A mix of Gold Coast locals, fly-in, fly-out purchasers from Sydney and Melbourne, and Brisbane-based families has driven early sales success at Broadbeach's newest apartment tower, Lumara.

The 26-level project, a joint venture between builder-developer 5Point Projects and Bourke Projects, comprises just 37 luxury residences and is attracting a buyer profile that is looking for exclusivity, above the most amenity-rich suburb on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=364156]

Jamie Bourke, Director of Bourke Projects, says every buyer secured so far intends to use Lumara as a lock-up-and-leave residence, combining holiday use with the ability to work remotely when required.

“The size of the apartments, both half- and full-floor options, and the different zones within the floorplans, lends itself perfectly to dedicated home office setups and multi-generational family holidays,” Bourke says.

That flexibility has become a key drawcard for affluent buyers seeking a second residence on the Gold Coast without sacrificing the ability to conduct business away from their primary home base.

The absence of holiday letting within the building has also resonated strongly with purchasers.

“This type of buyer doesn't need to generate holiday rental income,” Bourke says. “They're paying for exclusivity, privacy and certainty around who their neighbours are.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366491]

The strong demand comes amid broader shifts in the high-end apartment market following the Federal Budget announcements in May.

“We were already seeing strong enquiry from high-net-worth buyers, but that has only accelerated since the policy changes,” Bourke says.

“A lot of those buyers are looking to place more capital into premium lifestyle assets rather than investment-grade stock that has been targeted by the Federal Government.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366486]

Designed by Cottee Parker, Lumara adopts a slender, sculpted form with an emphasis on natural materials suited to its beachfront setting. The architectural approach draws on coastal influences, with a palette of stone, timber and concrete selected for durability and the ability to weather over time.

Apartments are limited to three and four-bedroom configurations, with a maximum of two residences per floor through the mid-levels and a selection of full-floor and dual-level homes in the upper levels. All apartments are oriented to the north to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and views across the ocean, city skyline and hinterland.

A two-level amenity offering is positioned high within the building on levels 20 and 21, conceived as a sky wellness retreat. Facilities include a magnesium pool, spa, sauna and steam rooms, alongside more social spaces such as a private dining room, resident lounge, workspaces and outdoor barbecue areas integrated with landscaped greenery.

The uppermost levels are reserved for larger-format residences, including several full-floor homes and a dual-level penthouse with its own private wellness features and recreational spaces.

&nbsp;

To give buyers confidence, 5Point and Bourke commenced construction ahead of the apartments launching to the market, a sure-fire way to prove they mean business, and the building will be delivered. They are targeting a 2028 completion date.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150454]

Joel Robinson

Locals, interstate holiday makers, drive early sales at Lumara, Broadbeach's newest luxury apartment tower

Often when it comes to purchasing property, the biggest barrier to entry is the deposit. Buyers of established homes typically aim for a 20 per cent deposit to avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance, while most property transactions require around a 10 per cent deposit when contracts are exchanged.

The off-the-plan market works differently, with buyers typically paying a deposit during construction and settling the balance upon completion. As completion approaches at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/fabbrica-fitzroy-369-gore-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">Fabbrica Fitzroy</a>, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pace-development-group">Pace</a> is making it easier for buyers to secure a residence through a deposit-matching incentive. Purchasers need only contribute a five per cent deposit*, with Pace matching the remaining five per cent.

The offer comes as Pace unveils a completed display apartment and townhouse, now available for inspection by appointment ahead of the project's Spring completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371009]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/winwood-mckenzie-architecture">Winwood Mckenzie</a> and landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/acre">Acre</a>, Fabbrica draws on Fitzroy’s industrial and manufacturing history, incorporating references to the former Argyle Shirt Factory and Life Savers Confectionery Company that once occupied the site.

The development comprises 85 residences, spanning low-maintenance apartments through to larger-format townhouses with private street access and double lock-up garages, a relatively uncommon offering in Fitzroy’s higher-density apartment market.

Pace says the project has been designed to appeal to buyers seeking inner-city convenience without sacrificing space, flexibility, or amenity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371016]

Inside the residences, Winwood Mckenzie has focused on adaptable layouts and integrated detailing, with features including custom joinery, and concealed storage solutions. The material palette leans into warm, tactile finishes intended to complement the building’s industrial architectural language.

