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>.

Joel Robinson

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

The long-planned transformation of Brisbane's historic Shafston Estate has taken another major step, with Capella Hotel Group announced as the luxury hospitality partner behind what will become Brisbane's first branded residences.

The project, to be known as Capella Residences Brisbane, is being delivered by Verso Projects at the landmark Kangaroo Point riverfront estate, with completion targeted for 2029.

The announcement follows a series of planning changes to the project over recent years. The site was originally approved in 2023 for a 15-level, 37-apartment development designed by Rothelowman for Burgundy Group before Verso Projects took over the 10,070 sqm riverfront holding and lodged revised plans with Kerry Hill Architects to increase the development to a 25-level tower with 51 apartments.

The latest announcement confirms Capella Hotel Group will bring its branded residential offering to the project, marking just the second Capella Residences development globally after Seoul, and the group's first branded residential project in Australia.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/23-castlebar-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Castlebar Street development</a> will centre around the restoration of the heritage-listed Shafston House, one of Brisbane's oldest residences, originally constructed in 1851 by Reverend Robert Creyke as a single-storey cottage known as Ravenscott.

<img alt="Capella" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b9f4ce5-638f-4d6b-8082-3ca7e4b75fca" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-09%20at%207.20.41%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=f7aeqsW_DzOJI4FymWb3lD8NptSfsP7q" />

Capella said the project aligns with its focus on heritage-led developments, with the Brisbane estate combining the restored historic residence with a new luxury apartment tower and hospitality-inspired resident amenities.

Residents will have access to the Capella Living Room, a concierge-led communal space inspired by the group's luxury hotels, alongside landscaped gardens, six swimming pools, wellness and recreation facilities.

The broader estate will also include two riverfront homes, a six-berth private marina, porte cochère arrival experience, secure basement parking and a new section of public riverwalk along the Brisbane River frontage.

The heritage Postal Depot Building will also be retained and repurposed as a guest house, in line with the revised development plans.

The project represents another evolution for the site, which Kerry Hill Architects previously described as a rare opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's most significant heritage estates while creating a new benchmark for apartment living.

"The Shafston Estate provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's finest heritage precincts and to reinstate residential use as a unique site perched on the edge of Kangaroo Point," Kerry Hill Architects said in its Urban Context Report accompanying the planning submission.

"The project will celebrate excellence in sub-tropical residential design, setting a new benchmark for vertical living in Brisbane."

Verso Projects, which now has an $8.5 billion development pipeline spanning more than 6,000 dwellings across apartments, townhouses, retail and commercial projects, said the partnership with Capella would elevate the development beyond a traditional residential project.

"We feel honoured to be restoring Shafston Estate to its former glory, elevating it to new heights of luxury and excellence underpinned by Capella's distinctive service ethos and design philosophy, and making it a standout landmark in Brisbane," Verso Projects CEO Steve Laffey said.

"By partnering with Capella, globally recognised for its refined approach to luxury hospitality and deep respect for cultural and historical context, we will elevate this project beyond a residential offering into a world-class destination."

Capella Hotel Group President Roland Fasel said Brisbane's emergence as a global city made it the right location for the company's Australian residential debut.

"Brisbane is a city on the cusp of something remarkable, and Capella Residences is our commitment to being part of that story," Fasel said.

"The Capella residential experience is more than luxury. It is about a sense of belonging to a place with deep meaning."

Private appointments have now opened for the project, with a display suite expected to open in late 2026 ahead of the planned 2029 completion.

Capella to launch Brisbane's first branded residences at Shafston House, Kangaroo Point

Lewis Land's latest apartment release within its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan is targeting one of the Gold Coast's fastest-growing buyer groups, with almost a third of apartments at Solis priced below $1 million.

The seven-storey building at Biggera Waters will comprise 91 apartments, including 24 one-bedroom residences starting from $778,000, a price point Lewis Land says is aimed squarely at first home buyers struggling to enter the Gold Coast market.

<img alt="Harbour Shires" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e7486e37-22f6-4c92-b212-9b0622070b8f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-08%20at%209.09.34%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=W8MJwJUCf6HkIyl_EVSksnd.QI6MZryY" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lewis-land-group">Lewis Land</a> Head of Development Michael Long said the developer deliberately allocated a significant proportion of the project to more affordable apartment types.

"First home buyers have been priced out of many parts of the Gold Coast, and we saw a clear opportunity to address this and play our part in a longer-term housing solution," Long said.

"That's why 24 of the 91 apartments being delivered at Solis have been designed and priced for the city's next generation of homeowners, quality one-bedroom apartments, half of which include an additional multipurpose room to maximise space and flexibility.

"This approach places 30 per cent of apartments in Solis under $1 million, and with close proximity to Harbour Town's future light rail extension connecting residents to the city's major employment and knowledge hubs, it's a win for buyers looking to secure their first property."

<img alt="Sores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="550526d3-73ba-4710-9739-c5f4294a30ef" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-08%20at%209.09.29%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=cQQdXHt9wS0UXwZEm5Py5bH_3kAmzyhu" />

Designed by BDA Architecture, Solis will deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with residences ranging up to 232 sqm. Apartments feature generous balconies and contemporary finishes, while residents will have access to Harbour Shores' lagoon pool, clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga studio and sauna.

