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A surprisingly high number of home owners sell then revert to renting, never to own again, says Professor Gavin Wood, director of the RMIT Research Centre of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. The study reveals one in five home owners dropped out of ownership at some point during the period 2001 to 2009.
Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, Wood tracked the housing histories of thousands of Australians over nine years from 2001.
During that time 1.65 million “episodes” of home ownership were terminated as people moved into rental housing. Among people under 50, the “survival rate” in home ownership was 77%.
“On the face of it these figures suggest a higher proportion of Australian home owners are precariously perched on the margins of home ownership than in the past,” Wood says.
He maintains the idea that housing careers progress smoothly from leaving the parental home through renting and then into ownership, with low housing costs matching lower income post-retirement, is losing its relevance in the 21st century.
“It's no longer necessarily true that buying a home sets you up for life,” says Wood.
He says it was not clear why so many fell out of home ownership but financial pressures and high housing prices had played a part.
It was noted while just over half the Australians later moved back into the property market, many became reliant on rental assistance or public housing.
The former owners who did not return quickly to the property market were more likely to enter public housing or qualify for Commonwealth rent assistance than long-term renters, the report suggested.
This suggests they were precipitated out of home ownership by adverse circumstances”' Wood says.
The report noted Australia had a healthy private rental market compared with Britain, allowing people to move more freely between ownership and renting rather than clinging on in penury to their homes.
The relative ease of renting in Australia might also be a factor in the low mortgage default rates. “People sell up before it gets to that point,” Wood told SMH reporter Adele Horin.
As a step towards lowering housing prices he suggests replacing stamp duties with a broad-based land tax, and establishing an income-tested housing allowance that would go to struggling home owners as well as renters, and abolishing subsidies for first-home buyers.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

One in five home owners quit property ownership, some not to return: Academic

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<img src="/images/stories/jackman1.gif">
- Hugh Jackman on Australian property prices, speaking to a UK property website. 
<img src="/images/stories/jackman2.gif">
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.findaproperty.com/displaystory.aspx?edid=00&amp;salerent=0&amp;storyid=24084">Jackman is now looking to buy in London.</a> 
The report does contain some details that aren't quite right. His New York purchase was made in 2008, and he's not known to have as much property in Australia as suggested.
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Quote of the week

