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Small businesses with a turnover of less than $2m can now claim an immediate tax deduction when purchasing plant equipment valued under $20,000.
This new tax break will deliver an early Xmas present to fit-out contractors who specialise in restaurant and small office refurbishments.
I was surprised by the quantum of the tax break.
I think $20,000 as an immediate tax deduction for individual items is a huge amount and an incredible incentive to bring that fit-out forward.
Fit-out contractors now believe in Santa Claus and he’s taken the form of Joe Hockey.
We recently refurbished our office for a cost of $202,000 and were able to claim $35,000 in depreciation in the first year. If we’d carried out the same fit-out today our first year depreciation would’ve been over $123,000.
That’s a huge difference.
Quantity Surveyors are experts in breaking down the overall construction cost into individual items and now has never been a more appropriate time to do this.
There are four main points to consider:
<ol>
<li>Small businesses should ensure a detailed report of any fit-out costs be carried out.</li>
<li>When acquiring any new asset, small businesses should try to keep the costs below $20,000.</li>
<li>This generous bonus has an expiry date of June 30, 2017.</li>
<li>Assets costing over $20,000 can still be depreciated but not claimed as an outright deduction.</li>
</ol>
Some examples of what may qualify for an immediate tax deduction include carpet, desks, blinds, work stations and a lighting upgrade.
Now has never been a better time to upgrade that office or refurbish your restaurant.
TYRON HYDE is director of <a href="https://www.washingtonbrown.com.au/" target="_blank">Washington Brown Quantity Surveyors</a>.
His book <a href="https://www.claim-it.com.au/?utm_source=wbsite&amp;utm_medium=image&amp;utm_campaign=homepagebanner" target="_blank">CLAIM IT!</a> helps property investors maximise their tax benefits through smart deprecation.
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tyronhyde-GVUTYT8ZT3

Christmas for contractors as Hockey delivers: Tyron Hyde

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Do you remember when Professor Steven Keen, (the economist, author and renowned pessimist when it comes to property), was selling his house because of he thought the property market was overpriced?
I do. The year was 2008.
I remember seeing him on TV (A Current Affair or Today Tonight) doing a walk-through of his apartment and explaining to the reporter how overpriced the market is and it’s time to sell.
Fast forward to today and this morning I read that in <a href="https://news.domain.com.au/domain/real-estate-news/back-to-boom-sydney-house-prices-jumped-14-per-cent-in-2014-20150128-1304n8" target="_blank">2014 property prices are up 14% alone</a>.
Here’s a chart up to 2013 – so add a lot more and to the end and you get the picture.
<img class="center" src="https://m.c.lnkd.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/p/5/005/0b3/0a2/1ff6cc9.png" alt="" width="588" height="293" data-loading-tracked="true">
Source: Housing NSW, Arek Drozda
But, at the time, Steven Keen certainly made me think. He made me ponder putting some property onto the market.
Why? Because I thought and still feel that relative to wages property seems expensive. This is probably based on my childhood, where my father could support five kids and a wife on the one wage and still have a house in Concord NSW (back then I was a Westie - now I'd be a latte sipping urbanite).
But times have changed.
Now, I don’t know what the future holds but my lessons or takeaways from this experience are:
<ol>
<li>Don’t get your facts from ACA or Today Tonight. 
</li>
<li>I'm glad I didn't listen to you Mr Steven Keen 
</li>
<li>Don’t sell property unless you really have to (the costs of getting into and out of the property market are really high). 
</li>
<li>Australia has so many varying factors that have helped keep our property market strong 
</li>
<li>There are many different markets within Australia – so it’s too simple to say the Australian property market will go this way or that. 
</li>
<li>When i can buy money at 5% or below fixed for five years, .hard to see the market heading south anywhere in a hurry.</li>
</ol>
Did you sell? Where do you think the market is headed now?
Tyron Hyde is director of <a href="https://www.washingtonbrown.com.au/" target="_blank">Washington Brown Quantity Surveyors</a>.
His book <a href="https://www.claim-it.com.au/?utm_source=wbsite&amp;utm_medium=image&amp;utm_campaign=homepagebanner" target="_blank">CLAIM IT!</a> helps property investors maximise their tax benefits through smart deprecation.
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I am glad I didn't listen to Steve Keen: Tyron Hyde

