Melbourne&#39;s inner-eastern suburbs, from Fitzroy North to Cremorne in the south, has&nbsp;undergone a&nbsp;gentrification over the last five years, but has still retained its affordability and its industrial charm.

The spill from the bustling&nbsp;Richmond, the hub of the inner-east, has seen neighbouring suburbs enjoy a rejuvenation of the old warehouses of the past. They now home&nbsp;craft breweries and cool restaurants which are&nbsp;driving the appeal.

And the inner-east&#39;s affordability, just&nbsp;north of the pricey Stonnington LGA, and its proximity to the CBD, has buyers keen on moving in to the area.

Urban has had a look at two of the best&nbsp;brand new, ready to move in apartments in the inner-east.

Park House, Abbotsford 
Prices: Starting from $505,000

The Park House is the newest development by the Salta Properties, one of Australia&#39;s largest privately owned companies.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4136 project_image_fid=156385]

The Park House location is one of its standout features. Its Victoria Street address puts The Park House on the banks of the Yarra River, as well as directly opposite Kew and Studley Parklands, all still just three kilometres to the CBD.

<blockquote>
&quot;Set on the Yarra River, Park House provides the opportunity for residents to explore the local surroundings in all its beauty with the Yarra Trail, Boat House and Tea Garden and Melbourne&rsquo;s best open-access golf course, Yarra Bend around the corner.&nbsp;

&quot;With tram routes 12 and 109 on the doorstep of Park House and North Richmond station just a short walk away, travel to and from the CBD is a breeze creating an easy commute for those working in the city. &quot; 
Salta&#39;s managing director Sam Tarascio 
</blockquote>

The nine level building has been designed&nbsp;by SJB Architects and is finished with interiors by Sue Carr at Carr Design Group

&ldquo;The design team was determined to create buildings of dynamic and identifiable character&hellip;located within a significant precinct along the Yarra River,&quot; one of SJB&#39;s founding directors&nbsp;Michael Bialek says.

Each apartment features Gaggeneau appliances in the kitchen, engineered oak floors and marble-effect stone.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4136 project_image_fid=156269]

The sustainable 6+ energy rated development includes a number of resident only amenities, including a swimming pool and gym, cinema, a lounge and library space, kids play hut, bike workshop and even a golf simulation room.

There are only one and two bedroom apartments&nbsp;left, with one beds priced from $515,000 and two bedroom apartments from $740,000.

Coppins Corner,&nbsp;&nbsp;Cremorne 
Prices: Starting from $462,000

Coppins Corner is the newest Cremorne development&nbsp;by Caydon, who are transforming the&nbsp;former Nylex site&nbsp;into The Malt District,&nbsp;a&nbsp;mixed-use residential and commercial development that retains elements of its industrial past.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3075 project_image_fid=155325]

Coppins Corner is stage one of the project, and has a&nbsp;historical local&nbsp;reference to the 1850s Richmond and&nbsp;Cremorne&nbsp;identity George Coppin.

The split-level tower of 15 and 12-storeys, designed by Fender Katsalidis, homes&nbsp;209 one, two and three bedroom apartments,&nbsp;with&nbsp;retail and hospitality located on the lower levels.

<blockquote>
&quot;The iconic nature of the site, paired with the location being within close proximity to Melbourne&rsquo;s CBD and sporting precinct has attracted many buyer types to The Malt District.

&ldquo;Whether you&rsquo;re an upgrader, a downsizer or a first home buyer, there&rsquo;s something pretty special about owning an apartment within a precinct that is quintessentially Melbourne.&rdquo;

Caydon&#39;s sales and marketing director Steve Williams
</blockquote>

Residents will have access to the health club, where there&#39;s a state of the art gym, relaxation centre, steam room and sauna, as well as a meditation room and&nbsp;massage pod.

The rooftop features a lush garden with outdoor seating, undercover barbecue facilities and a kitchen.

