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With the imminent return of SeaChange to television, Barwon Heads could be back in the spotlight if the Channel Nine series films again in the coastal Victorian location. 
Some property commentators have calculated Barwon Heads prices have outdone Melbourne's during the intervening two decades.
One recent sale was the holiday rental home known as Cottesloe Beach Shack for $900,000 to Northcote buyers, showing sizeable price growth. 
The cute Cottesloe Drive cottage last traded at $500,050 in 2010 when bought by a Richmond couple whose saw its rental income jump to over $50,000 a year.
It sold at $275,000 in 2004 and before that in 1971 at $1100. It once featured on Channel Nine's Postcards, albeit with Glen Moriarty, not Bec Judd, singing its praises.
Nestled within native landscaped garden, the main home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the main eco-ply designed.
An open plan living and dining area that adjoins the galley-style kitchen opens to the front deck and garden.
There is a one bedroom bungalow tucked away in the topiary.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/12/15/cott2.jpg" alt="">
The backyard features a fire put, raised veggie patch, fruit trees, sandpit and manicured garden beds. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Barwon Heads beach shack sold for $900,000

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Australian owned Property Bay Pty Ltd has signed purchase contracts to create a world class eco-resort and tourist destination on Dunk Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
The asset backed unit token project will start with an initial US$110 million capital raise, which will in-part be funded by crypto currency, with construction commencing in the first quarter of 2019 on a glamping site, 5-star hotel, swimming pools and other amenities.
The IM (Information Memorandum) is available by application.
Named by Captain Cook in 1770 after the First Lord of the Admiralty and First Earl of Sandwich George Montagu Dunk.
The Island is a pristine tropical Great Barrier Reef island situated 4km off the coast of tropical north Queensland near Mission Beach and is known as “The Island of Peace and Plenty”.
It’s also famous for its restorative qualities due to former journalist and Senior Editor of the Townsville Bulletin Edmund James Banfield moving there in 1897 after being told he had 6 months to live. Banfield lived and wrote there, extending his life by 26 years before eventually dying in 1926.
“Dunk Island, and surrounding palm-fringed Mission Beach is an incredibly idyllic area, where rainforest meets reef – with this project we intend to bring significant tourism, and in turn jobs, to the local community.” says Tim Sommers spokesman and Co-Founder of Property Bay. “ 
The Dunk Island project will be a global first with technology and eco-tourism the primary drivers.
The aim is a zero-carbon footprint with Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, self-driving buggies and related tech underpinning the environment, Sommers said.
"The Island economy will be entirely driven through a utility token model that not only will be exchanged for goods and services, but will also reward customers for their energy footprint."
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Cryptocurrency funded Dunk Island restoration plans announced

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The Bondi Junction hotel leasehold has been listed for sale.
Set on the site of the former Mill Hill Hotel (pictured above), it is located within walking distance of Westfield Shopping Centre and the Bondi Junction Transport Interchange.
The allotment for the <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-hotel+leisure-nsw-bondi+junction-502939378" target="_blank">59-69 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction</a> property (pictured below) is due for completion in 2019. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/10/24/Freehold%20BJ.JPG" alt="">
With a proposed internal floor area of 408 sqm and 10 serviced apartments located on the first floor, it is located just 4 km from Bondi Beach.
The property has been on the market for over 450 days and was listed just 5 months after the purchase was settled in early 2017.
The holding was sold for $20 million in 2017.
It is for sale through an expression of interest campaign run by HTL property.
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Leasehold hotel in Bondi Junction for sale

