Family-owned builder and developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/omaya">Omaya</a> is bringing its 27-storey The Maybelle development to market, with the 229-apartment tower rising alongside Ismay Reserve near North Strathfield.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-maybelle-21-parramatta-road-homebush-nsw-2140">The Maybelle</a> will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with its height providing elevated outlooks towards the Sydney skyline and Harbour Bridge, while other residences will look across neighbouring Ismay Reserve.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/squillace-architects">Squillace Architects</a>, the tower combines its parkside setting with proximity to the established retail, dining and transport amenity around North Strathfield.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376196]

Residences will feature open-plan living spaces and a choice of two interior schemes, while communal amenity is spread across two elevated levels of the building.

Level 8 will be home to the Garden Pavilion, a full-floor resident space incorporating communal entertaining and breakout areas, seating and recreation spaces. Further up the tower, a landscaped Sky Terrace on Level 14 will provide another communal area with panoramic views towards the Harbour Bridge and Sydney skyline.

At ground level, the development sits directly alongside Ismay Reserve, where lawns, walking paths, children's play areas, picnic spaces and recreational facilities extend the green space available immediately around the project.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376194]

The Maybelle is also within walking distance of North Strathfield and the Bakehouse Quarter, which provides a mix of cafés, restaurants, shops and everyday services.

Existing rail and bus services provide connections across Sydney, while the future North Strathfield Metro and access to the M4 will add to the transport options available around the precinct. Walking and cycling routes also extend via Powells Creek towards Sydney Olympic Park and its sporting, entertainment and parkland precincts.

Families are also well positioned for access to a broad selection of established schools and education options across Strathfield and the surrounding Inner West.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376181]

Omaya has operated in Sydney for more than 35 years, managing projects from acquisition and design through to construction and delivery. The family-owned company is both developer and builder of The Maybelle.

Apartments start from $560,000, with the development protected by 10-year Latent Defects Insurance.

Construction is well underway, with completion expected by the end of 2026 and move-in anticipated from Q1 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134873]

Joel Robinson

The Maybelle brings 27-storey parkside tower to market near North Strathfield

Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pdg-corporation">PDG</a> has unveiled its vision for the former Water Tank Site in Ivanhoe, which would see it transformed into a thriving residential neighbourhood, complete with a 2000 sqm public park.&nbsp;

Delivered in partnership with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/development-victoria">Development Victoria</a>, the proposal would transform the prominent corner of Bell Street and Upper Heidelberg Road into a connected community comprising two residential buildings, generous public open space and shared amenities.&nbsp;

The vision includes 287 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with a minimum of 10 per cent allocated to affordable housing, alongside a 2,000-square-metre publicly accessible park featuring a children's playground, activity lawn, indigenous planting, timber climbing logs, seating areas and a rock gathering circle.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dko-architecture">DKO Architecture</a>, the proposal draws on the site's industrial heritage, using a robust architectural language that references the former water tank through expressive structural elements and durable, self-finished materials.&nbsp;

Extensive landscaping has been woven throughout the development, creating a living landscape that strengthens connections to nature while responding sensitively to the surrounding neighbourhood. Two residential buildings ranging from three to 12 storeys are linked by a landscaped forecourt, creating a welcoming arrival experience and improving pedestrian connections through the site.&nbsp;

Residents would also enjoy more than 1,000 square metres of communal open space, including barbecue and dining facilities, vegetable gardens, landscaped seating pavilions and a dedicated coworking space.&nbsp;

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the vision reflected an opportunity to transform one of Ivanhoe's most recognisable sites into a place that balanced housing, community and landscape.&nbsp;

"This is an opportunity to reimagine an important site and create a neighbourhood that delivers lasting benefits for Ivanhoe," Giuliano said.&nbsp;

"We're creating much more than new homes. The vision brings together affordable housing, quality architecture, meaningful public open space and shared places that encourage people to connect, while respecting the site's history and its place within the local community."&nbsp;

Development Victoria’s Executive General Manager Precincts, Niall Cunningham, said the application is an important step for the government-owned site.&nbsp;

“This is about delivering more homes in a well-connected location, along with public open space that the Ivanhoe community will benefit from for years to come,” Cunningham said.&nbsp;

PDG was selected as development partner in late 2025 following a competitive tender process.&nbsp;

A planning submission for the project is currently being progressed through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program, with positive early engagement from both Banyule Council and the Department of Transport and Planning.

PDG unveils plans to transform landmark Ivanhoe Water Tank Site

Shane Wilkinson's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pace-development-group">Pace Development Group</a> has lodged plans for a major residential precinct on the former Presentation College site in Windsor, with an eight-building masterplan ultimately rising to 10 storeys.

The proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/167-dandenong-road-windsor-vic-3181">167–187 Dandenong Road</a> spans a substantial 19,027 sqm site and is being progressed across six stages, with the first residential stages comprising 170 homes across four buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a>.

Stage Two will deliver the bulk of the initial housing, with Building A comprising 81 apartments and Building B 49 apartments, both rising to six storeys.

Stage Three will deliver a further 40 homes. The heritage Nagel Building, identified as Building C, will be converted to 12 dwellings, while a new five-storey Building D will comprise 28 apartments at the Hornby Street and Dandenong Road corner.

