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A hardware store on Brisbane's Bribie Island has been sold for $2.6 million through an expressions of interest campaign.
The Mitre 10 Hardware &amp; Garden Centre, 1-7 Victory Road, Bongaree, is a 1,246sq m retail building set on a 4,172sq m corner site.
It was sold by Glenn Conridge of Burgess Rawson and Jon Tyson of Savills.
Jon Tyson said the Mitre 10 property boasts a high-exposure main road location in Bribie Island’s dominant retail dominant retail precinct, which includes the adjoining Bribie Retail Centre, the adjacent Woolworths-anchored Bribie Island Shopping Centre, and a future proposed Coles Shopping Centre.
“The property has excellent exposure and convenient access due to its corner location and also provides ample grade level car parking,” he said.
“The sale demonstrates the continued high investor demand for well-located retail properties in high-growth locations, secured by major national tenants.”
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Buyer nails down Mitre 10 property on Bribie Island

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The average median rent across the country remained marginally stable at $404 for Q3 with only a 0.3 percent increase from Quarter 2 (Q2), according to Rent.com.au.
Only one of the top Australian capitals saw an increase in median rent; Adelaide recorded a 3 percent increase in its median rent from $330 in Q2 to $340 in Q3.
Conversely, Sydney recorded a decrease; the New South Wales capital saw rents drop 1.9 percent from Q2 to Q3, with median rents now sitting at $520.
Sydney still is the most expensive Australian city with affordability per room sitting at $248/pw whilst Perth is the most affordable capital city for renters at a median of $130/pw
By looking at dwelling type, Sydney continued to be skewed towards apartments comprising 58.6 percent, while Perth’s property makeup was 73.8 percent houses.
Looking at Rent.com.au’s Q3 search data, which is indicative of suburb desirability, Melbourne CBD was the highest searched suburb, followed by Adelaide, Perth and Sydney CBD. This indicates Australia’s inner CBD areas are hot across all major capitals.
<a href="/images/2016/10/20/Median%20rent.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/20/Median%20rent.jpg" alt="">
On a regional level, both Queensland and Western Australia saw an increase in their median rent across the quarter to $340 and $350, accordingly. Median rents remained healthy across the rest of the country, with no change in prices for NSW ($350), SA ($250) and Victoria ($270).
Renters could find the cheapest rentals in SA’s regional areas in Q3, with a median rent of $250 per week.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Median rent:
o Sydney, which was the most expensive city for renters in September 2016 with a median weekly rent of $542, also recorded a decrease in the median rent, quarter to quarter.
o Sydney is still the most expensive city for renters, with asking median rents at $520 in Q3, despite the $10 decrease quarter-to-quarter.
o Properties in New South Wales (NSW) regional areas showed the median rent remained consistent between Q2 and Q3 at $350 per week.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Sydney in Q3 was $248.
o The top 5 most affordable suburbs were: Carramar ($300), Appin ($315), Blackett ($320), Emerton ($320) and Cabramatta ($330), while the top 5 most expensive suburbs in NSW in Q3 were: Seaforth ($1,200), South Coogee ($1,200), Castlecrag ($1,195), Barangaroo ($1,025) and Caringbah South ($1,025).
QUEENSLAND
Median rent:
o Queensland’s regional areas saw the second highest increase in median rents, a $10 increase from $330 in Q2 to $340 in Q3.
o QLD’s capital, Brisbane, recorded an average median rent of $400 in Q3, consistent with the median rent in Q2. o Brisbane metro’s median rent was just $6.25 less than the national average.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Brisbane in Q3 was $150.
