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GUEST OBSERVATION
Bringing together knowledge and innovation has become an increasingly important consideration for urban planners as they grapple with the expansion of a knowledge economy and its implications for economic competitiveness.
Inspired by Silicon Valley, <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2012.11.005" target="_blank">knowledge-based urban development</a> has become a widespread goal since the 1970s. Fostering precincts that concentrate on “<a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.814621">knowledge generation and innovation</a>” has become a priority for many cities all across the globe.
Beyond Silicon Valley, other global successful examples of urban knowledge precincts include Silicon Alley in New York, Silicon Roundabout in London, Orestad in Copenhagen, Brainport in Eindhoven, and one-north in Singapore.
In Australia, the Australian Technology Park in Sydney, Parkville Knowledge Precinct in Melbourne, and Kelvin Grove Urban Village in Brisbane are certainly emerging urban knowledge precincts.
<img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/48819/width668/hnwryr8h-1400466498.jpg" alt="">
Sydney’s Australian Technology Park is spread across 14 hectares. Threthny/Flickr, <a class="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CC BY-NC-SA</a>
Some Australian cities <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2014.03.032">perform well compared to global knowledge cities</a>. Where Sydney and Melbourne enjoy the top-tier position with Boston, San Francisco, Helsinki, Toronto, and Vancouver, Brisbane follows them behind in the second-tier group with Birmingham and Manchester.
Nonetheless, even Sydney as a “global city”, <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2008.01.001">Melbourne as a “knowledge city”</a>, and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02690940802197358">Brisbane as an emerging “world city”</a> have not yet fully utilised their potential to build successful urban knowledge precincts.
And besides <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2010.512163">Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane</a>, there is limited knowledge-based urban development practice in other Australian cities.
<img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/48831/width668/4qmtz74p-1400470629.jpg" alt="">
The Orestad precinct in Copenhagen includes housing. Wojtek Gurak/Flickr, <a class="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CC BY-NC</a>
Why confine innovation to a precinct?
<a href="https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=356227700529143;res=IELHSS">A recent study</a> that explores overseas and Australian urban knowledge precincts argues knowledge generated from these centres of excellence or islands of innovation should diffuse to the rest of the city.
<img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/48820/width668/9pyxfvph-1400466562.jpg" alt="">
Precincts like London’s Silicon Roundabout bring people together in multiple venues. Alper Cugan/Flickr, <a class="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CC BY</a>
Cafes, restaurants, cultural, sports and entertainment venues, and outdoor activities also bring together like-minded knowledge workers and provide an opportunity for exchange of their tacit knowledge.
In other words, the proximity of knowledge industries to each other means they don’t act only in isolation, but are at the centre of the whole network of innovation that runs through the city.
“<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13673270810902902">Urban knowledge precincts</a>” often have two general objectives. The first is to play an incubator role nurturing the development and growth of new, small, high-technology firms, facilitating the transfer of university know-how to tenant companies, encouraging faculty-based spin-offs, and stimulating innovative products and processes.
The second objective is to act as a catalyst for regional economic development that promotes economic growth and contributes to the development of the city as a “<a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2014.02.005">knowledge city</a>”.
<img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/48822/width237/7rgnwq5t-1400466648.jpg" alt="">
Singapore’s one-north is a 200 hectare research and business park. We_like_it/Flickr, <a class="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CC BY-NC-ND</a>
While world-class infrastructure and networks provide the pull factor for investment, urban vibrancy does the same for talent. These precincts are formed either organically like Silicon Valley or planned such as <a href="https://www.edb.gov.sg/content/edb/en/why-singapore/ready-to-invest/setting-up/business-location/one-north">Singapore One-North</a>.
In either case, the most successful precincts generate a spill over effect to the rest of the city or region. A good example for this is the<a href="https://www.22barcelona.com/index.php?lang=en">22@Barcelona</a> precinct, which brought together the rich cultural heritage of Barcelona and local and international talent and investment to form a knowledge generation atmosphere at the redeveloped old industrial area located adjacent to the Olympic Village.
More work required
<img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/48824/width237/fyhp267b-1400467231.jpg" alt="">
22@Barcelona is one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects. kodakhrome/Flickr, <a class="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CC BY-NC-ND</a>
For over three decades, Australian governments have been half-hearted in attempts to diversify the economy by aiming for a move towards knowledge economy. Partnerships that bring together public, private and academic sectors are required.
<a href="https://www.kgurbanvillage.com.au">Kelvin Grove Urban Village</a> is one such partnership involving the Queensland University of Technology, Queensland Department of Housing, and Creative Enterprise Australia. The idea is to have a vibrant village atmosphere where living, working, playing and learning are integrated, with “creativity” at the centre.
Although these three-way partnerships are an ideal method for developing knowledge precincts, in most cases public sector leadership and initiatives are needed to encourage the private sector.
Policymakers need to consider the increasing competition from other cities to attract investment and talent. A sustainable competitive strategy will require the private sector, academia and public to work together.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/24290/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Tan Yigitcanlar is associate professor of urban and regional planning at Queensland University of Technology
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>.
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

