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A former CSIRO property in Highett is set to become one of Melbourne’s largest infill development sites following an anticipated sales campaign. 
Colliers International’s Trent Hobart, Peter Bremner, Hamish Burgess have been appointed on behalf of CSIRO along with transaction manager Urbis, to sell a 9.34 hectare site at 37 Graham Road in Highett.  
“Known as Park Village, this extraordinary development opportunity represents one of Melbourne’s largest and most flexible infill development sites that will capitalise on the Bayside area’s continued growth by delivering pre-eminent park-side residences,” Hobart said.  
“It is a unique and truly unrepeatable offering in a blue chip market, the market has been waiting a long time for this site to become available. It has been a four-year wait for the market’s biggest and best buyers to be given the opportunity to purchase this site. 
“This is the only 93,400 square metres residential development site in a premium south eastern bayside location so we expect all major developers locally, nationally and internationally to have an interest in this sale.” 
 <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/2019/5/7/Mark%20up%201.jpg" alt="">
Home to former CSIRO laboratories, the site will be sold with vacant possession and clear of all building improvements.  
“The site is prominently positioned between the Nepean Highway and Port Phillip Bay, nestled amongst some of Melbourne’s most exclusive suburbs such as Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham,” Bremner said. 
“Park Village at Highett is an increasingly rare large scale, predominantly townhouse opportunity, that is destined to become a world class urban village set in a prime park setting with the future residences surrounded by 4,000 sqm of parkland, situated next to a Highett Shopping including Woolworths and the Highett Train Station.”
The Park Village site is located immediately south of the recently completed full line Woolworths Shopping Centre, 100 metres from the Highett Train Station and positioned within the new generation café and retail strip of Highett Road.
As part of the sale process, the land will be re-zoned upon settlement to Residential Growth Zone and Development Plan Overlay - Schedule 2. Upon settlement, 4 hectares of the site area will be transferred to Bayside Council for public open space and conservation.  
The property is for sale via an International Tender campaign, closing Wednesday 19 June 2019.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Former Highett CSIRO site to be one of Melbourne’s largest infill development sites

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Australian fashion label Saba is the latest addition to Melbourne’s shopping strip Church Street, Brighton.
Fitzroy agent Mark Talbot negotiated the lease for 38 Church Street, located in the prime of the shopping strip, at $130,000 per annum plus outgoings and GST on behalf of a private owner.
“Church Street has retained its reputation as Melbourne’s best-performing retail strip for some time, boasting a strong mix of national retailers and fashion labels, as well as highly regarded local operators,” Talbot said.
Church Street boasts one of the tightest vacancies of Melbourne’s iconic shopping strips.
Fitzroys’ Walk the Strip report showed vacancies were crunched from 2.7% in 2017 to 1.3% in 2018.
“Opportunities for retailers to secure a prized Church Street location are rare and inevitably fiercely contested, reflecting the strip’s constrained supply and positioning within one of Melbourne’s most affluent and established consumer catchments,” Talbot said.
“Church Street’s enviable fundamentals will continue generating a long queue of retailers and operators seeking space in the strip.”
He said Brighton’s trading environment has been further bolstered with the introduction of medium-density residential developments in what is broadly a low-rise suburb, while the suburb is home to a number of highly sought after secondary schools.
Other transactions completed by Talbot in this section of Church Street, Brighton include prominent brands Lee Mathews and Flannel.
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Saba secures Church Street, Brighton store

