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Sales activity in the Brisbane retail world is starting to slow with stock generally being very tightly held, according to Herron Todd White’s (HTW) latest report.
The property advisory firm says that sellers cannot easily replace their investments with equivalent yields in any other asset class.
Yields for neighbourhood centres have continued to tighten throughout the course of 2016, however, there is now a perception that we are approaching the top, primarily due to the tightening market for funding which is now requiring greater levels of equity.
The overwhelming demand for well leased retail stock in the sub $5 million market has created a seller’s market with buyers often cascading from one sales campaign to the next.
When they miss out on the first property the urgency to buy the next can be very strong.
Most activity remains in the convenience and neighbourhood sectors, but even there the quantum of transactions is slowing.
It is also now timely to pause and reflect on the quantum of capital growth that has occurred in these markets over the past three years.
A good recent example is the sale of the Sandstone Point IGA anchored centre which recently sold for $10.395 million showing a yield of 7.04%.
This property sold three years earlier for some $8.25 million and showed capital growth of 26% over that period. This is reasonably reflective of the neighbourhood and convenience centre markets generally.
More broadly, yields for well leased neighbourhood centres in strong locations are now well entrenched in the low 6% yield range.
Service stations are also hot at the present time.
The Caltex complex at Northlakes was recently contracted at a yield of 5.13%, showing a staggering 48% capital growth over a three year period since its previous purchase.
Whilst demand is likely to remain strong, we consider that the market is nearing the peak with the likelihood of yields bottoming out over the next six to 12 months.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Lack of stock slowing Brisbane retail sales activity: HTW

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A 2071 square metre development land at Box Hill is for sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.rtedgar.com.au/property/423466/" target="_blank">5 – 9 Howard Street</a>, it is 500 metres from Box Hill Central.
With a Residential Growth Zone 1 that encourages higher density housing, plans for a five storey apartment complex with basement parking has been drawn up and subject to council approval.
It will provide 55 residences ranging from one to three bedrooms.
Other options on the 47 metre frontage x 44 metre depth site include a townhouse development, unit development or commercial development.
It currently sits on three period homes and will give a substantial rental income while waiting for the planning and council approval processes.
The property is also close by to Box Hill Library, the Eastern freeway and Eastern Health’s state-of-the-art healthcare facility with Wattle Park Gold Course, Box Hill Gold Course and Surrey Park nearby.
It is a short distance to Box Hill TAFE, Deakin University and others.
Expressions of interest close November 22 and is offered through RT Edgar agents Lawrence Zhu and Annabelle Feng.
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Box Hill development block listed

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Bondi Pizza will open its next Australian location at Broadway Sydney on November 14.
It will complete the line-up of new international and domestic retailers in the centre’s $55 million level two redevelopment.
The restaurant will have a fit out featuring a floor-to-ceiling mural painted by local Glebe-based artist, Lance Corlett.
Jeff Fisher, Bondi Pizza CEO, said that after opening its first restaurant on Bondi Beach in 2009, the Broadway store will be the seventh Sydney restaurant, with existing stores stretching from Bondi to Parramatta, including sites at Eastgardens, Brighton-Le-Sands, Top Ryde and Macquarie.
Bondi Pizza will have 480 square metre in the recently unveiled level two, which boasts a 3,400 square metre expansion.
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Bondi Pizza to open at Broadway Sydney

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A development site at Avoca Beach has been sold for $1,650,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-residential+land-nsw-avoca+beach-201451382" target="_blank">4-6 Cape Three Points Road</a>, the 1,713 square metre, B2 zoned local land is one of the last undeveloped sites in the Central Coast location.
This existing church site offers commercial and residential redevelopment, or conversion of the current building.
The current church structure provides a 250 square metre floor area.
The property is only 60 metres to the main entry to Avoca Village precinct.
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Avoca Beach development site sold for $1,650,000

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Geelong is ranked among the regional regions with the highest auction clearance rate, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The data firm says that out of the 31 auctions known to CoreLogic over the weekend Geelong sold 80%.
This is followed by Wollongong with 76% and the Hunter with 71%.
<a href="/images/2016/11/10/Regional%20regions.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/10/Regional%20regions.jpg" alt="">
The region with lowest auction clearance rate was the Gold Coast where out of the 35 auctions known to CoreLogic over the weekend only 42% were sold.
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Geelong leads with 80% auction success: CoreLogic

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The West and Inner South region of Melbourne was among the regions with the highest weekend auction clearance rate, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The data firm says that both regions had an auction clearance rate of 81%.
This is followed by the North West with 80% and the North East with 76%.
<a href="/images/2016/11/10/Melbourne%20sub%20regions.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/10/Melbourne%20sub%20regions.jpg" alt="">
The region with the lowest auction clearance rate was the Inner region where out of the 157 auctions known to CoreLogic only 67% were sold.
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Melbourne's West dominates auction clearance rate strength: CoreLogic

