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One Hyde Park, the development at the top of Sloane Street, has become London’s most conspicuous residential complex. But as the cracks in the global economy and banking system became chasms after 2008, it seemed possible that it One Hyde Park represented the high watermark of the property market, with several commentators suggesting  the development was to the 2008 crash what the Empire State Building and the Petronas Towers were to earlier downturns.
The development’s global influence has been as significant, with James Price, Knight Frank’s head of international residential development, suggesting developers have accepted the need for greater attention to design, specification and services.
“There is a general acceptance that One Hyde Park has raised the bar for development across the world,” Price says.
While planning permission was granted for 86 apartments, the final number is closer to 80 as some purchasers are merging apartments. Spaces of 9,500 square feet (883 square metres) have been created, with penthouses of up to 27,000 square feet (2,508 square metres).
The setting and repeated breaking of global price records has triggered the sale of 62 units for over £1.4 billion.
But Knight Frank residential research analyst Liam Bailey suggests the biggest achievement of One Hyde Park was its impact on the wider London and international markets.
There’s now the expectation that a £10,000 per square foot ($167,624 per square metre) price threshold will be reached by London’s residential developments by 2016, according to Bailey.
His report confirms how values grew during the development of the complex from £4,560 per square foot in 2006 to £7,500 per square foot in late 2011.
The complex, with links to the Mandarin Oriental, was designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners with interiors by Candy and Candy.
It was reported that one of the Candy brothers, Nick, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/luxe-london-developer-nick-candy-might-see-gold-fields-house-as-a-sweet-possibility/2011082451280" target="_blank">might become involved</a> in the<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/shrouded-in-mystique-one-alfred-street-seeks-out-wealthiest-of-purchasers/2011111052313" target="_blank"> </a>Goldfields House development in Sydney<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/shrouded-in-mystique-one-alfred-street-seeks-out-wealthiest-of-purchasers/2011111052313" target="_blank">, but it appears that Valad is going it alone on what is likely to become Sydney's trendsetter</a>.
Bailey forecast there’s unlikely to be another residential development quite like One Hyde Park for some time – partly because of the lack of finance available for speculative residential schemes, and also because super-prime locations like its Sloane Street/Hyde Park site become available only infrequently.
He says in the past decade, as the resale market was squeezed by increasing demand for a London home from the international newly wealthy, the new-build property began to fill the gap.
“Hotel-trained concierge teams, living spaces interior-designed using the best marbles, timber and technology, terraces and off-street parking – all these elements became expected in developments and helped drive prices of the best prime central schemes from £1,000 per square foot in 2000 to £2,000 per square foot in 2004, and up to £3,000 per square foot by 2006,” he suggests.
Knight Frank notes the super-prime development trend is now gathering speed in other centres for the world’s wealthy – New York, Monaco, Singapore and Hong Kong – but only a handful of locations approaching London’s benchmark.
“The new global super-rich do not do stairs and certainly do not ‘get’ the English affection for shabby chic,” Bailey adds.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Bidding farewell to English shabby chic, One Hyde Park paves the way for £10,000 per square foot

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The moderation in Australian house prices since mid-2010 should ease concerns that a large housing price bubble had developed, according to the international ratings agency Fitch.
It noted household leverage was still high in Australia.
“The household debt-to-disposable income ratio was 153.5% in Q2 2011, above the 'AAA' median, albeit lower than some rating peers.
“This can be linked to the run-up in housing prices over the past decade and a half.
“Official and private sector estimates show that growth in housing prices have been moderating since mid-2010, which should ease concerns that a large bubble has developed,” the report notes.
 
