<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

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>

&nbsp;

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>

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Ellen Walker

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

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Le Chateau, a landmark manor house at Dural, has been sold, having been listed last October with $6.5 million hopes. It represents a relatively snappy sale, as RP Data note the average time on market before sale as 106 days in Dural, and even longer for prestige listings.

Mixing modern with medieval, the prestige listing in the semi-rural Hills District north-west of Sydney was the location of the Channel 7 recent television series Beauty and the Geek.

The marketing was previously put on hold while the owners enjoyed the income from the television production. No word yet but having pai close to the asking price, its probable the series will need a new accomodation base.

Owned by telco millionaire Colin Marland and his wife, Julie Anne, the vast<a href="/news"> Dural</a> French-inspired mansion is set on two hectares of manicured grounds. <a href="https://www.kenjacobs.com.au/598825/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> It was sold through Christie's agents Ken Jacobs and Darren Curtis</a> to offshore buyers.

The two-storey residence has five bedrooms, each with a travertine ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.

There is a grand entry foyer leading to formal and informal living, dining and entertainment areas, including a family room with an eight-metre-high ceiling.

The vast 1,770-square-metre Vineys Lane residence was built in 1997 for Ian Beilby, who made his money from hair-care products, electrical appliances and property development, and his wife, Jill.

Le Chateau last sold for $4 million to the Marlands in 2000. No sale price has yet been revealed.

The last Dural castle listing took three years to sell when in March last year Myriam Borg, founder of Cre8 Australia,<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/french-inspired-dural-castle-normandie-sells-after-owners-failed-to-keep-mortgagees-at-bay/2012032654022" target="_blank"> bought the Dural French-inspired castle Normandie</a>. The mortgagees-in-possession sold it off at $2.95 million. The vendors had wanted more than $6.25 million ever since listing it in 2009. Built in 1985 by Bronte Douglass, the founder of Douglass Pathology, and his wife, Darlene, the imposing sandstone residence had four bedroom suites, a grand reception hall and a billiard room. In the 2.2-hectare grounds are sweeping lawns, ornamental trees, a tennis court and swimming pool.

<h2>NSW properties selling now:</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6284]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8669]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6201]
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Beauty and the Geek locale Le Chateau in Dural sells

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<h1></h1>
The Bank of Scotland International has offloaded $240 million worth of corporate and project debt in the listed property company Becton Group. 
But the deal still awaits Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval.
It also requires approval of another Becton financier, Westpac, pursuant to its Bonnyrigg loan arrangement. 
The debt buyers are a consortium made up of Goldman Sachs and the United States hedge fund Fortress Investment Group.
<a target="_blank" href="/news">Becton has a market capitalisation of just $3.4 million</a> and has been looking for a way to stabilise its longer-term structure.
BOSI intends assigning its $126 million corporate debt facility along with its $116 debt facility for the Waterloo Divercity project.
The latest scenario suggests a likely tussle between Becton's incoming lenders and the company's major shareholders including Telopea Capital, Mariner Corporation and Titanium Property Investment.
The Becton loans are held by the local subsidiary of Lloyds Banking Group, known as BOSI.
Following the global financial crisis, Lloyds has been reducing its non-core exposures in Australasia in the past few years.
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Goldman Sachs Becton debt deal requires FIRB approval

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Sir Richard Branson's Noosa getaway, Makepeace Island, is a popular holiday destination for cashed-up travelers and boldface names.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/november30makepeace]}
The island, which can be rented for $3,800 plus $550 per adult (and$375 per child) per night during the high season, has very little availability left for summer 2013, according to spokeswoman Kirsty Aitken. 
The Virgin boss, along with Virgin Blue executives Brett Godfrey and former colleague Rob Sherrard, bought the heart-shaped island for $2.86 million in 2007. He opened it to the holiday market in mid-2011.
There is a main house, three two-bedroom villas and a four-bedroom guest house. It has a boathouse, lagoon pool and a 15-person spa. There are no partial bookings, with guests enjoying the entirety of the island. 
Guests travel to and from the island by riverboat, and it contains a host of facilities, such as an outdoor cinema and a full-sized tennis court, to keep them occupied.
When he announced that Makepeace island would be available to rent, Branson said: "When neither Brett nor myself are visiting Makepeace, we will make the island and its facilities available for others to enjoy the tranquillity of what is a very special place.”
 
