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GUEST OBSERVATION
Last month, Canadian-American architect <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Gehry" target="_blank">Frank Gehry</a> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/oct/24/frank-gehry-journalist-finger-architecture-shit" target="_blank">delivered</a> a defiant middle finger to a Spanish journalist who asked if his designs were “just about spectacle”.
It’s a criticism that has dogged Gehry and his iconic buildings – that they are more sculpture than architecture, that they are “logotecture” perfect for branding purposes.
In Spain, Gehry was adamant: "In this world we are living in, 98% of everything that is built and designed today is pure shit."
So will the new $180 million <a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/partners-and-community/initiatives/city-campus-master-plan/projects-progress/dr-chau-chak-wing" target="_blank">Dr Chau Chak Wing Building</a> at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), become a cultural icon putting UTS on the world map of tertiary institutions? Or will it instead foist another eyesore on Sydney to rival its brutalist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTS_Tower" target="_blank">UTS Tower</a>?
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A model of architect Frank Gehry’s Dr Chau Chak Wing Building at the University of Technology building in Sydney. AAP/Gehry Partners, LLP
Iconic buildings are <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-has-more-soft-power-than-ever-but-can-we-keep-it-20698" target="_blank">recognised</a> cultural indicators of <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-has-more-soft-power-than-ever-but-can-we-keep-it-20698" target="_blank">soft power</a>. Every one of his clients is after the Gehry-icon effect. But with any Gehry building that’s pushed the limits comes controversy.
Back in 2012, columnist Mike Carlton dubbed it “a rain-sodden clump of cardboard cartons left out for a council clean-up”. Germaine Greer basically <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jan/09/germaine-greer-frank-gehry-uts" target="_blank">called it</a> an insult to the colonial buildings which apparently inspired it.
Only recently Fairfax critic Elizabeth Farrelly <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/frank-gehrys-uts-building-is-no-opera-house-20140709-zt144" target="_blank">said</a> it was “bad Gaudi”.
But the “brown paper bag” is the Pritzker prize-winning Gehry’s first building in Australia and with the “starchitect” status come great expectations.
Professor <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/roy-green-3866" target="_blank">Roy Green</a>, Dean of the UTS Business School, set the bar high when he told the Sydney Morning Herald it would be “the second most iconic" building in Australia.
The then UTS Vice Chancellor Ross Milbourne went <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/australia/gehry-building-to-rival-opera-house-37494" target="_blank">even further</a>: "We’ve got the Opera House, and it’s hard to say we are going to beat that, but from what I’ve seen we’ll have an equally outstanding icon at this end of Sydney."
Only weeks before Gehry’s appearance in Spain, he launched <a href="https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/" target="_blank">Fondation Louis Vuitton</a>, a new art museum in Paris commissioned by the billionaire head of the luxury brand LVMH, Bernard Arnault.
It sits in a park of the Bois de Boulogne, its twisting, gigantic glass sails eliciting mixed reviews: from “<a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/architecture/2014-10/frank-gehry-fondation-louis-vuitton-arts-center-article" target="_blank">masterful</a>” and a “radiant tour de force” to “<a href="http:/mg.co.za/print2014-10-24-frank-gehrys-architecture-of-over-indulgence" target="_blank">architecture of over-indulgence</a>” and “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/oct/21/frank-gehry-fondation-louis-vuitton-shows-he-doesn%E2%80%99t-know-when-to-stop" target="_blank">he doesn’t know when to stop</a>”.
The 85-year-old Gehry has no intention of stopping.
<a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/08/architecture-survey-201008" target="_blank">Anointed</a> “the greatest architect we have today” by the late godfather of modern architecture Philip Johnson, he is busier than ever, with his first London project – the futuristic <a href="https://www.archdaily.com/554700/new-images-released-of-foster-and-gehry-s-battersea-power-station-designs" target="_blank">Battersea power station apartments</a> to Germany’s tallest residential tower in Berlin, the new Facebook headquarters and other projects from Abu Dhabi to Venezuela.
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It all began back in the 80s when the obscure industrial town of Bilbao proposed building a <a href="https://www.guggenheim.org/bilbao" target="_blank">Guggenheim museum</a> and giving Frank Gehry free reign.
As Frank Gehry <a href="https://newsroom.uts.edu.au/news/2011/02/frank-gehry-in-conversation">told</a> a public meeting at UTS in 2011, what they really wanted was an architectural icon that would pay dividends.
"They asked for the Sydney Opera House, they said they wanted it and the Minister of Commerce and the President of the Basque region said it was a business decision and they wanted to achieve what the Sydney Opera House achieved."
