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A former linen warehouse converted into a house at South Melbourne has been sold.
The home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-south+melbourne-124571470" target="_blank">251-255 Moray Street</a>, Irish Linen House sits on two titles of over 340 sqm of land.
It was amalgamated in two acquisitions - $1.8 million in 2007 and then $552,000 in 2012.
No latest sale price has been given, but $4.5 million plus was tipped.
Retaining its rich period personality it has a modern design that offers either a unique lifestyle, investment or even redevelopment possibilities.
Title one, consisting of Number 251, is a two bedroom townhouse with a zoned open plan living and dining spaces with gas period style open fire.
The other title, Number 253, is a 158 sqm office that has a large reception, two meeting rooms, a large open plan office with kitchenette along with bathroom and landscaped courtyard.
Number 255 is a former warehouse thar has been converted into a residence.
The one bedroom property with exposed original brickwork and timber floors comes with a home office, two open plan living and dining areas alongside a kitchen.
The property was offered through Abercomby’s Real Estate agents Jock Langley and Sam Goddard.
 
 
 
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

South Melbourne historic property, Irish Linen House, sold

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GUEST OBSERVER
Market activity in commercial and industrial real estate can be assessed under two types of market interest.
Owner-occupiers are strong at the affordable end of the market as business operators well understand that it is preferable to own rather than rent the properties they use or need for their businesses.
For many business owners it is much more effective to own rather than rent their premises, especially with the prevailing low interest rates.
It is also quite common to see the property purchased at auction held in the name of a superannuation fund where it is leased back to the operating business at often for an attractive return.
The second strong area of interest is from investors with self managed superannuation funds.
For a lot of SMSF investors a commercial property provides a diversification and they are regularly being advised by their accountants or specialist advisers to acquire a commercial investment.
Certainly the return is usually better than a residential investment because a commercial property that is well and securely leased provides a more reliable income stream than almost any other type of property investment.
I always say that in investing in any type of property the purchaser needs to know and understand the key market fundamentals.
This includes factors like market liquidity, add on costs like State Land Tax and the transaction costs of stamp duties, legals, agency or management fees and transaction costs as both a buyer and as a potential seller.
Often my engagement may involve trying to right the wrongs caused by poor leasing advice and structure to rectify a property’s optimum lease structure.
For instance, I am currently appointed by the Melbourne Theosophical Society to manage the proposed sale of their long held historic building at 126-128 Russell Street.
A landmark four level building in part occupied by the Society it has multiple tenancies and is currently generating an annual rental income of around $350,000.
My expectation is that 126-128 Russell Street will be offered to the market before the end of the current financial year and given the shortage of key CBD freeholds on offer it is likely to be keenly bid.
David O’Callaghan is the managing director of O’Callaghan Commercial and can be contacted <a href="https://www.ocallcommercial.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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Understanding commercial market fundamentals: David O’Callaghan

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A student-only apartment at Prahran - listed with a disclosed $65,000 reserve - sold at weekend auction for $113,000.
But the vendor had paid $219,500 in 2009 when it was bought from Urban Studio Axiom.  
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-prahran-124859358" target="_blank">G01/8 Porter Street</a>, the tiny property has its own garden and courtyard.
It is leased for another 12 months for $245 per week - its sale price reflecting an 11 rental yield.
The apartment was marketed as suitable for a couple or individual.
Prahran station is in close proximity as well as tram lines and eateries and bars.
The property was offered through Purplebricks agent Andrew Leung who took a $65,000 opening bid.
There were six bidders.
It is not the first resale at huge discount to prior sale price in the block.
There was a $100,000 sale last March having previously sold at $179,500 in 2009, with banks having a clear aversion to student housing lending.
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Double the reserve, but half its prior selling price in Prahran

