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The Riversdale Group has appointed Ray White hotel broker Andrew Jolliffe to sell the iconic Marlborough Hotel in Sydney's inner city suburb of Newtown.
It is Riversdale’s largest and most valuable hotel property. It last traded for $7,675,000 in 2012.
Offers close March 1, on <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/145-king-street-newtown-nsw-2042-2013361127" target="_blank">The Marly, an expansive large format hotel</a> with multiple bars, function spaces and a high performing gaming room with 30 very valuable EGMs.
"The Marlborough Hotel is a compelling opportunity for astute investors," he said.
"Located 5km from the Sydney Central Business District, the 978sqm property comes with a 1940’s constructed Interwar architectural style hotel.
"The multi-street fronted Marlborough Hotel is, in the first instance, a most serious piece of fringe CBD commercial real estate; and at almost 1000sqm and numerous storeys including an approved alfresco roof top area; the investment flexibility is patently clear.
"In addition to all above however, is the cash flow potency and reliability the current business model promotes; with well in excess of $10m in combined annual receipts enjoyed by the balanced revenue centers.
"Situated outside Sydney's lock-out zone, and with perpetual ownership of 30 very valuable gaming licenses and a DA approval for a licensed rooftop operation, it all augurs well for fantastic future revenue attraction.
"We've espoused the view recently, and confidently, that the market indicators suggest a case for A-grade freehold hotel yields to contract below 8% in gateway east coast cities.
"In fact, with the prevalence of well-priced debt and record revenue levels being achieved in some sectors of the industry, the downward pressure in yields is far more pronounced than any upward pressure we've seen exhibited."
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Riversdale's largest Sydney hotel, The Marly, listed for sale

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2016 was a watershed moment for China’s commercial real estate market, heralding the next phase of its transformation into one of the major global destinations for property investors and developers, according to Real Capital Analytics.
While development remains a prominent feature of its property market, higher deal volumes for standing assets are a sign of the maturity and depth of China’s investment market.
The confidence of Chinese developers has risen yet again.
The historic peak of land sales by volume was 2013 and 2016 came close second with $417.5b (RMB 2.8t) transacted.
In line with the growing demand, land prices have spiked.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-08%20at%201.27.05%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/2017/02/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-08%20at%201.27.05%20pm.jpg" alt="">
The sharp price growth has been particularly obvious in Tier 1 cities with 19% growth since 2013.
Land values in Tier 1.5 and 2 cities have risen significantly too, by 61% and 49%, respectively.
China became the Asia Pacific region’s largest investment market for income-producing real estate for the first time, overtaking Japan and Australia.
This is a very prominent milestone in the development of the Chinese real estate market.
As highlighted earlier in the report, a total of $36.5b of real estate, excluding development sites, changed hands in China in 2016.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-08%20at%201.27.13%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/2017/02/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-08%20at%201.27.13%20pm.jpg" alt="">
China also claimed another record in 2016 as the Asia Pacific region’s top destination for foreign investors, who completed $10.2b of transactions there last year.
The value of transactions by foreign investors has doubled over the last five years.
The largest foreign investment in China, as well as the largest single asset office transaction in the world, was ARA AM’s purchase of Shanghai Century Link for $3.0b in Q4’16.
Another facet of China’s robust growth is the expansion of Chinese real estate investors and developers abroad.
RCA data shows that $34.7b was invested abroad by Chinese investors in 2016.
This is 245% above the 10-year average and 51% higher than 2015.
However, the strong growth does not come without its challenges.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-08%20at%201.27.21%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/2017/02/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-08%20at%201.27.21%20pm.jpg" alt="">
Speculation about new capital control rules squeezing the pipeline of Chinese outbound capital is causing some concern among market participants both in China and internationally.
It is reasonable to expect that Chinese outbound capital will slow down somewhat in 2017.
Still, investment and development activity within China’s borders is set to stride into 2017 and beyond.
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China's real estate market continues to mature as confidence rises

