Coronation Property’s The Paper Mill development in Liverpool is restoring one of south west Sydney’s key links to its industrial heritage.
A new cultural and community hub is rapidly taking shape in Sydney’s south west, and importantly, it is rebuilding ties to the region’s industrial past by restoring a valuable heritage precinct for the enjoyment of future generations.
Leading Sydney property development company, Coronation Property, is overseeing the regeneration of The Paper Mill in Shepherd Street, Liverpool, a significant heritage-listed site fronting the Georges River, on the southern edge of the Liverpool CBD.
The site’s industrial history began in 1864, when The Australian Paper Company purchased 17 acres of the Collingwood estate in Liverpool.
Enjoying an extensive frontage to the Georges River, the site became home to the Collingwood Paper Mill – which gained the distinction of being Australia’s first paper-manufacturing business when it commenced operations in 1868, producing a phenomenal 20 tonnes of paper per week.
The Collingwood Paper Mill quickly became established as a vital source of locally-made paper, with an 1872 article in The Illustrated Sydney News describing it as one of the most important manufacturing businesses in the young colony.
Regarded as being of considerable local and national interest, The Paper Mill has been identified by Liverpool City Council’s Heritage Inventory, which says that “the style of architecture is representative of industrial buildings of its era that are now rare. It is one of the only surviving early 20th century industrial buildings in Liverpool.”
Now, with the guidance of Coronation Property, The Paper Mill is set to re-establish its importance to the city of Liverpool, while simultaneously transforming into Liverpool’s new premier food, beverage and curated retail precinct.
The Paper Mill’s heritage ‘mill’ building will undergo conservation and adaptive re-use which will see the refurbishment of the iconic sawtooth roof of the site’s heritage-listed warehouse, as it is repurposed to accommodate an open plan dining venue with bespoke ‘comfort food’ offerings.
The offerings, overseen by a single operator, can be envisaged as traditional ‘stalls’ which include an artisanal bakery and cafe, a rotisserie, woodfired pizza kitchen, inhouse brewery, private dining and kids play area, says Joe Nahas, Managing Director of Coronation Property.
“This space, complete with dessert carts and open fireplaces, will be Liverpool’s destination dining spot – a modern-day bistro that reflects the values of slow living: cultivating community, simplifying our lives and reclaiming time for what matters most,” said Mr Nahas.
“The retail precinct at The Paper Mill will be a vibrant community zone, comprising approximately 1,400 square metres of premium retail space in a contemporary open-plan setting with exposed ceilings and concrete flooring.”
Facing Shepherd Street, the mill building will also be surrounded by alfresco dining areas, and is expected to open by the end of 2017.
“The retail precinct will become a place where people can meet up with friends and family for a meal, or alternatively just grab a coffee and a snack,” added Mr Nahas.
“Ultimately, we’d like to emulate the buzzing retail and food culture that areas such as Balmain, Newtown or Surry Hills provide.”
The regeneration of The Paper Mill precinct is forming part of a wider program of redevelopment by Coronation Property.
This includes the construction of 882 apartments on the site, across four contemporary buildings – The Paper Mill, The Bindery, The Gild and The Foundry – with apartments positioned to take advantage of the development’s prime location on the Georges River, where leafy walkways and green spaces open onto a riverside boardwalk and a rejuvenated river setting.
Mr Nahas says The Paper Mill will be a significant drawcard for residents of both Liverpool and wider Sydney.
“The Paper Mill will connect the indoor and outdoor lifestyle that people love, and once it is fully occupied, the precinct will be home to around 3,000 people who will enjoy the amenity on offer, in addition to Liverpool locals and visitors from other parts of Sydney.”
Meanwhile, the approval of nearby projects, including the $47 million Moorebank Marina and the huge 240-hectare Moorebank Intermodal Freight Terminal, is set to bring jobs and investment to the region.
“Liverpool already ticks a lot of boxes for infrastructure, and there’s more on the way, with the region set to benefit from $7 billion in infrastructure investment over the coming decade,” said Mr Nahas.
“This is why Liverpool is fast shaping up to be one of the most desirable locations for young buyers to live in Sydney.”
Furthermore, Liverpool City Council are predicting that one in three new residents of NSW will live in the Great South West by 2036, with the population expected to increase by 77% in this time.
This has seen a strong need for new housing particularly, with The Paper Mill precinct master-planned to provide Liverpool with a new approach to urban life.