<p>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.</p>

<p>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."</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]</p>


Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]</p>


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

<p>The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]</p>


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

<p>A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]</p>

<p>"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.</p>

<p>"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]</p>

<p>While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]</p>


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

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]</p>


Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Tourism

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<div>The number of Chinese tourists was up 23 percent to 1.6 million in the year to September, and spending in the year to July was up 27 percent to $8.9 billion according to figures from Tourism Australia.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Australia now tops China’s rankings of destinations, with a new generation of tourists are seeking immersive experiences, not days spent in tour buses, according to John O’Sullivan, chief executive officer of Tourism Australia.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>He said Tourism Australia has been running a large-scale campaign in China this year, including promotional videos on massive screens at subway lines, in Beijing and elsewhere. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>"There was a boom in Japanese tourism in the 1980s and 1990s, but not on the scale or rapidity of this, aided by the growing number of Chinese cities with direct flights," he said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"The “millennial” visitors, a third of the total from China, are also seeking the type of experience they can’t have back home, and that their friends might not yet have had – so they can claim social media bragging rights.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"This new generation of inbound tourist use their smartphones constantly, expect free WiFi, they use Union Pay to access to cash. They want to be assured that they have access to their staples, congee for breakfast, staff who speak their language and a safe modern hotel.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"They are seeking out self-drive holidays and learning to surf. The destination has changed, previously they may have gone for a long haul destination, North America or Europe, however, as they have become more confident about booking their own holidays, they have rapidly turned to Australia.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"This new generation of tourist likes to shop too, they rely on Australia’s clean image, putting faith in the fact that products are authentic in Australia, they are truly modern consumers, they look for the brands. Tasmania has surged in the last couple of years, particularly after a visit by China’s President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan. Tasmania’s lavender bear has also become something of a cult sensation, because it can only be bought at the Bridestowe Lavender Estate farm door in Tasmania."</div>
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Chinese tourism boom goes from strength to strength

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<p><span>GUEST OBSERVER</span></p>
<p><span>Planning on listing your property on Airbnb? Here are a few things to consider before you do. </span></p>
<p><span>1. Location of your property and potential demographic of your guests</span></p>
<p><span>Guests usually plan to stay close to the centre of activity and culture they would like to experience. For example if your property is near a stadium, there’s a high chance your guests may be attending sports events. Think about the biggest demographic of sports attendees and ask yourself the extent of behaviour you would tolerate in your property. </span></p>
<p><span>2. De-risk your home against bad apples</span></p>
<p><span>You can request a security deposit prior to the guest’s arrival. Be wary of Instant Bookings, as this does not give you the opportunity to review the guest before they book in their stay. As a final precaution, have your guests sign a contract before they arrive. This can clearly lay out the check-in and check-out dates and times, rules of conduct, deposit refund or any other concerns you may have. While it may put off some guests, those who have nothing to hide should have no problems with signing it. </span></p>
<p><span>3. Make sure your home is safe for occupation</span></p>
<p><span>When leasing out your property, it is your property manager's role to ensure the safety of the premises are kept. If you're putting up an Airbnb listing, this responsibility falls on you. You'll need to check that the smoke alarms are working and that heaters (if any) have been serviced in the last 2 years. Make sure that all doors and locks work smoothly in the event that evacuation is necessary. </span></p>
<p><span>While Airbnb does not conduct any routine inspections on the safety of your property, it's a simple favour you are doing your guest that may save their life. </span></p>
<p><span>4. Check your home insurance coverage for accidents or damage</span></p>
<p><span>You’ll need to fully insure your home against the risk of irresponsible guests causing major damage, as seeking damage compensation from Airbnb is difficult. Read the fine print of Airbnb’s Host Guarantee, and don’t assume it will protect you fully. It also does not cover a refusal to vacate.</span></p>
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<p><span>5. Long term Airbnb stays could turn your guest into a legal tenant</span></p>
<p><span>According to Consumer Affairs Victoria, if your Airbnb guest resides in your property for more than 90 days, they legally gain the rights as a tenant. This means that in the unlikely event that they refuse to vacate after that period, you will need to follow the same eviction procedure through VCAT as a landlord would, costing you significant time and money. </span></p>
<p><span>6. Airbnb income is taxable</span></p>
<p><span>Airbnb provides a good source of cash flow for owner occupiers who are still paying off their mortgage. Bear in mind that your Airbnb income is classified as a taxable gain, as the ATO will have your information on hand already. Depending on the length of time you’ve resided at your property, and the length of time you’ve hosted part of your property on Airbnb, you may be liable to pay a portion of capital gains tax. </span></p>
<p><span>7. Your ratings and reviews are your “open for inspections”<br></span></p>
<p><span>To maximise the occupancy rate of your property, it’s essential that you maintain a high rating by providing your guests with<br> a great experience, so that they are happy to leave a positive review. We would recommend to maintain at least 4.5 stars to remain competitive. Keep your property clean and restocked after each stay. Be honest in your description of your listing, as you’ll be rated for accuracy. </span></p>
<p><span>8. Guests look for a trustworthy host, not just a room</span></p>
<p><span>Beautiful photographs, a friendly host profile photo and personal statement will build trust immediately. When there’s nothing hide, there’s nothing to be afraid of. </span>Remember that, while you are risking your property, your guests risk themselves. They are looking for someone credible whom they are comfortable staying with. </p>
<p><em>For more information, <a href="https://secretagent.com.au/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</em></p>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Must-knows for new Airbnb hosts: Secret Agent

