Long-established Brisbane developer Azure is set to further expand their footprint on the Gold Coast, securing a site in Southport that will pave their way for their first new apartment development in the area.

The Brisbane-based company has secured a 1.7-hectare block at 1 Clarke Street, Southport, in the heart of the Health and Knowledge precinct. They plan to deliver 100 one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences within Lumina, a purpose-built commercial and innovation precinct.&nbsp;

The acquisition comes amid sustained population growth and rising demand for well-located housing within the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, one of Queensland’s fastest-growing employment hubs.

“We’re excited to be moving further south on the Gold Coast through this acquisition,” said Trent Keirnan, Founder at Azure.&nbsp;

“Southport is rapidly emerging as a true CBD, underpinned by health, education and innovation.&nbsp;Securing one of the final residential opportunities within Lumina at the 200 hectare Gold Coast Health &amp; Knowledge Precinct allows us to play a meaningful role in shaping the next chapter of the city.”

The project will mark Azure’s second residential project on the Gold Coast, following the group’s strong performance across Southeast Queensland, with the group delivering over 300 residences within the past year.

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“There is a clear appetite for design-led living in vibrant, connected locations like Southport, and this site enables us to respond to that demand in a thoughtful way,” said Keirnan.

Planning and design are now underway, with the project’s sales launch scheduled for the second half of 2026.

Azure already has a strong footprint in Brisbane’s northern corridor, with the Gold Coast site acquisition adding to a growing $2 billion pipeline of major projects underway.

Joel Robinson

Azure expands into Gold Coast new apartment market with Southport site purchase

It was the lack of market-ready apartments that attracted renowned developer TOGA to a prime site on Anzac Parade in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/kensington-nsw-2033">Kensington</a>, just a stone's throw from excellent connectivity, medical, and educational facilities.

“There’s a lot of student accommodation in the area that serves students coming in and out over a four-year period,” TOGA's Executive General Manager of Sales, Anthony Falas, recently told Apartments.com.au. He highlighted the area's popularity among students due to its proximity to UNSW and the Randwick Health Precinct.

However, he suggested that despite the activity in the student accommodation space, the area is lacking new housing stock for those looking to purchase.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-kensington-147-151-anzac-parade-kensington-nsw-2033">The Kensington</a> fills that gap," Falas says.

The new development will also bring several new retailers on Anzac Parade. They will range from a small supermarket and cafes to services such as hairdressers and pharmacies, which will serve not only The Kensington residents, but also the wider neighbourhood.

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The Kensington, currently under construction and due for completion in mid-2026, will deliver 142 apartments above five street-level retail tenancies, ideally located directly opposite the Kensington Light Rail stop.

TOGA hasn't sacrificed apartment size for density. The two-bedroom apartments are well over 90 sqm, with three-bedroom residences around 110 sqm.

“These are geared towards people coming out of $4-5 million homes in the area,” says Falas. “They want to right-size, not compromise.”

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The timing of completion is becoming increasingly appealing for both downsizers and investors. The latter will have a clearer picture of interest rates and market conditions for tenants with the building set for completion in April.

TOGA, a builder-developer, had been working on Surry Hills Village, its flagship development in Surry Hills, which is widely regarded as one of the best inner-city projects delivered in decades. They also completed a two-tower project in Macquarie Park. For The Kensington, TOGA enlisted DASCO, an iCIRT-rated builder, to ensure the project meets TOGA’s impeccably high standards.

“It’s been fantastic to go through this journey with them, and our customers will share that experience,” says Falas. “As we complete, we’ll bring them through and conduct final inspections with the builders.”

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The building, designed by Turner Studio, features an elevated rooftop garden offering views across Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Parklands. Downstairs, new retail spaces will contribute to the growing vibrancy of Anzac Parade, while SOHO-style apartments provide flexibility for those running businesses from home.

Falas believes The Kensington offers everything an owner-occupier would want in terms of livability, as well as strong long-term growth potential for investors.

