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Over 50% of houses in Panania, East Hills, and Picnic Point, NSW sold in 60 days or less, according to the latest report from PRDnationwide.
The report conducted a days on market analysis for houses in the 2213 postcode for the six months to June 2013.
It found 32% of houses sold in 30 days or less, and 21% of houses sold between 30 to 60 days.
Despite the optimistic figures, 28% of houses were on the market for over 120 days, suggesting that buyers were price sensitive.
Len Horne from PRD nationwide Riverview told Property Observer that Panania’s property market is doing well. 

“Listings are rather short at the moment. The average days for auction sales is 23 days, and private treaty sales average 35 days,” he said. 

Congruent with the report’s findings, Horne has found that “million dollar plus properties take longer to sell.” 

Conversely, duplexes with a price range of $630,000 to $730,000 have been “very saleable”. 

While most property buyers in Panania are owner-occupiers, Horne has noticed more investors coming into the market. In addition, he revealed an increase of buyers wanting to move into the Panania area from other suburbs.
Darren Musgrave of Professionals Padstow told Property Observer that the property market in Panania, East Hills and Picnic Point is “very strong” at the moment.
“In fact, most houses sell a lot faster, more like 30 days (on the market),” he said.
“Quality homes in the $700,000 to $800,000 range are selling really really well,” he added.
He also revealed that most home buyers in the Panania area already reside in the area, and are owner-occupiers.
Located about 23 kilometres south-west of the Sydney CBD, Panania, East Hills and Picnic Point have a total population of 20,377 according to the 2011 Census.
Musgrave added that homes in the Panania area are still very affordable compared to other suburbs within a similar radius. It is also relatively accessible via the M5 motorway, and the East Hills railway also services the area. An express train ride to the city takes less than 30 minutes.
Other amenities include the Georges River National Park, sporting grounds, recreation areas, and good schools.
According to the <a href="/news">latest RP Data report</a>, the median sale price for houses in Panania is $600,000, up 3.3% on last year. The average discount required to sell a house is 4.5%, while private treaty sales average 66 days on market.
The median asking rent for houses is $490 per week, while gross rental yield currently stands at 4.2%.
Houses that have recently sold in Panania, East Hills, and Picnic Point include:
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-panania-113722163">29 Tyalgum Avenue, Panania</a>
The four-bedroom brick house (pictured below) sold at auction in May this year for $871,000 through Professionals Padstow. Prior to this sale, it last sold for $58,950 in 1988, according to RP Data records.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/07/july30p1]}
Houses for sale in Panania, East Hills, and Picnic Point include:
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-picnic+point-114103579">913 Henry Lawson Drive, Picnic Point</a>
The four-bedroom house (pictured below) has been listed for sale at $899,000 through Alliance Real Estate Panania. It last sold for $666,000 in 2011, according to RP Data records.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/07/july30p2]}
It has been listed for sale since 14 June this year. It was also listed for sale in September 2011, where it spent 54 days on the market, according to RP Data records.
The house has also been listed for rent from January to March 2012, at an asking price of $420 per week, according to RP Data records.
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Over half of Panania listings sold in less than 60 days: PRDnationwide

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The W Hotel brand could set its foundations in Australia soon if local developer Jinshan Investments has its way.  
The developer has proposed to build a 30-storey W Hotel on 20 Bourke Street (pictured below), which is currently occupied by century-old music venue Palace Theatre.  
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/w-hoteljuly30.jpg" width="470" height="277" alt="w-hoteljuly30">
The project will cost $180 million, and will see 205 hotel rooms and 145 luxury apartments managed by the Starwood Hotel group added to Bourke Street’s east end.  
According to a Resort Publishing report, Jinshan Investments purchased the Palace Theatre at auction last year after former owners Kefi Nominees went into administration. Kefi Nominees were granted a short-term lease to continue holding concerts.  
Music fans are opposing the proposed development. At present, an <a href="https://www.thepetitionsite.com/381/189/786/save-the-palace-theatre/" target="_blank">online petition</a> has garnered some 24,000 signatures to save the Palace Theatre. In addition, a Facebook page named “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/savethepalacemelb" target="_blank">Save the Palace Theatre – Melbourne</a>” has attracted some 28,000 “likes”.  
The Melbourne Heritage group has expressed its concern about the fate of the Palace Theatre.
In a <a href="https://melbourneheritage.org.au/2013/07/07/palace-theatre-on-bourke-st/">statement</a> posted on their website, they have called for the preservation of both the 1950s art deco façade and the 1916 interiors of the theatre because of its heritage significance.  
They also emphasised the cultural importance of the iconic venue, citing its evolution “from Edwardian theatre to revivalist church to nightclub to its latest incarnation as the Palace Theatre.”  
In addition, Planning Minister Matthew Guy has told ABC news that "the developer is dreaming if he thinks the government is going to approve this in the form in which it has been submitted. It is too tall, it is in the wrong location."  
While the Starwood Group said they were not in a position to answer queries with regard to the proposed closing of the Palace Theatre, they told Property Observer, “Starwood Hotels &amp; Resorts is very excited to be involved in the Bourke Street project and bringing the W brand back to Australia.”
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W Hotel set for site of Melbourne's iconic Palace Theatre

