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Early this year, developer Kalex is planning to launch their apartment and retail vision for their Gertrude Street, Fitzroy development, at the former Manfax hardware site.
However, they are going to launch the properties a little differently – with a new concept for the display suite presentation under the name ‘Living Events’, with sessions set to be held on Sundays.
Effectively, this is an interactive display suite that allows prospective buyers to be active, rather than passive, in exploring the space, according to <a href="https://www.kalex.com.au">Kalex</a>’s development director Liam Wallis.
Jackson Clements Burrows Architects, Roger Seller, Gaggenau, Urban Commons and Great Dane are involved in bringing Living Events together.
“Living Events is our exploration of the design for a space that invites people to imagine themselves in this exceptional location, living within a truly considered boutique scale apartment building, for example, by witnessing in action exactly the same Valcucine kitchen and Gaggenau appliances that will be installed within the project,” said Wallis.
With a flexible 254 square metre front of house area and 34 square metre back of house kitchen, featuring the Gaggenau appliances, the site can hold 150 people at a time.
The 166 Gertrude Street mixed use development will feature a range of apartment types, as well as ground level retail opportunities.
“Our aim for Living Events is to create an engaging experience that connects with discerning, design-savvy people,” Wallis said.
Some of these events will include cooking sessions but also gardening classes. Their event invitations encourage prospective buyers to visit the local area, such as Fitzroy, for lunch. It's all so very Melbourne and will be interesting to see whether it resonates with their prospective buyers.
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Kalex set to launch Fitzroy apartments with an interactive display suite sessions

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Perth’s home owners have been reminded by the Building Commissioner to check the registration of painters, in particular, before paying them to carry out work priced over $1,000. If property owners do not undertake this due diligence, they may face being ripped off.
According to Building Commissioner Peter Gow, they are continuing to receive details of unregistered painters obtaining business by distributing flyers and going door-to-door offering services. Just recently, home owners in Willetton and Sorrento have provided reports of this activity.
Sub-standard and overpriced work could be the result of getting involved with an unregistered painter.
“In most parts of Western Australia, carrying out painting work valued over $1,000 requires a registration and any advertisements offering major painting work should contain the painter’s registration number,” Gow said.
“The Building Commission and our colleagues at Consumer Protection receive frequent complaints from consumers who have handed over money to an unregistered painter only to be left with overpriced and substandard work – or in some cases, no work at all,” he said.
“The best way for consumers to protect themselves from dodgy painters is to ask to see their accreditation and independently verify it before agreeing to any major work on their property.”
For those concerned, a quick check on the Building Commissions registration portal will <a href="https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/building-commission/find-registered-building-service-provider" target="_blank">be able to find registered painters</a>.
Other signs to watch for are headings such as “full roof painted” for a value in excess of $1,000, and sometimes a 1800 phone number and no trading name could be warnings home owners could check out for to determine whether they are operating illegally.
Always check for credentials before agreeing to any work.
“These unregistered traders are difficult to track down for a refund or to make a warranty claim if you’re not satisfied with the work and are breaking consumer law by not observing a 10-day cooling off period for unsolicited sales,” Gow said.
“Most building work valued over $20,000 also requires the builder to be registered in WA and all plumbing work must be carried out by a licensed plumbing contractor,” he said.
You can report anyone you know to be offering unauthorised work via the Building Commission:1300 48 90 99 or <a href="https://mail.privatemedia.com.au/owa/redir.aspx?C=Ultkv_vW706GgICQ1Lr4DMvqpdX_AtIIb4VbQ_7izJOeO3QJXpzOHTVog-kX_Y62w6VPR2gnEM8.&amp;URL=mailto%3abcinfo%40commerce.wa.gov.au">bcinfo@commerce.wa.gov.au</a>.
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Home owners warned to check registrations before paying for home improvement

