<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

&nbsp;

The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

Melbourne apartments

The multi-award-winning Melbourne property developer Beulah has secured its next mixed-use development site.

The developer, headed by managing director Jiaheng Chan, has secured a corner site in Prahran, paying $11.4 million for the 1,132 sqm site at&nbsp;&nbsp;182-194 Commercial Road, opposite the well known Prahran Market.

They have plans to activate the community through a sustainable mixed-use development.

The site, on the corner of Izett Street, comprises six adjoining addresses near the recently completed $60 million Prahran Square project.

On the block is a multi-tenanted 1,087 sqm building with potential for future retail activation.

<a href="/news/vic/check-out-beulahs-best-melbourne-residential-projects">Read more:&nbsp;Check out Beulah&#39;s best Melbourne residential projects</a>

Jiaheng Chan said the team is excited to be able to contribute to the urban streetscape of Prahran as it continues to gentrify and evolve over time.

&ldquo;Prahran is currently going through an exciting evolution that is seeing a new generation of businesses set up shop, from forward-thinking restaurants and lifestyle-focused hotel chains,&quot; Chan said.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re looking forward to offering a product that will add immense value to this inner-city pocket and will complement the renowned Prahran Market via retail, dining and public amenity, coupled with a residential offering not yet explored in this area.

&ldquo;This site will complement our growing boutique portfolio, which sits alongside the other growing arm of our business and that is large-scale, urban renewal precincts, such as that in Southbank.&rdquo;

Beulah are developing STH Bnk by Beulah, a mixed-use development on the current BMW showroom site on Southbank&#39;s&nbsp;City Road. It will comprise nearly 500 apartments and around 390 hotel rooms, as well as retail and office space.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8804 project_image_fid=27929]

Beulah also recently announced the imminent release of its newest and most innovative residential project, The Wilds. The development features a collection of 15 carbon-neutral homes designed by leading design firm, Edition Office.

&ldquo;The global changes experienced in 2020 saw consumers prioritising health, wellbeing and sustainability, which closely informed our approach to The Wilds.

&quot;Similarly, we intend to draw on this research and approach in creating a thoughtful, sustainable and wellness-inspired design for Prahran,&rdquo; Chan said.

They have plans to activate the community through a sustainable mixed-use development.



Beulah secure Prahran site for mixed-use development

Apartment values across Melbourne rose 0.5 per cent over August, according to the latest data released by property data firm CoreLogic.

The&nbsp;August gains put apartment values up 1.6 per cent over the quarter, after 0.4 per cent growth over July and 0.8 per cent in June.

Over the year to date, values are up 6.6 per cent, with the median now sitting at $615,909. The median apartment price at the start of 2021 was $577,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5328 project_image_fid=163914]

Melbourne house values rose 1.4 per cent over August, marking another month where house performance continues to outstrip apartments, although the gap is starting to narrow given renewed housing affordability constraints.

Throughout the first quarter of the year, capital city house values were rising approximately 1.1 percentage points faster than units each month. By August the average performance gap reduced to 0.7 percentage points.

CoreLogic&#39;s research director Tim Lawless believes the convergence of growth in house values and unit values could be another demonstration of affordability becoming more challenging.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=103179 project_image_fid=167471]

&ldquo;The narrowing gap between house and unit value growth is most noticeable in Australia&rsquo;s most expensive city, Sydney, where the monthly growth rate for houses was 2 percentage points higher than units in March.

&quot;That &lsquo;gap&rsquo; has now reduced to 0.6 percentage points in August.

&quot;Based on median values, Sydney units cost almost $470,000 less than a house. At the same time, the growth gap between houses and units in Melbourne and Brisbane has widened.&rdquo;

Unit rents are starting to rise in Sydney and Melbourne, which is a good metric for investors to follow. Australia&#39;s two biggest capitals were the hardest hit by the strict border closures and lack of international migration.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=100675 project_image_fid=170523]

Nationally, rents have lifted by 8.2% over the 12 months ending August, the largest rise in rents since 2008.

