<html><body>
With auction sales results in Canterbury and Hawthorn kept under wraps by Melbourne agents, a Kirribilli house took top place in RP Data's formally notified top 10 sales list this week. 
 
<a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/20-fitzroy-street-kirribilli-nsw-2061/myrp-490?propertyId=3433375">20 Fitzroy Street, Kirribilli, NSW, 2061</a>, three-bedroom house, sold on August 23 by Belle Property Neutral Bay Neutral Bay for $3.025 million
<a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/93-hopetoun-avenue-vaucluse-nsw-2030/myrp-490?propertyId=7140665">93 Hopetoun Avenue, Vaucluse, NSW, 2030</a>, three-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on August 25 by McGrath Estate Agents for $3 million
<a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/8-58-tristania-drive-bardon-qld-4065/myrp-490?propertyId=2860685">8/58 Tristania Drive, Bardon, QLD, 4065</a>, five-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on August 25 by Brisbane Real Estate for $2.45 million
<a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/6-maysbury-avenue-brighton-vic-3186/myrp-490?propertyId=10016151">6 Maysbury Avenue, Brighton, VIC, 3186</a>, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on August 25 by Marshall White &amp; Co for $2.231 million
<a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/54-highgate-street-strathfield-nsw-2135/myrp-490?propertyId=6485637">54 Highgate Street, Strathfield, NSW, 2135</a>, five-bedroom house, sold at auction on August 25 by Georges Ellis &amp; Co for $1.99 million
<a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/67-manningtree-road-hawthorn-vic-3122/myrp-490?propertyId=11192860">67 Manningtree Road, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122</a>, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on August 25 by Jellis Craig for $1.87 million
<a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/2-cullens-lane-hunters-hill-nsw-2110/myrp-490?propertyId=3004239">2 Cullens Lane, Hunters Hill, NSW, 2110</a>, four-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on August 25 by Ward Partners for $1.825 million
<a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/23-hopetoun-avenue-canterbury-vic-3126/myrp-490?propertyId=10256234">23 Hopetoun Avenue, Canterbury, VIC, 3126</a>, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on August 25 by Jellis Craig for $1.8 million
<a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/12-morotai-crescent-castlecrag-nsw-2068/myrp-490?propertyId=1789956">12 Morotai Crescent, Castlecrag, NSW, 2068</a>, six-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on August 25 by McGrath Estate Agents for $1.75 million
<a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/27-curban-street-balgowlah-heights-nsw-2093/myrp-490?propertyId=1229636">27 Curban Street, Balgowlah Heights, NSW, 2093</a>, four-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on August 25 by Richardson &amp; Wrench Seaforth/Balgowlah for $1.75 million
Source: <a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/" target="_blank">RP Data</a>
</body></html>

cknowlton-QnEa6ntUYP

With Canterbury and Hawthorn results under wraps, Kirribilli the week's top official sale: RP Data

<html><body>
Highgate is the most crowded suburb in Perth, according to RP Data.
With 1,941 people in an area 0.39 square kilometres in area, the suburb has 5,004 people per square kilometre.
The larger suburb of Victoria Park, at 2.61 square kilometres, has 8,539 people and a density of 3,266 people per square kilometre. 
Outside of Perth, the most densely populated regional WA area is the tiny town of Karloo, which is just 0.3 kilometres in area. It has a population of only 649, but because of its small size that equates to 2,138 per square kilometre.
The region of Lamington, at 1.26 kilometres, has 2,278 people, or a density of 1,810 people per square kilometre.
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/2012/07/rpjuly9.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/rpjuly9thumb.gif"></a>
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/2012/07/rpjuly93.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/rpjuly93thumb.gif"></a>
Source: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.myrp.com.au/">RP Data</a>
</body></html>

Inner-Perth suburb of Highgate most densely populated suburb of WA: RP Data

<html><body>
Returns fell across all types of shopping centres from 2011 to 2012, according to IPD.
Total returns dropped from 10.6% to 9.1% across all types of shopping centres.
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2012/08/ipdaug151.gif"><img src="/images/stories/2012/08/ipdaug151thumb.gif"></a>
</body></html>

