The South East Queensland developer Marquee Development Partners are continuing to bulk up their apartment development pipeline, following the speed of their latest Kirra Beach.

Marquee&#39;s Kirra Beach apartment development SOL didn&#39;t even hit the market, selling out all 46 apartments in the in-demand&nbsp;Kirra Beach in just 10 days.

The development, which&nbsp;will go down as one of the Gold Coast&#39;s fastest sell-outs,&nbsp;was Marquee&#39;s eighth project, and they&#39;re set to launch their ninth.

Their next Gold Coast project, Northshore, is north of the Kirra hotspot, in the equally booming&nbsp;north Palm Beach area.

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In a joint venture with LHPP, Northshore will have 93 residences, starting from two-bed apartments and ranging to a small collection of villas, and will only be available for resident-only buyers.

The development will feature five-star resort-style amenities which come standard in Marquee&#39;s Developments. Residents will have access to&nbsp;a waterfall edge pool with Baja deck and floating sunbeds, outdoor dining, cinema, full-sized gym, work from home facilities and&nbsp;extensive wellness offerings.

Marquee&#39;s sales director Azura Griffen says the open plan apartment designs will blur the lines between inside and out.

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In Marquee&#39;s pipeline is another Kirra Beach project, down the road from the sold-out Sol.

At&nbsp;4 Musgrave Street, <a href="/news/qld/first-look-marquee-development-partners-lodge-plans-for-new-kirra-beach-coolangatta-apartments">the 14-level tower with 39 apartments</a> has been designed by the Brisbane-based Ellivo Architects.

In their brief submitted to the Gold Coast City Council, Ellivo note the importance&nbsp;that all primary indoor and outdoor living areas are oriented to the beach.

Marquee&#39;s sales director Azura Griffen said there was an unbelievable amount of interest levelled at SOL since the public received their first glimpse.

&quot;We never could have predicted the almost instantaneous sell-out,&rdquo; Griffen said.

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In a joint venture with LHPP, Northshore will have 93 residences, starting from two-bed apartments and ranging to a small collection of villas

Joel Robinson

Marquee prepare launch for Palm Beach apartment development, Northshore 

As the return to the office stalls due to ongoing lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne, discerning apartment developers are pivoting their approach to apartment design.

If not already as standard, a number of developers are going hard on the work-from-home office space, whether it&#39;s part of the wider development or within the apartments.

More than one-10th of Melbourne&#39;s office floor space was untenanted in July, the Property Council of Australia&#39;s Office Market Report showed. The St Kilda Rd precinct had Melbourne highest vacancy rate at 16.3 per cent, followed by Southbank by 15.2 per cent.

Chris McCue, managing director at architecture and design firm Carr, says he has seen the&nbsp;demand for a tailored home office space continue right through the pandemic.

&quot;The multitude of workspaces within a single dwelling has definitely risen as we move to more longer-term workplace flexibility and adaptive environments,&quot; McCue said.

The customisable apartments at Riverlee&#39;s mixed-use Melbourne development Seafarers had a recent buyer re-jig&nbsp;the floorplan, taking out the laundry sink which was moved to the ensuite to accomodate a study nook large enough for two people, fitted with cabinetry and shelving.

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The developer Riverlee also focused on the home office boom by adding shared facilities in the 123-room development, located in the same Flinders Street building as&nbsp;Australia&#39;s first 1 Hotel.

Residents will have access to a number of meeting rooms and breakout areas, an 800-seat function space, a residents-only library and communal lounge. There&#39;s also onsite building support staff who can assist with printing.

The home office facilities, as well as the access of&nbsp;exclusive privileges when staying at a&nbsp;1 Hotel&nbsp;worldwide, has seen a big uptake in purchases by entrepreneurs and executives.

Seafarers was&nbsp;designed by Fender Katsalidis on the banks of the Yarra River. They were tasked with&nbsp;reimagining&nbsp;the heritage-protected Goods Shed 5, preserving&nbsp;the only intact remnants from the days before containerisation.

McCue said Seafarers&nbsp;faceted exterior does more than create a striking urban presence, it yields uniquely large floorplans.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728 project_image_fid=73042]

&quot;From the four-bedroom penthouses to two-bedroom residences, each interior is meticulously planned to maximise natural light, external views and connection to the textures and rhythms of its riverfront setting,&quot; McCue said.

&quot;Luxury can mean so much in terms of spatial and service amenity and is where Seafarers achieves luxury in many ways.

&quot;From a service inclusion and connection to 1 Hotels, to the kitchen joinery and fixtures inclusions, to the inclusion of generous and highly-functional storage.

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&quot;There was a lot of consideration around house-like storage amenity, as well as spatial amenity and flow through spaces and connection.

&quot;Our key spatial thinking and beliefs include connected indoor and outdoor living spaces, controlled and extended aspects, extended views that are aligned with internal planning.&quot;

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=27728]

Chris McCue, managing director at architecture and design firm Carr, says he has seen the demand for a tailored home office space continue right through the pandemic

How apartment customisation and adding a home office is driving off the plan sales

The Melbourne-based developer GURNER, led by the high-profile developer&nbsp;Tim Gurner, has revealed its $1.25 billion plans for their Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise&nbsp;mega site.

