Parish Plans $58m Shoptop in Wollongong’s Centre

The Catholic Diocese of Wollongong has lodged plans for a 16-storey shoptop in the Illawarra city’s inner southern suburbs.

To be known as the Xavier Centre, the $58-million development will bring together half a dozen parish offices within the church, housing more than 350 employees across four commercial floors.

Twelve residential levels will include 61 apartments, while four basement levels will allow parking for 155 vehicles.

Three two-storey buildings on the 2622sq m site will be demolished to make way for the development at 23-27 Auburn and 38 Ellen streets, less than 1km from the centre of Wollongong.

MMJ Town Planning and Advisory told Wollongong City Council in documents the church intended to incorporate the Office of the Bishop, the Catholic Education Office, Catholic Care, the Catholic Development Fund and various volunteer and community groups into the tower.

The site—about 200m from the Wollongong Train Station—is made up of six adjoining lots. About 680sq m will be given over to communal open space.

Town planners and the church held two pre-lodgement meetings, both in May last year, to discuss the design by Wollongong-based PRD Architects.

▲ Plans have also been filed for this seven-storey residential building with 24 apartments. The main picture is a render of the Catholic Diocese’s shoptop development.

Wollongong City Council is also to consider an application for a seven-storey residential building with 24 two and three-bedroom apartments north-east of the city, and about 350m from the ocean.

The $16-million development on a 1645sq m site at 15-19 Marr Street would include a single level of basement parking for 32 vehicles. About 590sq m will go towards public open space.

MMJ Town Planning and Advisory, which also lodged these plans with Wollongong council, said the application was made on behalf of La Marr Property Holdings Pty Ltd.

Online documents show the directors of La Marr to be three members of the Pupovac family. Alexander Pupovac is also listed as the sole director of Pupovac Constructions, a long-time builder in the Illawarra region.

The design is by ADM Architects, also from Wollongong.