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With summer only a couple of months away, now is the perfect time to ensure your property is prepared for the upcoming bushfire season.
Our long, dry summers bring about soaring temperatures that make the state very susceptible to the threat of bushfires. It’s important that whether you’re a tenant, home owner or landlord, you take steps to ensure your property is prepared.
The Department of Fire &amp; Emergency Services (DFES) recommend preparing both your property and your family before bushfire season.
How to prepare your property
It is your responsibility to ensure that your home is prepared for bushfires.
The DFES recommend you:
<ul>
<li>Walk around your property and imagine a bushfire is coming - look for items likely to burn or places where embers could start a fire e.g. through gaps in roofs, walls, evaporative airconditioners and gutters. 
</li>
<li> Remember to install a mesh cover over your evaporative airconditioner and metal fly screens on your windows and vents to keep sparks and embers out. 
</li>
<li> Clear vegetation and rubbish from around your property and create a 20 metre circle of safety to reduce the risk that burning vegetation will spark your house alight. 
</li>
<li> Store firewood away from the building. 
</li>
<li> Ensure any gas bottles on the property are secured and positioned so that it will vent away from the building if it is subject to flame contact or radiant heat.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://reiwa.com.au/uploadedFiles/Public/Content/About_Us/News/DFES_Bushfire_Checklist-Preparing_your_property.pdf" target="_blank">View a full checklist of how to prepare your property for bushfires.</a>
How to prepare your family
It’s also important to ensure your family or housemates are well informed. Spring is the perfect time to have a discussion about what you will do if a bushfire occurs near your home.
The DFES recommend that people (particularly those who live in high risk areas within 100 metres of bush) have an emergency risk kit ready to go in case you are evacuated or cut off during a bushfire.
This kit should include essential supplies, such as;
<ul>
<li>a radio 
</li>
<li>torch 
</li>
<li>spare batteries 
</li>
<li>first aid kit 
</li>
<li>woollen blanket 
</li>
<li>water 
</li>
<li>non-perishable food.</li>
</ul>
Bushfires happen every summer in Western Australia and are unpredictable. They can flare up suddenly and without warning, so it’s imperative to take responsibility for reducing the risks to your house and family.
For more information, visit <a href="https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx">dfes.wa.gov.au</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Property 101: Is your property prepared for a bushfire?

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A South Melbourne office offering has been listed for sale with five levels up for grabs.
The property at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-south+melbourne-502061490" target="_blank">190 Coventry Street</a> has a land size of about 120 square metres, with floor areas of between 70 square metres to 120 square metres.
The building is a five level strata office development with rooftop terrace with car parking facilities included.
<img src="/images/2016/10/03/190%20Coventry%20Street.jpg" alt="">
It offers a view of Albert Park Lake and the Melbourne CBD skyline.
It is offered through CBRE agents Tim Last, Nick Lower and Tom Tuxworth.
The building is set to be completed in three months.
Lower recently put an estimated price of $600,000 upwards on each of the floors and suggested owner-occupiers have been looking to purchase through their self-managed super funds.
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-23428" src="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/190-coventry-5.jpg" alt="Side cutaway of the 190 Coventry Street building. Photo: Supplied" width="640" height="516">
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Off the plan South Melbourne office levels hit the market

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A 21 square metre office has been listed for sale in the Melbourne CBD for $185,000.
The property is at <a href="https://www.teskacarson.com.au/property.cfm?propertyID=3107126&amp;realestate=430_Little_Collins_Street_MELBOURNE_VIC_3000&amp;menuItemID=" target="_blank">111/430 Little Collins Street</a> in the Normanby Chambers building.
It is offered through Teska Carson agent Gideon Marcus.
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Little Collins Street, Melbourne office for sale

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An hotel at the eastern Riverina town of Henty has been listed for sale seeking offers above $300,000. It went to auction last month, having been previously offered at $375,000.
The hotel is located halfway between Albury and Wagga Wagga on the Olympic Highway.
The two storey brick property at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-hotel+leisure-nsw-henty-501770738" target="_blank">1 Sladen Street</a> has a land area of about 1100 square metres with a floor area of 400 square metres.
The Doodle Cooma is the only hotel in Henty.
The hotel comes with a bar, lounge, TAB and a covered beer garden. It also includes a dining room with a commercial kitchen.
The Doodle Cooma Hotel is offered for sale on a walk in walk out basis, with all trading details available on inspection and discussion with the vendors.
The property has 12 lettable rooms and a one bedroom residence.
There is an average weekly of turnover of $14,000, excluding gaming.
The offering comes with an option to purchase any number of the five poker machines currently operating in the hotel at $125,000 each.
It has been most recently offered through Chapman, Gould and May agent Doug May.
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Eastern Riverina Henty hotel for sale at $300,000 plus