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A purpose-built student accommodation property in North Melbourne has been listed for sale.
The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-hotel+leisure-vic-north+melbourne-500822239" target="_blank">Jones Lang LaSalle</a> marketing gives a projected net income of $4.6 million for this year. 
RMIT Village, located at 5-17 Flemington Road, can house up to 456 residents in 229 apartments of various configurations. One-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom, and five-bedroom apartments are available for rent in either 44 or 52-week terms.   
Facilities on site include a gym, pool, study area, games room, bike storage, and a licensed café. It is managed by the Campus Living Villages Fund, which is in turn managed by the Transfield Holdings Group.  
Established in 2007, the Campus Living Villages Fund manages 35,000 beds in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States as of 12 June this year. Of this, 9,100 beds are located in Australia.  
<img alt="northmelbournejuly29" src="/images/stories/2013/07/northmelbournejuly29.jpg" width="470" height="264">
The RMIT Village used to be the Old Melbourne Hotel. It is close to Melbourne University and is about 15 minutes away from RMIT.  
The hotel was purchased for $40 million in 2005, and converted into student accommodation by the vendors, Transfield and private developer Tuscan Corporation. The estimated end value of the converted property was $60 million, and the property is expected to attract interest of that value.  
<img alt="northmelbournejuly29two" src="/images/stories/2013/07/northmelbournejuly29two.jpg" width="470" height="220">
Jones Lang Lasalle director of student accommodation Conal Newland told Property Observer that the property has been “100% full for the last three years”.  Conal Newland has the property listed with colleague Noral Rich with offers due by August 28.
Newland revealed that 9% of students in Melbourne currently live in purpose-built student accommodation. In comparison, 21% of students in London take up purpose-built student accommodation properties.  
<img alt="northmelbournejuly29three" src="/images/stories/2013/07/northmelbournejuly29three.jpg" width="470" height="265">
“All things being equal, there is a significant shortage of purpose-built student accommodation in Melbourne. This is no different to most of the other major Australian cities,” Newland said.  
“This is a unique opportunity – this property is up and running, and there haven’t been many opportunities like this in the market so far,” Newland added.  
Brisbane-based student accommodation provider The Pad, which currently manages 1,500 beds, recently announced expansion plans to Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. This follows the backing of investment group Telopea Capital Partners.
Offers close August 28 for the RMIT student accommodation.
A recent report by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has found that Australia is the most expensive country for international study, surging ahead of the United States and the United Kingdom.
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Investor interest sought for RMIT village student accommodation

