Prominent Gold Coast developer Aniko Group is planning to bring over 1,000 apartments to a recently secured site in Mermaid Beach, pitched as being destined to become the southern gateway to the city’s central precincts of Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise.

Aniko, led by managing director George Mastrocostas, are still putting the final touches to the development plans, but there will be four towers homing the apartments, rising 25, 30, 40 and 45 levels.

The vacant 1.1 hectare site at Seaview Avenue, adjacent to Pacific Fair, is one of the largest landholdings on the Gold Coast Highway corridor and it was identified by Aniko Group as an unmatched opportunity to create a major mixed-use lifestyle precinct that will deliver a premium master-planned residential, hotel, waterfront dining and office development.

The ground floor will have a world-class waterfront fine-dining precinct that utilises more than 100 metres of waterfront presence to the west of the property facing Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and that is poised to complement the existing lifestyle and dining facilities in nearby central Broadbeach.

The mixed-use development will also include more than 5,000 sqm of commercial A-grade office space, leveraging off the site’s prime position along the Gold Coast light rail while bolstering supply in a tightening Gold Coast office market.

Mastrocostas said Mermaid Beach has become the Gold Coast’s most dynamic beachside suburb, and the development will create a new beating heart for the area.

“This will be a unique community within one of the Gold Coast’s most desirable beachside suburbs that not only offers easy access to the beach and central Broadbeach but is truly a lifestyle location featuring the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre, Star Casino, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and central Broadbeach all in the one precinct," Mastrocostas said.

“We have developed a scheme that includes an activated ground-floor waterfront fine dining precinct that will elevate our resident and visitor experience.

“Stepping up off the ground into commercial offices provides a supply of new office space that the area has been seeking.

“Capping off the scheme is a residential offering harnessing the incredible sight lines across iconic beaches into the open ocean and the hinterland, while residents and visitors will be just a short stroll from an array of Gold Coast beaches.”

Aniko Group is close to finalising plans for the Mermaid Beach site and expects to lodge a development application in coming months, with Plus Architecture already drawing up the designs.

“Being such a significant project, our design team is taking a considered approach to create a standout development in an increasingly discerning market,” Mastrocostas added.

“A site of this scale would normally take years to amalgamate, but we are now ready to go with a development that will create a vibrant new coastal community and leave a legacy that we believe will stand the test of time.”

In recent years, the Mermaid Beach residential market has achieved exceptional price growth which has positioned the area as the city&amp;#39;s hottest beachfront suburb. The Gold Coast’s famous multi-millionaires row, Hedges Avenue, is just a stone’s throw away from the site.

The sale of the site at Seaview Avenue was negotiated by Managing Director of CBRE Gold Coast, Mark Witheriff.

Aniko Group, which has successfully launched five luxury residential projects worth more than $500 million at Hope Island in the past three years, currently has a $105 million residential development in train at Chevron Island.

&nbsp;

George Mastrocostas said Mermaid Beach has become the Gold Coast’s most dynamic beachside suburb, and the development will create a new beating heart for the area.

Joel Robinson

Aniko Group to deliver over 1,000 apartments at $1 billion Mermaid Beach precinct

Last year F45 co-founder Rob Deutsche spent nearly $20.65 million on a prime site on Campbell Parade site, the exclusive strip fronting Bondi Beach.

Now, it's been revealed what he's going to do with it.

Recent plans submitted to the Waverley Council are for four luxury apartments above a retail premises at 56 Campbell Parade.

<img alt="The Bondi apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e54c5e3b-336b-4999-8d51-a7f7275eec59" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-20%20at%2011.12.21%20am.png?VersionId=U41N35uktDcOCjFJ4bLTuOy8YpuGsKe1" />

The existing building will be retained. While not heritage-listed, it is deemed as a contributory building within the Bondi Beach Heritage Conservation area and makes a positive contribution to the streetscape of Campbell Parade, a heritage statement prepared for the development submission noted.

There will be a substantial demolition of the rear of the building to make way for a striking new design by architecture firm&nbsp;Architects Nicholas + Associates.