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Industrial lots are up for sale at a Whalley Creek estate in the South East Queensland region of Nambour.
The Whalley Creek lots come with a floor area of 1072 square metres to 2246 square metres. They are fully serviced and ready to be developed.
Several lots have already gone under contract.
The industrial lots are only minutes to Nambour CBD, 10 minutes to the Bruce Highway interchange and 16 minutes to the Sunshine Motorway.
Lots six and seven are up for sale for $195,000 plus GST and $180,000 plus GST respectively. <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-qld-nambour-502061114">They are listed through</a> joint agencies Savills Sunshine Coast agents Peter Capps and Jason O'Meara and Ray White Commercial North Coast Central agents Michael Shadforth and David C Smith.
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Industrial building lots at Nambour listed

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The Reserve Bank has left the cash rate at a record low of 1.50 per cent. The Reserve Bank is expected to await the September quarter inflation data in late October to decide the next move in rates.
What does it all mean?
<ul>
<li>Will the Reserve Bank Cut rates again? Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe raised doubts on future rate cuts when giving testimony just over a week ago. “The global sense is that monetary policy is not working as effectively as it might have in previous years. I think there are three possible responses to that. The one we have been doing is to just do more monetary policy: if it is not working, do a bit more until it does work. This is why we have found ourselves in some countries with interest rates in negative territory and unprecedented balance sheet expansion. You can keep doing more of something in the hope that it finally works, and my judgement is that that has not been particularly useful.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>So it is now a case of waiting for the inflation data on October 26. Growth in underlying inflation in the quarter would need to be 0.4 per cent or below for the Reserve Bank to discuss cutting rates again.</li>
</ul>
The Reserve Bank has maintained the neutral policy stance. That means, the Reserve Bank is not leaning in favour of rate cuts or rate hikes.</div>
<div> </div>
<div class="column">There has been some additional text added to the statement, but nothing substantive. Additional information has been provided on the job market, highlighting the strength of part-time jobs compared with full-time positions. In terms of housing, the RBA does note “Growth in rents is the slowest for some decades.” Perspectives on interest rates
<ul>
<li>
  The Reserve Bank has left the cash rate at 1.50 per cent. The previous rate cut was in August 2016 (25 basis points).
</li>
<li>  There have now been 12 rate cuts since November 2011, cutting rates from 4.75 per cent to 1.50 per cent.</li>
<li>  The Reserve Bank had previously lifted rates seven times from October 2009 to November 2010 – a total of 1.75 percentage points, from 3.00 per cent to 4.75 per cent.</li>
</ul>
What are the implications of today’s decision?
<ul>
<li>  Investors need to work on the premise that the low inflation/low interest rate world will be around for a while yet. And this is very much a global phenomenon. Consumers can buy goods whenever they want and wherever they are, keeping downward pressure on prices. So yield is still king when investors are assessing alternative financial assets.</li>
<li>  Note that Reserve Bank may continue to tolerate a low inflation outcome. Remember that the target band is expressed as a medium-term objective: “Both the Reserve Bank and the Government agree that a flexible medium-term inflation target is the appropriate</li>
</ul>
 
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Will the Reserve Bank cut rates again? CommSec's Craig James

