Church Land Opens New Opportunity for Sydney Housing

Construction is beginning on the eight-storey Finrose Residences, beside the church at the corner of Finlayson Street and Rosenthal Avenue. It is the first partnership of its kind between Sydney Anglicans and a private residential developer, and could provide a model for other church-owned sites across the city.

For the Church, the project tackles two issues at once: a growing congregation that needs larger facilities, and Sydney’s continuing housing shortage. Anglican Bishop of North Sydney Chris Edwards said the development would add housing while delivering community facilities that may not otherwise have been possible.

48 apartments and a new 400-seat auditorium

Finrose Residences will comprise 48 two- and three-bedroom apartments across eight storeys. At the same time, St Andrew’s Anglican Church, which dates from 1924, will be renovated and expanded with a new 400-seat auditorium replacing the current roughly 200-seat space, along with additional halls, offices, ministry spaces and parking.

Traders in Purple also acquired two neighbouring residential properties, giving the site room for both the expanded church facilities and the new apartments. The arrangement effectively uses the development value of the land to finance the renewal of the church and its community infrastructure.

Sydney Anglican Property Chief Executive Ross Jones said the Lane Cove parish had outgrown its facilities and needed a building better suited to modern ministry. Social and affordable housing options were considered, but the economics of the Lane Cove site did not support them. The private-developer partnership offered a financially viable way to renew the site while still contributing new housing to Sydney.

Targeting Lane Cove’s premium apartment market

Finrose Residences sits at the upper end of Lane Cove’s apartment market. Two- and three-bedroom apartments reportedly start from about AUD 2 million, and a penthouse has sold for AUD 5.5 million — a new apartment price record for the suburb.

By comparison, Lane Cove’s median unit price is around AUD 950,000 and the median house price exceeds AUD 3 million, according to Domain data cited in the original report. The project also benefits from its proximity to established retail, community and transport infrastructure, including The Canopy and connections to Sydney’s wider public transport network.

Many churches were established before the surrounding neighbourhoods fully developed. As suburbs grew around them, these sites became increasingly valuable and well connected. Charles Daoud · Executive Director, Traders in Purple (paraphrased)

A new model for redeveloping church property

Traders in Purple has previously redeveloped former church properties, including South Cronulla Uniting Church and a disused church in Goulburn. Lane Cove is different because St Andrew’s will keep operating on the site: rather than replacing the church, the development is intended to secure its future with new facilities that can serve the congregation and community for decades.

Although the development does not include affordable housing, the developer says it will deliver community infrastructure valued at tens of millions of dollars — an alternative model in which residential development helps finance the renewal of ageing community assets.

More Sydney Anglican sites could follow

Lane Cove may be the first of many. The Sydney Anglican Diocese has approximately 270 parishes and 1,000 properties, and at least 30 parishes have expressed interest in exploring development partnerships. Five locations are already in the pipeline:

Sydney Anglicans have previously used church-owned land for specialist housing. At Beacon Hill, a former church site was redeveloped as social housing for young people with disabilities. Projects have also been approved in Bankstown and Regents Park for apartments integrated with churches, aimed at single women over 55 and operated by Anglicare.

Faith-owned land could support Australia’s housing supply

The potential extends beyond the Anglican Church and beyond Sydney. Research referenced in the original report found that religious organisations across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia hold significant land portfolios, including about 2,430 sites within 800 metres of railway stations — precisely the locations where Australian governments want to increase density around transport hubs and activity centres.

Faith Housing Australia Chief Executive Amanda Bailey said interest in developing faith-owned property for housing is rising among Christian, Jewish and Muslim organisations. Where sufficient government support is available, many would prefer to deliver social or affordable housing.

Church land could become part of Sydney’s housing solution

The Lane Cove project shows how faith-owned land could play a larger role in easing Sydney’s housing shortage. Many churches occupy well-located sites close to transport, shops and community services, yet their organisations lack the capital to modernise ageing facilities. Partnerships with private developers can unlock part of that land value, delivering new housing while retaining or improving important community functions.

For Lane Cove, the result will be 48 additional homes, a substantially larger church facility and new spaces for community use. With more than 30 Sydney Anglican parishes already interested, the approach could become increasingly common. Finrose Residences therefore represents more than a single apartment development: it is an early example of how Sydney housing, community infrastructure and faith-owned property can be integrated within one development strategy.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald — Sydney needs more housing. The church adding an eight-storey unit block. Price figures per Domain data cited in the original report. Edited by AusMod20K Market Insights for partners and suppliers following the Australian construction and housing market.