From farmland to the hub of the Lower North Shore: Inside the transformation of St Leonards
The evolution of the Lower North Shore as one of the most sought-after places to live across the whole of Sydney has seen St Leonards become a central hub of what once was just farmland and cottages.
The origins of St Leonards can be traced back to the mid-1800's, when the land was granted to Edward Wollstonecraft, an influential early settler and businessman. The suburb took its name from a farm owned by Wollstonecraft, which he named after his father's hometown, St Leonards-on-Sea, in England.
It was originally established as a rural area, with a few scattered farms. Over the next century, driven by the construction of the first Sydney to Parramatta railway line in the 1850s, St Leonards gradually transformed into a hub for small scale industries like brickmaking, timber mills and tanneries.
The suburb was filled with cottages and housing estates, up until the 1960s when there was significant development of high-rise apartment buildings, catering for professionals and families seeking modern and convenient living options close to both the city centre and the growing list of amenities on the North Shore.
St Leonards has continued to thrive as part of the urban spill from the Sydney CBD, and it's now home to headquarters of major businesses such as Verizon Australia, Warner Bros., and Ramsay Health Care.
Developer New Hope Evergreen were well aware of the growth in St Leonards. They made their first play in the suburb in nearly a decade ago, securing a prime Pacific Highway site and developing The Landmark, which was completed in 2021.
Given the success they saw at the 46-level tower, they continued to focus their pipeline in the burgeoning suburb. They recently launched The Landmark Quarter, a trio of Rothelowman-designed buildings on Marshall Avenue.
The Landmark Quarter comprises a series of buildings on an elevated site offering future residents views of Sydney Harbour and the city skyline.
Renowned architecture firm Rothelowman has designed the trio of towers in The Landmark Quarter, which will offer a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a handful of four-bedroom penthouses. There's also a small number of townhomes, sculpted to sync with the harbour's edge.
Many of the apartments benefit from city and harbour views, which can be taken in from either the balcony or living area, given all apartments have floor-to-ceiling glass doors to the balcony.
The townhouses have three bedrooms, each with their own private entrance. The homes are crafted with herringbone timber floors and sweeping natural stone, bestowing a timeless quality to the signature private homes.
Resort-inspired landscapes by Arcadia run between, within and atop the building, with the masterplan offering it's own private parkland, as well as an oasis pool, sauna and hot spa, cinema room, private dining and games room, outdoor dining and barbecue areas.
The project sits in an ideal pocket for future residents to enjoy all St Leonards has to offer, from convenient amenity to extensive transport links.
There's popular eateries in St Leonards, as well as the neighbouring Lane Cove and Crows Nest. From trendy brunch spots to Michelin-starred dining establishments, the gastronomic hub offers an array of culinary delights such as The Mayflower, Sekka Dining, COYA, The Wooden Whisk, Luho, Garfish Restaurant, The Stoned Crow, and Green Moustache Rooftop Garden Bar and Restaurant to name a few.
Transportation is a breeze with the nearby train station and the new Metro network providing connectivity to the city and beyond, with the latest upgrades currently underway to provide a new Crows Nest station, connecting residents to the heart of the city.
Residents of The Landmark Quarter have an abundance of leisure and recreational facilities at their doorstep, with the Lane Cove Golf Club and the Greenwich Baths in easy reach, along with the lush Wendy's Secret Garden and the scenic Balls Head Reserve.
Shopping enthusiasts will find their retail paradise at Greenwood Plaza, Chatswood Westfield, Chatswood Chase, Crows Nest Village, Cammeray Square, Northbridge Plaza, and The Canopy, all offering a selection of boutiques and stores.
Art and culture thrive in the vicinity of The Landmark Quarter, with Contact Sheet, me Artspace, and the TWT Creative Precinct catering to the creative individuals. For movie enthusiasts, the historic Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace delivers a unique cinema experience.
The Landmark Quarter's location caters to families with a range of reputable schools nearby, including Reddam Early Learning School, TAFE St Leonards, St Mary's Catholic Primary, North Sydney Boys High and North Sydney Girls High. There's also Wenona School, Monte Sant'Angelo Mercy College, Shore Grammar School, Loreto Kirribilli, and St Aloysius College nearby as well.
Healthcare needs are well taken care of, with the presence of esteemed medical institutions such as Royal North Shore Hospital, North Shore Private Hospital, and Mater Hospital in close proximity.
