Abadeen has released the whole-floor penthouse crowning its recently completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/park-residences-cremorne-2-sutherland-street-cremorne-nsw-2090">Park Residences</a> development in Cremorne, bringing the near-300 sqm residence to market for the first time.

Occupying the entire top floor of the boutique Lower North Shore development, the penthouse includes 221 sqm of internal living and a 74 sqm wraparound terrace, with a prized north-facing aspect taking in views across Middle Harbour.

The residence has been completed and fully furnished following a collaboration between Abadeen Executive Chairman Justin Brown and internationally recognised interior designer Jack Freeman, Founder and Managing Director of FREEMAN &amp; CO.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and Freeman approached the penthouse as a finished home, sourcing furniture, artwork, lighting and objects from Australia and overseas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=378718]

Pieces from Parisian design house Pierre Augustin Rose sit alongside contemporary artworks and bespoke lighting, with Freeman drawing on recent visits to PAD Paris and Salone del Mobile Milano for the final collection.

Brown said the aim was to create a penthouse that felt more like a large-scale private home than a traditional apartment.

"The experience begins the moment the lift doors open. You're welcomed into an elegant dining room before the home opens into an extraordinary living space framed by sun-drenched harbour views.

"Every time someone walks through the front door they pause. It's not just the view, it's the incredible sense of space, the warmth created by the northern sunlight that fills the interiors, and the way every room connects so effortlessly.

"It has all the proportions of a luxury home, while delivering the effortless lifestyle and personalised experience of living in a world-class six-star hotel, combined with the simplicity and convenience of apartment living."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=378713]

A secure lift provides exclusive access to the penthouse level, opening to a dedicated arrival foyer and dining area before the residence expands into its main living and entertaining spaces.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing runs across the northern side of the home, connecting the interiors with the terrace and Middle Harbour outlook.

The penthouse also features a fireplace and substantial chef's kitchen, while the wraparound terrace has been designed to accommodate both everyday outdoor living and larger-scale entertaining.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=378720]

Freeman said the interiors had been deliberately kept restrained to complement the scale, natural light and outlook already established by the architecture.

"The penthouse is a serene study in quiet luxury," Freeman said.

"The interior pairs soft, sculptural forms with warm timber, pale stone and a restrained neutral palette. Curated artwork and metallic accents add depth, while abundant natural light creates a calm, effortlessly refined atmosphere. In my world, less is always more."

Freeman said the approach was centred around collecting individual pieces rather than simply decorating the apartment.

"Every material, every object and every piece of furniture has been curated with intention. I am a true believer in collecting versus decorating.

"The architecture already provided extraordinary natural light, remarkable volume and an uninterrupted connection to Middle Harbour. Our role was to complement those qualities with unique one-of-a-kind pieces of fine art and collectible design sourced from recent travels around the world."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=378694]

Among the collection are solid bronze sculptures by Lorenzo Quinn, alongside a curated crystalware collection and pieces sourced from international design fairs.

Park Residences sits opposite Cammeray Golf Club, Cammeray Croquet Club and Grand Slam Tennis Cammeray, around 300 metres from Neutral Bay Village and its established collection of restaurants, cafés and retail.

Brown said the combination of a whole-floor floorplan, northern aspect and proximity to Neutral Bay was becoming increasingly difficult to find on the Lower North Shore.

"Completed whole-floor penthouses with a sun-drenched north-facing aspect and sweeping Middle Harbour views are exceptionally rare," Brown said.

"Add a quiet position opposite golf, croquet and tennis facilities, a level walk to Neutral Bay Village and only minutes to the CBD, and you have a lifestyle that's incredibly difficult to replicate.

"This is a home that offers the privacy and generosity of a luxury residence together with the convenience of one of Sydney's best-connected harbourside locations."

The penthouse will be exclusively marketed by SRM Residential.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=114246]

Joel Robinson

Abadeen unveils penthouse at Park Residences in Cremorne

New Brisbane developer Dalcott has unveiled Marrone, the first of three residential projects it is planning in and around Browning Street in South Brisbane.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marrone-south-brisbane-39-browning-street-south-brisbane-qld-4101">Marrone</a> will comprise 97 predominantly two- and three-bedroom apartments, with larger residences aimed squarely at the owner-occupier market.

The project will sit in a quiet pocket of South Brisbane between South Bank and West End, close to the restaurants, cultural attractions and riverfront amenity that have driven the suburb's continued transformation.

Dalcott is targeting buyers looking for more space and amenity than has traditionally been offered in the inner-city apartment market, particularly downsizers and professionals wanting to remain close to the city.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149951 project_image_fid=377072]

Resident facilities will be concentrated around an extensive rooftop amenity offering, including a swimming pool, spa, infrared sauna, warm and cold magnesium plunge pools, private lounge, dining room and outdoor entertaining areas.

