Former Darrell Lea lolly factory site to become a masterplanned community

From 1962 until its closure in 2014, the Darrell Lea factory at Kogarah was Australia’s version of Willy Wonka’s chocolate wonderland, pumping out countless tonnes of soft-eating liquorice, Rocklea Road and other sweet treats.

The sugar high didn’t last. Darrell Lea went bust and in 2012 the company was acquired by a family of pet food magnates who set about streamlining operations, shifting the manufacturing business to Ingleburn in south-west Sydney.

Developer JQZ bought the 3.3-hectare site on Rocky Point Road late last year, engaging PTW Architects to draw up plans for 550 apartments and 20 townhouses in south Sydney’s newest masterplanned community: Ramsgate Park.

PTW director Simon Parsons says the sprawling former industrial site presented a fantastic opportunity to create a distinctive open space accessible to residents and the wider community.

“Often with these large former industrial sites, there has been no public access to the site for decades,” Parsons says. “There is an opportunity to create large public communal spaces, which is difficult to do with smaller sites.”

PTW, which is also working on residential projects at Central Park (the former Carlton & United Breweries site in Chippendale) and the old Bonds factory site in Pendle Hill, came up with the concept of a single, large park as the centrepiece of the development.

“We thought it would be a fantastic signature for this development to create a park and, as much as possible, engage all the new residents with the park.”

Four buildings, from 11 to 13 storeys, will be positioned on the outer edges of the site to accommodate what Parsons describes as “a great pair of lungs” in the middle. Twenty townhouses, each with rooftop terrace gardens, will run along the southern side.

Parsons says the architecture evolved from the idea of the central park. In the four main residential buildings, there is a strong emphasis on creating a connection between the apartments on the lower levels and the park itself.

“The materials are fairly organic, very natural and much more textural.”

Brickwork, timbers, natural pavers and stones are used to create a fine-grained, organic look.

“The landscaping is also very significant. A lot of effort has gone into the design of the landscaping to make it live up to the role it plays in the whole masterplan.”

A range of outdoor spaces caters to the needs of the residents, including small-scale barbecue areas, large grassy expanses and children’s play areas. There are also plans for an on-site childcare centre.

From the third floor up, the tenor of the design changes to respond to the dramatic views on offer: Botany Bay to the east, the mountains to the west, the CBD to the north and the southern parts of the city.

Broad frontages and oversized windows capture views of the park and beyond.

“The architectural forms of the buildings are much more articulated, more sculptural than they are at the lower levels.”

The two-storey townhouses have been designed along the lines of traditional terraces but with clever tweaks to improve liveability. All have basement parking with internal staircase access. The north-facing homes overlook the park. Large gardens provide a buffer between the townhouses and the site’s southern boundary.

Parsons emphasises the importance of high quality architecture, saying developers are increasingly realising that good design is a prerequisite for commercial success.

“Sydney is getting a culture of really design-focused residential developments – not just in terms of what sort of taps you have but in the whole design of the development.”

Ramsgate Park is to be launched to the public on November 19.

Ramsgate Park
152-206 Rocky Point Road, Kogarah

One-beds, 50-54 square metres, from $520,000; two-beds, 75-86 square metres, from $675,000; three-beds, 95-100 square metres, from $940,000; three-bed terraces, 116-128 square metres, from $1.28 million

Strata levies from $560 a quarter.

Due for completion 2019.

Agent Colliers International, 1800 579 688; ramsgatepark.com.au

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