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.
</section>
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Queensland

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Kulangoor’s big cow has been officially handed over to new owners for the first time in 14 years.
The icon is among the 150 ‘BIG’ things scattered across Australia that make up some of the country's most loved attractions, from the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour to the big boxing crocodile at Humpty Doo.
The spotlight has been thrown on the Big Cow with its sale being confirmed earlier in the week.
ONE Agency Noosa principal Grant Baker said a successful marketing campaign was the driving force behind the sale.
“The team at ONE Agency Noosa has worked diligently to create an outcome where both buyers and sellers are happy,” Grant said.
The property was first designed as the Country World tourist attraction. It had a working dairy farm with Ayrshire cows. Visitors could learn firsthand how dairy farms were run.
The property was last sold in 2000 and was run as The Outdoor Centre for years. Owners then transformed it into the Nambour Regional Training Centre.
Since then the training centre has been leasing out its facilities to companies across Australia. Tenants include marines and mining and disability industries.  
Over the past 14 years the big cow has became synonymous with the property. Sculpted by Hugh Anderson, who also did the big bulls at Rockhampton, the big cow is an exact replica of an Ayrshire cow, only seven times bigger.
The big cow also became home to Sunshine Coast’s first sea and air rescue helicopter, with the old helipad on site.
The complex has 70 parking spaces and has easy access off and on the Bruce Highway. 
Picture: Stuart Edwards/<a class="mw-mmv-license" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>.
 
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owisniewski-RiYLqnXfKH

Queensland’s Big Cow icon sold after owners decide to moo-ve on

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There’s a pretty good argument that the hottest property precinct in Australia right now is South East Queensland.
Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast: Together they comprise a vast metropolitan area - ongoing urban growth means these three big centres have merged into one big conurbation which starts at the NSW border and extends 250 kilometers north to Noosa.
All three have hot markets. The research conducted by Hotspotting for the latest edition of the Price Predictor Index revealed 254 suburbs across South East Queensland with rising sales activity.
To put that in perspective, the Sydney metropolitan area has 106 growth suburbs. If you add in the Central Coast, which has caught the growth wave from the capital city, there are 120 growth markets.
This shows that, while Sydney is the nation’s hottest big market in terms of price growth, it’s starting to fade (though not markedly, as yet), while South East Queensland is starting to rise.
So when you see headlines suggesting that the boom is fading and price growth is starting to dissipate, remember that it’s Sydney they’re talking about. There are markets elsewhere in Australia that are really just starting their run.
They include Adelaide and Hobart, as well as numerous regional cities in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
But the headline event is the rise of South East Queensland. While there has been some price growth in 2014, to date it has been fairly moderate.
The big shift has been in sales volumes and that’s what I mean when I say there are 254 growth suburbs in the region – 254 suburbs throughout Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast with distinct patterns of rising sales activity.
The greatest price growth will come in 2015.
I remain hesitant about the Gold Coast. There’s no doubt that the oversupply that has dragged down this market for five years has now been absorbed – and that there is a significant real estate recovery under way.
The heartening thing is that most of the growth suburbs on the Gold Coast at the moment are what I would call genuine housing markets – inland suburbs where houses are being sold, rather than coastal locations where highrise apartments are flogged to investors and speculators.
Unfortunately, that will change. Now that the Gold Coast is back on a growth path, developers are flocking back, intent on creating the next oversupply. Driven more by ego and greed than common sense, developers are competing for the title of biggest project and tallest tower.
And, like their counterparts in Melbourne, it’s all designed for sale to Chinese investors. It won’t end well.
Beyond that cautionary note, the message about Brisbane and South East Queensland looks highly positive at the moment.
The opportunity for investors lies in understanding that the rise in sale volumes we have seen in 2014 is a forerunner to significant price growth.
South East Queensland has more momentum now than does Sydney, but it’s not yet reflected in price growth data.
That is yet to come.
You can contact Terry via <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email</a> or <a href="https://www.twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. 
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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

