Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pdg-corporation">PDG</a> has unveiled its vision for the former Water Tank Site in Ivanhoe, which would see it transformed into a thriving residential neighbourhood, complete with a 2000 sqm public park.&nbsp;

Delivered in partnership with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/development-victoria">Development Victoria</a>, the proposal would transform the prominent corner of Bell Street and Upper Heidelberg Road into a connected community comprising two residential buildings, generous public open space and shared amenities.&nbsp;

The vision includes 287 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with a minimum of 10 per cent allocated to affordable housing, alongside a 2,000-square-metre publicly accessible park featuring a children's playground, activity lawn, indigenous planting, timber climbing logs, seating areas and a rock gathering circle.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dko-architecture">DKO Architecture</a>, the proposal draws on the site's industrial heritage, using a robust architectural language that references the former water tank through expressive structural elements and durable, self-finished materials.&nbsp;

Extensive landscaping has been woven throughout the development, creating a living landscape that strengthens connections to nature while responding sensitively to the surrounding neighbourhood. Two residential buildings ranging from three to 12 storeys are linked by a landscaped forecourt, creating a welcoming arrival experience and improving pedestrian connections through the site.&nbsp;

Residents would also enjoy more than 1,000 square metres of communal open space, including barbecue and dining facilities, vegetable gardens, landscaped seating pavilions and a dedicated coworking space.&nbsp;

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the vision reflected an opportunity to transform one of Ivanhoe's most recognisable sites into a place that balanced housing, community and landscape.&nbsp;

"This is an opportunity to reimagine an important site and create a neighbourhood that delivers lasting benefits for Ivanhoe," Giuliano said.&nbsp;

"We're creating much more than new homes. The vision brings together affordable housing, quality architecture, meaningful public open space and shared places that encourage people to connect, while respecting the site's history and its place within the local community."&nbsp;

Development Victoria’s Executive General Manager Precincts, Niall Cunningham, said the application is an important step for the government-owned site.&nbsp;

“This is about delivering more homes in a well-connected location, along with public open space that the Ivanhoe community will benefit from for years to come,” Cunningham said.&nbsp;

PDG was selected as development partner in late 2025 following a competitive tender process.&nbsp;

A planning submission for the project is currently being progressed through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program, with positive early engagement from both Banyule Council and the Department of Transport and Planning.

Joel Robinson

PDG unveils plans to transform landmark Ivanhoe Water Tank Site

Shane Wilkinson's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pace-development-group">Pace Development Group</a> has lodged plans for a major residential precinct on the former Presentation College site in Windsor, with an eight-building masterplan ultimately rising to 10 storeys.

The proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/167-dandenong-road-windsor-vic-3181">167–187 Dandenong Road</a> spans a substantial 19,027 sqm site and is being progressed across six stages, with the first residential stages comprising 170 homes across four buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a>.

Stage Two will deliver the bulk of the initial housing, with Building A comprising 81 apartments and Building B 49 apartments, both rising to six storeys.

Stage Three will deliver a further 40 homes. The heritage Nagel Building, identified as Building C, will be converted to 12 dwellings, while a new five-storey Building D will comprise 28 apartments at the Hornby Street and Dandenong Road corner.

The 170 homes across Stages Two and Three will include a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including townhouse-style dwellings.<img alt="First look: Pace plans landscaped housing precinct on former Windsor school site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="83c56e3e-dfb9-4e12-b172-c3f18513ec32" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_9.png?VersionId=xRcRpSZsxX.UX_NDDGcRZktw7HVrzx7u" />

&nbsp;

The longer-term masterplan points to considerably greater density across the site.

Indicative plans show Building E accommodating around 80 dwellings across up to 10 storeys, while Building F is earmarked for around 120 dwellings and also up to 10 storeys. Building G is planned to range between four and 10 storeys, however its apartment yield is yet to be determined. That means the masterplan currently identifies at least 370 dwellings across Buildings A to F before any apartments within Building G are counted.

Across the 1.9-hectare site, that represents an indicative density of at least 194 dwellings per hectare, with the final figure to increase once the yield of Building G is established.

Pace is pursuing the project through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program, with Urbis lodging a combined Section 96A planning scheme amendment and planning application on behalf of the developer, which secured the site earlier this year.

