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Roughly half of the properties in the latest release at the Cedar Woods development in Jackson Green, Clayton South, were sold to first home buyers and young couples.
The latest release of Jackson Green’s town homes, features a selection of 23 architecturally designed three and four bedroom homes.
Patrick Archer, state manager, Cedar Woods, said town homes are a great option for first home buyers as they are affordable, low maintenance and provide excellent investment opportunities for young buyers. 
“Government grants and stamp duty exemptions make buying off the plan desirable for first homebuyers as the total capital outlay is greatly reduced,” he said.
Emily Vuong, recently purchased a three bedroom town home in the recent Grove release at Jackson Green.
She said she was only able to purchase the town home after teaming up with her boyfriend and parents.
“I would never have been able to purchase a property myself," she said.
“From my parents’ assistance I was able to get a foot up in the property market much earlier than most friends, purchasing off the plan allows me to save up a larger deposit before settling, reducing my overall mortgage.
“The co-buying approach is a common topic of discussion at social gatherings, with friends investigating possible partnerships to enter the market sooner rather than later."
To find out more information on the Jackson Green community visit <a href="https://www.jacksongreen.com.au" target="_blank">www.jacksongreen.com.au</a>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Co-buying a viable option for first home buyers

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First time buyers remain a relatively small component of mortgage demand, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that Western Australia has the highest percentage of first home buyers of the mortgage demand.
New South Wales has the lowest percentage with first home buyers accounting only 8% of the mortgage demand.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/27/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-27%20at%202.18.52%20pm.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/02/27/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-27%20at%202.18.52%20pm.jpg" alt="">
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First Home Buyer demand strong in Western Australia: CoreLogic

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The most recent ABS Survey of Income and Housing 2013–14 reveals that households buying their first home are older than they were over a decade ago, according to AHURI's recent brief.
In 2000–01 over 60 percent of first home buyers were aged between 25 and 34 years old, by 2013–14 that had dropped, with just under half (49.6 percent) of first home buyers being between 25 and 34 years old.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-21%20at%204.57.38%20pm.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/02/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-21%20at%204.57.38%20pm.jpg" alt="">
This indicates that households are delaying buying a home, which in turn could mean they are still paying off their home when they reach retirement age.
Indeed, as other ABS Housing Occupancy and Costs data shows, the proportion of households aged 65 and over still paying off their mortgage has more than doubled, having risen from 3.6 per cent of all households aged 65 and over in 2000–01 to 8.2 per cent in 2013–14.
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Australians buying their first home at an older age: AHURI

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Melbourne’s Little Lonsdale Street has set a cracking pace for the CBD’s 2017 investment statistics, with two key sales and a major listing.
563-567 Little Lonsdale Street (below) recently sold at auction for $6.63million ($19,776 per sqm) which was quickly followed by 361-365 Little Lonsdale Street (above), which sold off-market.
Colliers International’s David Sia, Oliver Hay and Daniel Wolman brokered the deal for 361-365 Little Lonsdale at $11.125million, a land rate of $18,480 per sqm, on behalf of a Hong Kong vendor.
David Sia said a private Malaysian investor purchased the leased property at a yield of 1.6 percent.
“The sale was indicaticative of long-term holders seizing the premium values achievable in the current commercial climate,” he said.
Both 563-567 and 361-365 Little Lonsdale are zoned Capital City 1 and have substantial development upside, Sia said.
Colliers International listed 102 Little Lonsdale earlier this month, a history-rich 1894 property (below) with boutique office potential.
<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/2017/03/29/102%20Little%20Lonsdale%20Street%20Melbourne.jpg" alt="">
“This iconic residence is a premium chance to secure a truly one-of-a-kind CBD asset,” Mr Hay said.
“Each sale is indicative of a bullish market, confident in the consistent value-drivers of underlying CBD real estate,” he said.
102 Little Lonsdale Street will go to auction on April 19 at 1pm on site.
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Little Lonsdale off to big start

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Symond Arcade, on Churchill Street, named after the father of Aussie Home loans founder John Symond – who built it – has sold to a private investor for $30 million or so.
Whispers suggests it could have gone as higher.
The <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/12-14-churchill-avenue-strathfield-nsw-2135-2013436106">arcade</a> is located directly next to Strathfield Plaza.
The block of 12 shops and 14 offices next to Strathfield Plaza had been scheduled to go to auction on Tuesday.
But it was pulled at the last minute when the Freyer family accepted an offer – understood to be well over the $25 million reserve price.
It sold far in excess of that, so the owners were happy, listing agent Robert Pignataro of Strathfield Partners said.
Robert said the 3 per cent yield represented by the sale price was typical of yields in the Strathfield area, where retail investments were usually between 3 and 4 per cent.
The property currently has a net rental income of about $918,691, with tenants responsible for all outgoings.
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Strathfield's Symond Arcade sold for $30 million plus

