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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

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

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

Residential Sale

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All eight luxury apartments in the Astonia Residences complex in Milsons Point have sold within three weeks of a re-launch by nascent project-marketing firm Boutique Estates, with one fetching $15.6 million.
The apartments in the three-storey development at 10-18 Cliff Street were sold from $4.5 million, totalling more than $48 million in sales at an average of $22,500 per square metre.
The top price of $15.6 million was for a whole floor apartment of 780 square metre, reflecting $20,000 on the first floor. It has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a home cinema and a gymnasium, and is believed to set a record for an off-the-plan apartment on Sydney’s North Shore.
The Astonia Residences was the first project-marketing assignment by Boutique Estates, established in 2013 by Vanessa Gilbert and Juliet Anderson, both of whom have experience selling prestige homes and acting as buyer’s agents.
“Two of the purchasers were from mainland China while the others were Empty Nesters from the upper and lower North Shore,” said Vanessa Gilbert, a director of Boutique Estates.
“What appealed to buyers in particular was the size of the apartments which are significantly larger than is standard for Milsons Point and across Sydney. Each has at least three bedrooms, three car spaces, and substantial storage space. In reality they are a similar size to the large family homes they will be leaving.”
Fellow director, Juliet Anderson, said the design by Nettleton Tribe, the water views and the convenient and energising location were contributing factors for buyers.
The Astonia Residences is being developed by CSPD Pty Ltd and is expected to be completed by September, 2016. 
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Milsons Point off the plan penthouse style apartment fetches $15.6 million

