noon and 2pm.



In addition, the South Steyne will leave Cockle Bay after some 21 years in the precinct, first as an information centre for the 2000 Olympic Games and then as a floating restaurant and function centre.



Panoramic views of the historic Pyrmont Bridge will be restored and Cockle Bay will be opened up for bigger and better public events.



The South Steyne is a moveable heritage item under the State Heritage Register and is privately owned. It was the best known of the Manly ferries and served for 36 years from 1938. SHFA continues to provide assistance to the owner in finding a new berth.



During demolition works, both the wharf at Convention Jetty and the Darling Harbour Marina will remain open.



SHFA has development consent to build a new public ferry wharf and water taxi ranks to service the new ICC Sydney; construction will be scheduled following the demolition works.

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Milestone strategies released

A public domain strategy and accompanying manual, as well as a living heritage strategy are now available for Darling Harbour.



These documents establish design and heritage management principles and guidelines for the precinct, as well as technical details to support place making.



SHFA developed the public domain documents with input from a number of state government agencies and other organisations, and the living heritage strategy to meet our heritage obligations.



Together, these strategies support place making and visitor engagement that help to make Darling Harbour the world's most inspiring and innovative waterfront-a place embraced by all.

A public domain strategy and manual and a living heritage strategy are also now available for The Rocks. Releasing these documents marks a milestone in the ongoing management of both precincts.

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Be bewitched by singing sirens

Harbourside Shopping Centre brings Adelaide Fringe's The Sirens to Darling Harbour. This stunning large-scale outdoor visual theatre event is based around the island-dwelling sirens of Greek mythology—beautiful yet fatally dangerous creatures who enchant sailors with their music and voices, luring them to their deaths by shipwreck on the island's rocky coast.

Standing over 4-metres tall and clad in dazzling dresses of coloured lights, four modern-day Sirens with voices to die for will lure audiences in Darling Harbour during a series of evening performances.

In two bewitching shows each evening, The Sirens' larger-than-life voices will combine popular and classic songs across the genres of soul, pop, jazz and opera. Audiences will also have the opportunity to get up close with these divine creatures before and after the performance as they roam in front of the amphitheatre, engaging with admirers and posing for 'selfies'.

The Sirens is an unforgettable and entertaining night-time experience for all ages.

Presented by Harbourside Shopping Centre, Adelaide Fringe and The Art Engineers.

The Sirens

Thu 7 April - Sun 1 May

Thu-Sun

6pm - 7pm and 7.30pm - 8.30pm

Harbourside Amphitheatre

Free

harbourside.com.au

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Cockle Bay lights up for visiting international group

Cockle Bay will be the aquatic theatre for a spectacular show which welcomes 4,000 visitors from Asia. The bay will be lit up with a floating stage, water screens, laser lights and fireworks on the evening of Thursday 14 April.



The delegates will visit Darling Harbour during their week-long visit to Sydney.



We worked with Business Events Sydney, Destination NSW and Tourism Australia to secure the event, an incentive tour for qualifying salespeople who work with Nu Skin in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.



Nu Skin is a marketing company which develops and sells personal care products and dietary supplements.



Incentive visitors are a lucrative market, spending 6.5 times more than average international tourists.



2016 Nu Skin Greater China Success Trip

Thur 14 April

5pm - 10pm

Cockle Bay

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A winning restoration - plus a celebration of maritime heritage

David Glasson, Bridge Maintenance Officer for SHFA and keen model-making enthusiast, has taken home the prestigious Hal Harpur Award 2015 for his restoration of a 21 foot, 9 inch (approx. 6.63 metre) ship's boat, originally from HMAS Parramatta.



David, a member of St George Model Boat Club, has won a number of other model and/or wooden boat awards, and is also known for his maritime rope craft. Before carrying out the restoration, he built a scale model from the original 1910 plans. David has an excellent eye for detail and meticulously replicated every element perfectly-even those hidden from view. Congratulations on your award David!



For David's fellow boat enthusiasts, the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) will be presenting the Classic & Wooden Boat Festival on Darling Harbour over the weekend of Friday 15 to Sunday 17 April.



The festival will showcase vessels from around Sydney and Australia and celebrate maritime heritage. More than 100 boats will be on display around the museum and Darling Harbour. The museum precinct will come alive with an array of programs for families and boat-lovers, from live entertainment, cruises and maritime demonstrations to kids' activities and a symposium.



Classic & Wooden Boat Festival

Fri 15 - Sun 17 April

10am - 10pm, Fri and Sat

10am - 5pm, Sun

Australian National Maritime Museum

Free

anmm.gov.au

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Indonesian Festival and Travel Fair

This free event will showcase the wonders of the Indonesian archipelago, strengthening the relationship between Indonesians and Australians through food, music, culture and tourism.



The event will include an array of Indonesian food stalls, as well as traditional musical performances and diverse cultural and travel exhibits. Ten exciting new Indonesian tourist destinations will be featured, giving festivalgoers a broader view of what they can see and do on a visit to Indonesia.



WIFEST 2016

Sat 30 April

11am - 5pm

Tumbalong Park

Free

wonderfulindonesia-festival.com.au

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Madame Tussauds is in vogue

On Friday 15 April, Madame Tussauds Sydney will come alive with Strike a Pose-the latest in its Hijinks series of after-hours events.



Guests will move with professional dancer Diesel Darling, make themselves over with Katya Lonsdale, take part in fashion illustration workshops, design a fashion accessory with burlesque performer Cody Cabana, or learn to strut the catwalk with Australia's Got Talent semi-finalist Minnie Cooper.



There will also be loads of fun to be had taking selfies with wax fashionistas from Lady Gaga to Kylie, trying on outrageous outfits with Ru Paul and Gok Wan, or comparing vintage looks with Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe.



Runway-ready party tunes by DJ Nick La Rosa, pop-up bars, a prize for best-dressed and polaroid photo booths will round out this unique experience.



Hijinks Strike a Pose party at Madame Tussauds Sydney

Fri 15 April

6.30pm - 9.30pm (bar closes at 10pm)

Madame Tussauds Sydney

Tickets $25 including a complimentary beer or Stoli vodka cocktail on arrival

madametussauds.com.au

HIJINKS is an 18+ event

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Month of Love marketing wins three years in a row

One of the free promotional postcards given out during Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority's Month of Love 2016 campaign, Hot Date, has won the printer and distributor Avant Card's 'Postcard of the Month Award' for February-making Month of Love the only campaign to have won three years (or even two!) in a row.



Competition judge Dale Watkins-Creative Director of The Idea Shed, Sydney-said of Hot Date:



"Both postcards in this campaign are simple, clever, eye-catching and made me want to pick them up. The cheekiness of the creative is immediately engaging with a consistent link to the overarching campaign and brand through the use of the recognisable Darling Harbour balloon typography. The question asked doesn't give away the campaign, yet promotes the card to be turned over to answer the question, utilising both sides very well. They make great use of printing finishes that has been incorporated into the design and that fit seamlessly into creative to set them apart with shelf 'presence'."



Congratulations to everyone in SHFA's Marketing, Publications and Design teams who contributed to this win!



The award puts Hot Date into the running for Avant Card's 'Postcard of the Year Awards', up against stiff competition from cards put out by IKEA, Tourism Western Australia, and our neighbour, the MCA, amongst others. Here at SHFA all fingers and toes are crossed for Hot Date!

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Last update: Friday 08 April 2016