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Perth's property market is dragging the chain with its weakening price growth directions.
The latest RP Data figures puts the annual growth at 3%.
<img src="/images/2014/08/20/rp-data-aug-20-one.jpg" alt="">
Source: RP Data.
The national capital city growth sits at around 10.7%.
Just six weeks ago Perth's annual price growth sat at 4.8% at 6 July.
<img src="/images/2014/08/20/rp-data-aug-20-two.jpg" alt="">
Source: RP Data as of 6 July.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Perth's annual price growth in rapid reverse: RP Data

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Caroonboon, the NSW Western Riverina seat of the Dickson family since 1861, has been snappily sold ahead of its September 11 auction. Its sale price was around $12.1 million.
John Dickson bought the property with the same fencelines as today from Henry Ricketson for £11,500.
The fourth and fifth generation Dicksons – John Dickson, his wife Jill, who took over the farm in 1976, and their son and daughter Jim and Susan – accepted the offer.
Situated 67 kilometres north-west of Deniliquin, Caroonboon has, according to The Weekly Times, been sold to Dohne breeder Bill Pye.
Pye bought the Uardry Dohne name and part of the historic merino stud when it was dispersed in 2012.
The 29,513 hectare (72,926 acres) Carooboon had been<a href="https://www.landmarkharcourts.com.au/Property/573743/LDU2476/Caroonbon" target="_blank"> listed for sale through Landmark Harcourts Deniliquin for 11 September auction</a> through agent James Sides.
Bidding for Caroonboon had been expected to exceed $11 million.
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NSW Riverina farm Caroonboon sells snappily for first time since 1861

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Ocean Zone, a sleek four-bedroom, three-storey Perth home with pool and subterranean parking, was listed with $6.9 million hopes in early 2013.
But it has now sold at $4.88 million. <a href="https://www.porteous.com.au/index.cfm?pagecall=property&amp;propertyID=2647540" target="_blank">The Porteous website lists it as under offer</a>.
It's a Swanbourne house designed for the Campbell family by architect Kerry Hill who reportedly has replicated his Hayman Island and Aman Hotels design ideas for Ocean Zone. 
The pool is in a submerged courtyard at the side of the four-bedroom, five-bathroom house.
The narrow living area opens up to the adjacent Nedlands Council Allen Park. The block was bought from the council for $465,000 in 2000.
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Ocean Zone, Swanbourne WA home sells for $2 million less than original asking price

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Amesbury, the grand 10-bedroom Queen Anne-style Ashfield mansion, has been listed for sale.
It comes with a four-storey gabled Romanesque belfry-style tower, constructed in 1888 as a house by the Sydney engineer, Norman Selfe to celebrate the country’s Centenary.
Selfe’s international travels during 1884 and 1885 inspired the design of the home which has now been listed by the international peace and meditation organisation Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga.
They bought it in 1986.
It has had a heritage preservation order since Planning and Environment minister Terry Sheahan's decision in 1984.
On its completion, Amesbury, which has also been referred to as Anesbury, was considered the ultimate modern showpiece with the 1888 Australasian Builder and Contractors’ news describing it as having “more novelties both externally and internally than any other house in the colony”.
Offers on the 78 Alt Street property close 25 September.
More than $3.5 million is tipped by Jennifer Aaron from Jennifer Aaron Real Estate.
Norman Selfe, the engineer who heralded the building of Sydney Harbour Bridge, was also responsible for the 1870 Victorian Gothic residence on the Balmain waterfront, Normanton.
Around 1894, Selfe and his family moved from Anesbury to the upper north shore’s Hornsby shire where he built another significant grand house, Gilligaloola.
It still stands at 82 Pennant Hills Road in Normanhurst, the suburb bearing Selfe’s name. He died in 1911.
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Norman Selfe's Ashfield 1888 trophy home, Amesbury listed

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The former Toll Holdings boss Paul Little, who now heads Little Property, has seemingly secured the sale of his trophy home on Noosa Sound.
His Witta Circle luxury house went on the market in 2011 with a price tag of $7.2 million having paid $7.6 million in the pre-global financial crisis year, 2007.
Title Tattle gleans the property - with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a cinema and an office - fetched around $6.25 million.
No official sale price has been revealed with the sales website merely suggesting it was "<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-noosa+heads-107159294" target="_blank">under contract</a>".
Little is currently the chairman of the Essendon Football Club and has been a prominent public figure during the club's investigation by ASADA for alleged doping offenses.
<a href="/news/new-zealand-buyer-secures-bob-biddles-witta-circle-noosa-waterfront">Witta Circle's last prestige sale </a>was by the Biddle family.
Barry Andersen at Rymar Properties bought it for $2.6 million in 2005 selling it to Little in 2007.
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Essendon chairman Paul Little's Witta Circle, Noosa offering under contract

