<html><body>
The largest independent real estate company in Melbourne's inner west – Compton Green – has ventured into the social media world, but not to sell homes.
Compton Green has two offices, one in Williamstown and one in Yarraville.
At the start of the year their Facebook page had a mere 200 likes, but now it has nearly 700.
Their aim is to reach 1000 Facebook likes by the end of the year.
“We live in a digital world, one that’s evolving with newer, faster and smarter technology,” says director Adrian Butera.
“Now more than ever it is essential to create social media platforms which actively engages readers rather than informs.”
“For us, our aim has never been to sell homes through Facebook but to provide interesting content related to what is happening in the local area,” says Butera.
Compton Green hired Laura Meaney – who has a journalistic background – to drive their social media by interviewing personalities such as locals and high profile personalities, such as Tommy Hafey, a former Australian rules player and coach.
“All content must be informative, interesting and appealing, up-to-date, relevant to industry related issues or local community issues and never insulting to anyone including our competitors,” says Butera.
If you would like to engage with Compton Green, head to their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/comptongreen">Facebook page</a>.
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ntrotman-Et3xWpamVh

 Compton Green ventures into the social media world

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RP Data has released the most recent suburb rental yields.
Property Observer has a compiled a table of the top 40 yields for New South Wales.
Boggabri is out in front with a high 11.6% yield, followed by Broken Hill with a 9.5% yield.
 
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="325"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
SUBURB
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
POSTCODE
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
MEDIAN PRICE
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
GROSS RENTAL YIELD
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Boggabri</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2382
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$156,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
11.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Broken Hill</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2880
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$110,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
9.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Condobolin </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2877
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$131,500
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Cobar</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2835
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$200,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Batlow</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2730
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$111,250
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Bolton Point</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2283
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$250,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Narrabri </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2390
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$270,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Werris Creek </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2341
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$125,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Windale</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2306
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$222,500
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/south-grafton-shopping-centre-sells-with-1068-yield/2012102857482">South Grafton </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2460
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$191,750
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Tolland</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2650
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$190,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Cootamundra </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2590
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$172,500
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Blackett</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2770
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$230,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Cooma</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2630
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$184,500
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Deniliquin</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2710
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$156,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">North Albury </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2640
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$185,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Willmot</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2770
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$223,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Finley</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2713
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$120,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Lethbridge Park</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2770
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$232,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Narromine </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2821
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$179,750
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Whalan</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2770
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$245,500
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Buronga</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2739
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$187,500
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Tregear</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2770
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$235,500
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Weston</a> 
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2326
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$228,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Kandos</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2848
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$156,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Leeton </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2705
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$170,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Parkes</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2870
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$225,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">South Tamworth </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2340
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$216,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">West Tamworth</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2340
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$195,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Bellbird Heights</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2325
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$260,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Pelaw Main</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2327
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$237,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Westdale </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2340
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$245,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Gateshead </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2290
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$265,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Mount Austin </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2650
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$225,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">West Kempsey</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2440
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$200,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Maitland </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2320
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$266,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Cessnock </a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2325
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$250,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Woolloomooloo</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2011
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$717,500
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
6.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Branxton</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2335
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$335,000
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
5.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="98">
<a href="/news">Tarro</a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="78">
2322
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="85">
$287,750
</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top" width="65">
5.8%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.myrp.com.au/">RP Data</a>
</body></html>

New South Wales top 40 highest rental yield suburbs: From Boggabri to Tarro via Lethbridge Park

