Apartment developers are getting wise to how important amenities are in developments, with residents expecting to spend more time at home than ever before.

Working from home seems to be here to stay, and the importance of having amenity such as a swimming pool and gym within the same community is an attractive proposition for the time-poor workers.

One of the biggest trends slowly coming through is the virtual golf simulator, allowing keen golfers or beginners to golf privately, inside, and in the same building they live.

Urban has picked out some of the best new apartment developments across Melbourne, currently on the market, which have a golf simulator.

<h2>Ivanhoe Gardens</h2>

Address:&nbsp;43 Linden Avenue, Ivanhoe VIC 3079

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Residents at Blue Earth Group&#39;s latest apartment development, Ivanhoe Gardens in Melbourne&#39;s north-east, have more than just virtual golf access with over 2,000 sqm of dedicated amenity space.

The development, built across two stages by leading builder Hamilton Marino to designs by CHT Architects, has 13 different entertainment zones.

Ivanhoe Gardens is situated just off Bell Street, Ivanhoe&rsquo;s main arterial road. It is near&nbsp;a significant employment hub, with Victoria&rsquo;s largest medical precinct and La Trobe University within a 4-kilometre radius.

<h2>Riverbank -&nbsp;Park House</h2>

Address:&nbsp;631 Victoria Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067

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The Salta Properties Abbotsford apartment development Riverbank,&nbsp;on the banks of the Yarra River immediately opposite Kew and Studley Parklands, has a golf simulator for its residents.

It&#39;s also located across the river from Yarra Bend Public&nbsp;Golf Course and Studley Park Par 3 Golf Course.

Riverbank is part of the recently completed Park House development, which has been popular with buyers who want to be close to the city.

The nine-level building was&nbsp;designed by SJB Architects and has been&nbsp;finished with interiors by renowned Sue Carr of Carr Design Group.&nbsp;

Prices start from $505,000 for one-bedroom apartments. Salta are currently offering buyers 50 per cent stamp duty savings until the end of September,&nbsp;after the VIC government stopped the first home buyer stamp duty initiative earlier in the year.

<h2>Australia 108</h2>

Address:&nbsp;70 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank

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All Australia 108 residents have access to the 70th floor facilities inside the Star Club including vaunted virtual golf and even&nbsp;an infinity pool where it&rsquo;s possible to look down on an Australia Open match, as well as many more.&nbsp;The Star Club offers&nbsp;2,800 square metres of amenities.

Designed by Fender Katsalidis, it is the tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere and plays host to some of Melbourne&#39;s priciest sky-high penthouses.

The&nbsp;World Class Land development is located a three minute walk from the Crown Casino and entertainment complex, and a seven minute walk to Flinders Street Station.

Apartment developers are getting wise to how important amenities are in developments, with residents expecting to spend more time at home than ever before


jordan_55689

Golf at home: Melbourne's best new apartment developments with on-site golf simulators

Investors have been attracted&nbsp;Dahua Group&#39;s recently completed their $300 million&nbsp;apartment development Hawthorn Park, their biggest apartment development in Melbourne.

They&#39;ve been alerted to the area due to its&nbsp;recent median price growth of 10 per cent,&nbsp;as well as Hawthorn East&#39;s&nbsp;increasing&nbsp;median rental growth.

Over the ten-year period to March 2021,&nbsp;Hawthorn East apartments have seen six&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;median rental growth per annum, according to the Department of&nbsp;Human Services and Urbis.

The suburb is comprised of 40 per cent renters, DHS found, with SQM Research calculating&nbsp;a current rental yield of 3.5 per cent in Hawthorn East being inline with Melbourne&#39;s overall yield.

Dahua said looking forward, high demand driven by the catchment&rsquo;s proximity to education, transport and amenity, coupled with the ongoing growth of the renal market, is likely to attract market interest from interstate and overseas investors.

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The suburb is renter friendly&nbsp;due to that connectivity to the&nbsp;city. Three train lines run near the&nbsp;33 Camberwell Road development, which has a very high walk score of 90 and has been labelled a walker&rsquo;s paradise.

