Religious colonial Paddington readies for retail and residency
The historic St John’s church site, one of the oldest and most well-known properties on Sydney’s Oxford Street strip, is being transformed into a boutique residential and retail project.
The St John’s Paddington project comes with eight residences as well as retail and café space fronting the busy Sydney hub.
Prices start at $1,675,000 in the project, which is being developed by Australasia Properties Pty Ltd and marketed through Savills residential projects divisional director, Peter Coulton.
The site was sold by Savills last year for $9 million to the developers who have since worked with designers Ancher Mortlock Woolley and architects Marchese Partners.
They have adjusted the initial 2005 conditional development consent for the redevelopment granted by the Land & Environment Court.
“For almost two decades the buildings have been left vacant, subject to vandalism and in an increasing state of deterioration,” its April 2011 Graham Brooks & Associates heritage impact statement says.
It has frontages to Oxford and Regent streets, and at the rear, Renny Lane.
“These historic Paddington landmarks will be given a new lease of life,” Mr Coulton says.
The terrace-like apartments range from 171 square metres up to 339 square metres.
The free-standing 1904 former manse will be a Torrens title offering. It’s a two-storey Federation Arts and Crafts property on Regent Street.
The St John’s manse was built in 1845, with later additions, making it one of Paddington’s oldest buildings. The colonial Georgian manse, built at a cost of 240 pounds, has had a small tree growing in its chimney for several years.
In 1859 the Gothic-style St John’s church was built next door to a design by Henry Robertson.
In 1885 it was extended by the church hall at the rear. It was deconsecrated as a Presbyterian church in 2000.
The church sold in 2004 for $8.3 million to a syndicate headed by Tony Braham. The syndicate offloaded the project in 2010.
It sits within the Sydney City Council municipality.
