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Karratha, in Western Australia's Pilbara region, was pinpointed as Australia's most affordable town, according to the 11th Demographia survey.
The controversial research body noted Karratha's median property price was a supposed $440,000, on low sale volumes, which was 2.6 times higher than its median annual household income of $171,600.
In 2013, it was rated as "severely unaffordable" in Demographia with a median price of $775,000, 4.9 times the then median salary of $156,700.
The household income figure is elevated by the town's mining economy, with iron ore mining a major source of employment in the region.
However, as reported in the <a href="https://www.afr.com/p/national/pilbara_mining_towns_need_jobs_and_SdKCscxN2BhhVzRdVspHAK%20" target="_blank">Australian Financial Review</a>, employment opportunities in the area are declining as the mining industry moves from the construction phase to the operational phase.
According to a Deloitte report for the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia, the Pilbara's labour force is expected to decline by 14,300 workers by 2020, as 17,900 construction jobs are shed and 3,600 operational workers are introduced.
The shift has repercussions in the area's property market, despite investment by local and state governments that has delivered infrastructure and improved amenity in the Pilbara, including Karratha.
Demographia's latest <a href="/expert-insights/investing/the-full-affordability-list-from-adelaide-to-wollongong-demographia-2015">International Housing Affordability Survey</a> ranked Karratha the most affordable in a list of 51 towns, using statistics from the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia among other sources, based on median property price as a multiple of median household income.
Property Observer  has previously noted price declines over the past two year, with more obvious price declines evident in 2014.
Karratha's property declines are demonstrated by <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-millars+well-118213123" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">this Millars Well property</a>, which CoreLogic RP Data reports as having sold for $380,000 in December 2014, after being listed with a price guide of $415,000 (pictured below).
<img src="/images/2015/01/22/k1.jpg" alt="">
The vendors purchased the three bedroom house for $465,000 in 2006. In 2012, while held by the vendor, it was listed to rent for $1,000 per week, representing a yield of 11.2%.
Given Karratha's large transient workforce, its rental market has been characterised by relatively high rents.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-bulgarra-115025831" target="_blank">506 Hunt Way in Bulgarra</a> sold for $585,000 in December, after just a year of ownership (pictured below). When it was purchased in late 2013, it was priced at $589,000.
<img src="/images/2015/01/22/k2.jpg" alt="">
The vendors who sold the home for $589,000 in 2013 purchased it for just $44,000 in 1996.
In 2012, it was advertised to rent at $1,400 per week – if successfully rented, it would have earned its owners 1.65 times their purchase price annually.
While the gains for investors may have been ludicrous in the past, as the workforce declines, so too does their income stream.
In 2013, Property Observer wrote that the region's rental market was starting to "<a href="/expert-insights/investing/pilbara-rental-market-starts-to-lose-some-of-its-sparkle">lose some of its sparkle</a>". By July 2014, columnist Terry Ryder was calling <a href="/expert-insights/port-hedland-and-karratha-the-best-places-to-buy-dont-get-roped-into-that-one">Karratha a market "in decline"</a>, but remaining "outrageously overpriced".
The price declines are evident at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-pegs+creek-116093911" target="_blank">7 Wilson Court in Pegs Creek, pictured below</a>.
<img src="/images/2015/01/22/k3.jpg" alt="">
The home sold for $685,000 in April 2014. It has changed hands regularly in the last 10 years, first selling for $320,000 in 2004 before making a 173% price increase over three years to sell in December 2007 for $875,000.
It resold again in 2009 for $710,000, dropping 18.9% in a year and a half. It was then held for three years before its $685,000 April 2014 sale.
The home was advertised to rent for $1,000 per week in April 2014, representing a rental yield of 7.5%.
The town's rental market has been in a downturn in recent years, as have many mining towns in the region.
SQM Research shows the <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/graph_vacancy.php?sfx=&amp;region=wa%3A%3ANorthern+WA&amp;t=1" target="_blank">vacancy rate</a> in Northern Western Australia tracking upwards in the past two years.
<img src="/images/2015/01/22/Picture%207.png" alt="">
<img src="/images/2015/01/22/Picture%208.png" alt="">
The exit of renting mine workers has also seen <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_rent_weeks.php?sfx=&amp;region=wa%3A%3ANorthern+WA&amp;t=1" target="_blank">rents drop in the region</a>.
Asking rents in Northern Western Australia:
<img src="/images/2015/01/22/Picture%2011.png" alt="">
<img src="/images/2015/01/22/Picture%2013.png" alt="">
As the mining economy transitions into its operational phase over the next few years, Karratha's "affordability" looks likely to continue. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-nickol-114049187" target="_blank">19 Matebore Street, in Karratha's Nickol</a>, is currently on the market for $610,000. Its asking price has been discounted by 22% since it was first listed 594 days ago, for $775,000.
<img src="/images/2015/01/22/k4.jpg" alt="">
Asking rents for the house have been similarly discounted over the past few years. In 2012, it was being advertised to rent at $1,700 per week. In 2014, that decreased to $1,100 per week. Last week, it was advertised again at $750 per week.
The owners paid $790,000 for the home in 2009. If it sells at its current asking price, they will be facing a $180,000 loss, plus stamp duty costs.
{mijopolls 82} 
Feature image of Karratha courtesy of Nachoman/<a class="mw-mmv-license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/" target="_blank" style="font-size: 12.1599998474121px; line-height: 1.3em;">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Karratha: One of Australia's most "affordable" towns, as prices decline

