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The controversial former NRL player Todd Carney has recently settled on an off the plan Sans Souci apartment purchase.
Carney, currently playing for the Super League club Catalan Dragons, signed up to buy the $460,000 off the plan apartment shortly after he quit the Sydney Roosters in 2011 to play for the Cronulla Sharks.
Building delays saw settlement postponed well beyond initial indications, leaving Carney to settle on the deal while playing in France.
The 80 sqm apartment is on the third floor of The Jameson, which was developed by Koundouris Projects, in partnership with Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis.
It was bought in early 2012 after Carney had left the Sydney Roosters following a string of off-field club discipline issues. 
The rugby league player is currently in the middle of a legal battle with the Cronulla Sharks following his sacking in June last year. Carney is suing for $3 million for unfair dismissal.
The Jameson was a selection of one, two and three bedroom apartments all with security underground parking and storage with some apartments enjoying Botany Bay water views.
A comparable sale in the Rocky Point Road complex saw a $435,000 off the plan apartment onsold at $520,000 recently which reflected a nice 5.5 per cent annual price growth.
Amid the recent off the plan settlements was the Australian cricket captain Steve Smith who bought in December 2011 for $435,000.
The Koundouris family are better known as owners of the supermarket chain Supabarn, which is currently under offer from Coles subject to ACCC sale approval.
Carney owns an impressive portfolio, now with four known Sydney properties. His portfolio's first acquisition was  in 2007 when he bought a $395,000 Wentworth Point apartment which is a $410 a week rental.
Carney was back in the news this week after using social media late last month suggesting he had married a Brazilian bikini model in Bali.
Carney's manager David Riolo later explained it was a gee up by the pair.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

NRL's Todd Carney settles on off the plan Sydney purchase

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Actor Richard Roxburgh, star of Rake, and his wife, the SBS TV celebrity chef Silvia Colloca have their five bedroom Bilgola Plateau home listed for auction.
Their northern beaches modern <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bilgola-121101482" target="_blank">beach-style retreat</a> has been listed through James Baker at Raine and Horne Palm Beach who sold it to the couple six years ago.
With panoramic views over Pittwater, the ultra modern two level home on Lower Plateau Road has been scheduled for November 22 auction - yes a Sunday - with around $2 million tipped.
It cost $1.62 million in 2009 having been initially listed with $2 million hopes in 2008. 
They are planning on staying on the northern beaches.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Actor Richard Roxburgh lists Bilgola home for Sunday auction

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The Australian cricket captain Steve Smith has secured his second Sydney investment property.
It is an 127 sqm one bedroom plus study apartment with courtyard in the recently complete Jameson complex in Sans Souci on the corner of Rocky Point Road and Russell Avenue.
Smith bought it off the plan in 2011 with its delayed construction triggering its recent settlement after which it was advertised as a $515 a week rental
It cost $435,000 on the ground floor in the block designed by Koundouris Projects which has a history of being awarded some of the housing industry’s highest honours including the HIA Custom Built Home of the Year and the MBA Medium Density Townhouse Award.
The Jameson was a selection of one, two and three bedroom - sold through Colliers International - all with security underground parking and storage with many apartments enjoying Botany Bay water views.
Designed by architectural firm Krikis Tayler, with shops beneath, the complex is close to beaches Dolls Point and Botany Bay and public transport.
Smith who calls home Coogee spent $635,000 on a two bedroom Quarry, Marrickville investment apartment in 2013.
 
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Cricket captain Steve Smith secures second Sydney investment property

