<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/15point6m.gif">
How much the Sentinel Property Group has paid for the Northpoint Homemaker Centre at 1 Bruce Highway and Windmill Crossing in Mackay, in northern Queensland. The fully leased Northpoint centre, completed in 2005, fronts directly onto the Bruce Highway from a 29,191-square-metre site in the northern suburbs of Mackay.  It features 11,407 square metres of lettable area fully leased to 10 tenants, including the ASX-listed Super Retail Group and The Good Guys.  The property was purchased by Sentinel from 360 Capital Retail Fund, with the transaction negotiated by Philip Gartland and Carl Molony of Stonebridge Property Group. Other tenants at Northpoint include Snooze, Toyworld, The Outdoor Furniture Specialists, Curtain Wonderland and Reece Plumbing.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/1point3m.gif">
The price paid for a freestanding industrial warehouse in the south-western Sydney suburb of Peakhurst sold at auction by Ray White Industrial M5. The property at 37 Stanley Street, Peakhurst, was sold to packaging company Smartpack Solutions Pty Ltd by Ray White Industrial M5’s Ryan Jennings and Michael Abbott. The 2,020-square-metre warehouse was sold as a vacant possession on behalf of owner Control Systems Technology Pty Ltd, which has recently acquired a much larger facility in Revesby. It last sold for $1.48 million in 2008.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/2point45m.gif">
The combined price paid for two retail strata suites in Melbourne’s Docklands sold in June. A 120-square-metre suite was sold to Vintam Bakery for $1.05 million, and a 143-square-metre suite to Kenny’s Bakery for $1.4 million. Both sales were negotiated by Daniel Wolman, Colliers International executive for CBD sales.  Both suites are on the ground floor of Vicland Property Group’s Exo building at 860 Collins Street. Three of the nine retail suites in this building have now been sold, leaving only six remaining.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/1point27m.gif">
The price paid for industrial property in the commercial precinct of Slacks Creek, south of Brisbane. The property, which includes two large industrial units at 3347 Pacific Highway, Slacks Creek, was sold by Clem Aynsley of Ray White Commercial M1 North on behalf of private investment company Dornoch Trust. The property offers a land area of 2,550 square metres and the total floor area of the two units is 1,243 square metres.  Aynsley says the purchaser, Lane Investment Trust, has secured tenancies for both units, with south-east Queensland trade service company Todd’s Plumbing and Electrical relocating one of its nearby outlets to the property. The other unit is already leased by long term tenant, Lawrence and Hanson Electrical Wholesalers.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/2point5m.gif">
The price paid for a Fernwood fitness centre at Ferntree Gully east of Melbourne. The property at 6/1849 Ferntree Gully Road, Ferntree Gully, was sold to a private investor by Ray White Commercial Manningham principal Brett Diston. Fernwood Investments Pty Ltd has a long-term lease on the two-level property. The modern 1,076-square-metre premises located on a high-profile site with excellent exposure were recently upgraded with an intensive fit out. Fernwood has a 10-year lease with a five-year renewal option on the property and paying annual rental of approximately $260,000.
</body></html>

lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Commercial hammer prices

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/1000plus.gif">
The estimated annual rent per square metre that food businesses have paid to lease space in the Melbourne CBD, with both deals negotiated by Ben Tremellen of Colliers. At 485 La Trobe Street, Tremellen negotiated a deal on behalf of landlord CLSA for café operator Café Saporo to lease 120 square metres of space that was previously foyer seating. At 206 Bourke Street, he negotiated the lease of 501 square metres on Level 1 to another food operator over two tenancies, and at the new SX building on Exhibition Street, a national food operator has taken up 100 square metres.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/800.gif">
The estimated gross annual rent per square metre (plus a market incentive) that specialist life insurer TAL will pay to lease new headquarters in the Sydney CBD. The group will lease nine mid-rise floors, over 10,500 square metres of space, at 363?George Street, just south of ­Martin Place, taking over space vacated by the Commonwealth Bank. The building is owned by ISPT and is formerly known as TOWER Australia. TAL will also take over the CBA’s prominent sky sign on the tower. The lease is for 12 years and was negotiated by Cadigal Office Leasing’s Mark Tindale and CBRE. Jason Wright of GJS Property advised TAL, which is relocating from Milsons Point across the harbour
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/17200.gif">
The gross annual rent that Gold Coast digital printing and sign writing company The Rocket Signtists will pay to lease an 86-square-metre warehouse/office space in a commercial complex at Helensvale on the Gold Coast. The company has taken up a tenancy at 3/178 Siganto Drive in a deal negotiated by Steve Macgregor of Ray White Commercial Southport. The Rocket Signtists have secured a three-year lease on the property. 
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/140.gif">
The net annual rent per square metre plus GST that national travel retail chain Newslink Pty Ltd will pay to lease a 1,368-square-metre office/warehouse in Rosebery. The 6-10 Durdans Avenue property features a modern industrial high-clearance warehouse, mezzanine offices, air-conditioning and an extra-wide container-height door.  The deal was negotiated by CBRE’s Mark Silva and Nathan Egan on behalf of Hamlove Pty Ltd. Newslink has taken a five-year lease. Durdans Avenue is located approximately six kilometres from the Sydney CBD and is situated close to the intersection of Botany and Gardeners roads.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/120d.gif">
The annual rent per square metre that architectural timber and composite panelling manufacturer Ultraflex Pty Ltd will pay to lease a 999.5-square-metre industrial unit in Silverwater’s Slough Business Park. Located at the corner of Holker Street and Silverwater Road, the unit comprises a high-bay warehouse and an office and is situated at the corner of Slough Business Park. The lease was negotiated by CBRE’s Michael O’Neill and Shaun Timbrell on behalf of Goodman Property Services (Australia) Pty Ltd. Ultraflex has taken a four-year lease. Silverwater is located approximately 20 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/400d.gif">
How much Coda restaurant will pay to lease 350 square metres of space at Level 1, 96 Flinders Lane in the Melbourne CBD. The deal was negotiated by Ben Tremellen, Colliers International Manager for retail leasing, who said food and beverage sites were hot property in the CBD. Accessed via AC/DC Lane, the site would be home to a new venture from the team behind Coda, with details to be announced in the coming months.
</body></html>

Commercial leasing: Watch this space

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/490.gif">
The amount a Melbourne-based IT software company will pay per square metre (gross) to lease a whole office floor in a strata office building in a deal negotiated by Savills manager of office leasing, Mark Bolis. The lease covers a 434-square-metre space on level 8 in the 171 La Trobe Street building. Bolis says the 10-level building had been extremely tightly held since it was subdivided into separate floors and sold individually in the early 2000s, with only one floor changing hands since 2005, demonstrating the tightly held nature of the building.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/110.gif">
The annual rent per square metre that cake manufacturer Bartletts will pay to lease a 1,564-square-metre office/warehouse in Rydalmere, 21 kilometres north-west of the Sydney CBD. The 6 Pike Street property was recently refurbished and features a high-bay warehouse, large roller door and exclusive yard. The lease was negotiated by CBRE’s Shaun Timbrell and Michael O’Neill on behalf of construction firm Direct Developments. Bartletts has taken a three-year lease.  
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/520.gif">
The asking price per square metre (gross) for 916 square metres of office space covering level three at 26 College Street, a B-grade office building comprising of six levels of office accommodation on the fringe of the Sydney CBD. The office block adjoins to the Pullman Hotel. It is located on the eastern alignment of College Street, opposite Hyde Park, with Francis and Oxford Streets being the cross streets. Museum Station and Elizabeth Street Bus Terminal are both within close proximity. The space is being marketed by Christian Minards from Ray White Commercial.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/185k.gif">
The annual rental income (plus GST and outgoings) on a new top floor office lease in Hawthorn. Level six at 523 Burwood Road has been leased by Drive Projects from June this year for five years. The floor will go to auction on June 20 and is expected to sell for more $2.45 million though a campaign led by Colliers International executives Hamish Burgess and Ben Baines. The 410-square-metre strata office includes a 38-square-metre terrace and 12 secure car parks.
 
