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A new study on housing affordability for people on very low to moderate incomes in Perth has found a mismatch between the availability of housing and what is affordable.
The report, Housing Affordability – A study for the Perth metropolitan area, a collaboration between the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, the Housing Authority and Shelter WA, concentrated on affordability for households on very low (less than $43,000), low ($43,000-$69,000) and moderate incomes ($69,000-$86,000).
Brendon Grylls, Housing Minister  said that while the property market has softened, improving availability for some, those on the lowest incomes are still finding it extremely difficult to find available, appropriate and affordable housing.
“With over 80 percent of sales being larger properties, it’s also evident that there’s a lack of diversity in Perth’s housing stock,” he said.
“Housing affordability is a complex issue and the information in the report will inform the Housing Authority in the delivery of its commitments under the State Affordable Housing Strategy, which is on track to provide 30,000 affordable housing opportunities by 2020.”
Chantal Roberts, Shelter WA executive officer said the research identifies the limited housing options for low to moderate income households in WA.
“There are many households, including key workers, that are trapped in our insecure private rental market due to a lack of diverse and affordable options, particularly in locations close to jobs and services,” she said.
“A range of varied and affordable housing is needed across all areas to support the development of strong and diverse communities.”
Hayden Groves, REIWA president said the report highlights key issues affecting the industry and the community as a whole.
“We can see from the findings that both housing affordability and diversity are issues to be addressed and we’re looking forward to working with both the Housing Authority and Shelter WA on further research regarding the state of the WA housing market,” Mr Groves said.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Housing affordability still difficult for low-to-moderate income earners in Perth

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Art Deco apartments retain an aura of charm in our streetscape, according to Secret Agent’s latest bulletin.
This continues to get stronger as time goes by and as more modern apartments are built.
As one of the most scarce and precious of apartment types, what is their true value?
Out of the 1,276 apartments in our latest index, only 91 resales were Art Deco.
These are the most expensive type of apartments at $9,651 per square metre.
It is well ahead of brick apartments from the 60s to 80s ($8,672/sqm), post-90s developments ($8,599/ sqm) and even warehouse conversions ($8,517/sqm).
It is clear that buyers place a high value on Art Deco apartments.
If you’re looking to buy an Art Deco apartment in a specific region of inner Melbourne, you’ll find most resales tend to occur in Melbourne CBD.
It also occurs in the inner East (East Melbourne, Hawthorn, Prahran, South Yarra).
Table 1 summarises the price per square metre rates for Art Deco apartments in Melbourne according to the number of bedrooms, compared to the average of apartments across inner Melbourne.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2016/11/24/Table%201.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/2016/11/24/Table%201.jpg" alt="">
Table 2 shows the differences in size (sqm) between Art Deco and general apartments in inner Melbourne.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2016/11/24/Table%202.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/2016/11/24/Table%202.jpg" alt="">
"East Melbourne is home to some of the most expensive apartments (second to Albert Park, though the former has more frequent sales), as we've established from our overall price per square metre index," the bulletin stated.
There is no exception with Art Deco apartments in East Melbourne and they are far more costly on average at $12,878 per square metre.
A significant number of period apartment resales occur within Melbourne CBD, making up a third of the total Art Deco units recorded.
These are much more affordable than their neighbouring East Melbourne equivalents, with differences
in price ranging from $2,600 per square metre less for the common 2 bedroom units to almost $7,000 per square metre less for rare 4 bedroom apartments.
The lower cost of property in the CBD is partly due to the significant number of new developments taking place, blocking out views and sunlight in many older, smaller buildings.
While older style apartments are known to be more spacious than new developments, they aren’t too far ahead of the average.
In fact, warehouse conversions are the biggest apartment type, having 30% more floor space on average.
1 bedroom Art Deco apartments (56sqm) are about 20% bigger than average (47sqm), while 2 bedroom units are only marginally more spacious, with a 5sqm advantage.
Older style 3 bedroom apartments (119sqm) are comparable to the average (121sqm). The rare 4 bedroom unit (214sqm) is slightly larger than average (203sqm).
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Art deco apartments are the most expensive in Melbourne