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<h2 class="rss-speech-title speechTitle"> </h2>
Malcolm Edey, the RBA Assistant Governor (Financial System) spoke at the Australian Property Institute's Queensland Property Conference last week on the risks in commercial property.
"Historically this has been a common source of financial instability both here and abroad," he told the huge gathering.
"During the height of the GFC, Australian banks remained in comparatively good shape but they did suffer a noticeable deterioration in asset performance, with the aggregate non-performance rate rising to just under 2 per cent of loans.
"A significant part of that deterioration was in commercial property lending; impaired commercial property exposures accounted for around 30 per cent of Australian banks' non-performing domestic assets at that time."
He noted that after the post-crisis downturn, the commercial property sector was again experiencing strong investor demand, and bank lending to the sector is increasing. 
"However there are a number of signs of increasing risk.
"Trends in commercial property prices and rents have been diverging over the past few years, with prices continuing to rise while rents have been flat to down (Graph 4).
 "As a result, yields have declined. At the same time, vacancy rates have been increasing.
<a href="/images/2015/12/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-11%20at%203.33.24%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/12/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-11%20at%203.33.24%20PM.png" alt="" width="528" height="484">
He noted as with the housing market, conditions have not been uniform across the country, and they have been noticeably firmer in Sydney and Melbourne than in other centres.
"But in aggregate, the major categories of commercial property have all seen downward pressure on yields over recent years.
"Strong demand from foreign buyers has contributed to this, reflecting the global environment of low interest rates and ‘search for yield’ (Graph 5). 
"The risks appear manageable at this stage, but they underscore the need for sound lending practices and for appropriate prudence by investors."
Graph 5
<a href="/images/2015/12/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-11%20at%203.35.07%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/12/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-11%20at%203.35.07%20PM.png" alt="">
<a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2015/images/sp-ag-2015-11-06-graph5.gif" target="_blank"></a>
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RBA's Malcolm Edey says commercial property risks appear manageable

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From April 2016, Paul Craig currently managing director for Western Australia, will be Savills Australia &amp; New Zealand chief executive.
Paul McLean will retain his responsibilities for Queensland and New Zealand
Robert McKellar, CEO Savills Asia Pacific said Savills had undertaken a regional review of its Asia Pacific management structure, including succession planning, with a view to strengthening and expanding the executive management platform.
“The business under Paul McLean's leadership has trebled in size in Australia and New Zealand - a period of continuous growth, expansion, and improved profitability, and Savills is indebted to his hard work, vision, loyalty and leadership during this time," Robert McKellar said.
“Paul Craig has over the past 15 years built a very successful West Australian business and has been a major contributor to our Capital Markets capability both domestically and internationally, having held the position as head of Australian Cross Border Capital Markets for the past 8 years.
"Paul will bring renewed energy and vigour to the role and will continue to build on the successes of the recently expanded executive management team."
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Savills WA's Paul Craig to take on national role

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The regional Dan Murphy's at Armidale has been listed by Burgess Rawson.
The property also comes with a Dick Smith, so has been marketed as "double income, double security."
It is <a href="https://www.burgessrawson.com.au/buying/NSW/New-England-~-North-West/Armidale/Retail/3P1190#.VkK70t4bSZw" target="_blank">216-218 Beardy Street</a>. The rental incomes is $553,217 pa.
Dan Murphy's has a 15 year lease plus 40 years of options to April 2066. The Dick Smith 10 year lease plus 15 years of options runs to Jan 2036.
Both tenants pay increases in outgoings at the city centre main street location. 
It is a quality updated air conditioned building of 2,000 sqm plus 90 car spaces.
Armidale is a major regional city with a growing population of 24,105 (ABS 2011) and an estimated catchment of 115,000.
It goes to auction December 8.
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Armidale Dan Murphy for Burgess Rawson auction

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EG Funds Management (EG) has acquired a commercial office building in Melbourne CBD for $45.9 million for its Core Plus Fund No. 1.
The property at 277 William Street is within the core legal precinct, adjacent to Flagstaff station.
It was sold through CBRE by Melbourne property player Harry Stamoulis who paid $7.8 million in 1999. 
The 12 level building with 32 basement car parks has a total 12,071 sqm of net lettable area.
At acquisition, the asset is 90 per cent occupied with a 3.5 year WALE, said divisional director of EG Daniel Farley.
Anchored by strong tenants, Shine Lawyers, Medibank and Tenix Solutions, the William Street property is the first Melbourne CBD office asset within the fund.
Th property is the seventh acquisition for the Core Plus Fund No. 1.
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EG's Core Plus Fund 1 buys first Melbourne office block

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Playfair House at 2 Ridge Street, North Sydney passed in on a bid of $2.85 million when auctioned last Saturday.
It is an <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/2-ridge-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060-2012339885" target="_blank">1885 five-bedroom Victorian terrace</a> Playfair House which came with $3 million hopes.
Listing agent Jennifer Hampton, had issued 10 contracts on the commercial-residential zoned property.
It is currently leased as a commercial property until January 2016.
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Playfair House, North Sydney offering passed in

