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<h1 id="FHOGNewHomeSchemeFrequentQuestions"></h1>
The NSW Government extended its first-home buyer grant scheme through to January 2016 in the June 2013 state budget. Here are the 11 must know details for eligibility.
<dl>
<dt>1. What is the First Home Owner Grant (New Home) scheme?</dt>
<dd>
The First Home Owner Grant (New Home) Scheme provides a grant of $15,000 to help eligible first home buyers to purchase or build a new home.
It will replace the current $7000 First Home Owner Grant from 1 October 2012.
</dd>
<dt>2. When does it apply?</dt>
<dd>
The grant of $15,000 applies to eligible transactions entered into on or after 1 October 2012 and before 1 January 2016.
The grant will then be reduced to $10,000 from 1 January 2016 with no end date set.
</dd>
<dt>3. What is an eligible transaction?</dt>
<dd>
An eligible transaction is:
<div>
<ul>
<li>
(a) a contract made on or after 1 October 2012 for the purchase of a new home in New South Wales, or
</li>
<li>
(b) a comprehensive home building contract made on or after 1 October 2012 by the owner of the land in New South Wales or a person who will on completion of the contract be the owner of land in New South Wales, to have a home built on it, or
</li>
</ul>
</div>
the building of a home in New South Wales by the owner builder if the building work commences on or after 1 October 2012.
</dd>
<dt>4. What is a new home?</dt>
<dd>
A new home is a home that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence, and includes a home that is a substantially renovated home and a home built to replace demolished premises.
</dd>
<dt>5. What is a substantially renovated home?</dt>
<dd>
A home is substantially renovated if:
<div>
<ul>
<li>
(a) the sale of the home is a taxable supply of new residential premises within the meaning of section 40-75(1)(b) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 of the Commonwealth, and
</li>
<li>
(b) the home, as renovated, has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
It will be necessary for the seller to indicate that each of these requirements have been satisfied to establish that new residential premises have been created through substantial renovations.
Under sec.195.1 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services ) Act 1999 (C'th), 'substantial renovations' of a building are defined as renovations in which all, or substantially all, of a building is removed or replaced. The renovations may, but need not, involve the removal or replacement of foundations, external walls, interior supporting walls, floors, roof or staircases.
This definition requires consideration of what work has been done to the building since it was acquired by the person who is selling the renovated property to you. The renovations must have affected the building as a whole, and resulted in the removal or replacement of all, or substantially all, of the previous building. For renovations to have been substantial, they must have affected most of the rooms in the previous building. The renovation of only one part of a building without any work on the remaining parts of the building, e.g. the renovation of only one bedroom in a four-bedroom house, would not have constituted substantial renovations. Similarly, the removal and replacement of a kitchen and bathroom with little else having been done to the building (apart from minor repair work) would not be substantial renovations.
There must have been a removal or replacement of all, or a substantial part, of the structural and/or non-structural components of the previous building. Structural building work includes: altering or replacement of foundations, replacement or alteration of floors or supporting walls (interior and exterior), lifting or modification of roofs, and the replacement of existing windows and doors such that it is necessary to alter brickwork. Non-structural building work includes: replacing electrical wiring, replacing or altering non-supporting walls (interior or exterior), plastering or rendering an entire wall or walls, plumbing (e.g. replacing pipes), or replacing kitchen cupboards, bathroom fixtures, air-conditioning or security systems.
Substantial renovations do not include cosmetic work such as painting, sanding floors, replacing light fittings, or replacing curtains and carpets. However, where structural and/or non-structural building work amounts to substantial renovations that have created new residential premises, any cosmetic work also undertaken will form part of the new residential premises.
Applications for a First Home Owner (New Homes) Grant on the basis that the applicant has purchased new residential premises that have been created through substantial renovations of a building will be considered on a case by case basis. In particular cases, the Chief Commissioner may require further evidence that the requirements set out above have been met.
</dd>
<dt>6. What is a home built to replace demolished premises?</dt>
<dd>
A home is a home built to replace demolished premises if:
<div>
<ul>
<li>
(a) the home is a new residential premises within the meaning of section 40-75(1)(b) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 of the Commonwealth, and
</li>
<li>
(b) the home, as built to replace the demolished premises, has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence, and
</li>
<li>
(c) the owner of the home did not occupy the demolished premises as a place of residence before they were demolished.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</dd>
<dt>7. Does the price of the home need to be under a limit to receive the First Home Owner Grant (New Home)?</dt>
<dd>
Yes, effective from 1 October 2012 the First Home Owner Grant (New Home) Scheme is capped to $650,000. The grant will only be available for properties with a total value not exceeding that amount.
</dd>
<dt>8. How is the Total Value of the home calculated?</dt>
<dd>
For a contract of sale of a home, the total value is based on the greater of the following:
<div>
<ul>
<li>
the consideration for the eligible transaction
</li>
<li>
the unencumbered value, as at the commencement date of the eligible transaction.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
For a comprehensive home building contract, the total value is calculated by adding together:
<div>
<ul>
<li>
the consideration for the eligible transaction, and
</li>
<li>
the value, at the commencement date, of the relevant interest of the land on which the home is to be built.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
For a building of a home by an owner builder, the total value is calculated by adding together:
<div>
<ul>
<li>
the unencumbered value of the home, at the date the transaction is completed and the value, at the date the transaction is completed, of the relevant interest in the land on which the home is built.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
The value of the relevant interest in the land on which the home is to be built is the greater of the following:
<div>
<ul>
<li>
the consideration paid or payable for the interest
</li>
<li>
the unencumbered value of the interest.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</dd>
<dt>9. From October 2012 do I get a grant if I buy an existing home?</dt>
<dd>
No, from 1 October 2012, the First Home Owner Grant will only be payable on the purchase of new homes.
The $7000 First Home owner Grant is still available for purchases of existing homes entered into before 1 October 2012.
</dd>
<dt>10. Does the First Home Owner Grant ( New Home) apply to replacement contracts entered into on or after 1 October 2012?</dt>
<dd>
A contract for the sale or transfer is not eligible if:
(a) it replaces an agreement made before 1 October 2012, and
(b) the replaced contract is for the sale or transfer of substantially the same property.
</dd>
<dt>11.	Can I get the First Home Owner Grant and the $5000 New Home Grant?</dt>
<dd>
If you receive the First Home Owner Grant, you cannot receive the $5 000 New Home Grant for the same property.
</dd>
</dl>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Everything you need to know about the NSW first-home buyer $15,000 grant scheme

