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The Boyd Baker House, one of the most important Robin Boyd-designed homes, has been listed for sale in regional Victoria near Bacchus Marsh.
Only ever having two owners in 50 years, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-long+forest-122757990" target="_blank">The Boyd Baker House</a> was commissioned by mathematician and academic, Dr Michael Baker and his wife, Rosemary.
Completed in 1965, the property was listed for 2014 auction, but passed in.
It is being sold by the Mitrakas family who bought the home in 2006. It is offered at $1.65 million through RT Edgar Gisborne agent Ray Cashmore.
Peter, a Boyd fanatic, and wife Mary opened the home to paying guests in 2007 to appreciate the modernist masterpiece.
In 2008 radio broadcast Tim Ross wed Michelle Glew at the home.
Michael and wife Rosemary commissioned Boyd for the design and build which began in 1964, two years after they arrived from England.
The heritage listed modernist mid-century property on 12 hectares on a large scrubby bush block is surrounded by the Long Forest Conservation Reserve.
The Long Forest Road home bears Boyd signatures internal courtyard and local stones finishes. Highly geometric in its form, it is a square building with small central pond.
It actually comprises of three buildings designed by Boyd and the equally distinguished Roy Grounds.
The dower house, also known as the Elizabeth Sticklen House (1968) was designed by Boyd and the library building, which was constructed during the 1970s, was designed by Grounds.
This article was first published in The Weekend Australian.
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

The Robin Boyd Baker House for sale

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Chinese real-estate portal Juwai has completed a $10 million pre-initial public offering raising, as it heads to an ASX float late this year.
The latest raising was supported by local and Hong Kong-based institutional investors and high net worth individuals.
Juwai connects Chinese property buyers with sellers in other parts of the world.
The Australian Financial Review says it is aiming to raise about $30 million for its run at the ASX.  
Brokers Baillieu Holst and Evans &amp; Partners managed the pre-IPO raising of convertible notes to investors<a href="https://www.afr.com/street-talk/baillieu-evans-prepare-juwai-raising-20160608-gpexr4#ixzz4DyyoCuAQ">. </a> 
The notes will convert into shares on listing.
The South China Morning Post reported today that Charles Pittar, the CEO of Juwai.com said Brexit helped push a 100 per cent, week-on-week increase in consumer enquiries for UK property during the week of the vote.
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Juwai ASX list nearing as Brexit lifts search activity

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Aqualand has emerged as the buyer of a heritage site at Sydney’s Millers Point near the $6 billion Barangaroo redevelopment.
Backed by Shanghai-based Shenglong Group, Aqualand is taking a long-term view on the Australian market after acquisitions over the past two years that takes its pipeline to well over $1 billion, The Australian noted.
Aqualand paid $40 million for the 1-3 Munn Street site, a boutique five-storey commercial office building, sold by Primary Health Care.
The Chinese residential developer has also snapped up a 13,215sq m office and warehouse property in Macquarie Park in Sydney's north shore for $54 million.
With plans to hold the property for rental income, the B7 Business Park property will net Aqualand $3.1 million annually.
Real estate investment house Altis Property Partners sold the property through Colliers International's Roger Miller, Gavin Bishop and Jon Chomley.
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On another front Aqualand has been given the nod to convert the office tower at 168 Walker Street, North Sydney into 415 luxury apartments.
The 7435sq m site at the corner of McLaren and Walker streets will be developed into four residential towers ranging from 22 to 28 storeys to a design by architect Woods Bagot.
Aqualand is currently completing the REVY apartment project in Pyrmont.
It also settled on a residential development site in the upper northern Sydney suburb of Turramurra for $15 million.
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Aqualand expands Sydney property projects again 