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Some two decades in the making, the real estate company McGrath Ltd has fixed its initial public offering price at $2.10, according to a term sheet sent to clients this morning.
The authoritative AFR column Street Talk says this equates to a pro forma consolidated FY16 forecast NPATA per share of 13.4 times and an enterprise value/pro forma consolidated FY16 forecast EBITDA of 8.8 times. 
The annualised forecast FY16 dividend yield at the offer price of 3.7% through JPMorgan and Bell Potter Securities. 
The offer size is $129.6 million for a market capitalisation of $281.8 million. 
The enterprise value at the offer price is $272.1 million. 
The bookbuild closes on at 5pm today with the prospectus to be lodged tomorrow.
The shares start trading on December 7 (on a deferred settlement basis) and December 9 (on a normal settlement basis).
The float was only possible after McGrath Real Estate Agents resolved issues in late 2014 over an assessment of $6 million by NSW Office of State Revenue.
The OSR alleged the McGrath group were liable for payroll tax on commission payments received by “independent” agents who were contracted to them from July 2007 to June 2012.
The settlement terms were confidential, but Geoff Lucas, chief operating officer for McGrath Estate Agents confirmed to Property Observer that the dispute with the OSR was resolved in September 2014, shortly after the issue garnered public attention.
Property Observer revealed that the prominent estate agency had been issued OSR payroll tax assessment notices.
The total amount being disputed is $6,072,810, inclusive of payroll tax, interest and penalty tax.
The directors had believed McGrath Sales Proprietary Limited had no payroll tax obligations.
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McGrath set for $2.10 IPO float next month

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Just 19 millioniares have sought significant investor visa permits since Australia overhauled its requirements from July, the Australian Financial Review has reported.
New applicants now must invest some of their $5 million into smaller equities and venture capital, directing investment away from passive investment towards investment in innovation and industrial development.
It was sitting at seven applications two months ago.
Some 1,600 applicants, mostly from China preferred the former fast track residency scheme that allowed low-risk government debt and property investments investing around $3.8 billion into Australian assets after the Federal Government created the golden visa in 2012. 
Under the new rules, applicants must spend $500,000 on funds investing in startup and small private companies, $1.5 million on small-cap equity funds, with the other $3 million on managed funds across Australian listed securities, eligible corporate bonds or notes, annuities and property.
Investment in residential real estate will only be permitted to comprise 10% of the $5 million minimum investment amount, although investors may invest in excess of this outside of this limit.
"The cost of the visa has gone up the risk curve," David Chin, the Sydney-based managing director of Basis Point Consulting Pty told the paper.
Chinese nationals accounted for 91 percent of applications under the old program, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. estimated.
Australia granted around 750 of the visas between November 2012 and March 2015 from 1,679 applications submitted, government data show with Victoria the most popular destination.
The new Federal Government rules which require investors to put their money into riskier assets such as venture capital come as likely investors also struggle to shift money following China's official central government move to tighten capital controls.
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New venture capital SIV scheme off to very slow start as Chinese mostly want property

Ron Bakir's Homecorp has sold more than 75 per cent of the apartments in its wellness-driven Florence Residences in Surfers Paradise following its first weekend release.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/florence-residences-24-monte-carlo-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">26-storey project on Monte Carlo Avenue</a>, which commenced construction earlier this year, has seen a flurry of buyers secure their slice of the Gold Coast's latest wellbeing-focused offering in one of the nation's most competitive property markets.

Since the pandemic, the Gold Coast's population has grown by more than 11 per cent, a rate approximately four times faster than Sydney's, driven largely by lifestyle changes and interstate migration. While buyer activity has moderated in some markets nationally, demand for newly built dwellings on the Gold Coast continues to gain momentum as purchasers increasingly prioritise lifestyle, amenity, wellbeing, liveability and long-term investment potential.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372743]

Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir says buyers today are looking for more than just a home.

"What we are seeing is a shift in how people define value in property," Bakir says.

"What attracts residents to new developments is a desire for more than just a residence. They are looking for a place that complements their lifestyle, supports their wellbeing and reflects the way they want to live into the future.

