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.

Joel Robinson

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.

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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

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Office Market

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The Canberra office market has been historically characterised as having one of the strongest supply pipelines nationally.
Over the past few years it has delivered high levels of stock, against a background of strong net absorption.
In the 12 months to December 2017, Savills Research identified approximately $571.7 million worth of office transactions (greater than $5 million) in the Canberra office market.
However, as a result of falling leasing demand from the Commonwealth leading up to, and following from, the election of the Coalition to Government in 2013, the speculative development phase that had been experienced in Canberra ended in 2015-2016, Savills said.
Over 2015/2016, developers were largely reluctant to build speculatively, following weaker economic conditions and moderating leasing demand driven by cost cutting measures initiated by Commonwealth tenants.
But following two years of negative net supply, 2017 saw new additions amounting to 51,364 square metres. Improving market conditions and a strengthening economy are providing the impetus for an increase in developments.
According to the latest research report from Savills Australia, the commencement of two new speculative developments in the CBD will add approximately 35,000 square metres of new accommodation in the 2019/20 period.
A further 20,000 square metres of space in the CBD and 15,000 square metres in Dickson have been pre-committed by the ACT Government and are due to be completed over the same period.
Anecdotal evidence from current leasing campaigns on these developments suggest a significant upward revision of rents.
Andrew Stewart, managing director of Savills ACT said this level of activity is well beyond the 10 year average of $416 million and can be traced to a single transaction; the sale of 50 Marcus Clarke Street, City. 
“The asset was sold for $321 million to South Korean asset management firm, Mirae Asset Global Investments at an equated yield of 5.75% by Malaysian vendor CIMB Trust &amp; Malaysian Employees Provident Fund. It is important to note that traditionally, these larger assets are tightly held with only four trading in the past five years," said Stewart.
“Demand for Canberra assets are being driven by domestic and foreign investors focused on secure income streams and long Weighted Average Lease Expiry’s (WALEs) owing to the majority of office space being leased by Government tenants.” 
Stewart said that large funds and trusts that rely on both income growth as well as capital growth are certainly attracted to the Canberra market. 
“We are also seeing a trend towards more privatisation which has led to a greater diversity in tenant base as more consulting firms relocate to Canberra for jobs that are being outsourced by the Federal government off the back of cost cutting measures implemented by the Liberal government.”
There was a notable increase in local institutional funds and private investors purchasing office assets in Canberra.
One noteworthy transaction was the sale of 44 Sydney, Forrest in November 2017 for $64.70 million on an equivalent yield of 6.24%, purchased by Australian based fund manager Charter Hall.
Anecdotal evidence is suggestive of increasing demand for new or new-near buildings with long-WALE’s, with current owners of such properties reluctant to divest themselves of their properties.
According to Shrabastee Mallik, Senior Analyst - Capital Strategy at Savills Australia, market yields in Canberra Civic, as at December 2017, are estimated to range between 5.50% and 7.25% for A grade, and between 7.50% and 10.50% for B grade buildings.
“The average yield for A grade office buildings in the quarter to December 2017 is 6.40%, representing a 35 basis point firming over the year.
“Capital values in the Civic precinct in Canberra, as at December 2017, are estimated to range from $5,265 per square metre to $8,350 per square metre for A grade buildings, and between $3,500 per square metre and $5,400 per square metre for B grade buildings” she said.
Ms Mallik believes that fewer projected public service job cuts and a more relaxed budget looks likely to lead to a resurgence in office leasing demand and an increase in developments.
“Rents for new and near-new ‘A’ Grade stock have been maintained at a stable level, with a small level of face rent growth at the top end of the market” she said. 
Pip Doogan, Director of Office Leasing at Savills ACT said the level of incentives on offer for this class of property have stabilised, and are trending down gradually in those areas with low vacancy rates, which should result in a rise in effective gross rents in this market sector.  
“Net face rents in the Canberra Civic precinct range from $340 to $400 per square metre per annum for A Grade and from $290 to $325 per square metre per annum for B Grade, as of Dec 2017”.
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Investors looking to Canberra office market for long-WALE's: Savills

