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The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has demanded that a real estate agency ground its drones used to take advertising photographs of properties. 
South Australian agency Toop&amp;Toop was using unmanned aerial vehicles, or 'drones', fitted with cameras to take aerial photos or footage of properties. Other real estate agencies, such as <a href="/expert-insights/investing/will-google-glass-change-the-face-of-real-estate-in-australia">Melbourne's Marshall White</a>, do the same.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) notified the company that they were unauthorised to operate the drones on a commercial basis, putting an end to the practice at the company. Despite reports that it is illegal for real estate agents to use drones, the practice is legal as long as the operator has approval.
Managing director Anthony Toop says the company was unaware of any legal issues when they first launched the drones.
“We ordered the first ones from the States,” says Toop.
“Our trials were fantastic – the results were so much better than we could ever have imagined.”
<img src="/images/2014/06/19/Photo_43_Very%20High%20Res%20RGB%20JPG_667605TOOPTOOP_03B767BDF.jpg" alt="">
An image captured by one of Toop&amp;Toop's drones. Source: supplied.
After some initial success with the technology, Toop&amp;Toop started using the drone to advertise more properties, which lead to media attention.
“We did a press release and got a lot of publicity,” says Toop. He says the press attention caught the eye of a former employee who was trying to get an aerial photography qualification.
“That was the first we knew of any issues.
“We got some legal advice, and [the legal team] advised that we talk to CASA. We proactively went to them, and we said, “surely there isn’t a problem, and what’s the deal?”’
CASA told Toop that his company was not authorised to continue flying the drones, and served him with a notice to desist.
“Because we are a very high profile company, we weren’t going to play with that at all,” says Toop. “We just shut it down. But our competitors all started flying.”
According to Toop, his company won’t be reporting any competitors to CASA.
“But it’s incredibly frustrating,” he says.
Peter Gibson, corporate communications manager of CASA, explains that commercial operators must meet certain licensing requirements to use drones.
“If you’re a real estate agent and using a drone to take photographs of clients’ homes, you should either be using an <a href="https://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD::pc=PC_100959" target="_blank">approved remotely piloted aircraft operator</a>, of which there are about 110, or you need to get an operators certificate and approval from CASA," says Gibson.
He acknowledges that this is a lengthy process for those who wish to operate the drones themselves.
“It takes some degree of work to understand the safety standards you need to meet. You need to develop manuals and undergo training, you’ll need to submit materials for approval,” he says.
Gibson says that the process will cost several thousand dollars, but there is an alternative.
“A simple way of doing it would be to simply engage the service of an authorised operator.”
Article continues on next page. Please click below.
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Since grounding their own drones, Toop&amp;Toop have used an authorised drone operator. 
“But because we do everything in house, it’s not a model we’re keen on. We were looking to use it all the time, because it’s such good imagery. We’re waiting for the legislation to catch up,” explains Toop.
He says that the lengthy training process is an unrealistic measure for most agencies.
“We advertised for a commercial pilot, to try to do this part time. Even the commercial pilot said the requirements were ridiculous. So we’re just waiting for the legislation to get more consistent with reality,” says Toop.
<img src="/images/2014/06/19/Photo_142_Super%20High%20Res%20RGB%20JPG_666898TOOPTOOP_599C50B0B.jpg" alt="">
An image captured by Toop&amp;Toop's drone. Source: supplied.
Some may be tempted to dodge the cost of engaging an authorised operator or undergoing the required training. But Gibson warns that those illegally operating drones can face steep costs, including penalties.
“More seriously,” he adds, “there may well be insurance issues as well. If something was to go wrong, they may then have problems with their insurance, given that they have been operating illegally.”
For now, Toop&amp;Toop have come up with an alternative for hard to get shots – ‘Toop Air’. Cameras are suspended on 40 metre high aluminium poles, which can then capture about 80% of the images that drones could, according to Toop.
“But the thing that we’re missing are the video drones, which were incredible.” Toop says that the agency will continue to outsource drone operations, but will have to be more selective with the properties that are advertised with drone imagery.
Picture courtesy of Don McCullough/Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

South Australian real estate agency forced to ground drones: Will others follow?

