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Historic Hordern House at Potts Point has been sold.
It fetched $5.75 million having been listed with $6.5 million hopes.
The 1880s Victoria Street terrace house was last sold back in 1985 when the rare book dealers Anne McCormick and Derek McDonnell paid $438,000.
That was around a decade after the battle for the preservation of the delightful street was fought against developers.  
Anne McCormick has been involved in rare books, manuscripts, paintings and prints since the 1970’s first in business in Paddington. They will be moving to new premises.
The freestanding terrace has a 19 wide street frontage, spanning three levels over 561 square metres.
The marketing suggested it was ready for adaptation to a "large, stunning and private residence with at least 4 bedrooms."
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Historic Hordern House, Potts Point sold

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The Gold Coast’s retail rental vacancy situation is at a balanced market, according to Herron Todd White’s latest market report.
The property advisory firm says that the rental vacancy trend is tightening at the Gold Coast with a stable to increasing rental rate trend.
There is a increase to steady volume of properties being sold with Gold Coast approaching the peak of its market.
<a href="/images/2016/11/04/Qld%20retail.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/04/Qld%20retail.jpg" alt="">
The local economic situation is steadily growing with small value differences between quality properties with national tenants and comparable properties with local tenants.
The only other region approaching the peak of its market is Brisbane, according to HTW.
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Gold Coast has an increase to steady volume of retail properties being sold: HTW

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Lendlease’s newest urban regeneration project has taken a major step forward with the sale of its first commercial tower, One Melbourne Quarter, to the Lendlease-managed Australian Prime Property Fund Commercial (APPF Commercial).
The new, next-generation office tower at the $2 billion Melbourne Quarter project will also be the future home of Lendlease’s Victorian headquarters, with the company announcing today that it will consolidate its Melbourne office sites to One Melbourne Quarter when the building is delivered in 2018.
Designed by Melbourne architects Denton Corker Marshall, One Melbourne Quarter is the first of seven commercial and residential buildings and will target leading sustainability outcomes, including a 6 Star Green Star Design and As Built rating, and a 5 star NABERS energy rating.
<img src="/images/2016/11/08/View_24_LobbyEntry_Updated%201.jpg" alt="">
Lendlease’s Chief Executive Officer for Property, Kylie Rampa, said the sale of One Melbourne Quarter is a key milestone in the early stages of the project.
“The sale of this building brings the vision of Melbourne Quarter to life and will drive increased momentum for the project. We continue to witness the city shift its commercial centre west along Collins Street, with many leading national and global enterprises already having made the move,” she said.
“As we did with our global head office move to Barangaroo in Sydney this year, we will be consolidating our Melbourne offices to bring our Victorian people together at One Melbourne Quarter in 2018,” Ms Rampa continued.
Lendlease will occupy four floors of the 13 level, circa 26,400sqm building; joining global design and engineering firm Arup who will also relocate its Victorian workforce to the same tower. Lendlease and Arup will enter into 12 and 11 year leases respectively.
APPF Commercial’s investment in One Melbourne Quarter, subject to conditions, comprises circa 26,400sqm net lettable area (NLA) with large floorplates of approximately 2,000sqm, retail lettable area of 980sqm and up to 106 car spaces.
<img src="/images/2016/11/08/View04_Skypark_east_A%20resized.jpg" alt="">
Bringing together the latest thinking in sustainability, technology and health and wellbeing, Melbourne Quarter is expected to offer approximately 120,000sqm of agile and flexible office space, circa 1,690 apartments, 4,000sqm of retail space, childcare and end-of-trip facilities and a health and wellness centre.
Melbourne Quarter’s Skypark will complement the leading workplace design, offering workers the ability to re-charge or work outside the office, enhancing their health and wellbeing– a key trend in global workplace design. The precinct boasts a strong environmental focus, with more than half of the site dedicated to public open space.
For further information, visit <a href="https://www.melbournequarter.com">www.melbournequarter.com</a>.
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Lendlease keeps Melbourne Quarter commercial space

