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Berwick is one of Melbourne’s most popular suburbs but if it’s out of your price range you could consider travelling just 12 kilometres down the road to Cranbourne North where the average house price is 26% cheaper.
Westpac has compiled a list of ten Melbourne suburbs where it’s cheaper to buy than in their more popular neighbouring suburbs.
<img height="200" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/melbourne_house_aug_27_one.jpg" alt="melbourne_house_aug_27_one">
The hidden gem suburbs are close to the popular suburb but have a lower cost median house or unit price.
“Buyers who want to truly own their home sooner can find real value by simply considering a suburb which is just a stone’s throw away from their first preference,” said Westpac’s Gai McGrath.
Cremorne, nestled between Richmond and the Yarra is presented as a more affordable alternative to South Yarra. House prices there are 29.8% cheaper. Though if you’re looking at units Burnley is a better option with a saving of 26.7%.
And Ripponlea house prices are 57.5% cheaper than in Brighton. Gardenvale units are 49.3% cheaper than Brighton units.
<img height="195" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/melbourne_units_aug_27_one.jpg" alt="melbourne_units_aug_27_one">
If you wanted to buy a unit in the fourth most popular suburb in Melbourne, Toorak, you could consider travelling just three kilometres down the road to Armadale where the average unit price is 33% cheaper. According to Westpac you could own your home 17 years and one month sooner and save $247,681 in purchase price and $225,613 in interest repayments over time.
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Melbourne's 10 hidden gem suburbs cheaper than their more popular pricier neighbours 

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Sol Kerzner, a billionaire South African hotelier, is reportedly buying Hayman Island in the Whitsundays from Malaysian investment firm Mulpha Australia Ltd.
The Australian Financial Review reports executives from Kerzner International are meeting with top federal and state tourism bureaucrats and senior figures from the Queensland government.
No price has been disclosed for the 292 hectare leasehold holding, but its most recent official conservative book value was $A50 million, at the same time as announcing a $50 million refurbishment program to elevate the resort into a new benchmark of luxury.
Neighbouring Hamilton Island sold in 2003 for $185 million to Bob Oatley who has since been developing the island.
Kerzner will reportedly close the existing resort on the island for three months from January next year as he further renovates the property.
The island was first developed by airline magnate Reg Ansett in the 1950s.
Kerzner runs the luxury hotel chain One&amp;Only, the Atlantis resort on the Palm in Dubai and has properties in The Bahamas, Mexico, Mauritius and The Maldives.
Mulpha bought the island resort in 2004 along with the Sydney Intercontinental, the Melbourne Hilton and Brisbane Sheraton for a combined $400 million total. 
The 78-year old Sol Kerzner was knighted in 2010.
Mulpha's Australian property portfolio is worth around $1 billion with assets including Sanctuary Cove which was acquired in 2002 for $208 million.
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Sol Kerzner rumoured buyer of Hayman Island in Whitsundays

