Brisbane development veteran Kevin Seymour's Seymour Group is set to deepen its presence on one of Brisbane's most tightly held riverfront addresses, lodging revised plans for a luxury apartment development on Oxlade, just a few doors down from The Oxlade, which it completed in 2024.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/70-72-oxlade-drive-new-farm-qld-4005">new project at 70-72 Oxlade Drive</a>, directly north of The Oxlade, will have 27 apartments across a seven-storey building&nbsp;overlooking the Brisbane River and Merthyr Park. It's a revision from a 2021-approved design.

Designed by bureau^proberts, the project has evolved from the previously approved 26-apartment scheme, introducing an additional penthouse level while maintaining a low-density, boutique character. The development will comprise 26 three-bedroom apartments and a single four-bedroom penthouse, supported by two basement levels with 86 car spaces and 34 bicycle spaces.

The architectural response is centred around two distinct building forms separated by a landscaped open-air atrium.&nbsp;"This dual composition captures and embraces Brisbane’s subtropical environment whilst breaking down built form and scale," the submission to the Brisbane City Council noted.

<img alt="First look: Seymour Group returns to Oxlade Drive with revised riverfront apartment plans in New Farm" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c12d84d0-bc11-4067-b46f-5bd2d786a34d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/new%20farm%20landscape.png?VersionId=YEPc2k5CAdh6aAPlu4uVpgZadh4MEfRd" />

A defining feature of the design is a deep landscaped void running through the centre of the building, creating what bureau^proberts describes as a "natural ravine" that enhances airflow, daylight penetration and resident amenity. The design report notes that the separation of the two building volumes is intended to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and outlook while strengthening connections to the surrounding riverfront setting.

Curved balcony edges, integrated planting and extensive landscaping throughout the façade reinforce the subtropical design approach. The building's façade is softened by elevated gardens and planter beds, creating a green edge that complements the established landscape character of Oxlade Drive and neighbouring Merthyr Park.

New Farm has become one of Brisbane's most sought-after suburbs for developers delivering premium downsizer-focused apartments.

GRAYA has been particularly active in the precinct, completing both Chalk and York in recent years, while construction of Moray House, being delivered for Spyre, is now nearing completion. Architect-turned-developer Joe Adsett recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/arcilla-new-farm-by-joe-adsett-28-maxwell-street-new-farm-qld-4005">Arcilla on Maxwell Street</a>, an exclusive collection of just nine apartments.

Joel Robinson

First look: Seymour Group returns to New Farm's Oxlade Drive with riverfront apartment plans

A new residential tower will be the first piece of a broader mixed-use precinct set to reshape a prominent Newcastle West site, with local developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> bringing its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/cambridge-quarter-newcastle-west-12-denison-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Cambridge Quarter</a> vision to market.

The first release, Tempo, will introduce 87 apartments across a 24-storey tower, marking Stage 1 of the residential component of a larger urban regeneration project planned for the western end of Newcastle's city centre, encompassing the former Cambridge Hotel site.

Positioned on Denison Street, Tempo has been designed as the inaugural building within Cambridge Quarter, a precinct that will ultimately combine apartments, retail activation and revitalised public spaces including the revamping of the Cambridge Hotel.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368856]

The tower will comprise a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including layouts with multipurpose rooms, catering to a broad cross-section of owner-occupiers. Apartment sizes range from around 60 sqm to 192 sqm, with a number of residences oriented to capture views across Newcastle Harbour, the city skyline and coastline.

GWH has emphasised liveability in the design, with open-plan layouts extending to generous balconies and terraces. Residents will have a choice of two interior palettes, while specifications include engineered stone benchtops, SMEG appliances, full-height bathroom tiling and secure building access. Premium upgrade packages will also be available

Multiple rooftop resident retreats will provide communal outdoor space overlooking the harbour and city, offering an elevated amenity layer above the activity of the precinct below.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368851]

The broader Cambridge Quarter vision extends beyond the residential tower itself. Ground-level retail activation and landscaped public areas are planned throughout the precinct, creating a walkable neighbourhood environment connected to the surrounding renewal of Newcastle West. The Cambridge Hotel is also earmarked for future redevelopment into a family-friendly hospitality venue integrated with the new precinct.

