Tag: Wilberforce Avenue

Rose Bay Seniors Housing Proposal Emerges After $150m Site Sale

Photo Credit: MillionDollarListingSydney/Facebook

A large seniors housing and aged care proposal has emerged in Rose Bay following the sale of an amalgamated residential site spanning Dover Road and Wilberforce Avenue.

Read: Rose Bay Leads Sydney’s Biggest Luxury Property Sales of 2025

Site History And Recent Sale

A combined holding across 33–37 Dover Road and 2–30 Wilberforce Avenue in Rose Bay spans about 3,000 square metres and includes five houses and two unit blocks.

In October 2025, the group of properties appeared as an amalgamated site reported as sold for $150 million, with the purchaser not publicly confirmed at the time.

A separate Rose Bay aggregation nearby was also sold in December 2025 for $173 million, involving properties across Dover Road and Wilberforce Avenue.

Pathways Aged Care
Photo Credit: MillionDollarListingSydney/Facebook

What The Proposal Includes

A scoping report has now been lodged for Pathways Rose Bay covering the Dover Road and Wilberforce Avenue addresses, setting out the scope of a seniors housing and aged care development.

The proposal includes demolition of existing structures, site preparation and earthworks, and two basement levels with vehicle access from Wilberforce Avenue.

Plans outline two independent living unit buildings at eight to nine storeys, alongside a three-storey residential aged care building, with approximately 70 units and 50 rooms respectively.

Shared facilities listed include resident lounges, a cinema, kitchen facilities and a swimming pool, along with landscaping works and tree replacement.

Rose Bay seniors housing
Photo Credit: MillionDollarListingSydney/Facebook

Planning Details

The scoping documentation references seniors housing provisions that allow additional height, and states the independent living component would comply with a 25.8-metre height limit, with the aged care building within a 14.3-metre limit.

What Happens Next

Read: Rose Bay Public School Outperforms Neighbours In 2025 NAPLAN

With the scoping report lodged, the Rose Bay proposal has entered a formal planning pathway, with further assessment expected to determine the next steps for the site.

Published 18-Jan-2026

Wilberforce Avenue to Undergo Major Redevelopment Under NSW Housing Reform

Wilberforce Avenue in Rose Bay, known for its freestanding family homes, is being primed for transformation, as 16 property owners band together to take advantage of New South Wales’ new Low to Medium Density (LMR) housing reforms. 

Read: Rose Bay Seeks Suspension of Low and Mid-Rise Rules

The policy, introduced earlier this year, allows for apartment buildings of up to six storeys, eight if affordable housing targets are met, within 800 metres of key town centres and public transport.

Wilberforce Avenue
A concept image Court Road, Double Bay showing building height and scale permitted under NSW government’s low and mid-rise housing policy (Photo Credit: NSW Gov)

Two separate collectives on the street—one comprising 12 properties, the other four—have aligned their holdings, offering developers a rare, large-scale development opportunity in the tightly held eastern suburbs. 

The larger amalgamated site, spanning 6000 square metres and incorporating 10 houses and two semis between Wilberforce Avenue and Dover Road, is expected to fetch around $165 million. The smaller 1988-square-metre portion is tipped to sell for between $53 million and $55 million.

Wilberforce Avenue
Photo credit: Google Street View

Before the zoning changes, the individual homes were estimated to be worth about $8 million each. Now, with the added development potential, values are expected to double, reflecting the growing demand for medium-density living in high-value suburbs.

The move is one of the first major consolidations sparked by the state’s LMR reforms, which aim to unlock 112,000 new homes over the next five years to address Sydney’s housing shortage. Developers are anticipated to make full use of the new planning controls, with the site’s scale and dual-street frontage enabling a diverse mix of apartment offerings, including more accessible two-bedroom units with additional study spaces.

Read: Property Values Surge Under Housing Policy in Rose Bay

While some local resistance to large-scale change is expected, proponents argue that quality design and respect for the existing streetscape will help win community support. The redevelopment is being seen not only as a financial windfall for long-time residents, but also as a test case for how Sydney’s established suburbs might evolve under the new housing policy framework.

Published 13-June-2025