Victoria Barracks in Paddington is one of Australia’s most important heritage sites — and it is now at risk. We call on the Australian Government to reverse its decision to sell Victoria Barracks and preserve this nationally significant place for future generations.

The Australian Heritage Database (1978) identifies Victoria Barracks as “one of the most important groups of Georgian military buildings in Australia.” Architectural historian Graham Jahn describes it as “one of the finest untarnished examples of late Georgian architecture in Sydney and the finest example of colonial military architecture in Australia” (Sydney Architecture, 1997).

Selling this site for residential development would:

Destroy buildings dating back to 1841
Permanently damage the site’s heritage significance
Remove precious green space in a densely populated area
Erase an irreplaceable part of Australia’s military and architectural history

It is the heart and soul of the Australian Army. Selling this base would damage serving military and veterans.

Victoria Barracks is a rare and intact piece of Australia’s past. Once it is gone, it is gone forever.

We urge the Australian Government to protect Victoria Barracks and keep this national treasure in public ownership.