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Kyabram units take the longest time in Victoria to sell, according to Investar’s latest report.
The property investment firm says that Kyabram units take 673 days to sell.
This is followed by Portland with 643 and Hamilton with 621.
<table style="width: 437px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Postcode
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Bedrooms
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
Days on market
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Median price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Kyabram
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
3620
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
673
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$187,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Portland
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
3305
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
643
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$165,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Hamilton
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
3300
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
621
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$180,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Bairnsdale
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
3875
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
616
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$205,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Kilmore
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
3764
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
559
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$275,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Springvale
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
3171
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Studio and 1
</td>
<td valign="top" width="96">
547
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$270,000
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
A two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-kyabram-124477898" target="_blank">5/8 Beech Street</a>, Kyabram (above) has been listed for $156,500, having last traded for $125,000 in 2004.
Similarly a two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-kyabram-115263323" target="_blank">2/27 Julia Street</a>, Kyabram (below) has been listed for $158,000. It last sold for $123,000 in 2006.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/02/24/2_27%20Julia%20Street.jpg" alt="">
A two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-vic-kyabram-122786810" target="_blank">1/10 Munro Crescent</a>, Kyabram (below) was sold for $192,500 having last traded for $154,000 in 2006.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/02/24/1_10%20Munro%20Crescent.jpg" alt="">
Similarly a two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-vic-kyabram-121753938" target="_blank">5/12 McCormick Road</a>, Kyabram (below) was sold for $150,000. It last traded for $138,000 in 2013.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/02/24/5_12%20McCormick%20Road.jpg" alt="">
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Kyabram has Victoria's slowest selling units: Investar

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Hobart has the cheapest median price for units of the capital cities around Australia, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that the average median price for a unit in Hobart is $290,000.
It also has the cheapest median price for houses with a house averaging at $367,500.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/27/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-27%20at%2012.39.57%20pm.jpg" target="_blank">Click 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/2017/02/27/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-27%20at%2012.39.57%20pm.jpg" alt="">
<div>
Sydney remains the most expensive place to purchase a property with houses costing $850,000 on average.
</div>
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Hobart the cheapest to purchase a property: CoreLogic

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The major refurbishment of several office buildings in the Canberra CBD over the past couple of years has attracted several high calibre tenants to the area, and another building is hoping to benefit from the trend.
The refurbishment of 17 Moore Street, owned by CorVal, will be completed in the coming months.
Benn Vicic, senior asset manager at CorVal said they worked closely with architects Peckvonhartel on the building’s core design upgrades to improve tenant amenity.
The program includes refurbishment of the façade and entrance point, as well as upgrades to upper floor lift lobbies and bathrooms.
Tenancy area upgrades include new carpet, ceilings and LED lighting, which will significantly reduce tenancy occupancy costs, Vicic said.
“We believe property owners have an obligation to limit the environmental impact of their investments and this fundamental belief has driven the sustainability upgrades at 17 Moore Street,” he said.
“In 2016, we started works on a BMS tuning and retro commission program, culminating in an extensive 211 panel, 56 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system which resulted in the building achieving a 5-star NABERS Energy rating.
“Once fully leased, the systems have the capacity to achieve 5.5-stars, which if achieved will make 17 Moore Street the first pre-existing building in Canberra to reach this level.”
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/02/23/160728%20-%2017%20Moore%20-%20V02%20-%20Lobby%20-%20Final%202000.jpg" alt="">
Located on the corner of Barry Drive and Moore Street in Civic, 17 Moore Street has 5,750 square metres of office space available to lease across six levels with 65 secure basement car spaces.
The floor plates of approximately 1,000 square metres is suitable for a variety of fitout designs and working environments.
Colliers International and Raine and Horne Commercial are the appointed leasing agents.
Michael Ceacis, director of office leasing at Colliers International, said:
“17 Moore Street is the only refurbished office building in Canberra CBD that has achieved a 5-star NABERS Energy rating.
“We know that many tenants seeking office accommodation in the City are looking for modern and energy efficient space, and with the refurbishment works at 17 Moore Street nearing completion, it will be an attractive option for all tenant types.
“This landmark structure will embody modern design and the latest environmental technology, resulting in the highest standards of workplace collaboration and energy efficiency.”
Nick Cotis, director of operations at Raine &amp; Horne Commercial said all works at 17 Moore Street were anticipated to be completed in May.
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Canberra's 17 Moore Street sets sights on top tenants with eco-friendly makeover