The 170 homes across Stages Two and Three will include a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including townhouse-style dwellings.<img alt="First look: Pace plans landscaped housing precinct on former Windsor school site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="83c56e3e-dfb9-4e12-b172-c3f18513ec32" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_9.png?VersionId=xRcRpSZsxX.UX_NDDGcRZktw7HVrzx7u" />

&nbsp;

The longer-term masterplan points to considerably greater density across the site.

Indicative plans show Building E accommodating around 80 dwellings across up to 10 storeys, while Building F is earmarked for around 120 dwellings and also up to 10 storeys. Building G is planned to range between four and 10 storeys, however its apartment yield is yet to be determined. That means the masterplan currently identifies at least 370 dwellings across Buildings A to F before any apartments within Building G are counted.

Across the 1.9-hectare site, that represents an indicative density of at least 194 dwellings per hectare, with the final figure to increase once the yield of Building G is established.

Pace is pursuing the project through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program, with Urbis lodging a combined Section 96A planning scheme amendment and planning application on behalf of the developer, which secured the site earlier this year.

The application seeks detailed approval for Stages One, Two and Three, alongside approval of the broader masterplan framework that will guide the later residential stages. Stage One will see an existing heritage building adaptively reused for a wellness and fitness-related facility, while the broader precinct will retain several significant heritage buildings and established trees as part of the redevelopment.

A minimum 10 per cent affordable housing contribution is proposed across both the initial residential stages and the later masterplan stages, delivered through a discounted rental model.

The project comes immediately after a major change to the site's planning controls.

The site was rezoned to the Housing Choice and Transport Zone through Planning Scheme Amendment GC285, gazetted on July 22, 2026, and now sits within the inner catchment of the Windsor Station precinct under the State Government's Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres Program.

While the new controls identify large sites within the inner catchment for buildings of up to six storeys, Pace's masterplan pushes height to 10 storeys in parts of the site, with the taller buildings concentrated toward the centre and along the Sandringham railway corridor.

Lower-scale built form is proposed toward the site's more sensitive residential and heritage edges, with Buildings A and B generally stepping from three storeys at their interfaces to six storeys at upper levels.

Cera Stribley's masterplan breaks the development into a collection of separate buildings rather than a continuous built form, with landscaped spaces, new pedestrian links and a new publicly accessible road forming part of the precinct.

The planning report says the development will create new pedestrian connections to Elm Place and along the railway corridor, as well as a new publicly accessible road linking Elm Place with Dandenong Road. The proposed buildings will occupy around 54 per cent of the site, leaving a substantial portion available for landscaping, communal areas and permeable surfaces.

Urbis said the scale of the project reflected the site's strategic location close to Windsor Station, tram services and the Chapel Street Activity Centre, with the former school campus identified as a significant opportunity to increase housing supply on an underutilised inner-Melbourne site.

&nbsp;

First look: Pace plans landscaped housing precinct on former Windsor school site

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/jl-place">JL PLACE</a>'s Veil Brighton is approaching its final months of construction, with the nine-townhouse development at 17 Rooding Street expected to complete in December 2026.

The milestone is bringing the boutique project closer to becoming a finished part of the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/brighton-vic-3186">Brighton</a> streetscape, with much of Brighton's everyday amenity within a short walk.

Palace Cinema, Coles Supermarket and North Brighton Station are all around five minutes on foot from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/veil-brighton-17-rooding-street-brighton-vic-3186">Veil</a>, alongside numerous cafés, restaurants and bars. The station provides a direct rail connection toward Melbourne's CBD, while Bay Street and the wider Brighton retail and dining network add to the range of services accessible without relying on a car for every trip.

"The location was fundamental to the project. Brighton is an established suburb where many buyers already have strong connections to the area and want to remain close to the people, places and amenities that form part of their everyday life," the developer said.

"Veil sits in a highly walkable part of Brighton, with a Walk Score of 90/100."

For buyers looking to right-size within Bayside, that level of walkability adds to the appeal of a more manageable way of living. Everyday shopping, dining, entertainment and public transport can be accessed without relying on the car for every trip, while residents remain connected to the places and routines that make Brighton familiar. It allows buyers to simplify day-to-day life without giving up the convenience, amenity and connections they already value.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7877 project_image_fid=355754]

As completion approaches, the architecture, landscaping and material palette are progressively becoming visible on site, giving prospective purchasers a clearer view of the finished development beyond its plans and renders.

Veil comprises nine townhouses, predominantly three-bedroom homes with between 2.5 and 3.5 bathrooms, two car spaces and, depending on the residence, study areas and private outdoor space. Selected homes include a bedroom on the ground floor.

Veil occupies a middle ground between detached housing and apartment living, retaining private gardens, storage and secure parking within a more manageable residential format.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/schmidt-pang-architects">Schmidt &amp; Pang</a> designed the architecture around natural light, ventilation, privacy and practical use of space. From Rooding Street, the façade has been composed to read as a cohesive residential building rather than nine individual townhouses, with landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/john-patrick-landscape-architects">John Patrick Landscape Architects</a> integrated throughout the site.

Inside, natural stone, oak flooring, integrated joinery and brushed nickel finishes establish a restrained material palette, while kitchens include Miele appliances and substantial storage such as pantries. Walk-in robes and dedicated study spaces have also been incorporated across the collection.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7877 project_image_fid=355852]

The project team said the planning of the homes has been informed by how the spaces function for both daily routines and larger gatherings.

