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It’s not just the first time buyers who are eligible for government grants and assistance for purchasing property.
While prospective home owners that have previously owned a property will find themselves needing to jump through more hurdles, there are some available cash grants on the market.
Property Observer notes that not every state and territory has a grant or benefit for property buyers other than first home buyers and they have been omitted where this is the case.
<h3>ACT</h3>
In the ACT, there’s no grant but there is a concession available – the Home Buyer Concession Scheme (HBCS) – that allows those purchasing a brand new home or residential vacant land to have their duty charged at a concessional rate. This was once extended to established properties, but this ended in September 2012.
Currently, this applies to properties until 31 December 2014 with a total gross income threshold of $160,000. The property also counts if it has been “substantially renovated”.
The <a href="https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/home-buyer-assistance/home-buyer-duty-concession/1-July-2014-31-December-2014" target="_blank">ACT Revenue Office</a> also notes that property worth $540,000 or more is not eligible, with land having an upper threshold limit of $292,800.
<h3>NSW</h3>
The New South Wales New Home Grant Scheme is a $5,000 grant that has been available since 1 July 2012.
It applies to new homes, off the plan purchases and vacant land that you can build a home on.
The value of the new home must not be higher than $650,000, or for land, $450,000, to achieve the grant. 
<h3>NT</h3>
Up to $7,000 is available under the Principal Place of Residence Rebate in the Northern Territory. The concession is a stamp duty rebate.
This is only achievable by those purchasing a new home or land to build a home and the property can also have been “substantially renovated”.
<h3>SA</h3>
In South Australia, buyers aged 60 or more who are purchasing or building a new home may be eligible for an $8,500 Seniors Housing Grant. This has been available since 1 July 2014 and is set to continue until 30 June 2016.
A property value upper threshold limit is currently at $450,000.
For those not in their golden years, an Off the plan Stamp Duty Concession is potentially available for those buying a new or substantially refurbished apartment within select areas.  
The partial concession is available until 30 June 2016. You can read the amounts available on the <a href="https://www.revenuesa.sa.gov.au/grants-and-concessions/off-the-plan-concesson" target="_blank">RevenueSA portal.</a>
<h3>VIC</h3>
In Victoria, those purchasing off the plan are eligible for a concession that is deducted from the contract price of the cost of construction or refurbishment.
A concession is also available for those buying house and land packages for the construction of a new house, townhouse, apartment or unit and applies to a single lot development or a multi lot development.
Pensioners are <a href="https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/sro/sronav.nsf/LinkView/8F5F78F86966B677CA2575D0002A87C518E490D796850F8ECA2575C1008187C7" target="_blank">also available for a stamp duty concession</a>.
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

Grants for non first timers: Buying new property

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The number of sales listings across the country was steady over the month of November, according to SQM Research.
Overall, the number of unsold properties has decreased by 1.4% year on year and is at a 0% change over the month. In total, there were 363,853 properties on the market in November, compared to 369,057 in the same month last year.
The most significant yearly changes were in Perth, where listings are up 25.9%, and Perth, up 14.7%.
The large figure for Darwin is attributed to the drop in the commodities boom.
In Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra the drops are strongest, at 8.2%, 8.1% and 6.9% respectively.
Over the month, minor changes were recorded in every capital city, with Perth's 2.6% increase the biggest change.
<a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/" target="_blank">SQM Research</a>’s Louis Christopher said is the direction that Perth has taken recently given the downturn in mining, but that Sydney is performing in the opposite direction.
Sydney’s result, said Christopher, is the result of an ongoing strong sales market.
“Overall the east coast market remains strong. We do not believe that the market is slowing down at this stage,” he said.
“This most recent data suggest that while there was a surge in listings in October that quite a lot of that stock was absorbed and sold. In the resources exposed towns such as Perth and Darwin, we think the downturn continues.” 
<img src="/images/2014/12/02/sqm%20dec%203%20one.png" alt="">
Source: SQM Research
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No slowing of the east coast market: SQM Research

