A landmark former orphanage site in Surrey Hills could be transformed into a new residential community under plans lodged by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/antipodean-land-developments">Antipodean Land Developments</a> that would deliver 76 apartments and townhouses while restoring some of the suburb's most significant heritage buildings.

The burgeoninng Melbourne-based developer has submitted plans for the 9,158 sqm site at 1 Kent Road and 24 Durham Road, home to the former St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children, a historic institutional complex dating back to the late 19th century. The proposal seeks to adaptively reuse several heritage buildings while introducing two new four-storey residential buildings set within extensive landscaped grounds.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> and Kerstin Thompson Architects, the project has been conceived as a contemporary residential village embedded within a restored heritage precinct. The development team describes the design approach as "The Village in the Garden," with new buildings positioned among mature landscaping by OCULUS and significant heritage structures.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44ec8c1b-c0b6-44ae-859e-5811b3e6a023" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.png?VersionId=p.p1_KFh4iQoV4nisdnPfQBAsWNi7m79" />

The proposal would deliver 76 dwellings comprising a mix of apartments and duplex-style residences, significantly increasing housing supply on one of the largest privately held residential landholdings in Surrey Hills. The development includes 127 car spaces, 24 bicycle spaces and more than 1,000 sqm of communal amenity, with the existing chapel building earmarked for conversion into resident facilities.

According to the planning submission, the project centres on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the site's most significant heritage assets, including the original c.1889 St Joseph's building, the chapel designed by architect Augustus Andrew Fritsch, and the historic brick perimeter walls and entry gates. The proposal also incorporates the retention of other contributory buildings including the former infirmary and school building.

Tract Consultants, in the planning report accompanying the application, said the scheme had been shaped through extensive heritage analysis and design development.

"The shared vision for the Site by the project team has culminated in a scheme which successfully breathes life back into a historic site while delivering upon the objectives of Victoria's Housing Statement in a carefully curated and contextually responsive manner."

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7263b7d8-95ea-400f-9531-6ca7d22c3c33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29.png?VersionId=4cR1tiWOsDpgxEOwZi5vVFcyvvOsYkIE" />

The proposal is being assessed under Victoria's Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway. As part of the application, three per cent of the project's residential development cost would be contributed to the Social Housing Growth Fund. The development would also provide a diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences targeting a broader range of buyers than typically found in Surrey Hills' detached housing market.

Sustainability initiatives include an anticipated 66 per cent BESS score, natural cross-ventilation to 80 per cent of apartments, 28 per cent deep soil landscaping and a canopy cover outcome exceeding local planning requirements. The proposal also sets aside more than 1,083 sqm for communal indoor and outdoor resident amenity spaces.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33fad46f-fe26-4d0a-acfd-6b776e1c6a3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design.png?VersionId=D9F6WVSyYCtGvSUmith35LRp6R7PQkw_" />

Planning documents describe the property as one of the largest underutilised residential sites in Surrey Hills, arguing it presents a rare opportunity to introduce "missing middle" housing in an established inner-eastern suburb while preserving and revitalising a significant heritage precinct.

Antipodean Land Developments has built a reputation for design-focused residential projects across Melbourne, particularly in the medium-density sector. Previous developments include Neighbourhood in Brunswick East, delivered with Breathe Architecture, and Balfe Park Lane, designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

They've been very active in site acquisition as they build out their future development pipeline. They recently launched Thornubury House, 45 apartments above a mix of commercial, retail, and food and beverage tenancies, and have plans for a boutique project in Fitzroy and another <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/antipodean-plan-apartments-for-deepdenes-missing-middle-on-whitehorse-road">"missing middle" project</a> on Deepdene's Whitehorse Road.

Joel Robinson

First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/auyin-property-development">Auyin</a> is the latest to turn to the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program in an effort to secure approval for its long-planned, mixed-use project in Elsternwick.

In 2018, Auyin lodged plans with Glen Eira City Council for a 14-storey building, however Council approved a reduced eight-storey scheme. A subsequent VCAT appeal in 2019 upheld the eight-storey height limit.

