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Auction clearance rates tracked steadily on the weekend, but were just a warm-up to a bumper amount of sales expected on Super Saturday next weekend.
The Saturday before Easter weekend is traditionally a <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/investment/35605-harry-dent-says-the-australian-property-bubble-will-burst-is-he-right&amp;sa=U&amp;ei=ZupBU87RIYbgkAWX8oGwCw&amp;ved=0CAcQFjAB&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;usg=AFQjCNHpv9ysK2mkkdpeu--nWKWEoK0BtQ" target="_blank">big weekend for auctions</a>, ahead of the quieter winter period.
Australian Property Monitors senior economist Andrew Wilson says next weekend will see record auctions in Sydney, with around 1,100 expected, while in Melbourne there will be around 1,200 auctions.
“It is the end of the autumn selling season and the point where you get the pre-holiday rush,” Wilson says.
“It will be a big weekend for the Sydney market… it is definitely a test for whether the high listing numbers mean there are enough buyers.”
On the weekend, Melbourne had 1,016 properties listed, with 802 auctions and 580 sold. The clearance rate of 71.8% was slightly up from last week’s result of 69.8%.
The median house price in Melbourne was $791,000, while the median unit price was $511,000. The most expensive property was a four bedroom Camberwell home for $3,935,000.
Wilson says it was a very predictable weekend of results for Melbourne, not deviating from recent trends.
“The trend has been down over the past month, since the Labour Day weekend, and the clearance rate has flattened a little with high numbers of properties listed,” Wilson says.
He says Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs continued to perform well on the weekend, holding up the market with clearance rates over 80%.
In Sydney, there were 838 properties listed, with 494 auctions and 425 properties sold, with a clearance of 80.6%. This was slightly up from last week’s clearance of 75.9%.
The median house price in Sydney was $1.12 million, while the median unit price was $706,500. The most expensive property in Sydney was <a href="/news/kensington-suburb-record-price-from-macquarie-banker-sale-of-peter-dunkley-built-trophy-home">a five bedroom house in Kensington</a>, for $3,775,000. Sydney’s most affordable property was a studio apartment in Auburn, sold for $156,000.
In Adelaide, the auction clearance rate was 80%, while in Brisbane it was 50.8%.
You can find APM's list of weekend auction results for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide here.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.SmartCompany.com.au" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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Auction market braced for pre-Easter record breaking Super Saturday weekend

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Australia’s retirement income system is the most sustainable of 50 countries, according to a new survey by Allianz.
The Allianz 2014 Pension Sustainability Index report found that Australia’s combination of a public and private retirement income made it the most sustainable, placing it ahead of Sweden, New Zealand, Norway, the Netherlands and Denmark.
The annual report examined key elements of each nation’s pension system, both public and private, and the developments that influence them. It also evaluated the pressure on governments to effect reform to improve the fiscal sustainability of their systems.
Australia’s two-tier system, with a lean public pension and highly developed funded pension, means it is under the least pressure to reform.
New Zealand was also found to have a sustainable pension system, as it is not aging as rapidly as many other countries, and its labour force tends to work beyond statutory retirement age.
The report found that Thailand has replaced Greece as the nation with the most need to reform its pension system. Thailand has an extremely low retirement age and sporadic pension coverage.
Brazil was ranked second lowest, due to its high replacement rate and low effective retirement.
Allianz found that, in addition to Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Romania, Singapore, Turkey and the US were able to move more than five places up in the rankings from the 2011 report. It found a combination of factors led to this improvement, including improved aging perspectives and improved economic development.
Countries that dropped in ranking included Croatia, France, Hong Kong, Malta, Slovenia and Taiwan.
Allianz general manager of corporate affairs Nicholas Scofield told SmartCompany that one of the reasons Australia’s pension was sustainable was that it paid 42% of the average wage, while other countries paid much higher portions of their country’s average wage and had been slow to implement <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/superannuation/35084-apra-statistics-reveal-huge-gap-between-the-best-and-worst-superannuation-funds" target="_blank">private superannuation</a>.
