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Melbourne leads the country in industrial rental growth as developers consider new projects in key transport hubs. 
CBRE’s latest Asia Pacific Industrial and Logistics MarketView shows that the overall trend was for a slowing in rental growth. 
Melbourne was standout in the CBRE Logistics Rental Index with the city recording the strongest quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year rent growth in Australia of 0.7% and 6.8% respectively. 
This was close to double the 3.9% year-on-year rent growth recorded in Perth, which had the second highest rental growth over the period, followed by Brisbane at 3.3%. This was followed by Adelaide at 1.7% and Sydney at 0.9%. 
On a quarterly basis, rents were stable in most markets, with the exception of Melbourne. 
CBRE industrial and logistics services senior director Dean Hunt says underlying demand from the import and retail trade sector has underpinned activity in the Melbourne market. 
“Further assisting is the reduction in vacancy, which is creating greater competition for space and the beginnings of a re-emergence in the speculative development sector,” Hunt says. 
In Sydney, the report shows that high Australian dollar was continuing to put pressure on local manufacturers. 
The movement of a number of large south Sydney tenants to cheaper markets in the western suburbs has kept a lid on Sydney rent growth in 2011. 
“In Sydney, a shortage of supply in the outer west is spurring development in response to the emerging trend for a number of larger South Sydney tenants to relocate to the sub region to lower their real estate costs,” says CBRE industrial, logistics and investments regional director Joshua Charles. 
Small-scale development has returned to Adelaide as demand for smaller units and sites increases in well-located areas. 
In Brisbane there was little change in rents as the market continued to absorb existing stock and companies took longer to negotiate lease agreements. 
However, with the Brisbane development pipeline having dried up, the report tips some upward pressure on rents for large facilities in coming months and re-emerging interest in design and construction options.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Melbourne industrial rental market booming thanks to transport projects

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The Golden Grape Estate winery and restaurant at Pokolbin in the lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales has been bought by Chinese interests.
The winery, with history dating back to 1866, has been sold for $2.8 million to businessman Genghua Lin.
It is among the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/rural/chinese-investors-buy-another-hunter-valley-winery/2011083051347" target="_blank">increasing number of prominent Hunter wine tourism properties sold recently to Chinese interests.</a>
Golden Grape Estate boasts a wine museum that features the oldest wine press on the continent.
The 42-hectare Golden Grape holding sold through Jurds estate agent Cain Beckett, who says the Golden Grape price was ‘‘very strong,’’ at a time when there was ‘‘no domestic market for vineyards’’.
The vineyard is made up of classic Hunter Valley varietals including shiraz, chardonnay, verdelho, muscat and merlot and is watered by three dams and a 10 megalitre PID allocation.
Sign photo by Charlie Brewer
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Hunter Valley vineyard a golden opportunity for Chinese buyers

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/september13jutland]}
The house at 20 Jutland Parade, Dalkeith is one of the trophy homes of Perth even though its riverfront block has been long subdivided off.
Its listing agent William Porteous of William Porteous Properties International says the imposing Palladian Villa is a world-class residence created with exquisite style in a magnificent riverside setting. It has price hopes around $20 million. 
It was built by the late Bond Corp lieutenant Peter Beckwith. When last sold in 2006 for $12.25 million, the price put the six-bedroom, nine-bathroom Dalkeith palazzo equal second on Perth's prestige sales list with a $15 million cliff-top Claremont riverfront property holding top spot.
Of course since then the Angela Bennett compound sold in 2009 for $57.5 million and there’s been the recent $39 million sale of the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/western-australia/mining-magnate-buys-perth-s-second-most-expensive-house/2011080751060" target="_blank">former Alan Bond house in Dalkeith</a>.
The Beckwith mansion was built over four years in the late 1980s, reportedly at a cost of $9 million. Entry to the home is through a marbled entrance hall crowned by a domed cupola framing an antique French chandelier sourced from a Russian palace. The mansion has been completely refurbished in recent years. 
The former Bond Corp chief lived in it for only a short time before he died from a brain tumour in July 1990. The Jutland Parade house was first sold in 1996 for a record $8.5 million by Beckwith's widow, Valerie, after she struck a deed of settlement with his bankruptcy administrators
The buyer, the shopping centre developer Jack Bendat, sold it for $9.15 million in 1999 to Michael Boyd, who built his fortune through Sonic Healthcare. Boyd hived off the riverfront croquet garden for $5.6 million in 2004 and then the house for $7 million in 2005.
Offers are due October 7 with William Porteous.
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Boomtime '80s Beckwith mansion tops Perth's spring listings

