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The Blackstone Group is reportedly moving to publicly list its Hilton Worldwide hotel chain.
Hilton has hired four banks — Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley to underwrite the anticipated initial public offering and help refinance around US$13 billion in debt.
Chris Snow, an analyst at CreditSights Inc., told the Wall Street Journal that an IPO could be a "multibillion-dollar" transaction.
It reports the IPO could happen in the early months of next year.
Founded in 1919, Hilton has recovered after a difficult financial crisis for commercial property.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Blackstone once had an on-paper loss of two-thirds of its US$6 billion investment in Hilton.
But its forecast earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation for 2013 are reportedly 58% higher than in 2009.
Blackstone bought Hilton six years ago for US$26.7 billion - one of the largest leveraged buyouts preceding the 2008 global financial crisis, according to Reuters.
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Hilton Worldwide moves to welcome guests via IPO

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The biochemist Shane Charter, embroiled in the Essendon Football Club imbroglio, has revised his house listing.
He had been looking to sell his stronghold home in Sunbury for $3.5 million but has knocked the price down to $2.7 million after receiving an offer to purchase five acres of the block separately.
He and estate agent Christian Lonzi are now selling the house on just 10 acres.
The five-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-vic-sunbury-113604239">150a Vineyard Road</a> is a heavily fortified den that has reinforced concrete walls, steel bars on the windows and a sophisticated security system.
It comes with a private gym, a swimming pool, a tennis court and a home theatre room.
He is reportedly selling the house to raise money for legal matters.
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Shane Charter revises Sunbury house listing

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Land tax in Western Australia will increase 12.5% as the Barnett government delivers a budget that attempts to reign in debt.
Treasurer Troy Buswell said most home owners’ land tax bill would not increase by more than $70, due to a forecasted decrease in property value growth, but the increase has been attacked by the peak real estate body in WA.
“The majority of taxpayers will only experience a modest increase in their land tax bill. Around 80% of taxpayers are estimated to have an increase of $70 or less (excluding the impact of any land valuation changes),” budget documents say.
“Even after this increase, Western Australia’s land tax rates will remain significantly below those of other jurisdictions.”
The tax increase is set to raise an additional $338 million over the next four financial years.
<img alt="landtax-aug-9" height="274" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/landtax-aug-9.gif">
Real Estate Institute of WA president David Airey said the tax increase was unwelcome news for property investors.
“This is a kick in the shins for property investors who supply two thirds of rental stock in WA. It will suck an extra $73 million out of their pockets as a punishment for being an investor,” he said.
“These owners already pay rates to local government for the provision of services yet get nothing from the state directly and subsidise government services which benefit the entire community.
“It's a great concern that the government remains so dependent on property taxes to run the state despite the enormous revenue earnings from resources.”
The tax is paid by 112,000 WA business and investment property owners.
A property in Cottesloe worth $500,000 would currently pay $180 per year in land tax plus a metropolitan region improvement tax of $280. Under the new conditions, the owner would pay $200 a year in land tax and the same amount of metropolitan region improvement tax.
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WA homeowners hit with land tax increase

