<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-2" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:9894702f-d5ab-4186-930d-8f794421c3c4-0" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:9894702f-d5ab-4186-930d-8f794421c3c4-0" dir="auto">
<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/doma-group">DOMA Group</a> has unveiled plans for Newcastle Quay, a major waterfront precinct set to reshape Newcastle’s harbourfront and further cement the city’s evolution into one of Australia’s fastest-growing urban destinations.

Positioned on a prominent site within the Honeysuckle Precinct, Newcastle Quay will span both sides of Honeysuckle Drive, connecting directly to the Foreshore Promenade and sitting within walking distance of Newcastle Interchange.

The mixed-use precinct is planned to include around 1,000 apartments, more than 28,000 sqm of commercial office space, 6,000 sqm of retail, and a 180-room hotel anchored by a 500-seat conference and exhibition centre, a move expected to significantly lift Newcastle’s ability to attract major business and tourism events.
</section>

<img alt="DOMA Group unveil Newcastle’s future with transformative Newcastle Quay Precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0642ca09-67cc-4920-8a7e-d18df9729b4e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/%3D.png?VersionId=CnDmZxQnOV5LN0ePu7jaFBXC9tPGTrWm" />

The proposal builds on DOMA’s growing Newcastle pipeline, where the developer has already delivered 866 apartments and more than 19,000 sqm of commercial and retail space since entering the market in 2013. A further $2 billion pipeline is also in the works across the city.

The masterplan and executive architecture are led by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, with building concepts developed alongside Stewart Architecture, Architecture AND and Curious Practice, and landscape design by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/turf-design">Turf Design Studio</a>. More than 11,000 sqm of open space is planned, including a new waterfront park known as Honeysuckle Green, upgrades to Tree of Knowledge Park, and new pedestrian and cycling links throughout the precinct.

At the centre of the development will be the heritage-listed Wickham School of Arts, which DOMA plans to reposition as the civic and cultural heart of the precinct through restaurants, bars, events and public gathering spaces.

The broader vision is to create a genuine day-to-night precinct, blending residential, hospitality, retail, commercial and cultural uses in a way Newcastle has yet to experience at this scale.

DOMA Group Managing Director Jure Domazet said the aim was to create a precinct that becomes synonymous with Newcastle itself.

“Our vision is to create a precinct that not only delivers high-quality commercial, residential, and cultural spaces, but also defines Newcastle’s waterfront for generations to come,” Domazet said.

DOMA’s Chris Farrington said the project would fundamentally change how Newcastle is perceived nationally.

“Newcastle Quay is more than a waterfront precinct, it is a national announcement for this city,” Farrington said.

“A world-class Conference and Exhibition Centre will open Newcastle and the Hunter Region to a national and international audience for the first time, delivering something this city has long deserved.”

The project is expected to generate more than 4,000 full-time equivalent jobs and act as a major economic driver for the Hunter region through tourism, business events, hospitality and commercial investment.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the final parcel of harbourfront land will be a "true mixed-use precinct destination that includes housing, hospitality and entertainment, commercial spaces, retail, economic and social outcomes."

Joel Robinson

DOMA Group unveils 1,000-apartment Newcastle Quay precinct

ASX-listed developer Stockland is continuing to ramp up its return to the apartment market.

In late 2024, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/stockland">Stockland</a> announced it would resume apartment development after a 13-year absence, launching with Stanton Place in Rosebery, a 144-apartment project now under construction.

Last week, the developer unveiled plans alongside the NSW Government for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-nsw-gov-unveils-plans-for-3-300-home-waterloo-south-renewal">3,300-home precinct in Waterloo</a>.

Now, Stockland has shifted its focus in St Leonards, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to replace an approved 42-storey office tower with a 52-storey residential development comprising more than 500 apartments.

<img alt="Stockland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8979095e-9072-432b-a7da-58b180cf994d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-20%20at%204.27.36%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=_jbRXYOafCSHjwsz.yQCNIymMyCj8zkF" />

An existing 14-storey commercial office building would make way for a 264.5-metre tower designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bates-smart">Bates Smart</a>. The project would deliver 538 apartments, including 30 affordable housing units, alongside retail and commercial uses at the podium and ground plane.

It will rise from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">601 Pacific Highway</a>, a prominent 2,844 sqm triangular site adjoining Mitchell Plaza and fronting Pacific Highway.

