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Actor Russell Crowe has quietly listed his Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf apartment as his matrimonial settlement with Danielle Spencer moves to its conclusion.
The vast harbourfront apartment has been an off market listing over the past month.
Already the buyer feedback is that it will be hard pressed to fetch the $25 million Australian apartment record, but Crowe is said to be realistic and wants it sold.
The Oscar-winning actor and Danielle were married in 2003 and separated in 2012. 
The home of Crowe and Danielle Spencer set a record apartment price in 2003 when it cost $14.35 million.
No other apartment comes close in size with some 1000-square-metre at the tip of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_Wharf#/media/File:Woolloomooloo_Bay_Sydney.jpg" target="_blank">Finger Wharf</a>.
The offering includes a 35-metre marina berth and seven car spaces. 
Estate agent John McGrath, a former Sydney Boys High classmate of Crowe, has had select agents from his agency take buyers through over the past few weeks.
Buyers agents have been approached to present qualified buyers.
Crowe is only the second owner of the modern apartment on the tip of the heritage shipping wharf.
He bought it from the Nutrimetics founder Imelda Roche and her husband, the property developer husband Bill Roche.
The Roche's had bought it off the plan in 1998 for $9.8 million from the Walker Corporation.
Crowe previously owned the historic Elizabeth Bay residence Berthong, which he sold in 2003 for $11.5 million and which has been recently listed with $37 million to $40 million hopes. 
In 2011 Crowe and Spencer spent $10 million on the Rose Bay trophy home, Te Puke after a four-year search.
Along the way they inspected the $50 million-plus Altona on the harbour in Point Piper in 2007, as well as unsuccessfully seeking pricey inland residence Le Manoir at Bellevue Hill, which fetched $23 million in 2009.
Spencer was always keen to spend more on the family home, while Crowe, prefered to keep his substantial Woolloomooloo apartment as a bolthole and limit the purchase.
Te Puke, a 1909 house updated with a 1927 Arts and Crafts-style additions, has been Spencer's home since their separation four years ago.
Crowe retains his 320-hectare property in Nana Glen, near Coffs Harbour. 
The recent relationship Danielle has with her beau, Ad Long has triggered the decision to sell much of their property portfolio.
Crowe has also signalled he intends listing his Kingsford block of investment flats which have been the home of his former band members.
Crowe is expected to secure a Sydney base once the apartment is sold.
Before construction of the overseas passenger terminal at Circular Quay, the finger wharf was the main berth for overseas passenger liners.
It was rescued from demolition in 1991 after plans for a 440-berth marina were ditched.
Built between 1910 and 1914, the wharf, at 401 metres long, is the longest timber-piled wharf in the world.
This article first appeared in the Saturday Daily Telegraph
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Russell Crowe lists Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf apartment

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One of Brisbane oldest heritage homes, Silverwells North has sold for $4.675 million through Sothebys.
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Silverwells North, located at Kangaroo Point, was built in the 1860s for Sydney merchant Joseph Thompson.
The new owners are a local couple.
Set at 261 Main St, the semi-detached brick building was extensively restored by Waterford Properties in 2008.
Interior design group John Croft Design recently posted on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BL8BvU8BnxO/?taken-by=johncroftdesign&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Instagram </a>saying “Our clients have just purchased this beautiful historic property, we are very excited to be involved in making it their new home.”
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Silverwells North, Brisbane sold