The project is strategically positioned within walking distance of Newcastle Interchange, providing access to light rail, regional rail services and direct connections to Sydney. Residents will also be close to Honeysuckle, Newcastle Harbour and the city's beaches and coastal walkways.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368852]

For GWH, Cambridge Quarter represents one of its most significant Newcastle developments to date. The locally based developer, which has operated in the Hunter region since 1995, describes the project as a new chapter in the ongoing transformation of Newcastle West.

GWH Executive Director Jonathan Craig said the project had been shaped by a focus on creating lasting community connections.

"We take pride in creating places that last. Spaces where people feel connected, comfortable and a genuine sense of belonging," Craig said.

"Cambridge Quarter is something we are truly proud of, a place shaped by local knowledge, built with care and designed to be part of Newcastle's next chapter."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135876]

GWH unveils first release at landmark Cambridge Quarter precinct in Newcastle West

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ss-projects">S&amp;S Projects</a>,&nbsp;Rainbow Bay's busiest developer,&nbsp;has officially lodged plans for the largest development in its booming local portfolio, seeking approval for a further 88 apartments on Boundary Street.

The proposal&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">209–213 Boundary Street, Coolangatta</a>,&nbsp;marks the next chapter in the developer's transformation of the southern Gold Coast beachside precinct. It will be its fifth in the area, having already delivered Flow, Awaken and Esprit, while construction continues on the 38-apartment Radia. The new project would rise 57 metres above a consolidated 1,518 sqm site, on the same street as Radia and Esprit.

&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, the proposed development comprises 88 two and three-bedroom apartments across a contemporary podium-and-tower form that integrates extensive landscaping from street level through to the rooftop.

The tower would be delivered above a basement and multi-level podium accommodating resident and visitor parking, with the residential component commencing from level three. The design incorporates cascading planting throughout the façade, landscaped podium edges, and deep planting zones along the Boundary Street frontage.

<img alt="First look: S&amp;S Projects lodges plans for 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="677e6615-b5c0-4b6c-b4f9-efb14fcde1a6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ss%20da%20pers.png?VersionId=YOnPKQm7IFXv0M5H326djEpxk80500Hi" />

A key feature of the development is its expansive rooftop wellness and recreation precinct. Plans reveal a resort-style pool deck, gymnasium, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, rooftop terraces, barbecue areas and landscaped relaxation spaces positioned to capture views across the southern Gold Coast coastline.

The rooftop wellness focus builds on the vision S&amp;S Projects first outlined when it acquired the site for $20.25 million last year.

"We are taking every advantage to create a truly unique rooftop wellness experience with a natural feel for residents, offering stone features throughout and an underlying theme that emulates a botanical garden," S&amp;S Projects founder and director Paul Gedoun said at the time.

The proposal seeks a 57-metre building height, representing a 50 per cent uplift on the site's mapped 38-metre height limit. Planning documents argue the additional height is consistent with recently approved and emerging towers in the immediate Boundary Street and Rainbow Bay precinct.

Urbis, acting as planning consultant, said the development would provide "88 dwellings, comprising a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments, contributing to housing choice and supply within an established medium to high-rise coastal urban neighbourhood."

The scheme has undergone extensive pre-lodgement consultation with the City of Gold Coast, with the design refined following feedback relating to architectural expression, landscaping, traffic access and podium treatment.

<img alt="S&amp;S" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a2d70fd-62ac-4b83-97c6-b798fc1243dd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%209.16.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yHmghUwKM3IVGpBktQU1mE.0Lpf3WimG" />

The architectural team is led by Brisbane-based Cottee Parker, one of Australia's most active residential design studios, with landscape architecture by Dunn + Moran. The consultant team also includes ADG Engineers, Windtech and Acoustic Works.

