Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<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/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

Residential Market

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Townsville in the north-eastern coast of Queensland was at the bottom of the market in Herron Todd White’s latest property clock, a simple broad brush means to indicate where property prices are and where they are going.
The HTW report also discusses gentrification in the area, which can help investors stay curve can prove profitable to property investors, say HTW.
Traditionally, the suburbs of Oonoonba and Garbutt bring images of older style timber-framed homes on traditional lots generally of a modest to average quality. 
<a href="/images/2016/03/16/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-16%20at%209.27.30%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/03/16/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-16%20at%209.27.30%20AM.png" alt="">
In 2012, a new infill land estate known as The Village commenced development in Oonoonba with another new infill land estate known as Haven recently commencing construction in Garbutt. 
While these developments are not gentrification in its purest form, they are changing the landscape of these suburbs.
Both these estates are within four kilometres of the CBD, making them locationally desirable and have a high concentration of small lot sizes. Due to the higher density of these estates, construction includes a mix of single and double-storey masonry block homes. Within The Village there have also been some small complex unit developments. 
The appeal of these developments is very much price point driven with entry in the high $200,000s to low $300,000s. The major benefit of this style of development is the ability to have a unit-sized home on a small low maintenance allotment close to the City and The Strand without the costs associated with body corporate fees. 
Predominantly small lot, higher density land estates are a relatively new concept in the Townsville marketplace and how these estates present in the long term is yet to be tested.
The median unit price at the end of 2015 was $434,000, according to RP Data. There was no matching data for houses.
<img src="/images/2016/03/29/main.jpg" alt="">
As an illustration, a three-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-townsville+city-121323246">41/51 Stanley Street Townsville City</a> sold for $349,000 recently.
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Queensland's Townsville appeal lies in entry price point of new developments: HTW 

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Chinese developer Yuhu Group is considering an early release of second stage sales after its first project in Sydney - The Miller at North Sydney - saw all four top-floor penthouses being snapped up last weekend in stage one. 
All stage one contracts have so far exchanged hands, with sold prices for the four top-floor penthouses starting at $3 million and all going to local buyers. A 72 sqm two-bedroom north-east facing apartment sold for $1.5million, also to a local buyer, said a media release.
The $200-million residential project at 221 Miller Street was launched by Yuhu Group on March 19. The tower will have 21-storeys comprising 183 apartments and 100 serviced apartments.  
Ray White Projects is marketing the release of apartments.
Ray White Projects director Eddie Mansour said this was a strong sign for the Sydney market.
“Although there is a lot of speculation that the market is slowing, the quick sell out of our first release shows that there is still significant strength in the Sydney market, and high demand for quality apartments within the city,” he said.
“Interest in The Miller has been from a combination of both offshore and local buyers, with the first release of marketing material generating notable interest.”
The second release of apartments is scheduled for May, but the group may consider an earlier release after the response it got over the weekend.
Construction will commence mid-2016 with an expected completion date in 2018.
For more information, <a href="https://yuhugroup.com.au/221MILLER" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Yuhu's The Miller residential tower in North Sydney secures stage one sell out 

