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The national developer Hirsch &amp; Faigen have had sign off for their first project on the Gold Coast.

They'll be developing Hemingway, named after the famous author Ernest Hemingway, which will span 14-levels near the sand at Palm Beach. The project will comprise 78 residences fronting the exclusive Jefferson Lane beachfront enclave.

Rothelowman have designed the tower which has been described as a multi-storey reimagining of the area’s humble holiday shacks from the late 1950s and 1960s.

Hemingway will be made up of a variety of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments.

<a href="/buildings/hemingway-1267-1273-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach"><img alt="" height="2801" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hemingway_2.jpg" width="2000"></a>

The development will also house its own ground-level café and expansive communal open space with a swimming pool, pool lounge, barbeque area and outdoor cinema.

The Melbourne-based developer is a partnership between the Hirsch family — also well-known for its petroleum, horse racing and wine interests — and property lawyer/developer Daniel Faigen.

Hirsch &amp; Faigen purchased the 1644 sqm corner site at 1267-1273 Gold Coast Highway, which also has frontages to both Seventeenth Avenue and Jefferson Lane, in 2016 for $3.85 million.

It lodged its development application in mid-2019 and despite concerns raised over the project’s height and high-density, Gold Coast council officers deemed the tower was “not considered to offend the local skyline” and was “appropriately serviced by infrastructure”.

<a href="/buildings/hemingway-1267-1273-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach"><img alt="" height="1200" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hemingway_1.jpg" width="1600"></a>

An assessment of Hemingway’s design by the council’s Office of Architecture and Heritage provided a further tick of approval, citing that it would “reinforce the local identity” and “contribute to the emerging character of the area”.

“The development as a whole provides a distinct architectural appearance through its form which incorporate subtle design elements of the 1950s and 1960s beach house, articulated floorplate, sculptured columns and projections which are combined with high-quality material selections which include applied finishes in varied sandstone shades,” its analysis stated.

Hirsch &amp; Faigen director Richard Hirsch said the development approval for Hemingway reflected the architectural intelligence, innovation and intuition of its design as well as empathy for its surrounds and the Gold Coast’s beach heritage.

“We’re committed to design, sustainability, usability and creating timeless, contemporary buildings that improve the lives and wellbeing of all that interact with them,” he said.  

“This is a great design-led outcome that in time will prove to be an outstanding result not only for the site but also the whole of Palm Beach, which is one of the Gold Coast’s truly unique beachside treasures.”

<a href="/buildings/hemingway-1267-1273-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach"><img alt="" height="1203" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hemingway_main.jpg" width="1600"></a>

Mr Hirsch said Rothelowman’s architectural vision for Hemingway was a reinvention of the suburb’s traditional beach houses, inspired by wrap-around decks and expansive views.

“Hemingway will be a slender residential tower with cut outs that dramatically expand the indoor-outdoor experience and reframe the view-lines through to the ocean to deliver true panoramic views,” he said.

“The design is a perfect fit for its unique location and will help define the future of the once sleepy suburb of Palm Beach, which has become highly sought-after and increasingly more exclusive but lost none of its charm.”

<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's most impressive towers when it's completed in 2023.

The development of 118 apartments is part of the redevelopment of the Kirra Beach 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.
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Rothelowman have designed the tower which has been described as a multi-storey reimagining of the area’s humble holiday shacks from the late 1950s and 1960s.



Joel Robinson

Tower reveal: Hirsch & Faigen secure approval for Palm Beach apartment project Hemingway

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It's been one of the best performing sales campaigns the Gold Coast has seen in a number of years, which is bad news for the punters of the Kirra Beach Hotel.

The Peggy Flannery-led developer KTQ Group have fast-tracked their luxury $380 million redevelopment of the historic Kirra Beach Hotel demolition of the historic Kirra Beach Hotel which will see Marine Parade site home four new mixed-use towers comprising a number of apartments and a five-star hotel.

The good news for Kirra regulars is they won't be out in the cold (or the lovely South East Queensland heat) for long.

The $180 million first stage will see a new pub and pavilion replace the 65-year-old Kirra Beach Hotel. Part of the first stage is Miles Residences, the hotly sought-after collection of 118 apartments.

