<html><body>
Hollywood film producer Robert Cohen and wife, Barbara have yet to sell their rural Balinese retreat, Villa Minangkabau for US$3 million.
Created by Irish designer Linda Garland, who has lived in Bali since the 1970s, the style is heavily influenced by the ancient royal residences of the Minang people of Sumatra.
Garland, who was nominated by The Architectural Digest as one of the most influential designers of the past century, produced a meandering three-section domain divided by a stream.
At the centre is a vast open house with 180-degree views and a huge bedroom overlooking the sea and Mount Agung.
There are two separate Minangkabau guest suites plus two Bali-modern villas with a total of six bedrooms and six bathrooms in the complex.
To ensure authenticity of the structures master builders were brought from Sumatra to oversee the project.
The Minangkabau buildings have soaring ceilings made of locally grown grass and the interiors are decorated with a beautiful collection of Indonesian masks and antiques.
The gardens are well established and lush, with privacy maintained by an unsigned dirt road entry.
Villa Minangkabau, <a href="https://www.elitehavenssales.com/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,394/Itemid,43/" target="_blank">which has been listed through Elite Havens</a>, in association with Knight Frank for about two year, is set on 24,790 square metres of the Pantai Jasi coast near Candi Dasa and looks out to Mount Rinjani on Lombok.
Cohen, who studied anthropology at Harvard, is best remembered as The Fast and the Furious director. The house featured in the August 2009 issue of Architectural Digest.
The couple <a href="https://kyerphotography.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=8203" target="_blank">married at the  property</a> in 2006.
 
</body></html>

andreadixon-oif3j7eKne

US film producer Robert Cohen still to sell Balinese villa for $3 million

<html><body>
Perth CBD’s rental office space squeeze may be heading west. 
Savills Research’s Spotlight on West Perth found that office vacancy rate there is 4.4% – down from 5.4% in January 2012. 
In the year to March 16,027 square metres of office space was leased in the precinct, of which mining and utilities operations took up 75%, or 12,221 square metres. 
Savills notes that West Perth had 4,124 square metres of office supply enter the market in the six months to December 2011, but there have been no further additions since. 
“Larger mining firms, typically located in the CBD are now forced to look at smaller amounts of space available in fringe markets such as West Perth,” the report says. 
Savills expects that available space will continue to drop in the secondary market, which could force second- and third-tier mining firms into alternative markets such as Subiaco, Herdsman and Applecross. 
About 11,880 square metres of office space is under construction in West Perth. 
Qube Property Group’s $70 million office building on Havelock Street is due for completion in December, and it is 50% leased to the Australian Financial Group. 
“We are confident the balance of space in the building will be leased for about $2.7million by the time it is finished,” says Qube director James Collis. 
Savills tracks sales over $1 million, and the group recorded $90 million worth of sales in two deals in the year to March 2012, which is a fall of 6% from $96 million in the previous year.
</body></html>

West Perth office market tightening as mining boom drills into established stock

<html><body>
Like shoppers and tourists, corporate businesses are moving in on major retail centres at the price of local parking spots.
Demand from corporate tenants who want to relocate into glamorous shopping centres is on the rise, and office buildings are being planned in response.
According to Colliers International, during the past 12 months nearly 10,000 square metres of office space has been leased in such complexes, with 1,000 square metres in Doncaster and 1,500 square metres in Knox being leased to corporate clients. In the massive $1 billion-plus Chadstone complex 1,500 square metres was leased as office space, and Victoria Gardens has attracted corporate tenants across 5,000 square metres.
A proposed office tower adjoining Chadstone shopping centre will be developed over a well-used parking and landscaped area.
“While dozens of parking places will be lost, the developer is putting in two levels of basement parking to service the offices,” says Colliers associate director of leasing Travis Myerscough.
The basement parking will be leased to office tenants, and the notion of making it available to the public on weekends has been suggested.
“It has been proposed that car park be used by shoppers on the weekend, but that is still being negotiated,” says Myerscough.
So far in Chadstone corporate tenants include medical research group Celletis, while Fleet Partners and Nova Radio are in Victorian Gardens.
“This trend of medium to large corporates moving into retail centres is gaining momentum, as they want to attract and retain staff by have great amenities at the doorstep,” Myerscough says.
Myerscough says more than 20,000 square metres of office space will be released to the market by late 2013.
By 2013 Chadstone, where retailers made $1.28 million in sales in 2010, will have a hotel and an office component that will account for between 10 and 15% of the entire complex. It is already notoriously hard to find a parking space in Chadstone at peak shopping times.
The trend is being mirrored throughout major shopping centres across Australia, says Colliers national director of retail valuation Stephen Andrew.
"Shopping centres are evolving as much more than a place to shop. Nationally, we continue to see the redevelopment of major regional shopping centres to provide a greater blend of retail, leisure and commercial activities to meet changing customer demands,” he says.
 
