Royal Far West’s Aurora residential development has reached its tallest point, with global contractor Multiplex ‘Topping Out’ the waterfront apartments in Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Once complete, Aurora will deliver 58 luxury homes, with sale proceeds supporting stronger health outcomes for rural children and their families.
Located at 19-21 South Steyne, Aurora is designed by world-renowned architects Glenn Murcutt AO and Angelo Candalepas. The development will deliver one, two and three‑bedroom apartments and penthouses across three buildings of two, five and eight storeys on a 6,398 square metre site.
Now standing at its highest point, Aurora forms part of the broader Royal Far West Neighbourhood, a mixed-use precinct featuring public retail, commercial and lifestyle spaces, along with 20 rooms of revitalised accommodation for visiting Royal Far West children and their families.
An on-site Topping Out event today marked the milestone, attended by Federal Member for Warringah Zali Steggall and Mayor of Northern Beaches Council Sue Heins. Also in attendance were Royal Far West’s Board Chair Joan Treweeke OAM and CEO Dr Briony Scott, ANZ partners, Lighthouse Project Group, and Multiplex’s project team.
“Royal Far West is immensely proud and excited to see the Aurora residential development reach its tallest point – a significant event that reflects the skill and dedication behind this complex project. This development strengthens Royal Far West’s long‑term capacity to deliver vital paediatric health services to country children and their families, underscoring our enduring commitment to ensuring every country child can access the care they need, no matter where they live,” said Royal Far West Board Chair, Joan Treweeke, OAM, LLB.
“We’re proud to reach this milestone for Royal Far West, delivering premium residences, new accommodation and facilities for Royal Far West’s community that will help improve access to vital health services for country children. It reflects our ability to safely deliver a complex project in a live, coastal environment. We look forward to contributing to a lasting legacy that will support rural families for decades to come,” said Mr Patrick Murphy, Regional Director for Multiplex.
The sale of Aurora’s luxury apartments will allow Royal Far West to sustainably expand its operations and continue providing paediatric and allied health services to country kids. The premium residences will offer elegant interiors and ocean views, with communal rooftop amenity and private resident entry from South Steyne.
The project has required detailed staging and coordination, with Multiplex delivering works while Royal Far West remains fully operational – a level of complexity compounded by the site’s coastal conditions.
The topping out of the project marks a major construction milestone, following the placement of more than 13,000 cubic metres of concrete and the installation of over 270 precast panels. The buildings are distinguished by an extensive use of off‑form concrete, incorporating complex geometries and three striking cantilevered stepped forms along the eastern façade.
A key engineering challenge has been the construction of a hydrostatic basement on the high-water-table site. Multiplex installed 14 deep dewatering wells, removing more than 922 megalitres of water over 329 days – equivalent to approximately 369 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Water levels were temporarily reduced to at least two metres below the basement excavation level, enabling safe and efficient construction.
Aurora’s facade also integrates a glass reinforced concrete (GRC) system with a mix of load bearing and non load bearing precast concrete panels, glazed ceramic tiles and architectural feature windows. The façade has required careful detailing to accommodate the building’s tilted window design and architectural geometry. Through close collaboration with designers, subcontractors and stakeholders, the team also delivered multiple full-scale prototypes.
The next stages of construction will include completion of the facade, finalising fit out and landscaping. The broader Royal Far West Neighbourhood project is scheduled for completion in Q4 2026.
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