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Wentworth Park heads the housing developer's golden egg inner city development site prospects after the decision of the NSW government to ban greyhound racing.
It could lead to its eventual sale, along with many of the other dog tracks across the state.
With Wentworth Park's proximity to the Sydney CBD, the four hectares could fetch $160 million plus with keen competition tipped to send it soaring possibly higher.
Developer's won't be just the only buyers sitting in the abandoned 10,000-capacity race track stadium dreaming of buying, as interest is also likely from nearby universities wishing to expand their campuses.
Entrepreneurial sporting codes wanting to develop a new sports arena will be hovering, perhaps returning to the site which has previously hosted sports including rugby league and speedway in decades past.
Even Clover Moore's City of Sydney will want the race track, which sits on Crown land, to see it returned to a foreshore park. Zoning and density will be key determinants on any sale price. 
And the government late yesterday promised there will be no residential and commercial use for the track. 
 
"It would be open space and [for] community use,"a spokesman for Premier Mike Baird said in a surprise response. 
Mirvac's $187 million purchase in 2010 of nearby the Harold Park Raceway set the price benchmark when it secured its 10 hectare plot which has become a $1 billion Glebe residential hub where the first release of its 1250 homes had 45 sqm studios selling at $499,000.
The Wentworth Park site could possibly hold around 800 apartments and terraces.
The NSW government's White Bay Power Station redevelopment in Sydney's inner-west recently attracted 13 tenders, showing keen commercial space buying interest, but none were accepted.
Even the regional dog race tracks are worth a considerable amount, but not all are government owned. Dapto Agricultural &amp; Horticultural (A&amp;H) Society Inc own the Dapto course. Others are privately owned or by local councils. There are some tracks including the Yagoona based Potts Park which have previously attracted developer interest. 
Access Economics noted that the greyhound industry had been a key feature in regional areas, some dating back many decades in prime locations such as the Hasting River club at Wauchope which commenced in the 1950s.
Greyhound Racing NSW's last property purchase was a 2014 acquisition of $1.2 Wyee property called the Playhouse Pet Motel used as a facility to give dogs a post-racing adopted future.
It also purchased The Gardens sporting complex at Wallsend which was previously home to the National Soccer League team, Newcastle Breakers.
But The Gardens was still not ever financially viable.
The 3.95 hectare sporting complex at Wentworth Park in Glebe has its property, plant, grandstand, racetrack and equipment valued at $50,963,000 (nett) in recent financial statements.
It is on the books at a $96 million gross carrying value.
The area was originally the swampy mouth of the creek known as Black Wattle or Blakwattle Creek.
The swamp was polluted by various noxious industries which led to the swamp being filled due to the stench of the water.
Filling was completed in 1860 and by 1882 ovals, greens, paths, lakes were named after NSW statesman, William Charles Wentworth
It wasn't until October 1932 that greyhound racing began in the park. 
In 1979 the then ruling body, the National Coursing Association applied to construct a large new grandstand which was completed in 1985.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

