Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

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Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

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Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

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Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

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The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

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Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

Circular Quay

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China's Wanda Group headed by the tycoon Wang Jianlin has sold its One Circular Quay development, along with its Gold Coast Jewel development.
 Wanda Australia's managing director, John Wei, negotiated the sale of the Circular Quay site (above).
Wanda started demolishing the Gold Fields tower at No.1 Alfred Street for a mixed-use scheme incorporating a five-star Wanda Vista Hotel, 190 exclusive private residences, and boutique retail premises last November having paid $425 million three years earlier.
It had been seeking prestige apartment buyers at One Circular Quay since last October, but the display suite has been closed to most inquiry over the Christmas break.
The Jewel (below) sales had been slow since 2015 at the project which Ridong has also sold out of this week.
Dalian Wanda Group announced the sale of their two Australian property projects as the Chinese firm looks to lessen financial strains caused by a major acquisition spree. 
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China’s regulators last year told banks to stop providing funding for several of the conglomerate’s overseas acquisitions, sources have said, prompting a string of asset sales by Wanda, whose businesses range from real estate to football and cinemas, including Hoyts. 
The two high-end residential and hotel projects under development have been sold at around cost. 
No buyer has been revealed, although The Australian newspaper reported last week that property developer Yuhu, which is backed by Chinese investors, had entered into exclusive talks with Wanda to buy the assets in a deal at around A$1 billion. Yuhu has consistently denied its involvement in any purchase.
Shares in Wanda Hotel Development Co Ltd, which owns the projects, are in a trading halt.
The sale of the Australian projects comes after Wanda’s announcement last week that it had agreed to sell its interests in the high-profile London luxury development project, One Nine Elms, for 59 million pounds ($81 million).
The Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group advised last weekend its revenue dropped for a second consecutive year, by 10.8 percent in 2017.
It reported 227.4 billion yuan in revenue, while net profit remained flat compared with 2016, according to a statement posted on the company’s website. It did not reveal the profit figure. 
In middle of 2017, Wanda came under the scrutiny of China's banking regulator for posing "systemic risks" to domestic lenders with its overseas deals.
The Chinese authorities viewed some of its acquisitions as "irrational" and a method for moving capital out of the country.
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Wang Jianlin, chairman of Dalian Wanda Group claimed that only 7% of Wanda's assets were located overseas.
"Wanda Group will never have any default globally," Wang, a former soldier, said.
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Gold Coast Jewel and Sydney's One Circular Quay development sold by Wanda

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The four levels of shops and restaurants at the base of the luxury apartment project Opera Residences, overlooking Circular Quay, have been sold off the plan for more than $40 million to a private Sydney family.
The off-the-plan deal for 980 square metres of prime retail space at 71 Macquarie Street was struck on a sub-4 per cent yield. It was listed back in October.
The retail space has already been pre-committed to high-end fashion brands, including a two chefs' hat-restaurant and an international restaurant chain.
There is an 19-level tower being developed by Chinese developer Macrolink in partnership with Kevin Li's Landream.
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Opera Residences set a new Australia apartment record last year when the penthouse sold for $27 million to Robert Salteri and his wife Kelly.  
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Demolition of the former 1960s Coca-Cola Amatil office building is almost complete with Opera Residences due for completion in 2020.
Opera Retail was marketed by Knight Frank, JLL and Belle Property Commercial.
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$40 million OTP retail sale at Opera Residences 

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AMP Capital remains in ongoing discussions with Lendlease and Multiplex over the tender for construction of its Quay Quarter Tower.
Lendlease has quoted at $70 million over budget, according to the AFR's Street Talk column.
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<div>AMP Capital still has an aim of getting construction underway next year, it added.</div>
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Tenants in the existing building are due out this Friday.
The 49-storey office building at 50 Bridge Street will be rebuilt as Quay Quarter Tower.
The $1 billion tower, designed by Danish firm 3XN, is due to open in 2020.
The chief operating officer of real estate at AMP Capital, Louise Mason, has previously said revitalising the precinct was paramount to Sydney’s future as a global city.
“Quay Quarter Sydney provides an opportunity to reimagine the urban landscape of Circular Quay,” she said.
The Quay Quarter Sydney precinct will span two inner city blocks over a site area of around 11,000 square metres and incorporates a mix of commercial, retail and luxury residential.
50 Bridge Street is jointly owned by investors in the AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund (ADPF) and the AMP Capital Wholesale Office Fund (AWOF).
Street Talk noted super fund giant REST was the frontrunner to take out the stake in the redevelopment of 50 Bridge Street.
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AMP Capital still seeking construction tender for Quay Quarter Tower