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/68172/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVERS
Droughts are a natural feature of the Australian environment. But the Millennium drought (or “Big Dry”), which ran from 1997 to 2010, was a wake-up call even by our parched standards. 
The Millennium drought had major social, economic and environmental impacts. It triggered water restrictions in major cities, and prompted severe reductions in irrigation allocations throughout the vast Murray-Darling Basin.
The Millennium drought also highlighted that, compared to the rest of the world, the impacts of drought on Australia’s society and economy are particularly severe. This is mainly because our water storage and supply systems were originally designed by European settlers who failed to plan for the huge variability in Australia’s climate.
<h2>Have we learned the lessons?</h2>
Are we likely to fare any better when the next Big Dry hits? It’s important to reflect on how much we actually understand drought in Australia, and what we might expect in the future.
Our study, part of the Australian Water and Energy Exchanges Initiative (OzEWEX), had two aims related to this question. The first was to document what is known and unknown about drought in Australia. The second aim was to establish how Australia’s scientists and engineers can best investigate those unknowns.
The fact is that despite their significance, droughts are generally still poorly understood. This makes it hard to come up with practical, effective strategies for dealing with them when they strike. 
One reason for this is that unlike natural hazards with more graphic and measurable impacts (such as floods, cyclones, and bushfires), droughts develop gradually over huge areas, and can last for years. Often they go unnoticed until they trigger widespread water or food shortages, or cause significant energy, economic, health or environmental issues. 
Drought has been described as a “creeping disaster”, because by the time a drought is identified, it is usually already well under way, the costs to fix it are mounting, and the opportunity to take proactive action has already been missed. 
This is complicated still further by the uncertainties around defining, monitoring and forecasting drought – including predicting when a drought will finally end. As in the case of other natural hazards (such as drought’s polar opposite, floods), what we need most is accurate and practically useful information on the likelihood, causes and consequences of droughts in particular areas. 
This is a very tricky question, not least because we still need to come up with a rigorous way to distinguish between correlation and causation. For example, are increased local temperatures a cause or a consequence of drought? 
The complications don’t end there. Because droughts are so much slower and bigger than other natural disasters, they therefore have much more complicated effects on agriculture, industry and society. Bushfires can be devastating, but they also offer ample opportunities to learn lessons for the next time. Droughts, in contrast, give us limited opportunities to learn how best to prepare. 
Yet prepare we must. Given Australia’s history of decades-long swings between wet and dry, and the fact that these swings are projected to grow even stronger, drought will be a key concern for Australia for a long time to come.
<h2>What to do next</h2>
We therefore make several recommendations to help boost our understanding and management of drought. 
1). Reconsider the way drought is defined and monitored to remove confusion between drought causes, impacts and risks. Similarly, there is also a need to better distinguish between drought, aridity, and water scarcity due to over-extractions. 
The simplest definition of “drought” is a deficit of water compared with normal conditions. But what is normal? How long does the deficit have to persist, and how severe does it need to be, to be considered a drought? What is meant by water: rainfall, snow, ice, streamflow, water in a storage reservoir, groundwater, soil moisture, or all of these? 
The answers to these questions depend very much on the local situation in terms of climate and water use, which varies significantly in space and time and is why the simplest definition of drought is insufficient. We need to develop drought definitions that clearly differentiate drought from long-term changes in aridity and water scarcity, and that capture drought start, duration, magnitude and spatial extent. Such definitions should account for the differences between Australia’s climate zones, the wide variety of end-users and applications of drought monitoring information, and the diversity of droughts that have occurred in the past. There needs to be a common understanding of what a drought is and the differences between drought, aridity and human-induced water scarcity.
2). Improve documentation of droughts that took place before weather records began, in roughly 1900. This will improve our understanding of Australia’s long-term “baseline” drought characteristics (that is, how bad can droughts get? how does the worst drought on record compare with the worst that has ever occurred?), and thus provide the fundamental information needed to successfully manage droughts. 
This requires compilation of longer-term and more spatially complete drought histories via the merging of palaeoclimate information with instrumental, satellite, and reanalysis data. This will help us better understand instrumental and pre-instrumental drought behaviour, and put the droughts observed in the instrumental record into context. This work will involve looking at ice cores, tree rings, different tree rings, cave deposits, corals, sediments and historical changes to river channels and floodplains.
3). Improve drought forecasting by developing more realistic models of the many factors that cause (or contribute to) drought. This will help us separate out the influences of natural variability and human-induced climate change, which in turn will help us make more accurate long-term projections.
If we can answer these big research questions, we will all be better prepared when the next big dry inevitably arrives.
Anthony Kiem is associate professor – Hydroclimatology, University of Newcastle and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anthony-kiem-259458" target="_blank">here</a>.
Fiona Johnson is senior lecturer, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Australia and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/fiona-johnson-313721" target="_blank">here</a>.
Seth Westra is associate professor, School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, University of Adelaide and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/seth-westra-19720" target="_blank">here</a>.
All are authors for The Conversation.
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The lessons we need to learn to deal with the ‘creeping disaster’ of drought

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Durham Court, the Upper Namoi property held by seven generations of the Baldwin family, has been listed for sale.
The heritage landmark of the Manilla district is set for a November 30 auction through Purtle Plevey agents Patrick Purtle and Samuel Plevey.
Bidding is expected to exceed $2.5 million.
Listed for the first time, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-mixed+farming-nsw-manilla-7857750" target="_blank">Durham Court</a> has a grand, two-storey brick homestead dating from the 1870s on its 547 hectare land holding. 
It boasts six bedrooms, a formal lounge, dining rooms and staff quarters.
The house retains classic Victorian features such as cedar staircase and joinery, pressed-metal ceilings, marble fireplaces and fluted verandah columns.
When Otto Baldwin first settled in the early 1830s, the holding was around 80,000 hectares.
Originally named 'Diniwarindi', Otto settled when he and others were forced off their Liverpool Plains country when the 100,000 hectare 'Warrah' was given to the Australian Agricultural Company.
The name was changed to 'Durham Court' following the Crown Lands Act of 1884.
The Baldwin's were among the first to import breeding stock from Britain.
The subdivisions or the original station began in 1898 when 17 blocks were sold, followed by 50 more in 1908.
One of Manilla's most historic land holdings, Durham Court has most recently been run as Shorthorn cattle herd, currently number 200 breeders.
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Durham Court, Manilla district offered after seven generation ownership

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A dairy farm in Drouin has sold for $2.1 million.
Comprising 91 hectares, the property is divided into 41 two hectare paddocks, with a central laneway and water to all from a spring fed dam.
It currently milks up to 180 cows and features a hay shed and machinery shed.
The main homestead is a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-lifestyle-vic-drouin+south-7651047" target="_blank">fully renovated three bedroom home</a> with a brand new kitchen and ensuite.
It was sold by Harcourts agent John Rowe after having initial $2.3 million hopes when first listed in 2014.
 
