Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest lodges $7.3m rebuild plan for Circular Quay apartments

Andrew ‘Twiggy Forrest’ is planning to spend more than $7m combining two penthouses into one as part of a home renovation project in one of Sydney’s most sought after buildings.

Andrew Forrest pictured at the apartment in 2016. Picture: Britta Campion.

Two units in one of Sydney’s most sought after apartment buildings would be combined into a single penthouse suite as part of home renovation plans by billionaire owner Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest.

The mining magnate has applied to the City of Sydney to amalgamate two apartments at the Pullman Grand Quay in Circular Quay - neighbouring Bennelong Apartments, nicknamed The Toaster - to create a single penthouse with views of the Harbour Bridge, Botanic Gardens and Sydney Cove.

Records show the philanthropic Forrest and his wife Nicola bought one of the units back in 2006 for $5.98m.

The $7.3m redevelopment of the upper level unit would involve amalgamating it with an adjoining apartment in the northern end of the building.

Plans by Tattarang – the private investment group owned by Andrew and Nicola Forrest – show development works would involve gutting both units and bulldozing internal walls, floors, fixtures and ceilings wihch separate the apartments.

Two apartments would become one as part of the $7.3 million proposal.

Both units each measure about 223sq m and have three bedrooms, living and dining areas and terrace balconies.

The amalgamated apartment would have a master bedrooms, two smaller bedrooms, a single terrace balcony, a living room, dining areas and a terrace.

A photo of one of the units. Picture: Realestate.com.au

Plans showing sections of the two apartments that would be demolished (seen in red)

Plans state the development would “make use of the elevational position within the existing building to best utilise the surrounding views”.

“The modifications to the existing layout have been made to increase view and amenity inside the apartment whilst not changing privacy,” the plans state.

“The refurbished apartment responds to future occupant preferences, reflects the prominence of the location and creates a new type of apartment within the existing building.

“Internal planning has been undertaken to provide a more generous living space oriented towards the natural light. This provides a functional, well organised, and high standard of amenity.”

The apartments boast views of Circular Quay.

A spokesman for Tattarang declined to comment about the details of the proposal, saying it was a private matter.

The amalgamation of the two apartments is expected to take eight months to complete and would involve a mobile crane set up the site.

The Pullman Quay Grand Hotel was completed in 1999 and has 129 apartments, including 31 luxury units within the upper levels of the building.

The building remains one of Sydney’s most sought after addresses and has features including a sauna, a gym and an indoor pool.

The proposal has been lodged to the City of Sydney and remains under assessment.