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Work on the first Australian building designed by North American architect Frank Gehry nears after the construction giant Lend Lease won the bid to build the landmark undulating building at the University of Technology, Sydney. Billed as Sydney's most distinctive project since the Opera House, it will consist of 320,000 brown bricks, all laid by hand.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/gehr1.jpg">
Likened to a paper bag by some, the 12-storey faculty of business building will be the 83-year-old architect's first in Australia.
Excavation of the <a href="/news">Ultimo </a>site near the ABC is already under way, and construction of the tower for around 1,300 students and more than 300 academic staff has an early 2014 completion timeline.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/gehr2.jpg">
Gehry, who was reportedly unperturbed by the paper bag comparison, has described the building's internal structure as being like a "tree house", designed to encourage a sense of "creative play".
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/gehr3.jpg">
The 12-storey building is being built on the former Dairy Farmers site between the ABC Ultimo Centre and the Powerhouse Museum.
It will be named after Dr Chau Chak Wing, an Australian-Chinese businessman who donated $20 million for its construction and $5 million for scholarships.
Its a $180 million project, according to the UTS vice-chancellor, Ross Milbourne. The new building is part of a UTS campus master plan, estimated to cost a total of $1 billion. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Frank Gehry UTS building unwrapped as Lend Lease wins construction rights

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Both the Sydney and Melbourne markets recorded a quickening of sales pace during October, according to the latest Australian Property Monitors heat chart.
Sydney still sits in second place, with Canberra retaining the mantle of the quickest-selling market, but the gap has narrowed.
Perth and Darwin were the capital cities where days on market extended in length, according to APM research analyst Clinton McNabb.
Adelaide, Perth and Canberra's latest October days on market tally sit below their October 2011 figure.  
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/2012/11/apmnov27.gif" title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/apmnov27thumb.gif"></a>
Source: APM
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Property sales pace quickens in Sydney and Melbourne as days on market reduces: APM heat chart

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The Earl and Countess of Stradbroke are seeking $3 million plus for their four-level Richmond warehouse The Malthouse.
Known as the Aussie Earl, Keith Rous and his wife Roseanna bought the then derelict <a target="_blank" href="/news">Richmond </a>building – formerly used to store maltings for beer brewing – for $300,000 in 1995. The remains of the ovens and hoppers were still in evidence with the ovens still standing.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/lyndhurst.jpg">
But the property now comes with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, formal dining room, and full-floor living room.
Outside there is a one-bedroom self-contained retreat along with space for eight cars.
Abercromby's director Jock Langley seeks offers on<a target="_blank" href="https://www.abercrombys.com.au/buying_search_results_detail.aspx?OID=4667665&amp;Sold=&amp;GID=520&amp;tp=520SearchResults&amp;Sub=Richmond%2c&amp;PrL=0&amp;PrH=99999&amp;BeL=0&amp;BeH=9999&amp;Con=S"> 45-47 Lyndhurst Street</a> by December 8.
Rous, a Sydney businessman, inherited the British title in 1983. The famed Aussie earl consequently moved to Blighty to take possession of the family property, only to be involved in long and bitter litigation with a cousin.
Title Tattle recalls first coming across the then Kogarah debt collector in the late 1980s when his debt collecting agency had just reported a $6,976 loss for the year.
In 1989 he sold his <a target="_blank" href="/news">Paddington </a>home to Sir Eric and Lady Neal.
The  family trace their estate ownership back to the 1544 purchase by Sir Anthony Rous of Dennington of the Henham estate. Keith’s son Hektor runs the Henham estate.
The Rous family recently secured planning permission to build a new<a target="_blank" href="https://ccgi.henhampark.plus.com/henham-hall"> Henham Hall </a>which will be a hotel and apartment/leisure development.
The Harrow-educated Keith Rous emigrated to Australia in 1957 to make his fortune through industrial relations, debt collection, sheep farming and real estate.
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The Earl and Countess of Stradbroke seek $3 million plus for their four-level Richmond warehouse The Malthouse

