National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

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Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Australia Post is one of the country’s most trusted institutions, powering one of the largest delivery networks in Australia. As online shopping continues to scale, Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online.

That scale of eCommerce activity has fundamentally changed expectations around how and when parcels arrive, and what happens when someone isn't home.

<h3>Problem solved with Parcel Lockers</h3>

The traditional alternatives to home delivery are far from ideal. Buildings can rely on reception teams to manage deliveries, which introduces ongoing staffing costs and liability concerns. Parcels can be left in common areas, which creates security and aesthetic issues. Or residents are redirected to nearby Post Offices for collection, which shifts the inconvenience rather than solving it.

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The data behind that frustration is significant. Nationally, around 9 per cent of deliveries are carded, meaning the recipient was not home and must collect the parcel from a Post Office. That figure reflects the national average reported between November 2025 and January 2026. In Melbourne, that figure rises to 20 per cent. In high-density living, it climbs again to 28 per cent. In other words, more than one in four deliveries in Melbourne apartment buildings results in a failed first attempt.

<h3>How Parcel Lockers work</h3>

The mechanics are simple. When a parcel arrives, the resident receives a notification either through the Australia Post app or via SMS. They scan a QR code, use their one-time PIN and the compartment opens. The parcel is secure, accessible and removed from the lobby floor.

Located in thoughtfully chosen, easily accessible areas, including external building interfaces, mixed-use precincts or shared communal zones, Parcel Lockers enhance convenience without requiring internal building access or additional operational oversight.

<h3>The scale of the network</h3>

This expansion represents Australia Post's largest investment in parcel infrastructure to date, building on momentum that began in 2011 when the first 24 Parcel Locker sites were introduced.

Today the Australia Post Parcel Locker network spans over 1,400 locations and more than 105,000 individual compartments, with major investment already underway to significantly expand the network further.

<h3>What it means for developers and building operators</h3>

A Parcel Locker bank is free to install and free for residents to use. That removes one of the primary barriers to adoption and shifts the conversation from cost to integration.

Australia Post's preference is to engage with developers during the design phase. That allows Parcel Lockers to be located in a considered, publicly accessible space that works for residents and the broader community. Retrofit is possible, and existing buildings can be assessed, but the strongest results occur when Parcel Lockers are treated as part of the core services plan rather than a bolt-on solution.

While the iconic Australia Post red is widely recognised, Parcel Lockers can also be delivered in more muted palettes such as beige or green to align with architectural intent.

For developers, they offer a tech-forward amenity that meets modern expectations, a reduction in courier congestion and building-management load supporting lower emissions and better ESG outcomes, and a meaningful marketability advantage in high-density, eCommerce-active areas, all at no cost for installation and maintenance, with Australia Post funding the program aside from power access.

<h3>Who's using them</h3>

Generational shopping behaviours show strong, sustained growth across all cohorts. Millennials (27–43) led online spend in 2024, contributing nearly $25 billion. Baby Boomers (60–78) increased their online spend by 17.6 per cent, becoming the fastest-growing adopters. Gen Z (13–26) and Gen X (44–59) continue to lean on delivery services as part of their everyday shopping habits.

Internationally, uptake is even more pronounced. Overseas markets are seeing rapid adoption by both developers and consumers, positioning Parcel Lockers as standard infrastructure in many new residential projects. For Melbourne's development community, this signals a shift in baseline expectations. Just as secure bike storage and dedicated parcel rooms have become more common, integrated Parcel Locker networks may soon be viewed as part of the essential service mix.

<h3>The bigger picture</h3>

Parcel Lockers aren't just a logistics fix. Developers invest heavily in lobby design, materials, lighting and landscaping to shape first impressions. Yet a stack of unattended parcels can undo that effort in an instant. Embedding parcel infrastructure early allows projects to respond to how people actually live today, supporting resident satisfaction, reducing operational strain and aligning with broader community and ESG outcomes.

As Belinda Quinn, Senior Transaction Manager – Retail &amp; Out of Home at Australia Post, puts it, residents increasingly expect delivery solutions that align with real life, are flexible, secure and available whenever they need them.

