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With interiors designed to evoke the feeling of being at a league match – complete with stadium-style seating, goal posts and carpet with football field markings – Rugby League Central, the new home of Rugby League, has been officially opened.
The newly completed building on Driver Avenue, Moore Park, is adjacent to the Sydney Football Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Rugby League Central was designed by HBO+EMTB who did both the building architecture and the interior design. The 3,600-square-metre space comprises three storeys plus a rooftop entertaining terrace and basement parking.
<img src="/images/stories/rugbyleague1.jpg">
HBO+EMTB managing director Kevin Fitzgerald says Rugby League Central has been designed to bring together five separate rugby league organisations: NRL, ARL, NSWRL, NSW Country League and ARL Development.
“The challenge was to successfully bring together five organisations from one code with, nonetheless, differing cultures and histories. The interior layout is designed to facilitate cooperation, interaction and commonality of purpose while recognising and celebrating individual histories and achievements.
<img src="/images/stories/rugbyleague2.jpg">
“At the forefront of our design has been a theme of ‘One Home - One Community’.
“The focal point of the building is a dramatic oval shaped core that forms a three-storey atrium/lobby, symbolising a rugby league football. This core structure rises above the main envelope of the building to enunciate the building’s function,” Fitzgerald says.
“The workspaces are largely open plan but each member organisation has its own regional cluster with graphic cues, including team colours and large-scale images of their respective players in action.
<img src="/images/rugbyleague3.jpg">
“Another unifying design feature is the liberal use of the chevron, the one symbol consistent throughout all bodies in rugby league. It is prominent in the foyer in several timber feature walls, in glazed areas on different floors and on the exterior fin of the building,” he says.
 
<img src="/images/stories/rugbyleague4.jpg">
A special purpose-built judiciary room also doubles as a conference and media room, and the rooftop area features an open terrace with park and city views.
It was opened by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese and NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation Graham Annesley.
The event also marked the launch of the Australian Rugby League Commission and was presided over by the commission’s new chairman, John Grant, and ARLC chief executive David Gallop.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Rugby League scores new Sydney headquarters that captures the feel of the game 

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Queensland and Western Australian estate agent numbers have slumped as a consequence of a nationwide drop in transaction volumes and property prices.
Last year’s volumes were about 13% lower than volumes in 2010 across Australia, according to RP Data head of research Tim Lawless.
The figure was 26% lower than 2009 and 33% lower than the recent highs of 2007.
“The real estate industry is doing it tough,” Lawless concludes.
David Airey, president of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, reports the volume of sales in Perth last year was the worst in two decades and many agencies had laid off staff.
“A typical example is where you had 10 or 11 agents, now you only have five or six,” he says.
“If you didn’t have a rent roll, your agency would be totally dependent on sales and it’s probably been reduced to partners and principals only.
“That seems to be a pattern we’ve seen across Australia,” he told Fairfax Media.
Lawless notes that the price declines have also affected the agency bottom lines.
He says the total value of sales in 2011 was down 18.3% compared with 2010.
Lawless estimates estate agent commissions are likely to be down by about the same amount.
Noting agents are generally paid based on percentage of the sale price, Lawless says the falls in home values had compounded the pain already caused by slow market conditions.
“At the same time, according to the latest IBISWorld Real Estate Industry report, the number of people employed in the industry has fallen by around 1,800 over the past year after rising by 940 employees in 2010-11,” he says.
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/agentincomelarge.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/agentincome.gif"></a>
“The reduced number of agents suggests the commission pie needs to be cut into fewer slices, which is likely to have eased the income fall on a per agent basis.
“In fact, the IBISWorld report suggests that income per employee in the real estate industry hasn’t changed a great deal over the past four years, remaining around $59,000 since 2008 after generally trending down since 2002.”
Lawless notes areas of the Gold Coast have shown dramatic falls in both value and volumes, although Surfers Paradise remains among the nation’s top 10 suburbs, slipping from the number two position five years ago.
Hope Island, the Gold Coast suburb, has recorded a big drop in sales, along with Southport.
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Declining sales and prices have agents clambering for the exits

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No gimmicky Kingswood cars or even dead flies appear in its marketing, but the actor Ross Higgins has listed his Greenwich home for sale.
Best known for his role as Ted Bulpitt in the television series Kingswood Country, Higgins is selling the four-bedroom house as he downsizes into an apartment nearby on Sydney’s lower North Shore.
The octogenarian actor expects more than $1.55 million for the Carlotta Street residence at its February 25 auction through McGrath Lane Cove agents Beth and Michael Ferguson.
The two-storey brick residence cost $295,000 in 1987.
Higgins began his career in the 1940s as a cadet at 2GB radio then made the move to television in the late 1950s. His earliest character voice was Louie the Fly, featured in Mortein fly-spray commercials for five decades between 1958 and 2008.
 
