Bounded by Cambie, Dunsmuir, Beatty and Georgia Streets, the former park occupied a whole city block and was laid out at the time of the CPR Townsite survey in the early 1880s.
In July 1943 (during World War II), a ceremony was held to dedicate the park to Al Larwill, some 32 years after his death in 1911.
Often used for parking by Canada Post trucks and for film production "circuses", the lot was one of two main sites for cultural events and "nightly celebrations", although not an official venue, during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
After the bus depot vacated Larwill Park in 1993, it became the only block of vacant public land in downtown Vancouver.
On September 29, 2015, the Art Gallery unveiled drawings by architects Herzog & de Meuron for a new museum building.