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Leasing momentum remains robust across Asia-Pacific prime office markets, helped by growing market confidence and a strong recovery of Asia’s export markets so far in 2017, according to Knight Frank.
Robust trade growth, a slight recovery in commodity prices and increased manufacturing and investment paint a good picture of the near-term outlook for major Asia-Pacific prime office markets.
Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane were all in the top 10 for office yields, according to Knight Frank's latest research.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/12/4/OfficeYields.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/12/4/OfficeYields.png" alt="">
“Over the next 12 months, we expect rents in 16 cities out of the 20 tracked to either remain steady or increase, which is the same as our previous forecast,” according to report author Ying Khuan Pow.
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Rosy near-term outlook for major Asia-Pacific prime office markets: Knight Frank 

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A growing appetite for Canberra’s office market has prompted the Willemsen Group to list Belconnen’s Northpoint Plaza for sale.
The family group has owned the office investment property since it was developed in 1987.
The listing comes as investors are turning their sights to Canberra’s secondary office market, with a series of transactions completed or in the offing in the lead up to 2018.
The trend is being driven by the anticipation of strong rental growth and a pickup in tenant demand in the short to medium term. 
Canberra Times added that the building's agent suggested a buyer could use the block for apartments or a hotel, leaving the future for its tenants unclear. 
Centrelink leases about 16 per cent of the building, which also houses Quest Training, Sonic Healthcare, Marist Youth Care, medical and other offices. 
CBRE Research highlights that secondary grade net effective rents recorded a 6% annual increase in the period to Q3 2017. Meanwhile, white collar employment grew 3.1% over the year to March 2017, with the business services sector adding 5,300 employees during that time-frame.
The Belconnen listing is being handled by CBRE’s Michael Heather.
“Northpoint Plaza presents a compelling value-add opportunity that will be acquired at below replacement cost, yet is 75% occupied and provides substantial passing income,” Heather said, adding that there was also the opportunity to increase the returns through a refurbishment and releasing strategy.
“Given its strategic location in the Belconnen Town Centre opposite Westfield Belconnen, the site would also suit future residential redevelopment or conversion to hotel or serviced apartments to capitalise on its park frontage and upper level lake views.”
Recent transactions of value-add office assets include 39 Brisbane Avenue, Barton, which was purchased by boutique fund manager Quintessential Equity for $16.5 million. Another Barton property at 42 Macquarie Street is currently in due diligence with a Sydney-based investment group.
Heather noted that Belconnen was also on investors’ radars as one of the better performing secondary office markets in the ACT.
Belconnen’s secondary vacancy rate is currently 5%, comparing favourably to Tuggeranong (23%), Woden (21%) and Civic (15%).
 
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Office investment property in Canberra’s Belconnen listed

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Canberra has seen a steady increase in A-Grade office stock since the move to more environment-friendly buildings started in 2000 and as businesses focus more on lessening their impact on the environment.
This demand for quality space has meant a decline in vacancies and an increase in building refurbishments,  according to Colliers International.
According to PCA data, A-Grade vacancy in Canberra CBD has more than halved in the past 24 months, decreasing from 8% to just 3.2%. 
The Parliamentary Precinct has experienced an even bigger drop over the same period, from 13.1% to just 1%. This is resulting in rental rate increases and a decline in incentives.
A younger generation joining the workforce also means changing needs and is also impacting tenants’ choice of office location and quality.
Michael Ceacis, director of Office Leasing at Colliers International said that with tenants seeking better offices but with limited new supply, there has been a spike in the number of buildings being refurbished. 
“Landlords are looking to attract tenants to older buildings by undertaking extensive building refurbishments. Building upgrades are not limited to modernising their buildings, but focus on improving building amenity, increasing building performance to make tenants more comfortable, lowering tenancy costs and decreasing a building’s environmental footprint.”
“Where this is most evident is in the CBD and Parliamentary Precinct,” he added.
Colliers International data shows that by 2020, Canberra’s CBD will have two new office buildings completed, injecting a total of approximately 30,000 sqm of A-Grade office space into the market. 
“We have no doubt that these new buildings will quickly attract quality tenants seeking to upgrade from lower grade office accommodation,” Michael said.
“We’ve seen a significant drop in A-Grade vacancy over the past couple of years and with limited stock coming to market, we expect this to have greater impact on B-Grade stock levels over the next couple of years.”
PCA data reveals only a slight drop in Canberra vacancy in the past 24 months from 13.4% to 12.8% in the CBD and 15.3% to 12.3% respectively in the Parliamentary Precinct. 
“The trends we’re seeing in the market, combined with our knowledge of stock being refurbished and new buildings being built, we expect to see an increase in overall vacancy in the Canberra market by 2020.” 
According to Colliers, A-Grade stock will still be in high demand and with vacancies remaining low, tenants will either be forced to stay put or look to occupy higher quality or refurbished B-Grade stock.   
“Majority of vacancy will be in B-Grade or lower, and this is partly due to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection vacating space buildings in the CBD,” he said.
The Parliamentary Precinct A-Grade vacancy is expected to tighten even further and the impact on overall vacancy in the precinct could reach as low as 5%, says Colliers.
“The outlook for the Belconnen Town Centre is not expected to change with larger tenants likely to remain. Conversely, some work needs to be done to make Woden and Tuggeranong more attractive to tenants which will benefit businesses located in those town centres,” said Michael.
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Demand for quality space in Canberra's office market sees vacancy decline: Colliers