Valleys, alleys and roundabouts: Innovating beyond a precinct

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) recently drew attention to East Melbourne when two of its National Trust recognised properties <a href="/news/melbourne-cricket-club-foundation-sells-jolimont-heritage-homes">were sold at auction for several million dollars apiece</a>.
It reinforced <a href="/news">East Melbourne</a>’s reputation as an exclusive hamlet. But do you really have to be a millionaire to acquire a slice of this luxury market?
On one hand, it is undoubtedly one of Melbourne’s more affluent suburbs, second only to <a href="/news">Toorak</a> on price for detached dwellings at $2,242,500 (REIV – March 2014 quarter) with values underpinned by arguably the most expensive land in Victoria. So it’s no surprise that many investors dismiss East Melbourne as the exclusive domain of high-rolling property punters.
But once you understand a little more about the suburb, you’ll realize there are investment opportunities for the more modestly-endowed investor.
Just two kilometres from the CBD and surrounded by some of the city’s most esteemed shopping and entertainment precincts, this suburb that found favour with Melbourne’s gentry in the 1800s is home to iconic buildings like Parliament House and St Patrick’s Cathedral, as well as the Fitzroy and Treasury Gardens.
Today, East Melbourne’s blend of modern high-density development, distinguished historical architecture, leafy green parklands and well-established infrastructure, make it a distinctive inner city haven for Melbourne’s discerning corporate tenants.
East Melbourne’s most prominent landmark is of course the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), located in the Jolimont precinct alongside Yarra Park. Here streets lined with detached, semi-detached and terraced period homes all speak to the area’s rich heritage.
Those recently sold Georgian fronted and Victorian, Jolimont Terrace residences had been in the hands of the MCC for decades. Number 26 is an office conversion while No. 28 (reportedly built in 1865 for John Munro Bruce, father of former PM Stanley Melbourne Bruce) has been tenanted as a private four-bedroom residence.
So is East Melbourne just a millionaire’s market?
The answer lies in part with what some considered a sullying of the suburb’s blue ribbon reputation in the 1960s and 1970s, when a number of nineteenth century mansions were demolished or converted in favour of higher density housing to accommodate the city’s growing population. Concurrently, many imposing local residences built for Melbourne’s aristocracy have since been developed into apartments, in which a growing influx of career motivated “thirty-somethings” reside.
While this changing-of-the-property-guards was not without controversy, it provides today’s investors some more affordable buying opportunities.
According to the REIV, East Melbourne’s median unit price as at March 2014 was an accessible $532,250.
An investment all-rounder
East Melbourne’s owner-occupier and tenant markets are tightly held, affording investors minimal vacancy rates and consistent rental yields, as well as confidence in the area’s long-term capacity to provide sustainable growth.
This investment stronghold will benefit further from Melbourne’s latest population growth spurt, which saw a mini-boom in the vicinity of 10.% for Melbourne City and a respectable 1.5% for East Melbourne, according to the ABS Regional Population Growth 2012-13. 
53% of those who call East Melbourne home are tenants. The area’s disproportionately low number of families, compared with professional singles and couples – the average household is only 1.8 persons (ABS) – is to be expected given that flats make up 70% of all local dwellings.
Investors would do well to consider the acquisition of a spacious, well-appointed one-bedroom apartment that benefits from the right fusion of character architectural features and mod cons, as well as a proven track record of long-term growth.
A lack of developable land and the local council’s dedication to maintaining East Melbourne’s historically significant character, means investors can enter the market during this quieter phase with confidence in its future prospects as a tightly held, blue-chip suburb where quality apartment stock is ripe for the picking.
<div>
East Melbourne at a glance
<ul>
<li>
Municipality – Melbourne City
</li>
<li>
Population – 4,904
</li>
<li>
Median age – 36 years
</li>
<li>
Median household size – 1.8 persons
</li>
<li>
Median house price – $2,242,500
</li>
<li>
Median unit price – $532,250
</li>
<li>
Average household income (weekly) - $1,989
</li>
<li>
Average weekly rent - $415
</li>
<li>
Average rental yield (gross) – 4.25%
</li>
<li>
Amenities – Multiple public transport options, nearby major road arterials, public parks, sporting, entertainment and shopping precincts, numerous professional medical suites, restaurants and cafes and the Mercy Private Hospital.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
Source: ABS, RP Data, REIV 
Paul Nugent is a director of <a href="https://www.wakelin.com.au/" target="_blank">Wakelin Property Advisory</a>, an independent firm specialising in acquiring residential property for investors. You can contact Wakelin on <a href="https://twitter.com/WakelinProperty" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. 
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East Melbourne: Not just a suburb for high-rolling property punters

