<html><body>
Fire pits have become a new selling point for homes entertaining areas and backyards, from in ground to free standing they are a new must have for renovations and new homes.
The international trend was picked up in Channel Seven’s recent series of <a target="_blank" href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/houses/">House Rules which incorporated fire pits into three of the six home renovations</a>.
Stylish and practical, fire pits can be elaborate or functional and built using different types of materials from timber to wrought iron, bricks, sand stone, slate and rock.
The designs are endless and can be built to suite all types of homes from big modern houses to small country cottages or terrace homes, the limitless shapes and designs can work in any type of back yard and don’t have to feature as the focal point.
Fire pits can come in small portable styles that can be moved around an entertaining area, in these cases more than one can be used.
<img alt="poll-results-sept-3" height="122" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/09/03/poll-results-sept-3.jpg">
 
Property Observer has noticed more and more fire pits advertised in real estate agents spiels. Here are some examples.
A three bedroom, two bathroom weatherboard home in Sydney’s north recently sold with Matt Brady of Belle Property for $1,055,100 it featured an alfresco deck, with an in ground fire pit and encompassing seating amongst its leafy green garden at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-seaforth-109398741">9 Prince Edward Road Seaforth</a> (pictured below).
<img height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/seaford_aug_29_one.jpg" alt="seaford_aug_29_one">
This glamorous harbour side home with views of the Sydney Harbour bridge and Opera House at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mcmahons+point-112741739">37 East Crescent Street McMahons Point,</a> recently sold with Tim Foote at Belle Property for $$$. It also includes a bowl fire pit in a large entertaining courtyard (pictured below) with surrounding timber panel seating and stools. 
<img height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/mcmahon_point_aug_29.jpg" alt="mcmahon_point_aug_29">
Another home currently on the market featuring a free standing fire pits is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-port+lincoln-112155563">20 Power Terrace Port Lincoln SA </a>  (pictured below).
<img height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/lincoln_aug_29.jpg" alt="lincoln_aug_29">
Those with in ground often use a sandy coloured gravel ground or grass and decorate with pebbles or rocks around the fire pit inlcuding the recenrly sold <a target="_blank" href="https://swanhill.ljhooker.com.au/6YKFCF">3 Emma Court, Swan Hill VIC</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-ningi-112645995">33 Cavanagh Place Ningi</a> (pictured below).
<img height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/nighi_aug_29.jpg" alt="nighi_aug_29">
They tend to landscape around the area to compliment the fire pit, with stone or brick retaining walls and timber panelling. The 2011 Block contestants <a target="_blank" href="/news">Shannon and Aaron from Perth have done up a home in Palmyra </a>Western Australia which recently sold for $670,000 through Wendy Maben of RE/MAX. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-palmyra-113470003">101 Adrian Street Palmyra</a> property is a good examples of using the lanscape to compliment the fire pit (pictured below). 
<img height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/palmyra_aug_29.jpg" alt="palmyra_aug_29">
Other examples can be found here:
508 Wendouree Parade, Ballarat VIC: <a href="https://shop.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/VIC/Ballarat/?adid=2009576159">https://shop.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/VIC/Ballarat/?adid=2009576159</a>
62 South Beach Road Somers VIC: <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-somers-114150103">https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-somers-114150103</a>
31 Peppermint Grove Engadine NSW : <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-engadine-113332551">https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-engadine-113332551</a>
40 Geographe Bay Road Dunsborough WA: <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-dunsborough-113144047">https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-dunsborough-113144047</a>
23 Newell Place Dawesville WA: <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-dawesville-111622399">https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-dawesville-111622399</a>
66 Dinsdale Road Gidgegannup WA: <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-gidgegannup-107930946">https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-gidgegannup-107930946</a>
Design Ideas: <a href="https://www.houzz.com/photos/firepits">https://www.houzz.com/photos/firepits</a>
</body></html>

gwestgarth-UNyZGFyQQF

Will the winter firepits fad extend into spring?