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Flinders Street apartment project, 108 Flinders, from Melbourne developer Riverlee, has been revealed – with a dual façade feature designed by Fender Katsalidis.
The development was launched in 2010 and is completely sold out, with 80% of <a href="https://www.108flinders.com.au" target="_blank">108 Flinders</a> purchased in the first few months.
The 190 apartment project includes one façade facing Flinders Street with another onto ACDC Lane. Each is created with a different concept, the Flinders Street facing front using a mosaic of coloured glass and stainless steel frames.
According to Fender Katsalidis Architects’ Karl Fender, the rear façade to ACDC Lane includes an urban scale art wall created by graphic artist Garry Emery, and includes a new restaurant. The façade can be individually altered by the residents to create privacy screens, altering the face of the art whenever they are moved.
The new restaurant is Patuso, a Peruvian grill.
“Our practice enjoys, wherever possible, to create an architecture that contributes to the richness of our city through the thoughtful integration of art into the building fabric, often working in close collaboration with Melbourne artists,” Fender said.
“108 Flinders is a sculpture in its own right, which embraces the diverse fabric of our city through its precinctual responses.”
In the middle of 108 Flinders is a modernized internal garden, 18 metres high, which is planned to improve amenity for those living in the two connected buildings. It includes a wall mural designed by Emery Studio, a waterpond skylight to the level below and upside-down tree sculpture suspended above.
There is also a rooftop terrace of level 12, explains Riverlee sales and marketing director Kristine Lee. It has views of the MCG and Federation Square.
On levels 11 and 12 there are premium penthouse residences that include their own mini-garden retreats within the home. The three penthouses that face onto Flinders Street have motorized louvered windows that have views of the Yarra River and Royal Botanic Gardens.
“We believe at 108 Flinders we have achieved an urbane home that gives Melbournians the chance to live, work and play in the CBD without compromising on anything,” said Lee.
The development also has communal facilities, including a gym and residents’ lounge.
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Dual facades for Fender Katsalidis designed 108 Flinders

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New data from the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia has found that Perth’s rents have dropped in December, with the median rent for the metropolitan area falling $10 to $440 per week.
REIA president David Airey has found that this drop is more prominent for apartments and villas, with houses weathering through a little better.
“Houses are typically holding a rental median of $450 per week, while units, apartments and villas have dropped to a median of around $420 per week,” Airey said.
The overall vacancy for Perth has lifted to 4.2%, with 6,300 rental properties vacant. Usually, a “normal” market for Perth is 3%, according to Airey, who says that the high rate is being driven by a slowing growth in population as a result of fewer jobs.
The data released by the REIWA sees the stock of property for lease increased by 10% over the December quarter – up some 37% over the year.
“The increase in stock over the past two years can be directly attributed to the rapid turnaround in migration which peaked in the year to September 2012. The latest reading of WA’s population growth for the year to June 2014 has it falling to its lowest level in eight years,” Airey said. 
“The available rental stock bottomed-out at around 2,100 dwellings in September 2012 and has grown by 200 per cent since then, lifting the vacancy rate from 1.8% to more than 4% over the last couple of years,” he said.
Areas that have seen the largest increases in rental listings include:
<ul>
<li>Belmont</li>
<li>Kwinana</li>
<li>Armadale</li>
<li>Wanneroo’s northwest corridor</li>
</ul>
However, Kwinana is up by $5 over 2014, to $390 per week – the only area to report an increase in median rent. Armadale is currently the most affordable area to rent – with a $370 per week median.
The biggest drops in median rent over the year (drop is in brackets):
<ul>
<li>Perth City ($65)</li>
<li>Vincent ($50)</li>
<li>Stirling South-east ($50)</li>
<li>Mundaring ($45)</li>
<li>Wanneroo South ($40)</li>
<li>Serpentine/Jarrahdale ($30)</li>
<li>Stirling West ($30)</li>
<li>Western Suburbs ($30)</li>
<li>Canning ($25)</li>
<li>Cockburn ($25)</li>
</ul>
Source: REIWA 
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Perth rents plummet in December: REIWA

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Three developers have been shortlisted for Darwin's Berrimah Farm project and will now submit comprehensive proposals prior to being selected.
The three local developers, Gwelo Developments, Halikos Group and Urbex, are competing for the development rights of the site and turn it into an urban centre.
Northern Territory Minister for Lands and Planning, Peter Chandler, said that they are looking for a developer with a vision to match the ‘premium’ location.
“This will be a community that not only supports its planned 6,750 residents but also attracts visitors from surrounding suburbs by creating spaces and places people want to be in,” he said.
“Restaurants, bars, supermarkets, schools and speciality shops are all possibilities.”
Chandlersaid that the shortlisted developers have the experience and knowledge to deliver quality proposals. They had previously answered an expressions of interest campaign that ran from October to 5 December 2014.
The request for detailed proposal process begins in February, with plans to choose a developer by mid-year, leaving the start of construction possible before the end of 2015.
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Three developers shortlisted for Darwin's Berrimah Farm project

