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One of the first things Property Bloom looks at when starting our design work on a development project is not the style of dwellings we'll build or what materials we'll use...it's something a lot less glamorous but vitally important.
We look at how to maximise the site area. As part of this, the boring old retaining wall comes into play.
 When we assess a site we need to consider if the site will need retaining - most do - even the sites will very little fall will need some retaining after the site is cut - so we need to think about where the retaining walls will be built and the costs associated with building them.
In a perfect world, it would be great to build a retaining wall right on the boundary and share the cost with your neighbour (if their site needs retaining too). In new land estates we can easily negotiate this with our neighbours, however we need to consider more than getting the best result for both our clients and their neighbours.
We need to check with our local council to see  if they have specific requirements around  retaining walls. One council we work with insists retaining walls, footings and their associated drainage be located wholly within the subject property boundaries by a whole whopping metre. This can take up valuable space, but at least we know what we have to do. Other council's are not so clear and it's here we like to try and push the boundaries so to speak, to use all space to our advantage.
If a retaining wall is built on a shared boundary, council may request an easement be set up.  This is not such a big deal but something that needs to be considered.  Our  surveyor is our go to guy in these situations.
We look at the style of retaining wall to use. If we are on a strict budget, then we'll go with timber retaining walls. If we are tight on space and want a nicer finish, then we'll use concrete block retaining which can be purchased in different colours and doesn't need as much width as a timber retaining wall.
Of course, if you need to build a high retaining wall, generally over one meter, then it may need to be engineered. This means an engineer needs to design the wall and you'll have to submit the plans as part of your Development Application.
The best time to build a retaining wall is after the site is cut but before the slabs are laid. This gives the contractors the best access and means this work is taken care of early in the build phase.
I recently had a dispute with someone about whose responsibility it was to pay for an upgrade to a  retaining wall. It can be a grey area. In this case, there was an existing, old retaining wall situated wholly inside this person's side boundary.  They had knocked down the original cottage and built a new house and their land levels had changed as a result.  The properties were on a hill. Many years ago, their back yard had been retained and filled so it was level. The house on the lower side had been built to the natural contours of the land and their back yard fell to the rear.
After the people on the high side finished their new house build, the old retaining wall needed upgrading as it was made of stone blocks and their soil filtered through each time it rained, plus the existing wall was not high enough now works had been completed. In addition, there was more retaining required to the entire side boundary due to the change of levels during construction.
The responsibility for the erection of retaining walls rests with the person who excavates or fills their land. It is not up to an adjoining landowner to contribute to the costs of a retaining wall, unless the wall is a common wall to support both cut and fill, for the benefit of both properties, on the common boundary.
To me this was cut and dry - their yard had been retained and filled at some stage (before these owners). They argued that the lower property had at one stage been cut (it hadn't but how do you prove this?).  The situation ended in a difference of opinions and a compromise was made by one party. It could have got ugly but at the end of the day, the additional cost was $500 and we put it down to an investment in future neighbour relations and hoped the neighbour appreciated this.
Works on common boundaries can be tricky business and communication is key but at the end of the day, if your development is going to benefit from a particular style or position of a retaining wall, then it may be easier to include it in the costs of the project and move on, after all the time saved on negotiating disputes can be put to better use.
 
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.
 
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Pushing the boundaries: Jo Chivers

