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Queensland residential developer Villa World has agreed to be taken over by private equity-backed Avid Property.
Avid have offered a cash offer price of $2.34 per share in its revised proposal.
Born out of Investa Land, Avid Property Group is a diversified Australian property development business with a $3 billion portfolio of residential, industrial and commercial projects.
The board of directors of Villa World unanimously recommend that its shareholders vote in favour.
The $2.34 per share represented a 17.8% premium to the Villa World closing share price of $1.99 on 14 March 2019.
Since 1986, Villa World has created over 19,000 properties across Australia with more than 45,000 Australians calling a Villa World address their home.
The company has been operating as a listed entity for over 30 years.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Avid Property to take over Villa World

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The Sydney property developer, Daniel Hausman pleaded guilty today to extorting around $5 million from the accused conspirators of the alleged Plutus tax fraud. 
Hausman entered a guilty plea to charges of blackmail and dealing with proceeds of crime at Sydney's local court before Magistrate Atkinson.
The Australian Financial Review reported four of his earlier charges were dropped.
The accused conspirators allegedly paid the money, as well as an additional $19 million, in return for the promise that the media and authorities would not be notified.
Hausman, who was not charged with tax fraud, had <a href="/news/woollahra-home-of-alleged-plutus-scammer-daniel-hausman-listed">his Woollahra abode (above) listed</a> for weekend auction when it was <a href="/news/woollahra-home-of-alleged-plutus-scammer-daniel-hausman-passed-in">passed in</a>.
He told The Australian Financial Review he had been assisting the AFP for the last two years in recovery of money.
Accused Plutus mastermind Adam Cranston was also at the court seeking changes to his bail conditions.
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Property developer Daniel Hausman pleads guilty to extorting the alleged Plutus tax fraud conspirators 

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Swift action by the Commonwealth Government on a suite of policy initiatives can position Australia’s cities, economy and housing markets for sustained prosperity.
Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) has released a post-election action plan entitled Building A Better Australia that outlines six policy priorities across population, cities, infrastructure, housing, tax and regulation.
The plan presents a blueprint for policy priorities that can enhance the global competitiveness of Australian cities.
There is clear goodwill towards a government re-elected through the prism of its pro-growth and aspirational agenda.
The optimism they are generating is giving hope to everyone interested in a robust economy and recovery in housing construction, which are directly linked.
We are also witnessing improved access to housing finance, courtesy of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s (APRA) intention to ease interest rate loan assessment levels for Banks and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and policies like the promised scheme to close the deposit gap.
There is now a real window in which we can seize the momentum and press on with policies that will boost the productivity, liveability and affordability of our cities.
The six-point plan promotes six ideas to cement the benefits of reform:
<ol>
<li>Entrench the emerging new policy framework to get population settings right</li>
<li>Create a Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Accord to deliver long term certainty in planning and delivery</li>
<li>Audit the current infrastructure pipeline to assess opportunities for better alignment of infrastructure planning and land release</li>
<li>Properly design and fund the new mandate on housing supply, demand and affordability</li>
<li>Identify short, medium and long-term steps to reform and strip back taxes on new housing</li>
<li>Commence a review of environmental planning practices.</li>
</ol>
UDIA National will be moving quickly to engage with the re-elected Government, as well as the Opposition, to promote the policy platform.
UDIA National has already commenced initial briefings with the Government – having already met the Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure, The Hon Alan Tudge MP, last week.
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) is the peak body representing the property development industry throughout Australia.
The Institute is a not-for-profit industry body dedicated to the representation of Australia's development industry.
Our members cover a wide range of specialist and industry fields, including: developers, valuers, planners, engineers, architects, marketers, researchers, project managers, surveyors, landscape architects, consultants, lawyers, financial institutions, state and local government authorities, and product suppliers.
The priorities we’re promoting have a dual benefit – giving a kickstart to housing construction in the short-term, as well as entrenching ideas that have a long-term, linked and lasting dividend.
Population policy and analysis can inform the choices we make about the design and infrastructure of our cities, as well as long-term land use strategies to deliver housing supply and diversity.
We also need to recognise that reforms to the taxation and regulatory burdens placed on housing construction take time to entrench, so triggering the start of changes now makes sense.
A full copy of UDIA's Building A Better Australia is available via the <a href="http://www.udia.com.au/news/national-policy-priorities" target="_blank">UDIA website</a>.
CONNIE KIRK is the UDIA National Executive Director
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UDIA shares six point plan for the Australian Government: Connie Kirk