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Sydney’s landmark Lands and Education buildings on Bridge Street – known as “The Sandstones” – are one step closer to being transformed into a world-class hotel.
The NSW Government today announced the next stage of a $300 million plan to revitalise the historic buildings.
The Singapore-based Pontiac Land Group has lodged its Development Application (DA) for the planned transformation.
Minister for Finance, Services and Property Dominic Perrottet said the heritage redevelopment would allow locals and visitors to enjoy the history and heritage of the Sandstones for the first time since they were built in the late 1800s.
“When the Sandstones were first built, their beauty inspired the people of Sydney. This restoration will inspire us all again.”
The designs unveiled by Pontiac Land Group show ground-level retail and dining and a rooftop salon in the Lands building, to be open to the public.
More than 250 hotel rooms and suites are included in the plans for the two buildings, Mr Perrottet said.
Pontiac has extensive experience in the adaptive re-use of heritage buildings, including the flagship Capella Hotel in Singapore.
The Sandstones are subject to strict heritage protections, and the development will need to comply with Conservation Management Plans, endorsed by the NSW Heritage Council.
The DA will be considered for approval by the Department of Planning and Environment, and will be on public exhibition from November 17 to December 13.
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Sydney's landmark Sandstones hotel conversion revealed

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Adelaide is at the bottom of the market for the unit market, according to Herron Todd White’s latest market report.
The property advisory firm says that new properties are almost never sold at prices that exceeds their potential resale value.
Despite this demands for new units are fair with an increasing trend in new unit construction with volume of unit sales remain steady.
<a href="/images/2016/11/04/Capital%20city%20units.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/04/Capital%20city%20units.jpg" alt="">
The rental vacancy situation is a balanced market with a steady rental vacancy trend.
Other cities with a fair demand for new units include Sydney, Hobart and Canberra.
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Adelaide at bottom of the unit market with steady rental vacancy trend: HTW

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Higher rental yields and accelerating capital growth is seeing Hobart and Canberra close in on year-on-year top capital city performers, Sydney and Melbourne, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property investment firm says that over recent years, both cities have seen much stronger total returns than other capitals.
As reported in the October CoreLogic Home Value Index released last week, combined capital city home values rose by 7.5% over the year to October 2016 with the accelerating annual growth trend most evident within Sydney and Melbourne.
<a href="/images/2016/11/10/Annual%20change%20in%20capital%20cities.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/10/Annual%20change%20in%20capital%20cities.jpg" alt="">
CoreLogic research analyst Cameron Kusher said while the change in values is important, "it only tells part of the story with the total return also an important figure to focus on.”
“While the home value index looks at changes in values, the CoreLogic Accumulation Index factors in the change in values over the year along with rental returns. As a result, the Index provides the total returns from residential property.
“By factoring in rental returns, the total returns from residential property are actually positive cross all capital cities despite declining values in both Perth and Darwin.”
<a href="/images/2016/11/10/Total%20returns%20residential.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/10/Total%20returns%20residential.jpg" alt="">
“The total returns index also shows that Sydney and Melbourne are not quite so far out in front. The strong value growth in these two cities is offset by record low yields. Meanwhile, more moderate but accelerating value growth in Hobart and Canberra along with higher rental returns is resulting in total returns in these two cities closing the gap with Sydney and Melbourne,” Mr Kusher said.
Looking at cumulative value growth over the five years to October 2016, Sydney and Melbourne stand head and shoulders above all other capital cities.
<a href="/images/2016/11/10/Total%20change%20in%20capital%20cities.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/10/Total%20change%20in%20capital%20cities.jpg" alt="">
Over the five years to October 2016 Sydney home values have increased by 62.3% and Melbourne home values are 38.1% higher.
No other capital city has recorded cumulative growth of at least 20% over the past five years.
According to Mr Kusher, total residential property returns over the past five years indicate that property has performed much better than the headline value growth shows.
<a href="/images/2016/11/10/Total%20returns%20residential%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/10/Total%20returns%20residential%202.jpg" alt="">
He said although Sydney and Melbourne have still recorded the strongest total returns over the past five years, returns in the other capital cities are much stronger once you factor in the rental return performance.
“The strong value growth in Sydney and Melbourne over recent years has been a key driver of demand from the investment segment. Over the past year, total returns have begun to accelerate in Hobart and Canberra. Although value growth in these two cities has not been as strong as in Sydney and Melbourne, the superior rental returns are resulting in stronger total returns.”
“With Sydney and Melbourne seeing much greater value growth than all other capital cities over recent years and rental returns pushing to lower level, the total returns on offer in Hobart and Canberra are likely to remain attractive for investors, particularly those looking for opportunities outside of the two largest capital cities.”
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Property investment returns picking-up outside of Sydney and Melbourne: CoreLogic

