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Retailers faced yet another period of weak demand and declining retail spending over the March quarter of 2019, according to Deloitte Access Economics’ latest quarterly Retail Forecasts report.
The report found however, it may not be all doom and gloom for the sector, with some relief expected in the second half of the year in the form of increased tax offsets.
Real retail turnover growth is expected to slow from 2.2% in 2018 to just 1.5% in 2019, before picking up in 2020 to 2.9%
Household finances have come under pressure from stagnant wage growth and declining wealth, despite decreased unemployment numbers.
This has hurt consumer sentiment and weighed on willingness to spend.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/6/14/Deloitte.JPG" alt="">
Deloitte Access Economics partner and Retail Forecasts principal author, David Rumbens, said, “March quarter retail data confirmed our view that consumers are just not willing to spend as they once were. People are pulling back on spending as household finances remain under pressure from stagnant wage growth and declining wealth.
“A deteriorating labour market, inflation below the target range, weak consumption, and falling house prices were enough to prompt monetary easing by the Reserve Bank of Australia for the first time in nearly three years, and lower rates will leave some much needed cash in the pockets of Australia’s highly indebted households."
He added that over half of all tax refunds are completed in the September quarter, and just under another 25% in December.
“This bodes well for a surge in spending in the September quarter, rising around 1.3% over the quarter, and provide the boost retailers have been craving,” Rumbens concluded.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Post election tax offsets may boost hurting retailers: Deloitte

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Nissan Motors has been secured as the anchor tenant for Frasers Property Australia (Frasers Property) and ESR Australia (ESR1) newly purchased Mulgrave site
The 4.67 acre 254 Wellington Road site has received planning approval for 60,000 sqm of commercial space, a 752 sqm café/retail area and 2,497 car spaces.
A community hub is also envisaged incorporating a gymnasium, restaurant and activated outdoor open space.
The business park is expected to have an end value of A$400 million when completed.
Anthony Maugeri, General Manager, Southern Region Commercial &amp; Industrial, for Frasers Property Australia stated, “Frasers Property, in joint venture with ESR, previously developed 211 Wellington Road with a strong track record in attracting major corporates to the area. 
"We plan to develop a state-of-the-art business park and are eager to deliver industry-leading amenity on the site to assist in attracting large commercial occupiers,”he said.
Phil Pearce, Chief Executive Officer at ESR Australia said, “This is an exciting project for ESR and Frasers Property as we commence a large-scale business park development in Melbourne’s south-east. We are seeing Mulgrave emerge as a growing suburban commercial office market"
Nissan Australia’s Managing Director Stephen Lester said, “Our current office was officially opened in June 1977, so over the 40 plus years that we have based ourselves here it has served us well, but we have grown as a business since then."
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/6/14/Nissan%202.JPG" alt="">
Nissan Australia’s 11,000 sqm facility will be spread across five levels (including ground level) of the 8 level building and will comprise over 9,000 sqm office, 1,850 sqm workshop and 550 car bays.
The new building, situated on the corner of Wellington Road (60 metre frontage) and Peters Avenue will achieve a 5 Star Green Star Design &amp; As Built v1 certified rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.
The joint venture is a 50:50 split between Frasers Property and ESR. Frasers Property secured the 245 Wellington Road site, while ESR will undertake the development. Nissan Australia’s building is anticipated to be completed by May 2020 while the entire development is forecast for completion by late 2025.
Practical completion of the facility is due in May 2020.
Andrew Peak, Gianni Macdonald and Stephen Adgemis from CBRE brokered the Nissan transaction.
Rob Joyes from Colliers International brokered the 254 Wellington Road acquisition.
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Nissan to anchor Frasers Property and ESR's newly purchased Mulgrave site

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A Baldivis, WA mortgagee home has sold for $325,000.
This marks a reduction of $150,000 on it's July 2014 sale price of $475,000.
Lorraine Dove of RE/MAX held the listing.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-wa-baldivis-130859970" target="_blank">11 Lomandra View</a>, the four bedroom, two bathroom home transacted for less than it did in 2006.
In January 2006, the 2005 built home traded for $365,000.
Located in The Rivergums Estate, Baldivis, the home is near amenities such as public transport, schools and shops.
The home originally sought $365,000, $40,000 less than what it sold  
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
The median price for a house in <a href="/developments/baldivis-wa-6171">Baldivis</a> is $382,000 according to CoreLogic, which calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as 0.9%. 
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Baldivis, WA mortgagee home sold for $150,000 loss

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A Cape Paterson, Victora mortgagee home has been sold at a $2 dollar loss.
The three bedroom, two bathroom house sold for $385,000 last month, a reduction of mere $2 dollars on it's October 2017 sale price of $385,002.
Marni Lee Redmond and Jo Ginn of Alex Scott &amp; Staff Real Estate held the listing.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-cape+paterson-126046146" target="_blank">4 Anglers Road</a>, the home features two off-street parking spaces and ocean views.
Set on 512 sqm, the 1990 built house was last listed as a rental in 2011 at $450/pw.
Preceding the 2017 sale, the abode sold for $277,500 in 2007.
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The median price for a house in <a href="/developments/cape-paterson-vic-3995">Cape Paterson</a> is $469,000 according to CoreLogic, which calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as 4%. 
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Pocket change lost on Cape Paterson, Victoria mortgagee home sale

