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EXPERT OBSERVATION
As the property market continues to recover this spring, buyers and sellers are well advised to focus on five key areas that will largely shape the market’s performance. 
Leading into spring, the market conditions seemed to be improving week to week.  
The recovery to date has not been linear across market segments. Some niche markets such as inner-city houses have rebounded strongly whilst apartments in suburbia continue to struggle.
Generalised commentary such as ‘Sydney house prices’ won’t help a Birchgrove home buyer nor will ‘inner city apartments’ assist someone looking to downsize to a waterfront apartment. 
Stock levels/days on market – vendors benefited whilst buyers were left frustrated by the historically low stock levels over winter.
Market pessimists claimed the economic fundamentals were weak – but when there are more buyers than sellers, vendors hold the advantage regardless of the fundamentals.
Sometimes the market can play the other way – whereby the fundamentals are healthy but the market is over supplied with stock, giving buyers an advantage.
The recovery in Perth will look this way when their State economy shows strong improvement, the housing market will initially lag until excess stock levels are cleared. 
CoreLogic monthly index – normally, you would not suggest an index would influence the performance of a market. It is normally the other way around; the market shapes the index’s reading. 
The CoreLogic monthly index accurately tracked the downturn and has quickly become the most credible source of the market performance.
In recent months, the index has shown the market tracking positively which then feeds into buyer confidence.  
With money being cheap and readily available, buyer confidence is the final requirement for the market recovery to really take hold.
We have already seen many sales that suggest the market recovery is becoming more aggressive and reflective of early 2017. 
The CoreLogic monthly index is where many commentators, forecasters and buyers will take their cue. 
Rental market – the inner west rental market is falling, across the housing and apartment market. This is likely to impact the market in one of two ways.
Firstly, demand will be muted as investors are less likely to be interested in buying a rental property at a time of falling income.
Secondly, existing landlords may be tempted to sell by the higher sales prices on offer, at a time of lower rental returns. This could potentially add to stock levels (supply).
We have already seen this trend over winter as a disproportionally high number of landlords opted to sell rather than re-let their property as it became vacant.  
Bidders per property is without doubt the best metric to measure market depth. During the downturn, finding one fair and reasonable offer was a feat for vendors. This is why many properties were either ‘Prior to Auction’ or were simply ‘Withdrawn’.
When faced with an environment of one or no buyers, trying to engineer a competitive auction is optimistic. 
In recent times, the number of bidders has increased enormously. We are regularly seeing up to 5 or 6 bidders per property, highlighting depth in the market which will ultimately push prices higher. 
The apartment market has copped an absolute shellacking since the Opal Tower cracked last December.
Interestingly, buyers have still shown a propensity to purchase apartments, albeit with added caution.
If there is one common denominator in the high few profile instances of defects, it is high rise apartments less than 7 years old. This will inadvertently make older, established apartment blocks more appealing to home buyers.
A complete loss of buyer confidence in the apartment market would be catastrophic for the market and the economy. Hopefully this can be avoided.
PETER O'MALLEY is sales consultant with <a href="https://www.harrispartners.com.au/" target="_blank">Harris Partners Real Estate Agents</a> and has been successfully selling real estate in Sydney's Inner West since 2000.
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Housing market conditions improving heading into the spring: Peter O’Malley

