4.9 Dulwich Hill
Part 4 – Place Specific Controls
Dulwich Hill is located on the lands of the Gadigal. Gadigal lands extend approximately from the southern side of Sydney Harbour from South Head to around what is now known as Petersham, with the southern boundary approximately lying in the area that now forms the Alexandra Canal and Cooks River.
Gadigal Country in Dulwich Hill is located on both sides of a ridge and consists of a number of low hills, with the lower land sloping towards Cooks River. The area slopes towards the Cooks River, with nearby riparian ecosystems and the Dibble Avenue Waterhole, which features a transition forest wetland. The Cooks River is an estuary – a common place for Aboriginal Peoples to camp, particularly along the lower parts of the river near Wolli Creek. Several original ecological communities are present in Dulwich Hill including Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest, Sydney Coastal Sandstone Foreshores Forest and, along Cooks River, Grey Mangrove-Mangrove and Estuarine Swamp Oak Twig-rush Forest.
This Country has been used for camping, travelling and gathering resources for thousands of generations of Aboriginal Peoples. Dulwich Hill, like other areas of Gadigal Country, has been altered and impacted by colonisation. The waterways in particular – such as Cooks Creek – have been significantly altered, neglected and have impacted the natural flood patterns of Country. Country remains important to and utilised by First Nations Peoples. In the 2021 Census, the Australian Bureau of Statistics published that 1.6% of the population of Dulwich Hill identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Dulwich Hill is a well-established inner-west suburb characterised by its leafy streets, residential charm, and diverse built form. The area features a mix of low-density detached homes, including Victorian, Federation, and Interwar-era houses, along with some medium-density residential development, particularly near key transport corridors such as Marrickville Road and the light rail. Dulwich Hill's character is defined by its suburban feel, with wide tree-lined streets, established gardens, and a strong sense of community. The suburb's commercial hubs are centred around Dulwich Hill and Wardell Roads, offering a range of local businesses, cafes, and small shops, while its residential areas maintain a quiet, family-oriented atmosphere. Dulwich Hill Railway Station and the Inner West Light Rail network provide excellent public transport connectivity, reinforcing its role as a transit-oriented area with easy access to surrounding employment and leisure centres. The suburb also benefits from green spaces such as Johnson Park, offering important recreational amenities.
Dulwich Hill's desired future character reflects an area undergoing change to enable transit-oriented development. This change will support the growth of the Dulwich Hill town centres and help deliver on the growing housing needs of present and future Inner West residents. Through these changes, new development is enabled around the Dulwich Hill train station, some light rail stations and town centres to provide housing in areas that are served by infrastructure and have high levels of amenity. This new development is to be responsive to its locality and encourages numerous public domain improvements. While enabling change, the vision also seeks to retain what is historically significant. Dulwich Hill contains 6 Heritage Conservation Areas which encapsulates various notable development patterns ranging from the late-1800s till the mid-1900s. Guidance is provided to new development in these areas to ensure it is respectful and responsive to the significance of these areas.
Objectives
To ensure higher density and masterplanned development is designed to achieve high levels of amenity, environmental sustainability, view protection, respectful transitions to surrounding neighbourhoods, and orderly development including necessary lot amalgamations
To support appropriate growth within commercial centres by enabling increased scale and mixed-use development that provides housing choice close to shops, services and public transport while complementing traditional commercial streetscape character.
To maintain intact low-density residential streetscapes in R2 zones by preserving original building forms, roof forms, detailing, and traditional subdivision patterns.
To protect significant streetscapes, heritage items and conservation areas, including public domain elements such as mature trees, landscaping, sandstone kerbing, fencing, views and vistas.
To enhance pedestrian and cyclist access, movement and amenity by maintaining and improving public domain quality, connections and open space interfaces.
To ensure off-street car parking and vehicular access are sensitively located so they do not detract from streetscapes, neighbourhood amenity or heritage significance.
To build on the eat street and cultural character of the commercial centre
To protect the natural, scenic and recreational values of the foreshore by retaining views, maintaining public access and ensuring development does not adversely affect natural processes or the amenity and significance of the Cooks River environment.