Dalcott Managing Director Lachlan Cottee said South Brisbane's combination of lifestyle, connectivity and established character had been central to the approach to Marrone.

“South Brisbane offers a combination of lifestyle, connectivity and character that’s difficult to replicate elsewhere in Brisbane,” Cottee said.

“Our focus has been on creating homes that feel connected to that environment while providing the level of design, functionality and quality that today's owner-occupiers expect.”

The residences will feature an expressive material palette. Italian Calacatta Viola marble, known for its deep burgundy veining, will be paired with aged brass tapware, Chestnut engineered timber flooring and Tuscan Oak joinery.

<img alt="Marrone" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b8d833da-3b30-496a-ae30-07bdff371b50" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%2010.52.35%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=P6DAgOfaQzIXljKKK5j3e5NhWtrHIu9G" />

Bathrooms will feature Nara Japanese ceramics and glass bricks, while clay, walnut and brass lighting will be used throughout the apartments.

Dalcott has appointed Realm Projects, led by Managing Director Shane Foley, to handle sales and marketing following previous sold-out collaborations between the groups.

Foley said the Brisbane apartment buyer had become increasingly focused on the quality of the home itself rather than simply securing an inner-city address.

“We expect to see strong demand from buyers who still want all the advantages of inner-city living but aren’t prepared to compromise on the quality of their home,” Foley said.

“Many will be downsizers looking to leave behind the maintenance of a traditional family home without giving up the space they enjoy, while others are likely to be professionals wanting a residence that reflects the way they live today.”

“Marrone responds directly to that demand, with generous floorplans, exceptional resident amenity and a location that places some of Brisbane’s best dining, entertainment and cultural attractions within walking distance.”

<img alt="Marrone" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="61f7b22f-899e-4c0f-940a-7d3ab1bfb93a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%2010.52.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=PvN1JYxBgUpyCB7efKo52WGdSDs9nmim" />

Marrone will be the first project delivered as part of Dalcott's broader investment in the precinct.

It will be followed by La Terra, a boutique project comprising penthouse-style, single-level apartments on a northeast corner site with extensive resident amenity and city views.

Cottee said Marrone represented the first stage of the group's longer-term plans for the area.

Dalcott was established in 2025 by Lachlan Cottee and Ben Dalgliesh, combining development and construction capability under an integrated model and focusing on architecturally considered residential projects.

Marrone will initially be offered through a pre-release registration campaign ahead of its broader public launch.

Dalcott targets owner-occupiers with South Brisbane debut Marrone

Parnell Developments is the latest to seek significant uplift through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority on a Strathfield site previously approved for a much smaller apartment development.

Parnell has sought approval for a 32-storey mixed use tower across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/7-lyons-street-strathfield-nsw-2135">3-7 Lyons Street and 18 Parnell Street</a>, a&nbsp;1,857 sqm site around 400 metres from Strathfield Station. The building would yield 160 apartments, 15 per cent of which will be dedicated affordable as per the government mandate for buildings seeking additional uplift.

Approved previously was a nine-storey building back in 2022 with just over 30 apartments. That approval came prior to the project being&nbsp;progressively reconsidered as planning policy shifted toward greater density around transport hubs.

<img alt="Strathfield" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c5af5281-a643-4eb2-b8c4-0081b59c04c7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%209.16.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=37bd3mI7rHNpThOV_75VO8xsGFwWOi1u" />

Turner has designed the latest building that would replace&nbsp;existing detached homes across the four lots.

The apartment mix comprises 22 one-bedroom apartments, 107 two-bedroom and two-bedroom-plus configurations, and 31 apartments with three or more bedrooms. The scheme also includes 203 car spaces across six basement levels and 58 bicycle spaces.

The proposal has been designed around a three-storey podium addressing Lyons Street, with the tower rising above and stepping toward its upper levels.

Turner said the podium was deliberately scaled to respond to the existing street, while the taller element has been designed as part of the emerging skyline anticipated around Strathfield Town Centre and the wider Homebush transport-oriented development precinct.

The Lyons Street frontage would have a more active, pedestrian-focused character, incorporating the commercial tenancy, landscaping and a brick-framed podium with an awning.

<img alt="Strathfield" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="14b20874-b8c3-4ac7-bc03-92be9a69fb78" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%209.17.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=av.9TxtqIRTC6v3PkSuu1rL9rreWoe2h" />

Parnell Street, which faces the railway corridor, has been given a different architectural treatment, with double-height breeze blocks, landscaping and communal areas used to soften the interface with the rail infrastructure.

