The forward-thinking developer Neometro, a team of architects and design focused professionals, are set to bring something new to the small suburb of Thornbury.

Prospective buyers are always on watch for the next development&nbsp;from Neometro, who over the last 30 years have been delivering future-focused, sustainable and quality designed apartments and townhouses&nbsp;across Melbourne.

Neometro&#39;s townhouse&nbsp;developments have long been in high demand, but even more so in 2021 as people&nbsp;continue&nbsp;to think more and more about their carbon footprint. Neometro&#39;s last project, South Crescent, in the nearby Northcote, sold all of its four family-sized homes in just five days.

Before that there was success at 56&nbsp;Shaftesbury in Thornbury, another set of four homes which were snapped up well before construction was completed.&nbsp;

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Neometro&#39;s latest development takes them back to the leafy&nbsp;Thornbury in Melbourne&#39;s northern inner-ring.&nbsp;57 Martin will see six architecturally-designed, sustainable, townhouses created in harmony with the landscaped surrounds.

Quickly achieving 50% sold following the launch. Each Martin Street townhouse&nbsp;has three bedrooms, secure off-street parking, and spacious living and&nbsp;dining areas&nbsp;that open to rear landscaped, water-efficient&nbsp;gardens crafted by the landscape architecture firm&nbsp;Mud Office. The three bedrooms are located upstairs, one being a master retreat with its own ensuite.&nbsp;

It&#39;s the build quality that stands out in Neometro developments, which isn&#39;t reflected in a heftier price tag. The three-bedroom townhouses start from $1,295,000, considerably less than the suburb&#39;s $1.4 million median house price for three-bedroom houses.

57 Martin Street&nbsp;have nearly three metre high ceilings, brick party walls and openable sky lights. Enduring materials are used to stand the test of time, with each residence achieving a minimum&nbsp;7-Star NatHERS energy rating.

The extensive full height double-glazing with timber frames are thermally efficient, locking in the heat in the winter months and brining in natural light throughout the day.

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57 Martin Street&#39;s design prioritises sustainability in several areas, which will minimise the dependence on artificial heating and cooling for the long-term benefit of both the occupier and the environment. Lochlan Sinclair, who heads up the company&#39;s design and development, said the most important part of doing business is staying true to their values.

&quot;The difference between Neometro and our competitors is what we stand for,&quot; Sinclair said.

&quot;We want to make valuable contributions to design culture, we want to be a part of important community and social initiatives, and we want to create beautiful, functional homes.&nbsp;

&quot;For Neometro, doing business is about building a legacy of design-focused projects that enhance everyday life, improve well-being, and foster sustainable urban communities.&quot;

The Martin Street location is one of the biggest selling points of the townhouses, set conveniently near parks All Nations Park and Darebin Parklands, as well as the popular retail and dining quarter on&nbsp;High Street.

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Neometro's townhouse developments have long been in high demand, but even more so in 2021 as people continue to think more and more about their carbon footprint

Joel Robinson

Why Neometro's townhouses differ from any other home

The property developer GURNER&trade; has unveiled another arm to its expanding business with the launch of GURNER&trade; Luxury Homes &ndash; an end-to-end boutique development and construction business for high-end luxury homes.

Under the new brand, GURNER&trade;, led by the renowned developer Tim Gurner, will apply its unique design and development signature to bespoke townhomes and luxury single dwellings,&nbsp;building the projects in-house.

The first project to launch under the banner is located in the sought-after Huntingtower Road in Armadale. The plans have been submitted to council for&nbsp;six luxury homes, with an end value of over $35 million.

The proposed homes will include three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study, private garage, pool and rooftop terrace, all designed by Wolveridge Architects and with Myles Baldwin curating the landscapes.

The developer now has ambitions to be constructing and delivering 6 &ndash; 8 boutique projects within this development model per annum as it looks to build its in-house construction capabilities.

Elsewhere the Group is focusing on multi-residential and mixed-use precincts alongside newly formed arms spanning hospitality, wellness, hotels and operations.

GURNER&trade;&rsquo;s Tim Gurner said they have been fielding requests for this type of product for a number of years.

&ldquo;Those who know me well know I am obsessed with luxury design and pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and we want to now create Australia&rsquo;s best homes in prime suburbs and take what&rsquo;s possible to the next level,&quot; Gurner said.

