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Western Australia is still considered in some regions to provide good value in comparison to other Australian states and territories, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) rural report. 
The report notes that the state is very diverse; from cattle stations in the northern pastoral regions to vineyards in the south-west and many other agricultural, horticultural, silvicultural and aquaculture land uses in between.
"We consider that the entry level in Western Australia would initially be at a hobby farm level in areas which are affordable for a scale which can develop some level of return and then build on from there," the valuation firm said. 
A number of areas surrounding the Perth metro area, south-west and great southern have been heavily influenced in the last couple of decades by rural lifestyle purchasers driving land values beyond limits to make a commercial return and what would be considered entry level rural.
A 20 hectare city farm in Hopeland, an outer suburb of Perth has been sold for $500,000.
The horse and hobby farm at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-farmlet-wa-hopeland-7996770" target="_blank">Lot 504 Henderson Road</a> (pictured below) comes with tree lined creek and mature trees throughout the property. 
It is close to the surface water including a soak. 
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"We therefore would look to the wheatbelt areas and the medium to low rainfall areas that have lower land values. However, they also have lower yields and are more susceptible to drought conditions, so not without risk," the valuation firm said. 
"We did a quick search and for $460,000 you can buy 1,259 hectares or 949 arable hectares at Bencubbin in the eastern wheatbelt.
"For a purchaser looking to get into agriculture this is an affordable level and scale with residential improvements. 
"The asking price equates to $485 per arable hectare which outside of pastoral regions would be considered one of the lowest price points in the country.
"This scale would not be viable as a sole source of income however someone interested in agriculture could work in the industry in the surrounding areas and use this as a starting point to build a viable operation and also use as accommodation."
According to the HTW report, current livestock and machinery prices will make it difficult to stock and crop the property straight away and require additional investment, however the use of contractors for cropping or building a mob of sheep over time can limit the initial capital outlay required.
Benchmark surveys indicate that the low rainfall region can produce up to 1.7 t/ha of wheat and carry 2.4 DSE/winter grazed hectare.
A number of good seasons have seen demand for cropping and grazing properties increase with values increasing accordingly across a number of wheatbelt regions. 
This area has been subject to drought conditions and therefore subject to higher risk of not providing a return and therefore capital gains will likely be lower.
A current listing within Wheatbelt regions is Grassdale, a 246 hectare property that has been offered to the market in the first time with $1.5 million hopes. 
Located on the edge of the Wandering,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-wa-wandering-700040406" target="_blank"> Grassdale </a>(pictured below) features quality soils, grazing, treed creek lines, rock and bush as well as lower saline land. 
It includes an early 1900s dwelling with views, shearing shed, six main paddocks with twi smaller holding paddocks and seven dams. 
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"We do however note that the continuous development of agricultural technology and plant varieties is resulting in an potential increase in yields and returns and these developments could have a significant impact on the production potential of the lower rainfall areas which has the potential to flow on to capital gains." 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Good value to be found in Western Australia rural market: HTW rural

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The Normcore Coffee premises on York Street in the heart of the Sydney CBD is set for an auction at the end of August.  
Located at Lot 1, 37 York Street, the ground floor coffee shop is the outlet of a Sydney based coffee roasting company.
The store represents one of the three shops they own and operate.
Market sources believe the 14 sqm offering may sell for around $1.5 million to $2 million.
According to Nick Lower, Director, Metropolitan &amp; Regional Sales, NSW at Savills Australia, the Australian coffee market and Sydney has the presence of several single store independent coffee shops, who tend to differentiate themselves based on the quality of their coffee ordered.
Located on the door step of Wynyard Station, the listed property will be auctioned later this month by Nick Lower and Selin Ince of Savills Australia.
Normcore Coffee have just signed a new five year lease.
The site is exposed to 200,000 pedestrians daily.
Mr Lower said offshore interest in the property has been "off the charts."
He has seen strong interest from Vietnamese, Indonesian, Korean, Singaporean and Malaysian buyers who are looking for "a safe haven investment with a strong return."
He said, “with only a small number of offerings being made available in the core of the Sydney CBD, the undersupply of opportunity has led to an increase in demand from investors – looking for ‘blue chip, safe holdings."
“No matter what happens in the economy, or even in life, everyone who drinks it, needs their daily coffee fix to jump start their morning, and the hundreds of people walking past 37 York Street certainly enjoy what Normcore has to offer."
According to recent data, 75 percent of Australians have at least one coffee per day, and of those, 28 percent have more than three cups per day.
His team has experienced record numbers of enquiries with a 27 percent increase in numbers over the first week.
Lot 1, 37 York Street Sydney will be offered by onsite auction outside Normcore Coffee on the 30th of August 2019.
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14 sqm York Street, Sydney Normcore Coffee premises set for auction

