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

Joel Robinson

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

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

First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

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

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

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

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

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

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

Residential Sale

<html><body><div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
A block of leasehold land in the Victorian ski resort of Mt Hotham sold on Easter Saturday at a no-reserve auction for just $14,000.
Another leasehold block sold at $18,000, the cheapest sales on the mountain in 35 years.
The two properties were the last holdings in Venture Technologies Corporation's Mount Hotham property portfolio.
Venture Technologies executive Ron Bassett invested more than $50 million in Mt Hotham and nearby ski field, Falls Creek in the 1990s.
Agent John Castran said the sales were the cheapest on the mountain in 35 years.
They were both on 40 year leases.
The two properties were the last holdings in Venture Technologies Corporation's Mount Hotham property portfolio.
"I was astounded at how low the properties sold for," Mr Castran told the Australian Financial Review.
The buyers are residents who want to develop the land into cabins for the great views at <a href="https://www.castran.com.au/buying/VIC/North-Eastern/Mount-Hotham/Land/1P0609" target="_blank">Higgi Drive, Mount Hotham</a>.
One was 11 sqm the other 288 sqm. 
John Castran, managing director of Castran Real Estate, which sells properties around Victoria’s alpine towns, had previously advised he though prices had bottomed out in 2013.
Construction on a $4.4 million investment into further snowmaking infrastructure was scheduled to be completed in time for the 2016 snow season.
</div></body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Mt Hotham's $14,000 land sale

<html><body>
Claremont, built circa 1843, is one of the prized Tasmanian residential jewels.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-east+launceston-122035162" target="_blank">13 Claremont Street, Launceston</a>, it is hidden away amongst the seclusion of the 100 year old trees.
The home, set on one and half acres of gardens, has 100 squares of living space that has retained its distinctive mid-nineteenth century features.
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/13-claremont-street-east-launceston-tas-7250-2009462054" target="_blank">Since it last sold for $1,550,000 in early 2012 empty</a>, (below) Claremont has been given roof, plumbing and wiring upgrades.
<img src="/images/2016/03/23/l1.jpg" alt="" width="561" height="362">
The residence comprises seven bedrooms, three bathrooms, and three powder rooms.
<img src="/images/2016/03/23/l2.jpg" alt="" width="576" height="350">
The whole upper level is a dedicated, private parent’s retreat with sunroom and views across the grounds. 
<img src="/images/2016/03/23/l3.jpg" alt="" width="616" height="380">
Mark Bushby and Eric Andersen of Bushby Property Group have the offering.
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Claremont, the 1843 Launceston trophy home offering

<html><body>
Linfox Logistics chief executive Annette Carey and her husband, Ian Martindale, QC sold their renovated Victorian in Armadale’s Munro Estate at weekend auction.
The four-bedroom family house at 1 Royal Crescent has numerous living zones.
More than $4 million was initially expected for the 1888 Hawthorn brick residence that retains many original features, such as Baltic pine floors, an arched hallway and marble fireplace.
This was boosted to around $4.5 million during the marketing with it sold at $4.85 million.
It had 322 sqm floor space. Its outdoor area overlooks a pool at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-armadale-122010718">the property</a> which cost $705,000 in 1997.
The property was marketed by Justin Long, of Marshall White, with conjunction agency, James Agent Selection Services.
</body></html>

Linfox Logistics on the move after $4.85 million Armadale sale

<html><body>
The Botanic Portfolio in South Yarra, estimated to be worth up to $20 million, has been quickly sold to the founder of retail surfwear chain Surf Dive 'n' Ski, Fadil "Butch" Sadikay.
The three-property residential portfolio fetched $33 million having been held in one family for almost 50 years.
The properties at 30 Anderson Street, 25-29 Kurneh Place, and 216-218 Domain Road, total 2655 square metres of land. Developers including Paul Little, Will Deague and Michael Yates are understood to have expressed interest in the CBRE-Jellis Craig offering.
Sadikay, who lives nearby on Anderson Street, founded Surf Dive 'n' Ski and the Ozmosis retail chain and then sold them to ASX listed company Quiksilver. 
The land contains three blocks — two houses at 216-218 Domain Rd and 30 Anderson St and eight garages at 25-29 Kurneh Place.
Their owner, Marion Page, had died last year.
She was the daughter of Melbourne businessman Sir Clive McPherson whose estate was worth £95,224 when he died in 1958.
</body></html>

