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An 1860 bluestone settlers cottage at Mount Torrens has been sold for $605,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-mount+torrens-122367606" target="_blank">12 Sinkinson Road</a>, the property features two large bedrooms with French doors to the gardens.
It also has its original stringy bark floors and high raked ceilings to the cosy lounge with its fireplace.
Other highlights include a large renovated kitchen with stainless appliances and adjoining meals area with large open fireplace.
The bathrooms has been renovated to be spacious and features an exposed stone feature wall, Red Gum vanity, large glass shower alcove ad corner spa bath.
It also has a large cellar for wine storage.
Situated on 4.8 acres with two titles, the 10 well fenced paddocks the are suitable for horses, Alpacas or wide variety of other livestock.
Mature Elm, pear and apple trees also dot the beautiful landscaped grounds with winter creek and mature rose gardens.
The property is close to Mount Torrens township, Lobethal and within easy reach of Adelaide and the Barossa Valley.
The property was offered by Harcourts agents Paul McWilliam and Marie McWilliam.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Bluestone settlers cottage at Mount Torrens sold for $605,000

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The latest research from Brisbane South Cityscope shows commercial property sale numbers have increased over the past three months, according to CoreLogic's latest weekly report.
The property investment firm says that the last three months to the end of November 2016 recorded 21 sales for a total of in excess of $81.9 million.
With $29.9 million for commercial, $2.7 million for commercial strata, $4.7 million retail strata and $44.7 million for other.
In comparison, the three months to the end of August 2016 recorded 13 sales for a total of over $90.1 million; with $77.2 million for commercial, $1.1 million for commercial strata, $3.2 million retail strata and $8.6 million for other.
The 12 months leading up to the end of November 2016 recorded 60 sales for a total of over $341.1 million, over $109 million lower than the recorded figure for the same time period the year before.
The table below shows sales recorded for the past eight updates of Brisbane South Cityscope:
<a href="/images/2016/12/05/Brisbane-01.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/12/05/Brisbane-01.jpeg" alt="">
The most significant sales, all in South Brisbane, recorded this quarter together totalled over $50.3 million.
<ul>
<li>2 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane. A high-clearance warehouse with two levels of office space to the western end and lower ground car parking. Bought for $20 million by 2 Cordelia Street Pty Ltd. The site has approval for a 30-storey tower with 379 apartments and ground floor retail space. James Walsh of Deloitte Capland Real Estate Advisory negotiated the sale.</li>
<li>13, 15 and 17 Manning Street, South Brisbane. An 1,890 square metre development site with two office buildings and a warehouse. Metro Manning Street Pty Ltd bought the three properties separately for a combined total of $21.2 million. The site has approval for a 30-storey tower with ground floor retail space.</li>
<li>14 Hockings Street, South Brisbane (pictured above). A two-storey office building with rear warehouse space. Glasgow Constructions Pty Ltd sold the property for $10.1 million to the Swanland Estates Trust. Elliott O’Shea and Blake Goddard of JLL Brisbane negotiated the sale, which represented an initial yield of 3.7% on passing income of around $373,700.</li>
</ul>
<a href="/images/2016/12/05/Brisbane-02.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/12/05/Brisbane-02.jpeg" alt="">
Properties listed for sale include:
<ul>
<li>15 Browning Street, South Brisbane. A two-storey short and long term accommodation building. For sale with offers over $1.9 million being considered; agent, First National Commercial (Hiep Nguyen).</li>
<li>20 Bank Street, West End. A two-storey office/warehouse. For sale with an asking price of $3.35 million; agent, C Property Qld (Carl Charalambous).</li>
<li>186 Vulture Street, South Brisbane. A single-storey building with a lower ground area. The building includes a shop to Tribune Street and a three-bedroom unit. For sale with an asking price of $2.2 million; agent, Colliers International Brisbane (Tony Huan Wing and Guy Stafford).</li>
</ul>
Currently under contract (conditional or unconditional):
<ul>
<li>427 Montague Road, West End. A two-level building with office space to Montague Road and warehouse space to Ferry Road. Due to the sloping nature of the site the building appears two-storey to Ferry Road. Under contract unconditionally for $2.73 million with settlement expected early December 2016.</li>
<li>Dialog House, 35 Boundary Street, South Brisbane. An eight-storey office building with two levels of basement car parking. Due diligence is currently being conducted; agents, Knight Frank (Justin Bond and Ben McGrath) and Savills (Peter Chapple and Anthony Ott). The property was advertised with an estimated fully leased income of $3,960,545 per annum net.</li>
</ul>
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Brisbane South's commercial property market rising: CoreLogic

