North Wollongong: The coastal cool on the fringe of the city
Wollongong is to the Illawarra Region what the Eastern Suburbs are to Sydneysiders. It's the place to be. Its beaches, lifestyle, and culture, are just a handful of the reasons why prospective buyers are lining up to call Wollongong home.
Over the last two decades in particular, Wollongong has become the hub of the region, with extensive development of retail and hospitality precincts, the introduction of the electrified train line in the early 1990s, and hospitals and other industries making it the anchor point for all those who live in the district.
Wollongong has also become a realistic and viable option as a place to live for those who have previously been more central to Sydney, given the train network and the new way of working from home.
Wollongong is thriving with multiple suburbs having their own distinct personalities contributing to Wollongong’s culture.
The majority of the development has been in what locals call the "Wollongong CBD" changing the landscape of the city, while North Wollongong, benefitting from all of the new investment in Wollongong, has arguably retained its charm and stunning coastal views and lifestyle. There's also North Wollongong Beach, popular with surfers, swimmers, and pet owners.
North Wollongong is of course the home of the University of Wollongong, which has seen it attract both first time renters and first home buyers looking to live near where they study. There's also the mum and dad investor who have earmarked an apartment for their student-age children. There's also North Wollongong Beach, popular with surfers, swimmers, and pet owners.
Due to the size of North Wollongong, just 136 hectares, there's not too much opportunity to buy a brand new apartment. Comparatively the suburb of Wollongong is almost 10 times North Wollongong. A size of a suburb always tells us there's unlikely going to be an oversupply, which helps support prices for the long term.
iCIRT-rated builder developer MODCO Constructions has been clever in its approach to its nearly completed North Wollongong apartment development, Heritage Wollongong.
They've catered for a number of different lifestyle in the five-level project at 37 Virginia Street, under 500 metres from North Beach. Despite only having 22 apartments, they've had PRD Architects design the floorplans so they're offering one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, which will appeal to everyone from first home buyers and investors to rightsizers and downsizers.
PRD Architects had to be strategic in their approach to the design of the building. They had to work with a heritage-listed Magnolia tree, which now forms the focal point of the landscaped gardens.
The apartments feature a free-flowing design and hardwood European oak flooring throughout. The open plan kitchen and living and dining area opens to private outdoor terraces which are designed to offer both alfresco dining and allow for maximum natural light to flood the living spaces. There's also a private terrace off the master bedroom in some apartments.
Expansive outdoor terraces flood the home with abundant natural light, extending the living spaces and providing a tranquil streetscape backdrop for alfresco gatherings and dining.
The kitchens feature stone benchtops, Polyurethane cabinetry, Parisi tapware, and AEG appliances, while the bathrooms feature freestanding bathtubs, an open shower, and floor to ceiling tiles.
Modco has a history in the Illawara region, recently completing Aire Wollongong. They also have plans for a new development on 30 Bourke Street, North Wollongong, and 10 Pleasant Avenue in the same suburb.
