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Walker House, the contemporary coastal Bayview home influenced by the designs of Richard Neutra and Frank Lloyd Wright, is set to be traded for the second time in just over 12 months.
Set high within bushland with views across Pittwater, the striking five bedroom home swathed in glass has five separate living zones including a library, office, cinema and rumpus room.
Having set a street record when it sold early last year for $7.95 million, <a href="https://avalon.ljhooker.com.au/house-in-bayview-nsw-2104-au-mz8f58#.WqXNcZNuYWo" target="_blank">the Lentara Road home</a> was designed with modernist lines, synonymous with influential American architects.
The home was based largely on the groundbreaking 1946 Kaufmann House in Palm Springs, California.
It was completed in 2007 when under the ownership of the Walker family, who paid $1.4 million for the 4,140 sqm land parcel in 2001.
Greg and Karen Walker commissioned Northern Beach architect Ray Fitz-Gibbon.
The Walker's sold the newly completed home for $5 million in 2009.
A decked terrace features a 20 metre wet edge lap pool and spa, while a championship size tennis court sits on the parcel. 
There's a gym and a steam room.
LJ Hooker Avalon Claudio Marcolongo, who is taking offers until May 22, says north facing properties of this quality, dimension and pedigree are rare.
It has a guide of $8.5 million.
It has been listed surplus to its Chinese entrepreneur's needs.
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Walker House, Bayview set for second sale in just over a year

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
Both new residential building and renovation activity declined significantly in 2017, with total seasonally adjusted dwelling starts down to 52,600 by the final quarter of the year, well down from the peak of 62,300 in the first quarter of calendar year 2016.
The drop was driven by a 17% year-on-year decline in attached dwellings, with Brisbane's inner city apartment market the prime culprit. 
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Sundry indicators suggest that activity across Queensland should now trend moderately upwards, spurred on by a healthier spread of boutique developments, 'plexes, and townhomes.
But inner Brisbane's new build high-rise sector is absolutely cactus as the renters move in. 
Interestingly, despite the extremely high level of apartment starts through this cycle, total dwelling completions continued to decline for another quarter, suggesting that all is not well in developer-land. 
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Crunch looms for developers
By the end of the year there were still some 150,000 attached dwellings under construction. for the seventh consecutive quarter.
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Drilling down a level it's clear to see that while apartment activity was fading fast in Melbourne and Brisbane respectively, Sydney and the state New South Wales had more than 68,000 attached dwellings under construction.
To say that this is unprecedented would be an understatement; the numbers are off the charts!
Now it does take a long time to see apartment projects through from approval, but in Sydney the completions just haven't been hitting the market in the numbers expected.
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Total dwelling completions in 2017 for New South Wales were 61,600, with just over half of that total accounted for by attached dwellings, which on a net completions basis is barely keeping pace with demand. 
Officially, of course, everything is fine.
There are few reported defaults, and settlement valuations are holding up reasonably well despite the softening of the resale market and the total evaporation of the offshore Chinese bid.
With pre-sales flagging it's certainly hard to envisage as many new projects getting off the ground, as investors grapple for finance in the midst of a Royal Commission into banking misconduct.
It's become a vicious circle, with nervous banks requiring higher pre-sales which developers are unable to achieve, and finance for construction thus not forthcoming. 
In any case, a raft of actioned and proposed budgetary and regulatory macroprudential measures have made property investment less appealing at the margin (and totally unappealing for foreign investors). 
Another compelling indicator of troubled times ahead for developers is the sheer number of dwellings approved but not commenced at 46,400, mostly accounted for by apartments and by far the highest figure in Australia's history. 
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUWVmdnHC2E/Ws3kr6g6XAI/AAAAAAAApW8/wcRYn02NKMIyys25qx5zJ4VRnBJ_JRaZQCLcBGAs/s1600/4.jpg"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUWVmdnHC2E/Ws3kr6g6XAI/AAAAAAAApW8/wcRYn02NKMIyys25qx5zJ4VRnBJ_JRaZQCLcBGAs/s640/4.jpg" width="640" height="380" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="1385"></a>
What happens next?
Now sure, the plural of anecdote is not data, but I believe that we'll see many of Sydney's apartment projects running into trouble. 
The official line is that defaults are low, and everything is going swimmingly, but I'm not so sure. 
By the way, don't rely on anything you read here either, this is just my opinion.
Take a drive around, speak to a few sales staff, observe how apartment projects are progressing. 
In addition to the astonishing boom and collapse of Chinese investors, another potentially unique aspect of this cycle is that construction and materials costs could remain high in Sydney, even in the face of a sharp drop in apartment activity.
Forged on the back of a stamp and transfer duty bonanza from both residential housing and asset sales, the state has embarked upon an overdue thrust at tackling its infrastructure deficit, in turn propelling total construction employment to even greater heights. 
As a result construction employment surged higher than it had ever been before both in absolute terms and as a share of the workforce, squeezing developer margins.
Incidentally, I personally believe that most of the apartments approved in Sydney will be converted into dwelling starts in the fullness of time, but quite possibly at a different price and rate. 
Receivers and cashed up opportunists will stand by at the ready. 
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Receivers and cashed up opportunists are at the ready watching Sydney apartment prices: Pete Wargent

