Cleveland Street Archives - Surry Hills News

Inside Saltbox: Sydney’s Next-Generation Events Space

The Surry Hills and Redfern neighbourhood is set to welcome an ambitious new player to its events landscape. Saltbox, a contemporary event space, will be opening soon at the Wunderlich Lane.

Read: Surry Hills Terrace Gets A Bold Renovation

Spearheaded by luxury events veteran David O’Brien and his team at Cook & Waiter, Saltbox will open its doors in Autumn 2025. Located at the intersection of Surry Hills and Redfern at 399 Cleveland Street, this sophisticated venue promises to elevate Sydney’s event offerings with its thoughtfully designed spaces and versatile capabilities.

A Space That Means Business

The 560-square-metre venue, designed by acclaimed architects SJB and built by TOGA Group, makes a striking first impression with its luxurious mirrored lobby and reception area. The ground floor entrance leads guests to Level 1, where three distinct event spaces await, each bathed in natural light yet equipped with blackout features for ultimate versatility.

Saltbox — Photo credit: cookandwaiter.com.au

Perhaps the venue’s most compelling feature is its impressive 119-square-metre outdoor terrace, which runs the entire length of the building, offering a dramatic addition to any event setup.

Flexibility at Its Core

Saltbox’s pillarless design allows for maximum flexibility, accommodating various event configurations:

– 250 guests for seated dining

– 450 for cocktail functions

– 300 in theatre-style arrangements

– 192 for cabaret setups

The venue’s strategic position in Sydney’s vibrant inner city offers excellent accessibility, with ample parking and transport links. Its proximity to The Eve Hotel adds another layer of convenience for out-of-town guests.

A Proven Track Record

This new venture comes from Cook & Waiter, a team with an impressive portfolio of high-profile clients including luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Porsche, and Lamborghini. Their expertise in delivering premium experiences positions Saltbox as a promising addition to Sydney’s event scene.

According to Mr O’Brien, the new venue represents an important expansion of their business portfolio, offering clients a distinctive destination in one of Sydney’s most dynamic precincts. He emphasises that the venue stands out for its innovative approach to location, guest experience, and sustainability initiatives.

Read: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Reopens After $70-Million Revamp

From corporate meetings and brand launches to cocktail parties and wedding receptions, Saltbox is poised to become a versatile addition to Sydney’s event landscape when it opens its doors in Autumn 2025, complete with a curated food and beverage offering by Cook & Waiter.

Published 22-November-2024

Unlivable Surry Hills Terrace Given New Life

Photo Credit: bresicwhitney.com.au

An unlivable Surry Hills terrace has been given a new lease on life. Philip Corlette, a 67-year-old Sydney native, took on the challenge of renovating a property that many would have considered beyond saving.

The terrace, located at 518 Cleveland Street, was acquired by Corlette in 2019 for $1.53 million. At the time, it was in a state of severe disrepair, with missing ceilings, non-functional plumbing, and what Corlette described as “disgusting” conditions throughout.

Over the course of four years, Corlette single-handedly transformed the unlivable three-bedroom home into an architecturally redesigned living space. The renovation not only restored the main house but also added a studio above the garage, enhancing the property’s versatility and appeal.

The project showcases the potential for revitalisation within Surry Hills, a suburb known for its Victorian-era terraces and vibrant community. Corlette’s renovation preserves the heritage character of the area while introducing modern amenities and design elements.

One of the most significant additions to the property is the studio above the garage. Despite initial objections from some neighbours, the local council approved the design, recognising it as a positive contribution to the area. This addition not only increases the property’s living space but also offers potential rental income, a valuable feature in the competitive Surry Hills real estate market.

The renovation process faced numerous challenges, from structural rebuilds to the logistics of delivering materials through Surry Hills’ narrow streets. However, Corlette’s determination and DIY approach, bolstered by his experience in audiovisual installations, saw the project through to completion.

The transformed property now boasts modern bathrooms with heated floors, a kitchen that opens to an entertaining area, and state-of-the-art security features. These improvements reflect the evolving expectations of Surry Hills residents, who increasingly seek properties that combine historic charm with contemporary comforts.

Nick Gill from BresicWhitney Inner East, the agent handling the sale, emphasised the property’s appeal in the current Surry Hills market. “The integration of period details with modern design is exactly what buyers in this area are looking for,” Gill stated. “The addition of the north-facing studio is particularly attractive, offering flexibility for homeowners or investors.”

With the renovation complete, the Cleveland Street property is now listed for sale with a guide price of $2.5 million.

Published 2-June-2024

Major Redevelopment of Cathedral on Cleveland Street in Surry Hills Approved

Photo Credit: City of Sydney / online2.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Plans for a $27.5-million redevelopment of a cathedral on Cleveland Street in Surry Hills have been approved.