The city is within cycle distance for residence, given the 7.6 kilometre commute to the CBD on Melbourne&#39;s many bicycle lanes.&nbsp;The nearby Gardiner&rsquo;s Creek Trail links with the Capital City Trail and Main Yarra Trail.

Infrastructure around Hawthorn Park is already in place, with four major shopping areas&nbsp;including Camberwell Junction,&nbsp;Glenferrie Road,&nbsp;Camberwell Road and&nbsp;Burwood Road close by.

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Designed by Rothelowman, Hawthorn features a number of exclusive amenities including Melbourne&rsquo;s first suspended sky pool, theatre rooms and sky lounge. They have delivered a mix of 330&nbsp;one, two, three and four-bedroom townhome and apartment residences.

Hawthorn Park is a residential mid-rise that is strategically located amongst Hawthorn East&rsquo;s key transport, education, lifestyle and amenity offerings. It is also attractive for families, due to the nearby educational facilities that include;

<ul>
	<li>Auburn Primary School</li>
	<li>Camberwell Primary School</li>
	<li>SEDA College (Victoria)</li>
	<li>Swinburne Senior Secondary College</li>
	<li>Preshil, The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School</li>
	<li>Swinburne University of Technology</li>
	<li>University of Divinity</li>
	<li>University of Melbourne</li>
</ul>

The project also features over 2000 sqm of parkland curated by acclaimed landscape architect Jack Merlo.

As well as the pool, Hawthorn Park features a fully-equipped gym with a yoga and meditation studio and massage suites, hammock lounge, an indoor residents lounge and a garden pavilion.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=3730]

Hawthorn Park is a residential mid-rise that is strategically located amongst Hawthorn East’s key transport, education, lifestyle and amenity offerings

Why Hawthorn Park apartments have been attracting investor interest

The ongoing and escalating pandemic lockdowns are wreaking havoc across many parts of the national economy, property in particular is facing a unique set of challenges.

Buyers face difficulties like income uncertainty, job insecurity and supply issues inflating prices in certain segments of the market, established houses in particular.

Sellers face a different set of struggles:

<ul>
	<li>Should I list?</li>
	<li>Where will I live after I&#39;ve sold?</li>
	<li>Are people looking to buy?</li>
	<li>How will I market my property while minimizing COVID-19 risks?</li>
</ul>

In spite of these issues, it&#39;s still a great time to buy especially if you know where to look and what parts of the property market retain good growth prospects during the pandemic and beyond.

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<h2>How are&nbsp;the 2021 lockdowns different from 2020?</h2>

Last year the government pumped up the market and potential buyers with stimulus and grants.

They tackled job instability with JobKeeper and pumped up first home buyer spending power with grants like the First Home Owner Grant. Government tackled the established market as well with&nbsp;Homebuilder, a&nbsp;grants aimed at keeping the construction and trades industries running.

Meanwhile the RBA propped up lending institutions with the&nbsp;historically low cash rate rate as well as Quantitative easing.

Last year banks were even offering&nbsp;mortgage deferral periods with a relaxing of certain home-loan restrictions and even accepting JobKeeper payments as income when considering loan applications.&nbsp;

However this time there are $750 payments available instead, not accepted by banks who are also proving reluctant when it comes to mortgage deferrals. Some are even starting to hike certain interest rate packages and tighten lending restrictions.

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<h2>What does this mean for Buyers and Sellers?</h2>

Primarily this means there is less competition, as the first home buyer market is further stifled and less&nbsp;people are eligible to borrow for an owner occupier or an investment property. A positive for buyers who still have the means.

However some of this is evened out by the lack of property on the market, as well as soaring property prices in some market segments and the market digests the recent 10%+ increase in property values.

One segment of the market that has been minimally affected is the off-the-plan and new apartment development market. As many parts of this market continue to digest the result of HomeBuyer and the previous property development grants, many developments are nearing or have reached completion.