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<div>Net permanent and long term migration into Australia seems to be steadying, summimg +266,400 in the year to August, according to the latest ABS Overseas Arrivals and Departures figures. </div>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/11/C2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge </a></p>
<div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/11/C2.jpg" alt=""></div>
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<div>The number of permanent settlers per annum appears to be very gradually rising again, with 57.1 per cent of settlers hailing from Asia. </div>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/11/C5.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/10/11/C5.jpg" alt=""></p>
<div> </div>
<div>It feels as though annual population growth in 2016 will be tracking at around +1.3 per cent, or somewhere between +300,000 and +350,000. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>However, the composition of growth has changed very significantly since the peak of the mining investment boom in 2012, with Sydney and Melbourne accounting for a record and ever-greater share of the headcount growth. In aggregate, regional population growth has slowed. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Chinese arrivals</span></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>More dramatically, total annual short term arrivals increased by a very strong +10.6 per cent over the year to August, to sit at a smidgen under 8 million.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Outbound trips are still increasing too, but at a far less sprightly pace (in fact the pace of outbound growth is less than half of that of short term arrivals, meaning that a positive rebalancing continues). </div>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/11/C3-1.jpg" target="_blank"> Click to enlarge</a></p>
<div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/11/C3-1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<p>The annual number of Chinese arrivals continues to accelerate at an astonishing pace, increasing by +23.1 per cent over the past year to a new high of 1.18 million. </p>
<div>There are now more annual visitors from China and Hong Kong to Australia than there are from our more proximate neighbour New Zealand. </div>
<div> </div>
<div class="separator"><a href="/images/2016/10/11/C4.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<p><img src="/images/2016/10/11/C4.jpg" alt=""> </p>
<div>While many are short term arrivals <em>bona fide</em> tourists, a total of precisely 500,000 short term arrivals into Australia over the year to August were primarily for the purposes of education.</div>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/11/C1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a><br><img src="/images/2016/10/11/C1.jpg" alt=""></p>
<div> </div>
<div>Higher education is hugely attractive for international students from Asia, since it comes with the lure of potential permanent residency, obviously a big drawcard. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Note that there are now more than two years of water under the bridge since the higher education boom really teed off in earnest, meaning that over the next year or two there may is likely to be a very strong uplift in students being granted permanent residency (as indeed is forecast by the DIBP) or sundry visa types.</div>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The wrap</span></strong></p>
<p>While permanent and long term migration to Australia seems to have levelled out, arguably the more significant trends are taking place beneath the surface. </p>
<div>There is plenty of noise in month-to-month figures, but simply following the trend in the number of monthly visitors from China shows a doubling from less than 50,000 per month in early 2012 to well over 100,000 per month in Q3 2016. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>In terms of the property sector, while it's true that that the incoming wave of Chinese capital most impacts new and off-the-plan properties, there are now so many permanent residents and citizens of Chinese heritage that the impacts have shifted into established property too. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<em>News</em> draws a tangible link between education arrivals and Chinese property buying activity, notably in inner Sydney suburbs such as Haymarket, Ultimo, Kensington, Surry Hills, Waterloo, and other parts of South Sydney, for example. </div>
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<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
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Chinese visitors more than double in 4 years: Pete Wargent