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Drouin dairy farm sells for $2.1 million

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Chef Shannon Bennett has sold a majority stake in his hospitality empire to Singapore's wealthiest family for around $15 million.
The deal with billionaire brothers Robert and Philip Ng involves a portfolio of the city's top eateries, including flagship restaurant Vue de Monde and the Burnham Beeches redevelopment project.
He will act as the culinary brand ambassador for what is tipped to be a substantial restaurant expansion into Asia and the United States by Golden Developments, a subsidiary of Far East Organization, Singapore's largest private property developer.
The deal did not include any freehold property.
Forbes magazine estimates the owners the Ng brothers' fortune at $8.7 billion.
The deal, which valued the Vue Group's at $22.5 million, has not been formally announced by either party but contained in documents lodged with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, obtained by The Age.
Bennett, who retains a 35 per cent ownership stake in Vue Group, opened his first restaurant in 2000. The flagship Vue de Monde restaurant, on the 55th floor of the Rialto in 2011, regained its third hat at The Age Good Food Guide awards in September.
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Shannon Bennett takes on Singaporean partners

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Many home buyers and investors believe the length of time in the market is more important than the timing of the purchase when it comes to making a bigger profit on selling.
There is always a debate about which is more significant.
It was brought home to me in the dearest and cheapest sales last weekend across Sydney. 
An expatriate infrastructure guru sold his Mosman home - a six-bedroom Bradleys Head Road trophy home on 2244 sqm - for around $16 million.
It had set a non-waterfront record for the suburb when it last sold at $7.15 million in 2001, but not this time.
Having generated five percent annual price appreciation, I'd suggest while the quick bullish sale was noteworthy, its price had presumably plateaud for much of the 15 years.
Sydney's cheapest sale was at Harris Park where a two bedroom unit fetched $490,000. It had last sold in 2011 so the $200,000 sale price jump reflected 10 percent annual price growth.
Certainly an impressive gain with the time almost coinciding with the boom that began in 2012 and has continued to run, with a few brief, mild dips along the way.
Yet many stick to the theory of time in the market rather than timing the market.
Anyone can wait and hope as real estate will typically rise over time.
But more money can be made with less duress by investors understanding markets as to where to buy next and when.
Australia comes with very different state-based property market cycles that all have distinct patterns ranging from bottom of the market to the top. 
Sydney is currently a bit like the champion thoroughbred, Lord Fury who won the 1961 Melbourne Cup leading from start to finish.
But beware sometimes Sydney flounders.
Indeed Sydney withstood a challenge as the priciest capital city in which to buy property from Perth during the 2007 mining boom, then from our southern neighbour, Melbourne around 2012.
Today Perth resembles a property basketcase. If you followed the investor boom herd into Perth, then the past few years have shown how the property market can falter, and CoreLogic's head of research Tim Lawless says there no signs the marketplace was yet starting to level out.
Westpac, the nation’s second-biggest mortgage lender revealed this week that 90-day mortgage arrears in Western Australia had rocketed to more than double a year ago.
Overall Australian mortgage arrears of 90 days or more are up 21 basis points compared to 2015, but Perth is up 130 basis points.
Not that it is anything like the last recession as in a total loan book of 1.6 million mortgages, Westpac has only 262 houses in possession – equating to 0.02% of its portfolio.
Westpac chief executive Brian Hartzer said the flow-on impact from the collapse in the mining investment boom had forced the bank to step back from the state.
“We began winding back our exposure in WA a while ago ­because of concerns about what was happening in the mining sector, so although those percentages look relatively high they’re pretty small in the scheme of things in our book,” he said.
“This is being offset by continued low stable delinquencies in NSW where economic activity has been robust."
Many suburban markets across the capital cities typically perform without omnipresent boom-or-bust patterns. 
Of course if you’re canny you can make money no matter what the market is doing, but investors will always make more by running counter to the cycle. 
This article first appeared in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Trick to timing and making a bigger profit when selling property

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Crowdfunding platform DomaCom is set to purchase a cattle property.
<a href="https://www.domacom.com.au" target="_blank">DomaCom</a>, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, is a fractional investment platform allowing investors to own and trade shares or units in a property, whether residential, commercial or rural.
The company’s attempted bid for the vast Kidman saw about 4000 retail investors pool $60 million, but DomaCom withdrew after billionaire Gina Rinehart joined Shanghai CRED in a knockout $386.5 million offer.
DomaCom is set to secure farms price from $5 million to $12 million in the beef sector, DomaCom founder and chief executive Arthur Naoumidis said.
The company’s focus had been on residential having completed bookbuilds on 24 residential properties.
In its initial public offering, DomaCom raised $7.3 million from 500 investors with a market capitalisation of $37.6 million.
It had about $12 million under management before listing.
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DomaCom set to secure beef property

