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Greville Pabst, CEO and director of <a href="https://www.wbpproperty.com/" target="_blank">WBP Property Group</a> and a judge on The Block Triple Threat, answered some of Property Observer's questions on the state of the current state of the market.
<ul>
<li>
How would you describe the auction market? The auction market is highly competitive. Today you can expect anywhere between four and six bidders at an auction in Melbourne, particularly in popular inner suburbs. This has meant strong growth for quality properties. This year we’ve also seen softening in the western suburbs with both auction volumes and clearance rates dropping slightly across the region. Standout areas for performance are the eastern and south-eastern suburbs. Total transaction volumes are down by about 10% when compared with this same time last year, however, as a percentage of overall transactions auctions have increased slightly, accompanied by an increase in clearance rates - Melbourne averaging 76% this year compared with 72% at the same time last year.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
Is the private treaty market likewise? Transaction volumes demonstrate there is greater confidence buying at auction this year, which may prompted by record low interest rates and strong competition among bidders. But, the key take away is that fewer properties are passing in at auction. At this time the clearance rate for auctions is at 76.3% - this time last year it was at 71.6%.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
What tips would you give home buyers? Given current levels of competition it’s important buyers don't make hasty decisions. The key to securing well-performing property is research, and, if needed, getting independent expert advice.  It’s also important to consider that whether buying a home or investment property, a sound selection now will have a significant impact on your personal wealth well into the future. Securing a property with high capital growth potential is crucial.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
What tips would you give investors about the timing of their buying in the 2015 market? When asked this question I always recall the proverb, “'The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is now.” In truth, there’s no right or wrong time to buy a property. The best time is when you’re financially ready.  The crucial factor with any property investment is the amount of time in the market – that is, unlike with some shares, property growth is realised over time, not overnight. The high cost of transacting property means investment of this kind is typically a long-term commitment. </li>
</ul>
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Melbourne auction market highly competitive: Q&A with WBP's Greville Pabst

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There are hundreds of home loans on offer. Unsurprisingly, there are equally as many situations for taking out a loan or changing your current mortgage arrangement.
For this reason, it can seem daunting to find the right loan for your needs.
Whether you’re looking to buy your first home, an investment property or refinance an existing loan, you’ll need to consider fees, rates, repayment terms, insurance and even customer service.
Now in this free Property Observer eBook, Get loan-savvy – tips for a first time, investment or refinancing loan, you can decide on a home loan that meets your requirements.
Brought to you by leading home loan comparison site Mozo.com.au, this savvy guide will take you through all the elements of finding, researching and comparing loans with practical tips from the experts.
You’ll learn:
<ul>
<li>The essential questions to ask before applying for a loan;</li>
<li>Whether to opt for a fixed or variable loan;</li>
<li>Online versus bricks and mortar – how to find the right lender for you;</li>
<li>The pros and cons of the ‘Big Four’ banks, online lenders and more.</li>
</ul>
{rsform 61}
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Get loan-savvy: expert tips for a first-time, investment or refinancing loan in a free eBook

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The March dwelling approvals report came in above expectations with approvals rising 2.8% v market and Westpac expectations of a 2% dip.
The context here is important – approvals surged 25% in the final three months of 2014 and have broadly held on to these gains in early 2015 with moves of +0.3% in January, –1.6% in February and now +2.8% in March.
Although small, the March rise takes approvals to a new record high that, if sustained for another 11 months would see annual approvals at 233,000 – that compares to approvals of 210,000 over the last 12 months which is already well above the previous recorded peak of 201,000 in 1973 (more recent peaks have topped out at around 180,000).
The main driver of recent strength has been in NSW and VIC units where large high-rise projects have been key. This presented a potential downside risk to monthly approvals if a ‘gap’ in the project pipeline emerged.
This clearly did not occur in Mar with private sector unit approvals posting a robust 5.3% month rise. An initial glance at the detail suggests high rise was again the main driver.
The other detail was a touch better than expected. Private sector detached house approvals were up 1.1% after a five months run of flat results and despite construction related finance approvals showing signs of flattening out.
The state detail shows a modest firming in NSW and VIC is offsetting weakness elsewhere.
The value of renovation approvals fell back in March and is flat on a year ago. The value of non-residential approvals was up but is bouncing round a low level, down 20% year on year.
Matthew Hassan is senior economist with <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/" target="_blank">Westpac</a>.
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Australian dwelling approvals above expectations: Matthew Hassan

