Australian home values rose by 0.8% in January according to Cotality’s Home Value Index, a subtle acceleration from the 0.6% increase recorded in December.

While every capital city and broad rest of state region recorded an increase in home values through the month, the start of the year returned a mixed result across the capital cities.

Sydney and Melbourne are weighing on the headline numbers, recording a 0.2% and 0.1% increase in January; a marginal pickup following the slight falls recorded in December. Both markets have values slightly down on their peak levels, with Sydney -0.1% below the November 2025 peak and Melbourne values remaining -0.7% lower than record highs recorded in March 2022.

The mid-sized capitals have continued their solid growth run, however some momentum has left the upswing in these cities as well.

Perth values were 2% higher in January, the strongest gain across the capitals, but well below the cyclical high of 2.9% MoM growth recorded in November last year. Similarly, Brisbane’s monthly gain has slowed from 2% in October last year to 1.6% in January, and Adelaide’s monthly increase dropped back to 1.2% from a 1.8% rise in December.

Tim Lawless, Cotality’s Research Director, noted the market’s resilience, but suggests further momentum is likely to leave the market.

“Despite the most unaffordable conditions on record in many cities, along with a rebound in cost of living pressures and prospect of a rate hike as early as this Tuesday, we are still seeing a broad-based rise in housing values,” Lawless said.

“The ongoing capital gains reflect persistently low inventory in the face of above average housing demand, however we are likely to see demand side pressures gradually ease in 2026.

“Affordability and serviceability constraints are likely to naturally dampen demand, but also renewed cost of living pressures and a strong chance that interest rates will rise. There is also slowing population growth to consider.”

Cotality estimates the number of homes advertised for sale was 19% below levels at the same time last year, and 25% below the five-year average for this time of year. At the same time, the rolling quarterly number of home sales was estimated to be 1% higher than a year ago and only 3% below the five-year average.

Digging a little deeper, most cities are continuing to see homes at the lower end of the value spectrum supporting growth, especially for houses. Across the combined capitals, lower quartile house values were up 1.3% in January compared with a 0.3% rise across the upper quartile.

“This trend of stronger growth conditions at lower price points is supported by intense competition for more affordable houses,” said Mr Lawless. “This is where first home buyers, investors and, progressively, mainstream demand is most concentrated.”

Regional markets have delivered a stronger growth outcome, with the combined regionals index up 1% in January compared with a 0.7% rise across the combined capitals.

Joel Robinson

Housing values continued to rise in January

The final piece of Norwest’s most ambitious residential puzzle is falling into place.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/zeste-at-the-orchards-norwest-104-fairway-drive-norwest-nsw-2153">Zeste</a>, the concluding release in Sekisui House Australia’s decade-long masterplan, The Orchards, delivers the final 200 apartments to the already thriving Hills District community.

Several thousand residents already call the $1 billion masterplanned community home. Ideally positioned on the fringe of Norwest’s town centre, The Orchards sits close to Norwest Marketown and the Norwest Metro Station.

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Set among landscaped parkland and walking trails, with the energy of an emerging lifestyle precinct at its doorstep, Zeste has been designed by award-winning architecture firm Rothelowman. Interiors draw on Japanese-inspired craftsmanship, prioritising restraint, material quality, and longevity, hallmarks increasingly sought after by owner-occupiers and downsizers alike.

With a mature community already established at The Orchards, Sekisui House Australia has spent years understanding how residents actually live. That insight has shaped Zeste’s refined apartment mix and intelligent floorplan designs, tailored to the expectations of today’s discerning buyers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150510 project_image_fid=351886]

This buyer-led approach has been reflected in strong early demand. Since launch, nearly half of all reservations have been secured by the Sky Home collection, premium upper-level residences offering private breezeway entries, oversized balconies, and cross-ventilated north–south layouts, a rare and highly prized combination in Sydney’s apartment market.

In some cases exceeding 200 sqm, the Sky Homes challenge traditional downsizer stereotypes, offering house-like proportions without the upkeep.

“Our apartment is over 200 sqm, so there is plenty of space,” says Ashwin, a Castle Hill local moving into Zeste with his wife, Dilu.

“The layout, light timber finishes, Japanese craftsmanship, balcony overlooking a landscaped courtyard, and concierge were standout features. Proximity to friends, shops, restaurants, Sydney Olympic Park, walk and cycle paths, and the new Metro made our decision very easy.”

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Reflecting its local appeal, almost 90 per cent of buyers to date are Hills District locals, many transitioning from family homes into low-maintenance apartments without sacrificing space or lifestyle.

Inside, Zeste continues Sekisui House’s philosophy of balancing home, people, and nature. Dual-aspect apartments maximise natural light and cross-ventilation, while timber-toned joinery, cathedral glass, and stone benchtops reference the site’s orchard heritage. Two interior schemes,&nbsp;Sunrise and Twilight,&nbsp;allow buyers to personalise their homes while maintaining a calm, cohesive aesthetic that matches the overall building palette.

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Residents will also enjoy access to a private pavilion overlooking the central courtyard, complemented by resort-style amenities including a lagoon-style pool, gym, function spaces, and barbecue areas.