Controls
Development is to enhance and achieve the desired future character of the neighbourhood while retaining elements that contribute to that character and meeting all relevant DCP requirements.
Retain depression-era brick footpaths.
Retain existing sandstone features of buildings within the neighbourhood, which reflect the historical function of the area.
Reinstate front yards that are currently being used as hard stand car parking to open space.
Retain original low front fences with heights between 600mm - 800mm.
Retain and maintain the uniform and mature street trees along The Boulevarde and protect views towards Johnson Park.
Retain chimneys to Federation semi-detached dwellings on Pigott Street between The Boulevarde and Denison Road.
Retain local views to the consistent roof forms and setbacks within The Abergeldie Estate Heritage Conservation Area from Cobar Street and Kroombit Street.
Ensure future development along Cobar Street does not dominate or overlook dwellings in Elizabeth Avenue or Dixson Avenue, and improves the interface with those streets by rectifying or minimising existing amenity impacts.
Provide vehicle access for any new multi-dwelling housing along Old Canterbury Road from Edward Lane wherever feasible.
Retain and maintain Johnson Park and its significant trees.
Retain and improve pedestrian pathways between Windsor Road and Johnson Park.
Remove older-style garages located forward of the front building line in Hampstead Road.
Enable subdivision and dwelling construction at 14-22 Dulwich Street, subject to:
- a)New dwellings fronting Lewisham Street; and
- b)Removal of garages on the Lewisham Street frontage
- c)Retain the existing single storey form of the front elevations of 2-10 Blairgowrie Street, 12-16 Blairgowrie Street and 26-32 Fairmont Street.
Site specific controls apply to the precinct identified in the following list and Figure 4.9.1 below.
- Grove Street Precinct applies to the land marked as 'A'
- Dulwich Hill Station applies to the land marked as 'B'
- Dulwich Hill Village applies to the land marked as 'C'
- Williams Parade Precinct applies to the land marked as 'D'
Site specific objectives and controls for following Precincts can be found elsewhere in the DCP:
- Marrickville Road West marked as 'F' – Part 4.16 – Marrickville Neighbourhood
Objectives
To facilitate development that is consistent with the desired future character of the Grove Street site.
To enable orderly redevelopment through appropriate lot amalgamation and subdivision patterns.
To establish a built form that reflects the intended heights, setbacks, articulation and building envelope controls identified in the precinct diagrams.
To ensure building orientation, separation and depth support high levels of solar access, daylight, privacy and amenity for residents and adjoining properties.
To deliver an active, permeable and well-connected ground plane with clearly defined active frontages, pedestrian links, public domain areas and sensitively located vehicular access.
Controls
Amalgamate lots as shown in Figure 4.9.2 to facilitate redevelopment.
The maximum number of storeys permitted is specified in Figures 4.9.3.
Boundary setbacks are to conform to the setbacks specified in Figures 4.9.3. All setback dimensions are expressed in metres.
The siting, orientation, depth, and separation of buildings are to conform to the control diagrams in Figures 4.9.3 and 4.9.4. All dimensions are expressed in metres.
Setback upper floor levels and roof (including any open pergolas) in accordance with the control diagrams in Figures 4.9.3.
Design the building envelope to predominantly express a street-fronting building edge, with shallow articulations adding visual richness where a street/shallow articulation zone is indicated in Figures 4.9.4
Deep articulations may be incorporated into the building form to break up building mass where a courtyard/deep articulation zone is identified in Figure 4.9.4.
Note: Where there is any inconsistency between the plan diagram and the section diagrams, the plan diagram prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.
Objectives
To ensure the new built form responds appropriately to the desired future streetscape and contributes positively to the public realm surrounding Dulwich Hill Station.
To increase neighbourhood connectivity by delivering new pedestrian and cycling links and improving active transport connections across the precinct.
To enable additional development capacity on the 45–71 Hercules Street key site only where proposals deliver the required public benefits, including new open space along the GreenWay Corridor and the extension of Hercules Lane.
To facilitate the future amalgamation and redevelopment of sites directly north of Dulwich Hill Station to provide larger floor plates that can support an expanded range of retail and commercial uses for the local community.
