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A number of Sydney developers are leading the move towards urban greening.
The Urban Taskforce recently had a forum on ‘Urban Greening’ and this has led to a publication with examples of greenery being incorporated into buildings.
The Central Park project by Frasers Property and Sekisui House is an excellent example of green landscape being incorporated into the façade of a 33 storey apartment building in a manner that responds to the seasons. 
As well as the integration of landscape and building the site includes a significant amount of public parkland and water features.
The One Sydney Park project by HPG also incorporates landscape gardens into the building façade in a design that blends with the adjacent Sydney Park.
 Also at an early design stage is the Crown Group’s apartment building in Alexandria which steps down to the street level with terraces that will be landscaped with mature trees.
There is clearly a move in the development industry to softening urban buildings through parklands, greenery on balconies and roof gardens.
The suburban ideal of a landscaped garden city is beginning to be reinterpreted at the scale of apartment buildings.
<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/2018/6/1/urban%20ideas%20.jpg" alt="">The trend also reflects the NSW Government’s approach to encouraging more urban landscape through the ‘Greener Places’ publication and the allocation of $290 million to a green infrastructure program that includes an aim to lift Sydney’s tree canopy from 16% to 40%.
Projects like the ‘Gardens of Auburn’ by developers LFD propose to incorporate 4,300 square metres of gardens and parklands and the DaniasGroup have generated a ‘Green Heart’ in a creative industry proposal in Marrickville. 
All of these proposals are contained in the Urban Ideas issue on ‘Urban Greening’ (seen here). 
The Urban Taskforce is supportive of the NSW Government approach to increasing greenery as Sydney increases its density and we will continue to profile good examples.
CHRIS JOHNSON is the Urban Taskforce CEO.
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Development industry leading in Greening Cities

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<div style="text-align: left;">ServiceSeeking has pinpointed their website's top tradie, a Melbourne builder specialising in property maintenance, renovations, demolitions and fit-outs, who brought home over $372,000 in FY18.   He made more than many top earning doctors and lawyers, based on the latest median income stats from the ATO.    The top 10 tradies on ServiceSeeking took home a combined $1.2 million over the last financial year.    <img src="https://d15k2d11r6t6rl.cloudfront.net/public/users/Integrators/929cb090-e779-401a-b06c-c629ff6b0fea/ap-serviceseeking2/Top%20Tradie%20v%20Median%20Income_1.png" alt="Image" width="733" height="432" data-imagetype="External">   Australia wide, removalists enjoyed the highest charge out rates in FY18 versus FY17 while handymen were the biggest mover in terms of percentage change, with an increase in charge out rates of 11.97%.    <img src="https://d15k2d11r6t6rl.cloudfront.net/public/users/Integrators/929cb090-e779-401a-b06c-c629ff6b0fea/ap-serviceseeking2/AUS%20wide.png" alt="Image" width="718" height="410" data-imagetype="External">
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 NSW removalists have been awarded the title of Australia’s Richest Trade Profession for 2018.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Builders from Queensland increased their prices by the largest percentage this financial year, 32.73% with the national rate sitting at $88.63/hr.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">This pushes them into the top 10, coming in at 6th place. The survey noted overall the Tradie Rich List for 2018 consists of only a few industries that are characterised by onerous licensing regimes or high start up costs (removalists for example are running expensive work vehicles and paying high insurance premiums). </div>
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<div>In FY18, hourly rates grew faster than the year prior by 1.78%, hourly charge out rate growth in FY18 was 5.78% compared to 4% in FY17.   This rise in hourly rates also greatly exceeded the recently published CPI figures of 0.4%. South Australia saw the greatest rise in rates at 8.57% while Victoria was the only state to post negative growth at -1.94%.   <img src="https://d15k2d11r6t6rl.cloudfront.net/public/users/Integrators/929cb090-e779-401a-b06c-c629ff6b0fea/ap-serviceseeking2/State%20Growth%20Rates%20FY18.png" alt="Image" width="685" height="452" data-imagetype="External">  </div>
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Removalists earn the highest hourly rate among Australia's Tradie Rich List