The baton is passing from Sydney to South East Queensland

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Queensland’s new real estate laws are now in place, despite much pushback from property industry members across the country.
The Queensland Property Occupations Act, passed through Parliament in May, will bring many changes to the property scene in Queensland. Most notably, price guides for properties going to auction are now outlawed.
Not only were the <a href="https://www.pertyobserver.com.au/finding/location/nsw/29164-reis-go-head-to-head-over-queensland-auction-price-guide-debate" target="_blank">Real Estate Institutes head-to-head over the issue</a>, but estate agent <a href="/news/qld/dark-ages-descending-on-queensland-as-auction-price-guide-ban-defies-common-sense-john-mcgrath">John McGrath called it “dark days” for the industry</a>.
Harcourts Queensland chief auctioneer Mitch Peereboom doesn’t expect any great changes to his role.
“The price guide obviously is the biggest issue, but ultimately in my role the impact of the price guide will be minimal because auction’s about having no price and the buyers determining the market place,” said Peereboom.
“The seller gets the transparency and determination from the buyers and the buyers get transparency as they are able to come forth with their best offer of what they believe the property is worth without any inhibiting from the seller in terms of what they are looking for.”
In fact, he notes that more buyers will inspect because there is no market price.
The Real Estate Institute of Queensland’s CEO Antonia Mercorella said that the rules are about cutting red tape, simplifying transactions and increasing transparency. The REIQ has been supportive of the laws.
“It’s been a long time coming, but it’s been worth the wait for these new laws,” Mercorella said.
“They’re specifically tailored to the realities of the modern real estate profession and will make life much easier for agents and consumers. The laws eliminate a lot of costly paperwork that’s been hampering agents and they feature practical reforms which will simplify real estate transactions in Queensland.”
She pointed to other key changes including the replacement of seven separate agent appointment forms with one, removing requirement for the agents to disclose to a buyer the commission they are receiving from the seller, extending the statutory limit on lengths of appointments for a sole exclusive agency from 60 days to 90 days, deregulating maximum commissions for sales and property management, and losing the requirement for a separate Form 30 Warning Statement.
<a href="/news/bid-for-homes-online-on-new-property-listings-website">Online auctioning platform ExchangeHouse</a> has also called the new laws beneficial for the industry, with director Mark Jamieson saying that the government "clearly" wants to limit subjective and opinionated price guides and information that could mislead.
"It is possible for real estate agents to provide objective, meaningful and accurate information to buyers, within the new act’s guidelines. It is all about the auction process and framework," said Jamieson.
“Our innovative online auction methodology requires the vendor to set a reserve price for their property upfront. The reserve is never disclosed to the market and is used to determine where bidding will start which is a first for the industry. Agents no longer need to provide a price guide under the ExchangeHouse method. Buyers can confidently inspect properties knowing where bidding is due to start well before bidding opens," he said.
“This method will bring greater transparency and efficiency around the property transaction process for agents, sellers and buyers. We believe it works within the new legislation and achieves the government’s goals of reducing red tape and misguided information.”
Other industry experts notably speaking out against the ban include News Corp commentator <a href="/news/qld/queenslands-auction-price-guidance-ban-legislation-is-madness-andrew-winter">Andrew Winter (who has called it 'madness’)</a>, the <a href="/expert-insights/buying/coercion-will-be-rife-under-new-queensland-price-guide-laws-rebaa">Real Estate Buyer's Association of Australia</a> and <a href="/expert-insights/investing/reinsws-malcolm-gunning-supports-early-publishing-of-reserve-prices">REINSW' Malcolm Gunning</a>.
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Price guide ban now in place for Queensland auctions