NSW greyhound racing ban opens inner city residential development possibilities

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
And there has not been a delay of the NBN… Because of Malcolm Turnbull’s management of the NBN, it will all be finished by 2020, not 2024 as Labor was promising, with speeds that people want and need. – Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Christopher Pyne, speaking on Q&amp;A, May 23, 2016.
The election campaign has brought national broadband network policy back into the spotlight, particularly as the incumbent prime minister was responsible for the National Broadband Network (NBN) in his previous role as communications minister.
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Christopher Pyne told Q&amp;A there has not been a delay of the NBN. Is that right?
<h2>2013: the year of election promises and reviews</h2>
The Conversation contacted a spokesperson for Christopher Pyne seeking comment and sources to support his statement, but did not hear back before deadline.
Nevertheless, most of the documents on the recent history of the NBN can be found online.
As acknowledged in this Coalition document, the previous Labor government promised to deliver an NBN by a deadline of 2021 (not 2024 as Pyne stated on Q&amp;A).
Prior to the 2013 federal election, the nbn co under the then-Labor government said it planned to deliver a predominantly fibre to the premises (FTTP) network by 2021.
But there were delays in negotiating with Telstra for access to ducts and pits, the discovery of asbestos in some of Telstra’s network, and other teething problems.
In their 2013 pre-election promises, the Coalition said its goal was to provide everyone in the nation with access to broadband with download data rates of between 25 and 100 megabits per second by the year 2016. They also planned to deliver between 50 and 100 megabits per second by the end of 2019 to 90 percent of the fixed line footprint. That election commitment, the Coalition said, “assumes the current NBN Co satellite and fixed wireless networks are deployed on schedule.”
But after the election, the Coalition’s dropped its promise to deliver 25 to 100 megabits per second to everyone in the nation by 2016.
Then communications minister Malcolm Turnbull said that a December 2013 Strategic Review of the NBN commissioned by the new government had found that the NBN is in a fundamentally worse position than the Labor Government at any time disclosed to Parliament or the Australian public.
The strategic review also said that Labor’s NBN would not have been completed until 2024.
<h2>2015: New plans</h2>
In 2015, the nbn co issued its 2016 corporate plan.
In this document, the company now estimated that Labor’s plan for an all-FTTP fixed line rollout could be completed by 2026 but possibly as late as 2028.
However, this revised estimate has been challenged by former nbn co CEO, Mike Quigley, who said in a 2015 article that
For that to be correct, one has to assume that for the next 13 years, nbn co will roll out just 12,300 premises per week on average. Fewer premises than it regularly passes each week today… It is almost certainly true that an all-FTTP NBN would take longer to complete than its inferior MTM counterpart [the Multi-Technology Mix proposed by the Coalition]. But it would likely only be longer by one to three years.
In late 2015, an nbn co spokesman was reported as saying that the company had deliberately chosen to take a more gradual approach to [fibre to the node or FTTN] activations than was originally flagged.
<h2>The 2016 leaks</h2>
Early in 2016, internal nbn co documents were leaked to the media.
These and other leaked documents – which were at the centre of a recent Australian Federal Police raid on a Labor offices and a staffer’s home in an effort to find the leaker – were reported as showing bottlenecks and delays in the fibre to the node (FTTN) and hybrid fibre coax (HFC) components of the NBN rollout.
In response, nbn co said: NBN has met or exceeded every key target for six quarters in a row.
Current nbn co chair Ziggy Switkowski wrote on May 28, 2016 that "The company will meet its targets for the ninth quarter in a row… There are no “cost blowouts” or “rollout delays” to the publicly released plans."
It’s beyond the scope of FactCheck to say with any certainty whether the leaked documents accurately reflect the full picture.
It’s important to note that as any technical and other teething problems are resolved, nbn co should be able to ramp up the roll-out rate to improve its chances of meeting a 2020 completion project date.
Internet access speeds around the world are growing rapidly, and this growth is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Australia’s internet speeds are slow compared to other developed countries.
Verdict
Christopher Pyne’s assertion that there have been “no delays” in the implementation of the NBN is inaccurate. Some delays occurred under the Labor government, and the early stages of the FTTN rollout under the current government have been slower than the Coalition originally envisaged.
Leaked documents and reported statements by an nbn co spokesperson also suggest delays occurred under the Coalition government. However, nbn co rejects that, saying it has met or exceeded its key targets.
Labor promised a completion date of 2021, not 2024 as Pyne said. It was the December 2013 Strategic Review of the NBN commissioned by the Coalition government that said Labor’s NBN would not have been completed until 2024. – Rod Tucker
REVIEW
This article is factual and correct. As stated in the article, delays in the nbn co’s roll out is also self evident by comparing the original deployment date promises made before the 2013 federal election with the the revised schedule outlined in the December 2013 strategic review of the NBN, initiated by the Coalition government. – Thas Ampalavanapillai Nirmalathas
Rod Tucker is laureate Emeritus Professor, University of Melbourne and author for The Conversation. He con be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rod-tucker-2000" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
 
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Election FactCheck Q&A: has the NBN been delayed?

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Senator-elect and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has her Gold Coast investment apartment relisted for sale.
<a href="https://www.raywhite.com/qld/biggera-waters/1460626/" target="_blank">The two-bedroom ground floor Biggera Waters unit</a> on Loder Street was bought with her son Adam for $220,000 in 2007.
She first tried to offload it in 2008 for $298,000, then in 2010 with a $320,000 desire which was reduced to a $279,000 asking price.
Now it's up for sale seeking offers above $285,000 through Paul Parry of Ray White Labrador.
It comes with very low body corporate fees at $40 a week. It was last offered for rent at $300 a week in early 2015, representing a gross return of about 5.5 per cent to any would-be-investor buyer.
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Pauline Hanson lists her Gold Coast investment apartment 