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<p>Property developer Sunland Group will withdraw its development application for its proposed mixed-use residential and arts precinct at Mariner’s Cove on Queensland's Gold Coast.</p>
<p>The City of Gold Coast is to defer the current application for no longer than 12 months.</p>
<p>Sunland Group’s $600 million proposal included the city’s first privately-owned cultural precinct dedicated to the arts through a modern art gallery and museum as well as floating parklands, an underground aquarium and two sculptural 44-storey towers providing hotel and residential apartments.</p>
<p>Sunland Chairman Soheil Abedian said he believed a master plan for The Spit was in the best interests of the community and would deliver much-needed clarity, unity and direction for all stakeholders.</p>
<p>“We strongly believe The Mariner presented an exceptional and compelling outcome for the site,” he said.</p>
<p>“The Spit is a unique commercial, residential and recreational precinct and the State Government and Council need to work together, in consultation with the community and all stakeholders, to agree on a clear path forward.</p>
<p>“We feel it is important the master planning process is unencumbered, without any perceived time pressures from existing development applications. For this reason we are withdrawing our development application for The Mariner until such time that a master plan for the precinct can be agreed upon.”</p>
<p>“Q1 was met with similar challenges, yet today it remains an icon of our city and stands proudly at the centre of the emblem of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.</p>
<p>“The Mariner continues our commitment to the city and its evolution into a global destination with the opportunity for world-class entertainment, cultural and tourism amenity.</p>
<p>“To realise this opportunity, there must be a master plan that benefits the city and its more than 600,000 residents. A master plan that balances the natural elements of the Spit with community open space and iconic architecture that celebrates our distinctly Gold Coast lifestyle and contributes towards the enrichment of the urban fabric of our community.</p>
<p>“It is our ardent hope that the State Government and Council, upon completion of the master plan, allow projects such as The Mariner to have a place for the future of our city.”</p>
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Sunland withdraws development application for Mariner's Cove, Gold Coast