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I’m not sure if you are into New Age stuff, but in my experience it works. I’ve read a few books and I think most of us has seen the movie “The Secret” a few years ago which really bought it all into the mainstream.
The Law of Attraction is a belief based on the concept that ‘like attracts like’ and that focussing on positive thoughts you will attract positive outcomes. Negative thoughts will do the same, attract negative outcomes. 
Whilst property developing is mostly all about numbers, if you don’t have the right mindset then you may find it hard to succeed. This goes for most things in life really.
I’ll tell you a little story. It’s been about 15 years since I started my business. Looking back, it was pretty crazy times. Not only did I transition from a career in marketing cosmetics to developing property, I also educated myself financially and bought a hand full of investment properties and had my first son all in the space of about a year.
I’ll always remember when I started Property Bloom as it was the year I also started a family. After discovering I was pregnant, I suddenly decided that we (my then husband and I) needed to build up our wealth in preparation for our retirements, still a way away but this must have been how my “nesting instinct” played out. When you are pregnant the increase in adrenaline in your system, alongside hormones and emotions makes mother’s-to-be very productive.
Rather than buying baby things, I started buying properties. Instead of cleaning out the cupboards, I sat in lecture theatres being inspired by all the strategies you can use to build wealth through property.
In the process of setting up our portfolio of investment properties, I realised just how much I loved property. I wanted to create a business where I could still do what I loved and have the flexibility to look after my little baby. After developing property for myself, a couple of friends asked me to project manager theirs and so that’s how Property Bloom came about. My little baby is turning 15 soon and so much has happened in this time.
The biggest, most challenging change for me came just two years ago when I became a single mum. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out for my marriage and after 19 years it was the biggest decision of my life to leave it. I had to weigh up many things and the most important being the kids. I have two beautiful sons and they are my priority. With the help of some good counselling and support of my awesome girlfriends, I made it through. The scariest thing was not fully knowing how I would manage financially.
But I needn’t have worried as during the last few years, I worked out how we can create and attract what we want. It’s all about having the right energy or mindset.
I was so unhappy I didn’t realise how much this sadness impacted on my daily life. I used exercise and keeping busy to cope but at the end of the day, I was finding it hard to keep a positive mindset. Then two massive life changing things happened. My elderly father died and then suddenly my younger mother-in-law died in the space of just a few months. These were the first deaths in my family and the harsh perspective they gave me was so powerful it literally kicked me into action.  Life was too short and I knew I had to make a massive change.
When I became happy after making that enormous and very tough decision, it was like the entire universe was on my side. My business was already doing well, possibly as I used it to focus on to get me through the tough times. But as a feeling of peace flowed through me, everything became brighter and it was easy to be positive.
I cherished the time I had with my boys and also the newly found time I had to myself when they were with their father. I’d never had much time to myself. Building a business and raising a family is time consuming and hard work. I used this precious time to recharge my energy levels, rebuild my self-esteem and focus on what I wanted.
In the meantime, my property development project management business that I love so much, was gaining momentum. Lots of clients were coming back to do a second and third project with us and new clients were attracted to the high level of service our boutique business offers. This meant I had no reason to feel financially worried despite taking out a massive mortgage on the family home so the kids and I could still stay there. Thank goodness for low interest rates!
After a while, I started thinking that the only thing missing was a partner to share my happy life with.
This is the fun bit. One New Year’s Eve, over a few glasses of champagne with my girlfriends, I wrote out a list of things I wanted in a new partner. This is much like writing out a list of goals. When you write them down, they become real and the more you go back and review them, the more energy and focus you are putting on them.
Almost a year to the day of writing that list, I met an amazing man. As we got to know each other, I was blown away that he was literally everything on my list, and more – no mean feat considering it was two pages long!
I’m ecstatically happy and very grateful, its amazing how awesome life is.
So how is your mindset right now? Make it positive and not negative, as remember like attracts like. Are there any changes (hopefully not as dramatic as mine) that you can make that will help you achieve your goals and have you written them down yet?  If something cannot be changed, you can still change your attitude about it. Get started on attracting what you want, perhaps it’s to get started on that development project you’ve always wanted to do.
Your mind is the most powerful tool you’ll ever need on a development site. 
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.
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What’s the most important tool needed to develop property? Jo Chivers 