The application seeks detailed approval for Stages One, Two and Three, alongside approval of the broader masterplan framework that will guide the later residential stages. Stage One will see an existing heritage building adaptively reused for a wellness and fitness-related facility, while the broader precinct will retain several significant heritage buildings and established trees as part of the redevelopment.

A minimum 10 per cent affordable housing contribution is proposed across both the initial residential stages and the later masterplan stages, delivered through a discounted rental model.

The project comes immediately after a major change to the site's planning controls.

The site was rezoned to the Housing Choice and Transport Zone through Planning Scheme Amendment GC285, gazetted on July 22, 2026, and now sits within the inner catchment of the Windsor Station precinct under the State Government's Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres Program.

While the new controls identify large sites within the inner catchment for buildings of up to six storeys, Pace's masterplan pushes height to 10 storeys in parts of the site, with the taller buildings concentrated toward the centre and along the Sandringham railway corridor.

Lower-scale built form is proposed toward the site's more sensitive residential and heritage edges, with Buildings A and B generally stepping from three storeys at their interfaces to six storeys at upper levels.

Cera Stribley's masterplan breaks the development into a collection of separate buildings rather than a continuous built form, with landscaped spaces, new pedestrian links and a new publicly accessible road forming part of the precinct.

The planning report says the development will create new pedestrian connections to Elm Place and along the railway corridor, as well as a new publicly accessible road linking Elm Place with Dandenong Road. The proposed buildings will occupy around 54 per cent of the site, leaving a substantial portion available for landscaping, communal areas and permeable surfaces.

Urbis said the scale of the project reflected the site's strategic location close to Windsor Station, tram services and the Chapel Street Activity Centre, with the former school campus identified as a significant opportunity to increase housing supply on an underutilised inner-Melbourne site.

&nbsp;

First look: Pace plans landscaped housing precinct on former Windsor school site

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/jl-place">JL PLACE</a>'s Veil Brighton is approaching its final months of construction, with the nine-townhouse development at 17 Rooding Street expected to complete in December 2026.

The milestone is bringing the boutique project closer to becoming a finished part of the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/brighton-vic-3186">Brighton</a> streetscape, with much of Brighton's everyday amenity within a short walk.

Palace Cinema, Coles Supermarket and North Brighton Station are all around five minutes on foot from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/veil-brighton-17-rooding-street-brighton-vic-3186">Veil</a>, alongside numerous cafés, restaurants and bars. The station provides a direct rail connection toward Melbourne's CBD, while Bay Street and the wider Brighton retail and dining network add to the range of services accessible without relying on a car for every trip.

"The location was fundamental to the project. Brighton is an established suburb where many buyers already have strong connections to the area and want to remain close to the people, places and amenities that form part of their everyday life," the developer said.

"Veil sits in a highly walkable part of Brighton, with a Walk Score of 90/100."

For buyers looking to right-size within Bayside, that level of walkability adds to the appeal of a more manageable way of living. Everyday shopping, dining, entertainment and public transport can be accessed without relying on the car for every trip, while residents remain connected to the places and routines that make Brighton familiar. It allows buyers to simplify day-to-day life without giving up the convenience, amenity and connections they already value.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7877 project_image_fid=355754]

As completion approaches, the architecture, landscaping and material palette are progressively becoming visible on site, giving prospective purchasers a clearer view of the finished development beyond its plans and renders.

Veil comprises nine townhouses, predominantly three-bedroom homes with between 2.5 and 3.5 bathrooms, two car spaces and, depending on the residence, study areas and private outdoor space. Selected homes include a bedroom on the ground floor.

Veil occupies a middle ground between detached housing and apartment living, retaining private gardens, storage and secure parking within a more manageable residential format.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/schmidt-pang-architects">Schmidt &amp; Pang</a> designed the architecture around natural light, ventilation, privacy and practical use of space. From Rooding Street, the façade has been composed to read as a cohesive residential building rather than nine individual townhouses, with landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/john-patrick-landscape-architects">John Patrick Landscape Architects</a> integrated throughout the site.

Inside, natural stone, oak flooring, integrated joinery and brushed nickel finishes establish a restrained material palette, while kitchens include Miele appliances and substantial storage such as pantries. Walk-in robes and dedicated study spaces have also been incorporated across the collection.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7877 project_image_fid=355852]

The project team said the planning of the homes has been informed by how the spaces function for both daily routines and larger gatherings.

