Anzac Parade Archives - Kensington News

Anson Group Receives Approval for 197-Unit Residential Development in Kensington

Anson Group has been approved for a significant residential development project in Kensington, marking a milestone in the company’s expansion efforts. The green light comes after a rigorous 16-month development application process for the proposed 197-apartment residential shoptop.

The project site, located at 77 to 103 Anzac Parade and 59A to 71 Boronia Street in Kensington, underwent scrutiny before receiving the go-ahead.

Anson Group lodged DA/395/2022 in August 2022 and received approval in March 2024.

According to the NSW Department of Planning, the average assessment timeframes for multi-unit residential developments in 2022-23 was 182 days, indicating a thorough approval process.

Anson Group, a real estate company with over 15 years of experience in Sydney, has strategically combined 14 lots to create a massive 6296-square-meter site in the City of Randwick. With a projected budget of $104 million, the development project aims to rejuvenate the area by constructing four buildings of varying heights, ranging from four to nine stories.

Anson Group Kensington — Photo Credit: DA/395/2022

According to BCI Central, their new development will include a variety of apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms. Buildings C and D will have nine storeys each and will be located along Anzac Parade, while the Boronia Street buildings will be four storeys high.

The buildings will be interconnected and have an upper-level infill built form. Additionally, there will be 245 parking spaces available across a two-level basement.

The architectural blueprint, designed by BVN, includes provisions for a thoroughfare link that runs east to west. This will improve accessibility and connectivity within the neighbourhood. Additionally, in a nod to community welfare, Anson Group has designated six units within the development as affordable housing, reflecting their commitment to inclusive urban development.

The site where the project is planned currently contains two-story commercial and retail spaces, as well as empty and outdated buildings. Anson Group aims to transform the area, which is expected to boost the economy, create job opportunities, and address the retail demands of the community. The upcoming development is projected to include a much-needed supermarket.

The development is taking place in Kensington Town Centre, and it is currently undergoing planning reviews to determine the best building heights and densities. The goal is to improve the infrastructure and promote commercial expansion.

Anson Group’s winning bid for the Kensington project highlights their strategic vision and dedication to enhancing Sydney’s urban landscape while meeting the changing needs of its residents.

Published 5-March-2024

Uni Lodge: 601-Room Student Block in Anzac Parade Proposed

Kensington could soon have a 601-room student housing block stretching from 177 to 197 Anzac Parade if the development application for Uni Lodge receives approval from Randwick City Council.

The project from Cedar Pacific and NettletonTribe (DA/20/2021) proposes the construction of a 10-storey dormitory, which will occupy 24 privately-owned lots to make 4,000 square metres of space for university housing.

If approved, Uni Lodge will have the following features:

basement parking for 12 cars for the staff
bicycle and motorbike parking areas
administrative offices, service areas and communal spaces in the ground floor
601 diverse rooms and 666 student beds
group rooms with its own kitchen, living room and bathroom
study rooms overlooking the courtyard
rooftop garden

Photo Credit: DA Tracking/Randwick City Council

The development will form part of the Kensington and Kingsford Town Centres (K2K) Planning Strategy, which took effect in November 2020 after four years of deliberation.

Cedar Pacific was able to raise $90 million to fund this student block.

Once Council signs on, the demolition of existing buildings in the area will be underway. This means that a Chinese restaurant and appliance store will have to find new locations whilst residents of a three-storey apartment and a duplex complex will also need to move out.

“The site currently contains five existing buildings of older stock with many buildings in need of replacement,” the proposal cited. “The proposal advances the social objectives of providing affordable and convenient housing options for students in close proximity to educational establishments. This increase in student housing supply will also assist in the availability (and affordability) of housing stock in the broader area, thereby providing a broader social and economic benefit.”

Uni Lodge will stand next to the heritage-listed Masonic Temple and near the Kensington Town Centre, the University of New South Wales and the South-East Light Rail.

Anzac Parade Site in Kensington Listed for Student Housing Development

A 7,600 square metre property located at 153 to 157 Anzac Parade in Kensington has been listed for development. The prominent corner position has been deemed as an ideal location for student housing since it is close to the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

The Anzac Parade property is also close to the Prince of Wales Hospital Complex and the Kensington Town Centre. It is conveniently near the South East Light rail link which links commuters from Kensington to Kingsford, Randwick and the CBD.

Interested developers have many options for this property given that it has been approved for mixed-use in 2014. In its initial development application, Randwick Council gave its consent for the development as a 7-storey building with 31 apartments and four retail spaces in the mezzanine on this Anzac Parade site.

However, the approved development application may still be amended.

“Local planning rules allow various alternative development possibilities – including student accommodation – to a height of 25 metres, or seven levels. The proposed rules would permit a height of 31 metres, or nine levels,” Ben Hunter of JLL said.

The supply of student housing in Kensington is rising in demand as the student population also grows in the precinct. Kensington needs at least 2820 student accommodation beds to be ready for the future.

Interested developers may contact JLL Sydney about the property for sale.

4 Distinctive Chinese Restaurants Found on Anzac Parade at Kensington

Photo Credit: Pexels/Pixabay

When you’re craving for Chinese food in Kensington, the place to go is Anzac Parade. This major road in the southeastern Sydney suburbs is home to plenty of restaurants and there are four distinctive Chinese food establishments particularly catering to Kensington residents.

1. Traditional Chinese Food: Hoh Won Chinese Restaurant

134 Anzac Parade
Opens daily, except Tuesdays, from 11:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.; 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The family-owned Hoh Won Chinese Restaurant has been in Kensington for decades that many locals have memories of dining in this place since they were kids. Even without an actual social media presence or a website, Hoh Won Chinese Restaurant is always packed so be sure to reserve seats before you go.