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The number of properties that sell within a given year accounts for a very small portion of the overall market and has trended even lower over recent years. Over the 12 months to July 2018, 4.6 per cent of national dwellings transacted, down from 5.3 per cent a year ago. 
The more pronounced decline in turnover rates over the year to July is hardly a surprise given current market conditions, with dwelling values softening each month now for the past 12 months; coupled with the lowest levels of new stock being added to the market seen since 2012 over the past 6 months, as confidence wanes and homes take longer to sell. However, the long term trend can be attributable to a variety of factors and will differ between each of the regions. 
Housing affordability has likely had a large impact on the broader downward trend in turnover rates, where the likes of Sydney and Melbourne would have weighed heavily, given the high growth seen across these larger markets relative to only mild growth in household incomes. Fifteen years ago the dwelling price to income ratio as a national figure showed that dwelling prices were 5.1 times as high as the gross household income, while recent data shows this has increased to 6.8. In Sydney and Melbourne, where affordability has been a challenge for prospective buyers for some time, the price to income ratio sits at 9.1 and 8.1 respectively. In turn, what can been seen as housing has become less affordable across some capital city markets, regional areas have benefitted from the flow-on effect for being the more affordable option.
In addition, the high transactional cost to both purchase and sell property has likely added a further barrier to housing market participation. From the sell side there are marketing costs, agent fees and commission, legal costs and potentially some costs associated with getting the property ready to present to market. From the buy side, stamp duty costs as percentage of the purchase price are a major barrier to entry, especially in the more expensive markets as well as the costs associated with building and pest inspections and conveyancing.  
More recently, credit rationing has provided an additional dampening effect on housing activity.
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2018-10/20181018_turnover_regional_vs_capital_city.jpg" alt="CoreLogic Turnover regional vs capital city" width="2016" height="1389">
Given the potential differences across each market, the analysis takes a look at turnover across each of the state’s capital city and non-capital city regions, including the top 5 council area’s across each state where the largest proportion of dwellings sold over the year.
Over the 12 months to July, 4 out of 7 of the rest of state regions recorded a higher level of turnover compared to their capital city counterpart. This was most prevalent across NSW, where Australia’s most expensive property market of Sydney saw a turnover rate of 4.1%, while outside of the metro area, turnover was at a considerably higher level with 5.6% of the market transacting over the year. 
The regional area of Tasmania saw the highest level of turnover of all regions with 6.1% of total dwelling turnover, while the lowest turnover levels were in WA (Perth 3.3%, Rest of WA 3.3%) and Darwin (3.5%).  Unsurprisingly, regional Tasmania has been one of the strongest housing markets for capital gains, with values up 8.1% over the past twelve months, while areas of Western Australia and Darwin have been amongst the weakest markets with dwelling values down materially since peaking in 2014.
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2018-10/20181018_turnover_by_state.jpg" alt="CoreLogic Turnover by state" width="2600" height="1278">
<h3>Top 5 Council Regions by State – Highest Turnover </h3>
All top 5 NSW council regions with the highest rate of turnover were in non-capital city regions, topping the list with 8.5% of housing stock transacting over the year was Tumbarumba, followed by Dungog where 7.9% of total dwellings sold over the 12 months to July 18. Coming in equal third place was Upper Lachlan Shire and Palerang with a turnover rate of 7.7%. It should be noted that these regions all have shallow overall stock levels, with less than 5,000 dwellings across each of these council areas. 
3 of the 5 NT council regions were in the Greater Darwin capital city region, although it was regional Alice Springs that recorded the highest rate of yearly turnover with 4.9% of dwellings transacting over the 12 months to July 18. Katherine, located outside of the main capital city region was next on the list with a 4.0% rate of turnover. The remaining 3 capital city regions making up the top list all saw less than 4% of housing stock sell over the year, with NT council regions showing the lowest turnover rates out of the national list.
Regional area’s dominated the top 5 list in QLD; comprising mostly of lifestyle coastal regions where dwelling values have been rising over the last 12 months. Noosa saw the largest proportion of housing turnover over the 12 months to July 18 (7.4%), while further south on the Gold Coast, 7.2% of housing sold over the same period, however the Gold Coast council area covers a much larger geography with over 253,045 dwellings in the region. The Sunshine Coast where housing stock is also considerably higher saw a 6.9% rate of turnover over the year, while 6.3% of total dwellings transacted in both Gympie and Douglas.
4 out of 5 of the SA council regions were in regional areas of the state. Robe had the highest turnover at 7.2%, followed by Mount Gambier (6.7%) and Victor Harbor (6.6%).  While Alexandrina saw 6.2% of dwellings sell over the year, which was slightly lower the capital city region of Campbelltown (6.3%). 
Latrobe in regional Tasmania came in with the highest level of turnover over the year, with 7.4% of total dwellings transacting. The remaining 4 regions came in equal 2nd place with 7.3% of total housing turnover over the 12 months of July, this was across both capital city and regional areas of the state.
In VIC, the top 2 council regions with the highest turnover were in the main capital city region, where Wyndham saw 6.3% of properties sell over the year, followed by Cardinia with a turnover rate of 6.2%. The remaining 3 council regions making the highest turnover list were all in regional VIC, where Latrobe and Baw Baw both recorded a rate of turnover at 6%, while the Bass Coast saw 5.9% of dwellings sell over the 12 months to July 18.
Interestingly, WA’s top turnover area’s over the year were in the mining regions of Port Hedland, Karratha and East Pilbara, given values across these regions saw considerable declines coming out of the mining boom 10 years ago, resulting in less housing turnover; recent years have seen transaction levels increase and declines in the region ease. The capital city areas of Mandurah and Claremont were also on the list where 4.1% and 4.0% of dwellings transacted over the year respectively.
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2018-10/20181018_highest_turnover_rates.jpg" alt="CoreLogic Highest Turnover Rates" width="767" height="1205"> 
Analysis includes council region data count of total sales as a percentage over total dwellings over the 12 months to July 2018. Suburbs with less than 1000 total dwellings excluded from the analysis.
Jade Harling is a Research Analyst for CoreLogic
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Regional Australia records highest turnover ratio this year: CoreLogic