The tower itself uses curved and recessed facade elements, with wave-like indentations across the northern elevation breaking the building into three vertical forms.

A palette of grey concrete, brick and breeze blocks is complemented by clay and terracotta accents, while the upper tower adopts a lighter expression through articulated slab edges, vertical fins and recessed glazing.

Residents would have access to 467 sqm of communal open space spread across three levels. The ground floor would accommodate the more active resident areas, including barbecue and group gathering spaces and an internal communal room capable of being used for working from home.

A more passive viewing deck is proposed at level three, overlooking the ground-level landscaping and neighbouring tennis courts, while a rooftop "sunset deck" at level 30 would provide another social and relaxation space.

<img alt="Parnell" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c3dce401-a80f-4682-8471-4caa01180880" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%209.17.34%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Xyo8JVqbOhSJXNy6Ih.1cHL.O6i0bGR." />

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Strathfield has been earmarked for substantial change through the Strathfield Town Centre planning work and the nearby Homebush TOD precinct.

Turner's report says the project has been designed to act as a transition between the existing low and mid-rise development surrounding the site and the taller built form expected to emerge across the town centre.

The proposal is being assessed as State Significant Development under the HDA pathway, alongside the concurrent request to amend the Burwood Local Environmental Plan.

First look: New apartment tower pitched for Strathfield Town Centre precinct

An $18 million penthouse has hit the market in Main Beach as construction tops out on La Mer, the $155 million apartment development rising just metres from the beach.

Spanning around 600 sqm across the top two levels of the 29-storey tower on Main Beach Parade, the four-bedroom penthouse is one of the latest eight-figure residences to test the upper end of the Gold Coast apartment market.

Its launch comes amid continued activity at the very top of the market, following the $30 million off-the-plan sale of a Burleigh Heads penthouse earlier this year, which surpassed the Gold Coast's previous $24 million apartment record set in 2023.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-mer-main-beach-3580-main-beach-parade-main-beach-qld-4217">La Mer penthouse</a> has been designed as a private residence in the sky, with 360-degree views spanning the ocean, Broadwater, hinterland and Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95606 project_image_fid=378731]

All four bedrooms have ensuites, while the ocean-facing master retreat occupies around half of the upper level and includes its own lounge, private balcony, two walk-in wardrobes and an oversized ensuite with a freestanding stone bath positioned to take in the views.

The residence also features a kitchen designed to accommodate a private chef, a 3.6-metre island bench, expansive butler's pantry, wine cellar and integrated bar.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95606 project_image_fid=378732]

A rooftop pool and substantial outdoor entertaining area with its own kitchen sit above the residence, while a grand staircase connects the two internal levels. The penthouse also has its own express lift.

OTP Group Director James Elliott, who is marketing La Mer, said the penthouse was expected to appeal to high-net-worth buyers seeking either a permanent Main Beach residence or Gold Coast holiday home.

“The La Mer penthouse represents exceptional value, considering its quality design, size, privacy and location, not to mention the 360-degree views capturing the beach and Gold Coast Broadwater,” Elliott said.

“We’re anticipating interest from high-net-worth individuals and couples seeking a residence or holiday home in the sought-after village enclave of Main Beach, taking advantage of the unprecedented growth underway in the area and neighbouring The Spit.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95606 project_image_fid=378736]

La Mer is being developed by developer-builder ODUS and Nazero, in partnership with funder Metrics Credit Partners.

ODUS Director Byron Sakha said topping out the tower had provided the opportunity to release the project's most significant residence.

“We’ve worked with internationally-recognised studio Sici Design on the penthouse interiors, with a focus on ensuring it isn’t luxury for luxury’s sake. Every element has been thoughtfully designed to enhance quality of life for those who call it home,” Sakha said.

“The views are the hero of virtually every space, but we’ve given equal attention to the fittings and finishes, so every detail exudes elegance and refinement.”

Sici Design Founder and Director Maria Papadopoulos said the extensive views became an integral part of the interior design rather than simply something the residence was designed around.

“The views weren't something we designed around, they became part of the design itself, with the true luxury of La Mer in its feeling of peace, calm and wellbeing,” Papadopoulos said.

“Luxury isn't defined by how something looks, but how it makes you feel, and we believe a luxurious home should be beautiful to live in, not stressful to maintain.”

The interiors combine Austral Dream Dolomite natural stone and travertine with timber flooring and a restrained coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95606 project_image_fid=378734]

Designed by Plus Studio, La Mer is one of the more boutique additions to the rapidly changing Main Beach apartment market.

The tower comprises just 24 full-floor, three-bedroom plus multipurpose room apartments below the two-level penthouse, giving the project a considerably lower density than many of the larger towers being developed across the Gold Coast.

