Abadeen Plans 100 New Homes at Mosman's Former Honeysuckle Garden Site

Abadeen, the Lower North Shore’s most active and prominent residential developer, together with investment partner Phoenix Property Investors, has lodged a State Significant Development Application to transform the former Honeysuckle Garden and Midas site on Military Road into 100 premium new homes.

With an estimated completed value of $230 million, the proposed development will transform the former Honeysuckle Garden and Midas site into a landmark mixed-use residential community comprising 100 premium residences, activated ground-floor retail and a resort-style rooftop wellness and recreation precinct designed to become one of the Lower North Shore’s most exceptional resident amenities.

The proposal has been carefully designed to respond to the site’s varied street frontages and surrounding neighbourhood. The building comprises predominantly five and nine storeys, steppingdown towards Hale Road to reduce its visual impact, with the tenth level rooftop
wellness facilities rather than residential apartments. This built form remains below the 12-storey outcome identified through Mosman Council’s recently endorsed Masterplan process, demonstrating a considered approach to delivering much-needed housing while respecting the site’s context and neighbouring properties.

Designed by leading Australian practice DKO Architecture, under the direction of Senior Associate Matthew Ritchard, the proposal has been conceived as a contemporary response to Mosman’s unique landscape, history and community.

Occupying a prominent position on Military Road between Cremorne and Mosman villages, the site is close to boutique retail, acclaimed dining, harbour beaches, leading schools and excellent public transport connections. Upper-level residences would enjoy panoramic views stretching north across Middle Harbour, south to the Sydney CBD skyline, east to Balmoral and Sydney Heads, and west across the Lower North Shore.

Abadeen Executive Chairman Justin Brown said the project represented an opportunity to deliver a new generation of homes for Mosman that responded to changing buyer needs while remaining respectful of the suburb’s established character.

“This is one of the most significant sites to come to market on the Lower North Shore in many years,” Brown says.

“The apartments have been designed as genuine long-term homes, with efficient floor plans that maximise usable living areas, generous internal storage, strong natural light and practical connections between internal and external spaces. A diverse range of apartment sizes and configurations provide greater housing choice for individuals, couples, families and local downsizers.

“The focus has been on creating homes that caters for a broad range of buyers, from young professionals purchasing their first home, to couples establishing themselves, growing families and local downsizers who want to remain in Mosman.”

There is very little left of the century-old Pittwater shack Marcus Blackmore and Caroline Furlong bought for $5.7 million just over three years ago.

The vitamin industry heavyweight and his wife have returned 1808 Pittwater Road, Bayview to the market, but what buyers will find today is considerably different from the modest waterfront cottage that Blackmore and Furlong bought in August 2023.

The couple bought the tightly held property, long known locally as The Shack, after it had remained with the same family since the 1930s.

The timing of the purchase was particularly notable. It came immediately after Japanese brewing giant Kirin’s $1.9 billion takeover of Blackmores was announced, a deal which resulted in an $11.6 million dividend for Blackmore as a major shareholder of the company founded by his father, Maurice Blackmore.

It ended almost a century of ownership by the family of local teacher Neville Moodie.

The original three-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage sat almost on the water, with lawns running to Pittwater and a timber boathouse at the shoreline. Its appeal was less about the house itself and more about a rare north-facing position overlooking Scotland Island and a location where waterfront holdings are seldom offered for sale.

Three years on, Blackmore and Furlong have completely reimagined the site. Walter Barda Design was commissioned to design a new split-level residence, delivered by Touchstone Construction Group, that takes full advantage of the relatively compact waterfront parcel and its prized northern orientation.

The resulting home is unmistakably contemporary, with curved architectural forms, natural limestone and timber flooring, extensive glazing and reinforced concrete construction wrapped in external timber cladding.

The main living level opens directly to a north-facing terrace and waterfront lawn, while the kitchen centres around a substantial island bench with Miele appliances and a butler’s pantry.

The main bedroom has been designed almost as a private suite within the home, with two walk-in wardrobes, two ensuites and its own balcony. Two further bedrooms each have an ensuite, while the waterfront boathouse has been designed as a multipurpose space with its own bathroom, giving it the flexibility to operate as additional accommodation.

Perhaps the most impressive addition sits above it all.

The top floor combines a home office with an outdoor kitchen and rooftop entertaining terrace, complete with a spa and elevated views across Pittwater towards Scotland Island.

An internal lift connects the home’s levels, while underfloor heating, home automation, solar, ducted air conditioning, an EV charger and an internal-access double garage bring the original Pittwater weekender firmly into the 21st century.

A private slipway preserves perhaps the most important feature for a long-time Pittwater resident and accomplished sailor such as Blackmore: direct access to the water.

The project represents the latest chapter in a long-running love affair with Pittwater property for Blackmore.

He spent 25 years on Prince Alfred Parade in Newport after buying the deep waterfront property for $1.31 million in 1995. Blackmore and Furlong extensively renovated the Rowan Stewart-designed home over their ownership before selling it in 2020 for $8.125 million.

By then, they had already secured their next Pittwater address.

In 2016, the couple paid $9.25 million for Sandgate, a Queenslander-style waterfront residence further along Pittwater Road in Bayview, bought from USForex co-founder Matthew Gilmour.

The 1,500 sqm holding subsequently underwent a substantial rebuild, with development documents at the time putting the cost of the new home, swimming pool and jetty at around $3.37 million. It became their principal Bayview residence after the Newport sale.

Property of the Week

Property: 1808 Pittwater Road, Bayview, NSW
Owners: Marcus Blackmore and Caroline Furlong
Agent: Phillip Sheh, Black Diamondz
Price: Contact agent
Purchased: $5.7 million, August 2023
Architect: Walter Barda Design
Builder: Touchstone Construction Group

Abadeen Plans 100 New Homes at Mosman’s Former Honeysuckle Garden Site

Blackmores vitamin mogul Marcus Blackmore and Caroline Furlong have listed their transformed Bayview waterfront, three years after buying the century-old Pittwater cottage known as The Shack.