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<p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/63932/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1"></p>
<p>GUEST OBSERVER</p>
<p>Infrastructure in our cities – let’s call it the hardware – remains much the same as ever, but the software – the way we use it – is transforming rapidly. One piece of that software, Airbnb, is dramatically reshaping the world’s cities.</p>
<p>The digital platform allows citizens to find and rent short-term accommodation from other citizens. Airbnb has the potential to rupture the traditional spatial relationship between tourist and local, making our cities more vibrant and diverse places to live in and to visit.</p>
<p>The question is: what opportunities and dangers does the platform present? What are the implications of repurposing existing residential infrastructure for short-term accommodation? What happens when the global “sharing economy” meets a city’s suburbs?</p>
<h2>Lessons from an early adopter</h2>
<p>Melbourne was an early adopter of Airbnb. It is also one of the top 10 cities for global travellers on Airbnb. What insights can be gathered from its experience?</p>
<p>According to Airbnb, three-quarters of listings worldwide are outside major hotel districts. Airbnb has three types of property listings: entire homes, private rooms and shared rooms.</p>
<p>Entire homes make up over half the total number of Melbourne’s metropolitan listings. Data collected in January 2016 reveals that their distribution is relatively consistent with that of hotels and licensed accommodation, which exist in large concentrations in the CBD and inner city.</p>
<p>Many hosts who list entire homes lease or sublet when they go away. In Australia, tenants require permission from their landlord to sublet, so there is little risk for the landlord if they follow due process. But analysis by website Inside Airbnb indicates that about 75% of entire-house listings in Melbourne are available for over 90 days per year.</p>
<p>Hosts with multiple properties manage about a third of all the entire-house listings in Melbourne. These operators hold an average of three properties, but some have dozens. Through Airbnb, these brokers are turning existing housing infrastructure into informal, distributed hotels while saving on capital costs, overheads and wages.</p>
<p>Globally, the Airbnb phenomenon has been blamed for driving up rents, accelerating gentrification and displacing local residents by reducing available housing stock.</p>
<p>In Melbourne, the boom in high-density development in the CBD has resulted in an excess of homogeneous apartment dwellings. Bedrooms without natural light, as well as insufficient floor area, outdoor space and storage space, characterise many of these developments, rendering them effectively unlivable for long-term residents. But these properties are attractive to itinerant tenants seeking affordable inner city accommodation. </p>
<p>Shared rooms in Melbourne constitute only about 2% of all listings, but they are almost exclusively confined to the CBD. Box Hill (14 kilometres east of Melbourne), and Maidstone/ Braybrook (eight kilometres west of Melbourne) are secondary outlying hotspots. The majority of CBD listings are around new apartment towers near Southern Cross Station (at the western end of the CBD) and RMIT University.</p>
<p>A number of already small two-bedroom apartments in the Neo200, Upper West Side and QV1 towers are operating as gendered dormitories. These often sleep eight, with four to a room. Overloading these apartments creates potential fire-safety and hygiene-compliance issues.</p>
<p>Short-term letting via sites like Airbnb allows investors to earn up to three times the amount they’d receive in rent (the average cost to rent an entire home is AU$189 per night). Travellers benefit from competitive accommodation rates, cooking facilities, convenient locations and access to private pools and gymnasiums intended for residents.</p>