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2013 will be remembered as the year the Sydney property market came back to life. After three tough years where prices went backwards, buyers were suddenly the ones on the back foot as a number of factors combined to create fierce buyer competition. The competition was most noticeable on inner city houses under $1.5 million and apartments under $700,000.
There are a number of factors that could be credited for causing such a stellar year in the property market. In reality, it was probably not one particular factor that caused the market rally, rather a number of factors combining to cause a perfect selling environment.
Interest rates hit an all time low during 2013 as the RBA cut the cash rate to 2.5% in August. This cycle of rate cuts has seen the cash rate go from 4.75% in November 2010 down to 2.5% within three years. Whilst there were other factors that assisted the housing market in 2013, nothing had the positive impact on property as the record low rates did. Commentary is split as to whether the next move in 2014 will be up or down though.
Unemployment held at reasonable levels throughout the year, peaking at 5.7%. This was lower than predicted and was a determining factor in supporting the property market. Low interest rates are not much good to someone whom is unemployed. Indeed, the weakest housing market in Australia is in Tasmania where unemployment is stuck above 8%. This proves that unemployment is a bigger determinant to the fortunes of the housing market than interest rates, a point that is often lost in commentary.
Self-managed super funds entered the market in dynamic fashion in 2013. As the returns on bank deposits went down, SMSFs went looking for risk. Many people have bought real estate now that their SMSFs can borrow against an asset. This added an influx of new buyers into the market competing with home buyers and traditional investors. More buyers entering the inner city market that already faces chronic supply issues helped pushed prices up. As prices went up, the sentiment toward property became more positive, creating a positive feedback loop.
Chinese buyers entered the Sydney market place in a big way in 2013. To see another sector of buyers enter the marketplace that was already experiencing near perfect conditions added further fuel to the market. Agents across Sydney reported amazing sale prices where Chinese buyers fixated on a particular location and just kept bidding the price up. The emergence of Chinese buyers entering the market place was no media beat up. One only had to witness an open house or two to realise the presence of strong Chinese buying.
The stock market’s performance is often under rated when it comes to the property market. The All Ordinaries begun the year at 4,664 and pushed up to over 5,200 by December 2013. In the middle of 2012, the All Ords was at 4,135, giving stock market investors a 30% return in 18 months. Whilst interest rates inspire many in the sub $1.5 million bracket to buy real estate, the prestige end of the market is more susceptible to the stock market performance. For the first time since 2007, the prestige end of the market came to life. Whilst many vendors of prestige properties actually sold for less than they had bought back in 2007, the mere fact that transactions were taking place was a positive sign.
Many were surprised to see the property market perform so well in 2013 in the face of a deteriorating economy, global uncertainty and increasing government debt. But perform well it did.
 
<hr>
 Peter O'Malley is sales consultant with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.harrispartners.com.au/" rel="nofollow">Harris Partners Real Estate Agents</a> and has been successfully selling real estate in Sydney's Inner West since 2000.
He is also the author of Real Estate Uncovered: A probing look behind the facade of Australia’s property world.
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It was a very good year: 2013 in review

