<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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140747 project_image_fid=367540]

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.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323055]

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 beachfront Base Backpackers on Magnetic Island has hit the market.
Tenanted to Base Backers of Tourism Adventure Group, the property at 1 Nelly Bay Road sits on a near 1.1 hectare site fronting the water.
The main building occupies a total area of 1,244 sqm and the accomodation is in huts and campsites.
<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/2018/11/19/Base3.jpg" alt="">
There are a total of 186 beds, 11 campsites, a commercial kitchen and a swimming pool.
Savills Hotels senior executive Christian Tsalikis says the offering will stand as a secure investment, underpinned by the lease to Base Backpackers. 
“Tourism Adventure Group owns and operates 28 backpackers across Australia and New Zealand through their three brands – BASE, NOMADS, and UNITED,” Mr Tsalikis 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/2018/11/19/Base4.jpg" alt="">
Tsalikis is handling the marketing with Leon Alaban, Savills Hotels director, who said the unparalleled location attracts both international and domestic tourists who want to experience the best of what Queensland has to offer.
“The offering provides investors with the ideal beachfront asset, a solid covenant with a lease to Base Backpackers, who operate a business that procures an excellent trading history."
Offers to purchase close December 5.
 
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Base Backpackers on Magnetic Island hits the market

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The former Bondi Junction commercial space of the Traditional Chip Shop is being offered with no rental payments until next year.
The Traditional Fish Shop had had a brand new lease term of 10 x 10 years when the property at 1/78 Bronte Road sold two years ago for $1.74 million.
They were paying $104,000 per annum for the lease. The shop has been up for lease since May when it was asking $93,600 per annum.
<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/2018/11/19/chip2.jpg" alt="">
The two level property, which was marketed as recently built when sold in 2016, has 165 sqm space including the loading dock and storage area.
It is equipped with a grease trap, cool rooms and freezer.
The Brit-targeted Traditional Chip Shop was set up by an Irish couple living in Sydney. 
TV chef Colin Fassnidge, from Dublin, was on hand at the official opening in 2015.
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Bondi Junction's former Traditional Chip Shop space offering free rent until 2019

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The home of Blender Gallery on Paddington's Elizabeth Street has sold with approved plans for a major renovation.
The commercial terrace at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-nsw-paddington-502978750" target="_blank">16 Elizabeth Street</a> features a freestanding two level studio at the rear of its 100 sqm site.
Plans approved earlier this year allow for three separate rental revenues with approval to renovate and add off-street parking.
<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/2018/11/19/Blender2.jpg" alt="">
Last traded for $1,325,000 in 2016, BresicWhitney Darlinghurst agents Ivan Bresic and Michael Seally were asking $1.55 million following its unsuccessful auction campaign. 
They initially sought $1.6 million.
Blender Gallery was established in 2001 and sells prints and iconic images of music and musicians over the last 50 years.
<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/2018/11/19/Blender3.jpg" alt="">
Blender Gallery has become the major brand in fine art music photography in Sydney, Australia.
Blender Gallery is the official Australian representative of Rockarchive.com based in the UK and The Morrison Hotel Gallery of the USA.
 
 
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Elizabeth Street Paddington gallery with David Bowie mural sold