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NSW Government figures showing new home building in Sydney at a 16-year high have been welcomed by the Housing Industry Association.
HIA Senior Economist Shane Garrett said these figures from the NSW Department of Planning &amp; Environment indicate that 30,191 new homes were completed in Sydney during 2015/16, the highest since 1999/2000.
“This represents a 10.4 per cent increase on the previous financial year, with multi-units now accounting for two out of every three new homes in the Sydney area,” he said.
In 2015-2016, 30,191 new houses and apartments were completed, up 10 per cent year-on-year, figures from the Metropolitan Housing Monitor released to Fairfax Media on Tuesday found. This compared to 30,520 new homes built in 1999-2000, when builders were rushing into the market before the introduction of GST in July 2000.
About 40 percent of the completed houses and apartments were concentrated in six local government areas, including the City of Sydney, Blacktown, Camden, Parramatta, Liverpool and The Hills.
“The output of the residential building industry has provided homes for almost 80,000 people in the Sydney area during 2015/16 alone. It is important that Sydney’s dwelling stock expands in order to accommodate the strong, migration-driven growth in the local labour market," he said.
“The strength of new home building in Sydney over the past few years owes much to the low interest rates in place, as well as the rebound in tourism and skilled services in the city.
“However, obstacles with respect to planning, land supply and the affordable delivery of housing infrastructure all risk preventing the Sydney economy from reaching its full potential over the long term."
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Sydney home building at 16-year high: HIA

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Since the end of 2008, Sydney dwelling values have increased by almost 95 percent and Melbourne dwelling values are up 80 percent, CoreLogic head of research Asia Pacific, Tim Lawless said.
Canberra is the only other housing market where the cumulative capital gain has been greater than 20 percent post GFC.
“While we’ve seen values remain relatively strong, in contrast, rental yields have been in the doldrums due to the fact that residential property values are rising at a faster rate than weekly rents.
"The average gross rental yield across the combined capital city dwelling market has held firm at 3.3 percent over the month, which is at an historic low,” he said.
By a large margin, the lowest yields are now in Sydney and Melbourne where value growth has been the most extreme and caused yields to compress. The typical gross yield on a Sydney and Melbourne house is now 2.8 percent, while the gross yield profile for a Sydney unit is the lowest of any capital city, averaging 3.9 percent.
<a href="/images/2016/10/03/Gross%20rental%20yields%20houses%20and%20units.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/03/Gross%20rental%20yields%20houses%20and%20units.jpg" alt="">
 
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Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra take podium places post-GFC for price growth: CoreLogic

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Brisbane's Mary Lane is a new development integrating a five-star hotel with a collection of luxury residences in the heart of the city.
Mary Lane incorporates the internationally acclaimed five-star hotel, Westin.
It will be a collection of one, two and three bedroom residences and a limited amount of penthouses atop Brisbane’s first Westin Hotel.
Mary Lane Development Manager, Ian Pert, of GMP Management, says that Mary Lane will add a new dimension to the Brisbane CBD living experience.
“While the fusion of five-star hotels and luxury residences has been a successful concept in international cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong and New York, the concept is relatively new in Australia.
“The project will provide an exclusive and ultimate city living experience for Mary Lane residents. Westin guests and residents will have a choice of bars and restaurants fronting Mary Street in an open and green fringed podium.”
Marketed by Colliers International, Mary Lane was the highest selling residential development in the Brisbane CBD for the first quarter of 2016.
Colliers International Director, Andrew Roubicek, says Mary Lane offers a luxurious and quiet city address that provides an easy transition between work and play as well as the ease of a ‘lock and leave’ lifestyle.
Designed by global architecture and consulting firm, Woods Bagot, each residence is embellished with synonymous designer features desired by “next generation” city buyers.
“Woods Bagot created Mary Lane with the amenities on the rooftop skydeck featuring an infinity pool, cardio gym, fully equipped functions room and views across Brisbane.
Residents will also have a separate lobby, secure lift access and access to Westin’s illustrious concierge and hotel amenities on a fee-for-service basis.
One, two and three bedroom residences starting from level 17 are now selling from $460,000.
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Mary Lane, Brisbane's 5-star apartments above the Westin Hotel

