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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Kim Williams has taken a non-executive directorship at the international property media group, Executive Channel.
The former boss of News Corp in Australia has joined the Pyrmont-based company which sells advertising space in offices.
Bill Muirhead, founding partner of advertising agency M&amp;C Saatchi, and Media i managing director Chris Winterburn are other new appointees to the board.
<a href="https://www.executivechannel.com.au/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Executive Channel </a>provides advertising space on high-definition video walls, digital screens in office foyers, in lifts and even corporate car parks.
Its most recent installation was six new 55" digital directory boards at One Farrer Place, Sydney.
It has installations in property held by property trusts including AMP Capital Investors, Brookfield, Charter Hall, Colonial First State, Cromwell, DEXUS, ISPT, GPT, Lend Lease, Investa Property Group, QIC, Stockland, Valad and Westfield.
The Executive Channel Group executive chairman is Bruce Fink. It three founders were Bruce Fink, Charles Parry-Okeden and Craig Cohen.
 
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Kim Williams joins Executive Channel property media group

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The Ray White Group set a new all-time record for the company in October, recording $3.5 billion worth of sales across Australia and New Zealand.
The New South Wales branch managed to earn $1.1 billion dollars in sales, while the commercial division was up 90% on this time last year.
Group chairman, Brian White said the results reflect “the best property market in memory”.
“We saw commercial markets producing fabulous results in all sectors. The power of the property market in Sydney stood out more than ever this month,” White said.
Ray White’s<a href="/expert-insights/investing/ray-white-secures-record-3-billion-in-wintery-july-2014-property-sales"> last record sales month</a> was back in May of this year, when they posted a $3.2 billion net return.
The best performing Ray White offices in October included Glen Waverley (VIC), Double Bay (NSW), Remuera and Auckland Central Commercial (NZ) as well as New Farm, Surfers Paradise and Ascot (QLD).  
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Ray White achieve new monthly record on the back of soaring commercial returns

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A partnership between Connect MyProperty and E-House (China) Holdings Limited will allow the Australian company to access 80 million Chinese buyers registered with E-House.
Connect MyProperty, headquartered in South East Queensland, markets Australian real estate offshore and offers services for international buyers, including assistance with Foreign Investment Review Board regulation processes. According to Connect MyProperty, the company converts online listings for "premier" properties to secured sales.
E-House (China) Holdings Limited is listed on the New York stock exchange.
The Australian property section of SINA Haiwai, E-House's international subsidiary real estate site, may now be used exclusively by Connect MyProperty for listings. The wider SINA Leju property portal, of which SINA Haiwai is a part, records about 40 million hits per month.
Last month, SINA Haiwai and Connect MyProperty began conducting tours of Australian properties and developments, beginning at the Foreign Investment Review Board-approved Sanctuary Cove development.
SINA Haiwai real estate general manager Irene Zheng said the company was pleased to be working with its new Australian partner.
"We've always viewed Australia as an attractive place to do business given it is the 12th largest economy globally, it is in close proximity to China, and has a transparent and well-regulated business environment that is the envy of many countries around the world," said Zheng.
"We have been looking for an independent partner in Australia for some time that could help bridge the gap between Australia and China such as language, cultural customs, and regulations in both countries.
"Connect MyProperty's mutual desire for an online-to-offline model and a strong focus on direct, face-to-face communication provides a truly effective and integrated offer for the 80 million members of our Property Buyers Club."
Preston Richardson, Connect MyProperty Director, said the partnership would strengthen Australian-Asian economic ties.
"In particular, the indirect flow-on effects of our partnership have the strong potential to increase the productivity of the construction industry by creating more infrastructure investment opportunities, more developments, and more construction jobs for Australians," says Richardson.
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Deal delivers Chinese buyers club to Australian industry

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Bob Johnston will head the Frasers Property Australia and Australand Property Group combination.
Having guided ­Australand since headhunted from Lend Lease in 2007, Johnston will head the diversified property groups with over 500 staff across the country.
The chief executive of Frasers ­Property ­Australia, Guy Pahor will step down as chief executive though he will remain with the new group as an adviser, the Australian Financial Review reports.
Australand was taken over for $2.6 billion by the Singapore-based Frasers Centrepoint earlier this year.
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Bob Johnston to head Frasers Property and Australand combination

