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Dempsey Warehouse Conversion
Sydney Open Symposium: House Tours
Sunday 24 May 2026
A multi-residential and mixed-use warehouse conversion with an important place in Sydney’s architectural history
About the building
Dempsey Warehouse Conversion is an alternative model of housing that has exemplified the social ethos of its owners and stewards for more than 45 years.
The warehouse was purchased in the 1970s by the late Col James AM, an architect, academic and activist who had a vision of creating a new model of shared, cooperative housing in Sydney. This model was tested and eventually endorsed by the Supreme Court of NSW in a landmark case that has paved the way for warehouse conversions across the state.
The latest works on the building, by architects Marra + Yeh, pay homage to its layers of history, cultural meaning, personal stories and aesthetic values, while carefully considering pragmatic requirements such as sustainability upgrades and the care and maintenance of an aging building.
Now serving as a multi-residential and mixed-use exemplar, the architectural interventions integrate Col and his wife Karine’s long-held desire for a low-carbon, low-emissions building. The architects took a frugal approach to improving thermal performance to reduce both the building’s overall carbon footprint and operational costs into the future.
Upgrades to the upper level enable Karine to age in place and provide additional space on the loft level for her yoga practice. The new laneway tenancy provides below-market-rate accommodation that encourages tenants to remain long term.
The warehouse respects Darlington’s rich layers of history with a series of gardens at ground and roof levels, referencing the changing landscape of the area over time. Providing shade and amenity, the gardens feature a mix of native and exotic plantings in addition to fruit-bearing trees and various herbs, while the new roof garden incorporates culturally significant plants such as bush mint and the vanilla lily, the tubers of which have been eaten by Aboriginal people for thousands of years.
Architect/Designer
Original conversion by Col James with contemporary work by Marra + Yeh
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