LITHGOW ST, ABBOTSFORD

Lithgow Street honours the site’s heritage by preserving the historic Schweppes Cordial Factory, while introducing a contemporary build-to-rent development designed for longevity. Working with MODEL ensures the creation of sustainable, resilient, and energy-efficient homes—meeting the needs of today without compromising those of tomorrow.

PROJECT TYPE
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL 

SIZE
3,096M2

NO. OF APARTMENTS
`158 APARTMENTS

LOCATION
34-45 LITHGOW ST, ABBOTSFORD

VALUE
$160M

STATUS
PRE-CONSTRUCTION

Lithgow is designed as a timeless address, blending contemporary architecture with Abbotsford’s local character and heritage. The former Schweppes Cordial Factory is reimagined into mass-timber apartments, preserving its 19th-century features while introducing forward-thinking design.

In partnership with MODEL, the project targets Passive House performance, alongside 6-Star Green Star and 9-Star NatHERS ratings, and a 40% reduction in embodied carbon—delivering sustainable, energy-efficient build-to-rent housing for the future.

The development has been designed for the opportunity to consider cross-laminated timber (CLT) as its primary structural system. CLT with further reflect a strong commitment to sustainability, innovation and resident wellbeing. CLT offers significant environmental advantages over traditional concrete and steel construction, with substantially reduced embodied carbon and the capacity to act as long as long-term carbon store. By choosing this material, the project directly contributes to Melbourne’s Broader climate action goals while demonstrating leadership in progressive construction methods. 

Beyond sustainability, CLT provides architectural and experiential benefits that enhance the quality of living spaces. Exposed timber surfaces create warm, tactile, and inviting interiors, offering residents a natural material palette that promotes comfort and wellbeing. The precision of CLT construction also enables efficient fabrication and rapid assembly, reducing on-site disruption and minimising construction waste.