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Daydream Island owner China Capital Investment Group has secured South Molle Island in the Whitsundays in the Great Barrier Reef for about $25 million.
The leasehold tropical island was sold by long-time owner and tourism identity Craig Ross.
It has 12 hectares of developable beachfront land and an existing 188-room resort.
The island offered the potential, according to the information memorandum, to develop a 1300-room resort, subject to planning approval.
The Shanghai-based China Capital Investment Group secured the Daydream Island (West Molle) Resort and Spa last year from Nature's Own founder Vaughan Bullivant for about $30 million. The 4.5-star resort has 296 rooms and suites.
The company was founded by Chuanyou Zhou, the chairman and CEO. Its invests in the mining industry, real estate and infrastructure.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

South Molle Island sold to West Molle owners

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GUEST OBSERVER
Office metro markets, like CBD markets, are driven by factors which differ from state to state and region to region, so any discussion of a ‘national’ metro market only serves to mask the various drivers of each of these markets. 
There’s no question that long-overdue Infrastructure investment along the eastern seaboard will be the primary driver of growth in metro markets in the coming decade.
According to Colliers Metro Office Research and Forecast Report- first half 2016, over 33 buildings in Sydney’s metro markets will be compulsorily acquired for the Metro Rail, putting downward pressure on vacancies and upward pressure on rents. In fact, many metro markets are now at a tipping point, with the first real opportunity since the GFC to experience significant growth.
But where will the positive effects be most strongly felt?
NSW is where the strength is
At the moment, the NSW state economy is the strongest in the nation, with robust employment growth and a healthy surplus. It is also the hub for infrastructure development, with projects like the Sydney Metro, WestConnex and the Parramatta Light Rail set to come online in the next 10 years.
The most recent state budget revealed a total spend of $68.6 billion over the next four years alone, a very positive scenario for those metro markets in line to receive infrastructure upgrades.
This is because efficient transport links allow for greater connectivity across all metro markets, and in turn, increase the attractiveness of metro accommodation to a broader tenant base.
In further good news, the stock withdrawal story we are seeing in the Sydney CBD market holds true in a number of other NSW metro markets. Colliers reports that between January 2015 and January 2016, metro office stock decreased Australia-wide from 7.34 million sqm to 7.29 million sqm as a result of withdrawal for residential conversion or infrastructure development.
As the same time, we have not seen the same influx of offshore money into these markets as we have in the major CBD office markets. With offshore investors continuing to favour CBDs, investors in metro markets are still predominately domestic. The proportion of domestic investors, compared with international investors is continuing to grow with Colliers reporting that domestic investors made up 55 percent of the acquisitions in 2013, 60 percent in 2014 and 65 percent in 2015.
Centuria’s ASX-listed Metropolitan REIT invests purely in metropolitan office and industrial assets across Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide. These assets have been valued at $396.7 million. Decreasing vacancies and increasing values have seen this fund trading well amongst both institutional and retail investors, highlighting the investor appetite for metro investment.   
Sydney’s north shore metro markets set to shine
In our view, some of the strongest metro markets are to be found on Sydney’s north shore, where the positive combination of residential conversion with acquisitions made for Metro stations will translate into improved vacancy and rental levels in the next few years.  
For example, fifteen commercial properties will be demolished along the north shore, in to make way for the Sydney Metro. At the same time, all new development is focused on residential accommodation, and with no new commercial development slated we expect a further tightening of supply and upward pressure on commercial rents.
As a result of the positive fundamentals, Centuria recently completed the purchase of part of the Zenith office tower in Chatswood, an area which we see as a major beneficiary of the Sydney Metro. Stage 1 from the northwest to Chatswood is scheduled for completion in 2019, and the second stage from Chatswood to the southwest via the CBD will put Chatswood right at the heart of Sydney’s transport network.
The most recent PCA figures show vacancy rates have dropped back to 6.6 percent in Chatswood which is the lowest vacancy rate for many years. We also expect demand to increase further due to the strong transport links already in place in Chatswood and the absence of any significant increase in supply. 
Looking forward, we are confident that Chatswood status as a major commercial and residential hub will be cemented by the benefits of the major infrastructure spend by the NSW State Government. 
Positive fundamentals in the CBD fringe, particularly in the south
Vacancies continue to fall in the city fringe as a result of leasing growth on the back of demand from tenants displaced by withdrawals for infrastructure and residential projects in both the CBD and locally.
The Southern CBD and fringe areas are undergoing a renaissance on the back of proximity to the rapidly growing residential area of South Sydney as well as demand from tenants displaced by the metro line. This area is particularly popular with advertising and media companies, resulting in over 10,000 sqm of demand in the six months to January 2016, according to Colliers. 
In late 2015, in conjunction with Mirvac, we acquired commercial property within the Australian Technology Park south of Sydney. The site is 14 hectares, three kilometres south of the Sydney CBD on the site of a $1 billion development for CBA, which we believe will have wide-ranging positive impacts on the broader Central to Eveleigh corridor.
So what’s the bottom line?  Our house view is that tenant demand for metro locations will continue to strengthen as CBD vacancy rates fall. Withdrawal of A and B grade stock for residential conversion and/or infrastructure development will leave many tenants in this market seeking cost effective solutions in those suburbs with good (and improving) transport links.
This means markets such as Chatswood, and the southern fringe of the CBD are likely to benefit. We have already taken advantage of a number of opportunities with compelling value, such as our purchase, in conjunction with global investment manager BlackRock, of The Zenith in Chatswood.
Ultimately, we remain convinced that the fundamentals of these metro markets in NSW make them ideally suited to providing stable, high yields and potential for capital growth that our investors have come to expect.
 Jason Huljich is chief executive officer, Unlisted Property Funds for <a href="https://centuria.com.au" target="_blank">Centuria</a>.
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NSW office metro markets set to shine

