A who's who of Australian surfing, business and entertainment has emerged on title records following the completion of Esprit Rainbow Bay, the latest boutique beachfront apartment development by former professional surfer Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects.

The completed project has attracted an enviable collection of owners, many with long-standing ties to the southern Gold Coast and the surf culture that has helped define Rainbow Bay and neighbouring Kirra for generations.

Given Gedoun's own background in surfing, it perhaps comes as little surprise that some of Australia's most recognisable surfers have chosen to buy into the development overlooking one of the country's most celebrated stretches of coastline.

Pezet Matheson directors Jayde Pezet and Todd Matheson launched the project in late 2021, and have managed the sales campaign all the way through to its sell-out and recent completion.

<img alt="Esprit" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="08fc6261-b84e-4b09-8a44-66d3067fd0d1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-29%20at%208.51.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4AOcb6ETZwNUnMPdTtz1B3pZAIB_jgZ2" />

Former world champion Mick Fanning, who grew up in Coolangatta, secured an apartment in 2023. He paid&nbsp;$2.07 million. Last year he sold his Bilinga home for over $16 million.

Three-time world champion Joel Parkinson also purchased in the development, alongside big wave surfer Mark Mathews. Mathews bought the most expensive apartment in the building, spending just over $4 million.

Joining them is Rip Curl founder Doug Warbrick, whose company helped shape Australia's global surfing industry over the past five decades.

The appeal of Rainbow Bay has extended well beyond the surfing community.

International DJ Paul Fisher purchased an apartment through his investment vehicle, YLB Developments, an abbreviation of his trademark phrase "You Little Beauty".

The purchase comes as Fisher and his wife Chloe are developing their own luxury apartment project further north in Palm Beach. Their boutique beachfront development, Pescado, comprises just seven apartments on Jefferson Lane, which start from just shy of $6 million. The couple intend to retain the two-level penthouse as their Australian base between international touring commitments.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy and his wife Wendy have also invested in Esprit, purchasing two apartments after spending decades holidaying on the southern Gold Coast. They also have a luxury apartment in Joe Adsett's Rockpool, less than 400m away from Esprit.

<h2>Boutique project draws owner-occupiers</h2>

Esprit launched in 2021 and sold strongly, with buyers drawn to its boutique scale, beachfront position and contemporary design.

The completed development comprises 94 apartments across 11 levels, offering expansive floorplans designed primarily for owner-occupiers rather than the investor market.

Crowning the building is Club Esprit, pitched as being the Gold Coast's first residential rooftop wellness centre. The roof features a&nbsp;25 metre magnesium lap pool, which is surrounded by wet daybeds and poolside cabanas,&nbsp;multiple barbecue areas,&nbsp;a yoga and relaxation play lawn, and a private dining room with a kitchen scullery, bar, lounges, and an outdoor terrace.

The wellness centre is&nbsp;fully equipped with a Technogym, ice bath, infra-red sauna, steam room, thermal room, and treatment room. The roof has views spanning&nbsp;Rainbow Bay, Snapper Rocks and the Pacific Ocean.

<h2>S&amp;S Projects continues to shape Rainbow Bay</h2>

S&amp;S Projects founder Paul Gedoun has become one of the key figures behind Rainbow Bay's evolution over the past several years.

After establishing S&amp;S Projects, Gedoun has focused on delivering lifestyle-driven apartment developments designed primarily for owner-occupiers seeking a permanent coastal home.

Esprit is Gedoun's third completed project in Rainbow Bay, following Flow and Awaken, both of which achieved record prices for the suburb.

He is now delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, a 38-apartment development on Boundary Street that is currently selling, and has no plans to leave the precinct anytime soon. S&amp;S Projects has also lodged plans for its fifth Rainbow Bay development, an 88-apartment project on Boundary Street featuring a strong wellness focus.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">First look: S&amp;S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street</a>

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Joel Robinson

Who's who of buyers revealed as Esprit Rainbow Bay settles

Nature Based Cities (NBC), the not-for-profit organisation focused on improving biodiversity and nature outcomes in urban development, has launched its latest industry design guidelines and accreditation framework, this time targeting precinct-scale residential communities.

The move extends NBC’s influence beyond its initial focus on medium and high-density residential developments. Several projects have already achieved NBC accreditation since the launch of its Medium &amp; High-Density Residential Guidelines in early 2025.

The expansion into masterplanned communities and new residential precincts reflects the growing need for stronger nature-positive benchmarks as Australia’s outer suburban growth corridors continue to expand at pace.