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The NSW budget papers gave 10 key reasons for the sense of an underlying strenthening in the NSW  housing sector.
They were:
1) interest rates at historically low levels;
2) consumer confidence has increased;
3) housing finance approvals are trending up;
4) building approvals are increasing;
5) vacancy rates are low and rents are rising strongly;
6) housing prices have begun to increase;
7) housing affordability improved steadily in 2012-13;
8) rising investor demand;
9) high auction clearance rates;
10) and underlying demand remains strong driven by demographic trends, including higher population growth and solid household income growth.
Source: NSW State Treasury budget papers.
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The NSW Treasury's 10 reasons why the property market is on the mend

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NSW property buyers paid $4.39 billion in stamp duties in 2012-2013, which was down on the anticipated $4.46 billion revenue for the 2012 to 2013 budget.
But stamp duty on residential transfers in 2012-2013 were about 18.4% higher than in 2011-2012.
<img alt="stampdutyjune18one" height="290" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/06/stampdutyjune18one.jpg">
And stamp duty receipts are expected to jump this budget financial year to $4.96 billion,  reflecting positive indicators which could see  20.5% boost in residential transfer duties.
Overall stamp duty paid on transfer of all property is forecast to increase at an average annual rate of 9.1% over the next four years.
"Transfer duty is a volatile douce of revenue, with annual movements exceeding 25% not uncommon," the budget papers noted.
Transfer duty includes duty on residential sales, and small and large commercial transaction, including the sale of ports.
It raises about 20% of total state government tax revenue.
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NSW property buyers paid $4.39 billion in stamp duty over 2012-2013 financial year

