<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Sydney-based fund manager iProsperity and Singapore-based fund manager ZACD Group have announced the acquisition of a portfolio of 23 hotels in Australia from Luxembourg hotel investor, AccorInvest. 
The portfolio comprises 17 hotel properties which have been acquired for AUS $212.6 million.
 The transaction also incorporates six leasehold interests to be transferred subject to various conditions.
The transaction in terms of number of hotels is one of Australia’s largest hotel portfolio sales with 3,046 rooms and across Accor brands comprising MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, ibis and Ibis Budget. 
The hotels are located in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth and regional New South Wales.
The transaction was brokered by Craig Collins and Peter Harper of JLL Hotels &amp; Hospitality Group.
iProsperity have been Australia’s most active hotel investor over the last four years.
ZACD are an integrated asset manager listed in Hong Kong and headquartered in Singapore, offering integrated solutions across the real estate value chain.
Co-Founder and CEO, Stanley Yeo commented, “We are delighted to be partnering with iProsperity on this geographically diverse hotel portfolio. We both hold a strong conviction as to the positive outlook for the Australian hospitality market and we see this portfolio as an excellent vehicle to build a meaningful presence in the Australian hotel market.”
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

iProsperity and ZACD to acquire 23 AccorInvest hotels

<html><body>
Ray White Rural South Australia has eight rural properties going under the hammer.
The ongoing growth in farming land values in SA over the past few years has led to this flurry of auctions. 
The offering of Pine Drive (pictured above) presents an opportunity to acquire a 712 hectare parcel of land in the Farrell Flat area.
It's now in its fourth generation and 100th consecutive year of ownership in the same family name, Pine Drive is being offered for sale as a whole.
Ray White Rural SA Director Geoff Schell said some of the higher rainfall areas and more reliable cropping areas had seen capital growth of up to 20 to 30 per cent in the last two years.
<img src="https://f.datasrvr.com/f1/319/14297/Pinerow.JPG">
Mr Schell said, “many of the properties coming on to the market are from those exiting agriculture because they don’t have the next generation coming home to the family farm."
“They’re also coming from those who don’t have the scale of operation for business efficiency or don’t want to or are unable to increase debt levels to invest further into farm expansion."
“With the continuing dry across Australia, we’re also seeing very strong enquiry from within SA and NSW and the drier areas of Victoria for the higher rainfall areas of SA. The south-east region of SA has performed very well when many other areas have struggled."
<img src="https://f.datasrvr.com/f1/119/61884/Schaefer's.JPG"> “With the continued strength of the livestock sector, a number of our clients have sought opportunities to purchase grazing properties in south-east SA and higher rainfall areas of the Mid North and there’s also good enquiry for well-developed SA pastoral properties.
“We're also seeing investor interest in agriculture where both smaller private investors and high net worth investors see agriculture as a key investment area with solid returns and a bright future for the sector.
<img src="https://f.datasrvr.com/f1/419/73637/Smithams.JPG"> “Despite ongoing dry conditions for many areas of SA, many sales of agricultural and grazing land throughout SA have exceeded expectations in the last couple of years. In the reliable rainfall districts, we’ve seen demand outstripping supply. “South-east SA has seen a resurgence in enquiry levels in the past 12 months with buyers looking for the higher rainfall and reliability of this region," he concluded.
Upcoming Auctions for Ray White Rural SA;