<html><body>
Recent US  reports show that more single women own their own home than single men, 18% of the homeowner market is made up of single women with single men taking up only 10%, reported Nina Bahadur for the Huffington Post.  
This shows that since the mid- 1990’s single women in the US have been buying homes at double the rate of single men, according to the National Association of Realtors.
It seems that single men are more likely to invest and prioritize good value to buy short sales and foreclosures, whereas single women buy a home merely because they like it and rely more heavily on emotions to evaluate the home, according to Real Estate operations at Redfin.  
54 per cent of single women look to buy a home between the ages of 25 to 34, compared with 53 per cent of single men in the same age bracket.
However the stakes change as the years pass with 21 per cent of single women and 29 per cent of single men looking to buy a home in their mid-thirties to mid-forties.
Melbourne is not far behind with recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures showing that overall more single women than single men own their own home.
“In a 2012 Westpac Report on Women’s Finances by Generation, we found Gen Y women to be more financially focused than previous generations. Many of them are highly educated, and waiting later to get married; and they want to experience financial independence and security now,” Larke Riemer the director of Westpac Women’s Markets recently noted.
“Almost a third of the Gen Y women we surveyed in the Westpac report had already entered the property market,” said Larke Riemer.
“65 per cent of single female householders own their own home compared with 55 per cent of single male households. SYFs have been buying for a while and they pay off their mortgages faster," she said.
Reports conclude that women win in Australia’s apartment sales as well, “Mortgage specialist Rams, reported in late 2012 that women account for 50% of the lender’s sole home applications,” said Larke Riemer.
So it’s not surprising that the majority of young owner-occupiers in Australia are also women.
“They’re better savers, which lenders say make them better able to cope with ‘mortgage stress’ – saving for the deposit, paying the mortgage effectively, etc,” said Larke Riemer.
Larke Riemer’s Westpac Womens Market also found that 35% of Gen Y women “saved 11% or more of their take home income compared to 23% of Gen X and 24 per cent of Baby Boomer women surveyed.”
 
</body></html>

The majority of young owner-occupiers in Australia are women: Westpac Women's Markets

<html><body>
The 2011 Block contestants Shannon and Aaron from Perth have done up a home in Palmyra Western Australia which recently sold for $670,000 through Wendy Maben of RE/MAX.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-palmyra-113470003" target="_blank">Their three bedroom, one bathroom brick veneer house </a>had been renovated featuring the latest craze - an in-ground flush timber panelling fire pit and entertaining area.
There's also built in speakers in the homes ceiling for surround sound in and out doors.
Shannon is a contracts engineer with a major mining company and her beau Aaron runs his own landscaping business, when they competed in the 2011 series.
They'd only just spent spent six months and $50,000 renovating their home which was built in 1987 on a 322 square metre block. The couple were eliminated early in the Richmond cottage series which was eventually won by Polly and Waz.
It was <a href="https://homes.ninemsn.com.au/theblock/couples-shannonaaron/8258925/couple-bio-shannon-and-aaron" target="_parent">sold to the celebrity couple</a><a href="https://homes.ninemsn.com.au/theblock/couples-shannonaaron/8258925/couple-bio-shannon-and-aaron" target="_blank"> </a>in 2009 for $475,000.
They initially wanted $729,000 earlier this year.  
“The list of features and benefits are endless, this property is ready for you to just pack your bags and move in. This property has been renovated to the highest standard, with not a thing left to do,” was the agents marketing spiel.
The change in the median price for homes in this area over the past five years is currently sitting at 10%.    
</body></html>

Aaron and Shannon from The Block 2011 sell in Perth

<html><body>
Darlinghurst could be set for a new record terrace price with the home of band manager Grant Thomas on the market.
The striking Dale Jones Evans-designed minimalist terrace is mostly concrete, sandstone and glass finishes.
The two storey Surrey Street terrace was built in 1880 and is a five-bedroom property that comes with four bathrooms and four car spaces.
The former Crowded House manager bought it in 1999 for $855,000 from Andrew Nolan and Sarah Robson.
The median house price in<a target="_blank" href="/news"> Darlinghurst </a>sits at $1,180,000, according to RP Data ad Darlinghurst’s median house value has risen over the past five years by 42%.
Ignoring the freestanding Iona mansion, the Darlinghurst record price for a terrace has stood at $4,625,000 since 2010 for a wide <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-darlinghurst-nsw-2010/110431">Darley Street corner terrace house, Chimera</a> through Ben Collier at McGrath Estate Agents.
The slender terrace has been marketed as “no idea too grand” by estate agents Darren Pearce and Shannan Whitney of Bresic Whitney who say the 420 square metres of space has been “dressed in Stucco Veneziano coatings."
There is a $3.95 million asking price for 250 Liverpool Street, a five bedroom 1860s sandstone terrace, Cambewarra. 
</body></html>