The project was later amended to nine storeys, but Auyin is now seeking to revive something closer to its original vision. The developer argues that the planning context has evolved significantly over the past decade, particularly within the Elsternwick Activity Centre, where higher-density development has increasingly been encouraged along Glen Huntly Road.

The proposal would transform the 1,239 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/7-12-horne-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">7-15 Horne Street</a>, opposite Elsternwick Railway Station, into a 13-storey residential and retail development designed by CBG Architects, with 40 apartments

The site currently comprises three commercial properties.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5f465dd4-509b-4082-a669-0253b313914b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20podium.png?VersionId=72frWi0SmQ5AVJ3ARRhX5ILUYObhTm7x" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 25 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom residences above 200 sqm of retail space at ground level. Residents would have access to a 90 sqm wellness facility, a 351 sqm communal indoor and outdoor terrace on the third level, and extensive landscaped areas throughout the development. A publicly accessible 135 sqm plaza would be created on the north-east corner of the site, providing seating, landscaping, and a new gathering space adjoining Horne Street.

The design adopts a four-storey podium that references the finer-grain character of the surrounding streetscape, with the upper tower recessed behind generous setbacks on all boundaries.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e637e763-2abc-4c34-a0aa-5c7ad36fae18" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20open.png?VersionId=J1AoOpZgTyaF.KeeFSX6lMjEScX8KKRi" />

A key element of the proposal is the reconfiguration and widening of the surrounding laneways. Vehicle access would be retained from Lois Lane, with upgraded pedestrian connections linking Ross Street and Horne Street. The development would provide 58 residential car spaces, two retail car spaces, and 52 bicycle spaces across two basement levels and ground-floor facilities.

Architecturally, the building draws inspiration from the established character of Elsternwick Village. The façade combines dark charcoal brickwork, textured concrete, bronze-toned metal detailing, and extensive planting integrated into podium and tower levels. The design also incorporates a chamfered corner treatment and publicly accessible plaza intended to strengthen pedestrian activity around the station precinct.

Elsternwick's last new development completion was&nbsp;EVA Elsternwick by Pitard late last year. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/milieu-property">Milieu</a> is working away on its nature-led neighbourhood, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elsternwick-gardens-by-milieu-8-gordon-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick Gardens</a>, on Gordon Street, with its first stage expected to complete next year.

First look: Auyin seeks mixed-use apartment project in growing Elsternwick Activity Centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/otium-parkdale-123-125-como-parade-east-parkdale-vic-3195">Otium Parkdale</a>, the 13-residence boutique development by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/huxtable-property">Huxtable Property</a>, has entered its final stages of delivery, with completion expected within the coming month and more than half of the residences sold.

The Como Parade East project is nearing the finish line at a time when opportunities to purchase new apartments in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parkdale-vic-3195">Parkdale</a> remain exceptionally limited. Fewer than 10 per cent of dwellings in the bayside suburb are apartments, making developments like Otium a relatively rare addition to a market traditionally dominated by detached housing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5427]

The three-level development comprises 13 residences, including ten two-bedroom apartments and three larger three-bedroom homes, all positioned above a secure basement car park.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/almeida-architects">Almeida Architects</a> with a strong connection to its coastal surroundings, Otium combines red brick, exposed concrete and dark metal detailing with integrated landscaping and greenery. Expansive glazing, generous balconies and terraces have been incorporated throughout the design to maximise natural light and reinforce indoor-outdoor living.

Inside, the residences feature engineered European oak flooring, natural and reconstituted stone benchtops, Bosch kitchen appliances, ducted heating and cooling, lift access and secure entry systems. The larger three-bedroom residences on the upper level have been designed with house-like proportions, while the two-bedroom apartments prioritise functionality, flexibility and low-maintenance living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5421]

The project is now in its final stages, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/labco">Labco</a> completing the remaining landscaping and external finishing works following the completion of the residences' interiors.

Otium's location within the heart of Parkdale continues to underpin its appeal. Residents will be just steps from local cafés, restaurants, shops and the newly elevated Parkdale Station, while the beach is less than a kilometre away.

