Welcome home: Moving into Midtown MacPark

Opening the door to your new home is an unforgettable experience. Especially for those who have been searching for a sense of home for a while.

Midtown MacPark is a vibrant new urban community in Sydney’s northern suburb of Macquarie Park. The development includes a mix of housing types – social, affordable and market rate, and brings together residents in a new and inspiring community.

What is affordable and social housing?

Affordable housing is for people on low to moderate incomes. Rent is based on household income or on the average market price in the area. Social housing is designed for people on very low incomes. Rent is set at 25-30% of a household’s income.

Affordable and social housing is provided by both governments and not-for-profit community housing providers.

Mission Australia is calling on governments for greater investment to build one million new social and affordable homes over the next 20 years to ensure current and future demand for an affordable and a safe place to call home is achieved.

Creating a sense of community is at the heart of the Midtown development. Together with Frasers Property Australia, Homes NSW and friends of Midtown, we’re creating a neighbourhood that is open, inclusive and highly connected – a place where every person has the opportunity to thrive.

At Midtown, we apply a ‘Housing First’ approach. This means in addition to safe, secure housing that people can afford, Mission Australia also provides professional, holistic and person-centred support they need to stay in their home and thrive.

With Mission Australia staff onsite to assist support services and programs to strengthen the local community alongside Frasers Property’s Community Development team, residents will be able to engage with our range of housing and support services, get involved in tenant-led activities, and have easy access to education, transport, jobs and services in the area.

When people and families on low to moderate incomes have safe, secure and affordable homes like these, and access to the supports and amenities they need, they can focus on their wellbeing and on pursuing work, education and personal opportunities. 

“Perhaps one of the unique things about Midtown is the activity, both on-site and off-site,” says Rachelle Elphick from Mission Australia.

“There is so much happening from dawn to dusk, that it brings a sense of being a part of a story and ownership and belonging, almost as if everyone, is doing their thing but so interconnected. Rachelle

At Midtown, we apply a ‘Housing First’ approach. This means in addition to safe, secure housing that people can afford, Mission Australia also provides professional, holistic and person-centred support they need to stay in their home and thrive.

With Mission Australia staff onsite to assist support services and programs to strengthen the local community alongside Frasers Property’s Community Development team, residents will be able to engage with our range of housing and support services, get involved in tenant-led activities, and have easy access to education, transport, jobs and services in the area.

When people and families on low to moderate incomes have safe, secure and affordable homes like these, and access to the supports and amenities they need, they can focus on their wellbeing and on pursuing work, education and personal opportunities. 

When Amber, 24, first learned about Midtown MacPark through her Mission Australia caseworker, the opportunity to find an affordable home sounded too good to be true.

“When I got the phone call saying I could move in, it didn’t feel real,” says Amber, who had spent months looking for adequate accommodation.

“Midtown has offered a home. It’s what life should be like...affordable. You don't have to share a ridiculously small space with other people or live in an overcrowded share house,” she says.

“My situation would be dire without Midtown. I don’t have family or friends and can’t afford market rent. There’s a lot of anxiety around that so Midtown is an absolute blessing. Amber

Moving into a one-bedroom unit, Amber has enjoyed meeting other residents and interacting with the onsite Mission Australia staff.

“I love the location. There’s a park around the corner, a community garden with fresh herbs."

For Amber, finally having her own space – to cook, live with her cat and store her belongings – has provided stability and security.

“Midtown is home. It’s safe, calm, beautiful and secure."

Tanya, a resident at Midtown MacPark, says moving into her new home has provided hope for her future.

"The closer I got to the process of moving in, the more excited I got," says Tanya.

“I could see that this was a real future for me. Tanya

The planning and development of Midtown MacPark has been underway since its announcement in 2017. Formerly known as the Ivanhoe Estate, a public housing development, the first stage of the Midtown development includes:

• Four buildings around a common courtyard including;
• 259 social and 130 affordable units.
• Around 35 residents from the former Ivanhoe Estate public housing development are returning to their new homes.

Once completed, the Midtown MacPark project will deliver an integrated, inclusive and vibrant community of more than 3,000 apartments, including 954 social and 130 affordable homes over 10 years. The masterplan is based on the world’s best urban planning guidelines and will provide a better housing experience for all residents.

The development is led by Homes NSW, alongside Mission Australia and Frasers Property Australia. As a Tier One Community Housing Provider, Mission Australia Housing will be managing the social and affordable housing units and supporting community development initiatives.

* Names have been changed to protect the identity of those we help.