<html><body>
Carols playing in supermarkets indicates the countdown to Christmas is in full swing with only seven weeks left until Santa comes down the chimney.
Being so close to Christmas, many vendors are deterred from putting their house on the market, but plenty of buyers are circling at this time.
These include families who are keen to be settled before the start of the next school year in February.
The countdown to Christmas comes with increasing anticipation and anxiety - not just the joyous distractions of the long Christmas to do lists.
The looming holiday deadline plays havoc with the property market, but auctions and deals can be done almost right up to Christmas Eve.
<a href="https://www.bresicwhitney.com.au/buy/17-gipps-street-paddington-10024" target="_blank">The December 20 auctions </a>are beginning to get marketed - and no doubt pre-auction offers will be taken.
Indeed one year in the booming late 1980s, a Double Bay agent secured a Christmas Day sale of a luxury Vaucluse waterfront with a New Zealand buyer.
Our veteran property commentators, Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok offer tips for anxious vendors set to list for auction between now and the Christmas break, which is just seven weeks away.
Last year was a cracker of an auction years and just 11 days before Christmas Sydney had its biggest auction day ever with almost 1,000 auctions and then 300 on the Saturday four days before the holiday.
Similarly high numbers in Melbourne where 11 days before Christmas, more than 1,300 auctions were scheduled and it was the third weekend in a row of that number.
HE SAID:<img src="/images/stories/2013/09/06/jc-silhouette-5.jpg" alt="jc-silhouette-5" width="130" height="195" style="float: right;">
<ul>
<li>Certainly you shouldn't be waiting for a print marketing campaign – advertise your property on the internet immediately, even if the property is billed as a forthcoming 2015 auction. </li>
<li>Choose an experienced local agent who will be pro-active in finding buyers, and then identify the right buyer for your home. Hopefully the agent already knows the likely buyer from their long list of unsuccessful bidders at their recent auctions.  </li>
<li>Offer extended settlement terms to say March 2015 – as this gives buyers time to sell their property during the likely quieter January and February period. </li>
<li>Eliminate clutter. Potential buyers are looking for their dream home – not yours. Festoons of tizzy Christmas decorations can detract from the house, so don’t go overboard this year.  Instead choose a small Christmas tree and subtle decorations. </li>
<li>Auction clearance rates normally trend downwards through December, but last year the market was quite robust – however it would be a folly to put all your hopes on a 20 December auction outcome.</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/stories/2013/09/06/mb-silhouette-4.jpg" alt="mb-silhouette-4" width="130" height="195" style="float: left;">SHE SAID:
Commission a building and pest report to be made available to potential buyers – not only will it expedite things, but buyers will also see you have nothing to hide. And it could also identify a problem that may to need to be rectified.
<ul>
<li>A quick cosmetic clean-up can do wonders – get the men around the house to steam-clean the carpets, wash the windows, re-grout bathroom tiles, touch up paintwork, and high pressure hose outside areas. </li>
<li>Be sensible about pricing your property - don’t be greedy. Listen to your agent’s market feedback about the value of your home so you can make an informed decision about its worth in the current market based on all the recent comparable sales. </li>
<li>Meanwhile don't forget a quick declutter, along with styling and professional photographs which will present your property in its best light. If pushed engage a stylist to declutter and do an interior makeover. Certainly hire a professional photographer to take four to six pictures of your property for internet advertisements. </li>
<li>Best be an accommodating vendor and allow inspections outside scheduled times, for this could clinch a sale with time-poor Mums and Dads caught up in the Christmas rush of children’s’ concerts and office parties.</li>
</ul>
Good luck!
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Seven weeks to Christmas: He Said/She Said's selling tips for the pre-holiday market

<html><body>
Two Guilford Bell-designed homes on the Point Nepean Road on the Mornington Peninsula have been up for sale.
Off market, the acclaimed, though very private, Guilford Bell-designed 1958 Baillieu House at Sorrento recently sold for $19 million.
Property Observer gathers the off market $19 million private treaty buyer was Good Guys boss Andrew Muir and his wife Emma.
It ranks as one of 10 Victorian dwellings featured in Neil Clerehan’s important 1961 book Best Australian Houses, which illustrated cutting-edge residential design of the day. Of the 10, at least three have since been demolished. 
<img src="/images/2014/11/07/sorrento-nov-7-one.jpg" alt="">
 
