Gadigal and Bidegal peoples
NSW
The Rosebery Engine Yards redevelopment in Sydney, designed by GroupGSA for Goodman Group, is a landmark adaptive reuse project transforming a historic industrial site into a vibrant commercial and retail hub. Once home to Buzacott and Company, Commonwealth Weaving Mills, and Westinghouse, this heritage-listed site has been sensitively revitalised to celebrate its rich industrial past while embracing modern sustainability principles.
The $60.3 million restoration maintains key architectural elements, including the brick façade, sawtooth roofs, and original trusses, blending historic authenticity with contemporary functionality. Sustainability is integral, targeting 5 Star Green Star and NABERS ratings through interventions such as double glazing, natural ventilation, and a ‘re-wilding’ landscape concept.
Anchored by premium retailers and featuring a striking public art installation, the project fosters a walkable, mixed-use precinct that enhances community connectivity and economic vitality. Rosebery Engine Yards exemplifies sustainable urban regeneration, setting a benchmark for adaptive reuse in Australia.
This unique collection of side-by-side brick factories and industrial sheds, built between 1921 and 1940, occupies land originally laid out by Sir John Sulman, as the working part of the Rosebery Estate.
Initially built for making engines, electrical gear, and household appliances, these sawtooth roofed factories were temporarily used to manufacture fuses and munitions during the war effort. Next door, textile weaving mills produced specialised fabrics such as DriGlow towels. The collection of buildings now operate as a whole precinct.
From a sustainable embodied carbon aspect, the least was done to make the biggest design difference. The is not capital A architecture, but the result of extraordinarily skilful handling – in patching, opening up and scrapping back found fabric – creating an interesting, cohesive experience for workers, visitors and the neighbourhood.
A central pedestrian spine connects tenanted spaces. Cross-connections to the surrounding streets invite neighbours to enter the industrial spaces which were once off limits. The top lit showrooms and retail addresses to the street, and the whole effect is a wonderful, welcoming urban experience with a sense of industrial discovery.
The design of Rosebery Engine Yards significantly enhances the local community, urban surrounds, and the experience of our operational team, retailers, and visitors. The property’s thoughtful layout promotes a collaborative environment with flexible spaces where customers can enjoy the prestige and atmosphere of a boutique shopping experience while also enjoying spaces, sustainable design features, premium amenities and easy accessibility. Rosebery Engine Yards upports operational excellence and contributes positively to the surrounding area, offering a vibrant space where businesses and individuals can thrive together.
— Kori Todd, Head of Design, Goodman
BRIAN GRAHAM, Design Assessor and Project Manager
LISA-MAREE CARRIGAN, Design Architect,
KIRBY REES, Principal / Project Architect
GUISEPPE MANGINI, Associate
MANAL SALAMA, Associate
ANDY OSTOJIC, Architect
PARASDEEP SINGH, Graduate
FILAE GIL, Architect
PULSE WHITE NOISE ACCOUSTICS, Acoustic Consultant
ART PHARMACY, Artist
RASTON GROUP, AV Consultant
DESIGN CONFIDENCE, Building Surveyor
AT&L, Civil Consultant
TAYLOR CONSTRUCTION, Construction Manager
GOODMAN GROUP, Developer
RASTON GROUP, Electrical Consultant
BG&E Consulting Engineers, Structural Engineer
FIGTREE CONSULTANTS, Sustainability – Greenstar, NABERS, JV3
TDL ENGINEERING CONSULTING, Hydraulic Consultant
FORGE FIRE, FIRE ENGINEER
LANDART, Landscape Consultant
JENSON HUGHES, DDA
NEW EDGE GROUP, MECHANICAL ENGINEER
AFFINITY, FIRE ENGINEER
NIMBUS, Heritage Consultant
RICHARD ENGINEERING, FAÇADE ENGINEER