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Brisbane's Broadway Hotel in Woolloongabba will be the centrepiece of the $260 million neighbourhood mixed use redevelopment following a DA lodged with Brisbane City Council.
Majella Property Developments are set to redevelop  the 3420 sqm site, spanning 44 Balaclava Street and 85 &amp; 93 Logan Road, Woolloongabba.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/15/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-15%20at%2011.24.34%20AM.png" alt="" width="675" height="412">
The DA proposes a multi-level apartment tower with a 262 one, two, three and four bedroom apartments as well as a three-level commercial and retail podium and 40 commercial sites.
The hotel, built in in 1890 and designed by John Hall &amp; Son was damaged by fire in 2010.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/15/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-15%20at%2011.24.27%20AM.png" alt="">
Frank Monsour, Majella Group founder said some of the development profits from the apartment tower to restore the hotel which otherwise has been deemed to be economically unviable as a restoration project on its own due to the extensive damage suffered.
“Broadway will redefine this important precinct in Woolloongabba with heritage values central to the design," he said.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/15/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-15%20at%2011.24.23%20AM.png" alt="">
“We are thrilled to be able to bring the Broadway Hotel back to life and develop a vibrant commercial precinct with food and dining central to the experience.
"We’re pleased to be bringing innovations to the Broadway development including centralised recycling, cutting edge Bloomframe windows and the largest automated car parking system in Australia.”
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/15/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-15%20at%2011.24.16%20AM.png" alt="">
The residential development will feature rooftop facilities for entertaining and meetings, pools and a spa. It is designed by Elizabeth Anderson of Hayes Anderson Lynch Architects.
Construction is expected to start late 2017 and be completed in 2019.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Historic Broadway Hotel and tower to breath new life into Woolloongabba

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Crowd-funder DomaCom has 90 retail investors now holding a stake in a property in Victoria’s prime Western Districts pastoral land.
The 150-hectare property, Doyles is just outside Casterton near the South Australian border.
It is heartland prime beef cattle region with 11 paddocks of rolling high country fronting Lower Coleraine Road.
Prior to the contract to purchase the property the fund secured a local operator to be the tenant.
DomaCom’s head of property Jason Bennett said the purchased delivered a packaged opportunity to investors to enable them to invest into the rural sector.
"It is expected that investors will receive an estimated combined income and capital return of 10% per annum on their investment, based on historic returns, which is a significant improvement on bank interest," he said.
"More importantly they will have the ability to participate in the strong capital growth currently being experienced in the rural sector."
DomaCom CEO Arthur Naoumidis says the group is “enormously proud” to sign off on its first agriculture crowdfunding project, which has taken about two months to bed down.
“It’s our understanding that this is the first crowdfunding project for agriculture assets anywhere in the world.
"We knew from the Kidman bid that there was a thirst by ‘mum-and-dad’ investors to acquire agriculture assets, and we have been looking at other properties for quite some time.
"We have already more investors on our books looking to invest in this asset class, so we are confident that the Doyles deal is just the first of many.”
Elders’ Hamilton-based David Peardon, who handled the sale, said the first successful crowdfunding exercise to allow retail investors to collectively acquire an agriculture asset was an “exciting development” for the industry.
You can download an eBook from DomaCom on new smart ways to invest in agriculture, here.
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DomaCom investors sign off on first global agriculture crowdfunding deal in Victoria's Western Districts