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The three teams of returning contestants won't be the only "triple threat" joining the next series of The Block.
For The Block Triple Threat, regular judges Neale Whitaker, Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer will be joined by buyer's agents Frank Valentic from Advantage Property, Nicole Jacobs from Jacobs Buying Group and Greville Pabst from WBP Property Group.
Both Valentic and Jacobs have bid on the behalf of buyers in previous season of the show, while Pabst regularly appears on A Current Affair ahead of the auctions to evaluate the properties.
Executive Producer Julian Cress told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/channel-9-makes-shock-changes-to-the-block-triple-threat-after-auction-disaster-on-last-years-series/story-fn8yvfst-1227188716170" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>: "Everyone has an opinion on the rooms and the apartments on The Block but no one's opinion matters more for the contestants than the actual buyers on auction day."
"We thought giving them some feedback from people who might be ultimately bidding on their apartment would be a valuable addition to the program."
The decision to bring on buyer's agents as judges has been widely interpreted as a response to <a href="https://propertyobserver.com.au/finding/residential-investment/sales-and-auctions/36684-b-grade-high-street-prahran-location" target="_blank">last season's finale</a>, where two of the couples earned $10,000 and another pocketed $40,000, after three months of work.
But smart contestants for several series have been utilising the views of local agents from the preliminary planning to ensure their apartment matches local buyer demographics.
{mijopolls 80}
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Leading Melbourne buyer's agents join The Block Triple Threat

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A rate cut next month might not, well, cut it.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/EconoGarry/status/557985374157291520" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/01/22/tweet-jan-22-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
Economics writer Garry Shilson-Josling thinks the Reserve Bank of Australia should have dropped the overnight cash rate below its record low of 2.5% early last year.
Several economists anticipate that the Reserve Bank will drop interest rates at its February meeting, including <a href="/expert-insights/finance/westpacs-bill-evans-still-expects-february-and-march-rba-rate-cuts">Westpac's chief economist Bill Evans</a>.
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Tweet of the day: Too little, too late from the RBA

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A rather patriotic-looking beach box at Mornington has been listed, in time for Australia Day.
The 2 metre by 2 metre beachbox with a flag façade is on the market with a price guide of $100,000.
Its distinctive paint job might appeal to those who enjoy the beach on 26 January.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.conleyluff.com.au/property-details/3004748" target="_blank">Bathing Box 34 at Shire Hall Beach </a>on the Mornington Peninsula is listed through Geoff Luff of Conleyluff Real Estate.
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Flag bearing bathing box listed for Australia Day market