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Conditions in the established housing market remain strong, according to latest meeting minutes from the RBA.
"While house price inflation across the country in 2014 had not been as rapid as over the second half of 2013, it had remained robust," <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.rba.gov.au/monetary-policy/rba-board-minutes/2014/05082014" target="_blank">the August minutes noted</a>.
"Auction clearance rates in Sydney had eased from their high levels in late 2013, although they had increased in Melbourne more recently."
Members also observed that residential dwelling approvals had declined somewhat in recent months, but remained at a high level and, in combination with the substantial amount of residential work yet to be done, suggested that dwelling investment was likely to remain strong in the period ahead.
"Staff forecasts suggested that inflation, despite recent higher readings, was likely to be consistent with the 2–3% target over the next two years.
"Members noted that there was inevitably a significant degree of uncertainty about the outlook, given the number of forces working in different directions.
"The Board judged that monetary policy was appropriately configured and that, on present indications, the most prudent course was likely to be a period of stability in interest rates."
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House price inflation "remained robust": RBA's August minutes

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The loans.com.au’s Dream Home Loan, which has a variable rate of 4.54%, has been extended to a loan to value ratio (LVR) of 90%.
The Dream Home Loan ranks high on the online comparison site <a href="https://mozo.com.au/home-loans?mz_source=sem&amp;gclid=CO7CqOvwncACFUsGvAodp5IAhw" target="_blank">Mozo</a>.
Extending the offering to 90% LVR gives borrowers a 0.15% discount, a saving of $36 per month in interest, or $12,960 over the life of a $400,000 loan.
Kim Cannon, managing director of Firstmac, said the move was a reaction to the "extremely competitive" mortgage market at the moment
Cannon stressed the true measure of good value was having a comparison rate very close to the interest rate.
The loans.com.au Dream Home Loan Blackboard Special has a comparison rate of 4.56%. 
Loans.com.au is an independently-owned, on-line lender, with finance products backed by Firstmac, which has $6 billion in mortgages under management.
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Loans.com.au 4.54% rate close to 4.56% comparison rate

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Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has listed his Lilli Pilli house as Sydney's property market records a resurgent August auction clearance rate.
But the $2.7 million plus price guidance for the 30 August McGrath auction is less than his 2006 purchase price.
Clarke paid $2.87 million in 2006 and has renovated it since.
Back in 2009 Clarke thought of quitting the Sutherland Shire but failed to achieve his then $3.4 million hopes.
This time there are $2.7 million plus expectations for <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-lilli-pilli-nsw-2229/206824/?searchID=41873569" target="_blank">t</a><a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-lilli-pilli-nsw-2229/206824/?searchID=41873569" target="_blank">he contemporary five-bedroom, four-bathroom split-level house</a> that comes with pool, spa and boatshed on its 1670 square metre bushland riverfront block.
The auction price will be above the purchase price if it follows the recent Sydney trend of an average 11% difference above the pre-auction indication across Sydney auctions.
Earlier this year Clarke and wife, Kyly spent $8.3 million in Vaucluse.
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Michael Clarke facing Lilli Pilli house sale loss prospect

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The much-anticipated national industry-owned portal will be called Squiiz.
The bizarrely named website is billed as taking on the News Ltd REA and Fairfax Domain property website powerhouses.
Launch meetings will <a href="https://www.squiiz.com.au" target="_blank">commence next month</a>.
The name relates, with an extra i, to squiz, the Australian slang for 'to have a look'.
Its member base indications currently incorporate 60% plus of the major estate agency market, the chief executive of the new portal, Nick Christian told the Real Estate Business website.
He went onto claim his “marketing and creative team has done an outstanding job developing a best-in-class brand communication and launch strategy around Squiiz, and we are excited about the prospects of what we can do with such a unique brand”.
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/squiiz.com.au" target="_blank">It now has a Facebook site</a> with 57 likes. There are nine followers on its <a href="https://twitter.com/squiizproperty" target="_blank">Twitter </a>account.
Although its has been billed as arising from recent pricing concerns, Property Observer notes the "Squiiz Property finds You" trademark number was lodged in August 2013. 
Yesterday, Property Observer reported on Applabs Australia’s <a href="https://www.homeopen.com/" target="_blank">Home Open</a> website<a href="/news/new-property-listings-website-set-to-challenge-industry-giants"> that launched last Monday</a>. Home Open also intends to challenge the dominance of REA and Fairfax Domain in the online listings market.
{module Do you think prospective vendors will want to list their homes on a website called Squiiz?}
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Can Squiiz seriously challenge REA and Domain?

