<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/smith-by-valli-collingwood-224-228-smith-street-collingwood-vic-3066">Smith Collingwood</a> is a new boutique apartment development bringing a refined, design-led approach to one of Melbourne’s most established inner-city neighbourhoods.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pandolfini-architects">Pandolfini Architects</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/lisa-buxton-interiors">Lisa Buxton</a>, Smith by Valli sits on iconic Smith Street and comprises just 22 residences tailored toward owner-occupiers seeking a more considered style of apartment living.

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The design of Smith focuses on a north-facing orientation across all residences, a relatively uncommon feature in dense inner-Melbourne settings. Each apartment has been planned to maximise natural light and outlook, alongside a material palette defined by warm tones, custom joinery, and a full suite of Gaggenau appliances.

The development comprises a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, with pricing currently ranging from just under $1 million to around $4.85 million for the premium penthouse-level residences, reflecting growing demand for luxury owner-occupier product in Melbourne’s inner urban market.

Residents will also have access to a private rooftop garden designed as an elevated retreat above the city, &nbsp;featuring curated landscaping, veggie boxes, intimate seating areas and spaces for relaxed gatherings. Sustainability has also been integrated into the project through a 7-star energy rating and two secure bicycle facilities for every residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140747 project_image_fid=367529]

Smith by Valli sits in the heart of one of Melbourne’s most established retail and hospitality strips, within walking distance of venues such as Falco Bakery, Carnation Canteen and Alimentari, alongside parks and everyday services. With a Walk Score of 99, the location reinforces the project’s positioning toward buyers prioritising walkability and access over car dependency.

With only a limited number of residences, Smith reflects growing demand for smaller, highly curated apartment developments that prioritise design quality, liveability, and connection to neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140747]

Joel Robinson

Smith by Valli delivers design-led apartments to Melbourne’s inner north

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/far-east-consortium">Far East Consortium</a>’s 640 Bourke Street stands as a testament to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">Melbourne</a>’s ability to bridge its storied past with a bold vision for the future.&nbsp;

Rising above the heritage-listed Eliza Tinsley building, the development reflects a broader shift toward adaptive reuse in the city, where historical assets are retained and reinterpreted as part of new residential development.

Designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/640-bourke-street-melbourne-640-bourke-street-melbourne-vic-3000">640 Bourke Street</a> incorporates the Eliza Tinsley building as its foundation, housing a grand gallery and lobby space that serve as both a functional and symbolic centrepiece. The heritage façade informs the tower’s design, creating a connection between Melbourne’s past and its contemporary skyline.

"It's a significant asset and wants to be celebrated and experienced by all residents every single time they go in and out of the building," Rothelowman Principal Stuart Marsland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365684]

Above this historic base, the 68-storey tower will deliver just over 600 residences, a notable reduction from earlier schemes, reflecting a deliberate move toward larger-format apartments and a stronger owner-occupier focus.

Unlike traditional CBD developments that prioritised investor stock, 640 Bourke Street has been repositioned to respond to changing buyer expectations.

"The discussion was all around making 640 Bourke Street the best residence to live in, to be much more focused on the people in the building rather than people looking at the building," Marsland explained.&nbsp;

This shift is evident in the development’s interiors, which emphasise practical luxury with spacious layouts, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping views of Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay.&nbsp;

“What it's meant for 640 Bourke is we've actually reduced the number of apartments. We've increased the overall size of the apartments. We don't have any studios in here, and what that does for a project is it elevates it," Lauren Sheldon, Far East Consortium’s Director of Sales and Marketing, said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365687]

Rothelowman Associate Jun Chang added, "We were given the opportunity to be more generous. The apartments became bigger and squarer than any other apartments which had been designed in the CBD before that."&nbsp;

Amenities spanning more than 3,000 sqm across multiple levels further reinforce this focus on resident experience. These include a pool, gym, co-working areas, and a range of hospitality-inspired spaces such as a whisky lounge, library, and private dining rooms, many drawing reference from traditional bathhouses and Melbourne’s laneway culture.

"We wanted to make both the pool and the gym area to be absolutely destinational, and when you traverse across to these spaces, there is a gentle familiarity to the beautiful notions of the hammams and the Roman baths, a gentle nod to history," Chang noted.

At street level, the project contributes to the ongoing transformation of the western CBD, with upgrades to Langs Lane and the introduction of retail, hospitality, and gallery spaces designed to activate the precinct and strengthen its connection to the surrounding city fabric.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365689]

The location places residents within walking distance of Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, and the Docklands waterfront, positioning the development within a rapidly evolving inner-city neighbourhood.

"We believe it's the best site left in the city of Melbourne," Craig Williams, Executive Director at Far East Consortium, said.&nbsp;

640 Bourke Street is Far East Consortium’s 14th building in Melbourne’s western CBD.

"A very elegant designed building. It's going to be a Melbourne statement for many, many years to come."

One-bedroom apartments are priced from around $640,000, with 640 Bourke Street targeting completion in 2029.

Renders shown are Artist's Impressions correct as of May 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=509]

Heritage-led design anchors Far East Consortium’s 640 Bourke St, Melbourne

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD Group</a> has set a new residential price record in Queensland with the $30 million sale of the penthouse at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/one-burleigh-88-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads-qld-4220">ONE Burleigh</a> development in Burleigh Heads.