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Following the approval of shareholders, AccorHotels Group will acquire FRHI Hotels &amp; Resorts (FRHI) and its three prestigious luxury hotel brands: Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel. 
“Today is a great day for our group.
"It will open up amazing growth prospects, lift our international presence to unprecedented heights, and build value over the long term,” said Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AccorHotels.
Joining AccorHotels’ global network is a portfolio of globally admired brands, which includes management of many of the world’s most iconic and historic hotels located in key strategic cities around the world, including: The Savoy in London, Raffles Singapore, Fairmont San Francisco, New York’s The Plaza, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City, and Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris.
Bazin said by leveraging the operational synergies between FRHI and AccorHotels, they were well-positioned to accelerate the growth of our luxury brands.
The transaction with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) of Saudi Arabia provided $840 million (€768 million) cash payment and the issuance of 46.7 million AccorHotels shares in consideration for the contributed FRHI shares.
The transaction gives QIA and KHC respective stakes of 10.4% and 5.8% in Accor’s share capital. Ali Bouzarif and Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo from QIA and Sarmad Zok from KHC will now join AccorHotels’ Board of Directors.
AccorHotels plans to generate approximately €65 million in revenue and cost synergies. Significant enhancements will also be made in terms of customer data, thanks to the integration of FRHI’s customer base that includes three million loyalty members, of which 75 percent are in North America.
The vast majority of Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel’s 154 hotels and resorts (of which 40 are under development) and 56,000 rooms spanning 34 countries and five continents are operated under long-term management contracts, with an average term of nearly 30 years; six hotels are leased and one hotel is owned. The Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel brands employ more than 45,000 worldwide.
AccorHotels is a world-leading travel and lifestyle group and digital innovator offering unique experiences in more than 4,000 hotels, resorts and residences.
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AccorHotels acquires FRHI hotels

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A Fitzroy warehouse conversion within the former MacRobertson chocolate factory drew serious weekend competition from seven keen bidders.
Buyers agent Frank Valentic was one of the bidders for the three-bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-fitzroy-122904058" target="_blank">219 Argyle Street</a> that sold for $1.527 million.
The sale was through Nelson Alexander Fitzroy, who drew a range of buyers including young couples and downsizers.
 
 
 
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Fitzroy warehouse conversion takes the chocolate 

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Racing couple Gai and Robbie Waterhouse have finally secured the sale of their longtime former Mosman family home.
It was pulled from February auction then given a steadfast $5.4 million asking price.
The four bedroom property, which has been in the Waterhouse family for 32 years, had come with an initial price guide of $6 million plus.
No sale price has emerged but it sold through 2088 Realty listing agent Sally-Anne Lawlor who advised most of the buyer interest has come from developers.
But with a late start the buyers were a family from Kogorah Bay.
The racing couple will make a tidy gain from the Clifton Gardens home having paid $457,500 in 1983.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mosman-121723666" target="_blank">Burrawong Avenue</a> property was designed with wall to wall windows highlighting the harbour views over Shark Island and beyond.
The master bedroom suite comes with an impressive hat display cabinet filled with Gai's hats and fascinators from past race days.
They now prefer the Balmoral aspect along with their Mittagong retreat, Dunsinea.
Their bookmaker son, Tom and his wife Hoda were $13 million buyers at Balmoral in 2013, with their luxury Balmoral Beach apartment sold to his aunt, Louise Raedler-Waterhouse paying $4.38 million. Their daughter Kate and her husband Luke Ricketson also live at Balmoral.
Mosman's median house price has been around $3.2 million this year with the top recorded sale being $12.8 million.
Local agent Robert Simeon recently noted Mosman was experiencing the Sydney-wide trend of low listings.
His figures showed just 42 houses on the market as at June 30, compared to an average 70 over the prior five years.
"We are now seeing record low listings which only strengthens the markets," Simeon said.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Gai and Robbie Waterhouse sell in Clifton Gardens

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An English-style Hawthorn East house identified has having to be sold under the FIRB foreign investor crackdown was sold mid-week, nine months after failing to sell at November auction.
The divestiture clock was ticking for the Chinese businessman ordered to sell his $5.2 million Hawthorn East mansion after the Australian Taxation Office found the home was bought without the required approval.
Set on a substantial 1455 sqm Higham Road block, the five bedroom English-style mansion was bought by Li Jian Guo in 2014.
It was purchased by the Bentley-driving Chinese businessman at auction when he used $300,000 bids to knock out rivals at the auction. 
Surrounded by manicured gardens with the rear garden centering on a pool and large alfresco dining area, it was listed with $5.95 million hopes through Kay &amp; Burton agents Ross Savas and Jamie Mi. It had previously sold in 1988 at $940,000 when bought by the Karkar family.
The property was the first in Victoria to be slapped with a divestment order by the Treasurer Scott Morrison.
This article was first published in The Weekend Australian.
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Chinese businessman's Hawthorn East sold under FIRB watch

