Cottesloe 3 Eileen Street

The former units at 3 Eileen Street, Cottesloe, was a two-storey block with 12 one-bedroom units constructed in 1965. The building occupied a 1,518m² site between Eileen Street and Bryan Way, about 100 metres from Cottesloe Beach.

 

The units were arranged around the property with external walkways and stairs providing access to the upper level. The site also contained a swimming pool, garages and parking areas. Although the building was sometimes described in property advertising as an apartment development, the individual residences were generally recorded and addressed as units, including 1/3 through to 12/3 Eileen Street.

 

Sold as a development site

The property was offered for sale through Cygnet West in November 2021. At the time, all 12 one-bedroom units were leased and reportedly produced a combined gross holding income of approximately $210,000 a year.

 

The sale campaign promoted the property primarily for its redevelopment potential. It had Residential R60 zoning, a frontage of approximately 30.18 metres to both Eileen Street and Bryan Way, vehicle access from the front and rear, and an elevated position close to the beach.

 

The property sold during 2022 for $12,522,250. It was acquired for a development associated with Damian Collins and Westbridge Funds Management, which established the Cottesloe Fund for the project. The sale was handled by Cygnet West.

 

Approval for eight townhouses

Plans were subsequently prepared for the demolition of the 12 units and their replacement with eight grouped dwellings. In December 2023, the approved project was reported as having an estimated development cost of approximately $40 million.

 

The replacement development was deliberately planned as townhouses rather than a conventional apartment building. Although some property websites continue to place it under their apartment categories, Westbridge describes the approved project as eight individually titled luxury townhouses.

 

The original units were later demolished to clear the property for construction.

 

Solana Cottesloe

The replacement development is named Solana Cottesloe. It was developed through Westbridge Urban and designed by DKO Architecture, with Westville Group identified as the construction company and Tim Davies Landscaping responsible for the landscape design.

 

Each townhouse has at least three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with three or four private car bays provided within a shared basement. The residences include ground and upper-level living areas, private courtyards, balconies and individual rooftop terraces overlooking the surrounding area and Indian Ocean.

 

The development is promoted as providing four levels of living when the basement and rooftop areas are included. Private lifts connect the internal levels, while other advertised features include wine cellars or multipurpose basement rooms, outdoor showers and private garages.

 

Construction

Solana is currently under construction. Current project advertising stated that the residences were expected to be ready for occupation within approximately six to nine months, although this remained an estimated completion period rather than a confirmed date.

 

The redevelopment reduced the number of residences on the property from 12 small one-bedroom units to eight considerably larger townhouses. The old complex provided modest rental accommodation close to the beachfront, while the new residences are being marketed individually at the upper end of the Cottesloe housing market.