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A tenanted industrial investment in the heart of a well-established industrial precinct at Southport on the Gold Coast has been sold at auction for $1.31 million.
The freehold industrial complex with seven tenancies at 55 Bailey Crescent, Southport, was sold under the hammer to a private investor by Steven King of Ray White Commercial Gold Coast on behalf of a private owner for a yield of 6.8%.
King said six of the seven tenancies are occupied and the complex is currently generating gross rental income of approximately $90,000 per annum.
“The marketing campaign for this property attracted 36 enquiries and there were four registered bidders at the in-room auction,” he said.
“After some spirited bidding, this strategic industrial investment with development potential sold under the hammer.
“This property provides potential for income upside and is an investment with a diversified holding income stream.”
King said the complex offers a combined net lettable area of up to 2,668 square metres on a site zoned ‘low impact industry’.
“The industrial complex is situated with ample frontage to Bailey Crescent, which leads directly onto Southport Nerang Road enabling travel east-west from Southport, or north-south along Wardoo Street towards Smith Street and the M1,” he said.
“The property is a significant parcel of land within the very tightly held Bailey Crescent industrial area.”
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Southport industrial investment sold for $1.31 million

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A Melbourne based developer has paid $3 million for a Moonee Ponds site with a permit for a mixed use development.
The 841 square metre site at 21-23 Norwood Crescent property is zoned Activity Centre Zone1 and was sold at a land rate of $3567 a square metre. The private sale was brokered by Savills' Jesse Radisich and Julian Heatherich.
Radisich said the property has a permit for 19 apartments and ground floor commercial space and had attracted strong interest from developers. 
"The property generated considerable interest with more than 65 individual enquiries from a wide range of local and off-shore developers, and that reflected the strength of not only the Moonee Ponds market, but the northern suburbs in general,” he said.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/02/28/21-23%20Norwood%20Cres%20markup.jpg" alt="">
The property is located close to Moonee Ponds Central Shopping Centre, public transport and schools.
Heatherich said the area was undergoing rapid growth with apartment development sites keenly sought after.
"Moonee Ponds has long been a popular centre and it continues to attract new residents looking for a home in an area which offers all essential amenities within close proximity of the CBD,’’ Heatherich said.
The vendor was a local private developer.
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Moonee Ponds development site fetches $3 million

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An iconic three level hotel at Darlinghurst has been listed for sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-hotel+leisure-nsw-darlinghurst-502305458" target="_blank">122 Flinders Street</a> the award winning pub, The Local Taphouse, is a pioneer in the Sydney beer market.
It has a brand new 20 year lease, including options, along with $54,000 per week in weekly revenue.
Featuring several bar areas, kitchen and a rooftop terrace the property is also centrally located to Oxford Street, the CBD and the Sydney Sports Grounds.
The Darlinghurst pub has won numerous awards from publications such as Time Out for its impressive craft beer selection, numbering in excess of 200 options.
The pub's elder sister is on Carlisle Street, St Kilda East.
The property is offered through Ray White agents Blake Edwards and Xavier Plunkett.
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Darlinghurst craft beer pioneer pub The Local Taphouse listed

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An three level hotel at Darlinghurst has been listed for sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-hotel+leisure-nsw-darlinghurst-502305458" target="_blank">122 Flinders Street</a> the award winning pub, The Local Taphouse, is a pioneer in the Sydney beer market.
It has a brand new 20 year lease, including options, along with $54,000 per week in weekly revenue.
Featuring several bar areas, kitchen and a rooftop terrace the property is also centrally located to Oxford Street, the CBD and the Sydney Sports Grounds.
The Darlinghurst pub has won numerous awards, including from Time Out, for its impressive craft beer selection, numbering in excess of 200 options.
The pub's elder sister is on Balaclava Road, St Kilda.
The property is offered through Ray White agents Blake Edwards and Xavier Plunkett.
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Darlinghurst craft beer pioneer The Local Taphouse listed for sale