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California, a 14 room boarding house fronting the busy Flinders Street in Darlinghurst, was passed in at auction last night at $3,975,000.
Refurbished since it last traded for $1,845,000 in 2010, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-other-nsw-darlinghurst-128628702" target="_blank">60 Flinders Street</a> (pictured below) on 190 sqm has three levels at the front and two at the rear.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/18/DARLINGHURST.JPG" alt="">
Currently it yields around $323,000 gross annual revenue.
It sits near Taylor Square, Oxford Street, Surry Hills and Moore Park, with two street frontages to Flinders and Chisholm Streets.
The 14 rooms are currently made up of nine double studios, eight fully self-contained with their own ensuites, and five single units all with kitchenettes. They share three bathrooms.
There's an undercover communal courtyard with custom timber seating and barbecue facilities and an on-site coin-operated laundry.
It is being sold as a going concern, with all furnishings and inventory included in the sale.
Dominic D'Ettorre at D'ettorre Real Estate was marketing the property in conjunction with McGees Property agent John Grujovski.
They suggest its a fusion of modern design and classic features.
The vendor of California has listed the <a href="/expert-insights/investing/two-paddington-terrace-boarding-house-listed">Paddington boarding house Belle Vue</a> (pictured above) which was passed in at $5.15 million when offered at Cooley Auctions.
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14 room California, Darlinghurst boarding house passed in at $3.975 million

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An 1870s Portarlington guesthouse has been sold for $822,100.
Homebuyers and developers had expressed interest in the 1872 Mulane Cottage with the local paper advising it was bought by a home buyer.
It sits on a 1,009 sqm block at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-portarlington-128502110" target="_blank">64 Stevens Street</a>.
It has been listed by Bellarine Property’s Ange Callan-Harris who noted the potential of the Residential Growth 3 zoning.
There’s no heritage overlay with subdivision a prospect for some of the 40 inquiries. 
There had been 25 inspections over about three weeks.
Its price hopes were put as from $740,000 to $810,000.
Set in cottage gardens behind picket fencing, the weatherboard was built by Joseph Mulane.
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Portarlington Airbnb guesthouse sold

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The Kingsdale Winery, which offers a combination and lifestyle and income with potential for further development, has been listed for sale at $2.2 million.
The Goulburn property has been offered for the first time since its establishment in 2002 by Helen Cheetham from Tronn Alstergren Real Estate.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-nsw-goulburn-7872710" target="_blank">Located at 745 Crookwell Rd</a>, there are 3ha of vines planted on a grazing block of 37ha.
Its grape varieties include Shiraz, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chardonnay.
The wines are vintaged in a purpose-built winery with a capacity of 25 tonne and the wines consistently win medals at wine shows.
The house features four bedrooms, cellar door, and 10kw of solar panel. 
<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/2018/7/16/goulburn%202.jpg" alt="">
Other highlights include a set of cattle yards, rainwater tanks, and dams. 
The wines are sold at the better restaurants in Goulburn. 
There is potential to increase sales by marketing further afield.
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Goulburn winery listed for $2.2 million

