Expat buying at the top end of the market are leading the way of the changing market.

That&#39;s the view of Colliers Residential director Peter Kerras, who says across Australian media you could say we have a strong fascination with the Australian housing market &ndash; however it doesn&rsquo;t seem to be the case when he speaks to expats.

&quot;A lot of expats who are living in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, and London to a lesser degree, have no issue with apartment living, because they&#39;ve been doing it for a number of years,&quot; Kerras says, adding that it&#39;s around 80 per cent of expats now buying at the top level.

Kerras, who has been selling apartments across Sydney for over three decades, says for some time we have seen overseas purchaser numbers reduce.

&quot;Previously across our projects we saw a lot of offshore buyers with many based in China,&quot; Kerras says.

&quot;Currently however we are seeing more expats wanting to return to Australia and are actively buying off-the-plan&rdquo;, Kerras noted.

The current strength has been seen far and wide across Sydney&#39;s main prestige areas, from the&nbsp;Upper&nbsp;North&nbsp;Shore to the likes of Vaucluse and Double Bay in the east.

There were three expat buyers in the&nbsp;Avance&nbsp;developed Merrinda at&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.urban.com.au/developments/kurraba-point-nsw&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1621557175455000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGj5PeMYw8_2JO51pjdtC9Uyy_mfw" href="/developments/kurraba-point-nsw-2089" target="_blank">Kurraba Point</a>, the boutique development of just 14 apartments.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=23292 project_image_fid=161976]

There&#39;s only one apartment remaining in the boutique block designed by PBD Architects.

Kerras says developments now have to cater for a different need.

&quot;Larger developments with more investor focused apartments were the norm for a time, however now the pendulum has swung the other way and we are seeing the downsizers buying larger units or amalgamating apartments.&quot;

Kerras noted the further driver of the downsizer demographic, who are now getting a lot more for their houses as Sydney house prices continue to reach record highs.

&quot;There aren&#39;t too many options for a house-sized apartment at that top end&quot;, Kerras said. He&#39;s been seeing more amalgamations of apartment in yet to be complete developments.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=23292 project_image_fid=161972]

Kerras recently sold two amalgamated apartments in The Bond in Bond Junction to an Australian expat doctor living in Hong Kong.

The Koichi Takada-designed development by Capital Corporation will have 80 apartments and a rooftop cinema by its mid-2023 completion.

The expat had initially been seeking a house in Vaucluse, however the additional cost&nbsp;of land tax in the premium harbourside suburb and a weaker rental yield led the buyer to secure two apartments in The Bond.

There&#39;s also been&nbsp;amalgamations at Northview, a boutique project in St&nbsp;Leonards&nbsp;located in Chandos Street&nbsp;which has nearly sold out.

There were only two one bedders, which were bought together and amalgamated to make a 170 sqm apartment. There was another amalgamation, which saw the total number of apartments downgraded from 12 to 10, well before construction even started.

Prices started from $2.25 million and went up to $3.45 million, selling at around $20,000 per sqm.

Kerras says investors are very different from what they used to be.

&quot;The yield of a property was the number one criteria for investors, however that has now completely changed.

&quot;In the prestige area, it&#39;s more about&nbsp;a quality product, from a quality developer with longevity that they can pass on to their&nbsp;children.&quot;

&quot;They&nbsp;are&nbsp;happy to get a yield of around&nbsp;2&nbsp;to 2.25 per cent a year return and put&nbsp;approximately&nbsp;30 to 40 per cent&nbsp;deposit&nbsp;down on the apartment as a safer place to&nbsp;spend&nbsp;their money,&nbsp;as banks in some countries are charging you to keep&nbsp;money in the bank.&quot;

Peter Kerras, who has been selling apartments across Sydney for over three decades, says for some time we have seen overseas purchaser numbers reduce.



Joel Robinson

Expats pour in to luxury off the plan Sydney apartment market as Merrinda at Kurraba Point nears sell-out

Just 10 days after launching&nbsp;their Surfers Paradise residential tower One Cannes, Marquee Development Partners saw 65 per cent of the apartments snapped up.