The focus on first home buyers resonated with purchaser Holly Humphreys, who said she and her boyfriend spent more than a year searching for their first property before shifting their attention from houses to apartments.

"We fell in love with the first house we bid on and got our hopes up, but after repeated knockbacks we learned not to get too attached," Humphreys said.

"We offered at the high end of price guides, but sales kept going even higher. That's where we really struggled and we needed to re-evaluate our budget and our expectations. Standalone houses were off the table, and we pivoted to apartments and townhouses."

Humphreys said it was encouraging to see developers recognising the growing demand from first home buyers.

"There's a growing number of young buyers looking to enter the market earlier because they understand that getting in now can make a real difference as prices continue to rise," she said.

"It's fantastic to see a developer recognise this and then actively take measures to deliver an apartment with us in mind."

Solis is the first development planned within the second stage of the Harbour Shores masterplan, with early works expected to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land targets first home buyers at latest Harbour Shores release, Solis

Luxury apartment developer Abadeen has recorded $19.25 million in apartment sales across two of its Lower North Shore developments in the lead-up to the end of the financial year, headlined by the sale of a $6.75 million penthouse at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/koyo-crows-nest-5-rodborough-avenue-crows-nest-nsw-2065">KOYO in Crows Nest.</a>

The transactions also included the sale of a newly completed three-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/park-residences-cremorne-2-sutherland-street-cremorne-nsw-2090">Park Residences in Cremorne</a> for $6.35 million, with the residence selling shortly after the project's first public inspections following completion.

The sales come as completed, owner-occupier-focused apartments continue to attract strong demand across Sydney's Lower North Shore, particularly from buyers looking for certainty and immediate occupancy.

The penthouse at KOYO spans 491 sqm across a single level and was designed by architect Koichi Takada. The development is one of Abadeen's flagship boutique projects in Crows Nest.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=370093]

Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said buyer activity lifted noticeably in the lead-up to the end of the financial year.

"We saw a clear increase in enquiry levels, inspection numbers and buyer engagement across our completed projects leading into the end of the financial year," Brown said.

"Buyers have become far more decisive over the past six months. The combination of improving confidence, limited supply and the ability to physically inspect completed residences is creating strong competition for premium apartments in the best locations."

Brown says the&nbsp;response to Park Residences following completion has been particularly strong.

"Buyers want certainty and are responding positively to the opportunity to walk through a finished product, inspect the quality firsthand and move in immediately," Brown suggested.

"Projects such as Park Residences and KOYO demonstrate that when the product is exceptional and the location is irreplaceable, buyers are prepared to act quickly."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=370116]

Abadeen CEO Joe Tack said quality continued to differentiate projects in the current market.

"Today's buyers are incredibly discerning," Tack said.

"They are seeking larger floorplans, premium finishes, walkability, lifestyle amenity and confidence in the developer delivering the project. Well-designed boutique developments continue to outperform because they offer something genuinely difficult to replace.

"The enquiry we are seeing across our completed and recently completed Lower North Shore portfolio is very encouraging, and we expect this momentum to continue into spring."

The sales follow increased enquiry across Abadeen's Lower North Shore portfolio which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/northcote-collective-naremburn-2-northcote-street-naremburn-nsw-2065">Northcote Collective in Naremburn</a> which also completed recently.

KOYO penthouse headlines Abadeen's $19.25 million EOFY sales flurry

The City of Sydney has approved plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/billbergia">Billbergia Group</a> and Metrics Credit Partners’ $3.5 billion Castlereagh Place project in the heart of the Sydney CBD

The towers will be among the tallest in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/sydney-nsw-2000">Sydney</a>'s CBD, with more floors than any other residential tower in the city.&nbsp;

The 6,000 sqm site was acquired by the joint venture partners in 2024. It is the largest amalgamated land parcel in the Sydney CBD and comprises eight individual sites fronting Castlereagh, Pitt and Liverpool Streets.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castlereagh-place-sydney-324-348-pitt-street-sydney-nsw-2000">Castlereagh Place</a> will transform an underutilised city block into a landmark mixed-use destination, anchored by two 82-storey towers comprising 607 luxury residences above an 8-level podium housing a 209-room luxury hotel. A 1,000 square metre civic park on ground level features a curated mix of food, beverage and retail.

The plans have been refined over the past year to rebalance the residential and hotel offering, and reconfigure the retail footprint to create a stronger, more dynamic dining experience.

A three-level flagship building on the prominent corner of Pitt and Liverpool Streets will be the gateway to the Castlereagh Place lifestyle precinct. Set to become a Sydney icon, the building is capable of housing multiple hospitality venues.

“Castlereagh Place is designed to be the City's next great urban oasis - an energetic mixed-use precinct that pulses with life, day and night,"&nbsp;said Joseph Kinsella, Group Director of Billbergia.

"It will bring the vibrancy of places like Barangaroo and Darling Quarter into a more accessible, central destination at the very heart of Sydney."

