Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

Joel Robinson

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-6" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-2" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-2" dir="auto">
<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-2" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:5a5ab36c-8dd3-454c-b456-c501f22f0eb4-0" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:5a5ab36c-8dd3-454c-b456-c501f22f0eb4-0" dir="auto">
The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
</section>
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Local Little Bay residents, along with buyers from premium postcodes across Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs, have dominated purchases in developer-builder Urban Property Group’s first Eastern Suburbs apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a>.

The $250 million coastal project, one of the first new developments in the area in several years, has proven particularly popular with downsizers, especially those from Coogee and Bondi. One Double Bay downsizer paid $4.7 million for a four-bedroom penthouse, setting a new local apartment price record in the process.

Buyers have been attracted to the combination of coastal tranquillity, premium design and amenity-rich neighbourhood living. The walkable village setting, along with proximity to three of Sydney’s leading golf courses, New South Wales Golf Club, St Michael’s Golf Club and The Coast Golf Club, has also been a key drawcard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352689]

Built across two low-rise buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hill-thalis-architecture-urban-projects-pty-ltd">Hill Thalis</a> and set along a lush, landscaped green spine, designed by leading landscape architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, ESTE Little Bay offers a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences with interiors by Richards Stanisich.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> Sales Director, Tom McIvor said the response to ESTE has been "nothing short of extraordinary."

“Buyers have been quick to recognise ESTE as a rare opportunity to invest in a coastal sanctuary that offers both seclusion and connectivity to the heart of Sydney,” McIvor said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352687]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">SRM Residential</a> Senior Director, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">Clayton Ross</a> said the local market has responded incredibly well, driven by ESTE’s exceptional location and the rarity it offers.

“We’ve seen strong interest from a variety of buyer groups, all of whom are drawn to the exclusivity and quality of the build and construction by the 4.5-star iCIRT-rated builder / developer, Urban Property Group. There’s truly nothing else like it along Sydney’s coastline.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352690]

The project also includes robust buyer protections, including Resilience Insurance’s Latent Defects Insurance, providing 10 years of structural cover, and an independent iCIRT-rating of the developer.

“The iCIRT-rating adds another layer of confidence,” Ross added. “Buyers see it as a safeguard for their investment and their lifestyle.” A highlight of ESTE’s offering is its exclusive wellness amenities, including a heated rooftop infinity pool and outdoor heated spa, a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness centre, and a sauna.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a> is topped out and is on track to complete towards the end of 2026, with residents moving in before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112343]

Eastern Suburbs buyers snap up ESTE Little Bay apartments

Melbourne

<html><body>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/82154/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Residents of neighbourhoods with good infrastructure and services often enjoy lower living costs and better wellbeing and life chances.
But access to education, health, transport and other public amenities and services is unevenly distributed in the city. 
Some suburbs are disadvantaged on multiple fronts, and it turns out these areas receive much more state funding in Melbourne than in Sydney.
From a social justice perspective, public funding of infrastructure and services should give priority to the most disadvantaged areas. This “redistribution” is seen as necessary to counter socioeconomic disadvantage and inequality. 
In both Sydney and Melbourne, our research shows more funding goes to moderately disadvantaged areas, on average, than to more advantaged areas. In Sydney, however, government spending in the most disadvantaged suburbs was very low compared to Melbourne.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/16/file-20170811-12395-tqo9ff.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/08/16/file-20170811-12395-tqo9ff.jpg" alt="">
 
