<h3 data-end="19" data-section-id="1dvgwoe" data-start="0">Summary</h3>

<ul data-end="634" data-start="21">
	<li data-end="170" data-section-id="1o77v31" data-start="21">Walker Corporation has lodged plans for a second major residential development in the Maroochydore City Centre, a 29-storey tower known as Celeste.</li>
	<li data-end="327" data-section-id="1lb0y6t" data-start="171">The Plus Studio-designed proposal at Lot 30 Sunshine Coast Parade would deliver 208 apartments, including four four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.</li>
	<li data-end="487" data-section-id="za720" data-start="328">The application comes as Walker doubles down on Maroochydore following the strong sales campaign at SOL by Walker, where the first tower is nearing sell-out.</li>
	<li data-end="634" data-section-id="5sovec" data-start="488">Walker is a key partner in the transformation of the Maroochydore City Centre, which is expected to ultimately deliver at least 4,000 new homes.</li>
</ul>

Walker Corporation is doubling down on Maroochydore following the successful sales campaign at its first residential project in the emerging CBD.

The national developer has filed plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celeste-30-sunshine-coast-parade-maroochydore-qld-4558">Celeste</a>, a new 29-storey apartment tower at Lot 30 Sunshine Coast Parade, just metres from its under-construction SOL by Walker development.

The plans, prepared by Plus Studio, would see 208 apartments delivered across a 100-metre tower on the 2,376 sqm site, which fronts Sunshine Coast Parade, First Avenue and Future Way within the Maroochydore Priority Development Area.

<img alt="Walker" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="17038209-6fea-4ed2-855d-fd4df65b3d02" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-10%20at%2010.24.16%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=iZD.oVXcQn.aLpUytDAW.CWjxP4puWMy" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 36 one-bedroom apartments, 48 two-bedroom apartments, 72 two-bedroom apartments with an additional multipurpose space, and 48 three-bedroom apartments.

The upper levels would be capped by two four-bedroom sub-penthouses and two four-bedroom penthouses, taking the total apartment count to 208. The preliminary yield study also provides 262 car spaces, 114 resident bicycle spaces and storage for each apartment.

It represents Walker's next major residential move in the new Maroochydore CBD after the success of SOL by Walker, its $220 million two-tower project nearby.

SOL launched to market in early 2025 and has since seen strong demand, particularly from local owner-occupiers. By February this year, Walker said the first SOL tower was nearing sell-out, with a strong waitlist also emerging for its recently released penthouse collection.

Construction is already underway on SOL, with the first tower expected to be completed in late 2027 and the second to follow in early 2028.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147777 project_image_fid=319846]

<h2 data-end="2518" data-section-id="1b2dyo5" data-start="2459">Celeste to rise 100 metres over Maroochydore City Centre</h2>

Celeste would take a different form to the twin 19-storey buildings at SOL.

Plus Studio has designed a single 100-metre tower above an activated podium, with the architecture responding to the site's prominent position and three street frontages.

The podium would incorporate commercial tenancies and public art, with sweeping façade elements wrapping the street edges. The scalloped concrete podium has been inspired by the patterns created in sand at low tide, while extensive landscaping would continue vertically through the tower.

The ground level plans show three commercial tenancies addressing Sunshine Coast Parade alongside the residential lobby and landscaped public realm. The podium would then accommodate several levels of car parking before the residential tower rises above.

<img alt="Celeste" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="121f77b1-71c5-46d7-9b36-0a7d474211ca" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-10%20at%2010.24.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=MGrg9Hb7HgzLN0Lelq_xrXNAruVl77ia" />

Plus Studio said the tower had been designed to maximise views from each apartment, taking in the Maroochy River, Sunshine Coast hinterland, Cotton Tree and Maroochydore Beach and ocean.

Those views have also shaped one of the project's key features, with Walker proposing to put the primary resident amenity on Level 29 rather than lower within the building.

The rooftop would feature a 284.9 sqm pool area with an infinity edge, along with a cold pool, spa, sauna, 93.2 sqm gym, sunset lounge, BBQ and dining areas, pool deck and private dining space. Cabanas and day beds are also shown across the recreation level.

The two penthouses would extend across the upper levels and each feature private terraces and plunge pools.

<h2 data-end="4202" data-section-id="v5f4ix" data-start="4160">Walker's growing Maroochydore footprint</h2>

Celeste further reinforces Walker's commitment to the transformation of Maroochydore City Centre.

Walker is one of the key partners delivering the new CBD alongside Sunshine Coast Council and SunCentral Maroochydore, with the broader 62-hectare Priority Development Area occupying the former Horton Park Golf Course and surrounding land.

The precinct is ultimately expected to accommodate at least 4,000 new homes as Maroochydore evolves into the Sunshine Coast's principal commercial and residential centre.

When SOL secured approval in February 2025, Walker Managing Director and CEO David Gallant described it as the "first of many residential projects" the company planned for the Maroochydore City Centre.

Celeste now provides the clearest indication yet of what comes next.

The site sits immediately within the new CBD, with the design report identifying Sunshine Plaza and surrounding parkland within walking distance and Maroochydore Beach around a five-minute drive away.