 
 
</body></html>

Corporate offices replacing customer parking at shopping centres as Chadstone joins the trend

<html><body>
Gone are the washing lines, and unsightly water tanks are banished behind architecturally designed screens. Rooftop gardens are almost de rigour in new apartment blocks.
Property developers are creating park-like green spaces on their residential buildings to attract buyers with the promise of an exclusive community.
<img src="/images/stories/roofbravo.jpg">
Carlton’s $65 million Bravo residential project will turn its roof (pictured above) into a stylish space with outdoor lounges, entertaining areas, flower gardens and a vegetable patch with knockout views of Melbourne. It’s costing the developer a cool $500,000.
“Carlton has a strong identity and community spirit; therefore it was important to reflect this by democratising the views with communal rooftop gardens. Using the area simply for rainwater collection would have been a waste,” says Bravo developer Matt Vaughan.
Given that <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/carlton-parkside-project-bravo-sells-24-apartments-in-first-three-weeks/2012042054370">24 apartments in Bravo sold off the plan in the first few weeks of marketing</a>, a nice rooftop might be a big drawcard.
<img src="/images/stories/roofsouthyarra.jpg">
In South Yarra Icon Properties’ $35 million See Apartments, the $300,000 rooftop garden (pictured above and three below) is such a hit that residents must reserve a portion for private parties.
<img src="/images/stories/roofsouthyarra2.jpg">
The garden has great views, covered and open-air entertaining areas, a built-in barbecue with food preparation benches and a sink. There is even a gas-log fire. It instantly became so busy that the owner’s corporation created a reservation system so a section can be divided off for private events.
<img src="/images/stories/roofsouthyarra3.jpg">
“We wanted to move away from the typical gym and provide an extended outdoor living and entertaining space that residents will actually use,” says ICON director Ashley Murdoch.
<img src="/images/stories/roofsouthyarra4.jpg">
In Sydney the trend to rooftop gardens is long established, with the Hayson Group creating a huge 2,800-square-metre garden in its M Central complex in Pyrmont back in 2005. Internationally acclaimed Sydney-based landscape architect Daniel Baffsky planted native grasses, succulents, mature trees, vine arbours and installed boardwalks, water features and art pieces. Residents even walk their dogs there.
A green rooftop not only has cultural cachet, it has green credibility, with grass extracting pollution particles from the air. They can be largely watered from harvested rainwater.
In a competitive market it’s wise to stand out from the pack, with Frasers Property and Sekisui House Australia’s $2 billion <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/time-running-out-for-stamp-duty-free-purchases-at-sydneys-central-park/2012030653714">Central Park project in Sydney’s Chippendale</a> integrating large green spaces on the 5.8-hectare site and capping the second phase – Park Lane – with a lavish gardens.
The developer secured the skills of Danish landscape architect Jeppe Aagaard Andersen to design communal rooftop gardens with themed rooms with unique uses. There will also be outdoor spas, barbecue facilities, tables and seating. Residents – there will eventually be 2,500 of them – will be able to collect and even plant their own herbs.
<img src="/images/stories/roofrozelle.jpg">
The controversial multi-tower $300 million Rozelle Village proposal in Sydney is going all out with its $2.3 million residents’ rooftop (architect's impressions above and below).
Design director Frank Stanisic of Stanisic Associates Architects aims to create a 5,000-square-metre leisure garden with a full-sized tennis court hidden behind a six-metre high, planted green screen. A tall green wall of vegetation will also surround the indoor-outdoor pool. There will gardens, green space plus decking, seating and barbecue areas.
<img src="/images/stories/roofrozelle2.jpg">
Managing director of the project Ian Wright says the user will absorb the running costs.
“The residential strata body will have a sinking fund that will reflect the amenities, however, the demographic of the people expected to buy there will accept that as a lifestyle choice.
“You can’t live so close to the city and have all of these suburban-style facilities without having to pay for it,” says Wright.
 
