<html><body>
Supermarket giant Coles Group has agreed to remain at its Melbourne headquarters on Toorak Road until 2030, in a major coup for owner, Investa Office Fund.
Coles fully occupies the 42,000 square metre office complex - known as ‘Battlestar Galactica’ for its spaceship like appearance - and has renewed their lease from the current lease expiry in November 2016 to January 2030. The lease renewal, at 800 Toorak Road, takes the weighted average lease expiry from three years to 17 years.
As part of the lease renewal, Investa (IOF) said in an announcement, the building services would be upgraded and amenities refurbished. A plot of land adjoining the office complex would also be acquired and a 1,200 bay multi deck car park constructed for Coles, subject to planning consent, it added.
<img alt="coles-oct-23-one" height="191" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/10/23/coles-oct-23-one.jpg">
IOF's share of cost for the office refurbishment and car park is anticipated to be $28 million, and upon completion of the works, the building will generate a yield on cost of 8.2%.
"Working collaboratively with Coles to allow them to refresh their premises and meet their long-term accommodation requirements has resulted in the fund being able to forward solve a key financial year 2017 income risk, and underpins the future value of this asset with a long weighted average lease expiry", said IOF manager Toby Phelps
The Coles lease represents the largest tenant by area in the Fund’s portfolio.
</body></html>

kjiminez-eaYKfU7qd2

Coles Group renews 'Battlestar Galactica' Melbourne headquarters lease

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/2013/10/21/stonebridge-property-group-oct-23.png" width="200" height="86" alt="stonebridge-property-group-oct-23" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
Agent: Philip Gartland<img src="/images/stories/2013/10/21/philip-gartland-profilke.png" width="150" height="200" alt="philip-gartland-profilke" style="float: right;">
Position: Director
Company: Stonebridge Property Group.
Office Location: Sydney.      
How long have you been in the industry?
17 years - 11 in Australia and six in the UK    
What's happening in the area you specialise in?
The retail investment market is particularly aggressive at the moment. The combination of pent-up frustration of capital trying to find a home, coupled with historically higher yields and very competitive financing rates / increased bank funding competition, has led to very strong purchaser appetite. The issue now is that stock levels are now significantly lower with owners sensing an upswing in pricing.  
Describe the most interesting property you have sold?
The most interesting property I have sold was back in my days working in the City of London. It was a large prime office building close to St Pauls Cathedral, which was predominantly held on a freehold title but had a small/thin parcel of land running right through the middle of the built improvements held by way of 699 year sub-leasehold interest with a 700 year head lease.
The transaction hit a stumbling block as in doing their due diligence, the purchaser identified there had been breaches in both the head lease and sub-lease as development had taken place without the freeholder's consent and the freeholder of the land had disappeared from records!
It was a very interesting transaction because of the history involved;  from the perspective of having to review hand-scrolled Chaucerian style "Auld English" leasehold documents and where the purchaser ended up having to take out a very expensive insurance policy to cover them in the unlikely event the freeholder's ancestors turned up and claimed the breach of lease (the freeholders whereabouts had been lost around 200 years ago). The implications of them coming back would have been very material!    
What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?
Number one is relationships. Then it  is reacting to information. Being respectful, tenacious, organised and persistent are also pre-requisites.    
What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?
Dealing with people and being able to get out of the office on a regular basis.    
Where would you invest a spare $750,000?
Buying existing income producing improvements in urban infill locations. Like industrial assets in Alexandria for example. Subject to planning restrictions, they are highly likely to have a higher and better use down the track.    
Which football team do you support?
Being from the UK, the football I prefer is soccer! For my sins - Newcastle United. If talking other codes; league - Roosters. AFL - Swans.    
What's your favourite app or techno gadget?
Evernote. This keeps me organised and able to access my notes wherever I am.  
How do you use social media?
We use Linkedin to advertise all of our properties and I personally use Facebook to keep up with Friends and family in the UK.
 
