Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

Joel Robinson

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Local Little Bay residents, along with buyers from premium postcodes across Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs, have dominated purchases in developer-builder Urban Property Group’s first Eastern Suburbs apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a>.

The $250 million coastal project, one of the first new developments in the area in several years, has proven particularly popular with downsizers, especially those from Coogee and Bondi. One Double Bay downsizer paid $4.7 million for a four-bedroom penthouse, setting a new local apartment price record in the process.

Buyers have been attracted to the combination of coastal tranquillity, premium design and amenity-rich neighbourhood living. The walkable village setting, along with proximity to three of Sydney’s leading golf courses, New South Wales Golf Club, St Michael’s Golf Club and The Coast Golf Club, has also been a key drawcard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352689]

Built across two low-rise buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hill-thalis-architecture-urban-projects-pty-ltd">Hill Thalis</a> and set along a lush, landscaped green spine, designed by leading landscape architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, ESTE Little Bay offers a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences with interiors by Richards Stanisich.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> Sales Director, Tom McIvor said the response to ESTE has been "nothing short of extraordinary."

“Buyers have been quick to recognise ESTE as a rare opportunity to invest in a coastal sanctuary that offers both seclusion and connectivity to the heart of Sydney,” McIvor said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352687]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">SRM Residential</a> Senior Director, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">Clayton Ross</a> said the local market has responded incredibly well, driven by ESTE’s exceptional location and the rarity it offers.

“We’ve seen strong interest from a variety of buyer groups, all of whom are drawn to the exclusivity and quality of the build and construction by the 4.5-star iCIRT-rated builder / developer, Urban Property Group. There’s truly nothing else like it along Sydney’s coastline.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352690]

The project also includes robust buyer protections, including Resilience Insurance’s Latent Defects Insurance, providing 10 years of structural cover, and an independent iCIRT-rating of the developer.

“The iCIRT-rating adds another layer of confidence,” Ross added. “Buyers see it as a safeguard for their investment and their lifestyle.” A highlight of ESTE’s offering is its exclusive wellness amenities, including a heated rooftop infinity pool and outdoor heated spa, a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness centre, and a sauna.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a> is topped out and is on track to complete towards the end of 2026, with residents moving in before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112343]

Eastern Suburbs buyers snap up ESTE Little Bay apartments

Apartment Development

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Victoria's planning minister Richard Wynne’s decision to shave two stories off a proposed 12-storey apartment tower project by BRW Rich Lister Tim Gurner in Melbourne's inner north has met with mixed reactions, even though the minister justified his stance.
The decision, made just days before a planning tribunal was to consider the project, was the talk of the room at a major Property Council of Australia address by Wynne on Wednesday, reported Fairfax Media.
Wynne this week imposed a height control of a maximum of 10 storeys, or 30 metres, on the North Fitzroy site where Gurner had already amended his original plan for a 16-storey tower with 470 apartments.
To a question from Property Council of Australia executive director (Victoria) Sally Capp on the move, Wynne said he felt justified by the local council’s initial planning for the site more than 10 years ago but which it failed to include into its planning rules.
The Yarra Council did not finishing structure planning for the site that was begun in 2008 but never submitted to the state planning department.
"There were these holes in the scheme. It was clear to me that I was not prepared to intervene unless the council had done the strategic work that would justify an intervention," Wynne said.
"The council officers' report clearly established the 10-level height was complementary to the height the council had agreed some years before for the Gas and Fuel site that is directly opposite.
"I thought that a 10-level development was reasonable."
Gurner has criticised the minister’s decision, calling it a politically motivated move. He said Wynne is under pressure in his inner-city seat of Richmond, where the Greens are gaining ground.
"I do not know of any other cases where a planning minister has got involved in a site-specific issue like this. It is as unheard of as it is not fair," Gurner said.
"Melbourne is in the middle of a housing affordability crisis and actions like this for political reasons are only going to make it worse."
Wynne held his seat by just 1.9 per cent from the Greens at the last state election and his decision could be a move to pacify Fitzroy North residents fighting the proposed apartment tower, reported The Age.
Gurner was cited by The Age as saying he would press on with the project despite Wynne having "intervened to satisfy NIMBY locals who pretend they care about affordable housing”.
Wynne said that residents had "made no secret of their concerns" about the project.
"We've struck a balance that caters for our growing population, while also addressing the views of hundreds of locals who objected to the scale of the original proposal," he said. "Good planning is about balancing the needs of existing residents and future residents."
Resident group Protect Fitzroy North had been campaigning for eight levels, saying 16 levels would have been a huge over-development of the site.
Architect, Koichi Takada initially proposed a cascading 16-storey development of about 550 apartments, covered in greenery inspired by the rice paddies of south-east Asia.  
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Victoria's planning minister defends decision to trim Gurner project

