National developer Time &amp; Place appears to have settled on a design for its long-anticipated Potts Point project.

After several years of back and forth with local council and the NSW Government, the developer, which has spent close to a decade targeting the former The Chimes site on Macleay Street, has now progressed its plans.

Following a concept design submission last year by SJB, Time &amp; Place has lodged a full State Significant Development Application with the NSW Government, this time for a scheme designed by Kerry Hill Architects.

<img alt="Time &amp; Place" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="504d2a27-d65f-4227-8189-1e35e3376e62" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-20%20at%209.38.24%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=_XqFKATYHF30KnVByPxhaI9UBzmkmfn7" />

The 16-storey proposal includes 44 apartments, 21 of which will be build-to-sell. These will comprise 19 three-bedroom apartments and two four-bedroom penthouses.

More than 50 per cent of the development will be dedicated to affordable housing, with 23 one- and two-bedroom apartments delivered in line with the NSW Government’s Housing SEPP.

Kerry Hill Architects said the proposal is driven by a strong response to place.

“Our proposal for a new residential building for Potts Point in Sydney is driven by a deep consideration of place,” the practice said in its submission.

“This operates on multiple levels, including a landscape approach that reinstates endemic flora of the Sydney peninsula and provides a ground-floor garden for residents, reconnecting the site to its pre-European history. A brick podium further strengthens this relationship to context, integrating planting and fine bronze detailing that references the predominant material language of Macleay Street.”

The three-level podium will be topped by a communal resident space, featuring a covered pool designed to receive direct afternoon sun in winter, a neighbouring reflection pool, dining and event areas oriented to maximise sunset views, and an outdoor exercise zone.

<img alt="Time &amp; Place" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8d3eedc1-babb-44a3-bd96-d8a42f3adf1f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-20%20at%209.37.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Ii7.4dvqNatu5GQi6bhqNjAswrMB998." />

The design also incorporates highly crafted shopfronts and a clearly defined residential entry to activate the street. Juliette balconies to the podium residences will provide passive surveillance and a strong sense of habitation.

Above, the larger apartments are housed within a light-coloured masonry and bronze tower.

“The tower steps back in a series of gently curved volumes that reference the rich Art Deco context of Macleay Street,” the architects said. “Carefully calibrated vertical fins frame the views while providing privacy and a sense of refuge.”

<img alt="Time &amp; Place" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6fab60f4-3140-4469-b47a-48c781e0a30b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-20%20at%209.28.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=e5XxrM3kzdASdKlcIACHAHbOSZhSKC9O" />

Time &amp; Place has been one of the most active developers nationally in the last 12 to 24 months. Late last year they completed&nbsp;The Queensbridge in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/southbank-vic-3006">Southbank</a>, a mixed-use tower with 353 apartments and a hotel. They are currently selling Park Modern, 246 apartments near the famous Botanic Gardens in South Melbourne.

The developer has approval for The Burke, a mixed-use project in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/glen-iris-vic-3146">Glen Iris</a>&nbsp;being delivered in partnership with Woolworths. The 60 apartments, positioned above a new Woolworths supermarket, are expected to launch in the coming months. Time &amp; Place is also progressing plans for the redevelopment of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/northcote-vic-3070">Northcote</a>&nbsp;Plaza, and have recently submitted plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/time-place-unveils-plans-22-storey-south-melbourne-tower">22-storey tower</a>, another in South Melbourne.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/sydney-nsw">Sydney</a>, the developer has two projects in Manly: Two Tides, which is currently under construction, and an ultra high-end building on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/shoreline-manly-beach-89-90-north-steyne-manly">North Steyne</a>, fronting the beach. It is also continuing to work through the redevelopment of The Chimes building on Macleay Street in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/potts-point-nsw-2011">Potts Point</a>, as well as Marlborough House, the redevelopment of the original David Jones warehouse building in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/surry-hills-nsw-2010">Surry Hills</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Time & Place settles on design for The Chimes, Potts Point redevelopment

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/develotek">Develotek</a> is joining the likes of TOGA, Deicorp, and One Global Capital, betting on a boom in Five Dock ahead of the 2032 mooted opening of the Five Dock Metro Station.

Develotek, which is currently developing Bianca on the Drummoyne waterfront and has plans approved for a tower in Chatswood, has filed a State Significant Development Application for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/79-81-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">two-building project in the evolving Kings Bay precinct</a>.