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Homes designed by the acclaimed architect Richard Leplastrier are capturing buying interest across Sydney.
His early 1990s Balmain East design for the longtime home of the late Labor activist and environmentalist Tom Uren been sold.
Angophora House at Avalon Beach is up for sale.
And last week a mid-1970s Lepastrier-designed Bayview (above) offering came on the market.
The Uren home came with a price guidance of $3.45 million and $3,795,000 through Modern House agent Marcus Lloyd-Jones.
It was listed by his opera singer widow Christine Logan who has decided to downsize locally.
Richard Leplastrier designed the 287 sqm home in the early 1990s with jarrah and karri trees recycled from warehouse in Fremantle.
The former minister in the Whitlam and Hawke Labor governments then created a private rainforest oasis on the 496 sqm holding.
One of the first things Leplastrier did was to spend a week camping on the site with his partner, Karen Lambert.
“I had my drawing board there, and some of the first ideas for the house came from that week’s work onsite,” says Leplastrier. “When you do that, you see the way the place works in a way you don’t see if you just visit for a couple of hours two or three times.
"You see how it works in the weather, how it works from the point of view of the sunrise and sunset, noise, neighbours, harbour activity etc.”
Leplastrier says Tom Uren was very much at the forefront of his mind as he designed this house starting with the extra high front door. Uren was comparable in stature to the 1.94 metre tall Gough Whitlam.
“Tom told me he wanted good high ceilings, and that’s what he got,” says Leplastrier. 
Listed by David Watson at LJ Hooker Avalon, the Bayview home is modelled partly on Leplastrier's Palm Garden house at Bilgola Beach (below).
<img src="/images/2016/11/08/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-08%20at%209.54.46%20AM.png" alt="">
Comprising four distinct pavilions connected by internal corridors, the large family home comes with a 13 metre saltwater infinity edge pool on its 4,078 sqm parcel.
Watson has a guide of $2.8 million to $3.08 million. It last traded for $2 million in 2010.
Leplastrier, one of Australia’s most influential and internationally awarded architects, studied architecture at the University of Sydney, then working with Jorn Utzon on the Sydney Opera House.
One of his main tasks was to help prepare sketches for the Danish architect's proposed Bayview house, which later became the basis for Utzon's cliffside house on the Mediterranean island of Majorca (below).
<img src="/images/2016/11/08/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-08%20at%209.56.29%20AM.png" alt="">
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Richard Leplastrier designs across Sydney for sale

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<div class="m_8880252566376934918gmail-rc">
Pineapple Cottage at Byron Bay has been listed by interior stylist Taliah Lowry for December 16 auction.
Lowry, who has emerged in recent years as an accommodation enteprenuer, paid $1.2 million in 2009 and went about restoring the main residence, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-byron+bay-124008790" target="_blank">a three bedroom, timber beach style cottage</a>.
Wide covered verandahs frame the cottage on two sides, while a swimming pool and spa sit in the private yard.
Through a gate to a private deck is the entrance to the Chapel Studio, in the style of a New York loft apartment featuring soaring ceilings and recycled brick exposed walls.
The home has featured in Vogue Living and Country Style.
Su Reynolds at First National Byron Bay has the listing.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Pineapple Cottage at Byron Bay listed by interior stylist Taliah Lowry

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The Trump name is synomomous with high end apartments.
But some of the residents have had reservations of late.
Some residents in the Trump Place apartment complex, located on Manhattan's famous Upper West Side, have even petitioned to change the name of the property built by Donald Trump.
More than 360 people have signed the online petition urging landlord Equity Residential to "Dump the Trump Name."
With most of the residents facing the Hudson River, it houses more than 1300 residents and carries large gold letters spelling out the name of the property.
The signatories of the petition have asked to change the name to either 140, 160 or 180 Riverside Boulevard.
It's been argued by Linda Gottlieb, one of the residents of the building and the creator of the petition, that the Trump name doesn't represent those who live and work inside.
Their complaints since the start of Trumps presidential campaign have yielded some movement.
A member of the building's staff is said to have suggested that maintenance and concierge workers were being fitted for new uniforms that don't bear the Trump name.
One resident remarked that she signed the petition because “it’s embarrassing to tell people where you live”.
Other properties that Trump have designed includes the Trump Tower, Trump Wollman Rink and the Trump Golf Links.
Trump Tower, New York City on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, home to Donald Trump's main offices, and has also acted as the headquarters for his presidential campaign.
Completed in 1983, the tower was designed by American architect Der Scutt. It is distinguished by a stepped corner planted with trees, which manifests as a zig-zagging facade above.
Bloomberg recently compiled an extensive list of the building’s past and present occupant.
From floors 66 to 68 the Republican presidential nominee occupies the top floors of his namesake tower, hidden behind a grand entryway gilded in gold and diamonds.
The palatial penthouse, Bloomberg reports, takes a tip from Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi: “One reason Trump’s triplex is so vast, he has written, is a trip he took to...Khashoggi’s condo nearby, where he stepped into a living room bigger than his own.” Trump, who has the best temperament, wanted to level up with a Saudi arms dealer. 
On 62 and 63 is the real estate investor Guido Lombardi is a self-proclaimed Italian count and Trump supporter.
Art dealer Hillel Nahmad, of the Nahmad collecting dynasty, has been buying up apartments on the 51st floor of Trump Tower since at least 1999, when he paid $2.5 million for Unit 51J. Years, and millions, later, Nahmad amassed the entire floor for a total $18.4 million. Nahmad was sent to prison for five months in 2014 for running a high-stakes gambling ring.
For a list of the colorful characters who formerly purchased in the building, including Andrew Lloyd Weber and Haitian dictator “Baby Doc” Duvalier, read it at<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-trump-tower/" target="_blank"> Bloomberg</a>.
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Residents of Trump Place petition to have property name changed

