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Darwin's northern suburbs present the best bet for investors looking future capital growth says Herron Todd White in its June market report.
"The Darwin CBD is dominated by investor owners who are looking to cash in on the high yields, while the northern suburbs are mainly owner-occupiers. So with current renters being driven into purchasing this could lead to capital growth in the northern suburbs where a large percentage of owners are owner-occupiers," says the valuation firm.
HTW also notes that Palmerston, 20 kilometres south east of Darwin, could also see some growth in new sub-divisions such as Durack Heights and Zuccoli "where many investors are putting their money".
"With news of INPEX (the Ichthys LNG Project) and other infrastructure projects in the area forecasting a higher need for housing. the new developments seem to be the first port of call for investors in the area as it offers brand new housing which is going to get the higher rent and require less maintenance.
"As the demand for housing increases and these new suburbs develop, this could lead to an increase in value."
HTW notes that Real Estate Institute of NT (REINT) statistics show that Darwin has been a hotspot for growth over the past 12 to 18 months compared to many other capital cities of Australia which have been slow in recovering from the effects of the GFC.
These figures show that inner Darwin suburbs have seen a 5.4% annual increase (to 31st March 2013) in median house price and 11% increases in median unit price. northern suburbs (Sanderson) 4.1% increase in median house price and 7.4% increase in median unit price, and Palmerston has had an 12.7% in median house price and 11.5% increase in median unit price.
The median house price for inner Darwin now stands at $875,000, the northern suburbs (Sanderson) $572,500 and Palmerston $550,500.
For units, the median price for inner Darwin is $499,500, the northern suburbs (Sanderson) $386,500 and Palmerston $399,000.
HTW notes a shift among homebuyers "due to the affordability challenges of renting in the top end".
"Many of the buyers are those that are fed up with the high rental costs, and are jumping off the rental roundabout into home ownership for similar and in some cases lower cost.
The average two-bedroom unit/townhouse in inner Darwin rents for $552 per week.
"Given that a $500,000 loan at 6% will cost you around $576 per week, it is understandable why this is happening.
HTW predicts that Darwin capital values will remain "relatively stable in the short term" noting that currently prices are "high compared to other state capitals and affordability is becoming a real issue which is underpinned by a severe housing shortage in the region".
"Many are pointing at Darwin as a major city of the future for Australia, with China and much of Asia looking like being economic leaders of the world in the ‘Asian Century’. Darwin is the closest Australian city which could see the region grow sizably due to trade and tourism.
"As an investor buying in the current market, Darwin could be a great option with high returns and indicators suggesting rents could go up even further in the next 12 months if the housing shortage is magnified as a result of the infrastructure projects mentioned above. As a home owner it seems to be a case of looking to purchase just to keep costs down so living in the region remains a viable option.
"However, the news is not all bad for those not yet ready to step into home ownership. A number of CBD towers are under construction and looking to be completed in late 2013 to early 2014 which will release over 200 units and should give some much needed rental relief in the market."
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Darwin's northern suburbs present capital growth opportunities: HTW

