Gold Coast developer Drew Group is fast approaching sell-out at its Main Beach apartment development, Lagoon Main Beach.

In the last nine months, Drew Group and sales partner Pezet Matheson have secured 31 sales totalling over $75 million, as the two-tower development advances towards completion under the expert eye of Hutchinson Builders.

“Today's buyers are more discerning than ever," Drew Group Managing Director Jon Drew says.

"It's essential to provide something truly unique that sets a development apart, and we believe Lagoon has achieved just that."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108747 project_image_fid=193023]

Just over 50 per cent of recent&nbsp;sales have been to local buyers, reflecting the deep trust and connection within the Gold Coast community that Drew Group has developed over the years.

Demand has been particularly robust at the top end, with two of the three exclusive penthouses already sold, alongside five sub-penthouses. Only seven apartments remain in Lagoon's Signature Series — one&nbsp;penthouse and six sub-penthouses.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108747 project_image_fid=284864]

Drew Group has also removed the much-maligned sunset clause from all contracts at Lagoon. The sunset clause — although rarely invoked, yet on occasion known to have been — allows developers to take back contracts on apartments should the building not be completed within the timeframe specified in the contract.

Pezet Matheson Co-Director Jayde Pezet says the fact Lagoon is&nbsp;within a year of completion, and has no sunset clause in contracts, provides certainty to buyers.

"This is paramount in the current market," Pezet says.

Drew Group has committed to providing the highest level of security inclusions — none more impressive than the Ubiquity Access Control System, a cutting-edge facial recognition technology that is one of the most state-of-the-art keyless entry systems on the market.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108747 project_image_fid=190743]

One of the biggest drawcards to Lagoon has been the size of the apartments.

"It is unlikely that any future new development in Main Beach will be able to offer such spacious living at this price point," Drew says.

"Today's buyers are more discerning than ever, carefully evaluating amenities like gyms, spas, workspaces, and beach lockers, along with quality finishes. It's essential to provide something truly unique that sets a development apart, and we believe Lagoon has achieved just that."

Lagoon is set to complete construction in mid-2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108747]

Joel Robinson

Lagoon Main Beach approaches sell-out as local buyers drive $75m in sales

National apartment developer Abadeen has topped out its debut Gold Coast apartment project,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/villea-palm-beach-26-mawarra-street-palm-beach-qld-4221">Villea Palm Beach</a>.

Buyers will move into the $120 million development in early 2026, with builder Emicon now focusing its attention towards the fitout stage of the apartments.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen-group">Abadeen</a>’s Executive Chairman and Founder, Justin Brown, said topping out at Villea represented an exciting step forward for the company’s national growth and the delivery of a benchmark coastal development.

“Villea Palm Beach represents everything Abadeen stands for — design-led living, premium quality, and the convenience we are bringing for residents to feel part of a perfect beachside community," Brown said.

"It is a particularly special project for us, being our first with spectacular ocean views, just metres from the water and with the addition of ground-floor retail. To reach the top floor is a proud moment, and I am incredibly proud of the Abadeen and Emicon teams for the way they are bringing this project to life for future residents.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106840 project_image_fid=336444]

Pierre Saab, Director of builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/emicon">Emicon</a>, said topping out was an exciting milestone and the team is now focused on interiors and detailing.

“This is a fantastic milestone to reach. With the final roof pour complete, we’ve moved into the fit-out stage where the detailing will truly bring Villea to life,"&nbsp;Saab said.

"Standing on the top floor, the team was struck by the stunning 180-degree views of the ocean and all that <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a> has to offer — a daily reminder of the exceptional lifestyle this project will deliver.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106840 project_image_fid=336441]

Nick Clydsdale, Director of SRQ, who is managing sales and marketing for Villea, said the milestone marks the next phase of the sales campaign.

“With construction now at its highest point, we are excited to kick start the next phase of the campaign off the back of strong sales momentum driven by the local market,"&nbsp;Clydsdale said.

