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

<html><body>
“Too many workers live too far away to fulfil our cities’ economic potential,” is the conclusion of a recently published study by the <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Grattan institute</a>.
The report maps the dollar value of goods and services produced by workers within a particular area of Australia’s biggest cities.  Demonstrating a disproportionate 80% is created on just 0.2% of the nation’s land mass.
 <img src="/images/2014/07/28/cashmore%20july28%20one.png" alt="">
Source: Grattan Institute.
It mirrors findings highlighted in a recent speech by Luci Ellis, head of financial stability at the RBA, who collected the addresses of people’s workplaces from the 2011 Census, to construct a picture that is particularly striking if directly contrasted with where employees actually live.
<img src="/images/2014/07/28/cashmore-july28-two.gif" alt="">
“Inner areas have become even greater job magnets in recent years; some middle and outer areas added people, but not so many jobs, so their job-to-worker ratios actually declined,” wrote Ellis. 
Places with ratios well above 1 are employment centres. They pull in commuters across the city even from outside its borders. While the very pale fringe areas, attracting the largest population growth due to pressures of affordability, are the ‘commuter districts’, dormitory suburbs, where jobs and community infrastructure have failed to follow through.
The picture is one of increased social polarisation – fringe localities tend to face higher crime rates, elevated levels of unemployment, along with reports of <a href="https://theage.domain.com.au/health-fear-on-estates-20120314-1v3lw">depression and mental illness,</a>
Poor supply policy and delays zoning pockets within the urban boundaries for residential development, means a typical house and land package on a compact 450 square metre site, transacts for no less than $400,000.
Instead of a sensible system of bond financing, where residents pay back proportionally over a lengthy period of time, or a broad based land value tax to replace other taxes as advocated in the Henry Tax Review, funds for the provision of essential infrastructure are loaded onto the upfront cost of housing and promptly passed to the buyer. 
Yet councils can wait years for the finances to arrive.  The funds are only payable upon subdivision and with no control over the development or release of newly zoned land; buyers often pay for services they may never receive.
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
The Grattan report is subtitled “Cities as Engines of Prosperity” and charts Australia’s evolution from a country that “made things”, into one that is now reliant on centrally clustered “knowledge-intensive and specialised services”.
<img src="/images/2014/07/28/cashmore%20july28%20three.png" alt="">
Together, the cities above, account for 15% of Australia’s economic activity but despite declining job-to-worker ratios in the outer suburbs, along with increases in the price-to-distance trade off for home buyers, only 8% of Australia’s employed population actually work in the central hubs of each major capital.
In Melbourne for example, over 50% of jobs in are located more than 13 kilometres from the inner core, with fewer that 20% of jobs in the CBD itself.
These are not high paying jobs however, which leads the authors to imply we need to move closer in and“minimise barriers to highly productive activity in CBDs and inner city areas”.
They suggest this would provide industries with a “wider range of potential workers to choose from”. 
 “Australia’s cities are the backbone of our economy, with CBDs and inner city areas critically important to the nation’s prosperity….The more highly skilled and specialised a job, the greater the need to find the best person to fill it.”
Knowledge based and specialised services cover a diverse area, including industries such as, finance, insurance, real estate, and business services, as well as cultural, media, communication, and education facilities for example.
They are gaining predominance across the globe, due to a technological boom that is powering us forward in an expansion not unlike the industrial revolution.
3-D printing is lowering the cost and logistics of production. Advances in the research of solar and renewable energy have paved the way for homeowners to store electricity overnight and possibly <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/energy-smart/storing-solar-power-is-the-key-to-cutting-energy-bills-csiro-says-20140502-zr2zw" target="_blank">disconnect from the grid</a> completely.  
Companies such as Uber and Lyft have created innovative apps to provide cheaper transport options for consumers and ironically, changes in the way we interact and communicate have allowed people and jobs to disperse over a broader footprint and successfully collaborate across international borders.
However, this is not where Australia excels.
Moves to take advantage of the innovation revolution have been continually hampered by government intervention, winding back tariffs and scaling down their 2020 Renewable Energy Target, acting to protect the cartel of the Taxi industry’s ‘licensing’ monopoly, and cutting funding to organisations such as the CSIRO. 
No - the predominant sector that yields the most “knowledge intensive” gains in Australia comes from the FIRE industry (finance, insurance, and real estate)– which has its infrastructure webbed like a parasite on the back of the great Australian housing boom. 
<img src="/images/2014/07/28/cashmore-july28-five.gif" alt="">
At a global banking conference in 2013, the question was asked: "Why the hell are Australian Banks performing so well!?" It was in response to a chart showing a decade rise in market capitalisation on the global banking index, from 2% to 14%.
The answer was obvious; the banking sector <a href="https://www.debtdeflation.com/blogs/2009/01/31/therovingcavaliersofcredit/" target="_blank">makes its money by creating debt</a> – mostly mortgage debt and our highly leveraged ‘too big to fail four’ are the world’s most heavily exposed to residential and commercial real estate, capturing 88% of the mortgage market alone.
To be clear, the FIRE Economy is not a value adding economy; it profits by extracting economic rent from the debt on rising land values, impeding areas of productive enterprise and trading the interest in a multi trillion-dollar derivatives market to advantage those sitting at the top of the financial pyramid.
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
To survive, the FIRE sector must sell the illusion that the economy and its participants can achieve economic prosperity through speculation on rising property values.
