<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

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</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

Sydney

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A major slowing trend was emerging internationally with three key real estate markets showing the same nervous signs.
Vancouver, Sydney and Melbourne were the key cities, according to The Australian columnist, Robert Gottliebsen, who pinpointed a reduction in Chinese buying and reluctance by the non-Chinese locals to buy at the high prices.
"The slower real estate sales combined with no rises in non-public servant salaries is causing motor and retail sales to stall," he reported on the local economic consequences.
"The share market is clearly nervous.
"And we are just at the start of the process," he wrote today.
"Traditionally, once dwelling buyers lose the flower of abundant confidence there is a period of much lower volumes because sellers are reluctant to meet the market.
"That’s what we are seeing in Vancouver."
He suggested Vancouver was ahead in timing which would help understand what could happen in Melbourne and Sydney.
"A series of clamps and higher taxes have been imposed on overseas investors in Vancouver.
"Accordingly, Vancouver has seen an easing of prices but, more importantly, volumes have been slashed because sellers can’t move their stock.
"In April the volume of detached Vancouver houses sold fell a staggering 50 per cent."
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Stalled Vancouver house sales offers a signal for Sydney and Melbourne: Robert Gottliebsen

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Nowhere more than in Sydney, the city with the most valuable real estate of the nation, does the suburb you live in define you so much.
At Melbourne parties, they ask: "Where did you go to school?" followed by "What footy team do you barrack for?"
In Sydney we want to know "Where do you live?" and then "How much did you pay?"
Residents in Mount Gilead, set to be one of our newest suburbs, will become as aware of the neighbourhood pecking order as are the last few dames of the upper north shore.
It is not so much about class these days, as about perception, about how smart we see ourselves and others in the pursuit of the property prize.
Sydneysiders know their place, wherever it is, from the mountains to the harbour and coastline.
We define ourselves by the suburbs we look up to and look down on.
I was thinking about this last weekend after the sale of the Fairfax publishing dynasty's $70 million plus harbourfront home, Elaine.
For 123 years of its ownership it sat proudly in Double Bay, but for the past three years during its sales marketing campaign it has been inaccurately described as Point Piper.
Granted it sits on Seven Shillings Beach which takes in both suburbs - and doesn't have a demarkation line in the sand.
I rechecked the official Elaine lands title document and it does say Double Bay. Ok probably Point Piper holds aspirational top spot, but is Double Bay that down at heel to be disowned? 
As Sydneysiders we tend not to actually envy too many of the 650 other suburbs, but rather keep the tribal snobbery to the nearest.
There's the infamous split between the Woollahra and Paddington side of Jersey Road. 
Social death can lie on the wrong side of divides such as Old Windsor Road separating The Hills from Blacktown, while Burwood Heights sits on the wrong side of Liverpool Road for most Burwood residents.
Adjoining suburbs such as Palm Beach and Whale Beach, Woolwich and Hunters Hill look down on each other.
East Balmain and East Redfern are more desirable than Balmain or Redfern. 
On the train line east is always better than west on the Upper North Shore.
Tastes do change over time so the eastern suburbs beaches long lagged behind the harbourside suburbs, though in recent years the likes of North Bondi attracted a happening crowd.
There can be snobbery in reverse as when BrickX secured their recent apartment they were happy to rightly embrace it being in Darlinghurst, while most other occupants in the McLachlan Avenue block claim it's Rushcutters Bay.
Of course as we all live in Sydney, we collectively can look down on every other city in Australia.
 
