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Victorian planning minister Matthew Guy has received two further development applications for high rise towers in Melbourne's inner city precinct.
His department his received applications for a 49-storey tower on Ferrars Street, <a target="_blank" href="/news">South Melbourne</a> and a 43-storey tower on City Road, Southbank, Fairfax Media has reported.
The Ferrars Street development could be the first of many – if approved – for the Fishermans Bend Development area, the largest urban renewal area in Australia.
Port Phillip council mayor Amanda Stevens said the council was working closely with the state government urban renewal authority, Places Victoria, on a strategic framework for the area.
Mr Guy said he would not approve any development in the area until a strategic framework is in place.
He has been eagerly approving high-rise projects in and around the CBD over the past year with his vision to transform the Melbourne skyline into something resembling Manhattan.
His press release announcing the approval of Australia 108 last month had as its headline "Melbourne, moving upward".
"Melbourne’s skyline will take a dramatic turn upward following the Victorian Coalition Government's approval of the Australia 108 tower," said Guy.
Mr Guy approved plans to build <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/tallest-building-in-southern-hemisphere-approved-for-melbourne/2013031759915" target="_blank">Australia 108, the tallest highrise in the southern hemisphere</a>, despite concerns it will cast a shadow over the Shrine of Remembrance and later revelations that its height infringes on the flight path into Essendon Airport.
In late 2012, he gave the go-ahead for <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/melbourne-cbds-tallest-residential-tower-crown-tussle/2013022858541" target="_blank">CEL Australia’s $170 million Tower Melbourne </a>which will boast 555 apartments (and townhouses) across 71 storeys.
A third high rise project, the 72-level Vision tower was approved by Mr Guy in April last year. The Brady Group's proposed 226-metre tower is due to stand at 500 Elizabeth Street, near Queen Victoria Market. </body></html>

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Two more Melbourne high-rise towers seek Matthew Guy's tick of approval

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The Perth property market is sending confusing mixed messages to sellers and buyers as it is operating at different speeds in line with asking prices, according to RE/MAX WA managing director Geoff Baldwin.
Baldwin says the local market is being driven by vigorous competition for properties under $600,000. 
Baldwin says this lower priced stock is attracting multiple offers and sale prices at or even over the asking price.
Attracting fewer and more circumspect buyers is property priced betweeen $600,000 and $1.5 million.
“The $600,000 to $1.5 million price range is starting to see the feed through from this activity however certainly at a slower pace and with buyers being a lot harder on price.”
Meanwhile, Baldwin says above $1.5 million, buyers remain few and far between and sales in this range are still tending to be heavily discounted when compared to the lower ranges.
Baldwin expects the Perth median price to start to push back up to or even beyond the previous record high, due to the frantic buying activity in the sub $600,000 market.
Earlier this week, the Real Estate Institute of WA (REIWA) reported that Perth's median house price reached a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/western-australia/perth-median-house-price-rises-to-new-peak-of-%24510000-reiwa/2013040160114?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=latestnews" target="_blank">record high of $510,000 in the March quarter</a> surpassing the previous peak of $505,000 in the March quarter of 2010.
The REIWA reported that homes selling for $600,000 to $700,000 and those between $800,000 and $1 million represented around 20% of all sales during the quarter.
“Collectively and in most cases individually, RE/MAX WA offices have just recorded best quarter in the history of the group and there is no sign of this demand subsiding any time soon," says Baldwin.
“News of this renewed buyer interest is causing owners of higher priced properties to raise their expectations and in many cases stopping sales."
RE/MAX WA predicts that the higher priced market will slowly recover, as those in the lower ranges will eventually sell and buy up into better property.
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Perth property market operating at three speeds: RE/MAX's Geoff Baldwin

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The Chenchow Little-designed house in Palm Beach is seeking $2.85 million after being passed in at its late February auction. 
Located on Bynya Road, the property – which has been featured in Belle Magazine and House Magazine – received a bid in the mid-$2 million range but the bid was rejected.
Property Observer <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/chenchow-little-designed-hill-house-palm-beach-listed/2012083056320" target="_blank">reported</a> on its first listing in August last year.
Architecturally designed, The Hill House boasts clean double-brick and steel beam construction and travertine floors.
It features a double-height reception room and a living/dining room with floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
The four bedrooms each come with their own ensuites and a private courtyard.
Outside includes a covered terrace and a large freestanding swimming pool.
The <a target="_blank" href="/news">Palm Beach</a> property is surrounded by native shrubbery that has been designed by Spirit Level Design.
The current owners purchased the 715-square-metre vacant block in early 2009 for $950,000 through LJ Hooker Mona Vale agent Josephine Cowling.
The vendors are selling to relocate overseas for work commitments.
The Hill House has been <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-palm+beach-112759343" target="_blank">listed</a> through Peter Robinson of LJ Hooker Palm Beach.
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Chenchow Little-designed Palm Beach house seeks $2.85m