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Visionary Investment Group has announced the arrival of Silkari – an exceptional hotel and residential brand that will deliver a new level of luxury in Australia. 
Silkari will launch in Australia with three properties billed as bringing together "the finest of East and West with an extraordinary level of service."
Silkari Suites at Chatswood are set to open 1 December with registrations of interest and sales for Silkari on Castelreagh and S Pagewood available through The Property Gallery from 1 July.
S by Pagewood (above) will feature 219 apartments and 37 townhouses.
VIG chief executive officer Michael Guo said Silkari will offer a new level of luxury, weaving together the finest elements from cultures and destinations across the world to create transcendent experiences that define a new standard in the Australian market.   “At VIG we sought some of the best designers, architects and partners from around Australia and the globe and brought them together to create a brand that will represent a new level of style for all to enjoy.  
"I am extremely proud today to be revealing Silkari to the market and excited about the delivery of our first three projects, as well as many more that we have in the pipeline."
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Visionary bring Silkari to Australian hotel market

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Property funds manager and ­industrial property specialist Propertylink is nearing its ASX float.
A listing would mark the ­return of former Valad boss ­Stephen Day to the public arena, with the company structured as a stapled vehicle that will specialise in core-plus style investing.
As revealed in The Australian in May Propertylink will seek to raise $500 million plus.
Two high-profile investors have emerged as backers to ASX-aspirant and real estate and infrastructure fund manager, Propertylink, The Australian Financial Review Street Talk column has revealed.
Point Capital, run by former Macquarie power bankers Michael Carapiet and John Prendiville, was approached about one year ago to inject capital into Propertylink.
Carapiet had several executive roles at Macquarie over 25 years, and Prendiville was a 20-year veteran and global head at Macquarie.
Goldman and Grosvenor are looking for an opportunity to sell down their stakes.
Carapiet and Prendiville's emergence in the Propertylink deal comes after sponsor broker Goldman Sachs set a $568 million to $690 million equity valuation range for the float.
Propertylink has snapped up a portfolio of eight industrial assets across four Australian states for $135.3 million from Charter Hall in May.
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Propertylink IPO nears

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The former property developer Warren Anderson is suing the mortgage fund, Angas Securities and his receivers KordaMentha.
He is seeking $174 million, claiming they acted inappropriately in selling up his assets and forcing him into bankruptcy.
The lodgement of the statement of claim by Warren Anderson and his children, revealed today in The Australian, comes as shares in Angas on second-tier bourse the National Stock Exchange of Australia were suspended from trading yesterday given its wider concerns.
The Australian on Tuesday revealed Angas, which owes investors $220 million, had missed another deadline to repay investors.
Facing major financial problems, Angas has failed to meet any of the first three instalments in time and in full and trustee The Trust Company has said it is now “deeply concerned” Angas will not be able to make the payments.
The Anderson issue arose after Anderson’s family trust Owston Nominees No 2 borrowed money from Angas.
In March 2009 Angas appointed receivers KordaMentha to the trust following a breakdown of Mr Anderson’s marriage.
KordaMentha and Angas took control of Owston’s biggest asset, the Fernhill mansion at Mulgoa in western Sydney.
A spokeswoman for KordaMentha told the Australia the firm was not handling the case because the two former partners who had overseen the Owston receivership, Chris Powell and Stephan Duncan, were no longer with the company.
Their Adelaide-based firm DuncanPowell would be responding to Mr Anderson’s claims, she said, although they had not yet been served so were unable to comment.
Fernhill is currently for sale. Set on 383 hectares at the foot of the Blue Mountains, its stunning seven bedroom sandstone residence was completed in the 1840s for the Cox pioneering family.
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Warren Anderson sues Angas in Fernhill, Mulgoa saga

