<html><body>
Cosmetic surgeon and hotel tycoon, Jerry Schwartz, is reportedly close to buying the troubled Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley for $45 million.
Colliers have confirmed the sale, saying they received 10 validated expressions of interest in the property.
The hotel in Lovedale, the NSW Hunter Valley district town, has been in receivership with Ferrier Hodgson since 2010, with the current listing going up in May. After being listed since 2010, it was taken off the market in October after bids came in below the $50 million expectations.
It is being sold with possible vacant possession but Schwartz has reportedly struck a deal with current operators InterContinental Hotels Group, who run some of Schwartz’s other hotels.
Two hours north of Sydney, the 4.5-star resort first opened in 2006. It comes with 150 hotel rooms, 169 strata-titled two- and three-bedroom villas, an 18-hole golf course, an award-winning restaurant, and gym and conference facilities. The property also comes with 41 hectares of cleared land.
The report of Schwartz’s interest in the property originally came from the Australian Financial Review.
The property was placed into receivership in early 2010 by National Australia Bank. Chinese construction firm Hightrade Constructions Pty Ltd and two associated entities had borrowed tens of millions from NAB to build the hotel but later ran into financial difficulty.
Hightrade were the subject of criticism after failing to pay millions of dollars to sub-contractors on their other Hunter projects and later being involved in a $130 million battle with the Australian Tax Office.
The hotel has reportedly also attracted interest from Chinese buyers who have targeting wineries in the Hunter Valley.
Jerry Shwartz is the son of Hungarian dentist turned property investor turned property magnate, Bela Schwartz. After emigrating to Australia in 1938 he starting buying up properties and building a portfolio. He founded The Schwartz Family Company, and after the death of his wife Eva started consolidating his assets. Jerry controls the company now and has been building the property portfolio extensively.
The company currently owns 10 hotels across Australia and is worth more than $200 million.
Jerry Schwartz has recently made a habit of buying up struggling properties near Sydney.
Most recently he bought the Fairmont Resort in the Blue Mountains from receivers for $26 million – about half what it traded for in 2006. He then undertook a $10 million renovation.
According to sales documents the hotel is forecast to make $26 million in revenue for the 2012 financial year. Before tax and depreciation this is expected to earn the owner $2 million. The expected revenue per available room is $111 RevPAR.
The property has been marketed by Colliers International agents Matthew Meynell and Steam Leung.
<img alt="crowneplaza" src="/images/stories/2012/crowneplaza.gif" height="225" width="400">
</body></html>

awalsh-7Ub9EypybQ

Jerry Schwartz set to buy Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley

<html><body>
This seventh placed cinema in our 20 home cinema countdown is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.verseproperty.com.au/Buying/Search/Detail.aspx?id=VPG215&amp;wlid=8dc7898f-d920-406c-b1e6-5ec7310eb8a2">from South Perth</a>. It comes with overhead lighting like a night sky and cinema-style furnishings. Watching a movie in a room like this is really an immersing experience, in every sense of the word.
The room is dominated by the massive screen and nothing else really jostles for you attention. It opens out into the marble-clad giant dining area. The 513 square metre property, aptly titled La Stupenda, is available from Prakash Dayanandan of Verse Property and has $5.85 million-plus price hopes. The listing assures us that the home is anything but humble.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre7.jpg" width="470">
To see which home theatres placed eighth click here, ninth click here and tenth here. For the list of theatres in 11th to 20th place click here.
</body></html>

Wide screen seventh-placed cinema in Property Observer's top 20 home cinemas worthy of Academy recognition