<img alt="The Bondi apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2bd42a21-40d7-4639-b8bc-6eb2d7ba65c6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-20%20at%2011.12.25%20am.png?VersionId=fZzaj2dfu4JQPJjE77kFyJIMFfSumxzs" /> 
The proposed plans at 56 Campbell Parade. Image credit: Architects Nicholas + Associates

The existing retail premises will be expanded to spill over two levels and face Campbell Parade.

There are already four apartments within the building, so the density won't change, but at the moment they are only spread over two levels. There will four levels for the new building, offering considerably more size.

The ground level apartment will have nearly 140 sqm of internal space with three bedrooms and a rear terrace.

Above will be two two-level apartments, which share levels one and two. Each will have four bedrooms and around 220 sqm of internal space, as well as a balcony with gun-barrel views across to the beach.

Topping the development will be a two-level penthouse spanning 250 sqm. The whole top level is dedicated to the master suite which opens to a private 25 sqm terrace with plunge pool.

The application comes a few months after next door, 58 Campbell Parade, <a href="/news/nsw/first-look-rare-new-apartments-to-hit-bondi-beachs-campbell-parade">sought redevelopment into a luxury development of 10 apartments</a>.

<img alt="A new Bondi development" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2be3bb63-3f58-458d-8d07-b7948cbacb26" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-20%20at%2011.58.07%20am.png?VersionId=PNj4CnePrReYFn.6gyhnDclwshGTxuF0" /> 
The proposed plans at 58 Campbell Parade. Image credit: MHNDU

The project, designed by MHNDU, is currently under appeal to the NSW Land and Environment Court. MHNDU noted it was important in the design&nbsp;to&nbsp;retain a number of notable original building features. They opened the façade, creating more established viewpoints of the iconic neighbouring beach.

When Deutsche secured the keys at the December auction for the Campbell Parade site, a number of Bondi's most prolific developers were in attendance, including&nbsp;Rebel Property Group’s Allen Linz, who developed Pacific Bondi, and investor and developer Vaughan Blank, both of whom have recently submitted development applications for new apartments around the corner on Hall Street.

<a href="/news/nsw/first-look-allen-linz-and-eduard-litver-team-up-for-new-hall-street-bondi-apartments">Read more:&nbsp;First look: Allen Linz and Eduard Litver team up for new Hall Street, Bondi apartments</a>

<a href="/news/nsw/vaughan-blank-set-for-apartment-development-on-bondi-beachs-hall-street">Read more:&nbsp;Vaughan Blank set for apartment development on Bondi Beach's Hall Street</a>

<a href="/news/nsw/first-look-rare-new-apartments-to-hit-bondi-beachs-campbell-parade">Read more:&nbsp;First look: Rare new apartments to hit Bondi Beach's Campbell Parade</a> 
&nbsp;

Recent plans submitted to the Waverley Council are for four luxury apartments above a retail premises at 56 Campbell Parade.

Exclusive first look: F45 co-founder's Bondi Beach apartment plans revealed

After a quiet spell following the post-COVID boom, Palm Beach is starting to fire up once again.

The latest plans have come from local Brent Freeman, who is planning a 23-apartment project at 1199 Gold Coast Highway.

The development has been duubed Saltwater, due to its proximity to the beach - less than 100 metres from the sand. There will be 13 two-bed apartments and 10 three-beds across the nine-level building, which Raunik Design created to embrace subtropical coastal design that is reflective of the surrounding Palm Beach area.

<img alt="A sub-tropical building" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7c40ec1f-d981-4f3e-ad06-3926f3d3fa71" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-20%20at%2011.48.28%20am.png?VersionId=FzP7Wp.sy2XGyemtkaBaIDHaTSeIjvlY" />

There will be a pool, gym, and spa, as well as a yoga room, on the first level.

The town planning report by UPS suggested the proposal will facilitate an increase in residential density that rejuvenates the site in an appropriate urban environment benefitted by ease of access to a range of community and social infrastructure and the nearby Palm Beach District Centre.

GV Property Group put together the 817 sqm site on the corner of Gold Coast Highway and Thirteenth Avenue, amalgamating three lots.

<img alt="The subtropical tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4e51f730-1cb4-41f3-8c01-bec5c34dd293" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-20%20at%2012.07.19%20pm.png?VersionId=k5bReeXjVni0YLx9TxOtjeV0D2a_4NGJ" />

Palm Beach was one of the most in demand pockets in the Gold Coast when COVID hit. But those projects that were in market around the time were quickly snapped up, and there's been little stock in the last 12 months.