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After being tasked with fixing a zone in their own home, South Australian couple Bomber and Mel were eliminated from Channel 7’s House Rules.
Each team was given 24 hours to return to their house and fix up a zone previously renovated by another team.
Bomber and Mel, who have been dating for the shortest time of the couples, were sent home after fixing up their home’s kitchen, dining room and their daughter Kaitlin’s bedroom.
The zone was originally renovated by Townsville couple Maddi and Lloyd, who installed a teal splash back, complete with black paint splashes in the kitchen, and painted Kaitlin’s room black. Although Bomber and Mel attempted to instil more of their “junk shop chic” sensibilities in their fix up, they couldn’t do enough, with judges Joe Snell and Wendy Moore awarding them just 10 out of 20.
Adam and Lisa were awarded the second lowest score of the night by the judges with a score of just 12 out of 20. They chose to fix up the laundry, hall and guest room that had been previously renovated by eliminated Tasmanian couple Brooke and Grant. Adam and Lisa were the underdogs at the start of the season, but it seemed that their luck had changed after they were awarded the first ever 10 out of 10 score for their renovation of Lloyd and Maddi’s kitchen.
Unfortunately they reverted back to initial form this week, with the judges declaring that they had chosen the wrong zones to fix.
Western Australian couple Russell and Carol took on the laundry and master bedroom of their home, which was originally renovated by Melbourne couple Candy and Ryan. They managed to uphold their house rule of “vintage lux”, tearing down a plywood bedhead that Candy and Ryan had installed and replacing it with an old Balinese door. The judges decided that though they excelled in their master bedroom makeover, their finishing touches weren’t up to scratch. They were given 14 out of 20 for their effort.
Townsville’s Maddi and Lloyd did their best to undo the Brooke and Grant’s work on their master bedroom, walk in robe, and deck. While the judges liked their bedroom and deck makeover, wallpaper woes continued when Townsville presented limited wallpaper options at 24 hour notice. Though the judges were glad the couple had taken down Brooke and Grant’s liquorice striped wallpaper in their walk in robe, their hastily applied mismatching wallpaper wasn’t much better. They scored 15 out of 20.
Previous challenge winners Candy and Ryan, armed with some extra cash, fixed up the zone completed by Adam and Lisa in the first week of the series. The couple tackled the much hated entry, the incomplete study and the family room of their house. They lost marks for barely making a change to the study (beyond purchasing and assembling a desk) but were rewarded for their bright and colourful living room. The judges even liked their glassless framed artwork, with Wendy Moore declaring that the matte finish gave the art an even more contemporary feel – not realising that the couple had accidentally smashed their frame’s glass when transporting the art into the house. Candy and Ryan also scored 15 out of 20 for their makeover.
Next week will see the couples enter the semi-finals of House Rules season two, with each team undertaking garden makeovers. The season’s winning team will have their mortgage repaid in full.
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House Rules: Bomber and Mel get the boot after own home challenge

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Andrew Nicholson, formerly of Swire Properties Limited, will join CBRE as the head of asset services for Asia Pacific in September.
Nicholson was a portfolio manager, managing a commercial and development portfolio worth more than US$2.5 billion. He handled Hong Kong office investments and major commercial developments on behalf of European and Asian joint venture partners.
Since 2011, he has been a lecturer on asset management at the International Real Estate Business School at Regensburg University, Germany and with the Asian Cities program of the Real Estate Academy in China and Tongji University, Shanghai.
Nicholson, who will remain based in Hong Kong, takes over the position from Sam Cuccurullo, now the executive manager and head of asset services for CBRE Asia Pacific. After 19 years with CBRE, Cuccurullo will retire at the end of 2014.
In addition to Cuccurullo’s work on CBRE’s Asia Pacific activities, he has participated in the company’s fundraising efforts and was involved with CBRE’s Walk for a Wish program for five years.
CBRE  Global president of asset services Tony Long said that Nicholson will build on the Cuccorollo’s work at the company.
“Sam has been a true asset to CBRE since he joined our Pacific operations 19 years ago and we are hugely grateful for his many contributions,” said Long.
“We are equally fortunate to have Andrew coming onboard. His wealth of international experience will continue to drive our world-class Asset Services business. As a global leadership team, we are focused on building a consistent, globally-enabled platform of standards, training and technology that foster best practice generation from around the world. “
 
 
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CBRE appoints Andrew Nicholson as head of asset services for Asia Pacific

