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Nine out of 10 people who sold a property during the December 2016 quarter made a profit according to the latest CoreLogic Pain &amp; Gain report.
Based on house and unit resales, $18.8 billion in profit was realised over the quarter; the median profit for resales was $172,000.
In contrast, the total gross losses realised over the quarter was recorded at $467 million with a median gross loss of $33,000 per sale.
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Nationally, this equates to 8.9% of the dwellings that resold over the final quarter of 2016 transacted for less than their previous purchase price, and moderately lower than the 9.3% over the September 2016 quarter. However, when compared with the December 2015 quarter, the proportion of loss-making sales has increased from 8.2% of all resales at a loss. 
Report author Cameron Kusher said Capital city housing markets continued to record a lower proportion of loss-making resales than regional areas of the country.
“Regional area trends are showing that homes reselling at a loss are lower in coastal and lifestyle markets, while in the markets linked to the resources sector, losses remain very high although they have eased a little over the quarter.”
An area breakdown (see below) identifying the profits and losses performance differences over the December 2016 quarter delivers some interesting observations. 
As an example, in Sydney’s inner north, the council area of Willoughby recorded the highest median loss over quarter at $803,000, while close neighbour Hunters Hill recorded the highest profit in the city at $113,000.  In Melbourne, Nillumbik experienced the highest median loss at $379,000 while the Booroondara profited by $653,750.
The below table provides a snapshot (more in attached report) of the areas to experience the greatest median losses, lowest median losses, greatest median profits &amp; lowest median profits.
<a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/resources/img/media-releases/2017-03-31--Pain_Gain-1.jpg" target="_parent">CLICK TO ENLARGE</a>
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The CoreLogic Pain &amp; Gain data shows that across the country, 7.6% of houses and 12.3% of units that resold over the December 2016 quarter transacted for less than their previous purchase price.  In the capital cities, the proportion of houses resold at a loss over the quarter (5.4%) were almost half that of units (10.0%) while across the regional markets, the proportion of house resales at a loss (7.6%) was much lower than the 17.8% of units resold at a loss.
Mr Kusher said Sydney was the only region where the proportion of units resold at a loss over the quarter was actually lower than houses. 
"On the other hand, in Melbourne, Brisbane and the ACT the proportion of units resold at a loss over the quarter was more than five times greater than houses resold at a loss.” 
“A retrospective look at the data indicates that it has been extremely rare for resales of houses to record a higher proportion of loss than units.  This is reflective of the fact that house values have typically increased at a more rapid pace than units.” 
“In a market like Sydney, where more units have been built than houses over the past two decades, and the gap between house and unit prices is substantial, the trends have changed recently with units proving less likely to resell at a loss than houses.
“This is likely linked to the fact that there is a wide gap between house and unit prices in the city and for many units are now the only option for home purchase,” Mr Kusher said.
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/resources/img/media-releases/2017-03-31--Pain_Gain-2.jpg" alt="2017-03-31--Pain_Gain-2" width="800" height="528">
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

SEQ property sale loss felt especially at Somerset

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Rooming house operators in Victoria will have to comply with a brand new licensing scheme, which will determine whether each applicant is deemed to be a “fit and proper person”, as defined in the Rooming House Operators Act 2016.
Current registered operators have until 24 August 2017 to apply to the Business Licensing Authority for a licence in order to continue to legally operate.
Only housing associations and housing providers registered under the Housing Act 1983 will be exempt from this requirement.
After submitting a licence application, operators can continue to run their rooming house until the BLA makes its decision about their application. Those who are uncertain about their eligibility for a licence have been advised to seek independent legal advice.
The licensing requirement is in addition to existing legal obligations, including to register a rooming house with the local council and to comply with minimum standards for rooming houses.
Meanwhile, individual rooming house managers will not need to be licensed, but will be assessed as part of the operator’s licence application. Managers will need to meet the same ‘fit and proper person’ requirements as operators.
Operators and managers will also be considered ‘relevant persons’ under the Rooming House Operators Act, in addition to any officers of the body corporate, or real estate agency directly engaged to manage their rooming house.
There is a fee for each ‘relevant person’ nominated in a licence application. Because of this, operators have been advised to ensure their estate agent limits the number of people who take part in management of their rooming house. All relevant persons will be required to provide certified copies of identity documents and a signed consent form, authorising Consumer Affairs Victoria to conduct the required checks to enable the BLA to assess whether the applicant is a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence.
More information about licence eligibility and the disqualification criteria is available on the Rooming house operators section of the <a href="https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/roominghouseoperators" target="_blank">Consumer Affairs Victoria website</a>.
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Victorian rooming house operators licensing scheme commences  

