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Johnson Property Group has received approval to develop a tourist precinct within its $388 million masterplanned marina community, Trinity Point overlooking Barden’s Bay in Lake Macquarie.
The NSW Planning Assessment Commission has approved the group's plan to modify its earlier approved Masterplan Concept to incorporate a 5-Star hotel/commercial precinct and an apartment precinct which includes short stay and residential apartments.
“This will be a key economic driver for the local community and a major new tourist destination for New South Wales,” said Keith Johnson, CEO of Johnson Property Group.
The hotel precinct is proposed to comprise a 5-star hotel, a resort-style pool, spa and gym facilities, a 200-seat restaurant and a cafe. 
The apartment precinct is expected to comprise 250 apartments comprising of a mix of residential and short stay units, with car parking.
The company received development application approval to build the first 94 berths of a proposed 188-berth marina as part of the masterplanned community earlier, to be called Trinity Point Marina.
Trinity Point spans 23 hectares and is located in Lake Macquarie, an hour and a half from Sydney. 
Former Miss Universe, model and entrepreneur, Jennifer Hawkins is a brand ambassador of Trinity Point, being a local girl from Holmesville near Newcastle. 
Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke joins model Jen Hawkins in becoming an ambassador for Johnson Property Group as he announced this week he had bought into the new development Trinity Point.
<img src="/images/2015/11/23/clarke.jpg" alt="" width="567" height="344">
Caption: Johnson Property Group Managing Director, Keith Johnson and former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke
He bought a three storey, four bedroom terrace off the plan. It cost $1,388,888.
"Trinity Point is going to become an absolute Sydney weekend hotspot – another Palm Beach or daytrip destination but with more of a marina-lifestyle resort focus,” he said.
“We are absolutely delighted to be the first buyers to secure a stunning lakeside home at Trinity Point and are already planning our family holidays and weekend trips away staying in our beautiful three storey terrace house with views out over Lake Macquarie.” 
The launch of land sales at Trinity Point which will take place on November 29 on site.
The first release will comprise a total of 32 land lots, priced from $398,888 ranging in size from 450 square metres to 660 square metres.
To register for interest in land or apartment sales at Trinity Point, register <a href="https://trinitypoint.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.
Once completed, Trinity Point will include 189 residential land lots, 250 residential and short stay apartments and a five star, 65 room Pullman resort.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Johnson Property's Trinity Point gets NSW govt nod to modify Lake Macquarie tourist and residential precinct

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Close to 5,800 homes will have been auctioned this month in Melbourne in just four Super Saturday weekends, making it the biggest auction month in Victoria’s history.
The previous record was set in November last year, when more than 5,300 homes went to auction.
Capping off the month will be this final weekend, when 1,810 homes will go under the hammer, including 1,735 on the Saturday, and 75 on Sunday. This would break the previous record of 1,740 weekend auctions for the week ending October 26, 2014.
In all, 1,850 homes will go to auction this week, capping off a strong spring selling season.
REIV CEO Enzo Raimondo said it has been a remarkable year for the state’s property sector, particularly in Melbourne, in a year in which:
More homes have gone to auction than ever before: 37,700 across the state in the year to 23 November, 5% above the same period last year;
Auctions in outer suburbs, previously the domain of private sales, continued to grow, following a trend that started in mid-­2014;
The 2015 auction capital was Reservoir for the third successive year with 624 auctions;
Of the top 10 auction suburbs this year, Glen Iris recorded the highest clearance rate at 85.5%;
Croydon South, with 29 auctions, had a 100% rate.
“Victoria’s buoyant property market has recorded solid price growth over the past year with buyer demand and record low interest rates encouraging more vendors to sell their homes at auction,” Raimondo said.
“High auction numbers are creating unparalleled opportunities for buyers, with multiple auctions held in more than 300 Melbourne suburbs in November.
“Melbourne property buyers are currently spoiled for choice with high auction numbers forecast until mid-­December.”
Auction preview for week ending November 29
<table border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>Last weekend</td>
<td>1,350 auctions (exc. 31 postponed and 45 withdrawn)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>This weekend</td>
<td>1,850 auctions</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>This weekend last year   </td>
<td>66% from 1,399 auctions</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
The REIV expects about 1,850 auctions in 367 suburbs this week. The top auction locations this weekend are Mount Waverley (30 auctions), St Kilda (28 auctions) and Reservoir (27 auctions).
The 1,850 auctions scheduled this week is expected to deliver a national record for auctions. 
CoreLogic RP Data have advised more than 1000 properties are scheduled to go under the hammer across Sydney this weekend.
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Melbourne caps off big November 2015 auction month with record Super Saturday

