‘Everything’s slow in Callan Park’: despite ambitious plans, Sydney’s hidden treasure remains in limbo

Callan Park in Sydney's inner west was once a mental health facility and boasts handsome heritage buildings – but the future use of the grounds is still contested. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

On the banks of Iron Cove in Sydney’s inner west is one the city’s unsung treasures: 61 hectares (151 acres) of rolling lawns, bushland and sandstone buildings that was once home to Rozelle hospital – originally Callan Park hospital for the insane.

For those who dream big, it could be Sydney’s next Centennial Park, a vibrant parkland attracting visitors from around Sydney.