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One of the Northern Territory's richest oil and gas magnates Jerry Ren, has listed his huge Warrawee mansion, Pantagruel.
Ren paid a suburb record $11.5 million in 2010 for the massive nine bedroom, 11 bathroom home that spans over 2000 sqm.
Architect Espie Dodds designed the home in the 1980s for oil magnate Pat Burke, drawing inspiration from the colonial era's Elizabeth Bay House.
It first sold incomplete in 1999 for $3 million to entrepreneur Simon and Brenda Tripp.
The home with stately formal lounge and banquet style dining room has a theatre, full sized billiard room, home bar, 3,000 bottle wine cellar and home office.
There's a pool and championship tennis court on the large 6,405 sqm private estate which Luschwitz Real Estate Pymble agent Stephen Sales listed this week.
There are $15 million expectations.
Locals have long referred to it as the Chilton Hilton given its nine bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.
This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph.
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Magnate Jerry Ren lists Warrawee mansion Pantagruel

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/65552/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Have you ever found yourself facing your recycling bin, completely befuddled about whether or not you can put a particular item in it?
You’re not alone. According to Planet Ark, nearly half of Australians find recycling confusing. 
Australia’s recycling rules can seem horrendously complicated, but fortunately they are becoming more simple.
In the meantime, here’s a brief guide to some of the golden rules of kerbside recycling, plus what to do with materials that can’t go in your recycling bin. 
<a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/162140/width754/image-20170323-13486-5j3j3r.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/162140/width754/image-20170323-13486-5j3j3r.png" alt="">The Conversation, <a class="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a>
As the first rule above says, most papers, plastics, metals and glasses can be recycled, but there are a few exceptions and rules for special handling. To find out more, click on each material below. This will also tell you how else you can recycle the items that can’t go in your kerbside recycling bin.
<div id="responsive-iframe-0">Other helpful sources for recycling rules include: </div>
<ul>
<li>
Planet Ark’s mobile app, online guide and National Recycling Week website.
</li>
<li>
The Victorian government’s Get it right on bin night and the South Australian government’s Recycle right campaigns.
</li>
<li>
Sydney’s Garbage Guru, which lets you look up any item and see the best thing to do with it – it’s likely to be applicable to many other cities across the country.
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Why do some things need special treatment?</h2>
Some items need special handling before they can go in kerbside recycling. These are generally either very small items, or complex/composite items.
Small items, like scraps of paper or foil, steel bottle caps or plastic bottle lids and coffee pods, can cause problems if simply placed in a recycling bin. Because they are small, they can literally fall through the cracks in sorting machines, causing damage to the machines or ending up in landfill. 
Combined or composite items are complex items that contain multiple materials, such as newspapers or magazines in plastic wrap, or composite items like Pringles tubes. Automated recycling machines can cope with very small amounts of different materials, such as staples in paper, plastic windows on envelopes, paper labels on glass jars, or slight residues of food on containers. But items with multiple materials can confuse the machines and end up in the wrong category, introducing contamination. 
<h2>Why is contamination an issue?</h2>
Contamination is when things that can’t be recycled through kerbside recycling systems end up in the recycling system.
Contamination can create many problems: recyclable materials may need to be dumped in landfill; the output of recycled materials is less pure; workers at recycling facilities can be put at risk; and in some cases machinery can be damaged. All of these lead to increased costs of recycling that may be passed on to residents.
For example, glass recycling programs are designed only to process glass bottles and jars, which are crushed and then melted down and re-used. Drinking glasses, ceramics, plate glass (window panes) and oven-proof glass melt at higher temperatures than normal glass bottles and jars. When these are incorrectly placed in recycling, this tougher glass can remain solid among the melted glass, leading to impure glass products and damaged machinery.
Better technology is helping to remove contaminants during sorting. But it’s always best to get it right at the source. Planet Ark says that a good recycler’s motto is: “If in doubt, leave it out.”
<h2>What about things that can’t be recycled at home?</h2>
Just because something can’t be recycled through kerbside collections, that doesn’t mean it can’t be recycled at all. 
New channels for recycling more complex items have been pioneered by organisations such as Planet Ark and TerraCycle, as well as by local councils, industry and government under schemes such as the Australian Packaging Covenant and the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.
Most councils have drop-off locations for larger items that can’t go in kerbside bins, such as electronics, batteries, light bulbs, chemicals and hazardous waste, as well as pickups for white goods and mattresses.
Many supermarkets in metro areas have REDcycle bins that accept soft plastics like plastic bags, soft plastic packaging, biscuit packets and trays, dry cleaning bags, and other “scrunchable” plastics.
Industry take-back programs include Fridge Buy Back, TechCollect for electronics, and ReturnMed for unwanted or expired medicines.
Some big companies now have collection points, such as Ikea which take used batteries, light bulbs, mattresses and allen keys, and <a href="https://corporate.aldi.com.au/en/corporate-responsibility/operations/battery-recycling/">Aldi</a> which also takes used batteries.
<a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/138174/area14mp/image-20160919-16988-6b0ew4.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/138174/area14mp/image-20160919-16988-6b0ew4.png"><img src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/138174/width754/image-20160919-16988-6b0ew4.png" alt=""></a>
<div class="enlarge_hint"> </div>
Free Terracycle recycling programs. Adapted from TerraCycle (https://www.terracycle.com.au)
Recycling is vital to reducing resource use and waste to landfill, and so getting it right is crucial.
Jenni Downes is research consultant, Institute of Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jenni-downes-12549" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Five golden rules to help solve your recycling dilemma

