The residential transformation of St Kilda Road is set to continue into with more new apartment plans for the sought-after boulevard.

Wing Tai Asia has lodged plans for a major residential tower at 464-466 St Kilda Road, replacing the former VACC House with an 18-storey mixed-use development designed around a retained heritage podium and a sculpted contemporary tower.

The proposal, prepared under Victoria’s Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway, would deliver 325 apartments and ground-floor retail across the prominent 4,653 sqm boulevard site in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road North Precinct.

The project centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed VACC Building, an eight-storey office designed by Bernard Evans that has occupied the address for decades. Planning documents state the development would involve “carefully dismantling and conserving off-site the original metal fabric of the podium visible from St Kilda Road,” before reinstating it as the defining frontage of the new scheme.

Above the restored podium, Wing Tai is proposing a curvilinear residential tower. The scheme includes 172 one-bedroom apartments, 63 two-bedroom apartments, 66 three-bedroom apartments, and 24 four-bedroom apartments, alongside two ground-floor food and beverage tenancies fronting St Kilda Road.

The tower has been designed with substantial articulation and variable setbacks to minimise perceived bulk and maintain view corridors along the boulevard. Urbis, which prepared the planning report, said the design “has been significantly articulated through a curvilinear design” with “an interplay with materials, façade expression and depth” to create visual separation and visual interest.

The proposal also includes 254 basement car spaces, landscaped pedestrian links connecting St Kilda Road and Queens Lane, and a biophilic landscape strategy featuring canopy trees, raised planters, cascading greenery and a glass oculus pool overlooking the eastern frontage.

Planning documents confirm the $270.1 million development will contribute 3 per cent of project costs to the Social Housing Growth Fund as part of the application process.

Wing Tai acquired the St Kilda Road property in 2018 alongside Abacus Property Group for $95.38 million, before later consolidating ownership of the site. The property previously served as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce headquarters for around 60 years.

The transformation of the St Kilda Rd boulevard is already beginning to materialise, with a number of high-profile projects recently completed, launched, or approaching launch as developers continue to back the long-term appeal of the precinct.

Among the most notable recent completions is Louise by Samuel Property Group, just off the strip on Queens Lane, the same pocket Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched The Queensbury. Mirvac is too on the same street with The Albertine, which is approaching completion.

Dexus recently secured approval for its slice of St Kilda Road, while Gurner also has approved plans for the precinct.

Joel Robinson

Wing Tai unveils 325-apartment St Kilda Road tower on former VACC House site

Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Brisbane

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Queensland's Newman government intends on selling the Fortitude Valley State School.
The 1.4-hectare site is less than a ­kilometre from the Brisbane central business district. With fewer than 50 students enrolled over recent years, it closed last December.
The Australian Financial Review estimates its is likely to fetch $50 million plus with the proceeds to go towards school maintenance.
The government’s property portfolio manager recently sought marketing tender submissions for the 150 year old school property at 85 Brookes Street. 
Fortitude Valley tops the list for the most expensive off-the-plan sales, at $7200 a square metre, according to a recent report by agency JLL.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Brisbane's Fortitude Valley State School set for sale

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Publican Dave Argus has purchased The Plough Inn Tavern, the heritage listed tavern in Brisbane's South Bank precinct.
The <a href="https://www.ploughinn.com.au/">Plough Inn Tavern</a> opened in 1885.
The price of more than $10 million was paid by the tenants of the building after a JLL expressions of interest campaign.
The pub, which is across the river from the Brisbane CBD at 29 Stanley Street Plaza, has been recently refurbished.
“We are delighted with the result given the end purchaser was the highly respected tenant who has worked on the business tirelessly for over 10 years,” said JLL senior vice president of pub investment sales Paul Fraser.
It was sold by South Bank Corporation, which following the Queensland State Election, has been controlled the Brisbane City Council.
SBC offered a 99-year leasehold.
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Plough Inn Tavern, Brisbane sale to tenants

