ALAND: Shaping Greater Sydney for Over 20 Years
Published by: news.com.au
Outside its western Sydney heartland, the name of ALAND may not be particularly familiar, but today there are thousands of people living in communities designed and built by ALAND.
Launched by Fairfield-born entrepreneur Andrew Hrsto in 2002, ALAND has established an enviable reputation for creating high-quality, yet affordable residential developments.
In the early years ALAND properties sprang up in suburbs such as Merrylands, Concord, Liverpool, Belmore and Kellyville.
“We focused on apartments because they allow us to offer a more affordable product to a wider audience, and this commitment remains at the core of what we do,” Mr Hrsto said.
ALAND has shown an uncanny ability to find well-positioned sites that are perfect for new developments. Mr Hrsto said an opportunity might present itself while driving the car or during a chance conversation with a stranger.
“There is nothing more satisfying than starting with an empty block of land and then going through the planning stage, delivering the building and seeing people living there,” he said.
Fast forward 22 years and ALAND, now iCIRT Gold rated, is one of the most successful privately-owned multidisciplinary development and construction companies in Sydney, with a string of international awards and a 100 per cent completion record.
ALAND is currently completing several residential developments in Greater Western Sydney, including Jasmine (part of its Schofield Gardens masterplan) and Monde (the newest release at The Edmondson Collection in Sydney’s south-west).
Apart from beautifully designed, energy-efficient apartments, residents have the use of communal gardens, BBQs and children’s playgrounds. ALAND’s off-the-plan apartments are especially popular with first-home buyers, young families and people downsizing from freestanding properties.
The company has also embarked on two high-profile multi-use projects: Paramount on Parkes in Parramatta LGA and Archibald by ALAND in Gosford. The Archibald precinct combines apartments, restaurants and bars and a 130-room voco® hotel – a first for the Central Coast.
At a time when many developers are winding back their operators or pulling out of the industry completely, ALAND is looking for new opportunities and expanding its portfolio.
“The market is tough, but it’s been tough for the last four years and we’ve just kept going whatever the challenges. I believe ALAND is in a great position to be an even better business than we are now,” Mr Hrsto said.
“We’re a diverse and extremely nimble business with a particular expertise in delivering high-quality new homes in Sydney’s fastest-growing suburbs, which is where people want to live,” he said. “The state government has earmarked Greater Western Sydney for major future population growth.”
While affordable, high-quality apartment projects, such as the recently completed The Gladstone Village in Merrylands and Carson on the Park in St Marys, remain at the core of what ALAND does, Mr Hrsto says that the company is now diversifying to meet a changing housing landscape.
“I believe we’re in a fantastic position to expand the business into different markets. The really big developers are tied up in red tape, whereas ALAND can make very fast decisions and be very efficient. That’s our real edge.”