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Rag trader Ray Pillion has listed his lavish Darling Point penthouse in the Washingtonia building.
The four bedroom, four bathroom home is one of only two villas in the prestigious boutique block that was built six years ago.
Architecturally designed by Jahn and Associates, the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-darling+point-123770602" target="_blank">two storey home offers an expansive 550 sqm</a>.
There are a number of outdoor entertaining areas, one with a swimming pool, the other overlooking the harbour.
There's no price guidance but it was listed last year with $8.5 million hopes.
D'Leanne Lewis at Laing + Simmons Double Bay and Michael Pallier at Sydney Sotheby's have the listing.
Pillion had paid $6.5 million for the home in 2010.
 
 
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Rag trader Ray Pillion lists harbourside Darling Point penthouse

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The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Victorian Branch is to sell its long time Melbourne headquarters.
The property is tipped to generate wide ranging interest from investors, hoteliers, education groups and student accommodation providers.
CBRE has the offering of the two adjoining buildings at 532 and 540 Elizabeth Street, set between Melbourne’s health, education and Victoria Market Precincts.
Funds raised from the sale will help fund the construction of a new multimillion dollar ANMF head office and education facility, which is being developed directly opposite on the western side of Elizabeth Street.
Due to be completed in September 2017, the new 10-level facility will include an auditorium and educational facility to cater to the federation’s fast expanding member base in Victoria.
ANMF’s Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said the Victorian branch had expanded from 27,000 members to more than 76,000 in the past 20 years
There is the larger ANMF House building at 540 Elizabeth Street and a double-storey character building at 532 Elizabeth Street, otherwise known as 29 Leicester Street
The properties will be offered individually or in one line.
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Victorian nurses look to sell Melbourne headquarters

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EG Funds Management has exchanged contracts to sell 223 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst to ST Real Estate Austraila, European based clients of Fidinam Australasia Real Estate.
The property was sold for $33 million, having been purchased by EG in 2014 for $17.45 million denoting an equity IRR of approximately 40 percent.
The asset, with a net lettable area of 4,477sqm, is currently in the process of attaining Development Approval for a staged refurbishment and repositioning of the entire building.
Formerly known as Holdsworth House, the five-level heritage listed building was the seed asset for EG’s Core Plus Fund No. 1 (CPF1).
EG identified the asset’s repositioning potential during the fund raising of CPF1. The eastern city Sydney fringe asset was encumbered with a number of existing leases and unfavourable floor configuration.
“The asset offered an excellent opportunity to add value through a complete refurbishment while providing a robust initial yield at acquisition” says Divisional Director, Daniel Farley.
“Following strong unsolicited interest, EG has capitalised on an extremely strong Sydney office market, with the sales price providing returns consistent with the acquisition’s refurbishment strategy, minus the delivery risk”
CPF1 is a closed-end fund, focused on acquiring assets that can benefit from the active asset management, refurbishment and repositioning capabilities, for which EG is well known.
EG were represented in the sale by Jonathan Vaughan and John Bowie Wilson from Knight Frank, while Craig Stuckey of Fidinam represented the purchaser.
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EG sells Sydney fringe asset for $33 million

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Frasers Property Australia has secured a major land parcel in Wyndham Vale for a $440 million mixed-used community that will deliver around 1,200 residential lots and associated amenity, including over 20,000 sqm of retail facilities focused on local needs.
The 115 hectare sheep farm site at 974 Black Forest Road in Wyndham Vale, in Melbourne’s West, is adjacent to a proposed train station, enabling Frasers Property to integrate the mixed-use community with transport infrastructure to provide convenience and connectivity.
Anthony Boyd, Executive General Manager - Residential, Frasers Property Australia says more than 3,300 people will call it home over the next eight years.
The Residential component covers 69.4 hectares and will yield around 1,200 lots, with 8.3 hectares allocated to Education / Community use, a further 8.3 hectares for Retail and 14.8 hectares dedicated to Mixed-Use Commercial / Employment.
Frasers Property acquired the Wyndham Vale site for an undisclosed sum through Savills agents Julian Heatherich and Clinton Baxter.
But morning paper reports put it at $95 million.
The underbidders were believed to include local developer MAB Corporation, the Chinese giant Country Gardens and another Chinese player New Sky Group.
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Wyndham Vale sheep farm to be home to over 3,300 after Frasers' $95 million purchase