"Our new homes owners at Veil have enjoyed the attention to detail in creating efficient layouts that use every space well. Hosting Christmas lunch and large family gatherings is an ease when care is taken to consider how people really live and entertain."

Private landscaped gardens extend the living spaces outdoors, while secure basement parking and bicycle parking are provided below. The homes have also been designed to achieve a 7-star energy rating, supported by double glazing, high-quality insulation, natural ventilation, LED lighting, water tanks and water-efficient fittings. Each residence is backed by a 10-year building guarantee.

Veil is being built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/jeniton">Jeniton</a>.&nbsp;Limited-time stamp duty savings are also currently available on selected purchases at Veil, adding another consideration as the project moves toward completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7877]

Veil Brighton nears completion in one of the suburb's most walkable pockets

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mosaic-property-group">Mosaic Property Group</a> has recorded 134 sales worth just over $400 million in two months of pre-release activity at The Riversdale, as the developer brings its $750 million South Brisbane riverfront project to the broader market.

The sales represent more than 60 per cent of the project's 213 apartments, with Mosaic reporting the majority of purchasers have been local owner-occupiers and downsizers.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-riversdale-by-mosaic-south-brisbane-91-montague-road-south-brisbane-qld-4101">The Riversdale</a> will rise 39 storeys from its north-facing site at 91 Montague Road, delivering a mix of two, three and four-bedroom apartments alongside a collection of Mosaic's premium Masterpiece Series Sky Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=371872]

The early buyer response comes ahead of the wider evolution of the northern end of Montague Road, where The Riversdale will be one of the first major residential projects delivered within an emerging riverfront precinct.

Directly adjoining the development is a planned 7.1-hectare mixed-use precinct, set to introduce new residences, parkland and public realm along the river's edge. The Riversdale's position directly on the Brisbane River gives it a relationship with the waterfront that Mosaic says cannot be replicated by future buildings within the precinct.

The site is also the result of a years-long pursuit by Mosaic. The developer first earmarked the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/south-brisbane-qld-4101">South Brisbane</a> property in 2018, reflecting what Founder and Managing Director Brook Monahan has described as a deliberately patient approach to acquiring development sites.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=372083]

"We aren't opportunistic," Monahan previously told Apartments.com.au.

"Every site purchase is carefully considered. As seen with Kangaroo Point and South Brisbane, it can take years to eventuate. There are sites we're looking at now that we may not secure for several years."

Designed in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bureauproberts">Bureau Proberts</a>, The Riversdale has been shaped around the qualities of the riverfront site, with apartments oriented to capture northern light and uninterrupted Brisbane River views.

Generous floorplans and expansive balconies extend the living spaces towards the river, while natural materials and a restrained interior palette have been selected with longevity in mind.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=371890]

Residents will have access to a level of amenity more commonly associated with world-class hotels and private members' clubs, with almost 3,000 sqm dedicated to wellness, connection, recreation and everyday convenience.

At ground level is a business lounge, private meeting rooms and dedicated workspaces. Mid-tower is a wellness sanctuary featuring magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, sauna, steam room, infrared therapy facilities, a Pilates and yoga studio, and a commercial-grade gymnasium.

Crowning The Riversdale is a rooftop featuring a 35-metre swimming pool with lap lane and spa, outdoor dining and seating terraces, firepit lounges and views of the city, river and Mount Coot-tha.

A private members' club-inspired retreat offers private dining rooms, a whisky lounge, media rooms and immersive entertainment experiences. Completing the amenity offering are two hotel-style guest suites and a resident-exclusive electric vehicle fleet and car-share program.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=371877]

The Riversdale sits at the northern end of Montague Road between South Bank and West End, around 1.3 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, providing access to the city's major cultural, dining and recreation precincts.

It becomes Mosaic's largest Brisbane project to date and adds to a pipeline already under construction across the city.

In Brisbane, the developer is currently delivering The Bedford and The Carter at Kangaroo Point, both of which are approaching sell-out, with a further four projects being delivered on the Gold Coast. Mosaic has completed more than $2 billion in projects since 2012 and has a further development pipeline exceeding $2 billion across South East Queensland.