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The renovated 1960s suburban at<a target="_blank" title="15 Anthony Road" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-castle+hill-107810196"> 15 Anthony Road, Castle Hill</a>, is no longer stuck in a timewarp.
And its <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/reno-tv-series-the-renovators-offerings-scheduled-for-late-september-auction/2011091251509" target="_blank">upcoming September auction</a> will give some guidance on the future direction of the Sydney market.
Having been listed with low $600,000 expectations in January this year, it cost $607,500 when bought by the producers of the latest renovation television series, The Renovators.
The four-bedroom house sits on the largest land holding in the series of 765 square metres.
It had last been marketed through LJ Hooker with the suggested “Renovate or Detonate!” LJ Hooker suggested the new owner to possibly build a duplex.
The ensuing single-storey house renovation over the past three months had a budget of $126,000, thereby requiring $760,000 to break even, after including conveyancing costs. It has been listed by Martin Baldacchino at Century 21 The Complete Real Estate Castle Hill.
It’s been the most actively traded of the show’s six offerings and amply highlights the ups, down and plateaus of Sydney’s property market over the decades.
It had previously sold at $460,000 in 2006; when the then vendors tried without luck to secure $549,000 having bought in boomtime 2003 at $520,000.
In 1994 it fetched $213,500 and four years earlier in 1990 it was sold at $205,000.
The Century 21 estate agents selling the six Sydney homes featured in the realty series The Renovators have been instructed not to issue price guidance.
And unlike The Block a request by Property Observer failed to secure any depreciation reports for the renovated properties, which will be sold with furniture.
The six were bought by the series producers for a $3.3 million total between December 2010 and March this year. The renovation budgets totalled at least $740,000.
The cheapest acquisition was the $299,500 fibro cottage at <a target="_blank" title="85 Harold Street" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-blacktown-107825221">85 Harold Street, Blacktown</a>, which now has expansive outdoor living areas and modern indoor features. Its renovation budget was $62,000. It had previously traded at $270,000 in 2006 and had been listed with a $329,950 four months before its sale to the television series company. It’s been listed by Penny Stylianou at Century 21 John Ross Combined.
The weatherboard, at <a target="_blank" title="51 Franklin St" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-parramatta-107820796">51 Franklin Street, Parramatta</a>, was next cheapest at $460,500. It is now a modern family home with three bedrooms, two bathrooms with an entertaining space and backyard area. It had been marketed for December 18  2010 auction by LJ Hooker as “not listed as heritage by Holroyd Council.” Its renovation budget was $95,000.
The inner-city terrace, at <a target="_blank" title="12 Hegarty Street" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-terrace-nsw-glebe-107810276">12 Hegarty Street, Glebe</a>, cost the dearest price at $720,000 and also sits on the smallest block of just 89 square metres. It is now a renovated 1890s three-bedroom, two-bathroom property featuring open-plan living. It was bought just a week after coming onto the market through Belle agent Mark Tooth and James Cahill in late January this year. It has been listed through Thomas Skelly at Century 21  Cordeau Marshall. The renovation budget was $150,000. 
“This property is to be sold at auction and I have been instructed to get market feedback from all genuine buyers who attend our open house inspections, so that a very realistic reserve price can be set for the auction day,” Skelly says.
After costing $572,000 in March, the shop, at <a target="_blank" title="146 Addison St" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-marrickville-107822406">146 Addison Road, Marrickville</a> has been transformed into a three-bedroom, one-bathroom abode. It had previously sold at $68,000 in 1985. Its renovation budget was $119,000.
After costing $642,500, the half-done house at <a target="_blank" title="5 Frederick St" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-st+peters-107828496">5 Frederick Street, St Peters</a>, has an Edwardian facade with modern home behind it. Its renovation budget was $134,000.
Louisa Gatto, its Century 21 Natoli Real Estate listing agent, says our instructions are that the property will be sold at auction.
“We aren’t giving a price guide on this property as there are no recent sales in the area that are comparable.
“The home is unique in design and will be sold fully furnished with quality inclusions,” she says.
Price guides were provided by agents marketing the properties featured on the Channel 9 series The Block, along with depreciation reports.
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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DIY price estimates for The Renovators' six offerings

