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.

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<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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SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Perth apartments

The Perth market is pumping in a way that hasn&rsquo;t been seen since the end of the resources investment boom in 2013.

This is most starkly evident in the sales data. In the three years from 2018 to 2020, Perth recorded between 34 and 59 suburbs with rising sales activity in our quarterly surveys. But our three surveys in 2021 have found 118, 103 and 115 rising suburbs.

Our latest quarterly analysis has found improvement in many of the major municipalities across the Perth metropolitan area. Armadale, Bayswater, Belmont, Canning, Gosnells, Joondalup, Kwinana, Stirling and Wanneroo have all increased the number of suburbs with rising market activity, while Rockingham has maintained its position with all nine suburbs classified as rising markets.

The one notable under-achiever is the Melville LGA, where only three of 14 ranked suburbs are rising markets.

The two leading municipalities are Wanneroo and Stirling. In Wanneroo, 17 of the 21 ranked suburbs are classified as rising markets, headed by Butler (quarterly sales of 50 51 61 65 71 95 96 120 125), Landsdale (50 67 70 73 82) and Clarkson (58 64 63 99 101 114 120). In Yanchep, quarterly sales have risen from 35-40 in 2019 to above 100 per quarter now.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8266 project_image_fid=158138]

Fifteen of the 23 ranked suburbs in the LGA of Stirling are rising markets, maintaining this area&rsquo;s track record as a place of sterling performance. Quarterly sales in Balga have been 59 77 83 83 101 while Mt Lawley has recorded 56 71 101 106 112 and Nollamara 53 99 94 109 115.

Rockingham is one of the few LGAs in the nation where every suburb is rising, headed by Baldivis (134 223 220 290 295) and Port Kennedy (48 48 76 85 91 112)

The always-steady Joondalup LGA has improved its ranking, with the number of rising suburbs increasing from six to nine in the latest survey, with a notable uplift in prices (see below). Quarterly sales in Craigie have been 33 39 50 59 67.

There has also been a significant improvement in the LGA of Bayswater, with the number of rising suburbs improving from two to six, including Bayswater, Bedford, Maylands and Noranda.

In the city of Cockburn, nine of the 13 ranked suburbs have upwardly-mobile markets, including Coolbellup, Coogee, Hamilton Hill and Spearwood.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8266 project_image_fid=158116]

There has been notable improvement in several of the cheaper markets in the Perth metro area: Armadale (6), Canning (4), Gosnells (6) and Kwinana (5) have all increased the number of suburbs with rising sales.

The suburb of Armadale has recorded quarterly sales of 50 61 69 79 87, while Bentley in the Canning LGA has had 29 29 51 57 65 and neighbouring East Cannington has done 19 26 27 39 43. Quarterly sales in Gosnells have been 60 63 99 105 134 138.

In the Kwinana LGA, the cheapest market in Perth, Orelia sales have been 12 17 21 25 43 and Wellard 33 50 66 93 110.

Swan has maintained its steady position with five rising suburbs, led by Ellenbrook (88 96 96 131 153 159 165).

PRICES: It&rsquo;s been a long time between drinks, but prices are now moving strongly upwards in the Perth market &ndash; 97% of suburbs have recorded annual growth in their median house prices while 73% of unit markets have risen in the past year.

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There are only six suburbs in the Greater Perth area which have failed a record price growth in the past 12 months.

For several years we have ranked the Joondalup LGA as the precinct most likely to thrive when the Perth market recovered and now it&rsquo;s leading on price performance. Thirteen suburbs have had double-digit growth in their median house prices in the past year, led by the 21% rise to $595,000 in Currambine. Craigie ($465,000) and Duncraig ($750,000) have risen 15-16%.

Northern neighbour Wanneroo has also done well, with eight suburbs rising more than 10% in the past year, headed by the 16% rise to $400,000 in Banksia Grove. Girrawheen ($320,000), Marangaroo ($425,000) and Yanchep ($415,000) have all increased 15%. As the figures show, affordability is a feature here.

We have also predicted improvement in the ridiculously cheap suburbs in Kwinana LGA &ndash; Wellard ($410,000), Parmelia ($275,000), Leda ($290,000), Medina ($250,000) and Orelia ($265,000) have all risen more than 10%, with Medina (up 28%) the star.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=26734 project_image_fid=153714]

Further south, another affordable precinct, the Armadale LGA, has several good growth markets, led by Kelmscott ($340,000) and Armadale ($245,000), which have increased 21-22%.

