Construction Under Way on Landmark Manly Site

Children’s charity Royal Far West has broken ground on its multiple-building, mixed-use development on the Manly beachfront.

The charity, which provides allied health services to children in remote areas, appointed Multiplex as its building partner for the project in the Sydney’s Northern Beaches suburb in February.

It filed plans for the site in 2022.

The charity said the RFW Neighbourhood would underscore its commitment to the Northern Beaches community while supporting the health of country children and providing more amenity.

Designed by architects Glenn Murcutt and Angelo Candalapas, it will feature a blend of retail, commercial, and lifestyle-related spaces. The project will also provide revitalised accommodation for visiting RFW families and serve the Manly community as “a quality guest house”. 

The development will replace the rear-wing of Drummond House and former RFW school and medical centre buildings.

It includes 58 luxurious apartments, ranging from one to three bedrooms, across two buildings on the 15,000sq m site.

The plans to redevelop the site were filed by RFW in 2022. Construction is expected to complete in 2026.

RFW Board chairman Joan Treweeke said the development was an important step towards securing the future for Royal Far West and Australia’s country kids.

According to realestate.com.au, the median property price for Manly during the past year was$4,575,000 for houses to $1,667,500 for units. Median price for units between June 2023 and May 2024 were $1.7 million, which was 8 per cent down on the previous year.

This year Landcom announced plans alongside a community housing provider to redevelop  the Queenscliff Community Health Centre at North Manly.

▲ Manly is part of the Northern Beaches Council area.