The sale equates to around $37,500 per sqm.

The two-level, 800 sqm penthouse, featuring five bedrooms, five bathrooms, five car spaces, and a private infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean, was acquired by a Gold Coast-based entrepreneur, highlighting continued demand for ultra-premium beachfront product.

Selling agent Freddie Tehle of PRD Burleigh Heads said the result reflects tightening supply of high-quality, large-format apartments in Burleigh.

“There’s very limited opportunity to secure this level of scale and absolute beachfront position in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/burleigh-heads-qld-4220">Burleigh Heads</a>,” Tehle said.

“Buyers are increasingly seeking apartments that genuinely replace a standalone home, and this penthouse delivers that with its size, privacy, and direct ocean frontage.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323057]

The sale comes as construction progresses on ONE Burleigh, a boutique development of 17 full-floor residences at 88 The Esplanade, scheduled for completion in early 2027.

Developed by MAYD Group and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mas-architecture-studio">MAS Architecture</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/sici-design">Sici Design</a>, the project has been positioned as a collection of house-sized beachfront apartments, each occupying an entire floor with around 381 sqm of internal and external living space.

When construction commenced, MAYD director Todd Mould pointed to the long-term resilience of premium coastal real estate as a key driver behind the project.

“Real estate, particularly at the premium end, remains one of the most resilient and proven long-term investment avenues,” Mould said.

“Our ambition is that anyone who buys a MAYD-built product can genuinely feel the care, craftsmanship and commitment we bring to every detail.”

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Each residence has been configured with four bedrooms, multiple living zones, a private office, and expansive ocean-facing terraces. Interiors draw on a restrained material palette, including travertine stone, timber joinery, and integrated premium appliances.

Interior designer Sici Design said the approach was to reflect the project’s coastal setting through both materiality and spatial planning.

“ONE Burleigh is our vision of luxury living, designed to bring the essence of Burleigh Heads' vibrant coastal beauty into an unparalleled residential experience.”

Residents will have access to a suite of wellness-focused amenities, including pools, sauna facilities, and dedicated relaxation spaces, reflecting a broader shift toward lifestyle-driven apartment design on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323052]

The project occupies a southern Esplanade site with uninterrupted beachfront frontage, an increasingly rare offering in Burleigh Heads, free from the Norfolk Pines that line much of the coastline and often limit direct ocean outlook.

Mould said the design intent was to balance that outlook with a sense of retreat.

“Living at ONE Burleigh is about how your day naturally unfolds, morning light across the ocean, coffee on the balcony, and being in Burleigh but elevated above the noise.”

The result further reinforces Burleigh Heads’ emergence as one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held and supply-constrained beachfront markets, where boutique, owner-occupier-focused developments are increasingly setting new price benchmarks.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146358]

MAYD Group sets Queensland record with $30 million penthouse sale at ONE Burleigh in Burleigh Heads

Apartment developers in the Gold Coast are finding new, creative ways to differentiate themselves from competing projects, as new supply starts to flow through up and down the Coast.

Developer BIG Projects brought in the renowned Sydney-based design studio YSG Studio to craft the interiors for The Frederick, BIG Projects' new Mermaid Beach project and YSG Studio's first move into the multi-residential development space.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5346]

It was a strategic move for BIG Projects to bring in a Sydney eye to the development.

“Our role is to give our design partners the space and freedom to explore,” says Matt Barrett, Director of BIG Projects.

“We wanted YSG Studio to capture the essence of Nobby’s, to design a building that embraces life, light and connection, while creating a genuine sense of place.”

There are only 39 apartments in The Frederick, including a striking beach house, just 100 metres from the booming Nobby Beach precinct.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5347]

Yasmine Ghoniem, Director of YSG Studio, says their vision&nbsp;for The Frederick "reinvents coastal living."

“Nobby’s has such an iconic energy, it’s one of those rare pockets of the Gold Coast where the community, the beach, and the streets all feel connected,” Ghoniem says.

"Responding to the neighbouring coastline, soothing curves add a relaxing regional overlay, while unique detailing really sets it apart. It’s a place that feels lived in from the moment you step inside.”

A standout feature of The Frederick is its rooftop terrace, an uncommon inclusion for a boutique, low-rise building, where amenity is typically concentrated at ground level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5360]

Positioned to capture panoramic views from the hinterland to the ocean, the rooftop has been designed as a series of intimate zones. It includes a pool, sauna, sun decks, workspaces and dedicated entertaining areas.

“The rooftop was conceived as a collection of spaces where residents can unwind and connect, an extension of the Nobby’s lifestyle,” Barrett says.

Architecture for the project was led by Plus Studio, with landscape design by LDG Landscape Architecture.

SRQ Projects Director Nick Clydsdale, who is handling sales at The Frederick, says the majority of enquiry is coming from South East QLD and Victorian buyers who have been actively searching between Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach for some time.

"They’ve reviewed a number of projects, however this one has stood out for its unique detailing and compelling design,"&nbsp;Clydsdale says.

