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A quick overview of the latest trends in key Australian economic data.
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Andrew Hanlan is senior economist for Westpac and can be contacted <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://au.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-hanlan/3/222/430" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Australian data summary table 26 September: Westpac's Andrew Hanlan

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Historic Hordern House at Potts Point has been listed for sale with $6.5 million hopes.
The 1880s Victoria Street terrace house was bought by the rare book dealers Anne McCormick and Derek McDonnell for $438,000 in 1985. 
Anne McCormick has been involved in rare books, manuscripts, paintings and prints since the 1970’s first in business in Paddington. They are moving to new premises.
The freestanding terrace has a 19 wide frontage, spanning three levels over 561 square metres.
The Richardson &amp; Wrench listing agent Geoff Cox said in the marketing it was ready for adaptation to a "large, stunning and private residence with at least 4 bedrooms."
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Historic Hordern House, Potts Point listed by rare book sellers

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Queensland's biggest builder, Impact Homes, has taken a 4.9 percent stake in its rival, the Simonds Group.
McDonald Jones, the biggest builder in NSW, also holds just over 5 per cent of the ASX-listed stock. 
Last month Gary Simonds reached an agreement with Melbourne's wealthy Roche family to take the home builder private with shareholders to vote on the plan in early November.
The Simonds family who own 39 percent of the stock are unable to vote on the scheme.
Simonds posted a $14.9 million annual loss for fiscal 2016.
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Home builder rivals amass stake in Simonds Group

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Weekend bidding showed signs of the frenzy typically seen in the televised auctions of The Block.
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At Bondi Beach - 13 years since the renovation series began and eight doors along - a dilapidated stripped-bare one-bedroom unit fetched a stellar $961,000.
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The buyer was a family from nearby Dover Heights who will lease it out after they renovate the apartment with no car space. 
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<div>"It went berserk," McGrath selling agent Simon Exleton told Fairfax Media. </div>
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The Sunday Telegraph reported there were more than 50 registered bidders. 
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-bondi+beach-123490502" target="_blank">The Bondi Beach one bedroom apartment</a> was 60 sq m with sunroom.
The first floor unit last for $54,500 in 1986, reflecting just shy of 10 percent annual price growth.
A renovated offering in the block of 16 apartments sold for $770,000 a few months ago.  
The price guide for 6/85 Roscoe Street - just one block from the iconic beach - was $660,000 with the auction opening with a $720,000 opening bid.
Even a Richmond cottage that failed to sell in its televised auction on The Block’s first Melbourne season fared well at weekend auction fetching $1.32 million.
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The three bedroom 41 Cameron Street workers cottage renovated by sisters Katrina Chambers and Amie Godde last fetched $860,000 in 2011, a few days after the televised event. 
RT Edgar Hawthorn had the house with a price guide of $1 million to $1.1 million. 
With annualised price growth of 8.7 percent, it sold at $70,000 over reserve, one of the 1090 offerings across Melbourne, according to CoreLogic.
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Bondi Beach's $961,000 one bedder doer-upper

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A Richmond cottage that failed to sell in its televised auction on The Block’s first Melbourne season fared well at weekend Melbourne auction fetching $1.32 million.
The three bedroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-richmond-123404150" target="_blank">41 Cameron Street</a> worker's cottage renovated by sisters Katrina Chambers and Amie Godde last fetched $860,000 in 2011, a few days after the televised event. 
RT Edgar had the house with a price guide of $1 million to $1.1 million this time.
With annualised price growth of 8.7 percent, it sold at $70,000 over reserve.
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Richmond cottage from The Block sells with 8 percent annualised price growth

