Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

Joel Robinson

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

The Gold Coast Planning Committee has supported the preliminary approval for the Benowa Gardens Urban Village project following an extensive community consultation and assessment process.

The proposal will now proceed to a full council vote on June 2.

The application sought approval for a masterplanned urban village on the existing Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre site, combining new housing, retail, dining, health and lifestyle amenities within a walkable, integrated precinct.&nbsp;

The proposed redevelopment includes around 413 apartments integrated above a revitalised mixed-use centre featuring a full-line supermarket of 4,000 sqm, 6,000 sqm of specialty retail and dining space across around 30 retailers, a 7,000 sqm health and wellness precinct, and roughly 9,630 sqm of office and medical suites.&nbsp;

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fb36ae47-80bc-45f0-9914-31b0c7b6007d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C4%201121%20FI.jpg?VersionId=6mRKk2uU4r67TmTt39DKGUlvFRbTVqWa" />

The broader masterplan also includes very significant traffic and transport improvements, wide pedestrian walkways, upgraded pedestrian and cycle connections, and enhanced public areas designed to create a more connected and walkable community environment.&nbsp;

Centre owner Patrick Lu said the milestone reflected months of detailed planning, technical assessment and ongoing communication with local residents, businesses, schools and stakeholders.

“We appreciate the time, consideration and care Council officers and the Planning Committee have given this proposal throughout the assessment process,” Lu said.

“We also sincerely thank the local community for engaging with us, sharing feedback and participating in the consultation process over many months.

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32fd1fc3-d0e6-485f-ac57-9916c9bcb818" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C5%201121%20FI_2.jpg?VersionId=fz8qQKDBLQ7MyFRc856Zccfbh9nFwLOe" />

“We understand projects of this scale bring questions and concerns, which is why we have worked hard to listen carefully, provide information transparently and continue refining elements of the proposal where possible.

“Our vision has always been to create a well-designed, community-focused urban village that responds to the changing needs of the Gold Coast, while delivering improved amenity, housing diversity, healthcare access and local lifestyle benefits.

“This proposal is about creating a genuine live-work-play environment where residents can access everyday services, schools, healthcare, dining, shopping and green space within walking distance, while also supporting local jobs and economic activity.”

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="50dfbd04-590e-4fc6-983b-766880947867" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Dining%20Day%20Time%20-%20High%20Resolution.jpg?VersionId=BP7ZoKJ0DdL_8iRkkC8VVx99moICV6kg" />

Lu said the proposal had evolved significantly through consultation and technical review, particularly around traffic, pedestrian and student safety and neighbourhood connectivity.&nbsp;

Melissa Griffin, Director at Urbis, said the recommendation recognised the strategic importance of delivering more housing and services within established urban areas already supported by infrastructure.

“This proposal represents the type of thoughtful, integrated growth that planning frameworks across South-East Queensland are encouraging,” Ms Griffin said.

“The project seeks to place housing, retail, healthcare and employment opportunities together in a highly accessible location close to schools, transport and existing services.

“Importantly, the process has involved significant technical assessment and community engagement to ensure local issues and feedback were properly considered throughout the planning pathway.”

$1 billion Benowa Gardens Urban Village heads to council vote following Planning Committee support

Surfers Paradise is officially set for its first new residential development with a 45-storey skybridge connecting the two towers.

John Camilleri’s Celestino Developments has been given the green light by the Gold Coast City Council to develop its major beachfront precinct across its huge 4,000 sqm oceanfront site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/63-79-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">63–79 Garfield Terrace</a>, just five months after its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-exclusive-billionaire-winx-breeder-s-bold-two-tower-surfers-paradise-play-with-45th-storey-skybridge">submission in late 2025</a>.

The approved scheme will deliver two towers rising 55 and 48 storeys, connected by a skybridge positioned on level 45 that will house a range of resident-only wellness and entertainment spaces.

In its notice of approval, the Gold Coast City Council said the&nbsp;proposed overall built form has been designed to complement the scale, intensity and protect the adjacent amenity and surrounding streets through the use of varied setbacks, site cover and architectural elements.

