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Having moved to South Australia to be a physiotherapist at the Adelaide Crows, former AFL Richmond player Duncan Kellaway sold his South Yarra home last weekend for $820,000.
The property at 37 Hardy Street, <a href="/news">South Yarra</a> was bought by Kellaway, who played 180 games with the Tigers, for $173,000 in 1995.
On moving to <a href="/news">Barwon Heads</a> in 2009 to work with Geelong Football Club, he and his wife Alex rented the semi with a $495 a weekly asking rental.
They have decided that now, with four children, they are not ever going to get back to the two bedroom cottage with rear studio.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-south+yarra-117123691" target="_blank">Rob Vickers-Willis and Sam Goddard of Abercromby's</a> were quoting $800,000-plus.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Former AFL player Duncan Kellaway sells South Yarra semi

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Sophie Curtis, the recently married daughter of mining executive Nick Curtis and his wife, Angela, has secured $2.1 million pre-auction for her open-plan two bedroom Paddington apartment.
It's among the 12 units in the Tobacco Factory on Macdonald Street. It sold <a href="https://www.ppdre.com.au/selling/NSW/Eastern-Suburbs/Paddington/Apartment/1P0479" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">through Phillips Panzer Donnelly</a>.
It last sold as a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in 2011 for $1.51 million when sold by the stock market newsletter publisher Jordan Rivkin who bought it in 2005 for $1,253,000.
The 185 square metre apartment first sold for $516,000 in 2000.
Since its last sale there had been a makeover Iain Halliday of BKH which can easily be converted back into a three bedroom apartment
The warehouse conversion was undertaken by the developer O'Connor Developments with all the apartments open-plan with only the bathrooms enclosed.
At the time the typical 115 square metres were for sale at $745,000.
Sophie Curtis had upgraded apartments in the 1930s Tobacco Factory as she was previously in a spacious one-bedroom, one-bathroom 95 square metre apartment with car space, which cost $1.15 million in 2008, and sold in 2011 at $1.075 million.
Sophie recently married Luke Calpis.
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Sophie Curtis sells her BKH Paddington tobacco warehouse apartment

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Brighton's 1888 Spurling House, the only known Victorian property designed by the Sydney architect John Horbury Hunt, has been sold.
The American-style property at 38 Black Street fetched $2.4 million. It last traded at $180,000 in 1981.
It is in the heart of Middle <a href="/news">Brighton </a>on a 1,000 square metre block, originally known as Purno when built in 1888 by the Canadian-born architect who was commissioned by Miss Spurling.
The three-bedroom plus study property features distinctive brickwork and shingle-cladding characteristic of Hunt's work.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-brighton-116458111" target="_blank">Peter Kennett of hockingstuart</a> had expected $2.4 million plus.
{qtube vid:=RgbjnYIPePA}
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Brighton's John Horbury Hunt Spurling House sold

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Landlords of Westpac’s regional brand branches ought possibly plan for new tenants after JPMorgan recently argued that the regional brands should be confined to within their local markets.
Under the scenario St George would be unique to New South Wales, BankSA would stay within South Australia and Bank of Melbourne, which is pursuing a 100-branch target, would be limited to Victoria.
JPMorgan analysts Scott Manning, Bharat Anand and Vineet Ahuja point to the high number of duplicate branches in the Westpac empire. 
According to their research 23% of the bank’s branches operate within close proximity.
"Nearly half of these duplicate sites are less than 200 metre from the closest alternative Westpac-branded branch.”
Most of the reduction would fall within the St George Bank network with 33 branches recommended for closure in Queensland, eight in South Australia and 12 in the ACT.
JPMorgan calculates the rationalisation savings would total $450 million.
The scale of the suggestion equates to a “radical rethink of the central cost model", with the Fairfax Media report suggesting an overhaul unlikely anytime prior to Westpac’s 200-year anniversary in 2017 as the bank’s strategy is geared towards this date.
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Westpac regional landlords on notice of closures

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DLA Piper's Sydney office has relocated from 201 Elizabeth Street to new premises at No.1 Martin Place in the heart of Sydney's business and financial community.
 Following one of the largest leasing transactions in the Sydney CBD last year, DLA Piper now occupies four floors in the 24-storey high rise building.
The building is owned by <a href="https://www.no1martinplace.com.au" target="_blank">No.1 Martin Place</a> Trust and the Charter Hall Office Trust.
They have taken a 10-year lease term, DLA Piper managing partner, Australia, Andrew Darwin says.
The new, predominantly open plan, office space was designed in consultation with Woods Bagot and was constructed by FDC. 
"The workspace aligns with key principles including connectivity, collaboration, confidentiality, efficiency, future proofing, apprenticeship and to support DLA Piper's global vision to be the leading global business law firm. 
"The client floor includes the latest in virtual meeting and other audio visual technologies, as well as large open plan function and meeting space, including a 400 square metre outdoor terrace," he said.
 The three work floors are connected with a central spiral stairwell, and include community and break out zones, quiet and meeting rooms, offices and workstation hubs.
DLA Piper was represented by Michael Kearins, director of Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s Occupier Services business. 
The leasing of No.1 Martin Place has been managed by CBRE’s James Patterson and Jenine Cranston in conjunction with Greg Fisher and Mark Semple of DTZ.
 