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Plastic surgeon Chris Moss and his wife, Andrea John, the former television journalist, have won their legal battle with Toorak real estate agent RT Edgar in the Victorian County Court over deceptive selling tactics.
Judge Tim Ginnane found that the couple were deceived in post-auction negotiations over a Toorak property sale.
The couple paid $2.7 million for the property but Ginnane ruled it was only worth $2.5 million and he awarded them the $200,000 difference. They had claimed damages of $475,000.
The purchasers sued the selling agents claiming that they were misled and deceived into bidding $2.7 million by a representation that a person identified as “Tom” had made a post-auction offer of $2.6 million, when in fact that was not the case.
The judge noted it was an irony of the case that the purchasers of the property went to elaborate lengths to mislead the vendors and the agents as to their interest in the property. They also failed to disclose the fact that they recorded a number of important conversations that they relied on at trial.
"However, under the law applicable to the issues in this case, it is the conduct of the vendors and their agents that calls for consideration," Ginnane noted during the 14-day trial.
The agents and the vendors were said to be liable for the misleading or deceptive conduct in contravention of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and the Fair Trading Act 1999 and to have accessorial liability for those breaches.
The agency denied that the agent Greg Herman had engaged in any misleading or deceptive conduct claiming the statements about “Tom” were made to placate Andrea John, who had behaved in an aggressive and inappropriate manner.
The agents described the plaintiff’s case as an instance of buyers’ remorse.
The purchaser of the <a target="_blank" href="/news">Toorak </a>property was the trustee of the superannuation funds of a plastic surgeon who practised in a building next door. The agent was the twin brother of one of the vendors.
The doctor’s case was that he wished to buy the property to give privacy to his high-profile plastic surgery patients, including those he said were “celebrities”. The doctor and his wife developed an elaborate strategy to purchase the property. The property was passed in at $2.1 million and negotiations commenced. A bid was made on behalf of the doctor at $2.4 million and then bids were made on the separate apartments. The agent said that he had already received an offer of $2.6 million, on his version, from a man driving a silver Mercedes. The doctor offered $2.7 million, which was accepted.
By chance, the doctor’s wife saw the underbidder, who was a man named “Tom”, driving past the property in a silver Mercedes a short time after the contracts had been signed. She flagged him down. He told her that he had not offered $2.7 million but $2.1 million. The doctor considers that he was duped and claims the difference between the true value of the property and the $2.7 million.
The RT Edgar agents and vendors denied any misleading or deceptive conduct or misrepresentations, but Ginnane says estate agents, in selling properties, may not engage in misleading, deceptive or fraudulent conduct. This law has general application to all commercial activity, including estate agents’ actions in selling residential property.
Ginnane added the law does not cease to apply because, as was the case in this proceeding, the purchasers themselves engage in conduct to attempt to disguise their interest in the property.
He ruled there was an entitlement to damages calculated by the difference between that price and the real, true or fair price of the property on auction day. The real, true or fair value of the property was $2.5 million.
The case for deceit was that the representations made by selling agent Herman were made fraudulently, in that R T Edgar Toorak knew the representation to be false, or alternatively, did not have a genuine or honestly held belief in the truth of the representations at the time it was made.
The buyer was induced to act upon the statements, and did so and had thereby suffered loss and damage.
The court heard Herman agreed to act for a low commission of 0.55% plus advertising costs of $15,000. R T Edgar Toorak was retained by an exclusive auction authority that stated an estimate of selling price of between $2 million and $2.2 million.
It was advertised at $2 million plus in the newspaper and appeared in the $1.5 million and $2 million section on the websites.
Moss and John arranged for two people to assist in purchasing the property at auction so that their interest would be disguised.
Tom Kartel was also interested in purchasing the property. He intended to use the property as his family home. Kartel made bids for the property and was the auction underbidder, although Herman did not consider that Kartel was a serious purchaser, as he had not sought copies of the contract documents.
RT Edgar Toorak office said there would be no comment.
Greg Herman, a company director, remains selling property with the agency including property in Toorak and South Yarra.
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Plastic surgeon wins court case against deceptive Toorak estate agent

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A rare 10,000-square-metre Warrawee offering topped the auction sales across Australia this week.
It was marketed as one of the largest blocks on Sydney's upper north shore, sold for the first time in 50 years.
The vendors, the Diocese of Broken Bay, pocketed $5.5 million.
The property’s house comes with seven bedrooms and five bathrooms. 
It sold through by Peter Hilton at Hilton Real Estate.
Mosman, then Hawthorn followed on the weekly RP Data top 10 sales list. (Click to enlarge)
<a href="/images/stories/rpdataoct20large.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/rpdataoct20small.gif"></a>
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Warrawee holding leads top 10 sales of the week

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/october20berry]}
Cedarvale, the rural lifestyle property at Jaspers Brush on the NSW south coast, has been listed for November 6 auction with $3 million plus price hopes through Adam Guthrie from Adam Guthrie Lifestyle Property.
Set on the outskirts of Berry township, the 19.5-hectare property is being sold. The Cedarvale Lane property cost $2.05 million in 2003, and Murray has since extensively renovated the three-bedroom house and added a pool to the newly landscaped grounds that come with a helipad, tennis court, lake and separate self-contained guest cottage.
The main residence has wide verandas with views across rolling green hills towards the Pacific Ocean.
The neighbouring nine-hectare property with modern house fetched $2.7 million in late 2009. On Eagles Wings, the escarpment residence, likewise has rural and ocean views from the five-bedroom residence designed by Altis Architecture seven years ago.
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NSW south coast property Cedarvale on the market