"Our new homes owners at Veil have enjoyed the attention to detail in creating efficient layouts that use every space well. Hosting Christmas lunch and large family gatherings is an ease when care is taken to consider how people really live and entertain."

Private landscaped gardens extend the living spaces outdoors, while secure basement parking and bicycle parking are provided below. The homes have also been designed to achieve a 7-star energy rating, supported by double glazing, high-quality insulation, natural ventilation, LED lighting, water tanks and water-efficient fittings. Each residence is backed by a 10-year building guarantee.

Veil is being built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/jeniton">Jeniton</a>.&nbsp;Limited-time stamp duty savings are also currently available on selected purchases at Veil, adding another consideration as the project moves toward completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7877]

Veil Brighton nears completion in one of the suburb's most walkable pockets

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mosaic-property-group">Mosaic Property Group</a> has recorded 134 sales worth just over $400 million in two months of pre-release activity at The Riversdale, as the developer brings its $750 million South Brisbane riverfront project to the broader market.

The sales represent more than 60 per cent of the project's 213 apartments, with Mosaic reporting the majority of purchasers have been local owner-occupiers and downsizers.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-riversdale-by-mosaic-south-brisbane-91-montague-road-south-brisbane-qld-4101">The Riversdale</a> will rise 39 storeys from its north-facing site at 91 Montague Road, delivering a mix of two, three and four-bedroom apartments alongside a collection of Mosaic's premium Masterpiece Series Sky Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=371872]

The early buyer response comes ahead of the wider evolution of the northern end of Montague Road, where The Riversdale will be one of the first major residential projects delivered within an emerging riverfront precinct.

Directly adjoining the development is a planned 7.1-hectare mixed-use precinct, set to introduce new residences, parkland and public realm along the river's edge. The Riversdale's position directly on the Brisbane River gives it a relationship with the waterfront that Mosaic says cannot be replicated by future buildings within the precinct.

The site is also the result of a years-long pursuit by Mosaic. The developer first earmarked the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/south-brisbane-qld-4101">South Brisbane</a> property in 2018, reflecting what Founder and Managing Director Brook Monahan has described as a deliberately patient approach to acquiring development sites.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=372083]

"We aren't opportunistic," Monahan previously told Apartments.com.au.

"Every site purchase is carefully considered. As seen with Kangaroo Point and South Brisbane, it can take years to eventuate. There are sites we're looking at now that we may not secure for several years."

Designed in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bureauproberts">Bureau Proberts</a>, The Riversdale has been shaped around the qualities of the riverfront site, with apartments oriented to capture northern light and uninterrupted Brisbane River views.

Generous floorplans and expansive balconies extend the living spaces towards the river, while natural materials and a restrained interior palette have been selected with longevity in mind.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=371890]

Residents will have access to a level of amenity more commonly associated with world-class hotels and private members' clubs, with almost 3,000 sqm dedicated to wellness, connection, recreation and everyday convenience.

At ground level is a business lounge, private meeting rooms and dedicated workspaces. Mid-tower is a wellness sanctuary featuring magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, sauna, steam room, infrared therapy facilities, a Pilates and yoga studio, and a commercial-grade gymnasium.

Crowning The Riversdale is a rooftop featuring a 35-metre swimming pool with lap lane and spa, outdoor dining and seating terraces, firepit lounges and views of the city, river and Mount Coot-tha.

A private members' club-inspired retreat offers private dining rooms, a whisky lounge, media rooms and immersive entertainment experiences. Completing the amenity offering are two hotel-style guest suites and a resident-exclusive electric vehicle fleet and car-share program.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=371877]

The Riversdale sits at the northern end of Montague Road between South Bank and West End, around 1.3 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, providing access to the city's major cultural, dining and recreation precincts.

It becomes Mosaic's largest Brisbane project to date and adds to a pipeline already under construction across the city.

In Brisbane, the developer is currently delivering The Bedford and The Carter at Kangaroo Point, both of which are approaching sell-out, with a further four projects being delivered on the Gold Coast. Mosaic has completed more than $2 billion in projects since 2012 and has a further development pipeline exceeding $2 billion across South East Queensland.

Early works are underway at The Riversdale, which will be delivered by Mosaic's in-house construction division. Completion is anticipated in late 2029, with remaining apartments priced from $1.98 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151614]