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With the Reserve Bank leaving rates on hold for all of 2014, 1300HomeLoan’s managing director John Kolenda says that we can expect them to stay low into 2015.
The last 15 consecutive meetings have resulted in no change to the current record low rate of 2.50%, Kolenda says we can expect this period of stasis to last until “well into” next year.
However, will they drop even further off an already low base?
“I’m sure we’ll see official rates kept at the current level for the foreseeable future with the possibility of the RBA taking its cash rate down if the domestic economy continues to under-perform,” Kolenda said.
“The RBA still has plenty of room to play with and if unemployment remains high and consumer and business sentiment subdued going into the New Year then we may see further easing,” he said.
For a rate cut to happen, Kolenda points to the necessity for an uptick in economic conditions. He said that a weaker Australian dollar also reduces the chance of an uptick.
He’s not the only one who thinks another cut is a potential outcome.
Australian Property Monitors’ <a href="/expert-insights/finance/domain-groups-andrew-wilson-predicts-rba-will-cut-rates-further">Andrew Wilson has noted the chance for one more rate cut</a> in the past two months of Finder’s Reserve Bank Survey, and this month he was <a href="/expert-insights/finance/three-experts-tip-interest-rates-to-fall-further-finder-rba-survey">also joined by Market Economics’ Stephen Koukoulas and David Scutt from Scutt Partners</a> in expecting this outcome.
And <a href="/expert-insights/finance/deutsche-bank-tips-two-rate-cuts-in-2015-as-house-price-growth-eases">Deutsche Bank economists believe that the RBA are actually set to drop by 0.5% of cuts</a> in 2015 to a historic low of 2%.
{mijopolls 67}
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Will interest rates fall further in 2015?

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Mortgage House, a non-bank lender, has been told to stop using an ASIC trademark to sell its product MoneySmart.
MoneySmart is a registered trademark of ASIC and is the name given to ASIC’s consumer and retail investor website.
ASIC suggested that using this brand could have misled borrowers to assume that ASIC had endorsed or approved the product.
<a href="https://www.mortgagehouse.com.au/%20" target="_blank">Mortgage House</a> admitted they had not checked if the name MoneySmart was trademarked. It has now been renamed and corrective advertising on their website has taken place.
An undertaking has been provided to ASIC.
The website’s advertising for the five year fixed home loan now notes that it “was not at any time endorsed or approved by ASIC”. It’s now called the ‘Advantage’ five year fixed rate home loan.
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Non-bank lender stopped from using ASIC trademark name

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Australia’s housing affordability and supply problems are on the radar of the Urban Development Institute of Australia, whose new National Policy Agenda identifies four key areas for reform, and a number of things that the federal government can do.
Looking at the areas of taxation, red tape, infrastructure and planning, UDIA national president Cameron Shephard said that governments can address housing affordability but also need to counter the issue of supply, a fundamental cause of the issue.
“A chronic shortage of housing in many major cities has resulted in rapidly escalating prices and rents, which has led to worsening housing affordability, and put home ownership increasingly out of reach for many ordinary Australians,” said Shephard.
“Fundamentally, the solution to this problem lies in reducing and removing the barriers to new housing supply, such as high taxes and charges on new housing, poor planning, delays caused by red tape, and inadequate urban infrastructure."
A number of their recommendations were also to state and local governments, including the first three of the nine points below. They also recommended that state governments reduce their reliance on upfront developer charges by investigating alternatives, create long-term plans, reduce reliance on stamp duty and similar taxes, and look to planning system reform.
Here are their nine suggestions for the federal government:
<ol>
<li>Identify population growth trends through the use of regular growth forecasts. 
</li>
<li>Actively use population growth forecasts to underpin comprehensive strategic plans for increasing urban infrastructure investment, and improve land-use planning and land supply. 
</li>
<li>Ensure that sufficient resources are available across different levels of government to implement strategic land use and infrastructure plans over the short, medium and long term. 
</li>
<li>Ensure that infrastructure investment decisions are subject to rigorous and comprehensive cost benefit analysis, to ensure the greatest value for money on new projects. 
</li>
<li>Further investigate non-traditional methods of funding infrastructure, to increase the level of funding available for investment at both a federal and state level. 
</li>
<li>Ensure that all levels of government cooperate and coordinate their regulatory activities to identify best practice, standardise regulations where possible, and avoid conflicting legislation, to create certainty. 
</li>
<li>Work to reduce duplication with state and local government processes, including continuing to streamline federal and state environmental assessment and approval systems.  
</li>
<li>Assist state governments with phasing out stamp duty by broadening the base of the GST.  
</li>
<li>Include state and local government levies in GST cost base calculations to improve the integrity of the tax system and reduce the incidence of double taxation.</li>
</ol>
Source: UDIA
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Nine things the federal government needs to do to fix affordability: UDIA