The buildings, one more boutique just five storeys and the other 26 storeys, will rise from an 3,158 sqm site across&nbsp;79–81 Queens Road and 2–8 Spencer Street, will home 134 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, above ground-floor retail and five basement levels of parking.

A key component of the proposal is the inclusion of 15 per cent of residential floor space as in-fill affordable housing, unlocking additional height and density under the Housing SEPP.

<img alt="First Look: Develotek lodges State Significant shop top housing project in Five Dock precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3ee31bf7-75ba-4bc5-b190-49885193219f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/podium_2.png?VersionId=730UbrduuwK3C1sO28RHjiLPUPqXqjkh" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a>, the scheme adopts a podium-and-tower configuration, with a five-storey street wall along Queens Road transitioning to a 26-storey tower set deeper into the site. The ground plane prioritises activation and permeability, with retail frontages and a new through-site link connecting Queens Road to Spencer Street.

At the upper levels, the tower façade has been conceived using a modular system to support prefabrication and reduce construction waste, while improving build efficiency. The splayed form draws on the geometry of surrounding industrial rooftops, reinterpreting the area’s heritage in a contemporary expression while also helping to reduce solar heat gain to east and west-facing apartments.

“This project aspires to transform a former industrial site into a connected, resilient and people-focused urban community, grounded in Country, shaped by history, and designed to enrich everyday life within the evolving Kings Bay Precinct,” said John Walsh, Principal at Plus Studio.

The proposal reflects the broader transformation of the Kings Bay Precinct under the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy, marking a shift from its industrial past to a higher-density, mixed-use urban neighbourhood.

<img alt="First Look: Develotek lodges State Significant shop top housing project in Five Dock precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abde734c-1e31-4a97-a1d2-fa9bcf31c380" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/building%20podium.png?VersionId=fNUupP6u146yEytQT31kKVRxwtACgPpP" />

Develotek is emerging as an active participant in the state’s affordable housing-led uplift pathway. The developer recently secured approval for a 34-storey mixed-use tower in Chatswood, where it similarly leveraged the in-fill affordable housing provisions to increase scale and deliver a 101-unit scheme with dedicated affordable apartments.

Their entry into Five Dock places them alongside a growing list of developers targeting the suburb ahead of its anticipated transport uplift, with Sydney Metro set to extend into the area. Major players including TOGA, Deicorp, and One Global Capital are all progressing large-scale precinct-style developments nearby, collectively reshaping the low-rise industrial fabric into a higher-density mixed-use corridor.

The Five Dock site sits within the Kings Bay Precinct, a key renewal area under the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy, where planning controls support significant uplift tied to affordable housing delivery. The consolidated 3,158 sqm site is currently occupied by low-rise industrial uses, including warehouses and vehicle workshops, earmarked for transition.

First Look: Develotek joins in Five Dock apartment boom

Ascot’s Racecourse Road continues to be a hive of activity for Brisbane developers.

Following Fortis and GRAYA, which are both preparing new projects along the key strip connecting Kingsford Smith Drive and Eagle Farm Racecourse, local developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skyhold">Skyhold</a> is the latest to lodge plans for its own development.

The group is proposing One One Two Residences, a boutique project comprising just seven apartments, named after its address at 112 Racecourse Road.

The proposal outlines a five-storey building on an 810 sqm site. The built form slightly exceeds the four-storey expectation under the neighbourhood plan, aligning instead with the emerging character of the strip. As the planning report notes, “the locality is characterised by a transition toward medium-rise residential development, with a number of recent developments… above the stipulated height limits.”

<img alt="First Look: Skyhold lodges plans for boutique Ascot apartments as Racecourse Road revival gathers pace" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ec577631-8c51-4163-960e-e7b3a77d655b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Ascot.png?VersionId=iAzQ46D4Uu1UqiS0mVnlcy9jeFKBpJIj" />

Designed by 111 with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/paul-bangay-garden-design">Paul Bangay Studio</a>, the scheme adopts a layered architectural approach with strong articulation and a subtropical response. Deep balconies, integrated planters, and a mix of masonry and textured finishes define the façade, while upper-level setbacks reduce perceived bulk. The architectural statement describes “a series of horizontally expressed layers, defined by deep balconies and a consistent robust material palette,” aimed at delivering a refined streetscape presence.

