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Sydney continues to have the highest home value increases over the last 12 months, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that over the past 12 months Sydney’s home value has increased by 18.9 percent.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/20/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-20%20at%201.04.45%20pm.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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This is helped by a monthly 2.2% increase in home values although Melbourne has the highest with a monthly increase of 3.7%.
Melbourne is ranked second with a home value increase of 14.7% over last 12 months while Perth is the lowest with its home value decreasing by 3.4%.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Sydney surges to 18.9 percent annual price growth: CoreLogic

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Preliminary clearance rate along with auction volumes shows an increase across the combined capital cities, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that the capital city clearance rate increased this week, with preliminary results showing that 76.2 percent of reported auctions across the combined capital cities were successful.
This is compared to 75.1 percent last week and 68.8 percent one year ago.
Auction activity increased over the week with 2,844 homes taken to auction, up from 1,473 last week; however this time last year, volumes were higher with 3,540 properties taken to auction.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/20/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-20%20at%2011.32.07%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Each individual capital city market has seen a rise in auction volumes over the week, while clearance rates have been somewhat varied.
The highest preliminary clearance rate was in Sydney where 83.9 per cent of auctions cleared over the week, followed by Canberra at 76.6 per cent.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/20/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-20%20at%2011.32.14%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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National auction clearance rate at 76 percent: CoreLogic

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Ryde, Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury had the highest auction clearance rate in Sydney over the weekend, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that the three Sydney regions had an auction clearance rate of 92.9 percent.
This was followed by the Eastern Suburbs with 92.7 percent and the City and Inner South with 91.2 percent.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/20/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-20%20at%2011.46.18%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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The Central Coast had the lowest auction clearance rate with only 57.9 percent of its 19 auctions resulting in a success.
A four bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-hornsby-124794534">4 Moona Street</a>, Hornsby (above) was sold for $1.365 million.
Similarly a five bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-blacktown-124775958">288 Flushcombe Road</a>, Blacktown (below) was sold for $1.1 million.
<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/2017/03/20/288%20Flushcombe%20Road.jpg" alt="">
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Ryde, Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury achieves 92 percent auction clearance rate: CoreLogic

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The North West region of Melbourne had the highest weekend auction clearance rate, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that out of the 74 auctions known to CoreLogic in the North West 89.2 percent were sold successfully.
This is followed by the North East with 83.9 percent and the Inner South with 76.6 percent.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/20/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-20%20at%2012.21.26%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/2017/03/20/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-20%20at%2012.21.26%20pm.jpg" alt="">
The South East region of Melbourne had the lowest auction clearance rate with only 73.6 percent of its auctions sold successfully.
A two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-vic-avondale+heights-124741902">2/10 Military Road</a>, Avondale Heights (above) was sold for $440,000.
Similarly a three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-sunshine+north-124801790">10A Mansfield Avenue</a>, Sunshine North (below) was sold for $440,000.
<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/2017/03/20/10A%20Mansfield%20Avenue.jpg" alt="">
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Melbourne's North West secures 89 percent auction clearance rate: CoreLogic

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A majestic Malvern East mansion, once-owned by Little River Band guitarist Beeb Birtles, sold for more than $6 million at auction – a whopping discount of about $2 million from its initial price.
The vendors of the circa 1905 five-bedroom, four-bathroom house at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/10-manning-road-malvern-east-vic-3145-2013403328">10 Manning Road</a> originally asked for more than $8 million through an expressions of interest campaign last November.
The mansion was one of about 1200 properties listed for auction on Saturday. By Saturday evening, Domain Group had collected 971 auction results and put the clearance rate at 78 percent. 
“Melbourne returns from a holiday break with a robust clearance rate from higher listings, although down a little on recent results,” Domain Group chief economist Andrew Wilson said.
On Saturday, just one local family – represented by buyer’s advocate David Morrell – made a bid for the keys to the 1410-square-metre property.
Bidding opened at $5.95 million and Jellis Craig auctioneer Ian Carmichael was forced to put in a vendor bid of $5,975,000 because prospective buyers kept their cards close to their chest.
The circa-1905 house originally asked for more than $8 million last November. 
After knocking back several attempts by the sole buyer to offer $10,000 more, Mr Carmichael finally accepted $5,985,000 and passed the home in.
The property, sold in conjunction with Kay and Burton, fetched an undisclosed sale price of more than $6 million price, Mr Carmichael said.
During the preamble, Mr Carmichael described the house as rich with history: from a grand house, to a rooming house, back to a home where songwriter and guitarist Birtles practised his chords in the 1980s.
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Malvern East trophy home Harleston Firs sold

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There was a relatively large number of cane farm sales in 2016 at central Queensland due to improved market sentiment caused by higher sugar prices, according to a Herron Todd White’s recent report.
The property valuation firm says that values remained generally firm.
Prospects for value growth through 2017 appeared likely up until milling reliability prevented the 2016-17 crop from being fully harvested.
It has been reported that approximately $20 million of crop has been left to stand over after one of the longest crushing seasons in history.
Growers who had hoped to expand in 2017 will now be reconsidering because of lower returns from the 2016–17 crop and expected lower yields from the 2017–18 crop due to follow on effects from the most recent crushing season.
Milling reliability is a now a major concern to cane farmers and will be a critical issue to farm values in the years ahead.
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Central Queensland cane farms selling fast due to high sugar prices: HTW

