<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mrcb">MRCB International</a> has commenced construction on its latest Gold Coast apartment development, Maris, on the site of the former Sundale Motel in Southport.

The start of construction by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/binah-constructions">Binah</a> follows an exceptionally strong sales campaign, with more than 90 per cent of apartments sold since launch. Every purchaser has been local, an&nbsp;indicator of confidence in both the development and Southport's evolution into a thriving CBD.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/maris-southport-20-queen-street-southport-qld-4215">Maris</a> will deliver 192 residences across 20 levels. The project forms part of MRCB's Australian and New Zealand development pipeline now exceeding $1.6 billion in gross development value, alongside a growing portfolio of projects globally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134403 project_image_fid=350663]

The company also commenced construction on its $600 million 26 Vista residences in Surfers Paradise last year, following strong sales momentum, with over 70 per cent of residences sold.

Maris has been designed to meet evolving buyer demand, offering architecturally designed layouts suited to long-term liveability. The approach reflects a growing preference for quality and adaptability among Gold Coast buyers.

Positioned next to the Broadwater in the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/southport-qld-4215">Southport</a> CBD, Maris sits directly opposite the Broadwater Parklands light rail station and within easy reach of retail, dining and lifestyle precincts, placing residents at the centre of one of the Gold Coast's most connected and rapidly maturing urban centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134403 project_image_fid=372756]

Maris will offer a full suite of resort-style residential amenities, including a pool, gym and sauna, along with a rooftop level featuring decks, lounges and dining and yoga areas that command sweeping views across the Broadwater and out to the ocean.

Binah, a New South Wales headquartered company co-founded by Amen Zoabi and Khalil Hafza in 2008, has expressed its excitement at establishing its first partnership with MRCB.

Binah's Managing Director Khalil Hafza said partnering with MRCB on Maris is a significant moment for Binah.

"MRCB's financial strength and a track record that speaks for itself give this project a solid foundation, and this marks the beginning of what will be a long and successful relationship.

"With the right people, systems and partnerships behind it, Maris is set to become a significant addition to the Gold Coast's premium residential market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134403 project_image_fid=350664]

MRCB International CEO Ravi Krishnan said the project's progression to construction reflects both sustained demand and tightening conditions across the apartment sector, as well as MRCB's continued confidence in the Gold Coast market.

"Commencing construction at Maris is a significant step and reflects the depth of demand for quality apartments in well-connected urban locations," said Krishnan.

"Across Southeast Queensland, new apartment supply remains constrained, particularly in established precincts with infrastructure and amenity already in place. Projects like Maris are increasingly critical in meeting that demand, especially on the Gold Coast and in the city's CBD precinct."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134403 project_image_fid=372761]

Krishnan said Southport's ongoing transformation, supported by infrastructure investment and long-term planning, was underpinning renewed buyer confidence.

"We're seeing a clear shift back towards well-located urban centres where infrastructure, connectivity and amenity are already established," said Mr Krishnan. "Southport is evolving into a more mature CBD environment, and that is being reflected in buyer behaviour."

Construction at Maris is anticipated to be completed in 2029.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134403]

Joel Robinson

Construction commences on MRCB’s $200m Maris Residences in Southport

Moonee Valley Park’s latest residential release <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveline-at-moonee-valley-park-moonee-ponds-100-thomas-street-moonee-ponds-vic-3039">The Eveline</a>, has achieved a new benchmark for off-the-plan apartment sales in the suburb, with the sale of The Alexandra penthouse selling for $5,435,000.

Positioned on the top floor of a 16-level residential building, the three-bedroom, three and-a-half-bathroom penthouse features uninterrupted city skyline views across the future Valley racetrack.&nbsp;

The landmark sale comes as momentum at the precinct continues to build, with the Moonee Valley Racing Club progressing works on its new racetrack ahead of the 2027 Cox Plate. The transformative development will see MVRC reimagine the beloved Valley as a vibrant year-round entertainment and lifestyle destination.

Alongside a world-class racing experience, the historic precinct will be activated with events, hospitality and public green spaces designed to attract broader audiences, while breathing new life into one of Melbourne’s most iconic destinations.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=142519 project_image_fid=372786]

Development partners <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hamton">Hamton Property Group</a> and Hostplus have delivered five residential stages over the past four years, the most recent in November 2025 with Trackside House and Stonepine House. The flourishing community is now home to almost 500 families.&nbsp;

The latest residential release, The Eveline, has recorded strong demand since launching publicly last July, securing more than $200 million in sales to date, satisfying its pre sales hurdle for construction to commence.&nbsp;

Hamton Founder and Executive Chairman, Paul Hameister OAM said, the sales&nbsp;team have been overwhelmed by demand for these unique homes in this unique project.

"Buyers continue to be predominantly hyperlocal and attracted by the 40 hectare botanic masterplan in Melbourne’s inner north west," Hameister said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=142519 project_image_fid=372788]

Hamton’s Sales and Marketing Director Fergus Humphries said the team has achieved more than 70 sales over the past eight weeks, including the penthouse purchase by a local buyer.

"These results reinforce that, even in a challenging market, purchasers continue to be drawn to quality projects that offer more than just a home, they offer a lifestyle.”

Designed by Cera Stribley, the penthouse has been created with entertaining in mind, spanning close to 400 sqm of indoor and outdoor living space, including multiple terraces designed to capture sweeping views across Melbourne’s skyline, the new Valley racecourse and sunset views over Moonee Ponds.

Moonee Valley Park is one of Melbourne’s largest urban renewal projects, transforming the iconic racecourse site into a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood integrating homes, parklands, retail, racing and community amenities.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=142519]

Moonee Valley Park penthouse sets suburb record as sales surge clears construction benchmark

A company linked to one of Australia's largest privately owned cattle businesses has lodged plans for a new residential tower in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newstead-qld-4006">Newstead</a>, continuing the rapid transformation of one of Brisbane's most sought-after, inner-city precincts.

