Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is bringing some of the largest apartments ever delivered to the sought-after Domain Precinct, directly facing Albert Park Lake.

H&amp;F has recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-queensbury-melbourne-71-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">The Queensbury</a>, inspired by London’s Queens Club, the historic home of the prestigious Wimbledon, the world’s oldest tennis tournament. The opportunity for apartment buyers is as rare as securing a ticket to the finals at the All England Club, with the site being one of the very few remaining positions offering uninterrupted, never-to-be-built-out views across Albert Park Lake.

The building has been designed to maximise the unique nature of the site and its prominent parkside position. Architecture firm Forum has crafted a design that responds directly to its setting. Its façade is defined by strong vertical elements and expansive glazing, oriented to capture the unrepeatable views over Albert Park Lake, the city and the bay.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151832 project_image_fid=359764]

There will be 141 two- and three-bedroom apartments in The Queensbury, many of which have already been snapped up during the early marketing stage.

The apartments have been planned to maximise natural light and visual connection to the surrounding landscape. Living areas extend to private balconies, reinforcing the relationship between interior spaces and the lake or city beyond. Bedrooms are oriented to draw in daylight, while material selections focus on natural stone, porcelain tiles and brushed nickel fixtures.

Purchasers can choose between two interior schemes, Augusta and Ascot, which interpret neutral and earth-toned palettes across kitchens and bathrooms. Kitchens incorporate natural stone benchtops, integrated Miele appliances and panelled cabinetry, with detailing designed to balance durability and everyday functionality.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151832 project_image_fid=359771]

Much like the private clubs that define Wimbledon’s tradition and prestige, The Queensbury has been designed to embody an exclusive, club-style way of living.

Its resident amenities are curated to mirror the refined atmosphere of a members’ club, with spaces to gather, unwind and entertain, delivering an elevated lifestyle that feels both rare and enduring.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151832 project_image_fid=359772]

“The ground level is designed as an open lounge that brings the outdoors in,” says David Harrap, Director at Forum.

“The wellness centre is a sanctuary and spills out towards the garden, creating a sense of calm.”

The wellness centre comprises a fully equipped gym, spa, cold plunge pool and sauna. A resident lounge and dining space opens to an outdoor pickleball court, aligned with the sporting culture of London’s Queens Club and a first for a Melbourne multi-residential apartment development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151832 project_image_fid=359748]

While the proximity and orientation of the site and building are unmatched, future residents will also be within walking distance of ANZAC Station and multiple tram connections along St Kilda Road. The development is also close to the NGV, Arts Centre Melbourne and major sporting venues including the MCG and Rod Laver Arena.

St Kilda Beach, along with the hospitality venues that line the foreshore, is just over two kilometres from the front door.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151832 project_image_fid=359764]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> has been developing a mix of commercial and residential projects since it was founded in 2014 by Daniel Faigen and backed by Eddie Hirsch, co-founder of United Petroleum.

After recently launching its fourth Gold Coast project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> has also delivered local developments including Central Park in Box Hill and 107 Darling Road in Malvern East.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151832]

Joel Robinson

The Queensbury brings Wimbledon-inspired living to Albert Park Lake

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pdg-corporation">PDG Corporation</a> has been appointed by the Victorian Government and Development Victoria to transform a long-unused infrastructure site in Ivanhoe into a new residential precinct, delivering 275 homes alongside a 2,000 sqm public park.

The project will redevelop the former water tank site on Upper Heidelberg Road, which has been unused since 2004. The appointment follows an eight-year planning process and marks the start of detailed design, with a planning application expected to be lodged in mid-2026.

The redevelopment will introduce a new residential community in one of Melbourne’s established inner-north suburbs, with at least 10 per cent of the homes allocated as affordable housing. In addition to new housing supply, the project will expand local open space through the delivery of the public park, which will be accessible to the broader community.

PDG Managing Director and Founder Vince Giuliano said the partnership with Development Victoria presented an opportunity to deliver a housing outcome aligned with the character of the area.

“PDG is thrilled to partner with Development Victoria to bring new housing options to this popular part of Melbourne,” Giuliano said.

“This exceptional location offers a rare opportunity to create a vibrant, connected community, and we look forward to working closely with Development Victoria and other stakeholders to bring their vision to life.”

The Ivanhoe project continues PDG’s track record of delivering mixed-use and community-focused developments in Melbourne.

PDG has just sought to upscale its plans for its prime Southbank site on Queens Bridge Street. They are seeking to developer 637 apartments across a 71-storey tower.

PDG appointed to develop Ivanhoe water tank site by Development Victoria

National developer Fortis has received development approval for Crest &amp; Walker, its Newstead apartment development on Kyabra Street.