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A fairly simple development strategy for a first time developer wanting to boost their property portfolio is a dual occupancy project; buying land where you can build two dwellings and subdividing. 
 The dwelling/villas may be attached or freestanding, either way you are basically halving the land cost for each and that is where the value lies.
Where Property Bloom develops, there is usually opportunity to create well over $150,000 in equity through a dual occ development, this is created within about twelve months and doesn't take into consideration the capital growth that also may occur during the development period.
The equity position of a project is determined when you take costs of the project away from the end value. However, be aware that you can't access the entire amount of equity created if you are refinancing on completion as the banks will most likely lend you around 80% of the value, leaving some equity in the project.
Timing your development can also boost the equity creation. If you are developing in an area experiencing good capital growth whilst your project is underway then you have timed your development well. Even if the market is flat, you can still manufacture some equity. Equity created is through the development and subdivision process because you are adding value to the land not with one dwelling but with two. By subdividing, you are halving the land cost for each dwelling. 
Here’s an example of a dual occupancy project we recently completed:
Land cost: $270,000
Stamp duty: $2,940
($5,000 NSW New Home Grant* applied so the government contributes $5,000 this off sets the stamp duty cost)
Legal fees: $1,500
Build cost, including plans, council fees &amp; charges, subdivision costs, for duplex; three bedroom, two bathroom villas:  $450,000
Total cost:  $724,440
Actual end valuations:  $920,000 or $460,000 per villa
Equity created:  $195,560 
Gross Yield 6.7% based on renting each villa at $480 per week. 
If you are borrowing at around 4% then the project may be cash flow positive for you. This is when the rent and depreciation benefits combined cover the costs of interest, insurance, council, water rates and management fees.
There are strong depreciation benefits too, expected depreciation $20,000 Year 1 (using the diminishing method)
* <a href="https://www.osr.nsw.gov.au/lib/doc/factsheets/ofs_nhg1.pdf" target="_blank">click here</a> for more.
Want to know how to do it? 
Of course I'd recommend using an experienced project manager to guide you through but you can have a go yourself - it will depend on the resources or skills you have available; time, experience, knowledge, contacts with a bit of patience thrown in. 
The steps involved in a dual occupancy development strategy are:
<ol>
<li>Finance preapproval. It’s important before you start looking at development sites or any property, that you have a preapproval from a lender in place.</li>
<li>Understand the council requirements for dual occupancies in this area. Study the council’s Local Environment Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP).  This will let you know the size of land you’ll need for your dual occ and what is permissible.</li>
<li>Conduct due diligence on the area you want to develop in; understand the zoning for dual occupancies. Having correct zoning doesn't always mean you can carry out a dual occ. There may be covenants on the land preventing building more than one dwelling.</li>
<li>Search for land that meets a number of criteria; size – look at the frontage and know what the minimum width is for your dual occ. Look at the depth and size to ensure the land is large enough to meet the DCP including the minimum outdoor private space requirements. Check the aspect, north facing living areas are desirable and will make meeting the BASIX requirements much easier. Make sure there are services to the site; electricity, sewer, gas. Then ensure the land is relatively flat with a slight slope to the street unless there is a drainage easement at the back. </li>
<li>Check the Planning Certificate to see if the land is in a bushfire or flood zone.  You can still develop in these areas but it will add to your build costs. </li>
<li>Have your builder look at the site. This is very important as the builder will look at the land from a different perspective.</li>
<li>Run a feasibility to ensure the project will be viable. Find recent comparable sales references to base your end value estimates on. Talk to agents about the current rental market and what rent could be expected and calculate the projected yield on completion. Most importantly, you need to have a good understanding of the build costs. The build costs will evolve over the design and planning process. Your builder can give you an estimate once a concept plan is available, but as the full Development Application (DA) plans and documentation is available, the builder will then need to run a full tender. Cross check this against your original estimate. If it’s in line, lodge the DA if it’s not, go back to the design and look at areas where you can reduce costs. Once the plans are approved, the builder may update their tender if council asked for any changes. If not, then a final tender will be generated once the engineer’s plans for the Construction Certificate (CC) are available.</li>
<li>When securing the land, request a long settlement period with permission to lodge a DA from the vendor. You can get all the design work and perhaps even have the DA and CC approved before you settle on the land, this will reduce your holding costs.</li>
<li>Once you have the DA &amp; CC approvals, you can then go back to your lender to obtain your unconditional construction loan. As soon as this is in place, construction can commence.</li>
<li>The build phase for a dual occ should be around three to four month, depending on weather. You need to be on site each week to check the builder’s progress and put out any ‘fires’ that may arise as you are under construction. I've heard some stories of build times taking up to twelve months, so make sure you conduct due diligence on your builder before appointing them.</li>
<li>Once the building works are completed, an Occupation Certificate will be issued. You can now have your villas tenanted. Don’t forget to order a depreciation schedule to maximise your tax rebates.</li>
<li>You can now apply for the subdivision certificate and once council issues this, you can register the subdivision (after your lender has signed off on it).  There is no need to register immediately if you are planning to hold and not planning to refinance as you may find costs such as rates may be a little less if the villas are kept on one title.</li>
</ol>
I’ve summarised the process briefly, but it’s actually not that straight forward. You really do need the time to work on this development strategy closely as mistakes can be costly. If you're a first time developer, use an experienced property development project manager. Our clients enjoy the peace of mind that we've found the right location and development site for them and that their project is being managed efficiently, they also benefit from our long term relationship with our builder. All the fine details are reported to them in a written weekly report, so they are learning from the process but still have time for their own career and family. It's an easy option.
 
