Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

Joel Robinson

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

Office Space

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Melbourne fund manager Peak Equities has purchased an A-grade office building in Melbourne's Camberwell Junction for $27.5 million.
It takes the value of its property portfolio to more than $177 million.
The five-level commercial building at 250 Camberwell Road boasts 5,420 square metres of lettable space.
it is leased to ASX top 200 company Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) until March 2023, with three five-year options. 
API is a wholesale supplier and owns 400 Priceline Pharmacy stores across Australia, along with the rights to Soul Pattinson Chemists and the Pharmacist Advice brand.
The building also features a ground floor cafe, Pour &amp; Sip, managed by Camberwell Food Group on a 10 year lease until February 2026.
It is anticipated the fully refurbished Camberwell Road office building will deliver a first year return of 8.54% for Peak Equities investors, increasing to 11.14% as the investment matures.
The property was sold by Bricktop, a Sydney based investment firm and negotiation by Peter Bremner of Colliers International.
Peak Equities, established in 2014, has properties in Melbourne, South Australia and Queensland worth a combined $74.5 million, with eight syndicates now under management.
The company is headed by chartered accountant Tom Borsky, who was also the founding treasurer and a Life Member of Property Funds Association of Australia - the representative body of the multi-billion dollar Unlisted Property Trust industry.
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Assets acquired by Peak Equities in the past 12 months include a $17.55 million commercial complex at Noarlunga in South Australia.
They paid $22 million for The Precinct retail centre in Townsville and the $7.65 million for 69 Laver Drive office building in Robina on the Gold Coast. 
The company also acquired a one-third stake in a residential development at 102 Balaclava Road in Caulfield, Melbourne.
Over the past year, Peak Equities sold a 30,000 square metre industrial asset at 57 Northgate Drive at Thomastown in Melbourne and an office building at 183 Varsity Parade in Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast, and saw the completion of a residential apartment project, in which it owned a 20% stake, in Heidelberg in Melbourne.
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Peak Equities make $27.5 million acquisition in Camberwell

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An office suite in Sydney’s Walsh Bay has been put up for sale with a price tag of $2.4 million. 
The recent announcement that the Sydney Dance Company is set for an overhaul will reinvigorate the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct.
Suite 1 at <a href="https://jagonal.com.au/office/building/NSW/Sydney/Sydney-CBD/The-Rocks/13-Hickson-Road#gallery" target="_blank">13 Hickson Road</a> has an area of 148 sqm with parking and storage.
The Stephenson Mansell Group have a strong lease over the property with a long-term lease signed at market rents which have grown considerable as the undersupply of quality commercial accommodation in the CBD continues to diminish.
The suite is expected to attract strong interest as the NSW government focuses to rejuvenate the former working ports into a world class cultural precinct. 
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The marketing agents are Matt Pontey and Tom O’Neill of Colliers International.
“This is an amazing opportunity to invest in what is shaping up to be the new cultural hub of Sydney,” said Matt Pontey of Colliers.
“The government is investing heavily in Walsh Bay to transform the area into a thriving arts precinct and community and prices will only increase in the area over the next few years as this plan comes to fruition.”
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Walsh Bay office suite listed with $2.4 million hopes

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A strata office on the Sydney Harbour foreshore leased to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia is up for sale with price expectations of more than $3 million. 
The <a href="https://www.commercialpropertyguide.com.au/property/249629/sale/13-hickson-road/walsh-bay-nsw-2000/offices/" target="_blank">13 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay</a> property is close to the Barangaroo business district.
The office suite has natural finishes, exposed timber beams and a modern fit-out.
The newly executed lease is for five years with two further five-year options. The office earns $174,928 plus GST p.a. with the outgoings paid by the tenant.
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The lease has provisions for annual increases that is the greater of CPI rate or 4%.
The office floor area is 232 sqm.
The listing agent is Nick Moloney of Raine and Horne Commercial.
 