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Further growth in new home construction is tipped this year, with the Housing Industry Association's (HIA) senior economist Shane Garrett pointing to the relatively high number of loans.
The November 2014 lending figures recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that the number of owner occupier loans for new dwellings dropped by 1.4%, however lending was 4.6% higher than November 2013.
New home loans are now up 0.7% in the three months to November and are 7.3% higher than a year prior.
“Last week saw building approvals reach an all-time high during November, and today’s lending figures add further to the evidence that Australia’s new home building industry will start 2015 on a strong footing,” said Garrett.
“The number of loans remains high although there is little sign of further growth,” he said.
“Fortunately, the flow of loans for new home construction is very solid. The number of new home construction loans in November was 7.6% higher than a year ago.”
He did note that the total volume of loans for home purchase has been dropping steadily for the past few months and that, as house prices have risen the stamp duty bills have also.
“Excessive taxation is hampering the efficient operation of Australia’s housing market. The issue requires immediate attention,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Real Estate Institute of Australia suggests the slowing activity may signal a rate cut.
REIA president Neville Sanders pointed to the proportion of first home buyers improving marginally, but noted the potential issues with the statistics.
"With moderating housing lending and GDP growth below trend, inflation well within the RBA’s target zone, the RBA Board should be considering a cut in interest rates at its February meeting,” said Sanders.
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Lending figures point to new home building growth in 2015: HIA

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Stamp duty is a tax paid by property buyers upon the purchase of a home or investment property. It’s not only levied on real estate – it’s also charged on a number of other assets – however, it’s most often discussed around property.
It’s charged on land, established homes, new properties, apartments, villas and pretty much all property sales and even gifts of property. Stamp duty is often also payable on your mortgage.
As the figure can add a substantial cost to purchasing a property, it pays dividends to be aware of what the cost may be upfront.
When you’ve bought a property you have 30 days after settlement within which to pay your stamp duty.
However, the total amount does differ by state and territory as it is levied by the state and territory governments and is not a federal charge. This means that buying the same priced property in Victoria will see you charged a different amount than if you bought it in South Australia.
Duty is usually charged by a threshold structure, based on how expensive the property is that you are buying.
You may be eligible for a concession or to even have your stamp duty waived, if you are a pensioner, a first home buyer, purchasing your principal place of residence or buying new (under certain schemes). Similarly, some groups, such as farmers, can achieve concessions. These concessions, again, are decided by your state and territory and so will differ.
Occasionally, no duty or minimal duty will be charged under a certain amount, however this is usually not a figure high enough to purchase a substantial property holding ($25,000 or so). In some states, duty can go as high as 7% for premium-priced properties (over $3 million). Usually, you pay based on the market value or the purchase price and take whichever is higher to do the calculation.
The stamp duty rates can change, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for any alterations made by your state or territory government.
You can usually pay your stamp duty by BPAY, mail, overseas or local EFT or in person at the local regulating office (e.g. OSR). You can also pay ahead of time.
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What is stamp duty? Investment terms explained

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Australians with a mortgage of $489,300 or more will see themselves spending $1 million or over for the life of their 30 year loan, according to Finder’s research.
The statistic is calculated on an average variable interest rate of 5.5%.
In a situation where the mortgage is 80% of the property value, then a property bought for $611,625 or more will end up costing more than $1 million.
Michelle Hutchison, money expert at Finder, said that borrowers are not looking down the track to see how much they end up spending when they look to see if they can afford a home loan.
“While it’s likely that your home will increase in value over a 30-year loan term, it might not compensate the cost of a home loan as the money you end up spending can be greatly increased if you have a small deposit and don’t shop around for a good value deal,” she said.
“This research was based on the average variable rate of about 5.5% but borrowers need to remember that there’s a big difference between what lenders are offering, which can mean bigger costs for a home if you’re not careful.”
She notes that the lowest ongoing variable rate they are current recording is 4.39% from Heritage Bank, or 1.11% lower than the average variable rate.
“Take advantage of the online tools and comparisons of different home loans to help you find the best value deals,” she said.
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A $500,000 mortgage will cost $1 million plus over 30 years

