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The receivers placed a $2.1 million vendor bid when a luxury contemporary Kingscliff went to weekend auction.
It was initially listed in early 2011 with $4,995,000 hopes.
The vacant near beachfront block cost $3.29 million in 2007.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-kingscliff-nsw-2487/160659">25 Cylinders Drive </a>property was offered through John Natoli at McGrath Real Estate under instructions from Julie Williams as receiver and manager.
The beachfront residence in the Salt Village has a 1,000-square-metre casual living floorplan.
It comes with cinema room on ground floor with home office and library. There's an internal lift providing access to the three levels. It has a temperature controlled wine cellar and gym on its basement level. The garaging is for seven cars.
The 775-square-metre block comes with pool.
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The property last traded when bought by the then Golden Edge Homes managing director Michel Mouglalis. The Bundall-based Golden Edge Homes is in liquidation.
Mouglalis, a carpenter from Sydney, was at one time chairman of the Queensland Masters Builders Association.
Westpac has the registered mortgage with caveats on title from Boral Resources, ABC Brick Sales and Bradnam's Windows and Doors.
 
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Salt Village luxury market yet to turn

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The Sydney-bound former Queensland premier Anna Bligh has listed her south Brisbane home with reported $1 million-plus hopes.
Bligh co-owns her renovated <a href="https://www.raywhitesouthbrisbane.com.au/property/STB4471003" target="_blank">1890 Highgate Hill </a>home with her husband, Greg Withers, having bought it in 1997 for $290,000.
It's been listed through Ray White South Brisbane, which is marketing the four-bedroom, two-bathroom house as oozing "charm and character of a bygone era".
It's scheduled for October 20 auction through estate agent Luke Croft.
It has a land value of $710,000. A nearby three-bedroom house on a similar 827-square-metre block fetched $900,000 last year, and a four-bedroom house fetched $825,000 in 2010.
Bligh intends to rent in Sydney's inner east before buying. The listing followed Withers taking a job at Arts NSW.
The couple also own investment units in West End and Highgate Hill, which The Courier Mail reports they have not listed for sale.
The RP Data median house price for <a href="/news">Highgate Hill </a> is $755,000, with prices having dropped 2.6% in the past year.
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Anna Bligh auctioning her Highgate Hill Queenslander residence

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Some 32 deposits have been taken in the latest Breakfast Point offering, Bellona.
The Rose Group achieved $28 million plus in sales in the apartment block which will have 62 apartments including 25 one-bedders, 28 two-bedders, four three-bedders and five penthouses.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/bellona-sales-set-to-steer-breakfast-point-towards-2016-final-settlements/2012101057081/Page-2">Bellona</a> will offer water views from its upper three levels in the Parramatta River location at Mortlake on its early 2014 completion.
The off the plan prices started at $555,000 for a one-bedroom unit with an internal size of 66 square metres.
The two-bedroom apartments start at $695,000 with an internal size of 107 square metres.
The $1,455,000 mark was the starting price for three-bedroom units, with an internal size of 167 square metres.
The penthouses start at $2.18 million, with an internal space of 202 square metres.
The most popular offering was one and two bedroom apartments with courtyards.
Breakfast Point, on the Parramatta River at Mortlake, is a 52-hectare project developed by the family-run company headed by Bob and Margaret Rose and their son Bryan.
Prior to the weekend launch Bryan had indicated the group would have been happy with a third or so being snapped up.
The joint developers with Rose Group is Cbus Property, the national construction industry superannuation fund.
On its 2016 completion some 2,265 abodes will have been built and sold.
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Almost half the Bellona, Breakfast Point apartment offerings sell off the plan

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Overcoming neighbourhood objections, filming production of the next television series of The Block has begun at Bondi.
With an expected December finish, the all-star series is tipped to go to air in early 2013.
The four couples to star in  The Block: All Stars season hark back to Adelaide's Phil and Amity (2003), then Sydney's Mark and Duncan (2010), Melbourne's Josh and Jenna (2011), and Melbourne's Dan and Dani (2012).
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/allstars.jpg">
Amity Dry, who released The Lighthouse album after the initial series, is now billed as a writer, composer, singer and mum of two.
The couples will renovate four run-down cottages at 6-12 Tasman Street, Bondi – a few kilometres from the near beachside location of  the first season at 67 Roscoe Street, Bondi Beach almost 10 years ago. Its location is a little more suburban than beachy.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/blockmap2.jpg">
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/its-back-to-bondi-for-the-block-home-renovation-realty-series-after-they-sell-south-melbourne/2012033054098">four semi-detached cottages were bought by the television production company</a> last November.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/the-blocks-return-to-bondi-scheduled-for-early-2013-as-development-application-caught-up-in-heritage-red-tape/2012062555107">Red tape</a> that didn't exist during the first series – such as filming permission – delayed the application approval. which was initially lodged in February 2012.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/blocktasman.jpg">
Permission was obtained from Waverley Council last month, with just the one design change requiring the use of Marseilles tiles for its roofing.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/bondiblock.jpg">
Nine is expected to announce a second season with new contestant couples will also air in 2013, presumably with a Melbourne location.
<a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au">Tell us what you know about the upcoming series of The Block.</a>
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Adelaide's Amity Dry returns for The Block, Bondi 2013