How Australia Post is solving the parcel problem for apartment living

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Residential developments are popping up on former commercial and industrial sites in the states’ capital cities as governments rezone land to encourage higher density living close to urban centres.
Investec Australia <a href="https://lifemoreinteresting.com.au/vision/" target="_blank">launched a residential project</a> in Adelaide’s inner city suburb of Bowden at the weekend on the former site of manufacturer Clipsal Corporation’s production facility.
Nigel Brophy, a director of Investec’s Infrastructure Finance &amp; Investment business, said Adelaide’s property market was different from the markets in the other eastern states.
“I wouldn’t say the [Adelaide] market is slow,” Brophy said. “It’s steady and always consistent … It doesn’t have the high peaks but it also has not had the deep troughs. It has always been steadier.
“When the east coast markets look hot, Adelaide might look moderate but it doesn’t fall off those peaks. It has always had relatively balanced supply and demand.”
That more moderate pace meant developers needed to take note of what Adelaide residents want in a property, such as access to parkland and convenience to transport, Brophy added.
“We also have to have regard for the fact that the market is small so we have to make sure the project is in proportion to the size of the market,” he said.
The first release includes 20 two-bedroom apartments, called ‘B’ apartments after the New York B-Line which stretches from Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach to the Bronx. It is planned for completion in early 2016.
Investec is working with the South Australian Government’s Renewal SA on the project, which is part of a wider redevelopment of the former Clipsal site.
The six storey ‘B’ apartments building is the tallest development released in Bowden to date.
Brophy said he expected young people looking for convenience and people who wanted to downsize their homes to a property with security and good access to the city to be attracted to the apartments.
The apartments are opposite Kevin Taylor Park, overlooking the future Bowden Town Square and close to public transport.
Bowden is less than 4 kilometres from Adelaide’s CBD and close to park land, making the former industrial zone a prime candidate for renewal.
Similar trends are occurring in Melbourne and Sydney where rising land values in inner city locations are encouraging developers to convert commercial premises into residential property.
CBRE is marketing a warehouse property in Brunswick in Melbourne’s inner north as an infill residential development site.
That site, zoned for general residential, at 31-37 Stewart St and 12-24 Hardy St spans approximately 8,760 square metres of land over five titles with multiple street frontages. The existing property is multi-tenanted on short term leases.
“In recent years, Brunswick has supported dozens of significant and successfully completed, or under construction medium and high density residential projects, underpinned by the close Melbourne CBD proximity, established public transport links, vast amenity and lifestyle attractions on Lygon St and Sydney Rd retail strips,” said CBRE’s David Minty, who is marketing the site along with Scott Orchard and Julian White.
Orchard said developers in Melbourne’s inner north, including Collingwood, Fitzroy, Northcote and Brunswick, were experiencing strong site sales and record prices, and had strong confidence in the pre-sale market for high and medium density residential accommodation.
​ In August, <a href="/expert-insights/buying/r-corp-makes-west-brunswick-acquisition-with-residential-plans">R.Corp acquired a textiles factory site in West Brunswick</a> with plans to develop the site for residential.<a href="/expert-insights/buying/r-corp-makes-west-brunswick-acquisition-with-residential-plans"> </a>
In Sydney, several office buildings around the city <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/property/cbd-office-space-shrinks-as-resi-rises-20150221-13jqh8" target="_blank">are being redeveloped as residences</a>.
The City of Sydney council<a href="/expert-insights/building/city-of-sydney-planning-to-rezone-swathes-of-southern-industrial-areas"> is consulting on proposals</a> to rezone large tracts of land just to the south of the city to allow residential developments in areas that have traditionally been dominated by industrial property.
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Rezoning from industrial yielding fresh residential infill housing