&ldquo;There are a couple of great operators in the space, but not many that have delivered the amount of luxury homes we have in the past - from start to finish - and we see this as a big gap in the market.

&quot;We have done a few homes for friends and family, and it has been an incredible process for our amazing team to do something really special &ndash; from Hamptons-inspired coastal residences in Flinders to classic modern in Toorak &ndash; the brand and design team can stretch across the spectrum. &ldquo;

&quot;For years we have been fielding requests by our clients and partners to bring our unique luxury design perspective to the bespoke luxury home market. As we are now diversifying into many different markets and asset classes, it feels like the right time to start playing in this space.

&ldquo;What really excites me is the opportunity to manage all construction and delivery aspects in-house as we build our internal construction capabilities, so this will be the first end-to-end project spanning design, planning, marketing, sales, construction and delivery that we will manage all under the GURNER&trade; banner.

&ldquo;I have been delivering high-end penthouses and luxury multi-residential homes for over 15 years and particularly in the past six years we have been moving more into the bespoke space, working with our penthouse buyers to completely customise their dream homes from an off-the-plan shell. &ldquo; I&rsquo;m really excited to be able to take that knowledge and personal passion for design and apply it to the boutique market in an uncompromising manner. &ldquo;

&quot;We acquired this site in 2021 with the view to get the model right and then apply it to multiple projects. We now have the right team and vision in place and will be actively looking to acquire and start delivering 6 &ndash; 8 sites in our boutique division per year. &ldquo; For us it&rsquo;s all about finding the right location for our clientele and applying our own GURNER&trade; edge and aesthetic to each unique site,&rdquo; he said

Gurner expands in to luxury home building, starting in Armadale

Heidelberg West, in Melbourne&#39;s north-east, has quietly made a name for itself off the back of its more established suburbs of Ivanhoe, Preston, and Heidelberg.

Not just an extension of Heidelberg, Heidelberg West has been around for over a century, with the Heidelberg West Post Office dating back to the early 1920s. The area went on to host the Olympic Village at the 1952 Summer Olympics.

The small suburb&#39;s&nbsp;borders stretch from the start of Darebin Creek Forest Park and Olympic Park on the west to Waterdale Road to the east, with a number of parks, and extensive infrastructure, dotted throughout the suburb.

The local council, Banyule City Council, has plans in place&nbsp;to&nbsp;renovate the historic Bell St Mall, a sign of further infrastructure investment in the area.

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On the border to the north of Heidelberg West is the&nbsp;&nbsp;La Trobe University, which has extensive plans to become a world-class University City of the Future, with development of the 235 hectare campaus.

La Trobe has been identified as the anchor in the Victorian Government&rsquo;s La Trobe National Employment and Innovation Cluster, one of seven clusters to be developed, to support the projected significant employment and residential growth in Melbourne&rsquo;s North.

The new infrastructure will turn the campus &#39;inside out&#39; and welcome the local community onto the campus as a place to live, learn, work, socialise and stay healthy.

The University City of the Future will create:

- 20,000+ new jobs over ten years

- Education facilities for 40,000+ students

- Additional housing for 12,000 students, staff and private residents

- $3.5 billion in Gross Regional Product (GRP) over the next 10 years.

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Infrastructure will be furthered at Precinct 6A, on the corner of Bell Street and Waterdale Road, where there&#39;s been a rezoning by the local council&nbsp;for multi-level residential development, essentially leading to the gateway of the Heidelberg Precinct and Activity Centre.

The precinct will feature increased residential density to support the expanded job opportunities of the nearby LaTrobe National Employment and Innovation cluster.

This has been highlighted in the Heidelberg Structure Plan, currently adopted by Council and is expected to be delivered in the near future to accommodate the growth of the area.

One of the newest developments set to take advantage of the future infrastructure pipeline in the area is Cultivate, Heidelberg West&#39;s first high-rise development.&nbsp;

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The dual-tower project, already over 50 per cent sold, will be one of the tallest on Bell Street, with&nbsp;stricter building heights now put in place as the residential development pipeline builds.