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CoreLogic reported it was another strong weekend for auction activity, ahead of the grand final weekend slowdown.
There were 2,445 auctions held across the combined capital cities with a preliminary auction clearance rate of 78 percent.
Last week, the final auction clearance rate was recorded at 76 percent with 2,149 residential properties taken to auction.
At the same time last year, auction volumes were higher with just 69 percent of the 2,835 offerings finding buyers under the hammer.
"Over the first four weeks of Spring, auction clearance rates have consistently been recorded at a higher rate than over the corresponding weeks last year, while auction volumes remain around 20 per cent lower," CoreLogic spokesperson Kevin Brogan said.
Melbourne, Australia’s largest auction market, notched up a 79 percent success rate. Strong sales above reserve continued to be evident.
Six bidders sought the unrenovated cottage at 24 College Street, Hawthorn which was announced as on the market at $1.25 million and sold for $1,551,000.
In Fitzroy, a two-bedroom house at 80 Cecil Street drew four bidders. It was called on the market at $1.1 million and knocked down at $1.3 million.
Melbourne prices ranged between $216,000 at Reservoir and $4 million at Canterbury.
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It was a quaint 1930s knockdown home, Dooras without heritage overlay at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-canterbury-123448414" target="_blank">107 Mont Albert Road</a> (above).
Across Sydney, 930 homes were taken to auction this week - with 580 on Saturday - with a preliminary clearance rate of 84 percent.
A Bronte timewarp was Sydney's, and the nation's, top sale when $7.35 million was paid – $1.35 million over reserve - for the late 1950s house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-bronte-123396886" target="_blank">3 Bronte Marine Drive</a> (below).
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The buyers' guide was $5.8 million. The buyer is likely to add a third floor.
Sydney's cheapest sale was $480,000 at Whalan (below).
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The three bedroom house had last sold in <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-whalan-123451950" target="_blank">June last year at $470,000</a>, so the $10,000 price gain would not have covered costs.
It had been a $345 a week rental, so reflecting a 3.75 per cent gross yield.
Last week, the final clearance rate for Sydney was 81 percent, across 815 auctions.
One year ago, 1,200 Sydney homes were taken to auction and the clearance rate was 71 per cent.
Brisbane's preliminary clearance rate was 51 percent, up from 48 percent last week but lower than one year ago, when 55 percent of auctions were successful.
This week, Adelaide saw a preliminary clearance rate of 84 percent, with 87 reported results across a total of 126 scheduled auctions.
Adelaide's top sale was $1,682,000 for a sandstone 1930s Tudor-style home in Fitzroy.
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The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-fitzroy-123516286" target="_blank">1 Braund Road offering</a> (above) had a pre-auction price guidance of $1.5 million to $1.6 million. 
The five bedroom home had last traded at $385,000 in 1997, reflecting just over 8 per cent annual price growth with a renovation undertaken in 2004.
Perth’s clearance rate of 35.1 percent across 49 auctions was down from the previous week, when 39 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 45.2 percent was recorded.
In Canberra, 90 auctions were held this week, and of the 73 reported results, 70 percent were successful. 
Canberra prices ranged between $355,000 for a two bedroom Greenway apartment and $2.1 million for a three bedroom house in Forrest. 
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Strong spring auction clearance rates continue ahead of grand final weekend

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It's not just Aussie John Symond's Point Piper home that's available to buy.
His neighbour, the luxury car dealer Neville “Croaky” Crichton is mulling over unsolicited offers for his trophy home.
The latest offer is reputedly at $60 million. 
Compared with the Symond mansion, Crichton's pad on Wingadal Place looks like a Tuscan version of a dower house. It's a three-storey, six bedroom home, with a gym, cellar and workshop, in the Tuscan style. 
He recently joked if a burglar broke into his house “they’d look around and say, ‘you need a bit of help, here’s some money’.”
Crichton has engaged Auckland-based designers Swan Railley Clapham to build a new residence on the Point Piper site he bought for $5.9 million from the Rose family in 1994.
Crichton was spotted recently spotted sitting in the back row of an auction, with his partner, when <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-darling+point-123228050" target="_blank">a Darling Point apartment sold for $6.3 million to a local buyer from China</a>.
But he never raised his bidding card for the Thornton Street 1970s timewarp (above) - which was offered through Michael Dunn, of Richardson &amp; Wrench Double Bay.
It looked like something from an Austin Powers movie set complete with garish blue living room with built-in fish tank, green dining capsule room, and orange themed living space.
Born in 1945 on a farm on New Zealand’s South Island, Crichton began buying cheap bicycles, tarting them up and selling them for enough profit to buy his first sailing boat at 12 year old. 
Crichton, whose Alfa Romeo won the 2009 Sydney-Hobart, hit the headlines in 2011 when his Point Piper harbourfront was rented by the Microsoft founder Bill Gates who flew into Sydney with his family for some Christmas holiday downtime.
Sources said the family paid about $25,000 a week to stay at the home.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Neville Crichton mulls $60 million plus offer in Point Piper