Fabbrica’s rooftop amenity is a key part of the project offering. Spanning around 800 sqm, the communal rooftop includes a private dining room, communal kitchen, lounge spaces, work-from-home zones, and outdoor dining areas overlooking the Melbourne CBD skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371017]

Landscape architecture studio Acre has introduced a layered rooftop garden designed to soften the urban setting while creating a more communal environment for residents.

The Fitzroy location also positions residents within walking distance of Brunswick Street, Smith Street, parks, cafés, galleries, and public transport, while remaining only minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. The project has an enviable Walk Score of 96.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371025]

Pace, which is also delivering the project as builder, has developed more than 100 projects across Melbourne over the past three decades. The vertically integrated approach has become increasingly common among developers seeking greater control over construction delivery amid broader market pressures affecting the apartment sector.

The strikingly contemporary Gore Street development is now around 70 per cent complete, with purchasers expected to move into their new homes in Spring 2026. A limited number of residences remain available under the current deposit match offer.

*Conditions apply in relation to the deposit match offer.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=139552]

Pace offers five per cent deposit match at Fabbrica Fitzroy ahead of Spring completion

Sydney developer Hyecorp's roots on the Lower North Shore stretch back three generations, and that deep understanding of the market continues to shape where and how it develops today.

From high-rise towers to boutique apartment projects, the family-run developer has built its reputation by focusing on a part of Sydney it knows intimately. Founded by Michael Abolakian in the early 1990s, Hyecorp is now led by his sons Stephen, Troy and Patrick.

Stephen Abolakian, joint managing director alongside Troy, has spent more than two decades in the business, overseeing development, planning, finance, marketing and sales.

Abolakian says the developer's disciplined focus on where it chooses to operate has been, and continues to be, one of Hyecorp's greatest strengths.

“We know the buyer profile exceptionally well,” Abolakian says.

“The demographics between places like Willoughby, Chatswood, St Leonards and Roseville are very similar. There are nuances between suburbs and projects, but culturally and from a buyer perspective, there’s a strong overlap.”

That buyer has historically been overwhelmingly owner-occupier driven.

Unlike many Sydney apartment developers that have traditionally relied heavily on investor demand, Hyecorp’s projects have typically attracted downsizers, upsizers, rightsizers and family owner-occupiers seeking long-term homes rather than short-term investments.

“Historically, investors have been a much smaller portion of our demand profile,” Abolakian says.

“We design for owner-occupiers. We don’t design for yield, we design for comfort, amenity, family living and long-term usability.”

That philosophy extends well beyond apartment layouts.

From landscaping and communal gardens to shared amenities and circulation spaces, Hyecorp’s developments are designed around how people actually live, something Abolakian believes has become increasingly important in Sydney’s apartment market.

“There was probably a period where having an approved project in market was enough,” he says.

“There wasn’t as much competition and if you built it, buyers would come. That’s no longer the case.”

“There’s more supply in the pipeline now, particularly with TOD precincts and low and mid-rise reforms opening up opportunities across Sydney. Buyers have more choice, so if you get the product wrong, they’ll simply go elsewhere.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110379 project_image_fid=311393]

The shift has forced developers to become more sophisticated in how they approach apartment design, particularly as owner-occupier expectations continue to rise.

For Hyecorp, that means thinking beyond who the buyer is today and designing for who they may become in five or 10 years' time.

“People buying now often aren’t moving in for several years,” Abolakian says.

“You might have a young couple buying today, but by the time they move in they may have children, older children, or changing lifestyle needs. You’ve got to think about how families evolve.”

That thinking also shapes Hyecorp’s approach to amenity, which positions wellness at the forefront.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362634]

While resort-style facilities have become increasingly common marketing tools across Sydney apartment developments, Abolakian says the challenge is ensuring amenities are genuinely usable and appropriate for the scale of the project.

“If amenities are done right, they can materially improve the living experience,” he says, adding however that if you&nbsp;overdo it or get it wrong, you can end up with facilities nobody uses that simply create ongoing strata costs.”

That balance is something Hyecorp is aiming to strike with projects like Roseville Avenue, one of the group's upcoming Lower North Shore developments, which Abolakian describes as bringing a resort-style living experience into a metropolitan setting.

“It’s about creating something that feels special without being excessive,” he says.

“Good gardens, quality apartments, thoughtful amenity. Creating that resort feeling in a metro location.”