The development is being pursued under the Housing Delivery Authority pathway after Stockland’s proposal was declared State Significant Development earlier this year.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans 52-storey mixed-use tower with 538 apartments in St Leonards" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="67f40f35-0458-47ab-80c0-a4e98a31838a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%201.png?VersionId=rxXe3njr.auuGDuiR0k42uI8Zr4K.gZA" />

The apartment mix includes 217 one-bedroom apartments, 191 two-bedroom apartments, 122 three-bedroom apartments, and eight four-bedroom residences. Six basement levels would accommodate 300 car spaces, bicycle parking, loading areas, and building services.

Bates Smart said the project has been shaped around a series of urban design principles intended to improve the pedestrian experience and respond to the evolving character of St Leonards.

“With a boundary length of almost 75m along Pacific Highway and 70m along Atchison Street to the north, complying simply with the LEP envelope and required setbacks would result in a very wide tower form on the skyline,” the architects noted in the Design Report.

“We propose breaking the tower form into two defined volumes rather than a singular form.”

The podium has similarly been articulated into separate forms to reduce perceived bulk and create a finer-grain response to Mitchell Plaza and Atchison Street. Retail tenancies would activate the lower levels, while commercial space is proposed across the podium floors.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans 52-storey mixed-use tower with 538 apartments in St Leonards" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="90149990-0551-40d2-bd48-14b69a015d12" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%202.png?VersionId=MJC2KIIWFvU9FPGr3IVq09gkRN_gX3m8" />

The design also places a significant emphasis on communal amenity and environmental performance. Residents would have access to landscaped terraces, wellness areas, flexible workspaces, and rooftop communal facilities, while the all-electric building is targeting an average 7-star NatHERS rating. Bates Smart said the project incorporates passive design measures including natural ventilation, integrated shading, and lightweight façade systems.

Planning documents note the site is around 350 metres from St Leonards Station and 400 metres from the metro entrance, placing it within one of Sydney’s most connected emerging residential precincts.

The project arrives amid a wave of large-scale redevelopment proposals reshaping the St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline. Several nearby sites have recently been approved, lodged, or declared under the Housing Delivery Authority pathway as the precinct absorbs significant residential density uplift tied to transit-oriented development policies.

<img alt="Stockland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7805bd7c-dfd7-4b35-8e15-ec4a8bf8e61b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-20%20at%204.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=iY12K2m2bQ6EeDnshqfZC9rbLx_oEugP" />

Bates Smart’s report describes St Leonards as transitioning away from its historical commercial identity toward a more mixed-use urban environment.

“In recent years, the character of St Leonards has started to evolve, driven by new development trends along the Pacific Highway corridor,” the report said.

“These projects have increasingly focused on residential accommodation, marking a shift from its purely commercial roots.”

Sekisui House Australia is currently selling Waterstone down near Newlands Park, in a pocket being branded "St Leonards South." Hyecorp recently completed Audrey in the same pocket.

First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower

ANZ believes the Reserve Bank is in no rush to move again.

Following the release of the May Monetary Policy Board Minutes, ANZ has taken the view that the RBA is now firmly in a holding pattern, with the cumulative impact of previous rate hikes giving the Board scope to assess how the economy evolves from here.

That positioning, in ANZ’s view, makes a June rate hike unlikely.

The bank continues to expect the cash rate to remain unchanged at 4.35 per cent for an extended period, with the RBA adopting what is effectively a wait-and-see approach.

The Minutes point to a Board that sees financial conditions as already restrictive, but without a clear read on just how restrictive they are. That uncertainty has shifted the focus away from immediate policy action and toward monitoring both domestic conditions and global developments, particularly the conflict in the Middle East.

As ANZ interprets it, the Board is deliberately avoiding strong forward guidance.

Instead, it is allowing itself flexibility, acknowledging that monetary policy has limited ability to influence the near-term trajectory of inflation, while also recognising that economic growth is likely to remain below potential for some time.

Despite that pause in momentum, ANZ notes that the Board still carries a tightening bias.

The Minutes reveal that, in weighing up its decision, the Board seriously considered another 25 basis point increase. The key debate centred on the trade-off between inflation and activity, particularly in the context of global uncertainty.

Ultimately, most members leaned toward the inflation side of that equation.

Underlying inflation is still expected to remain above target for an extended period, regardless of how external risks evolve. That has led to a view within the Board that the risks to its inflation objective have increased, and that the current cash rate may not be sufficiently restrictive to fully contain those pressures.

That’s important.

While the decision, for now, is to hold, the underlying tone of the Minutes suggests the door to further tightening has not been closed.

ANZ also points to commentary from Assistant Governor (Economic) Sarah Hunter, who highlighted the risk that inflation could pass through the economy more quickly and broadly than in previous cycles. Both Hunter and a majority of the Board expressed concern that inflation expectations could become less anchored after such a prolonged period above target.

That combination, persistent inflation and the risk of expectations shifting, is what continues to underpin the RBA’s cautious stance.

