Rockdale has long been characterized as a suburb on the cusp. Well-located, well-connected, but historically underserved by modern apartment offerings.

It has everything going for it: outstanding connectivity to the Sydney CBD, just four train stops to Central Station, strong local amenity anchored by Roc​kdale Plaza and a growing main-street dining scene, and enviable proximity to Brighton-Le-Sands. The six-kilometre beachfront is lined with bayside restaurants, cafés, and walking paths, giving residents a lifestyle typically associated with much more expensive coastal suburbs.

What Rock​dale has lacked is high-quality contemporary apartments. Most existing developments date back several decades, with floorplans that no longer support modern living needs, and buildings constructed long before today’s standards in engineering, efficiency, and sustainability.

Lender, fund manager and apartment developer Princeton identified the gap early. Seeing all the right ingredients in Rockd​ale, transport, lifestyle, retail, and affordability, they set out to deliver what the suburb was missing. Their answer is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marque-rockdale-602-608-princes-highway-rockdale-nsw-2216">Marque Rockdale</a>, a collection of 58 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments now nearing completion just a short walk from Ro​ckdale Plaza, home to over 50 specialist retailers and anchored by&nbsp;Woolworths, Big W and Aldi.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136442 project_image_fid=355216]

Understanding they would be resetting the benchmark for the area, Princeton focused on ensuring buyers received best-in-class quality, longevity, and protection.

A major step was securing the sought-after Latent Defects Insurance policy from Resilience Insurance. This policy protects apartment buyers from structural or waterproofing defects for the first 10 years of the building’s lifecycle. Crucially, it is first-response insurance, meaning that if an issue arises, the insurer pays immediately for remediation—rather than waiting for lengthy investigations to determine fault before work can begin. For purchasers, it offers an unprecedented layer of security rarely seen in Sydney apartment projects.

During construction, independent building inspection firm SDSS has been providing Technical Inspection Services, bringing highly specialised construction experts on-site at key stages to ensure workmanship meets the highest standards. The project is being built by Coplex, an iCIRT-rated construction company, and throughout the build SDSS has frequently referred to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marque-rockdale-602-608-princes-highway-rockdale-nsw-2216">Marque Rockdale</a> as one of the best projects currently on their books.

Princeton also doubled down on comfort, acoustics, and livability.&nbsp;As well as being the only building along Princes Highway with a landscaped buffer between the building and the road, Princeton has purposefully included double-glazed windows in all apartments to reduce noise.

Apartments feature double-glazed, noise-reducing windows and ducted air conditioning in every residence.&nbsp;In addition to the project’s transport convenience, Princeton has partnered with GoGet Car Share to provide a dedicated GoGet vehicle housed permanently within the building. Residents will receive a free annual GoGet membership, paying only usage fees, offering a flexible alternative to owning a second car and enhancing the project’s sustainability credentials.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136442 project_image_fid=277075]

Residents will enjoy an exclusive rooftop oasis, purpose-designed as an extension of their living space. The communal rooftop includes BBQ facilities and outdoor entertaining areas, a&nbsp;pergola-shaded dining zone, a dedicated children’s play space, and a landscaped herb garden.

Princeton and Coplex is approaching completion of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marque-rockdale-602-608-princes-highway-rockdale-nsw-2216">Marque Rockdale</a>, and are expecting residents to move in early in the new year. The mix of apartment configurations and price points have been a hit with young professionals, those who need to commute to the CBD, and families who appreciate doorstep amenity.

“Marque is a place where residents will be proud to call it home," Princeton Head of Development George Young says.

"We’ve worked really hard with Coplex and our design team to deliver an incredible building for the future home owners to make their own. The homes are all designed to allow the residents to make it their own, a place to belong and live a stylish urban life."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=136442]

Joel Robinson

Marque Rockdale sets a new standard of apartment living in Sydney's south

Plans to revitalize the&nbsp;long-established Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre into a mixed-use community combining living, shopping, dining, health and wellbeing facilities, have been proposed to the Gold Coast City Council.

The Benowa Gardens Urban Village proposal by Benowa Gardens Holdings seeks to transform the 17,660 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/203-ashmore-road-benowa-qld-4217">203 Ashmore Road</a> into a contemporary, sustainable destination that reflects global trends in modern community design while retaining the familiar local character residents value.

The site is bordered by Ashmore and Benowa Roads and Carrara, with ready access to Pindara private hospital, four schools, TAFE, sports fields and the nearby Botanic Gardens.

Benowa Gardens Holdings is seeking a preliminary Council approval only for its proposed masterplan and variations to the site’s Neighbourhood Centre zoning.&nbsp; 
Formal Public Exhibition commenced Friday and also marks the start of comprehensive community consultation with surroundings residents, schools, P&amp;Cs, existing retailers, nearby sporting clubs, arts groups and Botanic Gardens volunteers.