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The winner of the 1969 Wilkinson Award, a Philip Cox-designed house at Cheltenham, has been listed for sale.
Considered as one of the best mid-century houses in Australia, the late 1960s Norma Crescent home has $2.75 million hopes.
The five bedroom home has been updated and renovated around its central courtyard that features a pool and spa.
There's a self-contained lower level with its own private entry on the 1,150 sqm parcel that adjoins the Lane Cove National Park.
Built with creamy-yellow expressed bricks, it comes with brush box floors, oregon ceilings and exposed cedar rafters. 
It last <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-cheltenham-111765475" target="_blank">traded for $1.405 million in 2013</a> to the Apap family, in fairly original condition. Since then it has bathroom and kitchen renovations which don't detract too much from the style of the home.
It went unsold late last year when listed with $3 million hopes.
Now Black Diamondz listing agent Noemi Guttmann is taking the home to auction August 20.
It first traded for $108,000 in 1976 when sold by the Hawkins household.
When designed by Philip Cox in 1968, he was an influential proponent of the Sydney School – a style of architecture responding to its environment, often built in natural bushland, organic, and using natural materials.
The Wilkinson is the highest accolade of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. 
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph. 
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Philip Cox-designed 1969 Wilkinson Award winner listed at Cheltenham

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Scentre Group, jointly with Cbus Property, has purchased the David Jones Market Street building in Sydney’s CBD for $360 million.
David Jones owner, South Africa’s Woolworths Holdings had the property offered through real-estate agents Simon Fenn of Savills, inconjunction with CBRE, with the Lowy-family backed Scentre always keen to expand its retail prescence.
Property tycoon Frank Lowy, ahead of resigning from Scentre in May, is understood to have played a major role.
David Jones will use the sale proceeds to help back the redevelopment of its adjacent flagship Elizabeth Street store.
The Scentre group’s share of the purchase price is $182.5 million with Cbus Property paying the balance of $177.5 million.
David Jones will continue to occupy the site until late 2019 under a lease agreement providing a 4.5% per annum rental return on the acquisition price.
During the leaseback period, the co-owners will obtain the necessary approvals to redevelop the site when David Jones vacates the building. 
On completion, the redeveloped 77 Market Street site will comprise approximately 10,000 square metres  of luxury retail space integrated with Westfield Sydney.
In addition Cbus Property will convert the balance of the existing building to provide quality office space and develop a luxury residential tower above, overlooking Hyde Park.
Scentre Group will own, develop, design and build the retail elements of the site.
Scentre Group CEO Peter Allen said the transaction was a rare opportunity to significantly expand our flagship Westfield Sydney centre. 
The 77 Market Street site will provide the opportunity for further luxury retail and high-quality food, which combined with our existing Westfield Sydney and David Jones’ planned $200 million investment into the adjacent Elizabeth Street store, will reinforce the precinct as Sydney’s pre-eminent luxury retail destination.” 
Adrian Pozzo, Cbus Property CEO said 77 Market Street provided another excellent opportunity for Cbus Property to demonstrate its core capabilities in residential and commercial development in what will be a vibrant mixed use building in an exciting location with unrivalled amenity.
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CBUS and Scentre team up to secure David Jones Sydney store