To ensure redevelopment delivers a coordinated precinct outcome that integrates required public benefits, including through-site pedestrian links, land dedications, public open space, and improvements to the GreenWay and Hercules Lane.
Controls
Apply the built form controls in Figures 4.9.5 and 4.9.6. Where inconsistencies occur, the built form controls in this section prevail.
Note: For 45–71 Hercules Street (Key Site), refer to the site-specific subsection below.
Provide a publicly accessible through-site link (to Council's satisfaction) when the site is redeveloped, as shown in Table 4.9.1.
Table 4.9.1. Potential through-site link for active transport
| Addresses | Through site-link purpose | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| New connection at 23-27 Terrace Road, 48-52 Hercules Street | Potential active transport connection | 6m width |
| New connection at 80-84 Hercules Street and 55-59 Terrace Road | Potential active transport connection | 6m width |
| Expansion of Pilgrim Ave laneway at 8-9 Pilgrim Ave and 276-278 Wardell Road, Marrickville | Potential active transport connection | 6m width |
| New connection between Bayley Street and Wicks Avenue (18-20 Bayley Street, Marrickville) | Potential active transport connection | 6m width |
| Active transport link between 19-21 Beauchamp St and 14 Osgood Ave Dulwich Hill | Potential active transport connection | 6m width |
45-71 Hercules Street – Key Site
Note: These lots have been identified as a key site, and the delivery of the listed public benefit is a requisite for the sites to get uplift. The proposed lot amalgamation pattern will result in: the dedication of approximately 1,396sqm for new open space along the GreenWay Corridor; and the dedication of approximately 413sqm for an extension of the Hercules Lane.
Deliver Lot 1, Lot 2 and Lot 3 in the general arrangement shown in Figure 4.9.9 and meet the land dedication requirements in Table 4.9.2 and the built-form controls in Table 4.9.3.
Table 4.9.2. Land dedication controls for 45-71 Hercules Street
| Lot/Address | Lot Area | Public Realm land dedication | FSR (X:1) | Height of Building |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 (45-53 Hercules Street) | 2,910sqm | 1,059sqm | 2.8 | 9 storeys (29.6m) |
| Lot 2 (55-61 Hercules Street) | 2,983sqm | 319sqm | 2.8 | 7 storeys (23.2m) |
| Lot 3 (63-71 Hercules Street) | 3,028sqm | 413sqm | 2.8 | 8 storeys (26.4m) |
Table 4.9.3. Built form controls for 45-71 Hercules Street
| Lot Number | Street setback | Setback to GreenWay | Street Wall | Setback above street wall | Through-Site Link Setback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 and Lot 2 | 3m | 2m (rear/side) | 4 storeys | 3m | - |
| Lot 3 | 3m | 3m | 4 storeys | - | 2m |
Wardell Street (directly north of Dulwich Hill Station)
Amalgamate and develop sites in accordance with Table 4.9.4 and Figure 4.9.10
Table 4.9.4. Setbacks and controls for sites directly north of Dulwich Hill Station
| Setback | Street Wall | Setback above Street Wall | Tower Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0m fronting Wardell Road and Keith Street | 4 storeys | Min. 3m tower setback | 8-10 (max.) storeys |
Note: The cross section shown in Figure 4.9.11 is indicative of the proposed built form
Objectives
To ensure new development responds appropriately to the desired future streetscape and delivers a coherent built form along New Canterbury Road, Marrickville Road and Seaview Street.
To enhance neighbourhood connectivity and public realm quality through new pedestrian and cycling links and improved active transport access across the precinct.
To enable a vibrant, mixed-use precinct by requiring public benefits on the Seaview Street car park site, including a public plaza, community facilities, affordable commercial spaces and new active transport connections.
To ensure development on the Seaview Street car park site contributes to high-quality public spaces and supports active ground-floor uses that promote street-level activity and community interaction.
To protect solar access to the school south of the Seaview Street car park by requiring built form that avoids overshadowing.
To establish a landmark built form on the Seaview Street car park site that integrates with the surrounding urban context while accommodating community infrastructure and affordable commercial space.