There's been a few developments submitted, the most recent by the luxury home builders turned multi-residential apartment developers GRAYA.

They've submitted plans for Ripple,&nbsp;a boutique nine-level project of just 19 apartments dubbed Ripple, on a prime site at 2 Palm Beach Avenue. It's their first project on the Gold Coast.

<img alt="Ripple" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2efc0d78-76a0-44a1-a1f2-79af7cff2e5c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-20%20at%2012.15.02%20pm.png?VersionId=nBLVyddhg.mwz1nGPSVs87gTgcyEbC2z" />

Earlier this year the international property developer Changfa lodged plans for a 21-level tower at 1134 Gold Coast Highway, just up the road from Saltwater.

The building, designed by Plus Architecture, will have 113 apartments, a mix of one, two and three-bedroom units.&nbsp;

Also on the Highway is Paul Spina's next project,&nbsp;41 apartments on a 1,237 sqm site at 1409-1411 Gold Coast Highway - between 23rd Avenue and 25th Avenue.

Recently Rob Steer's Steer Developments launched his first Palm Beach development, COTE Palm Beach.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112548 project_image_fid=205283]

The $45&nbsp;million project at 3 Thirteenth Ave, on the corner of&nbsp;Thirteenth Ave and the dress circle Jefferson Lane, will see&nbsp;17 half-floor apartments built, each with&nbsp;three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and two parking spaces.

Also recently launched is Seaclusion, a more affordable offering of 40 apartments which have been snapped up by local owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107136 project_image_fid=202030]

Seaclusion, located at 4 Twenty First Avenue, will rise on a 1,200 sqm site that has been held by the Dorr family for three generations. It's already 60 per cent sold.

Palm Beach was one of the most in demand pockets in the Gold Coast when COVID hit

Palm Beach apartment pipeline continues to grow after COVID boom

Brisbane is set to welcome on of its most striking buildings.

The latest apartment plans by diversified property developer Anthony John Group are for a tree-inspired development.

Bureau^proberts were inspired by the&nbsp;Melaleuca Quinquereme, or the Paperbark Tree, for the design, the building form mimicking the trunk, and the facade layering and colour palette imitating bark.

The 24-level tower will home just 50 apartments.

<img alt="The striking tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9bd45cba-53e4-477e-b45b-b24b969d318f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-20%20at%2010.32.16%20am.png?VersionId=0mF6qCs49LB8zpAHfEEH3om7LjvusrV0" />

Bureau^proberts noted in the design statement submitted to the Brisbane City Council that the dramatic growth of Australian cities has required new approaches to high density living.

"This infill tower in Milton, Brisbane provides 50 generous residences that respond to its subtropical climate and urban context," the architecture firm wrote in their submission.

&nbsp;

"The tower takes on the expressive metaphor of the Melaleuca or Paper bark tree, seen in many of the surrounding streets of Milton, in developing a strategy to challenge the traditional built form that dominates the city fabric and skyline.

<img alt="The tree-inspired Milton tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3d9e57f8-4a78-4856-b852-0743f40fe54e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-20%20at%2010.32.27%20am.png?VersionId=Tu78jJ_ruSi4owBa4oiyEQt.QRPdcst0" />

"The organic form is derived from the built context surrounding the site where an ovular form&nbsp;is arranged to suit views and aspect through adjacent sites and beyond to distant landmarks.&nbsp;The colours of the trunk of a Melaleuca of white, tan and grey are reflected in the elemental screen of the tower and podium.

"Its shape is adjusted up the tower to suit the range of plan shapes that create variety of living options from two bed apartments to large home apartments."

There will be four apartment per floor up to level nine, a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments. From level nine upwards will be half floor four-bed apartments.

<img alt="The tree-inspired Milton tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="278066a9-338f-4464-9c7a-9aa25f19e7e4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-20%20at%2010.32.42%20am.png?VersionId=KCL5bu_LFgr2cu5mTxgcwxQH.tk1582b" />

They will run to level 21, the 365 sqm sub penthouse, which spans a whole floor. That has a further 80 sqm balcony space.

Above on level 22 is the resident amenity which will include a resort style pool with spa and day beds, a gym, steam room, and a private dining space.