Schofield says that while the Australian system is sustainable, the report does not rank on generosity. In Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Korea, the portion of the average wage paid was closer to 60%, while in Spain it was more than 70% and in Italy it was 80%.
The findings of the survey appear to contradict perceptions that Australia’s superannuation system and pension is in need of urgent reform, and Scofield says it shows there is a lot Australia is doing well.
“Australia moved early on establishing a private contribution system … there are some countries that are still starting that journey,” he says.
He says that with superannuation contributions edging towards 12%, Australia’s pension sustainability should continue.
Allianz Australia managing director Niran Peiris said one area the report found concerning was that Australia’s superannuation system allowed people to give lump sum contributions.
“The report highlighted that allowing people to take all their superannuation savings as a lump sum to be used to repay home mortgages or other purposes risked leaving retirees with reduced incomes for their retirement,” he said.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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Australia’s pension system is world’s most sustainable, study finds

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Swedish fashion giant H&amp;M has declared it will open more Australian locations as it prepares for its <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/innovation/41147-ham-locks-in-australian-store-date-following-local-e-commerce-launch" target="_blank">first store launch</a> in Melbourne tomorrow.
The company, which will open the doors to its 5,000 square metres flagship at Melbourne’s heritage-listed GPO building at 10am on Saturday, expects to roll out more sites this year.
H&amp;M global chief executive Karl-Johan Persson said the retail powerhouse expects to open around six flagship stores in Australia over the next 12 months, followed by more next year, the Australian Financial Review reports.
The business is already eyeing locations in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/sneak-peek-fashion-giant-hm-set-to-open-its-melbourne-flagship-store-20140403-360y7" target="_blank">The Age reports</a>.
Persson also said H&amp;M would offer the same product that it does in international markets and at similar prices. It will keep price equality by absorbing the higher costs for Australian rent and labour, <a href="https://www.afr.com/p/business/companies/prices_in_australia_to_match_overseas_q0VsF9h0aXd2NuWD904NeL" target="_blank">the AFR reported</a>.
It will also build on its Australian ecommerce site, which it launched in February this year, with a range of products exclusively available in Australia.
Last night it held a preview launch, which The Age described as “one heck of an opening party”. Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman attended the launch event and says he was “blown away” by the store and the product offer.
“Last night’s launch event was truly impressive,” he says. “The new H&amp;M store has something for every Australian consumer and represents visual merchandising at its finest.”
Zimmerman told SmartCompany that the store is bringing a “lot of excitement within the retail industry”. He says it makes good use of the three levels of the GPO Building and was among the best examples of a H&amp;M store he has seen internationally. 
"It is fair to say it is extremely well laid out in terms of a clearly defined store.
"This is a retailer that really knows what it is doing. There was a huge depth of range in terms of the stock and it is very much a flagship for Australia."
He was not perturbed by the competition to local retailers, but rather embraced it. 
“Having another well-known international retailer is always beneficial to competition, and the ARA is confident that local retailers are more than capable of stepping up to the mark to compete with any newcomers to the industry.
“The fact that more and more international retailers are choosing to set up shop in Australia is a positive sign that the Australian retail industry may finally be on the road to recovery.”
Zimmerman says the H&amp;M store, coupled with the adjacent new Emporium centre that is opening in a couple of months, is making the Melbourne CBD an impressive retail hub for international and interstate visitors.
The new H&amp;M store has a series of shop-within-shop-style areas, with menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, streetwear, lingerie and accessories among the product categories.
H&amp;M was founded in 1947 and has over 3,000 stores in 53 countries. It is still partly owned by the family of the original founder.
