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A group of Perth barristers has bought office chambers in the city’s new legal hub at auction for $1.45 million.
Located on the top floor of the Equus Commercial building at 580 Hay Street, the 213 sqm-partitioned office space has a 57 sqm terrace complete with putting green, two basement car bays and panoramic views of Perth Town Hall and the CBD skyline.
The building also has a gym and pool for tenant use.
The buyer group - comprising Perth criminal barristers Paul Bevilacqua; Anthony Elliott; Anthony Eyers; Edward Fitzpatrick; and Helen Prince - acquired the property with the intention of opening new legal practice, Meridian Chambers. 
CBRE’s Milne said the property offered a fantastic opportunity to secure a prime position in Perth’s premier legal precinct. 
“This sale reflected an opportunity to secure commercial space in one of the city’s most prestigious legal destinations, neighbouring leading law firms, barristers and QCs,” said CBRE’s Milne, who along with Ben Younger, brokered the deal.
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Perth legal eagles swoop on top floor nest in legal hub for $1.45 million

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Property investments by SMSFs through limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs) could come under increased scrutiny of the tax office this year, says major accounting firm H&amp;R Block.
Last year, the ATO had expressed concern at LRBA loans that were not structured correctly, including incorrect registration of the ownership of property bought under an LRBA. It spoke of increasing its focus on the LRBA route.
Given the growth in the SMSF sector and the increasing popularity of strategies such as LRBAs, H&amp;R Block has tipped that property will remain a top priority for the ATO’s compliance work in the SMSF sector this year.
“I know the ATO always keeps a close eye on property investment and especially LRBAs,” H&amp;R Block's director of tax communications, Mark Chapman told SMSF Adviser.
This particularly applies to related party borrowings which may currently be structured on non-commercial terms, with a June 30 deadline to have these structures rectified, it said.
According to the ATO website, an asset purchased by an SMSF trustee through LRBA is held in a separate trust.
If the loan defaults, the lender's rights are limited to the asset held in the separate trust, but not to assets held in the SMSF.
In 2015, an ATO campaign saw 500 postcodes issued with warnings urging holiday home owners to ensure deductions were not made during periods a property was not available for let.
“With property rental a valuable source of extra income for millions of taxpayers, it can be expected that the ATO will follow up with some targeted reviews and audits this year,” Chapman was quoted as saying.
The “sharing economy” – “driven in part by the high levels of non-compliance amongst those driving for Uber or renting rooms through Airbnb,” would also be an area of scrutiny by the ATO, he said. 
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ATO to focus on LRBA route to property investment by SMSFs

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Fixed rate home loans accounted for nearly a quarter of all home loans in Australia in January, reflecting the uncertain interest rate environment, says lending broker Mortgage Choice.
Demand for fixed rate home loans has hit its highest level in more than 12 months, national home loan approval data from ASX-listed Mortgage Choice shows.
Fixed rate home loans accounted for 23.62% of all loans written in January, up from 19.44% in the previous month. 
“Home loan interest rates are incredibly volatile at the moment. Consumers are unsure whether or not Australia’s lending institutions are going to raise or cut their home loan interest rates,” said Mortgage Choice chief executive officer John Flavell.
“With that in mind, it is not surprising to see a growing number of borrowers looking for some safety and security around their home loan repayments in the form of a fixed rate mortgage.”
Flavell said the last time demand for fixed rate home loans was this high was back in November 2014 when there was a similar level of complexity and confusion around interest rates. 
“Over the coming few months, I wouldn’t be surprised to see demand for fixed rates continue to increase slightly.”
Queensland recorded the strongest demand for fixed rate products, with this type of loan accounting for 31.12% of all home loans written throughout January. 
New South Wales and Western Australia were next, with 24.07% and 23.15% respectively. 
Victoria and South Australia were at the other end of the spectrum, with fixed rate products making up 13.09% and 20.03% of all loans written in each state respectively. 
But while demand for fixed rate products across Australia grew in January, variable rate home loans – specifically ongoing discount mortgages – remained most popular with borrowers. 
Across Australia, 49.53% of borrowers took out an ongoing discount variable rate home loan – down from 52.07% in the previous month.
<a href="/images/2016/02/16/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-16%20at%208.42.50%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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One in four home loans are fixed: Mortgage Choice 