Two middle market areas which have featured often in our Top 5 Perth Hotspots reports &ndash; Stirling and Melville &ndash; are both prominent now with good price growth. The Stirling uplift is headed by Joondanna ($710,000), Yokine ($650,000) and Osborne Park ($550,000), all up 15-16%. In Melville, Bicton has surged 31% to $1.13 million and other growth suburbs are Palmyra, Mt Pleasant, Bull Creek and Bateman.

Among the more expensive suburbs, the growth leaders are Claremont (up 34% to $1.7 million), City Beach (25% to $2.09 million), Floreat (21% to $1.57 million) and Cottesloe (20% to $2.3 million).

Our three surveys in 2021 have found 118, 103 and 115 rising suburbs.

terryryder

The Perth property market continues its resurgence: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

The ASX-listed Perth developer Finbar Group are set to redevelop the old heritage-listed former Chemistry Centre on the fringe of Queens Park in East Perth.

The $154 million plans, drawn up by architecture firm S S Chang Architects, see the current heritage-listed building at 101 Hay Street, which dates back to 1942, incorporated in the design, acting as a base for a 27-level tower.

Given the vast 5,335&nbsp;sqm site, Finbar are also building another 38-level tower alongside. Combined the development will have 331 apartments.&nbsp;

The development plans pay homage to the heritage by retaining the Material Sciences building and a hexagonal design feature that also provides shade to apartments. The former Chemistry Centre will home 550 sqm worth of restaurant or cafes. There will be a further&nbsp;eight spaces slated for restaurant or cafe use, three personal service spaces and a shop, activating the 1,300 sqm of street level commercial space.

<img alt="" height="800" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/110_east_st_perth.jpg" width="1200" />

Finbar,&nbsp;alongside Singaporean developer&nbsp;Ventrade bought the 5,335 sqm site from the state government for $16 million.

In 2015&nbsp;the local developer Diploma Properties Pty Ltd was chosen as the preferred developer to transform the former Chemistry Centre site, with over&nbsp;200 apartments, dining venues and shops planned. That would have been a 16-level apartment tower with rooftop sky gardens.

The heritage component would have turned in to a laneway-style eat street.

<img alt="" height="1010" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/110_east_st_perth_2.jpg" width="1200" />

Finbar and Ventrade&#39;s plans will see a shared podium on level seven.

There&#39;s a clear intent to create a work-from home space following the border restrictions and reduced appetite to return to the office.

The development will have a business lounge with consult room, board room,&nbsp;and over 10 study pods.

<img alt="" height="850" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/finbar_east_perth.jpg" width="1200" />

Resident amenity will feature a landscaped deck, cinema, resident dining and bar, virtual golf simulator, meditation&nbsp;yoga room, a child play centre, activity games room, and two swimming pools.

The taller tour will also have a rooftop sky bar and gym.

Summary by the strategic planning, urban design firm Element Advisory

The proposed development presents an exciting opportunity to deliver a contemporary redevelopment of the subject site that accords with DWA&rsquo;s established vision for the area through the provision of:

&bull; A well designed, sustainable development that offers an outstanding level of amenity to residents and visitors, and respects and celebrates the cultural heritage significance of the subject site;

&bull; An activated, human scaled edge, through a suitably screened podium with slender residential towers above;

&bull; Extensive landscaping and pedestrian zones at the ground floor level, offering a high level of amenity for pedestrians and designed to celebrate the cultural heritage significance of the subject site;

&bull; A density and diversity of land use that will contribute to the critical mass of people required to activate the subject site and surrounds; and

&bull; Increased housing choice in the locality, complemented by a range of ground floor commercial tenancies that will offer employment and leisure options for a diverse range of people

Given the vast 5,335 sqm site, Finbar are also building another 38-level tower alongside. Combined the development will have 331 apartments

Finbar set for 331 apartments on East Perth's Queens Gardens

There were 2,734 properties for rent in Perth at the end of July, according to reiwa.com data.&nbsp;

Listings for rent have increased 13 per cent since the height of the rental shortage in December 2020.&nbsp;

&quot;Although there is still a rental shortage, this is an encouraging trend that needs to continue to achieve a balanced market,&rdquo; Damien Collins said.

The five suburbs to record the biggest increase in rental listings during July were Bayswater, Mount Hawthorn, Halls Head (photographed), Ascot and Bassendean.

&quot;The increase in listings since January reinforces that investor confidence is slowly starting to return,&quot; he noted.

