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A Newtown three bedroom terrace house was sold for $3.8 million pre-auction, making it Sydney’s most expensive weekend sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-terrace-nsw-newtown-125174618" target="_blank">66 Watkins Street</a>, the property features an expansive family area with entertaining terrace that overlooks the swimming pool and gardens, which has established  trees, level lawn and side access.
The Carrara marble gourmet kitchen has five burner stove, an oversized oven and pantry.
There are three king bedrooms with built-in robes while the master bedroom has an iron-clad balcony.
<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/2017/05/07/66%20Watkins%20Street-2.jpg" alt="">
The main marble bathroom features a spa bath, walk-in shower and heated towel racks.
Other features includes double lock-up garage for two cars.
King Street, Erskineville Village and Hollis Park is only footsteps away with easy access to transport and the CBD.
The 1890s Newtown terrace house traded unrenovated at $1,883,000 in 2009.
The property was offered through Ray White agents Ercan Ersan and Shaun Stoker who had initial $3 million price guidance.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Newtown terrace house sold for $3.8 million

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CWG Development (formerly Chiwayland Australia) has launched stage two in its boutique project Stellar in Ryde, an $80 million landmark development designed by architects SJB.
Following the successful sell out of stage 1, comprising 30 apartments valued at over $26 million, CWG Development has brought forward the second stage launch.
Stage two prices start at $655,000 to $735,000 for one beds (52 - 59 sqm internal), 2 beds are priced from $805,000 to $925,000 (75 - 80 sqm internal) and 3 beds are priced from $1,085,000 to $1,125,000 (97 sqm internal).
All apartments include parking and stamp duty rebates are also available for selected apartments.  
Jennifer Loh, Head - Sales and Marketing for CWG Development comments, “We are pleased that the project has been well received by the market.
Our purchasers are a mix of local residents who live around and near the area, and astute investors who see the potential of Ryde due to its easy access to Macquarie Park, Parramatta CBD and Sydney CBD.
“We believe that Stellar presents an attractive value proposition for the premium design, location and quality offered.
"Sales results have been buoyant and we envisage that stage 2 will sell out in a timely manner to be followed by the last stage shortly after.
"The market is still active and quality projects will always gain traction.”
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/04/28/view%2009_A.jpeg" alt="">
Ryde City Council recently announced its proposed multi-million dollar plan to revamp the existing Ryde Town Hall facility and convert it into a City Hub comprising of pocket parks, an outdoor theatre, walk and cycle paths, a new civic hall and library.
Stellar is located 500 metres from this hub precinct with public transport at the doorstep.
Most apartments enjoy northerly aspects complimented by generous cross flow ventilation and natural light.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/04/28/view%2001_-.jpeg" alt="">
All apartments boast floor to ceiling windows, open-plan layouts, chic modern kitchens with island benches and glazed splash backs and splendid views of the Paramatta River and parkland reserves.
Landscaped gardens will provide residents with lush greenery and compliment the retail space on the ground level.
Stellar also features a roof top terrace complete with panoramic views of the Sydney CBD to the Blue Mountains. Residents will be able to entertain around the BBQ areas and manicured lawns on the terrace.
For further information visit <a href="https://www.stellarryde.com.au/" target="_blank">www.stellarryde.com.au</a> or call Savills Australia on 1300 286 577.
Construction is expected to commence in the third quarter 2017 with completion due at the end of 2018.
The project is located at 771 – 775 Victoria Road, Ryde.
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Stage two apartments launched in Stellar, Ryde by CWG