There were more than $55 million worth of sales in the week and a half following its end of April launch of its 78 two, three and four bedroom apartments, which only received council sign off three weeks ago.

The development, designed by Plus Architecture between Broadbeach and Surfers, is Marquee&#39;s second successful project along Cannes Avenue following their sellout Cannes Waterfront Living.

The remaining One Cannes apartments, each featuring water views which are showcased&nbsp;through the floor to ceiling glass windows,&nbsp;start from the low $800,000&#39;s, with the four to five bedroom penthouses priced between $2.39 million and $3.5 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=97810 project_image_fid=159844]

Marquee&#39;s sales director Azura Griffen said the majority of buyers have been local downsizers who are looking to sell their large family home, as well as existing apartment owners who are looking to upgrade. 
 
&ldquo;We have had a high number of purchasers who are already accustomed to apartment living, but who are upgrading to One Cannes for its premium location, unrivalled level of luxury interiors and 5-star amenities,&rdquo; Mrs Griffen said. 
 
&ldquo;We are thrilled with the rapid response to One Cannes, and it just goes to show that owner-occupiers have that strong desire for the luxury living amenities &ndash; and it appears we have exceeded their expectations,&rdquo; Griffen added.

&ldquo;It is a fundamental belief of ours that well-considered design improves the way we live.

Marquee are well regarded as creating projects with the onsite amenities at the forefront. One Cannes has been no exception.

The ground floor is home to a riverfront infinity pool surrounded by cabanas and sun lounges, as well as a full-sized gym, sauna, and a yoga and pilates studio, oriented toward the adjoining parklands.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=97810 project_image_fid=160637]

Marquee drew inspiration from the QANTAS first class lounges for their business lounge, boardroom, private offices and meeting rooms. There are also working offices for solo use. 
 
&ldquo;From the outset we wanted to raise the bar on work-life-balance on the Gold Coast, allowing One Cannes residents to balance work commitments whilst enjoying their coastal lifestyle,&quot; Griffen said. 
 
The One Cannes development marks Marquee&rsquo;s seventh project on the Gold Coast, bringing its total portfolio value of completed and future projects on the Gold Coast to more than $400 million.

For more information from Marquee, visit <a href="https://marqueedp.com.au/">their website here</a>.

&nbsp;

There were more than $55 million worth of sales in the week and a half following its end of April launch

Buyers snap up apartments in Surfers Paradise development One Cannes

First home buyers have been attracted to&nbsp;Sixth Ave, the Aultun Group townhouse development in the heart of Bayside Chelsea Heights south of Melbourne.

Sixth Ave was Urban&#39;s most popular project for first home buyers across Q1 2021, with Aultun Group managing director Bruce Yang previously telling Urban that&nbsp;affordability of the townhouses was just as important as quality.&nbsp;

Designed by Point Architects, prices start from just $599,000 for a two bedroom townhouse.

Urban recently spoke to Brigit King, a first home buyer at Sixth Ave, about why she chose to buy in the development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=32136 project_image_fid=93835]

JR: What first drew you to Sixth Ave?

BK: The Bayside living was the biggest drawcard.

JR: How long had you been searching for a property?

BK: I had&nbsp;been looking for over a year now but only seriously for the past couple of months

JR: Were you always looking for a townhouse?

BK: Location is always my first priority

[smartcode_project:default project_id=32136 project_image_fid=93835]

JR: Which townhouse configuration did you opt for and why?

BK: I went for the two&nbsp;bedroom, two bathroom townhouse. It is what best suits my lifestyle at the moment

[smartcode_project:default project_id=32136 project_image_fid=93831]

JR: What advice would you have for other first home buyers?

BK: Get in the market as soon as you can.

JR: Did you take advantage of any government incentives?

BK: I have the first home buyers grant to help me

[smartcode_project:default project_id=32136 project_image_fid=93835]

JR: Did you have a set of criteria that your first home had to meet?

