<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

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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Canberra's AMA house in Barton is on the market through Colliers International.
AMA House, 42 Macquarie Street was built in 1990 and is a modern four level, B Grade office building with 4,053 sqm of net lettable area and 110 car spaces.
It features a 3-star NABERS Energy rating.
Matthew Winter, Manager at Colliers International said, AMA House has a diversified income featuring strong value-add potential.
"The opportunity coincides with favourable forecast leasing conditions for the Canberra office market, which combined with an encouraging renewal outlook provide excellent grounds for strong financial performance of AMA House over the short to medium term," he said.
“AMA House offers investors an asset with staggered tenant expiry profile with major leases expiring in 2020 and 2022.
"There are strong opportunities for income and WALE enhancement.
“Australia’s positioning within the Asian economy remains crucial in continuing to attract new foreign investors from every corner of the globe.
"Direct flights from Singapore to Canberra since September last year has increased accessibility to the market and is evident in transactions completed in the first half of 2017.
“The pickup in leasing conditions this year has instilled investor confidence in the Canberra office market which is expected to continue into 2018 and result in further major sale transactions over the coming months."  
Over the past five years, approximately $4 million has been invested into the building, including the central plant upgrade in 2014 and refurbishment of service areas, bathrooms and foyer in 2015/2016.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Canberra's AMA House on the market through Colliers International

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Queensland-based boutique property investment management firm OzProp has purchased a fully-leased cold-storage logistics facility for $22 million in South Queensland's Yatala Enterprise Area.
Located on the M1 Pacific Motorway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the 7,485 square metre complex is on 2.12 hectares of land and is purchased at a price per square metre of net lettable area of $2,939. 
It features office space, a diesel refuelling depot, workshop, weigh bridge and driver accommodation.
The facility is fully leased to Scott Refrigerated Freightways.
OzProp co-founder, Jorgen van Seters said “with over 1.5 billion tonne-kilometres of goods moved each day in Australia, demographic, economic and retailing trends are clearly supporting very strong growth in the logistics industry which already employs more than half a million Australians.”
Michael Parker, Managing Director of OzProp said the long lease tail, robust and sustainable yield, stable income to an ASX-listed tenant and the defensive location ticks all our boxes.
"It is a good asset class to add to the portfolio and it will be a long-term hold for our investors," he said.
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South Queensland cold storage facility sold for $22 million

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Multiplex will build the $81 million Biomedical Learning and Teaching Building for Monash University at its Clayton campus.
Designed by architects Denton Corker Marshall, the new building will provide a total of 11,400 square metres of learning space for Biomedical Science students.
Graham Cottam, Regional Managing Director Multiplex Victoria. said the are delighted to continue our ongoing collaboration with Monash University and play a pivotal role in its vision for higher education through delivering revolutionary learning spaces,” said 
Laboratories are built around a central area with smaller-scale labs for 60 to 120 students. The four laboratories can also be combined to provide a space for up to 240 students.
The Biomedical Learning and Teaching Building will also feature a 1,200 square metre informal hub that can accommodate 400 students.
Some labs will be built to Physical Containment Level 2 (PC2) and the façade will be pressure tested.
A hanging steel staircase that will be suspended from a skylight truss and connect the various levels of the facility.
Construction of the Biomedical Learning and Teaching Building is set to commence immediately. The project is scheduled for completion in November, 2018.
 
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Multiplex to build Monash University $81 million Biomedical Learning Building

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A fire station building dating back to 1912 in Sydney’s southern suburb of Hurstville has been put up for auction through Ray White.
The “Old Fire Station" at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-nsw-hurstville-502516366" target="_blank">78/23 MacMahon Street</a> is a landmark freestanding strata office building in Hurstville CBD. It will be auctioned on September 28. The building’s original features such as high ornate ceilings, picture railings, cast iron fire place and original timber fire truck entrance doors are intact.
It has modern fitouts and eight offices/ consulting rooms with plumbing.
The land area is 276 sqm.
Other amenities include a kitchenette and a formal reception desk.
There are DA-approved medical consulting rooms, that suit dental, accountant, solicitor, architect, general offices etc. subject to Council approval.
It last sold for $1.2 million in 2010, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
The listing agent is Chris Munk of Ray White.
The property is owned by Professor Ian Harris.
 
