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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Stockland managing director Mark Steinert has been appointed the national president of the Property Council of Australia, the peak body for Australia’s $680 billion property industry.
He takes over from Darren Steinberg, CEO of Dexus Property Group after his four years in the role.
The property industry represents 11.5% of GDP, employs more than 1.3 million people and contributes $34 billion in real estate specific taxes alone, and Steinert said the role of National President was an opportunity that came with great responsibility.
Steinert’s appointment coincided with the election of a new national board with Property Council chief executive Ken Morrison welcoming the "powerful new board".
Property Council of Australia National Board
<ul>
<li>Mark Steinert - Stockland - National President 
</li>
<li>Carmel Hourigan - The GPT Group - Vice President 
</li>
<li>David Southon - Charter Hall - Vice President 
</li>
<li>Darren Steinberg - DEXUS Property Group - Immediate Past President 
</li>
<li>Peter Allen – Scentre Group  
</li>
<li>Kingsley Andrew ‐ Stockland 
</li>
<li>Stephen Conry ‐ JLL 
</li>
<li>Tarun Gupta ‐ Lend Lease 
</li>
<li>Sue Kench - King and Wood Mallesons 
</li>
<li>Ming Long - Investa 
</li>
<li>Derek McMillan - Australian Unity Retirement Living 
</li>
<li>Chris Palandri - Brookfield Multiplex 
</li>
<li>David Rolls - Mirvac 
</li>
<li>Nigel Satterley AM - Satterley Group 
</li>
<li>Steven Sewell - Federation Centres 
</li>
<li>Adam Tindall - AMP Capital 
</li>
<li>Carolyn Viney - Grocon 
</li>
<li>Kurt Wilkinson - Brookfield 
</li>
<li>Ben Yates - Development and Advisory</li>
</ul>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Stockland's Mark Steinert to lead Property Council of Australia

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BrickX, the online platform that allows Australians to buy and sell fractional equity in residential property, has acquired its first property in Victoria.
<a href="https://www.brickx.com/" target="_blank">BrickX</a> recently bought a Miller Street, Prahran townhouse, which BrickX chief Darren Patterson said was likely the first of many property investments in Victoria.
“BrickX reviewed numerous properties across Melbourne before finally settling on this apartment in Prahran which we believe has attractive investment fundamentals,” said Darren Patterson. 
“The suburb has experienced capital growth of over 8% per annum over the past five years and will be appealing to tenants."
The recently renovated townhouse at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/4-6-miller-street-prahran/Property-Details-sold-residential-8611262" target="_blank">4/6 Miller Street</a> was bought at an undisclosed price, but on an anticipated 3.17% gross yield, through John H Castran Real Estate.
It last sold at $330,000 in 1998. There had been a $901,000 nearby sale in 2013, which had initially sold in 1997 at $265,000.
The first phase of the BrickX platform is open only to wholesale investors, both individual and company, however the company intends to make BrickX available to retail investors in the near future.
Dividends derived from the properties’ yields are distributed to investors on a monthly basis.
"Prahran's rental property demand is 32% higher then the Victorian average, and over the last 2 years the median price changed by a gain of 11.24% with this apartment’s market-trending location a match with our high quality renovation and structural requirements," Darren Patterson said.
The initial unit or ‘Brick’ price will be $123 when units becomes available for purchase.  
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BrickX extends fractional property investment portfolio to Melbourne  