Cultivate offers a&nbsp;walk score of 80, with grammar schools and colleges, universities, hospitals, research hubs, major retail centres and the Yarra Valley Parklands all close by.

Apartments at Cultivate start from just $369,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and $479,000 for the two-bedroom units, considerably less than&nbsp;Heidelberg West&#39;s $650,000 median for two-bedroom apartments. Three-bedroom apartments start from $727,200.

Construction is expected to begin early next year, with a completion date slated for the end of 2023.

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The small suburb's borders stretch from the start of Darebin Creek Forest Park and Olympic Park on the west to Waterdale Road to the east

Why buyers are looking to invest in Heidelberg West

Following the launch of its boutique Kirra Beach apartment development The Emerson, the Melbourne-based developer Hirsch &amp; Faigen are on to their next project.

They&#39;ve lodged plans for their recently acquired 1,905 sqm Mermaid Beach site, 7-9 Mermaid Avenue&nbsp;at the northern end of Mermaid Beach,&nbsp;which was bought back in June.

H&amp;F, led by the Melbourne lawyer Daniel Faigen and Richard Hirsch, has had&nbsp;Rothelowman&nbsp;design Yves, which will comprise three&nbsp;25-level towers. They will home a total of&nbsp;145 apartments.

Following luxury developments at Palm Beach and Kirra Beach in Coolangatta, Hirsch &amp; Faigen have consciously gone for a more price appropriate product for the location.

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&quot;With Mermaid Avenue we&#39;re getting back to some more affordability,&quot; Faigen told Urban, adding that there&#39;s a need for a more price pointed product.

&quot;We&#39;re not on the beach, nor are we trying to do three of four million dollars per apartment for this one.

&quot;The investor market is super strong on the Gold Coast, and Mermaid already has established amenity with restaurants, cafes of course the beach.&quot;

Faigen said Mermaid is still the&nbsp;best suburb on the Gold Coast, with the millionaire&#39;s row Hedges Avenue fronting&nbsp;the beach. He said the&nbsp;apartment&nbsp;towers of this size fit the location better than the sites of their previous two developments.

<img alt="" height="690" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hirsch_faigen_mermaid_beach_3.jpg" width="1200" /> 
Rothelowman aimed for a suburban approach to arrival in the communal lobby, designed as a greenhouse. Image source: Rothelowman

It&#39;s the third time in a row Hirsch &amp; Faigen have had Rothelowman handle the design of the project.

The in demand architecture firm call Mermaid Beach the Gold Coast&#39;s last humble vestige.

&quot;We all know the Gold Coast has changed a lot in the last 60 years, and as more and more people escape the crowded &lsquo;southern cities&rsquo;, we anticipate she will change even more,&quot; Rothelowman advised in their design statement.

&quot;Between the sleepless Broadbeach &amp; gentrified Burleigh, Mermaid Beach captures the diminishing modesty&nbsp;of the Gold Coast. It is a microcosm with cafes, craft and culture. A community of locals and tourists relishing a more humble urban lifestyle than the north &amp; south.

&quot;A deliberate and direct attitude towards enhancing the way in which buildings can add to the narrative of life of the Gold Coast is important in ensuring an &ldquo;Architecture of Place&rdquo; can be developed.&quot;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102451 project_image_fid=186084]

They said the site presents&nbsp;a unique opportunity to create a transitional tower project at the junction between the intensity of cosmopolitan Broadbeach and the more traditional/ laidback vestiges that is well defined by places such as Mermaid Beach.

&quot;A rich part of the evolution of the Gold Coast is the challenge and opportunity posed by the emergence of high density precincts amongst the well-established lower intensity beachside villages of the City. This is very much a product of the desirability of living in the emerging City and the rapid shift towards a more urbanised environment along the length of the Coast.&quot;

There will be just eight one-bedroom apartments, which start from 60 sqm, across the towers, 101 two-bedroom apartments from 71 sqm and 30 three-bedroom units, which are upwards of 133 sqm in internal living space. The upper levels are reserved for three subpenthouses and three penthouses, the subpenthouse starting from 156 sqm and the penthouses from 287 sqm. The biggest apartment has 341 sqm of internal living area.

<img alt="" height="800" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hirsch_faigen_mermaid_avenue_2.jpg" width="1200" /> 
Two of the three towers. Image source: Rothelowman.