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SPONSORED POST
Sydney developer Longton Property Group has started construction on its $300 million Avantra apartment development in Mascot.
Delivered by construction company Built, Avantra covers an 8,762 square metre site, and will consist of 328 apartments along with ground floor retail. 
The development comprises two multi-storey buildings surrounding a courtyard garden. 
The project, in its final release, will herald smart apartments along with its own social media called iCommunity. 
The aim is all residents are part of a virtual neighbourhood that allows them to share information. 
This system will post regular updates on news, weather or finance, which residents can access either on their phones or iPads, or on an electronic noticeboard in each lobby.  
Each Avantra apartment will also have a home automation system managed by an iPad, with which residents can control lighting (standard package), open and close blinds and other features (upgrade package). Entry will be via fingerprint locks. 
Services such as shopping and house cleaners can be managed from within the apartments with the myiButler app.
Internal size of studios in Avantra are 60m² by 61m², one-bedroom plus MPR units are 75 m² by 82m², two-bedroom plus MPR units are 100m² by 127m² while three-bedroom plus MPR unit is 154 m². 
The interior designer behind Avantra, Richard Archer of Archer + Wright, said a crucial factor in the design is that residents feel connected to their building. 
“You don’t want it to feel as if you’re going back to this massive building that you have no connection with,” he said. 
Avantra is near to Mascot Station, close to shopping areas and just kilometres from Sydney CBD.  
Residents are expected to move in by December 2017. The project is now open for further registration of buying interest.  
Historically an industrial area, Mascot has benefited from its proximity to Sydney Airport and CBD, as well as Sydney’s beaches, to become a hub of residential and commercial activity. The rapid replacement of 1950s terraced houses with multi-unit dwellings is fast transforming this area. 
Longton Property Group director Winnie Pi said Avantra “sees the perfect blend of an iconic industrial past with contemporary city living."
"The exterior of the residential buildings portray an urban aesthetic that works in sync with the already established suburb of Mascot," she added.
Longton Property Group is an Australian subsidiary of a Chinese company, and has developments around Sydney worth up to $500 million.
Its two earlier projects Futra, a 55-apartment block in Mascot, and The Uptown in Roseville, a $200 million joint venture with Chinese developer Chiwayland, also incorporated integrated technology.
For more information, <a href="https://www.avantra.com.au" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Construction starts on smart Avantra apartments in Sydney's Mascot

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Buyer advocate Greville Pabst, of the WBP Group noted a new suburb price record in Thornbury was set at weekend auction.
It was when the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-thornbury-122000234" target="_blank">renovated four-bedroom period residence</a> at 13 Shaftesbury Parade sold for $1,945,000 through Nelson Alexander.
Quite some renovation as above was how it appeared before when sold in 2011 at almost a third of the price at $685,000.
<img src="/images/2016/03/23/thorn.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="428">
<img src="/images/2016/03/23/image15.jpg" alt="" width="567" height="425">
<img src="/images/2016/03/23/new.jpg" alt="">
The previous house price record was an Edwardian home sold at $1.75 million last year on Streetle Street.
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