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REST Industry Super has paid $167.5 million for the Eclipse Tower in Parramatta.
The 19-storey A-grade development was sold Leighton Properties and Grosvenor Fund Management Australia just a month after its practical completion by builders John Holland.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/leighton.jpg">
Its sales reflected a 7.28% yield to the superannuation giant, which has $23 billion in funds.
REST recently repositioned its holdings with the sale of a smaller tower in Carrington Street, Sydney, for $58.5 million to Dexus.
REST chief executive Damian Hill said the fund’s property portfolio accounted for about 9% of its holdings, with both direct holdings along with units in wholesale funds.
Designed by Fitzpatrick and Partners, Eclipse Tower has a net lettable area of 25,660 square metres, anchored by QBE Insurance Group and professional services firm Deloitte, plus Landcom and Servecorp.
It was sold about 83% with an 18-month rental guarantee over vacant space.
Leighton Properties managing director Mark Gray said at over $6500 square metre, the sale cemented <a href="/news">Parramatta </a>as a location for institutional investment for prime grade commercial property.
Anthony Lombardo, head of office development at Grosvenor Fund Management, said the sale demonstrated the benefits of identifying and committing to potential growth areas outside of the Sydney CBD.
"Eclipse Tower has set a new rental level benchmark for Parramatta," he said.
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REST Industry Super buys Eclipse Tower in Parramatta for $167.5 million

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The Gold Coast rich-listers Richard Wyatt and Louise Loh, who head the Robina Land Corporation, have listed their Clear Island Waters compound.
The couple, the daughter and son-in-law of Singaporean industrialist Dr Robin Loh, who created the suburb of Robina, are heading southern to school their children.
The waterfront <a href="/news">Clear Island Waters</a> property, at <a href="https://www.rwsp.net.au/main.php?page=property&amp;pid=143386" target="_blank">42 Clear Water Bay Avenue</a>, has access to the ocean.
Set within a gated estate of fewer than 40 homes, the six-bedroom, five-bathroom resort-style mansion sits on a 3,775-square-metre estate over four blocks. With 110-metre waterfrontage, the gated estate offering comes with a three-level British-style mansion.
It features a formal lounge, formal living and dining areas, 25-metre pool, a theatre room and two large meeting rooms.
The three-level mansion has been home of the couple, who ranked 51st on the Queensland Rich List this year, with a combined wealth of $206 million.
The property is for sale through Ray White Prestige Gold Coast agent Danny Yeh.
The couple took over the running of the Robina Land Corporation from Dr Robin Loh in 1996. The multimillionaire Indonesian born magnate had paid around $11.2 million to buy the then 20-square-kilometre grazing property from land baron Arthur "King Arthur" Earle in 1980, with the pair teamed up to establish Robina, which incorporates a recognition of both their names.
Robin Loh died in 2010.
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The Lohs list Clear Island Waters mansion with 110-metre waterfront

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The repeatedly graffitied, vandalised, run-down Moree fibro cost $15,000 in June, and five months later it's been sold at $74,500.
After the $15,000 renovation,  property investor Engelo Rumora had put the property back on the market for $80,000, offered with the tenants paying $180 a week.
It recently sold through <a target="_blank" href="https://www.homehound.com.au/6+cooee+street+moree+nsw+2400/">Petta Melbourne from Artesian Real Estate</a>.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/cheapflicker.jpg">
"A total make-over has seen this property transformed from ordinary into extraordinary," her marketing said.
Rumora said his initial low purchase price was due to persistence and a little luck. The property had been on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertydealfinder.com.au/">Nathan Birch's Property Dealfinder site</a>.
"Originally I saw it on the market advertised for $80,000 and it needed a bit of work but I made some enquiries anyway," he told the September edition of the API magazine.
"Turned out the owner planned to renovate and do some work.
"A few months later it had dropped to $60,000 so I checked in with the agent again and made an offer to buy the renovated property for $35,000, and we started negotiations."
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/cheapkitchen.jpg">
During negotiations the four-bedroom house was broken into and vandalised, at which point insurance money became involved. 
"I checked in again after a few weeks and the vendor was supposed to be getting an insurance payout … but the agent said he was having problems with the insurance company.
"That day I offered to take it off his hands for $15,000 cash. And he agreed."
According to Rumora, $15,000 was enough to get it back into shape.
"I don't install $10,000 kitchens and granite benchtops — this isn't Vaucluse. I stuck an $800 Bunnings kitchen in there and went down the budget route."
Rumora also opted for interior all-over spray-paint to slash the budget. A spray gun got the place painted for about $3,000.
"Normally painting a home is expensive because of the labour. You've got a different colour on the ceiling, the walls and the woodwork and that takes time. We covered the windows and floors and sprayed the lot," he said.
"Making around $40,000 profit is pretty sexy numbers," he said.
Property Observer ascertains its lastest price roughly matches its $70,000 sale price in 2007. It had sold at $10,080 in 1969. 
Rumora lists his other success stories <a target="_blank" href="https://www.engelorumora.com/">on his website</a>, where he recently announced he was taking his endeavours overseas to the USA.
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Australia's cheapest reno house resells at $74,500 – five months after its $15,000 purchase