With the project tracking ahead of schedule, buyers can currently secure a residence with a five per cent deposit and benefit from settlement terms of up to eight months. The advanced stage of construction also provides buyers with the opportunity to walk through the near-complete residences and experience the quality and finishes firsthand ahead of completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134974]

Otium Parkdale enters final month before completion as rare apartment opportunity nears sellout

A new boutique apartment development is entering the market in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chermside-qld-4032">Chermside</a>, with Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ausdev">Ausdev</a> bringing 33 residences to a well-connected pocket of Brisbane's north.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/parkdrive-apartments-chermside-25-sammells-drive-chermside-qld-4032">Parkdrive Apartments</a>, at 25 Sammells Drive, will comprise a mix of one- and two-bedroom residences positioned within walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, and Bradbury Park.

Established in 1989, Ausdev has a long-standing presence across both development and construction, with Parkdrive Apartments representing its latest residential project in Brisbane's northern suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363778]

The development has been designed around open-plan living and natural light, with residences featuring stone benchtops, timber cabinetry, BOSCH appliances, and private balconies that extend the living areas outdoors.

Kitchens are positioned as the centrepiece of the homes, incorporating natural material palettes and integrated appliances, while bathrooms have been designed with a focus on functionality and understated finishes.

Residents will have access to a communal barbecue and entertaining area on Level 3, providing shared outdoor space within the development. Secure parking and lift access are also incorporated into the building.

The project will deliver a limited collection of 33 apartments, with one-bedroom residences priced from $749,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Beyond the building itself, the location places residents within easy reach of several of Chermside's key amenities. Bradbury Park is around 350 metres away, while Westfield Chermside is approximately 1.3 kilometres from the site. The Prince Charles Hospital is located within 750 metres, and the Chermside Bus Interchange is around 1.5 kilometres away, providing connections across Brisbane.

Parkdrive Apartments adds to the growing residential pipeline in Chermside, a suburb that continues to evolve as a major retail, healthcare, and transport hub for Brisbane's north.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152125]

Ausdev introduces boutique Parkdrive Apartments to Chermside's growing centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skymark-group">Skymark</a>'s boutique Cronulla development Solis has secured a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy through Resilience Insurance, providing buyers of the 16-residence building on Ewos Parade with structural and waterproofing protection that extends a decade beyond the building's completion.

Currently under construction and due for completion in late 2027, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/solis-cronulla-8-ewos-parade-cronulla-nsw-2230">Solis</a> is one of a small number of new developments in the Sutherland Shire to carry Resilience LDI coverage, a distinction that carries increasing weight as buyer confidence in the off-the-plan sector continues to be shaped by how developers stand behind their product.

Latent Defects Insurance, which entered the Australian market in 2022 when Resilience Insurance was approved to offer the cover, protects buyers against major structural or waterproofing defects for ten years post-completion. Unlike traditional statutory warranties, it operates as a first-resort policy, if a covered defect arises, the insurer responds directly, without the buyer needing to pursue the builder or developer through a lengthy claims process.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent has noted that the product addresses something fundamental to the new apartment market.

"The overarching feedback from prospective buyers in the new development space is that they want more confidence and assurances around the quality of the build," Nugent says.

"Resilience Insurance Latent Defects Insurance not only gives them complete peace of mind for 10 years, but it shows the developer they are buying from is standing by their product."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370898]

For Solis, the Resilience LDI policy adds a meaningful layer of accountability to an already considered project. The development comprises nine two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom residences, including one dual-level three-bedroom apartment, across a five-storey building on Ewos Parade, positioned between Shelly Beach and South Cronulla.

Garden apartments connect directly to private landscaped courtyards, while upper-level homes capture beach views to the east from level four and above.&nbsp;

All 16 residences include at least one balcony or courtyard, and select apartments on the upper floors feature bar areas and secondary flexible living spaces.

Hiba Sander, Managing Director of Skymark, says Solis offers a rare balance, nestled between the quiet beauty of secluded beaches and the lively charm of South Cronulla's esplanade.