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.
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Boost your portfolio using this development strategy: Jo Chivers

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This week I listened in to a coaching call. It was a prominent company who have been selling their coaching/mentoring program for a while and I was curious to see what they offered.
It took me back to when I started my investment journey 15 years ago. I knew very little about property investing and all the different strategies you can use to grow your wealth.
With the help of hindsight, I reflected on just how I got going on my journey. I reduced it down to three important pieces:
1. Become educated, don’t overdo it and understand risk
After completing my intensive one-year training, I found there was always another course on offer. But I was chomping at the bit to put the things I’d already learnt to use.
I started to invest using one strategy well before my course was finished and ended up repeating it five times before moving onto another strategy. I found each time I completed a property transaction, I learnt more and as this experience built so did the quality of my deals. I found that taking action as quickly as I could, got me into the market faster and I could still study as I went.
But I also saw the opposite happen to others who did my course.  I watched as lots of people got sucked into a ‘vortex’ of needing more and more information before doing anything.
I thought that perhaps these people were worried about risk. Then I worked out, it was actually more of a personality thing. When I searched the thesaurus for the work “risk” this is what came up:
-        Danger
-        Possibility
-        Endanger
-        Chance
What jumps out at you when you read that list? 
The words I see are “possibility” and “chance”.
Property development has a ‘reputation’ for being risky.  Before I started learning about it I also thought it was risky. Why? Because someone had told me that. As I didn’t really know much about it, I held onto this belief.
When I leant more, I changed my belief from seeing development as risky to seeing it as exciting.
If you focus on the risks, you can’t see the opportunity. So I focus on the opportunity.
Over the years, we’ve found a way to derisk the property developments we project manage.
2.  Take massive levels of action
Get ready to work. Action speaks louder than words they say. Action is where you are going to really learn. I think some people underestimate just how much action you need to take to move forward.
Action can start with research then move to analysis then through to inspecting properties and making offers and then to negotiating the purchase and can keep moving into adding value to a property. Whatever your situation, there is always an area you can take action in. If you can’t get a loan, find a finance partner. If you don’t have a deposit, find an equity partner, if you don’t have time or experience, find a project manager.
Do anything but make excuses. There will always be a reason not to take action if you let there be one. This is a classic excuse; “It’s not the right time, the market isn’t good”, believe me, there is always opportunity in the market - you just need to tailor your action to the market.
3.  Refine your process
Practise makes perfect!  Every property development we manage is a little different but our system is almost always the same. With over 100 developments behind us, we’ve refined our process to ensure we get the best from a development project for our clients.
Like when I started out, I repeated my first investment strategy (which wasn’t developing) 5 times before I moved on to another one. The reason I moved on was market conditions changed and so I found a better strategy that would work in all conditions. Property developing or adding value allows us to create equity through the development process. By doing this, we are building in a ‘buffer’ of protection.
Property developing is a very detailed process, there are many steps involved. Each step can be refined and so there’s always opportunity to fast track or fine tune a step which will in turn, impact on the entire process.
So there you have my top 3 tips to getting started on your property development journey. Don’t hesitate, get educated, take massive action, repeat and refine your process. Oh and there is one more…have fun!
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a><a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/">.</a>
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Three tips to get you started on your property development: Jo Chivers