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Surrey Hills has been crowned Melbourne’s hottest suburb for property this quarter, according to data released by realestate.com.au.
The report lists the top suburbs in Melbourne based on the amount of online clicks per property tracked through the realestate.com.au website.
Surrey Hills soared up the list from ninth place three months ago, to the number one spot.
“Demand for the Surrey Hills area has grown dramatically over the last few months,” says Toby Parker from Hocking Stuart in Balwyn.
“The clearance rate for property in the area earlier in the month was 100%.”
The median house price in Surrey Hills is $1,095,000 million.
“It’s a leafy, tree-lined, family orientated suburb which offers all the amenities close to hand,” says Parker.
Moving from seventh place to second this quarter was Blackburn North.
The median house price in Blackburn North is $597,500.
Realestate.com.au’s Victoria state manager Ben Auchettl says if you live in one of the top ten suburbs now might be the time to sell.
“We have more than 18.5 million visits to the realestate.com.au website every month, which gives us a solid indication of where people are looking to buy,” says Auchettl.
“The top suburbs are ranked by the number of people looking per listing in an area, which for these suburbs means a high level of buyer competition for each individual home listed in the suburb.”
“A high level of competition indicates an increase in market participation a few months down the tracks,” says Auchettl.
Park says Hocking Stuart Balwyn sold a four-bedroom property in Scheele Street for $370,000 above the reserve price last month.
Robert Larocca of Real Estate Institute of Victoria told The Herald Sun that median house prices in Surrey Hills are 20% below peak, which may be a key reason why more confident consumers are bidding strongly at auction.
The top ten list
<ol>
<li>Surrey Hills</li>
<li>Blackburn North</li>
<li>Fitzroy North</li>
<li>Bulleen</li>
<li>Carlton North</li>
<li>Hampton East</li>
<li>Chadstone</li>
<li>Croyden South</li>
<li>Wonga Park</li>
</ol>
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Surrey Hills crowned Melbourne's most sought after suburb: realestate.com.au

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The latest apartment complex to style South Brisbane will be Australian and Japanese trust fund Galileo’s $50 million Arena twin towers.
Tower one was launched on March 23 and has sold out. Tower two will not be released until May 4.
Located at 9 Edmondstone Street, the two 12-level twin tower apartment buildings will float above – via a toothpick design – a recreation centre which includes a pool, gym, garden and a retail complex.
“We’re finding we’re getting a very, very strong response from the market with respect to the design,” Paul Marshall of Galileo told Fairfax Media.
Designed by Ellivo architects, the 191 apartments will consist of one and two-bedroom apartments and a mixture of three-bedroom apartments.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-south+brisbane-113102143?pid=project-profile-ppp-600001755-to-pdp-113102143">One-bedroom apartments</a>  start from $370,000 and have an internal size of approximately 65 square metres.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-south+brisbane-113128115?pid=project-profile-ppp-600001755-to-pdp-113128115">Two-bedroom apartments</a> start from $520,000 and range from 77 square metres to 86 square metres.
With only three available, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-south+brisbane-113128639?pid=project-profile-ppp-600001755-to-pdp-113128639">three-bedroom dual key apartments</a> start from $815,000 and boast a 129-square-metre interior.
The dual key apartments will consist of a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with a studio apartment next door.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-south+brisbane-113173491?pid=project-profile-ppp-600001755-to-pdp-113173491">three-bedroom skyhome</a> apartments start from $1.5 million and have an interior of 174 square metres.
Two penthouses sold at the March 23 launch.
All apartments boast full height windows and glass doors and kitchens will have Bosch or Miele appliances with caerstone or marble benches.
Buyers will have the choice of a light or dark finishing scheme.
Galileo bought the 4,407-square-metre lot – currently home to a Celebrations bottle shop – last October for $5,736,000.
<a href="?option=com_googlesearch_cse&amp;q=Metro%20Residences" target="_blank">Galileo</a> is also the name behind Metro Residences, the three apartment towers located above the Chatswood Transport Interchange.
Current ventures also include the residential development The Residence in Hyde Park, East Sydney.
Construction will start mid-2013 and is expected to be completed by mid-2015.
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First of Brisbane's Arena twin towers sells out

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The battle for the DIY renovator market has continued with Woolworths securing a site at the Sydney Business Park in Sydney's north-west for a new Masters Home Improvement store.
<a target="_blank" href="/companies/woolworths">Woolworths</a> will go head-to-head with arch-rival Coles, which has also secured a site in the business park for a Bunnings DIY store.
IKEA will also build a new store in the business park.
Sydney Business Park is a new master planned 256-hectare commercial precinct located in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Marsden Park</a>.
The Masters store will be build as part of the first stage of the development with a 34,923-square-metre site currently under contract to Woolworths.
It will include 13,000 square metres of floor space and stock more than 40,000 products.
“Masters Home Improvement is a fantastic new addition to the range of retailers which will make up one of Sydney’s largest bulky goods retail centres with over 90 square metres of bulky goods floor space,” says Sydney Business Park’s Development Director, Owen Walsh.
“The $102 million upgrade to Richmond Road is progressing quickly with the main entry intersection opening expected to coincide with the completion of the M2 widening works.”
“These upgrades will enhance Sydney Business Park’s access to an even wider catchment of customers and staff,” says Walsh.
Sydney Business Park’s sales and leasing director Matt Foldes says enquiry from purchases and tenants has been strong.
Construction of the Masters store  is expected to start in late 2013, with the store planned to open in late 2014.
Sydney Business Park will have an end value of approximately $2 billion and will take approximately 12 years to complete.
Masters Home Improvement is a joint venture between Woolworths Limited and Lowes Companies Inc.
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DIY battle heats up with Woolworths to build Masters store in Marsden Park