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Chapel Street commercial property sales increased in the last three months of 2017, according to CoreLogic's Cityscope.
The property data firm says that sales recorded in the quarter ending February 2017 totalled $26.6 million from nine sales, compared with $3 million from three sales in the three months to November 2016.
However this is less than the recorded $211.8 million from eight sales in the three months to August 2016, though this August figure was the result of the sale of The Como Centre and 650 Chapel Street, which were bought together for $202.7 million.
This data brings the 12 month total to $372.6 million from 33 sales, a decrease from the previous 12 month total of $417.5 million from 44 sales.
The table below shows sales recorded for the past eight updates of Chapel Street Cityscope:
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/24/Corelogic-1.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/02/24/Corelogic-1.jpeg" alt="">
Notable sales recorded in the February 2017 update of Chapel Street Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>Unit 5 at 529 Chapel Street, South Yarra, an office/penthouse on the whole of the first level, which sold for $6.85 million through Colliers International and</li>
<li>403 Chapel Street, South Yarra, a two-storey retail building with a later brick addition to the rear on a site area of 185 square metres, which sold for a total of $5 million through CBRE – Melbourne.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/24/Corelogic-2.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/02/24/Corelogic-2.jpeg" alt="">
Properties listed as for sale in the February 2017 update of Chapel Street Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>Shop 2 and shop 3, at 529 Chapel Street, South Yarra, two ground floor retail units tenanted by General Pants, to be auctioned March 9, 2017 through Vinci Carbone and</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-vic-south+yarra-502159070" target="_blank">49 Toorak Road, South Yarra</a> (pictured above), a two-storey retail building on a 56 square metre site, for sale through LINQ Property;</li>
</ul>
Leasing opportunities listed in the February 2017 update of Chapel Street Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>409 Chapel Street, a two-storey retail building with a yard to the rear, built in 1910, has the whole of level one for lease through TeskaCarson;</li>
<li>262-264 Chapel Street, Prahran, a three-storey brick retail building to Chapel Street with a single-storey warehouse building to the rear has retail space of 500 square metres for lease through CRS Property and</li>
<li>219 Commercial Road, South Yarra, a single-storey brick retail building of 455 square metres for lease through CVA Property Consultants.</li>
</ul>
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Chapel Street commercial property sales increase: Cityscope

