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Activity in the rural scene over the past month in Mildura has finally seen the wine grape and table grape harvest in full swing after an abnormally late start to the picking season, according to Herron Todd White’s latest report.
The property data firm says that this will result in both harvests extending well into April.
The weather throughout recent weeks has been excellent for the grape harvest with warm conditions and no rain or storms.
“Reports filtering in advise that quality is high and above average yields are apparent for wine grapes, which on the back of slightly better prices this year is some welcome news for growers.
Growers are also reporting another good year in the table grape sector with prices remaining firm particularly for the better market preferred varieties,” the report stated.
The Bureau of Meteorology continue to forecast warm and dry conditions to remain throughout Autumn in the region.
“This is not overly good news for dryland cropping farmers who are looking to the skies for an early autumn break.
"The forecast late break will result in a larger area of land being dry sown throughout April and early May, with reports that some farmers have already commenced this practice,” the report warned.
HTW says that investment in rural regions are outstripping supply.
“Following on from previous editions, the ongoing interest and demand in the agricultural sector from international and domestic corporate entities investing in the Sunraysia region appears to be resulting in current demand outstripping supply.
"Prices being paid for good quality properties continue to firm with reports of a number of significant transactions in recent weeks of table grape, citrus and also an aggregation of dryland cropping land being negotiated, all at strong levels,” the report stated.
A horticultural wine grape rural property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-horticulture-vic-red+cliffs-7885558" target="_blank">490 Lowan Avenue</a>, Red Cliffs (above) has been listed for between $310,000 to $350,000.
Similarly 23 acres of agricultural land at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-other-vic-yelta-7738223" target="_blank">637 Wentworth Road</a>, Yelta (below) has been listed 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/2017/04/21/637%20Wentworth%20Road.jpg" alt="">
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Mildura wine property bringing in high to average yields: HTW

Toorak the most expensive Melbourne suburb to purchase property: REIV

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The Gold Coast sits at the peak of the market on the unit property clock, according to Herron Todd White’s latest report.
The property valuation firm says there are also five other locations at their peak.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-03%20at%201.30.35%20pm.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
 <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/2017/05/19/rsz_propertyclock.jpg" alt="">
Sydney is a rising once again.
Meanwhile Melbourne, Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast remain at their peak.
Last month Property Observer reported on Sydney joining Melbourne at the peak of the housing market.
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The Gold Coast new apartment market recorded 255 unconditional sales in the March 2017 quarter, according to the latest research by property consultants Urbis.
It was a decline on the previous quarter’s sales,  Urbis Senior Consultant Lynda Campbell noted.
She added the Gold Coast apartment market was no longer centred on beach front locations.
“Coastal Fringe suburbs such as Robina, Varsity Lakes, Ashmore and Benowa offer buyers easy access to transport and amenity including shopping centres, university, hospitals – all within easy reach of the beaches the Gold Coast is famous for. On top of that, the lower price point makes this precinct very attractive for both investors and owner occupiers.”
The Gold Coast weighted average sale price across the four precincts decreased by $21,752 from the previous quarter, registering $632,171 – however annually a price increase of 5.9 per cent was recorded.
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“The Coastal Fringe Precinct recorded the lowest weighted average sale price at $473,165, highlighting its affordability and boosting sales in the area,” Ms Campbell said.
For the fifth time in two years the Coastal Fringe Precinct has been the highest performer.
In the March 2017 quarter, 113 sales were recorded in the Coastal Fringe Precinct – this is 44 per cent of total sales.
As well as a move away from the traditionally beach front located high rise precincts, this quarter saw medium rise projects dominate, with medium rise sales out-performing high rise sales by 25 per cent. Sixty-two per cent of medium rise projects are in the Coastal Fringe Precinct.
Only 1,373 apartments remain available for sale at the end of March 2017, which equates to one year’s supply at the current annual sales rate.
“The Gold Coast apartment market is maintaining a good balance of supply and demand,” Ms Campbell said.
“In the March 2017 quarter, four new projects were launched and four projects sold out.”
Once again, two-bedroom apartments dominated the market, making up 74 per cent of total sales, she noted.
The proportion of three-bedroom-plus product dropped to 13 per cent of total sales – equalling one-bedroom product sales.
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Gold Coast apartment market peaking: May HTW Clock