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Office suite leased to CBA on sale in Sydney Harbour foreshore   

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A leading education provider has bought a Melbourne CBD office floor for $2.01 million, aiming to cash in on the strong inflow of international students which is driving up demand in the Victorian capital, according to Colliers International. 
Expert Education and Visa Services has bought level three at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-melbourne-502399446" target="_blank">313 Flinders Lane</a> following an international expressions-of-interest campaign.
The deal follows the sale of lot 601 at 224 La Trobe Street to Asia Pacific Education Consultants for $1,956,150, and level nine at 221 Queen Street to Australian Pacific College for $3 million, Colliers said in a media release.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/07/10/MelbOffice.jpg" alt="">
The property agency’s strata office experts Chris Ling and Anthony Kirwan, who brokered the deals, said education and migration groups are eager to capitalise on the influx of international students from Asia and India.
The latest Department of Education and Training statistics show 480,092 international students were recorded in Australia as of March 2017, a 15 per cent rise from March last year.
“Thirty per cent of these students are from China (144,028) and 11 per cent are from India (52,810),” he said.
Melbourne has been a popular destination for students, fuelling demand for education and migration office space, as well as accommodation, added Ling.
“The appetite for these lucrative sectors is growing in line with students’ recognition of Australia as a welcoming country with an impressive choice of education institutions, including The University of Melbourne and RMIT University.”
“Political changes across the US and the UK, including Trump’s election and Brexit, have been a strong deterrent due to racism and immigration restrictions. With the bonus of a low Australian dollar, this demand from international students is likely to continue.”
Ling, Kirwan and Oliver Hay have also just sold levels four and five at 100 Collins Street via expressions of interest.
In fact, there is strong competition for leasing space as well. Leased space to the education sector in Melbourne's CBD in 2016 rose 200 percent on the previous year with increases in land taxes hitting stock levels, putting upward pressure on rents, according to real estate firm Savills.
 
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Education provider snaps up Melbourne CBD office for $2 million

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Sydney’s fringe suburb of Chippendale is experiencing a property boom of sorts, given the significant stock withdrawal from office to luxury residential.
But there is also the competing trend of office tenants wanting to stay close to the city.
The city fringe market is tightly held given its proximity to the CBD, the light rail and amenities. 
The recent conversion of Griffith Teas is a case in point where new residential gross realisation benchmarks have been realised that are usually reserved for Sydney Harbour waterfront property, according to Savills.
Tenants are expected to be faced with an ongoing squeeze on available office space as demand remains strong and new supply muted.
Savills have a refurbished, leased office property at 39-47 Regent Street, Chippendale to be sold by expressions of interest closing May 25. 
It is fully leased by Navitas Limited, an ASX 100 listed company. The lease is for 15 years with a further option to extend by 10 years. 
The annual net rental is circa $1.823 million. 
The zoning is B4 Mixed Use, which the agents say allows a purchaser the option for residential conversion beyond the existing lease tenure.
These strong fundamentals are expected to drive rents significantly higher over coming years, say the agents. 
The property is being marketed by Savills agents Simon Fenn, Graeme Russell and Tim Grossman along with CBRE on behalf of Property Bank Australia.
Simon Fenn of Savills NSW said strong interest is expected from local, interstate and off shore buyers given the compelling fundamentals of the city fringe market and the unique nature of the asset.
“There appears to be no significant supply in the pipeline for the City Fringe, with just 5,500 sqm currently under construction in Chippendale (expected in H2 2018). Future supply in the City Fringe remains severely constrained due to limited available sites and significant stock withdrawals for residential use,” he said.
With the building flanked on all sides by action from Sydney University, Broadway Shopping Centre, UTS and Central Station combined with significant planning changes in the wings, the precinct is set for exciting growth and change.  
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Navitas office property in Sydney's Chippendale listed

