<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

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The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

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Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

Sydney’s property market is known for high prices, competitive bidding, and mounting pressure on first home buyers. But change is on the horizon.

From late 2025, eligible first home buyers in New South Wales will have access to a new federal government initiative aimed at addressing affordability: the Help to Buy Scheme.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

The program introduces a shared equity model intended to reduce the upfront cost of entering the property market, particularly in high-demand urban areas such as Sydney.

The scheme operates under a shared ownership structure in which the federal government takes an equity stake of up to 40 per cent for new homes, or 30 per cent for existing dwellings. This arrangement allows eligible buyers to significantly reduce their loan size and avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Under this model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required. The government’s contribution is not a loan but a co-ownership stake in the property. As such, there is no interest or rent charged on its portion.

Because the government’s equity combined with the buyer’s deposit typically meets or exceeds the 20 per cent threshold, LMI does not apply. The remaining balance, generally between 60 and 70 per cent of the property’s value, is financed through a standard home loan with a participating lender.

The government's equity in the property remains in place until the buyer chooses to repay it voluntarily or until the property is sold. Buyers can buy back the government’s share over time, in increments of at least five per cent, depending on their financial situation.

There is no fixed repayment timeline, but the amount to be repaid will be based on the property's market value at the time of repayment, not the original purchase price.

<h2>How do you qualify for the&nbsp;Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

To qualify for the Help to Buy Scheme, applicants must meet the following conditions:

<ul>
	<li>Be an Australian citizen at least 18 years of age.</li>
	<li>Be a first-home buyer who does not currently own property.</li>
	<li>Intend to live in the property as their primary residence.</li>
	<li>Earn less than $100,000 per year for individuals, or $160,000 for couples.</li>
	<li>Purchase a property within the regional price caps, currently $950,000 in Sydney, though this is expected to rise to approximately $1.3 million ahead of the program’s launch.</li>
</ul>

While the Help to Buy Scheme does not solve affordability challenges across the board, it does offer a more accessible pathway for a defined segment of the market, particularly younger buyers with moderate incomes who have been priced out of traditional lending routes.

The scheme is expected to commence in NSW in late 2025, as part of a national rollout.

Under the new model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required

Help to Buy Scheme: What first home buyers in NSW need to know

The First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) is a government initiative designed to help eligible first-time home buyers by offering financial assistance towards the purchase or construction of a new home.

While the FHOG is a nationwide program, it is administered separately by each state and territory, meaning the eligibility criteria, grant amounts, and property requirements can vary depending on your location. This means that the amount available and the conditions attached to the grant will differ, so it is important to check the specific guidelines for your state or territory.

It’s important to note that the FHOG is just one of several incentives available to first home buyers. In most states and territories, the grant is not linked to stamp duty exemptions or concessions, with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The FHOG is typically a one-off payment, reducing the overall cost of purchasing or building a new home before any stamp duty concessions are applied.

Below, we provide a breakdown of the First Home Owner Grants available across Australia, outlining the specific details for each state and territory.

<h2>New South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $600,000. For land purchases and owner-builders, the threshold extends to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Provides full stamp duty exemption for homes valued up to $800,000, with concessions available for properties up to $1 million.

<h2>Victoria South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides a $10,000 grant for first-home buyers purchasing or building new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Offers full stamp duty exemption for properties up to $600,000, with concessions available up to $750,000.

<h2>Queensland First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers $30,000 for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2025. The FHOG applies to new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Provides additional concessions for properties valued up to $800,000.

<h2>Western Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

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First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $750,000 in the southern regions and up to $1 million in the northern regions.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Available for homes valued up to $600,000 for transactions entered into on or after 9 May 2024.

<h2>Australian Capital Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Replaced by the Home Buyer Concession Scheme, offering full stamp duty concessions for eligible buyers.

<h2>South Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides up to $15,000 for new homes, including houses, apartments, and townhouses. As of 6 June 2024, there is no property value cap for eligibility.

Stamp Duty Relief: Available for new homes and vacant land purchases.

<h2>Tasmania First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes and off the plan purchases.

Stamp Duty Exemption: Between 18 February 2024 and 30 June 2026, first home buyers of established homes valued up to $750,000 receive a full exemption on property transfer duty.

<h2>Northern Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: The Northern Territory provides a $10,000 grant for new homes only. Additional government grants and concessions are available for first home buyers.

Stamp Duty Exemption: The only stamp duty exemption available to property buyers is the House and Land Package Exemption (HLPE).

Eligibility criteria and application processes differ across states. Prospective buyers should refer to their respective state revenue offices for full details on grant availability, conditions, and additional concessions.

Every First Home Owner Grant for new property by state

In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable architecture and environmentally conscious design, systems and ratings in place can help determine the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Australia.

Australia has multiple building rating systems that evaluate energy efficiency and sustainability in existing and new building designs.

Some systems assess individual building components, while others provide an overall rating for the entire structure.

A rating system ensures that homes are comfortable and energy-efficient, whether you are buying, renovating, or building.

NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) is a common way for new homes to meet energy efficiency requirements.

As new developments continue to shape the urban environment, understanding NatHERS ratings becomes essential for developers and homeowners. This article delves into the concept of NatHERS ratings, their significance, and how they contribute to creating energy-efficient homes.

<h2>What is NatHERS?</h2>

NatHERS is a national initiative implemented by the Australian government to promote energy efficiency in residential buildings. The scheme aims to provide a standardised method for assessing the thermal performance of homes, considering factors such as insulation, orientation, ventilation, and building materials.&nbsp;

NatHERS ratings are the most common way new homes meet the National Construction Code's (NCC's) minimum energy efficiency requirements.&nbsp;

NatHERS assessments provide thermal and whole-home ratings for new homes, townhouses, and apartments.

The rating helps evaluate the energy performance of buildings, guides homeowners and developers to make informed decisions about the energy efficiency of their properties, and encourages the construction of more sustainable, comfortable, and cost-effective homes.

<h2>How NatHERS Ratings Work</h2>

NatHERS ratings are determined through four accredited software tools (AccuRate, BERS Pro, FirstRate5, HERO) using a calculation engine CSIRO developed to predict building temperature based on various factors.

The tools can model complex effects of building mass, insulation, window size, and other elements.

The outcome is a star rating that reflects the building's overall thermal efficiency, indicating how well it can maintain a comfortable indoor temperature without excessive reliance on heating or cooling systems.

The star rating scale ranges from 0 to 10, with a 6-star rating being the minimum requirement for compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC).&nbsp;

Achieving a higher star rating demonstrates a commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability, as the building is better equipped to minimise its environmental impact and reduce long-term energy costs.

