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A former CSIRO property in Highett is set to become one of Melbourne’s largest infill development sites following an anticipated sales campaign. 
Colliers International’s Trent Hobart, Peter Bremner, Hamish Burgess have been appointed on behalf of CSIRO along with transaction manager Urbis, to sell a 9.34 hectare site at 37 Graham Road in Highett.  
“Known as Park Village, this extraordinary development opportunity represents one of Melbourne’s largest and most flexible infill development sites that will capitalise on the Bayside area’s continued growth by delivering pre-eminent park-side residences,” Hobart said.  
“It is a unique and truly unrepeatable offering in a blue chip market, the market has been waiting a long time for this site to become available. It has been a four-year wait for the market’s biggest and best buyers to be given the opportunity to purchase this site. 
“This is the only 93,400 square metres residential development site in a premium south eastern bayside location so we expect all major developers locally, nationally and internationally to have an interest in this sale.” 
 <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/2019/5/7/Mark%20up%201.jpg" alt="">
Home to former CSIRO laboratories, the site will be sold with vacant possession and clear of all building improvements.  
“The site is prominently positioned between the Nepean Highway and Port Phillip Bay, nestled amongst some of Melbourne’s most exclusive suburbs such as Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham,” Bremner said. 
“Park Village at Highett is an increasingly rare large scale, predominantly townhouse opportunity, that is destined to become a world class urban village set in a prime park setting with the future residences surrounded by 4,000 sqm of parkland, situated next to a Highett Shopping including Woolworths and the Highett Train Station.”
The Park Village site is located immediately south of the recently completed full line Woolworths Shopping Centre, 100 metres from the Highett Train Station and positioned within the new generation café and retail strip of Highett Road.
As part of the sale process, the land will be re-zoned upon settlement to Residential Growth Zone and Development Plan Overlay - Schedule 2. Upon settlement, 4 hectares of the site area will be transferred to Bayside Council for public open space and conservation.  
The property is for sale via an International Tender campaign, closing Wednesday 19 June 2019.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Former Highett CSIRO site to be one of Melbourne’s largest infill development sites

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Australian fashion label Saba is the latest addition to Melbourne’s shopping strip Church Street, Brighton.
Fitzroy agent Mark Talbot negotiated the lease for 38 Church Street, located in the prime of the shopping strip, at $130,000 per annum plus outgoings and GST on behalf of a private owner.
“Church Street has retained its reputation as Melbourne’s best-performing retail strip for some time, boasting a strong mix of national retailers and fashion labels, as well as highly regarded local operators,” Talbot said.
Church Street boasts one of the tightest vacancies of Melbourne’s iconic shopping strips.
Fitzroys’ Walk the Strip report showed vacancies were crunched from 2.7% in 2017 to 1.3% in 2018.
“Opportunities for retailers to secure a prized Church Street location are rare and inevitably fiercely contested, reflecting the strip’s constrained supply and positioning within one of Melbourne’s most affluent and established consumer catchments,” Talbot said.
“Church Street’s enviable fundamentals will continue generating a long queue of retailers and operators seeking space in the strip.”
He said Brighton’s trading environment has been further bolstered with the introduction of medium-density residential developments in what is broadly a low-rise suburb, while the suburb is home to a number of highly sought after secondary schools.
Other transactions completed by Talbot in this section of Church Street, Brighton include prominent brands Lee Mathews and Flannel.
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Saba secures Church Street, Brighton store