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The decision by the Coalition government in Canberra to push forward with plans to reform the regulatory regime around the provision of financial advice has received strong opposition from a number of quarters.
The Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) was originally the product of a Labor government seeking to address the consequences of high-profile corporate scandals and now their appropriateness and effectiveness is being called in to question.
In addition to a number of tweaks to provisions addressing conflicts and fees, perhaps most controversial is the government’s proposal to eliminate the catch-all requirement, included alongside a laundry-list of detailed prohibitions and mandates, that an adviser always act in the ‘best interest” of his or her client. There would seem to be nothing objectionable to that in principle and most clients would be shocked to have an adviser look them in the eye and say quite frankly that the advice they were providing was not in their best interest.
What is important to keep in mind, though, is the purpose of financial regulation and what the impact of open-ended, catch-all provisions is on how business is actually done day-to-day. A regulatory regime is a specially-crafted set of rules and procedures for a particular industry – in this case, financial services – that sits on top of the older and broader legal system which is of general application to the sum total of human activity. Where the statutes and judicial decisions that demarcate the boundaries of common law and equity are general in scope and to a large extent backwards looking, financial regulation is highly specific and meant to map very closely what is done in the industry currently and in the foreseeable future.
The difficulty with broad, vaguely drafted catch-all provisions becomes clear when you understand how they will be applied in practice. Imagine a rule with 17 specific requirements and prohibitions. The firm or individual seeking to comply with that rule proceeds to ensure that they are on the right side of each element. Sometime later, a regulator looks at their actions and determines that, even though fully compliant with the 17 explicit provisions, there is still for some reason something wrong in hindsight with what has occurred. But if the point of a financial regulatory regime is to be as specific as possible, what purpose does such a catch-all provision serve, especially considering that there are well-developed bodies of law, including the laws of fraud and misrepresentation, which already exists and can be relied on whenever needed?
In that light, such vague provisions can be seen as simply a “do-over” for regulators unable or unwilling to build out their case under the more explicit and detailed sections of the rulebook.
It is easy to confuse “more regulation” with “better regulation.” With every financial crisis there is the battle cry for more rules! What is actually needed in many cases is simply rules that more correctly reflect the actual problems and inefficiencies and pitfalls that have developed in the market recently. The sheer number of pages in the rule will tell you very little about how effective oversight will be.
Opponents of the Coalition’s reform proposals will say that their goal is iron-clad protection for consumers. Clearly, an admirable aspiration, when taken by itself. However, let’s not forget that the purpose of a financial regulatory regime is not to bring the level of risk down to nil. Of course, it is possible to do this, but then the volume of transactions will decline sharply and the vast financial machine of investment and savings would sputter to a halt. Instead, the goal is to maintain a level of investor protection that is acceptable while fostering a financial system that provides the economic goals, such as growth, that have been deemed essential for national prosperity.
I often give as an example a referee who is in charge of overseeing a soccer game. Too little involvement, and the game will degenerate into violence. Too much involvement, and the game will be a cacophony of whistles and flashing yellow and red cards. In either respect, the game being played will not be a game of soccer.
Where specific changes to specific rules are needed, then this can be made discreetly and with great effect. Vague catch-all provisions that in effect give regulators after-the-fact a second bite at the apple to focus on actions not previously identified as problematic merely serve to place clouds over firms and individuals that impede decision-making and create uncertainty for little clear purpose.
Timothy Spangler is adjunct professor at <a href="https://www.ucla.edu/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">University of California, Los Angeles</a>.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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Understanding the limits of financial regulation