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QBE Insurance Group has announced plans to partially float QBE LMI, its mortgage insurance business.
The insurance giant has penciled in the partial float for 2015.
QBE's LMI division is one of just two mortgage insurers operating in Australia.
Rival Genworth was partially floated earlier this year by its US parent raising nearly $500 million. Its successful float in May was at $2.65 a share, trading yesterday at $3.56 a share.
QBE LMI holds around $1.2 billion in net tangible assets at the end of June.
“QBE LMI’s results have been outstanding and are expected to remain so for the foreseeable future,” QBE chief John Neal said.
“The capital intensity of this business led us to purchase additional reinsurance protection to support the business’ growth plans, however, with the longer term in mind, the introduction of third party shareholders offers QBE LMI enhanced capital flexibility to support its growth ambition.”
QBE today also released its audited half-year profit results, which had been flagged in a profit warning late last month.
The insurer confirmed a net profit after tax of US$392 million, down 18% on the prior corresponding period.
QBE has also announced a capital raising of around $810 million.
Around $650 million worth of shares will be offered to institutions, with $160 million to be sold through a share purchase plan.
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QBE LMI likely to float in 2015, following Genworth's successful strategy

Kew has long been regarded as one of Melbourne's premier residential suburbs. It's a location defined by its grand period homes, leafy streets and some of the city's most prestigious schools, yet it has often sat just outside the spotlight cast on neighbouring Hawthorn and Camberwell.

Increasingly, however, buyers are recognising that Kew offers much of what draws people to those suburbs, with a quieter residential setting, exceptional amenity and long-term owner-occupier appeal.

Within a few minutes' walk, residents can access Kew Junction, one of Melbourne's most established village centres. Cafés, bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets, boutique retailers and everyday services are all on the doorstep, with local favourites including Centonove, Adeney Milk Bar Cafe, and Frank &amp; Harri creating the type of walkable lifestyle that has become increasingly difficult to find in Melbourne's inner east. Beyond the immediate neighbourhood, Glenferrie Road's renowned shopping and dining precinct in Hawthorn and the retail, dining and entertainment offerings of Camberwell Junction are both just a short drive or tram ride away.

The suburb is equally well connected. Tram routes 48 and 109 provide direct access to the CBD, while High Street and Cotham Road connect residents to the wider inner east.&nbsp;Nearby access to the Eastern Freeway also places the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne Airport within easy reach, adding another layer of convenience for weekend travel.&nbsp;It's a rare combination of connectivity and tranquillity, where quiet residential streets sit just moments from some of Melbourne's most established shopping and lifestyle precincts.

For families, Kew remains one of Melbourne's most tightly held addresses. Carey Baptist Grammar School, Xavier College, Methodist Ladies' College, Trinity Grammar, Ruyton Girls' School and Genazzano FCJ College are all nearby, while the Yarra River parklands, walking trails and sporting clubs provide another layer of lifestyle appeal.

It's within this established pocket that developer Ricdanic is delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/wimba-ave-kew-9-11-wimba-avenue-kew-vic-3101">Wimba Ave</a>, a boutique collection of just 13 residences across two buildings named after its location on the tree-lined Wimba Avenue,&nbsp;within one of Kew's most prestigious pockets where homes have been known to sell up to and above $8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=354809]

The residences prioritise the space that buyers are increasingly searching for but struggling to find in established suburbs. Living areas extend beyond five metres in width, ceiling heights range from three to five metres, and apartments open onto private gardens averaging around 125 sqm. Selected residences also feature balconies of approximately 60 sqm, while premium inclusions include Miele appliances, double-glazed windows, EV readiness, fully electric systems and a 7.2 NatHERS energy rating.