<a href="/buildings/miles-kirra-beach-hotel-101-musgrave-street-coolangatta"><img alt="" height="1067" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/kirra_beach_hotel_pub_2.jpg" width="1600"></a>

It took just three weeks following the December launch of Miles Residences for 50 per cent of the apartments to be snapped up.

Now the KTQ group has reached another milestone. Over 80 per cent of apartments have now sold, for a total of $145 million.

Hutchinson Builders won the building contract for Miles Residences, which has its one bedroom apartments priced from $550,000 and the three bedroom plus multi-purpose room apartments starting from $3 million.

The masterplanned project is expecting to create more than 1200 full-time direct and indirect jobs throughout the three stages of construction and on completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27575]

Property advisory company MacroPlan Dimasi have indicated that the redevelopment will provide an economic boon for the southern Gold Coast, injecting $136 million in initial construction expenditure and an additional $61.3 million a year into the local economy. 

“The redevelopment of the Kirra Beach Hotel will provide an economic injection for the Southern Gold Coast in terms of capital investment, construction employment, additional short stay accommodation provision and ongoing tourist expenditure,” it states.

KTQ Group, whose Elements of Byron has reshaped the luxury resort and hotel market in Byron Bay, prides itself on adding value to the community and developing high quality and functional large-scale spaces.

When completed the Kirra Beach project will include a second stage, comprising 90 apartments, and a final stage that will deliver an 80-room, luxury hotel and 15 retail outlets within a dining and retail precinct. 

<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_0.jpg" width="1600"></a>

“We’re on the cusp of a renaissance for Kirra Beach that will deliver an exciting new destination in its own right where locals and visitors will be able to live work and play,” KTQ Group development director Jeremy Holmes said.

“Our plans have drawn on the history of the site that for generations was the social heart of the southern Gold Coast.

“The incredible market response to our first-stage release affirms our faith in our vision for the site which will be delivered over the next few years.”

KTQ Group, a family-owned company, has owned the Kirra Beach Hotel and surrounding land since 2010 and has crafted its plans for the property with a view to enhance the unique character of the famed Kirra beachfront and to recreate the legacy of the pub that has operated there for so many years.  

The Kirra Beach Hotel was considered a major development of its time when opened in the 1950s, drawing an official opening by then Queensland premier Vince Gair.

Originally known as Lennons Kirra Hotel, the site has an extensive history with Australia’s surfing culture and was a popular social venue for the budding southern Gold Coast community in the 1950s and 1960s.

 
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It took just three weeks following the December launch of Miles Residences for 50 per cent of the apartments toe be snapped up

Miles Residences at Kirra Beach now 80% sold as fast-tracked construction begins

The New South Wales developer TOGA Group have officially broken ground at their long-awaited redevelopment of the Surry Hills shopping centre.

To be known as Surry Hills Village and due for completed in early 2024, the mixed-use development and precinct on the corner of Cleveland and Baptist Street will home 122 apartments and a 102-room hotel, as well as 12,000 sqm of commercial and retail spaces.

<a href="/buildings/surry-hills-village-redfern-6-14-baptist-street-redfern-nsw-2016"><img alt="" height="1167" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/toga_precinct_1.jpg" width="1600" /></a>

SJB have designed the development in collaboration with development partners Iain Halliday and BKH, Aspect Studios director Sacha Coles and Studio Prineas architect and principal Eva-Marie Prineas.

The 12,000 square metres of commercial and retail spaces that will feature a Coles supermarket, specialty retail and parking for retail customers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="/buildings/surry-hills-village-redfern-6-14-baptist-street-redfern-nsw-2016"><img alt="" height="813" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/toga_precinct_2.jpg" width="1800" /></a>

Around 50 per cent of the 122 apartments have sold. Apartment start at $875,000 for a 55 sqm, one bedder.

The 81 sqm two bedroom apartments are priced at $1.55 million and the 122 sqm three bedder is priced at $2.65 million.

There&#39;s been a mix of buyer types, from locals to&nbsp;international buyers who will be moving in once they&rsquo;re able to return home.