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Noosa's popular golf course, the Noosa par 3 has been <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-qld-noosaville-123075954" target="_blank">listed for sale</a> at $7 million plus. 
The 30 hectare have been listed by Chris Allen of Hang Loosa Property Noosa.
The picturesque 36 hole golf course comes with dams and seasonal creeks.
"Beginning with a dream in the 1980's, the original and current owner established and opened the initial 18 holes to the public in 1990," Chris Allen advised.
Holes 19-27 were completed and opened in 1995, with the addition of a further 9 holes in 2015.
"The iconic course offers countless opportunities to further develop," the marketing said.
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Noosa par 3 golf course listed for sale

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The longtime Cottesloe home of the late Australian businessman Alan Bond has been sold for around $3.95 million.
Bond, who died in June last year, built it after $422,000 was paid in 1992.
It was sold by Acton Cottesloe agent, and Bond's daughter, Jody Fewster who listed it last August. 
The modern Perth home on 726 sqm had a wine cellar, home office, swimming pool and even fishpond. 
Bond will always be remembered for leading the successful challenge for the 1983 America's Cup, the first time the New York Yacht club had ever lost in its 132 year history.
This article was first published in The Weekend Australian 
 
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The former Cottesloe home of Alan Bond sold

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The nation's cheapest weekend result was in Adelaide where a two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-sa-st+kilda-122850590" target="_blank">2/12 Fooks Terrace</a>, St Kilda Beach, SA fetched $183,000 through Peter Migali at The Professionals Salisbury.
It fetched less than its 2010 sale price of $220,000 and its 2007 sale of $195,000. There were three bidders for the 2003 built apartment which is upstairs in the block of six next to the St Kilda Beach Hotel.
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St Kilda Beach price heads backwards in weekend cheapest auction result

Just a few months after acquiring a prime Broadbeach site on the corner of First Avenue and Surf Parade, family-run developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/raptis">Raptis</a> has filed fresh plans for a new apartment development.

Raptis is seeking to deliver a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-19-first-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4217">29-storey tower with 73 apartments</a> on the 818 sqm site. It will be the developer's seventh project in the suburb, as they are approaching completion of The Sterling on George Avenue.

There will be a pool, barbecue and outdoor dining area, residents lounge and dining, sauna and steam room, gym, and a Yoga and Pilates studio.

<img alt="Raptis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b554da3f-7344-49aa-b1c9-44cf459af0d7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%2010.41.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=zzjWu1iO1wnuYv4EV4fyOyf5nSXjGYut" />

Raptis Joint Managing Director, Evan Raptis, says they remain&nbsp;committed to developing quality infill sites across the Gold Coast in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

"This project continues our long track record of delivery in Broadbeach, and we look forward to bringing another premium development to this thriving precinct."

The announcement follows strong delivery momentum for Raptis, with The Sterling Broadbeach nearing completion and construction well underway on the final stage of the Waterpoint community adjacent to Harbour Town. The developer's continued investment in the Gold Coast reflects confidence in the region's apartment market fundamentals, underpinned by sustained Southeast Queensland population growth.&nbsp;

The outlook for the region is further bolstered by infrastructure investment tied to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, which is expected to drive continued economic and population growth across the SEQ corridor.&nbsp;

Subject to a favourable response from Gold Coast City Council, construction on the new First Avenue tower is targeted to commence before the end of 2026.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/it-s-all-in-the-family-four-decades-later-raptis-continues-to-shape-the-gold-coast-skyline">It’s all in the family: Four decades later, Raptis continues to shape the Gold Coast skyline</a>

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/raptis-secures-prime-surf-parade-site-for-next-broadbeach-apartment-development">Raptis secures prime Surf Parade site for next Broadbeach apartment development</a> 
&nbsp;

Gold Coast developer brings seventh Broadbeach project to market, targeting construction commencement before year end

Joel Robinson

First look: Raptis lodges plans for new 29-storey Broadbeach tower 

Brisbane development veteran Kevin Seymour's Seymour Group is set to deepen its presence on one of Brisbane's most tightly held riverfront addresses, lodging revised plans for a luxury apartment development on Oxlade, just a few doors down from The Oxlade, which it completed in 2024.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/70-72-oxlade-drive-new-farm-qld-4005">new project at 70-72 Oxlade Drive</a>, directly north of The Oxlade, will have 27 apartments across a seven-storey building&nbsp;overlooking the Brisbane River and Merthyr Park. It's a revision from a 2021-approved design.