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/62493/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Despite being one of our oldest public institutions, the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) social media campaign for the 2016 Census is a clever nod to the modern zeitgeist.
This census will ask us to “pause” (presumably Netflix) and “make a difference” on the night of Tuesday, August 9.
Held every five years (compared to the ten-year censuses of the UK and US), the ABS describes the census as a:
"Snapshot of Australia, showing how our nation has changed over time, allowing us to plan for the future."
Census data have a real impact on the lives of Australians, from determining political representation through the distribution of electorates, to the allocation of government funding, as well as private investment based on projected demand for goods and services.
Australia uses the census to evaluate how well it is progressing on myriad issues, such as Indigenous policy, the distribution of health outcomes by socioeconomic inequality and to plan for population growth.
<h2>The census’ evolution</h2>
The act of taking a census is as old as civilisation itself; Egyptian, Roman, Byzantine, Persian and Chinese empires all conducted censuses.
The primary purpose of these seems to have been twofold: establishing the size and strength of a potential army in case of war, and enabling effective taxation (in large part to fund these armies).
The industrial and scientific advances of the 18th and 19th centuries led to a dramatic shift in the relationship between the state and the public, and in the ability to statistically “manage” populations.
Economics and sociology as developing academic disciplines further motivated population data collection. The defining idea was that a nation’s physical and moral “progress” could be measured statistically. Thus, the modern census was born.
Today the census plays an essential role in Australia’s public life. It provides the raw data with which policies can be planned and outcomes assessed.
While knowing Australia’s total population at one point in time might seem of little use (as this number is almost immediately out of date), the question of exactly where people are living, and the changing characteristics of these local populations, is of vital importance.
<h2>Technological developments and privacy</h2>
The 2016 Census is in some ways a case of continuity and change. No new questions have been added since the 2011 Census, which makes it easier to compare outcomes across both years.
The big change the ABS is pushing in 2016 is the ongoing move to a more digital census. It is hoping 65% of households will complete the 2016 Census online, compared with 33% in 2011.
Another more controversial change in 2016 is the decision to retain names and addresses temporarily in order to link census results with other administrative data for research and policy assessment purposes.
These records will be kept for four years. During that time they are protected with both digital and physical safeguards. However, privacy groups and those concerned about the potential for government overreach have flagged worries.
<h2>Sensitive information</h2>
Providing the government with personal information, especially on religion or race, is a sensitive issue. This is one of the reasons the question on religious affiliation has remained optional in every Australian census since the first in 1911.
In the early colonial censuses, with their origins in the military-style “musters” of Governor Arthur Phillip, convict status was also a sensitive and unpopular question. It was eventually removed in the second half of the 19th century. The first simultaneous census of all Australian colonies was held in 1881 as part of a wider census of the British Empire.
By this time, the question of race had gained prominence, with the population divided into Australians, Chinese (who had arrived in large numbers during the gold rush) and Indigenous Australians. However, Indigenous Australia would not be properly included in the census count until 1971.
<h2>Data retention</h2>
The history of the Australian census also tells an interesting story about the changing attitude towards the retention of personal information, as reintroduced this year.
In 1891, Victorian statistician Henry Hayter chose to destroy the original census forms rather than hand them over to the police, who wanted access to private records to track down suspected criminals.
Australia has been an outlier in its commitment to destroying individual census records throughout the 20th century. In Canada, the UK and the US, personal records are retained under embargo.
The census represents in many ways the goals and values of our time; we measure what we think is important. But with power (to measure) comes great responsibility, and trust in public institutions like the ABS is therefore crucial.
Nicholas Biddle is fellow, Australian National University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicholas-biddle-10171" target="_blank">here</a>.
Maxine Montaigne is PhD student, Economic History, London School of Economics and Political Science and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/maxine-montaigne-10699" target="_blank">here</a>.
Both are authors for The Conversation.
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What is the census, and why does it matter?

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China's Fucheng Group has acquired the last remaining parcel of the Baillieu family's Woodhouse Station on Melbourne's outskirts for about $100 million for new housing.
The 4953-hectare rural property on Ballan Road near Melton was put up for sale two years ago by the Woodhouse ­Pastoral Company, whose shareholders include the Baillieus' investment vehicle, Mutual Trust.
Fucheng Group is a privately owned company led by self-made Chinese agribusiness billionaire Li Fucheng.
Another 1250-hectare portion of the original Woodhouse Station is under development as the Eynesbury Estate.
The Baillieus bought Woodhouse Station in 1947 when it was a 7500-hectare cropping and grazing property.
The Australian Financial Review indicated the Foreign Investment Review Board had been approved the sale of the site whose present zoning allows for agricultural and conservation use with more than 1300 hectares to be acquired by the Victorian government for native vegetation offsets.
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Baillieu's sell Woodhouse Station