To deliver sustainable, walkable and well-connected routes through the precinct, including a direct link between Seaview Street and New Canterbury Road that supports safe and convenient movement for pedestrians and cyclists.
Controls
Apply the built form controls in Figures 4.9.13 and 4.9.14. If inconsistencies occur, the built form controls in this section prevail.
Note: For 14–32 Seaview Street and 374–376 New Canterbury Road (Key Site – Seaview Street Car Park), refer to the site-specific subsection below.
Provide a publicly accessible through-site link (to Council's satisfaction) when the site is redeveloped, as shown in Table 4.9.5
Table 4.9.5. Potential through-site link for active transport
| Addresses | Through site-link purpose | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| New connection between New Canterbury Road at 525-527 New Canterbury Road, 225-227 Denison Road, 209 Denison Road and/or 147 Constitution Road | Potential active transport connection | 6m width |
| New connection between Constitution Road and Dulwich Street at 110-112 Constitution Road and 15/15A, 17-19 Dulwich Street | Potential active transport connection | 6m width |
Note: The cross sections shown in Figure 4.9.15 and Figure 4.9.16 are indicative only
Design the redevelopment of 554 – 570 Marrickville Road, 412 – 418 New Canterbury Road and 1 Loftus Street, Dulwich Hill (also known as Loftus Street car park) in accordance with the site specific controls in Figure 4.9.17.
14-32 Seaview Street and 374-376 New Canterbury Road – Key Site (Seaview Street car park)
Provide the following public domain elements as a prerequisite for uplift:
- a)Deliver a publicly accessible plaza of at least 2,000 sqm, capable of supporting community gatherings and events (commercial floorspace may be located wholly below the plaza)
- b)Deliver a minimum 3,200 sqm community facility that includes affordable commercial space, not-for-profit tenancies, and a district-level hub (this floorspace may be distributed across multiple levels or buildings)
- c)Deliver two dedicated active-mode links (pedestrian and cycling) between Seaview Street and New Canterbury Road, aligned with the network shown in Figure 4.9.18
- d)Set buildings back sufficiently to provide a vehicle access and service lane circulating the key site, consistent with Figure 4.9.18
Deliver Lot 1 and Lot 2 in the arrangement shown in Figure 4.9.18 and comply with the lot details in Table 4.9.6 and Table 4.9.7, and the setback requirements in Table 4.9.8.
Table 4.9.6. Lot 1 arrangements
| Lot Area | FSR | Public Plaza Dedication (Minimum) | Community Function (Minimum) | Maximum Building Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,385sqm | 3.5:1 | 2,000sqm | 3,200sqm | 14 storeys |
Table 4.9.7. Lot 2 arrangements
| Lot Area | FSR | Height of Building |
|---|---|---|
| 331sqm | 3.0:1 | 6 storeys |
Table 4.9.8. Seaview Street Setbacks
| Setback | Street Wall | Above Street Wall |
|---|---|---|
| 3m | 4 storey | 3m |
Design ground floors for active uses, such as retail, hospitality, or community services, to promote street-level activity and interaction.
Objectives
To ensure new development responds appropriately to the desired future streetscape and delivers a cohesive built form consistent with the precinct's setbacks, street wall heights and envelope controls.
Controls
Apply the built form controls in Figure 4.9.19 and Figure 4.9.20. If any inconsistencies occur, the built form controls in this section prevail.
This section contains objectives and controls that apply to the Heritage Conservation Area listed below and shown in Figure 4.9.22.
- Dulwich Hill Commercial Precinct Heritage Conservation Area apply to the land listed as C49
- Hoskins Park and Environs Heritage Conservation Area apply to the land listed as C50
- The Abergeldie Estate Heritage Conservation Area apply to the land listed as C51
- South Dulwich Hill Heritage Conservation Area apply to the land listed as C107
The objectives and controls for the following Heritage Conservation Areas can be found elsewhere in this DCP:
- Lewisham Estate HCA (C61) – Part 4.14 - Lewisham Neighbourhood
The Dulwich Hill Commercial Precinct Heritage Conservation Area is of local aesthetic and historic significance as a largely intact retail centre developed between 1890 and 1938. Its growth reflects the major transport improvements that shaped Dulwich Hill, including the extension of the tramline along Marrickville Road in 1889, the further tram extension in 1913, and the opening of Dulwich Hill rail station in 1895. The area retains representative shopfront forms, parapeted rooflines, intact upper-storey facades, and notable examples of Inter-War residential flat buildings, demonstrating the evolution of suburban retailing over five decades. The undulating alignment of New Canterbury Road provides a sequence of changing views, while the curved street wall and surviving 1920s white-way lighting contribute to a distinctive and cohesive streetscape character. Collectively, these elements express the precinct's historic role as a community hub and its enduring social and aesthetic value.