<html><body>
The Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott says his government would have tighter restrictions on Chinese state-owned companies taking control of existing businesses in Australia, but says he supports them starting new businesses here.
Speaking in China, he warned against Chinese takeovers in Australia, but says he supported Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) developing greenfield start-up businesses here, especially in mining and northern agriculture.
“It would rarely be in Australia’s national interest to allow a foreign government or its agencies to control an Australian business,” he said, mentioning that Chinese investment is dominated by state-owned enterprises.
"That's because we don't support the nationalisation of businesses by the Australian Government, let alone a foreign one."
Trade Minister Craig Emerson has criticised the speech as dangerous.
“In effect, Mr Abbott is saying to China that its investment will not be welcome in Australia. This is a dangerous and stupid thing to say,” Emerson says.
"He has made the journey to China to tell them investment by their SOEs is unwelcome," Emerson says.
"This would create Chinese perceptions of high sovereign risk in Australia, since Mr Abbott has indicated that if he became Prime Minister he would overrule a Foreign Investment Review Board finding for a Chinese SOE, and that his decision on their investment would be no."
Abbott’s deputy, Julie Bishop is co-leading a review of foreign investment rules.
“The Coalition welcomes foreign investment but the increase in sovereign wealth funds and state-owned entities in recent years has meant we, like other countries around the world, have to make sure the rules are appropriate and that there is transparency and clarity around how they are applied,” Bishop says.
“Australia has to be able to make a judgement on national interest grounds and Tony Abbott has restated our position.”
The announcement is a win for views of the Liberal senator Bill Heffernan who has long campaigned against foreign ownership, especially by sovereign-based entities.
</body></html>

Tony Abbott moves to limit Chinese sovereign investment in Australia

<html><body>
Building owners in Melbourne will let curious punters visit previously restricted properties as Melbourne Open House kicks off for another year this weekend.
The two-day event will let the public have access to Melbourne’s top architectural developments and structural oddities. It runs over July 28 and 29.
The event has grown significantly over the last five years with last year’s event attracting 106,000 visits over the weekend. That’s 10 times as many volts as runs through the JA substation in Spring Street, which is one of the buildings open to the public.
There are 100 buildings open this year, including places like the Peter Mac radiation therapy bunkers, The Windsor Hotel, Melbourne Town Hall and Melbourne University’s Yarra-side boathouse.
Spokesperson Robert Larocca says the most popular buildings are inevitably those which offer a view of the city from up high.
Some of those offering views this year are Edgewater Towers at 1 Spring Street, the Urban Workshop, Orica House and the Royal Melbourne Hospital Towers.
“This is the only weekend in the year when you can see the very best and most loved buildings in the city for free,” Larocca says.
Some smaller spaces have been booked out but most spaces remain open.
For information visit <a href="https://openhousemelbourne.org">openhousemelbourne.org</a>.
<img alt="RMHTunnels" src="/images/stories/2012/RMHTunnels.gif" height="225" width="400">
</body></html>

Lofty view vantage points for Melbourne Open House weekend

<html><body>
This home theatre is for stars, not just cinephiles. It comes with inspired overhead lighting.  
This home theatre is in a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-coolum+beach-107392615">Coolum Beach property</a> named Casa Del Mar. The seats are made from Italian leather and there’s a bar at the back of the room. Fear not, the rest of the house is just as ostentatious with complex lighting systems, a removable glass ceiling over the master bedroom, a 10-person spa and an extravagant pool.
It was sold in 2011 after being listed through Leon Butt Oracle Realty Sunshine Coast.
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre6.jpg">
To see which home theatres placed ninth and tenth click here and here. For the list of theatres in 11th to 20th place click here.
</body></html>

Stars overhead in this eighth-placed home theatre in Property Observer's Top 20 home cinemas 