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An architecturally designed pastoral homestead owned by BRW rich-lister Michael Gordon in the Cunnamulla region of Queensland has been listed for sale. 
The grazing property known as <a href="https://www.eldersrealestate.com.au/rural/buy/property-grazing-qld-cunnamulla-683334" style="font-size: 12.16px; line-height: 1.3em;">Noorama Station</a> encompasses 105,000-hectares.
It is primarily used for sheep and wool production along with cattle breeding. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/19/rsz_cunnacreek.png" alt="">
It is an aggregation of five properties which Gordon began accumulating in 2005.
Cunnamulla is a small town that lies in South West Queensland, just north of the NSW border and 750 kilometres west of Brisbane.
It comes with highlights such as a modern four bedroom manager’s residence, staff accommodation, office, school room, laundry, garage, recreational and covered entertaining area are
Four hectares of landscaped lawns, with an inground swimming pool and tennis court are also included.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/19/rsz_cunnaland.png" alt="">
The homestead is prepared with farming architecture totalling 68 main paddocks and 16 holding paddocks are paired with shearing sheds, shearers quarters, sheep and cattle yards, machinery shed, aircraft landing strip and hangar, and an internal road system.
Three creek systems traverse the property with a number of permanent and semi-permanent water holes.
The property is for sale by expressions of interest through Elders Real Estate agents Richard Gemmell and Dick Allpass.
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Pastoral homestead Noorama Station listed in Cunnamulla

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Residents have been welcomed into Ebsworth, the first apartment building to be completed as part of the $8bn Green Square Town Centre development.
Developed by Mirvac and UrbanGrowth NSW, the building is situated on Ebsworth Street.
The town centre anchors a broader $13 billion Green Square urban renewal precinct which spans 287 hectares.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/19/rsz_ebsworthnew.png" alt="">
The new town centre will deliver much needed retail and community amenity for inner Sydney, as well as jobs and over 30,500 new dwellings. A total of 61,000 people are expected to live in Green Square by 2030.
“Green Square Town Centre is a prime example of our organisation’s ambition to transform city living,” commented UrbanGrowth NSW chief executive Michael Brodie.
“It is enormously satisfying to see this strategic location that was otherwise under-utilised, so successfully transformed into a new transit-oriented development that will provide new homes, community facilities, and job opportunities so close to the CBD,” he said.
Ebsworth offers residents inner-city living, incorporating a diverse range of layouts. It is comprised of 174 one, two and three bedroom apartments with construction completed on schedule earlier this year.
Most residents have already settled and are moving into their new homes. The buyers are a mix of investors, owner occupiers and first home buyers.
Ebsworth residents will enjoy access to high quality amenities including a new Woolworths supermarket on the ground floor of the building opening mid-year, as well as landscaped parks, playing fields, a civic plaza and library, and an aquatic centre to be completed progressively by the City of Sydney.
“Mirvac is extremely proud to be partnering with UrbanGrowth NSW to deliver new homes and a new community for Sydney,” added Mirvac CEO and managing director, Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz.
“Green Square Town Centre showcases Mirvac’s commitment to developing communities within and beyond the boundaries of our developments,” she said.
Mirvac is UrbanGrowth NSW’s delivery partner in Green Square Town Centre, delivering Ebsworth, the adjoining Ovo, No. 8 Ebsworth and Ovo Portman Place - estimated to complete construction by 2018, and future residential, retail and commercial stages.
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First residents move into new Green Square Town Centre