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The latest Quest Serviced Apartments has been opened at Woolloongabba, one of Brisbane’s largest business hubs outside of the CBD.
Quest chief Zed Sanjana said continued expansion in Queensland was a "priority" for the serviced apartment operator.
The Quest Woolloongabba at 130 Logan Road has 132 studio, one, two and three bedroom serviced apartments.
<img src="/images/2014/09/03/Woolloongabba%20sept%203%20two.png" alt="">
It is among the new Quest properties to open this financial year including serviced apartments scheduled for Townsville, Kelvin Grove and Chermside.
Nights start at $184.
Quest’s properties are owned and operated by franchisees, in this case, Simon and Kylee Russell.
The property was previously the Joe David used Ford car yard. 
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Quest opens at Woolloongabba

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A majestic 1930s Brisbane art deco triplex has been listed for sale for the first time offered in almost 50 years.
The Carrington on Gregory Terrace at Spring Hill has views across parklands to the City skyline. 
It is a 567 square metre corner block with four garages off Bathgate Street.
<a href="https://www.raywhite.com/qld/spring-hill/1186893/" target="_blank">Offers close with Ray White</a> on 24 September.
The ground floor is approved as an office and is currently used as a specialist doctors practice but could easily convert back to residential. 
The expected gross returns if fully rented are given as $120,000 per annum by agent Dean Yesberg.
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Art deco Spring Hill, Brisbane triplex listed

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Today Urbis released its quarterly Brisbane Apartment Insights report, detailing the changing conditions and trends affecting Brisbane's inner city apartment market.
Property Observer spoke to Urbis' national director of residential Jon Rivera about what's driving growth in Brisbane's apartment sector and what this means for the property market. 
What are some of the growing trends in Brisbane's inner city off the plan apartment market?
We've never really seen this much activity in Brisbane.
It's a pretty exciting time for Brisbane, with this level of development and also infrastructure growth, through masterplans and government infrastructure. 
Brisbane is growing very quickly, from a demographic point of view. Nationally, there are some major changes happening right now in the residential market, and we're seeing new fundamentals emerging. 
What demographic trends are driving the growth of the inner-city apartment market? 
The residential market is built off two major demographic groups: the 25-30 year old bracket, which is very large and growing significantly, and baby boomers.
They're very complex groups, so I normally hate to say "Gen Ys and baby boomers". But they are major demographic groups in the residential market. 
We're seeing major changes in the type of properties that they're looking for. The trade off they have to make to cope with the cost of living is definitely having some implications for demand.
We're also seeing changes in infrastructure and where that's being invested. We're seeing much less urban sprawl and much more upwards development. It's cheaper to upgrade and put infrastructure in central areas where there's already a major population, rather than emerging regional areas. 
Where is apartment growth focused? 
The major development is happening is along corridors where there is existing infrastructure, or proposed future infrastructure. Running from <a href="/news">Wooloongabba</a>, <a href="/news">West End</a>, <a href="/news">South Brisbane</a>, coming through to the CBD and going into <a href="/news">Fortitude Valley</a>, <a href="/news">Bowen Hills</a> and going all the way up to <a href="/news">Hamilton </a>- that's where we're seeing a lot of supply and demand.
These emerging developments are all still fringe based. The CBD is probably undersupplied - it's got a few developments on their way, but it predominately the growth is in the fringe areas. 