Mosaic records more than $400m in two months at South Brisbane's The Riversdale

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>
NAME: Matthew Barr<img src="/images/2015/02/11/barr-feb-11-profiel.png" alt="" style="float: right;">
POSITION: General manager - Queensland
COMPANY: Oliver Hume
OFFICE LOCATION: Brisbane
<ul>
<li>How long have you been in the industry?</li>
</ul>
Coming up to 20 years in Victoria and Queensland.
<ul>
<li>What's happening in the area you specialise in?</li>
</ul>
We're currently seeing an increase in the supply of land that's resulting in stronger enquiries and sales rates. We're also seeing some price growth as a result of that.
<ul>
<li>Describe the most interesting property you have worked on?</li>
</ul>
I've worked across a number of large masterplanned communities in Queensland and Victoria. Probably the most interesting is Providence, South Ripley, which I'm working on now. Once it's complete, it'll be about 7,000 homes for a population of about 20,000 residents.
It's a true masterplanned community. Open park space for sports and recreation, health and wellbeing; barbecues, al fresco dining and community; education, with two planned primary schools and two secondary centre. It'll have a main street with supermarkets, commercial spaces, retailers and the like. A lot of projects call themselves master-planned, but this is a true masterplanned community.
<ul>
<li>What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?</li>
</ul>
I think developing long-term relationships in both good and bad markets is the key. Obviously, honesty and integrity go a long way.
<ul>
<li>What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?</li>
</ul>
I enjoy the variety of projects and obviously the challenges that come from that. Of course, the diversified group of clients we work with makes it a very enjoyable job.
<ul>
<li>Where would you invest a spare $750,000?</li>
</ul>
I think I'd be looking at a residential property within a 5 kilometre radius of Brisbane CBD, with access to plenty of amenities and infrastructure. I think that's a pretty good bet at the moment.
<ul>
<li>Which football team do you support?</li>
</ul>
Given the fact I'm ex-Victorian, Collingwood.
<ul>
<li>What's your favourite app or techno gadget?</li>
</ul>
It'd be Card Munch, which allows me to enter business cards straight into my contacts by taking a picture.
<ul>
<li>How do you use social media?</li>
</ul>
I guess LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are the main ones I use, mostly to keep on top of what's going on and maintain a professional profile.
</body></html>

jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

In profile: Oliver Hume Queensland's general manager, Matthew Barr

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The American retailer J.Crew is reportedly the latest global retailer to head towards Australia. 
According to the<a href="https://www.ragtrader.com.au/news/j-crew-on-route?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Newsletter+11+February+2015&amp;utm_content=Newsletter+11+February+2015+CID_34f1b9bafb7b2478002dc6a7983288ad&amp;utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&amp;utm_term=more" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.ragtrader.com.au/news/j-crew-on-route?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Newsletter+11+February+2015&amp;utm_content=Newsletter+11+February+2015+CID_34f1b9bafb7b2478002dc6a7983288ad&amp;utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&amp;utm_term=more" target="_blank">ragtrader</a> website, citing a fashion forecast from IBISWorld, J.Crew will follow the likes of Zara, H&amp;M, Sephora, Uniqlo and Topshop to set up shop Down Under.
IBISWorld suggest Marks &amp; Spencer is also in line to seek Australia outlets.
IBISWorld reckons Australia's love affair with affordable fashion-forward clothing has fuelled strong industry growth over the past five years, with revenue rising by an estimated 8.7% annualised to reach $1.1 billion in 2013-14. 
"Fast fashion retailing is a relatively new concept and has been driven by persistent consumer demand for new styles and designs on an increasingly frequent basis," IBISWorld advise.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

American retailer J.Crew tipped to arrive in Australia

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Lease marketing for the Harry Seidler-designed Grosvenor Place is well underway, coinciding with its $10 million refurbishment.
Colliers International is marketing the landmark tower complex to commercial tenants using a series of eye-catching advertisements, such as the one pictured below which featured in the Australian Financial Review.
<img src="/images/2015/02/11/ad-feb-11-two.png" alt="">
Source: Australian Financial Review.
The logo is derived from the tower's shape as it appears from a bird's eye view, illustrated here in the late Seidler's original outlook sketch.
<img src="/images/2015/02/11/seidler%20outlook%20diagram.jpg" alt="">
Image courtesy of Harry Seidler and Associates.
The design has been given a colourful twist, reminiscent of the palette of New York artist Frank Stella, whose work is exhibited in the building. The advertising campaign is by Sydney-based Frost*collective. 
Much of Grosvenor Place's floorspace is uninterrupted by internal columns to provide flexible arrangements for tenants. There are 85,515 square metres of office space in Grosvenor Place, with 1,611 square metres of retail space.
The marketing for the building, which can be seen at <a href="https://www.work-culture.com.au/" target="_blank">work-culture.com.au</a>, draws heavily on its heritage, referencing Seidler's design principles ("Planning for flexibility provides lasting value": Design Principle No. 4; "Architectural design must avoid fads": Principle No.9) and using Seidler's signature.
Seidler is widely regarded as one of Australia's modernist masters and most famous architects. He designed Grosvenor Place in 1982 and opened in 1987. In 1989, it received the RAIA Lustig &amp; Moar National Prize.
Late last year, it was announced that a <a href="https://www.afr.com/p/business/property/landscape_inspired_art_scape_roof_G88PMcETh7VB1LFxqwkqDO" target="_blank">$10 million refurbishment</a> of the complex's restaurant and cafe precinct would involve an "art-scape".
The site includes the low-set Royal Naval House, Johnson's Building and the 44 level Tower.
In 2009, the building underwent a $28 million refurbishment of its lower floors. In 2013, DEXUS Property Group acquired a 25% interest in Grosvenor Place for $271.25 million.
Colliers agent Aaron Weir is marketing commercial tenancies, while Pamela Medich of Dexus is handling retail leasing.
Feature picture: Eric Sierins Source: Harry Seidler and Associates.
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Harry Seidler's Grosvenor Place gets art inspired campaign