<a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1Iv0mRHy/+dfphG6yLgAlW42AdMS8CdJ6URjGVdlxj6YlGgsGsZN3W2MERuzm6e+Z6y3Pqqlj1pJcAcFf+Af6RD0LxTw6DAC7b9SGE8BF3zg/3WIOVEW9P0=&amp;rh=ff00527bf108b4e4e8f335fe774bbd1e785f7c51" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">‘Pine Drive’, Farrell Flat</a> - Wednesday 2nd October, The Valleys Lifestyle Centre, Clare <a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1Iv0mRHy/+dfphG6yLgAlW42AdMS8CdJ6URjGVdlxj6YlGgsGsZN3W04WNxcLG5N1TFd63ZuBx8H/LXZPPUfE/Iaqyt5d6CuM9ntD1hROEtV&amp;rh=ff00527bf108b4e4e8f335fe774bbd1e785f7c51" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">‘Smitham’s’, Hart</a> - Wednesday 9th October, The Valleys Lifestyle Centre, Clare <a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1Iv0mRHy/+dfphG6yLgAlW42AdMS8CdJ6URjGVdlxj6YlGgsGsZN3W1hZ1VESpObD+5epUppz3lYUQ5pqmO8uxXyFpBbN+1s2xG4NT88QDq3Q0KkyI1zr6I=&amp;rh=ff00527bf108b4e4e8f335fe774bbd1e785f7c51" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">‘Pinerow’, Wirrabara</a> - Tuesday 15th October, Wirrabara Town Hall <a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1Iv0mRHy/+dfphG6yLgAlW42AdMS8CdJ6URjGVdlxj6YlGgsGsZN3W1hZ1VESpObD66rBHOFEW1zRpgeigMxx789eW4SDO9xHy752u0QoDbUHw0F9UENoU4=&amp;rh=ff00527bf108b4e4e8f335fe774bbd1e785f7c51" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">‘Stone Hut’, Wirrabara</a> - Tuesday 15th October, Wirrabara Town Hall <a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1Iv0mRHy/+dfphG6yLgAlW42AdMS8CdJ6URjGVdlxj6YlGgsGsZN3W0ybM1E5dEG1dWaWgP4Lrlp8HLC0+V4yczD/WKlzzRfcoC5HEw3RCUXiCssyNKgJcw=&amp;rh=ff00527bf108b4e4e8f335fe774bbd1e785f7c51" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">‘Schaefer’s’, Bethel</a> - Thursday 17th October, Dutton Park, Kapunda <a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1Iv0mRHy/+dfphG6yLgAlW42AdMS8CdJ6URjGVdlxj6YlGgsGsZN3W0ybM1E5dEG1RhovXw1rbB5My9i7JfQFKWpAdmgc3r8JbCKo4tqSok7&amp;rh=ff00527bf108b4e4e8f335fe774bbd1e785f7c51" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">‘Bagot Well Block’, Bagot Well</a> - Thursday 17th October, Dutton Park, Kapunda <a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1Iv0mRHy/+dfphG6yLgAlW42AdMS8CdJ6URjGVdlxj6YlGgsGsZN3W3I/1cdNSG2EXnn7u0nOb1vwGKWONmhaxTOP1uR8oGGCS0JQsHKNsdkj+S6My/nAXs=&amp;rh=ff00527bf108b4e4e8f335fe774bbd1e785f7c51" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">‘Launer’s’ Robertstown</a> - Thursday 17th October, Dutton Park Kapunda <a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1Iv0mRHy/+dfphG6yLgAlW42AdMS8CdJ6URjGVdlxj6YlGgsGsZN3W1hZ1VESpObD66rBHOFEW1zuWA28l3Esur8rsJaQvazRlnRNmAmt+qu&amp;rh=ff00527bf108b4e4e8f335fe774bbd1e785f7c51" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">‘Cobiacs’ Wirrabara</a> - Thursday 24th October, Wirrabara Town Hall.
</body></html>

Pine Drive in Farrel Flat, SA offered after a century: Ray White

<html><body>
ASIC is seeking the public’s view of school banking programs as part of its ongoing review of their use and impact in primary schools.
Members of the public and organisations interested in the issue are encouraged to respond to questions posed in the <a href="https://consultation.asic.gov.au/financial-capability/review-school-banking-programs/" target="_blank">Consultation Paper 323</a>, Review of school banking programs.
Community opinions will help inform the development of high-level principles on the implementation of school banking programs.
ASIC Commissioner Sean Hughes said, "Young people are engaging with money every day and they need to understand financial concepts and develop the skills to identify financial services that are right for them. Financial literacy is embedded in the Australian Curriculum, and needs to be – and there is a long history of school banking programs in Australian schools."
"It is important for ASIC to understand the range and extent of impacts that school banking programs can have on students, parents and school communities, as part of our responsibility to ensure the financial sector is delivering for all Australians, and especially for future generations of financial consumers."
ASIC has already consulted with a diverse range of stakeholders including primary school principals, parents, present and past students and organisations from the education and consumer advocacy sectors, as well as the authorised deposit-taking institutions offering the programs.
It is expected the review will be completed in early 2020.
</body></html>

