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Merino, the Western Districts, Victoria hamlet located 363 kilometres west of Melbourne, has emerged as among the cheapest towns to buy across Australia.
The list, which has 36 towns with $100,000 house offerings, was compiled by realestate.com.au from its May listings. There are 10 locations given in NSW for $100,000 towns, including Barraba, Broken Hill, and Coonamble. There are five in Queensland and South Australia, three in Tasmania and six in Western Australia with $100,000 offerings. Merino is one of seven towns in Victoria with $100,000 offerings, the others including Donald and Inverloch. Both the ACT and Northern Territory did not have $100,000 house offerings, according to the listings website survey.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/merinomap.jpg">
Merino, Victoria's first inland settlement, has a population of about 364 spread over about 197 dwellings based on the 2011 census.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/merino.jpg">
There are current just four listings on realestate.com.au with prices ranging from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-merino-110489349">$100,000 (pictured above) </a>to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-merino-106676804">$185,000</a>. 
There’s also a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-vic-merino-110116837">$170,000  listing</a>.
The other offering is at $30,000, but it’s just a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-vic-merino-2894231">1,998-square-metre township zoned  block</a> with shedding.
It had its first European settlement in 1837 when Francis Henty established Merino Downs pastoral station.
A store and post office agency came in 1854, and the first town lots were sold the next year.
In the 1850s, 1860s and 1870s came construction of churches, hotels, schools and the courthouse.
The Merino co-operative butter factory was established around 1885.
After World War 1the area was opened up for soldier settlement.
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Victorian hamlet of Merino heads national list of $100,000 home buy towns: Realestate.com.au

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The iconic imitation European Gothic-inspired castle on Sovereign Islands lost its crown at its auction last night, with its new owners immediately signalling plans to renovate one the most distinctive homes on the Gold Coast island estate.
The not quite majestic Knightsbridge Parade West mega-mansion fetched $5,325,000 at its Ray White Runaway Bay auction through Ali Mian.
With seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, the Paradise Point property had a $20 million tag when it first listed in 2010.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/paradise-point-castle-trophy-home-of-the-week/2012012753154" target="_blank">It most recent asking price was $7.5 million.</a>
It’s been marketed with an estimated replacement cost of the house and land at $12 million.
It was built by the founder of internet travel website Club Freedom, Ron Litherland, and finished in late 2009, when the Gold Coast Bulletin identified it as one of 12 super mega-mansions under construction in the precinct.
It’s set on a 1,458-square-metre block bought for $3.75 million in 2007 by the Phuket-based former truckie from Brisbane.
The four-level castle, complete with balustrades and turrets, has two studies and comes with heavy mahogany doors and copper window frames. There’s a home theatre, a library, billiard room and an entertainment area on the roof. In the basement there is a garage for up to 20 vehicles.
The house has floors of polished travertine marble, fireplaces in Sahara Gold granite and hand-crafted, mahogany-mullioned windows.
"The buyer has got plans to renovate the entire home," Mian told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
“They like the area and position but wanted to do it to their taste. The taste of the house is different."
On its completion the builder, Rob Smith, told the Bulletin that “people are realising the natural beauty of the area and want to enjoy every inch of it.”
Smith said it had been the long-held dream of Ron Litherland to live in a castle.
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Imitation Gothic castle on Sovereign Islands loses its crown at auction as buyers have less kingly inclinations

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Seven Gables, a 1902 English Revival-style Chatswood house, has been listed for sale with $2.4 million-plus hopes.
Set on 1,391 square metres, it last sold in 2005 at $1,800,120. And before that at a record $1.7million when bought by the Cambridge family in 2002, some 22 years after it set an earlier suburb record of $200,000.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/sevengable.jpg">
The Mowbray Road house was originally built on 2,500 square metres for the German accountant Albert Borchard and his wife, Phoebe, who sold after building another new house in Wollstonecraft  in 1910 to flour miller Daniel Cadwallader for £2,000.
Borchard had migrated to Australia in 1884 and travelled across NSW to do the books for a number of country stores, and was regarded as the king accountant of Sydney when he died in 1926.
He’d nostalgically named his new house Heidelberg, after the town where he grew up.
During World War I, Cadwallader changed the house's name from Heidelberg to Werribeen.
The name changed later to Seven Gables arising from its distinctive hipped roof.
The lot dates back to the initial 65-hectare 1940 Crown grant made to James Blackett and Richard Read and then its 4.8-hectare sale to a local farmer, Frederick Holland, in April 1902.
It was named Oakfield Estate with its smaller building parcels hived off at a time that the road was a dirt thoroughfare.
A fire gutted the roof of the property three years ago which triggered its lengthy restoration.
Seven Gables was approved for classification by the National Trust in 1983, as it was considered "an important and extremely interesting house for its period, being of a more modern architectural style than the Federation-style houses of the same period which surround it".
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Chatswood 1902 house Seven Gables listed with $2.4 million-plus hopes

