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One of Sydney's marquee real estate sites - the Sydney Opera House car park has been slated for sale, with price expectations of about $80 million.
The property is being offered for sale on behalf of receivers, KordaMentha and is expected to attract strong interest from international and domestic institutional investors.
<img alt="syndey-sept-19-three" height="428" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/09/19/syndey-sept-19-three.jpg">
Prior to falling into the hands of receivers, the prized asset was owned by Mariner Financial - a company founded by Bill Ireland. Mariner reportedly purchased the car park for about $75 million in 2004.
McVay Real Estate has been instructed to sell the long leasehold.
A key attraction for buyers is expected to be the property's stable income stream, which is estimated to be about $7.6 million.
<img alt="syndey-sept-19-one" height="263" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/09/19/syndey-sept-19-one.jpg">
"This is not just a car park," said McVay's managing partner Sam McVay. “This is a critical piece of infrastructure servicing the largest city in Australia and one of the most famous buildings in the world."
Completed in 1993, the 12- storey premises has about 1200 parking bays and is operated by Wilson Parking.
<img alt="syndey-sept-19-two" height="244" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/09/19/syndey-sept-19-two.jpg">
The expression of interest campaign starts on Thursday.
Mr McVay believes offshore and private investors will be attracted by the high yield on offer for a relatively passive investment. “With no lease incentives to be paid out, investors are getting a truly net return, " he said.
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Sydney Opera House car park up for sale with $80 million expectations

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French-based hotel operator Accor has placed Australia front and centre of its growth plans, revealing its intentions to roll out a further four Pullman hotels, following a year of rapid expansion.
Since purchasing the Mirvac Hotel Group last year for €195 million (AU $280 million), the upscale hotelier has been aggressively growing its portfolio, in particular its upmarket Pullman brand.
In just 12 months, the Pullman brand has expanded from two hotels to 11.
A further four Pullman hotels are currently under negotiation.
“Establishing and expanding Pullman in Australia is one of the group’s priorities given we have recognised a sweet spot in the upscale market in Australia,” said Accor chief operating officer for Australia and New Zealand, Simon McGrath.
He said Pullman was currently at a turning point in its history and its expansion in Australia reflects that.
"Australia is seeing rapid increases in travel from a number of Asian destinations where Pullman is already well-established, and with the Australian Pullman network located in key business and resort areas of Australia, we believe that the brand is well poised to further grow considerable support from both international and domestic travellers,” said Mr McGrath.
The company attributed the success of the Pullman expansion to Accor’s multi-million dollar investment in growing the network of hotels and resorts, key refurbishment programs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane worth over $20 million and new brand repositioning.
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Accor hotels has sights set on Australia for growth plans

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The Asia-Pacific region is forecast to have the highest level of average rental growth of any region globally over the next five years but Australia is not expected to achieve the same highs.
In its first ever global office review for the first half of 2013, DTZ Research showed  "subdued rental growth globally" of less than 1% as the slowing Chinese economy, subpar US growth and persistent European economic difficulties continued to weigh heavily on corporate tenants around the world.
The weaker China economic growth story saw general sentiment and demand for office space in the Asia-Pacific region "cool" over the same period, with the exception of the emerging south-east Asian markets.
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The results for the Australian office market were weak. Melbourne registered a decline in rents and the report stated that "the lack of rental movement in the other Australian markets is masked by significant increases in incentives.
"Consequently, net face rents have remained unchanged while effective rents have declined."
It also noted that negative net-absorption was recorded in the Australian markets due to weak demand.
Conditions in the domestic office market are expected to remain challenging, with DTZ tipping only small rental increases over the next five years.
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That comes despite its expectations that rental growth in Asia-Pacific will be the "strongest globally" over the next five years, driven by large uplifts in the Indian market.
"Occupiers in Australia are expected to benefit from the weakest regional rental performance," it concluded.
"The slowing economy and lack of demand drivers is likely to inhibit rental growth over the next five years."
On a positive note, DTZ's head of south-east Asia, Australia and New Zealand research, Dominic Brown said its research had also showed that the Sydney and Singapore markets had stabilised "at a low point, offering tenants excellent opportunities to lock in leases before market rents start to increase again.”
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Asia-Pacific region forecast to have largest average rental growth globally: DTZ Research

