Fire at luxury Wanda apartment development in Sydney's Circular Quay

Fire at luxury Wanda apartment development in Sydney's Circular Quay
Joel RobinsonDecember 7, 2020

There's been a fire at One Circular Quay, the Dalian Wanda development near the Sydney Harbour.

The fire, described as "really bad" by onlookers, broke out earlier this morning.

"There were workers on the scaffold," one woman wrote on Facebook. She suggested she heard three explosions.

More than 60 fire fighters across 16 fire crews are attempting to subdue the fire.

The site, as well as some nearby office buildings, have been evacuated, as well as the Circular Quay train station. Regular service has been resumed at the station.

Nobody was badly injured. A number of people were treated for minor smoke inhalation.

The site of Gold Fields House, which dates back to 1966, was one of Sydney's first high rise buildings. 

Late last month it was announced that Dalian Wanda sold the project to Sydney developer Yuhu Group. 

Dalian Wanda came under pressure by the Chinese government to crimp its overseas investments. 

Fire at luxury Wanda apartment development in Sydney's Circular Quay

Late last year Wanda begun marketing the apartments in the development.

They described the Sydney building as Australia's most prestigious residential development (below).

The flagship $1 billion project was officially launched at the Museum of Contemporary Art in April.

The 57 storey tower will comprise 184 apartments and a 179 room hotel.

"The Circular Quay site remains under the management of Wanda, as the transfer process continues," a Yuhu spokesman told Fairfax Media.

Police say the remains of the building, which was undergoing demolition, has sustained significant damage.

"Officers attached to Sydney City Local Area Command will investigate the circumstances surrounding the blaze. It is not known if there are any suspicious circumstances; inquiries are continuing," police reports say.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joel Robinson

Joel Robinson is a property journalist based in Sydney. Joel has been writing about the residential real estate market for the last five years, specializing in market trends and the economics and finance behind buying and selling real estate.

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