After an inspiring First Nations smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country by Uncle Allen Madden, NSW Government Ministers, Prince’s Trust Australia and dignitaries turned the first sod on the Cowper Street Development (which was conceived with the working title 'The Prince's Quarter') which will deliver 75 new sustainable social housing apartments and terrace houses in Glebe, Sydney.

Prince’s Trust Australia is honoured to be partnering with the New South Wales State Government on the design of this project.

We joined Homes and Planning Minister Anthony Roberts, Social Housing Minister Natasha Maclaren-Jones, Kane Constructions and the NSW Land and Housing Corporation to officially launch the construction of the Cowper Street Development; an exemplar new sustainable social housing development for Glebe.

Inspired by Glebe’s iconic Victorian terraces and historic woolstore buildings, the Cowper Street Development is a deliberate response to the need to do density well by ensuring new development is sustainable and reflects the character of established neighbourhoods.

Prince’s Trust Australia Chair, the Hon. Julie Bishop, said, "We are so excited that the design is so locally inspired. The woolstores and terrace houses reflect the heritage nature of this extraordinary location.

“There will be rooftop gardens, where you can grow vegetables and hang out, developing that real sense of community.

“Let us hope this is the beginning of even more sustainable housing developments in this wonderful state of NSW that reflect the needs, aspirations and expectations of the local community."

"I want to particularly pay tribute to one of our trustees, Dominic Richards, whose vision is being implemented today.”

At the ceremony, Minister for Housing Andrew Roberts said "award-winning architects Johnson Pilton Walker, with the assistance of Prince's Trust Australia, have been supporting the efforts to ensure the project acknowledges and more importantly, complements traditional design and the heritage of Glebe's iconic Victorian terraces.

“Let me be very clear, this project represents the very best in sustainable design by re-using recycled bricks, solar panels and structural timber framing.

"We thank Prince's Trust Australia for their ongoing work on this one-of-a-kind social housing project."

For several years, Prince’s Trust Australia trustee Dominic Richards OAM has been a driving force for the project.

Ahead of the ceremony, he said, “Prince’s Trust Australia supports Australians who are committed to sustainable and beautiful solutions to the need for housing and community building in Australia.

“The Cowper Street Development seeks to show how to add sustainable density and affordability in our historic inner cities in a way that celebrates and builds on the existing beauty of Glebe.”

We thank everyone involved in this fantastic project from the Land and Housing Corporation of New South Wales, including Simon Newport, Peter Brackenreg, Lindsey Gray, Matthew Gallagher and Chris Pope,

From JPW, everyone including Kiong Lee, Graeme Dix, Daniel Wainwright and Adam Swinburn,

From Kane Constructions, everyone including Tristan Forster and Vargha Zare,

And everyone who contributed to bringing this exemplar project to fruition.

The Cowper Street Development is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.