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The Melbourne bayside suburb of Cheltenham is following in the footsteps of the inner-city market, developing a new apartment complex – to be known as No.9 – and a townhouse project named Central Park.
No.9 is the latest $18 million boutique project by Launch Corporation.
No.9 is currently 35% sold.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/no9.jpg">
Offering one- and two-bedroom apartments at 9 Chesterville Road, <a href="/news">Cheltenham</a>, it has been designed by Australian Design Group (ADG).
The aims is to achieve a seven-star energy rating.
The 38 apartments have open-plan layouts, plus outdoor terraces and balconies. 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/no93.jpg">
Austin Design Associates took the lead in designing the interior with landscaping by Zenith Concepts. 
The one-bedroom apartments with a car park start from $335,000 and a two-bedroom apartment start from $400,000.
Launch Corporation was established in 1999 and won the 2011 HIA Victorian Townhouses/Village Development Award and the BDAV Building Design Awards for a two-unit townhouse located in Fitzroy.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/no92.jpg">
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
The other development - Central Park - is a residential townhouse development centered around Cheltenham’s newest park.
Located at 100 Cavanagh Street, Cheltenham, Central Park (pictured below) offers a range of six different contemporary home styles, all named after flowers.
<img src="/images/stories/cheltcentralpark1.jpg">
The Ivy townhouse is three storeys high with two bedrooms and a modern warehouse-style study on the third floor. Released early November, Ivy is the cheapest townhouse, with a starting price of $499,500.
Jasmine is a two-bedroom, three-storey townhouse with a private courtyard and an open-plan kitchen living and dining area with a starting price of $535,000.
<img src="/images/stories/cheltcentralpark2.jpg">
The two-storey Magnolia starts from $595,000 and has three bedrooms. It includes a private courtyard.
Gardenia has three-bedrooms and starts from $657,500.
Camellia is also two-storeys high and has three-bedrooms but comes with a landscaped backyard and starts from $599,500.
Orchid is the biggest style, offering three bedrooms plus a study, double garage and multiple landscaped outdoor areas but is completely sold out.
Central Park has almost sold 100 townhouses from stages one and two, with 25 remaining. 
Stage three has recently been released.
Property developer R Corporation says that modern families are looking to upgrade from their apartments without the associated price tag of a traditional house.
According to RP Data, the median sale price for a unit in Cheltenham is $430,000, with a 36.9% rise in median price over the past five years.
The median house price is $600,000.
The median asking rent for Cheltenham is $450 with an indicative gross rental yield of 3.9%.
RP Data reported the supply and demand for Cheltenham was 31 people looking per house, with a population of 20,292.
“Due to strong growth in the more traditional and inner-market developments, apartment developments in Cheltenham have become more viable and profitable for developers to do,” says Shane Dargue of Colliers International.
“When the housing and development market was flying along a million miles an hour, there was enough growth in the market to think, maybe we can build high-density apartments in Cheltenham.”
“Buyers now have a choice, where as before with the strong market you didn’t have a choice. Predominately, you only have quarter-block housing.”
Dargue explains that investors who have acquired off-the-plan apartments that have been delivered in Cheltenham are going to find their investment quite safe. Due to the market slowing, Dargue says there is not likely to be any more projects in Cheltenham for a while.
Dargue says it was a “softening in the market” or a “correction in the market”.
“It is a correction the market needs every now and again to re-stabilise and provide a new base for the market to grow from,” Dargue says.
The No.9 display suite is located at 9 Chesterville Road, Cheltenham.
The display suite for Central Park is located at 100 Cavanagh Street, Cheltenham.
</body></html>

Cheltenham moving towards apartments and townhouses

<html><body>
The troubled Equititrust's Wirrina Cove in South Australia is on the market again under instructions from David Whyte of BDO.
The resort, conference centre and surrounding land on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula, 75 minutes south of Adelaide.
The 485-hectare property includes 89 hotel rooms, a convention centre, a golf course and a caravan park.
Other facilities include a restaurant, bar, café and a swimming pool.
Karen Seeto of Ray White Commercial is coordinating the sale in conjunction with Ray White Hotels, Ray White Marines, Ray White Mt Barker and Century 21 Normanville.
“This is the first time the whole complex has been offered to the market in separate titles and at the same time on behalf of the mortgagee,” says Seeto.
Also on offer are 76 residential land lots with settlements of up to 12 months available.
Some 100 long-term sub-leases of up to 35 years are also available for the marina.
Wirrina Cove Resort is still acting as a conference centre, hosting a number of state government events during 2013.
“The situation at the resort is encouraging and continues to improve on an ongoing basis,” says Keeto.
Recent court proceedings indicated it was cost $35,000 a week to keep the resort open.
Wirrina Cove is being offered through expression of interest, and offers close December 19.
</body></html>

Equititrust's Wirrina Cove, South Australia, on the market under instructions

<html><body>
Investors wanting bang for their buck when remodeling their investment property ought to paint the place to get the cheapest of makeovers.

