Nightingale Housing is located on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders both past and present, and recognise and respect their abiding connection to this land, its waterways and community.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country on which we meet and work throughout Australia.
Who we are
We build housing for people, not profit.
Nightingale Housing is an award-winning, Melbournebased organisation dedicated to delivering sustainable homes for people, not profit.
We prioritise design-led, environmentally sustainable, and community-connected buildings and precincts that welcome a diverse range of residents.
Nightingale homes are sold ‘at cost’ to owner-occupiers, while Community Housing Providers purchase them at prices tailored to their funding models, enabling the delivery of safe, secure, and affordable rentals.
To date, we’ve delivered 616 homes, including 137 designed specifically for Community Housing Providers. An additional 500 homes are currently under construction or in the planning stages.
Nightingale is proud to be recognised as the gold standard for medium-density housing in Australia.
Nightingale homes are:
• Sold at cost
• All-electric, with solar arrays supplementing 100% Certified GreenPower
• Located close to public transport Designed to support wellbeing, community and livability
• Car free where practical
• Well built, sustainable, robust and honest
• Designed to reduce operating costs
• Sold via a ballot
• Mixed tenure
• Pre-allocated to Community Housing Providers up to 20% per project
Kubo and Luke at Nightingale Marrickville - Image: Kate Longley
Nightingale Marrickville - Image: Tom Roe
2024 in review
205 new homes completed
74 new long term affordable rentals completed
28 new commercial spaces completed
3 new projects balloted
2 new projects broke ground
2024 was another milestone year for Nightingale Housing. We completed three major projects, held ballots for three more, and broke ground on two new developments. We handed over the keys for 205 new homes, including 74 for long-term affordable rentals, and delivered our largest commercial initiative to date: Nightingale Studios, a vibrant hub of 24 commercial spaces.
We collaborated with Fresh Hope Communities on Nightingale’s first New South Wales project and with MAB on our first Preston project. We also embarked on a bold new chapter with Nightingale Sheppard, our first-ever townhome project, supported by early community engagement and Merri-bek Council.
We broke ground on two new projects: Nightingale Wilam Ganga in Brunswick and Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi in Coburg.
Throughout the year, we hosted visitors from all levels of government, media, and academia, highlighting the tangible impact of our work and the growing support for sustainable, communityfocused housing.
The highlight of the year was connecting with the incredible residents and businesses that now call our projects home. In 2024, we also introduced structural changes to strengthen our commitment to delivering housing that prioritises community and environmental sustainability.
Nightingale Umarkoo Way in construction - Image: Kate Longley
2024 at a glance
January: Nina’s Bar & Dining opens at The Commons
February: Kevin McCloud and Grand Designs Australia visit Nightingale Village
February: Nightingale 2 in Fairfield celebrates their fifth birthday
February: Nightingale Housing and Light Project announce partnership
February: Federal Housing Minister, Julie Collins, visits the Nightingale Brunswick precinct
March: Nightingale Marrickville ballot - 100% allocation as Affordable rentals
March: Residents run the Duckett Street Party and Anstey Market
April: Nightingale Preston completed and residents move in
April: A Place Coffee opens at Nightingale Bowden
April: Nightingale Marrickville completed and residents move in
April: Nightingale Marrickville officially opened by Rose Jackson, NSW Minister for Housing
• ArchitectureAU Award for Social Impact: (Commendation)
Nightingale Village
• World Architecture Festival: Winner - Completed Buildings – Housing
• Australian Design Awards: Environmental Sustainability (Gold)
• Australian Design Awards: Architecture (Silver)
• National Apartment Awards for Excellence: Precinct Rejuvenation and Civic Contribution
• National Apartment Awards for Excellence: Technology and Innovation
• UIA 2030 Award: Adequate, Safe and Affordable Housing
Nightingale Bowden
• City of Charles Sturt Business Recognition Awards: Best Considered and Sustainable Design Developer Award
• Australian Design Awards: Multi-Residential Award (Silver)
Nightingale Ballarat
• Victorian Apartment Awards for Excellence: Best Regional Development
• National Apartment Awards for Excellence: Best Regional
Nightingale Preston
• UDIA Awards: Design Award
Nightingale Marrickville - Image: Tom Roe
Nightingale Wurru wurru biik
In consultation with Wurundjeri Elders, Nightingale Wurru Wurru biik was named using Woi Wurrung words inspired by ‘sky’ or ‘wurru-wurru.’