Paul Hameister OAM, NBC Founder and the Executive Chairman of Melbourne developer Hamton who itself leans heavily into nature and biodiversity in its developments, says the&nbsp;nature-first approach to mitigate the effects of climate change has become standard in other parts of the world such as the UK, but Australia is lagging.&nbsp;Australia’s environmentally sustainable design (ESD) rating tools have no minimum mandatory requirements for living landscapes.

“We’ve always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren’t there,” Hameister says. “In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that’s concrete and glass with not a blade of grass. 
 
“The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn’t been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities.”

He says that having now&nbsp;made good progress in supporting developers of medium and high-density residential projects, NBC is now looking to bolster better nature-based decision-making and recognise developers of greenfield projects in the outer ring and large inner-ring brownfield precincts, who want to champion nature and living landscape as a defining feature.

Since 2022, the not-for-profit has sought to remove the roadblocks preventing developers from incorporating nature and living landscapes into their projects, shifting the conversation from the reduction of emissions and grey infrastructure, toward recognising nature as an essential infrastructure.

The New Communities Design Guidelines and Scorecard arm developers with the tools needed to deliver a nature positive outcome for their new communities. Intended to be adopted at the outset of the planning process, the guidelines are designed to help create communities that are cooler, healthier and more resilient while also enhancing social wellbeing and long-term economic value.&nbsp;

New Communities developers seeking accreditation will be independently assessed across a range of key criteria including ecology, tree canopy, biodiversity, and walkability. Once the masterplan is complete and submitted for approval, the scorecard is formalised based on proposed outcomes. Projects that meet the NBC criteria will receive either Commended or Exemplary accreditation outcomes, creating a clear benchmark for nature-positive new communities in Australia.&nbsp;

Janis Fischer, Director at Tract and NBC Advisory Council member, said the development of new communities in our suburbs can have a substantial impact on nature and biodiversity.

"By incorporating nature-based design principles at the inception of a project, developers and their design teams can achieve nature positive outcomes that are good for both people and the planet.’’&nbsp;

NBC accredited New Community projects will gain access to NBC branding and marketing tools to help communicate their nature-based credentials to purchasers and the broader market.&nbsp;

Nature Based Cities: A new Australian benchmark for developing nature-positive new communities

Apartment buildings are increasingly being designed around how people actually live day to day, not just how they want a building to look.

For buyers, that shift is showing up in practical inclusions that respond to changing habits. Work-from-home spaces, EV charging, wellness amenities, secure bike storage and parcel management are becoming part of the broader apartment conversation, reflecting a move toward buildings that reduce friction in everyday life.

Online shopping has become one of the clearest examples of that change.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online. That has made parcel delivery a regular part of apartment living, rather than an occasional inconvenience.

For apartment residents, however, the delivery process can be less straightforward than it is for detached homes. Parcels may be left in lobbies, redirected to Post Offices, missed entirely, or placed under the responsibility of building managers and concierge teams.

That is why secure parcel infrastructure is increasingly being considered alongside more familiar apartment amenities.

<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/-VjjLwoViX0?si=A3k7ws9NX35Uac7_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Australia Post Parcel Lockers offer one way to address the issue. When a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS, then collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN. The parcel is kept secure, accessible and removed from common areas.

The broader Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations across Australia, positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and other accessible locations.

For new apartment projects, the relevance is clear. A building’s amenity offering is no longer only about lifestyle spaces, but also about convenience, security and functionality.

As buyer expectations evolve, secure parcel delivery is becoming part of the same design conversation as flexible working, sustainable transport and resident wellbeing.

It is one less thing for residents to worry about, and another example of apartment design adapting to the way Australians now live.

Apartment design is adapting to the way Australians shop

While school holidays and trips to Europe tend to define the winter property market, there's been no cold snap at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> in North Sydney.

Developer-builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a> sold more than $35 million worth of apartments throughout June, including a $6.8 million apartment that now ranks among the highest apartment sales ever recorded in North Sydney.

SRM Residential agent Ben Stewart said buyer demand throughout June reflected a mix of improving market confidence and longer-term thinking from owner-occupiers.

"We're seeing strong demand from owner-occupiers who are taking a longer-term view," Stewart said.

"Many recognise the opportunity to secure an apartment in an iconic building and premium location while values remain attractive. They may initially lease the property, but the intention is to eventually move in themselves, rather than purchasing purely as an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=367129]

Located at 177 Walker Street, The Walden will deliver 161 one, two, three and four-bedroom residences across a 30-storey tower designed by Rothelowman. Every apartment occupies a corner position, maximising natural light, cross ventilation and views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Sydney Heads and the northern districts.