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The NSW Government’s Millers Point sales program has continued with the auction of seven properties for a combined $35.22 million.
The sales included the highest value single property sold to date – a block of 12 one bedroom apartments on the corner of Merriman and Bettington streets, which sold for $12.3 million.
The latest sales recorded an average rate per square metre of $19,462 (floor area), an increase of 23 per cent compared to the Millers Point sales program to date.
A total of 125 Government-owned properties in Millers Point have been sold, with the proceeds delivering social housing elsewhere.
The other six properties sold on 30 November include:
<table style="height: 126px; width: 629px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
Property
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Price
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
Configuration
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
15 Lower Fort Street
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
$5.05 million
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
5 Bedroom Terrace
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
36 Argyle Place
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
$3.71 million
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
4 Bedroom Terrace
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
66 Bettington Street
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
$2.42 million
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
3 Bedroom Terrace
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
61 Kent Street
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
$2.11 million
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
2 Bedroom Terrace
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
42 - 44A High Street
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
$4.81 million
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
4 X 2 bedroom apartments
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
46 – 48A High Street
</td>
<td valign="top" width="106">
$4.82 million
</td>
<td valign="top" width="142">
4 X 2 bedroom apartments
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
The auctions mark the end of the sales program for 2016, with the program to recommence in early 2017.
All purchasers of properties in the Millers Point sales program are required to adhere to NSW Heritage Council-endorsed Conservation Management Plans (CMPs), which set out in extensive detail the purchasers’ heritage maintenance obligations.
The seven properties were sold by Ray White and McGrath Estate Agents.
For more details please visit <a href="https://www.rediscovermillerspoint.com.au" target="_blank">www.rediscovermillerspoint.com.au</a>.
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Millers Point delivers $35 million boost for social housing in one day

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Having bought around the corner in Clontarf, the former Aussie fast bowler Brett Lee and wife Lana sold their redundant Seaforth waterfront home on the weekend.
The paperwork was being signed inside the three level home as auction attendees were being turned away.
Clarke and Humel agents Cherie Humel and Michael Clarke was suggesting $4.8 million, with the last minute negotiations hooking a buyer at just shy of $5 million.
The couple paid $4.25 million for the four bedroom waterfront in 2013. Every level of the three storey home overlooks Middle Harbour, from the opulent master suite to the infinity pool and spa.
The fast bowler Brett Lee will be trading up into a four bedroom Clontarf residence that has cost more than $5 million. 
The Sydney home auction market commenced summer on a weaker note, according to Domain economist, Dr Andrew Wilson but sellers continued to flood the market ahead of the looming Christmas break.
"Although Saturday’s rate was the lowest recorded by the local market for over four months, it was nonetheless still a good result for sellers and reflected the surge in listings over recent weekends," Dr Wilson said.
It has been a big year for the current Australian test cricket team too, from the captain down.
Steve Smith took a shine to Balmain property when he snapped up his second investment on the pensinsula, a contemporary apartment in a boutique conversion of the Tin Sheds that cost $1.345 million.
The year's off field activity began when David Warner and wife Candice sold their home in South Coogee for $7.05 million with plans to build on a Maroubra oceanfront reserve block bought last year for $3.9 million.
Nathan Lyon has just upgraded in the Sutherland Shire.
He paid $3.8 million to buy a Port Hacking waterfront from the soccer legend Charlie Yankos and his wife, Jill.
Next weekend Mitchell Starc auctions his Mosman home after he and wife, Southern Stars cricketer Alyssa Healy bought the $5,235,000 North Curl Curl home of Jennifer Hawkins and her husband Jake Wall.
Starc has listed through McGrath Mosman’s Michael Rava with $5.5 million hopes.
Starc's fellow new ball partner in the Australian Test team attack, Josh Hazlewood, recently secured a Hunters Hill property for $3.8 million.
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Brett Lee sells in Seaforth as summer wicket turns