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A record amount of industrial sales helped push commercial property sales to $26.8 billion in 2014, according to CBRE Research.
With commercial property sales up 6% on 2013 levels, office property was the largest contributor at $14.5 billion of sales, with retail assets at $7.3 billion. Industrial property clocked in $5 billion of transactions – up 55% from 2013’s total and surpassing the 2006 record of $4.9 billion.
CBRE head of research for Australia, Stephen McNabb, said that the last quarter of 2014 saw strong activity in the industrial market.
“Industrial sales grew by 55% year on year, driven by a number of large portfolio sales,” McNabb said.
“Activity is being prompted by divergence of opinion as to the degree to which yield compression can continue. Strong yield compression in the super prime sector (80 to 90bp in Sydney/Melbourne) through 2014 prompted selling from some owners, in an environment where new sources of demand are looking for income yield combined with an expectation that the risk of yield softening is low,” he said.
He also said that across the entire commercial market, foreign investors have maintained their presence, however a slowing was noted – to 12% after a 2013 doubling of investment.
Meanwhile, Matt Haddon, CBRE regional director, industrial and logistics services, said that they had been predicting the strong uptick in industrial in early 2014.
“Despite a slow start to industrial sales volumes in 2014 with only modest figures recorded at the end of Q2, based on the volume of sales and enquiries we were handling back in July, we made the call that 2014 would set a new benchmark and that’s how it’s panned out, reaching the $5 billion mark for the first time,” Haddon said.
“Given the volume of deals currently in the pipeline and the number of quality assets due to come to the market in Q1 this year, we see this volume of sales being sustainable for the foreseeable future and don’t believe that 2014 will be viewed as a ‘spike’ in any way.”
The office markets’ growth was sustained throughout 2014 with Sydney and Melbourne recording strong years for turnover – totaling 80% of the national turnover for office stock, when in 2013 they numbered 65%.
“This is consistent with stronger demand for assets in these core markets in which the vacancy risk over the next few years looks more contained for both prime and secondary assets,” Haddon said.\
<img src="/images/2015/01/14/Commercial%20property%20transactions%20-%202014.png" alt="">
Source: CBRE Research
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Record 2014 industrial sales leaves commercial market on a high

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Harcourts’ latest addition, Harcourts Carlingford, was opened last week by owner Andrew Magro.
Magro, who has been working in the Carlingford area for 14 years, said that it’s nice to be known locally and expressed his enjoyment with the area where he started out putting up for sale signs, making coffee and answering the phones.
“I basically watched and learnt from my peers, I immediately grew a strong interest and passion for the real estate industry and I knew then I wanted to be the best at what I do and thrive on customer satisfaction,” he said.
“Real estate isn’t only about making a sale, it’s about building relationships with people which I love to do,” said Magro.
Joining Harcourts Group Australia due to a desire to own his real estate office, he chose the brand after having been involved with Harcourts Hills Living when looking to buy a property.
“I immediately fell in love with the Harcourts system, their operations and most of all, the blue stripes,” he said.
“My motivation was real estate agent, Jamie Benjamin and his performance, not only selling properties but in the way it was actually performed.”
He also aligns with the ‘Harcourts values’, putting people first and giving them the time they need, which he intends to continue at his new 5/326 Pennant Hills Road office.
“I believe the difference I have to offer is quality of service, not quantity. People deserve nothing but the best of service, all the time,” he said.
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New agency Harcourts Carlingford launched 

&nbsp;

Developer GURNER™ Group has revealed $1.65 billion in residential sales nationally across the 12 months to December 2025, driven largely by the continued momentum of its Docklands wellness-focused precinct, Elysium Fields.

The sales result was generated across seven projects in Victoria and New South Wales, headlined by Elysium Fields, GURNER™’s $2.75 billion mixed-use precinct planned for Harbour Esplanade in Docklands.

The project has recorded more than $500 million in sales across the first three towers, equating to around 580 apartments sold.

The first tower, Helios, has now sold out of its 240 private residences, with GURNER™ preparing to release a premium penthouse collection comprising 15 three-bedroom penthouses in coming weeks.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370975]

Elysium Fields is being developed on the long-held 20,000 sqm Docklands site at 208-226 Harbour Esplanade, which had remained undeveloped for more than two decades prior to GURNER™ taking over the project around four years ago.

Construction has now commenced across four towers ranging between 18 and 30 storeys, with Hamilton Marino and Maxcon appointed as builders.

Once complete, the precinct is expected to comprise around 1,100 residences, alongside retail, hospitality and public realm uses integrated throughout the site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370981]

Designed by Fraser &amp; Partners in collaboration with GURNER™ Design House, the project has been positioned around the developer’s broader focus on wellness-led residential living.

“We don’t sell apartments. We create a true luxury lifestyle that simply doesn’t exist elsewhere in the market today,” Founder and Executive Chairman Tim Gurner said.

“To deliver that requires an extraordinary level of detail, coordination and discipline across multiple verticals, from design and hospitality through to wellness and service.”

“We’ve always believed that living extends far beyond the physical residence. It’s about how you feel the moment you arrive, how you live day-to-day, and the ecosystem that supports that.” 
[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370977]

The project’s design places a heavy focus on landscaping, wellness amenities and biophilic design principles.

Plans include around 3,700 sqm of landscaped gardens and open space throughout the precinct, alongside a retail and dining offering spanning approximately 5,000 sqm.

The broader public realm strategy centres around what GURNER™ describes as the “Path of Life”, an urban forest and landscaped pedestrian environment intended to connect the various buildings and wellness spaces across the precinct.

