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<img src="/images/stories/doublebay2.jpg">
The eight apartments in the Montre, Double Bay complex have been listed for sale – in a second shot at securing sales in the boutique complex.
Set on the Bay Street boulevard, it envisages bettering the earlier but recent crop of luxury apartment developments in the upmarket Sydney village, such as The Chancellor and The Gallery.
Its Colliers International marketing team expect the apartments to appeal to buyers who are making their first move from a large house and garden.
<img src="/images/stories/doublebay3.jpg">
Prices of the two-bedroom apartments with study – ranging in size from 173 square metres to 179 square metres internally plus courtyards/terraces of 44 square metres – start from $3.25 million. There are just the three.
Its three-bedroom apartments with study (from 209 square metres to 219 square metres internally plus terraces start at $3.95 million. There are also just the three.
Its two penthouses with study (240 square metres internally plus terraces/courtyards of 173 square metres) are priced from $5.65 million.
“Montre is our benchmark development,” says Nico Wijarto Tjen, a director of Oceania Property. The group which is known for Bell Aire at Bellevue Hill, Arc at Waterloo, Alura at Cremorne, Huntley Park at Hunters Hill and several prestige individual homes.
“What we are offering is grand, easy-care apartments for those who appreciate the finer things in life.”
He says the architecture, by Kann Finch, combines classic stonework and Juliet balconies with geometric facades of burnished steel and glass, topped with a mansard roof.
“Overall, the look is reminiscent of a European building, blending fashionable shops at street level with discreet apartments above,” Wijarto Tjen says.
“In Europe, apartment living isn't a temporary phase in life.
“People are born and die in apartments, so they're spacious, elegant and comfortable – real homes, not like some of the box-like units built in Sydney.
“The apartments at Montre have at least as much space as a three-bedroom house, but are in a one-off location and come with the highest-quality fixtures, fittings and features.”
The marketing is the second attempt for the development site, as in 2009 registrations of interest were being sought through Colliers by the developer, Thaung Investments.
Oceania has moved promptly to marketing, having paid $20.5 million in January 2011, with the site having previously traded at $15 million in 2007.
“The apartments are more like the graceful residences of old,” says Murray Wood, Colliers director of project marketing.
“They have style, substance, an abundance of storage, and interiors that flow onto large practical terraces.”
“We expect most buyers will be empty-nesters from the eastern suburbs and possibly the upper north shore, but we also anticipate some interest from expats and international jet-setters.
“We know there is pent-up demand because the last apartments of such quality in Double Bay were completed 18 months ago at The Stamford Cosmopolitan,” Wood says.
The Double Bay village is hosting an inaugural European Festival on Sunday, November 6, with visitors able to indulge in European cuisine at local restaurants and cafes, wander through the shops and explore unique European treasures at pop-up stalls.
For advice on buying off the plan download our free e-book.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Boutique Double Bay block takes a second shot at raising the luxury stakes

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/october11isabella]}
Friesia, the 1888-built Italian Renaissance-designed Hawthorn house and one of Melbourne’s most captivating residences, has been listed for sale. The single-storey mansion was designed for German consul William Brahe by architect John August Bernard Koch, who later designed Labassa in North Caulfield.
The Hawthorn<a target="_blank" href="/news"> </a>house was last traded in 1970 for $49,000 totally derelict – with no electricity, no hot water, no internal toilet, and the sky could be seen through most rooms.
It’s been listed by Kay &amp; Burton agent Scott Patterson, with offers due by November 15. Patterson hopes to secure $6.5 million plus for the property.
Decorated in a way befitting a man of Brahe's standing, there are three dwellings set within established gardens covering approximately half an acre.
The residence, with its unique single-storeyed arcaded loggia (veranda) and internal octagonal domed vestibule, was inspired by the works of Filippo Brunelleschi, father of Italian Renaissance architecture in Florence.
From its Corinthian-arcaded entrance, Friesia exhibits the grandeur, glory and grace of Melbourne's magnificent boom period during the 1880s
It’s been listed by Warwick Forge and his wife, Sue, who have been running the biennial Australian Landscape Conference for 10 years in a bid to bring together creative landscape designers from overseas and Australia.
They camped at Friesia on the first night with candles.
Set in the small Isabella Grove enclave near a bend of the Yarra a pocket of German high culture was formerly centred on Friesia.
The flow of German immigrants began within 10 years of Melbourne being established in 1835, with vignerons laying the foundations of the Victorian wine industry in the Lilydale and Geelong districts during the 1840s, and many were attracted by gold discoveries in the 1850s.
The marketing material says it was a much-loved cultural meeting place for educated Europeans during the 1880s – a golden age for Australian art and architecture.
“However, during the First World War, the German eagles on the parapet, German flags and German generals painted on the octagonal hall ceiling were all removed owing to anti-German sentiment,” says the house’s marketing material.
William Brahe was a founding partner of the 1856 law firm Garland Hawthorn Brahe. Brahe was appointed consul for Prussia in 1868 and consul for the North German Confederation in 1869. On the re-establishment of the German Empire in 1870 he was appointed consul for the German Empire, a position he held for 25 years.
In 1924, “Vally” Cole, son of E W Cole – famous for Cole's Book Arcade in Bourke Street – purchased Friesia for £6,000 pounds.
Vally's daughters, Nancy and Evangeline, lived on until 1970 when it was sold to the Forge family.
Friesia has been described as the most beautiful house in Melbourne by Dr George Tibbits, senior lecturer in the faculty of architecture at the University of Melbourne.
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Hawthorn house built for 19th-century German consul on the market