Average per capita investment by socioeconomic status of suburb. Author provided
<h2>Breaking down the funding distribution</h2>
Our study sought to understand how state funding is distributed in Melbourne and Sydney. We looked at the Victorian and New South Walesstate budgets from 1999 to 2015 to measure expenditure in different suburbs of both cities. This included transport, roads, health, education, justice, utilities, amenities, government facilities and community services.
In both Sydney and Melbourne we saw an overall redistributive pattern. Moderately disadvantaged areas received more on average than advantaged areas. 
However, state investment in Sydney’s most disadvantaged suburbs was very low. In contrast, such areas in Melbourne benefited from relatively high state spending. 
In Melbourne’s most socially disadvantaged suburbs, expenditure was higher than the metropolitan average in almost all categories of infrastructure and services. The exceptions were emergency services and amenities. 
In Sydney’s most disadvantaged suburbs, expenditure was lower than the metropolitan average in health, justice, roads, amenities, urban development and utilities. Only expenditure on community services and education was above the average. 
In both cities, expenditure on public housing development was relatively high in the most disadvantaged suburbs. Government investment in building more affordable housing in well-serviced areas is extremely important. A booming housing market has pushed disadvantaged people, including recently arrived immigrants, away from well-serviced suburbsthat were once affordable.
However, in Sydney, new public housing development occurs disproportionately in the most disadvantaged suburbs that also lack good public infrastructure and services. 
<h2>Inner city does best</h2>
The disadvantage of Sydney’s poorest suburbs can be attributed, in part, to a highly centralised pattern of government spending. It is disproportionately high in the inner city and progressively declines outwards. 
The majority of Sydney’s most disadvantaged suburbs are located well outside the metropolitan centre, and therefore miss out. 
Strategic plans for Sydney since 2005 have envisioned a shift towards a less centralised structure. Yet the pattern of infrastructure investment we observed is at odds with such rhetoric. 
Most recently, the Greater Sydney Commission has promoted a “metropolis of three cities”. The three centres are the CBD, Parramatta and the planned Western Sydney Airport in Badgery’s Creek. The impact of these strategies on infrastructure distribution will need close monitoring.
But, on its own, centralised expenditure does not fully explain why Sydney’s most disadvantaged suburbs miss out. Some of Sydney’s emerging outer suburbs benefited from much higher investment. And in Melbourne, despite a centralised pattern of investment (albeit less extreme than Sydney’s), the most disadvantaged suburbs did benefit from high expenditure.
We need to find other political and social explanations to explain these differences between Melbourne and Sydney. 
<h2>Finding a fairer balance</h2>
Despite the justifications for redistribution to the neediest areas, various political and economic dynamics work against it.
Public investment often favours other areas because these are expected to yield higher economic or electoral returns. Better resourced communities can also lobby government more effectively – pushing for or against facilities in their area, for instance. 
Nonetheless, state governments can play a crucial role in reducing social inequalities in Australia’s major cities. In Sydney, infrastructure allocation decisions by successive state governments have failed the most disadvantaged communities. 
Public spending on infrastructure and services will have to be redistributed to fix these problems. But simply channelling more funds to disadvantaged suburbs will not be enough. To maximise the transformative impact on such communities, the state must take the needs and wishes of diverse residents into account. 
Crucially, this must include more affordable housing. Otherwise, investments in better infrastructure and services may well lead to the displacement of the very people who are meant to benefit.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ilan-wiesel-303040" target="_blank">Ilan Wiesel</a> is Lecturer in Urban Geography, University of Melbourne.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/caitlin-buckle-399322" target="_blank">Caitlin Buckle</a> is PhD Candidate in Human Geography, UNSW.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/fanqi-liu-399272" target="_blank">Fanqi Liu</a> is PhD Student in Urban Geography, University of Melbourne.
All are authors for <a href="https://theconversation.com/au" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Melbourne shows up Sydney in funding the most disadvantaged suburbs

