Constructed in 1904, the long derelict Rozelle Tram Depot is about to have new life breathed into it. With its distinctive saw tooth roof, it seems like the sort of building that demands to be more than just wasted space. The huge tram network that once serviced the inner west - in the earliest days the trams were horse drawn - was second in size only to that of London's in the entire Commonwealth, and while times may have changed, there is still a thriving need to make use of our historical spaces.
The new project Tramsheds will officially open to the public at the end of August and has today revealed its eagerly anticipated supermarket retailer, Supamart. The newly restored heritage-listed Rozelle Tramsheds will centre around connecting people to provedores, offering an array of top-class food retailers in the European-inspired Food Hall.
Tramsheds’ supermarket retailer, Supamart, owned by family business, Karellas Group, will tailor its retail offering with fresh produce, a delicatessen and seafood counter, onsite butchery, bakery and a dedicated health & wellbeing section alongside value-priced supermarket staples. Shopping is changing, Sydney has been embracing local produce and produce markets and now the historic Rozelle location is being transformed with quality retailers and restaurants to update what we think about supermarkets. Now there are more choices than the duopoly of multinational large corporates and we can put our weekly grocery bill towards local business.
More than retail we are excited by the restaurant offerings that have been so far announced with our good friend ethical Chef Jared Ingersoll (previously owner chef at Dank Street Depot) leading the way with sustainable seafood at Fish & Co. and our delightful Italian friend the talented chef Eugenio Maiale of A Tavola (and Besser) opening Flour Eggs Water. A further 12 food retailers are due to be announced over the coming months, alongside a host of amenities including a medical centre, gym, hairdresser and nail bar, as Tramsheds Harold Park continues its transformation into an unprecedented food destination for locals and visitors.
Tramsheds Harold Park has undertaken a number of steps to deliver an environmentally friendly building, such as implementing a waste recycling programme, energy saving schemes and an inbuilt natural ventilation system. Just 4km from the CBD, Tramsheds will offer plenty of commuting options with Jubilee Station Light Rail on its doorstep and a number of cycle paths currently under renovation with plans for over 80 bike racks to be installed across the site.