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Noarlunga Downs, a metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, has experienced the biggest stock increase in South Australia over the last 12 months, according to Investar.
Investar says its sales stock has grown by 81%, from 21 houses this time a year ago to its current 38 offerings.
The suburb's median house price sits on $320,000, according to CoreLogic.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/4/6/SA%20BIGGEST%20STOCK%20INCREASE%20.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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A Noarlunga Downs offering currently on the market is a three bedroom house priced at $319,000 to $339,000 (pictured above).
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-noarlunga+downs-125498554" target="_blank">20 Peppermint Grove</a> (pictured above), the South Australian home comes with three bedrooms, spacious formal living room, modern kitchen and private courtyard.
Other features include covered entertaining area,  split system heating and cooling, and single garage.
It is situated close to the Noarlunga transport hub, Colonnades Shopping Centre and only a short walk to Cardijn College.
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Noarlunga Downs sees SA's biggest stock increase

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A luxury riverside home in one of Brisbane’s priciest suburbs has been listed.
Receivers have listed the 1927 Spanish mission style abode of Margaret Batt, wife of bankrupt whiskey and cattle baron Keith Batt who founded Nant Distilling Company.
It had been listed by Margaret Batt late last year, but now receivers have taken over.
Dubbed El Nido, the stunning three-level home hugs the Hamilton hillside with river and city views.
The home at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-hamilton-128023366" target="_blank"> 19 Hillside Crescent, Hamilton</a>, is Spanish mission style.
The house is perched on the hill between Kingsford Smith Drive and Hillside Crescent.
Batt had tried to sell the Hamilton home in December without success.
It has been set for auction for Saturday April 28 through Place agent Tristan Rowland.
The four bedroom home comes with a riverview pool and games room.
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Former Nant owner's riverside Hamilton abode set for mortgagee auction

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Melbourne's Carrum Downs has emerged as the strongest auction market in the country during the March quarter.
Its achieved a 95.2% success rate from its 21 scheduled auctions.
Northbridge's 90.5% was the next best with 21 auctions too.
Next week there's just one scheduled auction in Carrum Downs, a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-carrum+downs-127903422" target="_blank">three bedroom home on O'Gradys Road</a> (above) that has a $550,000 to $580,000 price guidance.
CoreLogic put its median house price as $520,000.
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Across the non-capital city markets monitored by CoreLogic, Geelong was the best performing region in terms of clearance rates, with 83.3 per cent of auctions recording a successful result, while the Gold Coast recorded the lowest clearance rate the quarter (40.6 per cent), despite being the busiest region in terms of auction volumes (770). 
Auction volumes fell across all regions except the Gold Coast, with Geelong host to 261 fewer auctions over the quarter, while Wollongong volumes fell by 196. The Hunter region saw 159 fewer auctions, while the Sunshine Coast was down 75 auctions.
Wollongong was the only region to record a fall in the auction clearance rate over the March quarter, while the Hunter region saw the biggest increase in clearance rates when compared to the previous quarter.
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Carrum Downs ranked the 2018 auction hotspot: CoreLogic 