<p>Airbnb acknowledges that professional hosts with multiple listings are exploiting the so-called sharing economy, but has not yet taken steps to regulate this. Governments would do well to implement the long-awaited and much-needed minimum design standards for apartments to curb the construction of developments in the city that fail to cater for residents or which are purpose-built for the Airbnb market (a few local examples are already emerging).</p>
<p>Beyond the obvious need to protect the amenity of citizens, protection of the liveliness and heterogeneity of the city is essential to maintain the kind of “authentic” experience that appeals to Airbnb users in the first place. Melbourne is beginning to follow the trajectory of international cities like London where the investor market, fuelled by capital gains tax exemptions, has pushed residents further and further out. Dispersing the concentration of entire-house and private-room rental is vital.</p>
<p>More promising is the dispersed pattern of private rooms in Melbourne. These represent around 45 percent of listings across the city. While private rooms are still concentrated in and around the CBD, diffuse listings across Melbourne’s middle-ring suburbs realise Airbnb’s ambition to enable access to the everyday spaces of cities.</p>
<p>This pattern makes sense given the mismatch between Australian house sizes, which remain the largest in the world, and changing household structures – most significantly, the decline of the nuclear family. An increase in housing diversity in the middle-ring suburbs is likely to facilitate more entire-house listings in these areas in the future.</p>
<p>We are also seeing evidence of Airbnb driving housing diversity. Annexed and granny-flat configurations are commonly listed in suburbs close to the Melbourne CBD like Brunswick and Caulfield. Loose-fit arrangements like these provide more flexibility to cater to both residents and visitors, and the by-product is slow but genuine “bottom-up” densification.</p>
<p>Government incentives for this kind of small-scale development would help to make this a viable (and, for many, welcome) alternative to densification through high-rise apartment development.</p>
<p>In 2015, Tourism Victoria entered into an agreement with Airbnb Melbourne to promote buzzing inner-city suburbs Fitzroy and St Kilda as “sharing economy” hotspots. But the cost of renting in these suburbs is already exorbitant. Fitzroy was named the second-most-expensive suburb in Melbourne for apartment rental in 2015.</p>
<p>Instead, policymakers could encourage disruption in the suburbs that would benefit both sides.</p>
<h2>What can be done to capture local benefits?</h2>
<p>Airbnb claims that tourists who use the platform “stay longer and spend more”. Through taxation and additional revenue from the sharing economy, governments could fund more extensive and efficient transport networks to service both locals and visitors. Extending transport infrastructure would support the intensification of distributed neighbourhoods and maximise intermingling between tourists and locals.</p>
<p>Bottom-up densification could also be a way forward for Perth. The distribution of Airbnb accommodation towards Perth’s coastal suburbs highlights potential in this space: here, tourism-specific and local infrastructure can converge. This is an exciting prospect for a state that positions itself as a unique travel destination.</p>
<p>Airbnb emerges from the same cultural tendency as the pop-up shop and interim-use place activation. Built environment professionals must recognise it as an urban issue and lead with a framework for targeted, productive disruption.</p>
<p>Airbnb can increase the density of people within existing building stock, while dispersing the positive effects of the tourist economy. This requires more imagination from planners and designers, who first and foremost must consider the interests of individual citizens, whether they are renters or home owners.</p>
<p>Can Airbnb be a part of the solution of increasing urban infill without compromising a minimum standard of living?</p>
<p><em><span class="fn author-name">Jacqui Alexander is l</span>ecturer in Architecture, Monash University and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jacqui-alexander-196982" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
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How Airbnb is reshaping our cities