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Almost every off-the-plan purchase in the Oracle development in Surfers Paradise has lost money when resold.
Property Observer has found 42 instances where a unit in the 505-unit tower sold at a loss.
There were just five instances where a property has resold at a higher price than the previous sale.
There was one which resold for the same price.
The worst case was unit 2205 which originally sold for $2.435 million 2012 and resold six months later for $1.675 million – a loss of $760,000.
Unit 2305 originally sold for $2.465 million in 2006 and then resold six years later for $1.725 million – a loss of $740,000.
Unit 3401 originally sold for 1.81 million in 2006 and resold for $1.3 million in 2012 – a $510,000 loss.
And recent speculators have lost money too. Unit 23202 originally sold for $1.9 million in July 2012 and then resold for $1.3 million in February this year – a $600,000 loss.
But some did make money in the building. Unit 906 originally sold for $655,000 in 2006 and then for $405,000 in 2011. But it then sold again for $512,500 in 2012 – $107,000 more.
According to Colliers, high rise stock in the Gold Coast is at its lowest level in a decade with a recent surge of people buying into developments like Oracle.
“Over the past year projects that had a significant overhang of stock, such as Oracle, Hilton and Soul have sold a significant number of apartments and people are buying into those buildings with confidence,” Colliers’ Tony Holland said.
“They know the future looks good for the Gold Coast, with around 10,000 people moving to the region every year and significant projects such as the 2018 Commonwealth Games set to give the area a huge boost.”
There were 13 sales in the two Oracle towers over the June quarter. Tower one is reportedly 80% sold out, and tower two is 75%.
During 2012 units were being sold by the receivers at half their 2005 off-the-plan asking price.
One-bedroom units on the ground floor sold for $460,000 in 2012 – less than half the original asking price.
KordaMentha, the receivers of the troubled project took over from the Nikiforides-run South Sky Investments in December 2010.
They reportedly sold more than 100 during 2012, a third of those to Queenslanders, after relaunching Oracle at the end of 2011.
The results are similar to the Hilton Surfers Paradise development where <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/hilton-surfers-paradise-resale-price-collapse-for-but-one-exiting-property-investor/2013082164115">40 of 41 apartments in the ill-fated development, resold  at big losses.</a>
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Poor fortune for those who went to the Oracle on the Gold Coast

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1. Offering vendor financing
It is possible to sell to buyers with poor credit ratings by selling the property under contract to settle at a higher price at a predetermined future time. In the meantime the buyer lives and pays a sort of rent which works out to the loan repayment plus a bit more. Then when they settle the buyer purchases it at a price which is hopefully below the market value ensuring it’s easier to get a loan. Be careful with this though, people interested in buying this way have been determined by banks as being a liability for a reason, there are few reasons to ignore that assessment.
2. Running a self managed super fund
Running a self-managed super fund is a great idea if you’re absolutely ready to commit a lot of time and research into investment. A lot of people have lost their valuable nest egg through poor strategies and poorly executed ideas. Plus you can't live in a property owned by your super fund and you can't rent one from it either.
3. Taking bridging loans
It might seem like a no-brainer, taking a temporary interest-only loan on a new property before you’ve sold your old one but you risk defaulting on your loan if you can’t sell your old property.
4. Being a guarantor for a family member
Agreeing to guarantee a loan for a family member could mean the bank chasing you if they default. This might mean losing your house. It’s hard to say no, but a better option might be to pony up some cash so they can afford a bigger deposit or buying the property yourself and transferring it when the payments are more manageable.
5. Cross collateralising
Using multiple properties as collateral for one loan might be tempting but lenders can then reduce your borrowing capacity if they apply their own credit criteria to your income position to assess serviceability.  They could force you to sell your properties to reduce your debts if your property falls in value. You might be better off buying in a joint venture.
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Five investment finance strategies fraught with risk

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Former senator Barnaby Joyce, now the Nationals' candidate for New England, is to sell his rural acreage in north-western NSW to avoid a conflict of interests.
He acquired his Gwabegar property in 2006 for $230,000 in what he said was a cheap way to get back into the land after a career in politics. He acquired the neighbouring lot in 2008 for $342,000, bringing the total holding to 970 hectares.
But the presence of coal seam gas in the area sparked a conflict of interests for Joyce who must strike a balance between anti coal seam gas farmers in his electorate and the mining interests of the coalition.
The marginal grazing land is close to coal seam gas exploration fields in the Pilliga.
Eastern Star gas started exploration there in 2002 and has plans for 1100 gas wells, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
In October 2007, Eastern Star Gas appointed former Nationals leader and deputy prime minister John Anderson as its chairman – the same man who is now working as campaign manager for Joyce.
But in 2011 Joyce denied knowing the company had a petroleum exploration licence over his properties.
Joyce told The Sydney Morning Herald he wants no part in the boom.
“I'm happy to sell it, it's for sale,” he said.
“If someone wants to take it off my hands and make a million dollars, go right ahead.”
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Barnaby Joyce to sell coal seam gas property