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Listed property trust Charter Hall has formed a partnership with a local super fund and a Canadian pension fund to acquire Bankwest Place and the associated Raine Square shopping centre in the Perth CBD for $458 million, seeing off competition from both local and offshore investors.
The mixed-use asset will be equally owned by the Charter Hall Core Plus Office Fund, Telstra Super and Canadian pension fund PSP, as identified by the Australian Financial Review.
The price equates to a yield of around 6% with a market capitalisation rate of 7.6%.
The complex was sold by CBRE on behalf of KordaMentha, acting as the receivers for property developer Luke Saraceni and Hossean Pourzand’s Westgem Investments Pty Ltd.
It was built at a cost of around $500 million.
KordaMentha were appointed by Bankwest as receivers in January last year in a bid to recover debts exceeding $400 million owed to Bankwest and Bank of Scotland.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/office/luke-saraceni-loses-bid-to-remove-raine-square-perth-receivers/2012091856645" target="_blank">In September last year</a> Saraceni lost his Supreme Court bid to remove KordaMentha as receivers.
In October, Saraceni launched a $200 million-plus damages claim against Bankwest over the collapse of his property empire last year.
Saraceni and Pourzand lost control of the tower after missing a vital $50 million repayment to financiers Commonwealth Bank-owned Bankwest and Bank of Scotland in late 2010.
The 22-storey office, the headquarters of Bankwest and the accompanying shopping centre, cover 61,500 square metres of lettable area on a 12,300 square metre city block with four street frontages including William, Murray and Wellington Streets.
It has 45,000 square metres of office space and is 100% leased to Bankwest on an initial 12 year lease with renewal options expiring in 2024.
There is almost 10,000 square metres of retail space across three levels in the shopping centre, anchored by Coles, which has a 15 year lease, with links to the William Street train station via an underground tunnel.
It opened in 2012 with 67 retail tenancies and a weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of six years.
There are also two hotel complexes totalling 5,700 square metres leased for a further eight years.
Total occupancy across office, retail and the hotels is 95.5%.
The selling agents were Scott Gray-Spencer, Michael Andrews and Peter Agostino from CBRE and John Williams, Simon Storry and John Talbot from Jones Lang LaSalle.
“The property was highly sought after by both on and off shore investors,” said Michael Andrews, senior director of CBRE’s international investments team.
“The popularity of Bankwest Tower and Raine Square highlights the depth of the investor market  and the popularity of core Australian CBD  assets due to our comparatively high yields and favourable debt conditions,” he said.
CBRE’s Western Australia managing director Peter Agostino said the deal “highlights the strength of the WA economy and the Perth CBD as a desirable investment location”.
“Assets of this size and quality are rarely traded and to achieve this result is a real confidence boost for the WA market.”
Charter Hall’s managing director David Harrison said the he acquisition was in line with its strategy of “raising and deploying capital into core real estate investments and continues the momentum of matching our partners’ capital with attractive investment opportunities”
He anticipates a combined annual growth rate of 5% for office rental income.
“Despite the slowdown in the resources sector, we are confident about the longer term outlook for Perth and are attracted to the security of a non-resource tenant of Bankwest’s calibre in this active precinct,” Harrison said.
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Charter Hall buys Bankwest Place and Raine Square in Perth for $458 million

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A property investment adviser who allegedly recommended to various NSW investors that they set up self-managed superannuation funds to invest in the development of a number of house and land packages in Queensland has been charged with eight counts of fraudulent misappropriation.
Steven William Hill, 52, of Kelso, NSW, appeared in the Bathurst Magistrates Court where was charged following an ASIC investigation. ASIC alleges that between January 5, 2006 and March 6, 2007, Hill through Hill Stephens &amp; Associates Pty Ltd (HSA) and International Finance Consortium (Aust) Pty Ltd (IFC) dishonestly induced various investors to pay approximately $618,000 to acquire interests in a “house and land” property development located in Queensland.  ASIC alleged that investors never received the returns promised, and that $431,000 of the invested funds were directed to company bank accounts to make payments to Mr Hill and other third parties.  The court granted Hill bail, which includes a residential requirement and prohibits him from approaching any points of international of departure from Australia. The matter was adjourned for further mention on 26 August 2013. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is prosecuting the matter. 
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SMSF property investment adviser charged with eight counts of fraud

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ME Bank has continued the trend of lenders cutting fixed-rate home loans lowering its one and five year fixed-rates by 10 basis points today.
The reduced rates are available to eligible super funds and unions. 
The super members home loan (SMHL) standard home Lloan fixed one-year rate now drops from 5.19% p.a. (comparison rate 5.61% p.a.) to 5.09% p.a. (comparison rate 5.60% p.a.), and the fixed five-year rate now drops from 5.59% p.a. (comparison rate 5.64% p.a. to 5.49% p.a. (comparison rate 5.59% p.a.).   
 
ME Bank has also reduced the one-year fixed rate and five-year fixed rates on the SMHL ultimate offset account and SMHL interest only investment loans. 
Yesterday Property Observer reported that borrowers will be able to access a <a href="/news">one-year fixed-rate of 4.54%</a> and a three-year fixed-rate of 4.69% through mortgage brokers that operate under NAB’s Advantedge Financial Services platform.
Around a third of borrowers are choosing a fixed-rate product according to May loan approval figures from Mortgage Choice.
Click to enlarge
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ME Bank cuts one and five-year fixed-rate home loans

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St Kilda Road on the Melbourne CBD fringe has the highest residential vacancy rate in Australia, according to figures compiled SQM Research.
There were 360 properties vacant in May in postcode 3004, which is predominantly St Kilda Road, equating to a vacancy rate of 13%. 
There are 3,651 apartments along St Kilda Road, according to Census 2011 data, and only seven separate houses. 
The census data indicates it is property investment hotspot with more than half of apartments (52.6%) on St Kilda Road rented. 
SQM Research data shows that the vacancy rate has actually declined on St Kilda Road having peaked at around 24% in January 2102. 
In total there are six Victorian postal codes on the top 10 list including two more in Melbourne. 
These are Doreen, 26 km north-east from of the city, has a vacancy rate of 11.2% with 142 properties vacant over May and Southbank, just across the Yarra from the CBD, with a vacancy rate of 9.7%.
Commenting on the high vacancy rates on St Kilda Road and Southbank, SQM Research director Louis Christopher suggests this may be driven by the rise in the number of new residential property developments that have come into these areas in recent years.
"I think there is no coincidence the two postcodes are in close proximity to each other," he says.
<img alt="TEN_HIGHEST_VACANCY_RATES" height="227" width="470" src="/images/stories/AlexPerry/TEN_HIGHEST_VACANCY_RATES.jpg">
Image of Southbank courtesy of Flickr.
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Melbourne’s St Kilda Road and Southbank bookend top ten highest rental vacancy rates in Australia: SQM