Photo: Baillieu House, Sorrento. Source: Best Australian Houses.
Its heritage status was considered in the Survey of Post-War Built Heritage in Victoria in 2010. The study decided that any house that has been included in Best Australian Houses should qualify for automatic inclusion.
"These are considered to be of architectural significance at the state level, for their ability to demonstrate what was considered, at that time, and by one of Australia’s leading authorities on residential architecture, to be the best modern houses in the country," the report advised. 
The report also noted it was surprising none of the seven survivors were protected by an individual heritage overlay. 
The Guilford Bell house was sold by Antony Baillieu, formerly of Mt Elephant at Derrinallum, after his mother, Elizabeth Baillieu died in early 2007. 
There is another Guilford Bell-designed house currently for sale on the peninsula at Portsea. Offers for Binnum close 12 November. 
Its a cliff front property with frontage from Point Nepean Road to Weeroona Beach reserve.
The recently renovated home, Binnum that sits within a Paul Bangay-designed garden at 3840 Point Nepean Road has been offered by Mitre 10 CEO, Mark Laidlaw. Set on about 2,023 square metres, it is for sale (pictured above) through <a href="https://www.rtedgar.com.au/?pagecall=property&amp;propertyID=2740309&amp;agentID=948&amp;realestate=3840_Point_Nepean_Road_PORTSEA_VIC_3944&amp;showGoBack=true" target="_blank">RT Edgar Real Estate Portsea agents Warwick Anderson and Ilze Moran</a>.
The unconfirmed price expectations of about $8 million for the property that offers north-facing views over Port Phillip Bay and to Portsea Pier.
The Muir's Toorak home is another former Baillieu house, designed by H.D. Annear in the mid-1920s. It was retained for four generations by members of the Baillieu family.
It was bought from Steve Vizard for $17.75 million in 2007.
Andrew Muir's late father, Ian Muir, built The Good Guys franchise from a single shop in 1952.
</body></html>

Good Guys' Andrew Muir buys acclaimed Guilford Bell designed Baillieu House, Sorrento

<html><body>
A modernist Allen Jack &amp; Cottier-designed home in Vaucluse has been sold for $3.5 million.
Some six bidders competed for the dry side Coolong Road property.
There was an opening bid of $2.8 million.
It was bought by a young family returning from Melbourne.
The five-bedroom home features exposed brick walls, quarry tiled floors and Scandinavian inspired design.
The property was sold through Michael Dunn and James Dunn of Richardson &amp; Wrench Double Bay having been tightly held by one family for over 30 years.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-118070319" target="_blank">It was marketed as having versatile spaces</a> including a formal living room with walled garden and family room with alfresco court-garden. Upstairs has a living room with balcony, master wing with sitting room/guest room and study area, and four further bedrooms.
</body></html>

Allen Jack & Cottier 1970s Vaucluse home sells for $3.5 million

<html><body>
Hotel group One&amp;Only Resorts will manage the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa.
The group owned by South African magnate Sol Kerzner has secured management rights of the six-star resort.
It is located 190 kilometres from ­Sydney inside the Blue Mountains world heritage conservation area.
The 40-villa resort will be One&amp;Only’s second Australian management property, after the group secured management rights over Hayman Island resort from Malaysian group Mulpha.
It came after two years of negotiation.
Emirates spent more than $130 million to build the 2009 resort.
Wolgan Valley founding general manager Joost Heymeijer said it was operating in the profit three years after opening.
</body></html>

 One&Only Resorts to manage Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa

<html><body>
Private treaty time on market blew out again in Brisbane and Perth, according to the latest October figures from Australian Property Monitors.
Only Melbourne and Canberra avoided any deterioration in time on market, but just by a one day improvement.
Sydney and Adelaide enjoyed a marginal weakening, but only by a day.
Sydney was among the capitals where vendor's discounting deteriorated during October.
The Gold Coast stayed the same at 121 days, the longest time required by vendors across the surveyed cities.
But the Gold Coast also achieved a low discounting status of 6.1%, a level that hasn't been seen for many years. 
Click to open in new window: 
<a href="/images/2014/10/29/apm-oct-29-one.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/10/29/apm-oct-29-one.jpg" alt=""></a> 
</body></html>

