Stage one of Canberra's highly-anticipated Section 100 revealed

After more than 10 years of waiting, plans for the highly anticipated first stage of Canberra’s Section 100 site have been released.

One City Hill will be the first stage of Morris Property Group’s development The Barracks, on the southern gateway into the city centre, between London Circuit and Vernon Circle.

The Barracks will inject more than 1000 residential apartments into the city, alongside parking and commercial offerings.

Morris Property Group director Barry Morris said the development was “one of the key pieces to the CBD puzzle”.

“Our aim is to build a community that connects the three corners of the city – the lake, NewActon and the bustle of City West,” he said.

“The key is a design that ensures The Barracks links the commercial, residential and recreational, as well as flowing seamlessly to the surrounding suburbs. The precinct has been designed so that it clearly connects to the rest of the city through vehicle and pedestrian access.”

World-renowned architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp have been engaged to design One City Hill, its first residential project in Canberra.

“The design of One City Hill is inspired by FJMT’s international experience, and we believe it will be acclaimed as an outstanding example of exterior architecture that reflects and enhances its setting,” Mr Morris said.

One City Hill will “hug the curve” of Vernon circle.  

“The subtle curves of the facade reflect the movement of water upon the lake shore, referencing the unique character of Lake Burley Griffin and surrounds,” said FJMT design director Richard Francis-Jones.

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There will be 313 residential apartments – about 75 per cent of which will be two and three bedrooms – released to the market in the first stage.

“Stage one will be predominantly residential with a small amount of retail space at ground level, and includes over 2000 square metres of private resident facilities including a pool, theatre, yoga lawn and gym,” Mr Morris said.

The development will be marketed by Colliers International.

“There will be much that sets The Barracks apart as an exceptional precinct,” Colliers International residential director Shane Radnell said. “The amenity and inclusions of The Barracks have been designed with a large cross-section of the community in mind.”

The 2.6-hectare block has been viewed as contentious over the past 10 years after it was first sold by the ACT government in 2007.

A $755 million development was slated for the site but plans were halted due to the global financial crisis in 2008. Morris Property Group bought the site for $85 million in June.

The site has served as a car park over that time, and The Barracks will include a 750-space public car park as required under the deed of agreement with the territory.

Registrations of interest are currently open.