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An opportunity to invest in Redfern, two kilometres from Sydney CBD, is now available. 88onRegent’s proposed plans at 88 Regent Street Redfern include an 18 story residential tower consisting of 82 luxury studio, 1, 2 &amp; 3 bedroom apartments, with a range of exclusive mezzanine penthouse apartments.
<a href="https://randwprojects.com.au/88onregent-positive-cash-flow/?tfa_9546185863975=RandW+Property+Observer+EDM+Redfern+2016-11-16&amp;tfa_9546185863967=Property+Observer">The 88onRegent development</a> will have cutting-edge home automation and security technology.
Thirdi Group engaged SJB for designs after it secured the site in 2015 for $20.75 million.
The project has seen a collaboration between head designer of Coco republic interior design Diana Ribevski, and Adam Haddow of SJB Architects.
The designers, Coco Republic are set to do the interior design "bringing luxury to Redfern."
The marketing of the project notes the Commonwealth Bank headquarters will be moving to Redfern, continuing the gentrification story.
It is proposed the project will have an on-site childcare facility.
An information event is planned for December 6. Call 1300 941 725 for more information.
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88onregent Redfern development set to revitalise area

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Rosehill is the top suburb in New South Wales with the highest annual median growth in four years for small units, according to Investar’s market report.
The property investment firm says that in the last four years Rosehill’s average annual median growth has increased by 27%.
This is followed by Nambucca Heads with 20% and Ryde, Blacktown and Rozelle all with 17%.
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="top" width="62">
Postcode
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Bedrooms
</td>
<td valign="top" width="92">
4 yr average annual growth (%)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Rosehill
</td>
<td valign="top" width="62">
2142
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Studio and one
</td>
<td valign="top" width="92">
27%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Nambucca Heads
</td>
<td valign="top" width="62">
2448
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="92">
20%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Ryde
</td>
<td valign="top" width="62">
2112
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Studio and one
</td>
<td valign="top" width="92">
17%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Blacktown
</td>
<td valign="top" width="62">
2148
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="92">
17%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Rozelle
</td>
<td valign="top" width="62">
2039
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="92">
17%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Alexandria
</td>
<td valign="top" width="62">
2015
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="92">
16%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Camperdown
</td>
<td valign="top" width="62">
2050
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="92">
16%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Macquarie Park
</td>
<td valign="top" width="62">
2113
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Studio and one
</td>
<td valign="top" width="92">
16%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Auburn
</td>
<td valign="top" width="62">
2144
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Studio and one
</td>
<td valign="top" width="92">
16%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Kingswood
</td>
<td valign="top" width="62">
2747
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="92">
16%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
For the median price of $461,000 buyers can expect to purchase a one bedroom unit at Rosehill, such as the off the plan options at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-rosehill-123789806" target="_blank">1-5 Weston Street</a> (above) that areon sale for between $490,000 to $510,000.
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Rosehill's annual median unit price up 27% annually: Investar

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A mixed farming property at Coolah has been sold by Collier Property Sales.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-mixed+farming-nsw-coolah-7841670" target="_blank">Beverly Downs</a>, a 772 hectare holding with gently undulating to low hill and plateau grazing country, is 17 kilometres north of Coolah, 100 kilometres south of Gunnedah and 400 kilometres from Sydney.
Its recent mid-spring expression of interest campaign was extended due to wet weather.
It has an excellent balance of soils ranging from black self-mulching soils through to black and red basalt types.
Approximately 1000 acres of the land is arable, including 650 acre of established pasture.
There are 25,000 trees established along the fence lines with Beverly Downs being well watered, with an equipped bore system reticulating to troughs throughout, a dam plus a spring feed creek.
It is subdivided into 15 main paddocks, plus a range of smaller paddocks.
A comfortable three bedroom home came with the offering.
It is set in an enclosed yard with meat house and walk in cool room.
It came with seven silos with a capacity of 1320 tonnes.
There was also a three stand electric wool shed with steel yards.
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Mixed farming area at Coolah sold