"The CBD is just a couple of stops away, it takes 10 minutes tops, door to door. We also have a major employment hub here, with the hospital and the university. So we’re seeing a lot of people who work in the area looking to purchase, or who have already purchased. And you’re also not too far from the eastern beaches, Coogee, Bondi, Tamarama, and all the fantastic beaches Sydney has to offer.”

For a limited time, TOGA is offering purchasers the option to buy with a 5% deposit. One-bedroom apartments start from $1.03 million.

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Inside TOGA’s vision for The Kensington

National property developer Goldfields has secured permit approval and appointed Victorian residential builder Ironside to begin work on The Brightly, an 11-storey, wellness and lifestyle-focused mixed-use development in Richmond.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/goldfields-group">Goldfields</a> has partnered with Dexus Real Estate Partnership Fund 1 (DREP 1) as co-investor and delivery partner in the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-brightly-9-15-brighton-street-richmond-vic-3121">Brighton Street project</a>.

With architecture and interiors by design practice Cera Stribley, The Brightly will feature 100 apartments, a resident-only wellness space, elevated dining experiences including a private dining room and a rooftop garden lounge, and ground-floor retail designed to integrate with Richmond’s local character.

The wellness space will feature a hot magnesium pool, cold plunge, steam room, sauna, and a vitamin-infused drinking station for refreshment and rehydration.

The Brightly’s focus on wellness extends to the rooftop landscaped by award-winning landscape architect Jack Merlo. It will feature canopied retreats and panoramic views of the Melbourne CBD and Richmond Hill treetops. Residents can also host guests with a private bookable dining space on the rooftop garden lounge and an indoor option on the first level.

Cera Stribley’s architectural vision drew inspiration from the surrounding area, using the flowing form of the train lines to shape the façade and create a dialogue between the building and Richmond’s rich history. The design features a four-level podium lined with lush greenery, honouring the suburb’s character and streetscape through its scale and materials.

There will be a choice&nbsp;of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, along with 19 exclusive sub-penthouses and penthouses, for prospective purchasers.

Lachlan Thompson, Goldfields’ CEO, said The Brightly will define a new kind of urban luxury for Inner East living.

“By drawing on Richmond’s vibrant mix of culture and hospitality, we’ve combined a lifestyle centred on wellness,” Thompson said.

“Its proximity to Melbourne's sports and entertainment precinct, the CBD, parks, and public transport makes it a prime location for both young professionals and those seeking a lifestyle change. What we’ve created is something remarkable - it’s real, it's Richmond, and it’s refined."

Dexus Real Estate Partnership Fund 1 Fund Manager, Jason Howes, said the Brightly is a high-quality investment in a high demand area with limited residential stock expected to be added in the coming years.

“Partnering with Goldfields, we are delivering a project that will redefine lifestyle focused urban living, offering residents exceptional design and amenities in one of Melbourne's most vibrant suburbs,” he said.

Onsite demolition is underway, with construction set to commence in April 2026 and completion targeted for late 2027. The Brightly will launch to market in mid-2026.

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Goldfields greenlit for The Brightly, Richmond apartment development

The Allan Labor Government has revealed the remaining 23&nbsp;Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres as part of their plan to try and encourage development around some of Melbourne's most connected suburbs.

The new zones includes&nbsp;four smaller ‘neighbourhood centres’ to plan for more modest growth.

<ul>
	<li>Five are connected to the new Metro Tunnel and are now experiencing more services: Caulfield, Springvale, Noble Park, Yarraman (neighbourhood centre), and Dandenong stations.</li>
	<li>Eight are along the Frankston Line, which has recently returned to the City Loop: Hawksburn, Toorak (Beatty Avenue), Armadale (High Street), Malvern (Glenferrie Road), Glen Huntly, Ormond, Bentleigh, and Mentone stations</li>
	<li>Four are along the Sandringham Line, which will see an increase in services later this year: South Yarra, Prahran, Windsor and Elsternwick stations</li>
	<li>Three are on the Belgrave/Lilydale Line and benefit from five-minute peak services on average between Ringwood and the city: Blackburn, Nunawading, and Mitcham stations</li>
	<li>Two neighbourhood centres on the Alamein Line: Ashburton Station, plus a combined centre for the two closest stations on the metropolitan network Riversdale &amp; Willison stations</li>
	<li>One neighbourhood centre, Toorak Village, is a built-up area along the Route 58 tram.</li>
</ul>

The <a href="https://spatial.planning.vic.gov.au/activitycentre/">draft maps</a> will now be subject to detailed community consultation.