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Capital city dwelling values continued to show a strong headline rate of growth over the September quarter, with the CoreLogic Hedonic Home Value Index rising 2.9 percent over the past three months, according to CoreLogic’s latest market report.
The combined capital city index, which is heavily weighted towards the Sydney and Melbourne markets, recorded a 1.0 percent month-on-month gain, taking capital city dwelling values 41.3 percent higher since the growth cycle commenced in June 2012.
Growth conditions were substantially different from region-to-region. The top performing market was Melbourne where dwelling values pushed 5.0 percent higher over the third calendar quarter, due largely to a strong rise in house values (+5.2 percent) which balanced a softer result for the unit market (+2.9 percent). Canberra showed the second highest rate of growth over the quarter with values up 4.5 percent, followed by Sydney at 3.5 percent.
<a href="/images/2016/10/04/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-04%20at%2011.13.17%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/04/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-04%20at%2011.13.17%20AM.png" alt="">
 Highlights over the three months to September 2016
• Best performing capital city: Melbourne +5.0%
• Weakest performing capital city: Darwin -4.5%
• Highest rental yields: Hobart houses with gross rental yield of 5.2% and Hobart Units at 5.5%
• Lowest rental yields: Melbourne and Sydney houses with gross rental yield of 2.8% and Sydney units at 3.9%
• Most expensive city: Sydney with a median dwelling price of $785,000
• Most affordable city: Hobart with a median dwelling price of $325,000
In contrast, the weakest housing market over the quarter was Darwin where dwelling values declined by 4.5 percent, to be 11.1 percent lower than the most recent 2014 peak in property values and 13.9% lower than the previous 2010 peak in dwelling values.
Perth dwelling values also slipped 3.2 percent lower over the quarter to take the cumulative decline in values to 10.4 percent since their December 2014 peak, and 5.2 percent below the previous peak in 2010. Brisbane dwelling values also slipped lower over the quarter falling by a marginal 0.3 percent, attributable mostly to larger declines across the unit sector.
Darwin dwelling values are now roughly equivalent to what they were seven years ago, while in Perth, dwelling values have retraced back to 2007 levels.
The combined regional markets of Australia, where the measure of value growth lags by one month, saw house values slip 1.1 percent lower over the three months to the end of August.
While modest declines were recorded across most of the ‘rest of state’ housing markets, the weakest conditions continue to be experienced in regional Western Australia, where house values have fallen 12.4 percent over the past twelve months.
The weak housing market conditions across the regional areas of Western Australia were also highlighted in the recent CoreLogic Pain and Gain report, which showed one third of houses which resold over the June quarter did so at gross loss.
While the headline rate of growth remains positive across most cities, the majority of capital cities have seen their growth trend moderate compared with a year ago. The only capital city markets where the current quarterly rate of growth was higher (compared with the September 2015 quarter) was Hobart, Canberra and Adelaide.
<a href="/images/2016/10/04/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-04%20at%2011.15.33%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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<img src="/images/2016/10/04/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-04%20at%2011.16.53%20AM.png" alt="">
The quarterly pace of capital gains in Sydney peaked over the June quarter of 2015 at 7.4% and, similarly, Melbourne’s quarterly rate of capital gain peaked at 7.9% over the same quarter.
Although value growth in Sydney and Melbourne is not as strong as it was at its peak, growth continues to be supported by high auction clearance rates which are now at their strongest levels since the June 2015 quarter.
In Sydney, clearance rates remained above 80% throughout September, while Melbourne clearance rates have consistently been above 75%, albeit on substantially lower volumes than a year ago.
The top three auction markets for spring activity have been: Inner Melbourne (780 auctions over the four weeks of September with a clearance rate of 75%), Melbourne’s Inner South (560 auctions with a clearance rate of 82%) and North Sydney/Hornsby (545 auctions with a clearance rate of 85%).
The most successful auction markets have been Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs where 89% of auctions were successful during September, Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula (88% of auctions cleared) and Sydney’s Ryde (87% of auctions cleared).
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Capital city dwelling values increase 2.9 percent over the September quarter: CoreLogic

Avant Townhomes is adding to Ivanhoe’s family-sized housing options with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/three-82-ivanhoe-382-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Three 82</a>, a collection of just 16 four-bedroom townhomes on Upper Heidelberg Road.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/intrapac-property">Intrapac Property</a> townhome division has taken a contemporary approach to the traditional family home, pairing larger floorplans with the lower-maintenance format of a townhouse.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152069 project_image_fid=374394]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/arcadia-studio">Arcadia</a>, with landscaping by Landsite, the homes feature generous open-plan living and dining areas that connect directly to outdoor spaces, with layouts also designed to maximise natural light and privacy.

Natural stone is used throughout the interiors, including in kitchens that pair stone surfaces with bespoke cabinetry, considered storage and SMEG appliances.

The four-bedroom layouts include built-in wardrobes and a main bedroom with its own ensuite, while family bathrooms service the additional bedrooms. Each home also includes a lock-up double garage and intercom entry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152069 project_image_fid=374399]

Energy efficiency has been incorporated into the design through solar panels, double glazing and reverse-cycle heating and cooling, with the homes targeting 7-star energy ratings.