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China became the Asia Pacific region’s largest investment market for income-earning real estate for the first time in 2016.
Analysis by Real Capital Analytics (RCA) showed that an increasing number of transactions in its second tier cities, plus strong inflows from regional and global investors, powered China to the top spot over Japan and Australia by transaction volumes.
A total of US$14.0 billion (RMB 95.2 billion) in value of real estate, excluding development sites, changed hands in China in the fourth quarter, RCA data revealed.
This was a 32% increase from the same period a year earlier and lifted total investment value for all of 2016 in China by 10% to US$36.5 billion (RMB 243.3 billion).
Deals in existing properties more than doubled in Chongqing, Tianjin and Hangzhou, propelling these three cities into Asia Pacific’s 25 top investment destinations, some for the first time.
Petra Blazkova, RCA’s Senior Director of Analytics for Asia Pacific, said: “This is a watershed moment for China’s commercial real estate market, heralding the next phase of its transformation into one of the world’s major destinations for global property investors.
While development of new sites remains a prominent feature of its property market, higher deal volumes for standing assets in cities other than Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen are a sign of the growing maturity and depth of China’s investment market.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-08%20at%208.58.27%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/2017/02/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-08%20at%208.58.27%20am.jpg" alt="">
China also claimed another record first in 2016 as Asia Pacific’s top destination for foreign investors, who completed US$10.2 billion (RMB 68.0 billion) of property deals there last year.
The total value of transactions by foreign investors has tripled since the 2009 Global Financial Crisis.
The largest foreign investment in China in 2016 was the US$3.0 billion (RMB 20.0 billion) sale of Shanghai Century Link to ARA Asset Management.
In Hong Kong, a market highly influenced by Mainland Chinese investments, overall investment volumes reached US$13.5 billion (HKD 105.2 billion) in 2016, a 15% increase year-on-year (YoY).
Notable transactions that drove this increase included the sale of Mass Mutual Tower and Dah Sing Financial Centre, both for over US$1.0 billion.
In spite of the stronger performance by China and most other Asian markets in 2016, overall investment in the Asia Pacific region fell by 14% YoY to US$132.5 billion on the weakness of the Japanese and Australian markets.
Overall investment volumes in Japan stood at US$29.0 billion (JPY 3.2 trillion) for 2016, a decline of 37% YoY that meant it slipped into second place behind China for the first time.
Third-ranked Australia suffered a drop of 32% YoY in the value of completed transactions to US$22.8 billion (AUD 30.6 billion) last year.
RCA’s analysis showed that listed real estate investment trusts (REITs), a traditional driver of transactions in these two markets, slowed their investments significantly after several years of domestic domination due to their access to cheaper capital.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-08%20at%208.58.54%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/2017/02/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-08%20at%208.58.54%20am.jpg" alt="">
RCA’s Blazkova commented: “Pricing in both Japan and Australia seems sharp by historical comparison causing these two markets to slow considerably.
A heavy weight of capital continues to search for opportunities, with a strong focus on the safest and largest markets and a buy-and-hold attitude. This combination has created a highly competitive environment for the best assets.”
Barring Japan and Australia, a number of key markets in the region continued to do well.
One such bright spot was South Korea, where investment volumes in the country rose 15% YoY to US$12.0 billion (KRW 13.7 trillion), driven by healthy domestic and foreign demand.
Last year was also the second strongest year for cross-border investment in South Korea recorded by RCA, with the most notable deal being the purchase of Seoul IFC by Brookfield Asset Management in a joint venture with China Investment Corporation (CIC) for US$2.2 billion (KRW 2.5 trillion).
Singapore also had a strong showing in 2016, posting a 38% year-on-year increase in investment volumes last year to US$8.0 billion (SGD 11.0 billion).
This was mainly due to the US$2.6 billion (SGD 3.4 billion) sale of Asia Square Tower 1.
The transaction boosted confidence, as investors returned to the market in the fourth quarter of 2016 in anticipation of rental growth and rising property values.
Blazkova from RCA said: “There has been much talk about investors turning to smaller markets in Asia Pacific as a source of value-for-money opportunities.
Our analysis suggests, however, that for so-called frontier markets like the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, there is still a stand-off in pricing expectations that is preventing investment from really taking off.”
The Asia Pacific Capital Trends report also revealed:
<ul>
<li>The largest single transaction in 2016 was the US$3.0 billion (RMB 20.0 billion) purchase of Shanghai Century Link in China by ARA Asset Management.  </li>
<li>A new peak was reached in terms of the number of megadeals (over US$1.0 billion) done in Asia Pacific last year at 51, with the continued deployment and abundance of capital.  </li>
<li>In terms of market activity by cities, Seoul was the biggest surprise of 2016, having jumped from 10th position in 2015 to 4th last year on record high investment activity, especially in the office and hotel sectors.</li>
</ul>
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China leapfrogs Japan and Australia to become APAC’s largest commercial real estate investment market

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A trading company has leased a space on one of Melbourne’s most famous shopping strips – Lygon Street, Carlton.
T&amp; Y Global Trading Pty Ltd signed a $90,000 per annum five-plus-five year lease term, representing a building rate of $333.3 per square metre. Ryan Milivojac and Anthony Carbone of CVA negotiated the lease.
The Victorian style building comprises ground floor open plan carpeted space, rear bar, fully equipped industrial kitchen, male and female amenities, upstairs function room with separate amenities and marble fire place. Other features include rear access to Watt Lane.
Situated 40 metres from Grattan Street, the property is 1.8 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, the property is well surrounded by major roads including Victoria Street, Royal Parade, Alexandra Parade, Nicholson Street and Johnston Street.
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Trading company grabs a slice of Lygon Street, Carlton retail

