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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

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/draycon">Draycon Building</a> is nearing completion of Boutique Chevron Island, a 42-apartment development on the northern end of Chevron Island at 17–19 Parneno Street, with a limited-time offer of fully furnished apartments available.

Now more than 90 per cent complete, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/boutique-chevron-island-17-19-parneno-chevron-island-qld-4217">Boutique</a> has been shaped by one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held island addresses, where riverfront outlooks and walkable access to Surfers Paradise converge.

For Draycon Building Managing Director Howard Dabit, the appeal of the site was immediate.

“I knew it was a good site as soon as I saw it,” Dabit said.

“The position and location on the north end of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chevron-island-qld-4217">Chevron Island</a>, the way the river swirls around the site basically from the north to the east, it feels like the site is surrounded by the water. The height that we’ve got and the aspect looking north is beautiful. Eighty per cent of the apartments are looking north so they get that drenching sunlight coming in.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89709 project_image_fid=360922]

That northern orientation places the development within a stretch of Chevron Island defined by open river aspects and skyline views, while remaining embedded in the suburb’s established village setting.

Chevron Island has increasingly drawn owner-occupiers seeking centrality without the intensity of high-rise beachfront living. Positioned at the geographical centre of the Gold Coast, the island offers direct access to both the beach and key cultural infrastructure while retaining a neighbourhood-scale character.

Connected by bridge to Surfers Paradise, Chevron Island offers walkable access to beaches, riverfront parklands and a revitalised foreshore boulevard animated by walkers and cyclists throughout the day. The Pacific Ocean is only minutes away, reinforcing the suburb’s dual river-and-surf identity.

At the same time, Thomas Drive forms the spine of the island’s village life, delivering cafés, wine bars, casual dining and everyday services within easy reach. Independent grocers, wellness operators and neighbourhood retailers contribute to a community atmosphere that remains distinct from the vertical scale of the beachfront.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89709 project_image_fid=360915]

In the opposite direction, the Green Bridge links directly to HOTA – Home of the Arts – placing galleries, performance venues and parklands within walking distance. Weekly markets and major exhibitions draw visitors from across the region, while residents return to a quieter residential pocket at day’s end.

Public transport, including nearby bus routes and the G:link light rail corridor along the coastal spine, strengthens connectivity north and south. Griffith University, the Gold Coast University Hospital precinct and established private schools such as The Southport School are all within a short drive.

Ongoing investment across Surfers Paradise, HOTA and the broader Southport corridor has elevated amenity while preserving Chevron Island’s comparatively low-rise residential character. It is this balance, walkable village atmosphere paired with metropolitan-scale infrastructure, that continues to differentiate the suburb from higher-density beachfront precincts.

Boutique comprises just 42 residences, designed to maximise river and skyline outlooks within this tightly held island setting.

Boutique Chevron Island is slated for completion in April 2026, with prices starting from $1,220,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=89709]

Joel Robinson

Draycon Building’s Boutique Chevron Island places 42 residences at the heart of the Gold Coast

Sydney developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/deicorp">Deicorp</a> has secured planning approval for a $300 million residential development in Lindfield, marking the company’s second project on Sydney’s North Shore and its first on the Upper North Shore.

Located on Beaconsfield Parade and designed by DKO Architecture, the state significant development comprises three buildings of up to 10 storeys and will include 399 residences, including 59 affordable homes and 40 adaptable homes.

Residences will range in size from one, two and three bedrooms, with two-bedroom apartments accounting for over 60 per cent of the product make-up. Residents will have access to a broad suite of amenities, including a wellness area, indoor and outdoor recreational spaces, a pool, a gym, a community room and a golf simulator.

In line with Deicorp’s long-standing focus on creating transit-oriented communities, the project is located just 260 metres from the Lindfield Train Station, reinforcing its role in delivering well-connected housing close to established infrastructure, retail and local services.

The inclusion of affordable and adaptable housing supports greater diversity within the local market, while the mix of apartment types responds to demand from downsizers, young professionals and families seeking access to the Upper North Shore.

Deicorp Founder Fouad Deiri OAM said the approval represents an important milestone for both the company and the suburb

“This approval allows us to deliver well-designed homes in a location that is already supported by strong transport and community infrastructure," Deiri said.