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Sandringham’s beaches and village amenities are a major draw card for buyers.
As of 2011, Melbourne’s <a href="/news">Sandringham</a> had a population of 9,309. There are 3,885 private homes in the suburb, with an average of 2.5 people per household. The median weekly income in 2011 was $1,836, with a median monthly mortgage payment of $2,500 according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
According to RP Data, the median house price in the suburb was $2,100,500 for May. April saw a median house price of $1,625,000.
The suburb’s median house price dropped in 2012 (by 10.1%), as it did to a lesser extent in the neighbouring <a href="/news">Hampton</a> in the same year. Both suburbs saw a recovery in 2013, with Sandringham’s median house price up 8.1% in 2013. The median unit price was $525,000 for May.  
This home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-sandringham-116721703" target="_blank">6 Keats Street in Sandringham</a> (pictured below) is currently on the market, with price expectations between $2,100,000 and $2,200,000.
 <img src="/images/2014/06/16/main%207.jpg" alt="">
The four bedroom art deco home with a pool is marketed by Jenny Dwyer and Warren Smith of Hocking Stuart Sandringham. Set on a 757 square metre block, the renovated home with a pool is within walking distance of the beach and Sandringham station.
Paul Bond of Hodges Real Estate Sandringham says the suburb offers a diverse blend of properties.
“Sandringham has a variety of housing styles,” says Bond. “Art deco homes, Edwardian properties and Californian bungalows are all well sought after by families.
“In addition, the area has a number of more modern townhouses, semis and terraces as well as luxury apartment blocks and courtyard properties which are popular with the older residents. The area has a number of quiet streets which offer the perfect piece of suburban life.”
With solid year on year growth, Bond believes that Sandringham is a suburb to consider for investors.
“However, there is a high demand for property in the area so it pays to know what you are looking for and possibly consider properties that need some renovation as a more affordable way of gaining a foothold in the area,” he advises. He also notes the rise of rental properties in the area.
“Renters make up almost a quarter of the property market in the area - a number which has increased in the past five years,” says Bond.
“This makes investing in the buy to let market in the area a good decision with average rents yielding $400 per week for a unit and $795 per week for a home.
Bond says that the beachside lifestyle drives demand for the suburb.
“Health and fitness enthusiasts are attracted to Sandringham as it offers a perfect environment for a healthy outdoor lifestyle. With almost a quarter of the area being made up of green space and parkland, residents can often be found running, walking and cycling along the foreshore,” says Bond.
The suburb is also home to golf courses, the Sandringham Yacht Club and the Sandringham Football club.
According to Bond, Sandringham’s village lifestyle also makes the suburb popular with residents.
“The main retail area is around Station Street and offers an array of cafes including the kitsch, Cuppa Cottage, a quirky café popular with the local parents for its babycinos and homemade cakes,” he says.
“The area also has a number of restaurants and takeaway shops as well as independent bookstores, toy shops and speciality food stores which are in keeping with the village lifestyle.”
Located 16 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, Sandringham has a train station that can get residents to the city in just under half an hour. Schools in nearby suburbs such as Brighton Grammar, Firbank, Xavier, St Leonard's, Star of the Sea, Haileybury College and Mentone Girls' Secondary College are also an attraction for buyers.
Bond advises investors to remember the fundamentals if they are considering an investment property in Sandringham.
“When buying to rent it is important to consider location, location, location to secure maximum return on investment. For example ensuring your property is within a few minutes walking distance to transport and shops and in the catchment area of good schools will make it more desirable than competing properties as these are often fundamental requirements for potential renters,” he says.
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Suburb spotlight: Does Sandringham’s lifestyle market stack up for investors?

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Some of Australia’s top business people will sleep out tomorrow night to raise awareness and funds to combat homelessness at the <a href="https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/" target="_blank">Vinnies CEO Sleepout</a>.
Since the first Vinnies CEO Sleepout in 2006, the event has raised over $13 million in funds for Vinnies Homelessness Services. Fundraisers are encouraged to wear warm clothing, a sleeping bag and pillow. Vinnies will provide cardboard for them to sleep on or to construct a shelter, and a basic meal of soup, bread rolls, tea and coffee.
Some of the highest fund raisers this year include:
<ul>
<li>Holly Kramer of Best &amp; Less, who has so far raised $150,093</li>
<li>George Frazis of St George Banking Group, who has so far raised $98,650</li>
<li>Dale Alcock of ABN Group, who has so far raised $95,590</li>
<li>Barry Falstead of Crown Perth, who has so far raised $74,595</li>
<li>Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for Communications, who has so far raised $58,127</li>
</ul>
Education Minister Christopher Pyne will also be sleeping out tomorrow night, in South Australia. So far, he’s raised $2,631 of his $5,000 donation goal.
Fundraisers in the Australian Capital Territory, who include Defence Housing Australia boss Peter Howman, will be contending with the coldest conditions. The ACT is expecting a low of 2 degrees Celsius for the night.
This year, fundraisers in Sydney will be sleeping at Everleigh Market at Carriageworks. There will also be a Sleepout event in Newcastle and Wollongong.  Last year, $2.1 million was raised by New South Wales fundraisers. Participants in Victoria will be staying at Etihad Stadium.
Western Australian CEOs will be attempting to sleep rough for one night at WACA.
Northern Territory bosses will be staying at the Fannie Point Gaol in Darwin and the OLSH College in Alice Springs. St Vincent de Paul National chief John Falzon, who will be sleeping in Darwin, says that hosting the event at the Fannie Point Gaol will draw attention to structural inequality.
“This venue holds many stories of dispossession and exclusion. Holding the CEO sleepout at the Gaol highlights the tragic link between homelessness and the prison system,” says Falzon.
“People experiencing homelessness and disadvantage are often more likely to end up in prison and people released from prison are more likely to end up homeless.”
Fundraisers from Queensland are set for the Courier Mail Piazza in Brisbane, with South Australian participants at Government House. Tasmanian bosses will be at the Hobart Showgrounds.
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Some of Australia's top CEOs set to camp out for Vinnies Sleepout

