The Final Chapter at Urban Ridge: A Legacy Built to Last

It is 25 years since Bob Thorne turned the first turf at what would become Urban Ridge—a thoughtfully designed development nestled between Brookfield and Bethlehem, bordering the 60-hectare Carmichael Reserve. At the time, the idea of building compact, cleverly designed homes on smaller sites challenged the prevailing “quarter acre” mindset. But Bob saw something others didn’t: the potential to do things differently.

Today, with the final home in Urban Ridge now complete, it’s a proud and reflective moment for us at Thorne Group. Since 2006, Thorne Group has been contracted to construct all the homes in this development—each one uniquely designed to make the most of its site, surroundings, and orientation. What began as Bob’s vision became the basis for Aaron (Thorne) to extend his knowledge of land development and the often-overlooked complexities of geotechnical engineering. It’s that expertise Aaron now brings to every Thorne Group project.

Our journey with the Urban Ridge Development has involved constructing hundreds of space-optimised homes—homes that don’t just work on small sites, but function outstandingly well. That same thinking now flows into our larger, more complex builds too. We’ve refined systems to maximise efficiency on site, reduce material waste, and ultimately save our clients’ money—without ever compromising on quality or design.

Completing this final home represents the close of a chapter, but the legacy of what we have learned continues to shape every project we take on.

Bob, who sadly passed away in 2020, would be proud to see how his original vision has grown into something enduring—and how the values this development has been built on remain at the heart of everything we do.