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Regional NSW is now one of the most compelling growth markets in Australia. There are locations right across the state with growing sales activity and many places are delivering double-digit annual price growth.
Regional NSW continues to move in the opposite direction to Sydney. While there are now few rising markets in the state capital, there are growth locations spread across the regions of NSW: a record 39 local government areas have rising markets.
Queanbeyan on the ACT border (above) is the leading precinct, as it continues to stand out as an affordable growth alternative to Canberra. The LGA of Queanbeyan-Palerang has seven Rising Steadily suburbs/towns. Quarterly sales in Queanbeyan (the suburb) have been 39, 40, 50, 59, 38 and 62 in the past 18 months. Many locations in this precinct have had double-digit annual price growth, headed by Crestwood (up 18%).
Newcastle and nearby LGAs also form a compelling growth precinct. Suburbs in the City of Newcastle have had very strong price growth (many have risen between 10% and 20% in the past 12 months).
Now the momentum has shifted to neighbouring Lake Macquarie (which has five suburbs with strongly rising demand) and locations in the nearby Hunter Region (including Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton and Muswellbrook) and neighbouring Port Stephens. Jointly the Newcastle/Hunter region has 19 suburbs with rising markets.
The Maitland LGA has five of them, including Rutherford (median $400,000) where quarterly sales have been 64, 75, 70, 91, 83, 99, 96, 81 and 102 in the past two years, while Aberglasslyn (median $470,000) has recorded 27, 37, 41 and 48 sales in the past year. Both locations have recorded 6% rises in their median prices, with further growth expected. 
Muswellbrook and Singleton continue to improve after the previous downturn caused by over-development and a downturn in the coal industry. Muswellbrook’s quarterly sales have risen from 41 to 52 to 57 to 74 to 83– and its median price has risen 11% over 12 months to $305,000.
Many suburbs in the Lake Macquarie LGA have had strong annual price growth, including Belmont (up 13%), Edgeworth (up 12.5%), Warners Bay (12.5%) and Swansea (15.5%).
Port Stephens just outside Newcastle is also producing growth markets, with demand rising in Medowie, Corlette and Shoal Bay, and solid markets also in Nelson Bay, Salamander Bay and Raymond Terrace. Many of these locations have had double-digit annual price growth, including Nelson Bay (up 17%) and Medowie (up 12%).
Others to stand out as above-average markets in Regional NSW include Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Dubbo, Gunnedah, Lismore, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga. Sales in Casino in the Richmond Valley area have been 62, 65, 63, 71, 74 and 91 in recent quarters, with the median price up 14% to $285,000.
A number of regional towns that would normally not attract much attention from investors are rising, including Broken Hill, Glen Innes, Gloucester, Inverell, Kempsey, Kyogle, Leeton, Malua Bay, Mudgee and Tumut.
Quarterly sales in Inverell have been 52, 56, 56, 69, 69, 60 and 81, with the median price rising 16% to $275,000 in the past 12 months.
Areas which were among the Regional NSW growth stars previously, but have now levelled out with plateau markets, include locations close to Sydney which caught a ripple effect from the city boom, such as the Blue Mountains, the lifestyle towns of Wingecarribee Shire (the Southern Highlands) as well as Wollongong and nearby locations. 
Other previous growth stars now past their peaks include Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and the Tweed region – but all remain solid markets with prices rising.
The Central Coast LGA, which has been busy for 2-3 years, is still producing growth markets, although it has a greater number of plateau markets. Many Central Coast locations have recorded strong price growth in the past 12 months – including Point Frederick (up 15%), Kincumber (15%), Wamberal (17%) and Gwandalan (13%).
Other regions delivering big price movements include Ballina in the north-east of the state, where Ballina, East Ballina, Lennox Head and West Ballina (up 28%) have lifted significantly the past year. 
Other north-eastern areas with rising prices include Kyogle (up 15%), Lismore (12%) and Casino (14%).
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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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Queanbeyan leads the 39 rising growth areas in regional New South Wales: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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EXPERT OBSERVATION 
The expected bounce in employment appeared in the October Labour Force Survey with a 32.8k rise.
The market median was for 20k. However, just as we saw in September, the mix was again positive with a 42.3k rise in full-time and a small 9.5k decline in part-time employment. In addition hours worked rose 0.3% following on from a 0.4% gain in September.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/15/westpac%201.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<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/2018/11/15/westpac%201.jpg" alt="">
 