</body></html>

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/180k.gif">
The estimated net rent per annum that accounting firm KPMG will pay to lease 500 square metres of commercial space on the Sunshine Coast, in a deal estimated to be worth $180,000 a year net. The firm has signed a seven-year lease plus two five-year renewal options. KPMG is leasing space at the Emporio mixed-use development at 2?Emporio Place, Maroochydore. The lease was negotiated by Tony Justo of Colliers International in conjunction with Justin Welsh of Savills on behalf of Reed Property Group.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/704.gif">
How much Two Skinny Men, a specialist digital agency, will pay per square metre net to lease a 62-square-metre office at 56 Bowman Street in Pyrmont from a private investor. A lease term of two years plus a one-year renewal option was secured by Michael Vranic of City Commercial Property.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/95.gif">
The net rent per square metre that Kerry Logistics will pay to lease 5,800 square metres of warehouse space at Stockland’s Yennora Distribution Centre in Western Sydney. The lease was negotiated by Olivia Skinner and Fallon Leek from Billicorp and Angus Grier from GJS Property.
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/110.gif">
The going rent per square metre for industrial units in Nerang on the Gold Coast, where a property previously occupied by the now-defunct Glenfords Discount Tool Centre is vacant and being marketed for lease by Josh Wright of Colliers International. The 387-square-metre industrial unit is located at 1/12 Lawrence Drive within the Jupiter Plaza complex. According to Wright, the property would be perfect for businesses looking for warehousing space that would benefit from the exposure and quick access on to the nearby M1 Pacific Motorway.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/400.gif">
The annual rent per square metre business consulting firm, RXP Services will pay to lease 281 square metres of office on Collins Street in the Melbourne CBD. The property at 406 Collins Street has been leased on a three-year lease. The building has recently undergone a major refurbishment. The lease was negotiated by Josh Langdon of Colliers International.
</body></html>

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/5point632.gif">
 
The price paid for one of Melbourne CBD’s most well-known corner properties following a public auction that attracted a crowd of more than 300 spectators and multiple bidders. The sale price equates to a yield of 3.9%. The 217 Elizabeth Street building with floor area of 312 square metres was offered to the market for the first time in more than 25 years. CBRE’s Mark Wizel and Josh Rutman steered the marketing campaign.  Rutman said there had been widespread interest in the property from the time that the first advertisement appeared in the newspaper. The property was originally constructed in 1869 by the renowned Knight family. It has been fully leased by national retailer Camera House for more than 20 years. The net income on the property is approximately $220,000, with all outgoings paid by the tenant.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2point25m.gif">
How much tyre distributor Top Tyres has paid for a speculative office-warehouse development in Derrimut in Melbourne’s west. The property was acquired from The Makland Group in a deal negotiated by Colliers International agent Nathan Bingham. The speculative development measures 2,395 square metres and is located at 166 Paramount Boulevard in Derrimut. The sale price represented $940 per square metre.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/16point5m.gif">
How much a Brisbane-based private investor has paid for the Spring Lake Metro retail and commercial complex at Springfield Lakes, Queensland, at auction. The property at 1 Springfield Lakes Boulevard, completed in 2007 and set on a 4.2-hectare site, occupies a prominent elevated position at the gateway to the Springfield Lakes masterplanned community west of Brisbane. The community-titled complex features a Coles Liquorland tavern and function centre (trading as the Spring Lake Hotel), a First Choice Liquor Superstore, a McDonalds drive-through restaurant, 23 retail specialty shops, two freestanding commercial office buildings, a decommissioned motel and a vacant garden centre. The Spring Lake Metro complex was sold by Peter Tyson, Jon Tyson and Michael Harcourt of Savills, under instruction from receivers and managers PPB Advisory.

 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/360k.gif">
The price paid for an entry level warehouse/office unit at Upper Coomera on the northern Gold Coast. The property, Lot 3/ 25 Dalton Street Upper Coomera, was marketed and sold by Steve Macgregor of Ray White Commercial Southport. Macgregor says an overseas vendor needed an immediate sale, and got one, with a giftware company now owning and occupying the 175-square-metre property. The unit is located in a great location in only minutes away from the heart of the Gold Coast and close to the Brisbane CBD.