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The Satterley Property Group has tripled its market share in Melbourne’s land market.
It is on track to sell 850 lots in the 2015 financial year.
Satterley, who launched three major land developments in Melbourne’s west and south-east last October, now command 8% of Melbourne’s total land sales.
They are closing in on their goal of attaining 10% of the Victorian land market, the expansion plans <a href="/news/vic/satterley-property-group-looking-to-nearly-triple-land-sales-with-two-new-estates">outlined in a earlier Property Observer article</a>.
The group is Australia’s largest privately owned developer headed in Victoria by general manager, Jack Hoffmann (pictured below) who said successful launches of<a href="https://satterley.com.au/point-cook/" target="_blank"> Upper Point Cook</a> (Point Cook, pictured above) and Habitat on Davis Creek (Tarneit) had underpinned the strong performance.
"Two-thirds of our buyers at Upper Point Cook are upgraders that live in neighbouring areas, with the remainder of buyers largely consisting of investors and first homebuyers.
<div>
“The big selling point for local residents is you’re buying into a quality development, with a range of housing options and there’s the added bonus of access to the Princes Freeway via the future diamond interchange at Sneydes Road,” he said.
</div>
Satterley's expansion includes the recent acquisition of an 1800-lot community on 127 hectares in Officer. 
<img src="/images/2015/03/19/sat%20mar%2019%20one.jpg" alt="">
Photo: Supplied. 
“Across Melbourne all of our developments are performing well,” said Hoffman.
“Upper Point Cook which consists of 2,000-lots is currently the second fastest selling development in Melbourne with our first neighbourhood at Upper Point Cook close to selling out six months ahead of schedule.”
Its launch of the second neighbourhood at Upper Point Cook will be 230 lots, in the Point Cook precinct which leads Melbourne as the most popular suburb for newly released land. 
“Each stage release at Upper Point Cook has had ‘campouts’ of prospective buyers wanting to ensure they don’t miss out on their chance and at the project’s launch we had up to 30 buyers camping overnight to ensure they didn’t miss out on the first land released,” he said.
Satterley’s Melbourne portfolio kick off with an urban infill project at the old Kodak factory site in Coburg North in 2011. 
The project is nearing completion, with around 80 townhouses remaining.
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No photo finish required as Satterley secures its expanded Victorian land offerings