Lodged by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia in December 2020, the proposal seeks part demolition, alterations, and additions to its group buildings, particularly the function hall and parish hall that sits on land located at 242 Cleveland Street in Surry Hills.

The will be a place for public worship, a museum, a library, a theological college, domiciles and shared facilities | Photo Credit: City of Sydney / online2.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

The group of buildings that are subject of the redevelopment includes the former St Paul’s rectory building; the Eastern block of buildings that are used for residences, offices, and ancillary uses; the Northern block that is used for a function room, museum, library and Main Hall; and the cafe building. Except for the cafe building, all buildings are connected to one another.

The application which was approved by the City of Sydney Planning Panel last 31 August 2022 involves the construction of two new buildings with a shared basement to serve as a place for public worship, a shared function space, a museum, a library, and an office. There will also be a theological college, domiciles, and shared facilities.

Major Redevelopment of Cathedral on Cleveland Street in Surry Hills Approved — Photo Credit: City of Sydney / online2.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

The redevelopment is to be constructed in five stages with the first stage scheduled for completion in March 2024.

242 Cleveland St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Locals See Problems With Cleveland Street Traffic Flow Changes in Surry Hills, Redfern

Transport for NSW has been distributing leaflets among residents of Surry Hills and Redfern, announcing that it’s seeking feedback on the planned traffic flow changes on the long stretch of Cleveland Street.

However, some locals are pushing back on the proposal as concerns of clogging on the intersecting streets have been raised, despite Transport for NSW saying that it will improve the safety issues of this key east-west road.

Among the changes include:

Reducing the speed limit of Cleveland Street, between City Road and Anzac Parade, to 40km/h
Installing new traffic lights on the intersections
Removing right turn access from Cleveland Street to Wilton Street, Walker Street, Young Street and Crown Steet
Returning the left turn access on Cleveland Street to Baptist Street
Installing “No Right Turn” signs on the concerning streets

But members of the Cleveland Street Action Group said that the traffic flow changes will open the possibility of motorists creating “rat runs” or unintended short cuts in the side streets so drivers could avoid heavy traffic and other obstacles.

In particular, backstreets like Boronia, Rainford and Mort Streetshave been identified as potential rat runs.

“These intersection improvements will improve Cleveland St traffic flows at the expense of local roads, adding to dramatic changes in local amenity and increased risks of vehicular conflict with pedestrians, cyclists and people (men, women and children). Increased traffic does not help property values either,” Annette Tolhurst, the group’s coordinator, said.

Ms Tolhurst said that they are not asking Transport for NSW to scrap the plan but for the agency to do a “proper impact assessment” by listening to the community.

“Our only hope is to try to have it paused until proper consultation can happen,” the coordinator said.

The group also called on residents of Surry Hills and Redfern to complete the survey from Transport for NSW.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said that the State Government should hold off on its plans to implement the changes after proper consultation.

An average of 49,000 motorists use Cleveland Street on a weekly basis. From 2014 to 2019, about 217 crashes were reported on the busy road, which has resulted in 42 serious accident cases, including one death.

Surry Hills Shopping Village Closes for Redevelopment as a Modern Lifestyle Precinct

Surry Hills Shopping Village has closed in January 2021 to make way for a massive redevelopment following Council’s approval in December 2020 of a new lifestyle precinct.

To stand on the 1.2 hectare site on the corner of Cleveland Road and Baptist Street, will be the new Surry Hills Village. TOGA will be behind its redevelopment with the help of SJB Architects.

Once completed, the commercial area, which started out as a basic shopping centre in the 1960s, will become a revitalised and modern residential, dining and retail precinct with more than 100 apartments, as well as a range of restaurants and entertainment establishments.

The new village will also include a lush and beautiful public park, a market-style retail area, and a pedestrian laneway that will link Baptist and Marriot Streets.

Expected to set shop into the precinct are Coles supermarket and Vintage Cellars, as well as heaps of providores, cafes and boutiques.

TOGA CEO Fabrizio Perilli said that Surry Hills village will be the “melting pot of the city’s finest restaurants, bars, art, music and culture” and will shape the next chapter of this community.

Surry Hills Shopping Village was once dubbed the “murder mall” for its rundown appearance. The new owners bought the property in 2017 without any idea of its reputation and submitted complex plans that took more than a year of deliberation and consultation with the Council and the community.

Perilli said that with Surry Hills Village, the formerly neglected site will finally be rid of its old reputation.

Though pegged for completion sometime in late 2023 or early 2024, over 30 units priced between $875,000 to $2.8 million have already been sold before the construction. Work on the site will actually start in late 2021.