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The Swiss-Belhotel International Group will open its first Australian hotel in Brisbane on the 1st October 2016.
Swiss-Belhotel is a rapidly growing, Hong Kong based international brand that currently spans twenty countries with over seven thousand staff.
Swiss-Belhotel Brisbane is situated at 218 Vulture St, South Brisbane.
The site was selected because of its proximity to River Quay, South Bank, the Gabba and nearby Royal Children's Hospital, Mater Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.
The 134 room hotel is made up of 108 Superior Rooms, 14 Deluxe Studios (45 sq metres) and 12 Executive Studios (54 sq metres).  
Swiss-Belhotel International Chairman and President Gavin Faull said he was presented with this exciting opportunity in Brisbane two years ago.
"We were so impressed that we have taken a long term lease on the hotel and invested in the property''.
 Cafe 63 at Swiss-Belhotel will be an expanded version of the very popular Cafe 63 in Brisbane.
Gavin Faull has built the portfolio of hotels under his management from just three to well over 135 that stretch across the globe incorporating the Middle East, Europe, China, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. 
The brand now spans twenty countries and employs over seven thousand people.
There is no sign of a slowdown with plans to have at least 40 hotels managed by Swiss-Belhotel International in Australia within ten years.
Gavin Faull, a New Zealand born dairy and tourism entrepreneur is in Australia this week.
Faull aims to have 10 hotels managed by Swiss-Belhotel International in Australia within five years.
"We were introduced to the Horan Group by Mr Ian Pert of GPM Consulting and Project Managers and were very impressed with the hotel project, with the location and with the developers. 
"We have been working together for almost two years. 
"We were so impressed that we have taken a long term lease on the hotel and invested in the property.
''Swiss-Belhotel Brisbane is on a long term lease by Swiss-Belhotel International where the developer has been able to secure their return by leasing to an international management company yet has been able to work very closely with Swiss-Belhotel International to develop a truly international hotel product. 
"There are also strata title apartments in the complex and Swiss-Belhotel International will be managing those apartments as well as handling the letting services for those apartments.
"A unique fusion of property development; individual investment opportunities managed and incorporated into an international hotel operation''.
''This is Swiss-Belhotel International offering the investor community an alternative management and property product to the other many products in this investment space in Australia. We are an exciting alternative'', he concluded.
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New property brand, Swiss-Belhotel International launching in Brisbane

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Allure on Ludwick Cannon Hill is a development by Your Style Homes which is now almost sold out with just two apartments left.  
The apartments featured an oversized floor plan which is above the average apartment square meterage for a Brisbane one bedroom dwelling.
Managing director Dean Parker believes this offering has formed a large part of its success in a tough apartment market. 
The newly completed 58 Ludwick Street project by developers Your Style Homes has one-bedroom units featuring a combined internal and external floor space of 69 sqm including balcony or courtyard, significantly larger than Brisbane’s reported typical one bedroom apartment size of 52 sqm. 
Just two dwellings remain for sale in the 30-apartment complex after the project launched to market in late 2015 with prices starting from $325,000. 
The development is now attracting strong interest from younger renters who have begun to move in. 
Dean Parker said the apartments addressed all buyers’ wish lists in a suburb with a low suburb vacancy rate of just 1.22 per cent. 
“Our spacious, well-designed one bedroom apartments started at $325,000 - well below the $400,000 to $499,000 price point, considered the “sweet spot” for a one bedroom Brisbane apartment.  
 “These apartments offered two different colour schemes and a choice of a balcony or courtyard with secure car parking, providing a spacious and high quality offering residents. 
“We know buyers seeking one and two-bedroom stock are price-sensitive but also wish to purchase a dwelling that maximises value for money through a lower price coupled with strong potential yields. This value was recognised by buyers at Allure, and has now been passed on to renters who are now eager to move into the development,” Mr Parker said. 
The project sits less than 10 kilometres to Brisbane’s CBD and is placed 150 metres from the forthcoming $600m East Village precinct which is set to offer high quality retail and restaurant options from the designers of Brisbane’s Emporium.
Allure apartments are only a 550m walk to Cannon Hill’s Kmart Plaza. 
The two apartments remaining for sale include one one-bedroom apartment for $345,000 and one two-bedroom apartment for $465,000. Two bedroom apartments feature a combined internal and external area of 93 square metres.  
For more information, <a href="https://www.yourstylegroup.com.au/allure" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Bigger one bedders secure sales success in Brisbane