</body></html>

In profile: Stonebridge Property Group's director, Philip Gartland

<html><body>
The landmark Mount Tamborine Brewery on the Gold Coast Hinterland has been listed for sale.
Established in 2008, the boutique brewery has three main business lines which includes its renowned beer range, the Witches Chase Cheese Company and the Liquid Amber Restaurant.  But the property, at 93-97 Eagle Heights Road, Tamborine Mountain, is being offered for sale with vacant possession. It occupies an 18,370 square metre site with a detached owners residence.
Expressions of interest close on November 7 through marketing agents Tom Gibson and Glenn Price. The owner is a private high net worth investor.
The information memorandum noted that the asset offered an incoming purchaser a substantial amount of development land for future expansion.
</body></html>

Mount Tamborine Brewery put on the market

<html><body>
The former Daniel and Robertson brickworks site in Melbourne's eastern suburb of Nunawading has been listed for sale.
The prominent infill site, at 56-74 Station Street, is expected to attract strong interest from developers because of its residential redevelopment potential.
CBRE and Knight Frank are jointly marketing the property on behalf of the Robertson family through a public expression of interest campaign.
{qtube vid:=yImkORTjmaw}
CBRE’s Paul Tzamalis said the site had been "earmarked for an imminent rezone to support residential development as part of Whitehorse City Council’s Mega Mile structure plan.”
He also said the 4.9 hectare property had a history spanning more than 150 years and would continue to play a pivotal role in the area.
“The brickworks site has been the cornerstone of Nunawading since the late 1800s, giving rise to jobs and infrastructure for the area,” he added.
Nunawading's Mega Mile was identified as a Major Activity Centre under the state government’s Melbourne 2030 strategy – an initiative which aims to guide the future growth of the area over the next 15 years.
</body></html>

Daniel and Robertson brickworks in Nunawading listed for sale

<html><body>
Coles Group Property Developments has acquired the Rochedale Town Centre in Brisbane's Rochedale for $13.25 million.
The 85,000 square metre centre, which comprises a 50,000 square metre retail site and commercial component of 35,000 square metres, fronts Miles Platting and Gardner Roads and is owned by Watpac Developments Pty Ltd.
As part of the transaction, Coles Group will fully service the 85,000 square metre parcel of land and ‘hand back’ the 35,000 square metre commercial parcel to Watpac Developments for $1 plus the infrastructure requirement to effect land subdivision.
Stage one of the site has approval for a retail centre with a circa  3,500 square metre supermarket, a 1,650 square metre second supermarket/mini major, about 2,000 square metres of speciality floor area and at-grade and basement parking for about 506 vehicles.
The sale was negotiated by Jacob Swan and Sam Hatcher of Jones Lang LaSalle Queensland.
</body></html>

Coles Group acquires $13.3 million Rochedale Town Centre

<html><body>
Real estate agents Marshall White has signed a six year lease at the old Kay &amp; Burton premises in Melbourne's Albert Park.  
The lease, at level 1, 101-105 Dundas Place, was for 325 square metres and includes five on-site car parks. Marshall White is expanding out of its previous premises of 201 square metres, at 119 Bridport Street. Its lease expiry is January 2015.  
Commenting on the deal, Fitzroys agent Tom Backay said the rate of just over $350 per square metre per annum plus GST reflected "the strength of the rental market in the Albert Park area", where he noted that there were only a handful of office leasing options available at any one time.  
</body></html>

Marshall White expands to Albert Park premises

<html><body>
Retail goods importer TLC Industries Pty Ltd has secured an industrial warehouse facility at Geebung in Brisbane’s north for three years.
Located at 3b/420 Bilsen Road, the facility sits on a 1,120 square metre industrial site and features a metal clad clearspan warehouse equipped with multiple container height roller doors for easy truck access.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/10/16/geebung_oct_16.jpg" width="470" height="353" alt="geebung_oct_16">
The lease was struck at about $109,000 per annum net plus GST.
The deal was negotiated by Steve Black of Ray White Commercial Pine Rivers.
“The industrial area in Geebung and its surrounding suburbs is becoming quite a hot spot for investors and owner occupiers in Brisbane", noted Mr Black.
</body></html>