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/65885/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
The US$185 million fine levied on US bank Wells Fargo for unauthorised accounts opened by employees seeking bonuses appears to have become a tipping point for industry action in Australia.
Reacting to sales targets and bonus incentives, Wells Fargo employees artificially inflated their sales by secretly opening accounts. They then transferred funds using these accounts, triggering overdraft fees and other charges. Staff also falsely opened credit card and debit card accounts, causing credit card holders to incur annual fees. Debit cards were issued with PINs, again without the customer’s knowledge. More than two million such fake accounts were created.
This week Westpac chief Brian Hartzer said the bank would remove all product-related incentives across its 2,000 branch tellers and instead base their incentives on customer feedback about service quality.
The move comes after a long history of sales-driven banking cultures. Wells Fargo confirmed it had fired over 5,300 employees for such behaviour, between January 2011 and March 2016.
Employees of Wells Fargo had been vocal about the high-pressure culture that existed in the bank in an LA Times article in 2013. They spoke of being regularly humiliated by managers in front of their colleagues and threatened with the sack for failing to meet targets. Some begged family members to sign up and open unneeded accounts. The root cause of this pressure on Wells Fargo employees was the bank’s corporate culture, and a cross-selling target of at least eight financial products per customer.
US regulators say the record fine levied on Wells Fargo should “Serve notice to the entire industry that such initiatives need to be carefully monitored as a basic element in any company’s compliance program, to make sure that incentives for employees are aligned with the welfare of customers”.
Such misdemeanour’s by financial services providers are not unusual. Earlier in 2016 Santander Bank was fined US$10 million for allegedly enrolling customers in overdraft protection services that they had never authorised.
Regulators in Australia have also become concerned that sales incentives are harming the financial industry’s integrity. The Australian Bankers Association is conducting a review of “product sales commissions and product based payments that could lead to poor customer outcomes”.
In its submission to the review, the Finance Sector Union of Australia (FSU) has focused on these poor customer outcomes. It puts much of the blame on the “conflicted remuneration” that causes “the systematic application of remuneration and work systems that drive employees to sell and/or push products and services” to bank customers.
The FSU submission is based on a survey of 1,298 bank employees undertaken in August 2016. Based on feedback from members, it says bank staff employment is often dependent on “their ability to gain referrals, sell the product of the week or reach a volume based target”. The FSU concludes that “existing remuneration systems are having a detrimental effect on the lives of bank employees” and that the Australian banking industry’s remuneration systems is “causing the industry harm”.
This week Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe also weighed in, saying remuneration structures within financial institutions should promote behaviour that benefits not just an institution, but its client.
Australian banks are some of the most profitable in the world and are in a strong position to lead by example in gaining and then sustaining the trust of their customers. Cross selling of products and services can be achieved by a rigorous focus on customer service that produces not just customer satisfaction, but customer delight.
Achieving this means confronting the dilemmas created by “conflicted remuneration,” whereby bank executive rewards are directly related to sales and subsequent profitability. If sales targets continue to lead to customer harm, banks will lose the vital ingredient of trust that banking relies on. And those calling for a banking royal commission will be granted their wish.
Steve Worthington is adjunct professor, Swinburne University of Technology and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steve-worthington-138" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Banks can target service before sales to avoid a banking royal commission

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The federation residence at 167 Clarke Street, Northcote, (above) has sold for $4.3 million pre-auction, $760,000 above the previous record for the suburb. 
It sold to a local upsizing young family.
The renovated home comes with sweeping city views and alfresco entertaining areas.  
It was the Melbourne suburb's first house sale above $4 million.
There's another house on Rucker’s Hill at 215 Clarke Street seeking a similar price.
It is being sold conjunctionally by Jellis Craig Fitzroy and Brace Real Estate.
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Northcote $4.3 million record house sale

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The NSW Southern Riverina farm, Hazeldean at Womboota has been listed by Elders.
It is 1246 hectares.
Agent Wayne Eeles at Elders Echuca.
The 2889 Perricoota Road property is 15 minutes from Echuca and Moama.
It land use includes grazing, cropping, irrigation with cereals, sheep and cattle given its rich red loam and sandy loam soils .
The property enjoys supply direct from Murray River Irrigation.
The homestead comes with generous 10 foot verandahs with a restored 60 square home. 
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Hazeldean, the 60 square NSW Southern Riverina homestead listed