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Mullewa is the cheapest suburb to purchase a house across Australia, according to Investar’s latest market report.
The property investment firm states that the median price for a house in Mullewa is $60,000.
Mullewa is a town in the Mid West region of Western Australia, 450 kilometres north of Perth and 98 kilometres east-northeast of Geraldton.
It is the gateway to Wildflower country.
Its affordable pricing is followed by Norseman in WA at $65,000 and Andamooka at $75,000 in South Australia.
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
State
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Dwelling type
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Bedrooms
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Median listing price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Mullewa
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
WA
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
House
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$60,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Norseman
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
WA
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
House
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$65,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Andamooka
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
SA
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
House
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
1
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$75,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
Zeehan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
TAS
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
House
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85">
$78,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="85">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85"> </td>
<td valign="top" width="85"> </td>
<td valign="top" width="85"> </td>
<td valign="top" width="85"> </td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Mullewa has a four bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-mullewa-120578481" target="_blank">68 Jose St</a> (above) that is for sale for $65,000. It last sold at $69,000 in 2006.
Another example would be a three bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-mullewa-109081231" target="_blank">8 Main Road</a> (below) that is for sale from $65,000.
The fibro residence, on 849 sqm, is tenanted at $185 per week, an almost 15 percent gross rental yield.
<img src="/images/2016/10/22/8%20Main%20Road.jpg" alt="">
 
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Australia's cheapest houses - Mullewa's $60,000 offerings: Investar

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Stockland has been awarded a position on the Climate A List by CDP, the international not-for-profit that drives sustainable economies.
There are 193 “A Listers” on the list.
Thousands of companies submit annual climate disclosures to CDP for independent assessment against its scoring methodology.
Stockland is among 9 percent of corporations participating in CDP’s climate change program to be awarded a position on the Climate A List, in recognition of its actions to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change in the past reporting year.
Stockland has achieved an unprecedented triple crown.
Stockland is the current S&amp;P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) Global Real Estate Sector Leader and also achieved Global Sector and Regional Sector Leader status in the 2016 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) survey in the category Diversified - Retail/Office.
Mark Steinert, Managing Director and CEO at Stockland, said their company purpose was to "create a better way to live." 
The Climate A List is released in CDP’s Out of the starting blocks: Tracking progress on corporate climate action report today.
The report, which establishes the baseline for corporate climate action, reveals that global corporations have started the transition to a low-carbon economy and some are already capitalizing on the opportunities this affords.
Companies’ progress on reducing emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement will be tracked against this baseline in future annual reports.
Stockland’s key achievements and priorities included:
- Commitment to design and technology innovation and access to alternative energy supplies that help us and our customers realise a cost-efficient, low carbon future.
- Focus on incorporating alternative energy, particularly solar photo-voltaic power supply, into commercial premises. Solar installations already in place at Shellharbour, Green Hills and Nowra in NSW. Stockland is currently installing a new solar PV system at Wetherill Park in western Sydney.
- A large portion of Stockland’s retirement village homes have solar PV installations.
- Stockland is currently exploring how solar can be adopted at scale within our Residential business, with the investigation of different network ownership and management models underway.
- Stockland has the largest number of Green Star rated retail properties in Australia, as verified by the GBCA.
- In FY16 alone, Stockland’s investment in energy-efficient measures across various commercial property assets are likely to achieve projected energy savings of approximately 1,718,000kWh, which is the equivalent energy saving of removing 255 passenger vehicles from the road for an entire year.
- Stockland has prioritised the development of Australian and world’s best practice Green Star residential communities across the nation, and the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has rewarded the company’s leading approach to sustainability and liveability.
- The GBCA has accredited six Stockland communities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth with either 5 or 6 Star Green Star – Communities ratings. The accreditation assesses and recognises design excellence, innovation, environmental responsibility, potential for future economic prosperity and liveability within each community.
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Stockland secures triple crown recognition for climate change role

