Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

Joel Robinson

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

Airbnb

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South Australia’s economy got a $38 million economic boost from Airbnb in the 2016 financial year, with guests on the shared accommodation platform spending more than the average tourist, according to research from Deloitte Access Economics.
The report noted that 64,100 guests were booked in for 109,000 nights in Adelaide and regional towns across the state through Airbnb. The spurt to tourism supported more than 400 jobs in addition to the activities of hosts. 
Airbnb guests contributed $38 million to South Australia’s economy (Gross State Product) in the in 2015-16 financial year, according to the report titled Economic effects of Airbnb in Australia, South Australia. 
Survey data showed that its guests spend more than the average tourist, with Airbnb guests spending $237 per night on average, and general overnight visitors spending $146 per night.
The report noted that one of the drivers of Airbnb growth has been creating lower cost accommodation options.
“We estimate a cost saving of around $26 million in 2015-16 for guests staying in Sydney who might otherwise have stayed in traditional accommodation,” said the report’s authors.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/07/17/AirbnbSA.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/07/17/AirbnbSA.png" alt="">
Hosts in the state earned a median income of $4390 for the 12-month period, it said.
And the platform seems to be ever popular, with the average star rating for Airbnb listings across South Australia being 4.7 out of 5.
And its popularity is not limited to cities. A recent survey released by the peer-to-peer accommodation platform showed that more than half of its bookings in Australia are now for stays in country towns or coastal ­resorts.
Since launching in 2012, Airbnb has facilitated over 1.3 million short stays in Australian cities and more than 150 million guests, including over 2.5 million Australian guests, are currently on the platform, it said.
The report said Airbnb can also assist the government in meeting another key objective of Tourism 2020 – increasing overnight spend to $140 billion by 2020. As at February 2017, tourism expenditure had tracked 38 per cent towards the upper bound Tourism 2020 goal.
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Airbnb injected $38 million into SA economy in 2015-16: Deloitte research

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Strata by-laws that impose restrictions on short-term letting, including Airbnb, in residential-only Sydney apartment blocks are invalid and only councils have the authority to take these steps, according to NSW Fair Trading.
The watchdog has modified its Strata Living handbook to warn strata committees and owners corporations that they can’t pass by-laws restricting holiday letting just weeks before a discussion paper on new holiday letting legislation is released. 
“Section 139 (2) of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 states that no by-law can prohibit or restrict the devolution of a lot or a transfer, lease, mortgage or other dealing relating to a lot,” a Fair Trading spokesperson for Innovation and Better Regulation Minister Matthew Kean was quoted by Fairfax Media.
The statement was immediately welcomed by peer-to-peer letting platform Airbnb, which said it protected the rights of people to share their own homes.
“Strata laws prevent an owners corporation restricting an owner from letting their lot, including short-term letting,” says a recent amendment to Strata Living. 
“The only way short-term letting can be restricted is by council planning regulations,” it said.
A government spokesperson explained that this means by-laws telling owners that they must abide by local council zoning restrictions are invalid as only local councils can enforce their zoning.
By-laws supporting local zoning have been used by some strata schemes to work around the restrictions on by-laws directly banning short-term letting.
“The local council ‘owns’ the zoning regulation,” the spokesperson told Fairfax Media. “Only they can enforce it.”
Head of public policy ANZ at Airbnb, Brent Thomas added that it was unfair to “discriminate against apartment dwellers, and prevent them from participating in the sharing economy in the same way house dwellers can”. 
However, the ruling has not gone well with strata managements. Reports say local councils are receiving between zero complaints in a year to 10 a month in Sydney areas where short-term letting is most prevalent.
While the due process to turn a discussion paper into a Bill and then passed by Parliament could take a year, the ministry advised that owners can only pursue the issue of short-term letting through their local council.
A senior executive of Owners Corporation Network, which represents strata owners, Karen Stiles said the OCN was awaiting the NSW parliament amending laws to allow owners to effectively manage their communities or “we will see a summer of chaos in Sydney apartment blocks”.
“Local council engagement with this is patchy, to say the least.”
A spokesperson for City of Sydney Council – where residential letting is defined as three months or more – denied that they have backed off from pursuing non-compliant holiday lets but said they had very few complaints, two of which were currently being  pursued.
“The City carefully addresses all reports about short-term letting but has received complaints from only a small number of people,” said the spokesperson.
In contrast, Waverley Council – which covers Bondi Beach – receives about 10 complaints about holiday letting a month, while in Randwick there has been no council action against non-compliant short-term or holiday letting over the past summer.
A spokesperson for Woollahra Council said they had only had a handful of complaints in the past nine months but two of the properties concerned were now applying for official bed and breakfast permits.
They said the complaints were specific such as late-night noise or misuse of waste bins.
Other states have been facing similar issues as well. Last year, research by a Queensland body corporate company indicated that one in three Queensland strata residents were concerned about apartment security from Airbnb guests.
Commercial short-stay companies like Airbnb are expected to deprive the Victorian Government of more than $14 million in uncollected GST.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Strata body corporate can't stop Airbnb rentals, only local Sydney councils