Interior painting of the walls and ceilings of a two-bedroom apartment come in at $1,500, according to the Australian Services Buyers Guide 2012.

The guide by ServiceSeeking.com.au gives customers an idea of how much money home renovation costs to possibly avoid overpriced quotes from tradespeople.

The guide offers pricing for the measured completion of tasks ranging from interior painting to plumbing, the most expensive of tasks.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27406]

Exterior painting comes in first place for the cheapest trade service, with an average quote of $40 per hour including paint.

Interior painting is slightly more expensive than exterior painting, with an average quote of painting the walls and ceilings of a two-bedroom apartment being $1,500.

The walls of a small two-bedroom unit could cost as little as $430.

An average job for exterior painting includes the painting of a 24-square-metre deck and awning and has quote price of $1,200.

Interior painting could cost $4,700 for the painting of a four-bedroom townhouse with its exterior painting possibly costing $3,300.

According to the guide, NSW offers the best bang for a buck, with the cheapest quotes from painters. 

Victorians on average pay $400 more per task than their NSW counterparts, with prices starting at $1,700 for a one-bedroom apartment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3783]

The Sunshine Coast is the most expensive, with painting a one-bedroom apartment costing $1,870, however a job with three bedrooms will get you a better deal.

Quotes are generally consistent among states, however for a more precise quote, you simply need to write a job description and sit back and wait for the quotes to roll in.

Tiling ties with painting for the cheapest service, with customers paying an average of $40 per square metre excluding materials.

The minimum job quoted for tiling a small outdoor area of six square metres was $250.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3565]

The tiling of a 20-square-metre outdoor balcony area is listed as an average job with a likely quote of $500.

The tiling rates in New South Wales are 5% more than the national average of $40 per square metre, and Victorians can expect to pay $45, an increase of 12.5%.

However, the guide says that New South Wales and Victoria property owners pay less than Queenslanders when charged by task.

 

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The third cheapest service is plastering, with an average cost of $45 per hour.

The minimum plastering job quoted in the service guide was for the repair of a ceiling and cost $150.

A plastering job of two plasterboard walls and one ceiling could cost $500.

The plastering of walls and ceilings in two rooms comes with a $2,000 price tag.

Carpenters are the third most expensive, with an average price of $50 per hour, excluding materials.

A job of building and installing a linen cupboard could cost on average $700.

The second most expensive service is electrical, which has an average cost of $65 per hour.

The minimum quoted price was $65 for residential electrical wiring.

Four light fittings and the replacement of switches and power points could cost you on average $300.

The maximum quote recorded by ServiceSeeking.com.au was $1,200 and was for the installation of four fans, 12 lights and powerpoints.

Victorians pay 40% less when it comes to appliance installation.

The most expensive general trade service is plumbing, with an average of $70 per hour.

A minor bathroom shower tap job could start from $80.

The installation of a new stove with gas fitting could cost you $400.

A larger job of installing gas pipes for heating, hot water and an oven can cost up to $1,000, the average quoted price.

Victorians can expect to pay 10% more for a plumber, paying on average $77 an hour.

New South Wales and Queensland are 7.1% below the national average of $70 an hour.

According to the 2010 Australian Services Buyers Guide, the average hourly rate was $66 although the average job price has come back.

The inclusion of details and prices that were charged for some recent jobs give consumers an idea of how much they should be paying for similar work.

“Our Australian Services Buyer’s Guide 2012 saves Australian renovators from the risk of overpaying. It’s going to change the way people renovate their homes – they won’t want to commit to a quote without consulting the guide first,” says Jeremy Levitt, co-founder of ServiceSeeking.com.au.