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NAME: Melinda van der Westhuizen 
POSITION: Head of property and asset management
COMPANY: JLL
Describe the most interesting property you have sold.  
I can't confess to selling - rather I have purchased a student accommodation facility on behalf of a not-for profit organisation for use as asylum seeker accommodation - both interesting and socially worthwhile.
What are the ingredients to being successful in your job? 
Integrity and ethics; listening before speaking; resilience and learning from the challenges; celebrating the wins; understanding clients fully and tailoring solutions for them and building a strong team and actively encouraging their professional and personal growth.
What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?
The clients - by understanding their drivers we can tailor services and optimise their investment outcomes - and our people. Our team is our strength and the foundation is the combined skill and contribution of each individual.
Where would you invest a spare $750,000?
Firstly, am I after long term capital growth or a dividend yield along the way? Let's presume I am in it for the medium term and want the dividends and the capital uplift. I think I will be looking at a slice of a diversified property portfolio with some exposure to development activity and the majority to ownership of core assets across commercial, industrial and retail classes.
Which football team do you support?
Carlton...did I mention I am patient? 
What's your favourite app or techno gadget?  
This will sound unexciting, but I like to spend my time on things I want to be doing at work and in my leisure time, so technology that minimises time spent on the mundane such as banking apps are my lifeline.
How do you use social media?
Facebook is how I track what my teenagers are up to! Seriously, LinkedIn is great for industry networking and Facebook is how I keep in touch with interstate friends and contacts. I suspect I could be a twitter tragic so I haven't gone there yet...it could be addictive.
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In profile: JLL Victoria's head of property and asset management, Melinda van der Westhuizen