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GUEST OBSERVER
Commercial short-stay companies like Airbnb will this year deprive the Victorian Government of more than $14 million in uncollected GST.
Airbnb, and similar operators, only collect GST on the 5 percent to 15 percent ‘service fee’, rather than the entire booking cost. This means the state misses out on up to 95 percent of the GST applicable under current legislation. But conversely – or perversely –, this year hosts will pick up an extra bill, with the Australian Tax Office signalling a tax crackdown on users of the app.
It’s hardly fair that Airbnb gets out of paying millions in GST, while mum and dad hosts who simply rent a room, are not only subject to income tax, but are actually being targeted by the tax office.
How on Earth can a person renting out a room in their house be considered to be running an income–producing business, while on the other hand the multinational rental company doesn’t have to pay its fair share?
Victorians are missing out on millions of dollars every year, while Airbnb’s profits continue to grow, and that’s where the focus should be.
Airbnb alone had 651,000 guests last year and grew at a rate of 116%. It’s only fair that legislation is updated to recognise the rise of this unregulated industry, so Airbnb pays its share, along with other overseas companies.
Airbnb admits other countries require the company to collect GST on the entire booking cost, so why isn’t it happening here?
The Federal Government should learn from those other countries and also require Airbnb to collect and pay its proper, fair share of GST in Australia, based on the booking fee, not just the service fee.
The industry also avoids commercial rates from being imposed by local Councils, by relying on their land use activity being classified as a residential activity.
Come on – Airbnb is not a residential activity, it’s a business activity, and a loud, disruptive, unregulated and unfair one at that.
A Parliamentary Committee examining the commercial short-stay industry has heard a range of submissions, calling for Airbnb, and similar overseas companies, to pay GST and other taxes.
The Committee has also made a series of recommendations to the Victorian Government, including that it:
• Considers that the current proposed legislation is unfair to residents and should be reworked. • Works with Victoria Police to examine safety issues in residential complexes with short-stay activity. • Works with Victoria Police to consider establishing protocols to manage violent and disruptive incidents. • Reviews the regulatory imbalance between the short-stay and traditional accommodation sectors. • Investigates costs and benefits of introducing a registration and compliance framework for commercialresidential short-stay accommodation (where properties are listed as short-stays for more than 90 days).
We Live Here is a growing movement of residents from across Victoria, dealing with significant detrimental impacts due to the rapid, unregulated rise of the commercial short stay industry.
The concerns relate to safety and security, higher maintenance costs due to increased wear and tear, and disruption through ‘party houses’.
We have been encouraged by the level of support we are receiving across the state, from people who share our concerns
Residents from more than 200 buildings have joined We Live Here, along with locals from suburbs, and towns, across the state.
Clearly, the government needs to act on these concerns and bring legislation into line for this massive industry. We need a solution which puts residents, businesses and the tourism industry on a level playing field.
Ensuring these giant overseas companies pay their fair share of tax on the millions they make in Victoria, is just one of many issues that require urgent attention, when it comes to the commercial short-stay industry.
Marshall Delves is from <a href="https://www.welivehere.net" target="_blank">We Live Here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Airbnb escapes tax time crackdown, but mum & dad hosts left with a bill: Marshall Delves