Rather than a traditional balcony, the residences feature winter gardens that seamlessly extend the open plan living areas, creating versatile spaces for relaxing or entertaining throughout the year. Floor-to-ceiling glazing draws in natural light while showcasing sweeping views from the building's elevated Walker Street position.

Every apartment features high-end Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, and fully integrated appliances.

The larger residences have been planned with distinct entertaining and private zones, with many master suites positioned on corners to capture natural light and harbour views. Walk-in dressing rooms, freestanding baths and refined stone finishes reinforce the house-like feel that has resonated with downsizers and owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6393]

Rothelowman Principal Ben Pomroy said the project was designed to make the most of its unique position overlooking the harbour.

"The Walden is a celebration of all things beautiful, curated for those who expect nothing less than exceptional," Pomroy says.

"Meticulously designed entertaining spaces and light-filled living areas that capitalise on capturing the natural beauty of Sydney's iconic harbour."

Residents will also have exclusive access to The Pavilion, a dedicated amenity building featuring a rooftop pool, wellness studio, gymnasium, sauna, concierge service, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and work-from-home facilities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6402]

The project marks ALAND's first major luxury apartment development in Sydney's inner-city market after more than two decades delivering residential communities across Greater Sydney.

Founder and CEO Andrew Hrsto previously said the rarity of the Walker Street site made it an opportunity the company could not overlook.

"This is a rare opportunity to bring a truly exceptional project to life in one of Sydney's most iconic locations, and to showcase our craftsmanship and design expertise at a world-class level," Hrsto said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6383]

The Walden has been introduced to the market at a time when demand for living in North Sydney is at an all-time high. Billions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure, including the recently opened Victoria Cross Metro station, located just 300 metres from The Walden, providing residents with direct access to the Sydney CBD in just minutes.

Private investment has also transformed the area through the arrival of new retail and dining destinations, elevating the lifestyle offering in what was once considered primarily a commercial precinct rather than an aspirational residential address.

The Walden is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

ALAND records $35 million in sales in North Sydney as The Walden bucks quiet winter selling season

The long-awaited redevelopment of the former Eastlakes Shopping Centre site has reached a major milestone, with Conquest's plans for a new mixed-use precinct officially placed on public exhibition.

The State Significant Development Application would transform the 1.7-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/19a-evans-avenue-eastlakes-nsw-2018">19A Evans Avenue</a> into one of Sydney's largest urban renewal projects, delivering 736 apartments above a new shopping centre anchored by Woolworths, alongside specialty retail, dining, commercial space and new public open spaces.

The public exhibition marks the next chapter for the project after <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/conquest">Conquest</a> acquired the stalled Stage Two development from Crown Group, who completed the first stage across the road prior to their voluntary liquidation.

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5fca22c5-d1ed-4e2c-8801-03f7df1eafc8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland%20podium.png?VersionId=uomwr41nF8CmLUZRDcu3mHQechlbxucS" />

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Designed by DKO Architecture, the proposal comprises four residential buildings ranging from 14 to 18 storeys above a two-level retail podium. The development would deliver 736 apartments, including 74 affordable homes, 215 Build-to-Rent apartments and 521 market residences. Provision has also been made for dual-key apartments, which could increase the total number of dwellings to 877.

At ground level, the shopping centre has been designed as the suburb's new meeting place, anchored by a full-line Woolworths and complemented by a curated mix of fresh food retailers, cafés, restaurants, health services and everyday convenience shopping. Generous pedestrian links and landscaped public spaces will connect the retail precinct through to Jack Mundey Reserve, creating a more walkable and connected neighbourhood.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

"Eastlakes has been overlooked for too long, and this is the community’s moment. We are building a shopping centre and homes, a genuine heart for the suburb, and we genuinely want locals to help shape it."

"We enrich communities through the creation of homes, places, and experiences designed for life, built to last, and owner for generations. That starts with listening, so we warmly encourage everyone with a connection to Eastlakes to view the plans and share their thoughts."

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="22f6fb20-54fb-4bd7-8a92-48fafdd00608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland.png?VersionId=cugp7s9hrMHGJJdYzkeAkrFoQgnF4GXf" />

DKO said the design had been shaped by the site's landscape setting and surrounding open space.

"Our vision for the site embraces its unique Bidjigal identity by blending the residential living with generous landscaping and a material palette inspired by the Bidjigal locality, and celebrating the panoramic views to Botany Bay and the wetlands reserves."