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Proptech startup PEXA has merged three offices and over 200 staff into a new workplace in Collins Square, Melbourne, designed by Futurespace.
Futurespace, design director Gavin Harris said the workspace is built around a central café zone which acts as the thoroughfare for both sides of the office.
“PEXA wanted to move into a space that would encourage staff to socialise and to create positive energy.," he said.
“To help support the employees, we brought in sit-stand desks, designed collaboration or scrum spaces, and created an office that facilitates people working away from their desks.
“We also implemented a range of design tactics in the office to support employees.
"These included bringing in natural materials like climbing green walls, creating exposed ceilings, lining the walls with timber, introducing texture and colour through flooring and soft furnishings."
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Rebecca Evans, chief people and culture officer, PEXA, said so far the feedback from employees has been overwhelmingly positive.
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“Being in such a central location, with the entire Melbourne-based team under one roof is helping to create a stronger team for our growing business,” she said.
PEXA was ranked as the fifth fastest growing tech startup in the Deloitte 2016 Technology Fast 500.
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Growing startup PEXA merges three offices and 200 staff into new workplace

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AstraZeneca Australia, an arm of global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, has ‘zoned in’ its employees, literally, at its new Macquarie Park offices.
The firm’s adoption of agile-based working is founded on specialised work ‘zones’, four at the moment, with each catering to different styles of working and collaborating with other people.
The concept was by design firm Futurespace, whose managing director Angela Ferguson said, “We designed the four zones to liberate workers from the desk bound experience.”
The new 3,000 sqm office gives AstraZeneca Australia’s 200 office-based employees the option to work in four ‘zones’:
The Unplugged Zone – this area is characterised by highly interactive management activities.
The Connected Zone – this is a stimulating environment, where employees engage with colleagues and visitors and includes formal meeting spaces, conference rooms with video conferencing and audio-visual systems, as well as collaborative spaces.
The Base Zone – is at the heart of the office and includes open plan work areas, private work areas, project areas and informal meeting areas.
It acts as the primary space for individuals and teams to carry out their core activities throughout the working day.
The Virtual Zone – this zone isn’t a physical zone, but is the integrated technology overlaid in and out of the workplace for employees. It is designed to allow employees greater mobility, both in and out of the office.
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“Sitting at the same desk all day does not promote productivity, health and wellbeing, or collaboration,” said Ferguson.
“However, it is just as troublesome to have employees work wherever they want without having the correct design infrastructure in place. That is why the ‘zones’ are effective.”
She said that “each zone was designed to facilitate different styles of working, whether it’s informal chats over coffee, structured team meetings or focused individual work”. 
Another standout feature being rolled out includes wi-fi technology that will allow staff with no assigned seating to locate each other within the large building at any time, enhancing collaboration.
The planning also involved features such as use of timber to create warmth, plenty of natural lighting, indoor greenery, and a multi-purpose open area where employees can have lunch and meetings.
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The ‘zones’ are consistent with AstraZeneca’s global workplace strategy, called “iwork”, which outlines a more agile way of working.
“iWORK, agile- based working environments, is the future of AstraZeneca’s workplaces,” said Paul Spittle, country president AstraZeneca Australia and New Zealand.
“The amount of impromptu conversations in passing I now have with people from all across the business, how I can walk past an open meeting space and stumble across a cool piece of work one of the teams is doing, which I otherwise would never have seen. It’s changed the dynamic of the business totally.”
The ‘energy’ of the new office will also help the company attract and retain talent, concludes Kimberly Elliott, director of People, Capabilities and Sales Operations. 
 
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AstraZeneca Australia's new, agile office uses ‘zones’ to keep staff engaged 

