The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Retail

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
It’s clearly been a tough year for many retailers, with 47% of our survey respondents [in Deloitte's Retailers' Christmas Survey 2019] telling us they’ve experienced flat or negative sales growth over the past 12 months.
So it’s probably no surprise many are also approaching this Christmas with a little less cheer, certainly compared to last year.
Just over 60% are expecting to increase their sales this Christmas, compared to 80% in 2018, and nearly 40% are also expecting to see a decrease in seasonal margins. This is, unfortunately, the most pessimistic we’ve seen retailers since 2013.
Many have pinned their hopes on federal government tax cuts, but the latest trading data suggests consumers have chosen to keep any windfall in their pockets. Retailers are no doubt hoping they’ve been saving up for Christmas.
As always, when to discount and by how much remains a critical decision for retailers over the holiday period. Last year they told us they were intent on holding strong. But with difficult trading conditions 12 months later, this will be challenging, with 39% of retailers planning to discount before Christmas compared to 31% last year, and 30% in early December. 
And with the proliferation of sales campaigns such as next week’s Black Friday leading into December, many are concerned this could bring forward Christmas trading at discounted prices.
Getting personal
The cautious consumer has brought good old customer service back to the fore, as retailers can no longer rely on buoyant spending to drive in-store trade.
Over a quarter of respondents highlighted customer service as the most important driver of sales this Christmas, just behind digital and omni-channel offerings.
These two strategies aren’t mutually exclusive. Forming a strong digital connection with the consumer is critical to building trust in the brand, regardless of where the customer spends, and this connection to the customer flows through to loyalty. 
Over 90% of respondents consider their customer loyalty as good or strong, but brand loyalty is also hard won and easily lost. In the era of cancel culture, retailers need to understand the reasons when things go wrong, and how dealing with a poor customer experience via exceptional customer service can protect, and even enhance, brand reputation and the value this can deliver.
Looking for green shoots in 2020
There are signs of more optimism amongst retailers for their prospects in 2020.
They’re still hoping for the best, with some 72% expecting to bounce back and grow their top line. But with most not forecasting growth in excess of 5%, it still looks like another challenging year ahead.  
New products and online will remain key to growth prospects, and only 11% of retailers are expecting to grow through new store openings, down from a peak of 43% in 2017. 
Rising input costs following the depreciation of the Australian dollar are also expected to bite when it comes to margins, and respondents continue to look to the likes of property costs as levers to reduce bottom line impacts.
It’s certainly critical that within the retail ecosystem, retailers, suppliers and landlords work together, rather than against each other. 
Ultimately, uncertainty kills confidence, and global economic turbulence certainly isn’t helping. Australian retailers will be waiting for a recovery in wage and jobs growth to provide a boost where interest rates and government tax cuts fail to provide the stimulus needed.
Profit AND purpose: big room for improvement
The survey report also looks at Australian retailer views on social impact their operations.
Consumers, employees and other stakeholders are increasingly expecting companies to operate in a responsible manner, from ethical sourcing, using sustainable materials and packaging, and reducing carbon emissions to the fair treatment of employees on pay and conditions and making a meaningful contribution to communities and society more broadly.
In a real concern, 42% of respondents believe social, ethical and environmental responsibility isn’t important to their brand.
Yet in the same breath, 91% believe they enjoy good or strong customer brand loyalty. There’s a concerning perception gap here. If Australian retailers don’t quickly grasp the reality of increasing stakeholder expectations, and respond in a considered, meaningful and, importantly, authentic way, consumers may vote with their wallets, and employees with their feet.
David White is the national leader of Deloitte’s Retail, Wholesale &amp; Distribution Group.
Deloitte's Retailers' Christmas Survey 2019 survey findings include:
<ul>
<li>Only 62% of retailers expect to see higher sales this Christmas compared to last year, down from 80% last year</li>
<li>Just under 40% are expecting to see some form of Christmas period margin decrease</li>
<li>39% will be discounting pre-Christmas to help drive sales</li>
<li>Digital continues to be a standout, with 58% expecting to see growth of 10% or more in online Christmas sales</li>
<li>72% expect to see positive sales growth in calendar year 2020, down from more than 90% for 2019. </li>
</ul>
 
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Positive retail sentiment is down as important Christmas trading period approaches: Deloitte

