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The hamburger restaurant Milky Lane has agreed terms on a two-year lease with options at Parramatta in Sydney's west.
It is for the ground floor 385sq m retail space at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-nsw-parramatta-500849035" target="_blank">20 Macquarie Street</a>.
The agreed gross annual rent is $380 a square metre, with a 4.5 per cent annual rental review.
Khoury Partners' Jon Race handled the leasing negotiations.
With a complete update of both the lobby and common areas, 20-22 Macquarie Street occupies a central position, only metres to Parramatta Train Station Station and Bus Services. 
The tower provides six levels of B-Grade office accommodation. Retail opportunities included ground floor retail featuring full commercial kitchen and seating for 213 diners. 
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Milky Lane lease in Parramatta

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Historic Ravenswood Run Homestead – considered the birthplace of Bendigo – remains for sale.
The property which offers 23 bedrooms and 18 bathrooms was listed for weekend auction.
The 14-hectare estate, which once had its own train station, had initial $3.6 million plus hopes.
Ravenswood Homestead was built in the late 1850s on the former sheep station known as the Mount Alexander North Run, which covered about 47,753 hectares.
It was around Bendigo’s first gold find.
<img class="size-full wp-image-47302 aligncenter" src="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ravenswood1.jpg" alt="The property has been operating as guest accommodation since the 1980s. Photo: Supplied" width="797" height="596">
The pre-Georgian property first began operating as guest accommodation in the 1980s.
The estate <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.jelliscraig.com.au/property-details-4912-Calder-Highway-Ravenswood-3453/604878" target="_blank">at 4912 Calder Highway</a> includes eight servant’s quarters, a dining room capable of seating 48, a breakfast room, cellar and gym.
<img class="size-full wp-image-47305 aligncenter" src="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ravenswood4.jpg" alt="The dining room can sit up to 48. Photo: Supplied" width="802" height="532">
It is being sold with a redevelopment permit through Jellis Craig agent Tom May. 
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Ravenswood Run remains for sale

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Wandin Valley, the Hunter Valley winery named after a fictional village in the 1980s hit TV series A Country Practice, has been listed for sale.
It last sold for $7 million, less than two years ago when bought by a director of one of China's largest animation studios, Lap Tung Tsoi.
The Lovedale property was originally known as Millstone Vineyard.
The 40-hectare property was renamed Wandin Valley by the creator of A Country Practice, James Davern, and his wife Philippa following their purchase in 1990 for $900,000.
The Davern's redeveloped the property into a winery, building the cricket pavilion-style main residence, manager's cottage, modern cellar, function rooms for weddings, and adding the tourist accommodation.
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It was sold by the couple in 2010 for $4.75 millio to the Mosman couple Katrina and Russell Leslie, who once worked as a Macquarie investment banker.
The estate’s wine history dates back to 1973 when potter-winemaker Peter Dobinson planted a vineyard, calling it Millstone.
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"It is Australian country, blending with Southern European architecture, nestled amongst 35 year old vines and olive groves creates an inspiring setting which ensures customer visitation," Jurds agent Cain Beckett said.
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Tsoi is a director in his family's international animation and toy manufacturing empire Alpha Group which was founded by his billionaire brother, Cai Dongqing, who was a co-producer of China's all-time highest box office grossing movie The Mermaid.
Tsoi owns an $11.7 million mansion in Vaucluse.
 
This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph. 
 
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Chinese list Wandin Valley vineyard

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The architecture firm The Buchan Group, has designed a retail hub located in the heart of a new Northern Territory master-planned suburb, Zuccoli at Palmerston.
Zuccoli plaza, which is now completed, comprises 3400 sqm of retail space with additional covered areas.
The shopping centre features 14 shops including a supermarket, gym, medical centre, chemist, local MP office, liquor store, newsagent, land sales office and cafe. It is located on the corner of Zuccoli Parade and Crosby Street.
The Buchan Group was appointed by The RR Morriss Group to provide master-planning, architectural, interior, graphics branding and signage design services to the project.
Buchan Group architect Rhys Maxwell said Zuccoli Plaza was "a village plaza which connected, integrated, and extended the adjoining park into the site."
“It seemed logical to integrate the surrounding parkland into the site to complement the Zuccoli masterplan concept of providing a natural edge to village life.
“A flowing and open park transition with flanking arbour structures connects the adjoining WKJ Memorial Park to the plaza to provide shade and cover to the pedestrian walkways."
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The centre was opened by the family of the late Guido Zuccoli, after whom the suburb was named. A design competition was held for local artists to paint a mural in Mr Zuccoli’s honour, on the park-facing side of Zuccoli Plaza.
 
