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Engineered joining technology manufacturer Norma Group is set to relocate to Logis Eco-Industrial Business Park, as part of a growing trend of major corporations moving to the Dandenong South industrial precinct.
The global company has signed a pre-lease for a 3,000 square metre state-of-the-art office/warehouse on Bazalgette Crescent, in Melbourne's south east, to be fulfilled by market-leading developer, BFD Construction.
Savills Australia’s Kosta Filinis worked closely with both parties to negotiate the seven-year term.  
Industry sources believe rental rates for similar asset in the precinct are circa $100-$110 per square metre.
“This lease term is a sign of the commitment from both sides to the project, and has enabled both the tenant and the landlord to achieve their requirements,” Filinis said.
The purpose-built facility will have direct access to Greens Road, the Dandenong Bypass and EastLink, and is located in the Logis North section of the Logis Eco-Industrial Business Park.
The environmentally friendly estate, which was developed by Melbourne Water and Places Victoria.
Filinis said the deal was another “outstanding result” for the popular Dandenong South industrial market.
“The area is consistently drawing occupiers from competing markets, such as Braeside, Scoresby and Rowville.”
Norma Group’s new facility marks another major deal for BFD, which has enjoyed recent successes developing warehouses of a similar size for NSK Australia, Sullair Australia and Terex.
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Major corporations head to Dandenong South: Savills

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Two adjoining industrial warehouses within the Victoria Gardens precinct at Richmond in Melbourne’s inner east.
The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-richmond-502731578" target="_blank">39 and 41 Blazey Street</a> properties are located in a sought after precinct bounded by Bridge Road and Swan Street, Burnley.
Both properties are a solid brick, single level industrial building with a 10 tonne overhead crane and roller door access.
Number 39 spans 370 square metres on its 425 square metre site, while 41 is 305 square metres on 411 square metres.
Both properties will be sold subject to monthly tenancies while 41 Blazey Street also includes $28,962 annual rental income from a Telco Tower.
Larry Takis and Tom Maule at Teska Carson are marketing the commercial properties with owner-occupiers, investors and commercial developers the likely interested parties.
"Along with the residential development we have seen numerous associated commercial and retail construction projects that have driven an escalation of property values across all sectors of the market and that process is ongoing.’’ Maule said.
The properties will be auctioned April 4.
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Industrial Richmond warehouses offer numerous options

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The 1870s Brucedale Chapel in the NSW Riverina has been listed for sale.
Over the years the property has been the venue for many weddings. 
It goes to <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-brucedale-127668850" target="_blank">March 24 auction</a>.
The Brucedale Community Chapel was refurbished by the Oleary's in 1995 with the chapel being reconsecrated and blessed by Bishop Brennan in the same year.
Since this time the chapel has been open to weddings and christenings for all people of all denominations and orientations.
The lush green gardens are spotted with rose bushes, vine covered walkways and a multitude of coloured flowers.
"The cherry on top is a beautiful old bell that can be heard at the conclusion of any ceremony," the marketing says.
Dame Mary Gilmore, a noted Australian poet, attended church here as a child and was so inspired by the beauty and magic of the property that she wrote the following poem:
O neighbourly hands and neighbourly hearts,  How memory burns and the hot tear starts! For, shades in the moonlight, I see you pass Where the white of the frost is crimping the grass, And I hear you sing, when the nights are dark,  Where you set your course to an heavenly mark. O brave forerunners, who never sought fame,  How the church you loved must treasure each name!
The main house has a Tuscan exterior with its painted concrete walls and green gardens.
The French doors opening out to the front porch are over 100 years old, coming from the dividing wall at Mt Erin archives and have been cut and re-glassed to fit into the house.
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Riverina's Brucedale Chapel estate for auction

