Everything old is new in Rosebery

Aaron Little
October 30, 2015

Image: The Burcham

TUCKED away in a quiet spot between the Sydney CBD and the airport, Rosebery is a suburb which was always intended to be the perfect place to mix work and play.

Early in the 20th century, the famed architect John Sulman originally planned Rosebery with a mix of light industry, large parks, and generously proportioned suburban bungalows. The evolving suburb now finds itself in the Green Square urban renewal zone, perfectly located to benefit from the new Green Square town centre, community facilities, and transport links.

The Grounds of Alexandria café at corner of Huntley Street and Bourke Road Alexandria

While the Green Square transformation has already been in progress for many years, a critical mass of urban renewal has now really kicked in, and the pace of change is noticeably accelerating. Many former industrial and heritage factory sites are being converted into stylish cafes and apartments, with a strong focus on design excellence. Some of Sydney’s most interesting retailers and cafes have already moved into the area, helping cement the area’s reputation.

Transport to the city is available via the Green Square train station and 301 bus. Nearby Sydney Park and King St Newtown are an easy trip away on the 348 or 370 buses, or you can head to the coast on the 370 bus and spend the afternoon watching the wildlife at Coogee Beach. By inner-city Sydney standards, Rosebery is one of the best suburbs to enjoy cycling, with flat terrain, lots of quiet back streets, and excellent cycle paths into the city.

If you feel like having breakfast with friends, then treat yourself to some of Sydney’s best pastries at Black Star Roseberry, or head out to nearby Danks St where you can take your pick of great places to eat and be seen. If you can manage to get there early, you might even avoid the weekend queues for a table at the phenomenally popular The Grounds of Alexandria café, one of Sydney’s most innovative café experiences.

For days when you are feeling more energetic, you can try In2ski indoor skiing at Alexandria to work on your downhill technique, or gather some friends together for some tenpin bowling fun at Manhattan Bowl Mascot. If exercise doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can always give your credit cards a workout at the nearby Moore Park Supa Centa or Alexandria Homemaker Centre, or pickup some designer homewares at Koskela in Rosebery.

Archie Rose Distillery and Bar in Rosebery is a great place to meet up with friends

While many manufacturing businesses have been moving out, new entrepreneurs have been seizing the opportunity to invest in the area. Boutique distillery Archie Rose has recently setup in Rosebery, making unique Australian Vodka and Gins at their onsite distillery. Remarkably, they are the only new distillery founded in the City of Sydney in the last 160 years. You can book yourself in for a public tour, or just order a cocktail at their stylish bar, which features a huge selection of spirits, beers, and wines from around the world.

If beer is more your thing, Rocks Brewing Co. located in Alexandria is just a short hop away. Their onsite craft beer brewery also has a great bar and live music. As the evening progresses, the gay nightlife of Crown and Oxford streets Surry Hills or King St Newtown are a just a short cab trip away.

According to Ed Horton, founder of the Stable Group, Rosebery is in the midst of a transformation that will be familiar to fans of Surry Hills. “The area is really taking off, with a lot of gay couples moving into Victoria Park, Alexandria, and Roseberry from the more expensive and crowded Surry Hills and Darlinghurst areas. The transformation around Green Square is really speeding up, with new parks, cycle paths, and cafes opening. Apartments in the area are already in very high rental demand, with the best buildings offering a combination of the latest eco-technologies married with old-world charm.”

The Burcham apartment development, incorporating the historic 1918 Wrigley factory building.

The Burcham apartment in Rosebery, developed by the Stable Group, is a case in point, incorporating one of the City of Sydney’s most historic factory buildings. The original landmark factory building was designed by John Burcham Clamp for the Wrigley chewing gum company in 1918, and been retained and adapted by architects Allen Jack+Cottier. In addition to the heritage building, several stylish new modern buildings have been incorporated, along with a large communal garden designed by Durie Design. The complex includes a rooftop communal social space, with outdoor cinema, BBQ and resident vegetable patches, providing a mix of social spaces for residents.

Rooftop outdoor cinema and BBQ area for apartment residents at The Burcham

When asked about investing in the Rosebery property market, Mr Horton said “the Green Square redevelopment has already led to very significant price rises in Rosebery, and demand from people looking to rent in the area is growing. Quality, lifestyle, and running costs are always important when you are looking to become an owner occupier. The Burcham incorporates top quality timber and polished concrete finishes, Miele appliances, and wonderful garden landscaping and communal facilities. The building is very eco-friendly, with on-site solar energy generation, and water harvesting used for garden watering and toilet flushes, underfloor heating to reduce heating costs. These cost saving technologies make the building very attractive to owner occupiers”

Historic features are combined with modern eco-tech conveniences

Advanced new technologies have also been added to make apartment living more convenient for residents of The Burcham. Apartment front doors and access doors in communal areas can be opened using biometric fingerprint scanners, and an automatic number plate reader is used for the garage door, so residents don’t need to rummage around for swipe cards or keys every time. The basement includes electric car charging bays as well as bicycle racks.

Black Star Pastry in Rosebery always has a tempting array of cakes, pastries, and sweet treats

Burcham Apartments

6-8 Crewe Place Rosebery

www.theburcham.com.au

99 apartments, including 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments.

Developer: Stable Group. Architect: Allen Jack+Cottier

1 bedroom, from $785,000

2 bedroom, from $1,150,000

3 bedroom, from $1,595,000

Building includes communal vegetable gardens, rooftop entertainment area with outdoor cinema and BBQ. Apartments include underfloor heating and biometric fingerprint scanners on doors.

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