You are here: Home / Media / A community flourishes at Victoria Park

A community flourishes at Victoria Park

Peter Morton is happy to talk about living at Victoria Park in Zetland. Having relocated four years ago from a heritage terrace in Rushcutters Bay, Peter enjoys being part of a new development and diverse community in Sydney’s south reports Andrew Collis in the South Sydney Herald of October 2007.

Residents of Victoria Park refer to buildings, impressive in natural timber, glass, and aluminium, by name: the Centric, Eco, Nova, Nest, Airia. Peter’s apartment is in a building called Arc. His wide lounge-room window looks out upon neat parklands, neighbouring apartments, a coffee shop, and, in the distance, the city skyline.

The 25-hectare site has an interesting history. It was a naval supply depot, a car manufacturing plant (street names include Morris, Wolsley, Austin) and a racecourse at various times. According to the Landcom website it will become “a model for successfully transforming overused and decaying inner city precincts” and act as a catalyst for the further development of a Green Square Town Centre.

“What first attracted me was attention to detail,” Peter explains.

“It’s a big site, and a design standard has been applied to all residential and commercial elements. The colours of the buildings relate without being uniform. It’s coherent. Good and interesting architecture. At night, the lights look beautiful.”

The move to Victoria Park has meant a change of life-style. Says Peter, “Each building has a bike room. I never would’ve thought about it before, but now I ride a bike to work every day. A good example of the way that thoughtful planning facilitates action.”

Nearing completion, the site will house up to 2,500 dwellings and a mixed-use development consisting of 150,000 sqm of residential uses, 25,000 sqm of commercial uses, 10,000 sqm of retail uses, and 8,000 sqm of commercial community uses. “My hope,” says Peter, “is that, as governments change, as the economy changes, the same high standard is maintained. It’s atypical I think, but the site is underdeveloped. There is open space. People can walk their dogs in Joynton Park, they can take their kids to Tote Park, play basketball in Nuffield Park.”

Another attraction for Peter is commitment to ecological sustainability. “There are no air conditioners in the buildings.

Aspect, choice of materials and louvres maximize air flow and regulate temperature,” he says.

“It’s quite sophisticated. All the storm-water is collected, filtered, stored. The native grasses help with that. And the water feature outside the building is part of the process. We then have water for use on the lawns and gardens.”

Each building has an internal garden, and a courtyard with barbecue facilities, pool and gymnasium, all of which provide opportunities for community engagement.

Peter’s neighbour, Murray, has also lived at Victoria Park for about four years. He appreciates the close proximity to the city, to the beaches, to the airport. “It’s ten minutes to wherever you need to go,” he says.

Murray also appreciates the sense of community. “I feel safe here.”

Peter and Murray do insist, in face of fears and criticisms, that Victoria Park is not a gated community.

“No, people are welcome to make use of the parks and facilities.

There are people who come here to walk their dogs – from Zetland and from Kensington,” Peter says.

“There is a need for retail shops. A big shopping centre is on the way. This can be a sanctuary close to the city for many people.”

Source: South Sydney Herald October 2007