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An adjoining owner has snapped up a significant office property in Forest Hill for $45.85 million as demand for commercial assets in metropolitan Melbourne continues. 
Colliers International’s Rob Joyes, Peter Bremner and Rachael Clohesy have negotiated the sale of 347-351 Burwood Highway in Forest Hill on behalf of a long-term Sydney based private investor.  
The 2.62 hectare Commercial 1-zoned site, which is home to two office buildings with a combined net lettable area of approximately 10,692 square metres, changed hands on a passing yield of circa 4%. The property was purchased from an offshore investor.  
“This purchase also represents the largest metropolitan office investment to transact so far in 2019,” Bremner said. 
The property was approximately 70% occupied at the time of sale with a weighted average lease expiry of approximately 3.4 years.
“Over the past two years, over $180 million of office investments have transacted within the Tally Ho Business Park precinct,” Joyes said.  
“Office investors are taking a long-term view of the Outer East market with a particular interest in land with existing Zoning flexibility and are anticipating land values will increase significantly in the years to come off the back of State Government investment such as the Suburban Rail Loop and Vicinity’s transformation of The Glen shopping precinct.” 
 <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/2019/5/7/CT_COL_347-351_Burwood_Highway_Forest_Hill_187.jpg" alt="">
The Outer East office market has bounced back after a period of high vacancy, Colliers International said.
Its latest Metro Office Research &amp; Forecast Report states that vacancy is currently at 8.74% in the Outer East, which is below the long-term average of 9.56%. 
“Due to the tightening of vacancy in the City Fringe and Inner East markets, tenants view the Outer East as a more affordable option,” Joyes said. 
Significant recent sales within the precinct include:
<ul>
<li>VicRoads, 12 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East - $25.5 million </li>
<li>Hewlett Packard, 353 Burwood Highway, Forest Hill - $88 million</li>
<li>CFA, 16 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East - $9.6 million </li>
<li>CFA, 8 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East - $18.08 million</li>
</ul>
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Investment continues in Forest Hill with $45.85 million office sale

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The Melbourne accommodation market continues to enjoy buoyancy, according to HTL Property’s latest report.
The research showed strong increases in visitor numbers, aided by attraction to the city via its many international and local sporting events, together with world-class conference facilities, has kept occupancy levels high, and in turn, ADR and RevPAR continue to be elevated.
“Victoria is a highly sought-after accommodation market to invest in, driven by its variety of visitors,” said HTL Property’s Head of Research Vanessa Rader.
“Strong international visitors dominated by the family market enjoy the Melbourne CBD location; while domestic visitors like to travel further out of town in order to explore the natural wonders, as well as the wine regions.
“Melbourne has done much to promote its town and attract visitors; as evidenced by the various sporting events regularly held, together with the growing arts scene the city's attraction as a conference destination, has kept occupancy high and ADR competitive.
“This market has seen some new supply added and will continue to do so over the next few years, which we anticipate will keep these indicators stable.
“While investors (notably offshore buyers) will continue to aggressively contest these assets, keeping investment yields some of the lowest in the country.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/5/7/mel%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/2019/5/7/mel%201.jpg" alt="">   HTL Property Director of Asia Pacific Region Andrew Joliffe said demand for accommodation assets remained high, however limited quality stock available to the market had resulted in 2018 recording a record low in sales volumes.
“Sales turnover for 2018 has exceeded $400 million, which is approximately 40% down on 2017 results; and well behind the highs achieved in 2015,” Joliffe said.   “The sale of Pullman on the Park in mid-2018 propping up these volumes, selling for $156 million to iProsperity Group, on a reported yield of 5.50%.   “With Melbourne CBD and surrounds enjoying strong visitor demand, regional activity has historically been limited, typically recorded at less than 5% of the total volume of sales.   “CBD assets continue to be in strong demand, with overseas buyers vying for these assets; the Quincy Hotel (under construction) being the only city hotel selling in 2018 to InterGlobe out of India for $91.3 million, (representing close to $380,000 per room).”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/5/7/mel%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/2019/5/7/mel%202.jpg" alt="">   Jolliffe said interest in accommodation hotel assets across Australia was high, particularly by overseas investors.   “This is at its highest in Melbourne given the strong international visitor numbers as well as domestic visitor attraction; keeping investment yields some of the lowest in Australia,” he said.   “Currently, Victorian yields range from 4.30% to 7.75% with an average of 5.50%, which has compressed by 210 basis points in the last five years   “Offshore activity is high with buyers hotly contesting CBD and suburban assets within a short proximity of the city centre.”
Joliffe said Victoria was the second most visited state in Australia by international visitors behind NSW, while domestic visitors choose Victoria behind NSW and Queensland.   “Tourism forecasts highlight these higher international visitor nights in 2017/2018, reaching 76,629 representing a 7.13% increase over the last year, whereas domestic visitor nights of 65,994 represented just 0.67% improvement,” he said.   “Looking ahead, international visitor nights are forecast to grow on average 7.16% per annum over the next five years, while domestic nights projections are for 2.51% annual growth over the same period.”   Joliffe said recent data from STR illustrated that the Melbourne Accommodation market has been trending slightly behind prior years, albeit ADR had remained steady.   “New stock additions to the market has kept competition high, and put pressure on the occupancy levels and RevPAR,” he said   “The accommodation market is cyclical with the various trends obvious across the Melbourne market.
“High occupancy is enjoyed during three periods throughout the year, February–March, July–August and October–November.   “Most recent data for February 2019 highlights peak occupancy of 89.1% a new monthly high, with ADR recorded at $197.74.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/5/7/mel%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/2019/5/7/mel%203.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/5/7/mel%204.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/2019/5/7/mel%204.jpg" alt="">
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Melbourne accommodation market remains buoyant: HTL Property

