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It’s been an interesting couple years in Melbourne real estate. Five years ago, would anyone have predicted the incredible peaks recorded in house values in 2010, despite the GFC and multiple interest rate rises? Or the panic that followed from the price falls in 2011? Even the best future-gazers wouldn’t have guessed we’d see three rounds of interest rate cuts this year; so that in some areas, it’s actually cheaper to buy than rent.
Nothing has been the norm this year including spring, with our activity kicking off early in the first week of September instead of post grand final – the "norm" in previous years. According to analyst group RP Data, September marked not only the largest but the fourth consecutive monthly rise in home values since 2010, with Melbourne having the largest recovery nationwide. In Balwyn we’ve certainly seen the knock-on effects; our sales are up 25% compared with the same time last year, clearance rates are sitting around 90%, days on market have decreased about 30%, listings in the last three months have increased by 50% and attendance at inspections is double what we saw earlier this year.
After a prolonged period of sellers and buyers only being interested in private sales, auctions are back in favour and buyers have started bidding again. Last weekend, we had bidders at several of our auctions around Boroondara – a tell-tale sign of improved confidence. Houses in Mont Albert are doing particularly well, with the recent auction of this family home in <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/VIC/Mont-Albert-North/?adid=2009969495" target="_blank">Dunloe Avenue</a> drawing a crowd of 70, with three bidders. Go back just two months and we were struggling to get any opening bids. There’s no doubt the interest rate cuts have driven renewed enthusiasm in our market.
With Balwyn’s rent prices increasing, the gap’s narrowed between mortgage repayments and rent, so a lot of young couples renting in the area are now looking to buy. Balwyn is also very family-oriented, so many households are seeking to upgrade and some parents are co-buying with children so they can live close by. That’s why well-positioned family homes such as <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/VIC/Balwyn-North/?adid=2010011843" target="_blank">3 Wild Life Parade</a> and apartments like <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/Apartment-Unit-Flat/VIC/Balwyn/?adid=2010040006" target="_blank">9/3 Kireep Road</a>, suited for first home buyers, investment or empty nesters, will always do well.
However low stock levels have always been a challenge in Balwyn because of our established demographic – our median age is 41, median household size is 2.7 and almost 80% of our houses are owner-occupied. An established demographic means mortgage pressure is typically lower, so unless people experience life circumstances out of their control, they can afford to wait. In Balwyn, no-one moves until they have to. You’ll never see the fluctuations in sale prices here that might occur in other parts of Melbourne, because supply and demand is consistent – our median house price ($1,540,000) is now close to the peak recorded in 2010.
 
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For this reason, the next financial year will be a pretty even playing field in Balwyn – no one group will hold the upper hand. We’ll start to see house values increase in the order of 7-8%, especially if the Reserve Bank continues to cut the cash rate. Quality family homes will always prevail no matter what the market conditions.
Bear in mind, though, that property is a long-term purchase. We can get excited that house values have started increasing again, but think about this – Australians move on average every seven years (in recent times this has been closer to 10 due to housing affordability). To put things into perspective, in the last seven years  Melbourne’s median house and unit prices rose 62% and 52% respectively – definitely not a "norm" we expect to see again, at least not in the near future.
Timely information such as clearance rates, number of sales or even median prices can be useful for a pulse on market sentiment, but when it comes to selling and buying, consider the bigger picture. If the last few years are anything to go by, unless you have a crystal ball, no one really knows what’s going to happen next. So instead of focusing on the here and now, or worrying about predicting the market, do some personal future-gazing and think about where you need to be in the next 12 months and then the next five years. Then start planning accordingly.
Toby Parker has 12 years' experience in real estate and is director of hockingstuart Balwyn and Hawthorn.
What do you think spring holds for the property market? <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/the-spring-property-outlook-survey" target="_blank">Complete our five-minute survey for your chance to win an iPhone 5.</a>
For more on auctions and the spring selling season, <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/free-ebook-auction-or-private-treaty-plus-9-spring-2012-selling-tips" target="_blank">download our free eBook.</a>
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Auctions back in favour as Balwyn spring selling season takes off: Hockingstuart