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Suncorp have announced that 80 Ann Street has been selected as the site for the company’s new single location in Brisbane from 2022. 
The move will consolidate Suncorp’s Brisbane workforce into a single, modern and collaborative workplace.
The decision follows similar office consolidation projects in Sydney, Auckland and Melbourne.
The Sydney project delivered close to a 30% saving in cost and space efficiency. 
Suncorp CEO Michael Cameron said the new workplace will reflect Suncorp’s Queensland heritage. 
“I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of the other developers who have participated in this process,” Mr Cameron said. 
<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/2018/7/16/image009.jpg" alt=""> 
Mirvac’s CEO Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, commented that 80 Ann Street was purpose-built for Suncorp and aligns to Brisbane City Council’s ‘Buildings that Breathe’ principles for sub-tropical architecture, while re-invigorating an historic part of the city.
"We look forward to working with the Suncorp design team to create a workplace that supports the needs of their company and the community.” 
Suncorp will occupy the new $800 million tower by September 2022, subject to Mirvac finalising the land acquisition.
Designed by Woods Bagot, the premium 32-storey development at 80 Ann Street will provide Suncorp with close to 40,000 m2 of office space. 
Director and global workplace architecture leader, Mark Damant, describes the project as more like a new city precinct than a singular building, made up of many diverse places.
Spanning an entire block between Ann and Turbot streets, the development will help connect the CBD to the Roma Street precinct, the two courts buildings and surrounding plazas and squares to make a distinctive precinct of its own with an unprecedented civic and retail offering, Damant said.
The design returns the last remaining piece of Brisbane’s oldest surviving fruit and produce market on Turbot Street back into the city fabric, and – with its overwhelmingly public and porous ground floors – will act as a catalyst to the upcoming Brisbane Live precinct and the development of the north west quarter of the CBD around the Roma Street Station.
Damant describes the very flexible, large floorplates, with wide structural spans, minimal internal columns and amazing access to daylight and views as “dream floorplates”.
Providing a large continuous space on each level, the floorplates are linked with stairs and atria that create larger interconnected communities all the way up the Suncorp tenancy.
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“This is also a mixed mode building in the true sense with arrival spaces connected to the outside via louvered and openable facades. With terraces and balconies available to each community within the tower Suncorp’s people will be able to step outside at every third level, without having to go all the way down to the ground. 
“There will be an abundance of natural daylight and fresh air for optimum workplace wellbeing and connectedness … Brisbane has the perfect climate to bring inside,” Mr Damant said.
Suncorp staff are now spread through three sites across Brisbane’s CBD. 
Echoing another landmark workplace project by Woods Bagot – 1 William Street which brought together nearly 5000 Queensland public servants from 16 sites to a single location – the floor plate and spatial planning are intended to support greater collaboration and interdepartmental interaction, and happier people, in an efficient and highly productive workplace environment. 
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“Dream floorplates” envisaged for Suncorp in Brisbane’s newest city precinct

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Ascendas REIT Australia has acquired the former corporate headquarters of, Décor, in Scoresby, Melbourne for $16.245 million.
The property originally purpose built for Décor in 1979, the architecturally designed property at 1314 Ferntree Gully Road has undergone several upgrades over the past four decades.
The 16,000sqm facility, managed by Gorman Kelly, comprises three levels of office space and fully racked warehousing of up to 16m high.
Placed on a 25,895 sqm landholding, the property is located near several major road networks including Eastlink.
Gorman Kelly and CBRE negotiated the sale.
The freestanding property was sold with vacant possession.
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Ascendas acquires Décor former corporate headquarters

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A whole self contained office floor located on Melbourne's busy Little Collins Street has hit the market through Savills. The 153sqm office on <a href="http://commercialpropertysearch.savills.com.au/df82e5b0-15de-e611-80c7-005056813885/Sale/Melbourne/313-Little-Collins-Street">level 3 of 313 Little Collins Street</a> currently holds a new 5+5 year lease from October 2017 with a current income of $60,000 plus fixed annual three percent rental increases.
Savills agents Benson Zhou and Nick Peden, who are marketing the space, said the opportunity to acquire a whole office floor in a premium Melbourne location is extremely rare.
The office space located between Elizabeth Street and Swanston Street is being marketed for immediate private sale.
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Savills are marketing a fully leased Little Collins Street office

