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Liminal, part café, part wine store, part event space, part market place, is set to open in May this year.
It is the latest project from Melbourne hospitality outfit The Mulberry Group.
Liminal will be located on the ground level of 161 Collins Street and is a new direction for the group who sold their signature cafés, Top Paddock, Kettle Black and Higher Ground, in December last year.
Situated Adjacent to the lobby atrium in the art deco T&amp;G Building.
The 400 sqm space was designed by The Stella Collective. .
Executive Chef Martin Webster (Jackalope, Montalto) has created breakfast and lunch menus. 
We’ll be changing them regularly depending on what produce comes through from the market.” says Webster.
The wine store offers customers the opportunity to select a bottle to enjoy in house or pick up one to take home.
Liminal will also feature a private board room.
It will operate Monday – Friday 7am – 6pm.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Mulberry Group's latest Melbourne CBD project Liminal opens May

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There has been a mish-mash of infrastructure charges across Sydney’s growth areas with some of the highest growth areas being hit with big charges and a poor system for determining costs, according to new research from the Property Council of Australi
The research, originally conducted by Elton Consulting and supplemented with recently released population data from the ABS, claims areas of high growth need a better system for funding infrastructure with the charge placed on one dwelling taking up to 27 mortgage repayments to pay off.
“Sydney is growing and needs infrastructure, but we haven’t got the right funding system for delivering it. Currently communities in high growth areas are paying high infrastructure costs on their homes and this is not sustainable or equitable,” Acting Property Council NSW Executive Director William Power said.
“These areas are quickly developing and so there is often a layer cake effect to the charges – some charges coming from the State Government, others from local government – money drawn from multiple sources for much needed infrastructure.
“The blame for this scenario does not lie with any particular level of government, but rather in a lack of focus and line of site of what is being charged, for what infrastructure and for what community outcomes. This is made worse by the fact that some Councils are trying to administer up to 8 different contribution plans.
“At the moment, no one has a complete view of what is being charged and for what outcome across Greater Sydney and this is resulting in higher charges in some areas than others - It needs a rethink, and our recently elected state government needs to tackle this issue as one of their top priorities.”
The Property Council believes the State Government needs to:
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<li>Conduct an audit and create an online record of all infrastructure charges across Sydney</li>
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<li>Create an infrastructure charges calculator that tells the community or industry what the infrastructure charge on each dwelling will be in a suburb.</li>
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<li>Give IPART (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Authority) greater resourcing and remit to review more contribution plans, review and edit the essential infrastructure list and ensure the community is getting the right infarstrcure to support growth from these contributions</li>
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“Planning Reform and infrastructure charges must be the top two priorities for Minister Stokes and thenew Department of Planning and Industry to ensure Sydney is growing well," Mr Power concluded.
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Infrastructure funding for Sydney needs big rethink: Property Council Australia

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The Canterbury League Club, which started life as a small community hall in 1957, has just unveiled its new renovated venue.
Commencing in 2014, the $106 million redevelopment was designed with the goal of creating a 5-star premier hospitality venue, featuring cafés, lounges, bars, restaurants, gourmet food and drinks, entertainment, shows, a play area and a 24 hour health club.
The Club, whose members now number over 62,000 aims to be a ‘gathering place’ for the local community and a true ‘foodie hub’.
Along with two new restaurants, The Bakehouse Café, which is open 24-hours, and The Bistro, which can  seat 700 guests, and Lavico, the traditional Italian eatery, there is also a new bar, The Atrium Bar, 10 levels of underground parking featuring nearly 1,300 parking spaces and a newly created LED lightshow.
All of this is supported by an underground services area, which includes an underground loading dock and production kitchens that feature cutting-edge facilities.
This area also boasts sustainable features including an elevated loading dock, a Wi-Fi connected garbage compactor that can book its own waste pick up and the revolutionary Orca system which can turn waste into water.
The Club is set for more expansion with a hotel and residential apartments set for the top of the Club in the planning.
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Canterbury League Club renovations unveiled