Site demolition is slated for this month, with construction commencing soon after. BIG Projects is targeting a late 2027 completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=110588]

Sydney’s YSG Studio makes Gold Coast multi-residential debut with BIG Projects at The Frederick

Melbourne-based property developer ALTA Property has this week achieved planning approval for the adaptive re-use of a former commercial tower into a $200 million, 169-apartment project at 10 Queens Road, one of the last developable sites along the Albert Park Lake-fronting boulevard.&nbsp;

Set within one of Melbourne’s most sought-after precincts and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser and Partners</a>, the illustrious building will offer unparalleled views across Albert Park Lake, Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne CBD.&nbsp;

The mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom residences will be complemented by a ground-floor amenity featuring private dining, a lounge bar, gym and wellness spaces, co-working, outdoor communal gardens, and retail.&nbsp;

The 17-storey building is a masterclass in adaptive re-use, with the existing commercial building’s façade, shell and internal structure to be retained, before high-end residences are built from the ground up in a newly built Albert Park facing addition to the building.&nbsp;

Sitting atop the building will be two 320+sqm penthouses with private rooftop terraces, which are expected to be priced between $9 - $11 million.&nbsp;

<img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa11211b-5581-43f9-940c-fc84d30a0e61" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/C_04.png?VersionId=Yhf5p_1EgGDu_zOIMFgvA8Ug8j3sTFQs" />

Architecturally, the building will feature a curved, geometric façade that celebrates and elevates the existing structure, with warm, muted tones which were selected to extend the materiality of the existing building rather than contrast it.&nbsp;

Interiors will bring together three metre high ceilings with waffle concrete in some spaces, natural timber, granite and Australian materials, culminating in crafted, generous and considered spaces that are defined by authenticity.&nbsp;

The adaptive re-use means that the Queens Road project will be a sustainability led, high-quality finished product, with a 62% saving in carbon emissions by re-using the existing structure rather than knocking it down and rebuilding.&nbsp;

ALTA Property was launched by Nigel Givoni in 2023, bringing over 25 years of experience in multi level residential delivery.&nbsp;

Melbourne’s property market growth is currently led by apartments. According to RPM VIC Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report (April 2026), units are outpacing houses, especially in the middle ring suburbs where median prices hit $757,500 – a four-year high that represents 2.9 percent growth quarter-on-quarter.&nbsp;

<img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="647e13d7-b4bc-433a-9bc9-fe3c3dd4f2ec" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/V_06.png?VersionId=ou4NUCWUgA3NAy.6CQJlEdKX50j3dOk6" />

For ALTA Property Founder Nigel Givoni, this performance speaks to the confidence he has in the Melbourne market.&nbsp;

“Queens Road represents a rare opportunity to continue to shape our presence in the Melbourne market.,"&nbsp;Givoni says.

"With a considered project team and a premier site along one of the city’s most sought-after boulevards, we look forward to contributing to the fabric of this established address.

“Other Australian markets are getting a lot of attention, but I believe the depth of value in Melbourne is being overlooked. The fundamentals are strong, population growth is steady and, based on our preliminary conversations with a leading builder, construction costs are beginning to normalise, creating further opportunity."

Givoni says the project is a&nbsp;highly considered example of adaptive re-use, delivering quality, high-end residences, premium hotel-inspired amenities and an architecturally striking façade, all achieved without the need to remove the existing structure.

"We are really looking forward to the market’s response,” he said.&nbsp;

ALTA Property to deliver $200 million Queens Road apartment tower

Prominent New Zealand apartment and hotel operator, <a href="/developers/safari-group">Safari Group</a>, is offering up a prime investment opportunity for Australians to purchase off the plan in one of the world’s most popular ski destinations.

They recently took to market Mountain Oak Queenstown Apartments, in the growing precinct of Remarkables Park in Frankton, near the airport and at the foot of The Remarkables - the mountain range the locals like to call “The Remarks”.&nbsp;

Sydney investors have shown interest in the one, two and three-bedroom apartments that secure high-season occupancy six months over the year, primarily over summer and winter months.

They average 90 per cent occupancy across their portfolio over January, February, March, August, November and December, while shoulder season months of April, July, September and October are still occupied 70 per cent of the time, with the growing appeal of Queenstown becoming not just a hotspot for the snow, but a lifestyle destination.

Even in the low seasons of May and June, occupancy levels reach around 40 per cent.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Ext_Cam15_Sunny.jpg?VersionId=SJAROUM_1s.Tr5ciMk4EEj5oAt_Vewmv" />

Safari’s Safari Hotels arm can also manage the holiday letting for an investor, from the listing on holiday accommodation websites such as Airbnb and Booking.com to the cleaning and maintenance of the investment. They’ve been in the short stay management business for 15 years and offer 24/7 support for investors, an important convenience benefit for any overseas investor

Another major drawcard for Australians is that New Zealand doesn’t have a stamp duty policy - so the entry price of NZ$639,000 (AU$586,000), is all that is payable on completion.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/313_Livingv2_WEB.jpg?VersionId=nV229fM0ZeYpoxOrX372HyGjfwY_LR8c" />

Safari is starting construction of the 141 apartments in Q2 this year, with a two-year build estimated to complete in mid-to-late 2027.<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="15" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXczFpFAb7WuA6f4f9TtKWcqXyNwR8qqtakWv352ERkpqNlP3KwIo8YKxw67jZNHfpjEGIZGv5MQTbnvLZwNt8iu9IVdOrswOjCvBZ4zhSoOOLrpt6etVEZTN1gkBho0r_R72zdHNA?key=yq3daOanqHSb88QFd8jGYKdb" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" />​

The apartments will feature modern amenities and contemporary designs with expansive windows capturing sweeping views of The Remarkables mountain range.&nbsp;

Interiors are equipped with modern finishes, premium appliances, and secure electronic key-locked doors, ensuring a comfortable living experience for residents and guests alike.