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<p>Keswick Island, a Great Barrier Reef island, is on the market with $30 million hopes.</p>
<p>Keswick Developments, owned by the Dawson-Damer, is hopeful of attracting Chinese tourism interests. </p>
<p>Captain Cook charted Keswick on his maiden voyage, but since the hilly island -- home to an extinct volcano -- has been sparsely occupier with only about 20 houses and permanent residents.</p>
<p>Cars are banned, with residents travelling by golf buggy on the island.</p>
<p>Keswick Developments obtained the head lease eight years ago after the previous owner, Peter Marshall, spent 20 years attempting to develop the island.</p>
<p>The new owner will have a 117-hectare development lease with the Queensland government until 2096.</p>
<p>The rest of the 517 hectare island is national park. </p>
<p>The purchase will also give the buyer a 25-hectare seabed lease for a 180-berth marina and deep water jetty.</p>
<p>The mixed-use zoning on the sub-tropical island can accommodate 1000 dwellings and 3000 people. </p>
<p>The island, 32 kilometres off the coast of Mackay, already has a sealed airstrip, 150 subdivided lots, and preliminary key infrastructure for ongoing development.</p>
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Keswick Island listed for sale by Dawson Damer family

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<div class="column">GUEST OBSERVER</div>
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<div class="column">The China tourist boom continues to pay dividends.</div>
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<div class="column">The number of tourists to Australia from China and Hong Kong combined is now heading towards 1.4 million in the past year – and the gap is widening on the visitors from New Zealand.</div>
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<div class="column">In fact 52,000 more tourists visited our shores from Greater China than compared with NZ over the past year. A remarkable change when you consider that even up to three months prior annual tourists from NZ exceeded Greater China by almost 7,000.<br><br>And with China and Hong Kong tourist numbers continuing to grow at a 21 percent plus annual rate, there are more landmark results likely to be recorded over the next year. It is even more astonishing when you consider that just over four years ago Chinese tourist numbers were around half those of New Zealand.</div>
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<br>Clearly our number one tourist group is has shifted and the new winners from the China boom are tourist operators and retailers rather than mining companies that benefitted in the first stage of the China boom.</div>
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<br>Tourists from mainland China is fast closing in on 1.1 million in the past year, up 23 percent over the past year. While some may fret about the slowdown in the Chinese industrial sector, the more forward-thinking analysts are focussing on the boost to Australian retailers from increased spending by Chinese consumers and the growing number of Chinese tourists.</div>
<div class="column"> </div>
<div class="column">The rebalancing continues to be taking place across the economy. No doubt the weaker Aussie dollar is helping to alleviate some of the pressures for the weaker investment story. And from the Reserve Bank’s standpoint, policymakers will continue to monitor the transition, and debate if further stimulus is necessary to support growth.</div>
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<div class="column"><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2016/07/06/Screen%20Shot%202016-07-06%20at%205.00.06%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
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<br>What do the figures show?</div>
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<br>Overseas arrivals &amp; departures</div>
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<div class="column">Tourist arrivals rose by 0.2 percent in May. And departures rose by 1.5 percent. Arrivals are up 11.7 percent on the year with departures up 4.5 percent.</div>
<div class="column"> </div>
<div class="column">In May, tourists from greater China (China and Hong Kong) totalled 120,700 (mainland China 100,800, Hong Kong, 19,900), ahead of New Zealand (109,900). Greater China passed NZ for the first time in September 2015.</div>
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<br>Over the past year a record 1,133,700 tourists came to Australia from China, up 22.7 per cent over the year. Tourists from China and Hong Kong rose to a record 1,366,500 over the past year, up 21 percent over the year. Tourists from New Zealand totalled 1,314,300 visitors over the past year, but were up just 3.9 percent. <br><p>Over the past year, net permanent and long-term arrivals to Australia totalled 263,920 – the lowest level in nine years (March 2007).</p>
<p>What is the importance of the economic data?</p>
<p>The Australian Bureau of Statistics releases data on overseas arrivals and departures is produced monthly and is an indicator of the health of the tourism sector. The figures are also useful in understanding spending trends and tracking migrant numbers – an indicator with widespread implications for employment, housing and spending.</p>
What are the implications for interest rates and investors?</div>
<div class="column"> </div>
<div class="column"><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2016/07/06/Screen%20Shot%202016-07-06%20at%205.01.10%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
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<div class="column">Looking forward, not only will the weaker Aussie dollar should drive further tourism inflows, but it should provide an additional degree of support to the domestic tourism sector. Over time, the cheaper currency should make it more attractive to travel within Australia rather than overseas. Tourism has potential to join housing as a key driver of the Australian economy over the coming year, especially if the Aussie dollar falls further.</div>
<div class="column"> </div>
<div class="column">In-bound migration is holding at the lowest levels in nine years, meaning that there is greater scope for unemployment to fall in the short-term before businesses have to start looking abroad for suitable staff.<br><p>The Reserve Bank is likely to debate the merits of another rate cut at the August Board meeting.</p>
<p> <em>Savanth Sebastian is an economist for <a href="https://www.commsec.com.au/" target="_blank">CommSec</a></em></p>
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Migration at 9-year lows; Chinese tourism boom: Commsec's Savanth Sebastian

