InterContinental Double Bay Makes Way for $1bn Precinct

The landmark InterContinental Hotel at Double Bay will be demolished to create a “once-in-a-generation” $1-billion lifestyle precinct.

Plans have been filed with the Woollahra Council for the redevelopment of 33 Cross Street, about 5km east of the Sydney CBD.

The project, spearheaded by Capitel Group’s managing director Eduard Litver and Rebel Property Group managing director Allen Linz, will create a mixed-use building with high-end retail and dining, a boutique luxury hotel, office suites, a health and wellness centre, and 29 residences. 

The Cox Architecture-designed project for the 3674sq m site will be led by development managers Metis Group. 

Capitel Group’s Eduard Litver said the scheme would reinvigorate the blue-ribbon waterfront suburb of Sydney.

“This is the largest privately held site in Double Bay Village, and over the past 25 years there have been numerous concepts, schemes, ownership changes and refurbishments in an attempt to revitalise the site without sustained success,” Litver said.

“Our focus is to deliver the next evolution of this Sydney icon—a truly mixed-use lifestyle destination of enduring quality that inspires local pride and garners global recognition, and aligns to Woollahra Council’s vision for Double Bay Village.

“This is Double Bay’s moment—a chance for this site to redefine how people experience this waterfront neighbourhood for years to come.”

▲ The Cox Architects-designed mixed-use development includes a boutique hotel and 29 residences on the upper levels.

Almost half of the proposed development has been dedicated to broader community uses, including cinemas, open green spaces and community-accessible services. 

Rebel Property managing director Allen Linz said the landmark site would be opened up to the community through the redevelopment. 

“Since the early 1990s, 33 Cross Street has served as a landmark hotel with limited civic connection beyond one street frontage, while the harbourside community has been transforming into a vibrant cosmopolitan precinct that we know people want to preserve and enrich,” Linz said.

“Our design creates an inviting, permeable street-level experience for all to enjoy while preserving the site’s history with a new right-sized luxury boutique hotel.”

The hotel was once popular with the rich and famous—Princess Diana and David Bowie were guests and, tragically, INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence was found dead in one its suites in 1997.

Cox director Ramin Jahromi said the proposal embraced timeless architecture to create an iconic building with an “elegant, enhanced street presence”.

“The facade’s glass light columns create a grand and visually stunning experience that draws inspiration from the illuminated fig trees framing the street-level entrance, adding to the site’s landmark status and enhancing safety and beauty at night,” Jahromi said. 

▲ Capitel Group shared news of the Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay deal, which was months in the making, earlier this year. 

“Community is really at the heart of the new design, with over 90 per cent of the ground plane accessible to the public.

“The design includes a spectacular atrium with a sculptural staircase and striking public art installation, a generous north-facing courtyard, and a six-metre-wide pedestrian walkway connecting Cross Street to Galbraith Walkway and down to Double Bay Beach.

“It has been carefully designed to not exceed the overall height of the existing building and includes recessed upper floors and an architectural green roof with a fully concealed plant that will offer a recessive landscaped aesthetic visible from higher surrounding areas.”

Next door, a 219sq m penthouse in Top Spring Australia’s Ode residential development sold for $21.5 million and a 311sq m penthouse for nearly $25 million off-the-plan.

Those sales broke the suburb’s previous record of $16.09 million.

In the past 12 months the average price of apartments in the suburb rose 16.6 per cent, according to REA Group data.

The InterContinental Double Bay was put on the market in January via an expressions of interest campaign conducted by CBRE and Colliers with an extended settlement period.