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Despite a deterioration in underlying market conditions over the past 12 months, offshore investors are expected to continue to pour money into Australian commercial property, according to Paul Braddick head of property research at ANZ.
Braddick notes in the June ANZ commercial property update that "tenant demand has weakened, vacancies and incentives have risen and rental growth has slowed, particularly for secondary properties".
"Nonetheless, the global flood of liquidity, a heightened appetite for yield and the recent sharp decline in the Australian dollar are expected to continue to support investor interest in Australian commercial property (although to date offshore demand has been heavily focused on prime properties)," says Braddick.
The following graph demonstrates that offshore investment in Australian office property has not dampened despite a deterioration in demand for office space:
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Offshore investors attracted to Australian commercial property despite deteriorating fundamentals: Chart of the week

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The Sunnybrook Hotel in Warwick Farm in Sydney's southwest will be refurbished and open in September as a Holiday Inn Warwick Farm.
It will be the twenty-second Holiday Inn in Australia.
This follows a franchise agreement between InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which own the Holiday Inn brand and Oscars Hotels, which acquired the 146-room hotel in April 2011.
The refurbishment will include the guest rooms and restaurant.
IHG is expanding its presence in Australia with its first Holiday Inn Express to open in Perth in 2015 and with plans for around <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/leisure/perth-to-get-first-holiday-inn-express-as-city-occupancy-rate-hits-85/2013032760099">40 new Holiday Inn Expresses</a> to be build or developed over the next 10 years.
It has also partnered with hotel developer Jerry Schwartz to develop the Crowne Plaza hotels in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle as well as with Eureka Funds Management on other projects.
Recent refurbishment and rebranding projects include transforming the Clarion Hotel in Parramatta into the Holiday Inn Parramatta. 
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sunnybrook.com.au/">Located at 355 Hume Highway Warwick Farm</a> on the site of the old Sunnybrook Winery, the revamped hotel will aim to meet the needs of the growing commercial and leisure based industries of south west Sydney. 
The hotel facilities include an all-day dining restaurant, a tavern adjacent to the hotel with gaming facilities, gymnasium, a meetings and events centre, heated outdoor swimming pool and generous onsite parking. 
Following the refurbishment of all guest rooms and the hotel restaurant, the gymnasium and swimming pool will be fully upgraded, as will the adjoining Oscars Tavern and the meeting and events centre (both due for completion in early 2014). 
Warwick Farm is close to the suburbs of Liverpool, Chipping Norton, Cabramatta and Moorebank.  It’s also central to leisure attractions such as Warwick Farm Racecourse and Warwick Farm Polo Fields. 
“The signing of Holiday Inn Warwick Farm is significant to our strategy of expanding the Holiday Inn brand across New South Wales," says  IHG Australasia head of development, Phil Kasselis. 
"The Liverpool local government area has been earmarked by the state as a major regional centre in Sydney, and this Holiday Inn will be ideally positioned to cater to growing demand for hotel accommodation there, offering a great guest experience” he adds. 
Bill Gravanis, owner of Oscars Hotels says the hotel will create a "real opportunity to significantly increase its share of corporate, meetings and leisure business in Sydney’s south west" .
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Sydney's southwest to get Holiday Inn with Sunnybrook Hotel makeover

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Property Observer recently reported that the Australian Tax Office will write to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/tax/ato-to-write-to-110000-rental-property-owners-over-incorrect-rent-deductions/2013061262175" target="_blank">110,000 property investors</a> over concerns they may have claimed rental property deductions they were not entitled to claim.
The ATO now has sophisticated data-mining tools that pick up inconsistencies in tax returns compared with previous years.
With around two-thirds of property investors negatively gearing their rental properties, knowing what you can and cannot claim is vital.
These are four rental property deductions that are not allowed:
<ol>
<li>Acquisition and disposal costs of the property</li>
<li>Expenses not actually incurred by you, such as water or electricity charges borne by your tenants</li>
<li>Expenses that are not related to the rental of a property, such as expenses connected to your own use of a holiday home that you rent out for part of the year</li>
<li>Borrowing expenses or interest on the portion of the loan you use for private purposes like buying a new car.</li>
</ol>
For tips on what you can claim as rental property deductions against your taxable income <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/tax/seven-rental-property-deductions-property-investors-are-allowed-to-claim-to-reduce-their-tax-bill/2013061762279" target="_blank">click here.</a>
<ul></ul>
This advice is sourced from the ATO. It is of a general nature only and does not constitute financial advice. Investors should seek qualified professional financial and tax advice when completing their tax returns.
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Four rental property deductions property investors are not allowed to claim to reduce their tax bill