<html><body>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW104706133 BCX4">
A historical retail strip on the Mornington Peninsula has been listed for sale, marking the first time it will change hands in over 90 years.  
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW104706133 BCX4">
<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/for-sale/mornington-peninsula-vic/retail/" target="_blank">The Broadway, 1015-1021 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud</a> comprises six retail shops totaling an NLA of 867 sqm located in the heart of Rosebud.
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW104706133 BCX4">
CBRE has it listed on behalf of Paul and Lloyd Whittaker.  
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW104706133 BCX4">
Since the building’s completion in 1928, it has operated as The Broadway Theatre cinema, a dance hall frequented by American servicemen during wartime and a popular disco in the 1960s before being converted to retail use. 
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW104706133 BCX4">
“The Broadway is steeped in a rich history that our family is very proud to have been part of, from our father Frank Whittaker opening the first cinema on The Mornington Peninsula in the late 1920s to the multiple performances by the famous John Farnham held on The Broadway’s stage in the late 1960s,” Paul Paul Whittaker commented. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/9/25/DSC_1804a.jpg" alt="">
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW104706133 BCX4">
The retail corner, currently leased to tenants including Fight Centre and the popular Foyer Café, is anticipated to generate a fully leased annual income of circa $250,000.  
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW104706133 BCX4">
Situated on a 1,241sqm parcel of land, the site has combined frontages of over 90 metres to Point Nepean Road, Rosebud Parade and Wannaeue Place. 
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW104706133 BCX4">
“The Mornington Peninsula continues to strengthen as an investment location due to the high level of capital invested by local businesses,” Mr Hage said.  
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW104706133 BCX4">
CBRE has handled 24 of the 31 investment transactions that have taken place on the Mornington Peninsula since 2016, notably Sportsgirl Sorrento, which sold earlier this year to a Melbourne based family for $4,070,000 (36 per cent above the vendor’s reserve) and the Peninsula Cinema Portfolio (Rosebud and Sorrento) that was sold on behalf of the prominent Kirby family for a combined amount of almost $10 million. 
</div>
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Historic Mornington Peninsula retail strip, The Broadway offered after 90 years

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
The September retail report disappointed in every respect. Monthly sales showed another weak gain, up just 0.2%, and real retail sales contracted 0.1% in the quarter to be down –0.2%yr, the first annual contraction since the early 1990s recession. The consensus forecast was for a 0.4% gain in the month and a 0.3% rise for the quarter.
The monthly profile continues to show little or no response to policy measures – interest rate cuts in June-July and tax relief from July should have added about $3bn to monthly household disposable incomes. With retail sales running at $27bn a month, even a small flow on impact to spending would quickly turn the dial. Monthly sales have instead posted lacklustre gains, flat in July, up 0.4% in August and a 0.2% gain in September. Comparing reactions to fiscal and monetary policy easings historically, the current response is at the lowest end of the range.
Quarterly real retail sales have now declined in three of the last four quarters. Importantly, the slowdown in real terms is due to a combination of moderating nominal sales growth and stronger price gains. In fact, the price side has had the larger effect – over the last year, annual growth in nominal sales has slowed by 0.7ppts but retail price inflation has surged 1.6ppts from 1.1%yr to 2.7%yr. The pick-up reflects a mix of factors including the impact of the drought on food prices and easing disinflation in some AUD-affected segments. There are also some indications that retailers have been shoring up weak margins in recent quarters.
For the September quarter, the storetype breakdown showed a very result for cafes &amp; restaurants (–1%qtr, –0.4%yr); slippage for department stores (–0.1%qtr, +0.5%yr); flat sales for basic food (flat%qtr, –1%yr); but modest gains for clothing (+0.3%qtr, +0.9%yr) and 'other retail' (+0.3%qtr, +0.9%yr); and a surprisingly strong bounce for household goods (0.9%qtr, flat%yr) coming off back to back quarterly declines.
By state, all the eastern states recorded sales declines, WA bucking the trend with a surprisingly strong 0.9%qtr gain but coming off back to back falls. Annual spending growth shows a much clearer pattern with NSW and Vic driving the slowdown over the last year, sales in outright contraction in NSW (–1.7%yr) and contracting in per capita terms across both.
Looking by channel, online sales have posted a solid pick up since June, annual growth back above 15%yr (a double digit pace but subdued for this segment). The performance by firms size remains stark with large retailers recording steady nominal sales growth of around 4.5%yr but small retailers seeing sales falling at around 1.5-2%yr.
Overall the report suggests consumer spending remained very weak through the third quarter, pointing to clear downside risks to the wider consumption measures in the national accounts and near term forecasts for GDP growth. 
Read full article <a href="https://westpaciq.westpac.com.au/wibiqauthoring/_uploads/file/Australia/2019/November/er20191104BullRetailQ3.pdf">'Australian retail sales Q3' (PDF 257kb)</a>
MATTHEW HASSAN is a Senior Economist at Westpac
</body></html>