<a href="/buildings/surry-hills-village-redfern-6-14-baptist-street-redfern-nsw-2016"><img alt="" height="857" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/toga_surry_hills_3.jpg" width="1600" /></a>

The groundbreaking ceremony marked&nbsp;around five and a half&nbsp;years since TOGA paid nearly $95 million for the 1.2 hectare site in mid-2015.

TOGA managing director Allan Vidor AM was joined by Redfern local and Sydney&nbsp;Lord Mayor Clover Moore at an official ceremony marking milestone.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=9302]

Mr Vidor said the ground breaking marks the start of the much-anticipated regeneration of the iconic site. &nbsp;

<blockquote>
&nbsp;&ldquo;We are very proud to be leading the transformation of this important site that will be a catalyst for the future shape of Sydney&rsquo;s inner city. Our vision is to deliver a precinct that will celebrate the authenticity of the neighbourhood whilst also bringing the energy of new people and businesses to the suburb.&nbsp;

&ldquo;For our future residents, locals and visitors, we are creating a destination that will enrich the area, with exceptional dining and bars alongside some of Sydney&rsquo;s best providores within a new retail laneway, commercial office building and public park. In addition, the precinct will include a boutique 102 room hotel with roof top pool and bar making Surry Hills Village a truly unique, once in a generation project that the community will enjoy for many years to come&rdquo;.&nbsp;
</blockquote>

<a href="/buildings/surry-hills-village-redfern-6-14-baptist-street-redfern-nsw-2016"><img alt="" height="1180" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/groundbreaking_toga.jpg" width="1800" /></a>

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said, as a Redfern local, she welcomes the revitalisation of the old Surry Hills shopping centre,&nbsp;bringing new life to the area and better serving the needs of the people who are living here.

Adam Haddow, SJB Architects director and a Surry Hills local, says because of the location of Surry Hills Village,&nbsp;near SJB&#39;s office, the team are hugely passionate about the significant project and the opportunity it presents for the neighbourhood.

&ldquo;Paying homage to the history of the site and building, while ensuring a blend of retail, residential, hotel and commercial space that feels at one with the street environment was a priority. We set out to revitalise the site and to create a space that locals can be proud of.&rdquo;

SJB have designed the development in collaboration with development partners Iain Halliday and BKH, Aspect Studios director Sacha Coles and Studio Prineas architect and principal Eva-Marie Prineas

Surry Hills Village plans finalised as TOGA officially break ground

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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.

Urban has taken a look at Shoreline and why it should be on a buyers shortlist.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22057]

<h2>The Developer</h2>

Shoreline is being developed by Marquee Development Partners, who have had previous success in the area.

The Brisbane-based developer most recently sold out Cannes, on the Surfers Paradise waterfront which isn't set to be completed until next year, and are currently selling apartments in their nearby Stanhill Drive development Catalina.

Their Peninsular Residences, just two kilometres away from Shoreline, was the number one selling apartment project on the Gold Coast in Q1 2018.

Marquee also developed the boutique nine level, 61 apartment development Stanhill on Chevron Island which won the best medium density project in QLD in 2020.

Up in Brisbane they won awards for their Haven Newstead apartment project, and they sold out their Fleet Lane, South Brisbane development of 66 apartments in just 12 weeks.

<h2>The Architect</h2>

Marquee appointed BDA Architecture to design the glass-swathed building. BDA have a number of buildings being built at Surfers including Allure at Chevron Island, Acqua at Palm Beach and Infinity at Broadbeach.

The design of Shoreline's podium was inspired by the architectural works of the Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto, creating a rhythm reflective of the natural waves of the Gold Coast foreshore.

BDA say the podium has the detailing and architectural artistry portrayed within Alvar Alto's famous 1939 Finnish Pavilion at the New York World Fair.

"The tower elements create a slender and subtle structure with curved slab edges to soften the form and provide elements reminiscent of some of the iconic towers of the Gold Coast," BDA advised in their design intent submitted to the Gold Coast City Council.

"External materials are predominantly glass, rendered painted concrete and vertical batten screens. The use of natural stone and curved metal hoods visually link the residential lobby to the streetscape."

<h2>The Location</h2>

Shoreline is located on the Old Burleigh Road dress circle, between Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise and just one row back from the beach, near Sir John (Jack) Egerton Park.