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Purplebricks Australia has announced its intention to exit the Australian market.
The decision comes amid the continued advertising campaign for listings by the celebrity builder, Barry Du Bois (below).
Even its revised fixed-fee sales model proved to be problematic for real estate agents, amid the slow down in the housing market.
Vic Darvey, the Purplebricks Group CEO said after much consideration it had "made the difficult decision to close the Australian business."
"We’ve been operating here for two and half years and, unfortunately, we have been unable to make the progress in the Australian market that we’ve wanted, despite the tireless efforts of our employees.
"Our present intention is that, over the next few months, we manage the process of closing down the Australian business in an orderly way, attempting to minimise disruption for both our people and our customers.
<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/2019/5/Du%20Bois.jpg" alt="">
"We will take no further listings in Australia, but intend to engage with our customers to finalise all existing agreements.
"This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but with market conditions becoming increasingly challenging, we do not believe that the prospective returns in Australia are enough to justify continued investment."  
Only last week UBS said the company was<a href="/news/purplebricks-not-likely-to-make-profit-in-australia-until-2022-ubs"> not likely to make money in Australia</a> until 2022.
Last month it was forecasted that Purplebricks would potentially have to close its Australian operations <a href="/news/purplebricks-australian-agency-may-need-to-be-abandoned-to-save-uk-mothership">to save the UK mothership</a>.
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<div class="column">
Michael Bruce, the group's founder and chief executive officer is stepping down from the business with immediate effect.
 In turn, the Board has appointed Vic Darvey, previously Purplebricks’ Chief Operating Officer, to the role of Chief Executive Officer and to the Board of Purplebricks.
Vic joined Purplebricks in January 2019.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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Purplebricks quits Australia after low commission model fails

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<div style="text-align: left;" align="center">Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in March 2019, seasonally adjusted, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures. </div>
Following on the heels of a 0.9 per cent rise in February 2019. Ben Faulkner, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys said, "cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.4 per cent) and Food retailing (0.4 per cent) led the rises with strength in food prices contributing to rises, especially in supermarkets and grocery stores."
"Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (1.2 per cent) and Household goods retailing (0.2 per cent) also rose. The rises were partially offset by falls in Department stores (-1.5 per cent) and Other retailing (-0.4 per cent)". In seasonally adjusted terms, ABS found there were rises in Victoria (0.7 per cent), Queensland (0.6 per cent), New South Wales (0.2 per cent), Tasmania (0.4 per cent), South Australia (0.1 per cent), and the Northern Territory (0.7 per cent). The Australian Capital Territory was relatively unchanged (0.0 per cent) and Western Australia (-0.7 per cent) fell in seasonally adjusted terms in March 2019. The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in March 2019. Compared to March 2018, the trend estimate rose 3.0 per cent.  Online retail turnover contributed 5.7 per cent to total retail turnover in original terms in March 2019. In March 2018 online retail turnover contributed 5.1 per cent to total retail. For the March quarter 2019, there was a fall of 0.1 per cent in seasonally adjusted volume terms.
The quarterly fall in volumes was led by Household goods retailing (-0.6 per cent), and Department stores (-1.2 per cent). Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.0 per cent), Other retailing (0.3 per cent), Food retailing (0.1 per cent), and Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.3 per cent) all rose in seasonally adjusted volume terms.
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Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in March: ABS