Apartments are configured as large-format residences, including multiple three-bedroom layouts and a full-floor penthouse, supported by ground-level parking. A rooftop terrace will provide communal amenities including a pool and landscaped recreation areas. The design prioritises privacy, natural ventilation, and greenery, with planting integrated across all levels to soften the building form and contribute to the public realm.

<img alt="First Look: Skyhold lodges plans for boutique Ascot apartments as Racecourse Road revival gathers pace" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1e1219bd-b45a-4d7f-bbc7-7207d7b2fc94" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Ascot%20entry.png?VersionId=JIoUOLMgQ5xWpEF0etEI3ffIoIVjD7gO" />

The proposal sits within the Racecourse Road precinct, a key mixed-use spine in Ascot that continues to attract renewed development interest.

Later this year national developer Fortis will launch its own boutique development, which, pending council approvals, will be 16 apartments designed by Koichi Takada Architects, just down the street.

“Racecourse Road is going through a massive revitalisation and we’re proud to be a part of that transformation,” said Fortis's QLD General Manager, Dan Boman.

Nearby, GRAYA is advancing its larger-scale The Gallery, a mixed-use shop-top housing project designed to act as a “catalytic project for Racecourse Road.”

First Look: Racecourse Road, Hamilton revitalization to continue as Skyhold joins the party

Twenty-five years after launching one of Australia’s most visionary and successful masterplanned beach communities - Casuarina on the Northern NSW Tweed Coast - developer Consolidated Properties Group has unveiled plans for an $800 million sister project located 10 kilometres south, at Cudgera Creek near the coastal town of Pottsville.

CPG has taken the wraps off Caldera, a 78-hectare masterplanned village that builds on the legacy of Casuarina and aims to help address Northern NSW’s coastal housing shortage via the delivery of 550 homes built in a sustainable manner and addressing affordability and housing diversity, while also focusing on architectural and ecological merit.

Caldera is being brought to life by the same creative team that delivered Casuarina, led by Consolidated Properties CEO and chairman Don O’Rorke, Hutchinson Builders chairman Scott Hutchinson and renowned urban designer Brian Toyota, of architectural practice Bureau Proberts.

CPG has lodged a rezoning application with Tweed Shire Council for the Caldera site, which has been designated since 1991 as the Dunloe Park Urban Release Area, the final land release area within the Pottsville locality and one of only four remaining growth areas along the entire Tweed coastal strip. Preliminary plans for Caldera feature a 13-hectare retail and commercial precinct at the core of the village, surrounded by meticulously planned residential areas comprising around 550 homesites.

The retail hub will be anchored by a Coles Supermarket and will offer 7000 sqm of retail and 23 commercial lots designed to serve the local community and bring together curated shopping, dining, gym, wellness, childcare, medical and other essential services.

<img alt="Cons prop" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fca7dc71-4b71-45b1-bb04-5a60bd7158d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-20%20at%208.34.04%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=vAKwIvLuwmTKj6blHJRYIEeXS_8lCgUx" />

The project will create more than 1500 jobs over its development cycle, according to its economic modelling, and significantly address the shortage of employment land in the Tweed.

The residential areas will encourage a sense of community via a cohesive urban design that encourages walking, cycling, enhanced resident connectivity and reduced reliance on cars via bike paths and pedestrian-friendly streets.

Homesites will include a range of options from premium ridge-top homes to affordable housing options, ensuring a community that is inclusive of different income levels and designed to appeal to a wide demographic from baby boomers to families, singles and professionals. Architectural and planting covenants on home building will support the village’s built form and protect its character.

O’Rorke says CPG intends Caldera to be a model project delivered efficiently in a dedicated urban release area and ‘very much for this region and for this time’.

“Our vision for Caldera is to create a modern coastal village with its own unique northern NSW identity,” he said.

“Building on our legacy of Casuarina, 25 years on, this new village is designed to stand apart, offering the future of modern living, balancing the natural beauty of the region with contemporary amenities and convenience.

“Caldera will be more than just a place to live - it will be a welcoming, inclusive coastal village neighbouring Pottsville that invites visitors and embraces new residents. With its strong ties to the land, vibrant lifestyle and sense of place, Caldera will set a new standard for village living in Northern NSW.”