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An adjoining owner has snapped up a significant office property in Forest Hill for $45.85 million as demand for commercial assets in metropolitan Melbourne continues. 
Colliers International’s Rob Joyes, Peter Bremner and Rachael Clohesy have negotiated the sale of 347-351 Burwood Highway in Forest Hill on behalf of a long-term Sydney based private investor.  
The 2.62 hectare Commercial 1-zoned site, which is home to two office buildings with a combined net lettable area of approximately 10,692 square metres, changed hands on a passing yield of circa 4%. The property was purchased from an offshore investor.  
“This purchase also represents the largest metropolitan office investment to transact so far in 2019,” Bremner said. 
The property was approximately 70% occupied at the time of sale with a weighted average lease expiry of approximately 3.4 years.
“Over the past two years, over $180 million of office investments have transacted within the Tally Ho Business Park precinct,” Joyes said.  
“Office investors are taking a long-term view of the Outer East market with a particular interest in land with existing Zoning flexibility and are anticipating land values will increase significantly in the years to come off the back of State Government investment such as the Suburban Rail Loop and Vicinity’s transformation of The Glen shopping precinct.” 
 <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/2019/5/7/CT_COL_347-351_Burwood_Highway_Forest_Hill_187.jpg" alt="">
The Outer East office market has bounced back after a period of high vacancy, Colliers International said.
Its latest Metro Office Research &amp; Forecast Report states that vacancy is currently at 8.74% in the Outer East, which is below the long-term average of 9.56%. 
“Due to the tightening of vacancy in the City Fringe and Inner East markets, tenants view the Outer East as a more affordable option,” Joyes said. 
Significant recent sales within the precinct include:
<ul>
<li>VicRoads, 12 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East - $25.5 million </li>
<li>Hewlett Packard, 353 Burwood Highway, Forest Hill - $88 million</li>
<li>CFA, 16 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East - $9.6 million </li>
<li>CFA, 8 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East - $18.08 million</li>
</ul>
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Investment continues in Forest Hill with $45.85 million office sale

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The Melbourne accommodation market continues to enjoy buoyancy, according to HTL Property’s latest report.
The research showed strong increases in visitor numbers, aided by attraction to the city via its many international and local sporting events, together with world-class conference facilities, has kept occupancy levels high, and in turn, ADR and RevPAR continue to be elevated.
“Victoria is a highly sought-after accommodation market to invest in, driven by its variety of visitors,” said HTL Property’s Head of Research Vanessa Rader.
“Strong international visitors dominated by the family market enjoy the Melbourne CBD location; while domestic visitors like to travel further out of town in order to explore the natural wonders, as well as the wine regions.
“Melbourne has done much to promote its town and attract visitors; as evidenced by the various sporting events regularly held, together with the growing arts scene the city's attraction as a conference destination, has kept occupancy high and ADR competitive.
“This market has seen some new supply added and will continue to do so over the next few years, which we anticipate will keep these indicators stable.
“While investors (notably offshore buyers) will continue to aggressively contest these assets, keeping investment yields some of the lowest in the country.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/5/7/mel%201.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/2019/5/7/mel%201.jpg" alt="">   HTL Property Director of Asia Pacific Region Andrew Joliffe said demand for accommodation assets remained high, however limited quality stock available to the market had resulted in 2018 recording a record low in sales volumes.
“Sales turnover for 2018 has exceeded $400 million, which is approximately 40% down on 2017 results; and well behind the highs achieved in 2015,” Joliffe said.   “The sale of Pullman on the Park in mid-2018 propping up these volumes, selling for $156 million to iProsperity Group, on a reported yield of 5.50%.   “With Melbourne CBD and surrounds enjoying strong visitor demand, regional activity has historically been limited, typically recorded at less than 5% of the total volume of sales.   “CBD assets continue to be in strong demand, with overseas buyers vying for these assets; the Quincy Hotel (under construction) being the only city hotel selling in 2018 to InterGlobe out of India for $91.3 million, (representing close to $380,000 per room).”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/5/7/mel%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/2019/5/7/mel%202.jpg" alt="">   Jolliffe said interest in accommodation hotel assets across Australia was high, particularly by overseas investors.   “This is at its highest in Melbourne given the strong international visitor numbers as well as domestic visitor attraction; keeping investment yields some of the lowest in Australia,” he said.   “Currently, Victorian yields range from 4.30% to 7.75% with an average of 5.50%, which has compressed by 210 basis points in the last five years   “Offshore activity is high with buyers hotly contesting CBD and suburban assets within a short proximity of the city centre.”
Joliffe said Victoria was the second most visited state in Australia by international visitors behind NSW, while domestic visitors choose Victoria behind NSW and Queensland.   “Tourism forecasts highlight these higher international visitor nights in 2017/2018, reaching 76,629 representing a 7.13% increase over the last year, whereas domestic visitor nights of 65,994 represented just 0.67% improvement,” he said.   “Looking ahead, international visitor nights are forecast to grow on average 7.16% per annum over the next five years, while domestic nights projections are for 2.51% annual growth over the same period.”   Joliffe said recent data from STR illustrated that the Melbourne Accommodation market has been trending slightly behind prior years, albeit ADR had remained steady.   “New stock additions to the market has kept competition high, and put pressure on the occupancy levels and RevPAR,” he said   “The accommodation market is cyclical with the various trends obvious across the Melbourne market.
“High occupancy is enjoyed during three periods throughout the year, February–March, July–August and October–November.   “Most recent data for February 2019 highlights peak occupancy of 89.1% a new monthly high, with ADR recorded at $197.74.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/5/7/mel%203.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/2019/5/7/mel%203.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/5/7/mel%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/2019/5/7/mel%204.jpg" alt="">
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Melbourne accommodation market remains buoyant: HTL Property

