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The respected developer DealCorp have seen a quick take up of their unique promotion of offering their apartment buyers a chance to secure a further parking spot for just $1.

It's in their contemporary McKinnon apartment development MCKN in Melbourne's Glen Eira district, south-east of the CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4939]

While marketing was underway, MCKN's project team went back to re-design some apartments in line with local demand and were able to secure additional carparking.

The two bedroom, two bathroom apartments were offered the parking spaces for $1.

<a href="/news/vic/why-families-are-snapping-up-apartments-in-mckinnons-mckn-development">Read more: Why families are snapping up apartments in McKinnon's MCKN development</a>

“Understanding buyer demand and being agile is what DealCorp prides itself on", DealCorp marketing manager Laurelle Kobritz says.

"The market surrounding McKinnon is sophisticated and aware of incentives, so we needed to offer a stand out offer buyers couldn’t refuse if they were considering MCKN."

There's now just one car park remaining from the promotion, which DealCorp expect will be snapped up before the promotion closes at the end of the month.

DealCorp have secured around 70 per cent of sales already at MCKN, the boutique apartment development of just 41 on Jasper Road.

<a href="/new-apartments/mckn-236-jasper-road-mckinnon"><img alt="" height="790" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/mckn_2_0.jpg" width="1200"></a>

Spanning five levels, MCKN has been designed by the award-winning architect RITZ&amp;GHOUGASSIAN to pay homage to the functional designs of the neighbouring architecture.

The façade is a bold, textured surface of fluted concrete panels, which guide flourishing young shoots up the building’s exterior.

It's been a hit with families or prospective families so far due to the size of each apartment and its proximity to McKinnon Secondary College, one of the state’s highest ranked schools.

Completion is slated for August 2021, with the well regarded construction firm Hamilton Marino Builders handling the build.

 
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While marketing was underway, MCKN's project team went back to re-design some apartments in line with local demand and were able to secure additional carparking

Joel Robinson

DealCorp see success in unique $1 car space giveaway at McKinnon apartment development MCKN

The Newcastle developer GWH has seen a spike in sales of their Newcastle CBD development Sky Residences since the start of 2021.

GWH sales and marketing manager&nbsp;Matthew Waddell puts it down to an increase in investor activity in the region, which posted 3.6 per cent dwelling price growth&nbsp;in March, second only to Sydney in price growth of major regions across the country.

"For this current quarter (January to March), we have seen more sales than any period during the marketing of the project", Waddell says.

There's been a dramatic increase in enquiry from investors, more specifically from investors outside Newcastle, Waddell notes.&nbsp;

<a href="/new-apartments/sky-residences-509-hunter-street-newcastle"><img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="896" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/sky_residence_2.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

Investors have accounted for 36 per cent of sales since the turn of the year at Sky Residences, just behind owner-occupiers who accounted for 38 per cent. And now over a third of those buying are coming from outside of Newcastle.

"Buyers are making their purchasing decision quicker as well, with a previous ratio of appointments to sales of 7:1 now shortening to 3:1", Waddell says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8430]

Set in the heart of the CBD's Civic precinct, Sky Residences,&nbsp;designed by DBI, homes 180 apartments, made up of one, two, three and four bedroom units.

There are 1,100 sqm of premium hotel-style amenities for residents, including a heated outdoor lap pool, gym and fitness centre and a rooftop sky lounge with 360-degree views across Newcastle. On the roof there's indoor and outdoor facilities, a landscaped lawn terrace, barbecues and dining spaces.

<a href="/new-apartments/sky-residences-509-hunter-street-newcastle"><img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="894" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/sky_residence_3.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

Inside there's a lounge area with a fireplace and a cinema screen and bar.

Remaining one bedroom apartments start from $485,000, with the highest remaining three bedders on level 16 for sale at $1.6 million. The north-east facing penthouse sold for $3.3 million.

<h2>About the developer</h2>

GWH have been developing property in the Newcastle region&nbsp;for over 25 years, with over $1 billion of completed projects&nbsp;delivered.

Led by Jonathan Craig, GWH are behind Aero in Newcastle, which won the Master Builders Association award for&nbsp;Apartment Development of the Year in 2018, Highpoint in Charlestown and 121Elder in Lambton.

