The residential transformation of St Kilda Road is set to continue into with more new apartment plans for the sought-after boulevard.

Wing Tai Asia has lodged plans for a major residential tower at 464-466 St Kilda Road, replacing the former VACC House with an 18-storey mixed-use development designed around a retained heritage podium and a sculpted contemporary tower.

The proposal, prepared under Victoria’s Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway, would deliver 325 apartments and ground-floor retail across the prominent 4,653 sqm boulevard site in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road North Precinct.

The project centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed VACC Building, an eight-storey office designed by Bernard Evans that has occupied the address for decades. Planning documents state the development would involve “carefully dismantling and conserving off-site the original metal fabric of the podium visible from St Kilda Road,” before reinstating it as the defining frontage of the new scheme.

Above the restored podium, Wing Tai is proposing a curvilinear residential tower. The scheme includes 172 one-bedroom apartments, 63 two-bedroom apartments, 66 three-bedroom apartments, and 24 four-bedroom apartments, alongside two ground-floor food and beverage tenancies fronting St Kilda Road.

The tower has been designed with substantial articulation and variable setbacks to minimise perceived bulk and maintain view corridors along the boulevard. Urbis, which prepared the planning report, said the design “has been significantly articulated through a curvilinear design” with “an interplay with materials, façade expression and depth” to create visual separation and visual interest.

The proposal also includes 254 basement car spaces, landscaped pedestrian links connecting St Kilda Road and Queens Lane, and a biophilic landscape strategy featuring canopy trees, raised planters, cascading greenery and a glass oculus pool overlooking the eastern frontage.

Planning documents confirm the $270.1 million development will contribute 3 per cent of project costs to the Social Housing Growth Fund as part of the application process.

Wing Tai acquired the St Kilda Road property in 2018 alongside Abacus Property Group for $95.38 million, before later consolidating ownership of the site. The property previously served as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce headquarters for around 60 years.

The transformation of the St Kilda Rd boulevard is already beginning to materialise, with a number of high-profile projects recently completed, launched, or approaching launch as developers continue to back the long-term appeal of the precinct.

Among the most notable recent completions is Louise by Samuel Property Group, just off the strip on Queens Lane, the same pocket Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched The Queensbury. Mirvac is too on the same street with The Albertine, which is approaching completion.

Dexus recently secured approval for its slice of St Kilda Road, while Gurner also has approved plans for the precinct.

Joel Robinson

Wing Tai unveils 325-apartment St Kilda Road tower on former VACC House site

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>

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 

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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.
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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Melbourne

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New figures from Domain show the Melbourne suburbs with a 100 percent clearance rate, with Craigieburn leading for house sales and Brighton leading for units.
Malvern and Sunshine came behind Craigieburn for houses and Malvern East and Caulfield North for units.
SUBURBS WITH 100 PERCENT CLEARANCE RATES FOR HOUSES
Craigieburn
Malvern
Sunshine
Caulfield North
Coburg North
Dandenong North
Hadfield
SUBURBS WITH 100 PERCENT CLEARANCE RATES FOR UNITS
Brighton
Malvern East
Caulfield North
Elsternwick
Hawthorn East
Mentone
Middle Park 
 
 
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Craigieburn, Brighton among best Melbourne auction suburbs in June: Domain

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Melbourne is expected to overtake Sydney in 2016 as the best performing capital city in terms of market growth in house values, with property price growth expected to hover around 8 percent in Melbourne while Sydney is expected to see growth of about 4 percent according to Herron Todd White.
According to HTW's latest market review, the apartment market for central Melbourne has started to soften with a 0.5 percent drop in unit prices for the first quarter of 2016, including a fall of 0.9 percent in March, and is attracting those priced out of the Sydney market.
"With the steep price of housing in Sydney, home buyers are finding it unaffordable and are looking to other capital cities such as Melbourne," HTW said.
"Melbourne is expected to overtake Sydney in 2016 as the best performing capital city in terms of market growth in house values with property price growth expected to hover around 8 percent in Melbourne while Sydney is expected to see growth of about 4 percent.
"Comparing Sydney’s median house price of $995,804 at the end of the March 2016 quarter with Melbourne’s median house price of $713,000, housing is evidently more affordable in Melbourne. Melbourne’s median house price has had a steady growth over the past few years since the GFC demonstrating the strength of Melbourne’s economy and overall property market. "
 
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Melbourne to overtake Sydney in 2016 as the best performing capital city for market growth: HTW