<img alt="First look exclusive: Billionaire Winx breeder’s bold two-tower Surfers Paradise play with 45th-storey skybridge" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.53.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ADyPJ_TFbJvSU9wZFOiCBnlPtgF7VWqW" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dbi">DBI</a>, the development will comprise 275 apartments across the two towers, including a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences, as well as several penthouses. The apartments will sit above a landscaped podium featuring more than 90 metres of beachfront pool frontage, private resident lawns, lounges, and wellness spaces.

DBI said the design draws heavily from the movement and form of the coastal environment, with curving balcony lines and sculpted façades intended to soften the scale of the towers while maximising ocean outlooks and passive shading outcomes.

“The project occupies a rare, uninterrupted oceanfront site and has been shaped by a design philosophy that merges architectural elegance with environmental responsiveness and a carefully curated lifestyle experience,” DBI said in planning documents submitted to the Gold Coast City Council.

The most distinctive element of the approved project is the skybridge linking the two towers at level 45. The elevated communal space is planned to include executive lounges, formal dining areas, wellness facilities, and panoramic ocean-facing outlooks.

“The skybridge enhances the identity of the development, promotes social interaction, and delivers a lifestyle experience not found elsewhere on the Gold Coast,” DBI said.

At podium level, residents will have access to a suite of resort-style amenities, including resident lounges, private dining rooms, a yoga lawn, gymnasium, plunge pools, and treatment spaces. The beachfront pool has been designed with separate lap, lounge, and children’s areas extending across the width of the site.

The project will also introduce new food and beverage offerings along the Enderley Avenue and Oceanway frontages, contributing additional activation to the beachfront precinct.

First look: Winx billionaire’s beachfront Surfers Paradise apartment development greenlit

Prominent New Zealand apartment and hotel operator, <a href="/developers/safari-group">Safari Group</a>, is offering up a prime investment opportunity for Australians to purchase off the plan in one of the world’s most popular ski destinations.

They recently took to market Mountain Oak Queenstown Apartments, in the growing precinct of Remarkables Park in Frankton, near the airport and at the foot of The Remarkables - the mountain range the locals like to call “The Remarks”.&nbsp;

Sydney investors have shown interest in the one, two and three-bedroom apartments that secure high-season occupancy six months over the year, primarily over summer and winter months.

They average 90 per cent occupancy across their portfolio over January, February, March, August, November and December, while shoulder season months of April, July, September and October are still occupied 70 per cent of the time, with the growing appeal of Queenstown becoming not just a hotspot for the snow, but a lifestyle destination.

Even in the low seasons of May and June, occupancy levels reach around 40 per cent.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Ext_Cam15_Sunny.jpg?VersionId=SJAROUM_1s.Tr5ciMk4EEj5oAt_Vewmv" />

Safari’s Safari Hotels arm can also manage the holiday letting for an investor, from the listing on holiday accommodation websites such as Airbnb and Booking.com to the cleaning and maintenance of the investment. They’ve been in the short stay management business for 15 years and offer 24/7 support for investors, an important convenience benefit for any overseas investor

Another major drawcard for Australians is that New Zealand doesn’t have a stamp duty policy - so the entry price of NZ$639,000 (AU$586,000), is all that is payable on completion.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/313_Livingv2_WEB.jpg?VersionId=nV229fM0ZeYpoxOrX372HyGjfwY_LR8c" />

Safari is starting construction of the 141 apartments in Q2 this year, with a two-year build estimated to complete in mid-to-late 2027.<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="15" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXczFpFAb7WuA6f4f9TtKWcqXyNwR8qqtakWv352ERkpqNlP3KwIo8YKxw67jZNHfpjEGIZGv5MQTbnvLZwNt8iu9IVdOrswOjCvBZ4zhSoOOLrpt6etVEZTN1gkBho0r_R72zdHNA?key=yq3daOanqHSb88QFd8jGYKdb" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" />​

The apartments will feature modern amenities and contemporary designs with expansive windows capturing sweeping views of The Remarkables mountain range.&nbsp;

Interiors are equipped with modern finishes, premium appliances, and secure electronic key-locked doors, ensuring a comfortable living experience for residents and guests alike.

