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.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is an opportunity for Australians to reflect on our shared histories, cultures and futures, while considering the role each of us can play in advancing reconciliation.

This year’s theme, “All In”, is a reminder that reconciliation is not passive, it requires ongoing commitment, participation and action from all of us.

To kick off the National Reconciliation Week 2026, members of the Rowe Group team, including Rebecca Thompson and Alyssa Read, attended the National Reconciliation Week Breakfast in Boorloo (Perth) hosted by Reconciliation WA at Optus Stadium. The event brought together community leaders, organisations and individuals from across Western Australia for a morning of reflection, truth-telling and shared commitment to reconciliation.

The breakfast highlighted the importance of listening, learning and building meaningful relationships, while recognising the role organisations and individuals can play in contributing to a more inclusive future. Cultural performances, community voices and First Nations leadership reinforced the significance of this year’s theme and the importance of continuing the reconciliation journey together.

Earlier this year, Rowe Group and Proven Project Management were proud to receive endorsement of our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) from Reconciliation Australia. The RAP represents an important step in strengthening cultural awareness across our business, building respectful relationships and embedding reconciliation into the way we work and engage with communities.
For our teams, reconciliation is not viewed as a single initiative or one week of acknowledgement, but an ongoing process of learning, reflection and action.

As businesses involved in planning, design and project delivery across Western Australia, we recognise the importance of understanding place, community and connection to Country in the work we do and the relationships we build.

National Reconciliation Week provides an important opportunity to pause, reflect and recommit to the shared responsibility of reconciliation, not only during NRW, but throughout the year ahead.

Read more about our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan here.
https://rowegroup.com.au/about/reconciliation-action-plan/

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/

Earth Day reminds us that meaningful environmental change often comes from the combination of policy, infrastructure and everyday actions.

One example in Western Australia is Containers for Change, the statewide container deposit scheme that has helped reduce litter and encourage recycling since its launch in 2020.

Behind the scenes, delivering this network required coordination across planning systems, legislation and local government approvals.

In our latest article, George Hajigabriel reflects on Rowe Group’s role in helping facilitate the rollout of nearly 200 refund points across the State, and what the initiative teaches us about how planning can support practical environmental outcomes.

Read the full article on our website. https://rowegroup.com.au/news/planning-for-impact-how-containers-for-change-supports-recycling-in-western-australia/

Great to see this important milestone reached for Verde Subiaco. Congratulations to Cedar Woods and the wider project team.

A key milestone has been reached for Verde Subiaco, with the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) granting approval via the significant development pathway for Cedar Woods’ new apartment project in the heart of Subiaco.

The project will deliver over 200 apartments across three buildings, set within landscaped surrounds and mature gum trees just 5 kilometres from the Perth CBD. Designed to respond to its location near Subiaco Common, the development will include a range of resident amenities such as a swimming pool, landscaped gardens, communal spaces and a ground-floor café.

Chris Green, Principal Urban Planner at Rowe Group, said the approval marks an important step forward for housing supply in Perth’s inner city.

“Congratulations to Cedar Woods on securing WAPC approval for this project in the heart of Subiaco. This is an important milestone that will help deliver much needed housing supply in a highly sought-after inner city location.

Projects like Verde Subiaco demonstrate how quality apartment living can respond to Perth’s growth while respecting local character and amenity.”

Rowe Group, together with the wider consultant team, is proud to have supported Cedar Woods through the planning process and congratulates the project team on reaching this significant approval milestone.

Verde Subiaco is expected to launch later this year.

Images: Cedar Woods. *Preliminary renders shown. For illustrative purposes only, subject to change.

A significant milestone this week for Darling Bullsbrook, with the groundbreaking ceremony marking the beginning of construction for Mirvac’s new masterplanned community in Perth’s north-east.

Rowe Group’s Rebecca Thompson and Rod Dixon were pleased to attend the official ceremony alongside project partners and representatives from State and Local Government.

The 84-hectare development will deliver approximately 1,200 new homes, alongside parks, green corridors and local amenities, contributing to the continued growth of the Bullsbrook area.

For Rowe Group, the milestone is particularly meaningful, with the team having been involved in the planning of this land for more than 15 years as part of the broader evolution of Bullsbrook South.

It’s great to see this long-term vision begin to take shape on the ground, and we look forward to watching the Darling Bullsbrook community grow in the years ahead.

Congratulations to Mirvac and the wider project team on reaching this important step forward.

As Perth continues to grow, the conversation around housing has never been more important.

With rising demand, constrained supply and increasing pressure on infrastructure, delivering new communities is no longer just about where we grow, but how.

In our latest article, Rod Dixon shares insights into the realities of planning at scale, from balancing infill and greenfield growth to the critical role of infrastructure, timing and long-term thinking in shaping liveable communities.

As Rowe Group marks 35 years, this piece reflects both on where we’ve come from and the responsibility we carry in helping shape what comes next.

Read the full article on our website: https://rowegroup.com.au/news/planning-at-scale-35-years-of-shaping-perths-growing-communities/

We’re pleased to see planning approval secured for a major Large Format Retail expansion at Armadale Road, Treeby, for Satterley Property Group as part of the evolving South Central precinct.

The approved development will deliver over 36,000m² of additional floorspace, comprising 26 tenancies across seven buildings, including Large Format Retail, a gym and café, seamlessly integrating with the existing centre.

Located on the border of Jandakot and Treeby, the project further strengthens the area’s role as one of Western Australia’s key Large Format Retail nodes, supporting local employment and providing convenient access to major retailers.

Rowe Group was pleased to support the project through the planning process, working alongside a highly collaborative consultant team and in close coordination with the City of Cockburn, whose pragmatic and solution-focused approach helped achieve a strong outcome.

This project represents another step in the continued growth of the Cockburn Central Activity Centre, reinforcing its importance as a strategic retail and employment hub in Perth’s southern corridor.

A great outcome for our client, the project team and the broader community, and we look forward to seeing it come to life.

Project Team: Satterley Property Group | Windsor Knight | Meyer Shircore Architects | Transcore | Herring Storer Acoustics | KDLA | Emergen | Talis Consultants | Western Environmental | Colliers

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.