Designed by Neylan Architecture, the masterplan envisions around 413 new apartments, complemented by upgraded retail, dining, and wellness amenities as part of 10,000 sqm of retail, and 9,630 sqm of office space/medical suites.

The development will feature green open spaces, shaded promenades, landscaped terraces, pedestrian walkways, and expanded healthcare and lifestyle services in synergy with the neighbouring Pindara Private Hospital and local schools.

<img alt="Benowa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="244f4d54-2e67-4141-92b8-78d5735f47c2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-26%20at%2012.47.34%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=FmF5lzhpwVZc7POsdB770TJ_Bf2c0od8" />

“This concept embraces the way people increasingly want to live - safely, conveniently, and within strong local communities,” said Patrick Lu, Director of Benowa Gardens Holding.

“Benowa Gardens will set a new benchmark for integrated living on the Gold Coast. It’s a thoughtful, community-minded evolution that brings global best practice in urban design to one of the city’s most established areas.”

Lu said this isn’t just a redevelopment, it’s a renewal with purpose.

“Benowa Gardens has served the community for decades. Our goal is to ensure it continues to do so for generations to come, as a lively, connected Urban Village where people can truly live, work and thrive. We’re already talking to school leaders and the community to seek their feedback on our proposal, and have taken on board their ideas to improve student safety with additional “traffic calming” measures on Carrara Street. We’re conducting meaningful and sincere consultations and want to play our role in preserving and enhancing the local community."

The proposed redevelopment aims to deliver tangible benefits across the Benowa and wider Gold Coast community, including:

<ul>
	<li>Improvement of retail amenity, to capture the under-served local market demand and keep the local business at their local shopping centre.</li>
	<li>Housing diversity; offering a range of apartment types for key workers, downsizers, and local families who wish to remain in the area.</li>
	<li>Enhanced shopping and dining; revitalised retail spaces designed to support local businesses and attract more visitors.</li>
	<li>Health and wellbeing access; additional medical and wellness amenities to complement existing local facilities.</li>
	<li>Improved traffic flow and access; two new access points, upgraded intersections, upgrade pedestrian pathway’s signal and proposed upgrade of pedestrian and cycle connections/space to improve safety and convenience, especially for school children.</li>
	<li>Environmental sustainability; energy-efficient design, green rooftops, and water-sensitive landscaping to reduce emissions and enhance comfort.</li>
	<li>Local jobs and investment; supporting hundreds of construction and long-term roles while stimulating local economic growth.</li>
</ul>

The group behind the project boasts extensive experience in the property development industry, both in Australia and international markets. Over the past 23 years, the group has been involved in the development and management of a diverse portfolio of assets including residential dwellings, shopping centres, bulky-goods stores, community and medical facilities, childcare centres, offices, hotels, and taverns, across Brisbane, Ipswich, and the Gold Coast.

Benowa Gardens to become new mixed-use urban village

Demand for townhouses in Melbourne’s inner west has surged as buyers seek the elusive combination of space, affordability, and location.&nbsp;

With family-first apartments increasingly rare and standalone homes often out of reach, townhouses have emerged as the new sweet spot, delivering generous living areas with lower maintenance needs within close proximity to the Melbourne CBD.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/kings-lane-south-kingsville-50-58-new-street-south-kingsville-vic-3015">Kings Lane</a>, the new under-construction townhouse development by the family-owned developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/blue-run">Blue Run</a>&nbsp;in South Kingsville, responds directly to this trend. Comprising just 25 residences designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project offers a compelling alternative to both apartment downsizers and family upsizers. With three-bedroom homes priced under $1 million, it presents one of the area’s rare attainable pathways to townhouse living less than eight kilometres from the CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145042 project_image_fid=355147]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/south-kingsville-vic-3015">South Kingsville</a> itself is quietly becoming one of Melbourne’s most dynamic pockets of urban renewal. Flanked by the established appeal of Yarraville, Newport and Williamstown, the suburb balances quiet, village-like streetscapes with major infrastructure upgrades and a growing slate of retail, dining and lifestyle amenity.&nbsp;

Kings Lane occupies a well-connected site at 50–58 New Street, just off Blackshaws Road and within walking distance of the emerging Union Quarter precinct, a major retail destination anchored by Woolworths, specialty food outlets and wellness services.

A 400-metre stroll brings residents to the Vernon Street shops, a local favourite known for its mix of independent grocers, cafes and family-run eateries. For broader shopping options, Altona Gate Shopping Centre and Yarraville Square are both within a short drive. Spotswood IGA and the Williamstown retail strip further broaden the convenience of daily essentials.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145042 project_image_fid=355139]

Dining options in the area lean toward eclectic and community-driven, with standouts like Rocco’s Deli, Dad and Dave’s, and Pizza d’ASPORTO offering a range of casual and elevated menus. Cafés such as Hudson Road Wine &amp; Beer and Blacksheep Coffee add to the lively yet local feel of the neighbourhood.