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An owner occupier has purchased the former Westpac bank building in the centre of Lalor’s shopping precinct for $2.455 million.
It marks the latest transaction of a vacant retail asset in Melbourne.
Fitzroys agents Terence Yeh and David Bourke sold 322-324 Station Street following a successful auction campaign that attracted more than 60 enquiries from investors and owner occupiers, with multiple bidders competing at the auction.
Yeh and Bourke acted on behalf of private investors who had bought the property in 1996 for $830,000.
The freehold asset comprises a two-level building of 850 sqm on a 520 sqm landholding that has 12.2 m of frontage to Station Street and 12.5 m to a rear laneway.
“Investors were attracted to the busy shopping precinct’s historically low vacancy rate, while owner occupiers were keen to take the rare chance to secure a strategically located, high-profile building in the heart of this busy shopping precinct,” Yeh said.
“This is a tightly held area of Melbourne, with one property coming to the market every few years.”
Bourke said the local operator is familiar with the location, having operated their business in the area for more than 10 years.
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“Their purchase is a strong vote of confidence in the strength of this precinct and its future prospects,” he said.
Positioned within a major retail hub, neighbouring Coles, Commonwealth Bank, and Lalor Library, the property will benefit from sustained population growth in the surrounds and across the City of Whittlesea.
The sale continues the Melbourne-wide trend of vacant retail properties attracting strong attention from investors and owner occupiers. Fitzroys has just sold 371 Bay Street in Port Melbourne for $1.31 million to an owner occupier, following the agency’s sale of a two-storey Newport Village freehold to a first-time investor for $875,000 and a Harp Village building in Kew East for $1.2 million before auction.
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Fitzroys sold two Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds properties late last year; to a dental clinic and an investor respectively, which followed the sale of the former premises of Brighton icon Wild Holly Cakes on Bay Street for $2.905 million after interest from investors and owner occupiers.
Other recent Fitzroys sales have included a former Commonwealth Bank branch in Keilor, 241 Bridge Road to accounting firm Michael Jensen &amp; Associates, and a High Street building in Thornbury to a local food and beverage operator.
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Owner occupier purchases former Westpac building in Lalor

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Asia Pacific commercial real estate investment markets appeared to run out of momentum in the third quarter of 2018 after two years of very strong growth, with deal volumes sliding in the region’s two largest markets, Real Capital Analytics (RCA) data showed. 
China registered the lowest quarterly level of transactions in five years as it reined in lending to investors and developers. Japan experienced its quietest three months since the Global Financial Crisis a decade ago.
Q3 2018 volumes were down 27% to US$27 billion compared to the same quarter last year, but were saved from a steeper decline by all-time high volumes in South Korea. 
The last time the region recorded a quarterly decline was Q2 2016. Over the 12-months ending Q3 2018, purchases of commercial buildings in APAC totalled US$165.0 billion, a 3% increase from the same period ending Q3 2017, RCA‘s Q3 2018Asia Pacific Capital Trends report showed.
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Petra Blazkova, RCA’s Senior Director of Analytics for Asia Pacific, said: “For the past decade the Asia Pacific real estate investment market has been characterised by rising prices and steady yield compression, enabling capital gains for most players."
"With property yields at historic lows and tighter financing conditions looming, or already encroaching in some markets, activity seems to be shifting into a lower gear as investors determine whether the next stage of the investment cycle is on the horizon.”
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Australian Price Growth Momentum Begins to Ebb<img src="blob:https://www.urban.com.au/ada82210-5607-45c4-a26f-ed2c41437e79" alt="page2image3763824" width="230.529000" height="0.719966">
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After a long run of gains, commercial real estate prices in Australia have logged two successive quarters of decelerating growth. Australian investment volumes over the quarter fell 39% compared to Q3 2017 and over 12-months dipped 1% year-over-year in Q3 2018 to US$26.7 billion (A$37.0 billion), RCA data showed. Deal count declined by 15%, based on 12-month rolling totals.
Offices, while remaining the best performer, started to plateau first, and particularly outside Sydney’scentral business district. The narrowing financing gap has also forced investors to take a pause. RCA’sCommercial Property Price Indices (CPPI) showed Australian commercial real estate prices have risen 82% in the past five years.
Sydney recorded growth in both the retail and industrial sectors for the first nine months of the year, however overall volumes declined by 5%, possibly signaling a market turning point. Average quarterly commercial real estate yields in the city, which move inversely to prices, rose for the first time in three years.
 Yields elsewhere have continued to compress over the past quarter, most notably in Melbourne by 25 basis points and where price rises in Q3 averaged the highest for any major city in the world, RCA data showed.
RCA’s Blazkova observed: “The jury is out on the Australian market following this bout of weakness. High prices are persuading owners to sell, which supports the investment market, but overall momentum appears to be slowing.”
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Melbourne bucks downward trend in Asia Pacific commercial property prices in late 2018: Real Capital Analytics

