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A Canadian/Indian investment group, Maple Leaf Investments Pty Ltd, has purchased a sandalwood plantation in Morbinning, WA for $580,000.
Set on 64 ha, the property at <a id="LPlnk114549" href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39R+6hBQZ7yXMt0Z3VIjNMZGWwak8c/diQqOWOqtbiw6DTd1DHxOyluL0X/DsPP0IgA=&amp;rh=ff004d90afd4e008a3a2fadf0d4b84acab24afc8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Lot 7151 Morbinning Road</a> is east of Beverley in the Wheatbelt region and was successfully sold after two years on the market.
The property was marketed internationally and sold by a Director of Ray White Commercial (WA) and Sales and Leasing Agent Lachlan Burrows.
Mr Burrows said the plantation included a three-bedroom house, additional accommodation, a large shed and machinery, and had more than 4,000 established sandalwood trees, the majority of which were 12-years-old – so ready for harvest in five to eight years.
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“Farm gate prices for sandalwood trees when ready for harvest are currently around $500 per tree,” Mr Burrows said.
“That’s approximately $16,000-$17,000 per tonne for the heartwood oils used in essential oils and fragrance bases, as well as the aromatic timber used for incense and joss sticks. “There’s strong demand for Western Australian sandalwood on international markets due to the aromatic oils found in mature wood, and is seen superior to Indian sandalwood, which has become increasingly rare due to previously uncontrolled harvesting in the sub-continent. “The buyers of the property in Morbinning have appointed a local farm manager and plan to increase the plantation by more than 20,000 trees as soon as possible.”
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Mr Burrows said after the sale and the international interest generated, Ray White Commercial (WA) have been appointed to sell another adjoining property of 63 ha, for $500,000.
“This has around half the number of sandalwood trees, but several hundred are ready for immediate harvest, which’ll provide income for the buyer straight away."
“Ray White Commercial (WA) foresees a growing interest for this class of farm asset locally, nationally and internationally, in acquiring and establishing sandalwood plantations,” Mr Burrows concluded.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Maple Leaf Investments buy $600,000 sandalwood plantation

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The Australian Tax Office has signalled a crackdown on investment property tax claims.
It comes as a growing number of people top up their exisiting loans, then claim deductions on cash being used for new cars, holidays or to pay down other debt.
Karen Foat, ATO assistant commissioner, told Nine Entertainment it was targeting investment properties as "a top priority" after analysis revealed 90 per cent of rental deductions contained an error.
Foat advised audits scrutinising rental deductions will double this year amid the 2.2 million investment property owners.
The crackdown will look at borrowers who have used their loan account like a regular bank account, with deposits and withdrawals for a variety of private, investment or business purposes.
"If you have a loan that you use to buy an investment property, but then you draw down on the loan and pay for a holiday or car - the purpose of the loan is now partly investment and partly private, meaning that only some of the interest on the loan is likely to be tax deductible," said William Buck tax services director Todd Want.
Mr Want warned another focus will be investors who make one-off deductions for repairs or additions to an investment property that need to be claimed over several years.
Mr Want added: "The key point here is - were the materials the same, or similar and does the repair achieve the same function? If you replace it with something that is superior, then you probably can't claim the deduction, it must be depreciated over a number of years."
He said: "It might not be deductible in the year of replacing it, but instead needs to be depreciated and claimed over time.
The ATO has previously signalled it will also focus on people who do not declare income from short-term rentals or renting part of a house or unit.
Holiday property owners who claim expenses for periods where it not genuinely available for rent, or was used privately, will continue to be closely monitored.
 
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ATO's latest property investment crackdown