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Breakfast radio star Jackie O and her husband Lee Henderson have listed their cosy farmhouse with breathtaking views over Kangaroo Valley.
With wide wrap-around verandas, Glen Athan is marketed as being one of the NSW South Coast's most stylish country properties.
It's been their retreat since the land was bought in 2005 and<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/2day-fm-s-jackie-o-buys-family-home-in-vaucluse-with-five-bedrooms/2012062255231"> its listing follows their recent Vaucluse purchase.</a>
It's been marketed through Shaine Hilaire at Ray White Berry, who has issued four contracts after 15 inspections over the past month.
Blending Australian homestead heritage design and contemporary luxuries, the six-year-old house comes with wide-board flooring, timber-lined walls and ceilings, South Australian slate hearths and 150-year-old convict-hewn sandstone. There are four bedrooms and three bathrooms - all with underfloor heating. The master bedroom comes with open fire, ensuite bathroom and private wardrobe area.
It has a bespoke kitchen featuring marble benchtops and walk-in pantry; a scullery; and a laundry and mud room. There’s also a library with custom joinery and fireplace, a large open study area and a separate home office.
The 42-hectare retreat comes with a “world-class” resort-style swimming pool with district views. There’s an entertaining courtyard nearer the house with a pizza oven facility.
Its one of the 100 properties within the unspoilt Wattamolla Valley, where prices in recent times have ranged upwards of $3 million, albeit for Gladstone Estate, the district’s 203-hectare holding, which sold last year with development approval for nine small lifestyle blocks and four large parcels over 40 hectares.
The farm, through which Ryder’s Creek flows, comes with a fully irrigated kitchen herb garden along with a 90,000-litre underground rainwater tank plus 10,000-litre spring-fed tank for garden watering. There’s a fox-proofed chook shed and fully fenced paddocks.  
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Jackie O lists cosy Kangaroo Valley farmhouse after Vaucluse acquisition 

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It was quite a life-changing take-home windfall for The Block 2012 contestants especially against the backdrop of three contestants who pocketed nothing for their 10-week renovating prowess.
Property Observer takes a look back at the prizes the contestants on The Block over the five series have won since the 2003 debut. The overall under the hammer clearance rate stands at 80%. Three contestants got  their winnings following post-auction negotiations.
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/block20123.jpg">
The Block 2012 South Melbourne
1) South Melbourne 2012 Brad and Lara reserve $1,114,000 sold for $1,620,000, prize $506,000 plus $100,000
2) South Melbourne 2012 Dan and Dani reserve $992,000 sold for $1,440,000, prize $448,000
3) South Melbourne 2012 Mike and Andrew reserve $966,000 sold for $1,400,001.01, prize $434,000
4) South Melbourne 2012 Sophie and Dale's reserve $975,000 sold for $1,330,000,  prize $355,000
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/theblock2010.jpg">
The Block 2010 Vaucluse
5) Vaucluse John and Neisha Pitt reserve $900,000 sold for $1,105,000, prize $205,000 plus $100,000 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/theblock2003.jpg">
The Block 2003 Bondi
6) Bondi 2003 Adam and Fiona reserve $595,000 sold for $751,000 prize $156,000 plus $100,000
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/theblock2004.jpg">
7) Manly Andrew and Jamie  sold for $868,000 $78,000, prize $790,000 plus $100,000
8) Bondi 2003 Kylie and Paul reserve $595,000 sold for $747,000, prize $152,000
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/block2011.jpg">
The Block 2011 Richmond
 