"Villea is a prized offering in the popular suburb of Palm Beach— ideally suited to owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking a convenient and beautiful coastal lifestyle. At the same time, with forecasts pointing to further price growth across the Gold Coast in 2025, Villea offers investors the opportunity to enter early in the upswing cycle."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106840 project_image_fid=336442]

&nbsp;

Designed by acclaimed architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA</a>, Villea comprises 69 two- and three-bedroom residences with light-filled layouts, premium finishes including timber flooring, Fisher &amp; Paykel appliances, and high-performance glazing to maximise comfort.

Many residences capture ocean views, while all benefiting from generous open plan designs and access to shared amenities like a&nbsp;pool, gym, barbecue facilities, and outdoor entertaining spaces, all just 400m from the beach.

A ground floor retail leasing campaign is also underway, with Abadeen set to handpick a curated mix of tenants to enhance the experience for both residents and the wider community.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=106840]

Abadeen tops out Villea Palm Beach

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has officially unveiled its vision for a landmark development in Little Bay.

The vertically integrated developer-builder is set to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE</a>, a collection of low-rise buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hill-thalis-architecture-urban-projects-pty-ltd">Hill Thalis Architects</a>, comprising 94 apartments.

Targeted at local downsizers, upgraders, nature lovers, and golf enthusiasts, ESTE offers close proximity to Kamay-Botany Bay National Park, Little Bay Beach, and the renowned St Michael’s Golf Club — widely considered one of New South Wales’ top courses.

Many of the apartments, with interiors by Richard Stanisich, boast uninterrupted ocean views — a rare offering in Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=210130]

Residents will enjoy exclusive access to a private rooftop amenity level featuring a heated infinity pool, a fitness centre equipped with the latest TechnoGym technology, and a sauna.

Urban Property Group has taken a careful and considered approach to the design and planning stages, ensuring ESTE delivers an architecturally appropriate and sensitive addition to a suburb that rarely sees new development.

Plans were first submitted to Randwick City Council in late 2022, following concept approval from the NSW Government earlier that year.

Construction commenced in November 2024, with the project expected to top out in Q4 2025 and reach completion in Q3 2026.&nbsp;

Urban was one of the first developers in New South Wales to adopt the sought-after 10-year <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/resilience-latent-defects-insurance">Latent Defects Insurance policy from Resilience Insurance</a>. The policy — that can only be taken out by developers or builders and not by individual apartment buyers — covers any structural or waterproofing defects for a full 10 years post-completion, providing buyers with the most comprehensive protection available when purchasing off the plan.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/what-is-latent-defects-insurance-and-is-it-bringing-confidence-to-the-off-the-plan-apartment-market">What is Latent Defects Insurance and is it bringing confidence to the off the plan apartment market?</a>

SRM Residential will be launching ESTE in the coming months.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112343]

Urban Property Group unveils ESTE Little Bay apartments

For the first time, prospective off the plan apartment buyers in Sydney's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/homebush-nsw-2140">Homebush</a> can purchase with the confidence of a 10-year defect protection for their new apartment building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bridge-road-residences-homebush-3-5-bridge-road-homebush-nsw-2140">Bridge Road Residences</a>, the latest development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ventus-group">Ventus Group</a>, is the first new apartment complex in the area to offer the highly sought-after 10-year Latent Defects Insurance, provided by Resilience Insurance.

This policy, which applies to all 80 apartments in the new building on Bridge Road, covers homeowners against&nbsp;structural or design defects defects that may arise within the first 10 years after the building's completion. It can only be taken out by the developer or builder of the new development, and not by individual apartment owners.

Half of the apartments in the building have already been quickly snapped up. Buyers have been attracted by the insurance policy, along with the guarantee of a quality build, thanks to the insurance's Technical Inspection Service. This service involves third-party experts visiting the construction site at least once a month to ensure the building is being properly constructed, making defects highly unlikely.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6989 project_image_fid=2132]

Located on Bridge Road, the development offers a mix of apartment configurations, from studios to three-bedroom apartments.

Apartments have been designed&nbsp;by MX Architects with liveability in mind, featuring open-plan layouts, engineered timber floors, wool-blend carpet in bedrooms, and either ducted or split-system air conditioning depending on configuration.&nbsp;

Many apartments also include north-facing aspects or oversized balconies, enhancing natural light and outdoor usability.

