The final apartments in the most recently completed new development in Balwyn present some of the largest and most exclusive ever delivered in one of Melbourne’s most established and character-rich neighbourhoods.

Boutique developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/wulff-projects">Wulff Projects</a>,&nbsp;alongside partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pga-group">PGA Group</a>, has just finished <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/threadneedle-balwyn-1-5-threadneedle-street-balwyn-vic-3103">Threadneedle</a>, 17 home-sized residences designed completely for the owner-occupier.

Named after its location on Threadneedle Street, the new project has been shaped by the heritage fabric of Balwyn. It offers two low-rise buildings of eight and nine apartments respectively, designed to emulate traditional standalone homes.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355582]

John Scaramuzzino, Director at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, explains the design intention.

“Given the quiet residential character of the street with many homes dating back to the 1930s and 1940s, we approached Threadneedle wanting to appear less as a collection of apartments and more as a traditional residence. This led to creating not one but two buildings that could “breathe” with larger garden-based apartments functioning more like small homes.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355605]

The north-facing residences are nestled among extensive landscaped gardens by Ben Scott Garden Design, with over one-third of the site dedicated to greenery. The resulting setting is one of calm seclusion, where architecture and landscape work in tandem to offer immediate liveability.

With construction now complete, the final apartments include a top-floor, single-level penthouse residence priced from $2.8 million. This home offers three bedrooms, a dedicated study, two bathrooms plus powder room, and three car spaces with an oversized storage room.&nbsp;

Interiors prioritise spatial comfort and natural light, with three-metre-high ceilings, oversized internal doors and a full-width terrace oriented to the north, east and west.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355604]

Floor-to-ceiling double-glazed windows ensure thermal performance across seasons, supported by automated external blinds, zoned heating and cooling, and a fireplace for added ambiance.

Each apartment has been individually designed to maximise privacy and garden outlooks. Kitchens combine refined finishes with practical considerations: stone benchtops, butler’s pantry, full-height joinery and concealed rangehoods.&nbsp;

The inclusion of dedicated home offices responds to contemporary living patterns, while bathrooms feature sculptural bathtubs and brushed nickel fixtures.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355590]

Threadneedle also integrates best-practice sustainability measures, achieving a 7 Star average NatHERS rating. Initiatives include solar PV systems, rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing and irrigation, and high-performing building insulation. These elements enhance daily comfort while reducing ongoing maintenance and energy demand.

"We believe Threadneedle sets a new standard of design excellence and building quality for Balwyn,"&nbsp;Scaramuzzino added.

"It’s an architectural response we’re particularly proud of, and one we’re sure residents will be equally proud to call home."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=27816]

Staff Writer

Final homes remaining as Threadneedle, Balwyn completes construction

Joel Robinson

Sydney's top 15 new apartments developments set to launch in 2026

Developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dasco-australia">DASCO</a> has pushed beyond the now-standard inclusions of rooftop pools and landscaped podiums at its recently launched new Epping project, Senso.

It has laid out over 4,000 sqm of resident-only amenity in a move designed to compete directly with low-density housing on livability, not just density. The result is a development that supports genuine daily use through purposeful spaces distributed across its five-building, 479-apartment precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4396]

Two rooftop pools form the anchor of Senso. One is a 27-metre lap pool adjoining a heated spa, designed for everyday fitness rather than just summer leisure. The second sits on a lower podium, allowing different buildings to share in vertical access and reducing crowding during peak times.

It is the secondary spaces that start to distinguish Senso from other large-scale suburban projects. A rooftop cinema is integrated into a landscaped terrace, offering open-air screenings with natural ventilation and passive cooling.&nbsp;

The inclusion of a “sensory walk”, an elevated boardwalk that threads through the site, suggests a rare investment in non-commercial, non-essential amenity: space for quiet movement that doesn’t double as access or traffic circulation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4402]

The gym and wellness centre, often relegated to a small ground-floor room in many builds, takes on more substance here. Residents have access to a fully equipped gym, as well as outdoor yoga areas and meditative zones that integrate greenery and natural light.&nbsp;

The Club Lounge is similarly designed to support multiple use cases, with a private dining terrace, kitchenette, workspace, and lockable wine storage. These aren’t superficial additions; their scale and spatial allocation indicate serious intent for frequent resident use.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4391]

Importantly, Senso’s amenities are embedded within a site that spans more than 10,000 sqm, allowing for better separation between spaces and reduced noise spillover, a critical but often overlooked factor in high-density developments. This spatial generosity also enables multiple alfresco kitchens and communal terraces without compromising individual privacy or usable space.

