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The property group GPT has sold Norton Plaza, a neighbourhood shopping centre in Sydney's Leichhardt.
It sold to a private local investor for $153.2 million.
Norton Plaza comprises 11,800 square metres with a Coles supermarket and 50 retailers.
It also includes a large-format Harris Farm Market.
Nine Entertainment speculated the deal was struck on a core cap rate of 5.5% with the asset selling above its book value.
The Australian Financial Review had advised the move to offload Norton Plaza was part of the wholesale fund’s broader effort of focusing its portfolio on super-regional malls as a bulwark against headwinds in the retail sector.
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GPT sells Norton Plaza for $153 million

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Internationally-renowned architect, Glenn Murcutt has been commissioned by 95-year-old Australian charity Royal Far West, to design the approved masterplan for its beachfront headquarters at Manly. 
Mr Murcutt (pictured left) will work closely with accomplished architect and designer, Angelo Candalepas (pictured middle) of Candalepas Associates, to create a campus for Royal Far West, to allow the charity to grow its work for country kids in need and future-proof its service for the next 100 years.
RFW CEO, Lindsay Cane AM (pictured right) says “Our vision is to deliver a beautifully integrated health and wellbeing “campus” that is inclusive, open and innovative – one that draws different people and local businesses together as a community to support our work of bringing vulnerable country kids to the beach to receive specialist health services while enjoying the warm hospitality of the local community.
“We chose to partner with Glenn and Angelo as they represent iconic, accomplished architectural talent for an iconic site – not only are they globally acclaimed, but Glenn, as a former local, intimately knows the micro-climate, light and landscape of Manly."
Mr Murcutt said he was excited to partner with RFW on their joint vision for the transformation of the site.
“Having grown up in Clontarf and attended the former Manly Boys High School, I’ve been well aware of the great service provided by RFW over many decades and have recently seen the challenges they face with their growing service demand,” he explained. 
“By opening up the site, Angelo and I intend to deliver on RFW’s inspired vision of a wellbeing campus that will not only help secure RFW’s future in a highly responsible way, but also allow the charity to grow and help more and more country children. 
“We are also aligned with RFW in that we see this commission as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give back to Manly by supporting local jobs and existing businesses and improving the Manly visitation experience. By rejuvenating the southern portion of this site, we intend to unlock its great potential.”
Murcutt is the visionary behind a portfolio of landmark projects, including the Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre (in collaboration with Wendy Lewin and Reginald Lark), Australian Islamic Centre, Australian Islamic Mission Mosque (in collaboration with Hakan Elevli), and most recently the MPavilion (with assistance from Jonathan Temple), which is to be installed in Melbourne's Queen Victoria Gardens this summer.
Candalepas’ long history of awards includes the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Sulman Medal for Public Architecture in 2009 and 2018, the Frederick Romberg National Architecture Award in 2011, the Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture in 2016 and the Aaron M Bolot Award for Residential Architecture four times. In 2016 he was also awarded the Premier’s Award for Architecture in NSW.
When asked for clues regarding their design for the campus, Mr Candalepas advised:
“We feel a deep responsibility for RFW and Manly and their shared history, and this site, this client and this brief are all incredible – Glenn and I are both nervous and excited about the possibilities latent in this context.
“Architecture is only ever able to be created in context and through a deep understanding of history, and this collaboration can be imagined as something able to produce extraordinary outcomes, but there is a need for a reticence in the approach, a need for a quietness and a deeper need for understanding essential parts of the landscape.” 
Ms Cane also explained the importance of the project to RFW.
“We have a unique understanding of the often-harsh realities of country life, where the growing prevalence of behavioural, mental health, speech and language challenges, coupled with a gross inequity of services between city and country, is driving the unrelenting demand for our services,” she said.
 “RFW is expanding rapidly in an effort to meet the rising challenge of country kids in need – in the last 10 years we have grown ten-fold in terms of the numbers of people we have supported.
“In the next 10 years we will have a greater challenge again – in addition to expanding our footprint we’ll also be investigating ways the campus can provide co-locating opportunities for organisations aligned with our values as well as residential, retail and commercial opportunities that will safeguard the charity’s future for the next 100 years.
 