For Walker, the timing of the application comes as its first residential bet on the new CBD appears to have been vindicated.

SOL has progressed from planning approval to construction while its first release has approached sell-out, giving Walker confidence to push ahead with another 208 apartments and take its residential pipeline in the Maroochydore City Centre to around 450 dwellings across the two projects.

Celeste remains subject to planning approval, with the architectural material describing the scheme as a preliminary yield study that may change through the assessment process.

Joel Robinson

Walker doubles down on Maroochydore with 29-storey Celeste apartment tower

For most Australians, buying an apartment is one of the biggest financial decisions they'll ever make

The location, floorplan and price are often the first considerations, but in recent years another question has become increasingly important: who is actually delivering the project?

A series of high-profile builder collapses, construction delays and defect concerns have fundamentally changed how many Victorians approach buying off the plan. The collapse of Porter Davis in 2023, which reportedly left around 1,700 homes unfinished, became one of the most visible examples of the risks that can emerge when a construction company fails. <a href="https://www.equifax.com.au/sites/default/files/lpassets/pdf/Final-Business-Market-Pulse-June-Sector-Deep-Dive-Report-2.pdf">Similar challenges across the broader construction sector</a> have left buyers asking more questions before signing a contract.

As Victoria continues encouraging higher-density housing to address supply shortages, transparency is becoming just as important as location or price.

One tool increasingly entering the conversation is the <a href="https://icirt.com/">Independent Construction Industry Rating Tool (iCIRT)</a>, an independent assessment framework designed to help buyers better understand the developer or builder behind a project. Originally developed by Equifax in consultation with government and industry as part of NSW's Construct NSW reforms, the system has since expanded nationally.

<h2 data-end="1519" data-section-id="7nmx3" data-start="1492">What is an iCIRT rating?</h2>

Most Australians are familiar with independent ratings in everyday life.

We compare ANCAP safety ratings before buying a car. We look at Health Star Ratings in supermarkets. Banks rely on credit assessments when lending money.

Until recently, however, there has been very little independent information available to help apartment buyers assess the business responsible for delivering a residential project.

That gap is what iCIRT was designed to address.

Builders, developers and other construction professionals with an iCIRT rating have demonstrated high-trust characteristics through an independent, evidence-based assessment across six criteria: Character, Capability, Conduct, Capacity, Capital and Counterparties. This involves a rigorous review of financial health, past project track record, and ethical conduct. Crucially, an iCIRT rating could help provide property buyers with confidence that they are working with a professional who has demonstrated the capability, capacity, and willingness to return and rectify issues.

Importantly, iCIRT is not a recommendation to purchase a particular property, nor is it a traditional credit rating. It is an independent assessment framework designed to provide objective information about a construction business using a <a href="https://icirt.com/sites/default/files/2025-08/iCIRT-Methodology-Issue1-May-2021.pdf">published methodology</a>.

The system has been widely adopted in New South Wales, where more than one-third of medium and large residential builders and developers now hold an iCIRT rating, representing over two-thirds of the state's residential building market by value as of 2025/26.

<h2 data-end="3126" data-section-id="h6ohtj" data-start="3084">Why buyers are doing more due diligence</h2>

For many buyers, particularly those purchasing off the plan, the biggest risk isn't whether they'll like the kitchen finishes.

It's whether the project will be delivered on time, to the expected quality, and by a company capable of completing the development.

<a href="https://icirt.com/sites/default/files/2026-07/iCIRT%202025%20Consumer%20Survey%20Report%20v05.pdf">Consumer research commissioned by iCIRT</a> found more than half of respondents believed current protections do not adequately safeguard buyers from builder insolvencies or defective projects. Other research found 88 per cent of prospective buyers would seek independent ratings or due diligence before purchasing, while 90 per cent said trust in construction professionals is essential.

That doesn't mean buyers should rely on a single rating alone.

Independent legal advice, understanding the contract, and seeking financial advice all remain important parts of the due diligence process.

However, an independent assessment can provide another source of information alongside those traditional checks.

<h2 data-end="4138" data-section-id="pquzxc" data-start="4094">Trust is becoming a competitive advantage</h2>

The conversation isn't only changing for buyers.

Developers are also recognising that trust has become an increasingly important part of the sales process.

Five years ago, purchasers typically asked about floorplans, finishes and settlement dates.

Today, sales teams are increasingly being asked about the developer's experience, financial stability, previous projects and construction partners.

For companies with strong governance and established delivery records, an independent iCIRT rating provides another way to demonstrate those credentials before buyers even visit a display suite.

According to Equifax, the assessment can also help businesses drive sales and <a href="https://icirt.com/resources-for-business/icirt-rating-helps-scion-secure-high-value-projects">secure high-value projects</a>, as well as identify operational improvements and <a href="https://icirt.com/resources-for-business/mirvac-reinforces-brand-trust-and-quality-independent-icirt-rating">attract top talent</a>.

<h2 data-end="4962" data-section-id="1j54ng5" data-start="4912">Beyond buyers: lenders are paying attention too</h2>

The influence of independent construction ratings is also extending beyond consumers.

