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Former Adelaide financial adviser, Robert Pryor Smith, has appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates’ Court after being charged with 27 dishonesty offences.
ASIC alleges that between 14 October 2010 and 12 July 2016, Mr Smith stole approximately $179,600 from a deceased estate of which he was executor, by transferring the money from the estate account to one of his own accounts. The property was jointly owned by the beneficiaries of the estate, who were charitable organisations.
The offences were allegedly committed when Mr Smith was a financial adviser of Futuro Financial Services Pty Ltd (Futuro) and director of Advice 4 Wealth Pty Ltd (A4W), and when Mr Smith and Futuro were authorised representatives of A4W.
Mr Smith appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 7 June 2019. Mr Smith was placed on bail and was remanded to appear in the committal court on 23 July 2019.
Mr Smith faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment for each offence committed prior to May 2012, or 15 years imprisonment for each offence committed after that time.
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is prosecuting the matter following referral of a brief from ASIC.
<h2>Background</h2>
On 8 January 2018, ASIC took administrative action against Mr Smith, permanently banning him from providing financial services, on the basis that he was not of good fame or character.
Smith, of West Lakes, South Australia from providing financial services on the basis that he is not of good fame or character.
Mr Smith was an authorised representative for Futuro Financial Services Pty Ltd (Futuro) from 10 October 2008 to 12 September 2017. Mr Smith is also the sole director of Advice 4 Wealth Pty Ltd (Advice 4 Wealth) which has been an authorised representative for Futuro since 29 September 2008.
An ASIC investigation found that between 29 December 2008 and 12 July 2016, Mr Smith electronically transferred a total of $278,042.58 from the bank account of a deceased estate for which Mr Smith was the Trustee and Executor to bank accounts held in Mr Smith's name, or in the name of Advice 4 Wealth.
ASIC found that Mr Smith's conduct was designed to benefit his own interest and financial needs at the expense of the Estate and the beneficiaries. ASIC also found that Mr Smith's conduct was dishonest and that he made false statements about what happened to the Estate funds.
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Alleged deceased estate theft triggers Adelaide court appearance for Adelaide financial adviser

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A Wangi Wangi, NSW mortgagee home has finally sold after 300 days on the market and two unsuccessful auctions.
The thee bedroom, one bathroom house, originally listed for $499,000, saw six price reductions over the course of the listing down to $369,000.
Bruce Avery of Avery Property Professionals held the listing.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-wangi+wangi-129777710" target="_blank">31 Nunda Road</a>, the property is set on 519 sqm.
The 1980 built house features an in-ground swimming pool, outdoor entertaining deck and a single car garage.
Despite the numerous price reductions on the listing and unsuccessful auctions the property sold for $355,500.
The sale marks a $100,500 price increase on it 2003 sale price of $255,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
The median price for a home in <a href="/developments/wangi-wangi-nsw-2267">Wangi Wangi</a> is $655,000, according to CoreLogic, which calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as 7.4%.
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Wangi Wangi, NSW mortgagee home sold after two unsuccessful auctions

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ME Bank has announced they will be passing on the full RBA rate cut to variable home loan customers.
The announcement comes three days after the <a href="/expert-insights/finance/rba-cut-official-cash-rate-to-a-historic-low-1-25-at-june-2019-meeting">RBA rate decision</a> and comes into effect on 27th June 2019.
On the day of the RBA rate decision all of the Big Four banks as well as a number of smaller lenders announced cuts of varying size.
Both <a href="/expert-insights/finance/nab-joins-cba-in-full-0-25-rate-cut-to-historic-lows">NAB</a> and <a href="/news/cba-announce-full-rate-cut-after-june-rba-meeting">CBA</a> announced they will be passing on the full rate cut. But <a href="/expert-insights/finance/anz-first-to-pass-on-part-of-june-2019-rba-rate-cut">ANZ is only passing on a cut 0.18 basis points</a>, something Treasurer Josh Frydenberg especially disapproved of stating, “I think the ANZ has let down its customers."
<a href="/expert-insights/finance/westpac-to-cut-by-0-2-but-more-for-io-borrowers">Westpac was the last of the big four</a> to announce they were cutting rates, following the RBA's decision they announced their rate cuts late on Tuesday of 0.20 basis points.
ING, the nation’s fifth largest home loan lender chose to pass the full 0.25 per cent cut on to their variable rate customers, effective 25 June 2019.
Popular banks that have yet to announce their intentions include HSBC and AMP.
 