Kinsella said the project will build on&nbsp;Sydney’s growing laneway culture with the City’s largest network of new activated lanes - an expanded, next-generation take on precincts like Angel Place, Palings Lane and Ash Street in Wynyard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134477 project_image_fid=374401]

Castlereagh Place has been designed by architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">fjcstudio</a> in collaboration with Trias Studio, Aileen Sage and Polly Harbison Design, joint winners of an international design competition in 2018.&nbsp;

Signature design elements from the original scheme remain unchanged, while the public domain has been significantly enhanced, delivering 60 per cent more open-to-sky space.

Pedestrian access will also be enhanced through new laneways linking Pitt, Liverpool and Castlereagh Streets, drawing people into a new civic park with outdoor seating, landscaping and integrated public art.

With activated laneways supported by strong hospitality offerings, Castlereagh Place is tipped to become a vibrant new dining destination in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.

It marks the largest undertaking to date for the Billbergia and Metrics Credit Partners partnership. Together they are developing other underutilised Sydney sites into mixed-use precincts, including the $2.2 billion Concord Central and the $1.3 billion Chatswood Grand Residences.

Metrics Managing Partner and Group CEO Andrew Lockhart said Castlereagh Place is a landmark project that will redefine Sydney’s skyline.

"As the tallest residential high-rise development, the revitalised site will offer panoramic views across the CBD and surrounds. We are excited to partner with Billbergia to reinvigorate an underutilised site and create a sophisticated and contemporary mixed-use offering situated in the heart of Sydney.”

Total apartments within the towers have increased to 607 dwellings, with a focus on larger floorplans. Aligned to growing market demand, Castlereagh Place now comprises 299 three-plus-bedroom apartments, 198 two-bedroom units and 110 one-bedroom configurations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134477 project_image_fid=374402]

Resident amenities will include an exclusive residents club containing a gym, rooftop pool, dining rooms, co-working spaces, library, golf simulator, games room, cinema room, and access to an exclusive concierge service. There will be around 500 basement car spaces below the towers.

The development will also include a state-of-the-art wellness centre, set to feature a bathhouse with magnesium pools, hot/cold plunge pools and premium amenities.

&nbsp;

According to fjcstudio, the towers will feature distinctive yet elegant architectural design reflecting Sydney’s geometry and urban character, with a network of through-site links and intimate public spaces activating the streetscape.

"Castlereagh Place is a city-making project of significant scale and ambition," said Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director at fjcstudio.

"It will create a rich urban complex of public open spaces, landscaped gardens, and vibrant laneways. Defining these new public spaces and the important streetscape of Castlereagh Street is a sequence of fine-grained, diverse retail and hotel architecture designed in collaboration with Aileen Sage, Polly Harbison Design and Trias.

“Rising above the tree-lined, human-scale streetscape are two slender residential towers that will transform the city skyline and look towards the Harbour, Hyde Park, and the Royal Botanic Garden.”

Demolition and early construction works have commenced onsite at Castlereagh Place.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134477]

Billbergia, Metrics, approved for $3.5 billion Sydney skyscrapers

Melbourne apartments

Walsh Grange is a contemporary collection of just 23 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, developed in a joint venture between CQ Property Development and Loi Projects.

Local &nbsp;architecture firm, Telha Clarke is behind the design of the modern low-rise building, with their focus to create a feeling of connection, through shared public spaces, and surrounding gardens and trees.

“This collection of homes delivers seamless modern living, architecturally designed to bring pleasure to your life every day,” Projects by Buxton agent Heath Thompson says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108897 project_image_fid=180972]

Every surface, fitting and element of the Walsh Grange residences has been carefully chosen to create a home that works together and provides a balanced, flowing home.

“Everything works together, providing a balanced, harmonious flow. You feel it the moment you walk in, a welcoming warmth and an air of luxury - exactly what you would expect from this gem," Thompson added.

The ground floor comprises nine apartments, with a mix of one, two and three bedroom offerings.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108897 project_image_fid=180973]

G02 and Go3 are one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments, each with one car space. G02 covers 49 sqm of floor space, while the latter sits across 51 sqm.

G05 and G07 are two-bedroom, two-bathroom configurations, both spanning 71 sqm, with one car space.

G04 is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, north facing apartment, with 96 sqm of floor space. It has a 73 sqm private courtyard, as well as two car spaces.

Similarly, G08 is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment, on the Grange Road side of the development, spanning 95 sqm internally, along with 111 sqm of private courtyard space. &nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108897 project_image_fid=180974]

Selected ground-floor residences include rear entries, adding further texture to the building’s character.

G06 and G09, both two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments have already been sold.

A step up, level one features eight two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments, all sitting across upwards of 70 sqm of floor space, along with one, two-bedroom, one-bathroom residence, that covers 68 sqm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108897 project_image_fid=180980]

Level two of Walsh Grange comprises five apartments, with two, two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments, two, two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments and one, three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment.