 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/900k.gif">
The price paid for a freehold industrial investment property in a private, off-market sale negotiated by Chris Jones from Colliers International. The property is located at 144 Australis Drive, Derrimut in Melbourne’s west and measures 868 square metres on a 1,441-square-metre site. The property was acquired for a self-managed super fund of a private developer. The price equates to a yield of 7.4%. The property is currently tenanted by Australian Graphics Pty Ltd, on a three-year lease with a five-year renewal option with current rental income $67,000 per annum.
 
 
</body></html>

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/500plus.gif">
An estimate of how much well-known Melbourne restaurateur and chef Marco Santucci will pay per square metre per year to lease a 400-square-metre restaurant space on the ground floor of a New York-style warehouse building at 31 Flinders Lane between Spring and Exhibition streets opposite Collins Place in the Melbourne CBD.  The deal was brokered by Savills Australia retail director Michael Di Carlo alongside colleague Jeremy Marmur.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/100dollars.gif">
Roughly how much a Melbourne electrical contractor will pay per square metre per annum net to rent a 700-square-metre office and warehouse building at 13 Ceylon Street industrial facility at Nunawading in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. The deal was negotiated by Savills Australia Adrian Smith. The property is located near the intersection of Whitehorse and Springvale roads, providing links with Melbourne’s freeway system via the Eastern Freeway.  The lessor was a local private investor.
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/1300.gif">
The gross rent per square per annum being sought for a 187-square-metre office space on level 40 within in the 64-level Governor Phillip Tower in the Sydney CBD. The sublease is available until August 2014, with space being offered by Jeremy Piggin of Ray White Commercial Office Leasing. Governor Phillip Tower is located just two blocks from Circular Quay, encompassing an entire CBD block bounded by Bridge, Phillip, Bent and Young streets.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/475.gif">
The gross rent per square metre per annum that mining risk insurance consultants Hawcroft will pay to lease a 110-square-metre office at 275 Alfred Street in North Sydney from Fivex Commercial Property. The lease term is three years, with the deal negotiated by Laura Hilder from Aspace Estate Agents.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/400.gif">
The gross rent per square metre per annum that travel group the Grand Circle Corporation will pay to lease a 150-square-metre office at 80 William Street in Darlinghurst in Sydney from Terrace Tower Group. The office has been leased for four years plus a four-year renewal option. The deal was negotiated by Michael Vranic from City Commercial Property.
 
 
 
</body></html>

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/128800.gif">
The gross annual rent that Redback Conferencing will pay to lease 322 square metres of office space at Level 3, 285 George Street in the Sydney CBD. Rowan Humphreys of Tenant Representation Services negotiated the lease on behalf of Redback Conferencing while Dan Walker of Colliers International represented the vendor Kapau Holdings Pty Ltd. The lease period is two years commencing July 1 with a renewal option period of one year. 
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/90k.gif">
The estimated gross annual rent that business solutions provider Lodestone Management Consultants will pay to lease office space in the Canberra CBD. The 248-square-metre tenancy on the third floor at 8-10 Hobart Place, Civic, was secured following negotiations by Aaron Green of Ray White Commercial Canberra. Lodestone has taken out a three-year lease on the premises.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/150dollars.gif">
The net annual rent per square metre plus GST that fire door manufacturer Fire Systems Engineering will pay to lease a 1,153-square-metre industrial unit in Alexandria in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The 1/6 Huntley Street site comprises four units, each of which feature high-clearance warehouses, street frontage, air-conditioned office space and off-street parking. The lease was negotiated by CBRE’s Mark Silva on behalf of Tangala Pty Ltd. Fire Systems Engineering has taken a five-year lease.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/120.gif">
The net per square metre annual rent that Visy Boxes and More, a subsidiary of Visy Industries, will pay to lease a 1,918-square-metre office/warehouse in Brisbane’s TradeCoast area. The 2/142-150 Benjamin Place, Lytton property benefits from a strategic location on the Port of Brisbane Motorway. The lease was negotiated by CBRE’s Jamie Nason and John Slater on behalf of Opus Capital. Visy has taken a three-year lease with a three-year option.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/113058.gif">
The initial gross annual rent that health and wellbeing group Results Laser Clinic will pay to lease new premises in Sydney's CBD. Results Laser Clinic, which has 12 locations throughout NSW, Queensland and Victoria, has leased Level 1, 280 George Street, Sydney, via Ray White Commercial office leasing director John Skufris.  “The new location offers an area of 171.3 square metres with natural light on multiple sides and excellent exposure over George Street with Wynyard Station, the Met Centre and Australia Square still all just moments away," says Skufris. 280 George Street is a 13-storey office building Results Laser Clinic has committed to a five-year lease having relocated from 312 George Street.
</body></html>