 
 
 
</body></html>

Rooftop gardens bringing communal park life to inner-city developments

<html><body>
The state of smoke alarms in rented housing is back on the agenda.
NSW State Coroner Mark Buscombe recently recommended that real estate agents regularly check and maintain smoke alarms in the homes they manage.
The comments came at the inquest into the 2010 death of a man in a Hamilton house fire, near Newcastle.
Smoke detectors became mandatory for all NSW residential buildings in 2006.
Tim McKibbin, CEO of the Real Estate Institute of NSW, says that residential leases make it clear who is responsible for smoke alarms.
“The reality is that the landlord is required to have a working smoke alarm in the premises while the tenant is required under the lease to replace batteries in a smoke alarm,” says McKibbin.
The practice among some tenants of removing batteries from smoke detectors to use elsewhere, usually in a television remote control, was so prominent that such interference is now forbidden and enshrined in the NSW Residential Tenancies Act.
According to the Tenant’s Union of NSW, if a detector gives a false alarm triggered by cooking, tenants should not remove the battery or disable it.
“Contact the landlord or agent and ask for the alarm to be moved to a more suitable location or replaced with a different style of alarm,” the organisation says.
Fire &amp; Rescue NSW will replace old smoke alarm batteries for free for the elderly and people with mobility problems.
</body></html>

NSW Coroner issues warning about smoke alarms in investment properties

<html><body>
The Tasmanian housing market continues to struggle, with house prices falling throughout most of the Apple Isle.
While Hobart showed a modest increase of 1.6% in sales in the year to March 2012, its median house price was down 2.3% to $353,000, according to figures released by the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania (REIT).
Across Tasmania house prices dropped by 3.2% on the same time last year to a median of $300,000, the report says.
The figures reveal that people are not in trading mode as the number of sales has fallen dramatically. Only 1,252 houses sold in the 12 months to March this year – down 12.3% on the previous year.
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/reitmay2.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/reitmay2thumb.gif"></a>
It is not just the mums and dads that are staying home. Millionaires are avoiding residential deals, with a luxury $2.45 million Battery Point penthouse overlooking Hobart’s beautiful harbour languishing on the market for close to 200 days. It had been bought in 2006 for $1.8 million.
Battery Point has the highest median house price of $925,000 from eight sales, showing a rise of 17.8% in the year to March. Bridgewater, about 20 kilometers from Hobart in the state’s south east, was Tasmania’s least expensive spot, with a median price of $175,000 from eight sales, showing an increase of 2.9%.
<a target="_blank" href="https://reit.com.au/">According to the REIT report</a> it takes an average of 79 days to sell a Tasmanian house.
“The report wasn’t all doom and gloom though, with 11 municipalities reporting an increase in their median house price for the quarter, with six currently holding a higher median house price than the statewide figure. These included Clarence, Glamorgan/Spring Bay, Hobart, Kingborough, Sorell and the West Tamar,” says REIT president Adrian Kelly.
The rental vacancy rate also continued to increase in the March quarter, up 0.8% to 3.9%.
 