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Airbnb is not just a city phenomenon, with a recent survey released by the peer-to-peer accommodation platform showing that more than half of its bookings in Australia are now for stays in country towns or coastal ­resorts.
Australia is the only major country in the world where ­regional Airbnb stays surpassed city bookings last year, according to a report in The Australian.
Regional stays comprised 56 per cent, or 1.7 million guest ­arrivals, last year, the survey said.
Popular regional destinations included Cairns, Noosa and the Gold Coast in Queensland, Byron Bay in NSW, the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia, and Robe, Victor Harbor and Kangaroo Island in South Australia, according to The Australian.
Regional Australian getaways are more popular with locals, who take mini-breaks during long weekends to head out to the country and book a stay through Airbnb, unlike the trend in cities where it’s mostly foreign visitors.
Meanwhile, Airbnb continues its march in Sydney, with entire home listings expected to grow to 44,000 following an announcement by the NSW government that it supports short-term letting in state, short-term rental management service MadeComfy said recently.
As an illustration of the popularity of the platform in regional Australia, an entire cabin '<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/7042427?location=Kangaroo%20Island%2C%20South%20Australia&amp;s=oDY6G4ID#neighborhood" target="_blank">The Dolls House</a>' in the township of Kingscote in Kangaroo Island is available for $85 a night. The cabin has all amenities like kitchen, shower and toilet etc. 
The ad has 85 reviews.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/07/05/Dolls1.jpg" alt=""> 
Property Observer also found a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/4874403?location=Byron%20Bay%2C%20New%20South%20Wales&amp;s=-GrnLeIw%20" target="_blank">bungalow in Byron Bay</a> in NSW that is close to the beaches. The entire home can be rented out for $115 per night.
According to host Lainie, the bush setting is only a few minutes drive from the beaches.  
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/07/05/Byron.jpg" alt="">
 
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Airbnb bookings in regional Australia surpass cities

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The growth of Airbnb listings is anticipated to see 44,000 entire home Airbnb listings in Sydney by the end of 2017, following an announcement by the NSW government that it supports short-term letting in state.
According to professional short-term rental management service MadeComfy, the declaration provided a clear direction from which homeowners and property investors can continue to let their property on platforms such as Airbnb, and will allow for a year-on-year growth of 85%.
There were 24,000 entire home listings in Sydney on Airbnb at the end of 2016 which is expected to grow to 44,000 by the end of 2017, it said.
The assessment also takes into account that of Sydney’s almost 2 million properties, only 1.2% have been listed on Airbnb at some stage, suggesting there is still room for growth, however, represents only a small proportion of Sydney’s rental market.
The Sydney-based business believes that the Airbnb market will not likely to see an influx of owners listing on the booking platform, but rather take confidence they can continue to do so with more clarity around their rights and responsibilities.
The government announced on April 19 that it accepted nine out of the 12 recommendations proposed by a report that was tabled by a Parliamentary Inquiry into the adequacy of regulation of short-term holiday letting in October 2016. 
It is now seeking further consultation with stakeholders before releasing an options paper on the potential approaches to regulating the short-term rental market.
MadeComfy said on its blog that the step provides much-needed “direction from which homeowners and property investors can continue to let their property on platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz”. 
MadeComfy co-founder Sabrina Bethunin remarked that the renewed support by the NSW government will hopefully result in short-term rentals being a viable option for every homeowner without fear of legal or financial penalties.
“In addition to that, with the median property price in Sydney having reached over 1 million dollars, households are dedicating an average of 44 per cent of their income to service their mortgages,” she said. 
“It means Sydneysiders are considered under ‘mortgage stress’ as they are devoting more than 30 per cent of their income to mortgage repayments. Either by renting a spare room or the whole property when it’s not utilised, for many homeowners, Airbnb and similar platforms provide a means to obtain an income to help cover their mortgage repayments or afford their holidays.”
MadeComfy said a key aspect of future regulation of short-term rentals in NSW would be the state’s response to how it can be undertaken in strata-managed buildings as clear guidelines were missing in its April announcement. 
It is also partnering with building strata managers to provide the professional support needed to mitigate the concerns voiced by the Owners Corporation Network (OCN). A key concern of the OCN was the harmony of guests and residents within shared building environments. 
“Until regulations are legislated, we advise that all owners should adhere to their building by-laws in terms of whether short-term letting is permitted or not,” it said in a blog posting. 
In order to address these issues, MadeComfy said it was seeking to introduce its guest screening process prior to accepting a booking, as well as enforcing strict house rules such as a no party policy and maximum occupant numbers.
The criteria is designed to mitigate against any unruly guest behaviour, providing strata managers and residents with confidence short-term rentals will be managed without negative effects in their building.
Last year, Archers the Strata Professionals had reported that one in three Queensland strata residents were concerned about apartment security from Airbnb guests.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Sydney Airbnb listings to keep up sharp growth in wake of NSW government's support: MadeComfy 