While many developments make claims about lifestyle, few back it with this level of built infrastructure. Senso’s mix of dedicated fitness, wellness, social and passive green spaces suggests a conscious response to the post-pandemic shift in housing expectations, especially among owner-occupiers.&nbsp;

DASCO is one of several leading developers who have taken out Resilience Insurance's Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing buyers with a 10-year structural and waterproofing warranty, and giving them the ultimate peace of mind.

Senso is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134954]

The outdoor amenities elevating life at Senso, Epping

Following the proposal by the Minns Labor Government to rezone Parramatta Road to create up to 8,000 new homes, prominent developer Ceerose has gone to the NSW Gov to increase the density of its new mixed-use residential building in Leichhardt.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/ceerose">Ceerose</a>, founded by Edward Doueihi nearly three decades ago, has filed plans for 154 apartments above ground-floor retail at 307-315 Parramatta Road, a key corner site near Norton Street, the main high street strip in Leichhardt.

It's an upsize from the previously approved scheme of 63 apartments across a seven-storey building.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ba1ae75b-5f08-43fb-b8d5-3de6d9f6ef71" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.39%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yA3hBBLPH4ev7MsAE0_hieXeqiFqBUb7" />

The project is being advanced through the State Significant Development (SSD) pathway, with concurrent rezoning sought to facilitate the proposal. The 10-storey development would rise over a four-level basement and deliver two retail tenancies, one a larger-format offering and the other a smaller “hole in the wall” space, addressing the Parramatta Road frontage. 21 of the apartments are dedicated as affordable housing.

According to the Urban Design Report by Architecture AND, the scheme includes a podium and tower configuration, with a fine-grain, two-storey parapet street wall that references the traditional shopfront rhythm along the corridor. “An elegant tower form is proposed, combined with a characterful two storey frontage... articulating it as two related buildings, providing consistency with the rhythm and grain of Parramatta Road,” the report notes.

The residential component is split across two slender towers set back from the street edge, a design move aimed at preserving solar access and reducing perceived bulk. This massing strategy also seeks to improve residential amenity by focusing scale toward the quieter northern interface, away from Parramatta Road’s noise and pollution.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="347f2f8f-5d36-4388-b40a-2e77380b9c19" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.02%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=xvyUE2ujT1lzivXTo.mHBJFF4SmfgLtz" />

Architecture AND has worked with Ceerose on previous Inner West projects, and cites a deep familiarity with the local character. Their design draws heavily on context, heritage, and sunlight access considerations, and engages with the Inner West Council’s “Our Fairer Future” strategic planning framework.

The site spans 2,712 sqm and is located near key intersections with Catherine Street, Hay Street, and Redmond Street. It adjoins a public carpark to the north and is within walking distance of Stanmore and Petersham stations. It is also flagged in state and local planning strategies, including the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy, as a suitable candidate for increased density.

Ceerose recently completed The Alex Collective on McEvoy Street in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay.

The Parramatta Road corridor is coming to life with the proposed rezoning which is serviced by a significant number of bus, light rail and train routes.

Deicorp is progressing with its $1.8 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kings-bay-village-five-dock-53-75-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">Kings Bay Village</a> precinct on Parramatta Road in Five Dock, as is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/toga-to-push-on-with-five-dock-mixed-use-masterplan">TOGA further down the street</a>. Those two projects alone will bring nearly 2,000 new homes to Parramatta Road.

First look: Ceerose plots mixed-use Leichhardt development on Parramatta Road

North Sydney's landmark 'SBS Building' on Alfred Street is set to be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use residential tower in the booming North Sydney.