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Lendlease has lodged approval for a new precinct and office tower on George and Pitt street in the heart of Circular Quay.
The development application proposes a 55-storey premium grade office tower, Circular Quay Tower, with a mixed-use podium, retail-lined laneways and a new hospitality offering at Jacksons on George.
The proposal offers a range of public benefits with more than 45 per cent of the precinct dedicated to community infrastructure being delivered for the City of Sydney, including George Street Public Plaza, Rugby Place Public Plaza, a Public Cycle Facility, public art and a three-storey community building.
Mark Menhinnitt, managing director of urban regeneration, said the proposed design is a major win for Sydney as it looks to find new ways to reinvent spaces in the CBD.
“In collaboration with the City of Sydney and Foster + Partners, we have developed a scheme that opens the ground plane to create as much community infrastructure as possible,” he said.
“Circular Quay has long been a renowned attraction in Sydney. Our ambition for this project is to create a place that workers, visitors and the surrounding community love.
"We want to create a place that people are drawn to – from retail-lined laneways and public plazas to a landmark tower worthy of its prime location.”
World leading architect firm Foster + Partners was chosen to progress the design of the tower which could become Sydney’s tallest office building with 55 storeys and a height of up to 263 metres, with its architectural roof feature.
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Gerard Evenden, senior executive partner at Foster + Partners, said they had considered everything in the design – from the tower’s scale and floorplates to the amenities and technology – to provide flexibility, connection and wellbeing for tenants’ workers.
“With many levels boasting spectacular views of Sydney’s landmarks, the tower will encompass functionally flexible open space floorplates that enjoy north facing workspaces,” said Mr Evenden.
The company’s sustainable approach to architecture aligns closely with Lendlease’s sustainability principles, with the entire precinct targeting 6 Star Green Star certification and a 5 Star NABERS Energy rating.
The development application, which is subject to approval by the Central Sydney Planning Committee, is now on public exhibition. Consent has been granted for the demolition development application for the site. Early works are underway with demolition expected to start soon.
In December 2016, Lendlease confirmed Ping An Real Estate and Mitsubishi Estate Asia as development partners.
 
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Lendlease lodges application for new Circular Quay office tower

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Sydney's Kazal family has sold Circular Quay retail space - leased to Management International Group and trading as Buckley's Craft Beer Bar - for $21.5 million.
It reflected a tight net yield of 4 per cent.
The new owners of Shop 18A Opera Quays, 7 Macquarie Street plan to hold the high-performing asset for the long term.
The 408 square metre strata-titled property has 256 square metres of lower ground promenade space as well as 137 square metres in mezzanine space which features a fully operational commercial kitchen, walk-in cold storage and private staff meeting rooms.
The restaurant with a hotelier's licence can hold 500 patrons. A lease with options is in place until 2024.
There are 18 other similar lots on the high-profile promenade, which leads to the Sydney Opera House.
"Buckley's Bar is strategically located with a large outdoor seating component with direct water views, with these features making this retail strip one of the most tightly held precincts in the Sydney CBD," selling agent Cushman &amp; Wakefield's Anthony Bray told Fairfax Media.
It follows another Circular Quay asset sold earlier this year when the 131 square metre Shop 12 at 1 Macquarie Street sold for $10.2 million in an off-market sale, at a net yield of 3.15 per cent.
Mr Bray brokered the sale with colleague Ryan Cross.
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Sydney's Kazal family sell Circular Quay retail space

