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There are 1,043 auctions scheduled this week in Melbourne compared to 1,124 for the same time last year.
The highest volume of auctions is in St Kilda with 23 expected, followed by Reservoir with 22 and Kew with 19.
In the auction market the increased volume has shifted the market in favour of buyers with a lower clearance rate resulting from the almost 2,000 auctions held over the past fortnight.
In the private sale market however sellers are seeing a peak in demand with lower days on market and reduced discounting prevalent.
On a city wide basis, the time on market results for houses sold at private sale tightened from 40 days to 37 days over the last week whilst vendor discounting fell from -5.1% to -4.9%.
Key data
•       Clearance rate week ending 12 October: 70%
•       Melbourne auctions expected week ending 19 October: 1,043
•       Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 12 October: 37 days (houses)
•       Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 12 October: -4.9% (houses)
•       Listings being prepared for market are 4.3 per cent higher in month ending 12 October (seasonally adjusted)
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Melbourne market shifting in favour of buyers: RP Data's weekend auction preview

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A preliminary weighted average clearance rate of 68.5% was recorded this week across capital cities compared to 67.8% last week and 70.4% this time last year.
This result is consistent with the year's trend. The year to date clearance rate for capital cities was 68.3% before this week.
In Sydney a preliminary clearance rate of 75.5%  was recorded compared to 71.9% last week and 79.5% last year. Despite the clearance rate not being higher than a year ago the auction market has improved with more homes being sold.
In Melbourne there was a preliminary clearance rate of 68% recorded compared to 70% last week and 68.6% this time last year. Concerns the auction market was beginning to weaken have not been added to this week.
Next week will prove an interesting test, with a record of around 1800 auctions scheduled.
In Brisbane a preliminary clearance rate of 50.5% was recorded compared to 48.8% last week.
Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 50%  compared to 55.8% last week.
In Canberra a clearance rate of 50% was recorded.
In Perth a clearance rate of 60% was recorded.
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Capital cities land on trend: RP Data's national auction wrap

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There are 72 auctions scheduled this week in Melbourne compared to 92 for the same time last year.
Auction numbers are low this week due to the AFL Grand Final.
Conditions in the private sale market are becoming more competitive with homes taking fewer days to sell and a lower vendor discount.
Recent data shows that all of the top 10 suburbs when ranked by time on market are in the eastern suburbs. Rowville had the lowest number of days on market followed by Blackburn North, Croydon, Wantirna South and Vermont South.
On a city wide basis the time on market results for houses sold at private sale fell from 44 days to 41 days over the last week whilst vendor discounting fell from -5.4 per cent to -5.2 per cent.
Key data
<ul>
<li>Clearance rate week ending 28 September:72.1%</li>
<li>Melbourne auctions expected week ending 28 September: 72</li>
<li>Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 21 September: 41 days (houses)</li>
<li>Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 21 September: -5.2% (houses)</li>
<li>Listings being prepared for market are 2% higher in month ending 21 September (seasonally adjusted)</li>
</ul>
 
 
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Sellers steer clear of Grand Final day: RP Data's weekend auction preview

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There are 1,324 auctions scheduled this week in Melbourne compared to 1,616 for the same time last year.
The highest volume of auctions will be in Reservoir, which has 33 expected.
Last week was the second largest weekend for auctions in the city's history with 1,733 auctions compared to 1,837 in late October. The clearance rate dropped from 71% to 66%; this comparison between the two almost identical weeks provides a very clear summary of the change in the market over two months.
There are only two weekends for auctions now until Christmas.
On a citywide basis, the time on market results for houses sold at private sale contracted from 32 to 31 days over the last week and vendor discounting eased slightly to -5%.
Key data:
<ul>
<li>Clearance rate week ending 7 December: 66%</li>
<li>Melbourne auctions expected week ending 14 December: 1,324</li>
<li>Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 7 December: 31 days (houses)</li>
<li>Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 7 December: -5% (houses)</li>
<li>Listings being prepared for market are 0.4% higher in month ending 7 December (seasonally adjusted)</li>
</ul>
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Reservoir homes go under the hammer: Melbourne's weekend auction preview