Darlinghurst terrace record set to tumble on Surrey Street

<html><body>
One of Brisbane’s first ever Spanish mission-style homes was listed for auction this month. And El Nido the elegant 1928 estate, with Brisbane River views, is now under offer.
At 19 Hillside Crescent Hamilton the four bedroom, three bathroom, two car garage residence features a World War two bomb shelter which is used as a wine cellar.
The home features a study and nursery, separate teenager retreat/ guest room, a large 1980’s style kitchen, in ground swimming pool, spa and sauna.
The estate is grand and full of character with polished timber floors, soaring coffered ceilings and dazzling lead light windows, the home sits on 792 square metres.
Rosemary Ahearn of Ray White Ascot was handling the <a target="_blank" href="https://raywhiteascot.com.au/qld/hamilton/987963/">listing</a>.
El Nido was up for sale in 2008, and then in 2010 at $2,790,000. Surrounded by palm trees, El Nido feels like the perfect spacious, Spanish luxury resort home.
<img height="127" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/07/yieldsbanner.jpg" alt="yieldsbanner">
The median house price in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Hamilton</a> over the past five years has risen by 38%.
<img height="57" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/05/trophyhomesstrapone.jpg" alt="trophyhomesstrapone">
</body></html>

Brisbane's Spanish-style mission home El Nido

<html><body>
Secretly tucked away in the coastal bush setting of Port Macquarie, in a lighthouse view location, 22 Vendul Crescent is up for sale.  
The five bedroom, four bathroom, two car garage home enjoys exquisite views of the beach and lighthouse with a panorama that extends as far as <a target="_blank" href="/news">Crowdy Head</a>.  
There is a $1,190,000 asking price for the distinctive beachside home.  
The home boasts soaring glass windows and a spacious living room that extends out to the deck.  
The Australian timbers are a feature of the architect-styled home which comes with a self contained two bedroom flat and one bedroom studio.
Rex Harrision of Patterson Real Estate Port Macquarie has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.pattersonrealestate.com.au/property/details/14">the listing</a>.
<img alt="yieldsbanner" src="/images/stories/2013/07/yieldsbanner.jpg" width="470" height="127">
The 1163 square metre beach block property was bought in 1990 for $300, 000.  
The median price for homes over the past five years has risen 9%, according to RP Data.  
<img alt="trophyhomesstrapone" src="/images/stories/2013/05/trophyhomesstrapone.jpg" width="470" height="57">
</body></html>

Port Macquarie lighthouse view trophy listing

<html><body>
Quest serviced apartment hotels has plans to build a serviced apartment hotel to accommodate for the growing demand for accommodation at Melbourne airport.
The building will be located on the corner of South Centre Road and Annandale Road, in the airport's business park precinct.
It is due for completion in October 2014.
The hotel (pictured below) will provide 97 serviced apartment rooms, for people involved in “airport or aviation related business and training activities.”    
<img alt="questjuly30one" src="/images/stories/2013/07/questjuly30one.jpg" width="470" height="235">
“Providing more accommodation choice for people who are doing business at the airport, or are undertaking aviation training in the airport precinct, will support the future growth of airport and aviation related businesses in our local region,” said Melbourne Airport chief, Chris Woodruff.
“With more than 14,000 people directly employed in airport related roles, and around 200 different businesses operating from the airport precinct, Melbourne Airport is a major centre of employment and economic activity in Melbourne’s North West,” said Quest executive Andrew Weisz.
“Development of a new domestic terminal is underway and a new runway and a new road system to significantly ease congestion on the terminal precinct are just examples of the projects we are currently planning,” Mr Woodruff said.
The Melbourne Airport achieved six percent total passenger growth for 2012/13.
“The draft master plan highlights the economic and social importance of Melbourne Airport and how its future growth will continue to drive the Victorian economy, including more than doubling spending by interstate and international visitors from $8.5 billion to $18 billion by 2033.
It forecasts an increase in the number of jobs directly related to airport operations from more than 14,000 now to 23,000; and more than doubling the airport’s contribution to gross state product from $1.47 billion to $3.2 billion over the next couple decades.
</body></html>