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A modern warehouse/office investment opportunity in the Knox Gateway Business Park in Melbourne’s south-east has been sold by Ray White Commercial Oakleigh.
The property at 13/1488 Ferntree Gully Road, Knoxfield was sold for $638,000 to a local investor at a yield of 5.6%.
The property which offered a net lettable area of approximately 340 square metres, comprised a building area of 225 square metres and 115 square metres of upstairs mezzanine.
It is currently returning rental income of $35,000 per annum.
The established tenant is on a long-term lease with a 3.0% annual rent review.
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Modern warehouse/office at Knoxfield sold for $638,000

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South Australia has the largest decline in listing market activity on a month to month basis, according to CoreLogic’s latest weekly report.
The property investment firm says that listing activity declined by 11.6% in the state.
However, seasonally adjusted, listing activity in the state represents a 2.3% increase month on month.
Listing activity often declines in the lead-up to the Christmas holiday season following the traditionally busy spring selling season.
<a href="/images/2016/12/05/Listing%20market%20activity.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/12/05/Listing%20market%20activity.jpg" alt="">
New South Wales experienced a decline of 7.6% in listing market activity month on month, CoreLogic found.
Victoria was the only state to record a month on month increase, with listing activity rising 1.5% month on month.
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South Australia's listing market activity declines by 11%: CoreLogic

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Houses in Adelaide takes 52 days to sell, according to CoreLogic’s latest weekly report.
The property data firm says that it takes 71 days for units in Adelaide to sell once the are on the market.
<a href="/images/2016/12/05/Capital%20city%20median%20time.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/12/05/Capital%20city%20median%20time.jpg" alt="">
Sydney has the shortest waiting time for both houses and units, with both types selling after less that a month on the market on average.
This is compared to Darwin where it takes 108 days for units to sell when they are on the market.
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Houses in Adelaide stay on the market for 52 days: CoreLogic

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The latest research from CoreLogic's Southbank Melbourne Cityscope shows property sales have decreased in the past three months.
The property investment firm says that sales recorded in the quarter ending November 2016 totalled $610.6 million, a decrease from the $952.9 million recorded in the three months to August 2016
But a large increase from the $187.9 million recorded to May 2016.
This data brings the 12 month total to $2.306 billion, an increase from the $1.261 billion recorded the same time last year.
The table below shows sales recorded for the past eight updates of Southbank Cityscope.
<a href="/images/2016/12/05/Southbank-01.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/12/05/Southbank-01.jpeg" alt="">
Recent standout sales in the Southbank area include:
<ul>
<li>Twenty8 Freshwater Place, at 28 Freshwater Place, Southbank, comprising a 26-level building with retail space on the ground level and 19 levels of office space, has sold for $286 million through Colliers International Melbourne. The sale represented an initial yield of 6.60% on passing income of $18,876,000;</li>
<li>A vacant development site, at 7-23 Spencer Street, Docklands, an 8,607 sqm block of vacant land at site preparation stage has been sold for $97 million through CBRE Melbourne and JLL Melbourne.</li>
</ul>
<a href="/images/2016/12/05/Southbank-02.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/12/05/Southbank-02.jpeg" alt="">
Properties for sale in Southbank in November 2016 include:
<ul>
<li>Hilton Melbourne South Wharf, at 2 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, a 5-star hotel comprising ground floor lobby and retail space, a four-level podium and 396 rooms, for sale through JLL Hotels &amp; Hospitality and</li>
<li>202-214 Normanby Road, South Melbourne, a high single-storey brick factory-workshop building being marketed as a development site of 1,518 sqm, for sale through CBRE Melbourne.</li>
</ul>
Significant leasing opportunities in Southbank in November 2016 include:
<ul>
<li>210 Kings Way, South Melbourne, a five-storey brick and concrete office building with a 6,135 sqm building area and 56 car parks, has office space ranging from 670 to 1,890 sqm for lease through Lemon Baxter;</li>
<li>South Wharf Office Tower at 30 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, a 12-level office tower with parking for 404 cars, has office space of 491 to 2,665 sqm for lease through Colliers International Melbourne; and</li>
<li>182 Kings Way, South Melbourne, comprising two office buildings, has office space ranging from 1,390 to 1,900 sqm for lease through CBRE Melbourne.</li>
</ul>
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Southbank property market declines in past three months: CoreLogic

