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A redundant electricity substation on a 77-square-metre block at Marrickville<a href="/news"> </a>suitable for conversion into residential use has been listed for October 15 auction.
It’s one of the 1,000 substations that were built across Sydney from the late 1870s as the demand for electricity grew throughout the city.
There are approved plans by Tanner Architects to convert the <a target="_blank" title="Marrickville" href="/news">Marrickville </a>property into a 159-square-metre, three-bedroom, two-bathroom abode with roof terrace with louvered pergola.
Its BresicWhitney listing agent Matt Carvalho expects $500,000 plus for the Philpott Street listing.
It’s been subdivided off the neighbouring Globe Mills apartment development.
While many are simple designs, the Marrickville substation was built to fit into the architecture of its factory surroundings. It comes with three high steel roller shutter doors.
Substations were camouflaged as everything from Federation homes and Californian bungalows to castle-like structures.
<img src="/images/stories/philpottplans.gif">
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Bidders abuzz over 77-square-metre substation with triplex potential

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It’s not goodbye Hollywood for Australian band founder Chris Cester. It’s been reported he’s spent $US1,875,000 on a 1924 Hollywood house.
The 171-square-metre home comes with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The purchase is set in Laurel Canyon.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/international/is-this-gonna-be-your-house-jet-founder-lists-hollywood-home/2011092651687" target="_blank">He has his current four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Hollywood on the market</a> for $US1,075,000.
According to BlockShopper.com, there have been 519 home sales in Hollywood during the past 12 months, with a median sales price of US$700,000. Trulia says the average list price for Hollywood Hills is US$1.9 million.
Cester who formed the band Jet with his brother Nic Cester,  grew up in Dingley Village, a suburb just out of Melbourne.
 
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Jet founder puts his money where his mouth is and buys in Hollywood

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Some 28 of Australia’s 65 regions are now considered to have high mortgage delinquency, with non-mining unemployment hurting regional home owners.
Moody's Investors Service says the ability of Australian home owners to keep up with their mortgage payments has declined over the past year.
“Mortgage performance has shown a material deterioration," says Arthur Karabatsos, a Moody's vice-president.
Between March 2010 and June 2011, the national delinquency rate rose from 1.36% to 1.67%, given an especially poor performance in the regions.
"Of Australia's 65 regions, those performing very poorly, that is, with more than 2.5% delinquencies, increased to 11 from two, and those performing poorly increased to 17 from five," says Karabatsos.
Moody’s classified 11 regions as performing very poorly, with six from New South Wales, four from Queensland and one from Western Australia.
"NSW remains the worst-performing state overall, with six of its regions performing very poorly," Karabatsos says.
But the biggest declines in mortgage performance have been experienced in Queensland and WA, the two states that have been the biggest beneficiaries of Australia's ongoing mining boom, the report says.
“Previously all Queensland regions performed satisfactorily or better, but now four regions are performing very poorly.
“And before only one of WA's seven regions was performing poorly and now it is four performing poorly and one very poorly,” says Karabatsos.
"This apparent paradox is partly explained by the fact that non-mining jobs still account for most of the employment in both states, and such sectors lag the mining sector in growth.
“For example, the strong Australian dollar has weakened the tourism industry, which accounts for more than 5% of employment in Queensland," Karabatsos says.
"Overall, mining accounts for just 1.8% of employment in Australia, and then 2.4% in Queensland and 7.1% in WA.
“Now QLD's tourism-dependent Gold Coast region not only has Australia's third worst mortgage performance with 3.11% delinquencies, but also contributes the most delinquent loans outright, with 6.9% of such loans in Australia located in the region," adds Karabatsos.
"And, previously, while all of Victoria's regions were satisfactory or better, two now perform poorly.
“By comparison, South Australia is the best-performing state, with all of its regions performing satisfactorily," says Karabatsos.
<img src="/images/stories/moodys2.gif">
Source: Moody's
The report shows that the worst performing postcode is in WA – postcode 6168 encompassing suburbs such as Rockingham, Hillman, Garden Island and Peron some 30 kilometres south of Perth –  which has a delinquency level of 5.31%, more than three times the national average of 1.67%, as calculated by Moody's.
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Non-mining unemployment hurting regional mortgage repayments: Moody's