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ASIC has cancelled the credit licence of Rochelle Weinert.
ASIC found that Ms Weinert had acted dishonestly and was not a fit and proper person to engage in credit activities. 
Ms Weinert is a mortgage broker.
ASIC’s concerns about Ms Weinert relate to her involvement in a property development in Newman, Western Australia, known as the ‘Newman Estate Project’.
Ms Weinert has the right to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASIC’s decision.
ASIC's investigation into Ms Weinert's conduct was part of an ongoing investigation into the Macro Group of Companies.
ASIC actions to date as a result of the investigation into the <a href="/news/anquan-loses-financial-services-licence-in-macro-group-pilbara-estate-aftermath">Macro Group of Companies</a> have included applications to the Federal Court, resulting in the appointment of liquidators to 24 companies within the Macro Group and and the permanent banning of Veronica Macpherson from providing financial services.
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Macro Newman investigation sees ASIC cancel Rochelle Weinert credit licence

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A Telina, Queensland mortgagee home has sold for $275,000.
Marking a reduction of $105,000 on the previous sale price of $380,000 when the house transacted in 2010.
Bevan Rose of Gladstone Real Estate held the listing.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-telina-131022126" target="_blank">41 Witney Street</a>, the 1999 built home first transacted for $35,150 with the Gladstone City Council being the vendor.
The three bedroom one, bathroom abode also features parking for three vehicles.
Set on an 837 sqm block, the house is situated in the Telina Estate.
Featuring a double bay shed and an in-ground swimming pool, the home sold for just under it's asking price of $289,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
The median price for a house in <a href="/developments/telina-qld-4680">Telina</a> is $280,000 according to CoreLogic, which calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as -3.3%. 
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Telina, Gladstone, Queensland mortgagee home sold for $105,000 loss

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The bellwether listed estate agency McGrath Limited has told shareholders that continued subdued 2019 market conditions have further hit its financial profitability.
With improved sentiment yet to translate into increased listings, and sales, McGrath Ltd says it now expects a full year earning's loss of $6 million to $6.5 million due to headwinds across the nation's housing markets.
The forecast loss is up on <a href="/news/mcgrath-estate-agents-dip-in-earnings-worsens">the envisaged $4.5 million EBITDA loss advised in its March update</a> for the first eight months of the financial year.
McGrath shares have slipped from its $2.10 listing price in December 2015.
The shares were trading at 27 cents before and after this morning's update.
The ASX-listed realtor said today market conditions for FY19 had been challenging with transaction volumes and property values in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne further subdued in the 12 months to May.
"While we have seen a general improvement in interest and enthusiasm in the market, we are yet to see this translate to an increase in listings," chief executive Geoff Lucas said in a statement. He did detect signs that sellers are now more prepared to meet the market.
While property market sentiment has started to improve following the federal election and house price declines have started to ease, McGrath chief executive Geoff Lucas said market conditions for FY2019 "have been challenging".
McGrath lost its <a href="/news/kon-stathopoulos-departs-mcgrath-estate-agents">head of sales Kon Stathopoulos</a> last week.
"While we have seen a general improvement in interest and enthusiasm in the market, we are yet to see this translate to an increase in listings," Mr Lucas said.
"However, with the elections now behind us, there is evidence of rising confidence in the property market and broader  economy.
"We are seeing significantly increased buyer engagement at auctions, both from owner-occupiers and investors, buoyed by the recent interest rate cut by the RBA - the first since August 2016, and APRA’s decision to lower the mortgage assessment criteria for new loan serviceability.
“There is certainly more activity in the housing sector and we expect more favourable conditions will flow through to an improved performance in the next financial year”,
McGrath will announce its full year FY2019 results on August 26.
In a separate announcement McGrath advised appointment of Howard Herman as chief financial officer, effective June 24 after its former CFO Glynn Wright resigned after just 18 months with the company earlier this year.
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Herman has over 25 years commercial experience most recently as chief financial officer of global apparel business Naked Brand Group Limited, listed on NASDAQ and previously of Speciality Fashion Group, an ASX listed fashion retailer. 
His experience in the property sector includes finance roles with, Bovis Lend Lease in Sydney and Anglo American Properties in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mr Herman said he was thrilled to join the team at McGrath. 
"The company is entering an exciting new phase and I look forward to playing an integral role in its future growth, working closely with Geoff and the Board to execute on our strategies to generate long-term sustainable value for our shareholders.”
Mr Herman holds a Bachelor of Commerce (University of Cape Town) and is a qualified chartered accountant (South Africa and Australia).
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McGrath continues to focus on its cost base and noted its strong balance sheet position at 28 February 2019, featuring no debt and $14.3m million in cash.
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McGrath forecast bigger losses as improved housing market sentiment yet to boost revenues

