One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

&nbsp;

FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments

Albury

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 14">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The property market in Albury-Wodonga and surrounding region on both sides of the border appears to be holding quite well, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm suggest in locations across the nation, the downtime delivered by isolation has spurned on owners looking to improve their assets through maintenance and upgrade. This month’s HTW report highlights where renovations are on the rise and the price points and outcomes those markets can expect.
"The cases of COVID-19 have been very, very low and the community has been adhering to all pandemic measures.
"Most agents are reporting a hold and wait type behaviour across the board, which resulted in significantly reduced sales activity for April and May, with an uptick in this third week of May as restrictions ease and the reopening of schools is now approaching for both New South Wales and Victoria," the valuation firm said. 
"With the number of final inspections on new homes and construction reports on proposed new dwellings increasing, we will continue to observe and analyse the likely effects on the tourism industry and the investor market in our region." 
</div>
<div class="column">
If the carpark at Bunnings is any indication, home improvement has been front of mind for many with the expected result surely being property of all types receiving TLC, running second only to the amount of extra dog walking being witnessed across the country.
"Pre-pandemic vendors making the extra effort in property presentation were certainly reaping the rewards, so post-pandemic we might be set for a very good looking property offering in spring with gardens spruced, DIY updates of bathrooms and painting refreshes creating the longest lines at home improvement centres," the valuation firm said. 
Overall the renovation market in our area is quite targeted, due to property owners’ mobility in the market created by our housing affordability, the report noted. 
The risk of over-capitalising property is real if the price point and location are not spot on.
The house flippers are mostly purchasers with skill sets to renovate on a budget and this has been very evident in North Albury reaching further north now to Lavington and also parts of south Albury.
A renovated three bedroom unit in Lavington has recently been sold for $226,000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-nsw-lavington-132385398" target="_blank">2/585 Heathwood Avenue </a>home (pictured below) comes with open plan living, contemporary kitchen and three bedrooms.
The unit is located in a well-maintained complex of only two. 
<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/2020/6/15/lavington.jpg" alt="">
The report suggests the other active market segment for renovations are high end additions and renovations of character dwellings in central, small pockets of North Albury and all of old East Albury.
A three bedroom house located in Albury's iconic Jones Street is currently on the market with a price guide of $649,000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-albury-133673950" target="_blank">722 Jones Street home </a>(pictured below) comes with renovated bathroom, update kitchen, and open plan dining and lounge. 
It also features enclosed sunroom, triple length single garage and undercover carport. 
<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/2020/6/15/albury%201.jpg" alt="">
With only a select few master builders available, waiting times for these projects can be expected, up to two years for some builders, so substantial planning and patience is required in these good locations.
Renovation is not for the faint-hearted and the decision to renovate may sit below upgrading to a newer home, moving to a better location, building from scratch or demolishing and rebuilding.
The rewards are there for the very astute home owner or investor, however regional cities do not enjoy the same capital growth as the metropolitan property markets, so often a smart update rather than a full renovation can assist owners to enjoy some uplift to take the next property step or secure a better tenancy.
<div class="page" title="Page 15">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
"On inspection, we often hear the lamentation that home improvement takes money and time and striking that balance can be challenging.
"Hopefully over the past couple of months property owners have had the time and been able to save some money by taking on projects themselves or calling in the professionals," the valuation firm said. 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Smart update or full renovation in Albury-Wodonga? HTW residential 