9) Richmond 2011 Polly and Waz reserve $840,000 sold for $855,000, prize $15,000 plus $100,000
10) Vaucluse Chez and Brenton reserve $880,000 sold p/a $970,000, prize $90,000
11) Vaucluse Erin and Jake reserve $910,00 sold for $997,500, prize $87,500
12) Manly Jason and Kirsten reserve $795,000 sold for $872,000, prize $77,000
 13) Bondi 2003 Gav and Waz reserve $595,000 sold for $670,000, prize $75,000
 14) Richmond 2011 Rod and Tania reserve $850,000 sold p/a $922,000, prize $72,000
15) Bondi 2003 Phil and Amity reserve $595,000 sold for $655,000, prize $60,000
16) Richmond 2011 Josh and Jenna reserve $950,000 sold p/a $1 million, prize $50,000
17) Vaucluse Mark and Duncan reserve $860,000 sold $907,000, prize $47,000
18) Richmond 2011 Amie and Katrina reserve $860,000 sold p/a $860,000, prize $0
19) Manly Richard and Steven reserve $800,000 sold $800,000, prize $0
20) Manly Matt and Jane reserve $795,000 sold $795,000, prize $0
 
Before the 2012 properties went to auction Property Observer took a peek inside the South Melbourne terraces, looking at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/inside-the-block-2012-%E2%80%93-the-bedrooms-and-bathrooms/2012062755316">bedrooms and bathrooms</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/inside-the-block-2012-%E2%80%93-the-exteriors-and-top-floors/2012062755325">outdoor areas and top floors</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/inside-the-block-2012-%E2%80%93-the-kitchens-and-dining-rooms/2012062555265">kitchens and dining rooms.</a>
The contestants made internal renovation decisions that showed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/auctions/rootop-study-v-bar-four-bedrooms-v-three-dorcas-street-block-floorplans-indicate-the-auction-battlelines/2012060154945">each terrace had a different layout and style.</a>
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The Block take-home prizes through history as The Block 2012 contestants collectively pocket $1.74 million above hammer price reserve

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EB Private Equity has withdrawn its $1.65 billion bid for David Jones, citing recent publicity around its proposal for scuttling the plan, which was interpreted by some observers as a property play.
David Jones said it had received a letter from EB Private Equity withdrawing its bid on Monday morning.
“The EBPE letter states that recent publicity around its proposal has made it difficult to proceed,” David Jones told the Australian Securities Exchange.
David Jones' share price fell 10% to $2.33 today.
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UK-Luxembourg property group EB Private Equity withdraws David Jones bid

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Fans of the The Block are long sufferers of the shameless promo and product placement.
But the rather bizarre auction bidding by entrepreneur Danny Wallis triggered an extraordinary Twitter backlash after the finale went to air.
Wallis, accompanied by his Energy Watch T-shirt-wearing brigade having recently bought the company from the administrators, was presumably ambush marketing.
Although it appeared the cameramen were way to easily coaxed into filming them with the show’s producers then putting extensive footage to air.
Old-timers recalled the ambush marketing euphoria that fuelled the auction crescendo of the first Bondi series in 2003, with over-the-top bidding by mobile phone retailer Crazy John’s among those seeking to piggy-back the successful debut of the television series.
Crazy John's Roscoe Street bidding was done by a 2.1-metre-tall Crazy John’s mascot that lent an air of a circus to pavement proceedings.
On the weekend Wallis entered a series of erratically odd bids at more than the one Dorcas Street auction, finally buying Mike and Andrew's house in the last auction for $1,400,001.01. It was the terrace he'd come for, but his bidding bamboozled the crowd, the auctioneer Andrew Stuart, and even himself at one stage.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/stories/2012/07/wallis2.jpg">
He'd had a bit of fun at the earlier auctions, although not at 405 Dorcas as Buxton auctioneer Karl Gillion had given his audience strict indications he wouldn't be accepting non-conforming bids.   
It’s actually not a new practice for Wallis to bid in odd auction figures.
Title Tattle recalls in 2001 at Albert Park he secured his investment for $444,300.
And his own Albert Park house cost $626,400 in 1999.
The Wallis consortium of private investors agreed to buy 100% of the former Energy Watch business through a new company named Energy Watch International.
On Twitter last night, comedian Dave Hughes tweeted: "Shouldn't have to look hard to find this week's Tool of the Week? ENERGY WATCH #theblock".
Wallis, who bought the property for his private investment, has indicated to the pedestrian.tv he is planning to set up the house to be available to parents of sick children staying in Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital.
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Danny Wallis, the energetic $1.01 bidderman of the The Block 2012, has odd past auction bidding form: Title Tattle