Anyone can use NatHERS tools, but accredited assessors can provide certified ratings and professional advice.

<h2>Benefits of Higher NatHERS Ratings</h2>

Energy Efficiency: Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings are more energy-efficient, requiring less heating and cooling energy. This reduces the structure's carbon footprint and lowers occupants' energy bills.

Cost Savings: Homes with higher NatHERS ratings are generally more energy-efficient, resulting in reduced energy consumption for heating and cooling. This translates to lower energy bills for homeowners, making sustainable living environmentally friendly and economically viable in the long run.

Environmental Impact: Lower energy consumption directly translates to a reduced environmental impact. Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings contribute to the overall goal of mitigating climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating and cooling systems.

Improved Comfort: Buildings with high NatHERS ratings offer better thermal comfort to occupants. Proper insulation, well-designed ventilation, and optimal orientation maintain a consistent and comfortable indoor temperature, providing occupants with a more enjoyable and healthier space.

Market Value and Desirability: Higher NatHERS ratings can enhance the market value of a property. As energy efficiency becomes a more significant consideration for homebuyers, a well-rated building may attract a premium price and stand out in the real estate market.

Compliance with Building Codes: NatHERS ratings are a vital component of the National Construction Code (NCC), and compliance with these ratings is often a mandatory requirement for new developments. Local councils and planning authorities may set minimum energy efficiency standards that must be met to obtain development approval.

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is a crucial initiative shaping the future of energy-efficient, resilient, and cost-effective homes. With its recent upgrades, NatHERS has evolved into a world-leading tool for the building sector, supporting the global commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Staff Writer

What is a NatHERS rating in new off the plan apartment developments?

Mixed-use developments have gained significant popularity across Australia in recent years due to their unique blend of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.

Unlike traditional single-purpose developments, mixed-use projects offer a harmonious integration of various functions within a single locale.

Residential units seamlessly coexist with commercial establishments, retail outlets, dining venues, entertainment hubs, and recreational facilities, with the combination not only enhances convenience but also fosters a vibrant lifestyle and a sense of community.

<h3>Convenience and accessibility</h3>

Mixed-use developments are designed with convenience in mind. They often integrate residential units with commercial spaces, retail outlets, restaurants, and recreational facilities, creating a self-contained community.

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The proximity allows residents to enjoy the convenience of having essential amenities and services within walking distance. Whether it's grabbing a cup of coffee, going grocery shopping, or accessing healthcare services, everything is conveniently located, saving residents time and effort.

<h3>Vibrant lifestyle and community</h3>

One of the major advantages of mixed-use developments is the vibrant lifestyle they offer. With a diverse range of amenities and communal spaces, residents have ample opportunities to interact, socialise, and build a sense of community.

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The presence of parks, community centres, and shared spaces fosters a lively atmosphere, encouraging residents to engage in various activities and events. The vibrant lifestyle within these developments creates a unique sense of belonging and camaraderie among the residents.

<h3>Potential for higher rental yields and property value appreciation</h3>

Mixed-use developments tend to attract a broad range of tenants and buyers due to their versatile nature. This high demand can result in higher rental yields for investors and potentially lead to property value appreciation over time.

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The integration of commercial and retail spaces attracts businesses, which can provide a stable rental income stream. Additionally, the popularity of mixed-use developments often drives up property values, making them a potentially lucrative investment in the long term.

<h3>Enhanced security and maintenance</h3>

Mixed-use developments typically have comprehensive security measures in place. With controlled access points, CCTV surveillance, and professional security staff, residents can enjoy enhanced safety and peace of mind.

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Additionally, these developments often have dedicated maintenance teams responsible for the upkeep of common areas, landscaping, and infrastructure. This ensures that the overall appearance and functionality of the development are well-maintained, creating a pleasant living environment for residents.

<h3>Live-work-play balance</h3>

One of the key attractions of mixed-use developments is the ability to achieve a desirable live-work-play balance. The integration of residential and commercial spaces allows residents to live closer to their workplaces, reducing commuting time and improving work-life balance.

The proximity to various amenities and recreational facilities encourages an active and healthy lifestyle. Residents can easily access fitness centres, parks, restaurants, and entertainment options, all within the same development, leading to a more fulfilling and convenient way of life.

alisonwarters@gmail.com

The top five reasons to buy in a mixed-use development

When buying a property, everyone needs to be aware of the additional costs that come as part of the buying process.

Often the largest outlay, after the deposit which goes to the bank, is stamp duty.

<h2 style="line-height: 1.38;">What is Stamp Duty?</h2>

Stamp duty is an extra tax to pay the government when you buy land, a property, and other certain assets.

It happens when the legal ownership is transferred. It can also be known as property transfer duty or transfer duty.

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<h2>Who pays Stamp Duty?</h2>

In some circumstances, you may get an exemption. For some states, you won’t have to pay for stamp duty if you are a first home buyer or a pensioner for houses under a particular price. There are also stamp duty concessions, where you may be entitled to a discount.

<h2>How much does Stamp Duty cost?</h2>

Each state has different rules which affect how much you need to pay. These rules can affect the rate you pay, and the timeframe you will need to pay in. Before you buy land or a property, make sure you check the up-to-date information for your state’s stamp duty.

You can use a free stamp duty calculator online to see approximately how much you’ll need to pay. Find out if you’re eligible for an exemption by enquiring on a project via Urban!

Overall, the stamp duty you need to pay will depend on:

<ul>
	<li aria-level="1">How much your land/property is worth</li>
	<li aria-level="1">Where your land/property is located</li>
	<li aria-level="1">What type of land/property it is</li>
</ul>

Want to find out more? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanAustralia?utm_source=YouTube&amp;utm_medium=Video&amp;utm_campaign=Subscribe&amp;utm_id=Subscribe">Subscribe to our YouTube channel</a> for more property videos.

Ellen Walker

Off-the-plan property explained: What is stamp duty?

Roberts Co has entered a new phase of growth following its acquisition by Arada, one of the world’s fastest-growing property developers in Australia.

The acquisition is supported by a $50 million capital injection into Roberts Co’s Australian balance sheet, consisting of the previously announced $25 million recapitalisation and an additional $25 million in new funding from Arada.

This investment strengthens Roberts Co’s financial position, stabilises operations, and provides the foundation for strategic expansion beyond its New South Wales base, with a focus on new opportunities in Queensland, including the Brisbane and Gold Coast regions.

With Arada’s international resources and financial backing, Roberts Co will broaden its portfolio across residential, commercial, and infrastructure sectors, reinforcing its strong market position in New South Wales and setting itself to capture growth in one of Australia’s most dynamic construction markets.

Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said Roberts Co has a proud Australian heritage, an outstanding delivery record, and a strong reputation for collaboration with clients and partners.

"By combining this expertise with Arada’s global scale and financial capacity, we are creating a platform for sustained growth in the Australian market,"&nbsp;Alkhoshaibi said.

“Our $50 million capital injection, including new funds from Arada, underlines our commitment to both stabilise and expand Roberts Co’s operations, particularly into the fast-growing Queensland market. We see significant potential in South-East Queensland’s pipeline and are confident Roberts Co is well placed to deliver lasting value for clients and communities.”

George Kostas, CEO of Roberts Co, said Queensland, and particularly South-East Queensland, is one of the most active and opportunity-rich regions in Australia right now.

"The lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games will bring unprecedented investment across housing, transport, and infrastructure. Roberts Co is eager to play a major role in that transformation and secure a meaningful share of this fast-growing market.”

Arada pours more funds into Roberts Co, flags expansion into South East Queensland construction market

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LandCorp and Lend Lease have announced the launch of redevelopment project The Playground, a 4.16 hectare site that will see buyers chosen through an electronic random selection process.
The project, called <a href="https://www.theplaygroundcoolbellup.com.au" target="_blank">The Playground</a> after its previous use as former North Lake Primary School in Coolbellup, has already seen hundreds of expressions of interest and offers 54 lots ranging from 275 square metres to 448 square metres.
The first release is expected for April, with the electronic process to sort through interested buyers.
The Primary, the redevelopment of former Coolbellup Primary School site by the same developers, saw strong demand that is expected at The Playground as a result, said LandCorp general manager metropolitan Luke Willcock.
There was a sell out of land in The Primary during 2013.
“We expect significant demand for the land at The Playground following sales at The Primary. An electronic random selection process is the fairest method to ensure all interested purchasers have the same chance of buying in this popular area,” he said.
Lend Lease general manager of communities in Western Australia, Anthony Rowbottam, said that the design will blend into the Collebellup community.
“The name of the development is inspired by the children's playground that was central to the former North Lake Primary School. The Playground will deliver amazing play and exercise spaces, facilities and parks, delivered through the evolution of the site," said Rowbottam.
The outdoor focus of the site is set to be extended in conjunction with community feedback. Current features suggested include a fitness trail with exercise equipment through the public open sapce, walkways and play areas.
“We are delivering an innovative product that will offer a range of high quality homes to meet many different lifestyles and budgets,” Willcock said.
“The Playground will showcase innovation in planning and design by developing new homes and amenities in harmony with an established suburb, just as we successfully did at The Primary.”
For the latest development listings, brought to you by Property Observer and partners, see our <a href="https://showcase.propertyobserver.com.au/" rel="nofollow">Investor Showcase</a>.
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

Redevelopment project The Playground launched in Coolbellup, WA

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Investors always seem to want just a little bit more and as house prices move, many investors will start to think of ways to maximise their returns.  
One of the strategies that will raise its head is property flipping. That is buying a residential investment property, renovating it, then selling it to make a profit. It’s a common strategy, but unless you plan carefully it may not bring the kind of return you were hoping for.  
When you buy a residential property, the state government asks you to pay stamp duty worth around 5% of the purchase price.  
If you’ve borrowed to purchase the property and undertake the renovations, you are paying interest on the loan without receiving any rental income during the renovation period to offset the loan repayments.  
When you sell the property, you’ll lose 2-3% of the sale price in the commission you pay the real estate agent, plus another 1% in advertising costs.  
In short, not only are you paying interest on an investment loan out of your own pocket, but you are losing close to 10% of the property’s value merely by entering and leaving the market.  
And, when you actively add value to a property, you are taking a gamble that the sale price will equal the price of the renovations plus your profit margin. Most property grows in value over time, but not all sectors of the market grow at the same rate.  
If there isn’t sufficient demand for your style and location of property, you may not make enough money to cover the entry and exit costs, outstanding loan balance and renovation costs, let alone make a profit. If you do make money on the transaction and you sell the property, you will also be liable for capital gains tax. It’s like taking two steps forward and one back.  
I am not saying that buying to renovate and sell is a poor strategy in itself. It can be highly successful, but only if the capital growth outstrips the buying, holding and selling costs. Even in locations where capital growth is strongest, this may take several years. And capital growth compounds, so the longer you hold the asset, the greater the amount of growth. If you sell the property as soon as the renovations are complete, you may not have allowed enough time for capital growth to take full effect — substantially reducing your potential profit.  
In other words, the substantial entry, exit and holding costs mean residential property should not be traded like shares, but held for the long-term (at least seven to 10 years) to ensure the capital growth justifies all the expenses you’ve incurred along the way.  
If a real estate agent is advertising a property as perfect for adding value, ask yourself whose interests they are promoting — yours or theirs? Remember, they stand to make a commission on selling the property for the previous owner, followed quickly by another commission on selling the property for you after it has been renovated.  
If you still believe that buying to renovate and selling quickly is the right strategy for you, make sure you calculate all the likely holding and transaction costs.  
Then, research the local market to determine the property’s likely selling price. Look at other properties in the area that have been renovated to the same standards as yours and sold in the last three months.  
It’s also important to factor in the cost of your time. How much you would have earned from your normal job if you weren’t at the property supervising or undertaking the renovations? And what about your leisure time? How much time will you spend away from your family and friends?  
For example, if the project is going to take up six months of your evenings and weekends when you would otherwise have spending time with loved ones, will the expected financial profit make that lost time worthwhile?  
If the holding, transaction and time costs add up to more than the property’s likely sale price, you may need to reconsider whether it’s worthwhile undertaking the project.    
Mark Armstrong is a director of <a href="https://www.ipropertyplan.com.au/">iProperty Plan</a>, which provides independent analysis and tailored advice to investors and home buyers.
       
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Property flipping: Is it really worth your time, effort and, most importantly, your money?