It's a three minute walk to the surrounding cafe's, a four minute walk to a G:link Station and five minutes to Broadbeach SLC. The development sits across the road from a bus stop also

<h2>The Apartments</h2>

There are just 27 apartments in the 17-level tower, each with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and two parking spaces.

<img alt="" height="948" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/shoreline_living.jpg" width="1600">

The entertainers kitchen is fitted with premium European appliances, an integrated fridge, butlers pantry and dry bar.

There is a large walk in wardrobe in the master bedroom, as well as an ensuite with double vanity and a free-standing bath.

<img alt="" height="901" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/shoreline_bedroom.jpg" width="1600">

Complete with a mud-room at entry, each apartment features an abundance of storage and ducted airconditioning.

<h2>The Facilities</h2>

Shoreline residents will have access to a number of wellness and lifestyle amenities.

The swimming pool will be filled with magnesium water which helps stimulate hydration, relax muscles, and detoxifies &amp; regenerates the skin.

There will be a wellness centre with spa, sauna and shower and a gym with reformer pilates.

Crowning the development will be a private rooftop bar and lounge with 270-degree views. Work from home and office facilities will also be on offer.

To find out more about Shoreline, click here.

 
 
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The boutique 27 apartment development across 17 levels offers residents a luxury unseen in the heart of Surfers Paradise for a number of years.

Five reasons the luxury Surfers Paradise development Shoreline should be on a buyers shortlist

Construction is well underway at South Yarra&#39;s luxury Stanhope by Kincrest, with completion slated before the year is out.

Stanhope, a collection of just eight residences on Stanhope Court just off Toorak Road, is set for completion in November by the luxury apartment developer Kincrest.

Kincrest director Tom Howgate said he wanted to change the way developments were being designed and sold in the inner south.

&quot;From the park to the finishes inside the apartments &ndash; we are selling something new, creative and timeless, yet still &ndash; so South Yarra,&quot; Howgate says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=26617]

The development has interiors by the Swedish designer Lotta Agaton, the&nbsp;European designer of the year in 2019 who has&nbsp;featured in The New York Times.

Agaton says that she wanted to create a light and contemporary feeling with a soft version of Scandinavian minimalism where natural materials are in focus.

<a href="/new-apartments/stanhope-by-kincrest-1-stanhope-court-south-yarra"><img alt="" height="546" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/stanhope_living_room.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

&quot;We have chosen high quality solid wooden floors and handpicked a sand coloured stone. Both materials feel modern but will age naturally to remain timeless in their expression.

Project Architect Tehla Clarke says their vision was to create a timeless piece of architecture for South Yarra.

&quot;To achieve this we designed details with subtle references to classical Architecture, with a restrained use of materials&rdquo;

The eight home-style apartments each have three metre ceilings and kitchens with marble, Miele and timber veneer.

Luxury to hit South Yarra as Stanhope by Kincrest apartment development set for 2021 completion

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The property boom is officially everywhere.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that every capital city record a rise in residential property prices in the December quarter.

The three per cent gains were the biggest recorded since the December quarter 2019.

The pent up demand from Melbourne's prolonged locked down drove the Victorian capital to be the joint best performer over the three months, with prices up 3.4 per cent, the same as Canberra.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728]

Hobart followed, with prices up 3.1 per cent, then Sydney, up three per cent.

Perth's 2.9 per cent gains came in slightly below average, as did Brisbane's 2.7 per cent and Adelaide's 2.6 per cent gains. Weighing the average down was Darwin, however the Northern Territory capital still posted gains of 2.2 per cent.

<img alt="" height="868" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/abs_prices.jpg" width="1800">

ABS head of prices statistics Michelle Marquardt said the rise in property prices is consistent with a range of housing market indicators.

"New lending commitments to households, auction clearance rates and days on market all improved during the December quarter."

Annually, residential property prices rose 3.6 per cent, the ABS data found.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7864]

"This is the first time that all capital cities have seen an annual rise since the December quarter 2014," Marquardt said.

Hobart prices jumped 6.4 per cent, followed by a 5.2 per cent gain in Canberra and 4.2 per cent in Perth.

