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As demolition progresses for the Upper House residential development on Swanston Street, another apartment building on an adjoining site awaits approval with a planning application lodged for 139-155 Queensberry Street, Carlton. Currently under assesment by Melbourne City Council, the site is also bound by Queensberry Way and Cornell Place. The building if constructed will rise 15 levels and sit between the 17 level <a href="/buildings/upper-house-516-520-swanston-street-carlton">Upper House</a> project and the 9 level, at sales <a href="/buildings/81-cardigan-street-carlton#content" target="_blank">81 Cardigan Street</a>.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/139QueensburyStreet5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="As envisaged from Queensberry Street, with Upper House to the right. "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/139QueensburyStreet5.jpg?itok=udmReqi7" title="As envisaged from Queensberry Street, with Upper House to the right." typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

<figcaption>As envisaged from Queensberry Street, with Upper House to the right.</figcaption></figure>A product of <a href="http://www.plusarchitecture.com.au/" target="_blank">Plus Architecture</a>, the building will hold a highly articulated light weight façade, which will include horizontal and vertical framing in a bid to break up the mass of the structure. It will comprise 193 residential dwellings and include 72 bicycle spaces.

138 on site car parking spaces will also be included in the development over 3 basement levels, with vehicular access to the building planned for both Queensberry Way and Cornell Place laneways, allowing for the activation of Queensberry Street which will be improved through the addition of 2 new retail outlets. Plus Architecture have also incorporated faux cottages through the ground floor facade, cleverly bringing an element of interest to an otherwise unused and seldom walked laneway.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/139QueensburyStreet3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ground level articulation. Image © Plus Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/139QueensburyStreet3.jpg?itok=-lo1YJXy" title="Ground level articulation. Image © Plus Architecture" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

<figcaption>Ground level articulation. Image © Plus Architecture</figcaption></figure>Adding to the amenity of the building will be a communal rooftop terrace which will be accessible to all residents of the building. The architects have designed the building in a way that allows for a transitional built form for the area, between the higher density Swanston Street precinct and the low rise Carlton precinct. Through this initiative, the Queensberry Street frontage will rise 10 levels to a total height of 32m with an additional 5 levels constructed above this which will be set back between 11.2 and 12.6 metres. The setback also allows for a clear differentiation between the podium levels and the upper levels in the building.

While an effort has been made to provide this transition in built form between the two precincts, Carlton residents have already voiced their opposition to the proposal, with the Carlton Residents Association claiming that 15 stories is of “excessive height” and that it does not aid the transition from taller buildings on Swanston Street to low-rise in the east of Swanston Street. Another point of concern is the domolition of the Australian Communication Workers Union building onsite.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Image2_13.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The current building as per Google Maps"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Image2_13.jpg?itok=ebm2aFV_" title="The current building as per Google Maps" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

<figcaption>The current building as per Google Maps</figcaption></figure>If given the go ahead, one would assume apartments in the building would be highly sought after following the recent selling out of all apartments in the Upper House building. A decision has not yet been made on the permit.

Renders © Plus Architecture.
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melbournee12

Planning Application > 139-155 Queensberry Street, Carlton

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Considered one of the longest continuous Chinese settlements anywhere in the western world, Melbourne's Chinatown has a lot to offer those who meander through. Quoting <a href="http://chinatownmelbourne.com.au" target="_blank">chinatownmelbourne.com.au</a> "It was the discovery of gold in 1851 which attracted Chinese immigration to Victoria on a large scale. Ships sailed to Australia from Hong Kong with their cargo of men who had come in search of the “New Gold Mountain”. The small but burgeoning Chinese community in Little Bourke Street provided for all the needs of the diggers – lodgings en route to the goldfields, food, equipment and medicine."
Running east-west along Little Bourke between Exhibition Street and Swanston Street, the area spawns a number of laneways, in and of themselves well worth viewing; eateries, street art, the Chinese Museum, hidden bars and much more. 
Here's a collection of photos I took during my recent visit to the precinct.
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Photographic Tour of Chinatown

