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The average vendor discount required to secure a private treaty sale in Sydney has risen from 4.5% to 4.6%, according to CoreLogic’s latest weekly report.
But the average house in Sydney can be expected to be on the market for 27 days compared to 28 days a week ago.
At the other end of the spectrum, the city where properties can expect to be on the market for some time is Darwin.
A home in the NT capital can expect to be on the market for 107 days, while a vendor will typically have to wait 112 days to sell a unit and discount by 10.8% to secure the sale.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2016/10/25/Capital%20city%20median%20time.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2016/10/25/Capital%20city%20median%20time.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Sydney private treaty homes selling in 27 days: CoreLogic

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The North West region of Melbourne takes the top spot with the highest auction clearance rate, according to CoreLogic’s latest weekly report.
Out of the 86 results recorded by CoreLogic, 89% resulted in a successful outcome.
<a href="/images/2016/10/24/Melbourne%20sub%20regions.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/24/Melbourne%20sub%20regions.jpg" alt="">
This is followed by the Outer East region with 87% and the Inner South region with 86%.
The region with the lowest auction rate is the Inner East with an auction clearance rate 75%.
<a href="/images/2016/10/24/Melbourne%20weekly%20clearance%20rate.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/24/Melbourne%20weekly%20clearance%20rate.jpg" alt="">
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Melbourne's North West heating up with 89% auction success rate: CoreLogic

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A food factory investment opportunity at Dandenong in Melbourne’s south-east has been sold by Ray White Commercial.
Its $550,000 price reflected a 7.2% yield.
The property leased to Z &amp; W Group (Aust) Pty Ltd at 1/23 Egan Road, Dandenong, was sold to a private investor.
Ray White Commercial Oakleigh’s Ryan Amler said the tenant commenced a three-year lease with a further three-year option in May, 2016, and the property returns net rental of $39,600 per annum.
The property has a building area of approximately 310 square metres and is equipped with freezers, a cool room and other plant and equipment valued at more than $250,000.
“This is a fully equipped food factory that enjoys easy access to major arterials including EastLink and the Princes Highway,” Amler said.
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Food factory at Dandenong sold for $550,000

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Spring is seeing a lift in the Brisbane and Adelaide auction markets, according to CoreLogic's latest weekly report.
Outside of the traditional biggest two cities for spring auctions, Melbourne and Sydney, there are far fewer auctions to measure. However, CoreLogic said that both the long-term trend line and short-term appreciation since the beginning of spring in Adelaide and Brisbane stands out.
CoreLogic's Cameron Kusher said that "across the smaller cities, auction activity has increased significantly over the week in Adelaide, Canberra and Perth while it is lower in Brisbane". The trend line for Brisbane has been more pronounced over a longer period of time, the uptick in auction success since the winter months is particuarly noticeable. 
While spring is typically a time where more properties go under the hammer, this does not always lead to a rise in auction clearances.
"Spring is typically characterised by a fairly significant upswing in stock for sale, this is driven by the belief that spring is the best time of year to sell (that is a topic for another day)," said Kusher.
"As supply increases, the value growth performance can slow and as we saw last year, auction clearance rates can actually start to dip."
<a href="/images/2016/10/24/Weekly%20clearance%20rate.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/24/Weekly%20clearance%20rate.jpg" alt="">
The longer term trends in auction success are also noticeable. In Adelaide, five years ago an auction clearance rate of less than 40% was typical, while now the clearance rate has nearyl doubled and is nudging 80%.
The Queensland capital shows similar gains, with a 20% clearance rate the norm five years back, while now the trend line hovers around 50%.
 
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Spring auction success on the rise in Adelaide and Brisbane: CoreLogic

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Geelong takes top spot with the highest weekly auction clearance rate in the nation's regional markets, according to CoreLogic’s latest weekly report.
Geelong had an auction clearance rate of 86% from the 22 auctions tracked by CoreLogic.
Meanwhile, the Sunshine Coast finished on the bottom of the chart with a 67.7% clearance rate from the 31 CoreLogic auction results. 
<a href="/images/2016/10/24/Regional%20sub%20regions.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/24/Regional%20sub%20regions.jpg" alt="">
This was followed by the Hunter with 80% and the Gold Coast with 70%.
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Sunshine Coast secures 67.7% auction clearance rate: CoreLogic