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The internet is a game changer for the real estate industry. Fortunately, many developments have been positive for both home buyers and home sellers. Marketing costs have reduced while the quality of promotion per property has improved. Email has made communication with a critical mass of qualified buyers easier, quicker and cheaper than ever before. That’s the upside. Here’s the downside: the Internet never stops connecting the dots and it never forgets.
What that means is your property has an un-erasable digital footprint. A digital footprint is a databank of information collated over time on any property that has been advertised, sold or withdrawn from the market in the past. This includes information on every property on the market right now.
There are positives and negatives here for both buyers and sellers. And you need to know them. Every property listed in Australia is promoted on at least one of two major real estate websites realestate.com.au and domain.com.au. Both of these sites are either owned or controlled by large media companies.
These same media companies also have ownership or affiliations with the two main real estate data companies in Australia — RP Data and Australian Property Monitors. Both provide detailed information about the real estate market which is quoted and re-quoted in the media. While the accuracy of that information is quite good, the right to collect it and use it is somewhat controversial.
Very few people know these companies automatically share everything there is to know about the quarter of a million properties advertised every week in Australia. Whenever your property is put up for sale, auction or rent, the price and the name of the agent you are using and the date the online advertisement was uploaded is automatically recorded in that property’s history. If a property sells or not, if it is passed in at auction or withdrawn from the market, is also recorded. This is your property’s digital footprint — its ‘reputation’, there for anyone to see.
The downside is how that reputation may be perceived. All this public information is forming a ‘pseudo credit rating’ for your property. The less activity recorded against your property the better off you are because less information is gathered. However, when more activity (buying and selling or attempting to buy and sell) is recorded, the more likely people are to assume that something is wrong with your home.
Here’s one way your home could acquire a less than savoury reputation. The previous vendor overpriced the property and had a low motivation to sell. They experienced a lengthy campaign as they tried to find a buyer who would pay an above market price. The vendor may have even had multiple pricing strategies and used several different agents to obtain a sale. Unfortunately, this entire process was recorded against this property’s advertised history. By the time the vendor lowered their selling price to match the current market price, buyers had already tracked the property’s past advertising history. Under these circumstances, the vendor’s negotiating power was compromised.
And it is all there for potential buyers of your home to see when you’re ready to sell. Besides official real estate data records, a quick search on Google will also reveal:
• previous rental or sale ads
• development applications submitted to council
• reported events at the property such as rowdy parties, breakins, triple murders or the discovery of methamphetamine labs
• businesses that have been run from the property
• any previous publicity of any kind which the property may have attracted.
If the major Sunday papers turn up to do a story on your auction success or failure, potentially up to a million people can read about it online the next day.
And that is just the free information. You can also pay a fee to access the entire advertised history of a property or you could scour independent property analysts’ research on property histories.
Here’s an example of how everybody’s reputation precedes them in the internet age.
Gary and Denise finally found a perfect property in the chic inner west Sydney suburb of Leichhardt. It appeared to meet all their buying criteria and it was affordable. After a four month property search, they had finally found the one. However, before securing the property, Gary had a bit of a look around online. The property had sold four times in eight years. Rightly or wrongly, he concluded from this information alone that there was something amiss and passed on buying it. Gary may believe that knowing the transaction history of the home saved him from buying a lemon. The owner of the same home may also believe that the same information presented without any other context robbed him of finding a genuine buyer and negotiating a successful sale.
While information of itself is neutral, each end user will form their own opinion about what that information means to them. Buyers will always look for some advantage in negotiations if the respective property has a ‘tainted’ market history. It is crucial that homeowners are aware of this and ensure they don’t damage the reputation of their major asset.
Protecting the value of your property 
There are two important things you can do to avoid having your pricing and advertising history used against you. The first is to never include the address of your property when marketing it.
The second is to consider promoting the property without a published price. Early in your campaign, have the agent verbally quote your price expectation to buyers. If buyers think the price is incorrect, at least you won’t have to change your published pricing strategy later.
Another prudent marketing strategy is to only publish a price after you have received some genuine market feedback from fair-minded buyers. Promoting your property publicly with the wrong price, be it too high or too low, will put you at a major disadvantage.
Good or bad? 
Given the huge impact digital information now has on the property market, it begs the question: is the availability of all this information good or bad? The answer is: neither. The availability of information is here to stay and how people interpret it is not controlled. Buyers and sellers will form correct and incorrect conclusions from the same information according to the circumstances they find themselves in.
Often the digital footprint can help buyers make better choices yet many can also rush to conclusions without having the full picture.
Buyers will often form their offer on the basis of what the owner previously paid for the property and assess the general market growth (or deterioration) since that point in time. On one level, this seems logical for a buyer. As a seller, this process of determining value can seem unfair particularly if they happen to have paid below market value for the property.
If the seller has made substantial renovations since buying, all of these costs may not be reflected in the buyer’s offer.
None of this may be recorded in the digital footprint. This is exactly why both the buyer and the seller can’t rely on the Internet to be the font of all knowledge. So buyers: beware of a half-told truth. Sellers: beware of your home’s online reputation and do what you can to prevent misinterpretation.
Because the internet never forgets.
<hr>
 
<img style="float: left;" alt="real-estate-uncovered-book" height="193" width="200" src="/images/stories/2013/10/01/real-estate-uncovered-book.jpg">This is an exerpt from the book Real Estate Uncovered: A probing look behind the facade of Australia’s property world by Peter O'Malley and published by Authors First.
The book is on sale now.
Peter O'Malley is sales consultant with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.harrispartners.com.au/">Harris Partners Real Estate Agents</a> and has been successfully selling real estate in Sydney's Inner West since 2000.
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Watch your tracks, the digital footprints your property leaves beind: Peter O'Malley

Brisbane’s riverfront is about to welcome Queensland’s most ambitious wellness living precinct, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/kokoda-property">Kokoda Property Group</a> unveiling nearly 12,000 sqm of dedicated health, fitness and social amenity within its $1.5 billion Teneriffe Banks development, the largest of its kind in the state.&nbsp;

Australia is now the four largest market in the USD 584 billion Global Wellness Real Estate sector, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a> is setting the benchmark locally, offering residents a complete lifestyle precinct that balances wellness, community and luxury.