Early works are underway at The Riversdale, which will be delivered by Mosaic's in-house construction division. Completion is anticipated in late 2029, with remaining apartments priced from $1.98 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151614]

Mosaic records more than $400m in two months at South Brisbane's The Riversdale

Lender, fund manager and apartment developer Princeton has completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/marque-rockdale-602-608-princes-highway-rockdale-nsw-2216">Marque Rockdale</a>, the first new apartment development in South Sydney to provide its owners with a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, the most comprehensive insurance available for a new apartment building.

The policy has been a key consideration for prospective purchasers of the 58 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, strategically located between&nbsp;Rockdale Plaza and Rockdale Station.&nbsp;

Buyers have also been drawn to the fact that it is one of few new apartment developments delivered in the suburb in the last 10 years, and the only one located on Princes Highway to be set well back from the street to reduce noise. There's also a communal rooftop, a rarity in the suburb, complete barbecue facilities, landscaped seating areas, a children's play zone and herb gardens.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136442 project_image_fid=374084]

Ray White Projects’ Matt Otway said buyer enquiry reflected the increasingly diverse and cosmopolitan population that has made Rockdale home.

“We’re seeing strong interest from a broad mix of buyers, including young professionals and people who have rented in Rockdale and the surrounding suburbs and now see Marque as an opportunity to buy a brand-new apartment in an area they already know,” Otway said.

“Proximity to the CBD and Sydney Airport is another key advantage particularly for buyers working in these locations who want the added convenience of living close by.”

Investors have also been attracted to the project, with rental yields of more than five per cent, which is considered a strong result for the Sydney market.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136442 project_image_fid=374090]

Adding another layer to the buyer proposition is Marque's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy from Resilience Insurance, making it the only new apartment development in Rockdale to offer the cover.

The policy protects apartment owners against major structural and waterproofing defects for 10 years following completion, giving Marque purchasers cover until early 2036 at no additional cost.

The likelihood of defects emerging has also been mitigated through the Technical Inspection Service (TIS), which saw independent experts inspect the building at various stages throughout construction to identify potential issues during the build, rather than after the fact.

SDSS, which provided the TIS, consistently ranked the construction quality at Marque, undertaken by iCIRT-rated builder Coplex, among the best across its extensive portfolio of projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136442 project_image_fid=374088]

Otway said the LDI had become a major drawcard for buyers, particularly given Rockdale has seen relatively little new apartment development over the past decade.

"Rockdale hasn't had a lot of new apartment buildings in the last decade, and has never had a project with 10-year defect insurance," Otway said.

"Marque presents a truly rare opportunity at an affordable price point, so well connected to the Sydney CBD."

One-bedroom apartments at Marque start from $735,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=136442]

Marque Rockdale completes as South Sydney’s first apartments backed by 10-year defect insurance

Church

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A Brisbane based passive investor has purchased a former Church site in Maroochydore from long-time local owners for $1.85 million. 
The initial yield achieved was approximately 6% on estimated net income.
Located at 22-26 Beach Road, the 1,551sqm site offers approximately 470sqm of lettable area.
It is positioned on the corner of Beach Road and Duporth Avenue, directly opposite Mosaic’s new six-star 86 apartment residential project ‘Avalon’. 
The property is occupied by long term tenants Coast Life Midwifery who recently signed new 5-year leases over the church and former hall building, a further lease was in place to popular Beach Road Coffee Co. 
The deal was negotiated by Jason O’Meara of Savills Australia.
“This is a strategic parcel of land with excellent exposure and sound holding income until further development options present in the mid to longer term,” O’Meara said. 
The immediate precinct has undergone recent ‘urban renewal’ with the newly completed ‘Rhythm on Beach’ development next door now also branded ‘Direct Hotels’ and Mosaic’s boutique development under construction on riverside plus the commercial building Eight Maroochydore Road with roof top bar completed in 2019. 
"There is a lot of activity and energy in Maroochydore at present with several cranes in the air which is a great sign", O'Meara said.
“As a result of the State Government having designated Maroochydore as the Sunshine Coast’s Principal Activity Centre, Maroochydore will be the main focus of development for the next 10-15 years as significant projects unfold in the area”, he said. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Former Church site sells in Maroochydore for $1.85 million 