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Purplebricks Australia has announced its intention to exit the Australian market.
The decision comes amid the continued advertising campaign for listings by the celebrity builder, Barry Du Bois (below).
Even its revised fixed-fee sales model proved to be problematic for real estate agents, amid the slow down in the housing market.
Vic Darvey, the Purplebricks Group CEO said after much consideration it had "made the difficult decision to close the Australian business."
"We’ve been operating here for two and half years and, unfortunately, we have been unable to make the progress in the Australian market that we’ve wanted, despite the tireless efforts of our employees.
"Our present intention is that, over the next few months, we manage the process of closing down the Australian business in an orderly way, attempting to minimise disruption for both our people and our customers.
<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/2019/5/Du%20Bois.jpg" alt="">
"We will take no further listings in Australia, but intend to engage with our customers to finalise all existing agreements.
"This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but with market conditions becoming increasingly challenging, we do not believe that the prospective returns in Australia are enough to justify continued investment."  
Only last week UBS said the company was<a href="/news/purplebricks-not-likely-to-make-profit-in-australia-until-2022-ubs"> not likely to make money in Australia</a> until 2022.
Last month it was forecasted that Purplebricks would potentially have to close its Australian operations <a href="/news/purplebricks-australian-agency-may-need-to-be-abandoned-to-save-uk-mothership">to save the UK mothership</a>.
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<div class="column">
Michael Bruce, the group's founder and chief executive officer is stepping down from the business with immediate effect.
 In turn, the Board has appointed Vic Darvey, previously Purplebricks’ Chief Operating Officer, to the role of Chief Executive Officer and to the Board of Purplebricks.
Vic joined Purplebricks in January 2019.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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Purplebricks quits Australia after low commission model fails

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<div style="text-align: left;" align="center">Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in March 2019, seasonally adjusted, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures. </div>
Following on the heels of a 0.9 per cent rise in February 2019. Ben Faulkner, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys said, "cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.4 per cent) and Food retailing (0.4 per cent) led the rises with strength in food prices contributing to rises, especially in supermarkets and grocery stores."
"Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (1.2 per cent) and Household goods retailing (0.2 per cent) also rose. The rises were partially offset by falls in Department stores (-1.5 per cent) and Other retailing (-0.4 per cent)". In seasonally adjusted terms, ABS found there were rises in Victoria (0.7 per cent), Queensland (0.6 per cent), New South Wales (0.2 per cent), Tasmania (0.4 per cent), South Australia (0.1 per cent), and the Northern Territory (0.7 per cent). The Australian Capital Territory was relatively unchanged (0.0 per cent) and Western Australia (-0.7 per cent) fell in seasonally adjusted terms in March 2019. The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in March 2019. Compared to March 2018, the trend estimate rose 3.0 per cent.  Online retail turnover contributed 5.7 per cent to total retail turnover in original terms in March 2019. In March 2018 online retail turnover contributed 5.1 per cent to total retail. For the March quarter 2019, there was a fall of 0.1 per cent in seasonally adjusted volume terms.
The quarterly fall in volumes was led by Household goods retailing (-0.6 per cent), and Department stores (-1.2 per cent). Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.0 per cent), Other retailing (0.3 per cent), Food retailing (0.1 per cent), and Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.3 per cent) all rose in seasonally adjusted volume terms.
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Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in March: ABS

