Liverpool Civic Place
Liverpool Civic Place
Ecologies of Country
The landscape celebrates the ecologies of Country: the riparian landscapes of the Georges River in the sunken courtyard, the flora of the Cumberland Plain, and a timber-decked gathering garden shaded by local eucalypts. A grove of deciduous trees gives the plaza summer shade and winter sun.
Perhaps the most distinctive and beautiful feature of Liverpool is the gentle and generous curve of the Georges River. Before the arrival of Europeans, it was known as Tuggerah. It has carried and sustained its communities and created a focal point for life-work, family and play for generations.
Inspired by the river
The new curvilinear library, Yellamundie, is inspired by the river’s flow. As its sustaining arc creates eddies both calm and dynamic, so too the layers and flow of the new library create diverse spaces for everyone. Positioned at the end of tree-lined Macquarie Street, the curved form draws people south, inviting pedestrian flow and movement around it and through the new, walkable landscaped space to the welcoming entries of the Civic Building and Library, and beyond to Terminus Street. Set back from the noise of the street and offering safe spaces to gather, the distinct pair of entries create separate but complementary identities. The civic building’s generous arch celebrates the heritage of Greenway’s local buildings, extending the geometries of the open space into the foyer and connecting with the integrated council chambers above.
The curved form of Yellamundie is also intended to give a sense of gathering and embrace. A timber-decked gathering garden surrounds the library and sunken courtyard, shaded by local eucalypts and providing small group gathering and larger event settings. To the east, the sinuous eddy geometry gives way to Liverpool’s ‘Hoddle-like Grid’. Referencing the small-grain streets to the north, a new grove of deciduous, resilient trees provides canopy cover to the plaza, addressing climate change resilience and mitigating heat island effect. An innovative mid-layer of soil volume, between the library and the plaza ensures the success and longevity of the landscape.
A library below the plaza
Integrating a 5000sqm ‘free-standing’ library while providing generous, high quality public domain on Scott Street was an urban and architectural challenge. A large footprint of library sits under the plaza, illuminated by the sunken courtyard and skylights. The library is also a critical transition of scale between the heritage School of Arts building to the northwest and the larger scale developments to the south and east.
The landscape design celebrates the ecologies of Country – the riparian, lush landscapes around Georges River in the sunken courtyard, the flora of the Cumberland Plane, and European interventions allowing summer shade and winter sun.
Explore the architecture, interiors and urban of Liverpool Civic Place.
Quotes
| Anthony Albanese | Prime Minister of Australia, 4 April 2024 |
“This development sends a strong message about the future of Western Sydney. Liverpool Civic Place is a gift to the community.” |
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Awards
| 2026 | Australian Library and Information Association | Australian Library Design Awards, Public Library category | |
| 2025 | World Architecture Festival | Culture category, shortlist (Yellamundie Library) | |
| 2025 | Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) | Sustainable Architecture, shortlist | |
| 2024 | The Urban Developer Awards | Excellence in Community Engagement (nominated by Built Development) | |
| 2024 | IFLA | Public Library of the Year, finalist (Yellamundie Library and Gallery) | |
| 2024 | World Architecture Festival | Completed Buildings: Civic and Community, shortlist (Liverpool Civic Place) | |
Press
| 16 May 2026 | Inside Local Government | Liverpool library scoops top prize at design awards | |
| 8 Jul 2025 | ArchitectureAU | Dozens of Australian projects make the 2025 World Architecture Festival shortlist | |
| 17 Apr 2025 | Arch2O | Liverpool Civic Place and Yellamundie Library | fjcstudio | |
| 10 Apr 2025 | gooood | Liverpool Civic Place and Yellamundie Library by fjcstudio | |
| 7 Apr 2025 | ArchDaily | Liverpool Civic Place and Yellamundie Library / fjcstudio | |
| 5 Dec 2023 | ArchitectureAU | New Yellamundie library opens in Sydney | |
