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Situated within Sydney’s fast-changing mid-town precinct, the 32 York Street office building has been listed by pub king Christopher Cheung with $20 million plus hopes.
The  CBD property has been marketed with the potential for redevelopment, with several different scenarios already contemplated, including hotel and residential schemes.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/32york.jpg" width="470">
It's been listed by Benjamin Azar from Savills Australia, whose marketing material stresses the precinct now includes premium brands Louis Vuitton, Apple and Burberry along with Telstra, CBA, IAG and Macquarie Bank.
The building is adjacent to Sydney’s most iconic and well-known commercial office and retail strips, just south of King Street. The precinct is under major transformation following the Sydney City Council’s proposed development of George Street, situated behind York Street.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/32york2.jpg">
It is understood Cheung is selling the property to focus on his pubs portfolio.


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The 32 York Street building is on a block of 628 square metres.
The lower and upper ground floors comprise retail space with an area of 763 square metres.
The nine upper levels, which are for office accommodation, have an area of 4,111 square metres, bringing in total a 4,874 square metres of lettable area.
The total gross income for the property sits at $1.47 million, with $920,675 coming from office rental, with another $476,961 coming from retail rental.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/32york3.jpg" width="470">
Currently it has an occupancy rate of 76%. Its estimated fully leased net passing income is given as $1.35 million.
The building was constructed in 1964 with part refurbished in 1986 and more in 1995.
Cheung is the owner of Cheung Properties and made <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/a-new-king-joins-sydneys-pub-royalty--this-time-in-the-cross-20101117-17xpx" target="_blank">headlines in November 2010</a> when he purchased the landmark hotel The Bourbon in Kings Cross.
He also owns the Coogee Bay Hotel and in 2009 confirmed plans to transform it into a $150 million retail and entertainment hub.
The last reports regarding the redevelopment of <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/nsw/as-you-were-on-part-3a-development-proposals-20110512-1ektf" target="_blank">Coogee Bay was in May 2011</a>, when the $150 redevelopment plans before the NSW Labor government's planning department was sent back to the local council.
There has been no update since.
Expression of interest of 32 York Street closes October 18.
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Pub king Christopher Cheung lists York Street, Sydney CBD, office building with $20 million-plus hopes

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Four Queensland investors have used their self-managed super funds to buy the Springfield Marketplace Shopping Centre for $1,475,000 at a very healthy yield of 9.8%.
The sale of the 627-square-metre retail centre on a 3,235-square-metre site near Ipswich was negotiated by Knight Frank’s Andrew Burke, who says investors are keen to use their self-managed super funds to purchase such investments.
The property had previously been under offer at $1.65 million, according to a <a href="https://commercialrealestate.com.au/Property/2009810475/For-Sale/QLD/SPRINGFIELD/Retail" target="_blank">listing on commercialrealestate.com.au.</a>
Burke says that interest was “above average” because it is “hard to find something in that price range with a yield of that kind”.
“We believe the price range appealed to many self-managed super funds; disclosing the asking price allowed potential investors to instantly know if it was within their price range,” says Burke.
"Unlike some other property classes all buyers can relate to small-scale retail centres;  and finally, there was not actually a huge amount of income-generating assets on the market” he adds.
Located on 30 Commercial Drive, Springfield, the centre is 24 kilometres south-west of the Brisbane CBD.
The complex includes outlets such as Eagle Boys Pizza, Springfield Garden Restaurant, Nina’s bakery, CEBU Asian Supermarket and Salt n’ Battered.
The vendor was Itche Fa Investments.
Two weeks ago, Property Observer reported on <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/retail/suburban-shopping-centre-sales-top-%241-billion-for-year-cbre/2011091451549" target="_blank">market analysis from CBRE</a> revealing that sales of neighbourhood and sub-regional shopping centres had topped $1 billion in the past year.
A total of 38 centres have been traded this year, 37% more than in 2010, with the market sector benefitting from customers moving more towards food and service retailing.
According to Colliers, prime yields in sub-regional and neighbourhood shopping centres start from around 7% and rise up to as 10% in the secondary market.
Colliers head of national research Nerida Conisbee suggest investors consider regional shopping centres under $5 million as well as suburban strata offices.
Major property groups, including Lend Lease and Colonial First State have already started advertising investment funds specifically targeted at sub-regional and neighbourhood shopping centres.
Urbis National director of valuation Matt Cleary says, “Pricing has got back to much more in line with historical trends”. 
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Investor syndicate snaps up Queensland retail centre on near 10% yield