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NSW property investors paid $2.39 billion in land tax during the 2012-2013 year.
But this was less, after low valuation growth, than the anticipated $2.55 billion forecast.
"The downward revision to the 2012-13 estimate reflects lower than forecast increases in land values for the 2013 land tax year," the budget papers said.
The current budget anticipates land tax to total $2.52 billion.
The average anticipated growth per annum between 2013 and 2017 is given as 5.7%.
Land tax raises about 11% of the total state government tax revenue.
The NSW lmd tax threshold was $406,000.
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NSW property investors paid $2.39 billion in land tax over 2012-2013 financial year

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The NSW Treasurer Mike Baird says its generous handouts for first-time buyers buying new homes has succeeded, triggering the NSW Government to extend the grant aimed at boosting the state’s home building industry.
"I'm pleased to announce the extension of this successful program," Mike Baird said in his 2013 budget speech.
The $15,000 grant for new homes buyers will be extended until January 2016.
The first home owner new home grant was scheduled to be reduced to $10,000 in six months time on 1 January, 2014 when the scheme was unveiled.
The 2013 budget papers included a graph that showed the share of first home buyers securing new homes had recently hit about 48% of all NSW first home buyers. It is now running at just over 40%.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/06/nswbudgetjune18one.jpg" width="470" height="296" alt="nswbudgetjune18one">
Source: Office of State Revenue and ABS Catalogue 5609.0 Housing Finance, Australia
The previous highest levels were the 30% plus peaks in 2009 and 2002 following the global financial crisis and gst introduction bonus provisions.
Despite the shift in the take-up of new houses and apartments, the overall volume of first home buyer activity remains at low levels.
First-home buyers of existing properties had previously constituted between 80% and 90% of the market segment before the government sought to redirect buyer interest to new homes in the 2012 budget.
"The turnaround in this important sector of the economy is proof that the NSW Government's policies are working," Mr Baird said.
"This budget continues to tackle the housing shortage across NSW to get more people into new and more affordable homes sooner," he said.
"The government has provided a significant boost to the housing construction industry and over the first four months of 2013 the number of grants for new homes was more than 60% higher than a year earlier," the budget papers said.
"To maintain the momentum of this initiative the government has decided that the benefits of up to $35,240 for first home buyers will be extended for a further two years," it said.
The emerging shift in buying habits will assuage some of the criticism that the government had pulled the rug from under the established market with little take-up of the new home incentives. The NSW government was the first of most state and territory governments to <a href="/news">shift the grant emphasis towards new homes</a>.
A first-home buyer who purchases up to a $550,000 new home will get $35,240 in assistance also paying no stamp duty.
The 2012 budget more than doubled the first home owner grant for new homes.
The $650,000 upper threshold for new home concession remains.
The government noted the $35,240 was almost $20,000 more than under the former Labor government.
"NSW now has the highest number of new homes approvals over a 12 month period since October 2005," the papers said.
"After an extended period during which residential building approvals were significantly below their long-run average levels, levels are now more than 15% above the decade average, with multi-unit approvals driving most of the improvement.
"The government's building the state package is contributing to this growth as current private sector building approvals in April 2013 is 83% above the low of 21,800 in February 2009," the papers said.
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NSW home buyer grants tempting 40% plus of first timers in emerging shift away from established homes

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Property developer Keith Levett, the director of Kitchen World Australia, and his wife, Jillian, have listed their Dolans Bay residence with boatshed and jetty for July 1 expressions of interest.
The five-bedroom house sits on the 2950 sq m Port Hacking Road estate that incorporates the 1930s mansion, Windemere, the former Sisters of Mercy convent which Levett bought 16 years ago.
Completed 11 years ago, <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-dolans-bay-nsw-2229/167147/?searchID=29539975" target="_blank">it has been listed by McGrath agent Sean Egan</a>.
In 2007 there were $7.5-million-plus hopes. They are now seeking $6 million plus.
The suburb's record has stood at $3.37 million since 2007.
<img alt="trophyhomesstrapone" src="/images/stories/2013/05/trophyhomesstrapone.jpg" width="470" height="57">
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Remodelled convent at Dolans Bay listed as $6 million trophy home