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The electronic property settlements provider PEXA aim to list on the ASX, has reportedly seen it asking investment banks to "pre-qualify" for a role in its slated $1 billion-plus initial public offering. 
The Australian Financial Review's Street Talk wrote PEXA's adviser, CITIC-CLSA, last week invited selected investment banks to express interest in running the IPO.
The PEXA chairman is Alan Cameron, founding head of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
The ownership group includes the big four banks, Macquarie Group, Link Administration Holdings, three state governments, and the former Toll Holdings boss Paul Little
Macquarie is PEXA's biggest shareholder with around a 25 per cent stake.
One-in-five settlements are now completed online via PEXA.
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The float is slated for the December quarter.
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E-conveyancer PEXA float re-scheduled for late 2018

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A new property survey by lender ME reveals 22% of home buyers exceed their spending limit when they purchased their property.
Almost half, some 46% exceeded it by $30,000 or more.
Some 30% exceeded their budget by $50,000 or more.
There were 10% exceeded their budget by $150,000 or more. 
The most common reasons for exceeding their self-imposed limit were:
+ falling in love with the property (52%);
+ underestimating the budget required (28%);
+ impatience (20%);
+ underquoting by an agent (15%);
and getting caught up in a bidding war (12%). 
Some two thirds of those who went over their budget admitted some kind of negative consequence as a result, either financial or emotional.
ME Head of Home Loans, Patrick Nolan, said it was important "to stick to your spending limits.”
He added banks were legally obligated to only lend an amount you can afford to repay over the life of the loan, including at a higher interest rate.
ME’s survey is based on a representative sample of 1,000 Australian property buyers; completed in March 2018.
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Underquoting by estate agents blamed by 15 percent of buyers for exceeding their property purchasing budget

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A four bedroom on an 818 sqm block in Alexander Heights, a suburb of Perth, has been sold for $410,000 by the mortgagees. 
It was sold by Jim McConnell from Ray White.
The Western Australian property last sold at $275,000 in 2016.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-wa-alexander+heights-126458186" target="_blank">Located at 4 Chancery Lane</a>, Alexander Heights, it comes with four bedrooms, multiple tiled living areas, and studio room in the rear yard. 
It is less than 2km from shops, public transport, parks and primary school. 
The suburb's median house value sits on $420,000, according to CoreLogic. 
 
 
 
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Alexander Heights four bedroom house sold by mortgagee

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Olio Mio, the Hunter Valley Pokolbin estate, has been listed by Jurds agent John Edmundson.

The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-nsw-pokolbin-7957218" target="_blank">24 hectare property</a> features a 10 hectare olive grove and an olive process plant, as well as a two hectare vineyard and garden.

The estate completed with southern European style six bedroom homestead last traded for $2.75 million in 2002.

The olive grove was established in 1997 and has produced premium extra virgin olive oil, made from olives harvested and processed on-site within 24 hours of picking.

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Iis is being run by Bob and Denise Whalan after purchasing Olio Mio Estate in 2002. 

Their first project was to plant a further 4,600 vines of Verdehlo and Tempranillo and to manage the two acres of Shiraz, which produced its first vintage in 2004.

Olio Mio Estate wines are bottled under the Stormy Ridge label.

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In 1998 the Estate was planted with 2,500 olive trees. The grove has Italian, Spanish and Greek varieties for oil and table fruit. The Olio Mio range of unfiltered oil has a wonderful array of aromas and flavours in keeping with this award-winning region.

Olive farms on the market are seeing a spike in activity.

