The Sydney and Melbourne Buildings Draft Revitalisation Plan – Façade Repainting (PDF) is at a stage where it can be incorporated with the City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency Act. As part of that process, we are seeking final submissions about the plan from interested parties such as property owners.

The Sydney and Melbourne Buildings are an iconic fixture along the City Centre’s main corridor.

Designed in the 1920s, they have been home to a wide variety of businesses and personalities. These buildings have a unique ownership structure in that they are privately owned by many owners, each responsible for their own property, including their own section of the façade and walkway.

The ACT Government recognises the importance of these heritage-listed buildings and is working with the building’s many owners to repaint the building façades.

All building owners have been invited to participate in the Façade Repainting Grant Program which provides for the requirements for repainting works, in line with the Conservation Management Plan. Building owners will be provided the funds to paint their privately owned area of the façade, in line with the Revitalisation Plan, within 18 months. The grant program is scheduled to close 31 March 2025. At least 16 out of 24 owners have confirmed their participation in the grant program, and several owners have their façade repainting underway.

Should building owners not agree to the grant program, they may be directed to repaint their building's façade at their own expense in accordance with the City Renewal Authority and Land Agency Act 2017.

Over the last 5 years, the City Renewal Authority has engaged with stakeholders (owners, businesses, and the broader community) regarding the revitalisation of the buildings. In 2019, the Authority conducted a community engagement process with targeted stakeholders about the potential for legislation to maintain the buildings (view the engagement report).

As a result, the City Renewal Authority’s Draft Revitalisation Plan (PDF) encompasses the repainting of the façade of the Sydney and Melbourne Building by the building owners, ensuring they have a consistent, high-quality appearance that highlights the era of the buildings and meets community expectations.

The Draft Revitalisation Plan – Façade Painting is at a stage where it can be incorporated with the City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency Act. As part of that process, we are seeking final comment from interested parties on the plan in its current form.

This is the last, formal stage of consultation before finalising the revitalisation plan as part of the City Renewal Authority's legislation. The consultation notice for this process is a notifiable instrument.

Once approved, the legislation will allow the Authority to carry out and charge for painting works if owners do not do it themselves, with a 6-month notice period.

Contact us to discuss the plan

You’re welcome to call or email us via the details on this page to discuss the plan before you provide a formal submission with your feedback. We will also send a letter to every property owner in December 2024.

Attend a meeting about the plan

Register to attend an online drop-in session to hear a short presentation about the plan and discuss your queries.

• Online drop-in session: Tuesday, 4 February 2025, 4:30-5:30pm.

Submit feedback online

City Renewal will consider any written submissions received during the consultation period and make any revisions to the draft plan that the Authority considers appropriate. The Authority will then prepare a final version of the draft plan.

Submit feedback via the submissions form or send an email to cityrenewal@act.gov.au.

The Sydney and Melbourne Buildings are privately owned and comprise of four individual buildings with approximately 100 separate land titles, multiple owners, and no common management body.

As a result of this large and diverse ownership structure, there are significant challenges in achieving a uniform approach to the maintenance and appearance of the buildings.

The ownership structure combined with informal and uncoordinated building refurbishment has been recognised as the main cause of the deteriorating condition of the buildings and their inconsistent appearance.

This final, formal round of consultation has opened to ask property owners and heritage stakeholders for any last comments or unforeseen issues with the Draft Revitalisation Plan.