This article was first published in the Saturday Telegraph
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

How snobbery shows in Sydney's property pecking order

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Sydney's eastern suburbs prestige home auction market faces testing times.
Estate agents are concerned the top end enters the winter hibernation with a serious overload of unsold stock.
Winter traditionally sees reduced activity as buyers and agents head overseas for holidays.
The eastern suburbs has dozens of stale listings on websites and off market.
There are 12 forlorn offerings sitting on the website of the leading eastern suburbs' listers, Sotheby's International with $10 million plus hopes.
The recent $13 million plus sale of the Bellevue Hill mansion of Japanese developer Kemmori “Alex” Yasumoto and his wife Sacha to the Berger family is hoped as the icebreaker sale on the sales impasse.
Michael Pallier secured the sale of the 2000-square-metre property on Suttie Road after seven months.
But another offering, in Rose Bay has been with its Sotheby's listing agent since 2014.
Another in Vaucluse was listed in late 2015 by agent Michael Pallier.
The home at 70 Wentworth Road had an initial price guide of more than $30 million.
The five-bedroom house on more than 1400sq m of harbour front land was listed by downsizers.
“They are empty nesters, their children have grown up, left home and they’re ready to pass the baton on to next person,” Pallier said at the time of 2015 listing, adding there had been interest from both local and overseas buyers which had buoyed hopes it would sell over the before the 2016 New Year.
“That pocket along there — there’s only a limited number of those prized, deep water front houses and they rarely come onto the market.”
But it was still there when the local paper advised Pallier hasn’t inked a deal yet in February this year, but noted he advised the $33 million five-bedroom waterfront abode at 70 Wentworth Rd had been particularly popular with Chinese buyers here for the Chinese New Year celebrations.
“They dream of being able to fish from the front garden or jetty,” he said.
Pallier was described in the spiel as a "listings machine" by his wife, Lu Lu who said she brings the buyers.
Pallier described this year’s Chinese New Year as "the strongest we’ve ever seen” in terms of inquiry from Chinese buyers and inspections.
But rival agents suggest the level of unsold stock pitched at the Chinese buyer was a sign of trouble in the market.
It is not just harbourside as last October a Tamarama Marine Drive, Tamarama building block was listed by Marco Rossi, chairman and founder of the construction company Built.
There were $15 million expectations for the property Rossi bought back in 2007 for $11 million through the Blacket Agency, setting a record for the suburb at the time.
He demolished the existing building and excavated at a cost of around $1 million.
Plans for the five bedroom home include an eight-car garage and a lift from the street frontage are estimated to cost another $7 million.
They were designed by internationally renowned architect Wallace E. Cunningham.
In March the private auction for the blue blood Hordern family's longheld Bellevue Hill trophy home didn't go ahead.
The Ginaghulla Road home was set for a private auction through Sydney Sotheby's James McCowan, but was pulled and remains for sale.
Heritage-listed, the iconic eight bedroom home was built as a wedding gift to June Baillieu and Samuel Hordern, who united two of Australia's most prominent families.
One of Sydney's most famed architects Professor Leslie Wilkinson was commissioned to design the home some 80 years ago.
The home, still etched with the Hordern family coat of arms, is set behind a walled entry with a forecourt in a church-style.
Another unsold offering is the redundant Point Piper home of BRW Rich Lister Paul Lederer and his wife Eva which was listed last December with $20 million hopes.
The Wyuna Road property was designed by architect John Suttor and purchased by the Lederers in 1992 for $2.8 million from businessman Charles Scarf and his wife Maria.
While the $10 million plus market appears stalled, valuers HTW recently noted the Sydney prestige property market, generally considered to be properties above $3 million, has continued its strong performance into 2017.
It pinpointed Bellevue Hill in Sydney’s east has having a total of 70 dwelling sales in the past 12 months with a median price as at April 2017 of $4.777 million.
HTW noted factors which have been driving the prestige market included a limited supply of quality stock coming on to the market and a sustained period of high auction clearance rates in prestige suburbs.
Savills recently noted prices in Sydney’s luxury eastern suburbs markets continued to increase in the first quarter of 2017, "albeit at a slower rate than seen across Greater Sydney."
The luxury property market increased by 1.2 percent over the three months to March 2017, taking annual growth to 8 percent.
This compares to a quarterly and annual growth of 5 percent and 18.9 percent respectively for Greater Sydney, according to Corelogic.
Savills says this outperformance was partly due to the price differential.
"The median price of properties in the luxury index is over $7 million compared to $795,000 across the wider Sydney market," it noted.
"The luxury eastern suburbs markets are less dependent on affordability - instead, the market is driven by global flows of wealth and a supply versus demand balance," Savills International head of research Sophie Chick said.
Savills calculated across the luxury market in the eastern suburbs the average price per square metre (internal and external) is $16,600.
For a property on the waterfront, that increases to $24,800, a 50 percent premium.
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Sydney's eastern suburbs prestige market enters winter with overpriced oversupply