There's been a dramatic increase in enquiry from investors, more specifically from investors outside Newcastle.



Sales spike hits Newcastle's Sky Residences as investors return

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The luxury apartment sector has been the final piece to fall back in to place following the COVID-19 pandemic effect on real estate.

That's the view of Kay &amp; Burton director of special projects Damon Krongold, who said the whole luxury apartment sector shut down.

"Everything went on hold", Krongold said, particularly the downsizer demographic.

"That demographic froze in situ and it has been the last area of the property market to come back," Krongold added.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4508]

However the market is now back, with the increased momentum for transactions in existing homes starting to filter through to the luxury apartment sector once more.

Krongold says there's been a genuine spike in recent weeks for products such as Heyington, the luxury Sterling Capital developed boutique apartment project in the heart of Toorak.

<a href="/buildings/heyington-63-heyington-place-toorak"><img alt="" height="779" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/heyington_3.jpg" width="1265"></a>

Heyington, designed by Carr Architecture in collaboration with landscape architecture firm Acre, has just 12 apartments, each having three bedrooms. Over 50 per cent of apartments have now sold in the block.

Krongold advises it's been the natural trend of those selling, with locals and the immediate surrounding areas the most keen on the project.

"They're selling out their larger homes which have high maintenance and gardens and are wanting a turn-key solution and lifestyle," Krongold says.

He suggests the pull of Heyington's location has been a drawcard, with that demographic keen on being closer to amenities such as Toorak village and near the Monash freeway to get out of town to go beachside and head down to the Peninsula.

Heyington apartments, featuring genuine stone, start from $3,295,000.

The two ground floor apartments feature large outdoor planted gardens, spanning 115 sqm and 189 sqm, larger than most gardens in metropolitan Melbourne houses.

<a href="/buildings/heyington-63-heyington-place-toorak"><img alt="" height="736" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/heyington_1.jpg" width="1200"></a>

Apartment 103 features over 240 sqm of outdoor terraces, both hard-paved and landscaped, with its own swimming pool. That's priced at $4,851,000.

Construction is slated for completion around four to six weeks sooner than expected despite the COVID-19 interruptions, with residents expected to move in in late 2021.
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"Everything went on hold", Krongold said, particularly the downsizer demographic.

Luxury off the plan apartment demand back as Heyington Toorak secures over 50% of sales

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Soaring home prices have put first home buyers on the back foot, with affordability now a key issue in the Australian property market.

The continued house price growth has poured cold water on first home buyers, who until the end of March had the $15,000 HomeBuilder Grant as a financial platform when buying new property.

The median sale price for a house has reached over $1.1 million in Sydney in April, followed by $806,000 in Melbourne, according to CoreLogic. Apartments approve the more attractive proposition for first home buyers, with Sydney's median at $755,360 and Melbourne's at $593,121.

The growing property prices has led to first home buyers considering buying interstate, Finder’s First Home Buyers Report 2021 has found.

Finder surveyed 1,028 first home buyers, and 20 per cent said they are searching for their first property in a different state to where they currently live. That equates to around 2,362 first home buyers a month willing to buy in another state to get on the property ladder.

<a href="/news/vic/urban-s-top-suburbs-for-vic-first-home-buyers-in-q1-2021">Read more: Urban’s top suburbs for VIC first home buyers in Q1 2021</a> 
The report found that first home buyers from New South Wales (24%) are more likely to consider buying a property in another state than those living in Queensland (19%) and Victoria (17%).  
Sarah Megginson, home loans expert at Finder, said that many prospective buyers are being lured by cheaper property across state borders.  
“Some first home buyers are looking at real estate in other parts of the country where prices are more affordable, with many feeling the pressure to buy while interest rates are low. 

<a href="/news/vic/urbans-most-popular-vic-projects-for-first-home-buyers-in-q1-2021">Read more: Urban's most popular VIC projects for first home buyers in Q1 2021</a> 
“The impact of COVID-19 has also caused a spike in demand for regional properties, as residents in Sydney and Melbourne consider swapping city living for more of a laidback lifestyle.  
“With property prices soaring in recent months, it can put additional pressure on first home buyers, who may find themselves priced out of their own city. 