However, where ANZ diverges from the RBA is on the outlook for activity.

The Board appears relatively comfortable with current spending patterns, effectively downplaying recent declines in business and consumer sentiment. It notes that sentiment has historically been only weakly correlated with actual spending, and that feedback from its liaison program has not yet pointed to a meaningful slowdown in consumption.

ANZ is less convinced.

The bank believes the link between household disposable income, sentiment and spending is more direct than the RBA is currently acknowledging. With inflation continuing to erode real incomes, ANZ expects household spending to soften more materially than the central bank is forecasting.

That divergence matters because it shifts the balance of risk.

If activity weakens more than expected, the trade-off between inflation and growth changes. In ANZ’s view, that would reduce the need for further tightening and reinforce the case for the RBA to remain on hold.

It also suggests that the current policy setting may already be doing more work than the Board fully appreciates.

The broader takeaway from ANZ’s interpretation is that the RBA is walking a narrow path.

On one side sits the risk of inflation remaining elevated for longer than expected. On the other is the growing pressure on households and the potential for a sharper slowdown in activity.

For now, the Board is choosing to wait.

But it is a pause that still carries an underlying tightening bias, rather than a clear pivot toward easing.

In practical terms, that leaves the cash rate anchored at 4.35 per cent for the foreseeable future, with the next move still uncertain.

For borrowers, it reinforces the reality that relief is not imminent.

And for the broader economy, it highlights the delicate balance the RBA is trying to strike, between bringing inflation back to target and avoiding an unnecessarily sharp slowdown in growth.

According to ANZ, it is a balance that is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.

RBA to hold rates for "prolonged period" rather than hikes: ANZ

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/venturecrowd-property-projects">VentureCrowd</a> is down to the final Canopy Villa release at Cumulus Grand Villas in Carrara, as construction continues on the 59-residence gated community positioned above 100 hectares of natural savanna on the Gold Coast.

The remaining Canopy Villa forms part of one of four collections within the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>-designed community and has attracted interest from buyers seeking larger-format homes that combine privacy, security and low-maintenance living. Positioned within a private cul-de-sac and facing a protected black she oak forest, the four-bedroom villa includes a large private outdoor area suited to pet owners and families wanting more flexible space.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/cumulus-grand-villas-carrara-17-baltimore-court-carrara-qld-4211">Cumulus Grand Villas</a>, located at 17 Baltimore Court, comprises a mix of three and four-bedroom villas across the Skyline, Canopy, Savanna and Broadview collections. Prices currently range from $1.455 million to $1.895 million, with the final Canopy Villa priced from $1.825 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360477]

The Canopy Collection villas offer four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and approximately 245 sqm of internal space, alongside double garages and landscaped private areas. Expansive glazing, open-plan living spaces and private balconies have been designed to maximise natural light and outlooks toward the surrounding savanna landscape.

Construction is now underway across the fully funded development, which VentureCrowd says has become an increasingly important consideration for buyers assessing off-the-plan opportunities on the Gold Coast. The project is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/devcon">Devcon Property Group</a>, which has operated in South East Queensland since 1993 and delivered more than 1,000 homes across the region.

VentureCrowd Director of Property David Whitting previously said the project responds to changing buyer priorities in the prestige Gold Coast market.

“Flexible floorplans have proven particularly relevant for purchasers aged between 40 and 65, including next home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Whitting said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360505]

The buyer profile at Cumulus has reflected that shift toward owner-occupier-driven demand. Stuart Towns and Tracey Loynes recently purchased a Canopy Villa, drawn to both the lifestyle offering and the flexibility the home provided for their next stage of living together.

The couple, who met three years ago, sold their Robina home earlier this year after identifying what they saw as strong long-term investment potential at Cumulus while remaining within the same Gold Coast market. The villa’s private backyard was a major drawcard for their dog Luna, while proximity to golf courses including Emerald Lakes also aligned with their lifestyle interests.

Beyond the residences themselves, the community has been planned around shared lifestyle and recreation amenities. The Infinity Terrace will include a 20-metre heated pool, barbecue facilities, alfresco dining spaces and elevated retreat areas overlooking the surrounding landscape. Walking trails, a private nature reserve, orchard and herb garden are also integrated into the masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360473]

BDA Architecture Director Darren Greenaway said the design approach was heavily influenced by the site’s outlook and secluded setting.

The practice sought to create what Greenaway described as a “little piece of paradise,” drawing inspiration from the elevated views, surrounding greenery and quiet location.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/carrara-qld-4211">Carrara</a> continues to attract buyers seeking larger homes within proximity to the coast but without direct beachfront pricing. Cumulus sits within easy reach of Broadbeach, Pacific Fair, Robina Town Centre and the M1, providing connections north to Brisbane and south toward the Gold Coast Airport and northern New South Wales.