Prices start from $462,000 for a one bedroom apartment, from $695,000 for the two bedders and the three bedroom apartments from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3075 project_image_fid=155313]

Joel Robinson

VCON win $50 million contract to build Landream and V-Leader's Brighton apartment development The International

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Local developer Pierce Property have appointed the award-winning construction company Dymanic Projects to build their $14 million luxury development Riserva in Sydney's Cammeray.

Dynamic, established in 2009, have won a number of Master Builders awards and have built boutique developments before in the nearby Neutral Bay and Mosman, as well as building the Westfield in Canberra's Belconnen.

They'll start construction on the boutique development of 18 apartments designed by DKO on Sydney's lower north shore soon, with completion slated for late 2022.

Already half of the Riserva apartments have been snapped up by owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13951]

Pierce Property director Andrew Zhao said Dynamic Projects has an excellent reputation and a solid track record having delivered several similar boutique, high-end developments to an exceptional standard.

"The company’s workmanship is remarkable which aligns with our principles at Pierce Property in striving to deliver an unmatched quality for our buyers,” Mr Zhao said.

Ray White Projects managing director Eddie Mansour said Riserva Cammeray offers an exclusivity highly sought after in this part of Sydney’s prestigious lower north shore.

<a href="/buildings/riserva-63-carter-street-cammeray"><img alt="" height="1120" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/riserva_cammeray.jpg" width="1600"></a> Riversa's facade, designed by DKO. Image supplied

“With construction soon to be underway, buyers can plan to move in to their immaculate new homes by late 2022,” he said.

“Riserva Cammeray is the ultimate downsizer or empty-nester opportunity where lifestyle is really at the top of mind – a highly private and exclusive address, with sweeping views of Middle Harbour and tree top canopies – all within six kilometres to the Sydney CBD.”

The five level development has just a handful of two and three bedroom apartments remaining. Two bedders start from $1.6 million, while three bedrooms start from $2.29 million.
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Already half of the Riserva apartments have been snapped up by owner-occupiers

Construction looms at the luxury Riserva Cammeray as builder appointed

<html><body>
Developers are circling a potential residential development site in Mermaid Beach ahead of its late April auction.

The site, at 2417-2419 Gold Coast Highway, was the original Gold Coast Highway Mermaid Beach Motel, dating back to the 1960s. It was also previously known as the Castle Motor Inn, or to locals The Castle.

But its prime 817 sqm position, just 250 metres from the beach, is interesting developers who are struggling to find development sites for their next projects in the booming Gold Coast market where current stock is flying off the shelves.

Harcourts Coastal agent Jared Johnson, who is marketing the property alongside Lachlan Marshall and Guy Powell, says they've already received 130 enquiries.

"Nearly all of the enquiry has come from developers who are scoping out future residential developments", Johnson says, adding that currently there are little to no opportunities around the area to secure such a prominent location.

Currently the building is 100 per cent leased to eight tenants, with an annual income of $147,420 fully leased. But a projected total income per week is closer to $190,000, once the current leases expire.

The site goes under the hammer April 24. For more details contact:

<ul>
<li>Jared Johnson of Harcourts Coastal Commercial</li>
	<li>0423 386 939 | j.johnson@coastal.com.au</li>
</ul>
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Harcourts Coastal agent Jared Johnson says they've already received 130 enquiries.



Developers descend on rare Mermaid Beach development site

<html><body>
The demand for apartments in Perth is as high as anywhere in the country, and has been one of the market leaders across the capitals during 2021.

Apartment values rose 3.8 per cent in Q1 2021, outperforming all capitals except for Hobart, according to CoreLogic, with demand continuing to rise across the sector.

The soaring house prices in Perth are contributing to the demand for apartments, with homeowners jumping on the opportunity to sell in the current climate.

Gavin Hawkins, director of the Perth-based developer Edge Visionary, says Edge are seeing many buyers taking advantage of the positive market conditions to put their house on the market.