o The top 5 most affordable suburbs were: Russell Island ($245), Macleay Island ($285), Woodridge ($290), Logan Central ($300) and Caboolture South ($300), while the top 5 most expensive suburbs in QLD in Q3 were: Newport ($650), Chapel Hill ($650), Reedy Creek ($590), Burleigh Waters ($585) and Brisbane CBD ($580).
VICTORIA
Median rent:
o Properties in Victoria (VIC) regional areas showed the median rent remained consistent between Q2 and Q3 at $270 per week.
o Melbourne metro rentals saw no change in median rent from Q3 to Q2, sitting at $380.
o Melbourne’s property market makeup in Q3 was 43.4 per cent apartments and 56.5 per cent houses.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Melbourne in Q3 was $163.
o The top five most affordable suburbs were: Corio ($235), Norlane ($245), Ballan ($265), St Leonards ($270) and Frankston North ($280), while the top 5 most expensive suburbs in VIC in Q3 were: Albert Park ($700), Black Rock ($650), Clifton Hill ($630), Brighton East ($608) and North Melbourne ($590).
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Median rent:
o Western Australia’s (WA) regional areas saw a small increase of 1.45 per cent between the quarters, increasing from $345 to $350.
o Perth’s property market makeup in Q3 was 73.8 per cent houses, the highest number across the country. o Perth metro rentals saw no change in median rent from Q3 to Q2, sitting at $380.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Perth in Q3 was $130.
o The top five cheapest suburbs were: Safety Bay ($280), Wembley ($280), Girrawheen ($283), Armadale ($288) and Osborne Park ($290), while the top 5 most expensive suburbs in WA in Q3 were: Mount Claremont ($880), City Beach ($875), Gwelup ($650), North Fremantle ($645) and Stirling ($638).
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Median rent:
o Adelaide median rents rose 3.03 per cent from $330 in Q2 to $340 in Q3. Apartments and houses were the cheapest to rent in SA for the Q3 period. The median rent for apartments was $190 per week, while houses would set a renter back $255 per week.
o Properties in South Australia (SA) regional areas showed the median rent remained consistent between Q2 and Q3 at $250 per week.
o Adelaide showed it had the lowest percentage makeup of apartments in Q3 – only 25 per cent, with the remaining 75 per cent houses. Adelaide also recorded the highest percentage of house listings across the country.
o Renters could find the cheapest regional rentals in SA during Q3, with a median rent of $250 per week.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Sydney in Q3 was $125.
o The top five most affordable suburbs were: Elizabeth Vale ($206), Elizabeth Grove ($225), Elizabeth South ($240), Devon Park ($243) and Elizabeth North ($255), while the top 5 most expensive suburbs in SA in Q3 were: Burnside ($583), West Lakes ($463), Eastwood ($450), Adelaide CBD ($450) and Kent Town ($450).
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Median rent:
o Darwin apartments and houses experienced an overall 6.8 per cent rise in median rent to $470 in Q3 from $440 in Q2 o The Northern Territory (NT) saw the largest increase in rent overall in regional areas, rising 7.1 per cent in Q3 to $450 per week, from $420 (Q2).
o The most expensive apartments in regional Australia could be found in the NT for $440 per week.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Darwin in Q3 was $175.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Median rent:
o Median rents in Canberra dropped 4.4 per cent from $450 in Q2 to $430 in Q3.
o Properties in Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) regional areas showed the median rent remained consistent between Q2 and Q3 at $450.
o The ACT was in line with the NT as the two most expensive states to find rentals in Q3 at a median rent of $450 per week.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Canberra in Q3 was $183.
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Average median rent remains at $404 a week: Rent.com.au

