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John Symond, founder and executive chairman of Aussie Home Loans, says the RBA has kept the powder in the keg.
"They're holding fire and let's hope they don't have to drop further because we want signals to the economy going going forward, not backwards," he told 2GB Money News broadcaster Ross Greenwood.
"Remember, it's all very good to have low rates, but it's symptomatic of a sick economy so, we want rates to be steady, hold rates where they are, hopefully the economy improves and maybe in a year or 18 months we might see a slight tick up, but that's a long way away," he said.
On prices coming off the boil he said he was "thrilled."
"I've been hoping and praying for the past 12 months that prices will ease and they've started to ease and the market's settling down, it's now heading into a more healthy market.
"That's what we want.
"We don't want prices going skyrocket month after month, year after year because that inevitably causes problems. 
"I honestly believe we're heading into a more healthy market, which is good for everybody, quite steady as she goes.
"The market's now settling down... it's becoming a fair buyer's market, and a reasonable seller's market and that's the market we want."
On rates he anticipated interest rates to stay right where they are right through the year.
He noted that with Sydney, the financial centre of Australia, "it has a history of housing prices outstripping anywhere else in the country, including Melbourne."
Especially now given the Chinese who "are pushing the prices very strongly."
"There's no doubt about that but guess, it's affordability versus appreciation.
"In terms of history, appreciation of house prices Sydney, over time, always outstrips the other areas."
 
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Aussie John Symond says Sydney's affordability issues relate to its appreciation status

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Berwick Waters, located south-east of Melbourne, will stage two lot releases by Frasers Property on December 5.
Property Observer briefly profiles the two:
<a href="https://www.frasersproperty.com.au/VIC/Berwick-Waters/Explore" target="_blank">College Green</a>
College Green is offering plots in a range of sizes up to 913 square metre in its second release.
The development, comprising schools, recreation facilities, amenities and retirement living all in the one location, promises a range of lifestyle options for residents of all ages. 
Waterside Village
Waterside Village is designed around a central park and surrounded by landscaping and wetlands.
<a href="https://www.frasersproperty.com.au/VIC/Berwick-Waters/Explore/Waterside%20Cedarbark%20Release" target="_blank">The Cedarbark release</a> offers a selection of regular-shaped lots from 312 to 570 square metre, with a depth choice of 25 metres or 32 metres depth.
The lots are priced from $230,000.
The blocks will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Purchasers are required to pay a 5% deposit and sign an unconditional land contract.
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Two new releases in Berwick Waters this weekend

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Listed Malaysian property developer UEM Sunrise Berhad is selling its serviced apartments at the La Trobe Street mixed-use development, Aurora Melbourne Central, for $120 million.
It has signed an agreement with Ascendas Hospitality Trust to sell the 252 serviced apartments on levels 10 to 32 of Aurora Melbourne Central along with common facilities for guests located on level nine and a restaurant on the ground floor.
Aurora Melbourne Central mixed-use development is UEM Sunrise’s first project in Australia with a gross development value (GDV) of $770 million. 
Construction has commenced, with the official ground-breaking ceremony held on September 21. Completion of Aurora Melbourne Central is scheduled for 2019.
The 92-storey development comprises more than 120,000 square metres of built-up area and includes 941 residential apartments, retail spaces, strata offices as well as the 252-room serviced apartments. It is the tallest building in Melbourne’s CBD.
Upon completion, the development will have direct access to Melbourne Central Railway Station and the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre across the road. The new CBD North station of Melbourne Metro will be located next to the project site.
“This is not UEM Sunrise’s first strategic collaboration with the Ascendas Group. We are collaborating on a 60:40 joint venture with Ascendas Group to develop an integrated eco-friendly 519-acre Nusajaya Tech Park in Iskandar Malaysia, and Phase 1 is scheduled to be completed next year,” said Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib, UEM Sunrise’s CEO and managing director.
Ascendas Hospitality invests, directly or indirectly, in a diversified portfolio of income-producing real estate used mainly for hospitality located across Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Its asset portfolio comprises 11 hotels with over 4,000 rooms across Australia, China, Japan and Singapore.
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Malaysian developer UEM Sunrise sell Melbourne project's serviced apartments for $120 million

