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Fulton Transport boss Gary Fulton has emerged as the $6.75 million buyer of the Gold Coast home of besieged businessman Mark McIvor.
The freight-traffic operative is based in Kemps Creek, NSW.
The luxury Gold Coast abode of the recently resigned managing director of Equititrust Mark McIvor <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/former-equititrust-boss-mark-mcivor-lists-popov-designed-gold-coast-home/2011081651176" target="_blank">went to September auction</a>, but did not sell until early January when the price was undisclosed.
It’s a two-storey riverfront home designed by Sydney-based architect Alex Popov on Cronin Island. 
At its auction Stacey McIvor, the wife of merchant banker and property investor Mark McIvor, wept when the five-bedroom riverfront home drew a top bid of $4.55 million.
At the time a disappointed Mark McIvor said the home  had been valued at $6.5 million and that the auction was "a demonstration of a very hard market".
Observers are highly surprised at the strength of the very bullish price stated in the official DERM land registry paperwork obtained by Property Observer.
Adding intrigue, at the time of the sale, the Gold Coast Bulletin indicated "property industry sources say the home has sold to parties well known to the McIvor family."
But the Bulletin was unable to secure any further sales advisory information from the marketing agent Michael Kollosche, of Ray White Broadbeach, who declined to comment to the local newspaper.
It sits on a 1,736-square-metre block with 50-metre frontage onto the Nerang River.
McIvor, now managing director of Landsolve Partners, built the house on the $1 million block, which he bought from a Tokyo couple, Kensuke Haniuda and Nayumi Yoshida, in 1994.
McIvor, who founded the Gold Coast's own merchant bank, Equititrust, in 1993, also owns two other houses on the island. They cost $3.6 million in 2002 and $1.7 million in 2003.
Ray White Broadbeach agent Michael Kollosche had the listing.
Equititrust, which became known for using a Roman voussoir arch as its marketing logo to suggest structural stability, was among the many unlisted mortgage funds to take a battering following the 2008 financial crisis. In April 2011 Equititrust confirmed it had stopped paying income distributions to unit holders in two funds housing more than $300 million worth of assets as it accelerated its debt repayments.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Ex-Equititrust boss Mark McIvor secures bullish $6.75 million for Popov-designed Gold Coast home: Title Tattle

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Residential property sold relatively quickly in the first half of 2011, but stock, not unexpectedly, was lingering longer on the market in most capital city markets over the Christmas/New Year period. Adelaide is the slowest city for sale times, and Canberra the quickest.
Clinton McNabb at Australian Property Monitors says February results tend to show an improvement in sales activity. The figures are for houses and units combined. The sunshine graphic illustrates the months where property sold most quickly during the past year, the dark cloud shows the slowest month.
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" href="/images/stories/daysmarket.gif" rel="shadowbox"><img src="/images/stories/daysmarketthumb.gif"></a>
Source: Australian Property Monitors
 
 
 
 
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How slowly property is selling in the capital cities – at least 81 days or more: APM

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Balgownie, the very unusual 1913 Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda West house has been sold. 
The three-level five bedroom house with a lift <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/vendors-of-st-kilda-west-home-hope-%245-million-is-over-the-horizon/2011092251652">was listed last September </a>at $5 million plus, but it was repriced at $3.9 million over the intervening months.
Shane Siemers and Andrew Stuart at Hocking Stuart recently posted the sold sticker. The sale price has not been disclosed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Balgownie in St Kilda West sells after revised pricing: Title Tattle