Brisbane and Perth time on market October blowout for vendors: APM

<html><body>
Cardiff, the time capsule Woollahra home of late author and academic Donald Horne will be offered for auction on 18 November.
Property Observer notes it was bought for £7,700 in early 1966, two years after publication of The Lucky Country in 1964.
The four-bedroom Victorian terrace at <a href="https://www.randw.com.au/1829355/" target="_blank">53 Grosvenor Street has been listed</a> with James Dunn of Richardson &amp; Wrench, Double Bay. There are $1.75 million plus price expectations.
Its period details include three marble gas fireplaces, high ceiling and timber floorboards.
The terrace has a handsome study with floor-to ceiling bookcases, fireplace and double french doors leading to a patio on the 175 square metre block.
Since Horne died in 2005, his widow Myfanwy continued to reside at the terrace which last traded 48 years ago. 
Myfanwy Horne, who died late last year, was a book editor whose enduring legacy is her work as Donald's editor. Donald wrote some 26 books, including his most famous work The Lucky Country, published in 1964.
The 1966 purchase, a Trade Credits Limited mortgagee sale, gave his occupation as advertising executive.
On his death, the writer David Marr noted Horne's various careers - from advertising, via the Packer press, through academe and then "a long non-retirement as the sage of Woollahra".
Marr added Horne was one of those writers cursed by writing a book so famous that everything else he wrote lived in its shadow.
The title of Horne's The Lucky Country comes from the opening words of the book's last chapter:
<blockquote>
Australia is a lucky country, run by second-rate people who share its luck.
</blockquote>
Horne's statement was an indictment of 1960s Australia that "showed less enterprise than almost any other prosperous industrial society."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Country#cite_note-culture-2"> </a>
In his 1976 follow-up book, Death of the Lucky Country, Horne was critical of the "lucky country" phrase being used as a term of endearment for Australia. 
Elsewhere on the street, the Polese family recently secured $1.9 million for their investment terrace that sits on 174 square metres with parking. It cost $490,000 in 1988.
</body></html>

Revered author Donald Horne's longtime Woollahra terrace listing

<html><body>
The international celebrity chef Bill Granger and his wife Natalie Elliott have sold their Bronte house, with the price undisclosed.
But Property Observer gleans close to $3.5 million was achieved.
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/property/for-sale/house/nsw/bronte/?adid=2011488610&amp;sp=11" target="_blank">The Californian bungalow</a> last traded in April 2008 for $2.88 million.
The four-bedroom, two level house features an open-plan living and kitchen area that overlooks a north-facing garden. 
There were $3.3 million plus expectations for the couple and their three daughters Edie, Ines and Bunny who live now in London.
Pauline Goodyer, of Goodyer Real Estate, had the 1 November auction Yanko Avenue offering which had been a $2,500 a week rental.
</body></html>

Celebrity chef Bill Granger sells Bronte house

<html><body>
A working Paddington garage has been listed for sale, with the prospect it could become a residential abode.
The almost 100 year old building was once the site of a fire station, complete with horses and water-laden carts.
Three generations of auto mechanics later took the reins, <a href="https://goodyer.com.au/1P2727" target="_blank">the Goodyer marketing advised</a>.
The hillside 1a Ormond Street property has the potential to match the adjoining three and four-storey Paddington home.
There is a heritage listed facade.
It has a 5.8 metre wide by 12.6 metre deep footprint. Owner Les Rechnitzer is selling up after 17 years. Initial buying interest has been expressed at easily over $1 million.
It's listing comes after the recent successful conversion of a private garage in nearby Hopewell Street.
The former Paddington garage transformed into a two bedroom terrace with parking fetched $1.415 million. It had the issue of a de-serviced petrol pit.
The then single storey lock-up garage<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-paddington-113013491" target="_blank"> sold at $822,500</a> in July last year. Positioned between <a href="/expert-insights/buying/transformed-paddington-garage-now-with-residence-atop">adjoining terraces</a>, the then lock up garage occupied its 76 square metre block with a width of 4.6 metres.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/photogallery_new.ds;jsessionid=AD5F9A0E1C4DFC4221F5BDA19ECB4AD6?id=113013491&amp;theme=rea.sold" rel="photos" data-id="113013491"><img src="https://i1.au.reastatic.net/456x342/471c7d6ef95c494be7037f09057f5a8409447d6482edc9286f3754348d813452/main.jpg" alt="19 Hopewell St, Paddington" title="19 Hopewell St, Paddington" data-index="0"></a>
Above: The garage before its renovation.
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/transformed-paddington-garage-now-with-residence-atop">It now has 93 square metres of living space</a>, plus 23 square metres of courtyard along with Centrepoint Tower views.
<img src="/images/phocagallery/2014/09/paddington-sept-23/paddington_0000_j1.jpg.jpg">
Above: The garage after its renovation.
The <a href="/news">Paddington</a> house price median sits at $1.55 million according to RP Data.
The Hopewell Street offering sold through Position Realty agent Deborah Terley with development approval last July and again last month.
</body></html>