&ldquo;The weaker trend in unit rents across Australia&rsquo;s two largest cities is likely a reflection of their greater exposure to temporary overseas migrants as a source of rental tenancy, especially foreign students who would normally underpin inner city high rise rental demand, Lawless says.

&quot;The sharp drop in demand due to closed borders has been exacerbated by high supply levels as both cities come out of an unprecedented surge in inner city apartment construction,&rdquo; Lawless added.

Sydney unit rents have consistently risen each month during 2021, while in Melbourne, unit rents have been rising since June.

Unit rents are starting to rise in Sydney and Melbourne, which is a good metric for investors to follow

What happened to Melbourne apartment values over August?

Investors have been witness to the growing attractiveness of Melbourne&rsquo;s Heidelberg&nbsp;West in recent years, as the ramping government expenditure totalling more than half a billion dollars has started to snowball the suburb&#39;s underlying value.

Heidelberg West apartments have seen 5.3 per cent price growth per annum over the past 10 years, according to SQM Research. Population growth has been similarly steady, up 1.3 per cent per annum for the past decade, ABS and Urbis data found.

Demographics in the Heidelberg West area reflect a younger age demographic, with a higher proportion of residents renting their property. Some 59 percent of residents are renters, more than double the 28 per cent in Greater Melbourne average.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=628 project_image_fid=178962]

And there&rsquo;s potential for further growth in the area due to the $160 million Olympia Housing Initiative, which is set to revitalise housing in Heidelberg West, Heidelberg Heights and Bellfield. Outdated public housing is being replaced by more housing more appropriate to local demographics.

There&rsquo;s also the proposition of the $50 million redeveloped town square in Heidelberg West, as well as $210 million development in neighbouring Ivanhoe of an 8,900 sqm site that will include residential, aged care and child care facilities.

Growth in median weekly rents has been steady in the Heidelberg West/Heidelberg rental area over the past decade. Data indicates that one-bedroom units achieved the strongest growth, at 6.5% per annum for the last 10 years. This is above the Greater Melbourne average of 5%. Over the same period, two and three bedroom units grew at 5.2% and 4.3% per annum respectively, indicating continued demand for rental units across all sizes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=628 project_image_fid=174210]

Heidelberg West has the lowest rental vacancy rate among the surrounding suburbs, currently at 1.3%.&nbsp;

Cultivate, at 294 Bell Street, has a walk score of 80, indicating a very walkable neighbourhood with easy access to grammar schools and colleges, universities, hospitals, research hubs and major retail centres. It also has extensive transport links and a direct road network.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=628 project_image_fid=178965]

Cultivate is located 12km north east of Melbourne&rsquo;s CBD. It is close to a range of employment, education, retail and services hubs including:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Northland Shopping Centre</li>
	<li>Heidelberg Activity Centre</li>
	<li>Biomedical Alliance Precinct Specialised Activity Centre</li>
	<li>La Trobe University Bundoora</li>
</ul>

The proportion of residents working in white collar roles has been on the rise in Heidelberg West. The young age profile, high proportion of renters and prevalence of lone person households, is supportive of demand for apartment housing.&nbsp;

This is typical of a suburb that is undergoing gentrification and the same trend is evident in the adjacent suburbs nearer the Melbourne CBD, which have seen healthy price growth. It was even named a National Employment and Innovation Cluster by the Victorian Planning Authority.

National Employment Clusters are defined as, designated geographic concentrations of interconnected businesses and institutions that make a major contribution to the national economy and Melbourne&rsquo;s position as a global city.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=628]

Demographics in the Heidelberg West area reflect a younger age demographic, with a higher proportion of residents renting their property

jordan_55689

Why investors are keen on Heidelberg West apartments, Cultivate

Owner-occupiers seeking an apartment can now find it more easily than ever, with renowned developer Central Equity offering personalised online tours of their Southbank tower, FOCUS.

Online tours commence September 8th at the FOCUS Sale Event - with access to an exclusive offer to purchase with 5% deposit, no more to pay until settlement.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3260 project_image_fid=62315]

There are 15 different apartment layouts which can be selected as part of the tour.