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An online marketplace has been launched for finding hot desk, meeting room and short notice office space.
Hosts on Spare Workspace can list for free and accept bookings from anywhere in real time. with a service fee of up to 10 percent from each booking, or 3-10 percent for PRO accounts applied.
Founder Jake Dimarco said expected users are mostly likely to be freelancers or start-ups who need an affordable and flexible workspace, professional services with a small team, or a business traveller wanting on-demand space to work while in another city.
“They’re looking for the flexibility to change workspaces depending on their circumstances, or for a collaborative environment where they can work with others," he said.
“A hair salon with three unused chairs or a cafe’s kitchen outside of hours could be perfect to list on Spare Workspace as the platform grows.
“Whether you have a meeting room, desk or event space, you can easily share it with others. For our hosts it is free to list, and although SpareWorkspace takes a nominal fee, it remains a cost-effective way to utilise a space that may not otherwise be used. Plus, hosts can manage their growing collection of spare workspaces via our online dashboard. ”
“Our easy to use platform helps businesses every step of the way. From marketing their space to taking payments, Spare Workspace is designed to be a seamless addition to help manage an existing space. Plus, all our hosts can take advantage of on-the-ground support and local knowledge.”
Dimarco said the benefit to the “typical” Spare Workspace user will be the ability to book space from as little as one hour to up to 12 months.
 
 
 
The site launches with the majority of listings focusing on Brisbane and Sydney locations but is expected to expand nationally by the end of the year.
While the current offering focuses on existing co-working space and offices, Dimarco noted there was opportunity to branch into allowing businesses like hair salons and cafes to offer their unused spaces.
Spare Workspace has partnered with Wotso Workspace, Microsoft BizSpark, PIN Payments, Uber and Corporate House.
Visit Spare Workspace online <a href="https://spareworkspace.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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Spare Workspace launches to share and book empty workspaces with others