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Housing affordability issues in Australia have resulted in people looking for alternative ways to build accommodation more cheaply. A recent worldwide trend has been to convert shipping containers to liveable accommodation. However, some real challenges lie behind the rosy picture of turning shipping containers into homes.
From the perspective of recycling and environmental sustainability, it is a very good initiative. Many containers are on a one-way journey, mostly originating from China (the world’s manufacturing house), to the developed nations. These containers are used just once for shipping and then end up being used – if at all – as storage or portable office spaces.
Many companies are now offering to build container homes. One can find a great variety of interesting floor plans to turn containers into housing. But the reality isn’t always as straightforward as these plans suggest. What are the main challenges to consider?
<h2>Container quality and engineering sign-off</h2>
Online videos and photos emphasise the benefits of recycling containers to build accommodation. However, a number of conditions must be met to ensure the house is structurally sound.
First, if the design requires cutting through the walls to put in windows or doors, it affects the structural integrity of the container. A structural engineer will be needed to develop an engineering drawing to ensure the house will be structurally sound. There is a cost associated with this activity, as with any other type of construction such as steel-frame housing, timber-frame housing or brick-and-tile housing.
Further, many engineers are wary of signing off on used shipping containers, because it is more difficult to assess the structural state of these. They most often recommend using a brand-new container. This is another added cost, as the price of 12-metre cube containers starts from A$5,000, whereas a used container may cost $1,800.
<h2>Health and safety</h2>
Health and safety concerns arise when it cannot be ascertained what was shipped using a second-hand container.
If human carcinogenic elements or harsh chemicals (which may have left invisible traces) were shipped in a container, one would not want to use that container to live in.
Ensuring this is not the case adds to the challenges of using a second-hand container. This is because tracing the cargos and journeys end-to-end across the full container lifecycle can be very difficult.
<h2>Usable space</h2>
Housing built from shipping containers is limited by their dimensions. They are roughly 2.35m wide internally and commonly come in two lengths: 6m or 12m.
One also needs to take into account internal stud work to put in drywalls, which can further reduce the width. A 2.35m width is already quite small for any room other than a shower or a bathroom.
To give an idea of how small, a king-sized bed is 1.83m wide. So there will very limited room to put bed side tables or dressing table.
If two containers are cut to create a 4.7m wide room, the space becomes too big for many purposes. If you need a smaller (or more common) width, you need to build a stud wall. That is another added cost.
Hence, the options for customising the container home are very limited if it is to remain affordable.
<h2>Insulation and comfort</h2>
Insulation is a very critical element of a comfortable lifestyle. The Building Code of Australia as well as the local shire or council are very conscious of insulation standards.
The shipping container is a basically a large steel box. Physics says steel will get hot in summer and cold in winter. To counter these natural effects, the container has to be very well insulated.
Now, the question is where to insulate: on the exterior, or the interior, or both?
Exterior insulation will be better because this will prevent the heat or cold reaching the metal and keep the internal environment comfortable. But putting external insulation on a container means having a stud wall frame or similar arrangement to hold the insulation in place, so that’s an additional building cost.
Ceramic paint insulation is another option and it does offer some degree of insulation. Note, though, that most “before and after” studies have taken a dark-coloured container (such as red, green or blue) and shown the benefit when painting it with a white ceramic paint. The reduction in temperature is partly due to using white paint.
Container housing may be a viable alternative accommodation option. But it can be hard to know whether it will be significantly cheaper than any other ways of building a home without doing considerable research into what the housing requirements and design will involve.
Vidyasagar Potdar is senior research fellow, School of Information Systems, Curtin University and author from The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vidyasagar-potdar-229256" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Are shipping containers really the answer for affordable housing?

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Club Crocodile Hotel, the resort in Airlie Beach, has been sold to Singaporean group Well Smart Investment Holdings.
Owning the Mantra Terrace Hotel in Brisbane and the Ibis Budget Hotel Melbourne, Club Crocodile is the group's third hotel.
The sale was brokered by PRD Airlie Beach.
The 3.5-star Club Crocodile Resort was sold by David Kingston's Ocean Hotels for between $8 million and $9 million.
The resort features 161 rooms on a large freehold site close to the beach front and Abell Point Marina.
Resorts in Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays have recently had high occupancy levels. 
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Club Crocodile sold to Well Smart 

Apartment buildings are increasingly being designed around how people actually live day to day, not just how they want a building to look.

For buyers, that shift is showing up in practical inclusions that respond to changing habits. Work-from-home spaces, EV charging, wellness amenities, secure bike storage and parcel management are becoming part of the broader apartment conversation, reflecting a move toward buildings that reduce friction in everyday life.

Online shopping has become one of the clearest examples of that change.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online. That has made parcel delivery a regular part of apartment living, rather than an occasional inconvenience.

For apartment residents, however, the delivery process can be less straightforward than it is for detached homes. Parcels may be left in lobbies, redirected to Post Offices, missed entirely, or placed under the responsibility of building managers and concierge teams.

That is why secure parcel infrastructure is increasingly being considered alongside more familiar apartment amenities.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-VjjLwoViX0?si=A3k7ws9NX35Uac7_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Australia Post Parcel Lockers offer one way to address the issue. When a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS, then collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN. The parcel is kept secure, accessible and removed from common areas.

The broader Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations across Australia, positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and other accessible locations.

For new apartment projects, the relevance is clear. A building’s amenity offering is no longer only about lifestyle spaces, but also about convenience, security and functionality.