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Paul Broad of Broad Property Research and Advisory said Hamilton's proximity to the river and access to major infrastructure had made it a stand-out performer.
"Whether it is located near an ocean, lake or river, people pay a premium for waterfront property because waterfront land to build upon is scarce," he said.
"Not only is Hamilton a riverside suburb, it has been one of the prime beneficiaries of major infrastructure spending, with all of Brisbane's major arterial routes immediately accessible through the city's network of tunnels.
"The suburb's winning combination of location, amenity and infrastructure is something investors cannot ignore, particularly in the absolute riverfront developments."
"The basic principles of supply and demand dictate that prices go up for any desirable item for which there is a limited supply.
"The old adage that the three secrets to real estate are 'location, location, location' holds true in that being on the water is typically the best location available.
"The high household income at Portside Wharf is mainly due to the fact that 40 percent of Portside Wharf's residents aged over 15 are professionals, compared to just 19 percent across Queensland as a whole.
"This provides a pool of quality tenants who desire, and are willing to pay premium rents for well-positioned property." 
Mr Broad said 2011 Census data put the median weekly household income in Brookfield Residential Properties'  Portside Wharf precinct, which neighbours the new Gallery House apartments, at $2,416 per week, nearlydouble the average median weekly household income of $1,235 per week across Queensland.
<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/2017/02/14/700_couple.jpg" alt="">
Jonathan and Brianna Parsons (above) were among the first to purchase at Gallery House, which will sit on a prime riverfront site in Hamilton. 
Mr Parsons said the backdrop of the Brisbane River and CBD was one of the biggest motivators.
"Our one bedroom apartment will be spacious and we will also love the break-out spaces like the rooftop pool and barbeque area, which will be great for entertaining," he said.
"We decided the apartment was perfect for our self-managed super fund because we can't see ourselves ever wanting to sell something as rare as this.
"We are buying for the long term and over the years we have observed that riverfront apartments are always in high demand and are much more resilient to market fluctuations than non-riverfront locations."
For more information on Gallery House visit the new Sales &amp; Display Centre at Portside Wharf or gallery-house.com.au.
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Riverside location driving Hamilton, Brisbane apartment market

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Billionaire Lindsay Fox has plans to replace his corporate offices on Melbourne's St Kilda Road with a prestige apartment tower.
It is the first residential project for the trucking magnate.
Fox has submitted plans for a 20-storey apartment tower on a prime site overlooking the nearby Fawkner Gardens.
The project will deliver 148 upmarket apartments across 32,000 square metres of space.
Fairfax Media say the development value of the project has been listed as $90 million.
The low-rise building at 493 St Kilda Road was bought in 2007.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Lindsay Fox plans St Kilda Road apartment highrise