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A top-floor office property in Perth’s new legal hub is set to go under the hammer, unlocking an opportunity to acquire a footprint in one of the city’s fastest evolving precincts.
Located at the top of the Equus Commercial building at 580 Hay Street, the 213 square metre partitioned office space features a 57 square metre terrace complete with putting green, two basement car bays and panoramic views over Perth Town Hall and the CBD skyline.
Listing agents CBRE’s Michael Milne and Ben Younger will put the property under the hammer on December 10.
The occupants of Equus building include Perth’s leading law firms, barristers and QCs, he said.
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Top floor nest up for grabs in Perth’s premier legal hub

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Marquee on Meron, a boutique apartment development, has just launched at 4-8 Meron Street in the Gold Coast's Southport.
The $26.75 million project will feature a mix of 51 apartments – one, two, and three bedroom - over nine levels and include ground floor apartments with private courtyards as well as a communal roof top courtyard.
Marquee on Meron is developer Draycon Building's first foray into the Gold Coast, after projects in Sydney and coastal New South Wales.
The project is being marketed by Brett Ahern and Ian Bennett of Colliers International.
“We are expecting a lot of interest from local and interstate investors. Marquee on Meron presents an investment opportunity that provides good capital growth potential in a strong rental market with a low vacancy rate," Ahern said.
“Southport is the CBD of the Gold Coast and has been rejuvenated by the redevelopment of the Broadwater Parklands."
Residents in some apartments will have views to the nearby Nerang River as well as the Southport CBD.
Bennett said the apartments are spacious, with internal areas ranging from 60 square metres for a one-bedroom apartment to 137 square metres for three bedroom penthouses.
“The apartments also feature expansive balconies, floor-to-ceiling glass and open play layouts with sophisticated neutral palettes and durable gourmet style kitchens, elegant bathrooms and plenty of storage space," he said.
The one-bedroom unit starts at $345,000, the two-bedroom apartments are from $435,000, three-bedroom ones come from $560,000 and the three-bedroom penthouses are available from $755,000.
Construction is planned to start mid-2016, with expected completion due in late 2017.
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Southport's newest development - Marquee on Meron

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Last week was the busiest week for auctions for the year with 3,729 capital city auctions held. The final auction clearance rate was 60.1%.
Auction volumes this week are set to fall, however, the auction markets will still be busy with CoreLogic RP Data currently tracking just over 3,300 auctions across the capitals.
Over the 2015 year to date, there have been 7 weeks where over 3,000 auctions have been held across the capital cities.
Last week’s final auction clearance rate was recorded at 60.1 %, with 3,388 results reported, showing that over 90 % of all auction results were captured.
The capital city clearance rate for Spring was 65.5 %, compared to 68 % for Spring 2014.
Sydney’s auction clearance rate last week fell to 56.2 % for the ninth consecutive week and shows that Sydney’s clearance rate is now much lower than last year at 70.6 % over the week.
Despite the weaker result, there were still pockets in Sydney where the clearance rate maintained strength last week.
Across the Eastern Suburbs, 73.7 % of reported results were successful, while Ryde (69.4 %), North Sydney and Hornsby (64.4 %) and Sutherland (63.6 %) each performed well above the city-wide bench mark.
This week, Sydney expects to host 1,088 auctions, lower than both last week and last year (1,294).
Across Melbourne 1,670 auctions are scheduled this week, compared to 1,876 last week and 1,733 one year ago.
Melbourne’s final auction clearance rate for last week was 65.9 %, the highest of any capital city.
The best performing Melbourne sub-regions were Inner Melbourne and Outer East Melbourne, both of which recorded a clearance rate above the 70 % mark.
For Brisbane, last week’s clearance rate was 47.3 % and 210 auctions are scheduled for this week.
Adelaide’s final auction clearance rate was 58 % last week, falling from 64.4 % the previous week.
CoreLogic RP Data is currently expecting 137 auctions to be held across the city this week.
There are 85 Perth auctions scheduled this week, which will be the busiest for the city so far this year.
Perth’s clearance rate last week was 36 %, with 50 results reported and a total of 60 auctions held.
Across Canberra, 122 auctions will be held this week, compared to 98 last week and 87 last year. Canberra’s clearance rate was 50.6 % last week, the weakest result for the city since December last year.
Mount Waverley, Reservoir and Glen Waverley, all in Melbourne will each host 24 auctions this week, the most of any individual suburb nationally.
 
