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104 Stella Street, Fairfield Heights, NSW, 2165
<img src="/images/stories/stellast.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; max-width: 480px;"> 
An investor has bought this three-bedroom house in Fairfield Heights at its weekend auction for $570,000. There were 10 registered bidders. The tenant is paying $380 per week and is on an expired lease. Pretti Real Estate agent Stephen Jurinic says this is below market rent, and the property could be leased for between $400 and $420 per week. The house has timber floors, a timber kitchen and a detatched room that could make a good home office.
At its current rent it will secure its new owner an indicative gross rental yield of 3.5%, below the indicative gross rental yield for Fairfield houses of 5.1%, 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. If it were rented for $420 per week that would equate to an indicative gross rental yield of 3.8%.
<a href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT" target="_blank">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $10,000 and over five years to be $28,000.
The median house price in Fairfield Heights rose by 7.2% in the past year, according to RP Data.
For more about prices and yields in Fairfield Heights, see the RP Data suburb page.
 
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9/20 Joyce Street, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450
<img src="/images/stories/joyce.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; max-width: 480px;"> 
There was no interest from potential bidders in this two-bedroom Coffs Harbour townhouse, and First National Coffs Harbour agent Caroline Campbell cancelled its scheduled weekend auction. The tenants are paying $190 per week and are on an expired lease. First National Coffs Harbour agent Caroline Campbell says market rent for the property would be about $240 or $250 per week. It is within easy walking distance of the village shopping strip, schools and sports fields.
Campbell <a href="https://www.fncoffs.com/index.cfm?pagecall=property&amp;propertyID=1801184" target="_blank">is now marketing the property</a> with price hopes of $179,000. Before the scheduled auction she provided price hopes of $150,000 plus. If it sells for $179,000 that would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 5.5% at its current rent, higher than the indicative gross rental yield for Coffs Harbour houses of 5.2%, according RP Data. If it were rented at $250 per week, that would be a remarkable gross rental yield of 7.3%. 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. Council rates are $1,669 per year, and strata fees are $1,520 per year.
<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 $6,000 and over five years to be $18,000.
The median house price fell in Coffs Harbour fell by 4.9% in the past year, according to RP Data.
For more about prices and yields in Coffs Harbour, see the RP Data suburb page.
 
 
 
 
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Investor form guide wrap: No takers yet for 5.5% yields in Coffs Harbour, but investor snaps up Fairfield Heights

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A Melbourne real estate agent discriminated against a female employee when it dismissed her because of her “overall young look”, the Fair Work Ombudsman has found.
Real estate agency Buxton Sandringham has agreed to pay the woman $1200 compensation and to revamp its workplace policies.
The woman was employed as a personal assistant on a casual basis in June, 2010 - when she was 23 - but dismissed a month later, shortly after she had assisted at an auction by recording bids.
One of Buxton’s male sales consultants told her that some of the company’s directors who had seen her at the auction were concerned she looked “too young”, was “too short” and would not have the presence to effectively negotiate at auctions.
He said he “needed someone he could turn into a sales person and that this was not possible for her because of her overall young look.”
The consultant terminated her employment, saying: “The reason I have done this now is because the training I would need to do would be a waste of time if I then have this concern six months later”.
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated the matter after the woman lodged an official complaint and said Buxton had to apologise to the woman and pay her $1200 compensation.
Buxton has also agreed to develop new recruitment and termination policies, commission workplace relations compliance training for its directors and alert other Buxton Group franchisees to its breach.
Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson says it is important for employers to treat their employees fairly and be aware of their obligations under workplace laws.
“Employers who have fair and transparent selection processes for recruitment, promotion, training and other business systems will be well-placed to cultivate fair workplaces free of discrimination,” says Wilson.
Buxton Sandringham were unable to respond to our request for comment in time for publication.
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
 
 
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Melbourne estate agent admits sacking worker for being 'too young' and 'too short'

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There's now a website, <a style="font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/">www.propertytycoon.com.au</a>, where punters can guess auction results in Melbourne and Sydney, with no outlay. It's mostly about testing your market knowledge with a small cash prize as a sweetener.
Both properties featured on Property Observer were passed in at their super Saturday auctions, as top-end buyers failed to show much interest. The converted warehouse at 5/4 Tullo Place, Richmond (pictured above) failed to attract the price the vendor was hoping for.
<img src="/images/stories/tullo.jpg">
"There was more curiosity from neighbors than genuine interest from buyers at the auction of 5/4 Tullo Place Richmond on the weekend as a small crowd looked on as the property received one bid at $1.3 million before being passed in," says Mark Armstrong of Property Tycoon.