Former fire station turned Paddington mechanics garage listed for auction

<html><body>
Scentre Group, the Westfield business in Australia formed earlier this year, has reported improving retail sales growth.
The shopping mall group announced a third-quarter operational update for the nine months to September, with comparable specialty sales showing a rise of 3.7% year to date.
“We have seen an improving retail sales trend with 15 consecutive months of positive specialty sales growth in Australia with a 4.2% increase in comparable specialty sales for the quarter with good increases in the fashion, footwear, jewellery, leisure and retail services categories,” Scentre group chief executive officer Peter Allen said.
The retail sales environment in Australia continues to improve with total retail sales of $20.2 billion for the 12 months to 30 September 2014. In particular, comparable specialty store sales growth was up 3.7% over the last nine months and up 4.2% for the September quarter. 
Specialty sales productivity averaged $10,105 per square metre.
In Australia, the average specialty store rent grew to $1,551 per square metre at 30 September 2014, up 1.9% from September 2013. For the nine months to 30 September 2014, leasing spreads were 4.2% lower than expiring rents, with lease renewals 1.1% lower and new merchants 7.3% lower, both reflecting an improving trend. Over 2,100 leases have been completed year to date across 267,000 square metres for the portfolio.
For the total portfolio, specialty store occupancy cost was 18.8%, a decrease of 40 basis points from September 2013. 
For the nine months to 30 September 2014, leasing spreads were 4.2% lower than expiring rents, with lease renewals 1.1% lower and new merchants 7.3% lower.
In Australia, the average specialty store rent grew to $1,551 per square metre at 30 September 2014, up 1.9% from September 2013.
Occupancy costs fell 40 basis points to 18.8%.
During the quarter Scentre launched stage one of Westfield Miranda, which included a new Woolworths, 40 new specialty stores, a new car park. Stage two opening will be on 20 November with about 90 additional specialty stores, a new restaurant precinct and refurbished department stores. The final stage is planned for April 2015.
<div class="page" title="Page 3">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The report noted construction continues to progress well at the $670 million design and construction project for AMP Capital at Pacific Fair. 
</div>
</div>
</div>
Scentre’s distribution forecast is 10.2¢ for the six months ending December 2014.
 
</body></html>

Scentre notes uptick in fashion, footwear and jewellery sales

<html><body>
A private investor has paid $705,000 on a 5.1% yield for a purpose-built café at Moorabbin in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs.
It was sold at Teska Carson auction by George Takis, attracting four bidders.
The 89 Levanswell Road property located near Moorabbin’s industrial heartland comprises a 125 square metre café space with on-site parking for 10 cars.
The 703 square metre property was sold subject to an eight year lease from January 2013, with an eight year option, at a current rental of $36,000 per annum with annual 3.5% increases.
A nearby takeaway freehold property has been listed returning $1200 a month <a href="https://www.commercialview.com.au/view/commercial-for-sale-details-6815527" target="_blank">with an asking price of $275,000</a> through Balance Business &amp; Real Estate. 
</body></html>

Moorabbin cafe sold under the hammer at 5.1% yield

A trio of Queensland property groups have unveiled plans for a $300 million mixed-use redevelopment of the former Noosa Bowls Club site, a proposal that would deliver more than 200 new homes in one of the Sunshine Coast's most supply-constrained markets.

Kilter Property, Frank Developments and Calile Malouf Investments are behind the plans for the 1.8-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-noosa-drive-noosa-heads-qld-4567">99 Noosa Drive</a>, which would transform the long-vacant site into a new residential precinct featuring 208 apartments, retail, hospitality and public space.

The proposal comes as Noosa continues to grapple with housing affordability and a shortage of permanent accommodation, particularly for key workers. The site's location in Noosa Junction, close to shops, public transport and employment, aligns with the direction of Noosa Council's Housing Strategy, which encourages higher-density housing within established activity centres rather than continued urban expansion.

The draft plans include 48 affordable-by-design apartments and 48 rooming accommodation units aimed at key workers. Around 2,000 sqm of ground-floor retail and food and beverage space would activate the street frontage, alongside a new public town square and landscaped open space.

