One of Sydney’s most significant heritage buildings entered a bold new era with the opening of The Lands by Capella Events on February 2, unveiling the first public event spaces within the historic Department of Lands building. Led by Pontiac Land Group and anchored by the award-winning Capella Sydney, the launch marks the debut of The Sandstone Precinct – a powerful new luxury, cultural, and events destination in the heart of the CBD.

A seamless extension of Capella Sydney, which since its debut in 2023 has redefined luxury hospitality in the city, The Lands by Capella builds on this legacy with a broader cultural and events focus. Together, Capella Sydney and The Lands by Capella form two landmark heritage properties collectively known as The Sandstone Precinct, championing Sydney’s cultural heritage while shaping its modern identity through business, culture and community.

Marking the first public chapter in the building’s transformation, Level Two unveiled five light-filled, adaptable event spaces. Designed for everything from corporate conferences and product launches to gala evenings and weddings, the venues combine soaring 4.6-metre ceilings, restored heritage architecture, and flexible layouts with Capella Sydney’s award-winning hospitality. Advanced audiovisual systems, operable walls, and versatile staging ensure each event can be tailored to any vision, marrying historic grandeur with modern functionality.

Events at The Lands by Capella are designed to unfold as journeys through the building’s history and contemporary life. Guests arrive through restored sandstone halls once reserved for civic decision-making, gathering today for conferences, exhibitions and launches within the same architectural volumes. Original details are revealed, repurposed and activated, transforming heritage spaces into platforms for ideas, dialogue and celebration. Each event becomes part of the living story of The Sandstone Precinct, shaped as much by people and purpose as by place.

Every event at The Lands by Capella is supported by Capella Sydney’s renowned hospitality team, with personalised planning and bespoke menus curated by Executive Chef Gabriele Taddeucci. Celebrated for refined dining that blends native Australian ingredients with global influence, Chef Taddeucci sources 80 per cent of produce from New South Wales, championing local producers, ethical farming and responsible fishing.

“We are honoured to reintroduce this landmark building as a setting for Sydney’s next generation of meaningful and impactful events,” said Marc von Arnim, General Manager, Capella Sydney. “There is strong demand for distinctive venues that elevate corporate gatherings and large-scale events by offering both heritage significance and contemporary capability.”

“Since our initial announcement, event enquiries have increased by 85 per cent, with our first quarter already at capacity,” von Arnim added. “This reflects robust domestic and international demand across sectors including finance, pharmaceuticals, private equity, luxury brands, fashion and healthcare, with major global brands securing events and couples committing without having experienced the spaces in person.”

Unlocking what is set to become Australia’s finest events location, The Sandstone Precinct positions Sydney as a global host for multi-day international conferences, exhibitions and launches, alongside grand weddings and intimate business gatherings all supported by the world-class hospitality of Capella Sydney.

Together, The Lands by Capella and Capella Sydney represent one of the largest job-creating private investments in Sydney, generating more than 500 full-time jobs across construction and tourism and contributing approximately AUD 1.2 billion to the city’s economic output – a long-term investment in place, people and the future of the CBD.

By late 2026, the full transformation of the Department of Lands building into The Lands by Capella will be complete, unveiling more than 10,000 square metres of curated experiences, including restaurants and bars, experiential retail and cultural activations – further reinforcing The Sandstone Precinct as a major centre for business, culture and contemporary city life.

For more information, visit: https://capellahotels.com/capella-sydney/thelands or email events.sydney@capellahotels.com