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Old fire station building in Sydney's Hurstville listed

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/83455/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Specially designed fluid-filled roof panels can help make air conditioning significantly more efficient, according to new research.
These panels work like solar water heaters, except that they extract heat from the flowing fluid, rather than adding it. This has only been made possible through the development of new, highly reflective materials that allow more heat to be taken out of the fluid than finds its way back in, even in the heat of a sunny day.
As a result, the researchers, led by Eli Goldstein of Stanford University, calculate that these panels, when integrated into an existing air conditioning system, can use 20-50% less power to deliver the same amount of indoor cooling. This in turn could help smooth out demand peaks on the electricity grid in summer, cut energy bills, and reduce the risk of blackouts.
<h2>Cool research</h2>
For several years, the Stanford researchers and my own group at UTS in Sydney have been trying to design smart roof materials that will help dissipate heat from air conditioning systems more effectively.
Conventional air-conditioning systems get rid of their heat by simply venting hot air from the system’s outdoor fan unit. But the new design adds an extra step, using a heat exchanger to pass the normal refrigerant heat into the fluid, which can be either water or glycol. This fluid then flows into the rooftop cooling panels so the heat can be dissipated into the sky. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/13/file-20170912-3875-1ot1ggj.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/13/file-20170912-3875-1ot1ggj.png" alt="">
The old system and the new. Goldstein et al. Nature Energy
The previous problem with this approach was that on hot, sunny days – when you need air conditioning the most – the Sun makes the fluid-filled panels heat up, rather than cool down.
This problem has only been solved in the past three years, with the design of super-reflective surfaces that can repel 97% of the incoming solar energy. 
<h2>Feeling the heat</h2>
Nearly all synthetic and natural surfaces absorb at least 5% of incident solar heat. Even the best white roof paints typically absorb more than 10% of the Sun’s heat. The best-performing surface is a shiny, flawless layer of silver, but that doesn’t last very long in outdoor conditions. 
But what if we can protect the silver, and maybe even improve its reflective performance by placing it under a layer that also helps to reflect solar energy? Three research groups came up with possible solutions, two involving plastic coverings for the silver, and the third involving a complex layering of different oxide materials. 
At UTS, our approach involved using many layers of two different plastics, placed on top of the silver. The resulting material reflects 97% of the incident solar energy, repelling the sun’s heat so effectively that the fluid inside cools down, even on a hot day.
<h2>Look to the skies</h2>
As the new Stanford research confirms, these super-reflective surfaces can perform a neat trick: getting the rooftop to lose heat during the day in the same way it does on a clear night. On clear nights, upward-facing surfaces can drop to several degrees below the ambient temperature because their heat dissipates high into the sky. The new super-cool roof panels do the same in the daytime as well. For example, they can condense dew well after sunrise even though the outdoor air temperature is above the dew point.
The panels can easily be retrofitted onto existing air-conditioning systems, ultimately saving money in the long run because of the reduced energy use. By modelling their system’s performance, the Stanford researchers calculate that the panels could reduce air-conditioning costs by 21% for a typical two-storey building in the sunny climate of Las Vegas.
These kind of hybrid systems could become commonplace, combining existing indoor air-conditioning technology with the new panels shedding the heat directly upwards into the sky. If you’ll pardon the pun, things are really looking up for those aiming to bring their energy bills down.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/geoff-smith-405762" target="_blank">Geoff Smith</a> is Emeritus Professor in Applied Physics, University of Technology Sydney and author for <a href="https://theconversation.com/au" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