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The supply of new stock for sale is one of the most important factors in how property markets will perform.
Every one of Sydney's 850 suburbs, even every street has its own momentum. Too many or too few makes for interesting times.
There are of course distinct established housing and off-the-plan markets, that sometimes interconnect. Auction and private treaty markets too.
The Saturday auction market sets the commentary agenda because the latest results are published weekly in the Sunday Telegraph.
Last weekend's preliminary CoreLogic result of 80 percent represented the strongest clearance rate for Sydney so far this year, and a big increase from the prior low 70s percent weekend result.
What was especially interesting was the result was higher than the same time last year when the then 76 percent clearance rate came as the market was coming off the boil. 
The strength in the Sydney market has seen week-on-week results over 70 percent ever since the last week in April.
Sydney’s result were especially driven recently by North Sydney and Hornsby (95 percent), the Ryde district (94 percent) and the Northern Beaches (92 percent).
Depending on your location or property type, the factors that drive supply and demand can be varied and not just local. The media coverage the property market receives, whether positive or negative, strongly influences buyer and seller confidence.
The wider factors that influence markets include interest rates, regulatory and lender policies for investors and overseas purchasers, infrastructure and even currency fluctuations.
Clearance rates suggest demand is still strong, however the valuers Herron Todd White suggested this week the decrease in auction numbers has masked the slowing demand.
As the winter months are generally quieter and now the election campaign is behind us, HTW anticipate Sydney should see an increase in market activity.
There are currently around 19,000 properties for sale across Sydney, according to CoreLogic, which is up 4 percent on the same time last winter. But much of the stock has been on the market for many months, with just the 5600 new listings some 27 percent down on fresh listings at the same time last year.
Fewer newly advertised properties being added to the market, according to Tim Lawless at CoreLogic, suggests that vendors are not quite as confident as they were a year ago. Or it could be that after four years of price growth, the supply chain of vendors wanting to sell has been exhausted.
Hobart is an interesting example of low supply at the moment. Its stock levels sit at 1800 properties for sale - which is 33 percent down on the same time last year. And CoreLogic not surprisingly had Hobart sitting just behind Sydney when it came to price growth this year for houses, up 10.9 percent in Sydney and 9.7 percent in Hobart.
By contrast Perth's stock levels sits at 22,000, which is up 15 percent on the same time last year. CoreLogic says Perth prices are down around 5 percent so far this year. Perth, which has about 700,000 households, has more listings than Sydney which has around 1.7 million households. Brisbane also has more for sale than Sydney. Both Perth and Brisbane sit among the capitals where prices are falling.
Earlier this year the RBA Governor Glenn Stevens tipped the Sydney and Melbourne home prices “to take a bit of a breather for a while”.
Any further auction clearance rate at 80 percent would be troubling, but hopefully spring stock ought reduce the recent market heat.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Auction success stems from slim stock