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The Melbourne suburb of Meadow Heights is the worst-performing suburb in the Victorian housing market over the past year, according to the latest Residex market index.
The suburb, which is 18 kilometres north of Melbourne CBD, suffered a drop of 9.7% in median house prices over the 12-month period, with the median house value now at $441,000.
In August 2011, the suburb had small gains of 0.77%, before losing 10.47% in the past year. Sales rose 3.47% in the past 12 months, with only 1,550 properties being sold.
In regards to rent, the median price rose 1.47% to a $345, equating to a median of 4.1%.
It was the hardest hit in the metropolitan suburbs, with <a href="/news">Essendon </a>hit second hardest, with house prices falling 8.44%. In <a href="/news">Brunswick </a>the median house price fell 7.69%, in <a href="/news">Fitzroy </a>it fell 5.67% and in <a href="/news">Doncaster </a>the median house price fell 5.96%.
<a href="/news">Meadow Heights</a>, which was previously known as Broadmeadows North, underwent a property boom in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Demand for new houses rose, forcing potential buyers into the outer-suburban area.
There is one shopping centre in the suburb, the Centro Meadow Heights, which has a SUPA IGA supermarket and over 25 retail outlets.
The suburb has numerous parks, the largest being the Broadmeadow Valley Park, which is filled with soccer fields and playgrounds. The Shankland Wetlands, which is home to a variety of native birds, is also in the area.
According to realestate.com.au, a very meagre 14 properties are for sale, with only 10 properties available for rent.
This <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-meadow+heights-107166090.pdf?1923cc5d6f3e4c6ae4ef78ec004dab80">three-bedroom house</a> (pictured below), within walking distance to the shopping centre, was recently sold for $305,000 by Jason Real Estate Glenroy.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/rosedale1.jpg">
Something a little closer to the median house value, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-meadow+heights-105826325.pdf?ab39445eec613da45104b31ed1d7b537" target="_blank">this four-bedroom house</a> (pictured below) was sold for $403,000 by YPA estate agents, with the opportunity to purchase extra land from the council to modify the barbecue area.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/dunkeld.jpg">
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Meadow Heights worst-performing Melbourne suburb in past year: Residex

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The popular tourism town of Bendigo, known for its rich gold mining history, has been the top-performing Victorian housing market over the past year, according to the latest Residex regional market index.
House values in the central northern town are up by 4.25% for the year ending August 2012, bettering the previous 12-month increase of 2.85%.
The median house price in <a href="/news">Bendigo</a> is $264,000.
Residex reports there was a 9.49% jump in sales activity, with 2,941 properties sold during 12-month period.
The average house rent price in Bendigo was up by 1.8% for the year, to $280, equating to a median yield of around 5.5%.
Bendigo outperformed other strong regional towns, including Shepparton (3.18% increase in house values), Mildura (up 2.92%) and Wodonga (up 2.93%).
Those regional towns were the only positive localites, with towns going back in value including Ballarat (-1.97%), Geelong and surrounding area (-3.8%), Castlemaine (-2.6%) and with Mornington and surrounding area at -4.06%.




Bendigo is situated approximately 150 kilometres north-west of Melbourne and is the fourth most populous city in Victoria, with an estimated urban population of 90,000.
According to the ANZ, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/bendigo-strongest-victorian-regional-housing-market-far-outperforming-shepparton-anz/2012070955483">Bendigo has outperformed</a> other regional and metropolitan cities in Victoria, including La Trobe Valley, Warrnambool and even Melbourne in terms of capital growth.
As of the year ending March 2012, Bendigo had a capital growth of 7%, compared with 5% in the La Trobe Valley and 4% in Warrnambool. Melbourne's capital growth fell 6%.
According to realestateview.com there are 171 properties for sale and 94 properties for rent in Bendigo. 

Recent property sales in Bendigo include <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/VIC/Bendigo/?adid=2008302654" target="_blank">this three-bedroom modern home</a> (pictured below) through the Select Property Group for $295,000. Located in the heart of Bendigo, it offers magnificent views of the Sacred Heart Cathedral.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/vine.jpg" width="470">
A little higher than the median price, <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/VIC/Bendigo/?adid=2007508586" target="_blank">this recently restored four-bedroom house</a> (pictured below) sold $367,500 through Kangaroo Flat Realty. Formerly a church (since 1891) it is approximately 325 square metres and has been revived for modern living and was sold in January this year.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/mackenziest.jpg" width="470">
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Bendigo best-performing Victorian housing market in past year: Residex