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The deconsecrated Immaculate Conception Church at Muttama in the New South Wales Riverina sold for $55,000 at auction earlier this year.
It was bought by the Wired Lab, a not-for-profit organisation on a mission to connect rural communities with the arts through workshops.
It was marketed through Flemings agents, Chris Ryan and Janet McAtear, as "perfect for a restoration project for community groups or even a private home!"
There were nine registered bidders with three participating.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-other-nsw-muttama-132780034" target="_blank">The 150 sqm wooden church</a>, which sits on 0.4 hectares, held its last service in October 2018.
The church was opened in 1902 by Bishop William Lanigan who was at the fore of Irish Catholicism.
Set 24 kilometres south of Cootamundra, and three hours 45 minutes from Sydney, Muttama is a rural community in the central east part of the Riverina.
The Uniting Church sold their church in 2010 for $32,000.
The name Muttama is derived from the local Aboriginal word meaning "like it" or "take it".
 
 
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Historic Catholic Church in Muttama sold for $55,000

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Joe Dolce, the writer and performer of Australia's biggest selling single, has reduced his price hopes for his weekender in Victoria.
It is the former Natte Yallock Uniting church.
The property, 200 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, has been under the ownership of the Shaddap You Face singer and his artist wife Lin van Hek for the last 23 years costing $32,000.
They were initially seeking $385,000 late last year, and now they're happy to take $345,000 through Elders Avoca agents Elizabeth and Heathcliffe Teal.
The property was built from handmade bricks in 1904 by the Natte Yallock community. The galvanised iron roof still covers the property.
The interior is still a canvas for any style, the marketing suggests.
Dolce shot to fame with his 1981 hit Shaddap You Face, which remains Australia's biggest-selling single, even outselling Up There Cazaly and Slim Dusty's Pub With No Beer.
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Natte Yallock church listed for $345,000

