Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

Hotels

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Australia’s tourism sector continued to thrive over the 12 months to June 2017 despite a moderation of global economic conditions, says Deloitte Access Economics’ latest report on the sector.
International visitor numbers to Australia increased 8.9% over the past year to 8.5 million, according to The Tourism and Hotel Market Outlook.
Chinese visitors eased over the first half of 2017, but was still up 9.9% over the year.
“Continuing growth in visitor arrivals and expenditure highlight tourism is among the fastest growing sectors in the Australian economy,” said Adele Labine-Romain, Deloitte national Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure leader.
Deloitte's previous report in February had said international visitation to Australia was growing at nearly three times the rate of global travel.
Commenting on the Chinese arrivals, Labine-Romain said while it was less impressive than recent years, the number still more than doubled in the last five years and now represents 15% of all arrivals into Australia.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/28/Aug30CommPropChart1.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/28/Aug30CommPropChart1.png" alt="">
India continues to gain market share on the back of exceptional economic performance, recording growth of 8.9%. Also significant, the US, which for the second year running recorded arrivals growth of around 14%, beating the UK as Australia’s third largest international market.
“Growth of this magnitude in the face of slowing arrivals from China signals a healthy diversification of Australia’s international growth profile,” said As Labine-Romain.
“Visitors from Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Hong Kong also chalked up double-digit growth in arrivals in a further indication of the broad-based underpinnings of this current wave of international tourism.” 
International visitor trips continued to grow across all states and territories. 
Tasmania retained its position as Australia’s fastest growing stopover destination for international travellers, growing at 15.8% and the only state to post double-digit growth over the year. New South Wales, buoyed by solid demand across all major visitor segments, also outperformed the national average, growing 9.9% over the year. Western Australia came in third overall, with 8.7% growth over the year, but topped the destination growth for international holidaymakers, posting a 16.8% gain.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/28/Aug30CommPropChart2.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/28/Aug30CommPropChart2.png" alt="">
On the domestic front, growth in trips at home has slowed since the 2017 February Outlook (down to 3.1% from 4.8%), with an uptick in corporate travel insufficient to counter the stalling of growth in domestic leisure travel.
“In part, this reflects a pattern of generally weaker spending by Australian households,” explained Labine-Romain. “As growth in household incomes has slowed, so too has consumer spending and with that, spending on leisure travel.
“Growth in outbound leisure travel has also slowed from 4.5% to 3.7% over the year to June 2017. So it’s not the case that Australians are substituting international holiday destinations for Australian ones.  Rather, they are travelling a bit less overall.”
The performance of Australia’s hotel sector was modest in the first half of 2017, with room occupancies averaging 68% on the back of 0.3% growth.
“National performance was weighed down by weaker growth in Melbourne, Perth, Darwin and Brisbane. Melbourne is working to absorb recent additions in supply in the market, while Perth, Darwin and Brisbane are contending with additional supply and softer demand conditions due to exposure to the mining sector. Together, these markets represent 45% of capital city markets and 17% of aggregate hotel revenue nationally. Hence their lacklustre performance was reflected in the national figures, and ultimately weighed on performance relative to expectations,” added Deloitte Access Economics’ Bryon Merzeo.
Leisure travellers and people visiting friends and relatives continued to substitute traditional accommodation for sharing economy options. The growth in private rental nights is more than double the growth in nights in traditional short-term accommodation (9.2% vs. 3.7%), though from a much smaller base. Holiday travellers, in particular, look favourably upon private rentals with use of private rentals by Australian holidaymakers growing at nearly double its five-year average.
<h2>Highlights:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Highest year-to-date growth in average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR) was seen in Tropical North Queensland (TNQ), Sydney and Canberra</li>
<li>TNQ was the standout as ADR grew 4.2% over the first half of 2017 and RevPAR jumped 8.5%</li>
<li>Canberra was another standout with 3.7% room rate growth and 6.6% RevPAR growth in the year.</li>
</ul>
“Global economic conditions remain favourably orientated for Australian tourism,” said Labine-Romain. 
“Yes, travel costs are expected to increase as oil prices continue to rebound. But global output and income growth are expected to maintain momentum over the next three years. Asia’s large and fast-growing economies are forecast to largely continue the growth that has underwritten the tourism boom experienced by Australia over recent years.”
Deloitte Access Economics forecasts international visitor trips to grow by 6.9% p.a. and visitor nights by 6.4% p.a. on average over the next three years – a strengthening of growth expectations. The visitor growth will be led by India at 12%, closely followed by China and Indonesia at 10%.
“The realisation of this growth will see visitor arrivals reach the 10 million milestone in 2020 and international visitor nights overtake domestic visitor nights in 2023,” said Labine-Romain.
For domestic tourism, the recent slowdown in holiday travel by Australians points to a broader slowing of discretionary income and consumer spending. As income growth picks up, so too will discretionary expenditure and hence leisure travel. The stalling witnessed over the last 12 months is not expected to persist with domestic trips forecast to grow by 3.4% p.a. and visitor nights to grow by 3.3% p.a. on average over the next three years. 
While demand for hotel accommodation is projected to grow at 3.2% p.a., supply is also forecast to expand solidly, growing by 2.8% p.a. nationally. Although the number of new hotel rooms added to the market slowed during the first half of 2017, with 1,418 rooms added across 10 projects, another 1,407 new rooms have opened in July and August alone.
“This represents a further narrowing in the supply-demand growth differential and hence a further easing of occupancy growth expectations,” Merzeo said.
“The spread of individual market performance outlooks continues to widen. Tropical North Queensland and the Gold Coast are forecast to lead the key markets in terms of RevPAR growth over the medium-term. While Perth and Brisbane are still working through booms in their respective supply pipeline, and will struggle to realise improvements in performance over the next three years. Relative to previous editions of the Outlook, the largest movers in expected performance are Melbourne and Hobart, which have fallen away considerably on the back of greater expected supply.”
Overall, the national trend occupancy rate is forecast to grow by 0.3% p.a. over the next three years to reach 68.5% in 2019.
“This represents a softening compared to previous forecasts, clearly impacted by the significant strengthening in national supply pipeline,” added Merzeo.
Room rates are forecast to steadily grow over the next three years, increasing by 2.8% p.a. to reach $171 in 2019, while RevPAR will show healthy growth of 3.1% p.a. to reach $117 in 2019.
 
