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Aussie Home Loans executive chairman John Symond has warned a standard 0.25 percentage point easing by the RBA at its May meeting would not be enough, given the banks have lifted home loan rates since the last cash rate cut in December.
“We have a situation where since Christmas we have had two increases by the banks out of cycle. So, 25 basis points is just playing catch-up for the punter,” Symond suggests.
“If the Reserve Bank wants to make a difference and instil confidence, they now have to go more than 25 basis points and go 50 basis points,” Fairfax Media reported Symond as saying today.
Last month the Aussie Home Loans founder said the RBA was “a bit out of touch by not accepting that parts of the economy, especially small businesses, is doing it really tough at the moment”.
“As well as the Australian economy has performed relative to other economies, we could easily get into the situation where the economy could stall,” warned Symond.
“We need an injection of good news and an injection of confidence – the best way to do that is to start dropping interest rates.”
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

John Symond says only 50-basis-point RBA interest rate reduction will cut it for borrowers

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The minutes of the April RBA board meeting have strengthened the case for a rate cut at the May 1 meeting, according to Westpac.
“We are confident that the RBA will deliver a 0.25% rate cut on May 1," Westpac chief economist Bill Evans suggests, based on his expectations that the underlying first quarter 2012 inflation data, due for release April 24, will be 0.6% for the quarter and 2.3% for the year, down from 2.5% in quarter four in 2011.
Westpac suggests the data could provide the RBA with ample scope to cut rates again in June or July given the sentiment of the minutes particularly in recognising the sharp regional and sectoral differences in the economy and the likely impact of a significant fiscal tightening.
The minutes gave a number of additions to the bank's insights around the current economic environment, the Westpac chief economist notes.
“Firstly, stronger emphasis is given to the divergences between sectors and regions in the economy.
“Whereas the governor referred to ‘differences’ these minutes refer to ‘sharp differences’,” Evans notes.
The analysis of the minutes by Westpac also noted there was recognition that "the level of non-mining investment had been flat over 2011, and recent surveys of business intentions suggested that non-mining investment was likely to remain sluggish for some time".
Noting the RBA members spent some time exploring reasons for the weakness in many of the indicators for housing turnover and building activity, Westpac concluded the minutes did not go so far as to question why there appears to have been only muted response to the recent rate cuts.
“But one can sense some degree of frustration in the likely discussion,” Evans says.
Westpac also suggests the RBA attitude towards the labour market appears to have become more realistic.
“In previous discussions the emphasis has been around the unemployment rate alone whereas the board now points out that "an easing in average hours worked and a decline in the participation rate were indicative of a softer labour market than that implied by the unemployment rate".
Evans was also encouraged to see that the board had made special note of the Westpac-Melbourne Institute index of unemployment expectations by noting that "household concerns regarding future unemployment (were) at their highest level since mid-2009".
“Probably the most surprising aspect of these minutes was the direct comment on fiscal policy,” Evans says.
“The bank specifically points out that economic conditions will be impacted by ‘significant fiscal tightening in the next few years’.
“Despite the government indicating the intention to return the budget to surplus from a deficit of around $40 billion we cannot recall the bank specifically referring to fiscal tightening in previous statements.”
“The message from the governor's statement on April 3 was that there was scope to cut rates as long as the inflation report indicated that inflation pressures remained benign.
“This message has been repeated with the additional dimension of indicating that slower growth could be expected to result in a more moderate inflation outcome.”
Finally, Bill Evans notes there was an extensive discussion at the April RBA board meeting on the funding costs of banks.
“The importance of term deposits to the banks' overall funding profile has been emphasised.
“Recall that the bank has noted that ‘since the middle of 2011 there has been a further increase in banks' funding costs relative to the cash rate of the order of 20-25bps’.”
Westpac notes that the mismatch was explained in terms of the general principle that the RBA cash rate had become a less important influence on the banks' funding costs due to competition for deposits and the increased costs of term funding.
 