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A Blair Athol, SA petrol station investment set on a leading corner position has been listed for auction.
Located at <a href="https://www.burgessrawson.com.au/buying/SA/North-and-North-East-Suburbs/BLAIR-ATHOL/Retail/3P1500#.WD5IG5IisZE" target="_blank">367-369 Prospect Road, Blair Athol</a> the property has a new 15 year lease until 2031, plus options to extend.
Improvements have been made including the convenience store, attached canopy and double skin fibreglass tanks.
It sits on a 1567 square metre corner site with combined 73 metres of exposure in the retail strip.
The annual rent is $140,000 per annum.
The auction is December 7 through Jamie Perlinger and Scott Meighan.
A service station operated by United in Tamworth is also set to go under the hammer.
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Blair Athol investment to go under the hammer

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A United service station investment offering in Tamworth is scheduled for December 6 auction.
Located at <a href="https://www.burgessrawson.com.au/buying/NSW/New-England-~-North-West/Tamworth/Retail/3P1496#.WDzz7ZIisZE" target="_blank">419-437 Goonoo Goonoo Road</a> the property has a new 18 year triple net lease to 2034 with opportunities to extend it.
The convenience store has been improved.
It is situated on an important gateway location on New England Highway within a busy large format retail and fast food precinct.
It sits on a 2616 square metre site with integrated access to Stocklands large format centre, with 416 on-site car space.
The rent is $200,000 per annum.
The auction is being conducted by Burgess Rawson agents Jamie Perlinger and Scott Meighan.
A service station operated by United in Blair Athol, SA is also set to go under the hammer.
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Tamworth service station listed for auction

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Adelaide’s housing market has recorded moderate to steady activity over the recent quarter, reflective of ongoing transition and consolidation of the South Australian economy, according to WBP Property Group’s latest report.
CoreLogic reports a modest 0.4% increase in house prices from the June quarter, while the REISA reports more buoyant growth of 2.27% in the median house price over the June 2016 quarter.
While figures differ in the short-term, annual median values are consistent between sources with both reporting growth of around 5% during the last 12 months.
Transaction volumes were marginally down on the previous quarter, a solid outcome due to the seasonal influences of a particularly cold and wet South Australian winter and general uncertainty surrounding the federal election in July, the report noted.
Rents incurred an overall decrease of 1.5%, likely the result of labour force pressures, specifically static growth in wages, and an oversupply of housing on the outer metropolitan fringe.
The Adelaide market has been buoyed by investor activity over the past year, with mortgage indicators reporting a rise in new mortgages to investors.
It is evident interstate buyers, particularly from the eastern seaboard, are turning to Adelaide as an affordable way to growth their property portfolios.
The South Australian market also continues to appeal to a number of international buyers due to stability in stamp duty costs for foreign buyers, in contrast to its eastern seaboard counterparts that have increased these costs to the buyer segment.
Adelaide is experiencing a trending shift towards inner-city living, predominantly due to major infrastructure development completed or underway along the CBD’s Riverbank precinct.
The social shift continues to spur new supply of apartments in the CBD and increasing demand for housing in established inner suburbs.
Adelaide has seen an increase in the top end market with 13 suburbs now listing median house prices over $1 million.
With a large supply of outer suburban land on offer in recent years, there has been a recent state initiative to decrease Adelaide’s urban footprint and focus on increasing infill and subdivision within existing city areas.
Recent development policy and zoning changes, particularly through former industrial regions through the inner west, should see an increase of housing in the near future.
The developments at Bowden, St Clair and the Churchill Road precincts are recent examples of a state-wide infill focus.
“In the short-term, WBP Property Group expects a spring time spike in coming weeks with further sales activity and competition expected for the Adelaide market. With interest rates at record lows, thereby reducing the cost of borrowing, its expected affordable properties supported by sound and readily accessible infrastructure while attract strong interest,” the report stated.
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Adelaide housing market maintains steady activity: WBP

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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