<img alt="CPG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9a5a7cf4-5f76-4ddf-bd05-c8fb77d0a787" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-20%20at%208.33.59%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=J1CzCGD7kE7fcAMd41V4pKAf_sI4L5Jv" />

The project’s centrepiece is environmental sustainability, with comprehensive wetlands protection measures and planting of native trees, parklands, village greens and communal grounds to enhance the natural beauty of the area.

CPG will also deliver a developer-funded wastewater treatment plant to ensure zero ocean outflows and provide high quality long-term infrastructure for Tweed Shire.

A key focus is wildlife management planning, including extensive conservation controls for the West Pottsville koala population, aligned with Tweed Shire Council’s Koala Plan of Management and designed to enhance koala habitat connectivity and future population growth.

Caldera will extend the existing koala corridor by connecting koala precincts west of the Pacific Highway with populations in the north and east precincts. A koala underpass will be created under Pottsville Road to complete the connection of this important corridor. Native tree plantings will expand essential koala food sources, while approximately eight kilometres of exclusion fencing will be constructed to safeguard the koalas from urban threats.

The Caldera site is nestled in the hills of Cudgera Creek and benefits from its rich natural surroundings including the Pottsville Wetland, Cudgera Creek Nature Reserve and nearby Pottsville Beach.

It takes its name from the surrounding Tweed Shield Volcano and Caldera, the vast bowl-shaped depression stretching from Byron Bay to the Queensland border that 20 million years ago was the world’s largest shield volcano and which has shaped the region’s striking landscape, with Mount Warning standing as one of its most iconic features.

The development is a joint venture between CPG and Pottsville Development Corporation, which made its first investment in Pottsville more than 45 years ago and is the developer of Black Rocks By the Sea, a masterplanned community now part of the fabric of Pottsville and which was the catalyst for the construction of a bridge across the Pottsville Estuary, providing direct access to the beach.

CPG’s $1.5 billion Casuarina Beach township, 10 kilometres to the north of Caldera, commenced construction in 2000 and has become the model for modern Australian, eco-sensitive beachside development.

Consolidated Properties unveils $800m coastal village Caldera in Casuarina

Growing national developer Time &amp; Place has announced its fifth new apartment development.

With two projects in Manly and two upcoming in Surry Hills and Potts Point, the developer, which expanded beyond Melbourne just a few years ago, is now heading to Mosman. It is planning 53 new apartments on Redan Street.

The 3,233 sqm site, spanning <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-48-redan-street-mosman-nsw-2088">40–48 Redan Street</a> with frontage to Redan Lane, is located just under 400 metres from Spit Junction Town Centre. It is reported the developer paid around $100 million for the five-site amalgamation.

Time &amp; Place, founded by Tim Price and backed by James Packer’s private investment firm NPACT, has submitted the project as a State Significant Development through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

Of the 53 apartments, 42 will be released to the market, with the remaining 11 allocated as affordable housing in line with NSW Government requirements.

fjc Studio has designed the building. In its Design Report, the architect said the diverse mix of dwelling types and sizes, including 11 two-bedroom affordable housing units, 40 three-bedroom apartments, and two four-bedroom residences, will support a broad demographic, including families, downsizers, and key workers.

The development will rise to nine levels, a height encouraged by the NSW Government due to the site’s proximity to Spit Junction, which has been identified as a low- to mid-rise centre. Developments within a certain proximity to these centres are permitted increased height.

fjc said the project “achieves an appropriate density outcome for its setting by balancing increased housing supply with strong amenity performance,” adding that it “makes a measurable contribution to NSW housing supply targets through the delivery of additional dwellings and dedicated affordable housing.”

The new development will replace five existing two-storey homes.

“By aligning with the objectives of the Housing SEPP and applying careful architectural and urban design principles, the development provides high-quality residential accommodation that integrates sensitively within its established Mosman context and delivers enduring benefits to residents and the wider community.”

Mosman has become increasingly popular with developers in recent years.

Developer Abadeen has been particularly active, with Mosman Residences currently on the market and under construction on Clifford Street. It also has an upcoming Burran Avenue project, comprising just three apartments on the Balmoral Slopes, and recently secured the Midas and Honeysuckle nursery site on Military Road.

Prosker Property has a project on Redan Lane, just a few doors down from Time &amp; Place’s proposed development.