BK: Location, minimum 2 bedroom and having an ensuite was high on my wants list

JR: What made you decide to buy off-the-plan rather than an existing dwelling?

BK: The offer was too good to not take. The real-estate market at the moment is booming and the price and location is what sold me.

Sixth Ave was Urban's most popular project for first home buyers across Q1 2021

Why first home buyers are choosing the Chelsea Heights development Sixth Ave

The Gold Coast apartment market is one of the most active in Australia, as much for developers as it has been for buyers.

From planning documents to approvals and sales successes, Urban have wrapped up all the moves&nbsp;across the Gold Coast in April.

FORME lodge plans for luxury Burleigh Heads development

The latest news came from developer FORME, who lodged plans for a second Koichi Takada-designed boutique residential complex in Burleigh Heads at the end of April.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=99968 project_image_fid=159158]

The 17-level tower of just 30 apartments on the sought after The Esplanade is high-end luxury, with interiors being handled by MIM Design.

For more information on the project, <a href="/news/qld/tower-reveal-burleigh-heads-set-for-new-koichi-takada-apartment-tower-by-forme">click here</a>.

Cala Dei sales launched

Having sold out of all of their stock across their whole portfolio, the South East Queensland developer Spyre Group officially launched sales at Cala Dei in Coolangatta. 
 
<a data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" href="/news/qld/spyre-group-officially-launch-new-coolangatta-tower-cala-dei"><img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="746" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/cala_dei_3.jpeg" width="1324" /></a>

Cala Dei, which will replace the Komune Resort on Marine Parade, will comprise 31 apartments across its 12 levels designed by&nbsp;bureau^proberts. It will sit in landscaping by CUSP.

For more information, <a href="/news/qld/spyre-group-officially-launch-new-coolangatta-tower-cala-dei">click here</a>.

The Lacey Group secure approval for The Monroe at Palm Beach

The Gold Coast-based developer&nbsp;Lacey Group&nbsp;have been given the green light by the City of Gold Coast for its $32 million&nbsp;Palm Beach development&nbsp;The Monroe.

The project of 33&nbsp;apartments and a beach house on the exclusive&nbsp;Jefferson Lane has been designed by&nbsp;Plus Architecture&nbsp;and is located adjacent to the Palm Beach Surf Club. 
<a data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" href="/news/qld/lacey-group-secure-approval-for-the-monroe-at-palm-beach"><img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="746" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_monroe_lacey_group.jpeg" width="1324" /></a>

Lacey Group know the area well, having had success on the same street where they sold out The Jefferson, the $32 million development of 46 apartments.

For more information, <a href="/news/qld/lacey-group-secure-approval-for-the-monroe-at-palm-beach">click here</a>.

88 Burleigh sells half its apartments

Allure Property Corporation have secured the sales of over half of their apartments in their&nbsp;boutique apartment development 88 Burleigh within just&nbsp;four weeks of the project launch.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=92609 project_image_fid=157097]

Local and interstate downsizers with an existing connection to Burleigh Heads have been the drivers in the $55 million worth of sales, with the average price point around $2.65 million.

Place Projects agent Bruce Goddard said there were 360 inquiries within the first two weeks of its launch.

For more information, <a href="/news/qld/88-burleigh-sells-half-its-apartments-within-four-weeks-of-launch">click here</a>.

Cru Collective secure Kirra Beach site

The Gold Coast developer&nbsp;CRU Collective&nbsp;is jumping on the hype that has been surrounding&nbsp;Kirra Beach&nbsp;in recent years.

Cru, who sold out their $40 million Siarn&nbsp;Palm Beach development&nbsp;in September last year, have acquired a prime 635 sqm corner site at 2 Musgrave Street, on the corner of Musgrave and Winston Street.

For more information, <a href="/news/qld/cru-collective-secure-kirra-beach-site-for-new-boutique-apartment-tower">click here</a>.