Residents will have access to a pool and spa, gym, sauna, barbecue facilities, private sun lounges, yoga lawn and outdoor beach shower.

The penthouse has been released as part of the final collection of residences at La Mer, with remaining apartments priced from $4.3 million.

Construction is expected to complete later this year, with a fully furnished display apartment now open on level four.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=95606]

ODUS releases $18 million penthouse crowning La Mer Main Beach

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/far-east-consortium">Far East Consortium</a> is preparing to commence construction on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/640-bourke-street-melbourne-640-bourke-street-melbourne-vic-3000">640 Bourke Street</a> this October, marking the next milestone for the Melbourne CBD development and its higher-end Eliza Collection.

Spanning levels 44 to 68 of the 68-storey <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>-designed tower, the Eliza Collection has been conceived as a lower-density offering within the broader development, with only five apartments on each floor, dedicated lift access and a collection of resident spaces reserved exclusively for Eliza Collection residents.

The Eliza Collection forms part of Far East Consortium's broader move toward larger-format residences at 640 Bourke Street, where the number of apartments was reduced from earlier plans as apartment sizes increased.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365685]

"What it's meant for 640 Bourke is we've actually reduced the number of apartments. We've increased the overall size of the apartments. We don't have any studios in here, and what that does for a project is it elevates it," Far East Consortium Director of Sales and Marketing Lauren Sheldon said.

Rothelowman Associate Jun Chang said the design process provided an opportunity to create more generous floorplans.

"We were given the opportunity to be more generous. The apartments became bigger and squarer than any other apartments which had been designed in the CBD before that."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=368869]

That thinking carries through to the Eliza Collection, where the residences have been designed around the space and functionality associated with a larger home, but positioned high above the centre of Melbourne.

Kitchens are equipped with Gaggenau appliances, a butler's pantry, temperature-controlled wine cabinet and sculptural pendant lighting, while engineered timber flooring, stone and porcelain finishes and custom cabinetry feature throughout the broader interiors.

Privacy and security are another point of distinction. Eliza Collection residents have dedicated lift access, while 640 Bourke Street will provide concierge services and secure resident parking. Short-stay accommodation, including Airbnb, will not be permitted within the development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365689]

Eliza Collection residents will also have exclusive access to selected amenity spaces across levels one and three of the restored Eliza Tinsley building. These include the Salon with grand piano, an art therapy room, private dining rooms and treatment rooms.

They sit within more than 3,000 sqm of amenity planned across 640 Bourke Street, alongside facilities including a pool, gym, whisky lounge and further social and wellness spaces.

The Eliza Tinsley building itself is central to the wider project's identity. Rather than treating the existing Eliza Tinsley façade as a separate element, Rothelowman used it as a starting point for the architecture of the new tower, with the historic building to accommodate the project's gallery and lobby.

"It's a significant asset and wants to be celebrated and experienced by all residents every single time they go in and out of the building," Rothelowman Principal Stuart Marsland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=368872]

The tower will rise behind the retained heritage building at 640 Bourke Street, placing residents within walking distance of Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff Gardens, Queen Victoria Market and the Docklands waterfront.

With construction scheduled to begin in October, Far East Consortium has established an onsite display gallery at 640 Bourke Street, including fully built apartments that allow the project's layouts, materials and finishes to be inspected at full scale.

A fully built Eliza Collection apartment is also available to view at the display suite by appointment ahead of the planned October construction commencement.

Eligible purchasers who buy before construction commences can secure the full available off-the-plan stamp duty savings, subject to eligibility and applicable conditions.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=509]

Far East Consortium brings Eliza Collection to 640 Bourke Street ahead of October construction start

House And Land

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David Devine’s Metro Property Development has secured a former school site at Evanston in Gawler, 44 kilometres north of Adelaide, for $2.5 million.
The <a href="https://www.metroprop.com.au/communities/acacia-green-evanston/" target="_blank">Arcadia Green development</a> is an 81-lot subdivision that has an end value of $27 million, with marketing currently under way.
The properties are eligible for the SA Affordable Homes Program.
The regional location is best known for McLeod's Daughters, which was filmed on a property just outside Gawler's northern fringe.
Steve Weightman, director of Metro’s South Australian operations, says another site under contract is in Adelaide’s southern suburbs.
Metro Property Development, founded in 2010 in Brisbane, now has housing ventures in Melbourne, Perth and ­Sydney.
Metro, which entered the Adelaide market two years ago, is ranked the fifth-biggest home building in the state on the latest HIA Top 100 builders list.
Its Adelaide house and land packages started from $400,000, rising up to $600,000 for homes closer to the CBD.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