The apartments themselves will incorporate a range of wellness-focused inclusions, including purified air and water systems, circadian lighting, antimicrobial surfaces, and optional in-home wellness upgrades.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370980]

Gurner said the company’s experience through its Saint Haven wellness clubs had directly informed the residential offering now being incorporated into Elysium Fields.

“We’re seeing a clear global shift toward longevity, performance and proactive health,” Gurner said.

“Our role is to deliver that in a way that feels seamless, highly private and beautifully resolved within the environments we create.”

A large component of the wellness offering is planned through the resident amenity and health facilities proposed within the precinct.

That includes plans for bathing and recovery facilities spread throughout the towers, incorporating mineral pools, saunas, steam rooms, flotation therapy, red light therapy and wellness lounges.

The developer is also seeking approvals for what it describes as a “reverse ageing medical clinic” within the precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370978]

According to project information released by the group, the proposed facility would include cryotherapy, IV infusion therapy, infrared and dry saunas, PEMF beds, MRIs, DEXA scans, brain scans and blood analysis services.

Within the first tower, Helios, residents will also have access to a dedicated amenity offering known as the Sky Private Club.

The upper 15 levels of the building will include private lounges, dining spaces, rooftop amenities and optional private wellness studios integrated within residences.

The Helios tower itself comprises 260 apartments ranging between 60 sqm and 300 sqm, including a collection of penthouses.

That includes a planned two-storey penthouse spanning around 600 sqm with uninterrupted bay views.

The Elysium Fields precinct is being delivered in partnership with Digital Harbour Holdings, a consortium that includes the Liberman family, which controls the development rights across the Docklands site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370979]

The sales result comes as GURNER™ continues expanding its national development pipeline beyond Victoria.

“We have a strong pipeline across Australia and are now focused on scaling into key markets including New South Wales and Queensland, while continuing to build on our Melbourne base,” Gurner said.

“We currently have more than $3 billion in the market, growing to over $5 billion by October, and expect to materially outperform last year in the 2026 calendar year.”

The result also reflects the continued strength of the upper-end apartment market in Melbourne, particularly for owner-occupier-focused product with large-scale amenity and lifestyle offerings.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144441]

Record result anchored by the Group’s “utopian” Elysium Fields precinct – defying market headwinds in Docklands.

Joel Robinson

Elysium Fields drive Gurner to $1.65 billion in apartment sales over 2025

National Australia Bank (NAB) will fund <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/palmera-residences-gold-coast-18-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Palmera</a>, a $1 billion, 52-level luxury residential tower being developed by Central Equity in one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held coastal locations at Northcliffe.

The project, launched recently by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-equity">Central Equity</a>, one of Victoria’s largest private residential developers, comes at a time when construction funding for large residential developments has become increasingly competitive as lenders tighten exposure to the sector.

Multiplex has been appointed the builder, and construction is now underway.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365784]

Since its first project, Central Equity has delivered more than 85 residential developments with a combined end value exceeding $8 billion.

Palmera reflects Central Equity’s growing focus on the Gold Coast luxury apartment market and continues a relationship between Central Equity and NAB that dates back to the late 1980s, when the bank funded one of Melbourne’s earliest inner-city residential towers at a time when high-rise apartment living in the CBD was largely unproven.

“NAB’s funding of Central Equity’s $36 million CBD development in the late 1980’s to the financing of the billion-dollar tower today highlights the long-term relationship between the two organisations in delivering major residential projects” said Central Equity Founder and Chairman Eddie Kutner.

He said NAB’s early support was instrumental in helping establish the company’s development model.

“When we commenced our first residential tower in the late 1980s the concept of funding off-the-plan apartments was still largely untested in Australia,” Kutner said.

“NAB recognised the opportunity early and supported the project when others were uncertain. That relationship has now continued for more than 37 years across many developments.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365771]

Central Equity was established in 1987 when Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank precinct were still dominated by warehouses and commercial buildings. Fewer than 100 residents lived in Southbank at the time, and large-scale residential development in the inner city was not widely considered.

Recognising changing demographics and lifestyle preferences, the company began developing high-rise residential projects designed to bring permanent residents into the city centre.

Central Equity has provided accommodation for approximately 40,000 residents across Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank, while also incorporating supporting infrastructure including essential lifestyle facilities like retail spaces, childcare facilities and neighbourhood activity centres.

Central Equity has spent many years assembling the Palmera development site on the corner of Garfield Terrace and Frederick Street in Northcliffe, creating a supersite of around 3,300 sqm.

The developer said the Palmera apartment tower reflects its long-term view of the Gold Coast as a growing and increasingly diversified economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365768]

Supported by infrastructure including the light rail network, major road upgrades expanded education, hospital and medical facilities and continued expansion at the Gold Coast Airport with more internation and domestic flights.

