<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

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The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

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.

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

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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A Chinese developer has snapped up an open plan office in the Melbourne CBD for $1.26 million.
The 420 square metre office suite is located at 20 Queen Street and features a boardroom and executive offices.
Tom Tuxworth, Chris Pharr and Ed Wright of CBRE Strata Projects negotiated the sale.
The agents said the property attracted an unprecedented level of buyer enquiry, with five expressions of interest to purchase.
The sale price equated to a rate of $3,000 per square metre.
Tuxworth said the new owner planned to use the property as its new Melbourne headquarters.
“Offshore developers who have been highly active in purchasing large development sites in the Melbourne CBD are now looking for commercial office space for their headquarters,” Mr Tuxworth said.
“Offshore groups are now competing with local owner occupiers and investors, resulting in competitive buyer demand and strong prices consistently achieved.” 
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kjiminez-eaYKfU7qd2

Chinese developer buys Melbourne CBD office

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South Australian law firm Mellor Olsson has signed a six year lease at 80 King William Street in Adelaide's CBD. 
The lease is over two entire levels of office space, equating to 1,432 square metres.
CBRE’s Andrew Bahr negotiated the lease deal on behalf of lessor 80 KWS Investments Pty Ltd. 
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Mellor Olsson lease two floors of King Street, Adelaide office

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A logistics company has secured 80 square metres of office space at Cannon Hill in the Australian Trade Coast precinct in Brisbane’s east.
APL Pty Ltd has signed a 2+1 year lease, at 4/1155 Wynnum Road, on a gross rental of $32,800 per annum plus GST and outgoings.
Rhiannon Jones of Ray White Commercial Brisbane Trade Coast negotiated the lease.
Jones said: "This property offers 80 square metres of office space including a reception area and a boardroom on the first floor of a prominently located building."
Jones also leased an adjoining 60 square metres office for three years, at a gross rental of $25,500 per annum. The lease starts in August. 
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Logistics firm sign Cannon Hill, Brisbane lease

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Axios IT has leased a 327 square metre office suite in the heart of Adelaide's CBD. 
The firm has committed to a three-year term, at 44 Currie Street, on a rental of $375 per square metre gross.
The lessor of the B-grade office suite is South Australian architecture firm Hartect Pty Ltd.
CBRE’s Michael Pfitzner negotiated the leasing. 
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Axios IT lease Adelaide CBD office space

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Retailer, developers and owner occupiers are tipped to line up for the sale of a large retail super site in Melbourne's surf coast town of Torquay, which expected to sell for more than $8 million plus. 
Located on Surf Coast Highway, the super site forms Stage 3 of the West Coast Business Park in Torquay.
It is anchored by Bunnings Warehouse, with the retail component complemented by 43 commercial and industrial lots.
Colliers International’s Tom Noonan and Andrew Lewis, in conjunction with DTZ Australia’s Nicholas Bourke and Patrick O’Callaghan, have been appointed to sell a 4.9 hectare property.
<img src="/images/2014/05/07/3.jpg" alt="">
Shell Coles Express and a car wash are pre-committed to the development and will take about 5,600 square metres at the southern end of the site.
“Having two pre-sales contracts to both Shell Coles Express and the car wash provide the eventual purchaser with certainty of income once the construction commences as well as providing a strong anchor for this final stage,” Mr Noonan said.
The development sits opposite the site of the new $26.5 million Torquay Secondary School and $44 million Surf Coast Civic &amp; Community Centre.
Recent sales in the area included the sale of a Bunnings Warehouse on Beacon Boulevard in Torquay for $11.2million, while Coles snapped up the Torquay Central Shopping Centre at 41 Bristol Road for $14 million.
Expressions of interest close June 12. 
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Torquay retail super site expected to fetch $8 million plus