When there’s no time to cook and you want to have a full meal, this place will satisfy. Their menu and the food’s quality haven’t changed much since the new generation took over. Diners seem to love their shredded pork, deep fried fish with corn sauce, hot and sour soup, Shantung chicken, and special fried rice.

“Just a great traditional Chinese restaurant. It’s almost always busy but with good reason, the food is always flavoursome, occasionally I had dishes with a little much pepper, but I’ve been coming here for years and that only happened once or twice. I do prefer the more traditional tasting of the menu compared to every other restaurants modernisation to every dish. It’s no Mr Wong’s but it’s not trying to be, the prices are fair and the food is traditional and good, and let me just say THE DECOR, the decor is sensational. I love the trapped in the 60’s look, the wallpaper and chandelier, so charismatic..”
~ Jah Sha, via Google Reviews

2. Hunan-Inspired Chinese Cooking: Chairman Mao Chinese Restaurant

189 Anzac Parade
Opens daily 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; closes at 11:00 p.m. Thursdays to Sundays

Dishes from the Hunan region in China are known for its hot and spicy flavours, strong aroma, and vibrant colours. Chairman Mao offers a variety of these Hunan food choices in generous portions, which greatly pair with a pint of beer.

Some of the recommended meals include the five-spice tofu, red-braised pork, and the pickled radish and chili. The restaurant is also well-known for its colourful and decorative interiors.

*Photo Credit:* *Wanda Dominic Tan/Facebook*

“AMAZING YOU HAVE TO COME HERE. This is the only place I’ve found in Sydney that actually tastes like food from Hunan. I’ve lived my life in Sydney but have traveled extensively through China. This is the real deal. If you want amazing, tasty, authentic Chinese food, come here. My boyfriend and I LOVED everything – we got the pork belly and a spicy prawn dish (I’ve since forgotten the name of the actual dish)… SO GOOD.”
~ DianeRB2, via Trip Advisor

3. Halal Chinese Food: Turpan Restaurant

6/240 Anzac Parade
Opens daily from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., except Monday

The food at Turpan Restaurant may remind you of Middle Eastern cuisines. However, Chinese food from the northwestern regions is mostly halal, particularly from the Xinjiang Uyghur province where the restaurant’s chef and owner grew up.

So, if you’re looking for the best-tasting lambs, mutton, or beef dishes with heaps of tomatoes, onions, olives, and celery, then try the Turpan Restaurant. They also serve crepes, skewers and other dishes with a hint of Pakistani, Mongolian and Russian influences.

*Photo Credit:* *The Turpan Restuarant/Facebook*

“Great northern China dishes. Skewers are must try. Plenty of nice spiced dishes if you like spicy food. It is not the typical Cantonese or Shanghainess restaurants we often see. It is something different and tasty as well. Highly recommended.”

~ Simon Leung, via Google Reviews

4. Cantonese Dishes: The New Dong Dong Noodles

428 Anzac Parade
Opens daily from 11:00 a.m. to 10:15 p.m.

The New Dong Dong Noodles is technically in Kingsford, but it is a block away (at least 0.8 miles) from the Kensington Park.

This restaurant serves Cantonese dishes from an open kitchen. Diners can watch as the chef cooks their orders of hot pot, stir-fried noodles, congee, and noodle soups. The New Dong Dong Noodles also offer Laksa dishes after 9:45 p.m.

“My family has been going here for years and we’ve never had a bad meal. Because it is so busy the food is fresh and super authentic. You always see heaps of Chinese people in here so they must be authentic. Nothing flash but great value and super tasty.”
~ Vince D, via Trip Advisor

There is no shortage of Chinese food establishments in Sydney and the surrounding suburbs. However, these four choices from Kensington will show that while Chinese food is common, there are still plenty of variety and distinctions to choose from.

Oz Harvest Market in Kensington: What Australia’s First Rescue Food Outlet Does to Help The Country

Photo Credit: Fiona Nearn/Oz Harvest Market

Did you know that Australia’s first rescue food outlet has a flagship store in Kensington? Known as the Oz Harvest Market, this shop located at Anzac Parade takes food that would otherwise be thrown away by food outlets, hotels, supermarkets, and catering companies

Oz Harvest Market sells rescued food to the community or redistributes the edibles to the needy. There are volunteers who ensure that the food items collected are of quality and still fit for eating.

The Kensington store, which opened last April 2017, is located at the ground floor of the building owned by TOGA. The site of the former Addison Hotel, this was turned into a shelter for the homeless and TOGA has donated part of the ground floor for Oz Harvest Market’s operations.

The rescue food outlet is open to anyone looking to buy food supplies at a massive discount or to eat good food without having to pay so much money.

“If times are tough and you’re in need of food or other goods, you can take what you need,” Oz Harvest Market CEO and Founder Ronni Kahn said. “If you can give something, then please do, it could even be your time or skills.”

*Photo Credit:* *Fiona Nearn/Oz Harvest Market*

The goods sold at Oz Harvest Market have no price tag. Customers are open to giving what they can, knowing that the money will also go to charity.

Oz Harvest Market also sets up pop-ups and food trucks at other locations around Australia as a way to promote their services. This is where the money of consumers patronising the store goes.

In New South Wales, Oz Harvest Market stores and food trucks are also found in Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Sapphire Coast, Southern Highlands, Sydney, and Wagga Wagga.

Oz Harvest Market also mounts educational programs for primary school kids to teach them about food sustainability. In New South Wales, the first phase of the program, dubbed Feast, will roll out in schools this 2019.

The aim of Feast is to teach kids how to cook nutritious food, eat healthily, prevent food waste and protect the environment.

The Feast program will eventually be rolled out in primary schools in the rest of Australia by 2020.