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The most expensive sales of the week have been gathered by <a href="https://www.myrpdata.com/" target="_blank">RP Data</a>.
Sydney homes dominated the top end of the market this week, with seven of the top 10 sales taking place in the New South Wales capital.
Two Victorian homes made the top 10, which all sold for $2 million or more. One Queensland home made the list.
While RP Data's top spot goes to 227a Gannons Road in Sydney's Caringbah, which sold for $3,160,000, it looks like it may have been pipped to the post by another $3 million plus home, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-roseville-117032687" target="_blank">58 Bancroft Avenue, Roseville</a> in New South Wales, pictured below.
<img src="/images/2014/06/17/11.jpg" alt="">
The five bedroom house at Bancroft Avenue beat Gannons Road by $200,000, selling for $3,360,000 on Saturday through mcconnell bourn Lindfield.
The home had undergone a $200,000 renovation prior to the sale. 
RP Data's top 10 sales for the week to June 15:
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-caringbah-116781467" target="_blank">227a Gannons Road, Caringbah, NSW</a> <img src="/images/2014/06/17/1.jpg" alt=""> This four bedroom, four bathroom, house sold for $3,160,000 through Highland Property Agents Cronulla (pictured above and in feature image). The waterfront home has views over Dolans Bay and a jetty, pontoon, boatshed and two boat ramps. The home has been discounted a number of times – it was first listed by the vendors in 2008 for $3,850,000, then again in 2013 $3,500,000. When the property went back on the market this year, the price was revised down again to $3,250,000. The vendors purchased the property in 2003 for $1,430,000. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-riverview-116970307" target="_blank">25 Coonah Parade, Riverview, NSW</a>  <img src="/images/2014/06/17/2.jpg" alt=""> The second highest sale of the week was secured by another waterfront Sydney home. This four bedroom, three bedroom house sold for $2,960,000 through LJ Hooker Lane Cove. The vendors purchased the property for $2,265,000 in 2010. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://%20http:/www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-strathfield-116604891" target="_blank">25 South Street, Strathfield, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2014/06/17/3.jpg" alt=""> A six bedroom Georgian house sold before auction for $2,900,000 earlier this week through Richardson &amp; Wrench Strathfield. Set on a 1,208 square metre block, the property has expansive tropical gardens and lawns. The sellers bought the home almost 20 years ago, for $535,000 in 1993. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-balwyn-116933183" target="_blank">7 Knutsford Street, </a><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-balwyn-116933183" target="_blank">Balwyn, VIC</a> <img src="/images/2014/06/17/4.jpg" alt=""> The top Victorian sale of the week was secured in the eastern suburb of Balwyn. This home sold for $2,840,000 through RT Edgar Boroondara. The vendors purchased the four bedroom house for $2,200,000 in 2002. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-kew-117024387" target="_blank">16 Raven Street, Kew, VIC</a>
<img src="/images/2014/06/17/5.jpg" alt=""> The other Melbourne home to make the top 10 for the week was a 1920s era four bedroom home in Kew. The home within walking distance of the Yarra River was sold for $2,410,000 through Kay &amp; Burton Hawthorn. It was purchased by the sellers for $701,000 in 1999. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-terrace-nsw-elizabeth+bay-116962327" target="_blank">51 Roslyn Street, </a><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-terrace-nsw-elizabeth+bay-116962327" target="_blank">Elizabeth Bay, NSW</a> <img src="/images/2014/06/17/6.jpg" alt=""> A three bedroom, three bathroom terrace home sold in Elizabeth Bay sold for $2,340,000 this week. Selling through Richardson &amp; Wrench Elizabeth Bay and Potts Point, the renovated home was on the market for 23 days. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-sans+souci-117008347" target="_blank">34 Riverside Drive, Sans Souci, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2014/06/17/7.jpg" alt=""> This beachside property sold for $2,310,000 through Raine &amp; Horne Sans Souci. The double brick four bedroom home is just across the road from the beach. It was sold at auction after being listed on the market for 19 days. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-greenwich-116854099" target="_blank">4 Hinkler Street, Greenwich, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2014/06/17/8.jpg" alt=""> The four bedroom, four bathroom house near Lane Cove Bushland Park sold for $2,180,000 through Harbourline Real Estate. The vendors attempted to sell the house in 2011, listing it for 535 days with price expectations over $1.78 million before taking it off the market in March 2013. This year they had considerably better luck, with the home selling before auction. They purchased the home for $330,000 in 1988, and have advertised the property to renters for $1,300 per week. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-clovelly-117043807" target="_blank">13 Beach Street, Clovelly, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2014/06/17/9.jpg" alt=""> This single storey brick home in Clovelly was sold through Raine &amp; Horne Bondi Junction for $2,013,000. The three bedroom house was purchased by the vendors eight years ago for $1,205,000.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-minyama-116215119" target="_blank">8 Myoora Court, Minyama, QLD</a>
<img src="/images/2014/06/17/10.jpg" alt=""> The only Queensland home in the top 10 secured $2,000,000 for the vendors. It was sold through Elite Lifestyle Properties. The four bedroom, three bathroom luxury contemporary home with waterfront views has two kitchens and a pool.  </li>
</ol>
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The top 10 sales of the week: RP Data

