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Having sold his city home to Hamish and Zoe Blake, Peter O’Connell the co-founder of telecomms giant Amaysim Australia, has spent big in the Southern Highlands.

He’s emerged as the $4.25 million buyer of the Bowral cottage transformed by the serial renovator Jenny Rose-Innes.

Rose-Innes, who wrote Australian Designers at Home, and the more recent bestseller, British Designers at Home, had paid $1,275,000 in 2015, having found the neg­lected cottage on an evening walk with dogs, Miss Penny the schitzu and Fergus the schnauzer.

Marketed as a Connecticut-style home, the weatherboard-style residence has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. 

Late last year O’Connell sold his longtime Vaucluse home to the comedian Hamish Blake and his business owner wife, and ironically the Bowral-born Zoe Foster-Blake, for $8,925,000. The couple have moved back to Sydney from Melbourne due to Foster-Blake’s booming skincare business Go-To. 
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Marketed as a Connecticut-style home, the weatherboard-style residence has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. 

Joel Robinson

Amaysim co-founder Peter O'Connell spends $4.25 million in Bowral

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The Laser Clinics co-founder Alistair Champion and wife Kate have quickly found a $6.5 million buyer for their Southern Highlands retreat Bellevue.

The Berrima estate is the biggest sale so far in the heated Southern Highlands market in 2021, having sold at the top of its $6 million to $6.5 million guide which was offered only two weeks ago.

The Woollahra-based couple, who have been at the trophy home Ilicus since paying $13.5 million in 2017, bought the 7.5 hectare Berrima property for $4.8 million in 2018.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94622]

There’s a main five bedroom homestead with a climate controlled wing that homes a 12 metre indoor pool, a stables complex currently set up as a gym, a separate stone guest cottage and a private lake in the grounds.

The couple are demolishing the 1910s Federation Arts &amp; Crafts Rose Bay absolute beachfront they bought for $18 million in 2019 and are <a href="/news/nsw/rose-bay-to-get-new-beachfront-apartment-development">building a boutique apartment development with just three apartments</a>.

There will be two apartments on the ground level, one with a swimming pool, and a penthouse upstairs.
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The Berrima estate is the biggest sale so far in the heated Southern Highlands market in 2021

Laser Clinics co-founder Alistair Champion sells Southern Highlands retreat Bellevue

One Coburg Quarter is set to be the newest sought-after address in the north Melbourne suburb when it is completed in a few months.

The project, developed by Future Estate and designed by architecture firm Rothelowman, only has a limited number of its one and two bedroom apartments left, with residents moving in in May after a three and a half year build.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3783]

One of the most unique elements of One Coburg Quarter is that it incorporates the bluestone walls which were once part of the Pentridge Prison which once sat on the site.

Her Majesty's Prison Pentridge&nbsp;was an&nbsp;Australian&nbsp;prison that was first established in 1851 and was closed in&nbsp;1997. One Coburg Quarter developer Future Estate bought&nbsp;site for $4 million in 2014 and sold it for $12.8 million in 2017. Future Estate retain a further 4.2 hectares which is part of their masterplan mixed-use community hub.

There are 148 one and two bedroom apartments across the eight-level tower, starting from $351,000 for a 50 sqm one bedder with a storage cage.

The bigger one bedroom apartments, closer to 60 sqm, start from $469,000 with their own parking spots.

<a href="/buildings/one-coburg-quarter-11-urquhart-street-coburg"><img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="558" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/one_coburg_living_room.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

The two bedroom apartments, with 65 sqm of internal space, are priced from $541,000 with one bathroom, parking and a storage cage.

There are only five of the biggest two bedroom apartments left, with prices starting from $629,999.

Each apartment features a gas kitchen&nbsp;with stone benches, European stainless steel appliances and Matt black tapware.

Residents of One Coburg Quarter&nbsp;will have access to&nbsp;a residents’ bar and lounge with a stone wall built-in fireplace, a kitchen and a library, as well as&nbsp;a sky garden with a barbecue, seating and city views on the top level.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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One Coburg Quarter is located on the site of the former Pentridge Prison, with the development incorporating the bluestone walls.

Find out the reason buyers are snapping up the final apartments in the nearly completed One Coburg Quarter

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Rothelowman, one of Australia’s leading architecture practices, has collaborated with developer Dahua Group and landscape architect Jack Merlo for Dahua's $300m Hawthorn Park development in Hawthorn East.