The 11,000 plus sqm site at 108 Ferny Avenue will be known as&nbsp;La Pelago, and will comprise four huge towers with nearly 1,000 apartments, around a quarter dedicated to a hotel.

GURNER swooped for their first residential development on the Gold Coast, and only their second in Queensland, following the collapse of Ralan, who had planned for two&nbsp;towers on the sprawling Budds Beach site.

La Pelago, likely named after the small commune in Italy,&nbsp;centralises on a private island theme, where&nbsp;each building is surrounded by over 9,000 sqm of amenity, lush tropical landscaping by SWA and pool-side water retreats, creating four private islands.

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Tim Gurner says&nbsp;La Pelago will be a new world experience for a beachside precinct that will be unlike anything ever attempted in Australia before, with an international hotel name that will be a new entrant to the Australian market.

“We have spent the last eight years identifying opportunities to transform significant sites across Australia into luxury precincts well before others jump on the trend. Using this approach we’ve been fortunate to ride a significant upswing in luxury sales across our projects like St Moritz and Victoria &amp; Vine in Melbourne, and large-format place-marking sites like FV in Brisbane," Gurner said.

“La Pelago is the next evolution in this journey. We believe Budds Beach is the next frontier of luxury on the Coast and we are creating a $1.25billion precinct that will enable us to be at the forefront of this transformation."

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Tower three proposed. Image source: Warren &amp; Mahoney Architects - Gold Coast City Council

Gurner has had his go-to architect in Melbourne Warren Mahoney draw up the plans.

Tower three, the short-term accomodation tower, will be the biggest of the four, spanning&nbsp;55 levels, taking the building to over 190 metres high. That&nbsp;will make it the fifth tallest building on the Gold Coast.

Tower three will have 596 apartments, between two and 17 apartments per floor, and nearly 55,000 sqm of gross floor area. The tower is mainly made up of studio and one-beds, and will be the location of the hotel.

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Tower two&nbsp;proposed. Image source: Warren &amp; Mahoney Architects - Gold Coast City Council 
 
Two-bedroom apartments are the most popular across the three residential buildings, accounting for more than half of the apartments in each tower.

Tower four is the second biggest, and will home 248 apartments, with between four to 16 per floor across its 34 levels.

Tower one will have 150 apartments across 30 levels&nbsp;and tower two the most boutique, with between two and four apartments per floor across its 25 levels, totalling 95 apartments.

All up the proposal will see 1088 apartments built.

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“La Pelago will allow us to draw on our unique experience in the retail, signature amenity and urban regeneration space, and apply it on a grand scale," Gurner said.

“When designing the project it was really about me dreaming about where we all want to be right now and for me that is a hot and sunny luxury private island. Something that offers sun, pools, amazing service, luxury amenities and residences – something right now you cannot get in Australia."

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Tower four proposed. Image source: Warren &amp; Mahoney Architects - Gold Coast City Council

Warren and Mahoney design principal, Barrington Gohns, said&nbsp;La Pelago’s design will provide much more immersive experiences than previous projects, with stunning attention to detail across the four towers.

"The design very much respects the crisp, natural island experience utilising integrated landscape and pools, lots of white, timber and glass in its form, with bespoke elements in each ‘island’," Gohns said.

“The foundation of La Pelago is steeped in context and identity, acknowledging the tension between river and coastline, and the design only takes what it can give back. A strong focus on health wellness resonates throughout, along with a carbon neutral manifesto we continue to drive with GURNERTM.”

Snapshot:

Mixed use development consisting of:

<ul>
	<li>4 x multi-storey Residential towers</li>
	<li>Three level podium</li>
	<li>Ground floor indoor/ outdoor communal recreation and amenities</li>
	<li>Food and Beverage</li>
	<li>Residential lobbies with on-site porte cochere drop offs</li>
	<li>Service areas/ Back of house</li>
	<li>1,000 car parks across two basement levels and two above grade levels</li>
	<li>200 hotel rooms</li>
	<li>Over 5,500sqm of retail, commercial, conferencing amenity, a day spa and business club</li>
	<li>A world-class retail precinct anchoring the ground plane</li>
	<li>2,000sqm private health and wellness Club</li>
	<li>Over 12,000sqm of resident and hotel amenity across the four towers</li>
</ul>

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=108339]

La Pelago centralises on a private island theme, where each building is surrounded by over 9,000 sqm of amenity



First look exclusive: Gurner reveals $1.25 billion, four-tower Surfers Paradise apartment development La Pelago

The Gold Coast is set for its first ever residential rooftop wellness centre at Esprit, the new Rainbow Bay, Coolangatta apartment development by S&amp;S Projects.

Dubbed Club Esprit,&nbsp;the wellness rooftop will sit above&nbsp;97 apartments at 6432 Boundary Street, two interconnected buildings&nbsp;above Rainbow Bay Village. It&#39;s being dubbed as fit for purpose for an elite athlete.

Club Esprit will sit on the rooftop of the 11-level building. KMSM agent Jayde Pezet will handle the sales.

S&amp;S director Paul Gedoun says Esprit will re-shape the way residents experience their new beachside home.

