Victoria Cross, a new city block transforming the heart of North Sydney CBD and located directly above the new Sydney Metro Victoria Cross Station, has had its first wave of retailers open their doors, in line with the Sydney Metro City launch.
The new Victoria Cross Station will directly connect to a concourse leading to Denison Street with ten retailers providing convenient ‘grab and go’ offers and essentials, along with another five hospitality venues in the laneway on Miller Street level.
Designed by Bates Smart, Victoria Cross will be one of North Sydney’s most sustainable precincts. All concourse retail tenants will be fully electric in operation, with all power to be purchased from renewable sources. Encouraged to move the dial on sustainability, Victoria Cross retailers must also reduce the carbon emissions from their fitout and operations by at least 20% against similar retail fitout benchmarks.
Retail operators that have opened as part of the first completed stage include: burger icon Mary’s and Inner West favourite Marrickville Pork Roll alongside Only Coffee, Top Impressions Bakery, Sushi Hub, DOPA, North Sandwiches, Torotoro Ramen Bar, Machi Machi and McDonald’s. A further seven retailers will open in 2025, coinciding with the full completion of the Victoria Cross tower next year.
Alexander Frankl, Lendlease Victoria Cross Project Director, said: “Victoria Cross is reimagining the workplace experience, with seamless integration to the new Sydney Metro station, popular hospitality brands, and next-gen health and fitness facilities to come, the precinct is an exciting place to work and visit.
“The calibre of retail and amenities coming to the precinct reflects the ongoing revitalisation of the North Sydney CBD. Just three minutes away from the Sydney CBD thanks to the new Metro, Victoria Cross will be a natural extension of the CBD and offer a new destination for dining and recreation.”
Locals can now settle in at Mary’s first North Shore outpost. Menu highlights include: Mary’s signature grass-fed beef, fried chicken and mushroom burgers; buttermilk fried chicken; and a dedicated vegan menu. Joining forces with celebrated wine purveyor Mike Bennie of P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants, Mary’s has a strong beverage program of Australian and imported natural wines, craft beers, unique artisan spirits and non-alcoholic beverages.
Next to Mary’s, Torotoro Ramen & Tempura Bar, and Koji Grill & Dumplings are packed with Japanese aromatic broths and flavours, as well as Doo Dee Thai for a fix of traditional Thai cuisine.
Marrickville Pork Roll will open with a bang, introducing North Sydney to the Inner West favourite. Additional retailer offers include $3 Big Macs and $2 Cheeseburgers at McDonalds, in-store giveaways at Sushi Hub and Top Impressions Bakery offering free specials to early visitors.
Two Good Co, a social enterprise that supports, empowers and employs women who have experienced homelessness, domestic violence and complex traumas, will also operate a coffee cart with 50% of proceeds reinvested into their social impact programs. Located on Miller Street near the entrance to the Metro, coffee will be supplied by Single O, as well as pastries from Redfern’s neighbourhood bakery, Breadfern.
As part of the first phase of retailer openings, Nails Avenue and florist Rose & Co will also provide locals and commuters with convenient beauty and gifting options.
The first wave of retailers follows the recent announcement that premier health and wellness facility One Playground will join the precinct in mid-2025. The fitness facility will feature five studios across reformer Pilates, spin, HIIT and strength studios, a motion studio for dance and barre, and a studio for yoga and breathwork. A full level dedicated to strength and conditioning, as well as a recovery area complete with a plunge pool, recovery lounge and infrared saunas will also be available.
Lendlease’s development of Victoria Cross represents a once in a generation transformation of an entire CBD block in the heart of North Sydney. The development underpins the ‘North Sydney Vision 2040’ Community Strategic Plan that identifies the need for additional public domain, green space, pedestrianised laneways and quality amenities to support the growth in workers and residents over the coming decades.