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National residential listings decreased by 6.3% in April 2019, according to new figures from SQM Research.
Listings across the country dropped from 354,459 in March to 332,236.
All states experienced a decrease in property sales listings over the month, with Sydney experiencing the highest decrease at 11.1%.
It was followed by Melbourne at 8.9% and Canberra 8.8%. Darwin recorded the lowest decrease at 4.3%.
Compared to a year ago, national listings rose 2.2% with Melbourne recording the biggest increase of 18.2% year-on-year, followed by Canberra at 15.3% increase. Sydney only mustered a 0.7% increase year-on-year.
<table style="width: 454px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="72">
City
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="78">
April 2018 Total
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="85">
March 2019 Total
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="78">
April 2019 Total
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="71">
Monthly change %
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="71">
Yearly change %
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Sydney
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
33,364 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
37,813 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
33,610 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-11.1%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
0.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Melbourne
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
32,378 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
42,001 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
38,277 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-8.9%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
18.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Brisbane
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
30,419 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
33,815 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
31,476 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-6.9%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
3.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Perth
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
26,548 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
28,114 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
26,178 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-6.9%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-1.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Adelaide
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
16,235 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
17,370 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
16,355 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-5.8%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
0.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Canberra
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
3,895 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
4,928 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
4,492 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-8.8%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
15.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Darwin
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
2,089 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
2,047 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
1,960 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-4.3%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-6.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Hobart
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
2,270 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
2,503 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
2,335 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-6.7%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
2.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="72">
National
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
325,147 
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
354,459 
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
332,236 
</td>
<td nowrap width="71">
-6.3%
</td>
<td nowrap width="71">
2.2%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Louis Christopher, Managing Director of SQM Research, said it's not uncommon to see the decline due to the holiday month we've just had.
“The decrease is mainly due to the Easter long weekend and ANZAC day public holidays in the month of April which had only 3 weekends of trade compared to March which had 5 weekends," Christopher said.
"That said, I note Sydney listings are now only up by just 0.7% year on year.
"If Sydney listings are starting to peak that could be a sign we are getting closer to the bottom in this downturn.
"However the election could also be having an impact here, with both buyers and sellers waiting until the election is over before making decisions on buying and selling.” 
Asking Prices 
Capital city house asking prices increased marginally by 0.1% but units decreased by 0.6% for the month to 30 April 2019. The average unit asking prices are now $559,900 and houses $908,800. 
Darwin’s unit price had the highest decrease at nearly 10% over the month followed by Hobart with a 5.3% decrease in unit prices. However, Hobart’s house prices saw the highest increase at 1.4% over the month.
Sydney’s house and unit prices each dropped by 0.5% over the month. The average house price in Sydney is now $1,229,100 and a unit is $686,500 – both back to 2016 prices. 
Sydney’s 12 month decline is now 9.3% for houses and 5.8% for units. Melbourne’s house and unit prices also continue to decline over the 12 months to 30 April at 7.1% and 0.1% respectively. 
Perth experienced a marginal growth in house prices of 0.3% but unit prices continue to decline at 0.1%. 
Year-on-year capital city asking prices also posted declines of 6.5% for houses and 3.8% for units.
Hobart continued to show the strongest growth year-on-year for houses with a 7.9% increase but units declined 0.3% over the 12 months.
SQM Research Weekly Asking Prices Index
<div style="text-align: left;" align="center">
<table style="width: 426px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" width="156">
Week ending: 30 Apr 2019
</td>
<td width="64">
Asking Price
</td>
<td width="72">
Change on previous week
</td>
<td width="70">
Rolling month % change
</td>
<td width="64">
12 month % change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=nsw-Sydney&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Sydney</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
1,229.2
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-4.3 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.5% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-9.3% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
686.5
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.7 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.5% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-5.8% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=vic-Melbourne&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Melbourne</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
937.2
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
2.3 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.7% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-7.1% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
543.8
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.8 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-1.3% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-0.1% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=qld-Brisbane&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Brisbane</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
616.7
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
0.1 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.2% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
1.0% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
372.1
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.2 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.9% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-2.4% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=wa-Perth&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Perth</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
667.9
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-1.1 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.3% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-2.9% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
383.3
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.2 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.1% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-4.0% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=sa-Adelaide&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Adelaide</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
512.2
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
0.3 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.3% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
0.6% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
300.3
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-1.0 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.3% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-1.5% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=act-Canberra&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Canberra</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
818.9
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
0.9 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.0% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
3.1% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
421.3
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
0.6 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.2% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
1.0% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=nt-Darwin&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Darwin</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
585.0
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.2 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.2% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-1.4% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
362.5
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-5.8 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-9.9% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-4.8% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=tas-Hobart&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Hobart</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
515.0
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
5.4 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
1.4% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
7.9% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
304.2
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-2.2 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-5.3% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-0.3% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?national=1&amp;t=1">National</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
566.9
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
0.7 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.3% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-0.4% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
377.0
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.2 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.9% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
0.1% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?avg=1&amp;t=1">Cap City Average</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
908.8
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-1.9 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.1% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-6.5% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
559.9
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.6 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.6% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-3.8% 
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Source: <a href="http://www.sqmresearch.com.au/" target="_blank">www.sqmresearch.com.au</a> 
</body></html>