Hawkins has seen it first hand at Edge's west Perth development Eden Floreat, which has been a hit with downsizers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7761]

Edge have recently completed the first stage of the development known as Eden West. Designed by Hillam Architects and built by BGC Construction among the treetops at Perry Lakes, Eden West is made up of 101 apartments over five levels.

"Eden West represents a timely opportunity for them to transition into an apartment lifestyle," Hawkins says.

"At Eden, residents have the same, or arguably better, amenities than those of an extravagant home, without the maintenance and ongoing costs."

The landscaped central courtyard features a 25m heated lap pool, spa, sauna, steam room, yoga studio, gymnasium, cinema, sunset terrace, formal and alfresco residents’ lounge with fireplace and wine cellar, and games room.

<a href="/buildings/eden-apartments-1-finishline-view-floreat"><img alt="" height="800" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/eden_2.jpg" width="1200"></a> Eden Floreat's lap pool. Image supplied

There's also parkside café, Eden by Cup &amp; Co, the first-of-its-kind café in Perry Lakes.

Hawkins says Eden Floreat has been popular with local downsizers due to the size of the apartments.

Eden West secured 80 per cent of its apartment sales before construction was complete having launched in 2019. The second stage of Eden Floreat, Eden East is due for completion in December.

There are only three and four bedroom apartments and penthouses, and private two-storey townhouses available at Eden Floreat, with prices starting from $995,000. 

About the developer

Edge Visionary Living is an award-winning developer with numerous apartment projects in and around Perth. These include award-winning Botanical in Subiaco, Vantage Riversedge in Rivervale, Arthouse in Joondalup, and Lumiere South Perth and Riviere Residences in Applecross, which are coming soon.
</body></html>

The soaring house prices in Perth are contributing to the demand for apartments, with downsizers seeing the opportunity to sell

Perth house and apartment boom sees downsizers flock to Eden Floreat

<html><body>
The Gold Coast developer Marquee Development Partners has secured a sell out of its Chevron Island apartment development The Catalina.

It comes as demand continues to soar in the Gold Coast apartment market, with Marquee's nearby development Shoreline, nestled between Broadbeach &amp; Surfers Paradise, seeing plenty of enquiry.

The Art Deco-inspired The Catalina, designed by BDA Architecture, comprises 75 apartments across its nine levels and also homes a pool, gym, private dining and rooftop residents club.

The final sale was to a local university staff member who paid $855,000 for a 191 sqm, three bedroom apartment with views over the Nerang River.

The Catalina is due for completion in Q4 2021 and will be Marquee's second building developed on Chevron Island. In 2020 they completed their 61 apartment project Stanhill, which won the 2020 Master Builders Award for best Residential Building in both the Gold Coast and QLD.

The Catalina project averaged mid $500,000’s for quality two bedroom, two bathroom apartments and mid $700,000’s for three bedroom, two bathroom apartments," Marquee's sales director Azura Griffen said.

“This project demonstrates that there is a local market demand for projects that offer value and are within reach of their borrowing capacity," Griffen added.

"It offers purchasers the opportunity to have access to well-priced real estate with a Surfers Paradise address," Griffen said.

<a href="/buildings/the-catalina-258-stanhill-drive-surfers-paradise"><img alt="" height="900" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_catalina_lobby.jpg" width="1800"></a> The entry lobby in The Catalina. Image supplied

The Catalina is the second apartment project Marquee have sold out in recent months, having seen huge success in Palm Beach where they are developing Cabana, the 34 apartment project across six levels.

Sales were so quick Marquee have brought construction forward, now set to start in June with a late 2022 completion date.

Now attention is firmly focused on Shoreline, Marquee''s boutique 27 apartment project between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22057]

Towering 17 levels above Old Burleigh Road, Shoreline comprises two and three bedroom apartments which start from $1.1 million.

Also designed by BDA Architecture, Shoreline features a Magnesium pool with sun lounges, a wellness centre with spa and sauna, a gym with reformer pilates, private residents rooftop bar and lounge with 270-degree views and work from home and office facilities.

About the developer

Marquee are passionate about creating award-winning communities that marry luxury, quality &amp; value.

