Aria sells over $500 million at South Brisbane's Sanctuary Residences ahead of public launch
Aria Property Group has secured more than $500 million in apartment sales at its next major South Brisbane development, Sanctuary Residences, before taking the project to the public market.
The Brisbane-based developer achieved the sales throughout September without a public advertising campaign, with larger three and four-bedroom apartments attracting the strongest demand.
Of the 231 apartments in the Bates Smart-designed tower, 165 are three and four-bedroom residences, a mix that has proven particularly popular with downsizers looking to move from established family homes without sacrificing space.
“The pattern is very clear. People are not trading down in size when they move out of a house, they are trading sideways and asking for more,” Aria Property Group's Brent Liddell said.
“We designed Sanctuary for that buyer and the response has been beyond expectations.”
While downsizers have accounted for much of the early interest, Aria has also seen demand from young professionals and families, including buyers already living in South Brisbane and surrounding suburbs, as well as interstate purchasers.
The remaining apartments were released to the public on 19 October, with prices starting from $1.99 million for two-bedroom apartments, $2.72 million for three-bedroom residences and $4.01 million for four-bedroom homes.
Sanctuary Residences is the first of three towers planned within Aria's broader Sanctuary precinct, which will transform a significant Melbourne Street site into a new residential, retail and dining destination.
Located at 164–190 Melbourne Street, the precinct is one of the last major undeveloped sites along the busy South Brisbane strip.
Aria spent eight years amalgamating the site across multiple titles before commencing civil works in April 2024, well ahead of the residential sales campaign.
The developer says the early commencement of works has helped manage construction costs, with savings factored into the initial apartment pricing.
Bates Smart has designed the 231 apartments with a particular focus on Brisbane's subtropical climate. Residences feature 2.9-metre ceilings, deep recessed balconies, operable glazing and layouts that encourage natural ventilation.
Apartment interiors range from 100 sqm to 204 sqm, complemented by balconies spanning 14 sqm to 33 sqm.
“We wanted every journey through the residences to feel immersed in nature and unmistakably Brisbane,” Bates Smart Director Guy Lake said.
“The arrival sequence moves from landscaped forecourt to a hotel-inspired lobby via naturally ventilated corridors, so residents feel and touch air and greenery throughout.”
A significant part of the development is what Aria is delivering at ground level.
Working with architecture practice Richards + Spence and landscape designers Subtropic Design, the developer is creating a publicly accessible precinct featuring a new park beneath mature trees, five laneways and 12 retail and dining tenancies.
Two existing heritage buildings, the former Bonds sweet factory and Malouf's fruit shop, will also be rest
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at Apartments.com.au, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country’s most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the off the plan property market. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia’s evolving development landscape.
He holds a degree in Business Management with a major in Journalism from Leeds Beckett University in the UK, and has developed a particular expertise in off the plan apartment space. Joel’s editorial lens spans the full lifecycle of a project, from site acquisition and planning approvals through to new launches, construction completions, and final sell-out, delivering trusted, buyer-focused content that supports informed decision-making across the property journey