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National residential listings decreased by 6.3% in April 2019, according to new figures from SQM Research.
Listings across the country dropped from 354,459 in March to 332,236.
All states experienced a decrease in property sales listings over the month, with Sydney experiencing the highest decrease at 11.1%.
It was followed by Melbourne at 8.9% and Canberra 8.8%. Darwin recorded the lowest decrease at 4.3%.
Compared to a year ago, national listings rose 2.2% with Melbourne recording the biggest increase of 18.2% year-on-year, followed by Canberra at 15.3% increase. Sydney only mustered a 0.7% increase year-on-year.
<table style="width: 454px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="72">
City
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="78">
April 2018 Total
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="85">
March 2019 Total
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="78">
April 2019 Total
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="71">
Monthly change %
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="71">
Yearly change %
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Sydney
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
33,364 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
37,813 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
33,610 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-11.1%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
0.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Melbourne
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
32,378 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
42,001 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
38,277 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-8.9%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
18.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Brisbane
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
30,419 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
33,815 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
31,476 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-6.9%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
3.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Perth
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
26,548 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
28,114 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
26,178 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-6.9%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-1.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Adelaide
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
16,235 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
17,370 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
16,355 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-5.8%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
0.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Canberra
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
3,895 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
4,928 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
4,492 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-8.8%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
15.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Darwin
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
2,089 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
2,047 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
1,960 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-4.3%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-6.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="72">
Hobart
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
2,270 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
2,503 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="78">
2,335 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
-6.7%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="71">
2.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="72">
National
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
325,147 
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
354,459 
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
332,236 
</td>
<td nowrap width="71">
-6.3%
</td>
<td nowrap width="71">
2.2%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Louis Christopher, Managing Director of SQM Research, said it's not uncommon to see the decline due to the holiday month we've just had.
“The decrease is mainly due to the Easter long weekend and ANZAC day public holidays in the month of April which had only 3 weekends of trade compared to March which had 5 weekends," Christopher said.
"That said, I note Sydney listings are now only up by just 0.7% year on year.
"If Sydney listings are starting to peak that could be a sign we are getting closer to the bottom in this downturn.
"However the election could also be having an impact here, with both buyers and sellers waiting until the election is over before making decisions on buying and selling.” 
Asking Prices 
Capital city house asking prices increased marginally by 0.1% but units decreased by 0.6% for the month to 30 April 2019. The average unit asking prices are now $559,900 and houses $908,800. 
Darwin’s unit price had the highest decrease at nearly 10% over the month followed by Hobart with a 5.3% decrease in unit prices. However, Hobart’s house prices saw the highest increase at 1.4% over the month.
Sydney’s house and unit prices each dropped by 0.5% over the month. The average house price in Sydney is now $1,229,100 and a unit is $686,500 – both back to 2016 prices. 
Sydney’s 12 month decline is now 9.3% for houses and 5.8% for units. Melbourne’s house and unit prices also continue to decline over the 12 months to 30 April at 7.1% and 0.1% respectively. 
Perth experienced a marginal growth in house prices of 0.3% but unit prices continue to decline at 0.1%. 
Year-on-year capital city asking prices also posted declines of 6.5% for houses and 3.8% for units.
Hobart continued to show the strongest growth year-on-year for houses with a 7.9% increase but units declined 0.3% over the 12 months.
SQM Research Weekly Asking Prices Index
<div style="text-align: left;" align="center">
<table style="width: 426px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" width="156">
Week ending: 30 Apr 2019
</td>
<td width="64">
Asking Price
</td>
<td width="72">
Change on previous week
</td>
<td width="70">
Rolling month % change
</td>
<td width="64">
12 month % change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=nsw-Sydney&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Sydney</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
1,229.2
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-4.3 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.5% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-9.3% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
686.5
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.7 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.5% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-5.8% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=vic-Melbourne&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Melbourne</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
937.2
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
2.3 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.7% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-7.1% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
543.8
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.8 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-1.3% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-0.1% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=qld-Brisbane&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Brisbane</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
616.7
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
0.1 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.2% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
1.0% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
372.1
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.2 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.9% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-2.4% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=wa-Perth&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Perth</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
667.9
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-1.1 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.3% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-2.9% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
383.3
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.2 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.1% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-4.0% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=sa-Adelaide&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Adelaide</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
512.2
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
0.3 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.3% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
0.6% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
300.3
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-1.0 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.3% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-1.5% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=act-Canberra&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Canberra</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
818.9
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
0.9 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.0% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
3.1% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
421.3
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
0.6 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.2% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
1.0% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=nt-Darwin&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Darwin</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
585.0
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.2 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.2% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-1.4% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
362.5
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-5.8 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-9.9% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-4.8% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=tas-Hobart&amp;type=c&amp;t=1">Hobart</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
515.0
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
5.4 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
1.4% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
7.9% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
304.2
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-2.2 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-5.3% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-0.3% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?national=1&amp;t=1">National</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
566.9
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
0.7 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.3% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-0.4% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
377.0
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.2 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.9% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
0.1% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2">
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?avg=1&amp;t=1">Cap City Average</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
908.8
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-1.9 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
0.1% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-6.5% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="65">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
559.9
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-0.6 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
-0.6% 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
-3.8% 
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Source: <a href="http://www.sqmresearch.com.au/" target="_blank">www.sqmresearch.com.au</a> 
</body></html>