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The Gatwick Hotel in Melbourne’s St Kilda is on the market for the first time in more than 50 years, with the expression of interest campaign closing March 1.
The hotel on <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-hotel+leisure-vic-st+kilda-501809978" target="_blank">34 Fitzroy Street</a> was built in 1938 and is currently being used as a boarding house. It is in an area zoned Commercial 1.
The property’s current owners, twin sisters Rose Banks and Yvette Kelly, have been running the 64-room hotel since the 1980’s and have now decided to retire.
A documentary 'The Saints of St Kilda’ was recently made in which the owners opened up about the boarding house and its inhabitants.
The hotel comprises of a three level-building plus a basement with a gross floor area of 2,532 sqm. Built to the boundaries, the site is nearly 789 sqm and has three street frontages. The property has retained most of its original features and has been kept true to its original floor plan.
The listing agents for the property are Lemon Baxter’s Jonathan Walls and Richard Hutton. There have been reports of $11 million expectations.
“The Gatwick Hotel is an icon in St Kilda. The property is less than 5 km from the CBD and has immediate proximity to St Kilda beach, restaurants and generates high traffic, particularly from tourists,” said Jonathan Walls.
“This site presents an opportunity to house a boutique hotel, head office or residential conversion subject to council approval.”
St Kilda Community Housing chief executive John Enticott said he understood the vendors had set a 12-month settlement date, which would secure residents' housing until early 2017.
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Budget boarding house Gatwick Hotel in Melbourne on the market

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The successful opening of Perth’s new waterfront plaza, Elizabeth Quay, shows that Western Australia is hungry for urban renewal and a pipeline of urban infrastructure needs to be mapped out following the end of the mining boom, says the Property Council of Australia.
With Elizabeth Quay complete and other projects like the City Link nearly finished, what’s the next to help keep WA growing after the mining boom? 
“The Property Council on behalf of the WA development industry has the answer, a better infrastructure delivery framework and transparent project assessment criteria. These are exactly the recommendations of the Property Councils recent reports Keep WA Growing and Mind the Gap,” Property Council WA executive director Joe Lenzo said. 
In ‘Keep WA Growing’ the Property Council has assessed nine key infrastructure projects of which priority will be given to three which will have the greatest economic flow-on effect for the state — Max Light Rail, the Peel Economic and Environmental Initiative, and the Western Trade Coast. 
In ‘Mind the Gap’, the Property Council found that the absence of an independent state body to advise the planning, prioritising and delivery of major infrastructure was costing WA investment and jobs. 
“The formation of a state infrastructure body and preparing a pipeline of future work has worked in other states, particularly in the attraction of scarce federal funding,” Lenzo said.
According to the WA government website, Elizabeth Quay is the centrepiece of a plan to revitalise Perth. The government expects the plaza by the Swan River to be a future workplace for more than 10,000 people and attract more than $2billion in private investment.
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After Elizabeth Quay, Perth needs an infrastructure pipeline to keep WA growing: PCA

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Property Connect, a rental property technology company, is raising $2.5 million through a public listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) as as part of a reverse takeover by Conquest Agri (ASX:CQA).
The company will issue 50 million shares at A$0.05 per share, giving it a market cap of A$12.28 million upon listing, expected March 7 under the proposed ASX code PCH.
Property Connect has developed a program called LiveOffer, through which potential tenants can make an offer on a rental property, thus creating a fair market value for rental properties.
LiveOffer™ provides the renter with the ability to adjust the rent paid, move in date and lease term to create an overall scenario for the property manager.
“We provide a win-win situation, instantly matching the ideal renter for the property and securing the optimum outcome for the property manager,” said Property Connect founder, former Sydney property developer Tim Manson.
Manson has relocated to California seeking to launch the LiveOffer™ technology into the US multi-family apartment market.
“Feedback from those who have trialled the technology has been excellent and we have a host of clients eagerly anticipating the new version.”
Version 2.0 of LiveOffer™ is expected in Q2 CY2016.
Property Connect will charge a set-up fee and monthly fee for each community placed on the LiveOffer™ system by the property manager, in addition to a 1-3% transaction fee per lease passed through the platform.
The product also provides an opportunity for tenants to upgrade to premium apartments that become available.
The company has signed agreements with 10 US property management groups, with more than 100,000 combined listings per annum, for use of the LiveOffer™ platform.
Funds from the capital raising will be used for system development, hiring and working capital. 
GTT Ventures Pty Ltd is sole lead manager for the equity raising.
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Rental tech firm Property Connect set to list on ASX