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Julian Augustini, a director at <a href="https://www.hodges.com.au/" target="_blank">Hodges Brighton</a>, answered some of Property Observer's questions on the state of the current state of the market.
<ul>
<li>How would you describe the auction market? Is the treaty market likewise?</li>
</ul>
Because of the low interest rates, Melbourne's property market at the moment is performing strongly.
The auction market at the moment is very active, and so is the private sale market.
<ul>
<li>What tips would you give home buyers?</li>
</ul>
Buy in the best possible location for your budget.
You can make small, cost-friendly changes to your home over time but you can't change where you are located without selling and upgrading.
<ul>
<li>What tips would you give investors about the timing of their buying in the 2015 market?</li>
</ul>
The rental market remains stable so buying now and locking in low interest rates gives security and potential for growth. 
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Low interest rates driving Melbourne market: Q&A with Hodges' Julian Augustini

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Watching The Block last night, the end story was that "everyone was a winner".
The renovators won, the buyers agents won and the TV station won with the ratings, despite paying out a television record $3,165,000 in prizes.
Huge prices were paid for all of the St Kilda townhouses, with the winners Darren and Deanne selling for $835,000 over the reserve price of $1,455,000, or 57% more than what the property was valued at prior to the auction.
Winning a property at auction is a great feeling for buyers, with emotions of triumph and relief. In the following days the reality of a mortgage usually sets in and sometimes with varying degrees of buyers remorse.
Paying a huge price for a property would be fine if property markets were on an endless trajectory upwards. With growth in Melbourne and Sydney over the past few years at continually stratospheric heights, it is hard to blame buyers for thinking that growth will be endless.
For those of us who have been in the property industry for a long time, we know that markets rise, fall and also at times remain steady. We have seen many winners make large capital profits, however we have also seen many losers who have paid too much for their properties at the high end of a boom cycle.
Paying a premium amount for a property is less of an issue if the buyer will have no mortgage, however most people purchasing property do have mortgages and in the current market many have been borrowing a large percentage of the property purchase price.
Which brings us back to the large prices paid for the units in The Block. Now that the cameras have moved out and the production crew and media circus have moved on to other entertainment, the buyers will be preparing for the reality of settlement and paying the remainder due.
Is there any ongoing cachet or prestige for previous Block television properties? The answer in most cases is no.
The truth is that these places were renovated by amateurs finishing properties quickly on limited budgets to meet episode deadlines. Many will have repair and maintenance issues to be addressed, and when resold in the years ahead being a Block property is unlikely to be the sales agents main selling point. At that stage buyers will be more interested in the fundamentals of the property including the quality of the fittings and materials, the location, aspect and natural light, floor plan, noise, and the other important features.
As a buyers agent it was particularly disappointing to see the Melbourne buyers agent's conduct at The Block auctions. The approach appeared to be more concerned about "winning" for their clients regardless of the auction bidding increments made and eventual price paid. Professional buyers agents should be acting in the interests of their clients and often that involves advising them not to proceed with a property or to set a measured maximum price.
If bidding at auction on behalf of a client, it is best to not be continually on the phone to your client during the auction as it is harder to keep a poker face and to concentrate properly, and your competition will find it easier to see when you are nearly finished. We suggest clients have a pre-written maximum bidding amount, which means that our client's amount is determined by a proper price analysis on the property rather than being influenced by the frenzied bids of other buyers.
Henry Wilkinson is principal of buyer's agency <a href="https://www.homesearchsolutions.com.au/" target="_blank">Homesearch Solutions</a>.
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The Block - the real winners and losers: Henry Wilkinson

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The median Burnie rental rate of $190 a week is less than half the $455 a week median in Hobart, according to the latest Knight Frank/Residex data on Tasmania.
In Burnie, a renter could expect a house like <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-acton-415662996" target="_blank">71 Payne Street in Acton</a> (pictured below), for $230 per week.
<img src="/images/2015/05/01/acton%20may%201.jpg" alt="">
The three bedroom house with one bathroom is located north east of central Burnie. The landlords paid $183,000 for the house in 2011. If it rents at its current advertised rate, it will yield 6.5%.
In Hobart, at the median weekly rental rate of $455, a renter might secure <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-sandy+bay-414978087" target="_blank">18 Princes St in Sandy Bay</a> (pictured below). The three bedroom Federation house has floorboards throughout cost landlords $508,000 in 2009, and if they find a renter at its asking rate, it will yield 4.7%.
<img src="/images/2015/05/01/sandy%20bay%20may%201.jpg" alt="">
At Launceston, the median weekly rental rate is $320, the asking rent for this Youngtown house. Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-youngtown-415649599" target="_blank">93 Poplar Parade</a> (pictured below), the three bedroom brick home has a flat backyard and a garage.
<img src="/images/2015/05/01/youngtown%20may%201.jpg" alt="">
The landlords paid $255,000 for the investment property in October 2013. It will yield 6.5% if it's rented at its advertised price.
Rents have been gradually increasing across Tasmania since 2006, according to the research.
The priciest rental on the apple isle that Property Observer could find was a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-sandy+bay-409136031" target="_blank">Sandy Bay holiday rental</a> (pictured below), which is available from $1,820 per week in the low season, and $2,450 per week in the high season.
<img src="/images/2015/05/01/sandy%20bay%20may%201%20two.jpg" alt="">
Churchill House, situated in the Sandy Bay hills, has four bedrooms and two bathrooms over two levels, with water views.
Holiday rentals were much dearer than long-term offerings. 
Click charts to open in new window:
<a href="/images/2015/03/23/hobart-mar-23-one.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/03/23/hobart-mar-23-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="/images/2015/03/23/hobart-mar-23-two.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/03/23/hobart-mar-23-two.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="/images/2015/03/23/hobart-mar-23-three.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/03/23/hobart-mar-23-three.jpg" alt=""></a>
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Burnie rentals less than half Hobart: Knight Frank/Residex

