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Principal and owner of Century 21 Commercial Hervey Bay, Linda Bland, has now joined the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) board.
Chief executive of the REIQ, Antonia Mercorella, said that Bland was a successful professional and business owner with extensive experience. Bland’s current agency, which she bought in 2006, specialises in sales, leasing and property management in the commercial and industrial sectors.
The office was awarded the REIQ Commercial Agency of the Year 2014 and she has been the REIQ Zone Chair for the Fraser Coast.
“Linda has extensive experience in commercial real estate and being a resident of Hervey Bay for over 25 years, she has strong local knowledge and a network of contacts,” said Mercorella.
“She brings a strong set of skills to the role and is part of our plan to reinvigorate member services while ensuring the REIQ remains Queensland’s number one real estate organisation,” she said.
“It’s very pleasing to see another successful woman coming through the ranks into a senior leadership position at the REIQ.”
She said Bland also increases the representation of regional Queensland, which currently includes Cairns’ Deborah Duffy.
Bland said she was looking forward to create better services and increase the exclusive benefits for REIQ members.
“Queensland real estate has entered an exciting new era, with the Property Occupations Act coming into force in late 2014,” she said.
“The new legislative regime gives real estate professionals even more ability to earn greater rewards for outstanding services and innovation.”
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Fraser Coast’s Linda Bland joins REIQ board

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Landlords, do you think that dog owners are better tenants?
RE/MAX WA managing director Geoff Baldwin believes that opting for tenants with dogs and pets may actually be a better option.
“The general feeling is that a dog may in some way damage the property however as an experienced manager of large rent rolls I have found this to be far from the truth and in many ways quite the opposite applies,” said Baldwin.
“Considering, or even welcoming applications from dog owners has two major advantages for the landlord in that these tenants will usually pay a premium rent and they are much less likely to move because it’s harder for them to find another pet friendly property owner,” he said.
He says that while it “may sound brutal” often more damage can be done by young children than by a dog, yet no one considers banning families with children from applying.
“Of course it is important to take into account the size of the dog, whether or not it is a breed that sheds fur, its age, whether it’s an inside or outside dog and any other information that can be gleaned before making a final decision,” he said.
He also suggests seeking feedback from previous landlords. In Western Australia, the property owner does have the ability to legally ask for an additional ‘pet bond’ – a luxury not necessarily available in the other states and territories.
“In a more competitive rental market as is predicted for 2015, owners should be looking at ways to make their property more attractive and actually inviting tenants with dogs to apply is a huge point of difference,” he said. 
{mijopolls 72}
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Poll: Are dog owners better tenants?

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The latest ABS housing approval statistics indicated a record high, but the results have been varied from state to state.
New South Wales approvals actually dropped over the November period, explains Urban Taskforce chief executive Chris Johnson.
“The big drop is in apartment approvals which only reached 1,968 approvals in November 2014 compared to 2,668 approvals in November 2013,” he said. The month recorded a 1.4% drop for New South Wales, largely due to a 3.0% drop in approvals for detached houses. Multi-unit approvals were actually up by 0.1%.
“Victoria is leading the country with 5,009 home approvals in November compared to 3,958 for NSW which is a significantly larger state,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Housing Industry Association NSW’s executive director David Bare said that despite the modest decline, the overall activity remains healthy and does point to a strong industry.
“Late in 2014 we saw fewer approvals of multi-unit dwellings compared with the record highs achieved in 2013. However there is a strong pipeline and monthly figures can be quite volatile,” said Bare.
“It is also pleasing to see the recovery in detached housing that took place throughout 2012 and 2013 has been maintained right throughout 2014,” he said.
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How did New South Wales building approvals fare?

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The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics residential building approval figures present a positive outlook, with Master Builders translating them into a strong forecast for the rest of 2015.
Master Builders Australia’s chief economist Peter Jones pointed to the strong increase in the statistics, which actually brings November 2014 to a record high.
“The 7.5% seasonally adjusted increase in total building approvals for November 2014 reflects confidence in the market with the strength of the result slightly above industry expectations reflecting positive momentum,” said Jones.
“The November result was built on strong approvals growth in higher density dwellings in the major cities. The 17.2% seasonally adjusted rise for other dwellings (units and apartments) confirms the changing face of dwelling demand as higher density living becomes increasingly accepted,” he said.
He said that the results point to a sustained pipeline of work over the next 18 months. Effectively, this translates into an increased number of jobs in the residential home building sector. Private sector apartments rose 16.7% and private sector houses dipped 0.3%.
Meanwhile, chief economist for CommSec, Craig James, noted that the year has started with “plenty of promise”, particularly with the Aussie dollar falling, a drop in the petrol prices and a record number of council approvals to build new homes.
“Clearly there is no need for official interest rates to be cut. But with inflation low and numerous uncertainties across the global economy, there is also no need for higher interest rates,” his analysis of the data explained.
“The strength of new building will boost housing supply over 2015 and, in turn, lead to softer growth of home prices. The more balanced housing conditions will remove another problem for Reserve Bank policymakers,” he said.
They expect no interest rate change this year, which will assist the construction industry.
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Record high building approvals promising a strong 2015