H&amp;M is one of many international retailers putting their stamp on Australia. Scandinavian label <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/economy/35550-scandinavian-fashion-brand-cos-to-open-in-australia&amp;sa=U&amp;ei=bes9U72RNoW1kAWnioGIBg&amp;ved=0CAYQFjAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;usg=AFQjCNGqHU6myBd0DlqqXFXStGeWEnr2kg" target="_blank">COS</a> recently announced it would launch its first Australian store in Melbourne, while Japanese retailer Uniqlo is also set to open this year.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.SmartCompany.com.au" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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H&M set for Australian roll out as its first local store launches tomorrow

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Near record numbers of auctions will take place over the next two weekends as sellers fight to lock in a sale in a <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/investment/41214-property-set-to-heat-up-prior-to-easter-with-20-homes-over-2-million-sold-in-sydney" target="_blank">pre-Easter rush</a>.
Australian Property Monitors senior economist Andrew Wilson says next weekend could see 900 to 1,000 properties listed for auction in Sydney, before an Easter weekend lull.
Over the weekend, clearance rates in Sydney were 83.3%, based on 814 listings, 393 auctions and 345 sold. The median price in Sydney for houses sold at auction was $1,038,000, while the median price for units was $720,000.
The most expensive property sold at auction in Sydney was a four bedroom house in Clovelly (pictured above), which sold for $3.8 million. The most affordable was a two bedroom unit in Brighton-Le-Sands which sold at auction for $405,000.
“In Sydney the prestige market was strong, particularly in the lower North Shore… I’m not sure we’ll see the same in the next two weeks,” he says.
“The clearance rates tend to fall down when there are high numbers of listings.”
In Melbourne over the weekend the auction clearance rate was 71.5%, with 1,185 properties listed, 859 auctions and 616 properties sold. The median price for houses was $818,000, while the median price for units was $495,000.
The most expensive property in Melbourne was a six bedroom house in Hawthorn East, which sold for $3.24 million. The most affordable was a one bedroom unit in Carlton that went for $175,000.
Wilson says it was the lowest auction clearance for Melbourne this year, aside from the Labour Day long weekend.
“It is a sign of the significant numbers of properties coming through on auctions, with buyers spoilt for choice,” he says.
Wilson says Melbourne’s outer Eastern suburbs are continuing to hold up the market, with the strongest clearance rates.
In Adelaide, AMP reported that there were 58 properties listed, with 34 auctions and 23 sold. In Brisbane, 99 were listed with 13 auctions and seven sold.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.SmartCompany.com.au" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
APM's 29 March weekend auction results
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Pre-Easter auctions rush means falling clearance rates and buyers “spoilt for choice”

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A weekend of high auction clearance rates bodes well for the three weeks leading to Easter, Australian Property Monitors senior economist Andrew Wilson says.
Auction clearance rates in Sydney were at 81.5 %, <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/investment/36045-sydney-property-accelerates-and-melbourne-keeps-moving-despite-grand-prix" target="_blank">up from 77.9 % last week</a>, with 682 listings. The median price for houses was $1,025,550 while the median price for apartments was $729,000.
This result was well up on the average prices for the same weekend last year, with Sydney houses at $930,000 and apartments $644,000.
“We are seeing real energy in the prestige market in Sydney,” Wilson told SmartCompany.
“Twenty properties in Sydney sold for over $2 million.”
He says the inner suburbs of Sydney, the lower North Shore and Northern Beaches showed solid results.
“Next weekend in Sydney we have over 800 auctions listed… as people take advantage of the market before Easter and the winter weather,” he says.
In Melbourne the clearance rate for auctions was 73.1 %, up from 69.8 % last week, with 971 properties listed.
The median auction sale price for houses was $760,000, while the median auction sale price for apartments was $528,500.
Wilson says around 1,200 properties are listed for auction in the Melbourne metro market next weekend. He says the market in Melbourne is “solid” not “strong” but doing well despite the high February unemployment rate for Melbourne of 7.3%.
In Adelaide, the clearance rate was 62.1 % with 45 houses listed, and in Brisbane it was 63.6 % with 77 houses listed.