David Devine's Metro Property expands Adelaide presence

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Lots, terraces and new homes will be available to purchase at the Argyle masterplanned community in Elderslie on Saturday.
Investa Land and AVJennings are developing the project, which they predict will house about 1,500 people upon completion. The Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded 4,252 residents in Elderslie in 2011.
Alan Soutar, executive general manager at AVJennings, said the available properties include completed homes and terraces, house and land packages from preferred builders and home sites. Prices begin at $257,000.
"We've already had a number of expressions of interest for houses and land at Argyle from a range of purchasers including first and second home buyers, and young families," said Soutar.
According to Cameron Holt, chief executive of Investa Land, Argyle residents will benefit from the upcoming South West Rail link, which is currently under construction.
"They can also enjoy over three and a half hectares of open space and public parks through the development, ideal for family and friends to enjoy," said Holt.
<a href="/news">Elderslie</a> is around an hour's drive south west of Sydney's CBD.
<img src="/images/2014/11/07/elderslie-nov-7-one.jpg" alt="">
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Masterplanned community in Elderslie, NSW launches tomorrow

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Stockland has launched a $640 million masterplanned community in the Wyndham growth corridor, 31 kilometres west of Melbourne.
Marketing for The Grove begins 17 November for what will be the first of 2,500 new homes in Tarneit.
The first residents in the 234-hectare community are expected in the second half of 2016. 
The Grove will offer completed homes, house and land packages along with medium density housing.
There will be 54 hectares of parkland on a site bordered by the Werribee River and Davis Creek.
Residents will have easy access to the city via the Werribee train line and the new Regional Rail Link, which is due to open in April next year.
The announcement came a day after Stockland revealed its best residential sales quarter in four years.
Its results were buoyed by improved profits from its residential business which achieved a 12.5% increase in lot sales and ended the year with a record number of contracts in hand. 
The new community at The Grove will include a 3.8-hectare town centre with a neighbourhood shopping centre. 
Stockland will build a retirement village and will set aside land for new primary and secondary schools.
The Wyndham Local Government Area is one of the fastest growing corridors in Australia. In the year to June 2013, the population of the Wyndham corridor increased by around 10,800 people, representing a 6% growth rate.
Stockland general manager residential for Victoria, Mike Davis, said Stockland was well known to most people in the area because of the Allura residential community at Truganina, Point Cook Town Centre and Tarneit Skies Retirement Village.
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Stockland launch The Grove in Melbourne's growth corridor

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When you’re listing a residential property, there’s usually plenty to run with.
A beautiful front façade image in the dim light with all the porch lights on? Gorgeous.
An outdoors verandah near the pool where you can place a, debatably effective, bottle of wine? It has been done.
But what do the experts opt for when it’s just a simple block of land? We decided to have a look.
This first offering – <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-nsw-inverell-7687479" target="_blank">Monatana in New South Wales’ Inverell</a> – is a series of blocks offered through Landmark Harcourts. They’ve done a great job at the opening photo (below), with an evocative picture of a boat on the river, and use their gallery to show off the features of the land blocks. Dams, scrub and even a tent feature in the images.
<img src="/images/2014/10/27/inverell%20oct%2027.jpg" alt="">
Meanwhile, Spencer Woods Real Estate – Northcote are advertising <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-estate-vic-wallan-200739767" target="_blank">the last three blocks of land in a Wallan estate</a>. They include just one picture – of generic grass (below).
The land, priced from $105,000 to $115,000 for over 500 square metre offerings, can also be bought together but advertise themselves to first home buyers.
<img src="/images/2014/10/27/wallan%20oct%2027%20one.jpg" alt="">
Wilson Property RCI – Traralgon, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-estate-vic-traralgon-200442679%20" target="_blank">now selling stage five</a>, has another approach. Providing an overhead image of the lots available (below), and the masterplans and all associated information, it appears they’re aiming for detail rather than evoking the dream.
<img src="/images/2014/10/27/traralgon%20oct%2027%20one.jpg" alt="">
Some of the “cheapest land” in South Australia’s Terowie – at $3,500 for a 1,000 square metre block – <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-sa-terowie-201003947%20%20" target="_blank">is up for sale</a>. The images share a somewhat drying looking block (below), but also provide a shot of the plan and aerial imagery.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-sa-terowie-201003947"><img src="/images/2014/10/27/terowie%20oct%2027%20one.jpg" alt=""></a>  
Other common ways to advertise land or land releases include an image of the sign of the development, a map of the masterplan, or a generic stock photo of a family either on play equipment, at a café or at the park.
{mijopolls 58}
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