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<div>
Sotheby's International Realty Sydney has announced it will open a Gold Coast office.
After an absence from Australia for several years, the international brand opened in Sydney's Double Bay in September, 2012
</div>
Sotheby's also plans an office in Melbourne, but not yet.
It is understood the Gold Coast office will be headed by assistants within the Double Bay office rather the recruit any leading headline Gold Coast agent.
Michael Pallier told News Ltd papers he views Gold Coast prices as just about at "rock bottom.'' 
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Sotheby's to open Australian Gold Coast office

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A 1960s brick house at Lurnea was Sydney's cheapest house sale at $360,000 over the weekend.
The vendors had wanted $379,950 when it was briefly listed in early 2012.
It had previously sold at $320,000 in 2010 and at $240,000 in 2008, according to RP Data.
Its most recent price appreciation was at an annual 3.95% compared to the prior two year sales period when there was 15% annual growth.
There was  a $125,000 sale in 1997, which reflects close to 7% over the 16-year period.
The three-bedroom house in the Liverpool municipality sits on a 657-square-metre Wheeler Avenue block.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/13-wheeler-avenue-lurnea/Property-Details-buy-residential-5507745" target="_blank">It was sold by Century 21 Combined Lioverpool agent Sonia Poulos</a>.
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Wheeler Avenue, Lurnea brick house sale suggests slowing price growth

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Nigel Austin, the founder of the Cotton On chain, is the confirmed buyer of One Towers Road, Toorak which was sold earlier this month by former JPMorgan Australia chairman Brian Watson.

It will be <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/one-towers-road-toorak-sells-but-falls-short-of-record/2013061662281" target="_blank">the home </a>of the Geelong born and based ragtrader and his expectant partner, Melanie.

The teenage Austin began selling factory seconds from the back of his car at Geelong markets in the earlier 1990s. Nigel, who turns 43 this year, has a 36 hectare stud at Ceres, the locality which has an outlook over Geelong. He also has a waterfront apartment located in the sought after Eastern Beach precinct of Geelong.

Cotton On was founded in 1991, with the first store being opened in Geelong, Australia. By 2013, the Cotton On chain has over 1021 stores worldwide.It has over 1000 stores in 12 countries and as of 2011 employed around 5,500 people.

Before he exited the BRW Young Rich due to its 40 years old age cut off, Nigel Austin was valued at $236 million in the 2010 list.

Little has been known on Austin's personal life since his divorce from former wife Tania who is the head of fashion chain Decjuba. She has lived in Toorak since moving up from Geelong after the marriage break-up.

There is no official confirmation of the price of the Georgian-style mansion on Towers Road, Toorak but it is understood to have fallen short of the Melbourne record of $24 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5559]

Property Observer gleans its sold for around $21 million, a very healthy result. Fairfax Media, whose initial price estimate was $25 million, have since suggested their $21.5 million revised price estimate represented a "bargain."

One Towers Road, Toorak, last traded when Brian Watson and Edwina Le Maistre secured the 3,900 square metre property in July 2001. Brian Watson is a private investor with extensive experience in the finance sector, including 16 years with JPMorgan in New York and Melbourne, and most recently as a founding member of the Board of Guardians of the Future Fund. 

Its Kay and Burton listing agent Michael Gibson has been tight-lipped on the details of the latest sale with only a sold notice up on realestate.com.au.

The Watson family bought the six bedroom <a href="/news">Toorak</a> property in 2001 for $11.1 million, a then record-setting price from businessman John Elliott.

The highest known sale in Toorak this year was about $16.65 million when property developer and architect Gabor Hubay and wife Roni sold their sprawling 3 Macquarie Road estate after it was listed last November. The Hubay-designed five bedroom, seven bathroom house with a theatre, a gym and a seven-car basement garage, sits on a 2100-square-metre property.