Construction by Binah is expected to commence on the 20-storey, Bureau^Proberts-designed building soon. There will be 65 two- and three-bedroom apartments on offer, starting at $1.8 million.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> marks the fourth active development to be delivered by Fortis in Brisbane, following River House, now nearing completion, a residential project in New Farm, and a mixed-use development in Hamilton. Several additional projects remain in the pipeline as the development manager continues to grow its footprint across South-East Queensland.

&nbsp;

Dan Boman, General Manager – Development, Queensland, said the continued expansion in Brisbane projects managed by Fortis reflects the company’s commitment to design-led development and thoughtful placemaking.

“We’re proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such lifestyle destination as Newstead," Bonman says.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves."

Bonman believes Crest &amp; Walker will&nbsp;attract a discerning buyer who values design, thoughtful amenity and a lifestyle that captures the best of contemporary Brisbane.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane’s most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

&nbsp;

The building’s design features a contemporary brick podium softened by vertical greenery, creating a distinctive architectural expression within the Newstead streetscape. Positioned between Gasworks and James Street, the project sits within one of Brisbane’s most coveted lifestyle precincts, surrounded by dining, retail and cultural destinations.

A communal rooftop will feature a sun lounge and pool, BBQ facilities and a sauna, all set against panoramic views across Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

Slaite Projects will handle the sales campaign, which will kick off in May.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis to launch Crest & Walker, Newstead following development approval

Ahead of the completion of several projects in 2026, Justin Brown’s Abadeen Group is working on the next phase of its boutique residential pipeline.

<article data-scroll-anchor="true" data-testid="conversation-turn-10" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:4ca9c789-6d9f-4fea-860a-8e6ce96c2acc-4" dir="auto" tabindex="-1">
Abadeen, which has recently sought approval to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-woollahra-development-wave-continues-as-abadeen-plots-six-storey-apartment-block">develop 29 apartments in Woollahra</a>, will also be returning to Neutral Bay, where it has just completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/enso-neutral-bay-34-grosvenor-street-neutral-bay-nsw-2090">ENSO</a> and is putting the finishing touches on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-villas-neutral-bay-7-11-premier-street-neutral-bay-nsw-2089">The Villas</a> nearby. Abadeen first developed in the suburb back in 2019 when they completed No.1 Premier.

Its newest development will be located at the southern end of Barry Street, a stone’s throw from Ilbery Reserve and the Neutral Bay Social Club. Closer in scale to The Villas than ENSO, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/19-21-barry-street-neutral-bay-nsw-2089">Barry St project</a> will comprise 20 large-scale apartments, a typology synonymous with Abadeen’s development ethos. 
 
<img alt="First Look: Abadeen plots six-storey apartment development in Neutral Bay’s Barry Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d96caa0-89fc-4751-b046-cad872025c73" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Barry%20street%20pers.png?VersionId=h6zHBVcEkmN0bQOSBebQA.n6F3vRHUm6" />
</article>

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dko-architecture">DKO Architecture</a>&nbsp;said in its Design Report that the proposed multi-residential development in Neutral Bay contributes positively to the area’s established residential character, aligning with the objectives of the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy and relevant local planning controls.

"The building is carefully scaled to sit comfortably within its context, with articulated massing and generous setbacks that reduce perceived bulk and ensure a respectful transition to neighbouring properties.

"Through a clear response to surrounding building heights, streetscape patterns and landscape character, the proposal reinforces Neutral Bay’s reputation for high-quality residential development within a well-defined urban setting."

The report also said apartment planning prioritises outlook, sunlight and environmental performance.

"Living spaces are oriented to maximise views to the south while maintaining excellent solar access throughout the day. Dual-aspect apartments and carefully positioned openings promote natural cross-ventilation, reducing reliance on mechanical systems and supporting sustainable living outcomes."

<img alt="Abadeen" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5c2b0ba6-583f-4ea4-9069-4773b5169e14" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-03-09%20at%203.02.02%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=LfP0A9iwT_gPnJeP6_uvkWvqDipuWN3I" />

Abadeen is on track to complete several projects this year across Sydney's Lower North Shore. Late last year it completed ENSO, a nine-apartment development toward the northern part of Neutral Bay, around 750 metres from the new Barry Street plans. The Villas, which will comprise 17 apartments, is approaching completion and is around 450 metres away.

“The Villas is an exceptional project in a highly desirable Lower North Shore location," Brown said when the building topped out in October last year.

"We’re creating homes that allow residents to feel genuinely connected to one of Sydney’s most prized harbourside communities."

First Look: Abadeen plots fourth Neutral Bay apartment development

Singaporean developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/centurion-global">Centurion</a> has unveiled plans for a major mixed-use redevelopment of the former John Martin &amp; Co warehouse building on Adelaide CBD's dress circle North Terrace.

