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.

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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

Caringbah South

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The Feros Hotel Group has bought Highfield Caringbah, the modern bistro and sports bar, for around $15 million.
Feros Hotel Group, who also run The Terrey Hills Tavern and Potts Point Liquor, were the tenants of the premises at <a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1MsQ8lDBqOLeGnfqPgIdmzmVW8USMH2yRIkL23sKlvcw9AAv2bvY52GmBAZy16vj3DwUuonGW8rSPNlY+IBAk29Rqkhsq7NIhj/eLAv7JpZH4lmUg0pxGF1IkmoZw/p+yg==&amp;rh=ff0051548225348a722f5b8b9b45b797708c0ed0" target="_blank">32 Banksi</a><a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1MsQ8lDBqOLeGnfqPgIdmzmVW8USMH2yRIkL23sKlvcw9AAv2bvY52GmBAZy16vj3DwUuonGW8rSPNlY+IBAk29Rqkhsq7NIhj/eLAv7JpZH4lmUg0pxGF1IkmoZw/p+yg==&amp;rh=ff0051548225348a722f5b8b9b45b797708c0ed0" target="_blank">a Road</a> in Sydney’s south.
Feros spent around $12 million in 2017 on major capital works and a fit-out.
The former workers' club, which homes Ugly Pizza, Huxley's, Public House and The Botanical, as well as a Sports TAB and gaming space, was offered with a double net lease with a net passing income of $589,104 + GST.
Spanning three levels, the building with 3,070 sqm of net lettable area on its 1,025 sqm land, has future development potential to add accomodation and an additional rooftop bar. 
Ray White Commercial NSW – Sydney City Fringe agents Kristian Morris and Justin Rose secured the sale.   Morris said there was strong interest throughout the campaign and the final sale price represented a sub-four per cent yield.
<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/2019/9/10/Highfield%20Caringbah%202.jpg" alt="">   “This was a well-executed campaign with 85 direct enquiries, 15 different groups inspecting the property and multiple parties interested close to the four per cent yield mark,” he said.   “Buyers saw the value in such a long lease (15-years plus options totalling up to 60 years with ratchet clause in favour of the lessor) and strong covenant. “Hotel assets that are subject to such a long lease don't come up very often and this resulted in such a tight cap rate 
Rose added that the property was an outstanding three-storey mixed-use hospitality asset with four separate but interconnecting dining experiences.   “It’s rare to have such a long and secure lease to a group that’s committed to the area, and it provided the right buyer with an investment seldom offered to the market,” he said.   “These freehold subject-to-lease (FSTL) opportunities are rarely available and it offered a stress-free and hassle-free annuity income stream, with the tenant paying 100 per cent of the outgoings and running costs.   “It’s close to the Caringbah Town shopping centre and major retailers such as Coles, Woolworths, McDonald's and is just 150* metres to Caringbah train station.”
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Feros Hotel Group snap up Highfield Caringbah for around $15 million

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Despite the emerging property price recovery across Sydney, former NRL star Ben Barba has sold in the Sutherland Shire at a big loss.
His former Caringbah South home quietly sold for $1,085,000, nearly $100,000 less than the $1.18 million he paid in 2014 — just two years into Sydney’s five-year boom.
Barba bought the two-bedroom home a month after signing a three-year contract with the Cronulla Sharks.
Fast-forward five years and the former fullback has been deregistered from the NRL.
He is reported to be working in Mackay and playing football for Mackay Rangers.
The Caringbah South home became a $1000-a-week investment when Barba left to play in France and England.
He later signed with North Queensland but his contract was terminated before he played a game after video emerged of an alleged altercation with his girlfriend at a casino.
The NRL later deregistered Barba, effectively handing him a life ban, and he pleaded guilty to public nuisance.
He was sentenced to community service but was not convicted.
Barba is still seeking a buyer for his Brisbane investment house, at offers over $849,000 for the four-bedroom home he paid $769,000 for in 2013.
In 2017 he sold a Caringbah South investment unit for $600,000, after paying $425,000 in 2012.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph. 
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firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

Ben Barba makes big loss on former Shire home

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Having completed their first residential development project together, former Bulldog team mates Josh Reynolds and Michael Lichaa have quickly snapped up another project.
They've paid $2.5 million for a four bedroom Caringbah South knockdown that sits on a large 1,310 sqm parcel, a few doors down from their first dual occupancy project that has recently come up for sale.
Their first purchase was February last year when they spent $1.5 million on a 710 sqm development site on Percival Road.
One of the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-duplex+semi-detached-nsw-caringbah+south-126627966" target="_blank">recently completed homes</a> is a being marketed as a designer dwelling by Greg Gilbert Real Estate agent Greg Gilbert, who has a price guide of $1.95 million to $2.05 million.
Finished with polished concrete floors and custom joinery, the contemporary home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
<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/2017/12/12/caring2.jpg" alt="">
A private west facing courtyard comes with lawns, a deck and an in-ground plunge pool.
Their new $2.5 million purchase is set to be ramp up their efforts. It came with approval for construction of four townhouses with four swimming pools.
The two were good mates at the Bulldogs and it looked like both would be moving on at the end of the season. 
Reynolds signed a big four-year contract to the Wests Tigers and Lichaa was released by the club.
Then in an extraordinary turnaround, having said goodbye to the club, Lichaa was handed a new contract a few weeks later, re-signing on a two-year deal.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
 
  
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NRL mates buy complete development project and buy another

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Following his move to the English Super League last month, former Cronulla Sharks star Ben Barba has listed his Sutherland Shire investment property for sale.
Barba's decision to sell the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-caringbah-125526622" target="_blank">Caringbah investment apartment</a> comes after he recently leased his own home, not far away at Caringbah South for $1,000 a week.
The flying fullback will get a nice earn from the 84 sqm apartment.
His playing future is now in the UK, after Barba was told by French club Toulan, who he signed a lucrative two and a half year deal with in January, that he was no longer needed by the club. 
There is a price guidance of $620,000 to $660,000 for the two bedroom apartment with updated kitchen and bathroom.
The fullback had paid $425,000 in 2012 when he was at the Bulldogs.
It was available at $420 a week in March.
The marketing suggested the tenants are happy to stay on for the new buyer.
Century 21 Cronulla David Wolfhart has the listing which faces competition from the renovated top floor unit of the block that has $649,950 hopes.
<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/2017/06/04/13_11-13%20Curtis%20Street-2.jpg" alt="">
Barba's decision to sell the apartment comes after he recently leased his former two bedroom Caringbah home.
He paid $1.18 million for the home in 2014 following his brief stint at the Brisbane Broncos.
Barba was recently told by French club Toulan, who he signed a lucrative two and a half year deal with in January, that he was no longer needed by the club. 
There was brief speculation he was set to return to Australia after inking a one year deal for the 2017 NRL season at the Sharks.
His fall from grace came last October shortly after he starred in Cronulla's maiden Grand Final win over Melbourne Storm.
The 2012 Dally M Medal winner failed a drugs test after the celebrations and was hit with a 12-match ban in the NRL.
Barba was spotted at the Super League Magic Weekend - an annual event in the English Super League in which an entire round of matches is played over a weekend at one stadium.
He signed for St Helens, previously led by Bulldogs captain James Graham. Newly-appointed coach Justin Holbrook worked with Barba at the Bulldogs when he was the assistant coach.
St Helens are seeking to get Barba's drugs ban reduced, however the 12 match ban will still stand should he return to the NRL.
The article was first published in the Saturday Telegraph.
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