One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

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FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

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

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

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114215 project_image_fid=204874]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107714 project_image_fid=214122]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=212887]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212658]

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.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C32BWkB5--c" title="YouTube video player" width="660"></iframe>

<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?

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A mid-century Modernist Wahroonga home has been scheduled for June 2 auction through the agent that just sells architectural gems, Marcus Lloyd Jones at Modern House. The architect of the 1955 Kintore Street home isn’t known despite the best efforts of its current Queensland-bound owners, Andrea and Paul Banner, who bought the rundown yet heritage-listed house for $940,000 in 2009. Despite having since liaised with the Ku-ring-gai Council and Ku-ring-gai Historical Society, the research is still missing that crucial detail. But the home did cost £11,000 to build, which was more than double the cost of most homes being built in the area at the time.
<img src="/images/stories/wahroonga1.jpg">
NSW Heritage: Image by:	Robert Moore, Penelope Pike, Helen Proudfoot
Image copyright owner:	Ku-Ring-Gai Council
Anecdotally there are vague recollections of a 1950s Home Beautiful or Woman’s Weekly magazine article. The original owners, Richard and Jaqueline Hayden, commissioned the local builder, George Perry. Some in the area recall it originally having a grey exterior, black-framed windows, bright yellow front door and a vivid orange garage door evoking comparison to the Mondrian House’s colour scheme.
The current owners bought the home almost three years ago and have sympathetically modernised the home which is being marketed as a rare surviving example of a single-storey, mid-century house. Stylistically it bears strong resemblance to the work of the Australian modernist architect Arthur Baldwinson, with the opulence and optimism of the Palm Springs Internationalist style, say the listing agents, noting the low profile design, flat-roofed house featuring wide eves.
It sits on a 1,536-square-metre corner site at Kintore Street and Eastern Road, through invisible from the street given the mature landscaping. With 230 square metres of space, the double-brick home features four large bedrooms, two bathrooms, a modern eat-in kitchen and spacious open-plan living area and floor-to-ceiling steel-framed windows that opens out to the garden from both sides.
It comes with restored spotted gum parquetry.  More than $1.2 million is being sought.
There is a current Sydney lecture series that traces housing styles in Australia hosted by the Historic Houses Trust as part of the Sydney Open program.
The <a href="https://www.hht.net.au/discover/highlights/articles/sydney_open_talks_house_bios">Thursday evening talks</a> run weekly until June 14 held at The Mint on Macquarie Street, Sydney.
Architects can claim informal CPD points by their attendance. The remaining series Mansion Thursday, May 17, 6pm - 7.30pm Dr Charles Pickett, curator of design and built environment at the Powerhouse Museum Jonathan Chancellor, managing editor, Property Observer Beach shack Thursday, May 24, 6pm - 7.30pm Dr Michael Bogle, design historian Peter Stutchbury, Peter Stutchbury Architects Terrace Thursday, May 31, 6pm - 7.30pm Keri Huxley, social and political scientist and former mayor of Woollahra Council Hannah Tribe, founding principal, Tribe Studio Architects Project home Thursday, June 7, 6pm - 7.30pm Dr Judith O’Callaghan, senior lecturer, The University of New South Wales Tone Wheeler, principal architect, Environa Studio Portable Thursday, June 14, 6pm - 7.30pm Megan Martin, head of collections and access Sean Godsell, Sean Godsell Architects
 
 
Photography: © Tamara Graham Photography
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Palm Springs California Modernist style with Sydney upper north shore heritage status