The first stage of Cumulus Grand Villas is targeting completion in 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135663]

VentureCrowd nears sell-out of Canopy Collection at Cumulus Grand Villas in Carrara

Waverley Council has made a call that many councils have been reluctant to make publicly. Growth is coming, regardless of who controls it.

The release of the Bondi Junction Vision and Master Plan is less about whether the Eastern Suburbs’ primary centre will change, and more about how that change is shaped, funded, and ultimately experienced on the ground. Waverley Council has released a 100-page plan which is effectively the first comprehensive blueprint for Bondi Junction in over two decades, and in doing so, signals a clear shift in how councils are positioning themselves in the current planning environment.

For the past 18 months, the conversation across New South Wales has been dominated by the State Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms and the emergence of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway. Both have created faster, more centralised avenues for development approvals, particularly in well-located, infrastructure-rich areas like Bondi Junction.

Waverley Council’s response has been to move early, and decisively.

Rather than react to individual proposals as they come through the HDA or broader State-led reforms, Council has sought to establish a clear, place-based framework that sets the terms for how Bondi Junction evolves. The underlying position is relatively straightforward: if densification is inevitable, it should be tied to infrastructure, public domain improvements, and a cohesive vision for the centre, not delivered piecemeal through ad hoc applications.

<img alt="bondi junction" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7f1f729c-ed99-4c6c-bf87-ffbce6991941" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-19%20at%209.58.16%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ULX4OlXKjeJ5BvNCNGL86evgXCjCfMih" />

At its core, the document is attempting to reposition Bondi Junction from what it largely functions as today, a transport interchange anchored by a major retail centre, into something far more layered. The ambition is to transform it into what the plan describes as the “civic and cultural heart of Sydney’s East,” a place that is active beyond commuting hours and capable of supporting a broader mix of uses, experiences and communities.

That repositioning is built around four key ambitions.

The first is to create a true destination. Bondi Junction already attracts significant foot traffic, with more than 86,000 daily transport users and millions of annual retail visits, but much of that activity is transient. People pass through, rather than stay.

The Master Plan seeks to change that dynamic. It leans heavily into the idea of an “18-hour economy,” extending activity well beyond traditional retail hours through dining, cultural programming, events, and a more active night-time offering. This is not just about adding more hospitality venues, but about fundamentally shifting how the centre operates, from a daytime shopping destination to a place that functions across the full span of the day and into the evening.

Oxford Street Mall sits at the centre of that shift.

Long seen as underperforming relative to its potential, the Mall is identified as one of the key catalyst projects in the plan. It is to be reimagined as a day-to-night spine, combining retail, dining, wellness and cultural uses in a way that creates a continuous flow of activity. Outdoor dining, rooftop venues, laneway activation and a curated events program are all part of the strategy, alongside significant public domain upgrades that aim to improve comfort, safety and usability.

&nbsp;

The second ambition is to transform Bondi Junction into a world-class interchange.

Despite being one of the most heavily used transport nodes in Sydney, the current experience is fragmented. Connections between the station, Westfield, Oxford Street Mall and surrounding streets are often unclear, and major roads create physical barriers that disrupt pedestrian movement.

The Master Plan proposes a more seamless, people-focused network. That includes clearer pedestrian links, improved wayfinding, better integration between transport modes, and a rethinking of how arrival into the centre is experienced. The aim is to shift the perception of Bondi Junction from a place people move through, to a place they arrive in.

The third ambition focuses on greening and open space.

One of the more consistent pieces of community feedback throughout the Vision phase was the need for more greenery, better public spaces, and a more comfortable urban environment. Despite being surrounded by major parks, Bondi Junction itself has relatively limited accessible open space, with much of the public realm dominated by hard surfaces and traffic infrastructure.

The plan responds with a network of new and upgraded public spaces, increased tree canopy, and what it terms the “Parkline,” a green link connecting Waverley Park through to Centennial Park. This is not just about aesthetics. It is about addressing heat, improving liveability, and ensuring that increased density is matched by access to high-quality outdoor space.

The fourth ambition is perhaps the most important from a development perspective: growth that gives back.

Bondi Junction is already the primary location for new housing supply in the Waverley LGA, and that is expected to continue. The area carries a target of 2,400 new dwellings by 2029, with further growth projected beyond that as demand for well-located housing continues to rise. The Master Plan does not seek to limit that growth. Instead, it attempts to shape it.