Green space is another hallmark of life at Kings Lane. Edwards Reserve is close enough for morning walks or casual sport, while larger parks like Newport Lakes, Yarraville Gardens, and Cruickshank Park are all a few minutes’ drive away. More than half of the nine-hectares of new green space or parkland being created as part of the West Gate tunnel works is located just at the end of New Street, the same street as Kings Lane.

&nbsp;

For those with school-age children, South Kingsville is home to a range of quality childcare centres and schools, including Kingsville Primary, Spotswood Primary, and Williamstown North Primary. Community Children’s childcare and South Kingsville Preschool are nearby, making the suburb particularly attractive to young families.

Transport links continue to improve, with Spotswood Station and the West Gate Freeway both within a five-minute radius. Future upgrades, including the proposed sky rail for Newport and Spotswood, and the delivery of the West Gate Tunnel project, promise even better access to the CBD and Melbourne Airport in the years to come.

Kings Lane's 25 all-electric townhouses are currently under construction, and will complete in late 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145042]

Staff Writer

Kings Lane townhouses offers rare value in Melbourne's thriving inner west

Developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/billbergia">Billbergia</a> has set a new apartment price record for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/rhodes-nsw-2138">Rhodes</a>, a suburb the company has been instrumental in transforming over the past two decades.

The milestone follows the delivery of thousands of apartments across the harbourside peninsula, culminating in the $4.5 million sale of a 220 sqm penthouse in the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/rhodes-central-oasis-39-marquet-street-rhodes-nsw-2138">Rhodes Central Oasis</a> building, which Billbergia completed earlier this year. It is the first apartment in Rhodes to surpass not only the $4 million mark for settled sales, but also the $3 million mark, eclipsing the previous $2.75 million record set in 2021.

The purchaser had originally secured several apartments in the 40-storey tower off the plan as investments. During settlement, she spent more time in the Rhodes area and was so impressed with the building that she decided to downsize from her Northbridge home into the four-bedroom plus MPR penthouse.

The sale underscores the long-term work Billbergia has undertaken in Rhodes since the early 2000s. The company, rated 4.5 Gold Stars under the NSW iCIRT system, identifying it as one of the state’s most trustworthy and financially secure developers, was a pioneer of the area’s urban renewal. What was once a heavily industrial waterfront has become one of Sydney’s most successful examples of transit-oriented development.

<img alt="Billbergia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="56093d7f-db18-42f4-bf9b-115bdf76f5f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-26%20at%2011.10.06%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pca77Mr.H83nwXbJexmaLUAqBewtQ7d9" />

Billbergia is now driving the peninsula’s next major evolution: the most ambitious project in its nearly four-decade history. They are planning the Rhodes Bay Masterplan, an eight-tower, mixed-use precinct on Leeds Street. Currently with the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority which is now championing large-scale projects across the state, the Rhodes Bay Masterplan lays the groundwork for a generational reshaping of this important pocket of Sydney’s Inner West.

The masterplan spans more than 31,000 sqm of amalgamated industrial land along the foreshore, land that has been privately held and inaccessible to the community for more than a century. According to Billbergia’s Development Director, Saul Moran, reclaiming this land for public use is central to the company’s vision. 
 
“What’s so exciting is that we have over 300 metres of privately-held industrialised waterfront, land that’s been locked away for more than 100 years, which we’re bringing back to the community,” he says. “It’s taken many years to assemble sites like these, and the goal now is to transform them into meaningful public space where new homes can be built in an integrated, amenity-rich setting.”

At full completion, the Rhodes Bay Masterplan is expected to deliver over 2000 apartments, with the first 1000 to be completed by 2029. Billbergia’s design focused on nine slender towers, so they could give back more to the ground plane. There will be more than 16,000sq m of new parkland and recreation space, including sports fields, a foreshore play area and waterfront green links. Around 14,600 sqm of retail is also proposed, extending the precinct’s role as a true mixed-use hub.

<img alt="Rhodes Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="240ffc41-4f26-421a-9606-5c56f6fc2d93" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-26%20at%2011.05.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=BkBxZr7S8CAt1vgNa8AF3zjdc3YuVh0L" />

“Density only works when it’s paired with amenity, transport and open space, and that’s what’s made Rhodes such an amazing success story,” Moran says, adding that the demographic shift Billbergia has seen over the last two decades has informed their future development pipeline in the suburb.

“Rhodes has moved from being largely an investor market to a strong owner-occupier community,” Moran says. “There’s real demand for three-bedroom homes, flexible intergenerational layouts, and apartments people can grow into.”

&nbsp;“We’re designing taller, more slender towers to free up the ground level for sport, recreation and green space. High-density communities thrive when people have the best backyards in Australia, and that’s what we want to create here.”