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Pub investors searching for yield are shifting focus to Queensland’s market, according to CBRE’s H2 2017 Australia Pub Trends report.
CBRE hotels research manager Ben Martin-Henry said investors are being priced out and facing a lack of supply particularly in metropolitan New South Wales, so buyer attention is being drawn to south-eastern Queensland opportunities.
"However, the pub sector is one of the most tightly held in the country and it’s hard to find owners willing to part with prized assets,” Martin-Henry said. 
The report noted Newcastle has seen strong buyer interest recently, as has the Central Coast and Wollongong.
"Sales activity has increased noticeably, and yields have sharpened to around 9.5-10.5% for quality assets.”
In Victoria, buyers have been quick to snap up freehold and leasehold assets due to heated competition.
“Asset values have been relatively steady; however, larger operators keen on increasing market share are pushing values up by paying inflated prices to secure high-quality assets. Going-concern pubs have also grown in popularity, and as competition ramps up in 2018, this trend is likely to continue,” Henry said.
Freehold assets are currently achieving average yields circa 4.5-5.5%, while those in rural and regional areas achieve yields between 8-10%.
“Demand within the sector maintained its high levels during the second half of 2017 and is showing no signs of fading. 2018 is likely to see further tightening of yields along the eastern states, as the market reaches the peak of its current cycle,” Martin-Henry concluded.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/3/9/PUB%20NSW.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<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/2018/3/9/PUB%20NSW.jpg" alt="">
 
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/3/9/PUB%20VIC%20.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<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/2018/3/9/PUB%20VIC%20.jpg" alt="">
Pub transaction yield spread, Queensland (pictured below).
 
 <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/2018/3/9/PUB%20QLD.jpg" alt="">
 
Pub transaction yield spread, WA (pictured below).
<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/2018/3/9/PUB%20WA.jpg" alt="">
CBRE Hotels director Paul Fraser said there had been a significant weight of capital moving north from New South Wales and Victoria as buyers search for quality pub assets at higher yields.  
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Hot pub sector and sharp yields drive investors to Queensland

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Located in the sought-after High Street Armadale retail precinct, ground floor retail space in the forthcoming Chronicle development is available for sale. 
It is listed for sale by Jonathan Hu from Clover Property Group.
<a href="http://www.commercialpropertyguide.com.au/property/286194/sale/948-960-high-street/armadale-vic-3143/retail/" target="_blank">Positioned at 948-960 High Street,</a> it suits a variety of uses including retail, hospitality, office or medical.
The floor area acrosses 184 square metres.
<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/2018/2/28/948-950%20high%20st.jpg" alt="">
Surrounded by retailers including Acne Studio, Scanland Theodore and Aesop, it is marketed as ideal for owner occupation or investment.
Armadale railway station and tram stops are within short distance. 
It is currently under construction with expected completion early 2019.
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Chronicle, Armadale flagship retail offering

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Bensons Property Group chairman Elias Jreissati has launched a $230 million arts-inspired residential development on Chevron Island.
Chevron One, Chevron Island’s first high rise, will rise 40 levels above the village.
Offering 247 apartments wrapped in wave-inspired architecture, Chevron One is the first Queensland project for Bensons Property Group.
It has been acclaimed for its residential developments throughout Melbourne, having delivered over $2 billion in projects over nearly a quarter of a century.
<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/2018/3/9/CHEVRON%205.jpg" alt="">
The benchmark apartment development is being marketed as appealing to a wide buyer demographic, from owner occupiers through to long-term investors.
<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/2018/3/9/CHEVRON%203.jpg" alt="">
With development approvals in place, the Marchese Partners-designed Chevron One is poised to take shape at 36-44 Stanhill Drive, just 500m from the heart of Surfers Paradise, beach and light rail.
Buyers have the choice of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, with two-bedroom residences the dominant product. 
<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/2018/3/9/CHEVRON%204.jpg" alt="">
Each apartment features indoor to outdoor living spaces complemented by contemporary finishes such as stone benchtops, timber floors, luxurious bathrooms and kitchens designed by award-winning celebrity chef Shannon Bennett.
Apartments will overlook the Surfers Paradise skyline, the ocean, Nerang River and the hinterland depending on their location within the tower.
Residents will have access to an array of superb resort-style leisure facilities at ‘Club One’ including indoor and outdoor pools, a BBQ area, al fresco dining, gymnasium, yoga and sculpture garden, residents lounge and bicycle racks.
Apartments range in size typically from 51sqm to 162sqm with their outdoor areas varying from 13sqm to 75sqm.
Chevron One’s apartments are priced from $428,000 for one-bedroom apartments through to $2.95 million for the four-bedroom residences.
Construction of the tower is scheduled to be complete by early 2020.
<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/2018/3/9/CHEVRON%206.jpg" alt="">
The lead selling agent is Christopher Jones, of Savills Gold Coast.
Prospective buyers can inspect the onsite display suite at 44 Stanhill Drive, Chevron Island.
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Chevron Island's first high rise launched