Property listings decreased in April: SQM Research 

<html><body>
There’s something about any holiday break.
It allows people with downtime to pause, reflect, seek feedback from friends and family and then react - and it certainly applies to property market sentiment.
Traditionally everyone returns from their summer break, tanned and feeling refresh, brimming with new-found optimism.
Hence most years – including 2019 – begin with stronger auction success rates than those that had seriously tailed off in the overburden exhaustion and distractions of December.
I can only recall one Christmas break that didn't then see a stronger start for the property market.
Easter is another pause in the sales marketing calendar, which allows the potential buyers and sellers time to reflect.
But that’s where Easter’s similarity to Christmas ends.
It tends to present itself as a rather more unwelcome interruption to marketing campaigns. 
This year's timing was later than many years, so vendors had plenty of opportunity to list ahead.
But there wasn't the typical rush to have properties sold before Easter – no super Saturday – and that might have also been partly because it overlayed with the NSW school holidays meaning vendors and their agent deemed many buyers to be otherwise preoccupied.
The listing market wasn't helped by the encroaching election and the nervousness as to its outcome.
The election will do more than just push listings to Saturdays on either side of election day, May 18.
Many agents reckon what happens after Easter sets the tone for the rest of the year, but this year it will be what happens post-election.
Estate agents have been increasingly complaining of a shortage of stock, but what they really mean is new sellable listings.
After all unsold private treaty stock sits at 26,000 plus houses and apartments, according to CoreLogic.
The consensus is that given that new listings remain a little light on, there’s a good chance of the auction clearance rate remaining at the current level or higher through winter.
But things are very fragile.
Prices are of course down, especially for stale stock, and this pricing revision has finally resonated through to vendor consciousness. Well slightly more than half of them, who are selling under the hammer.
Sydney currently ranks as the nation's strongest capital city auction market, a position it has held since mid February when it took the mantle from Adelaide.
Sydney's preliminary clearance rate also sits higher than this time last year.
But CoreLogic calculates Sydney prices are off in Sydney by close to 14 percent for their peak. That's almost double the national decline, but Sydney did rise by the highest level during the boom, up by around 75 percent. Sydney values are down $125,000. In regional NSW, values have declined by four percent or around $18,000.
And so given the choice many would-be vendors have understandably decided not to list, or do so publicly.
Therefore buyers face limited fresh choices and accordingly auctions prices can still sell at higher that the pre-auction marketing campaign estimate for quality property.
But there are plenty of losers. 
Cameron Kusher at CoreLogic expects the declines to continue over the coming months.
"With advertised stock levels remaining high and mortgage rates tracking around the lowest level since the 1960s (and potentially moving even lower later this year), active buyers are back in the driver’s seat to take advantage of improved housing affordability and the low cost of debt," he says.
 
</body></html>

The election result will set the scene for the remaining 2019 property outlook 

<html><body>
The alleged former Pilbara Ponzi scheme queen, Veronica Macpherson, has returned to establish a new property business, according to the ABC.

Despite being permanently banned from providing financial services, Ms Macpherson is behind a new cooperative enterprise which aims to develop housing for Pilbara workers.

