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Property developer Pacific Investments has created shock and excitement with his ramped-up rethink of the ‘Rozelle Village’ proposal for the Balmain Leagues club site in Rozelle.
The revised proposal, which is double the size of the original plan that was rejected in 2010 because it was considered too big, has prompted outrage from local activists. The Leichhardt mayor Rochelle Porteous labelled it as offensive to the local community.
The redesign, which is on public display for 59 days, is a $300 million project with two residential towers of 25 levels and 32 levels, plus a six-floor commercial hub. The plan for Victoria Road will have more than 300 apartments across 30,000 square metres, retail space on 20,000 square metres plus 7,500 square metres of commercial space. Balmain Leagues Club will be on 3,500 square metres, and parking for 800 cars is included.
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The original plan for a 17-level residential and commercial building was rejected in 2010 by the Joint Regional Planning Panel due to traffic congestion, its size and the effects it would have on local businesses. The Labor state government back then took control of the site, claiming that it was “significant” to the state. Now the NSW Department of Infrastructure and Planning’s Assessment Commission will decide the future of the site after the public display.
Rozelle Village managing director Ian Wright says the redesign was led by community consultation.
“For the nearly two years we had information sessions with interest groups and precinct meetings and found out that people want childcare, a building with green credentials and a supermarket, which we have included. They also wanted us to get rid of the bulky design, so we created a taller more slender design,” Wright says.
There will be public space with laneways for walkers, cyclists and pram pushing as well as an integrated public transport area.
“When the dust settles, I think people will really like it,” Wright says.
 
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Balmain Leagues club site could become megasized Rozelle Village under Pacific Investments plan

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At a time when growth in the residential housing sector is mired by tough lending practices and few affordable housing options, Australand Property Group is flourishing by feeding this hungry market.
“We see our ability to create and deliver new product, at or below the median price point in each of our markets, as a key competitive advantage. Particularly as home buyers are confronted with tighter lending criteria and a lack of new, affordable housing,” managing director Robert Johnston told the company’s AGM.
The group has $8.1 billion worth of residential property under development or management, and it focuses on the important housing markets of Sydney and Melbourne.
“During the year, we acquired two new sites in Sydney. The Clemton Park project in Sydney's inner west was acquired with our partner, LaSalle Investment Management. The first stage of the project sold out following its release in August last year, and we are now pre-selling the second stage. When complete the project will yield over 750 homes,” he says.
Australand is currently rezoning the Ashlar golf course in Sydney’s Blacktown, where it plans to develop 750 homes with prices ranging from $350,000 to $500,000 while in the southern suburbs it launched the Greenhills Beach project last August. It has pre-sold 80 lots for an average price of a tad over $800,000.
In Melbourne, the Burwood project has secured more than 100 sales in 2011. By completion in 2013 it will have 235 dwellings across many price points.
“While market conditions are currently challenging in the residential sector, we believe that our strategic positioning will deliver improved and more consistent returns over the next few years,” Robertson said.
 
 
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Australand buoyed by Melbourne and Sydney affordable residential sales successes 

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Generation Y are savvy and sceptical and make up nearly half of the nation’s first-home buyers, according to QBE Insurance’s mortgage report.
The LMI Barometer found that 45% of the first-home buyers it surveyed are under 30 years old, and many borrow money family to help them onto the property ladder. In fact, 20% of this group lives at home while saving, which is up from 18% last year.
While dedicated saving is how 91% of first-time buyers gather their deposits, one in 10 confess to raising money through loans from parents. Indeed, 20% of this group has a guarantor for their loan – usually their parents.
The LMI Barometer found that 41% of first-home buyers have a household income of between $100,000 and $200,000. As a sector, they are also motivated to lenders with low deposit requirements.
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“The average deposit for first home buyer respondents is $60,821, which takes 4.7 years to save and is well below the overall average deposit of $101,767,” the study found.
They are also more pessimistic than other groups, and 83% consider property to be overvalued, which includes 50% who think prices are ‘significantly overvalued’.
But the cynicism does not dampen enthusiasm to spend, with 44% of this group aiming to have bought a property in 12 months. On average Gen Y first-home buyers will borrow $372,259. On their way to that purchase, they do better research and rely on external advice more than other market segments surveyed.
More than half of the first-time buyers’ respondents believe that property prices will be stable or higher in 2012, which is down from the 73% who believed the same in 2011.
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“First-home buyers have a fairly bullish outlook on property over the medium term, with 52% agreeing property prices will increase strongly over the next three years. This is ahead of the national average of 42%,” the report says.
Possibly due to fears about rising property prices, 39% of this group thinks it is more important to enter the market now rather than save for a bigger deposit.
 
