Deicorp to break ground on The Avenues, Zetland masterplan

In a move that signals the next chapter for Green Square’s transformation, Deicorp will break ground next week on The Avenues, a $874 million mixed-use precinct that will see a former industrial site in Zetland turned into a new residential neighbourhood over the coming years.

The 2.87-hectare site on Joynton Avenue, previously home to an Ausgrid depot, sits just four kilometres from the Sydney CBD and forms part of the broader Green Square renewal zone. 

Construction will begin with a ceremonial sod-turn led by Deicorp founder Fouad Deiri.

Once complete, The Avenues will deliver 624 apartments across nine buildings, along with curated ground-floor retail, purpose-built student housing and build-to-rent dwellings delivered in partnership with Scape. It's one of the largest developments to be launched in Sydney’s inner south in recent years, and one that takes a layered approach to scale, tenure and architecture.

Designed by Fender Katsalidis, Candalepas Associates and Lachlan Seegers Architects, the buildings vary in height and form, from eight to 14 levels. Each has been designed to respond to context: earth-toned brick facades, generous landscaped streets, and active retail edges aim to bring a pedestrian rhythm to what’s long been a closed-off site.

Public space is a key part of the plan. A $16 million package of park and infrastructure upgrades is tied to the project, including improvements to neighbouring Woolwash and Biyanbing Parks.

In contrast to the typical strata-only model, Deicorp’s plan integrates a mix of market apartments, long-term rentals and student housing, an increasingly common formula in inner-city regeneration precincts like Green Square and Waterloo. The precinct will also include over 800 sqm of commercial and retail space, with tenancy types ranging from cafes and bistros to small-format grocery and convenience stores.

The developer says the design prioritises sustainable performance and thermal comfort, with high-performance façades, natural ventilation, and external shading systems planned to meet SEPP 2022 and BASIX targets.

Zetland has rapidly shifted from an industrial edge suburb to one of Sydney’s densest residential postcodes, driven largely by its rail connection and proximity to the city. Yet many parts of the suburb remain transitional. The Avenues aims to stitch one of its largest remaining brownfield parcels back into the urban grid, just a short walk from Green Square Station and the Gunyama Park precinct.

The project continues Deicorp’s active pipeline across metropolitan Sydney, with other projects underway or in planning in Parramatta, Melrose Park, Crows Nest and the Hills District.