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Melton West - and the 3337 postcode - was identified as one of the most affordable rental suburbs closest to Melbourne's central business district, according to Australia's first rental affordability index.
The index is a joint project between peak housing advocate National Shelter, Community Sector Banking and SGS Economics &amp; Planning.
Property Observer went looking for houses and apartments in Melbourne's Melton West to find a suitable range. These are the ones we came up with:
 1. A four-bedroom house on <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/rental-properties/19-lomandra-bowl-melton-west/Property-Details-rent-residential-9789526">19 Lomandra Bowl, MELTON WEST 3337</a> (above) is available for $370 a week. This one topped the rentals for houses. 
2. A three-bedroom house on <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/rental-properties/4-red-oak-street-melton-west/Property-Details-rent-residential-9784033">4 Red Oak Street, MELTON WEST 3337</a> (below) is available for $280 a week.
<img src="/images/2015/11/26/4-Red-Oak-Street-Melton-West-VIC-3337-Real-Estate-photo-1-large-9784033.jpg" alt="" width="469" height="352">
3. A two-bedroom unit on <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/rental-properties/2-7-fishburn-grove-melton-west/Property-Details-rent-residential-9787782" target="_blank">2/7 Fishburn Grove, MELTON WEST 3337</a> (below) is out for rent for $255 a week.
<img src="/images/2015/11/26/2-7-Fishburn-Grove-Melton-West-VIC-3337-Real-Estate-photo-1-large-9787782.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" style="font-size: 12.16px; line-height: 1.3em;">
4. A two-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/rental-properties/25u-scott-street-melton/Property-Details-rent-residential-9789004" target="_blank">25U Scott Street, MELTON 3337</a> (below) is available for $220 a week and was the cheapest. 
<img src="/images/2015/11/26/700_scott.jpg" alt="" width="540" height="328">
The median house rental for Melton West is $280 per week with a median gross yield of 4.7%, according to data on <a href="/news">www.propertyvalue.com.au</a>.
Its median gross yield is higher than the national average of 4.24%.
For units, the median rent is $260 per week, while the gross yield is 5.7%, also higher than the national average of 4.63%, the data shows. 
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Melton West rental affordability: What landlords are asking from tenants

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A new report by LF Economics compares Australia's housing market to a Ponzi scheme, building on the theme of unaffordability in its previous reports. 
Lindsay David's latest report talks about how many first home buyers (FHBs) depend on their parents for financial assistance for a deposit and then use their homes as collateral to secure mortgages. While this fast-tracks their home ownership, the difficult situation of paying off ever-increasing debt exposes many Baby Boomer parents to a potentially dangerous situation should their children default.
The report says "in reality, many parents (the Baby Boomer cohort) are asset-rich but income-poor". It claims few parents have enough savings and other liquid assets on hand to meet their legal obligations without selling their home if their children default.
It says this loan guarantee strategy in a rising housing market for securing ever-larger amounts of debt is essentially pyramid or Ponzi finance. 
Founded by David and Philip Soos, LF Economics had previously argued that Australia’s housing market was one of the most overleveraged and unaffordable in the Western world.
It says Australia’s long-term housing price index, adjusted for inflation and quality, demonstrates the phenomenal boom in prices beginning in 1996 (a turning point in residential dwelling markets globally).
What distinguishes this boom from all others is its relative size and length of time without incurring a substantial correction. Between 1996 and 2015, real housing prices have risen by 141%. This surge in prices is why the housing market is so unaffordable, it states.
The report is also critical of government and industry claims that declining nominal mortgage interest rates since the peak in 1990 to record lows today has increased affordability, hence assisting FHBs. But this does not account for the ever-rising deposit needed for entry into the housing market given record-high price to income ratios and the hefty cost of lenders mortgage insurance, it adds. The current low interest rate also makes it difficult to save for a deposit.
It says the data shows Australia is in the midst of the largest housing bubble on record, both in terms of prices to rents and household incomes but that government and regulators have been denying the existence of a bubble.
"The price to income ratio (P/I) is as an indicator of residential property valuation, also referred to as the median multiple," says the report.
"When real housing prices began to lift off in 1996, the P/I ratio was around 4 for both houses and units, indicating superior affordability.
"A new peak was established in 2004 and remained steady for the next decade, with a ratio of 7 for houses and 6 for units.
"As the latest booms in Sydney and Melbourne have caused nationwide prices to rise further, the P/I ratio for houses and units have reached a new peak of 8.3 and 6.4 respectively in 2015Q2.
"It is clear a significant increase occurred from 1996 onwards as household incomes have not kept pace with the growth in dwelling prices. The P/I ratio certainly suggests Australia’s residential housing market is unaffordable."
In conclusion, it says the financial services industry does not heed and has no incentive to consider the financial livelihoods of FHBs after purchase. Regulators have ignored the Ponzi lending practices by lenders, believing the RBA will have the adequate ability to bail them out at taxpayers’ expense the day this classic Ponzi lending scheme breaks down.
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Parental guidance, property and ponzi: LF Economics