The most expensive property sold at auction in Sydney was a five-bedroom house in Mosman (pictured above), for $5.7 million. In Melbourne it was a five-bedroom home in Canterbury for $3,125,000.
The most affordable property in Sydney was a two-bedroom townhouse in Lakemba for $416,000. In Melbourne it was a one-bedroom unit in Maribyrnong for $230,000.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.SmartCompany.com.au" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
Australian Property Monitors (APM) has released a list of results from 367 auctions in Sydney for the weekend of March 22.
<a href="https://www.homepriceguide.com.au/saturday_auction_results/Sydney.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Click here</a> for the auction results, and click on each street address to see the property's marketing.
<a href="https://www.homepriceguide.com.au/saturday_auction_results/Melbourne.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Click here</a> for the list of results from 689 auctions in Melbourne.
<a href="https://www.homepriceguide.com.au/saturday_auction_results/Brisbane.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Click here</a> for the list of auction results in Brisbane.
<a href="https://www.homepriceguide.com.au/saturday_auction_results/Adelaide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Click here</a> for the list of auction results in Adelaide.
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Property set to heat up prior to Easter with 20 homes over $2 million sold in Sydney

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Sydney property kept up its star performance on the weekend, while Melbourne proved a steady player with the Australian Grand Prix doing little to detract buyers.
Sydney auction clearance rates were at 81.8 %, <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/investment/35950-sydney-auctions-still-going-gangbusters-and-there-s-no-sign-of-slowing" target="_blank">up from 76.1% last week</a> and largely up from the same weekend last year which was 68.8%. There were 631 properties listed, 392 auctions and 338 sold. The median price of auctions for houses was $983,300, with the median unit prices at $715,000.
In Melbourne, the clearance rate was 73.9%, up from 65.4% last week, and slightly up from the same weekend last year at 65.1%. There were 924 properties listed, 671 auctions and 501 sold. The median house price for auctions was $750,000, while the median unit price was $512,000.
In Brisbane, the clearance rate was 38.5%, while in Adelaide it was 57.1% amid the South Australian state government election.
Nationally the most expensive house sold at auction on the weekend was in Toorak, Melbourne, at $6,008,000. In Sydney, the most expensive property was a six bedroom house in Maroubra, at $3,010,000.
The most affordable property was a one bedroom unit in Carnegie, Melbourne, at $272,000. In Sydney, the most affordable property sold was a two bedroom house in Davistown, at $368,000.
Australian Property Monitors senior economist Andrew Wilson told SmartCompany for Sydney the solid result was “groundhog day”.
“It’s remarkably consistent,” he says.
“There is no real trend there… but the prestige market is picking up.”
In Melbourne, he says the grand prix did not impact property sales in the same way as the AFL Grand Final or the Melbourne Cup tends to do. He says auction listings were up on last week, as last weekend was the Labour Day long weekend.
“It was a solid weekend for Melbourne… with an encouraging clearance rate,” he says.
“The results are not in the boom territory of Sydney… there are lots of change-over buyers resulting in higher listings and higher clearance rates.”
He says the property figures for Melbourne are in contrast to the Melbourne economy which is not so strong.
“But with interest rates low and the banks being competitive and offering good mortgage products, consumer interest is strong.”
Wilson says the outer east of Melbourne and the inner east prestige areas remain strong for auction sales, as do the inner bayside areas of Brighton, Mentone and Mordialloc, along with suburbs in the City of Stonnington.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.SmartCompany.com.au" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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Sydney property accelerates and Melbourne keeps moving despite grand prix

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Dessert franchise The Cupcake Bakery has collapsed into administration amid news some former store locations are no longer trading under The Cupcake Bakery name.
Administrators Brent Kijurina and Richard Albarran from Hall Chadwick were appointed to the business on March 5, with the first meeting of creditors scheduled for March 17 in Sydney.