 
 
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Fitch eases its concerns that Australia had a large housing bubble

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National vendor discounting eased over the September quarter, however the rate of discounting remains at inflated levels, according to RP Data.
Across the capitals, vendor discounting sits at -6.4% for houses and -6.1% for units.
At the same time last year, vendor discounting was -5.8% for houses and -6.05% for units.
Over the past five years the average vendor discount has been recorded at -5.9% for houses and -5.6% for units.
“The current high level of vendor discounting is reflective of the slowdown in market conditions across the county, increased stock levels and greater competition amongst vendors for a smaller pool of buyers,” RP Data head of research Tim Lawless says.
“With the market recording value falls across each capital city and listings at elevated levels, it is anticipated that vendor discounting is likely to remain at above average levels.”
<img src="/images/stories/rpnov29.gif">
Houses are currently taking an average of 56 days to sell with units typically selling in 54 days, according to RPData.
A year ago it took an average of 46 days to sell a house and 43 days for units.
“The results show that the average time it takes to sell a property has increased as market conditions have softened,” Lawless notes.
Lawless says the time on market and vendor discounting figures continue to suggest that there is a disconnect between prices that vendors are seeking and those that purchasers are prepared to pay for the properties currently available.
The latest report noted houses have taken 47 days and units 43 days to sell over the last five years, highlighting that both were currently at levels well above average.
The average time on market is simply the time it takes from when a property is initially advertised for sale to when it ultimately sells.
Vendor discounting measures the average amount vendors have to discount their properties from the initial list price in order to sell their property by private treaty.
 
 
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Vendor discounting eases but time on market extends: RP Data

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/november29medich]}
Internal photos giving a glimpse into the Point Piper home of Ron Medich and his wife, Odetta, have been posted on an international architectural website.
Meanwhile the harbourfront property remains quietly listed for sale, having never been publicly marketed in print or internet.
The photos by Romello Pireira show its harbourside pool patio that comes adorned with Tasmanian tiger sculptures by Caroline Rothwell. The internal walls of the four-storey house are filled with contemporary art.
The Australian architectural studio Katon Redgen Mathieson completed the Point Piper project in 2009. The <a target="_blank" href="https://myinteriordesign.us/point-piper-residence">design website MyInteriorDesign</a> posted photos by Pireira of the assignment on its website on the weekend.
“This existing four storey house was stripped back to its concrete structure, remodelled and refurbished,” MyInteriorDesign notes. “The planning was simplified and a new circulation spine, with circular lift and stair, added and extended to the upper arrival level to the house. Limestone, American oak and Arabescato marble are used throughout the house.
"Sliding glass doors open across the facade to terraces and balconies. The rear internal walls of each floor are panelled in oak (living levels) and Belgian linen (bedroom levels) as a backdrop to the client’s contemporary art collection. An existing free-form swimming pool was refurbished on the harbour level terrace.”
Earlier this year Ron Medich slapped an ambitious $55 million asking price on the mansion he owns with his estranged wife, arts patron Odetta. Medich made a fortune with his brother developing industrial sites in Sydney’s west. Odetta has been one of the country's most generous patron of the arts.
Before his arrest in October over the 2009 murder of his business associate Michael McGurk, Ron Medich was living in splendour in the white house with point-blank images of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Now on bail and wearing an electronic bracelet that monitors his movements, Ron Medich lives in a two-storey, 128-square-metre apartment in a city high rise overlooking St Andrews Cathedral.
With his wife spending most of her time in Europe, the couple's Wolseley Road home was quietly listed for sale in February.
The David Katon-designed house replaced the house bought from the restaurateur Wolfie Pizem in 2003 for $15.1 million.
Pizem had bought the 780-square-metre property for $160,000 in 1978.
Agents have estimated a more realistic price for the Medich home was about $40 million.
One agent quipped that the Medichs' art collection was worth far more than the house.
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Tasmanian tigers keep watch over the Point Piper harbourfront mansion of the much-accused Ron Medich