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A leading smoke alarm supplier has expressed concerns that hosts on Airbnb may not be aware of strict smoke alarm rules that may apply to them. 
Whilst the next trend for hospitality is so new that providers have not considered hospitality law as applying to them.
Smoke Alarm Solutions’ Australia and New Zealand sales and marketing director, Julieanne Worchurst, said state legislation differs, but home owners offering Airbnb accommodation need to ensure they are not only aware of applicable federal and state-based smoke alarm legislation, but also ensure their property complies.
“Although the jury is still out as to whether Aribnb hosts qualify as landlords or not, it is imperative to ensure their property’s fire detection system is working and compliant to specifications set out in the Building Code of Australia, which concerns all Australian properties,” Worchust said.
“Regardless of whether you are a home owner or a landlord, each smoke alarm installed in your property needs to be operational and the system needs to comply with federal legislation,” she said.
She said it was the responsibility of the home owner to ensure smoke alarms were compliant before having someone stay at the property. 
“Queensland has very stringent new smoke alarm legislation for brand new properties (with a development approval after January 1 2017); including the fact that photoelectric, 240 volt interconnected smoke alarms need to be installed in each sleeping place.”
Last year, it held a workshop for Queensland property managers outlining the new state smoke alarm legislation, which was passed in August 2016.
SAS supplies, installs and services smoke alarms in more than 262,000 Australian homes and claims it has the largest field service capability in the industry.
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Airbnb hosts may be unaware of strict smoke alarm rules: SAS

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The accommodation platform Airbnb is keeping the Hobart housing market "robust”, according to the chief executive of Tasmania's second biggest lender, MyState Bank.
Melos Sulicich said investors were listing their properties on Airbnb because of a lack of hotel accommodation, The Australian Financial Review reported.
"There's a lot of apartments and small housing rentals going onto Airbnb [and because of this] there's a shortage of long-term rental accommodation," Sulicich was quoted by the AFR.
The Central Hobart vacancy rate has fallen from about two per cent to just 0.6 percent over the past two years, pushing up annual rents by four per cent for houses and 12 per cent for apartments, according to data compiled by SQM Research.
Searches on Airbnb show more than 300 properties available for rent on Airbnb across greater Hobart. According to analytics firm Airdna, which analyses Airbnb data, there are 111 properties for rent in Central Hobart, up from 96 a year ago with 84 being entire homes or apartments.
A <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/4386251?location=Hobart%2C%20Australia&amp;s=ldgAtSGr" target="_blank">studio in West Hobart</a> is up for rent for $80 a night. The ad says it has its own courtyard and access and is close to the city.
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/06/15/Hobart1.jpg" alt="">
Another <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/2919585?guests=2&amp;adults=2&amp;location=Hobart%2C%20Australia&amp;s=eAyRkUfI" target="_blank">one-bedroom house</a> with garden was advertised for $195 per night in Hobart’s Battery Point suburb.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/06/15/Hobart2.jpg" alt=""> 
Hobart was experiencing a pent up demand from the increased tourism - the latest ABS figures show international visitor nights up 20 percent - to match the new supply, Sulicich said.
The development pipeline includes a number of hotels in Hobart and across Tasmania, but Sulicich doesn’t expect a big impact on the housing market when these hotels open.
He also brushed off the most recent CoreLogic housing data for May, which showed a 4.8 percent drop in dwelling values in Hobart to a median of $350,000, after values had risen 10.2 percent over the previous 12 months.
The fall reflected the "law of small numbers" (referring to the size and volatility of the market) rather than any sign of a major correction in Hobart house prices, Sulicich said.
MyState, whose loan book from Tasmania makes more than half of its total of more than $4 billion, was seeing similar levels of mortgage growth, Sulicich said.
Sulicich said Tasmania was heavily dominated by owner-occupiers which accounted for 80 percent of its borrowers.
 
