A landmark former orphanage site in Surrey Hills could be transformed into a new residential community under plans lodged by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/antipodean-land-developments">Antipodean Land Developments</a> that would deliver 76 apartments and townhouses while restoring some of the suburb's most significant heritage buildings.

The burgeoninng Melbourne-based developer has submitted plans for the 9,158 sqm site at 1 Kent Road and 24 Durham Road, home to the former St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children, a historic institutional complex dating back to the late 19th century. The proposal seeks to adaptively reuse several heritage buildings while introducing two new four-storey residential buildings set within extensive landscaped grounds.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> and Kerstin Thompson Architects, the project has been conceived as a contemporary residential village embedded within a restored heritage precinct. The development team describes the design approach as "The Village in the Garden," with new buildings positioned among mature landscaping by OCULUS and significant heritage structures.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44ec8c1b-c0b6-44ae-859e-5811b3e6a023" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.png?VersionId=p.p1_KFh4iQoV4nisdnPfQBAsWNi7m79" />

The proposal would deliver 76 dwellings comprising a mix of apartments and duplex-style residences, significantly increasing housing supply on one of the largest privately held residential landholdings in Surrey Hills. The development includes 127 car spaces, 24 bicycle spaces and more than 1,000 sqm of communal amenity, with the existing chapel building earmarked for conversion into resident facilities.

According to the planning submission, the project centres on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the site's most significant heritage assets, including the original c.1889 St Joseph's building, the chapel designed by architect Augustus Andrew Fritsch, and the historic brick perimeter walls and entry gates. The proposal also incorporates the retention of other contributory buildings including the former infirmary and school building.

Tract Consultants, in the planning report accompanying the application, said the scheme had been shaped through extensive heritage analysis and design development.

"The shared vision for the Site by the project team has culminated in a scheme which successfully breathes life back into a historic site while delivering upon the objectives of Victoria's Housing Statement in a carefully curated and contextually responsive manner."

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7263b7d8-95ea-400f-9531-6ca7d22c3c33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29.png?VersionId=4cR1tiWOsDpgxEOwZi5vVFcyvvOsYkIE" />

The proposal is being assessed under Victoria's Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway. As part of the application, three per cent of the project's residential development cost would be contributed to the Social Housing Growth Fund. The development would also provide a diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences targeting a broader range of buyers than typically found in Surrey Hills' detached housing market.

Sustainability initiatives include an anticipated 66 per cent BESS score, natural cross-ventilation to 80 per cent of apartments, 28 per cent deep soil landscaping and a canopy cover outcome exceeding local planning requirements. The proposal also sets aside more than 1,083 sqm for communal indoor and outdoor resident amenity spaces.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33fad46f-fe26-4d0a-acfd-6b776e1c6a3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design.png?VersionId=D9F6WVSyYCtGvSUmith35LRp6R7PQkw_" />

Planning documents describe the property as one of the largest underutilised residential sites in Surrey Hills, arguing it presents a rare opportunity to introduce "missing middle" housing in an established inner-eastern suburb while preserving and revitalising a significant heritage precinct.

Antipodean Land Developments has built a reputation for design-focused residential projects across Melbourne, particularly in the medium-density sector. Previous developments include Neighbourhood in Brunswick East, delivered with Breathe Architecture, and Balfe Park Lane, designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

They've been very active in site acquisition as they build out their future development pipeline. They recently launched Thornubury House, 45 apartments above a mix of commercial, retail, and food and beverage tenancies, and have plans for a boutique project in Fitzroy and another <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/antipodean-plan-apartments-for-deepdenes-missing-middle-on-whitehorse-road">"missing middle" project</a> on Deepdene's Whitehorse Road.

Joel Robinson

First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/auyin-property-development">Auyin</a> is the latest to turn to the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program in an effort to secure approval for its long-planned, mixed-use project in Elsternwick.

In 2018, Auyin lodged plans with Glen Eira City Council for a 14-storey building, however Council approved a reduced eight-storey scheme. A subsequent VCAT appeal in 2019 upheld the eight-storey height limit.