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 11">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The Albury-Wodonga region boasts around 110,000 people, enjoying one of the most vibrant cross-state regions combining all the Murray River has to offer and beyond north and south of the New South Wales and Victorian borders, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
<div>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said.</div>
"The drivers of the property market are affordability, access to finance, lifestyle, tourism and the buoyancy or otherwise of the Melbourne property market. Different purchasers behave and benefit accordingly," the valuation firm said. 
<div class="page" title="Page 12">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
First home owners have options due to a good supply of existing entry level stock and competitive house and land packages from a range of builders in new suburbs on both sides of the border. 
Similarly the upgrading or relocating family in the region can buy existing stock, build or in many cases buy to occupy and also purchase an investment property, often positively geared, the report noted. 
As the regional property market has proven to be a long game, the downsizers, whether local or relocating, receive the benefit of long term growth and a good choice of lower maintenance homes with room for the van or golf buggy.
Over the past few years, both Albury City Council and Wodonga City Council have undertaken large scale redevelopment projects aimed at revitalising city centres and involving the community in local events, the idea being that the cross city vibe should be complementary rather than us and them.
The report notes Wodonga is certainly gaining ground with strong sales activity and good growth as locals and visitors alike tap into the north-east offering. 
"The local outlook is much the same as the attitude of the region, positive, proactive, productive and steadily more diverse. It is all here bar the beach and people tend to focus on the things they can change, which from a property perspective is the ability to move within the market and invest further in the market.
"No one external big picture factor dominates as low volatility goes hand in hand with stable markets, however as we reach submission deadline, the effects of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic may reach and influence all drivers of all markets," the valuation firm said. 
<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/2020/5/4/albury%201.jpg" alt="">
A Californian bungalow inspired townhouse in Albury has recently been sold for $675,000.
The three bedroom, two bathroom house is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-townhouse-nsw-albury-132951854" target="_blank">692 Jones Street </a>(pictured above). 
It features open plan living, dining and kitchen, oak timber flooring and ample storage. 
<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/2020/5/4/albury%202.jpg" alt="">
A current listing is a 1940s family home located just moments from the Albury CBD.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-albury-133379730" target="_blank">717 Jones Street</a> home (pictured above) has been offered for sale with a price guide of $895,000 - $915,000.
Set on a 1,076sqm allotment, it comprise four bedrooms, formal lounge, renovated kitchen, and separate dining room. 
</div>
<div class="column">
Note regards COVID-19
<div>
This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks. 
</div>
<div>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

COVID-19 pandemic may influence all drivers of Albury property market: HTW residential 

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 13">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Albury-Wodonga has started the year with a semi circle of serious bushfires from north, north-east and south on both sides of the border, with the north-east of Victoria very much in the area and very much affected, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The report suggests the effects of this disaster are significant, however many townships were spared. Regardless, it will be a long bushfire season and it will take its toll on the entire region.
Shorter term recovery efforts will commence and in the longer term the full extent will be evident.
</div>
<div class="column">
"The underlying challenges will also exist for our tourist towns that were evacuated several times (Bright, Corryong, King Valley) and drove visitors away and no doubt local businesses will feel this along with farmers who have suffered loss of stock, infrastructure and income," the valuation firm said. 
"No one can predict the future but Australian communities working together in the face of disaster is a sure bet and like many other regions affected, the Albury-Wodonga region will display resilience and strength in 2020," they added. 
 This will likely mean that property markets across the region have a subdued start with less stock available and possibly many participants preoccupied by the effects of the bushfires personally, locally or regionally.
The upshot remains that the region offers many property options for home owners and investors alike. 
Overall, sales activity in 2019 was lower than 2018 and this trend may continue in 2020, the report noted. 
Median property prices across the region have held or increased by around four to five percent. The areas to watch in 2020 are Myrtleford, Wangaratta, Corowa and Mount Beauty/Tawonga/ Tawonga South and Benalla.
A Corowa three bedroom house was sold for 180,000 in January.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-corowa-132709378" target="_blank">110 Redlands Roads</a> (pictured below), the renovated house comprises three bedrooms, open plan living and big back yard.
It was last sold for $166,000 in 2018. 
<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/2020/2/17/corowa%20.jpg" alt="">
In Albury-Wodonga, value remains in North Albury, West Albury and Thurgoona.
A recent sale in Thurgoona was a four bedroom, two bathroom house situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-thurgoona-132801634" target="_blank">40 Hinchinbrook Court </a>(pictured below). 
The north-facing home has been sold for $775,000 in January.
The house features open plan living, study, rumpus room, entertainer's kitchen, and remote-control double garage. 
It last sold for $751,000 in 2018. 
<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/2020/2/17/thurgoona.jpg" alt="">
"We are yet to have a smoke free day in the region this year. Let’s hope that when the smoke finally clears, we all appreciate how fortunate we are to have homes in such a terrific part of the country," the valuation firm concluded. 
 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Albury-Wodonga markets have a subdued start in 2020 due to bushfires: HTW residential 