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<h2>So how do I buy in Lockdown?</h2>

1. Display suite tours - Off the plan marketing will be no strangers to creating display suite videos due to Australia&#39;s keen international investor pool, who regularly buy apartments from overseas. If you can&#39;t get to a display suite tour, ask the agent if they have produced a video

2. Get the agent to walk you through - If they haven&#39;t got a display suite tour, ask the agent to walk you through the property. Many agents are seeing huge success from interstate parties buying property sight unseen, having walked through the property a number of times over a video call

3. Ask the right questions - When will a display be open, has COVID put a stop to construction and changed the timeline

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<h2>Where are my buying opportunities?</h2>

Property investment is a national game. There are different property markets all over the country. As long as a place has a decent population, tight rental vacancy rate and diverse economy, the prospects for long term capital growth are good. The key is to get a property for below market value and therefore make some money on the way in, as well as boosting your rental yield in the process.

The more affordable brackets of the property market are likely to offer up the best opportunities as there will be more income uncertainty for those who would like to buy owner-occupier properties there. Because of this, there should also be healthy demand from renters.

<h2>Under $500,000</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5559 project_image_fid=88241]

Offering a collection of one, two and three-bedroom residences, Ryrie Home is set to deliver 109 apartments in the heart of Geelong&rsquo;s arts precinct.

More than half have already sold and&nbsp;construction is now underway.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22308 project_image_fid=75052]

Residents at Blue Earth Group&#39;s latest apartment development, Ivanhoe Gardens benefit from more than just the suburb&#39;s inherent amenity.

The development, built across two stages by leading builder Hamilton Marino to designs by CHT Architects, has 13 different entertainment zones. There is over 2,000 sqm of dedicated amenity space.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29048 project_image_fid=151675]

Located in close proximity to Moorabbin train station and wonderful local community facilities, Omnia is the latest development by Shenfield Property.

Offering&nbsp;an exceptional selection of 40 residences in one, two and three-bedroom configurations, the development features park frontage, energy-efficient design and north-facing aspects.

<h2>$500,001&nbsp;- $1,000,000</h2>

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Located in the heart of Box Hill, Spring Street is the latest Melbourne development delivered by Orion International Group.

Set over 29 levels, the tower is set to include 312 one, two and three-bedroom apartments within a five-minute walk from Box Hill Central.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5328 project_image_fid=155345]

Rise is the final release of Caydon&rsquo;s Mason Square precinct, located just 6km from the CBD and walking distance to the bustling Puckle Street.

The 29-level Fender Katsalidis-designed development is made up of two apartment types; Residences and Skyhomes. Located on Levels two to 21, Residence apartments are a mix of one, two and three bedrooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29856 project_image_fid=156313]

Set on the Yarra River, Riverbank &ndash; The Park House is located near the Yarra Trail, Boat House and Tea Garden and Melbourne&rsquo;s best open-access golf course, Yarra Bend, around the corner.

The nine-level building has been designed by SJB Architects and is finished with interiors by Sue Carr at Carr Design Group. It is one of two buildings in the Riverbank development.

<h2>Over $1,000,000</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89720 project_image_fid=147504]

ID_Land are the team behind Port Lane,&nbsp;situated right in the heart of Port Melbourne.

Award-winning architects Rothelowman worked in lockstep with interior designers Hecker Guthrie and landscape consultants Tract to create a development that is authentic and distinctive, all while priced lower than Port Melbourne&#39;s median.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102256 project_image_fid=163755]

Piper Townhomes is the latest release in AVJenning&#39;s Waterline Place masterplan in the Melbourne bayside suburb of Williamstown.&nbsp;

Located on Nelson Place, Piper is one of the earliest releases and is just one part of the 500+ residences planned, so keep an eye out for further releases

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5806 project_image_fid=168934]

The Grounds is comprised of an exclusive collection of three apartment buildings, each architecturally designed to respond to their own address; Wilfred, Wamba and The Boulevard.

There is also the Oak Terraces, located off Cedric Street, offering a limited collection of townhomes.