According to Stamford Capital's Real Estate Debt Capital Markets Survey, an increasing number of lenders now incorporate iCIRT ratings into their due diligence processes when assessing residential development finance applications.

The survey found lender adoption has continued to rise, with many respondents saying independent assessments provide additional insight into governance, counterparties and delivery capability beyond traditional financial analysis. Some lenders also reported declining funding applications where businesses had poor or no ratings.

As construction costs remain elevated and access to development finance becomes more selective, demonstrating credibility is becoming increasingly valuable.

<h2 data-end="5801" data-section-id="1qazuxs" data-start="5772">What it means for Victoria</h2>

Victoria's apartment market is entering a new phase.

The state is seeking to accelerate higher-density housing while simultaneously introducing reforms aimed at improving confidence in residential construction.

For buyers, that means there are more tools available than ever before to research the businesses behind a project.

For developers, it signals that transparency is becoming another point of differentiation in an increasingly competitive market.

Buyers are asking more questions than ever before and increasingly expecting independent information, not just marketing material, before making one of the biggest financial commitments of their lives.

Find out how to get iCIRT rated <a href="https://www.icirt.com/sites/default/files/2025-08/iCIRT-Infographic-Assessment-Process-Final.pdf">here</a>.

<hr data-end="6469" data-start="6466" />
The information contained in this article is general in nature and does not constitute personal, financial, legal or tax advice. It does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Therefore, you should consider whether the information is appropriate to your circumstances before acting on it and, where appropriate, seek independent professional advice.

This article contains links to third-party websites. These links are provided for convenience only. Equifax Australia does not control and is not responsible for the content, accuracy or privacy practices of external sites.

Copyright © 2026 Equifax Australia Information Services and Solutions Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

Buying off-the-plan in Melbourne? How independent iCIRT ratings are set to change Victorian property

Apartment buyers in New South Wales are set to gain a decade of insurance-backed protection against major building defects, after the NSW Parliament passed the Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.&nbsp;

The Bill establishes decennial defect insurance, known in the market as Latent Defects Insurance (LDI), as an alternative to the existing two-year strata building bond. It cleared the Legislative Council with amendments on Tuesday evening (August 4, 2026), with the Legislative Assembly agreeing to those amendments shortly after.

Under the reform, eligible developers can satisfy their statutory bond obligation by taking out an approved decennial-style policy that gives owners 10 years of cover for major structural defects from completion, claimable directly, without first having to pursue developers or builders through costly legal action.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=111820 project_image_fid=344699]

The change forms the final tranche of amendments arising from the 2021 statutory review of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and related legislation.

Resilience Insurance, which originated the cover in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022, welcomed the passage and credited the NSW Government for delivering it.

“This is protection apartment buyers have needed for a long time, and the credit for delivering it belongs to the NSW Government,”&nbsp;said Corey Nugent, CEO of Resilience Insurance.

“Minister Chanthivong and his team have shown real leadership in replacing an outdated two-year bond with cover that matches the lifespan of the buildings people are buying into. Reform like this is what good, evidence-based regulation looks like.”

Resilience has delivered LDI in NSW since 2022, protecting thousands of apartments, giving the State, and now the country, real-world evidence of how decade-long, no-fault protection works in practice.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136442 project_image_fid=374084]

The reform also places NSW within a wider national shift.

NSW is the third jurisdiction to put decennial cover into law. The ACT legislated for it in 2024, with the scheme taking effect in late 2025, and Victoria passed its own framework on 17 June. Between them, the three cover the majority of Australia's apartment market.

The reform commences once the legislation is proclaimed, which is expected in the coming weeks. From that point, developers of Class 2 residential apartment buildings can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial policy in place of the bond.

Buyers who purchased into projects that took out the cover early are among the first in the country to take keys to apartments carrying decade-long structural protection.

“With the legislation passed, the focus now turns to making it work for buyers,”&nbsp;Nugent said.

“There are already thousands of apartments in NSW covered by this insurance, bought by developers who moved early. The question every buyer should be asking in a display suite is a simple one: does this building come with 10-year defect cover, and who stands behind it?&nbsp;

“We look forward to working with the Government and the Building Commission in coming weeks as the framework moves to implementation, and to sharing what we have learned over the past four years so the protection reaches owners as smoothly and quickly as possible.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4553]

Other states are working through their own reform programs. Western Australia has indicated that decennial cover is within consideration a later stage of its reform sequence, and Queensland has been examining the settings as it looks at the development pipeline ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

Resilience Insurance acknowledges the NSW Government’s continued focus on strengthening consumer protection while supporting housing delivery across the State.