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GUEST OBSERVER
The return to dominance of homebuyers is seen as a major positive for property markets around Australia.
This follows several years in which foreign and local investors have been the major players, but the tide is now starting to turn in favour of owner-occupiers.
We want to see homebuyers driving the market. Lender restrictions in response to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) crackdown have helped to generate a marked drop-off in loans to investors.
At the same time, state governments surcharges and tighter lending criteria for offshore borrowers are likely to curtail the buying by foreign investors, which were at record levels in 2015.
We are likely to see a pullback in foreign investment into Australian residential real estate, which is a positive thing because it has tripled in the last two years. We think this is a good thing for the stability of the market.
Performance Property research indicates that both Sydney and Melbourne have passed their peaks, in terms of the optimum time for investors to buy. However, Adelaide and Brisbane both have positive indicators for investors, while Perth may present possibilities for counter-cyclical buyers.
Our assessment of the five major city markets is as follows:
Sydney:
It’s clear this market has peaked. The Performance Property affordability index is at 59 percent for Sydney – historically, the market has pulled back whenever the index has risen beyond 47 percent. This has happened three times since 1985 and each time the outcome has been that prices post-boom have stagnated or fallen slightly.
The Sydney market has been under-supplied since 2007, with vacancies at their lowest levels since 2008, and both wages and population growth remain strong.
But the affordability equation is negative and typical gross yields are now 2.2 percent. It’s pretty hard to build a case for strong short-term price growth in Sydney.
Melbourne:
Like Sydney, the affordability index for Melbourne has reached a level where prices stagnate - and typical gross yields are down to 2.5 percent, indicating the market has peaked.
The number of properties listed for sale is low and days on the market are low also, so there’s still strong competition in selected markets and suburbs. Population growth remains strong and we may see some rental growth, which would see yields increase.
However, the Melbourne market is starting to run out of steam. It has the second lowest yields in the nation and is well ahead of its long-term price comparison.
The Melbourne market has some clear distinctions: there’s an oversupply of inner- city apartments causing downward pressure on rental and price growth, but a shortage of quality housing stock in established suburbs placing upward pressure on prices and rents.
Adelaide:
Historically Adelaide capital growth rates have been in line with the major capital cities, which surprises a lot of people. The long-term compound growth rate is 8.4 percent, but in the last five years it’s been under-performing, around 2.4 percent per year. It’s now showing some real value for investors and there are some positive signs emerging within the local economy to underpin growth.
When the affordability index for Adelaide is around 25 percent, it generally means prices will rise. Currently it’s around 27 percent, making this market very affordable and attractive for first-home buyers and ‘next-time buyers’. It’s a major positive for the Adelaide market.
The Adelaide market is oversupplied by 3,500 dwellings but again it’s a tale of two markets: a real under-supply of A Grade family accommodation within close proximity of the CBD, particularly in the school belts which will underpin price growth, but oversupply in other areas.
Brisbane:
The affordability index is about 30 per cent - in the past when it’s been in the 25-30 percent range, there have been price rises in this market. Income growth has been out-pacing price growth in South-East Queensland, which is a positive for the Brisbane market, while recent price growth has been below par.
Brisbane generally has been under-supplied since 2006 but we are starting to see that change, particularly with the looming oversupply in the inner-city apartment markets. Vacancy rates have increased, reflecting the amount of apartment stock being built. But good-quality family homes are in undersupply and in some pockets we are seeing solid price and rental growth.
Perth:
This is a wait-and-see market. The affordability equation is quite positive for Perth, at 27 percent. When it gets down to 25 percent, historically it leads to price increases so there could be some price growth in Perth in the medium term.
A weakening economy and an oversupply is the biggest issue for the Perth market, with vacancies now over 5 percent, rents down 15 percent and prices down 10 percent over the past three years.
The market hasn’t quite bottomed out, net interstate and net overseas migration is slowing, wage growth has slowed and unemployment is on an upward trend, which is contributing to the fragility in the local economy and confidence in the market. Vendors are continuing to discount and that’s likely to continue.
The Perth market is starting to show some signs of value for investors from a counter-cyclical viewpoint, but we are awaiting more evidence.
Heath Bedford is associate director of Performance Property Advisory and can be contacted <a href="https://performanceproperty.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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The tide is turning for owner-occupiers

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GUEST OBSERVER 
The Productivity Commission’s draft report on our super system may make self-managed super funds (SMSF) more popular.
The draft report, designed to stimulate discussion about competition in the superannuation sector, examines whether the system is working in favour of fund members.
It questions whether larger institutional funds and service provider groups are passing on benefits to fund members in the form of lower fees, better services or improved investment returns.
The report refers to SMSFs as a core segment of the superannuation industry, and a benchmark to which APRA-regulated funds can be compared.
The Productivity Commission’s findings so far will come as no surprise to many Australians, especially those who already have their retirement savings in a self-managed fund.
Granted, technology is improving and fees are coming down, but the Productivity Commission believes there is still a long way to go. Ultimately criticism of the way APRA-regulated funds operate could motivate many more Australians to take control of their retirement future and set up their own self-managed fund.
The SMSF sector is competition operating in its purist form - its members are individuals who have exercised their choice as free consumers to establish their own funds but they are not without vulnerabilities.
The government’s view that SMSFs swim ‘outside the flags’ means they are on their own when victim to financial misconduct. The Trio Capital fraud saw 400 SMSFs, who lost a total of $60 million, refused any form of government compensation or support. It’s vital trustees have access to the independent advice and guidance they need to avoid the traps.
The Productivity Commission is not just reviewing competition and efficiency in the superannuation sector, but whether trustees of APRA-regulated funds are acting in the best interests of members. 
Any doubts about trustees acting in members’ best interests will ring alarm bells. People all over the world are already becoming more cynical of institutions, from the ‘Brexit Effect’ to the ‘Trump Effect’, but here we might just see the ‘Super Effect’
Christopher Page is managing director of market intelligence company Rainmaker and can be contacted <a href="https://www.rainmaker.com.au" target="_blank">here.</a>
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Review of super system will push more Australians into SMSF