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A double fronted Victorian Port Melbourne house has been sold for $1.375 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-port+melbourne-125156166" target="_blank">205 Clark Street</a>, the property is generously proportioned and situated in one of Port Melbourne’s best localities.
Originally a corner store original elements have been preserved with the signage from the 1950s.
Prior to this the property has had various different businesses such as milk bar and confectionery operating out of the front of the premises.
<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/2017/05/16/205%20Clark%20Street-2.jpg" alt="">
Featuring four large bedrooms along with separate living, kitchen, dining areas that leads to a ear garden with desirable northern aspect.
Ready for immediate moving in or further extend (STCA) if so desired.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/19/rsz_clark205.png" alt="">
Other features includes central bathroom and excellent vehicle access.
Moments away from Bay Street, public transport and the bay.
The property was offered through Hockingstuart agents Simon Graf and Thomas Larwill.
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Former Port Melbourne corner store house sold for $1.375 million

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A four bedroom waterfront trophy home has been listed for sale in Encounter Bay, South Australia.
The two storey residence at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-encounter+bay-125165538" target="_blank">90a Franklin Parade</a> features an exterior crafted from a mix of Western Australian sandstone and weatherboard, with a glass facade facing the ocean.
Encounter Bay is a bay on the south central coast of South Australia, about 100 kilometres from the Adelaide city centre.
Buyers are greeted with an entrance hall and foyer designed with Italian porcelain tiles, leading upstairs to an open plan living and dining room with a gas fireplace.
A modern kitchen is decked out with Caesarstone benchtops and Miele kitchen appliances, and large sliding doors open up to the alfresco balcony.
The master bedroom suite is north facing with French doors opening onto a private balcony, while guests can enjoy a powder room. High ceilings on both levels are a feature, framing the view of Wright Island.
Listing agent Mark Forde of Harcourts South Coast is seeking $1.650 million for the property.
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Encounter Bay waterfront property listed

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A newly remastered family estate in Killara, Sydney has been listed for auction by Belle Property Lindfield.
The residence at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-killara-125303074" target="_blank">9A Arnold Street</a> occupies a 3,026 sqm block and was recently overhauled by Playoust Churcher Architects, interior designer Justine Hugh-Jones and landscaper Peter Fudge.
The home offers a formal lounge room, dining room, casual living room off the marble kitchen and a vast media or games room with wet bar and underfloor heating. All four rooms have fireplaces.
Front and rear terraces overlook the in-ground pool and gardens, and both provide alfresco entertaining zones with built-in Smeg barbecues and heating.
Among its highlights is a newly-resurfaced grass tennis court, and a new 17.5 metre fully tiled, gas heated and fully automated pool.
Additional rooms include a 1,467 bottle temperature and humidity-controlled insulated wine cellar, a professional gymnasium with children's play area, two powder rooms, a separate store room and roof storage area.
Designer touches include timber panelling, imported Phillip Jeffries seagrass wallpaper, European oak timber floors and Alpaca wool carpeting in the bedrooms.
A guest wing comes with separate staircase entry, living area and ensuite.
It was last sold in 2007 and 36 similar properties have recently been traded in Killara. The median price for a 5 bedroom house in this suburb currently sits at $3,200,000.
A five bedroom home at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-killara-123507286" target="_blank"> 2 Rosetta Avenue</a> was sold in January for $4.2 million.
Listing agent Geoff Dean will put the home under the hammer on May 27.
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Killara family estate up for auction

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Kew and St Kilda are expected to be the two busiest suburb auctions this weekend in Melbourne, according to CoreLogic.
The property data firm says Essendon and Mount Waverley are set to host 17 auctions.
Kew and St Kilda will host 19 and 18 residential auctions respectively, followed closely by Essendon and Mount Waverley each set to host 17 auctions.
The number of auctions scheduled to take place across the combined capital cities is set to rise this week, with 2,619 currently being tracked by CoreLogic, up from 2,409 auctions last week, and higher than the 1,920 auctions held over the same week last year.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/18/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-18%20at%2010.30.14%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/05/18/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-18%20at%2010.30.14%20am.jpg" alt="">
Auction activity across Melbourne and Sydney, the two major auction markets, is expected to increase, with 1,222 Melbourne homes to go to auction, rising from last week’s 1,098, and 1,003 auctions scheduled across Sydney, up from last week’s 960.
Across the smaller markets, volumes will also increase across the remaining capital cities, with the exception of Canberra where volumes are expected remain relatively steady.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/18/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-18%20at%2010.30.29%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/05/18/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-18%20at%2010.30.29%20am.jpg" alt="">
A five bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-kew-125296910" target="_blank">75 Studley Park Road</a>, Kew (above) has been listed for auction this weekend.
It last sold for $2.398 million in 2008.
Similarly a three bedroom townhouse at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-kew-125235126" target="_blank">3/89 Earl Street</a>, Kew (below) has been listed for auction with a price guide of between $800,000 to $880,000.
It last sold for $610,000 in 2007.
<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/2017/05/18/3_89%20Earl%20Street.jpg" alt="">
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Kew, St Kilda the busiest weekend auction suburbs: CoreLogic