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Commission-free real estate company buyMyplace has achieved record results in revenue, gross profit and listings, with revenue growth up 111 percent on Q1 2016 and 23 percent on the prior quarter.
Thy suggest its commission-free proposition for Australian property vendors.comes with savings of around $20,000 on commissions and fees.
Despite a total market downturn of 4.9 percent on the same period last year, buyMyPlace had an extremely productive quarter, Paul Heath, chief executive office of buyMyplace said.
<a href="/images/2016/10/24/BMP%20revenue.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a> 
<img src="/images/2016/10/24/BMP%20revenue.jpg" alt="">
“We have essentially doubled the business in just two quarters,” he suggested.
buyMyplace is also heavily promoting its national auction capabilities from October, giving vendors throughout Australia a wider suite of options to sell their property themselves.
“Auctions are an increasingly important element of our services and key to our growth in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Gold Coast, where auctions are more common”, says Heath. 
“We can provide virtually any vendor in Australia some of the best Auctioneers in their local area who will not only auction the property, but will also oversee the signing of the contracts, once the property is sold’, Heath continues. 
In line with its promises at listing on the ASX in March, buyMyplace has previously announced strategic partnerships with AFG to offer mortgages, finance and insurance, plus Movinghub for utilities connection services.
It has now added <a href="https://beforeyoubid.com.au" target="_blank">beforeyoubid.com.au</a> to the partnership stable, offering vendors and buyers the option to arrange independent pest and property inspections for the property and recover a portion of the cost to other potential buyers requiring the reports. 
From October, buyMyplace launched the “Ultimate Exposure” package to vendors at $1795 which will include professional photography, copywriting, vendor support from one of our licensed real estate agents, professional negotiation and a feature listing on <a href="https://realestate.com.au" target="_blank">realestate.com.au</a> or priority placement on <a href="https://domain.com.au" target="_blank">domain.com.au</a>.
“For under $2,000, we want to provide vendors virtually everything they might expect from a traditional real estate agent, and remove the stress of negotiations, which some people may feel uncomfortable managing alone,” says Heath. “Not surprisingly, we have already had strong interest in this package, as well as sales to a number of vendors.”
BuyMyplace has recorded a 238 percent increase in leads on Q1 FY16 indicating the record breaking quarters it has achieved are projected to continue in the future.
It gross profit is up by 31 percent on prior quarter and more than 3,000 vendors have successfully sold their properties via buyMyplace.
“We are also very pleased with how our increased marketing has performed with unique visitor traffic to our site in Q1 up 88 percent on prior corresponding period and up 17 percent on prior quarter”, Heath advised.
<a href="/images/2016/10/24/BMP%20visitors.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/24/BMP%20visitors.jpg" alt="">
 
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Buymyplace seeks growth in commission-free auction vendors

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Former Cockatoo Coal executive chairman Mark Lochtenberg has sold his Mosman home in just 12 days as he sets to make a quick flip on the property.
Bought for $5.8 million last May, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/20-edwards-bay-rd-mosman-nsw-2088" target="_blank">the four bedroom Edwards Bay Road home</a> came with a price guide of $6.5 million to $7 million through McGrath Mosman agents Michael Coombs and Adrian Bridges.
He bought it from former Elle editor-in-chief and co-founder of Hush Communications Debbie Coffey and photographer husband Ross.
Mark had made a big profit just a month before the purchase, selling his Curraghbeena Road home for $16 million after paying $6.5 million for it in 2003.
He's added a north facing deck, a wine cellar and a few other structural fixes.
Set on 697 sqm, the home just minutes from Balmoral Beach was designed by Corben Architects and features a glass fronted, resort-style, gas heated swimming pool.
Lochtenberg is planning to move closer to the city.
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Snappy Mosman trophy home sale 

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Mt Edgcumbe in Tasmania has been listed for the first time in 50 years.
Located at <a href="https://landmarkharcourts.com.au/Property/675072/TRT0508/39678-Tasman-Highway" target="_blank">Nunamara, 39678 Tasman Highway</a> it is being marketed as a beef/prime lamb/lifestyle farm with Launceston only 15 minutes away.
The original 1850s homestead is located at the end of a 500 metre driveway.
It sits on 40ha of excellent pasture.
The home has also been extensively renovated ten years ago on top of the hill, surrounded by garden.
There's the shearing shed, cattle yards, machinery shed and hay barn. Many of the original stone wall fences remain intact as well as the water troughs in all the paddocks.
Offers close on 25 November through Harxourts agent Michael Warren.
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Mt Edgcumbe, Tasmanian homestead for sale 