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&quot;This is also backed up by Australian Bureau of Statistics data which shows investor loan approvals in Western Australia increased to $498 million in May 2021, which is 10 per cent more than April 2021 and 209 per cent more than May 2020.&nbsp;

&ldquo;We still have some way to go before we get back to a balanced market, but the early signs are good.&quot;Perth rental market

Perth&rsquo;s median rent price was stable in July, holding at $425 per week.

&ldquo;Although the Perth median rent price has increased over the last year, we are still $25 cheaper than the peak median rent price of $450 per week in 2013 and 2014.

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&quot;It&rsquo;s reassuring for tenants that the rate of growth has slowed since the end of the rental moratorium.

Leasing activity increased 0.3 per cent in July and is up 7.1 per cent compared to April.&nbsp;

Victoria Park saw the biggest increase in leased properties, with activity up 71 per cent in July compared to June.&nbsp;

Other suburbs to perform well were Maylands (up 63 per cent), Piara Waters (up 50 per cent), Balga (up 50 per cent), Dianella (up 40 per cent) and Southern River (up 38 per cent).

The five Perth suburbs to record the biggest increase in rental listings during July were Bayswater, Mount Hawthorn, Halls Head, Ascot and Bassendean

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Perth rental shortage eased in July: REIWA

Gary Dempsey Developments&rsquo; award-winning apartment complex, Taskers, has launched its highly anticipated final release with numerous luxury amenities.

Siskas, which boasts 55 two, three and four-bedroom residences is set to reach construction this year with a futuristic vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) facility on its rooftop.

Nearing sell-out with over 85 per cent of apartments sold, the development will allow residents to access drone deliveries, air taxis and commute via private helicopter.

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The development aims to combine the latest technological advances into residents&rsquo; homes, with other features including electric car charging facilities in the basement and large flat-screen digital intercoms in apartments.

Located in North Fremantle, the collection of luxury residences has been designed in collaboration between ZMH Architecture and Craig Steere Architects.

&ldquo;Siskas&rsquo; meticulously designed interiors offer a natural link between its waterside location, artisanal craftsmanship, premium materiality and its philosophy for living&rdquo;, the project marketing reads.

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Each apartment boasts floor-to-ceiling double-glazed windows and frameless glass balustrading to deliver panoramic views across Swan River to the Indian Ocean.

Interiors include Gaggenau appliances, European cabinetry and timber accents that can be customised to create an ideal home for buyers.

The project boasts a five-star Green Star rating and an average energy efficiency rating of 7.5 stars, thanks to rooftop solar panels that heat the 25-metre lagoon pool and motion detectors that lower power consumption.

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Residents are spoilt for choice with five-star hotel-quality amenities, including 3000sqm of private landscaped grounds, communal herb garden and fruit trees, temperature-controlled wine appreciation room and fully furnished lounge and dining rooms.

The home will also come with access to a workshop equipped with communal tools for DIY projects, a yoga and pilates studio, a commercial-sized gym and a cedar-lined sauna.

Taskers has won numerous industry awards for excellence in construction and development, with recognition from the Master Builders Association and the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

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Siskas, which boasts 55 two, three and four-bedroom residences is set to reach construction this year with a futuristic vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) facility on its rooftop

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Taskers final stage to host Australia’s first autonomous passenger drone landing station on top of luxury Perth apartments

Perth has long had a problem with the size of apartments for downsizers.

That&#39;s the view of&nbsp;Abel Property sales agent Gethen Sullivan, who&#39;s&nbsp;been&nbsp;marketing off the plan and established apartments for the best part of two decades in Perth.

&quot;The overwhelming feedback from apartment buyers is that the internal size, and specifically the master bedrooms, are always too small,&quot; Sullivan suggests.

&quot;This is the case for the majority of developments in Perth.&quot;

Sullivan has recently started marketing apartments at 66 Jersey Street,&nbsp;a boutique Jolimont development&nbsp;near Subiaco, where the floor plates are around 50 per cent larger than any other two and three bedroom apartments on the market in Perth.

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&nbsp;

&quot;For me, after I studied the floor plans and strata plan for this project, it is something that I couldn&rsquo;t wait to be involved in selling,&quot; Sullivan says.

Designed by SPH Architects, the two bedroom apartments span 146 sqm and start from $755,000. The master bedroom is spread across 23 sqm alone.

The three bedroom apartments, which offer over 265 sqm, start from $1,375,000. They have a 30 sqm master suite.

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Sullivan says the apartments are 100 per cent geared toward owner-occupiers.

&quot;They are largely aimed at people looking to downsize from a house to the security of an apartment, without sacrificing space,&quot; Sullivan says.

