The final apartments in the most recently completed new development in Balwyn present some of the largest and most exclusive ever delivered in one of Melbourne’s most established and character-rich neighbourhoods.

Boutique developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/wulff-projects">Wulff Projects</a>,&nbsp;alongside partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pga-group">PGA Group</a>, has just finished <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/threadneedle-balwyn-1-5-threadneedle-street-balwyn-vic-3103">Threadneedle</a>, 17 home-sized residences designed completely for the owner-occupier.

Named after its location on Threadneedle Street, the new project has been shaped by the heritage fabric of Balwyn. It offers two low-rise buildings of eight and nine apartments respectively, designed to emulate traditional standalone homes.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355582]

John Scaramuzzino, Director at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, explains the design intention.

“Given the quiet residential character of the street with many homes dating back to the 1930s and 1940s, we approached Threadneedle wanting to appear less as a collection of apartments and more as a traditional residence. This led to creating not one but two buildings that could “breathe” with larger garden-based apartments functioning more like small homes.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355605]

The north-facing residences are nestled among extensive landscaped gardens by Ben Scott Garden Design, with over one-third of the site dedicated to greenery. The resulting setting is one of calm seclusion, where architecture and landscape work in tandem to offer immediate liveability.

With construction now complete, the final apartments include a top-floor, single-level penthouse residence priced from $2.8 million. This home offers three bedrooms, a dedicated study, two bathrooms plus powder room, and three car spaces with an oversized storage room.&nbsp;

Interiors prioritise spatial comfort and natural light, with three-metre-high ceilings, oversized internal doors and a full-width terrace oriented to the north, east and west.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355604]

Floor-to-ceiling double-glazed windows ensure thermal performance across seasons, supported by automated external blinds, zoned heating and cooling, and a fireplace for added ambiance.

Each apartment has been individually designed to maximise privacy and garden outlooks. Kitchens combine refined finishes with practical considerations: stone benchtops, butler’s pantry, full-height joinery and concealed rangehoods.&nbsp;

The inclusion of dedicated home offices responds to contemporary living patterns, while bathrooms feature sculptural bathtubs and brushed nickel fixtures.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355590]

Threadneedle also integrates best-practice sustainability measures, achieving a 7 Star average NatHERS rating. Initiatives include solar PV systems, rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing and irrigation, and high-performing building insulation. These elements enhance daily comfort while reducing ongoing maintenance and energy demand.

"We believe Threadneedle sets a new standard of design excellence and building quality for Balwyn,"&nbsp;Scaramuzzino added.

"It’s an architectural response we’re particularly proud of, and one we’re sure residents will be equally proud to call home."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=27816]

Staff Writer

Final homes remaining as Threadneedle, Balwyn completes construction

Joel Robinson

Sydney's top 15 new apartments developments set to launch in 2026

Developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dasco-australia">DASCO</a> has pushed beyond the now-standard inclusions of rooftop pools and landscaped podiums at its recently launched new Epping project, Senso.

It has laid out over 4,000 sqm of resident-only amenity in a move designed to compete directly with low-density housing on livability, not just density. The result is a development that supports genuine daily use through purposeful spaces distributed across its five-building, 479-apartment precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4396]

Two rooftop pools form the anchor of Senso. One is a 27-metre lap pool adjoining a heated spa, designed for everyday fitness rather than just summer leisure. The second sits on a lower podium, allowing different buildings to share in vertical access and reducing crowding during peak times.

It is the secondary spaces that start to distinguish Senso from other large-scale suburban projects. A rooftop cinema is integrated into a landscaped terrace, offering open-air screenings with natural ventilation and passive cooling.&nbsp;

The inclusion of a “sensory walk”, an elevated boardwalk that threads through the site, suggests a rare investment in non-commercial, non-essential amenity: space for quiet movement that doesn’t double as access or traffic circulation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4402]

The gym and wellness centre, often relegated to a small ground-floor room in many builds, takes on more substance here. Residents have access to a fully equipped gym, as well as outdoor yoga areas and meditative zones that integrate greenery and natural light.&nbsp;

The Club Lounge is similarly designed to support multiple use cases, with a private dining terrace, kitchenette, workspace, and lockable wine storage. These aren’t superficial additions; their scale and spatial allocation indicate serious intent for frequent resident use.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4391]

Importantly, Senso’s amenities are embedded within a site that spans more than 10,000 sqm, allowing for better separation between spaces and reduced noise spillover, a critical but often overlooked factor in high-density developments. This spatial generosity also enables multiple alfresco kitchens and communal terraces without compromising individual privacy or usable space.

