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A typical home owner in Mount Gambier could be a first home buyer, a family or an empty nester, according to a recent report from the Herron Todd White valuation firm.
First home buyers are generally younger and look for a property that is within the $150,000 to $250,000 price range.
Families are generally after a home that has 3- to 4-bedrooms and perhaps two living areas and is within the price range of $250,000 to $450,000.
"For empty nesters it is varying," the report said.
"They may be looking to downsize from a large family home.
"They are pretty flexible and may choose to either buy or build a modern, smaller dwelling for easier maintenance.
"A lot of empty nesters are also selling and following their children to university or even packing up and travelling."
Recently, a three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-mount+gambier-120791109" target="_blank">61 Acacia Street</a>, picture above, in Mount Gambier recently sold for $185,000.
Another three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-mount+gambier-126405418" target="_blank">81 Cardinia Street</a> recently changed hands for $220,000.
<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/2017/11/22/MtGambier2.jpg" alt=""> 
HTW noted with the construction grant still in place for first home buyers, it is still common for first home buyers to build their first home.
These homes are generally within the price range of $250,000 to $350,000.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Mount Gambier first home buyers spending $150,000 plus

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The South Australian Weatherill government has reversed its position on foreign ­investor taxes.
It intends to raise more revenue by increasing a proposed levy on foreign buyers.
The reframing of the budget comes after Premier Jay Weatherill conceded the state bank tax was “dead” following its rejection by parliament.
State Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis responded by increasing the proposed “foreign investor surcharge” from 4% to 7% to raise an extra $36.6 million over four years.
It will recoup well short of the estimated $417 million the bank levy had been expected to raise, The Australian noted.
Foreign investor taxes on residential transactions in NSW are set at 8%, Victoria at 7%, Western Australia at 4% and Queensland at 3%, with an extra 1.5% levy for absentee foreign owners.
Koutsantonis last year said such a measure was an eastern states revenue grab driven by “a little bit of xenophobia”.
“It is also a recognition there are a lot of people in Southeast Asia and India who are fleeing … and they want to invest in other economies and bring their capital to Australia,” he said at the time.
“I am never going to say that I don’t want a type of investment because ‘I don’t speak your language’ … I think that’s appalling.’’
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South Australia ignores their own xenophobia concerns to raise tax on foreigner property purchases

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Specialty Fashion Group, the owner of Katies, Rivers and City Chic, plans to close 300 of its 1000 stores.
Specialty Fashion shares sit 80% down on their value five years ago, falling to 19.5 cents this week - an eight-year low.
The clothing retailer indicated its plans where to quickly close 100 stores this year.
It signalled 300 stores on "hold over" leases will close by 2020, while accelerating its investment in e-commerce.
Outgoing chief executive Gary Perlstein said 159 of the 300 stores set to close were losing money.
This was about 30% more than in past years.
Most of the loss-making stores are under its Crossroads and Autograph stores.
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300 landlords to lose Specialty Fashion tenancies

