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Melbourne’s inner city apartment market continues to strengthen, with the $3.375 million sale of a development site in Glen Iris.
The auction of <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-glen+iris-502115138" target="_blank">the 29-33 High Street property</a> attracted both local and offshore bidders to compete for the 664 square metre site.
The property has permit approval for a boutique apartment development consisting of 25 apartments and two ground floor retail shops.
A locally based, first time Chinese developer secured the site at a land rate of $5,083 per square metre through CBRE. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Glen Iris apartment development site sells at $3.37 million

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A significant dairy farm enterprise in the Port Campbell district has been listed by Ruralco for December 9 auction.
The sale is two adjoining farms with a combined land area of 266.35 hectares.
They are currently operated as one single farm unit, while each farm has a comfortable timber family home on the respective properties.
It is located about five kilometres north of the Port Campbell township and seventeen kilometres south of Timboon.
Major milk and cheese processing infrastructure is available nearby, while the farm is currently a Murray Goulburn supplier.
The eastern property fronting Eastern Creek Road comprises an area of 159 hectares and includes a 40-unit rotary dairy dating from 2007 with a 12,000 litre milk vat, 360 cow capacity yard and a 30 tonne capacity feed silo.
The adjoining second holding of 107 hectares also includes an older style 15-a-side double-up herringbone dairy with a 6,200 litre milk vat, a 250 cow capacity cow yard also a 30 tonne capacity feed silo and a Dairy King feed system.
This dairy was last used for milking in August 2013.
It is judged as being ideal for a farm employee or manager by Ruralco Property agent Peter Worden.
The entire property is currently being operated under the management of Simon Richardson, who says he is comfortably milking up to 300 cows, but with some further investment in development this could be increased to about 600 milkers.
Worden says that the auction is to resolve financial matters relating to a corporate owner.
He anticipates a sale price in the region of $2.6 to $2.9 million.
"I think everyone appreciates that the dairy industry has faced difficult conditions in the main beyond the control of the individual family farm or dairy operator," Worden said.
"This auction is to clear a path forwards and under more normal dairy industry conditions offers of this nature would not be occurring."
"Ï think this offer for sale needs to be judged as an opportunity at what is likely to be close to the cyclical low of the industry and this is a well-regarded and highly productive dairy district of Victoria."
The website <a href="https://www.weeona.com.au">www.weeona.com.au</a> has the offering.
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Murray Goulburn milk supplier farms at Port Campbell set for auction

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Bankwest customers are now able to check the details and status of their home loan application using a real-time, 24/7 online service.
Bankwest’s Andrew Whitechurch said the Application Tracker app had been developed by working directly with customers to understand their needs.
"Customers increasingly expect all organisations, including banks, to be flexible, digitally-connected and more responsive in helping them achieve what matters," he said.
The Application Tracker is a web-based tool designed to keep customers informed throughout the home loan application process from the time the application is lodged, through approval and right through to their first repayment. 
"By listening directly to our customers we found that while they love person to person interaction, in a rapidly evolving digital world they also expect to be able to track the progress of their home loan themselves via digital channels, and to be kept up to date immediately at key points throughout the process," said Whitechurch.
"Customers’ expectations about service and access to information on-line, is being shaped by their experiences in other industries."
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Bankwest launches real-time home loan application app

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Alice Springs is approaching the bottom of the unit market, according to Herron Todd White’s (HTW) latest market report.
The property advisory firm says that new properties sold almost never exceed their potential resale value.
There is very soft demand for new units in the city, which coincides with a declining number of units being sold as well as a declining trend in new unit constructions.
<a href="/images/2016/11/04/NT%20units.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/04/NT%20units.jpg" alt="">
The rental vacancy trend is increasing, which coincides with a large oversupply of available properties relative to demand.
The only other region in SA, NT or WA with a very soft demand for new units is Darwin.
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Alice Springs' unit market approaching the bottom: HTW

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There is an oversupply of rentals in Townsville with available properties exceeding demand, according to Herron Todd White’s (HTW) latest market report.
The property advisory firm says that although there are issues with rental vacancy, the trend is steady.
HTW said there is fair demand for new houses, which coincides with a steady trend of new houses being built despite increasing volume of house sales.
<a href="/images/2016/11/04/Qld%20houses.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/04/Qld%20houses.jpg" alt="">
New properties in Townsville are almost never sold at prices exceeding their potential resale value, the report said.
Other regions with a fair demand for new houses includes Whitsundays and Brisbane.
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Townsville housing market currently in oversupply: HTW