Developers including Toohey Miller, DARE Property Group, and WINIM also have projects underway in the area. In 2024, a five-year target was set for the Mosman LGA to increase housing supply by 500 dwellings by 2029.

Time &amp; Place entered the Sydney market with Two Tides, its under construction Manly development. Given its sales success, it has secured another development in the area, more boutique, facing the beach on North Steyne.

They are hoping to launch their redevelopment of The Chimes in Potts Point this year, and next year will look to take to market Marlborough House, an adaptive re-use of the landmark David Jones warehouse in Surry Hills.

Time & Place to take on Mosman apartment market

Retail Market

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The Brisbane retail property sector has remained relatively stable throughout 2019 as firm yields continue to be achieved across asset types and price points with strong demand from investors for quality retail assets with strong income security, according to the latest retail report from valuation firm Herron Todd White.
They found, the recent interest rate cuts and the very poor returns from cash are however again putting downward pressure on property yields for good quality investments, despite an industry consensus in late 2018 and early 2019 that yields had bottomed.
The valuers said, "we are yet to see widespread evidence of further yield tightening but this is more a function of very limited levels of stock availability and lesser levels of sales activity."
"At the lower end of the market, the demand for good quality convenience and neighbourhood shopping centres remains strong with high levels of investor interest from private investors in particular."
"Such properties generally continue to trade in the six to seven per cent yield range"
More broadly, sub-regional, regional and major regional shopping centres continue to feel the squeeze as the traditionally high rental levels are in many instances not sustainable.
Whilst good centres are better at maintaining occupancy, for many centres this is being done on a reduced rental structure which has a direct flow through to values.
For secondary centres, the increasing levels of vacancies are becoming harder to hide.
The report authors noted, "much of this pain is still to be worked through and is likely to continue for some time."
"These pressures are impacting on the higher end investment markets where the sentiment for retail has softened considerably."
"Overall, we expect generally stable market conditions to continue for the lower tier retail markets into 2020 on the back of the low interest rate environment."
"In particular, there will continue to be strong interest in secure income producing properties with strong lease covenants, however many leasing markets are likely to remain difficult and there will be a heightened degree of volatility for both rentals and values for secondary assets," they concluded.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Brisbane retail sector strong with limited supply: HTW Retail

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Three of the eight capital cities are now at the top of the retail market, with Melbourne and Brisbane joining Canberra, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White's (HTW) latest retail property clock.
The Central Coast, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Coffs Harbour also moved to the peak of market position.
Sydney remained at the approaching peak of market position this month, while Ballarat, Bendigo, Burnie-Devonport and Launceston are holding as rising markets.
Mackay joined Adelaide, among others, beginning their retail market recovery.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/11/5/HTW%20Retail%20Clock%20NOV%202019.JPG" target="_blank">Click</a> to enlarge.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/11/5/HTW%20Retail%20Clock%20NOV%202019.JPG" alt="">
Geelong and Illawarra remain at the start of their decline.
There's not great news for Ballina, Newcastle, Lismore and Toowoomba, which are now declining markets, joining Echuca and Gippsland.
Hobart's retail market is still nearing the bottom of the market, as is Gladstone, South West WA and now Rockhampton.
Alice Springs joined Perth, Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Wide Bay, and Emerald at the bottom of the market.
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Brisbane and Melbourne retail markets are peaking: HTW Retail Clock