Completed in August, it is our most ambitious project, with 99 homes—including 20 for Community Housing Providers— and 24 commercial spaces, some occupied by residents.
At its heart is a lush courtyard and amphitheatre, plus generous rooftop spaces with 360-degree views, bathhouses, dining rooms, and gardens. To foster connection, the precinct is divided into four smaller communities.
With share car access and proximity to Anstey train station and Sydney Road transport, it is a car-free precinct.
“It’s such a nice place to have a little kid, a city slicker. Being able to jump on the train, go to the Zoo or Museum in a couple of stops, and having access to art and galleries is so important. I am grateful to be able to offer that to a little baby.“
Otillo, Sesame and Atong, Nightingale Wurru wurru biik residents - Image: Kate Longley
- Otillo, Sesame and Atong, Nightingale Wurru wurru biik
Nightingale Preston
In April, we proudly completed Nightingale Preston, our first project in the area, delivering 54 new homes within the Preston Crossing precinct in collaboration with MAB.
The project features a bathhouse, guest house, and a spacious rooftop for residents.
A highlight is seven loft-style, space-efficient Teilhaus homes, designed to help firsttime buyers enter the market.
Designed by Breathe, with landscape architecture by TCL and construction by Balmain & Co, it also includes two ground-floor commercial spaces. One hosts Art Club, a creative hub for children run by a resident upstairs. The other houses Jawz Coffee, a welcoming café opening on to the sunny parklet perfect for connecting with neighbours.
“The evil genius of this place is the incidental contact with people. Coming across people when you’re washing your clothes or hanging them on the line is such a simple, elegant thing.
- Jay, Nightingale Preston
Jay, Nightingale Preston resident - Image: Kate Longley
Nightingale Marrickville
Nightingale Housing partnered with not-for-profit Fresh Hope Communities to deliver Nightingale Marrickville in Sydney’s inner west.
Built on an underutilised church site, the project reimagines the space with 54 Teilhaus homes designed by SJB, plus shared areas for entertaining, gardening, and socialising.
True to the Nightingale model, and made possible by the generosity of Fresh Hope Communities, all homes are offered at 20% below market rent.
The project has earned widespread recognition, including the Premier’s Award at the NSW Architecture Awards, celebrated for its community impact.
“Everything I do is usually about community, which is one of the things that drew me to Nightingale Marrickville.“
- Stevie, Nightingale Marrickville
Stevie, Nightingale Marrickville resident - Image: Kate Longley
New communities in 2024
Nightingale homes are allocated through a simple ballot process that ensures everyone has a fair go. Ballot day is one of our favorite days in the office—we love playing a tiny part in what can be a life-changing event.
In 2024, we successfully balloted three new projects: Nightingale Marrickville, Nightingale Wilam Ganga, and Nightingale Sheppard.
• Nightingale Marrickville, designed by SJB, is our first project exclusively for renters. Successful balloters moved in shortly after the ballot, marking a significant milestone for Nightingale.
• Nightingale Wilam Ganga, designed by Six Degrees, holds a special place in our hearts as it’s located right next to our very first project on Florence Street, Brunswick. This development includes 28 new homes, with a portion dedicated to community housing.
• Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi, designed by Kennedy Nolan, is our first project in Coburg. In 2024, the project broke ground and celebrated its topping out—a significant step forward for this exciting development.
• Nightingale Sheppard garnered strong community support early on, which carried it through important early planning stages.
We were thrilled to be selected as part of Development Victoria’s team to deliver 420 new homes at Fitzroy Gasworks. Along with Milieu, Assemble, and Hickory, we’re proud to contribute to this transformative project.
Clockwise from top left: Assistant Development Manager, Kajs Souter, on Nightingale Marrickville ballot day; Residents at the Nightingale Marrickville welcome celebration; Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi in Construction; Fitzroy Gasworks; Nightingale Sheppard information evening; Nightingale Wilam Ganga prior to construction commencement
Nightingale
Nightingale Studios
Since its inception, Nightingale Housing has recognised the vital role small businesses play in building vibrant, connected communities.
Every Nightingale project incorporates ground-floor commercial spaces designed to link residents above with the broader neighbourhood. It’s often the barista at the base of a building who becomes the thread that helps neighbours connect.
With Nightingale Studios at the base of Nightingale Wurru Wurru biik, we took this concept and amplified it.
Featuring 24 thoughtfully designed commercial spaces, the precinct has become a dynamic hub of activity. On weekends, the colonnade hums with life as people, bikes, dogs, and kids gather in the amphitheatre, coffee or matcha in hand from the café next door.
