The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

China

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Sydney’s investors are still keen to buy apartments, just not necessarily in Sydney, Nerida Conisbee, chief economist at realestate.com.au suggests.
Her recent analysis on the most searched-for new apartment locations by Sydney property seekers showed that inner-Sydney Alexandria was the most searched location.
The No 2 ­location was the Melbourne CBD.
With the exception of Alexandria, the Victorian capital is far more popular among Sydney buyers than any other Sydney suburb.
After Alexandria and the Melbourne CBD, the most searched-for suburbs for new apartments by Sydney-based property seekers were inner-city Waterloo, Parramatta in the west, and the middle-ring northern suburb of Macquarie Park, all in Sydney.
"The simple fact is, prices for apartments in Sydney are far higher than in Melbourne or ­Brisbane," Conisbee noted.
The median for apartments in Sydney is now $735,000 compared with Melbourne at $550,000 and Brisbane at $398,000.
"The majority of investors and first-home buyers tend to be very price sensitive, so much so that it’s very difficult for us to tell the difference between the two groups on the website when ­analysing their behaviour.
"A price ­differential of more than $150,000 can make a big difference as to whether a first homebuyer or ­investor can afford to buy or not.
"The other group that contributes significantly to demand for apartments in Australia is offshore buyers.
"Our monthly analysis of Chinese-buyer demand continues to show increases in property seekers from China ­looking to Melbourne and Brisbane.
"At the same time, demand for Sydney apartments among this group has dropped by 10 per cent over the past 12 months," she said adding offshore buyers are more likely driven by overseas students looking at alternatives to Sydney as a preferred place to study in Australia with the list of searched suburbs dominated by those close to universities.
In Melbourne, inner-city Carlton makes the list, while in Brisbane, St Lucia, the home of the University of Queensland features heavily.
The only Sydney location to rank is Westmead, in the city’s west, home of the Westmead Clinical school, a favourite among Indian property seekers.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Sydney investors and Chinese buyers look to Melbourne for cheaper apartments: REA's Nerida Conisbee 

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Guest Observer 
The past two months have seen a rapid slowing in house price growth in tier 1 cities. 
For new housing, annual price growth in tier 1 has now slowed to 1%yr at September, from 8%yr two months ago and its peak of 31%yr in April 2016. 
Whereas it was initially Shenzhen that led the tier 1 aggregate down, now the weakness has a broad base. In addition to the 4%yr fall seen in Shenzhen, prices are also flat in Shanghai and Beijing. Guangzhou continues to experience robust annual gains, 9%yr in September. But that is half the growth pace of three months earlier, signalling a marked shift in momentum there as well. 
While the deterioration in momentum has been most obvious in the tier 1 cities, where authorities’ actions have been focused, annual price gains are also decelerating in tier 2 and tier 3. 
Of the 70 cities that report across tier 1 to 3, seventeen experienced monthly price declines in September. That compares to just six three months ago.
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In tier 2, annual price growth has now fallen below 6%, from 9% three months ago and a peak near 12% in October 2016. Only one of the tier 2 cities has experienced price declines over the past year (Chengdu, –2.8%yr). 
Similarly in tier 3, price growth has slowed to 7%yr after remaining near 9% between November 2016 and August 2017. None of the tier 3 cities are yet to see price declines versus a year ago, despite the increase in monthly losses. 
Price action in the established market continues to map to the new home market. Prices are up 4%yr in tier 1 and 6% in tier 2/3. In September, thirteen cities reported price declines for established homes, up from just two in March. 
It is evident from the activity data that real estate investment will slow materially in 2017/18. Growth in project starts has followed sales growth down to near zero. And the increase in floor space under construction is negligible versus history. Still, contrasting the construction activity trend to the rate of gain of land prices highlights that developers remain optimistic over the longer-term, shoring up their pipeline of land while limiting current new dwelling supply. 
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

China sees rapid slowdown over last two months: Westpac's October property update