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A modern industrial-designed house at Healesville listed with above $950,000 hopes has gone under contract.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-healesville-125029698" target="_blank">77 Newgrove Road</a>, the property has been offered for the first time and was designed by a well-known local architect.
It features an open plan living area along with modern kitchen with metallic glass splashback and family dining area.
<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/2017/04/11/77%20Newgrove%20Road-2.jpg" alt="">
A private entertainment area is also available with views of one acre of natural grounds.
The property is offered through Mark Gunther First National agent Gary Lucas.
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Industrial-designed Healesville house listed for above $950,000

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Ian Moore, The Clean Energy Finance Corporation board member, is selling his eco-friendly home, Coorabell Dreaming, in the hinterland of northern New South Wales.
Designed by local Byron Bay architect Sam Zaher, the three-bedroom house sits 100 metres above sea level.
It boasts 180 degree uninterrupted views over the Myocum Valley to the ocean.
The Byron Bay property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-coorabell-125139086" target="_blank">970 Coolamon Scenic Drive</a> is completely off the grid, relying on a 45 solar panel system, a battery bank and a back-up generator too.
The home has double glazing. There is multi-layered insulation to further minimise energy consumption.
<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/TROPHY1.jpg" alt="" width="385" height="224">
It also comes with a 14,000 tree rainforest plantation.
There are two 45,000 litre water tanks.
Moore, who considers himself an “economic green” and his wife, Di, spend most of their time in their Sydney home.
Unique Estates have it with a price guide of $4.2 million.
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Off the grid eco-home Coorabell Dreaming listed near Byron

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Significant land banking and value are set to be unlocked due to the major changes to Sydney's public transport and road network system.
Opportunities are likely to be added along major arterials across the city.
CBRE's Victor Sheu told SMH that the new WestConnex tunnel project would divert traffic flow and commuters from the M4, unlocking greater commercial opportunities in the city’s Inner West.
“Service stations are already among the most sought after commercial assets, with properties secured by five – ten year leases achieving record tight yields," Sheu said.
"This is further exemplified by the severe shortage of commercial investment properties readily available to satisfy the growing investment mandate across Sydney at present."
“With 16 service stations located along Parramatta Road, the current changes to the city’s infrastructure network present attractive investment and land banking opportunities – with these properties underpinned by strong underlying land values as well as long term leases for immediate income.”
Sheu said changes in the city’s transport network – coupled with the rise of sustainable energy – could prompt further changes in the service station sector.
“With more leading vehicle manufacturers taking a step towards alternate energy sources, introducing both hybrid and fuel-free models, there is likely to be decreased demand on petrol – and subsequently the stations that service them."
“Given service stations are currently trading at a market peak, we expect owners to look at reassessing the use of these assets – either looking at alternative commercial uses or expanding the service station model to incorporate more of a food and beverage element.”
Caltex has already expanded its service beyond the traditional service station offering, having recently partnered with breakfast cafe ‘The Foodary’.
“With service stations traditionally located on high exposure sites, there is a huge opportunity to expand the service station model to capitalise on the shifting business environment with a food and beverage component,” Sheu said.
“We’re likely to see more service stations adopt this strategy, in addition to some owners looking at re-evaluating their assets all together to maximize value.”
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Sydney’s changing road network fuels major changes to service station market

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Three key concerns among shopping centre managers that continue to impact on their sentiment are competition, online retailing and fuel prices, according to a national JLL Retail Survey.
The main concerns being highlighted by centre managers as impacting their future turnover performance were ‘competition from other centres’ (with a net balance of -40), ‘online retailing’ (-29) and fuel prices (-23). 
Major fluctuations of fuel prices in recent months have created the issue of shopping centre managers.
JLL’s 16th Retail Centre Managers’ Survey was undertaken in February across 109 JLL-managed retail shopping centres nationally.  
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The most positive factors continue to be ‘changes to tenancy profile’, ‘growth expectations within the trade area’ and ‘planned refurbishment activity’.
Head of Property &amp; Asset Management – Australia, Richard Fennell said that the key strategy for many centre managers is to provide a strong food retailing mix. 
Overall tenant enquiry remains subdued, according to Fennell, however enquiry from fresh food and food catering tenants is buoyant. 
He said quality food offering including cafes gives customers a reason to stay longer in centres.
JLL retail figures are showing positive signs of vacancy improving for both sub-regional and neighbourhood centres. 
Neighbourhood centre vacancies improved from 3.7% in June 2016 to 2.6% in December, well below the long-term average of 4.6%  
Sub-regional vacancies improved from 3.5% to 3.0% but remains above the long-term average of 2.2%.
Fennel said that with strong competition from new centres impacting some centres across the JLL portfolio, the reduced vacancy rate reported across neighbourhood and sub-regional centres was a positive outcome.”
The JLL Survey Report identified speciality fashion as being a challenging sector, particularly in larger sub-regional centres where apparel has traditionally been a significant category. 
In part, the decline of this sector has been offset by a stronger focus on non-retail services such as medical centres, financial services and travel agencies.
Completions in 2017 in the major capital city markets are forecast at 416,000 square metres and this is expected to heighten competition in the retail sector.
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Competition remains the key theme impacting sentiment of shopping centre managers