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South Melbourne is experiencing a tightening in the office leasing space owing to strong tenant demand for office space, says real estate firm Cushman &amp; Wakefield.
The trend is similar to that of Southbank, which in 2016 saw vacancies drop to 4.1 percent, the lowest levels since 2011 (PCA Office Market Report, Feb. 2017).
During a number of recent leasing transactions completed in the South Melbourne area, Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s Melbourne office leasing team has witnessed unprecedented demand amongst tenants for limited space, particularly in and around the South Melbourne Market Precinct. 
Cushman &amp; Wakefield has recently completed a number of leasing transactions including: 
Level 1, 280-286 Coventry Street – 725 sqm leased to sales performance firm, Maverick Rose. The leasing campaign was managed by Grant Tinker and Edward Maas.
5 Union Street South Melbourne – 260 sqm at $351 per sqm leased to independent advertising agency, Zoo Group. The leasing agent was Tristan Parker.
Suites 1.14 and 3.07, 87 Gladstone Street – 52 sqm and 53 sqm spaces leased to anti-bullying and education group, Project Rockit and Architects, de.arch, respectively. Both were leased at approx. $500 per sqm also managed by Tristan Parker.
Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s Edward Maas said the market was very tightly held, with existing tenants were rolling on lease options, essentially locking out potential tenants.
“We have seen Southbank experience a sharp increase in vacancies over the past 12 months, falling to 4.1% at end of 2016 from 9.3% at the end of 2015. This has been compounded by the strongest net absorption in five years over 2016, and ongoing stock reduction, which is impacting leasing opportunities in the broader South Melbourne area.”
Matt Rose, partner at ZOO Group — one of the new tenants in South Melbourne — said South Melbourne has established itself as a strong hub for businesses in the creative industries, but conventional spaces in the area are largely locked up.
“As a rapidly emerging creative agency, we were seeking access to the same ecosystem and amenities as creative hubs like Richmond or Cremorne and South Melbourne continues to offer a fantastic location for staff and clients. With little on offer in the area, we moved very quickly on an old furniture store and re-designed the space to accommodate the flexibility a business like ours needs.”
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South Melbourne vacancies decrease sharply as tenants vie for space 

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A laneway office with a caretaker residence tucked away in one of South Melbourne's historic cobblestone lanes recently sold for $1,380,000.
The architect-designed office spaces spread over four levels at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-vic-south+melbourne-502116922" target="_blank">7 Emerald Way, South Melbourne, Vic 3205</a> offer a fully air conditioned and flexible floor plan.
The property with a floor area of 250 sqm comprises a first floor open office and two studio/offices plus full bathroom. The second floor has an office and living area with a kitchen opening to a sunlit terrace. The top floor has a master bedroom with ensuite and a private terrace with CBD views.
The property is close to Clarendon Street, The Arts complex, Southbank and the city.
The selling agent was James Keep of Cayzer Real Estate.
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Elegant office property near Melbourne's Southbank sold

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The amount of office space leased across major Australian markets increased 21 percent year to date till September, helped by strong demand from small businesses — mainly the IT sector, according to real estate firm Colliers International.
According to Colliers International’s latest Office Demand Index, 448,163 sqm of office space was leased nationally as of September YTD 2016. 
A huge majority, 85 percent, of these leasing deals involved businesses looking for less than 1,000 sqm of office space. 
“Year to date, the Sydney and Melbourne markets have seen heightened activity for small businesses,” said Simon Hunt, managing director of office leasing, Colliers International. 
“A growing number of small businesses are looking to establish their headquarters in Australia’s two major markets, with the IT industry leading the way.”
A significant proportion of leasing deals concluded to date in 2016 involved businesses within the IT sector, with this group accounting for the third greatest amount of area transacted, following the always-prevalent state government and legal sectors. 
Colliers International’s Office Demand Index recorded 465,162 sqm of demand in Q3 2016, a 13 percent decrease compared to Q3 2015 with 79 percent of the total demand under 1,000 sqm. 
The number of enquiries recorded year to date, however, rose by 8 eprcent on the previous year, with the amount of space enquired for increasing by 3 percent. 
Sydney recorded 210,407 sqm of demand, up 22 percent on Q3 2015, while Brisbane recorded 31,380 sqm of demand – a 31 percent increase from Q3 2016 to Q3 2015. In Canberra, demand rose 27 percent year on year to 14,260 sqm.
Melbourne saw a 38 percent decrease in enquiry, from 239,594 sqm in Q3 2015 to 149,320 sqm in Q3 2016. 
“Even though Melbourne recorded a drop in demand for Q3 2016, the amount recorded still  surpassed that seen in Q1 2016 and Q4 2015,” Hunt said. 
In Adelaide, enquiry fell 33 percent from 50,704 sqm in Q3 2015 to Q3 2016 and Perth saw a decrease of 53% from 35,595 sqm of enquiry in Q3 2015 to 16,663 sqm in Q3 2016.
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