"Lifestyle, longevity, proactive health, wellbeing, connection and a sense of community are increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, particularly on the Gold Coast, where these factors continue to be a major drawcard."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372744]

Bakir says Homecorp is responding to this shift through an approach that places greater emphasis on design, amenity and experience working together to create places that feel considered, connected and enduring in value.

Inspired by Eastern European design, Florence Residences will comprise 120 apartments alongside a private residents-only wellness club featuring a resort-style rooftop pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a spa retreat, contemporary gymnasium, and a spacious yoga and Pilates studio.

The development will also feature a residents-only lounge with private dining facilities and a rooftop bar, premium outdoor entertaining areas, a hotel-style lobby lounge, generous bike parking, and pet-friendly amenities including a heated dog wash.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372742]

A limited number of apartments remain available, with an exclusive collection of four-bedroom sub-penthouses set to be released in the coming months.

Florence is one of the latest additions to Homecorp's expanding multi-billion-dollar property portfolio, which also includes plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/homecorp-lodges-plans-for-260-million-moroccan-bathhouse-inspired-tower-in-budds-beach">$260 million development in Budds Beach</a> tailored to the growing wellness market.

A development application has been lodged for a 27-storey, 156-residence tower at 8–10 Acacia Avenue and 25–27 Oak Avenue, featuring a residents-only Moroccan spa-inspired sanctuary.

Apartments at Florence Residences are priced from $1,249,000, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150414]

Joel Robinson

Buyers rush to Homecorp's Florence Residences as Gold Coast wellness trend gains momentum

The NSW Government has expanded its $1 billion Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program, broadening access for affordable housing providers and smaller residential developments as it seeks to accelerate housing delivery across the state.

The Minns Government says the program has already helped bring forward more than 600 homes across Sydney and regional NSW since launching in September 2025, with similar models now adopted in South Australia and Western Australia.

The latest changes, announced by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, are designed to improve access to finance for projects that have planning approval but are struggling to secure funding.

Among the key changes is an expansion of support for community housing providers. The program will now support up to 100 per cent affordable housing projects valued at up to $30 million when delivered by not-for-profit providers, while support for larger affordable housing developments will increase for projects worth up to $80 million.

The government says the changes will help accelerate the delivery of housing for low-income workers, older people, people living with disability, and those at risk of homelessness, while reducing reliance on direct grants or subsidised loans to bridge funding gaps.

The eligibility criteria for smaller residential developments have also been broadened. The previous $5 million minimum project value threshold has been removed and replaced with a requirement that projects deliver at least four homes.

Support has also increased for projects delivering fewer than 20 homes, with the guarantee now able to cover up to 75 per cent of dwellings in a development, capped at $30 million per project.

The changes are expected to particularly benefit smaller-scale and regional developments, which often face greater challenges meeting pre-sale requirements imposed by lenders.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the scheme demonstrates how government can use its balance sheet to stimulate housing supply without relying solely on taxpayer-funded grants.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee shows how this Government is using its balance sheet to reduce risk and unlock private investment, enabling new homes to move from design to construction faster," Mookhey said.

"This landmark reform allows us to deliver homes for working families at a lower cost to taxpayers, while also maintaining strong financial discipline."

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the program had already proven effective in bringing stalled projects to market.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee has already proven it can unlock stalled projects and accelerate housing delivery by giving lenders the confidence they need to back good developments," Scully said.

"These changes will allow more affordable housing and smaller developments to access support so more homes can be built faster where communities need them most."

Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the expansion would help community housing providers overcome financing barriers that often delay projects.

"We know community housing providers are ready to build more homes, too often they're held back by barriers to finance," Jackson said.

"Expanding the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee helps remove those barriers so more affordable homes can get off the ground sooner."

The announcement was welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, which has long advocated for measures aimed at improving project feasibility and access to finance.

Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson described the expansion as a practical intervention that addresses one of the most immediate constraints on housing delivery.

"This is exactly the kind of practical intervention we need right now, focused on getting projects out of the ground, not just approved," Stevenson said.

"It builds on a model the Property Council has worked closely with government to develop following calls for such a scheme ahead of last year's NSW Budget, so it's great to see it being expanded."

Stevenson said the reforms would help unlock projects that are ready to proceed but have been delayed by financing challenges. However, she noted that broader feasibility issues remain a significant barrier to increasing housing supply.