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The most exciting design feature in your home is the contrast between that white and neon chevron throw and your tasteful dove grey couch.
When you step into your house, you’re greeted by a sea of neutral tones. You’re sick of pretending to care about scented candles.
Perhaps you, like Manhattan resident Chris Kooluris, could do with a trip down memory lane. This used to be his bedroom:
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/nFtxZ07.jpg" alt="">
Some US$48,000 later, this is his bedroom:
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/NPPiq6k.jpg" alt="">
Chris and his home <a href="/expert-insights/building/fantasy-renovation-manhattan-gamer-turns-his-apartment-into-a-video-game-arcade">made headlines last week</a> when he revealed his home, which he transformed into a home arcade – complete with pinball machines, arcade games, and action figures. 
If you’re feeling a little jealous of Chris’s apartment, never fear. You too could one day live in your own video game arcade.
First, you’ll need to get rid of all that timber. Timber floorboards, desk, cabinet, bedhead – there’s no room for organic materials in a 1980s style video game arcade. Out it goes.
Next, paint those sandy beige walls over to dove grey, and move in your first arcade game. This one’s pretty special: it’s a Donkey Kong: Kong Off game.
Chris tells Property Observer that this game used to belong to Donkey Kong champion Steve Weibe himself, and is signed by Weibe and his supposed nemesis (and hot sauce purveyor), Billy Mitchell. For those who aren’t as well versed in their Donkey Kong battle mythology as they should be, it might be time to take a break from the renovations to sit down and watch <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923752/" target="_blank">King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters</a>.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/sn17cfn.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Cost: US $3,000 (AU $3,184)</li>
</ul>
The next arcade game in Chris’s collection is the Punch Out!! (fully restored, of course)
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/3.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Cost: US $2,100 (AUD $2,229)</li>
</ul>
Then comes the flooring. Chris chose colourful carpet floor tiles for his home arcade.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/PKPNQwl%20-%20Imgur.png" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Cost: US $1,200 (AU $1,274)</li>
</ul>
Time for some more games, courtesy of Disney. There’s Tron, which Chris tells us is an original, “in very good condition with new side art, control panel and plastics”.
Then there’s Fix It Felix Junior, which some might recognise from the movie Wreck It Ralph. According to Chris, as few as 30 Fix It Felix original units exist, with less than 10 in private homes. He also got a Ms Pac Man unit, which plays 60 different games.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/fIvlU5W%20-%20Imgur.png" alt="">
<ul>
<li>
Cost: Tron – US $2,500 (AU $2,652). Fix It Felix Junior – US $6,500 (AU $6,897). Ms Pac Man 60-1 – US $2,000 (AU $2,122)
</li>
</ul>
But of course, you don’t want to let your hobby make you anti-social. You’ll need a multi-player unit, like this Street Fighter II themed Dream Home Arcade Pedestal, which plays 25,000 different games.
And, of course, a television to go with it. And don’t forget the décor. It will look best surrounded by video game marquees.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/eIm3hhl%20-%20Imgur.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Cost: Dream Home Arcade Pedestal – US $3,000 (AU $3,184). Sony 55 inch television – US $1,700 (AU $1,804). Video game marquees – US $500 (AU $531).</li>
</ul>
Even the most enthusiastic gamer has basic human needs. For that, there’s a vending machine. Look, it even has fruit.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/pgif5x5%20-%20Imgur%201.png" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Cost: Rhino vending machine – US $350 (AU $371)</li>
</ul>
You tossed that bed, but you have to sleep on something. Chris went for a leather fold out futon, so there was plenty of room for game play in waking hours.  And, of course, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles quilt.
<ul>
<li>Cost: Fold out bed - US $750 (AU $796). Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles quilt - US $45 (AU $48).</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/xQwnhqo.png" alt="">
Any renovation show will tell you that details are everything. There’s Transformers artwork by Tom Whalen, stools, Twin Galaxies logo decal (apparently drawn up by Chris’s then fiancée) and Street Fighter action figures.
<ul>
<li>
Cost: Transformers artwork by Tom Whalen (framed) - US $350 (AU $371). Stools - US $300 (AU $318). Twin Galaxies Fat Head - US $120 (AU $127). Street Fighter SOTA Action Figures - US $600 (AU $637)
</li>
</ul>
But if you think that’s those constitute the finishing touches, you’re wrong. First, you’re going to have to lay down US $15,000 (AU $15,917) on a collection of Transformers. Property Observer, having a few Transformers collector contacts of our own, guesses that this collection (partially pictured below) took quite a few years for Chris to amass.
 <img src="/images/2014/06/13/nB8tKmo%20-%20Imgur.png" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Cost: Transformers collection - US $15,000 (AU $15,917).</li>
</ul>
Finally, there’s the pinball machine. While <a href="https://www.wired.com/2014/05/arcadia/" target="_blank">Chris told Wired </a>that he once promised to contain his hobby to a single room of his apartment, it seems that it’s spilled over into his living room, with this Lord Of The Rings themed pinball machine. 
<ul>
<li>Cost: Lord of the Rings pinball machine - US $7,000 (AU $7,428)</li>
</ul>
“Arcades are a gateway drug for a pinball collection,” Chris told Wired. While it looks like he'll press "A" to continue, the average person might put have put the controller down a long time ago.
All photos supplied by Chris Kooluris.
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Renovation recreation: How to turn your bedroom into an arcade

