<html><body>
Melbourne’s housing market is beginning to show signs of recovery, with prices increasing by 2.5% in the 3 months to August, according to a report released by RP Data.
While Victorian property prices are still relatively flat compared with the same time lastyear, there is room for continued growth and encourages buyers to take advantageof the favourable buying conditions this spring.
It's a buyers' market.
We are expecting to see the volume of homes on the market lift to around $70 million in value per week over October and November.
Buyers are already showing more interest as they see an increase in properties available to them.
This increase in listings is a good indication of buyer confidence and will result in less competition and more choice for buyers, creating 2nd and 3rd options in their property hunt.
This coupled with the softer house prices we are currently experiencing creates great buying conditions.
It’s the time in the market, not timing the market that counts. Buying now in the right areas will see you prosper in the future from your decision to act.
Inner and mid belt family homes to perform well. Investors and homebuyers should be looking for homes located within the inner tomid belt of the city.
Astute investors should be looking in established areas like Kew East, Collingwood,Carlton, Fitzroy, Coburg North, Hawthorn East, Glen Iris, Oakleigh and Macleod.
This type of housing stock is well insulated from the current oversupply of newapartment developments in inner as well as the further expected correction in the$2m+ housing stock.
These inner and mid belt areas can prove to be an excellent return on investmentfor both investors and owner-occupiers. Those purchasing to build their investment portfolio should expect to see consistent rental returns and low vacancy periods,whereas owner-occupiers can have confidence that their home will experience strong capital growth.
Here are our seven top picks:
Albert Park features some of Melbourne’s most prestigious, heritage listed property. St Vincent Gardens is surrounded by multi-million dollar houses and whilst the top end of the market has softened recently apartments in the area have experienced double digit growth at  13.5% (source: APM). Albert Park attracts aspiring young professionals aged 25-39 (source: ABS) who can’t afford to purchase houses here but want to live in the area. Therefore demand is quite strong and consistent and vacancy rates are low at 2.4% (SQM) Kew East is an excellent area for a family or conservative investor to buy an attached or detached house in. Kew East is slightly more affordable than Kew, is 9km from the CBD, within a few kilometres to excellent schools, universities, shops and a multitude of transport options. Due to the suburb’s inhabitants being mainly 35-49 year’s old the suburb is rather resilient to mortgage stress and market corrections. The year of 2011 saw Kew East grow by 8% (source: Residex) where most of Melbourne saw negative growth. Current clearance rates are also trending above average at 63%; showing that the market here is healthy. Carlton is an excellent area for investors. Units here are still good value for money, which has seen this sector experience 15.9% Capital Growth over the last 12 months (source: APM). The population mainly consists of 20-29 year olds (source: ABS), who are attracted by the university district, proximity to the CBD (2km) and lifestyle attractions such as Lygon Street’s cafés and restaurants. Due to these fundamentals, vacancy rates are below Greater Melbourne’s average currently sitting at 1.1% (source: SQM Research). Carlton in recent months has also seen an increase in online interest (source: realestate.com.au) and when coupled with a 77% clearance rate this could suggest that the area’s growth spurt is not over. Collingwood is only 3km from the CBD and units here sell for around $500,000. The suburb has plenty of life with most people being 25-39 and as such has an excellent rental market. Vacancy rates here are 0.3% and units attract reasonable yields. The area has seen good capital performance for units over the last year at 4.1% (APM). Online activity for the suburb has sharply increased over the last three months and this is starting to be reflected in the clearance rates which are now above Melbourne’s trend line. Fitzroy has seen a retracement over the last 12 months which has created some good buying opportunities in the low to mid $500K range. This suburb is ideal for savvy investors who are able to understand what properties have enough character to attract the trendy 30-39 year old tenant market. Right now we’re seeing the right properties in good streets fetch excellent results and now that the suburb has become more affordable the clearance rate has shot up to 77% which is one of Melbourne’s highest results. Coburg North is an area a statistical/technical investor would look to. Fundamentally there isn’t any main driver promoting growth but with this said the suburb has shown remarkable resilience to the down turn with units growing 3.5% over the last 12 months and the long term trend being 15.2% over 10 years. There are some great buying opportunities for villa units and town houses in this area as they’re still somewhat undervalued. Oakleigh apartments have shown amazing growth over the last 12 months. This segment has seen 16.5% growth for properties that are within the $400K-500K band. Clearance rates are high at 76.6% making Oakleigh a mini hot spot. Surrounding suburbs are also performing well but it is critical in these locations that you purchase apartments that tick all of the boxes as substandard properties are less likely to deliver quality returns.
Infolio Property Advisors will be running a free seminar featuring an expert panel that all Property Observer readers are invited to attend. “Buy Property Like A Professional” will be held on October 2, at The Point Albert Park, Melbourne. Head to <a href="https://www.infolio.com.au">www.infolio.com.au</a> for more information. 
Cameron Deal is the founder Infolio Property Advisors.
 
</body></html>

cdeal-QdyJUR3QXp

Seven Melbourne hotspot suburbs for spring property investors

<html><body>
As the end of financial year fast approaches, there are a number of tax and other benefits that can be associated with owning an investment property. 
1. Get the facts
Regular and concise information is imperative to the smooth management of your investment, particularly during the leasing process. A good property manager should provide you with detailed reports about the performance of your property. To that end, annual income and expenditure statements should be provided along with monthly rental  statements.
 