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The Tweed Coast property market is emerging as an attractive option for homebuyers and investors alike, offering higher annual growths for dwellings and solid rental yields, according to new data released by PRDnationwide.
Median sales price in the Tweed Shire region has seen an annual price rise of 13.4 percent and 6.7 percent for houses and units, respectively. 
Home sellers enjoyed an average sale price of $584,500; whilst units received an average of $395,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/19/rsz_slide_1_1.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/19/rsz_slide_1_1.png" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/04/19/rsz_slide_1_1.png" width="700" height="425"></a>
The northern New South Wales area is renowned for its coastline, farmland and scenery and provides an ideal destination for holidays, and comes matched with a booming tourism industry.
A four bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-banora+point-117761563" target="_blank">76 Botanical Cct</a> in nearby Banora Point (below) has been listed for $675,000.
<img src="https://s2.postimg.org/7ggeidejd/rsz_1tweedsale.png">
The report noted the competitive real estate market is also complemented by strong economic growth opportunities through the development of infrastructure and commercial projects. 
Anticipated projects being rolled out during the first half of 2017 have been valued at a total of $33.8M. Kingscliff Foreshore Revitalisation is the main infrastructure project, which commenced construction in February 2017.
The average amount of days that Tweed Coast properties are on the market has fluctuated over the past twelve months, sitting at 72 days for house and 51 days for units during the final quarter of 2016.
<img src="https://s8.postimg.org/fkfn3t5ol/rsz_2tweeds.png" width="700" height="425">
Similarly, a four bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-tweed+heads-122305186" target="_blank">5 Mugga Way</a> Tweed Heads (above) sold for $643,000.
Median weekly rents have also been on an upward swing since the beginning of 2016, and currently sits at $598 for houses and $440 for units. The area recorded a low vacancy rate of 1.1%, plus rental yields of 4.2%  for houses and 5.0% for units. Interest in Tweed Coast area property market is recorded at 527 online visits per property, compared to the average of 716 visits per property in New South Wales.
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Tweed Coast property an attractive option for investors: PRDnationwide

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Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Trust (RGCRT) is conducting due diligence as it explores the option of purchasing the central parcel of the historic Fernhill Estate at Mulgoa being sold by Adelaide-based finance house Angas ­Securities for about $30 million.
“Our objective is to maintain the homestead and heritage landscape, ensuring it is conserved for future generations. To support this initiative we would in turn utilise the undeveloped and non bio-banked sections of the property as a predominantly lawn style cemetery,” the trust says on its website.
The trust is organising meetings from May 16 to May 31 with the Mulgoa community on its plans to use undeveloped areas of the property as a heritage cemetery.
The trust plans to preserve the homestead and heritage landscape and would create a buffer of more than 25 ha around the Georgian mansion and another 220 ha of bio-banked land on the site at Mulgoa in far western Sydney.
The rest of the property would become a predominantly lawn-style cemetery.
The Rookwood trust is buying the estate as cemeteries across Sydney are expected to be full in the next 20-30 years.
“We pride ourselves as heritage custodians and we welcome the opportunity to conserve Fernhill in the same way that we conserve Rookwood,” RGCRT chief executive George Simpson said.
The trust, which manages more than two-thirds of Sydney’s Rookwood Cemetery, said it was determined that facility would ­always be available for burials, but said developing a heritage cemetery at Mulgoa “will provide the community with another option (for) a dignified and historically significant final resting place”.
“We are committed to implementing strategies that will enable us to meet the needs of our vast multicultural communities well into the future. One of our longer term solutions in this area is the acquisition of new land,” Simpson said.
Angas last month revealed plans to carve up parts of Fernhill Estate in efforts likely to reap about $60 million in total, including proceeds from smaller land sales and bio-banking deals, according to a report in The Australian.
Fernhill, the former home of bankrupt property tycoon Warren Anderson, was until last year controlled by a venture between Angas and businessman Simon Tripp, and will now be subject to a six-month period of due diligence.
Agent Ken Jacobs of Christie’s International declined to comment to The Australian but the vendor last month confirmed interest from a purchaser.
The Mulgoa Progress Association is opposes turning the historic Fernhill Estate into a general cemetery.
The association’s president Wally Cox was cited by The Daily Telegraph as saying that a lawn cemetery on a heritage site would be destructive.
An eight-bedroom mansion and outbuildings, constructed over four years, are on the portion of the property the trust is eying.
The 1830s heritage listed homestead is complete with a 16-seat dining room, ballroom, 12 sandstone fireplaces and a horse racing track and stables that, over the centuries, have been home to two Melbourne Cup winners.
“RGCRT confirms that a sale has not yet occurred, but it has entered into a six-month exclusivity period which will allow the trust to conduct the required due diligence process, commencing with a period of community consultation,” the trust’s spokeswoman told the Penrith Press.
Fernhill was built by 20 Irish stonemasons following a land grant by Gocernor Macquarie to Colonial Magistrate William Cox in 1810.
Penrith Cemetery has “at least 40 more years till it reaches capacity”, Penrith Council’s spokesman previously told the Press.
“There are approximately 10,500 interred at Penrith, either buried or ashes placement,” he said. 
<img src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/87451696849df22a1ad18c7ee5a52a59?width=650" width="650" height="366">
Trust CEO George Simpson said Rookwood has been exploring options outside Lidcombe “for many years now”, particularly “larger undeveloped areas in the west”.
He said Fernhill was zoned for cemeteries.
In response to the concerns voiced by the Mulgoa Progress Association, Simpson said Rookwood Cemetery, which has been operating since 1867, is a heritage site too with many buildings within the site dating back to the 1870s.
“We pride ourselves as heritage custodians and we welcome the opportunity to conserve Fernhill in the same way that we conserve Rookwood.”
Fernhill has a great thoroughbred history, as one of the greatest racehorses that ever trod the Australian turf, Yattendon died at Fernhill in 1880.
Winner of the Sydney Cup in 1866, Yattendon produced Melbourne Cup winners Chester (1877) and Grand Flaneur (1880).
Fernhill was built by William Cox, an engineer who oversaw the road that passed over the Blue Mountains, for his son Edward.
It remained in the ownership of the Cox family until 1896, when it sold to the Wright family, of Wright, Heaton and Co, who billed their firm as the most extensive carrying firm in the colony.
The Bachelor filmed the finale at Fernhill Estate when Bachelor Sam Wood chose his leading lady Snezana Markoski.
<img src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/c5aa737fa539b00417809160d8a9af6d?width=650" width="650" height="488">
  
