The story of Yirranma Place

About the Building

What's Inside

Looking inside Yirranma Place.

Yirranma Place has been created to be a social purpose precinct, designed to create space to bring people together and foster a community for giving in Australia. It invites the wider philanthropic community to share space and ambition, becoming a place of promise and purpose.

Each material and resource has been chosen to enable the for-purpose sector to further generate impact and improve operations.

Yirranma Place was an investment in the future of social purpose and philanthropy in Australia by the Paul Ramsay Foundation. The Foundation's aim was to create a precinct that aligns with the vision of breaking cycles of disadvantage and creating partnerships for potential, transforming a grand building into a space for collaboration, innovation and generating impact.

The Spaces

A look back at the spaces
of Yirranma Place

The History

A look back at 262 Liverpool Street.
1883

School

Temporary school operates on site after school at Palmer St outgrows premises and before Darlinghurst Public School opened.

1810-1840s

Start of settlement

Lot owned by pastoralist Sydney Burdekin.

1920s

Varied tenants

The site was mostly vacant until the 1920s. Some of its uses, many under a big tent pitched in the open space, included picture shows, political rallies, and farewell nights.

1927

Church of Christ, Scientist

Built, opened and used by the Church of Christ, Scientist, for more than 80 years.

2010

A private residence

Entrepreneur Mark Carnegie purchased the building and used it as a private residence.

2019

Paul Ramsay Foundation

The Paul Ramsay Foundation bought and redeveloped the space to create a collaborative precinct for social purpose.

2022

Yirranma Place opens

Yirranma Place has been created to be a social purpose precinct.

1883

School

Temporary school operates on site after school at Palmer St outgrows premises and before Darlinghurst Public School opened.

1927

Church of Christ, Scientist

Built, opened and used by the Church of Christ, Scientist, for more than 80 years.

2019

Paul Ramsay Foundation

The Paul Ramsay Foundation bought and redeveloped the space to create a collaborative precinct for social purpose.

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1810-1840s

Start of settlement

Lot owned by pastoralist Sydney Burdekin.

1920s

Varied tenants

The site was mostly vacant until the 1920s. Some of its uses, many under a big tent pitched in the open space, included picture shows, political rallies, and farewell nights.

2010

A private residence

Entrepreneur Mark Carnegie purchased the building and used it as a private residence.

2022

Yirranma Place opens

Yirranma Place has been created to be a social purpose precinct.

Preserving Heritage

In establishing Yirranma Place, the Paul Ramsay Foundation has reimagined and breathed new life into the historic First Church of Christ, Scientist building which was first opened at 262 Liverpool Street in 1927.

The significant heritage of the building made preservation a critical element of the works undertaken to create today's Yirranma Place.

Read more

The Naming of Yirranma Place

Yirranma (yeer-rahn-ma) is a Gadigal word meaning “many create”; synonymous with the intended purpose of the building and the community it aims to create. It is a contemporary meeting place on the land that has been part of Gadigal country for tens of thousands of years.

The influence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples extends throughout the building. The naming system for the rooms was intended to instil a sense of layered identities, histories and memories. Travelling through the building, visitors encounter welcoming stories of place that work to enhance a sense of community.