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<img height="155" width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/12/hayman.jpg" alt="hayman">
Iconic fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg – famous for the wrap dress – has personally designed the DFV Penthouse on Hayman Island, which could be yours for $5,000 a night. 
The private island in the Great Barrier Reef is owned and operated by Mulpha Australia Limited, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World organisation.
<img height="154" width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/12/hayman2.jpg" alt="hayman2">
The 160-square-metre penthouse has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a wrap balcony that offers views over Hayman beach and the Coral Sea.
Von Furstenberg has adorned the apartment with her signature fabrics and DVF rugs and accessories.
A selection of her personal photography is also on show.
The penthouse can accommodate four guests, and a full butler service is included in the $5,000 rental fee.
Von Furstenberg first entered the fashion world in 1972 and is the inventor of the famous wrap dress for women.
She is currently the president for the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
“It is such a special destination, and I hope my design will enhance the beauty of the island and give the people staying in the DVF Penthouse a memorable moment,” says Von Furstenberg.
“Diane Von Furstenberg has always been held in such high esteem and we are delighted she has chosen to bring her incredible style, elegance and creativity to this new premium accommodation on Hayman,” says Hayman managing director Lloyd Donaldson.
Those nwith long memories remember the big makeover the island got back in the mid-1980s when a $300 million project commenced to transform the island into a luxury black-tie destination.
Mulpha Australia Limited acquired Hayman Island in 2004.
In 2010, Hayman Island rolled out a selection of private residences for purchase as part of an ongoing strategic investment.
The residences are the first private ownership ever offered at Hayman.
Head of Hotel Investment for Mulpha Australia and managing director of Hayman, Llyod Donaldson, said the decision to offer premium residential property on the island was due to longstanding interest from frequent visitors.
The island will feature a series of three- and four-bedroom residences, ranging from 500 square metres to 750 squares metres, which were designed by international resort architect Kerry Hill.
 
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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/12/dec19barford]}
If you'd rather holiday in Bellevue Hill than in Noosa or Hayman Island, you could try Barford, the palatial seven-bedroom property belonging to the Joye family, who note that their celebrity guests can relax, as "there is no opportunity for paparazzi to moor outside Barford".
The 4,039-square-metre estate was commissioned by Sir Warwick Fairfax, who was its first occupant, in 1929. It was included in the Register of National Estate in 1992.
The Georgian property is approximately $40,000 a week to rent, and it comes with the Joyes' staff. It is only let to families.
The estate includes a separate three-bedroom house, as well as a synthetic grass tennis court, gymnasium, and heated pool. The numerous entertaining zones no doubt came in handy when the couple threw a wedding reception for their son, Fairfax contributor Christopher, and former singer/model/actor Nicky Love.
The Joyes bought the property in late 1986 for nearly $10 million. 
The Joyes recently sold another trophy property, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/palm-beach-trophy-home-kaluas-record-setting-price-revealed-at-%2422-million/2012071655601">Kalua at Palm Beach</a>, to the retired Sydney car dealer Laurie Sutton for a record-setting $22 million. 
 
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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/12/dec20melaleuka]}
Located on the Palm Beach, New South Wales dress circle, the Chisholm family pavilion-style bungalow has been put into the rental pool this summer at $35,000 a week peak season.
Melaleuka, which contains five bedrooms and six limestone bathrooms, is built around a central pool and garden.
There's a self-contained guest wing.
Boasting views up to the Barrenjoey Lighthouse, the 2,561-square-metre property was bought in 1994 for $3.1 million.
It was listed in November 2008 with price hopes of around $18 million but was taken off the market in March 2010.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.stayz.com.au/119052">Melaleuka is located at 36 Ocean Road</a>, and is available to rent for $5,000 a night or $10,000 for a Friday or Saturday.
The minimum stay is one night.
It was 1994 when the then Pratten family's bungalow was sold for $3.1 million to the Chisholm family.
 
