Redevelopment of Botany church will be anything but cookie-cutter apartments

History, religion and modern design join forces in a new development in Botany, where a former Presbyterian church is to be fully restored, with the addition of apartments and conversion of the minister’s home.

The Green on Botany, from Smith Group, features 19 residences, including three two-storey garden apartments, 15 apartments in a three-storey building and the refurbished Manse, where the minister once lived. Most of the units have two balconies, a private courtyard or roof terrace.

The circa-1880 church, with ornate stained glass, local sandstone and original joinery, is to be fully restored. Zoned commercial, it is being marketed as an ideal spot for a cafe in the up-and-coming area.

A landscaped central courtyard provides access to all the apartments as well as the church. There are also plans for a spacious communal garden.

Architect Steve Kennedy, of Kennedy Associates, says blending old and new gives projects such as The Green on Botany a richer and more rewarding urban quality than traditional apartment developments.

Developer Frank Hupp describes Botany as a suburb with great potential.

“We definitely see this as the next emerging area in the eastern suburbs, with great capital growth, strong rental returns for investors and it’s more affordable than other adjacent suburbs.”

Located just three kilometres from Sydney Airport, The Green on Botany is expected to appeal to flight crews, investors, young professionals and families attracted to the garden apartments and nearby schools.

The area, 13 kilometres south of the CBD, is serviced by buses. It’s about seven kilometres from the future South East Light Rail terminus.

The Green on Botany
1559-1563 Botany Road, Botany
One-bed apartment, 52-53 square metres, $660,000; two-bed apartment, 74-84 square metres, $840,000 to $950,000; two-bed townhouse, 76-88 square metres, $970,000 to $980,000; three-bed Manse house, 116 square metres, $1.38 million
Strata levies from $500 a quarter
Due for completion February 2018
​Agent Ray White Project Sales, 1300 998 225; thegreenonbotany.com.au.
See more at domain.com.au/project/1629.

Or try these:

Grandfield, 178-180 Hezlett Road, Kellyville

Sydney’s north west is on its way to being more connected than ever, with construction for the Sydney Metro North West well underway. Grandfield, Kellyville is a 92-apartment project in the thick of the infrastructure upgrades.

It’s six minutes’ drive from the future Kellyville train station and 400 metres from the planned North Kellyville local centre. Buses on Hezlett Road will connect residents to trains and the Rouse Hill town centre, while there’s easy access to the M7 and M2, with the CBD 45 kilometres away. The three-storey project from developer Grandland Group with KannFinch architects is expected to attract mainly owner occupiers, including first-home buyers and downsizers.

The on-site display suite opens on Saturday.

Grandfield
178-180 Hezlett Road, Kellyville
One beds, 52 square metres, $494,000 to $504,000; one beds with study, 64 square metres, $523,000 to $551,000; two beds, 75-81 square metres, $595,000 to $667,800; two beds with study, 91 square metres, $732,000 to $753,800; three beds, 101 square metres, $823,500
Strata levies from $392 a quarter
Due for completion 2019
Agent McGrath Projects, 1800 109 880; grandfieldkellyville.com.au.
See more at domain.com.au/project/1691.

Grove Place, 229 Victoria Street, Werrington

The Australian arm of Chinese mega-developer Poly is about to launch its first house-and-land project. A three-hectare site in Werrington – between Penrith and Parramatta – is to be transformed into 67 lots in a masterplanned house-and-land estate. Rawson Homes has been appointed the preferred builder. The site is close to the employment hubs of Penrith and Eastern Creek and the future Badgerys Creek precinct.

As well as buses, Werrington train station is 20 minutes’ walk, while the WestConnex will improve access to the CBD. Ray White Projects director Eddie Mansour says Werrington appeals to first-home buyers, growing families and investors. The sales launch is scheduled for September 17.

Grove Place
229 Victoria Street, Werrington
Land only, 300 square metres to 699 square metres, $350,000 to $600,000; house and land lots, 300 square metres to 699 square metres, $695,000 to $1 million
Planned land settlement date mid-2017
Agent Ray White Projects, Eddie Mansour, 1300 857 889; groveplace.com.au.
​See more at domain.com.au/project/1661.