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

Industry News

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James Packer’s Crown Resorts has paid $50 million for an interest in a development site opposite its Melbourne casino complex.
The joint ­venture will be with the Melbourne property developer Schiavello Group.
The site is four adjoining parcels of land in <a href="https://www.schiavello.com/news/schiavello-crown-resorts-join-forces/" target="_blank">Queensbridge Street, Southbank</a>.
Crown and the Schiavello Group are in the process of negotiating joint venture arrangements and finalising designs to develop and construct a new luxury five-star hotel and apartment complex.
It has been agreed in principle that Crown has the right to acquire and manage the hotel on completion and that the Schiavello Group has the right to acquire an office and showroom area within the complex.
The parties will share the 600 apartment development 50:50, Schiavello Group chairman Tony Schiavello said.
"This is an extremely exciting partnership and iconic Melbourne project which follows the soon to be completed Prima Tower and Abode Apartment projects," he said.
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Schiavello Group teams with Crown Resorts on Southbank site

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Leighton Holdings has announced the sale of its John Holland subsidiary to a Chinese state-owned construction firm for about $950 million.
The proposed takeover by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) will be subject to the federal government’s approval.
The company is listed on the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges with shareholders including HSBC and Blackrock. 
CCCC plans to keep the John Holland brand and retain the senior management among its 4,000 plus staff.
“This is a momentous step for our company," CCCC president Lu Jianzhong said in a statement.
"We believe there are very significant growth opportunities in the Australian market, and clearly in the proposed acquisition of John Holland, we are recognising the strong leadership and strong performance of the business.”
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Leighton sells John Holland to Chinese construction giant

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The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has elected Victoria’s Neville Sanders as president and Western Australia’s Hayden Groves as deputy president after their Canberra-based Annual General Meeting yesterday.
Sanders is a third generation real estate agent with more than 48 years of industry experience and replaces outgoing president Peter Bushby, from Tasmania, who held the role for two years.
A member of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) since 1971 and a member of the REIV Board in 2006, Sanders is currently the general manager of Whittles Australia and an REIA fellow.
He is a qualified valuer, vice chairperson of the REIV Owners Corporation Chapter committee and an REIV accredited owners’ corporation manager.
“Peter has provided excellent stewardship of the organisation since 2012 and during that time he has achieved much in ensuring that our members have a strong national voice,” Sanders said. “On behalf of the board and staff, we extent our sincere thanks to Peter for his professionalism and commitment to the role during an important chapter in REIA’s history.”
He also welcomed Groves to the deputy president position.
Groves has owned Dethridge GROVES since 2004, previously working as a sales representative. He is the deputy president of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia and president of the Real Estate Employers’ Federation WA.
“Next year will be an equally important one for the sector with the release of the much anticipated Government white paper into taxation. I see it as an absolute priority that agents have a national voice at the table on tax reform in advocating for the abolition of stamp duty funded by an increase in GST and the retention of negative gearing,” Sanders said.
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REIA elects new president and deputy president

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The Urban Development Institute of Australia’s (UDIA) Victoria 2014 Awards have seen two Little Projects developments awarded.
Tip Top in Brunswick East secured the Urban Renewal Award, having won the Heritage Property Award earlier this year, and ILK in South Yarra given the High Density Development Award.
The UDIA awards event was held last week at the Crown Palladium. The Tip Top redevelopment, which is now a six building masterplanned precinct, was not only given a Victorian award but also nominated for the National UDIA Awards, which will be held next year.
<img src="/images/2014/12/12/Rye-Lofts_150_V4_1000x585-1000x585.jpg" alt="">
Above: Tip Top Brunswick East
Little Projects managing director Michael Fox said since they launched the $215 million project in 2009, they worked closely with RotheLowman to ensure heritage was maintained.
“We are honoured by this achievement as it recognises our efforts to rejuvenate one of Melbourne’s heritage icons for residents and the broader community to enjoy,” he said.
ILK in South Yarra at 227-229 Toorak Road, South Yarra, is a modern 24 storey multi-residential development (see main picture). Fox himself owns the penthouse at the top of the building, in which he hosted a gathering last year to share the views of Melbourne’s skyline and emphasize the artistry.
Sex and The City illustrator Megan Hess, a personal friend of Fox’s, was in attendance, as were those involved in the project such as key figures from architectural firm Cox Architecture, who designed the building.
The development <a href="https://propertyobserver.com.au/finding/location/vic/21314-wednesday-news-developer-offers-olive-branch-after-selling-out-south-yarra-development" target="_blank">sold out in March 2013</a>.
“We are immensely honoured to have both Tip Top Brunswick East and ILK South Yarra recognised for excellence in urban development at this year’s UDIA Awards,” said Fox.  
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Brunswick East’s Tip Top and South Yarra’s ILK take out industry awards