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The most predictable thing to happen in Australian real estate this year is the decision not to proceed with an $8 billion resort in Cairns.
The alleged Hong Kong billionaire who was allegedly planning to spend billions building an extravaganza in North Queensland has reportedly decided to spit the dummy because he can’t get what he wants.
There was always an unreal quality about this scheme. I can’t imagine anyone spending that amount of money on a resort anywhere in the world, let alone in a small regional city in Australia.
Almost exactly a year ago, <a href="/news/qld/theres-many-reasons-to-invest-in-cairns-but-a-grandiose-resort-complex-is-not-one-of-them">I wrote this</a> on Property Observer: “There are many reasons to consider buying in Cairns. But a grandiose plan for a $4.2 billion (as it was then) resort complex should not be one of them.
“Earlier this year, Hong Kong businessman Tony Fung announced his plan for the biggest tourism property development Australia has seen. Aquis will have nine hotels with 3,750 rooms plus 1,200 apartments, a sports stadium, a convention centre, an 18-hole golf course and an aquarium clustered around an aquatic paradise. The artists impression looks like something you might expect to see in Dubai or Macau.
“Queensland Premier Campbell Newman got quite excited about it and promised to wave it through the approval processes as only a conservative Queensland government can.
“And, according to reports, many developers and investors are excited, too. Suddenly Cairns is on the radar screen, in a way that hasn't happened since the frothy days of Japanese mega investment in the 80s. There's been a surge in building applications which the council says is inspired by the Aquis proposal.
“Frankly, it's all rather ridiculous. A $4.2 billion resort development in a regional city of 150,000? I'll believe it when I see it.”
Well, it looks like I’ll never see it. And you’ll notice that, along the way, the $4.2 billion resort proposal has morphed into an $8 billion proposal.
So, here’s the core lesson. A lot of people got excited about this proposal and wanted to invest in Cairns. That was seriously not logical. Sadly, too many people make investment decisions based on the hype surrounding an extraordinary event.
<blockquote>
Sadly, too many people make investment decisions based on the hype surrounding an extraordinary event.
</blockquote>
Here’s the question every investor must ask when they get excited about a location on the basis of one major proposed event: If this major event does not go ahead, is this still a good place to invest?
If the answer is no, don’t buy there.
Fortunately, the answer in the case of Cairns is yes. For the past two years, I have been recommending Cairns a good place to consider for property investment. The Fung furphy was never part of the equation that led me to that recommendation. When I first put Cairns in my hotspots reports, the grandiose resort had not been announced.
Cairns stacks up for other reasons. It’s an example of a regional centre which has struggled in the past because its economy was fundamentally based on tourism – but which is now moving to a new level because (a) the economy is diversifying; (b) big money is being spent on infrastructure; and (c) as a bonus tourism has come back strongly, led by a big influx from China.
Cairns also has the best rental yields in Australia, including mining towns  (most of which are no longer providing high yields, because of high vacancies and sharply falling rentals).
And, in the past 12 months, most of the suburbs of Cairns have delivered double-digit price growth, with some growing above 20%.
You can contact Terry via <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. 
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Not all doom and gloom for Cairns, despite $8 billion resort falling through

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More and more people are turning to Queensland for their next investment opportunity.
National Australia Bank has also suggested that <a href="/expert-insights/investing/brisbane-and-sydney-to-lead-2015-but-growth-to-lag-nab">Brisbane, along with Sydney, is set to lead in 2015, albeit with moderate growth</a>.
Property Observer looked at CoreLogic RP Data’s latest median house price statistics to find out where Queensland’s cheapest homes are.
<h3>Queensland Houses </h3>
<ol>
<li>
<a href="/news">Fairymead</a> - $65,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Monto</a> - $100,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Mount Morgan</a> - $106,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Proston</a> - $113,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Eidsvold</a> - $118,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Charleville</a> - $136,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Murgon</a> - $145,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Dysart</a> - $150,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Blackall</a> - $155,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Depot Hill</a> - $158,000</li>
</ol>
Source: CoreLogic RP Data.
Unit figures are on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
According to RP Data, Queensland’s median unit price is $346,000 which is ahead of only Tasmania and South Australia.
The average time on the market for a Queensland unit is 112 days.
Here are CoreLogic RP Data’s 10 suburbs with the cheapest median unit price.
Queensland Units
<ol>
<li>
<a href="/news">Manoora</a> - $143,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Smithfield</a> - $160,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Logan Central</a> - $168,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Holloways Beach</a> - $174,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Beenleigh</a> - $175,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Garbutt</a> - $176,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Bellbird Park</a> - $179,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Hermit Park</a> - $180,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Woodridge</a> - $180,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Waterford West</a> - $190,000</li>
</ol>
Source: CoreLogic RP Data
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Queensland's 10 cheapest suburbs for houses and units

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The Australian winemaker Wolfgang (Wolf) Blass has sold his Noosa Village Shopping Centre for $25.1 million to the ­Australian Property Opportunities Fund No 1.
Blass has owned the Woolworths-anchored centre since 1996.
The 4,400 square metre property was sold on a yield of 8% by Chesterton’s Glenn Conridge.
The $240 million Australian Property Opportunities Fund is managed by Fort Street Real Estate Capital.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Wolf Blass sells his Noosa shopping centre at 8% yield