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The Liberty Tower apartment block at 620 Collins Street Melbourne has been evacuated by its residents early Sunday evening.
The apartment complex with around 240 units is located on the corner of Collins and Spencer streets, at the southern end of the CBD.
The building manager Carlo Innamorati is advising that the building has been hit by "severe electrical issues."
It is understood there are no lights, heating or working lifts. Nor the the lobby installation of continuous fluorescents suspended below the ceiling designed by the artist Stephen Bram.
It appears the basement was flooded which put the building's electricals at risk. It has been advised there was a burst water pipe.
Click <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/22/Liberty%20Tower%20flood.JPG" target="_blank">here</a> to enlarge.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/6/22/Liberty%20Tower%20flood.JPG" alt="">
The 28 floor apartment complex Liberty Tower was built in 2002 to a design by Elenberg Fraser with its curved aluminium facade.
It was constructed by Mainland Properties/Pan Urban developer turned publisher Morry Schwartz, who moved into the penthouse with his wife, Anna, the owner of Anna Schwartz Gallery on Liberty Tower's completion while they renovated their Carlton home. 
It was described as an $110 million project. The project manager was Baracon Group and the builders were Abigroup Contractors, which was acquired by Bilfinger Berger in 2004.
There are suggestions the electricity has stopped working entirely and will not be fixed for another four days.
Property commentator and <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilipSoos" target="_blank">economist Philip Soos tweeted</a> "residents will have to find other accommodation."
Located opposite Southern Cross Station, and The Age, 25 police were on scene tonight to help co-ordinate the evacuation of hundreds of residents on the coldest Melbourne day this year.
The most recent sale in the high-rise was a two bedroom eighth floor apartment at $520,000, which first sold in 2001 at $267,500. 
Over the holding time of nine years, the annual growth for was a disappointing 1.3 percent.
A ninth floor one bedder sold for $300,000 earlier this year having sold at $315,000 in 2014. It first sold in 2004 at $192,000.
Schwartz, the publisher of The Monthly and Saturday Paper, and his brother Danny recently sold the large retail site at its base, occupied by IGA for $21.55 million.
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Liberty Tower was dubbed one of Melbourne’s millennial landmarks with 238 apartments occupying levels 7 to 27 with 3 levels of sub-penthouses plus one penthouse level. A secure 200 car park is located from podium to level 7. Around the perimeter at ground level there are shops, cafes and restaurants.
Its use of perforated metal balustrading, introduced by Elenberg Fraser was the precursor to Elenberg Fraser use of this type of façade on many future buildings.
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The project become the first of many with Mainland and a long term relationship with Morry Schwartz, Brian Rule and Roger Hart who went to develop numerous Melbourne icons with the Baracon/Elenberg Fraser combination. 
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Liberty Tower, 620 Collins Street Melbourne apartment block evacuated

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Sentinel Property Group has splashed out $103 million on a Brisbane CBD office building - the largest acquisition in its history.
The unlisted real estate investment trust (REIT) bought the building on a net passing yield of 7.85%.
Makerston House at 30 Makerston Street, Brisbane is on an approximately 1,796 square metre site area with about 14,640 square metres of net lettable area over 14 levels.
It is located opposite the Queensland Police Service headquarters and 50 metres from the Brisbane Transit Centre.
The building has a 5 Star NABERS Energy rating and is 100% leased with a 4.63 year weighted average lease expiry (WALE).
The property is leased to the Queensland Government as well as various state government corporate entities.
The building is well positioned within the city, Sentinel Property Group Managing Director Warren Ebert said.
 “This is a fantastic acquisition for Sentinel and is our biggest purchase since the Group started 10 years ago,” Ebert said.
“Makerston House is a tremendous asset that is in the heart of a precinct accommodating the state’s critical legal infrastructure and services, including the Queensland Supreme Court and District Court and the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
“The building is opposite the Queensland Police Headquarters and just 50m from Roma Street Train Station, the only existing CBD railway station that will link to the high capacity Cross River Rail.”
Ebert said Sentinel was excited to make Makerston House the 10th addition to the Sentinel Regional Office Trust.
The Sentinel Regional Office Trust also comprises 11 Argyle St, Newcastle, The CasCom Centre at Casuarina in Darwin, 200 Creek St, Brisbane, 8 Buller St, Port Macquarie, Jacana House and Arnhemica House in Darwin, 139 Grafton St, Cairns, and Central Plaza and River Quays in the Townsville CBD.
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Sentinel secures Makerston House in Brisbane CBD for $103 million

