Whistler St, Manly: Luxury units to replace ‘historic’ house of Manly’s first mayor
A decision to bulldoze a ‘historic’ property sparked a heated community debate, but now work is set to begin on one of the most contentious vacant blocks on the northern beaches.
Manly
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Work is set to begin on luxury apartments on one of the most contentious vacant blocks of land on the northern beaches.
The five-storey “shop-top” block will go up on the historically significant site of the now demolished home of one of Manly’s pioneering community leaders.
An original development application in 2018 to demolish the building at 21 Whistler St, the home of Manly’s first mayor, Thomas Rowe, divided Northern Beaches Council.
While the building, dating back to circa 1877, was not officially heritage protected, some councillors argued it should be saved from the bulldozers due to its links to the early development of the seaside suburb.
Rowe, considered one of Sydney’s foremost early architects, was also responsible for planting the iconic Norfolk Island pines along the seafront, leading the way for other coastal towns.
His design work included The Great Synagogue in Elizabeth St, Sydney Hospital in Macquarie St and Sydney Arcade in Pitt St.
During council debate Your Northern Beaches Independent Cr Sarah Grattan said it would be “criminal” not to protect the building.
But other councillors argued that the developers were entitled to lodge a DA on a property that was not heritage listed.
The council voted, in September 2019, to place an Interim Heritage Order on the building, that was once part of a wider estate called “Roseville”, which stretched between Whistler and Belgrave streets.
Then after a council recommendation that the DA be knocked back due to the heritage significance of the site and concerns over parking and increased traffic, it was refused by the Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel Panel.
But the developers, Urban Planners, part-owned by Balgowlah Heights businessman Garth Matthews, appealed the decision to the Land and Environment Court.
The court allowed the DA in July 2020 with construction to begin within five years, otherwise the consent would lapse.
Permission to demolish the building was given in August 2021.
The council has now processed the lodgement of a security deposit to cover any damage to the footpath and roadway during construction.
DA documents show that the building will accommodate two shops on Whistler St as well as seven units, including a three-bedroom unit on level 2.
There will be basement carparking that includes a car stacker.
As well as the Whistler St development, Urban Partners has also developed several projects in Manly including the Brise de Mer (Sea Breeze) seaside cottage opposite Manly Beach and its adjacent Maritimo apartments.
The company also developed the Watermark apartment block in Victoria Pde, and the Villa Porto apartments in Tower St.
On its website its states that it specialises in “contemporary, prestige residential with a clear focus on urban renewal and a passion for Heritage works”.
Urban Planners has been contacted for comment.
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