He delivered a titanium surrealist structure that shocked the locals:
"In Bilbao they wanted to kill me – in the paper they said kill the American. I was worried. I thought they meant it."
According to Johnson, Guggenheim Bilbao “is the greatest building of our time”.
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Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Wikimedia Commons
In the lead up to its official launch with Frank Gehry in February, UTS has been hosting VIP tours showcasing its jewel in the crown.
I was on the same tour as Don Bianchino of <a href="https://bianchinoassociates.com.au/" target="_blank">Bianchino &amp; Associates</a>, a Sydney-based architectural and design firm. The building, he told me, was “better in the flesh”:
"I think at the end it will be a breath of fresh air. I don’t think I could personally describe this building as a refined elegant building; it’s quite crude in some ways, but that’s what makes it iconic or will be iconic I think."
At a cost of $180 million it averages at about $9,780 a square metre. Bianchino says you can build a good quality commercial building for around $6,000 and a residential one for about $3,000 per square metre. He thinks this is the sort of building only an academic institution can afford.
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Gehry’s Dr Chau Chak Wing Building in Sydney, under construction. Author
In an interview commissioned three years ago by UTS for their archives, Gehry said most of the buildings that business occupies are counterproductive to the results they demand.
"The building is a straight-jacket. Most commercial buildings are pro forma; in my experience there has been a fear of exploring the unknown and risk … but (this) leads to banal buildings you see all over the world since the war and can pick them out, the same version ad nausem."
The link between the built environment and performance is a growing area of research by architects and neuroscientists.
This year’s <a href="https://www.anfarch.org/news/nobel-prize-research-previewed-at-anfa-2014/" target="_blank">Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine</a> was shared by researchers who discovered cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain, an important bridge between the two disciplines.
Perhaps Frank Gehry knows something the rest of us don’t.
At one point in the VIP tour “Frank’s fingerprint” is pointed out, a Dr Seuss-like sharp curve in the brickwork where Gehry pinched the model to get it just right.
Whatever future generations might think of the building, Don Bianchino says:
"I think the engineering and the build-ability of the design is something that we marvel at – how the hell did they do this?"
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/30364/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Helen Vatsikopoulos is a lecturer in journalism at <a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/" target="_blank">University of Technology, Sydney</a>.
Helen worked at both SBS and ABC 1 and the Australia Network for 26 years as a reporter, producer, presenter and won the Walkley Award for Best International Report 1992.  
She is currently making a documentary on the Dr Chau Chak Wing building for the ABC and BBC with Essential Media.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
Feature photo: Andrew Worssam
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Iconic building alert: Waiting for the Frank Gehry effect in Sydney

Victorian politicians' $136 million of property: What hope is there of housing policy reform?

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Under changes proposed by the government, financial planners will be required to register with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission from next March. They will need to provide details of their educational qualifications, experience and any complaints lodged by clients.
The government has made determined efforts to wind back red tape through the amendments to the Future of Financial Advice reforms. However, a register will just create further compliance requirements without being of much benefit for clients. Until reforms are made to better align interests between adviser and clients, we will not see any real change within the industry.
A register is unlikely to weed out rogue advisers
A register is unlikely to overcome the problem of identifying “rogue advisers”. This issue has continued to plague the industry because of the failure by ASIC and financial services firms to tackle the systemic conflicts of interests between planners and clients. The successful performance of individual planners is still directly related to a product sales culture.
While the register is a step in the right direction, it will be valueless without strict registration requirements and enforcement. Currently, the registration requirements are vague and the corresponding penalties for any breach are very unclear.
If removal from the register is the only penalty, it may give the impression the government is assuring the community that registered advisers can be trusted to give appropriate advice. This is unlikely to actually be the case.
Challenges to industry reform
The difficulty for clients is finding an adviser who is committed to their best interests. No legislation, education qualifications or experience can overcome a culture of “product selling”.
What is needed is a client-centred industry. Both individual advisers and their organisations need to work in a culture where ethics and professionalism are valued, maintained and delivered. This requires a huge cultural shift from product advice to strategy advice.
While education goes part of the way in achieving this goal, fundamentally this must come from the licensees and advisers themselves. The problem is complicated by six large licensees controlling 80% of the financial advice industry. Many clients fail to appreciate that if you seek advice from one of these large institutions, most likely your funds will be placed in their internally branded products.
The industry is further complicated by the variety of individuals giving unregulated financial advice. In direct real estate investing, advice on gearing, investment returns and taxation is often freely given with little controls or oversight.
The proposed register will not overcome this problem since real estate salespersons are not considered financial advisers and are not included in its scope.