The broader Orchards community is anchored by 1.4 hectares of parkland, complete with an outdoor cinema, playgrounds, and direct access to Norwest’s growing cycleway network.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150510 project_image_fid=351876]

From above, Zeste reads as a green thread within Norwest’s evolving urban fabric. At street level, it offers a highly connected lifestyle, just 600 metres from Norwest Metro, adjacent to Norwest Marketown and Castle Hill Country Club, and within easy reach of Sydney Olympic Park.

Construction is scheduled to commence in early 2026, with completion anticipated in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150510]

A decade in the making: Inside Zeste, the final chapter at $1 billion Norwest masterplan, The Orchards

Apartments account for just 15 per cent of total dwelling stock in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/balwyn-vic-3103">Balwyn</a>, reinforcing the suburb’s long-standing identity as a low-density, detached housing area.

As a result, new apartment development has historically been limited in both volume and density. For homeowners considering a move out of larger family houses, options that maintain a residential setting while offering a genuine alternative to detached living have remained relatively scarce.

One of the most recent apartment developments completed in the suburb is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/threadneedle-balwyn-1-5-threadneedle-street-balwyn-vic-3103">Threadneedle</a>, a boutique project named after its location on the tree-lined Threadneedle Street. There are just 17 residences across two low-rise buildings.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355605]

Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/wulff-projects">Wulff Projects</a> in partnership with PGA Group, the project has been deliberately limited in scale, with just eight and nine residences per building, reflecting an approach more closely aligned with long-term owner-occupiers than higher-density apartment models.

At Threadneedle, the shift to apartment living has been approached as a recalibration rather than a compromise. The project is shaped around maintaining space, privacy and amenity while reducing the ongoing upkeep associated with a traditional family home, a balance that increasingly defines downsizing decisions in established suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355584]

Rather than maximising yield, the design prioritises spatial comfort and landscape, with more than one-third of the site dedicated to gardens by Ben Scott Garden Design.

This emphasis on greenery creates separation between buildings, reinforces privacy and establishes a sense of domestic calm that mirrors the garden settings many residents are accustomed to.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=197163]

That residential character continues through the architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, which draws directly from the surrounding neighbourhood where many homes date back to the interwar period. The buildings are conceived as traditional residences rather than a single apartment form, allowing them to sit comfortably within the existing streetscape.

“Given the quiet residential character of the street, we approached Threadneedle wanting it to appear less as a collection of apartments and more as a traditional residence,” said John Scaramuzzino, director at Bruce Henderson Architects. “That led to creating two buildings that could breathe, with larger garden-based apartments functioning more like small homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=197161]

Inside, the residences are defined by proportions and layouts more commonly associated with houses than apartments, reinforcing the project’s alignment with buyers transitioning from detached living. All homes are three-bedroom configurations, many incorporating dedicated studies designed as separate rooms rather than adapted corners. Living areas extend to generous terraces or courtyards, while three-metre-high ceilings, oversized internal doors and full-height glazing enhance openness and natural light without sacrificing privacy.

“The interior design evolved from the architecture and garden setting,” said Chantelle Sinnott of Bruce Henderson Interiors. “We wanted to create spaces that feel connected to nature, with flexibility and functionality that supports how people actually live.”

Each residence has been individually planned to maximise privacy and outlooks, with garden views prioritised across multiple aspects. Parking and storage are treated as essential components rather than secondary considerations, aligning with expectations shaped by years of living in detached homes and reinforcing the project’s house-like approach to apartment living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355565]

Together, these characteristics, generous internal space, private outdoor areas, low-density form and a strong connection to landscape, closely mirror the qualities many downsizers seek as they transition out of family homes, without requiring a departure from the neighbourhoods they know.

Leafy streets, village-scale retail and established community networks underpin daily life, while access to public transport along Whitehorse Road and nearby parklands supports walkability and convenience. For many residents, the ability to remain within a familiar suburb is central to the downsizing decision.

With construction now complete, a limited number of residences remain available, including a top-floor penthouse offering single-level living with three bedrooms, a dedicated study and expansive terraces.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=27816]

Why downsizers are choosing Threadneedle, Balwyn's newest apartment development

Twelve multimillion-dollar homes on one of Mosman's last large consolidated residential blocks are set to make way for The Oswald, a 103-apartment development that puts the suburb's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms to their most visible test yet.

The site at 42A-52 Rangers Avenue and 21-31 Brierley Street was assembled last year for a reported $86 million by entities linked to Arissa Group and its director Frank Scarf.

The consolidated 5,638 sqm block, bounded by Rangers Avenue to the north and Brierley Street to the south, with Cartreff Lane running along its eastern edge, gives the project an unusual three-street presence and a site footprint that is rare for the Lower North Shore.