With its strategic location near Coronet Peak and Cardrona Alpine Resort, as well as key retail and dining precincts such as Market Street, Five Mile Shopping Centre, and Remarkables Market, Mountain Oak offers a strong proposition for investors seeking high rental yields and capital appreciation in one of New Zealand’s most sought-after locations.&nbsp;

Queenstown’s sustained demand for visitor accommodation and rental properties is underpinned by a shortage of housing options, attracting both local and international buyers.

Safari Group offers low-touch investment proposition in Queenstown’s popular ski fields district

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The top floor and adjoining rooftop of an office building in Sydney’s Clarence Street has been converted from an office space in to a small bar.
The tenancy area, at <a id="LPlnk916895" href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39R+6hBQZ7yXMt0Z3VIjNMZGUHy3spBOCCfFLglDoTHmqesgM+mcxwyUCRKS1hIdErI=&amp;rh=ff00472e71c63c37dd015ca7ab4d95943da1de41" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">4/199 Clarence Street</a>, was circa 88 sqm and came with an internal staircase to the rooftop above.
The site was leased by Ray White Commercial South Sydney’s John Skufris on behalf of a private owner.
Mr Skufris said the Old Mates Place team already secured a five-year lease of level 4, which was previously leased to an IT firm and had started trading after renovations.
<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/2019/2/19/20190215_121234.jpg" alt="">
“The rooftop has been completed with a timber decking and an outdoor bar area with views to Centrepoint Tower,” he said. Known as Villa Rose, 199 Clarence Street is a six-level office building including basement area which is occupied by Spawn Point, another small bar operator.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Sydney office converted from workplace leased as rooftop bar

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The last piece of the Lakehouse Robina development has been placed on the market for the first time. 
The 3828 sqm development site with 68-metre water frontage is the remaining undeveloped parcel in the Lakehouse mixed use precinct, adjoining Robina Tavern and Robina Shopping Village precinct.  
It is owned by an unlisted property trust managed by Gold Coast-based Clarence Property Group. 
Zoned neighbourhood centre reflecting its central proximity, the flexible zoning allows for multiple potential uses including aged care, retirement, residential or commercial office. 
Clarence’s managing director Peter Fahey said the group was ready to complete the syndicate by selling the final piece of the Lakehouse Corporate Space project, following sellout of stage one and a positive response to the Lakehouse stage two release.  
“We are focussing on larger development projects we have in the portfolio at Casuarina Beach, Epiq Lennox Head and Yamba Quays, and it is timely for the investors in this syndicate to sell this waterfront site,” Mr Fahey said. 
Knight Frank Gold Coast’s Head of Commercial Sales James Branch and Colliers International Healthcare and Retirement’s broker Chris O’Driscoll have been appointed to handle the Expressions of Interest campaign closing 27 March.  
Mr Branch confirmed his expectation that strong demand would continue for Robina development sites, particularly with so few opportunities remaining. 
“The site fronts Robina’s tightly held prestige lakefront market and includes boardwalk access to the adjacent retail precinct,” he said. 
“A key driver for the success of this location is not only the waterfront outlook, but the multitude of amenities within one minutes’ drive ranging from Robina Shopping Village, Bond University, Robina Town Centre and Robina Train Station.” 
Colliers’ Chris O’Driscoll confirmed that with suitable zoning, a strong median house price point, an extensive population catchment and complimentary surrounding infrastructure, the Lakefront property is expected to attract interest nationally.
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Lakefront Robina site brought to market by Clarence Property