The best way to advertise blocks of land: Poll

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The 65 acre, 820-lot masterplanned development Habitat on Davis Creek will launch this weekend.
Located in the western Melbourne suburb of Tarneit, the development will feature 14 hectares of open space.
Habitat on Davis Creek will be the <a href="/expert-insights/buying/satterley-property-group-launches-two-new-developments-in-melbourne-s-west">second residential development launched this month from Satterley Property Group</a> in Melbourne’s west, following Upper Point Cook’s release three weeks ago where 35 lots sold within the first three hours of launching.
Habitat on Davis Creek will launch on Sunday 26 October with house and land packages available from $300,000, to upwards of $450,000. The sale is on a first come first served basis, with 38 lots to be released.
Satterley’s Victorian general manager said that the development provides affordable housing and will be at the forefront of the Riverdale Precinct Structure Plan, including a proposed Riverdale town centre, future train station, school and local town centre.
“The precinct plan outlines the vision and delivery of new infrastructure and how Tarneit will support the expected population increase of 25,000 new residents over the next 20 years,” he said.
“The proposed new suburb or Riverdale will see 12,000 new homes, as well as a raft of new infrastructure projects, such as a transit-ready major town centre, sporting facilities, more than twenty neighbourhood parks, three primary schools, and a secondary school injected into the area.”
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Masterplanned development in Tarneit, Melbourne to launch this weekend

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Work has started on a master planned residential community at Elderslie in Sydney’s south-western rural outskirts.
The 24-hectare Argyle project, which is near Camden, is a collaboration between land developer AVJennings and Investa Land.
Argyle will have 500 lots and is expected to house 1,500 people. The development is close to shopping areas, established schools and public transport. It is aimed at first and second home buyers.
According to RP Data, the median house price for Elderslie is $335,000. It has remained the same for several years.
The project will significantly boost the population of the area, which was at 2,647 people in 2006. 
As part of the Argyle development the Oxley Rivulet will be restored and more than 3.5 hectares will be open space. 
 