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An estate agency in Melbourne’s outer east has agreed to contribute $60,000 to the Victorian Consumer Law Fund, as part of a signed undertaking where it acknowledged it made false and misleading representations about properties for sale.
We investigated Next Gen Real Estate Pty Ltd (ACN: 158 289 322) – trading as Harcourts Wantirna - and its sole director, Achilles Mantsos, 47, after receiving 17 complaints about the company’s conduct between April and July of 2015.
The company acknowledged contraventions relating to four properties under the Australian Consumer Law (Victoria) and 20 properties under the Estate Agents Act 1980 (EAA).
The company routinely set price search parameters when uploading properties for sale on realestate.com.au, which were substantially less than the estimated selling range (ESR) or estimated selling price (ESP) on those properties’ sale authorities.
As a result, potential buyers searching for properties would enter their nominated price range, and find listings from Harcourts Wantirna for homes whose ESR or ESP was much higher.
In one example, a Wantirna property was advertised for $750,000, when the ESR was listed on the sale authority as $900,000 to $990,000.
Another was advertised at “$580,000 plus”, when the ESR was $690,000 to $750,000.
On other occasions, the company provided an ESR where the difference between the upper and lower range limits was more than 10 per cent of the range’s lower limit, in contravention of the EAA.
In one example, the ESR on a Scoresby property was listed in the sale authority as $490,000 to $549,000, which exceeded the 10 per cent limit.
As part of the undertaking, the company agreed to:
<ul>
<li>contribute $60,000 (in six instalments) to the Victorian Consumer Law Fund, within 30 days of commencing the undertaking</li>
<li>implement a compliance program within three months of the start of the undertaking, at its own cost</li>
<li>display a public notice stating its contraventions at existing or new premises from which the company operates. This public notice must be displayed within 14 days of the start of the undertaking and remain displayed for three months. The notice must also be displayed on the company’s website.</li>
</ul>
The properties in question were located in Wantirna, Wantirna South, Boronia, Bayswater, Scoresby, Knoxfield and Forest Hill.
This enforceable undertaking will be in effect for three years.
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Harcourts Wantirna contravene underquoting laws

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A restaurant in Armadale, Melbourne, has sold at auction for $1.22 million by Ray White Commercial Oakleigh.
The property, 857 High Street Armadale, is leased to Zia Rina’s Cucina and was sold by Paul Rizzo of Ray White Commercial Oakleigh for a yield of 3.46 percent.
He said there were three main bidders at the on-site auction and the eventual sale price was $120,000 over the vendor’s reserve.
"The stand-alone retail investment opportunity boasts one of Melbourne’s most reputable Italian restaurants as a long-term tenant," he said.
“Buyers were also attracted to Armadale’s coveted status as one of Melbourne’s most prestigious and gentrified south-eastern suburbs.
“This was a great chance to secure an exclusive stand-alone retail investment with an outstanding tenant in place and the property is returning net rent of $42,230 per annum.”
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Restaurant investment devoured at affluent Armadale auction

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An 1860s house at Crafers has been listed for sale for between $1.45 million to $1.59 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-crafers-124865754" target="_blank">9 Lampert Road</a>, Lampert House is being sold for just the second times in 150 years.
Set on a 1.25 acre fertile valley, it is adjacent to the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens.
It has been renovated and landscaped.
There are four bedrooms.
The sitting area is vine-covered and also has a wood oven.
<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/2017/03/13/9%20Lampert%20Road-2.jpg" alt="">
The property also has a large under cover orchard consisting of several different varieties of apples, raspberries, pears, mulberry, nectarine and lots more.
Productive plants have been used in the design including a Fuyu Persimmon walk, Emperor Mandarin Hedge, quinces and citrus.
It is offered through Ouwens Casserly Real Estate agent Dale Gray.
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1860s Crafers house, Lampert House, listed between $1.45 million and $1.59 million

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A residential development site at Balwyn has been sold for $6.01 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-residential+land-vic-balwyn-201719646" target="_blank">7 Cherry Road</a>, the property has a permit approval for 16 luxury apartments.
With a 1593 sqm site, it is opposite Balwyn Park and Whitehorse Road shops and trams are just 100 metres away.
Canterbury train station, Maling Road shops and city cycling tracks are in close proximity.
The property was offered through Fletchers agent Rob Fletcher.
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Balwyn residential land sold for $6.01 million

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Tumbarumba is the New South Wales locality that is the slowest to sell a house, according to a recent report from Investar.
The property investment firm says that a house in Tumbarumba can take up to 860 days to sell.
This is followed by Glen Innes with 757 and Gloucester with 624.
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Postcode
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Bedrooms
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
Days on market
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Median price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Tumbarumba
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
2653
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
860
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$237,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Glenn Innes
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
2370
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
4
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
757
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$380,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Gloucester
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
2422
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
4
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
624
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$389,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Deniliquin
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
2710
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
586
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$200,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Narrandera
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
2700
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
4
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
579
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$298,000
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
A three bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-tumbarumba-123157482" target="_blank">23 Bell Street</a>, Tumbarumba (above) has been on the market for 237 days, for sale at $210,000.
Another three bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-tumbarumba-123937194" target="_blank">43 Albury Street</a>, Tumbarumba (below) has been on the market for 155 days, slightly more expensive at $250,000.
<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/2017/02/24/43%20Albury%20Street.jpg" alt="">
A three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-tumbarumba-124428202" target="_blank">92 The Parade</a>, Tumbarumba (below) was recently sold off market for $235,000.
<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/2017/02/24/92%20The%20Parade.jpg" alt="">
Similarly a three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-tumbarumba-124357098" target="_blank">21 Mate Street</a>, Tumbarumba (below) sold quickly for $230,000 in 40 days.
<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/2017/02/24/21%20Mate%20Street.jpg" alt="">
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Tumbarumba the slowest New South Wales locality to sell a house: Investar

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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