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Atherfield, the 1870 Darling Point residence of former Scottish and Newcastle Brewing CEO and Brambles director Tony Froggatt and his wife Christine, has been sold.
It was sold by Brad Pillinger at Pillinger Double Bay who recently secured the trophy home listing. It had previously been listed with more than $15 million when initially listed for sale.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-darling+point-123667438" target="_blank">five bedroom gothic revival mansion</a> was first occupied by the Willis family, with an 1880s sketch by James Willis hanging in the Eastbourne Road home.
The home's wine cellar
<img src="/images/2016/10/Eastbourne2.jpg" alt="" width="477" height="271">
With harbour views from its 1150sqm grounds, it was last sold by Di O'Neal, the widow of the late St George Bank chief Ed O'Neal in 2002 to Froggart for $6 million. 
The Froggart's own an $8 million whole floor apartment in the Gazebo building in the Elizabeth Bay.
The view from the pool
<img src="/images/2016/10/Eastbourne1.jpg" alt="" width="478" height="251">
The five-bedroom Gothic Revival Eastbourne Road property was sold in 2002 when Tony Froggart was heading the UK brewery, Scottish &amp; Newcastle, pubs division.
He then served as chief of Heineken UK Limited from May 2003 to November  2007 when he returned to Australia. 
Froggatt, who holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from Queen Mary College, London and an MBA from Columbia Business School, New York, serves on the boards of Axa Australia and Brambles Ltd. 
It been home to who's who of leading businessmen including David Voss.
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Atherfield, the 1870 Darling Point home, has sold

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A residential development site suited to a townhouse development at Riddells Creek has been sold.
Gray Johnson agent Rory White says that the campaign for 138 Main Road attracted over 40 enquiries for the property with a sale negotiated with a local builder-developer at $190 a square metre for the site of 2,206 sqm, or $420,000.
“The property with a frontage of 31 metres to Main Road holds a General Residential Zone 1 rating under the local planning scheme.
“It was offered along with a conceptual development plan for a potential townhouse development prepared by V-Arc Architects subject to planning approval.
“The purchaser is a local developer who has recently completed several townhouse developments in the local area” Mr White says.
Riddells Creek, 50 kms north-west of the City in the foothills of the Macedon Ranges, is a regional growth area with semi-rural charm and a growing local population.
 
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Riddells Creek townhouse development site sold for $190 a sqm after strong interest

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The Hurricane Hill Quarry at Culcairn, about 50 kilometres north of Albury, has been sold at auction for $4.5 million.
The buyer, Tranternet Pty Ltd, proposes to hold the property as a long term investment.
Ruralco Property’s state manager for real estate Mike Everard had estimated it would sell for between $3 million and $4 million.
The property is based on a reserve of rhyodacite rock estimated at an unquarried resource of about nine million tonnes.
It recent annual production volumes have been of about 250,000 tonnes with Fairfax Media reporting a permitted expansion up to 750,000t.
The quarry has operated on the site for about eighty years with building material supplier Boral having acquired the operating licence about twenty years ago.
The auction was on behalf of a descendant of the original family that has owned the freehold property for generations.
The site includes 110 hectares of freehold land, part of which has been cropped or used for dryland grazing.
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Culcairn quarry sold

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Infrastructure growth is a key demand driver in the Melbourne industrial property market and as a distribution hub, the West has benefitted from its excellent road infrastructure, according to Colliers International’s latest report.
Freight volumes have continued to expand over the years and so has the need create a more efficient system to move freight in and out of the port.
Intermodal freight terminals have gained traction on the back of this, with Salta’s Nexus Industrial in Altona being one such development.
Industrial assets should also benefit from the Western Distributor project which is currently underway and includes upgrades to the West Gate freeway and Bolte Bridge ramp, in addition to a connecting tunnel to the Port of Melbourne, CityLink and the CBD.
Tenant enquiry has more than doubled over the last 12 months, where the majority of this demand was concentrated on properties above 5,000sqm and smaller lots below 3,000sqm.
Demand has been strong over the year, with a significantly larger proportion of tenants enquiring for purposes of expansion and relocation in comparison to 2015, mainly for immediate tenancy.
While tenant demand has intensified, the in flow of speculative development has continued to wane, with the remaining speculative stock available for lease split between Frasers Property and the Goodman Group.
Prime Grade Net face rents are currently in the $70-80sqm range, while Secondary Grade assets range between $50-60sqm. Based on current levels of tenant enquiry, we expect to see solid growth in rents over the medium term, as renewed tenant interest from strong infrastructure and business expansion tightens vacancy in the market.
The pipeline for land supply has also thinned, with ready to go, subdivided land in limited stock. There are currently only four estates that have titled land and we expect  five more estates to come online in 2017, 60 per cent of which has already been sold.
The lack of available properties in a competitive environment should continue to reinforce growth in land values, which should translate into solid capital growth and further yield compression over the next 12 months.
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Industrial market to benefit from Western Distributor project in West Melbourne

