j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Australia building activity to plummet but set for mid 2020 recovery: BIS Oxford Economics

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A shift in Sydney’s white-collar employment mix is driving demand for shorter-term leases and more flexible workspaces, according to recent findings from CBRE.
This is a key finding of CBRE’s recent review of the Sydney office leasing market, which highlights that Professional Services has overtaken Finance and Insurance as the city’s top employer. 
The review also highlights a significant increase in agile and co-working space to meet the market’s changing requirements – both in Sydney and on a national basis. 
CBRE’s Head of Capital Markets, Office and BTR Research, Ben Martin-Henry said, “agile space take-up accounted for 17% of national net absorption in 2018, which is further evidence that the sector is becoming more mainstream as tenants are increasingly looking for more flexible options"
“Co-working and serviced office providers currently occupy approximately 156,000sqm - around 3% of stock – with a significant take-up in the last 12 months as they look to accommodate the requirements of the changing workplace,” he added. 
Chris Fisher, CBRE Director of Advisory &amp; Transaction Services, Office Leasing said that Sydney had traditionally relied on the Finance and Insurance industries, but the market was experiencing a clear shift in both the make-up of occupiers and their office space needs.  
“Enterprise agreements with co-working providers are gaining momentum, with larger corporations leasing up to three hundred seats at a time on short-term agreements"
“Flexibility is a key consideration for corporations and one size does not fit all. Landlords increasingly need to understand tenant drivers and adopt flexibility to remain competitive,” Mr Fisher concluded
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Flexibility is key in Sydney’s evolving office leasing market: CBRE

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Woolworths has divested its self-anchored Banskia Grove shopping centre in Perth’s north eastern growth hub for over $27 million to an offshore private investor. 
Comprised of a net lettable area of 5,721 sqm, the centre at 103 Ghost Gum Boulevard features a nine-year WALE.
It is currently underpinned by 11 specialty tenants, including Terry White Chemist, Plus Fitness and The Coffee Club.  
Woolworths will continue to occupy 3,850 sqm on a 12-year lease with 10 additional five-year options, allowing the lease to run until 2081.  
Anthony Del Borrello and Richard Cash of CBRE’s Western Australian Retail Investments team negotiated the sale of the newly constructed neighbourhood shopping centre. 
Following a five-week international Expressions of Interest campaign, the complex sold to a private Singapore-based investor for $4,768 per square metre on a passing yield of 5.96%. 
The campaign attracted strong enquiry, with the team fielding over 90 enquiries and seven offers. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/7/24/2212DAZ_2894.JPG" alt="">
Mr Del Borrello commented that this transaction demonstrated continued demand from offshore investors interested in well-positioned, quality retail assets anchored by strong national tenants.
“In this time, over $70 million worth of retail assets have transacted, including Kelmscott Plaza at $19 million and Coles Vasse, which sold for $19.6 million – both properties were acquired by private Asia-based investors,” Mr Del Borrello said.  
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Private offshore investor buys $27 million Perth shopping centre

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Sales of Victorian neighbourhood shopping centres are on track to record the strongest result in four years despite negative sentiment around the retail sector generally, according to a CBRE review of the sector. 
The Victorian Neighbourhood Shopping Centre Review (2016-2019) found that while buyers were naturally more cautious around vacancy, pending expiries and the overall performance of the shopping centre itself, they remained attracted to the sub $100 million sector with 2019 sales tracking towards the highest sales by value in at least four years.  
According to CBRE Retail Investments Analyst, Annalee Neil, the attraction is based particularly around the heavy weighting towards supermarket share of GLA and the relative insulation from the threat of e-commerce. 
The review found that of four sales transacted in 2019, the anchor tenants, including Coles, Aldi and Woolworths, contributed an average of more than 60 per cent of the total income or GLA of the centre. 
By contrast, the review found supermarkets accounted for only six per cent and 18 per cent of total cash flow in regional and sub-regional centres respectively. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/7/24/neighbourhood%20centre.jpg" alt="">
Director Investments Mark Wizel, said the results proved retail centres with a weighting towards non-discretionary spend tenants remained one of the favourite investments across all commercial property sectors.  
“Like many things, we can’t broad brush the sector. There are green shoots but there are also areas of concern. In the neighbourhood shopping centre sector, it is almost business as usual."
“This has been exemplified by the very strong result with the sale of Coburg North Village (pictured top) along with the unconditional sale of Woolworths Curlewis Shopping Centre (pictured below) and the current strong enquiry for Newcomb Central,’’ Mr Wizel 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/2019/7/24/Curlewis%20SC.jpg" alt="">
Mr Wizel said the impending sale of the Woolworths/BWS and Aldi anchored Newcomb Central property would bring the total sales value of neighbourhood centres sold this year to more than 2016 and 2017. 
“Total sale results this year will surpass 2016 and 2017 and may well surpass 2018 in less than seven months."
“The fact that there is a current investment stock shortage underscores just how popular these centres are. Owners are holding tight to arguably the commercial market’s best defensive asset in what are relatively tough times in terms of investment returns generally,’’ Mr Wizel 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/2019/7/24/neighbourhood%20centre%202.jpg" alt="">
According to the review sub $100 million sales in 2019 have also included the free standing Woolworths Lara store which sold to a Melbourne investor for $21.55 million on a 5.92 per cent yield while a local buyer purchased the Mernda Town Centre for $51.5 million. The land only purchase included a permit for a full-line Woolworths supermarket. CBRE managed both campaigns.  
Ms Neil said the $160 million worth of free standing supermarkets which sold on an average 5.18 per cent yield over 2018/2019, was further evidence of the demand for defensive retail assets.
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Secure neighbourhood centres buck retail headwinds: CBRE