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Positioned on the high side of Charles Street, an architecturally designed Tweed Heads townhouse has been sold by mortgagees for $790,000.
It was sold by Jason Abbott form PRDnationwide. 
Newly built in 2017, the<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-duplex+semi-detached-nsw-tweed+heads-126964178" target="_blank"> 1/27 Charles Street duplex townhouse</a> comes with three bedrooms, kitchen with ocean views, and patio.
Other features include ducted air-conditioning, four camera surveillance, and solar power.
The strata townhouse is only five minutes to Coolangatta and Kirra beaches, several shopping centres and only ten minutes to Coolangatta Airport and Southern Cross University.
The other townhouse, north east facing, sold recently through other agents at $950,000.
According to CoreLogic, the suburb's median house price sits on $685,000.
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Tweed Heads townhouse sold by mortgagee

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Melbourne’s strategic planning history has largely overlooked the contribution of <a href="https://www.vu.edu.au/library/about-the-library/special-collections-archives/ruth-maurie-crow-collection" target="_blank">Ruth and Maurie Crow.</a>
The Crows were early champions of functional mix and compact urban development. They didn’t eulogise lower-density suburban form, but equally didn’t advocate higher densities as necessarily humanising in themselves.
In their three-volume <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10498626?q&amp;versionId=22767541" target="_blank">Plan for Melbourne</a>, published from 1969-72, the Crows argued for compact urban development driven by spatial justice ambitions. Revisiting their work provides a counterbalance to evaluate the motivations for the transformations of our cities today. Their Plan for Melbourne shows a prescient awareness of the need to design cities to maximise access and interaction:
the debate around the plan for the future of a city is not essentially a debate about things … buildings, cars, trains, roads and so on, and their placement; although it often expresses itself in these terms. It is essentially a debate about human relationships.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/208788/original/file-20180304-65541-15kpf7w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/208788/original/file-20180304-65541-15kpf7w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
The Crows’ pioneering work, Plan for Melbourne, was published as three volumes in 1969, 1970 and 1972. Ruth &amp; Maurie Crow Collection/Victoria University Library.
The compact city has been a steadfast trope in Australia’s strategic planning rhetoric since the 1980s. Consolidation of urban areas, containment of outward growth, and a multi-nuclear metropolitan structure are deemed necessary to support increasing populations in uncertain socio-ecological futures.
Despite this naturalised policy ambition, metropolitan planning has delivered what Clive Forster termed a “<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-5871.2006.00374.x/full" target="_blank">parallel universe phenomenon</a>”. The vast gaps between planning intent and urban reality have everyday justice implications, resulting in a parallel justice phenomenon.
The justice ambitions have often been subsumed into transformations of our cities driven by economic rationality. For the Crows, the goal of social justice was paramount.
<h2>What has driven urban transformations?</h2>
Melbourne’s strategic planning history is marked by an alternating desire for containment and decentralisation. Various propositions have come to the fore, including “the dispersed city”, “satellite cities”, “growth corridors”, and “the redirected city”.
The late 1960s and early 1970s were a transitional moment in Melbourne’s development. Unfettered expansion had typified the city since the 1930s. Now the growth trajectories of both the metropolitan area and the central city were being publicly questioned.
The Crows’ Plan for Melbourne was rejected on the grounds of its seemingly unachievable restructuring propositions. Instead, in 1971, the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works advanced the elusive “<a href="https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/planning-for-melbourne" target="_blank">growth corridors and green wedges</a>” policy. The radical implications of the Crows’ proposed “clustering”, “concourses” and “collectives” to create an <a href="https://theconversation.com/putting-the-pieces-together-to-create-safe-public-spaces-for-all-89961" target="_blank">inclusive, accessible and convivial city</a> weren’t considered.
The compact city ideal was not validated in official planning rhetoric until the <a href="https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/planning-for-melbourne/metropolitan-strategy-implementation-1981" target="_blank">1981 strategic plan</a>. Spatial consolidation then became de facto policy. The aim was to promote inner-city population and employment growth, as well as greater use of existing infrastructure and services.