Architect Chris Idle says opportunities to deliver homes of this scale within established suburbs have become increasingly uncommon.

"There are very few opportunities to do these kinds of developments in leafy, established suburbs," he says. "To get this level of amenity, natural light, and architectural freedom in such a setting is extremely rare."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=366267]

The architecture draws on Kew's established character through the use of handmade Krause bricks, while landscaping by John Patrick introduces 23 plant species, including nine native varieties, creating an environment which focuses just as much on nature as it does the building.

Construction on Wimba Ave is well underway by renowned high-end builder Sinjen, with completion expected in late 2027. Prices start from $2.22 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140755]

Joel Robinson

The enduring appeal of Kew's tree-lined streets and village lifestyle

"For me, it's the location." That was the first thing Chris pointed to when reflecting on why he and his wife Marita decided to purchase at Candela Ivanhoe, the under-construction new apartment development by Salter Brothers in the heart of the north-eastern M​elb​ourne​ suburb. ​

"We've lived here before… everything is here," Chris said.

"Our doctor is around the corner, there's dentists, pilates, everything we need, restaurants, fast food places, two train stations, Ivanhoe and Darebin, both in walking distance. You don't need anything else."

<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/X8K0Bozug7A?si=Puwc6vx_ZO0qQZF8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Just 10 kilometres from Melbo​urn​e's CBD, Ivanhoe combines direct city connectivity with the amenity of an established village community. Residents have access to highly regarded schools, expansive parklands, public transport, and a thriving retail and hospitality precinct centred around Upper Heidelberg Road, all within a neighbourhood that has retained its leafy character despite its proximity to the city.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/candela-ivanhoe-40-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Candela Ivanhoe</a> sits within the heart of this established landscape, positioned just moments from Ivanhoe Village and within walking distance of many of the suburb's most sought-after amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=364553]

From Candela, residents can access cafés, grocers, wine bars, restaurants and essential services on foot, while Ivanhoe Station and Darebin Station provide direct connectivity across Mel​bour​ne. The development is also surrounded by some of the suburb's best-known lifestyle destinations, including Pinkie, Laurent, Enni, Docasa and Woodfire Pizza e Cucina, alongside Ivanhoe Plaza, Woolworths, pharmacies and specialty retailers.

Green space is another defining feature of the suburb. Darebin Parklands, Ivanhoe Park, Nellie Ibbot Park and the Yarra River trail network provide extensive opportunities for recreation, while Ivanhoe Golf Course and Ivanhoe Tennis Club continue to underpin the area's long-established lifestyle appeal.

The suburb's education offering further strengthens demand. Ivanhoe Grammar School, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School, Mary Immaculate Primary School and Ivanhoe Primary School have helped establish the area as one of Melbou​​rne's most sought-after schooling precincts, attracting families and downsizers alike who want to remain connected to the area.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357510]

While location was the priority for Marita and Chris, the project itself also needed to meet their expectations.

"Whilst location was paramount, I was also looking at design of the environment and Candela ticked every box," Marita said.

"We're just thrilled with our choice."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=336455]

Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>, Candela Ivanhoe has been designed to complement its village setting, with an emphasis on generous floorplans, natural light and practical everyday living.

Residents will have access to a range of shared amenities, including a communal rooftop garden and dedicated residential lounge, complemented by a ground-floor café and lifestyle wellbeing centre, helping foster the sense of community already emerging among future owners.

That approach has resonated strongly with the market. More than 90 per cent of purchasers at Candela Ivanhoe are owner-occupiers, with buyers ranging from downsizers and second-home buyers to young families and first home buyers, creating a genuinely multi-generational community of grandparents, parents and children. It reflects a broader shift across Melbo​​urne's apartment market, where buyers are increasingly prioritising neighbourhood quality, lifestyle amenity and long-term liveability.

Currently under construction by Ironside, Candela Ivanhoe comprises 58 apartments. Candela Ivanhoe is scheduled for completion in the coming months, and residents can move in from September. One to four bedroom residences, prices from $649,000 and limited opportunities remaining.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=342]

Location and lifestyle drive demand at Candela Ivanhoe

As apartment buyers increasingly look beyond the four walls of their residence, the quality and depth of shared amenity has become a defining factor in how developments are designed and experienced, particularly in the high-rise, new apartment development space.