Fast Facts: What the reform means

<ul>
	<li>Proven at scale:&nbsp;Decennial cover has operated in NSW since 2022, protecting thousand of apartments.</li>
	<li>10 years of cover:&nbsp;Protection for major structural defects runs for a decade from completion, claimable directly and with no legal action required.</li>
	<li>An alternative to the bond:&nbsp;Eligible developers can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial-style policy in place of the 2% strata building bond.</li>
	<li>Part of a national shift:&nbsp;The ACT has had decennial provisions in force since 2025 and Victoria passed its framework in June. NSW now joins them.</li>
	<li>No-fault, first resort:&nbsp;Owners corporations claim directly from the insurer without first having to establish who is liable for the defect.</li>
	<li>Cost-competitive:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the 2% bond while offering broader, longer protection.</li>
	<li>Market position:&nbsp;Resilience originated LDI in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022.</li>
</ul>

Fast Facts: What is Resilience LDI?

<ul>
	<li>Resilience Latent Defects Insurance (LDI):&nbsp;Covers major structural defects for 10 years from completion.</li>
	<li>Consumer-first:&nbsp;Direct claim access, no need for lengthy legal action.</li>
	<li>Cost advantage:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the traditional 2% Strata Bond while offering broader protection.</li>
	<li>Market leader:&nbsp;&nbsp;Resilience Insurance originated LDI in Australia and is the national market leader.</li>
</ul>

NSW parliament passes 10-year defect insurance laws for new apartment buyers

Builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mcnab-developments">McNab</a> has wasted little time reshaping one of South Brisbane's most significant undeveloped apartment sites after acquiring the property earlier this year.&nbsp;

McNab has lodged plans to scrap an existing approval for two 30-storey towers and instead deliver a single 28-storey residential building, preserving part of the site for a future development opportunity.

The proposal, lodged over <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-peel-street-south-brisbane-qld-4101">64 Peel Street and 9 Cordelia Street</a>, is for a residential-led mixed-use development comprising 124 apartments above a landscaped podium, alongside a boundary realignment that preserves part of the land for a future residential project.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="743bf564-3f8f-45fc-b8d3-bbf18f5b628f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20Peel%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=EhCxGrVn_VFH3qTbKnI4WppGwaMnOn0t" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a>, the development will deliver 119 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom apartments across 23 residential levels. A five-level podium will accommodate 135 car spaces, while the ground floor will include a 66 sqm commercial tenancy, an activated residential lobby with work-from-home spaces, and a publicly accessible landscaped plaza linking Cordelia and Peel streets.&nbsp;

Communal amenities will span Level 6 and the rooftop, including indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, a swimming pool, barbecue facilities, kitchen and dining areas, lawn space, sauna, steam room and yoga facilities.

The application also proposes a boundary realignment to create a standalone 1,290 sqm development lot while retaining an adjacent parcel for future redevelopment, allowing the balance of the site to contribute additional housing over time.

Hayball said the architecture has been shaped by the site's elevated corner position at the intersection of Peel and Cordelia streets and Brisbane's subtropical climate.

The design incorporates generous landscaped setbacks, a masonry podium wrapped with planting, large north-facing balconies, and a slender tower profile intended to maximise natural light, cross ventilation and long-range views. The rooftop has been conceived as a wellness-focused retreat overlooking Brisbane, with amenities positioned to capture views towards Mount Coot-tha and the CBD.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c5f99e84-6ad8-4a87-82d1-869685b754d2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20tower%20perspective.png?VersionId=Gw0IuJaSAlk.tvGBxInhZOcQAdIB..2b" />

The planning submission positions the proposal as a response to both changing market conditions and Brisbane's Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning reforms.

McNab acquired the site after the previous approval was granted, with the existing scheme no longer reflecting current residential market demands, economic conditions, construction challenges, construction efficiencies or the quality of development outcome now being pursued, the planning report noted.

McNab continues to expand its residential development pipeline across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The developer recently launched The Tannery in West End, securing more than 60 per cent of apartments before the project's public release. It is also delivering Elements Budds Beach in Surfers Paradise and Lucia Highgate Hill, an eight-apartment boutique development overlooking the Brisbane River.

McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower

A steeply sloping Bellevue Hill site is set to accommodate a new mid-rise apartment development, with plans lodged for 20 homes that respond to the site's dramatic topography.

The proposal for the consolidated land at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/138a-140-bellevue-road-bellevue-hill-nsw-2023">138A-140 Bellevue Road</a> has been designed by Sydney architecture practice Common Office, which has used the site’s substantial fall to distribute the building’s scale and unlock 20 apartments without presenting the full height to the street.&nbsp;

“The unique design strategy leverages the site’s substantial topographical fall to facilitate increased density, presenting a seven-storey profile to Bellevue Road while rising to 10 storeys at the rear,” Common Office said in its architectural design report.

The apartment mix spans one, two, three- and four-bedroom residences. Four two-bedroom apartments are designated as affordable housing, while the plans also include two adaptable dwellings. The mix is majority three-beds, with the typical three-bed apartment offering around 144 sqm internally, with balconies of around 15 sqm.

The affordable housing component represents 15 per cent of the residential floor area and allows the project to access additional height and floor space under the NSW Government’s in-fill affordable housing provisions. The site also falls within the inner area of the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy because it is within 400 metres walking distance of Double Bay Town Centre.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1230d0f-3bfa-4a11-abaf-0928c66ef345" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da.png?VersionId=dZeMK3P.OutGjN8ycjsxm8uNsj_QFWQv" />

Common Office has arranged the building around a masonry podium and a lighter upper volume, drawing on two recurring elements of Bellevue Hill’s established architecture: sandstone bases and the vertical proportions of local Inter-war Art Deco apartment buildings.