Bottletree Holdings, an entity associated with Stanbroke Managing Director Brendan Menegazzo, has submitted a development application for a 28-storey mixed-use tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/9-longland-street-newstead-qld-4006">9 Longland Street</a>, a site that made headlines last year when it changed hands in an off-market transaction that reportedly set a benchmark land rate for the suburb.

The proposal would replace an existing two-storey commercial building on the 1,510 sqm corner site with a Bureau Proberts-designed tower comprising 76 apartments, ground-floor retail, office space and a suite of resident wellness amenities.

<img alt="9 Longland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c710a836-568e-4382-bc91-3c34b8e80a8b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.41.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Vy.mQWBc7GA_a.vIBdxKqRC9XGjWalo2" />

According to planning documents lodged with Brisbane City Council, the development would comprise a mix of 36 two-bedroom apartments, 24 three-bedroom apartments and 16 four-bedroom residences, positioning the project firmly at the premium end of the market. The apartments would sit above a podium containing retail and commercial space, with three levels of communal recreation facilities spread throughout the tower. The proposal also includes 198 car spaces and 95 bicycle spaces.

Bureau Proberts has drawn heavily on Newstead's industrial heritage in developing the architectural response.

"Occupying a prominent corner in the heart of Newstead, the proposal draws from the area's industrial lineage of robust brick warehouses to deliver a distinctly contemporary response," the architects said in the design statement.

"It is conceived as a subtropical sanctuary and elevated private retreat embedded within one of Brisbane's most vibrant lifestyle precincts."

The design seeks to reinterpret the traditional Queensland vernacular through wraparound verandahs, deep shading elements and permeable facades that respond to Brisbane's subtropical climate.

<img alt="9 Longland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="25524f59-395c-4825-8fad-9b639822fa8a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.42.09%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=dlWlbpCc_g3Y6yTLGqRVKvGJvO2ubMJ3" />

Planning documents describe the building as embodying the principles of "buildings that breathe", a design approach increasingly favoured in Brisbane's apartment market as developers focus on natural ventilation and outdoor living spaces.

The tower itself would rise above a heavily landscaped podium designed to reference the woolstore architecture that helped define Newstead and neighbouring Teneriffe for generations. At ground level, fine-grain retail tenancies would activate Longland Street, Wyandra Street and the existing Wyatt Street laneway, further extending the pedestrian network that has become a hallmark of the Gasworks precinct.

The application notes that more than 54 per cent of the site would be dedicated to landscaping and deep planting, while approximately 1,750 sqm of communal recreation space would be delivered across multiple levels.

<img alt="Planning" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fed3b189-1054-4b68-af5f-b0befc4a66e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.42.19%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=gqeE3cjsbnLAfeTUKA1HtPZfqDs6S4Xa" />

Bottletree paid $22 million for the 1,510 sqm development site, equating to more than $14,500 per sqm, a reflection of the strong demand for development opportunities in Newstead. The suburb continues to attract both developers and buyers, underpinned by the ongoing evolution of the Gasworks and Teneriffe precincts into some of Brisbane's most sought-after lifestyle destinations.

Brisbane City Council's Sustainable Growth Strategy and Inner City Strategy both identify Newstead as a priority growth precinct capable of accommodating additional housing density due to its proximity to employment hubs, public transport and lifestyle infrastructure.

The proposed tower joins a growing pipeline of high-end apartment developments in the suburb. Fortis recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a>, a 65-apartment owner-occupier-focused development on Kyabra Street, while Consolidated Properties Group is preparing to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a 227-apartment waterfront project on Skyring Terrace.

Meanwhile, builder-developer BPG is planning its own Newstead project on Maud Street, comprising just over 100 apartments and more than 1,380 sqm of dedicated wellness and resident amenity spaces, further highlighting the shift towards lifestyle-driven apartment developments in Brisbane's inner-city market.

Newstead apartment boom continues with Longland Street tower plans

ALAND has taken the next major step in delivering its vision for Leppington Town Centre, lodging State Significant Development plans for a $549 million residential precinct that would bring more than 1,200 new homes within walking distance of Leppington Station.

The proposal, now on public exhibition, forms the Residential Core Precinct of the broader Leppington Town Centre masterplan and would transform a 4.3-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/156-166-rickard-road-leppington-nsw-2179">156-166 Rickard Road</a> into a high-density mixed-use neighbourhood comprising nine residential buildings rising between six and 25 storeys.

<img alt="ALAND" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc20982d-a0a9-4989-8fb3-680ca9fdcd10" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.12.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=l5EEyS6Dkf_SLDQkwDeyAU2nXkSZP2RW" />

The development has been designed by Rothelowman and is being pursued through a State Significant Development Application alongside a concurrent rezoning request under the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

If approved, the project would deliver 1,206 dwellings, including 784 build-to-sell apartments, 208 build-to-rent apartments, 189 affordable housing units and a nine-storey serviced apartment building containing 112 rooms. The proposal also includes around 7,400 sqm of non-residential floor space, new public open space, communal recreation areas and a new internal street network.

<img alt="ALAND" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c4f80d3b-cb05-4068-8a87-808317807a99" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.12.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=KfPqh1JBuxc53IWntEzGHAeBaCLmRmum" />

<h2 data-end="1990" data-section-id="s6350" data-start="1941">A key piece of Leppington's future town centre</h2>

The site sits around 250 metres from Leppington Station, which opened in 2015 as the terminus of the South West Rail Link and has long been earmarked as the catalyst for the suburb's transformation from a rural fringe location into a major strategic centre for Western Sydney.