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As the end of the financial year approaches, self-managed super fund (SMSF) trustees can employ a number of strategies to legally minimise their tax payments.
Graeme Colley of the SMSF Professionals’ Association of Australia says those strategies include after-tax and age-specific tax contribution.
“Making after-tax contributions to super, which could come from your personal savings, transferring personal investments or an inheritance, is one effective way to minimise tax,” says Colley.
While the maximum personal after-tax contribution for this financial year is $150,000, those aged 65 or over can contribute up to $450,000 over a three-year period.
“This allows you to make substantial contributions to super and build your retirement savings,” Colley says. But he warns SMSF trustees not to go over the after-tax contribution caps, with excess contributions attracting tax rates up to 46.5%.
The after-tax contribution cap will rise for the next financial year, says Colley.
“Remember, too, that from 1 July 2014, the after-tax contributions cap increases to $180,000. This means if you can trigger the bring-forward rule that a total of $540,000 can be contributed over the fixed three-year period.”
He explains that SMSF trustees who are aged 60 and over have a maximum tax deductible contribution cap of $35,000.
“These contributions include amounts you make as salary sacrifice, the Superannuation Guarantee or, if you qualify, personal deductible contributions. If you want to maximise your contributions before 30 June, make sure you talk to your accountant, tax agent or professional adviser so that your salary sacrifice agreement with your employer allows the maximum to be salary sacrificed,” says Colley.
Regulations apply to those aged 65 or over who still want to contribute to their SMSF.
“If you are 65 or older you will need to meet a work test to contribute to super in most cases. You will need to work for at least 40 hours during 30 consecutive days at any time during the financial year to make tax deductible and non-deductible contributions to super,” says Colley.
Once you reach 60 years old, all lump sums that you extract from your super fund is tax free, with some exceptions for government funds.
“However, before age 60 any lump sums that include a taxable component can be taxable. The taxable component includes the tax deductible contributions plus any income that has accumulated in your superannuation benefit. No tax is payable on taxable amounts of up to $180,000, in total, you receive before age 60. This amount is indexed annually,” says Colley.
He says that if trustees are eligible to draw from their superannuation, it may benefit them to wait until they are over 60 years old, or a later financial year.
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Tax minimisation strategies for SMSF trustees: SPAA