With its strategic location near Coronet Peak and Cardrona Alpine Resort, as well as key retail and dining precincts such as Market Street, Five Mile Shopping Centre, and Remarkables Market, Mountain Oak offers a strong proposition for investors seeking high rental yields and capital appreciation in one of New Zealand’s most sought-after locations.&nbsp;

Queenstown’s sustained demand for visitor accommodation and rental properties is underpinned by a shortage of housing options, attracting both local and international buyers.

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

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Restaurants in Potts Point have been caught in the fallout of liquor laws aimed at late night Kings Cross night spots.
The restaurants failed to tally the amount, in millilitres, sold each hour and submitted quarterly.
The special licence conditions were introduced last year for venues serving alcohol in the Kings Cross entertainment precinct, following community concerns about alcohol-fuelled violence.
They are now being reviewed a year into its operation.
Of the strikes incurred under the special conditions, 11 have been for restaurants, cafes and small bars that failed to provide alcohol sales data, the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing's report shows. 10 were in Potts Point.
Under the tough licensing conditions, all venues in the precinct licensed to trade after 8pm are required to report their alcohol sales every night between 8pm and 5am across eight categories, including light and full-strength beer, spirits and energy drinks. 
Kings Cross Liquor Accord chief Doug Grand, noting many small restaurants lacked the technology to automatically record their sales data, has asked the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing to exempt small venues with no history of violence from the requirements.
Mai Train, whose popular Potts Point Vietnamese restaurant Bay Bua has received one strike, said the reporting requirements were confusing and time-consuming. 
"Nobody gets drunk in a Vietnamese restaurant," she told Fairfax Media.
Another venue pinged under the new rules was Panhandlebar, a 52-seat cafe and wine bar established by Stephen Marks who said ordinarily his annual licence fee would be $400, but having incurred a strike, it could potentially rise to $5400. 
The NSW Small Business Commissioner Robyn Hobbs said she would meet with affected business owners next week, following a request from independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Restaurants caught in Kings Cross liquor laws fallout

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Aspen Group has acquired the Four Lanterns Estate, a residential manufactured housing estate located in Leppington in south-west Sydney.
The $7.4 million purchase - Aspen Group’s first accommodation property acquisition in the Sydney metropolitan area - reflects an initial yield of 7.6%.
Located within the Leppington Town Centre, the freehold property is 800 metres from the new Leppington railway station.
Significant infrastructure is currently being installed in the surrounding area, including the upgrade of the Camden Valley Way to a four lane divided carriageway.
Four Lanterns Estate has been established for over 40 years, with 102 existing residential sites, with a 100% occupancy level. It is marketed as an alternative, affordable option for the over 50s, a low-maintenance lifestyle in your own brand-new manufactured home.
"There is development potential to increase the number of residential sites subject to council approval," said Clem Salwin, the Aspen chief executive officer. 
The 3.9 hectare property has recently been rezoned to R3 Medium Density residential.
Aspen Group has also secured a first right of refusal to acquire an adjacent 2.5 hectare site.
Situated 40 kilometres from Sydney, and <a href="https://www.fourlanterns.com.au/index" target="_blank">originally the Red Mill Caravan Park</a>, the Estate has been a family-owned small residential park since 1971.
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Aspen Group pay $7.4 million for Four Lanterns Estate, Leppington