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Architect's Glenn Murcutt's vision for Royal Far West’s new Manly campus

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Malaga Markets, a Perth institution since 1994 with its fruit and veg stalls and international food hall, has hit the market.
It has a price guide of $11.99 million.   The property at 7 Bonner Drive in Malaga comes with 2,900sqm of building area and a 2,256sqm net leasable area.
On Beach Road and just off of Alexander Road, it also provides external car parking of around 375 bays.    The property is being marketed and sold by Ray White Commercial (WA) Property Advisor Brett Wilkins.   Mr Wilkins said Malaga Markets has over 1.5 million visitors annually. 
“Malaga Markets is a purpose-built variety market with 65 tenancies, a strong trading history since 1994, and is on a prime site. “The central core of the markets is the food court and fresh food tenancies backed by the bar and daily entertainment," Mr Wilkins said.
<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/2019/8/7/malaga%20markets%202.jpg" alt=""> The houses tenants have occupied their tenancies for 15 years or more with an average of 7.1 years.   “Malaga is an inner northern suburb of Perth centered on showrooms and commercial strips.
“The total site area is 18,208sqm with wide frontages to Bonner Drive and Beach Road, together with cross easement access from adjoining sites.”  
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Perth’s Malaga Markets hits the market

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The PwC-audited listed rural property trust, Rural Funds Group saw its shares plunge nearly 50 percent today.
The $335 million wipeout in just under the first 30 minutes of trade came after it was targeted in a report by the US-based short-seller Bonitas Research.
The rural company now has a market capitalisation of $455 million, compared to total declared assets of $802 million and net assets of $532 million.
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Bonitas's previous damaging report was on Blue Sky Alternative Investments last year. 
"Evidence suggests that RFF’s reported profitability had included $28+ million of fabricated rental income paid to RFF by its two largest third-party lessees," the report posted on the Bonitas web site suggested.
The Texan group claimed the "fabricated" rental income of $28 million was by RFF's two largest third-party lessees, almond producers Select Harvests (ASX: SHV) and Olam Orchards.
RFF immediately moved into an ASX trading halt to later update its ASX-listed real estate investment trust unit holders.
Late afternoon Rural Funds Management managing director David Bryant hit back at the negative report.
Bryant said Rural Funds had contacted ASIC on Tuesday morning to “invite them to take a look at all our records."
It is also looking for another accounting firm to examine its accounts. 
Bryant said the A-REIT's accounts are "100 percent accurate."
RFG owns more than $900 million worth of agricultural assets including almond and macadamia orchards, vineyards, water rights and cattle farms.
It is managed by the privately owned Rural Funds Management Ltd.
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The short-seller calculated that RFF had overstated its net assets by 100 percent.
It suggested the company's true net assets figure was $268 million as of December 31, 2018 which would put RFF in breach of its minimum $400 million net asset loan covenant.
"And as we have laid out in this report, we believe nearly 100 per cent of RFF’s reported profits since FY’17 are attributable to either fabricated rental income or non-cash gains from dubious fair value changes applied to RFF’s assets," it said.
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The stock had dropped 99c to $1.36 in its early trade, with its resumption in. trading set for this Thursday.
The company completed a $149 million capital raising in July last year.
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It was last in the headlines when the rural property trust bought Cobungra Station (pictured) for $35 million earlier this year.
Cobungra Station – one of Victoria's largest and most prestigious high-country beef breeding enterprises – was sold for only the third time in 100 years.
The $35 million deal secured the 6486-hectare alpine beef property at the foot of Mount Hotham, plus more than 24,000 hectares of adjacent grazing licences.
 
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Rural Funds Group under attack from Bonitas Research short selling hit

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Kaufland, the German supermarket chain, is applying to open a 'Hypermarket', one of its first Australian stores, in Toowoomba.
The Toowoomba Chronicle reported that the company submitted a DA to the Toowoomba Regional Council last Friday.
The proposed site for the Hypermarket, which is just a supermarket by another name, is 353-359 Anzac Avenue.
It will be located on the corner of Anzac Avenue and Carrel Drive at Harristown next to Bunnings Warehouse.
Kaufland is a subsidiary of the Schwarz Group, the world's fourth largest retailer and plans to open its first Australian store in 2021, with around a 12 locations planned around the country.
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It has previously secured store locations in South Australia and Victoria.
In Melbourne local businesses protested the development applications filed by the company.
The application is described as a “shopping centre hotel and food and drink outlet”.
It already has more than 1,200 locations in Europe.
Kaufland is known as a key rival for Aldi overseas, driving speculation its launch in Australia will be bad news for the German chain, which controls just over 10% of the local grocery market.
Initial estimates of Kaufland’s likely impact on Australia’s $103 billion supermarket industry suggest the retailer could amass $480 million in local revenue, according to Morgan Stanley analysts<a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/industries/retail/make-fortune-dick-smith-warns-kaufland-giant-injects-another-60-million-expansion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> </a>
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German supermarket chain Kaufland set to break into Toowoomba