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<div class="WordSection1">
GUEST OBSERVATION
One of the most important decisions you may make as a parent is where to send your child to school. You can spend hours researching schools, studying what they offer, their reputation, yearly VCE results and overall school ranking.
Imagine spending all that time researching to find what you believe is the perfect school for your child, only to be informed that they will not be accepted because you do not live in the school’s zoning. If only you had known this when you purchased your family home!
Public secondary schools in Melbourne are separated into zones, such that the entire area is covered. There are few overlapping regions.
The bulk of enrolments will come directly from these zones, making the decision on what area to settle down in a potentially crucial factor for parents.
While private schools are not affected by the same zonal restrictions, many pose a heavy financial burden on the household budget, especially if the choice between public and private has to be made for several children.
If you are a future home buyer, a school zone should be taken into account as this will affect how others view a property and potentially push prices up. This means you could be overpaying for a property because it is within a school zone, even if this is not relevant to you. The school zone effectively comes with the house and you will pay for it regardless as a result of market pricing.
Click pictures and tables to open in new windows:
<a href="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-one.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
Different school zones may have different impacts depending on their ranking and popularity. This study set out to compare the performance of public schools with house prices in the surrounding region. Our primary aim was to uncover the answer to the question: What is the real, unseen price of education in the housing market and how much do rankings influence this?
School zones are becoming increasingly important in the inner city market. The rise in popularity of public schools is evident by the increase in intake of students each year.
There has been lobbying in some suburbs for more public schools so that the demand for the existing schools is reduced. Population growth in the Port Phillip area has put enrolment strain on the only public school in the area; Albert Park College.
Provision of more public secondary schools in the inner south is necessary especially for South Melbourne and the new Fishermans Bend suburb which are outside the Albert Park zoning. In the inner north, it seems that demand for public schools is so high that one new school does not make a difference. For example, Northcote High School has had to reduce their catchment area recently so that Preston West and parts of Thornbury are no longer included.
They state that the opening of nearby Coburg High School has not affected demand for places and are still having to turn away students.
With a limited number of properties falling within each school zone, demand for these is pushing up property prices and even rents in certain areas.
Popular independent school Haileybury recently purchased a site in the CBD itself with speculation they will open up a new campus to service this growing area of inner Melbourne. They currently have campuses in the south eastern suburbs only. This shows a shift in attitudes of schools whereby it is no longer essential to place a high performing school in the eastern suburbs as was traditionally done. Good schools are now moving to more centralised locations.
This shift in attitude is also seen in parents who are accepting more modern approaches to a school’s design.
Planning is to go ahead for NSW’s first public high rise school in the inner suburb of Parramatta. Whilst high rise schools come with their own problems, it seems the only way forward for the inner city where space is so limited.
Low cost, high performing public schools are a desirable variation to private schools for many, especially as the inner city suburbs have resurfaced to be incredibly popular to live in.
People can now live in their dream inner city suburb whilst sending their child to a good school without having to pay a fortune. Furthermore, the money they save from sending their kids to a public school can go towards servicing a more expensive mortgage, or offering their children an eye opening experience, for example, by taking them to Paris for a family holiday.
Property Values and School Zones 
It is well established that there is a correlation between property values and being located in a school catchment area. In our major capital cities, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, buyers will pay a premium to be located within a public school zone, regardless of its ranking.
A study in New Zealand aimed to actually quantify the impact of geographically defined school zones on house prices. Using hedonic regression, they analysed over 10,000 house sales in a select group of inner Auckland suburbs over 21 years.
What was interesting in this study is the fact that the school zone boundaries changed over the duration of the study.
It was found that when a school increased its boundary to include a new suburb, the house prices in this suburb began to attract a premium compared to relative suburbs and this premium grew to NZ$66,000 over 10 years. When a suburb which had a historic premium attached to its houses relocated out of a school zone, this premium diminished.
VCE Results and House Prices 
The Victorian Certificate of Education, better known as the VCE, is the main tool used for ranking schools based on performance.
Students complete the VCE over their final two years of senior high school. In each subject, they are awarded a grade from 0 to 50, based both on their individual performance and the performance of the rest of the state. A score of 30 in an individual subject denotes an average score, i.e. a score in the top 50% of the state.
<a href="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-two.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-two.jpg" alt=""></a>
</div>
<div class="WordSection2">
To determine what impact a school's VCE results have on property prices, the sale results of 2,300 houses were analysed using hedonic regression techniques. All two and three bedroom houses were included if they were sold between January 2011 and December 2014, and were located within seven different inner city high school zones, as depicted in the school zone map. This property size and type was picked as it most closely represents a potential buy for an inner city family household.
Table 1 shows the average percentage of VCE scores of 40+ achieved between 2011 and 2014 at the different schools, as well as the average price of two and three bedroom houses in the school’s zone. A study score of 40 or above is indicative of a score in the top 8 percent in the state. The ratio of such exceptional scores compared to the total shows us the proportion of high achievers in each school. Note that Lynall Hall Community School did not publish VCE scores in 2013. Data for this year was therefore left out.
On its own, Table 1 doesn't tell us much, except how affluent an area is. There seems to be no obvious link between the VCE results and average sale prices. However, there are many other factors that determine the price of a house. To single out the effect of public school VCE results on house prices, the following parameters were taken into account in the regression analysis:
<ul>
<li>
Bedrooms and Bathrooms: Indicator of the size of the house and number of children. One additional bedroom and bathroom set added on average $350,000 to the price of a house. 
</li>
<li>
Land Area: The value of the land the house was located on if it were vacant. Each square metre was worth $1,475. 
</li>
<li>
Beach: Proximity of suburb the house was located in to the closest beach, broken up into three bands – adjacent to a beach, one suburb away from the closest beach and more than one suburb away. Each band towards the beach increased the value by $320,000. 
</li>
<li>
CBD:  Proximity of the suburb the house was located in to the CBD, in kilometres. For every kilometre away from the city centre, the price of houses in the data set decreased by $80,000. 
</li>
<li>
Sale Date: The number of days since the first day in the set (01/01/2011). In other words, the effect of inflation on housing prices. Each day since 2011 added on average $125.80 to the price of each house.
</li>
</ul>
Housing sales that were missing information on any of the above variables were left out of the study.
The analysis uncovered that, on average, a 1% increase in the percentage of scores of 40 and above at a school increases the price of a house in the affected school zone by $19,000, holding all else constant.
This is quite a significant change, between 1.5% and 2.9% of the average price of houses sold over the past four years. To confirm our findings, Secret Agent thought it would be interesting to isolate those houses located nearby the border of two different school zones and analyse their sale results against each other.
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
</div>
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Borderline: Comparing house prices close to two school zones 
1) Station Street 
Station Street runs in a northerly direction through Carlton North. The school zones of Fitzroy High School and Princes Hill Secondary College meet on Station Street, with the former receiving all even house numbers and the latter every odd house number.
<a href="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-four.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-four.jpg" alt=""></a>
The comparison here is almost uncanny. Not only were the same amount of two bedroom houses sold, they were also generally sold in the same proportions each year. The average land area is almost identical.
Table 2 shows that the average sale price is 4.5% higher in the better ranked Princes Hill Secondary College zone. This result is smaller than what our model would predict and is most likely due to the small sample size. 
<a href="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-three.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-three.jpg" alt=""></a>
2) Brunswick suburb 
The majority of houses in the suburb Brunswick belong to the Brunswick Secondary College zone, but a small part in the south is within the Princes Hill Secondary College district (Figure 3).
<a href="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-six.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-six.jpg" alt=""></a>
Even though the houses in the Princes Hill zone are on average smaller (by approximately 50 square metres), they sell for on average 14.5% more. The difference can be partly attributed to being inside the much better performing school’s zone, but is also the CBD.
<a href="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-five.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-five.jpg" alt=""></a>
3) University High School 
When comparing sales inside University High School’s boundaries to houses sold just outside, results are much less clear cut.
<a href="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-seven.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-seven.jpg" alt=""></a>
While University High is the better performing school, average prices are lower in this zone. The unexpected result can be explained by a huge difference in average land size.
The houses in the University High area have some of the smallest land bases in the entire set of studied houses. As mentioned earlier, each square metre of land is worth about $1,500. If the houses within University High’s zoning had the same land size as those outside the zone, they would be worth roughly $221,400 more, holding all else constant.
In other words, per square metre, these houses are valued much more highly. Again this is most likely due to the closer proximity to the CBD as well as being within the higher ranked school zone. 
<a href="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-eight.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/03/17/sa-march-17-eight.jpg" alt=""></a>
Conclusion
We aimed to find out how much value home owners and families looking for standalone houses in the inner city see in better schooling according to VCE performance. The answer is clear: property prices are inclusive of a school zone premium and school rankings affect how much the premium paid will be. As the percentage of top achievers in a school increases, the value of houses located within the area rises as well.
On average, the price of a house in a particular school zone increases by $19,000 with each 1% increase in VCE study score above 40.
This shows parents’ willingness to pay for a school zone. Whether or not you care about the zoning yourself, you will pay for it to live in the suburbs with high performing public schools. It will be interesting to see how demand for public schools is met in the future as Melbourne's inner population continues to grow rapidly and space becomes even more valuable. 
Jodie Walker is a buyer's advocate and researcher at <a href="https://secretagent.com.au/" target="_blank">Secret Agent</a>, a Melbourne based buyer's advocacy.
Richard Rossman contributed to this Secret Agent report.
Paul Osborne is founder of <a href="https://secretagent.com.au/" target="_blank">Secret Agent</a>.
You can download the full report on school zones, as wellas other property research, from the<a href="https://secretagent.com.au/" target="_blank"> Secret Agent website</a>.
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How do school zones affect Melbourne property prices?