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5559]

“This is where an interstate move can work to your advantage as a prospective buyer.  
“Even if you’re not keen to move, a rentvesting strategy – where you buy a more affordable home in a different location and continue renting where you want to live – offers a way to get your foot on the property ladder,” Megginson said.  

<a href="/news/qld/find-out-where-in-south-east-queensland-you-can-buy-a-townhome-from-230-000">Read more: our homes to secure in Queensland’s City of Logan from $230,000</a> 
Finder’s First Home Buyers Report 2021 also found that men (24%) are more likely than women (17%) to be considering an interstate move to get into the property market.
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The growing property prices has led to first home buyers considering buying interstate, Finder’s First Home Buyers Report 2021 has found

One in five first home buyers open to buying in a different state

Sales have launched at Grand Reve, the anticipated project in Sydney&#39;s Castle Hill.

The 196 apartment project by Kassis Homes has been in the pipeline for about seven years.

Around 200 people attended the ribbon cutting at the weekend, with the Hills Shire Council Mayor Dr Michelle Byre holding the scissors.

John McGrath, who founded McGrath back in the late 1980s, was in attendance at the event which was picked up by&nbsp;Channel Seven News.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147]

Within seven or eight minutes of the news airing, McGrath&#39;s associate director Adam Sparkes said the new website registrations were in the double digits.

Sparkes says there&#39;s been significant interest from local downsizers from the neighbouring suburbs of Cherrybrook and West Pennant Hills, who are looking at selling their own home within the next 12 to 18 months in time for Grand Reve&#39;s completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=196705]

There&#39;s also been upgrading young professionals, investors, and first home buyers who have already secured an apartment. One investor bought one of the three bedroom apartments as an investment, having had his own home built over a decade ago by&nbsp;Kassis Homes.

Sparkes sees investors taking a renewed interest in recent months, with the benefits of cash in bricks and mortar far outweighing cash in the bank given the expectancy interest rates will stay low for quite some time.

Entry level at Grand Reve starts at $560,000 for the three studios, each offering 40 sqm of internal space which is doubled by the walk-up garden and courtyard externally. There are around 30 different floor plates in total.

The one bedrooms range from 50 sqm to 64 sqm internally and start from $655,000.

The standard two bedroom apartments range between $835,000 to $975,000, with the larger two bedders which include a study across its 110 sqm of internal space, are priced from $1,145,000 to $1,295,000.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=196711]

One of the bigger three bedroom apartments has already been snapped up for $1,695,000 by a downsizing couple who have lived in the area for decades. The three bedroom apartment features 136 sqm of internal space and 90 sqm of terraces.

McGrath founder John McGrath says Grand Reve&nbsp;is one of the most special projects McGrath ever had the pleasure and honour of being involved in.

&quot;I think firstly when you think of the location, I think Castle Hill is the address to be living in on east coast Australia right now&quot;, McGrath added.

Turner Studio&nbsp;designed Grand Reve in collaboration with Arcadia Landscape Designs.

&quot;We&#39;re really urbanising the concept of the backyard and integrating that in to an urban housing scheme that sits in a suburban context and therefore i think we&#39;re going to end up with a unique project and a unique product,&quot; Turner designed director Nick Turner says.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=94147]

The 196 apartment project by Kassis Homes has been in the pipeline for about seven years

Kassis Homes launch latest apartment development Grand Reve in Sydney's Castle Hill

Buyers have moved in to the first stage of East End, Newcastle&#39;s newest apartment development, with stage two sales well underway.

The recently completed stage one of the Sam Arnaout-led Iris Capital&nbsp;development in the heart of Newcastle on Hunter Street comprises three buildings, Fabric House, Perkins &amp; King and Washington House.

Each building has been created by a different architect.

The most striking is Washington House,&nbsp;where architecture firm TZG had to incorporate the historic Washington House in to their design which retained the front facade.

<a href="/new-apartments/east-end-stage-2-newcastle-147-hunter-street-newcastle"><img alt="" height="837" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/washington_house_1.jpg" width="1600" /></a> 
Washington House, built in the early 1900&#39;s.