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All six properties in Channel Ten series The Renovators have now been completed and set for late September auction finale through Century 21.
The DIY home renovation show hosted by Brendan Moar, with judges Robyn Holt, Peter Ho and Barry du Bois, has overseen the transformation of six properties.
The competitive reality renovation game show premiered in July.
The shop, at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-marrickville-107822406" title="146 Addison Road Marrickville" target="_blank">146 Addison Road, Marrickville</a> has been transformed into a three-bedroom, one-bathroom abode.
The weatherboard, at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-parramatta-107820796" title="51 Franklin Street, Parramatta" target="_blank">51 Franklin Street, Parramatta</a>, is now a modern family home with three bedrooms, two bathrooms with an entertaining space and backyard area.
The inner-city terrace, at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-terrace-nsw-glebe-107810276" title="12 Hegarty Street, Glebe" target="_blank">12 Hegarty Street, Glebe</a>, is a renovated three-bedroom, two-bathroom property featuring open-plan living.
The ‘60s suburban at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-castle+hill-107810196" title="15 Anthony Road" target="_blank">15 Anthony Road, Castle Hill</a>, is no longer stuck in a timewarp.
The half-done house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-st+peters-107828496" title="5 Frederick Street" target="_blank">5 Frederick Street, St Peters</a>, has an Edwardian facade with modern home behind it.
The fibro cottage at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-blacktown-107825221" title="85 Harold Street, Blacktown" target="_blank">85 Harold Street, Blacktown</a>, has expansive outdoor living areas and modern indoor features. All properties are in Sydney.
Leading independent auctioneering company Cooley Auctions has been selected to perform the on-site auctions on Tuesday, September 27, Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29.
“We can’t wait to get in there and achieve the highest price possible for these properties,” Cooley Auctions director Damien Cooley says.
Network Ten announced in August that it had commissioned a second season of the series, but indicated that it would modify the program's format in order to address poor ratings.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/diy-price-estimates-for-the-renovators-six-offerings/2011091351521">The agents marketing the properties will not disclose price estimates.</a>
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Reno TV series The Renovators offerings scheduled for late September auction

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Zara is possibly heading to Doncaster Westfield. Westfield is planning a $5 million expansion of the shopping complex to accommodate a big-box retailer like the Spanish clothing store.
It is understood the application doesn’t mention Zara by name, but there’s an architect’s impression with Zara etched onto a front window.
Westfield and Zara spokespeople have issued no comment when asked today by Property Observer of their intentions.
Word of the possible arrival leaked out from Manningham Council on Friday, and Manningham councillor Stephen Mayne put it out on Twitter not long after.
“Developers brekky at Manningham just told that Zara is coming to Westfield Doncaster. Women are very excited,” Mayne tweeted.
The opening in June of Melbourne’s first Zara store in Bourke Street caused frenzy.
Westfield’s application would suggest Melbourne's second Zara store could be bigger than the Sydney and Bourke Street stores, with almost 2,000 square metres of shopping space, according to plans submitted to Manningham Council on August 31.
Westfield Doncaster – formerly Doncaster Shoppingtown – is a shopping centre 50% owned by the Westfield Group and 50% owned by LaSalle Investment Management.
Westfield Doncaster, which officially opened in September 1969, was Westfield's first entry to Victoria.
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Zara mooted for Westfield Doncaster