In the Mornington Peninsula the award-winning L'Uliveto Verde has hit the market.

 
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Olio Mio olive estate in the Hunter Valley listed

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Sydney’s residential vacancy rate "continues to support those seeking rental accommodation," according to the REINSW President Leanne Pilkington.
She based her interpretation on its on the March 2018 REINSW Vacancy Rate Survey seeing availability fall 0.1 percentage points to 2.2 per cent for the Sydney metropolitan area. 
“A vacancy rate above 2 per cent is positive for those seeking rental properties,” Ms Pilkington said, in an apparent shift on the historic sentiment that a market is considered to be evenly balance between renters and landlords at a 3 percent vacancy rate, with anything above 3 percent favouring renters.
Middle Sydney and Inner Sydney rose 0.1 percentage points to 2.6 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/4/16/vacancyrates.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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Outer Sydney, the vacancy rate remained steady.
In the Hunter, vacancy rates rose 0.1 percentage points to 1.6 per cent with Newcastle up 0.4 percentage points. The Illawarra also remained stable for the third month in a row with vacancy rates at 1.9 per cent. Wollongong was down 0.1 percentage points at 2.2 per cent. 
Across regional areas, Northern Rivers rose 0.2 percentage points at 1.2 per cent, Murrumbidgee increased 0.2 percentage points at 1.0, while New England dropped 0.9 percentage points at 1.9 per cent.
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REINSW says Sydney vacancy rate favours tenants 

The Gold Coast economy has grown by 25 per cent since 2020/21 to surpass $55 billion, but perhaps the more significant story is what sits behind the headline number.

For decades, the Gold Coast has been viewed through the lens of tourism, lifestyle and population growth. The latest State of the City Report suggests that perception is increasingly out of step with reality.

Released by Invest Gold Coast, the report ranks the Gold Coast as Australia's largest non-capital city economy and, perhaps more notably, second nationally behind Sydney for Economic Complexity, a measure that assesses the diversity and sophistication of an economy.

It's a result that places the Gold Coast ahead of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, highlighting the extent to which the city's economic base has broadened beyond its traditional industries.

Today, the Gold Coast supports more than 350,000 jobs, is home to over 83,000 businesses and generates $19 billion in annual exports. Manufacturing now accounts for 62 per cent of international export growth, while sectors including health, education, advanced manufacturing, technology and professional services are becoming increasingly important contributors to the local economy.

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Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the report confirmed the city's evolution into one of Australia's most significant economies.

"The Gold Coast economy continues to grow at an incredible pace. This is no surprise to those of us who have watched the evolution up close," Mayor Tate said.

"As one of the most entrepreneurial, investment driven and opportunity focused economies in the country our ambition has been realised and possibilities are endless.

"The Gold Coast has built a reputation as the city that says yes. We say yes to investment, yes to opportunity and yes to people who want to build something.

"It's this mindset helping us drive major growth across health, advanced manufacturing, screen production, marine, technology and the knowledge economy."

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While population growth has been one of the defining stories of the past decade, the report points to a broader economic transformation taking place.

The city's knowledge economy now contributes $7.9 billion annually and supports around 31,000 jobs, while the health and wellbeing sector contributes $5.2 billion and employs more than 42,000 people. Together, the six priority sectors identified in the report account for almost $24 billion in economic output and more than 145,000 jobs.

One of the strongest examples is the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct at Southport. The 200-hectare precinct now contains more than $5 billion worth of health, education, research and innovation infrastructure and supports over 16,000 jobs.

The report also highlights the growing role of advanced manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, defence and modular construction.

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies recently became the first Australian commercial company to attempt an orbital launch, while companies including Modscape and ModnPods are helping establish the Yatala-Stapylton corridor as one of Australia's fastest-growing advanced manufacturing hubs.

The city's entrepreneurial culture is also translating into business growth.