This has been assisted by tax, housing, and monetary policy, resulting in Australian’s holding some of the highest levels of private debt in the developed world. 
Tax withholdings or exemptions given to land holders for example, result in an increase of unearned monetary gains (economic rent) available to be capitalised at the current interest rate into the upfront cost of land. 
This was aptly demonstrated in a recent release by <a href="https://www.prosper.org.au/2014/07/24/negative-gearing-is-costing-you-a-lot-more-than-you-think/">Moodys’ Analytics</a>, estimating how the tax policy of negative gearing, has acted to inflate Australian house prices by no small degree.
 <img src="/images/2014/07/28/cashmore-july28-seven.gif" alt="">
Supply policy has further assisted.
Inelastic responses to market conditions have allowed professional land-bankers to squat on sites at low cost and secure windfall gains when the sites are later rezoned for residential development.
Allowing the uplift of land values to capitalise year upon year into the cost of housing, may be gift-wrapped with corporate spin to suggest it somehow benefits the community, however, a cursory analysis reveals the exact opposite to be true.
It raises the cost of living for every single household, increasing welfare costs, and leaving less to invest in sustainable industries that contribute to the county’s real ‘value adding’ economy. 
As demonstrated by the British economist and historian Fred Harrison in his book The Great Tax Clawback Scam.
The pull of the centralised core, where property values and wages are highest, results in decades of progressive taxes on every worker in the state being clawed back by a few, as inner city land values benefit from higher wages, increased demand and improvements to social infrastructure and transport arterials to do precisely as the Grattan review suggests – and keep us locked and reliant on a small pocket of land for our economic gains.
It brings with it the theory of urban consolation – reduce sprawl and force residents into apartments, however doing so can have the adverse effect of increasing sprawl, as lesser industries ‘hop’ the middle ring, in search of cheaper options and their employees move out further still.
If we were living in ancient Rome where walking was the general mode of transport, you could understand the need to stay centrally located; however we are not. 
We’re in an age of mobility where global research is being poured into innovative modes of transportation such as solar roads and electric cars.
If a buyer is able to travel to the supermarket, park and any other amenity on the priority list within a 30 or 40-minute period, the distance from the CBD is not an imposing factor. The decider is the time it takes to drop the kids off to school in one direction and travel to work in the other. 
Since the 1970s, successive governments have poured millions into incentives to try and decentralise and boost regional localities.  However, all attempts have failed, because the funding mechanism is flawed.
Decentralisation requires affordable land for both business and buyer, which is not unduly inflated due to policies that promote speculation, as well as growth enhancing infrastructure and flexible supply policy that responds in a timely manner to homebuyer (not speculator) demand.
The Henry Tax review was not slow to <a href="https://taxreview.treasury.gov.au/content/finalreport.aspx?doc=html/publications/papers/final_report_part_1/chapter_12.htm">point this out</a>, when it suggested slowly phasing out a vast array of ‘bad taxes’ that impede productivity and reduce mobility (stamp duty, payroll, insurance, vehicle registration, and so forth, as well as phasing out those that ‘reward’ speculation) and instead, collecting more of the economic rent from the unimproved value of land.
Historically, the capture of economic rent (through land tax and to some extent ‘betterment’ taxes) financed some of the most remarkable infrastructure we have. Sydney Harbour Bridge being a case in point.
It was <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/rearvision/tony-abbotts-big-plans-at-odds-with-infrastructure-history/5404212">acknowledged</a> at the time, that residents on the north shore would benefit significantly from an increase in their property values as a result of this essential piece of infrastructure.  Therefore, a framework was set in place to capture a proportion of the uplift – approximately one third – to assist with funding.
This was in no way detrimental to the property owners.
The increased advantage of economic activity coupled with the rise in prices resulting from the enterprise, more than compensated. A win-win if you like – and readily accepted by the public as ‘fair’.
A more familiar example can be used for owners of apartments. 
When buyers purchase a unit, they expect to pay a yearly corporation fee for maintenance and improvement of community services. In doing so, it reduces the up front cost consumers are willing to pay as they configure the fee into their budget, yet it is also an investment, as the benefits and any subsequent improvement attracts future purchasers. 
A broad based land value taxation as advocated in the Henry Tax review is essentially no different.
In markets that have similar policies – a change in the tax mix, with higher taxation on land in lieu of those on productivity in order to fund related infrastructure, coupled with good supply policy, enables a process of decentralisation and increased affordability to follow through.  Both reforms work hand in hand.  
The prosperous economy of Texas in the USA is a good example of this.
Since June 2009, about 48% of all jobs created in America have been in the state; it has booming population growth, high levels of disposable income, low house prices and has been termed 'The Texas Miracle'.
This is because with no income tax employees get to keep more of their earnings while higher property taxes used to fund community infrastructure stem speculative inflation, which along with good supply policy has created a truly decentralised city, with only <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQtDHY_tkns" target="_blank">7% of jobs located ‘downtown’</a>.
We do not have to mirror another country’s policies, but it does prove the ability to create a system that provides a fairer regime for the funding of infrastructure and stops runaway house price gains.
However, in an economy that is dominated by the financial sector, and reports such as the latest Grattan review celebrating Australia’s city-centric culture, efforts to decentralise and produce a fairer system for all Australian’s is, once again, likely to fail.
</body></html>