Demand remains robust, evidenced by Billbergia’s recent results. “We achieved a record sale across the entirety of Rhodes Central just last week,” Moran says. “It shows the depth of confidence buyers have in what’s being built here.”

Billbergia’s vertically integrated model allows them to overcome the recent cost escalation and challenges in the build environment. “Having an in-house construction team lets us control feasibility, value management and quality from day one,” Moran says. “It’s critical in the current market, where construction escalation is at the forefront of every project’s viability.”

The company is also leveraging the NSW Government’s new Housing Delivery Authority process, which Moran describes as a more efficient pathway without compromising design standards. 
 
“We’re really applauding the NSW Government for its efforts to increase housing supply. There’s been a remarkable improvement in how they’re helping deliver more homes, more quickly.”

Billbergia has already commenced construction of Stage One of the Rhodes Bay masterplan. They will be lodging the State Significant Development Application before Christmas.

“We’re moving quickly, but with due care,” Moran says. “This is a generational precinct, and it needs to be done right.”

Billbergia smashes suburb record as Rhodes transformation continues

The sheer scale of the two skyscrapers at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/victoria-albert-broadbeach-20-albert-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Victoria &amp; Albert</a>, soaring 40 and 64 storeys above the heart of Broadbeach, was always destined to deliver some of the highest and most luxurious apartments ever built in the suburb.

Now, builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/iris-capital">Iris Capital</a> has unveiled the Horizon Collection, a selection of residences with the largest floorplans and most commanding views in the towers. The three-bedroom apartments, starting from $4.64 million, include butler’s pantries, multi-purpose rooms, and, in some layouts, master retreats with private sitting areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107928 project_image_fid=3944]

The most prestigious apartments in the Horizon Collection are the sub-penthouses and penthouses. The two sub-penthouses on the 38th level of the Albert Tower are priced at $8.85 million.

Each features three bedrooms, a study, and a flexible multi-purpose room with a sliding partition that allows half the space to function as a games room.

The open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area, complete with a butler’s kitchen and private wine cellar, flows onto a full-width balcony framing panoramic coastal views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107928 project_image_fid=3943]

There is now just one sub-penthouse for sale on the 62nd level of the Victoria Tower, with one already secured by an expat owner-occupier. The remaining sub-penthouse, priced at $8.95 million, offers four bedrooms and a wraparound balcony that captures panoramic views up and down the Coast. vistas from every angle.

Crowning each tower is a full-floor penthouse offering multiple expansive indoor and outdoor living and entertaining spaces. Atop the Victoria building is Oceania, which measures over 735 sqm of living space, and Kurrara atop the Albert Tower, which is almost 800 sqm. They each have four bedrooms, including a master and guest suites, a full 360-degree panorama of the Gold Coast, and all the bells and whistles expected of a luxury penthouse. They are priced from a little over $18 million.

“Every detail, every finish has been thoughtfully considered to imbue the penthouses with the ultimate sense of luxury,” says Susan Rossi, Director of Interior Design at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dbi">DBI</a>, who led both the architecture and interiors for V&amp;A. “We shaped these skyhomes to embody the spirit of Gold Coast luxury.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107928 project_image_fid=234091]

Victoria &amp; Albert, colloquially known as V&amp;A, is the flagship Gold Coast development by the Sydney-based Iris Capital. Led by developer and hotelier Sam Arnaout, Iris Capital acquired the landmark Niecon Plaza site in 2021. At the time, Arnaout described the company’s expansion into Queensland as a strategic move to capitalise on one of Australia’s strongest growth markets.

“We were initially looking to expand into Victoria, but the massive migration to the regions that followed the pandemic created a new dynamic across the Australian market,” Arnaout said.

“From a strategic point of view, Queensland — and the Gold Coast in particular — is the perfect fit for our business. The fundamentals here are strong: genuine employment growth, high net migration, and an undersupply of apartments driven by strong demand. The Gold Coast has matured into a thriving, progressive regional city with a fantastic future.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107928 project_image_fid=234097]

Across its two towers, V&amp;A will deliver 425 luxury apartments, supported by a suite of resort-style resident amenities. These include a subtropical podium featuring a 25-metre lap pool, gym, yoga deck, residents’ lounge, kids’ play area, zen garden, and barbecue terraces with outdoor dining spaces.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a> Queensland Director David Higgins, who has managed sales at V&amp;A since its 2021 launch, says the project has set a new benchmark for Broadbeach’s luxury apartment market. Colliers Queensland Director David Higgins, who has managed sales at V&amp;A since its 2021 launch, says the project has set a new benchmark for Broadbeach’s luxury apartment market.

“The premium market has definitely spoken, with V&amp;A having now reached over half a billion dollars in presales since our launch,” Higgins says, adding that over 65 per cent of V&amp;A is now sold.