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A $9 million Toorak sale topped the nation's weekend auction sales.
Napier, the humble three bedroom offering attracted five bidders selling more than $2 million over reserve at its RT Edgar auction. 
The 870 sqm property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/12-st-georges-rd-toorak-vic-3142" target="_blank">12 St Georges Road</a> (above) last sold at $1 million in 1995, reflecting 10 percent annual price growth.
It represented the first time $10,000 plus had been paid per square metre in Toorak, according to one buyers' agent in attendance.
Melbourne also had the nation's cheapest result when $250,000 was paid for a two bedroom Tullamarine villa.
<img src="/images/2016/11/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-14%20at%208.52.12%20AM.png" alt="">
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-vic-tullamarine-123865218" target="_blank">2/30 Banksia Grove</a> offering (above), currently a $270 a week rental, had $220,000 to $240,000 pre-auction price guidance.
Weekend auction clearance rates have again strengthened with Sydney still leading the pack.
The national capital city preliminary clearance rate increased this week from last week’s final of 73.6 percent to 77.5 percent, with auction volumes also showing an increasing trend over the week, according to CoreLogic.
There were 2,843 auctions held across the combined capital cities, up from 2,517 a week ago.
However volumes sit lower than the corresponding period last November when 3,274 auctions were reported.
"Late November and early December have historically shown the highest number of auctions," Kevin Brogan at CoreLogic said.
"As the number of auctions trends higher over the coming weeks, the larger stock levels will provide a timely test of the auction markets strength."
Melbourne’s preliminary clearance rate improved a tad as auction volumes increased over the week.
Preliminary results showed 77.2 percent of auctions were successful this week, up slightly from 76.1 percent last week.
There were 1,313 auctions held in Melbourne, up from the 927 reported last week; although lower than the 1,567 reported over the corresponding week last year.
The inner region of Melbourne had the highest number of auctions this week (257), with a preliminary clearance rate of 77 per cent. Melbourne's strongest clearance rate was recorded across the Outer East region and West region, with preliminary result showing 86 percent and 82 percent of auctions were successful.
In Sydney, 1,062 auctions were held this week, down slightly from 1,087 over the previous week.
The preliminary clearance rate of 84.2 per cent is up from this time last year, when a clearance rate of 58 percent was recorded across 1,223 auctions.
The Sutherland region recorded the strongest clearance rate of 95 percent across 54 auctions.
Sydney's auction strength saw results including a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-warehouse-nsw-glebe-123848398" target="_blank">$1.69 million shed in Glebe</a> (below) sold with ­approval for a residential conversion.
<img src="/images/2016/11/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-14%20at%208.53.56%20AM.png" alt="">
Selling agent Nicholas Katsikaros, of LJ Hooker Glebe, said about 35 contracts were issued for the 14 Reuss St property which was 272sq m in size.
A single storey, four-bedroom Chatswood home sold for more than $1 million above its reserve price when offered for the first time in 50 years.
Keen bidding from buyers of Chinese origin triggered the $5.3 million price for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-chatswood-123860594" target="_blank">8 Havilah St</a> (below).
<img src="/images/2016/11/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-14%20at%208.54.53%20AM.png" alt="">
It was a 556sq m block opposite Chatswood Chase shopping centre.
Sydney's highest sale when $6.2 million was paid in Greenwich for a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/4-bay-st-greenwich-nsw-2065" target="_blank">six bedroom home with boatshed</a> (below).
<img src="/images/2016/11/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-14%20at%208.56.05%20AM.png" alt="">
It last sold in 1984 for $210,000.
It had been offered earlier this year with an $8 million asking price.
Canberra was the second strongest auction market at 83 percent, compared to 71 percent last week and 63 percent last year.
Prices in the national capital ranged from $370,000 at Holt for a three bedroom townhouse to $1.38 million for a five bedroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-nicholls-123874450" target="_blank">Nicholls house, Il Palazzo</a> (below).
<img src="/images/2016/11/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-14%20at%208.57.33%20AM.png" alt="">
There were 97 Canberra auctions held across the city, down from 117 last week and also lower than the 102 held at the same time last year
In Brisbane 191 auctions were held this week, compared to 198 auctions last year and 181 last week.
Some 53 per cent of auctions were sold, up from 50 per cent last week and also last year when 39 percent of Brisbane auctions were successful.
Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart has listed her redundant Brisbane riverfront in Chelmer for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-chelmer-123875214" target="_blank">auction next weekend</a> (below).
<img src="/images/2016/11/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-14%20at%208.58.30%20AM.png" alt="">
The modern Sutton St was bought in 2010 for $3.175 million. It was offered as a rental at $2000 per week in 2012.
Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 68 percent across 129 auctions this week.
There were 42 Perth auctions with the preliminary clearance rate of 43 percent, up from 30 percent last week.
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$9 million Toorak sale tops weekend auction results