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There are many benefits developing property will bring, but what should you focus on when assessing a development opportunity?
I get lots of calls and love speaking to people about property development. It’s interesting to see what kind of questions are raised. There is one question that is asked often and that is; “what kind of Return on Investment (ROI) do we get from our development projects?”
Even though our ROI is pretty good, it varies from project to project - this can be a dangerous way to assess the success or otherwise of a property development.
“ROI is usually expressed as a percentage and is typically used for personal financial decisions, to compare a company's profitability or to compare the efficiency of different investments. The return on investment formula is: ROI = (Net Profit / Cost of Investment) x 100.” Source: investinganswers.com
It can be a bit misleading to compare ROI on different opportunities as you need to be sure that you are comparing apples with apples. In Property Bloom cost calculations, we include every single cost, fee and charge, including our project management fee. But there is one thing that is hard to put a cost on.  Time.
Having a development professionally managed saves our clients valuable time.  If you didn’t use a project manager and made a higher ROI but your development took you twice as long to complete, then you need to consider the ROI over say two years instead of one. 
But focussing on ROI can also mean that you are missing the other valuable advantages that property development can bring. These include:
-       Yield – higher yield is created through adding value, this leads to passive income
-       Strategy Flexibility – hold them, sell them, hold a few or sell a few
-       Equity creation – whilst waiting for capital growth, access the equity that has been created through the development process by refinancing/selling
-       Depreciation – create tax credits
-       Fast growth of portfolio – increase your collection of properties quickly
-       Experience – with each development, your experience widens
-       Fun &amp; exciting – beats watching TV
So, there are many other ways apart from the ROI, to assess what you’ll get out of a development project and it’s worth considering the bigger picture.
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a><a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/">.</a>
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Is ROI the best way to assess a development project?

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If you had seven hundred and eighty two odd thousand dollars, or the median price of Sydney to spend, how would you spend it?
I was reading an article recently about finding a suitable property in Sydney and paying just the median price, which was around $782,000 at the time.
The story continued as property experts put forward their ideas. One suggested a small house in outlying Sydney suburbs like Rockdale, but most properties in this price range would be on busy roads and that would be the compromise.
Another expert recommended inner ring apartments over old terraces or townhouses that would need substantial renovations. He said you could pick up a one bedder for $600,000 to $700,000, or a two bedder for $775,000 to $900,000, with expected yields around 4.5%.
Reading about this expensive Sydney property mentioned in the story got me thinking about what you could buy for the same price if you drove two hours north of Sydney to the Lower Hunter Region of NSW. Depending on which city you chose, your $782,000 would stretch to an impressive acreage or farm. 
In the city of Cessnock you could buy three houses, each for $260,000 (around this city’s median price). They would be on large 800 square metre blocks with 3 bedrooms and each rent for around $300 per week delivering a 6% or more gross yield. Or you could buy two larger, newer homes or a really beautiful house within a golf resort and even a commercial property.
In the city of Maitland you could buy a luxury restored heritage home built at the turn of the century with manicured gardens, a 6 bedroom homestead on acreage, or two substantial, almost new houses in new land estates each on 750 square metres of land.
Or you could develop land and build a dual occupancy – for around $782,000, your budget would cover building two four bedroom homes on a larger corner block with a Torrens Title subdivision.
The big difference between buying multiple or larger properties with your budget compared to building two dwellings yourself would be the equity creation and depreciation benefits. You see if you used your $782,000 to add value, you would create about $120,000 in equity within a year and get around $25,000 in depreciation in year one (using the diminishing method).
I know what I’d chose if I had a lazy $782,000 to spend particularly if I was an investor...hmm a two bedroom unit in Sydney or a four bedroom dual occupancy project in the fast growing city of Maitland? 
Oh, and another very important thing to note. The Hunter was a big winner in the New South Wales budget. This week it was announced that the <a href="https://www.hunterinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank">Hunter Region gets $100 million to top up the Hunter Infrastructure Fund</a>.
Plus more than $300 million had already been announced for Hunter projects ahead of the budget including $280 million for the last link of the Newcastle inner-city bypass, $20 million to rebuild the Hunter Sports High School, $6 million allocated towards the Glendale interchange and $3 million for the planning of a new Maitland Hospital, among many others.
Infrastructure spend is one of the key indicators that an area is earmarked for growth.
<a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/">www.propertybloom.com.au</a>
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What would you buy with Sydney's median price?