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Rookwood Cemetery set to buy historic Fernhill Estate, Mulgoa

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Malvern East has the highest growth for unit prices in Victoria according to the REIV.
Over the March quarter, Malvern East’s unit median price has risen by 24.1 percent from $621,500 to $771,000.
This is followed by Brighton with 23.50 percent and Reservoir with 21.40 percent.
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Suburb"}'>Suburb</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Mar-17 Median"}'>Mar-17 Median</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Dec-16 Median"}'>Dec-16 Median</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Quarterly Change"}'>Quarterly Change</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"MALVERN EAST"}'>MALVERN EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":771000}'>$771,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":621500}'>$621,500</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.241}'>24.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"BRIGHTON"}'>BRIGHTON</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1300000}'>$1,300,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1052500}'>$1,052,500</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.235}'>23.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"RESERVOIR"}'>RESERVOIR</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":555000}'>$555,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":457000}'>$457,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.214}'>21.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"BUNDOORA"}'>BUNDOORA</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":400000}'>$400,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":334250}'>$334,250</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.197}'>19.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"BORONIA"}'>BORONIA</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":571000}'>$571,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":485000}'>$485,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.177}'>17.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"BOX HILL"}'>BOX HILL</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":571000}'>$571,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":485000}'>$485,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.177}'>17.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"MELBOURNE"}'>MELBOURNE</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":532500}'>$532,500</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":455000}'>$455,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.17}'>17.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"PRESTON"}'>PRESTON</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":512000}'>$512,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":442500}'>$442,500</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.157}'>15.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"CARNEGIE"}'>CARNEGIE</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":620000}'>$620,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":539950}'>$539,950</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.148}'>14.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"HAWTHORN EAST"}'>HAWTHORN EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":706000}'>$706,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":614750}'>$614,750</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.148}'>14.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"DONCASTER EAST"}'>DONCASTER EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":929000}'>$929,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":824000}'>$824,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.127}'>12.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"MARIBYRNONG"}'>MARIBYRNONG</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":510000}'>$510,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":453500}'>$453,500</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.125}'>12.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"RINGWOOD"}'>RINGWOOD</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":596000}'>$596,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":530125}'>$530,125</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.124}'>12.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"PRAHRAN"}'>PRAHRAN</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":587500}'>$587,500</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":523500}'>$523,500</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.122}'>12.20%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"MITCHAM"}'>MITCHAM</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":731500}'>$731,500</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":660000}'>$660,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.108}'>10.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"PASCOE VALE"}'>PASCOE VALE</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":565000}'>$565,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":510000}'>$510,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.108}'>10.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"CROYDON"}'>CROYDON</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":542000}'>$542,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":494500}'>$494,500</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.096}'>9.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"BENTLEIGH"}'>BENTLEIGH</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":842500}'>$842,500</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":770000}'>$770,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.094}'>9.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"BRIGHTON EAST"}'>BRIGHTON EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1205000}'>$1,205,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1101000}'>$1,101,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.094}'>9.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"BRUNSWICK"}'>BRUNSWICK</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":530000}'>$530,000</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":4,"2":"\"$\"#,##0","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":498500}'>$498,500</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}' data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.063}'>6.30%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
A three bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-malvern+east-125192046" target="_blank">9/602-606 Waverley Road</a>, Malvern East (above) has been listed for between $750,000 to $825,000.
Similarly a two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-malvern+east-125278550" target="_blank">1/29 Grant Street</a>, Malvern East (below) has been listed for within the median price range.
<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/2017/05/03/1_29%20Grant%20Street.jpg" alt="">
A two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-townhouse-vic-malvern+east-124845238" target="_blank">1/48 Serell Street</a> (below) was recently sold in March this year for $785,000.
<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/2017/05/03/1_48%20Serell%20Street.jpg" alt="">
Similarly a two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-vic-malvern+east-124608158" target="_blank">4/5 Ellison Street</a>, Malvern East (below) was recently sold in February this year for $771,000.
<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/2017/05/03/4_5%20Ellison%20Street.jpg" alt="">
*Only suburbs with at least 25 sales in the relevant quarter are included
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Malvern East tops REIV unit median price growth with 24 percent