For apartment developers, there were better opportunities in the fringe. In South Brisbane, there was very little supply, and it made perfect sense to develop because the infrastructure was already there. The same was the case in Fortitude Valley. 
Is there a threat of oversupply in the Brisbane apartment market?
There are a couple of things we need to get clear on in terms of apartment development from a supply point of view. We often talk about 23,000 apartments in the inner Brisbane market, which are either in the application, presale, or approvals stages, but you can't look at thin air.
We care more about settlement, which has been pretty fragmented. There is a lot of stock coming through the off the plan through to the end fo 2015. It's a very hot market, but it really is about that settlement.
Rents are definitely aligning. They're starting to move away from the inflation period we had that was created on low supply. That, to me, is saying that developments are doing what they should.
2015 is definitely going to be very competitive for the off the plan apartment market. We're probably going to see a lot of developers not get off the ground, which is going to affect supply.We look at a lot of these developers playing in Brisbane and to be honest, there are some that have not proven themselves yet.
There are still a lot of challenges when it comes to taking that glut of supply and making it a tangible product. 
At the moment, there are going to be areas that are going to have some fluctuations, which always happens. We're going to need continued population growth, through migration and international students, which are very important to Brisbane's inner city rental market.
Brisbane is also very closely related to what's happening in Sydney, and prices are obviously high there, which may drive demand for Brisbane.
The one thing that we definitely know is that we're going to see more renters come through.
The cost of living is unfortunately not getting any easier. In Australia, the employment opportunities are very centralised. The infrastructure is very challenging as we go further out, and in the capital markets, the 15 kilometre to 20 kilometre ring from the CBD is very difficult market to get into for young buyers. 
The ability to own their own home is a big trade off for younger people - if they buy further out, that's going to cost them more in terms of fuel. Thats why we're looking at the apartment market. Sure, supply is coming through, but the challenges facing buyers and the demand growth is here to say.
It will go through the fluctuations, and developers are great at getting a good thing while they can, and then we'll see a correction.
How will the influx of new apartments affect Brisbane's rental market?
We are hearing that rents are softening. 
The owner occupier market is really taking an effect on the existing apartment market and the more mature stock on the market, taking that away from renters. So the new apartment market is obviously catering to renters.
Rents have been quite inflated, so we have a buffer. Now, we can make things align, and it's getting a bit better from an affordability point of view. The time to fill an apartment is growing, but still pretty good. Instead of one week, it'll take a month or two months to fill an apartment.
To me, this is a normal thing, and means developers are doing their jobs. 
Historically, December always seems to have a lot of vacancies, and so does the March quarter because it includes January. In June it always comes back again, to around the 3% mark. 
There are going to be pockets where there are going to be some realignment in rentals, which I think is positive. It's a good thing for the renter, who can see what amenity they get for their dollar. There's going to be some good choice there, and affordability will improve. That's a good thing.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Brisbane's inner city apartment market: Q&A with Urbis' Jon Rivera