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The Gold Coast house market has outperformed almost every region in Queensland over the past 12 months, according to REIQ's latest report.
The area has had its annual median house price grow by 5.8 percent to $575,000.
Only the Sunshine Coast outstripped this market for annual growth.
The Gold Coast market also had a strong quarter, growing 2.6 percent to reach a quarterly median of $590,000.   
The Gold Coast unit market bucked the state-wide trend of falling unit prices, adding 1 per cent over the quarter and 5.5 per cent over the past 12 months.
The continued massive infrastructure and construction programs have attracted workers and been a significant driver of population growth.
A three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-carrara-124861598" target="_blank">13 Bradstone Road</a>, Carrara (above) has been listed for over $579,000, having traded for $460,000 in 2013.
Similarly a three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-carrara-124995398" target="_blank">7 Woolmere Street</a>, Carrara (below) has been listed for $575,000.
<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/2017/03/16/7%20Woolmere%20Street.jpg" alt="">
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Gold Coast house market outperforming all others: REIQ

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With developers usually cramming in as many apartments into a block as possible, ONE20 on Queens, the seven-storey mixed use project at Hurstville, will feature only three apartments per floor.
It will come with a total of 17 apartments, the smallest of which is 75 square metres, according to Ray White Projects director Eddie Mansour.
“Three apartments per floor is very rare anywhere in Sydney. They could easily have created five apartments per floor but they went with only three,” he said.
He also added that he would like to see more of this type of development in the market.
“There is a huge demand for larger apartments yet it is very rare to find boutique developments in Hurstville that cater for open space like this.
He expects they will sell quickly to the owner occupier market who are prepared to pay a premium for them.
Due for completion in late 2018, each apartment in the block designed by Kennedy &amp; Associates features a secure car space and access to a communal rooftop terrace with barbeque area.
With apartments ranging from $795,000 to $860,000 for a 75 to 77 square metre two-bedroom apartment and $850,000 to $905,000 for an 87 square metre apartment with two bedrooms and a multi-room.
“It will feature a high level of finishes and there is a mixture of timber tiles and carpet throughout the development,”
Situated at the corner of Queens Road and Carrington Avenue, the block is just a short walk to Hurstville train station, down the road from Westfield Hurstville and close to top performing schools, according to Mr Mansour.
The sales centre opens early-mid April onsite. For more information visit <a href="https://www.120onqueens.com.au" target="_blank">120onqueens.com.au</a>
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Hurstville development sets standard for larger apartments

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A survey from mortgage broker iSelect has found more than 34 percent of Australian households with a mortgage have never had refinance.
The survey, from Galaxy Research, found 56 percent of respondents who have not refinanced their home loan in the last ten years (or never) haven't done it because of a to perceived cost, lack of knowledge or hassle.
Laura Crowden, iSelect spokesperson, said research shows of those who refinanced in the last 10 years, 55 percent said the main benefit was lower repayments, 21 percent valued better features (such as an offset account or lower fees) and just 2 percent experienced no benefit whatsoever.
“Many home owners underestimate the savings that could be gained by switching to a new loan with a lower interest rate,” Laura said.
“Switching to an interest rate even just a few basis points lower can not only reduce repayments but potentially shave years off the length of the loan as well.
"For example, for a home owner with a $300,000 mortgage currently paying 5.25 percent, moving to a lower interest rate of 3.75 percent could save up to $267 in interest every month and more than $96,000 over the lifetime of the loan.
“Homeowners should act now to take advantage of the increased competition amongst banks and financial intuitions who are competing heavily for new customers with generous introductory rates.
“Whenever there is an RBA rate change, this should be a reminder to review your options and consult a home loan adviser to discuss your options.
"They will be able to talk you through all the financial jargon and find out whether a loan may offer a rate or features better suited to your lifestyle and budget."
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Survey finds over a third of Australian mortgage holders have never refinanced

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Alantiem, the Boomerang Beach house that has hosted vacationers Liev Schrieber and Naomi Watts, has been listed for sale. 
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-boomerang+beach-124873770" target="_blank">beachside property</a> was home for six weeks for the then couple when she filmed Adore at nearby Seal Rocks.
With interiors by the late designer, Garth Barnett,the home nestles into the sand dunes on the north coast location.
The dual level floorplan focuses on easy family living and entertaining including a games pavilion boasting a fireplace.
There is expansive decking at the five bedroom home built from timber, stone and sandstone.
Glenn Curran has it listed with conjunction agent Dominique Vasers.
"The entry foyer is a scene stealer," Curran suggests.
He says Alantiem sleeps 12 in absolute Hollywood luxury for $10,000 a week — no matter what the month.
Naomi Watts recently spoke about her 11 year relationship with actor Liev Schreiber in the spring fashion issue of Los Angeles Confidential noting relationships are hard "whether you're famous or not.
"I don't know anyone who doesn't have to work on it.
"Being an actor doesn't change anything.
"I'm sure it's the same if you're a doctor or a couple of lawyers."
They starred in three films together, with the latest - The Bleeder - set to be released later this year.
Adore, aka Adoration, the Australian-French co-production adaptation of Doris Lessing’s 2003 novella The Grandmothers was a French film set in an Australian beach setting.
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Boomerang Beach holiday home Alantiem listed

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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