How The Ashmore Precinct Is Transforming Erskineville

Erskineville, the thriving inner-city suburb with a unique village feel, is home to the Ashmore precinct, one of the City of Sydney’s largest urban development projects.

Situated in southern Erskineville and covering 17 hectares, the Ashmore precinct is defined by Ashmore Street, Mitchell Road, Coulson Street and the Bankstown railway line and sits on the border of Alexandria. With an industrial heritage dating back to the 19th century, it is now well on its way to completion as a new residential neighbourhood, with housing designed to meet the needs of 21st-century living and local shops, cafes and parklands.

What’s happening at the Ashmore precinct?

The Ashmore precinct was first marked for urban renewal way back in 1998, and redevelopment has been underway for several years.

Around half the new apartment buildings in the precinct are already open and occupied, including the Eve building from developer Fridcorp, Erko and Ashmore Terraces, both from Leighton Properties, and Casa, designed by architects Bates Smart.

The largest project in the precinct is Park Sydney, developed by Greenland Australia and Golden Horse Australia. It covers 6.9 hectares and will ultimately consist of 1400 apartments across nine development blocks ranging in height from two to eight stories. The first stage, two buildings named Botany and Cascade designed by WMK Architects, is due for completion at the end of 2020.

By the time the project is complete in 2025, Ashmore will be home to around 6,000 residents.

History

For seven decades from 1907, the Ashmore site was home to the Metters factory, producing cast iron stoves and enamelled kitchen and bathroom ware. Its best-known product was the iconic Kooka stove. Fred Metters began his stove making business in Adelaide and opened his first Sydney factory in Alice Street, Newtown, in 1902. When it became too small, he opened a larger factory in Erskineville in 1907. By the 1930s the factory had expanded to cover 26 acres, making it one of the largest industrial sites in the area and at its peak, it employed over 2,000 locals. It closed down in 1974 but is remembered by its namesake Metters Street.

The Ashmore precinct site was also home to steel engineering companies McPherson’s Pty Ltd and Hadfields Steel Works. As well as steel castings for railways, tramways, shipbuilding and mining operations, both companies also produced steel components for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Hadfields Steel Works occupied four acres in the Ashmore precinct area from 1915 until the 1970s.

In more recent decades the Ashmore site was a light industrial area, housing warehousing, transport and service businesses.

New property

The proliferation of apartments in the Ashmore precinct has created a unique opportunity for both investors and owner occupiers looking to buy brand new property in Erskineville.

Ashmore Precinct - Photo from IGS

With its ultra-convenient location and premium amenities, Ashmore offers a lifestyle that is attractive to singles, couples, young families and downsizers alike.

Integrated Living

The Park Sydney development features a comprehensive range lifestyle-enhancing services and amenities, including:

• McPherson Park, 7,446sqm of landscaped public parkland situated at the heart of the development. It features barbecue areas, playgrounds and open spaces and is due to open in  2021.
• 10,000sqm of retail space, including a Woolworths Metro store as well as specialty and convenience retail stores. There are also plans for a medical centre.
• An onsite commercial childcare centre with places for up to 90 children.
• A dedicated dining strip, including cafes, restaurants and other food and beverage outlets, overlooking McPherson Park.

The Ashmore precinct is also a stone’s throw from 40-hectare Sydney Park, dog friendly Harry Noble Reserve and Erskineville Oval, the erstwhile home of Australia’s oldest rugby league team the Newtown Jets. Both Erskineville and St Peters train stations are within easy walking distance, as is Erskineville Public School.

New and Improved Infrastructure

The redevelopment of the Ashmore precinct includes some significant infrastructure works, all of which stand to benefit residents of both the precinct and the wider Erskineville / Alexandria area.

Kooka Walk, a 20-metre-wide green walking and cycling path named after the famous stove, will provide a link between Harry Noble Park to the north and Sydney Park to the south.

An upgrade to MacDonald and Goddard Streets is due for completion mid-2021. Plans include a new stormwater drain to reduce the risk of local flooding, as well as road widening, a separated cycleway to improve the bike link between the inner west and eastern suburbs, new footpaths and pedestrian crossings, upgraded lighting and street landscaping.

Work has commenced on the construction of a new street connecting the Ashmore precinct with Green Square. It will link Bowden Street in Alexandria with Geddes Street in Green Square, connecting with Botany Road, O’Riordan Street and Bourke Road along the way. The project will include a separated cycleway and will provide improved access for pedestrians and public transport users. It is due for completion in late 2022.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the Ashmore precinct continues to develop and how it will benefit the inner city. To find out more about property in the area, contact me today.