 
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Gen Y first-home buyers pessimistic about house prices but eager to get into the market: QBE LMI survey

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The introduction of Sunday trading in Western Australia was one of the prompts that triggered Charter Hall's purchase of the Wanneroo Central shopping centre.
The Charter Hall Retail Partnership has announced it has executed a contract to buy the shopping centre which will have an initial 8% yield.
Acting Charter Hall chief executive Scott Dundas saysthere were several reasons for the purchase.

“With a robust forecast population growth of 4.7% in its main trade area, dominant supermarket anchor tenants and the introduction of Sunday trading across Western Australia, Wanneroo Central is expected to contribute stable long term returns and will be a high quality addition to the REIT’s non-discretionary portfolio of shopping centres,” he told the local press.

Sunday retailing is set to start in Western Australia, with the roll-out in metropolitan areas beginning in August. The major supermarkets and department stores such as David Jones, Target, Harvey Norman, IKEA , Coles and Woolworths will be allowed to trade between 11am and 5pm. Smaller operators are free to open 24/7.
The industry appears split about the impact on landlords and tenants.
CBRE senior director of retail Helen Lassam believes deregulation is a win-win for property owners and their tenants.
“Landlords and retailers will immediately benefit from deregulation. More hours gives the public more choice, and I believe it will improve turnover across the board, just as it did in the eastern states. This will immediately flow into higher rents,” says Lassam.
In Western Australia, anchor tenants and increasingly speciality shops pay a small base rent plus a percentage of turnover.
Lassam says deregulation will create a better market to attract large eastern states-based high street operators that have previously been cautious about entering the Perth market.
“Improved turnover and stronger rents makes an attractive a market for investors too,” Lassam says.
However, Perth-based valuer Matt Garmony is not convinced and says that rents may, in fact, come down. In recent years many retail investors that have been exposed to high vacancy rates and financially troubled tenants.
“Sunday trading really does increase the cost of running a business, so I think it’s likely to not be very profitable. Many shops will not bother to open. Currently the IGA supermarkets that trade on Sunday make most of their money on that day. With this deregulation they will have to compete with Coles and Woolworths, which will affect their viability and subsequently bring rents down,” he says.
The deregulation has also put an end to the exclusive Sunday trading hours in the tourist centres of Perth’s CBD, Fremantle, Midland, Armadale and Joondalup at the expense of suburban and regional retails.
CBRE Perth managing director Peter Agostino says that shoppers flock to the Perth CBD every Sunday because there are few other places to go.
“Trade in the Perth CBD will suffer because for more than a dozen years it has thrived on the benefits of seven-day trading. I expect fewer people will go into the city to spend, resulting in falling turnover and less rent,” he warns.
However, the rapidly burgeoning residential community living and being developed in the CBD is expected to eventually prop up the retail sector there.
According to the most recent Savills research, in the Hay Street Mall in the Perth CBD, net rents range from $2,200 to $4,900 per square metre with yields between 7.25% and 8.5%.
In other CBD locations rents range between $650 and $2,500 with yields between 7.5% and 9%.
Major stores in Perth neighbourhood shopping centres pay net rents of between $135 and $155 per square metre while speciality tenants pay rents of between $400 and $750 per square metre. Yield range between 8.25% and 9%.
A research report compiled by CBRE for the fourth quarter of 2011 described the planned move to allow Sunday trading in some Perth suburbs as one of the “obstacles” facing the retail market.
The CBRE report says the market was subdued in 2011 but the outlook is optimistic as economic forecasts and growth prospects remain bright.
However it notes that retail is one of the sectors that has not felt the benefits of the investment spending in the resources industry to the same extent as other property sectors because demand is driven by the domestic side of the economy and dependent on consumer confidence.
 