“The proposal is governed by a holistic design language that reconciles the solid horizontal masonry of the neighbourhood’s podiums with the elegant verticality of its Art Deco heritage,” the architect said.

“The building maintains a consistent rhythmic logic utilising deep recesses and a sophisticated material transition to break down the 10-storey scale into a series of articulated, human-scale volumes.”

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0147f503-1af1-4d51-97fb-c2f1cba63a9d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20bldg.png?VersionId=GoW7q3NlK67OpnePXhk7zvklrlKb72Qc" />

Large-format sandstone tiles will define the lower levels, establishing a robust base that negotiates the change in elevation from Bellevue Road. Above, red-tinted precast concrete frames, recessed balconies, anodised aluminium screens and expanded metal details will create a more vertically expressed façade. Integrated planter beds will introduce greenery across balcony edges and recessed sections of the building.

The elongated northern façade has been divided into three recessed vertical masses to reduce its perceived length. Triangular window elements and metal privacy screens reference the geometry of nearby Art Deco buildings while controlling overlooking toward surrounding homes. The southern elevation will incorporate further privacy screening, landscaped edges and deep balconies to maintain light and ventilation.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e8679cf1-18bc-4447-8a0f-0052b94ab83c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da%20rooftop.png?VersionId=5SQqQqRFf76rvE2p1TbxJSweMN70AIbc" />

Private and communal landscaping is distributed throughout the development. A landscaped garden apartment is positioned within the lower portion of the site, while a communal terrace on Level 5 will include a central timber deck, barbecue facilities, resident planting plots and areas for outdoor dining and informal gatherings.

Common Office described the terrace as an elevated sanctuary designed to capture district views and sunlight. Its planting strategy incorporates endemic species associated with the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, extending the landscape vertically through the building and providing habitat for local flora and fauna.

A second communal outdoor area is proposed at roof level, with built-in seating, paved gathering areas and perimeter planting.

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction. Positive Investment Enterprise is delivering the 16-apartment Kew Palm House on Birriga Road, while Chanine Developments is also under construction at Florian, a 36-apartment project on Banksia Road.

&nbsp;

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction.

First Look: Apartment development pitched for Bellevue Hill, Double Bay fringe

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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EXPERT OBSERVER
There has been a surge in demand for properties located in coastal and hinterland ‘lifestyle’ regions and towns.
While a great deal has been written about the resurgence in the so called ‘sea change’ phenomenon, many of the prime hinterland regions within close proximity to Australia’s capital cities have also benefited from a renewed ‘tree change’.
Here is an analysis on the trend around tree change activity in Australia, with some interesting results.
I found that although the pace of capital gains is generally easing, a variety of factors have contributed to renewed demand for properties outside the cities. A large part of it must be attributable to the ‘wealth effect', where home owners (particularly those in Sydney and Melbourne) have seen a substantial wealth boost via their property holdings. Couple this with a large cohort of baby boomers seeking out holiday homes or relocation options as they shift into retirement age, and the demand picture becomes more pronounced.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/27/Timothy%201.JPG" alt="">
Perhaps another element is the growing acceptance and popularity of ‘telecommuting’ thanks to faster internet speeds, wider employer acceptance of working from home and broader availability of technologies such as VPN, which provides a secure virtual office environment for staff working remotely.
A final piece of the puzzle comes back to housing prices and affordability. It’s often the case that hinterland properties will provide a lower entry point to the market relative to their coastal or big city counterparts, especially when you take into consideration that typical block sizes are much larger. Looking across some of the most popular hinterland regions adjacent to the capital cities shows a broad range of values and historic growth conditions.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/27/Timothy%202.JPG" alt="">
Across the selected regions, the hinterland areas of the NSW Southern Highlands and the Macedon Ranges in Victoria show the most significant value premium. The median dwelling value across the Southern Highlands of NSW is just over $735,000, while the Macedon Ranges have a typical dwelling value of roughly $700,000 – not cheap, but both regions show a lower median dwelling value relative to their respective capital cities.
At the other end of the spectrum is Tasmania’s Central Highlands, where the typical house is worth just over $200,000. The regions to see the strongest growth over the past five years are generally very different to the best performers over the past twelve months. The hinterland areas peripheral to Sydney have dominated the capital gain stakes over the past five years, however growth in those areas has slowed substantially over the past twelve months.
The regions to see the strongest growth over the past five years are generally very different to the best performers over the past twelve months. The hinterland areas peripheral to Sydney have dominated the capital gain stakes over the past five years, however growth in those areas has slowed substantially over the past twelve months.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/27/Timothy%203.JPG" alt="">
The past twelve months has seen the Gold Coast hinterland record the fastest rate of capital gain, with dwelling values up 8.1%, followed by Vic’s Macedon Ranges where growth seems to have rippled away from the previously more popular Yarra Ranges.
Gold and Sunshine Coast hinterland regions
The South East Queensland hinterland regions are continuing to see values rise, although the trends are moving in different directions across the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast hinterlands. The Sunshine Coast hinterland has seen the annual pace of capital gains ease from 6.0% a year ago to 2.2% over the twelve months ending August 18. Conversely, the Gold Coast hinterland is recording an acceleration in capital gains, with the pace of annual growth rising from a recent low of 1.2% per annum earlier this year to the current annual pace of 8.1%.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/27/Timothy%204.JPG" alt="">
Sydney and Northern New South Wales hinterland regions
Each of the selected hinterland areas of NSW have seen a consistent reduction in the pace of capital gains, with the Blue Mountains slipping into negative annual growth for the first time since early 2012. Dwelling value growth was stronger across the markets adjacent to the Sydney metro area over the recent growth cycle. Both the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands have seen dwelling values rise at slightly more than 9% per annum over the past five years, pushing dwelling values substantially higher relative to hinterland region of northern NSW where the average annual growth rate has been much lower at 3.9%.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/27/Timothy%205.JPG" alt="">
 Melbourne hinterland regions 
The Yarra Ranges have substantially outpaced the Macedon Ranges based on capital gains over the past five years. Properties within the Yarra Ranges have recorded an average annual rise of 7.8% over the past five years compared with the Macedon Ranges where values have tracked 2.6% higher each year on average. Despite the strong capital gains across the Yarra Ranges, Macedon Range properties hold a $26,000 premium over Yarra Range properties based on the median value across both regions.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/27/Timothy%206.JPG" alt="">
Hobart and Adelaide hinterland regions
While growth conditions slow down across Hobart, the Central Highlands has seen some momentum gathering with the pace of capital gains accelerating over the past year. Values were up 6.8% over the past twelve months compared with the five-year average rate of growth tracking at 5.1%. The Adelaide Hills shows far less volatility, however values are in across the hinterland region of Adelaide continue to trend higher, up 0.8% over the past twelve months, down from 2.1% annual growth a year earlier.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/27/Timothy%207.JPG" alt="">
Perth hinterland regions 
Perth’s eastern hinterland regions have shown a similar trend the broader Perth metro region, with dwelling values generally tracking lower since 2015. The Kalamunda region has seen dwelling values fall by 15.9% since the market peak, while values have fallen even further across Mundaring, down 19.9% since the market peak. The silver lining to the downturn is that housing prices are now around the same as they were in 2006/2007.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/27/Timothy%208.JPG" alt="">
Tim Lawless is CoreLogic's head of research
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Tree change and hinterland property markets back in vogue: Tim Lawless 