New housing is to be concentrated around transport, with stepped building heights designed to protect the character of surrounding neighbourhoods. At the same time, the plan introduces a more explicit link between development uplift and public benefit. This is where value capture becomes central.

The document outlines a framework where increased development potential is tied to contributions that fund public domain improvements, community infrastructure, open space, and affordable housing. It is an approach that recognises that much of the transformation of Bondi Junction will be delivered by the private sector, but seeks to ensure that the benefits of that growth are shared more broadly. The Civic Precinct is a key part of that equation.

Leveraging Council-owned land, the plan proposes a consolidated civic and cultural hub centred around Ebley Street. This would include new community facilities, cultural spaces, and potentially a new Council Chambers, creating a focal point for civic life that currently does not exist in Bondi Junction at scale.

It is one of several catalyst projects identified in the Master Plan, alongside the Oxford Street Mall transformation. These projects are intended to anchor change, acting as early interventions that unlock broader investment across the precinct.

Importantly, the Master Plan is not just a design document. It includes a delivery framework that sets out how these ambitions are intended to be realised.

Council is explicit in acknowledging that it cannot deliver the transformation alone. Implementation will require coordination between State agencies, private developers, landowners and the community, with a mix of planning agreements, infrastructure contributions and direct delivery mechanisms used to fund and stage improvements over time.

The plan outlines a mix of short-term, medium-term and long-term actions, from immediate public domain upgrades and planning controls, through to larger-scale projects that will unfold over the next decade or more. In practical terms, the next 12 to 24 months will be the most important.

This is when the Master Plan will move through exhibition, refinement and eventual adoption. It is also the period in which Council will seek to embed the framework into its planning controls, giving it weight in the assessment of future development applications.

Council officers have indicated that once the Master Plan is in place, it could be used as a benchmark when assessing Housing Delivery Authority proposals, and potentially reduce the need for further HDA declarations within Bondi Junction. In effect, it is an attempt to bring planning control back to the local level, while still aligning with State housing targets.

That tension between State-led reform and local planning control is not unique to Waverley. It is playing out across Sydney.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

If delivered as intended, Bondi Junction will become denser, more active, and more complex. It will support more residents, more workers, and a wider range of uses, extending beyond its current retail core into a more layered urban environment.

“The civic and cultural heart of Sydney’s East”: Bondi Junction masterplan revealed

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

<html><body>
A retail property in the Hastings Street tourist strip at Noosa Heads on the Sunshine Coast with clothing retailer Noosa Beach Club as a long-term tenant has fetched $1.95 million at auction.
The 43 square metre site at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-qld-noosa+heads-501731890" target="_blank">7/41 Hastings Street</a> was sold to a local investor for a yield of 7.1%.
The deal was through Ray White Commercial Noosa &amp; Sunshine Coast North’s David Brinkley and Paul Butler. 
The property is returning a net rental of $140,000 per annum and the tenant has a lease until November 2020 with a five-year option, said Brinkley.
Butler said Noosa Beach Club has traded in Hastings Street for the past eight years and recently signed a new five-year lease.
Noosa Beach Club Clothing was established in 1989 at Lorne in Victoria and offers casual wear for women. The operator has 14 stores stretching from coastal Victoria to Noosa. 
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Hastings Street, Noosa retail investment fetches $1.95 million

<html><body>
The former Hugo’s Pizza Bar and Lounge in Sydney's Potts Point has sold separately for $1.685 million and $2.65 million respectively at auction to local investors.
Located at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-nsw-potts+point-501747730" target="_blank">33 Bayswater Road</a>, the two lots comprised the former Hugo’s Pizza Bar and the former Hugo’s Lounge,
Both sold with vacant possession.
The Pizza Bar, which fetched $1.685 million, was situated on the ground floor and consisted of four strata lots, spread over nearly 159 square metres.
Both lots were sold via public auction on Tuesday on behalf of Properties King Cross Pty Ltd through Robert Lowe of Savills International Sydney. 
The Hugo’s Lounge night club, which sold for $2.65 million, was on the first floor area and consisted of four strata lots spread over nearly 732 square metres, plus two car spaces.
The strong bidding meant both properties exceeded their reserve prices.
“This was an outstanding opportunity for potential owner occupiers, investors, or developers to either reuse the space as a restaurant, night club, or other retail or, commercial uses," said Lowe. 
There is the option to potentially reconfigure the first floor area into commercial or residential use, subject to Council Approval, he said.
“Potts Point has changed considerably over the years with older style buildings being converted into upmarket residential apartments and the perfect positioning of this property would make it an ideal redevelopment project,” Lowe said.
Hugo's Lounge closed blaming the lockout laws that came after alcohol-related violence in Kings Cross.
</body></html>

