j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Brisbane dominate school catchment property price growth: Domain

Melbourne's secondary school catchment property growth was top-tier: Domain

Government school zone house price growth outpaces Sydney: Domain

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The Bundaberg and Bargara markets are still going well despite COVID, according to the latest report from valuation firm Herron Todd White.
They found that, according to CoreLogic's platform, there have been five properties sold in 2020 for between $1 million and $1.5 million, and eight properties sold for $800,000 to $1 million.
These properties are diverse, ranging from prestige homes and units in Bargara, either in upmarket estates or oceanfront or with ocean views, to redevelopment blocks on the oceanfront along with two properties over one hectare improved with large dwellings. 
The high value sales figures were considerably less last year.
Catherine Kersnovske, a property valuer at Herron Todd White, says it will be interesting to see what eventuates as the weather warms up, with a number of listings over $800,000 in the area.
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Bundaberg prestige market sales volume grows: HTW

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Prices remain resilient and on an upward trend in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, valuation firm Herron Todd White found.
They found, despite the unprecedented year, there have been some notable prestige sales in the inner east of the city.
A home at 13 Wimba Avenue in Kew sold for an $7.9 million in March 2020, just before COVID took over the housing market.
The home has six bedrooms and six bathrooms across three lift-accessible levels on 918 square metres of land.
The property, with northern sunlight and range views, has a Hampton’s inspired summer room that opens to a large pool and alfresco area. There's a basement-level theatre, billiards room, gym and cellar, along with a six-car garage.
The substantial property sales aren’t only limited to houses on large sites in some of Melbourne’s most affluent neighbourhoods.
Luxury units, townhouses and apartments built with well-appointed finishes, highly desirable features and clever design also fetch prices much higher than the median prices seen in the eastern corridor.
A city-facing, ground level unit at G02/8 Main Drive, Kew sold off-the-plan in August 2020 for $2.15 million.
The residence will comprise three bedrooms and two bathrooms and feature natural stone and timber surfaces throughout its kitchen, bathroom and ensuite as well as an abundance of brushed chrome finishes.
It also features a study nook, outdoor entertainment area and space to park two cars.
The property is one of 17 residences in the <a href="/buildings/oakwood-kew-residences-8-main-drive-kew">Oakwood development in Kew</a>, located on a tree-lined boulevard, approximately 15 minutes drive from the CBD.
 
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East Melbourne prestige market seeing upward trend: HTW

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NSW's Central Coast has a diverse supply of prestige properties, ranging from beachfront homes hugging the sandy shores from Pearl Beach in the south stretching to Norah Head in the north to rural lifestyle properties hidden away in the natural valleys of Matcham and Holgate, according to the latest report from Herron Todd White
The valuation firm said that rural region to the west of the M1 motorway, located in Mount White, Mangrove Mountain, Kulnura and Yarramalong, should not be forgotten with property owners of large rural holdings and horse stud farms calling this area home.
The year so far has been one of uncertainty and unfamiliarity with the emergence of COVID-19, however by looking through the wise lens of hindsight, the prestige market on the Central Coast has shown resilience to date with sustained confidence throughout these uncertain times.
Local agents have been rather buoyed by the level of demand and are reporting increased buyer enquiry from Sydneysiders mixed in with stable local buyer interest. One reason for the increased interest from potential Sydney buyers is the change in workplace environments with the working from home movement in some professions widening the pool of buyers for the region.
"Over the course of the year, we’ve seen some of the most impeccably presented homes the region has to offer transact, with the likes of 21 John Gray Close, Terrigal (pictured) selling for $4.162 million on 11 May and 65 Forresters Beach Road, Forresters Beach selling for $5.2 million on 10 July as reported by CoreLogic RPData. These homes are located along the coastline and exude architectural brilliance with endless ocean views to match, Todd Beckman, a HTW property valuer said.
"For the astute buyers out there who are looking to potentially purchase a prestige property on the Central Coast, look no further than 30 South Pacific Drive, Macmasters Beach. According to CoreLogic RPData, local agent Cathy Baker from Belle Property Killcare is currently listing this property for sale at a price it commands (guide $5.5 million). The property is located on the Macmasters Beach headland, spread over a little over one hectare, boasting an architecturally designed single level residence with its own heated pool, games room, bocce court and putting and pitching greens for the keen golfers."
"Our region is home to some of the most successful and influential business entrepreneurs who make up a percentage of buyers of high-end property on the Central Coast. Celebrities look to our market to escape the hustle and bustle of the capital city lifestyle. It has been publicised that Sophie Monk purchased a rural lifestyle property in Matcham for around $2.25 million; Trevor Hamilton from McGrath Real Estate secured the sale. Although turnover of prestige properties on the Central Coast is typically low, reflective of limited supply levels, the sale prices recorded in our most expensive market in 2020 have equally matched if not exceeded some record sale prices achieved in 2019, indicating that confidence will remain in this market segment throughout the remainder of 2020," Todd Beckman. concluded.
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NSW's Central Coast prestige market shows resilience: HTW