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Retired car dealer Laurie Sutton has sold his Mosman harbourfront residence, but the prestige suburb is unlikely to have a new record holder.
Sutton hoped to secure $20 million for it – somewhat revised expectations given its initial listing in 2009 had hopes of beating Mosman's $22.5 million house price record.
It was 35 years ago since Sutton bought it from the Pick a Box presenters Bob and Dolly Dyer, who pocketed $376,960 when they headed to Queensland.
It’s understood a $1 million deposit– which possibly reflected a 5% deposit – was recently paid by its buyer, Ying Li. The official selling price has not yet been revealed. The purchase highlights a small, but emerging, trend of buyers of Chinese origin buying luxury homes around Mosman. There have been eight acquisitions over $5 million among the 150 sales over the past five years topped until the latest sale by a $12.6 million sale on Morella Road to Hong Gai and Yuping Chen in 2010 and an $8.8 million sale last year on Carrington Avenue to Ying Chen. 
It is not known if the acquistions are by foreign buyers requiring FIRB approval or are actually new migrants, expats or even long-time citizens, although Ying Li gives his address for official purposes as a solicitor's office at Colin Biggers &amp; Paisley.
<img src="/images/stories/sutton1.jpg">
The Bay Street tropical holding is like Hawaii meets Hamilton Island on Middle Harbour.
Despite renovations over the past three decades, there are still traces of the Dyers' day, including the imposing sandstone fireplace in its living room, which overlooks Quakers Hat Bay.
<img src="/images/stories/sutton6.jpg">
But the teeth and jawbone of the couple's world-record 1062-kilogram great white shark catch that hung above the fireplace has long gone.
As have the Dyers' cruisers, Tennessee I, II and III, from Mosman's largest waterfront estate at 5,154 square metres.
Dyer, who was a hillbilly Tennessee vaudeville singer on his arrival in Australia in 1937, had paid £15,068 for the property in 1950, after upgrading from a house on the Balmoral side of Mosman.
<img src="/images/stories/sutton2.jpg">
Dyer had just signed a $33,000-a-year contract for his radio show on 2AD, which the newspapers reported was 11 times the salary of the then NSW premier, James McGirr.
<img src="/images/stories/sutton7.jpg">
Dyer went on to host the television show BP Pick a Box between 1957 and his retirement in 1971.
Dyer, with his raucous "Howdy, customers" greeting, presided over contestants who faced a sudden-death decision of choosing between "the money or the box" with the secret prize.
<img src="/images/stories/bobdyer.jpg" width="150" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">
He died in 1984. His widow – who, as Dolly Mack, had been a Sydney Tivoli showgirl in her teens – lived for another 20 years.
The listing in 2009 <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/mosmanites-playing-property-pick-a-box-with-caution/2011081251139">had expectations of beating Mosman's $22.5 million house price record</a>.
<img src="/images/stories/sutton3.jpg">
Property developer Albert Bertini and his former wife, Heather, hold the record for a Mosman purchase, paying $22.5 million for Karawa on the Balmoral cliffs in 2007, but it has been recently resold for $19 million, reflecting the downturn in the top end prices across Sydney.
Karawa's sale beat the previous record for a Mosman house by more than $7 million, which was set next door to Karawa at $15.5 million in 2001 by Richardson &amp; Wrench Mosman agent Robert Simeon.
<img src="/images/stories/sutton4.jpg">
The Sutton property comes with approved plans for a replacement three-storey residence.
The vendors raised their family there and now entertain their grandchildren.
“It’s an estate for a young family to enjoy and make full use of all the gardens and facilities,” said Laurie Sutton when it was listed late last year through estate agent Sandie Dunne at Dunne Mosman.
“My children played cricket on the lawn and had many parties on the flood-lit tennis court and pool.
“It was the place where all the family’s friends would hang out, which is the way I liked it.
“It is a very private place” Sutton noted.
“Once inside the gates, you are away from the rest of the world, whilst the grounds are enormous they are fully fenced and secured and very dog friendly.”
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Chinese buyers playing property pick a box, but record Mosman price unlikely

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The Fair Work Ombudsman is prosecuting the Glad Group Pty Ltd, which holds cleaning contracts for more than 100 office buildings around the country, including Deutsche Bank Place on Phillip Street, Sydney.
It is alleged Glad Group underpaid 32 night-shift workers it employed to clean Deutsche Bank Place a total of $133,845 from October 2008 to August 2009.
The employees – who included international students, working holiday visa workers and recent immigrants – spoke little English. Six were under 21.
The employees generally worked four-hour shifts at night.
It is alleged the majority of the underpayments were the result of the Glad Group purporting to outsource employment of the cleaners for the fourth hour of their shifts to another company –  LJ and LJ King – which paid them only $13 to $15 an hour, when they were entitled to more than $17 an hour.
However, it is alleged that because Glad Group continued to control and direct the employees for their whole shifts, it was the true employer and was responsible for paying the cleaners for all work performed.
It is alleged Glad Group was therefore ultimately responsible for underpaying the employees the minimum hourly rate, as well as overtime rates and toilet-cleaning allowances.
In prosecution documents lodged in court, the Fair Work Ombudsman alleged that Glad Group had admitted to underpaying the workers and had reimbursed all those employees it had been able to locate.
Fair Work inspectors discovered the alleged underpayments in 2009 when they audited the Glad Group during a campaign focusing on Sydney cleaning companies.
The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges Glad Group committed several breaches of workplace laws. The maximum potential penalty per breach is $33,000.
The case is listed for a hearing on May 9 in the Federal Magistrates Court in Sydney.
 