Crowning the unique tower is a two level penthouse. Occupying the 240 sqm lower level is the living zones, an open plan kitchen living and dining with butlers and wine storage, which opens to a balcony with pool. There's also a guest bedroom and an MPR on this level. Upstairs, via a spiral staircase or lift, the second level has a further three bedrooms, including the master with walk in wardrobe and ensuite, as well as a private gym and study.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Bureau^proberts noted in the design statement submitted to the Brisbane City Council that the dramatic growth of Australian cities has required new approaches to high density living

First look: Anthony John Group plot Milton apartment tower inspired by a Paperbark Tree

The Victoria-based developer Property Solutions Australia has lodged plans for their second apartment project in the Gold Coast's Southport area.

PSA, led by developer Fabio Rossi, is seeking to create an eight-level building with 36 apartments at 77 Pohlman Street, near the Nerang and Queen Street intersection and bordering Southport's Priority Development Area.

Each apartment will have between 85 sqm and 105 sqm internally, with further balconies and roof terraces.

<img alt="A tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ff25b6e9-793e-4cd6-bba2-3d48e18ce157" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-20%20at%209.15.05%20am.png?VersionId=3hqUIJzwhqZubJ9DT_qkw9J2OMURJUGD" />

A mid-1970's home will make way for the&nbsp;BDA Architecture-designed building, which will feature a&nbsp;ground level gym with yoga space and an indoor outdoor area meeting a barbecue space. There will be ocean and Broadwater views on offer from the upper levels.

BDA designed PSA's previous Southport development, The Mill 137, which was just 27 apartments.

On the new project, BDA noted in their design submission to council that the&nbsp;project offered the opportunity to design an innovative architectural building and provide a higher residential density development bordering Southport’s ‘Priority Development Area’.

It's around the corner from the Queen Street light rail line and is within walking distance to the Nerang Street Light Rail Station, Queen&nbsp;Street Village and to the Southport Health Precinct.

"This project looks to offer quality residential apartment living in a central location and at an affordable price point," BDA noted, adding that the apartments are functional and liveable and can cater for families, focusing on maximising natural ventilation and light.

<img alt="The top of an apartment building" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f5af1856-91c9-41e1-ac63-2d9e41211ccb" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-20%20at%209.14.38%20am.png?VersionId=qz_Ugh8WfKfkM4y1y6ZT7jJZE1sTfnxG" />

All apartments are provided with functional balconies that can be used as an outdoor living room.

The podium is a landscaped and gently curved base, while the building form is a contrast of expressed horizontal slab edges and strong blade walls.

"Both the tower and its podium base have been considered as 3-dimensional forms in the urban context of the city," BDA state.

"The simple podium base with its horizontal lines and openness allows for cascading landscaping to spill over the podium edge.

"The ‘rectangular’ plan form of the tower is aligned with the site boundaries, reflecting the site’s shape and respecting the existing spatial geometry of the urban context."

PSA Group was established in 2009 by Rossi, who has over two decades of experience in property development. PSA has developed a number of projects across Victoria and Queensland, including Wembley Gardens in Melbourne's Donvale and Eleven93 in Highett.

They have a number of projects in the pipeline across both Queensland and Victoria.

BDA designed PSA's previous Southport development, The Mill 137, which was just 27 apartments.

PSA lodge plans for Southport apartment development

For years Gold Coast locals have been drawn to Kirra, a small pocket within the wider Coolangatta suburb. Its beautiful beach, quiet, laid-back lifestyle, and also being recognised as Australia’s spiritual home of surfing, makes it now one of the most popular spots across the whole of the Gold Coast.

But it was only the pandemic that highlighted all of the above to the rest of the country, and even a few locals, with Kirra one of the most in demand areas across the country, as the Gold Coast enjoyed a property boom like no other region. Sydneysiders and Melburnians descended on the area, seeking a change in lifestyle that only somewhere like Kirra can bring.

Anyone with a board knows Kirra Beach. It is part of the Gold Coast World Surf Reserve, one of only eight in the world. Kirra Point, separating Kirra Beach to the West and Coolangatta Beach to the East, is one of the Gold Coast’s and the world’s premiere surf breaks.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112210 project_image_fid=198836]

It’s not just surfers who are taking advantage of what Kirra has to offer, albeit every new apartment development must have surf racks and a beach shower.