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GUEST OBSERVER
While some recent office construction plans have focused entirely on open-plan layouts and stand-up desks, one particular feature of the modern workplace has shot up the priority list of many companies – interactive technology.
Ten years ago, technology costs represented about seven percent of a company’s interior construction budget. Now, they can consume 25 percent or more of a total build-out cost.
Companies are much more focused on digitization and connectivity, with common examples including more sophisticated conference rooms featuring interactive audio/visual technology and smart TVs, as well as cloud-based solutions for employee mobility.
The focus on technology has influenced workplace design as well. 
“Spaces are being designed to accommodate what the technology can offer now,” says David Roberts, international director at JLL.
“Pioneering workplaces consist of tech-enabled meeting and huddle areas, and employees can work seamlessly whether they’re in an office, cubical, meeting room – or even at home. The physical personal space matters less now while tech-focused spaces matter more.”
Of less importance to many of today’s offices are material finishes. 
“Materials, fixtures and finishes are getting less attention as the technological components of the workplace grow in prominence,” says Christian Beaudoin, national director, Research &amp; Strategy at JLL. “Offices are becoming more minimalist and decreasing expenses on millwork and granite, for example, so they can allocate more of the budget for technology.”
<h2>What a tech-enabled workplace looks like</h2>
One example of this is UI LABS, a first-of-its-kind research and development facility in Chicago dedicated to advancing high-tech commercial innovation. 
“It’s minimal in design but maximized in technology,” Roberts says.
Zurich Insurance‘s North American Headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois, has also created a tech-enabled workspace. The simple task of setting up a video conference call used to require at least a week’s worth of notice and several steps. Now, employees simply agree to a meeting time, walk into the conference room and touch a screen to begin the meeting.
However, what works for one company may not necessarily be a good fit for another: Companies which are successful in using technology to maximize both a workspace and an employee base start by thoroughly researching how their own employees work.
This prevents the use of technology tools that don’t have the end user in mind. Companies embracing technology can use quantifiable data like seat sensors to show how much time people are at their desk or, for example, working in co-working spaces in an office. With that objective data, they then develop solutions built around the end users – a company’s employees.
A successful IT build-out also doesn’t put much stock in brands, manufacturers and providers until the planners have a clear understanding of the technology needs of each team. Once that is established, the appropriate components can be selected.
<h2>Change comes from within</h2>
Often IT teams work in a reactive capacity, but that should change in a tech-enabled workplace. A technology system should be intuitive and user-friendly so IT experts can dedicate time to solve actual problems rather than troubleshooting and re-booting computers. The design and support team should be an integral part of the IT build-out process from ideation to implementation, and they should continue to be involved even after.
“Companies may have to be prepared for more frequent updating of the systems in their space than people have been used to,” Beaudoin says. 
“During a 15-year lease, for example, they may need to upgrade technology as the business and the solutions evolve. It’s a much more continuous cycle of advancement.”
Finally, the budgets of companies that successfully embed technology in the workplace go beyond the rough cost-per-square-foot metric. They include cost allocations for pre-design research, envisioning sessions and data analysis, change management communications, adoption training and post-installation analysis and modification.
“With new technology frequently coming to market, the modern office is changing rapidly,” Roberts says. “Companies that take a holistic approach to IT can get the most out of their employees, their workspace and their technology.”
This article was by William Polk as featured in <a href="https://www.jllrealviews.com" target="_blank">JLL Real Views</a>
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Why the tech-enabled workplace tops the corporate wish list

A landmark former orphanage site in Surrey Hills could be transformed into a new residential community under plans lodged by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/antipodean-land-developments">Antipodean Land Developments</a> that would deliver 76 apartments and townhouses while restoring some of the suburb's most significant heritage buildings.

The burgeoninng Melbourne-based developer has submitted plans for the 9,158 sqm site at 1 Kent Road and 24 Durham Road, home to the former St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children, a historic institutional complex dating back to the late 19th century. The proposal seeks to adaptively reuse several heritage buildings while introducing two new four-storey residential buildings set within extensive landscaped grounds.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> and Kerstin Thompson Architects, the project has been conceived as a contemporary residential village embedded within a restored heritage precinct. The development team describes the design approach as "The Village in the Garden," with new buildings positioned among mature landscaping by OCULUS and significant heritage structures.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44ec8c1b-c0b6-44ae-859e-5811b3e6a023" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.png?VersionId=p.p1_KFh4iQoV4nisdnPfQBAsWNi7m79" />

The proposal would deliver 76 dwellings comprising a mix of apartments and duplex-style residences, significantly increasing housing supply on one of the largest privately held residential landholdings in Surrey Hills. The development includes 127 car spaces, 24 bicycle spaces and more than 1,000 sqm of communal amenity, with the existing chapel building earmarked for conversion into resident facilities.