S&amp;S Projects has become one of the most influential private developers operating on the southern Gold Coast. Since entering Rainbow Bay in 2022, the company has assembled a portfolio exceeding $1 billion in end value, establishing itself as a key player in the area's evolution into a premium apartment destination. Pezet Matheson will again handle the sales for S&amp;S.

Coolangatta is entering another wave of apartment development, following the delivery of several prominent residential projects in recent years.

John Kearney's Immerse Projects will launch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kaiya-kirra-beach-5-haig-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Kaiya on Haig Street</a>&nbsp;soon, meanwhile, Palm Beach-based Sherpa Property Group is preparing to bring its debut Coolangatta development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-viver-87-griffith-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Flourish Viveré</a>, to market later this year, subject to approvals.

First look: S&S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street

A landmark former orphanage site in Surrey Hills could be transformed into a new residential community under plans lodged by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/antipodean-land-developments">Antipodean Land Developments</a> that would deliver 76 apartments and townhouses while restoring some of the suburb's most significant heritage buildings.

The burgeoninng Melbourne-based developer has submitted plans for the 9,158 sqm site at 1 Kent Road and 24 Durham Road, home to the former St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children, a historic institutional complex dating back to the late 19th century. The proposal seeks to adaptively reuse several heritage buildings while introducing two new four-storey residential buildings set within extensive landscaped grounds.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> and Kerstin Thompson Architects, the project has been conceived as a contemporary residential village embedded within a restored heritage precinct. The development team describes the design approach as "The Village in the Garden," with new buildings positioned among mature landscaping by OCULUS and significant heritage structures.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44ec8c1b-c0b6-44ae-859e-5811b3e6a023" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.png?VersionId=p.p1_KFh4iQoV4nisdnPfQBAsWNi7m79" />

The proposal would deliver 76 dwellings comprising a mix of apartments and duplex-style residences, significantly increasing housing supply on one of the largest privately held residential landholdings in Surrey Hills. The development includes 127 car spaces, 24 bicycle spaces and more than 1,000 sqm of communal amenity, with the existing chapel building earmarked for conversion into resident facilities.

According to the planning submission, the project centres on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the site's most significant heritage assets, including the original c.1889 St Joseph's building, the chapel designed by architect Augustus Andrew Fritsch, and the historic brick perimeter walls and entry gates. The proposal also incorporates the retention of other contributory buildings including the former infirmary and school building.

Tract Consultants, in the planning report accompanying the application, said the scheme had been shaped through extensive heritage analysis and design development.

"The shared vision for the Site by the project team has culminated in a scheme which successfully breathes life back into a historic site while delivering upon the objectives of Victoria's Housing Statement in a carefully curated and contextually responsive manner."

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7263b7d8-95ea-400f-9531-6ca7d22c3c33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29.png?VersionId=4cR1tiWOsDpgxEOwZi5vVFcyvvOsYkIE" />

The proposal is being assessed under Victoria's Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway. As part of the application, three per cent of the project's residential development cost would be contributed to the Social Housing Growth Fund. The development would also provide a diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences targeting a broader range of buyers than typically found in Surrey Hills' detached housing market.

Sustainability initiatives include an anticipated 66 per cent BESS score, natural cross-ventilation to 80 per cent of apartments, 28 per cent deep soil landscaping and a canopy cover outcome exceeding local planning requirements. The proposal also sets aside more than 1,083 sqm for communal indoor and outdoor resident amenity spaces.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33fad46f-fe26-4d0a-acfd-6b776e1c6a3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design.png?VersionId=D9F6WVSyYCtGvSUmith35LRp6R7PQkw_" />

Planning documents describe the property as one of the largest underutilised residential sites in Surrey Hills, arguing it presents a rare opportunity to introduce "missing middle" housing in an established inner-eastern suburb while preserving and revitalising a significant heritage precinct.

Antipodean Land Developments has built a reputation for design-focused residential projects across Melbourne, particularly in the medium-density sector. Previous developments include Neighbourhood in Brunswick East, delivered with Breathe Architecture, and Balfe Park Lane, designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

They've been very active in site acquisition as they build out their future development pipeline. They recently launched Thornubury House, 45 apartments above a mix of commercial, retail, and food and beverage tenancies, and have plans for a boutique project in Fitzroy and another <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/antipodean-plan-apartments-for-deepdenes-missing-middle-on-whitehorse-road">"missing middle" project</a> on Deepdene's Whitehorse Road.