<img alt="Noosa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2dd02f53-1360-4e51-801e-bfd61a6c980e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-26%20at%208.44.34%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=x1iNs3BSMN6Jy7YUwaBZMHRrrKX2hMpy" />

&nbsp;

Frank Developments Founder and Director Frank Licastro said the development would continue the company's focus on architecturally-led residential projects while addressing one of the region's biggest challenges.

"Not only will this project exude a sense of luxury, it will also enhance not only the built environment but also the surrounding community," Licastro said.

"Noosa's success relies on the people who live and work here. Providing well-designed accommodation for key workers is critical to supporting the local economy and ensuring the Shire can continue to thrive."

Kilter Property Co-Founder Huw Williams said the focus was on delivering additional permanent housing while creating a mixed-use destination that benefits both residents and the wider community.

"Our focus is on delivering a well-considered mixed-use project that provides more permanent housing options, supports local workers and businesses, and delivers an exceptional product for the local market," Williams said.

"The redevelopment vision aligns with the long-term evolution of Noosa Junction as a vibrant activity centre, creating a destination that enhances the area's character while delivering significant economic and community benefits."

Calile Malouf Investments, best known for its role in Brisbane's James Street precinct and The Calile Hotel, will bring its place-making experience to the project. The company recently commenced construction on The Calile Noosa hotel and says the residential development will complement its growing investment in the region.

CMI Director Cal Malouf said the aim was to create a walkable precinct combining housing, retail and hospitality while remaining true to Noosa's character.

"We see a similar opportunity in Noosa to deliver a vibrant, walkable destination that combines exceptional housing, hospitality and retail in one integrated project," Malouf said.

Brisbane-based Cavill Architects has been appointed to design the project.

Joel Robinson

Noosa Bowls Club to be redeveloped into mixed-use apartment precinct

One of Brisbane's last major riverfront redevelopment opportunities has taken a significant step forward, with Lendlease selected as the Queensland Government's preferred development partner for the former Visy site in South Brisbane.

The seven-hectare industrial site, positioned between South Bank and West End and 1.3 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, will be transformed into a mixed-use precinct expected to deliver more than 4,000 new homes alongside extensive public open space and riverfront parkland.

The project is one of the largest urban renewal opportunities currently planned in Brisbane and is expected to play a key role in accommodating the city's growing population ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Plans for the precinct include a network of riverfront promenades and boardwalks, new public plazas, parkland, amphitheatre-style gathering spaces and shared pedestrian and cycling links designed to reconnect the long-isolated site with the Brisbane River.

The Queensland Government is targeting delivery of the first homes and key public spaces before the 2032 Games, allowing the precinct to begin contributing new housing and public amenity well before the broader masterplan is complete.

The redevelopment is also expected to support more than 3,000 jobs across planning, construction and ongoing operations.

For Lendlease, the appointment adds another major urban regeneration project to its Queensland portfolio. The developer has operated in the state for more than 70 years and has delivered a number of large-scale mixed-use precincts in partnership with government.

Lendlease Development CEO Claire Johnston said the project represented one of Brisbane's most significant redevelopment opportunities.

"The transformation of the former Visy site represents a rare opportunity to reimagine one of Brisbane's most significant riverfront locations, deliver thousands of much-needed homes, and create long-term legacy," Johnston said.

"In partnership with the Queensland Government, we have the opportunity to create a new riverside destination that will help shape Brisbane's growth and how people experience the city for decades to come.

"This is exactly the type of large-scale, city-shaping development that will provide lasting benefits for Queensland, bringing together housing, jobs and world-class public spaces."

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the riverfront transformation would deliver a thriving new community precinct.

“The Crisafulli Government is delivering this golden opportunity to unlock a riverfront jewel for all Queenslanders,” Deputy Premier Bleijie said.

“This is a once-in-a-generation moment to reshape a significant slice of Brisbane and deliver lasting benefits – thousands of new homes, and public spaces for all Queenslanders to enjoy well beyond the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – unlike Labor’s plan which would have delivered zero benefits and zero new homes.

“Queensland is well and truly open for business and through partnership with the private sector, we are accelerating delivery while ensuring strong housing, community and economic outcomes."

Early works on the precinct are expected to commence in April 2027.

Lendlease selected to deliver transformative South Brisbane riverfront precinct

Eddy Haddad's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/level-33">Level 33</a> is levelling up its approved Wollongong development, as the coastal city south of Sydney continues to prove popular in the high-density development space.

