Rowe Group

Sometimes it’s not all about theory and desktop research, with the Rowe Group Planning Team stepping away from their desks a few weeks ago for a study tour across several of our current and past project sites. Our “Bricks, Brews & Brand New Views” study tour was all under the motto of land transition, taking a journey through time, place, and urban transformation; giving us the opportunity to experience firsthand how projects evolve on the ground and how planning influences and shapes cities through decades.

The study tour began with a morning in Nedlands where we visited the Captain Stirling Hotel redevelopment. The site is currently a full-scale construction site, with the heritage listed Captain Stirling Hotel set to be the future centrepiece of the Nedlands Square, which once completed will emerge into a new community, dining and retail hub for the Nedlands Town Centre. The Team at Atlas Building took us through both the new development and the heritage hotel, telling us about their involvement and how the Captain Stirling Hotel is set to be carefully retained and restored, celebrating its history while integrating it into the contemporary design.

From there, we travelled to North Fremantle to explore the former Matilda Bay Co. building. Rowe Group has had a lot of involvement with this site over the years, however touring the former warehouse space and viewing the original brewing tanks offered a unique perspective on the site’s character and future potential.

Continuing through North Fremantle, we took the opportunity to discuss the Future of Fremantle plan and our ongoing involvement in shaping outcomes for the precinct.

After a quick pit-stop at the Raffles Hotel, for which Rowe Group obtained an award in 2010 from PIA for one of the “most challenging” planning approvals; we visited the Rivière Residences in Applecross, where we were guided through the recently completed apartments by Edge Visionary Living and a guest speaker from the City of Melville. It was of particular interest to Rowe Group get some insights into the Community Benefit Framework and how this has assisted with shaping Perth’s fastest evolving precinct.

We also took time to walk through the Canning Bridge Activity Centre area generally to reflect on the significant transformation of the area over time.

Overall, it was not only a day to explore and step into history, but also highly insightful in highlighting the breadth and depth of our work, as well as the different stages of the planning and development process.

A big thank you to Atlas Building, 3Oceans Property, Edge Visionary Living and the City of Melville for taking the time to guide us through each of the sites and share their knowledge.

Supporting the planning behind a major industrial milestone.

The official opening of the Wallis Drilling Headquarters in Hazelmere marks an important step forward for industrial development in Western Australia.

Rowe Group has been involved in this project for several years, supporting the planning approvals process to enable the delivery of a purpose-built facility that consolidates operations and supports long-term growth.

Representing the team, Jeremy Mitchell attended the ceremony alongside Wallis Drilling, project partners and government representatives.

Belle Smithies, Urban Planner at Rowe Group, reflected on the significance of the project:

“Congratulations to Wallis Drilling on a standout headquarters that challenges expectations of industrial development through its high-quality design. It sets a strong benchmark for what can be achieved in industrial areas.”

Projects like this highlight how effective planning helps unlock industrial investment, employment opportunities and high-quality outcomes across key precincts like Hazelmere.

Read the full article on our website. https://rowegroup.com.au/news/wallis-drilling-headquarters-opens-in-hazelmere-following-key-planning-milestone/

Sunday 8 March marked International Women’s Day, and earlier that week members of the Rowe Group - Planning | Design | Delivery and Proven Project Management teams joined colleagues from across the industry at the Women in Property Signature Lunch hosted by the Property Council of Australia.

It was a great opportunity to hear from inspiring speakers including Daisy Pearce, whose reflections on leadership, resilience and forging new paths resonated well beyond sport.

Events like this are a reminder that progress in our industry comes not only from conversation, but from the everyday actions that support women to build long and rewarding careers.

Across Rowe Group and Proven, nearly half our team (47%) are women, working across planning, urban design, project delivery and administration, including in key leadership roles. We’re proud to support women across the business through practical initiatives that help balance career growth with life outside the office, including:

• Paid parental leave top-up and supportive parental leave policies
• Flexible return-to-work arrangements
• Encouragement and opportunities to participate in industry committees and professional development programs

This support is also reflected through the team’s representation on leading industry committees, from Lena and Alyssa with the Emerging Planners Committee, to Robyn serving on the UDIA Outlook Committee, and participation in industry mentoring programs.

It was great to see the diversity in the room, with a mix of genders attending the event together and taking part in the broader conversation around strengthening the growth and representation of women in the property industry.

Thank you to the Property Council WA for hosting another great event and continuing to champion these important discussions.