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Veteran actor Ross Higgins’ Greenwich home for sale, and not a Kingswood in sight: Title Tattle

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The National Australia Bank has increased its standard variable home loan interest rate by 0.09% to 7.31% pa.

It's still the lowest, albeit narrowly, of the major banks, <a target="_blank" href="/news">all of which</a> have now<a target="_blank" href="/news"> increased their interest rates </a>since last Tuesday’s Reserve Bank meeting. It takes effect February 20.

Lisa Gray, the group executive, says NAB has had the lowest rate of the major banks for 32 months and had committed to maintaining the lowest of the major banks through 2012. 

“These decisions are never taken lightly.

“We know that current economic uncertainty is impacting on our customers, which is why last week we made the commitment to maintain the lowest SVR of any of the major banks throughout 2012. 

“However, the state of the European and UK economies is having a serious impact on funding costs," she says.

“As recently as last week NAB acquired $1.5 billion of new funding on the domestic bond market at a premium that is around 70 basis points higher than the last equivalent issue just 8 months ago,” Gray says.
 
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NAB, the last and still narrowly the cheapest, puts up its standard variable rates by nine basis points

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The latest figures for the national housing market in January from Residex indicate a continued easing, with a 1.2% decline in the median national house price to a $424,500 median. There was a lesser 0.67% fall in the median unit price to a $395,500 median.
Residex chief John Edwards says there was little evidence of recovery.
House prices slipped 1.65% in Melbourne, 1.18% in Sydney and 0.32% in Perth.
"Prices continued to weaken in almost every capital city over January,” Edwards notes.
“Our data suggests we are moving beyond the bottom of the cycle, however the trend is not pronounced," he says.
The less affordable end of the market, along with house and land, remained weak.
"On an Australia-wide basis we do not look as if we are through the worst of the correction phase.
“In most capital cities, while we may have reached the bottom of the cycle, there is no strong movement towards positive territory," he says.
He said the Reserve Bank's decision not to cut rates last week was a “missed opportunity” to inject confidence among buyers and sellers.
"The property market is on a knife edge. A rate cut would have had an important impact on affordability and boosting confidence," he says.
“While Australia’s property market does not face the same risks as those that led to the collapse in US housing prices, we face continued headwinds including the high Australian dollar and the high cost of housing. We need to encourage home ownership otherwise we will arrive at a situation where the cost of rentals is unacceptably very high.” he says.
 
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Housing prices ease in January: Residex

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Mirvac went to the High Court last Friday but lost its appeal against an earlier Queensland Court of Appeal decision that ruled a buyer could cancel a contract to purchase a multimillion-dollar Tennyson apartment after the January 2011 flood.
Maris Anne Dunworth, wife of former rugby union international David Dunworth, signed an agreement in 2007 to buy the unit off the plan for $2,155,000 in a proposed building at Tennyson.
Before completion of the contract, the by-then completed building was flooded on January 13, necessitating major restoration work that would delay possession.
Dunworth, who argued for the right to cancel the contract because floodwaters that inundated the unit rendered it uninhabitable, had rejected Mirvac's offer to restore the unit.
A Supreme Court judge ruled against her and gave Mirvac the right to complete the work.
But the Queensland Court of Appeal overturned the earlier decision and ruled she had validly rescinded her contract.
At the time of the Court of Appeal decision, Andrea Blake, a senior lecturer at QUT's faculty of built environment and engineering, said the case potentially had far-reaching implications, as it "absolutely set a precedent", rendering any other contracts that were made before the floods vulnerable.
But Real Estate Institute of Queensland managing director Dan Molloy said the implications of the decision were limited because neither party had disputed the key point that the apartment was uninhabitable after the flood.
Friday’s application to the High Court for special leave to appeal was refused.
Tennyson Reach is an 11-hectare north facing site on the Brisbane River, five kilometres south of Brisbane. It’s the redevelopment of the disused Tennyson Power Station site.
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Mirvac loses High Court appeal over cancelled Tennyson Reach contract