As buyer expectations evolve, secure parcel delivery is becoming part of the same design conversation as flexible working, sustainable transport and resident wellbeing.

It is one less thing for residents to worry about, and another example of apartment design adapting to the way Australians now live.

Joel Robinson

Apartment design is adapting to the way Australians shop

While school holidays and trips to Europe tend to define the winter property market, there's been no cold snap at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> in North Sydney.

Developer-builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a> sold more than $35 million worth of apartments throughout June, including a $6.8 million apartment that now ranks among the highest apartment sales ever recorded in North Sydney.

SRM Residential agent Ben Stewart said buyer demand throughout June reflected a mix of improving market confidence and longer-term thinking from owner-occupiers.

"We're seeing strong demand from owner-occupiers who are taking a longer-term view," Stewart said.

"Many recognise the opportunity to secure an apartment in an iconic building and premium location while values remain attractive. They may initially lease the property, but the intention is to eventually move in themselves, rather than purchasing purely as an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=367129]

Located at 177 Walker Street, The Walden will deliver 161 one, two, three and four-bedroom residences across a 30-storey tower designed by Rothelowman. Every apartment occupies a corner position, maximising natural light, cross ventilation and views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Sydney Heads and the northern districts.

Rather than a traditional balcony, the residences feature winter gardens that seamlessly extend the open plan living areas, creating versatile spaces for relaxing or entertaining throughout the year. Floor-to-ceiling glazing draws in natural light while showcasing sweeping views from the building's elevated Walker Street position.

Every apartment features high-end Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, and fully integrated appliances.

The larger residences have been planned with distinct entertaining and private zones, with many master suites positioned on corners to capture natural light and harbour views. Walk-in dressing rooms, freestanding baths and refined stone finishes reinforce the house-like feel that has resonated with downsizers and owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6393]

Rothelowman Principal Ben Pomroy said the project was designed to make the most of its unique position overlooking the harbour.

"The Walden is a celebration of all things beautiful, curated for those who expect nothing less than exceptional," Pomroy says.

"Meticulously designed entertaining spaces and light-filled living areas that capitalise on capturing the natural beauty of Sydney's iconic harbour."

Residents will also have exclusive access to The Pavilion, a dedicated amenity building featuring a rooftop pool, wellness studio, gymnasium, sauna, concierge service, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and work-from-home facilities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6402]

The project marks ALAND's first major luxury apartment development in Sydney's inner-city market after more than two decades delivering residential communities across Greater Sydney.

Founder and CEO Andrew Hrsto previously said the rarity of the Walker Street site made it an opportunity the company could not overlook.

"This is a rare opportunity to bring a truly exceptional project to life in one of Sydney's most iconic locations, and to showcase our craftsmanship and design expertise at a world-class level," Hrsto said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6383]

The Walden has been introduced to the market at a time when demand for living in North Sydney is at an all-time high. Billions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure, including the recently opened Victoria Cross Metro station, located just 300 metres from The Walden, providing residents with direct access to the Sydney CBD in just minutes.

Private investment has also transformed the area through the arrival of new retail and dining destinations, elevating the lifestyle offering in what was once considered primarily a commercial precinct rather than an aspirational residential address.

The Walden is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

ALAND records $35 million in sales in North Sydney as The Walden bucks quiet winter selling season

The long-awaited redevelopment of the former Eastlakes Shopping Centre site has reached a major milestone, with Conquest's plans for a new mixed-use precinct officially placed on public exhibition.

The State Significant Development Application would transform the 1.7-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/19a-evans-avenue-eastlakes-nsw-2018">19A Evans Avenue</a> into one of Sydney's largest urban renewal projects, delivering 736 apartments above a new shopping centre anchored by Woolworths, alongside specialty retail, dining, commercial space and new public open spaces.

The public exhibition marks the next chapter for the project after <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/conquest">Conquest</a> acquired the stalled Stage Two development from Crown Group, who completed the first stage across the road prior to their voluntary liquidation.

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5fca22c5-d1ed-4e2c-8801-03f7df1eafc8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland%20podium.png?VersionId=uomwr41nF8CmLUZRDcu3mHQechlbxucS" />

&nbsp;

Designed by DKO Architecture, the proposal comprises four residential buildings ranging from 14 to 18 storeys above a two-level retail podium. The development would deliver 736 apartments, including 74 affordable homes, 215 Build-to-Rent apartments and 521 market residences. Provision has also been made for dual-key apartments, which could increase the total number of dwellings to 877.

