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A UBS banking analyst says the latest round of interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank could put Australia at risk of a dangerous surge in house prices.
UBS's Jonathan Mott recently told the Australian Financial Review that record-low mortgage rates meant the “ingredients are now in place for another bout of sustained house price inflation in Australia and Sydney in particular.”
“Given Aussie housing is already expensive by most metrics we see this as undesirable and dangerous.”
The latest 25 basis point cut by the Reserve Bank was passed on in full by the banks including a bonus 28 basis cut by Westpac.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics capital city house prices are currently above their previous 2010 record high.
ANZ economist Warren Hogan recently predicted there was a growing debate about “how much frothiness we’ve got in the property market over the next year or so”.
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awalsh-7Ub9EypybQ

RBA cut risks dangerous price surge: UBS Jonathan Mott

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As sales activity picks up dramatically in Tasmania, Property Observer looks at the top 10 Tasmanian suburbs with the greatest number of house sales over the June quarter.
The list is topped by Kingston, in outer Hobart, with 45 sales over the quarter.
In Kingston, sales are up 25% over the quarter and 96% over the year.
Number two is Sandy Bay, an inner Hobart suburb, with 39 sales over the quarter, up 14.7% over the quarter.
The suburb on the list with the greatest quarterly increase is Moonah, in middle Hobart, up 187.5% over the quarter to 23 sales.
 
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<td width="268" height="20">Suburb</td>
<td width="80">No. of Sales</td>
<td width="137">% Quarterly increase</td>
<td width="123">% Yearly increase</td>
<td width="88">Median Price</td>
<td width="224">% Yearly median price change</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Kingston</td>
<td align="right">45</td>
<td align="right">25.00%</td>
<td align="right">95.70%</td>
<td align="right">$340,000</td>
<td align="right">-9.30%</td>
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<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Sandy Bay</td>
<td align="right">39</td>
<td align="right">14.70%</td>
<td align="right">34.50%</td>
<td align="right">$585,000</td>
<td align="right">14.70%</td>
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<td height="20">Devonport</td>
<td align="right">38</td>
<td align="right">18.80%</td>
<td align="right">-5.00%</td>
<td align="right">$232,000</td>
<td align="right">-9.90%</td>
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<td height="20">Lenah Valley</td>
<td align="right">32</td>
<td align="right">128.60%</td>
<td align="right">77.80%</td>
<td align="right">$381,000</td>
<td align="right">-3.40%</td>
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<td height="20">Howrah</td>
<td align="right">32</td>
<td align="right">18.50%</td>
<td align="right">60.00%</td>
<td align="right">$363,000</td>
<td align="right">-0.30%</td>
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<td height="20">Claremont</td>
<td align="right">25</td>
<td align="right">19.00%</td>
<td align="right">78.60%</td>
<td align="right">$235,000</td>
<td align="right">-6.70%</td>
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<td height="20">Trevallyn</td>
<td align="right">24</td>
<td align="right">50.00%</td>
<td align="right">41.20%</td>
<td align="right">$322,500</td>
<td align="right">13.20%</td>
</tr>
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<td height="20">Glenorchy</td>
<td align="right">24</td>
<td align="right">41.20%</td>
<td align="right">60.00%</td>
<td align="right">$270,000</td>
<td align="right">8.90%</td>
</tr>
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<td height="20">Moonah</td>
<td align="right">23</td>
<td align="right">187.50%</td>
<td align="right">228.60%</td>
<td align="right">$275,000</td>
<td align="right">3.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Riverside</td>
<td align="right">22</td>
<td align="right">22.20%</td>
<td align="right">22.20%</td>
<td align="right">$301,500</td>
<td align="right">22.60%</td>
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The top 10 Tasmanian locations for June quarter house sales