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Tourism sector posts another year of remarkable growth: Deloitte Access Economics

Marriott International&#39;s long held <a href="/new-apartments/docklands-vic-3008">Docklands</a> aspirations have been confirmed on the back of developer <a href="/developers/capital-alliance-investment-group">Capital Alliance</a> gaining approval for a mixed-use development last week.

The hotel operator will absorb 200 hotel suites within the <a href="/architects/dko-architecture">DKO Architecture-designed</a> scheme at <a href="/buildings/the-docklands-residences-3-43-waterfront-way-docklands">3-43 Waterfront Way</a>. 110 apartments account for the balance of the development, with the building to be crowned by a publicly accessible infinity pool and bar/dining facilities.

Capital Alliance&#39;s associated media release expects the apartments to be taken up by owner occupiers, with the project&#39;s sales campaign set for launch later this year.

In delivery phase, the $200 million project is expected to create 500 direct and indirect construction and development jobs, with 100 ongoing positions created as part of the Marriott Hotels &amp; Resorts-branded facility. Construction is slated to start mid next year.

<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/capital_alliance_marriott_approval_view_02_a.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The approved new mixed-use Docklands development. Image: Capital Alliance"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="382" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/capital_alliance_marriott_approval_view_02_a.jpg?itok=anVBIA2g" title="The approved new mixed-use Docklands development. Image: Capital Alliance" width="580" /></a>

<figcaption>The approved new mixed-use Docklands development. Image: Capital Alliance</figcaption>
</figure>

<h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
This will deliver the first contemporary Marriott to Melbourne and its rooftop infinity pool will give the city an experience it has never seen before &ndash; akin to the renowned pool bars and lounges of New York City. Marriott is the world&rsquo;s largest hospitality company and the opportunity it sees in Melbourne and Docklands is a huge compliment to our city.

We are very excited to get started and deliver on our original vision.

This project will be a true destination in Melbourne and something special that will add to the city&rsquo;s tourism potential.
<cite>Mohan Du, Managing Director, Capital Alliance</cite></blockquote>

<blockquote>
We are excited to bring our flagship Marriott Hotels &amp; Resorts brand to Docklands as part of this visionary, mixed-use project. The hotel will be a flagship in Australia and a true example of the Marriott brand&rsquo;s sophisticated style and innovative functionality. We&rsquo;re grateful for Capital Alliance&rsquo;s support.
<cite>James Doolan, Regional Vice President Hotel Development, Marriott International</cite></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/image13_18.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Corno Nero's bid for Malvern. Planning image: D-Arc Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="426" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image13_18.jpg?itok=xeAqGq5E" title="Corno Nero's bid for Malvern. Planning image: D-Arc Architects" width="580" /></a>

<figcaption>Corno Nero&#39;s bid for Malvern. Planning image: D-Arc Architects</figcaption>
</figure>

Meanwhile, <a href="/new-apartments/malvern-vic-3144">Malvern</a> may be in for a substantial new residential hotel project, with a company tied to <a href="/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">Melbourne</a> developer/builder <a href="/builders/cornonero">Corno Nero</a> seeking the right to deliver an 85-suite serviced apartment project.