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Mercer’s annual Quality of Living Survey has ranked Sydney 10th with Melbourne 16th.
The survey of 450 cities is a benchmark against New York to help organisations determine wages and conditions for their employees on overseas assignments.
A part of the survey concentrated on city infrastructure, Sydney making the top 10 followed by Perth (32), Melbourne (34) and Brisbane (37).
Lorraine Jennings, Mercer’s Global Mobility Practice Leader in Australia and New Zealand said Australian cities have been ranked amongst the best in the world due to our safety, culturally diverse, skilled local workforce and robust infrastructure which can be a key competitive advantage in trying to attract multinational companies, talent and foreign investments.
“The report provides a qualitative measure of living conditions around the world to enable organisations to apply relative incentives to motivate employees to accept foreign assignments, particularly in a compromised quality of living location," she said.
"The success factors for foreign assignments is attributed to ease of travel and communication, health considerations, the local political environment, personal safety and access to public services.
"Sydney’s strong endorsement on the City Infrastructure ranking was due to its high weighting under categories including variety of transport options, local and international connectivity and access to electricity and drinkable water which are essential needs of expatriates arriving in a new location on assignment.
"There is room for Australia to improve in the rankings though, with factors such as Melbourne’s traffic congestion and a nation-wide low score on availability of international flights and international schools contributing to perhaps lower-than-expected results."
Singapore led the charge in the city infrastructure ranking, followed by Frankfurt and Munich both in 2nd place. Baghdad (230) and Port au Prince (231) ranked last. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/14/Mercer_QualityofLiving_2017_030617_Global.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/14/Mercer_QualityofLiving_2017_030617_Global.jpeg" alt="">
Ilya Bonic, senior partner and president of Mercer’s Career business said economic instability, social unrest, and growing political upheaval all add to the complex challenge multinational companies face when analysing quality of living for their expatriate workforce.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/14/Mercer_QualityofLiving_2017_030617_Infrastructure.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/14/Mercer_QualityofLiving_2017_030617_Infrastructure.jpeg" alt="">
"In uncertain times, organisations that plan to establish themselves and send staff to a new location should ensure they get a complete picture of the city, including its viability as a business location and its attractiveness to key talent,” he said..
New Zealand and Australia rank high in quality of living with Auckland (3), Sydney (10), Wellington (15), and Melbourne (16).
Only Sydney (8) makes the top ten when ranked for infrastructure in Oceania, with Perth (32), Melbourne (34), and Brisbane (37).
Singapore (25) remains the highest ranking city in the Asia-Pacific region, where there is great disparity in quality of living; Dushanbe (215) in Tajikistan ranks lowest.
In Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur (86) follows Singapore; other key cities include Bangkok (131), Manila (135), and Jakarta (143).
Five Japanese cities top the ranking for East Asia: Tokyo (47), Kobe (50), Yokohama (51), Osaka (60), and Nagoya (63).
Other notable cities in Asia include Hong Kong (71), Seoul (76), Taipei (85), Shanghai (102), and Beijing (119). There is also considerable regional variation in the city infrastructure ranking.
The highest-ranked city is Singapore (1), whereas Dhaka (214) is near the bottom of the list.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/14/Mercer_QualityofLiving_2017_030617_Regional.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/14/Mercer_QualityofLiving_2017_030617_Regional.jpeg" alt="">
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Sydney places in top 10 in global Quality of Living Survey

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One Big Switch co-founder Lachlan Harris has quickly sold Glebe's historic The Retreat, just 11 months after his purchase.
He's flipped the property in some style, selling perhaps for $5.3 million, and easily exceeding expectations held by Andrew Liddell secured the BresicWhitney pre-auction sale.
Harris co-founded One Big Switch, one of the worlds largest consumer organisations, in 2011 after being an adviser to Prime Minster Kevin Rudd until 2010.
He bought the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-glebe-124735514" target="_blank">1850s Georgian sandstone waterfront</a> for $4.85 million last April from John Scott, the partner of late antique dealer John Williams.
Williams paid stockbroker Tim Eustace $3.24 million in 2005.
It underwent a restoration by heritage architect Clive Lucas when it was owned by Glebe local and corporate adviser Charle Plumridge.
It comes with wine cellar and tasting room is wrapped in gardens and return verandahs and looks out to Rozelle and Blackwattle Bay.
Lucas/Stapleton &amp; Partners restored the four bedroom home. 
One Big Switch have nearly 800,000 households signed up to their new energy group discounts campaign.
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Glebe's historic home The Retreat sold

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A flexible residential Collingwood warehouse has been listed for sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-collingwood-502314994" target="_blank">1/9 Bryon Street</a>, the property has a divided open-plan upstairs area plus a ground floor containing a library, three rooms and marble kitchen.
It has a fit-out that has been created to adapt to the two levels of the property and features a large north-side courtyard and high industrial ceilings.
Other features includes two car spaces, polished concrete floor and light-capturing windows as well as kichenette and hydronic heating.
<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/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-13%20at%202.09.51%20pm.jpg" alt="">
The property is moments away from Gertrude Street, Fitzroy Gardens, trains, trams and the CBD.
Expressions of interest close on March 27 through Jellis Craig agent Simon Shrimpton.
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Converted Collingwood warehouse listed for sale

