<html><body>
Garry Rothwell, founder and principal of the Winten Property Group, has been named Property Person of the Year 2011 by the Urban Taskforce.
Since 1972, off the back of his architectural training, Rothwell has undertaken more than 180 development projects, building a reputation for quality of design and innovation, the award panel noted.
While much of the Winten’s public persona centres on boutique apartments constructed most noteworthily in Point Piper, Cremorne Point, Potts Point and Palm Beach, Rothwell has also developed extensively in medium-density markets and pioneered more affordable compact living apartments on Sydney’s lower north shore.
“Along with his development activities Garry is an active supporter of various charities, including the dedication of time through directorship roles, and a patron of heritage preservation,” Urban Taskforce’s chairman Noel Hemmings says.
“From a base of residential development activity, Garry expanded into land subdivision and has developed many thousands of lots throughout estates in NSW and South East Queensland in the last three decades.
“Growth continued into the commercial office sector, where notable successes include the winning tender for the NSW Police Headquarters at Parramatta,” Hemmings says.
“Garry’s group has been a consistent winner of industry awards and in particular was the winner of the inaugural Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Award in 2002 for the Forum at St Leonards.
“Garry pioneered transit-orientated development and Forum remains the template for high-density mixed-use developments over railway stations.”
Winten’s current portfolio includes planning for some 6,000 home sites in Sydney’s North West Growth Centre, some 140,000 square metres of next-generation commercial office space along with 200 residential apartments on Sydney’s Lower North Shore and continued land subdivision in the Lower Hunter and southeast Queensland.
The Winten Property Group has never maintained a construction arm, preferring to contract individual projects to those builders best resourced for a specific job.
Its website notes the group has grown from the architectural talent of its principal into a multi-discipline company with approximately $800 million of project activity underway.
Its business name is Garry Rothwell's middle name.
Garry Rothwell and his wife, Susan, have been major supporters of the Endangered Houses Fund within the NSW Historic Houses Trust.
The Property Person of the Year Award, now in its ninth year, was awarded last year to Bob Rose, chief executive officer of Rose Property Group, whose 50-year career in property has included the ongoing development of the 52-hectare AGL site at Mortlake – which has been transformed into the new Breakfast Point community. Breakfast Point, a joint venture with Cbus, will be home to 5,000 people after its 16-year development program roll-out.
The inaugural winner was Harry Triguboff, chairman and managing director of Meriton Apartments Pty Ltd, which has built more than 55,000 houses and apartments in Australia. In 2004, it completed Sydney's tallest residential building, the World Tower, and in 2011 it completed Brisbane’s tallest building.
Other previous winners included Wal King, chief executive at Leighton Holdings, Greg Goodman, chief executive at Goodman, Bill Moss, former chief executive officer of the banking and property group at Macquarie Bank, Lang Walker, chairman of Walker Corporation, and Liam Forde, the chief executive of Baulderstone Hornibrook.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Garry Rothwell named Property Person of the Year

<html><body>
Just 49 families have signed up to quit Sydney for the sticks under the NSW government’s scheme to encourage relocation from urban to regional areas.
Since July 1, a $7,000 grant has been available for families who sell in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong and buy in regional areas.
The value of the new property must be less than $600,000 and the property must be the principal place of residence.
The low numbers have cast doubt over the estimated 7,000 annual take-up, but a government spokesman says it is too early in the four-year scheme for any meaningful figures to be produced.
The relocation grant scheme had been central to the Coalition's pre-election ''decade of decentralisation'' pitch, with Premier Barry O'Farrell hoping it will ease population pressure within the Sydney metropolitan area.
The SMH has reported the Coalition initially expected the scheme would be taken up by 10,000 households a year, capped at 40,000 across four years, but Treasury has revised the number to 7,000 a year.
The Office of State Revenue data noted 49 grants were taken up in the first three months of the scheme, to September 30, 2011.
Last month opposition leader John Robertson announced a policy to redirect $280 million from the regional relocation program to a policy to support regional businesses and staff, and to retrain employees who have been laid off in regional areas and support business innovation.
But the Real Estate Institute of NSW believes the policy was a practical initiative addressing the housing availability crisis that has been gripping Sydney for some time.
</body></html>