The studios now house a diverse mix of small businesses, including design and marketing services, a social-media-famous café, allied health providers, and artist studios.
These businesses not only enrich the neighbourhood but also foster connections with the 99 homes above. Many have shared how being part of a like-minded community has made them feel truly at home.
A handful of sustainable commercial spaces remain, ready to welcome new small businesses into this thriving community.
Matt and Saori from Idealogue at Nightingale Studios - Image: Kate Longley
The Nightingale Guest House
The Nightingale Guest House has been thoughtfully incorporated into recent projects, including Nightingale Preston, Nightingale Wurru Wurru biik, and Nightingale Anstey. This shared groundfloor space provides residents with a welcoming place for their loved ones to stay, eliminating the need to pay for an extra bedroom that might go unused for much of the year.
Available to book for a small fee paid to the resident run Owner’s Corporation, the Guest House has proven to be incredibly popular. It’s heartening to see these spaces consistently booked year-round, highlighting their value to the community.
Pictured here, the Nightingale Wurru wurru biik Guest House, was made possible through the generosity of some wonderful Nightingale partners and friends, who shared our vision to create a place of comfort and beauty.
KFive Furniture provided the furniture including a Robin Boyd Foundation chair. Sheet Society provided beautiful linen, pillows and a blanket to ensure every guest gets their best sleep. Fisher & Paykel provided the appliances, while Lovelight completed the picture with a sheer curtain that filters in the light just right.
2024 Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) impact
Environment
In 2024, we advanced our Sustainable Buildings Policy and refined benchmarking guidelines to set clear expectations for collaborators. Meanwhile, our Carbon Zero Working Group began implementing a roadmap to transition construction to carbon zero.
As an industry leader, Nightingale continues to deliver fossil fuelfree communities at cost. For all projects entering design from 2024, we are committed to:
Stretch targets (2024 onwards):
• Regenerative ConstructionZero Carbon Buildings
• Certified Life Cycle Analysis
• Certified Net Zero in construction
• Energy storage to manage peak electricity demand, to aid grid stabilisation and to capitalise on spot pricing
• Net zero emissions cooling to all apartments. GWP limits and design standards apply
• Green Steel and Responsible Steel stewardship
• Purple pipe / grey water strategies
• Future proofing for growing families and evolving households
Nightingale is committed to decarbonising construction while upholding our triple bottom line values.
Social
Nightingale acknowledges we build on stolen land and operate in a society shaped by systemic racism. Through our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), established in 2021, we strive to turn intention into action.
In 2024, as every year, $100 per apartment was directed to Aboriginal-led organisations chosen by each Owners Corporation. With hundreds of completed homes, the total contribution over time is substantial. We also continue working closely with the Wurundjeri Land Council on future projects in inner Melbourne.
Social isolation remains a challenge in Australia, and we believe connected communities
can help address it. That’s why fostering vibrant, inclusive neighbourhoods is central to every Nightingale project. In 2024, we organised 25 resident meetings and events—both in person and online—across six projects under construction or recently completed.
Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi marked a major milestone with a rooftop topping-out event. Nightingale Marrickville and Nightingale Preston hosted welcome celebrations with smoking ceremonies to honour Country and new beginnings. Future residents of Nightingale Wilam Ganga and Nightingale Sheppard gathered for site walks, fostering connections before construction began.
We’re inspired by resident-led initiatives like Anstey Market and Duckett Street Party, and we remain committed to strong partnerships with Housing Choices Australia, Fresh Hope Communities, Women’s Property Initiatives, and Aboriginal Housing Victoria, ensuring homes for those most in need.
Governance
In 2024, Nightingale celebrated the successful completion of three milestone projects. Alongside these achievements, the organisation Founders lead the organisation through key structural changes, strengthening Nightingale’s ability to deliver homes that are financially and environmentally sustainable while fostering communities where people genuinely want to live.
