Sydney may hold the dubious honour of being the world’s second most expensive housing market, outpriced only by perennial leader Hong Kong, but its appetite for prestige property shows no sign of slowing. At the heart of it all sits Sydney Harbour, where waterfront apartments command eye-watering prices that show few signs of slowing.

According to Westpac’s August Prestige Market Overview, the city’s luxury sector continues to outperform expectations, with top-end values rising 6.2 per cent across 2024. Over the past decade, prices for Australia’s most exclusive apartments have surged more than 40 per cent, while available listings remain nearly 20 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, data from Cotality reveals.

Much of Sydney’s recent luxury boom has centred on Circular Quay and Barangaroo, two glittering precincts now home to some of the country’s most expensive real estate. Yet one of the city’s most iconic waterfronts has, until now, remained surprisingly underdeveloped: Darling Harbour.

Long known as a playground for tourists and locals, Darling Harbour has never truly offered the chance to live there, until now. Recognising the untapped potential of this prime harbourfront, development powerhouse Mirvac has taken the lead in reimagining the precinct. The company is at the centre of a wider $15 billion revitalisation that will elevate Darling Harbour’s prestige to rival its glamorous neighbours.

At the heart of the transformation is Harbourside Residences, a $2 billion glass tower rising from the redeveloped Harbourside Shopping Centre. The project brings together an international design collaboration between Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta and Australian practice Hassell, with interiors by Bates Smart. The tower will house 260 residences, with the yet-to-be-released penthouse collection, six sub-penthouses and three full-floor penthouses, expected to rank among Australia’s most exclusive homes.

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Buyers have already responded in force. The project’s first apartment release late last year became the most successful launch in Mirvac’s 54-year history, recording more than $700 million in sales in just one weekend, with more than $800m total pre-sales to date. Prices ranged from $1.7 million to $25 million, with more than 40 per cent of purchasers being repeat Mirvac buyers, a testament to the developer’s reputation for quality and delivery.

Mirvac has now unveiled the tower’s most coveted homes: a collection of three- and four-bedroom residences positioned across the upper levels of the 48-storey building. From this vantage point on the western edge of Sydney Harbour, residents will enjoy a striking and rarely seen perspective of both the city skyline and the water.

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Inside, luxury extends far beyond the apartments themselves. Harbourside Residences will feature wellness amenities on par with a five-star resort, including a traditional sauna, steam room, ice bath, indoor lap pool, gymnasium, and yoga and pilates studio. Private leisure spaces cater to the growing desire for exclusive community living, with a residents’ lounge, private dining rooms with commercial and show kitchens, a cinema room, and even a golf simulator.

Outdoors, the experience is just as impressive. Landscaped garden terraces frame a lagoon-style pool that looks directly across the harbour, offering some of the most intimate city views anywhere in Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141327 project_image_fid=352372]

Construction of Harbourside Residences is well underway. Mirvac, which designs, builds, and delivers its own projects, a model that reduces risk and ensures consistency, expects completion in late 2027. When finished, it will not only redefine Darling Harbour living but reshape Sydney’s skyline once again.

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Joel Robinson

Sydney’s next great waterfront: Darling Harbour steps into the spotlight

Boutique development and construction firm <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hsn-property-group">HSN Property Group</a> is the latest to seek a new apartment development through the NSW Government's&nbsp;Housing Delivery Authority.

They've filed a State Significant Development Application for a nine-storey building across nine consolidated lots on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-16-spencer-street-rose-bay-nsw-2029">Rose Bay's Spencer Street</a>, just 400m from the centre of the affluent suburb.

“The site’s location and context make it well suited to support a more diverse and sustainable residential offering in the area,” the developer stated in community consultation materials.

The plans are for 54 apartments, 14 of which will be dedicated to affordable housing. There will be a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments.

The proposal aims to contribute to housing diversity in the Woollahra Local Government Area while taking advantage of recent Low and Mid-Rise Housing Reforms introduced under the NSW Housing SEPP, according to the Scoping Report prepared by Urbis.

The architecture, led by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mhn-design-union">MHNDU</a>, reflects a "contemporary design approach sensitive to the character of Rose Bay." Communal amenities will include a wellness area with a pool and sauna, a gym, a wine lounge, and landscaped spaces with barbecue facilities.&nbsp;

“The proposed development will offer a suite of premium communal amenities designed to enhance resident wellbeing, foster social connection, and promote a healthy lifestyle,” the project team notes in its public materials.

Three levels of basement parking are planned, and EV charging facilities will be included, aligning with sustainability and transport objectives. A comprehensive traffic study is underway to assess and manage local impacts.