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The total value of South Sydney commercial property sales decreased for the quarter to December 2016, according to CoreLogic’s South Sydney Cityscope report.
The property data firm says that 48 sales recorded in the most recent quarter totalled $411.3 million.
This compares to the $512.7 million from 58 sales in the quarter to September 2016 and the $276.7 million from 39 sales recorded in the quarter to June 2016.
In total there were 196 sales totalling $1.487 billion over 2016, an increase from the $1.260 billion from 403 sales recorded for the previous year.
The table below shows sales recorded for the past eight updates of South Sydney Cityscope:
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/23/South%20Sydney-1.jpg" target="_blank">Click 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/2017/01/23/South%20Sydney-1.jpg" alt="">
Notable sales in the December 2016 update of South Sydney Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>Alexandria Creative Park, also known as <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-nsw-alexandria-501462611" target="_blank">The Mill at 41-43 Bourke Road, Alexandria</a> (pictured above), a 20,176 square metre business precinct comprising 10 commercial buildings, an on-site cafe and one three-storey car park building on an 18,930 square metre site, which sold through a mortgagee sale for $110.2 million;</li>
<li>Pullman Sydney Airport, at 191 O’Riordan Street, Mascot, a 12-storey, five-star hotel, with 229 guest rooms, restaurant, bar and conference facilities, completed in June 2016, which sold for $84 million; and</li>
<li>Kent Business Park, at 55 Kent Road, Mascot, a complex of five high-clearance two-storey warehouse units with small two-storey office sections, and parking for 94 cars on a 11,950 square metre site, which sold for $30 million.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/23/South%20Sydney-2.jpg" target="_blank">Click 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/2017/01/23/South%20Sydney-2.jpg" alt="">
Properties listed as for sale in the December 2016 update of South Sydney Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>Three adjoining properties in Rosebery – at 12-20 Rosebery Avenue, consisting of a modern two-storey office building extending to high-clearance warehouse to Dalmeny Avenue and a smaller building, a high-clearance warehouse with two-storey office section and car space in a paved yard; at 108 Dalmeny Avenue, consisting of a modern two-storey office building and a yard for parking (25 cars) and warehouse access; and at 22-40 Rosebery Avenue, consisting of two high-clearance warehouses with two-level office sections (Building A and Building B), built around 1985; with a combined site area of 15,198 square metre are is available through Colliers International Sydney South;</li>
<li>563-567 Gardeners Road, Mascot, a development site of 948 square metre currently with a two-storey brick building with showroom on ground level and first floor offices and parking to the rear, available through Taylor Nicholas South Sydney; and</li>
<li>96A Denison Street, Hillsdale, consisting of a vacant land and to the rear, a two-storey building with parking space on the ground floor and offices above on a 4,166 square metre site, available through Cushman &amp; Wakefield Sydney.</li>
</ul>
Leasing opportunities in the December 2016 update of South Sydney Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>1-3A Ricketty Street, Mascot, consisting of an older single-storey brick and corrugated iron warehouse with a two-level office extension and a newer high-clearance warehouse/factory building with a two-level office extension, to the north of the site, which has warehouse and office space ranging from 745 to 1,824 square metre available in Tenancy B and D for lease through Collier’s International Sydney South;</li>
<li>Alexandria Industrial Estate, at 35-39 Bourke Road, Alexandria, consisting of ten single and two-storey high-clearance warehouse buildings with office areas built in 1985 with total building area is 43,600 square metre, comprising 3,826 square metre of office space and 39,774 square metre of warehouse space, has office space of 2,405 square metre in Unit C1 available through Knight Frank Sydney South, JLL Mascot, CBRE South Sydney and Goodman Industrial and</li>
<li>Part of the Lakes Business Park at 2-12 Lord Street, Botany, a complex of office and warehouse buildings, with surrounding on-grade parking areas and a two-level car park, total building area of 48,411 square metre over seven main buildings, which has floor area ranging from 225 to 1,180 square metre available through Dexus Property Group and JLL Mascot.</li>
</ul>
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South Sydney commercial property sales fall in final months of 2016: Cityscope

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Parramatta commercial property sales increased in the quarter to December 2016, according to CoreLogic's Cityscope report.
The property data firm says that for the three months to December 2016, there were 32 sales at a total value of $150.2 million, compared to 17 sales at a total value of $139.3 million for the previous quarter.
Over the year there were 97 sales at a total value of $492.8 million, a decrease from the 171 sales at a total value of $578 million for the previous year.
The table below shows sales recorded for the past eight updates of Parramatta Cityscope:
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/24/Paramatta-1.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/24/Paramatta-1.jpeg" alt="">
Notable sales in the December 2016 update of Parramatta Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-nsw-parramatta-501863054" target="_blank">Albion Hotel, 135 George Street, Parramatta</a> (pictured above), a single and two-storey building with beer garden, bottle shop and parking on a site of 1,920 square metres, which was sold together with Albion car park, 118 Harris Street, Parramatta, a paved car park for the hotel on a site of 1,214 square metres for about $60 million through Khoury &amp; Partners Parramatta;</li>
<li>80 George Street, Parramatta, two office buildings of six and 11 storeys providing a net lettable area of 8,115 square metres with basement parking for 103 cars, which was sold for $51.88 million through Knight Frank</li>
<li>292 Church Street, Parramatta, a three-storey retail building with a net lettable area of 2,090 square metres and six car spaces, which was sold for $9.75 million through Ray White Commercial – Sydney.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/24/Paramatta-2.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/24/Paramatta-2.jpeg" alt="">
Properties listed as for sale in the December 2016 update of Parramatta Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>295-309 Church Street, Parramatta, a two-storey building with a net lettable area of 1,362 square metres and 17 car spaces, which is available for sale through Savills and Khoury &amp; Partners</li>
<li>Unit 3 at 411 Church Street, Parramatta, a 77 square metres office suite on level one in a two-storey building, which is for sale through LJ Hooker Commercial Parramatta.</li>
</ul>
Properties with leasing opportunities listed in the December 2016 update of Parramatta Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>197-205 Church Street, Parramatta, two interconnected buildings of two and three-storeys, which have office space of 1,500 square metres available through CBRE Western Sydney;</li>
<li>90 Phillip Street, Parramatta, a four-storey office building with a net lettable area of 3,180 square metres and 61 car spaces, which has office space up to 1,200 square metres available through CBRE Western Sydney</li>
<li>486 Church Street, Parramatta, a 10-level residential building and a two-storey retail annexe, which has retail space up to 1,200 square metres available through Khoury &amp; Partners Parramatta.</li>
</ul>
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Parramatta commercial property sales bounce back: Cityscope