The $300 million redevelopment will comprise three towers, rising behind and above the preserved 19th-century sandstone façade. The proposal would retain and integrate the heritage-listed structure while introducing a trio of contemporary towers that combine student accommodation, residential apartments, and commercial uses.

There will be apartments to purchase, as well as a 30-storey, purpose-built&nbsp;student accommodation tower, designed to respond to growing demand for dedicated student housing in Adelaide’s CBD.&nbsp;Ground and podium levels across the development are expected to host retail, food and beverage, and entertainment uses, helping to activate the street edge and create stronger pedestrian connections between North Terrace and the nearby Rundle Mall retail precinct.

A key element of the proposal is the preservation of the site’s historic sandstone building, constructed in 1867 and designed by prominent colonial architects Edmund Wright, Edward John Woods, and Edward Hamilton. The building originally operated as a warehouse for the well-known Adelaide department store John Martin &amp; Co before the retailer closed in 1998.

&nbsp;

The site sits opposite several of Adelaide’s most significant cultural institutions, including the Art Gallery of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, the State Library, and the university precinct. Its location places it within a corridor that connects the city’s cultural, education, and retail destinations.

It is the second redevelopment proposal on North Terrace in recent months, with Palumbo Group set to redevelop the heritage-listed former Royal Hotel which has laid vacant for over a decade.

They are planning 211 apartments across two towers, just over a kilometre from Centurion's project.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/sa/palumbo-group-to-redevelop-kent-town-pub-into-new-apartment-development">Palumbo Group to redevelop Kent Town pub into new apartment development</a>

Centurion plots $300m triple-tower redevelopment for heritage John Martin’s warehouse on Adelaide’s North Terrace

Demolish

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Implosion is the most dramatic way of demolishing a building but it’s also the most wasteful and hazardous.
We are entering a new world where skyscrapers and other huge buildings are becoming redundant and need significant overhaul or replacement. The process is called unbuilding or, if you’re a bit highfalutin, deconstruction.
These so-called <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/spreadsheets-in-the-sky-are-putting-melbourne-s-liveability-at-risk-20191203-p53gek" target="_blank">spreadsheet towers</a> populate every major city. They signalled modernity and provided huge profits for those who built them. But these buildings are <a href="/news">profligate users of fuels</a> for light, power and services.
Most developed world cities started building skyscrapers after the second world war. These buildings were <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/International-Style-architecture" target="_blank">International Style</a> architecture, unrecognisable is terms of a particular locale, universal in terms of their ubiquitous metal, concrete, glass – and fully air-conditioned. Now they are ageing, their use-by date is up and their balance sheet profitability no longer attracts.
The challenges of demolition and reuse
The question is: how do we safely dismantle these high-rise structures, which are generally located in busy cities?
Reminders of the dangers of explosive demolition are tragedies such as the <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6030620/katie-benders-family-commemorate-20-years-since-royal-canberra-hospital-implosion/" target="_blank">death of 12-year-old Katie Bender</a>. She was struck by flying debris when the Royal Canberra Hospital was razed in 1997 to make way for the new National Museum of Australia.
A recent demolition, and the <a href="https://www.archdaily.com/889563/soms-iconic-270-park-avenue-at-risk-of-becoming-the-largest-building-ever-to-be-demolished">tallest ever to be unbuilt</a>, is 270 Park Avenue, New York City (pictured). Its 52 floors were built in 1960 for the Union Carbide chemical company. The building was for 50 years the tallest ever designed by a female architect (Natalie de Bios of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Is that another low hit for gender equality?) Its replacement by architects Norman Foster will be <a href="/news">twice as high</a>.
The business of disassembling these skyscrapers is just now developing, but it will gain pace as more become obsolete.
Some still get imploded, but usually, in a busy city, demolition techniques must be unobtrusive, as quiet and clean as possible. The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780865476752">techniques used for cleaning up the World Trade Centre</a> testify to the wastefulness of a more destructive approach.
So how best to demolish a high-rise building?
Plenty of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/science/tricky-ways-to-pull-down-a-skyscraper">clever techniques to demolish</a> exist. Some start at the base and work up, others in reverse.
The 40-storey Akasaka Prince Hotel in Tokyo was slowly <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1160452/eco-friendly-japanese-demolition-scheme-slashes-dust-and-noise">demolished in 2012-13</a> using a technique where a cap was built on top of the building. It was stripped floor by floor as the cap was lowered, so all the dust, mess and debris was contained and removed with no effect on the environment.
Buildings are wrapped in scaffold and protective fabric then literally dismantled in the reverse order to which they were built. In the process building waste can be recycled and reused rather than dumped.
Reverse building involves removing the glass, then the frames, taking off the wall cladding, then scraping away at the concrete and steel frames bit by bit. Concrete is removed to expose the steel reinforcing bars, which are then separately removed and recycled. In the process unwanted material can be uncovered, like asbestos, which needs particular care in handling.
Interiors are unbuilt the same way – remove floor coverings, cupboards, doors and lightweight walls, strip the electrical wiring and pipes, take out air conditioning and lifts, remove stairs and escalators.
These removalists act smartly, as materials and fabric are recycled and often reused for another building. It is a sustainable way of dealing with the issue. Things that might normally have been reduced to dust and mud by destruction are instead usefully salvaged and recovered for an extended life cycle.
As part of the benefits of this procedure, unbuilding provides <a href="https://www.huduser.gov/Publications/PDF/deconstruct.pdf">large numbers of construction jobs and associated employment</a> in transportation, waste management and recycling.
It also provides new construction sites. This means cities need not expand beyond existing boundaries and the infrastructure of services, roads and public transport need not be extended.
Building with an eye to unbuilding
What has interested those involved with this work is the capacity of building designers (let’s call them architects) to creatively improve their buildings in terms of life after use-by date. Techniques are being developed that assist in unbuilding and salvaging materials, even down to basic principles such as ease of access to pipes and wires, modular components and simplified connection practices.
The logic is that clarity of building structure and services makes retrieval simpler. Less complexity of materials and components means a building can be untangled more efficiently.
Fastening devices can be simplified and mechanical (rather than using glues and sealants), toxic materials avoided, materials selected with an afterlife in mind and structures designed for simplicity and accessibility. Also important is a clear set of as-built documents that map the original building so it can be disassembled.
Clear design thinking will have value for unbuilding and recycling in the future.
Making construction more sustainable
The construction industry is a main consumer of fuels, timber, steel and other metals, concrete and plastics. That demand drives the logging of forests, mining and extraction, leading to material production and transport that contributes to emissions and pollution.
The UK Green Building Council <a href="https://www.ukgbc.org/climate-change/">estimates</a> the construction industry generates about 22% of UK carbon emissions, uses 40% of drinking water, contributes 50% to climate change and over half our landfill waste, and accounts for 39% of global energy use. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also <a href="https://archive.epa.gov/greenbuilding/web/pdf/gbstats.pdf">reports</a> that the industry contributes to asthma and lung cancer by producing radon via contaminated applied finishes (paint).
Driving the need for much greater reuse of old building materials is an awareness of the fragility of our resources and the energy we use to consume them.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/129002/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/norman-day-228477">Norman Day</a>, Lecturer in Architecture, Practice and Design, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a>
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/unbuilding-cities-as-high-rises-reach-their-use-by-date-129002">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Unbuilding cities as high-rises reach their use-by date: Norman Day