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The Royal Island Beach Club on The World's Lebanon island, in Dubai, is set to open any day now after its completion by the Indian entrepreneur Wakil Ahmed Azmi.
It’s part of the many islands built as part of The World project, which epitomised Nakeel Dubai's boom-time ambition. Construction on most of the offshore projects ground to a virtual standstill in the wake of the economic downturn.
Indian entrepreneur Wakil Ahmed Azmi bought the island in 2008. The Dubai-based entrepreneur moved to the emirates 35 years ago and his main business is the re-export of electronic goods.
Wakil Ahmed Azmi has spent around AED68 million ($17.3 million) on buying and developing the island, according to the Arabian Business website.
<img src="/images/stories/lebanon1.jpg"> 
The beach club includes a 100-seat restaurant, cabanas, a lounge area and entertainment facilities.
Guests will pay a set fee of AED200 ($51) to visit the island, and Saturdays will cost about AED700 ($178) with an all-inclusive brunch.
The <a href="https://www.arabianbusiness.com/photos/first-look-world-islands-nightclub-444847" target="_blank">Arabian Business website</a> gives the first look at the tropical island beach club.
The Royal Island Beach Club will be accessible via a 25-minute journey on a private yacht or RTA water taxi.
Nakheel launched a cruise ship service to ferry tourists around the Palm Jumeirah last month.
Nakheel has advised 70% of the 300 man-made islands were sold and that building work remained the responsibility of the buyers.
A number of island buyers are in default.
 
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Man-made Dubai island becomes pricey beach club

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The Darling Point home of the late Roddy Meagher, who was perhaps the most loquacious of latter-day judges, has been listed for sale with price hopes of $3 million plus.
It was his home for 40 years, starting some 10 years after he’d married his late wife, Penny.
The three-level Darling Point Road terrace with overgrown facade sits on a 322-square-metre block. His art collection was cleared out several years ago. It’s been listed by LJ Hooker Double Bay agents Alain Waitsman and Emma Barbour.
Meagher, was called to the bar in 1960, was renowned for his many forthright pronouncements, which his obituaries noted turned into occasions of public outrage or amusement.
He certainly didn’t let up in private, as Title Tattle can attest, dining with Meagher – who dominated the conversation at his mate Charles Lloyd Jones’s place.
Roderick Pitt "Roddy" Meagher, AO QC – named one of Sydney's most adroit QCs on intellectual property matters in 1988 – served as a justice of the NSW Supreme Court and Court of Appeal from 1989 until 2004.
He died aged 79 last July.
He was a cousin of Patrick White and his family owned country stores, which provided the wealth to fund of his Jesuit education, and then his University of Sydney law degree.
Meagher’s art collection of 2,000 paintings and drawings, dozens of sculptures, ceramics and antiquities was bequeathed to Sydney University two years ago.
As well as his house in Darling Point, he had a farm in Bowral. He left most of his estate to his only daughter, Amy.
A $3.75 million sale was recorded two doors away last year.
 
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Darling Point terrace of the late forthright judge Roddy Meagher on the market: Title Tattle

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Fairfax columnist Michael Pascoe described it as a “cute way” the big four banks have seemingly taken turns at being the first to move their mortgage rates by less than a Reserve Bank rate cut – or to increase their rates by more than an RBA rate rise or to just raise them outright.
“It’s so cute that a cynic might wonder if it's staged,” Pascoe added.
Property Observer charts the decision leaders:
<img src="/images/stories/dec2009.jpg">
Westpac raises its standard variable mortgage rate by 45 basis points after the RBA increased the cash rate by just 25. The other banks followed by lower amounts, so Westpac’s Gail Kelly copped most of the attention. Little did we know that Kelly had shown her confidence in the Sydney property market just a month earlier when she spent a record $8.95 million on her Terrey Hills acreage property, albeit without any mortgage.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/nov2010.jpg">
The Commonwealth Bank announced a 45-point hike after the RBA's Melbourne Cup Day 25-point increase.  The others followed a little later and a little lower, leaving then CBA chief executive Ralph Norris to cop most the attention.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/nov2011.jpg"> 
The National Australia Bank passed on just 20 points of the RBA's 25-basis point cut.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/feb2012.jpg"> 
ANZ led the way with a six-point increase last Friday afternoon, followed by Westpac's 10-point effort at sunset, which suggests Gail Kelly’s recent safari trip in South Africa has emboldened her.
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Big four taking turns on interest rate rises