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The flood of international retailers coming to Australia is set to continue apace, according to a report released today by Deloitte.
Deloitte’s 2015 Global Powers of Retailing Report identifies 37 of the world’s top 250 retailers now operating in Australia, an increase from 30 last year.
These include new entrants in 2014 such as H&amp;M, Fast Retailing (Uniqlo), Forever 21 and <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/technology/social-media/44933-the-final-c-ntdown-sephora-s-spelling-stuff-up-and-three-other-social-media-lessons-from-2014" target="_blank">Sephora</a> which have all established bricks and mortar stores alongside their online presence.
“With a weakening Australian dollar and ever increasing competitive pressures, we expect to see further interest by overseas retailers in the Australian retail market,” David White, Deloitte Australia partner and retail industry leader said in a statement accompanying the report.
“As major global players continue to enter the Australian market, and existing global retailers expand their store footprint, Australian retailers across all segments will continue to face significant challenges and increased competition.  “The ability to innovate, drive improved processes and to connect with the consumer will be critical in order to remain competitive.”
White says in 2015 a number of major international retailers are either expected to, or having formally announced, their intentions to set up shop in Australia. “British retail giants Marks &amp; Spencer are rumoured to be interested in the Australian market, whilst the likes of <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/44658-us-furniture-giant-to-open-first-australian-store-in-december">Ashley Furniture</a>, one of the US’s largest furniture retailers, has already announced that they are setting up operations here,” White said.
But David Gordon, retail expert at Lowe Lippman, told SmartCompany while many international retailers find Australia attractive it can also be a tough market for them.
“Most of the big name retailers that have come here have had phenomenal launches and a strong initial period but then we have seen a reduction in their sales thereafter,” he says.
“Once the excitement of the new brand wears down, they then need to compete on a like for like basis, and that is not as simple as it seems.”
Gordon says Australia has specific requirements and tastes and an operational environment with high occupancy and wage costs makes the profit model very different to overseas and requires some local expertise. 
“The market here, like any mature market, requires innovation because of the multitude of local private companies in this space. It also requires constant hands on attention and often these large multinationals cannot give this consistently due to other priorities and due to distance,” he says.
“Highly branded overseas operators coming into Australia may sound frightening to local brands but they often do not have a lasting impact.” 
The Deloitte report identifies five major retail trends for 2015, which are shaped by the disruptive changes currently impacting the marketplace:
<ol>
<li>
Travel retailing Redefining notions of customer base and transforming the role airport retail plays in a company’s strategy. Around 15% of the global population travel each year, spending the equivalent of a trillion US dollars in the process 
</li>
<li>
Mobile retailing This is a rapidly growing business segment that is expected to approach US$640 billion in annual global sales within just a few years. Wearables will offer new opportunities to engage consumers and payments via mobile are of growing importance. 
</li>
<li>
Faster retailing Speed to market, speed to response and speed to deliver are all key. Millennials prefer fast response times and immediate gratification and successful retailers will cater to that through services such as same day delivery. 
</li>
<li>
Experience retailing Taking shopping and adding entertainment, emotion, deeper engagement, and sometimes even an entire environment. 
</li>
<li>
Innovative retailing Responding to market disruption with disruptive creativity of its own. This can involve continued blurring of sectors such as supermarkets acting as banks.
</li>
</ol>
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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cwaters-YrtBR88nBe

Global retail invasion set to continue: The five major retail trends to shape 2015

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<div>
Queensland House, a six-storey building on The Strand in central London, has been listed for sale by the Queensland government.
</div>
It is the office of the Queensland Agent General Ken Smith and his staff.
News Ltd papers suggest property agents tip up to $38 million for the 1980s office building.
<a href="https://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1100/93666.php" target="_blank">393 The Strand</a>, which has retail premises, was reportedly purchased by the state for about $4 million.
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Queensland House, London offices set for sale by Queensland government