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There are 992 auctions scheduled this week in Melbourne compared to 1008 for the same time last year (the fourteenth week with over 1,000 auction this year).
The highest volume of auctions will be in Mount Waverly with 19 expected.
After a few weeks where sellers were holding the upper hand, last week showed that they still need to ensure that their sale price expectations are not too high.
While the Melbourne market is healthy, it is recording more moderate growth than in the two previous upswings in 2007 and 2010.
September quarter property values showed that the strongest growth in house values on a suburb basis were in the inner east.
Armadale saw a 25.4% rise over the last year and similar growth was recorded in nearby Malvern East, Glen Iris and Camberwell. It is often the case that in an improving market the most expensive segment records the strongest increase in values.
It was also interesting to note that Fairfield joined its neighbor, Alphington, as a suburb with a median house value of in excess of a million dollars. Buyers who can't afford Mont Albert or Balwyn are gravitating north of the Yarra.
On a city wide basis, the time on market results for houses sold at private sale rose from 39 days to 40 days over the last week while vendor discounting fell from -5.3% to -5.1%.
Key data
<ul>
<li>Clearance rate week ending 5 October: 69.1%</li>
<li>Melbourne auctions expected week ending 12 October: 992</li>
<li>Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 5 October: 40 days (houses)</li>
<li>Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 5 October: -5.1% (houses)</li>
<li>Listings being prepared for market are 3.9% higher in month ending 5 October (seasonally adjusted)</li>
</ul>
 
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Melbourne buyers head north of the Yarra: RP Data's weekend auction preview

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From a first home buyer perspective, there is something very wrong with the housing market in Victoria.
In February, the most recent data available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed that the total number of dwellings financed for first home buyers had sunk to a 23 year low.
In February there were 1,402 dwellings financed for first home buyers which  represented a mere 11.76% of the entire number financed. This was lower than in January when first home buyers represented 12.7% of the market and the lowest in raw terms since July 1991 when the population of Victoria was 31% less than it is today.
The reasons behind  this result are debatable. Some will say that the causes are high property prices, but this alone is not borne out by the data. When home values last peaked, in October of 2010, the proportion of first home buyers was 18.2%. In real terms, prices are not significantly different at this point which suggests that the problem is not entirely the price.
Others point to the fact that rents are not rising and suggest that intending first home buyers are preferring to rent.
Another perspective is that the change to financial assistance for first home buyers has caused many to not enter the market. At the same time as the large step down in the proportion of first home buyers occurred in the middle of last year, the $7,000 First Home Buyer Grant for established homes came to an end.  This alone cannot be the only issue as at the same time stamp duty was being progressively lowered for first home buyers.
The reasoning for this change in the market is probably a combination of all  issues mentioned and if the market  remains this way, it will represent a significant structural change in the local housing market.
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First home buyers in Victoria lowest in 23 years

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Over $10 million was spent on real estate every day in Boroondara during 2013.
It takes a few months after the end of the calendar year for a vast majority of property transactions to settle and be finalised.
With final numbers for 2013 now available, a comparison with previous years can now be undertaken.
In 2013 there were 81,590 residential sales in Melbourne and 107,845 in Victoria. Looking at the Melbourne market over the medium term this is a comparatively low level of sales. Since the year 2000, nine years have seen a higher level of sales with a peak in 2007 with 105,194 sales.
Thankfully, a combination of more confident consumers and record low interest rates has been the catalyst for the level of sales in 2013 rising above the two preceding years of 77,867, and 73,459 respectively.
It is important to note that the volume of transactions has a direct impact on the health of the Victorian government budget as a significant portion of its income is derived from stamp duty as well as the industries that supply and support the housing sector, real estate, building and ancillary services.
On a more local basis, the highest number of sales took place in the city’s growth areas with the highest levels of the spending taking place in the inner east.
<blockquote>
The highest number of sales took place in Melbourne's growth areas with the highest levels of the spending taking place in the inner east.
</blockquote>
Across the state’s municipalities, the highest number of total transactions took place in Casey where 4,130 sales were recorded equating to around 11 sales every day. Similar numbers were recorded in the Mornington Peninsula with inner city locations, Melbourne and Boroondara following.
The largest volume of sales in financial terms was recorded in Boroondara where $3.97 billion was spent on residential real estate, or just over $10 million every day.
At the other end of the scale, Nillumbik recorded the lowest number of sales, at 946 and the lowest in financial terms at $507 million.
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$10 million spent on property every single day in Boroondara

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It may be popular to say that first-home buyer incentives don’t work or are inflationary but it’s simply not supported by the data in Victoria.