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Auction volumes are set to rise this week with 2,613 capital city auctions currently being scheduled this week compared to 2,490 auctions last week, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
Auction volumes are set to ease this week in Sydney with 948 auctions scheduled compared to 1,063 last week.
In Melbourne volumes are set to rise from 929 last week to 1,223 this week.
Auction volumes continue to remain well below levels last year.
Across each of the smaller cities, auction activity is set to be lower this week than it was last week.
<a href="/images/2016/11/10/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-10%20at%201.37.25%20PM.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/10/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-10%20at%201.37.25%20PM.jpg" alt="">
Capital city auctions this week:
• Sydney: 948
• Melbourne: 1223
• Brisbane: 177
• Adelaide: 126
• Perth: 43
• Canberra: 85
Mosman in Sydney is the busiest suburb for auctions this week with 26 properties set to go under the hammer.
Reservoir (24), Cheltenham (18) and Bentleigh East and Glen Iris (both 17%) all of which are in Victoria will also have high numbers of auctions this week.
<a href="/images/2016/11/10/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-10%20at%201.37.30%20PM.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/10/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-10%20at%201.37.30%20PM.jpg" alt="">
Capital city auction clearance rates fell last week, down to 73.6 per cent from 74.4 per cent.
The fall occurred on the back of a fairly significant increase in auction volumes which rose from 2,253 the previous week to 2,517 last week.
Melbourne’s auction clearance rate was recorded at 76.1 per cent last week, down from 77.5 per cent over the previous week.
In Sydney, last week’s final auction clearance rate was recorded at 78.8 per cent which was the first reading below 80 per cent in four weeks and down from 80.5 per cent the previous week.
Across the smaller auction markets, performance was mixed last week, with clearance rates improving in Brisbane and Canberra but falling in Adelaide and Perth.
The Hunter region was the busiest non-capital city region last week, with 74 auctions, however Geelong recorded the strongest clearance rate at 80 per cent which was actually higher than Melbourne’s clearance rate.
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Melbourne and Sydney auction volumes increasing, but still less than last year: CoreLogic

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> have celebrated the topping out of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf,</a> marking a significant milestone in the delivery of one of Syd​ney's most anticipated waterfront communities.

Located on Sydney's harbourfront at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a>, the project has now reached its highest structural point, with construction progressing strongly towards completion in 2027. 
&nbsp; 
The milestone was celebrated on-site with project partners Phoenix Property Investors, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Versatile Construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, consultants and stakeholders, to recognise the collective effort behind the transformation of the historic waterfront site into a vibrant new residential, marina and lifestyle destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362240] 
&nbsp; 
<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will deliver a mix of waterfront residences and terraces, complemented by a private 36-berth marina, waterfront dining opportunities and a revitalised foreshore designed to reconnect the community with the river's edge. 
&nbsp; 
Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said the project represented a rare opportunity to create the next chapter in Sydn​ey's long history of successful waterfront precincts. 
&nbsp; 
"Throughout Sydney, some of the city's most sought-after addresses have emerged from carefully considered waterfront precincts such as Woolloom​ooloo Wharf, Walsh Bay and Breakfast Point," Brown said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362566] 
&nbsp; 
"What makes these places so successful is that they become much more than residential developments," Brown said.

"They bring together homes, hospitality, marina facilities, public spaces and a strong sense of community in locations where future supply is incredibly limited."

Brown has long described absolute waterfront land in Sy​dney as "finite."

"Once these opportunities are developed, they are rarely replicated. That's why Syd​ney's waterfront precincts have consistently demonstrated strong demand and long-term value growth over many decades. 
&nbsp; 
"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is one of the few remaining opportunities to secure a residence within a masterplanned waterfront community that combines direct water access, marina ownership opportunities and a genuine village lifestyle just moments from the Sy​dney CBD."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362564] 
&nbsp; 
PERIFA Founder and Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said the project reflected a shared commitment to delivering exceptional places that create long-term value for residents and the broader community. 
&nbsp; 
"The topping out milestone is a significant achievement for the Versatile Group and a testament to the collaboration between all project partners, consultants and contractors involved," Perilli said. 
&nbsp; 
"Beyond the residences themselves, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will establish a new waterfront destination that celebrates the history, character and lifestyle of this unique location while creating a lasting legacy for future generations."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=291195] 
&nbsp; 
Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=13962]

Joel Robinson

Abadeen, PERIFA, top out Putney Wharf harbourfront precinct

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]

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.

Staff reporter

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