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A studio apartment in South Yarra was the cheapest sale on a recent auction weekend, according to Australian Property Monitors.
The unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-south+yarra-114168607">1/631 Punt Road</a> sold for $203,500 through Hocking Stuart South Yarra.
The unit was listed with a price guide of $170,000 to $190,000.
It had been listed for rent in January last year at an asking weekly price of $260 per week.
Listing agent Nick Gatacre told Property Observer that the unit was currently rented out at $240 per week. According to the rent of $240 per week, the price reflects  a 6.13% yield.
Gatacre also told Property Observer the auction “went well”, with three registered bidders and a starting bid of $170,000.
He added that the reserve price set on the day was $190,000, and the vendor’s expectations exceeded by $13,500.
He also revealed that the successful bidder was an investor who had already purchased another unit in the building.
The 1960 block of flats at 631 Punt Road is made of up studio apartments. Recorded sales include unit 21 which sold in 2003 at $104,500, unit 26 fetched $93,000 in 2002 and unit 4 sold at $71,500 in 1997.
According to RP Data, 4/631 Punt Road was listed for sale in 2010 for $279,000, with no subsequent record of its sale. The unit 9/631 Punt Road was listed for sale in 2009 for $210,000.
In addition, asking rent for units have ranged from $237 per week to $295 per week over the past two years.
Gatacre told Property Observer that size is a considerable factor where sale prices are concerned.
“They are all studio apartments with one open area and no separate bedroom. That means they are the smallest on the food chain in terms of property you can buy.
Also, it is located on Punt Road, which is the main road. It makes it affordable for those who want to buy a property in South Yarra, and it’s pretty close to Fawkner Park,” he said.
He added that the condition and location of the unit within the building is a factor for determining asking rent.
“It depends on their condition – also, some are at the back of the block, while some are at the front,” he said.
Gatacre also said the property market in South Yarra is currently “quite strong”.
“The last two years, 2011 and 2012, were initially a little down compared to 2010.
"This year, we've seen interest rates coming down and becoming much more affordable for lending. The market's picked up due to that. Prices bottomed out towards the end of last year and slowly increased. It’s picked up and gone up since then, not dramatically, but the market's gone up a bit,” he said.
The apartments have traditionally been listed quite cheaply compared with other units in South Yarra.
According to the <a href="/news">latest RP Data report</a>, the median sale price for units in South Yarra is $522,500, down 4.6% on last year. The average discount required to sell a unit in South Yarra is 8.1%, while private treaty sales average 98 days on market.
The median asking rent for South Yarra units is $400 per week, while gross rental yield currently stands at 4%.
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South Yarra cheapie sells for $203,500 reflecting 6% rental yield

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A PRD nationwide report has revealed a measured increase in demand for houses in the Liverpool government area in New South Wales, which includes Liverpool, Hoxton Park, Casula, Prestons, Warwick Farm, Moorebank, and Lurnea.  
The report shows a 5.9% increase in demand for houses in the six months to April 2013, as well as a 6.1% increase in median house price in the 12 months to April 2013, to $472,000.    
In spite of an increase in median price, houses in the Liverpool area remain affordable in comparison to the Greater Sydney median of $684,000.  
The report cited infrastructure improvements as the main reason for an increased interest in Liverpool’s property sector.
These improvements include an upgrade to the rail network and expansion to existing health and retail facilities in the area.  
Stuart Zullo of Professionals Paradise Realty Casula told Property Observer that demand for houses in the Liverpool area is outstripping supply.  
“A lot of people are looking to buy. In the last 12 months I would say there has been a 4 to 5% increase,” he said.  
He added that activity in the Liverpool area was made out of different groups of buyers, including investors, people looking to change properties, and first-time home-buyers.  
“There are investors coming back into the market which we haven't seen for quite some time,” he said.  
Zullo agreed that infrastructure improvements in Liverpool have attracted buyers and investors to the area. He also cited improvements to the M5 motorway as well as connectivity to central Sydney via the M7 motorway as key factors.  
Located 32 kilometres south-west of the Sydney CBD, Liverpool has been a major centre in Greater Western Sydney.  
The 2011 Census showed that 4.9% of residents have an Indian background and 4.3% of residents have a Lebanese background, indicating that the Liverpool area is rather diverse culturally.  
Zullo also added that Liverpool has traditionally been a “lower demographic” suburb. As such, rising interest rates in the last few years have affected activity in the area.  
“With interest rates coming down, that is a driving factor. If interest rates stay low, the market progresses in the area,” he said.  
Conversely, Property Observer reported earlier this month that <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/greater-western-sydney-replaces-gold-coast-as-most-delinquent-region-fitch/2013070262884" target="_blank">the Fairfield-Liverpool region has regained the title of most mortgage delinquencies in Australia</a>.  
According to the latest RP Data report, the median sale price for houses in Liverpool is $410,000, up 1.2% on last year. The average discount required to sell a house is 9.3%, while private treaty sales average 72 days on market.  
The median asking rent for houses in Liverpool is $380 per week, while gross rental yield is 4.8%.  
Houses that have sold recently in the Liverpool local government Area include:  
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-lurnea-114062471" target="_blank">6 Foveaux Avenue, Lurnea</a>  
The four-bedroom house (pictured below) sold last month for $460,000 through Garry Dunn Property Agents Hammondville. Prior to this sale, it last sold in 2011 for $405,000, according to RP Data records.  
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/liverpooljuly23one.jpg" width="470" height="353" alt="liverpooljuly23one">
It was listed for sale in June this year for $469,000 and spent 22 days on market. It was also listed for sale in 2011 for “offers above $420,000” when it spent 169 days on the market, according to RP Data records.  
In addition, it was listed for rent in April last year at a weekly asking price of $460 per week, according to RP Data records.  
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-prestons-113906271" target="_blank">43 Stansmore Avenue, Prestons</a>  
The four bedroom house sold last month through Professionals Paradise Realty Casula for $552,000. Prior to this sale, the 321 square-metre home (pictured below) sold for $453,000 in 2007, according to RP Data records.  
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/liverpooljuly23two.jpg" width="470" height="311" alt="liverpooljuly23two">
It was listed for sale in May this year and spent 49 days on market, according to RP Data records.  
Houses for sale in the Liverpool Local Government Area include:  
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-prestons-114328695" target="_blank">42 Cedars Road, Prestons</a>  
The five-bedroom brick house (pictured below) has been listed for sale with a price guide of “$475,000-$525,000” through Prudential Real Estate Liverpool.  
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/liverpooljuly23three.jpg" width="470" height="304" alt="liverpooljuly23three">
It last sold in 1988 for $118,000, according to RP Data records.  
It has been listed for sale in 2009 for $459,000, where it spent 243 days on market. It was also listed for sale in 2006 for $499,950, and spent 8 days on market, according to RP Data records.      
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Measured demand for houses in Liverpool: PRD