 Capital city weekend auctions:
• Sydney: 1,088
• Melbourne: 1,670
• Brisbane: 210
• Adelaide: 137
• Perth: 85
• Canberra: 122
 
Kevin Brogan is manager, valuation policy and compliance at CoreLogic RP Data.
 
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CoreLogic RP Data auction market preview

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Weekly rents across Australia’s capital cities rose by just 0.3% over the 12 months to November-end, the lowest annual growth rate on record, according to the latest CoreLogic RP Data monthly rental review.
Sydney and Melbourne were the only cities where rental rates rose at least 2% for the year.
Rates fell over the year in Brisbane, Perth and Darwin, while the remaining capitals have seen rents rise by less than 1.5% over the year.
The combined capital city rental rates are $486/week for houses $464/week for units, according to the data.
“It is anticipated that the rate of rental growth will continue to slow over the coming months due to increased supply of housing and rental stock coupled with slower migration rates which has reduced rental demand,” CoreLogic RP Data research analyst Cameron Kusher said.
Dwelling rental rates across the combined capital cities were recorded at $483 per week, an increase of just 0.2% over the first 11 months of the year while over the past 12 months, they have risen by a record low 0.3%.
“Today’s results point to a broad trend of weakening rental growth, particularly throughout this year. With less than one month to go before year's end, it is apparent that rental growth will be very soft over 2015," Kusher said.
“The construction boom across the capital cities, coupled with slowing population growth, low mortgage rates and the recent heightened level of activity from investors who add to the pool of rental stock are the major contributing factors to the slowing rental growth.
“Sydney and Melbourne, which have seen the largest ramp up in new housing supply and investor activity over recent year, continued to record rental rises over the past year.
"However, each city is seeing a slowing in the pace of rental growth relative to 12 months ago.
He said the increase in investment stock gives landlords little scope to lift rental rates, while the low mortgage rate environment offers little incentive to push yields higher.
Looking across the individual capital cities, over the past year, Sydney and Melbourne have recorded the greatest increases in weekly rents, albeit at low levels compared with the pace of capital gains, while rents have fallen in Brisbane, Perth and Darwin.
Over the past three months rents are lower in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin, are unchanged in Hobart and have increased in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.
Over the past month, house rents were unchanged while unit rents rose 0.2%. For the three-month period, house rents fell -0.2% compared to a 0.4% rise in unit rents.
Demand for units , while still weak, is holding up better than rental demand for houses, the data shows.
Over the past year, house rents have increased by 0.1%, while units have recorded a much greater 1.7% annual rise.
Annual rental growth has slowed over the month but has reached a new record low level. Across each capital city, the current annual rate of rental growth is lower than the decade average, highlighting the weak rental growth conditions compared with the historical trend.
Canberra is the only city where the annual change in rent over the past year has been greater than growth a year ago.
The current building boom and recent record high levels of investment purchasing is causing oversupply at a time where the rate of population growth is slowing.
The slowing population growth is continuing to hit the rental market demand and contributed to a record low rate of rental growth.
The report said growth in rental rates is expected to slow even further over the coming months, and possibly rental rates will start to fall on an annual basis over the coming months.
The large pipeline of residential construction activity as well as high levels of investment demand (albeit slowing) means that people choosing to rent are likely to continue to have more accommodation choices and landlords limited scope to increase rents.
Capital city rents are increasing at their slowest annual pace on record, however, a decline in home values over the month has halted the decline in gross rental yields.
At a combined capital city level, gross rental yields were at 3.4 percent for houses in November 2015 and at 4.3 percent for units. Combined capital city house and unit rental yields are currently both at record lows.
A year earlier, gross rental yields were recorded at 3.7% for houses and 4.5% for units across the combined capitals.
The report says that the sluggish rental market may result in a further compression of yields over the coming months.
From an investment perspective it means that capital growth, which is slowing, is going to remain a much more important factor for a return from an investment.
Gross rental yields are lowest for houses in Melbourne (3%) and highest in Hobart (5.4%).
Gross unit yields are lowest in Sydney at 4.1% and highest in Darwin at 5.5%.
Sydney unit yields are currently at a record low. Gross yields have edged slightly higher in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra after sitting at record lows in October.
Across every capital city except for Hobart, house rental yields are lower now than they were at the same time last year. The general decline in yields is reflective of sluggish rental increases for houses and stronger value growth.
The unit market shows different trends to the detached housing market largely due to the weaker value growth conditions for units and the fact that rental growth is a little stronger than it is for houses. Yields are higher than a year ago in Canberra and unchanged in Melbourne and Brisbane while elsewhere yields have softened over the past year.
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Capital city rental growth lowest on record: CoreLogic RP Data