Closed Hugo's Potts Point Pizzeria lounge and bar sold through Savills

<html><body>
A steady stream of private Melbourne investors have snapped up some of Queensland’s prime retail investment properties this year, attracted by the state’s solid growth fundamentals, according to real estate firm MMJ Melbourne.
Director of MMJ Melbourne, Joel Wald, said there was heightened interest from Melbourne’s private investors looking for properties close to Queenland’s CBD areas.
A private Melbourne investor recently bought a property at 66 Dalton Drive, Maroochydore for $6.84 million. The property was designed and constructed for Officeworks as a relocation to an area earmarked as a new CBD.
The sale was through MMJ Melbourne.
Earlier in the year, MMJ Melbourne also sold 130­134 Gympie Road, Strathpine, Queensland to another private Melbourne investor for $11.5 million. Tenants included Officeworks, Flip Out, a medical centre and pharmacy.
Private investors have also snapped up a Bunnings Springfield warehouse for $40 million(above), and another Officeworks at 176 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba.
“These are significant properties, and Melbourne investors clearly like the confidence that Queensland is proposing for retail investment at the moment. The vote of confidence investors see from big companies, like Officeworks, committing to these areas further reinforces this,” said Wald.
One of the key fundamentals is Queensland’s growing population. It was estimated at 4,722,450 persons in June-end 2014 , a rise of 70,540 from June 2013. This was the third largest population increase of any Australian state or territory over this period after New South Wales and Victoria.
“Obviously, population growth is one of the key fundamentals of retail investing, and at the moment, for Queensland, this is its strongest selling point,” said Wald.
The just released NAB Quarterly Australian Commercial Property Survey Q3 2015 said that while overall sentiment has moderated a little, it still remains at elevated levels. The survey suggests capital growth for the next 1­2 years will be strongest for office property, followed by industrial and retail.
Positive rental returns are also forecast in all sectors in the next 1­2 years, led by big upward revision in expectations for office rents (especially Victoria).
“All in all, we’re seeing very solid commercial property prospects across the board as we close out this year and enter into the next.
"Given this, I expect to continue to see strong demand from my clients in Melbourne to the sunny state as we enter 2016”, said Wald.
</body></html>

Melbourne investors lured to Queensland by retail investment opportunities: MMJ Melbourne

<html><body>
Adelaide-based Harmony Property Syndication has paid $10.75 million on a yield of 7.1% for an industrial property at Hallam in Melbourne’s southeast.
The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-industrial+warehouse-vic-hallam-501611261" target="_blank">1-5 Siddons Way</a> property was sold subject to a long-term lease, expiring in 2026, to national tenant Pakcentre Marketing Services, at a current rental of $765,920 per annum net.
It comprises a 9,574 square metre office and warehouse, with nine metres clearance and canopied loading docks, on a 15,300 square metre allotment.
The sale was through Savills Australia's Chris Jones and Ben Hegerty.
Jones said the price reflected the tightly held market and the lack of stock in the price range.
Hegerty said the property attracted a high level of enquiry from local, interstate and off-shore investors looking for attractive yields, secure lease profiles, prime locations and potential
upside. He said the demand continued to put yields under pressure with many recent sales pushing the 7 percent barrier.
The vendor was a private group of interstate investors.
Established in 2003, Harmony specialises in establishing and managing commercial real estate syndicates on behalf of investors. Harmony currently has 21 separate property investment syndicates with a combined value of more than $260 million of funds under management.
</body></html>

Adelaide syndicate pays $10.75 million for Hallam property through Savills

<html><body>
Savvy homeowners in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs are banding together to combine properties, as they look to capitalise on demand for residential development opportunities.
One such example was the sale of adjacent properties <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-glen+iris-501712345" target="_blank">1455 High Street and 2a Scott Grove,</a> Glen Iris for $6,637,000.
The properties over a combined area of 1,644 square metres were sold to a local developer.
The campaign was handled by CBRE’s Julian White at a rate of $4,000 per square metre.
“We are witnessing an increasing acceptance of apartment living in suburban markets, particularly in prestigious suburbs such as Glen Iris, where medium house prices of $2 million plus inhibit freestanding home ownership," Julian White said.
He added that developer confidence in the pre-sale apartment market was another driver, as apartment sites in the eastern suburbs become harder to secure and planning permits more difficult to obtain.
“To capitalise on developer demand, group selling is becoming increasingly popular, as homeowners look to partner with neighbours to sell their homes for significantly higher returns than can be achieved by selling sites individually,” White said.
“Both the properties in this instance were purchased less than 18 months ago, with the vendors making big margins of around 100% from what they paid.”
Another major factor impacting the eastern suburban market is the arrival of Chinese developers. 
“Many offshore developers are familiar with the eastern suburbs market through family living in Australia. Suburbs such as Glen Iris, Kew and Canterbury are highly regarded by many locally based Chinese families, therefore when an offshore Chinese buyer is looking to acquire a site, these areas are high on their preference list.
“Whilst 1455 High Street &amp; 2a Scott Grove was acquired by a local developer, the majority of bids received were from offshore Asian groups.”
The Glen Iris sale follows recent group selling deals at South Yarra, Cheltenham and Camberwell.
</body></html>