 
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Investors scour WA retail as extended trading hours looms, but some retailers don’t like Sundays

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Peppers Guest House – the Hunter Valley retreat – has been listed for sale.
Set on 16 hectares of landscaped grounds in Pokolbin, the retreat has 47 guest rooms with a nightly rate of $350 and a four-bedroom homestead, which has a rack rate of $1,400 a night.
All of the luxuries associated with the five-star operation are on-site, including the Endota day spa and the Sanctuary Restaurant.
Sydney-based investors Matt Williams and Paul O’Rourke, through holding company Mattrow Pty Ltd, bought the property in 2007, which was part of a package that included the nearby Peppers Convent.
The partnership, which also holds the lease over Pokolbin’s Mercure resort on Broke Road, sold the Convent to Ken Cowley in 2010. However, it is understood the investors will retain the Mercure lease.
Peppers Guest House was a created in 1984 by power couple Mike and Suzi O’Connor, who set out to establish a venue dedicated to fine food and wine at a time when sophisticated weekend breaks were a new concept. The venture was to become the first property in the Peppers Group, which now has 28 upscale resorts throughout Australia and New Zealand. The brand is now part of the Surfers Paradise-based Mantra Group, which takes a strong management role in its more recently acquired properties. Millionaires Mike and Suzi O’Connor are no longer involved in the business.
CBRE Hotel selling agent Rob Cross says the demand for mid-range investment property is healthy in the Hunter Valley.
“Investments priced between $5 and $20 million attract high-net-worth locals in The Hunter as well as a few emotional buyers,” he says.
Expressions of interest for the property, which is being offered with Peppers management in place, close on May 31.
 
 
 
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Peppers Guest House Hunter Valley at Pokolbin listed for sale

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Marsala House, the fabulous Brutalist Iwan Iwanov-designed Perth house that is the youngest property to be enshrined on the Western Australian heritage list, has been listed for sale.
Owners Mark Etherton and Christopher Beer bought the then deteriorating house in 2005 for $725,000 and embarked on a massive restoration project. The result quickly re-established Marsala House as one of Iwanov’s most idiosyncratic explorations of Australia’s late 20th-century Brutalist style, a movement that includes iconic Canberra buildings including the High Court of Australia and the Australian National Gallery.
Known locally in Dianella as the Disco House, its won a WA Heritage Award for outstanding conservation of a residential building.
“There is a richness to the brutalist style,” says Etherton. “The way the light plays on it and the texture that is revealed in the harsh Australian sun that makes this house so special to live in.”
Built in 1976 for the Marsala family, the project pushed the boundaries of concrete block contemporary design while the inside was heavily influenced by Las Vegas overstatement.
Now the interior is a wonderful tribute to groovy 1970s style.
The three bathrooms are tiled with Bisassa mosaics while the formal dining room has a full bar with backlighting in the cabinets, and the “disco” room remains a bizarre but chic nod to its era. A kidney-shaped pool graces the back garden.
It is expected that house will sell through listing agent Paul Tonich of Altitude Real Estate for about $2 million.
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Perth’s Iwan Iwanov-designed Brutalist Marsala House listed for sale

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Releasing crown land for residential development and fast tracking housing projects are two priorities should Labor win the WA state election next year.

Opposition leader Mark McGowan told an Urban Design Institute of Australia conference that housing must meet the demands of mining.
"It has been a tough couple of years for residential development with the prices of building blocks falling throughout Western Australia," he said.
"The market indicators suggest that it should not be like this but picture is pretty bleak."
McGowan a Labor government would conduct a major audit of crown land, with plans to quickly release it for housing.
He said he would reform local government to enable an easier building application process as well as fast tracking residential development in high demand areas, with high-density residential also on the agenda.
"Our average income in WA is $1530 a week, which is significantly above the national average, so the market should not be this way," he said.
"Housing must keep up with the demands of the resources industry."
He said he expects land prices to double in the next 10 years because of the cost of sand for land infill and Perth's restrictive water table.
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WA Government should release crown land for residential development: Opposition