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The five-bedroom contemporary Sydney Harbour home of Stephen Brown, the boss of the troubled 1st Fleet trucking company, and his wife, Corrine, comes with a $16 million asking price.
Featured in the latest June issue of Australian Home Beautiful magazine, apparently it’s a mix of the sophistication of Scandinavian design interiors blending with patio Balinese influences.
Of greater importance Property Observer can reveal Stephen Brown only owns 1/1,000th of the property – with wife Corrine holding the remaining 999/1,000 equity.
And a $9.2 million CBA mortgage was taken out in late March this year.
The Pacific Street property occupies a 1,062-square-metre block that was bought for $3.6 million in 1996 with the couple’s purchase showing the 1/1000-999/1000 equity split.
The Browns have been regular in refinancing their mortgage, with the latest mortgage being their eighth on the title since 1996.
The latest CBA mortgage replaced a BNY mortgage, which was taken out in June last year when transferred from Allco Managed Investments.
The Browns had previously lived next door, selling it for $2.9 million in 1996.
It’s listed through Michael Pallier of Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay who is seeking about $16 million for the property which has been for sale since October 2010.
<img src="/images/stories/1stfleet1.jpg">
The house and its decor, along with photos their Maltese dog, Lily, feature in the latest issue of Australian Home Beautiful magazine (pictured above and below). The house's two-year renovation was completed in 2008 to a design by Lesiuk Architects with interior decor by Fiona Goss.
<img src="/images/stories/1stfleet2.jpg">
The house comes with the largest private jetty in the Watsons Bay hamlet.
Brown’s company was ranked as one of the largest privately owned logistics supply chain solutions providers in Australia.
But earlier this month hundreds of workers arrived at their workplaces to find 1st Fleet's depots in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia were locked.
The 24 year old company employed about 700 full-time workers, including 300 in NSW, and more than 300 contractors who drove trucks as owner-operators.
The weekend’s Sunday Telegraph reported Brown flew to the United States last week opting not to attend the first meeting of creditors last week, at which the appointment of administrator Antony de Vries of de Vries Tayeh was confirmed.
Property Observer understands the couple flew to the United States to attend the wedding of their son, doing so after the administrator was advised of the prior travel arrangements of Stephen Brown.
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1st Fleet's Stephen Brown owns just one-thousandth of his recently refinanced $16 million harbourfront Watson Bay property listing

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<div><img src="/images/stories/aman.jpg"></div>
The proposed sale of the former Palm Beach home of Tony Morris, the ex-principal of GP Noble currently on trial in the UK over fraud allegations, and his soon-to be-ex-wife, Vanessa Morris-Jackson, has stalled.
There was an application to the Australian Federal Magistrates Court by his bankruptcy trustee Andrew Wily to sell it - for reputedly about $4.6 million. But Magistrate Rolf Driver ruled yesterday against Wily’s application to delete the requirement for Vanessa’s consent to any sale of the northern beaches clifftop house. It had been passed in on a $5 million vendor bid at its March Raine &amp; Horne auction.
<div><img src="/images/stories/tonyvanessa2.jpg"></div>
<div>The couple were married at nearby Jonahs in 2008 in a Moroccan-themed wedding party – she was in a dress by Monique Lhuillier.</div>
<div><img src="/images/stories/tonyvanessa.jpg"></div>
<div>Tony Morris, who was extradited from Sydney last April to face charges of defrauding the fund, had paid $7.45 million, with Vanessa as joint tenant, in 2006 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/bankruptcy-trustee-lists-ex-gp-noble-boss-tony-morris-former-palm-beach-home-as-morris-faces-fraud-charges/2012021553393">for the clifftop property he named Aman</a>.</div>
<div><img src="/images/stories/tonyvanessa3.jpg"></div>
Peter Gosnell’s <a href="https://sydneyinsolvencynews.blogspot.com.au/2011_10_01_archive">Sydney Insolvency News</a> reported last October that the mortgage was running at about $25,000 a month, with the National Australia Bank owed more than $5 million and accumulating penalty interest as Vanessa, was unable to meet them. During the course of Wily's application last Friday Gosnell reported the court heard that the unserviced mortgage was now accumulating at around $30,000 per month with its secured lender NAB owed $5.187 million. Gosnell reported Vanessa, who was initially bankrupted along with her husband, managed to have the order overturned, restoring her right to 50% of the north-facing home.
Valuations for the property mentioned in the court last October ranged from $6.2 million to $6.5 million, hence the hesitation to accept the current highest offer which doesn't cover the bank debt.
The court was told this week that the offer came from a Dr Gregory.
Wily had been appointed trustee in bankruptcy to the estate of Tony Morris after Morris failed to pay $50,000 in legal fees owed to this lawyers, HWL Ebsworth.
Tony Morris now of the rural village, Chiltern Polden, Somerset, denies conspiring to defraud, two counts of theft and two counts of aiding and abetting fraud.
<img src="/images/stories/tonyvanessa4.jpg"><div></div>
This week's UK trial at Southwark Crown Court heard allegations that Mr Morris raided nine retirement schemes, managed by GP Noble, to fund a lavish lifestyle is currently underway in the United Kingdom. Morris was alleged to pocketed the cash to invest in Thai luxury resorts, online bookmakers and pay off his first ex-wife, it was claimed by the prosecutor David Farrar QC.
Farrar told the jury he believed that Morris had orchestrated the alleged disinvestment of the funds held by Nottingham-based firm GP Noble in tranches of £30 million and £22 million between April 2007 and July 2008.
It was alleged the cash was siphoned out of the UK through British Virgin Islands-registered company Fareston and another offshore company associated with Mr Morris, called Multiple Unilateral Financial Futures.
The court heard Morris had been chief executive of TMP until 2005. In 2007, he moved to Australia, with his former business partner Richard Craven telling jurors he had given Morris £14.9 million after he left.
Farrar added: "Mr Morris intended to use part of the funds for his own substantial personal needs, such as settling his wife's substantial claim in their divorce proceedings."
In a 2010 interview with Channel Seven at his clifftop home Morris said he was innocent and would return to England to speak to police to clear his name.
"I've got a lot to lose, a lot to lose. I'm confident I won't be charged, but that's what terrifies me," he said.
David Egan of Raine &amp; Horne is marketing the property.
The wedding photography was by Blumenthal Photography with a story by Sheriden Rhodes on the <a href="https://www.weddinglistco.com.au">www.weddinglistco.com.au</a> website.
 
