Sydney’s Soho House back to the drawing board as neighbours baulk
Residents living near the proposed location of Sydney’s Soho House have forced the project’s developers back to the drawing board after complaining that staff would “disturb the peace” by talking too loudly on breaks and guests would knock over bins, attracting people “looking for food”.
Soho House, the New York-listed operator of a string of luxury private members’ clubs in Europe and North America, had agreed to open a local branch in Sydney’s Darlinghurst in a project to be developed by the Smorgon family, one of Australia’s wealthiest, and the Trenerry Property Group.
The Smorgon family and its development partners want to turn this Darlinghurst building into a local outpost of Soho House. Edwina Pickles
Soho House had already abandoned plans to develop a club in Victoria – transforming the historic Poolman House mansion in South Yarra – after opposition from residents and the City of Melbourne.
But the developers are also facing resistance in Sydney, according to a long list of concerns from residents. The City of Sydney has also requested changes to the plans after assessing the proposal, it said.
In one email, a neighbour of the proposed three-storey development said they were concerned “some residents/visitors will deliberately kick bins over and a lot of people will go through the bins looking for food”. Others were concerned about rats. “I would like to see that the business put proper pest control in place to mitigate rodents being attracted to the area, which is already at unacceptable levels,” read another missive, which also raised concerns staff on their breaks would “disturb the peace” of residents.
Toga Group has also raised issues with the $24.8 million redevelopment. Financed by investment house AsheMorgan, Toga is constructing a new precinct between Oxford Square and Taylor Square that will house croissanterie Lune, software company Dovetail and Sony Music. Toga, in a submission, said Soho House would alter its view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. “Given the orientation of the site ... [it’s] likely to have severe impacts on these iconic views,” Toga said.
Soho House was founded by British millionaire Nick Jones in 1995 at 40 Greek Street in London’s Soho in a series of interconnecting Georgian houses. The investment from the Smorgons is in line with their increased focus on experiential travel and hospitality. The family is also part of a consortium behind the redeveloped InterContinental Sorrento and the forthcoming Six Senses resort and spa in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges.
Private clubs are now big business and have been ballooning in number across the Asia-Pacific region. Soho House already has venues in Hong Kong, Mumbai and Bangkok. Australia is not immune. Property developer Tim Gurner opened a private wellness club, Saint Haven, in Melbourne, earlier this year. There is now a waitlist to be considered for membership. He has plans for more sites in Sydney, the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Soho House’s Sydney outpost is not included in a list published by the New York-listed company that outlines openings next year. The team behind the development told The Australian Financial Review this month that they were unable to detail a timeline for the project to open.
The Sydney club, according to the lodged plans, would include a spa, gym, cabaret, lounge, bar and restaurant.
But not all residents who have raised concerns are against the development. Matt McGrath, a marketing executive at Deloitte who lives nearby, said he hoped the development would usher in a “great new era for Darlinghurst”. “This isn’t about ‘not in my backyard’, it’s about how to make it as good as possible,” he told AFR Weekend.
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