House prices rose 3.9 per cent in Sydney and 3.7 per cent in Melbourne, while attached dwelling prices rose 1.4 per cent in Sydney and 2.5 per cent in Melbourne.
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The three per cent gains were the biggest recorded since the December quarter 2019

Property boom officially everywhere as all state and territory capitals see December quarter growth: ABS

The Laneways is&nbsp;the newest address is Sydney&#39;s inner-city suburb of Rosebery.

Made up of four buildings comprising&nbsp;118 apartments designed by Arc Architects, The Laneways draws its name from a leafy pedestrian pathway connecting Mentmore Avenue to Dunning Avenue.

Ideally located and due for completion in the coming months, Urban has taken a look at five things buyers should know about The Laneways.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24323]

<h2>1. The Developer</h2>

The Laneways Rosebery is the work of Ellerson Property, Australia&rsquo;s first property development agency.&nbsp;

Founded by property industry veterans Fayad Fayad and Remon Fayad, Ellerson Property aims to bring the great Australian urban lifestyle to apartment living with accessible precincts designed for real people.

<h2>2. The Location&nbsp;</h2>

The Laneways is in the heart of Sydney&#39;s up-and-coming inner-city suburb Rosebery, six kilometres south of the Sydney CBD.

<a href="/buildings/the-laneways-rosebery-33-37-mentmore-avenue-rosebery-nsw"><img alt="" height="1009" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_laneways_2.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

It&#39;s located on Mentmore Avenue, the same strip as the suburb&#39;s biggest drawcard, The Cannery, an 11,000 sqm dining, retail and cafe precinct.&nbsp;

The Cannery homes over 40 commercial spaces, including the&nbsp;likes of the dining institution&nbsp;Three Blue Ducks and&nbsp;the popular&nbsp;gin distiller Archie Rose, as well as a number of cafes, gyms, hair salons and cooking schools.

It&#39;s a few hundred metres to the closest Woolworths Metro, The Australian Golf Club is up the road and it&#39;s just a short walk to the Green Square train station which has a direct line to the City and the Sydney Airport.

<h2>3. The Roof</h2>

Each building in The Laneways is crowned with its own sky garden&nbsp;with views across the CBD skyline.

The rooftops feature their own dining and barbecue facilities as well as lush landscaping.

<a href="/buildings/the-laneways-rosebery-33-37-mentmore-avenue-rosebery-nsw"><img alt="" height="698" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/laneways_rosebery_roof_2.jpg" width="1600" /></a>

<h2>4. The Apartments</h2>

The Laneways has one, two and three bedroom apartments with open plan layouts and ceilings as high as three metres.

Designed by Arc Architects, each apartment with timber floor throughout features a&nbsp;kitchen with&nbsp;stone benchtops and stainless steel Smeg appliances.

<a href="/buildings/the-laneways-rosebery-33-37-mentmore-avenue-rosebery-nsw"><img alt="" height="1061" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_laneways_rosebery_4.jpg" width="1600" /></a>

The bathrooms are contemporary, each with a bath tub and floor-to-ceiling ceramic tiles.

Arc Architects have worked on a number of luxury houses in Sydney&#39;s Palm Beach, as well as multi-residential projects including Metro in the nearby Alexandria and Allen Street in Waterloo.

<h2>5. The Price</h2>

One bedroom apartments in The Laneways start from $592,800, well under Sydney&#39;s median apartment price according to CoreLogic of&nbsp;$738,254.

Two bedroom apartments with two bathrooms start from $980,000, and three bedroom apartments from $1.25 million.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Laneways is in the heart of Sydney's up-and-coming inner-city suburb Rosebery, six kilometres south of the Sydney CBD.

Five things we love about The Laneways in Sydney's Rosebery

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The home buying spending intentions, part of the Commonwealth Bank Household Spending Intentions (HSI) series, saw further gains across February, reaching its highest level since the data series began in 2015.

Both mortgage applications and Google searches were up in February in comparison to the month and year prior.

CBA chief economist Stephen Halmarick said the overall improvement in the HSI data is consistent with other signs that Australia’s economy continued to recover in the early months of 2021.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3303]

"We continue to expect the home buying market to be a key source of support for the Australian economy in 2021 – driven largely by the very low level of interest rates," Mr Halmarick said.