catherinecashmore-6LXia3pPQj

We need to change our city-centric economic views

<html><body>
The historic 1919 Hotel Bondi has been put up for sale by the family of the late hotelier, Cyril Maloney.
<a href="https://www.hotelbondi.com.au" target="_blank">The family have owned it for 44 years</a>, bought by the third-generation hotelier Cyril Maloney, who was born in 1919, in Henty, NSW.
After leaving school at 14 to help the family after the Great Depression, Maloney's beginnings as a hotelier began with his wartime savings kitty of £3,000 to buy the Railway Hotel in Orange.
Then came the Regent Hotel at Broadway in the Illawarra, the Wallerawang Hotel, the Freemasons Hotel in Broken Hill, the Railway Hotel in Parramatta, the Great Northern Hotel in Chatswood, the Shellharbour Hotel, the Olympic Hotel in Moore Park, the Bondi Astra, Cronulla's Cecil, the Hornsby Hotel, the Metropole Hotel in Cremorne and the Hampton Hotel in Kings Cross.
The jewel in the crown was the Hotel Bondi.
The property is a four-level hotel with 37 ensuite hotel rooms, bar, gaming room with 30 gaming machine entitlements, bottleshop and 12 car spaces on Campbell Parade.
The hotel is tipped to sell at about $40 million, although the SMH commercial property editor Carolyn Cummins says its real value lies in the development potential of the property.
The Australian Financial Review subsequently suggested $45 million plus.
It sits adjacent to the soon-to-be-completed Pacific Bondi Beach, a luxury apartment and hospitality development.
The Maloney family have yet to sell<a href="/news/nsw/11th-floor-bennelong-trophy-apartment-set-to-test-the-2014-prestige-market"> their prestige CBD penthouse</a>.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Hotel Bondi listed by the Maloney family after 44 years