With multiple awards to their name, Marquee also boast a current and recent pipeline of over $400 million worth of projects on the Gold Coast.

 
</body></html>

The Art Deco-inspired development, designed by BDA Architecture, comprises 75 apartments across its nine levels.



Marquee Development Partners sell out Chevron Island's The Catalina as demand surges at Shoreline

The property developer Jinding have launched the next stage of Octave, their Junction Village masterplanned community in Melbourne&#39;s south-east.

Having secured a sellout of the first and second release of Treble townhomes, Jinding&nbsp;has launched Opera Townhomes.

The musical naming&nbsp;of the townhome series so far has been intentional by the Melbourne-based property developer, to create a musical theme&nbsp;at&nbsp;Octave, a harmony of connecting with nature.&nbsp;This motif extends to Octave&rsquo;s unique urban design, where over 21% of the masterplan is dedicated to parks, open space, and conservation reserves.

The three bedroom, two bathroom, two park&nbsp;Opera Townhomes are priced at&nbsp;$495,000. The bigger four bedroom townhomes are priced at $535,000 and $545,000.

Opera will have similar features as the Treble Townhomes, but will be fronting the soon-to-be built Harmony Park which will also be home to a playground that connects to existing conservation areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24752 project_image_fid=161821]

Buyer interest came from all over for Treble Townhomes, a collection of just nine, with local downsizers, investors, and several&nbsp;first home buyers securing a&nbsp;townhouse&nbsp;at&nbsp;the development south-east of Melbourne.

Each townhome has been created in partnership with Sienna Homes and has been designed&nbsp;using energy efficient building materials. The homes have achieved a seven-star NatHERS&nbsp;rating.

Liz Ronson, Jinding&#39;s managing director of developments, says the land values in Junction Village are well perceived in the market, and the amenity-rich lifestyle is driving people to Octave.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24752 project_image_fid=161820]

&ldquo;The Opera&nbsp;townhomes offer exceptional value. For less than $500,000 buyers can secure a turnkey 3-bedroom home, that is located right next to the entrance of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, and adjacent to the 2.98-hectare Harmony Park,&rdquo; Ronson says, adding that Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre is just a five-minute drive away.

Octave has been masterplanned to include 44 townhomes, and 326 land lots, including some of the last remaining larger lots up to 1237sqm.

Having secured a sellout of the first and second release of Treble townhomes, Jinding has launched Opera Townhomes.



Jinding releases next stage of townhouses at masterplanned Octave in Junction Village

New South Wales investors have been on red alert since the launch of Miles Residences on the Gold Coast&#39;s Kirra Beach late last year.

Miles Residences, the apartment component of the luxury $180 million redevelopment of the Kirra Beach Hotel, are offering investors strong yields in one of the most sought-after locations in the country at the moment, with many forecasting the demand to continue for years to come.

The development of 118 apartments, which will sit above the new pub pavilion, is being developed by the Peggy Flannery-led KTQ Group, who are behind the award-winning Elements of Byron.

The affordable entry point has Sydneysiders considering an investment bolthole intrastate, with the option of taking a holiday or moving to the area permanently upon retirement.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27575]

KTQ have calculated solid net rental yields for investors based on a 75 per cent occupancy rate, which doesn&#39;t account for higher demand and peak rates over summer, school holidays and in particular Christmas.

The Real Estate Institute of Queensland predicts the relaxation of border restrictions will make it even harder to find a rental property on the Gold Coast. In November, the vacancy rate was 1.6 percent. Vacancy rates are predicted to remain as tight in 2021.

And Mark Smith from PRDnationwide Burleigh Heads, reckons the Gold Coast is very attractive, especially for investors.

&quot;Even with our market gaining and theirs falling, we still have a long way to go before we reach the level of unaffordability experienced in Sydney and Melbourne.&rdquo;

<h2>Sea Apartments</h2>

The Sea Apartment collection of Miles Residences, facing the beach, start from $545,000, considerably below Sydney&#39;s median apartment price of $755,360.