At ground level, the shopping centre has been designed as the suburb's new meeting place, anchored by a full-line Woolworths and complemented by a curated mix of fresh food retailers, cafés, restaurants, health services and everyday convenience shopping. Generous pedestrian links and landscaped public spaces will connect the retail precinct through to Jack Mundey Reserve, creating a more walkable and connected neighbourhood.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

"Eastlakes has been overlooked for too long, and this is the community’s moment. We are building a shopping centre and homes, a genuine heart for the suburb, and we genuinely want locals to help shape it."

"We enrich communities through the creation of homes, places, and experiences designed for life, built to last, and owner for generations. That starts with listening, so we warmly encourage everyone with a connection to Eastlakes to view the plans and share their thoughts."

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="22f6fb20-54fb-4bd7-8a92-48fafdd00608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland.png?VersionId=cugp7s9hrMHGJJdYzkeAkrFoQgnF4GXf" />

DKO said the design had been shaped by the site's landscape setting and surrounding open space.

"Our vision for the site embraces its unique Bidjigal identity by blending the residential living with generous landscaping and a material palette inspired by the Bidjigal locality, and celebrating the panoramic views to Botany Bay and the wetlands reserves."

"Taking cues from Country, we seek to harmonise built form with the landscape and lightly touch the earth. By reconnecting, retaining and regenerating existing ecology, and weaving in natural elements, we can deepen our connection to Country."

The landscape strategy extends across the podium and rooftops, incorporating communal gardens, children's play areas, lawns, community gardens, family gathering spaces and extensive tree planting. New landscaped links will also strengthen the connection between the precinct and Jack Mundey Reserve, while publicly accessible open spaces have been integrated throughout the development.

The proposal builds on Conquest's broader placemaking strategy for the site. Through an ongoing partnership, local artist Joe Rashbrook has been appointed Urban Art Curator, working alongside young residents to transform the project's site hoardings into a public art gallery that allows the community to engage with the redevelopment before construction is complete.

Conquest has rapidly expanded its development pipeline since acquiring the Eastlakes site, with more than $6 billion worth of mixed-use projects now in planning across Sydney, including Stanmore, Castlecrag and Waterloo.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

First look: ‘Far more than replacing a shopping centre’ as Conquest unveils 736-home Eastlakes redevelopment

Abadeen has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for one of Mosman's largest apartment developments in recent years, seeking approval to transform the former Honeysuckle Garden and Midas site on Military Road into a 100-apartment mixed-use development.

The SSDA, lodged with investment partner Phoenix Property Investors, proposes around $230 million worth of new housing on the prominent <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/494-516-military-road-mosman-nsw-2088">494-516 Military Road</a> site.

The proposal comes as Mosman Council continues to progress its recently endorsed Masterplan, which identifies the precinct for increased housing density while maintaining the suburb's established character.

Designed by DKO Architecture, the development would comprise 100 apartments above ground-floor retail, with a rooftop wellness precinct including a gym, sauna, entertaining areas and landscaped communal spaces.

Rather than pushing to the full 12-storey height identified in Council's Masterplan, the proposal ranges between five and nine storeys, stepping down towards Hale Road. A tenth level would accommodate resident amenities rather than additional apartments.

The project has been designed to appeal to a broad range of buyers, from first home buyers and young professionals through to families and local downsizers looking to remain on the Lower North Shore.

<img alt="Mosman" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5dada03f-5b4c-43ba-ba62-2868add31440" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-27%20at%209.57.55%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=7LBy0B.Jo8_iWAFJsClcV7Q3UnXrv49r" />

Abadeen Executive Chairman Justin Brown said the apartments had been designed as genuine long-term homes rather than investor-focused stock.

"The apartments have been designed as genuine long-term homes, with efficient floorplans that maximise usable living areas, generous storage, natural light and strong connections between indoor and outdoor spaces," Brown says."

"We've focused on creating homes for a broad range of buyers, from first home buyers and growing families through to downsizers who want to remain in Mosman."

The rooftop wellness offering forms a key part of the proposal, with residents set to have access to a gym, sauna, outdoor entertaining spaces, communal dining areas, landscaped gardens and a multi-use recreation court overlooking Sydney Harbour.

<img alt="Mosman" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d37c2d6b-583a-4a0f-b7a9-9f46b893d2f4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-27%20at%209.58.06%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=FPoa5FCm2RtzjhAh2w5FTWJbV6GHfY8D" />

DKO drew heavily on the site's natural and cultural history, undertaking a Connecting with Country process with local Aboriginal Elders to inform the architectural and landscape design.