<html><body>
Do you remember the last time you took a good look at your own ceiling?
It was probably through bleary eyes, while you struggled to get out of bed this morning. Unfortunately, most of us don't have good reason to stop and look at our own ceilings.
But not everyone lives under white paint and down lights - some houses really have ceilings to celebrate. Here are five.
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://%20http:/www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-queenscliff-115014703" target="_blank">79 Hesse Street, Queenscliff, Victoria</a> <img src="/images/2014/07/25/1.jpg" alt=""> The beautiful kauri pine barrel vaulted ceiling of this converted church in Queenscliff is the central feature of the home, contrasting against the stark white minimalist interiors. Now a four bedroom, four bathroom house, the building was originally built as a church in 1888, designed by architect TJ Crouch. It was deconsecrated in 1981 and was then used as an art gallery, tea rooms and a bric-a-brac shop. The current owners purchased the building in 2007, converting it into a home in 2011. It's currently on the market for $1.9 million to $2.1 million. <img src="/images/2014/07/25/1a.jpg" alt=""> 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bondi-115464395" target="_blank">330 Birrell Street, Bondi, New South Wales</a> <img src="/images/2014/07/25/2.jpg" alt=""> There's no eggshell white or dove grey tones to be seen in this Bondi building. Operating with a more-is-more ethos, owner Kevin Du Val has furnished the property with art nouveau curiosities, which extend upwards to the ceiling. He currently operates a massage clinic out of the property, which is soon to be auctioned. <img src="/images/2014/07/25/2a.jpg" alt=""> 
</li>
<li>
Moorecrest, California <img src="/images/2014/07/25/6.jpg.jpg" alt=""> Du Val's Bondi offering rather reminds us of the new Hollywood <a href="/news/from-incredibad-to-chaplins-pad-andy-samberg-and-joanna-newsom-buy-legendary-hollywood-home">home of Brooklyn 99 star Andy Samberg and musician Joanna Newsom</a>. The renovated 1921 home, once rented by Charlie Chaplin, features elaborate interior details, from the carved cornices and decorated columns to intricate oriental designs on the ceilings. <img src="/images/2014/07/25/7.jpg.jpg" alt=""> 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/nicholas-dattners-collingwood-warehouse-passed-in">16/21 Wellington Street, Collingwood, Victoria</a> <img src="/images/2014/07/25/8.jpg" alt=""> "The Kiln" is a rather more rustic offering, a warehouse apartment which was once part of the former Carlton United Breweries between Collingwood's Victoria Parade and Gipps Street. Built in 1862 and fitted out in 1999, the apartment recently passed in at $1.35 million when <a href="/news/furniture-maker-nicholas-dattner-lists-collingwood-kiln-apartment">put to auction by furniture maker Nicholas Dattner</a>. <img src="/images/2014/07/25/9.jpg" alt=""> 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-cape+tribulation-117495083" target="_blank">3762 Cape Tribulation Road, Cape Tribulation, Queensland</a> <img src="/images/2014/07/25/5.jpg" alt=""> The futuristic Alkira is unique in every way, and its ceilings are no exception. Designed by architect Charles Wright, the living space of this concrete trophy home features a scatter of concrete "beams", highlighted by long LED strips. Surrounded by 73 acres of rainforest, Alkira sits in a man made lake, with a helipad located 100 metres from the house. The trophy home, which owners hope will catch the attention of a local billionaire or perhaps "Silicon Valley and Asian entrepreneurs and Hollywood stars", is on the market for $14 million. <img src="/images/2014/07/25/5a.jpg" alt="">
</li>
</ol>
</body></html>

jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Things are looking up: Five trophy homes with fantastic ceilings