 
 
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DLA Piper relocate to No.1 Martin Place

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The 93 Bathurst Street, Sydney investment opportunity remains for sale.
Its net rent sits at $473,000 plus GST, fully leased to the global tenant in Patagonia.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://search.knightfrank.com.au/1498832" target="_blank">The property was passed in for $8.4 million</a> and remains under negotiation through Knight Frank agents Dominic Ong and Andy Hu.
The property is located on the southern side of Bathurst Street between George and Kent Streets, opposite Town Hall Square in the growing mid-town residential precinct.
The building underwent a refurbishment in 2010 including the installation of a new lift.
The Knight Frank marketing suggests the property will benefit from the CBD and South East Light Rail (CSELR) project which is due to be completed by 2019.
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Bathurst Street offering to benefit from the Sydney light rail

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The sale of the former German Consulate in South Yarra - listed with $5 million hopes - remains wrapped in something of a mystery.
The property was sold last October for an undisclosed price, with its delayed settlement terms yet to reveal its sale price. A caveat suggests its been sold to interests associated with Ian Wright of the Southbank offices of the Paragon Financial Group. Ian Wright founded BMF Construction in 1975.
There's been no development application lodged with Stonnington Council.
In partnership with Caine Property, the local developer BMF Construction director Ian Wright is busy building a prestige four apartment <a href="https://www.domainsouthyarra.com.au/residence" target="_blank">Domain</a> complex in Domain Street, South Yarra where the website suggests one apartment remains unsold through Kay &amp; Burton. It's a David Hicks-designed block with Jack Merlo landscaping on the holding that was bought last year for $6.45 million on nine month delayed settlement terms.
<a href="/news/vic/south-yarras-former-german-consulate-listed-after-five-decades">The 480 Punt Road offering</a> was listed by Colliers International agents Ben Baines and Jeremy Gruzewski, in conjunction with Matt Davis and Gerald Delany of Kay &amp; Burton.
The property was listed by the Federal Republic of Germany who acquired the large mid-Victorian residence in 1955.
The residential zoned, 2,800 square metre block contains several other separate buildings constructed between the 1850s and 1930s. 
Prior to the German Consulate occupying the site, it was owned and occupied by a number of large, well-known families including the Manifolds, Grahams and Morells.
Expressions of interest closed 17 September with Ian Wright's caveat noting the 28 October contract of sale.
There have been no further dealings on the title since then.
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German consul South Yarra plans yet to be unveiled

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Former South African rugby winger Kevin Schraader, who converted to league, playing for Canterbury in the late 1990s, has listed his contemporary Wallis Street, Woollahra property.
It is <a href="https://www.dijones.com.au/1618071/" target="_blank">through Di Jones agents Gary Sands and Jane Schumann</a> with $4 million expectations.
It last traded in 2011 at $3.9 million.
Title Tattle recalls it was built in 2000 on its 270 square metre block to a design by architect Alexander Tzannes on the former Hamilton Beach carpet shop site which was bought in 1996 by Sabrina Van der Linden-Wolanski, who commissioned Tzannes to design adjoining houses.
The is on a deep block with back access to Bowden Street.
It features double garaging and approval for a self-contained studio.
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Kevin Schraader lists contemporary Woollahra property

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Chateau de Benelong, the distinctive Bellevue Hill palazzo residence, didn't sell when auctioned recently through agents Michael Finger and Diane Wilson of Ray White Double Bay. 
Over $5 million was being advised to potential buyers initially, and it was passed in at $6.2 million at its late May auction.
It still has a $7 million plus price indication.
Title Tattle spotted just the two Australian/Asian bidders at the auction where bidding began at $5.5 million.
<a href="https://rwdbgroup.com/nsw/bellevue-hill/1129729/" target="_blank">Chateau de Benelong</a>, the private palazzo commands sweeping northerly harbour views from its grand columned terraces.
The seven bedroom house has stood out from the crowd since 1977, when it was built by designer Lesley Santy.
It last sold at early 2012 auction at $4,995,000 sale through Michael Finger. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/columned-chateau-with-21st-century-interiors-at-bellevue-hill/2011080951100" target="_blank">It was initially listed</a> with unrealistic $7.5 million hopes on its late 2011 marketing.
The 12 Benelong Crescent property had been renovated after trading for $3.67 million in 2009.
The vendors Lynda Giang-Nguyen and Nhi Nguyen bought it in early 2012 from Nare Elio and Makedonka Del Ben, who run a building company called Big Dig Pty Ltd.
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Chateau de Benelong, Bellevue Hill has $7 million plus post-auction price guidance

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There was a slight shift to higher required vendor discounting and a longer time on market during June, according to the latest Australian Property Monitors report from the Domain group.
Brisbane was the most telling reversal given its days on market jumped from 84 to 104 days. The discount required of Brisbane vendors to secure a sale rose from 5.5% to 6.2%.
<img src="/images/2014/07/01/apm-july-1-one.gif" alt="">
The Gold Coast still had the highest required vendor discounting but its 6.2% rate was well below the 15% peak in 2011. 
The Gold Coast also notched up quicker selling properties, down to 106 days - a marked improvement of the 180 days required in early 2012.  
<img src="/images/2014/07/01/apm-july-1-two.gif" alt="">
Sydney vendors typically need a 5.1% discount off their asking price to achieve private treaty sales, according to the APM report. It was the lowest of the cities, but the highest level since December last year.
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Gold Coast on the mend, but slight shift to higher discounting in Brisbane: APM Domain Group

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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