 
</body></html>

Tasmanian house prices still falling: REIT

<html><body>
Queensland’s plague of natural disasters has been blamed for the sunshine state’s struggling rental market.
Residential vacancy rates there are mostly below 3%, which is the excepted figure for a balanced market in terms of supply and demand, according to figures released by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ).
REIQ chief executive officer Anton Kardash says the contraction is a result of slowing house sales and disaster recovery.
“Until recently we had many potential first-home buyers and investors sitting on the sidelines while our market and economy recovered from the natural disasters last year, which has put pressure on our rental market,” he says.
Brisbane’s vacancy rate fell to 1.7% from 2.3% in December last year. The inner city was at 1.4% in March this year, down from 1.9% in December 2011.
Queensland’s major regional markets are in worse shape, with the amount of available homes to rent in regional Rockhampton at just 1%. In March last year the vacancy rate there was 1.8%, and that dipped to 0.9 % in December, reflecting rental trauma for tenants.
The resources boom town of Gladstone has a vacancy rate of just 1.4%, and a luxury four-bedroom, two-bathroom house near town will give tenants little change from $1,000 a week.
In far north Queensland the Cairns rental market is also undersupplied, with tight vacancy rate of 2.5%, showing a fall of 0.7% in 12 months. Bundaberg has shown some improvement, with vacancy rates increasing to 3.3% from 2.5% in the year to March 2012.
Queensland’s two major tourist hotspots have comparatively languishing residential rental vacancy rates.
On Noosa’s coast, residential vacancy rates have jumped from 4% in March 2011 to 4.8% this year while on the Gold Coast rates have increased from 3.6% last year to 3.9% in March 2012.
 
 
 
</body></html>

Tight Queensland rental market a result of natural disasters: REIQ

<html><body>
As residential developers across the country offer free furniture, chuck in outdoor settings or even to pick up stamp duty costs in order to snag a sale, upscale developer Mirvac has taken a different tack.
Aurora is Mirvac’s fourth residential tower at The Peninsula project in Perth’s Burswood, and the developer is offering to pay strata levies for three years to each buyer of three apartments.
<img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/aurora1.jpg">
Mirvac will cover the cost of $3,700 a year to a maximum of $12,000 for buyers of selected two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 110-square-metre apartments.
“It [the deal] is available across all remaining two-bedroom apartments, as they make up the bulk of what’s left,” says a Mirvac representative.
Aurora, which was finished in 2010, has 130 apartments, of which 101 units have sold for an average price of $1.15 million. The remaining apartments range in price from  $679,000 for a two-bedroom unit with a balcony and single parking bay to $3.95 million for the last of the three luxury penthouses. The top sale in the building was $4.2 million for a penthouse, which was a record price when it sold in 2009 off the plan.
The Peninsula project has won many awards for the developer, including the Urban Design Institute of Australia’s best high density development award for Aurora in 2010 as well as the HIA’s SEDO Greensmart Award for Estate of the Year in 2009.
The entire project will house about 3,000 people when it is completed in 2017. Owners and tenants occupy about 75% of available stock.
“The strata deal is subject to conditions including how close to the asking price of $679,000 a buyer gets. We are smart developers and realise that it is a buyer’s market so we will enter into negotiations on asking prices,” says Mirvac selling agent Chris Plummer.
Indeed, to sure up the offer, which ends in four weeks (May 31), the sale also has to be settled by the end of the year.
Earlier this year Mirvac ran a campaign offering a 9% guaranteed rental return for 12 months to attract buyers to its Mandurah waterfront project, about an hour south of Perth.
 
 
 
 
 
 
</body></html>

Mirvac offers to pay strata levies to secure remaining sales in Perth project Aurora

<html><body>
Three very different projects claimed the top awards from the Australian Institute of Architects Sunshine Coast Architectural Awards.
Currimundi Beach House (pictured below) near Caloundra won House of the Year for Loucas Zahos Architects, which now has a collection of nearly a dozen AIA Queensland awards.
<img src="/images/stories/currimundi.jpg">
The house is a series of different-sized pavilions that lead from living and sleeping spaces to a canvas roof over a timber deck.
“The holiday house captures the essence of being away from routine, inviting relaxation, retreat and enjoyment of the spectacular beachfront location,” noted the judging panel.
<img src="/images/stories/viridian.jpg">
Joint winners of the Gabriel Poole Award for Building of the Year are the $300 million Viridian Noosa residence and resort (pictured above) – which fell into receivership last year – by JMA Architects and the Caboolture Hub (pictured below) by Peddle Thorp and James Cubitt Architecture.
<img src="/images/stories/caboolture.jpg">
The award for the Noosa resort, which is on a former banana plantation and bounded on one side by national park, was for its third stage.
“A direct response to the complex site is reflected in individual variations in each unit, focussing on rainforest, ocean or hillside views, while maintaining privacy. The strategy for materials is site responsive with lightweight villas occupying the challenging steep hillsides. The project displays a high level of attention to planning,” the panel commented.
The joint winner, Caboolture Hub, is a stylish cultural space with an art gallery, library and learning centre beside the town square designed by the internationally acclaimed architectural firm Peddle Thorp.
“A light-filled central atrium connects the primary spaces. Moving through the building, there is delight in the transition between spaces,” says the jury commentary.
House of the Year: Currimundi Beach House by Loucas Zahos Architects. Image: Adam Sebastian West
Joint Gabriel Poole Award for Building of the Year: Viridian Noosa: Stage 3 by JMA Architects. Image: Tom Kanchanasinith
Joint Gabriel Poole Award for Building of the Year: Caboolture Hub by Peddle Thorp and James Cubitt Architects. Image: Roger D’Souza
 