Not only is this not supported by the data but it is also a position which, from a policy perspective, is inequitable for one simple reason: stamp duty.
The REIV believes that <a target="_blank" href="http:/www.propertyobserver.com.au/first-home-buyers/first-home-buyer-grant-schemes-simply-don-t-work-terry-ryder">first-home buyers</a> deserve a better deal from governments because they have to compete with second- and third-home buyers who enter the market with equity built in earlier transactions. This would be less of an issue if not for stamp duty.
There is no rational reason why a first-home buyer should be subject to a wealth tax such as stamp duty to the same level as someone who has actually generated personal wealth from property.
How is a first-home buyer supposed to compete with other buyers? They have to save for a considerable amount of time to build the deposit, only to see it evaporate when they receive their stamp duty bill.
This is a far more significant issue than the standard debate about affordability for first-home buyers suggests. It is concerning that many who argue for more affordable property don’t also argue for lower wealth taxes on first-home buyers.
The First Home Buyers Grant, now a paltry $7,000 (the equivalent of one 25 point cut in interest rates), pales into insignificance against most stamp duty bills in Australia. Despite that fact, many commentators and organizations take pride in arguing against this form of assistance.
While governments continue to levy large stamp duty bills this is no more than an argument for wealth taxes on those who don’t have any. This position is supported by the findings in the report on Housing Supply and Affordability Reform by the Supply and Affordability Reform (HSAR) Working Party of COAG.
In its report, it found that “the FHOG does provide some help to potential first homebuyers in competing against existing homeowners, who have typically benefitted from capital gains from previous property price growth”.
In the Victorian context, there is plenty of evidence of incentives for first-home buyers being both equitable and delivering on their aims.
The first example is the First Home Owners Bonus, or builder’s bonus as it became known. When the Global Financial Crisis hit Victoria, it had a growing population that was not matched with an increase in supply. The National Housing Supply Council pointed to a supply shortfall which was translating into rapidly increasing prices.
In response, governments responded with significant grants – up to $36,500 for a new home in regional Victoria – to both increase activity in the housing market and, more pointedly, get the builders building more homes.
This policy was also part of the stimulus package aimed at generating employment for builders and related trades.
It worked. First-home buyers flocked to the market and the builders built more homes. The increased incentives came into effect on October 14, 2008 and within 12 months the number of first-home buyers in Victoria increased from 2,420 a month to 4,448. Over the last decade first home buyers have comprised 20% of all buyers; this share increased by 50% with targeted government incentives.  Those incentives achieved their aim by increasing the construction of new dwellings and addressing the supply shortfall.
These incentives also seemed to transcend politics as they were commenced under a Labor government, continued by a Coalition one and then, when they were clearly no longer needed, ended.
All home buyers benefited because housing became more affordable as there was less of an imbalance between supply and demand.
So much for suggestions that the incentives don’t work.
The second example is of the cuts to stamp duty in Victoria.
The REIV campaigned for cuts to stamp duty for all first-home buyers because we believe that it is, firstly, unfair to tax first home buyers’ precious deposits, and secondly, inefficient for governments to take with one hand and give with the other. This should not be taken as a lack of support for the grant; first-home buyers need all the help they can get and the moves by NSW, Queensland and South Australia will only make it harder for first home buyers.
As a result of our advocacy and support from the Victorian Government, by the 15th of September next year most first-home buyers will benefit from a 50% cut to stamp duty. Depending on the home you are buying, that is effectively a doubling of the $7,000 grant. This assistance has not had an immediate noticeable impact on the market nor did the REIV ever expect it to; after all it has been progressively introduced, rising from 20% in 2012 to 50% in 2014.
It may not have had the immediate impact of the builders’ bonuses but that was never the point. It was simply to reduce the inequities faced by first home buyers trying to get a start in the market. If this sort of policy is not more widely adopted, then governments are saying that they are happy for first-home buyers to spend years saving to pay a tax.
How does that help anyone?
Robert Larocca is Real Estate Institute of Victoria (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reiv.com.au/">REIV</a>) policy and public affairs manager
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Why should first home buyers spend years saving to pay stamp duty? Robert Larocca