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GUEST OBSERVER
With an RBA rate rise looming and big banks already hiking rates across fixed rate home loans, it seems the rock bottom rates of 2016 are now a thing of the past for property buyers.
All four big banks have now slammed home borrowers with rate rises in the past couple of weeks, joining another 14 lenders who have pushed up variable rates out of cycle this month alone. 
The big banks have a history of higher than average interest rates - so far, since 2009, all the big banks have increased rates by more than the RBA did two times each (except NAB, who did it once.) They also all held back a full RBA rate cut 7 times a piece (although ANZ only did it 6 times.)
There are a couple of reasons for these recent rate hikes - the excuse the banks have given is that cost of funding is getting higher, so loan rates need to increase as well. 
The likelihood of an RBA rate increase sometime next year is also a consideration, particularly for fixed rate offers, as banks factor that into current rates that they won’t be able to adjust for the next two years or more. So for the rest of this year at least, it seems rates will only be pushed higher.
Investors will have it particularly tough, with APRA breathing down the necks of lenders after investment loans spiked toward the end of 2016. CommBank, which grew its investment loan portfolio by 8.02 percent over the last 12 months, has already started tightening criteria for lending to investors by dropping LVRs and limiting refinancing loans.
In fact, <a href="https://mozo.com.au/" target="_blank">Mozo</a> data shows that the average big banks interest rate premium on variable rate investor loans has doubled in the last year.
So things are looking gloomy for borrowers hoping to get a foot on the property ladder with a low rate loan, especially since big bank loans now account for 85% of the investor loan market, and 81 percent of owner-occupier loans.
That means now, when record low rates seem to be squarely behind us, is the time for new borrowers to really do their research into what offer is going to work best for their budget, and for those already paying off a mortgage to re-evaluate their situation and decide if it’s worth refinancing to lock in a good deal while they’re still around.
STEVE JOVCEVSKI is a property investment and home loan negotiator at <a href="https://mozo.com.au/" target="_blank">Mozo.com.au</a>.
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The low rate mortgage party is over for property buyers: Mozo