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GUEST OBSERVER
Sound neighbourly relations and an attractive streetscape have the potential to improve the value of a property and slash days on market considerably for those vendors seeking a swift sale.
The streetscape refers to the appearance of all houses, footpaths, gardens and landscaping along a street.
But it is possible to upset the local streetscape applecart with just a single property eyesore, which has the potential to turn away buyers now and in the future.
The infamous and so-called 'hoarder’s home' in Bondi, in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs is an example.
This is an extreme example, however it has been an issue for those living in Boonara Avenue, Bondi for many, many years, and has undoubtedly impacted the values of homes located near this controversial property.
The streetscape is the visual identity of a neighbourhood and plays an important role in facilitating interaction between residents and creating a community.
It also contributes to building the value of our properties, which for many of us, are our most important investment asset.
The property industry talks ad infinitum about the importance of presenting a property in its best light to potential sellers.
However, a subtler element is how your street presents to potential buyers. The streetscape is really the first impression for potential buyers, even before they walk through the front gate.
To be fair, individual owners can do little about the collective streetscape, but the value of a good looking street, where all the gardens are well-tended, can have an impact on the saleability of a property.
It’s worth keeping in mind that by collectively maintaining the kerbside appeal of all properties in a street, owners can maintain and grow the values of their properties.
Angus Raine is executive chairman, Raine &amp; Horne and can be contacted <a href="https://www.raineandhorne.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Love thy neighbour – it could be worth tens of thousands to the value of your home: Angus Raine

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skymark-group">Skymark</a>'s boutique Cronulla development Solis has secured a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy through Resilience Insurance, providing buyers of the 16-residence building on Ewos Parade with structural and waterproofing protection that extends a decade beyond the building's completion.

Currently under construction and due for completion in late 2027, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/solis-cronulla-8-ewos-parade-cronulla-nsw-2230">Solis</a> is one of a small number of new developments in the Sutherland Shire to carry Resilience LDI coverage, a distinction that carries increasing weight as buyer confidence in the off-the-plan sector continues to be shaped by how developers stand behind their product.

Latent Defects Insurance, which entered the Australian market in 2022 when Resilience Insurance was approved to offer the cover, protects buyers against major structural or waterproofing defects for ten years post-completion. Unlike traditional statutory warranties, it operates as a first-resort policy, if a covered defect arises, the insurer responds directly, without the buyer needing to pursue the builder or developer through a lengthy claims process.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent has noted that the product addresses something fundamental to the new apartment market.

"The overarching feedback from prospective buyers in the new development space is that they want more confidence and assurances around the quality of the build," Nugent says.

"Resilience Insurance Latent Defects Insurance not only gives them complete peace of mind for 10 years, but it shows the developer they are buying from is standing by their product."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370898]

For Solis, the Resilience LDI policy adds a meaningful layer of accountability to an already considered project. The development comprises nine two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom residences, including one dual-level three-bedroom apartment, across a five-storey building on Ewos Parade, positioned between Shelly Beach and South Cronulla.

Garden apartments connect directly to private landscaped courtyards, while upper-level homes capture beach views to the east from level four and above.&nbsp;

All 16 residences include at least one balcony or courtyard, and select apartments on the upper floors feature bar areas and secondary flexible living spaces.

Hiba Sander, Managing Director of Skymark, says Solis offers a rare balance, nestled between the quiet beauty of secluded beaches and the lively charm of South Cronulla's esplanade.

"It's a place to choose your pace and live gracefully, seaside'," Sander says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370900]

The architecture, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ida-design-group">IDA Design Group</a>'s Michael Trinh, draws from the natural erosion patterns of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/cronulla-nsw-2230">Cronulla</a>'s sandstone headlands, translating the organic forms of the coastline into soft curves, pavilion-style massing, and a material palette chosen for longevity in a salt-tinged environment.&nbsp;

Textured natural stone, soft renders, and timber-look battens reference the tones of the surrounding cliffs, while the building has been oriented to maximise natural light and passive ventilation, with primary living spaces facing north and east to capture morning sun and sea breezes.

"At Solis, our aim was to create architecture that feels quietly confident, grounded in natural materials like stone and timber, and elevated by light and landscape," Trinh says.&nbsp;

"The buildings are designed to sit gently within their coastal surrounds, with expansive glazing and abundant greenery creating a seamless dialogue between inside and out."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370897]

Interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hot-black">Hot Black</a> carry the same material language through to every room. Kitchens feature integrated Gaggenau appliances, sculpted stone benchtops, and Lo &amp; Co joinery, while bathrooms feature natural stone, timber, and brushed metal finishes.&nbsp;

Hot Black Founder and Design Director Sophie Safrin describes the intent as one of considered restraint: "At Solis, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to create a timeless coastal retreat, calm, refined, and effortlessly liveable. From natural finishes to seamless indoor-outdoor flow, Solis offers a quiet elegance that's deeply connected to its surroundings.

The landscape, designed by Julian Brady of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/sitedesignstudios">Site Design Studios</a>, treats green space as an integral part of the resident experience rather than an afterthought.&nbsp;

"Gentle curves and layered native plantings mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean," Julian Brady says, "creating a serene connection between architecture and place."&nbsp;

Coco Republic has provided bespoke furniture packages tailored to the project's coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370899]

Skymark has an established track record in the Sutherland Shire, with a portfolio spanning Cronulla, Woolooware and Burraneer that includes Isla, Sylva, Bask, Shells, Sula and Mist. Securing LDI on Solis reflects a broader shift in how the developer is positioning its buildings to buyers, at a time when Resilience Insurance expects the policy to become mandatory in New South Wales by 2028.