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A two bedroom apartment in one of Sydney’s tightly-held apartment blocks sold for $8.715 million - making it Sydney’s most expensive weekend auction sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-sydney-125351338" target="_blank">2502/2 Philip St</a>, the property has views of Circular Quay, Botanic Gardens and North Head.
It was last sold in 2009 for $7 million and before that in 1998 for $4 million.
It had been partially refurbished with potential for further enhancements with an interior size of 253 sqm.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/05/28/2502_2%20Phillip%20Street-2.jpg" alt="">
With a northern perspective there is the possibility of a third bedroom alongside open plan entertainment area.
Other features includes wraparound balcony and double garage.
The property was sold through Morton agents Ettiene West and Laura Lloyd-Cairns.
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Two bedroom Circular Quay, Sydney apartment fetches $8.715 million

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/78030/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Sydney is frequently placed in the top ten of global “liveability” rankings. But despite the growing popularity of the buzzword liveability, questions remain about what it actually entails. What does a liveable city look like? How do we measure liveability? And, most importantly, liveable for whom? 
The idea of liveability and liveability rankings has some usefulness. However, such rankings mask the disadvantaged, marginalised and excluded within cities, including Sydney. 
In yet-to-be-published research, our analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from 1991, 2001 and 2011 indicates there are clear “winners” and “losers” in Sydney. Despite the strong economic growth in the 1990s, there is still a clear divide between eastern and western Sydney. 
<h2>Who defines and rates liveability?</h2>
The term liveability has proliferated in planning and public discussions, but few definitions are provided. 
Liveability is usually captured by published indices. Broadly speaking, there are three categories of indices: those that focus on decision-making from the perspective of individual lifestyle preferences, the firm, and policymakers. 
The best-known liveability indices are developed commercially. These include the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index, the Mercer Quality of Life Survey, PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Cities of Opportunity Quality of Life, and the Global Liveable Cities Index. 
More recently, Sydney suburbs have been ranked according to various liveability indices (such as Domain Liveable Sydney 2016 and the Urban Living Index). However, overall these liveability indices tend to simplify or disregard crucial factors.
These indices tell a particular and incomplete story about the city. When viewed through the lens of spatial geography, it is clear that Sydney’s ranking as a liveable city requires greater recognition of the ways in which some Sydneysiders experience inequality and disadvantage.
<h2>What did our study find?</h2>
We compared ABS data from 1991 or 2001 to the data from 2011, focusing on four issues: income, unemployment, travel to work, and housing tenure. 
Our analysis of employment found that the proportion of people employed in Greater Sydney slightly increased (94% in 2001 compared with 94.3% in 2011) and the unemployed decreased (6% in 2001 compared with 5.7% in 2011). People in full-time employment decreased while the number of people working part-time increased, bringing it almost on par with the Australian figure. 
However, the data does not reveal the disparities in people’s incomes according to where they live. When we viewed the data spatially, it was evident that people who live in the central city, inner east, inner west and the north shore of Sydney have higher weekly incomes than those living in the western parts of Sydney.
Income levels in Sydney
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/28/file-20170525-31761-yiq0xt.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/05/28/file-20170525-31761-yiq0xt.jpg" alt="">
Highest-income areas are shown in red, with lowest-income areas in blue. Author provided
Our analysis also found spatial disparities in the way people commute to work. Driving remained the main form of travel (49.2% in 1991 compared to 53.8% in 2011), demonstrating continued car dependence in Sydney. 
The disparity between east and west was evident in people’s opinions and preferences about travel. People in eastern Sydney felt more able to live close to where they work (72% compared with 62% in western Sydney). 
People in western Sydney were less likely to feel they had the transport they needed (86% compared with 91% in eastern Sydney). But, interestingly, they also felt that transport was less important than eastern Sydney residents. 
Finally, our analysis of housing tenure over the 20 years to 2011 found the level of outright home ownership fell by almost 10%. The proportion of people with mortgages increased (26.6% in 1991 compared with 33.2% in 2011), as did the number of people renting (28% in 1991 compared to 30.4% in 2011). 
Housing tenure in Sydney
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/28/file-20170525-31756-1qgbl4f.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/05/28/file-20170525-31756-1qgbl4f.jpg" alt=""> 
Areas with highest rates of outright home ownership are shown in blue, with areas of highest rates of mortgages in red.Author provided
To sum up, the winners: live in the city, inner east, inner west and parts of northern suburbs, have relatively easy access to well-paid work, and own their homes. 
The losers: live further from the concentrations of economic activity (jobs), have higher job insecurity, longer travel-to-work times, poorer transport choices and connections, lower incomes, more rental stress, less time with families, and poorer reported wellbeing.
Our analysis aligns with other recent research – see, for example, findings by the Grattan Institute, the Australian Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development and the Australian Housing Urban Research Institute. 
<h2>How can liveability be better shared?</h2>
How then do the various liveability indices account for spatial inequality and disadvantage? In 2012, the Economist Intelligence Unit added a category based on “spatial adjustments”. The Spatial Adjusted Liveability Index now makes up 25% of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s liveability score. 
Various programs and policies have also been designed to tackle liveability. These are helpful initiatives, but a more holistic and interdisciplinary approach is needed. Approaches to liveability need to be integrated (both place-based and people-based).
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First, to be effective, institutions need to decrease fragmented responses. 
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Second, greater social inclusion is vital. This includes participatory approaches to planning and equitable access to jobs, services and amenity.
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Third, cities need co-operative governance whereby citizens can affect decision-making through legitimate involvement. 
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A greater focus on these recommendations might bring Sydney a little closer to being a liveable city for all.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/roberta-ryan-172068" target="_blank">Roberta Ryan</a> is professor and director, UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance and UTS Centre for Local Government, University of Technology Sydney.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yvette-selim-365400" target="_blank">Yvette Selim</a> is senior researcher and lecturer, UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology Sydney.
Both are authors for The Conversation.
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‘Liveable’ Sydney has clear winners and losers

