Sydney’s next student-living hotspot has been announced, and it’s on one of the city’s most prominent waterfront sites, with The Living Company securing a landmark parcel at Blackwattle Bay as part of the NSW Government’s broader urban renewal program.
The site, adjacent to the new $836 million Sydney Fish Market development, will form part of a mixed-use precinct delivered broadly by Mirvac. The vision is ambitious: residential apartments, retail and commercial space, significant public domain upgrades and, at its heart, a major new purpose-built student accommodation offering under The Living Company’s Scape brand.
For international education stakeholders, the message is clear. Blackwattle Bay is positioning itself not just as a redevelopment site, but as a premier student destination.
A 26-storey signal of intent
The Scape development will rise 26 storeys and form part of the first stage of the masterplan following Mirvac’s acquisition of development rights. The building will deliver hundreds of modern student living spaces, including a mix of self-contained studios supported by generous communal facilities.
Designed to foster both academic focus and social connection, the residence will include dedicated study areas, lifestyle amenities and landscaped outdoor spaces, all within a secure, professionally managed environment.
Its location is strategic. Positioned on the edge of Pyrmont, minutes from Sydney’s CBD and within easy reach of major universities, the project taps directly into the growing demand for high-quality, well-located accommodation for domestic and international students alike.
A waterfront precinct with public benefit
Importantly, the student residence is part of a much larger civic vision.
The NSW Government’s plan for Blackwattle Bay includes delivering a missing link in Sydney’s 15-kilometre harbour walk, to be completed before the first residents move in. Community gardens, recreation areas and wellbeing-focused amenities are embedded across the broader precinct, signalling a commitment to place-making rather than standalone development.
Sustainability is also central. The precinct will be fully electric and powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, targeting Net-Zero Carbon by 2030. The Scape building itself is targeting a 5 Star Green Star rating and PassivHaus equivalent performance.
Backing Sydney’s global study brand
Stephen Gaitanos, Founder and Joint CEO of The Living Company, described Blackwattle Bay as an opportunity “to contribute meaningfully to Sydney’s future and really deliver on our promise to create and shape communities where people truly belong.”
He said the vision is to deliver “a high-amenity, globally competitive student-living community that supports the city’s education sector and enhances the vibrancy of this extraordinary waterfront precinct.”
Anouk Darling, CEO of Scape Australia, added that “Sydney is one of the world’s most extraordinary places to study – a harbour city that offers students not just a world-class education, but an experience that shapes who they become.”
“Blackwattle Bay will be unlike anything we’ve delivered before, a truly iconic address on Sydney’s harbourfront that reflects the ambition and global standing of this city as a study destination. We are proud to play a role in this landmark precinct and in welcoming students from around the world to call it home.”
Further information is available at: www.thelivingcompany.com.au
Photo: Artist’s impression of the Blackwattle Bay redevelopment. The Scape student accommodation tower is part of the four-building precinct and is shown at the far right of the image.
