A major milestone for The Greens Gledswood Hills 🌱
On Wednesday, 18 February, Wests Group Macarthur marked a significant milestone in the future of The Greens precinct, hosting a Turning of the Soil ceremony that acknowledged both the next stage of development and the revival of one of Sydney’s most iconic former visitor destinations.
The ceremony symbolises the transition from planning for The Greens Gledswood Hills, an exciting 40-hectare recreation, hospitality and tourist destination designed to honour the site’s interesting history while creating a vibrant new future for the Macarthur region.
The event was attended by key community dignitaries including Sally Quinnell MP, Member for Camden, Nathan Hagarty MP, Member for Leppington, Judy Hannan MP, Member for Wollondilly, Mayor of Camden, Cr Therese Fedeli as well as Wests Group Macarthur Directors, Wests staff and key contractors including project manager, Architects and Architects, Town Planning and Construction suppliers.
A Site with a Remarkable Past
For generations, the land on which The Greens sits has been a place of gathering and activity. From the late 1970s, the site gained national recognition as El Caballo Blanco, a Spanish-themed equestrian and leisure park that became one of Sydney’s most popular attractions. Operating for several decades, El Caballo Blanco drew visitors from across Greater Sydney and regional NSW, renowned for its spectacular Andalusian dancing horses, Spanish-style architecture and immersive entertainment experiences.
At its peak, the venue featured daily performances, an indoor arena, ornamental gardens, water attractions, picnic areas and family-friendly amusements, including a small Australiana park zoo. It was widely promoted as a premier all-weather attraction and became a fixture on the Sydney tourism circuit, particularly for families, school excursions and special events.
As Sydney expanded and visitor tastes changed, the attraction gradually declined and eventually closed, leaving the once-celebrated site dormant for many years. Despite this, El Caballo Blanco has remained embedded in the memory of the community and the broader Sydney population.
Bringing the Site Back to Life
The new venue set to open late 2027, will feature a golfing and hospitality experience not yet seen at this scale in Australia. It will include a state-of-the-art golf driving range featuring 56 bays over two levels, a nine-hole Greg Norman designed par-three golf course, a 27-hole mini-golf experience, as well as a registered community club featuring 1,200 dining seats, bars, restaurants and a dessert parlour, along with a 400 square metre children’s arcade and play centre.
Designed to meet the needs of a rapidly growing local population, The Greens also intends to provide tourists and travellers with a new and exciting attraction, drawing visitors to the blossoming southwest Sydney corridor.
Wests Group Macarthur has carefully woven design references from the glory days of El Caballo Blanco throughout the venue, with various areas referencing the former tourist attraction. This includes relics incorporated into the design, a reimagined Australiana Park experience for families, and nods to the site’s history through branding, menus and art.
Extensive consultation has also informed the design approach, including Indigenous consultation to ensure the precinct reflects a genuine connection to Country through landscape design, public art and integrated cultural elements.
With earthworks already underway, Wednesday’s Turning of the Soil ceremony marked the official commencement of the next chapter to a site that has entertained, inspired and connected generations.