The project was later amended to nine storeys, but Auyin is now seeking to revive something closer to its original vision. The developer argues that the planning context has evolved significantly over the past decade, particularly within the Elsternwick Activity Centre, where higher-density development has increasingly been encouraged along Glen Huntly Road.

The proposal would transform the 1,239 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/7-12-horne-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">7-15 Horne Street</a>, opposite Elsternwick Railway Station, into a 13-storey residential and retail development designed by CBG Architects, with 40 apartments

The site currently comprises three commercial properties.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5f465dd4-509b-4082-a669-0253b313914b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20podium.png?VersionId=72frWi0SmQ5AVJ3ARRhX5ILUYObhTm7x" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 25 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom residences above 200 sqm of retail space at ground level. Residents would have access to a 90 sqm wellness facility, a 351 sqm communal indoor and outdoor terrace on the third level, and extensive landscaped areas throughout the development. A publicly accessible 135 sqm plaza would be created on the north-east corner of the site, providing seating, landscaping, and a new gathering space adjoining Horne Street.

The design adopts a four-storey podium that references the finer-grain character of the surrounding streetscape, with the upper tower recessed behind generous setbacks on all boundaries.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e637e763-2abc-4c34-a0aa-5c7ad36fae18" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20open.png?VersionId=J1AoOpZgTyaF.KeeFSX6lMjEScX8KKRi" />

A key element of the proposal is the reconfiguration and widening of the surrounding laneways. Vehicle access would be retained from Lois Lane, with upgraded pedestrian connections linking Ross Street and Horne Street. The development would provide 58 residential car spaces, two retail car spaces, and 52 bicycle spaces across two basement levels and ground-floor facilities.

Architecturally, the building draws inspiration from the established character of Elsternwick Village. The façade combines dark charcoal brickwork, textured concrete, bronze-toned metal detailing, and extensive planting integrated into podium and tower levels. The design also incorporates a chamfered corner treatment and publicly accessible plaza intended to strengthen pedestrian activity around the station precinct.

Elsternwick's last new development completion was&nbsp;EVA Elsternwick by Pitard late last year. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/milieu-property">Milieu</a> is working away on its nature-led neighbourhood, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elsternwick-gardens-by-milieu-8-gordon-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick Gardens</a>, on Gordon Street, with its first stage expected to complete next year.

First look: Auyin seeks mixed-use apartment project in growing Elsternwick Activity Centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/otium-parkdale-123-125-como-parade-east-parkdale-vic-3195">Otium Parkdale</a>, the 13-residence boutique development by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/huxtable-property">Huxtable Property</a>, has entered its final stages of delivery, with completion expected within the coming month and more than half of the residences sold.

The Como Parade East project is nearing the finish line at a time when opportunities to purchase new apartments in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parkdale-vic-3195">Parkdale</a> remain exceptionally limited. Fewer than 10 per cent of dwellings in the bayside suburb are apartments, making developments like Otium a relatively rare addition to a market traditionally dominated by detached housing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5427]

The three-level development comprises 13 residences, including ten two-bedroom apartments and three larger three-bedroom homes, all positioned above a secure basement car park.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/almeida-architects">Almeida Architects</a> with a strong connection to its coastal surroundings, Otium combines red brick, exposed concrete and dark metal detailing with integrated landscaping and greenery. Expansive glazing, generous balconies and terraces have been incorporated throughout the design to maximise natural light and reinforce indoor-outdoor living.

Inside, the residences feature engineered European oak flooring, natural and reconstituted stone benchtops, Bosch kitchen appliances, ducted heating and cooling, lift access and secure entry systems. The larger three-bedroom residences on the upper level have been designed with house-like proportions, while the two-bedroom apartments prioritise functionality, flexibility and low-maintenance living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5421]

The project is now in its final stages, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/labco">Labco</a> completing the remaining landscaping and external finishing works following the completion of the residences' interiors.

Otium's location within the heart of Parkdale continues to underpin its appeal. Residents will be just steps from local cafés, restaurants, shops and the newly elevated Parkdale Station, while the beach is less than a kilometre away.