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Warehouse and workshops rents improved slightly during the second half of 2016 in Newcastle, with rental rates ranging from $90 to $110, according to Colliers International's latest report.
Warehouse rents continue to comprise the majority of vacant space within prime industrial locations such as Beresfield, Thornton, Mayfield and industrial suburbs surrounding the Port of Newcastle.
Rental rates are predicted to improve during 2017 due to a recovering economy and the increasing presence of owner occupiers absorbing vacant stock.
Incentives within the Newcastle market are typically associated with the leasing of larger facilities for lease terms greater than three years and range between 8 per cent to 10 per cent of the lease term certain.
The majority of lease deals negotiated during the second half of 2016 in prime industrial areas have featured incentives less than this, with most incentives being experienced for older industrial facilities in secondary and fringe industrial locations.
The current low interest rate environment, a strengthening local economy and stable industrial land values have contributed towards increased enquiry from owner occupiers within the Newcastle industrial market during the second half of 2016 (approximately 15 per cent from Q1 2016).
This increased demand from owner occupiers has resulted in an uplift in values for properties sold with vacant possession.
Colliers International has witnessed properties being listed for lease receiving strong demand from owner occupiers, with circa 60 per cent to 70 per cent of properties listed for lease being sold.
Colliers International expects owner occupiers to continue to dominate enquiry throughout Q4 2016 and Q1 2017.
The higher ratio of owner occupiers to tenant enquiry is highlighted in the following graph.
<a href="/images/2016/10/25/Perth%20H2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/25/Perth%20H2.jpg" alt="">
Increased demand from owner occupiers capitalising on the historically low interest rates and improving business confidence, has resulted in uplift in values for properties sold with vacant possession.
The most prevalent has occurred within the sub $1.5m price bracket due to affordability for self managed superannuation funds, seeking opportunities within premium industrial locations such as Beresfield, Cardiff, Thornton, Warabrook and inner city locations.
The demand in the investment market for high quality industrial assets in Newcastle, the surrounding Hunter and Central Coast Regions continue to firm.
Small to medium sized facilities are achieving yields ranging from 6.45 per cent for inner city showroom/warehouse facilities in prime locations to 8.52 per cent for larger industrial facilities with strong lease covenants.
Recent notable industrial sales indicate strong demand exists from high net worth investors and self managed funds.
The main attributes these investors are looking for include location, covenant strength, lease term/Weighted Average Lease Expiry (WALE), lease provisions and building age/capital expenditure requirements.
Recent transactions within the Newcastle region from Q1 2016 to Q3 2016 are listed in the table below.
<a href="/images/2016/10/25/Investment%20sales.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/25/Investment%20sales.jpg" alt="">
The Newcastle Region industrial land market is showing signs of improvement reflected in increased enquiry level and demand for larger lot sizes.
Demand for industrial land during the second half of 2016 has steadily improved, primarily driven by owner occupiers looking at site specifics and value for money offerings; however access to labour is also a key driver in the Hunter market.
This has been evidenced with developments by Sandvik at Heatherbrae, WesTrac at Tomago and Bradken in the Steel River Estate at Mayfield West, Aurizon at Hexham and Aldi’s proposed NSW Distribution centre in Beresfield.
Serviced industrial land supply is limited to around four key industrial precincts including Beresfield, Rutherford, Steel River Estate in Mayfield and Cardiff. Supply and pricing as at June 2016 is as follows:
<a href="/images/2016/10/25/Land%20supply.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/25/Land%20supply.jpg" alt="">
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Owner occupiers dominate the Newcastle industrial market

<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.

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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.

[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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