Accounting for a portion of the Malvernvale Hotel site, <a href="/developments/malvern-vic-3144">1321-1341 Malvern Road</a> has been designed by CBD-based <a href="/architects/d-arc-architects">D-Arc Architects</a> as a five level building consisting predominantly of 24sqm single bedroom suites, with a limited number of larger suites pushing beyond the 50sqm mark.

The project&#39;s ground floor includes an office tenancy of 352sqm alongside various hotel facilities.

The play by Corno Nero for a serviced apartment building along this stretch of Malvern Road follows on from a string of residential projects that have been built or are proposed for the area. According to the <a href="/developments">Urban.com.au Project Database</a>, seven apartment projects in development currently stud Malvern Road.

silvermb

Marriott confirmed for Docklands as Malvern scores its own substantial hotel project

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It's been a long time coming, but Doncaster Hill may finally receive a hotel.

As far back as 2006 Manningham Council sought to facilitate a luxury hotel in the area. A nine story, 140-suite hotel which was to be constructed at 682 Doncaster Road as part of the Doncaster Hill vision even had an operator inked, with Crowne Plaza Doncaster Hill the expected outcome.

Although that particular project never eventuated, Doncaster Hill may now play host to a hotel at 810 Elgar Road. Previous applications for the 983sqm Elgar Road land holding were approved for residential use, although an amendment was received by Council during August 2016 seeking an 11-storey residential hotel outcome.

<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/image9_14.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Doncaster Hill's first hotel site. Image: Real Properties"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="383" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image9_14.jpg?itok=dps38e8P" title="Doncaster Hill's first hotel site. Image: Real Properties" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Doncaster Hill's first hotel site. Image: Real Properties</figcaption></figure>Manningham City Council lists 810 Elgar Road's application as in progress, nonetheless the site has been offered for sale with Real Properties the handling agent.

Developer <a href="http://nicsonproperty.com.au/portfolio_page/doncaster-hill-hotel/">Nicson Property Group</a>'s website carries provisional imagery of a design for 810 Elgar Road, along with a brief summary of the project which has an end value of $35 million. Kyriacou Architects has conceived a prospective design for the site for a building which includes 116 suites across 11 levels.

While 810 Elgar Road shapes as Donacster's first hotel, residential projects on the hill are still active as always. 9-11 Williamsons Road is also on the market with approval for 8 townhouses and 137 apartments within a Bruce Henderson architects-designed building.

<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/image11_17.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="9-11 Williamsons Road and The Peak"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="272" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image11_17.jpg?itok=m5DVzqpj" title="9-11 Williamsons Road and The Peak" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>9-11 Williamsons Road and The Peak</figcaption></figure>Nest at the Hill is well into construction while fellow large-scale projects The Peak and The Point Doncaster Hill are at registrations and sales.

Urban.com.au's <a href="/developments">Project Database</a> is currently keeping tabs on 2,200 apartments in development within Doncaster. 810 Elgar Road is in fact the first entry within Doncaster that is not residential in use.
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A decade on, Doncaster may finally host a luxury hotel

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City of Melbourne's Future Melbourne Committee will sit again tonight, assessing the merits of two major developments at planning.

3-43 Waterfront Way within Docklands and 493-495 St Kilda Road are on the agenda, with both projects expected to gain the nod from City of Melbourne. For 3-43 Waterfront Way the planning process has been longer than hoped for after developer Capital Alliance failed to win over planning authorities with initial plans for a 37 level tower.

Whilst that $250 million development was scuppered at VCAT, the revised plans for the irregular site now sees a 17 storey DKO Architecture-designed scheme containing 200 hotel suites and 110 residential apartments. 

Although the number of apartments has diminished from 260 to 110, the 200 hotel suites within the revised scheme matches the number within the original and much taller proposal. Capital Alliance have Marriott International waiting in the wings, with the Docklands project previously touted as the first newly built Marriott hotel in Australia for almost 20 years. 