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With the vast majority of homes sold in the last financial year now settled, it is possible to calculate some of the key numbers in the Ballarat market.
Over the year a total of $639 million was spent on houses in the City of Ballarat and $68 million on units across 1,942 house sales and 281 unit sales. There were 12 million dollar house sales – the median value of a house was $301,001. The median house value rose by 7.1% compared to 7.9% in Melbourne
Largest growth in median house values by suburb:
<ul>
<li>Golden Point</li>
<li>Soldiers Hill</li>
<li>Black Hill</li>
<li>Redan</li>
<li>Mount Pleasant</li>
</ul>
Most house sales by suburb
<ul>
<li>Wendouree</li>
<li>Sebastopol</li>
<li>Alfredton</li>
<li>Ballarat East</li>
<li>Delacombe</li>
</ul>
Most expensive suburbs by median house values
<ul>
<li> Lake Wendouree</li>
<li>Lake Gardens</li>
<li>Invermay Park</li>
<li>Mount Helen</li>
<li>Buninyong</li>
</ul>
Most affordable suburbs by median house values
<ul>
<li>Sebastopol</li>
<li>Wendouree</li>
<li>Redan Mount Pleasant</li>
<li>Ballarat East</li>
</ul>
Highest spend on houses
<ul>
<li>Alfredton ($64 million)</li>
<li>Wendouree ($48 million)</li>
<li>Sebastopol ($42 million)</li>
<li>Ballarat Central ($41 million)</li>
<li>Lake Wendouree ($40 million)</li>
</ul>
Suburbs with million dollar house sales
<ul>
<li>Lake Wendouree</li>
<li>Ballarat Central</li>
<li>Newington</li>
</ul>
Suburbs with the highest proportion of houses advertised for sale:
<ul>
<li>Ballarat Central</li>
<li>Miners Rest</li>
<li>Alfredton</li>
<li>Mount Clear</li>
<li>Newington</li>
</ul>
 
 
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Top 5 for Ballarat residential real estate sales during 2013-2014 financial year

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A preliminary weighted average clearance rate of 68.7% was recorded this week across capital cities compared to 66.9% last week and 72.5% this time last year.
Volumes are rising and are projected to reach a high in the last week of October in what will be a test for the market.
<img src="/images/2014/10/13/Picture%2036.png" alt="">
Source: RP Data
<img src="/images/2014/10/13/Picture%2037.png" alt="">
Source: RP Data 
In Sydney a preliminary clearance rate of 75.8% was recorded compared to 76.4% last week. It is interesting to note that there have been 43% more auctions this year than was the case last year, remarkably the clearance rate has not been affected.
In Melbourne there was a preliminary clearance rate of 67.2% recorded compared to 69.1% last week and 74% this time last year. This was the 15th week with in excess of 1,000 auctions.
In Brisbane a preliminary clearance rate of 54.2% was recorded compared to 47.4% last week.
Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 58.7% compared to 53.7% last week.
In Canberra a clearance rate of 56.4% was recorded.
In Perth a clearance rate of 33.3% was recorded.
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Auction volumes projected to reach a high in late October: RP Data's national auction wrap

International developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/spg-land">SPG Land</a> is preparing to re-launch its long-awaited $1.5 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/paradiso-place-surfers-paradise-103-ferny-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Paradiso Place</a> development at Budds Beach, bringing a new price point to the Surfers Paradise apartment market.

The developer will release one-bedroom apartments from $825,000 and two-bedroom apartments from $1.24 million in the three-tower development.