From rooftop wellness retreats and 5-star co-working spaces to curated retail and dining, lush green spaces and riverfront walkways, the development has been designed as an ecosystem for modern living. Community gardens, a riverfront amphitheatre and community centre further anchor Teneriffe Banks as a destination that connects residents and the wider community in a way Brisbane has never seen before.&nbsp;

Each of the four residential buildings offers an expansive rooftop retreat featuring infinity pools, mineral plunge pools, hydrotherapy zones, and steam and sauna suites. These spa-level amenities eliminate the need for external memberships, seamlessly integrating exercise, recovery and relaxation into daily life.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139896 project_image_fid=352274]

Residents of Teneriffe Banks will enjoy exclusive access to The Canopy Club, one of Brisbane’s largest private members' venues. Drawing inspiration from international icons like Soho House but uniquely tailored for Brisbane, the club will feature private dining rooms, a wine cellar and tasting lounge, library, cinema, sports simulator and five-star work spaces, overlooking the Brisbane River.&nbsp;

Complementing this lifestyle is Banks Athletic, a private, residents-only health club offering personalised fitness and holistic wellness programs.

The precinct will also be home to Brisbane’s first five-star Kimpton Hotel Urban Resort, offering guests access to a luxury spa, a fitness centre, signature restaurants, pool club, rooftop cocktail bar and large-scale event spaces. Also forming part of the masterplan is a proposed reimagined marina and landscaped green spaces and gardens among a curated collection of waterfront restaurants, laneway cafes, and boutiques — creating a complete live, work, play lifestyle.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139896 project_image_fid=295098]

A recent report by Global Wellness Institute found Australia boasts one of the world’s fastest-growing wellness economies, growing at an annual rate of 7.5 per cent from 2019-2023.

“Luxury living today is about more than just design, it is about how well a place supports mind, body and connection,” said Kokoda Property Group Founder and Managing Director, Mark Stevens.

“With Australia now ranked among the world’s top five global wellness real estate markets, Teneriffe Banks has been designed to meet that growing demand. By blending curated wellness spaces with riverfront greenery and vibrant community amenities, the precinct will set a new benchmark for holistic urban living.”&nbsp;

Stephens said that wellness-focused design is resonating strongly with downsizers and lifestyle-driven buyers alike.&nbsp;

“We’re seeing overwhelming interest from buyers who are drawn to the idea of expansive amenity beyond their own residence, particularly those seeking space without the upkeep. The ability to enjoy a sunrise coffee by the rooftop pool, or build movement and recovery into their daily routine without leaving home, is a drawcard. Low maintenance, high impact living is what today’s market is looking for, and that’s exactly what Teneriffe Banks delivers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139896 project_image_fid=352273]

Set across five architecturally distinct buildings, Teneriffe Banks will deliver over 200 residences, ranging from apartments to modern penthouse residences and woolstore-inspired lofts, each crafted by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/studio-mccue">Studio McCue</a>, in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker Architects</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/carr-design">Carr</a>.&nbsp;

Further reflecting its commitment to fostering an active, connected lifestyle along the river, Teneriffe Banks is now the naming partner of the Brisbane Marathon Pacers, now known as the ‘Tenerrife Banks Pacers’. The Brisbane Marathon hosts over 10,000 participants from around the world and is only growing in size.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=139896]

Joel Robinson

Kokoda's Teneriffe Banks introduces Queensland’s largest residential wellness offering

Summary:&nbsp;

<ul type="disc">
	<li>A new&nbsp;Golden Age Cinema&nbsp;with multiple screens and creative performance spaces</li>
	<li>Approximately&nbsp;60 metres of retail frontage&nbsp;along Oxford Street for small-scale, street-activating businesses</li>
	<li>53 apartments, including 15 affordable housing apartments</li>
	<li>Landscaped public connections between South Dowling and Verona streets, improving walkability and accessibility.</li>
</ul>

<hr />
&nbsp; 
Developer WT Malouf has confirmed plans to transform the much-loved Verona Cinema site on Oxford Street in&nbsp; Paddington into a new mixed-use destination centred on culture, creativity and community.