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The Block Triple Threat last night had the buyers’ advocates judging the contestants’ living rooms and dining areas.
Blockheads learned very quickly that the smaller touches made a big impression with the judges.
Committing to creating a look that appeals to a wider buyers market as possible creates value. By assigning budget to high quality fittings, furnishing and finishes, the Block contestants discovered they would be more likely to attract a wide range of potential buyers. While these details are important to some buyers, natural light and open living areas also provide extra space for buyers keen on entertaining and living in a spacious apartment.
Charlotte and Josh demonstrated how to creatively execute design continuity. Their rooms had a great flow between the dining to living area. Because the living spaces connected into the terrace, it gave the property a great openness that will appeal to buyers. Their digital setup was also well in tune with the contemporary, savvy South Yarra demographic.
Ayden &amp; Jess and Tim &amp; Anastasia were let down during judging due to minor details which could turn into issues for potential buyers. These details needed to be fixed before buyers view the property. For Ayden &amp; Jess, their floorboards and Tim &amp; Anastasia, their ceiling were both issues in this instance. Dea and Darren showed how large spaces can make a great impression, but their incomplete, low ceilings detracted from the openness of their living areas.
Making an impact in the living room is one of the most important areas of renovating so renovators need to consider carefully who will be using the property as needs will be different. Whether it will be families, single occupants, senior-aged occupants or tenants, living rooms, the space needs to warm, inviting and relaxing.
<div>Contestant scores</div>
<ul>
<li>Charlotte &amp; Josh – 22</li>
<li>Tim &amp; Anastasia – 24</li>
<li>Ayden &amp; Jess – 21</li>
<li>Dea &amp; Daz – 18</li>
</ul>
GREVILLE PABST is CEO and director of <a href="https://www.wbpproperty.com/" target="_blank">WBP Property Group</a> and a judge on The Block Triple Threat.
Feature photo courtesy of Channel 9.
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Finishes make first impressions: The Block's Greville Pabst