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The eastern penthouse of the Robin Boyd-designed, South Yarra complex, overlooking the Royal Botanic Gardens, was snapped up mid-week.
It's still intact kitchen and bathrooms illustrated 1962 ideas in Domain Park, the iconic modernist residential tower. It's original David Jones furnishings have disappeared.
The 18th floor apartment sold through Jellis Craig agent Iain Carmichael who was t<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.realestateview.com.au/agencies/13497"></a>elling buyers well over $3 million was expected for the 165 sq m space.
The top floor Domain Road apartment last sold when bought from clothing store chain operator Norman Rockman and wife, Susie. 
Boyd died in 1971, only 52, and a legacy of 158 houses. 
This article was first published in the Weekend Australian Mansion Australia property section.
Domain Park was Melbourne's first air-conditioned residential high rise. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

South Yarra Robin Boyd-designed penthouse sold

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GUEST OBSERVER
Earlier this month, Secret Agent released our findings on the price per square metre of apartments in the secondary market.
Now we look closely at apartments in the upper tier of Melbourne property, exclusively those that have sold for above $2 million.
Each floor plan was manually measured for its internal habitable space, and the final measurement excluded external walls or structural elements, outdoor space, car spaces and storage cages. Sales were included only if a price and scaled floor plan were available. 
<a href="/images/2016/06/28/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-28%20at%209.26.29%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Key findings:
This study included 12 penthouses, which are typical assets in the top end of the market.
More than half of the sampled apartments have a North-facing aspect, balcony or terrace. This is the most desirable orientation for optimum natural light and passive heating. 
Apartments in the $2million plus market were 59 percent more expensive on a per square metre basis than the rest of the market (below $2million).
On average, 3 bedroom apartments sold at a higher cost per square metre than 4 bedroom apartments (Table 2).
5 of the apartments were located in period or Art Deco buildings, while the rest were constructed from the 1990s onwards. Most of these newly built apartments were designed by renown architects such as Fender Katsalidis, Robin Boyd, Woods Bagot, Ashton Raggatt McDougall, Bates Smart, or boutique developers such as Neometro. For this study, 32 apartments sold between the 1st of May 2015 to 31st of May 2016 were analysed.
The average sale price for these apartments was $2,571,469. The sample mostly consisted of apartments from the central, inner East and inner South of Melbourne. The average price per square metre for $2million plus apartments was $13,653. The results by suburb are shown in Table 1.
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While the average size of apartments below $2million does not appear to deviate much (between 61sqm and 80sqm in sampled suburbs), this does not seem to be the case for the top end of the market. Apartments in the central region (Melbourne, Southbank, Docklands) are on average bigger than the inner East and inner South apartments. 
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 For more information, <a href="https://secretagent.com.au/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Square metre rates for Melbourne's $2 million plus market: Secret Agent

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Melbourne held 1,025 auctions for the week ending June 26 with a preliminary clearance rate of 68.4 percent according to CoreLogic, up from 68.3 percent last week.
Melbourne’s Inner sub-region held the most number of auctions with 202 auctions and a preliminary clearance rate of 65.6 percent.
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Inner Melbourne leads auction volumes: CoreLogic  

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New REIV data shows that homes located within the catchment area for some of Melbourne’s best public secondary schools are fetching close to a $600,000 premium compared to those outside the zone. 
It found that in 2016, the median house price of properties with more than two-bedrooms in desirable public school zones is significantly higher than the median price of similar homes that border the zone.
The analysis, undertaken in the 12 months to March 31, shows that the largest price difference was recorded for homes zoned for University High in inner northern Parkville. 
Homes within the school zone had a median house price of $1,395,000 while homes within a one kilometre radius of the school zone had a median of $799,000 - a difference of $596,000. 
Homes zoned for McKinnon Secondary College also achieved sale prices significantly higher than those located outside the catchment area. The median house price for homes within the zone was $1,500,000 compared to a median of $1,195,000 for homes in the same suburb but outside the school zone. 
Vendors of homes within the school zone for Cheltenham Secondary College could also expect higher sale prices than those located outside the zone. A difference of $150,000 was recorded for homes that sold within the school zone.
The REIV new CEO Geoff White said access to high-quality amenities and services – particularly schooling and education - is a key driver of price growth across Melbourne.
“Rather than paying private school fees, parents of school-aged children are increasingly investing that money in the family home and buying into areas zoned for top performing public schools,” he said.
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<td class="td1" valign="middle">
 
