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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

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

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

Commercial News

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The most active segment of construction in the June 2017 quarter was civil engineering, with 1,020 projects entering construction at a value of $8.9 billion over the period. 
This also reflects government owned projects, particularly in transport infrastructure, the latest Market Movement report by Cordell noted.
In the private sector, renewable energy project applications and commencements have also led in the civil engineering space. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/10/26/ConstructionOverview.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/10/26/ConstructionOverview.png" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/10/26/CivilEngg.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/10/26/CivilEngg.png" alt="">
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Cordell charts civil engineering as highly active

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With a loan tally of more than $520 million, George Giovas of Axius Partners has been named Australia’s top commercial broker for 2017 in MPA’s Top 10 Commercial Brokers Report, sponsored by Westpac.
The Sydney-based Giovas wrote 15 loans totalling $520,345,00 over the 2016-17 financial year, a record for an individual commercial broker. 
Giovas, who found Axius Partners in 2011, says it is an “old-fashioned merchant bank”, split between funds management and advice and broking. 
It specialises in development finance, including apartments and hotels.
Previously, Giovas was ANZ’s global head of property, managing more than 150 people and a $40 billion balance sheet. 
The Top 10 list was dominated by brokers specialising in development finance.
The top brokers all noted that banks are reducing their appetite for development finance owing to pressure from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
The watchdog has asked banks to reduce their exposure to residential developments through tougher conditions and reluctance to lend to inexperienced developers, but this has resulted in more non-bank lending.
The second place went to Ben Wardley of Right Angle Group while Kevin Wheatley of Bayside Residential &amp; Commercial mortgages was third.
Both Right Angle Group and Bayside Residential &amp; Commercial are in the development finance industry in Brisbane and Sydney respectively.
2017's Top 10 Commercial Brokers: 
<ol>
<li>George Giovas,    Axius Partners Pty Limited, $520,345,000 </li>
<li>Ben Wardley,    Right Angle Group, $201,326,183 </li>
<li>Kevin Wheatley, Bayside Residential and Commercial Mortgages, $198,682,654 </li>
<li>Marwan Rahme, Kanebridge, $147,692,010 </li>
<li>Jamie Giles, Astute Financial – Springhill, $125,034,502 </li>
<li>Jason Arnold, Quattro Finance &amp; Advisory, $118,615,199 </li>
<li>Daniel Green, Green Finance Group, $100,026,764 </li>
<li>Mark Churchill, Allfin Financial Services Pty Ltd, $99,559,979 </li>
<li>Danny Luu, Pagoda Finance, $91,666,508 </li>
<li>Glen Barnes, Barnes Finance Solutions Pty Ltd, $91,559,000</li>
</ol>
The list includes business lending brokers Jamie Giles of AstuteFinancial, Daniel Green of Green Finance, Mark Churchill of Allfin Finance and Glen Barnes of Barnes Finance Solutions.  
 
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Australia’s top commercial broker writes 15 loans totalling $520,345,000

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Brisbane is approaching the peak of the retail market cycle, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White's recent property clock.
The clock is a simple broad brush means to suggest where property markets are as at February 2016 - and what direction prices are moving in, with an accompanying analysis.
Neighbourhood and convenience grade shopping centres were the flavour in Brisbane in calendar year 2015, with a large volume of transactions.
The high levels of demand and active market was seen across all market sectors, and has seen investment yields compress by up to 100 basis points over the course of the year, a significant shift in such a short time period, says the HTW report.
Among the neighbourhood centres, there were a number of transactions involving newly developed supermarket-based centres in growth areas.
Convenience centres are also in strong demand and many such properties in the inner ring suburbs are also now benefiting from expectations that they may offer future redevelopment potential.
Prime grade freestanding retail assets were realising yields in the range of 5% to 6%, whilst non-institutional grade retail properties attracted slightly softer yields of between 6% and 7%. Convenience centres were showing yields of between 6.5% and 8.0%.
Recent evidence indicates that yields are probably nearing the bottom at these ranges, however, there is no indication as yet of any likely upward movement. Certainly, retail assets are generally being tightly held due to the lack of yield in alternate investment classes, says the HTW report.
Second tier assets saw compression of yields, though these remain some 100 to 200 basis points higher than premium grade assets.
Rental growth remains patchy with very little growth evident in current markets. There has however been a gradual decline in vacancies in the higher quality centres. Future rental growth, however, is still likely to only keep pace with inflation at best.
Large format retail properties have been coming back into popularity with a significant compression of yields since the difficult post-GFC days. Vacancies are generally declining, however rent growth remains largely stagnant, it concludes.
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Neighbourhood and convenience shopping centre deals flourished in Brisbane in 2015: HTW

