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Over the September 2016 quarter, 26.4 percent of  Darwin houses and 41.0 percent of Darwin units resold  for less than their previous purchase price, according to CoreLogic’s latest Pain and Gain report.
The property data firm says that the instances of loss-making resales have continued  to trend higher over the quarter from their previous record-highs.
The chart below relates to Darwin only losses in houses versus units.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/30/Corelogic-20.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/Corelogic-20.jpg" alt="">
Across the council areas, Litchfield saw the lowest proportion of loss-making resales (17.4%) followed by: Darwin (31.7%) and Palmerston (33.9%).
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/30/Corelogic-21%20copy%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Darwin property resales at loss highest in Palmerston: CoreLogic Pain and Gain

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Nationally, 8.0 percent of houses and 12.7 percent of units were resold at a loss over the September 2016 quarter, according to CoreLogic's latest Pain and Gain report.
The property data firm says that splitting this out across the capital cities and regional areas shows that for houses, 5.6 percent resold at a loss in the capital cities and 11.7 percent resold at a loss outside of the capital cities.
For units, 10.2 percent resold at a loss in the capital cities compared to 18.4 percent across regional areas of the country.
Sydney was the only major region nationally in which the proportion of units sold at a loss over the September 2016 quarter was lower than houses.
In many of the regions analysed the difference was significant with Melbourne, Brisbane, regional NT and the Australian Capital Territory recording a proportion of loss-making resales for units that was more than double that of houses.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/30/Corelogic-05.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/Corelogic-05.jpg" alt="">
The historical data indicates that it has been extremely rare for resales of houses to record a higher proportion of loss than units.
This is reflective of the fact that house values have typically increased at a more rapid pace than units.
It is also reflective of the fact that historically houses have recorded high buyer demand against a backdrop of constrained supply.
In a market like Sydney where more units have been built than houses over the past two decades - and the gap between house and unit prices is substantial - CoreLogic noted the trend had changed recently with units proving less likely to resell at a loss than houses.
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Units resold more often at a loss than houses everywhere but Sydney: CoreLogic Pain and Gain

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Adelaide’s residential development Realm Adelaide will be the highest in the city at 132 metres and feature 320 one, two, three and four bedroom apartments across 40 levels. 
Realm Adelaide’s two penthouses, priced around $5.5 million, span more than 500 square metres each and are divided into retreat and relaxation zones, and feature four bedrooms, with ensuites.
<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/Realm_Renders_16038_AUSTIN_COMMON_DINING_FINAL_HI_RES.jpg" alt="">
Designed by Elenberg Fraser, founder Callum Fraser said Realm Adelaide’s golden geometric form will stand out on the Adelaide skyline, creating a strong architectural statement in the city.
“Befitting this prestigious address we sought inspiration from the European masters from Mies van der Rohe to Gio Ponti, those who invented the art of restrained design that exudes luxury,” Mr Fraser 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/2017/01/30/Realm_Renders_16038_AUSTIN_COMMON_POOL_FINAL_HI_RES.jpg" alt="">
“The interior design pays tribute to the site’s heritage through a natural, tonal material palette enhanced by subtle gold detailing that reference this past.”
The development will have two levels dedicated to health, wellbeing and entertaining and the building’s eighth level, includes a CrossFit-enabled gym, dining and games rooms as well as a lounge and outdoor entertaining zone and a 25 metre lap pool and spa nestled among resort-like cabana seating.
Residents in the premium sky residences have access to a 500 square metre rooftop at level 39 as well as a wellness centre featuring yoga studio and private massage suite, spa, sauna and steam room pods.
<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/Realm_Renders_16038_Austin_Street_Standard_Bedroom.jpg" alt="">
Realm Adelaide is being developed by Parallel Property, a private Sydney developer with family links to Adelaide.
Sales will commence in February.
For more information visit: <a href="https://www.realmadelaide.com" target="_blank">www.realmadelaide.com</a>
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Adelaide's highest residence in Realm Adelaide for sale at $5.5 million

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Perth is the location with the second longest time required to sell a property, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that the average time for a house to sell at Perth is 90 days while a unit can take up to 99 days to sell.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/30/Capital%20city%20median%20time.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Darwin houses takes 104 days to sell.
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Perth second slowest behind Darwin in time to sell a property: CoreLogic

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Adelaide is the second cheapest capital city to purchase a unit, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that out of the 114 sales observed by CoreLogic the average recent Adelaide private treaty price was $295,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/24/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/2017/01/24/Capital%20city%20private%20treaty.jpg" alt="">
It costs on average $416,000 to purchase a home, which also makes Adelaide the second cheapest place to purchase a house.
Darwin is the cheapest place to purchase a unit with only a median price of $285,000 while a house in Hobart can cost up to $352,500.
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Adelaide second cheapest place to purchase a unit behind Darwin: CoreLogic