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New tenants are signing up in Sydney’s Moorebank industrial precinct.
More than 135,000 square metres of space in the precinct has been taken up over the past 12 months, CBRE said.
The group said its industrial and logistics team had represented Goodman, an industrial property developer, in leasing approximately 90,000 square metres in the area.
Briggs &amp; Stratton, an American manufacturing group, signed a five-year lease on a brand-new facility spanning 14,500 square metres at the Oakdale South Industrial Estate.  
Aidacare and Permaform have both relocated from other spaces to the former Briggs &amp; Stratton facility on initial five-year terms, with a NLA of 11,443 square metres.  
Rentals in the Moorebank industrial precinct range from approximately $115 - $130 per square metre per annum, CBRE advised.
The recent uplift in tenant activity in Moorebank was being driven by large scale vacancy becoming available in 2018, CBRE’s Tom Rourke said.
“With the IMEX intermodal set to be operational by the second quarter of this year – creating a direct connection and between Port Botany and MLP via a dedicated freight line – many logistics companies are seeing MLP as a gamechanger in the market,” Rourke said.  
“MLP provides a considerable cost advantage over some other industrial precincts such as Botany and Matraville.
“Furthermore, there is also potential for Moorebank to evolve into a last mile location given the reduced truck congestion on the M5 and completion of WestConnex, which will reduce metro delivery times to bring MLP more in line with more established last mile locations such as Homebush and Chullora.”
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Sydney’s Moorebank industrial market attracting new tenants

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The eastern suburbs peaked a little later than the general Sydney market, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
However declines have now caught up with the greater Sydney market, with an 11% fall in the 12 months to April, according to Corelogic.
"At the lower end of the housing market, a recent sale in Botany of a 1900s, three-bedroom, one- bathroom semi-detached dwelling for $900,000 was more than 30% lower than when it sold for $1.3 million in August 2017," the valuation firm said.
The median house price in Botany was down 3.5% in the March quarter to $1.45 million, while the median unit price was down 2.4% over this time to $810,000, according to realestate.com.au data.
The report noted that the eastern suburbs prestige residential market was more resilient than the wider market in 2018, although there are definite signs that market has peaked as well.
The prestige suburb of Rose Bay experienced a 3.4% decline in its median house price in the March quarter to $3,646,500.
 <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/2019/6/19/rose%20bay%202.jpg" alt="">
Units fell even quicker with the median price down to $1,155,000, a drop of 7.6% over the quarter, realestate.com.au data says. 
A 124 square metre apartment in Rose Bay with double lock up garage was sold for $1.56 million in April. 
Set within a small block of four, the top floor apartment at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-rose+bay-130823222" target="_blank"> 4/1 Hamilton Street </a>(pictured above) comprises light-filled living/dining flowing to balcony, Smeg gas kitchen, three bedrooms with built-in and rear communal garden.
The location is just a short walk to Rose Bay village shops. 
"This doesn’t appear to be uniform across all suburbs though, with Bellevue Hill (0.8%) and Vaucluse (7.2%) showing increases in their median house prices during the March quarter," the valuation firm said. 
Despite this, activity in these suburbs has definitely eased with only 13 sales above $5 million in Bellevue Hill as at mid-May compared to 64 for all of 2018.
Vaucluse has had 10 sales compared to 65 for all of 2018, according to PriceFinder.
<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/2019/6/19/vaucluse%20.jpg" alt="">
A pet friendly two bedroom unit set at the rear of a secure boutique block in Vaucluse has recently been sold for $1.1 million.
The unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-nsw-vaucluse-131163922" target="_blank">3/8 Burge Street</a> (pictured above) comprises two bedrooms, open plan living/dining, CaesarStone kitchen, and balcony.
It's just moments to village cafes, local shops, parklands and beaches. 
"With some economic concerns both at home and abroad, the prestige market may be a little more volatile as we head into the second half of the year," the valuation firm said.
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Eastern suburbs caught up in the greater Sydney market decline: HTW residential