Matthew_Hassan-HHWHptmrw4

Australian retail sales running on empty: Matthew Hassan

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
A shop in the Hawthorn Lido Cinemas complex, Victoria has been leased.
Hungarian patisserie Kurtosh, the Sydney-based eatery, has leased the 112 sqm space within the Lido Cinemas complex on Hawthorn’s Glenferrie Road.
Fitzroys Associate Director Chris James negotiated the lease at $85,000 per annum net.
He said the straight 10-year lease signed by Kurtosh highlighted the faith retailers have in the area, and in the cinema complex’s positioning on the popular shopping strip.
Kurtosh is known for its kürtőskalács - spiral Hungarian pastries also known as chimney cakes, and a range of other cakes and pastries.
The patisserie has just opened its fourth Sydney location at the new Darling Square precinct in Haymarket.
Kurtosh will join Axil Coffee Roasters, Huxtaburger, frozen yoghurt group Yo-Chi and and Venetian bar and restaurant Vaporetto within the building.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Hawthorn Lido Cinemas retail space leased to Hungarian patisserie

<html><body>
Crowds stretching for 1.4 kilometres lined up for the opening of Broadway Sydney’s new LEGO Store earlier this month.
Broadway Sydney Centre Manager Justine Saltmarsh said it was a very successful launch unveiling a Broadway mosaic, hand-built from 51,769 individual bricks and a bespoke Broadway 3D model, hand-made from 28,179 bricks.
It was so popular, traffic for the centre was up 20%.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/10/16/Mirvac-Broadway-LEGO-opening-191012-PaulMcMillan-34.jpg" alt="">
“We can’t wait to see the creativity unlocked on level 2, this is truly a wonderful new experience to add to Broadway’s status as a much loved destination,” Saltmarsh said.
She said the Level 2 environment with its eclectic mix of dining, fashion and highlighted art installations made a perfect environment to the Lego Store.
</body></html>

Lego store opens in Broadway Sydney

<html><body>
The retail lots in the former Legion Cab headquarters in Surry Hills has hit the market for the first time. 
With over 50 metres of frontage to Foveaux Street, the mix of tenancies at 80 Foveaux Street is set to fetch more than $15 million.  
It is offered for sale via expressions of interest by Miron Solomons, Matthew Meynell, Matt Pontey and Nick Lumley of Colliers International.
The property spans over 1,000 square metres and sits less than 300 metres from Central Station.  
All Shops in the development have been leased to tenants including Sushi Train, Zeus Street Greek, The Bunker gym and high-end culinary school SBTA.
Net rental income across the four tenancies is about $659,300.
“This is the first time that we’ve seen brand new prime retail of this calibre offered in Surry Hills,” said Miron Solomons, National Director, Investment Services at Colliers International.
“Assets with four quality tenants, strong covenant and full amenities including parking and loading are extremely hard to find in Sydney’s CBD Fringe markets.”
“The ground floor retail captures 50 metres of frontage along Foveaux Street, perfectly positioned to take advantage to the huge amount of government investment and infrastructure being poured into the area.”
Nick Lumley, Executive, Investment Services at Colliers International said: “Sydney’s fringe retail markets are benefiting from close to $2 billion in infrastructure investment and increased demand from the rises in tourists, office workers, urban residents and international students.”
Expressions of Interest for the ground floor 81 Foveaux Street close November 13.
</body></html>

Surry Hills retail lots listed for sale with $15 million plus hopes  

<html><body>
Hitting the market for the first time the retail lots in the former Legion Cab headquarters in Surry Hills are being offered in one line by expressions of interest.
With over 50 meters of frontage to Foveaux Street, this mix of high profile and national tenancies is set fetch over $15 million.  
Miron Solomons, Matthew Meynell, Matt Pontey and Nick Lumley of Colliers International are marketing the retail investment.
It spans over 1,000 square metres and sits less than 300 metres from Central Station.   
All shops in this development have been leased to international and national tenants including Sushi Train, Zeus Street Greek, The Bunker gym and high-end culinary school SBTA.
Net rental income across the four tenancies is about $659,300.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/10/15/LC%202-2.jpg" alt="">
“This is the first time that we’ve seen brand new prime retail of this calibre offered in Surry Hills. Assets with four quality tenants, strong covenant and full amenities including parking and loading are extremely hard to find in Sydney’s CBD Fringe markets,” said Miron Solomons, National Director, Investment Services at Colliers International.
“The ground floor retail captures 50 metres of frontage along Foveaux Street, perfectly positioned to take advantage to the huge amount of government investment and infrastructure being poured into the area.”
Nick Lumley, Executive, Investment Services at Colliers International said, “Sydney’s fringe retail markets are benefiting from close to $2 billion in infrastructure investment and increased demand from the rises in tourists, office workers, urban residents and international students.”
Expressions of Interest for the ground floor 81 Foveaux Street close November 13.
</body></html>