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One of the big four banks maintains a list of residential buildings for which it bars or severely restricts intending purchasers from obtaining finance.
The blacklist includes 373 east coast residential buildings, most of which are serviced apartments, resorts or student accommodation.
The list also includes projects in the federal government's National Rental Affordability Scheme.
The list includes 100 projects – both off the plan and completed – in NSW, 146 projects in Victoria, and 127 in Queensland.
A development in Forster on the NSW mid-coast was tagged “No lending. Refer to credit hotline” on the list.
A Melbourne office conversion into one-bedroom units was deemed unsuitable by the bank ''due to poor amenity'' – the bedrooms have no windows.
A Queensland project was barred because ''there are concerns the developer may not be able to complete the project, which may impact on the saleability of existing homes''.
The list also includes a resort southeast of the Melbourne near Western Port Bay.
The list of ''unacceptable'' buildings was obtained by The Age property editor Simon Johanson, having been circulated by one of the big four banks to mortgage brokers in late 2010.
The newspaper report doesn’t identify the bank or any of the buildings.
The article notes a denial from the NAB, which says NAB did not keep a list of buildings that the bank will not finance. “We look at every inquiry on its merits and make a decision on a case-by-case basis,'' a bank spokesperson says.
A CBA spokeswoman said while the bank had a ''watch list'' of developments that required extra care for credit and valuations, it did not have a blacklist of buildings it would not finance.
Westpac and ANZ were approached by the newspaper for comment but did not respond. Property Observer has also approached Westpac and ANZ but has received no response from ANZ.  
A spokeswoman for Westpac says the bank does not have a blacklist. 
“We have policies and procedures in place to assess applicants and scenarios and make decisions on a case-by-case basis,” she says.
The list indicated the unnamed bank barred financing for all developments associated with the federal government's National Rental Affordability Scheme, an initiative designed to boost housing for low-income earners around the country.
It has long been known that lenders often decline to provide finance for buyers of apartment buildings once they reach pre-set exposure limits, commonly when 15% to 25% of the total number of apartments have already been financed by the lender.
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Bank's blacklist bans finance for 373 buildings

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Property advisory group Herron Todd White has acquired environmental broker Earthtrade.
Earthtrade, the commercial arm of the Burnett Mary Regional Group Inc, was developed in 2008 to provide environmental offset solutions for development approvals.
Herron Todd White, which operates 58 offices with an annual turnover over $70 million, will expect to expand the Earthtrade brand by addressing the issues around environmental sustainability in the property market.
“With our in-depth understanding of rural values and our extensive network, we can help our customers better understand their obligations and assist in matching their demand for offsets with available supply,” Herron Todd White chairman Gavin Hulcombe says.
HTW is hoping to deliver environmental offset solutions to clients at the feasibility stage to assist in reducing project timelines and decrease overall costs.
“A number of large organisations are already investigating issues of sustainability, from approval conditions relating to finance, to internal policies designed to address environmental impacts from development projects,” Hulcombe says.
Hulcombe notes that offsets are used to maintain a regional ecosystem affected by infrastructure and property development activities.
He notes that offsets can only be used when all other efforts to avoid or minimise environmental impacts have been exhausted.
“The acquisition will enable Herron Todd White to assist clients navigate through their requirements in purchasing environmental offsets under diverse and complex legislation,” he adds.
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Herron Todd White buys carbon offset broker Earthtrade

