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Former BRW Rich Lister, developer James Rice, is now offering his Broadbeach Waters home at under $10 million.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-broadbeach+waters-124652634" target="_blank">contemporary home</a>, designed by architect Bayden Goddard, now has an asking price of $9.99 million.
The 2337-square-metre waterfront parcel, with a 28-metre river frontage, has been listed through Kollosche Prestige Agents’ Michael Kollosche.
He says the home was reminiscent of a six-star resort.
Following any sale, Rice, director of development firm Urban Construct, will live in Brisbane.
The property was previously listed at a more bullish $11.95 million.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Developer James Rice lists Broadbeach Waters trophy home for $9.99 million

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<div id="story-description">
Melbourne and Sydney house prices are forecast to continue rising, despite financial regulators’ attempts to rein in the hot markets.
REA Group has reported buyer demand through realestate.com.au searches was up 26 percent on the same time last year, with increased buyer visits of 37 percent in NSW and 36 percent in Victoria.
REA Group chief economist Nerida Conisbee said APRA’s cooling measures had failed to “stem the skyrocketing prices’’ in Sydney and Melbourne.
She noted buyer demand continues to accelerate across the country.
New South Wales
Continuing to attract high levels of interest. Given the relatively low development of apartments in NSW, it was surprising to see that unit demand weakened in March.
It’s likely that affordability issues are beginning to impact demand in the state.
Victoria
The measures to encourage more first home buyer activity have led to renewed confidence in the market, further accelerating demand.
After Northern Territory, Victoria saw the strongest level of growth in demand over the month of March.
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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/05/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-05%20at%209.55.01%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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In Melbourne, despite concerns about oversupply of apartments, buyer demand remains elevated.
Queensland
A drop in demand for units suggests that high levels of supply, particularly in Brisbane, are having a more negative impact.
On the positive side, the pipeline of new apartments in Brisbane remains low, which will give the market time to absorb current stock.
South Australia
Demand from buyers remains stable in South Australia with apartment demand seeing higher rates of growth than houses.
This perhaps reflects a slowing new development market in Adelaide where a large number of new apartments have now been completed.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/05/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-05%20at%209.55.08%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Tasmania
Continues to be the strongest market in Australia, attracting interest from local buyers, interstate and overseas.
Western Australia
Demand levels continue to decline in Western Australia, however the number of people looking to buy on realestate.com.au is as its highest level since May 2016, with this demand o set by an increase in listings on the index.
Confidence in the market from sellers and buyers appears to be improving, although it is difficult to predict if this will be sustained.
Australian Capital Territory
There was a small decrease in demand in the month of March in Australian Capital Territory, but overall it remains strong with the index seeing a 50% increase year-on-year.
Northern Territory
The market is now showing sustained increases in demand, suggesting that the Northern Territory is on the way back up.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/05/REA%20Group%20Property%20Demand%20Index%20infographic-BUY.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Rental demand remains strong, but over-supply is a concern in Queensland.
Demand for rental properties on realestate.com.au hit a record high in March 2017 as rental properties available for lease failed to keep track with the growth in people looking to rent.
New South Wales
Sydney is now the least affordable city for renters in Australia.
Despite high costs, demand from renters remains high and continues to accelerate.
This may be partly to do with buyer unaffordability, but it’s also likely that jobs growth is a factor.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/05/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-05%20at%209.57.16%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Victoria
Surprisingly given the high levels of development in Melbourne, Victoria saw the strongest growth in demand after Australian Capital Territory.
Demand continues to increase for both apartments and houses suggesting that the level of development taking place in this state is being absorbed by the market.
This has been supported by recently released jobs and population growth numbers.
Queensland
Queensland is the country’s most concerning market.
Buyer demand declined slightly over the month, but there was a larger drop in rental demand on realestate.com.au.
Brisbane in particular is seeing high levels of development and dropping rental demand suggests that the market in Queensland will continue to take some time to absorb the supply.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/05/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-05%20at%209.57.26%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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South Australia
Rental demand softened slightly in March, likely reflecting a recent high number of new apartment completions.
Given that the pipeline of new development has now slowed, it is likely that this will be a short- term decline.
Tasmania
This state has seen very little development for some time and high rental demand combined with high buyer demand suggests that more new housing could be developed.
Western Australia
Conditions in Western Australian remain challenged with a slight decrease in renter demand in the month of March.
Australian Capital Territory
There was a small decrease in demand in the month of March in Australian Capital Territory, but overall it remains strong with the index seeing a 50% increase year-on-year.
Northern Territory
Demand from renters in Northern Territory is now also seeing sustained demand.
Like the buy market, it’s likely the rental market is on the way up.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/05/REA%20Group%20Property%20Demand%20Index%20infographic-RENT.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Cooling measures do little to stem property demand as price increases: Realestate.com.au