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A total of 68% of Australians are ‘very comfortable’ with their home loan, according to the latest ING DIRECT Household Financial Wellbeing Index.
Comfort with mortgages/long term debt, credit cards/short-term debt and household bills is currently at an all-time high.
The index found that 31% of households are mortgage free, while 44% are paying down their loan ahead of time.
A high level of comfort with short-term debt, such as credit cards, was noted with 5.48 out of 7 on the index recorded, or the highest level since 2010.
Of the households surveyed, 18% have a personal loan, with the average household owning 1.8 credit cards and 15% of households not having a credit card.
New South Wales was the most comfortable of all the states, followed by Western Australia and Victoria. All three were up on their second quarter 2014 results. South Australia and Queensland have dipped since the second quarter.
Head of third party distribution at ING DIRECT, Mark Woolnough, said that it’s good news that financial wellbeing is rising.
“Almost half of all homeowners are making the most of the current low interest rate environment and are getting ahead with their home loan repayments, which is a good strategy that will help them to maintain their financial health well into the New Year,” said Woolnough.
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Majority of mortgage holders comfortable with home loan: ING DIRECT

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Possible underquoting activity from an agency in Sydney is under investigation, according to NSW Fair Trading Minister Matthew Mason-Cox.
Operation Balaya, an investigation specifically developed to look at real estate compliance, was launched last month. The operation included intelligence gathering to look for underquoting.
The investigation was on agencies operating in the inner-city and Haymarket area. Officers checked licences, certificates, current continuing professional development, professional indemnity insurance and current and past financial year qualified audits.
“During its inspections, NSW Fair Trading identified certain information that requires further investigation to establish whether or not representations made by a real estate agency in relation to a number of recent sales were misleading,” Mason-Cox said.
“Agents who engaged in this illegal practice could face a maximum penalty of $22,000 or depending on the severity of the breaches an agency could have its license cancelled.”
He said that underquoting is a serious offence and that Fair Trading will not tolerate it.
“Not only does it seriously compromise the integrity of the real estate market, it puts enormous financial stress on innocent homebuyers,” he said.
Fair Trading’s results from Operation Balaya will continue to focus on underquoting and they have announced that enforcement action against those found to be non-compliant will be taken.
“From the 836 licences checked, 24 penalty infringement notices were issued valued at $27,100 for a range of breaches, including operating without a licence, failure to lodge an audit or complete continuing professional development before the renewal of a licence or certificate,” Mason-Cox said.
This is the 10th operation targeting the real estate industry across Sydney this year, with more than 762 agents visited and the licences or certificates of 1,342 agents sighted.
More than 59 penalty infringement notices have been issued – including for failing to have a licence and failing to supervise staff and business.
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Sydney agency under Fair Trading investigation for underquoting

