Wedoany.com Report-Dec.4, Sumitomo Forestry has announced plans for a nine-storey mass-timber build-to-rent tower in Wolli Creek, approximately 10 kilometres south of Sydney's central business district. The project marks the company's first timber high-rise in Australia and forms part of a $1.2 billion development partnership with Cedar Pacific.

The $120 million co-living development will deliver 217 studio apartments. Construction is scheduled to begin by mid-2026, with leasing expected to commence by the end of 2027.

"The basement and first floor will be built using reinforced concrete, while the second to ninth floors are intended to use mass timber," Sumitomo Forestry stated. The building is designed to achieve a Green Star 5 Star sustainability rating and other environmental certifications, combining low-carbon construction with high living comfort.

The tower will include extensive shared facilities such as a gym, coworking areas, and rooftop terraces. Its location—one train stop from Sydney International Airport and three stops from the CBD—positions it to attract young professionals, students, and expatriates. Wolli Creek's demographic, with around 30 percent of residents aged 20–34 living alone, aligns well with the co-living model.

Approximately 1,800 cubic metres of timber will be used, reducing embodied carbon by an estimated 30 percent compared with conventional reinforced concrete construction while storing around 1,500 tonnes of CO₂.

This is the second collaboration between Sumitomo Forestry and Cedar Pacific, following a 31-storey steel-and-concrete build-to-rent tower in Brisbane scheduled for completion in December 2026.

Cedar Pacific Chief Executive Bernie Armstrong said: "This partnership allows us to combine both companies' development expertise with leading-edge sustainability practices, creating communities that are not only desirable places to live but also contribute positively to the environment and communities in which they are located."

Sumitomo Forestry Australia Managing Director Yasuhiro Odagane added: "Our combined expertise will allow us to deliver innovative BTR communities that promote timber technologies such as cross-laminated timber to meet residents' needs and contribute to creating a more sustainable future."

The Wolli Creek project reflects growing demand for flexible, affordable housing solutions in Sydney and demonstrates the increasing viability of mass-timber construction for mid-rise residential developments in Australia.