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As previously foreshadowed, Country Garden is ­sizing up buying Meriton from the 82 year old billionaire Harry Triguboff.
But the talks are still very early, given what the boss of one of China’s bigger property ­developers has told the Australian Financial Review.
“We get along very well. We have talked about how we can expand and progress Country Garden’s ­development in Australia,” Country Garden Australia chief executive Johnson Zhang said in an interview.
He said a good business relationship exists between the two men, known as “guanxi” in Mandarin.
“It is still too early to make any ­definitive comments on the Meriton sale. [There is] a long way to go to confirm the sale and the price,” Zhang said.
“But when we meet he talks about selling his company. And if Mr Triguboff wants to sell Meriton, he would want to ensure that it is in the hands of someone who will look after it and grow it.”
“As for the $10 billion, well that’s Mr Triguboff’s words,” Zhang said.
“To determine if that is a good price anyone would have to run a detailed series of valuations to determine the value of this private company.
“What he says in public may not be the actual amount in the end.
“Meriton doesn’t have public ­information so we cannot comment whether $10 billion is good or not.”
In Chinese, Zhang speaks of Triguboff’s friendship very highly.
“There is a saying, ‘qing chu yu lan’ which means the student has the ­potential to achieve greater from what the teacher has already done,” he told the AFR's Su-Lin Tan.
“He’s my senior and he is teaching me a lot about ­property ­development in Australia.”
In June, <a href="/expert-insights/buying/ryde-garden-debut-for-country-garden-australia">Country Garden was revealed as the likely suitor</a>.
The Chinese property development company bought their first Australian development site in late 2013 at North Ryde. 
Country Garden is a property development company based in Guangdong Province, China, owned by Yang Guoqiang's family. It focuses on building high-end residential property.
Founded in 1992 and listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange since 2007, it is controlled by China’s richest heiress, Yang Huiyan.
Their newly released Ryde Garden development (pictured above) is a trio of buildings each have its own rooftop garden.
<a href="https://www.cpmrealty.com.au/Buying/Search/Detail.aspx?id=3626&amp;wlid=5ad6e8b1-b411-435b-a832-4cc784d50cce" target="_blank">They are for sale through CPM Realty agent Sam Elbanna</a> and JLL with a 2017 completion date, subject to final council approval.
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Country Garden mulls $10 billion Meriton foray

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Previously there was always the $6 billion figure bandied about for the prized Meriton empire.
But ABC Radio corned Harry Triguboff on his real desire.
"I think it should be in vicinity of $10 billion" <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-30/harry-triguboff-wants-to-sell-his-property-empire/5854228?section=business" target="_blank">he told the ABC The World Today's business reporter Pat McGrath</a>.
The veteran property developer <a href="/news/harry-triguboff-formalises-meriton-empire-sale-process">is in confirmed talks</a> with a local subsidiary of the Chinese-based buyer for the sale of his Meriton property empire, Bloomberg reported earlier this week.
Meriton, the nation’s largest home builder, has previously been in cursory discussions with Asian-based property developers.
Triguboff told Bloomberg he met with the suitor last week. 
“I showed them my valuation, they’re looking at their valuation; that’s what we’re doing now.”
Triguboff, who has previously valued the business at over $6 billion, said he would only offload Meriton in its entirety.
But adding it was a lifelong job, Triguboff also countenanced family continuation of the company.
Picture of Harry Triguboff courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
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Meriton's Harry Triguboff says $10 billion is his asking price

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Veteran property developer Harry Triguboff is in confirmed talks with a Chinese-based buyer for the sale of his Meriton property empire, Bloomberg has reported.
Meriton, the nation’s largest home builder, has previously been in cursory discussions with Asian-based property developers.
Triguboff told Bloomberg he met with the suitor last week. 
“I showed them my valuation, they’re looking at their valuation; that’s what we’re doing now.”
Triguboff, who has previously valued the business at over $6 billion, said he would only offload Meriton in its entirety. <a href="/news/meritons-harry-triguboff-says-10-billion-is-his-asking-price">The price has since been revealed as $10 billion</a>.
“It’s of great interest for me to sell,” Triguboff told Bloomberg.
Picture of Harry Triguboff courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
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Harry Triguboff formalises Meriton empire sale process