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The biggest sale of last week came in Dural where Touraine, an eight bedroom palatial mansion, sold for $8.8 million.
It came with a revised price guide of $9 million to $9.9 million, having initially been listed nearly a year ago for between $11 million and $12 million.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-dural-124185582" target="_blank">grand home</a> (above and below) has 10 marble bathrooms, a self-contained guest accommodation, home office, dance studio, media library, billiard room with wet bar and a wine cellar.
There's a 20 metre swimming pool with spa, tennis court and expansive entertaining terraces on the two hectare estate.
The home was sold by McGrath Castle Hill agents Elise Lau and Joel McSeveny.
<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/Dural2.jpg" alt="" width="492" height="365">
The biggest sale in Queensland came from Surfers Paradise, where former chief operating officer of Village Roadshow Peter Foo sold his Paradise Waters home for $3.6 million.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-paradise+waters-123861998" target="_blank">four bedroom, five bedroom waterfront</a> (below) cost Foo $2,672,000 in 2010.
<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/Surfers.jpg" alt="" width="493" height="311">
It features a swimming pool, games room and ponton on the 836 sqm parcel.
Russell Rollington at First National Surfers Paradise marketed the home.
 
 
 
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Luxury Dural mansion tops weeks sales at $8.8 million: CoreLogic

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REA Group chief economist Nerida Conisbee looks at what we should expect from Australia’s commercial property market in 2017.
1. Sydney to remain the top performer for both capital and rental returns
Sydney now has the lowest vacancy rate in Australia for office and industrial property.
With economic growth continuing in NSW, a slow development pipeline and more stock being taken out of the market, there are no signs of this changing in 2017.
Sydney’s CBD office market will be the strongest commercial market nationally, with vacancy continuing to decline, partly because of a growth in white collar employment but also because of the construction of Sydney Metro taking out large chunks of secondary space.
While this is great for landlords, it will be challenging for tenants as rents rise and available options reduce.
While there is some new development taking place, there is unlikely to be enough completed in 2017 to satisfy demand and this will be a drag on economic growth for NSW.
2. Flow of Chinese money to continue
Chinese buyers purchased US$3.7 billion of Australian commercial property in 2016, according to Real Capital Analytics, down from US$4.3 billion in 2015.
This decline is likely to be due to lack of buying opportunities, as opposed to a lack of funds, as buyer interest appears to continue to grow unabated.
Changes will continue to occur to the types of Chinese buyers targeting Australia, as well as what they choose to purchase.
The first wave of Chinese buyers were developers and these groups are now firmly entrenched in the Australian market.
Sovereign wealth funds have also become well established.
The next wave is likely to be large Chinese conglomerates, looking to diversify their risk and tap into the significant opportunities in Australian property.
These changes to buyers mean that the types of property is also changing.
While development sites and office buildings still dominate, growing interest from Chinese buyers in Australian hotels, agriculture and retail will be a key theme in 2017.
3. Australia’s safe haven status confirmed
As concerns about Brexit rock London – historically one of the safest markets in the world for commercial property – and uncertainty as to the impact of a Trump presidency on US property raises concerns in that market, Australia is looking even more attractive.
A quarter of a century of positive economic growth, low sovereign risk and a strong-performing property sector are all characteristics of a desirable investment destination.
Will this change to the global political landscape redefine the markets that are considered safe? With the exception of Singapore, most of Asia has been seen as too politically risky for most large scale investors. This may begin to change in 2017.
4. Amazon to finally crack online shopping in Australia
Online shopping is not big in Australia. We like it well enough but certainly not as much as the rest of the world.
Largely this is due to the fact that the proportion of spending we do online for grocery shopping remains low.
Amazon announced they will enter the Australian market in 2017.
While it is uncertain exactly how aggressive they will be, if they replicate the success they have had elsewhere it will have an enormous impact on shopping behaviour.
This will be a challenge for our supermarket chains, as well as the shopping centres that contain them.
5. Shopping centres continue to adjust to a changing landscape
Shopping centres are resilient and have been remarkable in their ability to adjust to changing consumer preferences.
Now much more than simply a place to shop, they offer entertainment, social interaction and places to eat.
Good shopping centres drive residential prices in the suburbs surrounding them, particularly if they have been recently upgraded.
Can they adapt to a potential threat from large online retailers like Amazon?
It is likely that the poorer ones will be hit but smart owners will redesign and refurbish to continue to attract consumers.
This could be by increasing the food and beverage options, being smarter about marketing to their local communities or providing more services such as medical centres and gyms.
6. Technology continues to change commercial property
The technological revolution has been slow to hit commercial property, certainly lagging behind sectors such as banking and retailing.
The indirect impacts, however, will continue to be a feature in 2017.
Whether that be by technology occupiers driving office markets (startups to Melbourne, established to Sydney), changing warehouse designs as a result of new picking technology or the above mentioned rise in online shopping, changing technology will impact the occupier markets in particular.
7. Interest rates to rise independently of RBA decisions
Interest rate rises on home loans were big news late last year, particularly given that the Reserve Bank of Australia made two cuts just a few months prior.
Next year, it is likely the banks will continue to break from the RBA’s rates decisions. Even if the RBA cuts interest rates, there is no guarantee that this will be passed on.
While this seems to be largely focused on residential lending, it may also impact lending on commercial property, particularly for those property types that are closely linked to the residential market (like development sites).
8. Australian investors expand offshore
Australians were among the biggest investors offshore in commercial property in the lead up to the GFC, but now barely feature.
Part of this is because so many of them made poor purchasing decisions, and have been impacted by those choices for many years.
The other factor is that so many large Australian investors are now backed by offshore money, which means very few want their funds sent outside Australia.
In 2017, however, the number of investors looking overseas is likely to grow.
That group is likely to be dominated by Australian superannuation funds, however smaller unlisted funds and syndicates are likely to become more active.
Part of this will be about moving up the risk curve but also about diversification and taking advantage of opportunities in other markets.
9. Investors continue to move up risk curve
The GFC was almost a decade ago and the types of property popular with investors have changed significantly over that time period.
Moving from the safest office markets in the years immediately after 2007 to the rise in the popularity of agribusiness, medical centres and self storage more recently, the change is consistent with most commercial property cycles.
A search for stock, yield and opportunity will continue to drive the types of properties that are attractive to investors in 2017.
This could mean moving offshore, into childcare centres or contaminated industrial sites.
10. Apartment oversupply concerns impact development site sales
The apartment boom has been kind to owners of development sites, with values rising rapidly over the past five years in almost every capital city.
In 2017, inner Melbourne and inner Brisbane are coming into an enormous amount of new apartment completions.
While this may not necessarily be a problem, it is likely to lead to developers taking a pause in these markets as the new supply is absorbed.
Expect development site values to stabilise or even decline as a result.
This article appeared in <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/news/how-is-the-commercial-property-market-shaping-up-in-2017" target="_blank">www.realcommercial.com.au</a>.
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How is the commercial property market shaping up in 2017?: Nerida Conisbee