Apartment 205 is the biggest of the level two, covering 97 sqm internally, adjoined with a 45 sqm north-facing terrace.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=108897]

Local  architecture firm, Telha Clarke is behind the design of the modern low-rise building, with their focus to create a feeling of connection, through shared public spaces, and surrounding gardens and trees.



alisonwarters@gmail.com

Inside the floorplans of Ormond's latest apartment development, Walsh Grange 

Assemble, the developer on a mission to make thoughtfully designed homes, more accessible to more people, starts construction on its next Kensington apartment project.&nbsp;

Apartments will be offered via Assemble Futures, where residents can rent securely for five years, and then take up the option to buy their home.&nbsp;

MAKE - Assemble&#39;s parent company,&nbsp;spent $30 million on the site, which is the third project by the group in Kensington.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28968 project_image_fid=194524]

The project seeks to meet the needs of the local community, through the provision of accessible, sustainable, thoughtfully designed homes.&nbsp;

Designed by Hayball Architects, 15 Thompson St comprises of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments across eight levels.

The building form is delivered across two conjoined buildings to enhance community connectedness.

&ldquo;Wrapped in fluted textured pre-cast concrete fa&ccedil;ade, the built form celebrates the neighbourhood&rsquo;s industrial past. Intricate brickwork, vertical steelwork and tactile materials create layers of textural detail to express the suburb&rsquo;s rich history,&rdquo; Hayball outlined.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28968 project_image_fid=194522]

The interior design of each apartment is focused on durability, functionality, and longevity, utilising high-quality materials that will last and wear well, as well as reducing the environmental impact.

&ldquo;The outcome is driven by fundamental principles including an emphasis on internal amenity, privacy, light and air access, cross-ventilation to apartments, landscaped green spaces and with direct engagement between public and private space,&rdquo; said Hayball.

15 Thompson Street is designed to encourage informal neighbourly connections with open-air walkways and stepped entries, along with a parcel room with cool store, an Amsterdam-inspired ramped bike storage facility, a lending library and a workshop.

The entire community will be connected through communal spaces located on both the ground level, as well as the rooftop, which also features a herb garden, sports courts, a dog park, a kid&#39;s play area, and a dining area with barbecues&nbsp;and a pizza oven.&nbsp;

Oculus contributed its landscaping expertise to the internal courtyard that will connect the project back to the wider Kensington community, which will include dedicated vegetable and edible gardens.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28968 project_image_fid=194523]

&quot;Our focus centres around increasing ground plane permeability and amenity, providing borrowed views and creating seasonal change through planting for residents, neighbours and visitors,&rdquo; Oculus noted.

Located only three kilometres from Melbourne&rsquo;s CBD, the Kensington development offers the convenience of village shopping, with Macaulay station and Kensington station only a five-minute walk down the road, connecting residents to the city.

15 Thompson St. is the second Assemble Futures community to be developed in Kensington, following the success of 393 Macaulay Rd, which is due to open in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=28968]

The project will support home buyers onto the property ladder by offering "a rent with the option to buy" model. 

Assemble's Kensington's apartment development, 15 Thompson St. commences construction

Essendon, the cultural hub of Melbourne&#39;s north-west, is set for a new mixed-use residential and commercial apartment tower.&nbsp;

The $26 million development&nbsp;881 Mt Alexander Road is located within the&nbsp;Essendon Junction Activity Centre, adjacent to the Essendon Railway Station.

Essendon Junction is identified as the &ldquo;cultural, entertainment and transport hub of the neighbourhood.&rdquo;

<a href="/new-apartments/881-mt-alexander-road-essendon-vic-3040"><img alt="" height="934" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-03-14_at_10.57.32_am.png" width="1192" /></a>

The 17-level tower, designed by IN8 Architects,&nbsp;has&nbsp;an impressive, red brick,&nbsp;five-level podium, which will home glass shop fronts. The tower element of the proposal, from levels six and up, is set back, and has been created with darker coloured glazing, providing a contrast with the red-brick&nbsp;podium.

The tower has been designed so most apartments take in city views.

&nbsp;

In their Urban Context Report, IN8 suggest that the scale and design of the building will provide for a high-quality urban design outcome that reflects the strategic opportunities of the site within an activity centre.

<a href="/new-apartments/881-mt-alexander-road-essendon-vic-3040"><img alt="" height="962" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-03-14_at_1.13.49_pm.png" width="1428" /></a>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;The development will provide for a new landmark form within Essendon and allows for the current under-utilised site to be developed appropriately in order to reflect the aspirations of the City of Moonee Valley and provide for commercial and residential opportunities in a strategic location well serviced by public transport, facilities and services.&quot;

The town planning report by GrayKinnane noted four reasons why the&nbsp;proposed development provides for an acceptable planning outcome and provides for a net community benefit:

- It provides for additional commercial uses and housing in a strategically appropriate location to assist in meeting housing objectives and providing for the efficient use of urban land;

- It provides for a landmark development of architectural excellence and responds to the urban design objectives of the Planning Scheme

- It provides for a development that minimise off site amenity impacts and provides for an appropriate level of onsite amenity of future occupiers;

- It provides for acceptable access from the Road Zone and appropriate vehicle access and parking

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The $26 million development 881 Mt Alexander Road is located within the Essendon Junction Activity Centre, adjacent to the Essendon Railway Station

Essendon 100-apartment development plans lodged

Construction has begun on Shenfield Property Group&rsquo;s newest apartment project, Omnia in Moorabbin.