While many developments make claims about lifestyle, few back it with this level of built infrastructure. Senso’s mix of dedicated fitness, wellness, social and passive green spaces suggests a conscious response to the post-pandemic shift in housing expectations, especially among owner-occupiers.&nbsp;

DASCO is one of several leading developers who have taken out Resilience Insurance's Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing buyers with a 10-year structural and waterproofing warranty, and giving them the ultimate peace of mind.

Senso is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134954]

The outdoor amenities elevating life at Senso, Epping

Following the proposal by the Minns Labor Government to rezone Parramatta Road to create up to 8,000 new homes, prominent developer Ceerose has gone to the NSW Gov to increase the density of its new mixed-use residential building in Leichhardt.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/ceerose">Ceerose</a>, founded by Edward Doueihi nearly three decades ago, has filed plans for 154 apartments above ground-floor retail at 307-315 Parramatta Road, a key corner site near Norton Street, the main high street strip in Leichhardt.

It's an upsize from the previously approved scheme of 63 apartments across a seven-storey building.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ba1ae75b-5f08-43fb-b8d5-3de6d9f6ef71" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.39%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yA3hBBLPH4ev7MsAE0_hieXeqiFqBUb7" />

The project is being advanced through the State Significant Development (SSD) pathway, with concurrent rezoning sought to facilitate the proposal. The 10-storey development would rise over a four-level basement and deliver two retail tenancies, one a larger-format offering and the other a smaller “hole in the wall” space, addressing the Parramatta Road frontage. 21 of the apartments are dedicated as affordable housing.

According to the Urban Design Report by Architecture AND, the scheme includes a podium and tower configuration, with a fine-grain, two-storey parapet street wall that references the traditional shopfront rhythm along the corridor. “An elegant tower form is proposed, combined with a characterful two storey frontage... articulating it as two related buildings, providing consistency with the rhythm and grain of Parramatta Road,” the report notes.

The residential component is split across two slender towers set back from the street edge, a design move aimed at preserving solar access and reducing perceived bulk. This massing strategy also seeks to improve residential amenity by focusing scale toward the quieter northern interface, away from Parramatta Road’s noise and pollution.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="347f2f8f-5d36-4388-b40a-2e77380b9c19" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.02%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=xvyUE2ujT1lzivXTo.mHBJFF4SmfgLtz" />

Architecture AND has worked with Ceerose on previous Inner West projects, and cites a deep familiarity with the local character. Their design draws heavily on context, heritage, and sunlight access considerations, and engages with the Inner West Council’s “Our Fairer Future” strategic planning framework.

The site spans 2,712 sqm and is located near key intersections with Catherine Street, Hay Street, and Redmond Street. It adjoins a public carpark to the north and is within walking distance of Stanmore and Petersham stations. It is also flagged in state and local planning strategies, including the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy, as a suitable candidate for increased density.

Ceerose recently completed The Alex Collective on McEvoy Street in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay.

The Parramatta Road corridor is coming to life with the proposed rezoning which is serviced by a significant number of bus, light rail and train routes.

Deicorp is progressing with its $1.8 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kings-bay-village-five-dock-53-75-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">Kings Bay Village</a> precinct on Parramatta Road in Five Dock, as is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/toga-to-push-on-with-five-dock-mixed-use-masterplan">TOGA further down the street</a>. Those two projects alone will bring nearly 2,000 new homes to Parramatta Road.

First look: Ceerose plots mixed-use Leichhardt development on Parramatta Road

North Sydney's landmark 'SBS Building' on Alfred Street is set to be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use residential tower in the booming North Sydney.