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If you own a property and are looking for a quick equity boost, or some extra rent, then adding a room might be a good option.
While this strategy suits some, not every house is going to be suited to the task. Before you even touch the toolkit, you need to hit up the numbers.
As always, head on to a listings website. You need to create an understanding in your mind about the difference between prices of say, comparative two bedroom homes and three bedroom homes that have the majority of other factors (such as land size, location and amenity) similar to yours.
Once you have worked out what this number is, you can very easily do a similar task with rental prices.
For suburbs where fewer properties transact or rent, you might find yourself collecting this data over a period of time – particularly where there is a mixture of housing types. You could also phone a local real estate agent and ask them to appraise your home and ask them how much it would add value with an extra bedroom.
Let’s assume the difference in price is $50,000 - a substantial sum, which can vary significantly between suburbs. We’ll also assume that, based on the rule of $100 rent for every $100,000 in home value, there’s an extra $50 a week in rent potentially available. We note that these are very rough sums and your result may be substantially different.
If there’s a potential $50,000 to be made, it’s certainly worth looking at.
With the $50,000 figure now in your mind, you need to turn your attention towards the property itself and consider where you can fit this extra room.
Understand what constitutes a bedroom
Of course, you can put a desk in a bedroom and call it a study, or you could put a table in there and make it a new living room, but a bedroom does have to fit certain standards. The Building Code of Australia will be a useful guide to head to.
To make it legally fit the definition of a bedroom when it comes to sell, there are a number of standards that need to be adhered to.
There are specific rules about ventilation, windows, floor space and ceiling height (2.4 metres for habitable rooms) that you need to be mindful of. Bringing in the council early, especially where permits are required, can be crucial.
Ensuring you fit these requirements is necessary, otherwise you will be legally required to sell your property as having the initial number of rooms and an extra “storage room” regardless of whether you think it is perfectly fine to be a bedroom.
Article continues on next page. Please click below.
   
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Firstly, look towards your floor plan
Cherie Barber from Renovating for Profit <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/how-to-add-%24100000-of-value-with-a-%2410000-renovation/2013093065370">has previously told us to look for a “big open space” where you can put in a cheap $1,000 wall</a>, add some paint and a bit of cleaning up and change an L-shaped room into two spaces – one of which becomes your extra bedroom.
You can also look for non load bearing walls that can be moved within a larger room to create two rooms, or an office that just needs to be slightly bigger.
Changing a room in this way is going to be your cheapest option, perhaps costing up to around $5,000, leaving you a nice $45,000 in equitable profit.
Look for alternative spaces
Garages, attics and similar spaces can be converted into bedrooms, however these can incur substantial costs – particularly if, for instance, the attic requires proper walls to be installed and windows to be put in. This can easily make the $50,000 profit potential erode, leaving you over capitalizing.
In some areas, a garage is going to be seen as an absolutely crucial aspect to your property. Turning this into a bedroom may, in fact, be detrimental to your investment – even if the numbers appear to stack up on first glance.
Other options
An extension may also be a consideration, however this is a costly measure. If you are looking to achieve substantial profit from adding a room, then you may consider this approach. This works particularly well in locations where you have a substantial sized yard and where house space commands a premium price.
Remember to factor in the length of the construction, as this is going to be a bigger project than just putting in an extra wall. You’ll also want to be particularly mindful of where you place the extension – perhaps the extension itself becomes a living area and you can convert a current living area into a bedroom.
When considering the costs to undertake any renovation, remember to factor in time that your tenant may need to be out of the property if it is currently rented. You may need to provide them a rental discount or other sort of compensation, such as alternative accommodation, to keep them on-side through all the improvements. Similarly, you may not be able to increase the rent if they are not close to the end of their lease.
You also want to make sure that the addition of an extra bedroom “makes sense” to the property that you have. If you own a three bedroom, one bathroom house, an extra bedroom may see you considering putting in an extra bathroom as well.
Remember that, just as with most renovations, it’s likely to cost you more and take you longer than expected. Ensure you have worked out the best and worst case scenarios for your profit before undertaking any work and risking over capitalizing.
Presentation
Lastly, remember that presentation is everything when it comes to offering your property to prospective buyers or tenants.
Considering staging, either professionally or on your own, to show the functionality of the space. This is particularly important if a room is small, but fits the requirements. Place beds, furniture and other necessary items to show how you envision someone using the space. Perception is everything.
<a target="_blank" href="mailto:jduke@propertyobserver.com.au">jduke@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
        
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How to: Increase value with an added bedroom

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The Australian love for the outdoors, and for outdoor entertaining, never ceases to amaze. As such, it appears that the backyard is in many property owners’ sights as the area to renovate for lifestyle and for value-adding purposes.
Canstar Blue, a consumer ratings house, surveyed more than 2,500 people in their annual home and garden research to ask about renovations and future intentions, with 25% of home owners that answered having already renovated their yard over the last three years.
Another 38% of the 1,503 home owners, said that they were considering undertaking external renovations.
Bathrooms were then on the list, with 20% having undertaken improvements over the past three years. Two in five also had an intention to renovate this room.
Those in Queensland, where the climate is sunnier, were most likely to have renovated their yard, at 29%. Meanwhile, in Tasmania and West Australia, the figure sat at just 17%.
Of work undertaken, the most popular items were the following:
Decking or paving: 45%
Repainting: 38%
Changes to lighting: 32%
Interestingly, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/analysis-can-laying-turf-really-increase-your-propertys-value-by-%2475000/2014012867406">despite some claims</a>, adding lawn or turf was not mentioned within the top three.
In the bathroom, common upgrades included:
Taps and sinks: 72%
Repainting: 69%
Replacing showers and baths: 66%
Gen Y were the homeowners that were most into DIY-ing, with 47% saying they had done the renovations themselves, compared to Baby Boomers, 40%, and Gen X, 41%.
Canstar Blue’s Amy Partington said that it appears little is off limits and that we’re still a nation of eager renovators.
“The research also shows that a large proportion of people are doing their work themselves, particularly younger people who may have scrimped and saved for their first home. With this in mind it’s little surprise that consumers are turning to the Internet to research the equipment they should use and to uncover all the advice they can to avoid costly mistakes,” Partington said.
Decking is certainly popular at present and is likely to be on many homeowners' minds as the weather remains hot and the outdoors look ever more tempting. Similarly, new products allow decks to be built even more easily and with less maintenance than previously. There are a number of materials now that also create decks that never rot, as well as a vast selection of colours and styles.
See over page for five homes with inspirational decks
 
 
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Five inspiring deck designs 
When planning your own outdoor decking, it's worth looking to properties that have got it "right" for inspiration. Here are five current listings that have something particularly special in the way they use their decks.
 
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Seamlessly blending the indoor and outdoor space, the expansive deck on this home provides a fantastic outdoor entertainment area. As the home boasts a 180 degree bushland and water outlook over the Lane Cove River, this is a great way to take advantage of the views.
 
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Wrapped around the sizable pool, and providing views of the solar heated pool, gardens and vegetable patch, it’s also located under the right amount of shade for comfort. The cut outs for the deck are an unusual but nice feature, allowing trees and plants integrate with the deck.
With a barbecue, and right next to the kitchen and loungeroom spaces, it’s a great functional space.
 
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This decking, which is both inside and out, is a modern, stylish approach that is favoured by many. This is all about flow, and really changing the definition of where the house ends and the garden begins.
 