Quest to build Tullamarine, Melbourne airport serviced apartments 

<html><body>
Melbourne’s cheapest auction sale price on the weekend was in the south east suburb of Glen Huntly, according to Australian Property Monitors.
It sold for $288,000, through Tom Grieve and Lachlan Chirgwin of Ray White.  
The ground floor 1/13 Wattle Avenue apartment features one bedroom, one bathroom and car port and sits on 45 square metres.
The block's last reported one bedroom sale was in 2009 when competition between investors and first home buyers pushed the sale price of 12/13 Wattle Avenue to $307,500.
“Modern with the opportunity to bring it into today, this ideal starter or investment is just moments to train, bus, parkland, outdoor pool and Glen Huntly and North Road shops,” pitched the agents at Ray White.
The unit caught the eye of four registered bidders. It was bought by an investor looking to renovate.
Its potential income was estimated as $270 weekly after renovation, which would reflect a yield of about 4.88%.
The cream rendered apartment is fully enclosed by fences and features access by intercom and automated double gates.
The bedroom boasts a view through the windows and glass door, into the front garden set off with a mature silver birch.
Neighbouring Caulfield and Carnegie, the median unit price in Glen Huntly sits at $422, 500, according to RP Data.
Glen Huntly’s median unit value has risen over the past five years by 17%.
Its median asking rental is $360 per week, according to RP Data, which reflects a 4.4% gross rental yield.
</body></html>

Glen Huntly $288,000 sale the cheapest weekend Melbourne auction result

<html><body>
Sydney’s cheapest auction sale price at weekend auction was in the south west suburb, Ambarvale, according to Australian Property Monitors.
The three bedroom, one bathroom brick veneer home sold for $275,000 through Phil Symonds of Richardson and Wrench Ingleburn. 
The single storey dwelling (pictured below) at 3 Holborn Street last sold for $280,000 in July 2004.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/ambarvalejuly29one.jpg" alt="ambarvalejuly29one" width="470" height="353">
“Refurbish and capitalise on this great opportunity, generous living space, separate kitchen area, rear pergola and carport, on a nice high position with good side access,” <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-ambarvale-114251195" target="_blank">was the marketing pitch of Phil Symonds</a>.
The 1986 home sits on 611 square metres.
The median house price in Ambarvale sits at $313,975, according to RP Data.
Ambarvale's median house value has risen over the past five years by 20%.
Its median asking rental is $370 per week, according to RP Data, which reflects a 6.1% gross rental yield.
There were four registered bidders at the Holburn Street auction and it was sold to an investor looking to renovate the dwelling.
</body></html>

Ambarvale records Sydney’s cheapest weekend auction sale at $275,000

<html><body>
Property investors with a "lazy" $500,000 to spend can buy "a substantially better than average house in Mildura" in the Murray outback region in northern Victoria, according to Herron Todd White’s latest market report, which examines investment opportunities under half a million. 
For investors looking to spend $500,000 on an investment property in this region HTW report recommends “instead buying two cheaper properties with a total value of up to $500,000.” 
With “gross rental returns at around 6% for residential property in the $180,000 to $300,000 bracket, but drop off to around 4% for properties valued at over $400,000,” said HTW valuers. 
Houses around the $180,000 to $300,000, provide opportunities to buy either a 1980s or early 1990s three to four bedroom home, sitting on 650 to 800 square metres. 
The other option “is to buy a newer three bedroom townhouse on a low maintenance lot of around 350 square metres, both will offer similar rental returns,” said HTW. 
“While much of the recent construction in Mildura has been aimed at the rental market, rather than owner-occupiers, demand for rental accommodation remains strong, and we foresee no dramatic increase in vacancy rates in the medium term.” 
</body></html>

Murray region offers 6% gross return opportunity for sub-$500,000 investors: HTW

The final apartments in the most recently completed new development in Balwyn present some of the largest and most exclusive ever delivered in one of Melbourne’s most established and character-rich neighbourhoods.

Boutique developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/wulff-projects">Wulff Projects</a>,&nbsp;alongside partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pga-group">PGA Group</a>, has just finished <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/threadneedle-balwyn-1-5-threadneedle-street-balwyn-vic-3103">Threadneedle</a>, 17 home-sized residences designed completely for the owner-occupier.

Named after its location on Threadneedle Street, the new project has been shaped by the heritage fabric of Balwyn. It offers two low-rise buildings of eight and nine apartments respectively, designed to emulate traditional standalone homes.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355582]

John Scaramuzzino, Director at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, explains the design intention.

“Given the quiet residential character of the street with many homes dating back to the 1930s and 1940s, we approached Threadneedle wanting to appear less as a collection of apartments and more as a traditional residence. This led to creating not one but two buildings that could “breathe” with larger garden-based apartments functioning more like small homes.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355605]

The north-facing residences are nestled among extensive landscaped gardens by Ben Scott Garden Design, with over one-third of the site dedicated to greenery. The resulting setting is one of calm seclusion, where architecture and landscape work in tandem to offer immediate liveability.