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Stockland’s third quarter market update highlighted that property group results remain on track for FY19 in what its CEO Mark Steinert said was "a challenging trading environment."
Residential sales for the quarter were 26 per cent below the second quarter and expected to remain weak for calendar year 2019, "with risk to the downside given current challenging market conditions, reduced credit availability and buyer uncertainty due to the upcoming Federal election.
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“We remain on track to complete over 6,000 residential settlements over the full year, with the anticipated settlement skew to the second half, and an operating profit margin over 18 per cent. 
"Cancellation rates have increased moderately on the back of uncertainty created by current market conditions, however default rates have remained stable at around 3 per cent.
“We continue to see demand for our product from our core market of first home buyers and owner-occupiers which make up 50 per cent and 84 per cent of our customer base respectively, as we focus on providing affordable, liveable and sustainable homes in communities connected to infrastructure and jobs.
“Across the country we have reasonable visibility of earnings over the medium term, with over 2,800 contracts on hand for settlement from FY20, but we expect challenging conditions to continue throughout 2019.”
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“We’ve achieved residential settlements and net deposits broadly in line with expectations this quarter, solid retail sales and strong leasing and development activity in our workplace and logistics portfolio.
"This is being countered by weak residential sales and negative retail rent reversions."
It achieved a cumulative $284.5 million of non-core retail town centre divestments, including the recent sale of Stockland Kensington in Queensland.
“We are actively progressing capital partnering opportunities across all sectors represented in our business, through ongoing engagement with a range of potential domestic and international partners," Steinert noted.
Steinert said Stockland have a strong focus on building resilience of income across its national commercial property portfolio.
"We’ve taken a clear view of core and non-core assets, defining our core assets as leading town centres with strong and growing trade areas with limited competition, and where we have the opportunity to enhance the asset to generate sustainable income growth over time.
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“We’ve seen continued solid sales results across our retail town centres, reflecting the success of our remixing strategy and focus on health, services, lifestyle and entertainment to drive foot traffic. Comparable speciality sales are up 3.8 per cent for the year to 31 March 2019 at $9,253 per square metre.
“As flagged at the half, while we continue to experience negative retail income growth, we have a clear focus on stabilising income. 
"We are also rolling out a place making strategy across our portfolio to add value to our community offering and drive more foot traffic into our centres.
During the quarter, it commenced construction of the new $33 million Baringa Town Centre at the Aura community on the Sunshine Coast, 
 
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Stockland reports weak residential sales 

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Trinity College at the University of Melbourne is set to open a new CBD campus at 611 Elizabeth Street.
Stage 1 of PDG’s new 70,000sqm redevelopment project is now 100% leased following this commitment.
Colliers International’s Edward Knowles and Michael Darvell negotiated the new 10-year lease to Trinity College for 9,500sqm in Stage One of PDG’s Elizabeth Street project.
Mr Knowles said Trinity College would share the newly developed site with Melbourne City Toyota in Stage 1 of the 611 Elizabeth Street project, which consists of a 20,000sqm new building.
Situated above the heritage building will sit a new vertical campus, designed by architects Gray Puksand.
The 7,000 sqm site at 611 Elizabeth Street is owned by PDG across Stages 1 and 2.
“It is primed to become Melbourne’s newest education and bio-medical precinct, with three towers offering circa 70,000sqm of commercial buildings due for construction by mid-2022,” Mr Darvell said.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Trinity College in developing its state-of-the-art teaching campus in the heart of Melbourne’s Education and Biomedical Hub,” Sebastian Mahoney, Development Director at PDG, said.
Mr Mahoney said construction is targeted to commence in the coming months.
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Trinity College commit to lease new campus in Melbourne CBD

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Antony Catalano has succeeded in his bid to buy the regional newspaper assets which formerly belonged to Fairfax from its new proprietor, Nine Entertainment.
Australian Community Media's portfolio of 160 regional titles includes The Newcastle Herald, the Illawarra Mercury and The Border Mail. The deal also includes 130 community-based websites with property advertising.
The deal struck is with Catalano and Thorney Investment Group, the ASX listed investment company headed by Alex Waislitz.
It marks a return to the media industry for the former Domain chief executive Antony Catalano.
Nine's redundant regional news business includes regional and community titles such as Horse Deals, Cotton &amp; Grain Outlook, Lotfeeding, Collie Mail, Wee Waa News, the Goondiwindi Advocate, Queensland Country Life, Macleay Valley Happynings (published every Wednesday) and the Dubbo Mailbox Shopper.
There's also The Byron Shire Echo where Catalano has property interests.
Nine retains 59 per cent of Domain.
Hugh Marks, the CEO of Nine, said the sale is in line with their strategy.
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“The sale of ACM is aligned with our strategy to exit non-core businesses and to focus on Nine’s portfolio of high-growth, digital assets," Marks said.
"We will retain a commercial relationship with ACM and look forward to continuing to work with the business in areas where there are mutual benefits to both Nine and ACM.”
Nine has announced cash proceeds from the sale are expected to be around $115 million, of which $10 million will be paid in 12 months.
Nine will also receive up to $10 million of advertising over the three years from completion.
The deal is expected to be completed by June 30.
Nine signalled it would sell the regional titles following its merger with Fairfax Media, which Catalano forlornly attempted to block at the last minute by proposing to buy a 19.9 percent share of the publisher.
Marks also says it’s continuing with talks to sell another two arms of its business, Stuff and Events.
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Antony Catalano gets mini-media comeback through buyout of Nine's regional newspapers