So is it possible to gain truly independent and transparent advice? In the current environment this is difficult and perhaps word of mouth and personal recommendation is still the client’s best friend.
When a registration system works
There are examples of registers that have been successful in improving standards across an industry. The Tax Agents Register is administered by the Tax Practitioners Board and has very specific education and professional registration requirements. Registration must be renewed every three years.
Tax agents must provide evidence of professional indemnity insurance and the professional development undertaken during the period to maintain their registration. Any non-compliance results in removal from the register and hence the inability to practise.
A similar regime would need to be applied to the financial planner register if it is to have any credibility.
Current indications are that the register will include any complaints or offences committed by the adviser. However, what the industry needs is for these advisers to be struck off the register and unable to practise.
The whole success of the register will also be dependent on the funding and resources allocated to ASIC to monitor and continually update the register. Without ASIC’s active involvement, the register will not be credible and is likely to become a “toothless tiger”. What consumers don’t need is just another list of financial advisers which offers no real value.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/33471/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Sharon Taylor is senior lecturer at <a href="https://www.uws.edu.au/" target="_blank">University of Western Sydney</a><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-western-sydney"></a>.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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National financial planning register will just list problem, not solve it

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GUEST OBSERVATION
At the Australian Institute of Architecture’s 2014 <a href="https://architecture.com.au/events/national/awards/national-awards">National Architecture Awards</a> in Darwin last night, a total of 43 awards and commendations were given across 13 categories by five jurors, chosen from 56 projects shortlisted across eight states and territories from a total of 153 eligible projects.
So in this “best of the best”, as the jury put it, what are some of the emerging themes and trends?
The buildings speak for themselves. They will endure, adapt, change and weather, each in its own way, as all good architecture does. My interest here is in how the profession presents itself, how it fronts up to its constituencies.
In the words of the jury – chaired by Paul Berkemeier – accompanying each award, the language is telling and marked here in quotation marks. It reveals what seems to matter most to architects today, what they value, how they wish to be portrayed and how they see their role and contribution.
Various themes are at work in the jury citations.
Themes
One theme is “aesthetic” and praises the award-winning buildings largely in terms of power (bold, strong, giant, muscular, massive, grand, robust, daring, dramatic); another is “character” (thoughtful, original, visionary, inspired, refined, confident, joyful, playful, whimsical, theatrical, extroverted, modest, timeless, poetic, unassuming, delicate, authoritative, exuberant, sensitive, elegant, adventurous, expressive, rich, beautiful, delightful, humble, efficient, thorough, rigorous, intellectual); yet another is “experience” (exciting, striking, thrilling, vibrant, mesmerising, shimmering, evocative).
Significantly, “bold” and “playful” predominate.
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Winner of the Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage – Eternity Playhouse by TZG. AIA/ Brett Boardman
Skills
Another theme highlights the skills architects wish to be known for, the capacities they claim as expertise: ingenuity, cleverness, care, imagination, restraint, thoughtfulness, considerateness, subtlety, seduction, discreteness, grace, gentleness, craft, care, ambitiousness, resourcefulness, playfulness, passion, commitment, tenacity.
Projects succeed variously by being cleverly manipulated, adroitly transformed, artfully curated, intelligently arranged, sensitively handled or delicately manoeuvred.
There is widespread valorisation of a “limited palette” of materials, implying that luxury comes through scarcity and paucity, where “a strong singular idea and a restrained material palette can lead to a rich architectural outcome”.
This particular value system, with self-evident moral overtones, is consistent in both the language of citations and the materiality of the projects themselves: raw, restrained yet rich material palette; soft material palette; modest but sensitive palette of materials; Brutalist approach to material selection; restraint and thoughtfulness in the choice of materials.
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The former Rocks Police Station by Welsh &amp; Major Architects was awarded the National Commendation for Heritage. AIA/ Katherine Lu
Much value is given to architecture’s recuperative function, its role in preserving or “<a href="https://theconversation.com/national-architecture-awards-2014-lets-look-at-the-heritage-finalists-31964">repurposing</a>” historical built fabrics; renewing environments and settings; “finding new uses” for neglected buildings; engaging “rich local history” or “helping to protect, manage and preserve endangered landscapes”.
Among the subjects of this “loving preservation and reinvention” was the former Rocks Police Station in George Street, Sydney, by <a href="https://www.welshmajor.com/">Welsh &amp; Major Architects</a> which received the National Commendation for Heritage with an adaptation for use as a café.
And the <a href="https://www.darlinghursttheatre.com/eternity-playhouse">Eternity Playhouse</a> in Darlinghurst by <a href="https://www.tzg.com.au/">Tonkin Zulaikha Greer</a> (TZG) won the Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage.