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About 3.7% of Australian dwellings are now worth less than their original purchase price, according to a comprehensive RP Data analysis.
The decline in property prices following the global financial crisis has had its biggest impact in Queensland, where about 6.3% of all properties are in negative equity.
Queensland is followed by Western Australia, where about 4.9% of properties are worth less than the owners paid.
The Queensland districts with the highest negative equity are far north Queensland, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
For homes purchased from 2008, the RP Data findings show that 7.7% are now worth less than what the owner paid.
An estimated 13.3% of post-GFC buyers in Queensland are likely to be in negative equity, with the property likely to resell at less than its purchase price.
Queensland is followed by Western Australia with 9.6% in negative territory post-GFC and Tasmania with 9.5% negative equity since the 2008 economic downturn.
“The global financial crisis began affecting housing markets in 2008,” Tim Lawless, RP Data national research director, says.
“The home owners that are at the greatest risk of home values moving below their purchase price are those that have purchased since 2008,” Lawless says.
The Australian Capital Territory was ranked as the least affected, with just 1% showing negative equity. Victoria followed, with 1.8% of Victoria’s owners considered negative-equity households.
But the report concluded that 45% of home owners across Australia are sitting on a nest egg that’s worth at least double what was paid.
“Strong value growth in property over recent years has been the catalyst for most regions enjoying quite strong levels of equity,” Lawless says.
“Over the five years to June 2011 capital city home values have increased by about 30%, providing a significant wealth boost to most home owners during this period.
“More recently the Australian housing market has softened and home values are down 2.7% between their October 2010 peak and June 2011,” Lawless notes.
RP Data estimates that Australia’s residential housing market is now worth $4.56 trillion – almost four times the value of the $1.3 trillion Australian equities market.
RP Data’s report measures the difference between the original purchase price of a home and the current valuation for individual properties around the country.
The property valuations used in the analysis are based on RP Data’s automated valuations model, where the value of more than 8 million dwellings is regularly estimated across Australia.
The report does not factor in home owner debt levels.
Worst-performing areas
<img src="/images/stories/worstareas.gif">
 
Best-performing areas
<img src="/images/stories/bestperformingareas.gif">
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Queensland hit hardest post-GFC as 6.3% of homes worth less than their purchase price

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The first two of the six auction offerings that precede the October finale of the Channel Ten series The Renovators have been put to auction. The other four houses also face the auction reality test this week. 
The Century 21 listing agents are under confidentiality agreements until the October 9 auction screening finale. 
And even those who attended the onsite auctions have been asked to keep the prices under wraps. 
The sale amount over the undisclosed reserves goes into the collective prize pool for the eventual winner to keep. 
While the auctions were underway some 803,000 viewers were tuned into the latest elimination.  Melbourne’s audience was the highest at 302,000, followed by Sydney’s 164,000 and Brisbane’s 162,000. 
SPOILER ALERT 
Suggesting Sydney’s spring sales market is a pricing test, both did sell, but barely above cost price. 
The weatherboard, at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-parramatta-107820796" target="_blank" title="51 Franklin St">51 Franklin Street, Parramatta</a>, was sold at an auction with 100-plus attendees for $575,000. 
It had been bought at $460,500, with stamp duty taking it to $478,000. It had been in the same family for five decades. It is now a modern family home with three bedrooms, two bathrooms with an entertaining space and backyard area. Its renovation budget was $95,000, making the breakeven point before its auction campaign conveyancing costs $573,000.
The 1915 Marrickville offering also sold last night at its onsite auction. It fetched $700,000 in a one-bid auction. After costing $572,000 in March, or $595,000 after stamp duty, the shop, at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-marrickville-107822406" target="_blank" title="146 Addison St">146 Addison Road, Marrickville</a> was transformed into a three-bedroom, one-bathroom abode. Its renovation budget was $119,000. It had previously sold at $68,000 in 1985.
The Glebe and St Peters properties have also found buyers at their Wednesday night auction. 
<a target="_blank" title="DIY price estimations on Renovators" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/diy-price-estimates-for-the-renovators-six-offerings/2011091351521">None of the agents would provide price estimations for the properties before auction.</a>
For expert commentary and analysis on lessons to be learnt from property reality TV, <a target="_blank" href="https://register.propertyobserver.com.au/lights-camera-auction/">download our e-book Lights, Camera, Auction!</a>
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Channel Ten's Renovators meet reality and ambitiously seek secrecy on Sydney auction results 