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The director of a former estate agency in Melbourne’s Boronia has been declared ineligible to hold an estate agent’s licence, or be an estate agent’s representative for five years, after he admitted to knowingly authorising and permitting the agency to convert trust money to its own use.
Michael Knight, 49, was found guilty by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal of breaching the Estate Agents (Professional Conduct) Regulations 2008 on several counts, such as not acting with care and diligence in his role as an estate agent.
His company, Michael Knight Real Estate Pty Ltd, was also found to have violated the Estate Agents Act 1980 by:
depositing trust money directly into the agency’s business account for its own use thrice
causing a deficiency in the trust account by withdrawing trust money prior to property settlement a further three times
not completing a number of monthly trust account reconciliations, or completing them incorrectly
failing to have the agency’s trust account audited for the 2013-2014 financial year.
The tribunal reprimanded Knight and declared him ineligible to hold a real estate agent’s licence, or to be an agent’s representative for five years.
Knight also gave an undertaking to the tribunal that he would never apply for, or seek to hold another estate agent’s licence. He must also inform any estate agent that employs him in future about the ruling against him.
Michael Knight Real Estate Pty Ltd was also reprimanded and declared ineligible to hold a real estate agent’s licence for five years.
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Victoria court rules against Boronia estate agent 

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Former real estate agent Anthony Vito Brancatella has been sentenced to 40 months in jail by Consumer Affairs Victoria court for swindling nearly $2 million of clients’ money.
He must must serve a minimum of 20 months in prison, it was ruled.
The court issued proceedings agains Brancatella, 43, from Melbourne’s Huntingdale, in March 2015 for 62 counts of wrongful conversion and false accounts under the Estate Agents Act 1980.
In February this year, he pleaded guilty in the County Court of Victoria, admitting to using clients’ money to help run his business and repay debts.
In March last year, Brancatella’s licence was suspended and in June 2015, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court granted interim injunctions preventing Brancatella to work as a real estate agent.
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Former real estate agent jailed by Victoria court for nearly $2 million fraud

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Industry lobby group the Housing Industry Association (HIA) has expressed concern at reports that changes to negative gearing might be back on the table, as the government looks at alternative taxation reform options to the GST. 
“New housing is one of the most highly taxed sectors in the economy, and the removal of negative gearing would only make that situation worse and discourage investment,” said HIA chief executive Industry Policy and Media Graham Wolfe. 
The HIA cited research by Independent Economics which concludes that restricting access to negative gearing for residential property hurts investment in housing, erodes affordability and pressures rents on the upside. 
“Negative gearing promotes private investment in the rental market, both stimulating economic activity and taking the pressure off social housing and the public purse,” said Wolfe.
“With an ageing workforce and future pressure expected on publicly funded services, policy settings such as negative gearing that promote wealth creation and self-sufficiency in retirement should be promoted.
“It is important to remember that negative gearing is not the domain of so-called ‘wealthy investors’.” 
He cited ATO figures which show that 79% of tax payers with a rental property declare a taxable income of less than $100,000. 
“In fact, seven out of 10 tax payers with a rental property earn less than $80,000.” 
“A body of independent research has been developed over a number of years that demonstrates categorially that negative gearing is a positive force for the Australian economy,” concluded Wolfe. 
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Changes to negative gearing will hurt investment and affordability: HIA

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The robust growth in number of home loans (commitments) for owner-occupiers in December wasn’t the only heart-warming statistic from the latest ABS data, the refinancing of home loans for the month came in at a record high 20,911.
The number of new owner-occupier housing loans (commitments) rose by 2.6 percent in December, a near seven-year high, after rising by 1.9 percent in November. Excluding the refinancing of dwellings, the number of loans was up by 1.6 percent.
The record refinancing numbers mean that fresh spending power has been injected into the economy, says a note by CommSec Research.
The broader picture is that the home loan market remains in good shape and further confirmation of the health of the economy, it says.
Each month, lenders commit to provide funds for home purchases. Sometimes the commitments are taken up; other times budding buyers don’t find the home of their dreams. But in December, a record $23.8 billion was actually advanced to borrowers by lenders to buy or build homes, up 24.6 percent on a year ago. 
Loans by owner-occupiers for the construction of homes rose by 1.8 percent in December; loans to buy newly-erected dwellings rose by 12.4 percent; and loans for the purchase of established dwellings (excluding refinancing) rose by 0.4 percent. 
The number of refinancing transactions increased by 4.4 percent.
The proportion of first-time buyers in the home loan market rose from 14.9 percent to 15 percent in December. The figures take into account refinancing loans and as such may misrepresent the true situation. 
Overall, the rise in loan activity indicates that home building will remain healthy in the coming months. 
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Refinancing of home loans hits record high in December

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

Joel Robinson

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Prateek Chatterjee

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