<img alt="First Look: The Oswald rises from Mosman's $86 million supersite" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="19dd6171-74ed-4e39-83a2-6c4f45057c7c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mosman%20a.png?VersionId=F.7cdgrjPHdF8VdabP2m3g9NPIcdFRe5" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dko-architecture">DKO Architecture</a> has designed a six and seven-storey building that steps across the sloping site in a U-shaped form, with the gap between the two arms of the building opening inward toward a central communal space that includes a pool and landscaped garden.&nbsp;

The form is explicitly drawn from the material language of the surrounding streets: a brick base articulated into finer-grain bays that roughly match the width of the bungalows being replaced, stepping up and down with the natural fall of the land rather than imposing a uniform datum.&nbsp;

Upper levels set back further from the street edge, keeping the building's presence lower and more domestic at the perimeter while the bulk consolidates toward the centre of the site.

The 103 apartments span a mix of 14 one-bedroom, 58 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom and two four-bedroom homes, spread across three basement levels that also accommodate 198 car spaces accessed from Cartreff Lane.

<img alt="First Look: The Oswald rises from Mosman's $86 million supersite" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1e5e5ea1-96d3-4d3f-a872-ab202450bf4e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Mosman%20b.png?VersionId=L43LKdPuoUiKYTtIdtaefVivyTrvlcVo" />

The site sits within easy walking distance of Cremorne town centre to the west, where the Spofforth Street strip offers cafes, grocers and everyday retail.&nbsp;

The Cremorne Point ferry wharf puts the CBD roughly 20 minutes away by water, with bus services along Military Road providing additional links across the Lower North Shore.&nbsp;

Mosman is going through a wave of new apartment projects, with the likes of Abadeen, WINIM, DARE, and Toohey Miller with apartment developments underway and in planning.

The Oswald apartments pitched as Mosman density-push continues

High-rise developer Level 33 is continuing to venture out of its Wollongong heartland.

The developer, which has several projects completed, underway, and planned in the third-largest city in New South Wales, is heading to Homebush, where it plans to develop more than 300 apartments across two towers.

Like most developers, it has sought approval through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority, filing a State Significant Development Application for the $127.6 million project.

The DKO-designed towers, 27 and 35 storeys in height, will replace seven detached homes. The apartments will sit above a four-storey podium, which will be crowned with a pool, dining areas, and landscaped spaces.

<img alt="17-24 Loftus Cr, Homebush" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="28be85ce-0e00-495d-9528-b9ca3f85e583" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/perspective_4.png?VersionId=N6zmNAUwvZOElnX6IgLOEeON7yaoBx0p" />

According to the Urban Design Report prepared by DKO Architecture, the proposal “supports residential growth with housing diversity” and is designed to “create inviting, safe public spaces with strong environmental amenity that encourage social interaction and pedestrian movement”.

Level 33, founded by Eddy Haddad, has thousands of apartments in the pipeline. They have their 500-plus-unit WIN Grand redevelopment, and another 900 units to be developed in replace of the old Bunnings Warehouse on the corner of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/60-74-flinders-street-wollongong">Gipps and Flinders Streets</a>.

They are soon to launch their second stage of their Kogarah development, and will also hope to&nbsp;launch Summit Wollongong, later this year, pending approvals to upsize the development to have over 330 apartments. Also set to hit the market is their boutique Kiama development, Elan.

Level 33 adds to 2,000-unit pipeline with new two-tower Homebush plans

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) has unveiled Gloriette, its new 25-storey luxury residential tower set to rise within its Yeerongpilly Green (YG) precinct in Brisbane’s inner south.&nbsp;

Designed by award winning architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> will deliver 181 luxury two- and three bedroom apartments on King Arthur Terrace, offering uninterrupted views across the Brisbane River, Indooroopilly Golf Course and the Brisbane CBD.&nbsp;

The reveal of the project follows its development approval by Brisbane City Council within the evolving <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yeerongpilly-green-21-queens-way-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Yeerongpilly Green</a> masterplanned community late last year.&nbsp;

The formal market launch will be later this year.

The name “Gloriette” is drawn from classical European architecture, referring to a garden pavilion traditionally set within palace landscapes.&nbsp;

CPG says its choice reflects Gloriette’s strong connection to landscape, outlook and amenity, with refined architecture complemented by lush gardens, exceptional rooftop facilities and an emphasis on light, views and liveability.&nbsp;

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Set on a 4,323 sqm site, Gloriette has been designed to integrate with its surroundings, prioritising green space and community connection with more than 2,000 sqm of landscaped gardens to surround the tower, creating privately owned, publicly accessible parkland. Located within one of Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic Games precincts, the development is literally minutes’ walk of the future Olympic tennis venue and the upgraded Yeerongpilly Cross River Rail station.&nbsp;

CPG Head of Residential James MacGinley says Gloriette represents a defining addition to the Yeerongpilly Green precinct.&nbsp;

Gloriette is a natural evolution of Yeerongpilly Green and our commitment to creating places where people genuinely love to live,” MacGinley said.&nbsp;

“The views from Gloriette will be unlike anything else in Brisbane. Elevated northern aspects taking in two reaches of the Brisbane River, Indooroopilly and Brisbane golf courses, the city skyline and Mt Coot-tha are exceptionally rare. We expect buyers will immediately recognise the uniqueness of this opportunity.&nbsp;

“The generous apartment sizes will appeal to people looking to downsize without compromise, offering luxury, spacious, light filled apartment living without the intensity of inner-city congestion.

