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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

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

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

Chinese Buyers

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/66750/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Gina Rinehart has partnered with a Chinese company to buy the giant Kidman pastoral empire, after two previous bids by Chinese buyers were rejected by the federal government.
Under the proposed sale Hancock Prospecting and Shanghai CRED are forming a joint venture company, Australian Outback Beef (AOB), owned 67 percent by Hancock and 33 percent by Shanghai CRED.
The sale is worth a net $365 million after the carve out of Anna Creek station in South Australia, valued at about $14-$18 million.
Of three bids for the Kidman land, this is the first with majority Australian interests. The privately owned Shanghai CRED was involved in the earlier bids, both of which were knocked out by Treasurer Scott Morrison. It has recently bought land in Western Australia.
But the offer must run the gauntlet of the federal government’s foreign investment regime which means being examined by the Foreign Investment Review Board, with approval or rejection then up to Morrison. It is also subject to various Chinese government approvals.
It is thought this bid, with its majority local ownership, is likely to be better placed than the earlier ones to navigate the hurdles.
Its 33% foreign ownership is marginally below the 33.9% present foreign ownership – mostly British - of Kidman.
Gina Rinehart is also very close to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who has been a critic of the Chinese push for Australian land.
The offer is conditional on the sell off of Anna Creek and the Peake, an associated property, to other Australian grazing interests.
Anna Creek overlaps the Woomera test area and security considerations were key to the rejection of the first of the two previous bids, although the total amount of land involved was also a major factor.
The rejection of the second bid came shortly before the federal election, when Chinese investment was seen as an issue.
The Kidman empire has 19 individual properties operated as 12 enterprises, including 10 cattle stations, a bull breeding stud and a feedlot.
It has pastoral leases covering 101,000 square kilometres across South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland, and an average herd carrying capacity of 185,000 cattle.
Rinehart, chairman of the Hancock group, said: “Kidman is an iconic cattle business established more than a century ago by Sir Sidney Kidman. It is an operation founded on hard work and perseverance by an outstanding Australian, and it is an important part of Australia’s pioneering and entrepreneurial history.”
The CEO of Hancock, Garry Korte, said the quality of the Kidman herd and channel company properties would complement Hancock’s existing northern cattle properties, and align well with Rinehart’s plans to build a diversified cattle holding in Australia. The Hancock family started their first cattle station in north west Australia.
Principal of Shanghai CRED, Gui Guojie, said partnering with leading local business Hancock had already proved a productive approach and he looked forward to having the opportunity to work with Hancock through the Kidman investment.
The Kidman business went on the market nearly 18 months ago and more than 600 interested parties have held discussions with the sales manager Ernst and Young.
Michelle Grattan is professorial fellow, University of Canberra, and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-grattan-20316" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Scott Morrison to rule on Hancock-Chinese bid for Kidman cattle empire

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A recent flurry of close to $50 million worth of commercial property transactions in South West Sydney will pave the way for a wave of new development over the next decade.
CBRE’s Investment &amp; Development Properties team has transacted $44.45 million in commercial property over the past four weeks, underpinned by a resurgence of Chinese buyers swooping on development grade stock across the region.
In Edmondson Park, a Chinese investor secured a 10 acre site at 132-150 Croatia Avenue for $14 million.
A high rise apartment and townhouse project is mooted for the site, which is located on the door-step of the Edmondson Park train station.
CBRE’s Thomas Mosca said the sale was evidence of strengthening investment appetite levels for development grade stock in Sydney’s high growth areas.
“Over the past several months, there has been a significant uplift in enquiry from both local and offshore developers for secure opportunities in South West Sydney’s hottest growth areas,” Mr Mosca explained.
“We are starting to see a number of development applications in both Austral and Edmondson Park - further reinforcing the belief that these two suburbs will developed before the larger centre of Leppington, which is still many years from flourishing.
Further evidencing the trend, a separate Chinese investor secured a 22,000sqm mixed use development site in Austral for $13.95 million.
Situated along Edmondson Avenue, the property has been earmarked for redevelopment over the coming years, with potential to accommodate a mix of residential and commercial upon completion. 
“The majority of recent property sales in this south western pocket have been secured by Chinese purchasers looking to land-bank these opportunities and bring them into fruition once the timing for these areas is right,” Mr Mosca said.
“The developable potential of stock is pivotal to the recent flurry of transactions, with buyers hungry for sites that offer scope for both present and future development.”
He added The bulk of demand is for properties that can accommodate house and land style packages, "while there is also a more niche group of buyers seeking properties that can accommodate high-rise sites.”
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Chinese interest in house and land sites in South West Sydney