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Silverdale - and the 2752 postcode - was identified as one of the most affordable rental suburbs closest to Sydney's central business district, according to Australia's first rental affordability index.
The index is a joint project between peak housing advocate National Shelter, Community Sector Banking and SGS Economics &amp; Planning.
Property Observer selected a few properties in NSW's Silverdale that formed the top and bottom ranges for houses/units. Four are listed below: 
1. A four-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.thehomepage.com.au/property/rental/335a-taylors-road-silverdale/1081729" target="_blank">335a Taylors Road, SILVERDALE 2752</a> (above) is up for rent for $600 a week and tops the rentals. The property was bought in 2013 for $687,000.
2. A four-bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/rental-properties/35-gibson-street-silverdale/Property-Details-rent-residential-9685830" target="_blank">35 Gibson Street, SILVERDALE 2752</a> (below) can be rented for $550 a week. 
<img src="/images/2015/12/4/35-Gibson-Street-Silverdale-NSW-2752-Real-Estate-photo-2-large-9685830.jpg" alt="" width="437" height="325">
3. A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/rental-properties/23-gibson-street-silverdale/Property-Details-rent-residential-9734130" target="_blank">23 Gibson Street, SILVERDALE 2752</a> (below) is available for $400 a week. The property was sold for $365,000 in 2013.
<img src="/images/2015/12/4/silver.jpg" alt="" width="418" height="266">
The median rent for houses in Silverdale is $435 per week with a median gross yield of 3.4%. The median rental is higher than the national average of $395 per week, according to data from <a href="/news">www.propertyvalue.com.au</a>.
There were no units listed for renting at present nor data available on <a href="/news">www.propertyvalue.com.au</a> for apartments over the last 12 months.
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Silverdale rental affordability: What landlords are asking from tenants

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Architectus has been awarded Auswin TWT’s mixed-use development project at 495 Harris Street, Ultimo in Sydney.
It followed a design competition chaired by acclaimed architect Tony Caro. 
The 5,322 square metre site is located next to the Ultimo Community Centre. It was the headquarters of Tabcorp, one of the last substantial development opportunities in the area.
There will be a multi-layered building that steps down from nine-storeys along Harris Street to six levels facing Bulwara Road with a likely total of 213 apartments ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, including two-level terraces with street level access.
There also will be ground floor retail/commercial space and two basement levels for vehicles and bicycles. 
The jury was impressed by Architectus’ contemporary interpretation of the site’s semi-industrial history.
It includes a large courtyard and a purpose-built pedestrian laneway.
It also features an innovative series of vertical masonry ventilation pipes which draw hot air in from the courtyard and expel it naturally, helping the building to ‘breathe’.
The director of urban design and planning with Architectus, Michael Harrison, said his firm had previously been engaged by a group of local residents who had been initially concerned that a new building on such a prominent site could impact their amenity.
“Armed with this knowledge we believe our scheme reflects many of their wishes for a development that doesn’t overpower the neighbourhood nor compromise their privacy, and which minimises the chance of overshadowing their properties,” Harrison said.
The upper levels are designed to ‘float’ above the traditional warehouse base.
The Harris Street site was originally owned by the Harris family who were the dominant landowners in the area for more than a century. Bushells Tea purchased the site in 1938 and built a four-storey warehouse to store its produce.
In 1964, the newly founded Totalizator Agency Board (TAB) acquired the property as its headquarters and nerve centre for its betting business. In 2004, TAB was taken over by the Victorian-based wagering and media company Tabcorp, which 10 years later sold the property to Auswin TWT.
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Architectus to design $300 million Ultimo development