Since 2019/20, the number of businesses operating on the Gold Coast has increased by 22 per cent, while firms employing more than 200 people have grown by 80 per cent. The report suggests the next challenge is converting more local start-ups and medium-sized businesses into nationally significant companies.

Development activity remains another key indicator of confidence.

There are currently more than $23 billion worth of major projects underway across the Gold Coast, supported by a record 75 active cranes, a figure that now exceeds Brisbane and represents a 150 per cent increase since 2016.

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Importantly, the report notes the next phase of investment will need to extend beyond residential development.

While 93 per cent of crane activity is currently tied to housing, Invest Gold Coast argues future investment will increasingly need to focus on cultural, civic, infrastructure and industry-enabling projects that strengthen the city's long-term economic resilience.

Invest Gold Coast Chair Will Hodgman said the city was now benefiting from years of economic diversification.

"What is happening on the Gold Coast is the result of the city's economic base broadening, fuelled by industries with long-term, high-growth potential," Mr Hodgman said.

"This is no longer a secondary Australian economy, the Gold Coast is becoming a globally connected city with deeper capability across health, knowledge and creative industries, advanced manufacturing, technology and exports."

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Looking ahead, the Gold Coast's population is projected to exceed one million residents by 2046.

For a city that was once largely defined by tourism and lifestyle, the latest figures suggest the Gold Coast is becoming something more significant, one of Australia's most diverse and economically sophisticated urban economies, and increasingly one that national and international investors can no longer afford to overlook.

Joel Robinson

75 cranes, $23 billion pipeline and a $55 billion economy: Inside the Gold Coast economic boom

Ron Bakir's Homecorp has sold more than 75 per cent of the apartments in its wellness-driven Florence Residences in Surfers Paradise following its first weekend release.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/florence-residences-24-monte-carlo-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">26-storey project on Monte Carlo Avenue</a>, which commenced construction earlier this year, has seen a flurry of buyers secure their slice of the Gold Coast's latest wellbeing-focused offering in one of the nation's most competitive property markets.

Since the pandemic, the Gold Coast's population has grown by more than 11 per cent, a rate approximately four times faster than Sydney's, driven largely by lifestyle changes and interstate migration. While buyer activity has moderated in some markets nationally, demand for newly built dwellings on the Gold Coast continues to gain momentum as purchasers increasingly prioritise lifestyle, amenity, wellbeing, liveability and long-term investment potential.

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Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir says buyers today are looking for more than just a home.

"What we are seeing is a shift in how people define value in property," Bakir says.

"What attracts residents to new developments is a desire for more than just a residence. They are looking for a place that complements their lifestyle, supports their wellbeing and reflects the way they want to live into the future.

"Lifestyle, longevity, proactive health, wellbeing, connection and a sense of community are increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, particularly on the Gold Coast, where these factors continue to be a major drawcard."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372744]

Bakir says Homecorp is responding to this shift through an approach that places greater emphasis on design, amenity and experience working together to create places that feel considered, connected and enduring in value.

Inspired by Eastern European design, Florence Residences will comprise 120 apartments alongside a private residents-only wellness club featuring a resort-style rooftop pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a spa retreat, contemporary gymnasium, and a spacious yoga and Pilates studio.

The development will also feature a residents-only lounge with private dining facilities and a rooftop bar, premium outdoor entertaining areas, a hotel-style lobby lounge, generous bike parking, and pet-friendly amenities including a heated dog wash.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372742]

A limited number of apartments remain available, with an exclusive collection of four-bedroom sub-penthouses set to be released in the coming months.

Florence is one of the latest additions to Homecorp's expanding multi-billion-dollar property portfolio, which also includes plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/homecorp-lodges-plans-for-260-million-moroccan-bathhouse-inspired-tower-in-budds-beach">$260 million development in Budds Beach</a> tailored to the growing wellness market.

A development application has been lodged for a 27-storey, 156-residence tower at 8–10 Acacia Avenue and 25–27 Oak Avenue, featuring a residents-only Moroccan spa-inspired sanctuary.