According to the planning submission, the project centres on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the site's most significant heritage assets, including the original c.1889 St Joseph's building, the chapel designed by architect Augustus Andrew Fritsch, and the historic brick perimeter walls and entry gates. The proposal also incorporates the retention of other contributory buildings including the former infirmary and school building.

Tract Consultants, in the planning report accompanying the application, said the scheme had been shaped through extensive heritage analysis and design development.

"The shared vision for the Site by the project team has culminated in a scheme which successfully breathes life back into a historic site while delivering upon the objectives of Victoria's Housing Statement in a carefully curated and contextually responsive manner."

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7263b7d8-95ea-400f-9531-6ca7d22c3c33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29.png?VersionId=4cR1tiWOsDpgxEOwZi5vVFcyvvOsYkIE" />

The proposal is being assessed under Victoria's Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway. As part of the application, three per cent of the project's residential development cost would be contributed to the Social Housing Growth Fund. The development would also provide a diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences targeting a broader range of buyers than typically found in Surrey Hills' detached housing market.

Sustainability initiatives include an anticipated 66 per cent BESS score, natural cross-ventilation to 80 per cent of apartments, 28 per cent deep soil landscaping and a canopy cover outcome exceeding local planning requirements. The proposal also sets aside more than 1,083 sqm for communal indoor and outdoor resident amenity spaces.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33fad46f-fe26-4d0a-acfd-6b776e1c6a3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design.png?VersionId=D9F6WVSyYCtGvSUmith35LRp6R7PQkw_" />

Planning documents describe the property as one of the largest underutilised residential sites in Surrey Hills, arguing it presents a rare opportunity to introduce "missing middle" housing in an established inner-eastern suburb while preserving and revitalising a significant heritage precinct.

Antipodean Land Developments has built a reputation for design-focused residential projects across Melbourne, particularly in the medium-density sector. Previous developments include Neighbourhood in Brunswick East, delivered with Breathe Architecture, and Balfe Park Lane, designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

They've been very active in site acquisition as they build out their future development pipeline. They recently launched Thornubury House, 45 apartments above a mix of commercial, retail, and food and beverage tenancies, and have plans for a boutique project in Fitzroy and another <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/antipodean-plan-apartments-for-deepdenes-missing-middle-on-whitehorse-road">"missing middle" project</a> on Deepdene's Whitehorse Road.

Joel Robinson

First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/auyin-property-development">Auyin</a> is the latest to turn to the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program in an effort to secure approval for its long-planned, mixed-use project in Elsternwick.

In 2018, Auyin lodged plans with Glen Eira City Council for a 14-storey building, however Council approved a reduced eight-storey scheme. A subsequent VCAT appeal in 2019 upheld the eight-storey height limit.

The project was later amended to nine storeys, but Auyin is now seeking to revive something closer to its original vision. The developer argues that the planning context has evolved significantly over the past decade, particularly within the Elsternwick Activity Centre, where higher-density development has increasingly been encouraged along Glen Huntly Road.

The proposal would transform the 1,239 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/7-12-horne-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">7-15 Horne Street</a>, opposite Elsternwick Railway Station, into a 13-storey residential and retail development designed by CBG Architects, with 40 apartments

The site currently comprises three commercial properties.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5f465dd4-509b-4082-a669-0253b313914b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20podium.png?VersionId=72frWi0SmQ5AVJ3ARRhX5ILUYObhTm7x" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 25 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom residences above 200 sqm of retail space at ground level. Residents would have access to a 90 sqm wellness facility, a 351 sqm communal indoor and outdoor terrace on the third level, and extensive landscaped areas throughout the development. A publicly accessible 135 sqm plaza would be created on the north-east corner of the site, providing seating, landscaping, and a new gathering space adjoining Horne Street.

The design adopts a four-storey podium that references the finer-grain character of the surrounding streetscape, with the upper tower recessed behind generous setbacks on all boundaries.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e637e763-2abc-4c34-a0aa-5c7ad36fae18" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20open.png?VersionId=J1AoOpZgTyaF.KeeFSX6lMjEScX8KKRi" />

A key element of the proposal is the reconfiguration and widening of the surrounding laneways. Vehicle access would be retained from Lois Lane, with upgraded pedestrian connections linking Ross Street and Horne Street. The development would provide 58 residential car spaces, two retail car spaces, and 52 bicycle spaces across two basement levels and ground-floor facilities.

