One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

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FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments

Purplebricks

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Real estate disruptor Purplebricks has been fined $20,000 fine by the Queensland Office of Fair Trading.
It was over misleading customers about how it charges its fixed fees in agreements with clients between November 2016 and June 2017 that did not properly disclose the fee terms.
It avoided possible court action after it entered into two enforceable undertakings with the OFT for alleged breaches of the Australian Consumer Law and the Property Occupations Act.
"Between November 2016 and June 2017, Purplebricks Australia Pty Ltd, entered into agreements with consumers who were not made aware of the terms of the fees charged.
"Consumers were also misled about additional services offered by Purplebricks, despite the agency advertising 'low, fixed fees' for their services when selling property," the OFT said.
Purplebricks launched its fixed-fee offering in Australia in September 2016.
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The Queensland consumer watchdog said it had received "several complaints from consumers alleging false and misleading representations on the Purplebricks website and advertising regarding their fees, particularly that the fixed fees were payable regardless of whether a property was sold, or their services were cancelled".
Purplebricks was ordered to pay a penalty of $20,000 and enter into two enforceable undertakings for a three-year period to ensure claims about the agency, its services and its fee structure are not misleading.
The OFT said that Purplebricks has already amended both its advertising as well as its contracts and processes to ensure consumers are fully aware of the fee structure before signing an agreement.
Purplebricks Australia CEO Ryan Dinsdale said Purplebricks had positively collaborated with Queensland OFT.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">"Understanding that in many cases traditional real estate agents do not publish their fees and terms of business, our rates are prominently disclosed on our home page and we will always act on feedback to ensure we display everything as clearly as possible.</div>
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"Accordingly we have agreed to make some adjustments to wording to improve clarity and understanding," he said
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Purplebricks fined by Queensland Fair Trading over misleading fees

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Purplebricks sold around 2200 homes in its first 14 months of operations in Australia.
It represented $1.1 billion of residential real estate sales.
The UK fixed fee company has disclosed the sales as part of its latest interim results to its London shareholders.
Its revenue from its Australian business rose to £6.8 million ($11.9 million) for the six months to October 31, up from £400,000 in the prior corresponding period, after it had been trading for two months.
However, Australian interim losses more than doubled to £5.1 million amid high staff turnover as the company marketing was ramped up especially on 7Mate and 9Gem television.
Purplebricks now has 105 estate agents who charge an average fixed-fee of $5282, put from $4500 for private treaty offerings. 
Its Australian website has 1348 properties currently for sale, claiming its marketing makes the property available to "millions of buyers."
It has eight listings for sale priced above $2.5 million. 
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<div class="cq-article-content-media section">The company launched in September last year with the Purplebricks CEO Michael Bruce again telling Fairfax Media the Australian business was "on track" and performing ahead of expectations.</div>
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"Our market share in Australia is greater than our market share was in the UK at the same time in its evolution," he said again.
Purplebricks claims it is the third most recognised real estate brand in Australia, behind Ray White and LJ Hooker.
Total group revenue more than doubled to £46.8 million with its UK business posting a £3.2 million operating profit. 
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Purplebricks Australian rollout still in the red

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Purplebricks now claims it is the third most recognised real estate brand in Australia, behind Ray White and LJ Hooker, says its CEO.
After just a year in operation, the low-cost estate agency is now the third most recognised real estate brand, according to its UK chief executive Michael Bruce.
Mr Bruce cited brand awareness research it commissioned in May through market research firm PHD which found that one in 10 people mentioned Purplebricks when asked: "If you were thinking of selling your home, what companies would you think of contacting first?"
This was up from just four per cent in March. It spent over $6 million in its first-year in Australia promoting the brand through television, radio and online.
Since then Purplebricks has leapfrogged well-known Australian brands including McGrath, Hocking Stuart, Century 21 and Raine &amp; Horne, according to the PHD research, following its expansion into Sydney, Perth and Adelaide
Ray White ranked first with 27 per cent spontaneous awareness and LJ Hooker second with 24 per cent.
<div>"We're at 10 per cent spontaneous awareness in Australia and are now the third most well known real estate brand in Australia. And we have achieved that in eight months," Mr Bruce told The Australian Financial Review, which has been pushing the low commission website through its editorial articles.</div>
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"Australian people are taking to Purplebricks quicker here than the UK," the AFR reported.
"We're growing quicker on every key performance indicator (KPI): revenue, local property experts, listings and sales. All of those things we are ahead of where we were in the UK," he said.
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<div>According to its Australian website, Purplebricks has sold about 1100 properties in Australia and won more than 2000 listings since launching. Vendors pay between $4500 and $5500 to sell their home through a Purplebricks "local property expert".</div>
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Australia accounted for 7.4 per cent of Purplebricks' full-year revenue in 2017 of £46.7 million when the company reported its results recently.
The agency secured a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-oyster+bay-126258198" target="_blank">$3.1 million Oyster Bay riverfront weekend sale</a> for property developer David Fam after it was passed in at its one registered bidder auction.
Agent Joshua Singer told AFR he had sold 35 properties since joining Purplebricks in January from traditional agency Century 21. 
 