Kew has long been regarded as one of Melbourne's premier residential suburbs. It's a location defined by its grand period homes, leafy streets and some of the city's most prestigious schools, yet it has often sat just outside the spotlight cast on neighbouring Hawthorn and Camberwell.

Increasingly, however, buyers are recognising that Kew offers much of what draws people to those suburbs, with a quieter residential setting, exceptional amenity and long-term owner-occupier appeal.

Within a few minutes' walk, residents can access Kew Junction, one of Melbourne's most established village centres. Cafés, bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets, boutique retailers and everyday services are all on the doorstep, with local favourites including Centonove, Adeney Milk Bar Cafe, and Frank &amp; Harri creating the type of walkable lifestyle that has become increasingly difficult to find in Melbourne's inner east. Beyond the immediate neighbourhood, Glenferrie Road's renowned shopping and dining precinct in Hawthorn and the retail, dining and entertainment offerings of Camberwell Junction are both just a short drive or tram ride away.

The suburb is equally well connected. Tram routes 48 and 109 provide direct access to the CBD, while High Street and Cotham Road connect residents to the wider inner east.&nbsp;Nearby access to the Eastern Freeway also places the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne Airport within easy reach, adding another layer of convenience for weekend travel.&nbsp;It's a rare combination of connectivity and tranquillity, where quiet residential streets sit just moments from some of Melbourne's most established shopping and lifestyle precincts.

For families, Kew remains one of Melbourne's most tightly held addresses. Carey Baptist Grammar School, Xavier College, Methodist Ladies' College, Trinity Grammar, Ruyton Girls' School and Genazzano FCJ College are all nearby, while the Yarra River parklands, walking trails and sporting clubs provide another layer of lifestyle appeal.

It's within this established pocket that developer Ricdanic is delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/wimba-ave-kew-9-11-wimba-avenue-kew-vic-3101">Wimba Ave</a>, a boutique collection of just 13 residences across two buildings named after its location on the tree-lined Wimba Avenue,&nbsp;within one of Kew's most prestigious pockets where homes have been known to sell up to and above $8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=354809]

The residences prioritise the space that buyers are increasingly searching for but struggling to find in established suburbs. Living areas extend beyond five metres in width, ceiling heights range from three to five metres, and apartments open onto private gardens averaging around 125 sqm. Selected residences also feature balconies of approximately 60 sqm, while premium inclusions include Miele appliances, double-glazed windows, EV readiness, fully electric systems and a 7.2 NatHERS energy rating.

Architect Chris Idle says opportunities to deliver homes of this scale within established suburbs have become increasingly uncommon.

"There are very few opportunities to do these kinds of developments in leafy, established suburbs," he says. "To get this level of amenity, natural light, and architectural freedom in such a setting is extremely rare."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=366267]

The architecture draws on Kew's established character through the use of handmade Krause bricks, while landscaping by John Patrick introduces 23 plant species, including nine native varieties, creating an environment which focuses just as much on nature as it does the building.