Source: Westpac IQ
Perhaps more important is the continuation of the trend improvement in unemployment.
Sure, in the month unemployment was flat at 5.0%, but this is a good result seeing as the 0.3ppt drop in unemployment to 5.0% in September was due to a large drop in participation rather than a strong employment print.
As such there was always a risk the participation rate would bounce this month. Participation did rebound this month, but the 0.1ppt rise to 65.6% still left it under the 65.7% print in August.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/15/westpac%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge
 <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/2018/11/15/westpac%202.jpg" alt="">
Source: Westpac IQ
Last month suggested that you need to take a holistic view of the Labour Force Survey and accept that some of the monthly volatility is associated with the survey groups being rolled into, and out of, the sample. This meant that while the 5.6k print (revised to 7.8k) on employment was too soft compared to underlying momentum, the fall in unemployment to 5.0% was also too aggressive. As such Westpac was forecasting a bump in employment in October and also a rise in unemployment (to 5.1%).
The fact that employment had a robust rise in October, and the unemployment rate was flat due a modest rise in participation, suggests the trend decline in unemployment remains in place. We had been forecasting that unemployment would end the year around 5.1%. Based on the current trend, it is more likely to be around 5.0%, if not below. It is only our expectation for participation to drift back up to 65.60% (currently 65.56%) that is holding unemployment at 5.0% at year end.
In terms of risks for November, the ABS notes that the outgoing sample group has the same employment to population group as the sample average, so by itself, the rolling of that group will not impact employment. However, that same group has a higher unemployment rate compared to the sample average so rolling that group out will lower the sample average. All else held equal, this presents downside risk to our unemployment forecast for November.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/15/westpac%203.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge
<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/2018/11/15/westpac%203.jpg" alt="">
Source: Westpac IQ
For a few months we have noted the robust labour market conditions in Victoria where unemployment had fallen to be almost on par with NSW (the national low for a large state). The last time this happened was when Victorian unemployment was on a rising trend. This matters because Victorian wages have been more responsive to changes in labour market conditions than the other states but especially compared to NSW. This month unemployment fell 0.1ppt to 4.5% in Victoria while it was flat in NSW at 4.4% (a 10 year low for this state). So Victoria continues to narrow the gap to NSW in terms of unemployment suggesting we need to keep a close eye on Victorian wages going forward.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/15/westpac%204.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge
<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/2018/11/15/westpac%204.jpg" alt="">
Source: Westpac IQ
By state, the largest gains in employment were in NSW (+16.3k following +1.1k in September) while Victorian employment fell (–3.5k after a robust +20.7k). It is the ongoing trend decline in Victorian participation that has been a key driver of falling national unemployment hence we are a little nervous about following this trend to generate a sub 5% unemployment rate by end 2019. Victorian female participation has trended below female participation in NSW, a very rare event. In that regard, while we would expect to see female participation rise in Victoria, we have to acknowledge that female participation could ease in NSW from its current record high level.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/15/westpac%205.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge
<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/2018/11/15/westpac%205.jpg" alt="">
Source: Westpac IQ
Employment fell again in Qld (–3.2k following –11.9k in September) and unemployment rose 0.3ppts to 6.3. Meanwhile, the recovery in the other mining state, WA, continues with a 3.1k lift in employment (+3.3k in September) while the unemployment rate fell again by 0.3ppt to 5.7%. This is the first time WA unemployment has been below 6.0% since January 2018.
Overall, we emphasise the need to look through the monthly volatility in the Labour Force Survey and focus on the broader trends in the labour market. The pace of employment growth has eased back from the 4.3%yr peak in 2017 to 2.5%yr in October and the six month annualised pace is also 2.5%. Both seem about right compared to leading indicators if you take into account the employment overshoot through 2017/2018. As such, while we do expect participation to trend higher, the rising trend in female participation may have come to an end (for now) just as male participation has stabilised.
The October survey is a sound update and it increases the risk that the unemployment rate could end this year with a 4 handle.
Justin Smirk is senior economist at Westpac.
You can find the complete chart pack <a href="https://westpaciq.westpac.com.au/wibiqauthoring/_uploads/file/Australia/2018/November/Labour-FI_chart_packOct18.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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Employment stats show continuing robust trend: Westpac's Justin Smirk