The development includes landscaped communal gardens with a central lawn, shaded seating, and barbecue areas. A rooftop terrace offers views across the city and Sydney Olympic Park. These amenities are designed to provide outdoor spaces for both relaxation and socialising, without increasing maintenance burden.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6989 project_image_fid=2135]

Bridge Road Residences is less than 10 minutes’ walk from Homebush Station and close to major road links including the M4 and M8.&nbsp;

Residents will have immediate access to Rochester Street’s cafes, grocers, and restaurants, as well as retail and dining hubs at North Strathfield’s Bakehouse Quarter, Strathfield Plaza, and DFO Homebush.&nbsp;

The area is also well-served by schools and tertiary institutions, including Homebush Public School and the University of Sydney.

Construction is being led by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/one-way-dc">One Way Development &amp; Construction</a>. They are expecting to complete the build in Q3 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6989]

Bridge Road Residences brings 10-year defects guarantee to Homebush

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/romano-property-group">Romano Property Group</a> has appointed AG Construct to deliver their boutique new Fitzroy apartment development, Napier 235.

Half of the apartment in the architecturally-striking block of 14 have already been snapped up.

Located just 150 metres from Brunswick Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/napier-235-235-napier-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">Napier 235</a> will bring a mix of two and three-bedroom residences to the tightly held inner-city neighbourhood, including a full-floor penthouse and one townhouse.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144904 project_image_fid=3217]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a> with landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/florian-wild">Florian Wild</a>, Napier 235 presents a sculptural, low-rise form that aligns with Fitzroy’s heritage character while introducing contemporary detailing.&nbsp;

Residences are all north-facing and feature large private terraces, with living areas that connect to the outdoors via floor-to-ceiling sliding glass.

Inside, kitchens are anchored by 3.5-metre stone island benches and include walk-in pantries, Miele and Gaggenau appliances, and built-in bars with wine fridges in most apartments.&nbsp;

Customisable floor plans allow buyers to tailor internal layouts to suit their needs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144904 project_image_fid=3220]

Sustainability has been prioritised from the outset. Napier 235 ranks in the top five per cent of Victorian developments under current planning policy benchmarks, reflecting efficient energy use and environmentally responsible design.

Napier 235 places residents within walking distance of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/fitzroy-vic-3065">Fitzroy</a>’s food and retail precincts, including Marion, Morning Market, and Bentwood Café. Fitzroy Gardens, Carlton Gardens, and tram connections to the CBD are also nearby. Despite its proximity to major amenity, the development sits within a quieter residential pocket.

Pricing for two-bedroom apartments at Napier 235 starts at $1,225,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144904]

Construction to commence at Napier 235 in Fitzroy as Romano appoints builder

Fremantle

DevelopmentWA has released the Draft Concept Plan for a new residential community that will transform the former TAFE site in Beaconsfield, in collaboration with the City of Fremantle and Department of Communities.&nbsp;

The Draft Concept Plan for the&nbsp;11-15 Grosvenor Street site incorporates a range of affordable and social housing options, as well as community facilities, public open spaces, and potential commercial premises.

The redevelopment will be informed by DevelopmentWA's consultation with the community and key stakeholders, as well as consideration of the City of Fremantle's 'The Heart of Beaconsfield (THOB) Masterplan.'

The Beaconsfield Redevelopment Project is approximately 14-hectares of land and comprises the Davis Park precinct and the Beaconsfield TAFE site.

The former TAFE site was used for a number of decades as a training ground for particularly building and construction, carpentry, business and hospitality trades, with the demolition of the 54-year old site completed back in December 2022.&nbsp;

Through the redevelopment of the site, DevelopmentWA is contributing to the State Government's target of 3,300 new social housing dwellings over four years, with the new community set to provide much-needed affordable housing options for the city of Fremantle.&nbsp;

The project is also expected to generate jobs and stimulate economic growth in the area, transforming the disused site into a vibrant and sustainable community that meets the needs of the growing Beaconsfield area.

<img alt="proposed site development" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b5c99d1a-9d0b-4f83-87f8-ca03759a3e2a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-03-28%20at%202.15.36%20pm.png?VersionId=Mt05elKyd9.YmcAajA5fTS5h1zZJtpAD" />

Housing and Lands Minister John Carey said the redevelopment of the former Beaconsfield TAFE site will transform and breathe new life into the local community, while bolstering the supply of social and affordable housing in the area.

"We have listened to the local community and have taken on board their input and feedback as we develop the final vision for this important urban regeneration project."

The proposed development will include a mix of high-density residential buildings, family houses, and commercial premises.

Plans for the 3.8-hectare site included a focus on sustainability, new public open space, retention of mature trees and improved security and safety in the area, in addition to a playground and a network of pathways featuring waterwise landscaping.&nbsp;

150 residences are expected to be delivered in the development, with precincts for one and two-storey family houses and precincts for five and eight-storey apartment buildings.

The site will also feature a mixed-use zone and road connectivity from Badham Close through to Caesar Street. Pedestrian/cycling and green links, including Lefroy Road to Grosvenor Street, will also be incorporated into the design.

Sustainability will be a key feature in the project, with the team incorporating learning from DevelopmentWA's recent developments in White Gum Valley and Hamilton Hill. A community garden will be considered as part of the project, with the all-electric development also set to incorporate water sensitive landscaping infrastructure.&nbsp;

It's anticipated the houses will target a 7-star&nbsp;NatHERS rating, while also including solar PV systems.&nbsp;

The site redevelopment is expected to take a few years to complete, with the former TAFE site already demolished to pave way for the future development.

Currently in the planning approval phase, DevelopmentWA expect to begin sales and construction from 2025 onwards.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=139296]

The Beaconsfield Redevelopment Project is approximately 14-hectares of land and comprises the Davis Park precinct and the Beaconsfield TAFE site

alisonwarters@gmail.com

DevelopmentWA unveil plans for former Beaconsfield TAFE site redevelopment

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Marine House, a historic Victorian style building in Fremantle, WA will be ready for a new tenant/tenants from July 2020. 
It is currently undergoing a refurbishment. 
The Department of Transport’s moved from the building at 1 Essex Street located 200m from Fisherman’s Wharf and adjacent to the Esplanade Hotel.
Marine House features 3,640 sqm of office space and abundant on-site parking.  
Knight Frank Partner and Joint Head of Office Leasing, Greg McAlpine, said Marine House was located in the Esplanade precinct of Fremantle and the site had been a key landmark and enduring legacy of the city’s history.
He said the five level building would be completely upgraded and refurbished over the next 12 months.
It would provide a corporate office environment. 
“The refurbishment will see a new a lobby, completely new entrance and façade and upgraded services such as lifts, air conditioning, lighting and security,” McAlpine said. 
“It will also see the creation of brand new End of Trip facilities including bike storage and lockers, showers and change-rooms.”  
Mr McAlpine said available spaces within the building were an 805-955sqm ground floor tenancy, first and second floors of 1039sqm and a third floor of 607sqm. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Fremantle landmark Marine House up for lease

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The proposal for a six-storey timber-framed office building has recently been given the green light to commence construction by Fremantle Council. <a href="/developments/fremantle-wa-6160">Harbour Fremantle's</a> architectural design has been led by <a href="/architects/harris-architects">Harris Jenkins Architects</a>, who have created a future-proofed modern design which will be constructed out of highly sustainable cross-laminated timber. The building’s operable glass façade will provide natural ventilation throughout the structure, as well as dispersing natural light into each workspace – creating a pleasant work environment for the building's inhabitants. At street level, a 150 square metre café and bar will occupy the ground floor tenancy, providing communal areas for office workers and the general public to connect and relax. Levels 2-6 will feature a selection of 57 square metre office spaces, which will be available for lease or purchase from $347,500.

<a href="/architects/josh-byrne-and-associates">Josh Byrne and Associates</a> have led the landscape design and vertical greening project, which will aim to deliver thermal protection, as well as seamlessly integrating nature within the work environment.

<blockquote>
“Wood and biophilic design is an opportunity to improve workers’ connection with nature, increasing satisfaction and productivity.”
</blockquote>

Source: Workplaces: Wellness + Wood = Productivity, by Andrew Knox, Howard Parry-Husbands, Pollinate, February 2018

Other sustainable features include solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage as a source of renewable energy; electricity and water management software (to monitor usage) and storm and grey water collection.

The building approval follows a stellar year of development in Fremantle with over $231 million worth of projects being approved for 2018-19. This statistic paints a dramatically different picture to the rest of the country, with other major cities showing a halve in building approvals since 2014.

<blockquote>
“It’s also worth noting that this project represents the first significant investment in a major new office development in the eastern end of Fremantle since Scheme Amendment 49 was approved back in 2012… It goes to show that it can take a long time for the planning decisions of the council to flow through to actual development, but it also demonstrates that the council’s plan to make Fremantle a more attractive investment destination is working.” 
</blockquote>

Brad Pettitt, Mayor of Fremantle, via <a href="https://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au/news-and-media/592019-green-light-was-first-timber-framed-office-building">Fremantle.wa.gov.au</a>

The <a href="/developers/yolk-property-group">Yolk Property Group</a> development will occupy the corner section of Josephson and High Streets, just 100 metres away from the recently completed King Square development, and is slated for completion by mid-2020.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/kingssquare.jpeg" rel="gallery-all" title="Kings Square. Credit: Yolk Property Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="347" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/kingssquare.jpeg?itok=DTgYh4eM" title="Kings Square. Credit: Yolk Property Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Kings Square. Credit: Yolk Property Group</figcaption></figure>Lead image: Harbour Fremantle render. Credit: Yolk Property Group.
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Olivia Round

Western Australia’s first cross laminated timber office building given green light to commence construction

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The WA based property syndicate Primewest have listed the historic Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle.
CBRE have been appointed to steer the marketing campaign for the 46-54 Marine Terrace hotel (pictured above), which originally opened in 1897 as Fremantle’s first hotel.
Primewest are expecting to attract offers of about $110 million for the facility, according to a local paper, The Western Australian, a 20% increase on what they paid, $90 million, when they bought it from rich-lister Marylyn New in 2012.
Located on the corner of Marine Terrace and Essex Street, the building has been extensively refurbished and restored to create what is now regarded as "one of Perth’s premier accommodation and conference facility venues".
The offering contains 300 guestrooms, four food and beverage outlets and numerous conference facilities.
The property is situated over two sites and has total area in excess of 1.2ha.
Included in the sale is a 3,043 sqm site located at 7 Essex Street (pictured below), situated directly opposite the hotel, comprising 172 car bays, a 78sqm leased retail tenancy and 314sqm office.  
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/2/Fremantle%20Hotel%202.jpg" alt="">
Mr McGinnity commented “The opportunity to secure one of Perth’s largest hotels will ignite strong investor interest from local, interstate and international groups.
“With Fremantle being WA’s most visited tourism precinct after the Perth CBD, the sale of the Esplanade Hotel represents an outstanding opportunity to acquire a well-established operation,” Mr McGinnity added.
Mr Desange said significant investment in the Fremantle area - including a public and private development pipeline spend exceeding $1.3 billion – would have a "direct flow-on effect to the area’s tourism and retail industries".
Fremantle has not seen this level of development and investment since the America’s Cup over three decades ago.
Primewest’s founding Director, David Schwartz stated that they had invested significantly in this hotel to bring it up to modern standards.
Expressions of Interest close Thursday 6 September 2018.
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Primewest selling Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle

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The Melbourne City sales team of CBRE has donated $20,000 to support Fremantle Football Club and coach Ross Lyon’s participation in the MND Big Freeze event this weekend at the MCG. 
Mark Wizel, CBRE National Director and head of the sales team, said his team was honoured to make a contribution to fighting MND.
"The apparently unbreakable Neale Daniher has done incredible work in fighting this disease, a disease that sadly took Ross Lyon’s mother some years back," Wizel said. 
"We are absolutely delighted that we can make a contribution in supporting Ross and the Fremantle Football Club in the `Big Freeze’ this weekend with a $20,000 donation." 
He said his team had for some time been admirers of the way in which Ross Lyon coached and mentored his team.
"We have likened a lot of what we do in a corporate sense to the journey that Ross has taken the Freemantle Football Club on over the past few years.
"In particular his teachings and methodology around system and process over outcome have assisted in the development of our younger team members - the average age of which is just 25.8 years - contributing greatly to our success,’’ Wizel said.
Wizel’s 64 strong team has earned a reputation as Australia’s sub $100 million commercial property investment market leader with more than $13 billion in sales since 2009.
Ross Lyon said he was humbled to learn that his relationship with Mark and CBRE had resulted in such a generous donation to Fight MND Big Freeze 4.
"It was quite a humbling experience to be told that the association with CBRE had motivated Mark and his colleagues to personally chip in $20,000 to help support the outstanding work Neale Daniher is doing to find a cure for MND.
“It’s a hideous disease and the way Neale has fought MND is incredible.
“Every day on average at least two Australians die from MND, and my family has had personal experience with the terrible toll the disease has on those affected by it.
"If we can find a cure through contributing and raising some funds – all the AFL coaches are happy to do that.
It’s also a wonderful gesture by Mark and his colleagues at CBRE to get behind Neale and support what he is doing for Fight MND,’’ Lyon said.
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