With the project tracking ahead of schedule, buyers can currently secure a residence with a five per cent deposit and benefit from settlement terms of up to eight months. The advanced stage of construction also provides buyers with the opportunity to walk through the near-complete residences and experience the quality and finishes firsthand ahead of completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134974]

Otium Parkdale enters final month before completion as rare apartment opportunity nears sellout

A new boutique apartment development is entering the market in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chermside-qld-4032">Chermside</a>, with Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ausdev">Ausdev</a> bringing 33 residences to a well-connected pocket of Brisbane's north.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/parkdrive-apartments-chermside-25-sammells-drive-chermside-qld-4032">Parkdrive Apartments</a>, at 25 Sammells Drive, will comprise a mix of one- and two-bedroom residences positioned within walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, and Bradbury Park.

Established in 1989, Ausdev has a long-standing presence across both development and construction, with Parkdrive Apartments representing its latest residential project in Brisbane's northern suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363778]

The development has been designed around open-plan living and natural light, with residences featuring stone benchtops, timber cabinetry, BOSCH appliances, and private balconies that extend the living areas outdoors.

Kitchens are positioned as the centrepiece of the homes, incorporating natural material palettes and integrated appliances, while bathrooms have been designed with a focus on functionality and understated finishes.

Residents will have access to a communal barbecue and entertaining area on Level 3, providing shared outdoor space within the development. Secure parking and lift access are also incorporated into the building.

The project will deliver a limited collection of 33 apartments, with one-bedroom residences priced from $749,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Beyond the building itself, the location places residents within easy reach of several of Chermside's key amenities. Bradbury Park is around 350 metres away, while Westfield Chermside is approximately 1.3 kilometres from the site. The Prince Charles Hospital is located within 750 metres, and the Chermside Bus Interchange is around 1.5 kilometres away, providing connections across Brisbane.

Parkdrive Apartments adds to the growing residential pipeline in Chermside, a suburb that continues to evolve as a major retail, healthcare, and transport hub for Brisbane's north.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152125]

Ausdev introduces boutique Parkdrive Apartments to Chermside's growing centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skymark-group">Skymark</a>'s boutique Cronulla development Solis has secured a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy through Resilience Insurance, providing buyers of the 16-residence building on Ewos Parade with structural and waterproofing protection that extends a decade beyond the building's completion.

Currently under construction and due for completion in late 2027, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/solis-cronulla-8-ewos-parade-cronulla-nsw-2230">Solis</a> is one of a small number of new developments in the Sutherland Shire to carry Resilience LDI coverage, a distinction that carries increasing weight as buyer confidence in the off-the-plan sector continues to be shaped by how developers stand behind their product.

Latent Defects Insurance, which entered the Australian market in 2022 when Resilience Insurance was approved to offer the cover, protects buyers against major structural or waterproofing defects for ten years post-completion. Unlike traditional statutory warranties, it operates as a first-resort policy, if a covered defect arises, the insurer responds directly, without the buyer needing to pursue the builder or developer through a lengthy claims process.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent has noted that the product addresses something fundamental to the new apartment market.

"The overarching feedback from prospective buyers in the new development space is that they want more confidence and assurances around the quality of the build," Nugent says.

"Resilience Insurance Latent Defects Insurance not only gives them complete peace of mind for 10 years, but it shows the developer they are buying from is standing by their product."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370898]

For Solis, the Resilience LDI policy adds a meaningful layer of accountability to an already considered project. The development comprises nine two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom residences, including one dual-level three-bedroom apartment, across a five-storey building on Ewos Parade, positioned between Shelly Beach and South Cronulla.

Garden apartments connect directly to private landscaped courtyards, while upper-level homes capture beach views to the east from level four and above.&nbsp;

All 16 residences include at least one balcony or courtyard, and select apartments on the upper floors feature bar areas and secondary flexible living spaces.

Hiba Sander, Managing Director of Skymark, says Solis offers a rare balance, nestled between the quiet beauty of secluded beaches and the lively charm of South Cronulla's esplanade.