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There are nine Melbourne properties worth $8.6 million are up for sale because foreign investors bought them illegally.
Chinese buyers must sell a luxury five-bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/12-14-caserta-drive-berwick-vic/property-details-sold-residential-6345279/" target="_blank">Caserta Drive, Berwick house</a>, bought in 2014 for $1.6 million, according to the Herald Sun.
It sits on 8362sq m.
The properties also include a $2 million two-storey home in Brookfield bought by a Chinese buyer in the ATO/FIRB crackdown on breaches of foreign investment laws.
Treasurer Scott Morrison announced today the sale of 16 properties in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, worth more than $14 million. The dearest in Sydney was a York Street, Sydney apartment owned by a UK investor. 
The most expensive property on the list was the $1.68 million apartment in the Sydney CBD owned by a UK national. 
Two properties in Manly worth $1.6 million and $1.1 million were also in breach, owned by Canadian nationals. 
The purchase price of 46 residential properties divested during the past three years ­total $92 million plus.
Since last December, foreigners who buy real estate outside the rules lose any profit from the forced sale. There will also be a penalty of 10 per cent of the purchase price.
Mr Morrison said at least 25 investors had self-divested, which showed a change in behaviour.
In Melbourne, Chinese ­purchasers of homes in Melton ($950,000), Wantirna ($576,000) and Blackburn ($885,000) have been found to have bought them illegally.
A Malaysian owner of two properties, each worth more than $600,000, must also put them on the market.
"The foreign investors either purchased established residential property without Foreign Investment Review Board approval, or had approval but their circumstances changed, meaning they were breaking the rules," Mr Morrison said.
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Nine FIRB divestitures ordered across Melbourne

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The 2015 sale of the Hunters Hill trophy home of Cate Blanchett and her husband Andrew Upton has collapsed. 
The buyer, understood to live in Point Piper, claims problems getting their funds out of China, highlighting an emerging issue for Australian prestige property owners.
The historic residence, Bulwarra sold for $19.8 million last August on delayed settlement terms, just three weeks after hitting the market.
The celebrity couple, wanting to avoid a circus agreed to further time extensions, having since bought in the United Kingdom.
Their redundant 3642-square-metre North Parade estate has been relisted by Ken Jacobs of Christie’s International who will be seeking $20 million, no doubt calling those who missed out.
After returning to Sydney to perform in the Sydney Theatre Company's production of Hedda Gabler, Blanchett, often with her writer husband, Andrew Upton, began looking for their new Sydney house in 2004. After being bombarded with inquiries from pesky estate agents, the couple took the decision to sign up buyer's agency adviser, Deborah West.
Blanchett and Upton purchased the property on nine month delayed settlement terms for $10 million in 2005 from veteran merchant banker Jim Dominguez and his wife Suzanne, and subsequently spent more than $8 million on a three-year redesign by architects Nadine Alwill and Stephen Lesiuk .
The sales' contract collapse matter could be headed for the courts depending on the resale price now secured. Deborah West got huge billing as the agent to the stars after last August's sale.
“High profile clients come to us to escape the circus that is the Sydney property market," she then advised.
"They want confidentiality, discretion and privacy,” said West.
A home sales contract to an offshore Chinese buyer is no guarantee of yielding a settlement, as Property Observer has previously written when the on-off issue of getting funds out of China arose. 
The size of the Cate Blanchett deposit is not known.
The Oscar winner and her husband bought a high-rise bolthole in The Astor on Macquarie Street as their intended Sydney base.
The price is undisclosed however Yellow Brick Road and Celebrity Apprentice boss Mark Bouris wanted $8 million for the apartment.
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Cate Blanchett's $20 million buyer opts out of the Hunters Hill purchase