ASIC is seeking public input on school banking programs

<html><body>
Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, the Mirvac chief executive, has spent $770,500 to buy a bolthole in Mirvac's recently completed development in Melbourne, the Eastbourne, which boasts apartments as an "inner city Eden".
She has recently noted securing her mortgage had been a "painful process."
"It's tortuous."
The scrutiny can "get non-sensical" she added. 
Title documents reveal her banker is Westpac.
The Killara-based Lloyd-Hurwitz had been known to be an off the plan buyer since the complex went up for sale in the pre-Royal Commission days of 2016.
Buyers of the apartments have also emerged as including Mirvac director Elana Rubin who spent $1.89 million.
There have now been calls for the Mirvac annual report to list such purchases in its related-party disclosure requirements.
Mirvac argues no specific declaration about an acquisition is required because shareholders were on notice that its directors had the opportunity to purchase apartments.
This article was first published in the Weekend Australian.
 
</body></html>

Mirvac boss calls mortgage approval process 'tortuous' after buying Melbourne investment apartment

<html><body>
The Brisbane CBD office market will benefit from continued growth in Queensland’s economy, according to the latest research from Knight Frank.
Their Brisbane CBD Office Market Overview found the underlying growth story of Brisbane and Queensland remains, with employment in the office-based sectors to show sustained growth, despite economic growth forecasts moderating due to global factors.
Knight Frank Partner Research and Consulting Queensland and report author Jennelle Wilson said, “forecast employment growth is expected to be a standout in 2019 with the Brisbane region to record 25,000-plus more jobs in the core office-based industries, according to Oxford Economics"
“While 2020 is expected to be lower, the coming five years will average 10,500 office based jobs per annum."
The Knight Frank findings showed tenant demand in the Brisbane CBD office market had remained steady with net absorption positive and vacancy decreasing to 11.9%, the lowest level in seven years, and down from 14.6% a year earlier.
Knight Frank Partner and Joint Head of Office Leasing Mark McCann said, the finance and insurance industry accounted for 26% of tenant activity over 2018 and 2019 due to the Suncorp pre-commitment to 80 Ann Street, followed by government and public administration at 22%, and resources and energy at 10%. 
“For the past 12 months both the CBD and fringe markets have recorded positive net absorption, ending the period of one market stealing tenants from the other," he said.
Supply additions in the market through late 2019 and early 2020,  will place a gap on further near-term vacancy falls, with vacancy expected to tick slightly upwards to reach 12.5% in January 2020.
From 2020 onwards the vacancy rate will resume a downward trend.
Ms Wilson said effective rental growth has continued in the Brisbane CBD office market, as vacancy has decreased and demand remains positive, with prime and secondary effective rents growing by 1.2% and 5.6% year-on-year respectively to July 2019.
“The majority of uplift is coming from face rents as incentive erosion has slowed. Tenants are motivated to relocate and upgrade where capital costs are mitigated.”
"Investment volumes in the Brisbane CBD office market are high, sitting at $2.86 billion over the year to September, roughly $1 billion higher than the corresponding period one year earlier ($1.82 billion)," she said.
While sales over 2018 were dominated by offshore buyers, there has been a noticeable decline in the level of direct transactions being undertaken by offshore buyers during 2019, according to the research.
The data shows the balance between domestic and offshore buyers has flipped in the 2019 calendar year to date, with offshore purchasing representing only 17% of transactions, compared with 73% in 2018. 
Yields in Brisbane’s CBD office market have continued to tighten, although the pace of contraction is reducing.
Mr McGrath noted, “Compressing by 23 basis points over the past year, Brisbane CBD yields are starting to move more in line with the Sydney and Melbourne CBDs.” 
“This comes after a period of accelerated yield compression as Brisbane was re-rated by investors," said Mr McGrath.
</body></html>