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The Bullarto Uniting Church – forecast to fetch around $100,000 at weekend auction – fetched $115,000 when sold to a Daylesford district purchaser.
It’s a decommissioned church on a half-acre (2,023-square-metre) block 10 kilometres outside of Daylesford, Victoria, but it came with some complications.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/bullarto.jpg">
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/buyers-may-make-the-sign-of-the-cross-and-cross-their-legs-as-toilet-less-bullarto-church-goes-to-auction/2012101157105">council regulations </a> make its difficult to install a toilet on the site.
A council planner told Property Observer that as a rule of thumb, the guidelines from the EPA require a minimum of one acre (4,047 square metres) to install a septic tank system.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/bullarto1.jpg">
One Property Observer reader advised installing  a composting toilet.
Agent Bart O'Sullivan from Pat Rice &amp; Hawkins says it was up to buyers to make their own inquiries.
“The church can’t give any guarantees for what it can or can’t be used for,” O’Sullivan says.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/bullarto3.jpg">
Within 10 kilometres of both Daylesford and Trentham, the property is ideal for a tourism venture, selling agent Bart O'Sullivan of Pat Rice &amp; Hawkins Melbourne suggested.
A church has stood on the site since the late 1800s, with the offering built in 1953  by the local community, using a loan of £200 and a levy on the local potato farmers.
The building has a brick portico and a small vestry area attached with prominent exposed beams, polished floor boards, timber-lined ceiling and dado wall paneling half way up the walls.
It has a total building area of just 60 square metre on its elevated position.
There were $250,000 hopes in a previous marketing campaign.
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Bullarto Uniting Church sells at $115,000

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Mintaro, the mansion at Monegeetta, near Sunbury, has had its internal photos now uploaded as it nears it November 15 auction.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/10/oct15mintaroout]}
The photos afford a peek inside the private 9.9-hectare estate, which has been listed for executor's sale and set to conclude 78 years of Rae family ownership.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/10/oct15mintaroin]}
"It's a once undeniably grand and gracious homestead, now in need of total restoration, and with outstanding future use potential," says <a target="_blank" href="https://www.keatings.com.au/view-property/?OID=4545899">listing agent John Keating</a>.
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/woodend-s-mintaro-%E2%80%93-a-mini-government-house-%E2%80%93-listed-with-%243-million-hopes/2012093056889">Monegeetta property </a>set at 2137 Melbourne Lancefield Road was designed by James Gall of Frognall and Noorilim fame for Captain Robert Gardiner.
Mintaro has been variously described as being “a small replica of Melbourne’s Government House” to “that crumbling mansion on the road to Romsey,” the marketing notes.
The mansion is set within a passive English park-like grounds featuring mature oaks, cedars, monkey puzzles, pines, sequoia and cypresses.
"A setting just awaiting designer garden enhancement," says Keating.
The grazing licence for the original 12,800-acre run of Mintaro was reputedly first held by John Pascoe Fawkner in 1844, before being taken over by Robert Gardiner in 1860.
The Mintaro design was influenced by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osborne_House" target="_blank">Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s summer residence on the Isle of Wight</a>.
The property<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/woodend-s-mintaro-%E2%80%93-a-mini-government-house-%E2%80%93-listed-with-%243-million-hopes/2012093056889" target="_blank"> </a>was listed with $3 million-plus hopes.
It features in the work by Miles Lewis entitled <a href="https://www.mileslewis.net/lectures/10-australian-building/10-interiors.pdf" target="_blank">Victorian Interiors</a>.
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A peek inside Mintaro at Monegeeta after 78 years of family ownership