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Wollongong was in the bottom three when it came to clearance rates at auction this weekend, with a rate of just 38 percent.
Around 32 properties went to auction in Wollongong, however, only 10 sold of the 26 confirmed results.
Overall, auction activity picked up over the week with 2,119 homes taken to auction.
There was an increase in auction volumes over the week with 2,119 homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities, up from 1,851 over the previous week although lower than this time last year (2,519).
Preliminary results show a clearance rate of 49.8 per cent across the combined capital cities, up from 47.0 per cent last week, however much lower than 12 months ago (64.7 per cent), marking the 4th consecutive week where the clearance rate has been below 50 per cent.
Properties caught up in low clearance rate in Wollongong included <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-nsw-wollongong-129269514" target="_blank">11/3 New Dapto Road, Wollongong</a>  (pictured above) which did not sell.
The three bedroom two bathroom townhouse set over two story's features a double lock up garage.
With a price guide of $725,000 to $750,000, the 224 sqm home last sold in 2002 for $365,000.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/10/22/Wool%202.JPG" alt="">
Another home that didn't succeed was <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-balgownie-129423138">21 New Mount Pleasant Rd, Balgownie</a> (pictured above).
Set on 980 sqm the four bedroom two bathroom home features a wraparound balcony.
The price guide for the home was $1,050,000 to $1,150,000.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/10/22/Wool%203.JPG" alt="">
However a home that did manage to sell in Wollongong is <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-figtree-129435162" target="_blank">14 Camden Grove, Figtree</a> (pictured above).
The four bedroom two bathroom hope is close to the Wollongong CBD.
Last sold in $705,000 for 2016 the home sold for $750,000, showing some price growth.
This was an appreciation of 3.14% annually.
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Wollongong's 38 percent weekend auction clearance rates

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
Westpac’s forecast for the September quarter headline CPI is 0.5%qtr which will see the annual pace ease to 2.0%yr from 2.1%yr.
Westpac’s forecast leaves the two quarter annualised pace at 1.6%yr.
The September quarter is a seasonally strong quarter with the ABS projecting a seasonal factor of +0.30ppt. However, this is larger than the average of the June quarter seasonal factor for the previous two years (average 0.27ppt) so there is a risk that this estimate will be revised downward.
Core inflation is forecast to print 0.3%qtr (0.31% at two decimal places) seeing the annual pace ease to 1.8%yr from 1.9%yr. The trimmed mean AND weighted median are both forecast to rise 0.31%.
The two quarter annualised pace of core inflation eases back to 1.5%yr from 2.0%yr putting inflation momentum below the RBA’s target band.
We have lifted our Q3 forecast (it was 0.3%qtr) due to rising petrol prices (impact is set to be even larger in the December quarter) plus the impact of drought on fresh fruit, lamb and cereal product prices (beef prices have been falling as cattle have been sold).
We have also made a small allowance for the introduction of GST on imported goods worth less than $1,000.
The big unknown this quarter is the impact of changes to childcare rebates. Back in 2007 and 2008 increases in rebates saw childcare prices fall between 20% and 30% each year.
This time the impact appears to be somewhat less but we have not found a way to confidently estimate it. Our -7% forecast is our “best guess” with the limited information. 
Traded prices are forecast to rise 1.2% in the quarter to be up 1.8%yr, while non-traded prices are forecast to rise 0.1%qtr/2.0%yr due to moderating housing costs moderate and falling childcare.
Core inflation remains below the bottom of the RBA target band due moderating housing costs.
Overlay a competitive deflationary cycle in consumer goods and it makes it hard to see core inflation breaking much higher.
Market forecasters over estimated the quarterly change in the CPI for the last seven quarters by an average of +0.14ppt. Will they do it again making it two consecutive years of overestimating inflation?
Justin Smirk is a Senior Economist for Westpac
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Westpac's Australian Q3 CPI forecast: Justin Smirk