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Sydney maintains the greatest fall in online property listings with a 17% decline over the past year, as Sydney and national levels continued, not unexpectedly, to fall during July.
Across the country, the number of properties listed for sale online fell during July by 2.1% with Sydney mirroring the decline to sit at 27,973 listings, according to data providers, SQM Research.
There were a total of 351,487 properties listed online over July, down 2.5% from July last year, SQM's Louis Christopher noted.
Year on year, every capital city except Canberra and Melbourne recorded decreases in property advertised for sale.
National property listings peaked in November 2012 and have fallen since then. Sydney's property listings peaked one year earlier and have continued to remain at lower than prior years.
"It's pretty clear that the Sydney trend is a far more pronounced than the national trend," Christopher told Property Observer.
<img height="172" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/tassiesales-aug-5-table.jpg" alt="tassiesales-aug-5-table">
The biggest decrease in listings in Sydney was in the CBD where they fell 28.4% over the year. The lower north shore fell 26.2%, the northern beaches fell 26.4% and the eastern suburbs fell 25.3%.
Christopher says these decreases potentially point to a pick-up in the Australian housing market though it still believes the level of stock is elevated at a national level.
“It is becoming more and more evident that the housing market is beginning to pick up in this capital city and SQM Research believes that this will continue into the Spring selling season,” Christopher says.
Melbourne had no significant change over the month and still has the most online residential sales listings of all the capital cities.
Christopher says the listings are still elevated across Australia.
“However, there is now a large contrast between the readings of certain cities. Take Melbourne as an example - Despite apparent high clearance rates at auction, there is still too many listings on the market, creating headwinds for a Melbourne housing recovery,” he says.
“In contrast, Sydney is clearly experiencing a shortage of listings in the market, which is putting upward pressure on real estate prices. This is particularly the case in the inner ring where listings have fallen by approximately 25% over the past 12 months.”
Adelaide recorded the most significant monthly drop in stock, falling 4.5% over July to 17,536 properties. Year on year it fell 6.2%.
Darwin was the only capital city which recorded a monthly rise in listings, up 0.9% over June to 1,302 properties.
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National vendor hibernation continues into July, especially in Sydney: SQM

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Sales activity in Tasmania has jumped in the lead-up to spring led by a surge in Launceston sales, according to the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania.
It found there was a “dramatic” 10.5% increase in property sales in Tasmania for the June quarter with sales up 19.2% for the year, though price increases were small.
Launceston house sales activity led the charge for quarter, up 34.4% and 11.8% for the year, recording the biggest increase in two years.
Hobart house sales jumped 18% for the quarter and 37.4% for the year – the biggest quarterly increase in three years, according to REIT president Adrian Kelly.
“Although it could be argued these figures are skewed due to the low volume of sales, the figures still remain positive, particularly given the market conditions over recent years,” Kelly says.
Running against the trend, the North-West centres had a slight decrease in house sales, down 1.7% for the quarter but up 7.5% for the year.
The median house price in Tasmania increased 2.5% for the quarter, up 3.2% over the year.
Click to enlarge
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Kelly says these are positives signs for Tasmania’s real estate market, especially at a time with historically fewer properties coming onto market.
“Whilst sellers feel it is a good strategy to wait until spring before listing their property I suggest they discuss this approach with their agent, as selling in winter when there are fewer properties available for purchase can sometimes work in their favour,” he says.
As activity increased, time on market decreased. The average time to sell a house in Tasmania was two weeks quicker in the June quarter, now at 75 days.
First home buyers remained steady over the quarter, accounting for 19% of house sales while second home buyers still holding a majority of the market at 55%.
Launceston was the most popular with interstate buyers, making up 20% of sales for the quarter.
Kingston, in outer Hobart, is one of the suburbs with the highest turnover rates.
In February a newly built four bedroom house on 755 square metres at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-kingston-113027323">1 Kelp Street</a> (pictured below) sold for $537,500 through agent Dion Flanagan from Charlotte Peterswald Real Estate. The site last traded for $110,000 in 2005. According to RP Data it spent just 30 days on market.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/08/aug5kingston]}
And in May, a 1980-built four bedroom house on 2.13 hectares at 72 Leslie Road sold for $510,000, according to RP Data. It last sold for $230,000 in 1997. It spent 269 days on market.
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Sizeable 10.5% increase in Tasmanian June quarter property activity: REIT

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It is becoming difficult to buy good property in Melbourne says WBP Property Group buyers agent, Greville Pabst.
He says the REIV’s reported weekend clearance rate of 75% in Melbourne shows Melbourne buyers are increasingly confident.
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/grevillep"><img alt="tweet-of-the-day-aug-5" height="77" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/tweet-of-the-day-aug-5.jpg"></a>
He predicts annual median price growth will reach 10% if clearance rates in Melbourne stay between 70% and 75% in Melbourne over spring.
The REIV’s reported clearance rate is up from 69% last weekend and 60% for the same weekend last year.
It was based on 479 auctions of which 361 sold and 118 passed in, 68 of those on a vendor bid.
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Melbourne market confident as clearance rate jumps