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In my 20 odd years as a quantity surveyor, I have never seen more “mortgagee in possession” properties for sale than in the last few years. And this is particularly true for commercial property.
In fact, recent studies indicate that a whopping 25% or more of all commercial properties for sale have been distressed sales.
So what does this say about the commercial real estate market? Well, aside from the fact that now might be a good time to start snapping up bargains, there are other substantial tax benefits to be made. And it all relates to paragraphs 41 &amp; 42 or Tax Ruling 97/25;
Construction cost exceeds purchase price
41. Damian is a property developer who constructs a condominium of 38 units in a popular holiday resort. All units are intended for sale. During the construction period, he sells 28 of the units off-the-plan. After completion of the project, real estate prices drop significantly and he decides to sell the last of the units below cost.
42. David, an investor, buys one of the last units for $95,000. The actual construction cost of the unit to Damian was $105,000. David is entitled to a deduction under Division 43 based on construction expenditure of $105,000.
You see, the capital works deduction is based upon the actual construction cost, in comparison to most depreciating assets that are based upon what you pay for the item.
And as quantity surveyors, we are now preparing depreciation schedules where the construction cost is close to or exceeds the purchase price, just like the above example.
And as far as I’m aware, there is no other way under the Australian taxation system where you can get a deduction greater than what you actually pay for something.
When you buy a car from Mazda, for instance, you don’t ring up Mazda and ask what it cost them to manufacture the car - do you?
Buildings are different.
And if you don’t know the construction costs, TR 97 / 25 states that a report from a quantity surveyor will be accepted.
Remember, you can claim capital works (sometimes called building allowance) on commercial property if construction commenced after July 1982.
For residential buildings, construction must have started after July 1985.
Certain items within commercial properties also attract a higher rate of depreciation – like carpet.
That’s because office carpet gets more wear and tear than carpet in a home.
And it’s not just commercial property prices that have dropped close to or below construction costs. We have also seen this trend in relation to residential property prices in some holiday regions such as Noosa and Cairns.

<hr>
Tyron Hyde is director of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonbrown.com.au/">Washington Brown Quantity Surveyors</a>. 
His book <a target="_blank" href="https://www.claim-it.com.au/?utm_source=wbsite&amp;utm_medium=image&amp;utm_campaign=homepagebanner">CLAIM IT!</a> helps property investors maximise their tax benefits through smart deprecation.
 
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Claiming capital deductions on commercial property: Tyron Hyde

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It wasn’t that long ago that many investors thought it was just new property that depreciated. But that’s changed, and most now understand that even an old property will have some sort of claim.
However, the depreciation benefits of property purchased close to June 30th are much less understood. And on the surface that’s fair enough. Let’s say, you’ve settled on a property on the 1st of June, what would be the point of paying for a schedule for just 30 days of depreciation – wait until next year, right?
Wrong. In the first financial year of ownership, it is not uncommon for an investor to claim thousands of dollars in deductions for a property purchased close to June 30.
For instance, a Sydney client of ours settled on a one-bedroom Chatswood unit on June 25th last year. The property was built in 1999 and the purchase price was $450,000. Yet, the deduction, which was for 5 days only remember, was over $5,000.
What’s the catch, I hear you say. Well, there isn’t one. The ability to make such a significant deduction for just a short period of time is due to the immediate write-off and low pooling of items that are classified as <a href="https://www.washingtonbrown.com.au/list-of-items" target="_blank">plant and equipment</a>.
Neither of these amounts should be pro-rated, so you can maximise these items whether the property has been owned for one day or 365 days. And the <a href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/" target="_blank">property age is nothing to worry about either</a>, as all properties are eligible for plant and equipment.
So, for any plant and equipment in the property valued under $300 you have an immediate write-off and for those items under $1,000, they are low-pooled and claimed at 18.75% in the first year.
Here’s another example from a client of ours that bought small unit in Melbourne’s inner city. They paid close to $300,000, the building was just over ten years old and they settled on the 15th of June. The first-year depreciation claim, for 15 days only, was a deduction of $6,000.
The items that can fall into these key categories are things like exhaust fans, ceiling fans, range hood, stoves, smoke alarms, etc. – items that most investment properties are going to have. So, the deductions soon add up.
And even if the item costs over $1,000 – but your portion is only, say $200, you can claim the item in full immediately, as your portion is under the $300 threshold.
In short, it pays to get that a schedule as soon as you settle, even if that’s at the end of the financial year. And let’s face it, who wants to be filling in the adjustment form if you wait 12 months.
 
