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The Hideaway Resorts portfolio, consisting of the Cyclone-ravaged Dunk Island and Bedarra Island resorts on the Great Barrier Reef, has been listed for sale.
Bids are due on the Far North Queensland freehold offering through CBRE Hotels agents Wayne Bunz, Tom Gibson and Paul Nyholt by October 20 at 4pm.
Bunz says the campaign presents an opportunity to buy what had been some of the most exclusive island resorts in the region prior to Cyclone Yasi.
The resorts have been closed since the February cyclone.
Dunk Island Resort (pictured) occupies 150 hectares, the largest in what is known as the “Family Group of Islands”.
Bedarra Island is four kilometres to the south of Dunk Island, the second largest in the “Family Group of Islands” and incorporates the Bedarra Island Resort on 44.96 hectares and Bedarra Hideaway on 34.88 hectares.
Bedarra was famous for its complimentary bottles of French champagne at the open bar. Actor Toni Collette said it was the sexiest place she had ever visited.  Melbourne-based Hideaway Resorts acquired the Beddara Island from Voyages in 2009 for $21.5 million, according to RP Data. Dunk cost $20.5 million. 
The properties have been listed by the philanthropic businessman John McCall MacBain. McCall MacBain founded Trader Classified Media, a major classified advertising enterprise, which was sold in 2006.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Not-so-perfect islands for sale in FNQ

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Property remains the NSW government’s remarkable revenue raiser despite the small bone the O’Farrell government has thrown the ailing residential development industry by way of its new home stamp duty incentive for first-home buyers.
This financial year the government will get $6.13 billion in property tax revenue. The longstanding $7,000 First Home Owner grant will continue to be available for all eligible first-home buyers. The total transfer duty exemption for eligible recipients – first-home buyers and others – is forecast as costing $803 million.
Meanwhile, existing NSW property investors could find 2012 a tricky year to exit the market, given the government’s decision to throw its weight behind new homes and units when it comes to stamp duties incentives.
The decision pulls the rug from underneath the sub-$600,000 established house and unit market, especially in the inner- and middle-ring suburbs.
The government saving is money that had previously underpinned the now-finely turned, and isolated, established housing market.
The change takes effect on January 1, 2012, so expect many erratic market distortions from today onwards as first-home buyers scramble to get the full $24,000 concession over the next few months.
Steering first-home buyers to spend their supposed entitlement to stamp duty concessions on newly built homes has merit, but don’t expect to see any stampede by the Y generation to new homes in the sticks or further afield.
The greatest impact will potentially be on demand in the inner-ring suburbs, where there are few new homes. The unit market pricing structure won’t be as affected, since new unit construction will take place in most suburbs across Sydney.
Angus Raine, the Raine &amp; Horne boss, has slammed the state government's decision to cut the stamp duty exemption for first-home buyers purchasing existing homes in NSW, suggesting it will put even more pressure on overworked infrastructure in outer-Sydney suburbs.
"This is not going to help young people jump off the rental market treadmill and into their own homes," says Raine.
Stamp duty revenues hit $3.902 billion in the last financial year, which was above the $3.739 billion in the prior financial year, but below the envisaged $4.049 billion estimate.
Reflecting 7.3% annual growth, stamp duty revenues are expected to jump to $4.271 billion in the current financial year, then $4.723 billion and then $5.167 billion in 2014-2015.
Land tax revenues are tipped to rise by 6.9% annually over the forward period. Land tax revenues hit $2.289 billion in the past financial year, which was just below the $2.296 billion in the previous financial year, and below the envisaged $3.282 billion estimate.
Land tax revenues are expected to jump to $2.482 billion in the current financial year, then $2.643 billion then $2.813 billion and then $2.987 billion in 2014-2015.
The revised First Home Plus and First Home Plus One schemes will provide a full transfer duty exemption for eligible first home buyers purchasing a newly built home costing up to $500,000 and partial transfer duty exemptions for homes costing between $500,000 and $600,000.
NSW Treasurer Mike Baird expects restricting the schemes to newly built homes will enhance incentives for new home construction.
“Over time, an expanded supply of homes will help to improve housing affordability for all home buyers,” Baird says.
In the past year 32,600 first-home buyers secured concessions totalling $587 million.
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Stamp duty concessions just a small bone given revenue take