<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/image25_7.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="DKO Architecture's revised design for Waterfront Way"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="336" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image25_7.jpg?itok=a3eh5V6p" title="DKO Architecture's revised design for Waterfront Way" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>DKO Architecture's revised design for Waterfront Way</figcaption></figure>The Waterfront Way design also includes a function level, rooftop pool, gym, outdoor area and greenery running the height of the project.

Meanwhile, Linfox Property Group is also moving toward a positive planning outcome for its 3,017swqm land holding on Melbourne's premier boulevard. Sought is the right to deliver a 20 level residential tower set above 4 basement levels, and carrying a gross floor area of 32,202sqm.

148 dwellings are split between 19 one bedroom apartments, 73 two bedroom apartments, 55 three bedroom apartments and one penthouse. Three bedroom apartments are generally oriented over Fawkner Park and for the most range between 120-155sqm, with the premier three bedroom apartment notching 207sqm.

This number though pales into insignificance relative to the split level penthouse which includes 7 bedrooms over a whopping 720sqm.

<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/image18_15.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Fender Katsalidis' new take on St Kilda Road"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="633" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image18_15.jpg?itok=9stPMjr1" title="Fender Katsalidis' new take on St Kilda Road" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Fender Katsalidis Architects' new take on St Kilda Road</figcaption></figure>493-495 St Kilda Road would be the latest in a string of high-end residential projects looking to call St Kilda Road home. Adjoining it is The Fawkner Residences at 499 St Kilda Road which is due to reach full completion in coming months.

Should both projects go through this evening's meeting as expected, final sign off will be in the hands of the Planning Minister.
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Key Docklands and St Kilda Road projects set for CoM's blessing

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During 2014, Apartments.com.au delivered a synopsis of Melbourne's <a href="/news/5000-new-hotel-rooms-for-melbourne">burgeoning hotel scene</a>.

At that stage roughly 5,000 new hotel suites were on the radar, across a variety of dedicated and mixed-use projects. Over the proceeding three years, Melbourne's hotel sector has gone from strength to strength on the back of extremely strong (and predominantly Chinese-driven) tourist growth and an ever strong events calendar; so much so that the number of hotel suites in development has nearly doubled.

Greater Melbourne is now subject to 9,500 new hotel suites; this figure does not include recent builds that have reached completion, indicating that developers still see massive upswing in the Melbourne hotel boom.

Via our Project Database, 45 separate projects are in motion which include hotel suites, as opposed to serviced apartments which are categorised separately and will be subject to a different analysis piece. To be precise, the Project Database's is tracking 9,499 separate hotel suites at varying stages of development.

By no means is it an absolute figure, but we believe it to be the most up to date and complete figure publicly available.

<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/img_2987.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="399 Little Lonsdale Street under construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="663" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_2987.jpg?itok=PVEcHUB-" title="399 Little Lonsdale Street under construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>399 Little Lonsdale Street under construction</figcaption></figure>Of the 9,499, 1,594 or 17% are under construction while 2066 or 21% are at planning. The balance of 5,899 or 62% of all hotel suites Apartments.com.au is tracking are deemed to be either approved or committed to by an operator, but have yet to begin construction.

This figure alone suggests that Melbourne hotel boom has some time yet to run, particularly from a delivery perspective.

Of the 45 projects in play, 20 are listed as developments dedicated solely to hotel use, with the largest purely hotel project being 399 Little Lonsdale Street which is under construction. Its 478 suites will be split between operators Ibis and Novotel.

Conversely the remaining 25 projects being tracked have multiple uses, of which a hotel component is one. Southbank's massive Melbourne Square project is the largest with approval for 621 suites, while SP Setia's Sapphire by the Gardens has the largest operator commitment to date with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts recently signing on for 500 suites.

<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/image53_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Hotel Lindrum was approved last month as Shangri La booked into Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="291" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image53_3.jpg?itok=ipCftn2y" title="Hotel Lindrum was approved last month as Shangri La booked into Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Hotel Lindrum was approved last month as Shangri La booked into Melbourne</figcaption></figure>Naturally of the 9,499 suites, the majority are within City of Melbourne's boundaries.

1,961 suites in development are beyond City of Melbourne, with Box Hill the most active suburb accounting for 450 rooms across three projects; this figure will invariably rise as additional projects filter through City of Whitehorse. As a zone, Melbourne's north is also faring will with multiple hotel projects in development as evidenced by last week's announcement that Mantra would operate a new Epping site with 214 rooms.

Shifting back toward Melbourne's epicentre, and the CBD/Southbank combination is the clear favourite among hotel developers and operators. Apartments.com.au is tracking 3,547 suites across the CBD and 2,468 across Southbank respectively.