<html><body>
The Peppers Anchorage hotel in Port Stephens has been listed for sale by Bay Holdings Ltd, a joint venture company owned by Greg Shand and Allan Vidor.
Set on a 1.5 hectare site on the Tomaree Peninsula, the 1.5-hectare luxury hotel opened in 1992.
The 80-room hotel development project was first unveiled in 1988 then built at around a reported $23 million cost. It was designed to resemble a New England fishing village consisting of a series of coastal-style cottages, linked by covered walkways.
<img alt="anchorage6" src="/images/stories/2012/anchorage6.gif" height="306" width="460">
CBRE Hotels agents Andrew Jackson and Rob Cross are selling the property, with the campaign ending August 23.
The hotel is attached to a 90-berth marina, which is being sold concurrently through Knight Frank.
Many of the visitors to the hotel come for dolphin and whale watching as well as game-fishing, jet-skiing, kayaking and scenic flights in the hotels seaplane.
The area is also a sailing hotspot and home to a number of sailing regattas.
The Peppers lease finished in 2011, and the building is being offered vacant.
No price indication has been giveb for the Peppers officering. 
The hotel almost sold to Macquarie Bank in 2002, and then was last listed in early 2008.
Its 2008, Jones Lang LaSalle expressions of interest campaign sought around $30 million for the hotel with marina.
<img alt="anchorage7" src="/images/stories/2012/anchorage7.gif" height="289" width="460">
Jackson says the Colette Point Road hotel is an icon in Port Stephens. 
“The property benefits from a diverse business mix, which includes corporate clientele, as well as conferencing, leisure trade and weddings,” Jackson says.
“The hotel and restaurant are also very popular with the locals, and there is an opportunity for a more hands-on owner to achieve further upside by developing the conferencing and wedding business.”
The development got its 1988 approval after two years of negotiating with the Lake Macquarie City Council by the Peppers Hotel Group, the headed by Mike O'Connor, reportedly in partnership with Mercantile Credits Ltd, Centennial Developments and McAndrew &amp; Associates.
</body></html>

Peppers Anchorage Hotel in Port Stephens listed for sale

<html><body>
Westpac took a Twitter poll to see which rooms people most want to renovate. Kitchens came out on top, as most people are sick of poorly designed and ageing cooking areas.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/Westpac/status/226125444737544192" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/wpactwitter.jpg"></a>
</body></html>

Consumers have a taste for kitchen renos: Tweet of the day

<html><body>
The landmark Westpac Bank site in Church Street Parramatta, first taken up by Bank of NSW in 1874, has been listed for sale.
The imposing sandstone building on the site was built in 1938.
The façade of the two-storey interwar stripped classical building is dominated by large ashlar sandstone columns, flanking timber four-panelled double doors.
Prior to and during its early life as a bank, the site was also operating as the Australian Arms Hotel.
After leasing for some years, the Bank of NSW acquired the two-storey inn, altered it and used it till 1938 when it was demolished and the current premises were built.
The land was originally granted to Governor Lachlan Macquarie’s superintendent of public works, Richard Rouse, in 1823. He built the Australian Arms Hotel in 1838.
The new building was designed by architect firm Spain, Cosh and Dods, also responsible for Edwards Dunlop Building in Brisbane, Daily Telegraph Building in Sydney and St Brigid's Catholic Church at Red Hill.
The site now includes an adjacent three storey modern building bringing the total area to 1,275 square metres and includes on-site parking for up to nine cars.
The site is 100% leased to current tenant Westpac, which emerged from Bank of NSW in 1982.
The site earns a net income of $536,000 per annum plus GST. There are 2.5 years left on the lease with two five-year options.
Westpac sold the site for $3.03 million in 2000 to two partners. One partner then bought the other’s 50% stake for $3 million in 2007.
Agent George Khoury from Khoury &amp; Partners says the property is attracting significant investor interest.
He is looking to sell the property for $7.5 million to $9 million.
Parramatta was established in 1788 and is the oldest inland European settlement in Australia.
The town was founded after the first fleet settlers built farms there to support the 1,000 convicts, soldiers and administrators. The site was the furthest navigable point on the Parramatta river and the soil was deemed significantly better than those around Sydney Cove.
Growth in the area was minimal until the 1850s when development was aided by the construction of a railway line. Then rapid expansion continued through the late 1800s, with Parramatta becoming a commercial hub for the western Sydney area.
Some of the most significant development in the city happened during the post-war years with industrial growth, immigration and the establishment of public housing estates.
The town is home to many of Australia's earliest colonial buildings, with more heritage-listed buildings in than Sydney's historic Rocks quarter.
</body></html>