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<p>GUEST OBSERVER</p>
<p>In March, China (including Hong Kong) passed New Zealand as Australia’s largest source of tourists. And that gap widened in April. Over the past year 1.35 million Chinese visited our shores. This is the new boom – the tourism boom – and again it is driven by China. </p>
<p>Tourism Research Australia found that international visitors spent $36.6 billion in 2015 with China spending $8.3 billion or almost $8,000 per person. Spending was up by 18 per cent on a year earlier – the strongest growth in 14 years. And the latest data on tourist arrivals suggests that the spending by international visitors continues to lift, providing valuable momentum for the economy.</p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/06/03/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-03%20at%203.19.37%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/06/03/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-03%20at%203.19.37%20PM.png" alt=""></p>
<p> It has been a stellar week for the economy. Data has showed the economy growing at the fastest pace in 31⁄2 years; building approvals hit fresh record highs; car sales are at record highs; and tourist arrivals hit fresh record highs. The economy is firing on all cylinders. Clearly any suggestion that rate cuts are needed to lift a sagging economy is very much misplaced. The Reserve Bank cut rates in May – and still may cut rates again – on the premise that the economy can record even faster growth without sparking higher inflation.</p>
<p><strong>What do the figures show?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Overseas arrivals &amp; departures</strong></p>
<p><strong>Tourist arrivals </strong>rose by 1.2 percent to record highs in April. <strong>Tourist departures </strong>fell 3.4 percent in April from record highs. Arrivals are up 11.6 percent on the year with departures up 2.2 percent.  </p>
<p><strong>Tourists from greater China </strong>(China and Hong Kong) totalled 119,800 in April (mainland China 100,900, Hong Kong, 18,900), ahead of New Zealand (110,300).  </p>
<p><strong>Tourist arrivals from mainland China and Hong Kong </strong>rose to a record 1,350,000 over the past year (up 21.6 per cent over the year) ahead of tourists from New Zealand (1,313,400 visitors over the past year).  </p>
<p>Over the past year, <strong>net permanent and long-term arrivals </strong>to Australia totalled 270,230 – the lowest level in nine years (May 2007).  </p>
<p>Over the year to April, 33,500 Aussies visited Pakistan, up 33.5 per cent on the 25,200 visitors in the year to April 2015. Also 329,000 Aussies visited Japan over the past year, up 26.6 per cent over the year.  </p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/06/03/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-03%20at%203.28.46%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/06/03/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-03%20at%203.28.46%20PM.png" alt=""></p>
<p><strong>New Car Sales</strong></p>
<p>According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries there were 96,672 new cars sold in May. Over the year to May a record 1,172,402 new cars were sold. Annual growth of 4.3 percent is the strongest in 31 months.  </p>
<p>In May alone, passenger car sales fell by 5.8 per cent on a year ago to 38,222; sports utility vehicles (SUV) sales rose 11.4 per cent to 36,230; light truck sales rose 10.6 per cent to 19,373 and heavy truck sales rose 5.9 per cent to 2,847.    </p>
<p>Sales across states in May 2016 on May 2015: NSW (+6.0 per cent); Victoria (+3.5 per cent), Queensland (+1.3 percent), South Australia (+9.6 percent), Western Australia (-5.0 percent), Tasmania (+4.3 percent), ACT (+8.9 percent) and Northern Territory (+3.1 percent).  </p>
<p><strong>Car affordability </strong> </p>
<p>New vehicle sales are rising because car affordability stands at record highs. The CommSec car affordability measure shows that someone on the average wage has to work 23.8 weeks to buy a new Ford Falcon auto sedan. That is around 2 weeks fewer than two years ago. And five years ago, the same worker would have had to work an extra seven weeks to buy the same car.</p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/06/03/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-03%20at%203.29.46%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/06/03/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-03%20at%203.29.46%20PM.png" alt=""></p>
<p><strong>Performance of Services</strong></p>
<p>The Performance of Services index rose by 1.8 points to 51.5 in May. A reading above 50 suggests expansion of the services sector.  </p>
<p>The Australian Industry Group noted: “Of the five activity sub-indexes in the Australian PSI®, sales (51.7 points) and stocks (51.2 points) lifted into positive territory in May while new orders (55.3 points) continued its expansion. Deliveries (49.1 points) and employment (49.1 points) were both stable to slightly negative.”  </p>
<p>Four of the nine services sub sectors were stable or expanded in May. <strong>What is the importance of the economic data? </strong> </p>
<p>The Australian Bureau of Statistics releases data on <strong>overseas arrivals and departures </strong>each month – an indicator of the health of the tourism sector. The figures are also useful in understanding spending trends and tracking migrant numbers – an indicator with widespread implications for employment, housing and spending.  </p>
<p>The <strong>Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries </strong>releases estimates of <strong>car sales </strong>on the third business day of the month. The figures highlight the strength of consumer spending as well as conditions facing auto &amp; components companies.  </p>
<p>The Australian Industry Group compile the <strong>Performance of Services Index (PMI) </strong>each month. The Australian PSI is the Australian equivalent of the US ISM services gauge. The PSI is one of the timeliest economic indicators released in Australia. The PSI is useful not just in showing how the services sector is performing but in providing some sense about where it is heading. The key ‘forward looking’ components are orders and employment.  </p>
<p><strong>What are the implications for interest rates and investors?</strong></p>
<p>In 2015 an estimated 120 million Chinese travelled overseas. Australia’s share was just over a million tourists. So there is scope for significant growth but it will require more transport and accommodation capacity being put in place.  </p>
<p>Another month, another record high for the car industry. New vehicle sales hit new highs in the year to May and it is clear that a key reason for the strength is the fact that cars have never been more affordable.  </p>
<p>The Reserve Bank policymakers will find it harder to cut rates in coming months. That doesn’t mean that it’s impossible, rather the Reserve Bank will need to be more active explaining the change.</p>
<p><em>Craig James is the chief economist at <a href="https://www.comsec.com.au/default.aspx" target="_blank">CommSec</a>.</em></p>
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Chinese tourism boom, record car sales: CommSec's Craig James