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A four bedroom Melbourne inner city townhouse has hit the market with a price guide between $1.88 to $1.98 million. 
It has been offered by Nikki McCarthy and Kathy Purcell from RT Edgar Hawthorn.
The townhouse at <a href="https://www.rtedgar.com.au/property/774724/22-macquarie-street-prahran/" target="_blank">22 Macquarie Street</a>, Prahran features oversized proportions through a four-level layout including a rooftop terrace with horizon views.
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It comes with three king-sized bedrooms, a private fourth bedroom or office on the ground floor, private balcony, kitchen, and courtyard.
With the advantage garage parking for two cars, the home is within close proximity from transport, parklands and recreation.
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The property last sold in 2015 for $1.53 million.
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Four-level Prahran townhouse with rooftop terrace on the market

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A brand new Leichhardt warehouse designed by architect Petar Danicic has been listed for sale. 
The property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-studio-nsw-leichhardt-130771502" target="_blank">33 Whites Creek Lane</a> was built around an open-air atrium after the property, which was a modest cottage on 350 sqm, traded for $1.12 million in 2007.
Now stands a warehouse with 430 sqm of living space.
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It features recycled ironwood timbers and floors, stainless steel kitchen, wine cellar, adjustable roof and mosaic-tiled baths.
Other features include an oversized walk-in wardrobe, internal-entry garage and a self-contained studio/office with courtyard.
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Chris Nunn and Nick Playfair from Bresic Whitney Estate Agents Glebe.
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Petar Danicic-designed Leichhardt warehouse listed

For most new apartment buildings, the Owners Corporation starts life with little more than a bank account and the first quarterly strata levies.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/9-gay-street-castle-hill-9-gay-street-castle-hill-nsw-2154">9 Gay Street</a> in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a>, it starts with around $7 million in reserve.

It's an unusual legacy of what was once one of Sydney's highest-profile apartment remediation projects. When the development, originally known as Skyview and built by disgraced developer Top Place, came under scrutiny by then NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, an $11 million remediation bond was negotiated to ensure any building defects could be fully rectified.

The building underwent an 18-month remediation program, during which around $4 million of that bond was spent bringing the building up to the standard it should have been in from the outset.

After extensive inspections, all active rectification orders have been lifted. What's more, around $7.2 million remains secured for the Owners Corporation for the next 15 years.

In a twist few would have predicted, what began as a significant concern for purchasers has left the building with something almost unheard of in the apartment market: a multi-million-dollar financial reserve from day one.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359136]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a> Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said the structure offers buyers a level of certainty that is difficult to replicate.

"The $11 million bond established for the Skyview Castle Hill development represents exceptional value, providing genuine financial security for purchasers," Huxley said.

"Unlike a standard insurance policy, this bond consists of real funds held in trust for the Owners Corporation, offering a tangible layer of protection and added peace of mind."

The apartments themselves have been designed with a focus on practical, contemporary living. Interiors feature Smeg appliances, stone benchtops, tiled living areas, carpeted bedrooms, 2.7-metre ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and ducted heating and cooling throughout.

Residents also have access to a range of shared amenities, including two rooftop barbecue areas, a swimming pool, children's playgrounds, secure building access, storage cages, and visitor parking.

The location continues to be one of the project's strongest drawcards. Castle Hill Metro Station sits virtually on the doorstep, providing direct connections across Sydney's expanding Metro network, while Castle Towers offers extensive retail, dining, entertainment, and service amenities within walking distance.

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The building, now named after its location at 9 Gay Street, comprises a diverse mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments starting from just under $600,000.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett said demand in the Hills District continues to be driven by buyers seeking convenience and connectivity.

