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Asian investors have recently spent a combined $257 million on commercial property in Melbourne with foreign investors buying 25% of commercial property listings in the city, according to Savills Australia.
Two Singaporean firms have spent $226.1 million on four Melbourne properties in the past month and a Hong Kong investor spent $31.5 million on an office block, Fairfax reported.
Singaporean firm Hotel Grand Central spent $48.5 million on Victoria University’s 12-level office building at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-melbourne-500810779">300 Flinders Street </a>(pictured below).
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Fellow Singaporean company Hiap Hoe spent $105 million on a shopping mall at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-vic-melbourne-500679347">206 Bourke Street</a> (pictured below left), $43.8 million on an office and car-park at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-melbourne-500818235">380 Lonsdale Street</a> (pictured below right) and $28.8 million on a development site at <a target="_blank" href="https://cbre.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-docklands-500728599">6-22 Pearl River Road</a>  (pictured below bottom) in Docklands.
<img alt="melbourne_sept_10_three" height="172" width="240" src="/images/stories/2013/09/10/melbourne_sept_10_three.jpg"><img alt="melbourne_sept_10_four" height="172" width="230" src="/images/stories/2013/09/10/melbourne_sept_10_four.jpg">
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And a Hong Kong firm spent $31.5 million on Taylors House at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-melbourne-500015676">399 Lonsdale Street</a> (pictured below).
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Foreign investors buy 25% of commercial listings in Melbourne: Savills

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Melbourne City has again attacked a mooted 72-storey residential tower on Southbank, describing it as “oppressive”.
It says Urban Matrix’s 240 metre plans for 54 Clarke Street will cast shadows on public spaces and dominate the view of neighbouring buildings.
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''The sense of containment would be substantial and oppressive, particularly for dwellings at the lower levels,'' a council report viewed by Fairfax Media says.
The building is being reviewed by the state government after planning control changes nullified a previous approval.
BKK Architects director Simon Knott says the tower will become an icon for those travelling on the West Gate Freeway.
''Because it twists as you move around that bend, the whole building will twist and turn. It's almost like the building is alive,'' he told Fairfax Media.
He says south-facing apartments in the neighbouring building would keep their views, including of the Royal Botanic Gardens.
''The building will sit down one side of the view - it's anything but oppressive.”
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Units in the previously approved designs started from $340,000 for one bedroom and from $400,000 for two bedrooms.
In February Robert Doyle said the building was more than 100 metres taller than preferred by the council.
The 239 square metre site is the former premises of a motor repair firm.
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Melbourne council attacks 240 metre Southbank development

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Total lending on houses has continued to grow steadily according to the Australia Bureau of statistics, but The Real Estate Institute of Australia says first home buyers are missing out.
The number of owner-occupied finance commitments rose by 1.6% – following increases of 2.1% in June and 2.4% in May, in trend terms, according to the ABS.
If refinancing is excluded the increase for July, is 1.5%, in trend terms.
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The value of investment housing commitments rose by 0.8% in July in trend terms, the 12th consecutive monthly increase.
Every state had increases in owner-occupied finance commitments with the largest increases in the ACT and Queensland, up 2.0% and 1.9% respectively in trend terms.
The purchase of established dwellings is up 1.8% in trend terms, the purchase of new dwellings is up 1.4% in trend terms and the number of commitments for the construction of new dwellings is up 0.2% in trend terms.
But the proportion of first home buyers in the number of owner-occupied housing finance commitments fell to 14.7% compared to 15.1% in June.
“The figure remains persistently low compared to the long-run average proportion of 20.1 per cent despite seven interest rate cuts since November 2011,” says REIA’s Peter Bushby.
“In large part, this drop can be attributed to state governments withdrawing previous levels of support for first home owners buying established dwellings and it is established dwellings that 80% of first home buyers prefer.
“With the proportion of first home buyers remaining consistently below the long term average, this needs to be a high priority issue for the incoming Government.”
Westpac’s Matthew Hassan’s the results are broadly positive save for continued subdued first home buyer activity and a more mixed month for construction-related approvals.
“Stepping back from the monthly detail, finance approvals are starting to show a clear response to low interest rates. The upturn has been much slower to come through than previous cycles and remains of middling strength,” Hassan says.
“It is also showing a much more muted pick up in housing credit (+5.3% per year in July). The implication is that the rise in new lending is being mostly matched by a rise in repayments on outstanding loans.
“Some of that may be a byproduct of low FHB activity but it also likely reflects consumers' aversion to taking on additional debt.”
The Housing Industry Association says the results for construction finance are disappointing with the number of loans for construction fell by 2.1% to be only 1.1% higher than a year earlier.
“This is a good result, but the lack of strong upward momentum for the construction component over 2013 to date is disappointing,” says HIA’s Geordan Murray.
“The aggregate value of lending for housing increased by 4.5% in the July 2013 quarter. There has been strengthening demand from both owner occupiers and investors, which in itself is encouraging, but growth has been driven primarily by lending to those purchasing existing homes.
“The value of lending to owner occupiers for construction and the purchase of new homes increased by 2.5 per cent, while lending to investors purchasing new homes increased by 3.3 per cent in the July quarter of 2013. Despite this, the total increase in lending for new homes only contributed 0.5 percentage points to the quarterly growth.”
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Housing borrowing increasing for everyone except first-home buyers: ABS