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andreadixon-oif3j7eKne

Argyle, Elderslie master planned community underway

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Any time someone in my family buys property, I know about it. Property fever is in the air regularly in my extended family – I have cousins who are real estate agents, many of them invest, and a few of them have also recently become first home buyers themselves. I am no stranger to the excitement that buying property causes.
Even my parents are in on the action. They are currently in the process of designing plans for a newly purchased block midway between Canberra and New South Wales. It’s a 10 plus hectare land plot that I visited with them on a road trip when back on my last trip back to Sydney, and I absolutely fell head over heels for it.
They’ve bought into the second stage of a rural subdivision and have picked a block that’s conveniently bare save for a few distinctive boulders and trees, largely flat and has a creek running through one end. It has views all the way over the little town that it is adjacent to. Their home plans are also impressive – with a beautiful verandah, a huge kitchen and walk in pantry, energy efficiency measures and an entertainment wing with a sunken snooker table and cinematic-style projector room. It’s essentially their dream home – the property they’ve been planning for years that saw them selling out of Sydney’s north west and hunting for their final nest.
The effect that seeing this had on me was fairly immediate. My initial reaction was to want to know everything about the property and the process. The settlement was painfully slow, and I wanted to know why. Later, they found the land being used for agistment by local farmers, and I listened in on the hilarious attempts of my parents to move cows from their plot so they could wander around. Daily, I’m told plans that they have for it, the tiny changes to the kitchen plan, and intricate discussions about the Kitchen Work Triangle and building chicken coops.
And then, somewhere in the process, I decided I wanted the block next door.
For most people, this is going to sound odd – don’t most of us move out, have our own lives, and endeavour to live as far away from our parents (and in laws) as possible?
But you should see this land.
For the sake of my parents’ privacy I won’t share the address, but it’s stunning. It’s no secret that regional areas hold a huge charm for me, and I was easily taken. While the block doesn’t have the enviable views of my parents’ selection – it’s over the road and down the hill somewhat from their next home – it has a brick bridge for train tracks that runs through it with an infrequent train service (and some freight) over a creek. It’s spacious, and I had basically already chosen where I’d have the house built and where I’d be putting my barbecue before I'd left.
My partner and I have been preparing and slowly saving away for our next property; we have been undecided as to whether it should be an investment or a home in Melbourne given our relocation. This block is just in the range of what we can afford, provided lending doesn’t become an issue in the area, and I called my mother to chat it over.
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We have been preparing and slowly saving for our next property; but have been undecided as to whether it should be an investment or a home in Melbourne.
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We figured that I could buy it for our retirement, and build on it when prepared to live rurally in the distant future. Quickly, I was calling it “my block” (don’t you love how easily that happens?) and checking out my lender of choice's repayment calculator, doing my own sums. My Dad, a bullish property investor – although we rarely agree on locations or what to buy – told me that if I wanted then I could put solar panels onto it, and have some of it grazed by the farmers to provide some form of an income. Obviously, there are some tax implications to this that I’d need to consider, but it was starting to shape up to something worth considering and that could actually work.
See over page for why I decided to steer clear of purchasing
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But then the dawn of realisation occurred.
The day I retire and do my own “tree change” is some decades into the future. I would be laying down no small sum, taking on a large amount of debt, for an asset that doesn’t produce any real rental income. I then wouldn’t be using it for a long time, and the repayments would put a toll on my ability to save and pay down other more immediate debt. With the funds that I’d be using to purchase something that I dearly wanted, and was starting to daydream about, I might actually be stopping myself from achieving more by being wiser with my purchases. Unless you’re one of the lucky few with bottomless bank accounts, then you’re going to need to be careful with your money.
My ability to stomach risk now is likely higher than it will be in 30 or so years. If I choose a property that underperforms, I can weather it through. What is less likely to work, however, is if I tie up all my capital and push myself to full capacity with debt that stops me from investing further in growth assets. Not to mention that my partner doesn’t necessarily want the same things in retirement that I do (that is, to live within walking distance of my family and not within easy driving distance of anything resembling civilisation).
There are also the other considerations – one being that the area will substantially change by the time I come to live there, meaning it might not be the rural haven I'm after when it comes to retiring, or that my own goals and desires to live like this will also alter.
Or I might need to sell up due to a change in my own financial circumstances. This is just one of many regional areas that moves very slowly. Days on market are extensive for the very few properties that come to market each year, not to mention for that particular type of comparatively large landholding. While my investing ‘profile’ suggests that I can handle more risk – this risk of tying up my capital in a very slow moving asset is certainly not the type of risk I am prepared to deal with.
For this reason, my future tree change location is a dream that I’m putting on hold. It’s the pain of the opportunity cost, and risking better more targeted purchases, that I cannot stomach. Not everyone will make this decision – to choose their head over their heart – but it’s the advice that we’re frequently hearing and considering these implications now will hopefully pay off in the future.
It’s amazing how closely linked our heart strings and our purse strings are. Sure, it might ‘feel right’, but I’m getting increasingly used to having to rein in my desire to purchase something – when you write about property every day you inevitably stumble across stunning cheap “renovator’s dreams” and cheapie Tasmanian heritage homes that you’ve already mentally decided to buy, where the dogs would sleep, what colour you’d paint the walls and so on. These “five unusual NSW renovation opportunities” that I put together in May, for instance, had me hooked for a while. Church conversion? I can see myself in that. Old warehouse requiring substantial work and potential sweat/blood/tears? No problem. 
There's nothing wrong with thinking like that, but there may be an issue with acting on it without due care.
If you’re like me, you might get caught up in the dream of property a bit (a lot), but you need to give yourself that ‘step back’ breathing room where you do a bit of a logic test on your decisions. Just because you love it, doesn’t mean that you should buy it. This isn't a pair of shoes, or a fancy meal, this is an often decades-long financial commitment. If you're looking to invest, it's not about your emotions, or even about your instinct a lot of the time. It's about the cold, hard facts and numbers. And, no matter how much you’ve researched it, no matter how close you are to signing on the dotted line, if it’s not right for you – you can look for something else.
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There's nothing wrong with thinking like that, but there may be an issue with acting on it without due care.
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I’m still learning this lesson, but the fact is that my parents have taken this time, lived in undesirable areas and earned their dream home – both through long careers that they’re still building and through many other years of paying off a mortgage and planning for this. I have a few more stripes yet to earn before I can do the same, so it's back to the drawing board.
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Letter from the editor: Opportunity cost is one of the biggest risks

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Following the sell-out of the first stage of Appin Valley in Wollondilly Shire, Walker Corporation have submitted plans to council hoping to release more land in early 2015.
The first stage of Appin Valley, which sold out in less than a year from its release in 2013, offered 336 lots.
The next stage, an extension across Macquariedale Road and Gordon Lewis Reserve, will include 280 homes and a 55 hectare conservation reserve, as well as upgrades of local ovals, barbecue facilities, cycle paths and the restoration of the Inn.
This release will see lots ranging up to 1,100 square metres.
Director of masterplanned communities for Walker Corporation, Chad Walker, said that the sales success has been a result of the location and affordable generous-sized lots, making it compelling for home buyers.
"In particular we had a lot of interest from first time buyers who were attracted to the prospect of owning a brand new home within this historic region while remaining close to major cities such as Campelltown, just 15 minutes drive away,” he said.
“We’ve also seen strong interest from empty nesters looking to move to a more manageable sized lot and young families looking to build their dream home.”
Of the lots, 70% were over 700 square metres, and lots ranged from $180,000 and $315,000.
Partnering with Walker Corporation was Adenbrook Homes and managing director of the home builder, Daniel Galea, said that their most popular design had been the Baywood, which comes in 28 square metre or 31 square metre designs.
“The home is perfect for families. It comprises of three separate living spaces, an outdoor alfresco area, four bedrooms and a double garage. Currently we have eight homes under construction at Appin Valley with 15 more under contract,” he said.
Currently, the final civil construction is underway with an October completion expectation. Over 40 homes are under construction at present.
 