However, <a href="https://theconversation.com/market-driven-compaction-is-no-way-to-build-an-ecocity-80199" target="_blank">market-driven compaction</a> contributes to uneven distribution of, and precarious access to, social infrastructure, affordable housing, public transport and hospitable urban life across the city. The result is a shortfall of social justice.
<h2>Revisiting a vision of a different city</h2>
Heavily involved in citizen activism, The Crows dedicated themselves to the “urban action movement”. They were amateur planners, heterodox communists, and avid community members. They proposed radical alternatives to what they understood as the injustices of urbanisation and capitalism.
They wanted a city that was more rewarding, both socially and ecologically. This was their rallying cry:
You have to project the future: a more workable, more humane, more ecological future, and then battle towards it. Maybe the goals will change as you battle towards them: but without goals there is no battle, only unending class scrimmage within the system.
For the Crows, urban consolidation had two interlocking objectives. The first was to concentrate social activity and so minimise transport energy. The second was to heighten participatory enjoyment.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/208787/original/file-20180304-65522-1pwkbw1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Image of the linear city from Plan for Melbourne Volume 3. Courtesy of the Ruth &amp; Maurie Crow Collection, Victoria University Library
<h2>Clustering, concourse, collectives</h2>
The Crows proposed a compact city with explicit structural elements. In their future Melbourne, towns were to be clustered along a linear spine towards the southeast. A rapid transit network would connect a string of “mini-metro hearts” and “city-metro hearts” to allow for easy commuting.
Multi-functional zoning and high-density cores distinguished their towns from existing suburbs. The Crows proposed dedicated first-level concourses in their “metro hearts” to promote commerce-free encounters. These high-density core areas were to be entirely vehicle-free and were intended to overcome <a href="https://theconversation.com/lonely-over-christmas-a-snapshot-of-social-isolation-in-the-suburbs-34810" target="_blank">social isolation</a>.
Concourses were designed as a “therapeutic measure”, counteracting the “community scattering trend” of the car. These areas would allow for “deliberate voluntary contact”, encouraging interaction beyond the fleeting yet pervasive contact of commercial transaction. The Crows’ intention was to catalyse spaces for voluntary collectives to form and flourish as a means to enhance the “tone” or “ethos” of the community.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/208620/original/file-20180302-65541-1nmza5x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Proposed restructuring of Melbourne’s future growth, from Plan for Melbourne Volume 3. Courtesy of the Ruth &amp; Maurie Crow Collection, Victoria University Library
<h2>Compaction for conviviality</h2>
The Crows’ Plan for Melbourne presented a radical alternative to what mainstream planners were proposing at the time.
Their calls for compaction were informed by spatial justice ambitions to minimise alienation, increase accessibility and support the need for social interaction. They proposed clustering, concourses and collectives to ensure access and inclusion; this was compaction for <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-quest-for-the-convivial-city-how-do-ours-fare-90004" target="_blank">conviviality</a> rather than capital accumulation.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-a-three-decade-remaking-of-the-city-revived-the-buzz-of-marvellous-melbourne-91481" target="_blank">Melbourne has certainly transformed into a vibrant centre</a> since the Crows’ Plan for Melbourne. Whether it is being planned as a just city is questionable. Hyper-density and visible homelessness are now emblematic of the city.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/92034/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">The Crows warned 50 years ago that, without a clear justice intent driving metropolitan development, we risked looking back with regret that the struggle to shape our cities for their citizens rather than vested interests began too late.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/claire-collie-438785" target="_blank">Claire Collie</a>, PhD candidate in Urban Planning, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-melbourne-722" target="_blank">University of Melbourne</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-more-to-the-compact-city-than-getting-dense-92034" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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There’s more to the compact city than getting dense

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A historic Ashburton house has been listed for sale with a price guide of $1.75 million to $1.95 million for its March 17 auction.
It has been listed by Jonathon O'Donoghue and Alexandra Valmorbida from Jellis Craig.
The former Salvation Army citadel at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-ashburton-127646658" target="_blank" title="www.realestate.com.au" rel="nofollow">10 Meaden Street</a> was built in the early 1950s.
It is now a three-bedroom house that sits on a 590 sqm lot. 
 