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While all 37 leading economists and experts surveyed by Finder ahead of today's Reserve Bank meeting expect the cash rate to stay on hold this afternoon, three experts are tipping another cut to occur next year.
Last month, the Finder Reserve Bank Survey saw Australian Property Monitors’ Andrew Wilson tip a rate cut for the future, and he is now joined by two other experts.
Market Economics’ Stephen Koukoulas, joining the panel for the first time, and David Scutt from Scutt Partners also expect a drop next year. This would bring the cash rate from the current low of 2.50% to a new record low.
However, they are vastly outnumbered by those tipping the next move to be up – 92% of the panel. In total, 94% of the panel expect the cash rate to move in 2015, while 6% expect the next move to in 2016.
<img src="/images/2014/12/02/finder-dec-2-one.jpg" alt="">
Source: Finder Reserve Bank Survey
Michelle Hutchison, Money Expert at finder.com.au, said that it was interesting to see some experts tip a cut.
“It was also interesting to find some experts in the survey discussing the reality of a rate cut next year, with factors that could occur such as a falling housing market and slower growth in China and other foreign economies,” she said.
“There is a definite shift in the direction that the cash rate could take, with last month’s survey results showing all 33 experts were forecasting the cash rate to rise next year, including one expert (Andrew Wilson, Domain Group) predicting a rate cut before an upward cycle begins,” said Hutchison.
“But now there are three experts on the panel who are betting on a rate cut and others citing a possibility of a drop.”
In terms of today’s meeting, Wilson notes that there will be no impact from any change until next year.
“House price growth will track around inflation depending on local demand and supply drivers,” he said.
Koukoulas noted that the RBA has been slow to acknowledge the subdued nature of the economy, with an “unhealthy obsession” with Sydney house prices.
Meanwhile, Scutt said that the Australian Dollar remains overvalued, labour market conditions are still soft and commodity export prices have declined with the economy expected to grow below trend until 2016.
“They should be easing now but won't, at least in December. With house price appreciation slowing and targeted macroprudential tools still a strong possibility, if current domestic and international economic conditions remain subdued, the RBA will have little to prevent them easing early in the New Year.”
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Three experts tip interest rates to fall further: Finder RBA survey

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A new survey has revealed that not only are 62% of home buyers heading into an auction without a strategy, and 48% are not as prepared as they could be, but that 51% are experiencing anxiety about the auction process.
The research from St.George Bank points to 48% saying that auctions have a negative impact on their sleep patterns.
The most difficult house hunting and buying processes were noted as being making an offer or bidding at auctions, evaluating which properties provide good value and choosing the suburb in which to buy, with 46%, 44% and 44% respectively noting these options. A total of 57% further said that they would find it easier if property comparisons were simpler.
More than half have missed out on a property they wanted due to the heat of competition.
However, the majority felt confident when knowing what to look for at a property inspection and organising building and strata inspections.
St.George’s general manager retail banking Andy Fell said that they have created a new online hub called HomeHero to assist customers, in conjunction with Bank of Melbourne and BankSA. The resource includes step by step guides and information.
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Half of property buyers anxious, losing sleep over auction process

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While Perth’s property market was largely stable in November, the rental market has shown significant changes in the past 12 months, according to Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) data.
There are now 6,111 rentals on the market – up 37% year on year.
However, rents are stable, at $450 per week for houses, while units have slipped slightly from $430 per week to $425 per week.
The vacancy rate sits under 4%, with little change forecast.
REIWA president David Airey said there has been a slight pickup in sales activity from the September quarter into October that appears to have been somewhat strong through November.
Listings for sale were up 13% in November, to 13,588 properties – up 40% on November 2013.
Airey said that this is a healthy return to an environment of choice that hasn’t been seen in Perth for a few years.
“Perth’s median house price appears to have picked up a little too, but this is nothing to get excited about,” Airey said.
Airey said that the skewed results were solely the result of an increase of near city sales that are pushing the median temporarily higher.
“As a result the Perth median is more likely to be steady at around $550,000.”
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Perth rentals up 37% in 12 months to November: REIWA

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Joel Robinson

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

IN BRIEF

<ul>
	<li>
	Just three double-storey Sky Homes sit at the top of The Waterline, each with its own private marina berth and rooftop terrace.
	</li>
	<li>
	Construction on The Waterline is complete, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.
	</li>
	<li>
	Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and are priced from $3.65 million.
	</li>
</ul>

<hr />
Lewis Land has opened the first completed sky home for inspection at Harbour Shores, giving buyers their first opportunity to step inside one of just three double-storey residences crowning The Waterline.