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Australian property developer Sunland’s progress on its two Dubai projects, Palazzo Versace Dubai and D1 Tower, continues at a slow pace.
Set inland on the banks of Dubai Creek, Palazzo Versace Dubai has an anticipated mid-2012 opening.
Work on Palazzo Versace slowed and sales slumped as a result of the economic global financial crash of 2008 that eventually consumed Dubai in 2009.
Its early off-the-plan buyers have been required to make regular purchaser progressive instalments on the two projects and as at June 2011 they totalled $396 million (AED1.45 billion).
But sales achieved over the past year slowed, with just three in the Palazzo Versace Dubai totalling AED15 million and 26 sales in D1 totalling AED64 million.
The apartments for sale range from one bedroom to six bedrooms.
<img src="/images/stories/versacefurniture.jpg">
The Versace-branded resort – unveiled in 2006 – will include 169 private apartments and 217 hotel suites, decorated with furnishings from the Italian designer’s home range (pictured above and below).
<img src="/images/stories/versacefurniture2.jpg">
The developer companies have taken legal action against non-performing purchasers across the projects, according to the annual report.
Forfeited deposits for Palazzo Versace Dubai and D1 total $55.6 million (AED 216.3 million).
Sunland’s net tangible assets per share in Dubai represents just $0.02 of Sunland’s total net tangible assets per share of $1.55.
Sunland’s development projects in Dubai are non-recourse to the group, meaning that development and funding risks are limited to the respective projects.
There is no recourse back to Sunland’s Australian operations.
The market is expected to remain challenging in the short to medium term.
In its June 2010 annual report Sunland noted the D1 residential tower was 60% complete and the Palazzo Versace Dubai was 70% complete. Palazzo Versace Dubai is 87% complete 13 months later.
Plasterboard works are now completed in all condominiums, along with the installation of all major services installation to the condominiums and plant rooms.
Stone floors are complete to approximately 40% of the condominiums, and separate crews are working on level three and level eight.
A total of 600 panels have been installed during June, and approximately 85% of the façade is installed, its July building update notes.
It is being developed by Emirates Sunland Group, a joint venture between the UAE’s Emirates International Holdings and Australian-based Sunland Group Limited.
In 2008 Sunland Group Limited entered into an agreement with the House of Versace for the global rollout of the Palazzo Versace Hotels. The company committed to a payment of €6.75 million by December 2009.
It was anticipated there would be 15 such hotels.
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Sunland's troubled Dubai projects progressing slowly amid defaults