<html><body>
The Albury prestige property market offers discerning purchasers a choice of location, size, quality and an array of ancillary improvements, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The report notes thus far in 2019 there have been 27 dwelling sales in the $700,000 to $1.4 million range, with only four over $1 million.
"Despite the very strong central Albury market dominated by character dwellings, the best address has proven to be modern Chamberlain Close, with three sales over the past two years all between $1.1 and $1.2 million," the valuation firm said. 
The most recent transaction was off market in April when 15 Chamberlain Close sold for $1.2 million.
This is a modern well-appointed circa 2012 home with a pool on a 744 square metre level block within walking distance of the CBD.
This segment of the market is stable and thinly traded due to the sought after location and the very limited stock of new or modern homes in a central location.
"Rest assured that if you have a million dollars to spend in Albury, there won’t be anything to spend once you move in," the valuation firm said.
Just up the hill from the central flats, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-albury-129626926" target="_blank">699 Uralla Place, Albury </a>(pictured below) sold for $1.08 million in January.
The property is a highly renovated circa 1965 part two level, four-bedroom, three-bathroom, four-car-garage with a pool on a moderately sloping 930 square metre block, proving the market will pay for someone else to do the renovation work.
"The aerial images highlight that at the top end of town, size and amenities matter, but if you are feeling a bit claustrophobic from all house no yard, the prestige residential lifestyle property might tick all the boxes," the valuation firm said. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/11/18/699%20uralla%20pl.jpg" alt="">
"In February, 4 Hawksview Road, Wirlinga (pictured below) sold for $1.1 million, so is comparable to our in town examples price wise," the valuation firm continued. 
Set on 8,098 square metres, there isn’t room for horses however the property comprises the original 1930 cottage in addition to a very well appointed colonial style four-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car brick home with wrap around verandahs, pool, tennis court and large workshop.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/11/18/4%20hawksview%20rd%20.jpg" alt="" style="font-size: 12.16px;">
Albury and only one kilometre from Lake Hume.
"The prestige rural lifestyle market segment again is thinly traded, highly sought after and has a small pool of potential purchasers," the valuation firm stated. 
"To conclude our Albury wish list with the biggest and the best, in March,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-table+top-129258174" target="_blank"> 26 Old Sydney Road, Table Top</a> (pictured below) was the highest sale at $1.35 million."
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/11/18/26%20old%20sydney%20rd.jpg" alt="">
Everything about this property was top notch for the area.
A circa 2005, five-bedroom, two-bathroom, three- car residence (324 square metres of living) set on established manicured gardens with panoramic countryside views on 3.15 hectares featuring pool and large workshop only 16 kilometres from town with Lake Hume just down the road.
"There are currently three listings in Albury in the $1 million price bracket. Interestingly, these include a character dwelling in town, a character dwelling on large block in Thurgoona and a rural lifestyle in Table Top, so take your pick, Albury offers the lot," the valuation firm concluded. 
</body></html>

Albury prestige rural lifestyle market segment is thinly traded: HTW residential 

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Manenti Quinlan &amp; Associates, in conjunction with John Hannigan Real Estate Services, have listed the renowned, Ettamogah Pub, Albury.
The Australian icon is located off the Hume Highway, just 16 kilometres north of Albury on a 4.81ha site.
The original creator of the Ettamogah Pub was Ken Maynard who started drawing images of the Ettamogah Pub in 1959. 
It was made famous through his regular cartoons in The Australasian Post. The Ettamogah Mob cartoons, an iconic series of weekly cartoons, were published in the national magazine for nearly 50 years.
<div class="page" title="Page 2">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
As a boy Ken would cycle around a water hole called Ettamogah, an Aboriginal word meaning 'place of good drink'. This struck Ken as an ideal name for a pub and hence the infamous Ettamogah cartoons were born.
The actual pub dates back to 1987 when built by Albury businessman Lindsay Cooper.
Albury Ettamogah was used as the base to bring the Ettamogah brand into a themed restaurant and pub chain across Australia. 
Continual development has turned the Albury Ettamogah into a well- known tourist destination.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/9/albury%202.jpg" alt="">
In addition to hotel trade, the Ettamogah site offers a village with five retail shops, a reception centre, and large dining barn with structures close to completion. Lease negotiations are currently underway with a hairdresser and supermarket operator.
Leonard Bongiovanni of Manenti Quinlan and Associates said it best suited a hands-on operator.
The property has a mid-$3 million price guide with expressions of interest closing June 7.
It has been listed by Leigh O’Brien, who now has projects overseas, with the pub currently operating under management.
The sale includes Ettamogah memorabilia and a 25-year licensing agreement for the Ettamogah Pub name, with a further 25-year option, operating under a royalties scheme.
O’Brien previously held other Ettamogah pubs including one at Kellyville Ridge, in Sydney’s north west, now owned by Woolworths’ ALH, to which he licenses the Ettamogah name.
 