Positioned in the tightly held Northcliffe precinct, the 52-level tower will deliver 347 apartments, targeting buyers seeking a high-end coastal lifestyle, from downsizers to interstate investors.

Designed by Marchese Partners with interiors by DBI, Palmera has been conceived as a next-generation residential offering, featuring a collection of oversized apartments, with premium three-bedroom residences offering sweeping northern views stretching from Surfers Paradise through to Burleigh Heads.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108274]

NAB funds $1 billion Surfers Paradise apartment development, Palmera

Two years after completing one of the newest developments in North Sydney, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a> is turning its attention to the rapidly evolving St Leonards apartment market.

The developer, which completed AURA by Aqualand on North Sydney's Walker Street, has lodged plans for a 5,918 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/33-37-herbert-street-st-leonards-nsw-2065">33-37 Herbert Street, St Leonards,</a> seeking approval for a pair of residential towers rising above a shared podium opposite Royal North Shore Hospital.

The proposal forms part of the broader transformation underway across the St Leonards-Crows Nest precinct, where former industrial and commercial sites are increasingly being redeveloped into high-density mixed-use projects tied to major transport infrastructure.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2cc428cf-fe70-4cac-9cd5-264ad53af62c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=otKSnHtbjAvAddOnovyXQMgcAwE6DMe1" />

According to the planning documents, the site sits “within the St Leonards–Crows Nest Strategic Centre, identified by the NSW Government as a key area for accommodating future jobs and housing across Sydney.”

The proposal has been designed by fjcstudio, formerly FJMT Studio, and is being progressed through the State Significant Development pathway due to its scale and affordable housing provision.

The scheme would comprise 413 apartments, including 46 affordable housing units, alongside retail and commercial uses fronting Herbert Street. The project would also include communal open space, landscaping, a swimming pool, gymnasium, children’s play areas and podium-level resident amenities.

Planning documents show the development would consist of a part-13, part-39 storey tower form positioned above a four-storey podium.

“The development comprises a unified podium that activates the street interface, and two setback towers to accommodate new housing supply while maintaining an appropriate human scale at ground level,” fjcstudio noted in its Design Report.

The northern and southern towers have been shaped to respond to the surrounding skyline while also limiting overshadowing impacts to nearby public open space, particularly Talus Reserve.

The design report said the differing tower heights were intended to “contribute to a varied skyline while responding to the surrounding built form context and solar access considerations.”

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36da62dc-ff9e-41f2-a7e3-7be38373751c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.45%E2%80%AFAM_0.png?VersionId=Mo6Rp2r.XRLTzIfg_PEEpw8NepDH8UBs" />

The site sits directly opposite Royal North Shore Hospital and within walking distance of both St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

While the site itself sits just outside the formal Crows Nest Transport Oriented Development boundary, the planning documents repeatedly reference its alignment with the broader TOD objectives reshaping the Lower North Shore.

“The site is located adjacent to St Leonards Station and in close proximity to Crows Nest Metro which is within the Crows Nest Transit Orientated Development Accelerated Precinct which has been identified by the NSW Government to support housing delivery,” the Design Verification Statement noted.

According to fjcstudio, the project has been designed to respond to the broader transition occurring across St Leonards, where increasing residential density is being concentrated around transport infrastructure and employment hubs.

“The broader precinct is undergoing significant change, with a mix of existing mid-rise buildings and newer high-density developments,” the report stated.

“Recent and approved projects indicate a consistent shift toward taller built form, typically organised as tower-and-podium typologies with more active ground levels.”

The proposal includes close to 6,000 sqm of retail and commercial space across the ground floor and podium levels, designed to create a more activated street edge along Herbert Street.

Aqualand’s plans would also introduce a landscaped podium shared between the two towers, with communal open space in the form of a podium rooftop designed to support resident interaction and improve urban greening outcomes. The scheme would also introduce pocket parks at the northern and southern ends of the site, including a landscaped area at the corner of Herbert and Ella streets designed to improve pedestrian amenity and soften the streetscape.

&nbsp;

The proposal is being progressed through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway, which was introduced to accelerate housing supply across the state. The application was declared State Significant Development in April 2025 following an expression of interest process.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="faf6d97d-2671-454f-b85a-fe1c6a7be608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=diVd28OBVr5.YV.7prrOz.uAanwwwm7a" />

St Leonards has been particularly active with new developments in recent weeks. Developer SP Setia’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-sp-setia-targets-st-leonards-skyline-with-40-storey-tod-tower">plans for a new 42-storey tower</a> recently went on exhibition through the same pathway, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">Stockland’s 52-storey tower proposal</a> was also recently unveiled.