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Burnie is the cheapest Tasmanian locality to purchase a unit, according to Investar’s latest report.
The property investment firm says that units in Burnie can be purchased at around a $139,000 median.
This is followed by East Devonport with $149,000 and Launceston with $155,000.
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<tr>
<td valign="top" width="95">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
Postcode
</td>
<td valign="top" width="81">
Bedrooms
</td>
<td valign="top" width="122">
Current median price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="95">
Burnie
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
7320
</td>
<td valign="top" width="81">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="122">
$139,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="95">
East Devonport
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
7310
</td>
<td valign="top" width="81">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="122">
$149,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="95">
Launceston
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
7250
</td>
<td valign="top" width="81">
Studio and 1
</td>
<td valign="top" width="122">
$155,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="95">
Upper Burnie
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
7320
</td>
<td valign="top" width="81">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="122">
$160,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="95">
Newnham
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
7248
</td>
<td valign="top" width="81">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="122">
$162,500
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
A two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-tas-burnie-124780074" target="_blank">5/47 North Terrace</a>, Burnie (above) has been listed for $112,500.
Similarly a two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-tas-burnie-124390686" target="_blank">25/47 North Terrace</a>, Burnie (below) has been listed for $109,000.
<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/2017/04/12/25_47%20North%20Terrace.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

Burnie the cheapest Tasmanian locality for units: Investar

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Developments on government-owned land in Sydney will become carbon neutral, water positive and produce zero waste by 2028, under a new sustainability strategy released for public comment today.
UrbanGrowth NSW’s Draft Sustainability Strategy sets a number of goals and 31 targets for sustainable development across the organisation’s urban transformation projects and greenfield developments.
“UrbanGrowth NSW has a legacy through Landcom as a development industry leader in sustainability, and was among the first development agencies to report on sustainability performance,” said UrbanGrowth NSW Acting Chief Executive Michael Brodie.
“Our new targets will be monitored annually to ensure they remain at, or exceed, industry leading standards. We want to create a legacy of sustainable places for future generations in New South Wales.
“UrbanGrowth NSW will be responsible for the targets on land within our delivery control. Our delivery partners, such as developers, will need to meet our targets, which will be clearly established during Expressions of Interest or tender phases, and embedded into our delivery contracts,” said Mr Brodie.
The Draft Sustainability Strategy is aligned with global commitments from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and New Urban Agenda, the COP21 Paris Agreement, and the 100 Resilient Cities program.
“Our aim is to create innovative and productive urban places with world class liveability, resilience, inclusion, affordability and environmental quality,” said Senior Manager of Sustainability Lauren Kajewski.
“The 31 sustainability targets will lead to greater water and energy efficiency, reduced waste, innovation, less car dependency and higher liveability across Sydney.”
The targets include:
<ul>
<li>reducing the use of potable water (drinking water quality) by 50%</li>
<li>diverting 95% of all construction waste from landfill with a focus on recycling</li>
<li>100% of timber sourced for construction to be Forest Stewardship Council Certified</li>
<li>20% of all new housing designed and built to Liveable Housing Design Silver certification (in addition to any legislative requirement); and</li>
<li>all developments to incorporate high-speed broadband and free wifi in key open spaces.</li>
</ul>
UrbanGrowth NSW is seeking industry and community feedback through an online survey over a 10- week period from 1 March to 7 May 2017.
</body></html>

