°C 
 
  • SEC History Ariel Shot

SEC History

  • Con the fruitererIn 1983 Chinatown welcomed the advent of the Sydney Entertainment Centre into the precinct of Haymarket, bringing an era of entertainment and prosperity.

    Beneath what is now the large structure of concrete, steel and glass, once lay lush paddocks and corrals holding cattle and farm animals, produce, grains. During the 1790's, timber was offloaded from the English ships onto the nearby Cockle Bay wharves.

    This area of Darling Harbour was the main source of food supply for old Sydney Town for some years, with the Haymarket not selected for Markets until the Belmore Markets in Campbell Street were simply bursting at its seams and the City Council saw the flat land of Thomas, Quay and Harbour Streets ideally suited to construct and build new markets.

    So it was in 1909 that the foundation stone was laid to build the Fruit and Vegetable Markets, No.1 and No.2, and then in 1920, the cavernous structure of high ceilings and concrete benches known as the No.6 Vegetable and Growers Markets was also constructed in Harbour Street to house the growers of produce. Eventually Paddy’s Market traders shared the spaces, trading only on Fridays and Saturdays from 1938.

    Congestion and traffic again prompted the NSW Government to move the entire city markets to Flemington in 1975, leaving the vacated site of Harbour Street ripe for the introduction of the exciting Sydney Entertainment Centre into Haymarket.

    With thousands of fans standing out in heavy rain and ankle deep mud during a succession of open air concerts which included Bob Dylan in the 1970’s, the Government of NSW vowed to build a world class venue for the city of Sydney. But where?

    Suggestions were tabled to build a venue on top of Central Station. Another idea was proposed for a stadium in the heart of Kings Cross. Even additions were proposed for an arena in the old Showground complex in Moore Park. Eventually, support was thrown behind the central business district to build on the old and long-slumbering Haymarket area.

    Construction of the Sydney Entertainment Centre and the pouring of concrete began in July 1979 and was made a high priority by the then Premier for NSW, Mr Neville Wran, as part of the State Government’s election policy. The Sydney Entertainment Centre was part of a grand overall plan to transform the down-trodden Haymarket and Darling Harbour area, to what is now a revitalised city entertainment and leisure precinct.

    Built at a cost of $42 million by John Holland Construction, the Sydney Entertainment Centre is the biggest complex purpose built for entertainment by the NSW Government since the Sydney Opera House. The Sydney Entertainment Centre, a now beloved and iconic venue for Sydney-siders, opened its doors to the public on May 1st ,1983 bringing a more modern brand of live music to Sydney’s CBD.

    These days over 8.5 million people visit the entertainment and market space of Haymarket annually, the Sydney Entertainment Centre has truly found its pulsating heartbeat in the city’s core.

    The venue is currently operated by Darling Harbour Convention & Exhibition (DHCE) Pty. Ltd.

  • HISTORY