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The revitalisation of Melbourne’s retail heart carries on with ISPT recently green lighting construction for the Strand Arcade redevelopment, valued at $20 million. Located on Elizabeth Street between Little Bourke and Lonsdale Streets, the arcade will see its internals gutted and reconstructed, creating 23 new retail tenancies over 2,343sqm of space.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/little-bourke-st-exterior-lrg.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Little Bourke Street exterior. Image © thestrand.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/little-bourke-st-exterior-lrg.jpg?itok=5vMxJo6n" title="Little Bourke Street exterior. Image © thestrand.com.au" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
The exterior will also receive an upgrade with Studio 505 designing a new façade for the building featuring the installation of colourful glass fins. These fins will appear near translucent during the day, but light up into a burst of colour during evening hours. The public realm is enhanced through the activation of Driver Lane which adjoins the building. As it stands, the current lane offers very little use or benefit to the public with nothing enticing people bar a small obscure entrance to Strand Arcade at its end.
The redevelopment however will see the area transformed to include a number of new boutique outlets opened up along the lane, encouraging people from Elizabeth Street into the revamped area. Australia Post, which currently holds a lease in the Strand on the corner of Elizabeth and Little Bourke Streets has pre-committed to leasing space in the new development, taking up 540sqm on the opposite corner along Lonsdale Street for a new flagship outlet.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Image1_18.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Intended floor plan for the Strand arcade with walkthrough to Emporium. Image © thestrand.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Image1_18.jpg?itok=QMRWFc5k" title="Intended floor plan for the Strand arcade with walkthrough to Emporium. Image © thestrand.com.au" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
The Strand Arcade is not the only redeveloped retail space that is forecast to hit the city over the next 12 months, with Colonial First State’s Emporium development set to see the former Myer department store transformed into 46,175sqm of boutique shopping space over 8 levels. Opposite Strand Arcade, it is highly rumoured that the GPO Building is to also be refurbished, laying claim to Australia’s first H&amp;M store in the process.
Add recently completed redevelopments of both Myer and David Jones in the immediate area add the precinct at large can now strengthen its claim as Australia's most impressive retail destination.
A YouTube clip of the Strand Arcade finished product:
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sK3bEy78vq0?rel=0" width="100%"></iframe>
The redeveloped Strand Arcade is set to open early 2014.
<ul>
<li>
		http://thestrandmelbourne.com.au/</li>
	<li>
		http://www.emporiummelbourne.com.au/content/about-the-project</li>
	<li>
		http://www.smh.com.au/business/property/tout-swede-hm-has-designs-on-gpo-site-20130328-2gxby.html</li>
</ul>
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The Strand Arcade redevelopment

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One of Melbourne’s best located development sites has gone back to the drawing board after a landmark office proposal failed to eventuate. A revised permit application is currently under consideration by DPCD for 405 Bourke Street, located between Elizabeth and Queen Streets.

One of a handful of prior proposals for the site involved a curved 46-storey office tower designed by Fender Katsilidis which was to reach a height of 204 metres and potentially become one of Melbourne’s most architecturally significant buildings. However amended plans submitted late last year show a more modest development put forward by developer Brookfield Office Properties catering toward the leasing market's rectangular floorplate preferences.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/2013-02-14%2023.37.08.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Collins St perspective. Image © Woods Bagot"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/2013-02-14%2023.37.08.jpg?itok=cOdkmSm3" title="Collins St perspective. Image © Woods Bagot"></a>

Designed by renowned architects Woods Bagot, the new project is set to feature a 39 storey, 160.9 metre building involves 61,502sqm of office space and an upgraded retail area in the existing Foundry Building leading to an additional 3,672sqm of retail space. It will include 494 bicycle spaces, 250 car spaces as well as a new entrance to the building via an elongated Gills Alley, to be used by cyclists and pedestrians.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/2013-02-14%2023.40.58.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Street activation plan. Image © Woods Bagot"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/2013-02-14%2023.40.58.jpg?itok=6lTlpDmi" title="Street activation plan. Image © Woods Bagot"></a>

While the development does look quite simple at first glance, the tower itself is designed in a way that the architects say is meant to represent a “single technique of continuous laminations.” Sounds fancy but the intent is to provide a facade which breaks up the prevalent east and west elevations as well as alleviating site constraint issues, while breaking the wall effect created through the podium at street level. Following this idea of continuous laminations, the total mass of the building has been designed to appear as 70 panes of glass laminated together, opposed by clean facades on the north and south elevations.