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Walker Corporation’s next Appin Valley release slated for 2015

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The first residents have moved in to the masterplanned Wallis Creek community, developed by Walker Corporation.
The new residential community’s residents are a “major milestone”, said Walker Corporation director of masterplanned communities Chad Walker.
“Wallis Creek will deliver an exceptional new community for the Lower Hunter region, and we are pleased that home buyers now have an opportunity to touch, see and experience what their smart modern Wallis Creek home could look like at the display village,” he said.
The display village at <a href="https://www.walliscreek.com.au" target="_blank">Wallis Creek</a>, which opened the first display homes in early-July, will showcase 10 homes from six builders, including Eden Brae Homes and Oracle Property Group.
“Eden Brae and Oracle have finished three beautiful new homes and we will soon welcome new homes from more builders to the Wallis Creek Display Village,” he said.
Upon completion, a total of 406 dwellings will be built over the 56 hectare site. It will include landscaped areas, walking paths, playgrounds, a community centre and there is also a proposed school. The community will be connected to the NBN.
Prices range from $159,000 to $194,000, spanning 450 square metres to 783 square metres.
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First residents move in to Walker Corporation’s masterplanned Wallis Creek

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When you are developing property, finding actual comparable sales references in the same market that you will build is extremely important. 
You need to estimate what your dwellings will be worth on completion of your project.
You can find sales references on most of the real estate websites in the 'sold' area. You can also order sales reports from Residex or RP Data and various other providers which are more accurate.  
House and land packages are advertised readily.  If you are building near or within a land release estate then you are bound to come across them.  
I'm often asked if a house and land package price can be used as a sales reference for a finished home. The answer is no.
A house and land package, of course contains two components; land and construction costs. When you purchase a house and land package from a builder/developer, you do not pay the entire cost upfront. The builder or developer would have secured the land and you will usually pay for the land directly.  So the registered sale price associated with that lot will be what you paid for the land and not the entire price of the package.
Financing for a house and land package usually consists of two steps: a loan for the land then a construction loan.  
The loans for land and build costs can be arranged separately, but may also be bundled together.
As part of your due diligence on a house and land package, you must carefully check the inclusions and exclusions of the builder's contract.  Commonly, some site works are NOT included and you may need to add these to the price you've been quoted. Typically retaining walls can be excluded, importing or exporting of soil to prepare the site may be excluded or listed as a 'provisional cost'. This means an allowance has been made but if it costs more, a variation will be raised. If it costs less than the allowance, then you may get a credit (which is always nice).
Be wary of 'turnkey packages'.   A turnkey package should include everything so that you can move right in or sell or lease the property as completed including carpet, blinds, landscaping, driveways, letterbox and all fittings and fixtures. 
A  quick search in one of the suburbs Property Bloom develops in comes up with this advertisement:
Headline:  "FIXED PRICE TURN KEY PACKAGE!!  Fixed price package gives peace of mind with no hidden extras."
Below the headline was a computer generated image of a house.  Then following this was a disclaimer:
DISCLAIMER All facades, floor plans, dimensions and illustrations are indicative only. The finishes and inclusions nominated are to be used as a guide only and purchaser is advised to refer to the land contract and builders contract for accurate dimensions, specifications and inclusions. We reserve the right to alter the plans
What you are getting for you money or the exact house and land package will be detailed in the sales contract and builder's contract. It's imperative that you review this in detail to understand the inclusions and more importantly, the exclusions.
A house and land package can be advertised at a low price point to attract attention. Whilst you can use it as an indication as the builder/developer is basically saying this is the actual cost of a house in this suburb, it is by no means indicating the actual cost or value. 
If it's a good location, you can expect that the value may be higher. Always budget for a higher cost to cover excluded items and any upgrades or changes you'd like to make.
A house and land package price is not a sales reference, however it can be looked at as a lower estimate of the end value. In a good location and in a good market, if a sale occurs of a completed house and land package, that the vendor would be seeking a higher price than what it cost them to build.
<a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au" target="_blank">www.propertybloom.com.au</a>
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