 
 
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Fair Work prosecuting Deutsche Bank Place cleaning company Glad Group for allegedly underpaying workers

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The RBA has starkly highlighted a dramatic drop in property sales turnover as a key occurrence when it comes to recent economic structural change.
“In the early 2000s, when the property boom was in full swing and investors were busy buying properties to rent out, around one in 12 dwellings in Australia was changing hands each year,” RBA deputy governor Philip Lowe said.
“Today, the rate of turnover is only about half of this, with around one in 25 dwellings changing hands last year.”
Lowe noted to an AiGroup gathering the lower rate of turnover had contributed to weak employment growth in the real estate sector over recent years.
It had followed “many years of strong growth”.
The data indicated turnover rate was back to 1991 levels.
He suggested it was a consequence of the economy going through an adjustment in household borrowing and spending behaviour.
The RBA has talked frequently about this issue over recent years, and the flow-on effects are evident in various parts of the economy.
Click to enlarge
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His speech addressed the mining sector boom and positive spill-over effects to a number of areas of the economy, including parts of the services sector.
But he noted the change in household behaviour was also affecting the financial sector in a similar low-growth environment.
“Financial institutions are having to learn to live with much lower growth in their balance sheets than was the case over recent decades,” he said.
“This is leading to changes in business practices, and there has been a slight decline in employment in the banking sector over recent years.
“Conversely, there has been strong growth in employment in the provision of financial advice, partly due to the steady inflows into superannuation funds.”
Another area where the change in household behaviour was having a sizable structural effect was in the retail industry, Lowe said.
“Perhaps the most striking of these is the decline in sales at department stores and clothing and footwear retailers,” Lowe suggested.
“Indeed, since early 2009, the volume of sales in these stores has declined by around 6%. This stands in contrast to relatively steady growth in the volume of sales in the rest of the retail industry.”
He concluded the mining boom had delivered a very substantial increase in Australia's real income and this increase has boosted spending.
But the accompanying high exchange rate is also having a contractionary effect on a number of sectors of the economy.
On the manufacturing industry Lowe noted the sector employed about 950,000 people and accounted for 9% of output.
“This role is, however, changing.
“Realistically, Australia cannot hope to be a large-scale producer of relatively standardised, plain-vanilla, manufactured goods for the world market.”
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Estate agents in the eye of Australian economic structural upheaval

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Buyers seeking $22,490 NSW stamp duty savings need to monitor construction progress at their desired new residential complex.
Savvy property buyers will know that under the NSW government’s home builders’ bonus you pay no stamp duty on properties priced under $600,000 that are not yet under construction.
<img src="/images/stories/centralpark1.jpg">
Construction is deemed as having started once the building gets to the first residential floor.
The whole government scheme runs until June 30, but there are critical deadlines at major apartment projects falling between now and then.
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" src="/images/stories/parklane.jpg">
The deadline is fast approaching for Park Lane (pictured above), designed by Johnson Pilton Walker at the Central Park project near Broadway in Sydney.
It comprises two buildings linked by a leafy laneway.
<img src="/images/stories/centralpark2.jpg">
Buyers must take advantage of full stamp duty concessions in Park Lane’s low-rise park-front building by March 13.
There’s a little longer –March 22 – for Park Lane’s 18-storey tower building.
The full 100% stamp duty concession remains in effect only until concrete is poured to create the first residential slab at a new development; after this time, the saving on stamp duty reduces to a 25% saving for properties up to the $600,000 mark.
<img src="/images/stories/centralpark3.jpg">
“There’s apartments priced under $600,000 to choose from at Park Lane, including one-bedroom suites of 42 square metres  priced from $585,000 with a stamp duty saving of $21,815, to one-bedroom apartments of 52 square metres priced from $590,000 with a stamp duty saving of $22,040,” Frasers Property Australia group sales manager Adam Sparkes says.
Park Lane has 393 apartments and SOHO terraces with completion expected between April and December 2013.
<img src="/images/stories/centralpark4.jpg">
Central Park is being developed in joint venture between Frasers Property Australia Pty Ltd (Frasers) and Sekisui House Australia Holdings Pty Limited (Sekisui House).
Two display apartments at Park Lane are open at the Central Park Display Pavilion, 80 Broadway Chippendale.
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Time running out for stamp duty-free purchases at Sydney’s Central Park