Designed by bureau^proberts, the project has evolved from the previously approved 26-apartment scheme, introducing an additional penthouse level while maintaining a low-density, boutique character. The development will comprise 26 three-bedroom apartments and a single four-bedroom penthouse, supported by two basement levels with 86 car spaces and 34 bicycle spaces.

The architectural response is centred around two distinct building forms separated by a landscaped open-air atrium.&nbsp;"This dual composition captures and embraces Brisbane’s subtropical environment whilst breaking down built form and scale," the submission to the Brisbane City Council noted.

<img alt="First look: Seymour Group returns to Oxlade Drive with revised riverfront apartment plans in New Farm" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c12d84d0-bc11-4067-b46f-5bd2d786a34d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/new%20farm%20landscape.png?VersionId=YEPc2k5CAdh6aAPlu4uVpgZadh4MEfRd" />

A defining feature of the design is a deep landscaped void running through the centre of the building, creating what bureau^proberts describes as a "natural ravine" that enhances airflow, daylight penetration and resident amenity. The design report notes that the separation of the two building volumes is intended to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and outlook while strengthening connections to the surrounding riverfront setting.

Curved balcony edges, integrated planting and extensive landscaping throughout the façade reinforce the subtropical design approach. The building's façade is softened by elevated gardens and planter beds, creating a green edge that complements the established landscape character of Oxlade Drive and neighbouring Merthyr Park.

New Farm has become one of Brisbane's most sought-after suburbs for developers delivering premium downsizer-focused apartments.

GRAYA has been particularly active in the precinct, completing both Chalk and York in recent years, while construction of Moray House, being delivered for Spyre, is now nearing completion. Architect-turned-developer Joe Adsett recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/arcilla-new-farm-by-joe-adsett-28-maxwell-street-new-farm-qld-4005">Arcilla on Maxwell Street</a>, an exclusive collection of just nine apartments.

First look: Seymour Group returns to New Farm's Oxlade Drive with riverfront apartment plans

A new residential tower will be the first piece of a broader mixed-use precinct set to reshape a prominent Newcastle West site, with local developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> bringing its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/cambridge-quarter-newcastle-west-12-denison-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Cambridge Quarter</a> vision to market.

The first release, Tempo, will introduce 87 apartments across a 24-storey tower, marking Stage 1 of the residential component of a larger urban regeneration project planned for the western end of Newcastle's city centre, encompassing the former Cambridge Hotel site.

Positioned on Denison Street, Tempo has been designed as the inaugural building within Cambridge Quarter, a precinct that will ultimately combine apartments, retail activation and revitalised public spaces including the revamping of the Cambridge Hotel.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368853]

The tower will comprise a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including layouts with multipurpose rooms, catering to a broad cross-section of owner-occupiers. Apartment sizes range from around 60 sqm to 192 sqm, with a number of residences oriented to capture views across Newcastle Harbour, the city skyline and coastline.

GWH has emphasised liveability in the design, with open-plan layouts extending to generous balconies and terraces. Residents will have a choice of two interior palettes, while specifications include engineered stone benchtops, SMEG appliances, full-height bathroom tiling and secure building access. Premium upgrade packages will also be available.

Multiple rooftop resident retreats will provide communal outdoor space overlooking the harbour and city, offering an elevated amenity layer above the activity of the precinct below.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368851]

The broader Cambridge Quarter vision extends beyond the residential tower itself. Ground-level retail activation and landscaped public areas are planned throughout the precinct, creating a walkable neighbourhood environment connected to the surrounding renewal of Newcastle West. The Cambridge Hotel is also earmarked for future redevelopment into a family-friendly hospitality venue integrated with the new precinct.

The project is strategically positioned within walking distance of Newcastle Interchange, providing access to light rail, regional rail services and direct connections to Sydney. Residents will also be close to Honeysuckle, Newcastle Harbour and the city's beaches and coastal walkways.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368852]

For GWH, Cambridge Quarter represents one of its most significant Newcastle developments to date. The locally based developer, which has operated in the Hunter region since 1995, describes the project as a new chapter in the ongoing transformation of Newcastle West.