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Property values are set to rise by August 2020 across the nation, according to Finder, Australia’s most visited comparison site.  
In the latest <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/" target="_blank">Finder</a> RBA Cash Rate Survey™ experts and economists gave their forecasts on 12-month change of property prices in Australia’s capital cities.
The experts, on average, now anticipate the property market will be on the way up over the next year.
Graham Cooke, insights manager at Finder, said it’s too soon to tell if this is an emerging recovery in the housing market or merely a ‘dead-cat bounce’.
“Most economists surveyed foresee small levels of growth across the board, but a few tipped prices to tumble, especially in Sydney and Melbourne where one expert predicted a 7% drop."
“Whether you see this as a falling feline or the beginning of a true rebound, it’s clear that the full effects of the RBA’s recent cuts have yet to play out."
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/6/Finder%20-%20August%206%20-%203.JPG" alt="">
“However, after one of the strongest weekend clearance rates in Sydney in recent months (71%), there is definitely a detectable pulse,” Cooke said.
Canberra came out on top with a 2.27% predicted growth on average, followed by Hobart (2.19%) and Brisbane (1.81%). Cooke said those considering getting on the property ladder need to get their ducks in a row. “Prospective first time buyers should look at arranging <a id="LPlnk812745" href="https://finder.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cc5e9bce699fa1d71a67cf499&amp;id=5f88598f50&amp;e=f2176dbcf8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">pre-approval</a> for finance soon if they want to take advantage of low rates before prices increase.” With rates at an all-time low, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held the cash rate at 1.00% for the first time in three months.  Nearly all (96%, 44/46) experts surveyed predicted the hold, although up to two more cuts are likely by the end of the year. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/6/Finder%20-%20August%206%20-%204.JPG" alt="">
Cooke said people might be missing a trick by not considering a fixed-rate loan. “We’ve seen a lot of very low fixed-rate offers hitting the market of late, some as low as 2.79%. " “Fixed rates may be well worth considering – as we’ve never seen rates this low – but the best path may be a <a id="LPlnk383356" href="https://finder.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cc5e9bce699fa1d71a67cf499&amp;id=aaf3510eb8&amp;e=f2176dbcf8" target="_blank" data-auth="NotApplicable">split loan</a>." “Think of this as the best of both worlds: if rates drop you get some of the benefits and if they increase you only get part of the pain." “Even if you’ve been on a variable loan for five years, it’s not too early to refinance with rates at a record low,” Cooke concluded.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/6/Finder%20-%20August%206%20-%205.JPG" alt="">
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Experts tip property prices to rise in every capital city: Finder

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has made the decision to leave the nation’s official cash rate unchanged at 1.00%.
The Reserve Bank’s decision to hold the cash rate steady this month was prudent. A third cut so soon after two consecutive cuts in June and July would not have given policy makers enough time to see if the cuts had any marked effect on the economy.
The latest economic data has provided the Reserve Bank with no incentive to reduce the cash rate three times in as many months, encouraging the Bank to continue its historically cautious approach towards monetary policy.
In encouraging news for the housing market, the latest CoreLogic Hedonic Home Value Index revealed that national dwelling values stabilised in July as five of the eight capital cities recorded a rise, supported by a 0.2% increase in values in both Sydney and Melbourne.
It seems that two consecutive cuts to the cash rate, and tax relief from the Government were not enough to improve consumer outlook. The Westpac Melbourne Institute of Consumer Sentiment revealed that consumer sentiment deteriorated in July, as concerns over the economy continue to weigh heavily on sentiment. On a positive note, the index revealed that housing-related sentiment improved in response to lower interest rates.
The latest monthly business survey from the National Australia Bank revealed that business confidence fell over June and while business conditions rose, they remain well below average. The survey also revealed that outlook for business conditions over the next few months is weak, which may put further downward pressure on the labour market going forward.
In the minutes of its July Board meeting, RBA board members suggested they continue to track developments in the labour market. Members agreed that the Australian economy could sustain a lower rate of unemployment, while achieving inflation consistent with the target.
Given that the unemployment rate remained steady at 5.2% in the ABS’ most recent Labour Force Survey, the RBA may not have felt another cut was necessary at this time. That being said, the inflation rate came in under the RBA’s expectations once more, with June quarter figures revealing a CPI quarterly percentage change of 0.6% and a year ended percentage change of 1.6%, well below the RBA’s target range of 2-3%. While financial markets are expecting another 25 basis point cut this year, the important thing for borrowers and future borrowers alike to keep in mind is that interest rates are currently sitting at historic lows. I would encourage anyone thinking of buying a home or investment property to speak to their local Mortgage Choice mortgage broker to learn what their borrowing power is and what home loan options are available to them. Mortgage Choice brokers can assess your financial situation, and help you get home buying ready. With access to a panel of over 25 lenders, with varied lending policies and preferences, we can help borrowers get the most suitable deal for their circumstances, whatever the cash rate.
SUSAN MITCHELL is the Mortgage Choice CEO
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RBA hits pause in August: Mortgage Choice's Susan Mitchell