"There was a bit of action after the auction however as another buyer showing interest and offered $1.5 million, but this was still a fair way of the $1.65 million the vendor is holding out for."
<img src="/images/stories/gibsonst.jpg">
The Sydney property featured on Property Observer, 21 Gibson Street, Bronte (pictured above), also struggled to get over the line.
"In Sydney the lack of off-street parking was the major objection from buyers for 21 Gibson Street, Bronte," says Armstrong.

"The auction failed to gain any real traction and was passed in for $2.025 million with a reserve of $2.4 million. 

"The result illustrates that when buyers are looking to spend that amount of money they really need every box ticked or they will simply wait for better options."
 
 
 
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Picky buyers willing to wait dampened auction tipping competition results

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<img src="/images/stories/1point4percent.gif">
The percentage of Canberrasuburbs with a median unit price of under $300,000, according to RP Data. This is the second-lowest percentage in Australia; Darwin doesn't have a single suburb with a median unit price under $300,000.
 
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The percentage of Melbourne suburbs with a median unit price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
 
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The percentage of Perth suburbs with a median unit price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
 
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The percentage of Brisbane suburbs with a median unit price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
 
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The percentage of Sydney suburbs with a median unit price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
 
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The percentage of Adelaide suburbs with a median unit price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
 
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The percentage of Hobart suburbs with a median unit price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
 
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The number of capital city suburbs with unit prices under $300,000: RP Data

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Ask anyone in real estate about 2011 and they’ll tell you it was a tough year. For the first time in nearly a decade, buyers were no longer prepared to pay the “vendor price” for their dream home. In Melton, the sentiment was no different. Last year, some properties were on the market anywhere from three months up to a year.
Having said that, we definitely didn’t feel the same impact as some of our western counterparts such as Braybrook, whose median price in December recorded a fall of 27% from its peak ($380,000, down from $518,000) or St Albans, which experienced a 18% decline from its peak median price ($360,000 down from $440,000). In fact, recently released <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reiv.com.au/en/Property-Research/Median-Prices/2011-Median-Prices.aspx">REIV figures on 2011 median prices</a> revealed Melton was in the top five growth suburbs for 2011, recording an 8% growth in its median price.
Unlike the majority of Melbourne – the auction capital of Australia – Melton’s modus operandi is a little different. Here, it’s all about the private sale. So while the rest of Melbourne has just kicked into 2012 with its first “super Saturday” last weekend, out in the ’burbs we’ve been back in full swing since the new year.
In the last three months we’ve definitely seen improved confidence, evident in our lower stock levels and quicker turnaround times – just the other day we sold a property within two days! We’ve also just listed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-melton-110027169">a three-bedroom brick home</a> in the heart of Melton that has already gained a lot of interest because its asking price of $239,000 to $245,000 makes it unbeatable value.
So where’s the interest coming from? Right now, it’s the investors who are dominating our market. The small outlay – our median price is $293,500 – needed to buy in one of Melbourne’s top growth suburbs makes Melton the perfect investment for the start-up investor. Not only is impressive capital gains an advantage, but properties are also returning high rental yields substantially higher than Melbourne’s gross house rental yields of 4%<a target="_blank" href="https://m.smh.com.au/business/property/rental-returns-nothing-to-write-home-about-20120215-1t5nu">.</a> Savvy investors recognise now is the time to buy when the market is stable, as opposed to later when the pressure on prices will eventually be greater.
The fact that our median price is nearly half of Melbourne’s ($540,383) also makes our area extremely affordable – and attractive – for first-home buyers. For $250,000, buyers can typically pick up a centrally located three-bedroom brick home on a 600-square-metre block – a bargain for young families looking to upgrade, given the same price wouldn’t even get you a one-bedroom apartment in the inner city.
There’s currently a wealth of buyers waiting on the sideline due to uncertainty around unemployment and interest rates. At the moment they’re holding back but at the end of the day, when people move, it’s for life changes such as growing families, empty nesters downsizing or job relocations that won’t stop because of what’s happening in the market. We’ll see an influx of buyers as confidence continues to grow, which will start driving prices up again.
In Melton, we expect to be in the driving seat as our affordability, infrastructure, space and proximity to the city makes us the perfect choice for young families. We already have one of the highest population growth rates in Victoria at 7.1% – nearly five times the statewide average of 1.5% – and anticipate this will continue growing as buyers start to come out of the woodwork.
Julian Conte has more than a decade experience in real estate and is director of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hockingstuart.com.au/">hockingstuart</a> Melton and Werribee.
 