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EXPERT OBSERVER 
There are significant dangers in making generalisations on consumer spending. Sales of shoes and chemist items are solid. But the home building slowdown is weighing on sales of hardware and garden items while Aussie families are still cutting back on newspapers and books. Prices are rising sharply at food stores with the drought a key influence. But prices of shoes and electrical items are still cheaper than a year ago.
Overall, sales of retail goods continue to slow. One reason is higher retail inflation – the highest in a decade. But there is also the ongoing switch to services like health, education and tourism. Aussies still enjoy going out to cafes and restaurants. Meanwhile Aussie consumers outlay more on insurance, utilities and housing.
For the full 2018/19 year, Aussies spent 3 per cent more at retail outlets. They bought 1.3 per cent more goods and services while prices rose by 1.8 per cent over the year.
Are Aussie families living more simply? Perhaps. But it may also be the case that the significant uncertainty about the May election caused consumers to make a key tactical retreat. The encouraging 0.4 per cent lift in June spending may signify the return of the Aussie consumer.
Retail trade – June
Retail trade rose by 0.4 per cent in June after a 0.1 per cent increase in May. Annual growth rose from 2.4 per cent to 2.5 per cent. Non-food retailing rose by 0.5 per cent in June, and annual growth lifted from 1.8 per cent to 2.2 per cent.
Sales by chain-store retailers and other large retailers rose by 0.7 per cent in June after a 0.1 per cent increase in May to stand 3.9 per cent higher over the year.
Spending rose most in June in Clothing retailing (up 2.0 per cent); Footwear (up 1.9 per cent); Newspaper and book retailing (up 1.8 per cent) and Takeaway food (up 1.6 per cent). Nine of 15 retail categories rose in June.
Spending fell the most for Specialised food – butchers, bakers, fruit etc. (down 3.8 per cent) and Department stores and Hardware, building and garden supplies (both down 0.6 per cent).
Across states/territories: NSW (up 0.3 per cent); Victoria (up 0.3 per cent); Queensland (up 0.4 per cent); South Australia (down 0.3 per cent); Western Australia (up 0.8 per cent), Tasmania (up 1.5 per cent); Northern Territory (down 0.2 per cent); ACT (up 0.3 per cent).
Retail trade – June quarter
In real (inflation-adjusted) terms, retail trade rose by 0.2 per cent in the June quarter after a 0.1 per cent fall in the March quarter. Annual growth slowed to 0.2 per cent – the slowest since June quarter 1991 (28 years).
Eleven of the 15 retail categories showed growth in the June quarter.
Strongest gains were by Footwear &amp; Other Personal Accessory (up 1.5 per cent) from Department stores and Electrical, Electronic &amp; Gas Goods (both up 1.4 per cent).
Biggest falls were by Hardware, Building &amp; Garden Supplies (down 1.9 per cent), Newspapers and Books (down 1.7 per cent); and Supermarkets and Grocery Stores (down 0.6 per cent).
Prices across retailers rose by 0.4 per cent in the June quarter after a 0.8 per cent rise in the March quarter. Annual growth of retail prices lifted from 2.0 per cent to a decade high of 2.4 per cent.
Prices rose most in the June quarter in Pharmaceutical Cosmetic and Toiletry (up 1.3 per cent); Hardware, Building &amp; Garden Supplies and Newspapers and Books (both up 1.0 per cent).
In the June quarter there was still deflation in Electrical, Electronic &amp; Gas Goods (prices down 1.2 per cent); Footwear &amp; Other Personal Accessory (down 0.6 per cent); and Furniture, Floorcovering and Textile Goods (down 0.1 per cent).
What are the implications for interest rates and investors?
The Reserve Bank would do well to hold fire on future rate cuts until it assesses more evidence. The latest data shows higher prices and higher spending at a retail level. We do know that home prices are stabilising and that the sharemarket is only slightly down from record levels after reaching new peaks on Tuesday. There are also signs that employers are hiring again.
David Jones believes retailing is in recession. The timing of the comments wasn’t good – real department store sales rose by a solid 1.4 per cent in the June quarter.
The 0.7 per cent real decline in spending at Supermarkets &amp; grocery stores is remarkable. Cafes &amp; restaurants and takeaway outlets are doing better. Also of note, Marley Spoon has just released solid results.
CRAIG JAMES is the Chief Economist at CommSec
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cjames-5S2v74qSNK