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The Cape Gloucester Beach Resort near the Gloucester Passage has been listed for $5.99 million.
It's been listed by four Brisbane friends who pooled their money together to buy the resort as they all share a passion for the water.
There are four shareholders, Arthur Perrins, Michael Hodges, Richard Eaton-Wells and Mark Wilson. The investors bought the island for $2 million in 2012.
Located 45 minutes from Airlie Beach and opposite Shag Island, Gloucester Passage is a popular destination for boaties to anchor in the area.
The property comprises 13 hectares of bush and sand and is lined by several hundred metres of clean sandy beach.
On the premises is a licensed bar, restaurants and self-contained cabins with 45 beds.
The popular resort just hosted the Whitsunday Tourism Awards.
Kim Griffiths at Mackay and Marina Real Estate has the listing.
Griffiths confirmed that no development work has been done. 
“One of the group decided he needed to tidy up his affairs so the rest of the boys just decided they’ll have to sell it,” Griffiths told the Courier Mail.
They’ve used the resort for family holidays over the years but not as much as they’d like to, according to Griffiths.
“The boys haven’t done any development work there,” he said.
“They were going to get a DA pending to do some more beachfront cabins but the boys, they lost their urge to develop.” 
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“It’s a profitable business, a successful business as a well-regarded restaurant and weekend venue,” Griffiths said.
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“On any Sunday a couple of hundred people will go to Cape Gloucester for lunch.”
The majority of interest so far has been from potential Queensland buyers with a sentimental attachment to the region.
“The boys are going to sell it,” Griffiths said.
“They’re not just putting feelers out there. 
“They want to sell it so they want to be approached.”
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Whitsundays beach resort listed for $5.99 million