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The average discount rate of properties in Melbourne has jumped nearly a full percentage point in one month, according to Australian Property Monitors.
The average discount in Melbourne in May was 7.3%, up from 6.4% in April.
In Canberra discount rates have dropped from 4.9% in April to 3.9% in May.
Changes in other cities were less dramatic with Perth the next biggest change, falling from 4.9% to 4.5%.
And for days on market, Adelaide was the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/no-slowing-in-canberra-house-and-unit-sales-speed-apm-heat-chart-apmnews/2013052961778" target="_blank">only capital city to show any significant improvement in April selling times</a>.
<img alt="heatchartmay30twothumb" src="/images/stories/2013/05/heatchartmay30twothumb.jpg" width="470" height="653">
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Level of vendor discounting jumps in Melbourne: APM heat chart

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The National Trust of Victoria is offering exclusive guided tours of Government House. 
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=49366">$15 tour</a> looks at the grand State Rooms, the billiard room and a visit below stairs to the old kitchens and mews.
The tours run most Mondays and Thursdays.
Government House, home to Alex Chernov, is next to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne.
<img height="210" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/05/tweetofthedaymay30.jpg" alt="tweetofthedaymay30">
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Tweet of the day: Take a tour of Victoria's Government House 

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The Harbourside Shopping Centre in Sydney’s Darling Harbour has been listed for sale by Suntrack Holdings, part of  John Beville’s property empire.
The three level three-level retail and entertainment centre on 20,500 square metres has more than 300 metres of water frontage to Cockle Bay.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/05/may30darlingharbour]}
Beville bought the site in 2004 for $127 million from Malaysians Kar Wai Chan and Thomas Tiong, who bought the site for $111 million in 1995 and spent $70 million refurbishing the site.
Beville’s 2004 purchase followed the $150 million sale of the Marrickville Metro shopping centre to AMP Capital Investors.
Comments by the selling agent suggest the Harbourside will sell for more than $250 million.
“One hundred per cent interests in retail property above $250 million are keenly sought after and rarely offered for sale within the Australian property market,” says Jonathan Fox from Stonebridge Property Group.
The centre, at <a href="https://www.stonebridgeproperty.com.au/property/iconic-sydney-landmark-retail/">2-10 Darling Drive</a>, has a net lettable area of 20,022 square metres and attracts 14 million visitors a year.
Beville has come under fire from the state government earlier this year, saying the 25-year old property would hamper the $2.5 billion redevelopment of Darling Harbour.
National president-elect of the Australian Institute of Architects, Paul Berkemeier, described the centre as a “tired tourist trap” and it had “passed its use-by date”.
The centre still has 75 years left on its 99-year lease from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.
The Australian Financial Review reports the site could likely attrract interest from near neighbours Infrastructure NSW, Lend Lease and Echo Entertainment, who have interest in building a hotel and casino on the site to compete with Crown’s Barangaroo development.
The shopping centre was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1988 in a $1 million ceremony that included a lavish fireworks display.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/05/darlingharbourmay30one.jpg" width="342" height="494" alt="darlingharbourmay30one">
Above: Caption Ian Hayson with Queen Elizabeth at the 1988 opening of Harbourside. Image courtesy of Hayson Group.
It was built by Ian and Tom Hayson’s group Merlin Australia who bought the site, then the Sydney Wool Stores, in the 1980s.
The Haysons were keen to replicate the success of Baltimore’s redevelopment of the old Inner Harbor into festival markets for the bicentennial celebrations.
After securing the support of the premier Neville Wran and public works minister Laurie Brereton, the Hayson’s redeveloped the site into the festival markets which formed the centre piece of the bicentennial celebrations. The site was also vital in securing the Olympic Games in 2000.
It is being sold by Stonebridge Property Group agents Jonathan Fox and Carl Molony through an expression of interest campaign that closes on July 17.
Receivers of Beville’s group Bevillesta sold The Top Ryde shopping to US private equity giant Blackstone for $341 million late last year.
Top Ryde was built by Beville in 2010 and cost about $800 million but receivers were appointed a year later.
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Harbourside Shopping Centre in Darling Harbour listed for $250m plus