&quot;The developers of this project themselves are architects. They designed the floor plans to be something they themselves could/would live in.&quot;

The local construction firm Kastle are set to start the build later this year, with completion slated for Q3 2022.

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Perth has long had a problem with the size of apartments for downsizers.

Biggest apartments in Perth hit the market

Traditionally on the hunt for house-and-land, Perth&rsquo;s downsizers have been breaking new ground with a surge of interest in the high-rise market.

Sirona Capital have noticed the surge in buyer interest at their newest development 28 Lyall in South Perth, which they are developing in conjunction with Singapore-listed developer&nbsp;Chip Eng Seng.

They&#39;ve had commitments to almost half of their 98 apartments in the 37-level Bates Smart-designed tower, with construction soon to commence.

High-rise residences like this are filling a gap in the market, offering downsizers the best of both worlds, suggests&nbsp;Sirona&rsquo;s Managing Director, Matthew McNeilly.

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&ldquo;A lot of people in this market are finding that the perfect option to downsize is also an upgrade on the classic family home,&quot; McNeilly says.

&quot;28 Lyall&rsquo;s residences offer loads of space as well as the high-rise lifestyle features you&rsquo;d struggle to find in a house &ndash; starting with the views.&rdquo;

The near 100 sqm two-bedroom apartments are popular with downsizers, as are the 155 sqm three-bedroom apartments. They all feature engineered timber floorboards, kitchens fitted with European appliances, double glazed floor-to-ceiling windows and north-facing recessed balconies to take in the views.

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The most apartments located on each floor is four, with some levels homing just two or three apartments.

It&rsquo;s a deliberate choice which is part of the development&rsquo;s &lsquo;vertical village&rsquo; concept, says&nbsp;McNeilly.

&ldquo;Owner-occupiers like the fact that they&rsquo;ll know their neighbours &ndash; that&rsquo;s partly why we&rsquo;ve kept to a maximum of four residences per floor. They&rsquo;re designed as private, luxury homes with a lot of space, but they&rsquo;re still part of a tight-knit local neighbourhood.&rdquo;

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28 Lyall&#39;s location places it&nbsp;a five-minute walk from the Mends St Jetty and ferry service to Elizabeth Quay and the CBD.

The two-bedroom apartments start from $720,000

&ldquo;Downsizers are a savvy market and they know how property works &ndash; they want a spacious two-bedroom or three-bedroom place that feels like home but which is also going to be a good investment for the future,&rdquo; McNeilly added.

&ldquo;Premium high-rise residences like this are hugely appealing because they promise excellent growth. There&rsquo;s a lot of potential for those who take advantage of the window of opportunity with off-the-plan incentives.&rdquo;

Eligible purchasers have limited time remaining to secure government incentives on off-the-plan residences. This rebate for pre-construction contracts is 75% of the stamp duty paid for purchase, up to $50,000.

High-rise residences like this are filling a gap in the market, offering downsizers the best of both worlds, suggests Sirona’s managing director, Matthew McNeilly

Why downsizers are looking sky high in Perth

Siskas is the final release of Gary Dempsey Developments&rsquo; coveted Taskers development in Perth&rsquo;s North Fremantle.

Designed by ZMH Architecture and Craig Steere Architects, the residence features a collection of two, three and four-bedroom apartments.

The broader Taskers project has won numerous industry awards for excellence in construction and development, with recognition from the Master Builders Association and the Urban Development Industry of Australia.

We recently spoke with Gary Dempsey Developments&rsquo; very own Gary Dempsey to discuss the luxury development.

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MK: What are the highlights of&nbsp;Siskas&nbsp;at Taskers and what is attracting buyers to the project?&nbsp;&nbsp;

GD: Undoubtedly buyers are attracted to&nbsp;Siskas&rsquo;&nbsp;unique location between the Indian Ocean and the Swan River and the lifestyle that comes with that. It promotes the best of our enviable laidback WA lifestyle but is within easy reach of Fremantle, the CBD and some of Perth&rsquo;s best schools and colleges.