Urban's guide to buying property in a lockdown

How to buy property in lockdown

The latest inner-Brisbane apartment project by the local developer Dibcorp Properties is Bide, which is located in the heart of the upmarket riverfront suburb of Newstead.

The location of the 89-apartment development Bide, at 21 Longland Street, puts it just a stone&#39;s throw from the Brisbane River, and the convenience of the Teneriffe Ferry Wharf which connects the suburb to the CBD.

Residents will have immediate access to&nbsp;Gasworks Plaza on the adjoining Skyring Terrace riverfront street, which is home to a Woolworths and a numb er of other stores, as well as restaurants, cafes and coffee shops like Ping Pong, Yolk and Campos Coffee.&nbsp;

On Longland Street there&#39;s the popular eateries&nbsp;include Smoky Moo, The Defiant Duck, Drum Dining and the Milky Lane Newstead.

Cutting across Longland are a number of side streets like Stratton and Wyandra, which have a number of retailers and boutiques for residents to explore like a Think 24hr fitness, Smile Studio, and Brisbane Skin.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102309 project_image_fid=163979]

Designed in collaboration with architects from Twohill &amp; James, Lat27 and Wiltshire Stevens Architecture.

Nestled in the heart of Newstead, the 89 residence apartment tower has been designed as an urban getaway just 3 kilometres north-east of the Brisbane CBD.

It is the latest part of the suburb&#39;s transformation to an up-market residential suburb belying its industrial past. Timber yards, asbestos works, wharves and woolstores once dominated much of the predominantly commercial suburb, now one of the most sought-after apartment spots in Brisbane.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102309 project_image_fid=163974]

Bide is just a short distance away from Route 25 as well as the Teneriffe Ferry wharf and bus stations for those who choose public transit. As such it is right by the Brisbane river.

The proximity to schooling, as well the large three-bedroom apartments on offer, make Bide attractive for families. The nearby educational institutions include:

<ul>
	<li>Torrens University Australia - Satellite campus - 1.4km away</li>
	<li>University of Queensland - Satellite campus - 1.9km away</li>
	<li>Queensland University of Technology - Main campus - 3.3km away</li>
	<li>New Farm State School - Public School - 1 km away</li>
	<li>Music Industry College - Private School - 1.1km away</li>
	<li>Angelorum College - Private School - 1.1km away</li>
</ul>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102309 project_image_fid=163979]

Dibcorp has offered residents the opportunity to work hand in hand to tailor the layout, configuration and finishes of their apartment.&nbsp;

Apartments inside feature open-plan living and dining, a balcony space and a study nook in some apartments for working from home.

Inside, residents can enjoy 600 sqm of amenity across two levels, including barbeque facilities, private cabanas, landscaped areas and seated space throughout.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=102309]

Nestled in the heart of Newstead, the 89 residence apartment tower has been designed as an urban getaway just 3 kilometres north-east of the Brisbane CBD

Walking tour of Newstead: What's within walking distance from Bide apartments

Ivanhoe is part of the&nbsp;City of Banyule,&nbsp;one part of eclectic north-east Melbourne&#39;s, just nine kilometres from the CBD.

The suburb is in large part comprised of established families, in part due to median unit prices upwards of $770,000,&nbsp;significantly higher than the metropolitan Melbourne median unit price of $563,910, a figure calculated by SQM Research.

However, an abundance of amenities, as well as proximity to public transport and major arterial roadways has made&nbsp;it a popular among many&nbsp;demographics. Not to mention its&nbsp;vibrant caf&eacute; culture as well as the ever&nbsp;popular and bustling Upper Heidelberg Road.

Younger couples and those planning a family will be&nbsp;attracted to the two elite private schools,&nbsp;Ivanhoe Grammar School, and Ivanhoe Girls&#39; Grammar School. It is also home to one of Victoria&#39;s oldest state schools, Ivanhoe Primary School, established in 1853.&nbsp;

Ivanhoe has also caught the eye of investors according to Bensons, the team behind Chelsworth, who said properties in the area boast an annual capital growth of six per cent.

Urban has taken a look at some new Ivanhoe apartments that buyers should put on their shortlist.