Commercial property group FiveX is behind the plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/275-alfred-street-north-north-sydney-nsw-2060">39-storey tower</a>, the latest project to advance under the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

They are proposing 184 apartments above retail spaces, which will replace the existing 20-storey commercial building. FiveX was set up more than five decades ago by Joshua and Marko Berger. It is currently led by Joshua's son Lesli.&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower at 275 Alfred Street, North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2efa0980-53fa-4cca-9f9e-9c3c845d4746" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29%20%281%29_0.png?VersionId=y_YyPMq3NQLfYRs84pP4os9UgWiMLp75" />

According to the Architectural Design Report by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">FJC Studio</a>, the slender tower form has been deliberately designed to respect the site's transitional setting at the southern gateway to the North Sydney CBD, where high-rise towers give way to lower-scale residential precincts.

"The slender tower form and articulated podium establish a respectful relationship with nearby heritage and low rise buildings, including the Whaling Road Heritage Conservation Area,” the architecture firm noted, adding that the tower “completes a missing link in the urban fabric” while enhancing the Alfred Street streetscape.

The proposed building will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with 15 percent of the gross residential floor area allocated as affordable housing. There is an agreement already in place that those apartments will be managed by Evolve Housing.

The project aligns with broader state housing objectives, including the National Housing Accord target of delivering 1.2 million new homes by 2029. The Scoping Report filed with the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) suggests the site "presents no impediments to rapid delivery,” with construction able to commence within 12 months of receiving consent.

North Sydney has been one of the most popular suburbs in Sydney for new and off the plan apartment development, but hasn't had the supply to keep up with demand, until recently.

AURA by Aqualand was, for a long time, the only off the plan apartment building on the market. That completed last year, and has sold the majority of its 386 luxury apartments. Recently ALAND launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> on the same street, selling over $100 million within just a few hours of its launch, while developer CASA also launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-mclaren-north-sydney-45-mclaren-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The McLaren</a>&nbsp;in the same precinct.

First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower in booming North Sydney

Trustbond

<html><body>
SPONSORED POST
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/05/Trustbond%20logo1%20small.png" alt="">
 
Younger people face discrimination based on their age - that is, they're worried their rental applications won't be accepted, and that their landlords won't trust them because of their limited rental history.
Landlords can be reluctant to leave their property with younger people, because these young tenants cannot prove they have successfully rented before.
A new start-up called <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>, is changing this dynamic by allowing tenants to share their online reputations to prove their trustworthiness. Trustbond measures trustworthiness using online data including networks, ratings and reviews from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Airbnb, eBay and Uber to determine a tenant’s TrustScore.      
“Online reputation is the loyal handshake of today. A new kind of trust, based on the principles of old. Every time we connect online with someone to shop, sell, ride share, house share and interact within an online community we are earning trust and building reputation. We are showing our character and the type of people we are. This reputation can be used to prove trust in new contexts like renting,” Trustbond Country Manager, Will Soutar, said.
Based on focus groups conducted by George Patterson Y&amp;R, in May 2017:
-       70% of participants said  "I would trust somebody based on their digital reputation."
-       90% of participants said "I believe my digital reputation is an accurate reflection of who I actually am." 
Trustbond enables tenants to harness their digital reputation to help rent a home. Tenants can easily build a free online reputation profile that can be easily shared with agents and landlords to build trust. Trustworthy tenants can replace the cash bond with a Trustbond for a small premium.TRUSTBOND
For more information, watch the video below or go to <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WlzfGI_7cJE?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" width="450" height="315"></iframe>
</body></html>

spost-fCfKtoCdFu

How to trust the young first time renters? 