The development comprises just 34 apartments, designed to be larger than the average apartment offering on the market. In collaboration with Roger Brayshaw Architects, there&#39;s a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as eight four-bedroom townhouses.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29048 project_image_fid=179239]

The Shenfield Property development defines modern comfort and style, with proportioned interiors, designed by Aldona Padjak, offering a range of floor plan layouts.

Every apartment on offer comes with a parking space. The smallest one-bed, one-bath apartments have a generous internal living space of over 52&nbsp;sqm. The two-bedders start from 78 sqm, while the three-bedroom apartments, which have two bathrooms and two parking spaces, start from 144 sqm and can reach 154 sqm of living space.

Noorden Property Director David Lamond, who is in charge of sales at Omnia, said owner-occupiers are choosing the development due&nbsp;to the large floorplans on offer.

&ldquo;We have larger apartments than&nbsp;what is available in the area&rdquo;, he said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29048 project_image_fid=179240]

The designs feature sleek forms and clean lines that are complimented by neutral finishes. Most of the apartments at Omnia face north, providing residents&nbsp;an abundance of natural light.

The apartments&nbsp;feature high-quality finishes, including concealed cabinetry, glass splash-backs in the kitchen, matte black tap-ware and integrated appliances, with each residence fitted out with plush carpet, engineered flooring and stone tiles, along with elegant full-wall tiles in the bathrooms.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29048 project_image_fid=179245]

Adding to a growing number of green spaces within the area, Omnia&rsquo;s park frontage lays the foundation for its environmental consciousness. Featuring energy-efficient design, together with appealing gardens created by Wallbrink Landscape Architecture.

The pocket park next door to Omnia is also set to grow, after the&nbsp;City of Kingston Council&nbsp;has announced they will expand the current&nbsp;Healey Street Reserve pocket park to a larger space.

The new green space will feature open lawn areas, murals, tables with seating, and extensive landscaping with canopy trees. The new design&nbsp;incorporates water-sensitive Urban design principles&nbsp;and will also see the council plant&nbsp;new street&nbsp;trees.

Located at 4-6 Horscroft Place, Omnia is within close proximity to a wide range of schools, higher education, caf&eacute;s, shopping and numerous parks and reserves are at your doorstep, including RSEA Park &ndash; home of the St Kilda Football Club.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=29048]

The development comprises just 34 apartments, designed to be larger than the average apartment offering on the market

Construction starts on Omnia, Moorabbin apartments

Mirvac has achieved a sales landmark at its FORME apartment development, the last residential building to be created in the popular Tullamore masterplanned community in Melbourne&#39;s Doncaster.

FORME&nbsp;is the third and final apartment building at the Tullamore precinct which included Phoenix and Folia, which saw unprecedented levels of enquiry.

Construction is underway at FORME, with the first crane up and active.&nbsp;The installation of in ground services is complete, as is the basement slab and walls.

The ground level slab pour will begin next week.

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Thoughtfully designed by Mirvac&#39;s award-winning in house design team, FORME has been inspired by the natural to create a collection of 92 residences, with a limited selection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remaining.

Coinciding with the 50% sales update, Mirvac has announced an exclusive and limited time offer just for first home buyers. Just five eligible&nbsp;buyers will have be able to secure a&nbsp;one or two-bedroom Signature Collection with just a five per cent deposit.*

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Mirvac&nbsp;head of residential, Stuart Penklis says that the &quot;project demonstrated the ongoing demand for quality, well designed apartments supported by exceptional amenity.&quot;

Forme was designed by the&nbsp;Mirvac&nbsp;Design team to be set within sculptured gardens by landscape architect Paul Bangay with more than 30 per cent of the Tullamore precinct dedicated to green open spaces, including pocket parks, adventure playgrounds, undercover barbeque and picnic areas as well as walking and cycling tracks to encourage an outdoor lifestyle.&nbsp;

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On its launch,&nbsp;Mirvac&nbsp;design director Michael Wiener noted with more people now working from home,&nbsp;Mirvac&nbsp;incorporated study spaces in the majority of its two and three bedroom apartments.

Construction of FORME is expected to be completed by early-to-mid 2023.

*Terms and Conditions apply.

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The FORME project by Mirvac at Doncaster is over 50 per cent sold, a great achievement for the project that launched in July 2021.


Mirvac's FORME apartments in Doncaster over 50% sold as construction commences

Long-standing and renowned developer&nbsp;Fortis has developed a solid portfolio across Australia&#39;s two biggest capitals, with more than $276 million in successfully completed projects.

The group&rsquo;s future is just as prosperous with new developments, valued at over $2.2 billion in the pipeline for completion in the coming years.

We&rsquo;ve taken a closer look at the top five developments Fortis has both in Sydney and Melbourne in 2022.

1. Piper -&nbsp;2A Wunulla Road, Point Piper, NSW

Piper is the first collaboration between Fortis and Dare Property Group, who has teamed up to create a rare new development in the most affluent suburb in the whole of Australia.

