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Asian investment house Bright Ruby is reportedly eying an office tower purchase in Sydney’s central business district.
It has approached the owners of 420 George Street, seeking to acquire the $500 million office component of the premium development.
The Australian Financial Review says the owners of the complex, Fortius Funds Management (75%) andLend Lease’s APPF investment unit (25%) have not formally offered 31-level tower to the market.
Comprising 37,733 square metres of A Grade office space, it tenants include State Street and AECOM.
It was Sydney CBD’s first five-star Green Star Design v2 office building.
Last year, the co-owners appeared to be ready to bring 420 George Street and MidCity shopping centre to market in one line, which could have reaped them $700 million, the AFR reported.
The Singapore-domiciled Bright Ruby has been chasing major Sydney office towers showing interest in the half share of the MLC Centre that GPT Group offered to the market in 2011.
Bright Ruby’s initial foray was the $62.5 million purchase of 10 Barrack Street in the Sydney from BlackRock.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Singapore's Bright Ruby seeks out more Sydney office acquistions 

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The luxury Southbank penthouse of the Olympic swimmer Grant Hackett and his estranged wife pop-singer Candice Alley has been listed for sale.
More than $2.7 million is being sought through RT Edgar, according to Fairfax Media.
The 57th floor apartment is in the Freshwater Place tower.
It comes with three-bedrooms and three-bathrooms.
The apartment cost $2.755 million in 2009.
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Grant Hackett and Candice Alley list Freshwater Place, Southbank apartment 

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The Reject Shop intends opening a record number of new stores during 2013.
The discount variety retailer today reported a 21.2% increase in net profit to $20.1 million in the December half after stronger sales.
The retailer has opened six stores since December 2012.
It plans a further 10 openings before Easter and then seven before July, lifting the number of new stores in the current financial year to a record 40.
Its opening rate, which is twice its historic growth rate, seeks to take advantage of troubles at Retail Adventures which has closed around 100 stores since its administration last October.
Reject Shop has picked up 14 Retail Adventures stores.
"The strong performance of our new stores opened during the period reflects the robustness of our business model and the continued appeal of The Reject Shop brand,' the company said today.
"During the half, we opened 17 new stores, as well as relocating two existing stores."
The store openings were widespread with: five each in Queensland and New South Wales; three in Victoria; and two each in Tasmania and Western Australia.
The company said the new stores had performed above expectations while the trial of a temporary second store in an existing major shopping centre has provided significant learnings for our future store growth strategy.
"We are extremely pleased at the trading in the majority of our existing stores, with only a small number of stores, primarily in larger centres, dragging down overall sales growth."
The company also advised it had achieved "positive outcomes" on renewal of leases and will continue to negotiate strongly on all future renewals.
"As previously indicated, we are prepared to exit stores where occupancy costs are unrealistic or the long term viability of the retail precinct is questionable. Some of our stores within larger shopping centres are high on our priority list for further discussion with our landlords," the managing director Chris Bryce said.
 
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The Reject Shop intends opening a record number of new stores

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Brookfield Multiplex has been appointed to design and construct The University of Melbourne’s (UOM) $100 million Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning Building (FABP) in Parkville.
Spanning six levels and 17,488 square metres, construction of the FABP building will commence in May this year to be completed in time for the 2015 academic year.
<img height="335" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/02/brookfieldfeb20.jpg" alt="brookfieldfeb20">
John Wardle Architects in Melbourne and NADAAA from Boston were the successful winners of a design competition for the building which received more than 130 submissions from 15 countries.
Brookfield Multiplex will work to create a Living Lab in the building which will enable students to learn about building and architecture on site while the FABP is being constructed.
"We have a successful model established from our work at UNSW, RMIT and the Melbourne Brain Centre and will implement similar strategies on this site," said Graham Milford-Cottam, the regional managing director of Brookfield Multiplex Victoria.
Its heritage listed facade, originally from the old Bank of NSW built on Collins Street in 1856 and relocated to the University Of Melbourne in 1932, will be incorporated in the new building.
The building will also feature a suspended studio that will hang from the atrium.
There will be a Japanese room with cladding that alludes to traditional Japanese construction. Another element of the building will be an underground library with glazed skylights that will open into the building.
"The project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Faculty, including the Melbourne School of Design, to articulate its strategic objectives, demonstrating a commitment to innovation through the design and delivery of an outstanding centrally located campus building," said Tom Kvan, Dean of FABP, University of Melbourne.