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/05/39point35.gif">
How much a Charter Hall Group-managed fund has paid to acquire the Cromwell Property Group’s Masters Distribution Centre at Hoppers Crossing, in Melbourne, reflecting a yield of 8.1%. The price was in line with the current carrying value and most recent independent valuation at December 31, 2011.The 52,364-square-metre property is 100% leased and is used by Woolworths as a distribution centre for the Masters Hardware business.  The property has a weighted average lease expiry of 8.5 years.  Cromwell chief executive Paul Weightman says the company negotiated a new 10-year lease with Woolworths in 2011, but believes it can achieve a higher medium-term return by investing in assets elsewhere. The sale was negotiated by Tony Iuliano, Colliers International national director of industrial.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/05/9m.gif">
How much equipment shelter designer and manufacturer ICS Industries has paid for high-exposure corner site in Thomastown representing an initial yield of 9%. The 27,200-square-metre site is located at 309 Settlement Road and includes an older-style industrial building with a net lettable area of 6,896 square metres, The property includes a substantial concrete yard with 193 car spaces and five points of entry.  The marketing campaign was steered by CBRE’s Dean Hunt and Matt Sampson on behalf of BBC Hardware Properties (VIC) Pty Ltd. The property was sold to an owner occupier with a 15-month leaseback to Bunnings Warehouse to allow for the completion of its new store. Thomastown is located approximately 17 kilometres north of the Melbourne CBD.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/05/675200.gif">
How much a self-managed super fund has paid for a tenanted medical centre close to the Canberra Hospital has been sold by Ray White Commercial Canberra. The 158-square-metre property at 1/60 Garran Place, Garran, was negotiated by Ray White Commercial Canberra director Andrew Smith on behalf of owner-occupier medical practitioners, who have leased the centre back on a three-year term on an annual starting rent of approximately $65,000. The sale represents a net yield of around 8%. The unit is located in a highly sought after area and is only 500 metres to Canberra Hospital. It last traded for $389,070 in 1992.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/05/500k.gif">
How much an office/warehouse located in an established warehouse and factory complex in east Melbourne has been sold in a campaign by Ray White Commercial Manningham’s David McGuinness. The 370-square-metre property in Thornton Crescent, Mitcham, was sold to a private investor on behalf of a long-term owner. McGuinness says the warehouse complex is currently leased on a two-year lease at $36,000 per annum plus GST and outgoings. The warehouse is located just off Rooks Road near Whitehorse Road around 20 kilometres east of the Melbourne CBD within a five-minute drive of the Eastern Freeway.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/05/30mplus.gif">
How much the Industry Superannuation Property Trust has paid for the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/pakenham-racecourse-site-sells-to-ispt-for-more-than-%2430-million/2012053054899">Pakenham racecourse site</a>. Melbourne-based ISPT was one of three final bidders for the property when last listed in early 2011, after which the conditional sale to the Corcoris Group fell through. It was at a reputed $38 million. The 27-hectare site about 55 kilometres south-east of the Melbourne CBD is expected to be carved up into 500 house lots after the state government rezoned the racecourse to comprehensive development zone in 2010.
 