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Combining the deck with the transparent glass pool fence provides an excellent useable space that isn’t disjointed by the safety requirements. While the use of furniture here helps define a sitting space, clever positioning of other garden attire can turn the space into something completely different very quickly.
 
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Providing an extra meal area, and a through-way, this unusual use of decking is elegant, neat, and again blends the concept of where the “house” ends. The main bedroom also has its own private deck. 
 
Have you added a deck or changed your yard? Send in your pictures and ideas to: <a href="mailto:jduke@propertyobserver.com.au">jduke@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
 
 
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Outdoor renovations the budding trend: Five decks to be inspired by

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Hi Margaret,

I have a duplex approved vacant block in Queensland. The block size is 928 square metres. I don't want to build two houses/units that are attached. I have checked with the local council (Logan City Council), they have informed me that it is possible to have two detached houses build on that block (which we will have to apply for).

Now I also asked them if I could subdivide that block into two lots. They said that was possible as well with application of subdivision costing $1,095 plus $520 per lot which comes to a total of $2,135. They said that the headworks charges would come to approx $28,000. This $28,000 is for one block as there will only be one additional block.

I asked them if there is any other charges that I may come across. They said there would be a water meter connection (which a different department of the council informed would be $1,414.41).

They said that I will also need to hire a surveyor, at least for official drawings for sealing. I estimate the total cost of subdivision to be around $40,000 (including some contingencies). the subdivision is on a corner block so roadworks will not be required. The duplex block is part of a subdivision that happened approx 1 year ago and therefore the infrastructure and all services are all new.

Now I am trying to figure out whether it is better to have the block subdivided into two lots and then build a house each on it or build two detached houses on it without subdividing. If I subdivide, I think the bank valuation would be higher but the rental income would be the same for both scenarios. But if I subdivide, then the return on investment through rent would be less.

Can you please shine some light on things or views that I am missing out on. What do you think I should do?  Should I spend to subdivide (while the extra money spent for subdivision may turn out to be the same valuation that the two blocks combine will generate), or should I build detached houses without subdividing and let the subdividing idea sit for future.

Kind regards,

Chetan

Margaret's answer on the next page. Please click below.

 

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Hi Chetan,

It seems like you have already  done a lot of the due diligence in considering the true costs of this subdivision, so well done.  Often people don’t consider this big picture and instead rush ahead, only to find out too late that the costs exceed the benefits.

It is true that, most often, two separately titled blocks can fetch a better valuation than a single-titled, two dwelling lot.  In my experience the difference is between $30,000 and $50,000, depending upon where the block is.  However, usually the rental return remains the same – tenants are rarely aware of the title arrangements and won’t know whether they are on a separately titled dwelling or not.

You need to consider your personal circumstances before working out if it’s worthwhile spending this money now, or later.

If you will be relying on equity to allow you to leverage into more property, you will want every cent of equity that you can get.  It’s possible that subdividing now will allow each individual block to gain value at a greater rate, giving you more overall equity and allowing you to leverage into more property sooner.  That extra $10 - $20,000 in equity might add up to $100,000 in borrowing capacity (subject to your qualifying), and you could then acquire more property now.

On the other hand, if you have plenty of equity elsewhere in other property and are not stopped from further leverage, I cannot see the point in subdividing at this stage.  Keep the money and use it to pay down debt, which in itself will provide some more leveraging power.

Down the track, when you wish to liquidate your portfolio to access retirement funds, you will probably want to subdivide then, as it will be easier to sell two separate blocks and you should fetch a higher price for each than you could get for the two combined.

Regards,

Margaret

Margaret Lomas is a best-selling author and writes and hosts the popular 'Property Success With Margaret Lomas' and heads up the panel on 'Your Money, Your Call', both on Sky News.

She is the founder of <a href="https://destiny.com.au/dotnetnuke/en-au/home.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Destiny</a>.

Have a property question? <a href="mailto:askmargaret@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">Ask Margaret!</a>

<h2 style="font-size: 14px;">Properties you may like:</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6284]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7742]

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I want to build two houses on one block; should I subdivide now or later? 

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Watching The Block recently, I chuckled as the site foreman Keith was hounding the contestants for their plans so he could start on the plumbing and other rough ins (the electrical and plumbing wiring and pipes to be installed before the internal linings to the frames) when they’d barely started on the ground floor room renovation. They were complaining they barely had time to work out the day’s challenge, let alone plan the upper floors. It hit a chord as I’d been discussing the same thing with our builder today on one of Property Bloom’s house renos.
The rough in process is so important, but seemingly quite ‘boring’. You need to work out where you want pipes and drains that will support the more sexy fittings and fixtures that will come later as part of your bathroom renovation.
To get your wet areas right it’s all about the rough in, to ensure you can then position and connect the PC items in the right spot.  'PC' is the term for a prime cost item – toilet, bath, mirror, vanity, taps etc. If you get the rough in right, then the actual fit out should be pretty easy but you need a good imagination or some experience to ensure your dream design ends up the way you want it. You also need to know what fittings you will use so their specifications can be given to the plumber to refer to during the rough in, so planning ahead is essential.
<img alt="bath-feb-7-after" height="313" width="470" src="/images/stories/2014/02/07/bath-feb-7-after.jpg">
On a house reno we are currently working on, our beautifully restored 1.7 metre claw foot bath, that we found locked away behind an ugly fibro casing, is sitting in one of the bedrooms where we are painting the base after it was re-enamelled. I couldn’t just pick it up and carry it into the bathroom to position it as it’s bloody heavy, so we measured it and traced its position on the yet to be waterproofed bathroom floor, marking out the location of the plug hole so the plumber knows where to position the waste.
<img alt="bath-feb-7-before" height="313" width="470" src="/images/stories/2014/02/07/bath-feb-7-before.jpg">
While we're not changing the location of the toilet, it is being replaced with a more modern and stylish back to wall system – so the toilet waste will move a little. When installing a toilet, you will need to know the "set out" and position of the water inlet. This measurement will help you choose the size toilet you need to buy and which sizes to avoid. 
For an S trap installation (where the waste outlet is positioned on the floor) the set out is the distance measured from the finished tiled wall to the centre of the waste outlet on the floor. The set-out can vary greatly depending on the age of the house. Most new homes will have a standard set-out of about 140-165 millimetres, which will enable most toilet suites to be installed. However, if the set-out is more that 200 millimetres or less than 100 millimetres, it will limit your choice of the type of toilet you can buy.
We are working on a timber floor rather than concrete slab, so it’s a little easier to vary the position of the toilet’s waste area but you certainly need to get it right when working with a concrete slab, as the plumbing rough in is done before the slab is poured.
It’s also important to have the tapware delivered early as your plumber needs to chase in the hardware to the walls – this is also part of the rough in process.
As well as our main bathroom, we have a powder room, where we are installing just a toilet and wall mounted modern wash basin over a polished timber floor. We’ve tried to focus on a single feature piece for each bathroom – the claw foot bath is it for the main bathroom, against a floor to ceiling tiled marble look feature wall and the 750 millimetres wide wash basin beneath a large pendant light for the powder room.
Whatever your bathroom design, take time in the initial planning stages to work out the PC item positions and talk to your plumber about the rough ins so that your bathroom reno turns out smoothly.
Jo Chivers is director of <a style="font-size: 14px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/" title="Property Bloom">Property Bloom</a>, which manages property development.
 