Outlook positive for Brisbane's CBD office market: Knight Frank

<html><body>
The Melbourne auction market had a weekend off, while Sydney saw its busiest Saturday so far this year.
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
There was a significant drop in the auctions volume across the combined capital cities, with 1,262 homes taken to auction, down on the 1,983 auctions held in the prior week.
 The overall lower activity was mostly attributable to the drop in activity across Melbourne given the AFL grand final long weekend.
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The Sydney auction market had its busiest weekend for auctions since November last year, with 939 homes taken to market over the week.
There were 719 Saturday auctions, with 558 results captured and 442 sold.
<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/2019/9/30/CoreLogic%20Sept%2030.jpg" alt="">
It reflected a preliminary clearance rate for Saturday of 79 percent - which was slightly higher than the prior weekend, suggesting demand was keeping up with supply.
Last year, 608 Sydney homes were auctioned when a much lower 43 per cent sold, Kevin Brogan the CoreLogic auction analyst noted.
Saturday's highest result in Sydney was when seven registered bidders sought the five-bedroom, three-bathroom offering on Cherry Street, Warrawee (pictured main).
It fetched $5.35 million when sold to a local family whose son attended nearby Knox Grammar.
Sydney's cheapest was $290,000 at Greenwich for a studio unit within a 1965 apartment complex (below).
<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/2019/9/30/303284%20Pacific%20Highway%20Greenwich.jpg" alt="">
The unit, at 303/284 Pacific Highway, had 26 sq m of open plan space with a kitchenette.
There was a covered car space on title. The flat previously sold in mid-2005 for $160,000.
It has been rented out to tenants since, with a most recent advertised price of $335 per week.
It was sold by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate agents Justine Collins and Lloyd Allen.
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Melbourne saw a significant drop in volumes with only 103 homes taken to auction, down from the week prior when 1,020 Melbourne homes were taken to auction. 
The lower volumes returned a preliminary auction clearance rate of 82.5 percent, coming in higher than last week’s final clearance rate of 75.6 per cent and last year’s 57.7per cent when there were the 70 auctions.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
First home buyers secured the four bedroom, two bathroom offering at <a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1FUm79H1eIB70W+u2VuCzsdNyWoyjKrjdyivCTgwf18/FNllg72X7zS86C8pouCB9GqSidTrutcWDvUbMQcPh/FGv07iJCzp49gxkly4IgCQ&amp;rh=ff00527bcb13770fbf5ade1e654082af1e50531d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">382 Dandelion Drive, Rowville</a> (below).
<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/2019/9/30/382%20Dandelion%20Drive%20Rowville%20Vic%203178%20.jpg" alt="">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
The Ray White marketing suggested the home needed TLC, with keen renovators bidding after the initial bid of $480,000.
There were five bidders for the house which was called on the market at $620,000. A young couple paid $760,000.
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Across the smaller auction markets, auction volumes were lower week-on-week across all cities. 
The best performing in terms of clearance rates was Adelaide with 62 per cent of auctions returning a successful result, Canberra followed with a 58 per cent preliminary auction clearance rate.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
There was a 50 percent success rate in Brisbane where the top sale was a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house at New Farm<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/77-langshaw-street-new-farm-qld-4005-2015602762">,</a> in Brisbane’s inner north (below).
<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/2019/9/30/77%20Langshaw%20Street%20New%20Farm.jpg" alt="">
The Queenslander at 77 Langshaw Street attracted six registered bidders when sold for $2,195,000.
It last sold in 1988 at $205,000.
</body></html>

