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The Block Sky High alumni Bec and George Douros secured the $910,000 weekend sale of the first house they bought together in Melbourne.
Transformed with a recent year-long DIY $100,000 renovation, the 1950s Spotwood weatherboard was bought almost eight years ago for $490,000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-spotswood-124844478" target="_blank">2 Robert Street</a> (above) offering came with a price guide of $850,000 to $900,000 through Jas Stephens, Williamstown, selling agent Mark Hutcheson.
Bec and George, who pocketed $242,000 from their stint on The Block Sky High in 2013, previously subdivided the block to build a townhouse on the site.
The national auction clearance rate nudged higher over the week, at the same time the number of auctions surged to the second highest level this year.
Auction activity across the capital cities increased this week from 2,916 last week to 3,147 this weekend.
It was the largest number of auctions since the last week of February 2017 when 3,301 auctions were held.
This time last year was the Easter long weekend.
The clearance rate across the combined capitals was 77 percent, increasing from 74 percent over the previous week and up from 70.9 percent one year ago.
"Australia’s largest auction markets are continuing to run hot," CoreLogic’s auction commentator Kevin Brogan said.
Sydney saw the highest preliminary clearance rate across the cities at 81.1 percent.
Brisbane and Perth where clearance rates fell.
A total of 1,082 homes were auctioned in Sydney this week, with preliminary results returning a clearance rate of 81.1 percent, the strongest clearance rate for Sydney so far this year.
Last week, across the 1,001 auctions in the city, 76.8 percent of results were successful.
The busiest regions for auctions across Sydney this week were North Sydney and Hornsby (151 auctions) and Inner South West (124 auctions), while clearance rates ranged from as high as 91.3 per cent in Northern Beaches to as low as 63.8 per cent in Parramatta.
Sydney's top sale was at Vaucluse where a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-124825934" target="_blank">six bedroom contemporary home</a> (below) was sold through McGrath Estate Agents.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/27/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-27%20at%209.56.31%20AM.png" alt="">
There were 1,601 Melbourne auctions this week, making it the busiest capital city. Across the 1,391 reported results, 79.9 per cent were successful this week, up from 77 percent last week.
Prices topped out with a five bedroom $5.53 million Brighton house, which was offered for the first time in five decades.
The 1930s Gordon Murphy-designed home with extension designed by architect Geoffrey Woodfall sits on a 1279 square metre <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-brighton-124876698" target="_blank">Kinane Street block</a> (below).
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/27/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-27%20at%209.57.38%20AM.png" alt="">
It sold at $530,000 above reserve.
Sales included a<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-chelsea-124875466" target="_blank"> </a>Chelsea beach box (below), number 1322, which sold to a local for $175,000.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/27/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-27%20at%209.59.33%20AM.png" alt="">
"Shed No. 1322 has been held by the same family for three generations," Barry Plant Mordialloc selling agent Michael Care said.
The strongest performing Melbourne sub-region was the North West with 91.7 percent of auctions clearing, followed by the Mornington Peninsula region (88.1 percent) based on preliminary results.
Across Brisbane, auction volumes rose from 179 last week to 196 this week, with a preliminary clearance rate of 44 percent, compared to 50 percent last week. 
Brisbane's top sale was a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-hawthorne-124505082" target="_blank">442 sqm riverfront block </a>(below) offering city views from its Hawthorne vantage point, that fetched $2,225,000.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/27/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-27%20at%2010.00.46%20AM.png" alt="">
The Ray White offering of the Gordon Street had last sold at $2.3 million in 2007.
Preliminary results show that 68.2 percent of the 124 Adelaide auctions were successful this week, up from last week (57.4 percent).
The top sale was a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-magill-124847266" target="_blank">five-bedroom character home at Magill</a> (below) - the former orphanage known as Lentara - with sold through Belle Property for $1.412 million.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/27/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-27%20at%2010.01.52%20AM.png" alt="">
With soaring 3.6m ceilings, stained glass, cove cornices, and Baltic timber floors, the house sits on 1490 sq m at 6 Penfold Road.
It last sold at $1.28 million in 2012.
Perth’s preliminary auction clearance rate was 30.8 per cent this week across 13 results. Last week, 42 results were captured across the city, with 61.9 per cent having sold. 
Some 78.4 percent of Canberra auctions were successful this week, up from 72.9 percent last week and higher than one year ago (58.3 percent). There were 104 auctions held in Canberra this week and 114 last week. 
A lakeside reserve 1950s home was the ACT's top sale at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/8-brown-st-yarralumla-act-2600" target="_blank">$2.59 million at Yarralumba</a>.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/27/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-27%20at%2010.03.22%20AM.png" alt="">
The 8 Brown Street three-bedroom monocrete cottage on 867 sq m was the only property on the street of nine houses yet to be redeveloped.
Domain reported there were nine registered bidders.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Spotswood weatherboard sells for Block alumni

