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Geoff Lucas has departed the McGrath agency which has seen a 30 percent increase in transaction volumes over the past year.
McGrath Limited advised that its chief executive officer, Geoff Lucas, had "chosen to resign" following the presentation of the FY2020 financial results.
It advised McGrath has secured to a financial 2020 net profit of $700,000, versus a net loss of $9.7 million in the prior year.
For the year revenue climbed 11 per cent to $91 million. No dividends were declared in financial 2020.
Chair Peter Lewis said the board had accepted Lucas’ resignation after "what has been a difficult two and a half years for the company.”
Edward Law has been appointed to the role after a 14-year career at ANZ, with his last position at the bank being Global Head of Institutional Property.
An expert in structured commercial real estate debt funding, Mr Law most recently has been an executive director of Newground Capital Partners and investment director of MaxCap Group.
It was February 2018 when the then fformer McGrath chief operating officer Geoff Lucas emerged to take the top job at real estate company.
He was previously at McGrath for a decade until just after the 2016 float after its former chief executive Cameron Judson left.
Lucas, who was overlooked for the chief executive role in 2016 in favour of Judson, then briefly joined artisan NSW bread maker and cafe group Sonoma as its chief operating officer. The agency has no debt and $17.3 million cash. It said it expects property prices to decline over coming months with government stimulus packages, mortgage deferrals, and record low interest rates cushioning the falls.
It also tipped continued softness in the rental market.
The group declined to provide specific financial guidance for financial 2021.
McGrath shares sit at 19 cents.
The agency reported the impacts of COVID became evident at the onset of the pandemic in mid-March where transaction volumes were lower for a six-week period due to restrictions around open houses and on-site auctions. "However, since then we have seen a rebound in sales volumes as these restrictions were eased and eventually lifted," it advised.
"Notwithstanding the impact of COVID, we are pleased to advise that the extensive work we have undertaken over the past year has manifested in our financial results with the company showing a turnaround in excess of $10 million in our underlying operating results and also returning to net profitability.
"Whilst there had been some impact on listing volumes since the onset of COVID, home values have remained quite resilient through this time.
"In our Property Management (PM) business, we have seen some decline in rental values.
"The lower demand due to the weaker labour market has impacted rents."
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Geoff Lucas departs McGrath estate agency

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A mortgagee property in Elizabeth North has come onto the market with a price guide of $110,000.
Located at 22 Knighton Road, the worse-for-wear residence is semi-detached and sits on a 616 square metre block.
<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/2020/7/29/elizabeth%20north%202.jpg" alt="">
It features three bedrooms, one bathroom, and a lock up shed.
Built in 1960, the home last sold in 2009 for $180,000.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/7/29/elizabeth%20north%203.jpg" alt="">
The median house price in Elizabeth North is $159,000.
Ken Loft, from Harcourts Playford, has the listing.
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Elizabeth North mortgagee home set for auction

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A mortgagee home in Halls Head, a coastal suburb of Mandurah, has been listed for sale.
An asking price of $345,000 has been provided.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/Screen%20Shot%202020-06-11%20at%2012.29.05%20pm.png" alt="">
Located at on Petrel Close, the four-bedroom, four-bathroom home also features a games room and a home office.
The property is located only 500 metres from the beach.
It last traded for $458,500 in 2014. 
The median house price in Halls Head is $395,000.
Kathryn Fiorenza, from Professionals Mandurah, has the listing. 
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Mandurah mortgagee home in Halls Head under offer