On the extensive east and west façades, the addition of modulated laminations which have a shift of 150mm every 1.2m have been developed, allowing for further articulation and form along the large facades, creating an interesting visual effect and a textured surface along the tower which will in turn refract and reflect light depending on the changing angles of the sun throughout the day.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/2013-02-14%2023.46.23.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="East and west facades designed to light, shade and refract. Image © Woods Bagot"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/2013-02-14%2023.46.23.jpg?itok=Qul9bE7w" title="East and west facades designed to light, shade and refract. Image © Woods Bagot"></a>

At podium level, the building has been designed to fit within the surrounding context. As it's considered a modern insertion within the existing streetscape, deep laminations have been designed into the podium, allowing for a unique view of the structure depending on where you stand on the street, and allowing for the entrance of the building to only be seen if the person is looking from directly in front.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/2013-02-14%2023.41.26.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="New street level inetrface. Image © Woods Bagot"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/2013-02-14%2023.41.26.jpg?itok=pjOG_zPt" title="New street level inetrface. Image © Woods Bagot"></a>

This new proposal is not the first tower to seek approval for the site since partners Brookfiled and DaVinci Funds Management purchased the development site back in 2008. The site was subject to another planning application early in 2012, which subsequently lead to the amended plans currently submitted.

In addition to this, two more proposals were put forward back in 2004 and again in 2006, with the then owner of the site obtaining a permit for a 200 metre tall residential building and another permit for an office building which they later on sold with the development site.

While approval is seemingly forthcoming, time will tell whether Multiplex finally advance this scheme into the construction phase, or whether it will share a similar fate as previous proposals.

All images © Woods Bagot
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Planning Application > 405 Bourke Street, Melbourne

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The office tower is set to make a return to Melbourne’s CBD, with planning Minister Matthew Guy <a href="http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/6016-190-million-crowning-glory-for-queen-street" target="_blank">recently approving</a> a 50 storey development at 272 Queen Street. Standing at 205.4m tall, the building if constructed would become the first office tower to reach a height above 200m since the building boom of the early 1990’s which produced multiple large-scale office developments such as the Melbourne Central tower and 120 Collins Street. Designed by Peddle Thorpe Architects for developer Dale Rose Pty Ltd, the newly approved $190 million dollar skyscraper would include 5 basement levels holding of 84 car park bays, motorcycle-bycicle areas, store rooms and services. DPCD planning notes indicate the tower would add 35,561sqm of new office space to Melbourne’s CBD, with typical floorplates of 832sqm. 20sqm of space is envisaged for every worker, therefore it's expected that 40 people per floor or 1778 people in total would work at 272 Queen St.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Img_6826.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="272 Queen St aspect as seen from Queen St &amp; Lonsdale St"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_6826.jpg?itok=CjZupoh-" title="272 Queen St aspect as seen from Queen St &amp; Lonsdale St" typeof="Image"></a>
<figcaption>272 Queen St aspect as seen from Queen St &amp; Lonsdale St. Image © Peddle Thorp Architects.</figcaption></figure>A double glazed curtain wall consisting of an extruded diagonal grid frame with random translucent triangular glazed panels will grace the north and west façades, with the remaining faces of the tower consisting of triangular patterned precast concrete panels which are designed to complement the north and west sides while allowing for future development either side. On the east façade, the precast panels will rise to a height of 120 metres – the height of an already approved building next door at 399 Little Lonsdale Street, before changing to the curtain wall façade seen on the north and west sides. The wind effect study image below includes 399 Little Lonsdale (also a Peddle Thorp design), as well as a block form for the adjoining 254-266 Queen St indicating another sizeable tower may be in the works for what is now the Bank of China Melbourne office.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Image2_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Wind effects study diagram with the approved 399 Lt Lonsdale. Images © Peddle Thorp Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Image2_5.jpg?itok=F1a6Pf2f" title="Wind effects study diagram with the approved 399 Lt Lonsdale. Images © Peddle Thorp Architects" typeof="Image"></a>
<figcaption>Wind effects study diagram with the approved 399 Lt Lonsdale. Images © Peddle Thorp Architects.</figcaption></figure>There will be 3 plant levels within the structure, located on floors 11, 30 and 49, which have been recessed further than typical floors in order to break up the sheer vertical form of the tower and those plant levels will be clad in contrasting perforated metal facades to create transition areas within the building. One of the most interesting design elements associated with this development will be the incorporation of photovoltaic film which will be embedded into cantilevered bay elements along the north and west facades. Through this initiative, the building will draw upon the light it receives to generate an electric current which will then be fed back into the power grid of the building.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Img_6790.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="272 Queen St at street"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_6790.jpg?itok=VUgxsWX2" title="272 Queen St at street" typeof="Image"></a>
<figcaption>272 Queen St at street. Image © Peddle Thorp Architects.</figcaption></figure>At street level dual entrances will be available off Queen Street and Little Lonsdale Street, with a new café to front Little Lonsdale in order to bring activity to the lesser used thoroughfare. While this development has been approved, it was not the first application that was submitted for the site; an earlier proposal submitted would have reached an even taller 220m. Key differences between the initial and approved plans include the height decrease to 205.4m, a decrease in the typical floor plate from 964sqm to 832sqm, increased setbacks from Queen Street, reduced setbacks to Little Lonsdale Street and an increase in podium height from five to ten levels. As yet there are no set plans for the tower to begin construction, it's likely that an anchor tenant will be required before Dale Rose Pty Ltd can approach financial institutions for construction funding.
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272 Queen Street in depth