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Miles, which is often considered together with Chinchilla, is a small town in the Surat Basin Western Downs area in Queensland.
It recently fell onto Property Observer’s radar again due to its status as the highest yielding suburb in Queensland for houses, at 11.17%,  according to RP Data.
Half an hour west of Chinchilla and about an hour and a half east of Roma, Chinchilla, Miles, Roma and Dalby are regularly mentioned in the same breath. However, Chinchilla offers a 5.88% rental yield, while Roma boasts 7.09% and Dalby's yield is recorded at 5.52%. Not quite the striking on-paper statistics seen in Miles.
Click to open in new window:
<a href="/images/2014/11/13/miles%20nov%2013%20one.png" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/11/13/miles%20nov%2013%20one.png" alt=""></a>
Originally known as Dogwood Crossing when established in the 1800s, Miles is a country town with over 20 historically important buildings and with a strong agricultural background.
Today, it also has a significant mining influence.
According to RP Data, the median weekly advertised rent is $750, with a median price house being $349,000, providing this strong rental yield figure.
However, while this may instantly put the area on some peoples’ hotspot lists, it may be worth taking a closer look.
Over the past three months, the median price movement was down 9.94%, with figure down 8.16% over 12 months. Over the past three years, the median price has increased by 39.60%, representing an average annual growth of 16.92%.
With a seven year average hold period, even with the 102 days on market average, it’s not looking too bad for the long-term property owners in Miles.
In fact, Matusik Property Insights, writing a report about Miles a couple of years ago, pointed to the fact that almost 10% of Queensland’s manufacturing gross domestic product is produced within the Western Downs region, with the energy resources sector boasting the potential to more than triple their gross regional product in the years ahead.
“Recently there have been a number of gas fired power stations built with others being proposed. There are both solar generated power and wind generated power projects being proposed in the Western Downs,” their report noted.
“However, the Surat Basin is not dependent on any one industry or commodity, with coal, gas, power generation, solar energy, coal seam gas, water projects, rail infrastructure, farming and supporting businesses all present in the area. This means the area’s economy is protected from downturn if one industry sector endures a bad period. In fact, there are over 4,500 businesses in the Western Downs Regional Council according to official figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).”
They noted that a large number of new workers were expected for Chinchilla, Miles and Roma, with an expected figure of more than 42,000 workers required to service the new projects in the Surat Basin (you can see a list of those near Miles over the page).
The number of transient miners in the area was expected to increase from 4,000 to 16,000 by 2015.
“To this end, it should be noted that during 2010, the Western Downs Regional Council recorded a 57% increase in residential dwelling approvals compared with the previous year.
This reflects the high demand that exists in the area for additional housing arising from the region’s strong levels of economic activity and job creation.”
In July 2012, Surat Basin Property Group’s chief operating officer Jason van Hooft told Property Observer that the opportunities for investors in the Surat Basin are <a href="/news/qld/chinchilla-queensland-mining-hotspot-or-one-underpinned-by-marketeers">“unique in Australia”</a>, pointing to the fact they’d already built and sold 200 house and land packages in Chinchilla.
“For a start, we are not that isolated, being only 3.5 hours' drive from Brisbane, and secondly the towns of Chinchilla and Miles are long established country communities with existing infrastructure, existing thriving communities and broad-based economies," van Hooft said.
“If you like, the resources boom is the icing on the cake for these centres,” he said.
Last year, approval was given for a 3,000 bed mining camp for Miles. Interestingly, <a href="https://www.nexthotspot.com.au/" target="_blank">NextHotSpot</a> pointed to the limitations on capacity in Miles and Chinchilla when picking their hotspot of Toowoomba for this year.
“With major job creation in the Surat Basin on the way (perhaps 27,000 jobs over the next 3 years) and the small towns of Dalby, Chinchilla and Miles unable to accommodate other than in mining camps, Toowoomba becomes a natural capture point for much of the overflow,” they explain.
Looking at house sales that have occurred over this year, there have been remarkably few in Miles.
It seems that this past year has been slow, if not backwards, but that investors holding on for the long term have done well with very few currently selling out to realise losses.
Many property owners purchased at the beginning of the 2000s for $100,000 and below. These investors have seen their properties doubling, or more, on sale price.
However, gains have been slower since 2010. Two properties purchased in 2011, for $290,000 and $140,000, sold for a $25,000 gain and a $35,000 gain respectively.
A March 2012 buyer, who purchased a large home for $750,000 and was noted in the listing as “motivated”, took a $100,000 drop to sell in June this year.
Another property, on Daisy Street, sat on the market for 497 days, initially listed at $240,000 in November 2012. It finally achieved $225,000 in April 2014.
Perhaps capital gains are not as forthcoming this year.
But what about that double figure rental yield that remained elusive for <a href="/news/qld/can-you-really-get-a-double-digit-rental-return-in-queenslands-mount-morgan">our runner up town of Mount Morgan yesterday</a>?
Rising rents have been an interesting experience in Miles. The Residential Tenancies Authority of Queensland in 2012 noted an increase in Miles  from $300 to $550 per week for a  three bedroom house, as well as in Chinchilla from $320 to $375, over the year to the December quarter 2012. Looking at their more recent data (based on bonds lodged), it seems that four bedroom homes are rented at a median $450 per week and three bedrooms at $375. Last year, this was $550 and $700 respectively. There was weak or no data for townhouses or apartments.
The major thorn in the side for Miles is the scary figure that emerges when looking at the vacancy rate. With a 28.2% vacancy rate recorded by SQM Research, managing director Louis Christopher told Property Observer when vacancy rates get that high, it’s worth looking a little deeper and being suspicious of the figures.
Looking for new developments, Surat Basin Homes’ The Pines Miles ‘Parkland Living’, with House and Land packages from $447,346 has recently seen Stage one and two completely sold, with 135 residences to be sold across the estate. They are particularly aimed towards property investors.
Considering that in the 2011 Census a total of 1,854 people were counted, any development of this size has the capacity to have a big effect on the local property market.
Hotspotting.com.au’s Terry Ryder told us that the towns of the Surat Basin, including our focus of Miles, have been afflicted by the same problems seen in Gladstone and Mackay.
“The demand forces are still strong but developers have piled in and oversupplied the markets in that area, including also Chinchilla,” said Ryder.
“Miles has had exceptional price growth in the past five years, but in the past 12 months the median price has dropped 27%. Average time to sell a house in Miles is now six months and discounting is close to 20%.
“The number of house sales in Miles in the past five quarters have been 17, 10, seven, three and zero,” he said.
“Developers have an incredible capacity to destroy boom markets and Miles is yet another example.”
When searching the rental listings, it’s clear that an abundance of new properties do exist. Looking for houses only, and not including surrounding suburbs or office-homes, approximately 78 rentals remain. Rent per week ranges from as low as $200 per week for a two bedroom, one bathroom “tidy” home to $1,200 per week for a five bedroom, six bathroom family offering.
One of the listings was undisclosed.
The rest currently available fall into these brackets:
$700 or more: 4
$600 to $699: 7
$500 to $599: 14
$400 to $499: 25
$300 to $399: 19
$200 to $299: 7
Assuming we owned a home that we were aiming to rent for the upper brackets, it appears that the standards are quite high if you’re aiming for a quick tenant – particularly with that amount of competition on the market.
Property Observer looked at the current rentals and found that 41 were advertised as fully furnished, 14 were brand new with a further 12 mentioning they were close to new or in a ‘new estate’. Another 19 advertised the property as renovated.
Of all the listings, eight offered rental incentives, such as free rent, or the ability to negotiate with the landlord on the price.
All in all, it seems that the investors who did the best in Miles did so some years ago, although this situation may change with a number of projects coming up.
Photo of Miles main street courtesy of <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mattinbgn" title="User:Mattinbgn">Mattinbgn</a>/<a class="mw-mmv-license cc-license" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" target="_blank">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>.
See over page for a list from Advance Western Downs in 2012 for projects planned in Miles.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
According to Advance Western Downs, a number of projects are planned, completed or underway in Miles and close by locations as of 2012.
Here are the projects:
Australia Pacific LNG - coal seam gas to LNG project (Construction)
Columboola South Transmission Network - part of power supply project (Construction)
Columboola Substation - part of power link project (Construction)
Columboola to Wandoan South Transmission Project - transmission line and substation (Construction)
Queensland Curtis LNG - Coal seam gas development (Construction)
Arrow Surat Pipeline - Connected Surat Basin coal seam gam with LNG facility in Gladstone (Planning)
Cameby Downs Expansion Project - Increase mine rate (Planning)
Columboola Project - Mining operation JV between MetroCoal and SinoCoal (Planning)
Nathan Dam and Pipeline - Water supply for mining, power, urban, agriculture operations (Planning)
Surat Gas Project - Coal seam gas exploration expansion (Planning)
Cameby Downs Mine Project - Coal mine (Operation)
Condamine Power Station - Coal seam gas power station (Operation)
Kenya to Chinchilla Weir Pipeline - water supply during coal seam gas project (Proposal)
Columboola Creek Crossing - coal mine (Proposal)
Davies Road - coal mine (Proposal)
Rywung - coal mine (Proposal)
Surat Project - exploration project (Proposal)
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Miles, Queensland: The limping Surat Basin hotspot