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Developer Halcyon is gearing up to deliver Australia’s first over 50s golf and country club community on the Gold Coast.
It made the purchase of a major development site from Mirvac.
Halcyon will launch a 500+ home community in coming months after settling its purchase of the Gainsborough Greens Golf Club and adjoining land at Pimpama.
The deal includes a 114ha holding, comprising the golf club, 18-hole golf course and 34ha of residential development land.
Halcyon joint managing director Bevan Geissmann said settlement paved the way for Halcyon to unveil its masterplan.
It will reveal the name of the project within months.
Dr Geissmann said the golf course would remain open to Gainsborough Greens residents and the public.
Mirvac Queensland residential general manager Warwick Bible said Halcyon's plans would further enhance Gainsborough Greens, by adding a whole new level of living for over 50s.
"The club is such an important asset, not just to residents of Gainsborough Greens but the wider northern Gold Coast community," he said.
"Our focus was to find the right owner to move the club forward and Halcyon will certainly deliver that with its plans for a new state-of-the-art facility, along with providing housing diversity through its neighbouring over 50s community.
"At the same time, we can now put all our focus on ensuring a continued pipeline of new land in the surrounding Gainsborough Greens masterplan, with demand extremely high on the back of $56 million in homesite sales already this year.
"We look forward to working side-by-side with Halcyon as the Gainsborough Greens community, which is already home to more than 1000 residents, continues to grow."
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Halcyon tees up new Gold Coast project

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The University of Melbourne will run a subject focusing heavily on SMSFs.
‘This is a great opportunity for the SMSF industry’, said DBA Lawyers’ director Bryce Figot, who is also a senior fellow at the University of Melbourne and is the subject’s coordinator. ‘Practitioners can now spend an intensive five days studying the latest developments, rules, policies and strategies relevant for SMSFs and receive University recognition,’ said Mr Figot.
The subject, titled Taxation of Superannuation, will run on 22, 23, 24, 27 and 28 February 2017. ‘Given the magnitude of recent changes to superannuation, which hopefully should be finalised and legislated by February for a 1 July 2017 start date, I feel the timing of the subject could not be better,’ said Mr Figot.
‘I believe Taxation of Superannuation is the first time a Victorian University has had a subject so relevant for those in the SMSF industry’ added Mr Figot.
Although run via the University's law school, the subject is also part of the Master of Taxation and the Graduate Diploma in Tax programs and is designed to be of tremendous use for accountants and financial planners.
The subject has a quota of 30 students.
For more information:
<a href="https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2017/laws70267" target="_blank">https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2017/laws70267</a>
<a href="https://www.law.unimelb.edu.au/study/masters" target="_blank">www.law.unimelb.edu.au/study/masters</a>
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Property 101: Melbourne University to run subject focusing heavily on SMSFs

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One of the most significant retail assets on Brisbane’s bayside, the Horizon @ Wellington Point shopping centre, is being offered for sale by Ray White Commercial in conjunction with JLL.
The major investment opportunity at 685 Old Cleveland Road East, Wellington Point, is a fully tenanted shopping centre, which opened in December 2010.
It is anchored by an IGA Supermarket and 19 other retail and medical tenancies.
Horizon @ Wellington Point is a successful retail/medical complex which currently has 100% occupancy.
Offers close November 24 with Ray White Commercial Bayside agent Nathan Moore and JLL Retail Investment QLD’s Jacob Swan and Campbell Bowers.
The shopping centre returns net rental income of approximately $1.25 million per annum.
Swan said Horizon @ Wellington Point is situated on a land area of approximately 6,099 square metres with a local centre zoning from Redland City Council in an emerging growth centre of South East Queensland.
There is 2,616 square metres of nett lettable area in three buildings and prominent signage opportunities.
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Horizon @ Wellington Point shopping centre for sale

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There is an oversupply of industrial properties in all capital cities except Sydney, according to Herron Todd White’s (HTW) latest monthly market report.
The property advisory firm says that the volume of property sales remains at a steady pace, with the exception of Perth and Darwin, which are declining.
The Sydney industrial market was rising and supply cannot keep up with the demand, the latest report said.
<a href="/images/2016/10/14/NSW%20industrial%201.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/14/NSW%20industrial%201.jpg" alt="">
The value difference between quality properties with national tenants and comparable properties with local tenants alter between significant and large across NSW's markets.
This is in conjunction with a number of cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane where the property cycle is either approaching the peak or rising once again.
<a href="/images/2016/10/14/NSW%20industrial%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/14/NSW%20industrial%202.jpg" alt="">
In contrast both Perth and Darwin are approaching the bottom of the property market cycle, while Canberra is in the process of recovering once again, the report noted.
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Industrial property oversupply across capital cities – except Sydney: HTW