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GUEST OBSERVER
When you think of devastating deforestation and extinction you usually think of the Amazon, Borneo and the Congo. But eastern Australia ranks alongside these in the top 10 of the world’s major deforestation fronts – the only one in a developed nation. Most of the clearing is happening in Queensland, and it is accelerating.
Only last year a group of leading ecologists voiced their alarm at new data which showed the clearing of 296,000 hectares of forest in 2013-14. This was three times higher than in 2008-09, kicking Australia up the list as one of the world’s forest-clearing pariahs. At the 2016 Society for Conservation Biology Conference, a Scientists’ Declaration was signed by hundreds of scientists, expressing concern at these clearing rates.
But the latest snapshot, Queensland’s Department of Science report on land cover change published last month, showed a staggering 395,000ha of clearing for 2015-16: an increase of one third on 2014-15. As far as we can tell this rate of increased clearing is unmatched anywhere else on the globe.
showed a staggering 395,000 of clearing for 2015-16: which is an increase of one third on 2014-15, or 133% over the period
Strong vegetation management laws enacted in Queensland – the Vegetation Management Act 1999 – achieved dramatic reductions in forest and woodland loss. But the subsequent Liberal National state government, elected in 2012, overturned these protections.
The current government, elected in 2015, has tried and failed to reinstate the protections. In response, “panic clearing” caused clearing rates to shoot up, in anticipation that the state election will deliver a government that will reintroduce the much-needed protection of forests.
The Queensland Parliament is now in caretaker mode ahead of the November 25 election. The Queensland Labor Party has pledged to reinstate laws to prevent wholesale clearing, while the LNP opposition has vowed to retain current clearing rates.
Australian community and wildlife lose
Whichever way you look at it, there is not a lot of sense in continued clearing. Australia already has some of the highest extinction rates on the planet for plants and animals. With 80% of Queensland’s threatened species living in forest and woodland, more clearing will certainly increase that rate.
Clearing also kills tens of millions of animals across Australia each year, a major animal welfare concern that rarely receives attention. This jeopardises both wildlife and the A$140 million invested in threatened species recovery.
This rate of clearing neutralises our major environment programs. Just one year of clearing has removed more trees than the bulk of 20 million trees painstakingly planted, at a cost of A$50 million. Australia’s major environment programs simply can’t keep up, and since 2013 are restoring only one-tenth of the extent of land bulldozed just last year.
Restoration costs to improve the quality of waters running onto the Great Barrier Reef are estimated at around A$5 billion to A$10 billion over 10 years. Nearly 40% of the land cleared in Queensland is in reef catchments, which will reverse any water quality gains as sediment pours onto the reef.
Climate efforts nullified
Since 2014, the federal government has invested A$2.55 billion on reducing emissions in the Carbon Farming Initiative through the Emissions Reduction Fund. Currently 189 million tonnes of abatement has been delivered by the Emissions Reduction Fund. This – the central plank of the Australian government’s climate response – will be all but nullified by the end of 2018 with the current clearing rates, and will certainly be wiped out by 2020, when Australia is expected to meet its climate target of 5% below 2000 emissions.
Ironically, this target will be achieved with the help of carried-over results from the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, which Australia was only able to meet because land clearing had decreased between 1990 and 1997.
Why is this happening?
Most of the clearing in Queensland since 1999 has been for pasture. Most good cropping land was cleared decades ago. Removing trees in more marginal lands can increase the carrying capacity for a short time with an immediate, and usually short-lived, financial reward. These rewards come at the expense of long-term sustainability, which future landholders and government will bear.
Large areas of the cleared lands have been subject to substantial erosion and nutrient loss from the newly cleared lands, and land degradation over time, and some areas have suffered massive woody weed incursions.
This is playing out today across the north where pastoralism is a marginal activity at best, with declining terms of trade of about 2% per year, with no net productivity growth, high average debts and low returns, and many enterprises facing insolvency. Clearing vegetation won’t change that.
A recent preliminary valuation of ecosystem services, on the other hand, estimated that uncleared lands are worth A$3,300-$6,100 per hectare per year to the Australian community, compared with productivity of grazing lands of A$18 per hectare.
With a clear divide between the policies Labor and the LNP are taking to the election, now is a good time to give land clearing’s social, economic and environmental impact the scrutiny it deserves.
Noel D Preece, Adjunct Principal Research Fellow at Charles Darwin and, James Cook University.
Penny van Oosterzee, Principal Research Adjunct James Cook University and University Fellow Charles Darwin University, James Cook University.
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-is-a-global-top-ten-deforester-and-queensland-is-leading-the-way-87259" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Picture: Forest cleared by bulldozers towing massive chains. Source: Provided by author. 
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Australia is a global top-10 deforester – and Queensland is leading the way