<html><body>
It may be a wide brown land, but 80% of the dollar value of all goods and services in Australia is generated on just 0.2% of the nation’s land mass according to a study released this week.
While it is <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/economy/42737-did-you-know-you-spend-11-000-each-year-while-at-work?utm_source=SmartCompany&amp;utm_campaign=7fc71d8377-Friday_9_July_201409_07_2014&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_234118efee-7fc71d8377-93033274">notoriously expensive to work in the CBD</a>, the study by the Grattan Institute shows nearly all of the dollar value of Australia’s goods and services is coming out of our central business districts.
The <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/static/files/assets/d9ea2b85/814-mapping-australia-economy.pdf">study</a> shows workers in Perth’s relatively small CBD were the most economically productive employees in the country, generating the highest value of economic activity per working hour in 2011-12, at $124 per hour.
Sydney workers produced $100 in value for every hour they worked there, while workers in the Melbourne CBD (including Docklands and Southbank) produced $87 per hour.
Grattan Institute cities researcher Paul Donegan told SmartCompany Perth’s productivity is tied to the mining boom, with one in three employees of mining companies located within the Perth CBD.
“Jobs such as engineers and software programmers, those jobs play a very important role in generating productivity, just as important as fly in fly out workers,” says Donegan.
If workers employed in the mining industry are excluded form Perth’s figures, the area’s labour productivity drops to below $90 per hour.
The report shows the combined CBDs of Sydney and Melbourne alone – 7.1 square kilometres – generate nearly 10% of Australia’s economic activity, three times that produced by the agricultural sector.
Donegan says there are two major reasons why the CBD produces the greatest wealth – because it has the best access to skilled workers and because it places businesses close to other businesses.
“As the workforce becomes more skilled and specialised, you want to have best choice of possible employees,” says Donegan. He says being in an area well-connected to public transport is particularly important to make it as easy as possible for the best talent to access a company.
“Being close to other businesses makes it easier for businesses to come up with new ideas, get deals done and meet people face to face,” says Donegan.
He says the Australian economy has shifted its reliance from regional agricultural areas, to manufacturing areas dispersed across the country, and now to highly digitised industries found in CBDs. Industries such as professional and financial services now makes up a large percentage of Australia’s wealth generation.
Donegan says the major challenge this concentration will create moving forward is the issue of population growth away from city centres.
“Employment growth is highest in the centre of the city, meanwhile population growth is the highest further away from the city,” he says.  
“These are areas not well serviced by public transport and are a long way from where employment growth is happening.  People in those areas, to some extent, are cut off form opportunities created by concentrated economic growth.”
Donegan says this will in turn harm the economy if business can’t get the best access to the deepest pools of skilled employees.
“If people can’t access those potential employers, that is bad for business because they won’t find the best fit.”
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.SmartCompany.com.au" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
</body></html>

krobb-aCrRNnPq6D

Australia’s top money-making hotspots revealed

<html><body>
Over the weekend I attended the Sydney Home Buyer and Property Investor Show, at Sydney’s Olympic Park. Having visited the show every year since 2011, I was on the lookout for any new trends and shifts in booth exhibitor types.
Below are some observations I made about the 2014 show in comparison to recent years. Of course, the types of companies that were exhibiting may not be reflective of overall market demands and shifts. However, it does offer an insight into to the changes year on year and this variety of show booths helps as a measuring stick of the trends emerging in the Sydney/NSW markets, from both a home buyer and residential property investor perspective.
 
<ol>
<li>
Lender exhibitors shift focus Every year, the major Tier #1 and Tier #2 lenders exhibit and 2014 was no exception. What I did find interesting this year was the promotional shift towards ‘service’ loan product features over others like rate and inclusions/features. In a low-rate environment this makes sense for lenders as it may become hard to discern and differentiate mortgage products based on rate alone. 
</li>
<li>
Exhibitor stands providing bilingual signage is on the up This has been present for many years; with traditionally a number of developer and ‘off the plan’ sales stalls printing their signage and leaflets/info packs in both English and <a href="https://www.translatorscafe.com/cafe/article84.htm" target="_blank">Simplified Chinese</a>. However this year, in my observation (and I wasn’t counting precisely), the uplift of bi-lingual signage stands was substantial. Almost every developer and/or property sales stall was bilingual, with some of them even being Simplified Chinese-only. Also, several of the major and minor lenders featured bilingual signage. 
</li>
<li>
More focus on ‘first timer’ small scale developments Peter Koulizos gave a lecture on small-scale developments 101, and it was easily one of the biggest crowd-drawers during the show. Small developments have been a minor focus of previous shows however there was a clear sustained interest in this topic during this show. Similarly, Cherie Barber’s Renovating For Profit show also drew large crowds, as they often do each year. Several magazines have given extra attention to small developments in the last six months and this could indicate a market shift towards development versus passive investment. 
</li>
<li>
Homes with attached granny flats and second dwellings at the back Detached granny flat companies have been consistently prominent in the last couple of years at the show, however this year there was a clear dominance of developers and builders offering home builds that come complete with an attached granny flat/second dwelling at the back of the property. Think of these as duplexes where the second dwelling is hidden away behind the first. The clear difference was that these properties, unlike duplexes, sit on one title, on one block. From an investor perspective this might be a little unappealing, however for home buyers/builders, this approving could offer a handy value-add. 
</li>
<li>
Off the plan apartments ever prominent Another observation consistent with previous years was the prominence of off-the-plan apartment developers selling their product. Many of these are in high density residential towers being built in most eastern seaboard capital cities around Australia. I did observe a number of international developers too; with offerings in Indonesia, Great Britain, and New Zealand. Interestingly, USA-based property spruikers were lower in volume this year compared to previous years. Below are some photos taken of some of the major speakers who presented during seminars and lectures on the day.
</li>
</ol>
 