Key Features:
- Intact late 19th- and early 20th-century commercial streetscape with parapeted rooflines and recessed shopfront forms.
- Built evidence of transport-driven retail growth associated with tramline extensions (1889, 1913) and the railway station (1895).
- Regular pattern of narrow shopfront bays reflecting the underlying subdivision.
- Upper levels used for commercial and residential purposes, maintaining traditional shopping strip typology.
- Surviving 1920s white-way hanging lights beneath awnings, forming a distinctive unifying element.
- Rows, pairs, and groups of shops displaying strong architectural character, including the simple but aesthetically important row of angled hoods over the upper level windows on the northern side of Marrickville Road.
- Curved street wall following New Canterbury Road, creating a well-defined and aesthetically prominent skyline.
- Views to the skyline above the line of parapets contribute strongly to the aesthetic values of the precinct.
- Evolving vistas created by the undulating topography and the termination of Marrickville Road activity at the former tram terminus.
Objectives
To facilitate development that is consistent with the statement of significance and controls for Dulwich Hill Commercial Precinct Heritage Conservation Area.
Controls
Note: These controls apply in addition to the general heritage provisions in Section 2.12 of this DCP. Applicants are to address both the general heritage controls and the locality-specific controls below.
Retain the following elements that define the heritage significance of the area:
- a)All pre-1941 buildings
- b)Commercial character demonstrated through the single and two storey 19th century and Federation period retail typologies
- c)Intricate skyline views above early decorative parapets
- d)High urban density, winding road and attached shopfronts with consistent parapet creating an intimate and high-quality streetscape
The Hoskins Park & Environs Heritage Conservation Area is of local historical and aesthetic significance as an intact example of early twentieth-century suburban consolidation in Dulwich Hill. Its development was shaped by the construction of the Wardell Road–Darling Island Railway Line and the establishment of Hoskins Park, placed on separate title in 1911. The unusual alignment of Davis Street provides direct evidence of the railway's impact on the subdivision pattern and the physical form of the locality. The character of the area derives from its combination of mature parkland, early subdivision, modest Victorian dwellings and Federation and Inter-War bungalows, together with its strong visual relationship between the park and surrounding housing. Hoskins Park itself is representative of public parks established by the former Municipality of Petersham in the early twentieth century and contributes significantly to the amenity and identity of the precinct.
Key Features:
- Subdivision pattern reflecting the influence of the Wardell Road–Darling Island railway corridor.
- Relationship between Hoskins Park and the residential streets surrounding it, including key view lines.
- Consistent single-storey built form with generally uniform setbacks allowing for small front gardens.
- Mix of Victorian cottages, Federation bungalows and Inter-War Californian bungalows demonstrating staged residential development.
- Strong streetscape cohesion created by rhythm, scale, roof forms and materials despite some later alterations.
- Residential development patterns: Northern side of Davis Street predominantly nineteenth century; Southern side of Davis Street early twentieth century, built on residual land between the park and Denison Street; Pigott Street housing dating from early twentieth century to c.1910–1935
- Original detailing surviving on many dwellings, including intact or substantially intact facades.
- Roof forms, building heights and finishes generally appropriate to dwelling typologies and periods.
- Low face-brick fences, with some rendered, painted or timber picket alternatives.
- Mature tree planting within Hoskins Park, especially along the southern edge adjoining Pigott Street.
- Ongoing visual connection to the former Waratah Flour Mills site across the railway line.
Objectives
To facilitate development that is consistent with the statement of significance and controls for the Hoskins Park and Environs Heritage Conservation Area.