Devine Development Group lodge plans for Alba Residences

The longstanding Queenslander developer Devine Development Group have lodged plans for a $105 million apartment project Alba Residences at North&nbsp;Burleigh.

<a data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" href="/news/qld/another-apartment-tower-lodged-in-hot-gold-coast-market"><img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="1293" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/alba_render.jpeg" width="1160" /></a>

Set on the dress circle Esplanade facing the beach, the 21 level tower designed by&nbsp;bureau^proberts&nbsp;will comprise half and full floor residences catering for the top end of the market, with prices starting from $2.25 million.

For more information, <a href="/news/qld/another-apartment-tower-lodged-in-hot-gold-coast-market">click here</a>.

Urban have wrapped up all the moves across the Gold Coast in April

Gold Coast apartment development insights: What happened on the GC in April?

The primarily Melbourne-based developer Auriton are set for their first residential apartment tower in Queensland.

They snapped up a prime 1,095&nbsp;sqm development site at 2932-2934 Gold Coast Highway in late March&nbsp;and have just lodged plans to the City of Gold Coast council for Rivea, an $80 million tower&nbsp;with 108 apartments.

It has been designed by the renowned architecture firm Rothelowman, who are calling the 30-level tower&nbsp;a vertical community.&nbsp;The design incorporates just four apartments per floor for the most part, with 14 sqm balconies located on each corner of the building.

<img alt="" height="685" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/auriton_high_tower_2.jpg" width="1200" />

The layout favours liveability over style, which Rothelowman says is a local approach to coastal living.

The cross ventilated breathable building will feature a mid-rise garden with gym, office space, formal dining room or board room. The ground level, beside the lobby, will be a swimming pool with day beds and outdoor lounge area facing the Nerang River.

Crowning the building will be a 29th level, four bedroom penthouse with its own home office and a multi purpose room.

Auriton are targeting everyone from local buyers to international investors, retirees and holiday home buyers.

Construction is expected&nbsp;to commence in early 2023, with completion slated for mid 2024.

The Design Statement by Rothelowman

2934 Gold Coast Hwy provides an opportunity to craft a unique residential tower development that capitalises on its locality and context. Located at the pinch-point between the Nerang River and the Pacific Ocean the site is afforded a number of quintessentially Gold Coast attributes that the design seeks to enhance and exploit. The &ldquo;east-west&rdquo; focus of the City is a natural consequence of its linearity (the bias of the linear city as opposed to the concentric city). The subject site capitalises on its orientation to enhance this &ldquo;eastwest&rdquo; concept through view focus (mountain range and ocean), site movement linking beach to river and tower form symmetry and arrangement.

<img alt="" height="960" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/auriton_3.jpg" width="760" />

The scheme focuses on enhancing the urban realm in an area somewhat burdened by the intensity of city scaled infrastructure (a highway, light rail overlay etc). It does this by focusing on humanising the ground-plane through a generous and considered street building approach layered in domestically scaled detailing, landscape integration and materiality.

The design offers up an open, permeable and generous forecourt to the street in a manner that seeks to improve the pedestrian experience of the area. This unique (yet modest) approach to contributing to the city at the street level is fundamental to creating a relaxed walkable and &lsquo;people centric&rsquo; development. Combining with the ground the tower form is expressed at the city scale as an elegant, elemental and layered series of facades that favour liveability and domestic performance over random form making. The design seeks to be explicit in its response to the local environment through extended eaves for shading, operability of glazing and the activation and treatment of all facades (a &ldquo;building in the round&rdquo;).

Accents and focus are dedicated to the communal areas of the tower which occur at the ground, centre and crown. These landscaped spaces offer relief in the elevation of the building ensuring visual cues to the subtropical approach of the design. 2934 Gold Coast Hwy provides for a positive, contextually driven, domestic addition to the skyline of Surfers Paradise. A liveable, elegant and confident architecture that favours the local over the generic.&nbsp;

About the developer

Auriton Group&nbsp;is a rising Australian business group covering commercial and residential real estate development, land planning and fund investment and management.