With construction now complete, the final apartments include a top-floor, single-level penthouse residence priced from $2.8 million. This home offers three bedrooms, a dedicated study, two bathrooms plus powder room, and three car spaces with an oversized storage room.&nbsp;

Interiors prioritise spatial comfort and natural light, with three-metre-high ceilings, oversized internal doors and a full-width terrace oriented to the north, east and west.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355604]

Floor-to-ceiling double-glazed windows ensure thermal performance across seasons, supported by automated external blinds, zoned heating and cooling, and a fireplace for added ambiance.

Each apartment has been individually designed to maximise privacy and garden outlooks. Kitchens combine refined finishes with practical considerations: stone benchtops, butler’s pantry, full-height joinery and concealed rangehoods.&nbsp;

The inclusion of dedicated home offices responds to contemporary living patterns, while bathrooms feature sculptural bathtubs and brushed nickel fixtures.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355590]

Threadneedle also integrates best-practice sustainability measures, achieving a 7 Star average NatHERS rating. Initiatives include solar PV systems, rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing and irrigation, and high-performing building insulation. These elements enhance daily comfort while reducing ongoing maintenance and energy demand.

"We believe Threadneedle sets a new standard of design excellence and building quality for Balwyn,"&nbsp;Scaramuzzino added.

"It’s an architectural response we’re particularly proud of, and one we’re sure residents will be equally proud to call home."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=27816]

Staff Writer

Final homes remaining as Threadneedle, Balwyn completes construction

Joel Robinson

Sydney's top 15 new apartments developments set to launch in 2026

Developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dasco-australia">DASCO</a> has pushed beyond the now-standard inclusions of rooftop pools and landscaped podiums at its recently launched new Epping project, Senso.

It has laid out over 4,000 sqm of resident-only amenity in a move designed to compete directly with low-density housing on livability, not just density. The result is a development that supports genuine daily use through purposeful spaces distributed across its five-building, 479-apartment precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4396]

Two rooftop pools form the anchor of Senso. One is a 27-metre lap pool adjoining a heated spa, designed for everyday fitness rather than just summer leisure. The second sits on a lower podium, allowing different buildings to share in vertical access and reducing crowding during peak times.

It is the secondary spaces that start to distinguish Senso from other large-scale suburban projects. A rooftop cinema is integrated into a landscaped terrace, offering open-air screenings with natural ventilation and passive cooling.&nbsp;

The inclusion of a “sensory walk”, an elevated boardwalk that threads through the site, suggests a rare investment in non-commercial, non-essential amenity: space for quiet movement that doesn’t double as access or traffic circulation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4402]

The gym and wellness centre, often relegated to a small ground-floor room in many builds, takes on more substance here. Residents have access to a fully equipped gym, as well as outdoor yoga areas and meditative zones that integrate greenery and natural light.&nbsp;

The Club Lounge is similarly designed to support multiple use cases, with a private dining terrace, kitchenette, workspace, and lockable wine storage. These aren’t superficial additions; their scale and spatial allocation indicate serious intent for frequent resident use.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4391]

Importantly, Senso’s amenities are embedded within a site that spans more than 10,000 sqm, allowing for better separation between spaces and reduced noise spillover, a critical but often overlooked factor in high-density developments. This spatial generosity also enables multiple alfresco kitchens and communal terraces without compromising individual privacy or usable space.

While many developments make claims about lifestyle, few back it with this level of built infrastructure. Senso’s mix of dedicated fitness, wellness, social and passive green spaces suggests a conscious response to the post-pandemic shift in housing expectations, especially among owner-occupiers.&nbsp;

DASCO is one of several leading developers who have taken out Resilience Insurance's Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing buyers with a 10-year structural and waterproofing warranty, and giving them the ultimate peace of mind.

Senso is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134954]

The outdoor amenities elevating life at Senso, Epping

Following the proposal by the Minns Labor Government to rezone Parramatta Road to create up to 8,000 new homes, prominent developer Ceerose has gone to the NSW Gov to increase the density of its new mixed-use residential building in Leichhardt.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/ceerose">Ceerose</a>, founded by Edward Doueihi nearly three decades ago, has filed plans for 154 apartments above ground-floor retail at 307-315 Parramatta Road, a key corner site near Norton Street, the main high street strip in Leichhardt.