Rather than incorporating extensive communal facilities, Three 82 has been conceived around private residential amenity, with the 16-home scale keeping the focus on individual homes and their own indoor and outdoor spaces.

The development is located at 382 Upper Heidelberg Road, around one kilometre from Ivanhoe Village's cafés and retail and a short drive from Eaglemont Station and Ivanhoe Station.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152069 project_image_fid=374393]

Several of Ivanhoe's established schools are also nearby, including Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar and Ivanhoe Grammar School. The address also provides access to the suburb's parklands and the wider Yarra River corridor.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/nelson-alexander">Nelson Alexander</a> has been appointed to handle sales.

Construction is underway and progressing well, with Three 82 currently tracking toward completion in Q2 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152069]

Joel Robinson

Three 82 brings boutique four-bedroom townhome collection to Ivanhoe

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/graya">Graya</a> has secured a prime Newstead site from fellow developer Fraser, subsequently lodging plans for The Silo, a major mixed-use residential project in Newstead designed around a new public laneway linking the James Street precinct with the wider Gasworks and Newstead neighbourhood.

Proposed for the corner of Chester and Morse streets, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bureauproberts">Bureau^Proberts</a>-designed project places its strongest emphasis at ground level, where retail, landscaping and a new cobblestone pedestrian connection would open the site to the surrounding neighbourhood. The design team describes The Silo as “more than a residential building”, positioning the development as an extension of Newstead’s public realm rather than a standalone apartment tower.

“A new cobblestone laneway and landscaped connection between James Street and Gasworks unlock a missing pedestrian link, improving walkability and stitching together two of Brisbane’s significant urban destinations,” Bureau Proberts said in its Urban Design Report.

<img alt="First look: Graya plans The Silo as new pedestrian link between James Street and Gasworks" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0ea1b06a-75f5-40a5-b2c5-33c97bc86052" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/silo%20bldg.png?VersionId=KmjsAtNePu57_B31EM_DJ5T6KPJHtcmo" />

The Silo is planned as a mixed-use development incorporating apartments alongside a bar and centre activities including food and drink outlets, indoor sport and recreation, office and retail uses.

Architecturally, Bureau Proberts has conceived the building as a collection of vertically expressed, stepping forms rather than a single uniform tower. The composition rises from an articulated podium before being broken by a triple-height landscaped recreation level, with the upper section becoming more compact before terminating in a landscaped rooftop garden.

The project's name and architectural language draw directly from Newstead's industrial history. Patterned off-form concrete is proposed as the principal façade material, complemented by slender metal rod balustrades and extensive planting. The cylindrical and vertically ribbed elements give the building its silo-like expression, while curved balconies and planted edges introduce a softer subtropical layer.

“The Silo reinterprets its robust forms, scale and materiality through a contemporary subtropical architectural expression, creating a building that acknowledges its industrial legacy, while responding to the way the precinct is occupied today,” Bureau^Proberts said.

The recreation level is one of the defining breaks in the tower. Plans include a lap pool, mature subtropical planting and shared resident facilities within an elevated communal garden. Landscaping continues through the podium and onto the rooftop, where a further garden forms what the architects describe as a “subtropical crown” to the building.

<img alt="First look: Graya plans The Silo as new pedestrian link between James Street and Gasworks" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f8451036-35a4-49a9-8d88-2ef4438eba3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Silo%20Lane.png?VersionId=h8N31_rYmCEqoNrpt4kbYVQhJGZn60LH" />

At street level, the development has been designed to establish a more permeable block. Retail and hospitality tenancies address the public realm, while landscaped pedestrian spaces lead into the new laneway connection. Renders in the design report show the proposed “Silo Lane” as a substantial opening through the podium, framed by cylindrical concrete forms with cascading planting above.

The Silo continues Graya's move into larger apartment developments after building its reputation across high-end residential projects in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Graya buys Frasers Newstead site, plans The Silo between James Street and Gasworks precincts

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/wickton">Wickton</a>’s completed Linacre Rise development in Hampton is giving Bayside downsizers the opportunity to move into a spacious apartment near the beach, with the developer covering stamp duty for a limited time.