No rush yet of Sydneysiders to move to the sticks, despite $7,000 government carrot

<html><body>
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/september21pettit]}
Ken Woolley's latest Modernist Pettit + Sevitt project home, built recently with 21st-century thinking, remains listed with $1.18 million plus hopes after being withdrawn from its weekend auction.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/pettit-sevitt-home-just-as-groovy-in-21st-century/2011092051626">The five-bedroom, two-bathroom Lowline house project</a> by the veteran architect was built  in the Sydney hills district suburb of Kellyville at the request of Val Sevitt, the widow of company co-founder Ron Sevitt.

It is three decades after the original building company closed its doors. The original 1960s house design has been updated to meet modern building requirements.

Pettit + Sevitt relaunched in 2009 under the directorship of Ron Sevitt’s widow, Val Sevitt, and her children, Colin Sevitt and Carol Perry.

At one stage Pettit + Sevitt was building 400 of Lowline houses a year with about 3,500 built in the 1960s and '70s.

The latest offering remains listed through McGrath agent Mark Vinogradov.

</body></html>

Pettit + Sevitt Kellyville offering still for sale

<html><body>
Residential and commercial builders expect overall industry activity to be lower over the next six months relative to the past six months.
Builders expect industry activity and profits to fall and jobs may go, according to Master Builders Australia’s September quarter 2011 national survey.
Given the building and construction industry has lost the cushioning effect of government stimulus programs, there had been a worrying deterioration in business conditions that builders operating in both commercial and residential building are now facing, according to Master Builders Australia chief economist Peter Jones.
“Builders report a worsening in own business conditions and outlook, with private sector demand failing to pick up and fill the gap left as Building the Education Revolution, Social Housing and other government stimulus programs end.
“The building and construction industry has lost the cushioning effect of government stimulus programs whilst the credit squeeze and other regulatory constraints continue to affect business operating conditions,” Jones says.
“Non-residential or commercial builders, already experiencing poor conditions, face the prospect of falling activity, with conditions in residential building now also expected to deteriorate.”
“With activity and profits under pressure, it is little surprise that builders have indicated that they will be looking carefully at workforce levels in the period ahead.”
“Large parts of the building and construction industry are doing it tough, and the Reserve Bank should consider cutting rates or at the very least keeping interest rates on hold until a private sector recovery is able to gain momentum.”
The report notes the residential sector index fell sharply in the September quarter and is now close to levels reached during the global financial crisis.
Although more than three-quarters of respondents are not looking to change apprentice numbers, more builders are saying they will release apprentices.
Financial constraints remain operative for builders, with negative effects increasing again in the September quarter after some easing in the previous four quarters.
About 30% of respondents were concerned that availability of finance was having a major/large constraining effect on their businesses.
This compares with about  5% or 6% before the global financial crisis.
</body></html>

Builders expect activity to slow in next six months

<html><body>
More than 20,000 potential borrowers have approached the Commonwealth Bank since it sought to fend off the other three big banks as competition heats up for home loan customers.
It is offering a guarantee was to beat any advertised interest rate from its three major competitors, ANZ, NAB and Westpac.
Its guarantee will be available until the end of October for new customers who borrow a minimum of $100,000, as well as existing customers who take out new borrowings of $100,000 or more.
"Since we launched the home loan guarantee a few weeks ago, more than 20,000 people have come to us,” Michael Cant, the bank’s executive general manager of retail products, says.
The bank has recently reduced rates on its fixed-rate home loans. Its fixed rates for one- to five-year products range from 6.33% to 6.74%.
The Commonwealth Bank is also hosting a series of free home buying seminars across the eastern seaboard in October and November 2011.
</body></html>