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Metal studs installed in an alcove at the entrance of a block of London residential flats have been described as “ugly, self defeating and stupid” by Mayor Boris Johnson.
The so called “anti-homeless” spikes have attracted widespread criticism after a picture of the spikes was <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154181616760058&amp;set=a.144410400057.227753.700465057&amp;type=1" target="_blank">posted on Facebook </a>and distributed on Twitter. An <a href="https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/mayoroflondon-residential-property-partners-remove-the-anti-homeless-spikes?recruiter=107232150&amp;utm_campaign=share_twitter_mobile&amp;utm_medium=twitter&amp;utm_source=share_petition" target="_blank">online petition</a> to remove the spikes has been launched, with 108,449 signatures gathered so far. 
According to the petition, the Southwark building in question is managed by Property Partners. London journalism student Nathan Fitzpatrick visited the building, <a href="https://storify.com/nathanfitz/twitter-reporting-on-anti-rough-sleeping-studs" target="_blank">reporting over Twitter</a> that he spoke to some of the building’s residents. The unnamed residents told Fitzpatrick that the spikes had been installed in “the past three to four weeks”, while Fitzpatrick noted that none of the residents he spoke to had been consulted about the spikes.
Johnson rebuked the spikes and urged the developer to remove them (although it has been noted elsewhere that it was not the building’s developers who installed the spikes).
“Spikes outside Southwark housing development to deter rough sleeping are ugly, self defeating &amp; stupid. Developer should remove them ASAP,” Johnston <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/MayorofLondon/status/475943253406412801" target="_blank">tweeted earlier this week</a>. 
“We've spent £34m on the likes of 'no 2nd night out, reaching 3/4s of rough sleepers, but must do more. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/MayorofLondon/status/475945644302282752" target="_blank">Spikes are simply not the answer</a>.”
However, Buzzfeed has noted that these are not London’s first “anti-homeless” spikes, with reports of spikes appearing <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/architecture-making-a-point-with-spikes-and-studs-for-the-homeless-for-weary-tourists-or-anyone-waiting-for-a-friend-london-buildings-have-offered-a-nook-or-windowsill-on-which-to-rest-not-any-more-mark-cole-looks-at-antipeople-adornments-1442470" target="_blank">as early as 1994</a>. 
<img src="/images/2014/06/12/fb2.jpg" alt="">
Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154181616760058&amp;set=a.144410400057.227753.700465057&amp;type=1" target="_blank">Andrew Horton via Facebook</a> 
Despite the public outcry against the spikes, they have been defended by some, including <a href="https://imsorrythatimlikethis.wordpress.com/2014/06/07/the-spikes/" target="_blank">one nursing student</a> who claims that “sometimes you have to remove a person’s sleep site in order to engage that person” and prevent further risks to their health that come with rough sleeping.
“That’s why they’ve put the spikes there. Or made the benches single. Or too narrow to sleep on. Look around you. These measures are in place all over London.”
In a widely shared blog post, the student urges readers to worry instead about wider societal issues that contribute to people sleeping rough in the first place.
“If you’re worried about the spikes maybe instead you could worry about the housing shortage, or the lack of good mental health and drug and alcohol services in your area. Worry about how your local area is dealing with antisocial behaviour. Worry about children’s services, worry about decent homeless liaison teams in hospitals. Worry about the lack of shelters. Worry about the benefit cuts,” she writes.
As for the Southwark spikes, they have since been turned into an <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/olivia_solon/status/476050904362536962/photo/1" target="_blank">anti-Boris Johnson protest</a>.
<img src="/images/2014/06/12/Capture1.jpg" alt="">
Two plants have been placed on the spikes, along with a note that reads:
“13% INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS UNDER BORIS AWARENESS GARDEN
ALSO A CARBON SINK” 
Have you seen any anti-homeless spikes where you live? How do you think the practice would be received in Australia? 
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London’s “anti-homeless spikes” attract criticism from Boris Johnson