First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/auyin-property-development">Auyin</a> is the latest to turn to the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program in an effort to secure approval for its long-planned, mixed-use project in Elsternwick.

In 2018, Auyin lodged plans with Glen Eira City Council for a 14-storey building, however Council approved a reduced eight-storey scheme. A subsequent VCAT appeal in 2019 upheld the eight-storey height limit.

The project was later amended to nine storeys, but Auyin is now seeking to revive something closer to its original vision. The developer argues that the planning context has evolved significantly over the past decade, particularly within the Elsternwick Activity Centre, where higher-density development has increasingly been encouraged along Glen Huntly Road.

The proposal would transform the 1,239 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/7-12-horne-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">7-15 Horne Street</a>, opposite Elsternwick Railway Station, into a 13-storey residential and retail development designed by CBG Architects, with 40 apartments

The site currently comprises three commercial properties.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5f465dd4-509b-4082-a669-0253b313914b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20podium.png?VersionId=72frWi0SmQ5AVJ3ARRhX5ILUYObhTm7x" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 25 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom residences above 200 sqm of retail space at ground level. Residents would have access to a 90 sqm wellness facility, a 351 sqm communal indoor and outdoor terrace on the third level, and extensive landscaped areas throughout the development. A publicly accessible 135 sqm plaza would be created on the north-east corner of the site, providing seating, landscaping, and a new gathering space adjoining Horne Street.

The design adopts a four-storey podium that references the finer-grain character of the surrounding streetscape, with the upper tower recessed behind generous setbacks on all boundaries.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e637e763-2abc-4c34-a0aa-5c7ad36fae18" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20open.png?VersionId=J1AoOpZgTyaF.KeeFSX6lMjEScX8KKRi" />

A key element of the proposal is the reconfiguration and widening of the surrounding laneways. Vehicle access would be retained from Lois Lane, with upgraded pedestrian connections linking Ross Street and Horne Street. The development would provide 58 residential car spaces, two retail car spaces, and 52 bicycle spaces across two basement levels and ground-floor facilities.

Architecturally, the building draws inspiration from the established character of Elsternwick Village. The façade combines dark charcoal brickwork, textured concrete, bronze-toned metal detailing, and extensive planting integrated into podium and tower levels. The design also incorporates a chamfered corner treatment and publicly accessible plaza intended to strengthen pedestrian activity around the station precinct.

Elsternwick's last new development completion was&nbsp;EVA Elsternwick by Pitard late last year. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/milieu-property">Milieu</a> is working away on its nature-led neighbourhood, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elsternwick-gardens-by-milieu-8-gordon-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick Gardens</a>, on Gordon Street, with its first stage expected to complete next year.

First look: Auyin seeks mixed-use apartment project in growing Elsternwick Activity Centre

Rea Group

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Henry Ruiz has been appointed CEO, REA Group Asia.
He has been acting in this position since March 2017 and is responsible for the Group’s Asia business including iProperty Group across Southeast Asia and Chinese property site myfun.com.
Mr Ruiz reports to REA Group CEO Tracey Fellows and will keep his his position on the Board of PropTiger, the Group’s joint entity in India.
Tracey Fellows said Asia is a key region in our long-term growth strategy and Henry has made a big contribution since he took on the interim role.
"He is well placed to continue to lead our Asia business and execute our regional strategy,” he said.
“We are focused on creating innovative consumer products and drive better value for our customers.
"This includes the launch of new iOS and Android apps in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia in the last few months which leverages the leading experiences we’ve created in Australia to help people search for their dream home.”
Henry Ruiz, CEO REA Group Asia said the chance to transform the way people search for and buy homes in a region which is still so early in its transition to digital real estate advertising is very exciting.
“Our purpose is to change the way the world experiences property and we have a real opportunity to do this in Asia,” he said. 
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REA Group confirms Henry Ruiz as CEO REA Group Asia