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&ldquo;We wanted to create a recreational space that went beyond functionality, we wanted an oasis catered to creating a sense of community among like-minded residents,&rdquo;&nbsp;Gedoun said.

&ldquo;There is nothing in the same league of Club Esprit across the entire Gold Coast and we believe it will revolutionise the way our residents experience the beachside way of life.&rdquo;

Club Esprit will span over 1,100 sqm&nbsp;and will feature an extensive list of&nbsp;wellness and recreational amenity. There will be&nbsp;exercise and recovery facilities, including a&nbsp;gym and yoga lawn, as well as a&nbsp;private remedial treatment room, ice bath, infrared sauna, and steam rooms.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102921 project_image_fid=172129]

A 25-metre lap pool and poolside cabanas will run the whole length of the rooftop, offering 360 degree views, from Snapper Rocks and Rainbow Bay to the&nbsp;city skyline and hinterland.

Club Esprit will include a children&rsquo;s play lawn, complete with play equipment and breakout&nbsp;recreational spaces. Residents will be able to book the private dining room, designed with hosting a number of guests. There&#39;s a number of private terraces, barbecue areas, and an outdoor cinema.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102921 project_image_fid=172173]

&ldquo;Rainbow Bay&rsquo;s natural amenity organically inspires an active lifestyle, whether it&rsquo;s surfing the world class point breaks or traversing the beachside recreation paths, and so we wanted our residences to provide the necessary outlets to complement this,&rdquo;&nbsp;Gedoun added.

Esprit has been designed by&nbsp;Cottee Parker Architects.

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Sandra Brown, director of Cottee Parker, says they&nbsp;&nbsp;wanted to evoke that feeling of a Queenslander by the beach.

&quot;The generous interiors, deep balconies and nods to coastal design provide a relaxed sense of luxury,&rdquo; Browne said.

S&amp;S are now strangers to the area, having sold out their $74 million Flow Residences, as well as the recent sell out of Awaken Residences.

S&S director Paul Gedoun says Esprit will re-shape the way residents experience their new beachside home

Esprit, S&S Projects new Rainbow Bay, Coolangatta apartments to feature Gold Coast's first rooftop wellness centre 

The ASX-listed developer Mirvac has started work on their $180 million Brisbane apartment tower, Quay Waterfront Newstead, part of its $1 billion Waterfront community.

Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Investment, Cameron Dick,&nbsp;joined Mirvac General Manager Build to Rent, Angela Buckley, and Mirvac General Manager Residential Queensland, Warwick Bible, to turn the first sod on the buildings.

The 25-level Quay Waterfront has already secured 70 per cent of its 143 riverside apartments, with prices starting from $475,000.

It will feature a luxury rooftop pool and entertainment area, exclusive shared dining room, wine room and ground-floor yoga studio, gym and wellness rooms. Construction is also anticipated for completion in early 2024.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90553 project_image_fid=147609]

More than half the site area of Quay will be dedicated to open space, injecting more than 2,000 sqm of parkland to expand Waterfront Park.&nbsp;

Mirvac has also commenced construction on LIV Anura, their dual-tower $270 million built-to-rent project in the same precinct. It is set to be one of the first large-scale built to rent projects in Brisbane when completed in early 2024.&nbsp;

LIV Anura will contribute more than 1,000sqm of retail and deliver a new cross block linkage connecting Skyring Terrace and Festival Place for easy pedestrian access to the parkland and riverfront.

The development, which is being delivered in partnership with the Queensland Government as part of its Build to Rent Pilot Project, will have 395 apartments exclusively for renters, including 25 per cent for key workers, across the 23 level and 25 level buildings.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90553 project_image_fid=147607]

The development will feature a dedicated community team, a suite of sustainability initiatives including 100 per cent renewable energy to all apartments and car, bike, scooter and E-bike share, and an entire level dedicated to facilities, such as a cinema, games room, yoga studio, gym, pool, co-working spaces and a pet park.

Mirvac General Manager Residential Queensland, Warwick Bible, said LIV Anura and Quay were the next transformative chapters in the mixed-use Waterfront Newstead community, which Mirvac had been delivering for two decades.

&ldquo;When we completed the first stage of Waterfront Newstead, Pier, in 2011 we spearheaded the urban renewal of Newstead and LIV Anura and Quay follow that proud legacy,&rdquo; Bible&nbsp;said.

&ldquo;The two projects complement each other, providing a range of new opportunities to live in this fantastic location, with our Quay apartments setting a new standard for holistic riverside living.

&ldquo;Quay is designed to make a statement with a bold organic architecture and lush landscaping spilling from its balconies, while inside residents enjoy refined interiors and stunning Brisbane River views.

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The 25-level Quay Waterfront has already secured 70 per cent of its 143 riverside apartments.

Construction starts at Mirvac's Quay Waterfront apartments in Brisbane's Newstead

The Sutherland Shire&#39;s newest striking apartment development, Grand Vermont, has officially sold out.

The development of 100 apartments at 48 Vermont Street was designed by Benson McCormack Architects (BMA)&nbsp;with a sleek, curved facade, bending around&nbsp;all four of the buildings to create a wave-like feature.

Grand Vermont was developed in a joint venture between property developers Hone Constructions and Holis, who have over 15 years experience in the property industry.