“Our buyers continue to validate the success of the Victoria &amp; Albert development vision and the luxury amenity that comes along with their apartment purchase. Of course, Broadbeach’s most walkable location, just 100m from the Broadbeach surfing beach, makes this luxury apartment a compelling addition to your real estate portfolio.”

Last year, Iris Capital brought construction in-house through its new arm, Iris Built. Completion of the 40-level Albert Tower is scheduled for late 2027, with the 64-level Victoria Tower, the taller of the two, expected to follow in mid-2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=107928]

Victoria & Albert’s Horizon Collection takes Broadbeach living to new heights

Bondi

Prominent eastern suburbs developers HSN are back to the popular Bondi locale, setting their sights on Bondi Beach this time having previously developed Ellipse in Bondi Junction.&nbsp;

The property group, along with their construction arm HSN Construction, has lodged plans for a residential development across an amalgamated 1166 sqm site at 55 Hall Street.

Located just 350 metres from the sand of the iconic Bondi Beach, PBD Architects have been engaged to design the four-storey shop-top project, which will deliver just 16 apartments above ground floor retail space.&nbsp;

In keeping with market demand and residential options in the area, a mix of floorplans will be constructed, with one one-bedroom apartments, 12 two-bedders and four three-bedroom apartments.&nbsp;

“The surrounding context has seen some impressive developments come to fruition in the past decade, many of which have contributed to the Australian coastal character of the area,” PBD said in their application plans.&nbsp;

“The site functions as a development that seeks to activate the Hall Street street frontage, with the design sympathetic to the pattern of development and desired future character of Bondi.”

The overall style of the Hall St residences is eclectic, however it fits in with the wider neighbourhood’s context through its Australian coastal style.&nbsp;

<a data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dbd912d0-4364-4f62-a9eb-e3eacc12c733" href="/new-apartments/55-hall-street-bondi-beach"><img alt="Render of the Hall Street development. " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dbd912d0-4364-4f62-a9eb-e3eacc12c733" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-29%20at%205.22.22%20pm.png?VersionId=XLO08Wvwsy18GDNTes0ClhZLYHNo7aSw" /></a>Render of the Hall St development.&nbsp;

Framed glazing throughout maximises the solar orientation of the apartments, while also capitalising on the views.&nbsp;

A mix of fluted precast concrete will make up the base of the development, complemented by natural stone and a mix of brown and green hued elements.

A close collaboration with renowned landscape architects, Bates Landscape has resulted in a synthesis of building design, further corroborating the design with the natural surrounds. &nbsp;

The landscape proposal draws upon the unique ecological character of the Bondi area, with planter boxes utilised throughout the building facade, as well as across the ground floor, seamlessly connecting the project to the natural neighbourhood.&nbsp;

The site’s location near to the best Bondi has to offer will also means future residents will be within walking distance to a number of cafes, restaurants, bars and supermarkets, as well as a range of public transport options, providing connection to a wider range of facilities, including schools and the Sydney CBD.&nbsp;

There’s been a string of developers who have taken to the popular street in recent times, including <a href="/news/nsw/first-look-allen-linz-and-eduard-litver-team-up-for-new-hall-street-bondi-apartments">Allen Linz and Eduard Litver’s $12.5m project across an amalgamated site at 34-38 Hall St.&nbsp;</a>

The four-level building will have ground floor retail, apartments above, and two-levels of basement parking, with the block bookended by the heritage Post Office to the east.

Embece Studio were enlisted to design the plans for the project, taking inspiration, not dissimilar to PBD, from the neighbourhood’s surrounding landscape and greenery.

The well-known Sydney property investor and developer, <a href="/news/nsw/vaughan-blank-set-for-apartment-development-on-bondi-beachs-hall-street">Vaughan Blank, has also submitted $9.4 million plans to transform the old Westpac building on Hall St.&nbsp;</a>

He'll be creating a new shop-top housing building, with 15 apartments and retail premises on the ground floor, designed by BANG Architecture.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=136998]

HSN has lodged plans for a residential development across an amalgamated 1166 sqm site at 55 Hall Street.

alisonwarters@gmail.com

First look: HSN lodge apartment plans for Bondi’s popular Hall Street

From its famous beaches to its vibrant nightlife offerings, Sydney’s Eastern suburbs have unsurprisingly seen continuing strong demand and strong increase in property values.

With apartments embraced by homebuyers in Sydney’s East, new off-the-plan units have become a popular and affordable alternative to the traditional home.

Urban takes a look at the top four apartments available for purchase in the East.

1. Young &amp; Fennelly, Randwick 
Developer: Cbus Property

[smartcode_project:default project_id=100684 project_image_fid=164623]

Young &amp; Fennelly, a new stage at Cbus Property’s Newmarket Residences, offers an exclusive collection of parkside terraces.

Designed by Bates Smart, the development features 127 residences, with two residences still available in three-bedroom configurations.