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Rental property listings on realestate.com.au will now be featured on the share accommodation website Flatmates.com.au.
Users of Flatmates.com.au will be able to select a 'Teamup' function with people looking for accommodation in the same location.
Andrew Rechtman, REA Group Executive General Manager – Residential, said flatmates.com.au is Australia’s biggest website for people searching for share accommodation, with someone finding a new flatmate every two minutes.
“By syndicating realestate.com.au rental listings on Flatmates.com.au, we’re creating an opportunity for agents to not only increase the exposure of their listings, but also to reach a previously untapped audience,” he said.
Thomas Clement, Flatmates.com.au CEO said people who team up on Flatmates.com.au will head to realestate.com.au to find a rental once they’ve found each other.
“Displaying rental listings on Flatmates.com.au provides members with a seamless experience and showcases the rental properties to an entirely new audience,” he said.
 
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Realestate.com.au rental listings to feature on Flatmates.com.au

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Melbourne and Sydney house prices are forecast to continue rising, despite financial regulators’ attempts to rein in the hot markets.
REA Group has reported buyer demand through realestate.com.au searches was up 26 percent on the same time last year, with increased buyer visits of 37 percent in NSW and 36 percent in Victoria.
REA Group chief economist Nerida Conisbee said APRA’s cooling measures had failed to “stem the skyrocketing prices’’ in Sydney and Melbourne.
She noted buyer demand continues to accelerate across the country.
New South Wales
Continuing to attract high levels of interest. Given the relatively low development of apartments in NSW, it was surprising to see that unit demand weakened in March.
It’s likely that affordability issues are beginning to impact demand in the state.
Victoria
The measures to encourage more first home buyer activity have led to renewed confidence in the market, further accelerating demand.
After Northern Territory, Victoria saw the strongest level of growth in demand over the month of March.
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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/05/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-05%20at%209.55.01%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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In Melbourne, despite concerns about oversupply of apartments, buyer demand remains elevated.
Queensland
A drop in demand for units suggests that high levels of supply, particularly in Brisbane, are having a more negative impact.
On the positive side, the pipeline of new apartments in Brisbane remains low, which will give the market time to absorb current stock.
South Australia
Demand from buyers remains stable in South Australia with apartment demand seeing higher rates of growth than houses.
This perhaps reflects a slowing new development market in Adelaide where a large number of new apartments have now been completed.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/05/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-05%20at%209.55.08%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Tasmania
Continues to be the strongest market in Australia, attracting interest from local buyers, interstate and overseas.
Western Australia
Demand levels continue to decline in Western Australia, however the number of people looking to buy on realestate.com.au is as its highest level since May 2016, with this demand o set by an increase in listings on the index.
Confidence in the market from sellers and buyers appears to be improving, although it is difficult to predict if this will be sustained.
Australian Capital Territory
There was a small decrease in demand in the month of March in Australian Capital Territory, but overall it remains strong with the index seeing a 50% increase year-on-year.
Northern Territory
The market is now showing sustained increases in demand, suggesting that the Northern Territory is on the way back up.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/05/REA%20Group%20Property%20Demand%20Index%20infographic-BUY.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Rental demand remains strong, but over-supply is a concern in Queensland.
Demand for rental properties on realestate.com.au hit a record high in March 2017 as rental properties available for lease failed to keep track with the growth in people looking to rent.
New South Wales
Sydney is now the least affordable city for renters in Australia.
Despite high costs, demand from renters remains high and continues to accelerate.
This may be partly to do with buyer unaffordability, but it’s also likely that jobs growth is a factor.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/05/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-05%20at%209.57.16%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Victoria
Surprisingly given the high levels of development in Melbourne, Victoria saw the strongest growth in demand after Australian Capital Territory.
Demand continues to increase for both apartments and houses suggesting that the level of development taking place in this state is being absorbed by the market.
This has been supported by recently released jobs and population growth numbers.
Queensland
Queensland is the country’s most concerning market.
Buyer demand declined slightly over the month, but there was a larger drop in rental demand on realestate.com.au.
Brisbane in particular is seeing high levels of development and dropping rental demand suggests that the market in Queensland will continue to take some time to absorb the supply.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/05/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-05%20at%209.57.26%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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South Australia
Rental demand softened slightly in March, likely reflecting a recent high number of new apartment completions.
Given that the pipeline of new development has now slowed, it is likely that this will be a short- term decline.
Tasmania
This state has seen very little development for some time and high rental demand combined with high buyer demand suggests that more new housing could be developed.
Western Australia
Conditions in Western Australian remain challenged with a slight decrease in renter demand in the month of March.
Australian Capital Territory
There was a small decrease in demand in the month of March in Australian Capital Territory, but overall it remains strong with the index seeing a 50% increase year-on-year.
Northern Territory
Demand from renters in Northern Territory is now also seeing sustained demand.
Like the buy market, it’s likely the rental market is on the way up.
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Cooling measures do little to stem property demand as price increases: Realestate.com.au