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A 1850s restored property at the Hobart suburb of Battery Point is for sale, with more than $1.9 million being sought.
Located at <a href="https://raywhitehobart.com.au/tas/battery-point/1519435/?utm_source=ActivePipe&amp;utm_medium=Email&amp;utm_term=12%20Francis%20Street%20Battery%20Point&amp;utm_campaign=Weekly-Listings" target="_blank">12 Francis Street</a> the property retains much of its period grandeur through features including original fireplaces, floors, doors and windows.
The expansive living area includes a cosy gas heater along with a well equipped kitchen.
<img src="/images/2016/11/08/3.jpg" alt="">
There are five bedrooms and a sitting room.
The master bedroom comes with a balcony.
<img src="/images/2016/11/08/4.jpg" alt="">
The rear houses an entertainment area.
The property is offered through Ray White agents Ant Manton and Simon Purdon.
<img src="/images/2016/11/08/5.jpg" alt="">
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Restored 1850s home at Battery Point for sale

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Mat Baxter, the newly appointed global CEO of media agency Initiative in New York, is selling his luxury Sydney CBD bolthole.
The 118 square metre luxury apartment on the north-west corner of the Portico building comes with interiors from Coco Republic.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-sydney-123907046" target="_blank">The two level apartment</a> is crowned with a French crystal chandelier hanging above the living and dining area.
Baxter paid $1.05 million for the two bedroom apartment in 2008 when he was living in Sydney having founded award winning creative agency Naked Communications.
It comes with an asking price of $1.95 million to $2.05 million through Monique Lavers at Sydney Cove Property.
Baxter's recent promotion came after he moved to New York last summer to take on the new chief strategy and creative role.
This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph.
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Portico, Sydney offering with Coco Republic interiors

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The success of Adelaide’s tallest residential building, Vue on King William, has continued with the development scooping the 2016 UDIA SA High Density Housing Award.
It’s the second UDIA SA High Density Housing Award for Starfish Developments, which also won the award last year for its Avenue at St Clair project.
<img src="/images/2016/11/07/ASBCREATIVE-THE_VUE_HI_001.jpg" alt="">
The 89 metre, 28 storey Vue on King William, which opened in June, was a joint venture between Adelaide-based Starfish Developments and Melbourne-based Asian Pacific Group.
The $100 million, 210 apartment development was almost fully sold within a couple of months of going to market in May 2014, with construction starting just four months later.
The building took just 20 months from ground breaking to completion. Construction of the project created 200 jobs.
Vue has brought a new style of residential architecture to Adelaide with its six level podium, recessed Level 7 roof top garden, pool deck and recreation centre and 22 level glass frontage.
<img src="/images/2016/11/07/ASBCREATIVE-THE_VUE_HI_006.jpg" alt="">
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Adelaide’s tallest residential building wins more design awards

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The largest mixed-use project at St Leonards is for sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/nsw/st-leonards/1553297/" target="_blank">88 Christie Street</a>, the property has an uninterrupted view of the Sydney Harbour and the city skyline.
There is approval for B4 mixed-use zoning.
The property has the potential to have 777 residential apartments, as well as a supermarket. It is also suitable for speciality retail and commercial investments.
It has a general floor area of 71,127 square metres with a site area of 4,556 square metres.
It is located opposite St Leonards train station and has a PTW Architects-designed scheme.
Expressions of interest close on November 18 through Ray White agents Stephen Moses, Ben Wicks and Matthew Meynell.
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St Leonards residential apartment project for sale

<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] 
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<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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