"It's a place to choose your pace and live gracefully, seaside'," Sander says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370900]

The architecture, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ida-design-group">IDA Design Group</a>'s Michael Trinh, draws from the natural erosion patterns of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/cronulla-nsw-2230">Cronulla</a>'s sandstone headlands, translating the organic forms of the coastline into soft curves, pavilion-style massing, and a material palette chosen for longevity in a salt-tinged environment.&nbsp;

Textured natural stone, soft renders, and timber-look battens reference the tones of the surrounding cliffs, while the building has been oriented to maximise natural light and passive ventilation, with primary living spaces facing north and east to capture morning sun and sea breezes.

"At Solis, our aim was to create architecture that feels quietly confident, grounded in natural materials like stone and timber, and elevated by light and landscape," Trinh says.&nbsp;

"The buildings are designed to sit gently within their coastal surrounds, with expansive glazing and abundant greenery creating a seamless dialogue between inside and out."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370897]

Interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hot-black">Hot Black</a> carry the same material language through to every room. Kitchens feature integrated Gaggenau appliances, sculpted stone benchtops, and Lo &amp; Co joinery, while bathrooms feature natural stone, timber, and brushed metal finishes.&nbsp;

Hot Black Founder and Design Director Sophie Safrin describes the intent as one of considered restraint: "At Solis, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to create a timeless coastal retreat, calm, refined, and effortlessly liveable. From natural finishes to seamless indoor-outdoor flow, Solis offers a quiet elegance that's deeply connected to its surroundings.

The landscape, designed by Julian Brady of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/sitedesignstudios">Site Design Studios</a>, treats green space as an integral part of the resident experience rather than an afterthought.&nbsp;

"Gentle curves and layered native plantings mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean," Julian Brady says, "creating a serene connection between architecture and place."&nbsp;

Coco Republic has provided bespoke furniture packages tailored to the project's coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370899]

Skymark has an established track record in the Sutherland Shire, with a portfolio spanning Cronulla, Woolooware and Burraneer that includes Isla, Sylva, Bask, Shells, Sula and Mist. Securing LDI on Solis reflects a broader shift in how the developer is positioning its buildings to buyers, at a time when Resilience Insurance expects the policy to become mandatory in New South Wales by 2028.

Sales at Solis are launching soon through Ray White Projects, with an official event scheduled for 11 June. Enquire for more information.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150499]

Skymark takes out 10-year Resilience Insurance LDI at Solis Cronulla

Commercial Market

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Low global and local interest rates have spurred a significant rise in commercial property prices in Australia in recent years according to HSBCE seniro economist Paul Bloxham.
In his 2017 forecast he says his has been partly driven by a global ‘search for yield’.
"Commercial property prices have risen across office, industrial and retail commercial property," he said.
"The rise in commercial property prices has significantly outpaced rents, pushing yields lower, and driving them to converge towards global commercial property yields, which are still lower than those in Australia. 
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"However, much like the housing market, the trends vary across the major cities. 
In Sydney and Melbourne, where economic conditions have been stronger, office vacancy rates have edged lower, supporting prices and rents. 
"However, yields have still fallen as growth in commercial property prices outpaced growth in rents. In Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, where economic conditions have been weaker, office vacancy rates have risen. This has seen rents fall, while office prices have tracked broadly sideways, which has also weighed on commercial property yields. 
"The recent lift in global interest rates could take some of the support away from commercial property prices. Oversupply of commercial properties in Brisbane and Perth, which have seen a sharp rise in vacancy rates, could also weigh on apartment markets in those cities, given the substitutability across these types of properties."
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Commercial property spill-over: HSBC's Paul Bloxham