Slowest retail spending in 28 years: CommSec's Craig James

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The local strip retail market has gone through an evolution over the past 10 years, and Oxford Street in Paddington has been a part of that change, according to Ray White's latest Between the Lines report. 
Ray White Commercial Eastern Suburbs director Grant Whiteman said destination strips like Oxford Street have had to reposition.   “This is off the back of local development, e-commerce, demographics, and spending habits, which have all changed the way individuals interact with local shopping,” Mr Whiteman said.   “While tenant mixes have seen some movement, rental rates and vacancies do continue to fluctuate.   “However, enquiry levels remain elevated for investment, with yields achievable in the 5-5.5 per cent range.”   Ray White head of research Vanessa Rader said Ray White Commercial Eastern Suburbs had surveyed the Oxford Street retail strip in January 2019 to determine tenancy mix and vacancies.   “Results have been encouraging, with vacancies of approximately 8.85 per cent recorded. Our last survey conducted in early 2015 saw vacancies at 11.81 per cent,” Ms Rader said.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/3/27/OX1.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge</a>.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/3/27/OX1.jpg" alt=""> 
“This period in 2015 was difficult for the region given the vacation of larger multinational tenants and the uncertain identity for this area. “Oxford Street enjoys high foot traffic and a heavy reliance on the clothing and soft good sector.   “Known as a fashion strip, this location also had a strong weighting towards furniture and homeware retailing to cater for the fashion-conscious home owner, however this has reduced over the last few years to just 2.46 per cent of the strip.   “While other retail locations favour food retailing, Oxford Street only represents 13.92 per cent of combined specialised food, café and restaurant retailing.   “Many retail centres and strip locations have favoured food retailing, and given the increase in retail spending habits geared towards food, this segment is somewhat immune to the internet shopping phenomenon that has changed the face of retail over the last ten years.   “While this may be below rates achieved in other locations, this has shown a swift upward movement since our last survey, where this accounted for less than 10 per cent of the total floorspace.   “While some owners have invested into capital expenditure and repurposing spaces, others have not, which results in a range of quality in tenants, with rental rates in a wide range between $350 to $900/sq m gross.   “This is down from the prime range of $900 to $1,500/sq m achieved in our 2015 analysis, and the highs of pre-Westfield Bondi Junction, upwards of $1,200/sq m.”   
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Paddington's Oxford Street seeing encouraging signs: Ray White

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Three of the eight capital cities are now at the bottom of the retail market, with Darwin now joining Adelaide and Perth, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White's (HTW) latest retail property clock.
Brisbane remains the strongest capital city market for retail, retaining its peak of market position.
It has been joined this month by Dubbo and the Gold Coast. 
Melbourne, Newcastle and Coffs Harbour have all moved into the beginning of a retail market decline, while Sydney is approaching the peak of the market.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/2/4/Jan%20Retail%20Clock.JPG" target="_blank">Click</a> to enlarge.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/2/4/Jan%20Retail%20Clock.JPG" alt="">
There's not great news for Canberra, which is now in a declining market, joining Alice Springs, Echuca and Gippsland.
Hobart's retail market is still nearing the bottom of the market, as is the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, South West WA and the Iron Triangle region.
Retail space in Sydney continues to approach market peak.
Ballarat, Bendigo, Launceston, Burnie-Devonport, the Mid North Coast and the Sunshine coast are all classified as rising markets.
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Three capital cities at the bottom of the retail market: HTW Property Clock

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Menswear chain Roger David will shut down all of its stores across Australia within a month, leaving 56 stores empty.
The 76-year-old company was placed in voluntary administration on October 18 citing "the influx of multinational retailers and the rapid, global evolution of online shopping" as the reason for their closure.
KordaMentha Restructuring administrator Craig Shepard said that while there had been some interest among potential buyers, there were no firm bids.
"Roger David was a victim of rising fixed costs, fierce competition from online and global competitors and cautious consumer demand," Mr Shepard said.
The embattled retailer is to close down by early to mid-December.
Roger David employs 300 full-time people and almost 200 casuals and part-timers.
Roger David has 193 employees in 19 stores in Victoria, 98 in 15 stores in Queensland, 77 in 12 stores in NSW, 60 in seven stores in WA, 15 in two stores in SA, 15 in two stores in Tasmania and four in one Canberra store.
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Menswear chain Roger David shutting down leaving behind 56 empty storefronts

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The retail market on the Sunshine Coast has generally reflected the overall retail markets of south-east Queensland over the past three year period, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) commercial report.
The valuation firm took a look at the changing faces in the retail sector across the nation. 
"We have seen very strong yield compression for national tenant type holdings appealing to a larger regional style market," the report noted.
"We have also seen some investors begin to change their overall offer for stand alone holdings where appropriate and there’s been a re-positioning of some centres, primarily with a new focus towards food and entertainment offerings."
Several small neighbourhood centres in secondary overall locations have placed café-style tenants as primary tenants and have used these as the main draw to fill surrounding tenancies if the café tenant gets a strong following.
There has been a mix of hits and misses with this approach to date, which mainly fluctuates on the quality of the food tenant.
A former bulky goods type retail centre in Maroochydore opposite the southern entrance to Sunshine Plaza has also begun to reposition along the same lines, it noted.
"Recent placement of a health food supermarket, gym and two café-style operators has begun to change the dynamic of the centre, which had significant vacancies over the past three year period."
HTW noted the Ocean Street precinct had remained strong over the past two years, which is another area that has centred on a food and entertainment offering.
The Sunshine Plaza extension is also continuing which will add a David Jones and Big W to the overall offer.
The expansion will see the centre increase to 107,000 square metres with a further 100 specialties as well as a renovation of the existing facility and addition of 1,500 car parks.
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Café-style tenants becoming major drawcards for Sunshine Coast retail cenres: HTW