Sharing its postcode with some of Australia&rsquo;s most prestigious and historic homes, Piper,&nbsp;at 2A Wunulla Road, there will have just 15 exclusive residences, which will have interiors by MIM Design and sit in landscaping by Dangar Barin Smith.

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There will be a mix of two, three and four-bedroom apartments across the boutique four-level building. Each apartment will feature soaring ceilings, open layouts and large living, entertaining, and outdoor areas. Some of the apartments will even have their own private pools.

The three two-bedroom plus study apartments start from 127 sqm of internal space, the three-bedroom apartments start from 161 sqm internal, and the biggest offering, the four-bedroom apartments, have an internal living space between 210 sqm and 260 sqm.

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&quot;The rich design palette places a deep focus on the polished and matte, the light and dark, the coarse and soft, heralding the mineralised and lustrous qualities hidden within Piper&rsquo;s natural forms,&quot;&nbsp;Miriam Fanning of Mim Design said.

Completion on the development is&nbsp;scheduled for the first quarter of 2024.

2. Mona Road - 1 Mona Road, Darling Point, NSW

Fortis will soon launch Mona Road, their first development in Darling Point, another high end harbourside suburb in Sydney.

The premium mixed-use development will offer both residential and retail at the Mona Road site. Created by award-winning architects MHNDU, Mona Road features six residential floors with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with terraces and balconies capturing views across the city, harbour, nearby Paddington and surrounds.

The creative inspiration for the site comes from the history-steeped harbourside corridor it overlooks, with respect paid to the original brickwork of the fa&ccedil;ade.

Situated at the gateway to the Eastern Suburbs between Potts Point and Double Bay, the north-oriented site occupies a prominent frontage along Mona Road&mdash;only four kilometres from the Sydney CBD.

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Edgecliff Station is a 350-metre walk, while major bus and ferry routes are also within easy reach, providing regular services towards the city and beyond.&nbsp;

Construction on the development is expected to be completed by late 2023.

3. Colindia &ndash; 5 Colindia Avenue, Neutral Bay, NSW

Currently in the market in Sydney is Colindia, north of the bridge in the sought-after Neutral Bay on the Lower North Shire.

Inspired by nature&rsquo;s organic shapes and raw textures, Colindia presents as a sculpted artform, nestled at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac.

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Designed by PBD Architects, Colindia&rsquo;s four levels comprise six half-floor residences crowned by a full-floor penthouse.

&ldquo;We approached these residences as a sculpted artform, inspired by natural, organic fluid forms and materials,&quot;&nbsp;Paul Buljevic from PBD Architects said

&quot;The use of curved walls creates a soft and inviting spatial experience, with masonry elements that accentuate verticality.&quot;

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Separated from nearby buildings, Colindia&#39;s discreet street frontage opens up to just two residences per floor, with the penthouse sweeping across a whole-floor.

The feature balustrades on the balconies also serve to create added privacy between residences.

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From front to back, each residence extends the full length; the open-plan living designed to maximise the space, light and views, with full-height windows creating a connection to the terraces and courtyards beyond.

4. Pillar + Tide &ndash; 41A Blackstreet, Brighton, VIC

Just moments from the buzz and flow of Church Street and the idyllic Brighton waterfront, Pillar+Tide presents 16 contemporary residences that explore the relationship between the indoor and outdoor.

Presented as a monolithic structure with two street fronts softened by verdant greenery, Pillar+Tide takes over three existing sites to create a singular vision.

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Shaped by award-winning architects&nbsp;Carr, the design is defined by rhythmic fa&ccedil;ade elements, robust natural materials and an abundance of space reflective of Brighton&rsquo;s local architectural context.&nbsp;

&ldquo;The design language of Pillar+Tide is shaped by both permanence and longevity,&quot;&nbsp;Carr Managing Director Chris McCue said.

&quot;The interiors are under-stated, elegant and intuitively planned, but equally integrated with unique, thoughtful and bold contemporary architecture. There&rsquo;s a deep sense of timelessness, with the use of robust natural materials and a return to quality that will delight for years and generations to come.&quot;

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Considerable design emphasis has gone into planning the master suite and living areas to follow a spacious and open layout, while each residence is further complemented by wrap-around gardens and lush, low maintenance landscaping by&nbsp;Acre.

A rare and sought-after corner location, Pillar+Tide puts an abundance of retail, caf&eacute;s and restaurants within easy reach, together with excellent transport connections and&nbsp;tree-lined streets.

5. Brighton Street &ndash; 8 Brighton Street, Richmond, VIC 

Later this year Fortis is expected to launch their Brighton Street project.

Just moments from the bustling Church Street and Swan Street intersection in Richmond, 8 Brighton Street has been designed by&nbsp;SJB Architects and will see apartments and commercial suites built above a modern ground floor retail precinct.

Central to the vision for 8 Brighton Street is to reflect the site&rsquo;s rich heritage context, whilst also evoking a fresh, contemporary approach to living and working.

&ldquo;The location within Richmond &ndash; along with the Activity Centre zone which permits retail, residential and commercial &ndash; is what really sets this site apart from others,&rdquo; Colliers agent Ben Baines said.