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The Normcore Coffee premises on York Street in the heart of the Sydney CBD has sold for $1.57 million.
There were four bidders for the 14 sqm ground floor coffee shop at 37 York Street which came with no seating.
The successful purchaser was a Sydney local who was making his first foray in to the commercial property market.
It's the first time the premises has traded hands in over three decades.
The store was one of three shops owned and operated by Normcore Coffee, who had just signed a new five year lease on the property.
Market sources had predicted the 14 sqm offering would sell for between $1.5 million to $2 million. 
The premises on the door step of Wynyard Station is exposed to 200,000 pedestrians daily.
According to Savills Australia's Nick Lower, the Australian coffee market and Sydney has the presence of several single store independent coffee shops, who tend to differentiate themselves based on the quality of their coffee ordered.
During the marketing campaign Lower said offshore interest in the property had been "off the charts," with interest from Vietnamese, Indonesian, Korean, Singaporean and Malaysian buyers who are looking for "a safe haven investment with a strong return."
"With only a small number of offerings being made available in the core of the Sydney CBD, the undersupply of opportunity has led to an increase in demand from investors – looking for ‘blue chip, safe holdings."
“No matter what happens in the economy, or even in life, everyone who drinks it, needs their daily coffee fix to jump start their morning, and the hundreds of people walking past 37 York Street certainly enjoy what Normcore has to offer."
According to recent data, 75 percent of Australians have at least one coffee per day, and of those, 28 percent have more than three cups per day.
 
 
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14 sqm York Street, Sydney Normcore Coffee premises sold for $112,143 per sqm at auction

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Tooborac Hotel and Brewery's first move in Melbourne will the leasing of a red brick warehouse in Carlton.
The operators of the historic venue have leased an 800 sqm warehouse previously home to a scrap metals dealer, for a shop selling Toobarac’s award winning beers and pies, and has plans for a regional food and crafts marketplace and tavern selling its craft beers operating from the site.
Fitzroys Agency Executive, Lewis Waddell negotiated the deal for 137-143 Elgin Street (pictured) on behalf of a private owner.
Toobarac Hotel and Brewery is the latest addition to Carlton’s current generation of hospitality offerings, including Johnny’s Green Room, Carlton Wine Room, D.O.C., Epocha and Mr Pietro.
Mr Waddell said, “we received more than 50 enquiries from a mix of industrial and hospitality operators, which reflects the demand for character and industrial-style spaces in the food and beverage industry."
Waddell said the thriving hospitality and lifestyle culture across Melbourne’s inner city is generating an increased level of interest from microbreweries and craft beer labels.
“Labels and brewers find they can offer a fuller experience, including newer or limited releases and products, and in an environment they can pair with tailored food and ambience.” Waddell said the conversion of former warehouse buildings into brewpubs and new venues by craft labels is being seen across the inner city.
Bodriggy Brewing Co. has just opened its brewpub from a former LP gas conversion centre on Johnston Street in Abbotsford, while Jetty Road Brewery, based in Dromana on the Mornington Peninsula, has plans to open in a former mechanics workshop in South Melbourne.
“The rapid growth in the independent beer industry as well as inner-city living means we wouldn’t have seen this type of enquiry two or three years ago, but it’s something that is expected to become more commonplace,” Waddell said.
Tooborac Hotel, up the Northern Highway, is a country hotel built in circa-1857 and has an on-site brewery.
It is the oldest National Trust-listed country pub in Victoria.
The hotel is a mainstay of an area that takes in the renowned wine-growing region of Heathcote.
Waddell is also leasing the former bank building next door to Tooborac’s new site, at 129-135 Elgin Street, on the corner of Rathdowne Street. 
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Carlton attracts new generation of breweries

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A single level Daly Street commercial property has been auctioned off in the city fringe suburb of South Yarra.
Previously a car detailing workshop, the Lot 653, 11-17 Daly Street consists of a 47 sqm building area, suitable to a multitude of uses with the potential for an 8-level extension (STCA).
With over 30 attendees, there were three bidders with the successful buyer securing the property for $456,000.
Ryan Milivojac and Charles Cini of CVA auctioned off the property.
 
The building rate is $9,702.13 per metre squared.
Situated just 3.5km* from Melbourne’s central business district, the property benefits from immediate access to public transport with South Yarra Train Station as well as trams running along Toorak Road and Chapel Street.
The site is also within walking distance of major attractions such as the MCG, AAMI Park, Rod Laver Arena, The Jam Factory and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
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South Yarra commercial premises sold for $450,000 at auction