CBA are continuing with their forecast that property prices will be up eight per cent in 2021 and six per cent in 2022, with house prices expected to be nine per cent higher this year.

Mr Halmarick said Commonwealth Bank now expect the Australian economy will grow by 4.4 per cent in 2021 following the economic growth improvement at the end of 2020 pointing to a V-shaped recovery.

One risk to this outlook is the upcoming expiry of the JobKeeper program, though Mr Halmarick said recent CBA research suggests any effect from removing the labour market support measure is likely to be temporary.

“Our view is that the negative impacts of the end of JobKeeper will be short-lived and that the strength in the labour market, the large savings pool generated throughout 2020 and, as shown by the HSI, the solid momentum in spending and home buying, will see the economy transition successfully through the end of JobKeeper,” he said.
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Both mortgage applications and Google searches were up in February in comparison to the month and year prior.

Commonwealth Bank's home buying spending intentions hit record highs in February

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The demand for property in Victoria reached record levels in February.

Some 84.8 per cent of the 3,000 properties that went to auction sold under the hammer, the Real Estate Institute of Victoria found.

It was also the highest clearance rate of any month over the last 11 years, topping an old 2010 record which saw an 84 per cent clearance rate.

There were 17 suburbs which saw a perfect auction run, clearing 100 per cent of its properties at auction.

The likes of inner city Hawthorn East, Brunswick East, Collingwood and Fitzroy North saw all of its homes sell.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3730]

Also scoring a perfect game were Ferntree Gully, Rowville, Seaford, Ashburton, Blackburn South, Fawkner, Wantirna, Boronia, Fairfield, Hillside, Seddon, as well as the bayside suburbs Sandringham and St Kilda West. 

[smartcode_project:default project_id=324]

Reservoir, Coburg, and Bentleigh East beat out the rest to land as the top selling auction suburbs for February 2021, clearing 44, 37, and 35 auctions respectively, while 11 suburbs at least doubled their auction sales compared to same month in 2020.  

The best improvements on last year are in Sunshine North, Dingley Village, Gladstone Park, Ashwood, Albert Park, Fitzroy North, Doncaster, St Kilda West, Montmorency, Hoppers Crossing, and Templestowe.  

The REIV put the stellar results down to government incentives for first home buyers, mortgage repayment holidays and low interest rates, as well as pent up demand following the COVID-19 enforced lockdowns which saw thousands of auctions cancelled.

 
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There were 17 suburbs which saw a perfect auction run, clearing 100 per cent of its properties at auction

Victoria sees highest February auction clearance on record

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The Melbourne developer Monolith saw a flurry of sales following the launch of its Waverley Village development in Mulgrave in south east Melbourne.

They have secured over 80 per cent of sales in just two days, with just a handful of townhouses remaining of the 28 offered.

It was local first home buyers who drove the sales, Monolith's sales and marketing manager Tyler Guo said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4046]

Guo said that the the main attraction which has been driving enquiry and buyers is the architecture and design of the townhouses, as well as the affordable price point.

Another likely driver for buyers according to Guo was that Waverley Village is the last undeveloped piece of land in Mulgrave where it is possible to build a community-style development.

Designed by Parallel Workshop Architects, the three bedroom townhouses are priced from around $770,000, with first home buyers will to pay up to $835,000 for the top-end three bedroom residences.

The four bedroom townhouses were mainly picked up by downsizers, with priced ranging between $915,000 to $990,000.

<a href="/new-townhouses/waverley-place-mulgrave-149-hansworth-street-mulgrave-vic-3170"><img alt="" height="739" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/waverley_village_3.jpg" width="1600"></a>

The speed of the near sell out has prompted Monolith to fast-track stage two of Waverley Village, two apartment towers comprising 100 units.

It will be the same concept for Monolith, targeting first home buyers with an affordable entry point and offering a high spec design of the apartments. 

The towers, which will be in keeping with the townhouse design, will be between seven and eight levels tall. They will home a number of amenities which the townhome residents will also have access to.

Sales were initially slated to start at the start of next year, but Guo says it will likely be before the year is out.
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It was local first home buyers who drove the sales, Monolith's sales and marketing manager Tyler Guo said

First home buyer demand sees Monolith nearly sell out Waverley Village, Mulgrave townhouses in two days

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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