Glen Iris owners band together for $6.637 million Melbourne sale

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 12">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The Adelaide industrial sector has spent 2015 going through a period of consolidation, says Herron Todd White.
The valuation firm said the industrial sector continues to be impacted by a generally weak local economy and reduced activity within the manufacturing sector, in particular the planned 2017 closure of the General Motors Holden plant.
In December 2014 the state government announced grants to assist automotive components manufacturers who were previously dependent on the car manufacturing industry to diversify alternate industries such as defence, the HTW month in review highlights.
The report goes on to note that this did not slow the short term impact of transition, with the SA unemployment rate increasing .06% to 8.2% from May to July.  
Despite the percentage falling to 7.7% in September, the HTW review showed South Australia to have the highest state unemployment rate ahead of Queensland whose is 6.3%.
By September 2015 this had reduced slightly to 7.7% but South Australia remains the highest State or Territory in the country with Queensland the second highest at 6.3%.
The November review also highlights that adding to the lack of confidence in the SA economy there has been continued debate over the construction of the Australian defence force submarines, which in early 2015 Prime Minister Tony Abbott had outsourced the $50 billion contract to manufacturers from either Japan, France or Germany.
"Submarines have previously been constructed by the Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) within its $120 million facility in Osborne."
"In September 2015 the Government confirmed that all three potential offshore manufacturers would include local construction in satisfying the contract."
The report added that the detail remains unclear and the evaluation process for the tender is not expected to conclude until the end of 2015.
It also mentions that in light of the above economic climate, industrial sales activity has continued to be subdued with the most activity occurring within the $3 million to sub $5 million markets which are dominated by owner- occupiers and private investors.
"There are reports that institutional investors are continuing to show interest in Super Prime asset classes within South Australia due to the higher than national average returns on offer, however this is not yet translating into a shift in market sentiment in the lower sub markets."
The report concludes by suggesting that in general investment activity has been weak with prime rents and values either reducing or holding.
"A falling construction rate has meant a limit in the availability of prime asset classes and reduced rental returns makes the construction of new buildings less viable.
"The impact has therefore seen a continued divide between prime and secondary stock which may be facing obsolescence issues in the current market."
Going against this trend however is the supermarket company Aldi which is due to open its’ first stores in early 2016.
The Regency Park distribution centre is nearing completion which began construction in late 2014 comprising nearly 33,000 square metres of office warehouse accommodation at a reported cost of $70 million. 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Adelaide industrial sector consolidates: HTW

<html><body>
A classically designed Victorian-era freehold building in Melbourne's CBD is going under the CBRE hammer on December 10.
The five-level freestanding building at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-vic-melbourne-501767410" target="_blank">8 Drewery Place</a> formerly housed Sniders and Abrahams cigar manufacturing factory dating back to 1890.
This part of Melbourne saw a concentration of tobacco-oriented firms that established large factories and warehouses in the late Victorian-era and Edwardian period.
The 490 Flinders Street property fetched $4.1 million, about $1 million above the reserve price and for a yield of 2.33%.
About 8 Drewery Place, Rutman said it is one of the only properties of its kind in the street, with most others having already been converted to residential apartments.
“The building has been owned within the same family for a generation and provides a very exciting investment prospect as well as genuine potential to convert, subdivide or redevelop in the future,” Rutman said.
The building is expected to go in the range of $15 million.
The property is located just behind Swanston Street and is wedged within what is fast becoming known as the “Golden Triangle” of city retail – between Melbourne Central, Emporium and the QV Complex.
The name of the lane was changed in 1872 from Brewery to Drewery Lane. According to the City of Melbourne Planning Scheme, it was named after the chemist Thomas Drewery, who was elected a City Councillor for Gipps Ward in 1851.
According to historian Weston Bate, however, it was named after London's Drury Lane.
Today, the ornate building houses a range of retail and office tenants and has seen a dramatic increase in pedestrian activity as the CBD has grown its permanent residential, student and tourist populations. It sits directly adjacent to an entry point into Melbourne Central Shopping Centre which also drives pedestrian flow and retail activity in the laneway.
</body></html>