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Lower winter market listings will commence from the Queen’s Birthday holiday break next month, but vendors should really sell their homes whenever it is convenient. 
The unpleasant weather of winter does not dampen interest in the Sydney market as it did in the past. 
Indeed winter can be a great time to sell given that there will be fewer listings competing for buyer attention. 
Over recent years there has been a rising trend of winter auction volumes to record levels. 
REA Group chief economist Nerida Conisbee noted last year winter was the season with the highest clearance rates. 
Average clearance rates across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane for winter were 74 percent, while autumn came in second with an average clearance rate of 69.8 percent. Spring, which most think of as the traditional selling season, had an average clearance rate of 61.8 percent, while summer was lower at 61.1 percent.
Ofcourse the property needn't go to auction, rather be for sale by private treaty or discretely for sale off market.
Common sense would tell you that fewer are inclined come to a wet onsite auction, however while the sticky beaks might drop off during the colder months, the percentage of serious bidders among the attendees actually increases. 
There are few reasons why homes can't be put up for sale in the upcoming cooler months, so here's some quick advice on listing.
Winter can make homes much more welcoming so get that great winter light into the home.
Draw back the curtains and blinds on the windows and make the house or apartment feel warm and comfortable. Light the trendy new hanging fire place.
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Decorators would also suggest add some warm reds and oranges to your soft furnishings around the house.
Be sure to instruct your agent about the best time of day to show your home for its open for inspection.
Auction hibernation certainly happens more so in Sydney's higher-priced suburbs through winter as overseas vacations are the escape for owner and agents alike.
Garden suburb vendors tend to hold back too, but not the inner west so much.
The fact is the demographic reasons for buying and selling don't take a pause so growing families still need that extra bedroom.
Those downsizers who've perhaps got their off the plan settlement coming up, will want to lock in their house sale too.
The recent strong autumn sales period ensures there are still plenty of committed buyers who've missed out.
Unsuccessful buyers with approved finance are still out there to buy before they have to re-apply and meet tougher restrictions, so they don’t have time to take three months off over winter.
So this winter, like any market, there are opportunities to make the most for the seller and buyer.
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Winter does not dampen interest in Sydney market