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GUEST OBSERVATION
It’s Saturday morning in West Brunswick, a suburb in Melbourne’s inner north. From my bedroom window I can see a crowd gathering across the road for a house inspection.
The crowd swells to 60 or so people – couples, couples with school-aged children, couples with small babies and then there are small groups of young people, clearly looking for share housing. Surveying the scene I feel like I can predict who my new neighbours might be.
Or, at least I am fairly sure who they won’t be. This semi-renovated three bedroom house has been up for rent three times in the past three years. At $560 per week the rental price is steep, yet each house inspection has attracted crowds like this one. And each time my new neighbours have been couples with a small baby. Young single people did not get a look in.
This is hardly surprising. The scene played outside my bedroom window reflects broader trends. Landlords <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/blog/finding-the-right-tenant/" target="_blank">want safe bets</a> – people who can pay the rent, withstand rent increases, won’t trash the property and may even improve it.
And in a tight housing market with national demand outstripping supply – especially at the low end of the <a href="https://www.treasury.gov.au/~/media/Treasury/Publications%20and%20Media/Publications/2012/NHSC/Downloads/PDF/housing_supply_affordability_report.ashx" target="_blank">affordability market</a> – and rental vacancy rates <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/housing_information/review/evrev053" target="_blank">between 1% and 4%</a> in capital cities across Australia, most landlords can afford to be choosy.
Young people find it hard to compete, especially in some segments of the rental market. Recent evidence indicates that young people are more likely to be in precarious housing than other age cohorts. They are more likely to be in unaffordable housing, private rental or overcrowded households, and to have recently experienced a forced move. And compared with couples with children they are almost seven times more likely to dwell in housing that is in poor condition.
<a href="https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/~/media/ResourceCentre/PublicationsandResources/Health%20Inequalities/Precarious%20housing/Precarious_Housing_Full_FINAL_2August.ashx" target="_blank">Preliminary evidence</a> is also emerging that like other age groups, young people’s experience of precarious housing also impacts negatively on their health and well-being, especially their mental health.
It’s little wonder, then, that young people are leaving home later than previous generations, typically around 23 or 24, often returning to the family home multiple times following job loss, tenancy breakdown or other life crises, before they settle into <a href="https://aifs.org.au/institute/pubs/diversity/DiversityAndChange.pdf" target="_blank">fully independent adulthood</a>.
This social trend has real consequences: for family finances, parent-child relationships and the way young people themselves imagine their place in the world, their rights and responsibilities, as well as their sense of capability, agency and autonomy.
This trend is only likely to increase if the <a href="https://theconversation.com/young-people-are-now-on-the-edge-of-our-reconfigured-welfare-state-26697" target="_blank">proposed changes</a> to the Youth Allowance and Newstart proceed as outlined in the recent federal budget. In a policy first, 30 is defined as the upper age of youth. And young people who finish their education and are looking for jobs – or those who get a job and lose it – will not be entitled to Youth Allowance (up to to the age of 25) or Newstart Allowance (25 years and older) for six months.
On $207 for <a href="https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/centrelink/youth-allowance/payment-rates" target="_blank">Youth Allowance</a> (living away from home) per week or $255 <a href="https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/centrelink/newstart-allowance/payment-rates-for-newstart-allowance" target="_blank">Newstart Allowance</a>, combined with maximum payment of $63 in <a href="https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/rent-assistance" target="_blank">Commonwealth Rent Assistance</a>, young people currently find it extremely difficult if not impossible to access and maintain affordable housing. This will quite simply be impossible if benefits are, as proposed, suspended for six months.
While difficult for those young people who enjoy the support of their families, it is almost impossible for those who lack such support. These are the 22,000 or more young people estimated to be homeless on census night – a figure recognised by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as an underestimation of the <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129545638" target="_blank">actual population</a>.
This lack of support extends to nearly 3,000 young people nationally who are exiting out-of-home care services. A range of evidence suggests that anywhere between 40-60% of these young people will be homeless within a year of leaving care. Currently, it is estimated that 43,000 young people are receiving the youth allowance and living away from home.
These young people, who typically aspire to nothing less than their home-based peers (a house, job, sense of belonging and money to make a life), are <a href="https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/~/media/ResourceCentre/PublicationsandResources/Health%20Inequalities/Precarious%20housing/Precarious_Housing_Full_FINAL_2August.ashx" target="_blank">multiply disadvantaged</a> in the housing market. Without the safety net provided by the family they risk free-falling into long-term poverty and disadvantage. Most have low levels of education, with over half in some studies recording their highest level of education as Year 11 or below. Of those who find their way to services, nearly 90% are unemployed or not in the labour force.
We know that these young people are <a href="https://www.bsl.org.au/Social-exclusion-monitor" target="_blank">three times more likely</a> to experience social exclusion. Also compared to full-time employees, unemployed people are around 15 times more likely to be in <a href="https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/~/media/ResourceCentre/PublicationsandResources/Health%20Inequalities/Precarious%20housing/Precarious_Housing_Full_FINAL_2August.ashx" target="_blank">unaffordable housing</a>.
Like other homeless populations, these young people have <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129545051">few other housing options</a>. Most do not qualify for public housing, and when they do many languish on long waiting lists for a housing tenure that is widely recognised by policymakers and young people themselves as unsuitable.
Once homeless, some – depending on what area are living in, be it metropolitan, rural or remote – may find temporary refuge for six to 12 weeks in crisis accommodation. Some of these – if they are lucky – may go on to government-funded transitional accommodation for up to 12 months. A tiny number, and arguably the luckiest of all, end up in youth foyers: housing that is combined with tailored education and employment support.
The rest, however, continue to live rough, couchsurf, or try to make a go of it in rooming houses with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. Increasingly, some find themselves in unregistered rooming houses: ordinary houses in the suburbs in which unscrupulous landlords sublet bedrooms at a premium price. Here, disadvantage is concentrated and a culture of violence and conflict is common. These are hardly the places to build sustainable, independent lives.
With a generation at risk of being locked out of the housing market and a significant minority of these falling through the gaps of the rental market, the need for a national youth housing policy has never been more pressing.
Oh, I almost forgot. We have new neighbours across the road: a couple with a small baby.
Shelley Mallett is professorial fellow in social policy, School of Social and Political Sciences at <a href="https://www.unimelb.edu.au/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">University of Melbourne</a>.
Shelley Mallett has received ARC and AHURI funding in the past. She is general manager, Research &amp; Policy Centre at the Brotherhood of St Laurence.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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Crowded housing market gives youth little chance for independence

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It almost got a little chilly this week, even with the winter sun. The cold came from a frosty exchange between our property contrarians, Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok, concerning the use of the term "winter garden", its definition and best application.

They reached agreement that a winter garden must have floor-to-ceiling external glass walls, with adjustable glass louvre panels. The space must be long and wide – not a box-like enclosed balcony. Ideally, a winter garden should also have an internal glass wall which can fold back to allow seamless flow with adjacent living areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728]

Of course over recent years, urban real estate agents have hijacked the term "winter garden" in an attempt to glamorize glass-enclosed balconies within apartments. 

The term was used during the early 19th century for grandly proportioned conservatory-style glass pavilions designed for growing plants in grand houses.