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The recent survey by the ANZ-Property Council showed the prospect of stronger construction and employment growth was emerging in the housing sector. 
<img src="/images/2015/04/23/anz-april-23-one.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2015/04/23/anz-april-23-two.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2015/04/28/anz-april-28-one.jpg" alt="">
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Stronger construction for housing emerging: ANZ-Property Council

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Trauma from domestic abuse causes suffering and pain in multiple ways. We often think first of the physical impact of domestic violence, but new research shows domestic violence can force women into lower-quality housing – or make it harder to find a home altogether.
Domestic violence is the primary <a href="https://wesnet.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/homesafehome.pdf">reason</a> for women’s homelessness. Safe, appropriate housing and the economic resources to maintain it are two of the most pressing concerns for women wanting to escape domestic violence.
Following separation from a violent partner, women and their children are likely to experience significant income loss, financial hardship and housing instability, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19218545">particularly women</a> who are at least partially financially dependent on their partners.
In other words, housing affordability is one of the primary issues women are forced to confront when deciding whether or not to leave a violent relationship. The prospect of high rents and scarce housing supply may even be causing women and children to remain in dangerous situations.
The cost of leaving
Dr Carole Zufferey, Professor Suzanne Franzway, Professor Donna Chung, Dr Nicole Moulding and I have been researching the intersection of domestic violence and the housing affordability crisis. We have just completed a study that examined the compounding effects of domestic violence on women’s housing, employment and mental health in Australia, funded through the Australian Research Council Discovery Grant Scheme.
For this project, 658 women completed a national online survey during 2013-2014 and 79% of the sample had children. Participants were recruited through advertisements and contact with national and local domestic violence and housing services across Australia.
We found that while experiencing domestic violence, 50.8% of the participants owned their home. Immediately after leaving the violent relationship, only 13.4% owned their home. At the time of completing the survey, 37.1% owned their home.
Immediately after leaving, 26.7% were in a rental property and 46.9% of women lived in temporary dwellings, which included caravans, shelters, staying with friends/family (33%), cars or parks.
For the majority of women (67%), housing costs increased after separation, which obviously affects the choice of home they could afford. In other words, leaving a violent relationship came at a big financial cost for the women.
At the same time, the majority of women reported being on a much lower income, with many having to leave their jobs after their relationship ended. Many experienced financial insecurity and poverty, which compounded housing affordability and safety.
The cost of violence
The housing problems women face once they leave a violent relationship are complex and multiple. Financial losses as a consequence of leaving a violent relationship impact women’s housing status, choices and practices.
For example, we found women often had to pay for a violent partner’s property damage and debts, which affected their ability to access and afford adequate rental housing. Alternatively, legal costs and non-payment of child support after separation reduced income for housing.
Women who were or had been home owners experienced unequal and lengthy property settlements, with many women settling for less because they feared their partner.
One woman said: "property damage from him… the place was in my name… it’s held against me in finding rental."
Another woman said: "He hadn’t paid bills for several years and would lie, saying he had paid them while hiding the bills… I was left with overdue rates, other debts and the house is in unmanageable state of disarray."
We also found that the most frequently used description in the data on housing was the loss of a “safe home”. Among participants surveyed, 42% of women (and their children) had to make frequent moves to escape violence. This disconnected them from communities, schools and a sense of “home”.
Fear also impacts on women’s decision-making about their housing choices and options.
One woman said: "I will never have a home of my own or a place that I feel is my home – safe, secure and private."
Another woman said: "I have felt invaded, under siege, at every house I have been in… I needed to pay for increased security measures, sensor lights, high fencing, lockable gates. I slept with my bedroom light on and my mobile under my pillow."
Our study also found that feelings of shame that accompany domestic violence also hindered women’s decisions and abilities to seek out housing services and assistance.
Women reported feeling shame when they asked friends and family for help, when they applied for private rental or public housing and when they used health and welfare services for domestic violence.
One woman said: "We had to go into housing commission rental that was very demoralising for me. My children suffered… I had lost everything I had worked for, most of my furniture [and was] made to feel second rate and that made my self-esteem even worse."
Staying in the family home
In Australia, the funding of public housing has been curtailed and average house prices are increasing relative to income. The proportion of first homeowners has fallen and there is increasing competition for housing in the private rental market where landlords exercise considerable <a href="https://www.sapo.org.au/pub/pub10023">discretion</a> in choice of tenant.
The majority of women experiencing domestic violence are forced to leave their homes for their own and children’s safety, and they are systematically disadvantaged as they enter the rental housing market.
They are forced to tackle this terrain while experiencing fear, parenting traumatised children and often enduring financial hardship.
To prevent homelessness and housing instability for women and their children, we need to continually look for ways that enable women to seek protection from domestic violence and remain in the family home, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1415/ViolenceAust">while the perpetrator is removed</a>. This supports women and their children to maintain connections to their homes and communities, social support networks, employment and educational opportunities and it provides stability for children.
Housing, legal and domestic violence systems and services must continually work together toward this goal.
Sarah Wendt is program director, Masters of Social Work; co-director, Research Centre for Gender Studies; senior lecturer, School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy at University of South Australia.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>.
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How housing affordability hurts women and kids fleeing violence: Sarah Wendt