Families young and old have shown significant interest in Kirra, due to the beach being one of four (Coolongatta, Greenmount and Rainbow Bay), all within easy walking distance. Kirra’s rare north-facing beach, only really comparable with the likes of Byron Bay and Noosa, provides beautiful turquoise water, protected from the elements.

Azura Griffen, who heads up sales for the prominent local Gold Coast developer Marquee Development Partners, said that despite being a lifelong Gold Coast local, she had only recently discovered how special Kirra is.&nbsp;

“It’s truly the hidden gem of the coast,” Griffen suggested.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112210 project_image_fid=198838]

“Sitting at the southern end of the Gold Coast, nestled within Coolangatta, and just a stone's throw away from northern NSW, Kirra has a vibrant, relaxed village atmosphere filled with beachfront cafes, restaurants and parks.”

The village vibe will be heightened with the $385 million redevelopment of the Kirra Beach Hotel retail &amp;amp; entertainment precinct, which is currently being undertaken by the same team behind the popular, award-winning hotel and spa Elements of Byron.

The access to the airport compared to some of the more headline grabbing area of Main Beach and Broadbeach has proven to be another drawcard for those looking for weekenders and future retirement homes, with the proximity to the M1 also presenting direct access to Brisbane, Surfers Paradise, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast airport.

Lack of high-end stock is expected in the incredibly tightly held area, with construction costs soaring to record highs and land values also hitting records. The area is so tightly held, Marquee Developments, who recently sold-out SOL Kirra to their database, spent years working on creating a development site which they knew would bring one of the best apartment projects to Kirra.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112210 project_image_fid=198835]

Monterey, set at the quiet northern end of Musgrave Street, is just a stroll down the popular strip to the cafes and restaurants, and the brand- new beachfront Siblings Restaurant and Bar. To the north is the upcoming Native Stage Fitness and Wellness Centre, which is set to open in 2023, as well as the North Kirra Surf Lifesaving Club.&nbsp;

What’s most special about Monterey is what is directly in front of it. Marquee put together 12 individual apartment owners to create a site with the largest expanse of beach frontage on the southern Gold Coast. The site is half the size of a footy field.

Each apartment in Monterey, a maximum of just three per floor, will have views both along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise or over the Pacific Ocean to Snapper Rocks. Traditionally developments along the Gold Coast beachfront offer one or the other, nowhere else do you enjoy both the iconic skyline and Snapper views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112210 project_image_fid=198837]

Surf racks and surfboard wash station on entry, Monterey offers just 35 three, four and five-bedroom apartments and penthouses, designed with the open plan kitchen living and dining space, as well as the master bedroom suite, to open up to the postcard views.&nbsp;

Marquee knew they would get extensive enquiry from Sydney and Melbourne, which has also been met with prospective buyers from the US and New Zealand, so they have strict agreements with owners that the apartments are not available for short-term letting, a move in which they believe will make for a more community-focused building of likeminded residents.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112210]

It’s not just surfers who are taking advantage of what Kirra has to offer, albeit every new apartment development must have surf racks and a beach shower

Noosa, Byron and now Kirra… Why Kirra is becoming the most sought-after beachfront destination on the east- coast

When people hear Sydney’s inner west, they think of the cafe culture of Newtown and Leichhardt, the brewing mecca of Marrickville, and to a lesser extent, the beautiful Balmain peninsula.

But the tightly-knit suburb of Ashbury, just past Dulwich Hill and south of Ashfield, offers an untouched leafy oasis for prospective purchasers who want the connectivity of inner-west living, while being surrounded by tree-lined streets and abundant parklands.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Despite the suburb's leisurely pace, Ashbury’s proximity to the inner-west’s bustling cultural and dining scenes leaves the suburb within easy reach of everything, giving its residents the best of all worlds.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112253 project_image_fid=193245]

The majority of Ashbury is designated as a heritage conservation area, and is dominated by post-war brick bungalows, which has meant there’s been little to no opportunity to buy into the quaint suburb that is called home by only 3,000 or so people. There have been no apartments or townhouses in the suburb that spans just one square kilometre, until now.

