Toga’s Tech Central ‘Missing Piece’ Wins Approval

Toga’s plans for its 45-storey tower at Tech Central have been approved by the NSW planning minister.

The Bates-Smart-designed tower above the former Parcels Post building was described as the “missing piece” in the renewal area.

Plans show 29,228sq m of commercial floor space including co-working areas, a 204-key hotel on levels 10 to 19, and high-end dining and retail options on the ground floor.

Also included in the plans is the conservation of a building on the site opened in 1911as well as the reworking of Henry Deane Plaza, 106 car spaces in the basement and end-of-trip facilities.

The project has a total capital investment value of $383 million.

The tower and plaza renewal complete the development puzzle around the existing Central Station precinct.

It will sit between Atlassian and Central Place Sydney, and provide pedestrian access between Railway Square and Central Station.

The 4159sq m site known as Block C is within the Western Gateway sub-precinct at 2-8A Lee Street, Haymarket, and was rezoned during the pandemic.

The Parcels Post building was an Adina Hotel until April, 2022 and the entire site was held in a long-term leasehold by Toga from Transport for NSW.

The planning process was years in the making and included consultation with government bodies as well as its neighbours.

“This extensive project-specific consultation is pre-dated by additional consultation undertaken during the rezoning process which commenced in July 2019,” the Urbis report said.

“This consultation has also involved regular meetings with the two adjacent landholders in the Western Gateway sub-precinct, Atlassian and Dexus/Frasers, to ensure the delivery of the precinct (and specifically the public domain) in a co-ordinated manner.”

The redevelopment is expected to continue the renewal of Tech Central the southern end of Sydney CBD.

Railway Squre has long been a hub of activity—the Parcels Post Office was built in 1911 and used until 1965. It is one of many important historical sites under development in Sydney.

Toga had a busy end to 2023, filing plans to repurpose a Gothic church at Surry Hills in November and the adaptive reuse of the Parramatta River boatshed in October.