</div>
</div>
</div>
 
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

The original Ettamogah Pub at Albury hits the market

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 34">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
First home buyers are significantly active in Albury-Wodonga, according to the valuation firm, Herron Todd White.
Its first home owners appear to be enticed by their first home being a new home and often this is achievable if they have been living at home or renting affordably whilst saving a deposit. 
However, recent increases in vacant land prices may have given rise to first home owners reconsidering existing dwellings as their starting point, HTW noted.
<div class="page" title="Page 34">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
It noted the detached dwelling sub $200,000 market diminish significantly, in most part due to investors rather than home owners.
"First home owners appear reluctant to buy the basic starter house despite a good supply of dwellings available sub $300,000. 
"Upgraders seem to be on the move with better prices being achieved for basic housing stock and they are paying more as a result for the next home or trying to keep the first home as well."
</div>
<div class="column">
First home owners have options in Albury-Wodonga and a budget of between $280,000 to $350,000 will secure a detached dwelling in a new housing estate or sub $300,000 budget gives options in the existing dwelling market.
A three-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-nsw-albury-126207782" target="_blank">1/300 Norfolk Street</a> (above) in Albury has just sold for $285,000 through Steam Nicholls.
A four-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-albury-126171606" target="_blank">427 Schubach Street</a> in Albury was snapped up for $315,000. The estate agent was Tom Sanderson of Wodonga Real Estate.
<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/2017/10/24/Albury2.jpg" alt="">
The upgraders’ budget is around $350,000 to $450,000 depending on the property they are jumping up from and can be spread evenly between new and existing stock.
 The forever home owner has the largest budget range of between $500,000 to $800,000 which may be a build or fully renovated dwelling. 
The downsizer’s budget may also be dependant on where they have divested and is usually between $400,000 and $600,000 - low maintenance, central, all done or ready to tackle major renovation in prime locations with cash to spare. 
HTW noted the last two categories are experiencing competition from many cashed up ex-Sydney or Melbourne relocators and the lower end of market is facing competition from out of town investors. 
Around Albury-Wodonga 85% of dwellings are detached, with the remainder semi-detached with very few units. 
The new housing stock is predominantly 3- to 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom detached dwelling on varying allotment sizes.
There have been some new developments completed with small allotments with a mix of homeowners and renters occupying these dwellings.
HTW noted there was also a recent spike in duplex construction usually with configuration of 3-bedrooms and 1- or 2-bedrooms, although the majority were marketed and sold to the investor market.
"Overall, probably due to the expectation of living in the country, a detached dwelling is preferable, in plentiful supply and still top of mind for most home buyers." 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Albury-Wodonga's affordability attracts first home buyers 

<html><body>
The former federal health minister Sussan Ley has upgraded from North Albury to West Albury.
The Member for Farrer who fought doggedly to hold on to her cabinet portfolio in January has recently settled into her new home with her Gold Coast businessman partner Graham Johnston.
The charming residence, set in her enormous southwest NSW electorate of Farrer, cost $850,000.
It was settled within just 12 days of signing the paperwork. The price well above the $362,000 median house price for the suburb, according to CoreLogic.  
Set on 2100 sqm, her new family home was marketed by Chapman Gould Estate Agents as "epitomising period elegance and beauty while incorporating contemporary luxury and style."
It comes with four bedrooms plus office not far from the Botanic Gardens, the Murray River and the Albury CBD.
Ley was caught up in a summer scandal when details emerged of her so-called off-the-cuff 2015 purchase Main Beach, Gold Coast apartment on Johnston’s Gold Coast and her associated travel expenses.
Ley has now reportedly rented out her former Albury residence as has Johnston done so with his.
Ley, now on a backbench salary, has signalled she will probably sell her old house to fund her new residential mortgage with the local lenders, Hume Bank. 
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.
</body></html>

firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

Sussan Ley upgrades Albury homes

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 35">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The regional city of Albury in New South Wales was a rising market for houses while for units, it was at the start of recovery, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White's property clock for both April/May. 
The clock is a simple broad brush means of suggesting where property prices are and the direction they are headed.
Over the past few years there has been an increasing trend for people to purchase land on the outer edge of the two cities in the suburbs of Thurgoona, Glenroy, Killara and Baranduda and construct a new dwelling.
The outer edges of the two cities are generally a maximum of 10 kilometres from their respective CBD’s and are therefore not far to commute.
We are also seeing an increase in demand for vacant rural lifestyle and general residential allotments and in the towns surrounding Albury/Wodonga, such as Tangambalanga, Kiewa, Ebden, Howlong, Jindera and Ettamogah, as once again people are preferring to build a new home rather purchase one that may require renovating.
The twin cities have no real areas to avoid with the exception of some government housing areas, although demand for these areas is reflected in their relative low value overall compared to other parts of the twin cities.
We see an ongoing trend for the outer markets to continue to perform and grow because of opportunities of development with large tracts of englobo residential land.
There has however been a recent increase in prices being achieved for vacant land and as such we see these markets as a long-term proposition. 
Property Observer looked up some recent sales in Albury's fringe locations such as Thurgoona and Baranduda on www.realestate.com.au. 
1. The median price of a house in Thurgoona was $340,000 while for units, it was $215,000, according to CoreLogic RP Data. A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-thurgoona-120707105" target="_blank">4 Charolais Court Thurgoona NSW 2640</a> fetched $330,500.
<img src="/images/2016/05/25/700_main1.jpg" alt="">
 
2. The median house price in Baranduda was $335,000, according to CoreLogic RP Data. No data was available for units. A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-baranduda-122000690" target="_blank">10 Paterson Avenue Baranduda Vic 3691</a> traded for $300,000.
<img src="/images/2016/05/25/main-1.jpg" alt="" width="672" height="504">
 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Albury's fringes show long-term potential: HTW

<html><body>
Melbourne-based developer Hudson Conway has appointed CBRE to sell its Somerset Rise project in NSW's Albury, with offers expected to exceed $10 million. 
The developer wants to exit the project to focus on those closer to its base in Melbourne.
Spanning nearly 42 hectares, the project has already delivered 76 houses across stages one, two and three.
The land holding has been developed over the past few years into a development for house and land buyers, underpinned by its location just minutes from Albury Airport and reputed educational facilities nearby.  
"There are 51 lots ready to be sold or developed as well as 288 undeveloped lots in future stages. We are selling the project as a whole, with the buyer to benefit from the work completed by the vendors to date," said Wizel. 
Wizel expects offers from a range of local developers, from South Australia, Victoria and greater New South Wales.
The average block in Somerset Rise has sold for around $132,500 in the past 18 months.
</body></html>

Hudson Conway to sell remainder of Somerset Rise land holding in Albury

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 12">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<div class="page" title="Page 12">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Investor activity from out-of-towners chasing returns underpins the residential property market in the Albury/Wodonga region according to Herron Todd White's February Month in Review.
HTW reported good back-to-back ski seasons, strong events and promotional programs for the region, the area’s move towards the gourmet food and wine industry and proximity to Melbourne all strong factors, with suburbs Bright, Porepunkah and Beechworth worth keeping an eye on.
"In addition Wodonga and Thurgoona are also seeing some growth with new development… the Wodonga CBD is currently undergoing a multimillion dollar redevelopment since the railway diversion and is currently seen as one of the fastest growing Victorian regional towns.
"Thurgoona is also rapidly developing into a large suburb with more land being subdivided and infrastructure continuing to be improved. 
"Affordable residential housing is still available in the surrounding towns of Howlong, Jindera, Holbrook and Tallangatta. They are an easy commute to Albury and provide a relatively inexpensive option, particularly in the $200,000 to $300,000 range. 
"In Albury, the suburbs of Lavington, Springdale Heights and Hamilton Valley continue to remain good value along with parts of North Albury and some of the older established areas of Thurgoona."
 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Albury

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Albury

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News