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GUEST OBSERVATION 
Here’s a glimpse at what’s happening—and why—in the Australian commercial real estate market from the measurement perspective of asking price for rents. There are many experts who give advice on how to understand the current trends in commercial real estate.
Whether you’re planning to buy, sell or lease, these expert opinions are worth noting.
Experts focus on “prime”
Most of the published information about commercial real estate relates to the highly visible “prime” end of the market. Sometimes this can give a distorted view of the whole market.
We, at <a href="https://www.commercialpropertyguide.com.au/" target="_blank">Commercial Property Guide</a> reveal the data associated with the less examined small and medium size market. The value of commercial real estate is closely tied to the rent a property can command. This is much more relevant for commercial than residential real estate. A study of what landlords are asking for commercial rents over time can give an insight into the likely future.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/7/9/CPG%201.JPG" alt="">
National Market Overview 
The Australian market is made up of a relatively small number of significant markets. The three major markets are Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane which account for the lion’s share of the national commercial real estate industry. These metropolitan markets respond and react to many local events.
There are, however, national and international themes that can be seen to have a bigger influence on how they perform. Rarely do the three big metropolitan markets act in unison. Commercial real estate has been experiencing a cycle that has lasted 3 years between lows.
The national asking rent increases peaked in early 2017 at very high levels and have been trending down ever since. Exceptionally glum periods were at the end of 2018 and the time prior to the national election when rent increases dropped below zero. Sydney has had a number of peaks and troughs in the past few years.
These cycles have been about 10 to 14 months from peak to peak. While Sydney commercial real estate rent increases sailed through previous national elections unfazed, this time was different. Sydney office rents have risen since the election.
Melbourne and Brisbane are not synchronised with Sydney. Melbourne rent increases were in a slow and graceful decline. However there has been an upswing in lease prices since the middle of 2018. While Brisbane rents have managed only increases of 1% every three months at best.
Office asking rent increases have been in what stockbrokers would call a “trading range” for many years starting in January 2017 with a slow declining cycle peak in each of the three successive cycles.
The explanation could be the rapid surge in coworking office space flooding the lower end of the small office market. You don’t need to be a behavioural economist to know office landlords are hoping for an end to decreasing rents.
At the more granular level there is variation in asking prices for office rents between major cities and even suburbs within the same city. For example, different office rent increases do exist between adjacent Prahran and Cremorne in Melbourne. Retail rents are a much more interesting picture.
The Retail market was going down for quite some time, but since July 2018, retail rents have been continuing to increase. By comparison, the industrial property market has been travelling well and has enjoyed reasonably stable rent growth over the last 5 years.
However, there was a mysterious bout of Christmas fear that started in October and didn’t show signs of improvement until this January. There was a fresh round of Amazon Armageddon about warehouse demand stories that spooked the industrial landlords and their real estate agents.
The fear seems to have evaporated as quickly as it arrived.
 Property Value based on Rent Return
Commercial real estate properties are valued on the basis of the revenue they can generate. The change in rent not only affects what the tenant pays, but also the value of the landlord’s asset.
The consensus of industry experts is that a “tight market” is driving future rent growth for Melbourne and Sydney - caused in part by leasing decisions being brought forward to beat other property seekers to the best available leases. More experts have identified the affordability of the Brisbane market driving its leasing demand.
These opinions are worth considering.
SIMON ROSE is the CEO of <a href="https://www.commercialpropertyguide.com.au/for-sale/" target="_blank">Commercial Property Guide</a> an independent commercial property website that focuses on news, views and tips about commercial property and the industry.
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Accurate commercial property measurements are worth 1000 surveys: Commercial Property Guide