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Hollywood actor Julian McMahon and his two sisters are set to share the $6.25 million sale proceeds of their late mother, Lady (Sonia) McMahon’s Bellevue Hill home.
It sold last week, some three months after the Victoria Road residence was passed in on a $5.9 million auction bid.
The Australian actor and former fashion model has an older sister, Melinda, and a younger sister, Deborah.
Lady McMahon, widow of the former prime minister Sir William McMahon, was 77 when she died in April 2010.
Last traded for $3 million in 1991, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/nip/tuck-julian-mcmahon-lists-mother-lady-sonias-second-home-title-tattle/2012022153490">the French Riviera-inspired residence</a> was built on its 1,252-square-metre hillside holding.
It was listed through Sally Hampshire of Laing+Simmons Double Bay and Victoria Morish of Di Jones Real Estate.
Her earlier nearby Bellevue Hill family home sold in May last year for $9 million. It was the Drumalbyn Road house where the McMahons lived with their children, Julian, Melinda and Deborah.
Lady McMahon had bought it for $123,000 in 1968, the year Julian McMahon was born.
The estate retains a Palm Beach property on Sydney’s northern beaches.
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Julian McMahon and sisters to split $6.25 million proceeds from Lady (Sonia) McMahon’s home sale

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John McGrath, the leading estate agent and The Block room judge, says the weekend results were a signal that Australians see quality real estate in prime locations as great assets to own "even in less certain times."
"It appears that there was strong interest from both investors and owner-occupiers, which is what we have been seeing across the board.
"With interest rates lowering and many alternate asset classes far more volatile than bricks and mortar, investors have been re-emerging in larger numbers on the residential property scene over the last few months," McGrath says.
McGrath, a three decade-plus veteran, has been associated with the The Block series since its 2003 inception.
"The Block 2012 auctions were a great success," he says.
"I think the sale prices reflected both the great location of the properties as well as the quality renovation work carried out by the couples.
 "Whilst the show is a great marketing tool for the sale process, we are still talking about real buyers paying hard earned money for the privilege of ownership, so I believe they reflect a genuinely successful renovation and sale process.
"Having buyers write out cheques for such large sums of money is probably the best acid test of any reality television scenario.
 "The bidding was extremely strong at higher than anticipated levels," he says.
He notes the reserves were set by an independent valuer and "as we now all know, were well and truly surpassed." 
"Whilst I don't think this is an indicator that the Melbourne or Australian market is back to its boom levels, I think it is a very real and very clear signal that Australians see quality real estate in prime locations as great assets to own even in less certain times."
The Australian Property Monitors senior economist, Dr Andrew Wilson, suggest the results showed that Melbourne's inner-city housing market was ''alive and well''.
Dr Wilson tweeted before the auction there were "good news for the prospects of the Block ..... South Melbourne May quarter median house price $1,097,500 +15% since February and +7% since November 2011 ."
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The Block South Melbourne – prime locations are great assets to own even in less certain times: John McGrath

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The Thirroul motel where famed Australian artist Brett Whiteley died from a heroin overdose in 1992 is set for listing after receivers were appointed in January.
The Thirroul Beach Motel closed last month under instructions of the insolvency firm Jamieson Louttit &amp; Associates.
Partner Jamieson Louttit told the Illawarra Mercury that the owners George and Kosta Dimitrovski defaulted on the mortgage provided by Australian Executor Trustees Limited.
A nearby retail shop and residence on 1,650 metres – formerly Jims Fish Café – has been sold under instructions.
The site, zoned R2 Low Density Residential, was listed through Bob Houston and Travis Machan of MMJ Wollongong, who sold the property pre-auction last month.
The Dimitrovskis are also directors of Thirroul Property Holdings, the owners of Austinmer's Headlands Hotel site, with a much-anticipated redevelopment prospect.
Thirroul Property Holdings went into receivership in June 2011.
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Thirroul motel set for receivership sale

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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