Sydney developer Coronation Property has recently secured development approval for its owner-occupier focused development, Ashbury Terraces, which has been designed to be in keeping with Ashbury’s existing heritage topography.

The combination of the project’s rarity as the only townhouse development in the suburb, the suburbs convenient locations just 10km from the Sydney CBD, and Coronation Property’s reputable track record, has seen buyer enquiry since it launched earlier this year buck the trend of the dampening property market sentiment.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112253 project_image_fid=193246]

Coronation Property Project Director Con Athanassiou says Ashbury is a unique inner west suburb.

"It has a very quaint village like feel, yet its also close to suburbs like Marrickville, Petersham and in about 25 minutes you'll be in the centre of Sydney,"&nbsp;Athanassiou says.&nbsp;

"The community is made up of people who have been living here for 30, 40 , even 50 years, so there's a stability in an area where properties don't change hands.

"New parents will be able to see their children grow up in the local parklands and streets just as I did when I grew up here."

Local inner west residents have dominated enquiry so far. Buyers are seeing value in the larger terrace style homes with communal amenity and oversized backyards – a unique feature to Sydney developments.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112253 project_image_fid=193251]

The location of Ashbury Terraces has been a major drawcard, set opposite W H Wagener Oval and just a few hundred metres to Peace Park. The design of Ashbury Terraces has been inspired by the area’s parklands and well-defined heritage character of Ashbury. Landscape architects 360 Degrees Studio worked alongside the revered architecture firm SJB to create the lush landscaping throughout the development.

Families have shown interest in the terraces, not only for the striking design and abundance of space, but also for its proximity to local schools. Within a one kilometre radius is St Francis Xavier Catholic School, Trinity Grammar School in Summer Hill, and the local Ashfield Public School, which is just a five minute walk from Ashbury Terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112253 project_image_fid=193249]

The closest coffee stop is 3 Tomatoes, a seven minute walk. Just north is Georges River Road which is lined with cafes and restaurants.&nbsp;

The easily accessible transport to the city has been another tick for buyers who are needing to commute, with Ashfield Train Station just 1.5km away. South of the station is Ashfield’s busiest retail precinct, Ashfield Mall, where there’s a Woolworths and an Aldi, as well as a Chemist Warehouse, butchers, more cafes and restaurants, and the Ashfield Library.&nbsp;

Canterbury Park Racecourse is just over a kilometre south of Ashbury Terraces, on the banks of the Cooks River where there’s Croydon Park and Lees Park.

Ashbury Terraces will likely stand as one of the only new developments in the suburb given that most of the surrounding Federation-style bungalows are under heritage conservation, which will mean the charming village-style suburb will be protected for years to come. There are just 59 terraces on offer in the sought-after development, which has already been a hit with locals.

"This development was not about fitting the maximum built form into the available space. we wanted to partner with someone who could respect the existing suburb as well as the modern development we wanted to create," Athanassiou added.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112253]

Despite the suburb's leisurely pace, Ashbury’s proximity to the inner-west’s bustling cultural and dining scenes leaves the suburb within easy reach of everything, giving its residents the best of all worlds

The small inner-west suburb attracting attention

Traditionally, natural light wasn’t the number one priority in a terraced house. Original wrought-iron balustrades and intricate cornicing were more common and sought after features in some of the earlier terrace home builds which still line the streets of some of Sydney's premier suburbs, dating back over 100 years.&nbsp;

In some of Sydney’s inner suburb hotspots such as Surry Hills, Paddington and Darlinghurst, there just wasn’t the space to create large homes. Terraces were sandwiched together on small blocks, with little focus on how natural light can be let into the home.

However nowadays, following extensive studies and the well documented benefits to mental health and wellbeing, natural light is now one of the key features buyers want in their homes. Often renovations and reconfigurations of century-old terraces will seek to let in more natural light.

While the sheer definition of a terrace is a house built as part of a continuous row in a uniform style, which almost automatically rules out light streaming in from the side unless it’s an end terrace, architects and designers have evolved in their design thinking to create clever ways to let light shine through into the interiors.

Now it’s all about skylights and floor to ceiling windows and doors, two key features in Ashbury Terraces, the latest development from the award-winning development group Coronation Property.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112253 project_image_fid=294598]

The collection of just 59 two and three-storey terraces focuses on natural light and how it connects residents to nature, through both letting light into the home, as well as the surrounding landscaping of the wider Milton Street development.&nbsp;

SJB Director Adam Haddow said he had fond memories of living in a terrace house during his time at university in Melbourne.