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The Parramatta office market will struggle to keep up with demand due to an influx of white collar workers and undersupply in the area, according to Colliers International. 
The real estate agency cited a Deloitte report — ‘Designing Western Sydney’ — that emphasises the need to create 200,000 new jobs in the region by 2020, to address unsustainable worker transport challenges. 
Most of the demand for space is likely to come from the catalyst industries such as health, higher and international education, professional services (in particular through the financial services sector and public sector) and cultural and creative industries, the report said.
If participation and education attainment levels in the region are improved, these workers could contribute an additional $32 billion to Australia's economy, the report says.
Western Sydney is the country’s third largest region in terms of contribution to GDP and one in 10 Australians already live in the region with one million more expected by 2031.
A large proportion of demand for space is likely to come from the catalyst industries such as health, higher and international education and professional services, said Theo Psychogios from Deloitte Access Economics.
“Parramatta, labelled ‘Sydney’s Central city’, remains the main white collar employment catchment area for the Greater Western Sydney region,” said Kristina Mastrullo, associate director of research at Colliers International. 
As Deloitte expects an additional 200,000 jobs created in Western Sydney by 2020, Parramatta is be the area that will host a large majority of these workers.
“With the level of pre-commitment to be experienced, we expect the commercial core of Parramatta to expand through new development supply to accommodate these future workers,” said Mastrullo.
Up to 2,400 white collar workers have been added to the Parramatta office market within the last 12 months, according to Colliers International research.
“As a result of government decentralisation, lack of new supply, and the displacement of tenants due to conversion to other uses, Parramatta’s total vacancy is now one of the lowest nationally,” said Alex Brown, director of Office Leasing at Colliers International, Parramatta.
 “With the vacancy rate in the first half of 2017 at 4.3%, and A Grade vacancy remaining at zero percent, tenants have been faced with limited choice. This has resulted in landlords being able to achieve increased net effective rents throughout 2017.”
Brown cited an example where one landlord secured a rent of $420 per sqm net in March 2017, and then in July 2017 secured rents of $480 sqm net for similar space in the same building which was “a considerable increase in a short space of time.”
New supply in Parramatta has been limited. The first stage of 1 Parramatta Square opened in January 2017, being fully committed to the University of Western Sydney.
Other developments such as 105 Phillip Street (picture above) and 3 Parramatta Square have been 100% pre-committed from non-Parramatta tenants. These developments, projected for completion between 2019 and 2021, will bring an additional 149,550 sqm of prime space to the office market, 104,000 sqm of which is pre-committed. 
“Parramatta is currently lacking in prime quality space and with this level of pre-commitment over the next 3 years, vacancy is only expected to tighten. Over the next three years to January 2022, total market vacancy is expected to reduce to sub-3%, from a current vacancy of 4.3%. This is forecast to cause an increase in rents, especially in B grade stock as prime grade assets are secured prior to completion,” said Kristina Mastrullo.
Although the market remains tight, Parramatta Council is attempting to solve the issue of undersupply in the area.
“Parramatta Council’s recent decision to modify 8 Parramatta Square’s use from Residential to 71,000 square meters of office space reflects the confidence in the commercial leasing market,” said Alex Brown.
“Notable vacant space is likely to become available in 2020 and 2021 with several tenants expected to relocate to new opportunities including Parramatta City Council, The Office of State Revenue, and Department of Planning and Environment, which will provide up to 15,000 square metres of backfill space. CBA is due to vacate 101 and 150 George Street in 2022 creating approximately 40,000 square metres of backfill space,” Alex Brown said.
“This low vacancy rate has had a flow-on effect to other Western Sydney markets including Rhodes and Sydney Olympic Park. As a result many tenants that we are looking after are being required to consider these neighbouring markets due to the lack of availability in Parramatta.”
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Parramatta office market likely to struggle to keep up with demand: Colliers