Another bonus for owner-occupiers looking to buy in the building is that they can save up to $51,000 in stamp duty on their brand new apartment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3260 project_image_fid=62317]

Investors haven&#39;t been left in the cold by Central Equity, who are offering a two-year rental guarantee to investors - available during the online Sale Event.

Investors can also save up to $27,000 in stamp duty savings as part of the government initiative.

Prices for one-bedroom apartments&nbsp;start from $499,000. Two-bedroom apartments start from $699,000&nbsp;and three-bedders are priced from $899,000.

FOCUS apartments have been designed with space in mind, with near three metre ceilings in the apartments, which have floor to ceilings windows to let in light and take in views of the city.

Resident amenity at FOCUS will include a luxury 17-seat theatre, a glass-roofed&nbsp;heated&nbsp;indoor swimming pool, and a gym with a sauna. There will be a communal lounge space, complete with a fireplace, kitchen and dining area which opens to an&nbsp;outdoor space with further dining and a barbecue.

Buyers can <a href="https://focusmelb.com.au/event?utm_source=urban&amp;utm_medium=portal&amp;utm_content=story">book a spot for a personalised tour of FOCUS</a>, which includes chatting with consultants, seeing the latest designs, floorplans, views and interiors, <a href="https://focusmelb.com.au/event?utm_source=urban&amp;utm_medium=portal&amp;utm_content=story">here</a>.

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Experience 15 different apartment layouts at Central Equity's Sale Event from September 8

Tour FOCUS, Southbank apartments without leaving your home

Apartment developers are getting wise to how important amenities are in developments, with residents expecting to spend more time at home than ever before.

Working from home seems to be here to stay, and the importance of having amenity such as a swimming pool and gym within the same community is an attractive proposition for the time-poor workers.

One of the biggest trends slowly coming through is the virtual golf simulator, allowing keen golfers or beginners to golf privately, inside, and in the same building they live.

Urban has picked out some of the best new apartment developments across Melbourne, currently on the market, which have a golf simulator.

<h2>Ivanhoe Gardens</h2>

Address:&nbsp;43 Linden Avenue, Ivanhoe VIC 3079

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22308 project_image_fid=75041]

Residents at Blue Earth Group&#39;s latest apartment development, Ivanhoe Gardens in Melbourne&#39;s north-east, have more than just virtual golf access with 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&rsquo;s main arterial road. It is near&nbsp;a significant employment hub, with Victoria&rsquo;s largest medical precinct and La Trobe University within a 4-kilometre radius.

<h2>Riverbank -&nbsp;Park House</h2>

Address:&nbsp;631 Victoria Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4136 project_image_fid=166459]

The Salta Properties Abbotsford apartment development Riverbank,&nbsp;on the banks of the Yarra River immediately opposite Kew and Studley Parklands, has a golf simulator for its residents.

It&#39;s also located across the river from Yarra Bend Public&nbsp;Golf Course and Studley Park Par 3 Golf Course.

Riverbank is part of the recently completed Park House development, which has been popular with buyers who want to be close to the city.

The nine-level building was&nbsp;designed by SJB Architects and has been&nbsp;finished with interiors by renowned Sue Carr of Carr Design Group.&nbsp;

Prices start from $505,000 for one-bedroom apartments. Salta are currently offering buyers 50 per cent stamp duty savings until the end of September,&nbsp;after the VIC government stopped the first home buyer stamp duty initiative earlier in the year.

<h2>Australia 108</h2>

Address:&nbsp;70 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank

[smartcode_project:default project_id=582 project_image_fid=10405]

All Australia 108 residents have access to the 70th floor facilities inside the Star Club including vaunted virtual golf and even&nbsp;an infinity pool where it&rsquo;s possible to look down on an Australia Open match, as well as many more.&nbsp;The Star Club offers&nbsp;2,800 square metres of amenities.

Designed by Fender Katsalidis, it is the tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere and plays host to some of Melbourne&#39;s priciest sky-high penthouses.