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Record apartment prices are being set all over Sydney, the latest in the Sutherland Shire.
It was a sub-penthouse at Cronulla that sold mid-week off the plan for $5.7 million through David Highland at Highland Property.
The 155 sqm apartment in the soon to be developed, Pinnacle on McDonald Street was bought by a local buyer.
It comprises three bedrooms plus media room with a balcony that offers views across the ocean from Jibbon Beach to Boat Harbour.
David Highland says it broke the Sutherland Shire record both in price and sqm rates. 
It topped the Shire's previous record, a $5.51 million off-market sale of a four bedroom penthouse. 
“We’ve had a lot of interest prior to marketing, particularly from local buyers”, he said. 
“The location and finishes are second to none, and the fact that each apartment has its own level with elevator access, offers a unique selling point.” 
The Innovative Architects designed development is made up of six whole floor apartments with direct access to The Esplanade.
Each of the apartments were finished with interiors from EB Interior Design.
Construction completion is due in 2018.
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Record apartment prices hit Sydney's Sutherland Shire

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Crown Resorts and developer Schiavello have appointed Knight Frank to market their planned super-luxury apartment project One Queensbridge in Melbourne.
Planned to be a 'vertical neighbourhood' situated above a six-star, 388-room Crown hotel, One Queensbridge is being touted by Knight Frank as the most prestigious residential offering in Australia.
The apartments at <a href="https://onequeensbridge.com.au/" target="_blank">One Queensbridge</a> have been designed by British architects, Wilkinson Eyre, who have worked on landmark projects including King's Cross Gasholders, Battersea Power Station in London, and Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, among others.
The complex will feature a luxury rooftop bar and dining area with views of Melbourne. One Queensbridge plans to offer a full suite of resort facilities to its residents. 
The project is still awaiting approval from the Council.
Knight Frank's director, Sales &amp; Marketing One Queensbridge, Erin van Tuil will lead the campaign.
“Given the lack of supply of prime and super-prime apartments in Sydney and Melbourne, we are very confident that this development will be embraced by buyers both locally and internationally,” said van Tuil.
Knight Frank's latest research report, the Prime Global Cities Index – Q2 2016, placed Melbourne ahead of Sydney for prime residential, ranking fifth globally.  
Lord Andrew Hay, head of Knight Frank’s Global Residential, said it will place Australia in the global arena for luxury residential property offerings.
"One Queensbridge will be ranked among the world's best, alongside London's One Hyde Park and New York's One57.”
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Knight Frank to market super-luxury One Queensbridge apartment project in Melbourne

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Working professionals and the Gen X and Gen Y market is driving demand for concierge services and hotel style facilities in Melbourne's apartment market according to Lendlease. 
Ben Christie, head of apartments for Lendlease’s Urban Regeneration, business said the resident’s model of customer service was on the rise as buyers begin to prioritise help services when choosing an apartment.  
“Buyers are welcoming the future of apartment living by embracing personalised lobby and concierge services," he said.
"We are now seeing purchasers demand more from their building’s amenities, which they have probably underused in the past." 
Such services include help with move-ins and move-outs, sign for mail on behalf of residents, remember the names of residents’ regular family members and guests, provide personal assistant services such as making dinner reservations, ordering food, reserving tickets, and other housekeeping and maintenance jobs.
One local residential complex with such facilities is Melbourne Quarter’s Club MQ.
It offers residents a hotel-style grand arrival entrance to Club MQ (off Flinders Street) with undercover drop-off and concierge service, secondary pedestrian lobby to the Club MQ and apartments off the precinct neighbourhood park, residents library and lounge, theatrette for 20 people and three internal private dining areas featuring outdoor terraces and BBQ amenity aside from the actual gym and pool facilities.
The gym facilities include a  25m indoor heated pool, custom designed 20+ seater spa (size to be confirmed), separate steam room, sauna facilities and change room amenities located on the pool level facility area, gym and multipurpose yoga/function room overlooking the pool area.
The levies for Club MQ, the wider residential precinct amenity and common areas will be shared by all apartment owners within the residential precinct (MQ East Tower and two remaining residential towers on site) on the completion of the development.
The project will be completed in stages over the next six years with the entire residential precinct expected to reach completion by mid-2022.
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Swimming pool at Lendlease project growing concierge culture converts CBD apartment buyers