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<p>A private buyer has secured a foothold in the caravan park market, after recently acquiring the Woronora Village Tourist Park south of Sydney for $6.75 million.</p>
<p>Located in the Sutherland Shire region, the Woronora Village Tourist Park comprises 67 sites on a 9,017sqm landholding.</p>
<p>The Woronora Village Tourist Park, located at 1 Menai Road, generates an annual income of approximately $600,000.</p>
<p>CBRE Hotels’ Andrew Jackson negotiated the deal on behalf of Mona Enterprises Pty Limited, with the sale representing an initial yield of 9.31% and site rate of $98,881.</p>
<p>Mr Jackson said the sale result was evidence of recent intensified demand.</p>
<p>The Woronora Village Tourist Park also includes a three bedroom manager’s residence, park office, amenity block and extensive grounds.</p>
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Caravan park at Woronora sells through CBRE Hotels

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<p>Former Newscorp Australia boss and ex-RM Williams chairman Ken Cowley is having another attempt at selling Peppers Convent, the boutique Hunter Valley hotel he bought with his family for $6 million in 2010.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://jurds.com.au/listings/rural_sale-795610-pokolbin/" target="_blank">17-room boutique hotel in Pokolbin</a>, as well as the renowned Roberts Restaurant – now called Circa 1876 – has been listed by Alan Jurd of Jurd's Real Estate alongside Rob Cross of CBRE Hotels.</p>
<p>Peppers Convent was last on the market in 2013 as part of the Tower Estate portfolio of rural retreats in the Hunter Valley by the Cowleys and a group of high-profile investors.</p>
<p>The Tower Estate winery and luxury lodge sold to Karen and Michael Hope of Hope Estate, but the hotel failed to sell.</p>
<p>The convent dates to the 1870s when it was built for the Brigidine nuns in Coonamble, NSW. In 1990 it was dismantled, relocated and rebuild in Pokolbin by media magnate James Fairfax in collaboration with restaurateurs Robert and Sally Molines. The former home of the Brigidine Order of nuns, which was transported to Pokolbin was restored as a five-star guesthouse.</p>
<p>Current occupancy sits at about 70 per cent with room rates around $350 a night on weekend. </p>
<p>Peppers Convent is up for sale as a going concern with a 10-year licence agreement with Peppers, part of the ASX-listed hotel operator Mantra Group.</p>
<p>The Peppers brand dates back to 1984 when Mike and Suzi O'Connor opened Peppers Guest House in the Hunter Valley.</p>
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