We recently spoke to Frances Hall, senior associate at Rothelowman, about the design principles of Hawthorn Park, where their inspiration came from and what were the biggest challenges of the project.

JR: What was Dahua Group’s design brief for Hawthorn Park?

FH: Dahua Group wanted a sense of community and tranquillity in a common garden setting as a transition from the hustle/bustle of Camberwell road. They also wanted a “jewel in the crown” as a gateway signifying element. This was realised with the transparent lap pool suspended between two buildings 18m in the air, the first of its kind in Australia.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3730]

JR: Where did you draw inspiration from for the design?

FH: The buildings were sited to respond to the local context and create a public park linking Camberwell Rd and Burwood Rd.  The building forms were influenced by cascading tea terraces stepping into a sunken garden.  This was contrasted with solid podiums addressing the street interfaces which were inspired by boulders in the landscape.  All of the colours inside and outside were influenced by tones found in nature.  Hence the name Hawthorn Park.

JR: What part of the design are you most proud of/excited to see upon completion?

FH: We are most excited about delivering the pool bridge as it is testament to our collaboration with the contractor Hickory Group and the consultant team, to realise a design which resolves many complex requirements.  This includes structural stability and weight, services reticulation, pool maintenance, allowance for movement, acoustics, waterproofing, building code compliance – all whilst maximising transparency and reflectivity in the appearance of the bridge.

<a href="/buildings/hawthorn-park-33-camberwell-road-hawthorn-east"><img alt="" height="829" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hawthorn_park_sky_pool_gardens.jpg" width="580"></a>

JR: Was there anything you tested in the design principles that were different to any other projects?

FH: We had not done a bridge linking two buildings with a pool, so this was a first in terms of the design and how it would be resolved.  (More on that below).

We developed our knowledge with the sunken garden which was not dissimilar to other projects but came with its own challenges on this site.  We tested the idea of immersion in the landscape as you descend the stairs into the public sunken garden, flanked by high rusted walls as if carved out of rock, to direct views to the garden.

JR: How do you collaborate with the landscape architect, in this case Jack Merlo, to make sure the landscaping designs are in keeping with the building designs?

FH: We met with Jack Merlo and the landscape team throughout the process from concept design through to construction documentation, to resolve details and ensure consistency between the architecture and the landscape design.  Jack was both creative and practical working towards the common vision.

JR: What was the most difficult part of the planning process?

FH: We always work collaboratively with all stakeholders including Council Officers. Contour Town Planning consultants were critical in managing the complex requirements of neighbours, council officers, Councilors and client expectations. Thankfully all parties contributed positively to the developed design keeping the approval process out of VCAT. A credit to all those who contributed to the process. We commend the Boroondara council and their team for their contribution and belief in the design and for their positive and proactive approach to this project.

<a href="/buildings/hawthorn-park-33-camberwell-road-hawthorn-east"><img alt="" height="707" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hawthorn_park_urban_1200.jpg" width="1200"></a>

JR: Talk us through the thinking of the special swimming pool deck!

FH: The Pool Bridge serves as both a link between buildings and a recreational space that creates the entry signature to Hawthorn Park.

The intention was to create a counterpoint to the curvaceous building form that complemented the composition but was also a visual challenge that presents the unexpected.

The pool level itself consists not only the 25m lap pool and deck but a separate family pool and sun lounging areas with cabanas for a resort feel.  There is also an internal function space for the residents use that opens to an outdoor bbq space and a communal kitchen garden.

The windows in the bridge floor and the sides are acrylic, which is structurally stable to hold the water whilst allowing views through to the 18m drop to ground.  The stainless steel cladding has a mirror effect (light on the street side and black on the garden side) which enhances the reflections of the water and the sense of a floating object in the sky.

Technically it was a challenge that was met by Rincovitch Structural Engineers, ADP Services Engineers and Commercial Pool Consulting / Aloha Pools including structural products designed and built in Italy.

As with all projects of note, design outcomes need the backing of clients with vision. Dahua embraced the opportunity and created an architecture that talked to context, created a spectacular internal environment and was brave with its innovation.
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We recently spoke to Frances Hall, senior associate at Rothelowman, about the design principles of Hawthorn Park.



Rothelowman discuss the design principles of Dahua Group's Hawthorn Park apartment project

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For a limited time, Melbourne developer Hallmarc are offering a $10,000 furniture voucher to new buyers in their recently completed Highett apartment development Vista Apartments in Melbourne’s south.

