Deicorp is set to build a mixed-use tower, with luxury apartments in a slim 61-storey tower in the Sydney CBD.

The site was bought from the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney,&nbsp;following a six-month competitive process.

The site of the Polding Centre has a Brutalist-style building in Liverpool Street designed by Smith Jesse Payne and Hunt.

The existing late 1970s office tower at 133-141 Liverpool Street comes with approval for a 234m tower with a mixture of residential and office use.

Deicorp will conduct a design excellence process to select an architect during stage two of its approval process.

The Archdiocese had proposed the residential tower above an eight-storey commercial podium, with ground-level retail and residential and commercial lobbies, and parking.

The sale price has not been revealed although The Australian reported developers had chased the site offering more than $200 million.

The Archdiocese had proposed the residential tower above an eight-storey commercial podium, with ground-level retail and residential and commercial lobbies, and parking beneath.

Deicorp&rsquo;s Executive Manager &ndash; Corporate Communications, Rob Furolo, said the Sydney developer was delighted with the Archdiocese&rsquo;s decision but that the real work was still to come.

&ldquo;We are obviously delighted to be selected by the Archdiocese for such a prestigious project, especially given the calibre of other businesses vying the job.&rdquo; Furolo said

&ldquo;But we are now focused on delivering a stunning new landmark building that does justice to its fantastic location and achieving the best outcomes for the Archdiocese and the community.&rdquo;

&ldquo;Securing the development rights is a really only the first step in the delivery of this project,&quot; Furolo added.

&quot;The entire Deicorp team is now focused on delivering a world-class building for Sydney by working with some of Australia&rsquo;s and the world&rsquo;s most talented architects.&rdquo;

A design excellence process will now select an architect

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Deicorp secure Polding Centre, Sydney apartment development site

Meriton, which boasts&nbsp;its latest Gold Coast development,&nbsp;Ocean&nbsp;will transform the Surfers Paradise beachfront, have been seeking buyers with generous terms.

The tower will be home to both luxury residential and hotel suites under the Meriton Suites brand.

Australia&#39;s largest apartment developer offers a fixed 3 percent vendor financing, for up to two years and for 90 percent of the purchase price.

It is also available on NSW projects.

Ocean, rising 76&nbsp;storeys against the Gold Coast skyline, will be home to a five-star hotel, and bespoke residential apartments.

There&nbsp;will be a resident only sky pool and gym on level 33, beach club podium on level 5, and a retail precinct including&nbsp;cafes and a restaurant. 
 
Ocean will be home to 404&nbsp;apartments starting from level 33, featuring views which will tower over the neighbouring buildings. 
 
Designed by architects SJB, Ocean will be Triguboff&#39;s&nbsp;19th tower on the&nbsp;Gold Coast.

<div class="hugin">It will be the third tallest tower in the Gold Coast area.</div>

<div class="hugin">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="hugin">The tower will set the record for number of apartments in one building.</div>

<div class="hugin">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="hugin">Ocean&nbsp;is set for a 3833 sqm site on the Esplanade which&nbsp;Meriton&nbsp;bought for $58 million in 2017.</div>

<div class="hugin">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="hugin">*information of offers correct at the time of publishing</div>

Ocean will be home to 404 apartments starting from level 33, featuring views which will tower over the neighbouring buildings

Harry Triguboff's Meriton offering vendor finance for off the plan Ocean, Surfers Paradise highrise buyers*

A Chinese developer has paid $9.7m for an apartment development site in Hawthorn.

The site holds a permit for a luxury project of 31 apartments.

The project has been designed by architects Jackson Clement Burrows at 43 Riversdale Road.

The corner site has frontage of 34 metres to Riversdale Road plus 62 metres to Through Street.

Zoned within a Residential Growth Zone 1, the site was sold through Benson Zhou, Julian Heatherich and Nick Garoni of Savills Australia.
 
“The luxury apartment market continues to see unwavering demand from developers who are confident in strong apartment resales allowing them to compete aggressive to secure sites,"  according to Benson Zhou.

He noted the level of enquiry seen on development sites in the past six weeks had increased substantially.

The sales team took 152 enquiries throughout the campaign.

Hawthorn’s median unit price sits at $1,453,750 for three bedroom apartments, according realestate.com.au.

The site holds a permit for a luxury project of 31 apartments

Chinese developer buys 31 apartment Hawthorn development site

CommBank has cut owner occupied variable rates by up to 0.40% and investment variable rates by 0.23%. 

The larger cuts have been made on loan to value ratios of 70% or less. 

Canstar advised it was the first time since September 2020 that CommBank has cut variable home loans rates. 