Level 33, a longtime developer in the Wollongong area, has gone through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority to upsize its approved two-tower development on the corner of Crown Street and Gladstone Avenue, just 100 metres from Wollongong Station.

The developer currently has approval for 252 apartments across two buildings rising to 19 storeys. It is now seeking approval for 33 and 38-storey towers that would deliver 467 apartments, including 67 affordable homes.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bka-architecture">BKA Architecture</a>, the development would comprise apartments above a three-level podium with around 1,100 sqm of retail space, along with basement parking for 448 vehicles.

According to the Urban Design Report by BKA, the proposal has the capacity to "reinforce the precinct's identity by strengthening links between health, education, and transport services, while also contributing to Wollongong's ongoing evolution as a key regional centre."

Wollongong is somewhat in vogue. Between Level 33 and Urban Property Group, the two developers have several thousand apartments planned across the city.

Level 33 is currently delivering Easterly Wollongong, one of its most boutique projects to date with just 21 high-end apartments, as well as Atchison &amp; Kenny, a 329-apartment development due for completion later this year.

The developer plans to redevelop the 13,088 sqm WIN Grand megasite into <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crown-square-216-238-keira-street-wollongong-nsw-2500">Crown Square</a>, a new $500 million precinct with nearly 600 apartments. It also has more than 900 apartments planned for the former Bunnings Warehouse site at the intersection of Gipps and Flinders streets.

Urban Property Group is also playing a major role in the city's transformation. Its five-tower Keira Place precinct will deliver more than 800 homes, and it has recently lodged plans for a further 300 apartments near Wollongong Station.

First look: Level 33 upsizes Wollongong apartment towers

Just a week after filing plans for the final stage of its major Keira Place masterplan, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has unveiled another significant housing proposal in Wollongong, this time targeting a prominent site opposite North Wollongong Station.

The developer has lodged a State Significant Development Application for a 38-storey mixed-use tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-4a-flinders-street-north-wollongong-nsw-2500">4-4A Flinders Street</a>, around one kilometre north of the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/keira-place-wollongong-120-122-smith-street-wollongong-nsw-2500">Keira Place precinct</a> currently taking shape on the edge of the CBD.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 38-storey North Wollongong tower as Keira Place expansion gathers pace" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b6428f1-6405-4038-8476-897de440e90d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/flinders%20podium.png?VersionId=QLqEvK0OuCEwRC47oHNftrw2B1YqaHF8" />

Designed by Studio.SC, the proposal comprises a 38-storey mixed-use development containing 303 apartments, including 45 affordable housing units, alongside 174 co-living residences. The scheme also includes ground-floor retail space, extensive landscaping and public domain improvements.

Studio.SC noted in the proposal it "outlines a vision for a landmark transit-oriented mixed-use development centred around North Wollongong Station, designed to support the city’s future growth while responding to the NSW Government’s housing and planning reforms."

The architecture firm said the proposal responds to the opportunities and constraints shaping future growth within the 400-metre catchment of the station and represents "a coordinated and future-focused approach to urban intensification, contributing to the long-term evolution of North Wollongong as a connected, walkable and high-density station precinct."

The site occupies a strategic corner bounded by Flinders Street, Station Street, Stafford Street and the Princes Highway, directly opposite North Wollongong Station.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 38-storey North Wollongong tower as Keira Place expansion gathers pace" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7863adad-1f71-4022-b850-f44b252738fd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/flinders%20podium%20a.png?VersionId=WsU7av0g8_8R2tGHWxgHeFSlhu7yeY1V" />

The proposal follows Urban Property Group's recent submission for the second and final stage of Keira Place, which would deliver a further three buildings comprising 657 homes opposite Beaton Park. It builds on the first stage, which features 150 apartments across two towers and recently commenced construction.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said breaking ground on the first stage marked a significant milestone for Wollongong and reflected the developer's long-term commitment to regional cities.

"Today's groundbreaking is about turning approvals into homes and moving quickly to deliver much-needed housing in Wollongong's city centre," Elias said.

"Keira Place will provide a diverse mix of homes close to jobs, transport and services, while setting a high benchmark for quality, durability and consumer protection."