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Market activity has generally been subdued within inner Sydney over the past six months, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The report suggests that prices have continued to decline in all but the bluest of blue chip areas.
"Within the CBD itself, unit prices have been declining since 2017, largely due to continued supply and decreasing investor demand," the valuation firm said. 
Realestate.com.au shows a decline in the median unit sale price for the suburb of Sydney from $950,000 in January 2019 to $925,000 in March 2019, after a peak of $1.1 million in 2017.
The perennially oversupplied Green Square area of Sydney (covering parts of Zetland, Alexandria and Waterloo) has also fared badly.
Its median prices fell from $900,000 in January 2019 to $875,000 in March 2019 alone, after a 2017 peak of $955,000, according to realestate.com.au. 
Furthermore the strong supply pipeline is set to continue throughout the next 18 months, with multiple new developments due for settlement, all at a time when investor demand is decreasing.
Median house prices have also been decreasing since the start of the year with inner suburbs on the western side of the CBD such as Forest Lodge.
Its median house price declined from a median of $1.5 million in January 2019 to $1.39 million at the end of the first quarter of 2019.
Realestate.com.au indicates that the median price there peaked at $1.78 million in 2017.
On the eastern side of the CBD, the diminutions have been less severe, with Paddington decreasing from an overall market cycle peak of $2.34 million at the start of 2019 to $2.27 million in March 2019 according to realestate.com.au.
"The inner city has a multitude of property types and price points," the valuation firm said.
"The price point seeing the most value retention in the current market appears to be affordable one and two-bedroom units within suburbs along the city’s eastern fringe, particularly those more suited to owner-occupiers – those in well finished buildings, boutique or well- regarded complexes, with views and parking being particularly sought after.
According to realestate.com.au, units in Potts Point have remained generally stable in price since the start of 2019, with medians of $785,000 in January 2019 and $778,000 in March 2019.
"There have been some weaker results for two bedroom units in trendy Surry Hills." 
<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/2019/6/19/surry%20hills%201%20.jpg" alt="">
For example 507/437 Bourke Street (pictured above), a two-bedroom warehouse conversion sold for $1.6 million in April 2019 after being purchased for $1,655,000 in April 2016.
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Furthermore, 36/45-49 Holt Street (pictured above), a semi-modern two-bedroom unit within 500 metres walk of Central Station sold for $1,002,000 in March 2019, previously selling for $1.1 million in June 2016.
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Inner Sydney median prices continue to decline: HTW residential

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The Lower North Shore, often a unique market, can fluctuate either way in a hurry, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The report noted that last year, as the general property market started to weaken, this region was quite resilient and still saw some very positive results.
"This was especially true in the prestige section of the market with higher value properties outperforming the rest of the market and with a record number of sales," the valuation firm said. 
"Now almost half way through 2019, we take stock of which direction this market is headed.
"The affluent suburb of Mosman, the most well known suburb on the lower north shore, is often the best indicator of where the market currently stands."
The most recent statistical data sourced from realestate.com.au, indicates a median house price for April 2019 of $3,782,500.
A recent sale in Mosman was a renovated full brick Federation house (pictured above).
The three bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-mosman-131171338" target="_blank">41 Countess Street </a>was sold for $3.35 million. 
It comprises master bedroom, two additional bedrooms, media or fourth bedroom, open plan living/dining space, kitchen with breakfast bar, and covered alfresco area. 
It's close to Countess Park, city buses, shops, schools and restaurants. 
"Comparing this price to the median from December 2018, indicated at $3.9 million, we see an obvious weakening trend," the valuation firm commented. 
It would appear that this time around, Mosman is following the trend of the general market cycle, according to the HTW report. 
The prestige sector of Mosman, having experienced a booming few years, also seems to have significantly quietened.
Researching the number of transactions that have occurred over $5 million in Mosman so far in 2019, it appears that there have only been three such transactions in the suburb and none over $10 million, according to CoreLogic data.
"This is in contrast to 2018 where we saw a total of 85 sales over $5 million for the year, 34 of those between January and May," the valuation firm said.
"Local selling agents have indicated that there has certainly been a decline in activity over $5 million, however quality properties are still attracting plenty of interest from genuine buyers."
The unit sector of Mosman usually performs very well and in line with the dwelling market.
With all the talk of over-supply in the form of high-density development, Mosman is partly immune from this issue.
There has been limited high density unit development in Mosman, with most new strata properties being targeted at downsizers.
The report suggests this product is more likely to be lower density and higher quality, aimed at those looking for a low maintenance lifestyle.
The most recent statistical data sourced from realestate.com.au indicates a median unit price for April 2019 of $980,000.
<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/2019/6/19/mosman%202.jpg" alt="">
A two bedroom apartment at Mosman with panoramic harbour and district views was sold for $985,000 in May.
The top floor apartment at <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/been%20a%20decline%20in%20activity%20over%20%245%20million,%20however%20quality%20properties%20are%20still%20attracting%20plenty%20of%20interest%20from%20genuine%20buyers.%20The%20unit%20sector%20of%20Mosman%20usually%20performs%20very%20well%20and%20in%20line%20with%20the%20dwelling%20market.%20With%20all%20the%20talk%20of%20over-supply%20in%20the%20form%20of%20high-density%20development,%20Mosman%20is%20partly%20immune%20from%20this%20issue.%20There%20has%20been%20limited%20high%20density%20unit%20development%20in%20Mosman,%20with%20most%20new%20strata%20properties%20being%20targeted%20at%20downsizers.%20This%20product%20is%20more%20likely%20to%20be%20lower%20density%20and%20higher%20quality,%20aimed%20at%20those%20looking%20for%20a%20low%20maintenance%20lifestyle.%20The%20most%20recent%20statistical%20data%20sourced%20from%20realestate.com.au%20indicates%20a%20median%20unit%20price%20for%20April%202019%20of%20%24980,000.%20Comparing%20this%20price%20to%20the%20median%20from%20December%202018,%20indicated%20at%20%241.03%20million,%20we%20again%20see%20a%20weakening%20trend,%20generally%20in%20line%20with%20the%20dwelling%20market%20declines%20being%20experienced%20in%20Mosman.%20The%20second%20half%20of%202019%20will%20be%20extremely%20interesting%20as%20we%20see%20what%20direction%20the%20market%20on%20the%20lower%20north%20shore%20takes." target="_blank">37/170 Spit Road </a>(pictured above) comprises open plan living/dining, two double bedrooms, stone kitchen and sunny balcony.
It's within close proximity to Balmoral Beach and Mosman Village with cafes and shops. 
"Comparing this price to the median from December 2018, indicated at $1.03 million, we again see a weakening trend, generally in line with the dwelling market declines being experienced in Mosman," it said.
"The second half of 2019 will be extremely interesting as we see what direction the market on the lower north shore takes." 
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Mosman market quietens as Lower North Shore values weaken: HTW residential 

