The Department of Housing and Works (Housing and Works) is redeveloping the former Stirling Towers public housing site at Lot 501 Smith Street, Highgate.
The Smith Street Build-to-Rent Project will see the former public housing site transformed into new apartments, delivering 109 one- and two-bedroom social, affordable and specialist disability rental units close to Perth CBD, transport, shopping and other amenities.
On completion, the apartments will be managed by Community Housing Ltd.
The project is being undertaken in three stages:
- demolition and preparation of the site
- construction of the development
- a ground lease for management of the complex.
This project is a key component of the WA Government’s Housing Diversity Pipeline of sites identified to deliver social housing stock in the short to medium term.
Stage 1: Demolition and site preparation works
Following a competitive procurement process, a consortium of Community Housing Ltd and Tetris Capital was engaged as the successful proponent to undertake the demolition of the former public housing development and prepare the site for redevelopment. These works were completed in July 2025 by contractor Brajkovich Demolition & Salvage (WA).
The demolition has now been completed.
The development application for the construction of new dwellings on the site, lodged by the Tetris Capital/Community Housing Ltd consortium, has been approved by the Western Australian Planning Commission. This followed a review by the Government Architect of Western Australia and the City of Vincent, during which the development application was advertised for public comment.
Stage 2: Construction
The construction of the Smith Street Build-to-Rent Project is being undertaken by Together Housing (WA) Ltd and PERKINS (WA) Pty Ltd, in partnership with Community Housing Ltd.
| Construction commencement | August 2025 |
| Construction completion | Q4 2027 |
More information
Answers to common questions are available on our Frequently Asked Questions page:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Updates will be made available on this page as the project progresses.
If you have any further queries about the project or would like to report any maintenance issues at the site, please email smithstreetbuildtorent@dohw.wa.gov.au.
Media statements
Construction of Smith Street Build-to-Rent Project underway (11 August 2025)
Development approval for Highgate build-to-rent project (5 November 2024)
Demolition permit issued for Smith Street redevelopment site (30 August 2024)
Demolition contract awarded for Stirling Towers (3 July 2024)
Proponents contracted for stage one demolition of Perth's first social and affordable Build-to-Rent project at former Stirling Towers (16 December 2023)
Respondents shortlisted for WA’s first ground lease build-to-rent development (12 August 2022)
Pilot Build-to-Rent development proposal for Stirling Towers (18 February 2022)
See also
Housing main page