The $33 million Botanic portfolio, South Yarra sold to Fadil Sadikay

<html><body>
Company director Eric Dodd and his wife Vanessa - the downsizing Mosman couple - have sold their Burran Ave home.
The chairman of First American Title Insurance has owned the hillside home since 1995 when it was bought for $961,000.
Set 100 metres up from Balmoral Beach, <a href="https://www.33burranave.com/" target="_blank">the home</a> comes with an infinity pool.
It was listed for between $9 million and $9.9 million through Belle Property agent Tim Foote, but seemingly sold for $8 million plus.
Known as 'The Rhino' for his intensity and drive, Eric has worked at NRMA, BUPA, IAG and AON.
The Dodds retain their Ingleside acreage retreat.
</body></html>

Eric Dodd sells in Mosman after 21 years

<html><body>
The celebrity personal trainer Shannan Ponton, who made his name in Channel 10's The Biggest Loser show, has bought at North Curl Curl.
Ponton sold at Freshwater for $1.59 million last year and will anyday now be moving into a $2.5 million home.
It's a four bedroom, three bathroom house constructed in 2012. The master bedroom comes with sea views.
It was marketed as having a resort style, solar heated swimming pool by Ray White agent Graham Bennett who secured the sale pre-auction. There's 355 sqm living space on the 570 sqm block. 
From 2007 Ponton was the blue team leader on the Channel 10 weight-loss program who competed against the Steve "Commando" Willis and Michelle Bridges.
Ponton and his wife Kylie had paid $1.09 million in 2010 for their two storey four bedroom, two bathroom Freshwater home soon after they married.
It had 200 sqm internal space with decking rather than garden on the 310 sqm block.
They especially wanted a pool and garden.
Shannan was never going to stray far from the northern beaches where he trains the Harbord Valley Spartans rugby team in strength and conditioning.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
</body></html>

Celebrity personal trainer Shannan Ponton buys in North Curl Curl

<html><body>
Bondi Rescue's Dean ‘Deano’ Gladstone has moved closer to work, selling in Randwick and buying at Bondi Junction.
Gladstone is a regular cast member of the long running award winning Channel 10 reality television show which takes place on Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach.
The celebrity lifesaver and his wife Lilli sold for $2.1 million and paid $2.25 million for their unrenovated 1920s four bedroom purchase with rear pool.
They had bought the Randwick semi in 2008 for $1.04 million and have lived in the home with their two children Lucy and Gus.
The three bedroom King St semi sold through McGrath agent Mark McPherson who said the couple had renovated the home, giving it an open-plan kitchen and dining room that flows out to a courtyard.
The summer saw tensions break out on the sandy workplace when leaked documents showed malcontent over the reality TV sponsorship arrangements. 
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
</body></html>

Bondi Rescue's Dean ‘Deano’ Gladstone buys in Bondi Junction

<html><body>
Former North Melbourne premiership midfielder Shannon Grant has sold his Albert Park home.
The 174 sqm Victorian home has three bedrooms, a separate study and a roof-top retreat.
The designer kitchen and dining area is met by an outdoor courtyard with BBQ bench.
Grant was part of the Kangaroos 1999 AFL premiership winning side.
He played 243 games for North Melbourne, kicking 323 goals over his 10 year career in Victoria.
Agent Greg Hocking of Hockingstuart sold the property at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/181-kerferd-road-albert-park-vic-3206-2012580797" target="_blank">181 Kerferd Road, Albert Park</a> at an undisclosed price having suggested $1.8 million plus after a $1.8 million vendor bid. This renovated three-bedroom terrace, the former home of ex-North Melbourne premiership player Shannon Grant, offered a tiny “roof top retreat” and was spitting distance from Albert Park Beach: “Our answe
The one would-be buyer did up his offer to $1.81 million, but the property was passed in, and sold for an undisclosed price in after-auction negotiations. 
</body></html>

