NSW’s Favourite Urban Place 2025
Civic Laneways
Congratulations to
Jim Simpson Lane in Blacktown!
Jim Simpson Lane is a key pedestrian connection between Blacktown Station and the city centre, making it an important part of daily pedestrian movement. It has been the focus of activation and improvement through the Places to Love and Safer Cities: Her Way programs, with interventions co-designed and tested with the community to create a safe, welcoming and vibrant public space. The number of votes it received is a testament to the community’s relationship with this laneway.
Congratulations to our runners up:
AMP Lane in Albury, and
Birdwood Lane in Lane Cove
It was a nail-biting finish! Birdwood Lane, last year’s runner up, looked to be a sure winner, leading the pack for much of the polling period. A few days before the poll ended, support for AMP Lane surged forward, propelling it ahead of the favourite, and in a surprise swell of support, Jim Simpson rose to take the crown right at the end of the polling period.
This year we’re celebrating the strong support we saw for our regional laneways, with Globe Lane in Wollongong leading the pack early on, and AMP Lane in Albury taking second place. It was great to see Western Sydney laneways well represented also, our top spot going to Blacktown, but also with Belvedere Arcade in Cabramatta, which was neck-and-neck for the title for much of the polling period. Laneways in the City of Sydney did very well also. Little Hay Street was flirting with a podium position from the first day of polling and Angel Place and Loftus Lane were never far behind. Our defending champion, Market Lane in Manly, did very well also, particularly at the beginning of the polling period. It was fantastic to see such a spread of regions and laneway types represented!
What are Civic Laneways?
Small but mighty, civic laneways have many uses. Not just connections, they are great places in their own right, where we shop, eat, or enjoy a quiet moment. Many laneways have been transformed by urban design from service lanes to civic destinations offering a human scale and unique feel to the rest of the city. Gritty and charming, civic laneways are hidden gems bringing character, creativity, and a bit of surprise to urban life.
Read our article and media release for more information!
What is NSW’s Favourite Urban Place?
NSW's Favourite Urban Place is a fun, friendly poll where you can vote for the places you enjoy, so you can celebrate the everyday places where you shop, eat, relax, and connect. Now in its third year, the public poll is a fun way to spark friendly competition while shining a light on the well-designed places people love.
We want to hear from everyone, so please share the poll widely to help shine a spotlight on the well-designed spaces that make our neighbourhoods special.