Construction in place of corruption

BY ROJE ADAIMY

It was the place that gave rise to claims of systemic corruption, criminal behaviour and pedophile activities within the NSW Police Service during the 1970s and 1980s.
But now, the former NSW Police headquarters office building (known as the Avery Building) on College Street in Darlinghurst faces fate of a different kind ‘ it will soon be turned into a multi-million dollar luxury apartment complex.
The City of Sydney last week approved an amended development application from the owners to convert the former police building into new apartments, a ground floor cafe and retail space.
The original development application (DA) for the site was approved by the Central Sydney Planning Committee late last year.
But according to a spokesperson, the City more recently approved a modification to the initial application, which amends the envelope of the approved mixed use building, including reconfigured car access and egress, waste collection, foyer arrangements, and modified floor layouts for each level to increase the number of apartments from 70 to 87.
The proposal went through a design competition with Scott Carver Architects being awarded the winning design, the spokesperson said.
The Avery Building was originally named in honour of former Police Commissioner John Avery until 2003, when the headquarters moved to a new building in Parramatta. Mr Avery preceded Commissioner Tony Lauer, who, in a climate of controversy, retired after rejecting claims raised in the 1994 Royal Commission into the NSW Police Service.