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GUEST OBSERVATION
In the post-war decades, Australian communities invested heavily in church buildings. Like civic centres, swimming pools and shire halls, these buildings made an important contribution to the formation of a modern civic realm in Australia’s growing cities, suburbs and regional communities. Today, dwindling numbers of constituents and the amalgamation of congregations place many post-war church buildings at risk.
And yet – unlike their publicly funded counterparts – these buildings are largely ignored in architectural and heritage discussions. Few church buildings have any form of heritage protection. Could this be because this is an “uneasy heritage”?
Given current crises affecting the churches in Australia, and given the important role of these buildings in the post-war development of our cities, suburbs and towns, a public debate is necessary about their future. Should we allow these buildings to disappear from memory, or should they be preserved and/or repurposed?
For the whole of Australia only about 30 post-war ecclesiastical buildings are included on state heritage registers. It’s a meagre number, given that several thousand churches were built across the country during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
In Queensland alone, over 1,000 were built between 1945 and 1975. Of these, only six are on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Mirroring modern Australia’s emergence
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212565/original/file-20180329-189813-7wr89q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212565/original/file-20180329-189813-7wr89q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
St Andrews Presbyterian Church (c.1960, architect: Loder and Dunphy) in Gosford, New South Wales, was demolished in 2002. <a class="source" href="http://www.csec.esrc.unimelb.edu.au/image_viewer.htm?CSEC00852,4" target="_blank">Cross-Section, no. 95, Sept 1960</a>, Author provided
In immediate post-war years, modern church building in Australia made a hesitant start. A few small, rather conventional buildings cropped up here and there.
In the 1950s, however, hesitation gave way to optimism and resulted in increasing experimentation in church design. By the 1960s a genuine modern church building boom was under way.
Religious institutions strongly supported the Australian government’s bid to build a modern social welfare state. They not only built community-oriented churches, but also kindergartens, halls, primary and secondary schools, charity outreach centres, hospitals, etc.
From the 1960s churches and their architects increasingly recognised the need to rethink ecclesiastical architecture to cater to (rather than ignore or shun) modern society. This aggiornamento, or bringing up to date, in the religious sphere coincided with architects’ experiments with modern materials and construction technologies and innovative shapes and forms.
As a result, a new “type” of church emerged. This was one more attuned to its (commonly) residential surroundings and more sensitive to its context, both in terms of materiality and scale.
Examples abound, but of note are:
<ul>
<li>Kenmore Presbyterian Church by Robin Gibson (c.1968, Queensland), now Uniting Church</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212566/original/file-20180329-189816-1irq1d4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212566/original/file-20180329-189816-1irq1d4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Kenmore Presbyterian Church (c.1968, architect Robin Gibson) in Brisbane, Queensland. Lisa Marie Daunt (2000), Author provided 
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212567/original/file-20180329-189810-76c00f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212567/original/file-20180329-189810-76c00f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a> 
St Christopher’s Catholic Church (c.1968, architect: Paul Wallace) in Anglesea, Victoria. <a class="source" href="http://www.csec.esrc.unimelb.edu.au/image_viewer.htm?CSEC01018,2" target="_blank">Cross-Section no.188, June 1968</a>, Author provided
<ul>
<li>
St Anne’s Church of England by Hely Bell &amp; Horne (c.1965, Como, NSW), which was repurposed in 1997 as a private residence along with its Sunday school building of the same age
</li>
<li>
St Christopher’s Catholic Church by Paul Wallace (c.1968, Anglesea, Victoria), which was damaged in the 1983 bushfires and rebuilt in 1984 to a revised design.
</li>
</ul>
These smaller, contextually sensitive churches that reflect the aggiornamento in the church represent the bulk of post-war modern church buildings in Australia. However, state heritage registers are mostly populated by their more “monumental” siblings.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212568/original/file-20180329-189810-17a2cfp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212568/original/file-20180329-189810-17a2cfp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Holy Trinity National Memorial Finnish Lutheran Church (c.1961, architect: Frederick Romberg of Grounds, Romberg and Boyd) in Turner, Canberra, is on the ACT Heritage Register. Lisa Marie Daunt (2016)
For example, on the ACT register is Grounds, Romberg and Boyd’s 1961 Finnish Lutheran Church. Queensland’s register includes Cairns Cathedral, two churches by Eddie Oribin and a church and school chapel by Karl Langer (listings 601961, 60233, 601589, 602815 and 602816).
And yet it is the smaller, unassuming churches that made the greatest contribution to the formation of our post-war collective realm. More importantly, it is these churches that are under the greatest threat.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/94115/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">So, what is to be done? Is this part of our modern heritage best forgotten, along with the (at times) painful memories it evokes? Or can there be a future for Australia’s unassuming post-war modern buildings that were once the beating hearts of Australia’s urban and suburban communities?
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/214211/original/file-20180411-536-1duguz3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/214211/original/file-20180411-536-1duguz3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
St Monica’s War Memorial Cathedral (c.1968, architect: A. Ian Ferrier) in Cairns is on the Queensland Heritage Register. Ferrier Slide Collection, used with permission, Author provided
Lisa Marie Daunt, PhD Candidate in Architecture, The University of Queensland
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/uneasy-heritage-australias-modern-church-buildings-are-disappearing-94115" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Main photo: Good Shepherd Chapel (c.1969, architect: A. Ian Ferrier) in Mitchelton, Brisbane, was demolished in 2004. Ferrier Slide Collection, used with permission, Author provided.<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lisa-marie-daunt-456237"> </a>
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Australia's modern church buildings are disappearing: Lisa Marie Daunt