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The Gold Coast's first penthouse has been sold at auction.
Six bidders competed for the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-surfers+paradise-131241542" target="_blank">four-bedroom apartment</a> in Surfers Paradise’s heritage listed Kinkabool building.
The 10-storey Hanlan Street building was described as a “giant” when it was built in 1960.
<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/2019/6/28/surfers%201.jpg" alt="">
The four bedroom skyhome fetched $450,000 under the hammer last Saturday.
The Kinkabool building has recently had a makeover.
Surfers Paradise First National agent Bob Rollington told the Gold Coast Bulletin the Queensland Heritage Register lists the building as a place of significance because it was the beginning of residential towers on the Coast.
“Built in 1959-1960 at Surfers Paradise, the home-unit building known as Kinkabool was the Gold Coast’s first high-rise and one of Queensland’s earliest, built shortly after Torbreck was completed in Brisbane in 1960,” the description reads.
The report said the building was the starting point for developments of its type, which kicked off tourism in Queensland and gave the Gold Coast an international reputation.
“Kinkabool also illustrates a significant aspect of the evolving character of the quintessential Australian beach holiday,” the site stated. 
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Historic Kinkabool penthouse at Surfers Paradise sold

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The City of Sydney has sold Stockton House in Darlinghurst for around $7 million. 
Miron Solomons, Matt Pontey and Nick Lumley of Colliers sold the property at 73-75 William Street in Darlinghurst, close to Hyde Park on the city fringe.
The three level, 908 square metre building is currently unoccupied, presenting an attractive opportunity to reposition the building and to take advantage of the exceptional position, the agents said. 
“The campaign attracted significant and strong interest with over 80 inspections of the property from a range of developers, investors and owner occupiers both onshore and off,” said Miron Solomons, National Director, Investment Services at Colliers International.  
“Ultimately, the price and unconditional terms proposed by the successful candidate were acceptable to the City of Sydney and has delivered an exceptionally strong result for the City and future of William Street.”  
The sale of Stockton House has delivered a timely outcome for the City as the city fringe commercial office market continues to experience some of the strongest trading conditions with vacancy rates some of the lowest experienced in years, Matt Pontey, Manager at Colliers International said.
“The outcome and candidate that has been successful, will deliver a beautifully appointed commercial asset to the city fringe that will present a unique offering to the leasing market,” said Pontey. 
“This building is a complete blank canvas and a value-add proposition which explains the high interest in this well-located, quality asset.
“There is strong demand for commercial property in the city fringe, evidenced by the auction of Watters Gallery which we sold at auction two months ago for $5.5 million.”
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City of Sydney sells unoccupied Stockton House, Darlinghurst for $7 million 

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

Joel Robinson

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

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

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

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

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

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

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

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