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Cargill, the United States rural conglomerate, has reportedly bought Billabong Station near Wagga Wagga through its hedge fund subsidiary, Black River Asset Management.
Cargill’s most recent acquisition was buying the Packer family’s investment in meat processor Teys Bros last year. In 2011 Cargill Australia, which was established in 1967 in the Australian grain export industry, also acquired the AWB trading and origination arm.
<img src="/images/stories/billabong1.jpg">
Its most recent NSW farm purchase was 2,100 hectares in the Bland shire for $4.7 million in 2010 through its entity BFB Pty Ltd.
<img src="/images/stories/billabong2.jpg">
BFB, an unlisted farming company, according to accounts filed with the corporate regulator, made a $5.4 million profit in the year ending December 2010 after a $200,000 loss the year before.
The accounts show the group has more than $83 million in property and infrastructure and collects about $20 million in revenue per year.
Founded in 1865, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cargill.com/wcm/groups/public/@ccom/documents/document/na3048712.pdf">Cargill</a> is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. In fiscal year 2011, Cargill had $US119.5 billion in sales and other revenues. Earnings from continuing operations were $US2.69 billion.
The Billabong purchase has not been registered with the NSW land titles office.
<img src="/images/stories/billabong3.jpg">
The company’s purchase of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/rural/billabong-station-passed-in-at-auction/2011101651946">Billabong Station</a> was believed to be worth between $9 million and $10 million.
The 1,875-hectare grazing and dry land cropping property was sold by David Baffsky.
<img src="/images/stories/billabong4.jpg">
The Australian Financial Review reported the sale did not include any sheep or cattle but did include 560 hectares of wheat, canola and triticale.
The marketing agents Landmark Harcourts and Meares and Associates noted the crop return for the first year could exceed 10%.
 
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Foreign investment bush buy up accelerates with Billabong Station sold to US hedge fund giant Cargill

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351031]

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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351024]

As Stage 2 enters the market, that lived experience may be one of the project's strongest selling points. Buyers are not purchasing into an untested concept or a future promise. They are joining a community that is already taking shape.

Ongoing investment in transport, retail, healthcare and public open space continues to strengthen the appeal of Syd​ney's north-west growth corridor, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>'s established first stage provides buyers with a tangible sense of the community's future direction.

For a limited time, buyer can secure a new home at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> with just a $10,000.

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Kew Tallawong: A growing community taking shape in Sydney's north-west

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

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

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> have celebrated the topping out of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf,</a> marking a significant milestone in the delivery of one of Syd​ney's most anticipated waterfront communities.

Located on Sydney's harbourfront at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a>, the project has now reached its highest structural point, with construction progressing strongly towards completion in 2027. 
&nbsp; 
The milestone was celebrated on-site with project partners Phoenix Property Investors, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Versatile Construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, consultants and stakeholders, to recognise the collective effort behind the transformation of the historic waterfront site into a vibrant new residential, marina and lifestyle destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362240] 
&nbsp; 
<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will deliver a mix of waterfront residences and terraces, complemented by a private 36-berth marina, waterfront dining opportunities and a revitalised foreshore designed to reconnect the community with the river's edge. 
&nbsp; 
Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said the project represented a rare opportunity to create the next chapter in Sydn​ey's long history of successful waterfront precincts. 
&nbsp; 
"Throughout Sydney, some of the city's most sought-after addresses have emerged from carefully considered waterfront precincts such as Woolloom​ooloo Wharf, Walsh Bay and Breakfast Point," Brown said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362566] 
&nbsp; 
"What makes these places so successful is that they become much more than residential developments," Brown said.

"They bring together homes, hospitality, marina facilities, public spaces and a strong sense of community in locations where future supply is incredibly limited."

Brown has long described absolute waterfront land in Sy​dney as "finite."

"Once these opportunities are developed, they are rarely replicated. That's why Syd​ney's waterfront precincts have consistently demonstrated strong demand and long-term value growth over many decades. 
&nbsp; 
"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is one of the few remaining opportunities to secure a residence within a masterplanned waterfront community that combines direct water access, marina ownership opportunities and a genuine village lifestyle just moments from the Sy​dney CBD."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362564] 
&nbsp; 
PERIFA Founder and Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said the project reflected a shared commitment to delivering exceptional places that create long-term value for residents and the broader community. 
&nbsp; 
"The topping out milestone is a significant achievement for the Versatile Group and a testament to the collaboration between all project partners, consultants and contractors involved," Perilli said. 
&nbsp; 
"Beyond the residences themselves, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will establish a new waterfront destination that celebrates the history, character and lifestyle of this unique location while creating a lasting legacy for future generations."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=291195] 
&nbsp; 
Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=13962]

Jonathan Chancellor

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