<img alt="Hyecorp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="13c4c0f3-b1b7-44cf-9344-0b3d1d07797a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-02%20at%2012.14.57%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=9OLWjyj2bYkDV35F78WJnyMSPfc2bJ2z" />

The focus on owner-occupier product comes as Sydney’s apartment market continues to navigate a difficult development environment.&nbsp;For Hyecorp, maintaining an in-house operating model across construction, sales, marketing and development management has become increasingly important in navigating that environment.

“We’ve always believed in keeping a lot of the process in-house,” Abolakian says.

“It creates efficiencies, but it also creates quality control. You can make faster decisions and ensure the end product stays aligned with the original vision.”

Despite the challenges, Abolakian believes demand for quality owner-occupier apartments across Sydney remains strong beneath the surface, particularly across established Lower North Shore suburbs where downsizers continue to seek new housing options close to existing communities.

“There are definitely people waiting,” he says.

“Once some of the broader uncertainty settles, whether that’s the global environment or some of the local economic noise, I think the right projects will perform very strongly.”

Hyecorp currently has three residential developments on the market across Sydney’s Lower North Shore.&nbsp;Audrey, St Leonards, positioned opposite Newlands Park, is nearing completion and preparing to welcome its first residents, with the project now almost sold out.

Hyecorp has also recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celine-chatswood-37-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">Celine Chatswood</a>, an architectural tower, while continuing to deliver&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/juliet-roseville-64-pacific-highway-roseville-nsw-2069">Juliet Roseville</a>, a more boutique scale of development with just 34 apartments.

Why Hyecorp continues to back Sydney's Lower North Shore apartment market

South East Queensland’s apartment market is entering a new phase defined by rising prices, constrained affordability, and mounting pressure on the construction pipeline, according to RPM Group’s latest SEQ Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report.

The May 2026 report highlights a widening divide between what buyers can afford and what developers can viably deliver, with detached house prices continuing to push more buyers toward apartments across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.

RPM says Brisbane’s median house price has reached around $1.5 million, accelerating the shift toward higher-density housing as buyers are increasingly priced out of the detached market.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135094 project_image_fid=356540]

Median unit prices rose across all three major SEQ markets in the March quarter. Brisbane City recorded the strongest annual growth, with median unit prices climbing 21 per cent to $862,000, while the Gold Coast reached the highest overall median at $950,000, up 17 per cent year-on-year. The Sunshine Coast followed at $870,000, representing annual growth of nine per cent.

RPM noted the affordability gap between houses and units remains significant, with detached homes commanding premiums of 67 per cent in Brisbane and 68 per cent on the Gold Coast relative to apartments.

The report suggests this price disparity is increasingly consolidating buyer demand within the apartment market, particularly among downsizers and owner-occupiers.

“Demand is real. Supply is moving. But they’re operating on different timelines and the gap between what’s being built and what buyers can afford is the defining tension in this market right now,” RPM Queensland and NSW Managing Directors Peter Neale and Clinton Trezise said in the report.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150787 project_image_fid=366230]

While approvals and commencements are strengthening, RPM argues the delivery pipeline remains constrained by construction costs, labour shortages, and extended build timelines.

Apartment approvals across Queensland increased 86 per cent over the year to February 2026, reaching 12,682 approvals, the highest level recorded since 2016. Brisbane overtook the Gold Coast as the state’s most active apartment approval market, with nearly 5,000 apartments approved over the past 12 months.

Unit commencements also strengthened considerably, rising 48 per cent year-on-year to 5,453 commencements in the December 2025 quarter, the highest level since 2018.

However, RPM’s research found apartment delivery timeframes have expanded sharply compared to the previous cycle. Projects are now averaging around 30 months from approval to completion, compared to roughly 20 months a decade ago.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143932 project_image_fid=367515]

The number of units under construction has climbed to approximately 31,530 dwellings, nearing the previous 2016 peak, though projects are remaining in the pipeline for considerably longer.

Construction costs continue to weigh heavily on feasibility. RPM found the average apartment construction cost in Greater Brisbane reached $630,000 per dwelling in 2025, exceeding both Sydney and Melbourne. Coastal Queensland markets, including the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, were even higher at an average of $817,418 per apartment due to the prevalence of larger premium product.

The report also points to increasing pressure from Olympic-related infrastructure spending ahead of Brisbane 2032, with labour competition expected to intensify over the next several years.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370960]

ANZ Associate Director of Property Daniel Gradwell said the underlying demand drivers across South East Queensland remain strong, supported by interstate migration, downsizers, and population growth.

“The challenge is bringing enough supply to market to meet that demand, and nothing on the horizon makes that straightforward,” Gradwell said.