The history of winter gardens is <a href="https://melbourneblogger.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/what-wasis-winter-garden" target="_blank">well documented by a Melbourne blogger</a> who notes “the winter garden dates back to the early modern era where European nobility liked to build a large conservatory...and it had two functions: to house luscious plants that wouldn’t normally grow in that climate and to become an extension of the sociable living space.” 

The blogger further noted:

By the late 19th century, winter gardens had three defining factors:

<ol>
<li>They continued to grow warm-climate plants in a cool country; </li>
	<li>They had space for music, pleasure and strolling inside the building; and </li>
	<li>They were made of vast areas of glass to maximise the natural light and the natural views.  </li>
</ol>
Our columnists recalled the landmark Wintergarden apartments, at 57 Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross.

It was designed in the 1920s to be sympathetic to its environment with its foyer then boasting indoor conservatory-style gardens.

Winter gardens were a signature of the architect John Burcham Clamp who'd also incorporated them into the 1912 Farmer’s CBD store. 

The designs used attributes of the then new “Daylight Principle”. 

The Kings Cross Wintergarden, which has lost much of its finest details, was one of Sydney's first Chicago-style apartment buildings, using steel frames to give added strength and height.

Almost a century on, our columnists now cast their eye over some recent loose usage of the term and suggest their favourite apartments worthy of the glamourous winter gardens description.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2881]

HE SAID:

I'm not a huge fan of winter gardens. Especially those that let in the draft and traffic noise. So sadly that rules out some apartments in the Renzo Paino Macquarie Apartments block, given its Macquarie Street position above the Cahill Express entry. The one's above the Royal Botanic Gardens work better. Conservatories in family homes don't do it for me either. I don't mind the old fashioned sunroom, but that's for another day. I've been impressed by the winter gardens in the newly completed <a href="https://www.metroresidences.com.au/interior" target="_blank">Metro</a> project in Chatswood. Ditto the Central Park project at Broadway where they were marketed as ‘loggias’ - weatherproofed with high-tech vertically-sliding glass panels, allowing the residents of blocks, such <a href="https://www.centralparksydney.com/live/the-mark" target="_blank">The Mark</a> to open the space to the elements as a balcony, or close the windows and enjoy bonus indoor space. With no change internal apartment floor level, the loggia seamlessly connects to the living space, and can be used as a dining room, study, extra living space or just an urban garden. 

One knockout winter garden I've spotted is at <a href="/news">Newcastle</a>, NSW, not the UK. Occupying a coveted spacious north east corner position on the sixth floor of The York luxury apartments, there's a winter garden with electronic louvres offering both views of Nobbys Headland and Fort Scratchley and the rolling sound of the surf from Newcastle Beach.

Pictured below, the 601/61 Shortland Esplanade sold at $1.075 million early last year <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-newcastle-112905739" target="_blank">through PRD agent Mark Kentwell</a>. I'd have liked a little more furnishings with better than the one pot plant in the corner.

<img alt="" src="/images/2014/06/19/newcastle%20june%2019%20one.jpg">

In Melbourne's Eureka Tower I see they have actually been taking some of the winter gardens out. Not unsurprising, as they always looked too clunky, with their framework in tight odd shaped spaces, for my liking. I see 2101/7 Riverside Quay has been listed through MICM agent Brent Schapel sans winter garden in the 120 square metre abode. Looks like the black granite kitchen, pull-out pantry, and laundry were preferred. 

Harry Triguboff's high-rise, Miramar on Pitt Street, Sydney didn't market the block as having winter gardens when offered in 1993. But it didn't stop Lisa Wang and Yvonne Wong from the Cubic estate agency recently marketing, then selling their Miramar apartment offering supposedly with a winter garden. The apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-sydney-116027911" target="_blank">170/398 Pitt Street</a> fetched $700,000 earlier this year, despite having sliding windows rather than the requisite louvres – though it was correctly marketed as low maintenance, with $730 weekly market rental potential (pictured below). I recall the 38-floor block with 267 apartments was one of the first with very strong Chinese ownership, with the then president of the Real Estate Institute of NSW, John Nicoll noting at the time that the trend in demand for inner-city apartments had been fuelled by uncertainty over the Hong Kong changeover in 1997.

 

 <img alt="" src="/images/2014/06/19/newcastle%20june%2019%20two.jpg">

Margie Blok weighs in on winter gardens on the next page.

SHE SAID:

Winter gardens have been bandied around the Sydney real estate scene since the Renzo Piano designed Macquarie Apartments building was sold off the plan during the late 1990s.