Sales at Solis are launching soon through Ray White Projects, with an official event scheduled for 11 June. Enquire for more information.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150499]

Joel Robinson

Skymark takes out 10-year Resilience Insurance LDI at Solis Cronulla

Investors may soon find themselves with fewer reasons to buy established property and more incentives to look towards the new apartment market.

Proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions would see new and off-the-plan apartments retain access to the tax benefits, while established properties would miss out, creating a clear advantage for buyers purchasing newly built housing.

The policy direction aligns with what many developers have been saying for several years. Australia needs more housing supply, and governments are increasingly looking for ways to encourage investment into new stock rather than existing homes.

The challenge for investors is that suitable product is becoming harder to find.

For much of the last decade, one-bedroom apartments were the cornerstone of investor demand. They offered a lower entry price, strong rental appeal, and were a common feature across most apartment developments.

Today, the development pipeline looks very different.

Across both New South Wales and South East Queensland, developers are increasingly targeting owner-occupiers and downsizers, delivering larger two, three and four-bedroom apartments in response to changing buyer preferences. While one-bedroom apartments still exist, they now form a much smaller portion of many new projects.

That shift has created a shortage of investor-friendly stock, particularly in well-located projects close to transport, employment hubs and lifestyle amenity.

At the same time, rising apartment prices have pushed many new developments beyond the reach of traditional investors. On the Gold Coast and across South East Queensland, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find new apartments priced around the $1 million mark, particularly those offering strong rental fundamentals and long-term growth prospects.

We've rounded up four new apartment developments where investors can still secure a foothold in the market for around $1 million or less.

<h2 data-end="1140" data-start="844">Flourish Soleira</h2>

<h2>Priced from: $1.07 million</h2>

Popular Palm Beach developer Sherpa is soon to officially launch its newest local apartment development, Flourish Soleira.

The one-bedroom apartments in the building were only offered to first home buyers rather than investors, and all of those have been snapped up. The two-bedroom apartments will start from $1.07 million, and the three-bedrooms, still a good investment given the popularity of Palm Beach for owner-occupiers, starting at $2,045,000.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370964]

Flourish Soliera will comprise 153 apartments across two buildings, connected by a skybridge, the first ever delivered in the suburb.

True to Sherpa's booming Flourish brand of apartment projects, Flourish Soleira will have extensive rooftop amenity across both buildings including a&nbsp;wellness centre with gym, work from home, yoga, pilates, a&nbsp;heated pool, private dining rooms, pizza oven and barbecues, basketball court, and golf simulator.

<h2>Corallo, Palm Beach</h2>

Priced from: $841,500

Nearby Flourish Soleira is Changfa Group's beachfront-inspired Corallo development. They still have some one-bedroom apartments remaining, priced from $841,500.

The 105-apartment project on Palm Beach Avenue is otherwise dominated by larger two and three-bedroom residences, many of which are aimed at owner-occupiers and downsizers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112194 project_image_fid=808]

For investors, the appeal lies in Palm Beach's continued transformation from a laid-back beachside suburb into one of the Gold Coast's most sought-after residential markets. Residents at Corallo will be within walking distance of Palm Beach's surf beaches, the recreational amenity of Tallebudgera Creek, and the increasingly popular collection of cafes, restaurants and boutique retailers along the suburb's central dining precinct.

<h2>Corner House, Stones Corner</h2>

<h2>Priced from: $880,000</h2>

One of only two Brisbane apartment developments to make the list with prices under $1 million is DeMartini Fletcher's Corner House development in Stones Corner.

One-bedroom apartments start from $880,000 within the 88-apartment development, providing investors with exposure to one of Brisbane's most established inner-south locations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149098 project_image_fid=330594]

Stones Corner has long been supported by strong tenant demand due to its proximity to major employment and education destinations. The suburb sits less than five kilometres from Brisbane's CBD and is within easy reach of the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Queensland Children's Hospital and several university campuses.

The project's location within a walkable urban village environment, surrounded by retail, dining and public transport infrastructure, continues to attract both professionals and healthcare workers seeking accommodation close to work.

Parkdrive Apartments, Chermside

Priced from: $749,000

The most affordable apartments across Brisbane's new and off the plan market are in Chermside where developer AusDev is selling one-bedroom apartments from $749,000, and two-beds from $929,000, at its recently launched Parkdrive development.

The development is strategically positioned in one of Brisbane's largest employment and retail precincts, placing residents within easy walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside and the suburb's major bus interchange.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Already under construction and scheduled for completion in early 2028, Parkdrive benefits from Chermside's ongoing evolution into Brisbane's northern metropolitan centre. The suburb continues to attract significant public and private investment, supporting population growth and underpinning long-term rental demand.

For investors focused on yield and tenant depth, the combination of healthcare, retail and transport infrastructure within close proximity provides a strong foundation for occupancy and rental performance.