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Outside of Perth there were 8,007 residential house and agricultural sales over the year to November 2016, only 3 more sales than the 12 months to November 2015, according to Landmark Harcourts’ latest Benchmark Report (<a href="https://content.landmarkharcourts.com.au/Content/Benchmark-Property-Data-Report" target="_blank">bit.ly/LHBenchmark</a>).
While the number of sales remains virtually unchanged over the year; the value of these sales fell -1.4% to $3.7 billion over the year.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%202.37.21%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/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%202.37.21%20pm.jpg" alt="">
In terms of the number of sales, 69.7% of all sales were residential properties, while in value terms, residential properties accounted for 55.2% of the total value of sales across regional Western Australia.
Compared to one year ago there were -5.5% fewer agricultural sales across regional Western Australia over the year to November 2016.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%202.37.36%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/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%202.37.36%20pm.jpg" alt="">
Of the 2,427 sales, the majority (65.7%) were on land sizes of less than 40 hectares, while 16.4% of transactions were on lots between 40 and 100 hectares.
15.3% were on between 100 and 1,000 hectares and 2.6% of sales were on land sizes larger than 1,000 hectares.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%202.37.54%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/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%202.37.54%20pm.jpg" alt="">
Looking at the value of sales that transacted over the year to November 2016, agricultural sales accounted for $1.7 billion worth of sales, an increase of 1.1% compared to the same time 12 months ago.
Of the total value of sales, 43.8% were for properties on less than 40 hectares, 18.6% were for properties on between 40 and 100 hectares.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%202.38.05%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/2017/03/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-24%20at%202.38.05%20pm.jpg" alt="">
31.1 percent were for properties ranging between 100 and 1,000 hectares and 6.5 percent were for properties larger than 1,000 hectares.
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Western Australia's wheat belt rural sales market remains active

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Over the 12 months to November 2016, a total of 49,623 residential houses and agricultural properties were sold across regional New South Wales, according to Landmark Harcourts’ latest Benchmark Report (<a href="https://content.landmarkharcourts.com.au/Content/Benchmark-Property-Data-Report" target="_blank">bit.ly/LHBenchmark</a>).
The volume of properties transacting was down -6.8 percent compared with this time last year while the total value of sales fell -2.2 percent to $24.6 billion over the same period.
Over the year to November 2016, residential house sales accounted for 75.9 percent of transactions and 67.8 percent of the value of all sales.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-23%20at%2012.24.59%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/2017/03/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-23%20at%2012.24.59%20pm.jpg" alt="">
There were 11,971 agricultural properties sold over the 12 months to November, -8.9 percent fewer than the previous year when 13,140 properties transacted.
Of the 11,971 sales, 68.4 percent were on a land size of less than 40 hectares, 15.2 percent were on 40 to 100 hectares.
14.5 percent were on 100 to 1,000 hectares and 1.9 percent of properties were on more than 1,000 hectares.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-23%20at%2012.25.12%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/2017/03/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-23%20at%2012.25.12%20pm.jpg" alt="">
Looking at the value of agricultural property sales, $7.9 billion properties transacted across regional New South Wales over the year to November 2016.
This is down -5.5 percent from $8.4 billion the previous year.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-23%20at%2012.25.26%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/2017/03/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-23%20at%2012.25.26%20pm.jpg" alt="">
58.8 percent of the overall value was for properties sold on a land size of less than 40 hectares, 12.9 percent were for lots between 40 and 100 hectares in size.
19.6 percent were on 100 to 1,000 hectares and 8.7 percent were on more than 1,000 hectares.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-23%20at%2012.25.35%20pm.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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New South Wales rural and regional property sales volume in decline: Harcourts

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The largest rural land parcel at Tuggeranong has been listed for $7.5 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-act-tuggeranong-502053250">1079 Tharwa Drive</a>, the property sits on the eastern side of the historical Tharwa Bridge.
It has five kilometres of Murrumbidgee River frontage.
It consists of 1342 hectares of river corridor, pasture improved farming land and signficant woodlands.
There is a 99 year lease on the farming land that has been used since the 1850s.
It also has a homestead featuring five bedrooms and two bathrooms along with a large study and separated living areas.
A pool is also available along with a powered shearing shed, farm shed and feed storage sheds.
The farm sits as the gateway to Tharwa Village.
The property is offered through Civium Commercial agent Andrew Smith and Raine and Horne Commercial agents Nick Cotis and Frank Morella.
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Largest rural land parcel at Tuggeranong listed for $7.5 million

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Brisbane-based fashion retailer Michael Josephson and his wife Melissa have bought the historic Boscobel homestead in the Southern Highlands.
They paid $4.3 million for the 1870s-built mansion, which has been the home of recruitment industry boss Steven Hallis since 2007.
It has been on and off the market through for two year most recently listed with Bill Carpenter, of WC Carpenter.
Josephson is the co-founder of the successful lifestyle fashion chain Universal Store.
The 48.5-hectare property in Sutton Forest was the long-time thoroughbred breeding stud of Richard Turnley.
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Boscobel, Sutton Forest sold