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Infrastructure has a great connection to demand and increased dwelling prices and this is particularly the case in Sydney and Melbourne.
However, the allocation of significant funding to infrastructure upgrades in many urban and regional areas in the 2018 Federal Budget will also have a positive impact on dwelling supply.
For example, you can build houses in the west of Sydney to increase supply, and therefore affordability, and still have great access to the CBD provided the infrastructure is good.
Population growth, job creation, an improved economy and good infrastructure would draw more people to an area and therefore increase demand for property, but this then had to be backed up with an increase in dwelling supply.
The Queensland Government was taking significant steps to grow its economy, with Brisbane in the midst of a $15 billion infrastructure boom over the next few years.
And where there is an improved economy and major infrastructure projects and developments in the works, we will see significant long-term capital growth.
As a result, the local property market in Queensland was likely to prosper and the state would continue to attract a high number of interstate migrants in search of affordable housing and employment.
In regional NSW, the State Government has put in place a 20-year vision focusing on connectivity and water security to industry and community leaders in Bathurst and including the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund.
The goal is to promote regional development and job creation, unlocking the potential in the region by providing the infrastructure, the services and the support it needs to thrive.
It comes down to undersupply of suitable dwellings that force the prices up and makes them completely unaffordable. But that is not the case in regional NSW where house sizes and blocks are more than adequate for a growing family.
There is also an increasing trend of 'mobile professionals' who were prepared to work from home to maximise lifestyle and avoid the daily city commute.
Doron Peleg is the RiskWise Property Research CEO 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Infrastructure is the key to housing affordability in our major cities: Doron Peleg

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The ABC expects between $45 million and $50 million from the sale of its Ripponlea studio, in Melbourne's Elsternwick.
The 8 Gordon Street offering (pictured above) has been anticipated since the ABC moved staff to its revamped Southbank headquarters.
The ABC has already sold its nearby Selwyn Street facility to Woolworths for about $45 million.
Savills expect interest from residential and commercial developers, along with education, aged-care and healthcare operators.
The Gordon Street studios, built between 1956 and 1965, have been home to television shows including Bellbird, Power Without Glory, The Gillies Report, Kath and Kim and more recently, Mad as Hell.
The studios, closed last November, were home to the first purpose-built television studio in Victoria in with a Post-War International style building.
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ABC Ripponlea studio listed for sale through Savills