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The number of full floor leasing options in Melbourne has declined compared to last year, according to Savills’ latest report.
“In Savills’ Prime Full Floor Availability Report, the state of the leasing market is assessed in a different manner to standard vacancy surveys.
The report graphically shows each Premium and A grade building in the city on a floor-by-floor basis highlighting which floors are available for lease, now and in the near future, in each building including those under construction and refurbishment,” the report stated.
Results from the September 2016 Prime Full Floor Availability Report are detailed below.
<a href="/images/2016/11/15/Melbourne%20full%20floor.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/15/Melbourne%20full%20floor.jpg" alt="">
Savills recorded 135 full floors totalling 192,618 square metres available for lease in A Grade buildings, or 12.7 percent of the market analysed, down from 149 full floors recorded from a year ago.
The number of full floor leasing options available sits at 177 prime grade floors in September 2016, down from 197 full floors 12 months ago.
Full floor vacancy in both Premium and A Grade declined in the 12 months to September 2016.
Vacancy in full floors peaked at 220 in December 2015 with a previous peak of 233 prime grade floors in August 2013.
In recent months, there has been a downward trend of available options.
<a href="/images/2016/11/15/Melbourne%20CBD%20office%20quarterly%20full%20floor.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/15/Melbourne%20CBD%20office%20quarterly%20full%20floor.jpg" alt="">
Melbourne CBD grid (excluding Docklands) total office vacancy rate sits at 7.9 percent as at June 2016.
Whilst vacancy levels had been considerably lower for much of the time, an environment of increased supply levels and rising tenant migration either for upgrade or expansion is contributing to the following vacancy rates:
<a href="/images/2016/11/15/Melbourne%20vacancy.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/15/Melbourne%20vacancy.jpg" alt="">
Melbourne’s vacant office space in the CBD is generally shared by quality grades, with Prime space vacancy at 7 percent and accounting for 14 percent of the total vacancy (59 percent of the total stock) as at June 2016.
Prime vacancy in the Melbourne’s CBD office has declined from 7.9 percent recorded a year ago.
During the past 12 months, Prime quality stock remained steady with the vacancy rates declining with lift in the net absorption levels.
<a href="/images/2016/11/15/Melbourne%20vacancy%20graph.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/15/Melbourne%20vacancy%20graph.jpg" alt="">
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Full floor leasing options in Melbourne declines compared to last year: Savills

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JLL's are dubbing their new Mascot business premises an Activity-Based Working office. The new office features non-assigned desks, discussion hubs, meeting rooms and ‘hush’ rooms designed for quiet working.
JLL has relocated from their previous offices at Sydney Airport Centre, 15 Bourke Road Mascot, to a new office within the Connect Corporate Centre at 191 O’Riordan Street, Mascot.
The Mascot fit out was completed by the firm’s Project &amp; Development Services division, which also completed the fit outs for JLL’s other WorkSmart offices across the country.  Michael Fenton, JLL’s NSW managing director said, the timing couldn't be better for the move, as JLL mark 20 years in South Sydney.
"Our success in the local market over the last two decades is a reflection of our trusted commitment to always achieving the best results for our clients," he said.
"We are equally committed to providing working environments that foster collaboration, innovation and cater for different working styles of our diverse employees."
WorkSmart was built in-house by JLL’s Corporate Solutions team and is designed to incorporates enhanced mobility and flexibility through multiple activity settings and work locations.
<img src="/images/2016/11/23/JLL%20Mascot_1.jpg" alt="">
It has plants to improve indoor air quality, low Volatile Organic Compounds finishes to all surfaces and Recycled Gyprock board. 
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JLL Mascot transitions to new activity-based working office 

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Frasers Property Australia have won the National Signatory of the Year category at the CitySwitch Green Office awards for renovations to their St Kilda office to promote staff health and wellbeing.
Frasers Property Australia upped their NABERS rating from four to five stars. HESTA was awarded a highly commended.
The National New Signatory of the Year went to KPMG with a 72 percent waste recovery rate  and reducing paper by more than 8 million sheets.
NSW winners included the State Library of NSW (Signatory of the Year over 2000 square metres), Architectus (Signatory of the Year under 2000 square metres), Norman Disney &amp; Young and Westpac (Partnership of the Year) and Marlin Communications (NSW Signatory of the Year).
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said CitySwitch has come a long way from the small program offered by three Sydney councils in 2005.
"It has spread across the country and is now receiving global recognition for the way it has engaged businesses of all sizes to make a difference on carbon emissions,” she said.
“It’s a heartening sign that Australian business is serious about its environmental impacts, and also that it has been quick to grasp the business benefits of a green economy. Since 2011, CitySwitch members across Australia have slashed emissions while saving a combined $34 million in electricity bills.
“CitySwitch National Signatory of the Year, Frasers, achieved a 4.5 star NABERS Indoor Environment Quality rating with improvements to lighting, air quality, natural ventilation and maximising use of natural light.
“The fact that CitySwitch is in line to receive a major international accolade is a credit to the businesses that have enthusiastically jumped on board this great initiative.
“I congratulate all finalists and winners and thank them for being a part of the CitySwitch Green Office program.”
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Best and brightest offices make sustainable switch