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The latest consumer price index (CPI) data released shows that Australia is in deflation, and over the quarter, national rents fell by -1.3 per cent, which was both the largest and first quarterly decline on record.
Nationally, the cost of renting is now back at levels last recorded in March 2017.
Despite falling rents throughout the quarter, the volume of rental searches on realestate.com.au is actually up 38.5 per cent.
Not only are people searching more, the volume of high-intent activity on the rental section of realestate.com.au is also up by 74.5 per cent over the same period.
The results are a clear indicator of how COVID-19 has changed the property market dynamic.
Rental rates are coming under pressure from multiple sources. We have virtually no migration, there is new stimulus encouraging purchasing from first home buyers who otherwise may have been renters, and then there's the fact that unemployment is rising, and younger people are most affected.
With a moratorium on rental evictions in place until September, the next quarter is unlikely to see rental CPI fall as severely. Thereafter it is likely rental rates will fall further and will take quite some time to recover to previous highs.
The high demand on realestate.com.au is likely due to the possibility of finding cheaper and or better rentals, as evidenced by the CPI data.
Cameron Kusher is director of economic research at the REA Group
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Falling rental rates unlikely to bounce back soon: Cameron Kusher 

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Farmer confidence levels are remaining relatively high, even though the rest of the economy is feeling the effects of Covid related uncertainty, according to the latest report from valuation firm Herron Todd White.
There are still some rural sales occurring, and there does not appear to be any initial signs of any reduction in value.
However, agents are reporting that the tighter border restrictions are limiting the ability of corporate buyers to inspect and do their due diligence. While the internet can provide a good overall sense of a property, buyers still want to ‘kick the dirt’. We are aware of at least one case where this inability to cross borders is holding up a sale negotiation.
This restriction is exacerbated when international buyers are involved, and it is currently difficult to see how any international travel will be possible in the next 18 months. Meanwhile the reduction in the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) threshold down to $0 caught many by surprise.
There is a significant cost and also time delays involved with navigating FIRB requirements, and this cost becomes more significant as the property value reduces. We are also aware of a one case where the change has delayed a sale.
Whilst we are aware of a number of sales which have been negotiated in the ‘Covid-19’ period across a number of industries, we are not at liberty to disclose finite details as yet until such sales are finalised and settled.
A table grape sale in the Robinvale area, a small citrus orchard in the Nangiloc area and a dried fruit property within the Mildura Irrigation area suggest that value levels have remained firm at pre-Covid levels.
We are also aware of a large dryland cropping holding which has transacted (not settled) to the north-east of Mildura in New south Wales which will show levels slightly firmer than pre-Covid values.
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Sales suggest values remain at pre-coronavirus levels in Mildura: HTW

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Privately-owned developer Orchard Property Group has taken the wraps off its latest project with the launch of the $105 million Aurora project in the heart of Ipswich’s booming southern corridor.
With construction well underway, the 63 homesites in the first release of Aurora Deebing Heights will be completed and registered in September, providing buyers with access to the Federal Government’s $25,000 HomeBuilder grant.
The first release at Aurora includes homesites ranging in size from 362 sqm to 600 sqm (median size of 420 sqm) and prices starting from $186,000. House and land packages are available from $399,844.
Orchard Property Group Managing Director Brent Hailey said the 502 lot Aurora project was expected to benefit from the growing demand for large, affordable homesites close to a number of major employment hubs.
“Over the last decade, Deebing Heights has emerged as one of the hidden gems in the Ripley Valley growth area with schools, shopping and recreation facilities all just a short drive away,” he said.
“The new Deebing Heights State School has quickly gained a strong reputation since it was opened in 2016 and is just a few minute’s drive from Aurora.
“The suburb has been in the shadow of the larger Ripley area for many years, but its proximity to the Ipswich CBD, Amberley RAAF base and other employment hubs has established it as property hotspot in its own right.”
Ipswich is the fastest-growing region in Queensland, with annual population growth of more than 4 per cent with 70 per cent of that growth occurring in the region between Ipswich CBD and Springfield.
The rate of growth has prompted new Ipswich City Council Mayor Teresa Harding to make a submission to Infrastructure Australia in support of a 25km public transport corridor between Ipswich CBD and Springfield Central, including a new station at Deebing South.
Deebing Heights has been one of the fastest growing suburbs in Ipswich over the last decade, growing from a population of 344 at the 2011 census to 2,023 by 2016. This is expected to continue to grow exponentially over coming years.
Mr Hailey said Orchard was expecting strong demand for the project with the HomeBuilder grant and the State Government’s first homebuyer grant providing plenty of incentive for buyers.
“The HomeBuilder grant has been a strong driver of demand for new land since it was announced in June and we would expect that to continue right up to the deadline at the end of December.” 
Combined with the State Government’s $15,000 grant, first home buyers now have access to $40,000 in grants. 
Aurora was made possible by a $7.2 million Catalyst Infrastructure Program grant from Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) to undertake a major upgrade of Binnies Road, Ripley, to provide access to the site. 
Orchard acquired the 34-hectare site at 160 Dalys Road, Ripley, late last year from a group of investors for $11 million. The acquisition takes Orchard’s total pipeline of lots owned and under control to more than 2,000 across five different projects around South East Queensland. The site included an existing Development Approval for a new masterplanned community. 
The Ripley Valley PDA, located about five kilometres south-west of the Ipswich CBD and around 50 kilometres from Brisbane CBD, was declared a PDA in 2010 and covers 4,680 hectares.
The new project will be Orchard’s second largest, following the launch earlier this year of the 650-lot, $120 million Pebble Creek project at South Maclean. The company recently completed sales at PineVue @ Maudsland (110 lots) and has active projects at Ormeau, Narangba and Caboolture.
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$105 million residential project puts Deebing Heights in the spotlight