The Cupcake Bakery was launched by husband and wife team Alex and Angela Perry in 2006, its website reports.
It says the pair were driven by a “passion for desserts and a drive for business so we left our careers and started selling cupcakes at markets”.
The company built a franchise network through Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
It offers multiple cupcake flavours, sold individually or packaged up for corporate and private events. 
While it was not clear this morning which locations of The Cupcake Bakery are still operating, SmartCompany was told four Cupcake Bakery franchises across Sydney are now trading as a different business.
The stores in Westfield Eastgardens, Liverpool, Ikea and Warringah Mall are now operating as The Cupcake Café.
The Cupcake Bakery is not the first cupcake business to face change, with liquidators appointed to <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/economy/27668-the-end-of-the-cupcake-craze-the-ghermez-cupcake-empire-starts-to-crumble&amp;sa=U&amp;ei=3VIeU4XEFpGMlQXCioDYDQ&amp;ved=0CAYQFjAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;usg=AFQjCNGMK_JjwP1WIsxtu4l_qBxllj2nCA">Ghermez Cupcakes in late 2012</a>. Founder Ghazaleh Lyari toldSmartCompany at the time the business was not going into administration.
"It was structured as a family trust and I am bringing investors on board so the trust is being liquidated," she said.
The Cupcake Bakery’s administrators were contacted by SmartCompany but declined to comment further on the state of the business at this stage.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://SmartCompany.com.au" target="_blank">SmartCompany.</a>
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The Cupcake Bakery franchise collapses, but some stores keep baking

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Setting up an office in 2014 is not as simple as a creating an imposing front entrance, nice boardroom, rows of desks and glassed-off rooms for the managers.
Do this, and your workplace will be viewed as mediocre – sending the wrong message about your capabilities to clients and also to potential and current staff, who could feel less valued and connected to the company as a result, experts say.
To avoid this, many top businesses are investing extensive time and money into creating an <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/leadership/33842-five-design-features-that-actually-promote-productivity" target="_blank">environment that is cutting edge</a>. Collaboration hubs, areas to hold functions, flexible workspaces and café-style kitchens are just scratching the surface of possibilities.
While SMEs may have small budgets to work with when it comes to creating a dynamic, future-focused workspace, it is possible to take some ideas from the corporate or creative worlds and <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/leadership/34040-six-top-tips-for-the-ultimate-workplace-design" target="_blank">adopt elements within your financial reach</a>.
For inspiration, SmartCompany spoke to two leading experts in the field of office design, HASSELL principal Steve Coster and Schiavello workspace planner Nick Tennant.
“The good thing we are seeing, particularly for SMEs is that these themes are applicable to businesses regardless of their size,” Tennant says.
Here are 10 of their hot tips.
<img src="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/images/stories/Features/Euro-Oliver/9.jpg" width="600" height="409">
Above: The entry to the Savill’s office in Brisbane is grand but has a sense of being open - designed by Carr Design.
<h2>1. Let the outside world in</h2>
A grand entrance and reception space hiding the work environment may serve some organisations, but today it is more about letting the outside world in, according to Coster.
“Now work is a much more collaborative process, where you may be working with another firm, so your space needs to allow you to do that,” he says.
“You may have an external firm in your office more often, or freelancers working as part of your project team. It is a more complex population of people that are just as likely to be from outside your organisation as in it.”
Coster also says this means office spaces can become a marketing tool to show clients how you work and the strength of your team. He says the ANZ Centre in Melbourne’s Docklands is a good example of an open environment, as visitors can walk right into the middle of the building into an atrium, without going through security.
<img src="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/images/stories/Features/Euro-Oliver/2.jpg" width="600" height="409">
Above: This Schiavello design uses a Krossi sit/stand workstation to enable flexible work options.
<h2>2. Attract staff with style and culture</h2>
If you want good staff, create an appealing workplace, suggests Tennant.