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Lendlease has chosen architect firms, Foster + Partners to design the, Circular Quay Tower at 180 George Street, Circular Quay.
The roof structure is set to be 263m high and will feature a network of pedestrian laneways that criss-cross the site at different levels to connect the precinct. 
Mark Menhinnitt, Managing Director, Urban Regeneration, said Lendlease was impressed by Foster + Partners’ refined scheme that recognised the need for strong integration and activation of the ground plane, while ensuring the tower is a spectacular landmark worthy of its iconic location.
“Circular Quay Tower, to be located on a new internationally recognised address, will provide a dynamic workplace and environment for Sydney’s future generation of office occupiers,"
“Fronting the reinvigorated city spine of George Street with two new plazas, workers and visitors will be welcomed to an abundance of retail, dining and entertainment, and arts and culture."
Gerard Evenden, senior executive partner of Foster + Partners, said he wanted Circular Quay Tower and its surroundings to be of its place, taking advantage of its topography and unique location – a stone’s throw from Sydney Harbour.
“The tower will be the centrepiece of an urban regeneration precinct that will reshape the northern end of the CBD into a vibrant community contributing to Sydney’s status as a global city,” he said.
Local architectural firm, Stewart Hollenstein, has been selected to remodel the Jacksons on George site that promises to be an exciting transformation of the much- loved Sydney institution.
Lendlease held the design competitions following Council’s endorsement of Lendlease’s revised planning proposal and accompanying Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) in July 2016.
In December 2016, Lendlease confirmed Ping An Real Estate and Mitsubishi Estate Asia as development partners.
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Architects Foster + Partners to design Lendlease's new centrepiece at Circular Quay

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An apartment in the new Circular Quay development Loftus Lane has sold for $17 million.
Despite the apartments not officially launching until tomorrow, one locally well-heeled buyer has snuck in to pay around $57,000 per sqm for the 296 sqm apartment offering.
It falls short of the $96,400 per sqm paid for the $27 million record breaking apartment sale in the Opera Residences last year.
That was reputedly bought by businessman and philanthropist Robert Salteri and his wife Kelly.
The Loftus Lane two storey unit on level 12 of the low-rise building has three bedrooms and sits in one of the three residential buildings developed by AMP Capital.
Completion of the buildings is slated for 2021 as part of the AMP Capital developed project to upgrade Circular Quay.
Some potential buyers have been underwhelmed by Loftus Lane, which comprises 106 apartments in three low-rise buildings.
 
 
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Loftus Lane apartment sells for $17 million

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Beijing-based conglomerate Wanda will launch its flagship $1 billion project in Sydney’s Circular Quay amid expectations its luxury penthouses could sell for more than $60 million, setting a new price record.
Dignitaries and politicians will attend the Museum of Contemporary Art for the official launch tonight of the 57-storey tower.
Wanda’s project proposal for the Circular Quay project received the City of Sydney Council approval in 2015.
The project proposal was for a 57-storey 184-apartment residential tower and a 179-room hotel at the 4040 sqm site bounded by 1 Alfred Street, 19-31 Pitt Street and 31A Pitt Street, Property Observer had reported.
The apartments are expected to be multi-million-dollar offerings from 50 sqm studios to four penthouses of 600 sqm.
The $60 million penthouse pricing was mentioned in the report in The Australian.
Managing director of CBRE residential David Milton said the development was in an “absolutely unbeatable position”. “This will set a new benchmark for location, quality and, yes, price,” he was cited by The Australian as saying.
The Australian record per square metre is understood to be $97,000, with a final price of $27 million, for the Opera Residences at 71 Macquarie Street at Bennelong Point.
The development on the 4,000 sqm site of Gold Fields House, purchased by the conglomerate in 2015 for $415 million, will also include a five-star hotel expected to be operated under the Wanda Vista brand.
 