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The first residents have started moving into Radius Apartments in Brisbane’s Woolloongabba, with the newly completed development also starting to operate as serviced accommodation.
The mixed-use project by Majella Property Developments at 44 O’Keefe Street comprises 91 apartments with a mix of 35 one-bedroom and 56 two-bedroom units. It is also being operated by Oaks Hotels &amp; Resorts as Oaks Woolloongabba.
Majella chief executive officer Sebastian Monsour said the larger size of the apartments and the overall quality appealed to buyers.
“On average, the apartments are larger than those in other new residential developments selling for similar prices within Brisbane city and fringe suburbs. This has proven very popular with potential buyers as they consider it better value for money,” Monsour said.
The one-bedroom apartments range in size from 79 sqm to 98 sqm, while two-bedroom apartments ranging from 99 sqm to 133 sqm. Apartment pricing ranged from $357,000 to $569,000.
Two commercial tenancies have also sold in the commercial space.
Majella Group founder Professor Frank Monsour said, “Brisbane City Council’s Urban Renewal Brisbane program has ensured that Woolloongabba has undergone unprecedented revitalisation.”
The launch of Oaks Woolloongabba was the tenth Brisbane property for Oaks Hotels &amp; Resorts with a room inventory of more than 1,400 rooms.
Radius was constructed by Queensland’s Tomkins Commercial &amp; Industrial Builders.
<img src="/images/2016/09/19/WOLRooftop.jpg" alt="" width="749" height="499">
The complex is built on Woolloongabba’s highest point at 44 O’Keefe Street and offers views of the city.
Designed by Elizabeth Anderson of Hayes Anderson Lynch Architects, Radius Apartments features a rooftop sky deck with city views, a 20-metre swimming pool, gardens and barbecue facilities.
Majella Property Developments will soon be lodging its development application for the proposed redevelopment of the heritage-listed Broadway Hotel site at Woolloongabba featuring 280 apartments and a three-level commercial and retail podium.
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New apartment project in Brisbane's Woolloongabba welcomes first residents

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Vacancy rate figures are a leading example of how generalised data can be dangerously misleading for real estate consumers.
Research companies like to publish statistics which describe an entire city in a single figure. One might tell us that “Sydney house prices” have risen 8 percent in the past year, but what does that mean for a metropolitan area with over 700 suburbs and five million residents?
The overall vacancy rate for Melbourne is a healthy 2.1 percent, according to SQM Research, but does that make investment in the city generally safe? Behind that generalised figure lie myriad different situations, including some (like inner-city Southbank and suburban Doncaster) where vacancies are in the 5-6 percent range.
The Brisbane metropolitan area provides a sobering case study for this topic. The overall vacancy rate is 2.9 percent, which is within the accepted comfort zone.
But closer examination reveals some worrying information. The city’s generalised vacancy rate has risen from 2.6 percent a year ago to 2.8 percent in June and 2.9 percent in July.
But specific areas show much higher vacancies and it’s not just the inner-city apartment markets. The unit development frenzy has extended to the suburbs and some precincts have alarmingly high vacancy rates now.
The latest figures show the Brisbane CBD has a vacancy rate of 5.3 percent. Surrounding near-city markets including South Brisbane, Woolloongabba, Kangaroo Point and Fortitude Valley all have vacancies in the range from 4.1 to 5.8 percent.
With major projects under construction, many of these rates will get considerably worse before they get better.
But now suburban markets well beyond the inner-city high-rise precincts are joining this disturbing trend.
There is major new construction of units happening in many of the suburbs on Brisbane’s Northside, in the middle ring suburbs where houses have dominated in the past. Thousands of new apartments received council approval in the financial year just ended. 
The suburbs most impacted are Albion, Chermside, Everton Park, Kedron, Gordon Park, Wooloowin and Lutwyche. 
The Albion postcode now has a vacancy rate above 9 percent. The postcode covering Kelvin Grove, where major urban renewal projects have been targeted, has a vacancy rate above 5 percent.
The postcode covering Lutwyche and Windsor is at 4.4 percent, while Herston is 4.8 percent. 
Chermside’s vacancy rate is currently reported as 3.7 percent but is trending upwards and is likely to go much higher as there is widespread new development in this area. 
There was recent publicity for this area, based on a research report that Chermside would become a property hotspot because of projected population growth. This was based on recent residential building approvals. Property marketers weighed in, suggesting this was a good place to buy.
There’s no doubt that the Chermside precinct has many good qualities – well-established residential areas supported by major infrastructure, facilities and jobs nodes. It’s part of a precinct that I wrote about favourably a few years ago, when Brisbane Northside generally was leading price growth in metropolitan Brisbane.
But those days have passed. The momentum has shifted to other parts of the Brisbane market and, in the meantime, developers have dived en masse into the Northside market. 
All those positive qualities– population growth, good transport links, employment growth and great services and amenities – can be overpowered and rendered meaningless by one simple factor: oversupply. 
Brisbane’s overall vacancy rate of 2.9 percent does not alert us to the reality that places like Chermside have much higher vacancies, which are rising steadily and set to become worse.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a>
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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Brisbane unit development frenzy hits the suburbs: Terry Ryder