Auriton have three current projects in market in Melbourne, having completed 10 previously, with developments ranging from a townhouse community in Blackburn to the La Trobe St tower The Peak.

In Sydney Auriton developed a 130 apartment development in Beecroft in 2017 and are currently planning a project in Botany.&nbsp;

The primarily Melbourne-based developer Auriton are set for their first residential apartment tower in Queensland.

Tower reveal: Auriton set to make move to Gold Coast market with Rivea tower

The luxury Gold Coast tower Shoreline, to be located between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, will be one of the most striking buildings on the Gold Coast when it is completed in late 2022.

The design of Shoreline&#39;s podium was inspired by the architectural works of the Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto, creating a rhythm reflective of the natural waves of the Gold Coast foreshore.

Urban recently spoke with BDA Architecture&#39;s Patrik Pelikan to discuss the design details of Shoreline.

JR: What was the brief from Marquee for Shoreline?&nbsp;

PP: BDA has established a meaningful&nbsp;relationship with Marquee Development Partners&nbsp;over the last three&nbsp;projects. For past projects, Marquee and BDA have worked together to create a standalone and significant design outcome specific to the location.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22057 project_image_fid=150839]

The brief for Shoreline was to create luxury apartments without compromise, that take full advantage of the panoramic views whilst respecting the unique character of Old Burleigh Road and its Norfolk Pine colonnade.

In an urban context, Marquee&rsquo;s ambition was to activate and embellish the southern laneway to anchor the project within the cultural&nbsp;fabric of the Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise.

JR: What interested you most about the project?

PP: Every design process is a journey of discovery and innovation. In the beginning this meant we focused on the spatial planning of the unit plans. Maximising view lines, whilst adding extra width to the apartments by introducing a modulated party wall.

Within the urban context we wanted to protect the existing Norfolk Pines within the street frontage, whilst breathing&nbsp;new life into the Laneway.

<a href="/developments/gold-coast-qld?source_news_article_id=100300&amp;ref=news_body_link"><img alt="" height="797" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/gc_newest_tile_jpeg_9.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

JR: Where did you take your inspiration from? Did any previous projects/works jump to mind?

PP: We generally start with a blank canvas and explore different strategies during at the concept stage. Shoreline has a presence that makes it quite unique, requiring a very site-specific response.

The laneway allowed us to move the buildings core to the far end of the site, providing the opportunity create apartments uninterrupted by a lift/stairs core.

The same logic has sculptured the facades. By placing all the structural elements into the fa&ccedil;ade skin, the apartments are design free of structural columns.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22057 project_image_fid=150842]

Maximising the glass frontages&nbsp;opens the views right up towards the city skyline and the ocean side whilst creating clean lines within the facade. The outcome is a well-ordered, soft and slender tower form that focuses on the experience of the spaces within, looking out.

JR:&nbsp;What was the biggest challenge when designing the development?

PP: The ground floor and the podium were clearly the biggest challenge for the Shoreline project. For one we wanted to preserve one if not both of the Norfolk Pines within our street frontage. These trees are a vital part of the unique character of Old Burleigh Road.

On the other hand, the activation and embellishment of the laneway was not supported by the council as we first anticipated. This however opened a new conversation and direction for the project, resulting in an expansion of the program for the communal facilities and strengthening the street presence of the building.

JR: Which is your favourite part of the project?

PP: We are very excited by the apartment layouts and can&rsquo;t wait to see them take shape.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22057 project_image_fid=150837]

In a linear progression, the spaces of the apartments are aligned from inland to beachside. At the end of it, you have arrived in a spacious living room with a bespoke ambience amongst the Gold Coast skyline, looking out across the endless Pacific Ocean.

Interestingly however, within the discourse around the street address, we have created this moment where you exit the ground floor street lobby. The screens enclosing this double storey space evoke the moment when you first step out from the filtered views of the vegetation canopy fringe onto the sun-soaked shoreline with its sparkling waves and pristine sands of the Gold Coast beaches. This is one element that everyone living in or visiting Shoreline will experience.

