THE LANDS BY CAPELLA EVENTS OPENS, MARKING THE RETURN OF A SYDNEY ICON

One of Sydney’s most significant heritage buildings entered a bold new era with the opening of The Lands by Capella Events on 2 February, 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.

Images of The Lands by Capella © Timothy Kaye

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.

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Notes to editors

For press kit and images, please see here.

ABOUT THE LANDS BY CAPELLA

The Lands by Capella reimagines the historic 1876 Department of Lands building, marking the second chapter of Sydney's Sandstone Precinct. Situated at the meeting point of Circular Quay, Macquarie and George Streets, The Lands by Capella and Capella Sydney form The Sandstone Precinct—one of the largest privately funded tourism infrastructure developments in New South Wales, developed by Singapore-based property developer Pontiac Land Group.

Spanning 10,000 square metres, The Lands by Capella has been carefully restored to honour its sandstone craftsmanship and soaring arches while welcoming contemporary design, creating a destination for bespoke retail, elevated dining, considered workspaces, boutique lifestyle concepts, and grand event spaces.

For more information, visit thelandsbycapella.com.

ABOUT CAPELLA SYDNEY

Capella Sydney in Australia transforms one of the city’s most treasured heritage landmarks into a contemporary sanctuary of culture and luxury. Set within the restored sandstone Department of Education building, the property’s 192 guestrooms and suites showcase soaring ceilings, bespoke furnishings, and an extraordinary collection of artwork. Situated steps from Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge, the hotel invites guests to experience the city’s architectural grandeur and creative spirit firsthand. Having opened in March 2023, Capella Sydney marks a remarkable debut for a property so young, already celebrated for redefining Australia’s luxury landscape. Conceived as both an urban retreat and a cultural gateway, it stands as a place where design, history, and modern sophistication converge to create a deeply enriching stay.

Balancing storied architectural features with a contemporary design aesthetic, Capella Sydney celebrates the Australian panorama through its interiors, location and experiences. 192 spacious guestrooms and suites and an unsurpassed wellness offering are anchored by three ground-level food and beverage outlets and a collection of bespoke function spaces. Original characteristics are celebrated throughout the hotel, with reimagined interiors unfurling to reveal commissioned and collected artworks, sophisticated furnishings and intriguing objet d’art– all within footsteps of the glistening harbour foreshore, the famed Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

For more information, visit capellahotels.com/sydney | IG: capellasydney | FB: capellasydney

ABOUT CAPELLA HOTEL GROUP 

Capella Hotel Group is a leading hospitality management company specialising in luxury hotels, resorts, and serviced residences. Based in Singapore, the rapidly expanding group has two brands under its portfolio and properties across ten destinations. The award-winning Capella Hotels and Resorts is renowned for its service excellence, crafted luxury design and immersive experiences celebrating the locale, while Patina Hotels & Resorts is the group’s transformative luxury brand pioneering a fresh perspective in luxury hospitality.  

For more information visit www.capellahotelgroup.com. 

ABOUT CAPELLA HOTELS AND RESORTS 

The Capella Hotels and Resorts constellation consists of properties located in Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Ubud, Bangkok, Hanoi, Shanghai, and Hainan. Future openings include exciting destinations such as Kyoto, Macau, Seoul, Riyadh, Nanjing and Shenzhen. The exceptional hospitality brand, taking its name from the brightest star of the Auriga constellation, shines a spotlight on local heritage, culture and community whilst crafting authentic guest experiences with the highest level of personalised service and combining a legacy of thoughtful design. Capella was named Best Hotel Brand in Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best Awards” from 2023 to 2025. Capella Bangkok and Capella Sydney earned the distinction of being included in The World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2025, with Capella Sydney debuting as Best Hotel in Oceania. Capella Hotels and Resorts is a member of GHA DISCOVERY, a multi-brand loyalty programme representing a collection of 40 independent hotel brands over 100 countries worldwide.  

For more information, visit www.capellahotels.com.

Instagram @capellahotels | LinkedIn @capellahotels

ABOUT PONTIAC LAND GROUP

Pontiac Land is a privately-held property developer, owner, and operator based in Singapore. The Group’s collection of properties includes mixed-use developments with hospitality, commercial and residential components.

Leveraging on sixty years of experience in luxury property development, Pontiac Land seeks to better the built environment through thoughtful architecture and design. Each development is curated with art and spaces are maintained by the Group’s in-house property management team to deliver hospitality to our guests and tenants. Its international collection includes properties in Singapore, New York, Sydney, and the Maldives.

In 2006, Pontiac Land co-founded Capella Hotel Group in Asia, extending its presence to more than 20 global destinations. Renowned for crafted luxury design and highly personalised service, Capella Hotel Group maintains a longstanding, collaborative partnership with Pontiac Land to deliver world-class experiences across its award-winning hotels and resorts.For more information, visit pontiacland.com.

For further press information and images, please contact:

Iustina Roman (iustina@frogandwolfpr.com), Christina Dendrinou (christina@frogandwolfpr.com), Leanne Barton (leanne@frogandwolfpr.com), Nat Frogley (nat@frogandwolfpr.com) or Flora Gandolfo (flora@frogandwolfpr.com) at Frog & Wolf PR.