It has been well over two decades since Oxley Secondary College, south west of the Brisbane CBD, closed its doors. The vast block of land sat perfectly between Oxley Station and Canossa Private Hospital, which made it ripe for a new residential-led masterplan.

Just over four years ago, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/honeycombes-property-group">Honeycombes Property Group</a> Founder Peter Honeycombe expressed his interest in a 9,644 sqm section of the broader Songbird Oxley masterplan, where a new townhouse neighbourhood would take shape.

Having spent the last three decades in development, working on major suburb-shaping projects like Ferny Gr​ove Central and Coor​paroo Square, Honeycombe knew his first step.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5238]

“While it’s not a requirement, we always hold public forums before we even lodge our development applications,” Honeycombe says. “We want to know what type of housing resonates the most with the local community, because ultimately they are the most likely to call it home.”

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/oxley-qld-4075">Oxley</a>, Honeycombes held four forums, which he attended personally to speak to the community. For Ferny Gr​ove Central, he held nine.

“It’s about creating something that belongs to the community. The site was ripe for regeneration, and the feedback we ascertained from the community was that they wanted amenities that could bring people together again.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5241]

Significant amenity is already established in the wider masterplan, like a childcare centre and a cafe, which are ideally located directly across from the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/songbird-terraces-oxley-10-honeyeater-circuit-oxley-qld-4075">Songbird Terraces</a> development.

The feedback also signalled a preference for townhouses over apartments. A townhouse product would lend itself to young families who could utilise the nearby childcare centre, downsizers, and multi-generation families.

There are just 34 three and four-bedroom townhouses that make up Songbird Terraces, each with private courtyards, two car spaces, and access to shared outdoor spaces that include a heated swimming pool with an adjoining alfresco terrace.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5242]

Honeycombe sees townhouses as an under-appreciated asset class, offering a middle ground between apartments and detached houses.

“Some people want the low maintenance and shared amenities of apartments. Others want the size of a house but without the upkeep of a large backyard. Townhouse communities like Songbird bridge that gap,” he said.

Songbird Terraces’ position within the larger Songbird Oxley masterplan reinforces its family and lifestyle focus. With a childcare centre opposite, a nursing home next door, and parks on two sides, the neighbourhood is positioned as a multigenerational community hub.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5237]

Honeycombes, working with builder Clearcon, expects the retail component of the masterplan to be roofed by mid-next year, with the residential component nearing topping out around the same time.

For Honeycombe, new development is very much a journey, and a two-way street between developer and the local community.

“I think it can be difficult for prospective home buyers to trust developers a lot of the time, but the vast majority spend years on a development. We’ve spent four years getting to this stage of launching the project, and it will be another two years building it. Ferny Gr​ove took 12 years and Coorp​aroo took 11. These projects aren’t quick in-and-out ventures. We’re in it for the long haul, and that’s why the community has to be at the centre of it.”

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149443]

Joel Robinson

Honeycombes Property Group takes community-first approach at Songbird Terraces in Oxley

International developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mrcb">MRCB</a>&nbsp;has launched its $200 million <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/maris-southport-20-queen-street-southport-qld-4215">Maris</a> apartments in Southport, with 75 per cent of residences already sold ahead of launch, the strongest sales result of any new Gold Coast project.&nbsp;

The strong sales momentum highlights renewed buyer confidence in the urban revival of the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/southport-qld-4215">Southport</a> CBD.

Maris will rise 20 levels from its Queen Street location and delivering 192 one- and two-bedroom apartments, with the flexibility to combine into larger three-bedroom homes, a response to shifting buyer demand for adaptable urban living.&nbsp;

Designed by Plus Studio, Maris represents one of the most significant residential projects in the Southport pipeline.&nbsp;

The final release of the upper-level apartments, many with sweeping views across the Broadwater and city skyline, is expected to drive further interest when released to market later this year.&nbsp;

MRCB International CEO Ravi Krishnan said the response had exceeded expectations and reinforced confidence in Southport’s long-term investment appeal.&nbsp;

“Maris has resonated with buyers who recognised the value in Southport’s transformation,” said Krishnan.&nbsp;

“The demand we’ve received so far validated our approach to creating considered, lifestyle-driven residences in locations with strong infrastructure and long-term growth prospects.