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Two freehold hotels in the Bowen region in central coastal Queensland have been listed for sale.
The two hotels - The Denison Hotel, at 55 Powell Street, Bowen, and the Merinda Village Hotel, at 13 Linley Street, Merinda (pictured above) are being offered for sale individually or in one line. 
The hotels are being offered through Leon Alaban and Sean Dollar of Ray White Hotels Australia.
“The owners of the respective hotels believe in the region and its growth potential and would also consider joint venture partners”, said Mr Alaban.
Rebuilt in 1984 after being destroyed by fire, The Denison Hotel sits on a site area of about 3,052 square metres and features a lounge bar, nightclub and a gaming room with 40 EGMs. It also has a drive through bottle shop, a commercial kitchen, storage and office areas.
"The hotel, one of the best performing in the region, also operates a detached bottle shop in the Woolworths and Target Country anchored shopping centre”, he added.
Located some 8km north of Bowen, the Merinda Village Hotel, has asite area of about 12,628 square metres, had a QHA award-winning $6 million refurbishment completed in 2010. It consists of a public bar, bistro and TAB and features a high quality purpose built function and conference centre.
“The site has 48 accommodation rooms and there is a current development approval in place for an additional 96 units plus a 12 room motel", add Mr Dollar.
“The vendor will also consider all genuine offers on a joint venture scenario.”
Expressions of interest must close 28 May. 
Photo courtesy of Facebook.
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Two Bowen, Queensland freehold hotels listed for sale

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The groundwork is being set for a recovery in the retail market in second half of the year, with rents holding steady in the March quarter.
New figures released by JLL showed that retail rents stabilised for the second quarter in a row, having declined by 0.4% over the prior 12 months.
JLL’s head of retail, property and asset management, Tony Doherty, said: “JLL Research figures for March show market rents were stable across the main shopping centre categories for the second consecutive quarter despite the recent acceleration in retail turnover growth."
Data from the Australian Bureau Statistics showed that retail turnover growth accelerated from 3% last September to 4.9% in February. That uplift in spending, Mr Doherty pointed out was consistent with what it was seeing across the JLL-managed shopping centre portfolio.
JLL’s national retail analyst, Andrew Quillfeldt added that the acceleration in retail sales growth had now been underway for the past six months and "this will flow through to leasing demand after the usual time lag".
“Containing costs and managing the effects of discounting remain key challenges for many retailers, so we expect there to be limited rental growth in 2014, but the outlook beyond 2014 is becoming increasingly positive for the retail sector," he said.
A range of drivers such as retail turnover growth, household wealth and employment conditions, he said suggested leasing demand for retail space would gradually improve this year and "we are positive about the outlook for market conditions".
The report also highlighted that landlords and retailers are building for a recovery.
Specifically, it notes that total volume of projects under construction has been gradually increasing since 2009. Based on JLL's numbers, there were 881,000 square metres of retail floor space under construction as at Q1/2014.
In terms of the composition of the development pipeline of projects currently under construction, Mr Doherty said, the expansion of regional centres remained the largest share (32%). Neighbourhood centres accounted for 19% and bulky goods category killer centres 25%.
A further 175,000 square metres began construction in Q1/2014.
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Retail set for recovery in second half of the year: JLL