Partnerships and investors
Finance is essential to delivering on our triple bottom line, and Nightingale’s success relies heavily on the ongoing support of a diverse network of investors, financiers, and partners. In 2024, as a not-for-profit organisation, we deeply value and appreciate the enduring relationships and support from:
• Aboriginal Housing Victoria
• Assa Abloy
• Bank Australia
• Brickworks
• Fanco
• Fisher & Paykel
• Future Super
• Green Building Council of Australia
• GoGet
• HESTA
• Housing Choices Australia
• Light Project
• Lovelight
• Lug+Carrie
• Momentum Energy
• NAB
• Realside
• Reece
• Sefa
• Sussex
• Sustainability Victoria
• Social Ventures Australia
• Taubmans
• The numerous investors in the Nightingale Fund
• Women’s Property Initiatives
Team visit to the Fisher & Paykel Experience Centre - Image: Kate Longley
Events
Clockwise from top left: Nina’s Bar & Dining opens at The Commons; NSW Housing Minister, Rose Jackson, opens Nightingale Marrickville; Colin Hunter Jnr at Nightingale Preston welcome celebration; Ima Asa Yoru at the resident run Duckett Street Party; Anstey Winter Market; Toby Dean at a Nightingale Village book sale fundraiser for Oxfam.
-
“This
is not just how to build apartments and flats and streets. This is how to build world. And we need much more of it.”
Kevin McCloud at Nightingale Village, Grand Designs Australia
Team visit to the Fisher & Paykel Experience Centre - Image: Kate Longley
“
My bills are covered in my rent. The only bill I get now is my mobile.“
- Kim, Nightingale Marrickville, interviewed by A Current Affair
Clockwise from top left: Federal Housing Minister Clare O’Neil and Peter Khalil at Nightingale Wurry wurru biik; Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi topping out celebration; Breaking bread and ground at Nightingale Wurru wurru biik with Women’s Property Initiatives; Nightingale Sheppard site walk; Kajsa Souter celebrates breaking ground at Nightingale Wilam Ganga; Duy and Shy open Osoi at Nightingale Studios.
From the residents
“We love having the train right there. It’s so convenient. After we had Etta, we caught the train home from the hospital.“
- Laura, Mat, Etta, Nightingale 2
“Living here, I get my own space but I’m still building towards my future. I’m not living paycheck to paycheck.“
- Luke, Nightingale Marrickville
“ I live upstairs and run Art Club downstairs. I couldn’t have asked for a better solution.“
- Sue, Founder of Art Club and resident, Nightingale Preston
“I appreciate that’s part of the function of Nightingale - not just to build homes for people to live in, but for Nightingale to be a clear example of a different way to do things.”
- Jay, Nightingale Preston
“The feeling of having my own space is incredible. I feel grounded and secure and stable. I feel like an adult!“
- Kate, Nightingale Preston
“We really love the community aspect of the building. We don’t want to shut ourselves away. We’d rather be involved in the building and let the residents know the space is available to share.”
- Saori and Matt, Founders of Idealogue at Nightingale Studios
“I absolutely love it. Around six years ago, I went on a Nightingale tour and I thought ‘This is it, this is what I want.’ When the Wurru wurru biik project came up, I put in 14 preferences for the ballot and was lucky enough to get this one.“
- Linda and Stormy, Nightingale Wurru wurru biik
“Many of our peers are interested in Nightingale because of the ideals of livability, community, concern for environment and sustainability –it’s aligned to what we’re all thinking about. For us it was a no-brainer.”
- Akira and Sarah, Nightingale Fremantle
Nightingale
“‘Community’ can be whatever you want it to beessentially it’s just knowing who your neighbours are. Sometimes I’m in a social mood. Other times, I need solitude. Both are entirely okay.“
- Alice, Nightingale Wurru wurru biik
“We never ever expected to be in a position to do this. It didn’t seem feasible to have a child in a lovely apartment in the middle of a city that we can afford.”
- Atong, Otillo and Sesame, Nightingale Wurru wurru biik
Nightingale
2025 and beyond
Since our founding, Nightingale Housing has been working to achieve charitable status with the Australian Charities and not-for-profit Commission. We were extremely proud to achieve this in 2024. As a not-for-profit, we achieved a lot - but as a charity, we will achieve even more.
While our approach to housing remains unchanged, the savings and financial benefits that come with being a charity allow us to further reduce the cost of housing for our Community Housing Provider partners.
Nightingale cares deeply about our community of current and future residents. With our mission-driven team, 2025 is shaping up to be a powerful year as we work even harder to realise the Nightingale vision: an Australia where housing is socially, financially, and environmentally sustainable
Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi in construction - Image: Kate Longley
Nightingale
Acknowledgement of Country
Nightingale Housing acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we were founded. We pay our respects to all First Nations peoples of Australia and we acknowledge their continued and unceded connection to Country and culture.
Disclaimer
This document has been produced by Nightingale Housing. It is a working document and is subject to change.