“Top performing businesses are in a war for talent, and to get the best talent they are using the workplace as a tool to retain staff,” Tennant says. “It is also about making them happy to give their best.”
He says the “bells and whistles” offered in some workplaces range from simple things like free food, to café-style lunch areas, or ping pong tables and sleeping pods.
“We are seeing residential and hospitality design influencing the more informal areas of an office, such as a lounge or a break area. As people spend more time in the office, it is becoming a home away from home,” he says.
“It could be a sit/stand workstation to provide comfort and control to an individual as a trade-off to perhaps a smaller desk.”
Coster agrees, citing researching that shows the more extra facilities an employee offers, the greater chance staff will find the workplace an attractive office.
“It might be gym facilities, wellness facilities, or classes such as yoga. Or childcare to show support of diversity,” Coster says.
“Also there is a broader atmosphere dynamic which is about people perceiving it as the kind of organisation they want to work for – the social capital of an organisation, not just being a number.”
“It is the opposite of anonymity – the big buildings with repeated rows of workstations is not going to cut it.”
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 <img src="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/images/stories/Features/Euro-Oliver/3.jpg" width="600" height="409" style="line-height: 1.3em;">
Above: This Schiavello design features the Krossi, a sit/stand workstation for greater flexibility across a wide range of workspaces.
<h2>3. Activated spaces</h2>
As the way people work becomes more diverse, so too are the spaces they need to facilitate this work.
Tennant says that one of the greatest trends is making the configuration of office spaces diverse.
“We try to get a deep understanding of work styles and work modes. So rather than spending all day at a single desk and popping into a meeting room, we are seeing break-out lounges, circulation areas, informal seating, and standing work areas to facilitate serendipitous encounters and random acts of creativity,” Tennant says.
This “activity-based working” has often been referred to as hot-desking.
“It comes back to the idea that a standard desk for every person is an outdated notion now.”
Coster says the key to these “activated spaces” is balancing them with areas for concentrated work.
<img src="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/images/stories/Features/Euro-Oliver/4.jpg" width="600" height="409">
Above: This design for Transfield Services designed by PTID Environments shows a modern, collaborative workspace.
<h2>4. Sustainability as the norm</h2>
A few years ago sustainability was a buzzword when it came to office design, but Tennant says it should now be simply “good practice”.
“Basically, traditional office buildings are underutilised and sparsely populated – so it makes sense to populate them with more people,” Tennant says.
“It is also sustainable. Having huge buildings running lighting and air conditioning and not having many people in them makes no sense.”
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<img src="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/images/stories/Features/Euro-Oliver/5.jpg" width="600" height="409">
Above: This Schiavello design uses the Kayt Quiet booth-like lounge with high sides and back for quite conversation or concentration.
<h2>5. Musical furniture</h2>
Office spaces traditionally have fixed furniture that requires facilities teams to assemble or disassemble. Now, flexible furniture options are key, explains Coster, enabling staff to “self-organise” their office space.
“(This is) so spaces can be changed at the speed at which they need to be changed, not next Thursday when the facilities department has time to come and move it for you. So that speeds up the whole business, potentially,” he says.
“Linked to that is greater emotional ownership of those spaces by the teams. People need to feel like it is their space to move around, so they can turn it into whatever sort of space they need.”
Tennant says this need for workplace design flexibility is not only about day-to-day experiences, but also reflective of general volatility in business conditions.
“With volatility being discussed in the media environment… with all these changes happening constantly, businesses have to think how to adapt faster than their competitors. The take-out from that as a product response is that furniture needs to be able to be moved easily.”
<img src="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/images/stories/Features/Euro-Oliver/7.jpg" alt="">
Above: Schiavello set out to make workplaces malleable with Climate, a workplace furniture platform that gives control back to the users. It can be moved around easily to support changing needs.
<h2>6. Create social capital</h2>
Creating a community within a workplace is now just as important as productivity. Coster explains this helps to build “social capital” which leads to other sorts of value in your business.