How the sky can help make air conditioners at least 20 percent more efficient

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Pop-up retail is here to stay in Australia.
They are also a bellwether of the retail property market’s health, according to Savills director for Retail Services, Leighton Hunziker.
While casual leasing focuses more on common area leasing, a pop-up business occupies what is traditionally a leased tenancy.
Landlords are embracing the concept in the absence of being able to secure long-term covenants. Pop-up retail can exist for a variety of reasons, including:
Because there is a vacancy in the shopping centre and there’s no long term tenant wanting the space
If the shop is earmarked for development and the landlord wants some activation prior to the start of demolition 
More rarely, if the landlord has devoted some space to allow entrepreneurial activity and would like to try out a new business.
Pop-ups started in Los Angeles in the late 1990s and were originally designed as a cheaper way to promote little known brands or products. 
However, their success attracted the attention of major manufacturers and in recent years, no label was too old or too high-end to open a pop-up under the right circumstances. 
In Australia, the current retail landscape is going through a period of reinvention as many traditional brands fail to differentiate themselves from the competition, and landlords are desperate to “keep the lights on” to receive at least some income rather than a vacant shop, writes Hunziker. 
Pop-ups rose in popularity as they benefit both retailers and landlords. 
They provide retailers a low-cost, low-risk platform to try something new. They also provide a low-rent and flexible duration to promote products.
For landlords, pop ups provide an income stream instead of a vacancy, while also providing a conversion opportunity to a long-term tenancy if the business succeeds.
“It’s important to remember that these pop-ups don’t operate just as a standalone alternative, and more often than not, they work in combination with traditional shopfronts as well as online retailing to help elevate brand recognition and target new audiences,” said Hunziker.
With consumers, pop-ups are popular because they offers something different, are more creative and available only for a limited time. 
The fear of missing out also plays a huge role, with 61% of shoppers listing seasonal products as the main reason to shop at a pop-up store, according to a PopUp Republic poll.
Pop-ups have been embraced by top brands. 
French designer Louis Vuitton showcased their winter men’s line in their first flash store in Milan, while Hermès sampled the market in a historically significant space in Kyoto, and then took their brand of luxury to customers in Causeway Bay with its mobile pop-up Silk Bar. 
The concept has been popular in Australia as well. Doughnut Time is a case in point.
Doughnut Time launched to the Sydney market via a 15 sqm pop up at Central Park (above) and, having successfully tested the market and delivered very strong sales, has now been converted to a high value 400 sqm permanent tenancy.
In Melbourne’s Richmond, pop-ups have become a regular feature on the Bridge Road discount fashion retail strip.
Other examples include Hello Kitty, Rue La La and Shoes.com which created pop-ups that provide sales and experiences not typically offered in traditional retail stores, whether through a shipping container that turns into a café, a two-day shopping event with a disc jockey, or a revolving door of different brands of footwear.
“In the future, it’s unlikely that the “online only” or traditional big box “brick and mortar” standalone approaches will be the most efficient,” says Hunziker.
Instead, pop-up shops are growing in popularity in combination with traditional and online retailing as a hybrid model to build more intimate relationships while creating unique, memorable 3D experiences that are aligned with the brand's values, he adds.
“In an environment where retail property is under stress, we expect that pop-ups will become increasingly popular. Landlords may continue to market pop-ups as new and exciting opportunities, however an abundance of this type of store may also reflect a certain amount of oversupply of retail space in Australia,” concludes Hunziker.
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Pop-ups are a bellwether of retail property market's health: Savills

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Sydney’s Inner West suburb of Leichhardt boasts a tight residential vacancy rate of 1.6 percent compared to 2 percent across Greater Sydney, driven by the high demand and lack of new supply, according to Savills.
The area is close to the CBD, has good transport links, good schools and plenty of parks and amenities. 
Historically, there has been little development activity across the suburb. Over the past 15 years, the number of residential dwellings in Leichhardt has increased by just four percent, according to Savills. 
However, recent rezoning and the ‘Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy’ means all that is about to change. 
Residential building approvals have increased by 120 percent over the two years to the 2015-16 financial year. 
Interestingly, just five percent of these are detached houses, while the majority are townhouses and low rise apartment blocks.
The suburb has seen a 115 percent increase in residential property prices over the past decade, according to Sophie Chick, head of Residential Research at Savills and author of the Spotlight Residential Property Report on Leichhardt.
“The median value of a residential property in Leichhardt in July 2017 was $1,567,000 and $986,000 for a house and apartment respectively,” said Chick.
“Houses are a similar price to the neighbouring suburbs of Petersham and Lewisham to the south, around 10 percent cheaper than Stanmore, Annandale and Lilyfield and one third cheaper than Haberfield to the west.”
She said this was  partly due to the larger blocks of land available in the surrounding suburbs. By contrast, apartments in Leichhardt are a similar price to Lilyfield and more expensive than all other neighbouring suburbs.
The neighbourhood has a strong sense of community which stems from its rich Italian heritage. Following the Second World War, Leichhardt became a centre for the Italian community in Sydney. 
Many businesses in the area are Italian owned. Although it has become less distinctively Italian with the increasing gentrification of the suburb and movement of families to suburbs with larger blocks of land, its Italian character still persists.
Leichhardt offers a mixture of property types and attracts a wide range of households. 
Families with children account for 39 percent of households, slightly below the average across Greater Sydney of 47 percent. By contrast, there is a slightly higher proportion of couples without children and lone persons in the suburb compared to the city average accounting for 47 percent of households.
Employment opportunities and proximity to employment hubs are a key reason people are drawn to live an area. Leichhardt’s connections to the Sydney CBD means that a high proportion of residents in the suburb work in high value industries such as the Professional, Scientific and Tech sector and the Information Media and Telecommunications sector.
Chick went on to say that 50,000 new jobs are forecast along Parramatta Road over the next 30 years, which will only see Leichhardt’s popularity rise.
Parramatta Road has been one of Sydney’s major transport corridors since it opened in 1811, connecting the Sydney and Parramatta CBDs. 
In November 2016, the government released its new 30-year ‘Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy’. The move is expected to drive new development to accommodate a diverse mix of commercial uses, employment zones and homes for 430,000 people. 
There is a target of 27,000 new residential dwellings and 50,000 new jobs along the corridor between Homebush and Camperdown.
Leichhardt is one of the eight strategic growth centres identified within the corridor, which will become the focus of future investment.
Chick said it is important to assess the outlook for Leichhardt in the context of the Sydney property market.
“Property prices in Sydney have increased substantially over the past 10 years in common with many other cities around the world. The market has benefited from strong economic conditions, low interest rates and an imbalance between demand and supply. More recently, while Sydney’s property market continues to see some of the strongest growth in Australia, the rate of growth has slowed.
“The affordability of residential property is one of the biggest challenges facing the city and will limit the demand from both first home buyers and home movers. Additionally, following the regulatory measures introduced to temper lending to investors, it is widely believed that the proportion of bank lending to investors could reduce. Demand from foreign investors is also likely to be tempered following the introduction of additional stamp duty charges”.
Overall, it is expected that the rate of price growth across Sydney will slow, with prices remaining on a ‘high plateau’ perhaps for some time. However, as Sydney’s population continues to increase, interest rates are low and infrastructure projects complete the long-term prospect for the residential markets remain sound.
In Leichhardt, the attributes that attract buyers, including the proximity the Sydney CBD, good transport links and high quality amenities, will continue to appeal, regardless of market conditions.
 