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First home buyers were keen on the development, particularly at the start of the year with the raft of government incentives. One-bedroom apartments were priced from $550,000, two-beds from $730,000 and three-bedroom apartments from $1.2 million.

Each apartment was kitted out with built-in Fisher &amp; Paykel appliances, Tongue n Groove engineered European oak flooring and Caesar Stone kitchen benchtops.

HAUS Agency director Alex Vrisakis said they saw strong sales as the building nearing completion.

&quot;Many buyers were able to try before they buy,&rdquo; Vrisakis said.

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&ldquo;They were able to physically stand in the kitchen or bathroom of the apartment they had their eye on, see the aspect and view, and measure for furniture, which really boosted the final few sales.&quot;

Vrisakis said owner occupiers made up 85% of buyers, he added was&nbsp;very telling in this market.

&ldquo;We saw enquiry from all over Sydney, but ultimately Sutherland Shire based buyers snapped up most of the units, taking advantage of up to $30,000 in Government first home buyer support. We&rsquo;re seeing the appetite for quality apartments has not wained, and achieved great prices.&rdquo;

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More than 40 per cent of apartment sold within the first three months of its launch in December 2020.

Sean Dowling, another director at HAUS Agency Director, said it was not a surprise to see the majority of&nbsp;buyers have come from within the Sutherland Shire.

&quot;When physical inspections were not able to happen, we created virtual tours, so buyers would meander through the apartments, common areas and street front from their own home.&rdquo;

Grand Vermont, Sutherland Shire's latest apartment development, sells out

Burleigh Heads has become one of the hottest apartment markets in the country in the last six months or so, with a swell of new developments set to transform the Gold Coast suburb.

There&#39;s a wide variety of projects in train, from De-luxe, the Gold Coast&#39;s first&nbsp;ever adaptive re-use of a building with heritage elements on the Gold Coast, to David Calvisi&#39;s FORME set for another boutique apartment development that could see the penthouse sell for a record $15 million.

De-Luxe is the Goodwin Terrace development of the Sydney-based Weiya Holdings, who are transforming the Old Burleigh Theatre in to a 13-level, 30 apartment building, while keeping the 1930s heritage on the ground level.

The apartments will sit above the existing two storey volume, which will home a street front retail arcade with modern cafe and retail tenancies. John Flynn, director of the Brisbane-based architecture firm Conrad Gargett who specialise in heritage restoration,&nbsp;said the project is exceptionally unique.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102645 project_image_fid=172103]

That sits up the road from FORME&#39;s luxury project Norfolk, sold-out and currently under construction. FORME, led by David Calvisi, secured $9 million for the penthouse, the highest price paid for an apartment on the Gold Coast south of Mermaid Beach.

The project also saw two further apartment sales at $8.5 million.

Calvisi has had Koichi Takada, who designed Norfolk, to create his latest soon-to-be launched project at 96 The Esplanade, with half of the apartments snapped up by buyers who missed out on Norfolk.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=99968 project_image_fid=159158]

A few doors down at 88 The Esplanade is Allure&#39;s 88 Burleigh, a glass tower of 31 apartments which start from $2.4 million. Alba by the Devine Group will also sit on the strip. That will have half and full-floor apartments across its 21-levels, with prices starting from $2.25 million.

There&#39;s set to be further apartments in Burleigh Heads with GV Property Group, the specialists in selling development sites, listing&nbsp;1929 Gold Coast Highway.

It&#39;s an amalgamation of seven lots, with individual apartment owners banding together to sell the 1,012&nbsp;sqm site, less than 100 metres from the beach. They have the EOI campaign closing August 26.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=92609 project_image_fid=157097]

GV Property&#39;s Antonio Mercuri says the purchaser could seek to create an apartment offering&nbsp;around 17 storeys, at the current 53 metre height limit,&nbsp;with between 40 to 60 apartments. If they went down the impact assessment route, a 26-level development could be possible.

Mercuri says the recent influx of beachfront projects in Burleigh leaves a gap that needs to be filled between ultra-high-end luxury and affordable apartments.

&quot;Not all apartment buyers are looking for beachfront projects, which often command price points starting from $2 million,&quot; Mercuri says, adding that he believes the future Gold Coast Highway spot will be a success, and will likely quickly sell out given the demand in the area.

Mercuri cited the success of Grace, the Second Avenue development&nbsp;by the Brisbane-based Mosaic Property Group. The 45-apartment project sold out prior to public launch in a matter of months, with prices starting from $695,000.

Sandbar, the Gold Coast Highway development by Morris Property Group, is also at the more affordable end of the scale, currently in market with prices starting from $759,900.

That site was also bought through GV.

Burleigh Heads has become one of the hottest apartment markets in the country in the last six months



Queensland's hottest apartment market: What's happening in Burleigh Heads

Interstate buyers have shown a major interest in H^BIT^T, one of Chevron Island&#39;s newest boutique apartment developments.

&quot;They&#39;re wanting to relocate&quot;, REMAX agent Russel Segal, who is handling sales of the 37-apartment building, told Urban.&nbsp;

&quot;Interstate buyers are thinking short-term investment and long-term relocation&quot;, Segal added, suggesting buyers are keen on living within the tight-knit village-like community of Chevron Island, but to be close to all the lifestyle amenities and&nbsp;the busy entertainment&nbsp;hub of Surfers Paradise.