 
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Buchan Group's design of Zuccoli Plaza, Darwin

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A Little Collins Street space in Melbourne’s CBD has attracted strong demand from a range of operators. 
Fitzroys agent Terence Yeh leased the 38 sqm Shop 3, 188 Little Collins Street to Little Temperance café on a 5+5-year deal at $90,000 per annum net, with 4% annual increases. 
Yeh said the typical rate for a similar space would be around $1,800 per sqm, but a rate of $2,368 per sqm was achieved. 
“More than 60 enquiries were received from hospitality, fashion and service retail operators, looking to capitalise on the CBD worker population and the rapidly growing residential catchment in central Melbourne,” he said. 
Yeh negotiated the deal on behalf of a private investor. 
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 Little Temperance cafe leases Little Collins Street space 

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Mirvac Group's A-grade office development 664 Collins Street in Melbourne is 100 per cent pre-leased following the signing of leading energy provider, AGL. 
AGL has committed to over 6,000 square metres across two floors.
It joining tenants, Pitcher Partners and Fujitsu in the 26,000 square metre office tower. 
Mirvac’s Campbell Hanan said, “664 Collins Street is now 100 per cent leased ahead of practical completion this year."
“The changing forces of work and employee experience are demanding more from the built form than ever before. 
"Mirvac is working with tenants to create workplaces and assets, like 664 Collins Street.
He said <a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=644+Collins&amp;entry=gmail&amp;source=g">644 Collins</a> was designed to incorporate leading smart technology and real-time data collection to improve workforce utilisation and efficiencies, "while creating an intuitive working environment.” 
The executive general manager group Operations at AGL, Doug Jackson said AGL was utilising this space to accommodate our digital transformation projects and Melbourne-based operations. 
At 664 Collins Street, Pitcher Partners will occupy over 9,000 square metres across 3.5 levels, with a 12-year lease commencing in June 2018. 
Fujitsu and AGL will take up occupancy in September 2018. 
Upon practical completion, which is expected mid this year, 664 Collins Street will be the final stage of the Southern Cross Station complex. It will target a 5 Star Green Star Design and 5 Star NABERS Energy rating.
In June last year, Mirvac successfully sold down 50 per cent of the building to an investment vehicle sponsored by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI).
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After AGL Mirvac¹s 664 Collins Street 100 percent pre-leased

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<div class="column">Changing local market and regulatory conditions resulted in a dramatic slowdown in outbound Chinese investment in Australian commercial property during 2017, falling further from its 2015 peak.</div>
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<div class="column">But despite these weaker investment levels, Australia remains a firm favourite among Mainland Chinese investors, ranking second for the third consecutive year behind the United States, the Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s annual investor intentions research noted.</div>
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<div class="column">Australia ranked as the 7th most popular global destination for Chinese CRE investment in 2017</div>
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<div class="column">The investment challenges are driven by supply constraints and regulatory changes.</div>
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<div class="column">The report noted sentiment among Chinese investors towards Australian CRE ranks 2nd globally, although its has decreased from 2016.</div>
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<div class="column">Inbound investment from Hong Kong rises by $200m year-on-year to $1.1Bn with NSW offices accounting for almost 50% of Chinese CRE investment into Australia (excluding development sites).</div>
<div class="column">It reported 73% of deals transacted by Chinese investors during 2017 were in the sub-$50m category.</div>
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<div class="column">Total Chinese outbound investment into Australian commercial property has fallen from $6.97bn in 2016 to $2.83bn in 2017, a 60% decline overall, and ranking as the 7th most popular destination for China investment worldwide. Total 2017 investment comprised $1.97bn invested into standing assets and $853m in developments sites, a decline of 60% and 72% respectively.</div>
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 While mainland Chinese investment has decreased, investment from Hong Kong Kong has increased by 20% last year, rising from $918m to $1.1Bn in 2017. This is expected to increase further during 2018 as Mainland Chinese investors seek to reallocate capital via Hong Kong.</div>
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A recent survey of top Mainland Chinese Real Estate Investors Overseas (‘MCREIO’) conducted by the Cushman &amp; Wakefield Research team also shows that MCREIO’s sentiment towards Australian commercial property had dropped from 22% in 2016 to 17% in 2017. This was in line with the decrease in overall investment, however it still placed Australia in second position overall - behind the 31% of investors that intend to invest in the United States (also down from 44% in 2016). 
From the survey, the most significant declines in sentiment were experienced in Canada, Singapore and Japan where allocations fell to 1% or less of the available MCREIO global real estate capital as investors backed away from expensive markets and stabilised assets. 
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While there is expected to be greater scrutiny of offshore investment by the Chinese Government, Cushman &amp; Wakefield Research also shows that only 50% of mainland investors have been significantly impacted by the latest guidelines. The remaining half felt limited or no impact. 
Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s Head of Capital Markets Australia and New Zealand, James Quigley, said while there had been a significant drop in China outbound investment into Australian real estate over the past year, Australia remains as one of the top global destinations of choice for Chinese investors. 
“Top Chinese investors are telling us that they still greatly favour the Australian market, but with regulatory changes and fierce competition for top assets, deal activity is expected to weaker. That said, we are seeing rising investment volumes from Hong Kong with further growth expected as Mainland Chinese investors look at alternative avenues to invest. 
“Nonetheless, some investors are likely to be less impacted by recent policy changes, and so are expected to remain active purchasers. As investors change strategies and potentially lower volumes, this also presents near term opportunity for local capital partnering,” Mr Quigley said. 
While Chinese investment into larger Australian assets with sale prices of $200m+ have transacted, they have only accounted for just 4% of deals by number since 2013 (and 37% of dollar value). Conversely, 73% of deals by number have been completed in the sub-$50m range, accounting for 25% of total deal value. 
Outside the development site market, Chinese investors have a sharp focus on the Australian office market, and New South Wales offices in particular, which have averaged 48% and 45% of total investment by value respectively since 2011, and 40% during 2017. 
With many of Sydney’s largest transactions in 2017 undertaken by domestic entities, this is in part contributing to the decline in investment, but also driving greater diversification into other sectors such as retail and mixed use and geographically into metropolitan Sydney and Victoria. 
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Since 2015, there have been three major policy developments that have impacted Chinese investment into the Australian real estate sector. The China Australia Free Trade Agreement (CHAFTA, the Belt and Road Initiative, and most recently, the updated guidance on foreign investment (Circular 74). While the CHAFTA is designed to make trade more efficient, the Belt and Road and Circular 74 are expected to have broader reaching implications for commercial real estate.
According to Cushman &amp; Wakefield research, the expected impact of these policy frameworks will include lower investment volumes and fewer Chinese investors in the market, also driving opportunities for capital partnering and local asset management services.
Realignment of real estate strategies to Belt and Road criteria is likely to benefit the development and industrial sector, especially logistics, production space and R&amp;D sites. Over the longer term, there is an anticipated uplift in demand for space as Chinese occupiers continue to expand into international markets. 
 