New Thornbury house price record

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GUEST OBSERVER
Brisbane has outperformed Sydney and Melbourne in a new Australian index that measures innovation performance at a suburb level.
The index is designed to help policymakers better understand the characteristics that make some locations more innovative than others.
Brisbane has five areas in the top 10 of the innovation index in 2014, substantially more than the much larger state capitals of Sydney (three) and Melbourne (two). At the same time, areas in the other states capital cities don’t even feature until position 28.
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<img src="/images/2016/03/23/image-20160322-32291-1fxszd5.jpg" alt="">
<h4>Figure 1. BCEC Innovation index for Australia: 2014, by SA3 regions</h4>
The index is a composite of a number of indicators for both inputs to and outputs from innovation. Measures include patents, trademarks, new business entry and business R&amp;D investment (all relative to the size of the workforce), as well as the share of postgraduate qualified graduates and the ratio of research institutes to the resident population. Each of these measures either a direct innovation activity or a factor that supports innovation activities.
The index highlights the importance of location and agglomeration. The most innovative regions are usually in the largest cities and are typically near other innovative regions and relevant infrastructure that supports innovation such as business districts, universities and research institutes, as can be seen in Figure 1 above.
<h2>Proximity matters</h2>
Innovation is embedded in places. The co-location of the right mix of people, physical capital and infrastructure is key to developing new ideas and transforming them into commercial successes.
A new report from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre finds innovation is a local phenomenon where for a host of complex and interacting reasons, certain places and regions are doing better than others.
Innovations build on existing knowledge. Cities are the mechanism which facilitates the creation and dissemination of knowledge leading to better innovation performance. Universities increase the innovation performance of surrounding areas through direct research and innovation outputs and by improving the human capital of workers. Similarly, city centres and surrounding areas attract highly-skilled graduates.
While internet-based communication connects people in even the most remote locations with the rest of the world, when developing an innovation, these communication technologies largely complement regular face-to-face interaction rather than replacing it. It is easier to connect, share ideas and build trust with a neighbour than a person or business who is far away.
Other countries have recognised how important location is for innovation and developed place-based innovation policies.
EU countries and regions are required to have national or regional “Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation” in order to access European structural and investment funds to support research and innovation. EU cohesion policy involves a process for tailoring innovation policies to local regions, including policies for scientific R&amp;D, practice-based innovation and adoption and diffusion of knowledge and innovations.
Australia is almost twice the area of the European Union. Place-based policies are particularly important in Australia with its large distances between cities and larger distances to the rest of the world.
Place-based innovation policies are not completely new in Australia. Queensland’s “Smart State” strategy between 1998 and 2007 attempted to boost knowledge-based industries through investment in infrastructure, education and training, research programs and industry incentives. While it is difficult to measure the success of these policies the strategy may help explain the high ranking of areas in Brisbane in BCEC’s innovation index (See Table 1).
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<h4>
Table 1. Ranking of SA3 regions by 2014 BCEC Innovation index for Australia 
</h4>
<h2>International collaboration and innovation</h2>
While innovation is a local phenomenon, international collaborations can bring benefits to businesses in the form of greater exposure to new ideas, world leading advances in technology, and commercialisation opportunities.
Yet OECD comparisons show that only 7.7 percent of innovation-active businesses in Australia engage in collaborations with international partners in the United States, Asia or Europe - well below the OECD average of 17.9 percent (Figure 2).
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 <img src="/images/2016/03/23/image-20160322-32300-1bushko.jpg" alt="">
<h4>Figure 2. Share of innovation-active firms engaged in international collaborations: OECD, 2012-13</h4>
Australia is a long way from innovation centres such as London, Tokyo, Shanghai and the Silicon Valley, of course. Australia is also far away from large cities in countries that are (relatively at least) closer to home, like Singapore or Auckland. And Australian cities are also far away from each other.
This means the knowledge inputs crucial to innovation do not diffuse easily within and to Australia, something that may be a particular constraint to innovation in Western Australia given its relative isolation.
Yet paradoxically, no more than 3.6% of Australian businesses cite access to knowledge as a barrier to innovation. This suggests - rightly or wrongly – that the majority of businesses rely on national knowledge partnerships for research and development activities.
It is difficult to square this circle, other than to speculate that some businesses in Australia perhaps “don’t know what they don’t know” – in other words, it is difficult for firms to recognise knowledge gaps as a barrier to innovation, because they simply don’t know what they haven’t learned or invented yet.
Successfully positioning Australia for an “ideas boom” may require a policy approach that addresses the unique constraints of Australia’s economic geography. In absence of such a tailored policy approach, innovation may be more expensive and difficult to achieve in Australia, discouraging R&amp;D investment and limiting the potential for an “ideas boom”.
 
Alan Duncan is director, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre and Bankwest Research Chair in Economic Policy, Curtin University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alan-duncan-100759" target="_blank">here</a>.
Rebecca Cassells is associate professor, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-cassells-127690" target="_blank">here</a>.
Steven Bond-Smith is research fellow, Bankwest-Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steven-bond-smith-243423" target="_blank">here</a>.
All are authors for The Conversation
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Location, location, location: what’s holding back an Australian ideas boom

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Racing couple Gai and Robbie Waterhouse have now a $5.4 million asking price on their longtime Mosman family home after pulling the home from auction just a few weeks ago.
The four bedroom property, which has been in the Waterhouse family for 32 years, was listed with an initial price guide of $6 million through 2088 Realty listing agent Sally-Anne Lawlor.
Most of the buyer interest has come from developers who are not known to be as emotional in their outlays as home buyers.
The racing couple are still set to make a tidy gain from the Clifton Gardens home having paid $457,500 in 1983.
They now prefer Balmoral and their Mittagong trophy estate, Dunsinea.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mosman-121723666" target="_blank">Burrawong Avenue</a> property (above) was designed with wall to wall windows highlighting the harbour views over Shark Island and beyond.
The master bedroom suite comes with an impressive hat display cabinet filled with Gai's hats and fascinators from past race days.
Elsewhere in Mosman the home of horse breeder Carl Holt is under offer. The former London financial markets trader and his wife Lorraine had $9 million plus hopes through <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/3-balmoral-avenue-mosman-nsw-2088-2012635591" target="_blank">Brendan Warner, of Raine &amp; Horne.</a> The Phil Corben designed home was last traded by former Qantas chief Geoff Dixon and his wife Dawn in 2010 at $8 million.
The most recent Gai Waterhouse-Carl Holt linked was Northern Fire, a Snitzel colt from the Scenic mare Pure Fire, bred by Holt. However the two year old bay colt last raced at Rosehill Gardens in January finishing unplaced, behind the winner Scarlet Rain.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Robbie, Gai Waterhouse asking $5.4 million for Mosman family home

