Stars of the show were the amazing views of Sydney Harbour, CBD and Blue Mountains, and the dramatic arrival of the traditional evergreen tree delivered to the top of the building by crane as a symbol of good luck.

W-B Principal Jason Fraser said he was proud to see the design, inspired by nature and the curvilinear shoreline of Sydney, coming to life. “It looks fantastic,” says Fraser.

“We used Sydney Harbour as inspiration and the building is shaped in an organic way reminiscent of the eroded sandstone forms you see around its shoreline.”

Sales are strong, propelled by downsizing Baby Boomers from Sydney’s affluent north shore, and Aqualand Group Managing Director Jin Lin says AURA will complete in mid-2024.

North Sydney is going through a resurgence and AURA will play a vital role by bringing new residents to an area much better known for commercial developments.

Catalyst for change is the arrival of the Sydney Metro rail network next year at Victoria Cross Station and linked plans by North Sydney Council to improve pedestrian amenity and nightlife in a precinct that historically shuts when workers return home.

Lendlease is leading the development of Victoria Cross Station on top of which it is building a 42-storey mixed use tower, a retail and hospitality precinct. The projected end value is more than $1.2 billion.

Accessibility is a major buyer drawcard for AURA, which is adjacent to the northern entrance of Victoria Cross.

CBD-bound trains will take just three minutes to reach Barangaroo, five minutes to Martin Place, while the Metro also rapidly connects to the north-west IT hubs of Macquarie Park and North Ryde.

It features 368 over-sized apartments above a richly landscaped two-storey retail podium including a providore, bakery, café, wine bar, and all-day diner and Japanese restaurant.

Façade work is now at level 20 and rising fast while internal fit-out has started with interiors by Richards Stanisich.

Woods Bagot is playing a big role in the new North Sydney.

In addition to AURA, it has also designed the Blue & William boutique office development, and Warada on Walker, which has just been short-listed for a World Architecture Festival award.

Media enquiries
Martin Kelly
Content and Communications Leader (Australia & New Zealand)