Each sky home comes with its own private marina berth, rooftop terrace and Broadwater views, combining the scale of a larger home with direct access to the boating lifestyle that underpins the wider <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366708]

Lewis Land Head of Development Michael Long said the inclusion of a berth with every Sky Home had become increasingly valuable as marina access across the Gold Coast tightened.

“Marina berths are becoming increasingly difficult to secure across the Gold Coast, so including one with every Sky Home makes this a genuinely rare offering,” Long said.

“The private 70-berth marina will accommodate boats up to 12 metres in length and is positioned just 2.5 kilometres from the Broadwater, placing the open ocean only 15 minutes away.

“Being able to step out of your home onto your boat is a rare luxury, and it’s something residents here can look forward to when it opens later this year.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366709]

The display opening comes as construction completes on The Waterline, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.

The three Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and each feature three bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive kitchens with butler's pantries and large balconies taking in the Broadwater outlook.

Each residence also has three secure basement car spaces and additional storage.

“This is the first opportunity the Gold Coast has had to step into Harbour Shores and see, touch and feel what we’re bringing to life here,” Long said.

“There are only three Sky Homes within The Waterline, ranging in size from 282sqm to 367sqm, with each residence featuring three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive custom-built kitchens with butler’s pantry, and large balconies capturing Broadwater views.”

<img alt="Harbour Shores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bab65e10-4fab-45e1-92d8-fc56e2ab98ff" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%202.00.16%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=XT8q76LsPkw3cYTsvN3JfFDaPLud90PN" />

Residents of The Waterline will have access to a private pool, along with Harbour Shores' wider collection of amenity including a lagoon pool, social clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga facilities and sauna.

Lewis Land partnered with Studio Collective to furnish the completed display, with the interiors designed to demonstrate how the residences could function as permanent homes rather than simply as show apartments.

Studio Collective Director Melissa Park said the surrounding waterways informed the interiors, but in a more restrained way than a traditional coastal scheme.

“We drew inspiration from the canals and coastal surrounds, but our approach was to interpret that subtly through layered materials and a grounded palette of earthy tones, rather than literal coastal references,” Park said.

“We introduced hero moments of green and teal to reference the surrounding waterways, while mirrored elements help reflect natural light.

“The result is a residence that feels elevated yet comfortable, somewhere buyers can genuinely imagine themselves living, entertaining and unwinding.”

Sky Homes are priced from $3.65 million.

Lewis Land is also offering private marina berths with The Residences, its limited collection of three and four-bedroom villas positioned directly along the Harbour Shores waterfront boardwalk.

Three-bedroom villas are priced from $2.99 million, while four-bedroom residences start from $3.19 million.

Harbour Shores is being marketed by Colliers International.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land opens sky home display as The Waterline completes at Harbour Shores

St Vincent de Paul Society Housing Australia has filed plans for a major mixed-use housing precinct on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, adding another significant proposal to a pocket around North Sydn​ey Station that is quickly becoming one of the LGA's busiest development zones.

The State Significant Development Application covers a 5,990 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1-19-mackenzie-street-lavender-bay-nsw-2060">1-19 MacKenzie Street and 211 Blues Point Road in Lavender Bay</a>, immediately south of Nor​th Sydney Station and between the commercial core and the lower-rise Lavender Bay Heritage Conservation Area.