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The developers charged over the illegal demolition of the Corkman, a 160-year-old Melbourne pub have been fined $1.325 million plus costs, after pleading guilty to breaching building and planning laws.
The Corkman Irish Pub in Carlton was illegally demolished in October 2016.
The magistrate Ross Maxted said only a big penalty would deter others.
Last year they were also fined nearly $600,000 by the EPA for illegally dumping asbestos debris from the demolition on a construction site surrounded by homes at Cairnlea, in Melbourne's north-west.
Developer Raman Shaqiri and his company 160 Leicester Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in May last year after knocked down the Corkman without building or planning approval. 
The company's other director, Stefce Kutlesovski, pleaded guilty to charges in January this year. 
Magistrate Ross Maxted fined the company $850,000, while Shaqiri and Kutlesovski were fined $220,000 and $255,000 respectively. 
Magistrate Maxted described the pair's behaviour as "reprehensible." 
The Corkman Irish Pub last sold for $4.76 million, $1.56 million above its 2014 auction reserve.
Located at 154-160 Leicester Street in the inner city fringe suburb of Carlton, the historic two storey pub, formerly the Carlton Inn, is located on a prime 456 square metre corner site.
The pub is directly across the road from the University of Melbourne law school. 
There were five bidders vying to buy the Corkman Irish Pub which is a traditional food and beverage venue with public bar, bistro dining, courtyard and first floor hostel accommodation.
The pub had been with the same owner since it last traded in 1987 for $900,000.
 
"The penalties will be imposed to deter such speculative and base mercantile thinking and behaviour."
 
After the demolition the developer duo committed "unequivocally" to rebuild the pub in a 2016 letter to planning minister Richard Wynne.
 
But the magistrate noted no building application had been lodged. 
 
"The company has not taken steps to honour that," Magistrate Maxted noted.
 
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