Construction on Wimba Ave is well underway by renowned high-end builder Sinjen, with completion expected in late 2027. Prices start from $2.22 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140755]

Joel Robinson

The enduring appeal of Kew's tree-lined streets and village lifestyle

"For me, it's the location." That was the first thing Chris pointed to when reflecting on why he and his wife Marita decided to purchase at Candela Ivanhoe, the under-construction new apartment development by Salter Brothers in the heart of the north-eastern M​elb​ourne​ suburb. ​

"We've lived here before… everything is here," Chris said.

"Our doctor is around the corner, there's dentists, pilates, everything we need, restaurants, fast food places, two train stations, Ivanhoe and Darebin, both in walking distance. You don't need anything else."

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X8K0Bozug7A?si=Puwc6vx_ZO0qQZF8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Just 10 kilometres from Melbo​urn​e's CBD, Ivanhoe combines direct city connectivity with the amenity of an established village community. Residents have access to highly regarded schools, expansive parklands, public transport, and a thriving retail and hospitality precinct centred around Upper Heidelberg Road, all within a neighbourhood that has retained its leafy character despite its proximity to the city.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/candela-ivanhoe-40-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Candela Ivanhoe</a> sits within the heart of this established landscape, positioned just moments from Ivanhoe Village and within walking distance of many of the suburb's most sought-after amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=364553]

From Candela, residents can access cafés, grocers, wine bars, restaurants and essential services on foot, while Ivanhoe Station and Darebin Station provide direct connectivity across Mel​bour​ne. The development is also surrounded by some of the suburb's best-known lifestyle destinations, including Pinkie, Laurent, Enni, Docasa and Woodfire Pizza e Cucina, alongside Ivanhoe Plaza, Woolworths, pharmacies and specialty retailers.

Green space is another defining feature of the suburb. Darebin Parklands, Ivanhoe Park, Nellie Ibbot Park and the Yarra River trail network provide extensive opportunities for recreation, while Ivanhoe Golf Course and Ivanhoe Tennis Club continue to underpin the area's long-established lifestyle appeal.

The suburb's education offering further strengthens demand. Ivanhoe Grammar School, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School, Mary Immaculate Primary School and Ivanhoe Primary School have helped establish the area as one of Melbou​​rne's most sought-after schooling precincts, attracting families and downsizers alike who want to remain connected to the area.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357510]

While location was the priority for Marita and Chris, the project itself also needed to meet their expectations.

"Whilst location was paramount, I was also looking at design of the environment and Candela ticked every box," Marita said.

"We're just thrilled with our choice."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=336455]

Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>, Candela Ivanhoe has been designed to complement its village setting, with an emphasis on generous floorplans, natural light and practical everyday living.

Residents will have access to a range of shared amenities, including a communal rooftop garden and dedicated residential lounge, complemented by a ground-floor café and lifestyle wellbeing centre, helping foster the sense of community already emerging among future owners.

That approach has resonated strongly with the market. More than 90 per cent of purchasers at Candela Ivanhoe are owner-occupiers, with buyers ranging from downsizers and second-home buyers to young families and first home buyers, creating a genuinely multi-generational community of grandparents, parents and children. It reflects a broader shift across Melbo​​urne's apartment market, where buyers are increasingly prioritising neighbourhood quality, lifestyle amenity and long-term liveability.

Currently under construction by Ironside, Candela Ivanhoe comprises 58 apartments. Candela Ivanhoe is scheduled for completion in the coming months, and residents can move in from September. One to four bedroom residences, prices from $649,000 and limited opportunities remaining.

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Location and lifestyle drive demand at Candela Ivanhoe

As apartment buyers increasingly look beyond the four walls of their residence, the quality and depth of shared amenity has become a defining factor in how developments are designed and experienced, particularly in the high-rise, new apartment development space.

In Southbank, where high-density living continues to evolve, developers are placing greater emphasis on creating environments that support wellbeing, connection, and convenience as part of everyday life.