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The contemporary resort-style Belrose property Kameraigal has been listed for sale at $8.75 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-belrose-123898290" target="_blank">27 Morgan Road</a> the six-bedroom family residence has three acres of sprawling grounds.
It is a ground level entertainer’s haven with pool table, bar and Teppanyaki grill and an infinity edge swimming pool and spa with waterfall. 
Outside is an expansive terrace, pergola, built-in barbecue and the special Kameraigal fireplace. 
<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/2017/02/08/Belrose-2.jpg" alt="">
The middle level of the home provides separate entrance, perfect for business or guest accommodation.
There’s also a home office with bespoke fittings, an exotic 400 litre aquarium, tennis court and a gourmet granite kitchen. 
The resort-worthy property has been listed for sale by Kevin Packman of Belle Property. 
The median house price in Belrose is $1.4 million according to CoreLogic RP Data.
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Kameraigal at Belrose listed at $8.75 million

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The 46 luxury residences at 525 High Street, exceeding a residential value of $45 million, have sold out in less than 12 weeks in Prahran East Village.
The 525 High Street project is seven-storey building.
It attracted particular attention from downsizers, empty-nesters, and professional couples.
"Every buyer has been an owner-occupier," Goldfields spokesperson Lachlan Thompson said.
It was a design partnership between JCB Architects and Hecker Guthrie.
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Only owner occupiers buy into 525 High Street, Prahran East sellout

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NRL Titans star and new father Jarryd Hayne is moving on with his life on the Gold Coast.
He has just sold his redundant Paddington terrace back in Sydney. 
The proceeds could readily buy a more family friendly home to replace his family's Surfers Paradise apartment.
The sale price for his renovated pink Paddington terrace remains undisclosed.
It initially came with $3.25 million hopes when the striking pink door showed up on listing websites, however the price was reduced to $2,975,000 by Our Estates selling agent Adam Regan.
Hayne, who became a dad for the first time in December, paid $1,315,000 for the terrace in 2013 when it had only two bedrooms and one bathroom.
He commissioned architect Dickson Rothschild to turn it into a contemporary three bedder with three bathrooms and an attic installation.
The home is now unmissable from the street, with a bright pink door contrasting the dark grey facade.
There's a pink theme throughout the home too. The feature wall in the lounge and the bbq cupboard in the kitchen have clearly been styled by a designer.
The sale leaves the Gold Coast Titan's star with just two properties left in Sydney, another one in Paddington and the other in Darlinghurst, both of which are currently leased.
He's making a tidy profit on his Darlinghurst investment property, finding a tenant for $1,450 a week, $300 a week more than it was before its recent renovation.
Hayne had lived in St Peters before selling the family home for $995,000 to fund his NFL dream.
It was a strong profit on the home that cost him $527,500 in 2007, way back when he was a 19-year old rookie at the Eels.
Hayne, who played 176 games for Parramatta before heading overseas, grew up between Minto and Airds near Campbelltown where he lived in a housing commission residence and was raised by mother Jodie and grandmother Robin while his father chased a career overseas.
There is no news of Hayne buying a property in Queensland yet, with the fullback headlining the Gold Coast Titans Auckland Nine squad this weekend.
Hayne and Amelia Bonnici are yet to publicly name their daughter who was born in mid December, however Hayne posted a picture to Instagram of his daughter asleep on his chest.
"All praise to god above, for he never makes mistakes!!!! <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/daddysgirl/" target="_blank" data-log-event="tagvisit" data-ios-link="tag?name=daddysgirl">#daddysgirl</a>" accompanied the picture.
Before making the news public, Hayne was asked by the Telegraph if his new born child would wear an Eels jumper, San Francisco or Titans, Hayne replied by suggesting it would be Titans.
“I don’t know,” he said laughingly.
“(It) obviously depends where I’m at. A Titans one, at the moment.”
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.
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Jarryd Hayne scores redundant Paddington terrace sale

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Sydney is the most expensive place to purchase a house while bargains may be found in Adelaide, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that on average the cost of a private treaty house in Sydney is $780,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/30/Capital%20city%20private%20treaty.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/2017/01/30/Capital%20city%20private%20treaty.jpg" alt="">
The average private treaty price of a unit in Sydney is $670,000.
Hobart is the cheapest place to purchase a house with an average cost of $350,000.
Adelaide has enjoyed the cheapest units at $301,000.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-sa-blackwood-116166451" target="_blank">A recent Adelaide sale</a> (pictured above) was $302,500 at Blackwood, which has been a $310 a week rental representing a 5% yield.
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Adelaide's cheapest units sell at 5% yield: CoreLogic