“What we’ve done at Ashbury is to kind of contemporize that and give people the best things of a terrace,” Haddow says.

“I think people will be blown away by the opportunities that having a contemporary terrace offer them.”

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112253 project_image_fid=294914]

Haddow took a lot of learnings from his own house design, which he says was an experiment, trying things that clients wouldn’t let them do on normal projects. 

"We took some risks on the way we designed it, and the Ashbury Terraces have learnt from us taking those risks," Haddow says.

“Things that maybe a couple of years ago people would never let us do, we're able to do, like punching a void through the centre of a terrace house to get light and ventilation to the centre.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ST10AYCGEB0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

“Being able to see the sky, being able to capture the breezes, being able to enjoy the views, there’s a lot of things taken from the home and put into the new project which I'm really excited about. I’m really excited to see how they translate into terrace typology.”

SJB went much further than just skylights and floor to ceiling glass windows and doors. They consciously designed a semi-circular stairwell, which created both a striking design statement and another clever way of allowing sunlight into the lower levels due to its positioning underneath an overhead skylight.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=112253 project_image_fid=294593]

Each terrace also features multi-level atriums, which let in natural light from a void above.

The open plan kitchen, living and dining space on the ground level of each terrace is flanked by floor to ceiling glass windows and doors to let the light in, dappled through the extensive landscaping and planting in the private terrace.

On top of the added benefits to mental health, natural light is now becoming more and more of a demand for house hunters due to the ongoing energy crisis, which has seen energy rise some 140% compared to this time last year. There’s also the added benefit of cross ventilation from windows on each level, which acts as both an energy cost saver and a natural light bringer.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=112253 project_image_fid=294602]

Coronation Property recently secured development approval for Ashbury Terraces, which has a display suite with a life-size version of the ground floor living space.

SJB's interior architects have developed two colour palettes directly inspired by the gardens of Ashbury. Buyers will get the choice between the Flora Scheme, which features soft pink and beige tones, and the Fibre Scheme, which has tones of white and grey.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112253]

The Sydney developer Coronation Property gave the renowned Sydney design practice SJB a brief to bring in as much natural light as possible in their recently launched inner west development, Ashbury Terraces



How Coronation Property is bringing light into the contemporary terrace

Local owner-occupiers have dominated the early sales at Seaclusion, the new affordable Palm Beach apartment development located just off the sand.

Some $31 million worth of sales have been racked up in the first month or so of marketing, with more than 60 per cent of the 40-apartment project snapped up.

More than 80 per cent of the 25 sales have been to owner-occupiers.

Seaclusion, located at 4 Twenty First Avenue, will rise on a 1,200 sqm site that has been held by the Dorr family for three generations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107136 project_image_fid=202031]

The site currently houses a Queenslander that was built by the family’s grandfather, but the Dorr family will continue to maintain their generational ties to the site by retaining a selection of Seaclusion apartments for themselves.

Seaclusion has been designed by BDA with one, two and three-bedroom configurations across the nine-level building.

One-bedroom apartments are priced from $695,000, while two-bedroom apartments from $950,000, and three-bedrooms from $1.495 million.

Jayde Pezet, director of sales and marketing agency Pezet Matheson, says local buyers have been among the key drivers of demand at Seaclusion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107136 project_image_fid=202034]

“Many of our buyers are from local community who have recognised that supply is extremely limited in Palm Beach and unlikely to change in the near term,” Pezet said.

“We’ve seen a number of projects planned for Palm Beach and the broader Gold Coast recently shelved, and that has led to some really positive inquiry for Seaclusion from this cohort of buyers.

“The dominance of owner-occupiers reflects both the quality and value being presented by Seaclusion in this prime location, which is just 40 metres from the beach and a short walk to the café and dining precinct in the Palm Beach village centre.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107136 project_image_fid=202029]

Seaclusion has been optimised for the coastal lifestyle by BDA, with a range of exclusive residents-only amenities including beach showers and sand washdown areas on the ground floor and a spectacular rooftop recreation space complete with a pool, day beds and barbecue area offering panoramic oceanfront views.

