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David Steel, a former Cobden estate agent has been sentenced to three months’ jail after pleading guilty to almost 40 charges relating to mismanagement of his clients’ money, according to Consumer Affairs Victoria
David Alexander Scott Steel, 57, was convicted last month in Warrnambool County Court of 37 charges concerning trust account deficiencies and defalcations. These included fraudulently converting trust money in breach of the Estate Agents Act 1980.
It was reported on his charging that Mr Steel was the sole director of the company when more than $450,000 was found to be missing from the account of Realestate Property Pty Ltd.
Mr Steel also gave an undertaking to the court to be of good behaviour for two years.
Judge Michael O'Connell said Steel's business approach was "inept and cavalier," The Warranabool Standard reported.
The company, Realestate Property Pty Ltd (ACN: 114 758 217), trading as 'David Steel First National', was also convicted and fined $10,000.
Mr Steel and the company also pleaded guilty to a charge of failure to lodge bonds, in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.
Under Victorian laws, an estate agent has strict obligations to deposit clients’ money into a relevant trust account.
The Warrnambool lawyer Kiernan Celestina represented Mr Steel who moved to Vietnam and was travelling back to Australia to attend court.
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Former Cobden estate agent David Steel pleads guilty to mismanagement of clients' money

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The Sunshine Coast industrial market continued to strengthen during 2019, accotding to the latest report from valuation firm Herron Todd White.
They found that while there have been very few highprofile sales settled to date, underlying fundamentals continue to improve. We have seen further land developed in the Aura estate south of Caloundra with land prices of $250 to $300 per square metre generally being achieved.
The majority of larger sheds being constructed in this area are to be owner-occupied with strata development seeing values in the $2,000-plus per square metre range.
The lack of further land development in the Kawana and Kunda Park precincts is driving rental levels higher.
The HTW valuers said, "some recent rentals that we are aware of include a circa 1,500 square metre modern shed at $135 per square metre gross per annum and a circa 2,600 square metre modern shed at $131 per square metre gross per annum."
"This shows general rental growth of circa 15 per cent over the past threeyear period for similar quality product."
"Rentals are also increasing for smaller strata titled holdings with recent achieved rents in the $150 to $180 per square metre gross per annum range across the Sunshine Coast."
"Yields are generally in the 5.5 to seven per cent range for smaller strata stock which appeals primarily to owner- occupiers."
"These returns are not attractive to investors generally, though owneroccupiers are seeing this as a good alternative to leasing given lending rates are typically sub-five per cent across the market," they concluded.
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Sunshine Coast industrial market continues strengthening: HTW Industrial

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There is strong investment demand at present in the Brisbane industrial market, according to the latest report from Herron Todd White.
The valuation firm found, private investors generally seek well leased, modern assets in prime locations (close to major transport routes and infrastructure) along with long WALEs and certain terms.
They report said, "we expect to see this stronger sales activity continue through the remainder of 2019 due to the low interest rate environment, however we do note that investors are holding on to well leased, quality assets due to the lower risk profile these properties offer."
The first half of 2019 saw the Brisbane industrial market continue to demonstrate the cautiousness shown in 2018.
Prime and secondary precincts were increasingly tightly held with limited properties offered to the market, a major factor in the decline in sales volumes.
Mid 2019 post federal election saw confidence return to sellers and subsequently an increase in sales volumes.
The HTW valuers said, "notably, institutional investors are able to acquire larger assets on subsix per cent yields."
"Other prime investment yields continue to tighten, generally ranging from six to seven per cent."
"On the back of this, secondary yields have also seen some firming with recent sales showing a range of seven to eight per cent."
"Despite the flourish of activity post-election, we expect sales volumes to remain strong for the remainder of 2019," they concluded.
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Brisbane industrial market sees strong investment confidence return: HTW Industrial