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bottega-property-group">Bottega House</a> has secured council approval for its first Brisbane project - a $270 million luxury residential development on an absolute riverfront site in leafy St Lucia.&nbsp;

The 15-storey project, known as <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/st-lucia-by-bottega-house-180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">St Lucia by Bottega House</a> , will occupy a prime north-facing site at 178-180 Macquarie Street, directly fronting the Brisbane River in the established inner-west suburb known for its rowing clubs, golf courses and sprawling University of Queensland campus.&nbsp;

St Lucia by Bottega House will feature a suite of amenities including dedicated wellness spaces, a mineral pool and cold plunge. The project has been positioned to attract affluent owner-occupiers seeking high-quality, house-sized apartments.&nbsp;

Bottega House has been set up by co-directors Nick Malloch, Louis Mennes and Craig Marsh.

Malloch said the project drew inspiration from its Brisbane River setting and leafy inner-west surrounds, while responding to the demands of discerning locals looking to transition from freestanding homes into apartment living.&nbsp;

"With an expansive river frontage and lush green surrounds, we knew we had to create something special that reflects the natural beauty of the location while offering residents masterfully crafted homes," said Malloch.&nbsp;

"Our intent was to complement the project's quiet, private setting by introducing residences that offer a calm retreat and sanctuary from the everyday. The result is a harmonious blend of architecture, interiors and amenity that emphasises wellbeing, comfort and beauty without excess."&nbsp;

Malloch added that project consultants had been carefully selected in alignment with Bottega House's commitment to care, quality and attention to detail. The design team includes architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a>, interiors practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/urbis">Urbis</a>.&nbsp;

Three-bedroom apartments are expected to start around $5 millio. Selling agents Keenan &amp; Byrne said the pricing strategy for the project was anticipated to achieve upwards of $25,500 per square metre.&nbsp;

The project's development approval this week follows the success of Bottega House's inaugural Queensland project - a 22-storey collection of full-floor sky homes at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast which included the sale of a two-storey penthouse at a record price for a beachside residence.&nbsp;

St Lucia by Bottega House is expected to launch to market in November, with construction anticipated to be completed mid 2029.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151826]

Joel Robinson

Bottega House to make Brisbane debut with St Lucia riverfront apartment development

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> is advancing its affordable apartment model into Brisbane with the acquisition of another site at Cordelia Street in South Brisbane for $27 million.

Sherpa, which has a $1.7 billion pipeline across Southeast Queensland, intends to bring a cohort of apartments exclusively for first homebuyers into its proposed 186-apartment project to be built at 2 Cordelia Street.

The Sherpa model has already been incredibly well received from their Gold Coast projects, where Sherpa Group set aside a number of apartments exclusively for first homebuyers.

The new $320 million project marks Sherpa Group's second development in Brisbane, following its $255 million Symphony project, also on Cordelia Street, which is currently under construction.

Symphony will deliver 146 apartments across 28 levels, offering a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. With 114 already sold, construction by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/lps-group">LPS Group</a> is scheduled for completion in 2028.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7574 project_image_fid=351654]

Sherpa Founder, Christie Leet, said the company was excited to be venturing into Brisbane for its second residential project.

“We’re big believers in the future of Brisbane as we lead into the 2032 Olympics and beyond,” Leet said.

“The success of Symphony has guided us into what will be our second project and we look forward to submitting our plans with council soon so we can deliver yet another quality project to the inner city residential market.

“Our Flourish model has been very well received both in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and we’re excited to be able to offer some of these apartments again exclusively to first homebuyers to help get them into the property market.

“The model has been extraordinarily well received in our previous projects and it is something we are committed to moving forward.”

2 Cordelia Street will be designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hal-architects">HAL Architects</a> &amp; Finegrain and will include Sherpa’s signature residential amenities including pool, gym, recreation, wellness and work from home spaces.

The project will feature ground-floor commercial space, creating a vibrant amenity for residents and the surrounding community.

A development application will be lodged with Brisbane City Council in August on the code compliant site and will be launched to the market early 2027.

Sherpa acquires new site for second Brisbane apartment tower

One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

&nbsp;

FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

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It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

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The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

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Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Jonathan Chancellor

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