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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/12/dec20beachrock]}
Located at the north end of Avalon beach in Sydney, the Beach Rock comes with $25,000 a peak season weekly rental, but a two-week minimum stay.
Located in the western wing is a spa room with a heated eight-person spa pool and beachfront gardens lead down to Avalon beach.
Located on Marine Parade Avalon, the 1,821-square-metre property last sold in 2008 for $8.16 million. The house is a getaway suitable for large groups of up to 10 people.
Situated on a double block, the house is divided into two separate accommodation wings – including the east and western wing – connected with a central living area.
The western wing has two bedrooms and the eastern wing boasts three bedrooms, all with water views. 
 
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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/12/dec21angel]}
Another dream holiday destination, provided you don't need to be close to the beach, is<a target="_blank" href="https://www.contemporaryhotels.com.au/angelwing-gallery"> Angel Wing, a four-bedroom cottage in Hampton</a>, NSW, deep in the Blue Mountains near the Jenolan Caves and promising those that stay views of the neighbouring cliffs as the "glow scarlet at nightfall".
The sleek wing-shaped property was designed by renowned architect Peter Stutchbury with a skylight a prominent feature creating a dramatic effect and play on light.
When available for rent its at $1,100 per night for two to four nights and $1,000 for longer stays.
 
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<img height="314" width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/12/oceanblue.jpg" alt="oceanblue">
For those seeking to live like a former prime minister over their holidays there's the Rudd family's five-bedroom holiday home at Castaways Beach home near Noosa.
The Rudds paid $3.1 million in 2011 to acquire the contemporary home on the beach front in the Noosa Dunes Estate.
If you're looking to rent it during peak season, the asking rate is $3,100 per week with nightly tariff of $550 per night if you stay a minimum of five nights, rising to $6,800 per week during peak season.
It could be worth it, though, with the opportunity to enjoy uninterrupted ocean views from the large deck, described as the "perfect place to host those hot summer night BBQs", with the swimming pool also inviting.
The holiday home is let by Zinc Properties Noosa.
 
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<img height="351" width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/12/castra.jpg" alt="castra">
This prestige summer beach retreat is just 10 minutes from the heart of the Sydney CBD in Double Bay, the cosmopolitian suburb.
It was listed with a $10,000 weekly asking price, as a two-month Christmas summer holiday letting.
The Laing &amp; Simmons Double Bay website suggested someone secured the Castra Place pad, which fronts onto a relatively quiet beach on Sydney Harbour.
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

Makepeace Island and seven other amazing holiday rental getaways

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Corio Villa, the landmark 14-room Geelong home, has been sold.
Its sale price has not been disclosed, but its most recent declared asking price was $5.85 million.
It was listed in August with $5 million-plus hopes through Wilsons listing agents Guyon and James Wilson.
Set above Corio Bay at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wilsonsre.com.au/property/geelong/889/" rel="nofollow">56 Eastern Beach Road</a>, it's one of Australia's only surviving buildings to be made from pre-fabricated cast iron.
Manufactured in Scotland, the home was shipped to <a target="_blank" href="/news">Geelong</a> in boxes. Corio Villa was manufactured in 1855 by iron founder Charles D Young and Co. from designs by Bell and Miller, architects and engineers.
William Gray, colonial land commissioner, ordered the villa, but he died prior to arrival of the portable house shipment.
The crates with the ornate, sprawling design pieces sat unclaimed on Geelong's docks for six months before wool merchant (and later owner of The Geelong Advertiser) Alfred Douglass bought it, carted it up the hill and assembled it like a jigsaw above Corio Bay.
The house remained in his family until it was sold to Dr Keith Ross of Ballarat in 1938 and then to Arthur and Alice McAllister in 1945.
Their son, Glenn, and wife, Rosslyn, live in the house today.
Most of the decorative work echoes the pattern of the rose, and the thistle of Scotland.
Corio Villa is considered by heritage authorities as of paramount international significance not just in Geelong but to the history of industrial technology and the 19th-century British aesthetic movement.
Prefabricated residences were often imported in the 1850s to satisfy housing demand during the gold rush boom, Heritage Victoria notes.
It has its many original character features including intricate leadlight windows, plaster roses and cornices, detailed timber ceiling and wall panelling, plus ornate marble fire places.
The McAllister family have hired out the property for weddings and functions.  The house sits on 375 square metres of the 2,885-square-metre block.
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Geelong's 1856 Corio Villa sells to its fourth owner