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Getting the rough ins right is the key to a smooth bathroom renovation

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Home builders Hotondo Homes have introduced a new range of residences aimed at catering for Australian families.
The new Forever Sanctuary range features homes suitable for a variety of land sizes, from acreage blocks through to narrow lots. Hotondo Homes conducted extensive market research while designing the range, including research into consumer demographics and consulting with focus groups.
They found that the kitchen, master bedroom and outdoor entertaining areas were key spaces for Australian families.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2014/01/22/ersk]}
Photos: Forever Sanctuary Erskine range
According to Hotondo Homes' managing director Michael Renwick, research and communication with residents is a key component when designing for modern lifestyles.
“Our builders don’t just build houses – they’re passionate about building homes that their clients want to live in,” said Renwick. 
“They want to build homes that their clients can have a special connection with and a place they can look forward coming home to.”
Prices for homes in the Sanctuary Forever range vary from region to region. For a Sanctuary Forever home in the Melbourne metropolitan area, prices start at $154,400. In Sydney, prices range from $144,800 in Penrith to $158,800 in Lithgow.
<a target="_blank" href="mailto:jrichardson@propertyobserver.com.au">jrichardson@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
For the latest development listings, brought to you by Property Observer and partners, see our <a href="https://showcase.propertyobserver.com.au/" rel="nofollow">Investor Showcase</a>.
Images are artist impressions.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Forever Sanctuary range launched by Hotondo Homes

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Hi Margaret,
I am from Sydney and I have a property that is one acre, well it's around 4,375 square metres. 
Originally it was all farm land, but there's been a new development and now I have one of the only acres left. Now have homes all around me and my land has roads at the back and front of me.
I don't think there is much else that I can do to my acre. I would like to subdivide it and I need to do it the right way so I don't make any costly errors. 
I gave spoken with local council and the lot sizes I am allowed to do is 550 square metres. 
If you could push me in the right direction I would really be grateful.
Thanks, 
Shane
 
Hi Shane
It sounds like you have your one acre available to subdivide into around eight lots, depending upon what your council will allow. That should be fairly straightforward, though not without cost.
You must be aware that all councils will have different rules, regulations and processes even though they all fall under the one state government planning department rules.  It's important that you know and understand all of the requirements before you get started.
You should start by going to your local council website and looking up the town plan.  Here you will find the minimum lot size according to the incline of the land, and you can work out how many you can do.
After this it would be wise to contract a local town planner who should be able to have the required surveys, site and engineering plans drawn up for you.  While there is a cost involved in having a town planner involved, it can save you a lot of time and effort and often the risk of getting rejected after you've spent a lot of money.  Town planners usually know the rules intimately, and many have previously worked for council, so they are in the best position to develop a proposal with the greatest chances of success.
You will incur a large amount of cost before you even get to the point where these could be sold. These include, but are not limited to: roads (if required), drainage and sewerage, connection of services, access driveways, cutting and levelling, retaining walls, tree removal and more.  On top of this will be planner fees, council contributions, application fees, drafting fees, engineers costs and surveys.  You will need to fund all of these costs yourself, as until the final approval is in place and a 'construction certificate' is issued, you won't be able to sell them. 
My advice is to make very sure that someone has adequately estimated these costs and that you can afford to meet them before you get started, or you may find yourself in a situation where you run out of money before you are done.
Another option is to either sell to a developer before you even begin, or do the initial work in designing the subdivision but place the acre on the market as a 'pre DA approved' lot. This may then get you a bit more money if you can show the potential subdivision allowed.
Regards,
Margaret
Margaret Lomas is a best-selling author and writes and hosts the popular 'Property Success With Margaret Lomas' and heads up the panel on 'Your Money, Your Call', both on Sky News.
She is the founder of <a href="https://destiny.com.au/dotnetnuke/en-au/home.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Destiny</a>.
Have a property question? <a href="mailto:askmargaret@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">Ask Margaret!</a>
 
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I want to subdivide but how do I avoid costly mistakes?

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Music industry magazine Pollstar has just named Perth Arena at number 22 on its Top 200 Arena Venues for ticket sales in 2013.
<img src="/images/stories/2014/01/20/perth-arena-jan-20-ohne.jpg" width="470" height="214" alt="perth-arena-jan-20-ohne">
The result puts Perth Arena (pictured above) ahead of New York’s Madison Square Gardens and London’s Wembley Arena, and got Property Observer thinking – what are the world’s most iconic music venues?
The National Centre for Performing Arts, Beijing, China
<a href="https://www.chncpa.org/ens/"><img src="/images/stories/2014/01/20/beijing_jan_20.jpg" width="470" height="212" alt="beijing_jan_20"></a>
The <a href="https://www.chncpa.org/ens/" target="_blank">National Centre for Performing Arts</a> hosts Beijing and foreign operas, dramatic performances and recitals. The spectacular glass and titanium structure is surrounded by an artificial lake.
Colloquially dubbed “the Egg”, this huge opera house sits 5,452 people across its three halls. The Paul Andreu-designed venue has attracted a good deal of controversy due to its immense cost – construction set back the Chinese government by 3.2 billion CNY (approximately $600 million AUD).
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
<img src="/images/stories/2014/01/20/sydney-opera-house.jpg" width="470" height="193" alt="sydney-opera-house"> 
 
Our most iconic building is known throughout the world for its distinctive look. Danish architect Jørn Utzon beat 232 other entrants in a competition to design the Opera House in 1955. The construction and design process was plagued with problems and delays, and the venue was officially opened in 1973.
The Sydney Opera House comprises several performance spaces, including the Joan Sutherland Theatre.
The Cavern Club, Liverpool, UK
<a href="https://www.cavernclub.org/"><img src="/images/stories/2014/01/20/Cavern-club.jpg" width="470" height="353" alt="Cavern-club"></a>
 