Cotton On announced last year it would build a $500 million distribution and warehousing centre in its home base, the regional Victorian city of Geelong.
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Nigel Austin, the Cotton On retailer chain founder, the One Towers Road Toorak buyer

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Little Parndon, the East Melbourne house built for colonial artist Eugene von Guerard fetched $1.75 million at its weekend auction.
Four bidders sought the heritage-listed Georgian property at 159 Gipps Street, which was built in 1862.
Jellis Craig Bennison Mackinnon agents Iain Carmichael and Nathan Waterson announced it on the market at $1.47 million with two remaining bidders seeking the terrace. The plain face red brickwork Little Parndon features three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a self-contained studio apartment.
Little Parndon had been the townhouse of former governor-general Lord Casey and Lady Casey. Since Lady Casey's 1983 death Little Parndon had been periodically occupied by visiting artists, according to the East Melbourne Historical Society.
Lady Casey, the editor and co-writer of Early Melbourne Architecture, which was published in 1953, helped Melbourne's emerging conservation movement.
The 180-square-metre terrace, Little Parndon was constructed by Ravenscroft and Oldfield for von Guerard who was born in 1811 in Vienna and died in 1901 in London.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/05/may27eastmelbourne]}
After emigrating to Australia from Austria, von Guerard was one of Australia’s most renowned landscape artists and was influential to the Australian romantic landscape painting. 
Von Guerard added a rooftop studio to the house in 1866 having often painted the country properties of the rich for earnings to build his house.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/05/may27eastmelbournetwo]}
After Von Guerard moved back to Europe in 1882, Robert Sparrow Smyth, an entrepreneur and manager of musicians was the next owner, followed by John H. Daley.
The property was then home to Australia’s 16th Governor General Lord Casey and Lady Casey from 1939.
Meanwhile one of von Guerard's paintings, <a href="https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21362/lot/17/" target="_blank">The farm of Mr Perry on the Yarra</a> goes to June 26 Bonhams auction as part of the Grundy Collection sale with $900,000 plus hopes. It was painted in 1855. The Perry family's farm Fulham Grange at Alphington on the Yarra River, is unique amongst von Guerard's works as it was the artist's first commission in the colony and it depicts not just an early homestead (a genre von Guerard would later make his own) but one that was also a working farm, vineyard and nursery.
The land was still untamed bush when Englishman Richard Perry and his wife Elizabeth first took it up in the early 1850s, creating a farm, market garden, vineyard and after a time, a tree nursery, eventually known as Perry's Nursery Garden and Orchard.
The Southern Highlands, NSW-based Grundy's say they have too many paintings in storage and they wish for others to get to enjoy their ownership.
Little Parndon was listed by the Casey estate through <a href="https://www.jelliscraigbm.com.au/property/EAST-MELBOURNE-159-Gipps-Street/5527689/#.UZ7TpuBAt6o" target="_blank">Jellis Craig Bennison Mackinnion Armadale</a> with an initial price guide of $1.4 million, which was around its reserve price.
The median house price in <a href="/news">East Melbourne</a> is $1,950,000, according to RP Data.
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Little Parndon, the East Melbourne gem sells as Eugene von Guerard painting set for auction from Reg and Joy Grundy collection

An 1880s timber cottage that has survived Kangaroo Point's transformation from riverside suburb to high-density apartment precinct is set to become the centrepiece of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/zephyr">Zephyr Group</a>'s proposed Banksia development.

Rather than see the locally heritage-listed Alpha Cottage as an obstacle to navigate, plans integrate the landmark home into a new 18-storey residential tower, giving one of the suburb's oldest surviving residences a new role as the project's communal hub.