It's an upsize from the previously approved scheme of 63 apartments across a seven-storey building.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ba1ae75b-5f08-43fb-b8d5-3de6d9f6ef71" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.39%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yA3hBBLPH4ev7MsAE0_hieXeqiFqBUb7" />

The project is being advanced through the State Significant Development (SSD) pathway, with concurrent rezoning sought to facilitate the proposal. The 10-storey development would rise over a four-level basement and deliver two retail tenancies, one a larger-format offering and the other a smaller “hole in the wall” space, addressing the Parramatta Road frontage. 21 of the apartments are dedicated as affordable housing.

According to the Urban Design Report by Architecture AND, the scheme includes a podium and tower configuration, with a fine-grain, two-storey parapet street wall that references the traditional shopfront rhythm along the corridor. “An elegant tower form is proposed, combined with a characterful two storey frontage... articulating it as two related buildings, providing consistency with the rhythm and grain of Parramatta Road,” the report notes.

The residential component is split across two slender towers set back from the street edge, a design move aimed at preserving solar access and reducing perceived bulk. This massing strategy also seeks to improve residential amenity by focusing scale toward the quieter northern interface, away from Parramatta Road’s noise and pollution.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="347f2f8f-5d36-4388-b40a-2e77380b9c19" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.02%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=xvyUE2ujT1lzivXTo.mHBJFF4SmfgLtz" />

Architecture AND has worked with Ceerose on previous Inner West projects, and cites a deep familiarity with the local character. Their design draws heavily on context, heritage, and sunlight access considerations, and engages with the Inner West Council’s “Our Fairer Future” strategic planning framework.

The site spans 2,712 sqm and is located near key intersections with Catherine Street, Hay Street, and Redmond Street. It adjoins a public carpark to the north and is within walking distance of Stanmore and Petersham stations. It is also flagged in state and local planning strategies, including the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy, as a suitable candidate for increased density.

Ceerose recently completed The Alex Collective on McEvoy Street in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay.

The Parramatta Road corridor is coming to life with the proposed rezoning which is serviced by a significant number of bus, light rail and train routes.

Deicorp is progressing with its $1.8 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kings-bay-village-five-dock-53-75-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">Kings Bay Village</a> precinct on Parramatta Road in Five Dock, as is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/toga-to-push-on-with-five-dock-mixed-use-masterplan">TOGA further down the street</a>. Those two projects alone will bring nearly 2,000 new homes to Parramatta Road.

First look: Ceerose plots mixed-use Leichhardt development on Parramatta Road

North Sydney's landmark 'SBS Building' on Alfred Street is set to be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use residential tower in the booming North Sydney.

Commercial property group FiveX is behind the plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/275-alfred-street-north-north-sydney-nsw-2060">39-storey tower</a>, the latest project to advance under the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

They are proposing 184 apartments above retail spaces, which will replace the existing 20-storey commercial building. FiveX was set up more than five decades ago by Joshua and Marko Berger. It is currently led by Joshua's son Lesli.&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower at 275 Alfred Street, North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2efa0980-53fa-4cca-9f9e-9c3c845d4746" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29%20%281%29_0.png?VersionId=y_YyPMq3NQLfYRs84pP4os9UgWiMLp75" />

According to the Architectural Design Report by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">FJC Studio</a>, the slender tower form has been deliberately designed to respect the site's transitional setting at the southern gateway to the North Sydney CBD, where high-rise towers give way to lower-scale residential precincts.

"The slender tower form and articulated podium establish a respectful relationship with nearby heritage and low rise buildings, including the Whaling Road Heritage Conservation Area,” the architecture firm noted, adding that the tower “completes a missing link in the urban fabric” while enhancing the Alfred Street streetscape.

The proposed building will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with 15 percent of the gross residential floor area allocated as affordable housing. There is an agreement already in place that those apartments will be managed by Evolve Housing.

The project aligns with broader state housing objectives, including the National Housing Accord target of delivering 1.2 million new homes by 2029. The Scoping Report filed with the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) suggests the site "presents no impediments to rapid delivery,” with construction able to commence within 12 months of receiving consent.

North Sydney has been one of the most popular suburbs in Sydney for new and off the plan apartment development, but hasn't had the supply to keep up with demand, until recently.

AURA by Aqualand was, for a long time, the only off the plan apartment building on the market. That completed last year, and has sold the majority of its 386 luxury apartments. Recently ALAND launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> on the same street, selling over $100 million within just a few hours of its launch, while developer CASA also launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-mclaren-north-sydney-45-mclaren-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The McLaren</a>&nbsp;in the same precinct.

Georgia Westgarth

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Georgia Westgarth

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.