Investors to turn to new apartments after Federal Government changes spark hunt for Queensland's best $1 million apartments

A mix of Gold Coast locals, fly-in, fly-out purchasers from Sydney and Melbourne, and Brisbane-based families has driven early sales success at Broadbeach's newest apartment tower, Lumara.

The 26-level project, a joint venture between builder-developer 5Point Projects and Bourke Projects, comprises just 37 luxury residences and is attracting a buyer profile that is looking for exclusivity, above the most amenity-rich suburb on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=364156]

Jamie Bourke, Director of Bourke Projects, says every buyer secured so far intends to use Lumara as a lock-up-and-leave residence, combining holiday use with the ability to work remotely when required.

“The size of the apartments, both half- and full-floor options, and the different zones within the floorplans, lends itself perfectly to dedicated home office setups and multi-generational family holidays,” Bourke says.

That flexibility has become a key drawcard for affluent buyers seeking a second residence on the Gold Coast without sacrificing the ability to conduct business away from their primary home base.

The absence of holiday letting within the building has also resonated strongly with purchasers.

“This type of buyer doesn't need to generate holiday rental income,” Bourke says. “They're paying for exclusivity, privacy and certainty around who their neighbours are.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366491]

The strong demand comes amid broader shifts in the high-end apartment market following the Federal Budget announcements in May.

“We were already seeing strong enquiry from high-net-worth buyers, but that has only accelerated since the policy changes,” Bourke says.

“A lot of those buyers are looking to place more capital into premium lifestyle assets rather than investment-grade stock that has been targeted by the Federal Government.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366486]

Designed by Cottee Parker, Lumara adopts a slender, sculpted form with an emphasis on natural materials suited to its beachfront setting. The architectural approach draws on coastal influences, with a palette of stone, timber and concrete selected for durability and the ability to weather over time.

Apartments are limited to three and four-bedroom configurations, with a maximum of two residences per floor through the mid-levels and a selection of full-floor and dual-level homes in the upper levels. All apartments are oriented to the north to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and views across the ocean, city skyline and hinterland.

A two-level amenity offering is positioned high within the building on levels 20 and 21, conceived as a sky wellness retreat. Facilities include a magnesium pool, spa, sauna and steam rooms, alongside more social spaces such as a private dining room, resident lounge, workspaces and outdoor barbecue areas integrated with landscaped greenery.

The uppermost levels are reserved for larger-format residences, including several full-floor homes and a dual-level penthouse with its own private wellness features and recreational spaces.

&nbsp;

To give buyers confidence, 5Point and Bourke commenced construction ahead of the apartments launching to the market, a sure-fire way to prove they mean business, and the building will be delivered. They are targeting a 2028 completion date.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150454]

Locals, interstate holiday makers, drive early sales at Lumara, Broadbeach's newest luxury apartment tower

Often when it comes to purchasing property, the biggest barrier to entry is the deposit. Buyers of established homes typically aim for a 20 per cent deposit to avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance, while most property transactions require around a 10 per cent deposit when contracts are exchanged.

The off-the-plan market works differently, with buyers typically paying a deposit during construction and settling the balance upon completion. As completion approaches at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/fabbrica-fitzroy-369-gore-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">Fabbrica Fitzroy</a>, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pace-development-group">Pace</a> is making it easier for buyers to secure a residence through a deposit-matching incentive. Purchasers need only contribute a five per cent deposit*, with Pace matching the remaining five per cent.

The offer comes as Pace unveils a completed display apartment and townhouse, now available for inspection by appointment ahead of the project's Spring completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371009]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/winwood-mckenzie-architecture">Winwood Mckenzie</a> and landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/acre">Acre</a>, Fabbrica draws on Fitzroy’s industrial and manufacturing history, incorporating references to the former Argyle Shirt Factory and Life Savers Confectionery Company that once occupied the site.

The development comprises 85 residences, spanning low-maintenance apartments through to larger-format townhouses with private street access and double lock-up garages, a relatively uncommon offering in Fitzroy’s higher-density apartment market.

Pace says the project has been designed to appeal to buyers seeking inner-city convenience without sacrificing space, flexibility, or amenity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371016]

Inside the residences, Winwood Mckenzie has focused on adaptable layouts and integrated detailing, with features including custom joinery, and concealed storage solutions. The material palette leans into warm, tactile finishes intended to complement the building’s industrial architectural language.

Fabbrica’s rooftop amenity is a key part of the project offering. Spanning around 800 sqm, the communal rooftop includes a private dining room, communal kitchen, lounge spaces, work-from-home zones, and outdoor dining areas overlooking the Melbourne CBD skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371017]

Landscape architecture studio Acre has introduced a layered rooftop garden designed to soften the urban setting while creating a more communal environment for residents.

The Fitzroy location also positions residents within walking distance of Brunswick Street, Smith Street, parks, cafés, galleries, and public transport, while remaining only minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. The project has an enviable Walk Score of 96.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371025]

Pace, which is also delivering the project as builder, has developed more than 100 projects across Melbourne over the past three decades. The vertically integrated approach has become increasingly common among developers seeking greater control over construction delivery amid broader market pressures affecting the apartment sector.