<html><body>
SPONSORED POST
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/05/Trustbond%20logo1%20small.png" alt="">                           
A world-first technology will make renting more accessible to trustworthy Australians and save them thousands of dollars in the process.
Fintech company Traity has partnered with Australia’s leading landlord insurance specialist Terri Scheer Insurance to this month launch <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>. Trustbond lets tenants avoid paying a traditional bond and instead pay a premium, which is a proportion of the rent paid for the term of the lease.
Instead of paying what can often be thousands of dollars up front renters instead would pay as little as hundreds. A renter paying a $2000 bond would instead pay a one off fee of $250. It covers the same breaches of a tenancy agreement including unpaid rent, damage, broken leases and associated costs.
Trustbond uses blockchain to measure the potential trustworthiness of a renter using data from social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Airbnb, eBay and Uber to determine a tenant's TrustScore. 
“In addition to the financial incentives, Trustbond is a better way for tenants to show who they really are. Tenants can use their online accounts to show they are trustworthy. It’s a way to build stronger relationships between tenants, landlords and property managers based on trust,” Traity Country Manager, Will Soutar, said. 
There are also key incentives for landlords to choose tenants who are eligible for Trustbond.      
“Trustbond is based on the premise that only tenants with a high TrustScore are eligible,” said Terri Scheer Insurance Executive Manager, Ms Carolyn Parrella.
“Landlords who use Trustbond can save time with automatic verification and screening, fill their properties faster by appealing to a broader pool of tenants and make better decisions for tenant selection.”                                                        
“Trustbond also gives landlords and property managers the ability to rate and review tenants. This encourages tenants to be responsible and motivates them to take care of their landlord’s property, in order to keep their TrustScore high.”
For more information, watch the video below or go to <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WlzfGI_7cJE?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" width="450" height="315"></iframe>
</body></html>

World-first digital technology to end cash rental bonds                         

<html><body>
With renting increasingly the new normal for many, an innovative fintech company has come up with a way to reduce the pesky rental bond payment.
The product, called Trustbond and created by the startup Traity, lets tenants avoid paying a traditional bond and instead pay a premium, which is a proportion of the rent paid for the term of the lease.
The innovative fintech company has partnered with landlord insurance specialist Terri Scheer Insurance to launch Trustbond.
Trustbond provides security to landlord without freezing the savings of tenants in a rental bond using world-first technology that "will ensure trustworthy Australians save thousands of dollars."
A traditional bond is a large sum that is tied up for the duration of the lease while Trustbond will allows tenant to pay a relatively small fee upfront to cover the protection their landlord required.
The Trustbond system will also allow estate agents and landlords to determine a person’s suitability as a tenant while providing landlords with the same level of protection as a traditional cash bond.
Trustbond is being launched initially in South Australia and it is expected will roll out to other states in the coming months. In NSW around 80,000 residential rental bonds, totalling $1.31 billion are held by the NSW Rental Bond Board.
The new product is marketed as a five step process:
<ul>
<li>Go to <a href="https://www.trustbond.com" target="_blank">www.trustbond.com</a>
</li>
<li>Prove you are a trustworthy tenant by building your reputation profile</li>
<li>Replace the cash bond with a Trustbond</li>
<li>Share the Trustbond with your real estate agent or landlord for their agreement</li>
<li>Keep your cash in your pocket for when you need it most</li>
</ul>
Trustbond measures trustworthiness using online data including networks, ratings and reviews from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Airbnb, eBay and Uber to determine a tenant’s TrustScore.
Once eligibility has been established, the tenant pays an upfront fee that is a percentage of what a conventional rental bond would cost.
As a traditional cash bond might require a tenant to pay $2000, with Trustbond, the tenant might pay around $250 that still covers their landlord for the $2000, freeing up $1750 for the tenant.
The most recent census data revealed the trend towards renting as Australians renting increased from 29.6 to 30.9 per cent in 2016.
The inspiration for Trustbond came from the Traity CEO, Juan Cartagena's own experience of renting property.
As a new resident of the United States with no local rental or employment history, landlords were requesting rental cash bonds of up to $14,000.
He was untrusted as a foreigner, and his landlords requested very expensive bonds as they did not have enough information to trust him.
“Trustbond recognises a person’s digital profile as an asset, putting money back in tenants’ pockets to spend on the things that matter to them,” Traity executive Will Soutar, said.
“It allows people who may have an unconventional working life, such as freelancing, or who have no rental history, greater access to the property rental market.
“In addition to the financial incentives, Trustbond is a better way for tenants to show who they really are.
“It’s a way to build stronger relationships between tenants, landlords and property managers based on trust.”
Terri Scheer Insurance executive manager, Ms Carolyn Parrella, said there were key incentives for landlords to choose tenants who are eligible for Trustbond.
“Trustbond is based on the premise that good online citizens will also be good tenants. Only tenants with a high TrustScore are eligible,” Ms Parrella said.
“Trustbond gives landlords and property managers the ability to rate and review tenants.
“This encourages tenants to be responsible and motivates them to take care of their landlord’s property, in order to keep their TrustScore high.
“Landlords who use Trustbond can save time with automatic verification and screening, fill their properties faster by appealing to a broader pool of tenants and make better decisions for tenant selection.
“These benefits can be achieved with the same level of protection as a conventional cash bond.
“Trustbond covers the same breaches of a tenancy agreement including unpaid rent, damage, broken leases and associated costs, without the need to go to a tribunal.
“We want to take the stress out of investing for landlords, support tenants to feel trusted and remove barriers to entry for renting,” Ms Parrella said.
Visit <a href="https://www.trustbond.com" target="_blank">www.trustbond.com </a>to check your TrustScore and Trustbond eligibility.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WlzfGI_7cJE?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" width="450" height="315"></iframe>
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Costly rental bond outlay foregone in fintech Trustbond revolution 