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Some 89% of Australia's agricultural land is owned by Australians, according to an Australian Bureau of Statistics survey.
The figures showed 99% of agricultural businesses are Australian-owned, and 91% of water entitlements for agricultural purposes were also held by Australians or Australian companies.
The Agricultural Land and Water Ownership report states 353 million hectares of Australia's 398 million hectares of farming land is entirely Australian-owned, in the first official figures on the subject in more than 25 years.
Victoria had the lowest level of foreign ownership of farming land, with 0.8% of its 99,500 hectares of land reported as having some level of foreign ownership.
The Northern Territory had the highest level of foreign ownership, with 24% or 14 million hectares reported as having some level of foreign ownership.
Of the 353 million hectares of farming land in Australia, some 45 million hectares had some level of foreign ownership and 0.3 million hectares had an unknown ownership status.
Of the agricultural land with some foreign ownership, 168,500 hectares were owned by businesses that had less than 10% foreign ownership, 22 million hectares were owned by businesses that had between 10% and 50% foreign ownership and 23 million hectares were owned by businesses that had more than 50% foreign ownership.
It comes at a time that rural estate agents have suggested international inquiries for rural land are at their highest levels in a decade, with most interest stemming from China and the Middle East.
Of Australia's 13,700 gigalitres of water entitlements used for agricultural purposes, about 12,500 gigalitres were owned by entirely Australian owned business, 1169 gigalitres had some level of foreign ownership and 97 gigalitres had an unknown ownership status, according to the report.
The data collected by survey gives a snapshot of land ownership at December 2010.
The industry group reporting the highest proportion of Australian land ownership was the nursery and floriculture production, with 99%, or 279,000 hectares, entirely Australian-owned.
The industry group reporting the highest proportion of some level of foreign ownership (therefore the lowest proportion of Australian land ownership) was the sheep, beef cattle and grain farming group. More than 11% of this group reported some level of foreign ownership (representing nearly 44 million hectares), leaving approximately 88% or 329 million hectares entirely Australian-owned.
With the survey prompted by the opposition and Greens agitating for greater scrutiny of foreign investment in farming, Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten said the survey showed the vast majority of agricultural resources were locally owned.
''There's going to be legitimate anxieties about this in the future. But the snapshot of the present shows we have not sold the farm, the land or the water,'' Shorten says.
Opposition spokesman for agriculture and food security John Cobb says the figures showing Australians owned 99% of agricultural businesses were skewed by not looking at the size of the businesses.
''By including every small family farm business structure with an ABN we cannot see the proportion of large businesses like the grain marketing companies or the dairy food processes that are foreign-owned,'' Cobb says.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="width: 450px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="80"></td>
<td valign="bottom" width="97">
Total area of holding
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="97">
Australian owned
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="440">
Foreign owned
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="80"></td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
ha
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
ha
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
ha
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="80"></td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97"></td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97"></td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="80">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
56,186,791
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
54,541,462
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
1,535,366
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="80">
Vic.
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
12,245,136
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
12,059,345
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
99,480
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="80">
Qld
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
138,706,282
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
122,336,948
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
16,327,665
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="80">
SA
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
45,130,996
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
39,654,232
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
5,462,957
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="80">
WA
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
84,657,317
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
77,377,205
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
7,202,663
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="80">
Tas.
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
1,841,329
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
1,736,879
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
104,015
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="80">
NT
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
59,223,472
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
45,101,528
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
14,121,936
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="80">
Aust.
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
397,991,323
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
352,807,599
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
44,854,082
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: ABS
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Almost 90% of agricultural land Australian-owned

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/september12exbury]}
An ultra-contemporary house on the Beaulieu River near Exbury, Southampton, has been listed with a £12 million asking price. The five-bedroom house sits on a 10.8-hectare block.
Its <a target="_blank" title="Knight Frank" href="https://search.knightfrank.com/cho090280">Knight Frank </a>listing agent, James Crawford, says the Beaulieu River is the premier sailing place on the South Coast, about 60 kilometres from London.
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UK home with £12 million asking price for sail

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

Jonathan Chancellor

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