According to Urbis, the starting price for the two-bedroom apartments is more than $400,000 below the weighted average sale price for comparable two-bedroom apartments in Surfers Paradise during 2025, which was pinned at $1.7 million.

&nbsp;

Urbis reported quarterly average sale prices for new two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments ranged from around $1.2 million to $1.7 million throughout 2025, peaking in the December quarter.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=185853]

Paradiso Place is now moving into its formal sales campaign, with a limited early-release opportunity available ahead of the public launch.

The development will comprise 845 apartments across three towers rising 40, 41 and 44 storeys from a 1.15-hectare site spanning an entire city block. The towers will sit above a new retail precinct.

"Paradiso Place represents a rare opportunity in today's market, offering premium apartments at a price point that is significantly more competitive than anything else currently available," SPG Land Sales Director Brad McMahon said.

"When you look at comparable new developments across Surfers Paradise, Main Beach and the Southern Beaches precinct, buyers are typically paying hundreds of thousands more for a similar product.

"The scale of this project and the developer-builder construction model allows us to unlock efficiencies that smaller developments simply cannot achieve. We are passing those benefits directly to buyers, while still delivering a five-star residential experience with an unmatched lifestyle."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=374280]

Each of the three towers designed by Rothelowman will have its own podium, connected by an elevated skybridge network to create a beachside village for residents. The resident amenity has been designed to rival a five-star hotel, with private dining rooms, resident lounges and entertainment spaces.

McMahon said the pricing strategy was a deliberate response to the current market.

"What Paradiso Place offers is a unique balance, genuine value within a premium market. Buyers are not compromising on quality, design or amenity, they are gaining access to it at a more competitive price point at a time when prices across the Gold Coast continue to reach new highs."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=362498]

Located around 100 metres from the beach and within walking distance of the Surfers Paradise North light rail station, Paradiso Place occupies one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held beachfront precincts.

Construction is continuing to progress, with eight of the project's 112 foundation piles now complete. Excavation has also commenced on the first diaphragm wall panel, with the first concrete poured on 15 June, marking a key milestone in the project's early works program.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=106566]

Joel Robinson

SPG Land launches $1.5 billion Paradiso Place at attractive price point

Luxury developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lowe-living">Lowe Living</a> has achieved a new Victorian benchmark for an off-the-plan apartment, with the sale of two penthouses at its ultra-exclusive Maison Savoy development in Brighton.

The two penthouses achieved a combined sale rate of $49,926 per sqm. Both transactions eclipsed the previous identified Victorian off-the-plan price-per-square-metre benchmark, set by the 449 sqm apartment at Como Toorak, which sold at $46,659 per sqm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140818 project_image_fid=366473]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/maison-savoy-brighton-150-esplanade-brighton-vic-3186">Maison Savoy</a>, Lowe Living's redevelopment of the former Brighton Savoy Hotel on absolute beachfront land at 150 The Esplanade, Brighton, has gained significant momentum since launching just eight weeks ago. Around 30 per cent of the project's 19 residences have already been secured, generating approximately $45 million in sales.

"Securing two of the three penthouse sales at this stage, within eight weeks of launching to market speaks to the confidence our clients place in Lowe Living," Lowe Living co-founder Emma Lowe said.

"They know we'll be with them through every stage of the journey, and that assurance is something we've worked hard to earn and never take for granted."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140818 project_image_fid=366474]

Lowe said Maison Savoy was conceived as a genuine alternative to a prestige Brighton home, combining house-scale proportions with the convenience, security and lock-up-and-leave appeal of apartment living.

Lowe Living co-founder Tim Lowe said the early sales success demonstrated the resilience of Melbourne's prestige market and highlighted the growing demand for house-sized apartments among ultra-high-net-worth buyers.

"The Melbourne market has definitely been tested in recent years, with interest rates and global economic factors all creating a period of uncertainty across the real estate sector. The sales success at Maison Savoy however demonstrates that confidence remains exceptionally strong at the top end of the market.

"The prestige market is being driven by long-term lifestyle decisions rather than short-term market sentiment, which continues to create a level of certainty that befits an absolute beachfront property in a blue-chip location like Brighton.