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A waterfront home in Cottage Point designed as the home of INXS band member Andrew Farriss in the early 1990s is back on the market, seeking its fourth owner.
There are $6.8 million hopes for the Luigi Rosselli-designed home.
The six-bedroom home was designed and built in 1991 for multi-instrumentalist Farriss and his then wife, Shelley.
It drew inspiration from ship architecture.
The 1,486 square metre Cowan Drive property also includes a restored 1910 stone guest cottage on the waters edge with a private deck, slipway, boatshed and pontoon access.
Coined “the INXS house” by Luigi Rosselli, the Farriss’ sold the property in 1996 for $1,715,000.
The current vendors, the Ell family purchased it in 1999 for $2.3 million.
The exclusive Cottage Point saw a record price paid in 2008 at $6.45 million when Lifestyle Village Services owner Jytte Logan bought an award-winning waterfront.
Shelley Farriss has her current Bayview home (pictured above) back on the market. It came with initial hopes around $14 million, last time, with LJ Hooker agent Noel Nicholson relisting it last month.
Situated on 3,065 square metres, the five-bedroom home includes a wet bar, French doors, music room and a library.
The property also boasts a 24-metre frontage, an infinity pool and a rooftop entertaining area.
Shelley bought the property in 1999 for $4,375,000.
The Farris brothers, Andrew, Tim and Jon Farris, and high school friend Kirk Pengilly, were part of INXS since the beginning when they were Davidson High School classmates.
The late charismatic band leader Michael Hutchence was back in the news when documents revealed insights into an offshore tax haven relating to his estate.
Hutchence’s estate details were revealed in the Paradise Papers leak from the law firm Appleby, some 20 years after he took his own life in a Double Bay hotel room.
He reputedly held three Gold Coast properties, a villa in France, a house in Chelsea and a development in Lombok.
But his ownership rights were never established by Michael’s late mother, Patricia Glassop who pursued the estate’s assets held in labyrinthine offshore structures through the Queensland Supreme Court.
The case ended in 1999 reportedly with the settlement not enough to cover the family’s $500,000 in court costs.
This article was first published in The Daily Telegraph.
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INXS member's former waterfront home in Cottage Point listed 

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Quentin Van der Hecht of Lismore has been sentenced after pleading guilty to an offence of disposing money with an intent to defraud his creditors.
Mr Van der Hecht filed for voluntary bankruptcy in July 2011.
In June 2011, Mr Van der Hecht received over $200,000 from the sale of his property.
Mr Van der Hecht directed his solicitor to pay the surplus funds from the sale to his estranged wife to keep the funds out of reach of his creditors. 
The Court recently found the offence proven and convicted Mr Van der Hecht.
He was sentenced to two years imprisonment that was suspended upon him entering into a $2000 good behaviour bond for two years.
The Magistrate noted the importance of the bankruptcy system and the need to prevent bankrupts from exploiting the system.
The matter was prosecuted by the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecution on behalf of the Australian Financial Security Authority.
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Bankrupt gets suspended prison sentence after undeclared Lismore property sale

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Danny Usher has been sentenced at the Christie Beach Magistrates Court for failing to fully and truthfully disclose information in relation to the sale of a South Australia property.
On 5 February 2014, Mr Usher sold a house on a large block of land to a property developer.
Pursuant to the Contract of Sale:
<ul>
<li>the developer would subdivide the land into 14 units</li>
<li>the house portion would remain on the land and would be held on trust by the developer for Mr Usher until the subdivision had been completed.  </li>
</ul>
Mr Usher became bankrupt by virtue of a Sequestration Order on 15 September 2014.
During this time, Danny James Usher continued living in the house rent-free.
Once a Plan of Division and a separate Certificate of Title for the house had been issued, the developer was to transfer ownership of the house back to Mr Usher at no cost.
In his Statement of Affairs form, Mr Usher failed to declare that he had sold a property.
He also failed to respond to the trustee’s request for information in relation to the sale of the property and failed to disclose the details about who owned the property that he lived in and his relationship with the property’s owner.
Mr Usher was convicted and entered into a recognizance of $200 and 12 month good behaviour bond.
He was also ordered to pay court costs of $260 and disbursement costs of $79.70 within 28 days, from 23 August 2017.
The trustee has since recovered the house portion and sold it for the benefit of the bankrupt estate.
The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Australian Financial Security Authority.
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Bankrupt gets good behaviour bond after undisclosed South Australia property sale