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/urban-property-group-unveils-trio-of-towers-for-next-stage-of-new-wollongong-precinct-keira-place">Urban Property Group unveils trio of towers for next stage of new Wollongong precinct, Keira Place</a>

First look: Urban Property Group plans next major Wollongong tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/arada">Arada Australia</a> has wasted little time expanding its ambitions in Campsie, lodging plans for a second major project in the rapidly transforming town centre just months after unveiling its three-tower One Campsie proposal on Beamish Street.

The UAE-backed developer has now taken aim at one of the suburb’s most strategically positioned sites, filing a State Significant Development Application for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/10-north-parade-campsie-nsw-2194">33-storey mixed-use tower</a> at 10 London Street and 43 North Parade, directly opposite the future Campsie Metro Station. The proposal is currently on public exhibition and represents another significant vote of confidence in Campsie's emergence as one of Sydney’s key transit-oriented growth centres.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the development would deliver 156 apartments above a podium containing retail and commercial space, creating a new residential and commercial gateway to the town centre. The scheme also includes a four-level above-ground parking podium and a dedicated residential amenity floor featuring wellness and recreation facilities. At least 10 per cent of the apartments would be allocated as affordable housing for a period of 10 years.

The proposal occupies a 1,631 sqm site bounded by London Street, North Parade and Dispensary Lane, immediately adjoining the future Metro station precinct and just metres from Beamish Street’s retail and dining strip. According to the Urban Design Report, the project seeks to deliver "a great place that prioritises human-scaled experience and provides spatial improvements to the area."

<img alt="First look: Arada doubles down in Campsie with 33-storey Metro-front tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="175a8324-015b-4856-abe3-ce6f23199fa7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/podium%20campsie.png?VersionId=742UGwXFhFBX4GEl6wX4PYIWREAgn6il" />

Woods Bagot describes the tower as a key marker within Campsie's next phase of growth.

"Located directly opposite the new Campsie Metro Station on North Parade, 10 London Street is a thoughtfully composed 33-storey mixed-use tower that contributes to the ongoing transformation of the town centre," the Architectural Design Report states. The report says the project is intended to provide "high-quality homes within a vibrant, connected urban environment, while helping define Campsie's future skyline."

A strong emphasis has been placed on the public realm. The ground floor incorporates over 500 sqm of retail space and active frontages along both London Street and North Parade, while the podium is wrapped by extensive landscaped planting intended to soften the building's scale and strengthen the pedestrian experience. The development would also widen surrounding footpaths and improve connections between the Metro station and the broader town centre.

Above the podium, residents would have access to more than 1,400 sqm of communal amenities, including a pool, gym and landscaped recreation spaces. A distinctive green-wall treatment extending across four podium levels forms a major architectural feature, helping differentiate the project within the emerging high-density precinct.

The tower's design is closely tied to the broader Campsie Town Centre Master Plan and the arrival of Sydney Metro. The Urban Design Report notes the proposal "directly supports the Campsie Town Centre Master Plan by delivering new homes in a location explicitly identified for growth, improved accessibility, and high-quality urban renewal." It adds that the project contributes to the master plan's vision for a strengthened town centre supported by thousands of new homes around the future Metro station.

<img alt="First look: Arada doubles down in Campsie with 33-storey Metro-front tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bfd17654-253e-489a-bade-6278d63db412" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/base%20campsie.png?VersionId=3roJPMQGs36dazpkhvpvbDDP73Ld.Ica" />

The application follows Arada Australia's recently lodged One Campsie project at 124–142 Beamish Street and 16–18 Ninth Avenue, where the developer is seeking approval for 346 apartments across three towers rising 24, 32 and 39 storeys. Together, the two proposals would cement Arada Australia as one of the most influential developers shaping Campsie's future urban form.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-arada-files-for-trio-of-apartment-towers-in-campsie-town-centre">First Look: Arada Australia files for trio of apartment towers in Campsie town centre</a>

Arada Australia entered the Australian market in 2024 and has rapidly assembled a significant development pipeline across Sydney. Alongside its Campsie holdings, the developer is soon to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/wattle-green-2-fishburn-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Wattle Green</a> in Castle Hill, and has expanded its local operations following its acquisition of construction firm Roberts &amp; Co.

Located around 14 kilometres south-west of the Sydney CBD, the site sits at the centre of one of Sydney's fastest-changing middle-ring precincts. The Metro conversion of Campsie Station, combined with Canterbury-Bankstown Council's master planning framework, is driving significant residential intensification around Beamish Street and North Parade, with thousands of new homes expected over coming decades.

Jonathan Chancellor

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News