 
 
</body></html>

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/21point43m.gif">
The price paid by a private investor, off the plan, for a new logistics warehouse facility in Melbourne’s west. Tony Iuliano, Colliers International national industrial director, negotiated the sale of the 23,455-square-metre facility at 19-39 Studley Court, Derrimut. It is located within the Paramount Industrial Estate developed by Gibb Group and designed and constructed by Qanstruct for Kraft Foods Limited. Kraft recently entered in a five-year lease with five renewal options of five years. It is currently under construction on 46,650 square metres of land near the Western Ring Road. The sale price reflects a yield of 8.2%. 
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/14m.gif">
How much Darwin-based private investor Cenfurn Investments Pty Ltd, associated with the Koch Family, has paid to acquire The Zone Retail Centre and an adjoining retail development site in Darwin located at the intersection of Stuart Highway and Vanderlin Drive. After adjusting for the value of the vacant land, the centre is understood to have sold on an equated yield of approximately 11%.  The centre features 6,430 square metres of retail space on a 13,300-square-metre site with car parking for approximately 200 vehicles. The property was marketed by Matthew Knight and Cameron Arnott of Knight Frank, and Peter Tyson and Jon Tyson of Savills on behalf of receivers John Greig and Nicholas Harwood from Deloitte.
 
<hr>
 
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/405k.gif">
The price paid for an office/warehouse at Oakleigh South in Melbourne offering solar power. The property at 23/23-25 Bunney Road, Oakleigh South, was sold by Ray White Commercial Oakleigh sales and leasing executive Ryan Amler on behalf of a local investor. The property offered a total building area of approximately 350 square metres and also has on-site parking for seven cars.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/1point3m.gif">
The price being sought for an industrial site in Brooklyn in Melbourne. Colliers International’s Nick Saunders and Cameron Hunter have been appointed to sell 26 Buchanan Road in Brooklyn. The 2,400-square-metre site, currently owned and operated by Plasterboard Wholesalers, is home to a warehouse of around 1,155 square metres. The property is being offered with vacant possession. Brooklyn is just on the outskirts of Melbourne’s inner west, located within one kilometre of the on- and off-ramps of the West Gate Freeway.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/4point65m.gif">
How much a private investor has paid to purchase industrial land in Melbourne’s west – the largest single purchase in this market for more than three years. The sale of the 5.6-hectare site at 169 Australis Drive in Derrimut was negotiated by Nathan Bingham and Stephen Newsham, of Colliers International. It was sold post auction and it is envisaged that the buyer will design and construct a distribution centre.
</body></html>

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/285.gif">
The gross face rent that Planet Innovation will pay to lease a 1,000-square-metre office building at 81-89 Cotham Road, Kew in Melbourne. The five-year deal was negotiated by Michael Darvell from Colliers International. The property is owned by a private investor and was previously tenanted by Roche Pharmaceuticals. Planet Innovation has relocated from Botanicca Business Park in Richmond.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/55k.gif">
The net annual rent that construction firm and earth moving specialists Hawkins Civil Constructions Pty Ltd will pay for an industrial property at Loganholme, south of Brisbane.  The company has taken up a tenancy at 51-53 Cairns Street, Loganholme, in a deal negotiated by Karen Seeto of Ray White Commercial Burleigh. Seeto says the site measures around 1.1 hectares with around 5,800 square metres of hardstand area. Hawkins has secured a two-year lease with a two-year renewal option.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/725.gif">
The annual rent per square metre that consulting firm Pacific Strategy Partners will pay to lease level 24, 1 Alfred Street in the Sydney CBD on a 12-month deal. The 400-square-metre suite with existing fit-out in situ and harbour views was negotiated by Ray White Commercial’s Jeremy Piggin. The building, known as Goldfields, is owned by property group Valad and is one of Circular Quay’s oldest office buildings with redevelopment approved.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/20800.gif">
The annual rent per annum, exclusive of GST, that an Italian restaurant will pay to lease a historical building in Dubbo. The 232-square-metre building with a 63-square-metre mezzanine at 21 Depot Road, Dubbo, was secured following negotiations by Rod Crowfoot of Ray White Commercial Dubbo. Crowfoot says the Depot Road property was previously a café, gallery and cultural centre. The restaurant has secured a two-year lease.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/400.gif">
The initial annual rent per square metre that online lead generation company TellUs will pay to lease 327 square metres of office space at level 2, 1 Alfred Street (Goldfields House), Sydney. The Dutch group, located throughout Europe and North America, was in serviced offices at Darling Park. Its 12-month lease offered workstations, three sides of natural light and with views towards the harbour bridge.
</body></html>

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Larry Schlesinger

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News