the right place

A little bit country, a little bit city

lifestyle Article #58

Photography Nelson Cortez

Families in search of the Good Life find the best of all worlds along Cobbitty Road.

The peace and tranquillity of Cobbitty by Mirvac work like a balm, the stresses of city and work left far behind, replaced by a sense of calm and contentment.

For those in search of the Good Life, the allure of a country and city lifestyle offered at Mirvac’s newest masterplanned community has proven irresistible.

The challenge of building a new community in an area that has played a central role in the agricultural heritage of Cobbitty and nearby Camden is to retain the rural flavour and village life that make it so appealing while providing the essentials of connected and safe contemporary living.

The approximate 900 new home sites that Mirvac is planning to release in stages have been carefully designed to extend the rural character, nestling in amongst a network of green spaces and a rehabilitated creek and wetland corridor. Design Guidelines ensure homes are of a consistently high standard and sympathetic to the landscape and heritage of Cobbitty.

 

 At the entry, a tree lined boulevard flanked by a lightly forested area signposts the way home where a proposed lake 1 and neighbourhood centre 2 are envisaged to form the heart of village life.

A celebration of nature and focus on health and fitness is the common theme that runs through the proposed amenity.

A proposed playing field 1 that doubles as a village green will provide for social and community competition while serving dual purpose as a venue for gatherings and events. The open lawn area acts much like a shared backyard, with space to kick a ball, play cricket and exercise.

Connecting all the community facilities will be a network of walking and cycling trails 1 threading their way through rehabilitated bushland, the lake, creeks, parks and homes.

While Cobbitty by Mirvac has been designed for contemporary family life, the thinking behind the masterplan owes much to a traditional model of rural town life, says Toby Long, Mirvac’s General Manager, Residential Development NSW.

“There is a focus on shared spaces where the community can come together and have the social interaction that makes for a great neighbourhood,” says Mr Long. “Look anywhere in the world and the places with enduring appeal have a central plaza or a market place where the town gathers, whether it’s for a celebration or just going about their everyday life.

“People lead busy lives so being able to walk from home to experience nature, whether it’s in the bushland or around the proposed lake, is incredibly important. You’re going to run into neighbours out for a stroll or walking the dog and often those chance encounters turn into meaningful friendships.

“Kids are great at this. Put them in a playground or on a playing field and they have no trouble breaking the ice but it can only happen if there is a reason to go outdoors, run around and meet other kids in the neighbourhood.”

 
 

“People lead busy lives so being able to walk a few metres from home to experience nature, whether it’s in the bushland or around the proposed lake, is incredibly important.”

TOBY LONG

Mirvac General Manager, Residential Development NSW

“That’s one of the reasons why we provide diversity in lot size, so that people at all stages of life can aspire to owning a home in a prestige community such as Cobbitty by Mirvac. It benefits first home buyers as well as downsizers who may be coming from a family home where a high maintenance yard is no longer the desirable asset it once was.”

From its early years as a thriving rural village Cobbitty has evolved into a desirable location for sprawling homes on large acreage estates. The large lots not yet released are generating substantial inquiry from landowners for whom 1,000sqm gives them opportunity to build a luxurious home with extensive gardens and space to breathe.

Generational change is inevitable as Sydney’s population reaches westward and the big infrastructure projects generate new high skill jobs.

There are social and health benefits to be gained from a focus on outdoor amenity, increasingly important with affordability pressures putting large lot sizes beyond the reach of many first home buyers.

The UDIA’s 2023 State of the Land Report reveals that over the 2021-2022 year the median price of greenfield lots in Greater Sydney increased by 31 per cent and the number released fell 35 per cent, placing further pressure on affordability.

Cobbitty by Mirvac offers home sites ranging from around 270sqm to more than 1,000sqm, the intent being to attract a diversity of buyers including first home buyers and those looking to build a luxurious home on a large landholding.

“Affordability is a persistent issue in every capital city market and breaking into the market with your first home is always the hardest,” says Mr Long.

Cut Hill Reserve

Artist impression of proposed green space and walkways

“We are making sure that people can enjoy an incredible quality of life and have all the urban convenience that families need.”

TOBY LONG

Mirvac General Manager, Residential Development NSW

Nancy Bird Walton Airport at Badgery’s Creek is due for completion in 2026 and the proposed Western Sydney Aerotropolis is expected to account for many of the 200,000 new jobs predicted for the coming years.3

“There has never been a more exciting time for Western Sydney,” says Mr Long. “The Aerotropolis is forecast to bring jobs in aerospace and defence, manufacturing, healthcare, agribusiness, education and research, and that will bring benefits for the residents of Cobbitty by Mirvac.

“If you have one of these high skilled jobs in the new Aerotropolis, it’s a far quicker commute from Cobbitty than Coogee. We are making sure that people can enjoy an incredible quality of life and have all the urban convenience that families need.”

Discover more about Cobbitty here.

 

Artist impression of proposed green space and walkways

 

A little bit country, a little bit city