Historic Westpac Parramatta bank listed with $7.5 million-plus hopes

<html><body>
It’s like going to a Gold Class cinema and having it all to yourself – plus you can pause the movie while you get another Coke and popcorn top-up. A simple TV just doesn’t suffice for a lot of home owners these days. Many enthusiasts will buy a large LED TV and an expensive sound system, which is great, but even that isn’t enough for some cinephiles. Many house now come with home theatre rooms – rooms dedicated to the ultimate audio-visual experience. 
The most opulent of offerings include banks of tiered oversized reclining chairs, giant projector screens, overhead lighting like a night sky and cinema-style furnishings. Watching a movie in a room like these really is an immersive experience, in every sense of the word.
Queensland and Perth consistently delivered the homes with the most luxurious home theatre rooms, but New South Wales and Victoria had their fair share.
Property Observer found these homes on the market in the last year or so with the grandest home theatre systems available. Here's 20 to 11, then next week we countdown the best 10 home cinemas.
20
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre20.jpg">
This elegant 10-seater arrangement comes from a <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/QLD/Hope-Island/?adid=2007637175" target="_blank">home in Hope Island</a>. The tiered seating matches the pastel colour scheme of the rest of the room. The hidden projector is a nice touch that keeps the room looking polished. The rest of the home is as you’d expect for its initial $19 million asking price. The mega-mansion sits on a 5,400-square-metre block and has a 176-metre water frontage. The seven bedroom, 10-bathroom house is being marketed with an eye to the foreign market. It now's been listed through Ray White Surfers Paradise with $16.5 million hopes.
19
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre19.jpg">
It’s just you and the movie in this theatre. The stark austerity of the room caught Property Observer’s eye. It almost matches the aesthetic of The Matrix playing on the screen. There’s little else in the room except for the cinema seating and a 120-inch screen. It’s part of an 893-square-metre home in Ascot with extensive gardens and a waterfall. It was recently on the market through Anjanette Parker of Anjanette Parker Property Clayfield.
18
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre18.jpg" width="470">
This home theatre in Paradise Point is an understated theatre room. It’s from a three-level, five-bedroom home that sits on a 30-metre waterfront with mooring facilities for a 30-metre yacht. It also has a 10-car garage in the basement and a commercial-grade elevator. It was recently available through Sarah Filippini from Island Realty. 17
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre17.jpg" width="470">
These look like the sort of sofas that have been in the family for years and get comfier with each passing day, but apparently they’re made to order. A very friendly way to provide seating in a home theatre. The roof looks suspiciously like audio panels as well. It’s part of a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-whitfield-107314869" target="_blank">five-bedroom megahome in Whitfield</a> with two swimming pools, spa, several lounges, a private library, a music podium and a tropical fruit tree orchard. It is listed through Sue Clyde-Smith of Elite Cairns and Beaches with $2,495,000 hopes.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 16
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre16.jpg" width="470">
This dark room lets nothing distract from the experience of watching a movie. It’s just you and the screen in a pitch-black room. The room is in a three-level, four bedroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-scarborough-106394273" target="_blank">Scarborough, Queensland, home</a> on the waterfront. It comes with an elevator, jet-ski storage, suspended lap-pool and a private beach. It is listed through Maddies Hermans of Century 21 Scarborough.
15
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre15.jpg" width="470">
The owners of this place have gone for a different atmosphere. Rather than emulate the feel of a cinema as close as possible they’ve got for a more comfortable and homely approach. The bank of sofas and the striped wallpaper gives it a more social atmosphere than other home theatres. The rest of the four-bedroom property overlooks Bronte Beach and features a spa, a heated swimming pool, a sauna and a wine cellar. 14
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre14.jpg" width="470">
Carpet like this doesn’t exist outside of cinemas. The tiered seating gives an easy view of the screen. It lacks any extraneous clutter to create a comfortable viewing atmosphere. The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-belmont-107421974" target="_blank">Belmont, Queensland</a>, house also comes with a tennis court, an outdoor granite kitchen, a self-contained pool house and gym and a horse paddock. It is available through Brenton Faehrmann Ray White Bulimba. 13
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre13.jpg" width="470">
This is a big screen. It’s like being seated in the front row of a cinema without having to look up. This three-bedroom house in North Adelaide also comes with a waterfall that cascades into a solar-heated swimming pool while rainforest noises are piped through hidden speakers.
12
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre12.jpg" width="470">
Oddly shaped rooms are apparently perfect for home theatres as they’re good at preventing standing waves. This smaller offering has all of the cinema magic one could hope for, especially with those red velvet curtains. It’s part of a four-bedroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-buddina-109092191" target="_blank">Buddina property</a>. It was recently sold by Mark Unkel of Elite Lifestyle Properties Minyama. 11
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre11.jpg" width="470">
You’d be the envy of independent movie makers with a theatre like this. The staggered seating gives uninterrupted views of the massive screen at the front, and the wall-mounted speakers complete the experience. It’s built into a 1,115-square-metre <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-manly+west-109182706" target="_blank">Manly West mansion</a>, which has an eight-person spa, a sauna, a 10-car garage and seven bedrooms. It’s listed through Margaret Vote of Raine &amp; Horne Wynnum / Manly with $2.5 million-plus hopes.
Next week the countdown from 10 gets underway.
</body></html>