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You know it wasn't that long ago that we lived in a totally different world. We had jobs for life. If you started work after leaving school in a bank, then you worked for a bank for the next thirty years or so. It was the same as buying a house and living in it for the same thirty years or so. That one house was deemed your 'investment for life' as superannuation was not yet invented.  
Also about 30 years ago, a little thing called the internet was introduced to us, we were told we could 'surf' the World Wide Web, little did we understand at the time the absolute massive impact this would have on the way we'd  live in the future.  
 I have trouble explaining to my kids that there was no internet when we were kids! The internet has now become an historical era; we talk pre and post internet. The internet opened up everything and now anyone, no matter what age can start a new business or become an 'entrepreneur'. So the 30 year careers in one industry have become extinct. 
A survey I read recently reported that 41% of all new business start ups in Australia are launched by people aged between 30 and 39, 21% aged 25 to 29 BUT 16% are aged between 40 and 44. I have a client starting her new business at the age of 58. Anything is possible. 
Today I received a call from a fifty something man who had made his fortune in buying, building up and selling businesses and now he was ready to park his money in property using a Self Managed Super Fund. He said "Jo, I'm ready now to kick back a bit and let my investments do the work for me." He is looking at a Property Bloom development that he'll fund from his SMSF that will create a nice chunk of equity during the development process and then result in a strong  yielding investment for him. 
The age for first time property investors is reducing. Whilst one in five Australians own an investment property, the number of Generation Y’s, individuals born roughly between 1982 and 1994, who own multiple properties is now on par with the Baby Boomers (17% own 2 or more). My step daughter fits this description with three properties under her belt.  Our youngest client will have six investment properties once we complete the two developments we have underway for him. His strategy is to build his portfolio as quickly as possible then as he starts a family, pull back and let time and capital growth work for him. The Gen Ys I know are clever. They embraces the internet early and used it as a tool to research and educate themselves on property investing. 
We live in a world overflowing with information and as older people realise that perhaps their 30 year career and original home is not going to deliver the retirement income they'll need over the next 30 years - because yes we are also living longer - then it's never too late to start investing and looking at entrepreneurial opportunities. Don't let physiological hang ups about 'comfort zones' set years ago hold you back. 
It's exciting times and why not build your own dream now? 
Jo Chivers is Chief Executive Officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.
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Never too old to own your future: Jo Chivers