Apartments at Florence Residences are priced from $1,249,000, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.

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Buyers rush to Homecorp's Florence Residences as Gold Coast wellness trend gains momentum

The NSW Government has expanded its $1 billion Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program, broadening access for affordable housing providers and smaller residential developments as it seeks to accelerate housing delivery across the state.

The Minns Government says the program has already helped bring forward more than 600 homes across Sydney and regional NSW since launching in September 2025, with similar models now adopted in South Australia and Western Australia.

The latest changes, announced by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, are designed to improve access to finance for projects that have planning approval but are struggling to secure funding.

Among the key changes is an expansion of support for community housing providers. The program will now support up to 100 per cent affordable housing projects valued at up to $30 million when delivered by not-for-profit providers, while support for larger affordable housing developments will increase for projects worth up to $80 million.

The government says the changes will help accelerate the delivery of housing for low-income workers, older people, people living with disability, and those at risk of homelessness, while reducing reliance on direct grants or subsidised loans to bridge funding gaps.

The eligibility criteria for smaller residential developments have also been broadened. The previous $5 million minimum project value threshold has been removed and replaced with a requirement that projects deliver at least four homes.

Support has also increased for projects delivering fewer than 20 homes, with the guarantee now able to cover up to 75 per cent of dwellings in a development, capped at $30 million per project.

The changes are expected to particularly benefit smaller-scale and regional developments, which often face greater challenges meeting pre-sale requirements imposed by lenders.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the scheme demonstrates how government can use its balance sheet to stimulate housing supply without relying solely on taxpayer-funded grants.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee shows how this Government is using its balance sheet to reduce risk and unlock private investment, enabling new homes to move from design to construction faster," Mookhey said.

"This landmark reform allows us to deliver homes for working families at a lower cost to taxpayers, while also maintaining strong financial discipline."

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the program had already proven effective in bringing stalled projects to market.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee has already proven it can unlock stalled projects and accelerate housing delivery by giving lenders the confidence they need to back good developments," Scully said.

"These changes will allow more affordable housing and smaller developments to access support so more homes can be built faster where communities need them most."

Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the expansion would help community housing providers overcome financing barriers that often delay projects.

"We know community housing providers are ready to build more homes, too often they're held back by barriers to finance," Jackson said.

"Expanding the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee helps remove those barriers so more affordable homes can get off the ground sooner."

The announcement was welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, which has long advocated for measures aimed at improving project feasibility and access to finance.

Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson described the expansion as a practical intervention that addresses one of the most immediate constraints on housing delivery.

"This is exactly the kind of practical intervention we need right now, focused on getting projects out of the ground, not just approved," Stevenson said.

"It builds on a model the Property Council has worked closely with government to develop following calls for such a scheme ahead of last year's NSW Budget, so it's great to see it being expanded."

Stevenson said the reforms would help unlock projects that are ready to proceed but have been delayed by financing challenges. However, she noted that broader feasibility issues remain a significant barrier to increasing housing supply.

"The biggest challenge in NSW housing today is delivery. Too many projects have planning approval but are simply not financially viable to proceed under current settings," she said.

Speaking at the Property Council's NSW Housing Summit, Housing Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged that feasibility and financing pressures continue to constrain housing delivery, while reaffirming the government's commitment to work with industry on solutions.

Stevenson said the government's recognition of those challenges was encouraging ahead of next week's state budget.

"It's positive to see the government clearly recognising that feasibility pressures are now a binding constraint on supply," she said.

"With the Budget just days away, the focus must be on backing delivery, making sure projects stack up, finance can flow, and more homes can move from approval to construction."

The expanded Pre-sale Finance Guarantee forms part of the NSW Government's broader housing agenda, which also includes planning reforms, the NSW Housing Pattern Book, and a series of rezonings intended to increase housing capacity across the state.

NSW expands Pre-sale Finance Guarantee to unlock more affordable and regional housing

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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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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“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.

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