"It's a place to choose your pace and live gracefully, seaside'," Sander says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370900]

The architecture, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ida-design-group">IDA Design Group</a>'s Michael Trinh, draws from the natural erosion patterns of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/cronulla-nsw-2230">Cronulla</a>'s sandstone headlands, translating the organic forms of the coastline into soft curves, pavilion-style massing, and a material palette chosen for longevity in a salt-tinged environment.&nbsp;

Textured natural stone, soft renders, and timber-look battens reference the tones of the surrounding cliffs, while the building has been oriented to maximise natural light and passive ventilation, with primary living spaces facing north and east to capture morning sun and sea breezes.

"At Solis, our aim was to create architecture that feels quietly confident, grounded in natural materials like stone and timber, and elevated by light and landscape," Trinh says.&nbsp;

"The buildings are designed to sit gently within their coastal surrounds, with expansive glazing and abundant greenery creating a seamless dialogue between inside and out."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370897]

Interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hot-black">Hot Black</a> carry the same material language through to every room. Kitchens feature integrated Gaggenau appliances, sculpted stone benchtops, and Lo &amp; Co joinery, while bathrooms feature natural stone, timber, and brushed metal finishes.&nbsp;

Hot Black Founder and Design Director Sophie Safrin describes the intent as one of considered restraint: "At Solis, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to create a timeless coastal retreat, calm, refined, and effortlessly liveable. From natural finishes to seamless indoor-outdoor flow, Solis offers a quiet elegance that's deeply connected to its surroundings.

The landscape, designed by Julian Brady of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/sitedesignstudios">Site Design Studios</a>, treats green space as an integral part of the resident experience rather than an afterthought.&nbsp;

"Gentle curves and layered native plantings mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean," Julian Brady says, "creating a serene connection between architecture and place."&nbsp;

Coco Republic has provided bespoke furniture packages tailored to the project's coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370899]

Skymark has an established track record in the Sutherland Shire, with a portfolio spanning Cronulla, Woolooware and Burraneer that includes Isla, Sylva, Bask, Shells, Sula and Mist. Securing LDI on Solis reflects a broader shift in how the developer is positioning its buildings to buyers, at a time when Resilience Insurance expects the policy to become mandatory in New South Wales by 2028.

Sales at Solis are launching soon through Ray White Projects, with an official event scheduled for 11 June. Enquire for more information.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150499]

Skymark takes out 10-year Resilience Insurance LDI at Solis Cronulla

Keystone

The Melbourne developer Keystone Property Group is offering investors in their new Footscray apartment development Ovation a guaranteed five percent yield for two years following the development&rsquo;s completion this time next year.

Investors have been creeping back into the property market in recent months, with investment activity across Victoria up 13.7 per cent in March.

Footscray ranks highly as an attractive investment proposition, with $1.2 billion committed to infrastructure, as well as the $1.5 billion investment granted to the redevelopment of the Footscray Hospital, where works began earlier this year.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5490 project_image_fid=78492]

The western suburb is tightly held, with a vacancy rate of just one per cent, compared to the wider Melbourne vacancy rate of 1.9 per cent.

Population in Melbourne&rsquo;s west is also forecasted to rise by 180 per cent between 2016 and 2041.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5490 project_image_fid=78497]

The Buckley Street development of 131 apartments designed by KUD has a walking score of 90, located just 300 metres from Middle Footscray Station, a tram which is less than 15 minutes in to the Melbourne CBD. Nearby there&rsquo;s also the popular restaurant and bar strips of Victoria Street and Barkly Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5490 project_image_fid=78493]

Ovation will likely be appealing for student renters given its proximity to the nearby Victoria University, ranked in the top two per cent of universities in the world by Times Higher Education magazine. Just over 50 per cent of the popular of Footscray are aged between 20 and 39, considered to be an ideal renter demographic.

Keystone are also offering investors a free blinds package for their apartments.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=5490]

Investors have been creeping back into the property market in recent months, with investment activity across Victoria up 13.7 per cent in March

Keystone offer investors guaranteed rental yield at new Footscray apartment development Ovation

First home buyers have propped the real estate market up since the pandemic hit Australia last March.

A country-wide trend, Victoria saw 44 per cent more loan commitments to first home buyers over the 12 months to April.