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Up to 120 Gold Coast properties will be auctioned this weekend at Ray White Surfers Paradise Group's mega-auction, The Event.
The 22nd annual auction showcase, the biggest in Australia, will include the Gold Coast Home and Living Expo.
Exhibitors include a range of property and finance businesses, including self-managed super fund advisers, financial planners, and tradespeople.
Properties auctioned on the day will include family houses, investment properties and trophy homes.
A house in Ashmore will be auctioned as part of The Event. The elevated house at <a href="https://www.rwsp.net/qld/ashmore/1240267/" target="_blank">14 Mulyan Place</a> (pictured above) has four bedrooms, with spotted gum floors throughout, and a saltwater pool.
<a href="https://www.rwsp.net/qld/merrimac/1243433/" target="_blank">28 Lakelands Drive</a> (pictured below) is another of the 120 properties up for sale at The Event on Sunday. It has four bedrooms, and the listing states that it would comfortably rent for $800 per week.
 <img src="/images/2015/01/22/raywhite2.jpg" alt="">
Of course, a price guide cannot legally be provided for any of the properties up for auction at The Event, given Queensland's 2014 ban of auction price guides.
The Event 2015 and the Gold Coast Home and Living Expo open at 10am on Sunday 25 January. <a href="https://www.rwsp.net/buy/auctions/" target="_blank">Ray White Surfers Paradise Group</a> chief executive and chief auctioneer Andrew Bell will also present a property report before auctions begin.
Would you sell your property at a mega-auction?
{mijopolls 79}
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Ray White mega-auction event returns to the Gold Coast

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A Sydney vendor has taken the unusual step of advertising a $1 reserve price ahead of the auction of his Blacktown investment property.
Neil Tyagi claims the $1 reserve is intended to inject some fun back into auctions.
"Buying a property should be fun. I wanted to do something different, and I've never heard of a property setting a $1 reserve. Sydney home buyers attend so many boring textbook auctions. I want the auction of my home to have a lively, exciting atmosphere that everyone will enjoy and remember – not just the lucky buyers on the day," he says.
While many wish to have a lively auction, few resort to such an unusual marketing tactic.
Starr Partners Fairfield will be auctioning the property.
Director Raj Bhandari has faith in the stunt, saying: "With a reserve of just $1, bidding on the day is likely to start out low and pick up quickly."
"We are confident with our marketing and sales strategies and know that there will be plenty of competition on the day to help the vendor achieve an optimum result," he said.
Tyagi purchased the two bedroom <a href="/news">Blacktown</a> home 10 years ago, for $310,000. The area now has a median house price of $580,000, according to RP Data.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/230-blacktown-road-blacktown/Property-Details-buy-residential-8224634" target="_blank">230 Blacktown Road</a> has four bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a double garage, and is set on a 571 square metre block.
The property is currently rented at $440 per week.
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$1 reserve set for Sydney Valentine's Day investment property auction