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GUEST OBSERVATION
2014 was a slow period of retail growth in Australia, in marked contrast to fast paced growth in US retailing.
Here are seven key trends that will continue or appear in retail – and not just at the big end of town.
In fact it’s been interesting to see how the big end of town has worked hard to present a smaller and more personal experience to shoppers. To be more intimate in store and online.
Global retail trends for 2015
<ol>
<li>Retail owned and managed brands will continue to grow faster than national brands. This trend has been playing out for almost a decade in the US and UK, and for the past seven years in Australia and New Zealand. We still haven’t maxed out share of volume or share of shelf for retail own brands in adult beverages, organic and wholefoods, consumer electronics, health and wellbeing or perishable food. </li>
<li>Growth through acquisition not through new stores or new ventures. Large retailers will look to buy smaller, mid-sized and faster growing retailers to drive growth and keep the stock markets happy. The days of large, high risk investment in large new formats is over. </li>
<li>
Medium growth will be faster than the big end of town. It’s just the way it seems to be playing out everywhere. The very small are opening up as new, physical and online retailers providing a living for themselves and their families, whilst the big end is struggling with 1% to 2% growth. The 10 to 15-year-old medium-sized retailers are nimble and growing in almost every sector. 
</li>
<li>
Convenience retail will be the fastest growing sector measured by store numbers and profit. There are more convenience stores opening than any other form of retail store. With the building boom now running in every key large city of the world, time-poor shoppers buying new homes in multi-dwelling, high-rise buildings assume there will be a seven day a week, 18 hour a day store at the foot of their building. Automated time of day pricing will allow these retailers to charge very late night shoppers a little more to cover the extra cost of late night retailing. 
</li>
<li>
Growth is supporting an appetite for risk and change; less following and more innovation and differentiation. The US has moved out of recession and into growth again, and European growth retailers are looking for new markets to compensate for their slow domestic growth. Thus there are far fewer “follower” strategies being pursued. For a while, discounting was the only way to do business. Quality, range and service all shrunk as everybody pursued a generic low price strategy. With increased sales at retail we’ve seen retailers begin to fan out and individual strategies come into play. Wider ranges, more choice, newer brands and non-core shopping offerings are replacing pure price. 
</li>
<li>
Technology to let a big store act like a small store – and vice versa. Big retailers want to make each store and interaction as personal as possible. In the same way as social media has personalised the relationship between the retailer and the shopper out of store, so the need to treat shoppers as individuals in store has grown. It’s made possible by store associates’ time being freed up from the mundane time consuming tasks like changing printed shelf price labels, or standing at checkouts waiting for shoppers. Electronic shelf edge labelling technology will price at the checkout and the shelf simultaneously and automatically. Mobile paperless payment in store will let store associates transact in an aisle just like an Apple store. Small retailers want to do the same thing and have access to the same technologies tailored to small store formats. 
</li>
<li>
Online, in store: “Same, same but different” By the end of 2015 many of us will look at something we’ve bought and not remember how it got into our home. From mayonnaise to shoes, tyres to TVs, the blurring of lines between where we bought it will mean this differentiation will matter less and less. The same with pricing. Online prices won’t be cheaper than physical, they’ll be the same. It’s never dull in retail!
</li>
</ol>
Kevin Moore is a retail expert and the chairman of <a href="https://crossmark.com.au/" target="_blank">Crossmark Asia Pacific Holdings</a>.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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KevinMoore-qqnNLh5v7N

Seven trends in retail to fuel growth in 2015

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In the 2014 September quarter, 90.7% of properties sold in Australia recorded a profit, with 30.1% selling for more than double their purchase price, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
Regional Western Australia, however, didn't attract many of those gains. The area recorded the highest proportion of loss-making resales in the country, seeing 22.5% of resales make a loss in the September quarter.
Regional Queensland closely followed, with 22% of resales making a loss in the same period.
CoreLogic RP Data research analyst Cameron Kusher said the poor performance reflected conditions in coastal markets.
"Recent data highlights the growing weakness in markets linked to the mining and resources sector where values are generally falling," said Kusher. He also noted the high proportion of loss-making resales for units in lifestyle markets.
The average loss taken in the 2014 September quarter was $62,246, with the average gross profit $223,870.
Kusher noted that profits are often dependent on the length of holding time for a property, with a loss making property in the September quarter sold after an average of 5.7 years. Properties sold for a gross profit were held for 9.9 years on average. Vendors of homes sold for more than double their purchase price had held the properties for an average of 16.8 years.
Proportion of resales profit by length of ownership, September quarter 2014 
<a href="/images/2015/01/13/Picture%2045.png" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/01/13/Picture%2045.png" alt=""></a>
Source: CoreLogic RP Data's September 2014 Pain and Gain Report.
Across Australia, 9.3% of all home resales attracted a lower price than what the vendors paid – the result was up from 9.0% in the June quarter. However, CoreLogic RP Data notes the proportion of resales that made a loss in the 2014 September quarter was still "much lower" than the 11% recorded in the September quarter of 2013.
Unsurprisingly, Sydney had the lowest proportion of loss-making resales of any capital city in the September 2014 quarter. Just 2.6% of resales in the New South Wales capital made a loss. Perth resales were also relatively strong, with only 6% making a loss. However, CoreLogic RP Data's Pain and Gain report recorded that losses are trending upwards in Perth.
In Melbourne, 6.5% of resales were loss-making, with the proportion of losses trending downwards.
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart are all seeing the trend for losses decline. According to Kusher, the trend reflects value growth in those cities. Perth and Darwin and Canberra, where the proportion of loss-making resales also trended upwards, are currently seeing price conditions decline.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Regional WA beats out regional QLD in resale race to the bottom: CoreLogic RP Data