"Taking cues from Country, we seek to harmonise built form with the landscape and lightly touch the earth. By reconnecting, retaining and regenerating existing ecology, and weaving in natural elements, we can deepen our connection to Country."

The landscape strategy extends across the podium and rooftops, incorporating communal gardens, children's play areas, lawns, community gardens, family gathering spaces and extensive tree planting. New landscaped links will also strengthen the connection between the precinct and Jack Mundey Reserve, while publicly accessible open spaces have been integrated throughout the development.

The proposal builds on Conquest's broader placemaking strategy for the site. Through an ongoing partnership, local artist Joe Rashbrook has been appointed Urban Art Curator, working alongside young residents to transform the project's site hoardings into a public art gallery that allows the community to engage with the redevelopment before construction is complete.

Conquest has rapidly expanded its development pipeline since acquiring the Eastlakes site, with more than $6 billion worth of mixed-use projects now in planning across Sydney, including Stanmore, Castlecrag and Waterloo.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

First look: ‘Far more than replacing a shopping centre’ as Conquest unveils 736-home Eastlakes redevelopment

Investor Appeal

Cultivate, the newest apartment project by developer Kincaid, is set to change the face of the small suburb of&nbsp;Heidelberg West&nbsp;when it is completed in late 2023.

Ideally located between the adjoining&nbsp;suburbs of&nbsp;Ivanhoe, Heidelberg and Preston, Cultivate will be the first high-rise in Heidelberg West. It will activate the&nbsp;street-level of Bell Street,&nbsp;with retail space at the foot of the two&nbsp;buildings.

Over 50 per cent of the building has sold, to a good mix of first home buyers, investors, and owner-occupiers, Kincaid&#39;s development manager Joel Martin says.

Investor Patrick Hernandez was one of the latest buyers. He saw a number of benefits&nbsp;to Cultivate, his first investment in Melbourne&#39;s northern suburbs.

We recently sat down with Patrick to discuss why he opted for a Cultivate apartment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=628 project_image_fid=178987]

JR: How did you discover Cultivate?&nbsp;&nbsp;

PH: Via email and Urban&rsquo;s internet website.

JR: What makes Cultivate an attractive investment opportunity?&nbsp;&nbsp;

PH: Good value for money with strong capital growth and long term rental yield.

JR: How do the returns in Heidelberg West compare to investments you have in surrounding areas?&nbsp;

PH: This is my first time to invest in this part of Melbourne, i. e., in the northern suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=628 project_image_fid=180701]

The investment however ranks comparatively though, with&nbsp;an attractive rental yield at 5.2% which is much better than most investment properties I have researched so far.&nbsp;

Capital growth is projected to be around the same level.

JR: Which apartment configuration did you opt for, and what led you to narrow down your decision to the apartment you purchased?&nbsp;

PH: I opted for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, one-park&nbsp;unit as this unit type would give me a much better yield than a one-bedroom unit in the long run.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=628 project_image_fid=180702]

JR: What made you decide to buy?&nbsp;&nbsp;

PH: The demographics and gentrification of the area has a lot of potential for further growth and development!!

JR: Are there features at Cultivate that surprised you?&nbsp;&nbsp;

PH: It has a WALK SCORE of 80, ergo, more room for future growth and development!

[smartcode_project:default project_id=628 project_image_fid=178984]

JR: What do you love most about what Cultivate has to offer residents?&nbsp;&nbsp;

PH: It&rsquo;s gentrification from surrounding but more established suburbs of Ivanhoe, Preston, and Heidelberg will spill over to Heidelberg West to spur further development in the area.&nbsp;

On top of this, La Trobe University has plans to become a &ldquo;world-class University City of the Future with its 235 hectare Campus development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=628 project_image_fid=178988]

Ergo, this will create over 20,000+ jobs over ten years, additional housing for 12,000 students, and educational facilities for 40,000+ students.&nbsp; This will generate $3.5B in GRP over 10 years!

JR: Do you have any advice for budding investors?&nbsp;&nbsp;

PH: Do the maths as this rare property investment in Cultivate is a no brainer!&nbsp; If you are looking for strong capital growth and consistent rental yield, DON&rsquo;T GO PAST CULTIVATE @ HEIDELBERG WEST!&nbsp; It will surely pay you handsome dividends!