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Teska Carson is marketing a prime commercial investment opportunity within the Hawksburn Village retail/commercial precinct, at Toorak in Melbourne’s inner east.
The 581 Malvern Road property (pictured above) comprises a 758 square metre, three level building.
It includes a 372 square metre showroom, 230 square metre, lower level warehouse/carpark and a first floor, 155 square metre, office with balcony and a second floor, 155 square metre, office with balcony.
The 460 square metre site, zoned Commercial 1, has nine metres of street frontage.
The property is leased to national tenant, The General Trader (Australia) Pty Ltd, trading as Minimax and returning $256,581 per annum plus GST on a five year term from August 2015 with a five year option and four per cent annual increases.
According to marketing agents, Teska Carson’s Michael Taylor the building was rebuilt during the 1980s.
Michael Taylor said the Woolworths anchored, Hawksburn Village location, boasted a number of national retailers and some of Melbourne’s finest eateries.
"Hawksburn Village is one of Melbourne‘s most coveted, well patronised, and best performing retail/commercial precincts."
The property will be auctioned on August 16 on site.
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Hawksburn Village "secure investment opportunity" 

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A former church located in Norman Park has been sold to a local developer for $1.4 million.
The property located at 68 Longfellow Street (pictured above) was purchased by Contracting Solutions QLD Pty Ltd, in a deal through Robert Dunne and Tim Packman of Savills.
The 1,215sq m inner Brisbane property attracted strong enquiry, with 91 parties expressing their interest during the marketing campaign.
Packman said the property attracted predominately property developers and childcare operators.
Restrictions prevented the property from being completely developed.
The property is zoned Low Medium Residential.
However Contracting Solutions are set to seek subdivision of the property into three lots to develop the property to its permitted potential.
“The solution for the buyer is to retain part of the church and conduct a high-end refurbishment as one lot, and sub-divide the remaining land into another two lots with the potential to build to three storeys,” Packman said.
The property is located 6.5km from the CBD.
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Vacant former Norman Park church has sold to a developer

Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.

Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.

The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]

Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.

"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.

"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]

Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.

A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.

The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.

Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

Joel Robinson

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.

Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.

At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.

Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.

“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.

The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.

Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.

“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]

A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.

The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.

The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

The Walden pairs house-scale living with North Sydney connectivity

The ACT will become the first jurisdiction in Australia to abolish stamp duty for all first home buyers, with no income caps and no property price thresholds from 1 July.

The move, announced as part of the ACT Budget, completes a key election commitment from the Barr Government and removes what Chief Minister Andrew Barr described as one of the biggest barriers to entering the housing market. The reform forms part of the ACT's long-running transition away from transaction taxes and towards a broader-based property tax system.

"This budget marks a major milestone in our long-term tax reform program," Barr said, adding that the government had maintained a sustained focus on removing barriers to home ownership. He said stamp duty had long been one of the largest upfront hurdles facing buyers and that from July, "that barrier is gone" for first home buyers in the Territory.

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The changes come alongside a range of measures designed to encourage new housing supply, including support for the delivery of so-called "missing middle" housing such as terraces, townhouses and low-rise multi-unit developments.

The announcement has renewed debate around whether the ACT's approach could provide a blueprint for improving housing affordability nationally.

New research from OurTop10.com.au, conducted by Primara Research, suggests the Territory's decade-long reform agenda has produced outcomes unmatched elsewhere in Australia.

While stamp duty costs have increased by an average 67 per cent nationally over the past decade, the ACT has recorded growth of just 15 per cent, the lowest increase of any jurisdiction.

The Territory has also emerged as one of the strongest performers on housing delivery. Based on population-weighted housing targets, the ACT is sitting less than one per cent behind its target. Victoria is the next closest at seven per cent behind, while the national average sits 25 per cent below target. New South Wales is tracking 39 per cent behind.

The latest reform removes one of the final barriers facing first home buyers in Canberra.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=359152]

The average Australian home buyer currently pays $61,714 in stamp duty. In the ACT, that figure is $38,399 despite the Territory having the third-highest median house price in the country.

Until now, the ACT's first home buyer concession scheme only applied to purchases up to $1.02 million, around $51,000 below Canberra's median house price of $1.071 million. In practical terms, many first home buyers were unable to access the median-priced home without losing the concession.