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Brookfield Prime Property Fund has a conditional agreement to lease part of the vacant space in its 50% owned property at 108 St Georges Terrace, Perth. 
The agreement for lease for 8,300 square metres is with a BHP Billiton entity that would be part of South32, the new company which BHP Billiton plans to create via a demerger. 
A final decision on the proposed demerger is subject to BHP Billiton Board and shareholder approval expected to take place in May 2015. 
The lease will be for a period of 10 and a half years commencing May 2015.
Occupancy at the property will increase to 75%. 
Brookfield's 50% interest in the property is valued at around $166 million.
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BHP'S South32 takes 108 St Georges Terrace, Perth office lease

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Loggerheads, the trophy Hunter Valley vineyard estate last sold in 2008, has been listed with $10 million price expectations.
The Pokolbin property has wonderful provenance being the former home of the late Len Evans and before that the Tyrrell family.
It was last sold to Robin and Judy Crawford by Len Evan's widow, Trish Evans.
There's still a village-like setting at the estate which has its rambling residential homestead with three adjoining pavilions. 
The seven bedroom, six bathroom homestead is Australian Country in design, with European influences, extensively refurbished by the architect Michael Suttor.
It is now surrounded by Paul Bangay garden, with orchard and vegetable garden.
Against the backdrop of the Brokenback and Barrington ranges, there are several outbuildings along with an imposing stone column feature, collected from the demolition of the Bank of NSW on George Street, which remain from the Evans' time.
The level, but elevated property was bought by the Evans clan from the Tyrrell family in 1971 and comes with a 35-year-old vineyard, now with about four hectares under vine.
Set in Australia’s most visited wine region, it has been listed by Alan Jurd from Jurd's Real Estate who secured its 2008 sale.
The <a href="https://jurds.com.au/listings/rural_sale-310141-pokolbin/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Loggerheads</a> estate is 200 acres. 
The 87 hectare property has two road frontages, at 97 Palmers Lane and 2341 and 2347 Broke Road, Pokolbin.
The Broke Road frontage has passive rental income from a fully licensed cellar door wine sales outlet, separate residence, dairy/barn and wine storage shed.
Alan Jurd told Property Observer he expects around $6 million for the homestead holding and $4 million for the commercial lot.
"Loggerheads represents the finest example of a country lifestyle with city convenience being just two hours North of Sydney," said Shelly Jurd, the agency's rural lifestyle sales director.
There is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ohWepmCXow&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">video with the marketing</a>.
The noted bon vivant Len Evans, who died in 2006, was the long-time president of the Australian Wine Foundation, having written about wines since 1962.
He began his beverage career after he migrated to Sydney in 1958 and took a casual job as a pub glass-washer at the Ship Inn at Circular Quay.
Title Tattle recalls Evans planted Shiraz and Gammay in the vineyard.
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Loggerheads, the Hunter Valley trophy lifestyle vineyard estate listed