 
 
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Melton: The hockingstuart mid-autumn 2012 property review

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2111/250 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000
<img src="/images/stories/elizstreet.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; max-width: 480px;"> 
The tenant of this one-bedroom Melbourne CBD apartment is paying rent of $425 per week and is on a lease until January 2013, but agent Nathan Gibson of Harcourts says comparable apartments in the building are leased for $465 per week. 
Gibson <a target="_blank" href="https://www.harcourts.com.au/">is marketing the property </a>with price hopes in the mid-$300,000 range, and if it sells for $370,000 that would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 5.6%, under the indicative gross rental yield for Melbourne units of 6.2%, according to RP Data. A rental of $465 per week would equate to a gross rental yield of 6.5%. 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 href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT" target="_blank">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $10,000 and over five years to be $36,000.
The median unit price in Melbourne fell by 7.5% in the past year, according to RP Data.
The property will go to auction on Saturday, March 31 at 2pm.
For more about prices and yields in Melbourne, see the <a target="_blank" href="/news">RP Data suburb page.</a>
For another investment prospect going to auction this weekend, see page 2.
 
 
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1 Kennedy Drive, Tweed Heads, NSW, 2485
<img src="/images/stories/kennedydr.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; max-width: 480px;"> 
This three-bedroom Tweed Heads house has a development application in place for two duplexes, or an investor could retain the long-term tenant, who is paying $260 per week. Agent Jess Hutson says although the tenant is on an expired lease, that is market rent for the area.
Hutson <a href="https://www.rainbowbayrealty.com.au/sales/properties.php?id=5433912&amp;test=1" target="_blank">is marketing the property</a> with price hopes of $299,000 plus, and if it sells for that price it would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 4.5%, significantly above the indicative gross rental yield for Tweed Heads houses of 3.9%, 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 $8,000.
The median house price in Tweed Heads had no change in the past year, according to RP Data.
The property will go to auction on Saturday, March 31 at 1pm.
For more about prices and yields in Tweed Heads, see the RP Data suburb page.
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Friday form guide: Yields of up to 5.6% in Melbourne

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<div>The total number of advertised listings in Queensland, of which 14,420 are new listings, according to RP Data. This is up from a total of 76,170 at the same time last year.</div>
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<div><img src="/images/stories/81694.gif"></div>
<div>The total number of advertised listings in New South Wales, of which 15,185 are new listings, according to RP Data. This is up from a total of 66,773 at the same time last year.</div>
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<div><img src="/images/stories/71674.gif"></div>
<div>The total number of advertised listings in Victoria, of which 12,738 are new listings, according to RP Data. This is up from a total of 48,459 at the same time last year.</div>
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<div><img src="/images/stories/34435.gif"></div>
<div>The total number of advertised listings in Western Australia, of which 6,477 are new listings, according to RP Data. This is up from a total of 33,116 at the same time last year.</div>
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<div><img src="/images/stories/20779.gif"></div>
<div>The total number of advertised listings in South Australia, of which 3,590 are new listings, according to RP Data. This is up from a total of 16,438 at the same time last year.</div>
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<div><img src="/images/stories/12285.gif"></div>
<div>The total number of advertised listings in Tasmania, of which 1,497 are new listings, according to RP Data. This is up from a total of 9,256 at the same time last year.</div>
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<div><img src="/images/stories/2313.gif"></div>
<div>The total number of advertised listings in ACT, of which 648 are new listings, according to RP Data. This is up from a total of 1,800 at the same time last year.</div>
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<div><img src="/images/stories/1725.gif"></div>
<div>The total number of advertised listings in Northern Territory, of which 389 are new listings, according to RP Data. This is up from a total of 1,644 at the same time last year.</div>
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How much stock is on the market in your state? A state-by-state analysis: RP Data

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There's now a tipping website, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/">www.propertytycoon.com.au</a>, where punters can guess auction five results in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with no outlay. It's mostly about testing your market knowledge with a small cash prize as a sweetener.
One of the five Brisbane properties going to auction this week in round six is 40 Union Street, Clayfield. The property was built in 1926 and has been in the Molphy family since then. The last descendent, Dr Ruth Molphy, was a substantial benefactor of many charities and institutions including Prince Charles Hospital, St Hilda's and the RSPCA.
Mark Armstrong of Property Tycoon says: "40 Union Street, Clayfield, in Brisbanes inner north may not be the best-presented property going to auction in Brisbane, but it does have a few things going for it."