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The industrial market continues to be driven by a supply shortage and growth in e-commerce creating a greater need for warehouse and logistics space, according to the latest report from Herron Todd White
The report found, Melbourne’s industrial market on the back of this demand has continued to perform strongly over the past 12 months.
This has seen yields sitting at 30-year record lows.
Land values have also increased significantly throughout 2019, especially industrial areas within proximity of major road linkages.
The valuers said, "as at June 2019, industrial rents in the west were ranging from $75 to $80 per square metre, with rents being slightly higher in the southeast at $85 to $95 per square metre."
"Ongoing industrial development should ease supply issues in the near future, however, demand is set to remain strong in the west with continuing demand from e-commerce and logistics companies that require a location within proximity of the CBD and major transport linkages."
There is still some downward pressure on yields due to the low interest rate environment in which investors are seeking opportunities to acquire industrial assets to enhance their portfolios," they concluded.
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Melbourne Industrial property yields sit at 30 year lows: HTW Industrial

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The industrial sector continues to be the most buoyant of the three main commercial property classes, driven primarily by activity surrounding the port of Port Kembla, a profitable BlueScope steelworks, mining activity which has rebounded over more recent times and a strong Sydney industrial market, according to the latest report from Herron Todd White
The property valuation firm found, owner-occupiers and private investors are active while there is also an increased appetite for higher valued assets as illustrated by the June 2019 sale of 1 Darcey Road, Port Kembla to an owneroccupier for $8.6 million plus GST, reflecting rates of $965 per square metre of lettable area and $345 per square metre of improved land area.
Investment sales have been scarce due to the lack of properties available.
Analysed market yields are hovering between six and seven per cent and even lower for sub-$1.5 million properties in industrial precincts near the Wollongong CBD.
The valuers added, "agents are reporting some upward pressure on rents due to limited stock with gross face rents typically ranging from $100 to $150 per square metre and even higher for smaller modern style warehouses."
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Wollongong industrial market remains the most bouyant: HTW Industrial

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There have been no sales of larger industrial sites of any note in the area in recent months, according to the latest report from valuation firm Herron Todd White.
The report found that given this, they took look at the sale of a large parcel of industrial land located close to the port and CBD.
The property, known as 110 Elizabeth Street, Tighes Hill is a 3.45 hectare parcel of remediated industrial land. The property is located at the corner of a major industrial intersection and has a frontage of almost 500 metres to the Industrial Highway.
The property was sold in April 2019 for an undisclosed sum.
The HTW valuers said, "we note that there is currently a DA with council for a service station which will take up approximately 6,000 square metres at the Elizabeth Street elevation. For the remaining parcel, the initial plan is for a multi-unit retail warehouse development."
"The proposed development will comprise three lots with up to 17 units ranging from 110 to 800 square metres approximately. The development also includes significant common area parking and a car wash facility. This project will be an industrial retail park and will be the only development of its type this close to the CBD," they added.
It’s likely that these units will attract strong demand from a variety of industrial retailers as well as general warehouse users.
Proximity to the CBD and Newcastle Port as well as having direct access to the Industrial Highway, which essentially links the CBD to the Pacific Highway, will be attractive features to tenants.
The report authors also said, "with the continuing development of the Honeysuckle precinct as well as new residential developments in Wickham and limited bulky goods retailers nearby, this creates a good opportunity for a range of tenants."
"The effect on rents that this development will have is difficult to ascertain until the mix of tenants is more obvious, however the proximity to the CBD and services would indicate a medium to high level of demand, and we would expect lease terms of three years and above as tenants look to secure longer term tenancies," they concluded.
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Newcastle industrial market sees no large scale sales: HTW Industrial