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ME Bank to pass on full RBA rate cut

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LJ Hooker Avnu is set to expand into Sydney’s northern districts with the appointment of Ben Mulae and his team of two associates.
His previous agency was First National which had "archaic" systems for marketing, compliance and client reporting, he suggested.
“I’m excited to have joined Avnu, with its cutting-edge platform that now streamlines and automates much of this so that I can really nurture my client relationships and execute on our sales strategies.”
<div class="b-module module_container b-module_padding_tbr">
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<div id="div-gpt-ad-1500605648928-0" data-google-query-id="CP6h7MLg1OICFZGjaAodTZ4Fmw">
<div id="google_ads_iframe_/50807330/REB_PremiumNewsTile_800x250_0__container__">The Hunters Hill=based Mulae joined LJ Hooker Avnu with his associate agents Angie Wong and Martika Whitfield.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
He said they have been a team for more than four years.
While they will lead the expansion into the Northern Districts, they advise they will be continuing to service clients in Putney, Gladesville, Ryde, Tennyson Point and surrounding suburbs.
Benjamin has been consistently ranked in the top two percent of First National Real Estate Agents across NSW. 
First National is the largest independent real estate network in Australia.
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LJ Hooker Avnu expand further into Sydney’s northern districts

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A Prahran townhouse designed by Travis Walton Architecture is set to go under the hammer on June 15.
It has been offered by Nicole Gleeson and Nicky Rowe with $2.1 million to $2.31 million hopes. 
Designed for a low-maintenance lifestyle, the north-facing townhouse at 1/12 Chatsworth Road has an open plan living and dining zone, kitchen with dolomite benchtops and breakfast bar, and landscaped garden with dining deck. 
<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/2019/6/5/prahran%202.jpg" alt="">
The upstairs comes with main bedroom with a dressing room and covered balcony, two other light-filled fitted bedrooms and main bathroom.
<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/2019/6/5/prahran%204.jpg" alt="">
Additional highlights include ground-floor powder room, European Oak Chevron flooring, track lighting, concrete media unit, and air conditioning plus heating.
Positioned between Hawksburn and Prahran East Villages, it is within a few minutes’ walk to cafes and shops, trams, train stations and other Prahran, Armadale and Hawksburn amenities.
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Travis Walton-designed Prahran trophy home set for auction

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The Geelong region saw 5,595 dwellings sold across the 12 months to February 2019, according to the latest CoreLogic Regional Report. 
Sales across both houses (-14%) and units (-38%) have fallen over the year, although units only accounted for 12% of transactions over that period.
<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/2019/6/5/geelong%201.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/5/geelong%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge: 
<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/2019/6/5/geelong%202.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic
The report notes Geelong home values increased year-on-year, with house values rising by 0.4% and unit values up 5.4% over the same period.
<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/2019/6/5/cairns%203.jpg" alt="">
Click here to enlarge: 
<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/2019/6/5/geelong%204.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic 
Homes across the region are selling faster. The average time on market for houses fell by three days over the year to February, while units are selling 19 days faster over the same period.
Vendor discounting levels remain unchanged for units, while increasing slightly for houses.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/5/cairns%205.jpg" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge: 
<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/2019/6/5/cairns%205.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic
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Geelong house and unit sales activity in decline: CoreLogic

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A group of strata unit owners have joined forces to sell their assets in one line to a Chinese developer for $14.1 million. 
The eight units on the 2,061 square metre landholding at 12-16 Shipley Street in Box Hill have been acquired by a number of families since 1985. 
Savills Australia’s Dorothy He, Benson Zhou and Julian Heatherich brokered the deal.
It was at a rate of $6,841 per square metre.
He said it was rare to be able to market a series of assets in one line. 
“To the vendors, the family memories carry enormous emotional weight, leading them to eventually decide to sell together,” she said. 
“They were able to achieve a greater sale price by selling their units together than they would have if they took them to market individually.”  
He said the purchaser recognised the versatility of the site, which currently provides a flexible income stream as a land-bank prospect and is also one of the final major development opportunities in Box Hill. 
“The buyer, a locally based Chinese developer, realised the upside of a landholding in the Box Hill Activity Centre,” she said. 
“This is a proven development location, with several successful projects either complete or under construction in the immediate area.
“With an adjacent 20-level project under construction, substantial height can be achieved through development (STCA) and there is enormous potential for views of the Box Hill Gardens and Melbourne CBD.”
Savills has previously tipped Box Hill to become Melbourne’s second high-rise CBD, with the City of Whitehorse population forecast to grow to about 22,850 people by 2036. 
“Box Hill is a thriving hub in Melbourne’s east, currently home to more than 12,500 residents,” Zhou said. 
“The suburb is projected to need more than 5,000 new dwellings in the next decade and beyond, in order to accommodate the rising population, which has been a direct result of significant public and private investment into health, education, retail and commercial initiatives in recent years.”
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Eight strata unit vendors band together to sell half-acre Box Hill holding