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Recently, we’ve been treated to quite a few new, international entrants to the fashion game who’ve come to our shores, the likes of Zara, Uniqlo, H&amp;M, Topshop, Forever New et al; the reality is, that’s only the start of it; it’s the first wave as it were; there’s more to come. Their trading figures are outstanding; in short they’re creaming it!
And the reason? Is it merely the market’s fascination with anything foreign? The conception (or misconception), that if it comes from overseas it’s better? Or is it simply that it’s ‘new’, and when it comes to fashion, ‘new’ is about as good as it gets?
The ‘die hard stick in the muds’ will vehemently agree with one or all of the above; it’s always easier to blame something or someone else rather than taking it yourself. The truth is that these retailers are taking huge chunks of the market share from our traditional, home grown contingent, because they’re better retailers.
Retail goes in cycles. In Australia before the 1950s, the challenge was to get stock; if you could get it you could sell it. Great retailers became skilled at importing, at sourcing, even at manufacturing; they rose to the challenge and their success was legendary; names like David Jones, Anthony Hordern, Sydney Myer, Thomas Ahern, the Grace Brothers and countless others had built empires by the 1950s.
By the 1960s, the game had changed. Relatively speaking, sourcing stock wasn’t a problem but the public was tiring of same old, same old. They wanted new stuff and variety; they wanted choice; great retailers again rose to the challenge. The first Coles and Woolworths supermarkets came on the scene; Dick Smith opened his first store in Artarmon with less than $1,000 capital; the first Kmart in Australia opened as did the first Pizzeria.
By the 1970’s the challenge was distribution, retail systems, and sophistication in retail management. Craig Kimberley founded Just Jeans and grew it exponentially as he demonstrated that people wearing blue jeans could talk with business managers, accountants and bankers on an equal footing. Retail legends (and soon to become property investment legends) like John Gandel and Marc Beson of Sussans, Joseph Brender and Sam Moss of Katies and a host of others showed the investment and banking world that the term ‘frock shops’ didn’t describe their operations as they became some of the most powerful and influential business tycoons of the decade.
By the time the 1980s were in full swing, shopping centres were the order of the day (they’d arrived in the 1950s but hadn’t really got going until the mid ‘60s) and shop design, fit-outs, merchandise presentation, new labels, extremely sophisticated marketing, celebrity power, all took on new meanings. Consumer spending on a scale not seen before was the order of the day and the competition for it was fierce. Retailers were on a knife-edge, rents were spiralling; the need for efficiency was fundamental. Australian specialty retailers, when measured on a scale of turnover per square metre (or square foot as was in those days) were the best performing in the world.
You could go on, right up to around 2000 to 2005 when the wheels started to fall off.
Australian retail in the last decade or so hasn’t done very much; it’s stagnated somewhat. The challenges have been there but the retailers (unlike their forebears) have failed to rise.
Take the big boys for example. David Jones is pretty tired these days; service is atrocious, merchandising is behind the times and the ‘same old, same old’ is alive and well once again. Try getting attention in David Jones on a Saturday in the bedding department; and it’s not the fault of the staff, they’re flat out, there just aren’t enough of them. In the menswear department, the fitting rooms are like hen cages and go in after mid-day and the body odours are obnoxious. It’s just not a store for quality and service. And what does a marquee at Randwick Racecourse do for sales? I wonder how many extra staff in the bedding department could be paid with that expense.
We’ve just had the royals out; did they go into David Jones? In 1954 when the Queen came to Sydney, she had a state banquet in the DJ restaurant! OK, times were different then; but the royals we’ve just had weren’t the Queen; they were lower down so that evens it up!
Myer is travelling a bit better but it’s not crash hot either; DJ’s new owners will give them a real run for their money.
In the specialty stakes what’s new? Take out the foreign retailers and the answer is, ‘not much’.
There are exceptions. Harolds, the menswear operation is top notch; the service is exemplary and the presentation of the merchandise and the shop itself are world class. Guess what? They are trading! Been to Apple lately – now that’s service. Gerry Harvey is complaining as always, but he’s making a profit; he’s a great retailer and he’s never forgotten the basics. JB HiFi is another classic exception, a great retailer doing it properly.
The most interesting feature of the new brand of international retailers becomes apparent when you look at exactly what it is they are doing; analyse it and its illuminating; they’re just paying attention to the fundamentals of retail.
Their shops are attractive; people like the new large formats for a start. No difference at all to when Country Road announced some twenty years ago that it required larger stores. It was difficult; they were trail blazing; landlords objected. Country Road persisted and finally won out. They compromised a little on ‘extent’ and shopping centre owners compromised on ‘rates’; simple market forces.
So it’s larger formats, attractive shops and very fresh ideas in fit-outs. It’s also better service, better pricing and a wider variety. It’s also value for money (or a perception of) and a healthy respect for the market as well as a well-researched and intuitive knowledge of it. It’s packaging, advertising, marketing and image creation. It’s dealing with the new communication world, influencing it and being an integral part of it. In other words, it’s adhering to the basics of retail. It’s not rocket science; it’s just about buying and selling stuff!
For the last decade or so, the vast majority of Australian retailers have treaded water; the nonsense talked about the global financial crises, the threat of the internet, the power of the landlords and whatever else they come up with shows a marked move towards finding excuses rather than rising to challenges.
Good retailers will always do well. In order to do well, you need to stick to the knitting, focus on the fundamentals. If you want another opinion, ask Joseph Brender, Sam Moss, John Gandel, Marc Beson, Craig Kimberley, Dick Smith……………
Michael Lloyd is publisher of <a href="https://shoppingcentrenews.com.au/" target="_blank">Shopping Centre News</a>.
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Retailers need to stick to the fundamentals

