There is a particular stretch of the Parramatta River that most Sydneysiders have driven past countless times without ever realising what lies beyond. Tucked behind Putney's tree-lined streets, and largely hidden from view for decades, 20 Waterview Street was once a working boatyard, a site deeply embedded in Australia’s recreational boating history.
Halvorsen’s. The name still carries weight among those with a connection to the water. For much of the twentieth century, the Halvorsen family built and launched boats from this very site, becoming synonymous with the golden era of Sydney Harbour leisure, cruisers, houseboats, and vessels that introduced generations of Australians to life on the water. When the boatyard eventually closed, the site entered a period of dormancy, remaining untouched while the surrounding area evolved. What has emerged in its place is one of Sydney’s most tightly held and design considered waterfront precincts.
Putney Wharf, conceived by developer partners Abadeen and PERIFA, is not a single building but a complete foreshore precinct. It comprises four bedroom Waterview Terraces with north facing aspects, expansive three bedroom waterfront apartments within The Residences, and the defining address, the Halvorsen Residences, absolute waterfront homes positioned directly on the river’s edge, honouring the heritage of the site they occupy.
The decision to retain the Halvorsen name was deliberate. The project’s vision, as articulated by SJB Director Adam Haddow, was never simply to build on the waterfront, but to create a destination that acknowledges its past while delivering a contemporary residential offering of enduring quality. SJB, one of Australia’s most respected design studios, has responded with architecture that references the site’s maritime character through materiality, proportion and detail, rather than imitation. The result is a built form that feels considered, human in scale and distinctly connected to place.
Landscape architecture by Dangar Barin Smith further reinforces this approach. The grounds read less as a typical development and more as a layered harbourfront landscape, where planting, light and spatial planning create a sense of calm and permanence along the water’s edge.
And then there is the marina. A private 36 berth marina, available with residences or separately, fundamentally shifts how the precinct is experienced. Here, the water is not simply a view, it becomes part of everyday life.
The developer partnership is equally considered. Abadeen brings over 28 years of experience delivering premium residential projects, underpinned by a strong focus on design, liveability and customer outcomes. PERIFA, part of the Versatile Group, contributes a fully integrated development and delivery platform, with a long-standing commitment to quality from conception through to completion. Together, the partnership has delivered a precinct that balances vision, design integrity and execution.
Construction is well underway, with the project progressing towards key structural milestones. Inspections are available Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
For a project of this scale, with absolute waterfront positioning, integrated marina and heritage significance, the opportunity to secure a residence remains limited.