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Some would assume that a mining town may top the lists of high yielding areas. However, this isn't always the case.
Miles, at 11.17% return, is the highest yielding area in Queensland and is a mining town.
However, offering a 10.35% gross rental yield, according to RP Data, with a median house price of $106,000 and weekly median advertised rent of $210, Mount Morgan is Queensland’s second highest yielding area for houses. In fact, with Miles, it’s the strongest yielding by far for Queensland’s house statistics – followed by 8.79% for Charleville, another remarkably low-priced location.
A double figure rental yield on a low price point undoubtedly makes many investors’ ears prick up, as does its 0.8% vacancy rate, according to SQM Research.
But why does Mount Morgan seem to offer such strong returns? And should you be rushing to put it on your cash flow radar?
The tiny town in central Queensland is approximately 40 kilometres south of Rockhampton with 2,115 people at the 2011 Census, and 1,078 private dwellings.
In the 1800s it was a gold mining town, but today the regional area is a little different.
The employment base is split; 18.7% are labourers; 17.2% community and personal service workers; 15.2% technicians and trades workers; 12.1% machinery operators and drivers; and 10.7% clerical and administrative workers. The rest of the town’s workforce includes managers, professionals and sales workers.
There is a 14% unemployment rate and 53.7% of residents work full-time.
The median age is 46 years and there are higher numbers of those in the older age brackets.
There is an interesting mix of properties currently on the market.
A house at 3 Little James Street is currently on the market for $135,000. The three bedroom, one bathroom home rents at $170 per week, or around 6.55% yield. To get to our headlining figure, rent would need to be almost $100 more per week.
Another is on the market at $155,000, rented at $175 per week, and has been advertised as rented “lower than market value”.
The highest price opportunity is $749,000 49 James Street (pictured above). For the price of a house somewhere in Brisbane’s inner suburbs, you can buy eight strata titled units.
It’s advertised offering $61,000 return per annum. That’s a substantial return – grossing 8.14% according to our calculations – but still not quite at the 10% plus noted.
Properties can be as cheap as a $60,000 doer-upper at 90 Darcy Street. Blocks of vacant land are available, though not particularly helpful in calculating rental yields.
Looking at sales over the past six months, many have fallen under the $150,000 bracket, including around the $50,000 mark. These sales regularly include “detonators” – homes that need to be knocked down and rebuilt, or completely remodelled, to be habitable. This suggests that while the sales would have been recorded as figures for houses, they were actually recording cut-price homes wanted for their land component only. Unsurprisingly, this can be expected to skew the median price south.
One property’s historical listings details note that while there is a house-like shack on the property, it was sold for “land price only”.
Perhaps this is why the rental yield is recorded so high.
This seems to be backed up when looking at rental listings, which show strong rent prices achievable on well-priced properties, like the three bedroom, one bathroom home on a quarter acre block on 25 Gordon Street. It’s asking $275 per week.
However, while this home is achieving more than the area’s suggested indicative rent, it also sold for more. Last year in September, it transacted for $205,000. This puts the rental yield at 6.98%, if this rent is achieved - not a figure to be sniffed at, but not quite our headlining figure.
Strong yields are available in Mount Morgan, usually around the 6% to 7% mark, but getting to double figures remains elusive.
Tomorrow, we'll look closely at our number one suburb, the mining town of Miles to find out whether being in a strong resources town can actually produce double figure rental yields.
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Can you really get a double-digit rental return in Queensland's Mount Morgan?