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=628]

Over 50 per cent of the building has sold, to a good mix of first home buyers, investors, and owner-occupiers, Kincaid's development manager Joel Martin says

Why investor Patrick Hernandez bought a Cultivate, Heidelberg West apartment: Urban buyer Q&A

Ivanhoe East is one of the most prestigious suburbs in Melbourne at the foot&nbsp;of the CBD, drawing many&nbsp;of their street names from characters in the novel Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott.

The suburb has held strong fundamentals as a blue chip investment suburb and for the past decade has seen strong growth at 5 per cent for houses and 2.5 per cent for apartments per annum in the past decade.

Currently comprised of primarily couples, growing families and older independents, the demographics have been shifting towards younger professionals and younger couples looking to buy their first family home or apartment.

The Grounds meets this growing need for space with more than half of the&nbsp;precinct comprising gardens, public spaces&nbsp;and a central landscaped Village Green, designed by Memla. There&#39;s plenty of space for those raising or looking to start a family.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5806 project_image_fid=168937]

The Grounds is comprised of an exclusive collection of three apartment buildings, each architecturally designed to respond to their own address; Wilfred, Wamba and The Boulevard. There is also the Oak Terraces, located off Cedric Street, offering a limited collection of townhomes.

The homes&nbsp;are&nbsp;finished with hardwood flooring and a choice of colours and finishes, offering ensuites and walk-in robes, or an additional living room or study depending on the buyers needs.

All homes are complete with a host of luxury features, from high quality&nbsp;European kitchen appliances and larder, to double glazing and pure wool carpets.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5806 project_image_fid=168932]

Prices start from $1.1 million&nbsp;for a two-bedroom apartment, with three-bedroom apartments starting from&nbsp;$1.31 million. There&#39;s a&nbsp;a limited selection of four-bedroom apartments, which are priced at at $2.35 million. The small collection of townhouses&nbsp;range from $1.89 million to $2.4 million.

The townhouse prices sit right in the range of the suburb median, while the apartment prices are in line with their size, premium quality and design. The apartments are 20 per cent to&nbsp;30 per cent&nbsp;larger&nbsp;the median size for two bedders&nbsp;in Melbourne.

Just 15 minutes from the CBD, there is plenty on offer on location with&nbsp;some of the best Ivanhoe East dining and shopping&nbsp;destinations like&nbsp;Upper Heidelberg Road&nbsp;and&nbsp;Templestowe Road minutes away.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=5806]

Ivanhoe East has held strong fundamentals as a blue chip investment suburb and for the past decade has seen strong growth across every segment of the market

jordan_55689

Why there's been downsizer and upsizer interest at the Ivanhoe East apartments and townhouses in The Grounds

Canberra&#39;s largest developer Geocon Group are directly contributing to the&nbsp;next wave of ACT&rsquo;s multi-billion dollar redevelopment with&nbsp;their Woden Valley precinct WOVA.

WOVA, short for WOden ReVAmped, is set to host a revitalised residential and mixed-use community precinct,&nbsp;located along the $1.9 billion dollar future light rail.

Woden is also set to host the largest healthcare infrastructure commitment ever undertaken by the ACT Government with Canberra Hospital&rsquo;s $500 million,&nbsp;40,000 sqm&nbsp;facility to meet the fast-growing suburb&#39;s need. In addition to a $300 million Canberra Institute of Technology campus build on the site of the&nbsp;existing Woden bus interchange site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7947 project_image_fid=186441]

Many&nbsp;apartments also benefit from the ACT government&#39;s recent scrapping of stamp duty for off-the-plan apartments and townhouses up to $500,000 with WOVA&#39;s&nbsp;one-bedroom apartments falling into that bracket. The $374,900 price tag is well within this cut-off and $50,000 below the median price for one-bedroom apartments in the area.

The two bedroom apartments across the four towers are similarly affordable, with prices ranging from $513,900 to $574,900, they are ~$75,000 below the ACT median of $620,050.

Rent&#39;s have seen similarly strong growth amongst much of Phillip, where Woden is located, with median rents up 2.3 per cent per capita over the past decade.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7947 project_image_fid=186440]

Designed by the award-winning&nbsp;Fender Katsalidis&nbsp;and Oculus Urban Design, WOVA offers buyer the choice of&nbsp;three different colour schemes.

Located at the heart of a vibrant new urban village&nbsp;there are dozens of cafes and eateries surrounding WOVA, beyond its own commercial and residential ground floor.&nbsp;

There&#39;s also more than&nbsp;3,000 sqm of landscaped gardens across the precinct.

