Globe Redevelopment: 2025 Year in Review.
The Globe Redevelopment has marked a defining year in 2025, with significant progress transforming one of Wollongong’s most recognisable CBD sites into a future landmark for the city.
With a project value of $230 million, the Globe is one of the most substantial developments undertaken in the Wollongong City Centre. Delivering a project of this scale in such a high-profile, tightly constrained urban environment requires careful planning, strong partnerships, and a coordinated approach across every stage.
From Vision to Visible Progress
While years of planning and approvals laid the groundwork, 2025 has been the year where the vision began to take physical shape.
Over the past six months, the project successfully progressed through the first phase of demolition works, a critical milestone in preparing the site for its next chapter. Located within a fully active CBD and surrounded by public access on all sides, the demolition required a highly controlled and methodical approach.
The works involved not only structural demolition but also the careful removal of hazardous materials, followed by staged deconstruction from north to south. Each phase required specialised teams working in sequence, from hazardous material crews to soft strip-out teams, and finally licensed supervisors undertaking complex structural demolition.
Navigating Complexity
As with many large-scale redevelopment projects, the team encountered a range of unforeseen challenges.
The existing structure presented a mix of construction types and materials, often revealing unexpected conditions as layers were removed. This required adaptive problem-solving, close collaboration between on-site teams and engineers, and ongoing refinement of demolition methodologies to ensure safety and efficiency at every step.
Despite these complexities, the project has maintained strong momentum, driven by a shared commitment across all partners.
Collaboration at the Core
A key theme throughout 2025 has been the strength of partnerships underpinning the project.
Collaboration between the development team, City Diggers, Wollongong City Council, and delivery partners has been instrumental in progressing the Globe to its current stage. These partnerships have not only enabled the physical transformation of the site but have also helped shape a broader vision for Globe Lane and the surrounding precinct.
This collective effort reflects a shared ambition to revitalise the heart of Wollongong and create a destination that delivers long-term value for the community.
Reimagining a Landmark Site
For decades, the site has been known locally as the former David Jones building, a familiar but ageing retail landmark that has reached the end of its functional life.
The Globe Redevelopment represents a generational shift, moving away from outdated retail formats towards a vibrant, mixed-use destination designed to bring energy, activity, and new life back into the CBD.
Community sentiment throughout the year has reinforced the importance of this transformation, with strong local interest and support for the project as it progresses.
Looking Ahead
As 2025 draws to a close, the project is transitioning from demolition into the next critical phase, laying the foundations for the future built form.
This milestone signals the beginning of the vertical transformation of the site, including plans for a premium hotel offering, seen as a natural fit for such a central and high-profile location.
Importantly, the Globe is not a short-term build. It represents years of planning and will continue through multiple stages of construction before completion. Each phase is being carefully managed to ensure the final outcome meets the scale, quality, and expectations of a project of this significance.
A Catalyst for the City
Beyond the site itself, the Globe Redevelopment is expected to act as a catalyst for broader investment and renewal across Wollongong’s CBD.
As work continues into 2026 and beyond, the project stands as a symbol of confidence in the city’s future, setting the benchmark for large-scale urban redevelopment and reinforcing Wollongong’s position as a growing, dynamic regional centre.