Shopping centres recorded lower returns in 2012 than 2011: IPD

<html><body>
<div id="profile_stats">
Founder, Rockpool Group
Born in: Sydney
Friends: <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.thepowerindex.com.au/business-bosses/alan-joyce/201206201425">Alan Joyce</a> | <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.thepowerindex.com.au/business-bosses/james-packer/201206111420">James Packer</a> | Heston Blumenthal | Thomas Keller | <a href="https://www.thepowerindex.com.au/food/kylie-kwong">Kylie Kwong</a>
Home town: Sydney
</div>
You can't escape Neil Perry – even if you want to.
His Rockpool Group runs eight venues across three states, which have garnered 11 Good Food Guide hats between them. For nearly a decade he's been popping up on our TV screens and in our magazines. Even in the air you're eating Perry's tucker, thanks to his 16-year relationship with Qantas. Add in his connections with James Packer’s Crown, and you'd be hard pressed to find an industry Perry hasn't dipped his finger into for a taste.
But it's his famous ponytail that most Australians remember him for.
"I'm getting to the stage where I’m thinking, 'Should I be cutting it off?" but I just can't think of any other look,” the ex-hairdressing apprentice says, laughing down the phone line . “Single-minded, you see. It's been part of a brand for me. I didn't think of it that way, but I've become synonymous with it in the industry."
With over 30 years working in hospitality, the Rockpool founder has become synonymous with a lot of things: Modern Australian and Asian cooking. Steaks. Relationships with the big end of town. A love for quality Australian produce. And a one-eyed obsession about everything he does.
Food industry insiders say Perry exists in his own world: “Planet Perry”. “We're very single minded about what we do and I think you've got to be to be successful,” admits Perry. “Sometimes people say I'm arrogant or whatever. That generally comes across [because of] just not having enough time to do the things I'd like to do.”
What he does like to do is open successful restaurants -- although he’s had his fair share of unsuccessful ones over the years. His Rockpool Group runs three restaurants in Sydney (Rockpool on George, Rockpool Bar &amp; Grill and Spice Temple), four in Melbourne (Rockpool Bar &amp; Grill, Spice Temple, The Waiting Room and Rosetta, which opens September 14) and one in Perth (Rockpool Bar &amp; Grill). The company is budgeting to spend $26 million on staff wages in 2013.
The location of Rockpool’s venues also hints at Perry’s powerful connections. As one food reviewer puts it: “Half of their restaurants are in a hideous, disgusting casino.” All of Perry’s Melbourne restaurants are located in the Crown Casino complex. His Perth restaurant sits in the Burswood Entertainment Complex, a casino and entertainment complex owned by Crown Limited.
Plus, flagstaff restaurant Rockpool on George is widely assumed to be a loss leader, helpful for gaining foodie cred, but useless at making money. Instead it's the highly profitable relationship with Crown – which gives support in the form of cheap rent, fit-out and marketing support – that helps make his restaurants so successful.
Not that he hides his gambling connections. Perry names James Packer as one of his business mentors: “James is just fantastic and has been very generous with his time and advice.”
There's a strong relationship between the two businesses. “I sort of think that Rockpool Bar &amp; Grill brand and Spice Temple co-exist with the Crown brand," says Perry. That's particularly interesting since Crown just announced a Crown Towers hotel in Perth and a new entertainment precinct in Sydney's Banagaroo.
Since 1996 Perry and his Rockpool Consulting team have determined what travellers dig in to while onboard a Qantas flight. Six full time staff work on the project all year long, examining the strengths and weaknesses of catering centres around the airports of the world. Former Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon and current CEO Alan Joyce are the other two names that come up when Perry talks about his mentors.
But Perry is also known for his own mentoring role. His passion for Aussie produce has meant he’s pushed the careers of several now well-known farmers, seafood producers and growers. “The amount of Australian food producers that he has supported along the way is a reflection of his influence and power,” declares chef Kylie Kwong.
As a former apprentice of Perry’s, Kwong is just one of many of Perry’s “young disciples” -- as she calls them -- to have gone on to run their own restaurants. Others include Ross Lusted from The Bridge Room and Mike McEnearney from Kitchen by Mike. Perry is known for paying staff well and many are deeply loyal to him.
His personal endorsements and media appearances have also helped make him a wealthy man. Perry's six cookbooks are beloved by foodies and home cooks alike and he pens a weekly column for Fairfax’s Good Weekend magazine.
Although Perry’s longevity is impressive, Rockpool’s restaurants no long appear in the San Pellegrino Top 50 lists. Perry was credited as one of the pioneers of the Modern Australian food movement, but several restaurant reviewers and food writers tell The Power Index that younger chefs and other restaurants push the boundaries more than Perry and his venues these days.
Not that the 55-year-old is complaining. Ultimately he sees himself more as a restaurateur than a chef, and he’s planning to open five more venues in the next five years.
Rockpool can live on without its founder, claims Perry. “I try and build restaurants in their own right to stand for an experience and stand for quality and value, and that's why I don’t have a restaurant called Neil Perry or plates with my name on it, which I think is a bit of a doomsday situation.
His 18-year-old daughter already works at Rockpool and his other children express interest in continuing the family business, although Perry quips that he'd prefer them to be doctors. No word on who'll carry on the ponytail tradition.
This article originally appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thepowerindex.com.au/">The Power Index.</a>
</body></html>