 
 
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Mrs Morris stops Palm Beach clifftop sale of ex-GP Noble boss Tony Morris’ former Australian home

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Mosman’s latest auction listing comes with the 2011 HIA Australian Kitchen of the Year.
<img src="/images/stories/kitchen.jpg">
The contemporary Wolseley Road offering is marketed as a luxurious entertainer with an easy-living sun-swept design, which effortlessly fuses internal and external spaces.
Perched on Balmoral Slopes, the four-bedroom house is scheduled for May 24 auction by the Shaw family, who paid $3.4 million in 2008 for the 523-square-metre holding.
Locals are saying they expect about $5 million.
It was in the rental pool last year initially with $10,000 a week hopes, which were revised to $8,500 a week asking price.
The kitchen was designed and manufactured by Art of Kitchens. Its mirrored kicks give the illusion the kitchen is floating according to the designers, who also went with mirrored splashbacks.
The LJ Hooker marketing barely shows the kitchen images, so best pop along to the Saturday afternoon open for inspections. And take a cheque for about $5 million.
 
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HIA Australian Kitchen of the year – with a Mosman house thrown in – up for auction

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Joyce Farmhouse, the colonial bungalow gem in Sydney’s Baulkham Hills, has been listed for June 2 auction through John Russell of Richardson &amp; Wrench Baulkham Hills, who expects more than $900,000.
The property is named after a convict settler, William Joyce, who in 1794 built the house on 12 hectares of land granted following a conditional pardon. William Joyce had been transported on the Albermarle in 1791 after being tried in 1790 and sentenced to 14 years’ transportation.
After a fire in 1804, he repaired and rebuilt the house, now considered as the definitive design of an Australian colonial bungalow.
Joyce Farmhouse has walls of brick bond with mortar containing seashells along with foundations from the local sandstone.
Its gently pitched roof is supported by a row of timber Tuscan columns set on a sandstone-flagged verandah.
It was in 1969 when Parkes Development subdivided Joyce Farm's land for sale and the farmhouse was scheduled for demolition.
But after the farmhouse block was bought by Mavis Baker it was saved from the wrecker's ball.
Subsequently the late philanthropist Caroline Simpson, who displayed a repeated passion for conserving colonial heritage, bought it and restored it with her design team including David Sheedy, Thomas Gillies and Gay Stanton.
Now set on a 2055-square-metre Valerie Avenue block with level lawns and a circular driveway, the house is offered for sale by Simpson's children.
Bungalow architecture was the first topic of the current Sydney lecture series that traces housing styles in Australia hosted by the Historic Houses Trust as part of the Sydney Open program.
It kicked off last week with author, historian and conservation consultant Dr James Broadbent and Scott Robertson, director of Robertson &amp; Hindmarsh Architects, addressing bungalow homes.
The <a href="https://www.hht.net.au/discover/highlights/articles/sydney_open_talks_house_bios">Thursday evening talks</a> run weekly until June 14 held at The Mint on Macquarie Street, Sydney. Architects can claim informal CPD points by their attendance. The series Apartment Thursday, May 3, 6pm - 7.30pm Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon, assistant director, Creative Services, Historic Houses Trust Adam Haddow, Director, SJB Architects Villa Thursday, May 10, 6pm - 7.30pm Scott Carlin, Curator, Historic Houses Trust Philip Goad, professor of architecture at the University of Melbourne Mansion Thursday, May 17, 6pm - 7.30pm Dr Charles Pickett, curator of design and built environment at the Powerhouse Museum Jonathan Chancellor, managing editor, Property Observer Beach shack Thursday, May 24, 6pm - 7.30pm Dr Michael Bogle, design historian Peter Stutchbury, Peter Stutchbury Architects Terrace Thursday, May 31, 6pm - 7.30pm Keri Huxley, social and political scientist and former mayor of Woollahra Council Hannah Tribe, founding principal, Tribe Studio Architects Project home Thursday, June 7, 6pm - 7.30pm Dr Judith O’Callaghan, senior lecturer, The University of New South Wales Tone Wheeler, principal architect, Environa Studio Portable Thursday, June 14, 6pm - 7.30pm Megan Martin, head of collections and access Sean Godsell, Sean Godsell Architects
 