ServiceSeeking.com.au has helped over 500,000 customers get quotes from 65,000 businesses.

The data in the guide is based on the analysis of over 700,000 quotes submitted by Australian local businesses through ServiceSeeking.com.au over the past year.

ServiceSeeking.com.au is Australia’s largest marketplace for local services, and allows people to post job descriptions that they need done on the website.

The Australian Services Buyer’s Guide 2012 is available for purchase on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Australian-Services-Buyers-Guide-ebook/dp/B008OOR1HO" target="_blank">Amazon</a> for $9.95.

Sections of the guide can also be viewed on <a href="https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/" target="_blank">ServiceSeeking.com.au’s</a> blog.
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For that lick of paint: Cost guide to give your investment property a makeover

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The rooftop of early apartment complexes were once home to a simple dreary washing line, but now what’s on the rooftop is almost as important as what is in the newly completed apartment.
All residents in many new high rises are entitled to access rooftops in a trend towards democratisation of the previously sealed off upper levels.
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/11/centralsouth1.jpg">
Central South Yarra (pictured above) – a $220 million 30-storey development by Little Projects in South Yarra – is among four apartment complexes that incorporate resort-style resident rooftop access.
The large landscaped outdoor sky terrace is 30 storeys up, offering residents and their guests a 360-degree view across Melbourne.
The rooftop includes an inside dining room on a first-in, first served basis with a 10-seater dining table and kitchen. There's also a lounge, pool and a ‘wellbeing zone’ with fitness equipment.
Michael Fox, managing director of Little Property Group, says the rooftop trend stems from tenants, and their landlord investors, seeking low-maintenance recreational living options.
“They want to enjoy the outdoor scenario,” says Fox.
Fox says the additional recreation space adds to the value of all apartments, despite the loss of revenue from sale of the top floor or rooftop.
“Essentially, it’s an extension of their apartment. Residents are happy to live in smaller spaces but have other facilities at their fingertips so they can entertain their guests in an open and unique environment.”
“The philosophy behind it all is offering purchases lifestyle benefits,” says Fox.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/yarrahouse.jpg">
The nearby Yarra House (pictured above) in <a target="_blank" href="/news">South Yarra </a>is a boutique apartment development with a “members-only” 15-metre rooftop lap pool, gym and landscaped garden on level 26.
It offers views of the surrounds of the historic Melbourne High School, the city skyline and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/montrose.jpg">
Montrose (pictured above) in <a href="/news">North Sydney</a> comprises of 104 apartments over 10 levels with occupants having access to a rooftop cinema.
Curtis Field, director of project marketing at Colliers International, which is marking Montrose, tells Property Observer a rooftop cinema is fairly unusual for an apartment project in Sydney, with the trend starting in Melbourne's entertainment district retail terraces.
He says the cinema was included in the design to appeal to younger couples and singles who are expected to show interest in Montrose, and he says it will “add some vibrancy” to the project.
The cinema is made to feel like a home cinema and can be booked through the body corporate.
Field says apartments are getting smaller and therefore residents are use the rooftops as common areas for entertaining.
“It offers added value of views and amenities that they [residents] don’t have to pay for.”
Montrose is almost 50% sold.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Of course the common facilities not necessarily have to induce vertigo. 
In Sydney, Payce's Victoria Park project Platinum (pictured below)  has its has a 2,000-square-metre podium courtyard that is located one level above the street.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/platinum1.jpg">
The courtyard contains Asian-inspired black bamboo planting to create multi-storey green screens and a pathway to meander through the bamboo.
Intimate pavilions are built from timber and framed steel and are illuminated at night.
There is also an alfresco entertainment area with hanging gardens, storage and a kitchen.
Rooftop trees and plants can clear the air by absorbing toxins such as benzene from the atmosphere.
The landscaping can also intercept between 70% and 90% of incoming solar radiation to aid temperature control.
One mature tree potentially provides nearly as much cooling as five 3-kilowatt air-conditioners, while in winter it helps keep apartments insulated.
The rooftop trend comes as the health-giving benefits of parklands are being acknowledged.
The Western Australian Department of Environment and Conversation (DEC) has established the national “Healthy Parks, Healthy People” program.
The DEC believes parkland is fundamental to people’s health and reduces urban stress as well as boosting immunity to certain health issues.
Parkland and community spaces also allow for a more balanced lifestyle, providing opportunities to socialise and may boost immunity to certain health issues.
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Democratising the rooftops as high-rise penthouses become passé

