Rebel, HSN Lodge Plans for 230 Apartments in Woolloomooloo

Two local developers have partnered up to deliver a $160-million residential development in Sydney’s Woolloomooloo.

The 230-apartment project, planned for a 6400sq m site on the corner of William and Forbes Street—near Kings Cross station, has been put forward by Rebel Property Group and HSN Property Group.

The large site will sit at the centre of William Street— the commercial “spine” of the Woolloomooloo, Darlinghust and Kings Cross neighbourhoods.

It holds four street frontages—William Street to the south, Forbes Street to the west, Dowling Street to the east and Judge Lane to the north.

The multi-tiered apartment complex, designed by FJMT, will replace three existing medium-rise commercial buildings including a truck rental business, the British American Tobacco building and a single level car park as well as an outdoor car park.

HSN Property Group managing director Rafi Assouline said the development would be a welcome addition in William Street, a street within the iconic suburb of Woolloomooloo that until now lacked a “sense of purpose”. 

“New homes and more people living in this precinct will generate hundreds of new jobs for Kings Cross, rebuild the night time economy and add a sense of community and vibrancy in a central pocket of Sydney that has been neglected,” Assouline said.

▲ The site is well connected to numerous train stations with Kings Cross station being just a four minute walk away. Image: FJMT

The proposed 24,000sq m development will be aimed at owner-occupiers and will feature 23 one-, 105 two- and 73-three bedroom apartments.

It will also include 20 studio apartments and eight terrace apartments with extensive views of Sydney Harbour, the Opera house, the Domain and the Sydney CBD.

A total of 2000sq m of communal space will be provided in courtyards on Dowling Street as well as the creation of a publicly accessible through site link to Judge Lane and Forbes Street.

The development will sit above three levels of basement car parking for 230 vehicles as well as 15000sq m of ground floor retail tenancies.

The development will be topped with four rooftop gardens spanning 1000sq m as well as podium communal areas.

Rebel Property Group managing director Allen Linz said the plans had been several years in the making and built on extensive engagement with the City of Sydney, local community groups and businesses, nearby schools and planners.

“This is one of the largest development footprints in the city of Sydney and can help unlock the potential of William Street as a thriving boulevard that people go to, rather than just go through,” Linz said.

Linz said, pending approvals, construction was expected to commence in 2024.