<img alt="" height="856" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-03-08_at_9.32.12_am.png" width="1478" />

The design, materials and finishes will be selected to work in seamless harmony, allowing the completed building to grow into its inner-city surroundings.

Occupying a corner site in one of Melbourne&rsquo;s most popular inner-city neighbourhoods, 8 Brighton St enjoys easy access to the CBD and key business districts. The site has three street frontages, with an abundance of amenities in its immediate vicinity.

Numerous train and tram stops are less than 200 metres away, while the site is a short walk away from caf&eacute;s, restaurants, bars, supermarkets and parks.

Construction is due to be complete on the Brighton Street site by early 2023. &nbsp;

We’ve taken a closer look at the top five developments Fortis currently have across Sydney and Melbourne.

Fortis’ top 5 apartment developments across Sydney and Melbourne in 2022

As established prices rise, auctions get busier, and demand continues to outstrip supply, off the plan apartment developers are starting to see a new cohort of buyers coming through the door.

It&#39;s the flat and frustrated, tired of missing out at auctions and tired of spending their Saturdays at crowded open homes.

The award-winning developer Central Equity, HIA Victoria&#39;s most awarded apartment developer who has a completed portfolio of over 80 projects, has been fielding higher levels of enquiry than usual from these buyers for FOCUS, their new Southbank apartment development.

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Central Equity Marketing Manager Jeremy Vile&nbsp;puts it down to the fact FOCUS is completing this year.

&quot;There&#39;s prospective buyers out there who are just tired of going to auctions and watching properties blow out well above the price guide being offered,&quot; Vile said.

&quot;Over the years&nbsp;it&#39;s not been a huge segment of the market that off the plan apartment developers have been able to tap in to, given those buyers are looking for something ready to move in, rather than something that is forecast&nbsp;to complete in two or three years.

&quot;But what we&#39;ve seen at FOCUS, which is on track to be completed this year, is that buyers are willing to wait just that little bit longer and take away all the undue stress of buying established property at auction.&quot;

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Vile also notes that FOCUS has found itself in a sweet spot, where there is little competition in the Southbank area that is completing in 2022. Meanwhile the neighbourhood is expecting solid future growth for buyers.

&ldquo;Southbank&rsquo;s arts precinct has a $1.6 billion transformation on the way, with new gardens, public space and art features planned for the city&rsquo;s cultural hub. Plus Southgate has a $470 million redevelopment planned for new restaurants, bars and offices.&rdquo;

FOCUS will be a striking new addition to the city, with a Southbank location that grants residents access to the arts precinct within minutes. Live theatre, music, riverside dining and lush gardens are right at the doorstep.

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Between March 10 and March 20, Central Equity is hosting the FOCUS Open House event, where&nbsp;prospective buyers can take a private tour of recently completed apartments and fully furnished displays.

One, two and three-bedroom designs are on sale now from $499,000, with&nbsp;stamp duty savings up to $43,000.

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"There's prospective buyers out there who are just tired of going to auctions and watching properties blow out well above the price guide being offered," Central Equity Marketing Manager Jeremy Vile said.




FOCUS, Southbank apartment buyers attracted to "no auction, fixed price" approach

Neometro&rsquo;s meticulously crafted residences at Nine Wilson Ave are the result of a unique, curated approach to uniting architecture, interior design, engineering and construction.

There&#39;s only a handful of three-bedroom apartments in the building. Located on the top two levels,&nbsp;the larger apartments have been popular with local down-sizers who are considering selling their family home&nbsp;in the next few years, as well as up-sizers who are looking to find a new home for their growing families, some enquiring from previous Neometro projects.

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Apartment 603, which takes in extensive views from its north-facing, 42 sqm wrap around terrace, has a total frontage of 14.5 metres with two separate terrace areas.&nbsp;

Extensive full height stackable doors to the north and west open out to the terrace, access from the open plan&nbsp;living, kitchen and dining area as well as the master bedroom. A unique addition to this apartment is the full height, built-in bookshelf.

The master bedroom is north facing, with a private study desk and balcony, as well as an ensuite. The bathroom features both a shower and a bathtub, with operable windows allowing natural light and ventilation to filter through.

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The apartment, complete with two parking spaces, is priced at $1,495,000.

Apartment 607, another one of the oversized three-bedroom apartments, has the largest internal living space created in Nine Wilson Ave. Offering 131.2 sqm, the corner apartment provides a triple aspect, with views toward the city and beyond and has a living room frontage of 11.5 metres. It has been cleverly designed for the third bedroom to have the ability to transform into a second living room or home office.

The master bedroom in 607 features floor to ceiling glazing with large stackable doors, along with a spacious walk-in wardrobe and double vanity ensuite

Apartment 607 is priced at $1,450,000.

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The final remaining three-bedroom apartment is Apartment 602.

Also north-facing, Apartment 602 has an&nbsp;abundance of natural light and potential for cross-flow ventilation.

Priced at $1,395,000, the apartment features an east-facing master bedroom, which&nbsp;opens up to a separate, private terrace through large, glass sliding doors. It also features a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite.