“Developments like Gloriette also play an important role in addressing Brisbane’s housing needs, with the potential to free up 181 houses for local families.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=359988]

Gloriette will complement the award-winning YG Riverside Village, home to Woolworths, Goodlife Health Clubs, new Doctors surgery and a growing dining precinct that continues to attract locals and visitors alike.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hutchinson-builders">Hutchinson Builders</a> has been appointed as builder, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a> International confirmed as sales agent. A dedicated display suite is scheduled to open for the public launch in the second half of 2026 in a heritage-listed Queenslander opposite the site.&nbsp;

Andrew Scriven, Director of Residential at Colliers International, says buyer interest is already building.&nbsp;

“Gloriette offers a rare opportunity to secure a high-end riverside home within a major lifestyle precinct,” Scriven said.&nbsp;

“We’re inviting buyers to sign up to the VIP list today to receive exclusive updates, early information and priority access ahead of the formal launch.”

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150713]

Consolidated Properties Group unveils Gloriette in Yeerongpilly Green precinct

Develotek has secured State Significant Development approval for its 34-storey mixed-use tower on the Pacific Highway in Chatswood.

The developer pumped up the height under the in-fill affordable housing uplift to create a 101-unit building with 27 apartments dedicated as affordable. It was previously approved for 89 apartments across a 27-storey tower.

In granting consent, the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure cited the project’s alignment with state and regional planning objectives, including the National Housing Accord and the Chatswood CBD Strategy. It will also pump over $107 million of capital investment into the state, as well as 180 operational jobs and 182 construction jobs.

The site, across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/691-699-pacific-highway-chatswood-nsw-2067">691-699 Pacific Highway</a>, sits around 500 metres from the Chatswood Transport Interchange and within walking distance of the retail core.

<img alt="Develotek secures approval for 34-storey mixed-use tower on Pacific Highway, Chatswood" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="65261a56-ef10-479b-941a-d4e3f22cd973" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29%20%281%29_1.png?VersionId=PFN5_svoAwQgHPM1K9XJFlg9BJSfArm0" />

Designed by Squillace Architects, the tower will rise to 117 metres and sit above a two-storey podium and eight basement levels of parking. The residential mix includes one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, with affordable housing to be managed by a registered community housing provider for a minimum of 15 years.

The tower’s built form is characterised by a slender, articulated residential element set above a more robust podium, with commercial uses activating the street edge. Communal amenities are located within the podium and upper levels, including landscaped open space, a pool, gym, and shared facilities, contributing to resident amenity while reinforcing the mixed-use nature of the precinct.

<img alt="Develotek secures approval for 34-storey mixed-use tower on Pacific Highway, Chatswood" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2672fcb7-aa48-4f99-a6e5-aedf9d506973" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/podium_1.png?VersionId=mP29SWoVfCvI_hMODNx6QJ00VT435B33" />

&nbsp;

The approval represents one of the larger residential-led developments to proceed under the NSW Government’s infill affordable housing pathway, reinforcing Chatswood’s role as a high-density employment and residential centre on Sydney’s North Shore.

Chatswood is going through another growth phase, with the likes of Changfa Group, Billbergia, Coronation, Tian An LFD, Bridgestone, and Hyecorp all planning projects in the suburb. The NSW Gov is also proposing a further <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/nsw-gov-landcom-plan-1-500-new-apartments-in-chatswood-cbd">1,500 new homes on the former contruction site of the Sydney Metro</a>.

Develotek secures approval for 34-storey Chatswood tower

Off the plan apartments buyers have started to move into <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/louise-melbourne-8-louise-street-melbourne-vic-3004">Louise</a>, the flagship Albert Park apartment development by local developer Samuel Property.

Construction firm Hamilton Marino has recently completed the two-year build of the 16-storey Louise Street tower, just off St Kilda Road.

Developer Illan Samuel says the project’s strong sales result, with around 90 per cent of apartments sold ahead of its construction completion, is a “good news story for Melbourne”.

“Melbourne hasn’t had the easiest time in the off the plan development space in recent years,” Samuel says, pointing to rising taxes and limited growth in the established property market. However, there are signs of improvement, with build costs having normalised and now “only moving modestly”, and improving sentiment among buyers both local and interstate that Melbourne is the city of opportunity.

Samuel attributes the success of Louise to a combination of the project team, design, location and apartment mix, noting strong investor interest driven by high rental yields and comparatively low body corporate fees.

While only about 20 apartments are currently being leased, they are achieving yields of between 5.5 and 6 per cent.

“The maths show investors are receiving neutral or even positive cash flow on a city-fringe residential asset that has grown by around 5 per cent year on year for the past three years&nbsp;based on our pricing strategy on&nbsp;incremental price rises during construction and sales milestones, while much of the broader market has remained relatively flat,” he says.

<img alt="Samuel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="79b97c26-6fc6-4887-984a-8de45f0e1e6d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/8-Louise-St-33.jpg?VersionId=Egjy9IyMg5Y9M3X1WTEQU0riRCDAdLVG" />

A handful of apartments remain, with one-beds starting from $595,000, two's from $779,000, and three-beds from $2,445,000. All but one sub penthouses have been sold, and that is priced from just shy of $14 million. It has four bedrooms and five bathrooms across its 600 sqm, and parking for five cars.

