The sun was shining as Housing Trust marked a major milestone at Warruya, celebrating the topping out of 27 beautiful new homes that will provide safe, secure, affordable places to live by early 2026.
The topping out ceremony, a tradition in building, celebrates the highest point of construction, a moment that symbolises progress and community achievement. These modern one, two, and three-bedroom homes will offer a mix of social and affordable rental housing, designed to give people security and opportunity. Located close to the Wollongong CBD, transport links, schools, TAFE, and the University of Wollongong, Warruya is more than bricks and mortar, it’s about creating a place where people can truly thrive.
This achievement has been made possible through strong collaboration and support from all three tiers of government, Wollongong City Council, Homes NSW, and Housing Australia. Housing Trust CEO Amanda Winks described the project as “a great example of what’s possible with true collaboration with all levels of government. Warruya shows exactly what partnership, shared purpose and strong government support deliver for our community. This development meets diverse local needs with a mix of social and affordable rental homes in a fantastic central location. With the roof now on, we move straight into fit-out and landscaping, keeping us firmly on track to welcome residents in early 2026.”
We were delighted to hear from key representatives of our partnerships, including Lord Mayor Councillor Tania Brown, Alison Byrnes MP, Federal Member for Cunningham, and the Honourable Paul Scully MP, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, who shared their support and insights for this important project. Alison Byrnes MP highlighted the government’s $10.09 million investment in Warruya, saying, “This will make a real difference in the lives of local people struggling to find housing they can afford. We know that the housing shortage won’t be fixed overnight, but we are working incredibly hard to see more than 55,000 new social homes built right across Australia, and I am really pleased to see this project take the next steps today.”
This project also received funding from Homes for Homes, whose CEO Tracy Longo attended and spoke at the event. We were joined by our builders TDK, project planners Planix Projects and architects ADM Architects, along with their teams, to celebrate this milestone together.
Dr Aunty Joyce Donovan welcomed us on Dharawal Country and spoke about the significance of Warruya. The name “Warruya” comes from the Dharawal word meaning “Aunty”, a term of deep respect in Aboriginal culture. It honours the wisdom, guidance, and cultural importance of Elders and other respected Aboriginal women, as well as generations of health professionals who have served our community at Wollongong Hospital for more than a century. Dr Aunty Joyce reminded us of the deep connection between respect, healing, learning and having a safe place to call home, values that sit at the heart of this project.
The Illawarra continues to feel the full force of the housing crisis, with recent data showing over 5% of local households need affordable housing and more than 3,300 households are waiting for an offer of social housing. Housing Trust has been providing safe, secure, affordable rental housing to the Illawarra community for more than 40 years, and Warruya is a true example of partnerships with purpose.
We are grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone and to all who have played a role in bringing Warruya to life. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected community.
