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The Block enjoyed its first time above 1 million viewers with Monday night's room reveal.
It had a 1.13 million audience, according to OzTAM, which again had My Kitchen Rules in top spot with a 1.8 million audience.
The Block had 320,000 Sydney viewers and 369,000 in Melbourne on Monday night's room reveal. The Block has averaged 990,000 viewers over its four-night stretch to date, while MKR has averaged 2.02 million nightly over the same period.
The Sydney average viewing for The Block has been a suprisingly low 261,000 to the triumphant MKR's 577,000. In Melbourne it's been 338,000 nightly viewers for The Block to the 592,000 for MKR.
The latest overnight audience ratings had the All Stars back to 926,000 on Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, Phil and Amity have kicked off their marketing for their Bondi cottage.
Their somewhat generic <a target="_blank" href="https://m.domain.com.au/listing?id=2010274654">ads have appeared on Domain.</a> Its been listed through <a target="_blank" id="ctl00_ctl00_Content_Content_premierPlusListing_AgentDetails_hlAgencyNameLink" href="https://www.1stcity.com.au/">1st City - Hasemer + Caldwell.Eyles.</a>
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"We are incredibly proud of our Tasman Street house," says the marketing.
"We put so much of ourselves into the renovation and have designed and furnished what we think is the quintessential beachside family home.
"It's warm, inviting, relaxed, beautiful and, most importantly, functional and live-able.
"We hope you fall in love with it as much as we have! Amity &amp; Phil"
"Phil &amp; Amity's house on Tasman St, Bondi is sure to be the surprise hit of The Block All Stars!," says the marketing asking for viewers to stay tuned as each week reveals new and daring elements that will set "Phil &amp; Amity's house well apart" from the competition.
"In terms of essential and unchangeable fundamentals including aspect and street positioning for light and quiet enjoyment - Phil &amp; Amity's house is the pick of the bunch.
"It is the carefully considered layout and level of accommodation; quality &amp; style and the all encompassing ambience of this beautiful family abode which will win the hearts of genuine home buyers.
"If you're looking to purchase a family home offering a choice of Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte beaches as your "local" and being newly renovated under the careful auspices of skilled trades companies - then please drop us a note and we'll be delighted to assist you," the marketing says.
 
 
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The Block All Stars gets above 1 million viewers as Phil and Amity's cottage hits online marketing

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The weekend auction market appears to have continued with some resilience.
Sydney’s auction clearance rate slipped to 62.2%, down from 65.3% on the previous weekend, according to Australian Property Monitors. It was 51.3% on the same weekend last year.
Melbourne's clearance rate was 69%, the Real Institute of Victoria said. It was the same as the 69% last weekend and better than the 54% this weekend last year.
Sydney's top sale at auction was again in Strathfield where a five-bedroom home in High Street sold for $2.027 million. The inner west secured the highest weekend cleareance rate of 86% from 21 auctions, followed by 80% in the Canterbury Bankstwon district which had just the five auctions.
Despite the slight dip, Dr Andrew Wilson at APM said the weekend auction season "was off to a flying start" with both Sydney and Melbourne recording solid auction clearance rates.
Melbourne's top sale was a Moule Avenue, Brighton house that had a $2.4 million vendor bid. It was met with a bid of $2.42 million but the property was passed in and sold after negotiations for $2.55 million.
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Weekend auctions show some steady resilience

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The Block All Stars auction is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, with neighbours being advised recently of the provisal auction timetable countdown.
Property Observer understands it will be a by-invitation-only registered bidders onsite event.
The public open for inspection is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 2, and Saturday, March 3, subject to Waverley Council approval.
The reality television show’s audience eased slightly to 858,000 on Thursday night, its third airing, with further cricket interruptions not allowing its return until Monday night’s room reveal.
It ranked, excluding news and current affairs, as the night’s fourth most popular show across the networks.
Some 295,000 viewers were from Melbourne, according to OzTAM, with 215,000 in Sydney and 189,000 in Brisbane.
My Kitchen Rules reigned with a diminished 1.8 million viewers.
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The Block Allstars Bondi cottage auctions likely for March 19 offering

Grave digger Sean Dillon bought his Frankston home 12 years ago after it sat on the market for 12 months.&nbsp; But nothing much has&nbsp;changed, and the wrong neighbours still&nbsp;make it hard to find a buyer.&nbsp;It&#39;s the Frankston Cemetery that&#39;s just across the road that has&nbsp;been&nbsp;the tough selling point for&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.estatecentral.com.au/property-6-clarendon-street-frankston-vic-australia/j-1536855435" target="_blank">Clarendon Street location</a>.&nbsp;

Dillion&nbsp;started working in cemeteries when he was 16 at the Springvale Cemetery as a gravedigger and doing the gardening. Dillon, who in the&nbsp;old days used to be called a sexton, is now kept busy looking after four cemeteries: Tyabb, Dromana, Flinders and Mornington, through Transfield Services.