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Transformation and education
Another pervasive theme makes claims about architecture’s transformative, didactic role of indicating and educating, leading by example, promoting innovation and pushing boundaries.
A notable trend across the awarded projects is the move to enlightened hybrid programming that is adding value to the national intellectual, research and civic endeavour.
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Awarded a National Award for Public Architecture, the Dandenong Mental Health Facility – Bates Smart Whitefield McQueen Irwin Alsop Joint Venture. AIA/ John Gollings
Such mixed programs are devised through the initiative of far-sighted institutional and private partnerships, often including architects who are well placed to devise, model and test new typologies equal to the challenge.
Projects such as the <a href="https://www.plantbank.org.au/">Australian PlantBank</a> (main image) by <a href="https://www.donovanhill.com.au/">BVN Donovan Hill</a> in Mount Annan (NSW), which won a National Award for Public Architecture, combines research institute, seed repository, museum and public building.
Also recognised with a National Award for Public Architecture was the Dandenong Mental Health Facility (VIC) by <a href="https://www.batessmart.com.au/">Bates Smart</a> (above), which “reinvents” the familiar institutional typology by recasting it in domestic scale around care and therapeutics.
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Winner of the National Award for Residential Architecture – Oxlade Drive House by James Russell Architect. AIA/ Toby Scott
The Oxlade Drive House in Queensland by <a href="https://jrarch.com.au/">James Russell Architect</a>, which won the National Award for Residential Architecture, creates a new “prototype for the suburban typology”.
The Commons by <a href="https://www.breathe.com.au/">Breathe Architecture</a> in Melbourne, which “revolutionises apartment living in Australia”, was awarded the Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture, and congratulated for “eliminating what the ‘market’ insists is necessary in multi-residential design”.
Celebration
The most recurrent term casts architecture in quasi-religious light: the key word is “celebration”.
Hence a building “celebrates its spectacular waterfront location”, “celebrates the horizon”, “celebrates beach culture”, “celebrates the hedonism of Bondi life”, “celebrates the use of the verandah in vernacular Queensland architecture”, “celebrates a building’s former life”, “celebrates the terrace and wonderful view”, “glows in celebratory fashion like a lantern on the beach".
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The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture was awarded to The Commons by Breathe Architecture. AIA/ Urban Angles
Architecture’s defining fact is that it “celebrates … the whole theatre of it all". Yet celebration originates with the Latin mass and means “to assemble (in great numbers) to honour or sing the praises of”.
This turn of phrase, “celebration”, serves as an indicative subtext for an architecture of restraint and self-effacement.
An architecture that functions as a neutral setting, enabling what lies properly outside of it – that is, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifeworld">lifeworld</a> – to be noticed, solicited and experienced.
Michael Tawa is professor of architecture at University of Sydney<a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney"></a>.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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What the National Architecture Awards tell us about architects

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GUEST OBSERVATION
A small group of people is gathered around a campfire in a Victorian State Forest. Members of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TinyHousesAustralia" target="_blank">Tiny Houses Australia community</a>, they’re attending a spring camp to talk about how to build a tiny house, and compare notes on how to address common barriers, like local government planning schemes.
The group is diverse, from students to professionals and retirees. One has been living temporarily in caravans. Others were forced to move into shared accommodation or board with family. Most have given up on the idea of buying their own home, put off by the high price tag or the size of the mortgage, or the downside of living far from family or employment.
Most of the group are also fierce promoters of a more sustainable, minimalist way of life who want their new houses to reflect this. You won’t find many en suites or walk-in wardrobes in their floor plans.
Is bigger really better?
Something is wrong when <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/25372224/170k-family-priced-out-of-perth/" target="_blank">a professional earning A$170,000</a> cannot afford to live close to work; or <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/property/firsthome-crisis-triggers-call-for-action-20131115-2xmcv" target="_blank">a doctor needs a parental loan</a> to buy a house. All 25 major urban housing markets in Australia are ranked as <a href="https://www.demographia.com/dhi.pdf" target="_blank">severely unaffordable</a>; and Australia has the <a href="https://www.imf.org/external/research/housing/index.htm" target="_blank">second most unaffordable</a> housing market among member nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Australian houses are also <a href="https://www.demographia.com/dhi.pdf" target="_blank">among the largest</a> in the OECD. In 2008, the average new house was 214 square metres, double the size of an average 1950s house. Very large houses are not only more expensive, but environmentally unsustainable. For example, the major factors that determine a house’s greenhouse gas emissions are its size and location; the bigger and more isolated the house, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10901-011-9212-2#page-1" target="_blank">the larger its emissions</a>.