Segal said the development has also been a hit with locals, who are keen on the continually developing&nbsp;Chevron Island.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6648 project_image_fid=172116]

The building is the passion project of local construction and development veterans, who have spent the last five decades developing and building residential and commercial projects across South East Queensland.

&quot;This is their own private project. The developers have focused on providing a habitat that will sustain and enrich the residents&#39; lifestyles. They were keen to share their sense of place and make a lasting contribution to the amazing Chevron Island&quot;, Segal said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6648 project_image_fid=172461]

The eight-level H^BIT^T at 17-19 Anembo Street, opposite the Korman Family Park, will have 37&nbsp;two and three-bedroom apartments, with prices starting from $595,000 for the two-bedrooms, in which the $15,000 government first home owners grant can be applied,&nbsp;and $920,000 for the three-bedrooms.

Most apartments&nbsp;will have uninterrupted views of the Surfers Paradise skyline, the hinterland and Main River.

Completion is expected&nbsp;by the end of 2022 and&nbsp;buyers will be able to choose between urban and coastal colour palettes and high level finishes.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=6648]

The eight-level H^BIT^T at 17-19 Anembo Street, opposite the Korman Family Park, will have 37 two and three-bedroom apartments

Interstate buyers keen on Chevron Island's boutique off the plan apartment tower, H^BIT^T

Highpark Seasons, the new apartment development in Melbourne&#39;s Glen Iris, was targeted at locals and owner-occupiers straight from the outset.

And the COVID-19 lockdowns has only seen further demand from locals who want to live in the picturesque and peaceful location, right on Gardiners Creek&nbsp;and the popular Gardiners Creek trail.

&quot;People have really re-connected with walks over the last 16 months or so&quot;, Jellis Craig head of projects Stephen Bowtell, who is marketing the apartments, says.

&quot;It&#39;s a bit of an island site, not built on any side, and residents will easily be able to access the nature track.&quot;

The development has been popular&nbsp;with city dwellers, who, since the onset of COVID, have been&nbsp;reconnecting with nature through long socially-distanced walks.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3224 project_image_fid=171807]

Bowtell says the developer, David Li&#39;s Pasino Group, wanted to keep the residents as local as possible, with few investors. To do this he made the conscious decision not to sell the development through&nbsp;channel groups or to investor databases.

Highpark is a passion project for Li, who is a well-known philanthropist and the chairman of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

&quot;He&#39;s not bottom-line focused, he lives locally, and his kids will likely take apartments in the building when it is completed,&quot; Bowtell added.

Highpark is under construction now through Crema Group&#39;s high-end construction arm Camilo, with completion expected toward the end of 2022.

There&#39;s been keen interest by first home buyers, given the affordable&nbsp;$480,000 entry point for a one-bedroom apartment. There&#39;s been a number of purchases by families who live locally and within walking distance who are buying for their kids.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3224 project_image_fid=171809]

&quot;There&#39;s no difference in finishes between one bedroom apartments and the penthouse,&quot; Bowtell said.

The development has been designed by Rothelowman, one of Melbourne&#39;s top architecture firms, to react to its location, with the inspiration coming from the seasons of nature. There&#39;s extensive outdoor entertaining areas in the apartments, as well as outdoor communal gardens and terraces.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3224 project_image_fid=171815]

Four townhouses sit along the front of the development, directly on the trail. Three have already been snapped up.

Across the board Bowtell sees more enquiry during the lockdown months, around 20 per cent more week on week.

&quot;There&#39;s a build up of enquiry, with no one being able to buy anything else in the meantime.&quot;

Bowtell recently sold out Rosanna, a 27 townhouse development in Melbourne&#39;s north east, after just six weeks, with around four of those weeks spent in lockdown.

Highpark is under construction now through Crema Group's high-end construction arm Camilo, with completion expected toward the end of 2022

Why apartments at Highpark Seasons in Glen Iris were only really for locals

The ASX-listed Perth developer Finbar Group are set to redevelop the old heritage-listed former Chemistry Centre on the fringe of Queens Park in East Perth.

The $154 million plans, drawn up by architecture firm S S Chang Architects, see the current heritage-listed building at 101 Hay Street, which dates back to 1942, incorporated in the design, acting as a base for a 27-level tower.

Given the vast 5,335&nbsp;sqm site, Finbar are also building another 38-level tower alongside. Combined the development will have 331 apartments.&nbsp;

The development plans pay homage to the heritage by retaining the Material Sciences building and a hexagonal design feature that also provides shade to apartments. The former Chemistry Centre will home 550 sqm worth of restaurant or cafes. There will be a further&nbsp;eight spaces slated for restaurant or cafe use, three personal service spaces and a shop, activating the 1,300 sqm of street level commercial space.

<img alt="" height="800" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/110_east_st_perth.jpg" width="1200" />

Finbar,&nbsp;alongside Singaporean developer&nbsp;Ventrade bought the 5,335 sqm site from the state government for $16 million.

In 2015&nbsp;the local developer Diploma Properties Pty Ltd was chosen as the preferred developer to transform the former Chemistry Centre site, with over&nbsp;200 apartments, dining venues and shops planned. That would have been a 16-level apartment tower with rooftop sky gardens.