Sometimes it’s not size that makes an iconic venue. <a href="https://www.cavernclub.org/" target="_blank">The Cavern Club</a>, true to its name, is a tiny space which lays claim to being the site where The Beatles first made their mark on the UK. Then known as The Quarrymen, the band were admonished by the management during their first performance for playing rock n’ roll, which was at that time banned at the venue. Nevertheless, the Beatles continued to perform there and made the club famous throughout Europe.
Since then, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, and The Who all have performed at the Cavern Club.
Red Rocks Ampitheatre, Denver, USA
 
<a href="https://www.redrocksonline.com/"><img src="/images/stories/2014/01/20/800px-RedRocksAMP.png" width="470" height="312" alt="800px-RedRocksAMP"></a>
 
The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen have all played there – and with beautiful views for the 9,450-strong audiences, it’s not hard to see why. Located in the Red Rocks mountain park, west of Denver, the naturally formed amphitheatre is a favourite of musicians for its natural setting and spectacular acoustics.
Last year, <a href="https://www.redrocksonline.com/" target="_blank">Red Rocks</a> was named America’s best amphitheatre by Rolling Stone magazine.
Carnegie Hall, New York, USA
<a href="https://www.carnegiehall.org/"><img src="/images/stories/2014/01/20/Carnegie-hall-isaac-stern.jpg" width="470" height="353" alt="Carnegie-hall-isaac-stern"></a>
Arguably one of the most famous concert halls in the world, Manhattan’s <a href="https://www.carnegiehall.org/" target="_blank">Carnegie Hall</a> has a prestigious pedigree. Since it opened in 1891, the venue has hosted the premier performances of works by composers such as George Gershwin, Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Carnegie Hall hasn’t only entertained fans of classical music – Duke Ellington, Woody Guthrie and Jay Z have also performance in the venue.
<a href="mailto:jrichardson@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">jrichardson@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
 
 
 
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A sound design: The world’s most iconic music venues