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Deteriorating global credit markets are feared to have an adverse impact on earnings in the Australian real estate investment trust sector, according to research from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
The listed property trust sector took a hit immediately after research was released yesterday, given concerns especially surrounding the debt due for refinancing within the current financial year.
The ASX 200 Property index closed down 2.1% against a 0.92% rise in the general market on Monday, October 10.
Close to $7 billion, or about 12% of the sector, is due for refinancing, of which about $4.2 billion is due before June 30, 2012.
A further $2.8 billion is drawn down but also to be refinanced this financial year.
Goldman Sachs property analysts warned there was a significant amount of listed corporate debt due for maturity in 2012, including: Westfield Retail Trust ($1.3 billion), Mirvac ($581 million), Dexus ($464 million) and Goodman Group ($406 million).
Since the initial media reports of the research Mirvac Group has advised the share market it had a strong capital position, with current funding headroom of greater than $600 million.
Mirvac managing director Nick Collishaw says Mirvac’s balance sheet remains in a robust position.
The company notes the report of the $581 million of corporate debt due for maturity in 2012 but stresses $505 million relates to a bond facility for which Mirvac has cash set aside sufficient to repay 100% of the facility; and $47.5 million relates to a bank debt that Mirvac repaid after June 30, 2011 from available cash.
“Our treasury team has worked hard to ensure that Mirvac's capital needs are able to be met by our existing facilities and cash flow.
“We believe that this activity is likely to significantly reduce the impact for Mirvac of any uncertainty that might be created by disruption in overseas financial markets,” Nick Collishaw advised the ASX.
Goldman Sachs executive director for real estate investment research Simon Wheatley suggests the debt crisis in Europe could force local companies to confront alternatives to refinancing their debt, according to a report by SMH commercial property editor Carolyn Cummins.
Most analysts say many REIT balance sheets are in better shape than they were during the last recapitalisation wave of 2008-09, but any debt concerns were unhelpful.
Two years ago REITs secured close to $14 billion from investors to boost balance sheets collapsing under high debts and falling asset values.
Morgan Stanley research notes global uncertainty is putting pressure on credit markets, resulting in an increase in collateralised debt security spreads for the sector.
''All, of course, will however depend on the macro environment, and if we do see the European sovereign crisis worsen, this will put pressure on the sector,'' the analysts say.
The A-REIT market closed Tuesday at 774, which was down 0.58% on the day.
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A-REITs take a hit due to debt fears

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After 15 years of service, Taine Moufarrige has resigned as an executive director at Servcorp Limited.
Moufarrige wishes to spend more time with his young family, and board chairman Bruce Corlett has asked him to stay on as a non-executive director.
Servcorp is a world leader in providing executive serviced offices currently operating 118 floors in 52 cities across 21 countries.
The Moufarrige family remains active in the operational management with Taine’s father, CEO Alf Moufarrige, and his brother, senior executive Marcus Moufarrige, who has been with the company for 16 years.
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Taine Moufarrige steps down as executive director of Servcorp

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After 77 years of Ashton family ownership, Millamolong East, the 1930s Mandurama property in NSW's central west, has been sold off in three parcels.
It was listed by Susan Ashton and her four children following the death last year of Susan's husband, polo champion James.
The total sale price has not been disclosed, but is understood to be less than its$9.6 million asking price. 
The parcels totalling about 3,400 hectares were sold through Ian Roberston at Elders Cowra. It sold at about $900 an acre, or about $2,250 per hectare.
Situated 50 kilometres from Cowra, the property, with Belubula River frontage, was settled in 1836 and remains one of Australia's oldest working stations.
The offering came with the 28-hectare wine estate but not its renowned polo facilities or homestead, with the family retaining about 84 hectares.
Steeped in history, Millamolong was bought in 1934 by James Hay Ashton, one of the four brothers who took the British and American polo establishment by storm in the 1930s.
The eight-bedroom homestead, with seven fireplaces and an Aga slow-combustion stove, was designed by Orange architect S.C. van Breda and built in 1936.
Its rooms hold trophies and memorabilia from the family's three generations of polo playing and equine breeding.
The grounds come with a floodlit tennis court, pool and separate accommodation for guests.
Millamolong remains a hive of activity, from polo-pony breeding to sheep and cattle grazing and farm-stay accommodation.
Its award-winning vineyard has the varieties of chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, riesling and shiraz, planted in 2000 and producing between 200 and 300 tonnes with forward contracts until 2013.
It has won gold medals for cabernet and shiraz at both Orange and Cowra wine shows.
<a href="https://www.meares.com.au/property/millamolong/gallery/millamolong.htm" target="_blank">Millamolong East</a> also has two acres of truffles.
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Polo champion's Cowra homestead sold off in three parcels