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An review by ASIC into advertising targeting Chinese speaking home buyers has prompted four mortgage broking firms to change their home loan advertising.
The mortgage broking firms which published the advertising are:
Ace Mortgage Market Pty Ltd (also known as 袁翹新會計師), located in Parramatta, NSW;
Aus Realty Group Pty Ltd (also known as 澳人信貸), located in Hurstville, NSW;
Apex Finance &amp; Mortgage and its business owner (also known as 聯通信貸), located in Burwood, NSW; and
Trans Australia Mortgage Finance Pty Ltd (trading as Apple Home Loans, 全盛信), located in Burwood and Chatswood, NSW.
The range of concerns contained in the advertisements targeting Chinese speaking home buyers included:
<ul>
<li>representations in Chinese such as 'lowest fixed rate' and 'no proof of income' – which may be false and misleading statements, or indicate a breach of the responsible lending obligations,</li>
<li>heavy reliance  on disclaimers (such as 'terms and conditions apply') that did not explain qualifying terms and conditions in the same advertising. Also, promoters tended to advertise benefits in Chinese language, but stated the disclaimers and qualifications in English, when the advertising was aimed at non-English speaking consumers,</li>
<li>failure to disclose the required comparison rate when quoting an annual percentage interest rate,</li>
<li>failure to  disclose the required warning about the accuracy of the comparison rates, and</li>
<li>failure by their promoters to regularly review the advertisements  to ensure accuracy and compliance with the law.</li>
</ul>
ASIC Deputy Chair Peter Kell said the Australian Consumer Law applies to all advertising, including advertising in foreign languages.
"Consumers who are unable to understand written English are likely to be more reliant on advertising in their native language when in need of a financial product," he said.
"Promoters should ensure that their advertising is up to date and complies with the law. If the majority of the advertising is in a foreign language, the warnings, disclaimers or qualifications should be prominently disclosed in the same advertising and explained in that same language.
"ASIC will continue to monitor all forms of advertising, including advertising targeted at non-English speaking consumers', Mr Kell said.
To assist consumers from a non-English speaking background, a range of publications, including the Home Loans credit factsheet, are available in 26 different languages on the <a href="https://www.moneysmart.gov.au" target="_blank">MoneySmart website</a>.
Background 
As part of the review,  ASIC took action against four entities about their advertising, as follows.
Ace Mortgage Market Pty Ltd (also known as 袁翹新會計師) claimed that a person could apply for a low doc loan without proof of income. This advertising was drafted prior to the responsible lending obligations introduced in the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009, but Ace Mortgage continued to use the same advertising in its 2016 campaign. ASIC was concerned about potential breaches of the responsible lending obligations and possible false and misleading statements.
Following ASIC's concerns, Ace Mortgage has agreed to remove its advertising.
Aus Realty Group Pty Ltd (also known as 澳人信貸) claimed its 4.14%* as "Australia lowest fixed rate". This advertising was potentially misleading as ASIC had seen examples on the market at the time the advertisements were published where lenders were offering a fixed rate lower than 4.14%. The 4.14% interest rate was followed by an * and a statement, *Terms and Conditions Apply. The advertisement did not explain the relevant terms and conditions. The advertisement also included other potentially misleading representations including "guarantee to get the lowest mortgage interest rate for clients*, biggest credit centre in the South (Sydney) and biggest cash rebates."  The advertisement contained comparison rates; however, they were in small font and not prominently disclosed. 
Following ASIC's concerns, Aus Realty agreed to amend its advertising.
Apex Finance &amp; Mortgage and its business owner (also known as 聯通信貸) claimed that its 4.99%* is the lowest fixed interest rate. The 4.99% rate was followed with a * and there was a statement that *Terms and Conditions Apply but the advertisement did not explain the relevant terms and conditions. The advertisement contained a comparison rate; however, the rate was in small font and was not accompanied by a warning about the accuracy of the comparison rate. The business owner is an authorised representative of Australian Finance Group Ltd, the holder of an Australian credit licence.
Following ASIC's concerns, the business owner agreed to remove its advertising, and confirmed that their future advertising will be reviewed and approved by their licensee, Australian Finance Group Ltd. 
Trans Australia Mortgage Finance Pty Ltd (trading as Apple Home Loans, 全盛信貸) was promoting a 3.98% weekly recommended fixed interest rate, 4.13%* residential variable rate and 3.98%* residential fixed rate. However, Apple Home Loans failed to quote the relevant comparison rates and did not include warnings about comparison rates. Two of these rates were followed by a * but the Advertisement did not contain any relevant disclaimers and/or qualifications.
Following ASIC's concerns, Trans Australia agreed to amend its advertising.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