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Queensland's oldest Banyan Fig tree will be part of a new residential development in Brisbane's Cleveland Point.
The development is to feature 33 apartments integrated with the heritage-listed tree and is designed by architecture firm The Buchan Group.
Gerry Holmes, director, The Buchan Group director said Banyan Fig tree on site has a 12-metre trunk with an extensive root system underneath, so it was important for us to develop a design that would not impact the tree, both now and in the future," he said.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/19/rsz_1banyan1.png" alt="">
“The building has been significantly set back from the streetscape to provide a buffer between the tree and the apartments and to ensure a generous landscaped area adjacent to North Street’s pedestrian link.
“This also creates an enjoyable space to be used by residents and visitors, while also showcasing the Banyan Tree.
“The design pays tribute to the surrounding urban, historical and coastal context of the area, whilst enhancing the visual amenity of the site for residents, visitors and the local community.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/19/rsz_banyan2.png" alt="">
“The upper floor of the complex is terraced to soften the building’s impact from the street. This design strategy reduces the visual bulk of the building and also allows the project to sit comfortably in the surrounding landscape."
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Apartment development to integrate Queensland's oldest Banyan Fig tree

Apartment buyers in New South Wales are set to gain a decade of insurance-backed protection against major building defects, after the NSW Parliament passed the Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.&nbsp;

The Bill establishes decennial defect insurance, known in the market as Latent Defects Insurance (LDI), as an alternative to the existing two-year strata building bond. It cleared the Legislative Council with amendments on Tuesday evening (August 4, 2026), with the Legislative Assembly agreeing to those amendments shortly after.

Under the reform, eligible developers can satisfy their statutory bond obligation by taking out an approved decennial-style policy that gives owners 10 years of cover for major structural defects from completion, claimable directly, without first having to pursue developers or builders through costly legal action.&nbsp;

The change forms the final tranche of amendments arising from the 2021 statutory review of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and related legislation.

Resilience Insurance, which originated the cover in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022, welcomed the passage and credited the NSW Government for delivering it.

“This is protection apartment buyers have needed for a long time, and the credit for delivering it belongs to the NSW Government,”&nbsp;said Corey Nugent, CEO of Resilience Insurance.

“Minister Chanthivong and his team have shown real leadership in replacing an outdated two-year bond with cover that matches the lifespan of the buildings people are buying into. Reform like this is what good, evidence-based regulation looks like.”

Resilience has delivered LDI in NSW since 2022, protecting thousands of apartments, giving the State, and now the country, real-world evidence of how decade-long, no-fault protection works in practice.

The reform also places NSW within a wider national shift.

NSW is the third jurisdiction to put decennial cover into law. The ACT legislated for it in 2024, with the scheme taking effect in late 2025, and Victoria passed its own framework on 17 June. Between them, the three cover the majority of Australia's apartment market.

The reform commences once the legislation is proclaimed, which is expected in the coming weeks. From that point, developers of Class 2 residential apartment buildings can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial policy in place of the bond.

Buyers who purchased into projects that took out the cover early are among the first in the country to take keys to apartments carrying decade-long structural protection.

“With the legislation passed, the focus now turns to making it work for buyers,”&nbsp;Nugent said.