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Ray White Hotels Asia Pacific managing director Andrew Jolliffe will once again line up against some of the nation’s top chefs and 150 CEOs at this year’s Oz Harvest CEO Cookoff on March 7 to to feed up to 1,300 homeless and vulnerable Australians.
The annual event is in its fifth year and aims to increase awareness on food insecurity, homelessness and food wastage in Australia.
The 50-chef lineup includes Matt Moran, Neil Perry, Guillaume Brahimi and many more.
“I find the thought of the sheer desperation and hopelessness hungry kids in this country must feel, an absolutely abhorrent concept. The people involved in the OzHarvest organisation, from the indefatigable Ronni Khan, right down to the volunteers who regularly lend their time to the movement, are so inspirational,” said Jolliffe.
Asked what his cooking specialty will be on the night, Joliffe said he just wants to complete the cookoff without losing a finger. “As for the dish we'll cook on the night, I'm prepared to take firm instruction from Matt Moran or Guillaume Brahimi or whoever is shouting at me the loudest.”
The <a href="https://www.ceocookoff.com.au/" target="_blank">OzHarvest CEO Cookoff</a> is the food-rescue organisation’s flagship annual event, and in it’s fifth year has raised more than $4 million dollars. This year its target is to raise another $1.5million.
 “I'm so grateful for the support of colleagues and clients who have already made commitments to support what is going on here. It's clearly great to raise money for such a worthwhile initiative, but without also raising the awareness of the issue central to the movement (namely the better utilization of existing resources: financial, human and product) to crush the absurdity of hungry kids in Australia; then I will have failed in meeting my objective,” said Jolliffe.
You can donate by clicking <a href="https://www.ceocookoff.com.au/sponsor" target="_blank">here</a>.
To watch Andrew's introduction, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phfCRjmoVtM" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Ray White Hotel’s director Andrew Jolliffe swaps deals for meals as he gears up for the Oz Harvest CEO Cookoff

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Australia’s office market offers a mixed bag from one coast to the next.
Demand for space from tenants and level of landlord investment has fluctuated widely between the regions, so choosing the right fundamentals has become ever more important, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White latest property clock for offices.
The March property clock is a simple broad brush means to suggest where property markets are and what direction prices are moving in.
<a href="/images/2016/03/2/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-02%20at%2012.56.15%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/03/2/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-02%20at%2012.56.15%20PM.png" alt="">
Tamworth in New South Wales retains its place at the peak of the cycle and is the only one occupying the position.
NSW Far North Coast and Coffs Harbour are the new entrants to towns/cities approaching the peak of the market.
Darwin slips into the declining market position while Perth and Gladstone are approaching the bottom of the market, says the HTW clock.
In Coffs Harbour CBD, the demand and supply of office space remains stable and there has been a steady take up of oversupplied space. Rental levels are generally static with the most recent lettings effected at similar passing rental rates or subject to CPI increase. There is evidence of leasing incentives (generally two to three months rent free) within the market. 
The capital value levels for office buildings demonstrated strong demand and firm yields throughout the year.
In Darwin’s case, the outlook for the commercial office market is best described as bleak. The Charles Darwin Centre is now open for business and a number of government departments have moved in, leaving a number of other office buildings in the CBD vacant. HTW estimates that the vacancy rate for CBD office space exceeds 20% and could well climb higher over the next 12 months. 
As for Perth, the official vacancy rate in the CBD office market as at January 2016 was recorded as being 19.2%, up from 16.6% six months earlier and up 4.4% on the January 2015 result. 
Overall, the current state of the Perth office market continues to decline. Forecasts for the following six months will see little respite in vacancy numbers, with predictions as high as 24% by the first or second quarter of 2016.
Lastly, in Queensland’s Gladstone, the office market for 2016 is anticipated to remain relatively in line with 2015, with tenants keeping hold of negotiating power in new leases and when exercising option periods. Over the past 12 months there have been some reductions in rental levels of about 30% and this is expected to continue until rentals begin to flatten out.
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Australia's office market a mixed bag, Perth near bottom, Darwin outlook bleak: HTW March property clock

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The Australian Property Institute's proposal to modernise the organisation has received strong support from members.
At the API's extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in Adelaide, the motions passed with 90% of votes in favour.
At least 66% approval was needed to pass the resolutions, which include:
- the API to become a company limited by guarantee,
- and to adopt the proposed new constitution.
The new structure and governance is expected to come into effect from January 1, 2016.
"This is a real transition, a culture change from 2016 onwards, the API would serve the members, provide advocacy, develop and uphold professional standards," API chief executive Mike Zissler said.
API national president Tyrone Hodge would become chair of the new organisation until the AGM in May next year.
New members would also be nominated for election to the board at the meeting, with some current members staying to ensure continuity.
“There is still a lot of work to be done finalising charters, policies and guidelines, however, the outcome of the EGM is a tremendously positive step forward for the API," said Zissler.
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API members pass much needed modernisation reforms

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Federation Centres has appointed Michael O’Brien as its chief investment officer.
Angus McNaughton, Federation Centres’ chief said there had been an extensive executive search.
Michael previously held senior roles at GPT Group and at Lend Lease Corporation.
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