The lowest variable rate available from CommBank is now 2.29%, which when compared to the other Big Four banks is only beaten by Westpac’s Flexi First Option Intro rate loan that has a rate of 1.99% for two years before reverting to 2.49% (2.42% comparison rate). 

Fixed rates saw a range of movements including cuts to CommBank’s 1-year fixed rate of -0.10% for owner occupied loans and -0.20% for investment loans, and a 0.10% increase to 2-, 3- and 4-fixed rates for only owner occupied loans. 

ING has also cut variable owner occupied rates for principal and interest repayments by up to -0.25%, along with increases of 0.05% for 2-year fixed owner occupied principal and interest rates and hikes of 0.20% for its 3-, 4- and 5-year fixed rates.  

Canstar finance expert, Steve Mickenbecker said CommBank’s home loan interest rate changes are a sign of the times.

“Markets are expecting interest rate rises to be little more than two years away, and all of the rate cuts from home lenders in recent months have been to variable interest rates and one year fixed terms."

Canstar’s website currently lists 210 loans with interest rates below 2 percent, "showing just how intense competition is right now," he said.

Canstar’s website currently lists 210 loans with interest rates below 2 percent, showing renewed intense competition 

Variable home loan rates resume being cut: Canstar

The Victorian Government has launched a $500 million homebuyer fund that will see the government own a share of 3,000 homes.

Eligible homebuyers can now receive a contribution of up to 25% towards the purchase price of their property, reducing their deposit while avoiding the need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance.

The state&rsquo;s Treasurer Tim Pallas says the Victorian Homebuyers Fund (VHF) will help more of the state&rsquo;s residents buy a home.

Most recipients are expected to have a 5% deposit for the house, townhouse or apartment.&nbsp;

The maximum purchase price must be $950,000 or less in Metropolitan Melbourne and Geelong, or $600,000 or less in other eligible regional locations.

The purchase can be for an existing or new property provided that a certificate of occupancy has been issued prior to the date of the contract of sale.&nbsp;

Off-the-plan property purchases are not eligible.

The property must also be vacant when purchased or, if under a lease, the lease must expire within 12 months of the acquisition date and any tenants must vacate the property.

The government will keep a stake in the home until the property is sold or the owner buys out its share.&nbsp;

&ldquo;We will put that money back into the fund, so this will become self-sustaining in all likelihood, given the continuing and historical appreciation and value of assets over time,&rdquo; Pallas said.

To be eligible to participate in the Homebuyer Fund, you need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and earn $125,000 or less per annum for individuals, or $200,000 or less per annum for joint applicants.&nbsp;

Participants must occupy the purchased property as their principal place of residence.

They can not purchase the property from a vendor who is a related person.

The Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) welcomed the Victorian Homebuyer Fund saying it seemed to be &quot;a sensible policy that will be particularly helpful to [first-time] entrants in the property market.&quot;&nbsp;

The Victorian Treasurer denied the scheme would further push up house prices.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not something that will effectively augment the price,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not putting more money into people&rsquo;s pockets &hellip; we&rsquo;re giving them the opportunity to participate in a competitive market.&rdquo;

Recipients do not need to be first home buyers, but cannot currently own a property.

The Victorian fund is an expansion of the $50 million HomesVic Shared Equity Initiative, which helped more than 330 households into the market.&nbsp;

The maximum purchase price must be $950,000 or less in Metropolitan Melbourne and Geelong, or $600,000 or less in other eligible regional locations

Who is eligible of the Victorian Homebuyers Fund (VHF)?

Time Out&#39;s annual list of the 49 coolest neighbourhoods in the world, ranks the Melbourne suburb of Richmond as tenth on the list.&nbsp;

Richmond is the best-performing Australian suburb on the list, beating out Sydney&#39;s Surry Hills at 19.&nbsp;

The rankings were based on the Time Out Index survey, which this year polled 27,000 city-dwellers on what they loved and loathed about where they live.&nbsp;

Time Out&#39;s panel of experts then ranked the suburbs, noting key aspects including food, drink, nightlife and suburban culture.

&quot;Judges paid particular attention to how communities have been looking after each other, as well as their green credentials as we tackle the climate crisis that affect us all,&quot; said Time Out editorial director Cassidy Knowlton.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95458 project_image_fid=169948]

&quot;Richmond is a close-knit community,&quot; she noted.