Commercial property group FiveX is behind the plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/275-alfred-street-north-north-sydney-nsw-2060">39-storey tower</a>, the latest project to advance under the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

They are proposing 184 apartments above retail spaces, which will replace the existing 20-storey commercial building. FiveX was set up more than five decades ago by Joshua and Marko Berger. It is currently led by Joshua's son Lesli.&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower at 275 Alfred Street, North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2efa0980-53fa-4cca-9f9e-9c3c845d4746" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29%20%281%29_0.png?VersionId=y_YyPMq3NQLfYRs84pP4os9UgWiMLp75" />

According to the Architectural Design Report by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">FJC Studio</a>, the slender tower form has been deliberately designed to respect the site's transitional setting at the southern gateway to the North Sydney CBD, where high-rise towers give way to lower-scale residential precincts.

"The slender tower form and articulated podium establish a respectful relationship with nearby heritage and low rise buildings, including the Whaling Road Heritage Conservation Area,” the architecture firm noted, adding that the tower “completes a missing link in the urban fabric” while enhancing the Alfred Street streetscape.

The proposed building will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with 15 percent of the gross residential floor area allocated as affordable housing. There is an agreement already in place that those apartments will be managed by Evolve Housing.

The project aligns with broader state housing objectives, including the National Housing Accord target of delivering 1.2 million new homes by 2029. The Scoping Report filed with the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) suggests the site "presents no impediments to rapid delivery,” with construction able to commence within 12 months of receiving consent.

North Sydney has been one of the most popular suburbs in Sydney for new and off the plan apartment development, but hasn't had the supply to keep up with demand, until recently.

AURA by Aqualand was, for a long time, the only off the plan apartment building on the market. That completed last year, and has sold the majority of its 386 luxury apartments. Recently ALAND launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> on the same street, selling over $100 million within just a few hours of its launch, while developer CASA also launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-mclaren-north-sydney-45-mclaren-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The McLaren</a>&nbsp;in the same precinct.

First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower in booming North Sydney

Mansion

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An Ashgrove home created by Brisbane's first ever contestant on Master Chef has hit the market.
In 2007, Sandra Moreno, a finalist on the shows first season in 2009, bought what was then a red brick 1950s home two years earlier, paying $1.3 million when upgrading from Hendra.
Now stands a five bedroom designer mansion with smart home control system, coffered ceilings and marble floors.
It features an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, ice bath and sauna, as well as a gold class cinema, gym, exercise room and a billiards room with a bar.
One of the stand-out features of of course the marble kitchen which Moreno designed with dual island benches, a walk in scullery and a cold storage room.
Queensland Sotheby's agent Tyson Clarke has the listing.
 
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Ashgrove home of Brisbane's first Master Chef contestant set to sell

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An award-winning 565 hecatare property an hour's drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast has been listed for sale, price undisclosed.
The property, named Wirraway, 351 Armstrong Road Biddaddaba, has been renovated since purchased by current owners in 2012.
The impressive estate includes a four bedroom mansion with a grand ballroom, wine cellar, home cinema, fully equipped gymnasium and library; a 30 metre pool with roof mounted automated diving board; two guest houses and tennis court with an indoor air conditioned viewing area; two aircraft hangars, a private 1km airstrip and a large machinery shed.
The property is being marketed by Ben Forrest, Debra Cullen and Rawdon Briggs of Colliers International via an international expressions of interest campaign closing 11 November.   
The renovations undertaken in 2012 by Carpentology Group Pty Ltd has won them the Master Builders House of the Year award in 2014 on the Gold Coast. The property won the CEDIA Best Integrated Home and Clipsal &amp; Schneider Best Residential Project for its computing system
“Originally this property had a large scale four bedroom traditional homestead with a ballroom which was in disrepair. Both the property and the home needed major renovation,” said Mr Forrest.
“The owners demolished old buildings and finished off existing structures like the aircraft hangars. Just about everything in the house was custom made, they wanted top quality in every part of the renovation, and done perfectly.   
“The house features highest quality finishes such as imported Italian cornices in the ballroom, iron bark flooring, Catherine Martin wall paper and European appliances. 
“The IT system manages many of the property’s features including the CCTV, gatehouse and security, home entertainment, fireplaces, irrigation, energy management and lighting.  
“The remainder of the property is utilised as a stud cattle operation, running Droughtmaster cattle. The land is made up of 565ha comprising irrigation land, improved pastured grazing land, improved pastured timber grazing, scrub as well as buildings, grounds and airstrip.”
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Award-winning Wirraway rural estate for sale