Former North Melbourne premiership midfielder Shannon Grant sells Albert Park home

<html><body>
The fund manager Charlie Aitken and wife Ellie have sold their Darling Point villa over the weekend, some six months after it hit the market.
After the couple swapped agents, it was offered with revised $11 million hopes through Elliot Placks and Richard Carwin of Ray White Double Bay.
They secured around $10.5 million.
The couple haven't done too badly having bought the five bedroom house, now with Thomas Hamel interiors, for $6.95 million in 2008.
The Mediterranean-style property was bought from William Penfold, the last of the family members to head the country's oldest stationery company, WC Penfold.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-darling+point-122094734" target="_blank">Eastbourne Avenue</a> house sits in gardens deigned by Paul Bangay.
Quite a few other prestige properties came up for sale in Darling Point, prompting their price revision.
They have two children and have told friends they are looking for something with more lawn and a backyard pool. 
 
The home was <a href="/news/stockbroker-charlie-aitken-selling-darling-point-trophy-home">first listed late September</a>.
 
</body></html>

Fund manager Charlie Aitken has sold his Darling Point villa

<html><body>
A recent survey of around 321,000 first time buyer households has found the biggest barriers to buying are high house prices (52 percent) and finding the right property (24 percent).
The latest report by consulting firm Digital Finance Analytics, The Property Imperative 6, featured results from the March 2016 DFA Household Survey and  noted 60 percent of households will need to borrow more than they can currently obtain to transact, whilst 62 percent of households will consider using a mortgage broker to assist with the finance arrangements. 
<a href="/images/2016/03/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-11%20at%202.18.04%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
 
<img src="/images/2016/03/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-11%20at%202.18.04%20PM.png" alt="">
The survey found more first time buyers in Sydney are considering or have bought a unit, with the preference for a house dropping in Melbourne and Brisbane.
DFA founder Martin North said the traditional wisdom is that first time buyers are sitting out of the property markets, because prices are high, loans harder to get, and confidence is falling. 
"However, one of the most significant developments surrounding first time buyers is that many more are now going direct to the investment sector," he said.
"The number of first time buyers are still sitting at around 13,000 a month in total, still well below the peaks in 2009. Our surveys indicate strong FTB investor appetite. The changed underwriting requirements however are having an impact. 
<a href="/images/2016/03/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-11%20at%202.16.50%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/03/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-11%20at%202.16.50%20PM.png" alt="">
 "There are a number of drivers to this trend. First, most first time buyers were unable to afford to purchase a property to occupy, in an area that made sense to them and were being priced out of the market. 
"Next, many were anxious they were missing out on recent property gains, so decided to buy a less expensive property (often a unit) as an investment, thanks to negative gearing, they could afford it. They often continue to live at home meantime, hoping that the growth in capital could later be converted into a deposit for their own home – in other words, the investment property is an interim hedge into property, not a long term play. 
"Some are also teaming up with friends to jointly purchase an investment, so spreading the costs. In fact, about one third who purchased were assisted by the Bank of Mum and Dad, and would consider an investment property by accessing their superannuation for property investment purposes, a bad idea in our view." 
"First time buyers are split between looking for a house or a unit (in Sydney more are looking for a unit). A greater proportion (21.5 percent) this time were simply not sure what to buy, or where to buy, a rise from 4 percent in 2013. 
"Putting this together, we conclude that first time buyers are reacting to the current house price boom in logical ways. They are however being infected by the notion that property is about wealth building, rather than somewhere to live. This notion, which served previous generations quite well (once they were on the property escalator), may be tested if interest rates rise later, or property prices fall from their current illogical stratospheric levels," he said.
<a href="/images/2016/03/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-11%20at%202.15.17%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/03/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-11%20at%202.15.17%20PM.png" alt="">
 
<a href="/images/2016/03/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-11%20at%202.13.27%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/03/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-11%20at%202.13.27%20PM.png" alt=""> 
For more information, <a href="https://www.digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/latest-dfa-household-survey/" target="_blank">click here</a>. 
</body></html>

Residential Sale

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Residential Sale

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News