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Apartment living has found its way to the south-western suburb of Altona Meadows, where a new apartment building has been proposed for 390-394 Queen Street and 83-91 Merton Street. Designed by Mills Gorman Architects and developed by Noordenne Constructions, the development if approved will include 80 dwellings comprising of one, two and three bedrooms within a 4 storey complex, reaching a maximum height of 13.3 metres. 
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/merton_0000_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Noordenne Constructions proposed development"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/merton_0000_0.jpg?itok=LrdETDKf" title="Noordenne Constructions proposed development" typeof="Image"></a>
Accompanying the planned apartments, will be 82 resident car spaces and 2 gymnasium car spaces which will be located in a basement level; there are no guest car parks associated with the building. Incorporated into the proposed development will be a new gymnasium which is slated for the busy corner of Merton and Queen Streets, directly opposite the controversial flower sculpture “Grow”, as well the local shopping centre, Central Square, also owned by Noordenne Constructions. If the green light is given to the proposal, construction will not proceed until after Noordenne completes the new ALDI supermarket, currently being built within the Central Square Shopping Centre car park.
While proposals of this magnitude are relatively new to Altona Meadows, it is not the first medium-high density apartment project that has come before the Hobson’s Bay Council with 2 new apartment complexes currently nearing settlement in Pier Street, Altona. The 5 level apartment building at 105-113 Pier Street will hold 95 dwellings and associated retail upon completion, meanwhile a 4 story development across the road at 112-114 Pier Street will add a further 45 dwellings and 5 new retail tenancies.
Apartment living in areas such as Altona raises an interesting question:
Would you rather live in an apartment within a short walk to public transport, beach, retail and services or the other side of Geelong Rd in a new estate such as Truganina where you have, well....a house, car and not much else?
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Apartments in the Meadows

<html><body>The Melbourne skyline is an amazing spectacle when viewed from anywhere around the city, however it becomes so much more remarkable when given the opportunity to view it from above. On the 14th of January 2013, I had this opportunity, enjoying a hot air balloon trip across the centre of Melbourne whilst also capturing its breathtaking vista's at the same time. Departing from Moorabbin, the 90 minute journey travelled through the inner suburbs of Melbourne such as South Yarra and Richmond, offering spectacular views of the Melbourne CBD, Southbank and surrounding areas, before landing perfectly at Essendon Airport. Below are a collection of images taken from the hot air balloon journey, highlighting the magnificent city of Melbourne.</body></html>

Melbourne by Balloon

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<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/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Joel Robinson