UrbanGrowth NSW building a sustainable Sydney

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Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) has urged the government to take a sensible approach to housing affordability policy, following its discussions with government representatives in April and ahead of the 2017 Federal Budget.
As the peak body for the property investment industry, PIPA has emphasised that regulation and education remained key.
PIPA chair Ben Kingsley welcomed the federal government’s decision to rule out changes to negative gearing and hoped this was reflective of a well-considered approach to addressing affordability issues both on the buying and renting sides.
“Housing affordability is challenging, but there’s no easy fix. We welcome the government’s focus on this issue but urge them to adopt sensible measures that reflect the national market needs, rather than any of the radical changes that have been floated by some corners of the market such as axing negative gearing and SMSF property investment,” Kingsley said.
“PIPA supports thoughtful and varied solutions that promote supply and cool demand and consider the long-term viability of the market and broader economy.”
Kingsley said that while no policy would ever reduce the price of quality property in the inner suburbs of major capital cities due to continued strong demand versus limited and geographically-constrained supply, strategic policies could work to encourage more supply in urban locations.
“Potential policies that could stimulate supply include measures that encourage developers to build more family-friendly accommodation, such as three or four bedroom units. Incentives to encourage the release of bulk land lots in new greenfield areas could also boost supply,” he said.  
According to data from CoreLogic, residential housing stock alone is estimated to be worth $6.9 trillion, which is more than three times Australia’s total share market capitalization of $1.7 trillion and our total superannuation pool of $2.2 trillion.
“Any policy changes that could impact the value of this asset class, need to be thoroughly considered,” he added.
“The residential property cycle plays a significant role in the country’s overall economic performance, as we’ve seen by the recent strong stamp duty receipts in New South Wales which have helped to fund the state’s robust infrastructure program.”
Kingsley also reinforced the role property played in building everyday Australians’ wealth.
“While high property prices can be incredibly frustrating for those trying to enter the market, we need to remember that property is a key feature of many everyday Australians’ wealth creation strategies," he said.
“Property is an accessible, trusted source of wealth that can help just about anyone build a better future. We need to be very careful when it comes to playing around with measures that could hurt the value of these assets.”
</body></html>

PIPA urges sensible approach to housing affordability 

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Engineering firms Arcadis and Mott MacDonald have won the Underground Station Design and Technical Services contract, which will see the two companies work as joint lead designers within the Metron consortium.
The Metron design consortium also includes global architecture house Foster + Partners, local architect Architectus, and engineers Arcadis, Mott MacDonald and Robert Bird Group.
The dual consultancies will hold primary responsibility for the engineering design of six underground metro rail stations for Stage 2 of the Sydney Metro project, as well as a 30 kilometre extension of metro rail under Sydney Harbour and through new CBD stations.
“Sydney Metro will be one of the most transformational projects in NSW since the Sydney Harbour Bridge and we are very excited to bring our combination of global experience and Australian intel to the project,” remarked Anthony Venturini, managing director of building and urban development, Arcadis Australia Pacific.
“This win reinforces the strength of the Arcadis Australia Pacific business and continues our strong growth through winning nation-building projects,” he said.
With a total of 31 stations and 66 km of new metro rail overall to be constructed, Sydney Metro is Australia’s biggest public transport project. 
“We are very proud to be the joint lead designers on a key part of Australia’s largest public transport project and continue to apply our global metro expertise to Australian projects,” added Stephen Giblett, built environment sector leader, Mott MacDonald Australia &amp; New Zealand.
“The Sydney Metro will truly transform this great city and the underground station design services role METRON will perform is critical to this,” he concluded.
</body></html>