CBA extends the battle for mortgage loan competition

<html><body>
A 7.4-hectare Yarraville site owned by chemical giant Orica next to the Port of Melbourne has been listed for sale.
It is being offered for sale through Walter Occhiuto and Andrew Dawkins from Dawkins Occhiuto.
The Industrial 1-zoned property is on the corner of Whitehall and Lyell streets.
Offers are due by November 9, with flexible settlement terms available.
With neighbours including chemical manufacturer Albright and Wilson, Whitehall Street was dubbed one of Victoria's most contaminated strips of land in 2005. Environmental watchdog the EPA included Orica’s site in its report, noting it had range of contaminants on its Whitehall Street site, including mercury and other heavy metals. The EPA called for an audit on the property.
It was reported that at the start of last century, Tasmanian company Mount Lyell shipped hundreds of thousands of tonnes of iron pyrites – a copper mining by-product – to the banks of the Maribyrnong River in Yarraville. It set up a factory on what is now the Orica site. The factory, and its neighbour Cuming Smith, a fertiliser and acid manufacturer, roasted the pyrites in a kiln. The released sulphur dioxide, which was made into sulphuric acid, was used in the manufacture of superphosphate fertilisers. The leftover material was a purplish iron oxide called "spent oxides" or "cinders".
From 1901, iron oxide was used to fill the river flats on the banks of the lower Maribyrnong, noted the historian Professor Ian Rae, a chemist who has advised governments on hazardous substances.
Yarraville was named by its pioneer land speculators promoters to emphasise its proximity to the Yarra River when it was subdivided for housing in the 1850s by the partnership of Biers, Henningham and Co, which issued 900 invitations to its inaugural fete, picnic and land sale.
But its residential ambience changed in the 1870s when the waterfront was taken up by large, smelly factories given the onset of modern manufacturing to Melbourne.
Across the river is Coode Island.
As manufacturing employment has declined, the residential parts of Yarraville have been reinvented as a commuter suburb with weatherboard cottages. Its commercial precinct around Anderson Street is possibly Melbourne's narrowest main street, now with restaurants, cafés and organic produce shops.
</body></html>

Yarraville industrial site for sale

<html><body>
Melbourne-based Metricon Homes has been ranked Australia’s largest builder in 2010-11, according to the Housing Industry Association.
The list, which ranks the nation’s largest 100 residential builders based on the number of homes started each year, revealed that housing starts fell by 13% from 59,509 in 2009-10 to 51,903 in 2010-11.
The largest 100 builders started 40,183 houses, which was down 21%, along with 11,720 units and townhouses, which were up 30%
With 3,060 starts, all detached houses, Metricon Homes came in as Australia’s largest residential builder for the first time.
The WA-based Alcock/Brown-Neaves Group ranked second largest builder with 2,668 starts, and the Perth-based BGC (Australia) third with 2,435 housing starts.
BGC (Australia) had been at the top of the listing in 2009-10 with 4,392 starts.
<img src="/images/stories/metriconchart.gif">
Despite Metricon’s top spot, it started 5% fewer houses this year than last year, when it ranked third. Its housing starts occurred in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. For 35 years, the Mount Waverley-based Metricon has been developing homes that now span the eastern seaboard of Australia from Melbourne to far north Queensland, along with South Australia. Its first office opened in Caulfield, Melbourne by its co-founders, George Kline and Mario Biasin. It now has a team of more than 1,000.
Hickory Developments Pty Ltd was the nation’s largest multi-unit builder for the second consecutive year with 2,003 starts, up on the 1,274 starts for the previous year and thereby improving the company’s overall ranking from number 10 to number five.
The 100 builders in the latest HIA-Colorbond Steel Housing 100 Report held a 33% share of Australia-wide housing starts in 2010-11, down from 36% in 2009-10 and 38% in 2008-09.
The share of the market held by the largest 20 builders was steady in New South Wales when compared with 2009-10, eased slightly in Victoria, and fell substantially in Western Australia. The market share held by the largest 20 builders in Queensland increased moderately. The market share held by the largest 15 builders in South Australia fell significantly.
The biggest mover in 2010-11 was Brookfield Multiplex, with an increase of 846 starts.
The revenue earned from home construction by the Housing 100 was estimated to have eased to $13.6 billion in 2010-11, representing a decline of less than 1%.
The decline in national housing starts in 2010-11 primarily reflected weakness in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales.
“The unwinding of stimulus measures, heightened interest rate uncertainty, stalled progress in attacking supply-side obstacles, and weak consumer and business confidence amidst negative domestic and global economic news all conspired to derail new home building conditions last financial year,” says HIA chief economist Dr Harley Dale.
“Evidence of accelerated weakness in new housing conditions in 2011-12 reinforces the justification for interest rate cuts and short-term fiscal stimulus to boost Australia’s new housing supply,” Dale says.
“It is also vital to reignite the policy reform process to improve land release, ease persistently tight credit conditions, and reduce the excessive and inequitable taxation burden borne by Australia’s new home building sector.”
</body></html>