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All eight luxury apartments in the Astonia Residences complex in Milsons Point have sold within three weeks of a re-launch by nascent project-marketing firm Boutique Estates, with one fetching $15.6 million.
The apartments in the three-storey development at 10-18 Cliff Street were sold from $4.5 million, totalling more than $48 million in sales at an average of $22,500 per square metre.
The top price of $15.6 million was for a whole floor apartment of 780 square metre, reflecting $20,000 on the first floor. It has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a home cinema and a gymnasium, and is believed to set a record for an off-the-plan apartment on Sydney’s North Shore.
The Astonia Residences was the first project-marketing assignment by Boutique Estates, established in 2013 by Vanessa Gilbert and Juliet Anderson, both of whom have experience selling prestige homes and acting as buyer’s agents.
“Two of the purchasers were from mainland China while the others were Empty Nesters from the upper and lower North Shore,” said Vanessa Gilbert, a director of Boutique Estates.
“What appealed to buyers in particular was the size of the apartments which are significantly larger than is standard for Milsons Point and across Sydney. Each has at least three bedrooms, three car spaces, and substantial storage space. In reality they are a similar size to the large family homes they will be leaving.”
Fellow director, Juliet Anderson, said the design by Nettleton Tribe, the water views and the convenient and energising location were contributing factors for buyers.
The Astonia Residences is being developed by CSPD Pty Ltd and is expected to be completed by September, 2016. 
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Milsons Point off the plan penthouse style apartment fetches $15.6 million

ASX-listed developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/stockland">Stockland</a>&nbsp;is continuing its push back into the new apartment market, filing plans for a prominent gateway site between Collingwood and East Melbourne.

The development giant, which moved back into the new apartment space when it announced Stanton Place in Sydney's Rosebery and have since filed plans for a 50-storey tower, are jumping into the off the plan Melbourne market.

They are hoping to create a mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/79-81-victoria-parade-collingwood-vic-3066">79-81 Victoria Parade</a>, replacing an existing commercial building with a scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/john-wardle-architects">Wardle</a>&nbsp;for 478 apartments,&nbsp;ground-floor retail, new public open spaces and a publicly accessible pedestrian laneway.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="72dbbca9-3918-4073-afad-a0c0c35be8e7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20pers.png?VersionId=bzMVUKKxvwuNK1m0v_td126Rgct32uk_" />

The design report identifies the public realm as a central driver of the proposal.

"Collingwood has limited access to high-quality parks and public open space, and the proposal delivers valuable new areas for respite, social interaction and fine-grain retail activity."

The development would deliver a diverse mix of housing, including studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments alongside townhouse-style residences. Two basement levels are proposed beneath the development, providing resident and retail parking as well as extensive bicycle facilities.

Wardle's design draws heavily on Collingwood's industrial character, using articulated building forms, brickwork and robust materials inspired by the suburb's warehouse and manufacturing heritage. The built form has been broken into a series of smaller volumes to better respond to the surrounding streetscape while extensive communal gardens, rooftop amenities and shared resident spaces are integrated throughout the project.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b2135ed-65df-4253-ad53-f216f06bd467" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20podium.png?VersionId=l1B6Hqn8zs772VxH6L1fDPg0KHshan9v" />

The planning documents describe the existing office building as offering little engagement with the public realm, with the redevelopment intended to create a more permeable and active neighbourhood destination.

"The proposed scheme presents a significant opportunity to deliver a vibrant retail plaza and a local neighbourhood hub serving both existing and future Collingwood residents."

The 79–81 Victoria Parade site occupies a strategic location about 1.5 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD, at the threshold between Collingwood and East Melbourne. It is well served by tram services along Victoria Parade and sits within walking distance of St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy Gardens, the Fitzroy activity centre and a broad range of employment, retail and hospitality destinations.