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The historic Mebourne waterfront suburb of Williamstown has enjoying solid capital growth over the past five years, increasing by 27% to $890,000 up until the March quarter of this year, according to data from the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV). 
However, growth has since slowed in the June quarter, with the median house price standing at $868,000, down by 0.2% year-on-year, and down 2.5% from the March quarter, updated REIV figures show.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/stories/2013/larry_uploads/williamstown.jpg" alt="williamstown" width="470" height="324">
REIV chief executive officer Enzo Raimondo told Property Observer that “the share of million-dollar home sales has nearly tripled from 12% to 33%” in the last five years.  “It peaked at around 37% of sales in June 2010 and has hovered at around 30% since then,” Raimondo said.  He added that the growth in overall median house price is reflected in the increased activity at the top end of the market.  The most expensive property sold so far in 2013 was a 4-bedroom house along the Esplanade that sold for $2.52 million.  Located 8 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, Williamstown is a heritage area known for 1800s architecture.
Today, it is a popular area for visitors, with an abundance of cafes, restaurants and bars that overlook Hobsons Bay.  According to the latest RP Data report, the median sale price of houses in Williamstown is $911,500, up 2.4% on last year. The average discount required to sell a house is 6.9%, while private treaty sales average 81 days on market.  The median asking rent for houses in Williamstown is currently $550 per week, while the average rental yield currently stands at 3.1%.  Homes that have sold above the $1.5 million mark include:  - 41 Electra Street (pictured below), a 1850s Williamstown home sold at auction for $1.901 million through Adrian Butera of Compton Green Real Estate Williamstown and Yarraville.   The property was listed with a price guide of between $1.7 million to $1.9 million.  The five-bedroom home features both period and contemporary finishings. The front half of the home retains old-world charm with two large bedrooms, tall ceilings, an original fireplace and a character-rich loungeroom.  It was initially listed with expectations of $1.8 million to $2 million last August, according to RP Data records. 
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/07/july23williamstown1]}
 - 16 Pasco Street (pictured below), which sold for $1.5 million through Sweeney Estate Agents Williamstown.  The four-bedroom two-storey Victorian home features a double frontage, an open living and dining area, as well as a designer kitchen.  It also boasts a plunge pool, as well as a barbecue area.  The house was listed for sale in May this year with a price guide of $1.4 million to $1.5 million, and spent 27 days on the market, according to RP Data records.  Prior to this, the house was also listed for sale in 1999, and spent 113 days on the market. 
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/07/july23williamstown2]}
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Williamstown house price growth slows after strong gains