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Hobart housing market 'robust', with Airbnb's help: MyState Bank chief

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A Perth accomodation host has lost a court battle to be allowed to let his Rivervale apartment to short-term tenants through Airbnb, raising questions about the future of the private accomodation platform in the city. 
The Court of Appeal last week dismissed Ceresa River apartment owner James Byrne's case that he should be entitled to sub-lease his home to visitors, sometimes for just days at a time, reported the WA Today.
The court upheld the Supreme Court of WA's original decision from May 2016 that his apartment strata had a by-law which prohibited letting an apartment for short term stays.
Many apartment complexes in Perth have by-laws which prefer residential tenants over short-stay visitors.
"There's no doubt that short-stay letting in residential buildings creates a high degree of angst for those who call the complex home,” Strata Community Australia WA president Scott Bellerby was quoted as saying by www.watoday.com.au.
"This case is being used to provide direction to the strata industry on a matter that is becoming more and more prevalent as short-stay letting increases in and around Perth," he said.
 The dismissal of this appeal, at least for now, provides some confidence to owners that the implementation of appropriate by-laws can help them to effectively manage this issue."
Property owners within a strata wanting to rent out using Airbnb would likely have to apply to introduce a short-stay clause into the building's by-laws, he added.
Sydney and Perth have been listed in the top 10 cities worldwide to make an income using services like Airbnb.
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Perth unit owner loses battle to rent out using Airbnb

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Sydney is ranked the second highest city to recoup investment on a home using a peer to peer rental service like Homeaway or Airbnb with an expected yearly return of 11.96 percent.
A study by peer-to-peer motorhome rental platform SHAREaCAMPER found Frankfurt, Germany, is the best city to pay off a home using a peer-to-peer rental, with 13.48 percent expected yearly return.
The study ranked 31 cities by analysing the ratio of market to P2P rental prices, including any fees paid by the owner, for more than one thousand homes per city. Cities were ranked by a grand total of the time needed to recoup investments, based on the return of investment percentage, according to the occupancy rate.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/13/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-13%20at%2010.39.12%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/06/13/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-13%20at%2010.39.12%20AM.png" alt="">
SHAREaCAMPER CEO Florian Dahlmann said the sharing economy offers great individual experiences as well as flexibility.
"With peer to peer rental, people can make memories in the home they’ve always dreamed of owning," he said.
"Similarly, everyday people can pay off investments simply by renting out underused assets.
“The biggest lesson of our research is that you don’t need to charge exorbitant rental rates to pay off your investment.
"We are huge fans of win-win situations like this and we hope this research encourages development in more hesitant markets."
"Sydney placed second for ROI on P2P home rental with a projected 11.96 percent adjusted rate of yearly return.
"Boston had the lowest ROI followed by Paris and San Francisco."
A Perth accomodation host has lost a court battle to be allowed to let his Rivervale apartment to short-term tenants through Airbnb.
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Sydney, Perth top 10 worldwide to make an income using services like Airbnb

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There are Airbnb properties with some odd qualities. Property Observer looks at six of them:
1. The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/7042427?guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;s=KJXy1ujm" target="_blank">Dollhouse</a> at Kingscote, South Australia is a historic cabin in the heart of town.
It features a loft bedroom with a queen bed, kitchen downstairs and lounge and other amenities.
It is available from $85 per night.
2. A one bedroom unit shaped like <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/1602856?guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;s=CFeeFIKz" target="_blank">an igloo</a> at Trinity Beach, Queensland is set around an octagonal swimming pool with Trinity Beach just a short walk away.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/23/Airbnb-2.jpg" alt="">
It is available for $115 per night
3. A one bedroom home called <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/999067?guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;s=CFeeFIKz" target="_blank">the Stable</a> at Richmond, Victoria is named because a stable had been renovated to become a home.
One guest stated, "The Stables were great. Close to public transport and close enough to the city to pop in and out.
The place was adorable and exactly what it looks like in the pictures"
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/23/Airbnb-3.jpg" alt="">
It is available for $101 per night.
4. A <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/4647524?guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;s=CFeeFIKz" target="_blank">1920s tram</a> has been converted into a four bedroom home at Lauriston, Victoria for $340 per night.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/23/Airbnb-4.jpg" alt="">
5. A small house in the shape of an <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/1483865?guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;s=CFeeFIKz" target="_blank">alpine tent</a> in an isolated area is available at Myrrhee, Victoria for $120 per night.
One guest stated, "Fantastic secluded, friendly atmosphere Views are breathtaking Glamping rocks Cant recommend enough."
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/23/Airbnb-5.jpg" alt="">
6. A four bedroom <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/6565539?guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;s=8cnhUSXX" target="_blank">heritage-listed church</a> at Brisbane, Queensland is available for $290 per night.
One guest stated, "Our stay at the Old Church met and exceeded all expectations.
Such a great, historic site to accomodate us whilst enjoying our time in Brisbane."
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/23/Airbnb-6.jpg" alt="">
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