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Queenstown is the cheapest place to purchase a house in Tasmania, according to Investar’s latest report.
The property investment firm says that the average median price of a two bedroom house at Queenstown is $68,000.
This is followed by Zeehan with $79,000 and Roseberry with $92,500 for a three bedroom houses.
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Postcode
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Bedrooms
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Median price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Queenstown
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
7467
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
$68,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Zeehan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
7469
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
$79,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Roseberry
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
7470
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
$92,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Mayfield
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
7248
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
$149,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Waverley
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
7250
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
$149,000
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
A two bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-queenstown-124196974" target="_blank">10 Clark Street</a>, Queenstown (above) that has been listed for $68,000.
A two bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-queenstown-124196974" target="_blank">10 Harvey Street</a>, Queenstown (below) has been listed for $75,000.
<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/2017/02/07/10%20Harvey%20Street.jpg" alt="">
A two bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-tas-queenstown-124063622" target="_blank">9 Pillinger Street</a>, Queenstown (below) has recently been sold for $62,000.
<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/2017/02/07/9%20Pillinger%20Street.jpg" alt="">
Similarly a two bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-tas-queenstown-123443986" target="_blank">12 Urquhart Street</a>, Queenstown (below) was sold for $79,000.
<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/2017/02/07/12%20Urquhart%20Street.jpg" alt="">
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Queenstown the cheapest place in Tasmania to purchase a house: Investar

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There was plenty of news in Australia this week.
The influential NAB Monthly Business Survey had a smiley face (literally) on it for the first time since mid last year, with the index up 5 points to +11.
Business confidence itself was unchanged at +6.
It reported that there had been “a reprieve from the steady moderation in business conditions seen late last year”.
Yet retail, manufacturing and mining performed poorly, with wholesale picking up the slack. Retail was now the weakest sector in the survey.
Translation: consumer confidence is bad. And when you think that consumer spending accounts for nearly 75% of GDP that is certainly cause for concern.
Private sector credit was up 0.7% in December for a 5.6% annual rate of growth, according to the Reserve Bank.
How does one square that with my claims about consumer confidence?
Easy, the credit expansion was chiefly due to a growth in investor loans, which were up at an annual rate of 6.2%.
In fact, over the last three months that rate was edging toward the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority “speed limit” of 10% – coming in about 1% below.
This raises thorny questions for APRA. Does it impose tighter constraints on banks lending to investors – like even higher deposit requirements?
What if growth goes over 10% – do they shift the goalposts?
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/07/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-07%20at%2012.54.53%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/2017/02/07/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-07%20at%2012.54.53%20pm.jpg" alt="">
We are used to thinking of central banks as having to perform a balancing act with monetary policy where they don’t let the economy get too hot or too cold, and have to be worried about an interest rate rise causing a sharp contraction/recession.
Perhaps APRA faces an analogous, though new, problem.
If it tightens so-called “macroprudential” standards – like deposit requirements – it risks causing a sharp contraction in housing prices.
And that could lead to forced selling, and pretty soon it could amount to a fire sale.
Or, if you like, a macroprudentially-induced housing run.
Australia’s trade surplus came in at a record A$3.51 billion in December, beating estimates of around A$2.2 billion. This seems like good news. And as they say in baseball “you can’t boo a homerun”.
But the record figure came on the back of a sharp rise in commodity prices, once again highlighting how dependent our economy is on cyclical movements in prices of things we dig out of the ground.
And the RBA will not be pleased at the accompanying leap in the Aussie dollar, which surged past US76 cents on the news.
The RBA puts a lot of emphasis on a lower Aussie dollar in that it helps exporters, and US76 cents is getting outside their comfort zone.
Although I have expressed scepticism about their thinking many times before in The Conversation.
Over the pond, the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady, in the band of 0.5%-0.75%, after its December hike of 25bp.
In its press release the Fed said, “the labor market has continued to strengthen and that economic activity has continued to expand at a moderate pace.
Job gains remained solid and the unemployment rate stayed near its recent low.
Household spending has continued to rise moderately while business fixed investment has remained soft.
Measures of consumer and business sentiment have improved of late.
Inflation increased in recent quarters but is still below the Committee’s 2 percent longer-run objective.”
Other than business investment being soft, that sounds like everything is going according to plan. And so far it is.
But then there is President Trump.
We have yet to see the impact Trump will have on consumer and business confidence, let alone what happens if he starts a series of trade wars.
Or if he convinces Congress to introduce his cash-flow-based tax plan.
I will provide more detail on that in future columns, but it is a dangerous attempt to provide preferable tax treatment for exporters over importers.
It has the very real prospect of causing huge disruption, and a large increase in the prices of many staple goods like textiles and food.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-holden-118107" target="_blank">Richard Holden</a> is a Professor of Economics and PLuS Alliance Fellow at UNSW and author for <a href="https://theconversation.com/au" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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Time to shift the goalposts on investor lending again? Richard Holden

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."

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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