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

Joel Robinson

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

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

Location and lifestyle drive demand at Candela Ivanhoe

As apartment buyers increasingly look beyond the four walls of their residence, the quality and depth of shared amenity has become a defining factor in how developments are designed and experienced, particularly in the high-rise, new apartment development space.

In Southbank, where high-density living continues to evolve, developers are placing greater emphasis on creating environments that support wellbeing, connection, and convenience as part of everyday life.

That approach sits at the heart of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aura-at-melbourne-square-7-hoff-boulevard-southbank-vic-3006">AURA</a>, the latest residential tower in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/osk-property">OSK Property</a>’s $3.5 billion Melbourne Square precinct. Rising 67 storeys above Hoff Boulevard, the 673-apartment development has been conceived around what OSK describes as a “vertical wellness ecosystem”, a layered collection of amenities that extends throughout the building rather than being confined to a single podium level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370263]

The amenity offering begins on the seventh level within the AURA Club, a dedicated resident hub focused on health, relaxation, and daily convenience. Here, residents will have access to an indoor swimming pool, cold plunge, spa, sauna, and steam room, alongside a fully equipped gym, reformer Pilates studio, and yoga room.

The wellness facilities are complemented by a range of spaces that acknowledge the changing ways people live and work. Work-from-home lounges and co-working areas sit alongside a library, music room, games room, cinema facilities, and open-air terrace spaces, providing residents with flexible environments that can adapt throughout the day.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367468]

Beyond the internal amenity, AURA introduces a series of Japanese-inspired gardens that form a quieter counterpoint to the tower’s social spaces.

Landscaped retreats feature curated outdoor dining, tranquil courtyard seating, fire pit, and a tea house pavilion. Rather than functioning as simple recreational areas, the gardens have been designed as places for reflection and informal gathering, drawing on principles of balance, nature, and calm that underpin the project's broader design philosophy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367810]

The social amenity continues to evolve as residents move higher through the building. Levels 49 and 50 house the Meridian Club, where a lounge bar, conservatory spaces, and private dining rooms take advantage of elevated city views. At the summit of the tower, the exclusive Cumulus Club spans Levels 66 and 67, offering additional lounges, private dining, and meditation and treatment rooms positioned above Melbourne’s skyline.

For OSK Property, the extensive amenity offering reflects a broader focus on wellbeing as a core component of apartment living rather than an added feature.

“Aura stands tall as an exemplar of holistic wellness – its focus on social, physical and mental health culminate in a building that is calming, restorative and relaxing, where residents will have their own sanctuary within the well-connected and sought-after Southbank,” says OSK Property CEO Chong Boon Woon.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367796]

AURA’s amenity strategy extends beyond the tower itself through its integration with the wider Melbourne Square precinct.

Residents will have direct access to Kennedy Park, Southbank’s 3,745 sqm landscaped public park, alongside a full-line Woolworths supermarket, childcare centre, hospitality venues, and approximately 1,600 sqm of additional retail planned within AURA’s lower levels. Together, these elements create a highly connected residential environment where daily needs, recreation, and wellness are woven into the fabric of the community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370253]

As Melbourne’s apartment market continues to mature, developments are increasingly judged by the lifestyle they provide beyond individual residences.

Through its combination of wellness facilities, landscaped retreats, social clubs, and precinct-wide amenity, AURA represents a shift toward a more comprehensive model of vertical living, one where shared spaces play as significant a role as the homes themselves.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151921]

AURA elevates amenity living at Melbourne Square

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

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

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

Staff reporter

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