A little bit of TLC for Geebung, Brisbane with importer leasing industrial warehouse

<html><body>
Wagering firm Tabcorp Holdings has signed a long term lease for an office and warehouse property in Brisbane's Murarrie.
Under the terms of the deal, Tabcorp has agreed to take out an 8 + 5 + 5 year lease, at 4/45 Alexandra Place.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/10/16/murarrie-oct-16-one.jpg" width="470" height="339" alt="murarrie-oct-16-one">
Industry sources estimate the net rental to be about $110,000 per annum.
Ray White Industrial Milton’s Alex Smith and Stephen Ferguson negotiated the lease.
Mr Smith said Tabcorp was relocating from premises at nearby Morningside and was seeking a larger warehouse complex for its keno maintenance operations.
The property has a total area of about 788 square metres and includes some 146 square metres of office space and a 642 square metres of warehouse.
</body></html>

Tabcorp Holdings lease Murarrie office and warehouse

<html><body>
Some of the country's biggest real estate agencies are in expansion mode.
In a company-making move, the Ray White Group has announced its first foray into the United States with an office in the key city of Atlanta, Georgia – one of the fastest growing cities in the country.
Ray White Group chairman Brian White said "this new initiative was a further step in driving this family owned company into broader markets".
The agency said it had been engaged by a number of investor groups within the USA to sell and manage thousands of properties in the world’s largest real estate market.
The team responsible for the opening and development of the new business has and will continue to be driven by prominent Gold Coast real estate industry identities, Andrew and Greg Bell, along with Tony Bargwanna from Ray White Hotels.
Meanwhile, rivals Raine &amp; Horne have bolstered its presence in Queensland, this time adding a new office in Bundaberg.
Heading the Raine &amp; Horne Bundaberg office will be locals Henry Rzeszewski, Debbie Rzeszewski, Brendon and Nicole Mattick, who are also principals of the agency.
Mr Rzeszewski said he and his business partners decided to switch to Raine &amp; Horne after meeting its executive chairman and chief executive Angus Raine, in Bundaberg recently, and believed the direction and values of the 130-year old family owned and operated firm represented a good match for his business.
</body></html>

Some of the country's biggest real estate agencies are in expansion mode

<html><body>
The arrival of new major international brands and the continued refurbishment of major city centre retail destinations have seen Australia's prime CBD retail districts maintain their status as amongst the most expensive in the world.
Sydney's Pitt Street Mall was ranked the eighth most expensive retail strip in the world, with rents in the mall averaging US$871 per square foot, according to the annual Colliers International 2013 Global Retail Highlights Report. The figures were based upon the currency exchange rate in March 2013.
Colliers International head of retail, Michael Bate said “The CBD continues to be the first location of choice for major international retailers coming to Australia… Generally, new entrants seek a flagship location in either the Sydney or Melbourne CBD, followed by smaller stores in top performing regional shopping centres".
Among some of the major brands to arrive have been Apple, Zara and Topshop, while others like Tiffany &amp; Co have been expanding their presence.
However, the report noted that new-to-market retailers must now consider options outside of the CBDs, where they would traditionally choose to locate stores. The biggest rent mover in the report was Brisbane Mall, which saw rents rise 5% to US$431.64 per square foot over the same time last year. Rents on Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall were steady at US$677.08 per square foot, while on Adelaide's Rundle Street Mall they fell 8.3% to US$265.99 per square foot.
</body></html>

Australia's CBD retail districts among the world's most expensive: Colliers

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Joel Robinson

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

La Vera closes in on completion as Macquarie Park continues residential transformation

Brisbane developer Red &amp; Co's decision to include dual key apartments in its debut Gold Coast apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO Varsity Lakes</a>, is proving to be one of the project's biggest drawcards, with buyers quickly snapping up the flexible residences.