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EXPERT OBSERVERS
 
It might be blisteringly hot outside, but if you work in an office building, the chances are it’s always reassuringly cool (or cold, depending on your preference) once you walk inside.
In Australia and much of the rest of the world, it’s become standard practice for offices to be cooled or heated to a uniform 22℃. In many Australian offices, this temperature is even officially enshrined in <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/17561451211211714" target="_blank">commercial tenancy agreements</a>.
And yet temperature is routinely one of the sore points of office politics – many office workers constantly feel too hot or cold at work. Of course, that might simply be because the air conditioning doesn’t work very well where you work. But it’s also reasonable to ask whether 22℃ is really such a magic number after all.
Our review of the available research, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261918318233" target="_blank">published recently in the journal Applied Energy</a>, suggests not.
The air conditioning industries certainly view 22℃ as the magic number, judging by guidelines published by the <a href="https://www.rehva.eu/fileadmin/Promotional_material/PPTs/Nr_6_Indoor_Climate_and_Productivity_in_Offices.pdf" target="_blank">European</a> and <a href="https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/ashrae-handbook/description-2017-ashrae-handbook-fundamentals" target="_blank">US</a> industry peak bodies. Both claim that office workers’ cognitive performance at different temperatures follows an “inverted U” shaped curve, which <a href="https://indoor.lbl.gov/publications/room-temperature-and-productivity" target="_blank">peaks at 22℃</a>.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/261648/original/file-20190301-110150-ggyjuv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">Inverted-U function between temperature and cognitive performance. CREDIT
This explains why 22℃ has prevailed as the chosen figure all over the world, regardless of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378778815302632" target="_blank">how much it might cost</a> to heat or cool work spaces to that temperature in different climates. In the heat of an Australian summer this typically involves lots of cooling, but the view is that the prodigious output of comfortably cool workers more than justifies the electricity bill.
But are things really as simple as the graph above would have us believe? To answer that question, we critically reviewed almost 300 studies from a wide range of disciplines including physiology, psychology, ergonomics, neuroscience, sports science, human-technology interaction, and more.
We concluded that the relationship between temperature and performance is not an “inverted U” but rather an “<a href="https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&amp;context=jhpee" target="_blank">extended U</a>”. The evidence in fact suggests that human performance remains relatively stable across a broad range of acceptable temperatures, but then rapidly deteriorates once it gets any hotter or colder than this. The boundaries of the acceptable ranges depend on a lot of factors, such as the type of task you are doing, how demanding the task is, how adverse the temperature is, how skilled and motivated you are in doing your task, to name just a few. Our previous research found that workers <a href="https://theconversation.com/chill-out-a-slightly-warmer-office-wont-make-it-too-hot-to-think-93789" target="_blank">perform just the same at 25℃</a>, for instance.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/261600/original/file-20190301-22837-ii9h2v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/261600/original/file-20190301-22837-ii9h2v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a> Extended-U relationship between temperature and cognitive performance. CREDIT, Author provided
This is because humans are not just simple, passive machines. We can adapt in all sorts of ways to moderate levels of thermal stress. Common ways of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378778897000534" target="_blank">adaptation</a> include behavioural adjustment, physiological acclimatisation, psychological habituation, and probably most important of all, expectation adjustment.
So it turns out that our brains can still be at their sharpest even if it’s not exactly 22℃. But that’s not the only reason why the magic temperature is a myth. The existing rationale conflates “cognitive performance” with “office productivity”, when in reality these are two very different things.
“Performance” is a person’s ability to produce “goal-directed activity”. In performance science, a job or task is often broken down into different performance components, such as memory, concentration, logical thinking, executive function and so on. “<a href="http://soh.iums.ac.ir/uploads/0415237920_95689.pdf" target="_blank">Productivity</a>” is the extent to which an organisation is progressing towards its systemic goals, whether that be the amount of products they sell in a year, or the number of customers served within a specific period of time and how satisfied those customers are with the quality of service they received.
But there is no standard way to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/14630010710845730" target="_blank">quantify office productivity</a>. The common practice is to use performance measures as a proxy for overall productivity, but this is problematic for several reasons.
The first is that simulated performance tasks do not accurately represent the nature of real work carried out in actual workplaces. Standard cognitive tasks testing your memory, concentration and vigilance performance might not faithfully capture your ability to generate useful contribution towards achieving your company’s goals.
Second, productivity can also depend on many factors besides workers’ ability to perform. These might include workplace culture, organisational structure, job security and satisfaction, workload, management style, and personal factors such as injury, loss of sleep, life events, health and well-being, or financial stress. Distracted, disgruntled or worried workers aren’t going to be very productive, regardless of what the office temperature will be.
There are practical implications to this. Office managers might be wasting money chasing the “best” temperature for maximum productivity while ignoring other factors that have a much larger bearing on it.
An air-conditioning setpoint which is closer to the outdoor weather, aided by <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132309000547" target="_blank">Personal Comfort Systems</a> (like a desk fan, or contact cooling/heating device) may <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261915016888" target="_blank">save energy bills</a> while maintaining high levels of workplace satisfaction and mental performance.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/111823/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/fan-zhang-455627" target="_blank">Fan Zhang</a>, Lecturer in Architectural Science, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828" target="_blank">Griffith University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-hancock-428234" target="_blank">Peter Hancock</a>, Professor of Psychology, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-central-florida-1925" target="_blank">University of Central Florida</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-de-dear-12933" target="_blank">Richard de Dear</a>, Director, Indoor Environmental Quality Laboratory, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-the-perfect-office-temperature-is-a-myth-111823" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Why the 'perfect' office temperature is a myth

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After two years of negotiations, an 18,230 sqm parcel of land located in Riverview has sold.
It transacted for $1.95 million to the adjoining owner.
Located at 19 McEwan Street, the deal was facilitated by Ben Donnelly of Savills, with plans underway for 120 townhouses to be built on an amalgamated site of approximately 25,000 sqm.
Associate Director of Savills Industrial and Business Services, Ben Donnelly, described the transaction as a long process, with the property first taken to market in 2016.
“It was a lengthy process, subject to a Council MCU from Industrial to Residential, however we were able to achieve the desired outcome."
“In addition to the 120 townhouses, the new owner also intends on building a small neighbourhood shopping centre which will increase the desirability &amp; amenity of this new precinct,” Mr Donnelly stated.
The property has 240 meters of frontage to McEwan Street, on the corner of Endeavour Road and Station Street, with access to the Riverview Railway Station.
“Residents of the new Community will benefit from a short commute to both the Ipswich and Brisbane CBDs, with a 10 and 26 minute drive respectively, or alternately a quick &amp; convenient rail commute,” Mr Donnelly added.
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Savills complete transaction of 120 townhouse site in Riverview