Over the years Dillon says he has had the honour of burying famous people. &lsquo;&lsquo;I buried [footballer] Trevor Barker and [sports commentator] Ron Casey.&rsquo;&rsquo;

With mortgage repayments &ldquo;killing me&rdquo;, Dillon sought&nbsp;the help of <a href="https://www.lifestyle.com.au/tv/selling-houses-australia/gallery.aspx?id=285" target="_blank">Selling Houses Australia</a>&nbsp;for his attempt to secure a sale. He wanted $385,000 but ended up taking $353,000.&nbsp;

He had paid $117,000 in 2000 for the 700-square-metre property. Before that it sold for $59,000 in 1986 and at $27,000 in 1979.&nbsp;

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&quot;Being opposite a cemetery is a big factor, but I think they are the best neighbours you can have,&rdquo; Dillon suggested during its marketing campaign.&nbsp;&quot;You don&rsquo;t have an argument with them, they don&rsquo;t come over and tell you to turn down the stereo and you don&rsquo;t get barking dogs.&rdquo;

It was listed through Trent Martin at&nbsp;Bayside Residential.&nbsp;Set in&nbsp;Frankston&rsquo;s Golden Triangle, the&nbsp;quaint cottage&nbsp;was&nbsp;renovated by Andrew Winter&#39;s team.&nbsp; They went with&nbsp;new carpet and plenty of natural light. Its gardens had been freshened up with tropical plants, and separate kids&#39; play area, cubby house included.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Structurally the house had been in a terrible state without a shower or a working kitchen before its $30,000 renovation. Marketed with&nbsp;emphasis on its proximity to Frankston CBD, transport, hospitals, universities, TAFE, and the new EastLink and Peninsula Link,&nbsp;investors were advised&nbsp;the&nbsp;property has potential to be sub-divided (STCA) and with the area&#39;s rental low vacancy rates&nbsp;had&nbsp;an estimated rental return of $1,400 and $1,550 per&nbsp;month. It was subsequently available for rent through&nbsp;Emily Dowel at $1,520 a month. &nbsp;

Andrew Winter exorcises property adjacent to Frankston Cemetery, with neighbours quiet as the grave

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Andrew Hay, the London-based Knight Frank head of its global residential division, says his clientele base was typically cautious, but cashed-up and well researched.
He says they are looking investing where their money is safe and where they can get to enjoy.
'There is a lot of money sitting on the wall waiting.
"Buyers are very savvy. They are very price sensitive. And they quickly understand what's quality.
"However, they deliberate longer than they use to," he told Property Observer during a trip to Australia this week.
'The safe haven aspect is the overriding concern," he added. And educational needs drives a lot of initial inquiry.
<img alt="andrewhay" src="/images/stories/2013/02/andrewhay.jpg" width="470" height="311">
He suggests as price points come down globally, these buyers are waiting for when they perceive the market is bottoming out particularly the Asian market.
He's noticing a trend of families making multiple purchases in the same location.
Asked the necessary requirements to be in place to instill confidence for buyers, Hay suggests there are "so many confusing messages coming out of the media."
He suggests buyers are needing a bit of certainty.
"There is huge wealth in Asia from emerging economies. China is only beginning to scratch the surface. There is a vast market still to come from China.
"And the whole of the Arab world is in turmoil so huge funds are flowing into Dubai which is being directed towards Malaysia, Indonesia and beginning to look towards Australia."
He said his clientele are looking for legal systems they can trust and a currency they regard as stable.
Since 2007 Knight Frank has produced an authoritative <a href="https://www.knightfrank.com/wealthreport/" target="_blank">Wealth Report </a>that tracks 4000 people with a wealth collectively totalling more than €40 billion.
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Cautious, cashed up, well researched and willing: Knight Frank boss Andrew Hay's sums up luxury buyer characteristics