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Underlying demand for new dwellings is driven primarily by population growth which, at the state level, is a combination of an increase in births less deaths and net overseas and net interstate migration flows, according to QBE’s latest housing report.
The demand from net overseas and net interstate migration is more immediate because this group typically requires accommodation upon arrival, be it owner occupied or rental. Net overseas migration refers to the balance of arrivals to, and departures from, Australia. To be included in this calculation, an arrival is counted if they are resident in the country for 12 out of 16 months.
Long term arrivals – which predominantly comprise people on student or skilled temporary subclass 457 visas – surged to an annual record of 516,000 in the year to March 2013. Solid employment growth in mining sector related industries resulted in a re-emergence of skills shortages which underpinned the rise in long term overseas visitors.
Although arrivals from overseas were at record levels in March 2013, departures from Australia were also increasing, with the net effect that net overseas migration was below the record levels set in 2008.
Since the second half of 2013, long term arrivals have contracted in response to the slowing conditions in the Australian economy. There has been a decline in work–related visas such as subclass 457 visas as the reduction in the resource sector investment leads to diminished employment opportunities.
Long term departures are on the increase as temporary migrants return to their country of origin upon expiry of their visas. Net migration from New Zealand has also declined in this period because its economy has improved relative to Australia.
With the decline in annual net inflow from long term arrivals, net overseas migration has decreased to an estimated 155,000 at June 2016. Falling arrivals and increasing departures, due to the lack of opportunities for temporary migrants to extend their stay, is forecast to continue, taking net overseas migration to a low of 140,000 in 2017/18 and 2018/19.
While lower than recent peaks, this figure is elevated in a long term sense, being higher than most years through the 1990s and early 2000s. There may be some upside to these forecasts.
Strong growth is occurring in international student enrolments, with the number of overseas students commencing courses in Australia increasing by 42% in the three years to 2015/16, and net overseas migration could be higher if many elect to stay on.
Average annual net overseas migration over the 2016/17 to 2018/19 period is forecast to be lower across all states (with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory) than the long term 1999/2000 to 2015/16 average.
The largest declines are expected to be in the states where net overseas migration inflows have been high as a result of skills shortage generated by booming resource sector investment.
<a href="/images/2016/10/14/Chart%2013.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/14/Chart%2013.jpg" alt="">
The forecast share of national net overseas migration in Western Australia (8.0%), Queensland (12.0%) and Northern Territory (0.5%) over 2016/17 to 2018/19 will be significantly lower than their long term average.
Weak employment prospects as mining investment continues to decline will encourage more overseas migrants to settle in the other states, while overseas migrants employed on temporary working visas are increasingly returning home as projects wind up.
Growth in overseas migration into New South Wales and Victoria lagged that of the resource states during the mining investment boom. As a result, the states are not experiencing rising outflows of temporary workers. Moreover, with the strongest performing state economies, these states are also attracting a greater share of arrivals.
The states are forecast to attract an average 40.1% and 31.3% of Australia’s net overseas migration respectively between 2016/17 to 2018/19; higher than their long term average share. The Australian Capital Territory is also forecast to attract an increased share of national net overseas migration.
Overseas students look to be one of the few components of net overseas migration to increase. Australian National University has a large overseas student population, which has an influence in a smaller city such as Canberra.
As with New South Wales and Victoria, net overseas migration into South Australia and Tasmania was also behind the resource states.
With economic conditions remaining challenging in these states, their share of national net overseas migration over 2016/17 to 2018/19 is forecast to be similar to their recent average since 2007/08 (6.0% and 0.7% respectively).
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Overseas migrants in decline: QBE Housing Outlook

<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.

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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."

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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