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After several months of vacancy, the office market has a leader, with Gold Coast and NSW’s regional town of Griffith at the peak of the cycle, according to property valuation firm Herron Todd White’s latest commercial clock.
In the last office clock in July, Gold Coast was approaching the peak. Also, the peak of market slot was empty. 
Meanwhile, Newcastle has dropped out of the approaching the peak position to a rising market, joining Sydney and new entrants Sunshine Coast and NSW Mid North Coast.
Melbourne remains at its position of approaching the peak. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/10/06/HTWOctOffice.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/10/06/HTWOctOffice.png" alt="">
The list at the bottom of market is large, and includes capital cities Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Perth and Hobart.
There are none at the starting to decline slot either, with Gippsland moving down to a declining market. 
“Office markets across the country are wide and varied and given advancements in communications technology, the time had never been better for tenants looking to set up and operate across borders from wherever the most economical space can be found,” say HTW in their report.
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Gold Coast and Griffith climb to peak of office market cycle: HTW clock

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With negative growth easing, is it time to get confident in Perth’s office market?
The latest national accounts data indicates that the Western Australian economy is on the rebound. Each quarter, the ABS releases state final demand (SFD) data alongside national GDP figures. SFD is the value of goods and services sold to the public sector, private sector and households in a state. 
In seasonally adjusted, chain volume measures, annual growth in private demand in Western Australia eased for the first time since September 2015. While still negative at -10%, the growth rate is higher than the annual growth rate in March (-10.7%). Coupled with a ramp up in public expenditure, growth rates of domestic demand in Western Australia are starting to lift. 
This could be good news for the commercial real estate sector. Perth CBD office market vacancy fell for the first time in 5 years, according to the Property Council Australian Office Market Report, released by the Property Council of Australia (PCA) in July 2017. 
The portion of vacant, available office space in Perth fell by 1.4 percentage points in the 6 months to July 2017. The PCA also reported net CBD office demand in Perth increased by over 20,000 m2 in this period. This demand increase is three times the historic average. It suggests that tightening vacancy rates in Perth can be attributed to local business expansion, or businesses being drawn to the city.
However, Perth still has the highest office vacancy rate at 21.1%, up from around 1% vacancy ten years ago. Australian CBD office vacancy is less than half the current Perth rate, at 10.2%. The end of a ‘one in one-hundred year’ mining boom, cemented by negative demand shock from China, drastically reduced demand for office space in the Perth CBD. This is because the demand shock bled into secondary and tertiary industries across the state.
In the current, uncertain economic environment globally, it is difficult to anticipate future demand shocks. Is it really time to get confident in Perth’s office market?  Looking closely at the private sector SFD figures, there are some areas of demand on the rise. Cultivated biological resources (a technical term for things like beef, cheese and wine) increased 4%, and expenditure on intellectual property products was up 2%. 
Commodity values partially recovered over the past 12 months. Iron Ore, which in 2016 accounted for 57% of the value of commodity sales, has rebounded approximately 22% in value in the year to September 2017, despite heavy falls last week. 
Perhaps the most important, highly correlated statistic with office demand is employment growth. According to last week’s labour force data, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Western Australia rose 0.4 percentage points over the month to 5.9% in August, despite following a downward trajectory over the last 12 months. The participation rate was up 0.3%, and the number of people employed remained largely unchanged, suggesting part of the rise in unemployment may have been the result of unemployed people entering the labour force.  The latest dataset reveals a loss in some full time jobs also contributed to a higher unemployment rate. 
Importantly, Western Australia has seen a rapid rise in full time jobs over the year to August. The latest ABS seasonally adjusted employment figures show full time employment was up 4% in the last 12 months. This compares to annual full time employment growth of 3.1% across Australia. Full time employment signals a willingness of businesses to invest more in people – including the investment of work space. Assuming the global economic environment remains stable enough to nurture private investment, the next six months could see further office demand across Perth.
This article was written by Eliza Owen, researcher at <a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/news/it-time-get-confident-perths-office-market#.WddLPBOCxo5" target="_blank">CoreLogic</a>.   
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Is it time to get confident in Perth’s office market?