Tyron Hyde is a director of quantity surveying firm <a href="https://www.washingtonbrown.com.au/" target="_blank">Washington Brown</a>. He has a degree in construction economics and is an associate of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors.
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Even if you have just bought a property, you can still claim depreciation this year

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Seasoned property investors know all about this one. Depreciation. Yet every year thousands of dollars go unclaimed by property investors who are none the wiser. So with tax time here again, Tyron Hyde, Director of Washington Brown Quantity Surveyors, provides a basic guide. Let’s call it Deprecation 101.
1. What is property depreciation?
Just like you claim wear and tear on a car purchased for income-producing purposes, you can also claim the depreciation of your investment property against your taxable income.
There are two types of allowances available: depreciation on plant and equipment (such as blinds, carpets and air-conditioners) and depreciation on building allowance, which refers to construction costs of the building itself, such as concrete and brickwork.
 
2. So how does a depreciation schedule help me?
Simple. A depreciation schedule will help you pay less tax. The amount the depreciation schedule says you claim effectively reduces your taxable income, and the savings can be substantial. You can estimate your depreciation using the free depreciation calculator found at <a href="https://www.washingtonbrown.com.au/">www.washingtonbrown.com.au</a>
3. Is my property too old to claim property depreciation?
The most common misconception is that only new property can be depreciated, and this is simply not true. If your residential property was built after July 1985 you will be able to claim both building allowance and plant and equipment. If construction on your property commenced before this date, you can only claim depreciation on plant and equipment, but it will still be worthwhile. 
 
4. I bought my property three years ago. Can I still make a claim?
Yes, you can. Your accountant can amend your previous tax returns up to two years back. There are some exceptions, so please contact your tax agent or the ATO for clarification. 
 
5. Shouldn’t my accountant prepare this report?
If your residential property was built after 1985 your accountant is not allowed to estimate the construction costs. The ATO has identified quantity surveyors as properly qualified to make the appropriate estimate of the construction costs, where those costs are unknown. Real-estate agents, property managers and valuers are not allowed to make this estimate.
 
6. Should my depreciation provider be a registered tax agent?
From March 1, 2010 all companies that prepare tax depreciation schedules must be registered tax agents. The Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) is a "recognised tax agent association", enabling full members of the AIQS who have sufficient experience to gain registration as tax agents.
7. Will you need to inspect my property?
A site inspection of your property is necessary to satisfy ATO requirements and also ensures that all depreciable items are noted and photographed. This guarantees you won’t miss out on any deductions and the documentation can then be used as evidence in the event of an audit.
Tyron Hyde is a director of quantity surveying firm <a target="_blank" title="Washington Brown" href="https://www.washingtonbrown.com.au/">Washington Brown</a>. He has a degree in construction economics and is an associate of the <a target="_blank" title="Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors" href="https://www.aiqs.com.au/">Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors</a>.
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Property depreciation 101

Apartment buyers in New South Wales are set to gain a decade of insurance-backed protection against major building defects, after the NSW Parliament passed the Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.&nbsp;

The Bill establishes decennial defect insurance, known in the market as Latent Defects Insurance (LDI), as an alternative to the existing two-year strata building bond. It cleared the Legislative Council with amendments on Tuesday evening (August 4, 2026), with the Legislative Assembly agreeing to those amendments shortly after.

Under the reform, eligible developers can satisfy their statutory bond obligation by taking out an approved decennial-style policy that gives owners 10 years of cover for major structural defects from completion, claimable directly, without first having to pursue developers or builders through costly legal action.&nbsp;

The change forms the final tranche of amendments arising from the 2021 statutory review of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and related legislation.