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A number of Loan Market brokers in New South Wales are giving back this Christmas, with 135 gifts collected for underprivileged children.
These gifts are part of Ray White’s ‘Little Ray of Giving’ charity program and the initiative has run across Australia and New Zealand since 2012. Last year almost 3,000 gifts were donated across Australia.
Loan Market brokers were given suggestions of gifts and then brought them to a Christmas party last week.
Gifts included stuffed animals, clothes and toys, and were collected by the local Rotary for distribution to the children.
Loan Market NSW state manager Michael Karpathaks said that they were thrilled to be helping business partners Ray White with their program.
“It is a meaningful way we can give back to the community and hopefully put some smiles on the faces of those who are doing it tough this Christmas.” Karpathakis said.
“Of the 105 brokers that attended the NSW party last week, each brought at least one gift and there was even gifts from brokers who were not able to attend the party. I am very proud to see my team supporting this initiative so strongly,” he said.
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Loan Market brokers collect 135 gifts for underprivileged children

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Harry Triguboff’s longtime right-hand man, Peter Spira, is retiring having joined the firm as an architect in 1978.
His last day as as the general manager of the east coast developer, Meriton is Friday, 11 December. He has been the general manager since the 1980s.
"Peter has been with me for more than 35 years and has been involved in every development," Triguboff said.
"We hope that Peter will succeed in whatever he wants to do, and enjoy some well-earned rest," he added.
Spira joined Meriton in 1978 as the company’s first in-house architect, leading the architecture department before being appointed general manager, and finally a director, of Meriton Group. Alway's the low key lieutenant.
“I’ve been privileged to work with Harry Triguboff and Meriton for 36 years,” Spira said in a media statement. 
“I believe the company has an enormous future. 
"We have excellent staff who, led by Harry, will help take the company forward. 
"Given Harry’s determination, tenacity and love for the company, I always expected it would last forever - in many ways, we were always the largest builder in our field but as others have grown, we’ve grown more. 
"I’m proud to have been a part of the Meriton family, which has produced about 50,000 apartments in my time with the company.” 
Chris Johnson, head of Urban Taskforce Australia, sums it up saying over many years, Peter had quietly driven the projects, negotiated with councils and ensured that Meriton's targets were met. 
"He will be very hard to replace," Johnson advised.
<a class="TwitterPhoto-link media-thumbnail twitter-timeline-link" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/MeritonGroup/status/440360794304151552/photo/1" style="line-height: 1.3em;" data-url="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bhx5zyPCcAAlLVm.jpg:large" data-resolved-url-large="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bhx5zyPCcAAlLVm.jpg:large"> <img class="TwitterPhoto-mediaSource" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bhx5zyPCcAAlLVm.jpg:large" alt="Embedded image permalink"></a>
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There is not replacement yet to be announced by the company that is effectively up for sale after offers from Chinese property development giants.
Meriton has come a long way since founder Harry Triguboff built <a href="/news/nsw/the-tempe-apartment-block-that-got-australias-biggest-builder-harry-triguboff-started-in-1963">his first block of flats in Tempe in 1963</a>. 
"We were recently awarded the title of Australia’s Top Home Builder, with more than 7,000 homes commenced last year," Triguboff said this week.
"We have evolved, building some of Australia’s tallest residential buildings in spectacular locations.
"The quality of our finishes is impeccable.
"And we lead the way in creating dynamic communities," he said.
To reflect this evolution, Meriton unveiled a new look and feel.
"Our brand has changed to better reflect our strength and quality." 
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4UAdZhCMAAD8cL.jpg" alt="Embedded image permalink" width="1024" height="230">
The changing Meriton logo over time from 1963. Source: Supplied.
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Peter Spira departs Meriton after 36 years