Leppington has become increasingly important following the announcement of the Western Sydney International Airport and the emergence of Bradfield City Centre, with government planning identifying the precinct as a significant location for future housing and employment growth.

<img alt="ALAND" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ca0f098-affc-48c0-80d3-468ea090a20c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.12.26%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=o3mwgBFT6H9YUllI0JR.JfLsUYQy1CTa" />

According to Rothelowman, the proposal responds directly to Leppington's unique position between its agricultural past and its urban future.

"The site offers an opportunity to weave together multiple layers of history, from its ancient connections to Country along the ridgeline between two waterways and its origins as part of the Cumberland woodland, to its more recent agricultural uses, and its future as a new residential community," the architects said in the design report.

The architects said the project aims to establish a high-density residential typology that combines apartment living with extensive landscaping and public open space.

"The design responds by establishing a high-density typology that combines the convenience and amenity of contemporary apartment living with a renewed native landscape."

<h2 data-end="3541" data-section-id="1ko88s2" data-start="3485">Nine buildings arranged around parks and public space</h2>

The proposal has been designed around a landscape-led framework rather than a traditional podium-and-tower approach.

Across the site, approximately 7,500 sqm of public open space would be delivered through a network of north-south and east-west linear parks, connecting into the wider Leppington Town Centre open space network. A further 8,000 sqm of communal open space would be provided for residents.

<img alt="ALAND" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f5113abf-5440-4610-9cdc-60a0d41a407e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.12.55%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=k8zLMj4yZS4hStmGzZJfosjj5iArwIek" />

Rothelowman said the design seeks to maximise landscaping at ground level by concentrating development into compact tower footprints.

"Buildings are carefully lifted and distributed to minimise disturbance to the natural terrain, allowing the ground plane to remain open, permeable, and led by landscape," the design report states.

Rather than creating a continuous podium edge, the design team has focused on allowing landscaping to extend beneath and around the buildings.

"The ground plane is conceived as an extension of the surrounding environment, allowing landscape to flow up to and beneath the built forms."

The architectural language also draws on the area's natural landscape, with Rothelowman describing a material palette influenced by local gum trees, bark textures, creek systems and sandstone tones.

<h2 data-end="4971" data-section-id="s69utu" data-start="4922">Affordable housing and build-to-rent component</h2>

One of the more significant aspects of the proposal is the diversity of housing typologies.

In addition to traditional apartments for sale, the scheme includes a dedicated 25-storey build-to-rent building with 208 apartments and a 22-storey affordable housing building containing 189 homes.

The affordable housing component represents almost 16 per cent of the total dwellings proposed within the Residential Core Precinct.

<img alt="ALAND" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f87e6808-e462-44c6-bfa8-a3de1816f2e3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.33.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=WTsRKiUAyWw18S5S98yQB5oVuDcnJTxB" />

Community consultation undertaken ahead of the lodgement found support for additional housing in the area, particularly given ongoing affordability challenges across South West Sydney. Survey work conducted with local residents found housing affordability was one of the poorest-rated aspects of living in Leppington, while a majority of respondents were open to additional housing within the local government area.

The site's proximity to Leppington Station was identified as the most positively viewed aspect of the proposal, while public open space and affordable housing provisions also received majority support.

<h2 data-end="6184" data-section-id="1ngkie4" data-start="6140">Part of Leppington's broader expansion</h2>

ALAND will be a significant contributor to the broader vision for Leppington Town Centre, which is expected to accommodate more than 25,000 residents as the precinct evolves over the coming decades.

Located within Sydney's South West Growth Area, the 440-hectare Leppington Town Centre has been identified by the NSW Government as a strategic centre spanning both the Liverpool and Camden local government areas.

In 2023, Liverpool City Council and Camden Council, supported by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, prepared a draft planning proposal to rezone land and amend development controls across a number of sites within the town centre.

The proposal outlines a new vision for Leppington Town Centre, reducing the amount of land allocated for business park uses while increasing land zoned for commercial development, housing and open space. The changes are designed to optimise land use across the precinct and support the delivery of a more walkable, transit-oriented centre anchored by Leppington Station.

&nbsp;

ALAND plots 1,200-home Leppington masterplan

Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/trk-property-group">TRK Property Group</a>&nbsp;has enlisted renowned architecture firm Koichi Takada Architects to design its latest new apartment development.

The new 34-storey tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/57-berwick-street-fortitude-valley-qld-4006">57 Berwick Street, Fortitude Valley</a>,&nbsp;will have 189 apartments, complete with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/byculprit">byCULPRIT</a>. The upper levels&nbsp;capturing views across the Story Bridge, city skyline, ranges, bay and river.

Residents will have access to a rooftop amenity floor with facilities including a pool, spa, sauna, hot and cold treatment, meditation garden, gym, yoga studio, private dining, BBQ, games lounge, wine display wall, work library, meeting rooms and outdoor work areas.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/trk-property-group">TRK</a> Founder and Managing Director, Arpan Kohli, said it will be a project "Brisbane hasn't seen before."

&nbsp;

"To deliver a project of this calibre, you need the right people involved," Kohli said.

"Koichi Takada Architects and byCULPRIT set the benchmarks for design excellence, and this project reflects that - a building of genuine architectural significance in one of Brisbane's most coveted locations, sitting between Howard Smith Wharves and the James Street precinct."