Darren Blair from Blair Property Group has handled the sales campaign.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> designed the 89-unit building, on the fringe of St Kilda Road and Albert Park, to respond directly to its heritage-rich context, where historic mansions and retained period buildings continue to shape the streetscape.&nbsp;

The completed building reflects this influence through its brick façade and art-deco detailing, drawing cues from neighbouring heritage structures while delivering a contemporary residential format suited to modern inner-city living.

<img alt="Cera Stribley" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c6067811-6d0d-4057-b77c-2b5fde0a5602" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/8-Louise-St-36.jpg?VersionId=YfEOR_L10AI4JgGDtD_ZjaxeT0DL4PRe" />

Amenities were conceived as an extension of daily life rather than a checklist of inclusions. Residents now have access to a ground-floor pool illuminated by a central skylight, a fully equipped gym, steam room, private dining room, lounge, and a landscaped outdoor terrace that wraps the communal spaces.&nbsp;

The amenity offering reflects a biophilic design approach, with water and greenery used to soften the building’s urban setting and support wellbeing.

<img alt="Louise" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="531e3e37-5e48-4af6-8b9c-49fa91504175" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/8-Louise-St-184.jpg?VersionId=KA.jqRLlSggTvJ.FWLtU47IOwDI9LF61" />

Samuel now shifts its focus to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/hali-dromana-105-111-point-nepean-road-dromana-vic-3936">Hali</a>, its beachside townhouse development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/dromana-vic-3936">Dromana</a>, which has been popular among city dwellers looking for a low-maintenance bolthole on the Mornington Peninsula.

Samuel recently began the construction phase of the&nbsp;73-townhome community, one of the most unique developments the Mornington Peninsula has seen in decades.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112174]

Samuel Property’s Louise reaches completion, nears sell-out on Albert Park’s edge

Sydney’s Transport Oriented Development applications continue to flood into the NSW Government, as developers seek to trigger the uplift encouraged by the government around the city’s key transport hubs.

The latest State Significant Development application, which is assessed by the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority, is in Carlingford, where a consortium known as the Carlingford Unit Trust has proposed a trio of buildings delivering 136 apartments, 25 of which will be dedicated to affordable housing and managed by Link Wentworth.

The corner site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/241-245-pennant-hills-road-carlingford-nsw-2118">241–245 Pennant Hills Road</a>, near the junction of Pennant Hills and Jenkins roads, is located just 250 metres from the new Carlingford Light Rail station.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/kennedy-associates-architects">Kennedy Associates Architects</a> has designed the three buildings, which will sit above a 98-place childcare centre, six commercial tenancies and a gym. Residents will have access to 2,680 sqm of communal open space across rooftop and podium levels.

&nbsp;

<img alt="241-245 Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d515b5a6-2844-40cb-95da-1e613b49c945" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Carlingford%20Central%20da%203.png?VersionId=..LzSSX12YvB4zX69bBYOJG5gNvk5xN5" />

“The development...will deliver a significant addition to the wider Parramatta region,” Kennedy Associates noted in their Design Report, adding that the project aims to “enrich the street environment and local character of Carlingford”.

The tallest element of the proposal is an 18-storey tower to the northeast of the site (Building A), flanked by two smaller 4–5 storey buildings (Buildings B and C) along the western edge. Basement levels will accommodate 263 car spaces, allocated across residential, commercial, childcare, gym, and visitor use.

Sustainability features include passive solar design, cross ventilation, deep soil zones, and compliance with BASIX and NatHERS benchmarks. Communal open spaces have been designed to enhance residential amenity, with spaces positioned to benefit from solar access and outlooks over the broader district, including potential views to Parramatta and Sydney CBDs.

<img alt="241-245 Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2f638af3-17fd-4e12-aaa2-263a342c01ac" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Carlingford%20Central%20da%202.png?VersionId=UXFl9I0rBSHfNj7QX6ubCsZsPvKJiMxk" />

The development takes advantage of in-fill affordable housing incentives under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021, enabling a 30% uplift in height and floor space in exchange for dedicating at least 15 per cent of GFA to affordable rental housing managed by a registered community housing provider.

Carlingford Unit Trust is backed by Triple Eight Corporation, which owns the consolidated 6,331 sqm site. While the eastern edge of the site is earmarked for partial acquisition by Transport NSW for road widening, the project has been designed around the residual 5,765 sqm parcel.

New apartments in Carlingford have been in short supply. The only recent new development in the area is Blossom, just 41 apartments by Capio Property closer to the town centre.&nbsp;

First look: 18-storey housing project pitched near Carlingford Light Rail Station

Highgroves bathroom founder Linsday Sinclair looks set to be moving into a life of apartment devleopment.

Having last year filed plans for 51 apartments on Sunset Boulevarde in Surfers Paradise, Sinclair's investment vehicle, Sinclair Projects, is seeking to develop a similar-scale tower in Southport.