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GUEST OBSERVER
Between January 2011 and December 2015, 512 houses and townhouses were bought and sold in Fitzroy. 
A simple comparison between average prices in 2011 and 2015 reveals that these have increased by about 9.4 percent per year (Table 1).
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<img src="/images/2016/03/17/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-17%20at%201.11.45%20PM.png" alt="">
That’s the only thing this tells us: people spent more money on each house in 2015 than they did in 2011. As a statistic, averages can be very misleading. They ignore any changes to the mix of properties being put on the market.
For example, each time a property is refurbished, extended or renovated, the value of the property increases. While this increase in value is reflected in an increased average price, this is not true capital growth, as additional investments had to be made. Also, with only about 100 properties being sold each year, the sale of a very few, very large houses would have a significant impact on the average price in that period.
If we break this down into individual years (Table 2), we can see that average prices fluctuate, which again highlights the limitation of using averages as indicators of capital growth.
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<img src="/images/2016/03/17/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-17%20at%201.11.50%20PM.png" alt="">
A better way to track capital growth is to track individual houses that were bought and then sold again at a later time, while remaining physically unchanged. This eliminates the other factors mentioned earlier that plague averages.
Using selected properties that were sold twice or more since 2011, Table 3 shows the year-on-year capital growth of houses and townhouses in Fitzroy, while Figure 1 shows the growth of a housing investment made in 2011 visually.
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<img src="/images/2016/03/17/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-17%20at%201.15.40%20PM.png" alt="">
A house that was bought in Fitzroy in 2011 would sell for 25% more in 2015, given it remained in the same condition.
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<img src="/images/2016/03/17/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-17%20at%201.18.27%20PM.png" alt="">
The only limitation of this methodology is that it can become inaccurate if the sample of properties is small. For example, in Fitzroy only 29 property sales were deemed eligible for the index above. This can be improved by extending the time range to earlier than 2011, which would show longer term growth trends.
For more information, <a href="https://secretagent.com.au/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Fitzroy's true property price growth: Secret Agent

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Sydney's residential prices have dropped 1.6 percent in the December 2015 quarter, according to the ABS recent Residential property prices index release.
They are still 13.9 percent up however annually.
Canberra saw the biggest increase over the quarter, with a 2.8 percent increase, with Hobart increasing by 2.5 percent.
Melbourne and Brisbane increased by 1.6 percent each.
<a href="/images/2016/03/22/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-22%20at%2011.43.47%20am.png" target="_blank">Click here to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/03/22/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-22%20at%2011.43.47%20am.png" alt="" width="536" height="178">
<a href="https://twitter.com/PeteWargent" target="_blank">Pete Wargent</a> was one of the first to take to Twitter, highlighting the changes since 2008.
The Sydney price drop news quickly travelled the world, and was picked up by US-based <a href="https://twitter.com/autoforexalerts" target="_blank">@autoforexalerts</a> 
<a href="/images/2016/03/22/CeHNmOHW0AQ9BkI.jpg-large.jpg" target="_blank">Click here to see the enlarged chart</a>
<img src="/images/2016/03/22/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-22%20at%2011.50.19%20am.png" alt="" width="383" height="342">
 
