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

Staff Writer

Final homes remaining as Threadneedle, Balwyn completes construction

Joel Robinson

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

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

The outdoor amenities elevating life at Senso, Epping

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

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

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

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

Birchgrove

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Renovation queen Cherie Barber, who appeared on Channel 10’s The Living Room, secured $6.3 million for her Birchgrove investment waterfront.
It was bought by Cynthia and Julian Parisi, the former Goldman Sachs investment banker who heads the family’s wholesale fresh food business.
It sold after 50 days with a $6.5 million price guide.
The five-level home with four bedrooms, a home office, movie room and roof terrace, cost $4.05 million in 2014 before Barber undertook a renovation, which included relocating its internal lift to enhance the views.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph. 
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Renovation guru Cherie Barber sells Birchgrove waterfront to former Goldman Sachs banker Julian Parisi

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Hollywood film editor Richard Francis-Bruce, whose credits include Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, and wife Susan have bought in Birchgrove.
The California-based couple have spent $3.2 million on a four-bedroom semi designed by architect Howard Smith.
It was secured in an off-market transaction from Sydney Swans head doctor Tom Cross, who had paid $2.1 million in 2010.
Francis-Bruce initially worked at the ABC in Sydney in the 1970s but left Australia in the early 1990s.
The couple sold in Roseville at $480,000 in 1993.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph. 
 
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Hollywood film editor Richard Francis-Bruce buys in Birchgrove

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An architect designed waterfront apartment in Birchgrove, New South Wales has hit the market with a price guide of $5.3 million.
With panoramic views stretching from Drummoyne to Greenwich, the 562 square metre apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-birchgrove-131532190" target="_blank">1/36 Louisa Road</a> is one of only six apartments at the building created by SJB architects.
It comprises a private master wing, two additional ensuite bedrooms, media room or fourth bedroom, free-flowing living areas, marble kitchen and entertainer's vergola with direct access to a mosaic-tiled pool. 
<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/2019/7/15/birchgrove%202.jpg" alt="">
Other highlights of the apartment include private lift foyer, landscaped gardens, 30 metre frontage to the harbour, private marina berth, shared jetty, and secure parking for four cars.
<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/2019/7/15/birchgrove%203.jpg" alt="">
It is set to go under the hammer on August 10. 
Mark Bowis and Danny Cobden of Cobden &amp; Hayson Balmain have the listing. 
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Birchgrove trophy waterfront apartment hits the market 

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Renovation queen Cherie Barber, a regular on Channel 10’s The Living Room, has sold her five-level Birchgrove investment after 50 days on market.
It came with a $6.5 million price guide.
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/%20%20%20https:/www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-birchgrove-130960170" target="_blank">harbourfront home</a> with four bedrooms, a home office, movie room and roof terrace, cost $4.05 million in 2014.
Barber then undertook a full renovation which included relocating its internal lift to enhance the views.
Listed through Cobden &amp; Hayson agent Mark Bowis, the Louisa Road home has over 300 square metres of living space on its 210 square metre holding.
Barber has been getting $850 a night on Airbnb.
The Airbnb superhost conducts courses on how landlords can increase their rental income.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Renovation guru Cherie Barber sells modern Birchgrove waterfront

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Renovation queen Cherie Barber, a regular on Channel 10’s The Living Room and the Your Money network, is selling her five-level Birchgrove investment.
With a $6.5 million guide, Barber hopes to make a tidy profit on the 2009 built, four-level harbourfront.
Since spending $4.05 million in 2014, Barber has undertaken a full renovation.
She relocated the internal lift and moved the stairway to enhance the views.
Barber seeks a buyer through Cobden &amp; Hayson agent Mark Bowis.
Set on 210 square metre on the Louisa Road dress circle, the home has over 300 square metres of living space.
Barber, who says she loves the harbourside suburb, has been getting $850 a night on Airbnb.
“There are lots of little vintage stores and eclectic housing and I’m very much into retro,” she says.
Her property portfolio stretches from Mount Druitt to Byron Bay where, in 2014, she bought from jeweller John Calleija for $3.4 million.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph. 
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Renovation queen Cherie Barber lists modern Birchgrove home