Metricon tops 100 home builders list as the big gets smaller: HIA

<html><body>
Price growth of 20% is forecast for Perth and price growth of 19% is forecast for Sydney by 2014, according to the QBE Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance housing outlook report researched by BIS Shrapnel.
In Perth the forecast reflects the stronger economic conditions driven by accelerated investment in the mining and resource sector, and in Sydney the forecast is a result of the growing deficiency in household dwelling supply.
Overall house prices in Perth are estimated to rise by a cumulative total of 20% over the forecast period – the highest among all capital cities – to $565,000 as at June 2014.
This reflects price growth of around 6% per annum, which is similar to the expectation of household income growth over the three years to 2013-14, and equates to an 8.8% total rise in real terms.
The Sydney median house price is forecast to lift by a total of 19% to $770,000 over the three years to June 2014, a total rise of 8.1% in real terms, according to 2011-14 report released today.
In Sydney, owner-occupier and investor demand is forecast to rise in 2012, underpinned by the rising dwelling deficiency and strengthening economic conditions, leading to higher price growth and dwelling construction.
The report shows that although the median house value rose to $644,700 in June 2011, real house prices in today’s dollar terms remain below their median house price peak of $707,000 in the March 2004 quarter.
The underlying strength of the Australian economy and the continuing shortage of residential housing in Australia, together with stable interest rates, is expected to support Australian housing prices, according to the QBE LMI housing outlook report.
Ian Graham, chief executive of QBE Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance Limited (QBE LMI), says despite the current volatility in the global economy, QBE LMI is cautiously optimistic about the outlook for the Australian housing market.
But Melbourne in the three years to June 2014 is forecast to have the lowest price growth of 6%, due to record levels of new dwelling supply eroding the current dwelling deficiency.
More moderate house price increases between 6% and 8% are expected in Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.
There is solid price growth of 16% tipped for Brisbane and 17% in Darwin.
First-home buyer demand, which has suffered recently, is forecast to enter a recovery phase through 2012 as the economic outlook becomes more positive and in the anticipation of first-home buyer confidence strengthening as housing becomes more affordable. Investor demand is expected to recover over 2011-12, in line with first-home buyer demand, and support prices at the entry-level end of the market.
The current stability in interest rates is expected to continue well into 2012. There is now a possibility that the Reserve Bank of Australia could cut interest rates in late 2011 to kick-start a recovery in consumer confidence and spending, thereby initiating the next phase of demand, the recovery in the economy and housing market.
Graham notes that Australia is well placed to deal with any uncertainty that our economy or housing market faces in the next few years.
</body></html>

Housing prices to increase by about 20% in Perth and Sydney by 2014: QBE LMI report

<html><body>
As we look back on 2011, Property Observer is republishing some of our most noteworthy stories of the year.
 