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Brookfield Multiplex appointed to construct The University of Melbourne’s $100 million Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning Building

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The Channel 9 television executive David Gyngell has spent $5.25 million to buy a half share of John "Strop" Cornell's Hotel Brunswick at Brunswick Heads.
The Brunswick pub is a northern NSW tourist stop-over location known for its traditional pub food, a shady beergarden, and the vintage ambience of classic Austalian 1940s architecture.
The "Bruns" has courtyard space shaded by giant poinciana trees.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/stories/2013/02/hotelbrunswickfeb20.jpg" alt="hotelbrunswickfeb20" width="470" height="305">
It ranked highly in the 2011 Best Of Summer Top 10 Beer Gardens by the Daily Telegraph being placed in number two position behind the Opera Bar @ Circular Quay.
The small coastal village pub was built in 1940 by Jim Cavill overlooking the Brunswick River and Simpsons Creek.
It was almost two decades earlier that Jim Cavill had built the 16-room Surfers Paradise Hotel in what was then Elston and then campaigned to have it renamed Surfers Paradise which occured in 1934.
<a href="https://www.hotelbrunswick.com.au/history/" target="_blank">The first hotel in Brunswick Heads was Bob Marshall’s Ocean View Hotel, which opened in 1884</a>.
The freehold of the pub was bought by the Cornell-directed Hizan Holdings in 1990 from Austotel for $2.1 million.
Hizan has recently touted getting development permission for the site but had a dispute with the local council about the definition of “floor area”.
Property Observer gathers the dispute was concluded without the need for contested litigation.
Gyngell, who has a newly completed retreat in the Byron Bay hinterland, has been a family friend of John Cornell and Delvene Delaney.
Gyngell’s gather, Bruce, helped found the Nine network in 1956. Another father figure was Kerry Packer who died on Boxing Day 2005.
The fellow Byron hotel owner John Cornell, who was the legendary producer who managed Paul Hogan and helped Kerry Packer set up World Series Cricket in 1977, is like a father figure to him.
The purchase had been mooted, but the official paperwork was only available last week at the land titles office.
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David Gyngell buys into John "Strop" Cornell's Hotel Brunswick at Brunswick Heads

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The 1860s South Melbourne terrace of the AFL's No.2 man, Gillon McLachlan and his wife Laura has been listed for sale.
Its been listed by Rob Vickers-Willis of Abercromby's Real Estate Armadale.
The Georgian terrace comes with contemporary living and kitchen area with sliding doors that open to leafy courtyards.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/02/mclachlan1.jpg" width="470" height="353" alt="mclachlan1">
The three bedroom, two bathroom house also comes with rear contemporary studio apartment with private entrance above its two car garage.
The terrace cost $3.6 million in 2007. Set on a 460-square-metre block, it was formerly owned and restored by broadcaster Peter Couchman, who then bought next door.
<img alt="mclachlan2" height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/02/mclachlan2.jpg">
When Couchman bought it in the 1970s, it was divided into flats, but underneath plaster boards and layers of paint were fine period features.
The terrace, one of a pair built for a locksmith overlooking a little park, had previously traded at $1,925,000 in 2004, then $785,000 in 1996 and $625,000 in 1992.
<img alt="mclachlan3" height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/02/mclachlan3.jpg">
It was mid-last year that McLachlan, the AFL  deputy chief executive, knocked back the job as chief executive of the ARL Commission in Sydney.
He married, Laura, the daughter of Spotless chief Brian Blythe in 2003.
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AFL's Gillon McLachlan lists Georgian terrace in South Melbourne

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The artist David Bromley and his partner, Yuge Yu, having adjusted price expectations on their current Byron Bay abode, have found a buyer.
Bromley, one of Australia's most prolific artists, and Yu, a fashion designer, cut the asking price on the Jonson Street property from $1.55 million <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/artist-david-bromley-knocks-%24150000-off-his-byron-bay-asking-price/2013010758639" target="_blank">to $1.4 million earlier this year</a>.
The property was bought by Bromley's former partner of 17 years, Tori Dixon-Whittle, who paid $1.15 million in 2007. Dixon-Whittle and their three children now live in Vietnam.
The original three-bedroom cottage comes with outbuildings that allow for, all up, five bedrooms. There is commercial zoning.
It was sold through Ray White agent David Gordon who had its listed in conjunction with Bangalow Real Estate.
The property is being offer with painted murals in the courtyard, on the side of the house, in two bedrooms and in the living area.
In its backyard, there’s a vintage AirStream caravan with a deck and Japanese hot tub, and a Studebaker ute decked out with tropical plants.
The selling price has not been revealed.
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Artist David Bromley finds Byron Bay buyer 

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Beach bathing box 72 on Brighton beach failed to sell at its weekend auction.
The offer of $176,000 was short of its $190,000 reserve.
''We didn't even really have an auction but we have got some interest and are in discussions with someone,'' Nick Johnstone agent David Urquhart told Fairfax Media.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/72-beach-box-brighton/Property-Details-buy-residential-4922749">Its listed at $150,000 plus</a>.
Title Tattle recalls it was listed in late 2011, but without any disclosed price.
Set on one of the most photographed locales in Australia, the priciest of the weatherboard boxes was $260,000 in 2011.
Bathing boxes existed in <a target="_blank" href="/news" title="Brighton">Brighton </a>as far back as 1862, with the 85 boxes at Dendy Street being a throwback to the 19th century, when the increasing popularity of sea bathing clashed with Victorian-era prudishness.
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Brighton bathing box fails to sell