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Frasers Property Australia were recently fielding enquiries from tenants looking to set up shop in Ed.Square, their so-called game-changing mixed-use community set to be the new urban heart of south west Sydney.
More than 200 homes had been sold at Ed.Square by August. 
It signalled in August the next apartment building had been fast-tracked for release.
The more recent homes release, Chelsea Pocket, offering a collection of 1, 2, 3 &amp; 4 bedroom designer townhomes, were part of the VIP sales launch last month. 
Coles and Liquorland were confirmed as tenants in the future town centre
Frasers Property secured leases over 25% of the available 25,000sqm of retail space in stage one of Ed.Square Town Centre just weeks after the leasing campaign kicked off.
Ed.Square was poised to become the new social centrepiece for south west Sydney, according to Tim Moore at Frasers Property Australia.
<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/2018/8/24/EP1%20R02_Retail_Eat%20St.jpg" alt="">
Stage one of Ed.Square Town Centre is expected to open in early 2020. On completion of stage two, of up to an additional 15,000sqm, the development will comprise 40,000sqm of retail space with over 120 shops integrated with a landmark 68-metre high residential tower atop the town centre.
Some 1,800 homes were envisaged in the Frasers Property community.
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Ed.Square poised to become the new social centrepiece for south west Sydney

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A review of housing completions across metropolitan Sydney indicates that many councils are not carrying their fair share of growth.
The Department of Planning’s Housing Monitor lists housing completions across all of Sydney’s councils each month.
The top ten councils are completing more than 2,000 homes each over the last year but the bottom ten councils are only averaging around 200 homes a year.
Leading the development of new homes over the last year are the City of Sydney with 4,351 completions, The City of Parramatta with 4,231, Blacktown with 3,325 and Bayside with 3,073 new homes.
At the other end of the housing supply performance are Willoughby with 201 completions, Randwick with 200, Waverley with 119 and Mosman with only 8 new homes.
The housing completion numbers are taken from September 2017 to August 2018 from the NSW Government’s Housing Monitor for each council across Metropolitan Sydney.
The council areas that should be pulling their weight more are the ones with good rail infrastructure like the North Shore rail line.
It is disappointing to see that Willoughby with its excellent rail connections is in the bottom 10 performers with only 201 housing completions.
Other North Shore councils with rail stations that seem to be not pulling their weight on housing supply include Ku-ring-gai (899), Hornsby (724), North Sydney (638) and Lane Cove (605).
The Eastern Suburbs, admittedly with smaller councils, that are under performing are Randwick (200), Waverley (119), and Woollahra (73).
These suburbs are close to the quality jobs in the CBD and are very desirable places to live.
The best performers are two councils which are the focus of the Greater Sydney Commission’s ‘Metropolis of Three Cities’ concept in the form of Sydney and Parramatta, The City of Sydney topped the list with 4,351 new homes completed over the last year followed by the City of Parramatta with 4,231 new homes.
The Greater Sydney Commission’s Sydney District Plans identify 5-year housing targets to be achieved by 2021 for each council area.
A number of councils are well on track to achieve their targets including Penrith which needs to complete 1,320 new homes a year and exceeded this in the last year with 2,271 completions.
The City of Ryde has a target of 1,520 new homes a year but completed 2,275 new homes over the last year and Bayside Council has a target of 2,030 new homes a year over 5 years and exceeded this with 3,073 in the last year.
A number of councils are performing below the GSC targets including Randwick which has a low target of 450 a year but only achieved 200 over the last year.
Georges River Council has a target of 960 new homes a year but only achieved 495 completions over the last year.
The Urban Taskforce believes part of the concerns related to over development are coming from councils that are carrying the major housing growth on behalf of Greater Sydney.
There needs to be a fairer distribution of growth across the whole of Sydney particularly where good public transport infrastructure exists or is being constructed.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/15/Housing%20Completions%202018.JPG" alt="">
CHRIS JOHNSON is the CEO of Urban Taskforce 
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Sydney’s growth is not being spread evenly across councils: Chris Johnson