The proposal, a State Significant Development Application (SSDA), will deliver a balanced mix of uses including 53 apartments, including 15 affordable, a new Golden Age Cinema with multiple screens and creative performance spaces, and several small-scale, street-activating businesses across its 60 metres of retail frontage.

The development will retain the Verona’s iconic brick façade, recognising the building’s role in Paddington’s cultural life for nearly three decades.

<img alt="Verona" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efed0828-5cc4-4d77-a6df-83e7fa5d24ea" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-10-03%20at%209.19.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=xHbLRgjfTSkScuLsLW_nRjX0Zi5Cwalo" />

WT Malouf has entered into exclusive arrangements with the operators of Golden Age Cinema &amp; Bar, a much-loved Surry Hills institution named among the Top 100 Cinemas in the World by Time Out. Golden Age will bring four screens and versatile creative spaces back to Paddington, helping to anchor Oxford Street’s future as a cultural and entertainment corridor. 
&nbsp; 
“At a time when Sydney is losing suburban cinemas, we’re committed to creating a bigger and better cinema experience for Paddington,” said Jack Joseph, Director at WT Malouf.

“Golden Age’s arrival will ensure Oxford Street continues to be a home for independent film, live performance and community events.” 
&nbsp; 
The project has been designed in line with the City of Sydney’s Oxford Street Cultural and Creative Precinct strategy, which encourages new investment in cultural space, night-time economy and creative industries. It also aligns with the NSW 24-Hour Economy Strategy, contributing to the revival of Oxford Street as a safe, vibrant and connected cultural precinct that operates by day and night.

<img alt="Verona" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ac1895bd-d09f-4cf6-aed4-9a2739c2d9b2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-10-03%20at%209.19.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NcwfjdR0oF5xPbatoSGOR4oWAZm9yJJT" /> 
&nbsp; 
“This development is about more than apartments,” Joseph said. “It’s about contributing to Oxford Street’s restoration as one of Sydney’s great cultural boulevards, where people come to live, create and socialise.” 
&nbsp; 
‘’The new Verona is a once -in-a-generation opportunity to restore this important part of Oxford Street,’’ said Tim Greer, Director of Tonkins Zulaikha Greer (TZG). 
&nbsp; 
Alongside cultural and creative space, the Verona development will deliver new housing in one of Sydney’s most tightly held suburbs. 15 apartments will be set aside as affordable rental homes for essential workers, ensuring Paddington retains a diverse and connected community. 
&nbsp; 
The project is expected to be determined by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in 2026, with construction planned to start later that year and delivery within three years.

Paddington’s Verona Cinema set for luxury apartment transformation and new Golden Age Cinema

The Chatswood CBD is the latest city centre in the cross hair of the Minns Labor Government's push to support new housing.

They're pushing for up to 1,500 apartments on the former Sydney Metro construction site, which will include 180 build-to-rent apartments for essential workers, as well as new retail and commercial spaces and outdoor areas.

<img alt="Chatswood" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ec539e11-accf-4844-bbce-1b453e0ee907" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-10-03%20at%209.09.58%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=64L8ymb0LbjKbxcmvUux9TI9qXL8hnkR" />

The remaining mix will be build-to-sell, and incorporate affordable housing. The development will see the adaptive re-use of local heritage building Mowbray House, which operated as a boarding school from 1906 to 1954, for future community use.&nbsp;

Construction on the site is expected to start in late 2026, with the first essential workers expected to move in by late 2028.

Landcom is inviting feedback on the proposal from the community and stakeholders until 9am, Monday 27 October 2025.

<img alt="Chatswood" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="01cc2e55-a585-4a3f-afb2-bb6213dc59b8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-10-03%20at%209.09.18%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ZaaHSI.h_CLRCYloljNdXSa4eigU6vae" />

The Chatswood site is the second&nbsp;to be secured under the Minns Labor Government’s $450 million investment in Landcom to deliver 400 build-to-rent homes for essential workers in Sydney, with 220 essential worker homes already being delivered in Annandale.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Work is also underway on new build-to-rent apartments on the NSW south coast and work is set to start later this year on new build-to-rent housing in Lismore to boost rental supply in the NSW Northern Rivers.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said essential workers are the backbone of not only Sydney but all of NSW and they deserve to have an affordable place to live near their job and community.