Sinclair paid $9 million for the 6,067 sqm vacant site across 28-40 Spendelove Avenue late last year. The site was carved off from the Southport Private Hospital in 2023.

The plans are for 52 apartments across a 15-storey building designed by&nbsp;Studio Workshop Architects. The slender tower will front Eugaree Street, and at just over 57 metres high, will be among the tallest at the eastern end of the street.

&nbsp;

<img alt="First Look: Sinclair Projects targets Southport CBD fringe with 52-apartment high-rise" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1334a99e-10e5-46da-81ac-1770446ae780" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Southport%20front.png?VersionId=32tSToioYYVbPTDbFYPSpeDhx400DrKH" />

The architecture draws on a coastal-urban palette: curved glazing, feature brick cladding, fluted vertical screens, and subtropical hanging gardens spilling over the podium edges. North and south-facing balconies are positioned to capture views of the Gold Coast skyline and hinterland, while the western circulation core acts as a thermal buffer, keeping internal spaces cooler through summer.

The 52 apartments are split across two distinct bands. Levels three to six deliver 24 affordable housing units across a mix of one- and two-bedroom configurations, sized between 55 and 80 sqm internally. These are intentionally compact, with car parking unbundled to reduce construction costs and keep rents accessible to low-to-moderate income households.&nbsp;

Levels seven to thirteen hold 28 market-rate apartments, all two-bedroom, running between 105 and 109 sqm with balconies up to 13 sqm. Residents on both bands get private balconies off the main living area, and everyone has access to a 265 sqm communal rooftop terrace with a BBQ and planting.

<img alt="First Look: Sinclair Projects targets Southport CBD fringe with 52-apartment high-rise" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3e3bcc4d-ce84-4866-8f49-cb1dce739abb" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Southport%20site%20a.png?VersionId=ExPoN1IFMwf6q1MNmeFhEpepKoizwZq0" />

The site sits within walking distance of Australia Fair shopping centre, the G:link tram on Nerang Street, Ellis Family Park, Southport State School, and St Hilda's. The Southport Private Hospital remains immediately to the north.

This is the first of three towers Sinclair intends to build across the full site. The larger northern portion, fronting Spendelove Avenue, is earmarked for two further towers ranging between 41 and 71 metres. There will be 338 apartments in total across the site. The sequencing Sinclair has outlined suggests this tower is as much about establishing the pattern of development as it is about delivering housing on its own.

Sinclair Projects targets Southport CBD fringe with 52-apartment high-rise

South East Queensland developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gardner-vaughan-group">Gardner Vaughan Group</a>’s entry into the Gold Coast apartment market has progressed from pipeline to market, with its Chevron Island project Bronze on Chevron now formally available to purchase ahead of a planned 2029 completion.

The 119-apartment development on Mawarra Street marks the Brisbane-headquartered builder-developer’s first residential play in the Gold Coast, following its expansion south from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bronze-on-chevron-8-mawarra-street-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Bronze on Chevron</a> comprises a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom residences, with pricing starting from just over $1.5 million. The project is being delivered under Gardner Vaughan’s fully integrated model, with the group acting as both developer and builder, a structure it has consistently applied across its South East Queensland portfolio.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367182]

Architecture has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/jeremy-ferrier-landscape-design">Jeremy Ferrier</a>. The building presents as a single-tower scheme, with a focus on maximising outlook across both the Surfers Paradise skyline and the Nerang River.

Apartments have been planned with open-plan living zones extending to generous balconies, a response to the site’s dual-aspect positioning between river and ocean. Interiors follow a restrained coastal palette, with two colour schemes offered, and an emphasis on natural light and cross-ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367181]

Resident amenity is concentrated across more than 1,250 sqm and includes a resort-style pool, gym, yoga lawn and rooftop entertaining areas. A function space with catering facilities forms part of the upper-level offering, alongside north- and south-facing outdoor areas.

Ground level will incorporate two retail tenancies, intended to extend the existing village character of the surrounding streets.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367200]

The project sits within walking distance of Thomas Drive’s established dining strip, while maintaining proximity to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Surfers Paradise</a> beach and broader Gold Coast amenity. The location, positioned on Chevron Island between the river and coastline, has increasingly attracted mid- to high-density development in recent years as the precinct evolves beyond its low-rise origins.

Gardner Vaughan’s move into the Gold Coast was first signalled in 2025, with the group identifying the region as a natural extension of its operations. Chief Executive Officer Simon Betteridge described the expansion as both “strategic and natural”, citing demand for well-designed apartments in lifestyle-driven markets.

Construction is expected to complete in early 2029.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=107520]

Gardner Vaughan brings Bronze on Chevron to market as Gold Coast debut

One of the penthouses at Lily Lane, the latest stage of Carrington Place by Ellipse Property, has set a new local apartment price record.

The four-bedroom residence, purchased by a local downsizer, sold for $5.75 million—around 75 per cent higher than the previous record of $3.3 million.

Over 40 per cent of the first release of apartments at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lily-lane-at-carrington-place-castle-hill-32-carrington-road-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Lily Lane</a> have already been snapped up just six weeks since it launched to the market.

