By ANNA USHER

Five century old Mosman homes could be demolished for an eight-storey tower under plans lodged with Council last week.

Retirement giant Aveo wants to build 45 apartments at 27-35 Macpherson St on the 2,193 sqm Mega Lot, with the cost of work estimated at more than $72 million.

The curved brick building would rise 29.8 metres, four metres above the 25.8 metre height limit set by the State Government’s housing rules and seniors’ bonus. If approved, the apartments will comprise 30 x two-bedroom Independent Living Units and 15 x three-bedroom Independent Living Units.

“Many older residents are seeking well-located, purpose-built homes that allow them to age in place without compromising on space, comfort or accessibility,” planning documents submitted to council state.

Included in the development are 11 adaptable units and 42 Silver LHA units (adaptable for people with changing mobility needs).

Three basement levels with space for 61 cars is also proposed, along with a rooftop terrace offering BBQ facilities and a vegetable patch.
Mosman Collective understands each property is individually titled and now subject to a caveat held by AVEO Group Limited. Sales data shows:

• 27 Macpherson St sold for $3,250,000 million in June 2021
• 29 Macpherson St sold for $2,999,999 million in February 2022
• 31 Macpherson St (no data available)
• 33 Macpherson St sold for $490,000 in March 1994
• 35 Macpherson St sold for $1,300,000 in October 2010

A heritage report submitted to Mosman Council shows the residences first appear in the Sands directories around 1915, and by 1918 carried names including ‘Walden’, ‘Manuka’, ‘Dalmally’ and ‘Balgair’.

None of the five is heritage listed, and research by Weir Phillips finds “their removal will have no impediment on the heritage significance of the identified heritage items within the vicinity”.

The tower’s southern side faces the backyards of five Erith St homes, including ‘Aotea Roa’ at No. 15, a heritage-listed Federation Queen Anne house with a gable “decorated with an owl motif”.

An arborist’s report recommends removing 35 trees, among them a jacaranda, an avocado and a council crepe myrtle on the verge where the new driveway will go, while a Norfolk Island pine is kept.

Traffic consultants Traffix estimate the apartment tower will add “approximately one (1) additional vehicle trip every 20 minutes” at peak times on Macpherson St, which drops to 40km/h in school zone hours.

A bigger plan for Mosman

The application comes from Aveo Group, which runs the Manors of Mosman retirement village. It wraps around the site’s northern and eastern boundaries, and the plans include landscaped paths linking the new building to the Manors, so residents can share facilities.

Under the draft Mosman Masterplan, which council endorsed on 28 August, the five-houses are named as part of a “key site” surrounding the Manors of Mosman that would allow buildings of up to 12 storeys, if public open space is delivered back to the community.

The masterplan is awaiting a Gateway determination from the State Government, and Aveo’s planners say the Macpherson St tower would not stop the future open space from being delivered.

Do you live on Erith St or Macpherson St, or did you grow up in one of these cottages? What are your thoughts on this development? Email Anna at [email protected]