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Shoe designer Gary Castles has finally sold his radiant Whale Beach property.
It was posted as sold on the weekend with its price undisclosed.
He’s had the Malo Road property for three decades, and it was initially listed in March last year.
It’s a four-bedroom house on a hillside 1,160-square-metre block that has an approved dual occupancy. 
There’s also approval for another level to the main residence that includes the addition of a three-car garage.
David Edwards and Peter Robinson from LJ Hooker Palm Beach had revised the price expectations of $5 million plus for its October auction, having initially had $7 million-plus hopes in March.
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Shoeman Gary Castles sells on Whale Beach

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Overall NSW land values declined by 0.36% in 2011-12, according to the NSW Valuer-General, compared with a 1.7% increase for the prior annual period.
The total residential land value for NSW decreased overall by 0.24% for the 2011-12 period, compared with an overall 2.1% increase for the prior period. It was the first fall in six years.
Land valuation notices will be mailed to 795,000 ratepayers in 45 local government areas over the next four weeks, commencing January 7, NSW Valuer-General Philip Western said today.
“Some 2.46 million properties were valued as at 1 July 2012 producing a total land value for NSW of around $976 billion,” Western says.
The 45 councils are those that will review their council rates model this year based upon the latest valuations.
“Increases or decreases in land values do not necessarily lead to similar increases or decreases in rates,” Western says.
The largest falls in Sydney residential values were in the pricier municipalities, topped by a 7.3% fall in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Woollahra </a>to a $1.27 million median. Values rising strongly in the inner west was a noticeable trend, along with the outer-west mortgage belt heartland.
The NSW Valuer-General has determined that the land tax threshold for the 2013 land tax year is $406,000, so any property, or collection of investment property, with values above $406,000 will be liable for land tax.
After Woollahra's dramatic fall, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Randwick</a>'s 4.5% drop was next most pronounced to a $716,000 median.
Pittwater shed another 4% to a $620,000 median land value in 2011-12, after a 3.7% decline a year earlier.
Values fell 3.7% in the <a target="_blank" href="/news">Canada Bay</a> municipality to a $677,000 median.
<a target="_blank" href="/news">Waverley </a>land values fell 3.2% to a $968,000 median.
<a target="_blank" href="/news">Mosman </a>land values fell 3% to a $1.28 million median land value.
The largest gain in median residential land values was the <a target="_blank" href="/news">Strathfield</a> municipality, which rose 12.3% to a $747,000 median land value, followed by another Sydney inner-west locality, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Marrickville, </a>rising 10% to a $441,000 median land value.
<a target="_blank" href="/news">Burwood </a>recorded strong growth in values, up 8% to a $555,000 median land value, along with <a target="_blank" href="/news">Ashfield, </a>where values rose 4.8% to a $545,000 median land value.
But <a target="_blank" href="/news">Leichhardt </a>dipped by 1.5% to a $602,000 median land value after recent strong gains.
The outer-west municipalities of <a target="_blank" href="/news">Camden</a> and <a target="_blank" href="/news">Campbelltown</a> recorded strong growth. Campbelltown's median land value was up 4.9% to $171,000, and Camden was up 4.8% to $220,000.
 
 
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Woollahra wears the brunt of the official falls in NSW land values: Valuer-General

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<div>
Mortgage insurer Genworth has appointed the former St George Bank chief executive Paul Fegan as its chief financial officer.
</div>
He replaces Anne O'Driscoll, who left in December for a similar role at broker Steadfast.
Fegan joined St George Bank in 2002 and was appointed chief in 2007 until Westpac took over St George in 2009.
His banking career includes a two-decade stint at National Australia Bank.
Most recently Fegan was a director of AMP.
The appointment suggests that Genworth wants to be ready for an initial public offering (IPO) in the second half of this year, if market conditions allow.
It will be overseen by chief executive Ellie Comerford.
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Genworth appoints former St George boss Paul Fegan as CFO

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The area in and around St Kilda Junction is in the process of becoming the next hot spot for Melbourne apartments. A healthy number of residential projects are at all stages of the development cycle, that being from design to construction.

This in turn has ruffled the feathers of local residents and the local responsible authority, the City of Port Phillip. Given residential towers up to 26 levels have been approved (by either planning minister Matthew Guy or VCAT) despite local opposition, the City of Port Phillip responded on 12th February 2013 by seeking to impose interim mandatory height controls over the St Kilda Rd South zone. The area covered is immediately south of St Kilda junction to Carlisle St.

