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Southbank property sales have increased in the past three months, according to CoreLogic’s Cityscope report.
The property data firm says that sales recorded in the quarter ending February 2017 totalled $758 million, an increase from the $610.6 million recorded in the three months to November 2016.
However this is a decrease from the $952.9 million recorded to August 2016.
This data brings the 12 month total to $2.509 billion, an increase from the $1.465 billion recorded the same time last year.
The table below shows sales recorded for the past eight updates of Southbank Cityscope.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/24/Corelogic-3.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/02/24/Corelogic-3.jpeg" alt="">
Notable sales in the February 2017 update of Southbank Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>World Trade Centre, also known as WTC Wharf at 18-38 Siddeley Street, Docklands, which comprise Towers 2, 3 and 4 and are linked by a three-level concourse of shops, showrooms and office suites plus basement parking for 436 cars. It was built in 1983, refurbished 2010, and has sold for $267.5 million through Knight Frank and JLL;</li>
<li>Esso House, Riverside Quay site 5 at 51-65 Southbank Promenade, Southbank, a 17-level office building of 20,000 square metres, built in 1995 at a cost of $100m, and featuring a glass-covered rainforest atrium on a 6,603 square metres site, has been sold for $160 million through  JLL Melbourne and</li>
<li>A 25% interest in the DFO South Wharf and the DFO Homemaker Hub South Wharf, two four-level buildings, both completed in late 2009 was bought for $141.25 million. The two buildings are interconnected at first floor level and basement level. The Homemaker Hub extends over level 1 of both buildings and the ground floor of the northern building and DFO South Wharf on ground and basement of the southern building plus studio offices on levels 2 to 4.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/24/Corelogic-4.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/02/24/Corelogic-4.jpeg" alt="">
Properties listed as for sale in February 2017 update of Southbank Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>190 City Road, a three-storey glass-fronted office building of concrete construction built in 1987, and refurbished in 1990 and in 2005 with building area of 3,815 square metres on a 1,597 site, for sale by expressions of interest closing March 23, 2017 through CBRE;</li>
<li>Shop 9R at 3 Freshwater Place, Southbank, a retail space of 95 square metres on the ground level, for sale by auction on 2nd March 2017 through Fitzroys and</li>
<li>8-16 Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne, a two-storey rendered concrete-block building built in 1988 on a 908 square metres site, for sale by expressions of interest closing March 8, 2017 through Colliers International.</li>
</ul>
Leasing opportunities listed in the February 2017 update of Southbank Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>99 Queensbridge Street (pictured above), a five-storey building with three ground-floor showrooms, office floors of about 1,040 square metres, and to City Road a single-storey showroom plus entry to 70 car spaces on ground and roof levels, built in 1991, has office space ranging from 210 to 1,974 square metres for lease through Ryder Commercial and Colliers International Melbourne;</li>
<li>2 Southbank Boulevard, the 37-storey commercial tower of Freshwater Place, completed in June 2005 with net lettable area of 55,769 square metres, has office space ranging from 276 to 23,000 square metres for lease through CBRE Melbourne and Colliers International Melbourne and</li>
<li>Lot 1, a three-storey rendered brick office building with undercover parking for 32 cars and Lot 2, a one and two-storey office, showroom and warehouse building, both at 164 to 182 Kings Way, South Melbourne, has office floor areas ranging from 1,390 to 1,900 square metres for lease through CBRE Melbourne.</li>
</ul>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Southbank commercial property sales on the rebound: Cityscope

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Sydney's Verandah hotel in Martin Place has been sold for over $9 million.
The hotel is at 60 Castlereagh St and fronts both Castlereagh and Elizabeth Sts.
It sold through Andrew Jolliffe of Ray White's Asia Pacific Hotels. 
<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/2017/02/28/022_Open2view_ID448707-55-65_Elizabet_Street.jpg" alt="">
 He is also selling on behalf of the same vendors John Singleton, Geoff Dixon and Mark Carnegie of The Australian Pub Fund (APF), the Marlborough Hotel in Newtown and Kinselas in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.
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Sydney's Martin Place hotel, Verandah, sold

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CoreLogic has revised commercial auction results to the 10th of February, which indicate a slight increase in activity as the year progresses, according to CoreLogic’s Cityscope.
The property data firm says that listings in the second week of February ramped up to 11, compared with just five in the previous week.
Three of the 11 listings cleared at auction, bringing the clearance rate up to 27.27 percent from the previous week of 20 percent.
The sales for the week ending 10th of February had a combined worth of $2.75 million, also up from $1.58 million in the previous week.
The following image summarises the type and value of properties sold at auction collected by CoreLogic across the country.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/24/Corelogic-5.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/2017/02/24/Corelogic-5.jpg" alt="">
Unsurprisingly, the high performing economies of New South Wales and Victoria have seen most of the first few sales in 2017.
The average sale price is just under $1 million.
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Auction activity increases as year progresses: Cityscope