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bidRhino.com, an online property auction website, has launched with an off the plan auction offering at 603/79 Market Street, South Melbourne. 
The live, auction portal aims to revolutionise the property market as residential properties can be listed and potential buyers or tenants can securely bid with just a digital click. 
<img src="/images/2015/04/24/off-april-24-one.jpg" alt="">
bidRhino.com online auctions are being marketed as an easy method for sale or lease. 
"Property vendors and landlords can save money by listing their properties themselves, it’s simple and effective, and with bidRhino there is only a fixed fee for service," bidRhino director Michael Cavey said.
The basic fee for selling property is $498 dollars. The basic package for leasing property is $198.
<img src="/images/2015/04/24/off-april-24-two.jpg" alt="">
"Online auctions are already a highly successful transaction method that have proven to be effective in many industry sectors - clothes, cars and travel," said Cavey.
Sellers and landlords can potentially expose their property to a global marketplace, said Cavey, who believes the opportunity is a natural progression for the industry. 
“bidRhino.com supports the research habits of hundreds and thousands of home-buyers and sellers with over 90% of all property buyers doing all their research solely online," he said.
 <img src="/images/2015/04/24/off-april-24-three.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.bidrhino.com.au/vic/for-sale/South-Melbourne/603/79-Market-Street/id-1546" target="_blank">With $575,000 plus price guidance</a>, the initial opportunity is to secure a property in The Walker apartment complex, positioned in the heart of South Melbourne, which is due for early 2016 completion.
This apartment comprises two generous bedrooms, one bathroom, and an open terrace, in the 67 apartment building that has an architecturally adapted heritage façade.
<img src="/images/2015/04/24/off-april-24-four.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2015/04/24/off-april-24-five.jpg" alt="">
It is anticipated that each property will be listed online for three to six weeks, during which time bidders can register to bid on any property.
Open house inspections can still be conducted and will be advertised on the site.
Once the vendor/agent/landlord has approved a bidder, the legal documents are emailed to the bidder for review.
<img src="/images/2015/04/28/ibb-logo.png" alt="">
bidRhino.com logo
Once the auction itself begins, all registered and approved bidders can bid on the property until the auction is finished. 
When the auction has ended and the reserve price or weekly, rental price has been met, the highest bidder becomes the successful purchaser/tenant. 
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bidRhino.com launches online auction site with off the plan offering

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As ANZAC Day was an important national day of remembrance, the Real Estate Institute of Queensland sought to ensure its membership did not trade this Saturday.
“The last time Anzac Day fell on a Saturday was in 2009, and in the past 25 years it has only fallen on a Saturday three other times," REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said.
"While the law has been the same every year, this year Anzac Day falls on a Saturday and it’s possible that some real estate agents booked advertising well in advance and without realising the significance of this particular Saturday.
“We have reminded our membership that holding an open house, either for the purpose of selling a property or to rent a property, is strictly prohibited."
Mercorella said that while there were a few open houses booked throughout the state for this Saturday, she expected these were due to oversight, rather than wilful disregard for the law. 
"We have notified all members that under the Trading (Allowable Hours Act) 1990, factories and shops in Queensland are required to close on Anzac Day with some limited exceptions."
In communications with the membership the REIQ explained that real estate offices are required to close on Anzac Day, with the one exception that offices can open for the sole purpose of leasing related activities, for example, accepting rental payments.
NSW and Melbourne agents are offering mostly afternoon auctions.
But Victorian laws could be changed to stop home auctions before 1pm on Anzac Day.
Premier Daniel Andrews is concerned about reports raised on Neil Mitchell's 3AW that home auctions will be held on Saturday morning.
"It may be legal to be having auctions and things of that nature, but I think it's pretty ordinary," Andrews said.
About 80 are scheduled for Anzac Day, with 18 due to be held before 1pm.
They included a Richmond apartment listed for 11.30am auction with $300,000 plus hopes at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-richmond-119423687" target="_blank">202/120 Palmer Street</a>.
Set in the Niche complex, it has been pitched to investors with an estimated rental return of $350 per week.
The Real Estate Institute of Victoria says it was disappointing some vendors and agents had ignored their advice about maintaining respect for the day.
Amanda Lynch, chief executive of the Real Estate Institute of Australia says there was a need a nationally consistent position on ANZAC Day opening hours.
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REIQ says agents ought not trade on Anzac Day, while Victoria likely to introduce ban