"Brighton's fundamentals remain among the strongest in Melbourne, with limited new supply, enduring demand from an overwhelmingly local owner-occupier market, and a rare combination of beachfront amenity and proximity to the CBD."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140818 project_image_fid=374378]

According to Cotality, Brighton remains one of Melbourne's most tightly held prestige suburbs, with an average ownership tenure of 15.3 years for houses and 12.3 years for units, while more than 73 per cent of homes are owner-occupied.

Tim Lowe said selling two of the project's three penthouses so early in the campaign was an uncommon result.

"This sales result is a reflection of quality and understanding the local market. It's incredibly rare to transact the penthouses so early in a sales campaign in any project so to have sold two of the three penthouses at Maison Savoy so soon after launch, all in-house without any external sales agency appointed, is reflective of our careful consideration of our buyers' needs and lifestyle.

"This is knowledge that is accumulated not just from data and demographic analysis, but via a deeply embedded understanding of how this type of buyer wants to live and feel in their home. We pride ourselves on getting to know our clients personally, and over the last 10 years we have been able to refine our product offering by talking one-on-one with our clients about their design and floorplan preferences.

"Being a fully integrated developer-builder with an in-house design and sales team allows us to lead every part of the process and ensure the highest quality of product and service at every touchpoint. It's a really important part of our DNA and the recent sales success at Maison Savoy indicates that our clients and purchasers are resonating with this point of difference.

"It reinforces that demand remains strong for thoughtfully designed residences that offer rarity, lifestyle and long-term value in tightly held locations, which ultimately validates Maison Savoy's positioning as creating a new benchmark for house-scale, wellness-led apartment living on Brighton's beachfront."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140818 project_image_fid=366480]

The residences at Maison Savoy start from 295 sqm, with most enjoying uninterrupted views across Port Phillip Bay. The project sits moments from the Brighton Bathing Boxes, Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Middle Brighton Baths and Church Street's retail and dining precinct.

A key feature of the development is its private residents-only bathhouse, curated by the founder of Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse and modelled on traditional European bathing rituals and the award-winning Sorrento bathhouse.

The wellness offering includes a hydrotherapy pool, salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool, foot activation zone and a Vichy rainfall bed, one of only a handful in Australia. Residents will also have access to a Technogym studio, lounge spaces and a dedicated concierge service offering everything from morning coffee delivery and restaurant bookings to dry cleaning and home coordination.

"Wellness-led design has become a defining factor for luxury buyers," Emma Lowe said.

"Purchasers increasingly value homes that enhance wellbeing through thoughtful design, private amenity, privacy and liveability."

The penthouse purchasers are now undertaking a bespoke customisation process curated personally by architect Pete Kennon and the Lowe Living team, one of the developer's signature service offerings.

Construction on the $160 million transformation of the former Brighton Savoy Hotel site commenced last month, with completion expected in early 2028. The project has secured funding from NAB alongside development partner Monark.

Just one penthouse remains available, along with a limited number of two and three-bedroom residences starting from $3.75 million.

Lowe Living currently has eight projects on the market across Melbourne and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, having grown a $1 billion development pipeline alongside a $350 million construction pipeline.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140818]

Lowe Living set new Melbourne off the plan apartment record

For more than three decades, Hyecorp has been delivering residential projects across Sydney's Lower North Shore, building a portfolio centred on design-led apartment living in some of the city's most established neighbourhoods.

Hyecorp recently launched the latest in its long line of apartment developments, Celine, a 29-storey tower on Archer Street in Chatswood. Like the majority of the developer's projects, Celine caters to a broad buyer demographic, offering a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, all designed with owner-occupiers in mind.

Functionality and flexibility are often buzzwords in the new apartment market, but they sit at the core of Hyecorp's design philosophy.

Hyecorp Joint Managing Director Stephen Abolakian says the developer understands it isn't designing apartments for today's needs alone, but for how buyers will live several years into the future.

"When we launch our projects we need to be aware that these developments aren't finished for several years," Abolakian says.