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Chinese developer Wanda have begun marketing the apartments in their luxury One Circular Quay development.
They are marketing the Sydney building as Australia's most prestigious residential development (below).
The flagship $1 billion project was officially launched at the Museum of Contemporary Art in April.
There are $60 million expectations for the luxury penthouses.
The 57 storey tower will comprise 184 apartments and a 179 room hotel.
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Wanda are also developing Jewel resort, a $1 billion Gold Coast project.
There were suggestions in August the group were in discussion to sell the two projects worth nearly $2 billion after it was announced they faced a lending freeze ring from Chinese Government controls.
They quickly dispelled the rumours and said the projects were on track, calling media reports "incorrect."
“Having made such enquiry internally as is reasonable in the circumstances, the company wishes to clarify that, as of the date of this announcement, the company does not have any plan to make the said disposals referred to in the media reports, and thus such information is incorrect. Both projects are progressing as planned,” Wanda said in a regulatory announcement
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However shortly after the market was advised there was an internal ownership realignment.
The apartments are expected to be multi-million-dollar offerings from 50 sqm studios to four penthouses of 600 sqm.
CBRE are asking potential buyers to book private appointments to inspect the display suite.
Wanda claim the development was in an “absolutely unbeatable position” to set a new benchmark for location, quality and price.
The development on the 4,000 sqm site of Gold Fields House, purchased by the conglomerate in 2015 for $415 million, will also include a five-star hotel expected to be operated under the Wanda Vista brand.
The development has a 2020 completion date.
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Troubled Chinese developer Wanda moves to sell off the plan apartments in One Circular Quay

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Leading fund manager Platinum Asset Management’s CEO is betting big on China, in spite of recent warnings from credit rating agencies.
Kerr Neilson, the chief executive and founder of Platinum Asset Management, has four times more money invested in China than the United States as he thinks country’s debt problems would impact the economy but not “stop it dead".
Platinum has invested more than a quarter of its $23.9 billion funds under management into China-related stocks.
"China is very much like the '60s and '70s in America when it had a can-do attitude and there was a lot of money going into investments and they led the world in many industries," Neilson was quoted by The Australian Financial Review as saying.
He has ignored recent downgrades from credit rating agencies and warnings about the growing risk of a banking crisis.
The veteran fund manager's bet on China helped his flagship Platinum International Share fund return 18 per cent net of fees over the past year, compared with 11 per cent for the index.
Since its inception 22 years ago, the fund has returned 12.8 per cent annually, around double the benchmark.
Neilson explained his rationale for investing heavily in China, citing the stable macro-economic outlook, a more profitable industrial sector and an unreliable stockmarket, which often leads to companies being mispriced.
"The locals, who account for 70 per cent of the volumes, tend to be much attracted to shiny new things," he said. "They will pay huge prices for what we regard as transient growth or overpay for the growth they are buying.
“We have been bewildered by the number of quite wonderful companies which we can buy quite cheaply," he added.
Platinum is focussing on companies in more traditional sectors with cheaper offerings and reduced its exposure to internet giants such as Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu
Neilson believes there is more value to invest in companies such as gas distributor ENN, which Platinum expects will grow at more than 15 per cent over the next few years as China moves towards cleaner energy.
It has also bought into Hong Kong-listed Anta Sports, which has doubled in price over the past 18 months.
Despite the rally, Neilson said it was "not an expensive stock given its exposure to the rising spending power of the Chinese consumer".
Platinum has about $6.5 billion invested in Chinese companies, either listed on the mainland, in Hong Kong or on markets around the world such as New York, compared with $1.5 billion in US stocks.
Platinum's strategy goes against conventional stock market wisdom. The US market has a 54 per cent weighting in the MSCI, the benchmark global index, to just around 6 per cent for greater China markets.
"In terms of its economic significance, that's pitiful," he said.
Neilson justified his choice saying China makes twice as many automobiles as the US and eight times as much steel and also leads the world in science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates, with 4.7 million last year. That compared to 2.6 million for India and just over half a million each for the US and Russia.
He is also confident in the country's macro-economic outlook, a confidence that many others don't share.
In September, Standard &amp; Poor's followed the two other major ratings agencies in downgrading China's sovereign debt, citing a sustained period of credit growth, which had increased "financial and economic risks" on the mainland.
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Kerr Neilson, Platinum Asset Management boss bets on China for financial returns