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Price “optimists” still outnumber “pessimists” but the median view is now firmly for no housing price change over the next year, according to the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer House Price Expectations Index.
The house price direction index showed a further cooling in October.
The overall Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer sentiment survey showed a slight improvement in October, holding onto September’s 8.1% rebound and edging another 0.4% higher.
However Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan suggests the overall message is still downbeat and the vibe is “edgy”.
“The index remains firmly in pessimistic territory with the steady monthly result concealing powerful undercurrents pulling sentiment in both directions.”
Responses show a big influence from financial market turbulence – which remains extreme across both equities and the Aussie dollar – and the RBA’s continued shift to an easing bias on interest rates.
The survey detail also showed a mix of improvement – on views on family finances, economic prospects and jobs – and deterioration – on “time to buy” a dwelling, a vehicle or a major household item and on house price expectations.
Consumers continued to show mixed view on housing.
Hassan notes that attitudes towards “time to buy a dwelling” fell sharply by 10.4% in October but this had followed a surprisingly big 15.1% jump in September.
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Consumer sentiment shifts to no house price changes this year: Westpac RedBook

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/october19inxs]}
The Potts Point investment apartment of actor Russell Crowe – bought for $1.5 million in 2001 – has been listed for sale. More than $2 million is tipped for the top-floor apartment with Harbour Bridge and Opera House views through lattice-framed balconies accessed through three french doors.
It’s in a strata-titled triplex terrace on leafy Victoria Street. There’s secure parking with the two-level apartment that has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. It’s been listed by Jason Boon at Richardson &amp; Wrench Elizabeth Bay and Hamish Robertson at McGrath Estate Agents.
Crowe was seemingly captivated by charm of Victoria Street – with the western sunlight filtering through the plane tree-lined Parisian-style strip, which has survived despite the high-rise development further up the street. It was bought in 2001 from the theatre director Jim Sharman, who had bought it in 1984 for $310,000.
In early 2011 after a four-year search, Crowe and his wife, Danielle Spencer, spent $10 million on a Rose Bay property, Te Puke, a 1909 house updated with a 1927 Arts and Crafts-style additions. Along the way they inspected the $50 million-plus Altona on the harbour in Point Piper in 2007, as well as unsuccessfully seeking pricey inland residence Le Manoir at Bellevue Hill, which fetched $23 million in 2009. Spencer was keen to spend more, while Crowe, preferring to keep his substantial Woolloomooloo apartment as a bolthole, only wanted to spend a modest amount.
The six-bedroom Rose Bay house is set on 1,200 square metres overlooking the fairways of the Royal Sydney Golf Club. Te Puke, pronounced ''teh-pook-eh'', is Maori for hill, and last traded at $5.5 million in 2001. Crowe and Spencer snapped it up before its forthcoming auction through Ben Collier and James Dack at McGrath Estate Agents.
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Russell Crowe lists $2 million Sydney investment apartment

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The Cubbie Station irrigation and cotton farming operation in southeast Queensland, which went into administration in 2009, is close to being sold.
A consortium led by Eastern Australia Agriculture that includes US hedge fund Sankaty is in the final stages of acquiring Cubbie Station, according to a report by the Australian Financial Review.
It says Goldman Sachs, which has been hired to sell the operation, has entered into an exclusivity agreement with the consortium.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/four-vying-for-cubbie-station-irrigation-plant/2011062850644">The irrigator </a>breached banking covenants with Suncorp and National Australia Bank in 2009.
According to the latest creditors’ meeting, the Cubbie group owes $491 million but cannot feasibly repay or reduce the majority of the borrowings without 10 years of full cropping at above historical average prices.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/bidding-for-cubbie-station-reportedly-closed/2011072150882" target="_blank">Bidding closed for the station in July.</a>
McGrathNicol, the reciever, has declined to comment except to say: "The sale process for the Cubbie Group is still ongoing and bidder details are confidential."