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EXPERT OBSERVATION 
Average loan sizes took a knock back in September 2018, both for investors and owner-occupiers, although the average loan size remained higher than a year earlier (substantially so for first-time buyers), so perhaps this in itself isn't all that surprising under tighter lending conditions.
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bxxzaICFUWk/W-dWLQiV_iI/AAAAAAAAsyE/LZZIlGnEfz0aTGbUPXMg9XKFHBKyGuutACLcBGAs/s1600/A1.jpg"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bxxzaICFUWk/W-dWLQiV_iI/AAAAAAAAsyE/LZZIlGnEfz0aTGbUPXMg9XKFHBKyGuutACLcBGAs/s640/A1.jpg" width="640" height="364" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1380"></a>
It doesn't matter if you're borrowing at a rate of 4 per cent or even lower today, you'll still be assessed at 7¼ per cent, so there's oodles of headroom, but mortgage processing seems to have become a painstaking process and transaction volumes have crashed.
Frozen fever
The weak ABS housing finance figures - <a href="http://petewargent.blogspot.com/2018/11/housing-finance-smashed" target="_blank">see here</a> - don't pick up the full extent of this yet, especially since there are still thousands of apartments settling from off-the-plan purchases, but the apartments pipeline has shrunk quite dramatically of late so the line in the chart below will continue to fall through 2019.
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NSCHgfvGr1w/W-dWLzhUQGI/AAAAAAAAsyI/2pcJj36ptkwCZXstlXjoC_LxGT9q288eQCLcBGAs/s1600/A2.jpg"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NSCHgfvGr1w/W-dWLzhUQGI/AAAAAAAAsyI/2pcJj36ptkwCZXstlXjoC_LxGT9q288eQCLcBGAs/s640/A2.jpg" width="640" height="376" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1354"></a>
It's not all doom and gloom for realtors, or property owners, especially around some of the regional markets. 
And the urban services economy is buzzing with people and employment, so some properties with a scarcity value are still faring well with mortgage rates so much lower than they used to be. 
There was an auction just across the street from our place <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-pyrmont-129585290" target="_blank">in Sydney yesterday</a> with Cooley's auctioneers reporting a whopping 41 bids and a thumping price tag of $2.675 million, implying that borrowers with equity and of high credit quality are being treated with reverence by increasingly twitchy lenders.
I don't go to Melbourne much unless I have to (kidding lol...I'm down there next week), but the <a href="http://www.catebakos.com.au/sundayblog/the-correlation-between-property-scarcity-and-auction-result/" target="_blank">experts in the know down there</a> will doubtless report a similar story about demand and scarcity value. 
Make no mistake, though, many parts of the housing market are being smoked, volumes have been crunched, and they'll be plenty of real estate agents seeking alternative forms of employment in 2019, if they aren't already. 
Non-bank lenders have alleviated some of the pressure, though volumes were down here too in September. 
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jCv9kDxCafs/W-deCU2gi2I/AAAAAAAAsyg/sz8G6eOtlV89m1Ty6lnVc_-VnK6LjcHRQCLcBGAs/s1600/Nonbanks.jpg"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jCv9kDxCafs/W-deCU2gi2I/AAAAAAAAsyg/sz8G6eOtlV89m1Ty6lnVc_-VnK6LjcHRQCLcBGAs/s640/Nonbanks.jpg" width="640" height="378" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1357"></a>
The Treasurer has evidently become a tad agitated, requesting that banks keep their lending channels open to prevent money growth from seizing up more than it already has. 
Financial markets haven't been unduly fazed, on the whole, presumably adopting a benign stance in the belief that an engineered slowdown in lending could be relaxed.
Meanwhile bank stock valuations have largely followed international leads through reporting season, following an initial relief rally after the draft Royal Commission report was released. 
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I-qru6R6i7Y/W-dg9oi5hMI/AAAAAAAAsys/dsfNvbv7jyYnVcWNF_ebCQEh41_rQwhIACLcBGAs/s1600/CBA2.jpg"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I-qru6R6i7Y/W-dg9oi5hMI/AAAAAAAAsys/dsfNvbv7jyYnVcWNF_ebCQEh41_rQwhIACLcBGAs/s640/CBA2.jpg" width="640" height="382" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1338"></a>
Finally, spare a thought for those that bought units off-the-plan in some of the big inner-city tower block developments, with settlement valuations often coming in way short of purchase prices as valuers look nervously over their shoulders. 
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>.
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Loan sizes trimmed in September: Pete Wargent