RPM’s analysis found the affordability challenge is becoming more pronounced in the new apartment market itself, with only three per cent of surveyed new apartments priced below $1 million.

Instead, the market is increasingly concentrated in higher price brackets, with the most common new apartment price band across SEQ sitting between $1.5 million and $1.75 million. Around half of all new apartment stock surveyed is priced below $2 million.

The report suggests developers are not necessarily avoiding lower price points by choice, but because current construction economics make delivering affordable apartments increasingly difficult at scale.

Rental conditions also remain tight across the region. Median rents for one-bedroom apartments rose 12 per cent in Brisbane over the past year to $580 per week, while Gold Coast one-bedroom rents increased nine per cent to $630.

Despite rising rents, RPM noted bond lodgements have generally trended downward over the past five years, indicating more apartments are being absorbed by owner-occupiers rather than retained as investor-held rental stock.

Looking ahead, RPM expects projects targeting the mid-market owner-occupier segment between $1.25 million and $2 million to remain the most viable part of the market, while premium projects in highly constrained coastal or riverfront locations continue to attract demand.

“Construction costs are rewriting the feasibility rulebook across Greater Brisbane, and with little relief in sight, only projects in the right price band, right location, and with presales secured early will make it through,” the report concludes.

SEQ apartment demand outpacing affordable supply as construction timelines stretch: RPM

Camberwell Junction has long been the epicentre of amenity in Melbourne’s Boroondara region.

For nearly a century, it has drawn both locals and visitors, anchored by the Camberwell Sunday Market, which first operated in 1929 and quickly became a fixture of the suburb’s identity. Over time, the Junction evolved into one of Melbourne’s most established retail and lifestyle precincts, now comprising more than 400 stores and over 300 commercial businesses.

Despite that depth of amenity, one thing has remained notably limited: the supply of new apartments.

In a suburb defined by its heritage streetscapes and tightly held residential stock, new development opportunities have been scarce, particularly within the core of the Junction itself. That lack of supply has left a gap in the market for larger, design-led apartments suited to downsizers and owner-occupiers wanting to remain in the area.

Boutique developer Above Zero identified that gap when it secured a prime site on Burke Road, in the heart of Camberwell Junction.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368543]

The site has a long planning history. Various proposals have been put forward over more than a decade, many of which were knocked back by the City of Boroondara, with initial applications dating back to 2015. Above Zero acquired the site in 2022 and returned with a revised scheme, refining both the building’s height and its ground-level interface to better align with Council expectations.

That process has culminated in approval for Camberwell House.

The Cera Stribley-designed development will deliver 57 residences on a 1,950 sqm site within the Camberwell Activity Centre, placing it directly within one of Melbourne’s most established retail and transport hubs.

It is expected to be one of the only new apartment developments to launch in the Junction in recent years, reinforcing the rarity of new supply in the precinct. Currently, there are just a handful of projects on the market in Camberwell, underscoring the significance of a development of this scale and positioning.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368544]

Camberwell House has been conceived with a clear focus on larger-format apartments. The project will offer a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom residences, alongside a limited number of penthouses, targeting owner-occupiers seeking scale rather than volume-driven product.

The building’s vertical presence will also set it apart.

Positioned on Burke Road, the development is set to become one of the taller buildings in its immediate context, allowing for elevated outlooks across Melbourne’s CBD skyline and toward the Dandenong Ranges. In a precinct characterised by lower-scale built form, that height provides a point of differentiation, particularly for buyers seeking outlook and natural light.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368568]

Architecture has been led by Cera Stribley, with interiors by GOLDEN and landscape design by Florian Wild. The design approach centres on material consistency and restraint, with residences oriented to maximise light, ventilation and connection to outdoor spaces.

Full-height glazing and generous terraces form a key part of that strategy, allowing apartments to extend beyond their internal footprint and engage with the surrounding environment.

Beyond the private residences, a significant component of the project is its amenity offering.

Above Zero has positioned Camberwell House as a “complete living environment”, incorporating a full floor dedicated to resident facilities. At the centre of that is a wellness zone, including a 12.5-metre lap pool, spa, sauna and treatment spaces, alongside a gym and recovery-focused amenities.

This level of amenity is more commonly associated with inner-city developments, rather than established middle-ring suburbs like Camberwell.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368588]

Additional shared spaces include a private library lounge, dining and entertaining areas, and an indoor golf simulator. A self-contained guest suite has also been incorporated, allowing residents to accommodate visiting family or friends without impacting their primary living space.