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Art deco apartments in Perth might be seeing a resurgence with a new influx of apartment living in Western Australia.
As of the 2011 Census, there are 56,754 apartments in Greater Perth, with a post-census fillip underway. This figure comprises 9.1% of the total occupied dwellings in Greater Perth.
Ten years earlier, in 2001, Greater Perth had just 42,670 apartments, which then comprised 8.3% of the total occupied dwellings for the region.
This demonstrates a growth in demand for apartment living in the last decade.
According to the 1996 Census, the whole of Western Australia had 39,914 apartments. There were 62,990 apartments in Western Australia by 2011.
Its most prominent art deco apartments have been Perth’s Lawson Apartments, and Applecross’ Raffles Hotel. The latter was owned by the late Sydney businessman Abe Saffron whose plans to demolish the property was opposed by the Art Deco Society of Western Australia.
The property was sold to developer Brookfield Multiplex in 2002 - since been preserved but with a 17-storey apartment aptly named Raffles Waterfront completed in 2006.
The latest art deco complex is in Subiaco, the Simon Chugg building at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-wa-subiaco-114067739">23 Railway Road </a> which was purchased by property investment group Devwest for $4,000,000, according to RP Data records.
Simon Chugg started his business in 1897 at the former premises of his father-in-law, A. E. Atkins. The business supplied funeral furniture and soft furnishings, and is one of Subiaco’s oldest retail outlets.
The developer plans to retain the façade of the art deco building, while incorporating elements of art deco architecture into the $7 million mixed-use development, named <a target="_blank" href="https://railway23.com.au/index.php">Railway 23</a>.
The five-storey development designed by local Subiaco architects McDonald Jones (and pictured below) will incorporate ground floor retail, three levels of office space, and luxury apartments on the top floor.
<img height="289" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/07/subiacojuly17one.jpg" alt="subiacojuly17one">
One-bedroom apartments are <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-wa-subiaco-114067739">priced from $575,000</a>, while two-bedroom apartments start from $875,000.
Railway 23 has attracted some opposition from the Subiaco town council, which feared the new development would be too tall and therefore overshadow the heritage value of the S. Chugg building. In addition, there were concerns that the bulk of the building would not be in line with Subiaco’s “intimate streetscape”.
However, a response by TPH heritage planner Susannah Kendall referenced a four-storey office building currently being erected next door to Railway 23.
“Requiring the height to be reduced on the basis that the existing streetscape is ‘intimate’ and ‘low density/low scale’ is misinformed and as a result is unreasonable,” Kendall said in her response.
The Simon Chugg building was sold in 1994 for $600,000, according to RP Data records.
The building was listed for rent in November 2010 at an asking price of $65,000 per annum, and in January 2010 at an asking price of $80,000 per annum.
According to the <a target="_blank" href="/news">latest RP Data report</a>, the median sale price for units in Subiaco is $621,500, up 9% on last year. The average discount required to sell a unit in Subiaco is 9.2%, while private treaty sales average 67 days on market.
The median asking rent for units in Subiaco is $600 per week, while gross rental yield currently stands at 5%.
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Perth's art deco renaissance as apartment living takes off