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A freehold seaside investment opportunity anchored by a fish and chip shop tenant with redevelopment upside at Seaford in Melbourne’s south-east has been sold at auction by Ray White Commercial Oakleigh.
The 110 sqm building at <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/111-railway-parade-seaford-vic-3198-2013462910" target="_blank">111 Railway Parade, Seaford</a>, was sold under the hammer to a local investor for $552,500 by Ray White Commercial Oakleigh’s Ryan Amler on behalf of a private investor for a yield of 3.4 per cent.
Mr Amler said the property with approved plans and permits for a three-storey development comprising four, two bedroom apartments and one retail shop attracted more than 100 enquiries.
“We had tremendous interest in this investment opportunity with approvals in place for a mixed-use redevelopment,” he said.
“There were four bidders at the onsite auction and some keen bidding for the property achieved a sale price of $552,500.”
Mr Amler said the offering is in a growth corridor of south-east Melbourne and is approximately 500m from the beach.
“The property is on a land area of approximately 222 sqm and is within approximately 2km of both Seaford and Carrum train stations,” he said.
“This single level freehold building is currently leased as an established fish and chip shop of which the tenant has exercised their final three year term which will commence in June, 2017.
Rental is due to increase to $19,701 per annum.
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Seaside fish shop investment sold at auction

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A Moorabbin office and warehouse facility has been sold pre-auction to an owner-occupier for $2.5 million.
The private sale was negotiated through Savills directors Gareth Jackson and Lynton Williams, in conjunction with Just Commercial.
According to Jackson, the former Shannon’s Classic Car auctions property was well suited to the purchaser’s requirements.
"The purchaser jumped on this property because it was so well suited to its requirements that it did not wish to let it go to auction and risk losing it,’’ Jackson said in a statement. 
He said the location on busy Warrigal Road also provided the purchaser with excellent exposure and ease of access for clients and staff.
The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-industrial+warehouse-vic-cheltenham-502261450" target="_blank">321 Warrigal Road</a> property comprises a modern, 1481 square metre building including a  two level office component with a quality kitchen and fit-out, and a clear span warehouse on an 1820 square metre site.
Explaining the pre-auction exchange, Jackson said the purchaser, who is also currently a tenant, had taken advantage of low interest rates to buy in what was a favorable market for owner-occupiers.
"Owner-occupation is a hot market at the moment across the south-east and particularly in the Moorabbin/Cheltenham region and we’re likely to see more such sales as opportunities arise,’’ Jackson added. 
The property was sold with vacant possession by a private Melbourne-based investor.
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Owner-occupier pays $2.5 million for former Moorabbin Shannon’s Classic Car auctions space

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Portfolio sales of Victorian industrial property have dominated a record year for the year to March, seeing a near $600 million increase on the long term average, according to Savills research.
The industrial property sales, which totalled more than $2.145 billion, was heavily up on the long term average with the $970 million worth of national portfolio sales.
Savills Associate Director Research, Monica Mondkar cited the likes of Altis, Blackstone, Charter Hall, Duestche Australia, Mapletree and Propertylink were some of the major sales.
44 percent of reported stock sold went to funds, while owner-occupiers record the most transactions with 28 purchases.
Owner-occupiers were also the most active vendors with 35 per cent of stock reported sold.
The North West region had the most transactions by value with around $845 million in sales or 18 per cent more than the five year average of $715 million.
In the South East sales of $657 million were also up with a 21 per cent rise on the five year average of $517 million.
Two of the biggest transactions came from Charter Hall, who spent $215 million on the Woolworths’ Distribution Centre at Portlink Industrial Estate and a further $102.5 million of Coles Distribution Centre in Truganina.
Lynton Williams, Victorian Industrial Director, said he expected the industrial investment market to continue to provide strong results over the next 12 months and that sustained competition would continue to put downward pressure on yields.
"The industrial investment market is very much a story about yield.
"Why would you not consider a prime industrial asset which is going to deliver you a six to seven per cent plus yield?"
 
 
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Portfolios dominate record Victoria industrial sales: Savills Research

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The Tootgarook house of House Rules contestants Claire and Hagan passed in at recent auction for $580,000.
Their home hair salon studio at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-tootgarook-124966286" target="_blank">15 Guest Street</a> is close to sale.
The Mornington Peninsula house was renovated on reality TV by the House Rules runners-up Claire and Hagan Rice.
The house features a shopfront from which Claire runs a hair salon.
<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/HouseRules2.jpg" alt="" width="396" height="215">
The recently married couple hoped to upsize.
They’ve bought a bigger salon in Blairgowrie, at which Hagan plans to open a coffee window that also serves raw food.
Listing agent Anastasia Howard, director of O’Brien Real Estate Rye, said the house would suit buyers who worked from home.
House Rules will return to Channel 7 this year.
 
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Tootgarook House Rules home and studio passed in at auction

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>
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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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