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A five bedroom house in Doncaster East sold at auction last weekend for almost 40% more than the published price guide leading into the auction.
After being advertised at $800,000 to $880,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-doncaster+east-114256359">45 Beverley Street</a> (pictured below) sold for $1.22 million – a price improvement of 39.5%.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/08/aug9donc]}
Ray White agent George Papadopoulos told Property Observer he didn’t know what the comparable sales in the area were, saying “I don’t care”.
He says there were eight bidders at the auction which pushed the price far beyond its reserve of $900,000.
Despite the enormous price discrepancy between the price guide and the actual sale price he insisted there were no angry bidders at the auction.
“I’m not a mind reader. You’re asking stupid questions,” Papadopoulos said.
“I wouldn’t be angry [if I was bidding at an auction which sold for 40% above the price guide].”
The two storey house comes on 722 square metres. It has three bathrooms, a two-car garage and open space for more cars, multiple living spaces, a large kitchen with a walk-in pantry and, walk-in robes in all bedrooms and a backyard shed.
Papadopoulos told Property Observer that the owners wanted $900,000 so he set the price guide accordingly.
On the morning of the August 3 auction he said there was interest in the property at $1.1 million.
Bidding came from local families and overseas buyers.
“I’m still on cloud 9,” he told Property Observer.
But he’s not alone on cloud nine in Doncaster East.
A nearby three bedroom house at <a href="https://fletchers.net.au/3766915/44-Landscape-Drive-Doncaster-East" target="_blank">44 Landscape Drive</a> (pictured below) sold the same day for $820,000 – 24% above the price guide of $600,000 to $660,000 leading into the auction.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/08/aug9donc2]}
The single level home on 644 square metres was sold by Fletchers agents Jason Salan and Ebony Driscoll.  It comes with a study, a double garage and two bathrooms.
A Property Observer survey found <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/melbourne-auction-homes-selling-10-over-advertised-price/2013080863977" target="_blank">Melbourne auction properties sell for 11% above their price guide</a>.
A search by Property Observer returned 31 recent house sales in Doncaster East between $800,000 and $1.2 million so far this year, which most estate agents would suggest offer comparables sales advice, even taking into account out--of0line sales.
The recent sales in Doncaster East were.
34 Abelia Street, $900,000
24 Ascot Street, $840,000
32 Baratta Street, $800,000
17 Beresford Close, $1,135,000
3 Camira Close, $830,000
35 Churchill Street, $900,000
2 Correa Court, $920,000
6 Cosmos Court, $900,000
7 Diamond Court, $800,000
2A Franklin Road, $935,000
40 Gaudion Road, $950,000
38 Ireland Avenue, $835,000
4 Kris Court, $840,000
14 Larnoo Drive, $994,000
1 Leroy Place, $802,000
19 Monomeath Close, $1,068,000
3 Mont Close, $850,000
3 Murphy Road, $830,000
18A Norman Street, $968,500
8 Pine Way, $880,000
1 Regency Place, $950,000
3 Regency Place, $950,000
16 Rosamond Crescent, $1,050,000
68 Saxonwood Drive, $920,000
41 Schafter Drive, $800,000
5 Teringa Court, $805,000
14 Thorncombe Walk, $852,000
5 Treevalley Drive, $1,152,000
10 Viewmont Court, $800,000
4 Yates Wynd, $930,000
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Doncaster East house sells for 40% above price guide

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Melbourne auction properties are selling for well above their advertised price estimates in the lead-up to the spring auction season.
A Property Observer analysis of 68 auction sales since the end of the July school holidays found more than 90% have sold for above the advertised price guidance bracket.
Those 62 auctions sold, on average, for 11% above the published upper price guidance leading into the auction.
This figure is higher than previous analyses by Property Observer. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/melbourne-autumn-residential-auction-prices-fetching-well-above-price-guides/2013041160327/Page-1" target="_blank">In April this year</a>, Property Observer noted homes were selling at 9.55% above the upper advertised price bracket.
In <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/sale-prices-edge-87-above-estimates-of-melbourne-agents-underquoting-at-october-auctions/2012102957500/Page-1" target="_blank">October last year</a> it was 8.7%. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/underquoting-still-rife-in-melbourne/2012100456988" target="_blank">In September</a> it was 6.5% and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/auctions/melbourne-auction-listings-typically-selling-at-5-above-upper-end-estimate/2012090956435" target="_blank">in July</a> it was 5%.
Of the recent 68 auctions researched between July 20 to August 3, 25 sold for more than 10% over the upper bracket of the advertised price range leaving many intending buyers with futile costly time, money and emotional commitments in their wake.
The most extreme example was a five bedroom house in Doncaster East at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-doncaster+east-114256359" target="_blank">45 Beverley Street</a> (pictured below) which sold for $1.22 million after being advertised at $800,000 to $880,000 – a discrepancy of almost 40%.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/08/doncaster-east-aug-9-onw.jpg" width="470" height="307" alt="doncaster-east-aug-9-onw">
A three bedroom house in Glen Iris at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/51-maitland-street-glen-iris/Property-Details-sold-residential-5755815" target="_blank">51 Maitland Street</a> (pictured below) sold for $1.55 million after being advertised for sale at $1.05 and $1.15 million – 35% above the upper bracket.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/08/glen-iris-aug-9.jpg" width="470" height="274" alt="glen-iris-aug-9">
The next biggest divergence was a two bedroom unit in Surrey Hills at <a href="https://fletchers.net.au/3761630/2-16-Kent-Road-Surrey-Hills" target="_blank">2/16 Kent Road</a> which sold for $692,000 after being advertised at $500,000 to $550,000 – a 26% discrepancy.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/08/surrey-hills-aug-9.jpg" width="470" height="275" alt="surrey-hills-aug-9">
Homes selling for more than $1 million were the most likely to sell above the advertised price range – of the 13 auction sales analysed none fell between the advertised range.
On average, homes in that price bracket went for 13% over.
For the 30 properties under $600,000, 26 sold above the advertised price bracket, selling for an average of 10% over the upper price bracket.
For the 25 properties in the $600,000 to $1 million price bracket, 23 sold above the advertised price range – going for an average of 10.5% above the advertised price.
Of the 68 auction results analysed, none sold for beneath the advertised price bracket.
The properties analysed come from auctions attended and reported on by the Melbourne buyers advocacy group <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nationalpropertybuyers.com.au/">National Property Buyers</a>. They represent properties identified as sound investments or cream of the crop properties.
The price quotes are received as close as possible to the auction date to avoid step quoting practices, the buyers agency notes.
Meanwhile a survey <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/sydney-auctions-selling-well-above-price-guides/2013081964121">in Sydney found 12% of auctions there are selling above price guides.</a>
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Melbourne auction homes selling 11% over advertised price

