The Uptown District Acceleration Program is now in its third iteration and is starting to deliver results – over 50 districts with unique propositions . We are piecing back together a coherent going-out experience in districts across Greater Sydney – goingout experiences that we believe can rival the pull of the couch – and shortly we will be announcing successful applications across Newcastle , Wollongong and Central Coast .
This innovation capitalises on the decentralisation of audiences that has occurred as the nexus between work and workplace has been upended , and pulls together cultural leaders in place and gets them working together . It ’ s inspired by the Business Improvement Districts ( BID ) model , but instead leads with culture instead of commerce .
As these districts emerge and mature , governments at State and Local levels are able to use them to deliver on government outcomes . This is what happened when statewide live music series Great Southern Nights , a NSW Government initiative with the Australian Recording Industry Association ( ARIA ), partnered with the Hollywood Quarter district for a series of gigs supplemented by roaming live acts around the neighbourhood . And where government goes , savvy operators often follow . So it was no surprise when rapper Ryan Park , aka Dobby , popped up in the YCK Laneways district for an album launch in December last year supported by district sponsor , Bacardi .
There are more examples of these types of transactions occurring between goingout economy participants and our growing cohort of districts . For example , the Biennale of Sydney partnered with one of the districts to put on a free shuttle bus service from White Bay Power Station to Darling Street , Balmain . Twilight markets have returned to Hornsby . The opportunities are vast – so much so that we see districts as a new category market participant , a new and perhaps better distribution model for content and experiences . Some might go so far as to say districts are a modern reinterpretation of a high street .
SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION Environmental sustainability is another growing area of concern , and one that can also be solved at a precinct level . Reducing waste and our carbon footprint will be critical to thriving night-time economies .
To contribute towards net zero emissions by 2050 , there is a need and an opportunity to embed sustainable principles into how we support 24-hour economy precincts . We must ensure our programs encourage participants to adopt sustainable business practices to create low-carbon precincts .
Innovation here will drive transformation . We welcome technology to revolutionise how we connect , measure and track any of our place-based initiatives . We are planning to support this growing cohort with a new B2B platform , Neon Marketplace – a directory that surfaces these districts to other goingout economy players who wish to connect .
Places are all uniquely defined by their story . While we have recently retreated inside for entertainment and connection , we are rediscovering the power of place through our stories . Everything old is new again .
We will keep track of these precincts through our Data after Dark Platform . This platform compares economic performance and impacts of the NSW night-time economy over time and across various geographies . Data After Dark monitors different data points , such as movement of people , the number of businesses and cultural institutions and their employees , as well as the consumer night-time spend .
THE 24-HOUR WORKFORCE NSW Government is committed to improving the night-time experience for the 24-hour workforce . Approximately 872,620 individuals in NSW work between the hours of 6pm and 6am , roughly 21 % of the overall workforce . While many work in hospitality , they work in greater numbers in vital sectors like health , transport , freight and manufacturing .
Despite the essential nature of their roles , individuals working at night frequently encounter challenges in accessing medical , childcare , professional , retail and transportation services . We are developing a plan to increase amenities and services for this workforce .
CONCLUSION Places are all uniquely defined by their story . While we have recently retreated inside for entertainment and connection , we are rediscovering the power of place through our stories . Everything old is new again .
In NSW , our revised strategy for developing going-out districts has an eye on the past , the present and the future . We recognise that community storytelling needs to begin with the ancient stories of the original owners of the land on which we meet . We recognise that night-time economies exist in the present thanks to the vast workforce employed at night and that we need to actively service their needs . And we recognise that a vibrant night-time economy in the future is dependent upon measurable action towards sustainability .
Community and cultural engagement are key pillars of a vibrant night-time economy . A thriving and diverse night-time economy encourages local communities to take ownership , feel a sense of connection and belonging , and actively engage with neighbourhood places and precincts .
REFERENCES
1 . Data After Dark spend data , 2019 - 2024 .
2 . Counts of Australian Businesses , including Entries and Exits , ABS ; analysed by Data After Dark , 2024 .
3 . Counts of Australian Businesses , including Entries and Exits , ABS , 2023 ; analyse by Ingenium Research , Nov 2023 .
4 . Counts of Australian Businesses , including Entries and Exits , ABS , 2023 ; analyse by Ingenium Research , Nov 2023 .
5 . Counts of Australian Businesses , including Entries and Exits , ABS , 2023 ; analyse by Ingenium Research , Nov 2023 .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MICHAEL RODRIGUES Michael Rodrigues is NSW ’ s first ever 24-Hour Economy Commissioner , having been appointed in April 2021 . In the role he leads the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner in NSW Government and is responsible for delivering the NSW 24-Hour Economy Strategy . Michael has been a passionate and vocal advocate for nightlife , culture and the night-time economy for many years . He launched global lifestyle brand Time Out in Sydney in 2007 and served as Managing Director until 2021 . Michael also founded the Australian Night Time Industries Association and served as Chair from 2018-2021 .
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