Former Surry Hills Legion Cab HQ trophy retail investment listed 

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Three final retail properties in Sydney CBD's Central Park has been sold for $174.5 million at a 5.5 percent yield. 
Frasers Property Australia and Sekisui House Australia, the joint venture partners behind the award-winning $2 billion Central Park, have sold the assets to a consortium comprising Fortius Funds Management and SC Capital Partners Group on behalf of its RECAP V Fund.
Central Park Retail comprises three freehold retail assets – Central Park Mall, DUO Retail and Park Lane Retail – with a total combined GLA of 14,600 sqm.
Central Park Mall, the largest of the three assets, opened in late 2013.
It is anchored by a high performing Woolworths supermarket and state-of-the-art Palace Central cinema complex.
 It houses a diverse mix of entertainment, fashion and experiential retailers, complemented by an alfresco dining precinct.
The Central Park development transformed a former brewery site into a mixed-use precinct with retail, commercial, hotel, education, student accommodation and residential uses. 
 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/10/11/Central%20Park%20Retail_1.jpg" alt="">
Central Park Retail was located in a trade area undergoing rapid gentrification and redevelopment, with retail expenditure projected to increase by 4.2 per cent per annum, Sam Sproats, at Fortius Funds Management said.
<div class="page" title="Page 2">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The Central Park precinct's customer traffic and sales have grown 33 per cent and 56 per cent respectively since 2014.
The assets were sold in one line by Lachlan MacGillivray at Colliers International.
 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Sydney Central Park retail property sold for $174.5 million

<html><body>
A blind chocolatier who closed his store in Brisbane’s CBD, saying the Cross River Rail works had devastated his business has been offered alternative space.
The offer of space in The Barracks precinct came from Fortis Funds Management to Gerrard Gosens, who represented Australia at three Paralympic Games.
The offer, which has yet to be accepted, was revealed by Macquarie Media broadcaster Alan Jones.
Gosen's was a Young Australian of the Year finalist before opening his store Chocolate Moments.
His business has taken a $100,000 hit in earnings this year due to dwindling foot traffic, as businesses were shuttered.
Gerrard broke down in tears as he told Jones about losing everything he’s worked for over the last decade.
The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority has met with Gosens several times and offered $1000 to help with relocation costs.
Gosens says that wouldn’t begin to fix his issues.
Jones acknowledged the Fortis chairman, Edwin Zemancheff.
</body></html>

Fortis Funds offer The Barracks retail space to Brisbane chocolatier Gerrard Gosens

<html><body>
Greenland Australia have confirmed Woolworths Metro will be the anchor tenant in Stage 1 of mixed-use residential development Park Sydney in the inner-west suburb of Erskineville. 
Woolworths Metro will form part of the Stage 1 retail centre, which will occupy the ground level of Park Sydney’s Cascade building, due for completion in mid to late-2020.
The retail centre will also feature a childcare facility plus food, beverage and lifestyle retail, with about 70 basement parking spaces.
Greenland Australia’s Managing Director, Sherwood Luo, said the Woolworths Metro is ideal for delivering the vibrant retail mix required for Park Sydney. 
“Park Sydney will be a unique integrated community with Stage 1 including 330 apartments and the Woolworths Metro that will cater perfectly to its residents and those in the surrounding area,” he explained.  
Park Sydney Village will offer in the order of 10,000 square metres of retail amenity.
It includes a 4,000 square metre full-range supermarket as part of a future stage, 1,000 square metres of specialty shops, multiple lifestyle and food, beverage and dining experiences, with Stage 1 including 1,650 square metres of convenience retail, as well as a childcare and medical centre.  
The site will also offer secure underground customer parking in both Stage 1 and 2.
There will be an alfresco outdoor dining space overlooking the adjacent 7,450 square metre parkland. 
Greenland Golden Horse is also looking forward to announcing the operator of the childcare centre within Stage 1 soon.
</body></html>

Retail

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Retail

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News