"The biggest challenge in NSW housing today is delivery. Too many projects have planning approval but are simply not financially viable to proceed under current settings," she said.

Speaking at the Property Council's NSW Housing Summit, Housing Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged that feasibility and financing pressures continue to constrain housing delivery, while reaffirming the government's commitment to work with industry on solutions.

Stevenson said the government's recognition of those challenges was encouraging ahead of next week's state budget.

"It's positive to see the government clearly recognising that feasibility pressures are now a binding constraint on supply," she said.

"With the Budget just days away, the focus must be on backing delivery, making sure projects stack up, finance can flow, and more homes can move from approval to construction."

The expanded Pre-sale Finance Guarantee forms part of the NSW Government's broader housing agenda, which also includes planning reforms, the NSW Housing Pattern Book, and a series of rezonings intended to increase housing capacity across the state.

NSW expands Pre-sale Finance Guarantee to unlock more affordable and regional housing

Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.

Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.

The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]

Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.

"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.

"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]

Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.

A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.

The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.

Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.

Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.

At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.

Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.

“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.

The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.

Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.

“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]

A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.

The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.

The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

The Walden pairs house-scale living with North Sydney connectivity

The ACT will become the first jurisdiction in Australia to abolish stamp duty for all first home buyers, with no income caps and no property price thresholds from 1 July.

The move, announced as part of the ACT Budget, completes a key election commitment from the Barr Government and removes what Chief Minister Andrew Barr described as one of the biggest barriers to entering the housing market. The reform forms part of the ACT's long-running transition away from transaction taxes and towards a broader-based property tax system.

"This budget marks a major milestone in our long-term tax reform program," Barr said, adding that the government had maintained a sustained focus on removing barriers to home ownership. He said stamp duty had long been one of the largest upfront hurdles facing buyers and that from July, "that barrier is gone" for first home buyers in the Territory.

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The changes come alongside a range of measures designed to encourage new housing supply, including support for the delivery of so-called "missing middle" housing such as terraces, townhouses and low-rise multi-unit developments.

The announcement has renewed debate around whether the ACT's approach could provide a blueprint for improving housing affordability nationally.

New research from OurTop10.com.au, conducted by Primara Research, suggests the Territory's decade-long reform agenda has produced outcomes unmatched elsewhere in Australia.

While stamp duty costs have increased by an average 67 per cent nationally over the past decade, the ACT has recorded growth of just 15 per cent, the lowest increase of any jurisdiction.

The Territory has also emerged as one of the strongest performers on housing delivery. Based on population-weighted housing targets, the ACT is sitting less than one per cent behind its target. Victoria is the next closest at seven per cent behind, while the national average sits 25 per cent below target. New South Wales is tracking 39 per cent behind.

The latest reform removes one of the final barriers facing first home buyers in Canberra.

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The average Australian home buyer currently pays $61,714 in stamp duty. In the ACT, that figure is $38,399 despite the Territory having the third-highest median house price in the country.

Until now, the ACT's first home buyer concession scheme only applied to purchases up to $1.02 million, around $51,000 below Canberra's median house price of $1.071 million. In practical terms, many first home buyers were unable to access the median-priced home without losing the concession.

From July, those restrictions disappear.

Every first home buyer in the ACT will pay no stamp duty, regardless of income or purchase price.

Canberra remains one of Australia's most expensive housing markets, with dwelling values increasing 82 per cent over the past decade. However, that growth ranks only 11th among Australia's 15 major housing markets, suggesting affordability pressures have been less severe than in many other parts of the country.

Simon Ma, CEO of OurTop10.com.au, said the latest reforms recognise that many first home buyers have simply outgrown thresholds set years ago.

"Many first home buyers aren't just looking for a way onto the ladder, they want a home their family can actually live in," Ma said.

"In a market where the median house price is over a million dollars, a concession scheme that cuts out at $1.02 million was never going to get them there.

"Removing the ceiling entirely means ACT first home buyers can now pursue the home they actually want, rather than limiting themselves to a price point designed for a very different market."

Whether other states follow remains to be seen. But at a time when most jurisdictions are struggling to improve affordability while also increasing housing supply, the ACT has quietly become the national test case for both.

15% stamp duty growth. Just 1% off the national housing target. Zero stamp duty for FHBs. Is the ACT the blueprint for the great Australian dream?

Jonathan Chancellor

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