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McGrath Estate Agents, started by high-profile chief executive John McGrath in 1988, has appointed Simon Mordant of Luminis Partners to advise on growth options, including a long rejected venture into Victoria.
According to an internal email <a href="https://www.afr.com/street-talk/mcgrath-appoints-luminis-to-advise-on-growth-options-20150421-1mpg8p" target="_blank">obtained by the Street Talk column at the Australian Financial Review</a>, McGrath is exploring a number of growth opportunities and methods for funding them.
"As part of this process, we've appointed Simon Mordant of leading independent advisory firm Luminis Partners to work with us on our company's long-term growth strategy," McGrath said in the email.
"Assembling the best team is always paramount to our success.
"As we grow our great company, we are now focusing on our move into Victoria.
"We are receiving strong enquiry from quality real estate businesses who have expressed their interest in partnering with us to extend our six-star service offering south of the border.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/real-estate/residential/mcgrath-mulls-buyback-amid-float-expectations-20141026-11c7m5">Street Talk reported last year </a>McGrath Estate Agents was exploring an initial public offering and also potentially buying out franchisees. 
McGrath Estate Agents has 62 offices across NSW, south-east Queensland and the ACT, most of which are franchises. 
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John McGrath finally thinks of venturing into Victoria

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McGrath Estate Agents recorded its best month in the company's history during March.
The real estate agency based across New South Wales, Queensland and the ACT turned over more than $1.46 billion in property during March from its 1,281 sales.
It was 14.6% higher that the previous company record of $1.27 billion in November last year.
McGrath Statistics: March 2015.
<img src="/images/2015/04/10/mcgrath%20graphic%20april%2013.jpg" alt="" style="font-size: 12.1599998474121px; line-height: 1.3em;">
Source: Facebook
The March 2015 sales figures covered 62 offices.  
“Typically a surge in supply will bring clearance rates down unless demand is so high that the market can sustain the extra stock," chief executive John McGrath said.
"And that’s what happened in Sydney."  
Sales activity was diverse with 345 sales over $1 million; 124 sales over $2 million and 17 sales over $5 million. 
McGrath reported that 199 (40%) of the company’s Sydney metro auction properties were in the $750,000 to $1.5 million price range, while they recorded 175 properties (35%) went under the hammer in the $1.5 million to $3 million range.   
“We are seeing real strength in the auction method across our eastern seaboard network, particularly in the $750,000 to $1.5 million price bracket where we saw an overall clearance rate of 85%," McGrath said.
“In terms of the most active buyers in today’s market, upgrading couples/families and investors continue to dominate."
Record sales performances in March for the McGrath network were:
 
<ul>
<li>Edgecliff reports $232.2 million (+50% on November 2014)</li>
<li>Lindfield reports $74.8 million (+143% on November 2014)</li>
<li>Mosman reports $65.1 million (+ 87% on November 2014)</li>
<li>Epping reports $55.5 million (+42% on November 2014)</li>
<li>St George reports $54.7 million (+47% on November 2014)</li>
<li>Ettalong reports $12.3 million (+47% on November 2014))</li>
<li>Brighton-le-Sands reports $36.3 million (+14% on November 2014)</li>
<li>Surfers Paradise reports $35.0 million (+101% on November 2014)</li>
<li>Balmain reports $32.3 million (+10% on November 2014)</li>
<li>Menai/Illawong reports $14.6 million (+3% on November 2014)</li>
<li>Wollongong reports $13.2 million (+8% on November 2014)</li>
<li>Bowral reports $11.6 million (+87% on November 2014)</li>
</ul>
 
 
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Record March for McGrath

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The veteran Gold Coast developer Jim Raptis plans a comeback.
He has plans to recapitalise the delisted Raptis Group and start a large project opposite the Harbour Town Shopping Centre at Biggera Waters on the Gold Coast.
The 67 year old who has been through several property cycles, has advised the company directors' plan to recapitalise the company to have a minimum of $1 million in cash.
"Research has provided attractive opportunities to resume the previous property development activities of the company and return value to the shareholders," said Raptis.
Raptis has kept a mostly low profile over the past six years after his group collapsed in 2009.
Raptis Group announced on Wednesday it had received the benefit of a "legal clearing of the decks" and "the opportunity to resume trading without any liabilities from the past resurfacing".
The local News Ltd paper suggested it was "its third phoenix-like rise from the ashes of financial disaster".
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Jim Raptis rising from the ashes with Gold Coast recapitalisation plans