Historic Melbourne CBD building listed for sale

<html><body>
Cromwell Property Group has agreed terms for the sale of an office tower at 100 Waymouth Street in Adelaide for $73 million.
The sale price represents a premium of 17.6% over the book value of $62.1 million, a yield of 6.775% and a capital value of approximately $6,000 per square metre, reflecting continued strong investor demand for commercial office stock in major capital cities.
Cromwell CEO Paul Weightman said the company would continue to look to take advantage of market conditions to improve its $2.1 billion portfolio of direct property assets.
The property has <a href="https://www.cromwell.com.au/property-portfolio/south-australia/289/100-waymouth-street" target="_blank">12,305 square metres of net lettable area</a>, is fully tenanted and has a Weighted Average Lease Expiry (WALE) of 8.1 years.
It comprises a ground floor and 12 upper levels of office accommodation.
The building was commissioned in 1989 as the headquarters for the South Australian Workcover Corporation, which occupied it until June 2012.
The tower has since undergone a full refurbishment, achieving a PCA A-Grade rating. Cromwell acquired it in April 2003.
Origin Energy solely occupies the commercial floors with Beyond Bank occupying the ground floor retail space.
The property is close to public transport, retail, restaurants and cafes.
The sale is expected to settle on December 10.
</body></html>

Adelaide commercial tower sells for $73 million

<html><body>
Eight properties in Canberra belonging to betting company Tabcorp have sold at auction for a total value of $6,171,500.
The selling agents were JLL’s Michael Heather and Greg Lyons and the auction was on November 26.
Three properties were offered with a new initial seven-year lease term to Tabcorp with 2 x 5 year options. The
remaining five properties were sold as vacant possession.
The three leased properties were sold for a price range of $800,000 to $1,120,000 and reflected initial yields of between 4.71% - 5.29%.
The five vacant properties were sold for a price range of $590,000 to $741,500 and reflected sales values from $5,224 - $7,234 per square metre.
“The strong yields achieved for the leased properties exceeded market expectations and is reflective of the yield compression trend that has been experienced in other markets around Australia,” Heather said.
The eight properties were:
20 Brierly Street, Weston sold for $1,120,000. The initial yield reflects 4.78% on a passing net income of $53,491 per annum.
30 Denigan Street, Wanniassa sold for $950,000. The initial yield reflects 5.29% on a passing net income of $50,252 per annum.
99-103 Georgina Crescent, Kaleen sold for $800,000. The initial yield reflects 4.71% on a passing net income of $37,677 per annum.
56 Hawker Place, Hawker sold for $670,000, reflecting a capital value of $5,781 per square metre.
1-3 Primmer Court, Kambah sold for $741,500, a capital value of $7,234 per square metre.
23 Charnwood Place, Charnwood sold for $600,000, or a sales value of $5,545 per square metre.
55 Curtin Place, Curtin sold for $700,000, or a sales value of $5,224 per square metre.
71 Mawson Place, Mawson sold for $590,000, with a capital value of $6,556 per square metre.
</body></html>

Eight Canberra Tabcorp properties sell at JLL auction for $6,171,500 total 

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 18">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Valuation firm Herron Todd White have reported that the small industrial sector in Cairns close to the CBD is showing stronger buyer demand. 
The HTW month in review suggest that though we now perceive the industrial market to be entering a recovery phase, industrial property development remains slow.
"Improved industrial property sales also remain slow at levels well below the 2007 peak with prices steady.
"Commercial agents advise limited availability of good quality stand alone warehouse stock with slow to reasonable demand for this type of premises."
The report also noted that strata titled industrial warehouses are also limited in numbers for both sale and lease with similar limited demand.
It went on to add however that rents have recently begun to claw back some lost ground as the economy has slowly improved.
"The vacant industrial land sale market is especially quiet with limited sales activity.
"The median vacant industrial land price in Cairns peaked at $295 per square metre in 2009 but has been around $200 to $250 per square metre for sales over the past four years.
"Our overall assessment is that industrial land is adequately supplied for foreseeable levels of demand," said the review.
"There is limited quality investment stock available for purchase in the Cairns market.
"This will tend to support values for well leased properties over the short to medium term."
The report concluded by suggesting that the market has been gradually consolidating to the start of recovery stage and the immediate outlook is for further consolidation and improvement in the year ahead.
"A lack of new stock should see availability tighten as we move through the remainder of 2015.
"A recovery in the vacant industrial land market in Cairns will continue to depend on a more widespread recovery in the local economy which appears to be underway."
 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Latest Investing Insights

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

Editor's Picks

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Latest Investing Insights

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

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News