The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinars
Urbanity
Awards
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
Untitled design (8)
FULL PROGRAM RELEASED FOR URBANITY-25 CONNECTING PROPERTY LEADERS ACROSS THE ASIA PACIFIC
FULL PROGRAM RELEASED FOR URBANITY-25 WHERE THE PROPERTY INDUSTRY CONNECTS
VIEW FULL AGENDADETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
SHARE
print
Print
Sponsored ContentPartner ContentWed 17 Apr 24

Why Aqualand’s So Heavily Invested in North Sydney

When asked what Aqualand’s mantra of ‘Live Better’ really means, their head of sales and marketing, Alex Adams, said: “It’s all about improving our client’s entire life. We’re in the business of creating lifestyles, not just residences. By developing new precincts, including thriving retail and hospitality outlets on our podium levels, we’re elevating the lives of not just our residents, but the entire neighbourhood.

“That’s why we’re so heavily invested in the prestigious suburb of North Sydney, so that our residents can live a better life,” Alex said.

Aqualand’s strong commitment to the North Sydney council area is clearly evident at their landmark AURA by Aqualand residential precinct at 168 Walker Street, which is set to open in mid-2024, as well as their award-winning BLUE at Lavender Bay, which was completed in 2021. 

They are also in the very early stages of planning their first build-to-rent project, set to be built on the site of their existing commercial building at 146 Arthur Street in North Sydney.

The proposed 40-storey project will deliver about 300 apartments available for rent above a lively ground-floor retail and commercial precinct, just 400m from North Sydney Station and 250m from the future Victoria Cross Metro Station.

Victoria Cross Station Sydney
▲ Thanks to Victoria Cross Station, Barangaroo will be just three minutes away.

Their commercial portfolio also features other North Sydney assets, including 15 Blue Street above North Sydney train station and 132 Arthur Street, which could be potential future redevelopment sites. 

Aqualand’s lifestyle and hospitality arm, Etymon Projects, is bringing world-class hospitality venues to North Sydney, with Loulou Bistro already thriving in Milsons Point, and Poetica, which recently opened at 1 Denison Street.

They’re also midway through delivering four other highly curated venues in AURA’s podium level, including Una, an artisanal providore; Sol, a bakery, cafe and wine bar; Soluna, an LA-inspired all-day diner and bar; and Genzo, a contemporary Japanese restaurant, all due to open in mid-2024. 

Aura wine bar and bakery north Sydney.
▲ Sol bakery, cafe and wine bar at soon-to-open AURA by Aqualand.

So, in addition to their commitment to assisting in easing Sydney’s high-quality rental shortage, they’re also delivering on their ‘live better’ philosophy by making these significant contributions to the vibrancy of the North Sydney CBD’s 18-hour economy, which is already in the midst of a major rejuvenation.

North Sydney aerial.
▲ North Sydney CBD is being revitalised, making it a lively place to live.

So, why invest in North Sydney?

Alex Adams says there are seven main strategic drivers they believe make North Sydney such a strong investment, not to mention a great place to live, including:

  1. It’s mid-way through an exciting renaissance … that’s making it an activated and lively place to live with robust growth potential. There’s myriad trendy bars, pubs and restaurants that are attracting foodies from all over greater Sydney. 

  2. Significant government investment … in North Sydney CBD over the next decade will flow through to more than $14 billion in private sector spending.

  3. New transport options and public infrastructure … are included in the strategic growth plans for North Sydney including myriad public domain works identified in the North Sydney CBD Public Domain Strategy, which includes future amenities, transport (the Victoria Cross Station will be operational in June 2024), and local areas of interest.

  4. Location, location, location … whilst being an old adage, certainly rings true here. North Sydney’s unrivalled harbourside location places the very best of Sydney on your doorstep. Thanks to the future Victoria Cross Station, Barangaroo will be reached in three minutes and there are already plenty of road, rail and bus routes to reach Sydney’s bustling CBD shopping and entertainment attractions in virtually no time. Not to mention the amazing views of Sydney Harbour seen from the harbour-hugging location.

Inside Aura by Aqualand at 168 Walker Street, North Sydney.
▲ Inside Aura by Aqualand at 168 Walker Street, North Sydney.