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<div>Moody's Investors Service says that its outlook for the Australian real estate investment trust (A-REIT) industry is stable, except for the retail segment, which faces a challenging operating environment.</div>
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<div>The growth in operating income will remain strong, and they expect aggregate comparable net operating income growth of 3% to 4% for their 16 rated A-REITs during the next 12-18 months</div>
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<div>Moody's Investors Service expect the office segment will see the strongest income growth, followed by industrial and retail.</div>
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<div>Low office vacancy rates in Sydney and Melbourne make these cities "a landlord's market."</div>
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<div>Moody's forecast for operating income growth of 3%-4% will be driven by low vacancy rates and strong demand on the back of favourable economic conditions.</div>
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<div>GPT Group, Mirvac Group and Dexus have the highest exposure in this segment and will likely record the highest growth over the next 12-18 months.</div>
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<div>Strong demand underpins solid growth in the industrial segment, and Moody's expects operating income growth of about 3%, with Sydney being the strongest market.</div>
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<div>Dexus, Goodman Group, Mirvac, Goodman Australia Industrial Partnership and Stockland Group will be the main beneficiaries according to Moody's analysis.</div>
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<div>Moody's Investors Service stated the retail segment is facing structural challenges on sluggish consumption and online sales growth.</div>
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<div>"Nevertheless, higher quality retail space remains resilient, and Moody's expects operating income growth of 2.0%-2.5%," it noted.</div>
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<div><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/26/Moodys%20chart.JPG" alt=""></div>
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<div>"Well-located shopping centers that attract a deep pool of potential tenants and are underpinned by non-discretionary spending, or that are destination hubs, will continue to perform well," they added.</div>
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<div>Scentre Group, GPT, Mirvac and Vicinity Centres will benefit from these factors, while other centers, with a high level of discretionary spending exposure, will underperform, based on their latest data.</div>
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Moody's suggest outlook for A-REITs is stable, but retail face challenges

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<div>The Shakespeare Property Group has settled the $100 million purchase of the Novotel Twin Waters Resort on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast from the Abacus Property Group.</div>
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<div>This is Shakespeare's fifth major hotel acquisition bringing their total room stock to more than 1,200 rooms, this includes two other hotels managed by AccorHotels – Pullman Cairns International and Novotel Oasis Resort Cairns.</div>
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<div>Located between the Maroochy River and Mudjimba Beach, the Novotel Twin Waters Resort site (pictured above) is set on a 36 hectare holding comprised of the low-rise resort with 361 hotel rooms.</div>
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<div>Shakespeare have stated that their current aim is to improve the current facilities to position the resort as a "leading" business events venue and leisure resort in Queensland. </div>
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<div><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/26/Novotel%202.JPG" alt=""></div>
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<div>Matt Young, Vice President of Operations for AccorHotels in Queensland and Northern Territory said that AccorHotels is proud to strengthen its business partnership with Shakespeare Group.</div>
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<div>The $100 million purchase of the resort comes right as construction of tourism infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast has picked up including the new runway and terminal facilities being developed for Sunshine Coast Airport and two new 5-star hotels approved over the past six months.</div>
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<div><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/26/Sunshine%20Coast%20Airport.JPG" alt=""></div>
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Shakespeare Property Group has purchased the Novotel Twin Waters Resort

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The Campbellfield Plaza shopping centre in Melbourne’s northern suburbs will be offered for sale via an Expression of Interest campaign handled by JLL’s Simon Rooney, Stuart Taylor and Tom Noonan.
The Campbellfield Plaza is only 14km from Melbournes's CBD and was first built in 1983 before being redeveloped in 2004.
The 18,000 sqm shopping centre is anchored by Coles, Kmart, Aldi and Officeworks.
The centre is added to by 19 mainly non-discretionary specialty stores and a Kmart Tyre &amp; Auto.
Positioned on Hume Highway and Mahoneys Road.
The centre provides a total land area of 5.863 hectares, coupled with a WALE of approximately 8.87 years (by area) and Net Income of approximately $4.6 million p.a.
The Campbellfield Plaza offering is provides the only 24 hour Kmart in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, in addition to primarily food &amp; grocery based tenants and 822 car parking for customers.
Head of Retail Investments, Australasia Simon Rooney added “Small sub-regional shopping centres which are largely food, service and convenience-based remain highly sought after given the limited reliance on discretionary sales”.
“Campbellfield Plaza is also unique in that it offers a higher than average majors to specialty ratio when compared to sub-regionals that have come to market in recent years.” 
"We have seen $644.0 million transact in the year to date including the recent JLL sale of Sturt Mall to SCA for $73 m, Gateway Plaza Leopold to Charter Hall for $117.0 m, Toormina Gardens to Fort Street Real Estate Capital Fund III for $83.3 m, Grand Plaza Shopping Centre (50%) to Invesco Real Estate for $215.0 m, Brandon Park Shopping Centre to Newmark Capital for $135.0 m,” he noted.
Unlisted funds and offshore investors have driven acquisitions in the retail sector since 2013, having jointly accounted for 65% of activity.
Unlisted funds have acquired $4.1 billion of sub-regional assets since the surge in activity began five years ago, followed by offshore investors at $2.5 billion and REITs at $1.7 billion over the same period.”
He suggested that, “Victoria in particular, provides sound investment fundamentals with the economy underpinned by broad-based growth driven by strong growth in household consumption, tourism, infrastructure spending and business investment.”
Mr Rooney concluded by stating, "we’re expecting strong interest in Campbellfield Plaza due to its metropolitan Melbourne location only 14km from the Melbourne CBD, and strong investment fundamentals”
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Campbellfield Plaza shopping centre offered by JLL