“This will be life changing for essential workers, who will get to live not only near their job but in one of the best-connected areas in all of Sydney.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said people should be able to live, work, relax and play all within one community.

"Delivering both 180 new essential worker homes and 1300 further market and affordable homes will give that opportunity and choice back hundreds of people.

“We’ve dedicated another 180 homes to essential workers in this project so workers like our teachers, nurses, paramedics and police offices can build a life close to both their home and job.

“This is yet another example of density done well, providing additional, homes and jobs in an area that’s already well serviced by public transport, shops, restaurants, schools and health centres.”

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Landcom CEO Alex Wendler said this is a highly productive time for Landcom where we are sustaining strong momentum across our entire delivery program.

"Here at Chatswood, we are leading the development of a major city precinct to do density well and make homes happen. This is a great example of Landcom making the government’s policy ambitions a reality and bringing to life the kind of housing options our city needs.”

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said essential workers are the backbone of not only Sydney but all of NSW and they deserve to have an affordable place to live near their job and community.

NSW Gov, Landcom plan 1,500 new apartments in Chatswood CBD

Dexus' push into the residential development space is moving down to Melbourne, with the real estate asset giant taking on a x at the southern end of St Kilda Road.

Dexus, who has recently starting developing luxury apartments in Sydney's Northern Beaches, is planning a 27-storey tower with over 400 new apartments at the intersection of St Kilda Road and Queens Road.

The proposal, now with VIC Planning, seeks to replace the ageing 19-storey former Cadbury office building at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/636-st-kilda-road-melbourne-vic-3004">636 St Kilda Road</a> with a contemporary high-density apartment complex designed by architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bates-smart">Bates Smart</a>.

According to the Urban Context Report filed to VIC Planning, the development will respond to the site’s landmark location through a "refined and sculptural built form that mediates between the scale of St Kilda Road and Queens Road” while reinforcing “a sense of civic address at this prominent intersection.”&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Dexus proposes 27-storey residential tower at 636 St Kilda Road" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dfd2ebd1-e311-4348-9c7d-b3d73b64ade4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/St%20Kilda%20bldg.png?VersionId=_DHkdNAj1U3wcH0BX51t2MJYeIMrbG2w" />

The architectural design features active frontages, new pedestrian through-links and an extensive landscape strategy that integrates with the surrounding boulevard character.

The apartment mix is varied, comprising 40 studios, 87 one-bedrooms, 203 two-bedrooms, 66 three-bedrooms, and six penthouses, with each dwelling designed to meet the standards set out in Clause 58 of the Port Phillip Planning Scheme.&nbsp;

A key element of the proposal is a $9.6 million contribution, equivalent to three per cent of the project’s estimated development cost, to the Social Housing Growth Fund, aimed at supporting affordable housing outcomes across Victoria.

<img alt="First look: Dexus proposes 27-storey residential tower at 636 St Kilda Road" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7f138f11-5277-461f-8d12-9533b2960586" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/St%20kilda%20rd%20site.png?VersionId=m_ZioKYhwkvekE3ZUF6y7bz.5_5yFPnZ" />

The site’s three street frontages, St Kilda Road, Queens Road, and Queens Lane, enable significant setbacks and design flexibility.

Bates Smart noted the proposal "reinforces the intent for St Kilda Road North to accommodate higher-density, mixed-use development,” leveraging its location near the soon-to-open ANZAC Station tram-rail interchange and the principal cycling corridor along the boulevard.

They emphasised&nbsp;the building’s role as a city-shaping gateway, writing that the proposed tower is “designed to contribute positively to the skyline and urban character of St Kilda Junction,” and would offer visual connections to key city landmarks, including Albert Park Lake and the Shrine of Remembrance.

Public realm upgrades are also proposed as part of the scheme, including a 138 sqm linear park, extensive landscaping, and around 188 metres of active frontages to enhance permeability and safety at the ground plane. A total of 449 car spaces and 120 bicycle spaces are planned across the four basement levels.