More than half of the project's 36 dual key apartments have already sold, helping drive COMO beyond the 50 per cent sold mark within the first month of launch.

The strong response highlights growing demand for apartment designs that can adapt to changing lifestyles, with buyers increasingly looking for homes that accommodate multi-generational living, provide rental income opportunities or simply offer greater flexibility over time.

Located on the shores of Lake Orr, COMO will deliver 156 apartments across 16 levels, with the dual-key residences forming a limited release within the broader development.

Each combines a primary two-bedroom apartment with a fully self-contained studio on a single title, connected by a shared foyer and lockable internal door. The design allows owners to house ageing parents, adult children or guests while maintaining privacy, or lease the secondary residence to generate additional income.

Just 17 of the original 36 dual key apartments remain available.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=367096]

The innovative configuration combines two fully self-contained residences on a single title, typically comprising a primary two-bedroom apartment alongside a separate studio residence, connected via a shared foyer and lockable internal door.&nbsp;

The model is proving particularly attractive to owner occupiers navigating changing family dynamics and the realities of the current housing crisis.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363511]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/npa">NPA</a>&nbsp;CEO Andrew Erwin said dual key living was resonating strongly with modern buyers because it delivered both financial flexibility and practical lifestyle benefits.&nbsp;

“The housing crisis and rising cost of living are fundamentally changing how Australians think about home ownership,” Erwin said.&nbsp;

“Dual key apartments provide a genuine solution for families who want to stay connected while maintaining independence. Parents can help adult children save for a future home, ageing parents can remain nearby without moving into aged care, and owners still retain privacy and flexibility.

“Importantly, buyers are also recognising the financial advantages. It creates the opportunity to generate additional income from part of the home without the holding costs associated with owning a separate investment property.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363509]

Unlike traditional dual occupancy arrangements, the residences operate under a single title, meaning owners only incur one set of body corporate fees, council rates and holding costs.&nbsp;

The secondary residence can also evolve over time - functioning as guest accommodation, a home office, creative studio or private retreat before later becoming an income-producing asset.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co</a>&nbsp;Director and Co-Founder David Laverty said the strong early sales reflected growing buyer urgency and changing priorities within the market.&nbsp;

“Securing more than half of COMO’s residences within such a short timeframe is an outstanding result and a clear endorsement of both the design and location,” Laverty said.&nbsp;

“Buyers are responding to the combination of location, connectivity and amenity, but ultimately it’s value relative to other East Coast markets that is driving enquiry.”&nbsp;

“We’re also seeing strong interest from owner occupiers looking for homes that can adapt with them over time. Flexibility has become one of the most important considerations for buyers in today’s market.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363515]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, COMO features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with 2.7-metre ceilings and larger-format floorplans aimed at owner occupiers, downsizers and lifestyle-focused buyers.&nbsp;

The development will feature an extensive rooftop recreation and wellness offering including a 25-metre lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, gym, sauna, plunge baths, landscaped gardens, wellness spaces and rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts.

The remaining dual key apartments range from 137 sqm to 167 sqm and include generous three-bedroom layouts with separate self-contained studio accommodation and dual parking.&nbsp;

Erwin said the dual key concept represented a broader shift in how Australians would live in the future.

“People want homes that can evolve with their lives,” he said.&nbsp;

“A dual key apartment can suit a family today, support an ageing parent tomorrow, and potentially generate income later on. That adaptability is becoming incredibly valuable in the current environment.”

Prices currently range from $2,115,750 to $2,583,000.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135546]

Inter-generational living drives demand for COMO’s dual key apartments as housing pressures reshape buyer priorities 

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ceerose">Ceerose</a> has doubled down on its Leichhardt ambitions, lodging its second State Significant Development Application (SSDA) in the suburb in the last six months.