“An example of a workplace that is also a community is dtac House in Bangkok, the headquarters for one of Thailand’s leading telcos,” Coster says.
“They had a whole lot of employees in their 20s and a big turnover rate. They provided a whole series of recreational facilities, gyms, games rooms and music rooms and all sorts of whacky stuff that the young employees would use together. Through that play they developed a greater sense of cohort among themselves and developed a greater retention in the organisation.”
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<img src="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/images/stories/Features/Euro-Oliver/7a.jpg" width="600" height="400">
Above:The HASSELL offices in Sydney have an in-built auditorium for hosting presentations. Photographer: Nicole England.
<h2>7. Home for events</h2>
To make a mark in your sector, bringing the industry to your workplace is a good way to go about it. Coster says creating spaces within an office environment to hold events and engage with clients and collaborators is becoming important.
“It could be event spaces where your aim is to host event spaces in your office. You could host those to bring people closer to your firm. It could be an exhibition space or event space or roof terrace,” he says.
“Right in the middle of our Sydney office is a big set of bleacher steps where we have our team meetings and industry lectures.”
<img src="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/images/stories/Features/Euro-Oliver/1.jpg" width="600" height="409">
Above: This Schiavello design uses a Krossi sit/stand workstation to enable flexible work options.
<h2>8. Mix your community</h2>
Thinking beyond the realm of your own company and to how you could be in proximity to a mix of industries is key, Coster says.
“If there are only ever accountants coming out of your building it is a lost opportunity.”
He suggests looking at the surrounding mix of big companies and smaller independent companies that could be service providers to those other organisations, and sharing space with them or freelance workers.
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<img src="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/images/stories/Features/Euro-Oliver/9a.jpg" alt="">
Above: At the ANZ centre in Melbourne HASSSELL created different environments on each level. Photography: Earl Carter.
<h2>9. Spread into the public</h2>
Workplaces are spilling out into the public realm, with people working outdoors and in public spaces, Coster explains.
“What people have been doing for a long time is working in the coffee shop as much as the office. It is an extension of that idea. Some places already exist like libraries, or the airport lounge or co-working facilities,” he says.
“But it makes you think about public spaces as well. A city square or a park could be places you work in the right weather.”
<img src="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/images/stories/Features/Euro-Oliver/10a.jpg" width="600" height="400">
Above: HASSELL designed the George Patterson offices, with versatile spaces catering to creative and business needs. Photography: Dianna Snape
<h2>10. Authentic interiors</h2>
There are no set trends when it comes to office interiors, Coster says, but rather the need to create authentic spaces “that don’t feel fake and contrived”.
“Why do people like being in heritage buildings more than generic office buildings? Traditional generic office buildings are contrived spaces,” he says.
“That is why people think of theme parks as fake, they want places that feel authentic with texture, layers and heritage.”
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.SmartCompany.com.au" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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The power of office design – 10 major trends to watch

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Macquarie Park in Sydney, as well as Southbank and the Docklands in Melbourne, are three of the most productive areas in Australia when it comes to driving the economy, a report published yesterday by accountancy firm PwC shows.
The Geospatial Economic Model has recorded an “on the ground” economic review of 2214 Australian locations in terms of economic contribution. It found that in the 2012-13 financial year, one square metre of Sydney’s central businesses district generated $15,004 of economic output, which was the highest in Australia.
The report reveals economic activity is highly concentrated, with an area about the size of Tasmania generating 85% of the value of Australia’s $1.5 trillion economy last year. It found that 221 locations generated 51% of the country’s economic output.
The top 10 locations for economic output in 2013 were responsible for 18.4% of GDP, however, they employed just 12.1% of the population. These areas were the Sydney CBD generating $64.2 million, Melbourne CBD at $55.3 million and Perth CBD at $28.5 million.