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A retail investment opportunity in the Northcote Plaza in Melbourne’s inner northern suburbs is on the market. 
The property, shop 30, comprises a single level retail shop with a 98 sqm of floorspace.
Plaza Deli has a three year lease expiring March 2021 at a current rental of $47,336 per annum with 4 per cent annual rent reviews. 
According to marketing agents, Teska Carson’s Fergus Evans and Adrian Boutsakis, the property presents an opportunity for purchasers to acquire a secure investment property located within a successful and vibrant mall.  
Shop 30 benefits from its position in a centre anchored by Coles and Kmart, along with 60 specialty retailers including national brands OPSM, Specsavers and Bank of Melbourne.
The centre has 900 plus car spaces and operates with a catchment of five to six million customers per year.  
The property will be auctioned August 16.
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Northcote Plaza shop in inner northern Melbourne listed

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Splat 3D POD has taken up a five-year + five-year lease in the Sunshine Coast suburb of Noosa Heads<a id="LPlnk897582" href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1MsQ8lDBqOLe+gWUrddmiCFEoTVfSuCLXq+FkE4p1rusvbe7meTHQf0FT1KP5siqkgrADDhtEW40nae/dN1G/Q0uHEcFfV9l6+KWaZbekrZTV6lrXlggv0QHJc8GI9iSS7jNN9mpBQvF&amp;rh=ff004ec42fd9006ed962126ac34abf3b92fd8870" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">.</a>   The property at <a id="LPlnk897582" href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1MsQ8lDBqOLe+gWUrddmiCFEoTVfSuCLXq+FkE4p1rusvbe7meTHQf0FT1KP5siqkgrADDhtEW40nae/dN1G/Q0uHEcFfV9l6+KWaZbekrZTV6lrXlggv0QHJc8GI9iSS7jNN9mpBQvF&amp;rh=ff004ec42fd9006ed962126ac34abf3b92fd8870" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Shop 8B, 14 Sunshine Beach Road </a>that came with a 54 sqm building size and high clearance ceilings, had a lease price of $28,000 + outgoings + GST.   It was marketed and leased by Ray White Commercial Noosa and Sunshine Coast North Commercial Property Consultant David Brinkley. “With its central location at the heart of Noosa Junction (Arcadia Walk), it offered tenants great customer exposure and had plenty of accessible parking nearby,” Mr Brinkley said.   “Another appeal to the Splat 3D POD tenants was the monthly twilight food, shopping and entertainment markets that are held every third Friday of the month in Arcadia Walk, bringing a flock of potential customers straight to the shop’s doorstep."
Splat 3D Pod’s Doug Webb said the concept welcomed people to the world of 3D, and that in fact, POD was an acronym for (3D) ‘Print On Demand.’   “There's not just 3D printing, but also 3D modelling, video gamer facilities and virtual reality (VR) for architectural clients, and experiences for everyone,” Mr Webb said. 
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3D print company Splat 3D POD taking up Noosa Heads lease

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Ashmore City Medical Centre, has taken up a new lease in an Ashmore City space undergoing a multimillion-dollar makeover.
The medical centre has taken a 10-year lease on the space and it is moving into the tenancy formerly occupied by Chempro. 
Angelo Efstathis, the managing director of centre manager First Asset Management, said the move was aimed at reactivating the middle of the centre and further improve customer convenience. 
Ashmore City Medical Centre is planning a $350,000 fit-out for the new premises, which comes on the heels of the $2.5 million upgrade currently under way by the centre owner and a $750,000 refurbishment by ANZ Bank.
Ashmore City Medical Centre is expected to start operating from its new location in early October. 
As part of the Ashmore City masterplan, the existing medical centre building will be converted into a professional services centre to complement established tenancies. 
Meanwhile, the $2.5 million upgrade currently under way at Ashmore City is expected to be completed well before Christmas. 
The capital works include a complete exterior facelift, as well as improved amenities including a new parents’ room and upgraded accessible amenities for shoppers. 
Ashmore City has 40 tenancies and is anchored by Drakes Supermarket, Chempro, Stacks Variety, Liquorland and Australia Post.
It is also home to five major banks, including ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac and Bank of Queensland.
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Ashmore City Medical centre set for relocation