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The Westpac Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment increased in February, a much stronger result than Westpac chief economist Bill Evans had expected.
"It represents the first time since February last year that we have seen a majority (albeit miniscule) of optimists over pessimists," said Evans.
"It is also the highest level of the Index since January last year."
<img src="/images/2015/02/11/westpac-feb-11-one.png" alt="">
Evans suggested the rate cut was not the only reason behind the big boost to confidence.
"Lower petrol prices and a surging sharemarket also appear to have had an impact."
The importance of these last two factors was highlighted by the "surprisingly modest 0.7% increase" in the confidence level of those respondents holding a mortgage – a group that is typically the most sensitive to interest rate changes, much lower than the over all increase of 8% in February.
The index tracking views on ‘time to buy a dwelling’ jumped by 9.7% to reach its highest level since February 2014.
<a href="/images/2015/02/11/westpac-feb-11-two.png" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/02/11/westpac-feb-11-two.png" alt=""></a>
Similarly, the index of house price expectations jumped by 6.9% to reach its highest level since September 2014.
Noting the Reserve Bank Board next meets on 3 March, Evans suggested for now, "we are comfortable to maintain our original call for a follow up move in March".
"However we recognize that a perfectly respectable case can be made for the Bank to pause for a month or two to assess developments in the housing market.
"The most important point is that February is not the end of this rate cut cycle with another cut extremely likely over the next three months." Evans concluded.
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Confidence up with strong improvement in time to buy dwelling sentiment: Westpac

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The freehold of Mornington's Bay Hotel on Mornington’s main shopping precinct has been listed for sale.
The 1880s Main Street property is set for 27 February onsite auction with $6 million plus tipped by listing agents, <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-vic-mornington-501441807" target="_blank">Vinci Carbone Property and Jacobs &amp; Lowe</a>.
The property provides $370,000 income per annum with the current 2007 signed lease term expiring February 2021 with further options until 2041.
"Hotels that occupy prime sites with quality lessees provide outstanding investments with the security of income combined with remarkable underlying land value," Joseph Carbone said,
The 60-62 Main Street, Mornington modernised property has over 13 metres of frontage on a 552 square metre block with rear lane way access. There is 732 square metre space within the Bay hotel which was converted in the mid-1990s from a bank. 
The property is located on the eastern side of Main Street, north of Barkly Street, in the seaside suburb located some 50 kilometres south east of Melbourne.
Mornington’s main shopping precinct is located in Main Street anchored by two major shopping centres.
Carbone sold the 52 Main Street retail premises for $4.39 million in 2011.
In 2013 MAB Funds Management Limited sold the Mornington Village Shopping Centre for $25.8 million through CBRE.
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Mornington's Bay Hotel offered with lease through to 2041

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Melbourne will see the highest price growth of any capital city next year, HSBC has forecast.
In the latest HSBC Australia Downunder Digest report, HSBC Australia chief economist Paul Bloxham forecasts 4% to 8% price growth in Melbourne for 2016, after 7% to 8% growth in 2015.
Bloxham expects that in 2015, Melbourne and Sydney will "continue to outpace the rest of the nation", noting that from its mid-2012 trough, Melbourne's housing prices have increased by 20%.
<img src="/images/2015/02/10/Picture%2033.png" alt="">
However, Bloxham does not raise the prospect of a housing bubble in Melbourne as he did for Sydney, where <a href="/expert-insights/buying/sydney-prices-to-fall-hsbcs-bubble-warning">HSBC predicts prices could fall by 2%</a> in 2016 when they expect interest rates to increase.
He also noted the impact of foreign buyers on demand for Australian property, explaining that Foreign Investment Review Board figures "suggest a strong rise in foreign investment in Australian housing in 2014, with particular strength in investment in new dwellings." (see chart below).
<img src="/images/2015/02/10/Picture%2041.png" alt="">
"Much of the interest from foreign buyers is in the Sydney and Melbourne new apartment markets," writes Bloxham.
While Bloxham notes that foreign investment "is only a relatively small proportion of overall housing turnover", it is "likely to be having some effect on housing prices".
Victoria, which has seen the highest dwelling approvals of any state since 2009, is likely to see continued strength in the construction sector, according to Bloxham.
<img src="/images/2015/02/10/Picture%2040.png" alt="">
"As Australia's growth rebalances away from the mining states towards the south-eastern states – of New South Wales and Victoria – the strongest ramp-up in construction should be expected in these states," states the report.
Click to open in new window:
<a href="/images/2015/02/10/forecasts.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/02/10/forecasts.jpg" alt=""></a>
{mijopolls 88}
 
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Melbourne growth to stand out in 2016: HSBC's Paul Bloxham

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Rumours the Palmer Coolum Resort had been sold have been denied.
Politican businessman Clive Palmer quashed the local rumour which the local paper, the Daily Mercury chased up last week.
"The property's not for sale, not offered for sale," he told them.
He said the resort was still owned by Coeur de Lion Investments, which was "100% owned by me".
He said he liked the resort, intended to keep running it as a resort and had no intention of selling.
Palmer said the rumour seemed to do the rounds periodically.
"It's just not true," he said.
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Clive says Palmer Coolum Resort is a keeper