The heritage component would have turned in to a laneway-style eat street.

<img alt="" height="1010" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/110_east_st_perth_2.jpg" width="1200" />

Finbar and Ventrade&#39;s plans will see a shared podium on level seven.

There&#39;s a clear intent to create a work-from home space following the border restrictions and reduced appetite to return to the office.

The development will have a business lounge with consult room, board room,&nbsp;and over 10 study pods.

<img alt="" height="850" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/finbar_east_perth.jpg" width="1200" />

Resident amenity will feature a landscaped deck, cinema, resident dining and bar, virtual golf simulator, meditation&nbsp;yoga room, a child play centre, activity games room, and two swimming pools.

The taller tour will also have a rooftop sky bar and gym.

Summary by the strategic planning, urban design firm Element Advisory

The proposed development presents an exciting opportunity to deliver a contemporary redevelopment of the subject site that accords with DWA&rsquo;s established vision for the area through the provision of:

&bull; A well designed, sustainable development that offers an outstanding level of amenity to residents and visitors, and respects and celebrates the cultural heritage significance of the subject site;

&bull; An activated, human scaled edge, through a suitably screened podium with slender residential towers above;

&bull; Extensive landscaping and pedestrian zones at the ground floor level, offering a high level of amenity for pedestrians and designed to celebrate the cultural heritage significance of the subject site;

&bull; A density and diversity of land use that will contribute to the critical mass of people required to activate the subject site and surrounds; and

&bull; Increased housing choice in the locality, complemented by a range of ground floor commercial tenancies that will offer employment and leisure options for a diverse range of people

Given the vast 5,335 sqm site, Finbar are also building another 38-level tower alongside. Combined the development will have 331 apartments

Finbar set for 331 apartments on East Perth's Queens Gardens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/smith-by-valli-collingwood-224-228-smith-street-collingwood-vic-3066">Smith Collingwood</a> is a new boutique apartment development bringing a refined, design-led approach to one of Melbourne’s most established inner-city neighbourhoods.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pandolfini-architects">Pandolfini Architects</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/lisa-buxton-interiors">Lisa Buxton</a>, Smith by Valli sits on iconic Smith Street and comprises just 22 residences tailored toward owner-occupiers seeking a more considered style of apartment living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140747 project_image_fid=367540]

The design of Smith focuses on a north-facing orientation across all residences, a relatively uncommon feature in dense inner-Melbourne settings. Each apartment has been planned to maximise natural light and outlook, alongside a material palette defined by warm tones, custom joinery, and a full suite of Gaggenau appliances.

The development comprises a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, with pricing currently ranging from just under $1 million to around $4.85 million for the premium penthouse-level residences, reflecting growing demand for luxury owner-occupier product in Melbourne’s inner urban market.

Residents will also have access to a private rooftop garden designed as an elevated retreat above the city, &nbsp;featuring curated landscaping, veggie boxes, intimate seating areas and spaces for relaxed gatherings. Sustainability has also been integrated into the project through a 7-star energy rating and two secure bicycle facilities for every residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140747 project_image_fid=367529]

Smith by Valli sits in the heart of one of Melbourne’s most established retail and hospitality strips, within walking distance of venues such as Falco Bakery, Carnation Canteen and Alimentari, alongside parks and everyday services. With a Walk Score of 99, the location reinforces the project’s positioning toward buyers prioritising walkability and access over car dependency.

With only a limited number of residences, Smith reflects growing demand for smaller, highly curated apartment developments that prioritise design quality, liveability, and connection to neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140747]

Smith by Valli delivers a refined collection of luxury residences to Melbourne’s inner north

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/far-east-consortium">Far East Consortium</a>’s 640 Bourke Street stands as a testament to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">Melbourne</a>’s ability to bridge its storied past with a bold vision for the future.&nbsp;

Rising above the heritage-listed Eliza Tinsley building, the development reflects a broader shift toward adaptive reuse in the city, where historical assets are retained and reinterpreted as part of new residential development.

Designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/640-bourke-street-melbourne-640-bourke-street-melbourne-vic-3000">640 Bourke Street</a> incorporates the Eliza Tinsley building as its foundation, housing a grand gallery and lobby space that serve as both a functional and symbolic centrepiece. The heritage façade informs the tower’s design, creating a connection between Melbourne’s past and its contemporary skyline.

"It's a significant asset and wants to be celebrated and experienced by all residents every single time they go in and out of the building," Rothelowman Principal Stuart Marsland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365684]

Above this historic base, the 68-storey tower will deliver just over 600 residences, a notable reduction from earlier schemes, reflecting a deliberate move toward larger-format apartments and a stronger owner-occupier focus.

Unlike traditional CBD developments that prioritised investor stock, 640 Bourke Street has been repositioned to respond to changing buyer expectations.