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Perth developers are taking advantage of vendors who have failed to update their asking prices following planning law changes in WA.
Under laws introduced in August, developers are potentially able to build double the number of units on a site than they were previously.
Vendors in Perth, unaware of the changes, have failed to factor in the additional earning potential of their land and have not updated the price and have <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/western-australia/beware-developers-trying-to-buy-your-property/2013090964871?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=newsplus" target="_blank">recently been warned to ensure they price correctly</a>.
Jake Prout, director of development firm Progressive Developments, says he was able to purchase the land at his latest development for well below market price.
He paid $420,000 for an 868 square metre block of land in Midland, a block he says would likely have been priced at around $550,000 if new zoning laws had been taken into account.
Prout will be building an eight unit apartment block on the site.
“Looking at other development sites you’d be looking at least $80,000 per unit which makes it $550,000 or $600,000,” Prout told Property Observer.
“We bought it with eight units in mind, we knew we would be able to get it through planning. There was another site nearby which went for $365,000 and it was advertised as a potential five unit site. But we had already worked out feasibility and we knew we could get 10 on it.”
Had the zoning changes not come into effect Prout would have been forced to build four town-house or villa style apartments on the site which sell at a higher individual price but less in total.
“We did feasibility study on the four versus the eight and obviously you’ll make a lot more on the eight. In that particular area we don’t think it will support purchases much more than $380,000. If you did four $500,000 townhouses I don’ think you’d make as much money.”
Prout is starting marketing on the project next week through Clarendon Realty’s Ray Conrad.
The first three units will be marketed for around $338,000.
They are being marketed at first home buyers and investors.
He says vendors will cotton on to the new zoning changes soon.
“I think it’s probably fair to say there’s a short window where all of a sudden there is an opportunity to buy well,” he says.
“Over time, people tend to price their land on what it can be redeveloped for. As soon as people realise we can build eight units on this site then blocks of land will go up.”
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Perth land undervalued as vendors slow to understand zoning changes

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Investment mentor George Fokas is predicting a property market downturn next year.
He says job insecurity and an economic down-turn from a drop off in mining will lead to less investment in average price homes across Australia.
“I believe the property market will either flatten or drop a bit,” Fokas told Property Observer.
“The economy is not the best. Job security is a big issue, mining investment is going down and job security is going to be a big question.
“Because of that people won’t be buying property.
“Interest rates coming down confirms there is a problem with economy. Although rates are low right now a lot of people will be careful to get into the market before there’s certainty.”
He was unsure where specifically the market would be most affected but says the higher end shouldn’t be hit too hard.
“People who still have money will still invest. Average mum and dads won’t have the income to do it. They’re the ones people are pushing to invest in property.”
Fokas is in the minority though – many analysts are predicting a pick-up in the market.
Shane Oliver, the head of investment strategy and chief economist at AMP Capital, says property prices will likely increase next year.
“I think job security is likely to remain reasonably high but I doubt that will be enough to cause a property downturn. Interest rates will remain low and economy is likely to pick up as next year proceeds,” Oliver told Property Observer.
“I think job insecurity will gradually start to fade next year. We’ll be looking stronger. Insecurity will peak by the middle of next year and as the economy picks that will likely see the labour market take a turn for the better.
He says the Reserve Bank of Australia may raise interest rates which will keep a lid on the property market but says it won’t be enough to cause a downturn.
He says the mining boom has actually been detrimental to New South Wales and Victoria.
“The first phase of the mining boom which ended around 2007, 2008 – that was good for everyone. But that five or six years ago,” Oliver told Property Observer.
“I think the investment stage was actually a negative for states like New South Wales and Victoria because growth in those states was subdued to make way for growth in WA and Queensland. Retail was subdued, unemployment generally rose,
Friends of mine were losing their jobs during the period. I find it hard to believe the mining boom has been good for NSW. The only thing is it’s now fading which means the aussie dollar is falling.”
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Housing market downturn next year: George Fokas