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One of the most common questions I am asked these days comes from investors looking to use their self-managed super funds (SMSF) to invest and develop property.
It's no surprise that people who've had good experience with property investing want to apply the same strategy and take control of their superannuation investments.  But it's not as easy as it seems and you need to be clear on what tactics are permissible when investing money from your SMSF. You also need good, qualified advice.
I have to say I find it a little hard to stay on top of what you can and can't do with a SMSF.
When we recently started working with our new client Adam Mondy of <a href="https://www.mondyfinancial.com.au/" target="_blank">Mondy Financial Services</a>. I was delighted to hear that he was a financial planner who specialises in SMSFs. So I asked Adam if he wouldn't mind setting us straight on what we can and can't do with a SMSF.
Below are Adam's words of wisdom:
THE SMSF Developments
It sounds like a new movie release, but the SMSF world can be just as exciting and just as scary.
The Australian Tax Office are suggesting that 30,000 new SMSFs are opening each year, which is a lot of people wanting to be in complete control (or at least have the perception of control) over their retirement fortunes.
Investments in a SMSF
Any investment you can make in your current super fund or personal name you can make in an SMSF. Although if you are looking to boost your collection of fine wines and buy a few bottles of Grange Hermitage or perhaps add to your art collection with a Pro Hart, then that's a topic for a another time. Whilst it can be none, it's far more complicated.
You can invest in shares, term deposits, bonds, real estate trusts but a major drawcard and what has become very popular, is property.
Borrowing to Buy Property in your SMSF
The fact that you can take your super, borrow some funds from a bank and then buy a property that you may pay off in 15 - 20 years (yes slightly different than your traditional property strategy) using some or all of your superannuation guarantee payments, is a powerful strategy. Not a perfect, well diversified, sure fire guaranteed strategy, but nevertheless a powerful one based on past property prices. Basically if you are comfortable with gearing (using somebody else’s money, at a cost, to help build your future funds) using SMSF may suit you.
The standard method is to obtain a special loan from a normal banking institution, combining these funds and you can purchase any type of property. The ATO has very strict rules on “whom” you can purchase from and “who” can use these properties but any property type is fine.
The interesting thing about these loans is you cannot change the fundamental character of the property while the loan is on foot. For example, land cannot be purchased and then developed while a loan is attached. You could purchase a house and land package or an “off the plan unit” but there could be no ownership transfer under the package until the home/unit build was completed. The fundamental change being from vacant land to residential property.
On the other hand it is possible to make improvements to property, whilst the loan is on foot, so long as:
a) The improvements are not so extensive that they result in a change of the fundamental character of the property. Renovations to an existing residential property would generally be acceptable;
b) The improvements are not funded from borrowed monies, In other words the fund uses its own funds to make improvements to the property.
Can you develop property in a SMSF?
Many people think that you cannot develop in the SMSF environment. This is not correct. You can set up special trusts within the SMSF environment that allow you to use borrowed (by the SMSF) funds, develop property, subdivide, buy/sell, build a granny flat, or any property strategy you can think of. These trusts will even allow other investors, other SMSFs or you personally to invest with your SMSF to undertake a development.
The major catch, other than it is highly regulated, complicated and can be costly, is that you need to have the funds outside of the specific property you are developing. You cannot borrow against the property you are developing, as would be the “norm” in a traditional development. If you have access to funds, are able to borrow against other assets and/or have other parties involved, this scenario may be beneficial.
Using your own funds i.e. not borrowing
Basically you can do what you like with your own super funds in relation to property when borrowing is not undertaken. As long as the ATO rules of purchasing and “use” of the property are satisfied then any purchase, development, construction, subdivision or investment can be undertaken.
Your future self?
Whilst using your SMSF to invest in property has become common, you should consider that property is illiquid and may not produce the returns it has in the past. So it's important to do your due diligence carefully. In addition to this many property investors are committed to property over other investments, meaning there is little diversification across their portfolio. However, using different strategies such property development where you are adding value and creating equity through the process, can be a good way of building up the value of your SMSF faster than waiting on capital growth.
With any investment the return you receive should attempt to reflect the potential risk you are undertaking. Don’t forget in this instance we are talking about your future retirement funds, so you not only need to justify this strategy to your advisers, to your auditor and to the ATO but most importantly to your future self and family, so tread carefully.
<a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au" target="_blank">www.propertybloom.com.au</a>
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Can I develop property using my SMSF? Jo Chivers