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Local resident and property adviser Andrew Winter is a tad premature in saying it's a done deal, but a Coomera River estate widely regarded as among Sanctuary Cove's most iconic homes is close to sale.
Its estimated selling price has ranged between $6 million plus - which was its 2006 purchase price - through to Winter's $10 million plus forecast.
<a href="https://twitter.com/andrewtwinter" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/10/wintertweet.jpg"></a>
Listed as having grandeur, opulence and absolute style, the luxury Gold Coast  residence sits on a 2,362-square-metre block.
It's under conditional contract – which prompted its withdrawal from its recent scheduled Ray White auction.
It comes with five bedrooms, six bathrooms and an office.
"The realistic vendor wants it sold at auction if not prior," said its marketing material by listing agent <a href="https://raywhitesanctuarycove.com.au/qld/sanctuary-cove/841593/" target="_blank">Matt Gates at Ray White Prestige Property</a>.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/sanctuary-cove-mansion-sale-sets-new-reputed-%2412-million-record/2012053054896" target="_blank">There was a $12 million sale in May</a>.
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Tweet of the day: Sanctuary Cove awaits confirmation of another $10 million mansion sale

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There was a $3.89 million sale price in the recent settlement details for the redundant Dover Heights home of Channel Seven Price Is Right presenter Larry Emdur.
It had passed in on a $3.8 million vendor bid at its May auction – and then sold in July at an undisclosed price.
It took the morning television host nine months to find the buyer of the ocean clifftop property, which had been initially listed for sale late last year after Emdur and his wife, Sylvie, upgraded to a $6.8 million Dover Heights clifftop residence.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/auctions/larry-emdur-withdraws-redundant-dover-heights-holding-from-weekend-auction/2011102852109" target="_blank">Last October, when Emdur pulled the house from auction</a>, its price hopes were around $5 million.
The extensively renovated P &amp; O-style <a href="/news">Dover Heights</a> house was sold through Daniel Baran and Reece Coleman of BHR Estate Agents, who had tried to secure interest around $4.2 million.
It is set on 417 square metres, whereas the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/larry-edmur-says-good-morning-to-breathtaking-cliff-top-property/2011090251402" target="_blank">Emdurs’ new home is on 1,062 square metres of clifftop land.</a>
The Emdurs had owned the Dover Heights property since 1994 when they spent $770,000.
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Larry Emdur's price was $3.89 million at Dover Heights

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The sale of 39 nearby apartments during September suggests Rose Group is set for strong interest when its latest Breakfast Point apartment complex market hits the market this weekend.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/10/oct11bellona]}
Bellona (pictured above and below) 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 start at $555,000 for a one-bedroom unit with an internal size of 66 square metres, and two-bedroom apartments start at $695,000 and have an internal size of 107 square metres.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/bellona.jpg">
The $1,455,000 mark is 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.
There are 62 apartments including 25 one-bedders, 28 two-bedders, four three-bedders and five penthouses.
First home buyers are expected to purchase some of the one-bedroom apartments and take advantage of the government incentive, which started on October 1, with purchasers not exceeding $650,000 set to receive a $15,000 payment.
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Some 70% of the apartments face to the north and east.
Buyers in the  Harbour precinct will be able to use the 3,700 square metres of private outdoor space and a 25-metre horizon lap pool, a lagoon pool and pavilion.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/10/oct11breakfast2]}
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 (pictured below).
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/byron.jpg">
Their ancestors arrived from England as free settlers on the ship <a target="_blank" href="https://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mould/rose/thos-rose/other-thomas.htm">Bellona</a> in 1793 and became pioneering farmers at Liberty Plains in the Strathfield area.
The first owners settled into their new homes on the site in 2002. Many were among those who helped notch up $30 million worth of sales in the first three months of release in late 2000.
The September 2012 sales tally was the highest of the year, with the 39 deposits valued at $33.5 million.
More than 1,700 homes and apartments have been sold over the past 12 years by its joint developers Rose Group and Cbus Property, the national construction industry superannuation fund.
There will be on its 2016 completion some 2,265 abodes.
The Rose Group bought the Parramatta River site from AGL in 1999 in a staged handover for about $150 million over six years before its final payment for the site.
The site had been owned by AGL since 1883.
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Bellona sales set to steer Breakfast Point towards 2016 final settlements