The&nbsp;World Class Land development is located a three minute walk from the Crown Casino and entertainment complex, and a seven minute walk to Flinders Street Station.

Apartment developers are getting wise to how important amenities are in developments, with residents expecting to spend more time at home than ever before


Golf at home: Melbourne's best new apartment developments with on-site golf simulators

As the return to the office stalls due to ongoing lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne, discerning apartment developers are pivoting their approach to apartment design.

If not already as standard, a number of developers are going hard on the work-from-home office space, whether it&#39;s part of the wider development or within the apartments.

More than one-10th of Melbourne&#39;s office floor space was untenanted in July, the Property Council of Australia&#39;s Office Market Report showed. The St Kilda Rd precinct had Melbourne highest vacancy rate at 16.3 per cent, followed by Southbank by 15.2 per cent.

Chris McCue, managing director at architecture and design firm Carr, says he has seen the&nbsp;demand for a tailored home office space continue right through the pandemic.

&quot;The multitude of workspaces within a single dwelling has definitely risen as we move to more longer-term workplace flexibility and adaptive environments,&quot; McCue said.

The customisable apartments at Riverlee&#39;s mixed-use Melbourne development Seafarers had a recent buyer re-jig&nbsp;the floorplan, taking out the laundry sink which was moved to the ensuite to accomodate a study nook large enough for two people, fitted with cabinetry and shelving.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728 project_image_fid=97028]

The developer Riverlee also focused on the home office boom by adding shared facilities in the 123-room development, located in the same Flinders Street building as&nbsp;Australia&#39;s first 1 Hotel.

Residents will have access to a number of meeting rooms and breakout areas, an 800-seat function space, a residents-only library and communal lounge. There&#39;s also onsite building support staff who can assist with printing.

The home office facilities, as well as the access of&nbsp;exclusive privileges when staying at a&nbsp;1 Hotel&nbsp;worldwide, has seen a big uptake in purchases by entrepreneurs and executives.

Seafarers was&nbsp;designed by Fender Katsalidis on the banks of the Yarra River. They were tasked with&nbsp;reimagining&nbsp;the heritage-protected Goods Shed 5, preserving&nbsp;the only intact remnants from the days before containerisation.

McCue said Seafarers&nbsp;faceted exterior does more than create a striking urban presence, it yields uniquely large floorplans.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728 project_image_fid=73042]

&quot;From the four-bedroom penthouses to two-bedroom residences, each interior is meticulously planned to maximise natural light, external views and connection to the textures and rhythms of its riverfront setting,&quot; McCue said.

&quot;Luxury can mean so much in terms of spatial and service amenity and is where Seafarers achieves luxury in many ways.

&quot;From a service inclusion and connection to 1 Hotels, to the kitchen joinery and fixtures inclusions, to the inclusion of generous and highly-functional storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728 project_image_fid=161089]

&quot;There was a lot of consideration around house-like storage amenity, as well as spatial amenity and flow through spaces and connection.

&quot;Our key spatial thinking and beliefs include connected indoor and outdoor living spaces, controlled and extended aspects, extended views that are aligned with internal planning.&quot;

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=27728]

Chris McCue, managing director at architecture and design firm Carr, says he has seen the demand for a tailored home office space continue right through the pandemic

How apartment customisation and adding a home office is driving off the plan sales

Residents have moved in to the completed Glen Waverley apartment project Sky Garden.

The striking project was developed by Golden Age Group to a design by Rothelowman.

With buyers having moved in, Urban spoke to first home buyer Adam Feng about his property buying journey, and what he loves about Sky Garden.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2881 project_image_fid=168799]

MK: How did you hear about Sky Garden and were you in the market for a new property at the time?

AF: I used to work at The Glen and would often see Sky Garden salespeople at the kiosk and display suite. At the time I didn&rsquo;t consider buying, but three years later after making enough money, I chose to buy at Sky Garden.

MK: What stood out to you about Sky Garden that assisted you in your decision to buy?