In Southbank, where high-density living continues to evolve, developers are placing greater emphasis on creating environments that support wellbeing, connection, and convenience as part of everyday life.

That approach sits at the heart of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aura-at-melbourne-square-7-hoff-boulevard-southbank-vic-3006">AURA</a>, the latest residential tower in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/osk-property">OSK Property</a>’s $3.5 billion Melbourne Square precinct. Rising 67 storeys above Hoff Boulevard, the 673-apartment development has been conceived around what OSK describes as a “vertical wellness ecosystem”, a layered collection of amenities that extends throughout the building rather than being confined to a single podium level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370263]

The amenity offering begins on the seventh level within the AURA Club, a dedicated resident hub focused on health, relaxation, and daily convenience. Here, residents will have access to an indoor swimming pool, cold plunge, spa, sauna, and steam room, alongside a fully equipped gym, reformer Pilates studio, and yoga room.

The wellness facilities are complemented by a range of spaces that acknowledge the changing ways people live and work. Work-from-home lounges and co-working areas sit alongside a library, music room, games room, cinema facilities, and open-air terrace spaces, providing residents with flexible environments that can adapt throughout the day.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367468]

Beyond the internal amenity, AURA introduces a series of Japanese-inspired gardens that form a quieter counterpoint to the tower’s social spaces.

Landscaped retreats feature curated outdoor dining, tranquil courtyard seating, fire pit, and a tea house pavilion. Rather than functioning as simple recreational areas, the gardens have been designed as places for reflection and informal gathering, drawing on principles of balance, nature, and calm that underpin the project's broader design philosophy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367810]

The social amenity continues to evolve as residents move higher through the building. Levels 49 and 50 house the Meridian Club, where a lounge bar, conservatory spaces, and private dining rooms take advantage of elevated city views. At the summit of the tower, the exclusive Cumulus Club spans Levels 66 and 67, offering additional lounges, private dining, and meditation and treatment rooms positioned above Melbourne’s skyline.

For OSK Property, the extensive amenity offering reflects a broader focus on wellbeing as a core component of apartment living rather than an added feature.

“Aura stands tall as an exemplar of holistic wellness – its focus on social, physical and mental health culminate in a building that is calming, restorative and relaxing, where residents will have their own sanctuary within the well-connected and sought-after Southbank,” says OSK Property CEO Chong Boon Woon.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367796]

AURA’s amenity strategy extends beyond the tower itself through its integration with the wider Melbourne Square precinct.

Residents will have direct access to Kennedy Park, Southbank’s 3,745 sqm landscaped public park, alongside a full-line Woolworths supermarket, childcare centre, hospitality venues, and approximately 1,600 sqm of additional retail planned within AURA’s lower levels. Together, these elements create a highly connected residential environment where daily needs, recreation, and wellness are woven into the fabric of the community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370253]

As Melbourne’s apartment market continues to mature, developments are increasingly judged by the lifestyle they provide beyond individual residences.

Through its combination of wellness facilities, landscaped retreats, social clubs, and precinct-wide amenity, AURA represents a shift toward a more comprehensive model of vertical living, one where shared spaces play as significant a role as the homes themselves.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151921]

AURA elevates amenity living at Melbourne Square

Builder-developer Scion is the latest to target Sydney's booming Hills Showground Metro precinct, filing plans for more than 100 apartments within walking distance of the station.

Scion has lodged a concurrent rezoning and State Significant Development Application for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/27-33-middleton-avenue-castle-hill-nsw-2154">27–33 Middleton Avenue</a>, where it plans to replace four existing homes with an 11 and 14-storey mixed-use development comprising 109 apartments, six affordable housing dwellings, and a ground-floor café.

Designed by BHK Architects, the proposal includes three levels of basement parking with 174 spaces, more than 1,200 sqm of communal open space, and extensive landscaping across the 3,791 sqm site.

The development has been designed as two buildings connected by a recessed wintergarden spine, with the 14-storey building positioned to the south and the 11-storey building to the north.

<img alt="Scion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="64dc359d-736b-43b8-87a8-70a8285cab47" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-25%20at%208.47.01%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=PXh.m8id_aevBPHEckPf88wQ2RQThPos" />

The apartment mix has been weighted towards owner-occupiers, with 13 one-bedroom apartments, 55 two-bedroom residences, 31 three-bedroom apartments, six three-bedroom lofts, and four four-bedroom homes. Six apartments will be dedicated as affordable housing in line with the NSW Housing SEPP.

