Aeria Bankstown Precinct

Grounded in strategy

Aeria is a 300-hectare precinct in South West Sydney, home to Bankstown Airport for over 80 years. The precinct is transforming into a mixed-use hub for aviation, business, retail, recreation and industrial uses spanning the size of a suburb. It brings together diverse users and destinations across a broad and evolving landscape.

As part of Aeria’s long-term transformation from an airport to a civic hub, Diadem was engaged to develop a wayfinding strategy that would support efficient movement today while setting a clear roadmap for growth. This masterplan strategy addressed everything from new access points and internal roads to major site markers and precinct-wide movement.

With most visitors arriving by vehicle, Diadem’s system prioritised destination-based navigation from key road entries through to specific locations. The approach centred on user journey mapping and behavioural insight, ensuring the system could support both first-time and frequent users across a range of needs, time pressures and levels of familiarity.

Designing a system

Diadem’s signage system translates the strategy into a coherent, site-wide experience. Informed by Studio Round’s brand identity, the system incorporates the distinctive horizon stripe as a unifying graphic device across signage elements.

The system includes a range of signage types, from precinct markets, large-scale entry totems and gate markers to internal site signage for key destinations. Materials, curved sign profiles, consistent sizing and a clearly resolved information hierarchy were all essential to the design. Typography, pictograms and colour use were developed to support legibility, clarity and visual cohesion.

Taking a long-term view

As always, Diadem’s approach balanced practical navigation with careful stewardship of the brand. As the Aeria precinct continues to expand, the signage system embeds a consistent identity while supporting long-term functionality.

The project is being delivered in phases aligned with broader development milestones. While entry totems, gate markers and other elements have already been implemented, many more remain scheduled for future rollout, including signage for a retail precinct.

Diadem’s ongoing role ensures that, as Aeria evolves, its wayfinding continues to support clear, confident movement across this key emerging hub in Sydney’s western suburbs.