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Stockland, the nation’s largest listed housing developer, says residential sales remain weak, with “risk to the downside”.
It was especially the case in Stockland estates on the outskirts of major cities and regional areas.
Cancellation rates have increased moderately on the back of uncertainty created by current market conditions, it advised yesterday.
Stockland chief executive Mark Steinert told investors that buyer defaults had increased in the last quarter of the 2018-19 financial year to 5 percent, above the long-term average of 3 per cent.
Stockland has more than 2800 contracts on hand for settlement from the 2020 fiscal year, but the group expects challenging conditions to continue this year.
Even after the post-Federal election uplift with enquiry levels recovering in Sydney and Melbourne, where the downturn had been the deepest, it noted.
Perth and South East Queensland remained flat.
Stockland chief executive Mark Steinert said their residential sales for the March quarter were 26 percent below the December quarter.
He blamed “challenging market conditions, reduced credit availability and buyer uncertainty due to the upcoming federal election”.
Stockland sold a major partially completed estate, The Grove last year, to Frasers Proeprty to reduce its exposure to the weakening market and find a share buyback.
Domain reported Macquarie Equities' analyst Rob Freeman - who recently toured Mirvac, Stockland, Lendlease, Frasers and The Satterley Group's estates - saying sales volumes had fallen between 30 percent and 70 percent over the past year.
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"Developers which relied heavily on investor channels to sell product in the upswing have suffered the most in the downturn.
"Speculators are no longer in the market, up to 20 percent of volume in the peak for some developers, and investor sales have declined significantly, in one instance investors who were 30 per cent of volume, are now at 20 percent," Mr Freeman said.
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<div class="_1lC_G">"Default rates are varied and between about 4 per cent to 7 percent, which appears to be an increase of about 200 basis points from lows with cancellations running at 10-15 percent."</div>
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<div class="_1lC_G">The Melbourne developer and fund manager Ouson Group has onsold a 61 hectare site in Mount Cottrell in the outer west to a Singaporean group for $50 million with the capacity for between 820 and 920 lots once approved for subdivision.</div>
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The site, which lies within the proposed suburb of Rockbank South, is close to several big housing estates, including Mirvac's Woodlea Estate and Stockland's Mt Atkinson.
The Mt Cottrell site lies within Melbourne's western growth corridor, centred around Melton and Wyndham.
The research firm Red23 ranks Melton as having the highest number of trading housing projects, with close to 40 projects.
 
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Stockland sees residential risk to the downsize

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llawarra has seen sales volumes continue to fall with current sales activity 23% below the five year average for the region, according to the latest CoreLogic Regional Report. 
The report reveals challenging property market performance across Australia’s regions, with falling sales activity in the 12 months to February 2019.
The proportion of houses and units selling has seen a similar decline with house sales down -20% and unit sales down -22% over the year to February 2019.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/4/llawarra%201.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/6/4/llawarra%201.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic
Across all three New South Wales regions, Illawarra saw the biggest fall in sales volumes when compared to February 2018.
Home values are down across the region, with house values recording an annual decline of -10.1%, while unit values are down -2.7% over the 12 months to March 2019.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/4/llawarra%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/6/4/llawarra%202.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic 
Homes across the region are taking longer to sell, with the average time on market for an Illawarra house increasing by 22 days when compared to February 2018, while the average unit is taking an additional 30 days to sell.
The Illawarra rental market has seen no change in advertised rental rates over the year to March 2019.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/4/llawarra%203.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/6/4/llawarra%203.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic 
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Illawarra experiences biggest fall in sales volumes across NSW regions

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One of the terrace houses on Royal Terrace, one of Melbourne’s largest remaining group of early terrace homes, has hit the market.
It comes with a price guide of $5.15 million. John Bryant, a timber merchant and builder, commissioned the terraces and his family owned them until 1955, when they became Salvation Army accommodation for about two decades.
It has been offered by Brett Vanderwert and Glen Coutinho from RT Edgar Hawthorn. 
Renovated recently, the 1856 home at 62 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy now comprises two units with an easy option to return to one stately home. 
Each unit offers refined lounge and dining rooms overlooking the Carlton Gardens, and Unit One comes with additional informal living space.
<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/2019/6/11/fitzroy%202.jpg" alt="">
The designed kitchens are equipped with stone benches, Miele appliances and provincial-styled cabinetry.
The homes are completed with a combined total of four bedrooms, home office or fifth bedroom, two laundries, and bluestone-paved patio.
<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/2019/6/11/fitzroy%203.jpg" alt="">
Other features of Royal Terrace include Regency style bluestone facade, secured double carport, heating and cooling.
It is just a short walk to Gertrude Street, Brunswick Street, Lygon Street and the CBD with immediate access to public transport, local schools, universities and parklands.
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Historic 1856 Fitzroy Royal Terrace trophy home listed 

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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<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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