Winten Property Group (Winten) has secured a 10-year lease and opened the doors to Charles Sturt University’s first metro campus located at 77 Berry Street in North Sydney. 

The lease spans six floors across the entire commercial building (5,738sqm) and adjoins Berry Square, a north-facing sun-soaked public space designed by ASPECT Studio. Leading global education provider Navitas facilitated the deal on behalf of Charles Sturt University.

The university’s new custom-designed learning and teaching space will host both international and domestic students. Charles Sturt University recently secured a lease for a Bourke Street campus in Melbourne’s CBD set to open in 2025, which is part of its strategic focus to rejuvenate the university’s capital city presence to deliver more diverse opportunities for students.

“Nestled in the heart of North Sydney, Winten purchased 77 Berry Street and neighbouring 1 Denison site in 2016 after identifying the unparalleled advantages the commercial district offers tenants. North Sydney Council’s proactive approach to invest and re-invigorate the area with improved laneways and the pedestrianisation of Miller Street has helped the area gain further prominence,” said Stuart Vaughan, Chief Operating Officer for Winten Property Group.

“The site’s central location provides easy access to train, bus and ferry links, is a short walk to Victoria Cross Metro Station (set to open in August 2024) to access Barangaroo, Macquarie Park and Chatswood as well as Denison Street and Victoria Cross’ first-class retail and entertainment precincts.”

“North Sydney is now a destination of choice for companies seeking quick access to the city and high-quality amenity without the price tag. The area is an extension of Sydney’s CBD attracting high calibre companies such as Microsoft, SAP and Channel 9,” he added.

Seventy-seven Berry Street’s surrounding area is geographically bound by several education institutions such as Australian Catholic University, Marist Catholic College, Sydney Design School, Shore School, Wenona School and Reddam House. 

Michael Darcy, Director – Head of North Shore Office Leasing at CBRE who brokered the deal, comments, “Winten is a proactive landlord with an excellent track record in North Sydney. They carried out significant works to the asset and Berry Square prior to Navitas’ initial inspection. CBRE’s experience obtaining 9b certificates for education facilities was an important deciding factor in securing the deal.

“North Sydney is experiencing a resurgence due to infrastructure, streetscape and transport links investment, contributing to a deeper pool of industries choosing the area to attract and retain talent. Its vibrancy was a key factor in identifying the location for Charles Sturt University students to receive a rewarding learning experience.”

Winten will also soon lease two ground floor retail tenancies at 77 Berry Street. The net lettable areas are 282.5sqm (Shop 1) and 19.5sqm (Shop 3 which is designed to be a coffee shop). 

A lease was recently signed with Yurica Japanese Kitchen for Shop 2 with a net lettable area of 115sqm featuring an undercover outdoor dining area (approx. 93.5sqm) for a six-years. 

Seventy-seven Berry Street was previously used by Winten as a staging platform to service tenants’ area requirements prior to the completion of its state-of-the-art 1 Denison, a premium grade commercial building.

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