For many, particularly young people entering the market and older people leaving the workforce, the “great Australian dream” of a big house on a quarter-acre block is a distant fantasy. And even for those who are living the dream, a sudden interest-rate rise, job loss or chronic illness could rapidly turn it into a nightmare.
Regardless of the debate over whether we’re in a <a href="https://theconversation.com/memo-to-the-imf-there-is-no-housing-bubble-27925" target="_blank">housing bubble</a>, the affordability problem is much broader than property prices. The most serious issue is the lack of affordable <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8462.2008.00502.x/full" target="_blank">rental accommodation</a>.
Finding sanctuary in a tiny house
From this backdrop has emerged a trend towards <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-09/tiny-houses-big-with-u-s-owners-seeking-economic-freedom" target="_blank">building much smaller houses</a>. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_house_movement" target="_blank">tiny house movement</a> originated in the United States in the late 1990s, largely in response to problems with housing affordability, although it has also been spurred on by the <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/global-financial-crisis" target="_blank">global financial crisis</a> and a widespread desire to live more sustainably. The movement has now spread to New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
Tiny houses are generally smaller than 40 square metres, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/beautiful-tiny-homes-2014-8#this-60-square-foot-home-is-the-smallest-house-in-the-uk-16" target="_blank">can take many forms</a>, from granny flats, to repurposed shipping containers, to <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/03/21/tiny-house-on-wheels-abbotsford_n_5003376" target="_blank">complete houses built on trailers</a>.
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Room to manoeuvre: some tiny houses have wheels - just don’t call them caravans. The Tiny Abode Co., Author provided
The benefits of tiny houses include <a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/tiny-houses-infographic">overall sustainability</a>, reduced energy and water use (tiny houses are often “off the grid”) and, of course, affordability. Some tiny houses can cost less than A$10,000. Moreover, they <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1162/1088198054084680/abstract">use significantly less resources</a> to build, and are often constructed from salvaged materials or sustainably sourced products.
Mobile tiny houses could even help their inhabitants adapt to climate change; a house on wheels can be moved out of danger from floods or storm surges. They can allow adult children or aged parents to live independently, yet maintain access to family, employment and public transport.
Tiny houses can even address aspects of homelessness. In the United States, some local governments are donating land for <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/27/greensboro-north-carolina-tiny-homes_n_6054590?ir=Impact" target="_blank">homeless people to build their own tiny homes</a>.
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The biggest issues with a tiny house
Although <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TinyHouseBlog" target="_blank">information is plentiful</a> on building techniques, plans and design, it is not very easy to build a tiny house. However, as attendees at the Spring Camp agreed, perhaps the biggest problem with building a tiny house is finding a place to put it.
Tiny houses do not conform to many <a href="https://www.berkeleyside.com/2011/01/07/a-city-looks-for-big-solutions-in-a-little-very-little-house" target="_blank">local government planning schemes</a> or building codes, which mandate minimum house sizes, maximum number of houses per plot, connection to utilities, parking provisions, and restrictions on temporary occupation.
It might also be argued that allowing tiny houses will reduce land values and lead to health and safety concerns, such as overcrowding. But people currently live in crowded conditions or illegally in sheds or caravans.
Some states, such as New South Wales, allow property owners to build <a href="https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Portals/0/plansforaction/affordablehousing/docs/Affordable%20Housing_Fact_Granny%20Flats.pdf" target="_blank">granny flats</a>. In other states, the regulations differ between and within each local government, although almost almost all have restrictions on the duration of temporary occupation.
For non property-owners, particularly those who don’t want to take any legal risks, the options are fewer. And of course, local governments can and should impose planning restrictions on tiny houses, and ensure that they comply with building codes and standards.
Tiny houses are not for everyone. They will probably <a href="https://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&amp;recordOId=4196241&amp;fileOId=4196242">always remain a niche market</a>, more suited to people with no children, or retirees.
Niche, yes, but for some people tiny houses could be a lifeline. Being unable to afford to buy property, fulfil mortgage commitments, or even rent a home can lead to <a href="https://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&amp;aid=1046376&amp;fileId=S0033291706009767" target="_blank">mental and physical illness</a>. In a sustainable city, everyone should be able to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0811114032000147430#.VFB38vmUd8E">access affordable housing</a>, and a tiny house is certainly better than no house at all.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/32225/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Heather Shearer is research fellow, urban research program at <a href="https://www.griffith.edu.au/" target="_blank">Griffith University</a>.
Heather is a member of the Greens Party, 350 Org and the Tiny Houses Australia Facebook Group. 