DECEMBER KEY POINTS
 CHANGES TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY PRICE INDEX
<ul>
<li type="square">The price index for residential properties for the weighted average of the eight capital cities rose 0.2% in the December quarter 2015. The index rose 8.7% through the year to the December quarter 2015.</li>
<li type="square">The capital city residential property price indexes rose in Melbourne (+1.6%), Brisbane (+1.6%), Adelaide (+0.9%), Canberra (+2.8%), Perth (+0.5%) and Hobart (+2.5%) and fell in Sydney (-1.6%) and Darwin (-1.8%). </li>
<li type="square">Annually, residential property prices rose in Sydney (+13.9%), Melbourne (+9.6%), Canberra (+6.0%), Brisbane (+4.2%), Hobart (+3.5%) and Adelaide (+3.3%) and fell in Darwin (-3.2%) and Perth (-2.9%). </li>
</ul>
 TOTAL VALUE OF THE DWELLING STOCK
<ul>
<li type="square">The total value of residential dwellings in Australia was $5,885,967.2m at the end of December quarter 2015, rising $31,557.1m over the quarter. </li>
<li type="square">The mean price of residential dwellings rose $800 to $612,100 and the number of residential dwellings rose by 38,700 to 9,615,800 in the December quarter 2015.</li>
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Sydney house prices fall: ABS

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The coastal city of Hervey Bay in Queensland is a rising market and expected to deliver steady market conditions for residential property in 2016, according to Herron Todd White's property clock for March, which also discusses gentrification. 
Staying ahead of the gentrification curve can prove profitable to property investors, say HTW.  
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The year ahead will see stable supply and demand across the region. Sub $300,000 stock is predicted to firm with the lack of housing in this price range and improved rental returns driving prices slightly higher. The move towards smaller lots sizes (in the range of 350 square metres to 500 square metres) is now encouraged by Council with many new estates currently being developed adopting this higher density format.
Unit development is considered to be imminent in the short to medium term, with very little new stock being offered to the market after absorption of an oversupply of units. The most popular unit style which has shown to be well received by buyers in recent times is the villa and townhouse unit, as opposed to high rise development.
Building activity has significantly increased over the past six to twelve months in Hervey Bay. There are currently over eight new estates being developed, mainly next stages of existing estates, with some new estates. 
Suburbs of Urangan, Wondunna, Kawungan, Urraween and Pialba have absorbed most of this activity, with many developers selling their proposed turn-key dwellings off the plan to southern interstate investors. Prices range between $330,000 and $400,000 for most properties, with the majority of lot sizes between 350 and 700 square metres. 
Features typically encompass an above average standard and include stone bench tops, split system air-conditioning and landscaping. Higher density living with smaller lot sizes (up to 500 square metres) is now accepted (and perhaps encouraged) by local council and has been well received by the market. 
The Hervey Bay Housing Affordability Project is an initiative by Council and Federal Government which offers $12,000 grants for new land or new house and land packages. The incentive is reported to expire on June 30, 2016 which could result in a slowing of sales to first buyers. It is hoped the project may be extended to stimulate economic growth and support local employment in the construction industry.
The prestige property market has improved over the past 12 months with more sales in the higher price range (above $700,000) than previous years. While property prices are not considered to rise in this market in the short term, sales are expected to continue at this rate with more medical staff moving to the area due to a new private hospital and supporting medical industries. There is currently an abundance of higher priced stock on the market and vendors have to be flexible in order to finalise a sale.  
The steady rise in rental return over the past eighteen months has been stimulated by the ongoing influx of personnel for the new medical facilities in Urraween. A tenant can now expect to pay between $360 and $440 for a new four-bedroom, two-bathroom dwelling with double lock-up garage.
To date, there has been no significant rise in values for older existing stock, however, higher priced property up to $700,000 has been selling within shorter selling periods. The absorption of excess unit stock has now concluded, with new unit development foreseeable and welcomed in the near future.  
To illustrate the point, here's an example picked by Property Observer.
 <img src="/images/2016/03/22/main-2.jpg" alt="">
A three-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-urangan-120379417" target="_blank">506/569 Charlton Esplanade Urangan</a> sold recently for $470,000.
 
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Hervey Bay is a rising market: HTW

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Melbourne's Inner, North East and Inner East recorded the strongest preliminary clearance rates for the week ending 20 March, according to CoreLogic RP Data at 78.6 percent, 74.7 percent and 74.5 percent respectively.
 Melbourne’s Inner region was also the busiest auction market this week (390 auctions), followed by Inner South (291 auctions) and Inner East (283).
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