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The amount of office space leased across major Australian markets increased 21 percent year to date till September, helped by strong demand from small businesses — mainly the IT sector, according to real estate firm Colliers International.
According to Colliers International’s latest Office Demand Index, 448,163 sqm of office space was leased nationally as of September YTD 2016. 
A huge majority, 85 percent, of these leasing deals involved businesses looking for less than 1,000 sqm of office space. 
“Year to date, the Sydney and Melbourne markets have seen heightened activity for small businesses,” said Simon Hunt, managing director of office leasing, Colliers International. 
“A growing number of small businesses are looking to establish their headquarters in Australia’s two major markets, with the IT industry leading the way.”
A significant proportion of leasing deals concluded to date in 2016 involved businesses within the IT sector, with this group accounting for the third greatest amount of area transacted, following the always-prevalent state government and legal sectors. 
Colliers International’s Office Demand Index recorded 465,162 sqm of demand in Q3 2016, a 13 percent decrease compared to Q3 2015 with 79 percent of the total demand under 1,000 sqm. 
The number of enquiries recorded year to date, however, rose by 8 eprcent on the previous year, with the amount of space enquired for increasing by 3 percent. 
Sydney recorded 210,407 sqm of demand, up 22 percent on Q3 2015, while Brisbane recorded 31,380 sqm of demand – a 31 percent increase from Q3 2016 to Q3 2015. In Canberra, demand rose 27 percent year on year to 14,260 sqm.
Melbourne saw a 38 percent decrease in enquiry, from 239,594 sqm in Q3 2015 to 149,320 sqm in Q3 2016. 
“Even though Melbourne recorded a drop in demand for Q3 2016, the amount recorded still  surpassed that seen in Q1 2016 and Q4 2015,” Hunt said. 
In Adelaide, enquiry fell 33 percent from 50,704 sqm in Q3 2015 to Q3 2016 and Perth saw a decrease of 53% from 35,595 sqm of enquiry in Q3 2015 to 16,663 sqm in Q3 2016.
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Small businesses drive office leasing deals 21 percent on prior year: Colliers International 

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A quaint hotel in Queensland’s North Rockhampton has just been snapped up for $200,000.
The two-storey hotel at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-hotel+leisure-qld-koongal-501956402" target="_blank">385 Lakes Creek Road, Koongal</a> has a main bar, bistro/function room area and 10 boarding rooms upstairs. There is also the potential for re-opening a drive-through bottle shop.
It has 10 boarding rooms and a large car park.
The corner property, which spans 1,608 sqm, was sold with vacant possession by Andrew Leach of Ray White.
This site has enormous potential for an Owner-Operator Publican or a redevelopment site~ in the future.
The property can be redeveloped subject to council approval.
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Rockhampton hotel with bar changes hands for $200,000

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NSW Central Coast sits at the peak of market position on property valuation firm Herron Todd White’s retail clock for August 2016, which also discusses the year-to-date’s top transactions as retail property continues to be popular with investors because of the attractive yields.
The property clock is a simple broad brush means to indicate where property markets are headed.
Roll back to May, when the previous retail clock was ticking, and one notices that Horsham and South East NSW were also at the top along with NSW Central Coast. South East NSW has gone back two ticks to a rising market since, while Horsham has dropped out completely!
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Approaching the peak of market in August are the cities of Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Newcastle. Melbourne is the new entrant here, while Sydney remains at the rising market position.
The bottom of the market includes Hobart, Launceston, Lismore, Townsville and Wide Bay Area. Lismore is the new entrant here.
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

NSW Central Coast, the lone wolf at the retail market peak: HTW property clock August 2016

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The Australian hotel sector recorded deals worth nearly $500 million in the first quarter of 2016 and will continue to grow through the year despite the recent strength in the Australian dollar, says new research. 
Appetite for domestic travel will remain firm and the higher dollar will not be enough of a dampener to discourage overseas visitors travelling to Australia, says real estate firm CBRE’s Q1 Australia Hotels MarketView. 
Cairns and the Gold Coast are expected to remain the star performers of the Australian hotel market after double digit growth in revenue per available room (RevPar) for the year to March 31, 2016.
RevPAR was 15.3 percent for Cairns and 11.3 percent for the Gold Coast in the year to March as a result of record international and domestic travel numbers. 
But not all major markets grew at the same pace, with an increasing divergence between the performance between the resource impacted cities of Perth and Darwin, the major business hubs of Sydney and Melbourne, and the outperforming hospitality markets in Queensland, says the report.
“The mining hubs of Perth and Darwin continue to suffer from the downturn, with Darwin being particularly hard hit due to increased supply levels,” said CBRE Hotels’ research manager Benjamin Martin-Henry. 
“Melbourne is in a state of transition, with occupancy rates increasing but average daily rates (ADR) having fallen, resulting in a drop in RevPAR. Sydney is also in a period of transition, with a slight decrease in occupancy results, although this is likely to be temporary as visitor demand remains strong.”
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The report also highlights that Canberra and Hobart have started the year on a positive note, with Hobart benefitting from substantial increases in tourist numbers.
 