 
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Sydney's Leichhardt has low vacancy rate and good growth prospects: Savills

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A three bedroom house near the Murray River in Buronga, NSW has been listed for mortgagee sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-buronga-126270402" target="_blank">204 Pitman Avenue</a>, the 937 sqm property is five minutes from Mildura.
It last sold for $68,000 in 2006.
It features three bedrooms, all with their own walk-in robes, while the master has its own walk-in robes and ensuite.
The kitchen features a 900mm gas cooktop and oven, walk-in pantry, gas heating, HWS and ducted cooling.
A separate lounge is available and it could be converted into a study or fourth bedroom.
An entertainment area is also available and overlooks what could be a pool.
The property is offered through Brett Driscoll of Ray White for September 23 mortgagee auction under instructions from Westpac.
Another three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-buronga-123775594" target="_blank">176 Pitman Avenue</a>, Buronga (below) was recently sold in June for $253,000.
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Buronga, NSW house listed for Westpac mortgagee sale

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There are several possible risks facing Australia's housing markets: a change in sentiment leading people to stop buying homes, the crackdown on investor lending, rising interest rates, and a glut of new homes to be absorbed. 
I heard Tapas Strickland of NAB note that he just can't see a meaningful housing correction coming looking at the fundamentals, and on today's evidence he will be proven right.
A couple of dozen lenders have dropped their mortgage rates since July 1 to entice homebuyers back into the market, and even by the end of July this was clearly working. 
Not only have homebuyers not shunned the market, they are coming back in droves, with the number of owner-occupier commitments excluding refinancing surging 4.5 per cent higher in July, with the trend result rising to the highest level since the financial crisis stimulus. 
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 <div>Loans for the purchase of established dwellings jumped 5 per cent in July, and average loan sizes are gently trending to new highs too. </div>
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<div>As a result, owner-occupier commitments rose to a record high in July 2017, helping to offset a 7-month decline in investor loans, with total monthly housing finance still tracking at around $33 billion. </div>
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<div>First homebuyer incentives are also back in play from July 2017 forth, and the number of first homebuyer loans immediately rose to the highest level in 44 months.</div>
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 <div>The number of first homebuyer loans in New South Wales jumped to the highest level since 2012, while in Victoria the figure hit the highest level since 2013, consistently reflected in rocketing auction results in markets such as Geelong. </div>
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<div>In fact, my state level analysis, not posted here, shows that homebuyers in Victoria are by far the most ebullient of all states and territories, with new loan activity in New South Wales also rising.</div>
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<div>Finally, as for the glut of new stock, there was upbeat news here too, with the number of homebuyers financing new dwellings accelerating to the highest level in 38 years. </div>
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 <div>New home sales are trending down, suggesting that the rate of construction will fall over the next few years, but on this evidence homebuyers will gladly mop up the new stock as it's released to the market (on the flip side, taxes will slow buyers from offshore investors, while domestic investors are finding it harder to access credit). </div>
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<div>A lot of people seem frustrated by this, but the housing juggernaut does not conform to ideologies, and for now it continues to power on. </div>
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<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/home-loans-back-in-favour"> </a></h3>
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a>.
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/home-loans-back-in-favour"></a></h3>
His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/home-loans-back-in-favour"></a></h3>
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Home loans back in favour: Pete Wargent