The building&#39;s are crowned with outdoor rooftop seating, with the residential amenity located in the shared lobby, which Rothelowman designed as a greenhouse to create a suburban feel.

There will be a north-facing swimming pool as the centrepiece, as well as a pool and yoga deck, a&nbsp;gym, sauna, recreation lounge and barbecue seating.

The design is also a nod to the history of coastal masonry walk ups.

&quot;Embedding the coastal traditions of this place within high density apartment precincts is not by any means a straight forward task,&quot; Rothelowman state.

<img alt="" height="1679" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hirsch_faigen_mermaid_4.jpg" width="1200" /> 
The lush, landscaped entry lobby. Source: Rothelowman

&quot;Mermaid Avenue seeks to humbly direct this thinking towards an outcome that promotes liveability and simplicity. The unique &ldquo;wedge-shaped&rdquo; site results in a dynamic built form that has been subtly articulated through a series of intersections in form and incisions in the overall mass. A layered approach to fa&ccedil;ade balancing glazing with masonry responds to climatic orientation, desire for views and outlook. A textural approach which balances reflectivity in glass with undulating precast patterned concrete will create a vibrancy through shadow and depth.

&quot;The low set podium is modestly scaled to engage with the neighbouring apartment buildings and continue the language of the street within the undercroft of the tower. Gardens prevail on all frontages ensuring a balanced relationship with the adjacent sites. The narrow streetscape interface is relaxed with generous setbacks allowing for the establishment of a landscape focused forecourt between the lobby and the footpath. Gardens are utilised to create a domestic tone, rich in coastal species, colour and textures.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102451 project_image_fid=186075]

Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently entered the Gold Coast market with their luxury Palm Beach development Hemingway, and followed it with their even more upmarket&nbsp;Kirra Beach, Coolangatta development The Emerson.

Also designed by Rothelowman, The Emerson, across 13 levels,&nbsp;has just 27 apartments, priced from $3 million.

The crowning jewel is the four bedroom, 430 sqm penthouse on level 13 with two living areas, a master suite with walk in wardrobe and ensuite with double shower and double vanity.

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H&F, led by the Melbourne lawyer Daniel Faigen and Richard Hirsch, has had Rothelowman design three 25-level towers, which will home a total of 145 apartments.


Exclusive first look: Hirsch & Faigen lodge plans for Mermaid Beach apartment tower, Yves

South Brisbane is set for a new apartment tower.

The plans for the site at 9 Overend Street and 31-33 Wellington Road have been lodged to the Brisbane City Council by company&#39;s linked to the local Bitomsky family, headed by family patriarch, the Brisbane lawyer turned developer Greg Bitomsky.

They&#39;ve had Rothelowman design the 18-level tower, complete with rooftop terrace and set in&nbsp;landscaping by Aspect Studios.

&quot;The landscape vision of 9 Overend St &amp; 31-33 Wellington Rd aims to create a high quality public realm that reflects its landmark location and responds to Brisbane&rsquo;s subtropical climate by providing shade and shelter, fine grain active edges and passive surveillance of the street,&quot; Rothelowman advised in their architecture plans.

<img alt="" height="1351" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/overend_2.jpg" width="1200" />

There will be 181 apartments across the building, made up of 60 one-bedroom apartments, 13 of which come with a multi-purpose room, 101 two-bedroom apartments and 20 three-bedroom apartments.

The rooftop will feature an open pergola structure, a swimming pool with deck, a dining space with a barbecue and a lawned area with gardens.

&quot;The landscape design will respond to it&rsquo;s vertical village of inhabitants and add to the quality of life and well-being of the community,&quot; Rothelowman advised.

&quot;Tapping into the existing rich urban grit of Woolloongabba&rsquo;s local history, industry &amp; local culture craftsmanship, the development will contribute to the next wave of renewal for the precinct.&quot;

<img alt="" height="1001" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/overend_3.jpg" width="1200" />

The Overend project will also revitalize the streetscape. The lower mezzanine will feature work from home space, while there will be a new laneway with a collection of studios, workshops and&nbsp;collaboration zones, set within a landscaped setting.

