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Banks may increase variable mortgage rates to recoup pandemic-induced losses despite a stagnant cash rate, according to surveyed experts.
In this month's Finder RBA Cash Rate Survey, while all the experts surveyed expect a cash rate hold in September (40/40), more than half of those who weighed in (57%, 16) believe that banks will raise their variable mortgage rates despite the Reserve Bank indicating that the cash rate will remain motionless for some time.
When asked about the expected time frame for this movement, half of the respondents (50%, 8) said banks are likely to announce out-of-cycle rate hikes during the first half of 2021.
Graham Cooke, insights manager at Finder, said that prospective variable rate increases mean future homebuyers should tread cautiously.
“Banking profits have nosedived off the back of billions of dollars worth of loan deferrals, a shrinking pool of first-time buyers, low-interest rates and minimal credit growth."
“This may send banks scrambling to recoup lost funds by pushing up home loan rates to absorb some of these costs, which will come at a detriment to mortgage customers."
“A flat cash rate does not mean homeowners are in the clear. We learned this during the most recent period of cash rate stagnation. While the rate held at 1.25% for 34 months starting in 2016, banks increased their variable rates 7 times."
“This means that homebuyers considering a variable mortgage should still factor in a potential repayment increase of 2-3% to their budget to prevent rate shock,” Cooke concluded.
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Banks raise variable mortgage rates independent of the RBA: Finder RBA Survey

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Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall have today called for the removal of restrictions on agricultural workers crossing the NSW/Victoria border.
The call comes ahead of a meeting of National Cabinet on Friday, where an Agricultural Workers Code will be presented and considered. 
Mr Barilaro said agriculture was an essential industry and that it was imperative restrictions were lifted to ensure farmers had an adequate workforce for the fast-approaching harvest. 
“The situation is now at the 11th hour for many producers across the State. We cannot stand by and watch farmers, crops and businesses face ruin due to the border closure with Victoria,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Agriculture is an essential industry. Our farmers feed and clothe the nation and we must do everything to ensure they can continue to operate as smoothly as possible."
Mr Marshall said he would be taking forward a proposal to a meeting of Agriculture Ministers tomorrow,  which would see sensible safety requirements imposed in exchange for the removal of all other restrictions on the movement of agricultural workers across all borders.
“Our farmers are suffering because the current cumbersome permit system restricts the free movement of agricultural workers across the NSW/Victoria border, beyond 100 kilometres,” Mr Marshall said. 
“As part of that proposal, new requirements would be introduced to ensure the safety of primary producers and rural communities, including having a mandatory COVID Safe Plan in place, the use of PPE by workers as well as robust records keeping to allow contact tracing.
“Our farmers have had a gutful of these senseless border restrictions and so have I.”
The Minister for Agriculture is proposing an Agricultural Workers Code that would allow for the free movement of agriculture so long as COVID-19 safe strategies are in place including individual record keeping, COVID-safe plans, the use of PPE and regular voluntary testing.
 
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Ministerial call for the removal of restrictions on agricultural workers crossing the NSW/Victoria border

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The Australian property market has managed to hold its value, according to PRD Real Estate’s recent market research report.
Despite the ill-effects of the COVID-19 shutdown, PRD reveals on average, median house prices grew in capital city, metropolitan and regional markets in the 12 months to the first half of 2020.
Capital city markets grew by 1.0 per cent on average, led by Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart. Regional markets performed best; up by 3.4 per cent.
PRD Real Estate Chief Economist, Diaswati Mardiasmo believes the market has shown great resilience.
“Whilst COVID-19 hit us swiftly this year and threw Australian economy and property markets into turmoil, things settled down within the property market quicker than initially thought”, she commented.
Australia has created a market balance thanks to the unprecedented release of multiple fiscal and monetary policy assistance, the report reveals.
Consumer confidence has returned to pre-COVID-19 levels with confidence up by
23.9 per cent in June 2020 after a plummet in April.
“Uncertainty about the health situation and the future strength of the economy is making many households and businesses cautious. However, despite the curveballs the property market has been remarkably resilient, and demand has been stronger than many people anticipated”, Dr Mardiasmo said.
Notably, new home sales increased by 77.6 per cent at the end of this financial year, from a record low result in May.
The HomeBuilder scheme is balancing the downturn in residential construction due to COVID-19 with upgraders accounting for 42 per cent of loans in June.
“The key going forward will be increasing levels of employment, public and private investment and consumer confidence based on the ongoing impact of COVID-19.” Dr Mardiasmo said.
“There is no doubt we are seeing signs of gradual improvement”.
 