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An interesting picture emerges from the list of top yielding suburbs across Western Australia and Queensland.
With a total of 33 suburbs at 7.00% or above, or 17 in Queensland and 16 in Western Australia according to RP Data, Property Observer decided to look at which areas are influenced by mining.
Using a combination of 2011 Census Data employment statistics, and local government details to notify when a mine is nearby, each town in the list below has been tagged with ‘resources influence’ if mining or associated industries affect the area in a significant way. That’s not to say, of course, that mining is the only driver in some of these towns, nor that those without this tag have not been affected at all by the mining boom.
In total, 23 of the locations on our list were given a ‘resources influence’ tag. Their rental yields range from 11.7% to 7.00%.
Interestingly, some of the much discussed and atypical mining towns did not make the top yielding house list. Moranbah’s average gross rental yield for a house sits at 6.30%. However, when yields for units area strong 8.32%.
23 suburbs emerge with unit yields recorded at or above 7.00%, some doubling up on the list below. For instance, South Hedland units recorded 7.77% average gross rental yield.
One mining area that also managed to get onto the unit list was Queensland’s North Mackay, with units offering a 7.25% yield. Western Australia’s Kalgoorlie also made the list, offering 7.00%.
With mining town rental yields in the past pushing into low double figures, it's interesting to note that just two of those on this list surpassed the 10% mark. When looking at units just one suburb managed to attain this same strength, with the Sunshine Coast's Peregian Springs boasting a 10.53% gross rental yield.
Click over the page to see the full list of suburbs.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
These statistics are based on the latest available house information from RP Data:
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Miles</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
11.7%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Mount Morgan</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
10.35%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Kambalda West</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
9.84%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Port Hedland</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
9.00%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">South Hedland</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
8.89%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Charleville</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
8.79%
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Dysart</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
8.67%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Cloncurry</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
8.45%
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Nickol</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
8.40%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Newman</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
8.32%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Depot Hill</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
8.25%
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Soldiers Hill</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
8.14%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Clermont</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
8.13%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Yarloop</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
8.13%
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">South Boulder</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
8.03%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Pegs Creek</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
8.00%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Sunset</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
7.73%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Mornington</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
7.72%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Baynton</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
7.70%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Coolgardie</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
7.65%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Dinmore</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
7.58%
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Victory Heights</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
7.55%
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Kambalda East</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
7.48%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Parkside</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
7.31%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Healy</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
7.23%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Jandowae</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
7.21%
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Derby</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
7.18%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Murgon</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
7.17%
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Roma</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
7.09%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Bulgarra</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
7.06%
Resources influence
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Bundaberg South</a>, Qld</li>
</ul>
7.03%
<a href="/news">Narrogin</a>, WA
7.02
<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Brockman</a>, WA</li>
</ul>
7.00%
Resources influence
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Mining a clear winner for top yielding Queensland, Western Australia areas