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Mortgagee repossession actions lodged in the NSW Supreme Court are on the rise. There were 1,715 in the first seven months of this year. By comparison, there were only 1,398 during the first seven months of 2010. However, the figures aren’t as bad as the 2,325 during the first seven months of 2009.
The peak year for possession writs was in 2006, with 5,370 writs in the wake of the low-doc price boom that swept Sydney's outer-west.
The 2010 annual tally of 2,564 was the lowest since 2003.
Mount Druitt, Castle Hill and Merrylands were the busiest suburbs for repossessions in July. Dubbo and Orange were the busiest towns for repossessions in July, according to the report issued by the Department of Attorney General  and Justice.
In June it was Blacktown, Fairfield, Hurstville and Prestons along with the towns of Avoca and Terrigal.
The tally includes executed writs where the repossession proceeded and unexecuted writs where the repossession did not go ahead as a court order.
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NSW mortgagee repossessions on the rise

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<img src="/images/stories/scottishisland2.jpg">
With a £2.5 million price tag, Ailsa Craig, an island 10 miles off the Ayrshire Coast, sits halfway between Glasgow and Belfast. Its an island lying in the outer Firth of Clyde, and home to the world's best known Curling Stone Quarry. Knight Frank agent Ran Morgan says it comes with one attractive cottage and three former cottages on its 89 hectares.
<img src="/images/stories/scottishisland3.jpg">
Access to Ailsa Craig is possible either by boat or by helicopter.
The name comes from the Gaelic for "fairy rock".The monks of Crossraguel Abbey — a few miles inland — acquired Ailsa Craig in 1404, before it passed to the Kennedy family in the 16th century. They are the current vendors.
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Remote Scottish island for sale

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A former convent property in <a target="_blank" title="Wynnum" href="/news">Wynnum</a> has been sold for $1.6 million – a record residential sale for the bayside Brisbane suburb.
The Brisbane congregation of the Sisters of Mercy sold the 20-room former 1915 hillside convent, which overlooks Moreton Bay.
Mount Carmel Convent, replete with Arts and Crafts-style timber balustrades and joinery, was built at a cost of £8000.
Its selling agent Robert Dunne of Savills Queensland said the property attracted 79 inspections with eight subsequent offers.
It was purchased by Ivan Simon, of production company IJS Logistics, who plans to restore the former convent into a prestige residence.
It already features decorative external design features, including cast iron and timber balustrades and glazed face brick walls with rendered sections.
It interiors have pressed metal ceilings, stained glass and leadlight windows.
It design dates back to the architectural partnership of Hall and Dods, who were highly regarded for their early 20th century ecclesiastical work.
The partnership of Hall and Dods was established in 1896 and continued until 1916. Dods was also architect to the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane and the firm oversaw the construction of St John's Cathedral.
It was heritage listed in 1999.
Robert Dunne said the Wynnum property no longer provided suitable accommodation for the two sisters who were living there.
Established primarily as a teaching order in 1831 in Ireland by Catherine McAuley, the first Sisters of Mercy arrived in Queensland in 1861.
Savills Queensland has sold convents at Paddington and West End for the order.
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Convent sale fetches highest Wynnum price bar nun