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The East Coast capital city suburbs with the highest price growth prove that lifestyle options, strong or improving infrastructure, good schools, local jobs or proximity to employment hubs, public transport and a vibrant ‘village’ atmosphere are key factors in driving prices skyward, according to McGrath's latest report.
Figures compiled by CoreLogic RP Data reveal the suburbs with the greatest house and apartment price growth over the 12 months to June 30, 2016.
A key element in the price growth of many suburbs this year has been a lack of stock, which has intensified competition.
In Sydney, Westmead recorded the strongest house price growth for FY2016 at 33.2 percent.
"We attribute this to the $900 million Westmead Hospital redevelopment project currently underway and a growing resident population of well-paid health service professionals," the report stated.
Westmead is also home to an expanding campus of the University of Western Sydney and is situated right next door to Parramatta, Sydney’s second CBD.
Fairlight recorded the strongest apartment price growth at a staggering 46%.
A shortage of stock combined with a large difference between house and apartment prices and the ripple effect from its beachside neighbour, Manly all contributed to this phenomenal price rise.
In Melbourne, St Kilda East house prices rose 35.4 percent due to improved amenities, gentrification and increased demand from buyers priced out of Albert Park, Middle Park and Elwood.
Carlisle Street in Balaclava, a small suburb in the St Kilda East postcode, has been transformed over the past decade into a buzzy café village where locals love to hang out.
There are shops, major supermarkets, schools, the recently upgraded train station and easy access to the city and St Kilda foreshore.
There are beautiful period houses and apartments protected by heritage order. It’s a great place to live and gaining appeal as a destination suburb.
Brighton had the second highest apartment price growth at 27.3%, reflecting demand from downsizers who have lived and loved the location for 30 years and are now selling their family homes and moving into apartments and townhouses in the same area.
<a href="/images/2016/10/28/Top%205%20house%20growth.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/28/Top%205%20house%20growth.jpg" alt="">
In Brisbane, house price growth was greatest in Robertson at 25.6%; while beachside Woody Point on the Redcliffe peninsula achieved the best apartment price growth at 24.2%.
Wilston recorded the third best house price growth at 20.3% over FY2016. Wilston is a highly regarded area with a great café village, excellent schools and spectacular homes – many with city views due to the suburb’s elevated position.
Camp Hill enjoyed the second best apartment price growth at 18.9% due to strong demand from first home buyers.
<a href="/images/2016/10/28/Top%205%20apartment%20growth.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/28/Top%205%20apartment%20growth.png" alt="">
In the nation’s capital, it’s all about O’Connor, which had the highest price growth for both houses at 21.5 percent and apartments at 15.3 percent in FY2016.
O’Connor is close to everything and has a great café and shopping precinct. Families love the tree-lined streets and good sized blocks and it is in the catchment areas for Turner School and Lyneham Primary School. Being walking distance to the CBD and the Australian National University is also a major drawcard for young buyers and investors.
Identifying Price Growth Hot Spots
Macro Factors
• Strong population growth
• Good local employment or access to job hubs
• Gentrification of housing stock
• Growing household incomes
• Lifestyle amenities – cafes, shops, entertainment and recreation
• Schools and catchment zones
• Presence of big retail brands
• Public transport and walkability
Market Factors
• Rising tenant and buyer demand
• Low or falling days on market
• Low or falling vacancy rates
• More auctions and rising clearance rates
• Reduced vendor discounting
• Limited supply of future housing
<a href="/images/2016/10/28/Top%205%20suburbs.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/28/Top%205%20suburbs.jpg" alt="">
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Westmead takes top spot for strongest house price growth in FY16: McGrath

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Sydney based property developer JQZ secured the weekend sales of over 200 apartments.
They were sold in under the first two hours of its first sales release on Saturday of Prime, in the heart of Macquarie Park, in what has been predicted to become Sydney's fourth CBD. 
The average prices paid by the majority of local buyers for one-bedroom and one bedroom + study apartments was $653K-$850K, for two-bedrooms and two-bedrooms + study was $1.040M-$1.410M, for three-bedrooms was $1.380M-$1.548M and two-three bedroom penthouses was $1.520M-$2.580M.
<img src="/images/2016/11/07/20161105_2022.jpg" alt="">
Jian Qiu Zhang, Founder and CEO of JQZ said “today’s sales success has been extremely encouraging."
It will be positioned right next door to the prestigious Macquarie Centre, featuring 680 one, two, three and four-bedroom penthouse apartments across four towers, each 20 storeys high. 
Lane Cove National Park will be seen from the north-facing apartments and the Sydney CBD will be seen from the south-east facing dwellings.
David Milton, at CBRE said the penthouses will have internal stairs to access their own private rooftop gardens.
There are 19 penthouses .
<img src="/images/2016/11/07/20161105_2497.jpg" alt="">
JQZ’s own in-house construction team is expected to commence building works in mid-2017.
The Prime sales gallery is open from 11am to 4pm seven days a week.
For more information, visit <a href="https://www.primemacquarie.com.au" target="_blank">www.primemacquarie.com.au</a>.
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JQZ sells 200 off the plan apartment within two hours in Sydney's Macquarie Park