The offer is in its final weeks, only lasting until February 28, and allows new buyers in the 154-apartment bayside project to furnish their new homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3303]

Hallmarc’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Loccisano, says at Vista they have focused the design specifically to the owner occupier market, which he says has been very well received.

"Apartment living requires more thought as to how it's configured and we’ve incorporated just that - larger layouts, dedicated home office areas and open plan living, creating bright and welcoming spaces," Loccisano says.

<a href="/buildings/vista-apartments-9-remington-drive-highett"><img alt="" height="788" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/vista_highett_2.jpg" width="1200"></a>

He also says that beyond Vista is the suburb of Highett, where everything is on Vista's doorsteps.

"It is a bustling area with a strong sense of community and so much to offer."

The development has never to be built out views of Sir William Fry Reserve and is a short walk to Southland Shopping Centre and Sandringham Beach.

<a href="/buildings/vista-apartments-9-remington-drive-highett"><img alt="" height="718" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/sir_william_fry_reserve.jpg" width="1200"></a>

Nearly all of Vista'a remaining apartments also qualify for the 50 per cent stamp duty concessions. Prices for two bed apartments start from $699,500 to $1,120,000 and range from 89 sqm to 118 sqm.

As well as direct access to impressive parkland and walking paths, residents can also take advantage of resort-style swimming pool and fully-equipped gymnasium.

<h2>What the buyers say:</h2>

<h2> </h2>

<blockquote>
"My friends that have come to visit are so impressed with my apartment and the quality, they can’t get over how gorgeous it is and how comfortable it feels. The ample storage and excellent planning that has gone into the layout and floor plan has been excellent, and I’m very fussy!"

Owner Occupier: Jan
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
“Suits [our] lifestyle perfectly – [we] have everything on [our] doorstep, no need to leave the area which has been a blessing.”

“Design elements of the apartment are superb – particularly open plan living and separate laundry. Private gym and pool was a major tick”

Owner Occupiers: Brad and Crystal
</blockquote>
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The offer only lasts until February 28 and allows new buyers in the 154-apartment bayside project to work to spend a $10,000 voucher furnishing their homes.

Developer Hallmarc offer $10,000 furniture vouchers for buyers in Melbourne apartment development Vista Apartments

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After a stronger than expected housing turnaround, NAB are now forecasting dwelling values to rise by an average of eight per cent nationally across 2021, with a view that 2022 will also see strong gains.

The revision comes after the turnaround in the housing markets, pared with low interest rates, the government's HomeBuilder grants and stamp duty concessions on newly built properties.

"The housing market has fared significantly better than expected over the past year, despite significant headwinds from slower population growth and a weaker labour market," the NAB report read.

"Lower interest rates and household income support from the Federal Government have been a key support amidst the challenges of the pandemic.

"While the impact of lower rates is broad-based, there are some key dynamics underlying our forecast."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90553]

NAB expect the smaller capitals to continue to outpace Sydney and Melbourne, but the two biggest capital city markets have closed the gap from NAB's previous forecasts.

In the Q2 update in mid-2019, NAB were forecasting a -4.3 per cent average decline across the country, with Melbourne (-7.3 per cent) and Sydney (-4.7 per cent), driving the losses.

In Q3, following a positive response to COVID-19, NAB flipped their forecast, predicting five per cent gains nationally over 2021 and Melbourne (+3.6 per cent) and Sydney (+4.4 per cent), going full circle.

Now NAB expect nearly eight per cent gains average, with Sydney and Melbourne not far behind other capital city markets.

<img alt="" height="791" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/nab_q4_forecast.jpg" width="1200">

They expect the best performer to be Brisbane, where there are 10.1 per cent gains forecast for 2021 and 6.3 per cent for 2022.

Adelaide and Hobart are predicted to see the strongest gains over 2022, up 7.4 per cent after 8.9 per cent and 9.7 per cent gains over 2021.

Sentiment has been on the turn for a number of months and the NAB Residential Property Index ended 2020 at a survey high +45 points. Confidence levels returned to levels last seen before COVID in late-2019 as expectations lifted sharply for house price growth across the country.

<img alt="" height="905" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/nab_sentiment_q4.jpg" width="1200">

NAB economist Alan Astor says first home buyer demand remains very strong in new and established housing markets and is likely being supported by historically low interest rates and government support such as the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and HomeBuilder.

"The brief pullback in house prices earlier in the year may have also helped sentiment among these buyers."
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The revision comes after a stronger than expected housing market, pared with the low interest rates, the government's HomeBuilder grants and stamp duty concessions on new properties.