That approach sits at the heart of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aura-at-melbourne-square-7-hoff-boulevard-southbank-vic-3006">AURA</a>, the latest residential tower in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/osk-property">OSK Property</a>’s $3.5 billion Melbourne Square precinct. Rising 67 storeys above Hoff Boulevard, the 673-apartment development has been conceived around what OSK describes as a “vertical wellness ecosystem”, a layered collection of amenities that extends throughout the building rather than being confined to a single podium level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370263]

The amenity offering begins on the seventh level within the AURA Club, a dedicated resident hub focused on health, relaxation, and daily convenience. Here, residents will have access to an indoor swimming pool, cold plunge, spa, sauna, and steam room, alongside a fully equipped gym, reformer Pilates studio, and yoga room.

The wellness facilities are complemented by a range of spaces that acknowledge the changing ways people live and work. Work-from-home lounges and co-working areas sit alongside a library, music room, games room, cinema facilities, and open-air terrace spaces, providing residents with flexible environments that can adapt throughout the day.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367468]

Beyond the internal amenity, AURA introduces a series of Japanese-inspired gardens that form a quieter counterpoint to the tower’s social spaces.

Landscaped retreats feature curated outdoor dining, tranquil courtyard seating, fire pit, and a tea house pavilion. Rather than functioning as simple recreational areas, the gardens have been designed as places for reflection and informal gathering, drawing on principles of balance, nature, and calm that underpin the project's broader design philosophy.

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The social amenity continues to evolve as residents move higher through the building. Levels 49 and 50 house the Meridian Club, where a lounge bar, conservatory spaces, and private dining rooms take advantage of elevated city views. At the summit of the tower, the exclusive Cumulus Club spans Levels 66 and 67, offering additional lounges, private dining, and meditation and treatment rooms positioned above Melbourne’s skyline.

For OSK Property, the extensive amenity offering reflects a broader focus on wellbeing as a core component of apartment living rather than an added feature.

“Aura stands tall as an exemplar of holistic wellness – its focus on social, physical and mental health culminate in a building that is calming, restorative and relaxing, where residents will have their own sanctuary within the well-connected and sought-after Southbank,” says OSK Property CEO Chong Boon Woon.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367796]

AURA’s amenity strategy extends beyond the tower itself through its integration with the wider Melbourne Square precinct.

Residents will have direct access to Kennedy Park, Southbank’s 3,745 sqm landscaped public park, alongside a full-line Woolworths supermarket, childcare centre, hospitality venues, and approximately 1,600 sqm of additional retail planned within AURA’s lower levels. Together, these elements create a highly connected residential environment where daily needs, recreation, and wellness are woven into the fabric of the community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370253]

As Melbourne’s apartment market continues to mature, developments are increasingly judged by the lifestyle they provide beyond individual residences.

Through its combination of wellness facilities, landscaped retreats, social clubs, and precinct-wide amenity, AURA represents a shift toward a more comprehensive model of vertical living, one where shared spaces play as significant a role as the homes themselves.

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AURA elevates amenity living at Melbourne Square

Builder-developer Scion is the latest to target Sydney's booming Hills Showground Metro precinct, filing plans for more than 100 apartments within walking distance of the station.

Scion has lodged a concurrent rezoning and State Significant Development Application for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/27-33-middleton-avenue-castle-hill-nsw-2154">27–33 Middleton Avenue</a>, where it plans to replace four existing homes with an 11 and 14-storey mixed-use development comprising 109 apartments, six affordable housing dwellings, and a ground-floor café.

Designed by BHK Architects, the proposal includes three levels of basement parking with 174 spaces, more than 1,200 sqm of communal open space, and extensive landscaping across the 3,791 sqm site.

The development has been designed as two buildings connected by a recessed wintergarden spine, with the 14-storey building positioned to the south and the 11-storey building to the north.

<img alt="Scion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="64dc359d-736b-43b8-87a8-70a8285cab47" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-25%20at%208.47.01%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=PXh.m8id_aevBPHEckPf88wQ2RQThPos" />

The apartment mix has been weighted towards owner-occupiers, with 13 one-bedroom apartments, 55 two-bedroom residences, 31 three-bedroom apartments, six three-bedroom lofts, and four four-bedroom homes. Six apartments will be dedicated as affordable housing in line with the NSW Housing SEPP.