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Company title disputes will be able to be heard in the NSW Local Court instead of the Supreme Court, under changes announced by NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith.
The new system will allow cheaper and more efficient dispute resolution, Greg Smith said.
The state has about 820 apartment blocks under company title, compared with more than 71,000 strata schemes.
“Until now, company title disputes have been typically heard in the Supreme Court with the cost of the proceedings preventing some residents from resolving conflict over issues such as noise, the use of common property and the raising of financial levies,” Mr Smith said. “The NSW Government will enable the small claims division of the local court to deal with company title disputes so that the issues can be resolved quickly and with as little formality as possible.” “The local court will also be able to refer matters to mediation, which could further reduce costs for residents of company title units.” Company title is a system of communal land ownership where a person earns the right to live in a unit in a residential building by acquiring shares in a company that owns the building. Before the introduction of Strata Title legislation in NSW in 1961, most unit blocks were held in company title. “Company title is now relatively uncommon in NSW," Mr Smith said. Strata title differs from company title by allowing people to own a unit in a building.
Disputes involving strata title units can be resolved in the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal.
However, a tribunal, such as the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal, may not be able to be given the power to resolve Company Title disputes that arise under the Corporations Act 2001, which is a Commonwealth Act.
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Company title disputes now off to the cheaper NSW Local Court

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The celebrity chef Shannon Bennett has spent possibly close to $5 million to buy South Yarra's historic Victorian mansion, Barwon.
<div class="aside">
The Vue de Monde restaurateur and wife, actor Madeleine West, have subsequently sold their home in Kensington over the weekend for a price believed to be $1.6 million plus.
The 1881 Cromwell Road, South Yarra property last traded for $2.8 million in 2005, but now comes with a contemporary extension to the original Percy Oakden designed home.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/02/bennettfeb20.jpg" width="470" height="314" alt="bennettfeb20">
It has four bedrooms, plus two studies along with a self-contained apartment in its pool house on its 1266 square metre holding.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kayburton.com.au/property/38-cromwell-road-south-yarra">It was initially listed around August last year with $5.5 million hopes </a>selling quietly to the celebrity couple last December.
Madeleine West has currently put her Lennox Street, Richmond apartment up for sale.
The <a target="_blank" href="/news">Kensington </a>property was listed with price hopes of $1.5 million to $1.65 million. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/chef-extraordinaire-shannon-bennett-lists-home-for-%2415-million-plus/2013013159077?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=latestnews">It's a chef’s dream</a>.
 
</div>
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Shannon Bennett and Madeleine West buy the 1881 South Yarra mansion, Barwon

ASX-listed developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/stockland">Stockland</a>&nbsp;is continuing its push back into the new apartment market, filing plans for a prominent gateway site between Collingwood and East Melbourne.

The development giant, which moved back into the new apartment space when it announced Stanton Place in Sydney's Rosebery and have since filed plans for a 50-storey tower, are jumping into the off the plan Melbourne market.

They are hoping to create a mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/79-81-victoria-parade-collingwood-vic-3066">79-81 Victoria Parade</a>, replacing an existing commercial building with a scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/john-wardle-architects">Wardle</a>&nbsp;for 478 apartments,&nbsp;ground-floor retail, new public open spaces and a publicly accessible pedestrian laneway.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="72dbbca9-3918-4073-afad-a0c0c35be8e7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20pers.png?VersionId=bzMVUKKxvwuNK1m0v_td126Rgct32uk_" />

The design report identifies the public realm as a central driver of the proposal.

"Collingwood has limited access to high-quality parks and public open space, and the proposal delivers valuable new areas for respite, social interaction and fine-grain retail activity."

The development would deliver a diverse mix of housing, including studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments alongside townhouse-style residences. Two basement levels are proposed beneath the development, providing resident and retail parking as well as extensive bicycle facilities.

Wardle's design draws heavily on Collingwood's industrial character, using articulated building forms, brickwork and robust materials inspired by the suburb's warehouse and manufacturing heritage. The built form has been broken into a series of smaller volumes to better respond to the surrounding streetscape while extensive communal gardens, rooftop amenities and shared resident spaces are integrated throughout the project.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b2135ed-65df-4253-ad53-f216f06bd467" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20podium.png?VersionId=l1B6Hqn8zs772VxH6L1fDPg0KHshan9v" />

The planning documents describe the existing office building as offering little engagement with the public realm, with the redevelopment intended to create a more permeable and active neighbourhood destination.

"The proposed scheme presents a significant opportunity to deliver a vibrant retail plaza and a local neighbourhood hub serving both existing and future Collingwood residents."

The 79–81 Victoria Parade site occupies a strategic location about 1.5 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD, at the threshold between Collingwood and East Melbourne. It is well served by tram services along Victoria Parade and sits within walking distance of St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy Gardens, the Fitzroy activity centre and a broad range of employment, retail and hospitality destinations.

Joel Robinson

Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site

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.

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351031]

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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351024]

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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149637]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362240] 
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<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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362566] 
&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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362564] 
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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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=291195] 
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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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=13962]

Jonathan Chancellor

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