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Purplebricks claims higher recognition than the 134 year old Raine & Horne group

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The low-cost estate agents Purplebricks has reported its first full-year profits in the UK, with its expansion into Australia keeping the group in the red.
Full-year annual results show Purplebricks accelerated its revenue from property sales for the year to April 2017 - up 151% to £46.7 million ($78 million) of which £3.5 million ($5.9 million) came from its Australian business.
Purplebricks launched in Australia in September last year and to date it has sold about 800 homes and secured 1600 listings.
It listed in the UK in December 2015 worth £250 million ($423 million) and is now valued at more than £1 billion ($1.69 billion), the Australian Financial Review noted.
Full-year annual results show Purplebricks's Australian business generated a £6.1 million ($10 million) loss with revenues exceeded by a big marketing spend (£3.8 million or $6.42 million) and administration costs (£3.9 million or $6.6 million).
Co-founder Michael Bruce expressed satisfaction with the Australian business performance to date.
"With the UK business now in profit it is encouraging to see Australia following a similar growth trajectory," Bruce said.
Purplebricks forecast full-year revenues to reach £80 million ($135 million) in the UK over the next 12 months and to grow to £12 million ($20 million) in Australia. The company recently announced plans to expand into the US.
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Purplebricks reports $10 million losses in Australia

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A studio apartment at Melbourne has been sold for $187,700, the most affordable sale in Melbourne over the weekend.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-melbourne-124745378" target="_blank">7/9-13 Anthony Street</a>, the property is near the Queen Victoria Markets.
The 25 sqm offering has been fully renovated.
Set on a quiet leafy city street, it was marketed as suitable for investors or someone looking for a private and edgy city base.
It has stained floor boards and white walls throughout the area with a New York loft style bed.
Kitchen features brand new appliances including modern cabinetry, ample storage and French doors that separate the kitchen from living quarters.
<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/2017/03/12/7_9-13%20Anthony%20Street-2.jpg" alt="">
The updated bathroom in the 1995 complex has modern tiles with neutral tones throughout.
Trams, Melbourne central shopping precinct, Queen Victoria Markets and other amenities are all within close proximity.
It last sold in 2007 for $120,000 and $95,000 in 2002.
The property was offered through Purplebricks agent Andrew Leung who had a price guide of $175,000 to $185,000.
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Purplebricks sell Melbourne studio apartment for $187,700

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Purplebricks, an online property platform that claims to have a unique low-cost model, will likely replicate its losses revealed in its home country, Britain, according to a leading Australian property industry executive. 
"Since its August 2016 launch, when more than a quarter of a million properties were listed for sale with Australian agents, Purplebricks has sold little more than 150 properties and currently has just 310 properties listed," said First National Real Estate chief executive Ray Ellis.
“By any measure, that represents a rejection of its ‘low cost’ model and a market share smaller than 0.1 percent,’ he added.
Purplebricks says it is the third biggest agent in Britain by client instructions with a market share of 5 percent. 
The ABC’, however, reported in September 2016 that just one in four UK customers give it a rating of one star out of five on its Facebook page. 
In contrast, First National says 82 percent of its member agents in Australia achieve 5-star reviews.
“Australians have an entirely different view of property ownership and are focused on building wealth through property investment. They understand the extra value that a professional agent brings to the marketing, negotiation and sale of property, and therefore continue to choose agents to maximise their sale price," said Ellis.
In 2016, Canstar Blue researched customer experiences with Australia’s major real real estate brands and announced that First National Real Estate was number one with the most satisfied customers.
It was the only brand to achieve 5 star ratings, doing so in six separate categories, one of which incorporated value for money.
Purplebricks, which opened its Sydney office late in 2016 after securing a toehold in Victorial and Queensland, is being led by Ryan Dinsdale in Australia, a former marketing director of Virgin Money. It recently selected law firm lawlab as a preferred conveyancing partner in Australia.
The firm made its market debut in London in December 2015 with a valuation of £240 million after being founded only in 2012 by brothers Michael and Kenny Bruce. However, it booked a loss of £12 million in the year to April 30, up from £5.4 million in 2015.
Purplebricks chief executive officer Michael Bruce, however, reckons Australia's "infatuation" with real estate but dislike of the way traditional estate agents operate will fuel the success of his company.
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Purplebricks low-cost model not working in Australia: First National CEO

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The disruptive proptech company, the British real estate agency Purplebricks has set up office in Sydney, though its business is pitched currently elsewhere.
It has secured a short-term lease for a 300sq m office to use as its first headquarters in the the Coca-Cola building on Macquarie Street. 
Cadigal Office’s Nicholas Mulcahy and Knight Frank’s Jessica Roberts negotiated a gross annual rent of $550 a square metre.
Given its is set to be converted into luxury apartments, the group's lease is for six months to March 2017.
It reportedly could not find suitable larger premises in a tight Sydney office market.
The company will seek about 600 square metre space next year. 
After establishing a presence in Melbourne and Brisbane, Purplebricks will be rolled out to Sydney and the other capital cities 
The Australian business is being led by Ryan Dinsdale, the former marketing director of Virgin Money.
London-based Purplebricks chief executive officer Michael Bruce reckons Australia's "infatuation" with real estate, but dislike of the way traditional estate agents operate, will fuel the success of his company.
The British estate agency, which operates a fixed-cost, high-tech model, was recently launched with 50 "local property experts" and a $17.2 million marketing budget to spread the word among home sellers.
They will be charged a flat $4500 fee to sell their home through Purplebricks.
For those selling a $614,000 median-priced home (according to the ABS), this will be $11,500 cheaper than if they used a traditional estate agent charging a 2.2 percent commission.
Home sellers will also get access to Purplebricks' bespoke online platform
It grew to 300 local property experts in the UK in less than two years. 
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