  1. It’s become a magnet for major global companies … with Zurich, Sony, Channel 9, Coca Cola and Microsoft just a few already calling the suburb home, plus there’s the new 1 Denison Street and Miller Place precinct coming. This makes the CBD area the perfect place to live, work and play without leaving your suburb.

  2. North Sydney’s loaded with private and selective schools … with one of Sydney’s most prestigious high schools, Reddam House, about to develop a highrise vertical campus offering private co-education from kindergarten to year 12. It already has myriad other prestigious schools, including North Sydney Boys High School (which claimed the No.1 spot in the Higher School Certificate rankings in 2023), North Sydney Girls High School (claimed fourth in the Higher School Certificate rankings in 2023), Marist Catholic College North Shore, Wenona School and Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College already there.

  3. It’s growing … in terms of people, with its population forecast to increase by 6000, and in terms of property value, with unit prices growing by 12 per cent in the past year (versus 6 per cent in Sydney CBD). 

So, these are just a few reasons why Aqualand thinks North Sydney’s a great place to not only live in but to invest in. And with AURA by Aqualand about to complete, it’s about to get even better.



The Urban Developer is proud to partner with Aqualand to deliver this article to you. In doing so, we can continue to publish our daily news, information, insights and opinion to you, our valued readers.

About Aqualand Australia


Established in 2014, Aqualand is a thriving Australian property, hospitality and investment company, currently in the midst of its strongest growth period.

The company’s impressive project pipeline demonstrates its solid reputation and track record of success, with many award-winning urban precincts already completed, and a range of new projects currently under way across Sydney.

Key Aqualand projects include the $1-billion residential development AURA by Aqualand in North Sydney and the upcoming Central Barangaroo project, which is the final stage of the Sydney CBD waterfront precinct.

Aqualand is also a long-time supporter of local arts, sporting and cultural organisations in Australia, including the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Art Gallery of NSW, the Sydney Modern Project, and Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi.

To find out more, visit www.aqualand.com.au.

OtherRetailResidentialInfrastructureEducationBuild-to-RentAustraliado not useOther
AUTHOR
Partner Content
More articles by this author
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
Wel Co's Thornhill Park, 40km west of the Melbourne CBD.
Exclusive

Waiting for Victoria: Why Wel.co says State Planning isn’t Working

Marisa Wikramanayake
6 Min
Woods Bagot Principal Alex Hall and Penny Place Adelaide
Exclusive

Amplified Affordability: Woods Bagot Cracks Housing Cost Code

Leon Della Bosca
8 Min
Goodman Brisbane Industrial EDM
Exclusive

Olympics a ‘Springboard’ for Brisbane’s Industrial Age

Clare Burnett
6 Min
Colliers build-to-rent head Robert Papaleo speaking at The Urban Developer's Build-to-Rent Summit in Melbourne.
Exclusive

Get Creative Before BtR Wellspring Runs Dry, Sector Urged

Marisa Wikramanayake
4 Min
PGIM Real Estate Reimagines 444 queen street to 450 queen street brisbane
Exclusive

Coming, Ready or Not: Relic Stripped to Bone for Green Glow-Up

Renee McKeown
5 Min
View All >
Metrics Sir Stamford redevelopment
Residential

Metrics Takes Over Sir Stamford Hotel Sydney Project

Vanessa Croll
Build-to-Rent

The 10 Biggest BtR Projects Under Construction in 2025

Editorial Desk
Port Stanvac has undergone 10 years of remediation for MAB to turn it into a masterplanned community 25km from Adelaide CBD.
Placemaking

MAB Moves Adelaide South Coast Masterplan Forward

Renee McKeown
The developer’s 3600-home masterplan for the south coast precinct has cleared a critical planning hurdle…
LATEST
Metrics Sir Stamford redevelopment
Residential

Metrics Takes Over Sir Stamford Hotel Sydney Project

Vanessa Croll
3 Min
Build-to-Rent

The 10 Biggest BtR Projects Under Construction in 2025

Editorial Desk
5 Min
Port Stanvac has undergone 10 years of remediation for MAB to turn it into a masterplanned community 25km from Adelaide CBD.
Placemaking

MAB Moves Adelaide South Coast Masterplan Forward

Renee McKeown
2 Min
FK's rendering of LAS Group's rejected 25-storey residential tower.
Planning

Flood Risk Washes Away Southbank Tower Plans

Marisa Wikramanayake
2 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/why-aqualand-s-so-heavily-invested-in-north-sydney