<html><body>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/78252/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Imagine in the years ahead that you were to come across a photograph of the Melbourne streetscape from 2017.
Two things would immediately signify it as being from today – the number of cranes across the skyline and at street level, the construction hoardings glistening with glamourous promise. 
Melbourne is now experiencing the most dramatic real estate boom in living history – this feverish development has seen 13,000 new apartments constructed each year for the past two years with plans for another 22,000 over the next few years.
And like that photograph of the 2017 streetscape, one can also take another kind of record, a typographic snapshot. Fonts can tell us something about a time and a place. Within the real estate industry, this is centred around branding – and more specifically those ubiquitous logos weaved throughout our urban landscape.
In an age when each individual building demands a logo as much as an address, and often these congeal (8 Breese, 85 Spring Street) or fill us with an aspiration to be somewhere else (West Village, Haus), the end result is a seemingly never-ending array of marks all jostling to dazzle us with their glamour and aspiration. But is this massive explosion of logos a new thing? 
The clearest way to see any of these connections is to look across other periods of economic boom. The oversupply of livestock in the 1870s is one such time. During this period the plentiful supply of cattle necessitated that the ownership of herds be strongly signified and differentiated in the marketplace. At that time the most effective way to do this was through branding – quite literally, a hot iron branded seared into the rumps of the livestock. 
By the latter half of the 19th century the simpler alphabetical brands had all been used up so the designs became increasingly complex and idiosyncratic. These plentiful livestock brands began to do odd things – letters would be turned upside down or flipped, there would be strange little icons of hats, anchors, fish, shields, glasses and other even more abstract shapes. 
When placed alongside the embellished brands extolling the contemporary real estate boom, some strong design similarities become clear. It seems that the imperative to produce a distinct identity seems to bridge 140 years with ease. These design similarities hint at the underlying economic cycle, boom followed by bust. 
<img src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/170711/width754/file-20170524-5782-1uz33bn.png" alt="">
<div class="enlarge_hint"> </div>
The top line are real estate brands from 2016 whilst the bottom line are cattle brands from 1870. Apartment brands from left to right: Nest at the Hill (Doncaster); Queens Place (CBD); Reflections (North Melbourne); Capital Grand (South Yarra)Author provided
<h2>Who we are and want we want</h2>
The logos that festoon the hoardings across our streets tell us a great deal about who we are, and more specifically, what we want. Script typefaces (those based on handwriting) tell us that we are in an age where people yearn for the authentic, the handmade, a personal connection. The use of fonts, patterns and symbols as well as specific colours may offer us an insight into what cultural shorthand is being used to speak to many prospective buyers. 
It is that supreme marker of modernity – sans serif fonts - that above all others expresses our shared contemporary notions of style and urbane aspiration. These fonts, such as “helvetica”, do not use the ornamental ends of letters that serif fonts, like the one you are reading on, include. We take in and process all of these factors in the split second that we consume a logo.
Logos, and the typefaces from which they are composed, have always spoken of the times we live in – including the reflection of economic and social patterns. The mechanised efficiencies of the early 20th century were met by a geometric simplicity in letterforms, whilst the 1970s sexual revolution coincidentally saw spacing between letterforms become very intimate, coupled as it was with the advent of phototypesetting, a process soon superseded by computers. 
Booms have a habit of producing an oversupply. And this oversupply calls for some kind of unique differentiation. Differentiation calls for creativity. This is where branding comes in. Trying to tell a herd of cows apart in the 1870s is perhaps no easier than trying to differentiate the often generic architectural forms of apartment developments built today. 
<img src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/174655/width754/file-20170620-24868-uwcoc8.jpg" alt="">
Brands of the cattle boom (black) contrasted with contemporary real estate (white) Author provided
The old marketing adage “the more generic the product, the more you differentiate by brand” certainly appears to be at work here. This is but one comparison across two localised economic booms but the same pattern could be expected to appear whenever there is an “over stimulation” in a highly crowded marketplace. 
What this frenzy of logos does show us is that despite the world of brands being fixated on the “now” it too has a “then” – one that I am sure we will see again some time soon.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephen-banham-172590" target="_blank">Stephen Banham</a> is Lecturer in Typography, RMIT University and author for <a href="https://theconversation.com/au" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
</body></html>

