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House prices in Townsville have declined with the collapse in mining investment, according to the BIS Oxford Economics Residential Property Prospects 2019 to 2022 report.
With investment now troughed and vacancy rates beginning to tighten, house price growth is expected to slowly return.
A rise of 9% is forecast in the three years to June 2022.
The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast have each enjoyed solid house price rises, benefiting from strong migration inflows and an undersupplied market. 
Vacancy rates are low, but supply is rising, the report suggested.
This will slow price growth, with total rises of 9% and 7% respectively forecast in the three years to June 2022.
Cairns has not been as exposed to the resource sector and has experienced moderate price growth in recent years.
This is expected to soften some of the upside to house prices with a total rise of 6% forecast in the three years to June 2022.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Townsville house prices in decline after collapse in mining investment: BIS Oxford Economics  

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A Sorrento five bedroom house with water views listed for $3.28 million last year has been sold for $2,888,000.
It was offered through Ray White Surfers Paradise agent Ben Illes.
It last sold in 2011 for $2.35 million having been built in 2008.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-bundall-128781194" target="_blank">Located at 72 Blair Athol Crescent, Bundall</a>, the house comes with five generously sized bedrooms, media room, wine cellar, working office, kitchen with Miele appliances, living with crystal chandelier and alfresco with water views.
<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/2018/7/10/BUNDALL%202.jpg" alt="">
Other features include the pool and ourdoor area.
The suburb's median house price sits at<a href="/developments/bundall-qld-4217"> $1.03 million</a>, according to CoreLogic.
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Bundall five bedroom house with water views listed for $3.28 million 

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A six bedroom waterfront home on the Sovereign Islands with water and mountain views has hit the market with over $3.98 million hopes. 
Nestled on an 818 square metre block of land, the home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-sovereign+islands-131556534" target="_blank">58 The Sovereign Mile </a>was built by award winning local residents and brothers- DTL constructions and is still under builders warranty. 
It comprises lounge room with views over the sheltered bay, cinema rooms, kitchen with Bosch appliances, ensuited bedroom, four additional bedrooms on the second level with the master bedroom suite, and third level loft that could be a self-contained apartment. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/7/15/sovereign%20islands%202.jpg" alt="">
Additional features include infinity edge pool, tropical landscaping, Daikin zoned air con system, outdoor BBQ and shower, 10 metre jetty and four car garage plus a workbench. 
The sellers have bought another home on Sovereign Islands and want a sale prior to September.
<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/2019/7/15/sovereign%20islands%203.jpg" alt="">
Sovereign Islands is located only 15 minutes to Southport and 50 minutes to Brisbane airport. 
Alex Phillis of Alex Phillis Real Estate Paradise Point has the listing. 
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Sovereign Islands waterfront home listed for $4 million

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There are certainly opportunities in the current 2019 market to pay less than the last price.
But is there really such a thing as buying a bargain when it comes to property? And where are they?
This series of articles looks are specific examples of sale price or asking price falling. 
We take a look at where and if possible why this is happening.  
We came across this property for consideration.
A Sydney Olympic Park apartment in the Meriton built Botania complex has been listed for $720,000.
This asking price represents a drop in value of $178,000 when compared to when it was purchased off the plan in 2016.
Tony Fang of JR Landing is marketing the property which transacted for $902,000 in 2016.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-sydney+olympic+park-128963338" target="_blank">321/2 Betty Cuthbert Avenue</a>, the property is a two bedroom two bathroom unit.
The near new property was constructed in 2017.
Set on 115 square metres, it features 97 square metres of internal space as well as access to facilities which include swimming pool, spa, sauna, and state of the art fitness centre
Stuck on the market for over a year now, the unit was originally seeking $729,000 - $769,000 in July 2018.
The listing then described it as an "urgent sale" and the asking price saw a reduction to $720,000 in November 2018 where it has remained.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/7/16/SOP%202.png" alt="">
Property Observer advise that it is up to you to determine if the offering is a truly beneficial bargain.
Remember buying at the bottom of the cycle is fraught – as you can't really precisely pick the bottom nor know just how long until you see some price growth.
Be aware you could be buying a poor quality property in an area with ongoing issues of oversupply of stock.
The oversupply could be also putting downward pressure on rents.
Other price declines could be because the vendor needs a quick sale or paid way over the top on its last purchase chase.
Property Observer suggests property purchasing really does need to be a very well considered proposition with a long term mindset.
As a part of this series, we've already had a look at properties in <a href="/expert-insights/buying/bargain-property-at-mount-eliza-home-at-2-million-discount">Mount Eliza</a>, and <a href="/expert-insights/buying/bargain-property-in-central-geelong-sale-price-dips-after-one-year">Central Geelong</a> and <a href="/expert-insights/buying/bargain-property-in-east-perth-near-new-apartment-makes-150-000-loss">East Perth</a>.
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Bargain property in Sydney Olympic Park? Apartment listed at $180,000 value discount

