New Marrickville North Special Entertainment Precinct proposed

Enmore was recently voted in Time Out’s top 20 coolest suburbs in the world after the categorisation of Enmore Road as a Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP). 

More on Marrickville

However, that victory may be short-lived because Marrickville North is coming for the title with the opening of our very own SEP!

One of Marrickville’s leading live music and outdoor dining venues; Vic on the Park. Source: Concrete Playground, August 2023

The Marrickville North precinct is one of six new Special Entertainment Precincts planned for Inner West suburbs, including Dulwich Hill and Balmain. According to the Inner West Council, Marrickville and Dulwich Hill lead the way in community support, with over 80% of those surveyed demonstrating high support for a new precinct, closely followed by 70% in other Inner West suburbs. 

What is a Special Entertainment Precinct?

Special Entertainment Precincts are areas specifically managed to promote safe and engaging entertainment environments. These precincts provide greater access to spaces for local artists as well as supporting local businesses and sustaining a healthy nightlife in our suburbs.

This includes extended trading hours for venues with live music, approval for later outdoor dining, and the ability for all main street businesses to host small-scale artistic and cultural events without the need for a development application. 

Most notably, however, SEP status will reduce the number of government agencies policing Inner West complaints to just one agency. 

Draft Marrickville North Special Entertainment Precinct Source: Inner West Council, July 2024

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne is enthusiastic about the six new Special Entertainment Precincts. In a statement, he said, "The Inner West is the beating heart of Sydney's live music scene and we want to spread the success of what we've done in Enmore throughout the Inner West.

"Our council is committed to bolstering our creative community. From White Bay Power Station as a performance venue, to opening our Town Halls to our creative industry at no charge, we want life and culture in our community.

"Allowing live music and performances in all main street shops and legalising performances in bookshops, cafés, and restaurants could increase the availability of affordable spaces for young and emerging artists to perform and develop their craft, as well as attract customers to those businesses. 

“It's a win for artists, local businesses and the community."

The six new Inner West Special Entertainment Precincts will be: 

• Balmain (Darling Street)

• Dulwich Hill (Marrickville Road and New Canterbury Road)

• Leichhardt (Norton Street and Parramatta Road)

• Marrickville North (Victoria and Addison Road)

• Marrickville Town Centre (Railway Parade, Marrickville Road and Illawarra Road)

• Rozelle (Darling Street and Victoria Road)

For more information on Special Entertainment Precincts, head to www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au