Metron wins Sydney Metro design contract 

<html><body>
A riverside Rossmoyne, Perth house has been listed for sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-rossmoyne-125065042" target="_blank">7 Central Road</a>, Churston Lodge was built in 1972 and is an example of Tudor style architecture.
Set on a 1562 sqm block of land it has original character and features still present with pitched gabled roof and casement leadlight windows.
A Jarrah staircase leads up to the first and second floors with the master bedroom featuring a walk-in robe as well as ensuite bathroom with spa bath and stunning vista over the rear gardens.
Two additional bedrooms with built-in robes and ceiling fans are located on the first floor with an additional second full bathroom.
With views to the Canning River and city, the air-conditioned loft offers a sitting room with a fourth bedroom.
Ground floor features the formal living and dining rooms with north facing windows that captures the light.
<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/2017/04/11/7%20Central%20Road-2.jpg" alt="">
Kitchen, meals area, study and family living are also available on this floor.
All of it leads out to the alfresco patio with gardens, Tudor style workshop and storage room as well as a tennis court, pavilion and ground pool.
The pavilion has a kitchen and meals area as well as a lounge section with open fireplace.
Perth CBD is a 10 minute ride while all other amenities are within close proximity.
The property is offered through Pulse Property Group agent Di Addenbrooke.
</body></html>

1970s Rossmoyne house Churston Lodge listed for sale

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

<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">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

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/drew-group">Drew Group</a> is wasting little time following the completion of Lagoon Main Beach, lodging plans for another high-rise apartment development less than two kilometres away at the northern end of Surfers Paradise.

Drew Group, led by local developer Jon Drew, is pitching for a 32-storey residential tower at 180–184 Ferny Avenue, replacing three low-rise buildings on a prominent 1,055 sqm corner site just 150 metres from the beach.

Drew called on architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA</a>&nbsp;to design the new slender tower, which will have 130 apartments. BDA drew on the inspiration of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright's philosophy of organic architecture, which seeks "a superior sense of use and a finer sense of comfort, expressed in organic simplicity."

"The design creates a seamless dialogue between built form, natural elements, and the iconic Surfers Paradise context," BDA wrote in the application recently submitted to the Gold Coast City Council.<img alt="First look: Drew Group eyes next Gold Coast tower after completing Lagoon Main Beach" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5dcaa84d-67ba-4e22-b8f1-208ca5056b05" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/surfers%20paradise%20da.png?VersionId=Ah9oBOlL0ofC5eboXSI.dEq9VRfEnFaT" />

BDA also drew inspiration from New York's iconic Flatiron Building, with softened curved corners responding to the geometry of the triangular site. While referencing the 1902 Manhattan landmark, the design reinterprets its distinctive form through a contemporary coastal lens.

Drew is targeting the Gold Coast's "missing middle" market, a segment that has arguably been underserved in recent years. The project is weighted towards owner-occupiers, with 104 two-bedroom apartments complemented by a further 26 one-bedroom residences.

Resident amenity will be centred on the level five podium, featuring a resident lounge, gym, yoga room, steam room, sauna, lap pool with a lagoon area, spa, cold plunge and magnesium plunge.&nbsp;

Additional resident facilities will occupy the rooftop, including work-from-home spaces, a meeting room, resident lounge with a full kitchen, bar and dining area, as well as a dedicated wellness zone with additional plunge pools, steam rooms and saunas.

<img alt="First look: Drew Group eyes next Gold Coast tower after completing Lagoon Main Beach" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a1392ad9-620b-41f9-957d-b1fcec13613f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/surfers%20da%20podium.png?VersionId=9kDudIwvCaZFW6F8IyXGP6wQg0B_VS3E" />

The application follows the completion of Drew Group's Lagoon Main Beach, which only has around four apartments left to sell after a successful sales and marketing campaign.

Built by Hutchinson Builders, Lagoon comprises 248 apartments and was popular with local owner-occupiers and interstate buyers.

First look: Drew Group eyes next Gold Coast tower after completing Lagoon Main Beach

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.

Staff reporter

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