ASIC targets misleading Chinese language home loan advertising

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LYZ Property Group, a subsidiary of Chinese developer Hengmao Group, has reportedly paid $88,888,888 million for Computershare's headquarters in Melbourne.
The Abbotsford headquarters was sold in a leaseback deal.
It was thought the property could fetch around $80 million but fared the especially auspicious price after competitive interest.
Computershare has a seven-year, triple net leaseback with options until 2029. The starting rent will total $5.3 million annually for the two-level office building at 452-484 Johnston Street that comprises around 16,000 square metres of office space, with 485 car spaces.
The property sits on 16,920 sq m with frontage to the Yarra River.
A Chinese family family paid $8,888,888 for a small office building on Melbourne's Collins Street last year.
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Melbourne office block sells at $88,888,888 

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The Chinese purchasing of offshore property will increase in 2016, according to an industry survey.
According to Investorist, an online platform for off-the-plan sales, a poll of China-based real estate agencies found 149 of 150 of them expect to see a spending spree exceed that of 2015.
Australia was nominated by 60 percent of those agents as their most preferred market for property investment, The Australian Financial Review has reported.
Those agents will sell up to 11,000 offshore properties to their Chinese clients this year.
China is now Australia's largest foreign investor, with $46.6 billion in proposed investment in 2015, according to the Foreign Investment Review Board.
Real estate investment comprised the bulk of Chinese investment, with $24 billion spent in 2015, double that of the previous year.
The Investorist survey suggests that risk mitigation is the main reason Chinese investors are looking abroad.
The devaluation of the Chinese yuan against the US dollar has reduced the buying power of Chinese investors in the US and Britain, whilst the Chinese government has been attempting to put the brakes on offshore investment in a bid to shore ip its waking currency. 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Chinese offshore purchase to increase in 2016

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GUEST OBSERVER
Marketing to Chinese consumers is a hot topic for all businesses across different sectors.
 A common misperception for businesses is that they need to be in China to sell to Chinese consumers. This has prompted developers and agencies to invest in roadshows, exhibitions and seminars at China’s prime real estate and events, only to result in expensive failures.
With the growing Chinese population in Australia, sellers need not look too far in reaching out to their prospective Chinese buyers. At ACproperty.com.au we believe there are 3 reasons why you should begin your marketing locally before embarking on overseas marketing investments.
1. Chinese buyers rely on word of mouth recommendations from Australians
The most effective and efficient way of marketing to mainland Chinese buyers is to build a loyal following among the local Chinese communities, who can endorse your brand. Most prospective mainland Chinese buyers have friends and relatives living in Australia. This is one of the biggest reasons that influences their decision to migrate to Australia. The first thing most of them will do is to speak their relatives living in Australia, to understand which area is suitable for their lifestyle and to gain recommendations on property investments, developers or real estate agents.
Glen Waverly High and Balwyn High are classic examples on the success of word of mouth recommendations. None of the schools have advertised in China, yet every prospective mainland Chinese buyers would have heard of Glen Waverley and Balwyn School zones.
Speaking from experience, ACproperty.com.au has been enjoying tremendous success as evident from our 65 percent growth of inbound traffic from China for the past 3 years, while mainly concentrating our marketing efforts on the local Chinese communities and student associations.
2. Chinese migrants in Australia are buying properties too
A significant amount of our web traffic is from high quality leads in Australia. Agents and developers alike will find a group of high conversion Chinese customers right under their noses. The value in targeting this group grows exponentially once we realise that this is the same group that will be recommending your brand to their peers overseas.
3. Chinese buyers want authentic and unbiased local property information
A consistent piece of feedback we receive from our users is that when buying Australian property, they prefer to access an Australian site (vs. Chinese-based sites) so they can access vital local Australian market experience. Our Chinese Concierge Team are constantly receiving calls from buyers wanting to validate information they receive from Chinese sources, which they perceive as biased or incomplete.
To successfully capture the Chinese market, developers and agents should first market to the local Chinese communities, cultivating a loyal following before expanding into overseas marketing. Not only are they potential buyers, they are also huge influencers of their overseas peers. Chinese buyers also view Australian sites and sources as more trustworthy and knowledgeable. 
Australian agents and developers should leverage this inherent credibility to reach international customers and ensure their brand is top of mind among the Chinese community to successfully capture the Chinese market.
Esther Yong is director of <a href="https://www.acproperty.com.au" target="_blank">ACproperty.com.au</a>.
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 Market locally first to reach China: ACproperty's Esther Yong