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Two of India's online real estate service providers are merging with REA Group investing some US$50 million in the new company.
Once merged, the two portals, PropTiger.com and Housing.com, will become the only player in India offering the full range of online and offline real estate services.
PropTiger is the largest online residential real estate brokerage firm, with Housing.com an online platform for buying and selling homes.
News Corp remains the largest shareholder of PropTiger, and also owns 61.6 percent of REA Group. Representatives of REA and Softbank will join the board of the joint entity, which will continue to be chaired by a News Corp representative.
The board will include Henry Ruiz, chief digital officer, REA Group, Simon Barnett, sales director, News Corp and Jonathan Bullock, managing director, Softbank Group International will join Raju Narisetti (chair), Ravi Adusumalli from SAIF Partners and Prashanth Prakash from Accel Partners as investor directors on the board of the joint entity. 
Dhruv Agarwala, co-founder and CEO of PropTiger, will serve as CEO of the joint entity. Jason Kothari, CEO of Housing.com will move on.
Tracy Fellows, REA Group chief executive officer said India is an important part of their international growth strategy.
"We believe in the potential of the Indian real estate market. REA invests in companies that are leaders in their markets. The joint entity will have access to REA Group’s expertise and know-how from its operations across the globe,” she said.
Robert Thomson, News Corp chief executive said with 1.2 billion people and a rapidly growing economy and middle class, India’s future as a real estate powerhouse is exceptionally bright.
"Clearly there is a compelling commercial purpose to the deal, but we also firmly believe in providing transparency, analysis and insight so that all Indian families, regardless of traditional background or means, will have a better understanding of the property market,” he said.
Jonathan Bullock, managing director, Softbank Group International said PropTiger has already created a great transaction engine.
An affiliate of Softbank Group Corp is investing US$5 million. 
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REA Group invest US$50 million in Indian property portal

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REA Group has agreed to sell its European businesses for $189.7 million to the UK's Oakley Capital Private Equity.
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The digital real estate advertising company, which owns Australia's realestate.com.au website, will sell atHome Group S.a r.l. and REA Italia S.r.l. which operate in Luxembourg, France, Germany and Italy.
REA Group said the sale will yield a profit of $168 million.
The announcement said it will allow the company to sharpen its focus in key growth markets in Australia, Asia and North America.
Oakley Capital has digital interests and a geographic focus in Italy, including Facile.it, a Milan-based price comparison website.
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REA quitting European property portals

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REA Group has constructed a technology and invention space in Melbourne's Richmond to create, trial and launch the newest technologies for consumers to experience property.
REALABS will house a range of new technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, drones and robotics and will become the training centre for the Group’s global graduates, design engineers and product teams. 
Nigel Dalton, chief information officer has been appointed chief inventor.
The role of chief engineer role will replace that of the chief information officer, with a global search to fill the role underway.
REALABS will officially open in November 2016. 
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Former REA Group CIO Nigel Dalton named chief inventor, gifted tech think tank