 
 
 
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RBA April board meeting minutes strengthen case for May interest rate cut, and another: Westpac

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The Reserve Bank of Australia kept rates on hold at its April meeting despite spending “some time” exploring reasons for the weakness in many of the indicators for housing turnover and building activity across Australia.
But taking into account other factors, the board decided a month’s delay in any further cutting of rates was the prudent thing to do.
“They noted the apparent sensitivity of developers to the outlook for dwelling prices,” <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.rba.gov.au/monetary-policy/rba-board-minutes/2012/03042012" target="_blank">the RBA minutes note.</a>
“New dwelling construction had fallen in the December quarter and there was little sign of a pick-up in building or loan approvals, though house prices had shown some signs of stabilising recently.
“While auction clearance rates in Sydney and Melbourne had picked up a bit of late, they remained below their average levels,” the RBA minutes note.
But the board, noting it had eased monetary policy late in 2011, concluded slower growth in demand could be expected to result in a more moderate inflation outcome, which might then present a case for a further easing of monetary policy.
“The board would have the opportunity at its next meeting to review the inflation outlook based on comprehensive new data on prices, as well as information on demand and output.
“Members judged it prudent to evaluate those data before considering a further policy adjustment,” the minutes conclude.
The board noted indicators of business activity had been mixed, labour market conditions remained subdued, and that world economy growth was at a below-trend pace with the moderate expansion of the US economy continuing but economic conditions in several European countries remaining very weak.
 
 
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Housing industry downer not quite enough as RBA awaits security blanket of benign inflation data

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Viking apartments, the $80 million, 10-storey, 108-apartment block at Green Square, is now being completed by Iwan Sunito’s Crown Group.
Construction is anticipated to begin on the new landmark building to be known as Viking by Crown in June, with completion expected in 18 months. Located at 30-36 O’Dea Avenue, the final 24 apartments have now been released for sale.
The prices range from $490,000 to $575,000 for one-bedroom units and from between $740,000 and $900,000 for the two-bedroom offerings. Its three-bedroom units range between $997,000 and $1.3 million. The penthouses start at $1.23 million and hit $1.75 million.
Viking by Crown has been designed by MPRDG architects – headed by Brian Meyerson – to give all apartments floor-to-ceiling glass, a wide loggia and views to the CBD and adjoining parklands.
Its coloured panel louvres are expected to create an ever-changing hue on its façade.
Inspiration for the design was drawn from the work of internationally renowned Israeli artist Yaacov Agam, founder of the post-war kinetic art movement and creator of ground-breaking sculpture, paintings and architecture
The building, to be set on a narrow wedge shaped island site, was initially proposed by Simon Skibsted’s Feheni Pty Ltd, which has owned the 5,050-square-metre Waterloo site since 1987.
In late 2010 CBRE Residential secured 77 red-dot sales within six week.
The 2010 prices were 41 one-bedroom apartments, up to 66 square metres with balconies up to 12 square metres, priced from $465,000 and levies from $500 a quarter.
Its 41 two-bedroom apartments, some with studies, up to 108 square metres with balconies up to 40 square metres, 2010 prices from the mid-$600,000s, with levies from $700 a quarter.
The 26 three-bedroom apartments, up to 133 square metres with balconies up to 100 square metres, had 2010 prices from $895,000 and levies from $900 a quarter.
The eight three-bedroom penthouses with internal areas of up to 165 square metres had prices in late 2010 from $1.2 million to $1.695 million and levies from $900 a quarter.
 
 
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Crown Group to begin construction on Viking apartments at Green Square, Waterloo

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With Sydney almost back in love with property, The Block, Channel 9’s reality property series, returned to the airways last night with a stronger following than last year’s Melbourne series.
The first-night ratings – with the four derelict terraces in South Melbourne barely sighted – attracted an average 1.4 million viewers, bettering last year’s 1,342,000 debut viewers of the Richmond renovation.
<img src="/images/stories/blocksouthmelb2.jpg">
Ten’s juggernaut MasterChef doesn’t start for another two weeks, so The Block began without serious opposition. The competition came internally with eight couples desperate to move in – and in the first week being paired off and pitted against each other in a 24-hour, do-or-die room fit-out challenge at a quaint red-painted Melbourne residence.
It was not however the four unrenovated terraces which the production company <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/the-block-sticks-with-made-in-melbourne-formula/2011071150759">spent some some $3.8 million in Dorcas Street</a>, South Melbourne last year.
The next series of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/its-back-to-bondi-for-the-block-home-renovation-realty-series-after-they-sell-south-melbourne/2012033054098">The Block </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/its-back-to-bondi-for-the-block-home-renovation-realty-series-after-they-sell-south-melbourne/2012033054098">seems set to return home to Sydney</a>, as the production company has recently bought four single-level semis at Bondi, close to the southern end of the coastal strip.
The hush-hush purchase, which echoes its previous property acquisitions of four adjacent properties, has possibly cost $4.4 million or more. Each of the three-bedroom semis (pictured below) sits on a 260-square-metre holding.
<img src="/images/stories/theblockproperties.jpg">
The 2012 opening night of The Block recorded a peak of 1.9 million viewers within the hour, compared with 1,723,000 viewers in last year’s opening hour.
It was the night’s second most watched program – behind The Voice talent show, with 2.5 million.
Last year the keener watchers were in Melbourne, with 523,000 viewers compared with Sydney’s 365,000 viewers. Last night there was less of a gap, with Melbourne on 508, 000 and Sydney at 404,000. The 1.4 million mix was made up by 259,000 Brisbane viewers, 116,000 in Adelaide and 118,000 in Perth.
The first season of The Block was filmed in Bondi in 2003, with 2.2 million watching weekly – and the auction finale episode attracted 3.1 million viewers, which was the second-most watched event of 2003.
Its 2003 first series coincided with the peak of the property boom along the east coast Sydney property market.
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Sydney re-embraces its passion for The Block as (South) Melbourne swan song series kicks off with bigger numbers

