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Back in August 2025, the NSW Government unveiled plans for a Scandi-coded swimming spot at Callan Park, sending swimming enthusiasts of Sydney's Inner West (understandably) a little wild. Since then, we've seen the release of a 10-year masterplan for the beloved harbourside park – and now, the project has officially hit its biggest milestone yet. Work has officially begun on Callan Park's new tidal baths, bringing the new harbour swimming spot closer to reality. If all goes to plan, the new foreshore swim zone will open up this summer.
Set along the Iron Cove foreshore beside the Bay Run, the new tidal baths will feature an accessible pathway and ramp, a generous fixed jetty, pontoon and shark net, making it one of Sydney Harbour's most accessible places for a dip. Positioned near Leichhardt Oval and King George Park, it's expected to become a go-to spot for the walkers, runners, cyclists and families who already hit up Callan Park every year.
But the transformation doesn't stop with the new baths. Demolition has begun on nine long-abandoned buildings that have sat fenced off in Calan Park for years. Once cleared, they'll unlock an extra 1.6 hectares of public green space – roughly the size of two football fields – giving locals even more room to picnic, kick a ball around or stretch out with a book under the fig trees. Work is also continuing on converting one of the park's long-vacant heritage buildings into a new clubhouse for Balmain & District Football Club. The upgrades are backed by a $6.8 million investment from the NSW Government, alongside an additional $1.8 million from Inner West Council for the tidal baths.
These projects form part of the newly finalised Callan Park Plan of Management 2026–2036, which lays out an ambitious vision for the 61-hectare waterfront park. Alongside the new swim spot and expanded green space, the plan focuses on opening up underused areas of the park, improving access and preserving its heritage and biodiversity as surrounding communities continue to grow.
According to the NSW Government, the plan has been shaped by feedback from more than 3,500 locals, community groups, First Nations stakeholders, heritage experts and sporting organisations. With more than 2.4 million people already visiting Callan Park each year – and the surrounding population forecast to reach 415,000 by 2041 – the upgrades aim to ensure the park can keep pace with demand.
The government has also flagged proposed legislation that would help unlock further activations, including cafés in currently vacant heritage buildings, while strengthening the long-term sustainability of Greater Sydney Parklands and protecting these public green spaces for future generations.
In short: Sydney's new harbour swim is no longer just a plan on paper. Construction is officially underway, and by summer, we could be spending our sunny Saturdays in and out of this corner of the harbour.
You can learn more about the plans over here.
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