Resilience Insurance, which originated the cover in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022, welcomed the passage and credited the NSW Government for delivering it.

“This is protection apartment buyers have needed for a long time, and the credit for delivering it belongs to the NSW Government,”&nbsp;said Corey Nugent, CEO of Resilience Insurance.

“Minister Chanthivong and his team have shown real leadership in replacing an outdated two-year bond with cover that matches the lifespan of the buildings people are buying into. Reform like this is what good, evidence-based regulation looks like.”

Resilience has delivered LDI in NSW since 2022, protecting thousands of apartments, giving the State, and now the country, real-world evidence of how decade-long, no-fault protection works in practice.

The reform also places NSW within a wider national shift.

NSW is the third jurisdiction to put decennial cover into law. The ACT legislated for it in 2024, with the scheme taking effect in late 2025, and Victoria passed its own framework on 17 June. Between them, the three cover the majority of Australia's apartment market.

The reform commences once the legislation is proclaimed, which is expected in the coming weeks. From that point, developers of Class 2 residential apartment buildings can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial policy in place of the bond.

Buyers who purchased into projects that took out the cover early are among the first in the country to take keys to apartments carrying decade-long structural protection.

“With the legislation passed, the focus now turns to making it work for buyers,”&nbsp;Nugent said.

“There are already thousands of apartments in NSW covered by this insurance, bought by developers who moved early. The question every buyer should be asking in a display suite is a simple one: does this building come with 10-year defect cover, and who stands behind it?&nbsp;

“We look forward to working with the Government and the Building Commission in coming weeks as the framework moves to implementation, and to sharing what we have learned over the past four years so the protection reaches owners as smoothly and quickly as possible.”

Other states are working through their own reform programs. Western Australia has indicated that decennial cover is within consideration a later stage of its reform sequence, and Queensland has been examining the settings as it looks at the development pipeline ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

Resilience Insurance acknowledges the NSW Government’s continued focus on strengthening consumer protection while supporting housing delivery across the State.

Fast Facts: What the reform means

<ul style="color:#222222; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:small; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; background-color:#ffffff; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial">
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Proven at scale:&nbsp;Decennial cover has operated in NSW since 2022, protecting thousand of apartments.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">10 years of cover:&nbsp;Protection for major structural defects runs for a decade from completion, claimable directly and with no legal action required.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">An alternative to the bond:&nbsp;Eligible developers can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial-style policy in place of the 2% strata building bond.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Part of a national shift:&nbsp;The ACT has had decennial provisions in force since 2025 and Victoria passed its framework in June. NSW now joins them.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">No-fault, first resort:&nbsp;Owners corporations claim directly from the insurer without first having to establish who is liable for the defect.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Cost-competitive:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the 2% bond while offering broader, longer protection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Market position:&nbsp;Resilience originated LDI in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022.</li>
</ul>

Fast Facts: What is Resilience LDI?

<ul style="color:#222222; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:small; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; background-color:#ffffff; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial">
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Resilience Latent Defects Insurance (LDI):&nbsp;Covers major structural defects for 10 years from completion.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Consumer-first:&nbsp;Direct claim access, no need for lengthy legal action.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Cost advantage:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the traditional 2% Strata Bond while offering broader protection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Market leader:&nbsp;&nbsp;Resilience Insurance originated LDI in Australia and is the national market leader.</li>
</ul>

Joel Robinson

NSW parliament passes 10-year defect insurance laws for new apartment buyers

Builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mcnab-developments">McNab</a> has wasted little time reshaping one of South Brisbane's most significant undeveloped apartment sites after acquiring the property earlier this year.&nbsp;

McNab has lodged plans to scrap an existing approval for two 30-storey towers and instead deliver a single 28-storey residential building, preserving part of the site for a future development opportunity.