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Four neighbouring Barossa Valley vineyards have sold for a total of $2.28 million to three separate local buyers.
St Vincent vineyard, Tschirpig vineyard, Augusta Grenache vineyard and Augusta shiraz vineyard in the Krondorf district were marketed for sale both separately and in one line. Together they formed Russell Vineyard.
St Vincent has 14.3 hectares of vines, including 9.9 hectares of shiraz vines, on 20.94 hectares of land. It sold along with Tschirpig, which has 2.5 hectares of shiraz vines on 8.67 hectares of land, for $1.5 million.
The Augusta shiraz block has 1.7 hectares of shiraz vines on 2.364 hectares of land and includes an old stone cottage and shedding. It sold for $330,000.
The Augusta Grenache block has 1.7 hectares of grenache vines on 6.216 hectares of land. It sold for $450,000.
They were sold by Colliers agents Jesse Manuel, Tim Altschwager and Nick Dean.
Altschwager says there was international interest in the property.
“We had a lot of interest in it from the whole market really including some overseas Chinese but at the end of the day the strongest guys were the locals. It’s showing there’s a bit more confidence in the market here,” Altschwager told Property Observer.
He says the property market in the Barossa didn’t soften as much as other parts of the country.
“The Barossa wasn’t affected as drastically as some of the other areas because it’s probably the best recognised region in Australia and from overseas,” Altschwager said.
Krondorf is home to labels including Grant Burge Wines, Charles Melton Wines and Rockford.
The properties were sold by John and Rosalind Russell who moved to the Barossa in 1990 to create the Barossa Music Festival and started making wines in 1994.
They will not be managing the properties.
The vineyards are part of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/leisure/six-vineyards-that-might-tempt-those-fond-of-the-odd-drop/2013051361053">several around the country that has been offered recently.</a>
In August we reported Zhi Jian Zhou and Ou Guo Ying from Amway China bought a Hunter Valley vineyard for $3.8 million.
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Four Barossa vineyards sell to local buyers

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Brisbane offers the best investor opportunities in the country, according to leading Sydney real estate agent John McGrath.
If buyers can get physically get to Brisbane and have a look around then now is a good time to buy, McGrath told the audience at the Property Millionaires Tour in Melbourne on Friday which Property Observer attended.
“I can think of no better city other than Brisbane over the next five years, it’s great,” McGrath said.
“But you will have to have the ability to get up there and research it and become an expert in that market. If you don’t have that ability I’d stick closer to home in Melbourne.
“If I was investing today, if someone gave me $1 million today, I would be looking at either Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast or Brisbane. They would be my four choices.”
He says the Gold Coast is a good option but there can be significant movement.
“Gold Coast has been hit very hard but while it comes down very quickly but it can go back up very quickly. We have seen prices go for 40% or 50% from the top, it’s now stabilised and we’re seeing it get a bit better up there so we think that’s a good market.”
“The Sydney market under $1 million is leading the way around Australia. The Melbourne market is good, Hobart is terrible at the moment, Gold Coast has been struggling but I think represents some great buying opportunities going forward. Perth is good at the moment but is quite cyclical.”
He says Sydney and Melbourne are both looking strong in the sub $1 million market.
“If you were up in the Gold Coast you would say the strength is under $600,000 and in Brisbane it’s at $750,000.”
In Februrary McGrath opened his <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/industry-news/mcgrath-estate-agents-opens-another-brisbane-office/2013022559555" target="_blank">fourth real estate office in Brisbane</a> within nine months.
In his autumn property report <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/brisbane-residential-market-tipped-for-recovery-mcgrath/2013031959874" target="_blank">he tipped Brisbane for a recovery</a> driven by strong employment and population growth coupled with a supply shortage and rising rents.
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Brisbane offers the best investment opportunities in the country: John McGrath

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The Canberra and Darwin property markets will experience a slow-down, especially if the Coalition wins the federal election, according to leading Sydney estate agent John McGrath.
Areas heavily reliant on the public sector employment experienced strong growth during the global financial crisis but the growth will slow down, McGrath told the audience at the Property Millionaires Tour in Melbourne on Friday which Property Observer attended.
“Canberra and Darwin have been stellar performers in the last few years. My personal view is they won’t have that same stellar performance again going forward because they’re kind of like a defensive stock in the stock market.,” McGrath said.
“When things are bad people like defensive stocks because they are safe and never really change much but when the cycle starts to go back up and the economy starts getting back into a roll then often places like that are left behind. Plus they’ve enjoyed some good growth.”
He says Canberra has challenging times ahead if the coalition wins government.
“They’re talking about cutbacks and some of the roles there may not be replaced in terms of public service,” he said.
“I still think it’s going to grow but I don’t think it will grow a heap.”
He cautioned potential buyers they may be too late to cash in on Darwin price rises.
“Over the last 10 years Darwin has been going up at about 10% a year. Some would say that sounds great but sometimes when you can see the bandwagon already formed it’s too late to get on,” McGrath said.
“It would have been a great market to get into a decade ago if you had the insight to see it was going to perform like this.”
McGrath’s comments echo the thoughts of Hotspotting’s Terry Ryder who says there will be <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/hotspots/canberra-needs-to-stand-by-for-some-earth-quaking-changes-terry-ryder/2013090464794?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=upperright">earth-quaking changes in Canberra</a> post-election.
“It’s pretty clear whoever wins will put the cleaners through the federal public service, particularly if we have a Tony Abbott-led government on Monday morning,” Ryder said.
He says there will be significant job losses which would replicate the actions of Liberal state governments as they have taken over in Victoria, New South Wales and, especially, in Queensland.
“Canberra, therefore, is a market to avoid. Prices are likely to fall.”
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Canberra property market likely to slow down, especially under Coalition: John McGrath