Recent apartment offerings include the boutique Richmond townhouse project, Gramercy Terraces at the site of the former Nine Network studio in Bendigo Street, Richmond.&nbsp;

Lendlease released three and four bedroom freehold townhouse, designed by architects Bates Smart priced from $1.85 million in April.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95458 project_image_fid=169944]

The Degroup Property Development founded by Colin DeLutis in 1973, saw its Sprout Richmond development sell out earlier this year. It was 15 townhouses set to achieve a 6.7star NatHERS rating, translating to a reduced carbon footprint and cost savings on energy bills at 62 Glass Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8040 project_image_fid=26415]

Apartments remain for sale at TWO51 on Swan, with a grand lobby rich with gold detailing and art deco opulence, set back off Richmond&#39;s bustling Swan Street.&nbsp;

The Blueprint Projects development has been architecturally designed by Watson Young Architects, with a collection of 28 two, three and four bedroom residences.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3298 project_image_fid=30548]

Another project, with a 2022 completion date, and with prices from $1.35 million, is the Shelley St development which will feature nine townhouses with two and three bedrooms across three floors.

Private and spacious rooftop courtyards and street facing garden entrances create a special sense of home with a dedication to greenery and tranquil outdoor spaces at the project designed by DKO Architecture and SLAB.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13629 project_image_fid=49377]

Time Out has ranked Richmond 10th on its annual list of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world

Current buying opportunities in Richmond, Time Out's 10th coolest neighbourhood

Legislation has passed in the Queensland parliament that will provide more rights to tenants in coming years.

The new laws enact minimum quality standards for Queensland&rsquo;s 1.8 million renters starting September 2023.

They disallow property owners from issuing a notice to leave &lsquo;without grounds&rsquo; providing tenants with more certainty.

They allow tenants to have pets within rental properties in certain conditions. The pet clause commencement date is not yet known, but the changes to renting with pets will allow a property owner to refuse a pet on prescribed reasonable grounds that cannot be addressed by prescribed reasonable conditions.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108278 project_image_fid=173613]

The laws requires owners to consider the specific circumstances or the specific attributes of a pet request and deter blanket &ldquo;no pets&rdquo; rules.

They extend protection for renters who have experienced domestic and family violence.

The Palaszczuk Government passed its new tenancy legislation with some amendments, calling it &quot;striking the right balance between renters and property owners.&quot;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108278 project_image_fid=173619]

Penny Carr, CEO of Tenants Queensland, the state&rsquo;s tenant advisory specialists, welcomed the finalisation of the first stage of the reforms, but said they fell short of modernising the laws.

&ldquo;Our focus will now be to ensure all Queensland renters understand the new laws, how to exercise their rights and meet obligations, without fear of eviction.

&ldquo;Renters will find it somewhat easier to keep a pet and to have repairs attended to but they will wait until 2024 for minimum standards and will still be subjected to arbitrary evictions.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102309 project_image_fid=163977]

&quot;These laws are not ones for a modern Queensland as they don&rsquo;t offer strong enough protections from unfair evictions,&rdquo; said Ms Carr.

The REIQ says the laws had swung distinctly in favour of tenants.

&ldquo;Property owners have lost the right to end a periodic tenancy by providing notice,&rdquo; REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said.

&ldquo;Unless owners can establish limited prescribed grounds (such as the sale of the property) they will never be able to terminate a periodic tenancy.&quot;

The Housing Minister Leanne Enoch has committed to stage 2 of rental reform to begin in the first half of 2022.

The Housing Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 was approved earlier this month



Queensland tenants secure more rights 

A record $16.1 million was paid at auction for a luxury Noosa apartment.

It was the top selling auction result among the 669 apartment auctions held over the past week, according to CoreLogic, which put the national success rate at 70 percent.

There was a national $807,000 median apartment sale.

There were the four phone bidders at the auction of the three-level Hastings Street apartment, located within the late 1980s Hastings Park complex.

Friday afternoon&rsquo;s auction was held by Tom Offerman Real Estate.

The four-bedroom, four-bathroom apartment came with northerly views to Little Cove and First Point.

<img alt="" height="789" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hastings_st_2.jpg" width="1200" />

It has been tightly held having last sold in 2004 at $4.5 million, and before that for $790,000 in 1993.

It was among the last sold in the 1989-built terraced complex of nine apartments.

Designed by John Dimitriou Architects (JDA), the terraced complex took four years to sell out for its Noosa Heads developer Brian Wood.

&ldquo;Apartments of this calibre commanding such presence, rarely come to market,&rdquo; noted selling agent Rebekah Offerman.

&ldquo;Hastings Park&rsquo;s history of back-to-back year-round bookings makes this a judicious one-off investment opportunity,&rdquo; she added.

<img alt="" height="784" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hastings_st_3.jpg" width="1200" />

Its peak season nightly rate has been $3100.

The price surpassed the previous record Noosa apartment sale of $14m in February last year elsewhere on Hastings St.