Washington House was once the Charleston Studios, operated by the photographer Harry &#39;Henry&#39; Charleston in the 1930s, before being completely remodelled&nbsp;by Washington Handley Soul, of the investment firm now known as Washington H Soul Pattinson.

Washington House features an outdoor landscaped terrace on level three, complete with a private garden, barbecues and outdoor dining.

Durbach Block Jaggers created Fabric House with curved glass and the arched windows, while SJB designed Perkins &amp; King.

Interior design firm Turners handled the interiors.

Around 90 per cent of stage one has sold, with just the nine apartments remaining. Around 50 per cent have sold to owner-occupiers.

Stage two, which comprises Soul and Lyrique, both designed by&nbsp;CKDS Architecture, is around 50 per cent sold.

<a href="/new-apartments/east-end-stage-2-newcastle-147-hunter-street-newcastle"><img alt="" height="1044" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/east_end_newcastle_2.jpg" width="1400" /></a> 
The rear of Lyrique

PRDnationwide agent Ryan Houston says they are seeing a lot of local downsizers and young professionals who no longer want to mow the lawns.

&quot;They want to live the inner city lifestyle,&quot; Houston says, adding that there are out of town buyers&nbsp;from&nbsp;Sydney, as well as areas around Mudgee, Armidale and Dubbo looking for a weekend or even a sea change.

&quot;We are seeing a lot of interest recently in apartments as the market are seeing apartments as the futures of real estate and betting on the fact the market will continue to rise.

&quot;Best thing is that they can lock in a price today at todays prices for only a 10% deposit.&quot;

About the developer

Arnaout&#39;s Iris Capital are behind the likes of the residential developments Omnia in Potts Point, Grand Bondi Junction and Wattle Hill at Hurlstone Park.

Iris Capital also owns a number of hospital venues&nbsp;including the Manly&#39;s Hotel Steyne and Ivanhoe Hotel. Iris has&nbsp;prominent around the Kings Cross area for a number of years where they own&nbsp;the Bourbon.

On the East End project, Arnaout says &quot;This is something that we won&rsquo;t be able to replicate anywhere else and it&rsquo;s something we&rsquo;re proud to be delivering for the people of Newcastle.&quot;

<h2>Recently listed properties:</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29359]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29679]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=21618]

&nbsp;

Each building has been created by a different architect

East End Newcastle approach first stage sell out with stage two construction soon to commence

Brooke Residences, the final tower in the four tower residential development Cambridge Residences in the Gold Coast&#39;s Robina, have clocked up 50 per cent of sales.

Construction recently commenced&nbsp;on Brooke Residences, the last tower in the development by the China-backed SPG Land Australia, who are developing the project in partnership with&nbsp;Eastview Australia.

TVS Architects have designed the 95 apartment building, which homes a collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments, as well as a communal rooftop swimming pool.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6746]

Investor buyers&nbsp;have benefited from strong rental returns at the already constructed apartments in Cambridge Residences, with one bedroom apartments renting for up to $425 a week and two bedders up to $520.

One bedroom apartments in Brooke Residences are priced from $370,000, two beds from $465,000 and three bedrooms from $720,000.

<a href="/buildings/brooke-residences-42-laver-drive-robina"><img alt="" height="1180" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/brooke_2.jpg" width="1600" /></a>

Colliers agent Courtney Simmons says there&#39;s been a mix of buyers across Cambridge Residences.

&ldquo;Buyers have predominantly been local first home buyers, with some downsizers hoping to stay in the Robina area,&rdquo; Simmons says. 
 
&ldquo;We have also had a lot of interest from interstate buyers looking to relocate to the Gold Coast &ndash; most likely due to the pandemic, as Queensland has remained largely unaffected.&rdquo;

Cambridge Residences have seen over 50 apartments sell in the last five months, as demand for apartments on the Gold Coast continues to surge to record highs.

Investor buyers have benefited from strong rental returns at Cambridge Residences


SPG Land Australia secure 50% sales at Robina's Brooke Residences

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Local Melbourne-based developer, Samuel Property, is watching the final coat of paint dry on their recently completed Toorak project, Edition.