"Our focus is on creating places that integrate into their surroundings and provide long-term value for residents, and the broader Lindfield community. Being within walking distance of the station ensures this project supports sustainable growth in the right locations."

Across its portfolio, Deicorp currently has 4,703 apartments under construction, playing a leading role in shaping connected, liveable communities across Sydney.

Its expanding portfolio of Metro-linked developments includes Tallawong Village, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kings-bay-village-five-dock-53-75-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">Kings Bay Village</a> in Five Dock, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/hyde-metropolitan-sydney-133-141-liverpool-street-sydney-nsw-2000">Hyde Metropolitan</a> in Sydney CBD, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/falcon-alexander-crows-nest-8-alexander-street-crows-nest-nsw-2065">Falcon &amp; Alexander</a> in Crows Nest and Showground Village, Castle Hill.

Deicorp purchased the Beaconsfield Paradise site last year. Construction is scheduled to commence in Q2 of 2026 and will be completed in 2029.

Deicorp expands portfolio to nearly 5,000 apartments with Lindfield project

In a joint venture with The Trump Organization, Australia developer Altus Property Group has announced plans to bring a Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower to the Gold Coast, marking the first Trump-branded project in Australia.

"Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower, Gold Coast is our first official project in Australia and reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering world-class luxury experiences in iconic locations around the world," Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, said.

"This development exemplifies the Trump brand’s dedication to quality, sophistication, and unmatched service, and we are thrilled to bring this vision to the vibrant Gold Coast community."

The 91-storey building, which will become the tallest in Australia at 335 metres, will feature a&nbsp;285-room luxury hotel bearing the trademark Trump logo. It will also include 272 luxury residential apartments, a three-level podium with an exclusive Beach Club, and over 3,400 sqm of premium commercial, retail, and dining space, revitalizing the central Surfers Paradise precinct.

“Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower, Gold Coast will be a truly unique offering in the Australian market, bringing the prestige and allure of a world-class luxury brand,"&nbsp;Altus founder and chief executive David Young said.

"Altus Property Group is proud of its track record in delivering landmark developments across Australia, and our expertise ensures this project will be an outstanding success."

Trump Hotel heads for the Gold Coast to become Australia's tallest building

More than a century after the Corrimal Coke Works first opened in 1912, the industrial landmark that helped shape the suburb is being reinterpreted as a walkable residential neighbourhood, with Stage One of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-works-stage-one-27-railway-street-corrimal-nsw-2518">The Works</a> now underway at 27 Railway Street.

For 102 years, the site was central to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/corrimal-nsw-2518">Corrimal</a>’s economic and social identity before operations ceased in 2014. Rather than erasing that legacy, developer Legacy Property has embedded it into the masterplan, retaining and reinterpreting elements such as the iconic 1912 brick chimney and sections of the original C1 Coke Oven Battery, alongside the adaptive reuse of the former powerhouse building.

Stage One will introduce 181 apartments across low-rise buildings, offering predominantly two and three-bedroom residences with completion targeted for mid-2027. The scale and configuration reflect a deliberate focus on owner-occupiers, targeting those seeking a lower-maintenance home in a prime location within the northern suburbs of Wollongong.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143415 project_image_fid=359833]

Apartments have been designed to maximise natural light and cross-ventilation, with floor-to-ceiling glazing extending living areas onto generous balconies. Engineered timber flooring, induction cooktops and 900mm ovens in larger residences support everyday functionality, while two interior palettes allow buyers to tailor finishes to their preferences. The material selection draws on a restrained coastal language, intended to connect homes to their surroundings rather than compete with them.

The Works forms part of a broader 18-hectare masterplan that will ultimately deliver around 550 dwellings, new parks, and a heritage precinct celebrating the site’s past. More than seven hectares are dedicated to open space, including Southern Park and a Village Green with community gardens and recreation areas. The creek corridor is being rehabilitated with 150,000 native plantings, restoring biodiversity to the site and softening landscape.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143415 project_image_fid=359841]

Positioned adjacent to Corrimal Station and within walking distance of Corrimal Town Centre, the precinct places daily essentials, rail connections and local retail within easy reach. Wollongong CBD, including the hospital, university and entertainment venues, sits approximately 6.5 kilometres to the south.