2. Prepay expenses
In most cases for investors, the best way for to boost your property investment refund is to pay for any expenses before June 30 – that way you can claim these expenses as a tax deduction in the 2012 financial year. Typical expenses include rates, body corporate fees, borrowing costs, property management costs and insurance. If you have a high income you may even consider bringing forward required spending such as repairs. This can help you to reduce your overall tax bill. 
3. Know your personal tax position
Before you lodge any expenses it’s important that you consider your tax position carefully. For example, if you have multiple investment properties that are negatively geared (the rental income is less than the expenses of the property), the negative amount could be offset against other income including salary. 
4. Obtain a quantity surveyor’s report
Deprecation refers to a value assigned to the wear and tear of a property of equipment. You can claim a tax deduction for wear and tear without spending any additional money. To ensure you get the maximum deduction commission a quantity surveyor’s report on your investment property.
 
5. Pay up superannuation
If you are self-employed or employed by your own company, paying into your superannuation before the end of the financial year can be an effective way to minimise tax.
 
6. Cash is king
Lodging your tax as early as possible will help ensure your receive your refund sooner, therefore resulting in a boost to your cashflow.
 
7. Engage an expert
To get the most out of your return we recommend investing in an accountant who specialises in property investment.
 
8. Plan for the year ahead
Now you have done all the hard work why not take the time to sit down with a property advisor and plan the year ahead. Are their opportunities to build your portfolio? Could a renovation help you achieve a higher rental income?
 
Cameron Deal is the founder of Melbourne buyer advocate and property advisory company <a href="https://www.infolio.com.au" target="_blank">Infolio Property Advisory</a> 
For <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/free-ebook-top-21-tax-strategies" target="_blank">more end-of-financial-year tax strategies, download our free eBook.</a>
 
 
 
</body></html>

Eight tips for property investors to maximise their end-of-financial-year tax returns

<html><body>
1. Plan and research your investment
Buying an investment property is a significant outlay, and making the time to plan and research is essential to achieving a good result. Start by creating a long-term plan with a clear and realistic vision of what you would like to achieve through your investment. This should include working out a budget and considering whether you want your investment to deliver a high rental yield or strong capital growth.
 2. Location is king
Look for properties in established areas in areas no more than a 10- to 12-kilometre radius of the CBD that have a history of strong long-term capital growth. The location should offer good transport links, schools and recreational space. Avoid busy roads, property within earshot of train or tramlines and areas earmarked for significant development.
 3. Seek scarcity and desirable features
A limited supply or unique feature will ensure strong rental demand and deliver healthy capital growth. Period styles such as art deco traditionally outperform newer properties. Desirable features such as balconies and car spaces can also add significant value to your investment.
 4. Don’t over capitalise
Buying within the median price of an area and being smart about renovations will ensure the property will be both easy to rent out and sell when the time comes.
 5. Enlist the help of experts: buyers’ advocate, financial planner, property manager
Enlisting the services of an expert at the vital stages of your purchase and the ongoing management of the property could pay dividends. Engaging an experienced buyers’ advocate takes the guesswork out of buying an investment property. A buyers’ advocate will help eliminate common purchasing mistakes, identify “investment-grade” properties and negotiate favourable terms on your behalf. Seek the advice of a financial planner to develop a framework around your assets and liabilities, select the best loan and use negative gearing as a tax offset. Invest in the right property manager. Property management can make or break your investment – the last thing you want is a rundown property or unhappy tenants. Look for a committed property manager who cares about your investment, ensures the property has reliable tenants and that provides regular rental statements so you can measure your return.
 
Cameron Deal is founder of Melbourne buyer advocate and property management agency Infolio. He will be hosting a free property seminar <a href="https://www.infolio.com.au/blog/?p=945">“Buy property like a professional” on March 26</a>.
 
</body></html>

Five tips for buying an investment property

<html><body>
Purchasing a property is one of the biggest financial commitments you’re likely to make in your lifetime.
Only certain properties should be bought without you seeing them first. I recommend that those looking for a new home to live in themselves should see the property in question before making an offer.
However, purchasing investment property can often be done without the buyer seeing the property at all. Successfully purchasing a property without viewing it beforehand is dependent on the level of trust you have in the buyer’s advocate you have engaged.
When presenting a property to a client, I provide them with a detailed report that includes historical growth patterns and market value for properties within that specific area. We also provide detail on land size, orientation and comparable sales evidence of similar properties.
When engaging someone to act on your behalf it’s important you’re confident that they’re acting in your best interests. It’s imperative that they have extensive knowledge and experience in the property industry. This ensures that they are well across property market in the area that you’re looking to invest in.
Three important factors to consider when selecting someone to purchase property on your behalf:
1. Experience
Certification and experience provide a base for grounding and trust. Look at a buyer’s agent’s history; has he or she had experience in the property industry? Working in a variety of roles in the property industry enables a multifaceted understanding of the property market. If your buyer’s advocate is also a licensed real estate agent, he or she will be familiar with selling techniques, growth patterns and auction clearance history. Industry experience is integral to an ability to build relationships.
2. Industry relationships
Pre-existing relationships with real estate agents enables buyers’ advocates to unearth properties that are yet to be advertised to the wider market and present them to their clients.
3. Set fee vs. percentage of the purchase price
Engaging professionals to act on your behalf will take the stress and complication out of purchasing property. When engaging a company, look at whether its fees are based on a percentage of the final purchase price or whether they’re set from the beginning. It’s important that you can be confident your advocate has your best interests at heart and won’t be making more money should he or she recommend a more expensive property.
Cameron Deal is senior buyer advocate at<a href="https://www.infolio.com.au/" target="_blank"> Infolio Property.</a><a href="https://www.infolio.com.au/" target="_blank"> </a>
For advice on buying your first investment property<a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/first-investment-property-a-beginner-s-guide" target="_blank">, download our free eBook.</a>
</body></html>

When buying an investment property unseen, trusting your buyer's agent is essential

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

&nbsp;

The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-4" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" dir="auto">
The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

Cameron Deal

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News