Cumberland Council has officially opened the long-awaited $11 million Merrylands Civic Square to the public.
Once a former car park, the new town square has been transformed into a meeting place for the community.
The grand opening, held last Friday, saw residents flock to Merrylands Civic Square to check out the final look while enjoying live music, food trucks and circus performances.
Cumberland Mayor Lisa Lake said the new public space will provide residents with a dynamic community hub that is welcoming, fosters connections, celebrates diversity and is a place for all to enjoy.
“Merrylands Civic Square represents a significant milestone for Cumberland. This vibrant space will serve as a catalyst for connection, culture, and creativity in our community,” she said.
“It will also help boost the local night life and economy, bringing diverse cultures together and providing the community with a unique place for family and friends to gather.”
Designed to provide residents and visitors with a “bustling state-of-the-art multifunctional public space” in the heart of Merrylands, the square connects Merrylands Road to McFarlane Street. The Merrylands Arcade was demolished, along with the car park, to create the space.
The new meeting hub features trees and landscaped areas, art, furniture and amenities including bike racks, water feature, smart bins, smart light poles, tables and benches.
Given its proximity to local retail outlets and businesses, Council hopes Merrylands Civic Square will provide a unique gathering place for cultural gatherings and events, as well as social activities.
The square is a part of the broader infrastructure upgrades in the Merrylands Town Centre, which includes road and drainage improvements and car parking.
The opening comes after a hotly-debated motion to name the square ‘Dyin Ngurra’ – Dharug for Women’s Place – divided Councillors, with some labelling it as “sexist.” When put to a vote, the motion was supported by majority of Councillors, with the name going on public exhibition for 28 days.
Lake said the naming of the square will lay the foundation for a proposal for an art installation that celebrates remarkable local women who’ve made “significant but largely unrecognised” contributions to the area.
“The name Women’s Place would mark the square for a display of inspiring local women from our past and have the capacity as time moves on to acknowledge the achievements of particular outstanding local women in the future,” she said.
The project received $5.5 million in state funding through the NSW Government’s Public Spaces Legacy Program, in association with Cumberland Council.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.