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
Feature picture courtesy of the author.
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Move over, McMansions – the tiny house movement is here

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Melbourne is one of the top cities chosen in Australia by property investors from overseas, in particular the Chinese investor. 
Last year, nearly $6 billion was spent on Australian real estate by Chinese investors and Credit Suisse predicts that Chinese nationals will spend around $44 billion on Australian residential real estate over the next seven years. 
Therefore, as more and more Chinese investors cast their eyes towards investing in Melbourne, it will pay to ensure that the real estate agent who is selling your property has a good understanding of, and is well networked with this lucrative buyer market.
Helping to attract wealthy Chinese to Australian shores is the Australian government’s new visa system – the significant investor visa.  Over 90% of the people who have <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-29611137" target="_blank">successfully applied for this visa are Chinese</a>. 
Melbourne already has a large Chinese population. In fact, <a href="https://chinatownmelbourne.com.au/about-chinatown/" target="_blank">Melbourne has the oldest Chinatown in the world</a>, outside of China, and its Chinese population continues to grow steadily and gravitate towards specific areas, with one example <a href="/news">Bentleigh</a>, in Melbourne’s south-east. Over the past three years the Chinese population in Bentleigh has flourished and grown exponentially.  
Chinese buyers heading to Australian shores value the cost of our properties (Australia is still relatively cheap compared to a lot of cities around the world), our good education system, quality of life, public security and clean air. Bentleigh’s attraction to the Chinese buyer lies primarily in its good schools, but also in the attractive large and modern houses it has to offer.
The suburb features a number of excellent primary schools, and is in the catchment area for one of the best public schools in the area, McKinnon Secondary College. Additionally, Bentleigh is attractive to the Chinese investor for its proximity to Melbourne’s CBD (just 12 kilometres away), its good transport links and its access to the Bayside beaches.
For real estate agents operating in areas that are culturally diverse, it is important to have a team that understands the local market and therefore has the ability to effectively target prospective buyers.  Hodges works tirelessly to ensure clients get the best possible outcome for the sale of their property and this means targeting all prospective buyer groups in the local area.
Ultimately, getting the best price for a property is about maximising the number of interested buyers, so therefore given we know what we do about the Chinese investor; it would be negligent not to include them as an important stakeholder group.
It is for this reason that every Hodges Bentleigh property listing is translated into Mandarin and listed on the Gifang.com site. This means our clients are able to tap into a huge market of potential Chinese-speaking buyers that we know are actively looking to buy in Melbourne. Hodges also offers a translation service so that we can communicate with Chinese buyers in Chinese.
There is no shortage of Chinese investors in the Melbourne property market and this is great news for those selling properties in areas that are attractive to Chinese investors. As a vendor it pays to select an agent with a sound knowledge of the Chinese investor market. After all, extending the reach of a campaign to include another layer of buyers will only help to ensure the best price come auction day.
Frank Ruffo is director of <a href="https://www.hodges.com.au/hodgesbentleigh" target="_blank">Hodges Bentleigh</a>.
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Tapping into Melbourne's Chinese investor interest

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<div id="article-content">
GUEST OBSERVATION
Property investment is still the most popular and major vehicle for wealth creation in Australia.
Many Australians have most of their wealth within their family home. As many retirees have seen their superannuation fund plummet during the global financial crisis many have expressed the desire to diversify their portfolio to include direct property once again because of it's general stability and predictability.
Although it has long been the darling of the Australian investment scene, property investment is not as easy as it might first appear. It would be glib to suggest that an investor with sufficient equity in his or her own property can simply purchase an investment house, sit back and wait for the riches to pour in.
It takes a much more measured and professional approach to develop a suitable property investment strategy that reflects not just the likely financial gains, but also one that is tailored to your individual circumstances.
Many people simply jump on the web or look around their local neighborhood for another property with the idea of 'I can keep an eye on it'.
Whilst this gives emotional comfort and familiarity, it is not a scientific or business drive approach and can be an inferior decision. Each investor should consider whether they have repeatable methodology and what impact the property they are choosing will have on additional purchases.