&nbsp;

Located at 32 Carrington Road, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a> and designed by award-winning architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ptw">PTW</a>, Lily Lane is directly opposite the Hills Showground Metro station. It offers a total 213 units over two 12-storey towers - a mix of 67 one-bedroom, 100 two-bedroom and 46 three-bedroom apartments - with a ground-floor retail offering.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=368352]

Blake Schulze, National Director – Residential at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a>, says around 44 per cent of buyers are&nbsp;owner occupiers, with 35 per cent being investors and 21 per cent first homebuyers.

“Developments of this calibre are very rare in the Hills District, and Lily Lane’s sales success demonstrates the depth of demand for over-sized apartments that genuinely compete with freestanding homes," Schulze says.

"We are seeing particular demand from downsizers who want to remain in the area but transition into spacious, high-quality apartment living."

On the penthouse sale, it says it shows buyers&nbsp;are prepared to pay a premium for scale, quality, and direct access to the Metro.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=368351]

One-bedroom apartments are sized from 50-72 sqm with prices starting at $745,000, while two-bedrooms are priced from $990,000 with sizes from 75 to 132 square metres. Three-bedroom floorplans are sized between 97 and 182 sqm,, with prices starting at $1,395,000.&nbsp;

The three remaining penthouses, spanning up to 262 sqm, are priced from $2.9 million.

Over 75 per cent of apartments include dedicated studies, multipurpose rooms or family rooms, with select layouts offering walk-in pantries and laundries. Apartments are appointed with premium Miele appliances including ovens, washing machines, dryers, gas cooktops and dishwashers, while larger residences also incorporate integrated Miele microwaves, Fisher &amp; Paykel integrated refrigerators and five-burner Miele cooktops.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=360285]

Lily Lane will be constructed by award-winning iCIRT-rated builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/decode">Decode Group</a>, with construction to commence in mid-2026 and expected to complete early 2029.

Carrington Place comprises more than 800 apartments and is being delivered across multiple stages, with completion expected in 2032. Integrated with neighbouring bushland, the project will feature over 20,000 sq, of outdoor recreational area, including a one-kilometre boardwalk to Fred Caterson Reserve.&nbsp;

The Hills Showground Metro Station is just a two-minute walk away, offering fast connectivity to Sydney’s CBD, North Sydney, Chatswood, Macquarie Park and Norwest Business Park.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151821]

Ellipse sets Castle Hill apartment record with $5.75 million Lily Lane penthouse sale

Fresh off completing its Delano Crows Nest development, Lindsay Bennelong has lodged plans for its next project, this time turning its attention back to the beach.

The developer, started 20 years ago by Clarendon Homes founder Peter Campbell, is proposing a 37-apartment scheme at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-25-ashburner-street-manly-nsw-2095">17-25 Ashburner Street</a>, Manly, positioned between the southern end of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/manly-nsw-2095">Manly</a> Beach and East Manly Cove.

Lindsay Bennelong called on local architecture firm Platform Architects to design the new building, given their success at Finn, Lindsay Bennelong's current luxury apartment project on North Steyne.&nbsp;

According to the Design Verification Statement by Bridie Gough of Platform Architects, the proposal “relates to the current context but also the desired future character of taller buildings suitable to the new planning controls.”

The site has been identified as a Low to Mid-Rise Housing (LMR) location, given its position within 400 metres of the Manly Town Centre E1 Business Zone. The LMR controls are intended to unlock additional housing supply in well-located areas close to public transport, allowing developers to seek increased height limits to support greater density.

“The proposal seeks to provide this increased level of housing whilst being respectful of some of the smaller scale buildings also nearby,” the statement reads.

Lindsay Bennelong Development Director Leigh Manser said the project has been carefully aligned with the intent of the LMR controls. The proposal will significantly increase housing yield on the site, replacing four houses and 10 apartments, comprising 25 bedrooms, with 37 new apartments delivering a total of 94 bedrooms, whilst remaining compliant with the LMR controls.

“Sydney is in a severe undersupply, and delivering more dwellings and more bedrooms than what currently exists is exactly what the LMR policy is designed to activate,” Manser said, noting that nine of the apartments will be allocated as affordable housing for frontline workers.

“We have already commenced discussions with our community housing provider to determine the rental levels that frontline workers can realistically afford in this location,” he said. “These will need to sit well below the standard affordable housing benchmark of 20 per cent below market rent, and that has been factored into our feasibility and pricing.”

<img alt="Manly" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ad03000f-19f9-48b4-b27d-e85ca800a1da" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-30%20at%208.41.59%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=a.txHwCZgbCInlQ6QXbIrI.umvW1T.r8" />

The design of the building incorporates a wave-like indentation running through the façade, referencing the nearby coastline and anchoring the building within its local context.

The&nbsp;Design Verification Statement says careful consideration has been given to the articulation of the building, ensuring the bulk is broken down to a more human scale through a defined four-storey podium."

The scheme includes a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a full-time building manager's office and wellness facilities including a sauna and a gym.

“The design ensures a high level of amenity, with apartments offering generous private open space, many with expansive views, and all with comfortable proportions."