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With $60 million penthouse hopes, Chinese developer Wanda launches $1 billion Circular Quay development

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AMP Capital has submitted a development application for the makeover of Sydney’s first skyscraper, 33 Alfred Street — which it owns — overlooking Circular Quay. 
On the table are a major fit out and upgrade of the 55-year-old building while preserving its heritage character. It is a 26 storey A-grade office tower.
The building has local heritage listing and the upgrade aims to reinstate lost features while refurbishing internal spaces and improving the environmental performance of the building to bring it in line with premium commercial office standards, AMP said in a media release.
The application came after two years of talks with the City of Sydney and the state government, AMP said. Once approvals are in place, construction is expected to start in 2020. 
AMP Capital’s chief operating officer, Real Estate, Louise Mason said the work “will breathe new life into this office tower whilst paying tribute to its history, heritage and place at Sydney’s global gateway”.  
“The building’s unique place in history and its distinctive design make 33 Alfred Street an important part of Sydney’s and Australia’s cityscapes. Along with being Australia’s first skyscraper, the building was cutting edge in its time, incorporating many other ‘firsts’ and innovations in its design. The proposed redevelopment will restore the building to its rightful status as a premium-grade office tower in keeping with this history, and its prominent place at Circular Quay,” she said.
The upgrade involves improving the building’s façades, increased activation of the street level frontages and an upgrade of the building’s services and interior. 
AMP Capital has appointed architect JPW for the project. 
AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund and the AMP Capital Wholesale Office Fund announced in December 2016 they had jointly acquired 33 Alfred Street on behalf of their investors for an undisclosed amount. Owned by AMP Life, 33 Alfred Street is AMP Limited’s headquarters. 
“33 Alfred Street was developed by AMP 55 years ago.  We are committed to leading the way and ensuring the project is an exemplar of sensitive and sustainable renewal.” 
She said AMP is not going to fundamentally alter its structure or create any additional floor space. It will be a interior refurbishment and upgrade of the building’s services, including a complete modernisation of the tower façade.
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AMP proposes ‘golden’ facelift for Sydney's oldest skyscraper 

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Australian architecture firm Crone and Kengo Kuma &amp; Associates (KKAA) have jointly won an international design competition for a five-star Wanda Vista Hotel in Sydney’s Circular Quay. 
The 110 metre, 25-storey hotel is part of Dalian Wanda’s $1 billion makeover of Gold Fields House at 1 Alfred Street. Construction of the hotel will commence in 2017 with completion expected in 2020. 
The architecture firms’ winning design features an elegant tower that slowly pixelates, breaking down the scale of the building and making it more human-scale at the lower levels, according to the media release. 
The competition brief called for a design that best demonstrated the ability to deliver a world-class hotel and achieve design excellence in accordance with the City of Sydney Competitive Design Policy.
Alongside the hotel will be a 57-storey luxury residential tower designed by Kerry Hill Architects.
The hotel’s design also complements the adjacent residential tower, using harmonious use of sandstone, cascading green walls and large windows framing views towards the harbour, the release said.  
CRONE design director Sandra Furtado, who led the design team in Sydney, said, “We are extremely proud to be involved with Wanda’s ambitious reimagining of this prominent site in Sydney, working alongside our colleagues in Japan. 
“Located on the ‘dress circle’ of Circular Quay, our design aspirations for the Wanda Vista hotel required the crafting of a building with a distinct identity, while being mindful of site constraints, the client’s ambition, as well as the City of Sydney’s plans for the surrounding Alfred-Pitt-Dalley-George (APDG) precinct.”
The Japan-based half of the design team was led by Kengo Kuma.
The 5 Star features include a lobby which extends visually onto Herald Square, a 300-person grand ballroom with views of Sydney Harbour, two levels of restaurants as well as a rooftop bar.  
John Wei, MD of Wanda One Sydney said, “Together, CRONE and KKAA have fulfilled the brief to create a world-class hotel that together with our residential, retail and public realm elements will create a destination address and enhance this important city precinct. CRONE and KKAA will be appointed as the Lead Design Architect until completion of the Wanda Hotel.”
Chinese developer Dalian Wanda Group’s assets at the end of 2015 were at 634 billion yuan with revenue of 290.16 billion yuan.
Apart from the views, the Wanda Vista hotel will have easy access to the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. 
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