Accessibility at ACO On The Pier
The ACO is committed to making our events accessible, inclusive and barrier-free so that everyone can enjoy them.
ACO On The Pier has step-free access, accessible seating options, accessible toilets and assistive hearing technology, as do many of the venues we use across Australia and internationally. We welcome patrons with Companion Cards and Assistance Animals. We also hold a range of accessible events, such as ACO Relaxed Performances and Audio Described performances.
If you have any questions about accessibility or would like to book accessible seating, please contact our Box Office at [email protected].au or on 1800 444 444 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm AEST).
Plan your visit
Booking
If you have any questions about accessibility, would like to book accessible seating or have any feedback, please contact our Box Office on:
Phone 1800 444 444
Email [email protected]
Patrons who are d/Deaf can call (at no cost) the National Relay Service:
- TTY users phone 13 36 77
- Speak and listen (speech-to-speech relay) users phone 1300 555 727
- Internet relay users - visit the National Relay Service website and ask for the phone number you wish to contact.
Companion Cards
We are a proud affiliate of the Companion Card Program and provide complimentary tickets for Companion Card holders. We accept Companion Card bookings for all ticketed events. This allows the cardholder to bring a companion with them for free.
Accessibility at ACO On The Pier
The ACO’s new home belongs to everybody. More information about specific access features of the Australian Chamber Orchestra's venue are below.
Getting here
There are a number of different accessible transport options to get to us in Walsh Bay, including bus, train and car. Information on these options is available here.
Accessible parking spaces available nearby on Hickson Road. The exact locations of these can be viewed on the City of Sydney’s access and inclusion map here.
Our Building
ACO On The Pier is situated at the Northern end of Pier 2/3 in Walsh Bay. Entrance is via the ground floor foyer on either the Western or Eastern side of the Pier, which we share with our neighbours Bell Shakespeare and Australian Theatre for Young People. Once inside, you take the stairs or lift to Level 1, where you will find the Ticket Desk and ACO Reception and Box Office. Also located in the Level 1 Foyer is the Pier 2/3 Theatre Bar and Male, Female and Accessible Bathrooms.
ACO On The Pier has 3 main public performance and workshop spaces, all of which are wheelchair accessible. For more information on these specific spaces, and to view photographs, please click here.
The Neilson, our main performance space, can be accessed through three doors: Door 1, located on Level 1 to the right of the Ticket Desk; Door 2, located on Level 1 to the left of the Ticket Desk; and Door 3, located on Level 2 above the left of the Ticket Desk) where you will find the Ticket Desk and ACO Reception and Box Office.
Explore The Neilson in this 360-degree video
Explore Belgiorno Room in this 360-degree video
Explore The Studio in this 360-degree video
Venue Wheelchair
Visitors can book a wheelchair to use for the duration of their visit to assist with travel throughout our building. This service is available free of charge. Bookings can be made via Contacting our Box Office on either phone 1800 444 444 or email [email protected].
HEARING ASSISTANCE
ACO On The Pier currently utilises an FM Assistive Listening System in all three venues (The Neilson, The Studio and Belgiorno Room). To access the ACO’s FM Assistive Listening System, patrons should approach ACO On The Pier Front of House staff and request an FM receiver. Patrons have the option to choose either a set of headphones or a neck loop to use with the FM receiver. For those who opt for the neck loop, their hearing aids must be equipped with a telecoil (T-Coil) for compatibility.
Accessible Toilets
Accessible toilets are available on Level 1 of ACO On The Pier. To access these, go through the shared foyer towards the bar on the Eastern side. Go down the corridor and the toilets are to your right. Another accessible toilet is available down the Crawford Corridor, on the eastern side of the building towards Door 2 and the Neilson space. Both of these accessible toilets are Right Hand transfer. If you require a Left Hand transfer toilet, please let our staff know and thy can guide you to another location.
Each male and female toilet block also has an ambulant toilet cubicle.
Baby changes facilities are included in all accessible toilets in the building.
Staff assistance
If you need assistance while with us at ACO On The Pier, please ask our team. You can find them at all venue doors, when a show is going in, or at our Reception Desk on Level 1 of the building. All our Front-Of-House staff are first aid trained.
Venue entry and exit
If you need early entry to the venue, prior to general audience admission, please contact our Box Office or see one of our ushers. It is possible to leave a performance part-way through at an appropriate moment musically if this is required, and our ushers can assist with this.
For our Relaxed Performances, we will also have a quiet space available for use.
Box Office and Bar
Our Box Office is available Mon-Fri 9-5pm and 1 hour before every performance.
The Bar is open one hour prior to every performance.
Both Box Office and Bar have lowered counter height sections available.
Assistance Animals
Assistance animals are welcome in all areas of ACO On The Pier. Water bowls are available on request. We can also direct you to an appropriate place for animal toileting.
Mobility Scooters
Guests are very welcome to bring mobility scooters to our venue, and we can store these for you securely during the performance. We also have a Mobility Scooter charging area available for use.
COVID-19 safety
We are doing everything we can to keep our audiences, and our staff and musicians, safe. For our latest COVID-19 safety information, please click here.
Emergency Evacuation Procedures
We have appropriate emergency evacuation procedures in place for all our guests, including our guests with access requirements. Our Front-Of-House staff will guide and assist you in the event of an emergency.
Our other venues
ACO strives to only use venues which have a high level of accessibility. To find out more about the specific accessibility offerings at other venues we perform in, please visit their websites directly.
Adelaide Town Hall Accessibility
Brisbane QPAC Concert Hall Accessibility
Canberra Llewellyn Hall Accessibility
Canberra Theatre Centre Accessibility
Melbourne Arts Centre Melbourne Accessibility
Melbourne Recital Centre Accessibility
Newcastle City Hall Accessibility
Perth Concert Hall Accessibility
Sydney City Recital Hall Accessibility
Sydney Opera House Accessibility
Wollongong Town Hall Accessibility
Accessible events
The ACO is committed to providing accessible events for everyone in our community to enjoy. A number of our events feature access services, such as Audio Description. Since 2022, we have hosted Relaxed Performances. Our digital StudioCasts program also includes accessibility features.
Audio Described performances
Audio Description (AD) is a narration that provides detailed information and descriptions of the visual elements of a performance. At ACO, we include AD for our performances with film.
If you would like to use the AD available on specific performances, please contact our Box Office on Phone 1800 444 444 or Email [email protected].
ACO Relaxed Performances
Sharing music with new audiences lies at the heart of everything we do. We’re launching our community program with a series of performances where everyone can enjoy our finest mainstage programs in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
ACO Relaxed Performances feature 50 minutes of music with a guest presenter, who will make you feel right at home. Open to everyone, these performances offer flexible seating arrangements, adjusted lighting and sound levels and a quiet space to chill out. We welcome people on the autism spectrum, people with disability and access needs, parents and carers with babies, or anyone who would enjoy a more informal daytime performance experience. Come along, respond to the music, make noise, be yourself and have fun!
Relaxed Performances (RP) are for anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed environment. We focus on adapting the environment and performance, as well as preparing the audience by developing pre-show resources. If you book an RP, you will be emailed with further information and a link to a Visual Story before your event.
Artist access
Our spaces at ACO On The Pier are available for hire, and will be to various artists and community groups over time.
All performance spaces, and backstage areas are fully wheelchair accessible and we welcome artists with disability to use our spaces.
More information on venue hire is available here.