 
 
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Joyce Farmhouse, the bungalow on Sydney's colonial fringe named after pardoned convict, listed for auction

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Will the price be right this time? Channel 7 star Larry Emdur and his wife, Sylvie, are having another attempt to sell their redundant cliff top Dover Heights residence.
It’s a contemporary house remaining true to its classic P and O-style heritage design by architect Andre Baroukh.
<img src="/images/stories/larryemdur.jpg">
It’s been scheduled for May 30 auction by Emdur, who hosts the Channel 7 Morning Show and from this week The Price is Right, which debuted Monday with a bumper 536,000 audience, dipping to 402,000 on its second night, Tuesday.
Based on the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/larry-edmur-says-good-morning-to-breathtaking-cliff-top-property/2011090251402">couple’s nearby upgrade purchase of $6.8 million</a>, it had been estimated more than $5 million could be reasonably expected when it went to auction last spring.
Now new listing agents Daniel Baran and Reece Coleman of BHR Estste Agents are saying $4 million plus.
The couple knew on initial listing that there was weakness in the Dover Heights prestige market as their newly acquired residence had previously traded at $7.1 million in 2007. It was initially listed in 2010 with hopes it would sell for more than $8.5 million, but that asking price wasn't right.
The Emdurs bought at Dover Heights in 1994 when they spent $770,000 for a house set on 417 square metres.
Their new abode with dramatic oceanfront cliff-top views over the Pacific came with an infinity pool on its 1,062-square-metre holding.
 
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Larry Emdur spins his property wheel of fortune again with relisting of his redundant Dover Heights abode

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The four-bedroom Paddington terrace owned by celebrity cook Donna Hay and her husband, Bill Wilson, has been sold for about $2.3 million.
The four-level <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/cookbook-queen-donna-hay-serves-up-seconds-for-paddington-terrace-buyers-title-tattle/2012022253514">Windsor Street property had been on the market since February</a>, when it was listed with $2.4 million hopes through McGrath agent James Dack.
It was extensively renovated after being bought as an investment for $1.42 million in 2003
 
 
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Donna Hay’s Paddington terrace off the burner as buyer takes a $2.3 million bite: Title Tattle

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Yanderra, the five-bedroom Dural house designed by architect Philip Cox, has been listed with $2.75 million plus hopes, the first offering since its early 1980s construction.
It was the commission of the now national chairman of law firm Baker &amp; McKenzie, Bruce Hambrett, the prominent disputes and insolvency lawyer, and his author wife, Jo. They bought the two-hectare land as a bare block for $145,000 in 1981 when Porter's dairy farm was subdivided. It’s nothing like a dairy farm now, with gardens featuring even a veggie patch.
The single-level pavilion-style house comes with pool and horse stables. Neil Keene of LJ Hooker Dural is marketing it as “an inspired reinterpretation of the traditional Australian homestead, albeit with romantic revival architectural traces”.
The grounds have been a regular in the Sydney Open Garden scheme, given it was planned for sustainability. It comes with sandstone terraces planted with lavender and cherry guavas, hedges of camellia, lilly-pilly and banksia. There’s indigenous and rainforest species under giant turpentines.
Possibly the house deserves a mention in the series of lectures exploring historical and contemporary perspectives in architecture, heritage, design and development of Australian housing. The<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hht.net.au/whats_on/event/architecture/sydney_open_lecture_series"> series presents eight conversations</a> in which historians and writers examine different types of housing, from 19th-century villas and Californian bungalows to McMansions and emergency shelters.
This week Philip Goad, professor of architecture and director of the Melbourne School of Design at the University of Melbourne and the editor of the Encyclopedia of Australian Architecture (Cambridge University Press, 2011), talks on the dialogue between nature and culture in forms of the contemporary Australian villa.
 
