Once closed to the public, Sub Base Platypus has been reimagined as a place alive with heritage interpretation, parklands, walkways, and public art - celebrating its layered past as a gasworks, torpedo factory, and submarine base. The adaptive reuse of the 1942 Torpedo Factory has transformed the building into a versatile undercover space with terraces, gardens, and accessible pathways. By partially removing sections of the structure, daylight now reaches the heart of the site, while a new public park on the lower level creates a welcoming green space for the community.

Cammeraygal story and broader First Nations perspectives were meaningfully embedded in this transformation. Through workshops, empathy research, and rapid prototyping, they created pathways for Aboriginal voices to guide the design in collaboration with Turf Design Studio, Guida Moseley Brown Architects, and the Harbour Trust. This process wove cultural storytelling into the industrial fabric of the site, reconnecting visitors with both Country and history.

Awarded the 2024 AILA NSW Award for Cultural Heritage, Sub Base Platypus shows how cultural dialogue and landscape design can regenerate place and spirit.