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Currently Brisbane ranks as Australia’s third largest city with a population of 2,143,121.
Over the next five years the city is expected to grow by 11.2%, attracting some 215,000 new residents. By comparison Sydney is expected to grow by 8.1% and Melbourne 10.4%, while Perth is looking to out perform all its rivals with a growth rate of 16.5%.
Brisbane has a close association with the Gold Coast/Tweed and in combination this adds a further 605,134 to the population base of almost 2.8 million in the south-east region. The area is also expecting to grow at a rate of 11.2% over the next five years, which adds to the economic muscle and growth potential of the region.
However regardless of the continued rivalry between our capital cities, Brisbane appears to have all of the settings in place for a period of sustained expansion and that growth is going to change the character of the local real estate market, in particular the apartment market.
To look more closely, let’s first establish a general appreciation of the market in order to gain an understanding of the appeal of new developments in Brisbane. A brief summary of the immediate past and the big picture planning for the future will help take a fuller account of how Brisbane is now being propelled into the future and why it’s an emerging and appealing apartment market.
After 1982 and 1988 There’s Been No Looking Back
The 1970s Queensland, and particularly Brisbane had a somewhat dual character much of which was influenced by the Joh Bjelke-Petersen era. To some Brisbane was seen as a quaint place, where people ate their tea at 5.30pm, post cards featured jacarandas and poinsettias lining the streets, there were charity raffles and pesky paper-boys at the main city intersections and lots of bingo halls.
The city’s underworld of the 1970s and the 1980s was as active as anywhere else in Australia, but the Whiskey Au Go Go inferno of 1973 marked a turning-point of history. Then after hosting the Commonwealth Games in 1982 and The World Expo in 1988 Brisbane never looked back, the theme of Expo 88 was “Leisure in the Age of Technology” and it does appear that today some 26 years after Expo, that slogan appears to be a great combination of ideas for a city like Brisbane to prosper under.
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
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Future Vision
Brisbane’s ascendancy is also being directly strengthened by events such as the Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders Summit, on the 15th and 16th of November, the summit is Brisbane’s biggest event since the 1982 Commonwealth Games and Expo 1988. The Queensland government has also announced a four pillars policy to foster economic development and employment across tourism, agriculture, resources and construction.
The state government is also putting it’s efforts into the delivery of critical infrastructure, and has commenced work to ensure local councils have the power they need to better plan for the future growth of local communities. Policy settings will also include plans to create simplified, single state planning arrangements. Already the state government will transfer responsibility for South Bank to the Brisbane City Council along with management of the Roma Street Parklands.
While the CBD continues to evolve as an apartment market, the inner north (<a href="/news">Bowen Hills</a>, <a href="/news">Fortitude Valley</a>, <a href="/news">Hamilton</a>, <a href="/news">Kelvin Grove</a>, <a href="/news">Newstead</a>, <a href="/news">New Farm</a> and <a href="/news">Teneriffe</a>) and inner south (<a href="/news">Dutton Park</a>, <a href="/news">South Brisbane</a>, <a href="/news">West End</a> and <a href="/news">Woolloongabba</a>), inner east (<a href="/news">Bulimba </a>and <a href="/news">Kangaroo Point</a>) and the inner west (<a href="/news">Milton</a> and <a href="/news">Toowong</a>) are all popular developments and very diverse suburbs with a good variety of lifestyle and product options, which are of key importance for a flourishing apartment marketplace.
Price Indicators and Beyond
In the March quarter 2014 the value of the average Australian home was $546,000, the average weighted growth between the March quarter 2013 – and the March quarter 2014 was 10.9%, Sydney’s growth was 15.7%, Melbourne’s 10.9% and Brisbane 6.1%.
While in the June quarter 2014, the average Sydney apartment price was $650,000, in Melbourne $502,000 and in Brisbane $476,000 – and while Brisbane has seen a somewhat lower growth rate, it’s been consistent for eight consecutive quarters. However, average prices are to a degree an all-purpose measure and like all other capital city markets Brisbane has measured price variations across different areas.
We also appreciate that prices are just one measure, these figures are only part of the story, because clearly buyers and developers also need to be sure that other aspects of the market like lifestyle, infrastructure (both hard and soft or cultural), affordability (growth and employment) and new stock are all aligned.
Looking at Brisbane we see a number of dynamics coming into play. The variety of product being developed is now diverse, different locations are also responding with varied product and that diversity is welcome with appeal to both owner-occupiers and investors, the vacancy rate is tightening, approvals are growing and the population is growing while new projects are showing strong sales results, and it is generally agreed that in combination all of the indicators are positive.
As we start to see the state government’s vision for tourism, agriculture, resources and construction take shape the appeal of the Brisbane market, in particular the apartment market, is positive. 
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Brisbane's growth will fundamentally change its residential market