“There are already thousands of apartments in NSW covered by this insurance, bought by developers who moved early. The question every buyer should be asking in a display suite is a simple one: does this building come with 10-year defect cover, and who stands behind it?&nbsp;

“We look forward to working with the Government and the Building Commission in coming weeks as the framework moves to implementation, and to sharing what we have learned over the past four years so the protection reaches owners as smoothly and quickly as possible.”

Other states are working through their own reform programs. Western Australia has indicated that decennial cover is within consideration a later stage of its reform sequence, and Queensland has been examining the settings as it looks at the development pipeline ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

Resilience Insurance acknowledges the NSW Government’s continued focus on strengthening consumer protection while supporting housing delivery across the State.

Fast Facts: What the reform means

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	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Proven at scale:&nbsp;Decennial cover has operated in NSW since 2022, protecting thousand of apartments.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">10 years of cover:&nbsp;Protection for major structural defects runs for a decade from completion, claimable directly and with no legal action required.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">An alternative to the bond:&nbsp;Eligible developers can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial-style policy in place of the 2% strata building bond.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Part of a national shift:&nbsp;The ACT has had decennial provisions in force since 2025 and Victoria passed its framework in June. NSW now joins them.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">No-fault, first resort:&nbsp;Owners corporations claim directly from the insurer without first having to establish who is liable for the defect.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Cost-competitive:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the 2% bond while offering broader, longer protection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Market position:&nbsp;Resilience originated LDI in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022.</li>
</ul>

Fast Facts: What is Resilience LDI?

<ul style="color:#222222; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:small; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; background-color:#ffffff; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial">
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Resilience Latent Defects Insurance (LDI):&nbsp;Covers major structural defects for 10 years from completion.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Consumer-first:&nbsp;Direct claim access, no need for lengthy legal action.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Cost advantage:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the traditional 2% Strata Bond while offering broader protection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Market leader:&nbsp;&nbsp;Resilience Insurance originated LDI in Australia and is the national market leader.</li>
</ul>

Joel Robinson

NSW parliament passes 10-year defect insurance laws for new apartment buyers

Builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mcnab-developments">McNab</a> has wasted little time reshaping one of South Brisbane's most significant undeveloped apartment sites after acquiring the property earlier this year.&nbsp;

McNab has lodged plans to scrap an existing approval for two 30-storey towers and instead deliver a single 28-storey residential building, preserving part of the site for a future development opportunity.

The proposal, lodged over <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-peel-street-south-brisbane-qld-4101">64 Peel Street and 9 Cordelia Street</a>, is for a residential-led mixed-use development comprising 124 apartments above a landscaped podium, alongside a boundary realignment that preserves part of the land for a future residential project.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="743bf564-3f8f-45fc-b8d3-bbf18f5b628f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20Peel%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=EhCxGrVn_VFH3qTbKnI4WppGwaMnOn0t" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a>, the development will deliver 119 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom apartments across 23 residential levels. A five-level podium will accommodate 135 car spaces, while the ground floor will include a 66 sqm commercial tenancy, an activated residential lobby with work-from-home spaces, and a publicly accessible landscaped plaza linking Cordelia and Peel streets.&nbsp;

Communal amenities will span Level 6 and the rooftop, including indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, a swimming pool, barbecue facilities, kitchen and dining areas, lawn space, sauna, steam room and yoga facilities.

The application also proposes a boundary realignment to create a standalone 1,290 sqm development lot while retaining an adjacent parcel for future redevelopment, allowing the balance of the site to contribute additional housing over time.

Hayball said the architecture has been shaped by the site's elevated corner position at the intersection of Peel and Cordelia streets and Brisbane's subtropical climate.

The design incorporates generous landscaped setbacks, a masonry podium wrapped with planting, large north-facing balconies, and a slender tower profile intended to maximise natural light, cross ventilation and long-range views. The rooftop has been conceived as a wellness-focused retreat overlooking Brisbane, with amenities positioned to capture views towards Mount Coot-tha and the CBD.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c5f99e84-6ad8-4a87-82d1-869685b754d2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20tower%20perspective.png?VersionId=Gw0IuJaSAlk.tvGBxInhZOcQAdIB..2b" />

The planning submission positions the proposal as a response to both changing market conditions and Brisbane's Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning reforms.