<img class=" wp-image-698 aligncenter" src="https://www.propertycorrespondent.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sydney-Home-Show-2014-1.jpg" alt="Sydney Home Show 2014 - 1" width="576" height="346">
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-696" src="https://www.propertycorrespondent.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sydney-Home-Show-2014-4.jpg" alt="Sydney Home Show 2014 - 4" width="576" height="346">
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-695" src="https://www.propertycorrespondent.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sydney-Home-Show-2014-3.jpg" alt="Sydney Home Show 2014 - 3" width="576" height="346">
Photos: Author.
</body></html>

cmcevoy-Go82SmsJA9

Five observations from the Sydney Home Buyer and Property Investor Show

<html><body>
A little-known Chinese-backed development company has bought the Melbourne development site offloaded by AXF Group property tycoon Richard Gu for around $60 million. It last officially traded at $17 million in 2007.
The ­Kinnears Rope Factory is a four-hectare site in Footscray some six kilometres west of Melbourne’s CBD.
It has been bought by a R&amp;F Estate Pty Ltd, a company directed by Jing Lu of Riverwood in Sydney, though the major shareholder is the Glen Waverley based Australia King Eagle Investment Pty Ltd, directed by Jiandong Huang. The ultimate holding company is Australia Star Tower Development Pty Ltd.
The Ropeworks site at 124-188 Ballarat Road is bound by Kinnear Street to the north, Farnsworth Road to the east and Ballarat Road to the south. Significant buildings within the precinct including the Boiler House, Mills, and the ‘rope walk’.
The Kinnears rope making business was established in 1874 and relocated to the site in 1902. It closed in 2002, with the property sold at $8 million.
The municipality has been pinpointed as needing to accommodate between 13,000 and 16,000 additional households by 2030, with a dwelling yield of 1,350 dwellings representing 26% of private dwellings within the suburb of Footscray, based on 2006 ABS census data.
Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy approved plans for around 1,500 homes in 2012 after the work by <a href="https://tract.com.au/project/kinnears-ropeworks/" target="_blank">Tract Consultants</a>.
The Australian Financial Review reports that Friday's sale was brokered by CBRE director Mark Wizel according to industry rumours, though Wizel did not provide confirmation to the paper.
The Australian Dictionary of Biography says George Kinnear migrated to Melbourne in 1864 to establish a rope plant for James Miller &amp; Co.
He established his own Colonial Rope Works at Moonee Ponds in 1874, a small but lucrative business, specializing in lashings, clothes-lines and hayband.
The business was sold to sons Edward and Henry in 1899, for £340.
Edward had left Essendon State School at 13 to help in the business.
Trading as George Kinnear &amp; Sons, in 1902 they transferred the works to the larger site at Footscray expanding steadily through the Kinnears' innovative and aggressive organisation and marketing, tariff protection and wartime demands.
The workforce grew to some 200 in 1915.
Kinnears expanded in 1970s when it made inroads into the carpet industry.
</body></html>

Footscray flip yields huge gain for Richard Gu's Kinnears Rope Factory site

<html><body>
A Kooyong Village freehold retail opportunity has been listed for sale, the first time a property has been listed in the area for nearly five years.
473 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong inlcudes a ground floor retail premise of 174 square metres and a first floor two-bedroom residence of 75 square metres. The property includes a 6.7 metre frontage to the street and is on a Commercial 1 zoned site.
The freehold opportunity is up for 14 August auction, through Gorman Kelly agents.
The brick building had been trading as a licensed grocer since the 1960s, and is currently leased to Kooyong Cellars on a five year term plus option on $61,983 net per annum plus GST and outgoings.
Selling agent Chris Alcock expects interest around the $1.5 million mark, noting that on investigation only 15 freehold properties are located on this section of Glenferrie Road.
“There has been little or no sales activity here for the past five years with only one recent sale – which shows just how tightly these Kooyong properties are held,” he said.
</body></html>

jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

Retail opportunity opens up in tightly held Kooyong

<html><body>
The Real Estate Institute of New South Wales’ president Malcolm Gunning has spoken out against the proposed removal of requirements for what he calls the “big end of town” shops. 
Gunning argues that removing the requirement for agents involved in large commercial property transactions to be licensed is “nonsense”.
The removal of the protections under the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act, which Gunning says is being fast tracked without a review process, is being opposed by the REINSW, who say that they are being pushed through as cutting red tape.
“This is of grave concern to REINSW and our members. There is an established process to consider the impact of the removal of these protections and we will not stand by and allow this to happen without proper due diligence,” said Gunning.
He said that, in actual fact, more procedures to protect consumers should be brought into place to avoid eroding the standards of the progession.
“Removing these licensing requirements means the protections associated with trust accounts are lost, material fact in regard to premises no longer needs disclosure leaving the door open for unlawful behaviour,” he said.
He noted that they are submitting their concerns to the minister aiming to exclude the changes from the Act – which is expected to come into force on 1 September.
</body></html>

Removing licence requirement for agents involved in large property transactions is “nonsense”: REINSW

<html><body>
A new franchise agreement will see a 226 room Holiday Inn Express hotel built in Brisbane's Spring Hill.
The first Holiday Inn Express property in Brisbane, the hotel is the second in the 15-strong portfolio of Holiday Inn Express hotels developed by Pro Invest under a $150 million fund. Their first Holiday Inn Express hotel will open next year at Macquarie Park in North Ryde, Sydney.
Situated close to Brisbane CBD's "Golden Triangle", the Holiday Inn Express hotel will be accessible form Brisbane airport, catering to corporate visitors and holidayers.
The Brisbane Holiday Inn Express will have two meeting rooms, on-site parking and a breakfast area dubbed "The Great Room".
Matthew Tripolone is head of development for the InterContinental Hotels Group's (IHG) Australasian division, which signed the deal with Pro Invest. He said the Holiday Inn Express brand is one of the group's fastest growing brands.
“The development of the new Holiday Inn Express in Brisbane is a significant milestone for IHG as it marks our return to the city with the entry of our largest and one of our fastest growing brands into the market," said Tripolone.
"As the third most populous city in Australia, Brisbane has immense growth potential as it sees steady increase in the number of domestic and international travellers. This hotel will cater to the growing demand for hotel accommodation in the Spring Hill district, offering a great guest experience to smart, savvy travellers regardless of whether they are visiting for business or leisure.”
Pri-Invest Group chief executive Ronald Barrott said the group sees "a lot of potential for the brand in Australia", following previous international Holiday Inn Express projects.
"With the construction of our Macquarie Park property commencing in the coming weeks and this second property now signed, we are on track to developing the 15 hotels under our partnership as we actively scour the country for strategic locations to expand the presence of Holiday Inn Express."  
In Australia, IHG operates under three brands: InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn. The group has 27 hotels operating nationally.
</body></html>

Brisbane's first Holiday Inn Express hotel to be built in Spring Hill

<html><body>
A Queensland seafood restaurant and function centre in Scarborough, Brisbane is up for sale.
The award-winning Morgan’s Seafood Restaurant is going to market through Ray White Commercial Brisbane Northside, along with the Sunset Blue Function Centre at Bird O’Passage Parade.
Being marketed through agents Robert Rey and Ellie McGovern on behalf of the Morgan family.
“Rick Morgan has built Morgans into one of the most revered seafood restaurants in Queensland,” Rey said.
The restaurant, and its Teppanyaki Room, opened in 1992 and specializes in Australian sourced, grown and produced seafood.
Sunset Blue is a function and wedding centre seating 50 to 200 people, explained McGovern.
“The centre offers a spectacular location on the stunning Scarborough Boat Harbour overlooking Moreton Bay and the Glasshouse Mountains,” she said.
The property is available via tender campaign, which closes at 4pm on 29 August.
</body></html>

Latest Investing Insights

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

Editor's Picks

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Latest Investing Insights

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

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News