The one bedroom Sea Apartment, with an occupancy rate of just under 75 per cent for a calendar year, will offer investor owners a return of 6.7 per cent.

Based on an average daily rate of $220, the 82 sqm apartment will yield $1,157 a week and over $60,000 a year.

<a href="/buildings/miles-kirra-beach-hotel-101-musgrave-street-coolangatta"><img alt="" height="896" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/miles_kirra_views_1.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

After the property management fees such as body corp, letting management fees and council rates, investors are likely to secure a net return of five per cent, just under $30,000.

There&#39;s the same net return on offer for a two bedroom Sea Apartment, which would warrant a $275 daily rate, $1,447 a week and over $75,000 a year.

With the same occupancy rate of 75 per cent, an investor would see a net return of over $39,000, a five per cent net return.&nbsp;

The two bedroom Sea apartments, with an internal area of 91 sqm and 33 sqm external, are priced from $795,000.

<h2>Stone Apartments</h2>

The larger Stone Apartments are forecast to see a net return of four per cent if a 75 per cent occupancy is achieved.

The two bedroom apartments with multi-purpose room, priced from $1.13 million, are set to command an average daily rate of $330, which would mean $1,736 a week and over $90,000 a year.

<a href="/buildings/miles-kirra-beach-hotel-101-musgrave-street-coolangatta"><img alt="" height="900" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/kirra_point_miles_residences_pool_1.jpg" width="1600" /></a>

The apartments, spanning 106 sqm of internal living space and 18 sqm external area, would see a net return after fees of $50,665 per annum.

The three bedroom stone apartments with 132 sqm of internal area and 28 sqm of balconies could see investors pocket over $61,000 in net income.

Those apartments are forecast to fetch $385 a day, over $2,000 a week or $105,366 a year.

To find out more, <a href="/buildings/miles-kirra-beach-hotel-101-musgrave-street-coolangatta">click here</a>.

&nbsp;

The development of 118 apartments is being developed by the KTQ Group, who are behind the award-winning Elements of Byron.



Why New South Wales investors are eyeing Kirra’s Miles Residences

The local&nbsp;Gold Coast developer Sherpa Property Group are the latest to benefit from the continued Gold Coast apartment boom.

They&#39;ve secured a sell-out at their $35 million Palm Beach apartment development Perspective 488 within just three months of its early 2021 launch.

Buyers snapped up the seven full floor apartments, which sold for more than $3 million each, as well as the beach homes which fetched between $4.1 million and $4.5 million.

Named after its location at 488 The Esplanade, Perspective 488 was popular among local buyers looking to upgrade. Only one interstate buyer managed to grab a key.

<a href="/buildings/perspective-488"><img alt="" height="1131" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/perspective_beach_houses.jpg" width="1600" /></a>

Sherpa, led by former real estate agent Christie Leet, are now plotting a sister development on an adjacent site at Twenty Seventh Avenue, with plans expected to be released later this month.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been blown away by the response to Perspective 488, which is encouraging as we prepare for our newest development,&rdquo; Leet said.

&ldquo;From the outset we took an innovative approach to the Perspective 488 site to ensure it blended perfectly with the laid-back lifestyle Palm Beach is known for. It&rsquo;s especially rewarding for the Sherpa team to know that our vision has been so warmly received by our buyers and in particular by locals.&rdquo;

About the developer

Christie Leet, formerly principal of PRD Whitsundays, is a property industry veteran, with an eye for lifestyle buyers. He timed his entry to the Gold Coast market perfectly three years ago by acquiring prime development sites at Palm Beach to Cabarita.

&ldquo;It was evident to me at the time that local buyers had an appetite for a unique style of development that combined a bespoke design with an unparalleled location &ndash; a recipe that defines the ultimate in coastal living,&rdquo; said Mr Leet.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re pleased with the success of Perspective 488 and look forward to bringing another unique offering in this pocket of paradise.&rdquo;

Sherpa has an extensive history of successful developments in the Whitsundays and Funnel Bay apartment and land sub-division.