"The discussion was all around making 640 Bourke Street the best residence to live in, to be much more focused on the people in the building rather than people looking at the building," Marsland explained.&nbsp;

This shift is evident in the development’s interiors, which emphasise practical luxury with spacious layouts, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping views of Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay.&nbsp;

“What it's meant for 640 Bourke is we've actually reduced the number of apartments. We've increased the overall size of the apartments. We don't have any studios in here, and what that does for a project is it elevates it," Lauren Sheldon, Far East Consortium’s Director of Sales and Marketing, said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365687]

Rothelowman Associate Jun Chang added, "We were given the opportunity to be more generous. The apartments became bigger and squarer than any other apartments which had been designed in the CBD before that."&nbsp;

Amenities spanning more than 3,000 sqm across multiple levels further reinforce this focus on resident experience. These include a pool, gym, co-working areas, and a range of hospitality-inspired spaces such as a whisky lounge, library, and private dining rooms, many drawing reference from traditional bathhouses and Melbourne’s laneway culture.

"We wanted to make both the pool and the gym area to be absolutely destinational, and when you traverse across to these spaces, there is a gentle familiarity to the beautiful notions of the hammams and the Roman baths, a gentle nod to history," Chang noted.

At street level, the project contributes to the ongoing transformation of the western CBD, with upgrades to Langs Lane and the introduction of retail, hospitality, and gallery spaces designed to activate the precinct and strengthen its connection to the surrounding city fabric.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365689]

The location places residents within walking distance of Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, and the Docklands waterfront, positioning the development within a rapidly evolving inner-city neighbourhood.

"We believe it's the best site left in the city of Melbourne," Craig Williams, Executive Director at Far East Consortium, said.&nbsp;

640 Bourke Street is Far East Consortium’s 14th building in Melbourne’s western CBD.

"A very elegant designed building. It's going to be a Melbourne statement for many, many years to come."

One-bedroom apartments are priced from around $640,000, with 640 Bourke Street targeting completion in 2029.

Renders shown are Artist's Impressions correct as of May 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=509]

Heritage-led design anchors Far East Consortium’s 640 Bourke St, Melbourne

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD Group</a> has set a new residential price record in Queensland with the $30 million sale of the penthouse at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/one-burleigh-88-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads-qld-4220">ONE Burleigh</a> development in Burleigh Heads.

The sale equates to around $37,500 per sqm.

The two-level, 800 sqm penthouse, featuring five bedrooms, five bathrooms, five car spaces, and a private infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean, was acquired by a Gold Coast-based entrepreneur, highlighting continued demand for ultra-premium beachfront product.

Selling agent Freddie Tehle of PRD Burleigh Heads said the result reflects tightening supply of high-quality, large-format apartments in Burleigh.

“There’s very limited opportunity to secure this level of scale and absolute beachfront position in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/burleigh-heads-qld-4220">Burleigh Heads</a>,” Tehle said.

“Buyers are increasingly seeking apartments that genuinely replace a standalone home, and this penthouse delivers that with its size, privacy, and direct ocean frontage.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323057]

The sale comes as construction progresses on ONE Burleigh, a boutique development of 17 full-floor residences at 88 The Esplanade, scheduled for completion in early 2027.

Developed by MAYD Group and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mas-architecture-studio">MAS Architecture</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/sici-design">Sici Design</a>, the project has been positioned as a collection of house-sized beachfront apartments, each occupying an entire floor with around 381 sqm of internal and external living space.

When construction commenced, MAYD director Todd Mould pointed to the long-term resilience of premium coastal real estate as a key driver behind the project.

“Real estate, particularly at the premium end, remains one of the most resilient and proven long-term investment avenues,” Mould said.

“Our ambition is that anyone who buys a MAYD-built product can genuinely feel the care, craftsmanship and commitment we bring to every detail.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323055]

Each residence has been configured with four bedrooms, multiple living zones, a private office, and expansive ocean-facing terraces. Interiors draw on a restrained material palette, including travertine stone, timber joinery, and integrated premium appliances.

Interior designer Sici Design said the approach was to reflect the project’s coastal setting through both materiality and spatial planning.

“ONE Burleigh is our vision of luxury living, designed to bring the essence of Burleigh Heads' vibrant coastal beauty into an unparalleled residential experience.”

Residents will have access to a suite of wellness-focused amenities, including pools, sauna facilities, and dedicated relaxation spaces, reflecting a broader shift toward lifestyle-driven apartment design on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323052]

The project occupies a southern Esplanade site with uninterrupted beachfront frontage, an increasingly rare offering in Burleigh Heads, free from the Norfolk Pines that line much of the coastline and often limit direct ocean outlook.

Mould said the design intent was to balance that outlook with a sense of retreat.

“Living at ONE Burleigh is about how your day naturally unfolds, morning light across the ocean, coffee on the balcony, and being in Burleigh but elevated above the noise.”

The result further reinforces Burleigh Heads’ emergence as one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held and supply-constrained beachfront markets, where boutique, owner-occupier-focused developments are increasingly setting new price benchmarks.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146358]

MAYD Group sets Queensland record with $30 million penthouse sale at ONE Burleigh in Burleigh Heads

Apartment developers in the Gold Coast are finding new, creative ways to differentiate themselves from competing projects, as new supply starts to flow through up and down the Coast.

Developer BIG Projects brought in the renowned Sydney-based design studio YSG Studio to craft the interiors for The Frederick, BIG Projects' new Mermaid Beach project and YSG Studio's first move into the multi-residential development space.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5346]

It was a strategic move for BIG Projects to bring in a Sydney eye to the development.