Neil Perry planning to open five more restaurants in next five years

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/08/5point08percent.gif">
The rental yield for houses in regional Victoria, according to Residex. The median house rent is $315 per week, which is exactly the same as this time last year.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/08/5point29percent.gif">
The rental yield for houses in regional South Australia, according to Residex. The median house rent is $255 per week, which is up 2% from this time last year.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/08/5point49percent.gif">
The rental yield for houses in regional New South Wales, according to Residex. The median house rent is $360 per week, which is up 3.45% from this time last year.
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/08/5point5percent.gif">
The rental yield for houses in regional Tasmania, according to Residex. The median house rent is $270 per week, which is up 3.85% from this time last year.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/08/5point58percent.gif">
The rental yield for houses in regional Queensland, according to Residex. The median house rent is $390 per week, which is up 4% from this time last year.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/08/5point74percent.gif">
The rental yield for houses in regional Western Australia, according to Residex. The median house rent is $375 per week, which is 13.64% up on this time last year.
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/08/5point88percent.gif">
The rental yield for houses in regional Northern Territory, according to Residex. The median house rent is $540 per week, which is up 4.85% from this time last year.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/landlords/melbourne-s-395-is-lowest-of-capital-city-house-rental-yields-residex-state-by-state-analysis/2012082156145">Residex has also compiled a list of house rents for landlords in capital cities.</a>
</body></html>

Victoria's regional house landlords reap $315 a week: A state-by-state rental yield analysis: Residex

