Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2008/Sydney’s junior sailors move into the ADF’s best ‘live-in’ accommodation
By Tim Herne
In Sydney, living-in junior sailors are the envy of some officers as they settle in to their new high-quality apartment accommodation in Homebush and North Strathfield.
At first there was a reluctance by some to move from the Eastern Suburbs location of Endeavor House (EH) but the facilities in the new apartments have impressed more than 500 sailors who made the move.
The high quality of the fittings and finish is designed to appeal to the discerning Sydney market so the brand-new contemporary one, two and three-bedroom self-contained apartments set a new standard in service accommodation.
LEUT Andy Wilson, who is in charge of the accommodation transfer, said without exception junior sailors are very impressed with the apartments as they are air-conditioned, many bedrooms have a personal en-suite, king-sized single beds are standard, there is a fully equiped and kitted out gourmet kitchen (with dishwasher) and laundry, as well as furnished living and dining areas.
“Some of the apartments have balconies with grandstand views back to the city and the Telstra Stadium, shops, social venues and public transport are very close-by which made them even more attractive,” LEUT Wilson said.
“Navy also wanted to ensure that the supplementary and social facilities were top class and help foster a Navy community spirit.”
The Homebush and North Strathfield communial facilites are open to all service residents.
Homebush has a tavern-style bar with integrated media lounge, Everyman’s Drop In Centre internet café, lounge, reading area, a large screen TV and modern gym.
The central paved portion of the Homebush courtyard incorporates the shadecloth structures and barbecues from EH.
From September, a fully-equipped galley and dining area will provide scheduled meals in keeping with Service standards.
The North Strathfield facility is only 1.6km away and has a welfare area maintained by Everyman’s Welfare Service and a large, fully equipped gymnasium.
Both complexes provide a heavy-duty laundry, two levels of exclusive underground car parking and secure storage cages to accommodate residents’ bulky storage items and, around-the-clock security.
A duty watch is maintained by a duty PO and duty AB.
LEUT Wilson said the whole package is also proving to be a retention incentive with a few other sailors saying that they were thinking of leaving before seeing the lifestyle opportunity of the Homebush and North Strathfield complexes.
“The live-in standard for junior sailors in Sydney is now so good I’ve had a few officers say they should be at Homebush or North Strathfield instead,” LEUT Wilson said.
Endeavour House to Homebush and North Strathfield
Endeavour House was built and operated by the Commonwealth Government as a migrant hostel from 1970 and became the Sydney home exclusively for sailors in 1991. Since then, many thousands of Navy men and women have called it home. Its close proximity to beaches and the city have made it a popular place to live.
Sold five years ago, Endeavour House was leased back by Defence from its owners. That lease is expiring and is not being renewed. New standard ADF accommodation is planned for nearby Randwick, but completion is around five years away.
Securing a suitable single complex for more than 500 people in the tight Sydney market was very difficult. Thinking out of the box, two privately built apartment complexes were leased 1.6 km apart at Homebush and North Strathfield.
It is only 15 Km by road to HMAS Kuttabul and the apartments are close to rail and bus services allowing easy access to the city, Sydney establishments and Garden Island dockyard.
What’s the rack rate?
Leading seamen and senior able seamen may take advantage of occupying single bedroom self-contained apartments at a LIA fee of $89.57 per week (Equal to the Level 5 Officer LIA fee). Those in two-bedroom apartments (the vast majority) who share with only one other person pay at the standard Level 5 charge rate of $66.34 per week. Those in three-bedroom apartments pay on a scale ranging from Level 5, Level 4 ($58.11), Level 3 ($49.89) and Level 2 ($37.69).
The charges for the three-bedroom apartments vary according to the size of the bedroom, whether the toilet and shower are shared and where there are no built-in wardrobes. In that case free-standing wardrobes are provided and the lowest contribution rate is charged.
By any standards, and particularly in Sydney, these fees compare very favourably with what may be obtained on the open accommodation market, even when subsidised with either partial or full RA.