With 54 apartments, the proposal by HSN will be one of the largest developments in Rose Bay for decades. It tops the 50 apartments soon to launch by Orosi on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-avenue-rose-bay-1-the-avenue-nsw-2029">The Avenue</a>, near the Royal Sydney Golf Club.&nbsp;

First look: HSN plans Spencer St, Rose Bay apartment project

Lendlease’s Barangaroo South precinct is officially complete, marking the culmination of a 15-year urban regeneration project that has revitalised Sydney’s harbourfront.&nbsp;

In 2009, the NSW Government’s Barangaroo Delivery Authority appointed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lendlease-development">Lendlease</a> as developer to transform what was once an inaccessible container port on the western edge &nbsp;of Sydney’s CBD into one of the city’s most thriving mixed-use destinations. Today, Barangaroo South is home to more than 1,800 residents, 23,000 workers, 95 retailers and welcomes 33,000 visitors each day. The precinct stands as an international benchmark for large-scale urban regeneration.&nbsp;

International Towers Sydney, the three flagship commercial buildings at the centre of &nbsp;Barangaroo South, together with engineered timber buildings Daramu House and &nbsp;International House, attracted major corporate tenants from the outset, including Westpac, &nbsp;PwC and KPMG, who are still there today. These workplaces remain some of the most &nbsp;sought after in Sydney’s CBD with over 95 per cent occupancy– a testament to the appeal of world-class, modern infrastructure alongside the precinct’s dining and entertainment that &nbsp;are a drawcard for businesses.&nbsp;

One Sydney Harbour, the three luxury residential towers designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, has achieved more than $4 billion in sales since its launch in 2019, while setting new Australia property price records. This includes the three-level penthouse that crowns Residences One which sold for more than $141 million in 2019 – the most expensive individual residential property ever sold in Australia. &nbsp;

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Barangaroo South is also Australia’s first mixed-use carbon-neutral development, an accolade achieved through energy-efficient and innovative infrastructure, including a district cooling plant with a harbour water heat rejection system, a recycled water &nbsp;treatment plant, onsite solar and an embedded electricity network.

The precinct has maintained its Climate Active Carbon Neutral certification since 2019, affirming its &nbsp;reputation as the gold standard in large scale, sustainable urban renewal. Additionally, its &nbsp;world leadership status has been validated by the Green Building Council of Australia’s &nbsp;6 Star Green Star Communities recertification (Pilot v.2).

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139801 project_image_fid=349157]

First Nations cultural values were embedded throughout the planning and delivery of the project. The precinct honours Barangaroo, a prominent First Nations woman, through its &nbsp;name. Public art, street names, and design elements across the precinct reflect and &nbsp;celebrate First Nations cultures and connections to Country.&nbsp;

The project's completion positions Barangaroo South as a legacy urban transformation delivered through long-term partnerships and world-leading urban regeneration and placemaking capabilities. &nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139801 project_image_fid=349154]

Tony Lombardo, Group CEO Lendlease, said&nbsp;Barangaroo South represents one of the most significant urban regeneration projects in Australia.

"[It] demonstrates what can be achieved through an ambitious vision, innovative placemaking, long-term commitment and strong partnerships. The precinct has changed the face of Sydney's waterfront, established new benchmarks &nbsp;for sustainable development, and provided a model for urban regeneration that continues &nbsp;to inform our approach to creating places that deliver long-lasting value.”&nbsp;

Tom Mackellar, CEO Development Lendlease, said&nbsp;Barangaroo South has reconnected the city to its harbour in a way that seemed unimaginable 15 years ago and turned it into a thriving precinct where people can live, work and gather on the harbour’s edge.&nbsp;

“This precinct is the result of countless contributions, led by the NSW Government who set the ambition, supported by investment partners who believed in Lendlease’s vision, imagined by architects and designers, shaped by consultants and artists, and brought to &nbsp;life by our dedicated construction teams. &nbsp;

“What we’ve created here is more than buildings – it’s the best of placemaking, sustainability, arts and culture and quality design. Barangaroo South has become an integral part of Sydney that will serve our city and economy for generations.”

Staff Writer

Barangaroo South’s 15-year transformation of  Sydney’s waterfront officially complete

CBE Asia Pacific has lodged plans for a prominent corner site in Fitzroy North, with a proposal that integrates state-significant affordable housing alongside heritage adaptation and new retail.

The application covers a consolidated 2,024 sqm parcel at 201–215 Queens Parade and 6–12 Dummett Crescent. The site includes the heritage-listed Former Clifton Motor Hill Garage, fronting Queens Parade, and vacant land to the rear abutting Dummett Crescent.

According to planning documents prepared by proUrban, the proposal seeks approval for a 12-storey residential building comprising 98 apartments, including a component of affordable housing, over a ground floor retail podium integrated within the heritage structure. Approximately 780 sqm of retail space will occupy the ground floor, while residents will have access to over 850 sqm of communal amenity.