Offering a modern take on traditional terrace living, the double-storey homes feature entertainer kitchens with stone islands, panelled timber detailing and private central courtyards.

The site is set upon former stables, and draws upon a classic Art Deco aesthetic to draw upon Randwick’s established residential setting.

2. Marmont, Double Bay 
Developer: Fortis

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24706 project_image_fid=171076]

Nestled discreetly behind Double Bay’s main boulevard, New South Head Road, Marmont is a new collection of eight oversized two and three-bedroom apartments.

Delivered by Fortis and designed by MHNDUnion, the contemporary development features copper panelled exteriors and terrazzo lobbies.

Each level offers two residences that boast expansive interiors, engineered timber oak floorboards and bespoke joinery.

The homes also provide secure garage parking via a street-level driveway, private storage and secluded terraces.

3. Estelle, Bondi 
Developer: K2 Property Development Group

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7057 project_image_fid=28993]

Representing the sophisticated new face of Bondi, Estelle is a new collection of 14 bespoke one, two and three-bedroom apartments positioned amongst Sydney’s coastal East.

Designed by MHN Design Union and Lawless &amp; Meyerson, the development showcases a distinctive design that features landscaped common gardens, metallic façade and modern bay windows.

The surrounding gardens provide contrast against the bold material palette, while interiors feature floor-to-ceiling windows to frame the verdant views.

All residences feature security parking, convenient lift access and full-length balconies that capture sea breezes and offer private entertaining space.

4. Kew Bondi 
Developer: Positive Investment Enterprise

[smartcode_project:default project_id=21609 project_image_fid=64068]

Offering 15 apartments across four levels, Kew Bondi provides convenience and luxury at its Bondi Road address.

Delivered by Positive Investment Enterprise, each apartment features flexible floorplans, lofty living spaces and a North Bondi outlook with ocean views.

Residences have been designed by PBD Architects with high-quality fixtures and finishes. Buyers can also choose between a contemporary or urban colour scheme to add a personal touch.

Amongst the leafy surrounds of Bondi, Kew offers secure parking space with direct access to Bondi Road and Edward Street, as well as natural materials in its design.

With apartments embraced by homebuyers in Sydney’s East, new off-the-plan units have become a popular and affordable alternative to the traditional home

max.kwok_55688

The top four apartments to buy in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs 

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Several apartment complex opportunities have been listed around Bondi.

There is a block of eight units, known as 48 Roscoe Street, Bondi Beach (pictured below) to be sold in one line on February 23 through Sotheby’s.

<img alt="" height="804" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/glenayr.jpg" width="1199">

A whole strata block of four on Bondi North’s Ben Buckler peninsula was listed last month. Each semi style unit at 138 Hastings Parade comprises two bedrooms plus study, plus outdoor area.

Its marketing was through Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay agents Ric Serrao and Dion Markovics. 

There are plans for an additional level penthouse.

Serrao also has a former block of four apartments listed on O’Brien Street (pictured in title). It has been a synagogue with upstairs accommodation.

It has been listed in conjunction with Metro Commercial.
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Several apartment complex opportunities have been listed around Bondi including a former block of four apartments listed on O’Brien Street

jchancellor

Apartment complex opportunities abound around Bondi

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Global advertising leader Brent Smart, who recently left Saatchi &amp; Saatchi New York to move to IAG in Sydney, has bought a house in Bondi.
Smart paid $2.5 million for the family home with wife Amanda Kennedy.
Spread over two levels, the contemporary residence has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and an alfresco dining courtyard.
Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay agent Ric Serrao and Michelle Brooks sold the home after it spent 77 days on the market.
Smart was recently named IAG's first ever chief marketing officer after being the CEO at Saatchi &amp; Saatchi in New York for three years.
 This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph.
 
 
 
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<h3 class="r"><a href="https://www.campaignbrief.com/2017/02/iag-appoints-ex-saatchi-saatch"> </a></h3>
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Global advertising leader Brent Smart buys in Bondi