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Danielle Andrews and her husband Dean Andrews have been sentenced at the Downing Centre Local Court for their disposal of property with intent to defraud creditors during bankruptcy.
In October and November 2014 both Mr and Mrs Andrews were made bankrupt, pursuant to sequestration orders made at the Federal Magistrates Court, after failing to comply with bankruptcy notices brought against them by Andrews Advertising Pty Ltd.
While bankrupt, they sold their $2.2 million Oatley home.
The sale proceeds of $498,113.10 were deposited in their joint account, Danielle Louise Andrews and Dean James Andrews
Mrs Andrews then transferred $348,500 to her accountant and withdrew $8,000 in cash. Mr Andrews withdrew $21,000 in cash.
On 25 July 2017, Mr and Mrs Andrews attended the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney, both entering a plea of guilty for their charges. 
Mrs Andrews was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment to be served by way of Intensive Corrections Order.
In sentencing last month, Magistrate Hamilton noted that Mrs Andrews’ offence was mid‑range in seriousness and had some aspect of sophistication.
Magistrate Hamilton found she tried to maintain her standard of living despite bankruptcy which her Honour described as an “unrealistic expectation”. 
Magistrate Hamilton gave weight to the fact that Mrs Andrews was the primary and only available carer for her three children, each of whom requires special care.
Mr Andrews was sentenced to 80 hours community service for his part in the removal.
The matter was prosecuted by the office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Australia Financial Security Authority.
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Bankrupts caught selling Oatley property 

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A 48-year-old engineer from Mount Martha, Antony Fensome, has been sentenced to a community correction order after pleading guilty to disposing of property after bankruptcy, altering records, and leaving Australia without written permission from his trustee.
Magistrate Lethbridge recently sentenced Mr Fensome at Dromana Magistrates’ Court to a 15 month Community Correction Order (CCO) and 150 hours of community service.
Antony Sean Fensome had filed for voluntary bankruptcy on 11 September 2012 with debts in excess of $83,000.
At the time, Mr Fensome jointly owned a property in the United Kingdom which he sold during his bankruptcy period for £225,000.
Following the sale, Mr Fensome provided false information to his trustee about the amount he received, including a false bank account statement and settlement statement, showing he received only £195,000 from the sale. He has since commenced making repayments to the trustee in respect of the $37,708.48 debt owing from the unauthorised sale of the UK property.
During a voluntary interview with the Australian Financial Security Authority Investigators, Mr Fensome made admissions that he had provided false information about the amount of surplus proceeds from the sale and that he had produced the false documents to reduce the amount he would have to pay to his trustee.
Mr Fensome also travelled overseas on six occasions during his bankruptcy, without written permission from his trustee.
In sentencing, His Honour noted that the offences were extremely serious and, if not for the accused’s early guilty plea, personal circumstances and repayment schedule, he would have faced a period of imprisonment.
The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Australian Financial Security Authority.
 
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Bankrupt caught selling UK property without telling Australian trustee