As well as the location, our buyers know that with GDD they are buying an unmatched level of construction quality and sophistication &ndash; in terms of the features you do see, but also those you don&rsquo;t including rooftop solar, double glazing, acoustic plumbing, the extensive use of natural stone and European appliances across the project as well as a range of resort style, residents&rsquo; only amenities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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MK: What was the design brief for the architect Fred&nbsp;Zuidefeld (ZMH Architects)?&nbsp;

GD: The architectural brief focused on creating a sophisticated, timeless development that fostered a connection with its&nbsp;waterfront location combining the use of the highest quality materials and finishes with the latest in innovation technology and sustainability features.&nbsp;

MK: Where have the buyers comes from and who is it appealing to?&nbsp;

GD: Our buyers and prospective buyers span a range of demographic but tend to be downsizers from the local area wanting to move from larger family homes but stay in the area in which they have grown up in and have established connections.

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We&rsquo;re also seeing growing demand from young professionals who value the waterfront location and the range of amenities on their doorstep.&nbsp;Overall&nbsp;we are seeing buyers who want quality in terms of the finish but also the construction and the features you don&rsquo;t see. Our development is dominated by owner occupiers rather than investors which also appeals across our buying demographic.&nbsp;&nbsp;

MK: What else does&nbsp;Siskas&nbsp;at Taskers offer residents?&nbsp;

GD: Additional resident features include a wine room, workshop, 3000sqm of&nbsp;established&nbsp;private gardens &ndash; unseen in any comparable apartment development &ndash; a 25m lagoon style pool,&nbsp;alfresco dining/ entertaining spaces, yoga/ pilates and massage room,&nbsp;gym,&nbsp;sauna and onsite caf&eacute;.&nbsp;

MK: Why did you choose North Fremantle Does this area offer strong investment opportunities?&nbsp;&nbsp;

GD: North Fremantle is primarily dominated by older&nbsp;free standing&nbsp;homes on larger blocks with limited development but plenty of potential.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s&nbsp;also a standout location in terms of its access to river and ocean, Fremantle, Claremont and Cottesloe. The annual growth rate is 4.3% and properties tend to be very tightly held, making it a very&nbsp;sought after&nbsp;suburb.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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MK: Where is current buyer enquiry coming from?&nbsp;

GD: It tends to be dominated by those from the local area however we are seeing an increasing level of both interstate and overseas enquiry as a growing number of people post-COVID&nbsp;realise the unbeatable lifestyle WA offers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Designed by ZMH Architecture and Craig Steere Architects, the residence features a collection of two, three and four-bedroom apartments

What buyers need to know about North Fremantle’s Siskas at Taskers: Urban chats with Gary Dempsey Developments

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Matheson on Kearns in Perth's Ardross is approaching sell-out as the apartment development nears completion.

The project of 46 apartments, developed by Megara and designed by the local Maine Architecture, only has nine apartments remaining, with 80 per cent sold before its predicted Spring 2021 completion date.

Pulse Property Group agent Jared Rayner said the local infrastructure and amenities had been the key to a number of different buyer demographics.

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"The majority of purchasers have been local downsizers who wanted to be a part of a smaller boutique development where they have still have access to shops, cafes, restaurants across the road," Rayner said.

"The attraction to not only the downsizer market place but wider buyers across the development has been the easy access to public transport links and local amenities for all demographics to enjoy."

The development sits less than two kilometres from Garden City shopping centre and also has three ground level retail and commercial spaces.

<a href="/buildings/matheson-on-kearns-22-24-kearns-crescent-ardross"><img alt="" height="1084" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/matheson_2.jpg" width="1800"></a>

Matheson on Kearns has a nod to the history of the suburb of Ardross, with the name a nod to the Scottish explorer Sir Alexander Percival Matheson, who subdivided the adjoining suburb of Applecross, creating the name Ardross Street.

It is said it was named after the town of Ardrossan on the Scottish west coast or Ardross Castle, near Inverness.

One bedroom apartments in Matheson on Kearns start from $445,000. Two beds are priced from $599,000 and three bedders from $749,000.

<a href="/buildings/matheson-on-kearns-22-24-kearns-crescent-ardross"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/matheson_3.jpg" width="1800"></a>

Rayner's says the Perth off the plan market has seen strong demand since coming out of COVID-19, with a number of local, interstate and international buyers looking to acquire property in the Perth Metro area.

"Buyers feel the market is improving and the attraction they can see with this building is the fact that it has reached its final sixth Penthouse level and this has given buyers confidence this project will be finished on time."

About the developer

Megara is fast becoming one of Western Australia's leading boutique developers, identifying locations with outstanding potential in lifestyle and growth. 

As well as Matheson on Kearns, Megara have Maraboo Island, a 52 apartment development in Port Coogee under construction, as well as 30 apartments known as The Foundry in Leederville.
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Matheson on Kearns in Perth's Ardross is approaching sell-out as the apartment development nears completion

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