According to the Architectural Design Report by BKH, the proposal seeks to create "a place-responsive architecture" inspired by the natural landscape surrounding Cattai Creek, while strengthening the public domain through landscaping, active frontages and a neighbourhood café.

Atlas Urban, in its Urban Design Report, says the proposal takes a different approach to increasing density around Hills Showground Station by favouring a more slender, vertically articulated built form over a conventional mid-rise outcome. The report argues this allows for greater deep soil planting, improved solar access and a better public domain outcome, while still delivering additional housing close to rapid public transport.

The site sits around 500 metres from Hills Showground Metro Station, within a precinct earmarked for significant residential intensification following the opening of the Sydney Metro Northwest line. Planning documents accompanying the application note that Greater Sydney's population has grown by more than one million people since planning for the precinct first began, reinforcing the need to accelerate housing delivery around existing transport infrastructure.

Scion is expanding its development pipeline which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/chatham-west-ryde-2-6-chatham-road-west-ryde-nsw-2114">Chatham in West Ryde</a>, 62 apartments which are approaching completion. They also have a State Significant Development Application with the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/96-anzac-avenue-west-ryde-nsw-2114">145 apartments on Anzac Avenue</a>, also in West Ryde.

First look: Scion plots Castle Hill apartment development near Hills Showground Metro Station

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>&nbsp;has unveiled its scaled-back plans for a pair of towers rising up to 49 storeys directly opposite Bella Vista Metro Station.

The builder-developer will deliver 674 apartments and a new mixed-use hub at the gateway to the station precinct.

The State Significant Development Application has been lodged under the Housing Delivery Authority pathway for the 6,979 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/9-11-mawson-avenue-bella-vista-nsw-2153">9-11 Mawson Avenue</a>, with the apartments sitting above a mixed-use podium. Initial plans were for closer to 900 apartments across two 40-storey towers.

Located around 30 metres from the Bella Vista Metro Station entrance, the development is intended to act as a catalyst for the long-planned Bella Vista Station Precinct, transforming a vacant site into a transit-oriented residential and commercial destination.

Planning documents describe the project as delivering "a high-density mixed use destination that combines housing, retail and community-serving uses in a highly accessible setting."

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 674-apartment Bella Vista towers opposite Metro station" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="21c08216-589e-490d-ad08-2d88b6fa62d9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bella%20vista%20podium.png?VersionId=3TnwjjQCNwTsmyQRaWnFrLTSAF0CJeka" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/turner-studio">Turner</a>, with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, the project comprises 674 apartments, including 102 affordable housing dwellings representing 15 per cent of the residential floor space. The housing mix spans studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, alongside a collection of townhouse-style residences integrated into the podium levels. The development also includes specialist disability accommodation and an elevated provision of adaptable and liveable housing.

The mixed-use podium has been designed to create an active urban centre around the Metro station, incorporating a 1,423 sqm supermarket, a 3,029 sqm gym, specialty retail spaces, a 100-place childcare centre and a publicly accessible "city room" community space. A secondary laneway, active frontages and landscaped public areas are intended to improve pedestrian connectivity through the site and strengthen links between the station precinct and surrounding neighbourhood.

In the project's design report, Turner said the proposal responds to Bella Vista's emerging role as a higher-density centre within Sydney's north-west growth corridor.

"The project transforms a strategically located site into a high-density mixed use destination that combines housing, retail and community-serving uses in a highly accessible setting," the report states.

"Active frontages, a publicly accessible city room, a secondary laneway and a mix of uses including a local supermarket, child care centre and gym create a more complete and socially useful urban environment for residents, workers and the wider community."

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 674-apartment Bella Vista towers opposite Metro station" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0fde6220-82de-4f6a-9b63-d0fd8157acc9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bella%20vista%20da.png?VersionId=7hEmuSutH8plTd_RqqdmPu055F6qe554" />

Urban Property Group has been one of the busiest developers across Greater Sydney this year.

The developer is progressing around 1,000 apartments across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-urban-property-group-plans-next-major-wollongong-tower">two projects in Wollongong</a>, with several thousand more homes in the pipeline across Newcastle, Castle Hill, Little Bay and Penrith.

Jonathan Chancellor

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