Why Eastland Group is doubling down on boutique apartments in Epping

For most developers, the decision to acquire a new site comes down to location, feasibility and what they believe buyers will want in the years ahead. For Eastland Group, the decision to expand its Origin development in Epping was a little more straightforward.

It had already delivered the first stage, knew what buyers liked about the location and, importantly, had seen first-hand the demand for boutique apartments in a suburb where much of the new development has been concentrated in high-rise towers.

When the opportunity came to secure a site directly opposite the completed building, Eastland Group said it was "an easy decision".

The result is the next stage of Origin Epping, comprising 84 residences across two buildings rising up to five storeys, with a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments.

The developer said feedback from purchasers in the first stage played an important role in shaping what would come next. Buyers had responded positively to the project's connectivity, its smaller scale and the opportunity to live in an established residential neighbourhood without sacrificing access to transport and everyday amenities.

Rather than follow the higher-density development model seen around Epping's town centre, Eastland Group saw an opportunity to deliver something different.

The brief to the architects was to create a five-storey development that felt more residential in scale, with generous floorplans, open-plan living spaces and oversized balconies that could function as extensions of the apartments.

The design also takes cues from Epping's established streetscape, particularly its tree-lined roads and surrounding walking trails. The balconies have been shaped to maximise natural light, drawing inspiration from the way sunlight filters through a tree canopy, while timber flooring, stone benchtops and an earthy material palette carry that connection to the landscape inside.

While boutique apartment developments are often associated with downsizers, Eastland Group has seen interest from a much broader mix of buyers at Origin.

First home buyers have been attracted by the opportunity to enter the Epping market at a more accessible price point, while young families are looking to stay close to the suburb's schools and transport connections.

There has also been interest from existing owner-occupiers wanting more space without leaving the area, alongside downsizers seeking the convenience of apartment living without the upkeep of a traditional family home.

According to the sales team, one of the common themes among purchasers has been a preference for smaller buildings over large residential towers, particularly when it comes to privacy, the number of neighbours sharing common areas and having enough internal and external space to comfortably entertain.

It's a trend Eastland Group believes has created an opportunity for boutique developments in established suburbs such as Epping, where buyers still want the convenience of a well-connected location but don't necessarily want to live in the middle of a high-density precinct.

The location is another important part of Origin's appeal. Epping Station is within walking distance, offering Sydney Metro and train connections, with Macquarie University and Macquarie Park just a short Metro trip away.

Epping Public School, Coles Epping and Boronia Park are also nearby, while Epping Boys High School and Cheltenham Girls High School are among the secondary school options in the surrounding area.

Apartments at Origin Epping are priced from $715,000 through to $2.3 million, with the mix of one to four-bedroom residences catering to buyers at different stages of their property journey.