Aside from the St Leonards project, which is expected to take around nine months to move through the approvals process ahead of a potential 2027 launch, Aqualand is also preparing to launch Boronia, a new apartment project in Roseville comprising around 111 apartments on Larkin Street.

The developer also has approvals in place for the next stage of the Barangaroo precinct, which will feature new residential, retail, hospitality and community uses, alongside a new metro entry across the five-hectare site.

More than 50 new retail destinations are planned for Central Barangaroo, alongside a 270-metre-long boulevard connecting Hickson Park to Nawi Cove. Together with Harbour Park, more than 50 per cent of the precinct will comprise public open space and parkland.

First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-5" data-turn="user" data-turn-id="e65dbe94-e3b6-47f7-b62a-9cbb30c9bf79" data-turn-id-container="e65dbe94-e3b6-47f7-b62a-9cbb30c9bf79" dir="auto">Time &amp; Place’s plans to transform the former David Jones factory building in Surry Hills into a mixed-use residential precinct have gone on exhibition through the NSW Government’s In-fill Affordable Housing pathway.</section>

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-6" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:f4d533b7-64a5-413d-86fd-5c99649c2b73-2" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:f4d533b7-64a5-413d-86fd-5c99649c2b73-2" dir="auto">
The Marlborough House proposal, lodged for the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marlborough-house-47-97-marlborough-street-surry-hills-nsw-2010">47-97 Marlborough Street</a> site, would see the adaptive reuse of the heritage-listed warehouse building alongside the construction of new residential additions and a separate apartment building on the northern portion of the site.

The proposal seeks approval for 172 apartments across three buildings, including 15 per cent affordable housing managed by a community housing provider for at least 15 years from occupation.

<img alt="Marlborough" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5d1d3c2a-bf13-47d6-a335-7c01102cdee1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.29.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=cjMYrbR.BLUlWH4dar0RVDDo0bG.u2YT" />

Interior view from the Northern Building Penthouse overlooking the park

&nbsp;

The redevelopment is planned for the prominent 3,413 sqm site bounded by Marlborough Street, Goodlet Street and Lansdowne Street, directly opposite Eddie Ward Park and around 200 metres from the Surry Hills light rail stop.

Time &amp; Place acquired the former David Jones building in 2024, marking the first time the property had changed hands in around 50 years.

Designed by Wardle, the proposal centres around the adaptive reuse of the former David Jones factory, originally constructed between 1913 and 1935 in the Inter-War Chicagoesque architectural style.

Wardle noted in its Architectural Design Report that the building “occupies a significant place in the industrial and cultural history of Surry Hills” and at its peak was “the largest department store manufacturing facility in Australia, employing over 800 people and fuelling the growth of Sydney’s fashion and retail industries.”

The practice said the project positions itself “not as an isolated intervention, but as a contributor to the civic, social, and architectural grain of the precinct.”

The proposal would deliver 75 apartments within the retained southern heritage building, 59 apartments within the central addition, and a further 38 apartments within the new northern building fronting Lansdowne Street.

Planning documents show the scheme would comprise a mix of heritage apartments, new-build apartments, townhouses and penthouses.

<img alt="Marlborough" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="57758518-40a3-4b83-958c-d06e96a2cffa" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.29.42%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=VerlX9ST5xgBi8.1_YRsqdWTJeT6ygjs" />Interior View of the Heritage Building Apartment

The development would also include a ground-floor retail tenancy on the corner of Marlborough and Lansdowne streets, rooftop communal open space, a landscaped pedestrian link along the western edge of the site, and basement parking accessed from Lansdowne Street via a car stacker system.

&nbsp;

The scheme emerged from a competitive design process run by Urbis, with Wardle ultimately selected as the winning architect ahead of FJC Studio, TZG, Architectus and Wilkinson Eyre.

The Design Integrity Panel later described several aspects of the Wardle scheme as fundamental to the project, including “the stepped character of the new addition to the north of the site”, the landscaped western pedestrian link, and the “garden arrival” experience separating the original Marlborough House from the heritage addition.

Wardle’s design heavily references the site’s industrial and heritage history, while also responding to the surrounding Surry Hills streetscape.

The Architectural Design Report describes Surry Hills as “a finely grained neighbourhood with beautiful and expressive brickworks throughout the suburb,” with the proposal introducing a material palette intended to sit comfortably alongside the existing warehouse fabric and neighbouring terraces.

The report also outlines the project’s relationship with Eddie Ward Park and the broader landscape context of the area.

“Marlborough House occupies a site of deep cultural memory and the neighbouring Eddie Ward Park is of local ecological significance, where natural systems, topography, and stories have long shaped human experience,” Wardle noted in the report.