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<div>Hotel Delany, one of Newcastle’s trophy hotels, has been listed for sale amid a surge of interest in pub investment opportunities.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The hotel at <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/134-darby-street-newcastle-nsw-2300-2014003489" target="_blank">134 Darby Street</a> is positioned between the redeveloping Newcastle City Centre and the $750 million East End project.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It sits on a 1,684 sqm retail site with future redevelopment potential and also includes a valuable late trading hotel licence and 22 PME’s.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The hotel is being marketed by CBRE Hotels’ Ben McDonald and Daniel Dragicevich along with Deane Moore of Moore &amp; Moore Real Estate.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“The Hotel Delany has long been one of the most asked about pubs in Newcastle and we have no doubt there will be significant interest from hoteliers around the state – particularly from Novocastrian operators but also from mixed use developers and commercial property investors,” CBRE's McDonald said.</div>
<div>
Hotelier Gary Hird and his son, Anthony, are selling the iconic pub. It marks the end of an era for the Hird family, who have spent nearly two decades at the helm of the Cooks Hill operation, the Newcastle Herald added. The Hird family bankrolled the renovation of the pub in 2009, at an estimated cost of up to $6 million.
 The pub gets its name from Newcastle businessman Victor R. Delany, who commissioned the design of the original building in 1924. 
</div>
<div>“The venue holds a special place in the hearts and minds of all locals and even though the Hirds have steered it well during their tenure I look forward to what new lease of life the next operator can breathe into the operation,” added Moore &amp; Moore Real Estate’s Deane Moore. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>There has been a surge of interest in larger scale hotels in Newcastle in recent times with the Prince of Wales at Merewether, Duke of Wellington at New Lambton, The Exchange Hotel in Hamilton and Nags Heads at Adamstown all transacting over the past 12 months at sale yields normally reserved for Sydney metro hotels, said McDonald.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>McDonald said this exemplified the interest, not just in the local pub sector, but in Newcastle’s commercial property market in general.</div>
<div> </div>
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Newcastle pub Hotel Delany listed by hotelier Hird family 

Article summary

<ul data-end="785" data-start="311">
	<li data-end="459" data-section-id="5hbcyr" data-start="311">Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at Skye Kangaroo Point, headlined by a two-storey sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm.</li>
	<li data-end="561" data-section-id="1p7lq8n" data-start="460">Early buyer interest suggests the residences could set a new Queensland apartment price record.</li>
	<li data-end="667" data-section-id="1y70z0l" data-start="562">The collection includes four move-in ready penthouses and the highly customised Skye One residence.</li>
	<li data-end="785" data-section-id="yvm0y1" data-start="668">The release caps one of Bri​sbane's most ambitious luxury apartment developments overlooking the Brisbane River.</li>
</ul>

<hr data-end="790" data-start="787" />
Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/skye-residences-by-pikos-kangaroo-point-8-river-terrace-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Skye by Pikos</a> development in Kangaroo Point, with early buyer interest indicating the flagship residences could eclipse every apartment sale previously recorded in Queensland.

The collection crowns the luxury riverfront development with five residences, including four completed penthouses and Skye One, a two-level sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm that will be tailored to its eventual owner.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374075]

Wanting to offer a fully customisable home, Pikos is offering Skye One as a blank canvas, allowing the buyer to work alongside the developer's design team to customise the home's layout, finishes and internal spaces.

The residence will feature a 247 sqm private rooftop terrace with its own swimming pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor kitchen and multiple entertaining areas overlooking the Brisbane River and CBD skyline.

The remaining four penthouses have been completed and are ready for immediate occupation, each offering four bedrooms, expansive open-plan living areas, soaring ceilings and private lift access.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374059]

One of the defining features throughout the project is its use of Roman Classic Travertine, with more than 20,000 sqm of the natural stone imported from Italy after being personally selected by Pikos Group Founder and Executive Director Pedro Pikos, interior designer Julie Williamson and third-generation stone specialist Mario Caucci.

Pikos said the penthouse collection represented the culmination of the company's long-term vision for Skye.

"True legacy isn't measured by what we build today, but by what endures tomorrow," Pikos said.

"Our ambition is to create places that become more valuable with time, enrich the lives of generations, and stand as timeless landmarks long after we've stepped away."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374060]

Williamson said the interiors were inspired by the natural character of Kangaroo Point and the Brisbane River rather than international design trends.

"Materiality tells the story of a place," Williamson said.

"We looked to the movement of the Brisbane River, the texture of the cliff face and the warmth of the surrounding landscape to create interiors that feel understated, enduring and unmistakably Brisbane."