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The Sydney Opera House celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. This Australian icon was, of course, designed by Danish architect <a href="https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/about/the_architect.aspx">Jørn Utzon</a>, as a result of an international design competition held at a time when many Australians still looked to the northern hemisphere for stylistic guidance and direction; a time when we imported European or American culture.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/11/01/sydney-nov-1-one.jpg" alt="sydney-nov-1-one" style="font-size: 0.8em; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" height="230" width="400">
Photo: stock image
Some 40 years on, we are now exporting culture and Australian architects are designing iconic buildings in other parts of the world, such as the <a href="https://populous.com/profile/rsheard/">2012 London Olympic Park and Stadium</a>, and the <a href="https://www.ptw.com.au/ptw_project/watercube-national-swimming-centre/">Beijing National Aquatics Centre (the Water Cube)</a>.
So is there a unique Australian “style” and, if so, where did it come from?
A backwards glance
In 1788, when British settlers first started arriving in Australia, <a href="https://www.vernaculararchitecture.com/">vernacular</a> Australian architecture (based on localised needs and construction materials) consisted of nomadic shelters, designed and built by indigenous Australians.<img src="https://c479107.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/33655/width668/7s324jhv-1382581252.jpg" style="font-size: 0.8em; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400">
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Due to the significant numbers of architects who subsequently moved from England to Australia to join the British colonies, 19th-century Australian architecture quickly changed to be largely Eurocentric in focus.<img src="/images/stories/2013/11/01/450px-Royal_Exhibition_Building_inside1.jpg" alt="450px-Royal_Exhibition_Building_inside1" style="font-size: 0.8em; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" height="534" width="400">
Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition building, built between 1878 and 1880. Wikimedia Commons
During the 20th century, however, buildings started to adapt to respond to Australia’s unique climatic conditions, which offer year-round access to the outdoors. The influence of America saw families seeking to own freestanding houses with backyards, to satisfy their increasing desire to fulfil the “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Dream">Australian Dream</a>”.
In the late 20th century, as Australia started to become more multicultural, derivative designs began to be replaced with imported exotic styles, especially those of South-East Asian influence. Freestanding houses started to be replaced with semi-detached and <a href="https://architectureau.com/articles/residential-architecture-multiple/">high density housing</a>, as urban precincts started to develop.
Challenge accepted
Australian architects are now responding to the unprecedented 21st-century challenges of population growth, preservation of the environment and the threats of climate change.
As architects continue to shape urban precincts and their supporting infrastructure, the design of public space has now importantly changed focus to preserving the quality of both the built and natural environments. The sensitive relationship between buildings and the Australian landscape that hosts them is of critical importance, and something for which we are becoming internationally recognised.
While much of the industrialised world has been in recession for the past few years, Australia’s economy has grown, as have neighbouring Asian economies.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/11/01/Chinas_National_Aquatics_Centre.jpg" alt="Chinas_National_Aquatics_Centre" style="font-size: 0.8em; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" height="231" width="400">
China’s National Aquatics Centre, also known as the ‘Water Cube’, was designed by Australian architects. Wikimedia Commons
Currently, Australia has seven of the <a href="https://www.archdaily.com/330759/">largest 100 architecture practices</a> in the world: <a href="https://www.woodsbagot.com/">Woods Bagot</a>, <a href="https://www.hassellstudio.com/">Hassell</a>, <a href="https://www.coxarchitecture.com.au/">Cox Architecture</a>, <a href="https://www.hboemtb.com/">HBO + EMTB</a>, <a href="https://www.ghd.com/australia/">GHD</a>, <a href="https://www.hamessharley.com.au/">Hames Sharley</a>, and <a href="https://thomsonadsett.com/">Thomson Adsett Architects</a>.
For most of these large practices, income from international projects is actually more than the income generated by domestic projects. Across the whole architectural sector the figure for international income is nearer to 10%, but it is clear that we are now exporting much of our talent, skill and cultural expertise rather than importing it.
The architectural Oscars
So how does Australia compare, architecturally, with the rest of the world? How have we fared in international awards, prizes and festivals such as the prestigious <a href="https://goo.gl/lUrd9f">Pritzker Architecture Prize</a>, the <a href="https://goo.gl/usu9Kk">World Architecture Festival</a>, and the <a href="https://goo.gl/fgP3Fh">Venice Architecture Biennale</a>?
There is just one Pritzker Architecture Prize <a href="https://www.pritzkerprize.com/about/purpose">awarded annually</a> to: honour a living architect/s whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture.
<blockquote>
<img src="/images/stories/2013/11/01/jamberoo_0000_11.jpg-one.jpg" alt="jamberoo_0000_11.jpg-one" style="font-size: 0.8em; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" height="194" width="400">
The long Glenn Murcutt-designed Fredericks/<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/the-long-glenn-murcutt-designed-fredericks/white-house-in-jamberoo-listed/2013091264996" target="_blank">White House</a> in Jamberoo
</blockquote>
There has been one Australian recipient of the Pritzker prize in its 35-year existence: <a href="https://www.ozetecture.org/2012/glenn-murcutt/">Glenn Murcutt AO</a> in 2002. His award was based on a career that focused largely on designing houses that responded directly to unique Australian conditions.
Indeed, the period of Murcutt’s foundational work in the latter part of last century coincided with growing international recognition of Australian architecture.
Glenn Murcutt grew up in Papua New Guinea, where he developed an appreciation for simple vernacular architecture and a relationship with nature. He practised sustainability long before it became an architectural buzzword. His design philosophy, <a href="https://www.be.unsw.edu.au/profile/glenn_murcutt-ao">“touch the earth lightly”</a>, motivates him to design in response to environmental factors, using locally-sourced materials and to sensitively fit into the Australian landscape.
<figure class="align-centre"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/stories/2013/11/01/walshhouse_0000_1.jpg-one.jpg" alt="walshhouse_0000_1.jpg-one" height="243" width="400"><figcaption>A Glenn Murcutt-designed home in Kangaroo Valley – <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/glenn-murcutt-designed-trophy-home-in-kangaroo-valley-listed-trophyhome/2013061362046" target="_blank">The Walsh House</a> </figcaption></figure>This sensitive attitude to the environment and our tin and timber tradition – a history of functional sheds and beach houses – gained Australia international attention.
Now Australian architects are bringing that same sensitive attitude to larger projects in many parts of the world.
International attention
The <a href="https://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/">World Architecture Festival</a> is an annual program of awards, jury critiques, and international speakers, all celebrating the best architecture of the past year. It was first held in 2008 in Barcelona but for the past two years has been in <a href="https://goo.gl/Yu1gLY">Singapore</a>.
This annual get-together brings more than 2,000 architects from all over the globe, and exhibits short-listed projects from more than 40 nations to compete for awards in 16 built project categories and 11 future project categories.
In 2013, Australian architects achieved unprecedented levels of success in the World Architecture Festival <a href="https://goo.gl/sN7fJ1">awards program</a>, winning the categories of Culture, House, Transport, Future Infrastructure and Competition Entries.
<figure class="align-centre"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/stories/2013/11/01/800px-Auckland_Art_Gallery_-_Extension.jpg" alt="800px-Auckland_Art_Gallery_-_Extension" height="225" width="400"><figcaption>Toi o Tamaki in Auckland, New Zealand won the 2012 RIBA International Award for architectural excellence and the 2013 World Architecture Festival Building of the Year Award. </figcaption></figure>Australian architects also won three of the highest awards. It is also worth noting that two of the three winning projects are outside of Australia:
<ul>
<li>
World building of the year: Auckland Art Gallery, Toi o Tamaki, New Zealand by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorpe with New Zealand architects Archimedia.
</li>
<li>
Future project of the year: the <a href="https://www.archichannel.com/project/national-maritime-museum-of-china/#link">National Maritime Museum of China</a>, by Cox Architecture
</li>
<li>
Landscape category: The Australian Garden, Australia, by Taylor Cullity Lethlean and Paul Thompson.
</li>
</ul>
<figure class="align-right"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/stories/2013/11/01/800px-RedSandGarden-Pano-RBG-CranbourneVIC.jpg" alt="800px-RedSandGarden-Pano-RBG-CranbourneVIC" height="128" width="400"><figcaption>The Australian Garden, Australia, by Taylor Cullity Lethlean and Paul Thompson.</figcaption></figure>Of the <a href="https://www.tcl.net.au/projects/cultural-interpretative/australian-garden">Landscape category winner</a>, the judges noted that the project “stood out with its originality and strong evocation of Australian identity”.
Of the <a href="https://www.archdaily.com/439260/the-left-over-space-house-cox-rayner-architects/">House</a> category winner, a delightful little timber home in Brisbane, they noted “a realness and authenticity to the spirit of the house”.
It seems, then, that there is definitely an identifiable Australian design identity, something for which we can be recognised and rewarded.
Australian architecture has also been recognised at the <a href="https://goo.gl/aeBVHP">Venice Architecture Biennale</a>. The Biennale is a showcase of cutting-edge contemporary architecture and architectural thinking, through the exhibitions by invited architects, and through the self-curated <a href="https://goo.gl/L8dYjL">national pavilions</a>.
<figure class="align-centre zoomable"><a href="https://c479107.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/33476/area14mp/22tbqmqp-1382441475.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://c479107.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/33476/width668/22tbqmqp-1382441475.jpg" width="400"></a> <figcaption>Entrance to the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Dr. Philip Crowther</figcaption></figure>Australia is one of only 30 nations to exhibit in its own pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. We have done so in a temporary pavilion since 1988, but a new permanent pavilion has been designed by Australian firm <a href="https://www.dentoncorkermarshall.com/">Denton Corker Marshall</a> and will be built soon. The pavilion typically attracts around 90,000 visitors during the Venice Architecture Biennale.
<figure class="align-centre zoomable"><a href="https://c479107.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/33478/area14mp/m6nq3qqp-1382441721.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://c479107.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/33478/width668/m6nq3qqp-1382441721.jpg" width="400"></a> <figcaption>Interior of the Australian Pavilion at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale. Dr. Philip Crowther
 <a style="font-size: 0.8em;" href="https://c479107.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/33480/area14mp/vsjjhqzq-1382441779.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://c479107.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/33480/width668/vsjjhqzq-1382441779.jpg" width="400"></a>
</figcaption></figure><figure class="align-centre zoomable"><figcaption>Facade of the Australian Pavilion at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale. Dr. Philip Crowther</figcaption></figure>Global shifts
Perhaps our rough-and-tumble early colonial heritage has served us well in developing a resilient approach to the rapidly changing global environment.
Free of the European notion of heritage and the constraints of ancient cities filled with historic buildings, we have engaged with a greater diversity of perspectives, from Australia’s 40,000 year indigenous history, through a sensitivity to the environment, to the realisation that we are part of a 21st-century Asia.
We are no longer operating on the distant fringes of Europe or America, but now firmly at the centre of a global shift in both economic and cultural perspectives.
 


<hr>
Philip Crowther is head of discipline of architecture at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.qut.edu.au/?">Queensland Universtiy of Technology</a>.
Lindy Osborne is senior lecturer in architecture at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.qut.edu.au/?">Queensland University of Technology</a>.
This article was originally published at <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. <img alt="The Conversation" src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/19308/count.gif" style="font-size: 0.8em;" height="1" width="1">
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