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The Australian property market sees gradual improvement: PRD 

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<div class="column">Laing+Simmons has struck a new partnership with Making Meditation Mainstream, a local initiative with a national footprint and a global vision, to bring the supportive practice of mediation to local people and help tackle the challenges of mental health in the community. The offices at Laing+Simmons Narrabeen, Laing+Simmons Dee Why and the new Northern beaches team at Laing+Simmons Young Property have joined forces with Laing+Simmons head office to help Making Meditation Mainstream grow its movement to new suburban locations in Sydney, as well as other Australian cities and internationally locations as well.
Each Saturday at sunrise, Making Mediation Mainstream takes members of the community through a peaceful mediation experience to help them connect with nature and each other. Free to all and open to everybody, the movement has 14 locations in Australia and is growing, with the first international location soon to begin in Switzerland and Hawaii on the cards soon thereafter.
Laing+Simmons is known for its people-first culture which emphasises the need for its people to care for each other like they would a member of their family. The company has an Employee Assistance Program in place which makes confidential counselling services available free for team members who might be experiencing difficulties either in their work or personal lives.
The new partnership is a natural fit with the company’s family culture, said Laing+Simmons Managing Director Leanne Pilkington.
“Improving mental health outcomes for people in the Laing+Simmons family, including our team members, our customers and the communities in which we operate, is something we’re emotionally invested in. it makes sense for us to formalise a partnership with an organisation which shares the same values and, importantly, offers a solution,” Ms Pilkington said.
“Our head office staff as well as people from our Northern Beaches teams actively participate in the initiative. Societal mental health challenges have been exacerbated by the pandemic to lead many people to experience feelings of anxiety, stress, isolation, depression and more.
“By supporting Making Mediation Mainstream, which in turn supports Lifeline, we can make a tangible effort to provide a solution which some people will be able to derive real, transformative benefits from,” she said.
Making Meditation Mainstream was born on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in 2018 – a bad year for the area with 33 recorded suicides – with the objective of tackling mental health challenges through meditation as a supportive practice that can nurture a person’s connection to self, to nature and to each other.
It’s a registered charity which directly supports Lifeline on the Northern Beaches.
The partnership with Laing+Simmons comes at a time when Making Meditation Mainstream is gearing up for a major ‘Big Beach Sit’ event to coincide with Mental Health Month in October, in collaboration with Lifeline. Watch this space for more information on this world-first event.
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New partnership to tackle mental health on Sydney's northern beaches: Laing+Simmons

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Pre-listing activity was up in early August, according to CoreLogic's Early Market Indicators report.
The report found in contrast that listings and mortgage activity was down.
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Pre-listing activity is down 12.71% when compared YTD year on year.
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Newly advertised properties for sale have seen numbers drop this week down 1%. Their month on month changes saw a similar drop.
Newly advertised properties for rent have seen a much larger drop of 5%, however their month on month changes were not impacted as harshly.
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Mortgage activity is up year on year however did fall slightly this week down 0.24%
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There has been a notable increase in loans of every category barring MIP which fell significantly.
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Pre-listing activity is up while listings and mortgaging are down: CoreLogic

