Thorton real estate

Our vision was to create a cool, leafy urban landscape with a diversity of housing choice to respond to changing housing needs in Western Sydney. Thorton exemplifies our approach to delivering quality urban spaces and places that respect both the environment and heritage, and our ability to work with Penrith City Council, project home builders and development partners such as St Hilliers, Payce and Evolve Housing, to deliver housing innovation including landmark Affordable Housing.

The Thornton masterplan addressed the future community’s requirements for housing diversity, infrastructure, community connection and retail facilities. From 2011, we rolled out a program of initiatives to support community connection, diversity and belonging through integrated sustainability, heritage and interpretation and community development programs.

With housing diversity and choice, Affordable Housing with some set aside for Aboriginal housing and some catering to people with disabilities, an aged care facility, community facilities, seven hectares of the 40 hectare site set aside for open space, and commercial and retail space, Thornton exemplifies a modern urban place with a diverse and connected community.

From the outset, Thornton required engineering strategies to address potential flooding by providing for a new wetland area, which today is known as The Commons. The wetland filters stormwater discharge into an open body of water called Waters Edge. This clever solution both solved the drainage problem and provides valuable public space and water views for residents.

We also addressed the rehabilitation of remnant Cumberland Plain Woodland and delivered a tree canopy strategy to modify the microclimate in the area.

Through our efforts, we have been able to create a diverse and robust community. Residents have benefited from our community development program, a new community building and the way we have interpreted the sites heritage in public areas.

We have interpreted Thornton’s rich history including the 1892 Lord Sheffield English cricket match with the local team, and its use as the Penrith Speedway.

We also enabled the conservation and adaptive reuse of Thornton Hall. Built in 1870, Thornton Hall has played an important role in Penrith’s history. Today Thornton Hall is conserved to its former glory and is used as a community childcare centre, bringing a hub of activity at the heart of this project and connecting past and present.