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The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has unveiled its new $94.4 million Education Precinct building located at its Kelvin Grove Campus in Brisbane.
The Faculty of Education and QUT’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Oodgeroo Unit are housed in the state-of-the-art, six-level building, spread across 10,500 sqm. 
Designed by Wilson Architects and Danish firm Henning Larsen Architects, the project is a model for educational precincts internationally and sets a new benchmark for contemporary and sustainable design. 
The development of the new precinct involved the demolition of two existing 30-year-old buildings, project managed by Turner &amp; Townsend under the direction of QUT’s Facilities Management Department
Robin Sweasey, National Head of Education for Turner &amp; Townsend and Senior Project Manager for QUT’s Education Precinct development said the four year project was a collaborative team effort.
“The inclusion of a five-metre diameter LED Sphere suspended over two floors is a focal point in the atrium and showcases the very best of visualisation technology. The Sphere facilitates interactions with teaching content in a unique format.”
<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/2019/3/4/QUT1.jpg" alt="">
QUT Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Margaret Sheil said the university was excited to welcome students this semester to the new precinct.
“This is a significant investment by the university in enhancing the student learning experience and continuing to provide quality teaching and education,” Professor Sheil said.
“These facilities have been purpose-designed and reflect QUT’s commitment to applying technology and immersive digital environments in teaching, research and engagement.”
<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/2019/3/4/QUT3.jpg" alt="">
John Thong, director at Wilson Architects and representative of Henning Larsen said the project is a flagship and transformative development for QUT.
“The conceptual framework for this memorable place leverages off strong connections to the existing Campus Library and Campus Pedestrian spine to reveal a highly visible, large, interconnected, terraced atrium space enabling intuitive wayfinding and a highly visibly connection into the library," Thong said.
“Spaces are dynamically flexible where students can find their unique place to study and collaborate. The physical framework inspires a variety of study modes and interdisciplinary collaboration by incorporating distinctive and inspiring spatial environments to stimulate informal interactions.”
<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/2019/3/4/QUT4.jpg" alt="">
The space between the existing Campus Library and the new Education Precinct has been transformed into a new internal garden and forms a central focal space within the building. It incorporates lush landscape planting, responding to the sub-tropical climate of Brisbane. The escarpment, formed between the upper campus and the newly pedestrianised Ring Road, is funneled into the atrium where the plants cascade through a series of terraced platforms.
The precinct is a key aspect of QUT’s strategic objective to enhance the Kelvin Grove Campus and position the university at the forefront of educational tertiary academia through interactive and flexible facilities.
 
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Queensland University of Technology unveiled its new $94.4 million Education Precinct building

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A standalone showroom, administration and workshop facility with holding income has been listed in Nambour.
The 13,100 sqm property located at 980 Nambour Connection Road is described as 'fully improved' over two levels.
It is being marketed by Jason O’Meara of Savills and Markus Eames of LJ Hooker Commercial via an Expressions of Interest campaign.
Director of Savills, Jason O’Meara, said the property is currently leased to All Class Machinery until August 2020, "bringing in a steady income for the potential buyer."
There was the opportunity for the buyer to then relocate their own business into the facility once the current lease is up, Mr O’Meara said.
<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/2019/3/4/Nambour%202.jpg" alt="">
The property currently achieves a current gross annual income of $300,000 plus GST.
The upper level of the building houses a 538 sqm showroom, 451 sqm administrative space, 230 sqm of storage, plus a 371 sqm all weather awning.
While lower level consists of a 302 sqm office, 1,430 sqm workshop, 665 sqm awning, plus a 108 sqm showroom and an additional 185 sqm showroom.
"The well-appointed administrative areas, showrooms, and workshop which is equipped with an oil separator and compressor room, make it a solid investment opportunity,” Mr O’Meara said.
Mr Eames said there are very few (if any) properties of this nature on offer across the Sunshine Coast, particularly with owner occupation in mind in 18 months’ time.
The property has 93m street frontage to Nambour Connection Road, is fully secured, and has been raised above the Q100 flood line.
Expressions of interest for the property close March 28.
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Savills marketing an industrial/retail-showroom facility in Nambour