<html><body>
The building and telecommunications industries are expected to pick up in the next few years as the mining sector slows, although other businesses are set to struggle, according to a new report. 
BIS Shrapnel has released forecasts for resources, health services, telecommunications, wholesale trade, building, education, retail, manufacturing, utilities and administration. 
According to BIS Shrapnel, mining investment will continue to underpin activity over the next few years. 
“Mining investment will continue to grow, albeit more slowly, for a few years yet,” says BIS Shrapnel chief economist Dr Frank Gelber. 
But as mining investment peaks in 2014 and starts to decline, non-mining investment will stabilise and start to pick up, taking over as the engine of growth, BIS Shrapnel said in its report. 
Stock shortages, population growth and lower interest rates should stimulate the housing market and dwellings investment, according to the report. 
Meanwhile, non-mining businesses “are not investing enough”. Current economic growth will eventually absorb excess capacity, prompting the next round of business investment. 
“That will impact on the performance of different industries,” Gelber says. 
BIS Shrapnel expects the building industry to gradually improve, supported by a recovery in dwellings building from late this year. 
Next year, non-dwelling building should also pick up as supply tightens after many years in the doldrums. 
“And, remember, mining investment is still rising,” Gelber says. 
“That means overall investment in the construction industry should grow strongly over the next year, but employment will remain subdued.” 
Another area where investment is set to expand rapidly is in telecommunications. 
This is consistent with recent announcements by Telstra, and will be further supported as the private sector invests to take advantage of the National Broadband Network. 
This investment will be accompanied by increased output and employment in the telecommunications industry. 
Meanwhile, education is likely to stabilise after contracting for several years. 
The annual value of exports of education services has fallen by nearly 20% over the past two years, according to BIS Shrapnel, to below $15 billion from $18 billion in 2009-10. 
This is due to the fact that the number of foreign students in Australia has plummeted, deterred by the high Australian dollar, the weak global economy and regulatory changes in Australia. 
While these factors are still in play, and are therefore depressing the level of activity, BIS Shrapnel does not expect them to become any more intense. 
As a result, growth in the education industry should return, supported by ongoing demand from Australian students as the population grows and government spending on education increases. 
Retail should also continue its recent recovery, supported by the current low level of interest rates, increased household incomes and continued growth in domestic demand more generally. 
The generally improved conditions should benefit transport, postal and warehousing industries. 
The accommodation industry is a mixed bag, with CBD hotels benefiting from strong business travel, but tourism continuing to be affected by the high dollar. 
The high dollar – coupled with rising production costs and weakness in key international markets – will also continue to weigh heavily on the majority of manufacturing industries. 
However, some sub-sectors are benefiting from the mining investment boom, while other sub-sectors will benefit from increased building. 
“Nevertheless, we expect low output growth in manufacturing over the next year, with further declines in profitability, investment and employment,” the report says. 
Output growth in the electricity, gas and water industries should also remain subdued as businesses and consumers continue to look for ways to cut their energy usage amid rising costs.
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.startupsmart.com.au/" target="_blank">StartupSmart</a>.
</body></html>

Building and telco sectors set to lead post-mining surge: BIS Shrapnel

<html><body>
Total returns across healthcare property investment were fairly steady between 2011 and 2012, easing from 10.9% to 10.8%, according to IPD.
Medical centre returns held steady at 11.7% during the year, while hospital returns fell from 10.7% to 10.3%.
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/2012/08/ipdaug152.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/08/ipdaug152thumb1.gif"></a>
</body></html>