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The penthouse on the 86th floor of Eureka, one of the tallest buildings in the southern hemisphere, has hit the market.
And there's whispers that the 85th floor empty shell is soon set for imminent JLL listing. 
<a href="https://www.rtedgar.com.au/property/424157/8601-7-riverside-quay-southbank/" target="_blank">The 86th floor</a> is a lavish New York style Art Deco inspired apartment listed by entrepreneur Anthony Podesta.
Perched almost 300 metres above Riverside Quay, Southbank, the 660 sqm, whole floor apartment fitout was two years in the making.
It comes with four ensuited bedrooms, a library, large entertaining space, theatre room and even has Eureka Towers only gas fireplace.
There are designer imported fittings, with French oak parquetry flooring and hand crafted Art Deco ceilings. Italian marble is used throughout the apartment.
Podesta, a former high school teacher, made his fortune by founding McMillan Shakespeare, Australia's largest provider of salary packaging and notated leasing.
RT Edgar agents Tim Wilson and Anthony Grimwade are seeking offers over $18 million in conjunction with Melbourne Sotheby's agent Greg Herman.
For the more establishment buyer there's the 99 Spring Street penthouse offering which has been listed by Greg Hargrave. 
This article was first published in the Weekend Australian Mansion Australia property section.
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Eureka penthouse hits the market

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Sam Arnaout, who runs the Sydney-based pub group and developer Iris Capital, is tipped to have expanded his Hunter Valley holdings following the sale by the Kirby family of its Hungerford Hill boutique winery and vineyard in Pokolbin for more than $6 million. 
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-viticulture-nsw-pokolbin-7840066" target="_blank">Hungerford Hill Property </a>Pty Ltd was registered recently with Arnaout the sole director and shareholder.
Earlier this year Arnaout bought the prized nearby 48 hectare Sweetwater, Hunter Valley vineyard estate.
The Sweetwater Mediterranean-style weekender had been listed at around $12 million by Duncan and Lyn Hardie having come with initial hopes of $30 million.
Arnaout, who entered the hotel industry in 1995, has a whole-floor penthouse in the Bennelong apartment complex which was bought from Margaret Maloney, the widow of the hotelier Cyril Maloney for $18 million in 2015.
Established in 1967, Hungerford Hill Wines is an architectural icon, designed by architect Walter Barda on the Hunter’s most coveted gateway corner location, where 1.4 million visitors pass annually. 
The Kirby family acquired the premium Hungerford Hill brand from winemaker Southcorp in 2002. 
James Kirby developed the 22 hectares of land, mature vineyard, 300 tonne winery/cellar door, wine sales business, leased restaurant, brands and IP. It is a James Halliday 5-star winery.
Iris Capital owns some of Sydney's best-known hospitality venues including the Clovelly Hotel, The Bourbon in Potts Point and The Grand at Bondi Junction and a month ago snapped up the Colombian Hotel on Oxford Street from publican David McHugh for more than $15 million.
He has recently listed the popular Clovelly Hotel in Sydney's eastern suburbs having sold The Crest Hotel in Potts Point and the Crown Hotel Parramatta last year.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Kirby family sells Hungerford Hill

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More than 100 staff from CBRE Perth will embrace their philanthropic spirit next month, when they join forces to undertake a major rejuvenation project for not-for-profit-organisation, Rise Network.
Rise Network is a Western Australian-based charity organisation providing community support and services to disadvantaged people.
Works include new pathways, wheelchair accessible vegetable garden beds, shaded areas, barbecue areas, fencing and guide rails.
CBRE is aiming to raise $38,000 to fund the project.
CBRE’s Managing Director, Western Australia, Lloyd Jenkins said CBRE was proud to support such an important cause.
"The project forms part of CBRE’s corporate volunteering program CBRE Cares – an Australian wide annual initiative that sees hundreds of staff take part in a range of charity pursuits, he said.
RISE Network provides support to those impacted by mental health issues; people living with disability; aged care services; youth services; and housing support.
 
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Perth unites to show philanthropic spirit

<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.

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&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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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