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A segment Dover Heights trophy home built for 'multi-generational' living is set for auction in mid-December.
The six-bedroom, five-bathroom property can be split into two or even 3 linked residences depending on the preference of the owner.
The home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-dover+heights-134928170" target="_blank">5 Lord Howe Street</a> is located close to coastal scenic walks, Rose Bay shops, elite schools and transportation.
Set on 585 sqm, it captures sweeping 360 degree views over the city skyline, Sydney Harbour Bridge and out to sea. 
Michael Pallier of Sydney's Sotheby's Internal Realty is marketing the abode.
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Segmented Dover Heights trophy home set for auction

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The former MasterChef judge Gary Mehigan has listed his extended 1880s Malvern East home for December 12 auction with a price guide of $5.9 million to $6.49 million. 
The celebrity chef is understood to be planning to spend more time at his Victorian country property.
His four bedroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-malvern+east-134950906" target="_blank">Central Park Road property</a> was bought in wife Mandy’s name for $3,301,000 in 2012.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/NOV/30/Mehigan%20Malvern%202.jpg" alt="">
The single level home, which features a solar-heated pool on its 1070 sqm block, has been listed through Marshall White Stonnuington.
It was featured in Home Beautiful in 2016 with its kitchen having two ovens.
 
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Celebrity chef Gary Mehigan lists Malvern East home

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A waterfront trophy home in the Gold Coast’s Sovereign Islands has been listed for sale.
The home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-sovereign+islands-134417202">28 Excalibur Court</a>, the home belongs to former Seaside marketing director Zelma Creswick, who paid $8 million in 2017.
It was constructed by the developer Donald Barclay, who paid $1.3 million for the 2,400 sqm block in 1988, with the home being built soon after.
The home, offered for rent at $3,500 a week in February then cut to $2,500 in July, has four bedrooms and five bathrooms, with 89 metres of wide water frontage.
It features an open fireplace, swimming pool and spa, entertaining patio and terraced gardens.
The European-style abode is only a bridge away from restaurants and Paradise Point beaches.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/Screen%20Shot%202020-09-17%20at%2012.09.39%20pm.png" alt="">
“Ideally suited to large families who are passionate about entertaining, this timeless double storey residence is ready for the right buyer to take it to the next level of waterfront luxury”, the marketing said.
Kollosche’s Matt Lanyon and William Sarti hold the listing.
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Sovereign Islands trophy home listed

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The Federal Government program offering cash grants for house and land and apartment construction projects has been extended, but at a lower amount.
The HomeBuilder program had been due to finish at the end of the year, but will be extended until March 31, as builders were concerned of a bottleneck of applications towards the end of the scheme.
Of the 24,000 applications, 19,180 are for new builds - houses and apartments - with 4,697 for renovations.
Contracts signed between January and March next year will attract a lower rate of $15,000, not the current $25,000 rate.
Home buyers will be given more time to start construction.
The price caps in NSW and Victoria will be lifted.
Property price caps for new builds in the two key states will be lifted for contracts signed between January and March next year, rising to $950,000 in New South Wales and $850,000 in Victoria.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the extension was expected to lead to another 15,000 construction projects, bringing the total anticipated renovations or builds under the program to 42,000.
"It's critical we keep the momentum up for Australia's economic recovery," Mr Morrison said.
"Extending HomeBuilder will mean a steady pipeline of construction activity to keep tradies on the tools."
The amount of time all approved applicants who signed contracts on or after June 4, 2020, are given to start construction has been extended from three months to six months.
The latest measures have been costed at $240 million, bringing the total expected to $921 million.
Urban Taskforce CEO, Tom Forrest said he was delighted to see that the Government had listened.
“The HomeBuilder scheme was limited in its original design because of the price caps that resulted in very limited applicability in the main markets – Sydney and Melbourne. 
“Today the Morrison Government has increased the eligibility cap for NSW and Victoria from $750,000 to $950,000 and $850,000. 
"Urban Taskforce members welcome this adjustment – though many lament the length of time it took for the government to respond to industry concerns.”
“While the extension in the requirement to commence construction work from 3 months of an application to 6 months is very welcome, it is disappointing that the HomeBuilder support package has dropped from $25,000 to only $15,000 for applications made between 1 January and 31 March 2021.
“The revised scheme will support the production of new homes, reducing upward pressure on prices," he added.
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COVID-19 HomeBuilder scheme gets extended and expanded into 2021

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

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