TRK recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/laya-residences-taigum-203-beams-road-taigum-qld-4018">LAYA Residences in Taigum</a>, 88 three-bedroom townhouses starting from $1,495,000. They have another apartment site in Indooroopilly, at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/140-central-avenue-indooroopilly-qld-4068">140 Central Avenue</a>. That will have 131 apartments.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

TRK proposes Koichi Takada-designed apartment development in Fortitude Valley

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>

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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The latest listing on prestigious Lindsay Avenue, Darling Point is the home of retired car dealer Laurie Sutton.
The luxury Michael Dysart-designed mansion home, set above McKell Park, was influenced by the design aesthetic of Kyoto's imperial palace built around an imposing two-storey atrium.
The five bedroom, seven bathroom home integrates with the natural environment.
Entry to the home is through a grand stone entrance and a panelled door made from zinc.
There is a heated swimming pool, with gun-barrel Harbour views, along with its lift accessed 10 car garage.
Alison Coopes at Alison Coopes Agency has given the home a $35 million price tag.
It has currently been on market for 35 days, for sale through an expressions of interest campaign closing April 17.
Last sold in 20007 the home traded for $18.25 million.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Michael Dysart-designed Darling Point mansion listed

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Channel 7 Sunrise news presenter Natalie Barr and husband, television commercial editor Andrew Thompson, have decided to stay in Mosman as renters, after selling their home late last year.
They’ve secured a five-bedroom home just 700m from their former $3.6 million abode. 
The rental home, a short stroll from Sirius Cove, was advertised for rent at $2500 a week through Richardson &amp; Wrench leasing agent Robert Simeon.
It last traded for $1.85 million in 2002. There’s an open-plan living area with fireplace and a veranda opens to a level garden in the no pets home.
The couple, along with their two children, have been on the Mosman merry-go-round for the past few years.
They sold for $3.6 million, having paid $3,235,000 just two years earlier for the unrenovated 1910 Federation home.
Take a look at one of the most picturesque streets in Sydney. 
Their first Mosman home, bought for $1.28 million in 2002 fetched $2,891,999 in 2016. 
Mosman is a hot spot for television personalities.
The former Today host Karl Stefanovic rents there, too.
Today’s co-host Georgie Gardner recently spent $6 million on a Beauty Point home. 
Barr’s long-time colleague Mark Berretta, who began presenting Seven Early News sport in 2008 alongside Barr, has also called Mosman home for many years.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph. 
 
 
<a href="http://www.rwm.com.au/22-lennox-street-mosman-nsw-4482781/"> </a>
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firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

Sunrise presenter Natalie Barr stays put in Mosman

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Undeterred by its recent tech startup failures, LJ Hooker has announced the release of a tailored new tech platform that promises to lead the digital transformation of the real estate industry.
LJ Hooker chairman L Janusz Hooker said that, for clients, the propriety-built artificial intelligence platform enables a more transparent buying and selling process, maximising customer satisfaction.
He said that, for agents, the platform offers better efficiency and mobile capability, automating the hundreds of steps involved from appraisal to settlement.
Mr Hooker said that the technology is implemented first in LJ Hooker Avnu, before being expanded across the entire franchise network.
“Advancements in technology have now enabled us to build our platform,” he said.
“In particular, the commoditisation of AI and machine learning, spread of cloud computing and access to open source frameworks, and our ability to recruit top engineers with international experience building the tech infrastructure for the likes of Google, LinkedIn and Twitter.
“The modern-day consumer demands the products and services they consume be delivered in real time.
"It’s the right time for Australia’s largest asset class real estate, valued at $7.5 trillion, to deliver on that level of service,” he told an industry website, REB.
Meanwhile The Australian Financial Review has reported today that "several months of inactivity" had led to questions about the viability of the Avnu model, and its cost impact on LJ Hooker.
Hooker responded saying an Avnu office would only be opened in areas where an LJ Hooker franchise didn't already have a presence.
The first Avnu store in Neutral Bay replaced the terminated LJ Hooker Mosman franchise when its former principals moved to Ray White in 2017.
"It's a big investment to make, but we see a big return coming out of it, " Mr Hooker said.
Traditional agents spend approximately 30 percent of their time listing and selling, 30 percent on lead generation and 40 percent on administration tasks.
It is hoped the technology at LJ Hooker Avnu consolidates administration to just 15 percent.
<a href="/news/ljhs-avnu-ceo-chucks-in-job-to-become-domain-s-chief-customer-officer">Avnu lost its CEO Jason Chuck this week</a> in an unexpected disruption to the business rollout.
LJ Hooker's think-tank LJX-Lab previously developed an online and offline real estate agency model to work in partnership with the LJ Hooker business.
Named Settl, it was led by a start-up team staffed with people from Uber, Atlassian, Freelancer and Airtasker, but failed to succeed despite having been in development for 18 months.
LJX-Lab had been hoped to be in a unique position to develop and launch technology for the real estate industry.
LJ Hooker committed $100 million to establish a real estate startup incubator, with LJX-Lab's first development Real Edge, a digital learning and coaching platform that delivers LJ Hooker's training programs online.
 LJX-Lab had assembled an advisory board of business leaders, including:
<ul>
<li>Freelancer.com CEO, Matt Barrie (Sydney);</li>
<li>MD CSIRO Innovation Fund and &amp; Founder of Black Bird Ventures, Bill Bartee (Sydney);</li>
<li>Co-Founder and Principal of RFR Holding, Michael Fuchs (New York);</li>
<li>Director of Zoopla.com and former CEO of Countrywide Real Estate Group, Grenville Turner (London).</li>
</ul>
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LJ Hooker to pioneer artificial intelligence tech platform