Sydney weekend auction results remain strong

<html><body>
An Ashby, West Australia mortgagee home has been listed for $429,000.
If it sells at or below that asking price it would mark the second consecutive reduction in value for the property.
Sheldon Ingham of LJ Hooker is currently marketing the house.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-ashby-131739414" target="_blank">28 Gausson Turn</a>, the abode is comprised of four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two car garage.
Set on 570 square metre, the house was built in 2003.
The home last sold in 2012 for $455,000 and previously in 2007 it sold for $475,000.
The one story home is located within walking distance of parks and in close proximity to schools, shopping and public transport in nearby Wanneroo.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
The median sale price for an apartment in <a href="/developments/ashby-wa-6065">Ashby, WA</a> is $445,000, according to the latest CoreLogic data.
</body></html>

Ashby, WA mortgagee home listed for less than its 2007 sale price

<html><body>
An Innaloo, West Australia mortgagee home has been sold for $390,000.
The asking price for the home was originally $495,000 when it was listed in 2017.
Matt McWaters and Tony John of Harcourts Empire marketed the listing in this latest campaign.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-wa-innaloo-131419346" target="_blank">13A Morris Road</a>, the villa previously transacted for $485,000 back in 2008.
Set on 251 square metres, the three bedroom, two bathroom town house is described in the listing as a "spacious entertainer".
The abode was listed as a rental seeking $425 per week a day after it was sold, according to CoreLogic.
<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/2019/7/31/inaloo%201%201.jpg" alt="">
One of a complex of four, it is located opposite the convenient Morris Place shopping centre.
It's within walking distance of public transport, schools, parks, restaurants and entertainment.
The home was listed as a rental as recently as April 2018 seeking $400 per week, down from the $450 per week it sought in July 2017 and $470 per week it was asking for in April 2017.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
The median sale price for a home in <a href="/developments/innaloo-wa-6018">Innaloo</a> is $545,000, according to CoreLogic, which calculate the annual change in median price over the past 10 years as -0.4%.
</body></html>

Innaloo, WA mortgagee home sold for $95,000 loss

<html><body>
A Margaret River, WA mortgagee has been listed for $265,000.
The unit was listed for $312,500 when it was first put on the market in September 2018.
The asking price has been reduced five times to where it is now.
Megan Booth of First National is currently marketing the property.
Situated at 9/7 Honeyeater Loop, the abode comprises a two bedroom, one bathroom townhouse with a double carport.
Set on 192 square metres, the two storey holding features solar passive design, 220 gallon rainwater tank and a number of modern features.
It was listed as a rental in 2009 seeking $295 per week and now in 2019 seeking $320 per week.
The property last sold for $361,000 in 2008.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
The median sale price for an apartment in <a href="/developments/margaret-river-wa-6285">Margaret River</a> is $444,000, according to the latest CoreLogic data.
</body></html>

Margaret River mortgagee listing drops asking price for the fifth time 

<html><body>
A Burnside, South Australia mortgagee home has been sold for $1,175,000.
The four bedroom three bathroom house remained on market for 869 days.
It was originally listed for $2.1 million - $2.3 million in January 2017.
Julianne Sheffield of Sheffield Real Estate marketed the property.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-burnside-129915102" target="_blank">709 Greenhill Road</a>, the abode holds views over the hills, the plains, the city and the sea.
Set on 1,346 square metres, the split level floor plan offers multiple living areas and a parents retreat.
The 2013 built home also features a swimming pool.
The holding last sold for $442,500 in 2007 when a different house was present on the lot. 
Following the 2007 sale the home spent almost 1500 days on the market before it was knocked down and reconstructed in 2013.
The home has been unsuccessful at auction twice over the duration of the latest campaign.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
The median sale price for an apartment in <a href="/developments/burnside-sa-5066">Burnside, SA</a> is $960,000, according to the latest CoreLogic data.
</body></html>

Burnside, SA mortgagee home sells after $1.15 million asking price reduction

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.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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.

&nbsp;

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> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News