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There has been an increase of almost ten-fold in the volume of Chinese ownership of Australian agricultural land which shows China has climbed to second on the list of top 10 countries with the UK again in top position.
China’s volume of agricultural land in Australia now sits at 14.4 million hectares, according to the second report by the Commissioner of Taxation on the operations of the Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land Register which was released recently by the Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison.
Of the 13.6 percent of all Australian agricultural land held by foreign investors, the UK owns about 27 percent and Chinese investors now own about 25 percent. 
The total area of agricultural land in Australia with a level of foreign ownership has fallen slightly from 52.1 million hectares at 30 June 2016 to 50.5 million hectares at 30 June 2017.
The proportion of agricultural land with a level of foreign ownership (foreign held) has fallen from 14.1 per cent (adjusted) at 30 June 2016 to 13.6 per cent at 30 June 2017.
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According to the report, foreign investors held 13.6 percent of all Australian agricultural land as at June 30 this year; down from an adjusted 14.1 percent on the same date last year.
Queensland had the highest volume of farmland involving foreign ownership interests with 16,386,000 hectares, comprising 5,482,000 hectares in freehold and 10,903,000 hectares leasehold.
Victoria had 665,000 hectares in total comprising 589,000 in freehold and 76,000 hectares in leasehold.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) administers the Agricultural Land Register and receives information directly from foreign investors who are required to register their interests under the new reporting regime.
Measurements of foreign interests in agricultural land according to farm-use was dominated by livestock production with 42,954,000 hectares followed by cropping 1,639,000 hectares, forestry 1,422,000 hectares and horticulture 296,000 hectares.
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Chinese agricultural land ownership in Australia set to exceed UK ownership

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Political tensions on the Korean peninsula will re-direct a larger share of the $9.2 billion Golden Week expenditure to Australia, according to iProsperity (iPG), an advisory firm for high networth investors.
Australia has seen a four-fold increase in the number of Golden Week tourists in the past decade, ABS data shows. 
Over the same period, Chinese tourists’ annual total expenditure has surged 700%, to $1.4billion. 
iPG director Gary Sue Fong says Golden Week in 2017 is expected to smash previous records, and predicts Australia’s hotel sector will be pushed to the brink over the eight-day holiday break.
“Currently, Australia’s hotel occupancy rates are ranked among the highest in the world, with the hotel occupancy rates averaging 78% across Australia throughout 2016. To keep up with ongoing demand, the domestic hotel sector needs to grow by a third to capitalise on the lucrative Chinese tourist market,” said Sue Fong.
“The majority of Chinese tourists cite safety and security as the number one consideration when selecting a Golden Week destination. We’re witnessing strong demand across the country’s major leisure destinations.” 
Chinese travel agency Ctrip forecasts a 70% fall in the number of Chinese tourists to South Korea during Golden Week this year, as rising tensions on the Korean peninsula deter China’s six million travellers from top destinations, South Korea and Japan.
Ctrip data reveals 80 per cent of people using its platform opt for four and five star services when travelling abroad.
As wealthy travellers from China look for luxury experiences in Australia, supply is struggling to keep up with demand across Australia, adds Sue Fong.
Hotels in Cairns and Port Douglas, in particular, lead in terms of revenue growth, while the second strongest market, Sydney, is expecting double-digit revenue growth this year.
In FY2017, there are currently 101,196 rooms across Australia’s major cities, with a 78.6% occupancy rate. This is forecast to grow by 33%, adding 33,303 new hotel rooms to the supply in Australia by 2025 to meet demand with a 81.6% occupancy rate, and 4.4% increase in RevPAR, $142.53 to $203.78.
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Chinese tourists swap Seoul for Sydney in Golden Week, expected to stretch hotels