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Historical Ashburton House listed for sale

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Canberra was the hottest capital city weekend auction market, but one of Sydney's last remaining clifftop cottages took the top sale price.
The Canberra sales ranged between $376,000 at Calwell to $1.34 million in a pre-auction sale at Ainslie.
The top sale was a 1959 weatherboard, with brick fireplace at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/75-tyson-st-ainslie-act-2602" target="_blank">75 Tyson St, Ainslie</a>. It had last sold at $439,950 in 2002.
Canberra's top result was a close-run race as there was <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-deakin-127604842" target="_blank">a $1.325 four bedroom Deakin home sale</a> and a $1.31 million sale at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-act-o%27connor-127589942" target="_blank">O'Connor of another 1950s home</a>.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/3/12/cap%20city.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<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/2018/3/12/cap%20city.jpg" alt="">
Canberra's cheapest $376,000 sale was a three bedroom townhouse with 98 sqm living space at <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.allhomes.com.au/ah/act/sale-residential/32-36-fink-crescent-calwell-canberra/1317494664811" target="_blank">32/36 Fink Crescent, Calwell</a>. It had last sold at $360,000 in 2010.
A three bedroom Queensland mortgagee offering was the nation's top weekend result.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-caboolture+south-127555274" target="_blank">51 Rosemary St, Caboolture South</a> home (below) fetched $210,000.
<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/2018/3/12/caboolture.jpg" alt="">
It previously sold at $255,000 in 2008 shortly after which it became a $255 a week rental.
Sydney scored the weekend's top sale when Belle Property sold a Queenscliff home (top) for $5.55 million at a packed auction with over 100 locals attending.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-queenscliff-127534742" target="_blank">The 17 Pavilion Street offering</a> was marked by Belle Property Manly agent Anthony Calacoci as Sydney's last original clifftop house.
The guide for the clifftop property was $4.8 million.
With views north and south over the ocean, it was a one-bedroom cottage without parking on 340sqm of land.
It hasn’t traded for four decades having beeb built for a fisherman.
The next highest across the country was when $4 million was paid pre-auction for a home in Clontarf.
The three level hillside <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-clontarf-127538802" target="_blank">24 Peronne Avenue, Clontarf home</a> (below) was offered through LJ Hooker. It had been initially listed last October with $4 million hopes.
<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/2018/3/12/clontarf.jpg" alt="">
It was a relatively quiet auction weekend in Melbourne due to the Labour Day public holiday.
The highest result was <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-malvern+east-126733202" target="_blank">a two house, 1650 sqm consolidation</a> at 1399-1401 Dandenong Road at Malvern East at $4.66 million.
It was tipped to fetch $4.4 million to $4.6 million.
Melbourne's dearest house sale was $2.465 million when <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-port+melbourne-127569918" target="_blank">172 Clark Street, Port Melbourne</a> was offered.
It was a three bedroom brick home which was marketed as a likely knockdown with a $2 million to $2.2 million price guidance.
<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/2018/3/12/melb.jpg" alt="">
Melbourne's cheapest sale was $245,000 at Footscray.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-footscray-127481458" target="_blank">8/18 Eldridge Street, Footscray</a> one bedroom apartment was expected to have fetched between $250,000 and $275,000.
The 55 sqm apartment needed to be renovated.
<div>CoreLogic calculated the capital city preliminary clearance rate rose to 67.3 per cent, with auction activity across the capitals significantly lower.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>There were 1,721 auctions held across the combined capital cities, significantly lower than the 3,026 held last week.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"The fall in auction volumes this week is due to the fact that four of the eight states and territories have a public holiday on Monday," CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"The preliminary clearance rate across the combined capital cities rose to 67.3 per cent this week, up from 63.6 per cent last week, although this will revise as more results are collected over the week.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"Over the same week last year, the clearance rate was recorded at 75.1 per cent," he said. </div>
<div>
<div> </div>
<div>The two largest auction markets, Melbourne and Sydney, saw their preliminary clearance rates rise, with Sydney at 66.6 per cent across 936 auctions and Melbourne at 72.2 per cent across 447 auctions.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Looking at results by property type, units outperformed houses again across the capitals with 70 per cent of units selling at auction, while 66 percent of houses sold.</div>
</div>
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Queenscliff cottage sells at $5.55 million at weekend auction

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

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."

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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.

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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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150414]

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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Staff reporter

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