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House prices in Brisbane, Melbourne and Darwin could fall by as much as 15%  from their recent peak by the end of 2012 even if interest rates stay unchanged, according to property analyst SQM’s Louis Christopher.
Only Sydney and Canberra will escape the plunge, Christopher says.
Battered buyer confidence, the four interest rate rises in 2010 and a reluctance to take on more debt would force the house price falls.
“We are well on the way to these type of declines,” Christopher says.
“We have over 377,000 properties on the market … there’s a lot of stock on the market coming into this spring, and we’re not expecting buyer demand to pick up at all,” he says.
SQM Research’s first national outlook report, entitled Christopher’s Housing Boom and Bust Report, details that Perth was likely to record the largest drop in house prices and Canberra the least.
He suggests Sydney property prices are expected to do relatively better than prices in other cities.
“But for Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Darwin, the losses are mounting, having come off recent strong runs.
“In 2012 if there is a 25 basis point cut in official cash rates, prices would likely bottom out and even post modest gains in some cities, as the property downturn eases and confidence begins to return to the market.
“However if rates are left on hold, house prices are likely to keep falling well into 2012 with no market bottom until at least the middle of the year,” Christopher says.
“If rates we to rise by just 25 points, either this year or next, house price declines would accelerate throughout the course of the year.
“Our base case scenario is that interest rates are unlikely to change in the immediate future.
“If interest rates do remain unchanged through to June 2012, then the accumulated peak-to-trough declines for most Australian capital cities will reach double digits by the end of that calendar year.
“It’s clear to us that this current housing downturn is starting to build some momentum, which is going to be very difficult to stop without some kind of stimulus from either the RBA or the federal government,” Christopher says.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="width: 470px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="7" width="529">
Median House Price  Forecasts
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="74">
City
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
% change from Peak  to June 2011
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
2011F*
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
2012F no change in cash rate scenario (base case)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
2012F 25 bp rate cut scenario 
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
2012F 25bp rate hike scenario
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
Accumulated change. Peak to end 2012. No rate change (base case)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="74">
Perth
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-4.3% (Mar 2010)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-5% to -7%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-2 to -4%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
4% to 0%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-5% to -8%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-10% to -14%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="74">
Brisbane
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-3.6% (June 2010)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-4% to 6%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-4% to -7%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
+3% to -2%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-5% to -7%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-10% to -15%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="74">
Darwin
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-3.1% (Dec 2010)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-5% to -8%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-4% to 7%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
+3% to -2%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-5% to -9%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-9% to -15%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="74">
Melbourne
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-2.0% (June 2010)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-5% to -7%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-5% to -7%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
+2% to -2%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-5% to -9%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-11% to -15%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="74">
Sydney
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-0.6% (June 2010)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
0% to -4%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
+4% to +0%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
+7% to +2%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-3% to -5%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
+3% to -3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="74">
Adelaide
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-2.4% (Dec 2010)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-4% to -6%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-4%-6%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
+5% to 0%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-4% to -8%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-8% to -12%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="74">
Hobart
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-0.7% (Dec 2010)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-2% to -4.5%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-2% to -4%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
+5% to +2%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-4% to -7%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-4% to -8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="74">
Canberra
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
Peak now
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
+1% to -1%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
+2% to +4%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
+8% to +2%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
-3% to -5%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76">
+5% to +1%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
The full report is available at <a target="_blank" title="SQM" href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/">SQM's website.</a>
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House prices could fall by 15% in three capitals: Louis Christopher

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New Zealand’s housing market has some spring in its step.
New listings of houses for sale rose 9% in August from July. They were up 3% on August last year, according to data compiled by www.realestate.co.nz, which accounts for about 95% of all listings by real estate agents in New Zealand.
The 10,120 new listings in August brought the total amount of inventory for sale to an average 36.7 weeks worth of sales, down from the long-term average of 41 weeks. It was 42 weeks in June.
“The property market is now showing all the signs of gearing up for a much stronger spring season than has been seen for a number of years,” says www.realestate.co.nz chief executive Alistair Helm.
Nationwide 12 out of 19 regions now have inventory levels below the long-term average. At the end of August there were 44,689 houses, apartments and lifestyle properties on the market, down from 45,674 in July and down from 50,138 a year ago.
Asking prices are starting to edge higher. The average asking price in August of $415,078 was up 3% on July and up 1% from three months ago. It was $527,979 in Auckland where there’s 24 weeks sales inventory and $422,100 in Wellington with 19 weeks inventory.
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Spring brings new listings to New Zealand property market

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Lend Lease has been selected as preferred construction company for the Adelaide Oval Redevelopment project.
Construction will commence after the end of the cricket season in March 2012, with practical completion expected in time for the AFL season of 2014.
Baulderstone, part of Lend Lease’s Australian infrastructure business, will design and construct the new stadium, which will transform the historic oval into a 50,000-seat multi-purpose venue.
Located in parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide, Adelaide Oval dates back to the 1870s. The first Test match was played at the Oval from December 12 to 16, 1884.
The oval currently has a seating capacity of 40,000 spectators. Its maximum crowd at a cricket game was 50,962 during the Bodyline test 1932, and the maximum football crowd was 62,543 at the 1965 SANFL grand final between Port Adelaide and Sturt.
The first official AFL game took place between Port Adelaide and Melbourne in the last round of the 2011 AFL season, with Port Adelaide winning by eight points.
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Lend Lease scores Adelaide Oval