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The Stoke-on-Kent, <a href="https://www.reedsrains.co.uk/properties-for-sale/house-for-sale-well-street-stoke-on-trent-st1-sale-id-200453258">West Midlands terrace house</a> where Titanic captain Edward John Smith was born is up for sale. The skipper of the ill-fated liner grew up in the two-bedroom Victorian terrace in Hanley in Staffordshire, which is now on the market for £79,500. His pottery worker parents are believed to have lived in the house for more than a decade and after he left school he worked at the Etruria Forge before heading off to sea aged 13, where he progressed from ship's boy to captain.
Property investors Neil and Louise Bonner secured the house for £35,000 as an investment in 2002 and rented it out. But now in the 100th anniversary of the Titanic tragedy, they have put on the market through Reeds Rains in Hanley. Its listings of-two bedroom terraces range in price <a href="https://www.reedsrains.co.uk/properties-for-sale/house-for-sale-north-road-cobridge-stoke-on-trent-st6-sale-id-200455391">from a North Road house for £29,500</a> to a <a href="https://www.reedsrains.co.uk/properties-for-sale/house-for-sale-leek-new-road-sneyd-green-stoke-on-trent-st1-sale-id-200406656">Leek New Road house</a> <a href="https://www.reedsrains.co.uk/properties-for-sale/house-for-sale-leek-new-road-sneyd-green-stoke-on-trent-st1-sale-id-200406656">for</a> <a href="https://www.reedsrains.co.uk/properties-for-sale/house-for-sale-leek-new-road-sneyd-green-stoke-on-trent-st1-sale-id-200406656">£90,000.</a>
<img src="/images/stories/stokeontent.jpg">
Stoke-on-Trent is considered to be the home of the pottery industry in England and is commonly known as The Potteries. A pottery craft plaque was unveiled at the house on Well Street on the weekend funded by the Burslem-based Titanic Brewery, which notes the captain's birthday of January 27, 1850 and the date of the doomed liner's sinking – April 14, 1912
<img src="/images/stories/belvroad.jpg">
TheLiverpool home of Joseph Bell, the chief engineer on the Titanic, is also on the market (pictured above).
It’s a pricier offering, with the double-fronted two-storey <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-22324929">Belvidere Road, Crosby house</a> listed for £420,000.
Bryn Mel Manor is situated in Anglesey, on the west bank of the Menai Strait, at the north west of Wales, is another house with supposed Titantic links. It’s been marketed as built in 1899 as the summer residence of the family of the owners of the White Star line. But local historians doubt the claim and say it was built for the wealthy Liverpool ship owner Edmund Johnston, whose  1880s shipping company operated cargo vessels from Liverpool to the Black Sea, Greece and Turkey – but soon branched out into American beef.
<img src="/images/stories/titanic3.jpg">
Its price guide is £1,100,000 after failing to sell at recent auction. <a href="https://www.lshauctions.co.uk/PDF/11-27247.pdf">The 39-bedroom house</a> (pictured above) has been a nursing home in recent times.
 