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This week’s episode of Grand Designs Australia features a glass house in the Barossa Valley South Australia.
James and Helen build a 60-metre-long, one-room-wide house that is virtually all glass in the hope of capturing the Barossa Valley views.
The house follows the contour of the hill, a 2.5-metre step down over five separate levels.
At the top of hill, there are four north-facing bedrooms, which are all accessed off a continuous ramp corridor that runs down the side of the house.
This corridor flows into a large living and kitchen area, with a sunken lounge at the end of the house.
One continuous roof plane will run along the entire roof.
An existing 130,000-litre water tank will provide the property with all its water needs.
Grand Designs host Peter Maddison says the simple design and double-glazed windows offer the property lightness and transparency.
The Barossa Valley is a major wine-producing region and tourist destination in South Australia.
It is 60 kilometres northeast of Adelaide and has an approximate population of 20,0000 people.
Last week's episode featured a house in <a href="/news">Annandale </a>that was built on a small empty allotment overshadowed by two large buildings either side, one heritage listed.
The Barossa Valley Glass House episode will air on the Lifestyle channel on November 29 at 8.30pm.
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People in Barossa Valley glass houses on Grand Designs

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The trendy suburb of Brunswick is keeping up with Melbourne’s fast-paced property market with the refurbishment of its Barkly Square shopping precinct along with a new nearby apartment complex.
A brisk stroll from Barkly Square is the new apartment complex Albert Apartments (pictured below), by Grange Development Group.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/albertapt2.jpg">
Sitting opposite a 5,665-hectare park, the Albert Street complex will comprise 150 apartments, with nine of its own retail and commercial premises.
One-bedroom apartments are priced at $369,000 to $459,000.
Two-bedroom apartments are priced at $495,000 to $660,000, and three-bedroom apartments are priced at $759,000 to $839,000.
The site was previously owned by the Sires Menswear family since 1920 but was rezoned by the Moreland Council.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/albertapt1.jpg">
“We don’t build run-of-the-mill apartments. Our projects have a point of difference, which is apartments with large living spaces, 2.7-metre ceiling heights, plus quality fixtures and fittings,” says Grange Development Group director Daniel Casper.
“Together we have achieved apartments that are 10% larger than the average and also 10% cheaper than our competitors. It’s a great balance,” says Casper.
The demand for sustainable energy efficient developments means there are 110 solar panels on the roof, expecting to meet 50% of the estimated energy requirements.
Albert Apartments are designed by Carbott Holt Architects.
The Albert Apartments are being offered for sale off the plan through Knight Frank and Avion Properties.
Construction will commence in May 2013 with an expected completion date mid to late 2014.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
The first stage of the $17 million refurbishment of <a target="_blank" href="/news">Brunswick</a>’s Barkly Square (pictured below) is set to get underway this week.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/barklysquarepic.jpg">
Due for completion in April 2013, the refurbishment will include a full upgrade of internal and external appearances and amenities.
The first stage is focused on the fresh food market precinct and includes the upgrade of Kmart, Coles and Safeway.
Stage two is set to commence in April 2013 and will focus on the McDougal Lane dining precinct and the new JB Hi-Fi store.
The new Barkly Square – 14 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD – will comprise of 36 specialty shops.
Located at 90-106 Sydney Road and sitting on 17,544 square metres, it is the first time the shopping precinct has received a makeover since it’s opening in November 1983.
Barkley Square is owned by property investment group ISPT Pty Ltd and managed by Jones Lang LaSalle.
Architects Villa and Villa designed the new look.
The leasable shops range from 50 square metres to 400 square metres.
The new retail mix is hoping to build on Barkley Square’s strong fresh food heritage.
“We are thrilled to deliver a brand new, reinvigorated Barkly Square to the Brunswick community,” says Frances Dimech, Barkly Square's senior marketing manager.
“Stage one will showcase some exciting developments and we look forward to celebrating Barkly Square’s 30th birthday next year with the best present of all: a fantastic shopping experience and community hub that embraces the culturally diverse atmosphere this area is know for.”
ISPT chief executive Daryl Browning told the Moreland Leader the refurbishment would ensure Barkly Square was the centre of choice for fresh food and retail services.
“By refreshing Barkly Square’s retail mix, food outlets and amenities, we are creating a contemporary and vibrant shopping destination and meeting place for the Brunswick community who call Barkly Square their local shopping centre,” says Browning.
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Sires Brunswick East store set for retailoring as Albert Apartments 

