Midtown MacPark: The blueprint for a brighter future

In Sydney’s northwest, a bold new standard for community living is taking shape – and it’s welcoming everyone.

Think of the world’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. From Berlin’s Neuköllnto Queens, New York to Yarraville in Melbourne's inner west, these are communities that share a distinctive character and sense of place. Diversity — of cultures, experiences, and perspectives — is their lifeblood, fuelling a true sense of connection and belonging.

Today, Sydney’s Macquarie Park is welcoming the newest addition to this cohort of world-class neighbourhoods. Midtown MacPark, a groundbreaking new development by Frasers Property Australia, is redefining what it means to live in a vibrant and inclusive community where everyone is welcome. Rising from the site of the former Ivanhoe social housing estate, the $2.2 billion Midtown development represents a new way of thinking about neighbourhoods that blend private and community housing with enviable levels of shared amenity. Among the 3,300 apartments that will ultimately be delivered at Midtown, a third area mix of community and affordable residences, helping to improve housing access during a time of acute shortage.

The bright, modern, and spacious new homes represent an optimistic future for Midtown’s growing residential community. Tanya Rahme, one of the first tenants to move into Midtown, has a story that’s sadly far too familiar for women over 55 – the fastest growing group at risk of homelessness in Australia. A change in her personal circumstances led her to needing housing support, a circumstance she never thought she’d find herself in after a life of hard work and home ownership.

“Never in my wildest dreams had I ever imagined living once again in a place that is beautifully designed, with high quality finishes, more reminiscent of a five-star hotel,” said Tanya.

“The whole development is based around a vision for public and private residents to live side by side, participating and contributing to a united and truly community-centric way of living, a proper neighbourhood. It already feels like a sanctuary for me. A place where my children and parents will happily visit and that will be proud to call my home hopefully for as long as I need it to be. "Sandra Charleston, who bought her apartment and moved in last year, echoes this sentiment. “I absolutely love it. It’s nice to think that people can share the same community as long as everyone is respectful of each other.”

Masterplanning a modern community

Frasers Property has masterplanned Midtown with an emphasis on quality of life and a true sense of belonging. An array of future amenities designed to foster connection and wellbeing include two childcare centres, a state primary school, a village green, vibrant community centre, cafes and retail spaces, a bush tucker garden, and a convenient pay-as-you-go pool and gym.

Adding to the ease of life at Midtown, the whole neighbourhood is walkable and there are plans tomake 50 on-site car-share vehicles available for residents. The location is just a short stroll from the brand-new Macquarie University Metro stop, connecting residents to the heart of Sydney in just 20 minutes.

Frasers Property Australia Development Director, Scott Clohessy, has been involved in the Midtown project since the company first started drawing up plans in 2017. He has seen the project evolve from the first sod turning to the first 1000 residents moving in. Besides the satisfaction of seeinga project of this scale and complexity come to fruition, he says his greatest sense of achievement comes with witnessing the community bonds that are forming between residents of different backgrounds and walks of life.

“Being part of a new community taking shape is pretty remarkable,” says Scott. “It’s like watching a group of people come together for the first time; there’s an initial period of adjustment, but then they find their rhythm and a sense of camaraderie emerges.

“We’ve done a lot of early work to support that, through various events and activities run by our Community Development team. But we’re seeing this happen organically, with residents supporting one another, forming connections, and communicating via the development’s Facebook group to share what they're up to. It’s been really inspiring to see our vision for an integrated community come to life in such a genuine way.”

As Midtown grows, so too do the opportunities for connection. There are workshops for learning and walks for fitness, as well as community BBQ sand resident events. Home to six beehives housing approximately 100,000 honey bees, Midtown even provides the opportunity to learn about beekeeping. The Village Green, pool, gym, and community centre, set to be completed in early 2026, will further enrich the community experience.

A bold new standard

Reflecting on what’s been achieved since the project launched in 2020, Scott sees Midtown MacPark as a beacon for the way cities can evolve in the future.

“We’re witnessing firsthand the positive effects of a genuinely integrated, multi-tenure approach to housing. It’s not perfect, but arguably no community is,” he says. “It’s clear that this model has the potential to make a real difference in addressing the critical need for affordable and accessible housing. Midtown demonstrates that regardless of background, we all thrive when we're part of a supportive and diverse community."

Midtown's story is still unfolding, but it’s already clear that this community is something special. It's a place where people from all walks of life are coming together to create a vibrant and welcoming neighbourhood. As the development continues to take shape, it’s poised to become a shining example of how mixed-use, multi-tenure communities can enrich the lives of all who call them home.