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Three of the four Richmond properties on the hit Nine renovation series The Block 2011 are now available for rent as its emerges that all four cottages were bought by investors.
Katrina and Amie's furnished house at 41 Cameron Street, which sold for $860,000, is the cheapest rental – listed at $950 a week through Hocking Stuart agent Stephen Chamberlin. It would reflect a 5.74% gross yield.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 39 Cameron Street renovated by Polly and Waz, which sold under the hammer for $855,000, is for lease at $995 a week through Brant Williams, of Advantage Property Consulting. Its asking rent reflects a 6.05% gross yield.
The dearest home on The Block at 37 Cameron Street, which Josh and Jenna sold for $1 million, is for rent at $1,250 per week through Woodards Carnegie. It reflects a 6.3% gross yield.
Rod and Tania Walsh's property at 43 Cameron Street has yet to appear. It was bought at $922,000 by a Melbourne couple as an investment through Jellis Craig agent Clayton Smith.
The indicative gross rental yield for <a target="_blank" title="Richmond" href="/news">Richmond</a> houses is 3.5%, according to RP Data.
The depreciation reports for the renovated homes heightened investor interest in the offerings.
The depreciation reports were been prepared by BMT Tax Depreciation Quantity Surveyors, which have inspected the older properties – now renovated – and estimated what a buyer could claim in deductions in his or her tax returns.
The house renovated by Polly and Waz at 39 Cameron Street could have an initial maximum $27,000 claimable depreciation in its first financial year. Its depreciation would peak in its second financial year at $29,700.
The house at 37 Cameron Street, which Jenna and Josh renovated, has an initial $25,000 claimable depreciation.
The house renovated by Katrina and Amie at 41 Cameron Street could have an initial maximum $28,000 claimable depreciation in its first financial year. Its depreciation would peak in its second financial year at $30,000.
It is estimated the renovated house at 43 Cameron Street, renovated by Rod and Tania, could have an initial maximum $29,000 claimable depreciation in its first financial year. Its depreciation would peak in its second financial year at $31,500.
Even though the buyers will not have carried out the work themselves, the ATO allows property investors to claim a deduction related to the building and plant and equipment items contained within it. It can be claimed by any owner of an income-producing property.
The asking rents for 41 Cameron Street and 39 Cameron Street are<a target="_blank" title="Friday Form Guide" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/friday-form-guide-yields-of-up-to-7.5-on-the-block/2011081851199"> far higher than what their agents estimated for their rental potential before auction</a>. The asking rent for 37 Cameron Street is in the rental estimation range provided by Roberts pre-auction.
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Block Richmond properties hit the rental market with yields of up to 6.3%

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House prices in the United States declined less in July than June, but the property market was still far from a sustained recovery, according to David Blitzer, chairman of the S&amp;P/Case-Shiller index.
The index of property values in 20 cities fell 4.1% over the year, slightly better than the revised 4.4% drop in the 12 months to June.
The index has had negative house price growth for 13 consecutive months.
“We are still far from a sustained recovery,” Blitzer says.
The data “indicates that the housing market is still bottoming and has not turned around,” says Blitzer.
<img src="/images/stories/casesept28.gif">
Eighteen of the 20 cities and both the 10-city and 20-city lists are showing that home prices are still below where they were a year ago.
The 10-city index composite is down 3.7% and the 20-city index is down 4.1% compared with July 2010.
“Continued increases in home prices through the end of the year and better annual results must materialise before we can confirm a housing market recovery,” Blitzer says.
As of July 2011, average home prices across the United States are back to the levels where they were in the summer of 2003.
Measured from the June/July 2006 peaks through July 2011, the peak-to-current declines for the 10-city composite and 20-city composite are -31% and -30.9%, respectively.
The peak-to-trough declines are -33.5% and -33.4%, respectively.
The 10-city composite hit its crisis low in April 2009, whereas the 20-city reached a more recent low in March 2011.
Other gauges tracking home prices, including CoreLogic and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, have also shown a slight monthly improvement in July over June.
The Case-Shiller measure is based on a three-month average, which means the July data were influenced by transactions in June and May. July’s year-to-year drop was the smallest since March.
<img src="/images/stories/casesept281.gif">
Prices in the 20 cities rose 0.9% before adjusting for seasonal changes in July after climbing 1.2% in June.
Eighteen of the 20 cities in the index showed a year-over- year decline in July, led by a 9.1% drop in Minneapolis.
The only gainers were Detroit, which showed a 1.2% advance, and Washington, with a 0.3% increase.
Home sales remain in the doldrums with sales of new houses falling in August to a six-month low, figures from the Commerce Department show.
But purchases of previously owned homes rose to a five-month high, boosted by demand of low-priced, distressed houses, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Sales of existing US properties have averaged a 4.97 million annual pace this year, compared with the 7.25 million peak reached in September 2005.
CoreLogic recently reported that “shadow inventory” – distressed properties not yet on the market – declined to 1.6 million in July from 1.9 million a year earlier, 22% below its peak.
Investigations into bank foreclosure practices have led to delays in processing that may have helped stabilise prices in recent months.
But Bloomberg speculated values may soon resume their slide as the holdups dissipate, putting more houses on to the market and pushing back any recovery in the industry that precipitated the last recession.
“The enormous supply overhang of existing homes, particularly factoring in all those in foreclosure or soon to be, promises to keep pressure on prices for some time,” Joshua Shapiro, chief U.S. economist at Maria Fiorini Ramirez Inc. in New York, said in a note to clients reported by Bloomberg.
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US house prices still sliding, but descent has slowed