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Developer Ecove and builder Parkview are seeking funds for medical research into the disease called homocystinuria (HCU).
The disease affects the body's ability to break down protein properly. 
Their charity effort is taking part in the Dick Smith Foundation '$1 million to charity' promotion.
 This involves buying a Dick Smith product from a Coles or Woolworths supermarket and photographing it with up to 10 people. 
By emailing the photo to <a href="mailto:charity@dicksmith%20foods.com.au" target="_blank">charity@dicksmith foods.com.au</a> and adding HCU in the subject line, points will be awarded to the charity.
If HCU is in the top 10 charities at the end of December it will receive a donation from the Dick Smith Foundation.
Australia Towers developer Ecove jumped at the chance to help sick kids within their community.
“We build communities for families and when we heard about HCU and what families are going through it really touched our hearts,” said Michael Azar, project director from Ecove. 
Following Ecove’s involvement, the builder company, Parkview alerted their 400 workers on the Australia Towers site and photos are now flooding in before the 31 December deadline when the Dick Smith Foundation will award winners their share of the $1 million.
HCU is a genetic disease where the body lacks the enzyme used to process an essential amino acid from food containing protein. 
When left untreated, toxic levels of homocysteine and, in some cases, methionine build up in the body and cause serious health problems. 
This progressive disease leads to permanent intellectual disability, developmental delay, premature stroke and heart attack, psychiatric disturbances, seizures, lens dislocation of the eye, and skeletal abnormalities.
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Ecove and Parkview construction workers raising funds for HCU charity

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If the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales (REINSW) can't achieve their goals by lobbying political parties, they have an alternative strategy in place: become one.
According to REINSW president Malcolm Gunning, the group is considering the formation of a political party to change legislation regarding the real estate industry.
It is now too late for the industry group to form a political party to run in the March 2015 New South Wales election. However, Gunning tells Property Observer the REINSW has already made connections with the head of one party, which he declines to name.
"We've been approached now by another industry based single party to support them, which we'll consider," Gunning says.
"If we get co-operation by state government, we'll review it. But if we don't, if again we're pushed off, there's the framework in place."
He likens the potential real estate focused party to the Shooters and Fishers party, which holds two seats in the New South Wales Upper House. As a result of their government deals, hunters are now allowed onto public land in New South Wales.
"It's really about putting pressure on both sides of government to make sure property practice and agency practice is in line with public expectations."
The REINSW's potential political ambitions come after their sister organisation, the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, was <a href="/expert-insights/investing/tweet-of-the-day-reivs-anti-liberal-campaign-reckless">criticised by some</a> for running an <a href="/news/vic/reiv-locked-in-dispute-with-small-business-body-over-victorian-election-advertising">anti-Liberals campaign</a> ahead of last week's Victorian state election. 
Gunning claims any REINSW affiliated political party won't be campaigning on behalf of any major party.
"We're apolitical, we're policy driven," Gunning says.
"From an REINSW point of view, we prefer to argue policies in both sides of government, and not necessarily back any particular party."
Their main concern, he explains, is the <a href="/news/real-estate-agent-education-in-a-dire-state-reinsw">standard of real estate professionals</a> in the state.
"We've been lobbying state government and various ministers, and the Office of Fair Trading, for some time about improving the educational standards for entry into our industry," he says.
"And it's been really falling on deaf ears."
Gunning says despite the existence many qualified and long-practicing real estate agents in New South Wales, lax educational standards have allowed unqualified or unprofessional agents to practice, particularly in migrant populations.
"Through our international chapter, they're saying there's a sub-market taking place within Melbourne and Sydney's immigrant groups, and it's slipping under the radar of Fair Trading.
"A lot of the immigrants won't report real estate agents, and don't understand the legislation," claims Gunning.
He says the state's poor agent standards extend beyond selling agents, to property managers.
"A profile of a current property manager is a 26 year old female, maybe with a week of training," he explains.
"If that's the case, that young woman, or that person, has got to be mindful of swimming pool legislation in New South Wales, fire place safety, or people hanging themselves with blind cords.
"So you've got people who are assumed to be taking on responsibilities which they aren't equipped for."
He claims the increasing educational requirements for new agents will not negatively impact competition in the industry, with agents previously required to train for 12 months and then have two years of probation.
"So when it came to opening their own business, they were pretty well prepared," says Gunning.
Land tax and stamp duties would be another area a REINSW party would hope to reform after addressing their industry standard concerns.
"There are about 70% of Australians who have some interest in property.
"If you own a bit of real estate, you hope to have a voice in government," says Gunning.
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Will the REINSW make the leap from lobby group to political party?