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The main north-facing terrace is accessed from the main living space and has a 11.5 metre glazed frontage, as well as a separate study and separate laundry.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nine Wilson Ave, the final piece in the Jewell Station Village&nbsp;redevelopment, is now over 40 per cent sold.

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Comprising 58 apartments and 15 Signature Lofts, Nine Wilson Ave features a range of thoughtfully-considered two and three-bedroom layouts with wide frontages and multiple aspects.

Inside Neometro's three-bedroom apartments at Brunswick's Nine Wilson Ave

Melbourne apartment values bounced back from a decline across January, posting 0.1 per cent gains in February, CoreLogic&#39;s Monthly Hedonic Home Value Index showed.

The growth outstripped houses, which were flat across the month.

Apartment values across Melbourne rose seven per cent over 2021, which was the lowest growth across all major capitals, namely due to the extended lockdowns Victorian&#39;s faced.

Overseas arrivals and seasonal rental market strength have given a shot in the arm to the rental market, which has been more apparent in the unit market.

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CoreLogic&#39;s Head of Research Tim&nbsp;Lawless says the&nbsp;stronger trend in unit rents is most visible in Sydney and Melbourne.

&ldquo;Anecdotally, demand for unit rentals in these cities has been bolstered by a combination of worsening rental affordability deflecting more demand towards the higher density sector, where rents tend to be lower, and demand starting to return from overseas arrivals,&rdquo; Lawless&nbsp;said.

With the pace of growth in housing values softening while rental growth holds reasonably firm, the gross yield profile has finally stabilised at 3.2%, the lowest rate on record. Sydney (2.4%) and Melbourne (2.8%), which have the lowest yield profiles, recorded a slight strengthening in gross yields this month, as rental growth nudges higher than growth in housing values.

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Lawless believes&nbsp;we could be seeing rental yields moving through the bottom of their cycle.

&ldquo;After several years of yield compression where gross rental yields reached historic lows across most of Australia&rsquo;s capital cities, we are finally seeing early evidence of yield repair. If rents continue to rise faster than housing values, which is a strong possibility in Sydney and Melbourne, yields will continue to improve.

&ldquo;Cities such as Brisbane and Adelaide, where housing values are still consistently rising faster than rents, are likely to see yields compress to new record lows.

&quot;Despite the downwards trend, yields in these cities remain well above Sydney and Melbourne levels,&rdquo; Lawless said.

&nbsp;

Apartment values across Melbourne rose seven per cent over 2021, which was the lowest growth across all major capitals, namely due to the extended lockdowns Victorian's faced

What happened to Melbourne apartment values in February?

In a move that will redefine art and culture for young people within Australia, France’s globally revered art and culture institution, Centre Pompidou, will join forces with STH BNK By Beulah to invent a unique venue in Melbourne for art lovers from toddlers, to teens and beyond.

Centre Pompidou is an architectural icon of the 20th century and is one of the most frequented cultural monuments in the world with more than three million visits a year pre-pandemic.

Following a long assessment by Beulah of some of the world’s most recognised art institutions, Centre Pompidou was chosen as its cultural partner due to a shared vision of creating cultural programs for audiences - particularly young ones - all over the world, while remaining deeply rooted in the city and being open to innovation.

Signalling the commencement of a long-term journey to ultimately create a unique offering of global importance for the Southbank area, Melbourne and beyond, the partnership will see Centre Pompidou bring its world-class expertise to contribute to programming exhibitions, workshops and cultural events for young people via 3,000 sqm of dedicated gallery space within STH BNK By Beulah.

The envisioned initiative, in close partnership with Beulah and local stakeholders, seeks to create stimulating bonds with the Australian contemporary scene, for the benefit of the STH BNK By Beulah residents and occupants, visitors and the wider City of Melbourne.

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Beulah Executive Director Adelene Teh, says Centre Pompidou will play a pivotal role in STH BNK By Beulah’s cultural strategy of exploring how future expressions of art and culture can inspire, challenge and enrich our daily life.

“We want to invite residents and visitors to open their minds and their preconceptions of the roles of the arts, wellness, sustainability and technology in their lives to transform future living," Teh says.

“In addition to expressions of the future, our cultural strategy will also explore Australia’s heritage and provide a platform that is incredibly diverse and inclusive."

The cultural partnership, curated by Futurecity, comes at the perfect time with Southbank’s planned arts precinct redevelopment currently underway, which has seen over $1.7 billion poured into the project by the Victorian Government.

One of the towers in STH BNK By&nbsp;Beulah&nbsp;will become Australia’s tallest building.&nbsp;There will be two towers at the&nbsp;City Road&nbsp;address, one rising 102 storeys, some&nbsp;366 metres in to the sky. There will be around 449 apartments across the two towers, as well as a hotel, commercial, and retail space.

The $2.7 billion mixed-use development, will also have its own Private Auto Club,&nbsp;Australia’s first-of-its-kind Private Auto Club.

The STH BNK Auto Club will give residents the opportunity to use the fleet of luxury vehicles,&nbsp;from&nbsp;BMWs and Teslas to Porches and Range Rovers.

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Centre Pompidou is an architectural icon of the 20th century and is one of the most frequented cultural monuments in the world with more than three million visits a year pre-pandemic.

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