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NAME: Dean Landy<img src="/images/2015/01/21/dean-landy-jan-21-profile.jpg" alt="" style="float: right;">
POSITION: Partner in Melbourne architecture firm <a href="https://www.chc.com.au" target="_blank">ClarkeHopkinsClarke </a>(CHC) and founder and director of the <a href="https://www.oneheartchallenge.org" target="_blank">One Heart Foundation</a>, a not for profit organisation working to alleviate poverty in Africa.
COMPANY: Melbourne firm CHC has more than 50 plus years’ experience in creating vibrant communities across the design of entire urban communities as well as education, multi-residential, mixed-use, commercial, health and aged care projects.
OFFICE LOCATION: 115 Sackville Street, Collingwood.
One Heart Challenge operates out of an office in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
<ul>
<li>How long have you been in the industry?</li>
</ul>
I have been a registered architect for 13 years. I’m predominantly involved in the planning and design of retail and mixed use projects, multi-residential, commercial and community infrastructure projects.
My work stitches good architectural outcomes such as a strong design aesthetic, good buildabilty, integrated environmentally sustainable design principles and human-centred design solutions together with a strategic approach that creates a strong local social and economic environment as well as excellent developer returns. In other words, I aim to create vibrant communities.
I began work at CHC in 1998, when it was a practice of only 12 people. Today there are 65 people and the practice has been established for nearly 55 years.
In 2009 I received the ARBV Award for Architectural Services, a client nominated Award based on excellence in the design process. As a result, in 2011 I became an examiner for the ARBV Registration Board, assessing prospective architect’s registration applications for practice in Victoria.
<ul>
<li>What’s happening in the area you specialise in?</li>
</ul>
'<a href="https://%20www.creatingvibrantcommunities.com" target="_blank">Creating vibrant communities</a>' is how we describe CHC’s overarching approach to urban design. It’s a guiding philosophy that motivates us to carefully consider how the process of creating new places and communities should work to ensure new greenfield, brownfield and urban consolidation projects become more financially, environmentally and socially sustainable places to live.
CHC is currently undertaking research to rethink the way new places evolve. We are designing new processes that can be replicated to ensure a more creative and holistic view is taken when designing new places. From the initial idea, or the visualisation stage, through to the realisation of built infrastructure and beyond to activation by new residents and business and retail tenants. We call this the ‘place evolution process’.
This idea has gone beyond just research. We are currently developing a strong resource base and are looking to broaden the discussion in the design community to help contribute to our overall understanding for different stakeholders needs.
<ul>
<li>Describe the most interesting commercial property you have worked on?</li>
</ul>
St Germain is a new greenfield community by visionary developer Gordon Gill. It is being developed within the City of Casey, a fast developing growth area of the south eastern urban corridor of Melbourne. The development has recently been approved by the former Planning Minister Matthew Guy, and is also a demonstration project for the Metropolitan Planning Authority. We are well into the overall planning but it is still in the visualisation phase.
St Germain has been masterplanned with a strong focus on providing a vibrant and sustainable mixed use community – including a strong commercial aspect. The project features a unique planning initiative that is driven by the early delivery of key infrastructure projects around a village square such as a large medical centre and shopping centre to start contributing to the overall target of 3,500 jobs, and enabling more people to live and work in the same community. Community facilities, retirement living and diverse housing options will soon follow once construction starts in 2015.
The new village square and park will create a distinct sense of place, quality urban infrastructure and amenities, and start to build on the desired sense of community.
<ul>
<li>What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?</li>
</ul>
The key ingredient is to form strong relationships with the broad range stakeholders we work with on our projects. This can often go beyond an architect’s traditional role.
By connecting with stakeholders who are most knowledgeable regarding the planning opportunities during visualisation as well as with potential residents and business groups who will be affected during activation, we can much better understand the potential of a site and can act as a type of community advocate earlier on.
By behaving as a catalyst and facilitator of relationships between commercial, government and community stakeholders, greater value can be created for all parties throughout these stages, with the end result being a better place for people to live.
<ul>
<li>What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?</li>
</ul>
Combining my expertise as an urban planner and architect, with the community infrastructure projects we run at One Heart, means I can enjoy making a positive difference in the world in the profession I love to work in.
<ul>
<li>Where would you invest a spare $750,000?</li>
</ul>
I would encourage any individual or company to invest in their people by supporting them to take part in the life changing leadership event that Run From Poverty will provide.
Since founding a charity to help abandoned and orphaned children I strongly advocate for wealthy western professionals to support those in poverty – so I would “invest” in making a future for some of the 22,000 children who die each day due to poverty. That's over 8 million children needlessly dying each year.
For me, rather than be overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem, I am inspired by the fact that I can help change the world for hundreds of children through the work that One Heart Foundation is doing in Kenya. And I believe this is just the beginning.
As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, CHC are sponsoring two staff members to take part in <a href="https://www.oneheartchallenge.org/run-from-poverty/" target="_blank">Run from Poverty</a>, as we know it will be an invaluable leadership development experience for them.
As a practice with a strong focus on the design of education facilities in Australia, it was an obvious connection for us to fundraise to construct more classrooms in Kenya through One Heart Foundation, as we know that education is the key to breaking the poverty cycle.
I would encourage other companies to consider supporting One Heart Foundation and Run from Poverty in the same way.
<ul>
<li>Which football team do you support?</li>
</ul>
St Kilda.
<ul>
<li>What’s your favourite app or techno gadget?</li>
</ul>
Evernote on my tablet.
<ul>
<li>How do you use social media?</li>
</ul>
I have to admit to being a bit of a social media novice!
At this stage the use of social media has been very useful for updating sponsors on the work of One Heart in Kenya and to connect with potential sponsors for Run from Poverty. However, I’m keen to learn how I can use it more to connect with others involved in urban development and to share and exchange ideas. 
CHC is a supporter of Dean’s charity, which is holding its inaugural fundraising event, <a href="https://www.oneheartchallenge.org/run-from-poverty/" target="_blank">Run from Poverty</a>, in Kenya between 19 and 28 July, 2015.
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In profile: ClarkeHopkinsClarke's partner, Dean Landy