Estate agents and their copywriters often use the word erroneously when describing a glass-enclosed verandah.

While Jonathan worries about winter gardens being drafty, I argue winter gardens can work well if designed appropriately. In Sydney, glass louvres, a sunny aspect and generous proportions are paramount.  

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22699]

During my real estate travels, the best winter gardens I have seen are in Macquarie Apartments, as evidenced in Apartment 28 which sold last November for $3.75 million <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-sydney-114788639" target="_blank">through Wilson Property Agents</a> (pictured below). The landmark CBD building designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano saw all 62 apartments sell off-the-plan for an average $2.1 million. The typical internal space was 200 square metres to 220 square metres with 16 square metre to 25 square metre winter garden.

When I inspected this apartment, the winter garden impressed me because it works well with the other living areas, and it makes the most of natural light and the magnificent harbour views. Also, its wide glass frontage is fitted with electronically controlled glass crystal louvres which can be adjusted easily to control wind and rain. 

<img alt="" src="/images/2014/06/19/sydney%20june%2019%20one.jpg">

2) An example of the exaggerated use of the term “winter garden” is a Melbourne apartment <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-melbourne-114155231" target="_blank">listed through Buxton Albert Park agents James Hatchman and Darren Male</a> (pictured below).

In a modern Karl Fender designed building situated on St Kilda Road, this one-bedder has a 26 square metre living area with sliding metal and glass doors opening to a glass-enclosed balcony with two half-height louvre panels – it could be described as a winter garden at a stretch. And the sad singular pot plant doesn't assist.  

<img alt="" src="/images/2014/06/19/melbourne%20june%2019%20two.jpg">

3)  An advertisement for a one-bedder, at Zetland in Sydney, inappropriately uses the word 'winter garden'. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-zetland-117141391" target="_blank">Listed through Compass Realty agent, David Ho</a>, the apartment (pictured below) is described as a “Stunning Near New One Bedroom with enclosed winter garden”. 

With a masonry wall and sliding glass windows, this “winter garden” space is no more than an enclosed verandah measuring nine square metres.

<img alt="" src="/images/2014/06/19/zetland%20june%2019%20one.jpg">
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Apartments with winter gardens: He Said/She Said

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Tax audits are practically a rite of passage for Australian business owners, with as many as 1,000 businesses audited every financial year.
Apart from the disruption to ‘business as usual’ that an audit can cause, there are significant stress levels to factor in, too.
So, how can we ensure that our relationship with the taxman remains a positive one?   
The audit lottery
The audit process can sometimes feel a bit like the lottery – not the exciting kind where you can win a lot of money, but in the sense that anything can happen at random.
The most important way to appease the taxman is by maintaining tidy and compliant books and records.
Of course, this requires a commitment by the business owner from day one. Setting an organised and thorough foundation early on empowers business owners to better manage performance. There are so many tools these days to help us create efficiencies that enable business growth – the right software can truly become a business owner’s best friend and can easily be programmed to comply with the ATO’s GST and tax requirements, as well as any bookkeeping requirements specific to an individual business’ needs. The chart of accounts and tax codes in the software are also set up to ensure accurate reporting.
The technology behind today’s accounting software has also advanced to offer features like bank feeds which update instantly and constantly stay up to date, so you are ready to submit your year-end results well before the due date.
A little bit of due diligence at set up ensures you have nothing to fear if you ever hear the ATO knocking on the door!
Lodge on time, every time
Another way to stay friendly with the taxman is by lodging all of your Business Activity Statements, Instalment Activity Statements and tax returns on time, every time.  
Late returns and unpaid balances are essentially a major red flag and call unwanted attention from our friends at the ATO, potentially triggering a request to audit. Of course, the accounting software you’re using should have the tools to easily prepare your BAS and IAS and track the amount owed to the ATO.
Businesses that update their records regularly are able to monitor business performance and identify issues before things spiral out of control. Successful businesses are those that monitor their cash flow on a regular basis, manage their debtors, creditors, stock control, set budgets and plan for future growth. By doing this, business will avoid the cash shortages that make it challenging to pay the ATO their debts – and duck under the ATO’s spotlight in the first place.
Industry benchmarks
Another way to avoid the taxman’s eagle eye is to make sure that your business falls within the benchmarks for your industry.
Each year the ATO releases small business benchmarks to compare like-type business performance against their ratios. The ATO publishes benchmark information on its website, and it derives benchmarking information from business activity statements and tax returns lodged by businesses.
This isn’t to suggest that you lower the bar set for performance and successes, but it is worth noting that if your income or expenses fall significantly outside of the parameters of these benchmarks, it’s a pretty likely bet that the ATO will take a special interest in your business activity. Be prepared to give them a status check if you’re in this situation!
What can cause you to fall outside the benchmarks?
Claiming personal expenses as part of your business, inflating deductions or underreporting incomes will distort your results compared to other businesses in your industry. Here are some examples of common mistakes that can distort business results:
<ul>
<li>Topping up the fuel of family member’s cars and claiming it as business car usage.</li>
<li>Claiming mobile phones that are private.</li>
<li>Claiming personal trips as business related.</li>
<li>Expensing capital items purchased.</li>
<li>Over-claiming on GST – by claiming on items that are exempt of GST like donations, bank fees, drawings etc.</li>
<li>Not reporting cash income</li>
</ul>
While nobody rolls out the welcome mat for an ATO audit, it goes without saying that business owners that keep their books tidy, up to date and compliant can breathe a sigh of relief if the taxman ever knocks on their door.
Pam Madytianos is director of <a href="https://www.twopeas.com.au/" target="_blank">2 Peas</a> and a certified MYOB consultant. 
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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How to stay friends with the taxman