The City of Port Phillip ordinary Council notes read as follows, "Resolves to request the Minister for Planning to use his powers pursuant to section 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, to prepare, adopt and approve an amendment to the Port Phillip Planning Scheme, to introduce mandatory height controls into the Port Phillip Planning Scheme for the St Kilda Road south area generally in accordance with the height requirements contained in this report on an interim basis for a period of two years...the lack of detailed design and height controls in the planning scheme were determining factors in the overturning of Council’s decisions by VCAT and the granting of the permits."

In effect the City of Port Phillip seeks the following:

Precinct 1 St Kilda Road – between Wellington Street and Alma Road 
• Street wall height 10 metres 
• Maximum building height – 26 metres Precinct 2 St Kilda Road – between Alma Road and Carlisle Street Wellington Street and Carlisle Street 
• Street wall height 10 metres (8 metres in Carlisle &amp; Wellington Street south side) 
• Maximum building height – 14 metres (12 metres in Carlisle &amp; Wellington Street south side.)

From the outside it seems the City of Port Phillip have been slow to react to an expanding number of apartment proposals, hence VCAT granting approval to a number of projects that both residents and local Council find to be excessive.

Given there is no binding height control overlay, VCAT deemed these projects to be appropriate. The reality is that Port Phillip's request that the Minister for Planning use his powers to approve an amendment to the Port Phillip Planning Scheme most likely will not eventuate. Minister Guy personally intervened to approve the tallest proposal in the area; 3-5 St Kilda Rd, quite possibly a sign the the state government has intentions of intensifying redevelopment around the junction, rather than restricting it.

Regardless of planning jostling between local and state bodies, the list of proposed and approved projects around the junction is extensive. Currently before VCAT is an application for an 18 level apartment tower at 42 Barkly St, whilst at 3-7 Alma Rd, an 8 level application is also under consideration. Further projects are shown below.

<a href="/buildings/allure-11-15-wellington-st-st-kilda" target="_blank">Allure</a> - Currently under construction

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/ext_01_lge.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © Pace Development Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/ext_01_lge.jpg" title="Image © Pace Development Group" typeof="Image"></a>

<a href="http://urbanmelbourne.info/projects/port-phillip/2-8-st-kilda-rd-st-kilda" target="_blank">2-8 St Kilda Rd</a> - Site offered for sale and then withdrawn by Pace Development Group for future development

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Image1_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="2-8 St Kilda Rd entry © Jackson Clenet Burrowes"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Image1_3.jpg" title="2-8 St Kilda Rd entry © Jackson Clenet Burrowes" typeof="Image"></a>

<a href="/new-apartments/st-kilda-vic-3182">Octavia</a> -  At sales with construction imminent

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/as-1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="© Stab Visualisation"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/as-1.jpg" title="© Stab Visualisation" typeof="Image"></a>

<a href="/buildings/meridian-25-alma-road-st-kilda" target="_blank">25-29 Alma Rd</a> - Currently before VCAT

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/2-111221-vcat-view-1.JPG" rel="gallery-all" title="© CH Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/2-111221-vcat-view-1.JPG" title="© CH Architects" typeof="Image"></a>

<a href="/new-apartments/s-t-k-apartments-3-st-kilda-road-st-kilda">3-5 St Kilda Rd</a> -  Approved with Caydon expected to launch sales mid-year

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/3-5%20st%20kilda%20road2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image courtesy realestatesource.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/3-5%20st%20kilda%20road2.jpg" title="Image courtesy realestatesource.com.au" typeof="Image"></a>

The significant number of projects above are joined by another, though this time north of the Junction. Shorley Pty Ltd is waiting on the decision of VCAT regarding its proposed tower at 30 Punt Rd, Windsor. Stonnington City Council failed to grant a permit within the prescribed time period, hence the developers move to resolution at VCAT. This site (shown below) abuts Queens Way and would replace a lowrise office building.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Img_6056.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="30 Punt Rd site with Allure apartments under construction to the rear"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_6056.jpg" title="30 Punt Rd site with Allure apartments under construction to the rear" typeof="Image"></a>

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Img_6020.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="30 Punt Rd site framed by Queens Way and Marquise apartments to the left"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_6020.jpg" title="30 Punt Rd site framed by Queens Way and Marquise apartments to the left" typeof="Image"></a>

Initial plans involved a green wave-like apartment building designed by Terry Harper Architects. 30 Punt Rd was to contain 58 basement car parks, 48 bicycle and storage spaces, a 43sqm office space and 78 apartments. Due to opposition from the Shrine of Remembrance trustees, the planned 17 level, 63.75m tower has been reduced to 59 apartments, 13 levels and 52m in order to protect the Shrine vista sightline, even though 3-5 St Kilda Rd is approved at 91m directly behind!