The majority of Seaclusion’s apartments will have either an easterly or northerly aspect to maximise sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, the Burleigh headland and beyond to the Surfers Paradise skyline.

Apartment views will be captured by floor-to-ceiling glass windows while spacious balconies will create alfresco spaces designed to enhance indoor-outdoor living in the heart of Palm Beach.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=107136]

“Many of our buyers are from local community who have recognised that supply is extremely limited in Palm Beach and unlikely to change in the near term."

Over 60% of Seaclusion, Palm Beach apartment sells as owner-occupiers swoop

Northcliffe Beach has welcomed one of its finest apartment developments to date, with the official launch of the hotly anticipated luxury tower, Aalto.

Aalto, which received the greenlight from the Gold Coast City Council in July, is being developed by the Sydney developer Weiya Holdings, who secured the prime 1500 sqm Garfield Terrace site for $30 million mid-last year.

Since then Weiya has been in full planning mode with architecture firm Conrad Gargett, who also designed their most recent local project DE-LUXE, the transformation of the iconic Old Burleigh Theatre on the dress circle Goodwin Terrace.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108209 project_image_fid=204973]

What they’ve produced is one of the best projects the Surfers beachfront has seen, sales and marketing director Patrick Pancur, who is the exclusive agent on the project, says.

Pancur says the 38-level tower, which will home 66 high-end apartments including some half floor, full floor, and double-storey penthouses, is a cut above the rest on the beach.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108209 project_image_fid=204975]

“What we’re offering is quite different to what’s come before us, and will come after us,” Pancur says, referencing the site’s unique beach frontage.

The Garfield Terrace site is one of the widest on the exclusive street, resulting in more panoramic views than any other beachfront project in development. Garfield Terrace has recently started its extensive redevelopment. In the next five years the beachfront will home some of the Glitter Strip’s most expensive real estate in striking, architecturally-designed towers, replacing the 1960s-built blocks that have come before.

The striking design of Aalto came from an unusual design process. Conrad Gargett ran their own in-house design competition, with three teams testing a number of ideas to create the luxury building, which was named Aalto after the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, whose work with organic forms inspired the design. The word Aalto translate to ‘wave’ in Finnish.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108209 project_image_fid=204976]

Lawrence Toaldo, Managing Director of Conrad Gargett, said the team considered what makes Surfers Paradise and the wider Gold Cost so uniquely beautiful.

“We want to continue to celebrate the Gold Coast’s urban heritage and character, telling stories of its past, conjuring memories of place and creating a much deeper overlay to the city,” Toaldo said.

Pancur expects Aalto to appeal to both the interstate holiday maker or local downsizers.

“It’s one of the best projects I’ve marketed on one of the best sites on the Gold Coast,” Pancur says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108209 project_image_fid=204977]

There's a diverse mix of apartment configurations, starting from the two-bedroom plus multipurpose room through to the massive five-bedroom plus multipurpose room penthouse.

Prices start from $2 million for the two-bedroom apartments, $3.2 million for the three-bedrooms, and $4 million for the sprawling four-bedders, which span a huge 270 sqm plus. Some of the premium four-bedroom apartments span a whole floor and will have nearly 360 sqm of living space. They start from $4.7 million.

Much like the apartments, the residential amenity has also been designed to take in the sweeping beach views, with an ocean view gym with sauna and rain showers, an ocean view yoga area, and an infinity pool almost hovering over the sand, one of two pools in the tower.

The Club AALTO lounge will have an owners bar and private function facilities, as well as a business centre with conference room and meeting rooms, a must have for the fly-in, fly-out business elite. Of course there's a concierge who can handle anything from booking space in Club AALTO, airport transfers , catering services and hair and make-up stylists, to laundry services and housekeeping.

There's even a further nod to the beachfront location. EACH apartment has its own beach room which is designed for surfboard storage.

Residents will have exclusive access to two swimming pools, one literally hovering over the beach, the other connecting to the cabana lounge area.

Construction completion for Aalto is slated for mid-2025.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108209]

There's a diverse mix of apartment configurations, starting from the two-bedroom plus multipurpose room through to the massive five-bedroom plus multipurpose room penthous

Aalto, Surfers Paradise beachfront apartments launch

One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

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FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

Joel Robinson

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