And in attempt to gain the market share, astute developers&nbsp;are prepared to offer their own incentives to attract the growing cohort of buyers looking to get on the ladder for the first time.

In their latest Footscray apartment development Ovation, Keystone Property Group are offering first home buyers a free car when a buyer settles on a purchase of an apartment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5490 project_image_fid=78494]

Each first home buyer will be given a brand new Volkswagen Polo, valued at $25,000.

Entry level apartments in Ovation, the Buckley Street development designed by KUD Architects to reflect Footscray&rsquo;s industrial past, start from $367,500.

The one bedroom apartments with a car space start from $410,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5490 project_image_fid=78497]

Two bedroom apartments are priced from $540,000, still well below Melbourne&rsquo;s growing $605,000 apartment median. There are a handful of three bedroom apartments, which span 143&nbsp;sqm, which start from $900,000.

There will be 131 apartments in the contemporary building set in a prime location within walking distance to Middle Footscray Station.

Completion of Ovation is slated for mid-2022.

Astute developers are acutely aware of the impact first home buyers have on the off the plan property market, and are prepared to offer their own incentives



First home buyers at Ovation Footscray given free car on purchase

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Following the launch of Tarneit's latest mixed-use precinct development, Keystone, Urban.com.au caught up with Akron Property Development Director Andrew Harvey about the importance of creating highly walkable, connected communities – and essentially prioritising place over product.

Urban.com.au: Congratulations on the launch of Keystone, Tarneit! What drew you to this site in particular?

Andrew Harvey: Akron is pleased that Wyndham understood our vision for a highly walkable, connected community to be established that brings a variety of attractive inner-urban features to this suburb.  The Planning Permit for Keystone is the result of a year of planning, urban design and detailed engineering investigations in consultation with Wyndham City Council. Akron was attracted to Tarneit because it is exceptionally well-positioned for future growth. Keystone is only 26 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD and is very close to Werribee, Hoppers Crossing and Williams Landing.  Keystone is already surrounded by established schools, shopping and community infrastructure.  Coupled with the State commitment to upgrade the adjacent railway with future station builds, the site will be an easy walk from two future railway stations at Riverdale and Tarneit West. 

U: When acquiring a site in an outer suburb, do you believe interest will be generated from those looking to commute to/from the CBD or buyers that are keen to live, work and play in Tarneit?

AH: Tarneit won’t be an outer suburb for much longer!  People who know the Western suburbs will know that Tarneit and Werribee are poised to tap into the economic development that will follow from State and local economic investment. Investors and our Keystone residents will be attracted by the close proximity to the CBD, and the established infrastructure close by.  Easy road or rail access exists to the City, Werribee, Geelong and growth areas such as Melton and Bacchus Marsh to the north.  Tarneit has simple access via the Princes Freeway to the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast, enabling a genuine work-life balance.

U: If Melbourne is to become a polycentric city, do you believe the City of Wyndham is equipped to handle the urban sprawl, and accommodate the needs of new residents? 

Wyndham City has tremendous potential.  Wyndham City is one of Australia’s fastest-growing municipalities, expected to almost double in size by 2041. It is well placed on the road and rail links between Melbourne and Geelong, making it an area of great economic significance that extends beyond its own region, impacting the rest of the state and Australia. Affordable housing, geographic appeal, high birth rates, increased migration and major infrastructure investments are driving forces behind Wyndham’s position as the epicentre of western Melbourne’s population growth. This growth will transform Wyndham from a City of 257,000 people in 2018 to nearly double in size to 489,000 by 2041. According to ABS data between 2016 and 2017, Wyndham was Victoria’s largest growing municipality, increasing its population by 14,092 people, or 6.2%.

What local infrastructure is currently on the cards in the areas surrounding Keystone?