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Capitalising on the Titantic: Boyhood home of captain for sale: Title Tattle

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Construction has begun on the new Sandpiper development on Hastings Street at Noosa.
Just three full-floor apartments and two retail shops will be built on the site.
<img src="/images/stories/sandpip.jpg">
R&amp;W Noosa co-principal Peter Butt <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/sale-of-%2414-million-apartments-as-tide-turns-for-better-in-noosa/2011072650927">has already sold two of the apartments</a>.
The penthouse pricing has been revised to $9.25 million, down from its $10 million hopes last July.
Overlooking Laguna Bay, Sandpiper is positioned in the centre of the busy main street. There are also view lines to First Point as well as the Noosa North Shore and river mouth.
<img src="/images/stories/sandpip2.jpg">
"The Noosa market has shown good signs of an early revival in recent months, and this new project on the beachfront is exactly the confidence booster the area needs," Butt told Noosa News.
<img src="/images/stories/sandpiperflicker.jpg">
Developed by a Victorian property investor, the Sandpiper construction is being undertaken by Calty Constructions with an expected mid-2013 completion.
The mid-floor apartment is under contract at $8 million and the ground-floor apartment at $6 million.
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Construction begins on Noosa triplex Sandpiper: Title Tattle

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Talana, the imposing Queen Anne-style residence at Hawthorn East, has been relisted for sale.
Set on Harcourt Street, the six-bedroom, three-bathroom 1900 house was designed by architect John Beswicke, the best known architect in Hawthorn during the late 1800s, having also designed the Hawthorn Town Hall.
The red-brick house, with the decorative embellishments overlaid with timber, comes with a third-storey tower under the large hipped roof clad in Marseilles tiles.
It sits on a 4,122-square-metre holding with north/south synthetic grass tennis court, a solar- and gas-heated pool, and a self-contained summer house.
There is a driveway leading to a four-car garage.
It’s named after a town in the province of Ogliastra, in Sardinia, Italy.
Having been listed with Marshall White late last year, it’s now listed through RT Edgar agent Michael Ebeling with $11 million-plus hopes.
<img src="/images/stories/talana.jpg">
Talana has been renovated since the current vendors bought the property in 2000 for $2 million from the Mott family. They have since demolished a brick cottage that sat in its front yard (pictured above).
Photographs courtesey of <a href="https://www.walkingmelbourne.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&amp;t=5922&amp;start=120" target="_blank">Walking Melbourne</a>.
 
 
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Imposing Queen Anne-style Hawthorn East charmer Talana listed with $11 million-plus hopes

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Estate agents suggest the weekend auction result provided a clear indication that further interest rate increases by the banks are negatively impacting on demand and confidence in the residential property market.
The ANZ Bank decision on Friday to raise interest rates again dampened the mood at some capital city weekend auctions, with participants understandably increasingly confused about market conditions and direction.
Buyers' agent Catherine Cashmore, of National Property Buyers, says the two recent rate rises have been worrying buyers, especially investors.
Cashmore notes that owner-occupiers continue to target good properties.
Melbourne’s auction clearance rate was 55%, compared with 61% pre-Easter Saturday result.
No clearance rate was published last weekend due to Easter.
Sydney’s clearance rate was 55.5% which bettered the 53.8% of the pre-Easter weekend.
Both clearance rates have improved since the end of last year, but the Melbourne result was down on the same weekend last year, when it was 61% in Melbourne, while Sydney’s result matched the same Saturday last year.
Dr Andrew Wilson from Australian Property Monitors says the data might suggest a growing gulf between the economic outlook for Melbourne and Sydney.
“The trend is for a deteriorating jobs market in Victoria and an improving one in NSW,” Wilson says.
“This will affect confidence, especially when we are seeing mortgage rates increase.
“The bite of the multi-speed economy is starting to kick in,” Wilson told Fairfax Media.
Buyers who were the highest bidders for a property passed in should know how to “play the game” in the aftermath of the auction, according to the Real Estate Buyers’ Agents Association of Australia (REBAA) president Warwick Brookes.
“Just because a property has been passed in does not mean that this is market price – it’s simply a price point for further negotiation,” Brookes has advised.
Keep a cool head was important, Brookes says, with the key being to work within the predetermined price range and not waiver from it.
His tips for negotiation at auction are:
1 Stay outside the property
Unless it’s pouring rain, don’t follow the agent inside. Position yourself outside where you can assess your competition.
2 Determine the reserve
Most times, the reserve is not the price at which the vendor will ultimately sign a contract. What’s the lowest price the vendor will sell for?
3 Decide on your strategy
Do your research and estimate what the property is worth under low competition and at the upper end, where there’s intense competition.
4 Deliberate and minimise the outcome
The extent of any negotiations will depend on how much the property is passed in for. Don’t be frightened to drive a hard bargain. If there are no other buyers in sight and everybody has left, reassess how much you’re willing to counter-offer.
5 Keep a poker face
It’s a fact that 90% of all communication is conveyed through eye contact and body language. Keep a poker face – it can save you thousands.
 