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On the NSW Central Coast the rental holiday market was booming as more Sydneysiders make it their destination of choice for short stays and longer getaways, according to Brett Hunter, Principal of Raine &amp; Horne Terrigal-Avoca Beach.
“We have secured a 20% increase in revenue for our owners over the last six months, and this proves the strength of the Central Coast holiday market,” he suggests.
“The Central Coast usually has a bumper crop of holidaymakers at Christmas time, with 100% occupancy of holiday properties during the two-week Christmas / New Year period.
“Knowing we can’t improve on a 100% result, we instead have focussed on helping people extend their stays before and after the Christmas period, as well as assisting them with shorter stays of perhaps three or four days on multiple occasions,” he added.
Hunter says two-bedroom holiday units in Terrigal, within walking distance to the beach, rent for $1,000 a week over the holiday period, while at the other end of the market, four- and five-bedroom homes with pools and landscaped gardens can rent for up to $15,000 a week.
“In the last two years, domestic holiday rentals have really taken on a new lease of life, and Tourism Australia has done a great job during this time by promoting local holidays to Australians.
“This has added economic value when you consider that in some cases, up to 100% of the weekly tariff can be spent again on local services such as food, holiday activities and even petrol for the car."
 
 
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NSW Central Coast holiday market booming

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/november29lloydwright]}
The Illinois Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Kenneth Laurent House and furnishings have been consigned to auction by the original owner, Kenneth Laurent. It’s been scheduled for December 15 auction through Chicago-based auction company <a href="https://www.wright20.com/auctions/view/MKSD/MKSF/378/" target="_blank">Wright</a>.
In 1948 Laurent commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to build a home in Rockford, Illinois that integrated his needs as a wheelchair-bound disabled veteran with Wright’s signature open-plan designs. Wright used to opportunity to develop his elliptical plan for the first time, and the resulting soft curves, open floor plan and flowing space were utilised in later houses in the 1950s. The Laurents became friendly with Wright and travelled often to Taliesin, commissioning interior furnishing for the home and a later addition to the property. In conversation with Edgar Kaufmann Jr., Lloyd Wright referred to the Laurent House as a serene masterpiece and his “little gem”.
“We are interested in the preservation mid-century architectural masterpieces,” states auctioneer Richard Wright, president of Wright. “We have an audience that appreciates the historical and aesthetic value of these special homes and is not strictly bound by the values of the local real estate market.”
The home and original Frank Lloyd Wright-designed furnishings will be estimated at US$500,000 to US$700,000.
Wright is an international auction house based in Chicago that has offered historically important architectural masterpieces in their art and design auctions before, most famously with the sale of Pierre Koenig’s Case Study House #21 in Los Angeles that sold in December 2006 for $3,185,600.
The 4646 Spring Brook Road house sits on 1.3 acres. Its interiors are 232 square metres in the single-story structure with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and it features numerous built-in desks and cabinets.
The furniture includes Frank Lloyd Wright furnishings: one pair of barrel lounge chairs, one pair of panel armchairs, six occasional tables, six hassocks, one entrance table, one hall table and two wrought-iron fireplace grates. Taliesin designed furnishings include: one dining table, six dining chairs, two Taliesin slatted wall lights, three decorative screens and external lighting elements.
It’s referred to in literature including: Frank Lloyd Wright Monograph: 1942-1950 by Futagawa and Pfeiffer, Frank Lloyd Wright: Interiors and Furniture by Heinz, 50 Favorite Houses by Frank Lloyd Wright by Maddex, and Frank Lloyd Wright: The Masterworks by Larkin and Pfeiffer Provenance.
"The Buehler House", a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house in California,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/international/frank-lloyd-wright-designed-house-listed-for-sale/2011112152452"> is also for sale with price hopes of US$4,995,000.</a>
 
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Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Kenneth Laurent House up for sale