Here are some of the elements you should consider when developing a strategy:
<ul>
<li>Asset growth projections This involves a detailed analysis of the value of investment properties in most regions of Australia and then choosing a property profile that suits your personalised budget and cash flow projections. You should not limit yourself to an area simply because you think you know it well enough. There are plenty of opportunities in all areas of Australia and only a specialist analysis can reveal these. </li>
<li>Aligning your capacity Essentially, your plan should incorporate a steady pattern of acquisition in line with your personal capacity. This means monitoring your cash flow position at every stage of your life and making adjustments so that you can continue to acquire property in line with your investment goals. There are times when you may have only one income due to family planning. </li>
<li>Arranging proper finance structures The financial market is awash with a raft of products that can be massaged and tailored to suit your individual needs. Investment loans and other products like deposit bonds can be coupled together to provide you with adequate cash to proceed with a purchase whenever your plan allows. When working with a specialist property service, finance preapprovals can be obtained to give you the peace of mind you need. </li>
<li>Administrative processing Every astute property investor knows that as your portfolio grows there is an increasing amount of troublesome paperwork that needs to be processed, not to mention tax returns and other financial reports that you need to keep a track of your investments. That's why aligning yourself with a specialist property service can take these worries out of your hands so you can get on with the tasks for which you are better equipped. </li>
<li>Tax effectiveness In line with the above points, making sure you take advantage of the taxation regime that applies to your individual financial circumstances is a vital part of any investment strategy. Property research and sourcing services are in the best position to provide you with a full suite of support options that make property investing a professional and streamlined process.</li>
</ul>
Take advantage of a specialist and professional property management service is the only way to go when it comes to managing your property investment plan.
<div>
Sam Khalil is director - marketing and development with <a href="https://www.dpn.com.au/" target="_blank">Direct Property Network</a>.
</div>
</div>
<div id="article-resource">
Direct Property Network provides clients with an end-to-end property investment solutions from selecting the right property, all the way through to settlement and beyond. We help clients establish affordable and profitable investments by researching and sourcing wholesale property.
</div>
This article first appeared on <a href="https://EzineArticles.com" target="_blank">Ezine Articles</a>.
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Developing a property investment strategy that works for you

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RBA Governor Glenn Stevens' November statement:
At its meeting today, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 2.5 per cent.
Growth in the global economy is continuing at a moderate pace. China's growth has generally been in line with policymakers' objectives, though weakening property markets there present a challenge in the near term. Commodity prices in historical terms remain high, but some of those important to Australia have declined further in recent months.
Volatility in some financial markets has picked up over the past couple of months. Overall, however, financial conditions remain very accommodative. Long-term interest rates and risk spreads remain very low. Markets still appear to be attaching a low probability to any rise in global interest rates or other adverse event over the period ahead.
In Australia, most data are consistent with moderate growth in the economy. Resources sector investment spending is starting to decline significantly, while some other areas of private demand are seeing expansion, at varying rates. Public spending is scheduled to be subdued. Overall, the Bank still expects growth to be a little below trend for the next several quarters.
Recent data on prices confirmed that inflation is running between 2 and 3 per cent, as expected, and this is likely to continue. Although some forward indicators of employment have been firming this year, the labour market has a degree of spare capacity and it will probably be some time yet before unemployment declines consistently. Hence, growth in wages is expected to remain relatively modest over the period ahead, which should keep inflation consistent with the target even with lower levels of the exchange rate.
Monetary policy remains accommodative. Interest rates are very low and have continued to edge lower over the past year or so as competition to lend has increased. Investors continue to look for higher returns in response to low rates on safe instruments. Credit growth is moderate overall, but with a further pick-up in recent months in lending to investors in housing assets. Dwelling prices have continued to rise.
The exchange rate has traded at lower levels recently, in large part reflecting the strengthening US dollar. But the Australian dollar remains above most estimates of its fundamental value, particularly given the further declines in key commodity prices in recent months. It is offering less assistance than would normally be expected in achieving balanced growth in the economy.
Looking ahead, continued accommodative monetary policy should provide support to demand and help growth to strengthen over time. Inflation is expected to be consistent with the 2–3 per cent target over the next two years.
In the Board's judgement, monetary policy is appropriately configured to foster sustainable growth in demand and inflation outcomes consistent with the target. On present indications, the most prudent course is likely to be a period of stability in interest rates.
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Dwelling prices continue to climb: Governor Glenn Stevens' November statement

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Spring is in bloom which means that many Australians are looking to buy property, but what happens if you fall in love with a home and then discover the bank won’t lend to you?  Even worse, what happens if the bank turns you down and it’s your fault?  
Here are five tips to make sure you are properly set up for that home loan.
<ol>
<li>
Check your credit file Some of my clients were recently declined by a mid-tier bank because they had a couple of gas payment defaults on their credit file.  Trouble is, this was the first that my clients knew about it because the defaults related to their old home. Thankfully, we got them approval with a Big Four lender – but it took a lot of work.    All the stress could have been avoided if they had checked their credit file before they applied for a loan. The good news is, it’s free to check your credit file, check out the details on <a href="https://www.mycreditfile.com.au/" target="_blank" title="My Credit File" style="line-height: 1.3em;">mycreditfile</a>. 