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The Sydney Metro Northwest upgrades have resulted in a variety of retail spaces on and around five of the new railway stations.
This follows the previous appointment of Savills Australia to conduct an expressions of interest leasing campaign for retail spaces at 12 of the Sydney Metro Northwest stations, which closed on June 1, 2018.
Now, phase two will differ by instead offering long-term retail opportunities in purpose built buildings on the station unpaid concourse.
Sydney Metro in partnership with Landcom are also offering on the land reserved for future development surrounding the station a 3,000sq m (approx.) ground lease opportunity and short term pad sites within “Interim Activation Areas” suited to a variety of uses, for example food and beverage trucks, pop up retail and events.
Savills Australia executive of retail services, David Kleiner has been appointed to conduct a new expressions of interest leasing campaign and said he has received an overwhelming response since the beginning of the first release.
These new opportunities have become available at five Sydney Metro Northwest stations at Tallawong, Kellyville, Bella Vista, Hills Showground and Cherrybrook stations. Chcha
Sydney Metro is Australia’s biggest public transport project – 13 metro stations open in the city’s north west in the first half of next year, with metro rail to extend into the Sydney CBD in 2024.
The expressions of interest campaign will commence 19 September 2018 with the activation of a dedicated website being www.sydneymetroleasing.com.au and close 19 October, 2018.
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Sydney metro offering long-term retail spaces

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Temple &amp; Webster, which suggests it was becoming "the next Harvey Norman" has reported its inaugural profit.
It claims to be Australia’s largest e‐commerce company in the furniture and homewares market.
Temple &amp; Webster has over 130,000 products on sale from over 700 suppliers.
Temple &amp; Webster earned $300,000 before interest, tax, amortisation and depreciation in the June-half following a 24% rise in revenues.
The company finished the year with a cash balance of $9.9 million and had net cash flows of $600,000 in the June quarter.
"[Two] years ago we promised our shareholders we would reach profitability during calendar year 2018 without having to raise additional capital, and I am proud to say that we achieved this goal," Coulter said in a statement on Monday.
He expected Temple &amp; Webster to be EBITDA positive in 2019, eight years after its launch in 2011 and two year after being floated in 2016 with its management team, including Mike Henriques (former Wayfair Australia GM) and Sven Lindell (ex Bras N’ Things, Woolworths and Rebel).
Temple &amp; Webster shares rose 7% to 76¢, compared with their issue price of $1.10.
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E-commerce furniture and homewares store Temple & Webster makes its inaugural profit

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Brisbane's retail market is at its peak, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White's July retail property clock.
It's a bounce back in fortunes for the Brisbane retail market. In their April clock, Herron Todd White said the Brisbane market was starting to decline.
"In the CBD, 300 George Street, Queens Wharf, the Howard Smith Wharves and the recently announced redevelopment of the Eagle Street Pier will dramatically reshape the landscape over the next five years," the report noted.
Adelaide, Darwin and Perth's retail markets are at the bottom of the market, while there's good signs for Sydney, Hobart, Canberra Melbourne. 
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/7/4/HTW_Retail_July.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/7/4/HTW_Retail_July.jpg" alt="">
In April when HTW released its <a href="/expert-insights/investing/dubbo-at-peak-of-retail-market-htw">last retail clock</a>, Dubbo's retail market was at its peak, where it also sat in <a href="/expert-insights/investing/dubbo-rises-to-the-top-of-retail-clock-in-december-htw">December's clock.</a>
There are pockets across New South Wales which are approaching the peak of market.
Last month the Smorgon family listed their <a href="/expert-insights/investing/smorgon-family-list-queen-street-mall-retail-holding-with-100-million-hopes">retail holding at Queen Street Mall</a> in the Brisbane CBD with $100 million hopes.
 
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