Joel Robinson

Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site

An 1880s timber cottage that has survived Kangaroo Point's transformation from riverside suburb to high-density apartment precinct is set to become the centrepiece of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/zephyr">Zephyr Group</a>'s proposed Banksia development.

Rather than see the locally heritage-listed Alpha Cottage as an obstacle to navigate, plans integrate the landmark home into a new 18-storey residential tower, giving one of the suburb's oldest surviving residences a new role as the project's communal hub.

The development application covers a 1,177 sqm amalgamated site at 127-133 Lambert Street and 30 Shafston Avenue, where Zephyr Group plans to deliver 64 apartments above three basement levels. Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/joe-adsett-architects">Joe Adsett Architects</a>, the proposal carefully weaves the retained heritage cottage into a contemporary residential scheme, with the tower elevated above the historic building to preserve its presence within the Lambert Street streetscape.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f9dc5bdb-d691-4c60-bf2b-c3ed405a3e75" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Banksia.png?VersionId=Jh4bjlewU.o8HXWt0V4KaFA_lPcF7KWM" />

Named after the native Australian Banksia flower, the project draws inspiration from its distinctive form through curved balconies, sculpted planter boxes and cascading subtropical landscaping that soften the building's profile.

As the design report explains: "The tower's identity is defined by its feature facade, drawing direct inspiration from the Banksia wildflower. The building departs from traditional rigidity through the use of elegant, GRC-moulded planter boxes that appear as if shaped by the breeze."

Plans propose 64 apartments, comprising 32 two-bedroom and 32 three-bedroom residences, across an 18-storey tower. Residents would have access to rooftop amenities including a swimming pool, spa, gym, sauna, private cinema, dining spaces and landscaped recreation areas, while more than half the site is dedicated to planting and open space.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16041b5f-033e-47fa-8fbe-9886e072c1f2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pool.png?VersionId=kpx5w4EbLx0_TdWfDoD1vrSs0_cZ5Ao1" />

The heritage component is the defining feature of the proposal. Constructed in the early 1880s and occupied from at least 1883, Alpha Cottage is recognised by Brisbane City Council as an important surviving example of Kangaroo Point's nineteenth-century residential development and as a representative transverse-gable timber cottage. Despite extensive redevelopment across the peninsula, the building has retained a high degree of its original form and internal fabric.

As part of the redevelopment, the cottage will be carefully relocated a short distance within its original allotment to facilitate construction before being returned to a prominent position along Lambert Street. Original verandah elements will be dismantled, catalogued and reinstated, while significant internal features, including timber flooring, wall linings, joinery, doors, windows and hardware, will be retained. Later additions, including the enclosed rear verandah, will be removed to better reveal the building's original form.

Once restored, Alpha Cottage will accommodate the building manager's office, mail room and parcel facilities, providing an active everyday use that supports its long-term conservation rather than preserving it as a static display. The heritage strategy also maintains landscaped space around the building, allowing it to remain visually distinct beneath the new tower.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="43b027e1-576e-4624-a66c-7cc54ea8b7be" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/banksia%20tower.png?VersionId=2W6E2yfkj2AQlWlLeV986grA5zB9f817" />

The Heritage Impact Assessment concludes that "the proposal secures the ongoing occupation, maintenance and conservation of Alpha Cottage," finding the development would result in "no more than a minor impact on the cultural heritage significance" of the building while ensuring its long-term future.

Joe Adsett Architects have designed the tower to sit above the heritage building rather than overwhelm it, creating a clear visual separation between old and new. The development's flowing balconies, integrated planting and organic façade respond to Brisbane's subtropical climate while complementing the restored cottage below.

Banksia occupies a prominent corner in Kangaroo Point within walking distance of the Kangaroo Point Bridge, Brisbane River, ferry services, QUT, the CBD and the Woolloongabba precinct. The site also benefits from direct access to active transport infrastructure and sits within an area earmarked for continued higher-density residential growth.

Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage

Buying into a masterplanned community often means committing to a vision still years from taking shape. At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>, that vision is already visible.

Residents have moved into the completed first stage, landscaped spaces are established, and the next chapter is now underway. Stage 1 has been completed and settled, with Stage 2 now selling off-the-plan.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pbd-architects">PBD Architects</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> combines attainable apartment living with sustainability initiatives rarely seen at this price point, including rooftop solar, battery storage and a resident EV-sharing program.