JR: How important were the amenities to the overall development of the project?

PP: Marquee Development Partners is one client&nbsp;that does not compromise on the amenities in their projects. Shoreline residents will have access to the top floor with its amenities including a residents rooftop bar and lounge,&nbsp;a gym and wellness area including sauna and outdoor deck, overlooking the beaches and the Gold Coast skyline.

A north-west facing pool area on level four, with incorporated screen planting will provide a secluded and shaded area to relax and enjoy the coastal breezes whilst having a dip.

Within&nbsp;the discussion of the street activation, a communal office space has been introduced and linked to the double storey lobby, allowing the residents to work from a corporate like environment close to home.

The design of Shoreline's podium was inspired by the architectural works of the Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto

Shoreline design details: Five minutes with BDA Architecture on the luxury Gold Coast development

Construction has commenced at Arches Maribyrong, the contemporary apartment development&nbsp;by Rising Sun Developments.

They've secured over 60 per cent of sales, with the majority of buyers being first home buyers and owner-occupiers who already live in the west.

The affordable price tags saw first home buyers snap up apartments which are priced&nbsp;from $385,000 for one bedders, $485,000 for the two beds and three bedrooms from $895,000.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24611 project_image_fid=161945]

There are 36 apartments across its nine&nbsp;levels. Completion is expected before the end of 2022.

Aside from the price, the development's&nbsp;other biggest driver is its location, just 200 steps from&nbsp;Highpoint Shopping Centre, one of the biggest shopping centres in Melbourne.

The Sloane Street project also sits&nbsp;within the Highpoint Major Activity Centre,&nbsp;a precinct designated for major growth by the government.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24611 project_image_fid=47702]

Featuring interiors by the local interior design firm Golden, each apartment features a kitchen with Smeg appliances and Terrazzo benchtops,&nbsp;integrated fridge options and LED lighting. Select apartments have a butler's pantry and walk-in closets.

Crowning the development is a 360-degree sky garden, complete with barbecue facilities and lounge and dining seating. There's a further&nbsp;garden on the level six podium.

The Sloane Street development also sits within the Highpoint Major Activity Centre, a precinct designated for major growth by the government

First home buyers snap up apartments as Arches Maribyrnong construction commences

A $21.5 million sales rush at the Cedar Woods masterplanned community Greville has seen the national developer bring forward the release of its third stage of townhomes.

The townhouses will be part of the $180 million masterplanned Greville community, five kilometres north of Brisbane.

The first two stages were particularly popular with local buyers. The latest release will see 10 terraces available&nbsp;from $809,000.

There was a flurry of sales when Cedar Woods announced they&#39;d appointed the regarded builder Condev Construction, who will commence construction of the first release of townhomes in the next few months.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=21630 project_image_fid=89904]

Cedar Woods development director Peter Starr said&nbsp;buyers are lining up to secure a brand new terrace home within close proximity to the CBD which prompted the decision to bring the third release forward.

&ldquo;With just ten terrace homes in the third release, there is limited opportunity in this new release at Greville, and within the broader Wooloowin area, and any new supply is being snapped up quickly due to increasing buyer demand,&quot; Starr said.

&ldquo;Wooloowin is an increasingly sought-after suburb for its location, with a median house price of $935,000 according to Core Logic, and solid growth record, which has seen prices jump 15 per cent in the past year alone.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=21630 project_image_fid=89903]

&ldquo;Releases one and two have been popular with mostly local purchasers who love living in Wooloowin and want to reinvest in the neighbourhood, or who are downsizing from surrounding suburbs.&rdquo;

Condev will be creating the wider masterplanned community which will home 84 terraces, 189 apartments across the towers and the adaptive re-use of the 1889-built heritage laundry into seven residential dwellings, as well as a 4,000 sqm parkland.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=21630 project_image_fid=89907]

Release three is set to offer one of Greville&#39;s most popular floorplans known as the Miller.