Popcorn and property: Australia's top 20 home cinemas worthy of Academy recognition – 20 through 11

<html><body>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/abcmarkscott/status/225742123734011904"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/markscott.jpg" width="470" height="268" alt="markscott"></a>
Mark Scott, managing director of the ABC, discusses Griffith University’s Gold Coast development, which has been in the works since 2002.
Works currently in progress include a new library, a new international building, a new commercial building and plaza, a health centre and more.
</body></html>

ABC's Mark Scott impressed with Griffith University's Gold Coast campus: Tweet of the day

For most new apartment buildings, the Owners Corporation starts life with little more than a bank account and the first quarterly strata levies.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/9-gay-street-castle-hill-9-gay-street-castle-hill-nsw-2154">9 Gay Street</a> in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a>, it starts with around $7 million in reserve.

It's an unusual legacy of what was once one of Sydney's highest-profile apartment remediation projects. When the development, originally known as Skyview and built by disgraced developer Top Place, came under scrutiny by then NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, an $11 million remediation bond was negotiated to ensure any building defects could be fully rectified.

The building underwent an 18-month remediation program, during which around $4 million of that bond was spent bringing the building up to the standard it should have been in from the outset.

After extensive inspections, all active rectification orders have been lifted. What's more, around $7.2 million remains secured for the Owners Corporation for the next 15 years.

In a twist few would have predicted, what began as a significant concern for purchasers has left the building with something almost unheard of in the apartment market: a multi-million-dollar financial reserve from day one.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359136]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a> Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said the structure offers buyers a level of certainty that is difficult to replicate.

"The $11 million bond established for the Skyview Castle Hill development represents exceptional value, providing genuine financial security for purchasers," Huxley said.

"Unlike a standard insurance policy, this bond consists of real funds held in trust for the Owners Corporation, offering a tangible layer of protection and added peace of mind."

The apartments themselves have been designed with a focus on practical, contemporary living. Interiors feature Smeg appliances, stone benchtops, tiled living areas, carpeted bedrooms, 2.7-metre ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and ducted heating and cooling throughout.

Residents also have access to a range of shared amenities, including two rooftop barbecue areas, a swimming pool, children's playgrounds, secure building access, storage cages, and visitor parking.

The location continues to be one of the project's strongest drawcards. Castle Hill Metro Station sits virtually on the doorstep, providing direct connections across Sydney's expanding Metro network, while Castle Towers offers extensive retail, dining, entertainment, and service amenities within walking distance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359127]

The building, now named after its location at 9 Gay Street, comprises a diverse mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments starting from just under $600,000.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett said demand in the Hills District continues to be driven by buyers seeking convenience and connectivity.

"Interest from both owner-occupiers and investors in Castle Hill remains exceptionally strong, with buyers consistently prioritising developments in close proximity to the Metro station and Castle Towers Shopping Centre," Hamblett said.

"There is a clear trend in the market, with purchasers seeking convenient access to transport and lifestyle amenities that support a seamless, low-maintenance way of living."

On top of the long-term protection afforded by the remaining $7.2 million bond, Equitifund is offering a limited-time stamp duty rebate on selected apartments.