A similar process occurred for the first 10 pilot Activity Centres, with clear changes made as a direct result of this community consultation.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/50-new-train-and-tram-zone-activity-centres-to-encourage-new-apartment-development-across-melbourne">50 new ‘train and tram zone’ activity centres to encourage new apartment development across Melbourne</a>

The final train and tram zones will set clear expectations on where new homes can go, cutting out delays, uncertainty and red tape and getting homes off the ground. The remaining two in inner-Melbourne that cover the entire Local Government Areas of Melbourne and Yarra, will go through a separate process.

In the immediate ‘core’ the plans allow for more homes in taller apartment buildings.&nbsp;Some cores have heights of six storeys, while others have up to 20 storeys, only when it is in line with those councils’ planning work.

Eligible buildings across the core will be ‘deemed to comply’ with planning rules and be exempt from VCAT review. Applications in the core that exceed the specified height of the site are not eligible for this fast-tracked pathway.

In the walkable catchments that surround the core, the plans propose gentler height limits and more low-rise apartments and townhouses. Heritage and landscape overlays will stay in place.

Inner catchments, representing up to a five-minute walk from the station or centre, propose limits of four storeys, or six storeys on larger blocks of more than 1,000 sqm, while outer catchments, representing up to a 10-minute walk from the station or centre, propose limits of three storeys, or four storeys on larger blocks of more than 1,000 sqm.

By 2051, train and tram zones will help deliver more than 300,000 new homes, with final plans for all 50 new centres expected to be completed by mid this year.

“We want more Victorians to have the opportunity to live close to public transport, their loved ones, and the things that matter to them,"&nbsp;Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny said.

“Whether it’s making it easier to build homes close to public transport, townhouses in our inner suburbs, or family homes with a backyard, our planning reforms are all about giving more Victorians real housing choice.

“While we’re focused on giving more young Victorians the opportunity to have a home of their own, the Liberals are blocking them from being built. They oppose more homes near transport, jobs and services.”

Toorak and South Yarra earmarked for greater density as VIC Gov releases final Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres

Glen Waverley’s housing shortage is set to be closed by 50 per cent with the approval of 795 new apartments which will rise from a former carp park in the heart of the suburb.

The plans, lodged by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunkin-property-group">Sunkin Property Group</a> and now approved by the Victorian State Government Development Facilitation Program, will transform the 6,114 sqm carpark at 281 Springvale Road, into an $800 million, mixed-use residential and commercial development in the metropolitan activity centre.&nbsp;

“281 Springvale Road has received planning approval for a mixed-use, high-density development that will provide much needed homes in Melbourne’s middle-ring suburbs, including affordable housing," Sunkin's GM of Property and Development Lloyd Collins says.

"We worked closely with key stakeholders, the Department of Transport and Planning, Suburban Rail Loop Authority and Monash City Council to achieve an integrated design with an activated retail ground level that will add to the success of Glen Waverley.

Glen Waverley’s population is projected to grow by 9 per cent by 2031, with an additional 1,600 dwellings required to &nbsp;service the area.

Around 1,000 sqm of the former carpark has been retained by Monash City Council for a new Civic Plaza, creating a central meeting point and public transport link for the local community. &nbsp;

Sunkin Property Group acquired the site from Monash City Council in 2024. The site will remain open as a public carpark until development commences.

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Sizeable improvement in auction clearance rates in Melbourne and Sydney: REIV

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