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Highfield Caringbah has been listed for sale via Expressions of interest. 
The property at <a id="LPlnk937165" href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1MsQ8lDBqOLekhmUPkvlCXZyUN06gFq7WPOJB7ZrwPvfspLId9d6c1h2hK01ARQonxCrCe956I+Vjf6cdJcDKQQkws/3m6LmZoiUvf3P1N71A0RF2hJo+IhJgqh5LyE8ruKWVhneZvY81l3dhQWrYkw=&amp;rh=ff004f09d326b7738790ae968f4abd8b2d421c5f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">32 Banksia Road</a> is currently under a long term lease to the Feros Hotel Group.
The holding comes with a 3,072 sqm building area and 1,024 sqm land area.
Located on the northern side of the Kingsway and has street frontage to Mackay Street, Banksia Road and Hay Lane, it<a id="LPlnk937165" href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1MsQ8lDBqOLekhmUPkvlCXZyUN06gFq7WPOJB7ZrwPvfspLId9d6c1h2hK01ARQonxCrCe956I+Vjf6cdJcDKQQkws/3m6LmZoiUvf3P1N71A0RF2hJo+IhJgqh5LyE8ruKWVhneZvY81l3dhQWrYkw=&amp;rh=ff004f09d326b7738790ae968f4abd8b2d421c5f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable"> </a>is being marketed and sold by Ray White Commercial NSW – Sydney City Fringe Principals Kristian Morris and Justin Rose.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/7/24/Highfield%20Caringbah%20aerial%201.jpg" alt="">
Mr Morris said the asset offered a secure 15-year lease to the Feros Hotel Group plus options totaling up to 60 years with ratchet clause in favour of the lessor.
He said, “the Feros Hotel Group are proven operators that have stood the test of time in this area of the market and have done an amazing job in developing the building into one of Sydney’s best vertical offerings.”
“They’ve spent circa $12M on upgrades and it offers a double net lease with net passing income of $600,886 + GST, and has future development potential to add accommodation and additional rooftop bar, STCA.”
Mr Rose said the property was a three-storey mixed-use hospitality asset with four separate but interconnecting dining experiences. “These freehold subject-to-lease (FSTL) opportunities are rarely available and it offers a stress-free and hassle-free annuity income stream, with the tenant paying 100 per cent of the outgoings and running costs."   “It’s close to the Caringbah Town shopping centre and major retailers such as Coles, Woolworths, McDonald's and is just 150* metres to Caringbah train station,” he concluded. 
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Highfield Caringbah offered to the market

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A prime Adelaide office buildings located on a 1,450 sqm site has been listed for sale. 
The 12,305 sqm office complex at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-sa-adelaide-503074338" target="_blank">100 Waymouth Street</a> is about 75% leased to industry leading tenants, including Origin Energy and Beyond Bank providing a WALE of 4.74 years. 
The building, which was built in 1989 had a comprehensive refurbishment completed in 2014, with another refurbishment in 2018.
It has also recently achieved a 5.5 Star Nabers Rating.
Knight Frank’s Guy Bennett has been appointed to market the property for sale via International Expressions of Interest on behalf of the private Singaporean vendor. 
Mr Bennett said, “South Australia is in a growth phase, which is having a positive impact on office space demand – and subsequent investment in the sector. We’re seeing increased activity in a range of sectors, including defence, resources, technology, education, and healthcare.”  
Mr Bennett, who recently marketed 80 Flinders Street, said the asset will appeal to a broad buyer audience given it is very hard to find a 4 plus year WALE and 6 plus percent asset anywhere in Australia at the moment.  
100 Waymouth Street is being offered for sale via an international expressions of interest campaign closing August 15.
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5.5 Star Nabers energy rated Adelaide office building listed

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A vacant industrial warehouse in Brisbane’s northern suburb of Virginia has been sold for $1.28 million by an owner-occupier.
The property at <a id="LPlnk838539" href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39R+6hBQZ7yXMtZbL8K1IrWjHPzGXhNPJeH4Wj/TpX07P8ntm3i2Q9vXQCIgm/yPQ5isnzJpmTWk1w==&amp;rh=ff004eb07a3a5325778caa01cf42a12e19a853d0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">2&amp;3/107 Northlink Place</a>, comprises a 66 7sqm total floor area, made up of a 433 sqm clear span warehouse, 117 sqm refurbished office and 117 sqm mezzanine.
It was marketed and sold by Ray White Commercial Queensland’s Director – Sales and Leasing Paul Anderson and Sales and Leasing Executive Andrew Doyle. 
Mr Anderson said the property was sold for Mitchel Enterprises &amp; B25 Pty Ltd ATF, having already had a history with the vendor.
“We actually sold this exact property to the vendor seven years ago,” Mr Anderson said.   “The sale price reflects 18 per cent growth over the period of ownership.    “The warehouse has access via two container height roller doors, the ground floor office has air-conditioning and amenities, and it also benefits from 10 exclusive-use car parks.”
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/7/18/107%20Northlink%20-%20Internal%201.jpg" alt="">   Mr Doyle said the north side of Brisbane continued to flourish with owner-occupiers more attracted to the area than ever before. 
“Virginia is only 12km north of Brisbane CBD and Northlink Place itself leads directly to Toombul Road, offering ease of access to the Gateway Motorway and Brisbane Airport,” Mr Doyle said.
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Vacant Virginia industrial warehouse sold for $1.28 million

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.

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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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