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Although the official statistics suggest something slightly different, by my reckoning Sydney's housing market has now entered its third year of downturn.
<div>From a purely psychological point of view, this makes for a testing time for owners, and some may now choose to sell.  </div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div>I'm interested in opportunities, but one of the challenges facing bargain-hunters - at least in the areas that are typically of most interest - is that Sydney's regional unemployment rates are as close to zero as you'll ever see. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Click <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zQj8VeqmxnU/XHhf4Egzx6I/AAAAAAAAuw4/_7pp0VW2TYcFLt_g8Pi1qPhoEz_JtIb6gCLcBGAs/s640/UE.jpg" target="_blank">here</a> to enlarge</div>
<div> </div>
<div class="separator"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zQj8VeqmxnU/XHhf4Egzx6I/AAAAAAAAuw4/_7pp0VW2TYcFLt_g8Pi1qPhoEz_JtIb6gCLcBGAs/s640/UE.jpg" width="640" height="368" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1381"></div>
<div> </div>
<div>The cash rate setting is also at the lowest ever level, so there's little in the way of mortgage stress to report in inner Sydney, although tighter access to credit and the interest-only mortgage reset could smoke out some portfolio investors. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>And despite record levels of construction in recent years, Sydney doesn't really have a structural oversupply.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>What it does have, though, is a few concentrated gluts of apartment completions and projects hitting the market at the same time, which might give rise to some distressed sales or failed apartment projects. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Pockets of pain</div>
<div>
 My experience in Britain has taught me that sharp price falls are sometimes seen when the economy really turns bad, leading to rising unemployment and forced sellers - hardly a widespread problem facing Sydney at this point in time - and sometimes in the most supply-responsive areas.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I spent a long time last week looking for bargains in the Sydney market, and in the east I couldn't find anything - I mean, not a single thing - that you might term a bargain, or anything even approximating to a bargain. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I don't really know enough about Homebush, Parramatta, Blacktown, or Western Sydney to comment in any meaningful way.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The best examples I could find of significant price declines, at least within 20 kilometres of the City, were mostly in areas zoned for higher-density housing or construction hotspots.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Epping was a standout example, where scores of apartments were sold off the plan around 2014, and it's not too hard in that area to find examples of units for sale at well below the 'as new' price (although, interestingly, some have been advertised 'almost as new').</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Resale prices in some developments look likely to be up to 15 to 20 per cent lower than the off-the-plan price after an assumption for discounting is factored in.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>A high proportion of such apartments was bought by non-residents, and jt's probably fair to say that total return might not have been absolutely front of mind for some off the plan buyers. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Locations around Epping and parts of the Hills District have experienced a huge surge in apartment completions in recent years. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Finding a tenant would be hard work right now for landlords, which might encourage more sellers in 2019.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a>. </div>
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Where are the Sydney property bargains? Pete Wargent

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Mortgage rates in Australia have fallen sharply from around 8 to 10 per cent since 2008.
<div>So it's reasonable to expect that housing rental yields would be considerably lower too.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>At the nadir, though, gross rental yields across the combined capital cities had sunk to below 3½ per cent, which is clearly far too low (and that's a gross figure). </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Here's an interesting chart from CoreLogic today, showing combined capital city yields tracking back quite quickly towards a rather more sustainable 4 per cent. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Sydney has done some of that lifting, but with more pressure on its rental market the main driver has been Melbourne, with gross rental yields rising from near-record lows of 3.1 per cent in February 2018 to 3.6 per cent. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Click <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e8HYLNBoDoE/XHh_JygJXNI/AAAAAAAAuxY/aMPH6jBgzuQpI94mLAipxCfUG5l1kkXGACLcBGAs/s640/Yields.jpg" target="_blank">here</a> to enlarge</div>
<div> </div>
<div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e8HYLNBoDoE/XHh_JygJXNI/AAAAAAAAuxY/aMPH6jBgzuQpI94mLAipxCfUG5l1kkXGACLcBGAs/s640/Yields.jpg" width="640" height="414" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="829"></div>
 
<div>(Source: CoreLogic)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>There has been a wide variation of results across markets, with demand largely coming from the bottom up thanks to first home buyer stimulus, but the upper quartile of the market seeing far fewer transactions on tight lending standards. Negative equity hasn't featured too much in Australian housing in recent years, but with tighter credit holding down markets in Perth, Darwin, and some other regions, this is starting to become a factor of concern, especially as some borrowers are forced off interest-only mortgages. Noted CoreLogic on the second wind for the Perth and Darwin downturn: 'This renewed downwards pressure on home values coincides with a softening in labour market conditions, with weaker housing market results likely compounded by credit scarcity.'</div>
<div>
 Perth's median price has fallen by about 20 per cent over a downturn now spanning more than 4½ years. <div><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5wxI9592SwI/XHjwAsnWzuI/AAAAAAAAuyM/074mg4IqR4o3KHA-SG1XvyuEwjozIgyxQCLcBGAs/s640/Perth.jpg" width="640" height="408" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1316"></div>
 <div>(Source: CoreLogic)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a>.</div>
</div>
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Rental property yields recovering: Pete Wargent

