Sydney’s Hills District is undergoing a major residential transformation, with Norwest emerging as a key hotspot in the region’s apartment boom. Factors such as increasing demand for more affordable housing, ongoing infrastructure projects, and the expansion of local employment opportunities are contributing to the area’s transformation into a thriving urban centre.
Apartments now make up 53.5% of all occupied dwellings in Norwest, overtaking standalone houses (37.6%)1. This shift reflects a broader national trend, with apartment living now the choice of 2.5 million Australians, more than 10.3% of the population, according to the latest Census data2.
In NSW, an estimated 1.28 million people now live in apartments, as affordability constraints and urban planning drive medium-density growth in key lifestyle precincts like Norwest.3
New data from Urbis4, released this month, identifies Norwest as a standout in Greater Western Sydney, both for liveability and investment performance.
Between 2022 and 2025, the Norwest area experienced positive rental growth for apartments at 8.8% per annum, while the prices of apartments increased 2.2% per annum over the same period. Over the year to March 2025 unit yields ranged between 4.0% and 4.6% while house yields remained at around 3.0%. Investor confidence is rebounding post-pandemic as rental demand drives returns and occupancy5.
Over the past decade, Norwest house prices have soared by 77%, reaching nearly $2 million in 2025, while apartment prices increased by 34%. This widening gap, now over $1 million, is pushing more buyers toward apartments as affordability pressures mount across Sydney.6
This significant difference highlights the value equation for apartments which are not only more affordable than houses in Norwest, but also 18% cheaper than apartments in Chatswood.7 “We’re seeing sustained demand from both owner-occupiers and investors,” said Andrew Nichols, Director NSW Development at Mulpha, parent developer of Norwest Business Park.
“Apartments are no longer considered a compromise or a stepping stone into the housing market. For many, they are now the first and preferred choice.”
“Apartment living now represents a smart lifestyle and financial decision,” Andrew Nichols said. “We are seeing not just empty-nesters and young adults, but also families who are making the decision to live in an apartment.
The Urbis Norwest Market Outlook Report projects the area, comprising Norwest, Bella Vista and Baulkham Hills, will welcome 5,600 new residents by 2040, with growth driven by strong overseas migration, increased job opportunities and major infrastructure investment8.
Key infrastructure drivers include:
- North West Metro ($7.4 billion) between Rouse Hill and the Sydney CBD via Norwest, connecting Norwest to Wynyard in just 40 minutes.
- Norwest Marketown precinct – slated for a $3billion redevelopment (post 2030)
- Rouse Hill Hospital ($700 million) – estimated completion 2029
- Dancers Square Norwest ($500 million) – estimated completion 2030
- New Western Sydney Airport ($20 billion) – estimated completion in late 2026
Norwest Business Park, the local economic engine, currently supports 37,500 jobs and is projected to add nearly 10,000 more by 20419.
Leading the housing transformation is Norwest Quarter, a landmark new development by Mulpha. Current plans anticipate 864 apartments across eight residential towers, with housing for more than 2,000 residents and 70% of the 3.8-hectare site reserved for open green space, 6,000m² of lifestyle amenities including cafes, restaurants, neighbourhood shops and other essential services10.
Andrew Nichols said Norwest is transforming into a dynamic metropolitan hub where more people are embracing the convenience and lifestyle of quality apartment living, well-connected to transport, employment hubs, and essential services.
“People are increasingly stepping away from the time, cost, and maintenance of traditional homes,” Andrew Nichols said. “They want smart, low-maintenance living that doesn’t compromise on lifestyle, walkable neighbourhoods, access to quality schools, green spaces, and vibrant town centres.”
Retired police officer Gary Palmer and his partner Frances are among the many making the switch, downsizing from a large 5-bedroom family home in Castle Hill to a spacious two-bedroom apartment in Norwest Quarter.
While the Hills has always been home for the couple, the rapid development in Castle Hill around the new Metro Line, paired with the upkeep of a house, garden, and pool, had them rethinking what home really meant.
As retirement approached, the couple explored their options, from the Central Coast to the Blue Mountains, but nowhere felt quite right. “We realised we didn’t want to leave the Hills,” Gary said. “This is where life happens for us.” Still unsure about apartment living, everything changed when friends invited them to dinner in an apartment development overlooking Norwest Lake. The moment they stepped out of the lift and saw the floor-to-ceiling glass and sweeping views to the Blue Mountains from the 17th floor, their doubts vanished.
The idea of a low-maintenance, secure, and lock-up-and-leave lifestyle began to take hold, especially with Frances’ family living in Scotland. Freedom to travel, without worrying about a pool filter or garden, was a major drawcard.
When they visited the fully furnished display apartment at Banksia in Norwest Quarter, they were blown away. “The quality of the finishes, the appliances, the bathrooms, and the layout, everything felt high-end,” Gary said.
Their new apartment on level 20 offers privacy, uninterrupted views over Castle Hill Country Club.
The couple is excited to settle into their apartment, which is anticipated in Spring 2025. Gary will continue to run his karate studio in Baulkham Hills, while Frances looks forward to joining the golf club as a social member. Together, they’re excited to use the on-site gym and pool, and dine at nearby restaurants around Norwest Lake. Most of all, they’re eager to build new connections with like-minded neighbours.
“It was the quality, the security, and that amazing view,” Gary said. “And knowing we can just lock up and head to Scotland for a few months at a time. That sealed it for us.”
1 Build Sydney website – The statistic that “apartments now make up 53.5% of all occupied dwellings in Norwest, overtaking standalone houses (37.6%)” is sourced from Build Sydney’s data on the suburb of Norwest. According to Build Sydney, Norwest has a total of 1,780 occupied dwellings, with 952 being flats or apartments (53.5%) and 670 being separate houses (37.6%).
2 Australian Bureau of Statistics
3 a conservative estimate derived from the 2021 Australian Census combined with land‑titles data on strata schemes.
4 Urbis Market Outlook Norwest 2025 (references to Norwest in the Urbis Report 2025 include the suburbs of Norwest, Bella Vista and Baulkham Hills).
5 Pricefinder, Urbis (see Urbis Report)
6 Pricefinder, Urbis (see Urbis Report)
7 Pricefinder, Urbis (see Urbis Report)
8 ABS, DPE, Urbis
9 TNSW2024, Urbis
10 Based on current planning approvals
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