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Judging from the first week of campaigning, the 2015 Queensland election is going to be very much about economics – and jobs in particular.
On the one hand, Premier Campbell Newman and his Liberal National Party stress that <a href="https://qld.lnp.org.au/lnp-unveils-plan-jobs-tomorrow/" target="_blank">under their “strong economic management”</a>, 1,100 new jobs are being created every month and Queensland is on track to become the fastest growing state economy in Australia.
On the other hand, the Labor opposition, led by Annastacia Palaszczuk, has focused on <a href="https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-state-election-2015/queensland-election-2015-remember-the-cutbacks-says-alp-20150108-12jrrw" target="_blank">“the savage cuts to jobs”</a> under the Newman government, arguing those cuts have affected the delivery of adequate services, especially in health.
For voters trying to discern the facts behind each party’s spin, two crucial questions are:
<ul>
<li>How does Queensland’s economy compare to the rest of Australia?</li>
<li>How has the economy performed since Newman’s Liberal National government took over from Anna Bligh’s Labor back in March 2012?</li>
</ul>
The short answer to the first question is: around the average, with some local situations that tend to be among the worst in the country.
As for the second question, I was a little surprised by what the data showed: that Queensland’s economy has fared worse over the past three years than it might appear at first sight.
To offer an independent analysis of those two questions, I have used data publicly available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Monthly data for employment and unemployment are adjusted for seasonality using the X-12 software package of the US Census Bureau.
Now, let me add some substance to those short answers.
A snapshot of the Queensland economy today
Table 1 below reports a set of key macroeconomic indicators (looking at the economy as a whole) for each Australian state and for the aggregate Australian economy. See the notes beneath the table for technical definitions.
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/68651/area14mp/image-20150112-23812-r3fzs1.png" target="_blank"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/68651/width668/image-20150112-23812-r3fzs1.png" alt=""></a>
 Source: Author’s calculations based on data from the Australian Bureaus of Statistics 
Notes: GDP is Gross Domestic Product, GDI is Gross Domestic Income, Unemployment rate is number of unemployed persons in percent of total labour force, Youth unemployment rate is the rate of unemployment of persons ages 15-24, and the employment rate is the number of employed individuals in percent of total working age population. GDP and GDI growth rates refer to the period June 2013-June2014. The unemployment rate refers to November 2014, youth unemployment is the 12 month average to November 2014 and the employment rate is the 3 months average to November 2014. Author provided
In terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in aggregate and per capita (meaning per person), the Queensland economy is broadly in line with the Australian average. Only Western Australia and Northern Territory appear to clearly outperform the Sunshine State.
But data on Gross Domestic Income (GDI) show that Queensland is well below the Australian average. In particular, GDI per-capita in Queensland has decreased by 1% between June 2013 and June 2014. This is the second largest decline in the entire country.
Conceptually, GDP and GDI measure the same thing: output. However, they do that from two different perspectives. GDP measures “expenditures” while GDI measures “incomes”. The discrepancy between the two arises because of measurement errors.
GDP is the more popular of the two measures, but recently most Statistical Offices have started reporting both. In fact, it has been shown that GDI tends to suffer from a smaller measurement error than GDP.
GDI is therefore likely to be a more reliable predictor of the business cycle of the economy. And this is not good news for Queensland, because it means that we might be going through a much less favourable economic phase than we believe.
In terms of labour market performance, Queensland currently has the equal highest unemployment rate in the country (6.9%), matched only by Tasmania, even though this is only a few decimal points higher than the Australian average (6.3%).
Youth unemployment in Queensland (14.1%) is marginally below the Australian average of 14.5%. However, there is a lot of regional variation within Queensland. In Cairns, for instance, youth unemployment is above 21%, one of the highest rates observed in Australia. Conversely, in Mackay youth unemployment drops to 8.6%.
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Newman vs Bligh on jobs and growth
In Table 2, I report the change in several macroeconomic variables since 2007. The period of observation is split in three sub-periods corresponding to the latest three Queensland governments: Bligh I (September 2007-March 2009), Bligh II (March 2009-March 2012), and Newman (March 2012 to the latest available information).
The table reports the data for Queensland and Australia overall. In terms of economic growth, again GDP and GDI provide quite different indications. According to GDP, the Queensland economy under the LNP government has performed on par with the Australian aggregate – slightly better, in fact.
Conversely, GDI data present quite a dim picture, with Queensland doing much worse than the Australian average and, more importantly, experiencing a net 2% decline in income per-capita. In this respect, the LNP government has delivered a significantly worse outcome than the previous two Labor governments.
Employment performance appears to be the highlight of the LNP government. The increase reported in the table corresponds to an average of about 970 new jobs per month between March 2012 and November 2014.
But, unfortunately for Queensland, this is only part of the story. First, practically all of the new jobs created are part-time. In fact, full-time employment decreased during the period of observation from 1.634 million to 1.626 million. Those are “original” figures; the seasonally adjusted figures show an even stronger decline. (You can read more about seasonal adjustment of jobs data <a href="https://theconversation.com/hockey-plays-the-abs-blame-game-while-unemployment-hovers-32746">here</a>.)
Second, unemployment has grown. Now, the increase shown in the table refers to the seasonally adjusted data and is considerably larger than the increase resulting from the original data. Still, the creation of new jobs occurred while existing jobs were being destroyed.
As a result, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 5.5% in March 2012 to 6.9% in November 2014. Even the original data show an increase in the unemployment rate, albeit of a much more modest magnitude.
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/68652/area14mp/image-20150112-23782-1amuzxq.png" target="_blank"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/68652/width668/image-20150112-23782-1amuzxq.png" alt=""></a>
 Source: Author’s calculations based on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 
Notes: Growth rates of GDP and GDP are annual averages. Growth rates of employment and unemployment are measured over the entire period of each government using seasonally adjusted monthly data. In addition to the growth, the table also reports the simple change in level (i.e. change in the number of people employed and unemployed). The change in unemployment rate is simply the difference between unemployment rate at the beginning of the period and unemployment rate at the end of the period. Author provided
Overall, under the LNP government, the Queensland labour market appears to have performed worse than the Australian average.
Also, it does not seem that the Newman government has outperformed either of the two Bligh governments. During Bligh’s time in power, from September 2007 to March 2012, the Queensland economy experienced higher GDI growth, faster employment growth, and a smaller increase in the rate of unemployment.
The Newman government did marginally better than the Labor government in terms of GDP per-capita growth and better than Bligh I in terms of limiting the growth in the number of unemployed people. However, the growth in unemployment during Bligh I occurred at a time when Australian unemployment was growing even faster.
Fabrizio Carmignani is professor, Griffith Business School at Griffith University.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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FabrizioCarmignani-GxUevkhNYc

