Rhodes: Major developments transforming industrial land into mini city
It was “one of the most contaminated places on earth” but developers say it is morphing into “the most successful” urban renewal precinct in the nation. See its transformation and what’s planned.
NSW
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Rhodes, the once-pungent peninsula suburb in Sydney’s inner west, was a toxic-filled industrial hub until the 1980s but its breakneck growth since the turn of the century has transformed it into one of the city’s most densely populated urban renewal precincts.
In 1917, Lewis Berger & Sons began production of white lead, linseed oil and paint required for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, from Alfred St at Rhodes.
“Rhodes has gone from where people held their noses on the train because of the stench from the industrial area and now it’s a multi-awarding community … it’s a huge transformation as an urban renewal project,’’ Billbergia development director Rick Graf said.
Billbergia is the key developer in the suburb, which Mr Graf declared would be the best in Australia.
“If you think about the industrial history of Rhodes, it was one of the most contaminated places on earth; they made Agent Orange for the Vietnam War … it was terribly polluted.
“It’s probably the most successful urban renewal project in NSW and when it’s completed it will be the most successful urban renewal project in Australia.’’
Billbergia founder and director John Kinsella identified Rhodes as a potentially thriving waterfront community in the late 1990s, just as works to clean Homebush Bay were under way ahead of the Sydney Olympics.
In 2016, Rhodes had a population of about 12,000.
Rhodes and Wentworth Point have a combined 30,000 residents, making the peninsula one of the most densely-populated communities in Australia.
At Rhodes, Billbergia has completed 15 residential projects in the past decade, when it has delivered homes for more than 7000 residents.
At Rhodes East, where lower-density housing exists, another 7000 inhabitants will occupy high-rise developments at streets including Marquet St and Blaxland Rd.
The towers will spring up on land Billbergia has acquired and amalgamated in Rhodes since 2005. In 2014, the state government and Canada Bay Council earmarked Rhodes as a priority precinct, with the potential to house an additional 10,000 residents.
The government’s Rhodes Place Strategy states that by 2035, it aims to deliver 4200 new homes, up to 1110 new jobs, a new primary school, a new ferry wharf and upgrades to the train station, 2.3 hectares of open space including a foreshore park and promenade on the Parramatta River.
Here are some developments reshaping Rhodes.
1-9 Marquet St
A $104m development will rise to 32 storeys and comprise 214 apartments after it sealed the approval from the state government’s Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel last year.
The project includes the demolition of existing buildings and includes a basement carpark.
23-29 Marquet St
A 42-storey mixed-use development with affordable housing and a basement carpark is planned for this block, where public open space is also planned.
9 Blaxland Rd and 424 Concord Rd
Tall orders are proposed for this 48-storey Billbergia project which includes affordable housing, retail and commercial uses along with 313 residential apartments including a 15 per cent affordable housing component. To be called Harmony – Rhodes Central East, the Billbergia development is part of the state’s affordable housing reforms project.
GroupGSA has designed the tower as a “vertical forest” that will “contribute to redefining the Rhodes peninsula with elevated architecture”. The apartments are to be a mix of one and five-bedroom dwellings above a mixed-use podium with a cafe, a rooftop infinity pool, an alfresco dining area on level 20 and 12 levels of carparking and an extension to flow into Churchill Tucker Reserve.
New building will sit between Rhodes train station, Blaxland Rd, Churchill Tucker Reserve, McIlwaine Park and Brays Bay. The state government is still assessing the project.
15-17 and 25-27 Blaxland Rd and 440-442 Concord Rd
Ecove Group has proposed a 93-bed seniors’ village over the three-level podium, a new fire station and 348 units across the two towers reaching 17 and 21 storeys for the development to be known as the Fire Station Towers.
There will be shops and a four-level basement carpark with spaces for 431 cars, 15 motorcycles and 840 bicycles.
The proposal would overlook McIlwaine Park, revitalise an underused precinct near Rhodes train station and generate jobs.
But it has come under fire from Canada Bay Council for a string of problems, including a failure to adequately address critical concerns such as the forecast traffic at the Concord Rd and Mary St East intersection.
The developers will need to revise plans before advancing to the next stage of the project, which the state government’s Planning Department will ultimately determine.
6-8 Cavell Ave and 65-75 Blaxland Rd
Another affordable and private housing proposal, Cavell Ave plans were designed in an effort to address the state’s housing crisis.
The two-building project comprises 13 and 14 storey blocks and five terrace houses, totalling 183 dwellings. A total of 26 will be classed as affordable dwellings and 190 underground parking spaces.
A design excellence competition concluded in December and Billbergia is now consulting with the community about the project.
2a Llewellyn St
Billbergia is also planning a vast development at Llewellyn St, with four apartment towers ranging from 12 to 26 storeys with carparking will be constructed, along with affordable abodes in the mix. The development will stretch into 3B – 57 Blaxland Rd, 2A, 2B and 2D Cavell Ave and 448-458 Concord Rd.
25-27 Leeds St
Billbergia will allocate 15 per cent of its residential projects in Rhodes to affordable housing and this mammoth six-storey development will contribute to the mix.
The towers will range from 10 to 18 storeys, carparking and will have links to the foreshore park and promenade.
Demand for influx of residents
While the suburb isn’t battling the waft of toxic waste along the waterfront, the community is still lobbying for more services to cope with its soaring population.
Billbergia’s contributions into Rhodes include the Rhodes Central Shopping Centre completed in 2021, the Bennelong Bridge that links to Wentworth Point, the 1.2-hectare Phoenix Park and Baylink Shuttle.
Canada Bay Council and the developer have delivered the $97m Rhodes Recreation Centre, The Connection community centre and an upgrade to McIlwaine Park.
Billbergia plans to spend more than $150m in services for future developments.
“The population is growing but the infrastructure has been there early,’’ Mr Graf said.
“If you go to most other suburbs going through rapid development, very few would have the open space and infrastructure of Rhodes.’’
However, question marks hang over big-ticket services the government has pledged but not delivered.
That includes a ferry wharf that was due to be completed in 2019, Rhodes East Public School, an upgrade to the train station, the northern line and improvements to the intersection of Concord Rd and Homebush Bay Drive.
“With Rhodes continuing to grow, it is essential that the state government fulfils these commitments,’’ Canada Bay Mayor Michael Megna said.
“Lifting the current dwelling cap – designed to limit development until infrastructure is in place – without addressing these needs would place further strain on the suburb.
“As one of Sydney’s highest-density communities, Rhodes must be supported by effective infrastructure delivery to remain a liveable, sustainable, and well-connected place to call home.’’
Billbergia understands plans for the wharf have been dumped permanently but the council is still lobbying for the government to deliver the facility.
The government did not respond to queries about the wharf and school.
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