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Collendina, a 1,267-hectare cattle and grain property in the southern Riverina near Corowa, has joined the rush of spring listings in the Riverina.
It has been listed for November 21 auction through Brian Liston and Phil Rourke at Landmark Albury.
The historic 1891 homestead (pictured) is one of the original holdings on the upper reaches of the Murray River in NSW. The property was initially settled in 1841.
Located 19 kilometres west of Corowa and 68 kilometres west of Albury/Wodonga, Collendina Station has an extensive frontage to the Murray River.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/rural/riverina-rural-offerings-top-%24160-million/2011100251765">More than $100 million worth of blue-ribbon southern NSW properties has been recently listed for sale.</a>
They join unsold listings including Jillamatong, the 973-hectare holding main listed by supermarket operator Brian Waldron.
His Cowra rural retreat came with initial $8.5 million plus hopes.
Jillamatong, which sits on the Murray River, is listed through Brian Liston at Landmark Albury.
It last traded in 1999 when $2.85 million was paid. It had traded at $1.92 million in 1996. Set about 50 kilometres from Albury in NSW, it is suitable for wool, beef, fat lambs, cereal grains or fodder crops. It has a 1928 homestead designed by A.C. McKnight.
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Collendina joins spring Riverina rush

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Queensland sales volumes jumped by 33% in July as owner-occupier buyers surged into the market to avoid the August stamp duty rises, according to RP Data’s sales analysis.
<img src="/images/stories/rpdataoct10.jpg">
“The surge in buyer numbers suggests that buyer confidence may not be as low as many thought,” national research director Tim Lawless notes.
“The surge came at a time when the threat of higher interest rates was still quite real.”
While capital gains are likely to be a long way off, the foundations of the Brisbane property market are looking quite firm, with Lawless also noting the magnitude of price declines across the Brisbane housing market had eased.
“The result was still negative at -1.3%, however it was a substantial improvement from the falls being recorded earlier in the year, the worst of which was seen over the March quarter when values were down 3%,” Lawless says.
<img src="/images/stories/rpdataoct101.jpg">
“We have also been seeing the ‘value gap’ between Brisbane and the other major capitals expanding.
“Brisbane house prices are now 21% more affordable than Sydney’s and 11% more affordable than Melbourne prices.
“The gap hasn’t been that wide between Brisbane and Sydney since mid-2007, and the current price gap between Brisbane and Melbourne hasn’t been this wide since late 2003,” he says.
“This renewed affordability proposition may be attractive enough to entice more interstate migrants across the border as interstate migration into Queensland over the March quarter of 2011 was at the lowest level since 1981.”
<img src="/images/stories/rpdataoct102.jpg">
Source: RP Data
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Brisbane house prices 21% more affordable than Sydney’s and 11% more than Melbourne's: RP Data

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A five-bedroom Brisbane house, marketed as being sold under instructions from the Family Court, sold at its no-reserve weekend auction.
While its Rexmax estate agent Rod Westerhuis predicted pre-auction that the consequences "could be dire" it fetched a respectable $525,000.
“It’s hard to argue we didn’t achieve market value,” Westerhuis told Property Observer.
He says there were five bidders at the auction.
It last sold at $166,000 in 1999.
There were 48 parties keen to bid at the onsite auction who were within three bids at the offer at $400,000.
The median house price in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Gaythorne </a>is $507,500, according to RP Data, with prices down by 9% over the past year.
Westerhuis had given the vendors written advice about the possible consequences of having no reserve after the Family Court judge had suggested the owners use a no-reserve auction as a way to finally sell their property and settle a court matter
The owners were instructed they must sell by a certain date, no matter the price, Westerhuis notes.
"This is so rare," he says. "Incredibly rare. I've consulted a solicitor about this and we've found only one other case in Australia where this has happened."
The dual-lot property, in Gaythorne, seven kilometres north-west of Brisbane's city centre, is a three-bedroom Queenslander set on 809 square metres of land.
It sold to someone who will subdivided subject to council approvals.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-gaythorne-107574663" target="_blank">The property</a> was auctioned in August but failed to attract a single bid – passed in on a vendor bid of $500,000.
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Court-ordered no-reserve Brisbane auction a success