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
 
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
 
</td>
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<td class="td1" valign="middle">
Bordering Zone Median
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
In Zone Median
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
Price Difference
</td>
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<td class="td1" valign="middle">
University High School
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$799,000
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$1,395,000
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$596,000
</td>
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<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
McKinnon Secondary College
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$1,195,000
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$1,500,000
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$305,000
</td>
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<td class="td1" valign="middle">
Cheltenham Secondary College
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$950,000
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$1,100,000
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$150,000
</td>
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Frankston High School
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$462,000
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$576,000
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$114,000
</td>
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Box Hill High School
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$1,099,000
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$1,189,800
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$90,800
</td>
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Mount Waverley Secondary College
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$1,200,000
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$1,267,000
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$67,000
</td>
</tr>
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<td class="td1" valign="middle">
Balwyn High School
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$1,947,500
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$2,012,000
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
$64,500
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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The $600,000 premium paid in Melbourne's school zones

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Melbourne developer Little Projects has received approval for its Malvern East apartment project – a $100 million development at the city’s former Dairy Bell manufacturing site.
The project will have 132 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in a softly curved building. The development will also include landscaping and ground floor retail.
The closure of the former Dairy Bell manufacturing plant and store and subsequent sale of the business in 2015 was the end of an era for many Victorians, who grew up enjoying the ice-cream brand, said a media release.
Little Projects development director Leighton Pyke’s team bought the southeast Melbourne site in 2015 and spent more than 12 months working on a low-rise design. 
The project has been designed by SJB Architects and features a curvilinear facade with the upper levels set back to allow for terraces that follow the soft curves of the form. 
“The redevelopment of the former Dairy Bell site has been carefully considered by our team from both a community and design perspective,” Pyke said.
Garden and courtyard apartments will open out to a Jack Merlo-designed landscaped garden, which will feature breakout areas and greenery. There will be a rooftop terrace with dining and barbecue facilities and a gymnasium. 
Malvern East will be Little Projects’ third residential launch in 2016 following Dux Richmond Hill on Bridge Road in Richmond and Grace Victoria Quarter in Auckland, New Zealand.
It has completed more than $1 billion of residential development with more than 1,770 apartments and townhouses delivered.
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Melbourne developer Little Projects gets nod for $100 million apartment project in Malvern East

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Melbourne’s industrial and logistics market emerged as one of Australia’s most attractive asset classes, as reflected from the 50 basis point tightening in industrial yields in the last 12 months, says new research. 
Commercial real estate firm CBRE’s 2016 Q1 Industrial MarketView revealed a steady flow of offshore interest in the Victorian capital in 2015, with expectations for the momentum to continue in the year ahead.
After a strong last quarter, which saw $765.7 million in industrial property change hands, sales in the first three months of 2016 fell significantly, with only $87.2 million transacting over the period, albeit considerably more currently in due diligence. 
<a href="/images/2016/06/21/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-21%20at%2012.00.33%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/06/21/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-21%20at%2012.00.33%20PM.png" alt=""> 
CBRE regional director, Industrial &amp; Logistics, Chris O’Brien said this was due to a shift in investment sentiment in 2016, with buyers moving up the risk curve to seek more attractive returns. 
“2015 saw a significant flow of new offshore entrants to the market, looking to inject capital into low risk assets, such as real estate,” O’Brien said.  
“However, the first quarter of 2016 has seen a change in sentiment, whereby investors are seeking opportunities higher up the risk curve - reflecting higher yields through property fundamentals, leasing risk and value add opportunities, which bodes well for domestic players”.
Notwithstanding banks’ tightening lending criteria, a low Australian dollar and favourable cash rate, Melbourne’s industrial &amp; logistics sector will remain a sought after market on a global scale, with the higher comparative yields on offer strengthening its appeal, according to the report. 
Following a six-year high for industrial supply in Melbourne during Q4, a smaller pipeline is expected in 2016 to reduce the risk of oversupply. 
Across Victoria, nearly 125,000 sqm was forecast for completion during the first quarter of 2016, with the western and south eastern precincts seeing the largest volumes of supply. 
The lower supply pipeline (55 percent lower than 2015) is also expected to encourage rent growth in the medium to long term. 
Major developments completed in Q1 include a 25,650sqm warehouse facility for Kathmandu in Truganina and a 25,000sqm warehouse in Merrifield.
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Melbourne's industrial market to remain in investor spotlight after strong 2015: CBRE 