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Nine has increased the office space they are leasing in 1 Denison, securing a 25,000 sqm lease for 12 years, which sees it set to share offices with their Fairfax colleagues.
The landmark $1.2 billion commercial office building is the tallest tower in North Sydney.
Its original lease has been increased from 18,500 sqm with the goal of bringing together all of its key Sydney divisions into one office.
The new lease comprises a ground floor reception and studio plus 13 floors from level G to nine in the low-rise and 19 to 22 in the mid-rise with floor plates ranging from 1,650 sqm to 2,517 sqm.
Nine will soon commence their fit-out, designed by Bates Smart Architects and will stage their relocation from the second half of 2020.
Print journalists from the Pyrmont-based mastheads such as The Australian Financial Review and The Sydney Morning Herald will be moving to the site, in with the television operations.
Fairfax has been at Pyrmont since 2006 when former chairman Ron Walker negotiated a deal to take the Darling Island Road space.
Scott Soutar, Nine’s Group Head of Property said Nine was "very pleased" to extend their space.
"We have been very impressed with the design and innovation proposed for 1 Denison and eagerly anticipate the completion of the project which for us will facilitate, for the first time, bringing together our broadcast and publishing businesses under one roof.”
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/6/1%20Denison%20-%202.JPG" alt="">
1 Denison has a net lettable area of 61,600 sqm across 39 storeys and is expected to achieve a minimum 5 Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia as well as 5 Star NABERS rating and Silver WELLS rating.
It is positioned in the new heart of North Sydney and is located between the new Victoria Cross Metro station and North Sydney Train Station.
Multiplex is currently constructing the project with completion expected by the second half of 2020.
Mark Lacey, Regional Director at CBRE acted for Winten and Simon Crouch, while Head of Tenant Advisory at Colliers International represented Nine in the transaction.
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Nine expands lease in 1 Denison, North Sydney's tallest tower

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Microsoft Australia has taken a 10 year lease for its new head office in the $1.2 billion 1 Denison commercial office building.
1 Denison is the tallest tower in North Sydney.
Microsoft’s premises will comprise 10,655 sqm across seven levels from 25 to 31 in the high-rise of the building with floor plates ranging from 1,449 sqm up to 1,563 sqm.
The company will consolidate a number of offices into the new North Sydney location including its current head office at North Ryde.
It will retain its office at 1 Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD.
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North Sydney is fast becoming a destination of choice for companies seeking quick access to the city and high-quality amenity along with access to hotels in the area including 88 Walker Street and Vibe Hotel.”
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Microsoft secures new head office in North Sydney's tallest tower

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Retail space has become available in the historic Tasma Terrace headquarters of the National Trust.
The Trust occupies large office across level two of the six-terrace three-storey row.
It has yielded vacant space on the ground and first floors.
The premises are known as 10 and 12 Parliament Place, suitable for retail and commercial operators.
There is a 46 sqm ground floor space.
The 57 sqm first floor at No.10 and the former storage 103 sqm ground and first floor storage space at No.12 are available.
The boutique terrace-style offices feature original trimmings, high ceilings, and a large glass atrium at the rear.
It overlooks Burton Reserve towards Parliament House.
The space is likely to garner between $575 and $600 a sqm.
Tasma Terrace also boasts a gallery, meeting and function rooms.
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Mr Tod cafe operates from the basement.
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Tasma Terrace was built in 1879 for grain merchant George Nipper as a stylish guest house and family home.
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Situated in one of Melbourne’s most desired city fringe locations, it is within close proximity to Spring Street, Collins Street and the CBD. 
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East Melbourne has the tightest non-CBD office market in the country, according to the most recent data from the Property Council of Australia, with a vacancy rate of just 2%.
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Space for rent in historic Tasma Terrace, Parliament Place Melbourne

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Redcape Hotel Group announced that it has exchanged contracts to acquire the Pig ‘N’ Whistle Hotel in Queensland's Redbank Plains for a total purchase price of $11.5m, before transaction costs. 
The acquisition will take the Redcape portfolio of assets to 33. 
It is a leasehold hotel located in the LGA of Ipswich.
The venue is a top-ranking Queensland gaming venue with a good food and beverage operations. 
Redcape Hotel Group CEO Dan Brady said, “While our growth strategy is predominantly focused on freehold assets with alternate land optionality, we also have the appetite to pursue quality value accretive leasehold opportunities that meet our investment criteria and align with our objective of growing and diversifying our earnings.” 
“The acquisition will further Redcape’s exposure to the region’s strong projected growth and enable us to positively contribute to Ipswich’s diverse and close-knit community through the provision of jobs, early career training, and quality hospitality experiences.” 
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Redcape Hotel group acquires the Redbank Plains Pig ‘N’ Whistle

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Wilderness Island, an island off the coast of Exmouth in Western Australia, has been offered to the market by Jim Alston.
It is currently the home of an eco-tourism business, Wilderness Island Safari Holidays, which has been operating for the past 14 years.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/7/30/Wilderness%20Island%202.JPG" alt="">
It costs between $635 and $700 a day to live on the island. To rent out the whole island it costs $3,000 a day.
The island is located on the eastern side of the Exmouth Gulf, an hour by boat or 10 minutes by plane. It sits adjacent to the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area.
Spanning two hectares, the island has a main lodge, six stand alone cabins all with en-suites, a workshop, desalination plant, moorings for three vessels and a 700 metre dirt airstrip.
Western Australia Sotheby's agent Neil McAllister has the listing.
This article was first published in The Weekend Australian. 
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Wilderness Island off the Western Australia coast listed

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.

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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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