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Crown Group’s 10 storey Viking by Crown development in Waterloo will see six premium commercial suites delivered next month.
The six suites will be designed by architect Kocihi Takada and will range in size from 63 to 95 square metres. They will include porcelain floor tiles, fully-equipped kitchenettes and life access to the first floor suites.
Underground parking is available with access from level one.
They will be part of a collection of commercial and retail suites across Crown’s sites, including a number of ground level retail shops in Parramatta’s V by Crown, and a number of retail suites in North Sydney’s Skye by Crown.
Koichi Takada was also involved in Sydney by Crown, at 161 Clarence Street, which include nine ground floor retail spaces set to be available in 2017.
Crown Group’s project sales and commercial manager, Anthony Falas, explained that Viking by Crown commercial suites would be sought after due to the tightly held local market.
“We are confident the premises will attract quality tenants seeking a modern space in Sydney’s revitalised Waterloo and Green Square areas,” Falas said.
“An influx of new residents at Viking by Crown and the Waterloo area will provide a good client base for tenants,” he said.
The office space is currently available for sale.
Sold out, Viking by Crown features 110 residential apartments and is part of the revitalisation of Green Square.
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Six Koichi Takada-designed commercial suites announced for Viking by Crown

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Jubilee, a masterplanned community in Wyndham Vale, Victoria is set to house a 30-home display village, with construction commencing in late 2015.
With designs from a number of builders including Boutique, Burbank, Metricon, Carlisle Homes, Fairhaven Homes, Granvue Homes, Mimosa, Urban Edge Homes, Simonds, Homebuyers Centre and Dennis Family Homes, there will be many options for prospective home buyers in <a href="https://www.myjubilee.com.au">Jubilee</a>.
The display village, some 35 kilometres west of Melbourne, will bring new lifestyle options for residents, according to Homebuyers Centre sales manager Simon Mongan.
“Five years ago the western growth corridor didn’t have the expanse of infrastructure or amenity you see today, and it’s homebuyers who are reaping the benefits,” said Mongan.
“First, second and third homebuyers are finding a better quality of life in the west thanks to the infrastructure and amenity communities such as Jubilee bring.”
Their offerings range from townhouses to large family homes, with blocks and designs to suit first home buyers, downsizers and those looking for extra land for a pool.
“We’re excited to be part of one of the largest master-planned communities in the west; we can see how much thought has gone into the longevity and usability of this new community and can’t wait to see it start to grow,” he said.
Meanwhile, Simonds regional sales manager Darren Brennan pointed to strong infrastructure, amenity and affordability.
“The west holds massive appeal for first homebuyers and downsizers because you just can’t purchase land of this size for a similar price anywhere in Melbourne’s south east or inner-north,” he said.
Within the community, five separate “village nodes” will be created, with an estimated 20,000 residents to live in Jubilee in total. Currently there are a number of proposed schools, employment precincts, shops and recreational reserves. A 6.62 hectare town centre will also be included.
The first two land releases have already been purchased quickly, explained Lotus Living managing director Peter Bozzo.
“Jubilee will be a community like no other; we will be raising the bar for quality urban design for not just in the City of Wyndham but throughout Victoria,” he said.
Above: At Jubilee's launch. Picture supplied.
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Wyndham Vale’s Jubilee to see 30-home display village

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The proportion of borrowers refinancing has jumped to 37.3% of all new mortgages written in December, according to the AFG Mortgage Index.
The Index shows the proportion of home loan borrowers refinancing over the month was the highest level since that recorded in March 2012.
The last quarter of 2014 saw an increase from 33.5% refinanced in September by 3.8%.
Those opting for fixed rates fell to 14.5%, down from 17.1% in November.
The proportion of introductory loans jumped from 4.9% in November by 0.9% to the December month. These are incentivising products offered by lenders.
AFG’s general manager of sales and operations, Mark Hewitt, said that in March 2012, when we last saw refinancing at these highs, borrowers were looking to fix, with fixed interest loans at a four year high.
“This time round with speculation that interest rates are more likely to go down than up, borrowers are shopping around for the variable rate deal and avoiding fixed for the time being,” he said.
Victoria, South Australia and Queensland saw refinancing most popular at 42.2%, 41.7% and 39.9% respectively. Western Australia and New South Wales achieved 36.7% and 31.8%.
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Refinancing surges in December: AFG