Designed by Wardle, the proposal would deliver a new residential tower comprising 88 build-to-sell apartments and 19 affordable apartments, alongside a separate co-living building with 57 rooms and a building manager's studio.

It would also see the significant restoration and upgrade of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the adaptive reuse of the former school building, new parish facilities, retail, a new public square and around 1,000 sqm of publicly accessible open space.

<img alt="Vinnies North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d5dd7f87-a617-463e-b577-17541e01f0e9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.13%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4R8TsFN3P_LrrXO2HswTOIrx2blil8lh" />

The project is seeking a concurrent rezoning of the site to R4 High Density Residential and an increase in the maximum building height to allow a tower reaching RL120, or up to 20 storeys. The proposal was progressed through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The build-to-sell component will be weighted toward larger apartments, with just six one-bedroom apartments compared with 31 two-beds, 43 three-beds and eight four-bedroom residences.

The 19 affordable apartments will comprise two studios, 15 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments, taking the total apartment component to 107 residences before the 58 co-living rooms are included.

<img alt="Vnnies" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d568ca5-cb90-4e18-96c6-d9795dba0c56" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GY2R5M9VtQh0EKy1vajaea19PSLOPuRD" />

Wardle's design for the Vinnies site has sought to negotiate that emerging high-rise context while retaining the lower-scale character of MacKenzie Street and the adjoining heritage conservation area.

The main building adopts a three-storey podium and tower arrangement, with the podium aligned to the ridgeline and front setback of St Francis Xavier Church.&nbsp;Wardle has designed the podium with colonnades, seating, recessed entries and active ground-floor frontages, with sandstone-toned precast concrete and face brick referencing the materiality of the existing church.

The tower then steps back eight metres to the south and six metres to the north before rising in a sculpted form comprising four interlocking quadrants. Wardle has also introduced rounded forms and chamfered corners to reduce the tower's perceived bulk and improve view sharing with neighbouring development sites.

Resident facilities and outdoor areas are planned at the separation between the podium and tower at Level 3, oriented toward Sydney Harbour and the CBD skyline.

The tower itself will feature a glass reinforced concrete facade, with recessed balconies and deep reveals used both to provide shading and privacy and frame views toward the harbour and city. The lower levels take a different architectural approach, using brick and sandstone-toned finishes intended to establish a stronger relationship with St Francis Xavier Church. The Church itself will be conserved and upgraded for its continued use, while the former school building will be adaptively reused as part of the co-living component.

<img alt="Lavendar Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d4418ad-90aa-4d49-af93-c80b140aea80" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.09.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Kv4gzbsACaGvZSRuaqcfGC54jEJRXIDJ" />

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The proposal adds to an increasingly concentrated pipeline of residential development around Blue Street, MacKenzie Street and Lavender Bay.

Just west of the site, Central Element lodged plans earlier this year for one of the most significant residential developments proposed in Lavender Bay in recent years.

Central Element's SJB-designed scheme at 64-66 Lavender Street and 3-7 Middlemiss Street would deliver 163 apartments across two towers rising 23 and 32 storeys, replacing five existing apartment buildings containing 32 homes. The project also forms part of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-central-element-reveals-lavender-bay-apartment-plans?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">First look: Central Element reveals Lavender Bay apartment plans</a>

Immediately around North Sy​dney Station, another two significant proposals have emerged at 5 and 15 Blue Street.

Zurich Australian Insurance Properties is seeking to adaptively reuse its longstanding commercial building at 5 Blue Street, directly above North Sydney Station, rather than demolishing the structure.

Its SSDA proposes converting the building into a 14-storey mixed-use development with 62 apartments and 86 co-living rooms, together with ground-floor retail and a major refurbishment of Blue Street Plaza. The application is currently at the Response to Submissions stage.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-zurich-targets-north-sydney-office-conversion-with-148-unit-proposal-above-metro-station">First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station</a>

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Jennifer Duke

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