Top Spring break ground at The Newlands, St Leonards apartment development
Top Spring Australia put ceremonial shovels to the ground last week on its $580 million St Leonards project, The Newlands.
The 1.26-hectare master-planned community is revolutionising urban living in a bushland setting by putting leading biophilic design principles at its core.
The major milestone follows several months of demolition and clearance work on the Canberra Avenue site, making way for 4.5-star iCIRT-rated builder DASCO to commence construction on stage one of The Newlands.
Top Spring Australia Managing Director, Sydney Ma, said The Newlands represents a new era of urban design that enhances wellness and lifestyle from the inside out.
“The Newlands is more than just a place where people live,” Ma said.
“It is designed to change their lifestyle for the better, and it achieves this through biophilic design elements that enhance access to natural light, fresh air, beauty and connection to landscape and green spaces. At its heart is an enduring focus on wellbeing, connectivity and community."
Ma said The Newlands delivers a rare opportunity for urban renewal and housing diversity with 330 homes across five low and medium-rise buildings, just five kilometres from the CBD and a short walk through bushland trails to the shores of Sydney Harbour.
Top Spring Australia Development Director, Jeff Curnow, said The Newlands reflected a rare opportunity to fulfil a community-driven design approach embracing the tree canopy of the century-old Newlands Park, with half of the site dedicated to green and open spaces.
“It’s a remarkable design achievement by Bates Smart that 90 per cent of apartments and terrace homes have direct landscape outlooks,’’ Curnow said.
“Newlands Park, with its open spaces and towering trees, will provide residents with both a tranquil escape and a permanent green canopy to view from their apartments.
“The ‘tree-change’ lifestyle also connects within the development’s central 5,700 sqm green spine, communal landscaped gardens and 1,500 sqm of communal rooftop amenity.’’
The project is achieving strong sales from buyers keen for an alternative to high-rise living, recording $165 million in sales in the past six months, bringing the total value of sales to more than $215 million.
Demand has led Top Spring Australia to fast-track the release of the Glade collection, a boutique nine-level building of one, two and three-bedroom apartments situated beside the community’s tranquil green spine, future pocket park and nature pathways.
The Bates Smart-designed project has achieved a 6.5 NaTHERS rating across the site. Sustainability features include energy-efficient appliances, water fitments and lighting, 100KW of solar panels to contribute to power in common areas and 30 EV communal recharging stations with infrastructure in place for chargers on each car space.
Other resident services include communal wellness spaces with gym facilities, saunas and pool, private dining area with city skyline views, electric vehicles and e-bikes for exclusive use by residents, refrigerated parcel lockers for grocery deliveries, and a digital concierge to connect services such as cleaners, personal trainers, and dog walkers.
Premium finishes such as timber flooring and 60mm natural stone kitchen benchtops are standard, with buyers able to choose from a range of luxurious upgrades and light or dark colour palettes.
The Newlands is being marketed by Colliers International, with prices starting at $870,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, $1.465 million for two-bedroom apartments, and $2.43 million for three-bedroom apartments.
The first stage of The Newlands is due for completion in late 2025.
Top Spring Australia’s other Sydney projects under construction include the ultra-luxury Munro House in Elizabeth Bay and Ode, Double Bay.