NAB raises dwelling price forecast for 2021 and 2022

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A two-tower mixed-use development in Melbourne's emerging Northbank precinct by developer Mirvac has received approval from the local council.

The two towers at 7 Spencer Street, which Mirvac bought for $200 million just over a year ago, will comprise a 32-storey build-to-rent tower with 472 apartments and a 20-storey commercial tower.

Craig Baudin, director at Fender Katsalidis, says that the approval of the project will be significant in bringing life to this part of the city.

“Our design is a vibrant new mixed-use precinct, consisting of two distinctive towers that will revitalise and reconnect this overlooked corner of the city,” he says.

The Fender Katsalidis design gives each of the towers its own identity in accordance with their uses while being connected at the podium level through a retail offering and commonality in materiality and colour palette.

The podium forms have been expressed as highly textured and landscaped components, above which sit the simpler and cleaner lines of the two tower forms.

The uses of the towers will give the area activity during and outside of business hours to activate this precinct while creating new laneway connections to the city and Southern Cross Station.

“Comprising a build-to-rent apartment building combined with a landmark office tower, this will be a lively new place to live and work and will leave its mark on Melbourne in a generous and meaningful way," Baudin says.

“With build-to-rent still a new typology in Melbourne, the project is unique by showing how it can engage and integrate with an adjacent office building within a single precinct.

"It signifies the direction of residential living in the city while also catering to agile workplaces with large, flexible floorplates,” Baudin added.
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The two towers at 7 Spencer Street, which Mirvac bought for $200 million just over a year ago, will comprise a 32-storey build-to-rent tower with 472 apartments and a 20-storey commercial tower.

Mirvac secure approval for 472 build-to-rent Melbourne apartment development

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The Elizabeth Bay site that the integrated property group Top Spring Australia are set to convert in to a residential apartment development, has sold for $35.75 million.

The disused 1,347 sqm site at 11-13 Greenknowe Avenue was sold by the Chinese-backed Australian developer SHMH Group Australia, who were the most recent occupants of the tired building. 

They had sought around $30 million for the site last year through CBRE, but failed to find a buyer. SHMH had paid $20.24 million for the property in 2014 and had intended on developing the site themselves, but struggled to get an eight level building approved.

They then had a 52 room boarding house approved, with conditions, but steps to expedite the deferred commencement with the council were not successful.

They had been using the property, the former HQ of the NSW Country Women's Association, as offices.

Now Top Spring Australia, who have also created The Clermont in Bellevue Hill and a 400-apartment development in St Leonards, will demolish the current building and create a part six, part seven storey residential building made up of 30 one, two and three bedroom apartments.

<img alt="" height="318" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/11-13_greenknowe_avenue_elizabeth_bay_2_0.jpg" width="580">

The Elizabeth Bay complex will be only for owner-occupiers, or those on long-term residential leases, and not for short-term accomodation. Sales are expected to commence in April 2021, with completion slated for 2023.

PBD Architects have designed the building which will recognise the heritage character of the surrounding area, with a brick façade and art deco features.

Top Spring also recently appointed award-winning Melbourne-based designer, Miriam Fanning, of MIM Design.

Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects have also been commissioned for the project.

Sydney Ma, Director and General Manager of Top Spring Australia, says Greenknowe Avenue will also demonstrate the company’s ambition to incorporate the character of the local area into each of their projects.

“Elizabeth Bay is well-known for its stunning architecture, so with our Greenknowe Avenue project, we are committed to delivering an exemplary level of quality and design, while respecting and honouring the distinctive architectural character of the local surroundings,” explained Mr Ma.

“In this context, it will be of utmost importance for us to deliver an outstanding building design that complements Elizabeth Bay, and it’s pleasing to know the City of Sydney approves of our vision.”
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Top Spring Australia will demolish the current building and create a part six, part seven storey residential building made up of 30 two and three bedroom apartments.



Elizabeth Bay site set for Top Spring apartment development sells for $35.75 million

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WA’s leading apartment developer, Finbar Group, recorded $34.6 million in sales in January, the highest level they've recorded since 2006.

The company reported $9 million in sales in a single day on January 25 at its Civic Heart project in South Perth where construction is now underway – a sales record for the company which has been operating in WA for 26 years.

The project, which has an estimated end value in excess of $400 million, will comprise two towers of 39 and 22 storeys, providing 305 residential apartments, four penthouses and 25 ground floor commercial tenancies.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30048]

Finbar experienced record sales levels across October, November and December 2020 following initial market uncertainty in the wake of COVID-19, with more than $88 million in sales secured at Civic Heart to date.