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New South Wales was home to nine of the 10 worst-performing postcodes for mortgage delinquencies over the June quarter, according to ratings agency Standard &amp; Poors.
Postcode 2315 in Port Stephens  – also home to Corlette, Fingal Bay, Gan Gan, Nelson Bay and Shoal Bay – had the highest delinquency rate on mortgages in the June quarter, according to the report, RMBS Performance Watch: Australia.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="border: 0px solid #1a87e4; width: 470px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom">
State
</td>
<td nowrap width="104" valign="bottom">
Suburb
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom">
Postcode
</td>
<td nowrap width="105" valign="bottom">
Loans in arrears
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom">
Loan count
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
NSW
</td>
<td nowrap width="104" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
Corlette
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
2315
</td>
<td nowrap width="105" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
7.12%
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
371
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
NSW
</td>
<td nowrap width="104" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
Berkshire Park
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
2765
</td>
<td nowrap width="105" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
7.02%
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
298
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
NSW
</td>
<td nowrap width="104" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
Casuarina
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
2487
</td>
<td nowrap width="105" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
6.77%
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
313
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
NSW
</td>
<td nowrap width="104" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
Eagle Vale
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
2558
</td>
<td nowrap width="105" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
4.69%
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
506
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
NSW
</td>
<td nowrap width="104" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
Aberdare
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
2325
</td>
<td nowrap width="105" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
4.28%
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
602
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
NSW
</td>
<td nowrap width="104" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
Blackwall
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
2256
</td>
<td nowrap width="105" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
4.03%
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
438
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
NSW
</td>
<td nowrap width="104" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
Eastern Creek
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
2766
</td>
<td nowrap width="105" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
4.00%
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
474
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
NSW
</td>
<td nowrap width="104" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
Annangrove
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
2156
</td>
<td nowrap width="105" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
3.87%
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
314
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
VIC
</td>
<td nowrap width="104" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
Broadmeadows
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
3047
</td>
<td nowrap width="105" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
3.80%
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
453
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
NSW
</td>
<td nowrap width="104" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
Alpine
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
2575
</td>
<td nowrap width="105" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
3.75%
</td>
<td nowrap width="64" valign="bottom" style="text-align: justify;">
455
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Its rate of mortgage delinquencies more than 30 days overdue was 7.12% - more than five times the national average of 1.29%. That means roughly one in 14 mortgages are overdue in the postcode.
The area has historically featured strongly on the list of most mortgage delinquent suburbs.
In 2012 the area was identified by Fitch Ratings as being the most mortgage delinquent suburb though agents at the time blamed it on <a href="/news">starry eyed holiday makers</a> making poor investment choices.
It remained at the top of Fitch’s list <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/nelson-bay-retains-most-delinquent-postcode-crown-but-surfers-paradise-drops-down-list-fitch/2013070162882">this year</a> as well.
The other eight NSW postcodes are a mixture of coastal areas and suburbs on the outskirts of Sydney.
Broadmeadows in Victoria came in at number nine.
Overall arrears declined from the previous quarter.
“The quarter-on-quarter decline may be attributed to the impact of lower interest rates and seasonal factors such as Christmas spending commonly associated with the Q1 arrears performance,” the report says.
Tasmania continued to record the highest level of mortgage arrears.
During quarter two, loans greater than 30 days in arrears in totalled 1.68% in Tasmania, 1.48% in New South Wales and 1.4% in Queensland.
The data is from residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) which are a means for lenders to raise funds by selling bundles of loans to investors. It involves a high proportion of non-bank originators and financial institutions and subprime and low-doc lenders.  
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/08/aug26nel]}
The most recent mortgagee sale in postcode 2315 is a two bedroom unit at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-nelson+bay-114171971">42/1A Tomaree Street Nelson Bay</a> (pictured above). After a 601 day marketing campaign which started at $355,000, it sold for $205,000 through Rebecca Dean from PRDnationwide.
The one bedroom unit at <a rel="listingName" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-dallas-114532887">4/18 King Street, Dallas, Vic 3047</a> (pictured below) is listed for mortgagee auction in the Broadmeadows postcode.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/08/aug26broad2]}
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NSW home to nine of 10 most mortgage delinquent postcodes

