Two very well-known and beloved buildings at the heart of Canberra are set to get a fresh coat of paint as part of upcoming restoration efforts.
The heritage-listed Sydney and Melbourne Buildings were the first structures to be built in Civic.
Since their development, between 1926 and 1946, their separate facades eventually stopped matching in colour but shared commonalities such as visible cracks and peeling paint.
The restoration process to get their facades feeling new again was hindered by each building having several different owners and titles there was no overarching body looking after them.
To address this, laws were passed in the Legislative Assembly last year which allowed the City Renewal Authority to carry out the work.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the upgrade would begin once weather was warmer, allowing for ideal repainting conditions in spring. "We've been working closely with building owners and property managers to offer support for the restoration efforts," he said on Friday.
Mr Barr said the buildings would be painted in colours consistent with the original colour scheme of cream and white.
"Dulux Tangent S14F2 and Dulux White Dune SW1D6, in case you were wondering," he added.
It is estimated to take about 18 months to completely repaint both buildings' facades, which means they could be looking as good as new by early 2026.
The restoration work is part of the ACT government's plan to revitalise the area by supporting the buildings' owners and attracting more businesses.
The government said it contributed $4.2 million towards the repainting.
Upgrades to Verity and Odgers Lanes at the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings were completed in June last year.
The City Renewal Authority added new lighting, greenery and power connections to support outdoor events and increase night-time safety.
The hope is that repainting works will complement the upgrades and lead to a bustling city centre for the Canberra community over the next few decades.