It comes just three years after the collapse of her Macro group of Pilbara property development companies, with the creditors owed more than $285 million.

Her latest venture — the Pilbara Liveable Cities Cooperative — was approved by the WA Government last year, the ABC reported.

She has registered a distributing cooperative, meaning profits are dispensed to members.

Cooperatives are regulated by state governments and not ASIC.

Ms Macpherson told the ABC that the cooperative enterprise would help her deliver her goal of providing liveable cities in the Pilbara. 

"I am supporting a number of developments who can't raise finance," she said.

"Everyone's looking to me for a solution."

An ASIC spokesman said she was not allowed to arrange any investment in a cooperative or provide financial advice on making such an investment. 

ASIC had advised Ms Macpherson of its opinion.

<h2>Ms Macpherson's bankruptcy also prevents her from being involved with managing a cooperative under WA laws.</h2>

Ms Macpherson described it as a social enterprise, involving some people who had been involved with Macro. 

"I will be a member and a service provider — marketing and corporate advisory for the businesses and developers that we support — until such time as my bankruptcy comes to an end," she said. 

She has also suggested to Macro investors that the enterprise could help them get their money back, 'with outstanding interest following in the next twelve months," her newsletter said.

The disclosure statement outlines the membership structure of her cooperative:

<ul>
<li>"Custodians", who provide property development, management and maintenance services, as well as health and wellbeing services for FIFO workers</li>
	<li>"Pioneers", who will use these services, and "Champions", who will fund the services.</li>
	<li>"Custodians" pay $100 a share and have full voting rights, "Pioneers" will pay annual investment fees of between $120 and $12,000 for no voting rights, while "Champions" can buy a Cooperative Capital Unit, a fundraising vehicle, for $1000 and limited voting rights.</li>
</ul>
The ABC went to an Australian expert on cooperatives, Professor Tim Mazzarol of UWA Business School, who said this structure was not in keeping with the spirit of a cooperative.

<div class="inline-content photo right"> </div>

<div class="inline-content photo right">New off-the-plan developments for sale in Western Australia</div>

<div class="inline-content photo right">[smartcode_project:default project_id=7836]</div>

<div class="inline-content photo right">[smartcode_project:default project_id=7854]</div>

<div class="inline-content photo right"> </div>
</body></html>

Alleged former Pilbara Ponzi queen Veronica Macpherson returns

<html><body>
Manly’s Hotel Steyne has been sold.
Sydney's popular northern beaches pub has been bought by Iris Capital founder Sam Arnaout whose said he was "delighted" to have bought the pub.
"We intend to get a good feel for the asset and work with the locals to return their pub to its former glory," Mr Arnaout said.
It was listed for sale in February.
Arnaout said the Steyne positioned Iris Capital as a "genuine hospitality leader in this part of the world, and complements our macro coastal investment strategy in respect of similar landmark projects such as Newcastle's $700 million East End development".
The Steyne will boost Iris Capital's portfolio to 20 pubs across Sydney, including the Grand Hotel, Bondi Junction; Golden Tiger, Hurstville; Gaslight Inn, Darlinghurst and Peden's Hotel in Cessnock.
Iris Capital beat out other contenders by paying between $60 and $80 million for the iconic pub.
Nine Entertainment suggest it was $65 million.
HTL Property would not be drawn on the sale price, however described it as a “record price” in their official statement.
<div class="wp-caption">
The Manly Daily reported the shortlist of five, included two international buyers, two from Sydney and one from interstate.
</div>
It was reduced to a final two.  
The landmark and multi-level beachfront hotel, spread across approximately 2000sqm, was offered by a consortium that comprised businessman John Singleton, hotelier Arthur Laundy and investors Robert Whyte and Mark Carnegie.
They paid about $30 million for the property in 2010, and have reportedly spent about $5 million.
Speaking to the Manly Daily, Mr Laundy said that he was happy with the outcome, both from a sale price perspective and the new buyer.
He said he had bought and sold more than 90 hotels in his almost 60 years as a publican, and Hotel Steyne would easily be in his top 10.
 
</body></html>

Sam Arnaout buys Manly's Hotel Steyne

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

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;

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.

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