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Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, chief executive and managing director of ASX listed developer Mirvac, took out the Private &amp; Corporate Award at the Telstra Australian Business Women's Awards.
But she wasn't the only housing sector boss to win at the awards. The other was Andrea Galloway, the chief executive of Evolve Housing, a community housing provider which has provided accommodation for 9,500 people who have experienced homelessness or housing stress.
Galloway received a joint award for Business Innovation. The award recognized Evolve Housing's "Journey Home" program, which supports the progression from social housing to supported home ownership via affordable housing and private rentals.
The program aims to help provide stability for communities, improving health and employment outcomes through the provision of secure housing.
"In leading a community housing provider and operating within a sector of uncertainty, one of my key roles is to constantly seek to elevate the needs and issues around homelessness and housing stress and the obstacles faced by not-for-profits in addressing these needs," said Galloway.
In her acceptance speech, she noted that over 105,000 Australians, including 16,000 children do not have a home.
"I passionately believe that everyone has a right to a home," she said.
She told the audience at the awards she had left home at the age of 16 due to personal circumstances and raised the systemic failures contributing to homelessness.
"The current system does not do enough to change the lives of people it does serve. We need an innovative system that provides people with a safety net when they need it.
"We need to give them a pathway to independence in cases where that is a realistic goal.
"This cannot be delivered by government alone, and requires strong partnerships to deliver outcomes around housing affordability, across the entire spectrum, whether it's relating to disability, social, affordable, or even shared equity arrangements."
Lloyd-Hurwitz has been the chief executive of Mirvac, where she is spearheading a growth strategy, since 2012. This year, Mirvac expects to release 2,700 apartments onto the market.
In her acceptance speech, Lloyd-Hurwitz likened careers to spiders' webs, rather than ladders: "Everybody here's got a different journey. You can go up it, round it, through it – down and up again. And there's plenty of room from others on the spider web, as opposed to the ladder."
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Two very different housing chiefs win at 2014 Telstra Australian Business Women's Awards

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A new online partnership has formed between reiwa.com and houseandland.com.
Reiwa.com unveiled the ‘House &amp; Land’ section last month following the announcement of the joint venture.
The new addition to the re-launched website will assist investors looking online for new-build packages.
Chief executive officer at REIWA Neville Pozzi says: “This new initiative helps us deliver on our promise to be the number one destination for everything WA real estate, providing buyers who are looking to build with a one-stop solution.”
The House &amp; Land feature gives access to the top land estates, building designs and vacant land. It also has a patented ‘matching’ technology for buyers who are looking to build. The application will find what block will match their house.
Director of houseandland.com.au Mark Shearer said: “It helps bridge the disconnect for consumers between house and land by simplifying the overall difficulty in creating a package.”
“Users can now view a comprehensive list of building designs from over 30 builder brands in WA removing the need to spend weekends driving all  over the state looking for the perfect fit.”
The website is set for more features in the years to come.
“We are really excited to be partnering with houseland.com.au. This is a space in real estate we haven’t traditionally had much involvement in, so it’s opening doors for us to engage with new segments of the market and get them on board,” said executive manager of reiwa.com Lisa Ravlich.
  
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