NSW authors, playwrights, illustrators and other literature creatives are invited to unlock a transformative opportunity to live and work in the heart of Sydney, without the usual sky-high Sydney price tag, thanks to a new initiative The Rocks Creative Terraces Affordable Residencies Program.
Located in the heart of Sydney’s oldest precinct, a row of heritage terraces is being offered for either a 12 or 24-month period exclusively to NSW writers and literature creatives at a subsidised, below-market rate.
The government-owned heritage accommodation has been repurposed into affordable living and working space for the literature community through a collaborative partnership between Create NSW and Placemaking NSW.
The Rocks Creative Terraces Affordable Residencies Program fulfils one of the first commitments outlined in Stories Matter: A Writing and Literature Strategy for NSW to invest in authors and NSW’s literature creatives.
The Strategy identifies that cost-of-living pressures, including the cost of housing, are key factors preventing writers being able to dedicate more of their time, energy and focus to their work.
The Residencies Program will foster a new creative community by housing literature creatives alongside each other and in proximity to nearby creative organisations. For authors and illustrators often working in solitude, this sense of community is essential to thrive.
For writers and creatives currently living in regional NSW or Western Sydney, the central location will allow them to attend events in and around Sydney’s CBD and to pursue professional opportunities and networks which may otherwise be hard to access.
“Create NSW is proud to deliver this collaborative, innovative approach to support the NSW literature community through The Rocks Creative Terraces. This incredible, lifechanging initiative will invest in authors and literature creatives, strengthen our literary community and demonstrate the power of activating Sydney’s spaces,” said Create NSW Executive Director, Kerri Glasscock.
“The Rocks Creative Terraces program is a wonderful way to support local talent, and we are thrilled to provide these historic terraces in The Rocks where artists can immerse themselves in a supportive and inspiring environment,” said Placemaking NSW Chief Executive, Anita Mitchell.
“The Rocks is a precinct thriving with creative talent with galleries, artists and makers and we are delighted to welcome writers to the mix. As Sydney’s oldest harbourside precinct, The Rocks has a rich history and many stories and it’s an ideal place to support our creative industries.”
Eligible NSW writers and literature creatives are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) before 2.00pm Thursday 23 April 2026, with rental agreements commencing from June 2026. For more information and to submit an EOI, visit: www.create.nsw.gov.au for details.
Image: The Rocks Terraces – courtesy of Create NSW