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The Bellevue Hill home that belonged to Lady Sonia McMahon and her husband, former prime minister William McMahon, seems set to be listed for sale.
It last traded for $9 million in 2011 when it was bought by Amber Richmond of the RPM Electrical family, and her husband Jamie Schwarz, a Yellow Brick Road executive.
They are set to emerge as the buyers of Mark and Anna Pasternak’s Vaucluse home for $15.1 million.
McMahon had paid $123,000 for the home in 1968, the year her son, actor Julian McMahon, was born.
She bought it from turf commission agent Harold Fay.
Julian and his two sisters executed the sale in 2011, a year after their mother's death, having grown up in the home.
The study of Sir William, who died in 1988, was intact until its listing in 2011.
The six bedroom, 1920s home on Drumalbyn Road (photographed mid-week by Property Observer without any indication of listing sign board out front) is whispered to be listed seeking $18 million after its full-scale renovation.
Amber Richmond, is the granddaughter of the late Peter and Ruth Simon, who established the electrical switch manufacturers HPM Industries. 
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YBR/HPM couple listing former Lady Sonia McMahon's Bellevue Hill home

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The VFL footy legend Sam Newman, who ranks among the A-list names previously floated as potential buyers in stage one of the Saint Moritz, St Kilda complex, is keeping everyone guessing.
<div>
Asked whether he was set to move in by the local paper, The Herald Sun, Newman only confirmed he had looked at the luxury tower which is being officially launched this weekend.
“I’m still considering the whole thing,” Newman said. The Geelong great currently lives in Docklands.
<div>He once commissioned the <a href="/news/vic/pamela-anderson-house-built-for-sam-newman-on-the-market">infamous ultra-modern “Pamela Anderson” house</a> in St Kilda West, although never loved in it.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Newman also previously owned in 8 The Esplanade, where he had a two bedroom 14th floor penthouse apartment in the 1985-built Arrandale complex which he sold in 2015 at $1.9 million.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>The apartments in the initial St Kilda building are set to average $3.5 million with completion in three years.</div>
 “I was really surprised how many buyers there were for these apartments,” said the developer Tim Gurner.
</div>
</div>
<div>
“This will become a precinct where the buildings will house a number of Melbourne’s very wealthy families,” he suggests.
<div>
<div>The 120-apartment redevelopment of the Novotel hotel site on St Kilda’s Esplanade reportedly officially goes on sale with prices starting at $1.4 million.</div>
<div>  </div>
<div>Opened in 1939, the St Moritz ice skating rink was one of the suburb’s grandest icons.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The project is seen as part of the transformation away from its seedy reputation, which has been further soured with violent assaults even against police in recent times.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>But there have been whispers since late last year that the Melbourne developer had quietly achieved a "near sellout" of the initial offering of apartments in the $550 million project.</div>
<div>
Gurner amended the exisiting permit for 14 – 16 The Esplanade, St Kilda, to halve the number of apartments from 240 to 120.
“We believe the luxury end of the market has been waiting for something like this to come along," Tim Gurner said officially in February when seeking registrations of interest.  
The first of the three buildings, Pacific House features 45 residences.
Wilson Agents recently placed an Instagram posting advising the off market sales progress.
"For those of you who don’t already know, the Novotel on the upper esplanade is being completely demolished and in a few years from now the most amazing beachfront residences I have ever seen will be built in its place," agent Grace Le-francke posted. 
"They are almost completely sold out already in a matter of weeks," she advised.
The sales included the $30 million penthouse that sits atop Pacific House to the <a href="/news/antony-catalano-buys-gurners-shrunk-30-million-saint-moritz-st-kilda-penthouse">former Domain chief Antony Catalano</a>. 
Over summer Gurner had the naming rights partner of the recent Australian Yachting Championships, conducted by the host club at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron in St Kilda.
</div>
</div>
</div>
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Sam Newman keeps everyone guessing on Saint Moritz, St Kilda  acquisition

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The shortlist for the 2019 Victorian Architecture Awards has been revealed with .89 projects shortlisted across 14 categories celebrating public, residential, heritage and regional architecture.

Run by the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, the 2019 shortlist was whittled down from a total of 248 entries by independent juries.

<blockquote>
“At a time where we are acutely aware of the issues that our industry is facing due to increased procurement and economic pressures, the awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge the significant efforts made by architects, clients, consultants and contractors to provide quality built outcomes.

Most importantly, sustainability in design needs to be understood through the lens of longevity, going beyond short-term gains and visions. This is a prevailing message highlighted in our shortlisted projects this year. “All good buildings require a considered and collaborative design process. It is these projects that provide the best outcomes for delivering permanent benefits to communities at large"

The design outcomes achieved via the shortlisted public architecture projects define the important role that the public realm plays in providing exemplar-built outcomes that support our growing communities and provide a legacy for future generations.

With population density rising across our cities, public space becomes an incredibly valuable commodity – not only from an economic perspective, but more importantly for the wellbeing of our communities.”

-  Amy Muir, Victorian Chapter President
</blockquote>

All entries into the 2019 awards program will form part of an exhibition at No Vacancy Gallery, which will run until 21 April, and will highlight the array of architecture across the state.

The winners of the 2019 Victorian Architecture Awards will be announced at the official awards dinner on 28 June. Winners of each category will then be eligible for recognition in the National Architecture Awards program.

<h2>Shortlist</h2>

Residential Architecture - Houses (New) 37 entries / 13 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>St Andrews Beach House | Austin Maynard Architects
</li>
	<li>Hawthorn House | Edition Office
</li>
	<li>Point Lonsdale House | Edition Office
</li>
	<li>Ballarat House | Eldridge Anderson
</li>
	<li>Sandy Point House | Kennedy Nolan
</li>
	<li>Fitzroy Lane | Kennedy Nolan
</li>
	<li>Canopy House | Leeton Pointon Architects &amp; Interiors
</li>
	<li>Springhill House | Lovell Burton Architecture
</li>
	<li>North Melbourne House | NMBW Architecture Studio
</li>
	<li>Daylesford Longhouse | Partners Hill
</li>
	<li>Bluff House | Rob Kennon Architects
</li>
	<li>House in the Hills | Sean Godsell Architects
</li>
	<li>Cornerstone House | Splinter Society Architecture
</li>
</ul>
Residential Architecture - Houses (New) Jury 
Rodney Eggleston (Chair) | March Studio 
Andrew Simpson | Andrew Simpson Architects 
Claire Humphreys | Kerstin Thompson Architects 

Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing 23 entries / 7 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>Iglu Franklin Street | Bates Smart
</li>
	<li>Nth FITZROY Apartments | Fieldwork
</li>
	<li>Whitlam Place | Freadman White in collaboration with Anon Studio
</li>
	<li>Scarborough and Welkin | Justin Mallia Architecture
</li>
	<li>Little Oxford | Kennedy Nolan
</li>
	<li>Farmer Street | MAArchitects
</li>
	<li>Clyde Mews | Six Degrees Architects
</li>
	<li>Hawke &amp; King | Six Degrees Architects
</li>
</ul>
Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing Jury 
Richard Middleton (Chair) | HASSELL 
Bonnie Herring | Breathe Architecture 
Jesse Linardi | DKO Architecture

Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations and Additions) 35 entries / 14 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>South Yarra House | AM Architecture
</li>
	<li>Cascade House | Atelier Red+Black
</li>
	<li>Grant House | Austin Maynard Architects
</li>
	<li>Brick &amp; Gable House | Breathe Architecture
</li>
	<li>182 Rose | Fieldwork
</li>
	<li>Light Corridor House | Figr
</li>
	<li>Storybook House | Folk Architects
</li>
	<li>York St Residence | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
</li>
	<li>Caroline House | Kennedy Nolan
</li>
	<li>Oak House | Kennedy Nolan
</li>
	<li>Garden Wall House | MAKE Architecture
</li>
	<li>Edsall Street | RITZ&amp;GHOUGASSIAN
</li>
	<li>Powell Street House | Robert Simeoni Architects
</li>
	<li>Fitzroy Terrace | Taylor Knights
</li>
	<li>Acheson Place | Workshop Architecture
</li>
</ul>
Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations and Additions) Jury 
Jane Caught (Chair) | Sibling Architecture 
Antony Martin | MRTN Architects 
Michael Roper | Architecture Architecture

Small Project Architecture 21 entries / 8 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>Together Apart | Architecture Architecture
</li>
	<li>Super Field | Baracco+Wright Architects
</li>
	<li>Jock Comini Reserve Amenities | Kerstin Thompson Architects
</li>
	<li>Sunda Bar &amp; Restaurant | Kerstin Thompson Architects
</li>
	<li>Tiny Home | Maddison Architects
</li>
	<li>Smiths Beach Surf Life Saving Tower | MRTN Architects
</li>
	<li>Doubleground | MUIR + OPENWORK
</li>
	<li>New Agency | Sibling Architecture
</li>
</ul>
Small Project Architecture Jury 
Keith Streames (Chair) | Streames Architects 
Natalie Miles | Austin Maynard Architects 
Jamie Sormann | Foomann Architects

Urban Design 10 entries / 5 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>Swan Street Bridge Upgrade | BKK Architects with McGregor Coxall and Relume
</li>
	<li>Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal | Cox Architecture with ASPECT Studios
</li>
	<li>South Melbourne Primary School | Hayball
</li>
	<li>Rosanna Station | MGS Architects and Jacobs Architects
</li>
	<li>Parliament of Victoria Member’s Annexe | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design
</li>
</ul>
Urban Design Jury 
Adam Pustola (Chair) | Lyons 
Veryan Curnow | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects 
Jocelyn Chiew | Monash University

Heritage 26 entries / 11 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>Loch Street House | Donald Gallagher and Shelley Penn Architect
</li>
	<li>Royal Mint Wall Remediation | HLCD Pty Ltd with Ingegnaria and Oculus
</li>
	<li>Albert Park College Liberal Arts Centre | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
</li>
	<li>Kagan House | Kennedy Nolan
</li>
	<li>Sacred Heart Building Abbotsford Convent Foundation | Kerstin Thompson Architects
</li>
	<li>Bendigo Soldiers’ Memorial Institute | Lovell Chen
</li>
	<li>Flinders Street Station Facade Strengthening &amp; Conservation | Lovell Chen
</li>
	<li>The Bank, Vaughan | Maria Danos Architecture
</li>
	<li>Classical Gas - original stereo version | Multiplicity with Mel Ogden Landscapes
</li>
	<li>Monash Caulfield, Buildings D, E and G | NMBW Architecture Studio
</li>
	<li>Parliament of Victoria Member’s Annexe | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design
</li>
</ul>
Heritage Jury 
Matt Gibson (Chair) | Matt Gibson Architecture + Design 
Janet Beeston | Frontier Heritage P/L 
Vicki McLean | Heritage Victoria

Commercial Architecture 18 entries / 7 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>United Places Botanic Gardens South Yarra | Carr
</li>
	<li>Melbourne Jetbase | Cox Architecture
</li>
	<li>ArtBank | Edition Office
</li>
	<li>Pt Leo Estate | Jolson
</li>
	<li>Melbourne Central Arcade | Kennedy Nolan
</li>
	<li>Private Women’s Club | Kerstin Thompson Architects
</li>
	<li>RACV Cape Schanck Resort | Wood Marsh Architecture
</li>
</ul>
Commercial Architecture Jury 
Tim Leslie (Chair) | Bates Smart 
Anna Maskiell | Public Realm Lab 
Domenic Cerantonio | Cera Stribley Architects