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Chinese investment into Australian commercial property falls further from its 2015 peak

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Fraud at Aussie Home Loans will be examined by the banking royal commission’s first public hearing later this month.
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The financial services royal commission is targeting lenders over alleged cases of home loan fraud, along with unsuitable credit card limit increases and their car financing practices.
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The big four banks will all feature prominently in the inquiry's first round of public hearings focusing on inappropriate or unsuitable lending in home loans.
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The commission's target will be "fraudulent brokers and broker arrangements" at Aussie Home Loans.
It will look at the Commonwealth Bank's "accreditation of brokers and broker arrangements".
It will look at NAB's "Introducer Program and fraudulent loan applications".
The Introducer Program was rewarding "introducers" who successfully referred people to the bank for a loan, despite many of the applications being submitted with false information including doctored payslips. 
The bank issued 2300 home loans, which mainly went to foreign buyers of Australian property sold via "introducers."
Twenty bankers were caught breaching lending policies.
The hearings will be held in Melbourne from March 13 until March 23.
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NAB and Aussie Home Loans fraud to be examined by banking royal commision

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Melbourne's North East was the region that had the highest weekend clearance rate in Melbourne, according to CoreLogic.
The clearance rate was 77.3% across 207 auctions in the week ending February 25.
<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/2018/2/26/corelogic%202.jpg" alt="">
A Doreen four bedroom house has been sold at auction for $670,000 (pictured above).
It was sold by Millership &amp; Co on February 24.
Easily accessing to schools, transport and shops,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-doreen-127505714" target="_blank"> the </a><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-doreen-127505714" target="_blank">13 Kossatz Terrace house </a>features three living areas, Blanco equipped kitchen and an open study. 
A three bedroom townhouse in Bundoora, another North East suburb in Melbourne, has been sold at auctions for $628,000.
It was sold by Mary Ali from Raywhite on February 24.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-bundoora-127378218" target="_blank">The 6 Greenwich Crescent</a> home (pictured below) comes with three bedrooms with BIR, study nook, and a lock up garage with car space.
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Melbourne's North East the weekend auction hotspot: CoreLogic