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A landmark Victorian/Edwardian red brick residence in Ivanhoe East has been listed for sale with $6 million-plus expectations.
Located at <a href="https://www.kayburton.com.au/property/39-york-avenue-ivanhoe-east" target="_blank">39 York Avenue</a>, Rangeworthy was built in 1910.
The five-bedroom, two-bathroom <a target="_blank" href="/news">Ivanhoe East</a> home was built in the Rangeworthy Estate, an area subdivided in 1901 into 107 allotments by councillor and timber merchant William J. Brewer of Fairfield Park.
The allotments were sold for 25-40 shillings per foot.
According to the <a href="https://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/heritagevic/?timeout=yes#detail_places;31478" target="_blank">Victorian Heritage Database</a>, the 107 large allotments were created for a "fashionable suburb".
The house takes its name from a property that was formerly across York Avenue from heritage-listed <a href="https://www.onmydoorstep.com.au/heritage-listing/601/ravenswood" target="_self">Ravenswood</a> and to the north-east of the house.
Thomas James was the first owner (1910-20), followed by Wilfred Bromby (c.1925-35).
The house comprises of a formal dining room, an upstairs rumpus room, and a chef’s kitchen with a double oven, remote-control gates and a four-car garage.
The property is now owned by Rob Edgley, a former investment banker and now company director of EVZ Limited and Praemium Limited.
Scott Patterson and Nicole Gleeson from Kay &amp; Burton Hawthorn have listed Rangeworthy, with offers closing December 10.
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Ivanhoe East 1910 home Rangeworthy listed with $6 million-plus hopes

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The Melbourne apartment of the late businessman Alan Hamer and his late wife, Margaret, has been listed for December 8 auction through Marshall White.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/hamer2.jpg">
The apartment comes with views across Albert Park golf course and lake towards Port Phillip Bay.
There is a spacious living/dining room with surrounding balcony, well-equipped kitchen, plus three bedrooms including main with marble ensuite and second bathroom.
More than $1 million is tipped by Mary Dowling at Marshall White.
Located at <a href="https://www.10a-29queensroadmelbourne.com/home" target="_blank">10a/29 Queens Road Melbourne</a>, the apartment is in the Sky building.  
Another apartment on level 10 of the Sky building was listed for sale in 2007 for $725,000. It had three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Hamer, who passed away age 94 in July this year, met his wife, Margaret Angas, in 1947 while working in a chemical plant at Botany Bay. Margaret, the first woman in Australia to graduate as an aeronautical engineer, died seven weeks before him.
Alan Hamer, the brother of former premier Rupert Hamer, was a prominent <place><city>Melbourne</city></place> businessman, whose directorships included ICI, Tubemakers of Australia Ltd, and Reckitt and Colman Australia. He was also president of the Melbourne Club.
He also farmed cattle in Queensland and Victoria.
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The Hamer family's Queens Road, Melbourne, Sky apartment listed

<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.

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Nicola Trotman

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