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/75060/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
As the federal budget approaches, the government is grappling with ways to enhance housing affordability, including reforming the current 50 percent capital gains tax (CGT) deduction on property investment.
The Economics Society of Australia (ESA) Monash Forum polled economists on this proposition:
"Capital gains tax deductions for housing investment should be removed because they overstimulate the housing market, contributing to rising house prices."
This is a deliberately more extreme measure than the proposal reportedly being considered by the federal government, which is to cut the current discount to 25 percent. But we wanted to assess more generally the effect of capital gains taxes on the housing market.
The poll found 44.4 percent of economists agreed with a statement that the tax deduction should be removed entirely (22.2 percent agreeing and 22.2 percent strongly agreeing). But 40.7 percent disagreed with the statement (22.2 percent disagreeing and 18.5 percent strongly disagreeing); while 14.8 percent of respondents were uncertain.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%209.10.49%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%209.10.49%20AM.png" alt="">
While some economists support the current role of the CGT discount to avoid taxing the capital gains that arise as a result of inflation increasing house prices, as opposed to the valuation in the land or property due to development (Saul Eslake, Rodney Maddock, Nigel Stapledon and Doug McTaggart), others believe the tax should also apply to the gains as a result of inflation (Kevin Davis and Margaret Nowak).
Many argued the principle of the CGT discount is not a bad policy, however the level of the discount is generous and is open for abuse.
They also pointed out that changes in one type of tax will distort the economy, especially if it is only targeted to one type of asset, in this case property. Instead some economists suggested the approach should be a holistic reform to fix tax inefficiencies, and tax treatment should be equal between all forms of investment and saving.
Most of the economists agreed housing affordability policies should be focused mainly on housing supply and housing market constraints (as well as transport and infrastructure) to solve the crisis. Other policies such as shared-ownership schemes and government-backed bonds are also being considered.
<h2>Capital gains tax</h2>
The capital gains tax (CGT) is calculated at the effective marginal tax rate of the investor, on the capital gains made at the time of sale of the asset. Investors who hold an asset for longer than 12 months receive a 50 percent discount on the CGT liability, at the time of sale. For superannuation funds, the discount rate is 33.3 percent.
Owner-occupiers are fully exempt from capital gains tax on the sale of their primary residence.
Some of the options reportedly being considered by the federal government include decreasing the CGT concession to 25 percent, decreasing it to 40% discount (as recommended in the Henry Tax Review) only for property investments, or some other reduction in the CGT discount for property investments.
Another option is completely removing the concession if the property is sold in the initial investment years; and phasing the discount in after the investment has been held for some specified number of years.
<h2>The economists’ arguments for and against</h2>
Economists who supported removing capital gains tax deductions for housing investment said the discount provides incentives to over-invest in property rather than other assets that provide income. So by eliminating or reducing the CGT discount, the cost of capital will increase and buyers will reduce their demand for property, resulting in lower, more affordable house prices.
Those who agreed with the statement argue any change in the CGT discount to address property speculation should also be accompanied by reforming negative gearing. They argue that eliminating the CGT discount for property only would push residential investors towards cheaper properties or towards investing in other assets that maintain the CGT discount. 
Most studies find no evidence of capital gains advantages being a main incentive for investors holding residential property. However it appears to be a small factor in the intention of investing in residential property.
Click to enlarge
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%209.13.22%20AM.png" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%209.14.00%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%209.14.00%20AM.png" alt="">
Those against the statement argue the timing may not be right as the housing cycle is currently at its peak, and the double digit house price appreciation rates are only seen in the inner-ring suburbs of metropolitan cities and only for houses and not apartments.
Economists would expect to see only a short-term drop in house prices if the CGT deductions are eliminated, as investors switch away from property and into other assets. So the remaining residential investors in the market would purchase cheaper properties, potentially still crowding out first-home buyers.
They would also hold the property for a longer period. In the medium to long-term, the reduction in residential investment would impact on the new and existing supply of housing, resulting in housing shortage and rising house prices.
Maria Yanotti is lecturer of Economics and Finance Tasmanian School of Business &amp; Economics, University of Tasmania and author for The Conversation.
She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/maria-yanotti-349557" target="_blank">here.</a>
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Capital gains tax concession is too generous