How Australia’s apartment frenzy echoes the 1870s cattle boom

<html><body>
Melbourne’s North East scored the highest weekend auction clearance rate, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that out of the 112 auctions in the area 78.6 percent resulted in a successful outcome.
This was followed by the Outer East with 78.3 percent and the North West with 72.7 percent.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/15/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-15%20at%2010.50.12%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/08/15/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-15%20at%2010.50.12%20am.jpg" alt="">
The Mornington Peninsula had the lowest weekend clearance rate with only 62.1% of the 29 auctions cleared.
A two bedroom townhouse at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-townhouse-vic-thornbury-125981914" target="_blank">189A Miller Street</a>, Thornbury (above) was sold for $675,000.
A three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-preston-125968426" target="_blank">210 Gower Street</a>, Preston (below) was sold for $980,000.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/08/15/210%20Gower%20Street.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Melbourne's North East region scores highest weekend auction clearance rate: CoreLogic

<html><body>
Auction volumes rose to their highest level in three months, according to CoreLogic, with Canberra taking the mantle of best selling capital city as cracks emerged in the traditional auction powerhouse, Melbourne.
The number of homes taken nationally to auction rose to 2,000, compared with 1,850 over the prior week.
The preliminary auction clearance rate of 70.5 per cent was up on last week’s final 68.2 percent clearance rate.
Over the corresponding weekend last year, the clearance rate was higher at 75 per cent but on less stock, as just 1,471 auctions were held.
Canberra was the weekend's strongest auction market with an 87 percent success rate.
Its top sale was a five bedroom Forrest house sold for $2.875 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-act-forrest-125971866" target="_blank">27 Tasmania Circle</a>, the home was built in 2012 on its 1367 sqm block opposite historic Collins Park.
Luton Properties also sold the nation capital's cheapest offering, a two bedroom MacGregor townhouse for $345,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-townhouse-act-macgregor-125979282" target="_blank">13/204 Macfarlane Burnet Avenue</a>, the property is currently tenanted at $360 per week.
Across Canberra a total of 57 auctions were held, compared to 69 last weekend.
Canberra’s preliminary clearance rate was well up on the 70 percent of the previous weekend.
First home buyers have surged into the ACT market in strong numbers, according to Domain's chief economist, Dr Andrew Wilson.
Adelaide had the next best success rate, with 72.9 per cent of the 59 reported results sold.
It was a big improvement over the previous week’s 63 percent clearance rate and the 68.8 per cent one year ago.
Adelaide's offering ranged between an uninhabitable four bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-ingle+farm-123655150" target="_blank">29 Aranga Avenue</a>, Ingle Farm sold for $297,000 by the mortgagee and a $1.37 million sale of a four bedroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-campbelltown-125928814" target="_blank">Maynard Avenue</a>, Campbelltown house sold for $1.37 million.
With a 72 percent success rate, Sydney was next strongest narrowing pipping Melbourne’s preliminary clearance rate of 71 per cent.
"Melbourne has remained the stronger performer for many weeks, but it was possible that Melbourne’s final clearance rate could drop below the 70 per cent mark for the first time since July last year," CoreLogic's auction analyst Kevin Brogan suggested.
Domain's chief economist, Dr Andrew Wilson noted Melbourne was being "weighed down" by a surge in pre-spring listings after an unusually hot winter market.
The Melbourne clearance rate was down from last week’s final clearance rate of 73.9 per cent and lower the clearance rate for the city one year ago (78.9 per cent).
Melbourne was host to 948 auctions, higher than the 911 held last week, and substantially higher than a year ago when there were 605 Melbourne auctions held over the week.
Of the nine Melbourne sub-regions, the strongest performer, in terms of clearance rate was the North East with a 78.6 per cent success rate.
Sydney’s preliminary clearance rate this week was 72 per cent across 625 notified auction results from a total of 782 auctions held across the city.
"Looking back at this weekend last year, 635 auctions were held across Sydney and a clearance rate of 78.3 per cent was recorded," Brogan noted. 
An $8 harbour front at Longueville was the nation's most expensive weekend auction sale.
Built in 1970, the five bedroom property was last sold in 2006 for $5 million.
It features a split level design on its 1277 sq m block at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-longueville-125980638" target="_blank">40A Mary Street</a>.
The offering through McGrath Estate Agents came with pool, jetty, boatshed and deep mooring.
Melbourne's top two sales were development sites including a Camberwell site sold at $5.01 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-camberwell-125960974" target="_blank">5-7 Braeside Avenue</a>, the 1550 sqm site came with townhouse plans by Alta Architecture.
The property, approved for eight homes, sold through Marshall White.
The next top price was at Port Melbourne with a site fetching $4.75 million.
The Chapman Memorial Hall sits on a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-other-vic-port+melbourne-126067106" target="_blank">711 sqm Ross Street site</a>.
An art deco Prahran house sold for $4.2 million. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-prahran-125959154" target="_blank">The Linden Court</a> home sold at $2,535,000 in 2011. 
A 1933 six bedroom Toorak home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-toorak-125941454" target="_blank">3 Myrnong Crescent</a> was passed in on a vendor bid of $7 million.   
Brisbane was host to 100 auctions with the 63 results reported, recording a preliminary clearance rate of 54 per cent.
Last week, auction volumes across the city were higher with 156 auctions held across the city and a 48.7 per cent clearance rate.
Brisbane cheapest result was a three bedroom Darra townhouse at $316,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-qld-darra-125972834" target="_blank">102/35 Ashridge Road</a>, the property was marketed by Ray White as ideal for savvy investors with its likely rent estimated to be $370 to $390 per week.
In Perth, 32 auctions took place with 10 results reported so far.
Perth’s preliminary clearance rate was 40 per cent.
 