<h2>Chelsworth, Ivanhoe</h2>

Two-bedroom apartment price: $725,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3309 project_image_fid=169303]

Chelsworth is among developer Bensons Property Group&rsquo;s latest developments to be delivered in Melbourne&rsquo;s north-east.

Situated at 1031 Heidelberg Road in Ivanhoe, the project offers 50 apartments in two-bedroom configurations, set between parklands and Ivanhoe&#39;s best transport links to the CBD.

Some of Melbourne&rsquo;s most picturesque parklands are nearby, such as Chelsworth Park, Ivanhoe Park and Wilson Reserve. There&#39;s also the walking or cycling routes; the Main Yarra Trail and Darebin Creek Trail.

Designed by Melbourne-based architects, BG Architecture, the premium development features a combination of face brick and timber cladding finishes that provide a soft visual blend with the surroundings.

<h2>Ivanhoe Gardens, Ivanhoe</h2>

Two-bedroom apartment price: $560,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22308 project_image_fid=75053]

Residents at Blue Earth Group&#39;s latest apartment development, Ivanhoe Gardens benefit from more than just the suburb&#39;s inherent amenity.

The development, built across two stages by leading builder Hamilton Marino to designs by CHT Architects, has 13 different entertainment zones.&nbsp;There is&nbsp;over 2,000 sqm of dedicated amenity space.

It is 3.7km away from the Ivanhoe Public Golf Course, as well as the winding Yarra River, which marks the suburbs southern boundary, along which golf courses are dotted along its shores.

For the fair-weather golfer who only hits the greens when the sun is shining, Ivanhoe Gardens is another which offers a virtual golf simulator.

<h2>The Grounds, Ivanhoe East</h2>

Two-bedroom apartment price: $1,100,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5806 project_image_fid=168937]

The Grounds is comprised of an exclusive collection of three apartment buildings, each architecturally designed to respond to their own address; Wilfred, Wamba and The Boulevard. There is also the Oak Terraces, located off Cedric Street, offering&nbsp;a limited collection of townhomes.

More than half of the Architectus&nbsp;designed precinct&nbsp;comprises gardens,&nbsp;public spaces, and a central landscaped Village Green.

The Grounds has set itself apart by focusing on enhancing&nbsp;the local streetscape and community vibe, while reflecting&nbsp;the quintessential Ivanhoe East lifestyle.

Extensive gardens and communal open spaces connect the residents to their&nbsp;landscaped surrounds, namely Ivanhoe and Chelsworth Parks.

Ivanhoe has also caught the eye of investors, young families, and established families


Why buyers of every age and lifestyle eyeing renowned Ivanhoe

YarraBend stands as both a monument to history and&nbsp;a lens for the future of the Melbourne suburb of Alphington.

The masterplan,&nbsp;a reincarnation of the former Alphington Paper Mill site, has been identified as the&nbsp;World's Most Liveable suburb by 2025 by The Future Lab’s 2018 global liveability report.

It's the development by the&nbsp;Australian property group Glenvill, who are transforming the 16.5 hectare site.

They're keeping heritage features throughout the development, adapting and retaining building's such as the Alphington Paper Mill. Its red-brick foundations and towering smokestacks which defined the area for nearly a century are incorporated into Fourdrinier House, YarraBend's first release, set within the original paper mill building.

The most recent release, following&nbsp;Parkview Apartments, The Mills and&nbsp;Camber Lofts, is Cubic House, a contemporary apartment building of 89 apartments designed by DKO&nbsp;and&nbsp;Technē Architecture.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107514 project_image_fid=170762]

Cubic House will comprise primarily one and two-bedroom apartments. Its completion will be toward the final stages of YarraBend. Some residential components, including Parkview Apartments, are nearing completion as are parts of the Artisan Precinct.