Aspect Studios, who are handling the landscaping, called the development a vertical village that&nbsp;responds to it&rsquo;s inhabitants and the urban scale and takes advantage of the local subtropical climate.

&quot;The palette of raw materials with a reliance on brick, granite, concrete, timber and corten will create a simple and strong &lsquo;materiality&rsquo; for Overend &amp; Wellington,&quot; Aspect&#39;s submission read.

&quot;The public realm will generally focus on utilizing hard wearing materials which provide longevity in robustness and aesthetics.

&quot;The use of brick, granite, timber and corten within the landscape will reflect the historic industrial materiality of the Woolloongabba precinct.

&quot;In addition, the curated use of feature recycled &lsquo;found&rsquo; artifacts and salvaged materials will contribute towards cultural &lsquo;grit&rsquo; of the space as a place for makers.&quot;

"The landscape design will respond to it’s vertical village of inhabitants and add to the quality of life and well-being of the community," Rothelowman advised

Rothelowman-designed apartment tower set for South Brisbane

The developer&nbsp;EcoWorld International Australia has taken looking after its residents to another level at its recently completed Yarra One apartment tower in South Yarra.

EcoWorld, in partnership with Scarisbrick International, a Singapore-based company that developed a new concept in luxury retirement living, has launched Lifestyle One, an all-round app which allows residents to do everything from making&nbsp;massage appointments to hiring a butler.

The service, which is a monthly subscription fee, brings a different level of service to residents of all ages,&nbsp;Yarra One General Manager Jeffrey Ong says.

&ldquo;By offering our residents 6-star services 24 hours a day, we aim to further amplify the Yarra One living experience as a beautiful, luxurious home that pampers, comforts, and inspires our residents,&quot; Ong says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3127 project_image_fid=31092]

&ldquo;People often associate apartment living with a compromised lifestyle, but our vision is to provide residents both convenience and lifestyle under one roof.

&ldquo;EcoWorld is excited to be one of the first developers to bring apartment residents a premium resort lifestyle in Australia and hopes to explore similar initiatives for future projects.&rdquo;

Yarra One, on Claremont Street, was designed by&nbsp;Fender Katsalidis and completed its construction last December.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3127 project_image_fid=31085]

There are 247 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as three penthouses.

The project boasts a wide range of amenities including a wellness precinct equipped with a gymnasium, outdoor spa, dance studio and yoga room; a resident dining room, library and wine cellar; Tesla car-share and pet wash facilities.

The Lifestyle One app allows residents to book:

<ul>
	<li>Butler</li>
	<li>In-Residence Dining</li>
	<li>Housekeeping</li>
	<li>Laundry</li>
	<li>Concierge</li>
	<li>Nurses and Caregivers (attendance in residence)</li>
	<li>Massage</li>
	<li>Personal Trainer (gym, swimming, water aerobics and yoga)</li>
	<li>Pet Services (grooming and walking)</li>
	<li>Beauty Salon Services (hair, nails and skin treatments)</li>
</ul>

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=3127]

Yarra One, on Claremont Street, was designed by Fender Katsalidis and completed its construction last December

EcoWorld in Australian first, launching six star, 24-hour app at Yarra One, South Yarra apartments

The Melbourne developer Samma Property Group are embarking on their flagship Ivanhoe development, Samma Place, after spending the last two to three years planning out the community.

The first residential part of Samma Place is Linden, a collection of 134 apartments, in the first of four buildings on Bell Street.

There will be four buildings in total, with Linden Apartments located in Building A, starting from $435,000 for the one-bedroom apartments.

Samma, founded by Sam&nbsp;Abdelmalak&nbsp;in 1995 and led by Sam&#39;s sons Joshua, Daniel and Simon, has engaged the award-winning architecture, interior and urban planning firm, Peddle Thorp, to design the building,&nbsp;introducing lush greenery into its wider surrounds.

Private landscaped balconies will look across to the Melbourne skyline.&nbsp;

The communal terrace on Level 10 is a highlight at Linden, comprising an outdoor BBQ and inside dining area, along with a spa and sundeck.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107731]

Samma&#39;s development director Benjamin Cribb, who has led the project, said he&#39;s looking forward to testing out the outdoor cinema.

&quot;I think when the whole project is finished, it will be a really defining change to Ivanhoe&quot;, Cribb said.