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EXPERT OBSERVER
The property markets of Hobart and Tasmania lead the nation. Homes sell faster here than anywhere else in Australia and there are locations with double-digit annual price growth throughout the state. 
The key drivers are a strong state economy and affordable prices. Research from realestate.com.au indicates that buyers out of Melbourne are providing a lot of impetus to Tasmanian markets.
The number of growth locations (those where demand, as measured by sales volumes, is rising), is lower than the peak but remains strong and steady.
The outstanding feature of Tasmania’s markets is the strength of prices. Virtually every location of substance across the state has recorded annual price growth above 5% in the past year, and most have delivered better than 10%. It’s almost impossible to find a market where the median price has dropped – and in this regard Tasmania is probably unique in Australia. 
In conducting our quarterly location-by-location research on demand levels across Australia, Hotspotting also examines patterns with prices. We record suburbs and towns where the median price has increased more than 5% in the past year, those which have grown between 1% and 5%, and those where prices have declined more than 5%. (We disregard locations with fewer than 30 annual sales, because the sales sample is too small to provide accurate and meaningful price trends.)
In Hobart, we can find no suburbs with falling prices and none with minor growth. All have increased by more than 5% in the past 12 months – and 80% of them are up at least 10%. A key feature is most have recorded rises in the latest quarter, which indicates prices are still growing.
The standout markets have grown more than 20%, including the house markets in Bellerive (21%), Carlton (22%), Gagebrook (22%), Howrah (23%), Moonah (20%), Risdon Vale (26%) and Warrane (21%)
The Bellerive and West Moonah unit markets are both up 29%.
But the leading markets on price growth are Clarendon Vale houses and Lindisfarne units, both up 32%.
A standout precinct in the Hobart metro area is the Clarence LGA, where Bellerive, Clarendon Vale, Geilston Bay, Howrah, Lauderdale, Lindisfarne, Oakdowns, Risdon Vale, Rokeby and Warrane have all recorded double-digit growth in their median prices.
Our Autumn survey for The Price Predictor Index, like the previous Summer survey, provides further evidence that the Hobart market is beyond its peak in terms of sales demand. In early 2018 we saw the first hint of a moderation in sales activity in Hobart and this was confirmed by later reports. But the drop in demand has been gradual, there are still growth markets, and prices continue to rise.
The Clarence, Glenorchy, Kingborough and Sorell LGAs all have growth suburbs, but they are outnumbered by plateau markets (those where sales demand has settled on solid levels but below the peak). 
The suburb of Rokeby in the Clarence LGA has recorded quarterly sales of 17, 22, 22, 26 and 29 – and its median price has risen 12% to $285,000 in the past 12 months. 
The Brighton LGA on the northern fringe of Hobart is a growth market, both in terms of rising demand and rising prices. In the suburb of Bridgewater, quarterly sales have been 14, 15, 22, 18, 26, 34 and 31 – and the median house price has increased 15% to $235,000 in the past year.
It’s clear from these figures that the locations with the strongest growth dynamics are mainly the ones that offer affordability.
Regional Tasmania is further back in the cycle than Hobart and continues to show strong activity and rising prices. 
Launceston and neighbouring LGAs like West Tamar and Meander Valley have multiple suburbs with rising demand, including Kings Meadows, Norwood, Prospect, South Launceston, Waverley, Hadspen and Riverside. 
This precinct is also delivering rising prices. Suburbs with double-digit annual growth in house prices include Hadspen, Invermay, Kings Meadow, Mowbray, Newnham, Prospect, Ravenswood, South Launceston, Summerhill, Waverley and West Launceston. Two unit markets with notable growth include Newnham (up 27% to $220,000) and Riverside (up 27% to $325,000).
Many of these suburbs have median house prices below $300,000 and others are in the mid low-$300,000s, continuing the state-wide theme of growth in affordable markets. 
But the Tasmanian location with the strongest growth is the town of Richmond, about 25km north-east of Hobart. Its median house price is up 44% to $630,000, but based on a smallish sample of 34 sales in the past year.
Another town just outside Hobart which is doing well is New Norfolk. Sales demand is rising here and median prices are up 18% to $245,000 for houses and 12% to $225,000 for units. 
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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Nowhere in Tasmania has seen less than 5% property price growth in 12 months: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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The Duke of Gloucester Hotel, located in Sydney's Eastern suburbs has been listed for sale with a price tag of $30 million.
HTL Property's Sam Handy and Daniel Dragicevich hold the listing.
This campaign follows the recent sale of a number of Eastern Suburbs pubs including the Centennial Hotel (Woollahra), Royal Hotel (Bondi) and Bondi's Icebergs Bar and Dining Room.
Affectionately known by locals as the 'DOG', the hotel has been operated under management by the Good Beer Company on behalf of a private syndicate.
“We’ve had several unsolicited approaches to buy the DOG in recent times and decided to put it to market to focus on our redevelopment of the Keg &amp; Brew”, commented owner John Azar.
The syndicate acquired the hotel in a discreet off-market transaction from Newhaven Hotels in 2015 for a reported $17 million and immediately activated a $3.5 million renovation, refurbishment and reconfiguration.
The hotel, which boasts a 2am liquor licence and only has 19 gaming machines makes annual revenues in excess of $8 million.
It was #425 on OLGR's Dec-18 quarter rankings and outside of some hardware upgrades, the gaming room has remained largely untouched since the sale some four years ago.
HTL Property's Director Sam Handy advised, "the Duke of Gloucester Hotel is surrounded by several TOP 200 gaming rooms, all with the maximum gaming machine holding of 30 machines."
"An incoming purchaser would be strongly advised to immediately increase the hotel’s machine holding from 19 to the allowable 30 and doubling the size of the gaming room by extending into the existing TAB and smoking area," he added.
Set on a 746 sqm landholding it is situated at the cross section of Frenchmans Road and Clovelly Road in Randwick.
Spanning two levels the holding consists of three bars, two kitchens, TAB, designated gaming room and multiple outdoor areas. 
The Duke of Gloucester Hotel is being sold via private treaty.
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