A very healthy percentage of these rooms in development spanning the CBD and Southbank have recently signed on operators, with new brands such as Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton and Shangri-La joining in on Melbourne's hotel boon.
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9,500 plus new hotel suites for Melbourne! A break down of the numbers

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The hotel juggernaut across inner Melbourne is showing no signs of slowing down.

After last week's announcement that <a href="/news/mandarin-oriental-to-open-its-first-hotel-residence-property-in-australia">Mandarin Oriental will anchor the Zaha Hadid-designed 600 Collins Street</a>, three further projects have come to the fore in recent days. A long expected Southbank project is headed for a construction start, whilst Melbourne City Council is attending to two further hotel-based planning applications.

At 167 City Road, signage for builder Maxcon has appeared across the site's frontage, heralding a start to the project which has been on the drawing for roughly five years.

<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/image23_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="167 City Road may be branded Ibis Styles. Image: CBRE Hotels"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="337" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image23_6.jpg?itok=Tqql8Equ" title="167 City Road may be branded Ibis Styles. Image: CBRE Hotels" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>167 City Road may be branded Ibis Styles. Image: CBRE Hotels</figcaption></figure>In line with a construction start, CBRE Hotels has launched a campaign to sell the site and hotel, which is provisionally proposed as an Ibis Styles outlet. First covered by Apartments.com.au during 2013, the Peddle Thorp design has taken time to come to fruition, but now has an anticipated completion date of late 2018.

The buyer of 167 City Road will eventually inherit a building which includes 162 hotel suites.

Southbank aside, hotel projects also continue to flow into the CBD, as evidenced by applications for both 563-567 Little Lonsdale Street and 589-599 Little Collins Street.

The former is an exceptionally quick progression, with the Little Lonsdale Street site having only sold during March. Lodged with Council last month, the application for the 336sqm site seeks demolition of the onsite low-rise office building for the delivery of a residential hotel project.

<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/little-lonsdale-street_563-567_2pp_08-3-pdf-image.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="563-567 Little Lonsdale Street as marketed. Image: CBRE City Sales"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/little-lonsdale-street_563-567_2pp_08-3-pdf-image.jpg?itok=qKqLOE-i" title="563-567 Little Lonsdale Street as marketed. Image: CBRE City Sales" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>563-567 Little Lonsdale Street as marketed. Image: CBRE City Sales</figcaption></figure>Plans for Pro-invest Developments' expected hotel at 589-599 Little Collins Street have also been lodged during June.

The firm is working on the roll-out of a portfolio of 10 to 15 Holiday Inn Express hotels across Australia, on behalf of the Pro-invest Australian Hospitality Opportunity Fund. <a href="http://www.afr.com/real-estate/commercial/hotels-and-leisure/proinvest-brings-holiday-inn-express-to-melbourne-cbd-20161220-gtequs">Outlined late last year</a>, Pro-invest has targeted roughly 300 suites for the site, along with retail and office uses.

Substantially larger than the Little Lonsdale site, the planned Holiday Inn Express is set to account for two low-rise office buildings.

 
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City Road checks in; two new CBD hotel developments in the pipeline

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S P Setia has announced that it has entered into a partnership with Shangri-La Hotels &amp; Resorts for its twin tower development at 308 Exhibition Street.

In attendance were representatives from both companies including S P Setia Chairman Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid and Shangri-La Asia CEO Mr. LIM Beng Chee in addition to dignitaries from Malaysia and members of the media, including Apartments.com.au.

<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/308_exhibition_st.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="308 Exibition Street set to rise opposite the Carlton Gardens. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="394" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/308_exhibition_st.jpg?itok=_YIOqGnM" title="308 Exibition Street set to rise opposite the Carlton Gardens. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>308 Exibition Street set to rise opposite the Carlton Gardens. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure>Located opposite Melbourne’s World Heritage-listed Carlton Gardens, the Cox and Fender Katsalidis-designed dual-tower development will accommodate the luxury five-star Shangri-La Hotel Melbourne featuring an estimated 500 guest rooms with three levels of amenities for guests in one tower and a second tower comprising 300 luxury residential apartments as well as office space.

A sky bridge will connect the two towers, while retail space will occupy the lower levels of the development.

During the function it was also announced that the development had received planning approval only half an hour earlier, paving the way for Melbourne's first Shangri-La hotel with display images suggesting the development will be branded as 'Sapphire by the Gardens.'

Sapphire by the Gardens will officially be launched later this year. The luxury residences will be aimed at owner occupiers, young families, young couples, downsizers and offshore residents that frequent Melbourne.

