JWLand snaps up Lyneham on Northbourne site for $45 million

Development company JWLand has snapped up the 25,000-square-metre Lyneham on Northbourne site for $45 million.

A mixed-use precinct with capacity for more than 500 apartments, plus commercial space, will replace public housing on the large slice of land fronting Northbourne Avenue.

Minister for urban renewal Mick Gentleman announced the sale on Tuesday, after tenders closed last week.

JWLand, the company behind Campbell 5 and Section 52 Braddon, will also develop a mix of cafes, restaurants, retail and community spaces on the block, which boasts 450 metres of Northbourne Avenue frontage.

The precinct will replace the existing Owen, Lyneham and De Burgh public housing.

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The majority of public housing will be demolished however, some of the heritage-listed buildings will remain as examples of what was considered significant post-war architecture.

The sale, which was negotiated by CBRE Canberra, is part of the ACT government’s urban renewal strategy and will be developed in two stages to allow for the transition of public housing residents to new homes over the next two years.

Lyneham on Northbourne will be JWLand’s third precinct-scale development in the ACT.

Other projects developed by the JWLand, which is the parent company of SHL Development, include the Campbell 5 precinct and Section 52 Braddon. The latter will bring more than 650 apartments to the former Currong and Allawah flats site opposite the Canberra Centre. 

JWLand head of development Michael Prendergast said his company would bring a “high standard” of design to Northbourne Avenue.

“Over the coming months we will be working closely with residents of Lyneham and the surrounding area to design a precinct that will revitalise this historic area and provide lasting value to the Canberra community,” he said.

Minister for urban renewal Mick Gentleman said the new project was an important part of the broader rejuvenation of Northbourne Avenue.

He said urban renewal was key to accommodating Canberra’s growing population, which is expected to hit 421,000 by 2020.

“For Canberra to grow as a sustainable city, we need to create opportunities for people to live near great public transport and close to where they work and socialise,” he said.

“With its proximity to the city, Dickson and light rail, this development will play an important role in shaping Canberra into a more liveable, sustainable and connected city.”

In August a similar section of government land, Dickson on Northbourne, was sold at auction for $40 million.

That 30,000-square-metre site includes 500 metre of Northbourne Avenue frontage and will house 697 dwellings, a hotel, restaurants, retail outlets and childcare.

Project marketing for the first stage of release of Lyneham on Northbourne is expected to begin in the second half of 2017.

The ACT government will receive $67 million from the federal government towards stage one of Canberra’s light rail network through the sale of aging government infrastructure and sites, including the Lyneham site.