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A mortgagee home in Queensland’s Moranbah has been listed for sale.
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom property has been listed with a price guide of $368,000.
Located at 19 Hannay Street, this home offers an undercover entertainment area and a double bay shed.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/Screen%20Shot%202020-08-17%20at%204.44.17%20pm.png" alt="">
The 758 square metre property last traded in 2009 for $121,000.
The median house price in Moranbah is $255,500, according to CoreLogic data.
AH Realty agent Annemarie Haywood holds the listing.
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Moranbah home set for mortgagee auction

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A mortgagee in possession home in New South Wales’ Liverpool is set for auction.
The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home sits at the heart of Liverpool with major amenities only minutes away.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/Screen%20Shot%202020-08-17%20at%204.28.43%20pm.png" alt="">
Located at 70 Medley Avenue, the home is centrally located and within reach of Westfield Liverpool.
Set on 512 square metres, the property offers a low maintenance backyard and plenty of storage.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/Screen%20Shot%202020-08-17%20at%204.28.54%20pm.png" alt="">
The property last traded for $387,000 in 2005.
The median house price for Liverpool is $760,000, according to CoreLogic data.
Raine &amp; Horne’s Vince Labbozzetta holds the listing.
The home is set to go under the hammer on Saturday, September 12 at 11.30am.
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Liverpool mortgagee home set for auction

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A mortgagee in possession home in the Upper Hunter Shire has been listed for auction.
Located in Scone, the four-bedroom, one-bathroom home offers an opportunity at entry level pricing.
Sitting on 1,548 square metres, the property is situated on a great sized block and includes a double carport, entertaining deck and garden shed.
The kitchen has been recently renovated, but the rest of the home requires serious work.
According to CoreLogic, the median house price for Scone is $388,500.
The home at 2 Kelly Street last traded for $210,000 in 2006.
Warburton's Meredith Munro and Renee Hunt hold the listing.
 
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Scone Mortgagee home set for auction

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A mortgagee home in Northern Territory’s Ludmilla has been listed for auction.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home is located at 38 Harney Street.
Its offerings include a nursery, full length side verandah and in-ground pool.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/Screen%20Shot%202020-08-17%20at%203.56.51%20pm.png" alt="">
The property, located only 10 minutes to Casuarina, last traded for $850,000 in 2017.
The median house price for Ludmilla is $532,000, according to CoreLogic data.
PropertyShop estate agent George Vodros holds the listing.
The home is set to go under the hammer on Saturday, September 12 at 11am.
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Three-bedroom Ludmilla home set for mortgagee auction

The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

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