S P Setia anticipates construction to commence on the whole development by the end of the year following a competitive tender process during August, with an estimated completion date of 2022.

Existing structures on site are currently being demolished.

<h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
S P Setia is honoured to appoint Shangri-La, an iconic global brand that represents the highest standards of quality, as the hotel operator to this development. Through the design and construction phases and for many decades to come as a luxury residence, retail and hotel precinct, the economic benefits of this project will be significant for Melbourne and will help grow the hospitality industry locally.

This will be Melbourne's newest icon and will be a welcome addition to Melbourne's cityscape as we continue to embark on our expansion and grow our business here in Australia. We are very excited to be launching very soon!
<cite>Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid, Chairman, S P Setia</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
Shangri-La is privileged to be selected as the hotel operator for this world-class S P Setia development, which will be an architectural masterpiece and an iconic part of Melbourne’s skyline for decades to come and a symbol of this exciting partnership. We look forward to bringing Shangri-La’s hallmark ‘hospitality from the heart’ to Melbourne, a key global city and the world's most liveable in addition to Australia's event capital.
<cite>Mr. LIM Beng Chee, CEO, Shangri-La Asia</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
We all love Melbourne and we thought it couldn't get any better but this piece of stunning architecture will enrich all of the great assets Melbourne has to offer. The Shangri-La forms the pillar of this iconic development and features what we think will be the best ballroom in the world, hosting events for 1,000 people and boasting an amazing outlook to the historic Carlton Gardens. The design of the project has evolved through a collaborative approach between ourselves, Cox Architects, Urbis and planning authorities; the design responds to authorities' requirements for the site and I'm pleased to announced that we received our planning permit half an hour ago.
<cite>Karl Fender, Founding Director, Fender Katsalidis</cite>
</blockquote>

<h2>Details</h2>

<ul>
<li>Designed by Fender Katsalidis and COX Architects</li>
	<li>Residential tower of 300 apartments to be known as Sapphire by the Gardens and second hotel with 500 guest rooms to be branded Shangri-La Hotel Melbourne</li>
	<li>Total site area: 4,140sqm</li>
	<li>Approved 13th June 2017</li>
	<li>Office, retail and hospitality space to occupy the lower levels of the development</li>
	<li>Gym, Health and Recreation</li>
	<li>Grand Ballroom to host 1,000 guests and featuring digital information wall</li>
	<li>Sky Lounge and restaurant at level 46</li>
	<li>Horizon Club Lounge as part of Shangri-La</li>
	<li>Level Podium Carpark</li>
	<li>Terracing garden podium facade</li>
</ul>
<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/20170613_161016.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Representatives from S P Setia and Shangri-La Hotels &amp; Resorts gather for a photo."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="580" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/20170613_161016.jpg?itok=GQJogotp" title="Representatives from S P Setia and Shangri-La Hotels &amp; Resorts gather for a photo." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Representatives from S P Setia and Shangri-La Hotels &amp; Resorts gather for a photo.</figcaption></figure>
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Laurence Dragomir

S P Setia's 308 Exhibition Street approved: Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts confirmed as operator

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LongRiver Group have ramped up their Box Hill development intentions. The privately owned property player is poised to launch a major apartment tower fronting Whitehorse Road whilst simultaneously working to secure the right to build Melbourne's latest DoubleTree by Hilton outlet.

820 Whitehorse Road's redevelopment came to light early last year, with Whitehorse Council ultimately granting LongRiver Group the right to proceed with the 30 storey building just prior to the turn of 2017. Valued at around the $200 mark, <a href="/buildings/east-central-tower-820-whitehorse-road-box-hill">East Central Tower</a> as it will be known is now accepting registrations of interest.

Included within the tower designed by Fender Katsalidis are approximately 280 apartments, 1,500sqm of residential facilities plus 3,000sqm of combined office and retail space.

<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/image111_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="East Central Tower is nearing its sales launch. Image: Longriver Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="832" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image111_3.jpg?itok=b-m7nOYO" title="East Central Tower is nearing its sales launch. Image: Longriver Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>East Central Tower is nearing its sales launch. Image: Longriver Group</figcaption></figure>East Central Tower's pending launch comes as LongRiver Group work on bringing DoubleTree by Hilton to Box Hill.

Integrated property and infrastructure consultancy APP have released details of the intended DoubleTree by Hilton tower at 874-878 Whitehorse Road. Whitehorse Council are still assessing the project which landed at planning late last year.