Senior Associate Matthew Ritchard said the design sought to create a building that responded to both the site's landscape and its cultural significance.

"The architectural language of the project is a deep expression of Connecting with Country, where the materiality and colour palette serve as a bridge between the site's geological history and its future as a residential sanctuary."

The proposal also retains the site's established blue gum tree as the centrepiece of the communal landscaped gardens, while introducing activated retail fronting Military Road to strengthen the connection between Mosman and Cremorne villages.

If approved, the project would deliver 100 new homes within walking distance of shops, public transport, schools and local amenities, adding to the limited pipeline of new apartments on the Lower North Shore.

<h2>Project Snapshot</h2>

Project: Honeysuckle Garden Redevelopment

Address: 494-516 Military Road, Mosman

Developer: Abadeen and Phoenix Property Investors

Architect: DKO Architecture

Lead Architect: Matthew Ritchard

Value: $230 million

Residences: 100 apartments

Key features:

<ul>
	<li>
	Ground-floor retail
	</li>
	<li>
	Rooftop wellness precinct
	</li>
	<li>
	Gym and sauna
	</li>
	<li>
	Outdoor entertaining and BBQ areas
	</li>
	<li>
	Landscaped communal gardens
	</li>
	<li>
	Multi-use recreation court
	</li>
	<li>
	Retained mature blue gum tree
	</li>
	<li>
	Connecting with Country design process
	</li>
	<li>
	Harbour, CBD and Balmoral views from upper-level apartments
	</li>
</ul>

Abadeen Executive Chairman Justin Brown said the apartments had been designed as genuine long-term homes rather than investor-focused stock

First look: Abadeen plans 100 apartments on former Honeysuckle Garden site in Mosman

The wave of apartment proposals sweeping through Mosman shows no signs of slowing, with another major residential development lodged through the NSW Government's State Significant Development pathway.

Developer First Quadrant Properties, which recently completed Willoughby Grounds and has several projects in planning across the North Shore, has unveiled plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/cove-on-ourimbah-40-56-ourimbah-road-mosman-nsw-2088">Cove on Ourimbah</a>, a 63-apartment development on Ourimbah Road, adding to the growing pipeline of projects reshaping one of Sydney's most tightly held harbour suburbs.

The proposal would consolidate nine properties at 40-56 Ourimbah Road into a part eight, part nine-storey apartment building, continuing the momentum created by the NSW Government's accelerated planning pathways that have seen several significant developments emerge across Mosman over the past 12 months.

Designed by Doroch Architects, the project would deliver 63 apartments, resident wellness facilities including a gym, pool and sauna, landscaped communal spaces and basement parking, while using recessed upper levels, generous setbacks and extensive planting to reduce the perceived scale of the building.

<img alt="First look: First Quadrant Properties eyes nine-storey Mosman apartment project under State Significant pathway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32ee68e4-141e-4a10-8f83-48e961a5e71e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Ourimbah%20Road%2C%20Mosman%20a.png?VersionId=CUeILFc6APlwXPc.iplElbxHvREKwjig" />

Doroch Architects said the building had been designed to reinforce Mosman's established character.

"The building's aesthetic is grounded in the existing residential character of Ourimbah Road and the broader Mosman context," the architect noted in the planning documents submitted to the NSW Government.

The design adopts a contemporary material palette of natural stone, textured concrete and brown concave metal cladding, complemented by integrated planters and deep balconies. The podium incorporates softened curved concrete forms, while increased setbacks have been provided adjacent to the heritage-listed property at 60 Ourimbah Road to create a more sympathetic transition.

The site sits around 330 metres from Mosman Town Centre, placing it within the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy area, where increased residential density is being encouraged close to shops, transport and services.

The proposal follows a string of major apartment projects lodged or declared State Significant in Mosman in recent months, including Abadeen's 100-apartment Honeysuckle Garden redevelopment on Military Road and several other developments across Awaba Street, Redan Street and Muston Street from the likes of Time &amp; Place, HELM and Prosker Property.

&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/time-place-to-take-on-mosman-apartment-market">Time &amp; Place to take on Mosman apartment market</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-abadeen-plans-100-apartments-on-former-honeysuckle-garden-site-in-mosman">First look: Abadeen plans 100 apartments on former Honeysuckle Garden site in Mosman</a>

&nbsp;

Jonathan Chancellor

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