AF: The outdoor environment, especially the huge garden podium. I walk around it at least five times a week, if not every day.&nbsp;

Also, the lift goes directly to the lower ground floor, where The Glen is, so that&rsquo;s super convenient.

The soundproofing in my apartment is really effective. Even though I&rsquo;m facing Springvale Road which can be quite busy, the noise is completely blocked out.&nbsp;

<img alt="" height="898" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2021-08-30_at_11.33.31_am.png" width="1254" />

MK: What made you decide to buy off-the-plan rather than an existing dwelling?

AF: My apartment was new but already finished when I moved in.&nbsp;

MK: What do you love most about living at the development?

AF: I love the sauna and pool. Not many people use it at 7am, so when my girlfriend and I work out in the morning, we have the whole place to ourselves. We use it at least five times a week.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2881 project_image_fid=168800]

MK: Is this your first property purchase? How did you find the due diligence research and purchase process?

AF: Yes, it&rsquo;s my first property purchase. I decided I wanted to buy at 18 and started saving, and settled at Sky Garden at the age of 20. The purchase process was good, my only recommendation would be to ensure you do enough research on your own personal financial situation before looking to buy.&nbsp;

MK: Which colour scheme did you choose for your apartment and how did you personalise your home?

AF: I chose my apartment for its lucky number (909A)&nbsp;over the colour scheme (which is light) and also for its view facing the bay and south side. We can see the police academy on top of the hill which is pretty cool.&nbsp;

Our one-bedroom apartment is perfect for my girlfriend and I, but we bought a sofa bed in case we have visitors. There is a large floor-to-ceiling window, which we have positioned my girlfriend&rsquo;s piano beside &mdash; that&rsquo;s probably the most creative thing we have done with the place.&nbsp;

<img alt="" height="828" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2021-08-30_at_11.33.18_am_0.png" width="1374" />

MK: Would you recommend living at a lifestyle precinct like Sky Garden? &nbsp;

AF: I would definitely recommend Sky Garden. Firstly because it&rsquo;s super convenient in terms of location and having The Glen right downstairs.&nbsp;

Secondly, the views are unobstructed as we&rsquo;re the tallest building in the area so when I look out my window there&rsquo;s nothing in the way, unlike the city.&nbsp;

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Urban spoke to first home buyer Adam Feng about his property buying journey

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Why a first home buyer secured a Sky Garden, Glen Waverley apartment

Developer EcoWorld International is selling a newly Yarra One completed apartment via an online auction system.

The apartment is in its recently completed Fender Katsalidis-designed project, located in South Yarra on Claremont Street.

Yarra One general manager Jeffrey Ong said the online auction provided a &quot;new exciting&quot; way of selling apartments within a multi-residential sales setting.

The auction date is scheduled for September 15 for 1508/16 Claremont Street, South Yarra.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3127 project_image_fid=31085]

To be qualified to partake in the online auction, interested parties will be required to submit an opening bid, alongside their settlement terms and deposit, which will then be reviewed by the team at Yarra One.&nbsp;

If the opening bid, deposit and settlement terms are deemed acceptable, purchasers will be qualified to participate in the online auction.

If the reserve price is not met, the auction will be paused and the team at Yarra One will negotiate as to whether the bid is acceptable or if a counter offer is required.

&quot;If successful, Yarra One will look to auction off other apartments within the project,&quot; Ong said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3127 project_image_fid=31092]

One-bedroom apartments within Yarra One range in price from $450,000 to $650,000.

Yarra One encompasses 247 one, two and three-bedroom luxury apartments, as well as, three penthouses and a wide range of innovative amenities throughout including a wellness precinct equipped with a gymnasium, outdoor spa, dance studio and yoga room.

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Yarra One general manager Jeffrey Ong said the online auction provided a new exciting way of selling apartments within a multi-residential sales setting

jchancellor

EcoWorld International puts new Yarra One, South Yarra apartment up for online auction

Highpark Seasons, the new apartment development in Melbourne&#39;s Glen Iris, was targeted at locals and owner-occupiers straight from the outset.

