Because diversity is clearly the enemy of a forward-thinking, culturally-distinctive city </sarcasm> the Premier Gladys Berejiklian has issued a directive to many of our cultural institutions that they are to dump their logos and all adopt the NSW government Waratah as their logo.

Taronga Zoo, Sydney Olympic Park, the Art Gallery of NSW, the Opera House, and the Australian Museum are among those ordered to replace their logos with “the only brand identity” now allowed. This is to “ensure consistency across public sector communications and improve the recognition of NSW government projects”.

Confusion aside, it seems like madness for these internationally-recognisable symbols to be discarded in favour of a uniform corporate-looking logo.

nsw government

A Sydney Opera House spokeswoman told the SMH they are urgently fighting the decision.

“The Opera House brand is itself a significant NSW government asset, and the Opera House has worked over many years to develop a strong brand with significant national and international reach.” the spokeswoman said.

According to the SMH, the directive has been sent to “all NSW government departments, state-owned corporations, statutory authorities, advisory entities, councils under the Local Government Act and universities”.

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine