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>

Joel Robinson

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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SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Local Little Bay residents, along with buyers from premium postcodes across Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs, have dominated purchases in developer-builder Urban Property Group’s first Eastern Suburbs apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a>.

The $250 million coastal project, one of the first new developments in the area in several years, has proven particularly popular with downsizers, especially those from Coogee and Bondi. One Double Bay downsizer paid $4.7 million for a four-bedroom penthouse, setting a new local apartment price record in the process.

Buyers have been attracted to the combination of coastal tranquillity, premium design and amenity-rich neighbourhood living. The walkable village setting, along with proximity to three of Sydney’s leading golf courses, New South Wales Golf Club, St Michael’s Golf Club and The Coast Golf Club, has also been a key drawcard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352689]

Built across two low-rise buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hill-thalis-architecture-urban-projects-pty-ltd">Hill Thalis</a> and set along a lush, landscaped green spine, designed by leading landscape architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, ESTE Little Bay offers a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences with interiors by Richards Stanisich.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> Sales Director, Tom McIvor said the response to ESTE has been "nothing short of extraordinary."

“Buyers have been quick to recognise ESTE as a rare opportunity to invest in a coastal sanctuary that offers both seclusion and connectivity to the heart of Sydney,” McIvor said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352687]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">SRM Residential</a> Senior Director, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">Clayton Ross</a> said the local market has responded incredibly well, driven by ESTE’s exceptional location and the rarity it offers.

“We’ve seen strong interest from a variety of buyer groups, all of whom are drawn to the exclusivity and quality of the build and construction by the 4.5-star iCIRT-rated builder / developer, Urban Property Group. There’s truly nothing else like it along Sydney’s coastline.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352690]

The project also includes robust buyer protections, including Resilience Insurance’s Latent Defects Insurance, providing 10 years of structural cover, and an independent iCIRT-rating of the developer.

“The iCIRT-rating adds another layer of confidence,” Ross added. “Buyers see it as a safeguard for their investment and their lifestyle.” A highlight of ESTE’s offering is its exclusive wellness amenities, including a heated rooftop infinity pool and outdoor heated spa, a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness centre, and a sauna.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a> is topped out and is on track to complete towards the end of 2026, with residents moving in before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112343]

Eastern Suburbs buyers snap up ESTE Little Bay apartments

Hotel

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The Redesdale Hotel in central Victoria is on the market with a price of $850,000 plus GST.
It has been offered by Dominic Romeo from <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-hotel+leisure-vic-redesdale-502918374" target="_blank">Jellis Craig</a> Macedon Ranges.
Situated on 9,020 square metres, the property includes a two-bedroom cottage, bluestone dairy and magnificent bluestone stables.
<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/2018/8/27/REDESDALE%202.jpg" alt="">
Built in the 1850s, it is a landmark historical blue stone hotel which operated as a Cobb &amp; Co coach changing station. 
Redesdale is just over an hour out of Melbourne and is situated in the award-winning Heathcote wine region and close to the Macedon Ranges. 
 <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/2018/8/27/REDESDALE%203.jpg" alt="">
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Historic 1850s Redesdale Hotel in Heathcote wine region listed 

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The Birdsville Hotel, one of the most well-known tourism pubs in Australia, is back on the market.
Offers for the hotel, built in 1884, are sought by September 20.
One of Queensland's most famous watering holes, the Birdsville Hotel has survived floods, heat waves and fire, set at the edge of the Simpson Desert.
Birdsville was settled by pioneers in the early 1860s and in the 1880s the hotel became the central meeting place for town residents, nearby station owners and their thirsty cattle drovers. 
The sale will include the hotel and its 27 rooms motel accommodation.
It will also include the liquor licence, goodwill, intellectual property, business name, plant and equipment and stock in trade.
There are two detached residences, an industrial block and an aviation fuel supply business operated by the current hotel owners on offer.
The sale campaign is being managed by Russell Iles and Guy Bennett of Knight Frank, in conjunction with Darren Steele of Steele &amp; Associates Hotel Brokers. 
The current owners bought the hotel in 1980.
The hotel manager Ben Fullagar suggested there had been "a huge amount of work over 38 years to build the brand and totally rebuild the entire premises."
<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/2018/8/16/Birdies%202.jpg" alt="">
The town of Birdsville is located in outback Queensland, on the edge of the Simpson Desert 1,600 kilometres from Brisbane.
The Birdsville Hotel is well regarded outback tourism destination having won tourism awards including Queensland's best outback pub for three consecutive years.
Its annual races are in a fortnight's time, run on the first Saturday in September.
It attracts thousands of visitors during school holidays and mild winter months. 
The boozy Birdsville image annoys many locals, especially the heroines of the outback. 
Mr Steele said he expected the iconic hotel offering to be highly sought after by buyers from around Australia, as well as internationally.
“It’s a true Aussie icon, and one that many people around the world have heard of, so we anticipate there will be interest from investors and those looking to own and operate their own hotel in Birdsville."
The tourism sector in Queensland is strengthening, with international visitors up by 5.5% and domestic visitors up by 2.6%, with spending around 6% more in the year ending March 2018, according to Tourism &amp; Events Queensland.
Birdsville is accessible by road as well as a sealed airstrip adjacent within walking distance from the hotel. 
Light planes ceased to park in front of the hotel in 1964 because fences and street lights had been erected.
The hotel was on the market in 2007 as well but reported offers of up to $5 million were not enough to make the Fort family, the long time owner, part with the Birdsville property.
Knight Frank’s Guy Bennett told the local paper that what was on offer now was a “very different proposition” to 2007.
It was former Adelaide builder Kym Fort who took over the hotel when it was a fire-ravaged shell with its only working part a makeshift public bar.
He used his construction skills to restore one of Australia's most famous pubs which he co-owned with four silent partners.
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Time gentlemen please! The Birdsville Hotel seeks new publican after 38 years

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Melbourne’s hidden gem Bennetts Lane is set to get a new hotel.
The local developer Aust Global Investment commissioned Breathe and Plus Architecture on the boutique project.
The project will feature 44 rooms across 13 levels in a building that channels the art deco glamour of the former Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, which closed this year to make way for an apartment development.
Breathe Architecture director Jeremy McLeod said some inspiration came from Paramount House Hotel, where the operator added unusual touches like a beer tap at reception.
Aust Global Investment founder Lionel Shi said the vision was to bring a truly unique Melbourne experience to guests and the appointment of local design firms, as well as a local hotel operator, would be key to this.
“Appointing local designers and finding a local operator who not only understands Melbourne’s laneway culture but can also help curate the hotel’s jazz-inspired theme, are critical elements in delivering the hotel vision,” said Shi.
Its brick façade will rise five levels and will be topped by an integrated nine-level shimmering glass structure, punctuated by greenery at its base.
The two penthouses have been set back on the upper levels, to minimise the hotel’s perceived height while providing additional outdoor spaces for guests.
It is expected to commence construction in early 2019, and open in mid-2020.
The expressions of interest campaign for hotel operators closes in mid-September.
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New hotel set to jazz-up Melbourne’s Bennetts Lane

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Developer Aust Global Investment (AGI) is set to deliver a new hotel within Bennetts Lane, with the boutique project designed via a collaborative partnership between Breathe Architecture and Plus Architecture.

The 14-storey hotel will feature 44 compact but cleverly-designed rooms, inspired by the Art Deco glamour of the former Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, which closed this year to make way for an apartment development. 

Plus Architecture's design for the hotel's exterior will activate Bennetts Lane with a reception and café area on the ground floor spilling out onto the laneway.

Its brick façade will rise five levels with a nine-level glazed structure rising above. A break between the two blocks provides the design with a legible podium and tower identity in addition to areas of greenery.

Two larger penthouse suites on the upper levels which provide guests with long stay accommodation options, have been set back to minimise the hotel’s perceived height while providing additional outdoor spaces.

In line with Breathe’s philosophy to use locally-sourced furnishings, Bennetts Lane will prioritise the use of local fittings and finishes.

<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/bennetts_lane_hotel.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The design draws on the qualities of the former Jazz Club. Image: Aust Global Investments "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="1160" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/bennetts_lane_hotel.jpg?itok=ZlfzPqP_" title="The design draws on the qualities of the former Jazz Club. Image: Aust Global Investments " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The design draws on the qualities of the former Jazz Club. Image: Aust Global Investments</figcaption></figure>AGI is currently seeking a Melbourne hospitality guru to operate the Bennetts Lane hotel which will also feature a basement speakeasy via an expressions of interest campaign which closes in mid-September.

Breathe and Plus will work closely with the successful operator to ensure their collective vision for the hotel is realised. Early design work suggests a reimagined hotel experience, in contrast to the five-star chains popping up around the city.

According to AGI, its vision to bring a truly unique Melbourne experience to guests was the key driver behind the appointment of local design firms, as well as its pursuit of a local hotel operator.

Construction on the Bennetts Lane hotel is expected to commence in early 2019, and open in mid-2020.

<h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
Boutique hotel operation is the natural next step for a lot of hospitality providers wanting to take their service and ethos to the next level – and the Bennetts Lane property offers an exceptional opportunity for a local operator to create a true Melbourne experience. 
Its initial design draws references from the jazz era, using moody and hard-wearing materials designed to age gracefully and curved forms that reference instruments. A stay at the hotel will feel like going backstage to experience a hidden part of Melbourne. - Jeremy McLeod, Director Breathe Architecture 
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
The Bennetts Lane hotel will give guests a feel for the real Melbourne, not a generic hotel stay between over-starched bedsheets.

Appointing local designers and finding a local operator who not only understands Melbourne’s laneway culture but can also help curate the hotel’s jazz-inspired theme, are critical elements in delivering the hotel vision.

- Lionel Shi, Founder Aust Global Investment
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
We really wanted to maintain the integrity of Melbourne’s laneway culture, so have ensured the hotel has a boutique sense of scale while activating Bennetts Lane on the ground planethrough the architectural design.

Bennetts Lane Jazz Club was a key reference and its influence is expressed in the brass, hand-folded features on the ground level façade, which are later referenced within the hotel.

- Ian Briggs, Director Plus Architecture
</blockquote>
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Laurence Dragomir

Aust Global Investment seeks to breathe new life into Bennetts Lane

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Franzé Developments has proposed plans for the biggest new hotel project in the Geelong region for two decades.
The burgeoning expansion of one of Australia's fastest growing regional cities has been bolstered with Franzé Developments securing planning approval from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for its $150 million Geelong development – the largest mixed-use project in the region.
Located at 44 Ryrie Street within the Geelong Activity Centre Zone, the 2,700 square metre gateway site will comprise 1,000 square metres ground floor retail, 7,400 square metres office space, 24 residential apartments and a 180 bed hotel, all connected by a highly activated street level plane with public access.
In a coup for Geelong's hotel and tourism sector, global hotel operator The InterContinental Group signed a 20-year management agreement to operate the 180 bed hotel in late 2017. The $75 million Holiday Inn Hotel &amp; Suites in Australia and the largest new hotel project in the region in almost 20 years.
Paul Franzé, Founder and Managing Director of Franzé Developments says he is thrilled to receive approval for the gateway site as Geelong develops into the region's epicenter for retail, tourism and employment due to its strong population and economic growth.
"Our vision for the Ryrie Street site is to deliver a truly mixed-use project that responds to the Central Geelong Action Plan which will see Geelong evolve from its manufacturing roots to a city of culture and innovation.
Geelong is now one of Australia's fastest growing regional cities, with population expected to grow by more than 150,000 people in the next 20 years, and the urban environment and amenity needs to respond accordingly.
"Geelong has a diverse and strong economy with over 17,000 businesses and a highly skilled labour force. It continues to attract new residents and investment due to its livability and proximity to Melbourne, combined with increasing employment opportunities and affordability."
Architectus, the design studio behind 1 Bligh Street, Sydney and 383 La Trobe Street, Melbourne (in collaboration with architect Ateliers Jean Nouvel), has been appointed as the project design team, with Hansen Partnership managing the project's urban planning.
It is located on a prominent corner at the intersection of Ryrie and Fenwick Streets.
"The design of 44 Ryrie Street draws upon the history of both the city and the site. The materiality, rhythm and scaling of the buildings reference the iconic wool stores of Geelong, and the grain of the city's rich heritage fabric. Creating an active mixed use development that incorporates hotel, residences, office and a vibrant retail ground plane, the project stiches seamlessly into the adjacent cultural precinct and builds on the investment in the area to become a gateway to Geelong's city centre," says Matthew Smith, Managing Principal at Architectus.
The orientation of the site forms a 90 metre northern frontage to Ryrie Street with a physical split, creating a public thoroughfare linking Ryrie Street to Cuzens Place. 
Colliers International, in conjunction with MP Burke Commercial, is managing the leasing campaign for the 7,400 square metre office space across ten levels with a generous double-height lobby. The apartments are expected to start selling in October 2018.
The site, which was home to John Orchard Furniture and was previously an intercity bus depot, was purchased from John Orchard for $7 million in 2017.
Demolition is underway and construction is scheduled to commence in late 2018, with completion expected in mid 2020.
The Holiday Inn Hotel is scheduled to open in 2020 and will target the longer stay segment of the tourism market. The property will include an all-day dining restaurant and bar, swimming pool, gym, parking and 300 square metres of meeting facilities, including a function room for 250 people.
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$150 million Geelong gateway development gets the green light

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The Carr architectural practice has welcomed the completion of the United Places Botanic Gardens Hotel.
Marketed as an "intimate, highly considered hotel experience" the hotel opened recently at 157-159 Domain Road, South Yarra.
Room rates start at $650 per night.
It is the project of hoteliers Darren Rubinstien and Richard Rogers. 
The evelopment was where the former post office and newsagent were located.
With only 12 suites, United Places is marketed as set to become Melbourne's most exclusive hotel.
"The hotel’s exuberance comes from the carefully calibrated floor plans, surface integrity and a superlative level of execution,” noted Stephen Todd, Design Editor, Australian Financial Review.
<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/2018/7/25/CARR.jpg" alt="">
The property located at 159 Domain Road South Yarra last sold in October of 2010 for $3.175 million.
In 2014 it was reported VCAT had overturned the City Council refusal to grant a planning permit to 157-159 Domain Road.
It's 2012 initial planning application was made to the Melbourne City Council for a permit to demolish the existing building and construct a three-storey building accommodating a ground floor café/shop, first floor tavern and second floor restaurant.
A combined patron capacity of 650 was proposed.
The planning application also sought permission for the reduction of the Planning Scheme’s car parking requirement to zero and a waiver of the Planning Scheme’s loading and unloading requirement.
Its notice of the application saw 352 objections received, and plans substantially amended.
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Carr Architecture completes United Places Botanic Gardens Hotel

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The Whitsunday Islands will see IHG take over management of Hayman Island, rebranding it as Hayman Island, by InterContinental.
Hayman Island, by InterContinental will be an oasis at the northernmost point in the Whitsunday Islands.
It opens in 2019, following significant investment to refurbish the product. 
The 166-room hotel is on the 400-hectare island where Mulpha Australia Limited will offer a bespoke collection of homes for sale to those who want to own a piece of heaven on Hayman Island. 
Malaysia’s Mulpha Group told The Australian last month it was spending more than $100 million redeveloping its cyclone-ravaged Hayman Island, one of the poshest resorts.
Mulpha plans to redevelop the 400ha island as one of the most luxurious lifestyle resorts in Australia, introducing an exclusive private beach house, a range of new penthouse suites and four ­exclusive townhouse-style private residences for sale or rent.
Hayman Island’s houses have been designed by award-winning, Singapore-based architect Kerry Hill and fitted out by ­­Blainey North.
Mulpha can ­develop 21 houses on Hayman ­Island, and has completed four with butler’s pantries, private pools, four bedrooms and four ensuite bathrooms priced at about $10 million each.
The houses, to be completed next March, are about two minutes’ on a golf buggy from the resort.
The landmark agreement with Mulpha Australia Limited also sees IHG continue with a long-term agreement to manage both InterContinental Sydney and InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort. 
InterContinental Sanctuary Cove was the first InterContinental Resort to open in Australia.
Under the new agreement, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove will enjoy a refurbishment that will see it continue its legacy as one of Queensland’s most prestigious hotels.
IHG currently has 47 hotels operating under four brands across Australasia: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express with a further 19 in the pipeline including Hotel Indigo and EVEN Hotels.
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Mulpha Australia to offer homes for sale on Hayman Island as InterContinental arrives

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One of Australia’s largest hotel portfolios will soon be placed on the market by AccorInvest.
The AccorInvest hotel portfolio is made up of 23 real estate assets and lease interests located across Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth, together with several major regional cities.
JLL Hotels &amp; Hospitality Group’s Craig Collins and Peter Harper are handling the sale.
The AccorInvest Australian Hotel Portfolio encompasses 17 real estate assets comprising 1,797 rooms of which four are branded as ibis hotels and the other 13 ibis Budget hotels. Notable assets include the ibis Hotel &amp; Apartments Melbourne, ibis Sydney Airport, ibis Budget Sydney Olympic Park and ibis Newcastle. 
The six lease interests include The COMO Mgallery by Sofitel in Melbourne, the Novotel, Mercure and ibis hotels in Brisbane and the Mercure and ibis hotels in Perth. A full overview of the Portfolio is provided overleaf.
All hotels within the Portfolio are currently operated by AccorHotels, Australia’s largest hotel management company, under hotel management agreements. 
“Never before has an offering of this nature been presented to the open market in Australia," Craig Collins, CEO Australasia, JLL Hotels &amp; Hospitality Group, said.
"The pure scale of this portfolio and its diversity – in terms of location, market positioning and income profile - presents investors with an opportunity to immediately establish an unparalleled foothold in one of Asia Pacific’s most highly sought after hotel investment destinations.
“Economy hotels are a highly proven and successful hotel model in the Australian market.
"Their typically low operating costs and high level of profitability make them very attractive investments,” Collins added.
Peter Harper, Executive Vice President, JLL Hotels &amp; Hospitality Group said the portfolio occupy a combined 54,500 square metres of land.
AccorInvest Australian Hotel Portfolio: 
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Property
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
Location
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
State
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Tenure
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
Rooms
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget Canberra
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
15 Tay Street, Watson (pictured top)
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
ACT
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Ground Lease
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
75
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget Campbelltown
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
3 Rennie Road, Campbelltown
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
72
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget Casula Liverpool
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
437 Hume Highway, Casula
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
74
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget Coffs Harbour
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
1A Mclean Street, Coffs Harbour
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
70
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget Dubbo
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
Victoria Street &amp; Newell Hwy, Dubbo
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
65
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget Enfield
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
626-628 Liverpool Road, Strathfield South
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
80
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget Newcastle
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
3-5 Thomas Street, Wallsend
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
79
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget St Peters
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
178 Princes Highway, St Peters
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
105
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget Sydney Olympic Park
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
8 Edwin Flack Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Ground Lease
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
156
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget Wentworthville
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
377-383 Great Western Highway, Wentworthville
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
102
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
ibis Newcastle
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
700 Hunter Street Newcastle West
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
97
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Sydney Airport Hotel
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
205 O'Riordan Street, Mascot
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
200
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Thornleigh
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
208-212 Pennant Hills Rd, Thornleigh
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
105
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget Brisbane Airport
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
18 Navigator Place, Hendra
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
QLD
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
93
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget Dandenong
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
185-193 Princes Highway, Dandenong
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
VIC
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
71
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Budget Fawkner
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
1399 Sydney Road, Fawkner, Victoria
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
VIC
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
103
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Melbourne Hotel &amp; Apartments
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
15-21 Therry Street, Melbourne
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
VIC
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Freehold
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
250
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
The COMO Melbourne - Mgallery
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
630 Chapel Street, South Yarra
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
VIC
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Leased
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
110
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Mercure Perth
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
10 Irwin Street, Perth
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
WA
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Leased
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
239
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Perth
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
334 Murray Street, Perth
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
WA
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Leased
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
192
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Novotel Brisbane
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
200 Creek Street Brisbane City
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
QLD
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Leased
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
296
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="142">
Ibis Brisbane and Mercure Brisbane
</td>
<td valign="top" width="198">
16 Ann Street, Brisbane City
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="40">
QLD
</td>
<td valign="top" width="53">
Leased
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="49">
412
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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AccorInvest to sell Australian hotel portfolio

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In a first for Apartments.com.au, the subject of this article is a new Westin branded hotel not for Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide or even Perth. Instead, the Bates Smart-designed Westin will be developed in the Northern Territory's capital city Darwin.

Located right on the waterfront, the hotel has been designed to form important and meaningful connections between the city and the water, with the dual aim of enhancing the precinct and providing a gateway to the natural wonders of the Northern Territory beyond.

According to architects Bates Smart, the vision for the Westin Darwin Hotel is "the creation of an iconic tropical hotel that embodies the rich natural and cultural heritage of the location."

<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/m12069_n4_webview.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Westin Darwin Hotel. Image: Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/m12069_n4_webview.jpg?itok=8dgdrN8d" title="The Westin Darwin Hotel. Image: Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Westin Darwin Hotel. Image: Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>The design team studied the geographic story of the site, the historic context and the requirements of the climate, with the design response producing a curved form which references the layered histories of the waterfront. This embeds the hotel with a strong sense of place and a response to its context.

<blockquote>
The lower levels are inspired by the nearby rock formations and capture the spirit of the local landscape through the use of natural stone, complemented with lush landscaping and water features.

Areas for rest and reflection are aided by verandas and breeze ways which respond to the tropical environment, but also reference the heritage buildings within Darwin.

The upper levels of the hotel are inspired by tree canopies. Dark metal and timber screens create dappled patterns of light, but also provide valuable shading for the humid temperature.

Importantly, the design incorporates a seawall which is designed to protect the hotel from significant weather events and cyclonic wave activity, but that at the same time provides a generous pedestrian path and access to the waterfront for the local community.

- Bates Smart
</blockquote>

A garden restaurant and bar provides patrons with an authentic Northern Territory dining experience, supported by a rooftop garden accommodating additional restaurant facilities, and infinity pool providing expansive views over the waterfront. The hotel's rooftop can be accessed via a skywalk from Goyder Park.

Additionally, the hotel includes a diverse range of function and conference facilities with new spaces for events for Darwin locals and visitors.

High-quality materials and detailing have been provided throughout the interiors complemented by a neutral palette of soft tonal textured finishes which add a tactile quality to the spaces.

<blockquote>
Our intention is for the hotel to embody the spirit of Darwin, the land and nature and to create an identity that is uniquely connected to the Northern Territory.

- Cian Davis, Bates Smart Studio Director
</blockquote>

<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/m12069_n10_webview.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Westin Darwin Hotel will be located right on the waterfront. Image: Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/m12069_n10_webview.jpg?itok=KPl-tPVL" title="Westin Darwin Hotel will be located right on the waterfront. Image: Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Westin Darwin Hotel will be located right on the waterfront. Image: Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>The design of the Westin Darwin Hotel will achieve the following:

<ul>
<li>Iconic tropical hotel that embodies the rich natural and cultural heritage of the location.</li>
	<li>Connects the city and the water, enhancing the waterfront precinct.</li>
	<li>A generous pedestrian path provides access to the waterfront for the local community.</li>
	<li>The design references the historic context and the requirements of the climate.</li>
	<li>The hotel offers tropical luxury with beautiful rooms and iconic dining offerings.</li>
	<li>A diverse range of function and conference facilities provides the people of Darwin with new spaces for events.</li>
</ul>
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Bates Smart designs new Westin for Australia's top end

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The Greek Orthodox Community NSW, owners of 1-11 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst/Paddington are sounding out the City of Sydney with hopes for a hotel conversion.
The church community has been long criticised for the mostly dormant premises over the past decade or so.
The initial hopes are for a six story hotel, which would sit behind its historic three storey facade.
The council has received a pre-development application approach.
The hotel would be welcomed by landlords who have nearby retail, the relatives of those hospitalised nearby, and attendees at events at the SCG.
<a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/1-11-oxford-street-paddington-nsw-2021-12206319" target="_blank">Two years leases</a>are being currently offered through Gunnings for the empty historic building which was once known as the Grand Pacific Blue Room
<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/2018/6/27/greek5.jpg" alt="">
It sits on one of Sydney's best known and busiest intersections, the point where Oxford Street meets South Dowling Street, Victoria Street and Barcom Avenue.
The precinct is known by locals as Three Saints Square, a five-way intersection on Oxford Street that covers two suburbs, Paddington and Darlinghurst and it is controlled by two councils, the City of Sydney and Woollahra Municipality.
The building included the former Academy Twin premises which operated between 1974 to 2010.
It reportedly opened with Roman Polanski's Macbeth and quickly became one of Sydney's best-loved arthouse cinemas.
It was closed by Palace Cinemas in June 2010 when it was unable to reach a new lease agreement with the building's owner, the Greek Orthodox Community of Sydney.
 
 
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