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McGrath Estate Agents have announced the opening of a new office in Cooma NSW. 
This will be the third new regional office in the past two months, following opening in Albury/Wondonga and Mansfield in Victoria.
Founder John McGrath believes that affordability provides a huge incentive for regional migration as families reassess their lifestyle options.
Mr McGrath said, “COVID has definitely accelerated the ability to work remotely and areas within a two hour radius of large towns and cities I believe will be very much sought after, particularly as a commute has never been easier with new infrastructure that connects the modern worker more readily and easily.”
The Snowy Monaro Shire’s roots are rich in history dating back to the 1800’s, however Cooma’s name and reputation has been highlighted as it is at the centre of Australia’s largest engineering project, the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electricity Scheme. The Shire itself is the main gateway to the Snowy Mountains, Kosciuszko National Park and within close proximity to Canberra and Queanbeyan, and just 1.5 hours to the south coast beaches.
Christopher Mourd, Head of Franchise Network for McGrath Estate Agents said, “We see real growth and opportunity in these key regional areas as they have outperformed their capital city counterparts through COVID.” (source: CoreLogic July 2020)
He adds, “The Snowy Mountains of NSW are a key lifestyle market for our ACT and NSW client base, who are increasingly attracted by its relaxed way of life, affordable housing, and sense of community. Cooma is central to this market, serviced by a local airport, excellent infrastructure and connectivity, the Goulburn Bombala Rail line as well as good health and educational facilities.
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“The region traditionally is a mixed grazing area, however it has benefitted greatly from the Snowy Hydro Scheme, and the ski resorts within an hour of Cooma. However, 2020 has seen the full approval of the nation’s largest renewable energy project, Snowy 2.0 which is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs during the construction peak with thousands of jobs generated indirectly. With its added employment opportunities, we believe it offers excellent opportunity for growth in the next few years as a major regional hub for treechangers and young families.”  
McGrath Cooma will service the area from Michelago in the north to Delgate in the south; and Bemboka in the east to Thredbo in the west. Key suburbs will include Cooma, Bredbo, Berridale, Jindabyne and Thredbo.
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McGrath Cooma will be led by Principal Shannon Fergusson previously operating his own agency Fergusson Real Estate and Property with his wife, Rachel since 2010. Shannon has been in the industry for more than 20 years, and living in Cooma since 2005. 
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The average median house price for Cooma is $320,000 with Shannon Fergusson achieving recent sales results in the last six months including:
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44 Kiah Avenue Cooma – A street record for a four-bedroom home sold for $615,000
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6 Stratos Place Cooma – A street record for a four-bedroom home sold for $597,000
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9 Tulong Avenue Cooma – A street record for a five-bedroom home sold for $499,000
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McGrath pushes further into regional lifestyle areas with a new office in Cooma, NSW

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CPlusC Architectural Workshop Pty Ltd has snapped up a vacant, freehold mixed-use building in Sydney’s East from a private investor for under $2.5 million, reflecting a significant building rate for vacant City Fringe assets. 
Located at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/sold/property-466-cleveland-street-surry-hills-nsw-2010-503554690" target="_blank">466 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills</a>, the two storey property offers a net lettable area of 182sqm (including 36sqm outdoor terrace) on a 147sqm site and is fitted with a commercial kitchen, grease trap, cool room and exhaust. 
There is a current DA in place for a dental practice and the building will benefit from the new Light Rail being constructed along Devonshire Street, connecting the East to Central Station and the CBD. The proposed stop will be a 100m walk to the corner or Bourke Street and Devonshire Street. This will be in conjunction with the current extensive bus network just moments away. 
The property sold through Ollie Ridley, Nick Lower and Selin Ince of Savills Australia who said there was a lot of interest from local investors, developers and owner occupiers looking for a trophy asset in an enviable location.
According to Ollie Ridley, Executive, Metropolitan &amp; Regional Sales at Savills Australia, “The repositioning potential and DA approval was especially appealing to those within the dentistry/healthcare world, along with other affiliated fields looking for high exposure locations within prime Inner-City locations”.
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Surry Hills dental practice space sells to architects