Beyond the future light rail, the&nbsp;Canberra Airport is nearby as well as multiple bus stops and main roads, all of which provide convenient access to Canberra&rsquo;s city centre just 10-15 minutes away.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=7947]

Canberra's largest developer, Geocon Group, are right at the centre of the next wave of ACT’s multi-billion dollar redevelopment with their Woden Valley precinct WOVA

Why investors are shortlisting Geocon's Canberra apartments, WOVA

The number of new loan commitments amongst investors has continued to see steady growth, up 1.8% in July, according to the ABS.

While not as exaggerated as earlier this year, ABS data shows that new loan commitments by investors has risen 98.7% for the year. After a rise of 0.7% in June, the level is the highest seen since the all-time high in April 2015.

This can be attributed in part to interest rates remaining at or near record lows, while the skyrocketing growth towards the start of 2021 was due in part largely to a number of government initiatives including the HomeBuilder Grant.

With investor loan commitments chugging along solidly, Urban has highlighted the developments in the suburbs most popular amongst investors&nbsp;for the month of August.

<h2>Geelong</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5559 project_image_fid=168395]

Geelong has remained consistently popular among Investors, making an appearance on many of Urban's top investors suburb lists with a particularly strong showing this month. The suburb had more hits than second and third place, Footscray and Moonee Ponds put together.

For good reason, as one of Urban's most popular projects, Ryrie Home, find's itself in Geelong.&nbsp;Ryrie Home sits in the heart of the regional city’s art precinct, pitching its proximity to Melbourne and cheaper housing prices as a drawcard for investors and owner-occupiers alike.

The project was listed as Urban's most popular investor project for Q1 2021 thanks to Geelong’s low vacancy rate of 1.7 per cent and the 10 per cent per annum growth in apartments over the last three years.

And the transport improvements in Geelong, including the $100 million fast rail and the $6.7 billion Westgate Tunnel which will shave 20 minutes off any commute, has investors keen on securing a property in the growing area.

Read more: <a href="/news/vic/why-ryrie-home-geelong-apartments-have-been-a-hit-with-investors">Why Ryrie Home has been so popular with investors</a>.

<h2>Moonee Ponds</h2>

Investors have been attracted to Moonee Ponds over August, with the two headline projects Thomas Street and Feehan Row proving the most popular.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=103179 project_image_fid=167494]

Thomas Street&nbsp;is the first apartment building within the $2 billion Moonee Valley Park master-plan, currently underway by property developer Hamton and financier HostPlus.

Rising six storeys,&nbsp;Thomas Street&nbsp;was designed by the award-winning&nbsp;Rothelowman, who partnered with Hamton for much of the residential work across the project, including Feehan Row, the terrace and house development in the master-plan’s first release.

Being a part of the Moonee Valley Park has residents living alongside&nbsp;the crowning jewel of the master-plan, the horse-racing club now known as The Valley. With a new grandstand, the Moonee Valley Racing Club aims to be the premier night racing venue and is already home to major races like the Cox Plate.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102580 project_image_fid=167438]

<h2>Southbank</h2>

Southbank's Melbourne Square is another development consistently tracking with as one of Urban's most popular among both investors and first home buyers.

OSK Property are the group behind the boutique collection of homes at Melbourne Square.

Featuring four distinct themes, it has been architecturally designed by Cox Architecture, with interiors by designer Sue Carr, creating open-plan spaces which make the most of the spectacular city views on offer.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2929 project_image_fid=139894]

Each bedroom boasts sweeping&nbsp;views via floor-to-ceiling glazing, plus the master suites offer a panoramic city vista.

Set for completion in mid 2021, amenities include a full-line Woolworths and other shops as well as resort-style facilities including pools, sauna, spa, gymnasium and a yoga room.

<h2>Ivanhoe</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22308 project_image_fid=75052]

Investors have shown interest in&nbsp;Blue Earth Group's latest apartment development, Ivanhoe Gardens, in Melbourne's north-east, which will offer&nbsp;over 2,000 sqm of dedicated amenity space.

The development, built across two stages by leading builder Hamilton Marino to designs by CHT Architects, has 13 different entertainment zones.

Ivanhoe Gardens is situated just off Bell Street, Ivanhoe’s main arterial road. It is near a significant employment hub, with Victoria’s largest medical precinct and La Trobe University within a 4-kilometre radius.

The development is made up of two buildings, Bloomfield, which is stage one of the development, and Linden &amp; Arbour, which is stage two.

The number of new loan commitments amongst investors has continued to see steady growth, up 1.8% in July ABS data found

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