</body></html>

Cracks emerge in oversupplied Melbourne August auction market

<html><body>
A former service station site in Melbourne’s Box Hill has sold for $3.5 million, which selling agency Savills said was at a record low yield of 1.8% for an industrial zoned property.
The property at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-box+hill-502491526" target="_blank">500 Station Street</a> is a 1,090 sqm in central Box Hill and currently occupied by an exhaust repair centre at a rental of $63,000 per annum.
It is currently zoned Industrial, but is likely to be suited to future rezoning for residential use.
According to Savills’ Julian Heatherich, who brokered the deal with colleagues Benson Zhou and Clinton Baxter, the property was snapped up within a few hours of its listing. It was listed for auction on August 31.
The sale price was $1.5 million (75%) above the initial vendor expectations of around $2 million.
“The vendor was blown away, he and his wife are absolutely staggered by what took place” Heatherich said.
The buyer was a local Chinese development group.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/08/09/BoxHill2.jpg" alt="">
He added that Box Hill was experiencing strong demand from both local and more particularly foreign buyers, looking to secure a foothold in one of Melbourne’s rapidly evolving areas.
A few weeks back, Savills sold another major Box Hill property suitable for high-rise residential development to a local developer with Chinese connections for $22,550,000.
Baxter said the site was close to shops, public transport and a hospital.   
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Box Hill corner site sells on first day to Chinese buyer for $3.5 million: Savills

<html><body>
A sizeable industrial office/warehouse located within Tullamarine’s logistic hub has just been leased.
The property, <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-industrial+warehouse-vic-tullamarine-502366274" target="_blank">Unit 3 at 71-93 Western Avenue</a>, has an area of 2,260 sqm and is close to the Tullamarine Freeway offering easy access to the Melbourne Airport, multiple freeway linkages and the CBD. 
The lease to a freight forwarding and logistic company was for $185,320 per annum net on a three year term plus one.
The leasing agent was Anthony Carbone of CVA.
The building has an eight metre high clearance warehouse and first floor open plan and partitioned air-conditioned offices.
</body></html>

Tullamarine warehouse leased for over $185,000 p.a.