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Palazzo, a waterfront Sydney Habour residence with harbour views, has hit the market.
The two storey home has been offered by The Agency's Michael Rava and Scott Thornton. 
Positioned in Birchgrove's most exclusive cul-de-sac, <a href="https://theagency.com.au/16581/99-louisa-road-birchgrove" target="_blank">Palazzo at 99 Louisa Road</a> comes with two bedrooms, separate home office or third bedroom, and entertainer's kitchen.
Other highlights include wide alfresco terrace, C-bus Smart home control, permanent mooring with private jetty and boat pen, and auto lock up garage. 
It has been scheduled for auction on April 18. 
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Birchgrove harbourfront home Palazzo to go to auction 

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The Birchgrove home of the late legendary adman Paul Priday has been sold by his widow Margot.
The waterfront residence fetched $6.49 million after less than a week on the market. Set on 303 sqm on the dress circle Louisa Rd, it was designed by architect Keith Cottier.
The master wing has a dressing room, ensuite and upper deck. McGrath Balmain agents Cindy Kennedy and Marcus Hejtmanek had sought offers between $6 million and $6.5 million.
Priday, who died aged 71 in 2017, was the pioneering national creative director of J. Walter Thompson.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
 
 
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Late adman Paul Priday's Birchgrove home sold by widow Margot

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Brad McEwan, the former sports journalist at Ten now living in Melbourne’s Fitzroy, has sold his redundant Birchgrove terrace for $1.3 million.
McEwan bought the two bedroom home in 2007 for $685,000 when he took over from Ryan Phelan as Ten’s Sports Tonight presenter.
The two storey home had been listed by Cobden Hayson agent Danny Coden for March 23 auction with $1.2 million hopes.
McEwan, who now works in thought leadership, has owned a two storey terrace on 61 square metres in Fitzroy since paying $813,000 in 2014.
<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/2019/3/12/birchgrove%202.jpg" alt="">
It was bought from the actor-turned-film producer Alexandra Davies.
The two-bedroom Rowntree Street semi on just 75 square metres has been fitted with recycled finishes.
<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/2019/3/12/birchgrove%203.jpg" alt="">
This article was published in the Sunday Telegraph. 
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Former sports journalist Brad McEwan sells Birchgrove terrace

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The former Prudential and BankSA managing director Terence Jay and his wife, Karen - a former chief marketing manager at Advance Bank in Canberra - sold in Birchgrove at weekend auction.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-birchgrove-127698362" target="_blank">The five-bedroom, four-level home</a>, they built in 2002 sold for $5,311,000, well above the $5 million reserve.
The Louisa Road house, with views of the Harbour Bridge, last sold 18 years ago for $1.1 million.  
Five balconies have since been built to take advantage of the harbour views. 
After an opening bid of $5 million, there was bidding between the four active bidders.
It comes with an 1100-bottle cellar.
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Former BankSA boss sells at Birchgrove

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Yerroublin, the Masterman family home at Birchgrove, has been sold after being marketed with $5.5 million hopes.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/9-numa-st-birchgrove-nsw-2041" target="_blank">1913 waterfront Federation</a> with original sandstone caves has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a self-contained apartment.
Set on 719 sqm, the wraparound deck overlooks the garden with views across the Sydney harbour.
It's been in the Masterman family for over 50 years, offered to the market last month by Blah Blah Magazine blogger Cybele Masterman, who inherited it about 22 years ago.
Her father Nick Masterman was a renowned Balmain boat maker who built his first boat when he was just 13 and went on to become a foundation member of Snails Bay Sabot Sailing Club in 1962.
Nick took up an apprenticeship at Cockatoo Dock, where he was exposed to asbestos fibres. He won a rotary scholarship to Japan as a naval architect and was instrumental in reviving the Balmain Sailing Club and setting up the Balmain Sailing School.
One of Nick's greatest accomplishments was bringing Ena, one of Sydney's most elegant steamboats, back to her original grace and style. Nick was a Greens Leichhardt Council alderman between 1991 and 1993. He died in 1994 of mesothelioma.
One of those last remaining Federation homes at the northern end of the peninsula had been subdivided in 1978, selling half to the late ABC television producer Bruce Allen and his wife, former Leichhardt councillor Helen Styles.
This neighbouring semi was sold by Allen and Styles in 1996 for $1.15 million to medico Richard Levy and his wife Elizabeth who considered selling it all in one line earlier this year.
As a combined lot the Levys and Masterman were hoping to sell the 1337 square metre property for $11 million, but McGrath agent John Paranchi didn't get the double sale across the line.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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