However, the country’s key leisure markets in Queensland have been the real standouts.
 
“The Gold Coast and Cairns continue to outperform the rest of the country, posting the highest RevPAR growth rates for any major markets," Martin- Henry said.
 
CBRE Hotels’ Hayley Manvell added that with a lack of new accommodation coming onto the market in both Cairns and the Gold Coast, demand was expected to outstrip supply in the short to medium term.
 
“Investors are likely to be keeping a close eye on these markets and will look to pick up any assets that come up for sale and benefit from the growth in these regions,” Manvell said.
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Overall transaction volumes in 2015 surpassed expectations – and this momentum has carried into 2016, says the research.
 
Major deals included the purchase of the Vibe Hotel, Sydney, by Singapore’s Far East Organisation for $90 million and the Crowne Plaza Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast trading hands for $58 million, being bought by a venture between the Laundy and Karedis families.
<a href="/images/2016/08/12/Key%20deals.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/08/12/Key%20deals.png" alt="">
 
CBRE national director Wayne Bunz said it remained to be seen whether the slowdown in the Chinese economy and recent gains in the Australian dollar would impact overseas buyer interest.
 
However, he noted that CBRE’s latest Asia Pacific Investor Intentions survey had shown that investors were more likely than ever before to purchase hotel assets.
 
“In our 2015 Investors Intentions survey, just 1% of investors indicated they would be purchasing hotel assets that year. Fast forward 12 months and that interest has jumped to 14 percent, with hotels now ranking as the third most sought after asset class behind office and logistics,” Bunz said.
 
“One of the ongoing constraints will be the lack of purchasable stock and, with high levels of competition pushing up already high prices in Sydney and Melbourne, investors are expected to increasingly focus on opportunities in regional areas.”
 
Bunz added that investors still perceived the Australian hotel sector to be a long term growth play and this was underpinning buyers’ willingness to pay premiums to secure high quality assets.
 
“This is compressing investment yields further, with this trend set to continue over the remainder of 2016,” Bunz said.
 
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Buyer appetite to remain strong in Australian hotel market in 2016: CBRE 

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The Darling Street retail strip which runs through Rozelle and Balmain is back in business, according to Ray White Commercial Inner West.
Ray White Commercial Inner West Principal Tim Morrison said the agency has leased more than 20 shops in Balmain and Rozelle so far this year and the precinct is thriving once again.
“Balmain is back,” he said.
“After a few years of a large number of vacant retail premises, there has been a significant turnaround this year in Darling St.
“We have leased more than 20 properties so far this year which is the most active I have seen the leasing market in Balmain for many years with virtually no vacancies."
 
Tim said a variety of businesses had set up shop in Darling Street this year, with IT companies, barbers and hairdressers, food stores, clothing outlets, music shops and a number of bars moving in.
He said one of the reasons for the Darling Street revival was some local council initiatives such as easing parking restrictions for shoppers.
“There has certainly been some recognition from council that the precinct was in need of some assistance,” he said.
Tim said easing rental prices and incentives had also helped to attract tenants.
“Darling St is a busy retail strip again with high pedestrian and vehicular traffic and it will always be a popular area being close to the Sydney CBD with quick and easy access to the major commercial hubs along Victorian Road and City West Link,” he said.
“We have investment opportunities available offering highly attractive yields.”
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Darling Street buzzing again

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A fully leased office/warehouse property at Prahran in Melbourne’s inner east is on the market for the first time in 40 years through Teska Carson with expectations of more than $1.45 million.
The property, 11-13 Regent Street will be auctioned on Wednesday, September 7 at 1pm and comprises a single-level, 210 square metre building with an office area, and a clear span warehouse with roller door access. The 245 square metre site is zoned Commercial 1 and includes storage areas, on-site parking and 14 metres of street frontage.
According to Teska Carson’s George Takis the property will be sold subject to a short term lease to Big Blue Corporation at a current rental of $32,096 per annum net.  
"Regent Street is close to High Street and Chapel Street, which offer an abundance of retail, cafés, supermarkets, restaurants and other amenities," he said.
"It is also only four kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD via major arterial routes, train or tram, and within close proximity of lifestyle amenities such as Fawkner Park, Albert Park Lake and St Kilda. "
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Prahran industrial offered first time in 40 years