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Sydney estate agents will be seeking out buyers who'll be here from China this week on potential fly'n'buy visits.
The National Day Golden Week is China's big holiday when 760 million Chinese workers are able to take a week off every October.
For China’s rich and wealthy, the Golden Week provides the perfect time to head overseas for holidays, shopping, university visits along with the pursuit of property.
The Chinese strongly believe in generational investments, and property is deemed a safe and lasting asset to pass down for generations, especially if it’s with freehold ownership rights like Australia.
Ctrip, the online travel portal, is predicting more than six million Chinese travellers to head overseas during the break which runs through to October 8.
Australia sits fifth most popular destination for these Chinese holidayers behind Thailand, Japan, the US and Singapore.
New air routes help our popularity, the property website Juwai suggested, combined with easier and cheaper visas for outbound Chinese travellers to achieve their travel dreams.
Chinese incomes have seen sustained growth in recent times with an estimated 135 million travellers through this year.
Sun, sea, sand, blue skies, stunning natural environment and wildlife – think whale-watching, swimming with dolphins, and hugging koalas – are some of the draw cards behind the steady growth in tourist arrivals.
The number of Chinese visitors to Australia has hit around 1.4 million annually, so although we only receive a very small percentage of all Chinese visitors, the numbers are sufficient to have more than a ripple effect on the property market.
Some October's more than others.
Golden Week 2015 saw a Maroubra home sold for $10.5 million to a Chinese couple, who flew in to seal the deal. There was a $39 million Point Piper sale in 2014.
Golden Week holidays are important but less than they were in the past, suggests Carrie Law, the CEO of Juwai.com.
High prices in China often make our cities a better value proposition. 
These Chinese buyers are faced with their own domestic restrictions limiting buyer’s opportunities, so many mainland property buyers will be looking overseas for investment opportunities, although there are restrictions on getting their money out too.
This didn't stop Chinese real estate investors spend a record $101 billion last year globally on both residential and commercial properties – up 845 percent over the past five years, and a 25 percent up on 2015.
The US is considered top spot by most property investors from China, which explains the $50 billion spent by Chinese buyers on American real estate.
Australia comes in at second, followed by Hong Kong, Canada, and the UK, Juwai recently noted. 
Face matters in China, in a society ever conscious of reputation and hierarchy. There is no better way to do that than buy a home to show off their wealth and investment acumen to family and friends, and owning international property gains even further prestige.
These potential Chinese buyers have been looking online for options ahead of their travels next week.
China’s next Golden Week opportunity is happening next February, which is during Chinese New Year celebrations for the year of the dog.
 
 
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Agents seeking out buyers for Chinese Golden Week 

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The Australian Securities Exchange has asked around 50 listed Chinese companies if they were facing problems in capital transfers into or out of China, following the trading suspension of one such company.
Chinese company Ding Sheng Xin Finance suspended trading on August 29, failing to meet its August 31 deadline to lodge its half-year results and did not give any reason as well.
While the market regulator did not identify the specific company involved or its issues, Ding Sheng Xin Finance’s trading suspension led the ASX to seek assurance on whether other Chinese companies had any in problem in funds transfers.
Ding Sheng Xin chairman Winton Willesee did not directly confirm the reason for the delayed accounts but told The Australian Financial Review "of late lots of companies are having that problem" of repatriating funds from China.
The ASX has asked each potentially affected company whether it "has any difficulties in repatriating money/converting Chinese RMB into foreign currencies".
It has also asked whether the company "is aware of any changes to laws in China that prohibit the repatriation of money/conversion of Chinese RMB into foreign currencies?"
The Chinese companies are operating in a variety of sectors, from finance, to resources, to agriculture and property.
The few companies to respond so far, such as developer Boyuan Holdings, have not reported issues with capital transfers.
"The company has had no difficulties repatriating money or converting money into foreign currencies," developer Boyuan Holdings said on Monday.
Boyuan was the first Chinese real estate company to list on the ASX and is an offshoot of the Hong Kong-listed Jiayuan and its seed asset is the Jiayuan Central Plaza Project in Jiaxing City in China.
An ASX spokesman was cited by the AFR as saying that the inquiry was a "precautionary step to help ensure the market is kept informed".
"By asking companies to clarify their position, ASX and investors can assess if the issue is isolated or widespread," an ASX spokesman said.
"Based on the responses released to the market thus far, it appears the funding concerns are specific to one company that is already suspended. But we'll continue to monitor."
The development comes amid the Chinese government’s recent guidelines to curb outbound spending. The Chinese government has put curbs on purchases of real estate and entertainment assets by Chinese companies and investors, a decision which could affect Australia’s real estate market.
The restrictions follows recent moves by Beijing to halt state banks lending to the Dalian Wanda Group, which has recently been forced to restructure its assets in Australia, namely the $2 billion worth of projects in Sydney and the Gold Coast.
Hotels, sporting teams, cinemas and the broader entertainment sector were on the restricted list, while investments in casinos and defence technology were banned.
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ASX asks 50 Chinese companies on any capital transfers problem

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/82763/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Big Chinese companies have been on an overseas buying spree in recent years, spending more than US$1.6 trillion scooping up businesses, property and “trophy assets” like football clubs.
But a directive from the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party puts some of this investment in Australia at risk. The directive specifically restricts outbound investments in real estate, hotels, entertainment, and football clubs. 
One of the big reasons for the crackdown is how these investments are funded. China’s financial system is dominated by banks and bank loans are the major source of corporate funding. But this is also risky - if one of these projects fails it risks the entire banking system.
The changes won’t affect large Chinese holdings in the Australian agriculture and metals sector, or personal investments in Australian property. But there will be an impact on the Australian property market - Chinese developers bought 38% of all residential property development sites in Australia last year. 
As Chinese investment in the Australian property sector will now be curtailed, we should expect money to be diverted elsewhere - into sectors that are still looked on favourably by the Chinese government. Most notably resources, agriculture, and possibly new energy technologies.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-24%20at%208.43.36%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-24%20at%208.43.36%20AM.png" alt="">
Chinese companies have also been active in the Australian hotel and entertainment industries - Fuwah Group recently purchased the Park Hyatt in Melbourne (among others), and Dalian Wanda bought the Hoyts cinema chain. 
Over the past few years, Chinese companies have splashed out on many prominent properties - China Investment Corporation bought several office buildings in Sydney and Brisbane, and Aqualand purchased waterfront property in Sydney. Dalian Wanda currently has billion dollar developments underway in Sydney and the Gold Coast.
The motivations for these large investments in Australia and elsewhere are mixed. Earning a profit and other commercial goals are undoubtedly behind some of the moves, but others are strategically important for China - such as investing in agricultural land. But we shouldn’t overlook that many of these investments are “trophy assets”, and are about bringing prestige to the companies themselves.
<h2>Why is China cracking down?</h2>
In China, according to People’s Bank of China’s data, bank lending constitutes the vast majority of total financing. Therefore, it is more than likely the bulk of these recent overseas purchases by Chinese companies is bankrolled by Chinese banks. This compares to countries like Australia, where bond markets and sharemarkets play a larger role in financing big projects and investments.
The reliance on bank loans adds risk to the financial system. Should these projects fail, or the Chinese companies be unable to repay their debts, it could destabilise the entire banking system. And as Chinese banks remain state-controlled entities, the state has effective power to direct bank lending.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-24%20at%208.44.53%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-24%20at%208.44.53%20AM.png" alt="">
The Chinese government’s directive doesn’t just restrict investment in real estate, hotels, entertainment and football. It also encourages investment in other areas - new energy, technology, resources and agriculture. The stated purpose is to ensure that investment aligns with China’s national interest and to set up procedures for monitoring and supervision of the investments.
The Chinese banking regulator, the China Banking Regulatory Commission has also started investigating five huge conglomerates - Anbang, Dalian Wanda, HNA, Fosun, and Zhejiang Rossoneri Investment which have been very active overseas. The Chinese banking regulator has askedmajor banks to provide details of the borrowing position of these companies and the risk associated with their loans.
On paper, all five conglomerates are apparently predominantly privately owned, with the possible exception of Zhejiang Rossoner Investment which was only incorporated in June 2016. Although directly or indirectly, the Chinese government will have some stake and it is hard to trace the ownership structure of large Chinese companies. 
<h2>What comes next?</h2>
There will definitely be an impact as Chinese investment dollars move away from property and prohibited other sectors. This investment currently constitutes a large proportion of Australian property development.
However, it also remains to be seen how else the Chinese government will try to achieve the “national interest”. Whether through regulatory control or through its direct control of the Chinese banking system, the Chinese government might try to influence or direct the operations of the overseas assets of these conglomerates. 
The Australian government has previously shown nervousness about enterprises in areas of national “strategic” importance, passing into the hands of Chinese businesses with connections to the Chinese government, with some acquisitions being blocked by the Foreign Investment Review Board. Increased Chinese interest is only likely to provoke increased Australian apprehension.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/he-weiping-163918" target="_blank">He Weiping</a> is lecturer in Law, Monash University and author for <a href="https://theconversation.com/au" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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Why China is cracking down on overseas investment