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By coincidence two Sydney properties associated with the legendary cricketer Victor Trumper are listed for sale.
Neither look much like they would have in his cricketing heyday, as they instead reflect the current cosmopolitan status of Sydney property.
Cricketing writer Phil Derriman once wrote that Trumper (1877-1915) belonged to that misty, idealised, long-ago period thatcricket historians call the "golden age".
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-paddington-nsw-2021/173793" target="_blank">The terrace at 112 Paddington Street, Paddington </a>(pictured below), is where Trumper lived with his family from 1900-09. Legend, and common sense, suggests Trumper would walk home after his nearby SCG tests.
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He would probably have lived there longer if his sister Alice had not died of tuberculosis in the house in 1908 – a tragedy that, according to Trumper's biographer Peter Sharpham, induced the family to move.
The 1880s terrace had been bought for £525 in 1900 by his father, Charles, and mother, Louise, and the family moved there from Liverpool Street. The family left in 1909 to Help Street, <a href="/news">Chatswood</a>. The terrace sold in 1912 to fruiterer Antonio Reitano for £615.
One past owner, lawyer Paul Bard, was conscious of the house's history when he bought it, although it was the house and its north-facing backyard that attracted him.
Bard said there were often people outside just having a look.
It last sold for $3.5 million in 2008. Its prior sales was <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/properties/133095" target="_blank">$2.3 million in 2004</a>; $1.3 million in 1994; and $240,000 in 1985. 
Its been listed for March 2 auction through Ben Collier at McGrath Real Estate who says the three bedroom, three-bathroom house on 192 square metres been "enriched by its artistic flair, designer inclusions and historical elegance".
"This grand north facing Paddington terrace embodies a flexible family floorplan that spans across casual/formal living spaces to a delightful selection of outdoor entertaining areas," Ben Collier's marketing says.
<img style="margin: 5px; float: left;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">At <a href="/news">Mona Vale</a>, there's another property with a Trumper link that goes to February 28 auction.
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It's a modern house now overlooking Bungan Beach (pictured above), but on initial construction it was apparently the third house built on Hillcrest Avenue. The simple facade of timber and sandstone beach house conceals the sweeping contemporary coastal vista. <a href="https://digitaledition.manlydaily.com.au/?iid=35375&amp;startpage=page0000005#folio=005" target="_blank">On its 2010 listing with the McGrath agency The Manly Daily outlined its supposed linkage to the great Victor Trumper</a>.
"It was a holiday home of the Trumper family," <a href="https://monavale.ljhooker.com.au/ZS7F6K" target="_blank">the latest listing agent, LJ Hooker Mona Vale's Jo Cowling</a> cautiously told Title Tattle this week, adding it was held by the family until the early 1980s. Documentation obtained by Title Tattle indicate it sold to the current vendors for $82,000 in 1980.
"Someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, thinks that both Victors enjoyed playing cricket and hitting sixes from the backyard all the way to Bungan Beach depending on prevailing winds.
"I personally find this hard to believe," she wisely added.
Of course while it was certainly a Trumper holiday home, its more likely the sixes were  from a holidaying Victor Trumper Jnr, (1913-1981) who was also a cricketer playing seven first-class games. The Australian Dictionary of Biography notes in the 1917 administration of Victor Trumper's intestate estate it was valued at £5. 
Officially the first time Title Tattle can see the Trumper name appear on the Mona Vale registered title is actually in 1965 through a Olga Trumper, with the property having been previously in the Cochrane family since 1925. Its then was inherited by Charles Trumper in 1980.
Anyway, the myths and associations endure, long after stumps.
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The legend of cricketing great Victor Trumper bats on through Sydney real estate: Title Tattle

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The Prime Minister Julia Gillard has sold her Canberra investment property for $615,000. It cost $540,000 in late 2005, representing just 1.7% annual price growth.
The Prime Minister declared the sale of the apartment in the tightly held 2005 Kingston complex of 24 apartments in her latest update to the register of member's interests on February 5 this month.
It had been rented by Gillard in January 2011.
The two-bedroom Wentworth Avenue apartment with two bathrooms, two balconies, and two basement car spaces had previously been occupied by her before moving to The Lodge when she became Prime Minister in 2010.
It was quietly listed in August, and sold about 57 days later in October last year with settlement last month through Elders Dickson Real Estate.
<a href="https://www.eldersrealestate.com.au/residential/buy/property-unit-act-kingston-507253">The marketing brochure </a>described the 129-square-metre apartment as having “exceptionally generous” space.
"The floors are a combination of timber and pure wool carpet,and together with subtle neutral colours give the whole apartment a feel of luxury," the selling agent Birgitte Moltke said. Moltke was also the agent who had the listing in 2007 with a $530,000 asking price, but official property data indicates its last sale was in 2005 at $540,000.
In 2011 there were three sales between $595,000 and $615,000. The block's highest recent sale was in mid-2011 when $640,000 was achieved for a three bedroom apartment that had previously sold in 2005 for $549,000, reflecting 2.4% annual growth.
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<div class="promo-block promo-image-01 ">“While the sale occurred at the end of October 2012, financial matters related to the transaction were not finalised until the last week of January 2013,” the spokesperson told The Australian.</div>
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<div class="promo-block promo-image-01 ">Canberra's recent real estate price growth status is being questioned especially given the<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/australian-capital-territory/canberra-property-market-likely-to-tread-water-in-election-year-but-not-without-uncertainty/2013020159081" target="_blank"> prospect of a change of government affecting public service levels</a>. APM recorded a Canberra unit prices rose 3.8% over the December quarter to finish the year almost where they began at a $415,000 medium.</div>
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Landlord Julia Gillard sells Canberra investment apartment