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La Joie de Vivre, an opulent French provincial mansion at Bayview that featured on the first Network Ten series of the Bachelor, has finally sold.
But at substantially less than the $10 million last time, highlighting that record property prices aren't, like love, necessarily ever lasting.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bayview-122692558" target="_blank">The Minkara Road mega-mansion</a> was marketed as set for sale around $7 million this time.
Over the past year suburb record prices have been set across Sydney, including at Rozelle and Malabar, as economists have expressed surprise at the 2016 price resurgence.
But the Bayview property isn't the only property resold at less than its record.
The whisper is that the Kingsford record setter from 2014 has just sold again for just under what was paid.
Jason Black of Black Lifestyle secured the then very bullish $4.15 million record sale of the contemporary five bedroom home with pool, cabana, home theatre room and custom office.
There's been no formal disclosure from it latest selling agencies, but interest parties on Tunstall Avenue were playing a tough negotiation with it lingering on the private treaty market for many months until its mid-June sale.
A Rozelle home, known as the Green House has been recently sold for about $4 million, highlighting the occurence of strong off market pricing.
Bettering the previous $3.25 million sale set in 2014, the Carterwilliamson Architects designed property has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a swimming pool.
BresicWhitney selling agent Andrew Liddell said the outstanding nature of the property was behind the off-market deal.
He suggested deal arose as it was "a rare, premium type of property that already stands out from the rest of the neighbourhood."
He added he had a passive buyer who wasn’t necessarily looking but extended themselves in price for the right place.
Malabar also secured a suburb record recently, smashing through the $4 million barrier for the first time.
Set on 556 sqm, the five bedroom Prince Edward Street family home sold for $4.385 million pre-auction through LJ Hooker, well above it's $3.8 million to $4 million price guide.
The Chatswood residential property record was broken late last year, when a five bedroom broke the $6 million barrier for the first time in the suburb.
Sold for $6.055 million through LJ Hooker Lane Cove agent Kerrie Robertson, the double brick home built by the previous owner in 1998 had bidders spending over an hour at the auction.
One of the most impressive record breakers was in Seaforth, where a another five bedroom home sold for $10 million after being on the market for just 15 days on the market late last year to the Wang family.
Smashing the previous $9 million record which had stood since 2011, the home on a large 2970 sqm land parcel features a championship tennis court, a heated inground swimming pool and numerous putting greens.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Bayview's La Joie de Vivre record price falls back

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Two 19th century homes designed by Edmund Blacket in Darling Point have been sold. Both have been flats, so now face conversion back to single dwellings.
One of the pioneer Thomas Mort's former homes, the heritage listed 1850 Greenoaks Cottage, set on 1,307 square metres, has sold for perhaps $6.5 million having been long listed through Michael Dunn at Richardson &amp; Wrench Double Bay who was seeking $7 million plus buyer interest.
It was built around 1850 to a design by Edmund Blacket for the children of renowned industrialist Thomas Mort.
<a href="https://www.rwdoublebay.com.au/1779741/" target="_blank">The Gothic Revival residence, St Mark's Terrace</a> (pictured above) has also sold - at around $5.5million - having been listed following the death of the MacMahon family matriarch Betty, wife of the late surgeon Dr Edward MacMahon, whose portrait by the artist, Sir William Dobell won the 1959 Archibald prize.
Built around 1849, it was designed by the colonial architect as part of the Bishopscourt estate when owned by Thomas Mort.
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The heritage-listed property currently configured as four apartments is set be returned as a residence after its sale, also by Richardson &amp; Wrench Double Bay's Michael Dunn.
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