The architects said the proposal sought to “rebind built form to Country” through landscape, materiality and the adaptive reuse of the heritage structure.

<img alt="Marlborough House" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9ae3f2f9-c85f-477a-a6f8-b43f6cb97c41" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.29.53%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=B.qUCLqRvJOR.n9CvYcTpaknIX9LuqKZ" />

The project is also being progressed under the NSW Government’s in-fill affordable housing provisions, allowing developments that include affordable housing to access additional height and floor space incentives.

Under the plans, 2,593 sqm of the project’s floor space would be dedicated to affordable housing, slightly exceeding the required 15 per cent threshold.

In its Design Excellence Strategy, Urbis said the project aimed to “sensitively adapt and enhance the heritage-listed building on site through alterations and additions that preserve its historical significance” while delivering “high-quality market and infill affordable housing development in Surry Hills.”

Time &amp; Place has been one of the most active developers nationally in the last 12 to 24 months. Late last year they completed&nbsp;The Queensbridge in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/southbank-vic-3006">Southbank</a>, a mixed-use tower with 353 apartments and a hotel. They are currently selling Park Modern, 246 apartments near the famous Botanic Gardens in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/south-melbourne-vic-3205">South Melbourne</a>, and have future projects, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-wilmot-173-burke-road-28-hope-street-glen-iris-vic-3146">The Wilmot</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/glen-iris-vic-3146">Glen Iris</a>, the redevelopment of the Northcote Plaza, and another tower in South Melbourne.

The developer broke into Sydney just a few years ago with Two Tides in Manly. They have another project nearby, which is at the ultra-luxury end of the market on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/shoreline-manly-beach-89-90-north-steyne-manly">North Steyne</a>, fronting the beach.

It is also continuing to work through the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-time-place-settles-on-design-for-the-chimes-potts-point-redevelopment">redevelopment of The Chimes building</a> on Macleay Street in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/potts-point-nsw-2011">Potts Point</a>, as well as a project on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/time-place-to-take-on-mosman-apartment-market">Mosman's Redan Street</a>.
</section>

First look: Time & Place unveils Marlborough House redevelopment designs for former David Jones warehouse in Surry Hills

The residential transformation of St Kilda Road is set to continue into with more new apartment plans for the sought-after boulevard.

Wing Tai Asia has lodged plans for a major residential tower at 464-466 St Kilda Road, replacing the former VACC House with an 18-storey mixed-use development designed around a retained heritage podium and a sculpted contemporary tower.

The proposal, prepared under Victoria’s Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway, would deliver 325 apartments and ground-floor retail across the prominent 4,653 sqm boulevard site in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road North Precinct.

The project centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed VACC Building, an eight-storey office designed by Bernard Evans that has occupied the address for decades. Planning documents state the development would involve “carefully dismantling and conserving off-site the original metal fabric of the podium visible from St Kilda Road,” before reinstating it as the defining frontage of the new scheme.

Above the restored podium, Wing Tai is proposing a curvilinear residential tower. The scheme includes 172 one-bedroom apartments, 63 two-bedroom apartments, 66 three-bedroom apartments, and 24 four-bedroom apartments, alongside two ground-floor food and beverage tenancies fronting St Kilda Road.

The tower has been designed with substantial articulation and variable setbacks to minimise perceived bulk and maintain view corridors along the boulevard. Urbis, which prepared the planning report, said the design “has been significantly articulated through a curvilinear design” with “an interplay with materials, façade expression and depth” to create visual separation and visual interest.

The proposal also includes 254 basement car spaces, landscaped pedestrian links connecting St Kilda Road and Queens Lane, and a biophilic landscape strategy featuring canopy trees, raised planters, cascading greenery and a glass oculus pool overlooking the eastern frontage.

Planning documents confirm the $270.1 million development will contribute 3 per cent of project costs to the Social Housing Growth Fund as part of the application process.

Wing Tai acquired the St Kilda Road property in 2018 alongside Abacus Property Group for $95.38 million, before later consolidating ownership of the site. The property previously served as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce headquarters for around 60 years.

The transformation of the St Kilda Rd boulevard is already beginning to materialise, with a number of high-profile projects recently completed, launched, or approaching launch as developers continue to back the long-term appeal of the precinct.

Among the most notable recent completions is Louise by Samuel Property Group, just off the strip on Queens Lane, the same pocket Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched The Queensbury. Mirvac is too on the same street with The Albertine, which is approaching completion.

Dexus recently secured approval for its slice of St Kilda Road, while Gurner also has approved plans for the precinct.

Jennifer Duke

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