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The iconic Wentworth Memorial Church in Vaucluse, one of Sydney's most historic landmarks, has returned to the market.
It has been listed for December auction.
It sold mid-year at $5.6 million to funeral operator David Walker's Brookava Pty Ltd. <a id="propertySearchOwnerNameLink" href="https://rpp.rpdata.com/rpp/search/company/property/summary?&amp;view=property&amp;qt=company&amp;newSearch=true&amp;q=BROOKAVA%20PTY%20LTD" target="_blank"> </a>
The church, built in the 1960s as a memorial to the fallen soliders of the Second World War, sits on a near 2,000 sqm parcel that dates back to 1827.
It was part of the estate of noted colonial explorer, poet, journalist and politician William Wentworth and his family who developed the estate.
Worship ended at the church in 2006.
The heritage listed church on Fitzwilliam Road features loft interiors with ceiling height up to 40 feet at its peak.
<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/2017/05/31/Church3.jpg" alt="">
The Wentworth Memorial Church is widely considered to be the finest surviving work in the Sydney School style of the important mid to late Twentieth Century architect Donald Gazzard.
Gazzard was the inaugural winner of the Wilkinson Prize for domestic architecture in 1961 for his Hunters Hill home and was regarded as a prominent figure in the field of architecture.
Gazzard, who worked on the Martin Place Pedestrian Precinct and Sydney University eletrical engineering building, now lives in Melbourne.
He had worked with Harry Seidler as a draftsman in the early 1950s. Well-known architect Richard Leplastrier helped Gazzard build the church.
The rocky outcrop where the church is now located was a favourite spot for Wentworth to view his estate and was also where he chose to be buried as evidenced by the Wentworth mausoleum on the opposite side of this outcrop.
<div class="stackItem"><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/2017/05/31/Church2.jpg" alt=""></div>
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The property currently has two bedrooms and two toilets, but no full bathrooms.
Inquiries are set to come from builders and developers with a more commercial focus, as well as organisations and individual buyers.
In 2010 the church won its appeal in the NSW Land and Environment court to subdivide the land after the Woollahra Council rejected the application from the church.
Gazzard noted on his website that the unrealistically large size of the church, which has created the current situation, was always going to become an issue. 
"The Diocesan brief was simple;  'A church of contemporary design to seat 350 people which conformed to the liturgy and form of worship of the Church of England'.  
"The Anglican hierarchy based the size on two optimistic assumptions. 
"The first assumption was that tall blocks of flats would be permitted along the ridge at Vaucluse as Sydney expanded, and secondly, an unspoken assumption  that there would be a religious revival and a church of this size would be needed for all these extra people."
But as a consequence of an ageing and dwindling congregation, the church was closed, <a href="https://www.dongazzard.com/publications/articles/wentworth-memorial-church.aspx" target="_blank">he noted on his website.</a>
"While I'm proud of the design, I hesitate to suggest that you visit the church in its present sad state," he advised.
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Iconic Wentworth Memorial Church in Vaucluse returns to the market

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A Newtown estate agent outbid several religious groups to secure the 145-year-old church in Redfern at auction yesterday.
Jim Markakis, the principal of Richardson and Wrench Newtown, bid $3,725,000 for the former church as an investment for his family.
The price was $725,000 more than the reserve price for the 360-square-metre property, which came with heritage listing.
He will put it to tender to work out who’s the best tenant and the best use for the building.
There were nine groups seeking the 1872 Victorian, Gothic-style church that was offered by the Uniting Church.
The property at 118 Regent Street, Redfern has been used by the Tongan Parish for more than 20 years.
The congregation had moved to a new church in Marrickville.
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Estate agent buys Redfern Uniting church

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A Collingwood church conversion has become the most expensive house to sell in Melbourne’s inner north.
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Owner-architect Ilana Kister’s house sold for an undisclosed figure between $5.8 million to $6.38 million, its price guidance range. 
Ilana Kister spent two years converting and extending the church which Nelson Alexander Fitzroy selling agent Arch Staver confirmed had achieved the highest figure paid for a single dwelling in an inner-north suburb.
The Herald Sun suggested the inner north’s benchmark reported house price had been the $5.22 million fetched by 1032 Drummond St, Carlton North in June. But it’s understood a Fitzroy property had recently sold off market for a figure above that.
The church was built in 1874-75 in a Gothic Revival style.
It operated as the Holy Virgins Protection Russian Orthodox Church from 1958.
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Collingwood church conversion sold