"That home office in the here and now might be a nursery by the time the project completes for a prospective buyer, so we need to think about how the apartment spaces function for future uses so there's longevity in the ownership."

Celine's architects, Fuse, followed the same philosophy, saying the design extends well beyond aesthetics.

"Celine focuses on timeless architectural form and functionality, with a strong emphasis on light, proportion and materiality. The design responds to the urban context of Chatswood while delivering calm, highly liveable interiors that feel both contemporary and enduring. The floorplans have been carefully resolved to maximise usability and outperform typical market offerings in terms of efficiency and liveability."

Most apartments incorporate multipurpose rooms designed for flexibility. Each includes an integrated desk and a standard Murphy pull-down single bed, allowing the space to transition from a home office or study to guest accommodation as needs change. The layouts have also been designed to maximise natural light, storage and overall functionality.

One and two-bedroom apartments feature Miele appliances, while three and four-bedroom residences are appointed with integrated Gaggenau appliances and Taj Mahal stone benchtops.

Buyers who purchase early in the construction process can also take advantage of Hyecorp's "Live Your Way" interior design service, allowing them to personalise finishes and tailor elements of their home to suit their own lifestyle. It's a feature designed to appeal to owner-occupiers who want their apartment to feel uniquely theirs from the day they move in.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362614]

While flexible floorplans have become a hallmark of Hyecorp's apartment design, the developer has also continued to place significant emphasis on resident amenity.

As buyers increasingly expect more from apartment living, shared spaces have evolved beyond a gym and barbecue area. They are now an extension of the home, providing spaces to relax, exercise, entertain and connect with neighbours.

At Celine, the resident amenity has been designed with a focus on wellness, centred on the level six podium. An infinity-edge swimming pool, spa, sauna and fully equipped gym are complemented by barbecue facilities and a residents' lounge, creating a range of spaces for relaxation, recreation and social connection above the streets of Chatswood.

Practical conveniences have also been integrated throughout the building, including EV charging provisions, smart parcel lockers, bicycle storage, a pet wash station and dedicated car wash bays, reflecting the project's focus on making everyday living as seamless as possible.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362633]

"Celine has been designed to deliver a refined residential experience that reflects the evolution of Chatswood into a premium urban centre,"&nbsp;Abolakian says.

"With over 30 years of experience delivering projects across Sydney's Lower North Shore, Hyecorp brings a deep understanding of what local buyers value. Every detail has been considered to balance luxury, functionality and long-term liveability. This is not just about apartments, but about creating a lasting residential address for discerning buyers."

Hyecorp, vertically-integrated builder-developer, is anticipating construction commencement later this year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149594]

Hyecorp brings 30 years of Lower North Shore experience to Celine in Chatswood

Burgeoning South East Queensland developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/frank-developments">Frank Developments</a> is continuing to pad out its capital city development pipeline.

The developer, led by Frank Licastro, has its sights set on Kingsford Smith Drive in Hamilton, where it is planning <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/avela-60-kingsford-smith-drive-albion-qld-4010">AVELA</a>, a 166-apartment development across three towers that tier down from 28 storeys to 19 and 17.

The towers will rise above the iconic Breakfast Creek Hotel.

Frank has brought on Melbourne architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rob-kennon-architects">Kennon</a> to design the building, conceived as a “defining architectural marker where the airport corridor meets the inner city.”

<img alt="First look: Frank Developments plans sculptural AVELA for Brisbane's Breakfast Creek gateway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e787c64e-f0a4-4725-891e-e86b40ee5c5c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/AVELA.png?VersionId=1ulwuZ9w2vQ2td7v.J2zUI7Ih_DT4Kwz" />

Kennon describes the project as a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

"Positioned at the northern gateway of Brisbane's primary CBD corridor, this project represents a singular moment in the city's urban evolution, one that will not come again," the architecture practice said in the documents submitted to the Brisbane City Council.

"Where the airport and world beyond meets the city, the building will rise as a sculptural landmark, a defining piece of architecture that signals arrival into Brisbane and anchors the connection between the city and the communities to its north."