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Westpac Banking Corp chief executive Brian Hartzer says the RBA faces a difficult challenge.
They had to, on the one hand, support parts of the economy with low interest rates, while avoiding a housing price bubble, he told The Australian Financial Review's Chanticleer column.
Hartzer advised he does not believe Australia is in the midst of a housing asset bubble.
He says there is no evidence in Westpac's housing lending data that investors are buying houses for a "quick flip" to another buyer.
But he says Michele Bullock's recent comments highlight the need for action by local and state governments to ease the barriers to new housing development.
He thinks there needs to be co-ordinated policy action to fill the demand supply gap.
Hartzer indicated he was not a surprise to Hartzer on why Chinese nationals would want to live in Australia and take advantage of the high quality standard of living, including the education system.
He says foreign investment has been a feature of Australia for many years and continues to support the financing of new unit developments which, in turn, helps to resolve the lack of supply in the residential market.
Hartzer thinks the capital controls in China will eventually have an impact on the amount of money being invested in the Australian housing market.
Fresh data shows foreign buyers were responsible for purchasing about 11 percent of NSW homes, with Chinese buyers accounting for 32 percent of these buyers.
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There's no housing bubble: Westpac chief Brian Hartzer

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Canberra has the highest number of fresh properties being listed compared with 12 months ago, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that Canberra’s number of new listing rose by 48.8 percent, to a total of 903.
However it only has an increase of 4.6 percent for the number of total listings compared with a year ago.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/13/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-13%20at%2012.39.34%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/2017/03/13/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-13%20at%2012.39.34%20pm.jpg" alt="">
Hobart’s total listing declined 18.1 percent to a total of 1,868 despite an increase of 35.1 percent in the number of Hobart’s new listings.
However Melbourne has the highest increase of new properties in the last 12 months with a rise of 22.7 percent.
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Canberra fresh listings spike by 48 percent: CoreLogic

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A Brighton office/showroom is set to go under the hammer on March 23 with a price guidance of $2.35 million plus.
Located at 184-186 Bay Street, the property has 14 metre frontage situated on the southern side of the street between Cochranes and Ashling streets.
The property comprises a 310 square metre, ground floor premises, which is part of the boutique La Perla development.
The property comes with an underground self-parking system for 10 cars, a medical permit and has been fitted out with suites which are ready to occupy.
According to marketing agent, Teska Carson director, George Takis, the area has been the beneficiary of outstanding growth over recent years which had reinforced its status as a retail/commercial destination.
"The area has seen much residential and commercial development in recent times, driven by Melbourne’s strong population growth, and property owners in the area have been the beneficiaries,’’ Takis said.
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Brand new Brighton medical office set to hit the auction block

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A new office/warehouse warehouse located within the North Lakes Business Park, near Brisbane, has sold for $3.1 million just weeks after completion.
The 7 Flinders Parade property sold to Austraw, an Australian manufacturer and importer of barware accessories, in a deal negotiated by JLL’s Nick Bandiera.
The North Lakes Business Park is positioned alongside the Bruce Highway, one kilometre from the North Lakes Town Centre.
The property provides a total building area of 1,900 square metres situated on a 3,970 square metres allotment. The building offers a combination of showroom (100 square metres), office (186 square metres) and warehouse (1,614 square metres), split over two levels at the front of the building.
The warehouse is accessed via three container height roller doors, providing 8.4 metre internal height at the eaves, plus 36 on-site car parks.
Bandiera said the sale demonstrated strong acquisition demand for modern, freestanding facilities on the Northside.
“At over 55 hectares, and located within 30 minutes of the Brisbane CBD, the North Lakes Business Park is the premier business park catering to Brisbane’s northern growth corridor, catering for industrial, wholesale, retail and the high-tech industry,” he said.
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New warehouse  in Brisbane's North Lakes sold for $3.1 million

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A two level, freehold property at Malvern in Melbourne’s inner-east has sold for $1.32 million at auction.
A private Melbourne investor outbid five others for the 17 Glenferrie Road property, which had the same owner for 30 years.
The two level, 197 square metre building is on a 192 square metre site, with five metres frontage to Glenferrie Road and rear access to on-site parking. It is zoned Commercial 1.
According to marketing agents, Teska Carson’s Tom Maule and Adrian Boutsakis, they received more than 100 pre-auction enquiries from a mix of owner-occupiers, investors and developers, and 30 bids from a crowd of 60 plus.  
They claimed that the response reflected the high demand for properties in a tightly held precinct
“Glenferrie Road, and Wattletree Road, Malvern is a well-known and strongly performing retail precinct, including the David Jones and Woolworths anchored Malvern Central Shopping Centre, major banks, and national and international food chains, along with numerous restaurants and fashion boutiques,” Maule said.
“Properties on the market within this precinct, when they do become available, always attract a high level of interest from a broad range of buyers and this was no exception.”
Boutaksis said the property offered the potential for multiple tenants and dual income streams, in an location only seven kilometres from Melbourne CBD.
The property was sold with vacant possession.
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Glenferrie Road, Malvern commercial property sells for $1.32 million at auction

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