The proposal, lodged over <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-peel-street-south-brisbane-qld-4101">64 Peel Street and 9 Cordelia Street</a>, is for a residential-led mixed-use development comprising 124 apartments above a landscaped podium, alongside a boundary realignment that preserves part of the land for a future residential project.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="743bf564-3f8f-45fc-b8d3-bbf18f5b628f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20Peel%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=EhCxGrVn_VFH3qTbKnI4WppGwaMnOn0t" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a>, the development will deliver 119 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom apartments across 23 residential levels. A five-level podium will accommodate 135 car spaces, while the ground floor will include a 66 sqm commercial tenancy, an activated residential lobby with work-from-home spaces, and a publicly accessible landscaped plaza linking Cordelia and Peel streets.&nbsp;

Communal amenities will span Level 6 and the rooftop, including indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, a swimming pool, barbecue facilities, kitchen and dining areas, lawn space, sauna, steam room and yoga facilities.

The application also proposes a boundary realignment to create a standalone 1,290 sqm development lot while retaining an adjacent parcel for future redevelopment, allowing the balance of the site to contribute additional housing over time.

Hayball said the architecture has been shaped by the site's elevated corner position at the intersection of Peel and Cordelia streets and Brisbane's subtropical climate.

The design incorporates generous landscaped setbacks, a masonry podium wrapped with planting, large north-facing balconies, and a slender tower profile intended to maximise natural light, cross ventilation and long-range views. The rooftop has been conceived as a wellness-focused retreat overlooking Brisbane, with amenities positioned to capture views towards Mount Coot-tha and the CBD.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c5f99e84-6ad8-4a87-82d1-869685b754d2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20tower%20perspective.png?VersionId=Gw0IuJaSAlk.tvGBxInhZOcQAdIB..2b" />

The planning submission positions the proposal as a response to both changing market conditions and Brisbane's Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning reforms.

McNab acquired the site after the previous approval was granted, with the existing scheme no longer reflecting current residential market demands, economic conditions, construction challenges, construction efficiencies or the quality of development outcome now being pursued, the planning report noted.

McNab continues to expand its residential development pipeline across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The developer recently launched The Tannery in West End, securing more than 60 per cent of apartments before the project's public release. It is also delivering Elements Budds Beach in Surfers Paradise and Lucia Highgate Hill, an eight-apartment boutique development overlooking the Brisbane River.

McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower

A steeply sloping Bellevue Hill site is set to accommodate a new mid-rise apartment development, with plans lodged for 20 homes that respond to the site's dramatic topography.

The proposal for the consolidated land at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/138a-140-bellevue-road-bellevue-hill-nsw-2023">138A-140 Bellevue Road</a> has been designed by Sydney architecture practice Common Office, which has used the site’s substantial fall to distribute the building’s scale and unlock 20 apartments without presenting the full height to the street.&nbsp;

“The unique design strategy leverages the site’s substantial topographical fall to facilitate increased density, presenting a seven-storey profile to Bellevue Road while rising to 10 storeys at the rear,” Common Office said in its architectural design report.

The apartment mix spans one, two, three- and four-bedroom residences. Four two-bedroom apartments are designated as affordable housing, while the plans also include two adaptable dwellings. The mix is majority three-beds, with the typical three-bed apartment offering around 144 sqm internally, with balconies of around 15 sqm.

The affordable housing component represents 15 per cent of the residential floor area and allows the project to access additional height and floor space under the NSW Government’s in-fill affordable housing provisions. The site also falls within the inner area of the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy because it is within 400 metres walking distance of Double Bay Town Centre.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1230d0f-3bfa-4a11-abaf-0928c66ef345" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da.png?VersionId=dZeMK3P.OutGjN8ycjsxm8uNsj_QFWQv" />

Common Office has arranged the building around a masonry podium and a lighter upper volume, drawing on two recurring elements of Bellevue Hill’s established architecture: sandstone bases and the vertical proportions of local Inter-war Art Deco apartment buildings.

“The proposal is governed by a holistic design language that reconciles the solid horizontal masonry of the neighbourhood’s podiums with the elegant verticality of its Art Deco heritage,” the architect said.

“The building maintains a consistent rhythmic logic utilising deep recesses and a sophisticated material transition to break down the 10-storey scale into a series of articulated, human-scale volumes.”