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A new $120 million luxury boutique hotel to be built in Sydney CBD’s Castlereagh Street has been announced.
AccorHotels has teamed up with real estate developer Shanghai United with an official signing ceremony for the project held on Wednesday 24 May.
The $380 million mixed-use 36-storey tower on the corner block of 110-118 Bathurst and 203 Castlereagh Streets will include a 121 room hotel on levels one to nine with 131 residential apartments above on levels 10-34.
The MGallery by Sofitel hotel is designed by the award-winning Candelapas &amp; Associates architects.
Apartments will interweave the existing 1870s heritage-listed Porter House Hotel adjacent to the tower.
It will feature four levels of additional facilities, including lobby, pool and fitness centre, two restaurants, a fourth floor bar with roving art gallery, meeting and private dining facilities and a business centre.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/05/25/The%20Porter%20House%20MGallery%20By%20Sofitel%20render%20guestroom%20-%20low%20res.jpg" alt="">
 “We are thrilled to develop a new strategic partnership with Shanghai United on this landmark development for Sydney’s CBD,” said AccorHotels’ chief operating officer for the Pacific region, Simon McGrath.
“The Sydney hotel sector is the strongest in Australia with consistent occupancy levels in the mid-high 80% range and average rates growing sharply.
“This new MGallery by Sofitel hotel will stand to greatly benefit from the tourism and infrastructure boom we are currently seeing with projects such as the International Convention Centre and light rail development.
“A new boutique hotel such as this will provide both business and leisure travellers with a new luxury boutique experience in Sydney, whether they visit for conferences, events, cultural or sporting events.”
Xu Yangdong, Shanghai United’s CEO, said it marks a new area of luxury hotel and apartments in the Sydney CBD area.
“WithsService contents delivered by the MGallery by Sofitel, Shanghai United will provide residents and guests an extraordinary array of amenities to enjoy,” said Xu.
Construction on The Porter House Hotel, MGallery by Sofitel will commence in early 2018 with completion expected in December 2020.
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New luxury hotel set for Sydney CBD

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Sydney’s 2017 Vivid festival features an installation from design firm The Buchan Group illuminating the Lloyd Rees water fountain in Martin Place.
The feature from Buchan Group, titled, re/FRACTION shoots glittering, refracted light across the fountain, with footage shown continuously over the 20-metre-wide fountain.
Anthony Rawson, senior associate, The Buchan Group, said re/FRACTION would give Vivid visitors the chance to “form a bond” with the installation and become part of the festival itself.
“re/FRACTION plays on the themes of vibrancy, personality and movement, and invites audiences to interact with the amplified light, flowing visual scenes and distinct colour effects,” Mr Rawson said.
“Using cutting edge digital design, extensive light vibrancy technologies and animation expertise, this installation allows viewers to see another side of what an already well-known structure.”
"Creating re/FRACTION had enabled the design firm to experiment with and evolve new methods of light vibrancy and manipulation to reinvent already well-known landmarks."
The Buchan Group will also show two more pieces in the festival; inSIGHT – a low-fidelity render of the human face that will be featured at the Royal Botanic Gardens; and Portholes – a display that captures the viewing experience of explorers on display at The Rocks.
The Buchan Group worked with design studio Propaganda Mill to build Portholes and Precision Engineering and Manufacturing for many aspects of the installations.
Four more pieces will be shown; Uncovered World on display at The Rocks, 100 Ways to Say I Love You, showing at the City Recital Hall, Big Red Button on display at the gardens, and Music Box at The Rocks.
The Buchan Group’s displays will be on show every night throughout Vivid Sydney from 26 May to 17 June. Visit www.vividsydney.com for more details.
 