For buyers more familiar with North Wollongong, Corrimal offers a different proposition: a well-established coastal suburb framed by beaches to the east and the escarpment to the west, with a strong sense of local identity shaped in part by the former Coke Works. The Works seeks to reinforce that identity by creating a connected, walkable neighbourhood between coast and escarpment, rather than a standalone apartment complex.

Sustainability underpins the development approach. The Works is targeting Wollongong’s first 5-Star Green Star-rated community, with water-sensitive urban design, recycled materials and energy-efficient buildings integrated across the masterplan. For residents, these measures provide not only environmental benefits but also reduced operational costs and future resilience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143415 project_image_fid=359842]

With construction commenced and display materials available to view, prospective buyers can now engage more directly with the project’s vision, reviewing floorplans, material selections and the broader masterplan in detail. For many local homeowners weighing a move, the opportunity to experience how heritage, landscape and contemporary design intersect may help bridge the gap between familiarity and the next chapter.

As Stage One progresses toward its mid-2027 completion, The Works represents a significant chapter in Corrimal’s evolution, transforming a site that once powered local industry into a walkable residential precinct designed for its next generation of residents.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=143415]

Legacy Property’s The Works reimagines Corrimal’s century-old Coke Works

When it comes to developing in Melb​ourne's Bayside region, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lowe-living">Lowe Living</a> knows exactly what buyers want.

With a longstanding presence in the area and a string of sell-out projects, Lowe Living consistently delivers developments that are as sought-after as their predecessors.

Their latest instalment is in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/hampton-vic-3188">Hampton</a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/hampton-east-vic-3188">&nbsp;East,</a> the same postcode where they have previously delivered Hampton Hill and Oceano. The developer-builder recently commenced construction on its newest project,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marella-hampton-31-35-alicia-street-hampton-east-vic-3188">Marella</a>, a collection of 32 apartments just five minutes from the beach.

Site acquisition is paramount to success. Lowe Living rarely brings a building to market that isn’t within walking distance of essential amenities, whether it be the beach, a prominent retail strip, or a train station. Marella is no exception, located at its Alicia Street address, less than a kilometre from the retail heart of Hampton Street and Hampton Station.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146197 project_image_fid=358495]

Equally important to Lowe Living is the architecture.

For Marella, they appointed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a>, who explains that the architectural vision was to create a contemporary reinterpretation of the Californian bungalow, a style that’s iconic to Hampton’s heritage.

"By borrowing, abstracting, and reinterpreting elements of this quintessential style, such as strong datum lines, articulated columns, exposed structures, and roof tiles, our design strikes a balance between modernity and familiarity," says Cera Stribley.

"This approach ensures that the development is not only visually appealing but also contextually sensitive, resonating with Hampton's existing architectural landscape."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146197 project_image_fid=358499]

The building features terracotta brick, soft cream masonry, and exposed metal detailing, giving it a tactile presence that is intended to weather gently over time.

Internally, the focus on lasting quality continues, with two and three-bedroom residences anchored by sculptural stone kitchen islands, natural light, and clearly defined transitions between living, dining, and outdoor spaces.

The layouts have been carefully designed. Open-plan zones extend to private balconies, with light-filled interiors and generous kitchen proportions, supported by Miele wall ovens, induction cooktops, and integrated fridge-freezers. These are not small apartments rebranded as luxury; they have been designed at scale, with ample storage, hotel-style entry access, and secure basement parking provided as standard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146197 project_image_fid=358492]

At the uppermost level, Marella’s Signature Collection penthouses offer city or bay views, large entertaining terraces (some with outdoor spas), and elevated finishes, including fully wrapped stone kitchen benches and a Liebherr wine fridge.

Flexible room arrangements allow for a fourth bedroom or secondary living space, sought-after by both empty nesters who want the space when family visits and families with older children.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146197 project_image_fid=358498]

A residents’ lounge on the ground floor reinforces the project’s small-community feel. With a fireplace, private dining area, and adjoining terrace, it’s one of several shared spaces that balance amenity with privacy and scale.

Construction has commenced, with completion expected in early 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146197]

Melinda Oliver

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