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Queensland property veteran Dudley Quinlivan has sought to start rebuilding his reputation by setting up a blog and open a Twitter account.
His blog says Dudley Quinlivan is a well-established businessman based in Queensland, Australia.
He first tweeted in mid-November, crediting himself as "Australian property planner and developer, international finance consultant."
There have been just the seven tweets under the Twitter handle, <a href="https://twitter.com/dudleyquinlivan" target="_blank">dudleyquinlivan</a>.
<a href="https://twitter.com/dudleyquinlivan" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/quinlaventweet.jpg"></a>
<a href="https://quinlivandudley.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">The blog</a> says Quinlivan is the managing director of the Croftworth group of companies, a privately owned major development group in south-east Queensland, under the banner headline The Philanthropist.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/quinlavenblog.jpg">
While it credits "a new avenue and direction in his career", Quinlivan does spruik his past property credentials.
"Dudley has experience in all aspects of property development and has over 25 years expertise, experience and direct involvement in business strategies, finance, sales and marketing and property development encompassing residential (both local and investment markets), educational, retail, commercial and industrial uses for his privately owned group of companies," it advises.
"Dudley has not only successfully developed major subdivisions in the Ipswich Shire but has also marketed and delivered hundreds of house and land packages in his own right as a developer in the Redbank, Logan, Brisbane and Gold Coast Shires.
"The depth of the combined experience and capabilities of Dudley’s development yeam is reflected by our large portfolio of developments within Queensland," <a href="https://quinlivandudley.blogspot.com.au/p/about" target="_blank">the website says</a>.
He was last in the news in July when his <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/thrice-bankrupted-property-spruiker-dudley-quinlivans-southport-mansion-abode-sells-for-%2495-million/2012071255541" target="_blank">Southport, Queensland, riverfront home sold through mortgagees for $9.5 million</a> at Ray White auction, the second-highest paid on the Gold Coast for three years.
He hit headlines after the collapse of the controversial Queensland property spruiking industry. 
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Queensland property veteran Dudley Quinlivan begins comeback with website and Twitter account

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Woolworths Limited's property spin-off SCA Property Group listed on the ASX today.
Closing the first day's trade at $1.44, it was at a small premium to its placement price.
There was a placement to institutional investors at $1.40 a share last week.
It opened trading at A$1.405. It holds 69 shopping centres in Australia and New Zealand.
Shareholders will receive one stapled unit in the property group for every five shares they hold in Australia’s largest retailer as of November 30.
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Woolworths Limited's property spin-off SCA Property Group lists at a small premium