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments

Seasoned Victorian apartment developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-equity">Central Equity</a> has logged more than $400 million in sales in its luxury apartment project Palmera Residences at Northcliffe on the Gold Coast.&nbsp;

Central Equity Director Karl Kutner said the sales result reflected a combination of location, product quality and delivery certainty with the project already under construction by building powerhouse Multiplex.&nbsp;

"Surpassing $400 million in sales since launch is a significant milestone and an outstanding endorsement of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/palmera-residences-gold-coast-18-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Palmera Residences</a>,” he said.&nbsp;

"We believe one of the key reasons for this strong result is the confidence purchasers have in knowing the project is under construction with Multiplex. Buyers are increasingly looking for certainty. They want to know that the project they commit to today will be delivered by an experienced team with a proven track record."&nbsp;

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Kutner said it was clear there was still high demand for luxury projects that offered certainty of delivery.&nbsp;

“We are in a market where many residential developments have faced delays due to rising construction costs, labour shortages and financing challenges,” said Kutner.&nbsp;

"But having construction underway has provided our buyers with resounding confidence backed by more than 40 years of development delivery by Central Equity combined with construction by one of Australia's most respected construction companies."&nbsp;

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Central Equity is one of Australia's most experienced privately-owned property developers. Over more than four decades, the company has delivered in excess of 85 residential developments including 10,000 apartments and many thousands of stand alone homes.&nbsp;

Located on Garfield Terrace at Northcliffe, between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, Palmera Residences occupies one of the Gold Coast's most sought after beachside locations. The development has been designed to appeal to owner occupiers seeking premium residences that combine generous living spaces and resort style amenities.&nbsp;

Palmera Residences will feature an exceptional collection of resort style amenities, including two swimming pools: a generously sized family pool with safe shallow zones for relaxed recreation, and a 20 metre lap pool positioned to maximise all day sunlight.&nbsp;

Residents will also enjoy exclusive access to wellness and recreational facilities including a magnesium pool, sauna, yoga studio, expansive fitted gymnasium, resident lounge, outdoor BBQ’s&nbsp;and indoor and outdoor dining areas, together with a dedicated concierge and luxurious hotel inspired entrance foyer.&nbsp;

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A unique feature at Palmera Residences has been designed to enhance the Gold Coast lifestyle which includes both indoor and outdoor gymnasium facilities, together with thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor dining and entertaining areas. A corner café has also been incorporated to provide residents with a destination for their everyday needs.&nbsp;

Kutner said buyer demand had been broad based with purchasers attracted from interstate as well as throughout South East Queensland.&nbsp;

"We're seeing strong interest from owner occupiers, lifestyle buyers and people relocating to the Gold Coast. Many purchasers have been searching for a premium beachside residence where quality, design and delivery are equally important."&nbsp;

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Kutner said the sales milestone was an important achievement, but the focus remained firmly on delivering an exceptional development.&nbsp;

"While reaching $400 million in sales is an important milestone, our priority remains delivering a project that exceeds purchaser expectations,” he said.&nbsp;

"Palmera Residences has been designed to become one of the Gold Coast's landmark residential addresses, and we look forward to welcoming our purchasers to their new homes."&nbsp;

There are a limited number of residences remaining in selected configurations with pricing from $2,950,000 to $8,950,000. Palmera Residences is also crowned by expansive penthouses with wrap around views.

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Construction certainty and strong buyer demand drive major sales result for luxury Gold Coast development

Palmera Residences fly out the door as sales pass $400 million

National property developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/goldfields-group">Goldfields</a> has appointed BINAH as its construction partner for Quartet, its new Brisbane apartment development in the undersupplied suburb of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/milton-qld-4064">Milton</a>.

Located just two kilometres from the Brisbane CBD and moments from key 2032 Olympic precincts, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/quartet-milton-33-manning-street-milton-qld-4064">Quartet</a> will deliver 131 one, two, three, and four-bedroom apartments priced from $1 million to $4.2 million, combining elevated design with a wellness-focused lifestyle offering.&nbsp;

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Goldfields’ Chief Executive Officer, Lachlan Thompson, said the appointment of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/binah-constructions">BINAH</a> marked an important milestone for the project.&nbsp;

“Bringing BINAH on board as our construction partner will allow us to bring our vision for Quartet forward with a team that has a proven track record of delivering high-quality residential projects,” Thompson said.&nbsp;

“We’ve taken a considered approach to progressing the site because we wanted to deliver the whole package. Buyers ultimately back great developers, great projects and great builders, and with Quartet, we’ve made sure all three line up.