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Sydney artisan jewellery designer Rosemary Luker and her tree surgeon partner Russell Freeman have dropped the asking price of Mallacoota's Karbeethong Lodge.
The historic 1903 residence now comes with $1.35 million plus hopes - down from $1.8 million - as the pair try and trigger a sale through Unique Estate's Nicolette van Wijngaarden.
The coastal Edwardian retreat on an inlet halfway between Sydney and Melbourne cost the couple $620,000 in 2001. They have restored and renovated the lodge during their ownership.
Luker and Freeman stumbled upon the place looking for a room and fell in love with it.
Set among fruit trees with access to a jetty, the 10 bedroom lodge sits on 4476 sqm of waterfront land and has hosted Australian and international guests, all the way back to poet Banjo Paterson.
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian's Mansion Australia section. 
 
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Price drop for Karbeethong Lodge, Mallacoota

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One of Brisbane’s last remaining ‘large format’ hotels, the Mansfield Tavern tenanted by Liquorland, has been listed for sale.
Located just 11 km from the Brisbane CBD, the Mansfield Tavern at 181 Wecker Road in Mansfield, is a popular venue incorporating a public bar, gaming room with 31 machines, entertainment space and detached function room/bistro. 
It sits on a 20,830 sqm land parcel.
CBRE Hotels’ Glenn Price, Paul Fraser and Daniel Dragicevich are selling the property via an expression of interest process.
Price said the property’s tenancy profile would attract strong buyer interest. The Mansfield Tavern and First Choice Liquor is leased to Wesfarmers subsidiary, Liquorland (Qld) Pty Ltd.
“In recent years, hotels leased to either Liquorland (Coles) or ALH (Woolworths) have been tightly held, with those that have come to the market being seen as prized assets by purchasers and subsequently strongly sought after,” Price said.
Mansfield Tavern has been leased to Liquorland for the past 20 years with a further five-year option available. Current rental income from the hotel is nearly $810,000 (excluding GST) with the freehold owner having the option to retain ownership of the gaming machines upon expiry of the lease.
Coles (Liquorland) is the country’s second largest hotel operator, with a portfolio of 98 hotels.
The suburb of Mansfield was originally developed as government housing estates, but has progressively been replaced by larger private residences in recent years.
These dwellings are overwhelmingly occupied by couple families largely because of nearby schools and higher education institutions.
<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/BRIS_HOT_Mansfield%20Tav.jpg" alt="">
“The Mansfield Tavern is a unique opportunity - not only due to the sheer scale of the site but also due to the term of the current lease," Price said.
Upon expiry of the lease, an investor could restructure a new lease, or for a hotelier, the opportunity offers the ability to run the hotel capitalising on the reversionary value of the business.
Dragicevich added that a “new hotel could be repositioned on the site, unlocking a large portion of the land which could then be developed into apartments, town houses, aged care or possibly retail uses subject to council approvals”.
 
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Tavern leased to Liquorland listed for sale in Brisbane's Mansfield

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Melbourne's five bedroom trophy home Zermatt, in Surrey Hills, has sold for $5,655,000 at private auction.
The home, 16 Tower St Surrey Hills, was built in 1914 and features northern views to the ranges, a resort-style tennis court and pool over 1515sqm.
It also features two study areas, a games room with cathedral ceilings, butler's pantry and rooftop terrace.
It sold through Kay &amp; Burton's Judy Balloch and Scott Patterson.
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Surrey Hills, Melbourne trophy home Zermatt sold

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Urban development and renewal expert, Dr Joan Clos, Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations’ Habitat Program, will visit Australia in May.
Australia is a signatory to the New Urban Agenda (NUA), the UN’s 20 year road map for sustainable urban development.
The NUA sets a new standard for sustainable urban development and is designed to help countries rethink how they plan, manage and live in cities.
Compass Housing, in association with RMIT University, Victorian Department of the Environment, Land Water and Planning, CoDesign Studio and Eastern Organisation for Planning and Human Settlements (EAROPH), is bringing together representatives from across the region to explore the implications of the new agenda and start work towards delivery of outcomes.
The conference Implementing the New Urban Agenda: Making Cities and Human Settlements Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 4-5 May 2017.
Greg Budworth, Compass Housing group managing director,  said the Australian Government's adoption of the NUA last October was an important opportunity for housing and urban policy development.
“The conference in Melbourne will provide the first real opportunity in Australasia and the Pacific region for those with an interest in getting urban development right, to start developing an effective and strategic approach without further delay.
“We know our population is growing, it will potentially double in the next 50 years, and this is putting pressure on our urban areas, particularly capital cities. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures suggest two-thirds of Australians currently live in a capital city and this may increase to nearly three-quarters in the relatively near future.
“Housing affordability is already an enormous problem, and there are more than 200,000 families on the waiting list for social housing while 40 per cent of people receiving Commonwealth Rent Assistance are still in housing stress.”
Professor David Adamson, conference chair,  said addressing these issues and delivering the key NUA objectives of “cities for all” and “no one left behind” would require the collaboration of a wide range of private, public, academic and not-for-profit agencies.
“Having the head of the UN Habitat Program in attendance in Melbourne is a fantastic opportunity and a sign of the global significance of the event,” he said.
“Dr Clos has had an illustrious career spanning public health, diplomacy, municipal government and urban renewal and will bring powerful insight and enormous practical experience to the task at hand,” he said.
 