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The Victorian Government program tackling high-risk cladding has appointed Dan O’Brien as its chief executive.
Cladding Safety Victoria (CSV) was established by the Labor Government to oversee a $600 million program of rectification works on hundreds of buildings across Victoria found to have high-risk cladding.
O’Brien will lead the agency as it manages the funding and works with owners corporations from start to finish to make sure buildings are safe and compliant with all regulations.
The establishment of a dedicated cladding agency was a key recommendation of the Victorian Cladding Taskforce, which has worked with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) to conduct a global cladding audit of buildings.
O’Brien has experience in the public and private sector, most recently as Chief Executive of Incolink – delivering services to Victoria’s building and construction industry.
He’s also held executive roles at the National Australia Bank and Medibank Private, and senior roles in both the Victorian and Federal governments – including Chief Executive of Regional Development Victoria and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Regional Development, Arts and Sports (Federal).
He was also Chief of Staff to former Victorian Premier John Brumby and is currently a Director of VicTrack and the Brodies Law Foundation.
O’Brien will report to Victorian Building Association Chairman Dr Owen Donald when he starts in the role this month.
The Victorian Government is also set to introduce new design standards for the outside of apartment buildings, to ensure new developments are built to a "high-quality, and improve the look and feel of local neighbourhoods".
In 2017, the Labor Government introduced the Building Better Apartment design standards to ensure apartments have adequate daylight, storage, ventilation, acoustic performance, energy and waste efficiency.
The proposed changes will affect landscaping, external walls, vehicle access, site servicing, wind effects and the management of building construction impacts.
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Victorian Government appoints cladding safety CEO and proposes new apartment designs

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Ayre Real Estate has announced that Torch Property Management has joined the brand under a strategic collaboration, with the Torch business rebranding to Ayre Real Estate.
The combined business will feature two office locations; the existing Ayre Real Estate office located at the Sheraton on the Park, 161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, and Torch’s shopfront at 9 Argyle Place, Millers Point.
Ayre Real Estate founder Adrian Wilson says the combined power of our 68 plus years of prestige property experience, coupled with the benefit of two offices in key locations and our advanced marketing strategies, was a significant competitive advantage.
The partnership will service a portfolio of over $400,000,000 in assets with over 200 luxury rentals under management.
Launching a portfolio of prestige apartment sales, the first on the market is a penthouse apartment; 731/8 Point Street Pyrmont, for auction on 21st August with a price guide of $5.3 million.
It has a one bedroom apartment in Observatory Tower 2406/168 Kent Street Sydney, listed for sale at $1,575,000.
Craig Donohue, a CBD Agent previously at McGrath joins the leadership team as a Director, alongside Kate Sommervelle, Director and Licensee of Millers Point office, and Adrian Wilson, Founder and Director of Ayre Real Estate.
In addition, Georgia Peters, one of Sydney’s most experienced property managers, also joins the team as Senior Property Manager.
The team at Torch seek premium prices for luxury rentals regularly leasing properties between $2000–$5000 per week, up to $25,000 per week.
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Torch Property Management joins forces with Ayre Real Estate

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
Last week I travelled around a few cities and caught up with the directors from some of Australia's top Chinese developers and institutional investors.
Here is what I found:
<ol>
<li>Together these institutions invested over $1.75 billion AUD in residential development sites in the last FY;</li>
<li>In this FY, another $2.5-$3 billion is expected to be poured in;</li>
<li>Since 2017, most of Australia's Chinese developers are moving away from high density development (e.g. apartments) to low density (house and land in particular);</li>
<li>Institutional investors are looking for high-yield (8% or more) commercial properties occupied by major businesses or government tenants;</li>
<li>Half of Chinese developers in Australia are backed by banks in China (which are mostly state-owned);</li>
<li>None of them wants to be involved in Australian politics or donate anything to any political party;</li>
<li>Most of them prefer land without a permit because of cost and their willingness to be involved in every step of designs;</li>
</ol>
What's interesting, is that all of the top Chinese developers and institutional investors believe the property market is already bouncing back.
What caught their attention from GiFang.com is how we handle data - both property data and Chinese user data.
As the world's only Chinese property platform with both website and Android/iOS app that focus 100% on Australian real estate, we can track things like the percentage of Chinese users that looked at the listings, state by state.
By the way, this is what we found in July:
VIC: 29.4% of our users viewed properties in VIC
NSW: 27.9%
QLD: 21.0%
WA: 9.9% (fastest growing)
SA: 7.3%
TAS: 4.5%
ACT: 0% (no property on GiFang)
NT: 0% (no property on GiFang)
In total there are over 1.03 million visits in July, about 40% are from AU &amp; NZ.
Michael Yang 杨霄羽 is CEO of <a href="http://www.gifang.com" target="_blank">GiFang</a>. 
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Seven facts about Australia's wealthy Chinese investors: Michael Yang

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>

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