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The government land release program in the Northern Territory has seen a record number of new residential titles issued in Greater Darwin in an effort to assist with subduing rising prices, with the Government saying rising prices are good for investors but not for everyone.
In total last year, 935 titles were issued following 677 titles issues in 2013. Last year’s result is a 38% increase on 2013, which was already up 27% on 2012.
Peter Chandler, Minister for Lands and Planning, said that they are looking to push down the cost of living by assisting with the housing crisis and tracking the land release.
“In just over two years, the Country Liberals have released enough land in the Greater Darwin Area to support also most 6,000 dwellings,” he said.
He said that the increase in titles being issued is “encouraging”.
“This means more homes are being built, more construction work is underway and more jobs are being created,” said Chandler.
He said that the per annum growth rate, that went up to 11% in recent years, is a result of the housing shortage.
“That level of growth, while great for investors, is not sustainable and meant Territorians were hurting,” Chandler said.
“What we’ve seen over the last two years is that growth stabilise to the point where in some market sectors, like CBD apartments, rents are actually decreasing,” he said, pointing to data from Raine &amp; Horne.
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NT Government takes steps against rising house prices

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It’s worth knowing your rights around booking holiday accommodation, warns NSW Fair Trading Minister Matthew Mason-Cox after complaints about hotels and resorts increased by almost 7% in the past year.
He said that the usual complaints received each year range from cancellation issues to the misrepresentation of hotel accommodation.
“Last year was no different, with NSW Fair Trading receiving 437 consumer complaints in the 12 months up to 24 November, 2014. That compares to 409 complaints lodged in the previous corresponding period,” he said.
“It’s important that consumers know they have rights if something goes wrong with their holiday accommodation and that they have options to deal with disputes.’’
Many of the complaints are in regards to mystery destinations, otherwise known as ‘secret deals’, where holiday goers purchase a stay in an unknown hotel based on a few details of description.
One complaint came from a mystery deal sold for a hotel on the Gold Coast that was supposed to come with an ocean view. Instead, it had views of a construction zone.
“There was mould throughout the bathroom, the pool and the spa were dirty, and the tennis court was out of service,” said Mason-Cox.
“After the consumer complained to the regulator, NSW Fair Trading negotiated a partial refund with the trader.”
He said that consumers should know their rights as described by Australian Consumer Law.
“Goods and services must be of an acceptable quality and match the description, sample or demonstration provided,” he said.
“It is equally important that hotel operators do the right thing by consumers and properly display all term and conditions, as well as provide accurate information about the quality and service of the hotel.”
There may be fines of up to $1.1 million for corporations and $220,000 for individuals for hotel and motel operators that breach the Australian Consumer Law.
He recommends contacting NSW Fair Trading with issues requiring resolution.
Here are NSW Fair Trading’s top four tips:
<ul>
<li>Services must be carried out with due care and skill, be fit for the purpose and delivered within a reasonable timeframe. People need to make sure they get what they pay for and check cancellation and refund policies for restrictions or special conditions. 
</li>
<li>Make sure you are paying the amount you were quoted and check all goods and services offered are included in the final price. 
</li>
<li>In serviced accommodation, be wary of add-ons or in-house services like room service, the mini bar and pay-to-view movies. 
</li>
<li>Always review your final account before checking out to ensure you have only been charged for what you have used.</li>
</ul>
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Mystery and ‘secret deal’ accommodation complaints rise: NSW Fair Trading

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Slater and Gordon, the previously recommended legal firm for investors in a matter concerning two outer west Melbourne land banking arrangements, has written to hundreds of investors with warnings about the property schemes.
According to a Fairfax report, the law firm expressed concern last February around the secrecy of the developers behind the projects and included, no doubt disturbing, warnings that the investors may have not only overpaid, but been misled.
It seems that the land banking sites in question are linked to the family of notorious property spruiker Henry Kaye. There have been denials made to Fairfax that he was a beneficiary or unit holder.
Referring investors to Slater and Gordon was the company Market First Property Consulting, who used the law firm in their seminars across Melbourne, Sydney and Perth promoting ‘wholesale options’.
The managing partner of Market First is Henry Kaye’s sister Julian Feldman.
The free seminars include field trips out to their sites in an “on the road” style tour. Their website boasts that investors are able to buy at 10% to 20% less than the retail pricing seen in “premium residential projects”. It says that purchasers can secure the house and land packages and delay settlement for up to two years.
The office for Market First Property Consulting is based in Woolloomooloo, Sydney. The URL records for their website indicate that it is currently registered with Greg Klopper of Global1, who is in the same Woolloomooloo office building. Global1 runs wealth building and motivational seminars across the country.
Law firm Minter Ellison has been hired by Slater and Gordon to represent itself against investors that they previously recommended. They have suggested that investors seek independent legal advice.
Tell us what you know. Email: <a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
This article was updated on 13 January.
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Henry Kaye link revealed to Melbourne land banking schemes

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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

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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.

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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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