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The six ocean view Shearwater Landing beachfront lots offered in Sydney's newest suburb, Greenhills Beach were snapped up at Savills International auction today.
All six lots sold in excess of the reserve prices at the Sunday 15 March auction. 
The first was lot 401, a 787 square metre lot with a 17.5 metre frontage that sold at $2,575,000.  
Lot 208, the second of the day, a 787 square metre lot, sold for $2,651,000.   
Lot 207 – Sold $2,550 million
Lot 206 – Sold $2,415 million
Lot 205 – Sold $2,275 million
Lot 204 – Sold $2,200 million
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/03/16/sherarwater%20ar%2016%20one.jpg" alt="">
Source: Supplied
One of the successful local bidders mentioned that they had been watching the Breen Property land development for many years and this had been a dream come true for them.
Tom Breen, the executive chairman of Breen Property, said the offering was the culmination of decades of planning, obtaining government approvals for their former sand mine. 
"They are the first truly beachside precincts to be created in the last three decades in the Sydney metropolitan area." 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/03/13/home-01.jpg" alt="">
The purchasers are young vibrant families, Nigel Napoli, director of the selling agency, Savills Residential Projects, said.
The second part of Stage 1 which will be 44 lots to be sold via expressions of interest on 28 March.
These lots will range in size from 560 square metre to 1,109 square metre.
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Beach building blocks at $2.2 million plus - sellout at Shearwater Landing, Greenhills Beach auction

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Last night’s buyers’ advocates on The Block Triple Threat saw three rooms that have the potential to add immense value to the contestants’ properties: a laundry, a powder room, and a wine cellar.
Here is a rundown of the scores the Buyers’ Jury gave the Blockheads last night:
<ul>
<li>Charlotte and Josh – 20.5</li>
<li>Tim and Anastasia – 25.5</li>
<li>Ayden and Jess – 23</li>
<li>Dea and Daz – 26.5</li>
</ul>
The rooms that we saw in last night’s episode are non-essential spaces – not every property has them. But my biggest advice is that if they are to be included, they need to be perfect in order to add real value to the property.
The wine cellar is a Block first, which meant that not everybody got it right.
When including a wine cellar, it’s important to know what buyers are looking for and more importantly, what functionally constitutes a wine cellar. Dea and Daz’s outstanding cellar (pictured above) entices buyers with its vast stock, which is enough to draw a potential buyer in. However, Tim and Anastasia stand out with this room because they were the only ones to include temperature control systems – making it a proper wine cellar that will not be compromised by the South Yarra demographic.
<img src="/images/2015/03/11/IMG_19413.JPG" alt="">
Buyer's advocate judges Greville Pabst (left) and Frank Valentic (right) in Dea and Daz's cellar.
While laundry facilities can be found in most properties, a private laundry room is not always included in every home. The rest of the buyers’ jury and myself agreed that a laundry is at the very least, a functional room.
This means they need to have space. Charlotte &amp; Josh as well as Daz &amp; Dea could have greatly benefitted if they took priority over space across all three of their rooms, rather than including an extra storage space. When thinking about putting in extra storage areas, Blockheads need to ensure that their rooms have enough space first.
Additionally, powder rooms are extra bathrooms that can be highly sought after as well as adding to the luxe of a property. What the contestants across the board managed to do well is that they ensured their powder rooms flowed on from the rest of their previous finished bathrooms. Buyers appreciate continuity between the rooms’ styles, this is especially important.
As finishes are particularly critical to buyers, contestants need to be aware that laminates are not going to cut it for the South Yarra demographic.
All in all it was agreed that these non-essential rooms might tip a potential buyer over to be the last bidder standing. 
GREVILLE PABST is CEO and director of <a href="https://www.wbpproperty.com/" target="_blank">WBP Property Group</a>.
Feature photo courtesy of Channel 9.
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Non-essential rooms have to be perfect to add value: The Block's Greville Pabst's room reviews