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Bondi Rescue star Trent 'Singlet' Falson has spent $770,000 on an apartment - just 800 metres from the iconic beach.
The one bedroom apartment comes with a landscaped courtyard and barbecue area perfect to entertain his many mates.
It's set in the tightly held 2000 built Hallmark block of six.
Mark Horn at Little Real Estate Central sold the home after offering a buyers' guide of $780,000.
Falson was born and raised in Bondi, surfing the waves of the north end from the age of five.  
Singlets joined the North Bondi Surf Club as a nipper at 10, then moved up the ranks to the senior club, where he did patrols and trained at an elite national level as a specialist board paddler.
After winning a national board paddling title at the age of 16, Singlets became a lifeguard for Waverley Council in 1997. 
The single father of two had a break to give the corporate world a go, working in jobs varying from pharmaceutical sales to aircraft refuelling.
Falson returned to lifeguarding after a 12 year break three years ago.
"I discovered there are some horrible jobs out there and doing what you love is more valuable than money.
"I missed the job and the team," he said on his return to the top rating show.
"It’s hard to explain what a tightknit team we are and the camaraderie we share.
"I feel lifeguarding is where my strengths lie and where my passion is and I couldn’t satisfy that passion anywhere else."
Trent made headlines at the start of last year when he and co-star Anthony 'Harries' Carroll saved Hugh Jackman's son Oscar. 
Other Bondi rescue boys have homes within the neighbourhood, the most impressive being Dean 'Deano' Gladstone, who traded Randwick for Bondi Junction in 2015.
He spent $2.25 million on a four bedroom freestanding family home, after he sold in Randwick for $2.21 million.
The Logie Award-winning Channel Ten show began in 2006 and has aired 136 episodes across its 12 seasons.
Bondi Rescue won five Logie's for Most Popular Factual Program.
This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph.
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Bondi Rescue star buys nearby one bedder

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Australia's millionaire matchmaker Trudy Gilbert and her husband Philip have quickly sold their resort-style North Bondi home.
The couple didn't even have to wait for the first Saturday open for inspection, selling it in the early bird January market in just in 11 days.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-north+bondi-124530274" target="_blank">The five bedroom, three bathroom home</a> on a 460 sqm corner parcel features a tropical garden with gas heated pool.
Trudy, who founded Elite Introductions in 2005, paid $2.95 million for the property in 2013 when it was bought from former NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal.
The sale was secured by Century 21 Rose Bay's Danny Taylor and Jeff Freund, who gave a guide of $4.2 million.
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Millionaire matchmaker's North Bondi home sold

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The garish 1920s Bondi manor of chiropractor Kevin Du-Val has sold after price hopes were reduced to $2.64 million.
Birrell Street Manor, one of Bondi's most recognisable properties, hit the market with a $2.7 million guide last month through Sweetnams Real Estate Balgowlah’s selling agent Steven Forshaw.
Featured recently on Channel 9's Unreal Estate, the ground floor of the home has been used as a chiropractic clinic as well as a residence.
Set on a corner 205 sqm parcel, the freestanding terrace has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and separate lounge and family rooms.
There's an extra external kitchen and barbecue area outside with a spa.
Du-Val has thrown lavish parties over his ownership, which has seen the Village People and late singer songwriter Peter Allen grace the home. 
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Bondi's Birrell Street Manor sells

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Weekend bidding showed signs of the frenzy typically seen in the televised auctions of The Block.
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At Bondi Beach - 13 years since the renovation series began and eight doors along - a dilapidated stripped-bare one-bedroom unit fetched a stellar $961,000.
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The buyer was a family from nearby Dover Heights who will lease it out after they renovate the apartment with no car space. 
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<div>"It went berserk," McGrath selling agent Simon Exleton told Fairfax Media. </div>
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The Sunday Telegraph reported there were more than 50 registered bidders. 
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-bondi+beach-123490502" target="_blank">The Bondi Beach one bedroom apartment</a> was 60 sq m with sunroom.
The first floor unit last for $54,500 in 1986, reflecting just shy of 10 percent annual price growth.
A renovated offering in the block of 16 apartments sold for $770,000 a few months ago.  
The price guide for 6/85 Roscoe Street - just one block from the iconic beach - was $660,000 with the auction opening with a $720,000 opening bid.
Even a Richmond cottage that failed to sell in its televised auction on The Block’s first Melbourne season fared well at weekend auction fetching $1.32 million.
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The three bedroom 41 Cameron Street workers cottage renovated by sisters Katrina Chambers and Amie Godde last fetched $860,000 in 2011, a few days after the televised event. 
RT Edgar Hawthorn had the house with a price guide of $1 million to $1.1 million. 
With annualised price growth of 8.7 percent, it sold at $70,000 over reserve, one of the 1090 offerings across Melbourne, according to CoreLogic.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Bondi Beach's $961,000 one bedder doer-upper