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1. What is the nature of the scheme? 
The scheme is intended to help people who are acquiring a new home that is their first home. It replaces the First Home Plus Scheme from January 1, 2012.
2. When does it apply? 
It applies to eligible agreements for sale or transfers (where there is no agreement) entered into on or after 1 January 2012.
3. Who is eligible to apply? 
An 'eligible purchaser' is a natural person (i.e. not a company or trust) at least 18 years of age who has not, and whose spouse/de facto has not:
<ul>
<li>at any time owned (either solely or with someone else) residential property in Australia other than property owned solely as trustee or executor</li>
<li>at any time been the holder (either solely or with someone else)of a leasehold interest granted by the Commonwealth in residential property in the Australian Capital Territory</li>
<li>previously received an exemption or concession under the scheme.</li>
</ul>
4. What agreements or transfers are eligible? 
The agreement or transfer must be for the acquisition of a first home which is a new home or a vacant block of residential land intended to be the site of a first home. This includes the acquisition of:
<ul>
<li>(a) a new home (that is a home that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence)</li>
<li>(b) a substantially renovated home</li>
<li>(c) a vacant block of residential land (that is an agreement for the sale or transfer of vacant land that is intended to be used as the site of a first home).</li>
</ul>
5. What is a substantially renovated home?
A substantially renovated home is a renovated home:
<ul>
<li>a) that is new residential premises within the meaning of section 40-75(1)(b) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 of the Commonwealth, and</li>
<li>b) that, as renovated, has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence.</li>
</ul>
Under that legislation, 'substantial renovations' of a building are defined as renovations in which all, or substantially all, of a building is removed or replaced. The renovations may, but need not, involve the removal or replacement of foundations, external walls, interior supporting walls, floors, roof or staircases.
6. Does the normal residency requirement still apply? 
Yes, it applies to the first home buyers. That is, at least one of them must occupy the home as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of six months commencing within 12 months from completion of the agreement.
7. Are there value limits? 
Yes.
<ul>
<li>a) $600,000 in the case of a new home purchase or an off the plan purchase, or</li>
<li>b) $450,000 in the case of a vacant land purchase.</li>
</ul>
8. For a vacant land purchase when must I commence building the home? 
There is no time limit on how long it takes to commence or complete building the home. It is sufficient that the Chief Commissioner is satisfied that the vacant block is intended to be used as the site of a new home to be occupied by the first home owner or one of the first home owners.
9. Does this apply to agreements executed before 1 January 2012? 
No, the First Home Plus concessions and exemptions continue to apply if:
<ul>
<li>(a) an agreement for sale or transfer is entered into before 1 January 2012</li>
<li>(b) a transfer occurs before 1 January 2012</li>
<li>(c) transfers that occur on or after 1 January 2012 are made in conformity with an agreement for sale or transfer that is entered into before 1 January 2012. </li>
</ul>
10. Can applicants apply for the First Home Owner Grant even if they do not qualify for the First Home – New Home exemption or concession? 
Yes, eligible applicants can apply for the grant.
11. Can I get the exemption or concession if I’m purchasing an existing home to knock down and build a new home on the land? 
No, the agreement must be for the purchase of vacant land on which you are going to build a home.
12. Will mortgage duty be payable on any loan to finance the purchase?
No, mortgage duty is not chargeable on a mortgage that secures an advance that is made for owner occupied housing.
Full details <a href="https://www.osr.nsw.gov.au/legislation/budget/2011/" title="Budget" target="_blank">here</a>.</body></html>

The 12 key points to NSW's stamp duty entitlements from 2012 

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The thresholds for NSW’s new first-home stamp duty scheme were too low, according to the Urban Taskforce, a property development industry group.
The concession reaches its maximum rate at $500,000 and ramps down so that there is no benefit when a first-home buyer purchases a new home valued at more than $600,000.
“The existing first home owners’ grant applies to dwellings up to $750,000 in value,” Taskforce chief executive Aaron Gadiel says.
“We’re surprised that this benchmark hasn’t been used for the amended schemes.
“For example, first-home buyers with young children will struggle to find a three-bedroom apartment in Sydney priced under $600,000.”
The budget papers say that the better targeting of the First Home Plus and First Home Plus One schemes will raise an extra $1.049 billion over four years for the government.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/nsw-scraps-stamp-duty-concessions-for-existing-homes-from-2012/2011090651441?source=flicker1" target="_blank">The $7,000 first-home buyer grant continues to be available to all first-home buyers.</a>
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NSW first home scheme won't help $600,000-plus new home buyers

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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