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REA Group had another record year for revenues and profitability, as it plays a key role in News Corp's establishment of the world’s leading digital property business.
The real estate website REA Group has posted a full year profit of $214.5 million, up 16 percent on last year.
But the company said uncertainty surrounding the July Federal election outcome contributed to July listings being down 11 per cent compared to July last year. 
The bulk of its revenues came from its two Australian websites - $555 million out of group revenues of $630 million. Its European websites had revenues of $51 million and the Asian websites $24 million.
The result followed a 20 percent growth in revenue, with the company recording revenue of $629.8 million, REA group CEO, Tracey Fellows said indicating its international expansion was a key factor.
<img src="https://d1pet9gxylz2tx.cloudfront.net/uploads/2016/08/REA-financial-results-468x89.png" alt="REA financial results" width="468" height="89">
The results followed further global expansion with its acquisition of iProperty Group in South East.
"We also launched the global property network giving consumers access to more than three million listings from 56 countries.
“We have also further cemented our leadership position in Australia on the back of record audience engagement.
"This is particularly pleasing given residential listing volumes were lower in the second half.”
Its international digital real estate websites delivered a 71 percent improvement in earnings before interest, depreciation and amortisation to $344 million – which included a $US122 million gain from a court settlement against Zillow, a competitor to News Corp's Move business.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2016/08/09/Screen%20Shot%202016-08-09%20at%2011.46.32%20am.png" target="_blank">Realestate.com.au's page figures</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2016/08/09/Screen%20Shot%202016-08-09%20at%2011.46.32%20am.png" alt="" width="404" height="193">
The News Corporation chief executive Robert Thomson has tipped real estate businesses, led by REA, Move and iProperty, to become the biggest driver of earnings.
Thomson said that digital real estate is "reshaping the growth profile of News Corp." 
REA Group is majority owned by News Corp and operates the realestate.com.au and realcommercial.com.au websites. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2016/08/09/Screen%20Shot%202016-08-09%20at%2011.48.27%20am.png" target="_blank">Realestate.com.au offers the most properties</a>.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2016/08/09/Screen%20Shot%202016-08-09%20at%2011.48.27%20am.png" alt="" width="610" height="260">
The REA Group also owns a 21 per cent stake in iProperty Group, a stake in myfun.com, online real estate websites in France, Italy, Germany and Luxembourg, and equity in two US real estate websites, including a 20 per cent stake in Move Inc.  
Fairfax Media, who recently reorganised its financials so it could details on Domain revenue, reports its update this week too.
It revealed last week Domain revenues were $223 million in 2014-15 and $113 million in 2013-14. 
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Realestate.com.au revenue up 20 percent despite fewer local listings

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The property website REA Group has bought Australia’s largest share accommodation website, Flatmates.com.au for $25 million.
The move sees REA, which operates Australia’s largest property portal Realestate.com.au, buy 100% of the Australian business.
It has also agreed to an earn-out with its founders based on an international expansion.
REO Group CEO Tracey Fellows said there was enormous growth in the sharing economy.
"The share accommodation segments in the Australian property market with traffic across the sector growing at over 50 year-on-year." 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