The 27-residence development has been designed for buyers who want to simplify their living arrangements without giving up the space, warmth and quality associated with a long-term family home. Most apartments have already been secured by Bayside locals, leaving a select collection of two and three-bedroom residences and penthouses available.

Two-bedroom apartments are priced from $1.275 million, three-bedroom residences from $2.25 million and penthouses from $3.375 million, with the completed homes available to inspect and move into now.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95289 project_image_fid=366760]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/linacre-rise-hampton-8-10-linacre-road-hampton-vic-3188">Linacre Rise</a> occupies an elevated position on one of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/hampton-vic-3188">Hampton</a>’s quiet, tree-lined streets, around 250 metres from the bay and 500 metres from Hampton’s village centre. Its setting gives residents access to the beach, local cafés, shops and Hampton Train Station while retaining the feel of an established residential neighbourhood.

Architecture and interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a> draw on the warmth and permanence of traditional brickwork, with the building integrated into terraced landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/john-patrick-landscape-architects">John Patrick</a>. Ground-floor apartments are elevated above the street and include private garden courtyards, while several upper-level residences have generous balconies and outlooks toward the bay.

Inside, the residences favour natural materials and generous proportions. Herringbone-pattern European oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, premium joinery and Swiss V-ZUG appliances are among the key inclusions, while integrated storage has been incorporated across kitchens, bathrooms, studies and living areas.

The kitchens have been planned as practical spaces for both everyday use and entertaining, with substantial island benches, detailed cabinetry and adjoining dining and living zones. Full-height wardrobes, plush bedroom carpeting and carefully considered lighting reinforce the residential character Wickton sought to retain for buyers moving from larger homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95289 project_image_fid=366769]

A Linacre Rise purchaser said the completed apartment had delivered the space, outlook and construction quality they had been seeking.

“The unit is very light, has views to die for over the bay, all construction materials and fittings are premium quality, we have secure parking for three cars, EV charging at very competitive rates, the neighbours are friendly and there is just a lovely ambiance about the place,” the purchaser said.

Environmental features include solar panels, shared electric vehicle charging stations, rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing and landscape irrigation, double-glazed windows and water-efficient fixtures and appliances.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95289 project_image_fid=366762]

The development was built by Balmain &amp; Co, with Wickton managing the broader development process through its in-house team.

For downsizers, the project’s completed status removes much of the uncertainty associated with buying off the plan. Purchasers can inspect the finished apartments, understand their outlook and proportions, and move in without waiting for construction to conclude.

The remaining selection includes north-oriented balconies, corner configurations and penthouses with elevated bay views. The developer-paid stamp duty initiative is available for a limited time, with potential savings of up to $200,000 depending on the residence purchased.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=95289]

Limited-time stamp duty offer at completed Linacre Rise apartments in Hampton

Luxury apartment buyers have long prioritised design, space and finishes, but increasingly they're placing equal importance on something less tangible: how easily they can live without relying on a car.

At <a>Richmond Square</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis">Fortis</a> believes that convenience begins beyond the apartment itself, with the mixed-use precinct earning a near-perfect Walk Score of 99.

The development has been planned around the idea that some of the most valuable amenities aren't contained within a building, they're the restaurants, cafés, parks, transport connections and daily conveniences that can all be reached on foot.

Located just behind Swan Street and Church Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/richmond-square-1-wiltshire-street-richmond-vic-3121">Richmond Square</a> places residents within one of Melbo​u​rne's most established lifestyle precincts while offering a quieter residential setting removed from the busiest thoroughfares. East Richmond Station is moments away, trams run along both Swan and Church Streets, and the MCG, Melb​​ourne Park, Yarra River trails and the CBD are all within walking distance. At the same time, the precinct itself will introduce a curated mix of dining, retail, hospitality and wellness offerings, creating a destination that extends well beyond its residential buildings.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13181 project_image_fid=348530]

For Fortis, that combination of location and scale was what made the site unique.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/richmond-vic-3121">Richmond</a> is one of Melb​o​urne's most established and distinctive inner-city neighbourhoods, with a rare combination of dining, culture, recreation, public transport and proximity to the CBD," the developer said.

"The opportunity at Wiltshire Street was particularly compelling because the site sits slightly removed from the activity of Swan and Church Streets while remaining only moments from everything that makes the area desirable."