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) has strongly criticised a Treasury proposal to hike levies on smaller banks while cutting levies for the four major banks.
Treasury is proposing dramatic increases in levies on customer owned banks and smaller listed banks while gifting the big four a $3 million levy reduction (see Treasury table below).
The levies are intended to cover higher regulatory costs for the banking regulator APRA flowing from the Financial Services Royal Commission.
Smaller banks’ levies are sharply ratcheted upwards by more than 25% while major bank levies are reduced.
This makes no sense at all given it was the misconduct of the major banks that has prompted the need to increase resourcing for APRA.
Customer owned banking institutions have not engaged in the misconduct examined by the Royal Commission but now face being forced to ‘pay the price’.
These proposals send a very confusing signal about the Government’s intention to hold the major banks accountable for their conduct.
Major banks already have a head start on their smaller competitors through various aspects of the regulatory framework.
They don’t deserve the extra help of a cut in their APRA levies while their much smaller competitors are hit with huge increases.
Click <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/6/ADI%20Levies.JPG" target="_blank">here</a> to enlarge
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/6/6/ADI%20Levies.JPG" alt="">
I urge the Treasurer to intervene and rule out these grossly unfair increases in APRA levies on COBA member banking institutions.
Regulator industry levies should be set with sensitivity to the cost burden on smaller banking institutions and with more weighting given to the systemic importance and market power of major banks.
The Productivity Commission describes the banking market as ‘an established oligopoly where the four major banks hold substantial market power and this is substantially supported by regulatory settings which contribute to the major banks’ structural advantages.
Sharply increasing levies paid by smaller banking institutions while reducing levies paid by major banks will make a bad situation worse.
MICHAEL LAWRENCE is the CEO of the Customer Owned Banking Association. 
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Unfair tax hike proposed for smaller banks: COBA's Michael Lawrence

