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The residents of the controversial tent city in Martin Place prepared to leave the site on Friday morning, following months of negotiations between the state government and the City of Sydney council.
After more than six months camped outside the Reserve Bank building at the eastern end of Martin Place, the homeless community started moving on about 9am, after a change in legislation that would have resulted in them being forced out.
Martin Place tent city: Residents start packing up
The residents of the controversial tent city in Martin Place are preparing to leave the site after months of negotiations. Vision courtesy Seven News.
The man dubbed the "Mayor of Martin Place", Lanz Priestly, said some camp dwellers were moving to "friend's places" or "friend's backyards".
"There are some of the people who are from here who don't have anywhere to go," he said.
Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore had tried to reach a deal with Mr Priestly, but the arrangement collapsed on Monday, leading to the legislative change.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Tuesday that the state government would change the law to give police the power to move people on if it was determined that they were engaged in "unauthorised activity that compromises public safety".
The legislation, which was passed on Thursday, affects only Crown land within the City of Sydney, and does not extend to other councils.
A resident of the camp, who gave his name as Tony, said he had "no idea" where he would go.
"I don't know what's going to happen next," he said.
"A lot of people are traumatised by what's going on."
Tony, who said he'd been homeless for 12 months, described the Martin Place camp as a "safe space" which has been part of his "healing process".
NSW Police are monitoring the exodus, which has remained peaceful.
The state government has previously said offers of accommodation had been extended to members of the homeless community but had been refused.
Community members have responded that the accommodation being offered is not safe nor affordable and called for better homelessness services.
Ms Berejiklian described the new law as a "course of action which I wish I did not have to take" but said it was necessary due to the stalemate with the City of Sydney.
With AAP