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A new community in the Gold Coast region of Kingsholme has been announced by Villawood Properties as the latest part of their three communities in the area.
Montego Hills adds to the recent launch of The Surrounds at Helensvale and the eminent release of a new project this year in Villawood Properties’ portfolio in South-East Queensland.
More than 1,000 buildings will be constructed across the three communities over ther next three to five years.
The Montego Hills project will encompass split-level floor plans and balconies cantilevering over sloping acreage home sites.
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Villawood Properties executive director Tony Johnson said the project aimed to bring modern, architecturally designed acreage homes to buyers.
“Inspired by the space, climate and views, our acreage land owners have really embraced the opportunity to create a truly unique and personal design that they will be proud to call home,” he said.
Johnson said the first homes are set to be completed early to mid this year.
“With a number of homes now under construction and many more due to start in 2017, it’s exciting to think how Montego Hills will transform during the next 12 months, particularly as we welcome our very first residents.”
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Villawood Properties launch Montego Hills commnunity in Gold Coast region

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Julia Zaetta, the Better Homes and Gardens editor, has secured an apartment in Neutral Bay.
The boss of one of Australia's favourites magazines paid $1.45 million for the unit in the leafy Southern Cross Gardens complex.
It had previously traded for $960,000 in 2014 and was most recently listed as a $950 a week rental before its off market sale to Zaetta. 
The three bedroom, two bathroom apartment features an over-sized balcony with North Sydney skyline views.
There have been four sales above $1.4 million in the past year in the 1976-build complex.
The Mildura-born Zaetta moved from Melbourne to Sydney when her magazine career began with Australian Home Journal.
Zaetta has also worked on Family Circle, New Woman and The Australian Women's Weekly.
Under her editorship, Better Homes and Gardens has been named Australian Magazine of the Year on three occasions.
Zaetta, who has been a regular panelist on Sunrise as one of Kochie's Angels, has studied at the New York School of Interior Design. 
This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph.
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Better Homes and Gardens editor Julia Zaetta buys in Neutral Bay

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A forested NSW house at Barkers Vale has been listed with a price guide of $500,000 to $550,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-nsw-barkers+vale-124972226" target="_blank">88 Twin Pines Road</a>, the 101 acre property offers a retreat with two dwellings with Mount Burrell as the backdrop.
Referred to as 'Stonehenge' by locals due to the sandstone quarry, there is an abundance of usable stone and mill able timber for those who like natural buildings.
There are two buildings available only 500 metres from the quarry.
The first one is a open plan timber cottage with veranda, there is the scope for extending the cottage and it is powered by a 1.5 kilowatt solar system as well as a rainwater tank.
The second building is a sculptor-built stone studio which overlooks magnolia and oak plantings.
It comes complete with loft/study and Mediterranean-style white washed interior walls, and doubles as a guest residence.
There is also an established mixed orchard of 100 trees offering fruits such as Chinese pear, lemon, limes, grapefruit, figs, avocado, mango and much more.
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A herb garden consisting of ginger, aloe vera, turmeric, lavender, rosemary and oregano is also available.
Hanging Rock falls is just 2.3 kilometre away while Kyogle is 24 kilometre.
Lismore is 46 kilometres away while Murwillumbah is 49 kilometres.
The property is offered through Raine and Horne agent Jason Dittmar.
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Barkers Vale's house Stonehenge with sandstone quarry listed