Cribb said that Linden stands out for its large apartments, designed to meet Better Apartment Design Standards (BADS) and 4-Star GreenStar rating, complemented with cutting-edge design and meticulous landscaping.

&ldquo;Our brief ensures Linden has its own identity with each apartment designed as a &lsquo;backyard in the sky&rsquo;, synthesizing the Australian backyard with contemporary apartments,&quot; Cribb said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107731]

&quot;The concept positions living environments and outside spaces as places of comfort and repose, allowing nature to take centre stage.&rdquo;

Linden residents will arrive via a private sheltered driveway leading to a hotel-inspired and porte coch&egrave;re, framed by hanging gardens by landscapers MALA Studio, who were&nbsp;behind the parkland setting for Amanda Levete&#39;s 2015 MPavilion.

&ldquo;Landscaping is also a direct response to the current experience and feel of Bell Street. We want to bring the Ivanhoe lushness to the buildings, at the human interfaces with the built form &mdash; in lobbies, on balconies, in podium areas &mdash; and also the street,&rdquo; said Cribb.

In addition to apartments, Linden will also be home to nearly 1,000 square metres of commercial space, with subsequent stages proposed to include a grocery store, caf&eacute; and offices, offering infinite potential for local business and as a vibrant community.

Demolition is currently underway, with construction soon to commence for an early 2023 completion.

Cribb said that Linden is Samma Property Group&rsquo;s flagship project as it embodies the core values and vision of the group.

&ldquo;Our founder&rsquo;s vision was to design and build using only the finest materials, creating a product that he and his family would be proud to call their own,&rdquo; Cribb said.

About the developer

Samma Property Group was founded in 1995. Within a few years Samma have gained a reputation for exceptional quality and progressed to building extraordinary, luxury homes.

They then applied the same attention to detail with apartment developments, setting a new standard for product quality and customer service. Today, Samma has finished over 40 major projects with a significant pipeline in planning and construction, they apply the same passion and commitment in every project.

Samma&rsquo;s mission statement &ldquo;Improving life in the city of tomorrow.&rdquo; Is to make a positive difference in people&rsquo;s lives no matter where the project is. When you walk into a Samma development, everything comes together in an instant to form an unforgettable first impression &ndash; that it is a wonderful place to live.

The first residential part of Samma Place is Linden, a collection of 134 apartments, in the first of four buildings on Bell Street

Samma Group set for $300 million mixed-use Ivanhoe apartment development, Samma Place

The developer Aniko Group has continued to see huge success on Hope Island on the Gold Coast.

Since launching Athena Residences three weeks ago, Aniko has secured over 60 per cent, some $55 million, of sales at the $125 million Sickle Avenue&nbsp;development, with local owner-occupiers making up most of the purchasers.

Investors are continuing to creep back in to the market. They made up a third of sales.

The quick sales come following their sell-out of its&nbsp;$140 million development, No. 1 Grant Avenue, located across the road.

&ldquo;We are humbled and encouraged by this continued demand and support for our luxury waterfront apartment living in Hope Island, Aniko Group founder&nbsp;George Mastrocostas said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95317 project_image_fid=174335]

&quot;We are fortunate to be able to meet the market&rsquo;s expectations once again with an exceptional collection of high-end homes at Athena Residences.

&ldquo;Our sales program has steadily continued its pace from 1 Grant Avenue to Athena Residences unabated, which serves to confirm our deep-rooted belief in Hope Island as the leading residential precinct for luxury waterfront downsizer living,&quot;&nbsp;Mastrocostas added. 
 
Set on the opposite site to its No. 1 Grant Avenue, Athena Residences will have16 one-bedroom apartments, 153 two-bedroom apartments and an exclusive release of 16 luxury three-bedroom Skyhomes, which will range in size from 170 sqm to 260 sqm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95317 project_image_fid=169966]

Aniko are seeking to&nbsp;get private marina berths approved from the council for residents.

Mastrocostas said the key drivers for the downsizer trend has been&nbsp;the opening of the Hope Island Marketplace shopping precinct, as well as the pending Coomera Connector, which&nbsp;Mastrocostas says he has no doubt&nbsp; have really made Hope Island a sought-after, central location in which to live.