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0147f503-1af1-4d51-97fb-c2f1cba63a9d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20bldg.png?VersionId=GoW7q3NlK67OpnePXhk7zvklrlKb72Qc" />

Large-format sandstone tiles will define the lower levels, establishing a robust base that negotiates the change in elevation from Bellevue Road. Above, red-tinted precast concrete frames, recessed balconies, anodised aluminium screens and expanded metal details will create a more vertically expressed façade. Integrated planter beds will introduce greenery across balcony edges and recessed sections of the building.

The elongated northern façade has been divided into three recessed vertical masses to reduce its perceived length. Triangular window elements and metal privacy screens reference the geometry of nearby Art Deco buildings while controlling overlooking toward surrounding homes. The southern elevation will incorporate further privacy screening, landscaped edges and deep balconies to maintain light and ventilation.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e8679cf1-18bc-4447-8a0f-0052b94ab83c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da%20rooftop.png?VersionId=5SQqQqRFf76rvE2p1TbxJSweMN70AIbc" />

Private and communal landscaping is distributed throughout the development. A landscaped garden apartment is positioned within the lower portion of the site, while a communal terrace on Level 5 will include a central timber deck, barbecue facilities, resident planting plots and areas for outdoor dining and informal gatherings.

Common Office described the terrace as an elevated sanctuary designed to capture district views and sunlight. Its planting strategy incorporates endemic species associated with the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, extending the landscape vertically through the building and providing habitat for local flora and fauna.

A second communal outdoor area is proposed at roof level, with built-in seating, paved gathering areas and perimeter planting.

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction. Positive Investment Enterprise is delivering the 16-apartment Kew Palm House on Birriga Road, while Chanine Developments is also under construction at Florian, a 36-apartment project on Banksia Road.

&nbsp;

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction.

First Look: Apartment development pitched for Bellevue Hill, Double Bay fringe

South Brisbane's apartment pipeline continues to build momentum, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/trk-property-group">TRK Property Group</a> lodging plans for a 161-apartment tower on Montague Road as developers accelerate investment across the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.

The proposal for 176–186 Montague Road would replace an existing office building with a 20-storey residential tower designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, adding to a growing pipeline of high-density projects reshaping one of Brisbane's fastest-evolving inner-city precincts.

The project has been conceived as a "living building", featuring a flowing tower form, extensive vertical landscaping, and generous communal spaces that respond to the evolving Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.

TRK Property Group Development Director Matt Kan said the project reflected the confidence developers have in South Brisbane's long-term future.

"South Brisbane is entering an incredibly exciting period, and we see Montague Road sitting right at the heart of that evolution," Kan said.

"With the former Visy site directly opposite us and significant investment planned throughout the broader Kurilpa precinct, there is a real sense of momentum around this part of the city and what it will become over the coming years.

"For TRK, this is an opportunity to be part of that next chapter and deliver a project that responds to where the precinct is heading, while contributing to the continued evolution of Brisbane's river edge."

<img alt="First look: TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="590fe1ad-f892-4446-a679-80e33a16d029" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TRK%20tower%20facade.png?VersionId=uOJStrcKpyHFcPE1w6_9SMAFzVMCcZll" />

The scheme includes a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, incorporating multi-purpose rooms in selected residences to provide additional flexibility for home offices or expanded living areas. The proposed mix comprises 15 one-bedroom, 13 one-bedroom plus MPR, 73 two-bedroom, 26 two-bedroom plus MPR, 30 three-bedroom, and four four-bedroom apartments.

Rather than adopting a conventional rectilinear tower, COX Architecture has developed a sculpted form inspired by the movement of the Brisbane River.

"The proposal has been designed by COX Architecture as a 'living building' that responds to the site's riverine setting, floodplain history and evolving urban context within the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct," the planning report states.

"The architectural form draws from the fluid nature of the Brisbane River, with a curved and undulating tower form that creates a varied architectural edge and avoids a conventional rectilinear tower expression."