"It has never been sold before as it has remained in the same family since it was built in 1926. The property sits on almost 900 square metres and is located within five kilometres of the city."
He points out that although Brisbane properties <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/auctions/brisbane-market-struggles-to-maintain-momentum-with-all-five-property-tycoon-properties-passed-in/2012032654002" target="_blank">have struggled to get over the line lately</a>, this one is likely to find a buyer.
"It is a deceased estate, so for auction tippers that means unlike a lot of property in Brisbane it will sell on Saturday."
<img src="/images/stories/unionst.jpg">
If you think you know what it will sell for place a tip at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/">Property Tycoon</a>.
 
 
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Brisbane auction tipping

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Founder(s): Gary Braams Revenue: $3.64 million Started: 2008 Head Office: New South Wales Employees: 1 Website: <a href="https://www.startupsmart.com.au/weblink?cid=5813&amp;fid=36&amp;ord=1" title="www.clikre.com.au">www.clikre.com.au</a>
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WINNER OF BEST START-UP PRODUCT
<img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/garybraams.jpg">
 
When Gary Braams lost everything he had in 2000 as a builder developer, he decided that he would make the most of his misfortune and create a business from the lessons he learned. 
“The issue was that I only relied on one real estate agent to sell off my apartments I was developing,” he explains. 
“He couldn’t sell enough in time. In fact he sold none of the project that was completed. I lost all my equity and went bankrupt.” 
Braams managed to build a multimillion-dollar business from his dining room table by creating a system that allows real estate agents to access stock listed anywhere in Australia and share in the commissions available. 
The commissions to total per sale can be as high as 5.5%, or even higher depending on the motivation of the vendor. 
Each member has a database to call on and therefore if you have 300 members you have 300 databases. Some members are in China. 
Braams says: “This business concept allows any current real estate agent to close up a cost ineffective business such as half the shop front real estate business out there to simply perform all the tasks from a regional based office or a home office.” 
“Shop fronts are already dying. I’m the hero who will eventually give them options to still bring in an income without the expense of an office. Clik is a virtual real estate office on your laptop or iPad.”
This article originally appeard on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.startupsmart.com.au/">StartupSmart</a>.
 
 
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StartupSmart Awards 2012: Clik International

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Founder(s): David Whitfield, Steve Cahill Revenue: $930,000 Started: 2009 Head Office: New South Wales Employees: 6 Website: <a href="https://www.startupsmart.com.au/weblink?cid=5780&amp;fid=36&amp;ord=1" title="www.enlighten.com.au">www.enlighten.com.au</a>
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<img src="/images/stories/whitfield.gif" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">
EnLighten specialises in designing, marketing, distributing and installing low-energy lighting solutions. 
By combining efficient LED design with intelligent “point of use” control systems, enLighten is able to achieve world-leading energy efficiency outcomes for its clients. 
The first product in this space is a multifunction light marketed under the name “Chamaeleon”, first installed in January last year, with an updated version released in May. 
<img style="float: right; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/cahill.gif">
According to Whitfield, Chamaeleon regularly achieves energy savings of more than 90% and is being snapped up by the commercial property market. 
“EnLighten has already been approached by companies wanting to distribute the product in Europe and the USA,” he says. 
“Chamaeleon invariably provides ROI outcomes of less than three years and has achieved a project ROI of as little as six months.” 
During the first half of 2012, enLighten is expected to release four other products into the market, and has several larger product groups being developed. 
“EnLighten projects are resulting in record energy and cost savings for its clients,” Whitfield (pictured left) says. 
“While the LED lighting industry is exploding with copycat products that attempt to duplicate existing technologies, enLighten embarked on a course of product development that focused on achieving maximum outcomes by identifying deficiencies in ‘methods of use’ and/or existing products within the lighting industry.” 
“The suite of patented products that enLighten will release to the market over the next two years will see it emerge as a world leader in energy-efficient lighting solutions.” 
Whitfield says it can be challenging for a new product group to gain acceptance in the market, so perseverance is essential in order the challenge the “accepted way of doing things”.
 
 
 
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StartupSmart Awards 2012: EnLighten Australia

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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Cassidy Knowlton

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