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Midland Brick heiress Marilyn New has secured a $90 million buyer for The Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle, Western Australia.
The 4.5-star hotel, which has 300-rooms, was bought by Ascendas – the Singaporean property fund that last year paid $327 million for Mirvac’s hotel portfolio, operated by French management group Accor.
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New bought The Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle for $12.27 million in 1991, and she extensively refurbished it, doubled the number of rooms to 300 and created Perth’s third largest conference centre.
The Perth hotel accommodation sector has been the subject of renewed interest given its high occupancy of a steady 90% on weeknights and its ability to charge huge amounts for a room.
Despite this interest, New’s Esplanade River Suites in the Perth suburb of Como remains unsold.  It was listed with the landmark Fremantle hotel through estate agency Jones Lang LaSalle in for a combined $120 million.
New also owns the dilapidated but heritage-listed Woolstores building by Fremantle’s Victoria Quay, where there is talk that it could be renovated into a funky boutique hotel despite the previous push to raze the historic structure.
 
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Marilyn New sells Fremantle’s Esplanade Hotel for $90 million

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Missoni Home is set to create an iconic Manila residential tower.
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The 52-level Acqua Livingstone tower will be the fourth building in Century Properties’ US$316 million (A$302 million) six-tower Aqua Private Residences project in the Philippine capital.
“Bold colours and energetic forms in the lobbies, hallways and elevators will be accentuated by equally arresting furniture,” says Century managing director Marco Antonio.
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The multi-level amenity area called The Canopy is on the sky deck.
The Canopy’s lower level will have function rooms, a business centre, an indoor and outdoor gym, spa, a library and salon.
The upper level is social space with an amphitheatre, lounge, DJ booth and dance floor and pool bar.
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An organic wire-mesh tree will climb into a mezzanine dining area, and floating lights, patterned surfaces and Missoni shapes, will decorate the landscape.
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The tower will have 645 apartments ranging in size from 27 square metres to 140 square metres with price tags between US$82,000 and US$613,000 and penthouses for more than US$1million.
“Our brand is an experience of happiness, excitement, beauty, creativity, style and elegance. We are inspired by the seasons of nature and we play with colour because life is more beautiful with colour,” says Missoni’s Vittorio Missoni.
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Missoni to build 52-storey Manila tower with bold colours and shapes

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Melbourne’s chic inner-city residential project The Garden House has collected the prestigious President’s Award at the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s National Awards in Perth.
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The collaboration between Piccolo Developments, architect Woods Bagot and interior designer Hecker Guthrie produced a $50 million, 49-residence project that sold out within two weeks of its launch late last year for between $500,000 and $5 million per unit. Since then one apartment has been listed for resale for $975,000 but it was withdrawn. The same unit was relisted this month for $900,000 and remains available.
It is the second major award for the project, which recently won the Victorian chapter of the UDIA’s Medium-Density Development Award. The building was completed late last year.
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On the corner of Queensberry and Rathdowne streets, Carlton, the building has a mix of townhouses and apartments across five levels – including three terraces with private courtyard – overlooking Carlton Gardens and the World Heritage-listed Exhibition Building.
According to Woods Bagot design director Nik Karalis, the aim was to create a property influenced by Renaissance palazzos and make great use of the character of Carlton and its tall trees.
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The Garden House’s top floors are finished in zinc reflecting European attic architecture.
“The Royal Exhibition Building and adjoining Carlton Gardens set a beautiful 19th-century European backdrop for the project, which demanded attention to detail. Our approach to the design was to capture a slice of tree canopy into each apartment. The inspiration for the final form of the building was to preserve the important vistas,” Karalis says.
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The Garden House is the flagship project for the Piccolo family, which is a mother-and-son team led by Mima Piccolo.
Michael Piccolo says that Carlton is an area rich in historical significance and deserves great Australian design talent.
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“Our vision for The Garden House was to exceed our customers’ expectations and deliver a superior lifestyle experience,” says Michael.
The interiors produced by Hecker Guthrie have bespoke fixtures and curved walls, with no two residences the same.
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Melbourne’s chic The Garden House takes out UDIA President’s Award 

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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

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