</body></html>

Viridian Noosa resort named Sunshine Coast building of the year as receivership sales continue

<html><body>
Western Australian property developer Finbar has recorded residential sales of just over $100 million in its completed $160 million East Perth apartment project, Fairlanes.
<img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/fairlanes1.jpg">
The 27-level tower has 128 apartments, and 120 deposits have been taken, including one for a $2.5 million penthouse.
The most expensive penthouse, which has views of Rottnest Island and a price tag of $2.65 million, is yet to sell.
Finishing touches are being made to the project, and residents will start moving into the tower in three weeks.
So far the average sale price in the completed Adelaide Terrace development is $850,000.
The completed Fairlanes was launched on by WA Premier Colin Barnett on Friday, April 27 and has 7,000 square metres of office space over five levels plus 600 square metres of ground-floor retail and food space, of which about 3,600 square metres has been leased. Finbar will move its own corporate headquarters into some of the office space and retain the balance as an investment. The commercial area is valued at $53 million.
“The completion of Fairlanes is very well timed to benefit from the squeeze in Perth city vacancy rates and unrelenting demand from companies associated with the resources sector,” says Finbar managing director Darren Pateman.
The developer believes the remaining space and apartments will sell and lease steadily without the need for incentives.
<img src="/images/stories/fairlanes3.jpg">
“This will also help underpin the value of the retained commercial investment and provide a boost to the company’s reoccurring investment income. Revenue from successful settlements at Fairlanes coupled with recent revenue received from settlements from our ‘18 On Plain’ 29-apartment project will support an anticipated moderate increase in forecast profit from last year’s record profit of $24.03 million,” he says.
<img src="/images/stories/fairlanes2.jpg">
Finbar has produced eight high-rise apartment towers in WA since 2009 and has a further 10 buildings under construction in WA.
</body></html>

Finbar’s East Perth project Fairlanes complete and almost sold out

Melbourne developer Spacious Group has completed Voyage Altona, one of the closest new apartment developments to Altona Beach.

Off the plan purchasers have started moving into the 49-apartment project on Pier Street, with the remaining move-in-ready one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments starting from just over $500,000.

Display apartments have now been fitted out, allowing prospective buyers to inspect the completed residences by appointment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112195 project_image_fid=372638]

The completed apartments feature open-plan living and dining areas which extend onto private balconies and terraces, while full-height glazing maximises natural light throughout the interiors.&nbsp;

Hybrid timber-look flooring, stone benchtops, Miele appliances, porcelain-tiled bathrooms and generous storage feature throughout the building which also features landscaped communal areas, expansive shared terraces, lift access and secure on-grade parking.

Drawing inspiration from its bayside setting, Voyage adopts a restrained palette of warm neutral tones and textured finishes. Many of the apartments take advantage of views across Port Phillip Bay, while the indoor-outdoor living spaces have been designed to make the most of the coastal outlook.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112195 project_image_fid=3286]

Voyage was developed to address what Spacious Group identified as an undersupply of higher-quality apartment product in Altona, with a focus on owner-occupiers looking to remain within the bayside community.