Controls
Note: These controls apply in addition to the general heritage provisions in Section 2.12 of this DCP. Applicants are to address both the general heritage controls and the locality-specific controls below.
Retain the following elements that define the heritage significance:
- a)All pre-1936 buildings
- b)Residential character demonstrated through the consistency of the bungalow typology (Federation and Californian (Sydney) variants)
The Abergeldie Estate Heritage Conservation Area is of local significance as a cohesive late 1920s–1930s suburban subdivision created from the former Abergeldie House estate, auctioned in 1928. Early development was driven by builder-developers such as Thomas B. Lumb, Sydney H. Brightman, Oswald Addis and the Jones Brothers, whose investments were affected by the Depression, shaping two distinct phases of housing: traditional 1928–1929 bungalows and later 1933–1937 dwellings with restrained Art Deco, Moderne, Neo-Georgian and English Norman influences. Despite the individuality of each house, consistent scale, setbacks, materials and roof forms give the Estate a unified and largely intact suburban character.
Key Features:
- Original single-storey, free-standing houses on medium allotments
- Two main development phases: 1928–1929: traditional bungalows; 1933–1937: dwellings with modest stylistic influences (Art Deco, Moderne, Neo-Georgian, English Norman)
- Cohesive scale, form, setbacks and materials across the subdivision
- Rich architectural detailing including varied fencing, verandahs, gable ends, stained glass, joinery, decorative brickwork and tiling
- Strong sense of place derived from the subdivision of the former Abergeldie House estate
Objectives
To facilitate development that is consistent with the statement of significance and controls for The Abergeldie Estate Heritage Conservation Area.
Controls
Note: These controls apply in addition to the general heritage provisions in Section 2.12 of this DCP. Applicants are to address both the general heritage controls and the locality-specific controls below.
Retain all pre-1938 buildings.
The South Dulwich Hill Heritage Conservation Area is of local historical and aesthetic significance as a Federation-period suburb formed through a series of c.1910 subdivisions around Wardell Road rail station (opened 1895). It contains some of Dulwich Hill's finest Federation bungalows, many retaining original timber joinery, window hoods, gable and verandah detailing, along with notable Iron Palisade fencing, particularly in Cannonbury Grove. The area's character derives from its consistent subdivision pattern, setbacks, roof forms, materials and mature garden spaces, and from locally distinctive variations of the Federation bungalow typology featuring low ridgelines parallel to the street. The HCA also includes relatively intact early 20th-century shops along Wardell Road and representative Inter-War residential flat buildings, reflecting the suburb's transition from dense urban settlement to a detached suburban landscape.
Key Features:
- Federation and Inter-War bungalows on consistent lot patterns expressing early 20th-century suburban ideals
- Locally distinctive Federation bungalow variation with low ridgeline parallel to the street
- Strong streetscape cohesion created by uniform setbacks, single-storey built forms, materials and roof volumes
- High level of surviving detailing including timber joinery, window hoods, gable and verandah treatments
- Iron Palisade fencing, particularly in Cannonbury Grove
- Representative Inter-War residential flat buildings
- Early 20th-century commercial buildings along Wardell Road
- Groups of houses built to a pattern, showing subtle variations in detailing that reflect speculative development
- Street planting including Brush Box (Cannonbury Grove) and Ficus (Margaret Street)
- Depression-era brick paving
- Asymmetrical siting of later houses allowing side driveways, reflecting the rise of car use, while earlier centrally placed dwellings retain no side access
Objectives
To facilitate development that is consistent with the statement of significance and controls for South Dulwich Hill Heritage Conservation Area.
Controls
Note: These controls apply in addition to the general heritage provisions in Section 2.12 of this DCP. Applicants are to address both the general heritage controls and the locality-specific controls below.
Retain the following elements that define the heritage significance:
- a)All pre-1921 buildings
- b)Residential character demonstrated through the consistency of the simple form yet well detailed Federation bungalow typology
- c)Significant local variation on the standard bungalow form (with low ridge parallel to the road alignment)
- d)Street tree plantings (Brush Box and Ficus)
- e)Asymmetrical placement of houses on lots to allow a side driveway