Architecturally, the building draws inspiration from the established character of Elsternwick Village. The façade combines dark charcoal brickwork, textured concrete, bronze-toned metal detailing, and extensive planting integrated into podium and tower levels. The design also incorporates a chamfered corner treatment and publicly accessible plaza intended to strengthen pedestrian activity around the station precinct.

Elsternwick's last new development completion was&nbsp;EVA Elsternwick by Pitard late last year. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/milieu-property">Milieu</a> is working away on its nature-led neighbourhood, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elsternwick-gardens-by-milieu-8-gordon-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick Gardens</a>, on Gordon Street, with its first stage expected to complete next year.

First look: Auyin seeks mixed-use apartment project in growing Elsternwick Activity Centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/otium-parkdale-123-125-como-parade-east-parkdale-vic-3195">Otium Parkdale</a>, the 13-residence boutique development by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/huxtable-property">Huxtable Property</a>, has entered its final stages of delivery, with completion expected within the coming month and more than half of the residences sold.

The Como Parade East project is nearing the finish line at a time when opportunities to purchase new apartments in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parkdale-vic-3195">Parkdale</a> remain exceptionally limited. Fewer than 10 per cent of dwellings in the bayside suburb are apartments, making developments like Otium a relatively rare addition to a market traditionally dominated by detached housing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5427]

The three-level development comprises 13 residences, including ten two-bedroom apartments and three larger three-bedroom homes, all positioned above a secure basement car park.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/almeida-architects">Almeida Architects</a> with a strong connection to its coastal surroundings, Otium combines red brick, exposed concrete and dark metal detailing with integrated landscaping and greenery. Expansive glazing, generous balconies and terraces have been incorporated throughout the design to maximise natural light and reinforce indoor-outdoor living.

Inside, the residences feature engineered European oak flooring, natural and reconstituted stone benchtops, Bosch kitchen appliances, ducted heating and cooling, lift access and secure entry systems. The larger three-bedroom residences on the upper level have been designed with house-like proportions, while the two-bedroom apartments prioritise functionality, flexibility and low-maintenance living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5421]

The project is now in its final stages, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/labco">Labco</a> completing the remaining landscaping and external finishing works following the completion of the residences' interiors.

Otium's location within the heart of Parkdale continues to underpin its appeal. Residents will be just steps from local cafés, restaurants, shops and the newly elevated Parkdale Station, while the beach is less than a kilometre away.

With the project tracking ahead of schedule, buyers can currently secure a residence with a five per cent deposit and benefit from settlement terms of up to eight months. The advanced stage of construction also provides buyers with the opportunity to walk through the near-complete residences and experience the quality and finishes firsthand ahead of completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134974]

Otium Parkdale enters final month before completion as rare apartment opportunity nears sellout

A new boutique apartment development is entering the market in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chermside-qld-4032">Chermside</a>, with Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ausdev">Ausdev</a> bringing 33 residences to a well-connected pocket of Brisbane's north.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/parkdrive-apartments-chermside-25-sammells-drive-chermside-qld-4032">Parkdrive Apartments</a>, at 25 Sammells Drive, will comprise a mix of one- and two-bedroom residences positioned within walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, and Bradbury Park.

Established in 1989, Ausdev has a long-standing presence across both development and construction, with Parkdrive Apartments representing its latest residential project in Brisbane's northern suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363778]

The development has been designed around open-plan living and natural light, with residences featuring stone benchtops, timber cabinetry, BOSCH appliances, and private balconies that extend the living areas outdoors.

Kitchens are positioned as the centrepiece of the homes, incorporating natural material palettes and integrated appliances, while bathrooms have been designed with a focus on functionality and understated finishes.

Residents will have access to a communal barbecue and entertaining area on Level 3, providing shared outdoor space within the development. Secure parking and lift access are also incorporated into the building.

The project will deliver a limited collection of 33 apartments, with one-bedroom residences priced from $749,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Beyond the building itself, the location places residents within easy reach of several of Chermside's key amenities. Bradbury Park is around 350 metres away, while Westfield Chermside is approximately 1.3 kilometres from the site. The Prince Charles Hospital is located within 750 metres, and the Chermside Bus Interchange is around 1.5 kilometres away, providing connections across Brisbane.

Parkdrive Apartments adds to the growing residential pipeline in Chermside, a suburb that continues to evolve as a major retail, healthcare, and transport hub for Brisbane's north.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152125]

Ausdev introduces boutique Parkdrive Apartments to Chermside's growing centre

<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]

Jonathan Chancellor

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