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A converted Surry Hills warehouse has been listed.
The approximately 797 square metres property at 19 Foster Street comprises circa 3,154 square metres of NLA.
The property is 100 percent let, with a WALE of 2.4 years (as at 1 September 2018).
It has dual street frontage to Foster Street and Wentworth Avenue. 
The industrial-style space was refurbished in 2013 with high ceilings, polished concrete floors and exposed brickwork.
It has been listed for sale through Knight Frank’s Jonathan Vaughan and John Bowie Wilson, with Karbon Property’s James McCourt and Joshua Watts, on behalf of Security Capital Australia. 
Vaughan said commercial properties in the area are tightly held.
“Substantial office buildings in Surry Hills are highly sought after by investors as they don’t come to market very often and we are continuing to see an increase in interest in the city fringe, with a number of groups now undertaking active city fringe buying strategies,” Vaughan said.
“Further, the asset’s favourable lease expiry profile and low rental base will provide an incoming owner the opportunity to add significant value by leveraging one of the most sought after leasing markets in the country.
“With opportunities such as these hard to come by and the asset catering to a generational shift in the occupier market, we expect the industrial-style creative space will draw significant interest from local and offshore investors.”
McCourt said the Sydney city fringe area had the lowest vacancy rate of any commercial market in Australia.
“The vacancy rate in Surry Hills has been contracting for three consecutive years as it has become the number on destination for the growing TAMI sector.
“As a result vacancy in the city fringe area was sitting at around 3% relative to 4.6% in the Sydney CBD, as at January 2018. 
“The falling vacancy rate combined with growing demand and limited supply has led to substantial growth in prime rents in recent years.
“This provides the incoming owner with the opportunity to benefit from a substantial reversionary uplift in 19 Foster Street.”
The expression of interest campaign is set to close at 4pm on Wednesday 31 October.
 
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Converted Surry Hills warehouse office building listed

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Retail construction specialist Mainbrace has been awarded a $9.8 million contract to deliver a new top floor modern piazza-style dining precinct at Forest Hill Chase shopping centre in Melbourne.
The interior re-purposing project, for 151 Property, involves the installation of a new play area for children, an updated parents’ room, a new glass lift, the refurbishment of existing amenities, a full services upgrade, new mall finishes, furniture and joinery, as well as the construction of 10 new food and entertainment tenancies and kiosks.
Mainbrace will coordinate the project, which involves concurrent works on three different levels, to ensure a safe environment for customers and other tenants and to minimise disruption to trade in the existing centre.
Work on the new precinct – to be known as The Loft - commenced recently.
Mainbrace will undertake structured interior re-purposing projects in live operating environments to fast-track its completion in time for Christmas 2018.
The appointment represents an important next step in Mainbrace’s growth in Victoria as the company’s eastern seaboard expansion continues.
“Forest Hill Chase is a fixture in the east Melbourne community and we’re proud to be involved in a project that will breathe new life into this much-loved regional shopping centre,” Mainbrace VICState Manager Michael Fague says.
“We are progressing numerous redevelopment and interior re-purposing projects for high profile clients in Victoria and we remain focused on leveraging our national relationships with leading retailers and centre owners to build our portfolio further.”
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Mainbrace wins contract to create new dining precinct at Forest Hill

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A Richmond commercial property has sold under the hammer for $9,920,000.
John Nockles and Ian Angelico of CVA in conjunction with CBRE sold the property at 157-161 Burnley Street, Richmond.
The sale reflected a yield of 2.8%.
There was bidding from six bidders in front of a crowd of about 150 people.
Situated on 1,381 square metres, the property features triple street frontage.
It came with liquor licence.
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Burnley Street, Richmond commercial property fetches $9.92 million under the hammer

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A freestanding retail investment at 13-17 Main Street in Beenleigh has sold at public auction for $1,787,500.
The 1,391 square metre site was purchased by a Gold Coast-based private investor at the auction following a campaign by JLL’s Andrew Havig on behalf of a local family who had owned the asset since the 1980s.
There were over 40 enquires with multiple offers prior to auction.
The prominent freestanding retail strip of seven shops with 472 square metre of net lettable area, is underpinned by a long-term anchor in Suncorp Bank, who have just signed a new five-year lease through to July 2022.
The property also holds Jobs Australia, Advanced Property Management, Sharp Cuts for Men and Far East on Main as tenants and provides 25 on-grade car parking bays onsite. 
Situated in the Logan City Council Local Government Area (LGA), 13-17 Main Street is located at the midpoint of surrounding residential, commercial and industrial precincts in the rapidly growing suburb of Beenleigh.
It had extensive frontage and exposure to Main Street.
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