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First home buyers are delaying buying their first home, according to a survey by RAMS.
Just one in eight respondents to the First Home Buyers’ Pulse Check are seeking to purchase their first home or an investment property within the next three months even though three out of four agree it's a good time to buy.
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" href="/images/stories/2013/08/RAMS-aug-27-big.gif" rel="shadowbox"><img src="/images/stories/2013/08/RAMS-aug-27-small.gif"></a>
“Today results show more than 75% respondents believe now is a great time to buy with the majority of respondents increasingly motivated to enter the property market to stop paying rent, take advantage of the current low fixed and variable interest rates,” RAMS’ Sulicich said.
“However, now it appears first home buyers are more cautious, taking a ‘wait and see approach’ to purchasing. Many first home buyer respondents still feel buying a home is out of reach due to challenges of saving for a home loan deposit and finding a home in the right location. Results also indicate a fear of unemployment, uncertainty around future earnings and a lack of housing supply are key concerns for this market,” he said.
The typical first home buyer has changed somewhat.
Survey results found a third of first home buyers are now more likely to be aged over 36, have a household income between $50 000 - $100,000 and 72% live in capital cities.
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First-home buyers delaying purchase: RAMS 

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The Gold Coast looks to be on the verge of a recovery, according to Australian Property Monitors' latest housing market report.
"The Gold Coast market is showing positive signs of reactivation, following a lengthy period of subdued buyer activity," the report says.
"Although the median house price fell marginally by 0.3% over the June quarter, house prices have risen by 2.1% over the first half of 2013, and are up by 3.2% over the full year ending June."
 
<img height="322" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/aug27apm/apm-aug-26-chart-15.gif" alt="apm-aug-26-chart-15">
 
 
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Gold Coast shows positive signs: APM

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Perth's median house price rose 3.2% over the June quarter - the greatest quarterly rise since December 2009, according to Australian Property Monitors.
Perth’s house prices have increased 7.5% over the 2013 financial year – the strongest performance of any capital city housing market, according to APM's latest housing market report.
"Perth’s median house price has now risen for 6 consecutive quarters, and is now at an all-time high of $584,487," the report says.
"The strength of the Western Australian economy is a key driver of the Perth housing market, evidenced by the lowest unemployment rate of any state, at 4.6 percent in July"
 
<img height="347" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/aug27apm/apm-aug-26-chart-7.gif" alt="apm-aug-26-chart-7">
 
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Perth house prices rise 3.2% over quarter - most since 2009

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There are signs of increased buyer activity in the subdued Adelaide housing market, according to APM's latest housing market report.
"Latest ABS home loan data for South Australia reports seasonally adjusted owner occupied loans up by 8.7% over the first half of 2013 compared to the same period last year," the report says.
"Adelaide median house prices have started to rise again, up by 0.8% over the June quarter, for an increase of 0.9 percent over the 2013 financial year.
<img alt="apm-aug-26-chart-4" src="/images/stories/2013/08/aug27apm/apm-aug-26-chart-4.gif" width="470" height="348">
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"The performance of the local economy however remains a concern, with the July unemployment rate for South Australia rising steeply to 7.1% - the highest of all the mainland states."
 
<img height="360" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/aug27apm/apm-aug-26-chart-3.gif" alt="apm-aug-26-chart-3">
 
 
 
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Adelaide shows signs of increased activity: APM

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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Alistair Walsh

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