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Joel Phillip Murray, an estate agent, was reprimanded and had his licence suspended for three months and conditions attached to it, after failing to have his trust accounts audited. 
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found that Mr Murray, 41, of Berwick, contravened the Estate Agents Act 1980 and the Estate Agents (Professional Conduct) Regulations 2008.
Mr Murray failed to cause his trust account to be audited within three months of the end of the 2010-2014 financial years, and to lodge copies with the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria, as required by the Act.
The tribunal found that Mr Murray contravened the Regulations by failing to exercise due skill, care and diligence in performing his functions as an estate agent, and by engaging in unprofessional conduct.
He was reprimanded and had his licence suspended for three months from 20 October 2015 until 19 January 2016.
His licence was also made subject to a condition that, on or before 19 October in each of 2015, 2016 and 2017, Mr Murray must notify the Director in writing whether or not he has complied with his trust account audit and lodging requirements for the previous financial year.
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Strict trust account audit requirements for estate agent Joel Phillip Murray

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A speculatively built industrial property comprising six units at Braeside in Melbourne’s south-east has sold for a total of $1.84 million and an average $2,200 a square metre.
Developed by Melbourne-based Ballantyne Builders, the units ranging from 123 to 162 square metres, sold before completion. 
Located at 20 Canterbury Road in a well-established industrial estate, it boasts of tenants such as Nissan Motorsport, Fabtronics Australia and Weber Performance.
"The units were designed to meet pent-up demand in this sector and with few similar units of comparable price and quality available, were quickly taken up," said Chris Telley of Savills, who brokered the deals with Gareth Jackson and Nixon Industrial.
He added that the quick sales were driven by the price point, truck access, secure premises, and size. They are close to Wells Road, Governor Road and Springvale Road.
"Ballantyne seized on a market opportunity and were well rewarded,’’ Telley said.
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Six industrial units in Melbourne's Braeside sell for $1.84 million

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A 915 square metre site in Melbourne's Collingwood and marketed as a development opportunity has sold for $3.95 million.
The sale was brokered by CBRE’s Jamus Campbell.
According to the agent, the sale of the 73-77 Sackville Street site wasn't without challenges, with the dated office and warehouse accommodation providing no holding income and the Commercial 2 zoning limiting residential development potential.
The price translated to a rate of $4,316 per square metres.
“The high developer demand for Collingwood sites with Commercial 2 zoning has been underpinned by the Victorian state government’s Plan Melbourne 2050 initiative, which earmarked Collingwood for significant urban renewal,” Campbell said.
Plans are also afoot to develop the surrounding areas into a mixed-use precinct comprising cafes, retail, office and residential accommodations.
“To facilitate this vision and enable residential development, the City of Yarra are considering rezoning Commercial 2 properties to Commercial 1, which has resulted in a flurry of savvy landowners in Collingwood making the most of record prices being paid,” Campbell added.
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Proposed Collingwood rezoning site sells for $3.95 million 