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It may have seemed as though property prices were riding a rollercoaster in the past 15 years, but the ride appears to be slowing down.
CoreLogic RP Data's Cameron Kusher tweeted out a series of charts today illustrating the last 15 years' price growth, broken into five year periods.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/cmkusher/status/557661250940059649" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/01/21/tweet-jan-21-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
The charts show slower growth in the past five years than the five previous in all capital cities but Sydney.
They also illustrate the volatility of some markets, such as Darwin, which recorded 101.3% price growth in the five years to December 2009, with just 4.5% price growth in the past five years.
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Tweet of the day: Cameron Kusher on slowing capital city growth

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Another Mornington Peninsula boatshed has been released to the market.
A recently rebuilt beach box located on Mount Martha South Beach is being marketed by Warlimont &amp; Nutt real estate.
The colourful <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://wnre.com.au/buy/view/1074" target="_blank">pink and green beach box</a> is listed with a price guide of $147,500.
<img src="/images/2015/01/21/2.jpg" alt="">
This season has seen a number of Mornington Peninsula boatsheds and beach boxes listed, including <a href="/news/vic/portsea-boatshed-listed-with-500-000-plus-hopes">one Portsea offering priced at $500,000</a>.
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Mount Martha beach boatshed listed

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There is a "clear risk" of house prices falling in Australia, according to an international asset management company.
In a recent report on Australia's economy, senior economist for Alliance Bernstein, Guy Bruten, noted a "looming housing correction" amid post-commodity-boom conditions.
"Yes, people are still talking about the upswing phase, but we suspect that will change in the coming months," Bruten wrote.
"There's an obvious impact on the Western Australian housing sector. Perth has already been underperforming, relative to Sydney at least, after outperforming dramatically through the commodity-boom phase.
"More of that is likely to come."
<img src="/images/2015/01/21/Picture%202.png" alt="">
Source: Alliance Bernstein
In the report, titled Australia: Still Fundamentally Bearish, Bruten also noted Sydney's 30% price growth over the past two years, referring to the "boom (bubble?) in Sydney's prices".
"Much of that reflect investor activity – in aggregate, lending growth to investors is running at 10% year on year."
"But with signs of oversupply starting to emerge in pockets of the market, and with APRA (the prudential regulator) starting to offer 'guidance' – a weak form of macroprudential policy – one wonders how long this can continue.
"There's a clear risk that falling house prices may be the next phase in the post-commodity-boom adjustment story."
<img src="/images/2015/01/21/Picture%203.png" alt="">
Source: Alliance Bernstein
Despite positive employment figures released last week, Alliance Bernstein is still forecasting an interest rate. Bruten, like many local economists, raised the issue of "noise" in the Australian Bureau of Statistic's labour force figures, writing: "When we dig down into the detail, it's hard to discern a shift in trend."
Of Australia's unemployment rates by region, he noted "not much change", writing that: "mining is still deteriorating; manufacturing is struggling, too; and the more diversified parts of the country are doing better."
He attributed New South Wales' relatively strong economic performance, in part, to its housing market.
Alliance Bernstein is an asset management firm with US$474 billion (A$580 billion) in assets under management. It is listed on the New York stock exchange.
{mijopolls 77}
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Bearish housing correction looms while Sydney faces bubble question: Alliance Bernstein

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Joel Robinson

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

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Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

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Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

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ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

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For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

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Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

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From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

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Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

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Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

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Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

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The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

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The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

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The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

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Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

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Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

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Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

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Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

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The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

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Jessie Richardson

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