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Muswellbrook, in the New South Wales Upper Hunter, has been ranked as one of the country’s 24 “Kevlar-clad areas” that have not experienced backward movement in median price in the last 10 years. The report drew from data compiled and analysed by research house Residex.
Muswellbrook, a mining town 243 kilometres northwest of Sydney’s CBD, has seen steady growth in median property prices over the last decade, according to a report from the August edition of property investment magazine Australia Property Investor.
“It’s been excellent over the last 10 years, prices haven’t decreased, as it’s such a strong mining and agricultural area,” Jay Shepherdson, licensee of JTS Realty, told Property Observer.
John Flood Estate Agent Muswellbrook’s director Sandy Warburton, who has been dealing with Muswellbrook real estate for 18 years, agreed.
“Generally speaking, there hasn't been negative growth while there's been ups and downs in other places. We don't see great surges from year to year, but steady growth over time, over the last fifteen years,” Warburton said.
Warburton warns the figures are purely based on median house prices. He notes that buyers should also be mindful of other costs such as stamp duty and agent fees.
“People may find if they've bought and sold in a period of 12 months, that other costs make their sale unprofitable,” Warburton said.
In addition, both Shepherdson and Warburton said the Muswellbrook property market has slowed in the last six to 12 months.
“The market itself is down a little bit, probably down about 5% because a lot of the contractors have been put off before Christmas, leading up to the election,” Shepherdson said.
Warburton added that growth in the top and bottom ends of the Muswellbrook market has plateaued, while “medium-priced properties are still turning over.”
Movement in the market is currently dominated by first-time home buyers as well as investors.
“Vacancy rates have increased a little in the last six to twelve months, from under 1% to 3-4%, which is a little bit of a turnoff for investment.
This has allowed for homeowners to return to the marketplace as competition is not there from investors driving the price up.
Homeowners normally buy (properties) around the median price. With the slowdown in investment, it gives first homeowners a bit of a chance.” Warburton said.
Shepherdson added that investors who own rental properties in the area have been selling their properties, while “cashed-up” investors as well as locals who are looking to upgrade have been purchasing properties in Muswellbrook.
However, an investigation by Property Observer found properties which defy these optimistic figures.
A two-bedroom unit at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-duplex+semi+detached-nsw-muswellbrook-111422199">2/27 Mitchell Street</a> (pictured below) sold in May this year for $210,000. Prior to this sale, it sold in 2008 for $206,000, reflecting a $4000 price growth over five years, according to RP Data records.
<img height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/muswellmek_aug_14_one.jpg" alt="muswellmek_aug_14_one">
The unit has also been listed for rent three times this year. It was listed in May at an asking price of $250 per week, in June for $310 per week, and in July for $290 per week, according to RP Data records.
It was also listed for rent in January 2011 at an asking price of $250 per week, with an increase in asking price in December that year to $260 per week.
In 2009, the asking rental price was $230 per week, according to RP Data records. 
Another two-bedroom unit at 6/6 Skellater Street sold in February this year for $130,000, according to RP Data records. Prior to this sale, it sold in 2009 for $123,000, reflecting a price growth of $7000 over 4 years.
It has also been listed for rent since 2011. The asking rent in 2011 was $320 per week, and grew to $360 per week in 2012. It was just listed for rent in August this year at an asking price of $250 per week, according to RP Data records.
In addition, a three-bedroom house at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-muswellbrook-111888159">8 Maitland Street</a> (pictured below) sold in April this year for $170,000. Prior to this sale, it last sold in 2009 for the same price according to RP data records – reflecting no price growth over four years.
<img height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/muswellbrook_aug_14_two.jpg" alt="muswellbrook_aug_14_two">
It was listed for sale in October last year at an asking price of $175,000, and spent 202 days on market. It was also listed for sale in March 2008 at an asking price of $180,000, and spent 539 days on the market, according to RP Data records.
As of the 2011 Census, Muswellbrook has a population of 11,791 people, with over 20% of them working in the coal mining industry. Coal mining as well as agriculture have traditionally dominated Muswellbrook’s industries.
Properties that have recently sold in Muswellbrook include:
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-muswellbrook-112685607" target="_blank">1 Jarrah Place</a> (pictured below), which sold earlier this month for $425,000 through John Flood Estate Agents Muswellbrook. Prior to this sale, the house last sold in 2008 for $425,000, in 1996 for $205,000, and in 1990 for $19,000, according to RP Data records.
It was listed for sale in October last year with a price guide of “mid-high $400,000s”, and spent 246 days on the market. It was also listed for sale in April 2008 at $439,000 and spent 231 days on market, according to RP Data records.
<img height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/muswellbrook_aug_14_three.jpg" alt="muswellbrook_aug_14_three">
Another house that sold recently was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-muswellbrook-112528631">36 Anzac Parade</a>. The three-bedroom house (pictured below) sold for $198,000 through Premium Real Estate Services Muswellbrook in May this year. Prior to this sale, the house last sold in 2009 for $106,000, according to RP Data records.
It was listed for sale since December last year for $204,900, and spent 137 days on the market. It was also listed for sale for 33 days in January 2009, according to RP Data records.
The house has also been listed for rent at an asking price of $240 per week in May 2010, according to RP Data records.
<img height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/muswellbrook_aug_14_four.jpg" alt="muswellbrook_aug_14_four">
Properties that are currently on sale in Muswellbrook include:
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-nsw-muswellbrook-114199587">2/39 Woollybutt Way</a>. The three-bedroom townhouse (pictured below) is currently listed for sale at $159,990 through LJ Hooker Muswellbrook.
It last sold in 2010 for $155,000, according to RP Data records. It was also sold in 2006 for $140,000, in 2002 for $65,000, in 1994 for $78,000, and in 1992 for $80,000, according to RP Data records.
<img height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/muswellbrook_aug_14_five.jpg" alt="muswellbrook_aug_14_five">
Prior to this listing, it was also listed for sale in May 2010 for $165,000, and spent 103 days on the market, according to RP Data records.
In addition, it has also been listed for rent. In 2009, the asking rent was $200 per week, while in 2008 the asking rent was $190 per week, according to RP Data records.
The three-bedroom house at 74 Acacia Drive (pictured below) is currently listed for sale at $339,000 through JTS Realty Muswellbrook. 
<img height="342" width="456" src="/images/stories/diane/main.jpg" alt="main">
It last sold in 2003 for $178,500 according to RP Data records. It was also sold in 1998 for $120,000, and in 1991 for $83,000, according to RP Data records.
Terry Ryder of hotspotting.com.au recently commented on "bulletproof suburbs" in a piece <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/hotspots/a-suburb-can-show-consistent-gorwth-year-after-year-but-nowhere-can-be-labeled-bulletproof-terry-ryder/2013072463538">published</a> by Property Observer, stating that "nowhere is immune to downturns".
According to the <a href="/news">latest RP Data report</a>, the median sale price for houses in Muswellbrook is $331,000, up 8.5% on last year. The average discount required to sell a house is 4.7%, while private treaty sales average 89 days on market.
The median asking rent for houses in Muswellbrook is $380 per week, while average rental yield currently stands at 6%.
The median sale price for units in Muswellbrook is currently $292,500, with no change on last year. The average discount required to sell a unit in Muswellbrook is 8%, while private treaty sales average 60 days on market.
The median asking rent for units in Muswellbrook is $360 per week, while average rental yield currently stands at 6.4%.
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Upper Hunter's Muswellbrook might not be quite so "kevlar-clad"