"Voyage responds to very strong local buyer demand for quality, owner-occupier-focused product," says Barry Plant Projects Director Jarrod Farey, who has handled sales since the project's launch.

"The project delivers an elevated lifestyle proposition, with its design and quality of finish far exceeding anything previously produced in the area, as well as its proximity to Pier Street Village and the beach."

The majority of purchasers have been local downsizers and owner-occupiers looking to stay within the Altona community but who previously had limited opportunities to buy a brand-new apartment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112195]

Joel Robinson

Spacious Group completes Voyage Altona in Altona's beachside precinct

Homecorp has secured approval for a $360 million apartment development at Budds Beach, paving the way for one of the Gold Coast's most amenity-rich residential projects to launch later this year.

Gold Coast City Council has approved Lýon Residences, a 32-level tower that will deliver 178 two and three-bedroom apartments across a prominent corner site at 8-10 Acacia Avenue and 25-27 Oak Avenue.

The approval comes as developers continue to invest in premium lifestyle-driven apartment projects on the Gold Coast, where owner occupiers are increasingly prioritising amenity as much as apartment size and location.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/l-on-residences-25-27-oak-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Lýon Residences</a> has been designed around a resort-style wellness offering, headlined by a Moroccan-inspired spa precinct featuring treatment rooms, a Nordic sauna and steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, a soaking pool and a residents-only juice bar.

The rooftop will include a heated infinity pool and spa, residents' lounge with private kitchen and bar, gymnasium, yoga and Pilates studio, outdoor entertaining areas and barbecue facilities overlooking the Surfers Paradise skyline.

<img alt="Lyon" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d3e29af-8793-486e-a684-52cef862241f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-15%20at%204.32.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ayG2zpLf3SS6Zy8XmKDcQods4kVWb0gm" />

Homecorp Founder and CEO Ron Bakir said Budds Beach provided the ideal location for the company's latest luxury apartment project.

"Budds Beach represents one of the most unique and sought-after pockets of the Gold Coast, and Lýon Residences has been designed to reflect that sense of rarity and refinement," Bakir said.

The project arrives as wellness continues to become a defining feature of new residential developments both in Australia and internationally.

The latest Global Wellness Institute figures show wellness real estate remains the fastest-growing segment of the global wellness economy and is forecast to exceed $1.8 trillion by 2030. Australia continues to rank among the world's 15 largest wellness real estate markets, with developers increasingly integrating health, recreation and community facilities into apartment projects.

Queensland is also experiencing strong population growth, with the Gold Coast continuing to outperform many other Australian cities as demand for new housing remains elevated ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Bakir said the project had been designed to respond to that shift in buyer expectations.

"Strong population growth and sustained demand across the Gold Coast continue to highlight the need for well-designed new housing supply. Lýon Residences responds directly to this demand while setting a new benchmark for residential living," he said.

Each apartment has been designed to maximise views across the coastline, the Nerang River and the Gold Coast hinterland.

Located just minutes from Surfers Paradise beach and the Broadwater, the development also offers easy access to the light rail network, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads.

Early site works are underway, with construction expected to commence later this year.

Homecorp approved for Budds Beach apartment tower, Lýon Residences

New apartment developments with uninterrupted, north-facing views over Perth's Swan River are exceptionally rare.

Recognising just how limited those opportunities are, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/edge-visionary-living">Edge Visionary Living</a>, one of Perth's most respected builder-developers, targeted <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/applecross-wa-6153">Applecross</a>, assembling an unrepeatable 6,342 sqm riverfront site on the corner of Moreau Mews and Canning Beach Road to create one of Perth's only new north-facing apartment developments directly overlooking the Swan River.

Today, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/riviere-residences-applecross-59-canning-beach-road-applecross-wa-6153">Rivière Residences</a> offers buyers a unique opportunity to choose between completed residences ready to move into now and off-the-plan homes in the final stage, Rivière West.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28384 project_image_fid=3823]

Across the completed East and Central buildings, residents are already enjoying the development's luxury amenity, while two of the precinct's hospitality venues are now open.

The completed component of the development gives buyers the advantage of experiencing the finished product firsthand, including its uninterrupted river views, while still having the opportunity to secure a residence in the final stage.