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Six fully leased Melbourne childcare centres are on the market selling as a group or individually with prices around $7 million to $9 million each, or $50 million for the portfolio.
The six centres include:
<ul>
<li>66-70 High Street Road, Ashwood -   15yr + 10x10yr options. Net rental $486,218 per annum</li>
<li>105A Kangaroo Road, Hughesdale (above) -   20yr + 10yr option. Net rental $545,879 per annum</li>
<li>103-107 Koonung Road, Blackburn Nth -  20yr + 10yr option. Net rental $498,015 per annum</li>
<li>60 Florey Avenue, Point Cook -   20yr + 10yr option. Net rental $511,200 per annum</li>
<li>1 Toolambool Road, Carnegie (below) -   20yr + 10yr option. Net rental $438,697 per annum</li>
<li>37 Venice Street, Mentone -   20yr + 10x10yr options. Net rental $367,822 per annum</li>
</ul>
 
Julian Heatherich from Savills said the portfolio combines exceptional landholdings, quality buildings, geographic diversity and a tenancy profile that is rarely available elsewhere in the commercial property market.
"Put this together with built-in rental growth and significant income tax depreciation benefits in a rapidly growing, government backed industry and it is an asset that will find few peers,’’ he said.
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"The tenancy lists includes several highly regarded companies including ASX listed G8 Education, national provider, Guardian Early Learning, and Nino Early Learning Adventures.
"Investor appetite for well-located childcare investment properties was as strong as ever, with an increasing number of local and off-shore investors appreciating the combination of fundamental investment attributes available within this booming sector of the market.
"With recent child care sales at yields ranging from 3.89 percent in Thornbury to 5.1 percent in Rowville, investors have a fantastic opportunity to secure genuine value and compelling rental yields in this portfolio of properties."
Mr Heatherich said key drivers of the childcare market have been the rapidly growing nature of the childcare sector, the confidence that comes from the strong support the sector has from the Federal Government, and Victoria’s strong population growth.
 
The properties will be sold by Expressions of Interest closing Wednesday, April 26.
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$50 million Melbourne childcare portfolio for sale

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A investment property at Hobart has been sold for $1.2 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-tas-hobart-502055826" target="_blank">52 Melville Street</a>, the 695 sqm property was originally built as a theatre and still retains many of its original features.
Dating back to 1896, the former theatre features imposing facades and high ceilings. Many of its heritage details are intact.
It is suitable for a number of uses and has a two-bedroom apartment on the first floor. 
The property was offered through Knight Frank agent Hayden Peck.
It last changed hands for $750,000 in 2006, according to CoreLogic.
It has been used for a variety of retail purposes over the past 40 years. 
 
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Former Hobart theatre sold for $1.2 million 