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Blacktown narrowly eclipsed the eastern suburbs having the highest auction clearance rate in Sydney, according to CoreLogic’s latest weekly report.
There was a 93.8 percent success rate with 16 auctions cleared in Blacktown.
<a href="/images/2016/10/24/Sydney%20sub%20regions.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/24/Sydney%20sub%20regions.jpg" alt="">
This is followed by the Northern Beaches with an auction clearance rate of 90 percent.
The district with the lowest clearance rate was the Central Coast with only 75 percent of its auctions resulting in a successful outcome.
<a href="/images/2016/10/24/Sydney%20weekly%20clearance.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/24/Sydney%20weekly%20clearance.jpg" alt="">
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Blacktown eclipses the eastern suburbs with highest auction clearance rate: CoreLogic

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Australia’s top property developers represented by the industry association Urban Taskforce Australia have come together with a proposal to the NSW Government to deliver a new form of affordable housing.
It has been suggested it could produce 40,000 new affordable homes in Sydney over the next 10 years.
“Sydney’s housing affordability crisis is clearly getting worse as indicated by calls for action by Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison and by State Planning Minister Rob Stokes’s recent statement about a shortage of 100,000 homes in Sydney,” says Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson.
“There is a simple answer to providing more homes and to housing affordability in Sydney by modifying slightly the NSW Affordable Rental Housing State Environmental Planning Policy.”
“The NSW government can modify the current Affordable Rental Housing SEPP to create a real incentive to the property industry to provide large numbers of affordable homes across Sydney.
"The current Affordable Rental Housing SEPP 2009 gives little incentive to the property industry to build affordable homes but by changing the formula to give a 20% bonus floor space and height, thousands of new affordable homes could be built each year.
"The effect of the 20% bonus would be that a 5 storey apartment building would become 6 storeys or a 10 storey block would become 12 storeys.”
“The Urban Taskforce estimates that up to 4,000 new affordable homes could be produced each year leading to 40,000 over a ten year period. This would have a massive impact on the current supply of affordable homes across Sydney at a scale we have never seen before.”
“The Urban Taskforce proposal uses the definition of affordable housing from the Federal Government’s National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS) where newly built 1,2,3 and 4 bedroom homes are rented at a 20 percent discount to the market rent of each local government area with dwellings remaining in the affordable housing scheme for up to 10 years. At the end of the 10 years the homes are sold back to the general market. This proposal ensures that affordable housing stock is constantly renewed and does not become run down. The developer also has the opportunity to recoup the costs of providing the housing at the end of the ten year period which ensures there is sufficient incentive to encourage developers to provide this form of housing.”
“Some Sydney councils champion inclusionary zoning where the developer must provide a percentage of homes as affordable but this is only another form of taxation on housing production, and will only increase the cost of the remaining houses being sold to mums and dads and first home buyers. We believe that rather than imposing a tax on the developer an incentive approach with bonus floor space is more equitable and more likely to lead to large numbers of affordable homes being built.”
“The scale of housing delivery of up to 4,000 a year along with the guaranteed 10 years rental income is likely to establish a new asset class for institutional investors like superannuation funds who like a low risk long term investment. This type of affordable housing product could potentially inject billions of dollars into affordable housing which currently is not being invested in the sector ensuring there is scale and enough housing for low to moderate income earning households. Attracting this institutional investment will ensure a long-term sustainable supply of affordable housing.”
“In places like the US, Canada and the UK institutional capital has been investing in affordable housing for more than 40 years but for a number of reasons Australia has missed out on this type of institutional investment in housing and as a result has made Sydney home prices one the most expensive in the world”.
“We call on the NSW Government to seriously consider our affordable housing proposal urgently. Our proposal doesn’t put any pressure on the government’s budget nor is it asking for any tax payers handout. It is a simple incentive based system which provides affordability across all of Sydney and across all dwelling sizes. All it needs is for the Planning Minister Rob Stokes to make an amendment to the existing Affordable Rental Housing SEPP,” says Chris Johnson.
“Sydney currently has a housing supply problem despite reaching 30,000 housing completions last financial year this is 6,000 less than the average needed each year for the next 20 years. To increase supply by 4,000 affordable homes a year will certainly help manage population growth.”
The Urban Taskforce established a special affordable housing sub-committee to develop the proposal.
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Bonus floor space sought by Sydney property developers to increase affordable home supply 