<img alt="Bennelong" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6a7f2812-72a1-4959-84b0-997e8cd88aed" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-30%20at%2010.15.50%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6iMxU3MkXmHVHAoNhYBjnqgka8CUZNbk" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lindsay-bennelong-developments">Lindsay Bennelong</a>&nbsp;is currently developing Finn Manly, just four full-floor luxury apartments on North Steyne. They recently welcomed residents to its 81-unit Delano Crows Nest development, a&nbsp;carefully scaled infill project designed to bridge&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/crows-nest-nsw-2065">Crows Nest</a>’s lively village centre with its surrounding heritage streets.

Designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ajc-architects">AJC Architects</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/delano-crows-nest-27-57-falcon-street-crows-nest-nsw-2065">Delano</a>&nbsp;is arranged across three low-rise buildings, incorporating a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments alongside a limited number of townhomes addressing Hayberry Lane. The architectural approach drew on the area’s Art Deco lineage, reinterpreted through contemporary detailing and framed by landscaped communal gardens.

The developer also has a development site in Maroubra.

First look: Lindsay Bennelong's new Manly apartment development revealed

Fifty-nine residences across 37 levels. No more than two per floor. With 80 per cent now sold, what remains at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/madeline-by-mosaic-broadbeach-22-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Madeline by Mosaic</a> is a short list.

Madeline was always conceived at a scale that sits outside the normal register of Gold Coast apartment living. The residences are half- and full-floor configurations, with the largest spanning more than 400 sqm, dimensions that place them closer to the penthouse end of the market regardless of where they sit in the building.

That scale is the organising principle of everything else: how the floorplans are laid out, how the materials read, how the connection between inside and outside works.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=355941]

The interiors were developed in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser &amp; Partners</a>, the architecture practice&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mosaic-property-group">Mosaic</a> brought in as design partner for the first time on this project. The palette runs to natural stone, textured timbers, and soft metallics, materials chosen as much for their tactile quality as their appearance.

Light cleverly shifts across surfaces through the day, and the design is explicit about wanting that to be noticed. Full-height glazing runs across the primary living areas, and where the building faces east toward the ocean, those walls of glass are doing real work: framing a view corridor that the site's position directly opposite Broadbeach State School's playing fields keeps permanently open.

That outlook is the site's most consequential asset. In a suburb where new towers continue to rise, a protected view line is genuinely rare, and the Mary Avenue address secures it. Residents at Madeline will look out over open parkland rather than the rear of another building, a distinction that becomes more meaningful with each new development approved nearby.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=355939]

The private outdoor spaces are sized to match the residences themselves. Terraces on the upper levels frame uninterrupted ocean panoramas, and the planning ensures that living areas extend into those outdoor zones rather than treating them as separate attachments. The flow between the two is part of the design intent, not an afterthought.

Inside, the finish specification reflects the same approach. Rich stone benchtops, warm timber joinery, bespoke hardware, each element specified to hold up over time rather than read as a moment in a particular trend cycle.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=3409]

Beyond the residences, the amenity offering extends that register. A lap pool and sun deck anchor the outdoor space, alongside a magnesium pool, cold plunge, steam room, and sauna.

A commercial-grade gymnasium, residents' lounge, library, and boardroom round out a programme that functions more like a private members club than a standard building amenity floor.

Construction has commenced under Mosaic's in-house building arm, with completion scheduled for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150135]

Madeline by Mosaic delivers penthouse-level living across every apartment

Developer Fortezza Group is the latest to take its new apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-belvedere-5-7-church-street-nelson-bay-nsw-2315">The Belvedere in Nelson Bay</a>, to the NSW Government.

Fortezza, predominantly a South East Queensland developer, is the latest to apply for State Significant Development&nbsp; status through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority, a pathway becoming favoured by developers to speed up the approval process.

They are planning 57 two- and three-bedroom apartments across 5-7 Church Street and 42 Donald Street, near d'Albora Nelson Bay Marina. The diverse apartment mix has sizes from just over 80 sqm to the largest three-bedroom penthouses that reach nearly 200 sqm.

<img alt="Fortezza" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="090360e1-66d7-43ad-b686-aba81f173bf2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-29%20at%2010.22.40%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=DMqF96eBZolqSAAAcugX0l66ueWng66m" />

Fortezza calls the project a "piece of Istria in Nelson Bay,"&nbsp;referring to the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea, shared by Croatia (90%), Slovenia, and Italy, which is known for its Roman history, Venetian-style coastal towns and inland hilltop villages.

They say the The Belvedere is strategically positioned at the apex of Nelson Bay, offering unrivalled views of the ocean, the bay and captivating topography of the area.

"Our commitment to maintaining the integrity of every view and sight line has been relentless," Fortezza Group says.

"Through extensive modelling and analysis, we ensure that each apartment enjoys the natural beauty of Nelson Bay, regardless of future developments. Each design element is carefully curated to harmonise with our European heritage, drawing profound inspiration from the Roman architectural marvels in Istria. The arches, the cascades of greenery and the stonework that define our project pay homage to the structures that once exemplified Roman grandeur."

Residents will have access to a pool, communal green spaces, an office and a coffee shop.

Joel Robinson

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