Their newest proposal seeks to transform a former industrial precinct into a new residential community centred around the adaptive reuse of one of the site's heritage warehouse buildings.

The new project, on a 6,930 sqm block at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-76-william-street-leichhardt-nsw-2040">40–76 William Street</a>, will bring more than 200 apartments to a suburb that has seen little to no new supply in recent years. It follows Ceerose's late 2025 SSDA for a mixed-use apartment project on nearby Parramatta Road, signalling the developer's growing investment in Sydney's Inner West.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the redevelopment would involve the demolition of four existing industrial buildings while retaining and adaptively reusing the site's most significant warehouse. The retained structure would anchor a new residential precinct comprising five interconnected buildings arranged around a large central landscaped courtyard, with heights stepping from five storeys along the surrounding residential streets to 11 storeys at the William Street corner.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7258c54c-8167-479e-8361-2d5fca9915b4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010B%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%202.jpg?VersionId=S9DQfxu_jpcB5LrAEYFUbyMzg5odW6i5" />

According to the Architecture Design Report by Woods Bagot, the proposal "seeks to create a residential village centred around a generous green heart while celebrating the site's industrial heritage through the adaptive reuse of the existing warehouse building."

The development would comprise 203 apartments, with 188 proposed as build-to-sell residences, alongside 15 affordable housing apartments.

Rather than treating the retained warehouse as a standalone heritage object, Woods Bagot has sought to weave the site's industrial history throughout the masterplan. The proposal retains the north and west facades of the landmark corner warehouse, while new buildings reinterpret the site's brick-and-steel industrial language through their material palette and architectural expression.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e8c64c2-881b-49e1-8c90-6b6acaaa45b6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010C%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%203.jpg?VersionId=Qm8_8H_Xrg_sc4Mdjc59vlAcKF_5wRTb" />

The design is organised around what Woods Bagot describes as a "green heart", a landscaped communal open space that reinstates the leafy character removed when the site became an industrial storage facility. A new pedestrian laneway running through the site would improve permeability between William, North and Francis streets, linking residents through landscaped public spaces while activating the ground plane.

Residents would have access to communal gardens, rooftop open space and shared recreation areas distributed throughout the development. Sustainability has also been prioritised, with the project targeting an average 7.9-star NatHERS rating. Proposed initiatives include rooftop solar generation, rainwater harvesting, passive solar design, naturally ventilated lobbies, extensive cross-ventilation and the reuse of existing building fabric to reduce embodied carbon.

The adaptive reuse strategy became a defining feature of the application after heritage investigations found only one of the site's industrial buildings could feasibly be retained. The Heritage Impact Statement concludes that preserving the key warehouse façades while referencing the site's industrial character throughout the new development provides an appropriate balance between renewal and conservation.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efffafdb-594f-4e2b-a067-921fd51c05e1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010D%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%204.jpg?VersionId=DPmE4.k16YRt0i27hEZVtJAffarpvUfx" />

"Retention and adaptation of the site buildings has been explored but found not to be feasible except for the tallest building, whose street facades will be retained," the heritage report states.

"The proposed building will interpret the brick and steel character of the subject site, including reuse of some components and construction of a large 'sawtooth' structure in the proposed open space."

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3bfef2b5-83f5-40cd-9cab-767092f34266" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010E%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%205.jpg?VersionId=7asb3i_ql4ybbuJOUb5UHBEIy0Q9t.DF" />

The William Street site is located around 300 metres from Leichhardt North Light Rail station and a short walk to Norton Street's retail, dining and hospitality precinct. The surrounding area has increasingly become a focus for urban renewal given its proximity to public transport and the Parramatta Road corridor.

Ceerose, founded by Edward Doueihi in 1998, has become one of Sydney's more active apartment developers, with completed projects including The Alex Collective in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay. They are currently delivering Belgravia, 17 luxury apartments in Potts Point.

Katherine Jimenez

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News