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The Mirvac Group has sold 50% of its stake in the Old Treasury Building, Perth to K-REIT Asia for $165 million.
It's a new A-grade commercial tower project on the site of Perth’s Old Treasury.
The deal will have to wait for approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board.
It has a construction completion date set for 2015.
The building will have 30,800 square-metre space with 98% pre-committed by a 25-year lease to the WA state government.
K-REIT will fund 50% of the development costs, at an effective rate of 7%.
Mirvac’s Bevan Towning said he was delighted with his company’s second co-investment with the Singapore-listed group.
“This transaction is Mirvac’s second co-investment with K-REIT, following the sale of a 50 per cent interest in our latest premium grade Sydney office tower, 8 Chifley Square, and we are delighted to work with K-REIT to deliver one of Perth’s flagship projects.”
Mirvac Constructions, a subsidiary of the Mirvac Group, will deliver the building under a fixed-price design. It is anticipated that on completion, Mirvac Asset Management will be appointed as property manager by the co-owners.
The property is targeting a five-star <a target="_blank" href="https://www.gbca.org.au/green-star/">green star</a> rating by the Green Building Council of Australia and is designed to achieve a 4.5-star <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbd.gov.au/NABERSRatings.aspx">NABERS Energy Rating</a>.
Last November Property Observer reported the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/perth-s-old-treasury-to-become-aman-resort/2011110752242">Old Treasury buildings </a> were being refurbished into an ultra-exclusive Aman Resort, while a 35-level office tower was being developed at the centre of the site, which is part of the St George’s Terrace Cathedral Heritage Precinct.
 
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Mirvac sells 50% of the Old Treasury Building, Perth project to K-REIT Asia

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The popular Horizons Resort on Lake Jindabyne, NSW, has been listed for sale.
Ian Dore of Resort Brokers Australia has been appointed to sell the four-star tourist accommodation resort, which is priced at $2,995,000.
The large resort has 120 self-contained residential apartments, three separate conference rooms catering up to 250 people, as well as a tented function room. 
The holiday destination also includes a restaurant, bistro and bar, as well as a heated indoor swimming pool, gym, tennis court and undercover parking for visitors and employees. 
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/09/horizons.jpg">
The first stage of the resort was built in 1995 and the final stage completed in 2000. The resort was owner-operated by the original developer. In 2002, management and leasing agreements were sold to an independent operator until 2011, when a protracted court case gave 100% control back to the original owner, who has since put the commercial property up for sale. 
The greatest demand for the resort is during the winter ski season, from June to September, with an occupancy rate of 90%.
It is also a destination during the summer period for weddings, conferences and events. It has an annual occupancy rate of 47%.
The 120 apartments include studios, deluxe studios and two-storey split apartments for the executive studios.
The price for one night for a studio apartment during the winter season is $250, with a deluxe studio at $300 and the executive studio valued at $450. 
During the summer season, excluding the holiday period of Christmas and New Year's, the cost for one night in a studio is $125, a deluxe studio for $150 and an executive studio for $275.
The 12 staff members are currently employed for the full year, with numerous casuals working during the winter ski season.
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Horizons Resort at Lake Jindabyne, NSW, listed for $2,995,000

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Complete with its sloping walls, balconies and staircases, the famous Ettamogah Pub at Table Top has been listed for liquidation sale about a year after its closure.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/stories/2012/09/ettamogah1.jpg">
The iconic original pub has been listed through Angus Macleod of Ray White Rural Wagga in conjunction with Ray White Hotels, acting under instructions from Andrew Bowcher, the official liquidator at RSM Bird Cameron.
It's been listed, along with the Ettamogah concept licence, after entertainment industry entrepreneur Leigh O'Brien, its owner, encountered financial difficulties.
It was reported in 2011 that O'Brien <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/victoria/ettamogah-publican-pursued-for-9-million-20110528-1f9rh">owed creditors about $9 million</a>.
The pub dates back to 1987 when built by Albury businessman Lindsay Cooper, based around the famous cartoons published by Ken Maynard.
The cartoons were published in the now defunct Australian Post magazine.
Maynard, who passed away in 1998, created the comic strip featuring the Ettamogah Pub and a motley bunch of characters, including koalas, kangaroos, kids and Struth, the boots-wearing cockatoo.
The original pub in Table Top was a faithful re-creation of the distinctive lopsided architecture and has since become an iconic tourist attraction. 
It is 15 kilometres out of Albury.
The timber watering hole, a replica of Ken Maynard's long-running Ettamogah Mob cartoon in the Australasian Post magazine, is set on 10 hectares.
The complex attracted about 1 million people a year at its peak when owned by a De Bortoli Wines subsidiary.
Another Ettamogah Pub was opened in 1989 in Queensland and then a further two pubs constructed, most recently in 2003, in Rouse Hill, Sydney and in 2001 in the town of Cunderdin, Western Australia, 156 kilometres east of Perth.
In 1992, both the original pub in Table Top and the one on the Sunshine Coast were put up for sale, with the buyer acquiring worldwide trademark and licence rights to the Ettamogah Pub “intellectual property”. It was bought in 1994 by current owner Leigh O'Brien.
Offers close on October 26.
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Ettamogah Pub at Table Top, Albury, in liquidation sale