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Anambah House, the 1889 residence on 29 hectares of prime Maitland grazing land with Hunter River frontage, has been sold for $1.75 million to Jann Zappacosta, the general manager of Wayne Cooper clothing, and her husband, Maurizio.
It was listed for sale at $1.79 million through Rhonda Nyquist of PRDnationwide Hunter Valley.
The Berry family has owned the property for three decades. It was built for grazier John Mackay, whose family also owned Redleaf House in Woollahra, now Woollahra Council Chambers.
Visitors through the years have included Dame Nellie Melba in 1908; she sang Home Sweet Home on the staircase. Two governor-generals, the Earl of Dudley and the Earl of Gowrie, visited over the years; and radio entertainers Roy "Mo" Rene and Jack Davey stayed in the 1950s when Anambah was the home of Hal Lashwood, one of the greats of Australian radio.
It was the setting for the film Country Life, starring Greta Scacchi and Sam Neill, in 1994.
The two-storey Victorian-era mansion retains all the original features, including its cedar joinery, 10 marble fireplaces, and servants' bell-pushes. Its cedar staircase has two large stained-glass windows on the first landing. It has pressed metal ceilings in upstairs bedrooms, a slate roof, sandstock bricks and original cast-iron lace veranda rails.
There is a separate billiard room built in 1906, along with stable and servants quarters. Its gated grounds have several Bunyah pines and a 1993 tennis pavilion.
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Anambah House sells to Wayne Cooper GM

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/september27vaucluse]}
Sunny Brea, an elegant family home set on an elevated 1,140-square-metre parcel of land at Vaucluse overlooking Sydney Harbour, has been listed for upcoming auction.
Its been in the Pfeiffer family since its construction in 1905 – home to five generations.
The house with five bedrooms plus study boasts water views from most rooms.
There’s a spacious formal lounge and dining with timber floors along with a large entertaining area.
Its been listed through Michael Dunn and James Dunn  at Richardson &amp; Wrench Double Bay in conjunction with Michael Finger and Gavin Rubinstein at Ray White Double Bay.
It comes with $6.5 million plus hopes.
Recent Fitzwilliam Road sales have ranged between $4.48 million and $6,005,000.
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Sunny outlook for 1905 Vaucluse listing

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/september27bondi]}
Bondi Beach's record-setting $9 million apartment is up for sale. Since the Notts Avenue penthouse sold in 2006 there have been higher prices, but its listing agents are coy as to their current ambitions.
“It certainly will be selling for more than it last sold,” the listing agent Martin Maskin says.
It’s been listed by Spencer Young, the founder and chairman of a $6 billion global hedge fund business, as he plans to relocate to his country retreat.
The apartment covers the top floor of a three-story building at the south end of Bondi Beach, which has a north-easterly aspect.
The complex is direct above the Bondi Icebergs swimming, fitness and recreation club.
The apartment includes four security car spaces.
The penthouse sales in the area at higher prices include a Ramsgate Avenue apartment that changed hands at $9.8 million in 2007 for a two-level, five-bedroom penthouse on Ramsgate Avenue with 300 square metres of internal space plus balcony, and then more recently a penthouse in The Beach House at 178 Campbell Parade, which sold off the plan for $11.4 million.
The Notts Avenue offering has been listed through Martin Maskin at Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay.
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Record-setting Bondi apartment back on the market

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.

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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.

[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.

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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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