Glenvill Group has been progressively rolling out various stages of the 16.5 hectare block of land,&nbsp;spread across the six precincts; Mills, Parkview, Artisan, Heritage, River Quarter and Outer Circle.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107514 project_image_fid=170761]

Cubic House&nbsp;is part of the&nbsp;Artisan precinct which draws on the character of neighbouring Melbourne suburbs like the&nbsp;well-established refinement of Kew and Ivanhoe, the multicultural charm of Fairfield and the eclectic offering of Melbourne’s inner-north.&nbsp;

Apartments at Cubic House are warm and light-filled from floor-to-ceiling doors and windows that connect living spaces to the&nbsp;private balcony on offer in every individual apartment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107514 project_image_fid=170761]

The mix of one and two-bedroom apartments comes with a choice in colour scheme and design, with a focus on either light or dark tones.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=107514]

YarraBend stands as both a monument to history as well as a lens for the future of Alphington

How YarraBend's Cubic House pays homage to the heritage in Alphington

YarraBend in Melbourne&#39;s Alphington was named as the future&nbsp;&quot;world&rsquo;s most liveable suburb,&rdquo; by The Future Lab,&nbsp;one of the world&#39;s most renowned futures consultancies, in 2018.

They expect it to become the world&#39;s most liveable suburb by 2025, topping cities around the world such as San Francisco, Stockholm, Seattle and Toronto.

&quot;Suburbs of the future will generate their own energy, contain their own innovation hubs, monitor our health levels, check our wellbeing, even crowdsource civic engagement at the tap of a screen,&quot; Future Lab advised.

&quot;Developments such as YarraBend are at the forefront of profound cultural shifts in which people &ndash; and buildings &ndash; are optimising everything, which is why we&rsquo;ve identified that it will become the World&rsquo;s Most Liveable Suburb in the future.&quot;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107514 project_image_fid=170760]

Since it was dubbed to be the world&#39;s most liveable suburb three years ago, the developer Glenvill, doubled down on factors like&nbsp;communities being optimised through technology and design, supporting convenience, wellbeing, connectedness, collaboration and sustainability.

Glenvill partnered with the renowned&nbsp;teams at DKO Architecture, Multiple, Technē Architecture + Interior Design to create YarraBend,&nbsp;complete with four parks,&nbsp;a state of the art health and wellness centre, complete with an indoor spa, yoga and spin rooms with virtual reality and real life classes, massage rooms, Technogym equipment and an indoor pool.

They also focused on community initiatives like a gallery space, art installations and an annual art prize for local artists valued at $50,000 over five years.

There is also an indoor and&nbsp;outdoor cinema bookable via the YarraBend app, as well as many a rooftop terrace, home to&nbsp;lounges, barbeque facilities and more.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107514 project_image_fid=170767]

Another facility available to all residents&nbsp;across the six precincts; Mills, Parkview, Artisan, Heritage, River Quarter and Outer Circle, is the WorkLab, an innovative co-working space convenient&nbsp;especially for those who dread&nbsp;commuting.

Located a short stroll from anywhere in YarraBend, residents can book a space any time at one of the multiple workstations, the meeting room or lounge area.

Dubbed as the world&rsquo;s first Tesla Town, the suburb will also feature Telsa Powerwalls in select residences to reduce energy costs and offer electric car charging points.

YarraBend will also play home to an artisanal food district, curated by one of Australia&rsquo;s top chefs, Scott Pickett, boasting popular restaurants, cafes and bars.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107514 project_image_fid=170768]

Cubic House, part of the reincarnation of the former Alphington Paper Mill site, is one of a number of residential components of YarraBend.

The contemporary apartment building of 89 apartments, designed by&nbsp;DKO&nbsp;and&nbsp;Technē Architecture, is slated for completion in 2024, toward the final stages of the whole of YarraBend.

Cubic House will comprise primarily one and two-bedroom apartments. Its completion will be toward the final stages of YarraBend.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=107514]

Cubic House, part of the reincarnation of the former Alphington Paper Mill site, is one of a number of residential components of YarraBend

Why Glenvill's YarraBend in Melbourne was dubbed the world's future most liveable suburb

Melbourne developer Caydon Property has gone above and beyond for buyers of Skyhome apartments in their recently completed Moonee Ponds apartment tower, Rise.