Property listings decreased in April: SQM Research 

<html><body>
There’s something about any holiday break.
It allows people with downtime to pause, reflect, seek feedback from friends and family and then react - and it certainly applies to property market sentiment.
Traditionally everyone returns from their summer break, tanned and feeling refresh, brimming with new-found optimism.
Hence most years – including 2019 – begin with stronger auction success rates than those that had seriously tailed off in the overburden exhaustion and distractions of December.
I can only recall one Christmas break that didn't then see a stronger start for the property market.
Easter is another pause in the sales marketing calendar, which allows the potential buyers and sellers time to reflect.
But that’s where Easter’s similarity to Christmas ends.
It tends to present itself as a rather more unwelcome interruption to marketing campaigns. 
This year's timing was later than many years, so vendors had plenty of opportunity to list ahead.
But there wasn't the typical rush to have properties sold before Easter – no super Saturday – and that might have also been partly because it overlayed with the NSW school holidays meaning vendors and their agent deemed many buyers to be otherwise preoccupied.
The listing market wasn't helped by the encroaching election and the nervousness as to its outcome.
The election will do more than just push listings to Saturdays on either side of election day, May 18.
Many agents reckon what happens after Easter sets the tone for the rest of the year, but this year it will be what happens post-election.
Estate agents have been increasingly complaining of a shortage of stock, but what they really mean is new sellable listings.
After all unsold private treaty stock sits at 26,000 plus houses and apartments, according to CoreLogic.
The consensus is that given that new listings remain a little light on, there’s a good chance of the auction clearance rate remaining at the current level or higher through winter.
But things are very fragile.
Prices are of course down, especially for stale stock, and this pricing revision has finally resonated through to vendor consciousness. Well slightly more than half of them, who are selling under the hammer.
Sydney currently ranks as the nation's strongest capital city auction market, a position it has held since mid February when it took the mantle from Adelaide.
Sydney's preliminary clearance rate also sits higher than this time last year.
But CoreLogic calculates Sydney prices are off in Sydney by close to 14 percent for their peak. That's almost double the national decline, but Sydney did rise by the highest level during the boom, up by around 75 percent. Sydney values are down $125,000. In regional NSW, values have declined by four percent or around $18,000.
And so given the choice many would-be vendors have understandably decided not to list, or do so publicly.
Therefore buyers face limited fresh choices and accordingly auctions prices can still sell at higher that the pre-auction marketing campaign estimate for quality property.
But there are plenty of losers. 
Cameron Kusher at CoreLogic expects the declines to continue over the coming months.
"With advertised stock levels remaining high and mortgage rates tracking around the lowest level since the 1960s (and potentially moving even lower later this year), active buyers are back in the driver’s seat to take advantage of improved housing affordability and the low cost of debt," he says.
 
</body></html>

The election result will set the scene for the remaining 2019 property outlook 

<html><body>
The alleged former Pilbara Ponzi scheme queen, Veronica Macpherson, has returned to establish a new property business, according to the ABC.