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A shopping centre in Sandstone Point, 45 kilometres north of Brisbane, has sold for $8 million to a private investment syndicate.
The Village Shopping Centre, at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-qld-sandstone+point-500614383">204-208 Bestmann Road</a>, was sold by vendors POD Developments Pty Ltd.
Jones Lang LaSalle agent Sam Hatcher said the listing attracted strong interest.
“We received excellent interest from local and interstate investors and syndicators, attracted to the security of income, given 80% of the income for the centre is generated by three large and secure tenants,” Hatcher says.
“At the close of the expressions of interest campaign we had five strong offers and promptly agreed terms.”
<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-qld-sandstone+point-500614383">The centre</a> has an IGA supermarket and seven retail tenancies with a gross lettable area of 2,287 square metres.
There are 158 car-parks a medical centre, a newsagency and a hair salon.
“A strong attraction to the offering was the secure lease covenants with a mix of national and local retailers,” Hatcher says.
The centre is located between the Pebble Beach recreation reserve and the Pebble Beach retirement community village.
The centre has a weighted average lease expiry of more than of nine years.
The deal was negotiated by Sam Hatcher and Jacob Swan.
Hatcher says the side has a future expansion potential of 500 square metres of net lettable area.
The property earns $753,465 per year when fully leased.
The vendor bought the site in 2005 for $1.1 million and then built the centre in 2006.
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Caboolture shopping centre sells for $8 million

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The Indaily independent news group and the Adelaide Advertiser today speculated that ousted prime minister Julia Gillard has dropped $1.8 million on a home in the Brighton beachside suburb of her native Adelaide. 
It comes with four bedrooms and a 12-person spa.
Local estate agent Phil Harris was coy on whether he sold the house to Gillard, telling the Advertiser he was unable to speak.
The Indaily contacted Gillard's office yesterday but they declined to comment.
The Advertiser have tweeted their intriguing conversation with Harris.
"I've heard rumours but I can't talk about it," he told the Adelaide Advertiser's property editor Tom Bowden.
"I know she's looking around at some properties down there, absolutely.
"I do know she's seriously looking along the coastline, but specifically that property I can't say.
"Has she approached us? I won't make a comment on that."
The paper was told by the home's agent that a contract had been signed on the property but Gillard's name doesn't appear.
"I don't know where that information has come from but it's definitely not Julia Gillard who has purchased the property."
Maybe it's in her mum's name, they speculate.
Last month <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/julia-gillard-set-to-move-back-to-adelaide-but-not-leave-altona-imminently/2013071763394">Property Observer </a>noted the rumours that the former PM was heading back to Adelaide from her Melbourne base of Altona.
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Local papers tweet that Julia Gillard spends $1.8 million in hometown Adelaide

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Renowned vineyard South Burloo, home of the Trickey family’s Warrumbungle Wines, has been listed for sale.
Established in 1998 the organic 10 hectare vineyard, on a 200 hectare freehold in Coonabarabran NSW, is being auctioned by Ray White agent Chris Korff.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-viticulture-nsw-coonabarabran-7568051" target="_blank">The lifestyle property</a>, which looks over the Warrumbungle mountain rage, grows chambourcin, merlot, petit verdot and shiraz varieties.
It comes with a brick homestead, a swimming pool, a courtyard gazebo and a tennis court.
There is a bore, a large dam and large tank water storage. Other improvements include a cottage, a two level barn, a vehicle storage shed and cattle yards.
The vineyard is at an altitude of 600 metres, ensuring cold conditions for the grapes which are reportedly hand-picked at night.
The vineyard is managed by Gareth Trickey, a former real estate investor in Hong Kong, and his brother Cameron.
Korff says the property has had interest from Sydney and Melbourne buyers as well inquiry from neighbours. 
The property is being marketed as having potential as a bed and breakfast  as well as a function venue.  
Korff says prices are quite hard to gauge on properties like and have a large amount of price variation this but he expects it to sell for more than $500,000. 
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The 1998 Warrumbungle winery listed for sale