Skyhomes are penthouse-style apartments designed to make the most of the sweeping views across Melbourne. Soaring to 29 levels, Rise offers the highest views north of Melbourne&rsquo;s CBD.&nbsp;

Skyhome residents can enjoy access to their own private club, The Conservatory, located on Level 22.

The exclusive lounge has been created to offer a more intimate experience than standard communal areas found in other developments. Skyhome residents and their guests can grab a drink at the bar and socialise in a number of areas, including the outdoor deck, indoor banquet-style seating or the lounge seating in front of the fireplace.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5328 project_image_fid=164747]

The fixtures and fittings of the Skyhomes also exude luxury, featuring high-quality finishes and spacious open-plan living space. The kitchens are fitted with European appliances, with a gold-metallic rangehood suspended from the ceiling. The island bench has stone benchtops and a cantilevered oak breakfast bar.

The bathroom exudes contemporary design with its feature wall tiling framing the vanity, whilst the remaining floor-to-ceiling porcelain tiles are in a white matt finish. In most Skyhomes, the bathroom features bespoke, dual Omvivo basins.

Prices for the Skyhomes start from $864,000. There are both two- and three-bedroom options remaining, with living space ranging from 88 sqm up to 130 sqm.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5328 project_image_fid=164757]

Skyhome buyers will also have access to the communal facilities on level two, which features an indoor heated pool and spa. On the same level is Club Rise, the building&rsquo;s health and fitness centre with a fully equipped gymnasium with sauna and a yoga studio.

Mason Terrace, an indoor-outdoor entertaining space, is situated on level four. A full-sized indoor kitchen can be booked for entertaining, while outside is a barbecue area.

Rise, located on Everage Street in the heart of the vibrant village, has 297 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across its 29 levels.

Rise also has its own concierge and resident app, Caydon HQ, allowing residents to interact with neighbours, manage deliveries, place repair requests and more.

For a limited time, Caydon Property are offering a six month settlement on any two or three-bedroom apartment, a unique offering targeting buyers who are yet to have sold their current home.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=5328]

Caydon Property’s Rise delivers a luxury living experience with spacious floorplans, cutting-edge interiors, floor-to-ceiling windows and numerous amenities.

The extra luxuries on offer for Skyhome buyers at Rise apartments in Moonee Ponds

Geocon, once again partnering&nbsp;with the renowned team at architecture giant Fender Katsalidis, is offering the final apartments in their Republic precinct in Belconnen.

It follows closely on the heels of three already successful residential developments in the masterplan, Republic, High Society and Dusk.

Already one of the most thriving regions in Canberra, Belconnen&nbsp;is one&nbsp;of the original eighteen districts of the Australian Capital Territory.

&ldquo;The Republic master plan is built upon an unashamedly ambitious desire to reshape the very fabric of residential Canberra by challenging conventions and expectations,&quot; Geocon advise.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29898 project_image_fid=170970]

&quot;The result is a rich new definition of contemporary living that celebrates community and lifestyle, and overlays it with unrivalled value for money.

&quot;Republic will boast Canberra&rsquo;s most breathtaking assembly of private and public spaces, punctuated by five striking residential towers overlooking Lake Ginninderra.&rdquo;

Located around&nbsp;seven&nbsp;kilometres&nbsp;to the north-west of the CBD, Nightfall&nbsp;is&nbsp;less than five&nbsp;minute walk to bus stops on Cameron Avenue and Emu Bank Drive, or the Belconnen Interchange.

The artificially created&nbsp;lake,&nbsp;Lake Ginninderra, is right at the doorstep, as is the&nbsp;Canberra International Sports and Aquatic Centre and Canberra Labor Club.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29898 project_image_fid=170968]

The Republic itself already plays host to a number of dining options, including&nbsp;No.10 Restaurant + Bar Belconnen, Chatterbox Espresso Bar and Moon Restaurant, while outside of the precinct are the likes of the popular&nbsp;Bella Vista Restaurant, Benjamin&#39;s, Black Pepper, L&#39;Artista, and Ruchi.