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2016 will be the year that puts some Sydney suburbs on the map according to Douglas Driscoll, CEO of real estate agency Starr Partners.
Douglas predicted the top 10 suburbs set to take off in 2016:
1.  Leppington.  “More rezoning will occur throughout 2016 so Leppington will become popular for land sales.  Being south of Badgerys Creek, I anticipate it to be the next suburb to genuinely emerge.  It will be close enough to the new airport but far away enough from it that plane noise won’t be an issue.” The median price of a home in Leppington is $675,000, <a href="/news">according to CoreLogic RP Data</a>. 
2.  St Marys.  “St Marys is one of the last great Sydney ‘true blue’ suburbs.  With the state government’s move to reserve a rail corridor there for a direct route to Badgerys Creek airport, it’s definitely one to watch. The suburb is already well-established, will become very well connected (and is already connected to the M4 and M7) and will be close yet just far away enough from the airport. And above all else, it’s affordable.” The median price of a home in St Marys is $555,000, <a href="/news">according to CoreLogic RP Data</a>.  
3.  North Sydney.  “North Sydney is really going to take off in 2016. There is some redevelopment happening in the area presently and this, combined with the new metro train lines under construction and the second tunnel under Sydney Harbour, as well as the arrival of Coles and Woolworths, means it’s a real one to watch. Right now, North Sydney doesn’t have a firm identity, it’s not sure what it is or what it is supposed to be but I anticipate it will find its feet and form its own identity – it’s a nice area, close to the water and to the city. An honourable mention should also be made for the neighbouring suburb of Crows Nest, which is also earmarked for a new metro station.” The median price of a home in North Sydney is $1,726300, <a href="/news">according to CoreLogic RP Data</a>. 
4.  Baulkham Hills.  “I predict that 2016 will be the year Baulkham Hills starts to emerge from the shadow of its neighbour, Castle Hill. With eight new train stations currently under construction around the area, it’s very much a convenient suburb and there is a lot of urban regeneration and redevelopment plans underway.  It’s more affordable than Castle Hill and has the potential to become as desirable.” The median price of a home in Baulkham Hills is $1,030,000 <a href="/news">according to CoreLogic RP Data</a>. 
5.  Auburn.  “Slowly but surely, Auburn will be absorbed into the Inner West. It’s the next major suburb along so it is inevitable that the suburb will start to fall more into that bracket.  Not only this, Auburn is a suburb that demonstrates good value. It’s also a great representation of modern Australia, being the most multicultural suburb in the country.”  The median price of a home in Auburn is $860,5000 <a href="/news">according to CoreLogic RP Data</a>.
6.  Hornsby.  “Hornsby is a great area for families and professionals working in Sydney’s CBD. It has recently undergone significant redevelopment and improvement, including upgraded trains, which can get you into the city in 35 minutes. It is also surrounded by a lot of beautiful parks and countryside.” The median price of a home in Hornsby is $1,000,750 <a href="/news">according to CoreLogic RP Data</a>. 
7. Camperdown.  “It’s almost unthinkable that Camperdown and its surrounding suburbs could become even more popular but expect it to happen in the next 12 months.  Ultimo is down the road and has the highest ratio of renters in Australia (95%), which will trickle down to areas like Camperdown, Chippendale and Newtown. What sets Camperdown apart is that it has a university and there is a strong case for a metro train interchange to be built there. Transport is one of the absolute factors driving property prices so things like improvements to public transport and motorway ramps make areas more desirable.” The median price of a home in Camperdown is $1,275,000 <a href="/news">according to CoreLogic RP Data</a>. 
8. Riverstone.  “Believe it or not, land is selling in Riverstone almost every day and next year, we will start seeing major new developments popping up.  A significant amount of work has been spent rezoning the area, and I really think it’s going to flourish in 2016. Neighbouring suburbs like Rouse Hill and Schofields have already been redeveloped but Riverstone is fresh, new, and on the doorstep of Marsden Park, the location of Sydney Business Park, a new commercial precinct with Ikea and Costco setting up shop, as well as Lindt moving its headquarters to the estate. This new business district will create hundreds of new jobs and we know that most people want to live within close proximity to work.” The median price of a home in Riverstone is $675,000 <a href="/news">according to CoreLogic RP Data</a>. 
9. Botany.  “Botany is a nice established location with a real diverse cross-section of properties. It’s a suburb that is ideal for families, a very convenient distance from the airport and only 11km away from the CBD. I think it’s certainly going to see some overspill from the rest of the Eastern Suburbs in 2016.”   The median price of a home in Botany is $1,15,000 <a href="/news">according to CoreLogic RP Data</a>. 
10. Dee Why.  “Dee Why is another suburb that has seen significant regeneration recently. It’s always been seen as the poor relation of the Northern Beaches but the town planners there have some great ideas for the area and are very forward thinking. Pricewise, Dee Why is so much more affordable than Manly down the road and other affluent beach suburbs near the north and I can guarantee it will become its own little epicentre soon enough. Dee Why’s main drag is going to get a bit of a facelift, new properties have been approved, and the traffic flow has been changed to accommodate more residents. It’s so much more than you think.”  The median price of a home in Botany is $1,411,000 <a href="/news">according to CoreLogic RP Data</a>.
DOUGLAS DRISCOLL is CEO of real estate agency <a href="https://www.starrpartners.com.au/" target="_blank">Starr Partners</a>.
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The 10 Sydney suburbs set to take off in 2016: Doug Driscoll

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Next year could be the time for the quiet cities to shine.
While Sydney/Melbourne have been rising, and Perth/Darwin falling, the other four capital cities have been apparently dormant in the middle of the pack. 
But sales activity patterns, taken with other indicators, suggest we can expect better things from Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart in 2016. 
The Canberra market appears poised for recovery, the Tasmanian economy is improving and the Hobart market is producing increasingly positive statistics, while both Brisbane and Adelaide have sales momentum in specific precincts, which are likely to deliver growth in the New Year. 
There is considerable movement in Brisbane markets. Within the Greater Brisbane area, the pecking order keeps changing and new markets keep emerging while others subside.
A year ago Brisbane North was strong, with many suburbs delivering double-digit price growth, but now the momentum is very much south of the CBD. 
Logan City is the leading precinct with large numbers of growth markets, while the Brisbane South market has stepped up in the second half of 2015 and remains strong going into the New Year.
Logan City has 18 suburbs with rising sales trends, which is the second best in Australia (behind the resurgent Gold Coast).
The most noticeable gains recently have been made by Ipswich City in the south-west of the metropolitan area. Traditionally, Ipswich City has been the leading capital growth precinct in Brisbane. Now, after several down years, it’s making a comeback and is a market to watch, with a high level of affordability and a strong infrastructure spend.
Adelaide is a rising market, but to date significant price growth has been isolated to select precincts. 
Sales activity in the past four quarters has been higher, in each case, than the corresponding period a year earlier. This includes the September 2015 Quarter, which produced the best sales result for this time period for the past four years.
The Adelaide market has been on a generally upward path for the past two years, without ever achieving boom status. The rise in activity has been gradual rather than dramatic – and to date price growth has been moderate – except in specific areas, notably in the middle-market precincts in the western suburbs. 
Right now, Adelaide has twice as many growth suburbs as Sydney and looks good for better performance in 2016.
Tasmania keeps sending out signals that its economy is improving and that confidence is rising – and we are seeing glimmers of improved activity in property markets, as well as some solid numbers from Hobart in terms of growth in rents and prices. 
Canberra sales activity in the September Quarter confirmed my previous assessment that the market had arrested its earlier decline, after two years of stagnating or decreasing sales in its markets.  
There have been improvements in house sales levels, but the unit market remains weak. This is reflected in the latest price growth data from CoreLogic RP Data, which shows a 5.1% annual rise in the House Value Index but a 2.6% annual decrease for units.  
In terms of total sales in the ACT, including both houses and units, every quarter this calendar year has recorded higher sales than in the same quarter in 2014. 
Typically in Canberra, the December Quarter is the strongest period for house sales – and I expect the current trend of gradually rising sales activity to continue into the December 2015 Quarter.
 