GWH Executive Director Jonathan Craig said the project had been shaped by a focus on creating lasting community connections.

"We take pride in creating places that last. Spaces where people feel connected, comfortable and a genuine sense of belonging," Craig said.

"Cambridge Quarter is something we are truly proud of, a place shaped by local knowledge, built with care and designed to be part of Newcastle's next chapter."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135876]

GWH unveils first release at landmark Cambridge Quarter precinct in Newcastle West

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ss-projects">S&amp;S Projects</a>,&nbsp;Rainbow Bay's busiest developer,&nbsp;has officially lodged plans for the largest development in its booming local portfolio, seeking approval for a further 88 apartments on Boundary Street.

The proposal&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">209–213 Boundary Street, Coolangatta</a>,&nbsp;marks the next chapter in the developer's transformation of the southern Gold Coast beachside precinct. It will be its fifth in the area, having already delivered Flow, Awaken and Esprit, while construction continues on the 38-apartment Radia. The new project would rise 57 metres above a consolidated 1,518 sqm site, on the same street as Radia and Esprit.

&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, the proposed development comprises 88 two and three-bedroom apartments across a contemporary podium-and-tower form that integrates extensive landscaping from street level through to the rooftop.

The tower would be delivered above a basement and multi-level podium accommodating resident and visitor parking, with the residential component commencing from level three. The design incorporates cascading planting throughout the façade, landscaped podium edges, and deep planting zones along the Boundary Street frontage.

<img alt="First look: S&amp;S Projects lodges plans for 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="677e6615-b5c0-4b6c-b4f9-efb14fcde1a6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ss%20da%20pers.png?VersionId=YOnPKQm7IFXv0M5H326djEpxk80500Hi" />

A key feature of the development is its expansive rooftop wellness and recreation precinct. Plans reveal a resort-style pool deck, gymnasium, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, rooftop terraces, barbecue areas and landscaped relaxation spaces positioned to capture views across the southern Gold Coast coastline.

The rooftop wellness focus builds on the vision S&amp;S Projects first outlined when it acquired the site for $20.25 million last year.

"We are taking every advantage to create a truly unique rooftop wellness experience with a natural feel for residents, offering stone features throughout and an underlying theme that emulates a botanical garden," S&amp;S Projects founder and director Paul Gedoun said at the time.

The proposal seeks a 57-metre building height, representing a 50 per cent uplift on the site's mapped 38-metre height limit. Planning documents argue the additional height is consistent with recently approved and emerging towers in the immediate Boundary Street and Rainbow Bay precinct.

Urbis, acting as planning consultant, said the development would provide "88 dwellings, comprising a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments, contributing to housing choice and supply within an established medium to high-rise coastal urban neighbourhood."

The scheme has undergone extensive pre-lodgement consultation with the City of Gold Coast, with the design refined following feedback relating to architectural expression, landscaping, traffic access and podium treatment.

<img alt="S&amp;S" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a2d70fd-62ac-4b83-97c6-b798fc1243dd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%209.16.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yHmghUwKM3IVGpBktQU1mE.0Lpf3WimG" />

The architectural team is led by Brisbane-based Cottee Parker, one of Australia's most active residential design studios, with landscape architecture by Dunn + Moran. The consultant team also includes ADG Engineers, Windtech and Acoustic Works.

S&amp;S Projects has become one of the most influential private developers operating on the southern Gold Coast. Since entering Rainbow Bay in 2022, the company has assembled a portfolio exceeding $1 billion in end value, establishing itself as a key player in the area's evolution into a premium apartment destination. Pezet Matheson will again handle the sales for S&amp;S.

Coolangatta is entering another wave of apartment development, following the delivery of several prominent residential projects in recent years.

John Kearney's Immerse Projects will launch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kaiya-kirra-beach-5-haig-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Kaiya on Haig Street</a>&nbsp;soon, meanwhile, Palm Beach-based Sherpa Property Group is preparing to bring its debut Coolangatta development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-viver-87-griffith-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Flourish Viveré</a>, to market later this year, subject to approvals.

First look: S&S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street

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.

Jonathan Chancellor

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