&ldquo;The Miller has all living and entertaining areas on the ground floor, opening on to an expansive private courtyard, with three bedrooms and a multi-purpose room upstairs, which can function as a fourth bedroom or study,&rdquo; he said.

The terraces are part of the $180 million masterplanned community

Sales flurry sees Cedar Woods bring forward third release of Greville terraces in Brisbane's Wooloowin

The Melbourne developer R.Corporation have released a boutique collection of townhomes in their landmark Southbank residential project R.Iconic.&nbsp;

Just five townhouses are on offer at R.Corporation&#39;s $850 million Normanby Road development which will also home a 40 level tower.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5234 project_image_fid=159014]

Designed by a leading interior designer, the three bedroom, two bathroom townhouses span 250 sqm of living space and each come with a powder room and two car spaces.

The kitchen, living and dining area is located on top level of the home. Fitted with Miele appliances, the kitchen meets the open plan living and dining area which opens to a private terrace, complete with a built-in barbecue and treetop views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5234 project_image_fid=159016]

The townhouses are priced at $2,805,000.&nbsp;

Residents of the townhouses will have full access to R.Iconic&#39;s impressive amenity list, one of the cornerstone&#39;s of the 456 apartment development.

They have 38 resident amenities in total, including an 300 metre infinity running track and gym, rooftop sports courts, a wellness area with floatation spa and yoga room, a cinema and karaoke room and a virtual golf range, to name a few.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5234 project_image_fid=84282]

Construction of R.Iconic is underway, with completion estimated for 2022.

Just five townhouses are on offer at R.Corporation's $850 million Normanby Road development which will also home a 40 level tower.

R.Corporation release boutique townhouse collection at South Melbourne project R.Iconic

The Esplanade, the sought-after strip&nbsp;in Burleigh Heads facing the beach, is seeing record high demand from buyers looking for high-end apartments on the Gold Coast.

A number of projects in recent months have sold out, and now&nbsp;Allure Property Corporation have secured the sales of over half of their apartments in their&nbsp;boutique apartment development 88 Burleigh within just&nbsp;four weeks of the project launch.

Local and interstate downsizers with an existing connection to Burleigh Heads have been the drivers in the $55 million worth of sales, with the average price point around $2.65 million.

Place Projects agent Bruce Goddard said there were 360 inquiries within the first two weeks of its launch.

"The interest has been nothing but stunning with more than half the building secured in a fortnight from 360 inquiries,” said Mr Goddard. “Buyers all know Burleigh well, so we are preaching to the converted.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=92609 project_image_fid=157098]

“The interstate buyers from Melbourne and Sydney all have some existing connection with Burleigh Heads as previous or existing investors, and this is the same from Brisbane.

“Gold Coast buyers make up about 60 per cent of the latest purchases with many of these upgrading from existing apartments along The Esplanade or local buyers downsizing from homes within the Burleigh locale.”

The $90 million development will comprise a 17-level tower with 31 three bedroom apartments designed by DBI Architecture.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=92609 project_image_fid=157100]

Crowning the development will be a 400 sqm penthouse with a private rooftop pool, internal garden, entertaining lounge and 270-degree ocean and beach views from Burleigh Heads to Surfers Paradise.

All the lower-level apartments feature three bedrooms and each apartment’s lobby opens directly on a sky garden forming a vertical green spine on its northern and southern facades.

Recently FORME lodged plans for another <a href="/news/qld/tower-reveal-burleigh-heads-set-for-new-koichi-takada-apartment-tower-by-forme">Koichi Takada-designed apartment tower at 96 The Esplanade</a>, following on from the success of their nearby luxury development Norfolk.

Place Projects agent Bruce Goddard said there were 360 inquiries within the first two weeks of its launch

88 Burleigh sells half its apartments within four weeks of launch

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

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

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

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

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

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

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

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

Joel Robinson

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