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AMP Capital has announced Kylie O’Connor as the fund manager of the $4.2 billion AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund (ADPF).
Reporting to AMP Capital Head of Property Funds Management Chris Judd, O’Connor replaces incumbent Louise Joslin, who is retiring from executive roles. 
O’Connor will commence her new role in mid-2015 having worked for Lend Lease for the past 14 years, most recently as fund fanager for several funds.
The AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund includes the newly-developed Macquarie Centre in Sydney; Pacific Fair on Queensland’s Gold Coast, which is currently undergoing significant re-development; and potential developments at Garden City Booragoon in Western Australia and Quay Quarter Sydney.
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AMP Capital appoints Kylie O'Connor as property fund manager

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Raine &amp; Horne has opened a Dubai office, which has direct views to the Burj Khalifa, the world’s biggest skyscraper.
“Dubai is now the logical place to do business in the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, the Asian subcontinent and the Eastern Mediterranean due to its strategic location, tax-free living and strong economic outlook,” the Raine &amp; Horne chief executive Angus Raine said. 
“With more capital flowing back into the residential and commercial markets in the UAE’s most populous city, establishing Raine &amp; Horne Dubai makes plenty of sense.”
Raine &amp; Horne Dubai will specialise in residential, commercial and retail property sales from an office in Dubai’s mixed-use Oberoi Center, located at the entrance to the city’s principal CBD, the Bay Business district. 
It will be headed by property specialists Surender Bhojwani, and Sanjay Chimnani, who has worked in the property market in Dubai since 2004 after more than three decades in India. Prior to launching Raine &amp; Horne Dubai, Chimnani was a co-founder of a major real estate investment company, before taking a senior management role with a German fund management company. 
Premium residential space in Dubai starts from $600 a square foot, while affordable housing is available from $300 a square foot, says Chimnani.
“But unlike Sydney, for example, distances need not be big in Dubai, so you can pay $300 a square foot for space and be only 15 minutes by car from the centre of Dubai,” he said. 
“But there is still a shortage of affordable housing in Dubai, so for now, many workers live in the nearby emirate of Sharjah and commute.”  
On the commercial property front, Chimnani is convinced the prospects are very good. 
“It remains a question of supply, with more multi-nationals looking to set up shop as Dubai rebuilds its reputation as the business and tourism capital of the region,” he said.  
“There are new free zones targeting technology, media, design, banking and finance, and the healthcare sector.
“The Dubai government is promoting the city as a major hub for businesses looking to establish themselves in the Middle East and North Africa – and this links back to the emirate’s reputation for stability.”
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Raine & Horne dips toe in the sands of Dubai agency

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The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) has quit the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA).
REIQ chairman Rob Honeycombe confirmed the organisation had left the REIA, effective 30 March.
Property Observer reported last month its resignation was imminent <a href="/news/any-reiq-split-from-reia-is-short-sighted-michael-davoren">in a</a><a href="/news/any-reiq-split-from-reia-is-short-sighted-michael-davoren"> column by a former REIQ president</a>.
REBonline now reports Honeycombe told REIQ members that Queensland was not getting value for money from the $260,000 annual contributions.
“Our resignation from REIA was not a decision your board took lightly, but we will not continue spending your member funds where we do not see sufficient return on investment,” he wrote in a letter to REIQ members.
“Businesses need to evolve – our agencies do this continually. REIQ must do this, too. Similarly, we think it’s time for REIA to return to a member-focused and more efficient organisation.”
Honeycombe said there have been ongoing discussions about changes to the REIA since NSW left the national body in 2012.
“In March 2014, the REIQ asked the other real estate institutes to consider the option of a smaller, more efficient REIA team with a sole focus on lobbying and policy,” he said.
“As a board member of REIA, I continued this conversation at all REIA meetings during 2014 and again earlier last month when the REIA board met in Perth.
“Despite initial resistance, we’re really encouraged the real estate institutes have now agreed to come together this month – importantly, with NSW representatives – to explore a new model for the national body.”
 
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