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A Kangaroo Point, Brisbane penthouse is "under offer".
It was offered by the producer of a popular children’s television cartoon, Alan Jenner, who's moving his production company, Pen2Stage Productions, offshore to further pursue the Asian market.
 Pen2Stage has been responsible for productions including Spongebob Squarepants.
The views take in Story Bridge, the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, along the city skyline to Southbank.
The two-level penthouse, at <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/qld/kangaroo-point/1170089/" style="line-height: 1.3em;">35/89 Lambert Street, Kangaroo Point</a>, is spread over 311 square metres with three bedrooms.
It was offered through Ray White New Farm agents Brandon Wortley and Peter McDonald.
It last traded at $1.7 million in 2011.
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Kangaroo Point, Brisbane trophy apartment under offer

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The $30 million Mowbray East Brisbane mixed-use development from QM Properties has sold out all 56 one and two bedroom apartments.
The development is currently six months ahead of building completion, on the corner of Lytton Road and Manilla Street.
The ground floor commercial space is understood to be seeing strong interest.
QM Properties’ development manager Glenn Rix said that they have now acquired a site just 50 metres from this development, at 54-58 Manilla Street, spanning 1,214 square metres.
“Recent research reports confirm sales activity is strong and the sell-out of Mowbray and this recent acquisition reaffirms our belief that East Brisbane has all the qualities purchasers are looking for,” said Rix. 
“We attribute Mowbray’s success to its quality architectural design and a starting price of $339,000, combined with proximity to the CBD, multiple public transport options and lifestyle amenity.”
He said that the shifting demographic, with an increasing numbers of Gen Y buyers and middle-aged downsizers, are lifting the appeal of this area and other city fringe locations.
“The new mixed-use development will be similarly placed, providing an ideal market entry to the 4169 postcode and tapping into buyer desire for well-designed one and two bedroom apartments near employment and education hubs,” said Rix.
“We are currently finalising our plans for DA submission and hope to launch the project in early 2015, for completion by 2016.”
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The $30 million Mowbray, East Brisbane mixed-use project sells out

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Construction in Brisbane is on the increase, with the Rider Levett Bucknall crane index reporting 48 cranes on sites around the city.
Meanwhile, Teneriffe, <a href="/news">Newstead</a> and <a href="/news">Fortitude Valley</a> had more than a dozen cranes within four square kilometres.
Master Builders’ executive director Grant Galvin pointed to building approvals as a sign of the growing confidence.
“The industry’s confidence is reflected in total building approvals which had also risen around 25% over the past 12 months to June,” Galvin said.
“It’s interesting to note that 42.5% of approvals in the last 12 months are for multi-unit dwellings, mainly in Brisbane and the Gold Coast,” he said.
The 40,000 dwelling commencements forecast for 2014/2015 is expected to be exceeded, with current 2013/2014 financial year approvals at 37,000.
Premier Campbell Newman said that the construction sector’s strength is good for Queensland’s overall economy.
“Around 223,000 Queenslanders are employed in the construction industry, many more than two years ago and if these trends continue, we’re confident that we’ll see many more jobs created,” he said.
He pointed to the reforming of the planning and development approval systems, and the $15,000 Great Start Grant incentive, as other drivers behind the construction sector.
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Brisbane construction increases, 42.5% of approvals for multi-unit dwellings

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The latest Real Estate Institute of Queensland Residential Rental Survey has seen the vacancy rates creep up across Brisbane, with some areas recording increases up to 1.6%.
In Brisbane City, the figures were recorded at 2.4%, compared to 2.3% for the March quarter. This was described by the REIQ as a steady trend and indicating a tight market. Within inner Brisbane (zero to five kilometres from the city) a 0.3% increase to 3.4% was recorded, with a ‘healthy’ result. This appears to be largely affecting the overall slight increase, as the remainder of Brisbane dropped from 1.9% to 1.7%.
The latest figures from the Residential Tenancies Authority also seem to back up these figures, recording a decline in the number of bonds lodged over the June quarter for three-bedroom houses, two-bedroom units and three-bedroom townhouses compared to the March quarter.
In Greater Brisbane surrounds, with an average 2.2%, the highest area’s vacancy rate for June 2014 was recorded in Ipswich City at 3.0%, up from 1.8% in the March quarter. This increase was similarly reflected in Logan City, up 1.6% to 2.8%, the highest increase across Brisbane. These figures appear to have driven the overall Brisbane Surrounds 0.7% vacancy rate increase.
Steady results were seen in Moreton Bay Regional (1.7%) and Redland City (1.5%).  Within Moreton bay Regional, Caboolture was the only area to record a softening, up by 0.4%. Pine Rivers and Redcliffe dropped slightly, by 0.1% and 0.2% respectively.
Redland City, Bay Island’s vacancy rate increased by 0.1%.
Across the entire Queensland rental market it’s a mixed picture, however REIQ acting CEO Antonia Mercorella said that the stabilisation coincides with a surge in sales.
“Historically in Queensland we tend to see one market thriving more than the other and at the moment it’s the sales market that has the upper hand,” said Mercorella.
“Vacancy rates still remain tight in many parts of the State, however according to REIQ members the rental market is starting to stabilise, with vacancies creeping up in some areas.
“This is the result of strengthening first home buyer activity, which is reducing tenant demand, along with increased investor activity which is increasing the rental supply in some areas,” she said.
The Residential Rental Survey is carried out at the end of June across the REIQ-accredited agencies in the state.
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