Positioned above the Kangaroo Point cliffs, Skye places residents within walking distance of Howard Smith Wharves, South Bank and James Street while offering uninterrupted river and city views.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=90059]

Joel Robinson

Brisbane's next apartment price record? Pikos unveils Skye's exclusive penthouse collection

Article summary

<ul data-end="888" data-start="289">
	<li data-end="442" data-section-id="8tsh6o" data-start="289">DVB Projects is preparing to launch its second Gold Coast apartment development, with demolition now underway at 137 Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach.</li>
	<li data-end="573" data-section-id="1nyxl3e" data-start="443">The 34-level tower will comprise just 49 ultra-luxury residences, including half-floor, full-floor and penthouse apartments.</li>
	<li data-end="717" data-section-id="oiyimj" data-start="574">The launch follows strong demand at DVB's nearby Sea Glass project, which is more than 50 per cent sold and currently under construction.</li>
	<li data-end="888" data-section-id="epk9o9" data-start="718">The development adds to the transformation of Old Burleigh Road, with premium beachfront apartment projects continuing to reshape the tightly held Broadbeach strip.</li>
</ul>

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dvb-projects">DVB Projects</a> is preparing to launch its second Gold Coast apartment development, with demolition now underway on the Broadbeach site as the Sydney developer moves closer to bringing the ultra-luxury project to market.

The 34-level tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/137-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">137 Old Burleigh Road</a> will comprise just 49 residences, ranging from half-floor apartments through to full-floor homes and a penthouse. The launch follows the strong sales performance of DVB's nearby Sea Glass development. More than half of the apartments at Sea Glass, on the other side of Broadbeach, have been snapped up, well ahead of its late 2027 completion

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2944b4be-c84e-4b54-8dc1-c712e76704c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/E02_Exterior_Street%20Level%20Entrance.jpg?VersionId=YoNig7pRdrE3HCue7sUj78LzJteeQf3H" />

The start of demolition at 137 Old Burleigh Road signals DVB Projects’ underlying confidence in the Gold Coast’s luxury beachside apartment sector.

“We see the Gold Coast as one of the most compelling lifestyle markets in Australia, particularly at the premium end where demand continues to deepen,” said Dean Brown, Managing Director of DVB.&nbsp;

“This project has been carefully designed to respond to that demand - delivering large-format residences with a level of quality, privacy and amenity that is still relatively rare in the apartment market on the beachside."

Brown says the site itself is "exceptional."

"Old Burleigh Road is one of the most tightly held beachfront strips, and opportunities to deliver a project of this scale and calibre in this location are extremely limited.”

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="398f377a-c037-455e-9250-0c5e0d84c35b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/I12_FF%20Balcony.jpg?VersionId=NwOiRWGMubR1c8wthuEfggklcja7al9." />

The project will comprise 40 half-floor residences of approximately 260 sqm, alongside eight full-floor residences spanning around 524 sqm.

A single penthouse will crown the building, featuring a private pool, barbecue area, indoor gym and dedicated entertaining spaces.

Residents will have access to a resort-style suite of amenities, including a 20-metre pool with daybeds, a gymnasium, hot and cold plunge pools, a sauna, and private residents’ lounge and dining facilities.

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1642bb0-9a66-4427-a022-dfc0988c6287" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/A02_Pool%20to%20View.jpg?VersionId=c0IXPyn_Gp_Kn3XCwzMrqIVkAdCEwVXP" />

Sales agent Todd Matheson, of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/pezet-matheson">Pezet Matheson</a>, which is marketing both 137 Old Burleigh Road and Sea Glass, said 137 Old Burleigh Road would address a clear gap in the market for genuine luxury products.

“There are very few opportunities on the Gold Coast where buyers can secure a residence of this size and quality in a new building,” Matheson said.

“What we’re seeing is a growing cohort of downsizers and interstate buyers who still want space - they’re not willing to compromise on living area, entertaining or finishes.

“This project has been designed with that buyer in mind. It offers the scale of a home, combined with the convenience and security of apartment living, in one of the coast’s most desirable positions.”

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="59aae0ca-5639-4320-8aca-d0bf60f48e43" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/E01_Exterior%20Hero.jpg?VersionId=DS8Zfy2WtgUEtdfe0TEUuf1W1GfcZq8S" />

Located on a 1,156 sqm site one block from the beachfront, the development will replace an ageing walk-up building and is expected to contribute to the ongoing transformation of the Old Burleigh Road strip into one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious residential corridors.