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<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="cbre" height="116" width="200" src="/images/stories/2013/09/18/cbre.gif">Agent: Andrew Bahr
<img style="float: right;" alt="andrew-bahr-profile" height="200" width="200" src="/images/stories/2013/09/16/andrew-bahr-profile.jpg">
Position: Director of office leasing
Company: CBRE
Office Location: Adelaide
How long have you been in the industry?
Since 1996    
What’s happening in the area you specialise in?
I specialise in office leasing, fair to say the market is somewhat cautious at the moment, demand is conservative and it is taking a long time to convert transactions.  We have had to become more proactive and strategic in how we negotiate.
Describe the most interesting property you have sold?
Currently leasing 80 Grenfell Street, Adelaide’s newest office tower with construction due to be completed in November this year.  The quality of the offering, with large floor plates, stunning design and market leading environmental initiatives is creating a real talking point with perspective tenants.  The quality of tenant we are engaging with is excellent and their key issues are really the cornerstone to the building features.    
What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?
Hard work.  All too easy in a small market to sit back and “wait for the next brief”.  Critical to take a proactive approach, be involved in the market from the brokerage end up and talk to people face to face.  In a service based industry like real estate, you can learn more over a 20 minute coffee meeting than you’ll ever get out of emails and phone calls.    
What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?
The thrill of the deal.  Most rewarding projects are the ones you work on from the ground up, from strategising, submitting, marketing, negotiating and signing the deal. After some 15 plus years I still enjoy meeting new people every day and being in a position to secure a positive outcome for them.    
Where would you invest a spare $750,000?
Set my family up in the family home for the next 20 years and a residential investment property.    
Which football team do you support?
Adelaide Crows    
What’s your favourite app or techno gadget?
Pandora music app.  Nothing like setting a music theme on the weekend and listening to what the app comes up with while you read the weekend papers over a coffee.    
How do you use social media?
Professionally – <a target="_blank" href="https://au.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-bahr/77/972/a65">LinkedIn</a>, socially – Facebook, a great way to keep in contact with overseas/interstate friends.  
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In profile: CBRE's director of office leasing Adelaide, Andrew Bahr

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One of Fremantle's oldest shopping centre’s - the iconic Atwell Arcade - has been put up for sale for the first time in 100 years, with price expectations of up to $10 million
The arcade, which fronts High Street Mall and Adelaide Street, sits on three separate titles and has a combined site area of 2,403 square metres.
The extended Atwell family has had an interest in the properties on this site dating back to the late 1890s. Major improvements, which include establishing the current arcade linkage, between High Street Mall and Cantonment Street were completed in the late 1970s.
The appointed selling agents are Miles Rowe &amp; Chas Moore from <a href="https://commercialpropertysearch.savills.com.au/151189/Sale/Fremantle/120-High-Street" target="_blank">Savills</a>. Among the tenants in the retail property are Culleys Bakery and Tea Rooms and City Beach.
The agents said the property provided a secure income stream to an investor, with opportunities to remix the tenancy profile.
Expressions of interest close on 3 October.
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Fremantle's Atwell Arcade listed for the first time in 100 years

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The Peninsula Nelsons Bay Motel &amp; Apartments and the Peninsula Palms Motel in Nelson Bay on the central coast of NSW has sold at auction in one line for $4.046 million.
Strong bidding for the properties, at 52 and 54 Shoal Bay Road, pushed the final sale price $1 million above the reserve. A Sydney motelier was the buyer.
The Peninsula Nelsons Bay Motel &amp; Apartments comprises of a range of family and queen 3.5 and 4 star suites, plus apartments.  The Peninsula Palms Motel is an older 2.5 star property with development or extension potential.
As part of the deal, the vendor - a local family - will continue to run the properties as is.
CBRE Hotel agent Andrew Jackson sold the properties, in conjunction with Ray Larkin of Manenti Quinlan &amp; Associates.
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Nelson Bay motels and apartments property complex sells for over $4 million

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Oil and gas company Vicon Services has signed a 10-year lease for a 1,500 square metre warehouse facility in Perth's Henderson
Industry sources estimate the rental agreement was struck at more than $340,000 a year.
The warehouse facility, at 923 Cockburn Road, sits on a 6,000 square metres site and is owned by private developer Alcom Properties.
Leasing agent John Zafiropoulos of Ray White Commercial Perth said Vicon Services had outgrown their facility at Welshpool in Perth and were in need of “a highly specialised site with hardstand, overhead gantry cranes and a high spec office to showcase their company".
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Vicon Services sign 10-year lease for Henderson warehouse