"Interest from both owner-occupiers and investors in Castle Hill remains exceptionally strong, with buyers consistently prioritising developments in close proximity to the Metro station and Castle Towers Shopping Centre," Hamblett said.

"There is a clear trend in the market, with purchasers seeking convenient access to transport and lifestyle amenities that support a seamless, low-maintenance way of living."

On top of the long-term protection afforded by the remaining $7.2 million bond, Equitifund is offering a limited-time stamp duty rebate on selected apartments.

Eligible purchasers can also secure finance options, including a 3.99 per cent two-year variable rate, loan-to-value ratios of up to 90 per cent, and interest-only lending options through EquitiCredit.

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Joel Robinson

Why this Castle Hill apartment building starts with a $7 million advantage

For much of the past few years, conversations about Australia's property market have centred on the rapid growth seen in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3004">Melbourne</a> has followed a different trajectory.

That relative underperformance is now encouraging some buyers to reassess the city, particularly those willing to look beyond short-term market movements and focus on quality property in established locations, along with the long-term growth prospects of a city expected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous.

John Bekiaris, Research &amp; Market Insights at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Projects by Equitifund</a>, said Melbourne's current position is attracting increasingly sophisticated purchasers.

"Melbourne continues to present one of Australia's strongest long-term investment stories," Bekiaris says.

"While other capital cities have experienced stronger recent growth, that relative underperformance is exactly what's attracting sophisticated counter-cyclical investors."

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Equitifund isn't just commenting on Melbourne's property market, it's investing in it.

The Sydney-headquartered capital partner has taken over the remaining apartments at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/victoriana-melbourne-20-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">Victoriana</a>, the recently completed glass-encased development opposite Albert Park Lake in Melbourne's tightly held St Kilda Road precinct.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hickory">Hickory</a>, Victoriana places residents between one of Melbourne's most recognised parklands and the CBD, offering oversized two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at owner-occupiers seeking a genuine alternative to a traditional family home.

The development comprises 232 completed residences alongside a suite of resident amenities, including a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, landscaped entertaining areas, resident lounges, EV charging, secure basement parking and a concierge-style arrival experience.

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The apartments have been designed with owner-occupiers firmly in mind.&nbsp;Open-plan living and dining areas flow onto generous balconies framing views across Albert Park Lake, Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne skyline.

Kitchens feature Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and generous preparation space. Bedrooms include built-in robes, while bathrooms feature full-height textured tiling. Hardwood flooring and ducted air conditioning complete residences designed for long-term living.

Rothelowman's architecture takes its cues from the landscape opposite the site. Sweeping horizontal glazing references the movement of Albert Park Lake, while generous balconies and expansive glazing strengthen the connection between the apartments and the surrounding parklands. The result is a building designed to deliver the scale and amenity expected of luxury apartment living, while offering the larger floorplans increasingly sought by owner-occupiers.

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The location is one of Victoriana's defining characteristics. Positioned on Queens Road, residents are directly opposite Albert Park Lake and within easy reach of Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, South Melbourne, St Kilda Road and the CBD. With few comparable development opportunities remaining in the precinct, buyers are increasingly placing value on outlooks that are unlikely to be interrupted by future construction.

Greg Huxley, Founder of Equitifund, believes those qualities become even more valuable over time.

"Premium real estate has always rewarded buyers who take a long-term view," Huxley said.

"Victoriana represents the kind of asset that's increasingly difficult to recreate today, particularly in an established location like Queens Road."

He said rising construction costs are also changing the way buyers assess completed developments.

"When you combine an irreplaceable location with thoughtful architecture and premium finishes, you create something that becomes increasingly difficult to reproduce as construction costs continue to rise."

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According to National Sales Director Ben Hamblett, enquiry has been driven largely by Melbourne downsizers and buyers upgrading from smaller apartments.

"Interest in Victoriana continues to build, with strong buyer focus on the larger owner-occupier residences within the development," Hamblett says.

"Enquiry is increasingly driven by local buyers who recognise the rarity of what's on offer: park-facing apartments in an established neighbourhood where new development opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. At Victoriana, the view is not just a feature; it's an appreciating asset in its own right."

He said interstate enquiry has also strengthened as buyers reassess Melbourne's position within the national property cycle.

"Melbourne currently stands as the most compelling entry point of any major Australian capital, and discerning buyers are beginning to recognise what those who move early always understand: the best opportunities are taken before the price rise confirms them."

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Why now is the time to buy in Melbourne's premium apartment market

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

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Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

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Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

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Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

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Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

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Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

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Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

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Staff reporter

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