Eligible purchasers can also secure finance options, including a 3.99 per cent two-year variable rate, loan-to-value ratios of up to 90 per cent, and interest-only lending options through EquitiCredit.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=147685]

Joel Robinson

Why this Castle Hill apartment building starts with a $7 million advantage

For much of the past few years, conversations about Australia's property market have centred on the rapid growth seen in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3004">Melbourne</a> has followed a different trajectory.

That relative underperformance is now encouraging some buyers to reassess the city, particularly those willing to look beyond short-term market movements and focus on quality property in established locations, along with the long-term growth prospects of a city expected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous.

John Bekiaris, Research &amp; Market Insights at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Projects by Equitifund</a>, said Melbourne's current position is attracting increasingly sophisticated purchasers.

"Melbourne continues to present one of Australia's strongest long-term investment stories," Bekiaris says.

"While other capital cities have experienced stronger recent growth, that relative underperformance is exactly what's attracting sophisticated counter-cyclical investors."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363268]

Equitifund isn't just commenting on Melbourne's property market, it's investing in it.

The Sydney-headquartered capital partner has taken over the remaining apartments at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/victoriana-melbourne-20-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">Victoriana</a>, the recently completed glass-encased development opposite Albert Park Lake in Melbourne's tightly held St Kilda Road precinct.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hickory">Hickory</a>, Victoriana places residents between one of Melbourne's most recognised parklands and the CBD, offering oversized two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at owner-occupiers seeking a genuine alternative to a traditional family home.

The development comprises 232 completed residences alongside a suite of resident amenities, including a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, landscaped entertaining areas, resident lounges, EV charging, secure basement parking and a concierge-style arrival experience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363229]

The apartments have been designed with owner-occupiers firmly in mind.&nbsp;Open-plan living and dining areas flow onto generous balconies framing views across Albert Park Lake, Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne skyline.

Kitchens feature Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and generous preparation space. Bedrooms include built-in robes, while bathrooms feature full-height textured tiling. Hardwood flooring and ducted air conditioning complete residences designed for long-term living.

Rothelowman's architecture takes its cues from the landscape opposite the site. Sweeping horizontal glazing references the movement of Albert Park Lake, while generous balconies and expansive glazing strengthen the connection between the apartments and the surrounding parklands. The result is a building designed to deliver the scale and amenity expected of luxury apartment living, while offering the larger floorplans increasingly sought by owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363284]

The location is one of Victoriana's defining characteristics. Positioned on Queens Road, residents are directly opposite Albert Park Lake and within easy reach of Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, South Melbourne, St Kilda Road and the CBD. With few comparable development opportunities remaining in the precinct, buyers are increasingly placing value on outlooks that are unlikely to be interrupted by future construction.

Greg Huxley, Founder of Equitifund, believes those qualities become even more valuable over time.

"Premium real estate has always rewarded buyers who take a long-term view," Huxley said.

"Victoriana represents the kind of asset that's increasingly difficult to recreate today, particularly in an established location like Queens Road."

He said rising construction costs are also changing the way buyers assess completed developments.

"When you combine an irreplaceable location with thoughtful architecture and premium finishes, you create something that becomes increasingly difficult to reproduce as construction costs continue to rise."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363228]

According to National Sales Director Ben Hamblett, enquiry has been driven largely by Melbourne downsizers and buyers upgrading from smaller apartments.

"Interest in Victoriana continues to build, with strong buyer focus on the larger owner-occupier residences within the development," Hamblett says.

"Enquiry is increasingly driven by local buyers who recognise the rarity of what's on offer: park-facing apartments in an established neighbourhood where new development opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. At Victoriana, the view is not just a feature; it's an appreciating asset in its own right."

He said interstate enquiry has also strengthened as buyers reassess Melbourne's position within the national property cycle.

"Melbourne currently stands as the most compelling entry point of any major Australian capital, and discerning buyers are beginning to recognise what those who move early always understand: the best opportunities are taken before the price rise confirms them."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=1979]

Why now is the time to buy in Melbourne's premium apartment market

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

Alistair Walsh

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News