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Australia's largest cotton farm has been sold to a Chinese-led consortium.
McGrathNicol, administrators for Cubbie Station, has<a href="https://www.mcgrathnicol.com/administrations/cubbie/Documents/Media%20information/E24-121011-CUBBCEN01-Media%20release-Final-3-SGG.pdf"> signed a sale agreement </a>with Shandong RuYi and Lempriere, the Australian link within the buying consortium. In June Property Observer reported the Lempriere family, one of Australia’s oldest wool processors, had teamed with the Chinese group Shandong Ruyi in<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/rural/larundel-for-its-ultrafine-wool-now-chinese-company-considering-cubbie-station-cotton-farm-acquistion/2012062655287" target="_blank"> an endeavour to buy Australia’s biggest cotton irrigator, Cubbie Station.</a>
Now in its fifth generation, the company, led by William Lempriere, has been the world’s largest wool merchant since 2009.
Over the 155 years since commencement it has sourced more than 1.8 billion kilograms of the finest sheep wool – some 12 million bales – from Australia, Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand as the supplier for the likes of Burberry, Austin Reed, Zegna, Cerruti and St. John Knits.
Only one in eight Australians approves of the sale of Cubbie Station to a Chinese-led consortium, polling shows.
The sale was recently approved by the Foreign Investment Review Board.
The names of reputed unsuccessful bidders for Cubbie Station emerged although without any clarity or confirmation.
An Australian consortium believed to include the Paspaley family and WorleyParsons chief executive John Grill was reportedly interested in buying the south-east Queensland farm but was beaten by the Shandong Ruyi group, according to a Australian Financial Review report.
Another unnamed Australian investor also put in a higher offer but only after Treasurer Wayne Swan approved the sale on August 31, on the advice from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).
The Paspaley family's wealth was estimated this year by BRW's Rich 200 at about $900 million, but James Paspaley, head of Paspaley Group's agricultural investments, advised that his side of the family business had not looked at Cubbie but that others may have.
Lawyer James Loell, who represented an unnamed Australian investor, told ABC Radio he had been informed it was “too late” to bid earlier last month.
 
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Cubbie Station officially sold

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Actress Holly Brisley, best remembered for her role as a troublemaker on Home And Away, and her husband, property investor Paul Ford, have relisted their Bondi Beach abode.

The couple were among the buyers who snapped up a 2006 off-the-plan apartment for $6.75 million in the Bondi complex, the apartment block on Campbell Parade that replaced the Bondi Beachside Inn on its 2009 completion.
They are now seeking $6 million plus at October 31 auction for their opulently appointed half-floor residence through <a target="_blank" href="https://lsdb.com.au/pol/property/search.asp?f_propertyID=1905846&amp;xsl=448&amp;f_st=1&amp;f_ct=1&amp;f_ps=2">D'Leanne Lewis at Laing &amp; Simmons Double Bay</a>, in conjunction with Ashley Bierman and Elliot Placks at Ray White.
It equates to about $24,000 a square metre based on its 250-square-metre internal space. It's 486 square metres all up.
On its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/home-and-away-actress-holly-brisley-lists-in-bondi-beach/2011121352830">initial December 2011 </a>listing they were looking for $7 million plus, which was reduced to mid-$6 million in June.
It has views that stretch across the beach and bay from North Bondi to Tamarama from the northern side of the building.
It has three bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms.
The luxurious appointments feature custom American oak joinery.
There’s also C-Bus 2 intelligence system with automated blinds and curtains.
The Bondi Beach prestige unit market currently awaits valuation confirmation of the September 2012 sales marketing of the nearby complex, the Pacific Bondi Beach. But the desired transparency might have to wait beyond ideal trading conditions as settlements will not be until November 2015 at the earliest, as exisiting hotel bookings at the Swiss-Grand Resort &amp; Spa mean construction won't begin until mid-2013.
 Both the recent Campbell Parade apartment complex and the 2006 Bondi complex were marketed and developed by Eduard Litver and Allen Linz.
Last month's off-the-plan sale of 74 apartments in the Pacific Bondi Beach was credited as Sydney's most successful post-global financial crisis apartment sales marketing campaign.
The sales, which included $1.9 million for a 70-square-metre one-bedroom apartment, reportedly grossed $164 million. 
The cheapest sale started at $575,000 for a 35-square-metre studio, with prices peaking at $10.3 million for one of the seven penthouses.
Price per square sales reportedly ranged from about $15,000 to $45,000.
 