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GUEST OBSERVATION
In 2019, <a href="https://www.communitycouncil.com.au/content/australia-we-want-media-release-7-may-2019" target="_blank">The Australia We Want</a> report noted that at least half of Australian women do not feel safe walking alone at night. This is unsurprising given the <a href="https://www.plan.org.au/freetobe" target="_blank">prevalence of sexual harassment</a> and gender violence women manage when moving through cities every day. Women’s avoidance of areas of the city creates a <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-harm-done-sexual-entertainment-districts-make-the-city-a-more-threatening-place-for-women-81091" target="_blank">complex internal geography of exclusion zones</a> and “take extreme care” zones – all in the hope that this vigilance will keep them out of harm’s way.
Protecting women from the violence committed by some men is a priority. So too is recognising that most <a href="https://theconversation.com/gender-makes-a-world-of-difference-for-safety-on-public-transport-80313" target="_blank">cities are gender-blind and disregard women’s needs and experiences</a>.
We need to understand the patterns that exclude women from areas of cities and not defer to the usual responses – brighter lighting, more CCTV cameras and more authority figures. In fact, <a href="http://planfreetobe.org/">our research</a> into unsafe “hotspots” has found young women’s perceptions of urban safety do not correlate with the most brightly lit spaces.
We know that creating safer cities for women requires one fundamental shift: that we <a href="https://theconversation.com/to-design-safer-parks-for-women-city-planners-must-listen-to-their-stories-98317" target="_blank">listen to women’s voices</a>. We need to develop urban strategies and planning policies that draw on women’s experience and expertise as users of city spaces.
What does the research tell us?
<a href="https://www.plan.org.au/" target="_blank">Plan International</a>, the <a href="https://www.monash.edu/mada/research/labs/xyx-lab-monash-space-gender-communication-lab" target="_blank">Monash University XYX Lab</a> and <a href="https://www.arup.com/" target="_blank">ARUP</a> lighting researchers have pooled their expertise to drill down into the stories of young women and analyse the relationship between urban lighting and women’s perceptions of safety.
<a href="https://research.arup.io/story/cities-for-girls">The research </a>struck on some compelling correlations between light levels and unsafe places. Analysing over 80 of the most unsafe “hotspots” identified by women in Melbourne, the research found that high illuminance – or very bright and overlit spaces – does not correlate with young women’s perceptions of urban safety.
This is important information as planners often light spaces to a high <a href="https://www.standards.org.au/standards-catalogue/sa-snz/electrotechnology/lg-002/as-slash-nzs--1158-dot-4-colon-2015" target="_blank">“P” Category</a> (a measure used in urban place-making guidelines) of lighting. It’s assumed this will reduce the risk of crime and increase the feeling of safety.
But our research shows that designing lighting that is positive for women’s urban experience requires more nuance. The findings show that sites with higher light levels are more likely to be perceived as unsafe sites – the average light level across these sites was twice what was measured across safe sites. This is a finding with the potential to radically change a city’s approach to lighting for safety.
The analysis showed that consistent and layered lighting – where there are multiple light sources and where surfaces with different reflective values are taken into consideration – makes women feel most safe. This kind of lighting reduces the “floodlit effect”, the sharp drop-off of light beyond the path, and the potential for glare and contrast to blind and disorientate.
The emphasis on LED lights for their energy efficiency is unquestioned. But in urban lighting they are mostly a higher colour temperature such as 4000K “cool white” and above. This new research challenges the effects of this approach.
Instead of yellowish sodium lighting, women prefer a high-quality LED light that enables them to distinguish shapes and colours. 
ARUP’s research shows the human visual spectrum reacts better to warm light, and the data from young women showed how sensitive they are to cool white light with regard to feeling safe in cities. Spaces with warmer colour temperatures are perceived as safer places.
Looking deeper into the quality of light in our cities, the majority of bad areas had a very large range of colour rendering. The lowest colour rendering came from sodium luminaires that make everything look overly yellow. Women preferred a high-quality LED light that enabled them to distinguish shapes and colour, helping to create a sense of safety.
What does this mean for urban design?
More broadly, the research challenged the assumptions that urban lighting design relies on in general, and the effect it has on the character of our cities at night.
At present, illuminance (the measure of light falling on a surface, or Lux) is the only unit of measurement required to comply with the P Categories of the Australian Standards. Based on the results, it appears other metrics such as luminance (light bouncing off a surface and hitting the observer’s eye) should be considered too. This will ensure the context of material finishes and surface intensity is taken into account for how the eye perceives space.
Through research such as this, we have the knowledge, data and technology to engage women in trialling new ways of co-designing better outcomes for cities after dark. We can use considered urban design as a tool for positive change.
Nicole Kalms, Director of XYX Lab + Associate Professor in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at Monash University, Monash University
This article was co-authored by ARUP VIC/SA lighting leader Tim Hunt. The site analysis was led by ARUP lighting designer Hoa Yang.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/113359/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/more-lighting-alone-does-not-create-safer-cities-look-at-what-research-with-young-women-tells-us-113359" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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More lighting alone does not create safer cities: Nicole Kalms

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Bunbury sales activity has fallen with 2,600 homes sold over the year to February 2019, down 7% from one year ago, according to the latest CoreLogic Regional Report. 
Of the homes that transacted, 91% were houses while just 9% were units, the report noted. 
<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/2019/6/5/bunbury%201.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/5/bunbury%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge:
<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/2019/6/5/bunbury%202.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic
Dwelling values have fallen across the Bunbury region over the 12 months to March 2019 for both houses (-4.1%) and units (-19.5%).
Homes are taking longer to sell when compared to February 2018, with the average time it takes to sell a house increasing by 11 days and the average unit increasing by 10 days.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/6/5/bunbury%203.jpg" alt=""> 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/5/bunbury%204.jpg" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge:
<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/2019/6/5/bunbury%204.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic
Vendors are offering a slightly larger discount to secure a sale for both houses and units.
Across the rental market, the advertised rental rate for houses across the region remains unchanged over the year, while units are $10/week more affordable when compared to March 2018.
<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/2019/6/5/bunbury%205.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic
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Bunbury house rent remains unchanged while dwelling values fall: CoreLogic

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

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