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The builder and consultancy firm to develop Illoura Coolum, a $35 million oceanfront apartment project in Sunshine Coast, have been announced.
Queensland developer Coolum Terrace Holdings has named RCQ Construction builder for the 37-apartment project, while Sunshine Coast’s KHA Project Management will manage the project.
Illoura Coolum comprises two buildings comprising one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses ranging in size from 140 sqm to 563 sqm. Prices range from $375,000 to $1.5 million.
Spokeswoman Elisabeth Pernod for Coolum Terrace Holdings, which developed the project, said the appointment of RCQ Construction was an important milestone. 
“We expect construction to start in the next three months, with a build time of approximately 12 months,’’ she said.
Apart from beach views for nearly all apartments, other features include individual fully-ducted air conditioning, full height two-pac kitchens, stone benchtops, bedrooms. Amenities include direct access to Coolum Esplanade, spaces for barbecue and relaxation pavilion.
The architects for the project are Blackburne Jackson Design.
 Property Observer had previously reported that 30 percent of apartments have already been sold. 
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RCQ Construction to build luxury oceanfront apartments on Sunshine Coast

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Galileo Funds' $165 million apartment project Palisade at Miranda in Sydney's south was launched at the weekend. 
But the overall sales rate reflected the reduced demand and increased caution arising from over supply headlines with just 65 per cent of the 197 apartments finding buyers.
They were priced between $580,000 to $1.5 million on Saturday. 
Australian developer Galileo Group advised the launch of their long awaited residential project Palisade Miranda was met with "great success." 
CBRE Chairman Justin Brown even described the response as "overwhelming." 
But gone are the days of the 100 percent Saturday morning sellouts. CRBE had recently advised a 70 percent sales result on launch was the new norm.  
Palisade is an eight-storey, resort-style development designed by KannFinch and UP Architects, with luxury amenities including a 20-metre pool, lush landscaping, outdoor daybeds, private gym and poolside clubhouse for residents to use as a function space.
There's interiors by Neil Bradford Design. 
Paul Marshall, of Galileo, says Miranda has had limited new development over the past decade. 
"This, coupled with the refurbishment of Westfield, has created strong demand from local purchasers," he suggested prior to the weekend launch. 
Existing residents of Sutherland Shire were Palisade's primary target market with its proximity 200 metres from Westfield Miranda and about one kilometre from Miranda station. 
Prices at the University Road, Miranda project start at one beds, 53-57 square metres, $580,000 to $700,000; two beds, 80-92 square metres, $795,000 to $1.05 million; three beds, 101-123 square metres, $1.09 million to $1.5 million.
It is due for completion early 2019.
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