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There's been much speculation surrounding the Lindfield home of TV presenter Karl Stefanovic and wife Cassandra Thorburn after the couple separated last month.
Pap photographs show it might be set for a listing as a drone was pictured being flown high above the family home they shared with their three children.
There Domain website even reported there had been a recent bank valuation on the property too.
The couple had bought the classic Federation bungalow for $2.3 million in 2010 after it initially priced at $3 million.
The home is pictured on its 2010 listing.
<img src="/images/2016/10/26/Karl2.jpg" alt="" width="451" height="297">
They sold their St Ives first home the same year for $1,285,000.
Set on 920 sqm, the six bedroom, three bathroom home has been renovated and extended by Karl and Cassandra.
Thorburn took to social media to take some credit for Karl and Lisa Wilkinson's The Today Show, which by one tally has beaten Seven's breakfast show Sunrise in the ratings for the first time in many years.
“Apparently Today show finally won a year,” she wrote on Facebook.
“This took a huge toll on my family and I, and I’m congratulating myself today for all the effort that went into making that happen.
“The suggestions, the story ideas, the constant counselling of questions for years. 
"I’m giving myself a pat on the back tonight, as I know many people will also know how much effort I put into it.”
 
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Drone spotted hovering over Karl Stefanovic's Lindfield home sparks listing speculation

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Bombers midfielder Dyson Heppell has listed his Moonee Ponds period home, Albertus, after only owning it just over a year.
Heppell paid $1.74 million for the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-moonee+ponds-123875750" target="_blank">four bedroom home</a> last September, and now price expectations come in at around $2.5 million to $2.65 million.
He found time to renovate the home extensively since being banned from playing this year following the team's much publicised supplements scandal.
The Edwardian home now comes with a large open plan living area with high ceilings, glass stacker doors and polished concrete floors. There's also now an additional bathroom.
<img src="/images/2016/10/26/HeppelInterior.jpg" alt="" width="510" height="238">
The master suite has a large walk in wardrobe and an ensuite.
Heppell has also added the new heated swimming pool.
 <img src="/images/2016/10/26/Heppel%20Pool.jpg" alt="" width="509" height="283">
A large timber staircase leads to a mezzanine family retreat or home office.
Rebecca Towns and Brad Teal has set a November 19 auction date.
 
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Essendon midfielder Dyson Heppell lists his Moonee Ponds renovation

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

Joel Robinson

Abadeen, PERIFA, top out Putney Wharf harbourfront precinct

Kew has long been regarded as one of Melbourne's premier residential suburbs. It's a location defined by its grand period homes, leafy streets and some of the city's most prestigious schools, yet it has often sat just outside the spotlight cast on neighbouring Hawthorn and Camberwell.

Increasingly, however, buyers are recognising that Kew offers much of what draws people to those suburbs, with a quieter residential setting, exceptional amenity and long-term owner-occupier appeal.

Within a few minutes' walk, residents can access Kew Junction, one of Melbourne's most established village centres. Cafés, bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets, boutique retailers and everyday services are all on the doorstep, with local favourites including Centonove, Adeney Milk Bar Cafe, and Frank &amp; Harri creating the type of walkable lifestyle that has become increasingly difficult to find in Melbourne's inner east. Beyond the immediate neighbourhood, Glenferrie Road's renowned shopping and dining precinct in Hawthorn and the retail, dining and entertainment offerings of Camberwell Junction are both just a short drive or tram ride away.

The suburb is equally well connected. Tram routes 48 and 109 provide direct access to the CBD, while High Street and Cotham Road connect residents to the wider inner east.&nbsp;Nearby access to the Eastern Freeway also places the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne Airport within easy reach, adding another layer of convenience for weekend travel.&nbsp;It's a rare combination of connectivity and tranquillity, where quiet residential streets sit just moments from some of Melbourne's most established shopping and lifestyle precincts.

For families, Kew remains one of Melbourne's most tightly held addresses. Carey Baptist Grammar School, Xavier College, Methodist Ladies' College, Trinity Grammar, Ruyton Girls' School and Genazzano FCJ College are all nearby, while the Yarra River parklands, walking trails and sporting clubs provide another layer of lifestyle appeal.

It's within this established pocket that developer Ricdanic is delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/wimba-ave-kew-9-11-wimba-avenue-kew-vic-3101">Wimba Ave</a>, a boutique collection of just 13 residences across two buildings named after its location on the tree-lined Wimba Avenue,&nbsp;within one of Kew's most prestigious pockets where homes have been known to sell up to and above $8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=354809]

The residences prioritise the space that buyers are increasingly searching for but struggling to find in established suburbs. Living areas extend beyond five metres in width, ceiling heights range from three to five metres, and apartments open onto private gardens averaging around 125 sqm. Selected residences also feature balconies of approximately 60 sqm, while premium inclusions include Miele appliances, double-glazed windows, EV readiness, fully electric systems and a 7.2 NatHERS energy rating.