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Perceptions about Australian property being overvalued are significantly higher among first-home buyers then owner-occupiers, the latest QBE LMI Mortgage Barometer shows.
This was one of the key findings of the report, which found an overall improvement in sentiment about the property market with more than a quarter (26%) of Australians looking to buy property in the next 12 months despite nearly one in two believing it to be overvalued.
More than three quarters (76%) of first-home buyers believe property is overvalued with nearly half (48%) believing prices are overvalued by more than 10%.
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In comparison just 41% of owner-occupiers and 48% of Australians believe property prices are overvalued, according to the online survey of 1,107 adult Australians responses of which 763 have a mortgage, 680 considering buying property and 399 qualifed as both.
This finding combined with concerns about changes to first-home buyer grants favouring new homes only and another finding from the survey - 69% of FHB respondents worry they’ll never be able to afford their own home – provide insights into why the segment of the market has shrunken in recent times.
Other findings from the report suggest a frustrated first-home buyers market despite recent improvements in affordability.
The report quotes ABS figures showing that since February 2013, the number of FHBs as a percentage of total owner-occupied housing commitments has fallen by more than 5% since September 2012 and now sits at 14% nationally, an eight year low. .
This is due to record low FHB commitments in NSW and QLD (both less than 10%) – a plunge of more than 10% since the grants were replaced, while other states saw FHB commitments rise.
"There are concerns that Victoria will follow suit as it replaces its First Home Owner Grant with a $10,000 newhome owner grant as of 30 June 2013," says the report.
Figures compiled the<a href="/news"> Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA)</a> found the number of home loans to NSW first-home buyer in the March quarter totalled 2,647 - 57% lower than a year ago and a 40.6% fall in the March quarter alone.
This was the largest annual decline recorded across the country but in line with a national trend of dwindling first-home buyer demand.
In Queensland, a state which has also cancelled its first-home owner grant in favour of a $15,000 handout for new homes in September last year, home loans to first-home buyer decreased by 43.7% over the March quarter  to 2,557 - the largest quarterly decline across the nation the REIA found.
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Overvalued, unaffordable property keeping first-home buyers on the sidelines: QBE LMI survey

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American-style diner and hot dog specialists Massive Wieners has leased a 90 square metre shop space on Chapel Street in Prahran previously leased by fashion retailer Eurotrash.
Massive Wieners, which claims to make the ‘World’s Biggest Wiener’ will move from its current smaller space at nearby Greville Street, where the outlet has established a cult following, to the new store at 226 Chapel Street.
Eurotrash is moving to a shop across the road.
Last year the owners of Massive Wieners Dave Brennan and Liam Magee <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151177317333928&amp;set=a.10150176541668928.330431.375498923927&amp;type=1&amp;theater">created a 25-inch (63.5-centimetre) hotdog roll.</a>
The 90 square metre shop was acquired in February this year by a private investor, who also acquired a similar sized shop next door at 224 Chapel Street in off-market sales negotiated by Charles Emmett and Kiran Pillai of Fitzroys.
The sale price was not disclosed.
The 226 Chapel Street store brings in rent of around $57,360 per annum.
The leasing deal, which will  see the diner occupy the ground floor over seven years with two further seven-year extensions, was negotiated by Fitzroys leasing agent Harry Curtis,
Curtis said Massive Wieners intended on opening a 24-hour traditional American-style diner, featuring their 1940s inspired “less is more approach”.
“The new Massive Wieners will bring a unique flavour to the area, with the landlord keen to see them open up at the location because of his enthusiasm for the concept,” he added.
Curtis said food retailers were taking a rising amount of space throughou Melbourne’s retail strips and shopping precincts.
Massive Wieners has catered for large organisations such as the AFL, L’Oreal, Vans Shoes, Microsoft/Xbox and MTV, and has appeared at The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, St Kilda Festival 2013, Melbourne Central and Westfield.
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Chapel Street landlord swaps Eurotrash for Massive Wieners American-style diner

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

Larry Schlesinger

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