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At the recent Milan Design Week, it was all about the new. The biggest design fair in the world offered up inflatable LED lamps, <a href="https://www.dezeen.com/2014/04/21/shibari-rubber-dipped-foam-seat-by-ichiro-inc-milan-2014/" target="_blank">bondage inspired foam and rubber seats</a> and anything a 3D printer could spit out. 
But for every recycled glass mirror-trestle table hybrid, there is a design trend that sits ignored in the dustbin of the 20th century. Property Observer looks at the five forgotten interior trends that deserve a comeback – and those that should never return.
FIVE DESIGN TRENDS WE WANT TO SEE AGAIN
<ol>
<li>
SUNKEN LOUNGES <img src="/images/2014/05/23/1.jpg" alt=""> Hanazono House. Source: Sekkastyle With home owners and investors obsessed with flexibility, there’s a good reason that conversation pits are out of fashion. What if you decide that space would be better off as a dining area? Filling in a sunken lounge is a good deal more difficult than pushing the sofa to the other corner of the room. But living rooms are for living, and why should <a href="https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2012/03/mad-men-don-drapers-apartment" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Don Draper get all the fun?</a>  
</li>
<li>
WALLPAPER <img src="/images/2014/05/23/10317697_518321434939406_2904862071506270990_o.jpg" alt=""> Source: NLXL A casualty of the minimalist movement, wallpaper that is too busy can make a small space look smaller, a dark space look darker, and is much more polarising than a “tasteful” wash of dove grey paint. What if your best friend’s cousin’s mother-in-law doesn’t like it? Grow a design spine and slap some wallpaper on your wall. Keep it to a single wall of the room as a feature to avoid swamping the space. European design studio Studio Job’s Archive collection for NLXL (pictured above) shows just how far the medium has come since the mustard yellow and amber days of the 1970s. For a lesson in how not to use wallpaper, see <a href="https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/wallpaper-madness-too-much-house-rules-adam-and-li/2262853/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Adam and Lisa’s house on Channel 7’s House Rules</a>. Our property contrarians Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok recently examined the <a href="/expert-insights/building/the-wallpaper-house-rules-in-home-decorating-he-said-she-said">house rules that should be in place for decorating with wallpaper</a>. 
</li>
<li>
PARQUET FLOORING <img src="/images/2014/05/23/10-211-ELIZABETH-ST_2010_HI.jpg" alt=""> Source:  Roman and Williams The polished concrete floors seen in every warehouse conversion of the last two years are great, and easy to clean. But what if you want to add some textural intrigue and warmth to your flooring, without buying a dozen rugs? Enter parquetry. While the glossy floorboards in juxtaposing tones of the past might be a bit much, a tasteful herringbone or chevron design in a single dark colour can bring interest without overwhelming a space. 
</li>
<li>
CHANDELIERS <img src="/images/2014/05/23/harmonie2.jpg" alt=""> Source: Atelier Alain Ellouz Forget grandiose crystal chandeliers – difficult to pull off, even more difficult to clean. Today’s chandeliers and pendant lights prove that lighting can be used to make a statement without making a fuss, and come in a variety of materials. A <a href="/expert-insights/investing/chandeliers-hanging-in-the-garage-he-said-she-said">chandelier in the garage?</a> That might be a little too far.  
</li>
<li>
MOOD LIGHTING <img src="/images/2014/05/23/roman%20and%20williams1.JPG" alt=""> Source: Roman and Williams  Good lighting can go a long way, adding warmth and intimacy to your home. On the other hand, bad lighting can be sterile and unflattering. Ambient light has come a long way from the “after 5” feel of the 60s den. Think about ditching the down lights, or at the very least, installing a dimmer.
</li>
</ol>
While we're firm believers in second chances, we do hope that some interior design trends never get their shot at redemption. See the five interior features of the 20th century that should never come back on the next page.
 The five designs we don't want to see again on the next page.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 FIVE DESIGN TRENDS WE NEVER WANT TO SEE AGAIN 
<ol>
<li>
MOUNTED TAXIDERMY For people who want their home to look like a hunting lodge. Great if you enjoy colonialism and cruelty.  <img src="/images/2014/06/13/mounted-taxidermy-june-13-one.jpg" alt=""> Photo courtesy of Orin Zebest/Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>. 
</li>
<li>
WHITE PAPER LANTERNS Flimsy, difficult to clean and easy to break. <img src="/images/2014/06/13/white-lantern-june-13-one.jpg" alt=""> Photo courtesy of Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>. 
</li>
<li>
BEADED CURTAINS Faux crystal beads that get in your face = instant glamour (or so we thought) <img src="/images/2014/06/13/beaded-curtain-june-13-one.jpg" alt=""> Photo courtesy of Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>. 
</li>
<li>
LAVA LAMPS Don't. <img src="/images/2014/06/13/lava-lamp-june-13-one.jpg" alt=""> Photo courtesy of Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>. 
</li>
<li>
INFLATABLE FURNITURE Who can forget the noise that a plastic inflatable couch would make against sweaty knees? <img src="/images/2014/06/13/inflatable-furniture-june-13-one.jpg" alt=""> Photo courtesy of Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>.
</li>
</ol>
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Don't call it a comeback: Five retro design trends that deserve to return

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.

Joel Robinson

Wing Tai unveils 325-apartment St Kilda Road tower on former VACC House site

Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

Jessie Richardson

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