According to the Architectural Design Report by BKH, the proposal seeks to create "a place-responsive architecture" inspired by the natural landscape surrounding Cattai Creek, while strengthening the public domain through landscaping, active frontages and a neighbourhood café.

Atlas Urban, in its Urban Design Report, says the proposal takes a different approach to increasing density around Hills Showground Station by favouring a more slender, vertically articulated built form over a conventional mid-rise outcome. The report argues this allows for greater deep soil planting, improved solar access and a better public domain outcome, while still delivering additional housing close to rapid public transport.

The site sits around 500 metres from Hills Showground Metro Station, within a precinct earmarked for significant residential intensification following the opening of the Sydney Metro Northwest line. Planning documents accompanying the application note that Greater Sydney's population has grown by more than one million people since planning for the precinct first began, reinforcing the need to accelerate housing delivery around existing transport infrastructure.

Scion is expanding its development pipeline which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/chatham-west-ryde-2-6-chatham-road-west-ryde-nsw-2114">Chatham in West Ryde</a>, 62 apartments which are approaching completion. They also have a State Significant Development Application with the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/96-anzac-avenue-west-ryde-nsw-2114">145 apartments on Anzac Avenue</a>, also in West Ryde.

First look: Scion plots Castle Hill apartment development near Hills Showground Metro Station

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>&nbsp;has unveiled its scaled-back plans for a pair of towers rising up to 49 storeys directly opposite Bella Vista Metro Station.

The builder-developer will deliver 674 apartments and a new mixed-use hub at the gateway to the station precinct.

The State Significant Development Application has been lodged under the Housing Delivery Authority pathway for the 6,979 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/9-11-mawson-avenue-bella-vista-nsw-2153">9-11 Mawson Avenue</a>, with the apartments sitting above a mixed-use podium. Initial plans were for closer to 900 apartments across two 40-storey towers.

Located around 30 metres from the Bella Vista Metro Station entrance, the development is intended to act as a catalyst for the long-planned Bella Vista Station Precinct, transforming a vacant site into a transit-oriented residential and commercial destination.

Planning documents describe the project as delivering "a high-density mixed use destination that combines housing, retail and community-serving uses in a highly accessible setting."

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 674-apartment Bella Vista towers opposite Metro station" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="21c08216-589e-490d-ad08-2d88b6fa62d9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bella%20vista%20podium.png?VersionId=3TnwjjQCNwTsmyQRaWnFrLTSAF0CJeka" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/turner-studio">Turner</a>, with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, the project comprises 674 apartments, including 102 affordable housing dwellings representing 15 per cent of the residential floor space. The housing mix spans studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, alongside a collection of townhouse-style residences integrated into the podium levels. The development also includes specialist disability accommodation and an elevated provision of adaptable and liveable housing.

The mixed-use podium has been designed to create an active urban centre around the Metro station, incorporating a 1,423 sqm supermarket, a 3,029 sqm gym, specialty retail spaces, a 100-place childcare centre and a publicly accessible "city room" community space. A secondary laneway, active frontages and landscaped public areas are intended to improve pedestrian connectivity through the site and strengthen links between the station precinct and surrounding neighbourhood.

In the project's design report, Turner said the proposal responds to Bella Vista's emerging role as a higher-density centre within Sydney's north-west growth corridor.

"The project transforms a strategically located site into a high-density mixed use destination that combines housing, retail and community-serving uses in a highly accessible setting," the report states.

"Active frontages, a publicly accessible city room, a secondary laneway and a mix of uses including a local supermarket, child care centre and gym create a more complete and socially useful urban environment for residents, workers and the wider community."

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 674-apartment Bella Vista towers opposite Metro station" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0fde6220-82de-4f6a-9b63-d0fd8157acc9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bella%20vista%20da.png?VersionId=7hEmuSutH8plTd_RqqdmPu055F6qe554" />

Urban Property Group has been one of the busiest developers across Greater Sydney this year.

The developer is progressing around 1,000 apartments across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-urban-property-group-plans-next-major-wollongong-tower">two projects in Wollongong</a>, with several thousand more homes in the pipeline across Newcastle, Castle Hill, Little Bay and Penrith.

Staff reporter

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