The inclusion of these facilities reflects a broader shift in buyer expectations.

As more downsizers look to transition from larger family homes into apartments, there is increasing demand for developments that offer not just a residence, but a lifestyle. That includes access to wellness, social and entertaining spaces within the building itself, reducing the reliance on external amenity while still maintaining proximity to established precincts.

Camberwell House is positioned to benefit from both.

Its location places it within immediate walking distance of Camberwell Junction’s retail and dining offering, as well as public transport connections, including tram and train services. That combination of internal amenity and external convenience is central to its appeal.

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-150" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:55d7c6ac-8e6d-4881-ad49-0ed9bf66d1cc-74" dir="auto">
Jellis Craig Projects Director Stephen Bowtell is handling sales for the project and says Camberwell House offers a rare entry point into one of Melbourne’s most tightly held markets.

“Buyers are recognising that Camberwell House offers something they simply haven’t seen before in Boroondara,”&nbsp;Bowtell&nbsp;says.

“It combines a level of resident amenity and service typically associated with Melbourne’s premium inner-city developments, while being positioned right in the heart of Camberwell Junction.

“The response to the concierge offering has been particularly strong. Buyers appreciate not only the convenience, but also the sense of security and peace of mind that comes from having a dedicated presence in the building every day.

“When you combine that with the wellness facilities, the exceptional arrival experience, and panoramic views across both the CBD skyline and the Dandenong Ranges, it creates a lifestyle proposition that is genuinely unique within the local market.”
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4896]

Above Zero launches Camberwell House in undersupplied Camberwell Junction precinct

Office Market

<html><body>
Capital values in Sydney's CBD office strata market have increased nearly 30 percent in the first half of 2016 with vacancies predicted to fall below five percent, according to new research released by Ray White Commercial.
Vanessa Rader, Ray White Commercial head of research, said despite a limited pool of sales transactions in the first six months of 2016 ($31.823 million), the overall capital value for strata premises has grown 29.33 percent on 2015 results.
“The average is now $8,067 per sqm across the Sydney CBD and this value growth has not been restricted to any one region,” Ms Rader said.
“The Core is up 24.67 percent to $8,223 per sqm and Midtown also had a 27.24 percent increase to $8,179 per sqm. Western Corridor only recorded around $3 million in sales which resulted in a smaller value increase of 3.13 percent to $6,597 per sqm while the Southern precinct, which is tightly held, recorded no transactions so far this year.
“Looking ahead, despite the supply pipeline of the CBD, early indications show that vacancy is likely to hit sub 5 per cent in the next round of vacancy statistics available in August which will put further pressure on rents,” she said.
“Similarly, despite this high growth in values, yields still remain attractive for investors and with occupation levels high, reducing risk, low interest rates continue to keep this investor activity from both domestic and international buyers high.
Anthony Harris from Ray White Commercial said the strong demand for Sydney CBD strata offices from investors and owner-occupiers was evident when two offices in a building at 33 York Street sold recently for $8.35 million – one of the first day it was on the market.
"There is now strong demand from tenants looking to buy as they are being forced to move due to the Sydney Metro Project, which will require compulsory acquisition of 19 commercial buildings," he said.
“I think we will see some occupiers having to get out of the CBD to locate their business due to the shortage of supply.
“On the leasing side we are seeing multiple tenants compete for space and in some cases tenant advocates offering to pay higher than the advertised rental in an effort to secure properties for their clients.”
<a href="/images/2016/07/19/Screen%20Shot%202016-07-19%20at%2011.02.57%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/07/19/Screen%20Shot%202016-07-19%20at%2011.02.57%20AM.png" alt=""> 
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Sydney CBD strata market capital values up nearly 30 percent: Ray White

<html><body><div title="Page 1">
All but one of the units at a 2+ plus business park at Kirkham Road in Melbourne’s Keysborough have sold ahead of completion of the 8,350 square metre development later this month.
The project was a joint venture between commercial developer Elite Property Group and Bayport Group.
Thirty-four units were on offer at the 2+ business park and sold for on average $1,800 per square metre to local businesses and investors, said a media release.
This follows Elite Group’s recent construction of the $25 million Port Melbourne Industry Park – a joint venture with the Spigelman family. The development has attracted occupiers such as Lorbek luxury cars and Reece, with selling rates topping $3,000 per square metre.
Elite’s managing director Leo Iazzolino said the group looks for locations with access to arterial roads and freeways.
“There’s no doubt the proximity to good transport links is an important factor for would-be purchasers,” says Iazzolino. “Extra kilometres means extra dollars for businesses.”
The 2+ business park is adjacent to EastLink and Port Melbourne Industry Park next to West Gate Freeway.
The leading agent for the 2+ Business Park is Renato Daniele from Collins Commercial &amp; Industrial.
Established in 1994, Elite has designed and built a number of commercial buildings in Melbourne’s south-east where the construction of EastLink has helped drive investment.
</div></body></html>

prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Most units sold as Melbourne's $15 million Keysborough business park nears completion