Interior Architecture 34 entries / 10 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>Kia Ora Apartment | Baracco+Wright Architects
</li>
	<li>The Club Stand | Bates Smart
</li>
	<li>2 Southbank | BVN
</li>
	<li>United Places Botanic Gardens South Yarra | Carr
</li>
	<li>Denton Corker Marshall Studio | Denton Corker Marshall
</li>
	<li>Whitlam Place | Freadman White in collaboration with Anon Studio
</li>
	<li>Melbourne Central Arcade | Kennedy Nolan
</li>
	<li>Private Women’s Club | Kerstin Thompson Architects
</li>
	<li>Parliament of Victoria Member’s Annexe | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design
</li>
	<li>Powell Street House | Robert Simeoni Architects
</li>
</ul>
Interior Architecture Jury 
Karen Alcock (Chair) | MAA 
Eugene Cheah | Cheah Saw Architecture 
Oliver Duff | Clare Cousins Architects

Public Architecture 24 entries / 11 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>The Club Stand | Bates Smart</li>
	<li>Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal | Cox Architecture
</li>
	<li>Melbourne Jetbase | Cox Architecture
</li>
	<li>Buxton Contemporary | Fender Katsalidis
</li>
	<li>Port of Sale | fjmt
</li>
	<li>Frankston Station | Genton
</li>
	<li>St Albans Station | HASSELL
</li>
	<li>Rosanna Station | MGS Architects and Jacobs Architects
</li>
	<li>Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Expansion | NH Architecture and Woods Bagot
</li>
	<li>Parliament of Victoria Member’s Annexe | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design
</li>
	<li>West Gippsland Arts Centre | Williams Ross Architects
</li>
</ul>
Public Architecture Jury 
Rosemary Burne (Chair) | Conrad Gargett 
Simon Knott | BKK Architects 
Anne Clisby | Denton Corker Marshall

Educational Architecture 20 entries / 9 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>Biomedical Learning and Teaching Building, Monash University | Denton Corker Marshall
</li>
	<li>Prahran High School | Gray Puksand
</li>
	<li>Braemar College Stage 1, Middle School | Hayball
</li>
	<li>South Melbourne Primary School | Hayball
</li>
	<li>Moot Court Learning Precinct for the Monash Faculty of Law | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
</li>
	<li>Albert Park College Liberal Arts Centre | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
</li>
	<li>Monash University Caulfield Library Refurbishment | John Wardle Architects
</li>
	<li>Northcote High School Performing Arts &amp; VCE Centre | Kerstin Thompson Architects
</li>
	<li>Christ Church Grammar School Main Campus Redevelopment | Sally Draper Architects in association with Mcldowie Partners
</li>
</ul>
Educational Architecture Jury 
Michael McKenna (Chair) | Michael McKenna Pty Ltd 
Emily Chalk | Kosloff Architecture 
Sean van der Velden | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design

Sustainable Architecture 9 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>Loch Street House | Donald Gallagher and Shelley Penn Architect
</li>
	<li>MPavilion | Estudio Carme Pinos and Zilka Studio
</li>
	<li>Eltham North Adventure Playground | Gardiner Architects with Jeavons Landscape Architects
</li>
	<li>Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre | Guymer Bailey Architects Pty Ltd
</li>
	<li>Scarborough and Welkin | Justin Mallia Architecture
</li>
	<li>Bendigo Soldiers’ Memorial Institute | Lovell Chen
</li>
	<li>Tiny Home | Maddison Architects
</li>
	<li>Parliament of Victoria Member’s Annexe | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design
</li>
	<li>Hawke &amp; King | Six Degrees Architects
</li>
</ul>
Sustainable Architecture Jury 
Marika Neustupny (Chair) | NMBW 
Emma Gauder | Architects EAT 
Andrew Walter | Woods Bagot

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture 5 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>Peter Mathieson Pavilion | CO-OP Studio
</li>
	<li>Springhill House | Lovell Burton Architecture
</li>
	<li>House in the Hills | Sean Godsell Architects
</li>
	<li>Rosanna Station | MGS Architects and Jacobs Architects
</li>
	<li>The Cinema Complex at the District Docklands | NH Architecture
</li>
</ul>
COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture Jury 
Dr Leanne Zilka (Chair) | Zilka Studio 
Aimee Goodwin | Project 12 Architecture 
Tim Wilson | Folk Architects

Regional Prize 4 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>Cobram Library &amp; Learning Centre | Cohen Leigh Architects
</li>
	<li>Port of Sale | fjmt
</li>
	<li>Pt Leo Estate | Jolson
</li>
	<li>Jock Comini Reserve Amenities | Kerstin Thompson Architects
</li>
</ul>
Regional Prize Jury 
Kim Irons (Chair) | Irons McDuff Architecture 
Sarah Zahradnik | NH Architecture 
Kim Bridgland | Edition Office

Melbourne Prize 5 shortlisted projects

<ul>
<li>The Club Stand | Bates Smart</li>
	<li>Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal | Cox Architecture with ASPECT Studios
</li>
	<li>South Melbourne Primary School | Hayball
</li>
	<li>Private Women’s Club | Kerstin Thompson Architects
</li>
	<li>Parliament of Victoria Member’s Annexe | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design
</li>
</ul>
Melbourne Prize Jury 
Jane Williams (Chair) | John Wardle Architects 
Alix Smith | HASSELL 
Stefano Scalzo | Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority
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urban.com.au