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A private investor has purchased a Toowong property in Brisbane’s inner suburbs for $1.46 million.
Exclusive marketing agent Will Carman of Savills negotiated the deal of the Toowong property, located at 104 Sherwood Road.
Set on 809 sqm, the property has an existing Development Approval in place.
The existing DA allows the property to be developed with a total approved floor area of 1,157 sqm over three storeys.
However, Executive of Commercial Sales Will Carman said the buyer has plans to obtain a new Development Approval to build six town homes over three levels.
Mr Carman said, “This move by the buyer shows the strength that we are seeing within the detached dwelling market, rather than units"
The sales campaign attracted a high level of interest, with 154 interested parties identified, and seven formal offers received.
The property is located approximately 4 km from the Brisbane CBD, close to the thriving local commercial and shopping precincts.
“Toowong is a highly sought after suburb within the Inner West, as it provides great access to retail amenity and the nearby university,” Mr Carman added.
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Savills successfully market Toowong property with development approval

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A medical centre in Glen Waverley has sold for $7.28 million following a successful expressions of interest campaign.   Located at a corner site, Waverley Medical Centre at <a id="LPlnk678473" href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1MsQ8lDBqOLe8eh/HF3O3pksMou+fnPAz2N/89mqXJTr69NDWrCLBjqFk7iFYF6pKaoxtpDH+DvH1lmHN0vCKM3ddWVeLvlPis+Ftt2jNJOSxmUxIJDiy4wwgiX77YnMoW4VBz3ihrhDFenXcLRRBQ8=&amp;rh=ff004e4b2f94755f85cb18f7ab4fbfe58e9dbfc1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">242-244 Springvale Road</a> has a 613 sqm building area and a 1,504 sqm land area 
The property was marketed and sold by Ray White Commercial Glen Waverley Managing Director Ryan Trickey and Commercial Sales Agent Ben Ainsworth. 
Mr Trickey said, “there was a huge amount of interest in this property with more than 120 enquiries during the campaign, with 20 per cent coming from interstate and 10 per cent international."   “The asset was snapped up by a private group seeking static investment with future potential and was sold by a family consolidating their assets." “With the redevelopment of the Glen to the tune of $500M, and more than 500 new dwellings coming into the area, there's much to look forward to for both commercial and retail traders,” Mr Trickey added. 
Mr Ainsworth said the location, limited supply of stock and the ongoing growth of Central Glen Waverley as a commercial and entertainment hub, made the asset really appealing.   “The established medical clinic has been operating for over 30 years and offered an initial return of $297,052 p.a. + outgoings + GST, with three per cent annual increases,” he said.
It’s Zoned GRZ8 with Design and Development Overlay allowing for up to four levels or 13.5 metres, subject to council approval.
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Central Glen Waverley medical centre sells for $7.28 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 two bedroom Wembley Downs, WA duplex 11 kilometres from the Perth CBD has been listed for $10,000 less than what it sold for in 2008.
In 2008 the property traded for $460,000, however the vendors are only seeking $450,000 plus this time around.
Daniel Caccamo and Rav Kandola of Davey Real Estate have been marketing the listing since May.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-duplex+semi-detached-wa-wembley+downs-131202326" target="_blank">46 Stockdale Crescent</a>, the 1969 built home comprises 75 sqm of internal living space as well as multiple outdoor entertaining areas.
The home features an open-plan designed kitchen, living and dining area, a separate laundry plus a split system air conditioner.
Located within walking distance to several schools, it is only a short drive to the redeveloped Scarborough Beach and Floreat Forum.
The adjacent duplex at 44 Stockdale Crescent last sold for $585,000 in August 2013.
According to the listing, the property has "a motivated seller, this property MUST be sold."
The property has been offered as a rental several times since it's 2008 sale, first in 2012 seeking $460/pw.
It sought an identical amount in 2014, while in 2015 the property was marketed as a rental property with a price point of $385/pw.
Asking prices for the Wembley Downs postcode currently range from $497,000 for all units to $699,300 for 3 bedroom houses.
SQM Research estimate that investors could rent this home for approximately $384 to $470 per week.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/7/9/Wembley%202.JPG" 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 Wembley Downs? Duplex listed below 2008 sale price