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Coles has placed its newly developed Coburg North Village shopping centre — anchored by a flagship Coles Supermarket — in Melbourne, on the market through Savills.
The 6,283 square metre GLA centre, on the corner of Gaffney and Sussex streets, will by sold by expressions of interest closing July 13.
The deal includes a new 15-year lease to Coles and Liquorland with the property earning an estimated $1.9 million per annum.
According to marketing agents Pat De Maria, Tom Forrest and Steven Lerche, the complex is expected to attract strong local and off-shore interest due to the appeal of retail investments.
Retail property transactions are currently running at $7 billion to $8 billion a year, bolstered by off-shore and institutional investors and compressed yields, according to Savills’ research. 
“The limited availability to purchase quality retail investments, and the high level of investment demand has intensified competition for available assets,’’ De Maria said.
The centre opened in August 2015 and has a flagship full-line ‘market style’ Coles Supermarket and Liquorland of 4,175 square metres. 
There are 15 other retailers, including a medical centre and pharmacy.
Forrest said the centre benefitted from a large main trade area accommodating more than 46,000 residents and was forecast to grow to 52,050 by 2026.
 
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Coles puts flagship Coburg North Village in Melbourne on market

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Vacancy across Melbourne’s 10 key retail strips has fallen by a quarter over the last four years, driven largely by strong population growth in the city's inner suburbs, according to the latest Savills research.
The research found that overall vacancy rate had fallen to 7 percent from 9.5 percent over the four years from May 2012 with 184 shops now vacant, down from 253.
Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn and Church Street, Brighton were the top performers with vacancy rates of 2.1 and 2.3 percent respectively, while Bridge Road trailed the field at 13.6 percent. 
Savills Victorian research manager, Monica Mondkar, said while vacancy in some strips remained high, the most vibrant retail and entertainment precincts outside of the CBD were doing well and could look forward to continued growth as Melbourne’s inner suburbs recorded double digit population growth.
"Some strips, such as Bridge Road, have struggled in recent years but that has been more to do with tenancy mix and a lack of local government initiatives," she said.
"Retailers in the most popular strips, such as Chapel Street, South Yarra and Toorak Road, Toorak, can generally now look forward to tighter vacancy with stronger fundamentals underpinned by the massive influx of residents to new apartment developments.
"Retailers left behind will be those in strips where the mix of retailers has failed to attract consumers and where they lack effective local government support.’’ 
<a href="/images/2016/06/15/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-15%20at%2011.46.34%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/06/15/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-15%20at%2011.46.34%20AM.png" alt="">
Of the 2,620 shops surveyed, the Cafes, Restaurants &amp; Takeaway Food Services category had seen the largest increase of 20 percent to 581 shops, Services was up 12 percent to 612 shops, while Clothing, Footwear &amp; Accessories fell 15 percent to 663 stores.
Notable leases included those of national fashion retailers, Peter Sheppard at 626 Burke Rd, Camberwell, Bendon at 143-151 Bridge Rd, Richmond, Mimco at 87 Church St, Brighton, Flannel at 40b Church St, Brighton, and Trenery at 1015 High St Armadale, while international brands, Canadian cosmetic retailer As Colour opened a store at 230 Chapel St, Prahran, and Nike leased space at 71-73 Church St, Brighton.
ABS retail trade (seasonally adjusted) indicates that Victorian retail trade grew by 5.2 per cent in the 12 months to March, above the national average growth of 4.1 per cent, while consumer confidence, buoyed by low interest rates, measured 103.2 points in May, up from 102.4 points a year ago.  
<a href="/images/2016/06/15/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-15%20at%2011.48.29%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/06/15/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-15%20at%2011.48.29%20AM.png" alt=""> 
Savills Victorian director-Retail Services, Michael Di Carlo, said the increase of 186 new stores in food and beverages and services retailing correlated with the dramatic growth in the number of apartments.
"Population growth has been the key to the growth in these sectors, and these are the sectors which cater for the most immediate needs of local residents. The decrease in fashion related stores, on the other hand, may be about the competition from national and international brands along with a preference for that type of shopping elsewhere including the CBD or the larger enclosed centres," Di Carlo said.     
He said yields and rents varied widely according to the particular attributes of the strip.
"Strip retail, especially suburban strip retail has long been a favourite of the small investor and in recent years that focus has intensified with the emergence of the SMSF and of course record low interest rates.
"Yields have always been tight in these markets but those factors have seen even further downward pressure to the point where yields around 3.5 to 4.5 per cent are now much more common,’’ Di Carlo said.
"Rents can vary dramatically between precincts and indeed, in some cases, within precincts  They are very much about the location, the position within the location and current and historic vacancy levels.’’
He said rents for strips shops in the best strip locations generally ranged between $800 and $1200 a square metre.    
 
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