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Private treaty discounting has become necessary to secure sales across most capital cities.
Brisbane listings require the highest level of reduction, with a typical 9.6% discount needed against the original asking price, according to Australian Property Monitors.
Perth ranked second with an 8.6% discount required, according to the recently released August data.
Canberra vendors typically needed to adjust their expectations the least, with a required 4.1% price adjustment to secure a sale.
Discounting increased considerably across all capital cities in the past year, with the exception of Canberra.
<img src="/images/stories/discountchart.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;">
Source: APM August data
Sydney’s discounting shift over the past year was second only to Canberra’s with the required discounting increasing from 6.2% in August 2010 to 6.9% in August this year.
But Sydney’s 6.9% August figure was the highest for any month this year for the city.
Melbourne’s 7.2% figure was the highest August discount required since 2004.
Buyer and seller expectations are still disconnected, Australian Property Monitors senior economist Andrew Wilson noted just before the spring selling season got underway.
He noted that days on market, discount rates and stock on market numbers were all higher than at the same time last year in the Sydney and Melbourne markets.
But Enzo Raimondo, chief executive of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, recently noted there had been an increase in the use of the term “discounting” to describe property markets.
He says the term only describes the difference between the estimate price and not necessarily the real value.
“Unfortunately, it is a term that fundamentally misunderstands the notion of value and price in residential real estate,” Raimondo says.
“It must be remembered that in most cases that a price on a real estate advertisement is under Victorian law an estimation.
“The estimate is often based on recent comparable sales and the real estate agent’s judgment,” he says.
“It is not necessarily the price the vendor will sell for, as that often fluctuates over the course of a sales campaign.”
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Vendors must offer higher discounts to secure private treaty sales

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.

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The apartments themselves have been designed with liveability front of mind. Rather than chasing maximum density, the focus has been placed on creating practical homes with generous natural light, usable layouts and strong connections to outdoor space.

Importantly, these design principles have been applied consistently across the one, two and three-bedroom apartment offerings.

The appeal of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> is also closely linked to its location within Syd​ney's rapidly evolving north-west growth corridor. Over the past decade, major infrastructure investment has transformed the area, with new transport links, business precincts and community facilities reshaping suburbs like Talla​wong and Schofiel​ds.

The agent says buyers are increasingly recognising the area's long-term potential.

"Typical buyers that we're finding across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> especially are your first-home buyers, your investors, your upsizers as well as your downsizers," Hawes says.

Connectivity remains one of the project's strongest drawcards. Residents have access to both Tallaw​ong Metro Station and Schofi​elds Train Station, providing links to the Sydn​ey CBD, Norw​est Business Park, Macquari​e Park and other major employment hubs. Retail centres including Rous​e Hill Town Centre and Sch​ofields Village are also nearby, alongside schools, parks and future healthcare infrastructure.

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For Stage 1 resident Roji, it is the balance between convenience and comfort that has defined the experience of living at Kew.

"For me, it's a balance of quality and convenience," she says. "Everything I need is right here."

"If I wanted to catch the train, Scho​fields Station is just around the corner. Tallaw​ong Metro connects me to the city."

More importantly, she says, the development has delivered something that cannot be measured in floorplans or specifications.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> feels like home."

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As Stage 2 enters the market, that lived experience may be one of the project's strongest selling points. Buyers are not purchasing into an untested concept or a future promise. They are joining a community that is already taking shape.

Ongoing investment in transport, retail, healthcare and public open space continues to strengthen the appeal of Syd​ney's north-west growth corridor, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>'s established first stage provides buyers with a tangible sense of the community's future direction.

For a limited time, buyer can secure a new home at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> with just a $10,000.

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Kew Tallawong: A growing community taking shape in Sydney's north-west

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

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

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> have celebrated the topping out of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf,</a> marking a significant milestone in the delivery of one of Syd​ney's most anticipated waterfront communities.

Located on Sydney's harbourfront at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a>, the project has now reached its highest structural point, with construction progressing strongly towards completion in 2027. 
&nbsp; 
The milestone was celebrated on-site with project partners Phoenix Property Investors, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Versatile Construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, consultants and stakeholders, to recognise the collective effort behind the transformation of the historic waterfront site into a vibrant new residential, marina and lifestyle destination.

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<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.

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&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."

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&nbsp; 
PERIFA Founder and Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said the project reflected a shared commitment to delivering exceptional places that create long-term value for residents and the broader community. 
&nbsp; 
"The topping out milestone is a significant achievement for the Versatile Group and a testament to the collaboration between all project partners, consultants and contractors involved," Perilli said. 
&nbsp; 
"Beyond the residences themselves, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will establish a new waterfront destination that celebrates the history, character and lifestyle of this unique location while creating a lasting legacy for future generations."

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&nbsp; 
Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

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Jonathan Chancellor

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