<html><body>
An award-winning penthouse office in one of Melbourne’s top retail hubs is about to hit the market with price expectations of more than $6.5 million.
The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-south+yarra-501998198" target="_blank">529 Chapel Street office in South Yarra</a> has an area of 675 sqm and is on two levels. 
It has won several awards, including one of New York’s most prestigious design awards in 2015, taking out Interior Design Magazine’s Best Interior Design Award. It was also named a finalist in the Workplace Design and Workplace Less Than 1,000 sqm categories at the 2015 Interior Design Excellence Awards in Australia. 
It is being sold through Colliers International’s Daniel Wolman, Oliver Hay, Ben Baines and Chris Ling on behalf of local developer Bill McNee. 
“This is a truly unique offering – there is no other office in Melbourne that compares to this one,” Wolman said. 
The office is expected to attract strong competition from office users, hospitality operators and luxury residential buyers.
“On offer is the world’s best office in the heart of one of Melbourne’s trendiest and most sought after suburbs,” added Wolman.
The office has communal and private workspaces, innovative entrances, steam rooms and luxury finishes with multiple rooftop terraces. Luxury features include a Sonos sound system throughout, automated bi-fold doors, a teppanyaki grill and beer taps on the external terrace. 
“The building would be well suited to a family office or small-to-medium business looking to take advantage of the immediate access to extensive surrounding amenity,” said Hay.
</body></html>

Trophy penthouse office in Melbourne's Chapel Street up for grabs 

<html><body>
Melbourne’s office market is seeing much activity from offshore buyers, according to recent sale deals by Colliers International.
To illustrate the point, a 450 sqm freestanding office and retail building at 318 King Street was bought by a private investor from China for circa $5 million within two weeks of its listing. 
The deal was brokered by Colliers International’s team of Oliver Hay, Daniel Wolman and David Sia. 
The property is a two-level building on a 231 sqm site with King Street frontage and rear access via Eagle Alley. 
Hay said the buyer intends to lease out the property in the short term before occupying it. The same buyer earlier bought a development site in the nearby area.
Another recent sale was that of Level 2, 21 Victoria Street for $1.395 million to an offshore developer looking to establish themselves in the Melbourne CBD.
“A big theme in this sector of the market at the moment is that these purchasers are not just buying development sites, they’re buying offices as well, as they are keen to set up a physical presence,” said Hay.
“Of five strata office floors sold by our team in the last two weeks in the Melbourne CBD, half have been sold to offshore groups looking to establish a physical presence for themselves in Melbourne.
</body></html>

Offshore buyers setting up presence in Melbourne's office market

<html><body>
The downturn in Perth’s office market could last for at least two more years, with the CBD vacancy rate yet to peak, according to a grim forecast by research firm BIS Shrapnel. 
Prime net stated rents are forecast to fall by a further 19% and net effective rents by a further 23 percent. Rents will stay depressed for the remainder of this decade. 
Average stated rents are not expected to regain current levels over the next 10 years, according to some of the key findings of BIS Shrapnel’s research. 
The research contrasts with some commentators’ views that the Perth CBD office market is close to the bottom of the cycle. The CBD vacancy rate has already blown out to around 22 percent from just 4 percent in 2012, prime net stated rents have fallen by more than 20 percent, and effective rents have fallen by 60%. With the volume of new completions slowing down, the argument is that the market will start to recover. 
Not so, says BIS Shrapnel. The next two years will be rocky for the Perth office market. 
Demand for office space in Perth is closely tied to investment and in particular, resources investment — both in terms of the resources companies themselves and those who service them. The problem is that the downturn in resources-related investment is not over yet. 
BIS Shrapnel estimates that Western Australia is less than 40 percent through a near 70 percent decline in engineering construction. Whilst investment in iron ore has been falling for a number of years, the decline in oil and gas investment is just beginning. As mega projects (such as Gorgon 1st to 3rd train and Wheatstone) are completed and not replaced by projects of similar value, this will contribute directly and indirectly into further falls in employment and demand for office space. 
“Falls in resources investment will swamp the positives for office employment coming from increased mining production” says Lee Walker, senior project manager at BIS Shrapnel. 
The completion of Woodside’s new 55,000 square metre headquarters at 98 Mounts Bay Road in 2018 is expected to push the office vacancy rate even higher to an estimated 24 percent by June of that year. 
“Rising vacancies and increasing competition to secure tenants will put further downward pressure on market rents” says Walker. 
Average prime net stated rents are expected to fall by close to 20 percent over the next two years, with effective rents forecast to fall by 23 percent—putting the peak to trough fall in effective rents at nearly 70 percent. 
“It’s too early to call the bottom of the cycle. There’s more pain to come for building owners. The balance of power in leasing negotiations will clearly favour tenants over the next few years” concludes Walker.
</body></html>