Resident action group JAAG St Kilda contend the following, "The apartment tower is far too tall, is visually bulky, lacks any set backs, creates over looking and shadowing, lacks any landscaping, fails to meet local planning laws and seriously exacerbates existing serious parking problems at the Junction."

As of yet there has been no decision released by VCAT

 

Images below sourced from planning document and © Terry Harper Architects
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silvermb

Queueing up at the Junction

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/12/devspotlight_thebay]}

It’s rare to see urban renewal in any established tightly held bayside suburb in Melbourne, but in Sandringham new pockets of paradise are popping up in the most unexpected areas. The Bay in Sandringham is one such new development, with more than 50% of the units already sold.
“Astute investors are seeing the value in this project and are further encouraged by bayside’s rich history of continued capital growth and rentability,” director Jack Brukarz, CEO of Motion Property, says.
“The combination of design, quality and terrific location will ensure the development will prove its capital growth over time.”
Financial considerations of income generation and capital gains throughout the life of the investment are specifically at play. A buyer can capitalise on the high rental yield in the development, which also has the potential for maximum capital growth, given its position, design and timing.
Managing director of Goal Property Group Daniel Birner says the development is bucking the trend in the market thanks to its unique design and attributes.
“We researched and thought deeply about what type of product to bring to the market and knew we wanted to create an offering that stood out from our competitors.”
Birner has enlisted the eminent services of Melbourne’s award-winning Bruce Henderson Architects. The elegant, modern design of the The Bay, 18 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, is balanced by the amenity and lifestyle in Sandringham.
In this brilliant location, residents will benefit from easy access to the city’s best beaches, an abundance of private and public sand-belt golf courses, Southland Shopping Centre, boutique stores and the railway station in picturesque Sandringham Village. The development is perfect for the investor, with one-bedroom units with car space and storage cage beginning at $349,000 and apartments with two bedrooms and two bathrooms with car and storage starting from $480,000.
Construction is expected to commence February 2013.
The Bay display suite is located on site at 218 Bay Street, Sandringham, and is open Thursday to Sunday 11am- 2pm. For more information, contact Motion Property’s Glenn Campbell 0414 899 240 or Nandita Bangera 0431 826 839.
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The Bay Sandringham

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The REA Group, part of the new News Corporation group, has reported revenue growth of 17% to $77.7 million, driven by continued take-up of its premium value-add products across Australia.
Its update was due to reporting requirements of its parent company by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The figures are for the first quarter of the 2013 financial year, ending September 30, 2012.
"REA Group’s double-digit growth in the first quarter is the result of our commitment to delivering outstanding return on investment to our real estate agent customers, and the best user experience for consumers," says Greg Ellis, the REA Group managing director.
The REA Group quarter resulted in EBITDA of $33.7 million, which was an increase of 28% on the same period last year.
The revenue increase follows the introduction of its<a target="_blank" href="https://agent.realestate.com.au/products/listing-products/highlight-property/"> "Highlight"</a> value-add product, which elevates mid-range residential listings to higher among the search results on the site, following its launch in December 2011.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/12/readec24.jpg" width="470" height="409" alt="readec24">
It claims highlight properties secure eight times more views and five times more enquiries than its standard listing.
The group also has a "Premiere" package.
The REA Group, the owner of realestate.com.au and realcommercial.com.au, posted a 29% rise in net profit for the 2012 financial year despite the challenging local property market and a slight decrease in paying agents due to agency consolidation and contraction in Queensland and NSW.
The net profit for the group and its subsidiaries surged to $86.8 million for the year to June 30, 2012, up from $67.5 million in the previous financial year, while revenue jumped 16% to $277.6 million.
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