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Real estate investor and manager Cromwell Property Group (Cromwell) has lodged a development application (DA) for 700 Collins Street in Melbourne CBD’s Docklands Precinct.
The DA is for a $350 million, 55-storey mixed-use development comprising office, hotel and apartment living, as well as a four-storey podium car park with 199 spaces.
The office aspect consists of about 13,000 square metres of additional A-grade office space across 13 floors.
The DA also proposes up to 265 studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments for which Cromwell is considering a build-to-rent model.
A suite of additional amenities including concierge services, swimming pool and café will also be available.
The DA also includes a 4.5-star, 182-room full-service hotel.
Cromwell’s Head of Property, Bobby Binning, said: “This is another exciting value-add development opportunity for Cromwell and follows hot on the heels of the $75 million development approval received at Chatswood on Sydney’s North Shore.
“The success of our asset recycling initiatives is evidenced by the recent sale of Northpoint Tower, following a $130 million redevelopment which boasts extensive culinary options as well as a rooftop bar, an eight-storey, 187-room Vibe Hotel complete with conference facilities, as well as a rooftop pool and gym.”
Cromwell has recently completed a $375 million institutional placement, executed a new three-year €225 million syndicated facility and announced the $300 million sale of its 50% interest in Northpoint Tower.
The Collins Street site is adjacent to the Southern Cross Railway Station.
The proposed development will provide 360-degree views across Port Phillip Bay, Docklands and the Melbourne CBD.
Considered the gateway to the Docklands Precinct at the western end of Melbourne’s CBD, Cromwell acquired 700 Collins Street in October 2004.
The building is a 17-level, A-grade tower, comprised of both office and retail space, as well as a newly refurbished end-of-trip facility.
it provides tenants with a refurbished lobby, large floor plates, excellent natural light, panoramic views, access to public transport and a high car park ratio.
The site is located a short walk from Marvel Stadium and benefits from easy access to retail and other amenity along Collins Street and the wider Docklands Precinct.
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Cromwell lodges application for $350 million mixed-use development at 700 Collins Street, Melbourne

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A group of large Australian industry groups have banded together to denounce the lack of action on issues surrounding combustible cladding. 
Australia’s fragmented approach to regulatory enforcement and compliance with building regulations requires a renewed commitment to national action to maintain public confidence in our built environment, the group said. 
The concerns of the groups are characterised by the following:
<ol>
<li>Australian and international insurers are introducing strict cladding-related exclusions in mandatory professional indemnity insurance products for building practitioners in the building supply chain.</li>
<li>The discovery of major defects in buildings has significantly reduced the ability of those building owners to find an insurer willing to accept the risk.</li>
<li>State and territory governments have not taken a consistent and comprehensive approach to undertaking and completing audits of existing high-rise buildings with combustible cladding, nor developed a remediation strategy.</li>
<li>Governments are taking an inconsistent and fragmented approach to implementing reforms described in the Shergold-Weir report, which was released 18 months ago. </li>
</ol>
They acknowledged that though some action has been taken to amend the National Construction Code (NCC) and effectively eliminate the use of many types of combustible cladding on new building facades, they believe the response of state and territory governments to dealing with cladding on existing buildings has been patchy and inconsistent.
In a statement released this week the groups stated:
"We urge the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to work together in providing certainty through a uniform national approach to dealing with these matters.
"As organisations representing the building, construction, property and insurance industries, we urge the Federal Government to play a leadership role and bring together all state and territory governments to:
<ol>
<li>"Develop and implement a consistent and best practice Australia-wide response for risk assessment and a rectification strategy for existing buildings with combustible cladding with an agreed timetable that reflects the urgency of the issue. This will reduce confusion, clarify the scale of the challenge and support a viable professional indemnity insurance market that provides the coverage needed by industry participants and building owners.</li>
<li>"Establish a joint government-industry taskforce to oversee urgent and consistent implementation of all Shergold-Weir report recommendations across all jurisdictions."</li>
</ol>
Signatories to the statement were Property Council of Australia, Insurance Council of Australia, Ai Group, Australian Construction Industry Forum, and Master Builders Australia. 
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Industry groups call for building regulation reform on combustible cladding