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The office markets in Sydney and Melbourne are moderating after their strong run in 2016 while Brisbane and Canberra are picking up, according to the latest research by Cushman &amp; Wakefield.
The property agency’s national head of Office Leasing, Tim Molchanoff said: “During Q3, we saw a mild convergence across east coast office markets, as Sydney and Melbourne growth moderated from strong gains in 2016, while Canberra and Brisbane are picking up pace. A different picture is starting to emerge compared to 6 months ago.”
In Sydney, big deals were a key driver this quarter as major tenants moved to take up space in the CBD. In Melbourne, the big landlords competed for pre-commitments as major office developments continued at pace, he added. 
“For Brisbane, the recovery continues with vacancies modestly tightening in the prime market with tenant favourable conditions driving office upgrades,” said Molchanoff. 
Canberra saw the completion of Cromwell’s 30,000 sq m A-grade Tuggeranong development.” 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/10/03/CushmanOffice.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/10/03/CushmanOffice.png" alt="">
Following are the highlights from the 3rd quarter report.
Sydney – big lease deals return in Q3/ Prime rent growth bounces back
<ul>
<li>Vacancy declined, with the Premium rate compressing 300 basis points to 9.5%, while A grade at lowest rate (3.6%) since mid 2008.</li>
<li>Prime gross effective rents at $916 per sqm - up 1.6% QoQ and 6.9% YoY</li>
<li>Major deals: Clayton Utz renewed 17,000sq m (premium) at 1 Bligh St. Jobs for NSW signed on to 17,000 sq m (B-grade) at 11-31 York St </li>
</ul>
Melbourne - prime vacancy tightens, rents increase/developers vye for large tenants
<ul>
<li>Prime net effective rents at $376 p/sq m p.a - up 1.2% QoQ and 6.9% YoY.</li>
<li>In Q3, prime outgoings rose 7% QoQ, B grade outgoings up 10% as landlords passed on higher land tax expenses</li>
<li>Landlords jostled to secure large requirements with developers like Lendlease and Mirvac behind 12 CBD office towers under construction or approved</li>
<li>Major deals include: Recoveriescorp taking 3,562 sq m and Latitude Financial taking 9,744 sqm at 800 Collins</li>
</ul>
Brisbane – prime market leading the recovery
<ul>
<li>Prime gross effective rents have remained steady at 1.1% growth y-o-y</li>
<li>Annual net absorption saw prime vacancies decline from 15.5% to 11.7%.</li>
<li>Major deals: Deloitte renewing 6,000 sqm (premium) at 123 Eagle St, DSITI taking 3,000 sqm (A-grade) at 140 Creek St and QLD Electoral commission taking 1,822 (premium).</li>
</ul>
Canberra - New development completed in Tuggeranong
<ul>
<li>$352 prime gross effective rent (per sqm)</li>
<li>5.2% State Final Demand growth (annual avg) led all services sector states</li>
<li>Major deals: Cromwell’s 30,000 sq m A-grade development completed and will be occupied by the Department of Social Services from late Sept 2017</li>
</ul>
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Sydney, Melbourne office markets moderating: Cushman & Wakefield