CBRE team donates $20,000 to Dockers’ MND cause 

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/63926/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Fremantle’s five-storey Myer department store closed in 2013 after four decades of service.
The demise of a mass-market store in the heart of Fremantle should have been a large blow to the retail and broader character of the area.
In the 20th century it would have been. But times have changed, in Australia and around the world. Rather than being left dormant while development plans were being drawn up, the building reopened as MANY 6160 six months after Myer closed.
MANY 6160 is Australia’s largest temporary place activation, with more than 20,000m² of space dedicated to retail, production and events. It provides spaces for independent artists, designers, other cultural workers and small business enterprises.
In February 2016, MANY 6160 became home to Australia’s second-largest private gallery (after Hobart’s MONA). Called Success, it operates from the building’s basement.
The temporary use of space has become popular in cities and towns across the world. When properties have lost their capacity to be rented or sold at a profit, or are left vacant for redevelopment plans, they have the potential for interim uses while the owner waits for development or for property prices to warm up.
<h2>How does temporary occupation work?</h2>
The advantages of temporary occupation are many. It allows members of a community to come together to work, socialise or learn, unencumbered by market-rate rents. It taps into culture’s current interest in customisation, localisation and co-creation. At MANY 6160 you can buy everything from 3D-printed jewellery to surfboards.
Temporary users can act as surveillance and maintenance providers for the property owner. At the same time, they bring cultural cachet to the space and adjacent area. 
Temporary occupation can bring about the challenging and redefinition of planning regulations and rental contracts. At MANY 6160, rental contracts are short – renters need give only 30 days’ notice to opt out.
With planning regulations tailored towards permanent occupation, the local council was slightly confounded as to how to determine the building class of the gallery in the basement. MANY 6160’s architect, Nic Brunsdon of Post-Architecture, says:
The city would not sign off on it at first. We had to get an independent evaluation to certify the building. All you need is a piece of paper [of certification] rather than do something to address the code.
Brunsdon delights in this grey-area-ness:
"It’s the place where no-one wants to be. It’s fertile ground. You need to revel in uncertainty and risk."
Recognising the benefits for users and owners, government agencies and developers are making it easier for real estate to become available for temporary use. They can, for example, reduce the liability for building owners and provide incentives for owners and citizens to start up their own projects.
Space-brokering agencies have emerged in cities and towns across Australia – Adelaide, Townsville, Geelong, Newcastle and Parramatta – and further afield, in places like Christchurch, Singapore, Chicago and Dublin. 
Perth has its own space-brokering service, Spacemarket, also available as an app since 2016. The service helps a diversity of tenants, from tech start-ups to community groups, to use the thousands of square metres of underutilised space in the Perth CBD.
It also partly solves a problem for commercial leases: vacancies fluctuate with market cycles; when vacancies are high, temporary occupation may be a solution.
While many local councils see the temporary use of space as a solution to providing cheap spaces for creative workers, in the long term it may not be so. Buildings will still be bulldozed or converted, rents will increase and tenancies will become affordable.
When this happens, those occupying the temporary space can get squeezed out, even though their presence and activity made the area culturally and economically valuable to start with.
This is a potential scenario for the creatives at MANY 6160. A A$220 million development planned for Kings Square may eventually force them to move on, despite the council’s ambitions to preserve the diversity of the temporary occupation in future.
<h2>Temporary, but with a city-making legacy</h2>
So, can temporary use influence local city-shaping and state decision-making in the long term, rather than simply being a stopgap? Can projects like MANY 6160 help to forge new approaches to urban design and planning?
The answer is yes. Temporary occupation creates opportunities for a new type of city-making.
With the current trend towards decreasing public expenditure on the built environment, the temporary use of space demonstrates alternative models of governance where developers, councils and citizens work together to resolve the issue of a lack of resources. The MANY 6160 project, in particular, demonstrates a shift in government behaviour towards incentivising and supporting citizens.
The City of Fremantle contributed $20,000 to the project. Citizens have put in thousands of hours of volunteer labour, along with the architects, who have borne start-up costs of more than $50,000. There is also the goodwill of building owner Sirona Capital.
A new world of cross-societal participation in urban design and planning has been opened up. However, the biggest advantage of temporary use has not been leveraged at the Fremantle site. The missed opportunity is an incremental approach to development, so that temporary occupation becomes a pivotal intermediate step towards long-term development.
In this scenario, the occupation of MANY 6160 could inform and influence the Kings Square development. Learnings from the temporary place activation – about the location, the community and other local factors – could contribute to the next iteration of the site.
The temporary project could be embedded within broader master plans and urban frameworks to test out experimental programs and governance models that could be brought into the long-term development.
The temporary occupation of space is ripe for exploration in Perth and other centres where the use of sites is constantly changing. When we cannot predict the future, let alone the next decade, interim use provides ways to reimagine buildings.
Citizens are increasingly demanding spaces for hours, days, weeks or months rather than years. This type of future city, contingent on mobility, requires a looser planning vision, one that allows for temporary occupation to inform future occupations, rather than merely being a placeholder for the development to follow.
Timothy Moore is PhD candidate, Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/timothy-moore-292089" target="_blank">here</a>.
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From placeholder to pathfinder: innovative temporary site uses help us reimagine city spaces

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Part of the City of Fremantle's $275,000 upgrade of the High Street Mall includes public seating and tables, bike parking facilities and better lighting.
The upgrades, slated to finish by the end of the year, are part of a local re-branding and refresh of the area, according to Fremantle manager of economic development and marketing, Tom Griffiths.
He said there’s also been some great work by landowners in preserving and improving the heritage components of some of the mall’s buildings, particularly in the Manning and Atwell Arcades.
“We’re also partnering with the owners of Atwell Arcade to implement an interactive public art piece we hope will become a key feature and talking point of the new-look mall. We expect to have this installed later next year,” he said.
“Over the past year the City has worked with landowners to devise a strategy to enhance the mall, which we all agreed was looking tired and in need of some attention. Part of this was landowners re-branding the mall and developing targeted leasing strategies to attract the right mix of retailers."
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Fremantle's High Street Mall upgrade continues

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A development site opposite Fremantle Port has sold for $2.1 million to the St Patrick's Community Support Centre. 
The 938 square metre site, at 3 Beach Street, is currently occupied by a warehouse and two retail shops, but it has the potential to be developed into a six-level building.
The purchaser - which fended off rival bids from owner occupiers, developers and private investors - plans to occupy the existing building and provide additional affordable housing for the disadvantaged within the community.
Knight Frank associate director Todd Schaffer was the selling agent. 
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