“Our role is to give our design partners the space and freedom to explore,” says Matt Barrett, Director of BIG Projects.

“We wanted YSG Studio to capture the essence of Nobby’s, to design a building that embraces life, light and connection, while creating a genuine sense of place.”

There are only 39 apartments in The Frederick, including a striking beach house, just 100 metres from the booming Nobby Beach precinct.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5347]

Yasmine Ghoniem, Director of YSG Studio, says their vision&nbsp;for The Frederick "reinvents coastal living."

“Nobby’s has such an iconic energy, it’s one of those rare pockets of the Gold Coast where the community, the beach, and the streets all feel connected,” Ghoniem says.

"Responding to the neighbouring coastline, soothing curves add a relaxing regional overlay, while unique detailing really sets it apart. It’s a place that feels lived in from the moment you step inside.”

A standout feature of The Frederick is its rooftop terrace, an uncommon inclusion for a boutique, low-rise building, where amenity is typically concentrated at ground level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5360]

Positioned to capture panoramic views from the hinterland to the ocean, the rooftop has been designed as a series of intimate zones. It includes a pool, sauna, sun decks, workspaces and dedicated entertaining areas.

“The rooftop was conceived as a collection of spaces where residents can unwind and connect, an extension of the Nobby’s lifestyle,” Barrett says.

Architecture for the project was led by Plus Studio, with landscape design by LDG Landscape Architecture.

SRQ Projects Director Nick Clydsdale, who is handling sales at The Frederick, says the majority of enquiry is coming from South East QLD and Victorian buyers who have been actively searching between Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach for some time.

"They’ve reviewed a number of projects, however this one has stood out for its unique detailing and compelling design,"&nbsp;Clydsdale says.

Site demolition is slated for this month, with construction commencing soon after. BIG Projects is targeting a late 2027 completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=110588]

Sydney’s YSG Studio makes Gold Coast multi-residential debut with BIG Projects at The Frederick

Melbourne-based property developer ALTA Property has this week achieved planning approval for the adaptive re-use of a former commercial tower into a $200 million, 169-apartment project at 10 Queens Road, one of the last developable sites along the Albert Park Lake-fronting boulevard.&nbsp;

Set within one of Melbourne’s most sought-after precincts and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser and Partners</a>, the illustrious building will offer unparalleled views across Albert Park Lake, Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne CBD.&nbsp;

The mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom residences will be complemented by a ground-floor amenity featuring private dining, a lounge bar, gym and wellness spaces, co-working, outdoor communal gardens, and retail.&nbsp;

The 17-storey building is a masterclass in adaptive re-use, with the existing commercial building’s façade, shell and internal structure to be retained, before high-end residences are built from the ground up in a newly built Albert Park facing addition to the building.&nbsp;

Sitting atop the building will be two 320+sqm penthouses with private rooftop terraces, which are expected to be priced between $9 - $11 million.&nbsp;

<img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa11211b-5581-43f9-940c-fc84d30a0e61" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/C_04.png?VersionId=Yhf5p_1EgGDu_zOIMFgvA8Ug8j3sTFQs" />

Architecturally, the building will feature a curved, geometric façade that celebrates and elevates the existing structure, with warm, muted tones which were selected to extend the materiality of the existing building rather than contrast it.&nbsp;

Interiors will bring together three metre high ceilings with waffle concrete in some spaces, natural timber, granite and Australian materials, culminating in crafted, generous and considered spaces that are defined by authenticity.&nbsp;

The adaptive re-use means that the Queens Road project will be a sustainability led, high-quality finished product, with a 62% saving in carbon emissions by re-using the existing structure rather than knocking it down and rebuilding.&nbsp;

ALTA Property was launched by Nigel Givoni in 2023, bringing over 25 years of experience in multi level residential delivery.&nbsp;

Melbourne’s property market growth is currently led by apartments. According to RPM VIC Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report (April 2026), units are outpacing houses, especially in the middle ring suburbs where median prices hit $757,500 – a four-year high that represents 2.9 percent growth quarter-on-quarter.&nbsp;

<img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="647e13d7-b4bc-433a-9bc9-fe3c3dd4f2ec" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/V_06.png?VersionId=ou4NUCWUgA3NAy.6CQJlEdKX50j3dOk6" />

For ALTA Property Founder Nigel Givoni, this performance speaks to the confidence he has in the Melbourne market.&nbsp;

“Queens Road represents a rare opportunity to continue to shape our presence in the Melbourne market.,"&nbsp;Givoni says.

"With a considered project team and a premier site along one of the city’s most sought-after boulevards, we look forward to contributing to the fabric of this established address.

“Other Australian markets are getting a lot of attention, but I believe the depth of value in Melbourne is being overlooked. The fundamentals are strong, population growth is steady and, based on our preliminary conversations with a leading builder, construction costs are beginning to normalise, creating further opportunity."

Givoni says the project is a&nbsp;highly considered example of adaptive re-use, delivering quality, high-end residences, premium hotel-inspired amenities and an architecturally striking façade, all achieved without the need to remove the existing structure.

"We are really looking forward to the market’s response,” he said.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

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