The podium has also been designed as an architectural feature rather than a conventional parking structure, with cascading planting, screening and natural-toned materials softening its appearance. Resident parking is elevated above ground level to address the site's flood constraints, while habitable apartments sit above flood planning levels. Upper-level communal facilities are designed to accommodate shelter-in-place arrangements during major flood events.

<img alt="First look: TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="01fa15d0-90df-46c7-9555-7941fc45373c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TRK%20podium.png?VersionId=mHyua.w1pHGBt9qEdWzrlsv.leztUCwO" />

Communal amenity is a major focus of the proposal. Around 1,815 sqm of shared resident space is proposed across the ground floor, level 19 and the rooftop, including co-working areas, indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, wellness facilities, dining and gathering areas, lawn spaces, a rooftop pool and spa, and extensive landscaping. At street level, a landscaped forecourt and approximately 345 sqm of publicly accessible open space along Montague Road are intended to improve the pedestrian experience while activating the building's frontage.

The development will provide 163 car spaces, including 152 resident bays and 11 visitor spaces, together with 144 bicycle spaces incorporating resident storage, visitor parking, bicycle maintenance facilities and e-mobility charging infrastructure.

The site sits within one of Brisbane's fastest-changing inner-city precincts, less than two kilometres from the CBD and within easy reach of South Bank, West End, the Queensland Cultural Centre and extensive public transport connections. The Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning framework is encouraging higher-density residential development to help meet Brisbane's housing supply targets while supporting walkable, transit-oriented neighbourhoods.

TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans

Article summary

<ul data-end="785" data-start="311">
	<li data-end="459" data-section-id="5hbcyr" data-start="311">Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at Skye Kangaroo Point, headlined by a two-storey sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm.</li>
	<li data-end="561" data-section-id="1p7lq8n" data-start="460">Early buyer interest suggests the residences could set a new Queensland apartment price record.</li>
	<li data-end="667" data-section-id="1y70z0l" data-start="562">The collection includes four move-in ready penthouses and the highly customised Skye One residence.</li>
	<li data-end="785" data-section-id="yvm0y1" data-start="668">The release caps one of Bri​sbane's most ambitious luxury apartment developments overlooking the Brisbane River.</li>
</ul>

<hr data-end="790" data-start="787" />
Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/skye-residences-by-pikos-kangaroo-point-8-river-terrace-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Skye by Pikos</a> development in Kangaroo Point, with early buyer interest indicating the flagship residences could eclipse every apartment sale previously recorded in Queensland.

The collection crowns the luxury riverfront development with five residences, including four completed penthouses and Skye One, a two-level sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm that will be tailored to its eventual owner.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374075]

Wanting to offer a fully customisable home, Pikos is offering Skye One as a blank canvas, allowing the buyer to work alongside the developer's design team to customise the home's layout, finishes and internal spaces.

The residence will feature a 247 sqm private rooftop terrace with its own swimming pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor kitchen and multiple entertaining areas overlooking the Brisbane River and CBD skyline.

The remaining four penthouses have been completed and are ready for immediate occupation, each offering four bedrooms, expansive open-plan living areas, soaring ceilings and private lift access.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374059]

One of the defining features throughout the project is its use of Roman Classic Travertine, with more than 20,000 sqm of the natural stone imported from Italy after being personally selected by Pikos Group Founder and Executive Director Pedro Pikos, interior designer Julie Williamson and third-generation stone specialist Mario Caucci.

Pikos said the penthouse collection represented the culmination of the company's long-term vision for Skye.

"True legacy isn't measured by what we build today, but by what endures tomorrow," Pikos said.

"Our ambition is to create places that become more valuable with time, enrich the lives of generations, and stand as timeless landmarks long after we've stepped away."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374060]

Williamson said the interiors were inspired by the natural character of Kangaroo Point and the Brisbane River rather than international design trends.

"Materiality tells the story of a place," Williamson said.

"We looked to the movement of the Brisbane River, the texture of the cliff face and the warmth of the surrounding landscape to create interiors that feel understated, enduring and unmistakably Brisbane."

Positioned above the Kangaroo Point cliffs, Skye places residents within walking distance of Howard Smith Wharves, South Bank and James Street while offering uninterrupted river and city views.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=90059]

Tyron Hyde

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