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a>
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2016 may be the year of the quiet city: Terry Ryder

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The most expensive sale in Adelaide this week was a four bedroom home in Malvern.
The property was sold for $1.3 million by Luke Holden and James Robertson of Belle Property Unley.
The property has an open courtyard with an ornate sandstone water feature. 
Malvern is just outside the Adelaide CBD and is a short walk to public transport and excellent schools.
The property notched up an annual appreciation of 3.9% after being traded in 2002 for $775,000.
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Four bedroom Malvern home Adelaide's most expensive

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A luxury residence in Canterbury was the most expensive sale in Victoria across the past week.
The $7.4 million sale of Cranston was sold at private mid-week auction through Castan Gilbert inconjunction with Kay &amp; Burton.
The Edwardian designed home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-canterbury-121123534" target="_blank">30 Balwyn Road</a> was built in 1900.
It last traded in 2005 for $3.4 million, an impressive annual appreciation of 7.69 per cent.
The family home features a swimming pool, tennis court and a walk-in wine cellar.
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Melbourne Canterbury sale weekend's most expensive

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A one bedroom, one bathroom unit in Preston was Melbourne's most affordable property after its $275,000 weekend sale.
The refurbished property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-preston-417190406" target="_blank">13/259 Gower Street</a> is a short walk to Preston market, surrounding shops and restaurants and public transport.
The apartment last traded for $195,000 in 2008, showing an annual appreciation of 4.55 per cent.
The property is currently on the market to rent at $260 per week will bring a gross rental yield of 4.62 per cent.
Preston is located nine kilometres north of Melbourne's CBD.
 
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Preston apartment Melbourne's most affordable weekend sale

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The most expensive property that sold in Sydney this weekend comes from Killara where a five bedroom, five bathroom property has sold for $7.4 million.
Samuel Lynch of McGrath Lindfield had the listing of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-killara-121177874" target="_blank">32 Wattle Street</a>.
The 2395 sqm dwelling features a championship size tennis court and swimming pool.
The property last traded for $6.35 million in 2008, an annual appreciation of just 1.25%.
It had been rented after it's 2008 trade for $3,500 per week, showing a somewhat dated gross rental yield of 2.87%.
 
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Killara five bedder Sydney's most expensive weekend sale