<html><body>
Melbourne’s North West region had the highest weekend auction clearance rate, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that out of the 77 auctions in the area 87% were successfully cleared.
This was followed by the Mornington Peninsula with 79.2% and the Inner South with 77.7%.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/07/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-07%20at%2010.11.41%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/08/07/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-07%20at%2010.11.41%20am.jpg" alt="">
The Inner East region had the lowest clearance rate with only 71.4% of its 105 auctions cleared.
A three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-keilor+east-125908850" target="_blank">42 Borva Drive</a>, Keilor East (above) was sold for $824,000 over the weekend.
Another three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-keilor+east-125831622" target="_blank">10a Woorite Place</a>, Keilor East (below) was sold for $787,500.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/08/07/10a%20Woorite%20Place.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

Melbourne's North West region scores highest auction clearance rate: CoreLogic

<html><body>
A converted warehouse in Melbourne’s inner-city suburb of Fitzroy North has has sold to an investor for $985,000, while another awaits a buyer.
The sale of the property at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-industrial+warehouse-vic-fitzroy+north-502416766" target="_blank">1 Bik Lane</a> reflects a yield of 3.3%.
Known as Unit 1, the property comprises loft style offices that are currently tenanted by Media World Pty Ltd on a three-year lease with a three-year option. The current passing rental income is $32,240 net.
The selling agent was Gray Johnson’s Rory White.
The strata titled Lot 1 has a building area of 130 sqm on a site area of 160 sqm, which translates to a selling rate of $7,500 per square metre of building area, according to White.
Still available for sale with an expected sale price at $2.1 million is the larger of the two warehouses. 
It has a floor area of 400 sqm over two levels, and includes polished concrete floors, lofty ceilings and exposed timber trusses. 
The vendor, an advertising and marketing agency, currently occupies this space as a combination of open plan work areas, meeting rooms and private offices but is offering vacant possession on a six months settlement.
This property could be converted to residential or for a continued boutique office occupancy.
“Interested parties should consider the potential of Unit 2 as an investment, for owner-occupancy, or the scope to value add, or redevelop subject to the necessary permits,” White said.
</body></html>

Warehouse conversion in inner Melbourne sells for $985,000, another listed for $2.1 million

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Over the past decade, the government has attempted to tackle housing affordability by implementing countless measures, from the removal of stamp duty taxes and first home owner grants, through to penalising foreign investment.
Yet, the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) predicted the continuation of the quarter century decline of home ownership rates, confirmed by the 2016 Census.
So now the question is, why can’t we just get it right?
The answer is not as complicated as we think. The issue is not disposable income or foreign investment. Rather than a continued focus on trying to restrict demand, I believe in the answer lies in unlocking supply.
There are three key factors holding back our industry: restrictive and time-consuming planning regulations, a severe undersupply of construction resources and the absence of infrastructure investment in the key growth corridors of Victoria. Collectively, these factors are stifling developers’ ability to bring stock to the market to meet demand.
According to industry website Sourceable, Melbourne development approvals take an average of nine months. As a result, developers tie up resources and capital in projects for extended periods and are unable to deliver the supply of housing needed to meet the state’s growing demand.
However, creating a planning system that is it up to speed with this fast-paced industry is only one piece of the puzzle. The demand for contractors and resources is skyrocketing. Contractors for major works are being shared amongst a huge number of competing developers, and those same contractors are often tendering for major infrastructure projects, of which there are a number currently underway.
The tug-of-war battle for resources is causing increased delays and higher construction costs.
These delays not only impact the final cost, they also immobilise developers who are unable to work on more projects concurrently.
In the 2017 State of Land Report by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) it states that “57,000 new lots were released in 2016, a 10% increase since 2015” and yet the demand for these lots still outweighs supply. Buyers continue to camp out for land releases, sometimes for days at a time, afraid that if not, they will, yet again, miss out on the type of block or location that suits their needs.
Collectively, the delay caused by these issues directly correlates to holding costs for developers. Every month that a project is delayed the corresponding holding cost increases, attributed to high construction costs, mounting land taxes, council rates, interest on loans and more.
In a study by Urbis commissioned by the Property Council, it was found that these delays can add anywhere from $10,253 to $36,779 to the average cost of a block of land. A cost that must either be absorbed by the developer, or passed on to the purchaser.
The key concern is that this problem is on the rise. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimate that the population of Australia will grow from 23 million to between 36.8 million and 48.53 million by 2061. According to the UDIA, due to this growing population, Victoria alone needs to deliver in excess of 55,000 new homes per year.
Looking beyond the limitation of the current planning process and undersupply of resources, the industry is also crippled by a lack of infrastructure investment in Victoria’s growth corridors. Danni Addison, Victorian CEO of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) says that investment in infrastructure is at the heart of housing affordability and that we must be “focusing on investing in and delivering the roads and services that will make these areas more accessible to employment, amenities, and services”.
In the Interim Report released by the Victorian Population Policy Taskforce released in June 2017, it was revealed that 77 per cent of Victoria’s population live in Melbourne and that if Victoria does not move “from a city state into a state of cities”, this growth is simply unsustainable.
The 2016 census by the Australian Bureau of Statistics states that Victoria noted the most rapid growth in its history, recording a 10.7 per cent increase in population since 2011.
By working with industry bodies like the UDIA, Property Council of Australia (PCA) and others, we can bring about real positive change. Industry peers must support industry bodies to lobby for changes at a state and national level.
The recent government measures are simply not enough to facilitate this enormous increase in delivery. In fact, many of the changes will only lead to an increase in demand, pushing out development timelines and supply even further.
If the government is serious about enforcing change that will have a tangible effect on affordability and supply, it needs to minimise delays and red tape and provide a commitment to drive additional resources to streamline and fast-track the process. Only then can we work cohesively to keep up with the growing demands of Melbourne, Victoria and beyond.
As active industry members, we too are accountable for the housing affordability crisis. It is imperative that we pool our collective research and knowledge to inspire government and lobby for the real, tangible changes our industry needs in order to thrive and keep meeting the evolving needs of Australians across the country. 
 