Rather than developing a standalone apartment building, Fortis consolidated 15 individual properties to create one of the larger development parcels assembled on Mel​b​ourne's city fringe in recent years. That allowed the team to deliver a genuine mixed-use precinct comprising 107 residences across Wiltshire House and Carmine House, premium office space, hospitality venues, retail, wellness offerings and a future 57-room hotel.

"The scale of the site allowed Fortis to think beyond a standalone apartment building," the developer said.

"Richmond Square could be planned as a complete lifestyle precinct, bringing homes, workplaces, dining, retail, hospitality and wellness together around a series of activated public spaces. The aim was to create a destination that feels connected to Richmond rather than separate from it."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13181 project_image_fid=348533]

The emphasis on walkability has also resonated with buyers.

Interest has been strongest from established owner-occupiers, particularly downsizers from Richmond and Melb​ourne's inner east who want to remain close to familiar restaurants, workplaces, family and social networks while moving into a more secure, lower-maintenance home. The project is also attracting Mornington Peninsula and interstate buyers seeking a Melb​ourne residence they can lock up and leave between visits.

Many are looking for generous living spaces, room to entertain, quality finishes and confidence in the project team, but location remains one of the biggest deciding factors.

"For many buyers, Richmond Square provides a way to simplify the practical side of home ownership without reducing the quality of their lifestyle," the sales team said.

"Location is also a major driver of interest. Buyers can remain connected to the CBD, major sporting events, the arts centres, local restaurants, cafes and bars and their family while living in a private and secure residence that is easy to lock up and leave for weekends or longer periods away."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13181 project_image_fid=348549]

The residences themselves have been designed with that buyer in mind. Award-winning architecture practice SJB and interior designers Hecker Guthrie have created spacious two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses that prioritise generous living areas, natural light, bespoke joinery and private terraces. Above, a rooftop sanctuary by Acre includes landscaped lawns, bookable dining rooms, barbecue facilities, wellness spaces and panoramic views across the CBD, the MCG and Port Phillip Bay.

Fortis believes Richmond Square reflects a broader evolution in apartment living, where the surrounding neighbourhood becomes just as important as the residence itself.

"Richmond Square introduces a different proposition: generously proportioned residences within a genuinely mixed-use, hospitality-led destination," the developer said.

"The project's location and Walk Score of 99 further support a lifestyle where residents can complete many everyday journeys without relying on a car."

Fortis has assembled an experienced team that includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/hecker-guthrie">Hecker Guthrie</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/acre">Acre</a> and builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hacer-group">Hacer Group</a>, reflecting the developer's commitment to creating projects with enduring design quality and meaningful connections to the communities in which they sit.&nbsp;

Richmond Square is an expression of that philosophy, bringing together homes, workplaces, hospitality and wellness within one of Me​lb​ourne's most walkable neighbourhoods.&nbsp;

Construction is now almost complete, providing purchasers with growing confidence ahead of its expected September 2026 completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=13181]

Walk Score of 99 places Richmond Square at the heart of Melbourne's most connected lifestyle

<h3 data-end="19" data-section-id="1dvgwoe" data-start="0">Summary</h3>

<ul data-end="634" data-start="21">
	<li data-end="170" data-section-id="1o77v31" data-start="21">Walker Corporation has lodged plans for a second major residential development in the Maroochydore City Centre, a 29-storey tower known as Celeste.</li>
	<li data-end="327" data-section-id="1lb0y6t" data-start="171">The Plus Studio-designed proposal at Lot 30 Sunshine Coast Parade would deliver 208 apartments, including four four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.</li>
	<li data-end="487" data-section-id="za720" data-start="328">The application comes as Walker doubles down on Maroochydore following the strong sales campaign at SOL by Walker, where the first tower is nearing sell-out.</li>
	<li data-end="634" data-section-id="5sovec" data-start="488">Walker is a key partner in the transformation of the Maroochydore City Centre, which is expected to ultimately deliver at least 4,000 new homes.</li>
</ul>

Walker Corporation is doubling down on Maroochydore following the successful sales campaign at its first residential project in the emerging CBD.

The national developer has filed plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celeste-30-sunshine-coast-parade-maroochydore-qld-4558">Celeste</a>, a new 29-storey apartment tower at Lot 30 Sunshine Coast Parade, just metres from its under-construction SOL by Walker development.