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) official Brian Parker has announced his union is banning work on the art-deco redevelopment of Sydney’s historic Bondi Pavilion. The work is part of a A$38 million “refurbishment” that residents – including actor Jack Thompson and musician Dave Faulkner – are concerned is designed to privatise public space.
But why is the CFMEU sticking its neck out over these issues, which overwhelmingly do not impact its blue-collar base?
To answer this question, it’s important to look at who joined Parker on the platform at a recent rally – veteran unionist, ex-Communist and conservationist Jack Mundey. Mundey is a Sydney folk hero. He popularised the term “green ban” – which the CFMEU has dubbed its recent efforts to save Sydney’s heritage – in the 1970s.
Today, opponents of the West Village development in Brisbane, WestConnex in Sydney and the recently halted East West Link in Melbourne are all asking similar questions to those of the 1970s. Why are multibillion-dollar projects put ahead of green spaces and affordable housing? And why do ordinary people so rarely get a say over the cities they inhabit?
The story of Mundey’s union, the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF), and its successful campaigns to save historic locations like The Rocks and green spaces like Kelly’s Bush shows why this radical heritage speaks to contemporary Australia.
<h2>Civilising the industry</h2>
Mundey came to prominence when the Australian construction industry was booming. Meredith and Verity Burgmann note that new building approvals across the country soared from A$1.7 billion in 1966 to A$2.9 billion in 1971. This meant inner suburbs and CBDs were being remade with new construction.
Boom times for construction also meant boom times for building unions: workers were in demand and in a better position to bargain. The BLF in New South Wales gained in both members and power during this period. This allowed it to rethink the role of unionism.
But the BLF members didn’t just discover a green thumb and decide to be the saviours of inner Sydney. They were among the most exploited of workers: low-skilled, often from migrant backgrounds, and working in an unsafe industry with low rates of pay.
When Mundey and his supporters won control of the union in 1968, they first turned to “civilising” the industry. This included both significant improvements in health and safety and the use of militant tactics to win wage parity with other workers in the industry.
Fixing these basic issues was a requirement for workers to consider more socially conscious demands.
When workers were later interviewed, they revealed Mundey nurtured a rapport through these traditional trade union struggles, which got members onside for the wave of green bans to follow. The unashamedly working-class BLF began to adopt issues beyond “normal” trade union politics.
<h2>Housewives meet unionists</h2>
Among the union’s first “bans” took place after the Battlers for Kelly’s Bush – an all-female committee from well-to-do Hunters Hill – cautiously approached the BLF in June 1971 to save one of Sydney’s last remaining harbourside green spaces.
The women were initially reluctant. Images of macho builders' labourers violently picketing sites and sawing down goalposts at the SCG prior to a controversial Springboks rugby game were fresh in their memories. Similar images are associated with the CFMEU today; their members are regularly labelled thugs, gangsters and criminals.
However, the Hunters Hill committee was impressed by an initial meeting with BLF official Bob Pringle, who proposed a union ban on the site.
Committee members remember the BLF as having political and social “vision”. But Mundey remembers the decision to place the ban as divisive for his newly democratised union:
Some opined that since [builders' labourers] couldn’t afford to live in Hunters Hill … we should not become involved.
It was, however, “quality of life” issues that won the day. Mundey was successfully able to sway his members by posing the issue as one of:
… [a] millionaire developer, hell-bent on building luxury homes and apartments for the fortunate few at the expense of the many who would lose a natural outdoor space of beauty and recreational value.
Workers were increasingly realising that rather than just being passive victims of urban development, they could and should be able to have a voice in the fate of the cities they were building.
The BLF approved the first green ban at the request of a 600-strong community meeting. Such consultation became a hallmark of its politics.
The union undertook similar bans in working-class suburbs like The Rocks, Woolloomooloo and Surry Hills – not only as “the builders’ labourers could identify easily with the people affected”, but because they had pioneered a politics that put preserving urban spaces ahead of developers’ profits.
The BLF’s 1975 deregistration by an alliance of government, bosses and rival unions capped off this period of experimentation.
<h2>The ‘right to the city’?</h2>
Clearly, the example of Mundey, the BLF and the green social consciousness they pioneered speaks to contemporary Australia.
A lack of rental affordability, spiralling house prices and continuing sell-offs of prime public land for development make the slogan of “people before profits” eminently appealing. Yet today’s industrial relations landscape is marked by significant restrictions and penalties for strike action.
The return of limited green bans could complement a broader strategy, perhaps borrowing divestment strategies from the climate change and refugee rights movements. Union super funds provide significant funding to construction projects, and an activist union might choose carefully – in consultation with communities – which ones are deserving of their members’ money.
In so doing, we might start to make a better, more liveable city.
Jon Puccini is UQ research fellow, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jon-piccini-202430" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Bondi Pavilion ‘green ban’: why revive an old union heritage protection tactic?

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Two private local investors have snapped up separate boarding houses in Bondi Junction for $2.25 million each, reinforcing the view that Sydney’s eastern suburbs are one of the city’s most sought-after investment areas for boarding houses. 
Both 2B Ben Eden Street and <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-nsw-bondi+junction-501635489" target="_blank">89 Old South Head Road</a> were offered to the market separately or in one line. 
The sales represent yields of 4.2% for Ben Eden Street and 4.6% for Old South Head Road.  
The selling agents were Tony Braham and Simon Lytton of CBRE’s Metropolitan Investment Properties team. 
The 242 square metre site at 2B Ben Eden Street offers six self-contained modern studio apartments, each with its own bathroom and kitchenette, whilst the 272 square metre Victorian terrace at 89 Old South Head Road offers11 rooms over two levels. 
The sites benefit from R3 Medium Density Residential zoning, providing future development potential. 
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