Next were resources-rich areas in Western Australia – Roebourne at $28.72 million, Ashburton at $24.4 million and East Pilbara at $24.2 million.
Then Adelaide CBD came in at $16.2 million, North Sydney at $10.9 million and Macquarie Park in Sydney’s north-west at $9.1 million.
PwC economist and partner Jeremy Thorpe toldSmartCompany that while the CBD areas may have many staff compared to mining areas, they were not necessarily as productive in terms of economic contribution.
“Mining is not a huge employer, but it is phenomenal for output,” he says.
Areas that were on the top 10 list in 2001-02 that dropped off this time were Churchill in the LaTrobe Valley, Victoria, and Dandenong in Victoria. Thorpe says Churchill relies largely on brown coal production, while Dandenong is a general manufacturing area that could have been hit by the manufacturing downturn.
While Australia’s economy grew by 2.6% in the 2012-13 financial year, the report found that 35% of locations actually shrank. Thorpe explains this was countered by higher growth in other areas.
PwC found that while state capitals account for a disproportionate amount of Australia’s total economic output, the CBDs are actually idling and becoming less productive. Since 2007-08, the productivity has either stagnated or declined across all of the major CBDs.
Thorpe says while the CBDs will always play a significant role, “it’s the CBD fringe areas such as Docklands in Melbourne, Pyrmont in Sydney and Fortitude Valley in Brisbane where we are seeing significant growth”.
“In Sydney, we also see interesting dynamics playing out beyond the CBD, with the economy of North Sydney having not grown over the past 13 years, while the economy of Macquarie Park has doubled over this period.”
He says Macquarie Park, which generated $9.1 million for the economy has benefited from the inclusion of train access, and many tech start-ups are embracing the space.
In Melbourne, CBD fringe area Southbank generated $7.433 million, while the Docklands generated $8.99 million.
This article first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.SmartCompany.com.au">SmartCompany</a>.
                     
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Australia’s most productive areas for economic growth revealed

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A NSW-based retailer of bathroom and kitchen products, with $17 million in turnover is up for sale, following the appointment of voluntary administrators.
The company, trading as Renovation Boys, registered for voluntary <a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/economy/33222-king-of-knives-retail-chain-with-60-stores-collapses-into-administration-after-25-years-in-business">administration</a> on February 25, with administrators Vaughan Neil Strawbridge and Jason M Tracy from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu appointed.
It stopped trading on March 1 and its financial position is under review. Renovation Boys has stock of around $1.3 million, with the future of its 43 full-time staff and seven casual staff uncertain.
Deloitte restructuring services partner Jason Tracy told SmartCompany some employees have been stood down as a result of the store closures.
“We understand this is a difficult time for employees and we are keeping them updated on developments,” he says.
The business retails bathroom, kitchen and laundry fittings from two leased premises in NSW – one in Camperdown and the other in North Parramatta, with adjoining warehouses. It also has showrooms, IT platforms and fit-outs.
Tracy says a full review of the company’s financial position and operations is underway.
“To conduct an assessment of the available stock situation and reconcile this with customer payments and orders made before our appointment, we were required to close the business to further trading effective March 1,” he says.
“There will be no further sales or deliveries until the administrators have a better understanding of the stock situation.
“To resolve this uncertainty around stock and customer orders, we are seeking Court directions on a number of matters on March 5. As soon as a judgment is released, and hopefully later this week, we will advise customers of next steps.”
Tracy was unable to provide specific numbers of customers affected by the appointment and store closures, however suggests customers who have paid deposits for goods by credit card may wish to contact their credit card company.
“We are also seeking expressions of interest in the sale of the business.”
The first meeting for creditors is due to be held on March 6 at the Deloitte offices in Parramatta.
The website for Renovation Boys is currently not operating.
This article first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.SmartCompany.com.au">SmartCompany</a>.
           
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Bathroom and kitchen retailer with $17 million turnover and 50 staff collapses

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]

Melinda Oliver

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