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The Sydney metropolitan industrial market remains an attractive home for capital with investors chasing yields and potential for capital growth, according to the latest report from valuation firm Herron Todd White.
The property valuation firm found, the effects of this current demand are partly driven by a lack of available supply. Demand remains strong across most sectors of the market, from entry level to large scale assets.
In the second quarter of 2019, approximately 70,000 square metres of industrial supply was added which is 46 per cent below the approximate 130,000 square metres added in the same quarter of 2018.
Industrial land values have grown at a reported 14 per cent annually over the past five years.
The HTW valuers said, "indeed, the New South Wales Valuer General has recently undertaken land valuations across the state that resulted in significant growth in industrial land values, with industrial land showing the strongest overall increase amongst all uses. The average industrial statutory land value increased by 17.5 per cent."
"Notable local government areas that have seen increasing land values include Cumberland and Blacktown."
"The lack of land supply and increased demand for smaller assets has led to the development of a number of multi-unit strata developments, including Primewest’s estate project, Interlink Strathfield at Enfield and a three level, multi-storey, 44 industrial unit plus 90 storage unit development at Revesby, known as The Mavis Quad in Sydney’s South."
"The upshot of the lack of supply and rising values is a further tightening of yields which we expect to be at or close to the firm end of the current cycle, with entry level stock often sitting at sub five per cent, particularly with respect to owner-occupier markets where owners place less reliance on yields and cash flow as properties are purchased for their own usage," they added.
As a result, the achieved market yields for properties sold with vacant possession tend to be lower than those associated with investment sales.
Large format industrial yields are currently sitting in the general range of six to seven per cent.
The valiers stated, another factor that has contributed to growth in the Sydney industrial market is the ongoing upgrades to transport networks that will serve to better connect industrial precincts across Sydney, particularly with respect to western Sydney.
Current projects include WestConnex, Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek, Pacific Highway upgrade, NorthConnex and the Northern Road upgrade.
A further $50 billion has been committed to various future projects, HTW noted.
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Sydney industrial land values see 15% growth in 5 years: HTW Industrial

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A 143 year-old Blue Mountains guest house, that was originally built for the Fairfax family, has come onto the market.
Mount Victoria Manor, at 11 Montgomery Street, Mount Victoria, is currently a working hotel.
It features 10 rooms with ensuites, four large family rooms with ensuites, one two-bedroom apartment and one four-bedroom apartment.
<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/2019/10/14/mt%20manor%201.jpg" alt="">
The hotel also has a commercial kitchen, a restaurant dining room that can seat 80 people and an enclosed alfresco-styled observatory.
<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/2019/10/14/mt%20manor%202.jpg" alt="">
It sits on a 7,622 square metre block.
Built in 1876, the Fairfax family owned the property until 1887.
<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/2019/10/14/Mt%20Manor.jpg" alt="">
It most recently traded in May of 2015, when it sold for $1,100,000.
The historic house has been listed through Hartley Realty &amp; Lifestyle Properties. 
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Historic Mount Victoria Manor listed for sale

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Kew is an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoira, 5 km east from Melbourne's Central Business District in the City of Booroondara.

In the recent 2017 property market downturn, median house values in Kew fell roughly $450,000 peak to trough.

That's just the fall observable since prices started falling in early 2018, slightly later than the downturn.

Median unit prices in Kew have remained stabler with little overall change from mid 2017 to current day.

However, since climbing to a new peak in early 2019 median apartment prices have fallen $40,000 to where they currently reside, according to the <a href="/news">latest CoreLogic data</a>.

<img alt="" src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/10/14/KEW%20median%20prices%202.JPG">

Kew has grown steadily since the early Bridge Road crossing development and is cited as one of the most prestigious suburbs in Melbourne.

Streets in the Sackville Ward (bounded by Barkers, Burke, Cotham and Glenferrie Roads), such as Alfred, Rowland, Wellington, Grange and Sackville, have numerous examples of Edwardian, Victorian and contemporary architecture.

To learn all you need to know about Kew, from median asking rents to household composition, <a href="/news">click here</a>. 

As a landlord it is important to check the asking rent trend regularly to ensure you are getting the most value out of your investment.
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How Kew house prices have fallen since the 2017 downturn

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Prahran is an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, 5 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Stonnington.
In the recent 2017 property market downturn, median unit values in Prahran fell roughly $125,000 peak to trough.
They have made a moderate recovery since then recovering over 50% of the loss.
House prices in Prahran have seen larger fall in value however they have yet to see a similar trend of recovery, according to the <a href="/developments/st-albans-vic-3021">latest CoreLogic data</a>.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/10/11/Prahran%20Values.JPG" alt="">
Residential Prahran consists of mostly single storey Victorian and Edwardian terrace houses, with some larger double storey terraces closer to the main shopping strips.
To learn all you need to know about Prahran, from median asking rents to household composition, <a href="/developments/st-albans-vic-3021">click here</a>. 
As a landlord it is important to check the asking rent trend regularly to ensure you are getting the most value out of your investment.
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How Prahran apartment prices have jumped since the 2017 downturn

One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

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FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

Staff reporter

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