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The number of permanent settlers entering Australia hit a 41-month high of 14,210 in January, according to the RBA.
During the past year 146,430 people came to Australia as permanent settlers – a two year high.
Retailers, builders and building material suppliers will celebrate the lift in migrant numbers, according to Craig James, chief economist at Commsec.
Click to enlarge
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“Simply if there are more people arriving in Australia to work, that means there will be greater demand for homes, cars, household appliances and a raft of other goods and services.
Click to enlarge
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“Population is power, lifting economic growth and momentum,” he says.
The number of people settling permanently in Australia hit the highest levels in 3½ years in January.
About 14,000 people are arriving each month, compared with lows of around 9,500 a month in late 2010.
 
 
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Permanent migrant numbers hits 41-month high: CommSec and ABS

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Experienced property developer Jack Ray has become the latest Mermaid Beach millionaire’s row sales victim.
His two-bedroom Hedges Avenue beachfront cottage has been sold after being listed with $4.2 million-plus hopes through Michael Kollosche at Ray White Broadbeach.
No sale price has been revealed.
He had paid $5.85 million for the property in September 2008, buying from a company linked to another high-profile developer, Mike Moorhead.
Moorhead had done a full renovation on the house, so Ray’s only additions were to enclose the garage.
The home is on a 405-square-metre block opposite the Republic Café.
The cottage’s peak sale was $6.75 million in 2007 when sold by hypnotherapist Carolyn Balanda, having previously traded at $5.97 million in 2006.
Moorhead and Balanda had also been involved in a 2007 sale when she sold to Moorhead on Albatross Avenue for $8.45 million.
Moorhead then sold it for $7 million in 2008, and Kollosche had the 782-square-metre vacant block recently listed at $5.9 million plus until its withdrawal earlier this month.
When he listed last October Ray indicated the likelihood that he would buy again in Mermaid Beach possibly on nearby Albatross Avenue with rebuilding intentions with his partner, high-profile television personality Natalie Gruzlewski, the host of The Farmer Wants a Wife.
 
 
 
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Property developer Jack Ray and Natalie Gruzlewski looking elsewhere on Mermaid Beach despite copping loss

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The Potts Point investment apartment of actor Russell Crowe has been snappily sold on <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/title-tattle/russell-crowe-re-lists-his-potts-point-investment-apartmenttitle-tattle" target="_blank">its recent relisting. </a>
Around $2 million was tipped for the top-floor apartment through Brad Pillinger at Pillinger Property. The sale price hasn’t been revealed on the apartment, which Crowe bought for $1.5 million in 2001 from the theatre director Jim Sharman.
Its understood to be a tad under $2 million given what prospective buyers were being told shortly before the sold sticker was posted.
More than $2 million was being sought <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/russell-crowe-lists-%242-million-sydney-investment-apartment/2011101851987" target="_blank">on its initial listing last October</a>. The two level Victoria Street apartment which was made available to South Sydney footballer recruits is at the northern end of the plane tree-lined Parisian-style strip. Sharman had bought the apartment set in a charming terrace row in 1984 for $310,000.
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Russell Crowe secures sale second time around for Potts Point investment: Title Tattle

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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

Buying into a masterplanned community often means committing to a vision still years from taking shape. At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>, that vision is already visible.