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The retired world record swimming champion Eamon Sullivan has sold his Surry Hills terrace given he's back home in Perth running restaurants.
It fetched a bullish $1.8 million <a href="https://www.goodyer.com.au/selling/NSW/Sydney-City/Surry-Hills/House/1P3079" target="_blank">after its recent Goodyer Real Estate auction</a>.
He had bought the four bedroom home for $1.26 million in 2009, shortly after coming to national prominence setting record times in the pool in 50 and 100 metre freestyle events. 
The auction of the terrace saw it passed in with just the one bid of $1.65 million however Pauline Goodyer of Goodyer Woollahra subsequently had three bidders emerge afterwards taking the price to $1.8 million.
Following his 2012 move to Perth, the Bourke Street terrace had been rented out at $1,400 a week. It has been bought this month by an investor showing a gross yield of around 5.6 per cent.
Born in Perth, Sullivan is dominating the hospitality scene now co-owning three restaurants - Bib &amp; Tucker in North Fremantle; Louis Baxters Espresso bar cafe in Subiaco, and most recently May Street Larder in East Fremantle.
He opened the cafe first with TV producer Laki Baker, then ventured with pole vaulter Steve Hooker, hockey player Jamie Dwyer and chef Scott Bridger to open Bib &amp; Tucker, located on top of Fremantle's surf live saving club in 2013. 
His most recent opening was May Street Larder where he teamed up again with taste of Perth chef Bridger.
Sullivan is engaged to Perth lawyer Naomi Bass, proposing earlier this year under cherry blossoms while the pair were in Japan on holidays.
The two are eyeing a wedding date next April.
Sullivan was a sprint swimmer, finding great success in the freestyle events winning three medals at the Olympics and setting two world records. 
He retired from swimming in 2014 at the age of 29, citing an ongoing shoulder injury as the overriding factor in his decision. 
Aside from sport, Sullivan became a popular TV figure after winning the first series of Celebrity Masterchef Australia and also competing in Dancing with the Stars.
It was bought from the former corporate internet executive Chris Kreis turned property developer and his sister, Swiss architect Nicole Kreis.
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Swimming champion Eamon Sullivan sells Surry Hills terrace

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Sydney's greenest home - winning some 13 awards on its 2013 construction - has been snapped up before it's scheduled weekend auction.
Builder Chris Knierim's two storey eco-house in Forest Lodge came with $1.9 million plus price hopes.
Over 100 groups inspected the pricey bespoke offering, which sold at an undisclosed price, through Jennifer Aaron of Jennifer Aaron Real Estate.
The recent marketing campaign had triggered 11,000 plus visits on realestate.com.au.
Designed to minimise its carbon footprint, it was Knierim's $900,000 construction dream to build a sustainable three bedroom house for his family.
Another inner west project is also underway by architect and builder, Oliver Steele in Newtown with three garden-topped eco-terraces on Angel Street.  
Being green might prove costly in the inner suburbs, but the traditional alternate eco home can still come cheap for tree changers with a mud brick home in a 200 acre land sharing community in the Hunter Valley region currently listed at $180,000 plus.
After working on eco-friendly building projects in Europe, Chris Knierim knew to insulate the ground underneath the slab and have solar panels on its green garden rooftop.
There's eight metre tall vertical garden walls in between, which impressed the Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore when she opened the house.
It comes with a 3500 litre underground water tank and extensive use of recycled materials.
The sustainable Foss Street home - just 5 metres or so wide in a narrow gap in a row of heritage-listed terraces - featured on the Grand Designs Australia television series.
The awards included the 2014 HIA Green Smart Australian Home of the Year and the Australian Sustainable Project of the Year.
Chris and wife Belinda paid $519,000 in 2007 for the small car park block next door to their then house. 
"Crowned by a green roof, it presents streamlined minimalism with state-of-the-art finishes and a focus on optimal light and airflow," selling agent Jennifer Aaron said.
Chris was happy with the home and said it performed better than expected.
"“It just functions really well."
The founder of design firm Code Green admitted that despite the fact the eco lodge was a dream home for his wife and two sons, it was time to move on.
“I’ve just got a good business opportunity, so it’s time to let it go", he said.
"Being a builder and designer I’m always looking at doing other things,” he said.
They all celebrated the sale at the sustainable fish cafe, Annandale's Fish &amp; Co.
This article was first published in the Sydney Daily Telegraph.
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Sydney's greenest terrace house sold at $1.9 million plus

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A deceased estate in Dulwich was the cheapest sale at weekend auctions across Adelaide.
Alf Talotta of Turner Real estate sold <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-sa-dulwich-121174198" target="_blank">6/53 Stuart Road</a> for $300,000.
The property is an upstairs unit comprising of two bedrooms and one bathroom.
The air conditioned apartment features a floating timber floor, a new kitchen and a fully tiled modern look bathroom with laundry facilities. 
There is also secure undercover parking under the block which is minutes from Burnside Village. 
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