<blockquote>
The new hotel, to be developed in the <a href="/developments/box-hill-vic-3128">suburb of Box Hill</a>, will be the second DoubleTree by Hilton in Melbourne. Box Hill is a major commercial hub in Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs and is an area of strategic significance with planned growth in employment, housing, business, services and public investment.

Currently in the design phase, the hotel will include 200 stylish and comfortable rooms, a restaurant, bar and gym coupled with an array of contemporary amenities consistent with the DoubleTree by Hilton brand. 

DoubleTree Hilton is renowned for delivering upscale, full-service hotels and identifying key markets around the world, and the new development is no exception. Expected to open in 2020, the hotel is in a prime position surrounded by education, government and healthcare facilities and is anticipated to inject a fresh, energetic presence to the Box Hill area.
<cite>APP </cite>
</blockquote>

874-878 Whitehorse Road has an expected project value of $90 million.

<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/image114_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="DoubleTree by Hilton is headed for Box Hill. Image: APP"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="273" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image114_3.jpg?itok=ealmaEpR" title="DoubleTree by Hilton is headed for Box Hill. Image: APP" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>DoubleTree by Hilton is headed for Box Hill. Image: APP</figcaption></figure>Whilst Box Hill has over recent years transformed into a favoured apartment market, it's only now that the suburb has gained traction in terms of attracting hotel operators.

DoubleTree by Hilton's 200 suites will follow The Chen, an Art Series Hotel containing 100 suites which is nearing completion as part of the larger Whitehorse Towers development. Also in play atop the hill are 150 approved hotel suites within Spotlight Property Group's 845-851 Whitehorse Road project and 77 serviced apartments as part of Golden Age Group's proposed 517-521 Station Street development.
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Doubletree by Hilton and East Central Tower define LongRiver's Box Hill aspirations

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The well documented surge in apartments within the CBD over recent years looks to be dissuading developers from the inner city residential apartment sector. Whilst the masses of apartments roaring toward completion have taken the steam out of the apartment market, hotel and student accommodation projects have, in the interim, attracted a proportionately larger slice of the planning pie.

City of Melbourne are handling three prime examples, all of which were submitted late last year, which point toward this trend.

Generally rolled into larger, mixed-use developments over recent years, the smaller stand-alone hotel is making a comeback. Two such examples are in the pipeline, with one potentially accounting for a historic Melbourne facade.

<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/image39_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A new Elizabeth Street perspective. Image: Kyriacou Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="340" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image39_5.jpg?itok=wO8Cwi4L" title="A new Elizabeth Street perspective. Image: Kyriacou Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A new Elizabeth Street perspective. Image: Kyriacou Architects</figcaption></figure>601-603 Elizabeth Street is an eye-catching proposal for a thin 15 level hotel tower encompassing 72 suites.

On little more than a 202sqm site, the design by Kyriacou Architects sees a 49m tower finished in intricate China white concrete panelling which splays above the entrance, forming a unique canopy. Local firm Nicson Property Group is behind the project and hopes to gain approval for the design which involves solely single bedroom suites ranging in size between 17sqm and 23sqm.

Approval of the project would further extend the mixed-use nature of City North, a designated development precinct which includes the Elizabeth Street stretch north of the CBD. Research, medical, commercial, student accommodation, apartment and affordable housing builds have all been delivered in recent years throughout the precinct.

601-603 Elizabeth Street potentially may add another use to City North.

<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/image51_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="244-248 Flinders and design references. Image: Armsby Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image51_6.jpg?itok=Fxp-SA-C" title="244-248 Flinders and design references. Image: Armsby Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>244-248 Flinders and design references. Image: Armsby Architects</figcaption></figure>Yooralla's former headquarters at 244-248 Flinders Street is also subject to a hotel-based planning application.

Moremas Land Pty Ltd is seeking to replace the historic building with a 13 storey complex which includes 215 hotel rooms, consisting of deluxe and standard room options. Also present across ground level is a walkway linking Flinders Street and Degraves Place; this will be the spine for a new retail arcade featuring 6 new leasable spaces and a restaurant fronting Flinders Street.

244-248 Flinders Street is hoping to drop into an area flush with hotel suites. Westin Melbourne, DoubleTree by Hilton, Rendezvous Hotel and Adelphi Hotel are all a short distance away, whilst Apartments.com.au last week noted <a href="/news/peppers-and-vibe-land-new-melbourne-addresses">Vibe Hotel as taking on branding rights for 1 Queen Street</a> nearby.

Originally, the Flinders Street site was home to a single storey shop built in the late 1800's. According to planning documents, "At the start of the 20th century a two storey building "Snows" menswear was built and was then significantly modified by Tattersalls in the late 1950's. The building has continued to undergo alterations internally and externally throughout the years, including major internal and facade works in the late 1990's."