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The United States gross domestic product (GDP) annual growth rate of 3% that has prevailed for the last century has gone forever, according to global bear and GMO co-founder and chief investment strategist Jeremy Grantham.
His latest quarterly client update says most businesspeople (and the Fed ) continue to assume that economic growth will recover to its old rates.
"Going forward, GDP growth for the US is likely to be about only 1.4% a year, and adjusted growth about 0.9%," he forecasts, because the GDP as constructed fails to account for the impact of rising commodity costs of finite natural resources.
"Critically, the tech boom and bust and the following housing boom and housing and financial busts helped camouflage the recent unpleasant economic development lying below the surface: the steady and important drop in long-term US growth," he says.
He says investors should be wary of a Federal Reserve whose policy is premised on the idea that 3% growth for the US is normal.
"Remember, it is led by a guy (Ben Bernake) who couldn’t see a 1-in-1,200-year housing bubble!
"Keeping rates down until productivity surges above its last 30-year average or until American fertility rates leap upwards could be a very long wait!" Grantham has yet to advise historians just what took place 1,200 years before 2007, i.e. 807 A.D.
Grantham, from a US investment fund, doesn’t mention Australia in this letter to clients, unlike previous ones, when he brought international attention to the Australian property market.
‘The UK and Australian housing bubbles may be unimportant to U.S. investors, but to bubble historians they look extraordinary," he said in 2010.
His latest reference was in <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/us-doomsayer-jeremy-grantham-almost-waves-white-flag-on-australian-housing-price-bubble-predictions/2012022853592" target="_blank">February this year </a>when he appeared to be tiring of Australian housing price bubble argument while not conceeding he'd made any wrong call.
"Tell a European you think there’s a housing bubble and you’ll have a reasonable discussion.
<div class="description">
<div class="desc-content">
“Tell an Australian and you’ll have World War III.
“Been there, done that!” said the commentator in his February quarter newsletter.
</div>
</div>
 He described the overpriced US housing market in 2006 at "statistically a 1-in-1,200-year outlier level" in his<a href="https://www.gmo.com/websitecontent/JG_LetterALL_11-12.pdf" target="_blank"> latest November newsletter</a>.
He says US population growth, which peaked in the US at over 1.5% a year in the 1970s ,will bob along at less than half a percent.
"This is pretty much baked into the demographic pie," he notes.
He says the US housing bubble led directly to the building of at least 2 million extra houses, employing an extra 3  million to 4 million workers.
"There was also unprecedented borrowing against increased housing values."
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Global bear Jeremy Grantham says USA experienced 1-in-1200 year property bubble

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The mortgage loan market competition hasn't waned despite the recent warnings of regulatory authorities, although there has been some low-key, very significant back office, loan criteria amendments.
Westpac Banking Corp has announced it is offering home buyers $1500 if they take out a mortgage with the bank.
Spring home buyers who borrow more than $500,000 will be eligible for the “cash-back rebate” under the deal.
Westpac joins many other lenders offering inducements to secure home loan customers as the property market gets stronger underpinned by record low interest rates.
Westpac’s offer tops <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/finance/nab-offers-%241000-cash-to-secure-new-borrowers/2013081264103">the National Australia Bank which since mid-August has been ­paying $1000 to new customers in an offer running until the end of September</a>.
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is offering home owners $700 to switch to the bank by September 27.
The Westpac subidiary, St George Bank is offering $1250 until ­October 31.
The aggressive competition for customers comes as the Reserve Bank of Australia warns banks not to lower their lending standards to attract borrowers.
Both the RBA and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority issued warnings earlier this month.
Significantly banks have quietly adjusted their interest rate “buffer” to test whether prospective home loan borrowers can afford repayments when interest rates rise in the future.
The banks don't disclose the adjusted criteria used to assess loan applications, but a 2% buffer has reportedly become typical following the most recent rate cuts.
The test for borrowers previously had buffers of between 1.25% and 1.5%.
This stricter internal criteria means that if a bank has a 5.5% mortgage interest rate, it will only approve the loan to borrowers capable of making repayments should rates hit 7.5%.
It has been noted by Australian Financial Review commentary that September historically has been among the most competitive times for home loans as the ANZ Banking Group, NAB and Westpac shortly sign off on their annual accounts.
Westpac still maintains a higher variable mortgage rate than its major competitors.
Ofcourse growth in housing credit remains at near record lows of around 4.6% compared to the 20% plus gains of the last big boom of 2003-2004 when house prices were last in a bubble.
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Higher borrowing buffers, but Westpac offers $1500 enticement to lure new spring borrowers

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.

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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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362240] 
&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.

[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] 
&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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