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iProsperity has officially opened the first phase of a strategic co-operation agreement with “KUR-World Ecotourism Resort Center” in the Cairns region of Australia.
The agreement is the latest sign of iProsperity's continued investment in the Australian tourism market.
Regarding the strategic partnership with KUR-World Ecotourism Resort Center, Mr. Michael Gu, CEO and founder said, “the co-operation between iProsperity and KUR-World will focus on the field of luxury experiential accommodation."
"Simultaneously, this investment will be combined with iProsperity’s existing Australian high-yield return hotel portfolio to deal with the changing commercial property environment.” 
KUR-World, a large integrated resort in the Kurunda tropical rainforest of Cairns, Australia, is a low-density eco-tourism resort located on approx 630 hectares.
It integrates the existing tropical rainforest and Australian pastoral natural resources.
The project is planned to be completed by 2025, with the first phase of “KUR Cow” now open. It combines the Australian tropical rainforest and cultural experience within five themed scenic spots. This has resulted in an exciting experience combining a leading “wagyu” culture and outdoor sporting complex area.
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First phase of new tourist investment collaboration KUR-World opens in Australia 

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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.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/6/22/East%20Perth%20bargain%202.JPG" alt="">
A one bedroom, one bathroom East Perth apartment has sold for $275,000, some $145,000 less than its $410,000 off the plan sale in 2012.
The apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-wa-east+perth-130312474" target="_blank">13/35 Wellington Street</a> in the 2015 built VIBE complex initially sought $315,000 before its asking price was reduced to $299,000.
According to CoreLogic data, the change in East Perth's median price over the past 5 years is -23.7%.
The 2nd floor apartment has parkland views as well as access to a lap pool, BBQ area, modern gym facilities and a roof top theatre with panoramic city views.
Minutes from the CBD, it is within walking distance of Claisebrook Cove, Crown Casino and Optus Stadium
Josh and Sean Roberts of Realmark secured the sale after two months.
The unlucky vendors sought to flip the apartment on its completion, listing it unsuccessfully in 2015 asking offers from $449,000.
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.
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Bargain property in East Perth? Near new apartment makes $150,000 loss 

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The first glimpses of recovery are emerging in the Australian mortgage market, with an increase in lodgements seen for the first time in a year, according to the latest AFG Index.
Notably their findings showed that, non-major lenders are driving much of the activity, responsible for a record high 42 per cent of lodgements and for the first time accounting for more than one in every three mortgages for first home buyers.
The AFG Index recorded more than $13 billion in lodgements in the three months to June 30, representing a 12 per cent increase on the last quarter. Despite the turnaround in the last quarter, the numbers remain 11 per cent down on the same time last year.
AFG Chief Executive Officer David Bailey said, “there are tentative signs of increased activity with both lodgement numbers and volumes up significantly for the quarter. It will be important to see the impact of recent moves by the RBA but we remain cautiously optimistic."
“It remains relatively subdued out there in Victoria and New South Wales, with both states recording an 11 per cent dip on the same time last year, offset by activity in the smaller states,” he noted.
South Australia was ostensibly flat, whilst Queensland and Western Australia recorded slips of thirteen per cent and seven per cent respectively.
Average mortgage size is at an all-time high of almost $515,000, with South Australia the only state to record a drop to now be sitting at $402,473.
Mr Bailey said “with investor lending up, it is interesting to also note the major banks’ responses to the recent cash rate reductions where investor loan rates have seen larger rate cuts passed on to customers. With those APRA-related restrictions now lifted, this could signal a new battleground for customers.
“After a period of slow growth, Refinancers have lifted to 28 per cent, but this is still a long way from the activity seen in 2016 when they recorded levels as high as 39 per cent. Homeowners looking to Upgrade have dropped back to the same level they were at in the final quarter of 2017,” he said.
AFG found, among the non-majors, Macquarie’s market share grew steadily across the quarter and finished June just shy of 10 per cent. ING has also been regaining ground and finished the quarter at four per cent, after dropping to less than two per cent in March.
While among the majors, CBA increased market share to finish June at 18 per cent and NAB finished a tough quarter to reach seven per cent by the end of June. NAB’s gains appear to be at the expense of the Westpac group of brands with Westpac, Bank SA, Bank of Melbourne and St George all recording a fall in market share.
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Signs of home loan market recovery, non-major market share at record high: AFG

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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

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