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Agent: Andrew Fife <img src="/images/2014/05/05/fife-may-5-breakout.jpg" alt="" style="float: right;">
Position: Industrial sales and leasing executive
Company: Colliers International
Office location: Perth
How long have you been in the industry?
Six years.
What’s happening in the area you specialise in?
We are seeing a correction in the market as a result of more stock, both for sale and for lease, becoming available.  Leasing is steady and deals are still being done with some incentives creeping into offers, but this is coming off an incentive base of nil. The sales sector is still being dominated by the owner-occupier market, as most properties are being offered for sale with vacant possession. Enquiry is very solid for investment-grade stock.
Describe the most interesting property you have sold?
Probably an irregular-shaped parcel of land which was directly under the flight path of approximately one commercial plane every 15 minutes. The planes flew directly overhead and so close to the property we had to wear ear plugs during inspections.
What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?
Doing the basics right all the time – managing relationships with existing clients, but always looking to develop new relationships to instigate new business. Delivering on what you say, understanding the market and your client’s needs. 
What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?
Doing deals, but also delivering a result where you can see the client is pleased with what you have been able to achieve.
Where would you invest a spare $750,000?
I’d give it to PrimeWest – a property syndicator.
Which football team do you support?
West Coast.
What’s your favourite app or techno gadget? 
Footy Live
How do you use social media?
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://au.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-fife/64/812/856" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> to see what shenanigans Shane Warne is up to.
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In profile: Colliers International's industrial sales and leasing executive, Andrew Fife

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Yesterday’s decision at the monthly Reserve Bank of Australia meeting to keep interest rates on hold was unsurprising. However, the response to this period of stability, with a focus largely on next week's budget announcements, has been fascinating.
Housing Industry Association economist, Geordan Murray, said that recent commentary from RBA officials had everyone expecting the no-change result of yesterday, however said that the statement suggests the board’s confidence has been buoyed by positive developments in the household sector. This was, as <a href="/expert-insights/finance/strong-expansion-in-housing-construction-expected-rba-governor-glenn-stevens">you can read in Glenn Stevens’ speech yesterday</a>, largely related to strong leading indicators for residential construction.
Murray noted that it’s the strength of the labour market that is now at the forefront of the Board’s concerns “although the statement belies a confidence that the accommodative monetary policy settings will enable conditions to improve within the foreseeable future”.
Similarly, the strength of the Australian currency struck Murray as something the Board is watching closely, however there is “no sense of urgency” as it sits a level lower than a year ago.
Mortgage Choice spokesperson Jessica Darnbrough explained that inflation is sitting comfortably within the target range, with positive employment data and property prices now climbing modestly.
However, despite this, it appears some are more concerned about increases in the near future than others – while most are now turning their attention to the budget.
“There is no doubt rates will climb eventually, but right now they are sitting at historically low levels. So for those potential borrowers who have the means to get onto the property ladder, now may be a good time to do so,” she said.
CEO of RateCity, Alex Parsons, said that consumers should not be complacent in today’s low-rate environment.
“We're at record low interest rates so over time they are only likely to go up so make sure you can afford to withstand some increases in interest rates,” Parsons explained.
“The second thing is we've heard a lot from the government in the recent few weeks around the prudent budget and so that is going to hit people in the back pocket I would suspect,” he said.
REINSW president Malcolm Gunning also said that it’s the budget that has the attention.
“We are not surprised by the RBA's choice to leave interest rates in a holding pattern. All eyes are now on the federal budget, which could have wide implications for Australians and the future direction of interest rates,” he said.
“While the housing market remains firm, we watch with interest the delivery of the budget, the high Australian dollar and rising unemployment levels which could negatively influence consumer confidence,” Gunning explained.
While Laing+Simmons’ general manager Leanne Pilkington also said that we should now be looking more closely at the changes to be made next week, with the finer details of foreshadowed changes to taxation to be identified.
“While many young people struggle to build a suitable deposit, many existing mortgage holders are struggling to meet repayments, and pensioners have also been put on alert,” warned Pilkington.
“There is general acknowledgment that next week's budget must be tough, however it is important that Government supports those already in a precarious financial position,” she said.
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