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The Australian economy is well placed for the medium to long term. But we face risks as we transition back to broad-based growth.
Australia’s resources boom lasted a decade. Iron ore, coal, gas, gold - you name it. If we could dig it up, China was ready to buy it at record prices.
But adapting to a boom is hard. The boom increased demand for the Australian dollar, increasing the exchange rate (which is just the price of an Australian dollar). This hurt non-commodity exporters and led to a two-speed economy. The resource centres of Western Australia and Queensland boomed while the manufacturing and services centres of Melbourne and Sydney hit the wall.
We adapted. It was tough.
However, mining booms are temporary. As exploration and development expands supply, the prices inevitably drop. Our mining boom has ended. We have seen massive falls in <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/iron-ore-tipped-to-fall-below-us40-this-year-20150206-138235">iron ore</a>, coal, <a href="https://www.theweek.co.uk/business/oil-price/60838/oil-price-yo-yo-continues-as-traders-jockey-to-find-bottom">oil</a> and gas prices in recent years. It was fun while it lasted, but the inevitable has occurred and now the Australian economy is adjusting back again.
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/71427/area14mp/image-20150209-13704-159mbzh.png"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/71427/width668/image-20150209-13704-159mbzh.png" alt=""></a>
It’s good the boom is over
This is a good thing. A mining boom is like a boozy party. Great while it lasts, and it may lead to a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-07/house-passed-in-at-auction-after-million-dollar-price-dive/6077724">short-term hangover</a>. However, so long as our economy can adapt back to the “new normal” of a lower exchange rate and more balanced growth driven by broad trade with our Asian neighbours, the end of the boom will lead to a new period of economic prosperity. The key is adaptability.
The end of the boom doesn’t mean that our earnings from mineral exports are back to 2000 levels. The development of new projects means that we will keep exporting and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/australian-iron-ore-exports-are-still-making-plenty-of-money-for-the-government-2014-12">earning more</a>. Put simply, quantity matters as well as price.
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/71423/area14mp/image-20150209-13719-f1ta6v.jpg"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/71423/width668/image-20150209-13719-f1ta6v.jpg" alt=""></a>
Further, as the end of the boom leads to a fall in the Australian dollar, this hurts consumers as the price of imports rise. But Australian companies that compete with imports will find life easier. There will be more growth and jobs in these areas.
Similarly, the drop in the exchange rate helps our non-commodities exporters. Australian farmers, tertiary educators, high-end manufacturers and other service exporters should all have big grins on their faces. They will be expanding over the next few years as the rest of the world finds that they are much cheaper.
So the end of the boom will mean a return to more sustainable, balanced long-term growth across our economy. Asia is still growing and we are still well placed to benefit from that growth.
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/71424/area14mp/image-20150209-13713-3f98zz.jpg"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/71424/width668/image-20150209-13713-3f98zz.jpg" alt=""></a>
What are the short-term risks?
The biggest risk is that the federal government will panic. Transition means that unemployment will increase as workers fly-out of the mining centres and move back to the south eastern states. Federal tax revenue will also temporarily fall as profits decrease in the resource sector but are yet to rise in other sectors. This means that there will be an increasing budget deficit. Fortunately, we have low levels of government debt by international standards, interest rates are at historic lows and our government can easily borrow to both cover the deficit and invest in infrastructure that will assist the transition.
Our federal government should not party like it is 2010 again. But there is no budget crisis.
The second biggest risk is that state and federal governments will fail to continue the necessary long-term reform needed in areas such as taxation, health, education, transport and energy. The outcome of the Queensland state election has undermined reform. It shouldn’t. The evidence is clear that reforms, including privatisation, but particularly reforms that sensibly <a href="https://theconversation.com/privatisation-in-australia-as-the-accc-opens-a-can-of-worms-what-are-the-lessons-on-government-ownership-and-regulation-21752">introduce competition</a> where it can work, have benefited people in the states that have had the leadership to push forward.
There is still plenty of <a href="https://www.erawa.com.au/cproot/12778/2/Final%20Report%20-%20Inquiry%20into%20Microeconomic%20Reform%20in%20Western%20Australia.PDF">scope for reform</a>. Congestion charging on urban roads with funds being used to improve public transport, is a no-brainer. Removing impediments to the sharing economy, such as the regulations that protect vested interests but undermine platforms like Uber and Airbnb, will mean better and cheaper choice for families. Requiring government infrastructure projects to have independent cost-benefit analysis will reduce political boondoggles that help marginal electorates but cost the broader community. Moving to real-time pricing in electricity and using smart grids to give consumers more control over their power bills, will reduce energy use and carbon emissions while saving money for households.
There is a long list of reforms that governments should be pursuing. These reforms are necessary to maintain our economic flexibility. But with any reform there will be winners and losers. Governments need to have the guts to implement reforms, but the compassion to reform in a way that protects the most vulnerable in the community.
Finally, our governments need to remember the compact that has underpinned Australia since federation. We do not leave people behind. There has long been a series of transfers, through the grants commission and through the distribution of the GST, from the richer states to the poorer states and from the cities to the bush. These transfers help guarantee that all Australians can gain from long term economic growth. These transfers need to continue. But they also <a href="https://theconversation.com/bandaids-on-broadband-has-turnbull-got-what-it-takes-to-fix-the-nbn-36913">need to be transparent</a>. And states need to remember that <a href="https://economics.com.au/?p=8726">today’s winners can be tomorrow’s losers</a>. The transfers are like a national insurance policy that protect us all.
So, the economic future is looking bright for Australia. Sure, the economic winds have changed. But so long as we can adapt and “change tack”, and governments do not get in the way, the next ten years for Australia are likely to be even better than the last ten.
Stephen King is professor at the Department of Economics at Monash University.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>.
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