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Multiplex has completed M&amp;L Hospitality’s makeover of 161 Sussex Street in Sydney's Darling Harbour.
The former Four Points by Sheraton Sydney was rebranded recently to Hyatt Regency Sydney, marking the Hyatt Regency’s return to Sydney.
The redevelopment included refurbishment of the existing hotel, a new 3,667 square metre convention centre and a 25-level tower including 13 new hotel levels and 10 levels of A-grade high rise commercial office space.
The additional 25-storey tower has added 222 new guest rooms to what was already Australia’s largest hotel, bringing the total number of rooms to 892.
A lot of construction took place over the top of the Western Distributor Freeway, a major feeder road from the Sydney CBD to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
David Ghannoum, regional managing director at Multiplex, said a big challenge was building over an operating freeway and in a live hotel environment and care was taken to complete the works with minimal disruption to the 80,000 vehicles using the Western Distributor daily and the 600-700 guests staying at the hotel each night.
Work started in December 2014 and took two years to finish.  
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Darling Harbour sees return of Hyatt Regency to Sydney

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Commercial property sale in the Gold Coast fell in the three months to December 2016, according to CoreLogic's Cityscope.
The property data firm says 41 sales were recorded during the period for a total of $60 million.
Of this, $21.3 million was for commercial, $11.5 million was for commercial strata, $12.9 million was for retail, $5.9 million was for retail strata and $8.4 million was for other.
In comparison, the three months to late June 2016 recorded 53 sales for a total of $99.8 million.
Of this, $34.2 million was for commercial, $12.2 million was for commercial strata, $22.8 million was for retail, $5.4 million was for retail strata and $25.3 million was for other.
The latest data raises the 12 month total to over $587.2 million, over $202.8 million lower than the previous 12 month period.
The table below shows sales recorded for the past eight updates of Gold Coast Cityscope:
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/24/Gold%20Coast-1.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/24/Gold%20Coast-1.jpeg" alt="">
The three most significant sales recorded this quarter together totalled over $21.9 million:
<ul>
<li>KRG Centre, 9-15 Bay Street, Southport – a four-level office building with a cafe. Sold for $12 million to Lionsgate Income Fund No 1 Pty Ltd as trustee for the Lionsgate Income Fund No 1 Unit Trust. Kevin Lonard and Darrell Woodfield of First National Commercial Gold Coast negotiated the sale, which represented an initial yield of 8.3% on passing income of $996,000.</li>
<li>Windmill Centre, 130 Scarborough Street, Southport – a two-level office and retail building with frontages to both Scarborough Street and Windmill Street. Bought for $5 millionby Grand Southport Two Pty Ltd as trustee for the Lawson Unit Trust. Adam Grbcic and Tony Grbcic of Ray White Commercial GC South negotiated the sale, which represented an initial yield of 7.2% on passing income of $360,000.</li>
<li>Robina Professional Centre, 36 Laver Drive, Robina – a four-storey office building completed in late 2006. Bought for $4.925 million by RPA Properties Pty Ltd. Mason Kidman and Nick Selbie of CBRE Gold Coast negotiated the sale.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/24/Gold%20Coast-2.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/24/Gold%20Coast-2.jpeg" alt="">
Properties currently listed for sale include:
<ul>
<li>3286 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise – a single-level, 277 sqm restaurant building. For sale by negotiation; agent, Ray White Commercial Gold Coast (Simon Robertson).</li>
<li>8 Frigo Court, Bundall – a 2,429 sqm vacant block of land. For sale by expressions of interest; agent, First National Real Estate Surfers (Rob Rollington and Bob Rollington).</li>
<li>SteelX House, 2 Boston Court, Varsity Lakes – a four-storey office building comprised of three separate units. For sale by expressions of interest; agent, CBRE (Peter Court, Mike Walsh and Brad Duncalfe). The property was initially advertised with passing income of $1,276,140 per annum (net).</li>
</ul>
Properties currently under contract (conditionally or unconditionally) include:
<ul>
<li>46 Scottsdale Drive, Robina – a 4,719 sqm vacant block of land with approval to build the third and final stage of Easy T. Under contract; agents, Robina Marketing Australia (Marcus Weld) and Knight Frank Gold Coast (James Branch and Mark Witheriff).</li>
<li>Piazza on the Boulevard, 3197 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise – a four-level retail and commercial building. Due diligence is currently being conducted; agent, CBRE Gold Coast (Jonathan O’Brien and Scott Gray-Spencer).</li>
<li>1 Bellvue Drive, Varsity Lakes – RP1 Building, a three-storey, split-level office building. Under conditional contract; agent, CBRE Gold Coast (Jonathan O’Brien and Brad Duncalfe).</li>
</ul>
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Gold Coast commercial property sales fell in quarter ended December: 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.

[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.

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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.

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