<img alt="First look: Dexus proposes 27-storey residential tower at 636 St Kilda Road" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dfdbccd3-6954-417e-8543-c6b1f1b5df1b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/St%20KILDA%20rooftop.png?VersionId=.xI5fkVYETzG1WJaiOsOt8Yd4BgQx0DA" />

Dexus is positioning the project as a strategic redevelopment aligned with the St Kilda Road North Precinct Plan. The Planning Report by Urbis states that the distinct features of the site, the emerging context to its interfaces, and the surrounding policy context justify consideration of a taller building” despite the site being subject to Design and Development Overlay – Schedule 26 (DDO26).

St Kilda Road has been one of the most popular streets for residential development in recent years. The likes of Victoriana, The Muse, and St Boulevard are the most recently completed buildings, oriented to look over the adjacent Albert Park Lake, while Gamuda Land is currently developing <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/fareham-st-kilda-95-st-kilda-road-st-kilda-vic-3182">Fareham</a>, and Hirsch &amp; Faigen has a building in the precinct they will soon launch, just off St Kilda Road on Queens Road.

First look: Dexus joins St Kilda Road apartment ranks with gateway tower proposal

Melbourne’s City Circle tram loops past a dense matrix of culture, education and commerce, but few intersections offer as much access in so little walking distance as the northern end of King Street.

Here, Aspire Melbourne rises 64 storeys from the edge of Flagstaff Gardens, with immediate connectivity to tram and train networks, and pedestrian access to Queen Victoria Market, Marvel Stadium and Melbourne’s major university precincts.

Developed by ICD Property with design by Fraser &amp; Partners, Aspire Melbourne brings 570 apartments to one of the CBD’s most spatially balanced positions, directly between civic green space and key employment infrastructure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2575 project_image_fid=248847]

Everything from retail and dining to sporting events, art, theatre, and festivals, or the serenity of the city’s gardens, is within walking distance of Aspire.

Melbourne's thriving coffee culture is showcased in the CBD's cobblestoned laneways, with popular cafes such as Brother Baba Budan, Krimper, Stagger Lee's, Higher Ground, and Manchester Press all nearby.

For culinary enthusiasts, Melbourne offers a variety of dining experiences. Highly recommended establishments include Maha, Farmer's Daughter, Coda, and MoVida Next Door, offering everything from Middle Eastern dinners to a night out.

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Getting around Melbourne is as effortless as finding a great cup of coffee, thanks to the city’s clean, reliable and extensive public transport network. Aspire’s curved tower is a short walk from Melbourne Central Station, Southern Cross Station and the Free Tram Zone, offering seamless connections across the CBD and out to suburban precincts.

This inner-city accessibility is complemented by Aspire’s rare proximity to green space. The tower directly overlooks Flagstaff Gardens, the city’s oldest park, with Fitzroy Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens also nearby, framing the CBD in natural beauty.

Just 11 minutes on foot, Queen Victoria Market adds another layer of amenity. A longstanding hub of culture and commerce, it offers fresh produce, gourmet foods, artisanal goods and vibrant multicultural fare, all woven into the daily rhythm of city life.

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To the west, the CBD’s entertainment quarter features Marvel Stadium, just 750 metres from Aspire, ideal for sports fans and major events.

To the south, Crown Casino along the Yarra River offers entertainment, dining and family-friendly activities, accessible in under 10 minutes by tram.

The Arts Centre Melbourne, a hub for visual art, theatre, music and performance, is also within easy reach by public transport or car.

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For families looking to set up roots in the CBD, education options abound within a one-kilometre radius of Aspire.

The prestigious Haileybury opened its Melbourne CBD campus in January 2017 offering Melbourne's first Early Learning Centre to Year 12 private school campus in the CBD.&nbsp;

<a href="/developments/north-melbourne-vic-3051">North Melbourne</a> Primary School, South Melbourne Primary School, Ozford College, and Simonds Catholic College are among the other choices, while universities like Victoria University, La Trobe University, and Monash University are less than 600 metres away.

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A limited selection of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments remain for sale, with pricing starting from $647,000.

“The Melbourne CBD apartment market has evolved in response to both the strong growth of the overall city as well as the increasing attraction of the CBD which offers unique lifestyle appeal, especially to the fast-growing cohorts of young professionals and university students,” <a href="/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a>&nbsp;Managing Director Residential Tim Storey said.

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Peter O'Malley

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