The glass building at 237 Wharf Road, Newcastle has been demolished to make way for a six-storey residential development featuring 20 multi-million dollar apartments overlooking Newcastle harbour. Developer Philip Duncan confirmed the demolition is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
Construction on the new building is likely to start in April 2026 and take about 18 months. “I don’t want to rush it. I want to get it right,” Duncan said. While the apartments are not yet on the market, he noted significant interest from potential buyers.
Eighteen of the 20 apartments will be sold, each with three bedrooms and water views. The development includes amenities such as a pool, gym, residential wine cellar, terrace with spa and fire pit, and 41 car spaces. “The beauty is the location. It has views straight up the harbour,” Duncan added.
The former building, constructed by Doran Brothers in the 1980s, was purchased by Duncan from the state government in 2014 for $14.8 million. It previously housed state government departments including RailCorp, Transport for NSW, and the Attorney General and Justice department.
The development application was approved by the Hunter and Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel in March 2025. Despite concerns from nearby residents about building height and loss of views, the panel deemed the built form, scale, and siting responsive to the site context, with public view corridors maintained.