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A seven-storey office tower fully leased to the federal government in Canberra CBD has been put up for sale by Credit Suisse Real Estate Investment Management.
The A-grade building at 62 Northbourne Avenue is being marketed by CBRE’s Mark Hansen, Andrew Stewart and Richard Butler through an international expressions of interest campaign.
“Canberra is a classic, safe haven investment, which has always attracted offshore money,” Hansen said.
“Because of the stability of tenure, fixed reviews and long-term leases that the Commonwealth government provides, we expect this property to attract the interest of a number of investors seeking security."
The building has a 5 star NABERS rating and is adjacent to a proposed light rail project.
Stewart said the Canberra market was benefitting from an influx of investors looking outside of Melbourne and Sydney.
“Canberra has seen some significant yield compression in the past two years, with it seen as the next go-to-market – offering a stable economy and strong tenancy profile in many assets,” he said.
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Office tower in Canberra leased to government on the market

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Woolworths plans to shut 30 stores, including 17 supermarkets in Australia and six in New Zealand.
It was announced as part of a Woolworths restructuring into a new operating model that sees 500 fewer jobs, and the slowing of its store roll-out.
It involves closing underperforming outlets by the new chief executive Brad Banducci, who started in the role in February.
These 17 stores are all expected to shut before the end of the current financial year. They have not been identified from their 960 store tally, but have an average six years remaining on their lease. Under community pressure Woolworths reportedly advised that it Bundaberg region stores will not be closing.   
Woolworths also said that it has identified five Big W stores that are likely to close in the next three years based on current trading performance.
A further 34 stores across its broad portfolio are rated as underperforming.
Woolworths said there was "currently significant uncertainty around whether we would renew the lease at the end of the lease term".
These include 15 supermarkets in Australia and five metro stores.
There are also 20 development sites were the build will be delayed or not proceeded with.
He said sales per square metre and 'Return On Funds Employed' would be introduced as long-term executive performance indicators of how stores were performing under a new operating model.
Banducci had been managing director of Woolworths Food Group with 25 years in retail, including 15 years consulting to some of the world’s leading retailers, as well as private equity experience in retail.
He had had five years with Woolworths, including his role in leading the growth of Woolworths Liquor Group. During this time he was instrumental in the development of Dan Murphy’s.
The announcement comes as the German supermarket Aldi is estimated to now hold a double-digit percentage share of the Australian grocery sector.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims believes Aldi to now have “close to north of 10 percent of the market now”, according to Fairfax Media.
Sims believes this has knocked the dynamic duo of Coles and Woolworths down to a combined 70% share, whereas the two held closer to a 75% share a few years ago.
Aldi has over 400 stores across the country, employing over 9000 staff with sales in 2013 at just under $5 billion, up $2.86 billion from 2010.
Woolworths will open 45 stores over the next few years.
It typically closes around eight stores each year.
 
 
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17 Woolworths stores to close in Australia with another 15 under threat

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Almost 20 percent of office space in the $1.25 billion development by Cbus Property at 447 Collins Street Sydney has been taken.
International law firm King &amp; Wood Mallesons firm will lease 8300 square metres across levels 23 to 27, equating to approximately 20 percent of the development’s 49,000 square metres of NLA commercial space.
The dual tower project designed by SHoP architects and Woods Bagot will be connected by a sky-bridge is located on a unique 6000 square metre island site. 
The development will also feature 294 five-star hotel rooms, wellness centre and conferencing facilities, and residential apartments and is leased through Colliers International.
Colliers International national director of office leasing, Andrew Beasley, said demand for the development was already outperforming other projects in the CBD, with tenants keen to satisfy staff demand for amenity and wellbeing. 
"A desire to upgrade and relocate to new premises to avoid the disruptive nature of churning in their existing premises, was also driving enquiry," he said. 
“The interest received has already exceeded our expectations of the market. We anticipate being able to announce further details over the course of the next few weeks."
 
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