Aurora Manly

MBM Project Lead

Autumn Lu

Client Name

Royal Far West

Sector

Timeline

2019 - 2026

Project Value

$200m

MBM Project Team

  • David Madden 
  • Tony Chow
  • Heather Cheng

Services Provided

The full scope of services provided by MBM includes:

  • Cost planning and estimating
  • Feasibility studies
  • Tender evaluation
  • Post-contract administration
  • Capital expenditure forecasts
  • Tax and depreciation services

Project Background and Scope

Royal Far West (RFW), a charity supporting the developmental needs of rural and regional children, is undertaking the Aurora redevelopment on the Manly beachfront site. Aurora will be an iconic new mixed-use destination set to revitalise the Manly town centre and assist in meeting the growing demand for essential family health services. With all proceeds from the project directly benefiting the charity, this redevelopment in the RFW neighbourhood will allow for more support to be given to children and their families.
Following our engagement under RFW on their successful delivery of the Centre for Country Kids building in late 2018, MBM is proud to continue providing contemporary and traditional cost management services for Stage 2 of the project, which comprising of commercial premises, private residence, and heritage-listed Drummond House. The team have worked closely with the client since 2019 to bring to life an innovative, inclusive, and dynamic multi-functional space. The results will improve the quality of health service delivery to generations of children and accommodation for families travelling for treatment.

Project Challenges

The Manly beachfront location, while iconic, presents logistical and environmental challenges. These include limited access for construction staging, exposure to coastal weather conditions, and potential geotechnical risks. Furthermore, given RFW’s deep community roots and the social purpose of the project, stakeholder engagement will be highly sensitive. Public perception, donor confidence, and alignment with RFW’s values must be maintained throughout. In addition to this, the inclusion of the heritage-listed Drummond House requires sensitive restoration, and compliance with strict conservation guidelines.

MBM Solutions

MBM can support early feasibility studies and risk-adjusted cost planning to account for site-specific constraints, while advising on procurement strategies that accommodate staging and access limitations. Additionally, MBM’s collaborative approach, built on clear communication, and alignment with client values, will support inclusive decision-making and reinforce the project’s social legacy. MBM’s experience in heritage-sensitive cost planning—including adaptive reuse strategies and early engagement with heritage consultants—will be critical in maintaining budget discipline while preserving architectural integrity pf Drummond House.