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The boss of the diversified property group Mirvac expects fewer Asia-based buyers, as the company delivered a 69 percent increase in profit to $472 million.
Its chief executive Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz said the residential property market had passed an "inflection point" and said the commercial property market was "nearing the end of the cap rate compression cycle." 
"We are keeping a keen eye on the property cycle," Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz said last week when Mirvac Group reported its interim results for the half year ended 31 December 2015.
But she noted NSW had a "stronger for longer construction cycle" being underpinned by broad new infrastructure projects.
<a href="/images/2016/02/15/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-15%20at%208.44.03%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/15/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-15%20at%208.44.03%20AM.png" alt="">
It has $877 million of residential pre-sales expected to settle in 2H16 after strong 1H16 residential gross margins of 25.3%, driven by outperformance of Sydney MPC projects and Melbourne apartments.
The group achieved record $2.6 billion of pre-sales, up from $2 billion at FY15 including securing 88% and 73% of expected FY16 and FY17 Development EBIT respectively, driven by record level of residential pre-sales.
Noting its resilience through brand equity — and a hgh level of repeat buyers with up to 25% of sales on some projects - the updated noted it had maintained its long-term average of less than 1% defaults.
<a href="/images/2016/02/15/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-15%20at%208.45.49%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/15/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-15%20at%208.45.49%20AM.png" alt="">
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
Most analysts, according to the Australian Financial Review, focused their questions during the results briefing on the security of Mirvac's apartment settlements especially to offshore buyers.
"We do expect some moderation of offshore demand but we expect to see continued investor and owner occupier demand from Asia but at a little lower rate than last year," Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz said.
Some 14 percent of Mirvac's lot settlements went to offshore buyers and each addition purchase over 20 per cent of a project has to be given special individual approval by group executive for residential development John Carfi, it emerged.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
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Expecting fewer Asian buyers, Mirvac keeping a keen eye on the property cycle

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Ausin Group (Ausin) has opened two new offices in China to cash in on the growing demand from China buyers for new Australian properties.
The offices are based in Dalian and Chengdu, which takes its total number to 15 offices in China.
Ausin employs over 500 staff working across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland and London.
“In the past 12 months, Ausin has witnessed an increasing appetite for new Australian properties from investors in tier two cities which are those considered to have high growth potential," said Joseph Zaja, the group's managing director.
“Ausin is expanding into growing cities which are the engine rooms for development in the future. China’s middle class is growing and much of that progress can be seen in tier two cities.”
Chengdu has the most number of universities and research institutes in southwestern China with 49 colleges and universities. In 2010, over 140,000 students graduated from these institutes.
According to a nationwide appraisal by the National Bureau of Statistics, Dalian ranks eighth among Chinese cities in terms of overall strength. The city’s main industries include machine manufacturing, petrochemicals and oil refining, and electronics.
“Australian property is looking very lucrative to Chinese buyers for several reasons. These include the growing middle class seeking safe havens outside China to invest their money, the clean livability of the cities and world-class universities which are in close proximity to CBD areas. The value of the Australian dollar against the yuan also makes the country a favourable investment destination.”
Ausin sells premium investment properties for Australian property players including Stockland, Mirvac, Lendlease, Intrapac, Cedar Woods and Setia.
This month a new joint-venture was unveiled by Villa World to deliver a residential community in the fast-growing suburb of Rochedale, on Brisbane's southside in partnership with Ausin.
Villa World had previously purchased a number of land parcels in Rochedale to form a 8.7 hectare site which it planned to develop as a land-only offering.
As part of a joint venture arrangement with Ausin Rochedale Pty Ltd ATF Ausin Rochedale Trust, Villa World will build the 148 premium residences planned for the site, to be offered under traditional progress-payment contracts.
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