Pictured above: Meet Carol, the first resident of Australia’s newest social housing in Glebe, Sydney, at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Welcome to Australia’s newest social housing – comfortable and safe homes in a design which matches the heritage of Sydney’s iconic Victorian terraces and woolstores.
This week, the first tenants are ready to move into the NSW Government development in Cowper Street, Glebe, with the completion of 75 new social homes.
His Majesty King Charles III visited the site in 2024 to meet trainees of The King’s Trust Australia, who worked on the project and learn more about the sustainable design and community-focused approach.
The Cowper Street redevelopment replaces 19 ageing dwellings with 75 modern social homes, increasing supply on the site by 56 homes and providing housing for around 132 residents in inner Sydney.
The homes were designed by award-winning architects Johnson Pilton Walker, with the assistance of The King’s Trust Australia, to ensure the project acknowledges and more importantly, complements traditional design and the heritage of Glebe’s iconic Victorian terraces.
The Cowper Street complex features three studios, 40 one-bedroom apartments, 27 two-bedroom apartments, and five three-bedroom terraces across two eight-storey buildings and a three-storey terrace building. Twenty-one homes are adaptable for people with disabilities, and all apartments feature level access.
Located within walking distance of bus services and the Wentworth Park light rail, the homes ensure residents remain connected to transport, employment and key services.
The project supported more than 300 local jobs during construction and was delivered by Kane Constructions, with Bridge Housing to manage the completed homes.
Sustainability has been built into the heart of the development. The buildings feature a cross-laminated timber structural frame made from Australian plantation pine, which locks in approximately 1,860 tonnes of carbon and significantly reduces embodied emissions compared to traditional construction methods.
Justin Hewitt managed the project for many years for The Trust, alongside Alexander Dowthwaite.
The King’s Trust Australia chair The Hon Julie Bishop said, “We are thrilled that soon these apartments and townhouses will be filled with families and individuals, giving them a safe and eco-friendly place to live.
“The Trust has been involved with this project for eight years, and I love that the design is so locally inspired. The woolstores and terrace houses reflect the heritage nature of this area.
“We were so honoured that our Royal Founding President, His Majesty King Charles III, could meet young people being trained in construction by his Trust, when he visited in 2024.”
The King’s Trust Australia board member Dominic Richards, who has worked on the project since its inception, said:
“This development stands as a testament to what becomes possible when likeminded partners unite around a shared purpose — to benefit people, places, and the planet in equal measure.
“By confronting the pressing challenges of adding urban density and protecting neighbourhood identity head-on, and by coupling genuinely affordable homes with sustainable construction methods, we have demonstrated that an exemplar model of social housing delivery is not only imaginable but achievable. We hope it serves as a standard — and an inspiration — for projects that follow.”
Dominic is also chair of our new sister charity, The King’s Foundation Australia.