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South Canberra is the dearest region for rents in the nation's capital, according to the recent CoreLogic RP Data Quarterly Rental Review.
Click charts to open in new windows: 
<a href="/images/2015/04/10/canberra-april-13-one.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/04/10/canberra-april-13-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="/images/2015/04/10/canberra-april-13-two.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/04/10/canberra-april-13-two.jpg" alt=""></a>
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South Canberra home rental the ACT's priciest: CoreLogic RP Data

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The five capital city aggregate of CoreLogic RP Data's daily home value index continued to rise during April, just days before the next formal update.
<img src="/images/2015/04/27/Picture%2057.png" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic RP Data
The combined five capital home values are up 8.2% from last year, after a 4.0% increase in 2015 so far.
<img src="/images/2015/04/27/Picture%2058.png" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic RP Data
Sydney is leading the charge, with home values up 6.8% since 1 January, and 14.1% annually.
The next closest is Melbourne with 4.8% growth since January.
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Five capital city CoreLogic RP Data's daily home value index continues to climb

The residential transformation of St Kilda Road is set to continue into with more new apartment plans for the sought-after boulevard.

Wing Tai Asia has lodged plans for a major residential tower at 464-466 St Kilda Road, replacing the former VACC House with an 18-storey mixed-use development designed around a retained heritage podium and a sculpted contemporary tower.

The proposal, prepared under Victoria’s Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway, would deliver 325 apartments and ground-floor retail across the prominent 4,653 sqm boulevard site in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road North Precinct.

The project centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed VACC Building, an eight-storey office designed by Bernard Evans that has occupied the address for decades. Planning documents state the development would involve “carefully dismantling and conserving off-site the original metal fabric of the podium visible from St Kilda Road,” before reinstating it as the defining frontage of the new scheme.

Above the restored podium, Wing Tai is proposing a curvilinear residential tower. The scheme includes 172 one-bedroom apartments, 63 two-bedroom apartments, 66 three-bedroom apartments, and 24 four-bedroom apartments, alongside two ground-floor food and beverage tenancies fronting St Kilda Road.

The tower has been designed with substantial articulation and variable setbacks to minimise perceived bulk and maintain view corridors along the boulevard. Urbis, which prepared the planning report, said the design “has been significantly articulated through a curvilinear design” with “an interplay with materials, façade expression and depth” to create visual separation and visual interest.

The proposal also includes 254 basement car spaces, landscaped pedestrian links connecting St Kilda Road and Queens Lane, and a biophilic landscape strategy featuring canopy trees, raised planters, cascading greenery and a glass oculus pool overlooking the eastern frontage.

Planning documents confirm the $270.1 million development will contribute 3 per cent of project costs to the Social Housing Growth Fund as part of the application process.

Wing Tai acquired the St Kilda Road property in 2018 alongside Abacus Property Group for $95.38 million, before later consolidating ownership of the site. The property previously served as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce headquarters for around 60 years.

The transformation of the St Kilda Rd boulevard is already beginning to materialise, with a number of high-profile projects recently completed, launched, or approaching launch as developers continue to back the long-term appeal of the precinct.

Among the most notable recent completions is Louise by Samuel Property Group, just off the strip on Queens Lane, the same pocket Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched The Queensbury. Mirvac is too on the same street with The Albertine, which is approaching completion.

Dexus recently secured approval for its slice of St Kilda Road, while Gurner also has approved plans for the precinct.

Joel Robinson

Wing Tai unveils 325-apartment St Kilda Road tower on former VACC House site

Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

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