 
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Global sustainable urban development leader to help inform Australian policy direction

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Sydney already has the annual increase in home value, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
Now with preliminary CoreLogic February 2017 Home Value Index results, the head of research Asia Pacific, Tim Lawless has noted that further evidence supporting a strong start to the 2017 housing markets.
 “The February results will confirm that housing market conditions remain very strong in Sydney and Melbourne, while Brisbane and Adelaide have also see values rise and Perth dwelling values have slipped lower. 
"Based on preliminary results, the CoreLogic daily home value index has recorded a 1.1 percent rise in dwelling values across the five city aggregate index over the first 27 days of the month, with Sydney continuing to stand out with the highest capital gain. 
The month to date data for Sydney is showing a 2.6 percent to 2.7 percent surge in dwelling values for February, with Melbourne posting a 0.5 percent to 0.7 percent gain over the month, based on the preliminary figures.
"The strong capital gain conditions are likely to push the annual growth rate for Sydney close to the cyclical high of 18.4% which was recorded over the twelve month period ending July 2015,” Tim Lawless. 
The property data firm says that over the past 12 months Sydney’s home value has increased by around 18.2 percent.
The final February result will be released tomorrow.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/27/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-27%20at%2012.39.41%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%2012.39.41%20pm.jpg" alt="">
This is in contrast to Perth’s home value which has declined by 3.8 percent over the past 12 months.
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Sydney home values surge to 18 percent annual growth in February 2017: CoreLogic

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Newly unveiled plans for Bellbird Park’s first off-lead dog park in AVID Property Group’s Brentwood Forest will have tails unanimously wagging across the Greater Springfield and Ipswich regions.
The 1,600 square metre, fully-fenced puppy friendly space, to be completed late-2017, will form part of the new 1.3 hectare park being delivered by AVID Property Group and will be one of the largest off-lead dog parks in the Greater Springfield and Ipswich regions.
AVID general manager Bruce Harper said Ipswich City Council was supportive of AVID’s plans for the park.
“Council has been extremely supportive of our plans for the park as they understand the significant health, social and economic benefits dog parks like this one bring,” he said.
“The park will help cater for the needs of the more than 28,000 registered dogs in the region, and with only 14 other off-lead dog parks in the Ipswich local government area, we expect the park will be welcomed by pet loving locals.”
<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/Dog%20Park%20Render%202.jpg" alt="">
“The community will also be able to access a range of sports, fitness and kids play facilities that will form part of the new broader $1.2 million dollar park planned for Brentwood Forest.”
The park will be located on the doorstep of approximately 1,200 residents already living at Brentwood Forest.
Brentwood Forest’s latest Magpie land release includes blocks with sizes ranging from an easy care 250 square metre to 563 square metre family sized blocks.
The latest Tempo Living house and land release offers architecturally designed homes as turnkey packages at fixed prices.
Land prices at Brentwood start from just $169,000 while Tempo Living house and land packages start from just $302,215.
Brentwood Forest is also home to newly opened high school - Bellbird Park State Secondary College - and has also welcomed plans for a proposed new child care centre within the community, expected to open in late-2017.
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Brentwood Forest to become home to Bellbird Park’s first off-lead dog park

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Wollongong takes the top spot in the regional regions with the highest weekend auction clearance rate, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that out of the 41 auctions known to CoreLogic in Wollongong 80.5% of them were cleared.
This is followed by Geelong with 80% and the Hunter region with 74.1%.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/27/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-27%20at%2011.31.24%20am.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%2011.31.24%20am.jpg" alt="">
A three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-bulli-124645354" target="_blank">20 Somerville Street,</a> Bulli (above) was sold for $1,311,000.
Similarly a three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-bulli-124610514" target="_blank">72 Willcath Street</a>, Bulli (below) was sold for $1,460,000.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/02/27/72%20Willcath%20Street.jpg" alt="">
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80% of Wollongong's auctions cleared over the weekend: CoreLogic

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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=342]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367810]

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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151921]

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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