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GUEST OBSERVER
Although 90% of our population lives in cities, Australia lacks a national urban policy and our government provides insufficient funding for urban sustainability projects.
Good urban planning is important for a number of reasons. Australian cities face the possibility of significant disasters due to climate change. Air pollution kills 3,000 people a year. A housing price crisis has taken hold. Reports on the energy and oil vulnerability of Australian cities are disquieting. And food and water security often seem like policy afterthoughts.
Despite these major concerns, little funding has been provided for urban planning research, and the distribution of this funding is uneven.
Lean funding for urban planning research
Australia has a total of 48 accredited planning degrees at 24 universities, staffed by 196 planning academics. We assessed Australian Research Council (ARC) grants to urban and regional planning. The ARC is the largest and most prestigious public research funding body in Australia. It provides the lion’s share of funding for planning research, which is very little.
A total of A$31.7 million was provided for 91 planning projects between 2010 and 2018. To place these sums in perspective, consider the funding in some related fields: human geography research received A$58.8 million for 151 projects; demography research attracted A$88.7 million for 76 projects; and political science collected A$88.7 million for 229 projects.
On average, A$17,970 per academic per year was provided for planning projects. Unfortunately, this amount of funding does not go very far. For instance, conducting a travel survey of 500 participants costs about A$50,000. Hiring a part-time research assistant costs about A$50 an hour.
Meanwhile, several universities have set minimum grant funding expectations or “aspirations” for planning staff. A quick survey of our colleagues suggests these vary between A$20,000 and A$80,000 per year.
We found that departments with more staff win more research grants (as teams typically submit their proposals). But planning programs in Australia are minuscule. On average they are staffed by only six or seven academics. This is another reflection of the meagre funding provided to the planning profession.
In contrast, North American and European countries provide much more financial support to planning academics through government grants for research and salaries for staff. Departments with 15 to 20 planning academics are common. On both sides of the Atlantic, the planning discipline is more consolidated and has a longer history than in Australia.
We still plan our cities without considering planning research. Traditionally, the government has demonstrated little interest in funding planning research, possibly because the development industry is a source of income for the major political parties. This industry has often viewed planning as a constraint on its activities. As Professor Patrick Troy puts it, there is fear that rigorous research into urban Australia might reveal “too many inconvenient truths”.
And some studies suggest that few practitioners read planning research. Grant proposals involving early career planning researchers and collaborations between academic planners and industry partners have become more successful in recent years.
Big fish dominate small funding pool
While 59% of planning academics did not attract any ARC grants between 2010 and 2018, the likelihood of being awarded an ARC grant increases considerably for more senior planning academics. Professors receive more than twice as many grants as associate professors. Associate professors in turn receive about twice as many grants as senior lecturers. However, most planning programs expect junior academics to successfully lead ARC grant applications.
Senior planning academics may be more successful winning grants because they are more experienced at grant writing. They may also have larger networks of academic colleagues (with whom to form bidding teams) and industry colleagues (who might help locate matching funds).
But these data also imply that ARC grants “snowball” (holding one grant substantially affects the chances of winning another) and tend to cluster around certain individuals. Grant acquisition rates are more closely correlated with publication and citation rates in earlier career stages. The concern here is that an “old boy network” effect may be in place.
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Timeline of planning research funding: 2002-2015.
Significant gender differences in grant acquisition rates appear to confirm this. While males were the lead investigators on 59 ARC grants between 2010 and 2018, females led only 32 grants. Although differences are small among lecturers, the “funding gender gap” broadens considerably at the professorial levels. Male professors hold 6.4 times as many ARC grants as female professors, although there are only 2.7 times more male professors than female professors.
Why the gender gap? International research has suggested that male-dominated grant review committees generally evaluate women, especially younger women, more harshly. In the ARC College of Experts, which evaluates grant applications, only 70 of the 176 members – 40% – are female.
Inequitable allocation of ARC research funding occurs in other disciplines too. But in planning it is more problematic due to the sexism inherent in urban development. Virtually everything in our cities – streets, squares, parks, buildings – has been designed and shaped by men. Nearly all of the references for urban best practices, as taught in Australian universities, are written by men.
What would urban planning research and practice be like if it were female-led? Might women rewrite the rulebook? Might cities become less car-dependent and more cycling-friendly? Might they have fewer dark alleys and more sunlit parks and kindergartens?
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/91651/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">We could begin to answer some of these questions if planning research was prioritised.
Dorina Pojani, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, The University of Queensland.
Jaime Olvera-Garcia, PhD Candidate at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland.
Jason Byrne, Professor of Human Geography and Planning, University of Tasmania.
Neil Sipe, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, The University of Queensland.
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-cities-are-crying-out-for-better-planning-but-the-research-funding-is-missing-91651" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Australian cities are crying out for better planning, but the research funding is missing

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."

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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."

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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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

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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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

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