A slice of land in Chatswood housing a decommissioned electricity substation is hitting the market as “prime” development real estate — despite its history as a live electrical site and its modest 170 square metre footprint.
Auction Set for May
Located at 123 Victoria Avenue, the former Ausgrid site is now being offered for auction through Belle Property Lane Cove, with the sale scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7. The block is zoned E1 Local Centre, meaning it can support a variety of commercial or mixed-use projects.
The Chatswood listing is part of a wider sell-off of surplus assets by electricity distributor Ausgrid, which includes similar sites across Lane Cove West, Hunters Hill, and Longueville.
The company is clearing unused or decommissioned substations from its books and placing them on the open market, often with conditions that allow Ausgrid continued maintenance access via easements.
From Substation to Sale
The Chatswood site no longer carries live power but still has a brick structure, and any redevelopment will need council approval.
Its location on busy Victoria Avenue has drawn strong interest. Similar sites, like one in Woolwich in 2024, required rezoning before development, something not yet applied for in Chatswood, though agents say buyer interest is high.
Local Concerns and Considerations
Some nearby residents have raised safety concerns about redeveloping old substation sites, but local property owners keen to expand have shown the most interest, according to Belle Property.
This Chatswood listing joins previous Ausgrid sales in Wahroonga and Zetland in recent years, forming a pattern of utilities divesting old infrastructure in areas where land is scarce and property values remain high.
This Chatswood listing joins previous Ausgrid sales in Wahroonga and Zetland in recent years, forming a pattern of utilities divesting old infrastructure in areas where land is scarce and property values remain high.
Published 16-April-2025