The Queensland auction apartment record was set this year at $15.25 million when the Soul penthouse at Surfers Paradise went to May auction.

The Noosa LGA has clocked over 70 apartment sales over $2m so far this year, compared to 55 apartment sales over $2m last year, above the 41 secured during 2019, according to CoreLogic.

The Noosa LGA has had over 70 apartment sales over $2m so far this year

Record $16.1 million luxury Noosa apartment auction

Australian home prices will have surged 22 per cent by the end of 2021, economists at Westpac now calculate.

They have upgraded their forecast from 18 per cent annual growth.

Their research update advises prices across major cities have risen 17 per cent to September and are on track for a 1.5 per cent rise during October.

The biggest growth will be 27 percent in Sydney, followed by Hobart on 25 percent and Brisbane on 22 percent.

Melbourne will see an 18 percent gain during 2021.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8082 project_image_fid=59639]

Westpac&rsquo;s Bill Evans and Matthew Hassan expect the reopening after lockdowns in NSW and Victoria to trigger boosts that more than offset any initial drags from recently announced macro-prudential measures.

&ldquo;This strong momentum will carry into 2022. However, the pace of gains is expected to slow, levelling out over the course of next year before moving into a correction phase in 2023.&rdquo;

Price growth is expected to slow to 8% in 2022, up from its previous forecast of 5%, with most of that increase loaded into the first half of the year.

Brisbane will lead the 2022 growth with 10 percent price gains tipped by Westpac.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107345 project_image_fid=172022]

&ldquo;As we move into 2023, the impact of the RBA&rsquo;s tightening cycle will weigh more heavily on housing markets as borrowing capacity is impacted directly and as sentiment turns,&rdquo; Evans and Hassan said.

They expect the housing market to dip 5 per cent in 2023.

Prices across major cities are up 17 per cent to September and on track to jump 1.5 per cent this month

Westpac sees 9% annual housing price growth difference between Sydney and Melbourne

The higher demand for new super-prime apartments has prompted a 36 per cent value lift since June 2015, outperforming the established apartment market, according to recent Knight Frank research.

There had been a 31 per cent increase in established apartment values across the major cities in the same period.

However Sydney was the only city to buck the trend with its older stock up by 48 per cent compared to 30 per cent for new apartments, with limited new luxury products being launched across Sydney.

Knight Frank defines super-prime as the top 1 per cent of each market by value &ndash; a threshold of more than $10 million in Sydney and Melbourne and $7 million in Brisbane, Perth and the Gold Coast.

Sales of luxury apartments worth more than $10 million surged during the first half of 2021, compared to the decade average, the Knight Frank research shows.

The report calculated 67 super-prime luxury apartments changed hands around the nation, although the majority were at Crown Residences at One Barangaroo.

<img alt="" height="666" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/one_barangaroo_2.jpg" width="1200" /> 
Inside the One Barangaroo penthouse

&ldquo;The first half of 2021 was the first time it&rsquo;s been possible that exchanged sales in the super-prime Crown Residences at One Barangaroo have been captured within the total residential sales volume by our research team,&quot; aid Michelle Ciesielski, Knight Frank&rsquo;s head of residential research.

&ldquo;What we saw in this time was the top five super-prime apartment sales in Sydney average $39 million, and four of these five apartment sales took place at One Barangaroo - reflecting the demand of our ultra-wealthy population for super-prime luxury homes in the sky.&rdquo;

&ldquo;The widening gap between buyer demand and appropriate property supply remains concerning, and residential construction difficulties continue to delay delivery of new products,&quot; said Michelle Ciesielski.

<img alt="" height="638" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/one_barangaroo_living.jpg" width="1200" /> 
Inside the One Barangaroo penthouse

&ldquo;The shortage of suitable product, particularly at the top end of the market where rightsizes play, has been exacerbated by developers unable to easily secure sites in prime locations adding to the highly pressurised buying environment across Australian cities.&rdquo;

When it comes to prime residential, generally defined as the top 5% of each market by value across Australia, Knight Frank&#39;s latest report advised Sydney saw the greatest rise in apartment prices, some 10.6 percent, followed by 10 percent in the Gold Coast.

Knight Frank definition of prime sees a threshold of more than $3 million in Sydney and Melbourne and $2 million in Brisbane, Perth and the Gold Coast.

Prime price apartment prices increased 3.2% in 2020 to $25,500 psi, ranging from $13,000 psm to $65,000 psm.&nbsp;

Values for new apartments have jumped by 36 per cent since June 2015

One Barangaroo leads as super-prime apartment off the plan sale prices strengthen

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

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One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

Jonathan Chancellor

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