REA buys flatmates.com.au

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GUEST OBSERVER
When Australian media company Fairfax reported its recent results, the improved performance of its online real estate business, domain.com, appeared to violate a widely held “law” of the digital economy - that digital creates a winner which takes all markets.
After a number of years trailing behind News Corp Australia owned realestate.com.au (REA), domain.com appears to have narrowed the gap with its major rival and its aggressive strategy of growing its user base is translating into improved revenue.
Closer examination however suggests this result might just be a temporary pause in a much more profound transformation taking place for digital in the residential real estate industry. One that is likely to see the emergence of a new set of players.
<h2>Can there only be one?</h2>
It’s become commonplace for observers of the digital economy to claim that digital creates “winner takes all” markets. The classic example is Google’s dominance in the search market. Estimates suggest Google accounts for more than 75% of search, and almost 90% of organic search traffic, with its major rivals, Microsoft’s Bing and Yahoo struggling to get out of single digits. This effectively places Google in a monopoly position and allows it to create enormous revenues through products like paid search and adwords.
Using this example it would be tempting to conclude that REA, having established a healthy lead over domain.com in terms of unique visits and exclusive listings, would pull away from its Fairfax rival and come to dominate the Australian residential real estate market.
Instead, Domain is closing the gap on its rival. In part this reflects domain.com’s aggressive strategy of driving traffic to its site, one that ironically parallels the approach taken by News-owned carsguide.com.au in its battle with caresales.com.au. It also suggests that domain.com’s focus on the user experience is beginning to pay off.
Unlike REA, which has made a virtue out of outsourcing all its development, Domain has retained inhouse development expertise and this has given it the ability to more rapidly add new features that enhance the user experience, such as its mapping functionality.
While there are important lessons here for business about not giving up and continuing to focus on the customer, viewed in longer perspective, it’s hard not to conclude that domain.com’s improved performance might just be a temporary reversal of a much more significant transformation taking place in the domestic real estate market.
There can hardly be a market more ripe for disruption than residential real estate. Australian residential housing stock is worth an estimated A$5 trillion and the market is riddled with the type of information asymmetries and inefficiencies that emerging technologies are ideally suited to address. While REA and domain.com have displaced the listing of properties in newspapers, they have hardly transformed the industry. Rather they seem to offer a digital version of traditional real estate listings with a few additional bells and whistles. Both are underpinned by largely similar revenue models.
<h2>Reinventing the market</h2>
It’s worth remembering that before Google, search was dominated by Yahoo, Alta Vista and Netscape. Google transformed search by developing an algorithm based on relevancy that improved the results users gained from searching the web and by rethinking how it monetised search. Rather than try to keep users on its page and bombarding them with advertising, Google directed users away from its page and towards the pages they were looking for. It’s reasonable to expect that the residential real estate market is likely to undergo a similar transformation over the next few years.
It’s interesting to compare the very traditional approach of realestate.com and domain.com with the radically different business models that are emerging in startups looking to disrupt the residential real estate market.
A good example is openagent.com.au, an Australian-based startup founded by two young women who started their careers in consulting. Recognising the highly localised nature of real estate markets and the importance of agents, openagent.com.au takes advantage of publicly available data sets and user reviews to provide sellers and buyers with reviews and metrics on agents in their local areas.
Rather than attempt to charge users for accessing the information, or agents for better listings, openagent’s revenue comes from the referral fees payable by agents who get listings as a result of the reviews on the site. This is a much purer digital play than either REA or domain.com. By providing them access to data in a usable form openagent.com.au seeks to empower buyers and sellers and increase transparency in this very opaque market.
Perhaps the most important lesson Fairfax could draw from the performance of domain.com is not that the winner takes all logic of digital markets is reversible, but that they should have the courage of their convictions and go all in on digital, in the residential real estate market. Rather than just try to close the gap on REA it should be seeking to build a business that will do away with the need for businesses like domain.com at all. It might just find that if the solution it develops is good enough, the law of winner takes all will reassert itself.
Nick Wailes is associate dean Digital and Innovation, UNSW Business School, UNSW Australia and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-wailes-108369" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Domain versus REA shows it’s time Fairfax went all in on digital

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Sky News have teamed up with REA Group to televise Saturday auctions as part of a new TV partnership.
The two companies believe that people who trawl the REA Group website www.realestate.com.au will be the majority viewers of the 8am to 2pm Saturday slot.
According to Sky News Australia chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos it will be the people who sell the properties who could prove to be the real interest.
"Our great strength is live coverage and telling stories as they happen," he said.
"It's a great opportunity for REA and Sky News to leverage each other's strengths"
REA chief executive Tracey Fellows agreed by suggesting the partnership takes Sky News programming and broadcasting expertise and combines it with their insights and knowledge.
Anchored by host Bridie Barry, the broadcast will also offer advice for homeowners and investors and will roll out this month.
Each Saturday Sky News Business (Channel 602) becomes Sky News Real Estate featuring live auctions, expert advice for home buyers, sellers and investors, home improvement, technology, architecture and dream homes.
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