In December 2018 the Western Melbourne Group (WMG) obtained a licence from Football Federation Australia (FFA) to field a team in the national A-league, the Western United Football Club. As part of a public-private-partnership development with Wyndham City Council, WMG will deliver an international standard sporting precinct just to the west of Keystone which will include a 15,000 seat main stadium, a 5,000 seat second stadium, training pitches and high-performance centre. Adjacent to the sporting precinct on the southern side of the site, Council will also deliver the Riverdale town centre. With all of this proposed work, the construction of the Sayers Rd Railway Station in Tarneit needs to be brought forward to capitalise on this economic development opportunity. Delivering this station will allow for greater access to the privately funded 15,000 seat stadium being built and will enable business and communities in the area to thrive. The future Riverdale Railway Station at Sayers Road and the proposed Tarneit West station on Davis Road are either side of Keystone and are both within a two-kilometre stroll.

How has the urban planning agency Roberts Day assisted with the master planning process of Keystone, and what were the key takeaways from their input?

We wanted visionary urban design and planning and through our work with Roberts Day, we have tapped into best practice design philosophies through the thought leadership of Mike Day and Emma Petersen.  Placemaking has been a focus, not a cookie-cutter subdivision mentality. We wanted to bring some of the best of the city to Tarneit, and a phrase we use is “more urban than suburban”.  A key focus of this development is the evolution of specially designed elevated townhome lots, fronting leafy, tree-lined boulevards where walking, cycling and conversation with your neighbour are given higher importance.  Landscaped rear laneways, with studios above garages, will give these lots an element of lifestyle flexibility not seen in surrounding suburbs. The Keystone design will promote safer walking and cycling to school, shops and recreation as a fundamental part of everyday activity.  We can‘t wait to do some longer-term studies to measure the positive impact that our design will have on the health and wellbeing of our future residents.

Do you believe that there is enough incentive for developers to create precincts which have a strong community focus like Keystone? Or is it primarily down to company ethos?

The recent correction in the housing market means that the “fear of missing out” has lessened, and astute buyers can take their time to understand what makes a quality development.  Akron has set its ethos on seeing beyond the present day, and we want to leave a legacy of good design and great places for people to make home. Akron partners with like-minded visionary and enthusiastic design teams to incorporate leading design principles, and we try to bring the best of our favourite places in Melbourne and around the world to each Akron neighbourhood.  If we don’t design places that we’d like to live in, how can we expect others to understand our vision and make Keystone home? Akron recognises that systems like the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star Rating, and the UDIA EnviroDevelopment certification can be badges which verify Akron’s commitment to sustainability and independently certify the quality of our Keystone vision. 

<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/akron_linkedin_blog_1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Akron Property team"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="304" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/akron_linkedin_blog_1.png?itok=gJafKYQj" title="Akron Property team" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Akron Property team</figcaption></figure>How do you see Keystone evolving over the years?

Akron is committed to early provision of community infrastructure, and the Riverdale North Primary school, in the heart of Keystone will be at the heart of the community. We are working with the Council to refine designs for a community hub opposite the primary school.  We see early provision of a childcare centre and kindergarten opposite the school as priorities, supported by some small shops. We will be working with innovative, quality builders to build and display innovative medium density house product and innovative home office townhouses.  We are committed to exploring a diversity of home types, for different family structures, including singles and couples. We’d love to see a range of home types that cater to different stages of life.

What do you think residents will love most about living at Keystone?

The design approach seeks to encourage physical activity, and we hope for a real sense of health and wellness to evolve. Our green streets will be planted with double rows of trees and will be attractive streets that encourage walking and cycling.  Most local streets point at the school, so we think there will be a high proportion of kids that will walk, ride, skate to school. We will relocate our sales office from Leakes Road into first completed stage, and we hope to partner with Council for some pop-up recreational facilities before council builds the dedicated Active Open Space sports ovals and facilities in years to come.  

Given your experience working on the creation of an international award-winning Ellenbrook Community in Perth, what do you think are the key features of a holistic, modern community? What would you like to see more of in new mixed-use precincts across Australia?

Authentic communities thrive on diversity. This applies to the people who live there, the building typologies and the streets, parks and urban places which will emerge.  When the developer shows a better understanding of how people want to live, houses become homes, and people become neighbours.  Compact living, useable verandahs and rooftop terraces are exciting trends that enable social interaction and community engagement.  We’d love to see radical changes in the building typologies that are accessible to people in Tarneit, and we will be working with our building partners to truly innovate. 
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