Residents have moved into the completed first stage, landscaped spaces are established, and the next chapter is now underway. Stage 1 has been completed and settled, with Stage 2 now selling off-the-plan.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pbd-architects">PBD Architects</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> combines attainable apartment living with sustainability initiatives rarely seen at this price point, including rooftop solar, battery storage and a resident EV-sharing program.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6RNt3AvtBpI?si=JUhuCV2ZRXsYaoJZ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Located on Schofi​elds Road, just moments from Tal​lawong Metro Station and Schof​ields Train Station, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been designed to appeal to a broad mix of buyers, from first-home purchasers looking for a foothold in Sy​dney's property market to downsizers seeking a connected, low-maintenance lifestyle.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been conceived as a thoughtfully planned masterplanned community that will evolve over multiple stages, with buyers now able to secure one, two and three-bedroom apartments within a neighbourhood that is already beginning to establish its identity.

One of the project's defining features is its focus on sustainability. Solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure have been incorporated throughout the development, reflecting a long-term approach to both environmental performance and everyday convenience.

Sustainability sits at the centre of the development's vision, with solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure integrated throughout the community.

That emphasis on future-ready living extends beyond the technology. Landscaped communal gardens, outdoor gathering spaces and plans for a future retail precinct aim to create a neighbourhood where residents can access daily conveniences without travelling far from home.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351027]

The apartments themselves have been designed with liveability front of mind. Rather than chasing maximum density, the focus has been placed on creating practical homes with generous natural light, usable layouts and strong connections to outdoor space.

Importantly, these design principles have been applied consistently across the one, two and three-bedroom apartment offerings.

The appeal of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> is also closely linked to its location within Syd​ney's rapidly evolving north-west growth corridor. Over the past decade, major infrastructure investment has transformed the area, with new transport links, business precincts and community facilities reshaping suburbs like Talla​wong and Schofiel​ds.

The agent says buyers are increasingly recognising the area's long-term potential.

"Typical buyers that we're finding across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> especially are your first-home buyers, your investors, your upsizers as well as your downsizers," Hawes says.

Connectivity remains one of the project's strongest drawcards. Residents have access to both Tallaw​ong Metro Station and Schofi​elds Train Station, providing links to the Sydn​ey CBD, Norw​est Business Park, Macquari​e Park and other major employment hubs. Retail centres including Rous​e Hill Town Centre and Sch​ofields Village are also nearby, alongside schools, parks and future healthcare infrastructure.

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For Stage 1 resident Roji, it is the balance between convenience and comfort that has defined the experience of living at Kew.

"For me, it's a balance of quality and convenience," she says. "Everything I need is right here."

"If I wanted to catch the train, Scho​fields Station is just around the corner. Tallaw​ong Metro connects me to the city."

More importantly, she says, the development has delivered something that cannot be measured in floorplans or specifications.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> feels like home."

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As Stage 2 enters the market, that lived experience may be one of the project's strongest selling points. Buyers are not purchasing into an untested concept or a future promise. They are joining a community that is already taking shape.

Ongoing investment in transport, retail, healthcare and public open space continues to strengthen the appeal of Syd​ney's north-west growth corridor, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>'s established first stage provides buyers with a tangible sense of the community's future direction.

For a limited time, buyer can secure a new home at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> with just a $10,000.

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Kew Tallawong: A growing community taking shape in Sydney's north-west

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/freecity">Freecity</a> has received development approval for its 51-storey mixed-use tower at 153-157 Walker Street, North Sydney, set to be one of the tallest mixed-use residential-led buildings in one of Sydney’s most sought-after commercial and residential addresses.

Lodged as a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) through the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway and approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure following a comprehensive public exhibition and submissions process, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/153-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">the project</a> will deliver 296 apartments, alongside a 170-room, luxury hotel, activated retail and significant public domain improvements.

Situated just 200 metres from Victoria Cross Metro Station, on one of the largest developable sites in North Sydney, the development will rise to 234 metres, making it one of the tallest buildings in the suburb. With an end value of approximately $1.5 billion, the project responds directly to the NSW Government’s mandate to accelerate housing delivery in well-located, transit-connected areas.