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Retail magnate Solomon Lew has increased his stake in the department store David Jones by just short of 10%, in a bid to undercut the recent $2.2 billion Woolworths Holdings’ takeover or gain influence on the board, <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/business/retail/david-jones-war-heats-up-as-solomon-lew-emerges-from-the-shadows-to-grab-more-shares-20140618-3ack5">reports Fairfax</a>.
The bid confirms market watchers’ suspicions that Lew has been buying shares in takeover target David Jones since 9 May.
Lew’s owned Australian Retail Investments has announced on Wednesday that it now owns 9.89% of David Jones after buying 53.11 million shares for around $200 million.
This considerable stake in Lew’s command could give him the influence to vote down the Woolworths takeover when it is put to David Jones shareholders in 13 days’ time.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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Stakes increased in retail battle for DJs as Solomon Lew grabs shares

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GUEST OBSERVATION
From a single collaborative workspace in San Francisco in 2005, coworking has ballooned into a popular movement, with an estimated 3,000 spaces around the world.
Tim Butcher and Julian Waters-Lynch explain how the principles of coworking also offer advantages for big businesses, as well as for freelancers and individuals.
{qtube vid:=XB7zxBHRfho}
Julian Waters-Lynch is a PhD Candidate at <a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/" target="_blank">RMIT University</a>. Julian is a member and previous employee of Hub Australia.
Tim Butcher is senior lecturer, School of Management at <a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/" target="_blank">RMIT University.</a> Tim is a Hub Melbourne member.
This video is a co-production between <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/" target="_blank">SBS World News</a> and The Conversation.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/27443/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1"> This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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VIDEO: Coworking – the benefits of collaborative workspaces

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Agent: Dave Reardon<img src="/images/2014/06/11/reardon-profile-june-11.jpg" alt="" style="float: right;">
POSITION: Managing director
COMPANY: LJ Hooker Commerical
Office location: Penrith
How long have you been in the industry? 
I graduated with a Bachelor of Business (Land Economy) in 1991 and from there I started in commercial real estate in 1996 up until now.
What’s happening in the area you specialise in? 
Things are on the move in our area. Property is finally starting to sell after the global financial crisis. Sustained low interest rates, changing government and a positive property environment have led to businesses looking to take advantage of the affordable properties.
Describe the most interesting property you have sold. 
The most interesting property I have sold was a huge parcel of industrial land. After selling the land I was then involved with the subdivision and from there the sale of the 33 blocks of land.
What are the ingredients to being successful in your job? 
Be persistent, don’t give up and specialise in an area for a long time – it will pay off.
What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most? 
I deal with business people every day and this helps me improve as a business owner as well.
Where would you invest a spare $750,000? 
I would invest it across a few different assets – shares, property and pay off debt.
Which football team do you support? 
Penrith Panthers (who are sitting at the top of the ladder now) and the Wallabies.
What’s your favourite app or techno gadget? 
iPhone.
How do you use social media? 
I only use it on a personal level. I don’t use it for work at this point.
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In profile: LJ Hooker Commercial Penrith's managing director, Dave Reardon

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

<main data-perf-region="main">
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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