The strikingly contemporary Gore Street development is now around 70 per cent complete, with purchasers expected to move into their new homes in Spring 2026. A limited number of residences remain available under the current deposit match offer.

*Conditions apply in relation to the deposit match offer.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=139552]

Pace offers five per cent deposit match at Fabbrica Fitzroy ahead of Spring completion

Sydney developer Hyecorp's roots on the Lower North Shore stretch back three generations, and that deep understanding of the market continues to shape where and how it develops today.

From high-rise towers to boutique apartment projects, the family-run developer has built its reputation by focusing on a part of Sydney it knows intimately. Founded by Michael Abolakian in the early 1990s, Hyecorp is now led by his sons Stephen, Troy and Patrick.

Stephen Abolakian, joint managing director alongside Troy, has spent more than two decades in the business, overseeing development, planning, finance, marketing and sales.

Abolakian says the developer's disciplined focus on where it chooses to operate has been, and continues to be, one of Hyecorp's greatest strengths.

“We know the buyer profile exceptionally well,” Abolakian says.

“The demographics between places like Willoughby, Chatswood, St Leonards and Roseville are very similar. There are nuances between suburbs and projects, but culturally and from a buyer perspective, there’s a strong overlap.”

That buyer has historically been overwhelmingly owner-occupier driven.

Unlike many Sydney apartment developers that have traditionally relied heavily on investor demand, Hyecorp’s projects have typically attracted downsizers, upsizers, rightsizers and family owner-occupiers seeking long-term homes rather than short-term investments.

“Historically, investors have been a much smaller portion of our demand profile,” Abolakian says.

“We design for owner-occupiers. We don’t design for yield, we design for comfort, amenity, family living and long-term usability.”

That philosophy extends well beyond apartment layouts.

From landscaping and communal gardens to shared amenities and circulation spaces, Hyecorp’s developments are designed around how people actually live, something Abolakian believes has become increasingly important in Sydney’s apartment market.

“There was probably a period where having an approved project in market was enough,” he says.

“There wasn’t as much competition and if you built it, buyers would come. That’s no longer the case.”

“There’s more supply in the pipeline now, particularly with TOD precincts and low and mid-rise reforms opening up opportunities across Sydney. Buyers have more choice, so if you get the product wrong, they’ll simply go elsewhere.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110379 project_image_fid=311393]

The shift has forced developers to become more sophisticated in how they approach apartment design, particularly as owner-occupier expectations continue to rise.

For Hyecorp, that means thinking beyond who the buyer is today and designing for who they may become in five or 10 years' time.

“People buying now often aren’t moving in for several years,” Abolakian says.

“You might have a young couple buying today, but by the time they move in they may have children, older children, or changing lifestyle needs. You’ve got to think about how families evolve.”

That thinking also shapes Hyecorp’s approach to amenity, which positions wellness at the forefront.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362634]

While resort-style facilities have become increasingly common marketing tools across Sydney apartment developments, Abolakian says the challenge is ensuring amenities are genuinely usable and appropriate for the scale of the project.

“If amenities are done right, they can materially improve the living experience,” he says, adding however that if you&nbsp;overdo it or get it wrong, you can end up with facilities nobody uses that simply create ongoing strata costs.”

That balance is something Hyecorp is aiming to strike with projects like Roseville Avenue, one of the group's upcoming Lower North Shore developments, which Abolakian describes as bringing a resort-style living experience into a metropolitan setting.

“It’s about creating something that feels special without being excessive,” he says.

“Good gardens, quality apartments, thoughtful amenity. Creating that resort feeling in a metro location.”

<img alt="Hyecorp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="13c4c0f3-b1b7-44cf-9344-0b3d1d07797a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-02%20at%2012.14.57%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=9OLWjyj2bYkDV35F78WJnyMSPfc2bJ2z" />

The focus on owner-occupier product comes as Sydney’s apartment market continues to navigate a difficult development environment.&nbsp;For Hyecorp, maintaining an in-house operating model across construction, sales, marketing and development management has become increasingly important in navigating that environment.

“We’ve always believed in keeping a lot of the process in-house,” Abolakian says.

“It creates efficiencies, but it also creates quality control. You can make faster decisions and ensure the end product stays aligned with the original vision.”

Despite the challenges, Abolakian believes demand for quality owner-occupier apartments across Sydney remains strong beneath the surface, particularly across established Lower North Shore suburbs where downsizers continue to seek new housing options close to existing communities.

“There are definitely people waiting,” he says.

“Once some of the broader uncertainty settles, whether that’s the global environment or some of the local economic noise, I think the right projects will perform very strongly.”

Hyecorp currently has three residential developments on the market across Sydney’s Lower North Shore.&nbsp;Audrey, St Leonards, positioned opposite Newlands Park, is nearing completion and preparing to welcome its first residents, with the project now almost sold out.

Hyecorp has also recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celine-chatswood-37-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">Celine Chatswood</a>, an architectural tower, while continuing to deliver&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/juliet-roseville-64-pacific-highway-roseville-nsw-2069">Juliet Roseville</a>, a more boutique scale of development with just 34 apartments.

Jonathan Chancellor

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