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La Belle and Welltree stations in the Northern Territory have been listed for sale after owner RM Williams Agricultural Holdings was placed into receivership in late July.
The stations, near Litchfield National Park, are being sold by receivers PPB Advisory through real estate agency Colliers.
PPB Advisory spokesman Greg Quinn said the company paid the price for diversifying its business too quickly.
"It's expanded too quickly and lost its way," he told ABC News in July.
"When you do that, trying to maintain that functionality and priorities of where your investors want to go becomes extremely difficult.
"This puts a spotlight on corporate agribusiness, how that might work in the future.
“In contrast, it also highlights how well the family-run business model is working: family farmers who are very passionate about what they do, know the business and have the skin in the game.”
The hasty listing is being sold through an expressions of interest campaign ending August 23.
The stations total 92,500 hectares and have a carrying capacity of 20,000 to 25,000 cattle.
They are 180 kilometres south south west of Darwin and 82 kilometres east of Batchelor.
The floodplain properties come with two sets of covered steel cattle yards, a homestead, an airstrip and a hangar.
The properties were bought in 2009 for a reported $72 million from controversial cattleman Peter Camm.
The Northern Territory News reported at the time the two stations were being bought to be used as carbon emission trade-offs for industrial projects.
Camm bought the properties in 2005 for a reported $13.5 million.
They have been used as a cattle agistment centre with previous cattle holdings being sold off some time ago.
According to PPB Advisory the stations are in good condition having being understocked for some time.
Its Queensland station Mirage Plains was also placed into receivership and was being marketed by Landmark Harcourts Sydney.
Its Inglewood Farms organic chicken business was also placed into receivership in early July.
 
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La Belle and Welltree Stations listed after receivership

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Rural real estate firm Landmark Harcourts will be embarking on a 10 day tour of mainland China and Hong Kong to encourage Chinese investors to buy rural Australian property.
The September tour will take chief executive Darren Cole and colleagues to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong to showcase a selection of around 40 properties in the Landmark Harcourts network.
Cole says the tour will let the firm market rural properties directly to Chinese buyers as they build in-roads into the Chinese market.
"We're really testing the market. If we had massive expectations of coming back and having all of the properties sold that would be completely unrealistic. We’re looking at trying to build relationships for the long term," Cole says.
“This is our chance to market the benefits of owning property in Australia by speaking and marketing directly to the prospective customer."
The list of properties is a wide selection of regional sites that Cole hopes will give an indication of where the interest lies for Chinese buyers.
The diverse list includes a cane farm, a lobster farm in South Australia, a gypsum mine in Central Northern Queensland and a motel from Echuca as well as a number of wineries.
There a number of properties over the $5 million mark which Cole will use to explore of the option of significant investor visa buyers.
"A broad cross section is what we’re trying to select and then we'll narrow down which are the most appropriate. We might get there and find there’s a more of  an apptiete for four bedroom double lockups in Wangaratta but that’s why we have the cross section," Cole says.
The group will hold information sessions supported by one-0n-one meetings with interested buyers, accompanied by translators.
They will attend meetings with bankers, corporate buyers, and goernment delegates and will also attend the Beijing Overseas Property and Investment Expo, expected to attract up to 40,000 visitors and possibly a property expo in Shanghai. 
The firm has had their e-magazine including property listings translated in Manadarin and distributed to one million suscribers across China.
Cole says China is an important emerging market in the rural property industry, one that he's keen to be involved in.
"We’ve transacted with many different internationals, including the Chinese. I’d hate to sway the perception that that’s our main international buyer. We have importantant American, English and Middle East buyers."
"So I’d hate to sway the market’s thinking that it’s all about China but it’s certainly an emerging economy. The middle class has an emerging need from an investment perspective. And a faster growing high net worth part of the market."
Cole says all the properties are available to Australian buyers and they are not exclusively marketing them to Chinese buyers.
 
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Landmark Harcourt rural to market properties direct to Chinese

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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