Architect Chris Idle says opportunities to deliver homes of this scale within established suburbs have become increasingly uncommon.

"There are very few opportunities to do these kinds of developments in leafy, established suburbs," he says. "To get this level of amenity, natural light, and architectural freedom in such a setting is extremely rare."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=366267]

The architecture draws on Kew's established character through the use of handmade Krause bricks, while landscaping by John Patrick introduces 23 plant species, including nine native varieties, creating an environment which focuses just as much on nature as it does the building.

Construction on Wimba Ave is well underway by renowned high-end builder Sinjen, with completion expected in late 2027. Prices start from $2.22 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140755]

The enduring appeal of Kew's tree-lined streets and village lifestyle

"For me, it's the location." That was the first thing Chris pointed to when reflecting on why he and his wife Marita decided to purchase at Candela Ivanhoe, the under-construction new apartment development by Salter Brothers in the heart of the north-eastern M​elb​ourne​ suburb. ​

"We've lived here before… everything is here," Chris said.

"Our doctor is around the corner, there's dentists, pilates, everything we need, restaurants, fast food places, two train stations, Ivanhoe and Darebin, both in walking distance. You don't need anything else."

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X8K0Bozug7A?si=Puwc6vx_ZO0qQZF8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Just 10 kilometres from Melbo​urn​e's CBD, Ivanhoe combines direct city connectivity with the amenity of an established village community. Residents have access to highly regarded schools, expansive parklands, public transport, and a thriving retail and hospitality precinct centred around Upper Heidelberg Road, all within a neighbourhood that has retained its leafy character despite its proximity to the city.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/candela-ivanhoe-40-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Candela Ivanhoe</a> sits within the heart of this established landscape, positioned just moments from Ivanhoe Village and within walking distance of many of the suburb's most sought-after amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=364553]

From Candela, residents can access cafés, grocers, wine bars, restaurants and essential services on foot, while Ivanhoe Station and Darebin Station provide direct connectivity across Mel​bour​ne. The development is also surrounded by some of the suburb's best-known lifestyle destinations, including Pinkie, Laurent, Enni, Docasa and Woodfire Pizza e Cucina, alongside Ivanhoe Plaza, Woolworths, pharmacies and specialty retailers.

Green space is another defining feature of the suburb. Darebin Parklands, Ivanhoe Park, Nellie Ibbot Park and the Yarra River trail network provide extensive opportunities for recreation, while Ivanhoe Golf Course and Ivanhoe Tennis Club continue to underpin the area's long-established lifestyle appeal.

The suburb's education offering further strengthens demand. Ivanhoe Grammar School, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School, Mary Immaculate Primary School and Ivanhoe Primary School have helped establish the area as one of Melbou​​rne's most sought-after schooling precincts, attracting families and downsizers alike who want to remain connected to the area.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357510]

While location was the priority for Marita and Chris, the project itself also needed to meet their expectations.

"Whilst location was paramount, I was also looking at design of the environment and Candela ticked every box," Marita said.

"We're just thrilled with our choice."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=336455]

Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>, Candela Ivanhoe has been designed to complement its village setting, with an emphasis on generous floorplans, natural light and practical everyday living.

Residents will have access to a range of shared amenities, including a communal rooftop garden and dedicated residential lounge, complemented by a ground-floor café and lifestyle wellbeing centre, helping foster the sense of community already emerging among future owners.

That approach has resonated strongly with the market. More than 90 per cent of purchasers at Candela Ivanhoe are owner-occupiers, with buyers ranging from downsizers and second-home buyers to young families and first home buyers, creating a genuinely multi-generational community of grandparents, parents and children. It reflects a broader shift across Melbo​​urne's apartment market, where buyers are increasingly prioritising neighbourhood quality, lifestyle amenity and long-term liveability.

Currently under construction by Ironside, Candela Ivanhoe comprises 58 apartments. Candela Ivanhoe is scheduled for completion in the coming months, and residents can move in from September. One to four bedroom residences, prices from $649,000 and limited opportunities remaining.

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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.

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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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