Turning headwinds into tailwinds - the economy can correct course: Stephen King

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Abolish payroll tax and kick start the economy; it’s that simple! 
Problem solved – cue the Henry Tax Review which found that of the major heads of taxation revenue, payroll tax is more damaging to the economy than company tax. 
When Australia entered the global financial crisis, instead of handing out money, payroll tax should have been immediately abolished. If Australia wants to have strong employment then back the engine room that drives the economy, instead of greedy states and territories trying to destroy it.
If the Prime Minister wants to save his position he should act immediately on this given last week’s cash rate cut is not going to save the economy. What we are clearly seeing now is home owners and property investors being given the greatest free kick in Australian economic history with the majority well ahead of their respective mortgage repayments. Unless something is done we will see the cash rate at the current level and possibly lower for quite some time to come.
One only has to look at the NSW report on state finances for 2013-14 where a surplus of $1.247 billion was announced thanks mainly to residential and commercial sales. Nobody likes paying stamp duty on real estate transactions especially since they too were supposed to be abolished in 2000 when the GST was introduced. For those who follow the property markets closely ask yourself one simple question – where would real estate prices be today if stamp duty had been abolished? You’re right – they would be much higher.
Back to the 2013-14 NSW state finances report where government revenue grew by 9.8% and expenses grew by just 4.6%. Payroll tax receipts were $248 million which was much less than forecast – surprise, surprise.
The Abbott government needs to act decisively and fast given the budget is in such disarray that this week we saw the governor of the Reserve Bank and the new head of Treasury deliver a dire warning to Cabinet that unless the Senate passes the government’s spending cuts, the budget is at risk of never getting back to surplus. If payroll tax was removed the government would get back to surplus much faster as businesses can then re-invest much more back into their respective businesses instead of being fined for employing people.
If Tony Abbott wants to shirt-front something then there would be no better place to start than by abolishing this absurd tax that is dragging the economy down. What remains to be seen is whether or not our politicians in Canberra have the economic intelligence to recognise this anchor on the Australian economy and act forthwith.
Interesting to read <a href="/expert-insights/finance/what-central-banks-around-the-world-are-doing-with-interest-rates">what central banks around the world are doing with interest rates</a> given many are now predicting that the RBA will cut again when they meet next month. The RBA recently released their credit aggregates for December 2014 which identified that home lending is now up to a record $1.42 trillion. Total credit grew by 5.9% with housing posting 7.1%, business 4.8% and personal credit 0.9% in annual terms. If payroll tax were to be abolished business credit would almost double – which is exactly what our economy needs. Why is it that that elected governments fail to recognise this, given this would also drive up spending and GST receipts?
Maybe we need to do a test case, so where better to start than NSW – the best performing state in Australia. NSW also has a state election looming so it would be political suicide for either major party to fight such a decision.
The states and territories made a mockery of removing nominated taxes when the GST was introduced so it’s high time the electorates started reminding these governments that enough is enough.
Aside from politicians, I am yet to find anyone who supports payroll tax in Australia.
So what does that tell you?
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robertsimeon-hRNTwJyXkQ