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A majority interest in the two flagship Australian developments of China's Wanda Group are to be sold to a private entity controlled by the company's founder, Wang Jianlin.
Just two days after Wanda labelled an Australian Financial Review report that is was considering a sale "completely false", the company announced the "disposal" on Thursday morning.
While the assets are being sold to a related private entity controlled by Mr Wang, one investment advisor said it was likely to be the first step in broader reorganisation of the assets.
"He [Mr Wang] has a history of taking a two-step approach to acquisitions so this looks like it's going in the opposite direction," said the person.
The announcement said the Hong Kong-listed Wanda Hotel Development will sell a 60 per cent interest in its $1 billion Circular Quay apartment and hotel tower in Sydney and its $900 million Jewel resort on the Gold Coast to Mr Wang's company, Wanda Commercial Property.
The deal should allow the Hong Kong-listed company to lower its debt levels and give Mr Wang time to reorganise the assets away from the glare of the public market.
Shares in Wanda Hotel rose as much as 41 per cent on Thursday after the asset restructuring plans were announced.
The listed vehicle is also selling its 60 per cent interest in Wanda's Chicago and London developments.
The final terms are yet to be announced, but the company said the sale price would be based on net asset values based on an independent valuation.
Wanda Hotel is also buying US$1.1 billion in assets from related entities to the group and Mr Wang. These include Wanda Culture Travel Innovation Group, which designs and constructs theme parks and Wanda Hotel Management, which designs and operates hotels.
Wanda has had its wings clipped by Beijing in recent weeks as concerns mount that it, and other private companies, have over paid for foreign assets and these now pose a systemic risk to the Chinese banking system.
Other companies targeted by authorities include the HNA Group, which holds a 13 per cent stake in airline Virgin Australia; Fosun Group, which is developing apartments in Brisbane and Sydney; and Anbang Insurance, which bought New York's Waldorf Astoria in 2014.
The crackdown is expected to filter down to smaller private companies and state-owned enterprises as Beijing worries about offshore deals going bad and capital outflows putting downward pressure on its currency.
It is also looking to avoid a Japan-style collapse, which followed an offshore acquisition binge by Japanese firms in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
China's outbound investment fell 43 per cent over the first half of this year and its Vice Minister for Commerce Qian Keming said last week that "irrational" offshore investment had been contained.
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