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After an extended downturn, Perth’s median unit price at June 2019 is estimated to be 27% below its March 2007 peak, according to the BIS Oxford Economics Residential Property Prospects 2019 to 2022 report. 
While affordability has improved significantly, price growth is being inhibited by a weak state economy, excess dwelling stock and weak population growth.
With conditions unlikely to improve in the immediate term, notable price rises are not expected to return until 2021/22 as the economy shows stronger signs and excess stock is absorbed.
Total median house price growth of 7% is forecast in the three years to June 2022 with a corresponding rise of 8% for median unit prices.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/7/15/BIS%201.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<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/2019/7/15/BIS%201.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/7/15/BIS%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<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/2019/7/15/BIS%202.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/7/15/BIS%203.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<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/2019/7/15/BIS%203.jpg" alt="">
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Perth residential market forecast to remain weak: BIS Oxford Economics 

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Hobart enjoyed median house price growth of 36% in the three years to June 2018, according to the BIS Oxford Economics Residential Property Prospects 2019 to 2022 report. 
However, affordability is becoming more challenging, it suggested.
Despite an undersupply and strong population growth, growth in the median house price is on estimated to have slowed to only 3% in 2018/19.
With net migration inflows expected to begin to ease as the affordability of the Tasmanian market becomes less attractive, house and unit price growth are expected to remain modest and total four per cent in the three years to June 2022.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/7/15/BIS%201.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<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/2019/7/15/BIS%201.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/7/15/BIS%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<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/2019/7/15/BIS%202.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/7/15/BIS%203.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<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/2019/7/15/BIS%203.jpg" alt="">
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Hobart house price growth expected to remain modest: BIS Oxford Economics 

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Over the past week, 14 lenders decreased owner occupier variable rate loans, while 12 providers decreased owner occupier fixed rate loans, according to Canstar.
Greater Bank have introduced new low rates for owner occupier fixed rate loans: 2.79% for a one-year fixed rate, 3.39% for four and five-year fixed rates. 
They also found when looking to investment rates that 12 providers decreased variable investment rates and 10 lenders decreased investment fixed rates.
ANZ and NAB made variable rate decreases of 0.25% and 0.19% respectively; NAB also reduced its fixed rates by between 0.30% and 0.80% for both owner occupier and investment loans.
The tables below display these latest changes:
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/7/15/Canstar%201.png" alt="">
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/7/15/Canstar%202.png" alt="">
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/7/15/Canstar%203.png" alt="">
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/7/15/Canstar%204.png" alt="">
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The latest interest rate changes following the RBA cuts: Canstar

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EXPERT OBSERVER
The Sydney and Melbourne property markets are showing ‘clear signs of recovery’ with auction clearance rates hitting more than 70 per cent in both the capital cities.
According to CoreLogic, Sydney hit 77.2 per cent and Melbourne delivered 73.6 per cent.
The trend now is very clear with interim results in the 60s and 70s in the past four weeks and final clearance rates above 60 per cent for that period. This is significantly higher than the clearance rate of 52 per cent a year ago.
A combination of the surprise election results, the RBA interest rate cuts, APRA's changes to floor assessment and tax cuts, which would deliver more funds to households, all contributed to the confidence of the market and, consequently, higher clearance rates that were also connected to higher prices.
While volumes are still low, in this context it means sellers, generally, don't feel the rush to sell.
However, further improvement in auction results and the turnaround in the market are likely to lead to an increased volume as sellers expect stronger demand for their properties and, therefore, are more confident to put them on the market.
The high end of the market continued to lead the way with extremely strong results in Sydney’s eastern suburbs with 90 per cent clearance rates, and both Sydney Inner West and Inner South West reaching 87 per cent.
In Melbourne the lucrative areas of the Inner East and Inner South continued with their consistently strong results this week delivering 77.3 per cent and 76.9 per cent, respectively.
DORON PELEG is CEO of RiskWise Property Research.
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Seller numbers expected to increase as Sydney & Melbourne property markets show positive signs: Doron Peleg

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

Joel Robinson

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

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