</li>
<li>
Get your savings in order Lenders like to lend to people who can show they are responsible with money.  So, they like to see money in an account for at least three months without the account holder having succumbed to the temptation of spending some of it. If say, a relative is going to help out with the deposit, then holding the cash in your account for some time before you apply for a home loan makes it so much easier. I once had a client whose family came from a developing country which was subject to quite a few UN sanctions.  His family were gifting him some money, but getting money out of this country was very difficult, so the money was appearing as odd random cash deposits made all over Australia.  It took me ages to prove to the bank that the applicant wasn’t a drug runner or an arms dealer. Had the cash been ready and waiting in his Australian account for some time then again, it would have been much easier. 
</li>
<li>
Pay your bills as soon as possible When you apply for a home loan, the first thing a bank does is check your credit file. Once upon a time, the credit file just showed if you were in default or had made too many credit inquiries. Now, under a new law, credit files can show who is a prompt payer.  So from now on, it’s in your interest to pay any bill as soon as you can. 
</li>
<li>
Reduce your credit card limit It might boost your ego to have a platinum credit card with a $50,000 limit, but do you need all that money?  When the banks are assessing how much they will lend to you, they will take that credit card limit as money already lent (even if you pay it off every month).  As a result, they may well reduce how much they will lend you based on that limit.  You may want to reduce your credit card limit if you don’t need all that money.  Banks have been known to first request clients to reduce their credit card limit, before giving a final loan approval. 
</li>
<li>
Know your limit Not all banks are the same. For example, if you were a brand new customer and you walked into an ANZ branch then the most they would lend you is 90% of the value of the property (others may go up to 95%) – even if you are a multi-millionaire (it’s just their policy).  You could be a good home loan candidate. But if you just go to your own bank because you think that all banks are the same, you could be in for a shock.  Good brokers know what each bank’s lending policy is and now where you are most likely get home loan approval. 
</li>
</ol>
Graeme Salt is national client finance manager of <a href="https://www.chan-naylor.com.au" target="_blank">Chan &amp; Naylor Finance Australia</a>.
For further information on how Chan &amp; Naylor can help you with your home loan, you can <a href="https://www.chan-naylor.com.au/chan-naylor-finance/" target="_blank">visit their website</a>. 
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Five tips to set you up for your home loan

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GUEST OBSERVATION
When it comes to selling your property, you want to ensure the agent you have entrusted is able to successfully fulfil the job at hand.
A real estate agent’s definitive role is to get the best possible result at sale for their client. However how each agent undertakes this process can vary from agency to agency. Selecting the right agent plays a crucial role in driving the result and who you chose to sell your most expensive asset could alter the outcome dramatically.
<ul>
<li>Successfully selling - To gain optimum results an agent needs to go over and above the basics and demonstrate exceptional sales and interpersonal skills. After all, the client’s interaction with the agency is not just about the sale but about the overall experience. </li>
<li>An ethical approach - It goes without saying that a real estate agent should act ethically at all times. Buyers are very astute and know when an agent is misleading them. Acting unethically will see potential buyers lose interest in the property and refrain from putting their best offer forward. Not an ideal scenario for the vendor looking to bring as many buyers to the table as possible. </li>
<li>Knowledge is power – For an agent to be able to secure the best result for the vendor they should posses a great deal of expertise in the local area, by knowing what has sold and what is on the market. This product knowledge will help in quoting a realistic reserve for the property which will attract the most prospective buyers. A good agent will manage the vendor’s expectations of what is a realistic result and then endeavour to achieve this. </li>
<li>Experience – An experienced real estate agent should be able to read buyers and know what to say and do to get them attracted in the property. As different situations arise, the agent should have the skill set to act upon issues and ensure both buyers and sellers are happy and confident to work with the agency. </li>
<li>Finding a buyer - Ultimately the vendor wants to sell their property for the best possible price and for this to happen the agent must bring as many enthusiastic and voracious buyers to the fore. To do this, an agent should not only have a bespoke marketing campaign in place but also create competition by proactively targeting interested parties from the company’s database who fit the brief and demographic. This will in due course create competition for a property and secure the highest price.</li>
</ul>
By sourcing a competent and trustworthy agent, vendors can feel confident that their agent is working hard to drive the end result. 
Paul Bond is a lifelong resident of the Bayside suburbs and director of <a href="https://www.hodges.com.au/hodgessandringham" target="_blank">Hodges Sandringham</a>.
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An agent's five key skills that help secure the best result

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;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
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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>.

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