Convenience continues, with Westfield Belconnen just a block away.

Nightfall is also a short drive from the Calvary Private and Public Hospital Bruce and the main University of Canberra campus, fulfilling medical and educational needs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29898 project_image_fid=170974]

Belconnen High School,&nbsp;St. Vincent&#39;s Primary School, Macquarie Primary, Canberra Highschool and Radford College are also close-by.

The focus for Nightfall was one of variety, with no less than 30 different floor-plan configurations available for buyers.&nbsp;

The 22-storey Nightfall comprises 334 one and two bedroom apartments with 12 retail and commercial spaces located in the building itself. There are 12 one-bedroom floor-plans and 18 two-bedroom plans.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=29898]

Belconnen is in the midst of a multibillion dollar urban transformation of which Republic merely plays a part, Nightfall is an interlinked part of this new blend of commercial, retail and entertainment offerings.



The best until last: How Geocon's Canberra apartments Nightfall fit in to their Republic precinct in Belconnen

Founded as a township in the 1850s, the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill has&nbsp;grown in to a small city in its own right.

In the 1950s, Box Hill was absorbed into Melbourne as part of the eastward expansion. Now the area is home to Melbourne&#39;s&nbsp;tallest high-rise buildings outside the CBD, creating the Victorian capital&#39;s second city just 14 kilometres east of Melbourne&#39;s city centre.

A major transportation hub for Melbourne&#39;s eastern suburbs, Box Hill is home to one of the city&#39;s busiest train stations, located beneath Box Hill Central.

Box Hill&#39;s newest apartment development, Spring Street, has investors and first home buyers looking for value in an area which is only continuing to grow.

Developed by Orion International Group and designed by the award-winning architecture firm Elenberg Fraser, the tower will have 312 one, two and three- bedroom apartments as well as a number of amenities, including a pool, gym and sauna.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=100675 project_image_fid=167528]

Future residents will be within touching distance of a number of amenities, starting from the ground level of the tower, which will home a number of retail and dining options.

Spring St, on the corner of Spring and Nelson Street, is just&nbsp;a couple of hundred&nbsp;metres away from the Box Hill RSL and Bowls Club, adjacent to the Box Hill Gardens, a one kilometre urban park with sports courts, a running track, barbecue areas, ponds, and a playground.

Spring Street is located just across from the Hospital district of Box Hill, with Box Hill Hospital down the street, as well as Epworth Eastern and Eastern Heart Victoria. Just down Whitehorse Road are the Box Hill Library and Police Station.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=100675 project_image_fid=170528]

Spring St is close to a number of Box Hill&rsquo;s most well-known restaurants and cafes, including Fountain&#39;s Licensed Restaurant, Second Wife, Nelson and Dainty Sichuan Food - Box Hill.

A short distance away is the bustling Station Street intersection, home to a part of the Box Hill nightlife with a number of bars and clubs.&nbsp;Box Hill Central, just a short walk, has a number of retailers and is anchored&nbsp;by a Coles.

Educational institutions for all ages are a short distance away, including MONT ALBERT Primary, Our Lady of Sion College, Box Hill High and Box Hill institute.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=100675 project_image_fid=167532]

Other than the choice location, Spring Street&rsquo;s affordable prices are also contributing to its popularity, with one-bedroom apartments starting from $395,000 and two-bedrooms priced from $545,000, well below Melbourne&#39;s median of $610,000, calculated by CoreLogic.

The generously sized apartments start from 52 sqm for the one-bedroom apartments, with a further eight sqm of balconies. The average size of one-bedroom apartments in Melbourne is sub-50 sqm.

Spring Street is set for completion in 2024.

Set in a quiet and leafy area in the bustling heart of Box Hill, Spring St provides convenient public transport, with the 109 tram, trains and buses nearby, as well as local shops and cafes

Box Hill walking tour: What can I walk to from Box Hill's newest apartment development, Spring St

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

&nbsp;

The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

Jordan Fidler

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