The development application covers a 1,177 sqm amalgamated site at 127-133 Lambert Street and 30 Shafston Avenue, where Zephyr Group plans to deliver 64 apartments above three basement levels. Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/joe-adsett-architects">Joe Adsett Architects</a>, the proposal carefully weaves the retained heritage cottage into a contemporary residential scheme, with the tower elevated above the historic building to preserve its presence within the Lambert Street streetscape.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f9dc5bdb-d691-4c60-bf2b-c3ed405a3e75" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Banksia.png?VersionId=Jh4bjlewU.o8HXWt0V4KaFA_lPcF7KWM" />

Named after the native Australian Banksia flower, the project draws inspiration from its distinctive form through curved balconies, sculpted planter boxes and cascading subtropical landscaping that soften the building's profile.

As the design report explains: "The tower's identity is defined by its feature facade, drawing direct inspiration from the Banksia wildflower. The building departs from traditional rigidity through the use of elegant, GRC-moulded planter boxes that appear as if shaped by the breeze."

Plans propose 64 apartments, comprising 32 two-bedroom and 32 three-bedroom residences, across an 18-storey tower. Residents would have access to rooftop amenities including a swimming pool, spa, gym, sauna, private cinema, dining spaces and landscaped recreation areas, while more than half the site is dedicated to planting and open space.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16041b5f-033e-47fa-8fbe-9886e072c1f2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pool.png?VersionId=kpx5w4EbLx0_TdWfDoD1vrSs0_cZ5Ao1" />

The heritage component is the defining feature of the proposal. Constructed in the early 1880s and occupied from at least 1883, Alpha Cottage is recognised by Brisbane City Council as an important surviving example of Kangaroo Point's nineteenth-century residential development and as a representative transverse-gable timber cottage. Despite extensive redevelopment across the peninsula, the building has retained a high degree of its original form and internal fabric.

As part of the redevelopment, the cottage will be carefully relocated a short distance within its original allotment to facilitate construction before being returned to a prominent position along Lambert Street. Original verandah elements will be dismantled, catalogued and reinstated, while significant internal features, including timber flooring, wall linings, joinery, doors, windows and hardware, will be retained. Later additions, including the enclosed rear verandah, will be removed to better reveal the building's original form.

Once restored, Alpha Cottage will accommodate the building manager's office, mail room and parcel facilities, providing an active everyday use that supports its long-term conservation rather than preserving it as a static display. The heritage strategy also maintains landscaped space around the building, allowing it to remain visually distinct beneath the new tower.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="43b027e1-576e-4624-a66c-7cc54ea8b7be" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/banksia%20tower.png?VersionId=2W6E2yfkj2AQlWlLeV986grA5zB9f817" />

The Heritage Impact Assessment concludes that "the proposal secures the ongoing occupation, maintenance and conservation of Alpha Cottage," finding the development would result in "no more than a minor impact on the cultural heritage significance" of the building while ensuring its long-term future.

Joe Adsett Architects have designed the tower to sit above the heritage building rather than overwhelm it, creating a clear visual separation between old and new. The development's flowing balconies, integrated planting and organic façade respond to Brisbane's subtropical climate while complementing the restored cottage below.

Banksia occupies a prominent corner in Kangaroo Point within walking distance of the Kangaroo Point Bridge, Brisbane River, ferry services, QUT, the CBD and the Woolloongabba precinct. The site also benefits from direct access to active transport infrastructure and sits within an area earmarked for continued higher-density residential growth.

Joel Robinson

Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage

Buying into a masterplanned community often means committing to a vision still years from taking shape. At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>, that vision is already visible.

Residents have moved into the completed first stage, landscaped spaces are established, and the next chapter is now underway. Stage 1 has been completed and settled, with Stage 2 now selling off-the-plan.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pbd-architects">PBD Architects</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> combines attainable apartment living with sustainability initiatives rarely seen at this price point, including rooftop solar, battery storage and a resident EV-sharing program.

<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/6RNt3AvtBpI?si=JUhuCV2ZRXsYaoJZ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Located on Schofi​elds Road, just moments from Tal​lawong Metro Station and Schof​ields Train Station, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been designed to appeal to a broad mix of buyers, from first-home purchasers looking for a foothold in Sy​dney's property market to downsizers seeking a connected, low-maintenance lifestyle.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been conceived as a thoughtfully planned masterplanned community that will evolve over multiple stages, with buyers now able to secure one, two and three-bedroom apartments within a neighbourhood that is already beginning to establish its identity.