And the COVID-19 lockdowns has only seen further demand from locals who want to live in the picturesque and peaceful location, right on Gardiners Creek&nbsp;and the popular Gardiners Creek trail.

&quot;People have really re-connected with walks over the last 16 months or so&quot;, Jellis Craig head of projects Stephen Bowtell, who is marketing the apartments, says.

&quot;It&#39;s a bit of an island site, not built on any side, and residents will easily be able to access the nature track.&quot;

The development has been popular&nbsp;with city dwellers, who, since the onset of COVID, have been&nbsp;reconnecting with nature through long socially-distanced walks.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3224 project_image_fid=171807]

Bowtell says the developer, David Li&#39;s Pasino Group, wanted to keep the residents as local as possible, with few investors. To do this he made the conscious decision not to sell the development through&nbsp;channel groups or to investor databases.

Highpark is a passion project for Li, who is a well-known philanthropist and the chairman of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

&quot;He&#39;s not bottom-line focused, he lives locally, and his kids will likely take apartments in the building when it is completed,&quot; Bowtell added.

Highpark is under construction now through Crema Group&#39;s high-end construction arm Camilo, with completion expected toward the end of 2022.

There&#39;s been keen interest by first home buyers, given the affordable&nbsp;$480,000 entry point for a one-bedroom apartment. There&#39;s been a number of purchases by families who live locally and within walking distance who are buying for their kids.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3224 project_image_fid=171809]

&quot;There&#39;s no difference in finishes between one bedroom apartments and the penthouse,&quot; Bowtell said.

The development has been designed by Rothelowman, one of Melbourne&#39;s top architecture firms, to react to its location, with the inspiration coming from the seasons of nature. There&#39;s extensive outdoor entertaining areas in the apartments, as well as outdoor communal gardens and terraces.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3224 project_image_fid=171815]

Four townhouses sit along the front of the development, directly on the trail. Three have already been snapped up.

Across the board Bowtell sees more enquiry during the lockdown months, around 20 per cent more week on week.

&quot;There&#39;s a build up of enquiry, with no one being able to buy anything else in the meantime.&quot;

Bowtell recently sold out Rosanna, a 27 townhouse development in Melbourne&#39;s north east, after just six weeks, with around four of those weeks spent in lockdown.

Highpark is under construction now through Crema Group's high-end construction arm Camilo, with completion expected toward the end of 2022

Why apartments at Highpark Seasons in Glen Iris were only really for locals

Melbourne&#39;s top advised townhouse sale was 7/120 Queens Parade, Fitzroy North at $1.8 million which came mid-last week.

And a warehouse style townhouse at 22 Reeves Crescent, Richmond fetched $1.41 million.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom Fitzroy North townhouse was architecturally designed in the reinvention of the Selotta Shoe Factory.

The Jellis Craig price guide for the 1934 three level space had been $1.8 million to $1.9 million.

It last sold at $975,000 in 2007.

The adjoining 6/120 Queens Parade townhouse, also with three bedrooms, fetched $1.8 million in April. It first sold at $406,000 in 1998.

<a href="/developments/melbourne-vic?source_news_article_id=108214&amp;ref=news_body_link"><img alt="" height="800" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/template_photoshop_melbournecbd_14.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

The original factory designed is credited to architect, H V Gillespie.

22 Reeves, just off Coppin Street, was marketed by the Biggin &amp; Scott agency as having a converted warehouse feel with a rustic industrial flare.&nbsp;

There are high 5m ceilings in the lounge area, plus exposed steel beams under its curved roof.

Melbourne vendors secured a 50 percent clearance rate ver the past week according to CoreLogic.

It was the priciest apartment sale across the nation over the past week.

There was a 61.8 percent success rate from the 345 apartment and townhouses results &nbsp;across the nation.

The national median sale price was calculated at $810,000 with Melbourne at $702,500.

Melbourne vendors had 249 auction offerings with 65 results yet to be advised.

Sydney vendors secured an 81.5 percent success rate.

Melbourne's top advised sale was 7/120 Queens Parade, Fitzroy North at $1.8 million which came mid-last week

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