 
Villa Thursday 10 May Scott Carlin, Curator, Historic Houses Trust Philip Goad, Professor of Architecture at the University of Melbourne
Mansion Thursday 17 May Dr Charles Pickett, Curator of Design and Built Environment at the Powerhouse Museum Jonathan Chancellor, Managing Editor, Property Observer Beach shack Thursday 24 May Dr Michael Bogle, Design Historian Peter Stutchbury, Peter Stutchbury Architects Terrace - SOLD OUT Thursday 31 May Keri Huxley, social and political scientist and former mayor of Woollahra Council Hannah Tribe, Founding Principal, Tribe Studio Architects Project home Thursday 7 June Dr Judith O’Callaghan, Senior Lecturer, The University of New South Wales Tone Wheeler, Principal Architect, Environa Studio Portable Thursday 14 June Megan Martin, Head, Collections and Access Sean Godsell, Sean Godsell Architects
 
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Philip Cox-designed Dural homestead Yanderra listed: Title Tattle

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The Point Piper home of Ron Medich and his wife, Odetta, has been listed officially for sale.
The harbourfront property had previously been quietly listed for sale, having never been publicly marketed in print or internet.
It’s been listed through Bill Malouf at LJ Hooker Double Bay, in conjunction with Ken Jacobs at Christies Great Estates and price expectations are $40 million plus. This has been revised from February 2011's reported $55 million hopes.
The Australian architectural studio <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/tasmanian-tigers-keep-watch-over-the-point-piper-harbourfront-mansion-of-the-much-accused-ron-medich/2011112852588" target="_blank">Katon Redgen Mathieson completed the Point Piper project in 2009</a> for Medich, who made a fortune with his brother developing industrial sites in Sydney’s west.
His estranged wife, Odetta, has been one of the country's most generous patrons of the arts.
Before his arrest in October over the 2009 murder of his business associate Michael McGurk, Ron Medich was living in splendour in the white house with point-blank images of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Still on bail and wearing an electronic bracelet that monitors his movements, Medich's last known address was a two-storey, 128-square-metre apartment in a city high rise overlooking St Andrews Cathedral.
With his wife spending most of her time in Europe, the couple's Wolseley Road home was quietly listed for sale in February last year.
The David Katon-designed house replaced the house bought from the restaurateur Wolfie Pizem in 2003 for $15.1 million.
Pizem had bought the 780-square-metre property for $160,000 in 1978.
Agents had estimated the Medich home was worth close to $40 million in February 2011.
At the time one agent quipped that the Medichs' art collection was worth far more than the house. The artworks include poolside Tasmanian tiger sculptures by Caroline Rothwell. The internal walls of the four-storey house come with extensive artworks of mostly photographic works.
Despite all the ructions, there's been no alterations or caveats on the official title for the past three years.
The murder case against property tycoon Ron Medich was adjourned on May 8 as prosecutors wait to see if the NSW Attorney-General grants immunity to any of his co-accused.
Medich, 62, has been charged with the September 2009 murder of businessman Michael McGurk, who was killed by a single gunshot outside his Cremorne home on Sydney's lower north shore.
Medich, Lucky Gattellari, Senad Kaminic, Christopher Estephan and Haissam Safetli have been charged over the murder.
At Central Local Court the prosecution told Magistrate Julie Huber it was still waiting for Attorney-General Greg Smith to rule on whether one of the defendants could be indemnified against prosecution in exchange for his evidence.
The man was not named in court.
Medich was not present in court for the mention with Magistrate Huber standing the matter over until June 19.
 
 
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Ron Medich seeks $40 million plus for harbourfront Point Piper home

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The former Parramatta Eels chief executive Paul Osborne offloaded his Byron Bay property investment for $1.14 million at its weekend auction.
Highlighting the perils of quick sale turnarounds in already negative markets, the price reflected a 40% decline in 16 months.
His foray into the northern NSW town cost $1.9 million in January 2011, with the property having previously sold at $1,475,000 in 2007.
It failed to sell at its December 2011 auction, when Osborne had $1,499,000 hopes, and was subsequently listed at $1.395 million
It was last October when Osborne's stressed financial situation was made public by SMH investigative reporter Kate McClymont after leaks that the Kenthurst-based Osborne had borrowed money from the Parramatta chairman Roy Spagnolo.
The then chief executive was on a salary rumoured to be $270,000.
The Massinger Street, Byron Bay property sold through Ray White Byron Bay agent Brett Connable who had advised his extensive email list that the offering would be definitely sold at the weekend auction.
Set opposite the Top Shop Cafe in Massinger Street, it comes with ocean views to the north over Byron Bay. It has three upstairs bedrooms plus downstairs is a one-bedroom guest quarter.
Throughout April, some 18 properties were sold in the Greater Byron region with 30% through Ray White.
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