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The Silverwater industrial park is starting to command some of the highest rental prices in Western Sydney, following a spat of recent leasing deals.
Select Fresh Providores Pty Ltd has committed to a 10-year term on a 1,125 square metre office/warehouse facility, at 7 Rachael Close.
The net rental was negotiated at $145 square metres annually – a $20 per square metre increase from the last time the building was leased four years ago.
In a separate deal, Audio, lighting and video service provider Lots of Watts signed a four-year lease at the industrial park for a 1,677 square metre warehouse/office property, at 18 Fariola Street (pictured below). The net rental was struck at $130 square metres annually.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/09/11/silverwater_sept_1.jpg" width="470" height="353" alt="silverwater_sept_1">
CBRE's Michael O’Neill and Shaun Timbrell negotiated the leases.
The Silverwater industrial estate - owned by APPF Industrial Fund, is said to attract rents of about $10 more per square metre than the average in the area.
CBRE is expecting the strong tenant demand brought on by a multi-million-dollar revamp currently underway to drive up rents even further.
The Silverwater Industrial Estate is about 36,000 square metres in size and comprises of 18 individual tenancies.
The revamp is being undertaken in stages and is expected to be completed by late 2013, "resulting in a substantial invigoration of the general industrial area bound by Fariola Street, Slough Avenue and Rachael Close", said Mr Timbrell.
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Silverwater industrial park commanding some of Sydney's highest rental prices

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The Melbourne office market has become the focal point of offshore buyer activity, with more than $100 million worth of office stock changing hands in the past week.
In the latest transaction, a Singaporean listed company Hotel Grand Central has purchased a strata office building in the heart of the city for $48.5 million.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/09/10/melb]}
The 300 Flinders Street (pictured above) transaction comes just a day after Hiap Hoe - another listed Singaporean property company - made a $43.8m purchase of an office building in nearby, 380 Lonsdale Street (pictured below).
<img src="/images/stories/2013/09/10/melbourne_sept_10_four.jpg" width="470" height="351" alt="melbourne_sept_10_four">
At $48.5m, the 300 Flinders Street deal represents one of the largest transactions in the city for a strata property.
The 12-storey strata building is owned by the Victoria University and was sold on a yield of 8.3%, through selling agents Clinton Baxter and Nick Peden of Savills.
The agents noted that while the property attracted numerous tenders from local and offshore parties, the strongest bidding came from Singapore an Malaysia.
Research from Savills showed that foreign investment in Melbourne’s CBD is at record levels. It estimates the foreign ownership market share is around 25% so far this year, following a spending spree of upwards of $260 million since the end of June.
On the same day the Flinders St transaction was revealed, a private developer based in mainland China snapped up a prime Bourke St office building for $15 million.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/09/11/melb]}
The 472 Bourke Street property (picture above), formerly known as Equity Chambers, sits on an 1162 square metre site with "significant development potential", according to the Savills selling agents, who also negotiated the sale.
"There are many reasons behind these recent sales, chief among them being Melbourne’s nomination as the world’s most liveable city for the third year in a row, access to our highly regarded education sector, and the low Australian dollar which is providing exceptional value for off-shore buyers due to the favourable exchange rate"' said Mr Peden.
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Melbourne office market hub for offshore buyer activity

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South Australia has its first 5.5 NABERS rated office building in the state. The 151 Pirie Street office tower in Adelaide's CBD achieved the 5.5 star NABERS Energy Base Building Rating, without the need to purchase green power.
Among some of the green initiatives the owner- German fund manager Real I.S. Group - undertook included the use of solar photovoltaic cells, energy efficient lighting in the common areas, as well as sub-metering of the tenant condenser water loop and a rooftop solar installation to provide renewable energy for the base of the building.
CBRE regional director Of technical services, Nick Mavropsi said there had been an overriding focus on managing the property effectively to minimise energy without compromising tenant environmental conditions.
The 12,500 square metres building (pictured below) was originally designed to achieve a 4.5 star NABERS Energy Base Building Rating.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/09/11/1.jpg" width="470" height="532" alt="1">
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Adelaide's highest rated green office building

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>.

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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

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