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The secluded hill-side neighbourhood of Pullenvale out of Brisbane is in the spotlight after coal tycoon <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/nathan-tinkler-lists-indulgent-brisbane-acreage-mansion-tinkler-twowaterslides/2013052161547" target="_blank">Nathan Tinkler listed his magnificent acreage </a>and there are many listings there that seem to take forever to sell.
The Tinklers are seeking to sell their indulgent four hectare acreage (pictured below) in <a href="/news">Pullenvale </a>for between $4 million and $5 million. Rebecca Tinkler bought the property in 2007 for $5.2 million.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/05/may21tinkler]}
It is one of many luxurious listings in the suburb of Pullenvale, 14 kilometres south-west of Brisbane, but if the marketing campaign goes anything like their neighbours it may be some time before it sells.
A four-bedroom, four-bathroom Geoffrey Pie designed house on a four hectare acreage at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-qld-pullenvale-110668165" target="_blank">736 Grandview Road Pullenvale</a> (pictured below) is still listed for sale.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/05/pullenvalemay30one.jpg" alt="pullenvalemay30one" width="470" height="350">
It has been on the market for more than 18 months.
It has an undisclosed asking price, but in April last year agent Noel Elliott from Urban 8 Real Estate was looking for $4.85 million for the property.
The home includes a billiard room with adjacent bar, a 1,500 bottle wine cellar, a library, an outdoor spa, a 2 million litre dam, and a private elevator.
The vendors bought the property in 2003 for $700,000, according to RP Data.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
A 7.88 hectare block of residential land at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-qld-pullenvale-200531155" target="_blank">42 Lyndale Road Pullenvale</a> (pictured below) is listed for sale at $1.75 million plus.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/05/pullenvalemay30two.jpg" alt="pullenvalemay30two" width="470" height="339">
It has been on the market for almost one year.
It last traded for $1.95 million in 2011 and for $2.25 million in 2010.
A six bedroom, four bathroom house on 4.05 hectares is listed for sale for an undisclosed price. Like many properties in Pullenvale it has been on the market for quite some time. The last advertised price for the property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-qld-pullenvale-107546097">59 Haven Road</a> (pictured below) was $2.75 million in 2009.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/05/pullenvalemay30three.jpg" alt="pullenvalemay30three" width="470" height="344">
The current marketing campaign has been on for more than two years.
It includes standard Pullenvale features such as a waterfall cascading into a swimming pool and a rooftop deck.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
A five bedroom four bathroom home on 3.02 hectares <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-pullenvale-113489551" target="_blank">at 625 Grandview Road</a> is listed for sale at $1.4 million. It last traded for $1.255 million in 2010.
It has been on the market for less than two months, according to RP Data.
One of the most expensive recorded sales recently was at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-qld-pullenvale-108506416" target="_blank">77 Herron Road</a>, which sold for $3.55 million in June last year. It had been on the market for more than one year with an asking price of $3.95 million. 
And in September 2007 105 Herron Road sold for $6.7 million after being on the market for almost 18 months with an undisclosed price. It was bought by the former Middle Eastern boss of development firm Leighton, Laurie Voyer.
There are more than 50 listings in Pullenvale with the cheapest being a 2000 square metre vacant block at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-qld-pullenvale-2770243" target="_blank">72 Osna Place</a> listed for $539,000.
The median house price in Pullenvale is $945,000, according to RP Data. This has dropped 10% over the last year.
The median weekly asking rent for houses is $950.
The average time on market is 128 days.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics the median weekly household income is $2774 - more than double the rest of Queensland.
The residents are predominantly older people, mostly Australian born but with more English and more South African people than compared to the rest of Queensland.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/05/trophyhomesstrapone.jpg" alt="trophyhomesstrapone" width="470" height="57">
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Big prices and slow sales - close look at Pullenvale trophy acreages

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Singapore’s giant observation wheel, The Singapore Flyer, has entered into receivership just five years after it first opened.
The wheel, which at 165 metres is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, was fraught with links to companies that came under accusations of embezzlement in 2010.
And since opening in 2008 the wheel has suffered from several major break-downs, including an incident in 2008 when a fire in the control room caused the wheel to stop moving, stranding 173 passengers for six hours.
Tim Reid, Theresa Ng and Tan Aik Kiat from accounting firm Ferrier Hodgson have been appointed as the receivers and managers of the company's charged assets.
They say it’s business as usual for the wheel as they identify investors to manage and enhance the Singapore Flyer.
The troubles are reminiscent of Melbourne’s giant Ferris wheel, the Southern Star, which opened two years behind schedule in 2008 and closed 40 days later and has not yet reopened.
The troubled $100 million attraction is under major repairs and has missed several completion deadlines while suffering from safety problems.
In 2011 the 120 metre wheel broke free from restraints and started spinning in the wind, injuring two workers.
Soon after there were fears of falling debris from the wheel, which is being built by ING Real Estate.
In 2012 former premier Ted Ballieu told the Herald Sun, "it looks like what it is, which is a large, expensive, half-completed project, which has been very troubled, and the sooner it's resolved I think the better for everybody."
Former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle labelled it an embarrassment.
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Singapore observation wheel enters receivership

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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