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An 1850s Williamstown home sold at recent auction for $1.901 million through Adrian Butera of Compton Green Real Estate Williamstown and Yarraville.
The property was listed with a price guide of between $1.7 million to $1.9 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-williamstown-111333039" target="_blank">41 Electra Street</a>, the five-bedroom home features both period and contemporary finishings. The front half of the home retains old-world charm with two large bedrooms, tall ceilings, an original fireplace and a character-rich loungeroom.
The living space features modern design with an open plan living space and expansive glass windows.
Other noteworthy features of the home includes a lush backyard with a mezzanine, evaporative cooling, hydronic heating, NSW gum spotted timber floors, and a luxurious kitchen.
It was initially listed with expectations of $1.8 million to $2 million last August, according to RP Data records.
According to the <a href="/news">latest RP Data report</a>, the median sale price of houses in Williamstown is $911,500, up 2.4% on last year. The average discount required to sell a house is 6.9%, while private treaty sales average 81 days on market.
The median asking rent for houses in Williamstown is currently $550 per week, while the average rental yield currently stands at 3.1%.
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Historic Williamstown house fetches $1.9 million at auction

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A Victorian era 1889-built brick office building in Melbourne’s iconic Hardware Lane has undergone some tenancy changes recently following an upgrade.

Located at<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-melbourne-500251949" target="_blank"> 67-73 Hardware Lane</a> (pictured below), the recently refurbished building boasts boutique-styled offices with timber floors, as well as French doors leading to Hardware Lane.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/hardwarejuly3one.jpg" width="470" height="300" alt="hardwarejuly3one">
Creative communications agency Lavender Communications, who currently occupies the second level, will be moving within the same building to level three from July 1. 
Their new premises offers a larger 182 square metre space, which will be able to accommodate a growing business. 
They have signed a two-year lease at a gross rate of $505 per square metre. The lease was negotiated through Rory White of Gray Johnson Melbourne. 
In addition, a modest rent-free incentive of two months is attached to the transfer of offices, said White. 
Level two has also been leased by Gray Johnson Melbourne, to IT business Magnetised Markets. The company will be moving from 121 Flinders Lane to the new space. Their lease stipulates a gross rate of $475 per square metre.
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Tenancy changes for iconic Hardware Lane building

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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

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

Diane Leow

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