DOMA selected for $1.6B Newcastle Quay precinct

DOMA Group has been selected to deliver Newcastle Quay, a $1.6 billion mixed-use waterfront precinct that will mark the next chapter in the city’s three-decade transformation from industrial harbour edge to a connected CBD destination.

The Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) has appointed the private developer as its development partner for the final major Honeysuckle site, near Newcastle Interchange and the western edge of the city centre.

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Masterplanned by SJB, Newcastle Quay will transform approximately 32,950 square metres of former industrial land into a new CBD front door, with around 1000 homes, commercial space for 4000 workers, a 180-room hotel, 500-seat conference centre, retail, dining, cinema and more than 11,000 square metres of public space.

For SJB partner Emily Wombwell, who grew up in Newcastle, the project represents a rare opportunity to shape a significant part of the city’s future.

“City-making projects like this are rare opportunities, and their success depends on genuine collaboration, shared ambition and a deep understanding of place,” Wombwell said.

“Having grown up in Newcastle, it’s especially meaningful to help shape such an important part of the city, connecting the waterfront to the interchange and creating a place that tells you, unmistakably, you’ve arrived in Newcastle.”

The public realm sits at the centre of the masterplan, with Honeysuckle Green, an enhanced Tree of Knowledge Park and new waterfront connections proposed to improve access to the harbour and create additional opportunities for people to gather along the foreshore.

The heritage-listed Wickham School of Arts will also be retained as part of a new Arts Square Hotel and conference centre, ensuring the precinct’s future is connected to its history.

HCCDC chief executive Valentina Misevska said the proposal responds directly to feedback gathered from the Newcastle community.

“Today’s milestone announcement marks a significant moment in the Honeysuckle Urban Renewal Project and reflects what the community told us they wanted to see: a well-connected precinct that prioritises public spaces, strengthens connections to the waterfront and transport, and creates opportunities for vibrant activation,” Misevska said.

SJB is leading the masterplan and executive architecture, alongside Stewart Architecture, Architecture AND, Curious Practice, Turf Design Studio and SJB Planning. The proposed development has a gross floor area of approximately 167,000 square metres, including more than 28,000 square metres of commercial space and 6000 square metres of retail.

The project’s economic impact is expected to extend well beyond the site. The NSW Government estimates construction will contribute approximately $80 million annually to the economy, while the completed precinct could generate around $133 million each year for Newcastle and the wider Hunter region.

DOMA has been active in Newcastle since 2013, with the group stating its completed and under-construction projects in the city now exceed $1 billion. Its Newcastle portfolio includes 866 apartments, 31,556 square metres of commercial space, 4407 square metres of retail and a 181-room hotel.

DOMA Group managing director Jure Domazet said Newcastle Quay would build on that commitment to the region.

“DOMA Group is honoured to continue our investment in the Hunter region and to have the opportunity to deliver this world class city-shaping precinct for Newcastle,” Domazet said.

Site preparation works are expected to begin in 2026, with the precinct to be delivered over approximately 15 years. A concept plan and first-stage development application are expected by mid-2027, setting the groundwork for the next major phase of Newcastle’s waterfront renewal.

Images via The Urban Developer

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