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The historic Lewis Anchorage site, located on Mangrove Street, Taren’s Point, in Sydney’s South, has been listed for sale with $6 million expectations.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/lew.jpg">
The property is situated in the southern shores of Botany Bay in close proximity to the entrance of the Georges River.
The property, which is currently occupied by boat repair and maintenance businesses, has a land area of 8,704 square metres and a <a href="https://dictionary.nwc.gov.au/water_dictionary/item.cfm?id=707&amp;xref=1" target="_blank">water lease</a> of 6,025 square metres. The sale is being conducted through Brett Cooper of Cooper Wilson, who says comparable opportunities have been few.
The site has been in the current owner’s family since 1935 commencing with a long commercial association with Botany Bay oyster farming from the early 1900s. In 1956 the Lewis family successfully dredged providing better access to Botany Bay for many vessels.
 In 1978, following the demise of the Georges River oyster industry, Lewis Anchorage shifted focus from oyster farming to the marine business. With over two acres of land, large compounds were initially sectioned off to store small boats and trailers. A boat launching ramp was constructed so that it could launch three boats at the one time.
 To provide maintenance and repairs to boats, the construction of the 70-tonne capacity <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_lift" target="_blank">ship-lift</a> was completed in 1986, to lift boats out of the water. Since then, the site has lifted and housed huge cruisers both private and commercial for maintenance. Both Riviera and Maritimo vessels are sent to the site for packing prior to being exported. The marine repair facility has catered for many essential service vessels and a wide variety of private crafts, including Water Police, Coast Guard, Sydney Port Pilots, the Navy and the Army.
Current outgoing rates that are associated with the anchorage include Council rates ($13,348.80 plus GST per annum), water rates ($684.28 plus GST per annum) and a land tax of $35,897.30 plus GST per annum.
The property is situated in the southern shores of Botany Bay and is in close proximity to the entrance of the Georges River. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Taren Point</a> is only six kilometres to Cronulla and 25 kilometres to the Sydney CBD.
Expressions of interest in the property close on October 11 unless sold prior.
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Historic Lewis Anchorage site fishing for $6 million new owner

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Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo has confirmed plans to open its first Australian store. Currently there are 903 Uniqlo outlets worldwide.
The company, best known for its multi-coloured micro-fibre wools and cottons clothing, will establish a Melbourne office in December.
Uniqlo spokesperson Aldo Liguori says the company's first store will open in 2013-2014.
“We expect to open one store in Australia during the fiscal year 2013," he says.
"We believe there is strong potential for the Uniqlo brand among consumers in Australia.”
Uniqlo is a subsidiary of Fast Retailing Pty Ltd, a global fashion operation.
The company was founded in 1984 in Japan, where it is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Over the years, Uniqlo has moved into the fast fashion market.
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Japanese fast fashion powerhouse Uniqlo begins plans for Australian opening

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The uncertain Payless Shoes future – following last Friday's voluntary administration – will likely impact on landlords, with Centro and Westfield the hardest hit.
Westfield is the landlord of 30 outlets of the discount shoes company. The plurality of these, 13 stores, are in NSW.
There are another six outlets each in Victorian and Queensland Westfields, along with two each in the ACT and Western Australia and one in South Australia, as currently listed on the Payless Shoes website.
Centro Centres has 14 NSW Payless Shoes stores, followed by 10 in Victoria, six in Queensland, three in Western Australia and one each in South Australia and Tasmania.
NSW was the dominant location of all the 234 stores with 105 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/retail/payless-trodden-into-voluntary-administration-by-poor-consumer-confidence/2012092456761">Payless Shoes outlets.</a>
Second was Queensland with 54 stores; Victoria third with 44, followed by 15 in Western Australia, seven in Tasmania, five in South Australia and only four in the ACT.
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Retail landlords Westfield and Centro hit hardest by Payless administration

One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

&nbsp;

FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<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/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

Andrew Bishara

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