Finbar managing director Darren Pateman said the level of sales recorded during the last quarter and for the first month of 2021 signalled a strong return to the market post the pandemic uncertainty coupled with low borrowing costs, ongoing stimulus measures and low stock levels across the country.

<a href="/new-apartments/civic-heart-99-mill-point-road-south-perth"><img alt="" height="678" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/civic_heart_south_perth_3.jpg" width="1200"></a>

“Our recent strong sales performance and the fact that our team secured $9 million in sales in a single day, gives us cause for optimism in terms of the medium to long term outlook for the local market," Pateman says.

“Certainly, our sales performance in January is an outstanding result and an early indication of what may be to come for the Perth market.

“We’re seeing very strong and competitive buyer demand, not just for Civic Heart, but across our other projects as well as the gradual return of investors as the rental market continues to heat up,” he said.<a href="/new-apartments/civic-heart-99-mill-point-road-south-perth"><img alt="" height="904" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/civic_heart_south_perth_2.jpg" width="1200"></a>

“We’re seeing very strong and competitive buyer demand, not just for Civic Heart, but across our other projects as well as the gradual return of investors as the rental market continues to heat up,” he said.

“Perth’s property market is really gaining momentum due to low supply, Western Australians returning home from interstate and overseas and buyers and investors who have been watching from the sidelines and deciding to get into the market before any further uptick occurs.

“We have completely sold out of all other South Perth stock so it is perhaps unsurprising that we have seen such strong demand for Civic Heart for apartments of all sizes,” he said.

Mr Pateman said the rebates on stamp duty had definitely been a contributing factor and he urged the WA Government to reintroduce the stamp duty rebate for developments under construction to ensure the ongoing recovery of the local market.
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Finbar experienced record sales levels across October, November, December and January

Off the plan sales boom in Perth as Finbar records biggest January sales figures since 2006

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Developer Central Equity have completed their award-winning residential Melbourne CBD tower Melbourne Grand.

They had Multiplex deliver the 58 level high-rise apartment building which won the 2020 HIA Victorian Apartment Complex of the Year award.

High-profile architects Guilford Bell + Graham Fisher designed the 646 apartment block at 560 Lonsdale Street, standing some 200 metres above street level.

Apartments are still available in the completed building. One bedroom apartments are priced from $489,000, two beds from $569,000 and three bedroom apartments from $899,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3490]

One of Melbourne Grand's most impressive feature is its exclusive Lonsdale Club located on Level 10. The Lonsdale Club is dedicated to exclusive resident facilities including a lounge, banquet room, coffee bar, theatre, indoor pool, sauna, gym, yoga studio, BBQs and an outdoor area.

Part of the project saw one of Melbourne’s oldest buildings restored. The heritage-listed neighbouring 556 Lonsdale Street was constructed between 1855 and 1878 and was integrated into the Melbourne Grand development.

<a href="/buildings/melbourne-grand-560-lonsdale-street-melbourne"><img alt="" height="812" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/melbourne_grand_3.jpg" width="1200"></a>

“We are thrilled to deliver this landmark high-rise apartment tower for Central Equity whilst simultaneously helping preserve some of Melbourne’s history with the restoration of 556 Lonsdale Street," Graham Cottam, regional managing director of Multiplex Victoria said.

Work on the Melbourne Grand project spanned two years and nine months commencing in January 2018, and according to Multiplex over 2,400 people worked on site throughout construction.

<a href="/buildings/melbourne-grand-560-lonsdale-street-melbourne"><img alt="" height="816" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/melbourne_grand_2.jpg" width="1200"></a>

 

Construction challenges included working within the tight confines of one of Melbourne’s busy pedestrian laneways and legal precinct. At the top of the building, the dynamic curved shape of the floorplate required multiple change overs.

The apartments boast spacious living areas, high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling, double- glazed windows allowing sweeping views of Melbourne’s CBD. Kitchens include composite stone benchtops, feature lighting, German tapware and Miele appliances.

Melbourne Grand represents Multiplex’s 18th project for developer Central Equity, with the contractor having delivered many of Central Equity’s award-winning residential towers in Melbourne including Southbank Place, Southbank Grand and Southbank One.

 

 

 

 

 
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Central Equity complete $470 million Melbourne Grand high-rise 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.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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.

&nbsp;

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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