"People are wowed by the view and the quality of the apartments,"&nbsp;Edge Visionary Living Sales Executive, Holly McSweeney, says.

"They're looking for the convenience of lock-and-leave living, but they're not looking to downsize on quality."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28384 project_image_fid=3826]

The rarity of the development hasn't been lost on prospective buyers, McSweeney says.

For McSweeney, it all comes back to a location that is becoming increasingly difficult to replicate.

"Location, location, location," she says. "We are nestled right on the front of the Swan River. You can never get built out, so wherever you are in Rivière Residences, you've got views of the river forever."

The unique waterfront position has resonated particularly strongly with local downsizers. McSweeney says many buyers are long-time Applecross residents looking to transition from large family homes into a luxury apartment without sacrificing space, quality or the lifestyle they've enjoyed for decades.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N_FowNW0wu8?si=vb25XFq1wZ-iufAW" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

A major focus for Edge in recent years has been resident amenity. Across its apartment portfolio, from beachfront developments in Scarborough to luxury towers in South Perth, the developer has increasingly invested in the spaces beyond the apartment itself.

The strategy has largely been shaped by downsizer demand. Many buyers are moving from large family homes with swimming pools and established gardens. While they're looking to leave the maintenance behind, they don't want to compromise on lifestyle.

At Rivière, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hillam-architects">Hillam Architects</a> designed the resident facilities as an extension of each apartment. A 25-metre heated swimming pool takes advantage of the north-facing river outlook, complemented by a large gym, sauna and steam rooms, private dining spaces, residents' lounges, a cinema, games room, and dedicated wine and whisky rooms.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28384 project_image_fid=372542]

The waterfront location has also proved to be a major drawcard. Residents are within walking distance of the Raffles Hotel, South of Perth Yacht Club, the Heathcote Cultural Precinct and the cafés, restaurants and boutiques along Ardross Street.

Beyond the location and amenity, McSweeney says many buyers take confidence from Edge's fully integrated development model.

Having delivered apartments across Perth for decades, Edge now designs, develops and constructs its projects in-house, giving the company greater control over quality, delivery and the finished product.

"What I love is when people walk through their apartment for the first time and say, 'This is better than what we imagined,'" McSweeney says. "We hear that all the time."

Completed apartments in the East and Central buildings are now available to inspect by appointment, while Rivière West, the final stage of the precinct, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=28384]

North-facing Swan River views drive demand at Rivière Residences in Applecross

Nearly 60 per cent of apartments at McNab Group's $220 million The Tannery development in Brisbane's West End have sold ahead of the project's public launch, including a suburb-record $2.57 million sale for a two-bedroom apartment.

The early sales campaign has secured buyers for 50 of the project's 87 apartments, highlighting continued demand for larger owner-occupier apartments that combine generous floorplans with premium lifestyle amenities in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374768]

McNab Group Executive Chairman Michael McNab said selling more than half the project before launch reflected changing buyer expectations.

"Selling more than half the project before public sales open tells us buyers are actively seeking apartments that offer something genuinely different," McNab said.

"Today's buyers are looking beyond four walls. They want homes that genuinely enhance the way they live, with spaces that support health, connection and everyday wellbeing."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374767]

A key point of difference for the project is the adaptive reuse of the heritage-listed Dixon's Tannery building, which will become The Retreat, a residents-only wellness precinct rather than being redeveloped into additional apartments.

The Retreat will feature a sauna and steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, a commercial-grade gym, Pilates studio, cinema, library, co-working spaces and private dining room. Rooftop amenities will include a swimming pool, landscaped gardens, outdoor entertaining areas and dog-friendly spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374760]

Designed by Cottee Parker Architects with interiors by Tom Mark Henry and landscape architecture by Aspect Studios, The Tannery comprises 87 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 11 levels overlooking the Brisbane River.

Cottee Parker principal Dee Passenger said preserving the original tannery building had been central to the project's design.

"The easy option would have been to maximise the site's development potential with additional apartments. Instead, McNab has chosen to preserve the original tannery as a shared wellness retreat, ensuring this important piece of Brisbane's history remains at the heart of the community."