One of the project's defining features is its focus on sustainability. Solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure have been incorporated throughout the development, reflecting a long-term approach to both environmental performance and everyday convenience.

Sustainability sits at the centre of the development's vision, with solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure integrated throughout the community.

That emphasis on future-ready living extends beyond the technology. Landscaped communal gardens, outdoor gathering spaces and plans for a future retail precinct aim to create a neighbourhood where residents can access daily conveniences without travelling far from home.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351027]

The apartments themselves have been designed with liveability front of mind. Rather than chasing maximum density, the focus has been placed on creating practical homes with generous natural light, usable layouts and strong connections to outdoor space.

Importantly, these design principles have been applied consistently across the one, two and three-bedroom apartment offerings.

The appeal of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> is also closely linked to its location within Syd​ney's rapidly evolving north-west growth corridor. Over the past decade, major infrastructure investment has transformed the area, with new transport links, business precincts and community facilities reshaping suburbs like Talla​wong and Schofiel​ds.

The agent says buyers are increasingly recognising the area's long-term potential.

"Typical buyers that we're finding across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> especially are your first-home buyers, your investors, your upsizers as well as your downsizers," Hawes says.

Connectivity remains one of the project's strongest drawcards. Residents have access to both Tallaw​ong Metro Station and Schofi​elds Train Station, providing links to the Sydn​ey CBD, Norw​est Business Park, Macquari​e Park and other major employment hubs. Retail centres including Rous​e Hill Town Centre and Sch​ofields Village are also nearby, alongside schools, parks and future healthcare infrastructure.

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For Stage 1 resident Roji, it is the balance between convenience and comfort that has defined the experience of living at Kew.

"For me, it's a balance of quality and convenience," she says. "Everything I need is right here."

"If I wanted to catch the train, Scho​fields Station is just around the corner. Tallaw​ong Metro connects me to the city."

More importantly, she says, the development has delivered something that cannot be measured in floorplans or specifications.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> feels like home."

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As Stage 2 enters the market, that lived experience may be one of the project's strongest selling points. Buyers are not purchasing into an untested concept or a future promise. They are joining a community that is already taking shape.

Ongoing investment in transport, retail, healthcare and public open space continues to strengthen the appeal of Syd​ney's north-west growth corridor, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>'s established first stage provides buyers with a tangible sense of the community's future direction.

For a limited time, buyer can secure a new home at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> with just a $10,000.

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Kew Tallawong: A growing community taking shape in Sydney's north-west

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/freecity">Freecity</a> has received development approval for its 51-storey mixed-use tower at 153-157 Walker Street, North Sydney, set to be one of the tallest mixed-use residential-led buildings in one of Sydney’s most sought-after commercial and residential addresses.

Lodged as a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) through the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway and approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure following a comprehensive public exhibition and submissions process, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/153-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">the project</a> will deliver 296 apartments, alongside a 170-room, luxury hotel, activated retail and significant public domain improvements.

Situated just 200 metres from Victoria Cross Metro Station, on one of the largest developable sites in North Sydney, the development will rise to 234 metres, making it one of the tallest buildings in the suburb. With an end value of approximately $1.5 billion, the project responds directly to the NSW Government’s mandate to accelerate housing delivery in well-located, transit-connected areas.

<img alt="Freecity gets green light for mixed-use residential and hotel tower in North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="192ec455-94bf-4e01-83ef-922b1b269d67" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Freecity%20-%20Walker%20Street%20North%20Sydney%201%20RESIZED%20.jpg?VersionId=Bzqp0SBHCDvLAHjA4QXkjuGoOEIh73Jl" />

The apartment mix will cater to a broad range of buyers, with 65 studio and one-bedroom apartments, 139 two-bedroom residences, 35 three-bedroom apartments, 48 four-bedroom homes, and nine penthouses. Residents will have access to a dedicated amenity level on Level 33, featuring a swimming pool with views towards the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and North Sydney CBD, as well as a gym, library, shared kitchen, lounge and outdoor entertaining areas.