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Buchan design reinvents Lloyd Rees water fountain landmark for Vivid Light Festival

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Sydney's St George area is continuing in its strong growth, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) report.
The property valuation firm says that the St George area is continuing its strong growth period with the hottest price points for houses generally being $1 million to $2 million and $660,000 to $700,000 for units.
For houses, the suburb of Oatley has been a very strong performer, having a 2016 median house price of $1.602 million, up 14.5% from 2015, according to PriceFinder.
"This strong growth in Oatley is mainly driven by locality, with its village-like feel and well positioned homes on comparatively large blocks of land, many with good water views," the report stated.
"An example of a typical Oatley sale within this strong price point is 3 Gungah Bay Road (above) which sold on 04 January 2017 for $1.7 million.
"This property comprised a dated but well maintained, two storey, 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom residence with double garage on 765 square metres of land."
Oatley is also within close proximity of Hurstville which provides a high level of amenities and good public transport infrastructure.
The main buyer profiles within the suburb are owner-occupiers, predominantly families, with minimal investor demand.
“With Oatley being relatively affordable compared to some surrounding suburbs and strong owner-occupier demand, we expect to see sustained and continued growth in this market," the report said.
"In generalising the St George area, we recognize that there is still strong demand for the fixer upper, however there is a growing trend towards completed contemporary dwellings.
"Buyers are currently prepared to pay a premium for the privilege of being the first to occupy a residence and will part with their hard earned when they know they are getting the very latest inclusions and high quality finishes."
Generally these houses will provide good levels of accommodation (four to six bedrooms), home automation, high quality finishes and appliances and multi vehicle garaging (four to six cars).
The strongest results for this style of property are being found in the $2.5 million to $5 million range.
This is mainly being driven by overseas buyers, expats and locally based professionals.
"There could be a softening in this end of the market depending on interest rates, lending policies and exchange rates and overseas market conditions," the report advised.
"However this is seen as unlikely in the short to medium term.
"When analysing the unit market, Brighton Le Sands gets a notable mention as a strong performer with a 2016 median unit price of $680,500, up 4.7% from 2015.
"In a running theme, location has been the main driver of this market being within close proximity of the beach, an increasingly popular restaurant and café scene and good bus services.
"With many 1970s, walk-up style unit complexes within the suburb, it attracts investors and owner-occupiers alike."
A recent sale of a typical unit was 10/32-34 Queens Road (above) which sold in February 2017 for $675,000.
This was a mainly original 1970s unit with two bedrooms, one bathroom and one car garage, located on the top floor.
"Potential for new transport links and hubs within the vicinity of Brighton Le Sands is expected to drive strong growth in the short to medium term," the report advised.
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St George and Oatley residential market strength continues to grow: HTW

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One of the largest single-hold pieces of land in Crows Nest in Sydney’s North Shore precinct has been snapped up by a locally-based Chinese developer for $22 million.
The 39-47 Albany Street property is currently the headquarters of Warner Music Australia Pty Ltd until 2022.
It was sold on a yield of nearly 4 percent.
The medium-term development site sold at a yield of circa 4%. 
The sale was managed by Knight Frank on behalf of a local fund manager Pindan Capital to Sun Property.
The state government’s proposed new train station will only increase the density and development of the area, added Hu.
The property is zoned B4 Mixed Use, with a Weighted Average Lease Expiry of 4.5 years, and has a net lettable area of 3,286 square metres.
The property is also situated within minutes’ walk to the Crows Nest retail precinct; the proposed railway station; Crows Nest Plaza and Woolworths supermarket. 
Established in 2010, Sun Property focuses on development projects in Sydney’s Lower North Shore is currently working on nine projects. 
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