“People want certainty, they want to know the project will be built, that the homes will be delivered as promised, and that the developer stands behind the quality of what they create. That’s something Goldfields has built its reputation on over many years.”&nbsp;

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BINAH’s Managing Director, Khalil Hafza, said the company was proud to be partnering with Goldfields to deliver Quartet.&nbsp;

“Quartet is an exciting project to bring to life, particularly given the level of detail in the residences and the extensive rooftop amenity planned for the building,” Mr Hafza said.&nbsp;

“Our focus is on delivering a high-quality build that brings that design vision to life and creates homes residents will enjoy for many years.”&nbsp;

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The facilities at Quartet have been feared towards the roof, with a&nbsp;25 metre lap pool, spa, sauna and cold plunge, and a communal barbecue area and alfresco.

Town planning was designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and brought to life by Melbourne-based architecture firm Cera Stribley.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/cera-stribley">Cera Stribley</a> Co-Founder and Managing Principal, Dom Cerantonio, said the project responds to both its riverside setting and Brisbane’s evolving urban character.&nbsp;

“Quartet has been designed to sit comfortably within its riverside context, offering a refined take on urban living through well-planned, generously proportioned residences that will stand the test of time,” Mr Cerantonio said.&nbsp;

“An emphasis on natural light, natural textures and carefully selected finishes from timber and marble to premium appliances, creates calm, considered interiors designed for comfort and long-term liveability.”&nbsp;

Construction of Quartet will commence in July 2026, with completion anticipated in Q4 2028.

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Construction to commence on 131-residence tower designed around wellness-focused living

Goldfields appoints BINAH for Quartet apartments in Milton

The first partnership between national developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis">Fortis</a> and Adelaide-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> has made a strong start, with the pair securing $21 million in unconditional sales at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/one-four-four-hutt-adelaide-144-hutt-street-adelaide-sa-5000">One Four Four Hutt</a>&nbsp;on the edge of the Adelaide CBD.

Over a third of apartments have been snapped up in the boutique 44-apartment project on the corner of Hutt Stret and Wakefield Road. Local downsizers and owner-occupiers wanting to remain in Adelaide's tightly-held southeast quarter have been the most prominent purchasers.

The DKO-designed, mixed-use development is one of the few new apartment projects in the precinct, an area where new housing supply has remained limited despite continued demand from buyers wanting to stay close to the CBD, Victoria Park and Adelaide's established east-end amenities.

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Fortis Head of Development SA Arthur Dendrinos said the early sales reflected both the strength of the local owner-occupier market and confidence in the Hutt Street location.

"The level of early commitment reflects the confidence local buyers have in the Hutt Street precinct," Dendrinos said.

"Many purchasers are long-term east-end residents who love the area and want to stay connected to the neighbourhood. They recognise the value of a well-designed, well-located development.

"Our partnership with Otello has been central to this success, and the number of unconditional sales at this stage only strengthens our confidence in the South Australian market."

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Otello Director Daniel Harris said the sales result also highlighted the lack of new apartment opportunities within the Hutt Street precinct.

"One Four Four Hutt has clearly resonated with buyers, with strong early sales reflecting both the appeal of the Hutt Street corridor and the lifestyle on offer," Harris said.

"The activated ground-floor retail has also been a key drawcard, with purchasers responding to the vision of a more vibrant and connected streetscape, not just the residences themselves."

One Four Four Hutt will deliver 44 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, alongside a collection of penthouses, above a ground-floor retail offering designed to further activate the Hutt Street precinct.

Construction is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of this year, with completion anticipated in 2028.

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Fortis Head of Development SA Arthur Dendrinos said the early sales reflected both the strength of the local owner-occupier market and confidence in the Hutt Street location.

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