<img alt="First look: Frank Developments plans sculptural AVELA for Brisbane's Breakfast Creek gateway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d572bf62-a98d-4847-95d0-889e3d3283e1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/AVELA%20podium.png?VersionId=6.Ax4jBzTbY5ahm55iaMWNR03ODhDQSm" />

The development is centred around owner-occupier apartments, with a mix of two, three and four-bedroom residences designed to capitalise on city and river views.

Four basement levels accommodate resident parking, allowing the podium to prioritise pedestrian activity and public-facing uses like ground-floor retail, a cafe, a&nbsp;neighbourhood grocer, and a public accessible indoor pickleball court and event space.&nbsp;

There will be nearly 2,000 sqm of communal wellness and recreation facilities across three levels.

<img alt="First look: Frank Developments plans sculptural AVELA for Brisbane's Breakfast Creek gateway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c5ac3cbf-3c11-4219-89f3-e12d9e0f9ffd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/AVELA%20podium%20A.png?VersionId=_.4zd1HLCKa1s6I_oxkY4NNqX6o3Yevn" />

&nbsp;

Frank Developments has increasingly focused on design-led residential projects across South East Queensland.

AVELA is Licastro's second on Kingsford Smith Drive following <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/alba-92-kingsford-smith-drive-hamilton-qld-4007">Alba</a>, 85 apartments just down the road. The developer has <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/mira-61-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">MIRA</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/myst-burleigh-heads-270-the-esplanade-miami-qld-4220">MYST</a> on the Gold Coast, as well as <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/murano-teneriffe-37-wyandra-street-new-farm-qld-4005">Murano</a> coming up in Teneriffe and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bel-air-33-oxlade-drive-new-farm-qld-4005">Bel Air in New Farm</a>.

Frank Developments plans sculptural AVELA for Brisbane's Breakfast Creek gateway

ASX-listed developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/stockland">Stockland</a>&nbsp;is continuing its push back into the new apartment market, filing plans for a prominent gateway site between Collingwood and East Melbourne.

The development giant, which moved back into the new apartment space when it announced Stanton Place in Sydney's Rosebery and have since filed plans for a 50-storey tower, are jumping into the off the plan Melbourne market.

They are hoping to create a mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/79-81-victoria-parade-collingwood-vic-3066">79-81 Victoria Parade</a>, replacing an existing commercial building with a scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/john-wardle-architects">Wardle</a>&nbsp;for 478 apartments,&nbsp;ground-floor retail, new public open spaces and a publicly accessible pedestrian laneway.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="72dbbca9-3918-4073-afad-a0c0c35be8e7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20pers.png?VersionId=bzMVUKKxvwuNK1m0v_td126Rgct32uk_" />

The design report identifies the public realm as a central driver of the proposal.

"Collingwood has limited access to high-quality parks and public open space, and the proposal delivers valuable new areas for respite, social interaction and fine-grain retail activity."

The development would deliver a diverse mix of housing, including studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments alongside townhouse-style residences. Two basement levels are proposed beneath the development, providing resident and retail parking as well as extensive bicycle facilities.

Wardle's design draws heavily on Collingwood's industrial character, using articulated building forms, brickwork and robust materials inspired by the suburb's warehouse and manufacturing heritage. The built form has been broken into a series of smaller volumes to better respond to the surrounding streetscape while extensive communal gardens, rooftop amenities and shared resident spaces are integrated throughout the project.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b2135ed-65df-4253-ad53-f216f06bd467" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20podium.png?VersionId=l1B6Hqn8zs772VxH6L1fDPg0KHshan9v" />

The planning documents describe the existing office building as offering little engagement with the public realm, with the redevelopment intended to create a more permeable and active neighbourhood destination.

"The proposed scheme presents a significant opportunity to deliver a vibrant retail plaza and a local neighbourhood hub serving both existing and future Collingwood residents."

The 79–81 Victoria Parade site occupies a strategic location about 1.5 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD, at the threshold between Collingwood and East Melbourne. It is well served by tram services along Victoria Parade and sits within walking distance of St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy Gardens, the Fitzroy activity centre and a broad range of employment, retail and hospitality destinations.

Robert Larocca

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