With the development moving into the delivery phase, 137 Old Burleigh Road is slated to hit the market later this year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145141]

DVB Projects to launch second Broadbeach apartment tower as demolition commences

A proposal to redevelop one of North Sydney's ageing commercial buildings has taken another step forward, with plans for a 38-storey mixed-use tower adding momentum to the long-awaited transformation of the Alfred Street precinct.

Now on public exhibition through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority-led State Significant Development pathway, the proposal for 271-273 Alfred Street would replace an underutilised commercial building with 95 apartments, ground-floor retail, commercial space and affordable housing. The proposal was submitted by&nbsp;Tara Shore Pty Ltd, acting for the John Taylor Family Trust.

While the project will deliver much-needed housing on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, it also represents another piece of a broader precinct that has spent years in planning limbo.

<img alt="First look: New public domain vision underpins 95-apartment North Sydney tower on Alfred Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e1ce1b4-38df-48ab-992f-386814d86308" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Alfred%20St%20da%20podium.png?VersionId=sC_h6w.A9VEoB98qsqowPlIoz__sBZBt" />

Despite its proximity to both North Sydney Station and the Victoria Cross Metro, redevelopment of Alfred Street has progressed slowly over the past decade as broader planning controls, zoning and building heights remained unresolved. The introduction of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway has provided a new avenue for projects to progress, allowing rezoning and development assessment to occur concurrently and unlocking sites that have long been earmarked for renewal.

Designed by Office of Cortese &amp; Gilder, the proposal seeks to do more than replace an ageing office building. The architects have positioned the project as the first stage of a wider public domain vision that would improve pedestrian connectivity and create a more cohesive mixed-use precinct as neighbouring sites are redeveloped over time.

The proposal includes a widened Alfred Street setback, new street trees, landscaping and outdoor seating, along with a landscaped through-site pedestrian link connecting Alfred Street with Little Alfred Street. The connection is intended to become the first section of a future east-west pedestrian network extending across the precinct.

<img alt="First look: New public domain vision underpins 95-apartment North Sydney tower on Alfred Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ea39ac3-46ad-4562-b4a0-b862e91c2dda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Alfred%20St%20da%20site.png?VersionId=K7umCd21KpetEFuVfsPlnJKhUOsmTTdV" />

The mixed-use tower would comprise retail space at ground level, commercial uses on level two and apartments from level three upwards.

In total, the development would deliver 95 apartments, including nine one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom, 56 three-bedroom and two four-bedroom residences. Twenty-one apartments, representing 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area, would be secured as affordable housing and managed by a registered community housing provider for at least 15 years.

Nine basement levels would provide 133 resident car spaces, seven motorcycle spaces and 111 bicycle spaces.

According to the Architecture and Urban Design Report, the public domain strategy is designed to transform what is currently an inward-facing commercial edge into a more active and connected pedestrian environment, creating a stronger relationship between the commercial core and surrounding residential neighbourhoods.

Office of Cortese &amp; Gilder has also prepared a broader public domain framework spanning neighbouring properties between 263 and 283 Alfred Street, arguing that a coordinated approach to redevelopment will deliver better public spaces, improved tower separation and a more connected streetscape as the precinct evolves.

The proposal comes at a time where North Sydney is slated for future residential growth. Commercial developer FiveX has residential plans for the neighbouring site at 275 Alfred Street. They've proposed a 39-storey mixed-use tower with 184 apartments, while Freecity was recently approved for nearly 300 apartments across a 51-storey building on Walker Street.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-freecity-gets-green-light-for-mixed-use-apartment-and-hotel-tower-in-north-sydney">First look: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use apartment and hotel tower in North Sydney</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-plans-39-storey-residential-tower-in-booming-north-sydney">First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower in booming North Sydney</a>

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Alfred Street the latest North Sydney pocket to be transformed by residential development

Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

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Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

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Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

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Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

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