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Located on Schofi​elds Road, just moments from Tal​lawong Metro Station and Schof​ields Train Station, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been designed to appeal to a broad mix of buyers, from first-home purchasers looking for a foothold in Sy​dney's property market to downsizers seeking a connected, low-maintenance lifestyle.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been conceived as a thoughtfully planned masterplanned community that will evolve over multiple stages, with buyers now able to secure one, two and three-bedroom apartments within a neighbourhood that is already beginning to establish its identity.

One of the project's defining features is its focus on sustainability. Solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure have been incorporated throughout the development, reflecting a long-term approach to both environmental performance and everyday convenience.

Sustainability sits at the centre of the development's vision, with solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure integrated throughout the community.

That emphasis on future-ready living extends beyond the technology. Landscaped communal gardens, outdoor gathering spaces and plans for a future retail precinct aim to create a neighbourhood where residents can access daily conveniences without travelling far from home.

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The apartments themselves have been designed with liveability front of mind. Rather than chasing maximum density, the focus has been placed on creating practical homes with generous natural light, usable layouts and strong connections to outdoor space.

Importantly, these design principles have been applied consistently across the one, two and three-bedroom apartment offerings.

The appeal of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> is also closely linked to its location within Syd​ney's rapidly evolving north-west growth corridor. Over the past decade, major infrastructure investment has transformed the area, with new transport links, business precincts and community facilities reshaping suburbs like Talla​wong and Schofiel​ds.

The agent says buyers are increasingly recognising the area's long-term potential.

"Typical buyers that we're finding across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> especially are your first-home buyers, your investors, your upsizers as well as your downsizers," Hawes says.

Connectivity remains one of the project's strongest drawcards. Residents have access to both Tallaw​ong Metro Station and Schofi​elds Train Station, providing links to the Sydn​ey CBD, Norw​est Business Park, Macquari​e Park and other major employment hubs. Retail centres including Rous​e Hill Town Centre and Sch​ofields Village are also nearby, alongside schools, parks and future healthcare infrastructure.

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For Stage 1 resident Roji, it is the balance between convenience and comfort that has defined the experience of living at Kew.

"For me, it's a balance of quality and convenience," she says. "Everything I need is right here."

"If I wanted to catch the train, Scho​fields Station is just around the corner. Tallaw​ong Metro connects me to the city."

More importantly, she says, the development has delivered something that cannot be measured in floorplans or specifications.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> feels like home."

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As Stage 2 enters the market, that lived experience may be one of the project's strongest selling points. Buyers are not purchasing into an untested concept or a future promise. They are joining a community that is already taking shape.

Ongoing investment in transport, retail, healthcare and public open space continues to strengthen the appeal of Syd​ney's north-west growth corridor, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>'s established first stage provides buyers with a tangible sense of the community's future direction.

For a limited time, buyer can secure a new home at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> with just a $10,000.

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Kew Tallawong: A growing community taking shape in Sydney's north-west

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/freecity">Freecity</a> has received development approval for its 51-storey mixed-use tower at 153-157 Walker Street, North Sydney, set to be one of the tallest mixed-use residential-led buildings in one of Sydney’s most sought-after commercial and residential addresses.

Lodged as a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) through the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway and approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure following a comprehensive public exhibition and submissions process, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/153-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">the project</a> will deliver 296 apartments, alongside a 170-room, luxury hotel, activated retail and significant public domain improvements.

Situated just 200 metres from Victoria Cross Metro Station, on one of the largest developable sites in North Sydney, the development will rise to 234 metres, making it one of the tallest buildings in the suburb. With an end value of approximately $1.5 billion, the project responds directly to the NSW Government’s mandate to accelerate housing delivery in well-located, transit-connected areas.