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The $1.8 million sale of a townhouse in <a href="/news">Glen Iris</a> has set a record price for townhouses in the area.
Located on Peace Street, the <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/Townhouse/VIC/Glen-Iris/?adid=2010286214" target="_blank">340-square-metre brand new home</a> went under the hammer on March 16 through Jason Brinkworth and Leonard Teplin of Marshall White with three hopeful buyers competing.
The townhouse features four bedrooms and three bathrooms and boasts a miele-equipped kitchen, oak floors, high ceilings and a landscaped outdoor area.
It stands in a cul-de-sac close to Gardiners Creek parkland.
The townhouse is also connected to the National Broadband Network (NBN).
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Glen Iris townhouse sale sets suburb record at $1.8 million

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An architecturally designed Australian colonial homestead property in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Duffys Forest</a> has sold for an undisclosed price.
RP Data records show it took just 39 days to sell.
Located 28 kilometres from the Sydney CBD, the 2-hectare lot boasts an 800-square-metre home with a wide timber posted verandah that wraps around the cement façade.
Featuring five bedrooms and four bathrooms, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-nsw-duffys+forest-113176223">Claremont</a> was sold through Shayne Hutton from Ray White Terrey Hills.
Another Duffy Forest trophy estate, Jabulisa, businessman <a href="/news">Simon Tripp's impressive 6.9-hectare Sydney northern beaches acreage</a>,  is listed for sale with expectations around $20 million.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/john-mcgrath-sells-duffys-forest-weekender-at-a-loss/2012050254515">Last year estate agent John McGrath</a> sold his seven-bedroom Duffys Forest retreat for about $4.05 million.
The homestead features spotted gum flooring and high rosette ceilings.
It also includes a library with an open fireplace, a home theatre with grandstand cinema seating, a games room and a gymnasium.
The main outdoor patio features a wet bar and an open fireplace.
Also located on the property is a championship-size tennis court, a heated pool and equine facilitates.
Included are eight paddocks, six stables, a feed room, tack room and a sand arena.
Hidden from the main residence is a two-bedroom guest retreat with two living spaces, kitchen and bathroom and a private pool.
Hutton declined to comment on the sale.
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Sydney northern beaches equestrian property Claremont sells at a gallop

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A local developer has snapped up a residential site on High Street, Preston, for $1.13 million.
The 711-square-metre site has a permit for a six-storey development consisting of 81 student apartments, basement car park and ground floor retail.
“The high number of buyer enquiries illustrated the market’s hunger for boutique development sites,” says CBRE selling agent Paul Tzamalis.
“The property was sold to an established local developer after generating interest from a wide range of buyers, including developers and land bankers.”
<a target="_blank" href="/news">Preston</a> is located nine kilometres north of the Melbourne CBD and has a median unit price of $382,194.
The median asking rent is $350 per week – offering a 4.8% yield.
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Local developer snaps up Preston site for $1.13 million

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The Killarney Castle located in the Sydney North Shore suburb of Gordon has sold for less than its $3 million price expectations.
The property was built for Irishman Thomas Taylor circa 1918 and is designed to reflect an <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/overseas/irish-house-prices-rise-for-first-quarter-in-six-years-as-imf-gets-residential-property-price-transparency/2012100756898" target="_blank">Irish</a> castle.
It was constructed from hand-cut sandstone and boasts wide floorboards and high ceilings.
Comprising five bedrooms – including a loft – and three bathrooms, the home has been restored to as-new condition.
The home boasts a pool, workshop, gym, and castle turret and includes a bridge to the second level, giving the impression of a moat.
A 70-square-metre entertainment room is detached from the main home and includes a wall projection TV, wet bar and a full-sized billiards area.
The district air raid shelter still exists below the castle.
The vendors had owned the <a href="/news">Gordon</a> property for 12 years, after purchasing it in 2000 for $1.53 million.
They have since done extensive renovations.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-gordon-112485127">Killarney Castle</a> was sold by the Australian Mutual Provident Society in May 1939 to Alexander Reid Cant after Taylor became bankrupt.
It then moved into the hands of Agnes Christiansen in 1940, and sold again in 1944 to the Gastineau-Hills family who lived in the home for 25 years.
In 1969, the land was subdivided and the Ku-ring-gai council purchased the rear portion of the property and kept it as a natural bush reserve.
Sam Johnston from Burns and Burns Real Estate Pymble secured the sale.
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Gordon's Irish-inspired Killarney Castle sells

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

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;

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;

Nicola Trotman

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