The plans, prepared by Plus Studio, would see 208 apartments delivered across a 100-metre tower on the 2,376 sqm site, which fronts Sunshine Coast Parade, First Avenue and Future Way within the Maroochydore Priority Development Area.

<img alt="Walker" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="17038209-6fea-4ed2-855d-fd4df65b3d02" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-10%20at%2010.24.16%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=iZD.oVXcQn.aLpUytDAW.CWjxP4puWMy" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 36 one-bedroom apartments, 48 two-bedroom apartments, 72 two-bedroom apartments with an additional multipurpose space, and 48 three-bedroom apartments.

The upper levels would be capped by two four-bedroom sub-penthouses and two four-bedroom penthouses, taking the total apartment count to 208. The preliminary yield study also provides 262 car spaces, 114 resident bicycle spaces and storage for each apartment.

It represents Walker's next major residential move in the new Maroochydore CBD after the success of SOL by Walker, its $220 million two-tower project nearby.

SOL launched to market in early 2025 and has since seen strong demand, particularly from local owner-occupiers. By February this year, Walker said the first SOL tower was nearing sell-out, with a strong waitlist also emerging for its recently released penthouse collection.

Construction is already underway on SOL, with the first tower expected to be completed in late 2027 and the second to follow in early 2028.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147777 project_image_fid=319846]

<h2 data-end="2518" data-section-id="1b2dyo5" data-start="2459">Celeste to rise 100 metres over Maroochydore City Centre</h2>

Celeste would take a different form to the twin 19-storey buildings at SOL.

Plus Studio has designed a single 100-metre tower above an activated podium, with the architecture responding to the site's prominent position and three street frontages.

The podium would incorporate commercial tenancies and public art, with sweeping façade elements wrapping the street edges. The scalloped concrete podium has been inspired by the patterns created in sand at low tide, while extensive landscaping would continue vertically through the tower.

The ground level plans show three commercial tenancies addressing Sunshine Coast Parade alongside the residential lobby and landscaped public realm. The podium would then accommodate several levels of car parking before the residential tower rises above.

<img alt="Celeste" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="121f77b1-71c5-46d7-9b36-0a7d474211ca" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-10%20at%2010.24.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=MGrg9Hb7HgzLN0Lelq_xrXNAruVl77ia" />

Plus Studio said the tower had been designed to maximise views from each apartment, taking in the Maroochy River, Sunshine Coast hinterland, Cotton Tree and Maroochydore Beach and ocean.

Those views have also shaped one of the project's key features, with Walker proposing to put the primary resident amenity on Level 29 rather than lower within the building.

The rooftop would feature a 284.9 sqm pool area with an infinity edge, along with a cold pool, spa, sauna, 93.2 sqm gym, sunset lounge, BBQ and dining areas, pool deck and private dining space. Cabanas and day beds are also shown across the recreation level.

The two penthouses would extend across the upper levels and each feature private terraces and plunge pools.

<h2 data-end="4202" data-section-id="v5f4ix" data-start="4160">Walker's growing Maroochydore footprint</h2>

Celeste further reinforces Walker's commitment to the transformation of Maroochydore City Centre.

Walker is one of the key partners delivering the new CBD alongside Sunshine Coast Council and SunCentral Maroochydore, with the broader 62-hectare Priority Development Area occupying the former Horton Park Golf Course and surrounding land.

The precinct is ultimately expected to accommodate at least 4,000 new homes as Maroochydore evolves into the Sunshine Coast's principal commercial and residential centre.

When SOL secured approval in February 2025, Walker Managing Director and CEO David Gallant described it as the "first of many residential projects" the company planned for the Maroochydore City Centre.

Celeste now provides the clearest indication yet of what comes next.

The site sits immediately within the new CBD, with the design report identifying Sunshine Plaza and surrounding parkland within walking distance and Maroochydore Beach around a five-minute drive away.

For Walker, the timing of the application comes as its first residential bet on the new CBD appears to have been vindicated.

SOL has progressed from planning approval to construction while its first release has approached sell-out, giving Walker confidence to push ahead with another 208 apartments and take its residential pipeline in the Maroochydore City Centre to around 450 dwellings across the two projects.

Celeste remains subject to planning approval, with the architectural material describing the scheme as a preliminary yield study that may change through the assessment process.

Staff reporter

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