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The veteran pub family patriarch Arthur Laundy has bought the The Bells Hotel in Woolloomooloo, swooping pre-auction as an acquisitive battle continues between rival Sydney publicans across Sydney.
The price guidance had been around $15 million, highlighting the frothiness in hotel prices over recent years.
The historic 1920s pub was sold before Thursday's scheduled auction to the Laundy family which now owns almost 30 hotels across NSW, including venues such as the Watsons Bay Hotel, the Woolwich Pier near Hunters Hill and the Quarryman's Hotel in Pyrmont.
Laundy recently expressed concern about "silly prices", signalling he'd be steering clear of what he called a "crazy market", but The Bells was irresistible.
Rival hotelier Justin Hemmes had been pinpointed as also having an likely interest in buying the pub.
The Laundy family net worth is put at $500 million while Hemmes' is estimated to preside over a $950 million hospitality and liquor empire.
The 77 year old Laundy is credited as heading the biggest independent hotel operator in New South Wales, which includes the neighbouring Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel which cost $20 million two years ago.
It was the Miles family who called time at The Bells after initially securing the leasehold in 1976.
The family bought Tooth out in 1990.
The pub at 1 Bourke Street was known for legendary matriarch Lil Miles, who worked behind the bar until age 96.
Erin Petersen, from the Miles family, said there had been a number of pre-auction offers.
“The family has loved the 45 years at Bells and while it is the end of an era for us we are happy to sell to Arthur, a long time local publican, who we are sure will only be an asset to further develop the potential of our much-loved pub” said Petersen.
The sale was secured by Andrew Jolliffe who has sold more than $1.75 billion of pubs in the past six years including the Centennial in Woollahra on behalf of the Medich family to Merivale's Justin Hemmes.
The Laundy family company, which has been in pubs since the 1940s, includes scions Stuart, the socialite publican who briefly won Sophie Monk's heart on The Bachelorette, and the politician Craig, who has been the Liberal member of Reid since 2013.
Arthur Laundy typically fronts up every day at the Laundy headquarters in the Twin Willows Hotel, built in 1963 by his late father at Bass Hill in Sydney's south-west after the land cost 38,000 pounds. 
The family pub business had began when Arthur's parents Arthur Sr and Veronica took on the Sackville Hotel at Rozelle in 1945.
It was in 1969 when young Arthur and wife-to-be Margaret took the reins of the family business, which was then just two hotels including the Twin Willows.
Jolliffe noted that interest in the Bells, a prominently positioned asset, was drawn from a wide spectrum of well-known hospitality operatives and commercial property specialists.
There have been four other hotel properties in the past few weeks, Jolliffe noted.
Sydney's biggest publicans include the Waugh family, the Ryan family, Peter Calligeros, the De Angelis family, the Arnout brothers, and Pat and Angela Gallgaher.
Hemmes and his family have ownership of 70 hotels, restaurants and venues around Sydney.
The sale comes on the eve of hotel giant Redcape’s billion-dollar stock market listing later this month.
The Bells Hotel, located adjacent to the Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, features a main bar, bistro, courtyard, accommodation spanning the entire first level, and eight electronic gaming machines.
There had been a pub on the 340 square metre Bourke Street corner address since the 1860s.
The original ale house was called Punches servicing the workers of the wharves.
The Miles family lost a family member at the hotel in 2004 when Shane Miles, died from massive head injuries after being hit in the head with a bar stool during a wild brawl at his family's pub.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Pub patriarch Arthur Laundy purchases The Bells Hotel in Woolloomooloo

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A syndicate of five former students from St Joseph's, Hunters Hill has bought the Lady Hampshire Hotel at Camperdown.
The buyers are cellar master, Greg Parker, Chris Traill, former chief concierge of Sydney’s Park Hyatt, Matthew Comensoli, Andrew Rigney and David Vaughan.
They were at the school in the early to mid 1990s.
“From boarding school to the boardroom this group of mates has enjoyed consistent results, with the Lady Hampshire the next chapter to be written in this success story," Parker told the pub website, pubtic.com.au.
The Parramatta Road hotel was sold by hotelier Paddy Coughlan.
Coughlan intends concentrating on his new beverage enterprise, Frank Strongs.
Coughlan retains the Lord Gladstone and Botany View Hotel.
Camperdown’s Hampshire Hotel was reopened in 2016 by Coughlan’s Bourke St group, then rebranded the Lady Hampshire to complement nearby sister venue the Lord Gladstone.
Manenti Quinlan’s Nick Butler brokered the introduction of The Lady to the former St Joseph’s students.
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