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The Block South Yarra is slipping.
It had a poor 609,000 viewers Wednesday night, it’s lowest Block ratings this season outside of its Thursday night Unlocked show. 
There were 191,000 Sydney metro viewers and 183,000 in Melbourne, according to the five city metro OzTam ratings. There were 127,000 in Brisbane, 61,000 in Perth and 47,000 in Brisbane.
Last night's regular Thursday Unlocked show made way for the NRL season opener on Channel 9.
Title Tattle reckons the boss David Gyngell, with more series in the pipeline for late this year, must be possibly considering replacing the reality show with The Big Bang Theory instead, with The Block over to the Gem channel.
Let's not forget that The Block started out as one night a week, with then proprietor Kerry Packer not being sure as to its likely success. "You're kidding me...What viewers watching paint dry?," is the cleaned-up version of Kerry's initial thoughts on the program idea. Episode one attracted more than two million viewers!
Interestingly the viewers who have turned off more of late have been from its new adopted home town, Melbourne.
They were underpinning <a href="/expert-insights/building/sydney-audiences-shun-the-blocks-lengthening-melbourne-residency">it </a><a href="/expert-insights/building/sydney-audiences-shun-the-blocks-lengthening-melbourne-residency">in the</a><a href="/expert-insights/building/sydney-audiences-shun-the-blocks-lengthening-melbourne-residency"> early weeks</a>. 
Crikey television ratings columnist Glenn Dwyer noted yesterday The Block was doing "miserably".
Noting 7.30 on ABC had more metro viewers twice this week.
"This version of The Block is a dud," wrote Dwyer.
"Being beaten by 7.30 didn't happen last year." 
He added that The Block was suffering from viewers being too familiar with its formula.
 
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The Block South Yarra is proving neither ratings threat or treat

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GUEST OBSERVATION
This week on The Block: Triple Threat the contestants renovated a second bedroom.
Scoring by property buyers advocate jury:
<ul>
<li>Charlotte and Josh - 24 
</li>
<li>Tim and Anastasia – 24.5 
</li>
<li>Aidan and Hess – 19.5 
</li>
<li>Dee and Darren – 23.5</li>
</ul>
The general consensus from myself and my fellow buyer’s advocates this week were:
<ul>
<li>Natural light</li>
</ul>
The level of natural light is an important factor that can impact enjoyment of the room. The best rooms are those light filled via northerly light. This week saw a divide between both the buyer’s advocates and the contestants on whether Dee &amp; Darren’s and Tim &amp; Anastasia’s bedrooms were too dark.
I think that light rooms are more appealing to a broader range of buyers.
<ul>
<li>The inclusion of a dressing table</li>
</ul>
Either built-in or freestanding greatly benefits a bedroom and gives it an extra level of luxe, which is another factor that made Tim &amp; Anastasia’s room the top scoring one for the week for us. Attention to detail to window furnishings can make or break a bedroom
I agree with the other buyer’s advocates that Charlotte &amp; Josh’s window finish was lacking and therefore detracted from the room. Contrastingly, Tim &amp; Anastasia’s excellent finishes on their windows added to the luxury feel of the space.
<ul>
<li>Bedrooms should have an abundance of storage for clothing, shoes, accessories and more</li>
</ul>
Aiden &amp; Jess could have greatly benefitted from having more space. Renovators should think ahead to make the room versatile for buyers.
Renovators should not speculate on the demographic of the buyer – they might be a young couple or a retired couple that will use a spare room as a guest room – but it also could be a family that needs a room for their children.
Greville Pabst is CEO of <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CEAQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wbpproperty.com%2F&amp;ei=Jb4hUevODOyamQX6mIGYDQ&amp;usg=AFQjCNH0u8Ji9ymluq8AKARfB-KjHZ-aFA&amp;sig2=DNsIKQR7tQj4PtYuiJOHPA&amp;bvm=bv.42553238,d.dGY" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">WBP Property Group.</a>
Picture of Tim &amp; Anastasia courtesy of Channel 9.
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The key ingredients for a great bedroom: The Block's Greville Pabst