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/75050/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
I didn’t think it was possible for there to be more focus on the Australian housing market than in 2016, but the last couple of weeks have proved me wrong.
ABS figures revealed that in the December quarter, across the eight major Australian cities, house prices rose 8.9 percent and apartment prices rose 4 percent. Those are stunning figures, particularly on the back of the huge rises of recent years.
This prompted renewed discussion about whether prices constituted a bubble. Many players weighed in, but former Liberal Party leader John Hewson put it most succinctly, saying on ABC’s Lateline:
“I think it’s a crisis, it is a bubble. I know people are hesitant in saying that, it is a bubble.”
In one sense it doesn’t really matter whether there is a housing bubble or not. Once buyers start believing there is and think it will burst, they have every incentive to wait to purchase. That dries up liquidity in the property market and sellers who need to sell are forced to take a steep discount. That justifies the buyers’ belief that prices are going to fall. And that, simply put, is how a bubble bursts.
Are we at that point yet? It’s hard to say, but given that a former Liberal Party leader, the ASIC chairperson, and the Secretary to the Treasury(among others) have said so recently, there is reason to think we might get there.
The most recent board minutes revealed the RBA was somewhat focused on housing as well. The minutes stated:
“Over recent months, conditions appeared to have strengthened in Sydney and had remained strong in Melbourne; these cities had continued to record brisk growth in housing prices, and auction clearance rates had remained high. Housing loan approvals and credit growth had picked up for investors, primarily in New South Wales and Victoria” and that this “continued to suggest that there had been a build-up of risks associated with the housing market.”
The minutes also noted a number of positive developments, from the terms of trade to the strength of our trading partners to business sentiment. The notable exception was the labour market which continued to confound understanding. The RBA noted that the key implication was that:
“Domestic wage pressures remained subdued and household income growth had been low, which, if it were to persist, would have implications for consumption growth and the risks posed by the level of household debt.”
It is difficult to assess the future path of the cash rate. The economy looks like it might be strengthening, and if business investment were finally to rebound, there would be a case for a rate rise. But with a weak labour market, a rise in rates would put the squeeze on those heavily indebted households. This could, in turn, detonate the property market. The nightmare scenario is that it has a big enough effect on bank balance sheets that they contract lending significantly, further hurting the property market.
This is the delicate tightrope the RBA is trying to walk.
The run-up in prices has put further focus on housing affordability. The Coalition have suggested they will announce a series of measures to address it in the budget. They are rumoured to be considering schemes like allowing first home buyers to access their superannuation – which is a very bad idea. It is another policy that fuels the demand side without addressing supply. I have said numerous times – including in my McKell Institute plan – that demand-side excesses such as negative gearing need to be curbed and the supply side needs to be encouraged.
The housing package might be the most interesting thing to look out for in the federal budget on May 9.
Richard Holden is professor of Economics and PLuS Alliance Fellow, UNSW and author for The Conversation.
He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-holden-118107" target="_blank">here</a>.
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If it looks like a bubble and sounds like a bubble…

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A Toorak riverfront home has been sold just two and a half weeks after hitting the market, for a figure close to its asking price.
Marshall White Armadale selling agent Justin Long secured the sale of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-toorak-124683646" target="_blank">106 St Georges Road</a> at an undisclosed, but it’s understood to be in the vicinity of $9.5 million. 
A family bought the five- to six-bedroom house, which boasts its own private jetty at the foot of the 1750 sqm block.
It is one of just 22 or 23 Toorak homes to border the Yarra River, according to Long.
The house was designed to offer river views from its two levels, with each room opening to north-facing balconies, overlooking lush gardens and a riverside pool.
CoreLogic records show the property’s last sale before this was in 2015 for $7.5 million.
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Riverfront Toorak trophy home sold

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GUEST OBSERVER
The latest edition of the HIA Renovations Roundup report predicts that home renovations will become an increasingly important part of the residential building industry over the next few years.
2016 marked the strongest year since WWII for new home building starts in Australia but our forecasts indicate that activity is set to decline on this front over the next three years.
In this context, our industry will become more dependent on work related to home renovations activity. Many are surprised to learn that renovations currently account for about one third of all residential building work. By the end of the decade, renovations activity is likely to represent some 42 per cent of all residential building activity.
Detached house building in Australia reached very high levels between 1985 and 1995. This large stock of homes is becoming increasingly ripe for major renovations work. Added to the mix are remarkably low interest rates and the big home equity windfalls in Sydney and Melbourne – pretty ideal conditions for renovations demand.
At the moment, the one key difficulty for the renovations market is the fact that turnover in the established house market is falling. This is an important driver of demand, and prospects for renovations growth would be even stronger if transactions on this side of the market started to increase again.
According to the March 2017 edition of the HIA Renovations Roundup report, renovations activity grew by 2.7 percent in 2016 to $33.06 billion. The pace of growth is projected to slow to just 0.3 percent in 2017, before reaching 3.2 percent in 2018. Further growth in 2019 (+2.4 percent) and 2020 (+2.5 percent) is expected to bring the value of home renovations activity in Australia to $35.94 billion.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/24/hia%201.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/24/hia%201.png" width="600" height="311">
Source: HIA Economics
Shane Garrett is senior economist for HIA and can be contacted <a href="https://hia.com.au/en/BusinessInfo/economicInfo/EcoGroup.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Home renovations driving Australia’s next building boom? Shane Garrett

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.

Joel Robinson

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>

Jonathan Chancellor

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