<html><body>
SPONSORED POST
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/05/Trustbond%20logo1%20small.png" alt="">
 
According to figures from the NSW Rental Bond Board for 2015 to 2016, it held nearly 80,000 residential rental bonds, totalling $1.31 billion.
A new startup has launched in Australia and is positioned to change the way we have always managed house rental bonds.
“Cash rental bonds are a medieval form of protection. They are one of the most inefficient forms of insurance, because tenants are forced to pay for everything that could go wrong up-front. Tenants freeze up to 6 weeks of rent in a cash bond and this causes great financial stress and also limits access to homes and opportunity,” said Traity Country Manager, Will Soutar.
“<a href="https://trustbond.com.au" target="_blank">Trustbond</a> is a surety bond that protects the landlord for the same amount as the traditional bond, but only costs a fraction to tenants as a relatively small fee. No loans, no interest. Just an efficient form of protection.” 
In the same way that Uber enables people who don't own a car to get the service of “Access to private transportation, any time, anywhere”, Trustbond enables landlords to get the full protection of a bond without blocking the cash-flow of tenants. It is a win-win.
The Company started operations in Australia in August and the surety bond is underwritten by AAI Limited, the insurer behind Terri Scheer, the renowned landlord protection insurance Company. They have launched in South Australia, and will be moving to other Australian states soon.
For more information, watch the video below or go to <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WlzfGI_7cJE?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" width="450" height="315"></iframe>
</body></html>

Is this the Uber of apartment and house rental bonds?

<html><body>
SPONSORED POST
 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/05/Trustbond%20logo1%20small.png" alt="">
 
While some cities in the country have a buoyant rental market, like Sydney, other cities like Brisbane and Adelaide are suffering, due to the high availability of rental properties and limited demand. 
Your conditions:
Typically, your only lever when you negotiate the conditions of your property is the price. Your tenant wants low, you want high, and it’s a win-lose situation for both. However, there are other things you can offer to make the property more appealing to tenants without touching the price and losing money. 
A new startup called <a href="https://trustbond.com.au" target="_blank">Trustbond</a> is enabling tenants to replace the rental bond with a surety bond that gives landlords protection without needing to freeze cash. This allows landlords to significantly reduce the outlay for tenants.
It is attractive to tenants because it gives them more cash-flow on day-one and landlords still get the same exact protection.
Between 2 properties of similar characteristics, one offering Trustbond and other one not offering it, which property do you think the tenant will take?
Your reputation:
The tenancy process has always been asymmetric in nature. The landlord requests reputational information from the tenant until they are satisfied. However, in a slow market, tenants have choices available to them. How can you differentiate?
There are as many tenant horror stories, as there are landlord horror stories, so what about showing your own reputation to the tenant? Proving that you are a good landlord and will take care of your tenant can go a long way. You can use platforms like Trustbond where you can share landlord reviews to show you are a trustworthy landlord on your own ad. Advertise yourself!
For more information, watch the video below or go to <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WlzfGI_7cJE?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" width="450" height="315"></iframe>
</body></html>

Trustbond

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Trustbond

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.