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The AFR columnist Christopher Joye has speculated the affluent Wentworth voters "might inflict massive financial losses on themselves in what is one of Australia's most investment-orientated electorates."
He was suggesting the electorate was playing dice with a Labor government and its housing policies as potentially detrimental. 
Joye noted, according to the last census, the proportion of investment properties in Wentworth is 42 per cent higher than the national average (specifically, 44 per cent versus 31 per cent of all homes).
In addition to being an electorate of landlords, there is an unusually large number of renters in Wentworth, some of whom who might welcome Aussie house prices falling 10 per cent to 15 per cent, which is "base case before factoring in Labor's policies."
Joye noted RiskWise Property Research predicts that if Labor comes to power at the next Federal Election, the situation will get much worse with house prices slumping a further 9 per cent in Sydney and Melbourne as a result of its policies to eliminate negative gearing and hike capital gains tax (CGT) by 50 per cent for anyone who holds assets for 12 months or more.
"Extensive RiskWise modelling shows that, nationally, dwelling prices would fall nine to 12 per cent should the proposed changes to tax legislation be voted through," the RiskWise authors concluded.
The report found that Labor's proposal to eliminate negative gearing would be equivalent to a 23 per cent increase in interest repayments for a new property investor, lifting theeffective annual mortgage rate from 5.10 to 6.25 per cent.
The 50 per cent increase in CGT further reduces the net present value of a property by two percentage points assuming an historically low 4 per cent rate of annual capital gains. 
Joye wrote the timing of Labor's policies could not be worse with the banking royal commission having wiped $42 billion off the value of the major banks - hammering super funds' equity portfolios - while limiting borrowers' access to credit.
"Even though Australian lenders have consistently maintained among the lowest mortgage default rates in the world, they are rationing credit to home owners because they are worried about breaching Labor's byzantine responsible lending laws, which have entangled the royal commission's activists.
"This is intensifying the correction in the housing market, which after appreciating almost 50 per cent since March 2012 has given back 4 per cent to 5 per cent of its value since October 2017 (and more than 7 per cent in Sydney).
"And with record numbers of apartments in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane still under construction, this pain is only likely to worsen."
Joye concluded that "the silver lining is that the bursting of the housing bubble blown by the RBA's ultra-cheap monetary policy has coincided with an economic boom fuelled by a highly competitive exchange rate and elevated commodity prices."
 
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Off-the-plan settlement sales price pain to worsen: Christopher Joye

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In the town of Port Hedland, a three bedroom house has been sold by mortgagees for $425,000.
The Western Australian house had last sold at $965,000 in 2008. 
Situated at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-wa-port+hedland-128371350" target="_blank"> 6 Sutherland Street, Port Hedland</a>, the oceanfront reserve home comes with three bedrooms, spacious living area, modern bath, and multiple sheds.
It is located only a short stroll to The Yacht club, the beach, and St Cecilia's Primary School.
It is adjacent to the Spoil Bank Recreation Reserve.
The town's median house price sits at $395,000, according to CoreLogic. 
It was sold by Victoria Thoegersen and Jim Henneberry from Property Shop. 
 
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Oceanfront reserve Port Hedland house sold for half a million loss by mortgagees

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A Cape Jervis four bedroom house sitting on a 2 ha allotment has been sold for $385,000 by mortgagees.
It was sold by Zackary Gawley and Jeff Copley from First National Copley. 
Built in 1985, the South Australian home situated at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-cape+jervis-128931166" target="_blank"> 18 Flinders Drive, Cape Jervis</a> comes with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two main sheds.
Other features include views over the ocean and large undercover entertainment area. 
It last traded at $370,000 in 2005. 
 
 
 
 
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Four bedroom Cape Jervis house sold by mortgagees

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A four bedroom two bathroom Point Cook, VIC home sold for $568,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-point+cook-129314750" target="_blank">19 Seacoast Street, Point Cook</a> it is minutes from Point Cook Coastal Park. 
The single level home was marketed by LJ hooker.
Featuring a modern kitchen and formal lounge room, the home is set on 400 sqm.
Located in the master-planned Saltwater Coast Estate the home first sold for $279,000 in 2013.
The home has been listed for rent between $360 and $370 a week since its purchase in 2013.
The median house price for Point Cook is $647,000 according to CoreLogic.
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Four bedroom Point Cook home sold by mortgagees

One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

&nbsp;

FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

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