From July, those restrictions disappear.

Every first home buyer in the ACT will pay no stamp duty, regardless of income or purchase price.

Canberra remains one of Australia's most expensive housing markets, with dwelling values increasing 82 per cent over the past decade. However, that growth ranks only 11th among Australia's 15 major housing markets, suggesting affordability pressures have been less severe than in many other parts of the country.

Simon Ma, CEO of OurTop10.com.au, said the latest reforms recognise that many first home buyers have simply outgrown thresholds set years ago.

"Many first home buyers aren't just looking for a way onto the ladder, they want a home their family can actually live in," Ma said.

"In a market where the median house price is over a million dollars, a concession scheme that cuts out at $1.02 million was never going to get them there.

"Removing the ceiling entirely means ACT first home buyers can now pursue the home they actually want, rather than limiting themselves to a price point designed for a very different market."

Whether other states follow remains to be seen. But at a time when most jurisdictions are struggling to improve affordability while also increasing housing supply, the ACT has quietly become the national test case for both.

15% stamp duty growth. Just 1% off the national housing target. Zero stamp duty for FHBs. Is the ACT the blueprint for the great Australian dream?

ACT abolishes stamp duty for first home buyers

A rooftop pool and spa overlooking the Brisbane CBD, private dining spaces, expansive landscaped gardens and a residents' lounge are set to crown <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/callista-on-park-west-end-49-mollison-street-west-end-qld-4101">Callista on Park</a>, the final residential building within Brisbane's West Village precinct.

The rooftop amenity collection has been designed as an extension of the lifestyle already established throughout West Village, providing residents with a series of indoor and outdoor spaces that capitalise on the building's elevated position above West End.

A swimming pool and heated spa form the centrepiece of the rooftop offering, surrounded by landscaped gardens developed through a collaboration between developer Sekisui House and ASPECT Studios. The design incorporates expansive lawn areas surrounded by English garden-inspired planting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=370648]

Residents will also have access to two barbecue and outdoor dining areas positioned to take advantage of views across Brisbane's skyline, neighbouring Mollison Park, and the surrounding inner-city landscape.

For larger gatherings, the rooftop includes a private dining room centred around a substantial stone island bench, complete with a full kitchen and a 10-seat dining table set beneath four-metre-high ceilings. The space has been designed to overlook both the rooftop gardens and the Brisbane CBD skyline.

A separate residents' lounge provides an additional indoor retreat connected to the broader rooftop amenity offering, creating another space for residents to work, relax or entertain guests.

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The attention to detail extends beyond the rooftop.

Upon arrival, residents will enter through a lobby featuring a bespoke ceiling light installation developed in collaboration between Sekisui House and Alcorn Middleton Architecture. The arrival experience is complemented by private resident mailboxes and carefully considered interior finishes designed to reflect the premium positioning of the building.

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The amenity offering forms part of Callista on Park, the final residential release within the decade-long transformation of the former Peters Ice Cream Factory site into West Village, one of Brisbane's most established mixed-use communities.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hutchinson-builders">Hutchinson Builders</a>, Callista represents the most premium residential offering within the masterplanned precinct.

Construction is now entering its final stages, with scaffolding beginning to come down and completion expected in the first quarter of 2027.

Prices for the three-bedroom plus MPR apartments start from just over $2.6 million.

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Callista will mark the final opportunity to purchase within West Village, where residents have direct access to more than 35 retail, dining, wellness and medical operators including Harris Farm Markets, Woolworths, Function Well and Goodlife Health Clubs, Metro Arts, and a growing collection of restaurants and cafés.

Located just 800 metres from the Brisbane CBD, the precinct also places residents within walking distance of South Bank, West End's dining scene, riverfront parklands and major public transport connections.

For Sekisui House, which has delivered more than two million homes globally, Callista serves as the concluding piece of the West Village masterplan, bringing together the precinct's heritage character, parkland setting and emphasis on walkability in a final collection of larger-format residences.