&ldquo;Notwithstanding we have tapped into a growing cohort of downsizers by creating a luxury, affordable waterfront apartment living that previously was lacking in the Hope Island precinct.&rdquo;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95317 project_image_fid=174337]

Aniko are&nbsp;working on plans for another Hope Island development of waterfront townhouses on a recently acquired site nearby on Grant Avenue.

Peter Malady, Sales and Marketing Director at Aniko Group, said it&#39;s incredible to see the strength of the local market which has just been superseded by interstate interest in recent months.

&ldquo;Local downsizers and first home buyers have a strong appreciation of Hope Island&rsquo;s value and aren&rsquo;t going to sit idly by when a premium waterfront product such as this hits the market.&rdquo;

&ldquo;Athena Residences is a unique product in that it provides an adaptive layout typically unseen in apartment floorplans, allocating additional space to allow for the choice of working from home, plus the resort style facilities and the abundance of open space and greenery which covers a massive 60% of the site,&nbsp;Malady said.

The first release of Athena Residences encompasses 122 units &ndash; including two-bedroom and study and three-bedroom Skyhomes &ndash; ranging in price from $479,000&nbsp;to $1.5 million.

The quick sales come following their sell-out of its $140 million development, No. 1 Grant Avenue, located across the road

Aniko Group secure 60% of sales in newest Hope Island apartment development, Athena Residences

The Gold Coast developer Sherpa Property, who have been developing and finalising plans for a number of luxury apartment projects in Palm Beach, are broadening their horizons.

Sherpa, led by chief executive&nbsp;Christie Leet, are continuing the trend of their Perspective collection in Biggera Waters,&nbsp;lodged plans for a boutique apartment development overlooking The Broadwater at 536 Marine Parade.

The exclusive building will have just seven apartments, six full-floor, three-bedroom apartments&nbsp;and&nbsp;a two-storey penthouse overlooking Broadwater and the surrounding parklands.

&nbsp;

&ldquo;Biggera Waters has been simmering with undervalued potential for some time now, and these figures indicate that there&rsquo;s significant upside on the Broadwater which is something we always look for our buyers,&rdquo;&nbsp;Leet said.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s more affordable than its neighbours to the north and certainly in comparison to what has been a white-hot southern Gold Coast market.&quot;

Leet said the area has&nbsp;retainsedits unique charm as the Gold Coast&rsquo;s untapped leisure time-paradise, with little development in the region keeping it very boutique in nature.

<img alt="" height="775" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/sherpa_perspective_broadwater.jpg" width="1200" /> 
Drawings my Mode architects submitted to the Gold Coast City Council

&ldquo;Perspective Broadwater provides a rare opportunity to become an exclusive first-mover to the next prized pocket of the Gold Coast, offering buyers the chance to capitalise on the imminent value surge.&rdquo;

Designed by MODE architects, each of the residences will have&nbsp;three-bedroom, two bathrooms, a media room, and two car spaces.

The 400 sqm, two-level penthouse with its own private lift will have an expansive outdoor kitchen and entertainment area and 360-degree views over the Broadwater, Stradbroke Island, Pacific Ocean, Gold Coast CBD skyline and Gold Coast Hinterland.

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&ldquo;Perspective Broadwater is where life begins anew for the luxury downsizer,&rdquo; Leet said.

Sherpa has seen huge success in&nbsp;Palm Beach, where they secured sell outs in their Perspective 488 and Perspective Two Sea apartment developments. The two projects achieved a combined sales total in excess of $70 million.

Sherpa has now launched&nbsp;Perspective Nexus &ndash; a collection of 29 three-bedroom apartments and three three-level Sky Homes, a sub-penthouse, and a penthouse.

The exclusive building will have just seven apartments, six full-floor, three-bedroom apartments and a two-storey penthouse

Sherpa branch out from Palm Beach, lodge plans for Perspective Broadwater in Biggera Waters

Crown Group,&nbsp;the soon-to-be national apartment developer,&nbsp; are changing the face of Sydney&#39;s inner eastern suburb Eastlakes&nbsp;with their $1 billion lifestyle precinct, The Grand Eastlakes.