The built form presents as two connected volumes: a 12-storey tower addressing Dummett Crescent and a five-storey volume fronting Queens Parade, the latter consistent with a separate Heritage Victoria permit granted in 2023. The tower reaches a maximum height of 38.26 metres, with upper-level setbacks of 14 metres from the western boundary to reduce visual bulk. A 1.5-metre footpath widening is proposed to Dummett Crescent Lane.

Parking is provided across four basement levels, accessed via Dummett Crescent, with a total of 142 car spaces and 143 bicycle spaces.

The architectural response by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cht-architects">CHT Architects</a> is framed by a need to reconcile new density with a sensitive heritage overlay. The Former Clifton Motor Hill Garage, identified as a place of State heritage significance, will retain its key façades, with demolition and reconstruction limited to approved elements.

As noted in the Heritage Impact Assessment, the proposal remains consistent with the Heritage Victoria permit, which allows "partial demolition, reconstruction and new works, involving the construction of a five-storey multi-use development and three basement levels".

Affordable housing has been embedded into the proposal under Clause 53.23, with specific apartment allocations aimed at enhancing housing diversity within the Queens Parade Activity Centre.

"The proposal is generally consistent with the relevant policy objectives and the intent of the Yarra Planning Scheme," proUrban states in its planning assessment, citing its alignment with strategic documents including Plan Melbourne and Victoria’s Housing Statement.

CHT Architects' plans emphasise a tiered design that acknowledges the site's varied interfaces—from the elevated Heidelberg Road ramp reserve to the recently built Clifton Views aged care facility to the north-east.

CBE Asia Pacific has not been previously active in this precinct, but the project joins a wave of higher-density residential proposals along the Queens Parade corridor, spurred by Melbourne’s broader push to increase affordable housing in well-connected inner-urban areas.

The site benefits from direct access to the Queens Parade tram corridor and proximity to Clifton Hill Station (approximately 200 metres), as well as green open spaces including Mayors Park and Raines Reserve. Clifton Hill Primary School and the Queens Parade retail village lie within walking distance.

First look: CBE Asia Pacific plans 100-apartment Jenkin House on Queens Parade, Fitzroy North

ALT Pasta, one of Melbourne’s most beloved inner-city pasta bars, has been confirmed as one of the first tenancies for the highly anticipated <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/comme-prahran-182-194-commercial-road-prahran-vic-3181">Comme Prahran</a> development, marking an exciting next chapter for the cult favourite as it prepares to expand into the heart of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/prahran-vic-3181">Prahran</a>.

Fresh off being named National Best Italian Restaurant at the 2025 Restaurant &amp; Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence, ALT continues to solidify its reputation as a quietly confident leader in Melbourne’s dining scene. Lauded for its reinterpretation of Italian pasta through a Korean and Japanese lens, the restaurant has grown into a staple since opening three years ago, and its new Prahran outpost will only deepen its local impact.

“From the very beginning, ALT has been about respect - for tradition, for ingredients, and for the process,” shares Mino Han, ALT’s founder, a Korean-Australian chef whose vision is shaped by cultural duality and craftsmanship.&nbsp;

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, just make something beautifully familiar, feel quietly special,” added Han.

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Positioned at the entrance to Comme Prahran and directly opposite the iconic Prahran Market, the new venue will celebrate the interplay between casual comfort and elevated detail. Designed in collaboration with Rooftop Architecture, the same team behind ALT’s flagship city location, the space will mirror the neighbourhood’s laid-back energy while staying true to the brand’s understated refinement.

Diners can expect a frequently changing menu that takes advantage of the market’s daily produce, along with set menu offerings exclusive to this location. A distinctive chef’s table and open kitchen format are also in the works, allowing guests to experience ALT’s signature intimacy and transparency in a new light.

ALT Prahran won’t replace the original venue; rather, it complements it.

“Our city site is like our heritage bottle; it’ll age gracefully. Prahran is where we’ll play, explore new ingredients, and bring something special to the community,” Mino notes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108413 project_image_fid=353584]

For Comme Prahran, a boutique development by Leeka that blends heritage with multi-dimensional wellness, ALT Pasta’s arrival signals a meaningful addition to its vision of cultural connection, food-first living, and local engagement.

“Being part of Comme is more than just opening a second venue. It’s about contributing to a neighbourhood with character, history, and a strong sense of community. That’s something we deeply relate to,” says Mino.

Sustainability and cultural identity are deeply embedded in the ethos of ALT. From ingredient sourcing to interior design, the new location will reflect both environmental mindfulness and a spirit of inclusion, embodying the values of Melbourne’s diverse, forward-thinking culinary scene.

Comme Prahran is scheduled for completion in late 2027, with ALT Pasta expected to be among the first tenancies to open its doors shortly after.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108413]

National best Italian restaurant ALT Pasta to open at Comme Prahran, bringing refined familiarity to Melbourne’s culinary heart

National BEST Italian restaurant ALT Pasta to open at Comme Prahran

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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