The hotel will occupy the lower six levels of the building and include meeting and function spaces, a wellness centre with gym, yoga studio, swimming pool and sauna, further strengthening North Sydney's growing hospitality offering.

At ground level, the development has been designed to improve pedestrian connections through the precinct. More than 700 sqm of retail space will activate the street frontage, while a landscaped through-site link connecting Walker Street, Little Walker Street and Doris Fitton Park will provide new public open space with seating, paving and extensive native landscaping.

Freecity Group Co-Founder and Joint CEO Tony Sun said the project represents one of the most significant development opportunities currently available in North Sydney.

"This is one of the most significant development sites in North Sydney and it comes at a pivotal moment for the precinct," Sun said.

"North Sydney is undergoing a genuine transformation, and this project will contribute housing the city urgently needs while creating a landmark destination."

Executive Director of Development Michael Romano said demand for both residential and hotel accommodation would continue to strengthen as the Metro precinct matures.

"The structural demand for high-quality housing and hotel accommodation in North Sydney is compelling, and will only grow as the precinct continues to evolve around the new Metro station," Romano said.

Architectus has designed the tower, orientating the apartments to maximise views towards Sydney Harbour while introducing a sculpted façade intended to respond to light, wind and the surrounding skyline.

Architectus Principal Marko Damic said the design sought to create a tower that contributes to the public realm as much as the skyline.

"We wanted to design a tower that doesn't just sit in the skyline but actively participates and contributes to city life," Damic said.

First look: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use apartment and hotel tower in North Sydney

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> have celebrated the topping out of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf,</a> marking a significant milestone in the delivery of one of Syd​ney's most anticipated waterfront communities.

Located on Sydney's harbourfront at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a>, the project has now reached its highest structural point, with construction progressing strongly towards completion in 2027. 
&nbsp; 
The milestone was celebrated on-site with project partners Phoenix Property Investors, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Versatile Construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, consultants and stakeholders, to recognise the collective effort behind the transformation of the historic waterfront site into a vibrant new residential, marina and lifestyle destination.

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&nbsp; 
<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will deliver a mix of waterfront residences and terraces, complemented by a private 36-berth marina, waterfront dining opportunities and a revitalised foreshore designed to reconnect the community with the river's edge. 
&nbsp; 
Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said the project represented a rare opportunity to create the next chapter in Sydn​ey's long history of successful waterfront precincts. 
&nbsp; 
"Throughout Sydney, some of the city's most sought-after addresses have emerged from carefully considered waterfront precincts such as Woolloom​ooloo Wharf, Walsh Bay and Breakfast Point," Brown said.

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&nbsp; 
"What makes these places so successful is that they become much more than residential developments," Brown said.

"They bring together homes, hospitality, marina facilities, public spaces and a strong sense of community in locations where future supply is incredibly limited."

Brown has long described absolute waterfront land in Sy​dney as "finite."

"Once these opportunities are developed, they are rarely replicated. That's why Syd​ney's waterfront precincts have consistently demonstrated strong demand and long-term value growth over many decades. 
&nbsp; 
"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is one of the few remaining opportunities to secure a residence within a masterplanned waterfront community that combines direct water access, marina ownership opportunities and a genuine village lifestyle just moments from the Sy​dney CBD."

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&nbsp; 
PERIFA Founder and Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said the project reflected a shared commitment to delivering exceptional places that create long-term value for residents and the broader community. 
&nbsp; 
"The topping out milestone is a significant achievement for the Versatile Group and a testament to the collaboration between all project partners, consultants and contractors involved," Perilli said. 
&nbsp; 
"Beyond the residences themselves, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will establish a new waterfront destination that celebrates the history, character and lifestyle of this unique location while creating a lasting legacy for future generations."

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&nbsp; 
Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

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Abadeen, PERIFA, top out Putney Wharf harbourfront precinct

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.

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Jonathan Chancellor

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