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The Done family's Cadmium Property launched their residential development, The Surry in Surry Hills with great success.  
Selling 50 percent of apartments on the morning of launch - out of the 24 residences - around 80 percent of purchasers were owner occupiers and locals.  A one bedroom apartment sold for $1.1 million.
A three bedroom apartment sold for more than $3 million at the Elizabeth Street location.
Apartment prices range from:
1 beds from $895,000+
2 beds from $1,500,000+
3 beds from $2,100,000+
The north facing development features a landscaped garden designed with seasonal charm in mind and city views. 
Cadmium Property is part of The Done Group – a family owned business run by Oscar and Camilla, the children of artist Ken Done.
For The Surry they have partnered with renowned architectural firm Candalepas to create a development with only 24 apartments.
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Done family kick off The Surry, Surry Hills sales

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Henley’s Palace 38, situated in Villawood’s Armstrong Community along the Victorian Surf Coast go under the hammer on Good Friday April 14th.
This is Henley’s 24th year of building and donating houses to the Good Friday Appeal and is the 8th year that the house has been built on land donated by Villawood Properties.
Henley will deliver a home called the Palace 38 with Grand Alfresco on a spacious 599m2 lot in Villawood Properties’ premium Waters precinct at Armstrong Mt Duneed.
The house itself is a well-appointed, 41 square family home, finished and styled to the highest level, with everything the lucky buyer requires to move straight in including window coverings, landscaping, driveway and more.
The house is located at 66 Unity Drive, in Armstrong, Mt Duneed.
View the new Henley website at <a href="https://www.henley.com.au/" target="_blank">www.henley.com.au</a>.
For more information <a href="https://www.gfacharityhouse.com.au" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Henley and Villawood charity home to go under the hammer on Good Friday

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A four-level Gold Coast mansion has set a record price - a year after listing.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/61-jefferson-lane-palm-beach-qld-4221" target="_blank">Blue mansion</a> in Palm Beach has sold for almost $6 million, a likely record for the suburb.
The six-bedroom, six-bathroom beach house at 61 Jefferson Lane was bought by a Gold Coast buyer last week.
The property had failed to sell at auction last April.
It was then listed at $6.25 million for the home on 856q m with 14m beachfront.
It was the first time the beach house had hit the market since it was built in 1993.
Records show the mansion was linked to the late Ian Barclay, a builder.
<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/2017/03/15/61%20Jefferson%20Lane-2.jpg" alt="">
From the outside its striking blue and white facade stands out while inside a marble entry reveals a four-storey high-glass atrium.
The home features a collection of balconies and alfresco entertaining areas with views from Surfers Paradise to Currumbin.
Palm Beach's prior record was the sale of a five-bedroom house at 2A Twenty First Ave in 2007.
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Blue Gold Coast mansion sold for $6 million 

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Lifestyle and tourism based regions are showing a healthy recovery after their post GFC slump, according to a recent CoreLogic report.
The property data firm says that the median price of houses in the Byron region is increasing from $590,000 as of November 2011 to $790,000 on November 2016.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/28/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-28%20at%2010.53.06%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/02/28/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-28%20at%2010.53.06%20am.jpg" alt="">
A three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mullumbimby-124756358" target="_blank">111 Stuart Street</a>, Mullumbimby (above) has been listed for between $745,000 to $795,000.
Similarly a three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-suffolk+park-125037062" target="_blank">35/12 Hazelwood Close</a>, Suffolk Park (below) has been listed for between $795,000 to $840,000.
<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/2017/03/23/35_12%20Hazelwood%20Close.jpg" alt="">
A five bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-brunswick+heads-123113350" target="_blank">14 Hyrama Crescent</a>, Brunswick Heads (below) was sold for $785,000.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/03/23/14%20Hyrama%20Crescent.jpg" alt="">
Similarly a three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-byron+bay-124007114" target="_blank">3 Bunjil Place</a>, Byron Bay (below) was sold for $766,000.
<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/2017/03/23/3%20Bunjil%20Place.jpg" alt="">
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Coastal regions, Noosa and Byron show signs of recovery after GFC slump: CoreLogic

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A landmark South Hobart home, dating back to 1905, has been listed for sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-south+hobart-124964802" target="_blank">334 Davey Street</a>, The Gables has views of the Derwent River.
It has contemporary elements having been recently renovated.
Featuring a full sized tennis court and 12 metre pool, the two level property has five bedrooms.
<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/2017/03/13/334%20Davey%20Street-2.jpg" alt="">
Other features includes bay windows, polished boards, deep cornices, French doors as well as heat pumps and panel heaters.
The property is offered through Ray White agents Ant Manton and Simon Purdon.
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South Hobart landmark trophy home listed for sale

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

Joel Robinson

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

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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