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The banning of Queensland auction price discussions and guides is one of the most ludicrous, retrograde steps in real estate I’ve seen in 30 years.  
I’m still unsure as to who the REIQ and government believe it is benefiting. It appears to me to be detrimental for buyers, sellers and agents all in one.  Nobody from the REIQ or government has been able to give me a credible answer as to why they have brought this in.  
Ask yourself as a buyer of real estate if you think it will assist you to purchase property by not allowing agents to discuss a property’s price with you? 
In an age of transparency and information it is the only jurisdiction on planet earth that bans agents and buyers from having conversations about the price of a property.  Maybe the rest of the world is wrong and the Queensland state government is right?
Until the new legislation comes into practice the good people of Queensland will not be impacted. In fact most have no idea of the proposal yet and will find out over the next few weeks as it becomes new law.
It is quite likely that a number of sellers will choose alternate methods of sale due to the new legislation and unfortunately cost themselves potentially significant profit on the sale of their property in doing so.
Auction is the most effective means of selling property in the world today when done well.  The most important thing for buyers is to be able to quickly and efficiently understand the likely selling range so they can determine whether to pursue the property.  
If they can’t easily determine a realistic selling range many will just move on to the next property.  People don’t have the time or desire to waste energy pursuing a property if they can’t get access to the price range.
I fought hard to retain the seller’s right to provide an indicative price to the buyers when they auction but for some unfathomable reason the government felt it was important to keep the buyers in the dark.
John McGrath is CEO of <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/" target="_blank">McGrath Estate Agents</a>.
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