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Figures released by SQM Research reveal national residential listings increased 4.4 percent to 351,509 over the month of March 2017.
The data reveals Sydney and Melbourne posted the biggest monthly rises in listings, up 11.0 percent and 9.1 percent, respectively, as vendors seek to take advantage of big price gains in those two cities.
In all other cities, listings rose over the month.
In Brisbane, listings were up a healthy 6 percent, and in Perth they rose 4.9 percent, followed by Canberra, where stock levels rose 4.8 percent.
Over the year, listings were up in most capital cities, led by gains of 12.6 percent in Perth, followed by Canberra and Sydney, where stock levels were up by almost 12 percent from a year earlier.
Louis Christopher, the Managing Director of SQM Research, said the big rise in listings in Sydney and Melbourne reflects the fact that many property owners are attempting to cash in on rapid price growth in recent times.
“House asking prices are still rising quickly in the nation’s two biggest cities," he said.
"Despite new measures by Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) to restrict interest-only mortgage lending, these measures are weak in the face of the strong price momentum in Sydney and Melbourne, fed by low interest rates and robust population growth."
SQM Research is predicting Sydney prices will rise between 11 percent and 16 percent in 2017, while Melbourne gains will be between 10 percent to 15 percent.
While those forecasts were made in November 2016, they had taken into account a potential tightening by APRA.
“APRA's move is not aggressive enough for SQM to revise its predictions. We still expect strong price growth,” he said.
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APRA has asked banks to limit interest-only mortgage lending to 30 percent of all home loans written.
As part of this, the regulator has demanded banks strictly limit the volume of interest-only lending at loan-to-value ratios (LVRs) above 80 percent and also ensure there is strong scrutiny and justification of any instances of interest-only lending at LVRs above 90 percent.
“However, these measures are weak and are not going to be enough to slow down the Sydney and Melbourne housing booms, where both owner occupiers and investors are feeding demand,” Mr Christopher said. SQM Research data for house asking prices over the three months to April 4 shows that asking house prices grew the most in Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart, with prices up 7.2 percent, 6.8 percent and 6.4 percent respectively.
In Sydney, asking house prices rose 4.5 percent.
That compares to a 2 percent rise in Adelaide, 1.1 percent rise in Brisbane and a fall of 2.4 percent in Darwin and 2.2 percent in Perth.
 
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APRA's move won't stop 2017 price growth says SQM as listing, prices rise in March

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A 21.5 hectare site in Apollo Bay on Victoria's Great Ocean Road is on the market with expectations above $20 million.
Plans for the 30-40 Mariners Lookout Road property features 134 luxury three and four bedroom residences on 450 to 1262 square metre allotments, designed by Hayball in conjunction with Joseph Licciardi.
A plan is also proposed for a luxury hotel to the rear of the property.
 Clinton Baxter, Savills state director said the plan takes advantage of the site’s elevation to provide ocean views to all allotments.
"This is an exceptional allotment which provides the purchaser with an opportunity to take advantage of the naturally sloping land to provide well over 100 residences with ocean views," he said.
<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/2017/04/4/Apollo%20Bay%20aerial%20mark%20up.jpg" alt="">
"Any future development of the site would be highly sought after whether it be holiday homes, permanent residences or luxury hotel accommodation.
"Located within Victoria’s number one regional tourist destination and in the foothills of the beautiful Otway Ranges, this property has so much potential for any number of accommodation options.
"Apollo Bay’s population swells from 1300 to more than 15,000 in peak summer holiday periods and with domestic visitor nights increasing significantly in recent years (18.5 percent increase over 2013/14) those people simply have to be accommodated somewhere,’’ Mr Baxter said.
"The property was ready for development with only one vacant dwelling on the site and exceptional access along the nearly 700 metres of road frontage."
The property is being sold via Expressions of Interest closing Friday, April 21 at 12pm. 
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Great Ocean Road site on the market with $20 million expectations 

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A $100 million plus medium density apartment development has been announced for a 44,000 sqm site in Melbourne's Spotswood.
The site, part of the former Don and Gilbertsons land, is bounded by West Gate Freeway, New Street, and Kyle and Blackshaws roads.
Greg Jensz, industrial director, Savills said smaller, popular pockets like Spotswood have been a key target for developers looking to capitalise on the gentrification process.
"Any opportunities within 10k of the CBD are going to be looked at seriously by developers and especially those that can offer scale," he said.
 "The redevelopment of Precinct 15, which this property forms part of, offers one of the most significant urban renewal opportunities in Melbourne given its size.
"The adoption of Amendment C88, lodged with Hobsons Bay Council, to rezone Precinct 15 from its current industrial zones to residential, paved the way for a proposed 3000 dwellings and a 5500 square metre Neighborhood Activity Centre, associated open space areas and a community facility."
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$100 million apartment project for 44,000sqm Spotswood site

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Staff reporter

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