<h2>Other developments for sale on the Gold Coast</h2>

Shoreline, Surfers Paradise

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22057]

Shoreline is the latest Surfers Paradise tower to be created by Marquee Development Partners.

The boutique 27 apartment development across 17 levels offers residents a luxury unseen in the between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach for a number of years.

Miles Residences, Kirra Beach

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27575]

The Miles Residences Kirra Point will be one of Kirra Point&#39;s most impressive towers when it&#39;s completed in 2023.

The development of 118 apartments is part of the redevelopment of the&nbsp;Kirra Beach&nbsp;Hotel. The brains behind the operation is the family-ran KTQ Group, led by Peggy Flannery, who are behind the award-winning Elements of Byron Bay.

Sherpa, led by former real estate agent Christie Leet, are now plotting a sister development on an adjacent site at Twenty Seventh Avenue

Sherpa sell out Palm Beach residential development Perspective 488 in three months

Demand for apartments&nbsp;is not letting up on the Sunshine Coast.

Cube Developments, led by veteran developer Scott Juniper, have secured a sell out of their $27 million apartment&nbsp;project One Prosperity in the small waterfront suburb of Birtinya, and are soon to sell all of the apartments in their boutique Mooloolaba project Picasso.

Picasso saw high demand from investors from Sydney and Melbourne, and Juniper says the trend, which he&#39;s seen across the whole of the portfolio,&nbsp;isn&#39;t slowing down.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29372]

&quot;The demand on the Sunshine Coast has been exceptional,&quot; Juniper says.

&quot;We had a much higher increase in both investor demand and owner occupier demand from Melbourne and Sydney,&quot; Juniper says, adding that there are still high number of owner-occupiers moving from the southern states to the Sunshine Coast.

&quot;People are still not tied to the city, there&#39;s been no change to that&quot;, Juniper says.

<img alt="" height="770" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/cube_2.jpg" width="2228" /> 
Cube&#39;s sell-out One Prosperity development. Image supplied 
 
Investors are still keen from Sydney and Melbourne, with the vacancy rate holding firm at record lows of around 0.5 per cent.

Cube&#39;s latest offering is Seasons by Cube, which Juniper says is a much more budget conscious apartment development in Birtinya.

The majority of stock in the development of 146 apartments is under $600,000, with it focused on bringing an affordable product to the market.

<img alt="" height="884" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/seasons_by_cube.jpg" width="1486" /> 
Seasons by Cube, designed by Cottee Parker. Image supplied

Prices start from $495,000.

Cube only have a handful of apartments left at another one of their Birtinya developments, Curve, which is set for completion in July.

&quot;There are quite a few people in the market looking to move immediately, reflected by the area&#39;s very low vacancy rate&quot;, Juniper suggests, adding that that gives Curve an advantage in the current market that the product will be available to move in in just a few months.

Cube have their&nbsp;premium product,&nbsp;Nature at Cotton Tree in Maroochydore, overlooking&nbsp;Rotary Park and the Maroochy River.

Juniper told Cottee Parker Architects to deliver&nbsp;the best the Sunshine Coast has ever seen.&nbsp;

<a href="/buildings/nature-by-cube-maroochydore"><img alt="" height="700" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/nature_juniper.jpg" width="733" /></a> 
The luxury Nature development. Image supplied

&quot;Nature allowed me to do some things you couldn&#39;t do in other developments&quot;, Juniper says of the boutique 13 apartment development. The ground floor is dedicated tp communal space and facilities&nbsp;including a 25-metre lap pool, gym, steam room and sauna and&nbsp;yoga studio, as well as barbecue areas and a private dining area.

Cube are also in the planning stages of one of their best projects to date in Alexandra Headland.

Cube's latest offering is Seasons by Cube, which Juniper says is a much more budget conscious apartment development in Birtinya



Sunshine Coast apartment demand continues as Cube sell-out one development, launch another

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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