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Orcades, one of the largest oceanfront properties at Palm Beach, has failed to sell at its mid-week auction.
There was just the one bid at auction - and the $4 million offer was rejected by the auctioneer when the landmark 1,922-square-metre estate was offered in the Raine &amp; Horne auction room.
Bordered by bushland reserver and the oceanfront, the 1950s P&amp;O-style homes sits on three Whale Beach Road blocks.
The property has a 44-metre ocean frontage with views stretching from Palm Beach to the central coast and is set in lush gardens with frangipani trees and a pool
It's named after the ocean liner Orcades, which made her maiden voyage from London to Australia in late 1948 – and comes with an original mirrored artwork of the ship. It was the first Orient Line post-war new ship built, replacing the 1937 built Orcades. 
The four-bedroom house at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.palmbeachrealestate.com.au/sale/307whalebeach.htm">307-311 Whale Beach Road</a> had $6 million-plus hopes.
It has been owned since the mid-1970s by the late entrepreneur Michael Callaghan, who died in July last year. He secured the holding through a trust deed arrangement from sales consultant Barry Neary who had spent $117,000 to buy the property in 1975. It was previously briefly owned by A.B. Lincoln Real Estate who'd bought the holding from Manly newsagent James Thomson in 1975.
Michael Callaghan was a Channel Seven executive who became a distributor for Thames Television programs for three decades from around the 1970s.
His many British guests included Benny Hill, Des O'Connor, Sid James, Ronnie Barker and more recently some cast members from The Bill.
Callaghan was also an accomplished tennis player – a teenage contemporary of John Newcombe and Rod Laver and John Newcombe.
Orcades has yet to be given a public asking price by listing agents Glenn Lee and David Eden of Raine &amp; Horne Palm Beach.
Orades, the liner,  was<a target="_blank" href="https://iancoombe.tripod.com/id31"> laid up at Southampton in 1972 </a>and broken up at Kaohsiung four months later.</body></html>

P&O heritage-status beaches oceanfront Orcades, Palm Beach, sales prospects

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Milne House, the single-colour Robin Boyd-designed Toorak house passed in at its August auction, has been sold.
Its price has not been disclosed, but it had been passed in on a $2.3 million vendor bid.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/robin-boyd-designed-toorak-home-milne-house-listed-with-%2425-million-plus-hopes/2012071955671" target="_blank">Bennison Mackinnon agents Hugh Hardy and Andrew Macmillan </a>had initially listed it with $2.5 million-plus hopes. 
It’s a four-bedroom courtyard home last traded unrenovated in early 2006 for $1.63 million.
Marketed as a Boyd masterpiece, Milne House comes with steep skilling roof forms in opposing combinations, bagged brick walls, separate wings, simple features and a near windowless front facade on its 640-square-metre block set on the corner of Toorak and Glenbervie roads.
The Malvern Heritage Study puts its date at 1970. It is acknowledged as one of Boyd’s last homes by heritage authorities, as he died aged 52 in 1971.
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Robin Boyd-designed Toorak house sells