 
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Take three, and $1 million off, as Holly Brisley relists Bondi Beach sub-penthouse

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<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: left;">
It was only after a three-year search that Lady (Sonia) McMahon bought her Palm Beach summer retreat in 1993. Now almost two decades on its been listed by her executors for November 8 LJ Hooker auction.
Back in 1993 she'd advised the L J Hooker agent David Edwards she wanted level access property with views that could not be impinged upon.
The three-bedroom, three-bathroom Ralston Road Palm Beach weekender had been in the Burton-Taylor family since bought for $29,575 in 1968. It was sold in 1993 by Lady (Joan) Burton-Taylor, widow of white-goods chief Sir Alvin, who resided at Warrawee's 2,600-square-metre estate Greenways.
The unrenovated brick-and-timber 1950s house was designed by architect John Suttor with an intent of instilling memories of former times even then.
Back in 1993 there were 44 house sales in 1993's first nine months totalling $28 million, with Palm Beach prices averaging $640,000.
So far this year RP Data says there has been 21 house sales totalling $57 million. So a $2.7 million average sale. But that includes the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/palm-beach-trophy-home-kaluas-record-setting-price-revealed-at-%2422-million/2012071655601">$22 million Kalua sale</a>.  
<a target="_blank" href="https://palmbeach.ljhooker.com.au/2JEF6Z">David Edwards </a>is suggesting a $2.25 million plus price estimate for the 1,350-square-metre property, which Lady McMahon had made available for her hairdresser's usage.
Lady McMahon, widow of the former prime minister Sir William McMahon, was 77 when she died in April 2010. The estate is being sold off by their children, the Hollywood actor Julian McMahon and his two sisters.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/julian-mcmahon-and-sisters-to-split-%24625-million-proceeds-from-lady-sonia-mcmahons-home-sale/2012070255376">The sibblings have sold two Bellevue Hill properties since May last year. </a> 
The latest listing could lift the sales tally from $15.25 million to $17.5 million plus – equating to about $5.8 million for each child, albeit less costs, which include sizeable land tax charges. 
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Lady Sonia McMahon's Palm Beach weekender listed

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Longerenong Homestead near Horsham, a heritage-listed, refurbished, two-storey, 60-square (558-square-metre) Gothic mansion, has been relisted for sale.
The 16-hectare <a target="_blank" href="https://www.eldersrealestate.com.au/office/horsham/residential/buy/property-acreage-semi-rural-vic-horsham-406041">897 Burnt Clay Road property</a>, classified by the National Trust, has a $1 million-plus hopes through Geoff Coustley at Elders Real Estate Horsham in conjunction with Peter Hawkins of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.prh.com.au/pol/property/search.asp?f_propertyID=938963&amp;xsl=2146&amp;f_st=1&amp;f_ct=1,3&amp;f_ps=2">Pat Rice Hawkins</a>.
Longerenong Homestead had been in the same family between 1862 and 2002. The Wilson brothers acquired the lease in 1856 and in June 1862, Samuel Wilson laid the foundation stone of his new villa residence.
Melbourne architects Crouch and Wilson designed this axially planned, two-storey brick residence which cost 30,000 pounds to construct.
Taken from an American pattern book, it was built for Sir Samuel Wilson on the banks of the Yarriambiack Creek, identical to the "Villa In The Pointed Style", a Gothic revival design that appeared in The Architecture of Country Houses by A.J. Downing, published in 1850 by Andrew Jackson Downing.
While the facade of Longerenong is very similar to the American model, the interior planning was altered significantly, as the architects reverted to closed British corridor planning.
The entrance is grand with emblems of the British Isles and the monogram of Samuel Wilson in Belgian stained glass surround the imposing doorway.
There's a marble hallway with a staircase of ornate carved cedar.
The formal sitting and dining rooms, flanking the hall on both sides, have patterned pressed metal ceilings, painted white.
The marble mantelpieces feature Sir Samuel's crest.
Longerenong Homestead interior photos on page 2
<div>
<hr class="system-pagebreak"></div>
The homestead is surrounded by rare Schotia and Moreton Bay fig trees, Osage oranges, Bunya Bunya pines and Norfolk Island pines.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/10/oct12burnt2]}
The National Trust considers Longerenong Homestead to be the finest picturesque gothic style villa in Western Victoria and perhaps the exemplar of this style in Victoria.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/planburnt.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/planburnt2.jpg">
Sir Samuel Wilson, the sixth son of a Northern Ireland farmer, was a distinguished Victorian pioneer whose career as a successful politician, pastoralist and philanthropist culminated in his election to the British House of Commons in 1886.
Wilson imported marble for the floors and fireplaces from Italy and the stained glass from Belgium.
It last traded at $555,000 in 2004. It was briefly listed in 2008 with $1.5 million expectations, which were reduced to $1,195,000 more recently. 
The Wilson family secured $375,000 in 2002.
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Longerenong Homestead near Horsham with bush Gothic grandeur

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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<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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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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