2019 Victorian Architecture Awards Shortlist announced

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New data from the rental property website Rent.com.au has revealed what’s on the minds of renters ahead of the 2019 Federal Election. 
Results from the March election survey indicated that a significant group of Australia’s renters are generally undecided voters, indicating the opportunity available to the various parties if they can clearly articulate their policies.
“Having nearly 70% of our renting population unsure of who to vote for was a surprise to me,” said Rent.com.au CEO Greg Bader (pictured above).
“Maybe it shouldn’t have been, given the recent, relatively unstable nature of federal politics. 
“We have all major parties talking about their potential changes (or lack of changes) to some of the core elements that promote investment in properties such as capital gains tax and negative gearing, yet they do not seem to be able to articulate clearly how this will affect renters: will there be more choice; will prices go up or down? These are the things that the renting (and wider) population would like to know”.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/4/3/renter%201%20.png" alt="">
Source: rent.com.au
“Given that one-third of the population rents, the responses to this question go broader than renting issues and show that the various political parties still have an opportunity to make a significant difference in the upcoming election. Especially given the number of marginal seats and the rise of independent candidates in our political system,” said Bader.
“To me the message is very clear, renting voters want politicians to be more open and honest with them by explaining their policies (and the reasons) clearly. Renters know that both State and Federal Governments have the power to change policies and legislation that will have significant and lasting impacts on their lifestyle, so for our Federal politicians – speak clearly please. 
“One of the real structural issues in our market (and somewhat unique in the world) is that most of our renting stock is held by private investors with one or two properties – i.e. ‘mums and dads’ whereas other markets have managed to create environments with a diversity of stock. So we would encourage the Federal government, from whichever side of politics, to keep pushing through changes to encourage the ‘build to rent’ industry.”
The perception is that things aren’t getting better for renters 
Asked about change in the political climate for renters since the last election back in 2016, responses were concrete; 83% reported that they felt no improvement in the renters’ lot. 
“We (as an industry and as a community) need to understand that one in three of us rents and that proportion is growing,” Bader said. “What tenants want is a place to live – a home – and the ability to treat that property as their home. Lease security and flexible lease durations are all major issues that renters face.”
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/4/3/renter%202.png" alt="">
Source: rent.com.au
“Our research shows that 80% of renters feel they have not been acknowledged by major political parties in the lead-up to the 2019 Federal Election. This is an opportunity for our Federal politicians to secure renters votes through policies that can be simply explained including what expected impacts they will have. 
“We also know that State Governments play a significant role with renting legislation. In fact, most states have passed (or are in the process of passing) changes to the Residential Tenancies Act which have been designed to strengthen renters’ rights, better protect vulnerable tenants and enable people to turn the house they rent into a home, for example. Surprisingly, some 70% of respondents were not actually aware of the changes happening in their states so there is also an opportunity to communicate some of the excellent work underway.”
Affordability still an issue, but a growing market wants to rent 
Bader said: “While we’ve recently seen an increase in the amount of people choosing to rent for lifestyle purposes (the ‘practical renter’), our survey found that affordability was still a significant driver.” 
“The renting demographic in this country is on the rise and pretty consistent with global trends. Australia’s 7 million renters make up a significant proportion – around 30% of the total population and this number is steadily increasing. It’s a growing market, and one in need of advocacy and recognition.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/4/3/renter%203.png" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge: 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/4/3/renter%203.png" alt="">
“We know from our research and work with our customer base that yes, affordability is still an important factor for many (especially the last few years in Sydney and Melbourne, and more recently in Hobart). We are also seeing that people enjoy the flexibility (lifestyle, location) that renting can offer – in fact, about 25% of our customers indicate they currently own an investment property but live elsewhere (rentvestors) or are currently saving to purchase a property they don’t intend to live in.
“In Australia, we’re starting to see increased momentum in the vocalisation of renters’ needs. This has undoubtedly been caused by factors like housing affordability issues, job mobility, lifestyle and investment preferences.
“In our own business, we’ve seen huge growth in the number of renters (more than half a million) who have gone to great lengths to stand out by creating a Renter Resume on rent.com.au, so there’s a real need there to ensure this important demographic is heard. Political parties ignore renters at their peril.”
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Who Aussie renters are voting for this election

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Palazzo, a waterfront Sydney Habour residence with harbour views, has hit the market.
The two storey home has been offered by The Agency's Michael Rava and Scott Thornton. 
Positioned in Birchgrove's most exclusive cul-de-sac, <a href="https://theagency.com.au/16581/99-louisa-road-birchgrove" target="_blank">Palazzo at 99 Louisa Road</a> comes with two bedrooms, separate home office or third bedroom, and entertainer's kitchen.
Other highlights include wide alfresco terrace, C-bus Smart home control, permanent mooring with private jetty and boat pen, and auto lock up garage. 
It has been scheduled for auction on April 18. 
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Birchgrove harbourfront home Palazzo to go to auction 

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Retired Socceroo captain Mile Jedinak has sold his St Ives investment apartment for $820,000.
The 34 year old Camperdown-born midfielder, who is currently playing for Aston Villa in England, paid $570,000 for the apartment in 2009, just after he left the Central Coast Mariners for Europe.
The 90 square metre, two bedroom apartment in the Meriton-built Loralea Gardens complex, has been a rental during his decade long ownership while he played overseas.
The sale was through Meriton Group project sales manager Jason Miao WHO secured the sale, having initially offered a guide of $850,000 to $900,000, before revising the guide to $800,000 to $850,000.
Jedinak is rumoured to be returning to the A-League next season, with one of the expansion teams believed to have tabled an offer.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph. 
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Retired Socceroo captain Mile Jedinak sells St Ives apartment

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Professional surfer Julian Wilson and wife Ashley have moved to Coolum, where Julian grew up.
Having sold their Peregian Beach home for $4.15 million, the couple have moved to Coolum, paying $1.08 million for a five bedroom, architect designed home on 640 square metres.
The north facing home features an open plan living kitchen and dining which opens to an alfresco area and salt water swimming pool in landscaped gardens.
PRD Nationwide Coolum Beach agent Greg Glover sold the home.
Late last year the couple sold their award winning Peregian Beach home.
Wilson paid $3,325,000 for the Tim Ditchfield-designed home with external zinc cladding and concrete and timber features in 2015.
In 2009 it was awarded House of the Year and received a Regional Commendation by the Australian Institute of Architects. 
This article was first published in the Weekend Australian. 
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