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A heritage-listed church in Sydney’s inner suburb of Redfern has been listed for auction with expectations of between $2.5 and $3 million.
The Uniting Church is selling the Tongan Parish church at <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/118-regent-street-redfern-nsw-2016-2013759335" target="_blank">118 Regent Street, Redfern</a>, as maintenance is becoming expensive.
The Gothic-style church, built in 1872, will go to auction on September 6 through CBRE.
The site is zoned B4 mixed use and the zoning allows for education, commercial or residential use.
The listing agents are Peter Vines and Stephen Grant of CBRE.
“This Victorian Gothic Church is an extremely unique opportunity within South Sydney, as it’s zoned B4 mixed use, so it will suit savvy owner occupiers, investors and developers,” Grant was quoted as saying by Fairfax Media.
Vines said the ”striking architecture and the proximity to the city” made it ”unique”.
“It would be an unbelievable creative office space for the right person,” he said.
The floor area is 360 sqm.
<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/2017/08/15/Church1.jpg" alt="">
The site also had rare ‘place of worship’ rights which was expected to draw interest from other church groups, he said.
The Regent Street church has Local Heritage listing, meaning that its facade, wooden staircase up to the tower and wooden altar would all have to be maintained as part of new designs.
According to the heritage listing, the church took four years to build and cost £1000, which was paid for by the congregation.
It has 360 square metres of floor space, two street frontages and is 300 metres from Redfern train station. 
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Uniting Church lists Redfern church for sale

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The iconic Wentworth Memorial Church in Vaucluse, one of Sydney's most historic landmarks, has been listed for sale by the Anglican Church.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-125550462" target="_blank">church, built in the 1960s</a> as a memorial to the fallen soliders of the Second World War, sits on a near 2,000 sqm parcel that dates back to 1827.
It was part of the estate of noted colonial explorer, poet, journalist and politician William Wentworth and his family who developed the estate.
Worship ended at the church in 2006.
The heritage listed church on Fitzwilliam Road features loft interiors with ceiling height up to 40 feet at its peak.
 
<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/2017/05/31/Church3.jpg" alt="">
The Wentworth Memorial Church is widely considered to be the finest surviving work in the Sydney School style of the important mid to late Twentieth Century architect Donald Gazzard.
Gazzard was the inaugural winner of the Wilkinson Prize for domestic architecture in 1961 for his Hunters Hill home and was regarded as a prominent figure in the field of architecture.
Gazzard, who worked on the Martin Place Pedestrian Precinct and Sydney University eletrical engineering building, now lives in Melbourne.
He had worked with Harry Seidler as a draftsman in the early 1950s. Well-known architect Richard Leplastrier helped Gazzard build the church.
The rocky outcrop where the church is now located was a favourite spot for Wentworth to view his estate and was also where he chose to be buried as evidenced by the Wentworth mausoleum on the opposite side of this outcrop.
<div class="stackItem"><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/2017/05/31/Church2.jpg" alt=""></div>
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The property currently has two bedrooms and two toilets, but no full bathrooms.
McGrath Edgecliff agent William Manning has a $5 million to $5.5 million price guide.
Inquiries have come from builders and developers with a more commercial focus, as well as organisations and individual buyers.
In 2010 the church won its appeal in the NSW Land and Environment court to subdivide the land after the Woollahra Council rejected the application from the church.
Gazzard noted on his website that the unrealistically large size of the church, which has created the current situation, was always going to become an issue. 
"The Diocesan brief was simple;  'A church of contemporary design to seat 350 people which conformed to the liturgy and form of worship of the Church of England'.  
"The Anglican hierarchy based the size on two optimistic assumptions. 
"The first assumption was that tall blocks of flats would be permitted along the ridge at Vaucluse as Sydney expanded, and secondly, an unspoken assumption  that there would be a religious revival and a church of this size would be needed for all these extra people."
But as a consequence of an ageing and dwindling congregation, the church was closed, <a href="https://www.dongazzard.com/publications/articles/wentworth-memorial-church.aspx" target="_blank">he noted on his website.</a>
 While I'm proud of the design, I hesitate to suggest that you visit the church in its present sad state. 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Iconic Wentworth Memorial Church in Vaucluse for sale

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A church conversion trophy home near Daylesford, Victoria is under offer.
Built in 1884 by Giacomo Sartori, it comes with a striking adjoining building next to the conversion.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-daylesford-122570214" target="_blank">2 Righetti Lane </a>property is a former Catholic church that closed in 1993, then fell in to disrepair at Yandoit.
A local builder purchased and restored the property to its original grandeur, and added a two storey wing.
He retained the original features including gothic windows and high-beam ceilings.
The extension has three bedrooms and a handcrafted floating timber and steel staircase.
A large deck looks over the 2000 sqm land parcel.
The property is under offer through hockingstuart agents Mark Smith and Mark Timmins.
It was advertised with around $980,000 price expectations.
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