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Cubbie Station irrigation farm has buyer in sight

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A proposed 12-storey Richmond apartment block with shops is set to hurt the re-sale potential and rental income of the four homes sold recently on Channel Nine's hit TV series The Block.
The Coles supermarket group has revealed plans for a $250 million, 333-dwelling apartment complex immediately opposite the Cameron Street homes.
Coles has lodged plans with Yarra Council to demolish the Richmond Plaza centre between Bridge Road and Church Street.
The proposal, which includes 12,000 square metres of retail and commercial space, 530 basement car parking spots and 151 bicycle spaces, has yet to be put out for public consultation.
Yarra mayor Alison Clarke notes the site is in a heritage area, with low-rise residential immediately behind it, and is above the general council policy of five- to six-storey development.
Yarra councillor Steve Jolly told the Melbourne Times Weekly the proposal was a "medium-sized skyscraper in the heart of Richmond… This is not planning, this is an orgy of profit-driven development."
The <a target="_blank" href="/news">Richmond </a>cottages, bought by four investors, sold for between $855,000 and $1 million in August.
Prominent Melbourne buyers’ agent Mal James concluded after his August pre-auction inspection that “the position was a shocker.”
“Stand in the street or look on Google streetview and do a 360-degree turn – what do you see? Industrial sites, multistorey car parks. And who knows what is going there in the future?” <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/auctions/eight-property-rules-broken-by-the-block/2011082851318" target="_blank">James noted before the auction.</a>
“This for me was the real killer,” he said.
“As a bit of fun we rated all The Block properties,” James said, noting his firm traditionally only dealt with prestige $1 million plus houses.
“While all contestants had done some great things, we are not sure we would put any on our shopping list.
“The internals may excite but the externals of no car parking, industrial street and commercial neighbours do not,” James added.
James Home Ratings examines pieces of information about a home and matches them against established buying criteria ranking them with a score out of 1,000. His rankings for the four Cameron Street houses ranged between 502 and 615.
A rating below 550 means the property “has issues”. Between 550 and 650 is at the low end of average.
None of the Cameron Street buyers contacted by The Age property editor Simon Johanson were aware of Coles’ plans.
One buyer, who did not want to be identified, said: ''We thought Coles was going to be doing some revamping but we weren't aware there was going to be an apartment block.''
Valuer Robert Bath said such a large development would have a ''detrimental'' impact for owners in the neighbourhood.
''Anything that's high density is going to have deleterious impact,'' he told The Age.
Coles spokeswoman Alecia Batten says Coles is working in conjunction with developer Gresham Property for the project.
Jolly says developers are “trying to rip the heart out of Richmond''.
If approved, it would be the latest in a string of major developments across Richmond, including the Jaques site in Palmer Street, the former Channel 9 site in Bendigo Street, and the Dimmeys redevelopment in Swan Street.
Coles’ bid to redevelop the shopping centre was first reported by the Melbourne Leader last month.
For expert commentary and analysis on lessons to be learnt from property reality TV, <a target="_blank" href="https://register.propertyobserver.com.au/lights-camera-auction/">download our free e-book Lights, Camera, Auction!</a>
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The Block buyers face a proposed 12-storey Richmond apartment block threatening their investments

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Western Australian property developer Port Bouvard Limited has now achieved settled sales totalling $72 million for its Oceanique apartments.
The total follows four recent settlements worth a total of $10.2 million.
Since Oceanique settlements began in July 2010, the group has reduced debt on its $101 million Oceanique facility to its current balance of $34.8 million.
Earlier this month Oceanique was announced as winner of a 2011 Perth Housing Industry Award for apartment project of the year.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/western-australia/calmer-waters-for-wa-s-luxury-oceanique-development-as-sales-pick-up/2011101151861">The remaining 30 unsold apartments continue to be marketed.</a>
Port Bouvard continues to pursue seven unsettled off-the-plan contracts.
For advice on buying off the plan download our free e-book.
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Recent sales leave 30 units still on the market in Oceanique

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.

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Jonathan Chancellor

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