More than 2000 people have gathered in Sydney to protest the Albanese government’s controversial plan to sell the historic Victoria Barracks, with demonstrators calling on the Prime Minister to protect a site that has been part of Australia’s military history for almost 180 years.
The remarkable show of unity saw veterans proudly wearing their service medals, local residents, military families and political leaders descend on Moore Park on Sunday, united by a simple message: Victoria Barracks must be saved.
Former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott were among those who attended the rally, alongside federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, Greens leader David Shoebridge, independent MP Allegra Spender and representatives from One Nation.
The gathering also brought together Labor and Liberal politicians, demonstrating just how deeply the proposed sale has resonated across traditional political boundaries.
At the centre of the controversy is the 13-hectare military complex in Paddington, which has been in continuous military use since the 1840s.
Built by convicts and originally occupied by British troops, Victoria Barracks has witnessed some of the defining moments of Australia’s military history, including the departure of soldiers for conflicts overseas.
For generations of servicemen and women, it has represented far more than a collection of sandstone buildings.
Addressing the crowd, Mr Howard described the barracks as an irreplaceable part of the nation’s identity.
“We think it is a precious, irreplaceable, not-for-sale national asset,” he declared to cheers.
“I am all in favour of government spending less and taxing less … but what is more important to the soul of a nation, its history, its heritage and all its gone before it?”
Mr Howard reminded those gathered that soldiers had marched from the barracks to serve in the Sudan War, the Boer War and the First World War.
“That’s part of the history of the place. You don’t give that up for a few bob,” he said.
NSW Labor MP Marjorie O’Neill, who helped organise the rally alongside Liberal Senator Jess Collins, celebrated the extraordinary diversity of the crowd.
“I don’t think I have ever seen such an eclectic, diverse group of people united under one cause,” she said.
“We’ve got people that have flown from out of state to be here with one united voice, with one united message, which is to save Victoria Barracks.”
The federal government’s proposal forms part of a broader plan to sell 67 Defence properties across Australia, potentially raising up to $3 billion.
Defence Minister Richard Marles has defended the decision, arguing that the barracks is no longer essential to modern military operations and would require approximately $200 million in maintenance over the next decade.
He has also promised that the historic buildings would remain protected if the site were sold.
However, opponents argue that selling such a significant national asset risks permanently changing its character and severing its connection to generations of Australian military personnel.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has joined calls for the federal government to reconsider, describing the proposed sale as a “big missed opportunity”.
“There’s a good chance here to say, we’ve listened to the public, clearly Victoria Barracks should stay both in government hands and be used by the Australian Defence Force,” Mr Minns said.
“I just think they need to rethink it. [It would] be an easy one to make and I’d love to see it reversed.”
The urgency of the campaign has increased following reports that Defence personnel have already begun packing their belongings ahead of a planned relocation before Christmas.
Around 500 people currently work at the barracks, with most expected to move to Randwick Barracks and others temporarily relocating to offices in Sydney’s CBD.
An online petition opposing the sale has attracted more than 119,000 signatures, adding to the growing public pressure on the federal government.
For the veterans, families and supporters who gathered on Sunday, the campaign is about preserving a place that holds memories of service, sacrifice and national identity.
And while the future of Victoria Barracks remains uncertain, the extraordinary turnout has delivered a powerful reminder that Australia’s military heritage continues to matter deeply to people from all walks of life.
For those determined to save it, the message to Canberra could hardly be clearer.