<img alt="Freecity gets green light for mixed-use residential and hotel tower in North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="192ec455-94bf-4e01-83ef-922b1b269d67" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Freecity%20-%20Walker%20Street%20North%20Sydney%201%20RESIZED%20.jpg?VersionId=Bzqp0SBHCDvLAHjA4QXkjuGoOEIh73Jl" />

The apartment mix will cater to a broad range of buyers, with 65 studio and one-bedroom apartments, 139 two-bedroom residences, 35 three-bedroom apartments, 48 four-bedroom homes, and nine penthouses. Residents will have access to a dedicated amenity level on Level 33, featuring a swimming pool with views towards the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and North Sydney CBD, as well as a gym, library, shared kitchen, lounge and outdoor entertaining areas.

The hotel will occupy the lower six levels of the building and include meeting and function spaces, a wellness centre with gym, yoga studio, swimming pool and sauna, further strengthening North Sydney's growing hospitality offering.

At ground level, the development has been designed to improve pedestrian connections through the precinct. More than 700 sqm of retail space will activate the street frontage, while a landscaped through-site link connecting Walker Street, Little Walker Street and Doris Fitton Park will provide new public open space with seating, paving and extensive native landscaping.

Freecity Group Co-Founder and Joint CEO Tony Sun said the project represents one of the most significant development opportunities currently available in North Sydney.

"This is one of the most significant development sites in North Sydney and it comes at a pivotal moment for the precinct," Sun said.

"North Sydney is undergoing a genuine transformation, and this project will contribute housing the city urgently needs while creating a landmark destination."

Executive Director of Development Michael Romano said demand for both residential and hotel accommodation would continue to strengthen as the Metro precinct matures.

"The structural demand for high-quality housing and hotel accommodation in North Sydney is compelling, and will only grow as the precinct continues to evolve around the new Metro station," Romano said.

Architectus has designed the tower, orientating the apartments to maximise views towards Sydney Harbour while introducing a sculpted façade intended to respond to light, wind and the surrounding skyline.

Architectus Principal Marko Damic said the design sought to create a tower that contributes to the public realm as much as the skyline.

"We wanted to design a tower that doesn't just sit in the skyline but actively participates and contributes to city life," Damic said.

First look: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use apartment and hotel tower in North Sydney

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> have celebrated the topping out of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf,</a> marking a significant milestone in the delivery of one of Syd​ney's most anticipated waterfront communities.

Located on Sydney's harbourfront at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a>, the project has now reached its highest structural point, with construction progressing strongly towards completion in 2027. 
&nbsp; 
The milestone was celebrated on-site with project partners Phoenix Property Investors, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Versatile Construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, consultants and stakeholders, to recognise the collective effort behind the transformation of the historic waterfront site into a vibrant new residential, marina and lifestyle destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362240] 
&nbsp; 
<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will deliver a mix of waterfront residences and terraces, complemented by a private 36-berth marina, waterfront dining opportunities and a revitalised foreshore designed to reconnect the community with the river's edge. 
&nbsp; 
Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said the project represented a rare opportunity to create the next chapter in Sydn​ey's long history of successful waterfront precincts. 
&nbsp; 
"Throughout Sydney, some of the city's most sought-after addresses have emerged from carefully considered waterfront precincts such as Woolloom​ooloo Wharf, Walsh Bay and Breakfast Point," Brown said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362566] 
&nbsp; 
"What makes these places so successful is that they become much more than residential developments," Brown said.

"They bring together homes, hospitality, marina facilities, public spaces and a strong sense of community in locations where future supply is incredibly limited."

Brown has long described absolute waterfront land in Sy​dney as "finite."

"Once these opportunities are developed, they are rarely replicated. That's why Syd​ney's waterfront precincts have consistently demonstrated strong demand and long-term value growth over many decades. 
&nbsp; 
"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is one of the few remaining opportunities to secure a residence within a masterplanned waterfront community that combines direct water access, marina ownership opportunities and a genuine village lifestyle just moments from the Sy​dney CBD."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362564] 
&nbsp; 
PERIFA Founder and Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said the project reflected a shared commitment to delivering exceptional places that create long-term value for residents and the broader community. 
&nbsp; 
"The topping out milestone is a significant achievement for the Versatile Group and a testament to the collaboration between all project partners, consultants and contractors involved," Perilli said. 
&nbsp; 
"Beyond the residences themselves, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will establish a new waterfront destination that celebrates the history, character and lifestyle of this unique location while creating a lasting legacy for future generations."

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&nbsp; 
Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

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Jonathan Chancellor

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