Despite being permanently banned from providing financial services, Ms Macpherson is behind a new cooperative enterprise which aims to develop housing for Pilbara workers.

It comes just three years after the collapse of her Macro group of Pilbara property development companies, with the creditors owed more than $285 million.

Her latest venture — the Pilbara Liveable Cities Cooperative — was approved by the WA Government last year, the ABC reported.

She has registered a distributing cooperative, meaning profits are dispensed to members.

Cooperatives are regulated by state governments and not ASIC.

Ms Macpherson told the ABC that the cooperative enterprise would help her deliver her goal of providing liveable cities in the Pilbara. 

"I am supporting a number of developments who can't raise finance," she said.

"Everyone's looking to me for a solution."

An ASIC spokesman said she was not allowed to arrange any investment in a cooperative or provide financial advice on making such an investment. 

ASIC had advised Ms Macpherson of its opinion.

<h2>Ms Macpherson's bankruptcy also prevents her from being involved with managing a cooperative under WA laws.</h2>

Ms Macpherson described it as a social enterprise, involving some people who had been involved with Macro. 

"I will be a member and a service provider — marketing and corporate advisory for the businesses and developers that we support — until such time as my bankruptcy comes to an end," she said. 

She has also suggested to Macro investors that the enterprise could help them get their money back, 'with outstanding interest following in the next twelve months," her newsletter said.

The disclosure statement outlines the membership structure of her cooperative:

<ul>
<li>"Custodians", who provide property development, management and maintenance services, as well as health and wellbeing services for FIFO workers</li>
	<li>"Pioneers", who will use these services, and "Champions", who will fund the services.</li>
	<li>"Custodians" pay $100 a share and have full voting rights, "Pioneers" will pay annual investment fees of between $120 and $12,000 for no voting rights, while "Champions" can buy a Cooperative Capital Unit, a fundraising vehicle, for $1000 and limited voting rights.</li>
</ul>
The ABC went to an Australian expert on cooperatives, Professor Tim Mazzarol of UWA Business School, who said this structure was not in keeping with the spirit of a cooperative.

<div class="inline-content photo right"> </div>

<div class="inline-content photo right">New off-the-plan developments for sale in Western Australia</div>

<div class="inline-content photo right">[smartcode_project:default project_id=7836]</div>

<div class="inline-content photo right">[smartcode_project:default project_id=7854]</div>

<div class="inline-content photo right"> </div>
</body></html>

Alleged former Pilbara Ponzi queen Veronica Macpherson returns

<html><body>
Manly’s Hotel Steyne has been sold.
Sydney's popular northern beaches pub has been bought by Iris Capital founder Sam Arnaout whose said he was "delighted" to have bought the pub.
"We intend to get a good feel for the asset and work with the locals to return their pub to its former glory," Mr Arnaout said.
It was listed for sale in February.
Arnaout said the Steyne positioned Iris Capital as a "genuine hospitality leader in this part of the world, and complements our macro coastal investment strategy in respect of similar landmark projects such as Newcastle's $700 million East End development".
The Steyne will boost Iris Capital's portfolio to 20 pubs across Sydney, including the Grand Hotel, Bondi Junction; Golden Tiger, Hurstville; Gaslight Inn, Darlinghurst and Peden's Hotel in Cessnock.
Iris Capital beat out other contenders by paying between $60 and $80 million for the iconic pub.
Nine Entertainment suggest it was $65 million.
HTL Property would not be drawn on the sale price, however described it as a “record price” in their official statement.
<div class="wp-caption">
The Manly Daily reported the shortlist of five, included two international buyers, two from Sydney and one from interstate.
</div>
It was reduced to a final two.  
The landmark and multi-level beachfront hotel, spread across approximately 2000sqm, was offered by a consortium that comprised businessman John Singleton, hotelier Arthur Laundy and investors Robert Whyte and Mark Carnegie.
They paid about $30 million for the property in 2010, and have reportedly spent about $5 million.
Speaking to the Manly Daily, Mr Laundy said that he was happy with the outcome, both from a sale price perspective and the new buyer.
He said he had bought and sold more than 90 hotels in his almost 60 years as a publican, and Hotel Steyne would easily be in his top 10.
 