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An economic update from Cushman &amp; Wakefield notes a geopolitical crisis is a major risk to the steadily improving global economy in 2017 and continued growth in Australian commercial real estate (CRE) markets.
According to Cushman &amp; Wakefield there have been a number of events over the past year with the potential to impact global economic growth such as the UK triggering Article 50, the fight for Raqqa, the US, French and Iranian Presidential elections, US rate rises and various terrorist events. Most of these have had little or indeed have had a positive impact. 
John Sears, national director of Research from Cushman and Wakefield said in recent weeks, tensions between North Korea and the US have escalated and subsided, leading to concerns over how Australian CRE might be impacted if a geopolitical conflict were to occur.
The research examines major conflicts or geopolitical events over the past 100 years or so and how Australian CRE, consumer sentiment, US bonds and Australian GDP have responded.
"History suggests that most recent conflicts, or events that have de-escalated short of actual conflict, while hitting confidence in the short-term, have had little impact on Australian CRE," Cushman &amp; Wakefield said.
"A longer-term conflict involving our key trading partners such as the US, Japan, South Korea or China would be likely to hurt Australian economic growth and Australian CRE, however, at this stage this appears a low probability.
"If this remains the case, Australian CRE should remain attractive, supported by an improving economy and relatively attractive yields when compared to bonds and major international CRE markets."
Australian CRE and historic conflicts
"Figure 1 indicates that since 1985, Australian office yields, as indicated by the MSCI/IPD Office Income Return, have been influenced more by the domestic economy than conflicts such as the two Gulf wars or the 9/11 terrorist event," Cushman &amp; Wakefield said.
"During Gulf War I (August 1990 to February 1991), yields did increase though this coincided with an Australian recession and CRE crash when vacancy rates in many Australian CBD office markets rose to over 20%. After the 9/11 terrorist event, CBD office market vacancy rates and office income returns recorded little change. Similarly, there was little change to yields after start of Gulf War II.
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 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/11/Jagona1.png" alt="">
Sentiment and historic conflicts
"While CRE yields have recorded little change due to conflict in recent decades, sentiment has been hurt in the short term.
"Figure 2 highlights a jump in consumer sentiment at the end of the Vietnam War and dips when the Gulf and Falklands wars commenced as well as after 9/11. However, the dips have been relatively short lived and also coincided with recessions in the early 1980s and 1990s.
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<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/11/Jagonal2.png" alt=""> 
US Bond Yield and historic conflicts
"A key driver of investment demand for Australian CRE has been relatively attractive yields compared to alternate investments such as bonds.
"While our historic CRE yield series is relatively limited, US government bond data is available back to the 1870s. Figure 3 indicates that during the major conflicts of World Wars I and II, US bond yields were relatively stable.
"However, yields dipped in the months after both Gulf wars commenced and post 9/11 as investors initially sought the relative security of US government debt. Stable or lower bond yields suggest CRE should remain relatively attractive to investors. However, a reduction in CRE income through an economic slowdown could negatively impact demand.
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 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/11/Jagonal3.png" alt="">
<h2>Australian GDP and conflict</h2>
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<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/11/Jagonal4.png" alt="">
"Tenant demand, vacancy and rental growth depends on economic growth.
"Figure 4 shows Australian GDP from 1900 to 2016 and indicates that the economy did suffer during prolonged periods of conflict.
"GDP falling by an average of 1.4% pa during World War I.
"Economic growth was more volatile during World War II.
"Initially dipping to 0.3% in 1939 and then experiencing strong growth averaging 8.2% pa from 1940 to 1943 before slipping to average -4.2% pa over 1944 and 1945.
"During the Korean War, GDP real growth averaged a solid 3.8% pa (but did dip to 0.9% in 1952) and averaged 4.4% during the Vietnam War (from the escalation of US participation in 1965 to 1975).
"As noted earlier, Australia suffered recessions in the early 1980s and 1990s that were more influenced by local factors than conflicts such as the Falklands and Gulf I wars. Since 1991, Australia has not experienced a recession, aided by our increased trade with China, while most other advanced economies were negatively impacted by the tech wreck, 9/11 and the GFC."
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