Dubbo real estate: No. 1 Church Street apartment development approved

A state-of-the-art $35 million apartment complex is set to transform the CBD of a city in the state’s central west and help fix a growing housing crisis.

Construction of a 13-level $35 million apartment complex development, backed by billionaire Harvey Norman founder Gerry Harvey, has been given the green light by Dubbo Regional Council.

The development on the corner of Bligh and Church streets, in the Dubbo CBD, will include 72 apartments, two carparks for 123 vehicles and space for retail business to set up on the ground floor.

What it will look like ... an artist’s impression of the No. 1 Church Street development in Dubbo. Picture: No. 1 Church Street

Dubbo-based developers the Walkom Brothers have partnered with Mr Harvey to make the development a reality and turn what was once an old office block into an iconic piece of CBD real estate.

The council initially approved the development in 2018 but renewed approval was needed after the original design of the building was changed to remove a planned serviced apartment component.

Co-developer John Walkom said the development had been in the pipeline for more than 15 years.

“We purchased the site in about 2005 and we had the vision to one day do this,” he said.

“In 2016 we looked at it and crunched some numbers … then we set about having some plans done up and going through the whole decision process, getting it quoted, doing market analysis.

“Then we had that dry period with the drought so we thought it was best to hold off until that was over.”

Mr Walkom said now was the right time to make the development vision a reality.

“With some good seasons, and if you look at the focus now on regional areas with the pandemic and people starting to reassess and wanting to move and have that tree change and fresh air, it’s all lining up quite positively,” he said.

“Some excavation has already started out the front of the building, the hoarding will be erected over the next week and then once that’s finished we’ll be looking to commence the demolition of the existing building.”

An artists impression of one of the apartments to be built as part of the No. 1 Church Street development in Dubbo. Picture: No. 1 Church Street

Construction of the entire development is expected to be completed by November 2022 and there’s already been “positive interest” from people looking to purchase apartments, Mr Walkom said.

“Our research clearly indicates the markets are looking for this,” he said.

“Whether it be somebody that’s downsizing, somebody that’s retiring off the land and wants to move into a regional city or professional people that are looking to come park their car and just walk up into their unit with none of the tasks you’d have if you had a front and backyard.”

The ground level of the No. 1 Church Street development will be pedestrian friendly. Picture: No. 1 Church Street

A recent council report into the undersupply of residential housing in the city showed while one and two-person households made up 55 per cent of the total households in the local government area, just 2.9 per cent of dwellings in Dubbo were one-bedroom.

The report, prepared by council’s growth planning projects leader Carmel O’Connor, also revealed in the past three years only six unit developments, comprising 72 dwellings were built in the LGA which has also recorded a stubbornly low residential vacancy rate below 1 per cent for much of the past year.

Of the 72 units to be built as part of the No. 1 Church Street development, seven will be one-bedroom, 54 will have two bedrooms and 11 will be three-bedroom apartments.

Mr Walkom estimated between 150 and 200 people would call the complex home.

“It’ll give our CBD some extra life and give it a more cosmopolitan feel,” he said.

“You’re going to see it’ll put a different vibe through the CBD, you’re going to have a lot more activity and a lot more people in the CBD of a night time.

“That’s what drives CBDs now, they’re not the centre of business anymore, they’re the centre of business and accommodation or residences.”

Gerry Harvey is co-developing No.1 Church Street with John and Kevin Walkom. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The decision of Mr Harvey to back the No. 1 Church Street development was a vote of confidence in the future of Dubbo and regional NSW, Mr Walkom said.

“Myself and my brother have been in business with Gerry now for 30 odd years and this is just another project that we’re undertaking,” Mr Walkom said.

“Gerry’s got the confidence in regional cities, particularly Dubbo and that in itself is solid support for what’s happening.”

A display suite showcasing what a No. 1 Church Street apartment will look like will open this week next to Best and Less on Macquarie Street and tradespeople will be able to put their names forward to help build the development.

“We’re certainly keen to hear from local tradies, we will have a link on our website where they can register,” Mr Walkom said.