The true state of Queensland’s economy, without the spin

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A record amount of industrial sales helped push commercial property sales to $26.8 billion in 2014, according to CBRE Research.
With commercial property sales up 6% on 2013 levels, office property was the largest contributor at $14.5 billion of sales, with retail assets at $7.3 billion. Industrial property clocked in $5 billion of transactions – up 55% from 2013’s total and surpassing the 2006 record of $4.9 billion.
CBRE head of research for Australia, Stephen McNabb, said that the last quarter of 2014 saw strong activity in the industrial market.
“Industrial sales grew by 55% year on year, driven by a number of large portfolio sales,” McNabb said.
“Activity is being prompted by divergence of opinion as to the degree to which yield compression can continue. Strong yield compression in the super prime sector (80 to 90bp in Sydney/Melbourne) through 2014 prompted selling from some owners, in an environment where new sources of demand are looking for income yield combined with an expectation that the risk of yield softening is low,” he said.
He also said that across the entire commercial market, foreign investors have maintained their presence, however a slowing was noted – to 12% after a 2013 doubling of investment.
Meanwhile, Matt Haddon, CBRE regional director, industrial and logistics services, said that they had been predicting the strong uptick in industrial in early 2014.
“Despite a slow start to industrial sales volumes in 2014 with only modest figures recorded at the end of Q2, based on the volume of sales and enquiries we were handling back in July, we made the call that 2014 would set a new benchmark and that’s how it’s panned out, reaching the $5 billion mark for the first time,” Haddon said.
“Given the volume of deals currently in the pipeline and the number of quality assets due to come to the market in Q1 this year, we see this volume of sales being sustainable for the foreseeable future and don’t believe that 2014 will be viewed as a ‘spike’ in any way.”
The office markets’ growth was sustained throughout 2014 with Sydney and Melbourne recording strong years for turnover – totaling 80% of the national turnover for office stock, when in 2013 they numbered 65%.
“This is consistent with stronger demand for assets in these core markets in which the vacancy risk over the next few years looks more contained for both prime and secondary assets,” Haddon said.\
<img src="/images/2015/01/14/Commercial%20property%20transactions%20-%202014.png" alt="">
Source: CBRE Research
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