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Carlton conveyancer Mandeep Johal, 37, has been reprimanded and had conditions placed on his licence, by his and Consumer Affairs Victoria's consent, after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found he contravened the Conveyancers Act 2006.
Consumer Affairs Victoria applied for an inquiry into Mr Johal's conduct after receiving numerous complaints when he was trading as MM Conveyancing, Metropolitan Melbourne Conveyancing and Budget Conveyancing.
The tribunal found Mr Johal had contravened the Act and its associated regulations by failing to:
<ul>
<li>disclose a potential or actual conflict of interest relating to his conveyancing services</li>
<li>disclose the costs of conveyancing work to his clients, and including legally required information in his cost disclosures</li>
<li>notify the Business Licensing Authority of information required in his conveyancer's licence application</li>
<li>comply with the rules of conduct a conveyancer must adhere to under the law.</li>
</ul>
As part of the conditions placed on his licence, Mr Johal must:
<ul>
<li>install a voicemail and email notification advising clients that their telephone call or email will be responded to within 48 hours</li>
<li>implement and publish a complaint-handling procedure, have it audited every six months for three years, and provide a copy of the audit report to the Director within five days of receiving it.</li>
</ul>
Mr Johal was also ordered, by consent, to undertake an Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing at the Melbourne Polytechnic within nine months of the date of the tribunal's order, and to notify the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria after successfully completing it.
Mr Johal was also ordered to pay a penalty of $1000 into the Victorian Property Fund.
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MM Conveyancing told to get some education: VCAT

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An office, showroom and warehouse in Melbourne's Fairfield has sold under the hammer for $2.030 million to a local investor.
The 40-42 Montefiore Street property fetched $430,000 more than the reserve price of $1.6 million, according to selling agents Dean Alexander and David Bourke of Fitzroys.
The property is on an area of 1,827 square metres, with a building covering 1,675 square metres, including a two-level office/showroom and high clearance warehouse.
It has a 40-metre street frontage and on-site parking.
The Industrial 3-zoned property was sold with a three-year lease term from July 2014 to wheelchair manufacturer Mobility Plus, returning $136,485 per annum plus outgoings.
“The strong result demonstrates the strength of the market, particularly regarding well-located and well-leased properties,” said Alexander.
The property is close to the Eastern Freeway.
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Industrial property in Melbourne's Fairfield sells for $2.03 million

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The Australian student housing market is set to gain from the fastest growing foreign student population in the world next year, creating a significant development and investment opportunity for domestic and international organisations, says new research by global real estate advisor Savills.
Enrolments by foreign students in Australia rose 10.1% to 348,000 enrolments in the year to March 2015, while its student housing sector recorded annual growth in the volume of beds of 4.3% between 1999 and 2014.
The number of beds is projected to grow at an annual rate of 4.7% to 2018 but the sector is expected to suffer a supply shortfall with the provision of purpose-built accommodation currently at just 7%.
The market therefore offers major development and investment opportunities, although competing bids from residential projects for sites in major cities such as Melbourne and Brisbane may drive up costs.
Typical prime initial yields stand at 7%, much higher than the UK (5%) and the US (5.75%).
Savills’ World Student Housing report says Australia is the third biggest destination for foreign students globally, and the third-most popular destination for Chinese students after the US and Japan.
Attracted by an enviable, if comparatively expensive, quality of life, globally-recognised institutions and relative proximity to south-east Asia, Australia’s student population is set to increase exponentially in the coming decades, it says.
“With the US market having reached maturity, and the UK having reported record investment volumes of $ 6.5 billion in the first three quarters of 2015, Australia’s growing popularity among students globally offers a potentially new and exciting opportunity," said Marcus Roberts, director of student investment and development.
"We’ve already seen some landmark deals in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, but the market is relatively immature compared to the US and UK, and therefore presents good prospects for entrepreneurial capital and cash-rich organisations which have already cut their teeth in the US or UK."
He had a word of caution for investors, though, because the Australian government’s intention to remove the cap on tuition fees from 2016 could dent the country’s popularity.
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Housing to gain as Australia has fastest rise in foreign student population: Savills

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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