How Melbourne City Council reacts to the proposed demolition of 244-248 Flinders Street in a sensitive strip of heritage buildings remains to be seen.

<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/image53_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The existing building. Image: Armsby Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="219" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image53_2.jpg?itok=k0KkYdii" title="The existing building. Image: Armsby Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The existing building. Image: Armsby Architects</figcaption></figure>Having no such heritage qualms is Zebra House at 303-305 Royal Parade, which will be University of Melbourne's (UoM) latest student accommodation project.

The well known Royal Parade commercial building will in time become another domicile for students, adding to the thousands of current student accommodation beds in development around the inner city. Breathe Architecture and Architectus will oversee the existing building's transformation into 332 student beds.

This will be achieved by repurposing the existing building, and adding a smaller 6 storey wing at the rear of the site.

UoM picked up the ageing building during 2014, reportedly for $25 million. Shortly thereafter UoM declared 303-305 Royal Parade to be an integral part of the institution's strategy of providing at least <a href="http://newsroom.melbourne.edu/news/student-accommodation-boosted-university-melbourne">2,000 new student beds by 2020</a>.

<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/image40_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Zebra House. Planning image: Breathe ARchitecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="460" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image40_6.jpg?itok=rTs-vN05" title="Zebra House. Planning image: Breathe ARchitecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Zebra House. Planning image: Breathe Architecture</figcaption></figure>
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Three Melbourne projects indicative of the times

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Melbourne's dynamic hotel sector continues to see new deals done, further expanding the lengthy queue of short stay accommodation projects in development around the city.

After opening their first Melbourne outlet in Docklands at the turn of 2016, Peppers will take on a new Southbank tower as part of parent company Mantra Group's <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://thehotelconversation.com.au/news/2016/11/30/mantra-group-secures-five-new-hotels/1480459707">aggressive expansion plan throughout Australian and New Zealand</a>. The plan sees Peppers Southbank as one of five new hotels for Mantra Group in the region, with 900 new rooms in total planned.

Peppers Southbank will be sited at 64-68 Clerendon Street, currently a two level commercial building across a 412sqm site. In anticipation of a late 2018 opening date, preliminary demolition has begun onsite.

<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/image84_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Peppers Southbank. Image: Point Polaris"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="350" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image84_5.jpg?itok=dL5HSdH_" title="Peppers Southbank. Image: Point Polaris" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Peppers Southbank. Image: Point Polaris</figcaption></figure>Although <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/building-and-development/property-information/planning-building-registers/Pages/town-planning-permits-register-search-results.aspx?appid=227857">garnering 63 objections</a> during the planning process, 64-68 Clarendon Street received approval during late 2015 for a residential hotel tower. The building's overall appearance has been altered from earlier images, with a cleaner facade, defined podium to Clarendon Street and additional floors added, slightly boosting the overall room count to 165.

Point Polaris are also involved at a <a href="http://www.pointpolaris.com.au/experience/peppers-southbank/">project management level</a>, with Peppers Southbank's development value slated as $60 million.

To the opposite side of the Yarra, and prolific developer Caydon have availed themselves as the driving force behind 1 Queen Street. Formerly home to Fletcher Jones, approval was sought and won by then entity Creative Wealth (Aust) Pty Ltd for a K2LD Architects-designed 26 storey tower above the historic edifice.

<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/image86_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="1 Queen Street. Image: Caydon"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="336" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image86_3.jpg?itok=MRp6kmFU" title="1 Queen Street. Image: Caydon" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>1 Queen Street. Image: Caydon</figcaption></figure>Gone is the plan for 117 residential apartments, with Caydon via its website confirming TOGA Group as the new operator of the now hotel development, under their Vibe brand. 1 Queen Street is in addition to Vibe Hotel Carlton and Vibe Savoy Hotel, also in Melbourne's CBD.

Caydon describes the project as a 23 level, boutique 4.5-star hotel, which is expected to start construction this year for an anticipated completion during early 2019. The building will include 204 hotel rooms, plus an indoor heated pool, gym facilities and retail spaces to street level.

Based on the image below, 1 Queen Street's development will also see the historic Fletcher Jones Queen Street frontage reinstated.

<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/image88_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="1 Queen Street. Image: Caydon"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="272" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image88_4.jpg?itok=h2LJV-J-" title="1 Queen Street. Image: Caydon" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>1 Queen Street. Image: Caydon</figcaption></figure>
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