Downturn in Perth office market far from over: BIS Shrapnel

<html><body>
A private investor from Queensland has snapped up Aviation House in Canberra for $68.1 million.
The sale by Colliers International director Tim Mutton represents the largest office building deal in Canberra this year.
Located in Woden, Aviation House was sold via an EOI process in conjunction with JLL.
The property is an A-Grade office building comprising 14,812 sqm of high quality office accomodation over nine levels.
It is a fully leased commercial asset underpinned by three Commonwealth Government tenants.
It received interest from international and local buyers seeking to invest in metropolitan markets across the eastern seaboard.
Tim said that Canberra is attracting maiden investors who are finding that supply is becoming increasingly scarce in the Sydney and Melbourne major office markets.
“Major office buildings with Commonwealth leases located in our town centres are seen as attractive investments as the Australian Government considers local impacts before moving tenants out of town centre locations, which we’ve recently seen with Customs and Border Protection staying in Belconnen.
Mutton said that Aviation House represented another strong sale in a Canberra town centre and is great news for businesses in the Woden area, being one of Canberra’s major community and commercial hubs servicing a retail trade area of about 432,000 people and with some 130,000sq m of office space occupied by Government tenants.
Woden has seen an increase in infrastructure projects undertaken by the ACT Government, including the investment of more than $10 million in improving the Bus Interchange and street scapes.
The nearby Westfield Woden Shopping Centre is also to be extended and redesigned.
According to Colliers International research, four major office buildings have sold in 2016 totalling $152.325 million. Tim Mutton expects four more major office buildings to transact before the end of the year.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Aviation House in Canberra sells for 2016 record

<html><body>
Sales in Sydney CBD strata offices are being drive by record low interest rates, limited supply and strong demand for investors and owner-occupiers.
Ray White Commercial agent Anthony Harris said that there is now strong demand from tenants looking to buy as they are being forced to move due to the Sydney Metro Project, which will require compulsory acquisition of 19 commercial buildings.
“I think we will see some occupiers having to get out of the CBD to locate their business due to the shortage of supply,” he said. 
“On the leasing side we are seeing multiple tenants compete for space and in some cases tenant advocates offering to pay higher than the advertised rental in an effort to secure properties for their clients.”
Anthony completed two sales in a York Street building for $8.35 million, and one of them was on the first day of market.
The whole 541 sqm office space at level 2/33 York Street sold for $4.25 million on behalf of a private syndicate to an owner occupier who will use it as a medical business.
“The office comes with four car spaces and the sale price represents a rate of just over $7,100 per sqm, assuming a value of $100,000 per car space,” Harris said.
The other 545 sqm office on level six of the same building sold for $4.1 million to the Egyptian Consulate on behalf of Century 21 Australia chairman Charles Tarbey.
“This office comes with three car spaces, representing a rate of around $7,000 per sqm and $100,000 per car space,” Harris said.
 