Returns for heath care property investors steady over 2011-12: IPD

<html><body>
It’s obviously feel-good, family-friendly marketing, but the brutal reality is those “Sugar Glider Road”, “Wallaby Close” and “Fairy Wren Circuit” street signs are almost certainly memorials for absent friends rather than indicators of cherished co-residents.
As was so disturbingly articulated by wildlife veterinarian Dr Jon Hanger on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2012/08/16/3569231.htm">Four Corners</a> August 20, when we clear bushland the wildlife doesn’t just move on. In almost all cases most of the lizards, mammals, small birds and koalas will die, either immediately during the destruction of their habitat, or eventually due to exposure to predators, lack of food or the sheer stress associated with losing their environment. And this kind of wildlife death is specific to Australia: in other countries, suburban sprawl moves over already-transformed rural landscapes. Here, it often envelopes the surrounding forest.
Although fairly tentative and inconclusive, the Four Corners program did highlight the complexity and inevitability of the impact urbanisation has on biodiversity, with the spotlight understandably focused on the tragically cute koala. The recent federal government listing of the species as “<a target="_blank" href="https://theconversation.edu.au/the-vulnerable-koala-are-we-in-time-to-save-our-national-icon-6757">threatened</a>” in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT will apparently mean far greater scrutiny of activities that harm koalas or their habitat. The operationalisation of such a process is far from clear, but the cry of “<a target="_blank" href="https://theconversation.edu.au/spinning-green-tape-as-the-climate-changes-6632">yet more green tape</a>” can already be heard from developers and certain state government ministers.
Koalas and people share the same tastes in location, though not lifestyle. In coastal eucalypt woodlands and forest throughout the eastern seaboard, people are scrambling for spanking-new house blocks in vast new estates carved directly from the “vacant” bushland.
In the new suburbs surrounding Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, the Gold Coast and the Redlands of south-east Queensland, this is having a predictably catastrophic effect on the local, relatively abundant koala populations. Specialised koala hospitals and centres now operating in these locations all reported large numbers of koalas admitted because of injuries from vehicles, attacks by dogs and a variety of debilitating diseases. In some of these areas, the rate of these admissions has started to wane, principally because the numbers of local koalas have declined significantly.
The best data on koala population trends comes from the “Koala Coast” area of southern Queensland. Here, sizeable tracts of eucalypt forest were set aside for koala conservation in the 1980s (following vehement opposition to plans for new motorways through the areas). As part of the Queensland government’s ongoing monitoring of these koala populations, we now have a depressingly clear picture of a species declining to extirpation. And it’s the expected urban pressures: loss of habitat, cars, dogs and disease.
Each of these factors is being addressed, though in certain places, to a limited extent, and with mixed results. Domestic dog management is being talked about, seemingly seriously, though no one actually expects any real changes there. (Bear in mind that an appallingly high proportion of the koalas translocated from Coomera on the Gold Coast have been killed by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2012/08/09/feral-dogs-foxes-pose-biggest-threats-to-koalas/">apparently “feral” dogs</a>.)
Koalas appear to carry a remarkable cocktail of <a target="_blank" href="https://wildlifewarriors.org.au/research/koalas">diseases and pathogens</a>, often without showing any symptoms. Urban koalas, however, may be more susceptible to these ailments when subjected to the chronic stress of living in human-dominated landscapes. Wildlife disease experts are investigating diseases throughout the distribution of the species. There is hopeful work toward a vaccine for the most prevalent of all koala afflictions, chlamydia. As any of these researchers are quick to admit, however, we shouldn’t expect quick answers to this exceptionally complex picture.
Perhaps unexpectedly, one area showing surprisingly positive signs is reducing road causalities among roaming koalas. Unlike many species of wildlife – which shun roads and retreat further into the bush far from traffic disturbance – koalas are notorious for attempting to cross even major roads in search of favoured feed trees or a potential liaison.
To reduce the risk of koala road-kill, major local authorities and state agencies have been busy constructing specially designed exclusion fences to stop animals reaching the road. However, for koalas now living in an increasingly fragmented landscape of bushland patches often separated by roads, it is critically important that they are able to move from patch to patch safely.
To help koalas safely cross busy roads, Queensland Transport and Main Roads have been working with ecologists to install structures under bridges and in large culverts. But like many animals, koalas are highly reluctant to walk through water. To provide a dry alternative route under the road, a number of box culverts have been retrofitted: broad ledges are attached to the wall of the culvert with platforms leading from the land on either side of the road. Despite significant skepticism and jokes about whether “eucalyptus addicts” are capable of learning to do something no koala has ever needed to do before, the first animals were using the ledges within weeks and have continued to do so.
The enduring issue for urban koalas is, of course, whether people and koalas can actually coexist in the same environment. Depending on your perspective, it can be either a marvelous discovery or a “bloody nuisance” to have a koala visit the tree in your suburban backyard.
Darryl Jones is deputy director of Environmental Futures Centre at <a target="_blank" href="https://theconversation.edu.au/institutions/griffith-university">Griffith University</a>
This article originally appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://theconversation.edu.au/">The Conversation.</a>
</body></html>

Koalas and other wildlife often die when property developers move in

<html><body>
<a target="_blank" href="/news"><img src="/images/stories/2012/08/3point25m.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="/news">approximate purchase price of Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke's new Berrima acquisition</a>, Round Hill, the 93-hectare Southern Highlands lifestyle farm with picket fenced oval with cricket pitch. The Clarke purchase fulfills his dream of opening a cricket academy. It's a very private forested property accessed only by gravel road.
 
