Machine Hall
Housed within a 100-year-old former electricity substation in Sydney’s CBD, Machine Hall is an exciting example of adaptive reuse, where heritage architecture provides the foundation for a cutting-edge cultural destination.
Located on Clarence Street, this spectacular arts and culture event space brings together the city’s industrial past and cultural future. The Machine Hall precinct itself spans two heritage-listed buildings: Shelley’s Warehouse, constructed in 1909 and a five-storey electricity substation built in 1930. Once critical to Sydney’s infrastructure, the substation powered the city’s wharves and trams, yet following its closure in 1985, the buildings fell into disrepair and remained dormant for decades.
The transformation into the space it is today began after Built Constructions acquired the site in 2017. Built brought together specialist heritage architects fjcstudio and design firm YSG to reimagine the buildings and interiors. Hospitality and experience group Hunger then played a central role in bringing that vision to life.
Founded by Peter Schulte, Hunger became the creative and operational force behind Machine Hall, shaping the venue as an experience-led destination rather than simply an events space. The site itself is fascinating due to both its heritage and its central city location. “Machine Hall is a unique piece of real estate. It sat dormant for 45 years, which is incredibly unusual in a place like Sydney where real estate is so valued,” he says.
The building’s original industrial character was retained, while being updated with state-of-the-art modern amenities. Stepping inside, the site’s incredible scale is the first thing that hits you. Cavernous 12.5-metre ceilings rise above an expansive ground floor, framed by exposed brickwork and original steel elements. A wraparound mezzanine overlooks the space, accessed by glass-enclosed lifts and a sculptural white spiral staircase, while a commercial kitchen, bar and flexible production capabilities allow the venue to adapt from large-scale events to intimate gatherings.
With capacity for up to 500 standing guests, Machine Hall has hosted immersive cultural programs and festivals such as Vivid Music, alongside conferences, broadcasting, brand activations, weddings and soirées. Its greatest strength is in its ability to transport visitors beyond the everyday. “The thing we want people to feel is that they’re not in Sydney. They feel like they’re in New York or somewhere internationally,” Schulte says.
Overall, the result is a truly world-class venue. “People are pretty desperate to be taken outside of their world,” he adds. “We want people to feel like they’ve experienced something that can add value to their life and they can talk about to their friends.”
In just a couple of years, Machine Hall has already established itself as an iconic part of Sydney’s cultural landscape. Yet for Schulte his main ambition is to put a smile on people’s faces. “I think the main thing is that they feel like they’ve experienced something unique and are happy.”