</body></html>

Sydney metro project causing Sydney CBD office strata sales surge

<html><body>
Australian Volunteers International is the latest not-for-profit group to offer its substantial innercity Fitzroy, Melbourne premises for sale.
More than $6 million is tipped for 71-75 Argyle Street, set on the northeast corner of Fitzroy Street.
There's potential for an 11-level structure on AVI’s 1049-square-metre block, which includes a historic double storey building.
It is being marketed by Savills’ Nick Peden, Clinton Baxter and James Lockwood.
The Collingwood-based Smith Family sold its 1139-square-metre site to local builder Pace Development Group for $8.8 million some two years ago.
The a few weeks ago, the Salvation Army secured around $7 million selling its historic estate, Cloyne, at 12 Chapel Street, St Kilda, to another charity-related owner occupier.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Savills lists AVI development site in Fitzroy

<html><body><div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
Sydney office rents will surge between now and the end of 2018 as market power shifts back to landlords, according to BIS Shrapnel.
The forecasters expect net face rents to rise by about 30 per cent over the next three years
Agents are starting to see face rents rise and incentives contract.
BIS Shrapnel expects prime net face rents to increase from an average of $890 per square metre to $1200 per sq m by December 2018.
On an effective basis, with incentives forecast to fall from 28 per cent to 10 per cent, rents will almost double from $570 to $1100 per sq m.
"Tenants have become used to receiving large leasing incentives in the Sydney CBD over the last six to seven years. But the ground is starting to shift." said Lee Walker, Senior Project Manager at BIS Shrapnel.
The key driver will be the vacancy rate as BIS Shrapnel forecasts this to fall from a current seven-year low of 6.3 per cent to just 3 per cent by 2018.
"After years of delaying leasing decisions, businesses are looking to expand in Sydney, buoyed by the strength of the NSW economy," he said.
Last year, CBD office net absorption reached a 10 year high of over 150,000 square metres. 
</div></body></html>

Sydney office rents to rise: BIS Shrapnel

<html><body>
The workplace is in a state of evolution, with the rise of co-working space redefining the parameters of office markets across the country as shifts in demand create new opportunities for commercial property owners.
A new CBRE Viewpoint highlights the rapid transformation of global office markets over the past five years, with businesses and individuals adopting co-working space models such as serviced offices and flexible desk leasing arrangements.
Since 2010, there has been exponential growth in the number of co-working sites across Australia, with advances in technology underpinning a rise in mobile and freelance working.
Across Australia, there are currently more than 120 co-working sites, with the majority located in New South Wales (30%) and Victoria (25%).
CBRE Research Analyst Anne Flaherty said technological advances were creating new business opportunities, which was spawning a rise in the number of start-ups.
“For these businesses, serviced offices present an attractive option, offering flexibility, affordability and the opportunity to meet and work amongst other entrepreneurs,” Ms Flaherty said.
“For many small businesses and start-ups that may not be in a position to commit to the requirements of a formal lease agreement, co-working spaces offer significantly greater flexibility.”
CBRE Director, Workplace Strategy, Matt Strudwick said technology had liberated organisations from the traditional view of the office being the place to work.
“Organisations are using a mix of spaces to provide an attractive proposition to their employees, service their clients more effectively and drive out some of the fixed costs of traditional office space,” Strudwick explained.
“Employees have been empowered to work from client locations and from home in the past, but co-working spaces offer something more. Co-working spaces are conducive to fostering and enhancing an entrepreneurial culture and a sense of team.”
“While the co-working office offers an attractive work space for start-ups and small businesses, it is not just these companies that we are seeing demand from,” Strudwick explained.
“There is a growing trend whereby big corporates are leasing desk space in co-working hubs, so as to expose their employees to new ideas and innovative working environments.”
Evidencing the trend, a number of major corporations, including NAB, have taken to co-working to drive their business outcomes with the objective being to engage with the small business community and find opportunities to partner with, or buy their ideas.
“There has been a sharp increase in the number of financial institutions partnering with existing co-working hubs, as well as launching shared office spaces across most of Australia’s capital cities,” Flaherty said.
“Co-working spaces are also being set aside at the existing office premises of some banks, for the exclusive use of their business banking customers.”
Strudwick said in addition to the benefits of flexibility, affordability and networking, co-working style office arrangements also offered businesses the advantage of agility.
“Agility is one of the biggest drawcards associated with co-working space, with it giving businesses the ability to adjust their space as they grow, shrink, move and reconfigure, while not being locked into a restrictive lease,” Mr Strudwick explained.
CBRE Executive Managing Director, Capital Markets, Mark Granter said the growing trend also presented opportunities for office owners and landlords looking to reposition assets for higher and better use.
“As demand continues to strengthen for flexible office space, assets that have been converted to capture this budding market will be positioned for capital growth,” Granter said.
“Unlike traditional office space, income flow for a co-working space is less dependent on a few, or single, tenants. With demand for serviced offices growing, owners of currently underused commercial assets may look to unlock value by considering the potential viability of conversion to a shared office space.”
</body></html>

Office Market

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Office Market

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News