Formerly known as Eastlakes LIVE, the multi-stage development has been dubbed &#39;the new east&#39; by the team at Crown and will home nearly 500 apartments across five buildings, a new eat street, and a two retail precincts, set on both sides of the project.

Stage one, located on the north side of Evans Ave and opening imminently, includes 133 apartments located&nbsp;above a 15-retail outlet shopping centre, anchored by a larger format 1600 sqm ALDI and a Woolworths Metro.

Stage Two, located on the south side of Evans Ave, which will&nbsp;commence&nbsp;construction in late 2022, will see a further&nbsp;357 apartments built, located above their own&nbsp;13,000 sqm, three-storey shopping centre, designed by Buchan Group. That will feature&nbsp;80&nbsp;retail outlets including a full line Woolworths and a&nbsp;community town centre including a medical centre and public library.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7652 project_image_fid=25905]

Crown Group Chair &amp; Group CEO Iwan Sunito said Crown Group is creating a world-class urban village and destination in its own right at Eastlakes attracting a whole new community to live, work, shop, exercise and dine with their loved ones, friends and family.

&quot;This project will celebrate and showcase the work of architects as &lsquo;placemakers and collaborators&rsquo; that goes beyond the design just of buildings and brings a new life and joy to a previously tired and uninviting urban setting, in much need of renewal and revitalisation,&quot; Sunito said.

&ldquo;What it also brings is a flow-on effect of continued urban growth and renewal, more development, public infrastructure, transport, amenities and commercial activity to Eastlakes and surrounding areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7652 project_image_fid=173790]

Colliers Residential Managing Director Peter Chittenden, who is managing sales of stage one at The Grand Residences, said that not only is Crown Group creating Sydney&rsquo;s new east, a dynamic entertainment and lifestyle precinct but it is also an affordable alternative to other eastern suburbs or inner-city neighbourhoods where property seekers are priced out.

&ldquo;Ideal for owner-occupiers, families or downsizers wanting all of the convenience of living above a shopping centre, this project is attracting interest from young families and first home purchasers who are currently renting in the eastern suburbs, love the east but are priced out of nearby beachside suburbs. This is the next best option,&rdquo; he said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7652 project_image_fid=173799]

&ldquo;The project will also attract healthy rental returns, being a brand new development with all of Crown Group&rsquo;s spectacularly conceived resort-style facilities such as beautiful pools and rooftop dining areas, so it certainly is attractive to investors as well.&rdquo;

&ldquo;The Eastlakes Shopping Centre, which is currently operating, will be unrecognisable when the entire project is completed in late 2025,&rdquo; Chittenden added.

Crown have a solid reputation for delivering mixed-use precincts, and buyers have too benefitted in previous projects.

Property values at Top Ryde City Living, Crown&#39;s&nbsp;award-winning residential project north of the bridge which also saw 500 apartments across seven high-rise towers, saw prices increase&nbsp;33 per cent from the start of the project through to the completion.

Chittenden suggested that buying a property above a high-quality shopping centre is a great long-term investment which may increase the value of the property as well as attract tenants for rental properties.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7652 project_image_fid=173801]

&ldquo;Property prices in the local area may also see a considerable uplift with the completion of The Grand precinct by late 2025 which makes buying now at the beginning of the project prudent. Given the extensive retail convenience, it&rsquo;s a wonderful opportunity for families, downsizers, first home or next home purchasers,&rdquo; Chittenden said.

&ldquo;Crown Group is genuinely transforming Eastlakes which will be a game-changer for the local area. It&rsquo;s tremendously exciting for this largely unknown pocket of Sydney&rsquo;s east to be completely revitalised and reinvigorated with stunning new amenity and immaculately finished residences,&rdquo; he said.

Among the string of highly coveted industry awards that Crown Group has won for its slew of iconic mixed-use projects, The Grand Eastlakes was awarded the 2013 UDIA NSW &amp;&nbsp;ACT Awards for Excellence for Concept Design.

Apartments are for sale from $740,000 for a one-bedroom apartment with car space, and rise to $1,520,500 for a three-bedroom apartment with car space.

Crown Group Chair & Group CEO Iwan Sunito said Crown Group is creating a world-class urban village and destination in its own right

How Crown Group are changing the face of Sydney's Eastlakes with The Grand

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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