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Prime Minister Julia Gillard has spoken directly with Dubai’s ruler Sheik Mohammed.
Confirmation of the call came in a statement from the sheik’s website.
“UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has held telephone talks with the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard this afternoon,” it said.
“During their telephonic conversation, Sheikh Mohammed and the Australian Prime Minister discussed bolstering bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and Australia for the best interests of both peoples.”
The call came as the two Australian businessmen detained in the emirate prepare for a court hearing this week over corruption charges. Developers Matthew Joyce and Marcus Lee have been under effective house arrest for the past four years.
It has now been confirmed the leader discussed the two Australian businessmen.
Mr Joyce and Mr Lee were arrested on bribery charges in January 2009 based on allegations that have unravelled over the past few years.
AAP report the Foreign Minister Bob Carr says Ms Gillard pressed their case very strongly. But he indicated the Dubai leader's response was non-committal.
"He said that the courts are independent of the government but undertook to look at the matters the prime minister raised, including delays in the case," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
Supporters of the property developers Matthew Joyce and Marcus Lee, have been recently pleading for the Australian Prime Minister to intervene, as they endure their fourth year under effective house arrest in Dubai.
The Australian Financial Review revealed last week that former prime minister Malcolm Fraser and federal independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor <a target="_blank" href="https://afr.com/p/national/independents_pressure_pm_on_dubai_rOxl2TXZxoO9FMCGpNj4YI">had urged the prime minister to act.</a>
Mr Fraser told The AFR that Australia should not allow its citizens to be held as “scapegoats” after the bubble burst in the UAE following the credit crisis in 2008.
“I’m firmly of the view that direct intervention with the Sheik is absolutely critical,” Mr Fraser said.
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Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed and Prime Minister Gillard discuss bolstering bilateral relations and post-GFC property developer imbroglio

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The Mirvac Group has booked a $273 million write-down provision, as new chief executive Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz reviews the group’s poorly performing residential developments especially in Queensland and Western Australia.
“Price points and sales rates over the past six months, including the recent spring and summer sales periods, have shown that the velocity and extent of a market recovery are not likely to eventuate as previously expected,” she told the ASX market update. 
Seeking $89 million, Mirvac will sell off some struggling englobo projects to generate cash inorder to avoid putting more capital into these under-performing projects.
The decision aims at avoiding $476 million of future cash commitments. 
Queensland represents 72% of the provision and Western Australia represents 27%.
The poorly performing Queensland projects include Gainsborough Greens, Mariner’s Peninsula, and the balance of its Waterfront Newstead, Mackay and Hope Island inventory.
Smaller provisions were made on other Queensland projects in Hamilton, Waterfront Newstead Park and Brookwater.
In Western Australia, provisions were made on the second stage of Beachside Leighton and a Burswood project.
Earlier write-down provisions on some pre-GFC projects were taken under Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz's Nick Collishaw as the projects pre-date his 2008 appointment.
“Today’s announcement is disappointing, however our December project assessment process has shown that specific markets have remained subdued and are not expected to improve to the extent previously expected.
“The majority of the projects impacted today were initiated when the world was a very different place with significantly higher growth expectations. As a sector we have shifted to a new environment of
lower growth and it is our responsibility to ensure that the capital we invest going forward reflects this new paradigm."
Mirvac confirmed that it was on track to deliver fiscal 2013 operating earnings per security in line with guidance at 10.7 to 10.8 cents and a distribution per security of 8.5 to 8.7 cents.
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Mirvac to ditch under-performing development projects

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Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury is having his third shot at selling his <a target="_blank" href="/news">Newport </a>cottage.
His redundant two-bedroom Douglas Parade property comes with further revised price expectations.
It was initially listed in late 2011 with $780,000 to $840,000 expectations, which were adjusted to $750,000 to $810,000 last year.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.greghocking.com.au/buy/search">It's now with $680,000 to $740,000 hopes through Leanne Howlett at Greg Hocking Elly Partners</a>.
Pendlebury paid $567,000 in late 2007 for the house on 290 square metres.
"For those seeking low-maintenance living in popular Newport and Williamstown fringe location, this stylish two-bedroom home is sure to impress," says the marketing.
Its entrance hall comes with timber boards through to its tiled renovated open plan kitchen and living zone with designer breakfast bar.
"Close to schools, transport, Williamstown shopping, Newport Park, and The Strand bayside walk and bike path, this home is a perfect first home or savvy investment," Howlett says. 
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Magpie Scott Pendlebury hopes third drop punt lucky to sell Newport cottage

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.

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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.

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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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Jonathan Chancellor

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