John C Dwyer is Managing Director, <a href="https://dacland.com.au" target="_blank">Dacland</a>.
</body></html>

Melbourne housing affordability and why we can't get it right

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
A 3.1 percent gain in Melbourne dwelling prices over the month drove combined capital figures in the July 2017 CoreLogic Home Value Index.
The July 2017 CoreLogic Home Value Index results recorded a 1.5 percent rise in dwelling values across the combined capital cities.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%2011.25.19%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%2011.25.19%20AM.png" alt="">
Tim Lawless, CoreLogic head of research , the latest housing market results highlight the diversity of housing market conditions, with dwelling values down over the month in Brisbane (-0.6 percent), Perth (-1.3 percent) and Darwin (-1.2 percent).
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%209.52.28%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%209.52.28%20AM.png" alt="">
“The recent bounce in capital gains may be partially due to a recovery from the seasonal slump in values recorded in April and May," he said.
"However, other factors, such as stamp duty concessions for first home buyers in New South Wales and Victoria, may also be having a positive impact on market demand. 
“It’s still too early to measure the effect of first home buyer incentives, which went live on July 1st. However historically, the first time buyer segment has been very responsive to stimulus measures.” 
"Despite the higher month-on-month capital gains in June and July, the quarterly trend rate of growth has clearly reduced. 
"The rolling quarterly pace of capital gains across the combined capitals has fallen from 3.6 percent in February earlier this year to reach 2.2 percent at the end of July. 
"The slowdown in growth conditions is most evident across the hottest markets, with the quarterly growth trend reducing from 5.0 percent in Sydney earlier this year to 2.2 percent at the end of last month. 
"Melbourne growth conditions have also slowed, though to a lesser extent, with growth easing from a 2017 quarterly peak of 5.5 percent to 4.2 percent. 
“Melbourne appears to be benefitting from consistently high population growth which is creating strong demand for housing, as well as consistently high jobs growth and more affordable housing options relative to Sydney.”
"At the other end of the growth spectrum, Perth and Darwin have continued to see dwelling values slip lower over the month, taking the cumulative decline to 10.2 percent in Perth and 14.5 percent in Darwin since both markets peaked in 2014. 
"The ease in the rate of decline has been most visible in Perth, providing a signal that the Western Australian capital may be approaching the bottom of the downturn; listing numbers have been falling across Perth which is a positive sign of improving conditions, and transaction numbers have found a new floor at around 2,500 sales per month."
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Melbourne

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Melbourne

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News