<hr>
 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/les-samba-s-pomeroy-potts-point-apartment-sells/2012082056119" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/08/2point1m.gif"></a>
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/les-samba-s-pomeroy-potts-point-apartment-sells/2012082056119" target="_blank">sale price of the Pomeroy, Potts Point, apartment of the slain Sydney racing identity Les Samba</a>. It sold some 14 months after its initial listing. It's been bought by veterinarian Raoul Wanner and his wife, Ingrid.
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="/news"><img src="/images/stories/2012/08/32point5percent.gif"></a>
The percentage of consumers polled by Westpac-Melbourne Institute <a target="_blank" href="/news">who expect interest rates to fall in the next 12 months.</a> Two-thirds of consumers expect either rates to rise (32.7%) or rates to remain unchanged (34.7%), indicating a considerable lack of consensus on where mortgages rates are heading over the medium term.
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/landlords/battlers-and-the-beach-campbelltown-and-pittwater-units-strongest-rental-markets/2012082056140"><img src="/images/stories/2012/08/16point3percent.gif"></a>
The annual rent increase in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/landlords/battlers-and-the-beach-campbelltown-and-pittwater-units-strongest-rental-markets/2012082056140">Pittwater units recorded in the year to June</a>, according to PRDnationwide. RP Data shows that Pittwater units have a weekly rental of $320. This is the strongest-performing unit rental market in and around Sydney. 
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/land/melbourne-land-blocks-dip-below-%24200000-but-no-dramatic-falls-expected-oliver-hume/2012082156102"><img src="/images/stories/2012/08/210k.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/land/melbourne-land-blocks-dip-below-%24200000-but-no-dramatic-falls-expected-oliver-hume/2012082156102">gross price of Melbourne residential land</a>, according to the latest research by Oliver Hume. Once rebates and incentives are factored in the net effective land price fell below the “magical” $200,000 mark for the first time since June 2010, the real estate group reported.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="/news"><img src="/images/stories/2012/08/4point075m.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="/news">sale price for a Castle Cove house that was the week's top sale</a>. The Marston Architects-designed property was the subject of a hotly contested bidding war between two bidders, who pushed the price up from $3.6 million to its sale price.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="/news"><img src="/images/stories/2012/08/30pont7percent.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="/news">increase in house prices in the Queensland mining boom region of Isaac,</a> which includes much of the coal-rich Bowen Basin, over the past year. The median house price in the Isaac region is now median of $572,500, according to RP Data.
</body></html>

The 7 must-know numbers of the week, starting with Michael Clarke's Berrima purchase

<html><body>
43 Eloura Diver, Dharruk, NSW, 2770
<img src="/images/stories/2012/08/eloura.jpg">
The current tenants of this three-bedroom house are paying $350 per week, which listing agent Terry Harris of RealEstateOne says is at market rent for the area. The tenants are on a month-to-month lease but are keen to stay on. The brick veneer house is within walking distance of a shopping centre and is close to Chiffley College and Chiffley Primary School.
Harris<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestateonestmarys.com.au/index.cfm?pagecall=property&amp;propertyID=1962279"> is marketing the property</a> with price hopes of $260,000 plus, and if it sells for that price, that would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 7% at its current rent, above the gross rental yield for Dharruk houses of 6.2%, according to RP Data. The gross rental yield does not consider the costs of maintaining the property, including council rates and other fees such as water bills and managing agent fees.
The median house price in Dharruk  fell 0.2% in the past year but rose 17% in the past five years, according to RP Data.
<a target="_blank" href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $4,000 and over five years to be $8,000.
The property will go to auction Saturday, August 25 at noon.
For more information about prices and yields in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Dharruk, see the RP Data suburb page.</a>
For another investment prospect going to auction this weekend, see page 2.
<hr>
13/30 Kelvinside Road, Noble Park, VIC, 3174
<img src="/images/stories/2012/08/kelvinside.jpg">
Within walking distance of the Noble Park train station, this two-bedroom apartment has recently been renovated and has new paint, carpet, curtains and tiles. It is currently vacant, but listing agent Adrees Ezadyar of Ray White says it could be expected to rent for about $260 per week. 
Ezadyar <a target="_blank" href="https://www.raywhite.com/vic/noble-park/788459/">is marketing the property</a> with price hopes of $190,000 plus, and if it sells for that price it would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 7.1%, well above the gross rental yield for Noble Park units of 5%, according to RP Data. The gross rental yield does not consider the costs of maintaining the property, including council rates and other fees such as water bills and managing agent fees.
<a target="_blank" href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $3,000 and over five years to be $6,000.
The median unit price in Noble Park fell 6.5% in the past year but rose 41.5% in the past five years, according to RP Data.
The property will go to auction Saturday, August 25 at 1pm.
For more information about prices and yields in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Noble Park, see the RP Data suburb page.</a>
</body></html>

Friday form guide: Yields of up to 7% in Dharruk

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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

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

Cassidy Knowlton

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News