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Mining tycoon Nathan Tinkler has reportedly allowed a $37?million low-rise Brisbane office acquisition to lapse.
The 5,500-square-metre building overlooking the Brisbane River is back on the market through Jones Lang LaSalle agents Seb Turnbull and Geoff McIntyre, who are seeking offers by November 1.
Its fully leased net income is given as $3,605,005.
In March the Brisbane Courier Mail wrote the sale had <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/realestate/brisbane-cbd-property-market-on-the-move-again/story-e6frequ6-1226313798696" target="_blank">gone unconditional</a>, with a scheduled July settlement.
The five-level office comes with ground-floor plaza and two basement car parking levels. The  building was constructed in 1990 by Kevin Seymour and last traded in 2004 when bought by Bramley Properties.
The Australian Financial Review has reported that the Linc Energy founder Peter Bond came close to buying the building for about $37?million last year.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/tinkler.jpg">
The unimproved capital value of the site (freehold only), was assessed by the Queensland State Government Office of State Revenue as $12 million as at June 30, 2011 and at $8.3 million as at 30 June 2012.
It's been reported Tinkler, who owns a smaller office building on Queen Street bought through Savills' Stuart Moody for $7.7 million in 2010, was planning an expansion move possibly in anticipation of a Whitehaven takeover.
The billionaire's finances – especially the Tinker-aligned developer Buildev Group – have been under scrutiny since his attempted $5.25 billion bid for Whitehaven Coal collapsed due to a lack of funding.
The Tinkler camp has declined to comment on property matters, including the court case where Mirvac is seeking to secure Tinkler's $17 million payment for a Newcastle industrial land purchase.
Mirvac and Tinkler are embroiled in the NSW Supreme Court legal stoush over an agreement to buy the land in the NSW Hunter region.
The Mirvac company, Domaine Steel, has already successfully sued two of Tinkler's companies, Ocean Street Holdings and guarantor Buildev Group, in the NSW Supreme Court after they failed to proceed with the purchase agreement.
Tinkler was given a court-ordered deadline to pay Mirvac around $17 million by September 1.
But after the deadline was missed, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/industrial/nathan-tinkler-vs-mirvac-scheduled-for-october-showdown/2012091856642" target="_blank">Mirvac lodged a contempt of court order to sequester Tinkler's assets</a>.
The matter was heard on directions in the NSW Supreme Court today with a hearing date set for October 23 and 24 before Justice Michael Slattery.
its the transaction when contacted yesterday. McGees Property, which was brokering the transaction, declined to comment, but it is believed the agency is taking legal advice in relation to the deal.
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Nathan Tinkler lets another property purchase lapse

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The property market tends to be seasonal, with spring typically the busiest period of the year. This year in Brunswick we noticed a new trend in buyers trying to beat the spring rush, with more emerging in August than ever before. This early arrival could be a signal of improving confidence, but it’s also a reflection of people – sellers and buyers alike – realising they’ve waited long enough to make that move.
So for us, spring has sprung early. In August we sold properties that were passed in during the earlier winter months or even six months ago. What’s happened is that sellers and buyers are finally aligning in their expectations, and deals are being negotiated now that weren’t possible before. For example, earlier in the year, two-bedroom single-fronted homes in Brunswick weren’t selling because sellers were still expecting prices in the early $600,000s – values achieved at the peak of the property cycle. Today, sellers’ expectations are becoming more realistic with current market conditions, with these properties, including this one at <a href="https://www.hockingstuart.com.au/?autoSearch=1&amp;OID=4504309&amp;Con=S" target="_blank">97 Glenlyon Road</a>, now sitting around the $550,000 mark and within reach in particular for first-home buyers.
Interest rate cuts are also fueling activity in the area, with first-home buyers out in full force as a result of increasing affordability. Just recently, we sold an apartment in Blyth Street, Brunswick, that had so much competition there was a crowd of disappointed bidders post auction. Inspired by the demand, another owner in the same complex decided to spontaneously sell his property on the same day.
Next-home buyers are another massive market in our area, particularly with families looking to upsize. Brunswick is a more affordable alternative to its neighbouring suburbs of North Fitzroy and North Carlton, so properties like <a href="https://www.hockingstuart.com.au/?autoSearch=1&amp;OID=4427047&amp;Con=S" target="_blank">7 Garden Street</a> are great options for these buyers – it’s located right on the city fringe and within Brunswick’s main shopping and eating districts, Sydney Road and Lygon Street.
 