 
 
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Melbourne weakening while Sydney steadies, and post-auction negotiations need to be cool-headed

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Melbourne property prices remained flat over the March quarter, according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria.
The median house price in metropolitan Melbourne was $535,000, representing a minor 0.9% increase over the year and the same rise from the revised $530,000 December quarter median.
REIV chief executive Enzo Raimondo says demand for residential property over the past year reflected the broader state of the economy and forecast that buyers will continue to find prices maintaining current levels in the short term.
“The property market moves in cycles and now we are in one of stability, with overall median house prices showing no real growth.
“The median house price has increased $5000 since March 2011, confirming a very stable market in relation to prices.”
The unit market fell 1.1% to $445,000 from $450,000 in the December quarter and fell by a larger 4.2% decline over the year.
The fluctuations follow a five-year period during which the median house price increased by 43% and 39% for units.
“Until the economy and confidence improve, the market is likely to remain as it is now,” Raimondo says.
Kew edged out Brighton and Camberwell to be the most expensive suburb to buy a house.
Suburbs like Ringwood, Coburg and Footscray, in the middle of the market pricing, recorded much of the strongest growth.
 
 
 
 
 
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Melbourne property prices flat in March quarter: REIV

ASX-listed developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/stockland">Stockland</a>&nbsp;is continuing its push back into the new apartment market, filing plans for a prominent gateway site between Collingwood and East Melbourne.

The development giant, which moved back into the new apartment space when it announced Stanton Place in Sydney's Rosebery and have since filed plans for a 50-storey tower, are jumping into the off the plan Melbourne market.

They are hoping to create a mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/79-81-victoria-parade-collingwood-vic-3066">79-81 Victoria Parade</a>, replacing an existing commercial building with a scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/john-wardle-architects">Wardle</a>&nbsp;for 478 apartments,&nbsp;ground-floor retail, new public open spaces and a publicly accessible pedestrian laneway.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="72dbbca9-3918-4073-afad-a0c0c35be8e7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20pers.png?VersionId=bzMVUKKxvwuNK1m0v_td126Rgct32uk_" />

The design report identifies the public realm as a central driver of the proposal.

"Collingwood has limited access to high-quality parks and public open space, and the proposal delivers valuable new areas for respite, social interaction and fine-grain retail activity."

The development would deliver a diverse mix of housing, including studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments alongside townhouse-style residences. Two basement levels are proposed beneath the development, providing resident and retail parking as well as extensive bicycle facilities.

Wardle's design draws heavily on Collingwood's industrial character, using articulated building forms, brickwork and robust materials inspired by the suburb's warehouse and manufacturing heritage. The built form has been broken into a series of smaller volumes to better respond to the surrounding streetscape while extensive communal gardens, rooftop amenities and shared resident spaces are integrated throughout the project.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b2135ed-65df-4253-ad53-f216f06bd467" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20podium.png?VersionId=l1B6Hqn8zs772VxH6L1fDPg0KHshan9v" />

The planning documents describe the existing office building as offering little engagement with the public realm, with the redevelopment intended to create a more permeable and active neighbourhood destination.

"The proposed scheme presents a significant opportunity to deliver a vibrant retail plaza and a local neighbourhood hub serving both existing and future Collingwood residents."

The 79–81 Victoria Parade site occupies a strategic location about 1.5 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD, at the threshold between Collingwood and East Melbourne. It is well served by tram services along Victoria Parade and sits within walking distance of St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy Gardens, the Fitzroy activity centre and a broad range of employment, retail and hospitality destinations.

Joel Robinson

Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site

An 1880s timber cottage that has survived Kangaroo Point's transformation from riverside suburb to high-density apartment precinct is set to become the centrepiece of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/zephyr">Zephyr Group</a>'s proposed Banksia development.

Rather than see the locally heritage-listed Alpha Cottage as an obstacle to navigate, plans integrate the landmark home into a new 18-storey residential tower, giving one of the suburb's oldest surviving residences a new role as the project's communal hub.

The development application covers a 1,177 sqm amalgamated site at 127-133 Lambert Street and 30 Shafston Avenue, where Zephyr Group plans to deliver 64 apartments above three basement levels. Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/joe-adsett-architects">Joe Adsett Architects</a>, the proposal carefully weaves the retained heritage cottage into a contemporary residential scheme, with the tower elevated above the historic building to preserve its presence within the Lambert Street streetscape.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f9dc5bdb-d691-4c60-bf2b-c3ed405a3e75" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Banksia.png?VersionId=Jh4bjlewU.o8HXWt0V4KaFA_lPcF7KWM" />

Named after the native Australian Banksia flower, the project draws inspiration from its distinctive form through curved balconies, sculpted planter boxes and cascading subtropical landscaping that soften the building's profile.