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Guest observation
On The Block: Triple Threat this week, Charlotte and Josh and Deanne and Darren received the highest scores from the property buyer's advocates jury.
I advised the contestants then to renovate to the area's demographic, and compare their renovations to hotels in the local area.
The scores from the buyer's advocate jury:
<ul>
<li>Charlotte and Josh: 26</li>
<li>Tim and Anastasia: 19</li>
<li>Aidan and Jess: 23.5</li>
<li>Dee and Darren: 26</li>
</ul>
Below are a list of features for renovators and investors to consider when it comes to bathrooms.
Some will pertain to powder rooms specifically, while others are more general comments about bathrooms.
<ul>
<li>Quality of finish</li>
</ul>
Consider tiles, bench tops and vanity / cabinetry, tiles and flooring, lighting, tap fittings, basin, glass screen fittings or shower screen, toilet (porcelain with soft close), metal towel racks and toilet roll holders (not plastic or imitation), soap dishes.
<ul>
<li>Design should be sleek, simple and practical. </li>
<li>
Bathroom should be well-lit, preferably with natural light, but also with white practical lighting. If there's no external window, could a skylight work? 
</li>
<li>
Space should be functional With practical basin (not something too shallow), adequate storage and bench space, as well as sufficient power outlets. Also, include a power point on the inside of the vanity, or behind the mirror if used for storage. Shower heads should be practical too, with sufficient water pressure. Check the pressure! 
</li>
<li>
Separate toilets are preferable, if possible. 
</li>
<li>
Use of natural materials Such as real timber, granite and porcelain. 
</li>
<li>
Frameless showers are popular and easier to clean. However, ensure the return adequately collects the water so the bathroom isn't flooded. 
</li>
<li>It's ideal to have external windows and adequate ventilation to allow light and air circulation. </li>
<li>
Have sufficient privacy with privacy glass and/or window furnishings, and perhaps a lockable door. 
</li>
<li>
Include a heated towel rack. Heated floors and heated lighting and exhaust fan should also be considered. 
</li>
<li>
Ensure bathroom is practical and not difficult to use for elderly or the young. If a toilet is too close to the wall it may be hard to access. Are there sharp corners that could cause injury? 
</li>
<li>
Baths and spas shouldn't be too close to the wall if freestanding. Make sure the bath can be cleaned easily and to facilitate air flow to reduce or prevent the occurrence of mould. 
</li>
<li>One basin or two? </li>
<li>
Non-slip tiles or flooring. Greville Pabst is CEO of <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CEAQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wbpproperty.com%2F&amp;ei=Jb4hUevODOyamQX6mIGYDQ&amp;usg=AFQjCNH0u8Ji9ymluq8AKARfB-KjHZ-aFA&amp;sig2=DNsIKQR7tQj4PtYuiJOHPA&amp;bvm=bv.42553238,d.dGY" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">WBP Property Group</a> and a judge on The Block Triple Threat.</li>
</ul>
Above: Deanne and Darren's bathroom, courtesy Channel 9.
 
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How to renovate a bathroom: The Block's Greville Pabst

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Sydney’s median residential land price increased by 19.7 percent over 2014 to $390,000, he most expensive of all the state capitals, according to data from the Domain Group. 
The $390,000 December quarter median land price was well ahead of Melbourne at $245,000 and Brisbane $237,950.
With Sydney residential land prices now rising faster than booming house prices, the task for first home buyers is becoming increasingly difficult, said Andrew Wilson, senior economist at the Domain Group.
“Sydney’s annual land prices increased at the fastest rate in over a decade and recorded stronger growth than the booming house prices which increased by 14% over the same period.”
Sydney’s outer suburban residential land market recorded strong growth over 2014.  Prices in the south-west increased by 25% to a median of $350,000 while prices in the west rose by 8.3% to a median of $410,500. 
The median residential land size sold in the west over the six months ending December was 564 square metres  at $759 per square metre.  In the south-west, the median land size sold was 500 square metres at $652 per square metre.
The most popular outer west suburbs for land sales over the six months ending December 2014 were Riverstone, Colebee, Pitt Town, Kellyville and Glenmore Park. 
The most popular outer south west suburbs for land sales were Harrington Park, Campbelltown, Moorebank, Appin and Edmondson Park.
Kellyville recorded the highest median land price over the second half of 2014 at $643,000 with a median land size of 701 square metres at $912 per square metre. Land prices in Kellyville increased strongly by 38.2% over 2014.
Kellyville land estate prices on realestate.com.au regularly exceeded the APM advisory such as <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-nsw-kellyville-200988363" target="_blank">Chelsea on the Park</a> where prices started at $730,000 for 700 square metre blocks, and were priced up to $860,000.
There were prices advertised last year as $400,000 plus on <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-nsw-kellyville-201014799" target="_blank">Hillview Ridge Estate</a>, ranging from 667 square metres to 826 square metres.
The blocks priced from $465,000 at the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-other-nsw-kellyville-119089259" target="_blank">Ashmore Park</a> estate are 363 square metre to 847 square metre in size. 
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