Passenger said sustainability also played a key role in the design, with materials from the original industrial site salvaged and repurposed throughout the development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374761]

Motiv CEO Carly Cottam said buyers had responded strongly to the combination of larger apartments, wellness facilities and the West End lifestyle.

"We are seeing more buyers looking for homes in the sky that provide the space and functionality of a traditional home, while benefiting from the convenience and lifestyle that apartment living brings," Cottam said.

She said purchasers included both owner occupiers and investors, with demand coming from local buyers as well as interstate purchasers.

Coinciding with the public launch, McNab also announced a partnership with Queensland Ballet, whose neighbouring Thomas Dixon Centre shares historical ties with the original Dixon family.

Located on a 4,465 sqm site at 439 Montague Road, The Tannery overlooks the Brisbane River and is around 10 minutes from the CBD.

Construction is underway, with completion expected in the second half of 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=143337]

More than half of residences sold before public sales as McNab announces significant partnership with Queensland Ballet

McNab's The Tannery nears 60 per cent sold before public release, sets two-bedroom West End record

Iwan Sunito's vision for a landmark mixed-use precinct in Sydney's Inner West has taken a major step forward, with approval granted for the $1.9 billion Five Dock development first unveiled earlier this year.

The approved scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/one-global-capital">One Global Capital</a> will deliver an 80,500 sqm mixed-use precinct comprising 840 apartments, integrated hotel accommodation, commercial and retail space, alongside publicly accessible open space designed to create a new destination for the growing suburb.

"This is a significant milestone for One Global Capital and for the future of housing delivery in Sydney," Sunito said.

"The Housing Delivery Authority was established to identify major housing projects capable of delivering meaningful supply more efficiently, and we are delighted that Spencer Street has been recognised as one of those projects.”

He said the declaration reflected the rapid progress achieved since acquiring control of the site.

"In less than seven months we have progressed from taking control of the site to securing entry into one of the NSW Government's most important planning pathways. It reflects the experience of our team, the strength of our consultant group led by Urbis, and our long-term commitment to delivering transformational projects that contribute to Sydney's future."

When the project was revealed earlier this year, Sunito described the opportunity as one of the strongest development sites he had worked on.

"I probably hadn't appreciated the uniqueness of the site until more recently when putting together the concept plans," Sunito said.

"The proximity to the water, and the golf course opposite, is unlike any other part of Parramatta Road. We have a unique position and view corridors over the water that makes this one of the best sites I've worked on."

The development has evolved since its initial announcement, with the approved plans increasing the residential component from the originally proposed 750 apartments to 840 homes while retaining the project's focus on creating an integrated neighbourhood rather than a standalone residential development.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/a-city-within-a-city-iwan-sunito-flags-1-5-billion-mixed-use-precinct-in-five-dock">"A city within a city": Iwan Sunito flags $1.5 billion mixed-use precinct in Five Dock</a>

The precinct will combine apartments with hotel accommodation, commercial workplaces, retail offerings and public spaces, creating a mixed-use environment intended to serve both residents and the broader Five Dock community. The proposal also continues the collaboration between One Global Capital and internationally recognised architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/koichi-takada-architects">Koichi Takada</a>, whose previous work with Sunito includes Infinity, Arc and Skye North Sydney.

Takada previously said the design was driven by a philosophy of integrating nature into the built environment.

"The concept for this development is born from our design approach to naturalising architecture," Takada said.

"The public realm benefits from biophilic design that integrates generous landscaping, and the development is optimised for natural daylight, airflow and water views to foster wellbeing, sustainability and spaces that foster community interaction."

Sunito has consistently described the project as a "city within a city", with a strong emphasis on creating a destination that extends beyond housing.

"We want to create a development that's not only to be seen, but to be experienced by the whole local community," he said.

The approval comes as Five Dock continues its transformation ahead of the opening of the Sydney Metro West line, with the new Five Dock station set to significantly improve connections between the Inner West, Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.&nbsp;

The precinct will also benefit from its proximity to the Parramatta Road corridor, nearby waterfront parklands and established retail and dining offerings that have made Five Dock one of Sydney's most tightly held Inner West suburbs.

Andrea Dixon

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News