<img alt="Freecity gets green light for mixed-use residential and hotel tower in North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="192ec455-94bf-4e01-83ef-922b1b269d67" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Freecity%20-%20Walker%20Street%20North%20Sydney%201%20RESIZED%20.jpg?VersionId=Bzqp0SBHCDvLAHjA4QXkjuGoOEIh73Jl" />

The apartment mix will cater to a broad range of buyers, with 65 studio and one-bedroom apartments, 139 two-bedroom residences, 35 three-bedroom apartments, 48 four-bedroom homes, and nine penthouses. Residents will have access to a dedicated amenity level on Level 33, featuring a swimming pool with views towards the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and North Sydney CBD, as well as a gym, library, shared kitchen, lounge and outdoor entertaining areas.

The hotel will occupy the lower six levels of the building and include meeting and function spaces, a wellness centre with gym, yoga studio, swimming pool and sauna, further strengthening North Sydney's growing hospitality offering.

At ground level, the development has been designed to improve pedestrian connections through the precinct. More than 700 sqm of retail space will activate the street frontage, while a landscaped through-site link connecting Walker Street, Little Walker Street and Doris Fitton Park will provide new public open space with seating, paving and extensive native landscaping.

Freecity Group Co-Founder and Joint CEO Tony Sun said the project represents one of the most significant development opportunities currently available in North Sydney.

"This is one of the most significant development sites in North Sydney and it comes at a pivotal moment for the precinct," Sun said.

"North Sydney is undergoing a genuine transformation, and this project will contribute housing the city urgently needs while creating a landmark destination."

Executive Director of Development Michael Romano said demand for both residential and hotel accommodation would continue to strengthen as the Metro precinct matures.

"The structural demand for high-quality housing and hotel accommodation in North Sydney is compelling, and will only grow as the precinct continues to evolve around the new Metro station," Romano said.

Architectus has designed the tower, orientating the apartments to maximise views towards Sydney Harbour while introducing a sculpted façade intended to respond to light, wind and the surrounding skyline.

Architectus Principal Marko Damic said the design sought to create a tower that contributes to the public realm as much as the skyline.

"We wanted to design a tower that doesn't just sit in the skyline but actively participates and contributes to city life," Damic said.

First look: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use apartment and hotel tower in North Sydney

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> have celebrated the topping out of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf,</a> marking a significant milestone in the delivery of one of Syd​ney's most anticipated waterfront communities.

Located on Sydney's harbourfront at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a>, the project has now reached its highest structural point, with construction progressing strongly towards completion in 2027. 
&nbsp; 
The milestone was celebrated on-site with project partners Phoenix Property Investors, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Versatile Construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, consultants and stakeholders, to recognise the collective effort behind the transformation of the historic waterfront site into a vibrant new residential, marina and lifestyle destination.

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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will deliver a mix of waterfront residences and terraces, complemented by a private 36-berth marina, waterfront dining opportunities and a revitalised foreshore designed to reconnect the community with the river's edge. 
&nbsp; 
Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said the project represented a rare opportunity to create the next chapter in Sydn​ey's long history of successful waterfront precincts. 
&nbsp; 
"Throughout Sydney, some of the city's most sought-after addresses have emerged from carefully considered waterfront precincts such as Woolloom​ooloo Wharf, Walsh Bay and Breakfast Point," Brown said.

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&nbsp; 
"What makes these places so successful is that they become much more than residential developments," Brown said.

"They bring together homes, hospitality, marina facilities, public spaces and a strong sense of community in locations where future supply is incredibly limited."

Brown has long described absolute waterfront land in Sy​dney as "finite."

"Once these opportunities are developed, they are rarely replicated. That's why Syd​ney's waterfront precincts have consistently demonstrated strong demand and long-term value growth over many decades. 
&nbsp; 
"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is one of the few remaining opportunities to secure a residence within a masterplanned waterfront community that combines direct water access, marina ownership opportunities and a genuine village lifestyle just moments from the Sy​dney CBD."

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&nbsp; 
PERIFA Founder and Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said the project reflected a shared commitment to delivering exceptional places that create long-term value for residents and the broader community. 
&nbsp; 
"The topping out milestone is a significant achievement for the Versatile Group and a testament to the collaboration between all project partners, consultants and contractors involved," Perilli said. 
&nbsp; 
"Beyond the residences themselves, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will establish a new waterfront destination that celebrates the history, character and lifestyle of this unique location while creating a lasting legacy for future generations."

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&nbsp; 
Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

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