McNab acquired the site after the previous approval was granted, with the existing scheme no longer reflecting current residential market demands, economic conditions, construction challenges, construction efficiencies or the quality of development outcome now being pursued, the planning report noted.

McNab continues to expand its residential development pipeline across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The developer recently launched The Tannery in West End, securing more than 60 per cent of apartments before the project's public release. It is also delivering Elements Budds Beach in Surfers Paradise and Lucia Highgate Hill, an eight-apartment boutique development overlooking the Brisbane River.

McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower

A steeply sloping Bellevue Hill site is set to accommodate a new mid-rise apartment development, with plans lodged for 20 homes that respond to the site's dramatic topography.

The proposal for the consolidated land at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/138a-140-bellevue-road-bellevue-hill-nsw-2023">138A-140 Bellevue Road</a> has been designed by Sydney architecture practice Common Office, which has used the site’s substantial fall to distribute the building’s scale and unlock 20 apartments without presenting the full height to the street.&nbsp;

“The unique design strategy leverages the site’s substantial topographical fall to facilitate increased density, presenting a seven-storey profile to Bellevue Road while rising to 10 storeys at the rear,” Common Office said in its architectural design report.

The apartment mix spans one, two, three- and four-bedroom residences. Four two-bedroom apartments are designated as affordable housing, while the plans also include two adaptable dwellings. The mix is majority three-beds, with the typical three-bed apartment offering around 144 sqm internally, with balconies of around 15 sqm.

The affordable housing component represents 15 per cent of the residential floor area and allows the project to access additional height and floor space under the NSW Government’s in-fill affordable housing provisions. The site also falls within the inner area of the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy because it is within 400 metres walking distance of Double Bay Town Centre.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1230d0f-3bfa-4a11-abaf-0928c66ef345" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da.png?VersionId=dZeMK3P.OutGjN8ycjsxm8uNsj_QFWQv" />

Common Office has arranged the building around a masonry podium and a lighter upper volume, drawing on two recurring elements of Bellevue Hill’s established architecture: sandstone bases and the vertical proportions of local Inter-war Art Deco apartment buildings.

“The proposal is governed by a holistic design language that reconciles the solid horizontal masonry of the neighbourhood’s podiums with the elegant verticality of its Art Deco heritage,” the architect said.

“The building maintains a consistent rhythmic logic utilising deep recesses and a sophisticated material transition to break down the 10-storey scale into a series of articulated, human-scale volumes.”

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0147f503-1af1-4d51-97fb-c2f1cba63a9d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20bldg.png?VersionId=GoW7q3NlK67OpnePXhk7zvklrlKb72Qc" />

Large-format sandstone tiles will define the lower levels, establishing a robust base that negotiates the change in elevation from Bellevue Road. Above, red-tinted precast concrete frames, recessed balconies, anodised aluminium screens and expanded metal details will create a more vertically expressed façade. Integrated planter beds will introduce greenery across balcony edges and recessed sections of the building.

The elongated northern façade has been divided into three recessed vertical masses to reduce its perceived length. Triangular window elements and metal privacy screens reference the geometry of nearby Art Deco buildings while controlling overlooking toward surrounding homes. The southern elevation will incorporate further privacy screening, landscaped edges and deep balconies to maintain light and ventilation.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e8679cf1-18bc-4447-8a0f-0052b94ab83c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da%20rooftop.png?VersionId=5SQqQqRFf76rvE2p1TbxJSweMN70AIbc" />

Private and communal landscaping is distributed throughout the development. A landscaped garden apartment is positioned within the lower portion of the site, while a communal terrace on Level 5 will include a central timber deck, barbecue facilities, resident planting plots and areas for outdoor dining and informal gatherings.

Common Office described the terrace as an elevated sanctuary designed to capture district views and sunlight. Its planting strategy incorporates endemic species associated with the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, extending the landscape vertically through the building and providing habitat for local flora and fauna.