As the design report explains: "The tower's identity is defined by its feature facade, drawing direct inspiration from the Banksia wildflower. The building departs from traditional rigidity through the use of elegant, GRC-moulded planter boxes that appear as if shaped by the breeze."

Plans propose 64 apartments, comprising 32 two-bedroom and 32 three-bedroom residences, across an 18-storey tower. Residents would have access to rooftop amenities including a swimming pool, spa, gym, sauna, private cinema, dining spaces and landscaped recreation areas, while more than half the site is dedicated to planting and open space.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16041b5f-033e-47fa-8fbe-9886e072c1f2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pool.png?VersionId=kpx5w4EbLx0_TdWfDoD1vrSs0_cZ5Ao1" />

The heritage component is the defining feature of the proposal. Constructed in the early 1880s and occupied from at least 1883, Alpha Cottage is recognised by Brisbane City Council as an important surviving example of Kangaroo Point's nineteenth-century residential development and as a representative transverse-gable timber cottage. Despite extensive redevelopment across the peninsula, the building has retained a high degree of its original form and internal fabric.

As part of the redevelopment, the cottage will be carefully relocated a short distance within its original allotment to facilitate construction before being returned to a prominent position along Lambert Street. Original verandah elements will be dismantled, catalogued and reinstated, while significant internal features, including timber flooring, wall linings, joinery, doors, windows and hardware, will be retained. Later additions, including the enclosed rear verandah, will be removed to better reveal the building's original form.

Once restored, Alpha Cottage will accommodate the building manager's office, mail room and parcel facilities, providing an active everyday use that supports its long-term conservation rather than preserving it as a static display. The heritage strategy also maintains landscaped space around the building, allowing it to remain visually distinct beneath the new tower.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="43b027e1-576e-4624-a66c-7cc54ea8b7be" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/banksia%20tower.png?VersionId=2W6E2yfkj2AQlWlLeV986grA5zB9f817" />

The Heritage Impact Assessment concludes that "the proposal secures the ongoing occupation, maintenance and conservation of Alpha Cottage," finding the development would result in "no more than a minor impact on the cultural heritage significance" of the building while ensuring its long-term future.

Joe Adsett Architects have designed the tower to sit above the heritage building rather than overwhelm it, creating a clear visual separation between old and new. The development's flowing balconies, integrated planting and organic façade respond to Brisbane's subtropical climate while complementing the restored cottage below.

Banksia occupies a prominent corner in Kangaroo Point within walking distance of the Kangaroo Point Bridge, Brisbane River, ferry services, QUT, the CBD and the Woolloongabba precinct. The site also benefits from direct access to active transport infrastructure and sits within an area earmarked for continued higher-density residential growth.

Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage

Buying into a masterplanned community often means committing to a vision still years from taking shape. At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>, that vision is already visible.

Residents have moved into the completed first stage, landscaped spaces are established, and the next chapter is now underway. Stage 1 has been completed and settled, with Stage 2 now selling off-the-plan.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pbd-architects">PBD Architects</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> combines attainable apartment living with sustainability initiatives rarely seen at this price point, including rooftop solar, battery storage and a resident EV-sharing program.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6RNt3AvtBpI?si=JUhuCV2ZRXsYaoJZ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Located on Schofi​elds Road, just moments from Tal​lawong Metro Station and Schof​ields Train Station, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been designed to appeal to a broad mix of buyers, from first-home purchasers looking for a foothold in Sy​dney's property market to downsizers seeking a connected, low-maintenance lifestyle.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been conceived as a thoughtfully planned masterplanned community that will evolve over multiple stages, with buyers now able to secure one, two and three-bedroom apartments within a neighbourhood that is already beginning to establish its identity.

One of the project's defining features is its focus on sustainability. Solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure have been incorporated throughout the development, reflecting a long-term approach to both environmental performance and everyday convenience.

Sustainability sits at the centre of the development's vision, with solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure integrated throughout the community.

That emphasis on future-ready living extends beyond the technology. Landscaped communal gardens, outdoor gathering spaces and plans for a future retail precinct aim to create a neighbourhood where residents can access daily conveniences without travelling far from home.

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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."

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&nbsp; 
Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

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Jonathan Chancellor

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