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/november28balmoral]}
Ros Oatley-Lambert, the former wife of the former Southcorp wine chief Keith Lambert, has snapped up her neighbouring Balmoral harbourfront property, Kahala, to improve her garden and boating facilities.
The 1,485-square-metre Hopetoun Avenue acquisition was sold by Albert Bertini, the flamboyant property developer. The Lamberts own the adjoining Rivendell, which is set on a 2,000-square-metre double block.
The sale price has not been revealed but it last traded for $22.5 million in pre-global financial crisis 2007 and was therefore expected to sell through Raine &amp; Horne Mosman for less in the current subdued market. It's speculated the price was above $18 million, perhaps just shy of $19 million.
Bertini and his former wife, Heather, bought Kahala from the successful veteran property developer Phil Arnold, who'd owned it since 1980.
Arnold paid $380,000 for the estate when it was sold by Lady (Delzie) Hooker, the widow of the real estate tycoon Sir Leslie Hooker, whose ashes are buried on the foreshore rocks.
In 1940, Les Hooker paid £3,050 for the property and during the 1950s he built a three-level house and a boatshed.
Bertini started works to rebuild the house as well as two pools, garaging for eight cars and a $1 million tunnel with a lift to the boatshed.
Bertini’s boatshed, currently accessed by 160 stairs, has his boating pride and joy – a 26-foot timber boat once owned by the US's most powerful family, the Kennedys. Bertini was recently filmed aboard his luxury boat, Jasa, during the Channel 9 series The Secret Millionaire in 2009. He was raised in Paris until the age of nine when his family migrated to Australia. He initially lived in a one-bedroom flat in Fairfield with his parents and three older brothers.
The Oatley viticulture family, who sold their Rosemount wine business to Fosters in 2001 for $1.4 billion, paid a then record $15.5 million for their Balmoral residence, Rivendell, which has limited boating facilities, when it sold through Richardson &amp; Wrench Mosman agent Robert Simeon.
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Billionaire Oatley wine family snaps up Kahala for the best of Balmoral's boating facilities

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/november28clovelly]}
Comedian Greig Pickhaver, better known as H.G. Nelson of Roy and HG fame, has sold his Clovelly property just four days after it hit the market through the real estate excitement machine, GoodyerDonnelley Real Estate.
Pickhaver - currently starring in the Channel 10 Kuala Lumpur-produced It's A Knockout series - bought the property for $425,000 in 1995. It’s a two-storey semi but with a very contemporary architectural fit-out. Fairfax Media property video presenter Simon Johanson says it sold for $1.98 million.
Of superlative proportions, it has four bedrooms and two bathrooms on its 300-square-metre block. Its large main bedrooms comes with ocean views.
Pickhaver  starred in the cult Australian comedy film This Won't Hurt a Bit opposite LA-based actor Jacqueline McKenzie, who sold her Waverton residence at recent auction for $1,163,000 – a suburb record for a two-bedroom house. McKenzie's house is among those rumoured to be occupied by the poet Henry Lawson between 1914 and 1921.
Pickhaver's character H.G. Nelson once had a business selling Zils (black Limousines used by the KGB) to clientele who's life was in danger. HG Nelson's most famous saying is: "Too much sport is barely enough."  
 
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How's That! Greig Pickhaver of Roy and HG sells Clovelly home in four days

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Fletchers, the Victorian estate agency, is set to open its second Queensland office next month.
Its new Gold Coast South office is set to commence operations on December 17, servicing Palm Beach, Elanora, Currumbin Waters and adjacent areas.
It follows the opening of Fletchers’ first Queensland office in Mermaid Beach last year.
“Effectively what has been a very successful opposition [The Professionals] franchise will close its doors on Friday and open on Saturday as Fletchers,” managing director of Fletchers (south east Queensland) Christopher Stear told Real Estate Business Bulletin.
Fletchers, which operates a franchise model with 10 offices in Victoria, commenced operations in 1919.
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Fletchers to open second Gold Coast office

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The proportion of Australian households with insulation increased from 61% in 2008 to 69% in 2011, according to the latest ABS data.
The states showing the largest increase were Queensland and New South Wales.
In the Australian Capital Territory 81% of households had insulation compared with 44% of households in the Northern Territory.
Some 70% of households indicated that their main reason for installing insulation was to"'achieve comfort", although more than one in 10 (11%) did so because of the rebate that was offered.
The proportion of Australian households with a cooler  -either a refrigerated air conditioner or an evaporative cooler - increased from 59% in 2005 to 73% in 2011.
 
 
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The ACT ranks as the insulation capital of the country, with NT households still suffering the weather

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

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

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

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

Jonathan Chancellor

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