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Ardoch Youth Foundation will receive a portion of the sale price of a St Kilda East apartment block after it is auctioned today.
Selling agents Hodges St Kilda will also contribute a portion of their commission to the charity.
The apartment block at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unitblock-vic-st+kilda+east-118045907" target="_blank">105 Westbury Street</a>, on a 760 square metre plot, was formerly a halfway house. There are now two period apartments on the site and a three level town house at the rear of the plot.
According to listing information, the property falls within the General Residential Zone, which allows multi-unit development, subject to council approval. It's located within walking distance of Carlisle Street and Balaclava cafes and restaurants.
Vendor Andrew Robinson, who has owned the five-apartment block for almost 25 years, will be making a donation. He is a volunteer for the Ardoch Youth Foundation and runs music classes for disadvantaged young people.
The Ardoch Youth Foundation provides education services for young people experiencing barriers to education. They support Port Phillip Bay schools including St Kilda Primary, Elwood College and Elwood Primary School.
The auction of 105 Westbury Street will take place at 1pm, 29 October.
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Slice of proceeds from St Kilda East sale to go to local charity

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Gerard Smith Design took home three awards at the first ever National Building Design Awards last week.
River House, in the Sunshine Coast, won  National Building Design of the Year, Best Residential Interior Design and Best New Residential Design for homes with a construction cost over $1 million.
According to Smith, the house's natural surroundings were a central focus of the home's design.
"Our objective was to incorporate natural products and complement the natural landscaping on the exterior of the home, which formed the inspiration for the palette of materials and colours used throughout the interior," said Smith.
The house's interiors feature polished concrete, natural stone tiles, hardwood timbers and wool carpet.
"We used these materials in the joinery to work in harmony with the other natural materials in the home and with the natural environment," he said.
The home's design takes full advantage of its waterfront position, with water views available through the living space upon entry. The open living space offers views to the pool, landscaped courtyard or river from every position.
On the upper level there is an expansive master bedroom, complete with walk-in-robe, concealed kitchenette and parents' retreat area.
The ensuite includes a raised bath overlooking the water, while a wraparound balcony also delivers river views.
The the merits of entries in the National Building Design Awards were considered in terms sustainability, success as a design solution, relationship of internal and external spaces, utility, quality and balance of internal and external aesthetics.
Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud, who presented the awards, called River House "a delightful and triumphant design".
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Sunshine Coast's River House wins big at inaugural National Building Design Awards

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A boutique family business has won the 2014 Victorian Master Builder of the Year award in the residential category with a distinctive Elwood home.
Peter and Ann Marie Apostoli's <a href="https://armadillohomes.com.au/" target="_blank">Armadillo Homes</a> designed and built the winning house around an existing structure – a 1920s brick home that had undergone significant destructive renovations.
The house now features three levels where there were once two, each with ocean views.
<img src="/images/2014/10/24/Armadillo%20living%203.jpg" alt="">
Master Builders chief executive Radley de Silva described the site's previous house as a "signature property in a prime location" that "had lost its character and purpose".
Of Armadillo Homes' work, de Silva said: "Their vision was to restore the spirit of the home in a way that honoured its past through a modern and innovative interpretation of a family home and they achieved this brilliantly.
"Armadillo Homes attention to detail was impeccable in restoring this home beyond its original glory."
<img src="/images/2014/10/24/Armadillo%203rd%20level%20side%20view.jpg" alt="">
The house's distinctive copper cladding reflects Armadillo Homes director Peter Apostoli's interest in the durability and sustainability of age old building methods. Stone, stainless steel and recycled timber are also used throughout the home.
Constructed using low maintenance materials which develop with time, the contemporary home has enduring appeal, rather than conforming to the fleeting fashions of the moment.
Internal structures of the existing house were removed to improve flow, light and the relation of internal spaces to the external environment.
 <img src="/images/2014/10/24/Armadillo%20kitchen%20full%20view.jpg" alt="">
Views from all three levels have been enhanced, while lower level of the home now spills out onto the outdoor entertaining and pool area via aluminium stacker doors.
 <img src="/images/2014/10/24/armadillo%20alfresco.jpg" alt="">
Armadillo Homes is a small company, developing a low volume of high quality homes. Peter Apostoli told Property Observer the business delivers bespoke end-to-end services.
"We sit down with a customer and develop their ideas, right through from the conceptional brain storming to the final fitout and even custom furnishings if required," said Apostoli.
Their intention to create custom homes with lasting value is apparent in their choice of materials and construction methods, and sets the Elwood home apart from many new family residences in Melbourne – "foam boxes", Apostoli said, that he prefers not to work on.
After winning the Victorian Master Builder of the Year award, Armadillo Homes will compete at the 2014 National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards on 21 November.
According to Master Builders' de Silva, Armadillo Homes "typify the quality craftsmanship, dedication and passion of Victorian Master Builders".
"As with any art, the true art comes from passion and hard work," said Apostoli.
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