Auswin TWT's $300 million residential project in Sydney's Ultimo

A development application has been lodged by property group Auswin TWT for a $300-million mixed-use project in Sydney's Ultimo.  

New Life/Ultimo at 495 Harris Street will speed up the gentrification of the often undervalued inner Sydney suburb, according to the developers. Ultimo is on the edge of Darling Harbour, Chinatown and Barangaroo, and well connected to light rail and bus services, yet RP Data research shows that the median price for an apartment is 30 percent less than neighbouring Pyrmont, said a media release.

The multi-layered building steps down from nine-storeys along Harris Street to six levels facing Bulwara Road. It will have 210 apartments ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, including two-level terraces with street-level access. There will be ground floor retail/commercial space and two basement levels for vehicles and bicycles, bringing the gross floor area to around 20,000 sqm.

“Those with vision will appreciate that Ultimo will improve and prosper just like Pyrmont has, lifting property values as it regenerates,” said Ben Stewart of CBRE.

Simon Platt of Kinsale Property Group is another realtor who believes the Auswin TWT development will give Ultimo its biggest boost since 2007 when the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre opened.

“Ultimo is somewhat of a forgotten suburb on the doorstep of the CBD, yet it has all the attributes of being a property hot spot,” Platt said.

The design, from Architectus, features an open air courtyard and a purpose-built pedestrian laneway running from Harris Street through to Bulwara Road. Architectus was chosen after a design competition chaired by acclaimed architect Tony Caro last year.

“These features were met with approval when we held two information sessions for residents,” said Stephen Fitzpatrick, the general manager of Auswin TWT. 

The 5,322 sqm site was originally owned by the Harris family who were the dominant landowners in the area for more than a century. Bushells Tea purchased the site in 1938 and built a four-storey warehouse to store its produce.

In 1964, the newly founded Totalizator Agency Board (TAB) acquired the property as its headquarters and nerve centre for its betting business. In 2004, TAB was taken over by the Victorian-based wagering and media company Tabcorp, which 10 years later sold the property to Auswin TWT.