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Brisbane is at the 11th spot among global cities for the most office floor space that can be bought for US$100 million, fetching 14,607 sqm in the CBD area but this could change as the leasing market recovers and prices head north, says a new report by Knight Frank.
The report, Global Cities 2018, compares how much USD100 million will buy of prime office space in 34 top cities across the world. 
Melbourne and Sydney sit at 15th and 23rd on the list respectively, with Melbourne fetching 12,719 sqm of CBD office space for USD100 million while the same money can get you 7,087 sqm in Sydney.
Knight Frank’s managing director, Queensland, Ben McGrath said that investor interest has continued to build in the Brisbane CBD market due to the Sydney and Melbourne CBDs recording lower yields and a climate of fewer opportunities. 
Brisbane’s office leasing market is recovering, creating limited time to purchase office assets to fully benefit from the expected recovery in tenant demand, according to Knight Frank’s latest research.
“The certainty that the leasing market has bottomed in the Brisbane CBD is providing impetus to the investment market with the view that now is the time to purchase assets to fully benefit from the expected recovery in tenant demand,” said McGrath.
“Additionally, the demand from large tenants for new space will provide the opportunity to secure core investments with limited national supply of these assets.”
Investment demand is also rising because of continued high spread in yields Brisbane has with Sydney and Melbourne, added Knight Frank’s joint head of Institutional Sales, Australia, Ben Schubert.
According to the Global Cities report, Brisbane’s prime office yields sit at 28th in the world out of the 34 cities monitored, with yields at 6.38%, while Sydney and Melbourne are at 20th and 22nd respectively with Sydney yields at 5.06% and Melbourne yields at 5.25%. 
“While both Sydney and Melbourne CBDs are far further through the leasing demand cycle, with signs of improvement in the Brisbane market, investment interest has further increased. Yields remain under downward pressure with interest in the Brisbane market continuing to build. Both the yield gap to Sydney and Melbourne and positive signs in the Brisbane leasing market is underpinning this investment interest,” said Schubert.
Knight Frank’s head of Commercial Sales, Australia Paul Henley said, “Investors are increasingly expanding their global portfolios. Those cities going through an evolution driven by a compelling mix of education, lifestyle, infrastructure, technology and real estate makes them places where people want to work, shop, play, and live.”
Knight Frank’s director, Research, Australia Michelle Ciesielski said prime yields have continued to firm in the Brisbane CBD, having fallen to a median range of 5.8% to 6.95% as demand grows.
“In Sydney, the strong investor demand, particularly from offshore investors, is putting significant pressure on yields across the grades, but more so on secondary assets which have a lower price point,” she said.
She cited the sale of 20 Bridge Street on a sub-5% core market yield as an indicator that prime assets in the CBD core are expected to be traded between 4.5% and 5.25%. 
“This will be further affirmed when the sale of Wynyard Place is concluded, with market expectation for a yield of close to 4.7%,” said Ciesielski.
In Melbourne, fewer buying opportunities with strong investor demand, particularly by offshore investors, has further compressed prime yields, added Henley. 
“Looking ahead, investment volumes are anticipated to remain above the five-year average in 2017. This is unlikely to match volumes recorded in 2014 as impacted by the scarcity of investment opportunities rather than diminishing investor appetite,” concluded Henley.
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Brisbane CBD ranks 11th globally for value in prime office space: Knight Frank

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CBD markets for capital cities, bar Sydney and Melbourne, are seeing improving rental conditions though their growth rates are low compared to the two biggest cities, according to Colliers International’s CBD Office research and forecast report.
Sydney and Melbourne have benefitted from a “hold on supply” and consistently strong demand, pushing office rents higher and higher. 
Over the year to June 2017, prime grade face rents grew by 7.8 per cent in Sydney, and 14 per cent in Melbourne. 
Population growth in New South Wales and Victoria has been the key catalyst in the market’s “perfect storm” conditions, with migration figures well above their 10-year averages in both states fuelling strong white collar job creation – but the Colliers report revealed that office supply will be constrained during this time of strong demand.
Colliers International’s national director of Research, Anneke Thompson, said office supply for the next 12 months was “even more ominous”.
“We’re forecasting the Sydney CBD office market to contract by 50,000 sqm throughout the year to July 2018, and the Melbourne CBD to reduce by circa 5,000 sqm, based on the supply that we know will enter the market and forecast withdrawals,” she said.
The story is not as bright for other capital cities.
Brisbane appears to be in recovery mode, with a solid level of premium and A-grade office leasing deals completed throughout the first half of 2017, Colliers noted.
In line with this comeback, the vacancy rate is forecast to decline to 13-14 per cent by January 2019.
A major development was QSuper signing a heads of agreement with Shayher Group to negotiate a lease for its 300 George Street office building, which is due for completion mid-2019.
In Adelaide, vacancy is starting to fall with the market recording its highest net absorption figures since January 2014.
Net absorption in the six months to July was 4,624 sqm, while the annual figure was 6,016 sqm.
This has seen vacancy fall ever so slightly to 16.1 per cent, down from 16.2 per cent in January 2017, said Colliers.
The small decline can be partially attributed to the remainder of the recently refurbished 1 King William Street being added back into supply.
Meanwhile, Perth CBD is also seeing some stability in the office leasing market, with vacancy falling to 21.1 per cent.
Net absorption is being driven by tenants’ flight to quality and new investment spend into increasing Western Australia’s output capacity of iron ore.
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