Alexandria Park

Alexandria Park is a substantial neighbourhood green space in Alexandria, with room for sport, play, exercise and community use. Its facilities include a multipurpose sportsfield suited to cricket and football, two tennis courts and a multipurpose outdoor court. Sports facilities can be booked, making the park useful for organised games as well as casual recreation. Public toilets include an accessible unisex toilet, with separate facilities available for people hiring the sports areas.

Families have access to an enclosed playground with dedicated equipment, while dogs can use the park’s off-leash area. The restrictions are clearly defined: dogs are not permitted in the playgrounds, sports courts or the Getiela precinct. Barbecues, bike racks and accessible parking nearby add practical conveniences for longer visits, and the park has mobility access through its accessible toilet facilities. These features make it suitable for families, local sports groups, dog owners and anyone looking for an outdoor space in inner Sydney.

The park also has a significant and challenging history. It opened in 1889 after a legal dispute over land granted to convict William Hutchinson, with the case becoming connected to the British legal principle of terra nullius and the dispossession of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The City of Sydney’s history of the site also recognises the continuing First Nations connection to the land and the later significance of the Mabo decision. Alexandria Park’s Aboriginal history includes the Redfern All Blacks, who trained and played at Alexandria Oval from the 1940s, and community events associated with Shirley Smith, known as ‘Mum Shirl’.

There are plenty of reminders of the park’s changing past in its layout and features, including boundary rows of Port Jackson and Moreton Bay fig trees, diagonal paths, 1939 concrete entry gates and the Richard Power Memorial Gates. The park has hosted public celebrations, concerts, sports and community gatherings across generations. It suits visitors who want more than a basic playground or sporting oval: solo visitors can explore its history and open spaces, while families and groups can make use of the recreation facilities and shared outdoor setting.