With the exclusive offering of just three home-like residences on the dress circle of Lansell Road, the distinctly individual building has all the hallmarks of a high-end, stand-alone residence.

Architecture and interiors are both by renowned local studio, Cera Stribley, with landscaping by Australia’s premier landscaper Jack Merlo. Flux, the boutique luxury construction arm of the more well-known builder Figurehead, were appointed as head building contractor for the high-end project.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13991]

Residence one, known as ‘The Arc Residence’, draws inspiration from the winding banks of the nearby Yarra River, with its curved entrance and corridor walls. The Arc Residence comprises three bedrooms, three bathrooms and secure garage parking for two cars.

Residence number two has been dubbed ‘The Botanic Residence’ for its lush wrap around courtyard. Spanning two levels, it offers open living areas and large outdoor zones that have been designed as an extension of the residence’s liveable space. There are four bedrooms, four bathrooms, garage parking for four cars and a striking 6.5m ceiling void over the dining area.

<a href="/buildings/edition-65-lansell-road-toorak"><img alt="" height="1050" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_botanic_residence_edition.jpg" width="1600"></a> The large windows in The Botanic Residence. Image supplied

The Penthouse, better known as ‘The Sky Residence’, spans over 1,000 sqm of internal and external living, as well as boasting its own exclusive level of basement parking for seven cars.

Occupying the full topmost floors of Edition, The Sky Residence has living zones across two floors, fireplaces, a pool and spa, expansive terrace and an array of windows to frame views in every direction. There are four bedrooms, together with five bathrooms and a private study.

<a href="/buildings/edition-65-lansell-road-toorak"><img alt="" height="938" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/edition_penthouse_with_pool.jpg" width="1600"></a> The penthouse level swimming pool and terrace. Image supplied

 

Samuel Property’s development manager, Romy Jackson, says “We believe the offering is completely unique for the area, and couldn’t be happier with the quality of the finished product. The sense of privacy, grandeur and sheer proportions at Edition are rarely seen in typical apartment formats – and we’ve received some really encouraging feedback thus far from those lucky enough to walk through prior to launch.”
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Architecture and interiors are both by renowned local studio, Cera Stribley, with landscaping by Australia’s premier landscaper Jack Merlo



Toorak's newest luxury address, Edition, completes construction

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Sydney record its fourth consecutive small fall in cranes, according to the Q1 2021 RLB Crane index.

The index has now fallen from 197 in Q3 2019 to 177 currently. The decrease of six index points represents a net loss of 11 cranes for this edition.

During the past six months there have been 155 cranes removed throughout Sydney and 144 new cranes added, with 286 cranes currently across Sydney.

Domenic Schiafone, Rider Levett Bucknall’s Oceania Director of Research and Development commented, “these past six months has seen the country slowly accelerate towards a post covid ‘new normal’. 

<img alt="" height="890" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/sydney_rlb.jpg" width="1500">

“The federal government’s stimulus measures have assisted the economy but the impact on construction is seeing the industry operate at two speeds.

"Residential detached housing, assisted by both federal and state incentives, does not appear to have suffered from any COVID hangover at this stage. Government sponsored civil projects continue to expand across the nation while education and civic projects also have grown sharply this edition,” he said. 

Sydney's residential sector has seen the largest net loss of cranes with the commencement of 87 new cranes and the removal of 119, bringing the total count to 195, the lowest number of residential cranes since Q4 2015.

Residential cranes still make up 68.2% of total crane activity.

The largest development based of crane number is the 180 George development in Parramatta with four cranes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8590]

Across Sydney’s five main regions, decreases were seen in the west, inner city and east whilst increases were seen in the north and south region. The increase of fourteen cranes in the north was the largest growth region. West Sydney in comparison recorded the biggest decrease of thirteen cranes.

Inner Sydney saw 44 cranes added with the removal of 53 cranes, bringing the total crane count to 83, the lowest number of inner Sydney cranes since Q1 2016.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7758]

Residential cranes fell by eight cranes in Sydney's east, with eight new cranes added and 16 removed. The residential sector still makes up 88% of crane activity in the east.