Renovators are at risk of losing hundreds of thousands of dollars because reality home improvement TV shows don’t reveal their full costs, according to Sydney buyers’ agent Patrick Bright.
“Reality home improvement programs like the last series of The Block and the current series of The Renovators were giving viewers a false perception of the costs involved to renovate property,” Bright says.
With three months of renovations, The Renovators claimed to be the most expensive ambitious home-renovation show put to air.
The ratings for The Renovators was well short of expectations, but it hasn’t stopped Bright's company, EPS Property Search, experiencing a dramatic increase in buy, renovate and sell project enquiries, with many people unaware of the true costs involved in renovating property.
“Whilst they are great entertainment, the biggest downfall from programs like The Renovators and The Block is that they don’t reveal to viewers the real cost of labour to make these improvements as well as the total costs associated with buying and selling real estate like stamp duty, legals, marketing and selling agents costs,” he says.
“The concept of buying, renovating and selling property as soon as the paint is dry can be profitable if executed correctly, however for most people is almost a guaranteed way to make a loss,” says Bright.
“In these television programs contestants end up with regular $10,000 bonuses as well as big prizes such as a $30,000 cash boost or a pool package for the property, which significantly add value to the renovation project but are not taken into consideration on the profit and loss ledger come sale time.”
“Most would-be renovators who try to copy the formula seen on TV hoping to make a quick profit will end up bitterly disappointed and lose a lot of money.”
He says the programs don’t show the hidden costs associated with renovating, which quickly add up, such as finance costs, holding costs and council fees.
Bright also says both shows highlight that renovating and making a profit is not easy to do, even with significant resources and support.
The shows  highlights the importance of sticking to an appropriate budget based on purchase price and end value so you can make a profit, he says.
The shift to more at-home entertaining and creating stylish rooms in existing homes - rather than upgrading to a new, more expensive home – has been noticed by TAFE colleges, which have witnessed a surge in interior decoration and design courses.
Bright's comments coincide with figures released by the Housing Industry of Australia that show that the total renovation investment nationally surged in the first half of 2011 and is forecast to reach close to record levels in the next two years.
The HIA data shows renovations activity is growing, with the total investment in renovations increasing in both the March and June quarters of 2011, driven by both small and large renovation jobs.
“The high transaction costs involved in moving home was the main factor driving households to invest in their existing property,” says HIA chief economist Dr Harley Dale.
“Total renovations investment is forecast to grow by 2.3%  to $31.6 billion in 2011-12 and to increase by a further 4.6%  to $33 billion in 2012-13, which would be approaching a record high,” Dale adds.
Bright, whose buyers’ agency project manages property renovations for clients, says once a property has been renovated there is a choice for owners to sell the property or turn it into a higher-yielding investment property and take advantage of the manufactured capital growth. His latest book, The Insider’s Guide to Renovating for Profit, is due out later this year.
The auction finale of The Renovators will go to air Wednesday night.
There have been reports that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/auctions/entertainment-the-winner-in-the-renovators-as-some-of-the-six-struggle/2011093051757">many of the houses failed to sell in excess of their purchase and renovation costs</a>.
Meanwhile the NSW state government is set to unveil reforms to the Home Building Act, with key changes including raising the threshold for written contracts from $1,000 to $5,000 and  raising the home warranty insurance threshold from $12,000 to $20,000.
Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts says the amendments will "pump some adrenalin in the industry".
"We want to remove the dead hand of government off as many small tradespeople and builders as possible," he says.
For expert commentary and analysis on lessons to be learnt from property reality TV, <a href="https://register.propertyobserver.com.au/lights-camera-auction/" target="_blank">download our e-book Lights, Camera, Auction!</a>
</body></html>

The Renovators gives would-be fixer-uppers false profit hope: Buyers' agent

<html><body>
The newly completed Dexus Property-built oval-shaped building at 1 Bligh Street has been valued at $629 million.
The flagship development was completed in July 2011 and was officially opened in August 2011 by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
The $629 million tower has been built to be the first high-rise office to win a six-star rating from the Australian Green Building Council.
The Bligh Street office tower has been to have asking rents for the top floors of about $1,100 to $1300, plus outgoings, according to a recent Australian Financial Review article.
Leasing agents are continuing to negotiate tenants for vacant floors, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/prime-minister-julia-gillard-seeks-new-sydney-office-digs/2011081751191" target="_blank">with the Commonwealth government yet to be confirmed as having struck any leasing deal</a>.
Some 51% of the office space is available, according to the latest ASX filing
The architects, Australian practice Architectus and German firm Ingenhoven Architects, came together for the design competition in 2006.
</body></html>

Sydney's 1 Bligh Street valued at $629 million

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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149637]

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

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News