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The Brisbane housing market continues to record gradual increases in housing market activity, according to Australian Property Monitor's latest housing market report.
"Following a surge in activity last year due to local changes in the first home buyers grant, first home buyer levels are unsurprisingly at their lowest on record," the report says.
"Buyer activity in the lower-price ranges, particularly in the outer-northern suburbs, remains subdued. 
"Properties in Brisbane’s established inner and middle ring suburbs however remain popular with buyers, with investors attracted by high yields, rising rents and solid capital growth potential."
The report found Brisbane’s median house price rose by just 0.3% over the June quarter and was up by 1.8% over the 2013 financial year.
"Brisbane has recorded four consecutive quarters of house price growth for the first time in three years, although the increases have been incremental. Brisbane’s median house price remains 6.7% below its previous price peak, which is the worst performance of all the capitals."
"The local Brisbane economy can be expected to provide one of the best performers over the medium-term, with benefits from the lower dollar translating into increased activity in the mining and tourism industries and also attracting international investment.
"The expected surge in jobseekers from the southern states will lift population significantly in South-East Queensland."
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Brisbane's continuing recovery: APM

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Changes to zoning regulations will lead to higher density development in Perth.
The minimum required area for a two lot subdivision has decreased from 1000 square metres to 900 square metres.
The minimum size for a subdivided lot is now 350 square metres with an average of 450 square metres among the two blocks.
The Western Australian Planning Commission will also consider a 5% variation on this meaning the minimum size potentially required to subdivide is potentially 855 square metres.
Perth-based property investment consultant Damian Collins says this allows much higher density development in Perth.
“Fit in with changes made two years ago with multiple dwellings where you used to be able to put three townhouses or three villas can now put up to eight apartments,” Collins told Property Observer.
“Not all suburbs will be able to do this, but a number of them will. It’s all related to the Directions 2031 strategy for Perth where they’re trying to condense a lot of that growth within existing catchment areas.
“Half of the new growth over the next 30 years is to come within existing suburbs.”
The zoning changes also have implications for granny flat investors.
First it was the small dwelling scheme enabling Fremantle homeowners to build granny flats without the need for a granny.
Now the city has taken its density planning to new lengths with a draft planning scheme amendment allowing homeowners to build dwellings on eligible sites, irrespective of the site’s planning density coding.
The city is now seeking public comment on the proposed planning scheme amendment (Amendment 50) to provide greater flexibility for homeowners and result in more diverse and affordable housing in Fremantle – a key objective of the city’s Strategic Plan 2010-15.
The amendment will allow the development of one additional dwelling per lot on residential properties where the lot benefits from front and rear road access. This will assist in the delivery of infill housing, at a range of different densities, because homeowners won’t be confined to the standard lot size requirements of the R-Codes.
The provisions require new dwellings to address the alternate frontage to the existing house on the site, meaning rear streets will benefit from improved street activation and surveillance.
Fremantle mayor Dr Brad Pettitt said the amendment would provide flexibility in delivering different forms of housing as well as improving the appearance of rear streetscapes.
“Fremantle homeowners will have greater choice in developing new forms of housing to address local needs and demands that, otherwise, may not have been allowed by the density code of their area,” Pettitt said.
“The additional dwellings will also help to address Perth’s urban sprawl issue and will have the added benefit of transforming typical rear access streets into active and appealing streetscapes.”
Key requirements of the provisions in the proposed amendment are:
* The property must have frontage to more than one gazetted road. The provisions will not apply to properties with a secondary frontage to a right-of-way or private street. Properties at street corners are also excluded
* The additional dwelling will need to address and gain access from the rear street
* The additional dwelling will still need to meet other planning requirements, such as those relating to parking, setbacks, building height and open space
* The provisions will not apply to subdivision, meaning they will not create vacant sites.
The amendment is currently being advertised for public comment until October 4.
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Perth zoning changes will lead to eight apartments on one block

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

Alistair Walsh

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