A second communal outdoor area is proposed at roof level, with built-in seating, paved gathering areas and perimeter planting.

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction. Positive Investment Enterprise is delivering the 16-apartment Kew Palm House on Birriga Road, while Chanine Developments is also under construction at Florian, a 36-apartment project on Banksia Road.

&nbsp;

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction.

First Look: Apartment development pitched for Bellevue Hill, Double Bay fringe

South Brisbane's apartment pipeline continues to build momentum, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/trk-property-group">TRK Property Group</a> lodging plans for a 161-apartment tower on Montague Road as developers accelerate investment across the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.

The proposal for 176–186 Montague Road would replace an existing office building with a 20-storey residential tower designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, adding to a growing pipeline of high-density projects reshaping one of Brisbane's fastest-evolving inner-city precincts.

The project has been conceived as a "living building", featuring a flowing tower form, extensive vertical landscaping, and generous communal spaces that respond to the evolving Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.

TRK Property Group Development Director Matt Kan said the project reflected the confidence developers have in South Brisbane's long-term future.

"South Brisbane is entering an incredibly exciting period, and we see Montague Road sitting right at the heart of that evolution," Kan said.

"With the former Visy site directly opposite us and significant investment planned throughout the broader Kurilpa precinct, there is a real sense of momentum around this part of the city and what it will become over the coming years.

"For TRK, this is an opportunity to be part of that next chapter and deliver a project that responds to where the precinct is heading, while contributing to the continued evolution of Brisbane's river edge."

<img alt="First look: TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="590fe1ad-f892-4446-a679-80e33a16d029" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TRK%20tower%20facade.png?VersionId=uOJStrcKpyHFcPE1w6_9SMAFzVMCcZll" />

The scheme includes a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, incorporating multi-purpose rooms in selected residences to provide additional flexibility for home offices or expanded living areas. The proposed mix comprises 15 one-bedroom, 13 one-bedroom plus MPR, 73 two-bedroom, 26 two-bedroom plus MPR, 30 three-bedroom, and four four-bedroom apartments.

Rather than adopting a conventional rectilinear tower, COX Architecture has developed a sculpted form inspired by the movement of the Brisbane River.

"The proposal has been designed by COX Architecture as a 'living building' that responds to the site's riverine setting, floodplain history and evolving urban context within the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct," the planning report states.

"The architectural form draws from the fluid nature of the Brisbane River, with a curved and undulating tower form that creates a varied architectural edge and avoids a conventional rectilinear tower expression."

The podium has also been designed as an architectural feature rather than a conventional parking structure, with cascading planting, screening and natural-toned materials softening its appearance. Resident parking is elevated above ground level to address the site's flood constraints, while habitable apartments sit above flood planning levels. Upper-level communal facilities are designed to accommodate shelter-in-place arrangements during major flood events.

<img alt="First look: TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="01fa15d0-90df-46c7-9555-7941fc45373c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TRK%20podium.png?VersionId=mHyua.w1pHGBt9qEdWzrlsv.leztUCwO" />

Communal amenity is a major focus of the proposal. Around 1,815 sqm of shared resident space is proposed across the ground floor, level 19 and the rooftop, including co-working areas, indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, wellness facilities, dining and gathering areas, lawn spaces, a rooftop pool and spa, and extensive landscaping. At street level, a landscaped forecourt and approximately 345 sqm of publicly accessible open space along Montague Road are intended to improve the pedestrian experience while activating the building's frontage.

The development will provide 163 car spaces, including 152 resident bays and 11 visitor spaces, together with 144 bicycle spaces incorporating resident storage, visitor parking, bicycle maintenance facilities and e-mobility charging infrastructure.

The site sits within one of Brisbane's fastest-changing inner-city precincts, less than two kilometres from the CBD and within easy reach of South Bank, West End, the Queensland Cultural Centre and extensive public transport connections. The Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning framework is encouraging higher-density residential development to help meet Brisbane's housing supply targets while supporting walkable, transit-oriented neighbourhoods.

TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans

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]

Staff reporter

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