Cranes across the north recorded a rise of 14 cranes to now total 71. A total of 39 cranes were added to sites and 25 cranes were removed.

Residential cranes continue to be centred on the main arterial corridors in the north and can be found in 30 suburbs including Asquith, Carlingford, Castle hill, Cremorne, Crows nest, Dee Why, Epping, Gladesville, Gordon, Hornsby, Lane Cove, Lane Cove north, Macquarie Park Manly, Manly Vale, Maroubra, Meadowbank, Melrose Park, Narrabeen, Neutral Bay, Northbridge, Palm Beach, Pymble, Ryde, Seaforth, St Leonards, Thornleigh, Turramurra, Warrawee and Wentworthville.

Residential cranes across the south were sighted in 19 suburbs including Arncliffe, Beverley Park, Bexley north, Blakehurst, Caringbah, Cronulla, Dolls Point, Engadine, Hurstville, Kogarah, Kyle Bay, Miranda, Oran Park, Ramsgate, Redfern, South Hurstville, Sutherland and Woolloware.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6798]

The region of Sydney West saw 31 new cranes and 44 removals bringing the region’s total to 61. The drop of 13 cranes was due to the completion of a number of residential projects across the region.

Residential cranes fell by 15 for this period. 46 residential cranes are situated in 22 suburbs across the west. Suburbs include Bankstown, Belfield, Blacktown, Canterbury, dundas, Edmondson Park fairfield, Granville, Jordan Springs, Liverpool, Mays hill, Merrylands, Mount druitt, Padstow, Parramatta, Penrith, Rouse hill, Schofields, Seven hills, St Marys, Villawood and Westmead.

Residential cranes were removed from projects in Bankstown, Belfield, Casula, Edmondson Park, Granville, Liverpool, Merrylands, Mount druitt, Parramatta, Penrith, Punchbowl, Rouse hill, Schofields, Sefton, and Westmead.

 

 

 
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The largest development based of crane number is the 180 George development in Parramatta with four cranes.



Sydney crane watch: 87 new residential cranes added across Sydney, but 119 removed

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The Gold Coast developer Cru Collective is jumping on the hype that has been surrounding Kirra Beach in recent years.

Cru, who sold out their $40 million Siarn Palm Beach development in September last year, have acquired a prime 635 sqm corner site at 2 Musgrave Street, on the corner of Musgrave and Winston Street.

Cru Collective managing director Chris Bolger they were attracted to the site’s uniqueness and iconic location, being the northern point, and entry statement to Gold Coast’s most famous beach – Kirra.

Bolger says they took on feedback from the luxury apartment buyers from Siarn to ensure all of their needs and more would be catered for in the new project.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28789]

“We expect strong local and national interest in the project, given continued the influx of high-end purchasers to the Gold Coast from all over the country,” said Mr Bolger.

Bolger said there had been a significant increase in the level of inquiry, especially from interstate and overseas buyers, through the second half of last year and that momentum was continuing to build this year.

“While location is critical, the product is key to these savvy buyers and we work closely with our consultants to ensure our projects are second to none,” said Mr Bolger.

The Musgrave site was bought with approval for 14 full-floor luxury apartments, already secured by its former owner, local cosmetic physician Sanjay Mohindra.

But Cru are working with their design team to refine the existing plans, which are pictured below.

<img alt="" height="1112" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/cru_old_plans.jpg" width="706"> The former plans lodged with the City of Gold Coast Council.

The project, expected to launc the to the market mid-2021 and construction slated for early 2022, will be Cru's fourth in the pipeline.

One of their developments is Palm Gardens at Palm Beach, the controversial development which was initially rejected by the local council. They also have Arcadia Rise townhouse development in Currumbin and Acqua at Palm Beach.

Kirra has been a sought-after location in Coolangatta in recent years, with Spyre Group recently announcing the sell-out of MAYA at Kirra.

The family ran developer KTQ Group are also redeveloping the landmark Kirra Beach Hotel, with their Miles Residences apartments one of the hottest commodities on the coast.
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The Musgrave site was bought with approval for 14 full-floor luxury apartments, already secured by its former owner.



Cru Collective secure Kirra Beach site for new boutique apartment tower

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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