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A freestanding commercial investment with development upside has sold for $8,500,000 under the hammer at <a href="https://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=S0FkYXRBL0pXU1R3ak9mT011UE1ZUkJvb2ZNQnUxdERqcHp0UUpKT1cvUVFxbmdxZFhzTGJQSEpGTHVVWW95QnJVNmoyc0RySkhYc1cxd053aG1UOWZhcXFwcUpzaFBKam9MK0grZlBvd2ljZi9COW5LaGZ1K3RVSWw2TmQxdndNWDYyUTU0cGgrREh5cURWRU1JTVlMdmlXdmhNeG90QjNzd01mc09iNjJSY0VYVm5KaGVhZVhiVWgwenBaTXNY&amp;rh=ff0065c7450d709ea5552ae9a04bacc4ff82fe1a" target="_blank">2-4 Palmer Street</a> in Parramatta.   The property, that came with a 685sqm building area and 600sqm land area, was sold at auction on a 2.9 per cent yield.   The asset was marketed and sold by Ray White agents Samuel Hadgelias and Jeff Moxham, in conjunction with Anthony Khoury and Jon Race of Khoury Partners. “Freehold commercial opportunities with upside are a rare commodity in the Parramatta CBD and that’s why this asset attracted seven registered bidders,” Mr Moxham said.
“The sale being in excess of the reserve price is further evidence the commercial market remains strong despite the negative speculation regarding Australian property markets in the wake of rising cases of COVID-19,” Mr Hadgelias said.    “The low yield is consistent with other freehold buildings that have traded nearby and evidences the continued strong demand for 'value add' assets with future development potential,” Mr Khoury said.
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Parramatta commercial investment sells for $8.5 million at auction

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Liverpool’s innovation credentials have been recognised on the world stage as it joins a select group of 20 global innovation precincts through the Global Institute on Innovation Districts.  
“The Liverpool Innovation Precinct was established in partnership between Council and local health, education and research institutions to harness the city’s strengths,” Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said.  
“By accepting an invitation to join this global network, Liverpool is now among fantastic company. Member cities include Toronto and Pittsburgh, known for their cutting-edge technology and creative industries.” 
The news comes off the back of the NSW Government’s announcement that up to 450 of CSIRO’s Sydney-based staff will relocate to a state-of-the-art facility at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis by 2026, in-line with the opening of Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.  
“What we’re seeing through continued collaboration and investment from other levels of government and the tertiary education and private sectors is global recognition of Liverpool and the nearby Aerotropolis as cities of the future,” Mayor Waller said.  
“Global companies including Northrop Grumman, Hitachi and Amazon, top-ranking Australian universities and now the national science research agency want to call the Liverpool area home. 
“There’s a bright future ahead for Sydney’s third CBD, with all this investment in commercial operations, transport, freight and education infrastructure bringing new job opportunities for our growing city.” 
Alongside the $740 million upgrade of Liverpool Hospital, many Council-led initiatives demonstrate the power of innovation and collaboration to improve services and the city’s liveability.  
“Council’s latest example of innovation and collaboration is our support of the Maxar Spatial Challenge alongside other partners such as Amazon Web Services and the Australian Space Agency,” Mayor Waller said.  
“The national challenge, which launches this month, encourages participants to make use of satellite data to address key challenges such as mapping population density or an area’s tree canopy which could help reduce the urban heat island effect.  
“Other innovative Council initiatives include a project to track the movements of people in the Liverpool CBD to better inform planning decisions and our Fifteenth Avenue Smart Transit (FAST) Corridor vision for a rapid transit corridor which could be future-proofed for new technologies such as driverless electric buses and trackless trams.”
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Liverpool recognised globally as city of innovation  

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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk placed tighter restrictions on auction gatherings in Gold Coast homes from 8am, on Saturday, 29 August. 
“Coming into effect from 8:00am Saturday, we are going to extend those limits of people inside your homes to 10 people, and those gatherings outside to 10,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I think everyone would agree, we acted very swiftly when it came to those earlier cases with the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre and we know people travel a lot from the Gold Coast to Brisbane, and it makes sense to extend that.”
The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) issued guidelines:
“Owners, tenants and agents must continue to take reasonable steps to encourage visitors to any premises to practise physical distancing and hygiene practices as required and that open home inspections, rental inspections and auctions be limited as required by the new directive.
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Gold Coast gets tightened auction restrictions amid COVID-19 concerns

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

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“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

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Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

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Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

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Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

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Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

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MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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