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I was lucky to recently spend an amazing weekend riding horses in the NSW Snowy Mountains National Park.
It was one of those bucket list trips and I went with an old school friend. We'd gone to pony club together and grown up as horse crazy girls. We'd spend most of our teenage years riding and looking after our horses (which kept us out of trouble!).
Whilst sitting around the camp fire at night with a group of other women and staff we'd just met, I was discussing property investing with one of the ladies – can't help myself!
She was a pretty amazing single lady with her sights set on the future. She'd been clever enough to buy a few investment properties in-between serving our country in the army.  We were discussing her recent purchase of an off the plan apartment.
She shared with me the numbers on her deal and I was a bit surprised. I have good experience with buying off the plan but it was over ten years ago now that I used this strategy. Back then, the property developer offered a good discount to purchasers and this helped create some equity. If the market was also moving upwards, then a nice chunk of money could be made by settlement time. I would settle an apartment then draw out the equity to use as a deposit to settle the next one.
But things have changed. There seems to be more risk as there isn't the same discounts being applied. So you buy in at today's market price. If, of course, it's a hot market, as Sydney is at the moment, that price could end up more than what the apartment may be worth in a year or two once completed.
I explained what I did to the lady. Property Bloom manages small developments for our clients. A dual occupancy development can create a big chunk of money within twelve months and you end up with two properties.  I explained that the big difference between buying off the plan and developing yourself, is that you are creating the equity through the development process, not hoping for capital growth whilst your apartment is being constructed.
Would you rather control of the equity creation by cutting some keen deals on the land and construction or rely on a stranger to build your investment and hope for the market to rise?
I did the latter six times and was lucky four out of the six times. The other two deals were borderline. If I had my time again, I would not have completed on the two ordinary investments.  But as they say, time heals all wounds and because I held onto these investments (in lieu of selling at a loss) they've turned out well.
My big lesson from buying off the plan?  It is far more lucrative to be the developer than the investor.
<a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au">www.propertybloom.com.au</a>
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Chewing the fat on off the plan investments

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We are moving away from 9-5 and Monday to Friday work to a "work when, where and how is appropriate model" according to Morris Miselowski of Business Futurist.
In this new world, he says many of us will have 6 careers and 14 jobs, work into our 80's and have a "work portfolio" rather than a "job".
The work portfolio means we can gain income from a range of activities as well as mix in a more cash flow stable 'salary' job. 
I totally agree with the idea of a work portfolio. Technology gives us the freedom to work anywhere, at any time. You no longer have to be tied to a desk working for one business to earn your money. 
In fact, you could be working several jobs at once to meet your needs. For instance, you may want to sell on the global market those unique items you make on Etsy, manage your various property investments and superannuation fund, do the odd task for money and also perhaps hold down a 2-3 day a week salary job.  
It's the hay day for entrepreneurs as crowd funding has become the norm and new businesses can be "incubated". This means being nurtured and supported in free office space with access to all the services required to get started on your new business journey. Wow, I wish this was around when I started out! 
File sharing systems like Dropbox allow us to access cloud based storage systems again from anywhere at any time and share information easily. 
I feel like a bit of an accidental pioneer as without knowing it, I've created a business working in this way. 
Even when I had my last "salary job" which was regional marketing manager for a major USA cosmetic brand, I worked from home and in the hours I needed to get my work done. My office was in New York but I lived in Sydney's beachside suburb of North Curl Curl. 
Property Bloom offers staff a flexible work environment where they can project manage our developments in their own time. This often means some after hours work but also gives them time out with their family, for sports and also importantly, other income producing activities. One of my project managers also owns a palates studio, another runs installations for outdoor signage in his spare time. My admin assistant has two small children to care for. So all their work for me is done in their own time. 
This way of working is flexible and puts less stress on us, so maybe we will continue working into our 80's, although I do hope I'll be at least semi retired by then!  There are health benefits for this flexible working arrangement, keeping our minds active and giving us a sense of contributing.
In all our customs designs for our property developments we are including home offices where tenants have a dedicated work space in case they also want to do enjoy a flexible 'work portfolio'.
Jo Chivers is Chief Executive Officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.
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Create your own flexible 'work portfolio': Jo Chivers

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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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;

Jo Chivers

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