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Rooftop pool, private dining and skyline gardens to crown West Village's final apartment release, Callista on Park

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/wahroonga-nsw-2076">Wahroonga</a>’s enduring appeal has long been tied to its balance of bushland, established amenity, and access to some of Sydney’s most respected education and healthcare institutions.

Along Fox Valley Road, that combination is becoming increasingly sought after by buyers looking to remain connected to the Upper North Shore lifestyle while prioritising walkability, wellbeing, and convenience.

Developer Capital Corporation's initial vision of a 62-hectare site on Fox Valley Road was that they could create their own walkable community, bordered by&nbsp;more than 25 hectares of bushland and adjoining Coups Creek.

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b84917a1-0d75-49b9-888c-ddf7ebfd6692" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/NEW2026_Wahroonga_Walkway.gif?VersionId=Gk3_xi5ssYfalmwuQQ5umQakddceC31j" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate-169-fox-valley-road-wahroonga-nsw-2076">The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a> draws directly on the area’s natural landscape, with walking trails and green corridors linking into sections of Lane Cove National Park. The surrounding network of bushwalks, cycling tracks, and reserves reinforces the suburb’s long-standing reputation as one of Sydney’s most nature-oriented residential pockets, while still maintaining close ties to village retail and transport infrastructure.

The address places residents within minutes of Wahroonga and Turramurra villages, where cafés, local grocers, boutiques, and everyday services support a highly localised lifestyle. Popular nearby venues including The Fox Café and Breeze Valley Café provide easy options for morning coffee or casual dining, while longstanding retailers such as IGA Wahroonga Fresh and Novella Fine Books continue to anchor the area’s village character.

&nbsp;

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c4a950f7-4f05-4370-b360-b106359788e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/2026_Wahroonga_Entry_Gates.gif?VersionId=7n5kh9ymu.azYEYDemJkPgiIAfSw44oj" />

Healthcare access remains one of the defining locational advantages of the estate. Sydney Adventist Hospital, known locally as The San, sits directly adjacent and is one of the largest and most respected private hospitals in New South Wales. The hospital precinct incorporates specialist medical services, radiology, physiotherapy, and outpatient care, contributing to growing buyer demand from downsizers and owner-occupiers seeking long-term convenience and peace of mind.

Research commissioned by Capital Corporation found that health and wellbeing considerations are increasingly influencing downsizing decisions, particularly among buyers wanting to remain within familiar neighbourhoods while accessing medical infrastructure more easily.

Education has also historically underpinned demand across Wahroonga and the broader Upper North Shore. The estate sits close to several of Sydney’s leading private and independent schools, including Knox Grammar, Abbotsleigh, Barker College, Pymble Ladies’ College, Ravenswood School for Girls, and Loreto Normanhurst. Co-educational options including Wahroonga Adventist School and Sydney Adventist School further strengthen the area’s appeal to established families looking for long-term schooling pathways within a tightly held catchment.

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Transport connectivity supports the suburb’s liveability without compromising its quieter residential character. Wahroonga and Turramurra train stations provide direct rail access into the Sydney CBD, while the nearby Pacific Highway and M1 motorway strengthen links across the North Shore and broader metropolitan area. At the same time, the heavily treed streetscape and low-density character continue to distinguish the precinct from more urbanised parts of Sydney.

The Residences at Wahroonga Estate forms the first stage of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/capital-corporation">Capital Corporation</a>’s broader masterplanned vision for the precinct, delivered alongside the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/group-gsa">GroupGSA</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/coco-republic-interior-design">Coco Republic</a>, the development integrates landscaped communal spaces including a pet-friendly Green Spine, resident lounge, BBQ pavilion, and direct bushland access, reinforcing the project’s focus on outdoor connection and community-based living.

Now under construction by Gold Star iCIRT-rated builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/dasco-australia">DASCO</a>, The Residences at Wahroonga Estate will deliver a collection of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments priced from $990,000, with completion anticipated in 2027.

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