Abolish payroll tax and kick start the economy: Robert Simeon

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At last Monday’s do-or-die Press Club speech Prime Minister Tony Abbott claimed jobs growth in 2014 was triple the rate in 2013, with 4,000 new jobs a week. 
Treasurer Joe Hockey said the same thing on AM on Wednesday, refashioning the figure as 600 new jobs a day.
It’s a claim that seems counterintuitive amid headlines about the PM abandoning as unachievable his pre-election pledge to create a million jobs within five years. Unemployment jumped above 6% last year, the resources bust is on us, and consumer and business confidence has stalled.
A walk-through the figures from the Treasurer’s office confirms the calculations are ridgy-didge, as far as they go, being based on simple averages of the total persons employed column of the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force data. The government is only making one debatable assumption: that the labour market performance through 2013 can be properly attributed to the previous government, even though the Coalition was in power for the last three months of the year, while the 2014 stats are credited to the current government. The Treasurer’s office says assuming a three month lag before its policies take effect is perfectly plausible, and let’s not quibble there.
On average in 2013 there were 5,063 jobs created each month, while in 2014 there were 17,823 a month — more than 4,000 a week or 600 a day.
The ABS data doesn’t break out employment by industry sectors but construction is reckoned to be the stand-out performer in jobs growth last year. Given how toppy property markets are looking, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, it would be a brave policymaker who counted on a housing-led recovery in employment continuing on and on — even with lower interest rates.
But if the ABS data is right and jobs growth has tripled, why are we so gloomy about our job prospects and security? One problem with it is the official data fails to take account of population growth, as was highlighted in this <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=2&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CC0QFjAB&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidestory.org.au%2Faustralia-today-a-million-new-adults-just-385000-new-jobs&amp;ei=twjUVNTHGaPJmAXX2oI4&amp;usg=AFQjCNFsu1-W8Q3M00TaKp2CXc-WXJJFmA&amp;sig2=E-mbSaUTIv-Bvmh_PvwBfQ">terrific article</a> by former Age economics editor Tim Colebatch. Over the three years to December 2014, the economy created 385,000 new jobs for every million new adults, his analysis shows, well down on the 690,000 new jobs created for every million new people over the past 30 years. Colebatch points at the high immigration rate — particularly employers using 457 visas to employ cheap cooks, for example — and argues the labour market simply can’t generate enough work for everybody.
People are simply dropping out of the workforce. The problem is highlighted in the following chart, which shows that, excepting Tasmania, the ratio of employment to population has tanked since the financial crisis.
<a href="https://media.crikey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/employmentpopulation.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-479203" src="https://media.crikey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/employmentpopulation.jpg" width="513" height="445"></a>
South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon, whose office provided the chart, told Crikey he has railed for years about the official employment figures and queries the government’s jobs claim: “I think that needs to be deconstructed, it needs to be forensically looked at. What percentage of those new jobs is someone working three, six, eight hours a week, particularly given anyone is counted as employed if they work as little as an hour a week?”
Data quality aside, the most pressing question is, given the tough job of transitioning out of the resources boom, where is future jobs growth going to come from? The Treasurer’s office points to “green shoots” such as last month’s ANZ job ad survey, which <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/anz-survey-shows-job-ads-rising-for-seventh-month-in-row/story-e6frg926-1227182042074">showed</a> jobs ads had risen for the seventh month in a row, and this week’s Dunn &amp; Bradstreet business expectations survey for the next quarter, which <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/expectations-surveys-show-business-sector-optimistic-about-employment-20150202-1342fs">shows</a> a jump in the hiring intentions of business for the next quarter.
Unfortunately for the government neither survey, on a close reading, is optimistic. ANZ’s job ads survey was a reliable leading indicator when print dominated, and although it now includes online ads it does not include social fora like LinkedIn, so it is still finding its feet in the digital economy. ANZ chief economist Warren Hogan commented: “The good news is that the economy continues to produce new employment opportunities. The bad news is that this has not been quite enough to counteract the flow of new workers into the economy plus the on-going loss of jobs in certain sectors”.
Hogan told Crikey ANZ had revised its forecasts for 2015 down, like most economists and expected unemployment to peak later this year: “We’re expecting jobs growth in certain key services such as real estate, IT and telecommunications and construction.
“The $64,000 question is whether or not broader business services industries can increase their headcount again — banking, accounting and the legal profession have been subdued at best for the last half-decade and they are big employers”.
Headlined “outlook cools”, Dunn &amp; Bradstreet’s survey is also less than confidence inspiring: firstly, although the survey has shown a jump in hiring intentions since the last election, and a big jump in January’s one-month survey, actual hiring has consistently tracked below expectations. Whether the jump in intentions translates into new jobs is unclear.
D&amp;B adviser Stephen Koukoulas told Crikey there was no suggestion we were headed for the precipice: “The labor-intensive parts of economy are retail and construction. Both are doing pretty well. House building and construction is pretty strong, really encouraging, and unlike mining, which is not very labor-intensive. The other one is retail, as we move from the mining boom to the dining boom, if we’re spending more money in cafes and restaurants , that employs a lot of people. So there’s a compositional shift in growth towards those sectors.”
Koukoulas is also not too gloomy about the future of manufacturing: “If you’re a manufacturer and you’ve survived last few years, with the Australian dollar now below US80c and probably staying there, you’re going to start doing well.”
Hockey’s office nominate three industries as source of future jobs growth: financial services, infrastructure and high-tech manufacturing — pointing for example to the Sydney firm that makes RODE microphones, recently <a href="https://www.joehockey.com/media/transcripts/details.aspx?s=621">toured by the Treasurer</a>. The recent free trade agreements will help manufacturers too, Hockey’s office says.
A microphone-led recovery seems unlikely, but niche manufacturing stories are always like that. Most concerning for the likes of Xenophon (and Victorian independent Senator John Madigan, who let rip on submarines on Q&amp;A on Monday) is looming self-inflicted job catastrophes in industries like car manufacturing and shipbuilding, particularly if our next submarine is going to be built offshore.
Says Xenophon: “We are looking at a tsunami of unemployment with the auto sector in next few years. [The subs decision] will have a massive multiplier effect in terms of unemployment.”
Xenophon points to growth industries like food manufacturing, medical technology and backs calls for relief on penalty rates for small businesses in the hospitality sector. ”I think we should be looking in advanced manufacturing, taking head-on the dumping that occurs that kills jobs — we take a very narrow approach to the WTO rules. We need to have a strategic approach to infrastructure, and smart manufacturing. We need to make sure our subs are built here and I think we need to have incubators for SMEs to drive jobs growth — miniature silicon valleys in our capital cities.”
It’s not exactly a comprehensive jobs plan, but it’s better than cutting industry assistance, abolishing the carbon tax and praying — which seems to be the nub of the government’s strategy to date.
This story originally appeared on <a href="https://www.crikey.com.au/2015/02/06/where-are-all-these-jobs-abbott-is-supposedly-creating/">Crikey</a>.
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