</body></html>

Sam Arnaout buys Manly's Hotel Steyne

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bottega-property-group">Bottega House</a> has secured council approval for its first Brisbane project - a $270 million luxury residential development on an absolute riverfront site in leafy St Lucia.&nbsp;

The 15-storey project, known as <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/st-lucia-by-bottega-house-180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">St Lucia by Bottega House</a> , will occupy a prime north-facing site at 178-180 Macquarie Street, directly fronting the Brisbane River in the established inner-west suburb known for its rowing clubs, golf courses and sprawling University of Queensland campus.&nbsp;

St Lucia by Bottega House will feature a suite of amenities including dedicated wellness spaces, a mineral pool and cold plunge. The project has been positioned to attract affluent owner-occupiers seeking high-quality, house-sized apartments.&nbsp;

Bottega House has been set up by co-directors Nick Malloch, Louis Mennes and Craig Marsh.

Malloch said the project drew inspiration from its Brisbane River setting and leafy inner-west surrounds, while responding to the demands of discerning locals looking to transition from freestanding homes into apartment living.&nbsp;

"With an expansive river frontage and lush green surrounds, we knew we had to create something special that reflects the natural beauty of the location while offering residents masterfully crafted homes," said Malloch.&nbsp;

"Our intent was to complement the project's quiet, private setting by introducing residences that offer a calm retreat and sanctuary from the everyday. The result is a harmonious blend of architecture, interiors and amenity that emphasises wellbeing, comfort and beauty without excess."&nbsp;

Malloch added that project consultants had been carefully selected in alignment with Bottega House's commitment to care, quality and attention to detail. The design team includes architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a>, interiors practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/urbis">Urbis</a>.&nbsp;

Three-bedroom apartments are expected to start around $5 millio. Selling agents Keenan &amp; Byrne said the pricing strategy for the project was anticipated to achieve upwards of $25,500 per square metre.&nbsp;

The project's development approval this week follows the success of Bottega House's inaugural Queensland project - a 22-storey collection of full-floor sky homes at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast which included the sale of a two-storey penthouse at a record price for a beachside residence.&nbsp;

St Lucia by Bottega House is expected to launch to market in November, with construction anticipated to be completed mid 2029.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151826]

Joel Robinson

Bottega House to make Brisbane debut with St Lucia riverfront apartment development

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> is advancing its affordable apartment model into Brisbane with the acquisition of another site at Cordelia Street in South Brisbane for $27 million.

Sherpa, which has a $1.7 billion pipeline across Southeast Queensland, intends to bring a cohort of apartments exclusively for first homebuyers into its proposed 186-apartment project to be built at 2 Cordelia Street.

The Sherpa model has already been incredibly well received from their Gold Coast projects, where Sherpa Group set aside a number of apartments exclusively for first homebuyers.

The new $320 million project marks Sherpa Group's second development in Brisbane, following its $255 million Symphony project, also on Cordelia Street, which is currently under construction.

Symphony will deliver 146 apartments across 28 levels, offering a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. With 114 already sold, construction by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/lps-group">LPS Group</a> is scheduled for completion in 2028.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7574 project_image_fid=351654]

Sherpa Founder, Christie Leet, said the company was excited to be venturing into Brisbane for its second residential project.

“We’re big believers in the future of Brisbane as we lead into the 2032 Olympics and beyond,” Leet said.

“The success of Symphony has guided us into what will be our second project and we look forward to submitting our plans with council soon so we can deliver yet another quality project to the inner city residential market.

“Our Flourish model has been very well received both in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and we’re excited to be able to offer some of these apartments again exclusively to first homebuyers to help get them into the property market.

“The model has been extraordinarily well received in our previous projects and it is something we are committed to moving forward.”

2 Cordelia Street will be designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hal-architects">HAL Architects</a> &amp; Finegrain and will include Sherpa’s signature residential amenities including pool, gym, recreation, wellness and work from home spaces.

The project will feature ground-floor commercial space, creating a vibrant amenity for residents and the surrounding community.

A development application will be lodged with Brisbane City Council in August on the code compliant site and will be launched to the market early 2027.

Sherpa acquires new site for second Brisbane apartment tower

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

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> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

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