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Another trend we’re seeing is the emergence of the “discerning” buyer. In a buoyant market, buyers are quick to enter the market for fear of missing out. In today's conditions, people are no longer freely buying, and instead taking the time to determine whether the property is really what they’re looking for – unless it fulfills 85% of their criteria, they’re happy to wait. This does mean, though, that when a quality property comes on the books, it’s immediately snapped up.
Accordingly, a trend gaining traction in the Brunswick market is properties selling before auction. Given the demand for good quality properties in the area, buyers are happy to cough up the cash early to secure their ideal home, and vendors are also coming to the party now their expectations have adjusted to market conditions.
Having said that, the auction market in Brunswick is still going strong, with hockingstuart’s clearance rates in the area sitting around 80%. At the same time, private sales are becoming increasingly popular, some taking just one to two weeks to complete – recently we even sold a two-bedroom warehouse conversion in Brunswick in just three days.
This spring, we’re expecting the last weekend in October to be a ripper, with the highest amount of properties up for auction in Melbourne since 2010. Longer term, the market will remain steady and statewide clearance rates will stay around 60 to 65% thanks to successive interest rate cuts.
Brunswick buyers will remain in the driving seat, with growing families taking advantage of current conditions. As a result of a fluctuating share market, investor activity will also stay strong as they look to add real estate to their investment portfolios.
After holding back for nearly two years, Melburnians finally have the confidence to go ahead with important life decisions and the market is starting to see a gradual but sure spike in activity – we expect it to be no different in Brunswick, with many buyers and sellers already ahead of the game.
Robert Elsom has 15 years' experience in real estate and is director of <a href="https://www.hockingstuart.com.au/" target="_blank">hockingstuart </a>Carlton, Brunswick, North Melbourne and Northcote.
What do you think spring holds for the property market? <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/the-spring-property-outlook-survey" target="_blank">Complete our five-minute survey for your chance to win an iPhone 5.</a>
For more on auctions and the spring selling season, <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/free-ebook-auction-or-private-treaty-plus-9-spring-2012-selling-tips" target="_blank">download our free eBook.</a>
 
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Spring buyers get in early in Brunswick: Hockingstuart

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With $13 million-plus expectations, Geoff Cousins, the adman-turned-environmental activist and author, has listed his six bedroom beach house at Whale Beach.
Named ‘The Wedge’, after the famous surf beach break at the northern corner of Whale Beach, the home occupies nearly 1,440 square metres.
It is one of the largest beachfront land holdings in Sydney, with its rolling lawns flowing directly onto the sandy beach. It was more than 20 years ago when the Cousins family commissioned architect John Crawford to design the home, which was completed in 1991 with quintessential Australian beach elements.
Designed as three pavilions with living spaces adjoining vast timber decking, the weekend retreat suited the large family and stream of international guests who would visit over the summer.
The home has high pitched ceilings with striking timber beams, a huge fireplace constructed from river stones, soaring bookshelves in rooms with polished flooded gum and blackbutt floors.
"This property is arguably one of the best beach houses Australia has to offer," its Raine &amp; Horne Palm Beach listing agent Glenn Lee says.
Offers are due November 14 ,with Lee suggesting he expects to beat the current Whale Beach record of $13 million achieved for 245 Whale Beach Road in May 2007.
Cousins paid $1.45 million for the Whale Beach Road property in 1987.
 
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Geoff Cousins seeks $13 million-plus Whale Beach buyers

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With a disclosed $750,000 reserve price and 14 contract requests, the weekend auction of a striking modern home at Gisborne triggered an $807,500 sale.
The <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/115-outlook-lane-gisborne/Property-Details-buy-residential-4406745" target="_blank">115 Outlook Lane</a> house, with views of Mount Macdeon, sold through Julian Davies at Keatings Real Estate.
Set above Jacksons Creek, the 1.7-hectare vacant building holding was bought in late 2007 for $340,000 by Kate and Ollie Luciano.
There are views from every room through floor-to-ceiling glass along the entire length of the semicircular design of the valley where deer roam.
After their initial inspection of the site the Lucianos took a sketch made on butcher's paper to the architect Design Edge, who came up with a structure designed as a series of 12 wedge-shaped segments, each supported by a framework of high-strength steel columns and beams and spanned by extra-thick laminated glass panels.
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Striking Gisborne semicircular home finds  $807,500 buyer looking for views

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.

[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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=291195] 
&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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=13962]

Jonathan Chancellor

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