“Officially launching the project is a significant milestone for us. It’s the culmination of years of planning and local engagement, and we’re proud to be bringing a project of this quality to market at a time when well-located housing is in high demand.&nbsp;

“For MRCB International, it reinforces our commitment to the Gold Coast and our belief in the region’s future as one of Australia’s most liveable urban centres.”&nbsp;

Located on the site of the former Sundale Motel, demolition is now complete, with construction expected to commence in the second half of 2025. Completion is anticipated in 2028.&nbsp;

Maris will deliver a comprehensive resident amenity offering, including a rooftop yoga and dining terrace, a podium-level pool, gym, sauna and a resident lounge.

Positioned directly opposite the Broadwater Parklands light rail station, the development offers walkable access to major retail and dining at Australia Fair, and the proposed Olympic arena at Carey Park, expected to be a catalyst for future infrastructure investment in the lead-up to the 2032 Games.&nbsp;

Recent research from Urbis confirmed Maris was the largest contributor to new apartment sales across the Gold Coast during the March quarter, accounting for 80 of the 209 sales recorded city-wide.&nbsp;

“We’re focused on delivering projects that reflect how people want to live. Connected, well-designed and future-focused,” Krishnan added.&nbsp;

“Southport is undergoing a significant evolution, and Maris is designed to meet the needs of buyers seeking quality homes in vibrant, well-located communities.”&nbsp;

The launch of Maris follows the success of MRCB International’s flagship 26 Vista development in Surfers Paradise, which emerged as one of the fastest-selling apartment projects on the Gold Coast in 2023 and 2024.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134403]

MRCB launches Southport Maris apartments

Brisbane developer Carbone Developments has lodged plans for its sixth residential project in Windsor, on the city’s northside.

The family-run builder–developer, which is currently delivering Amado Windsor, is proposing one of its largest projects to date, an <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/42-federation-street-windsor-qld-4030">88-apartment development</a> spanning three adjoining lots on Federation Street.

The 2,023 sqm site sits within the Windsor East precinct of the Lutwyche Road Corridor Neighbourhood Plan, an area earmarked for higher-density residential growth.

<img alt="Carbone windsor podium" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5d466d70-52a1-4db4-b005-b7d96266e16e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Carbone%20Windsor%20podium.png?VersionId=xPtW9N2b3zRnfO5TNVx0ApsRGqz59tns" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/angelo-patrick-architects">Angelo Patrick Architects</a>, the new project will be a mix of just one and two-bedroom apartments, a mix which struck a chord at Amado which is less than 750m away.

Car parking is contained within podium levels, with access via both Federation and Addison Streets.

The site is currently vacant and surrounded by a mix of older housing stock and newer apartment buildings.

“The precinct is clearly transitioning to higher density residential uses,” the documents submitted to the Brisbane City Council noted. The reports suggested the proposed scale is considered an appropriate response to the intended future character of the area.

The Carbone family, led by brothers Tony and Don Carbone, has been developing new apartments across inner-city&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/brisbane-qld" target="">Brisbane</a>&nbsp;for the best part of two decades.

First look: Carbone makes next Windsor play

Burgeoning national developer Fortis has spent $37.5 million on one New Farm's most sought-after streets, the highest price ever paid for a development site in the affluent Brisbane suburb.

They've settled on a rare and prized 5,272 sqm block on Bowen Terrace, which runs from the heart of New Farm to the foot of the Story Bridge.&nbsp;It was also the only available residential development site of this scale offered in New Farm for more than a decade.

The site, which is completely cleared and vacant, was sold by Ozcare, who have recently completed a new aged care facility in Newstead.&nbsp;Funds from the sale will be used to develop more aged care facilities for some of Queensland’s most vulnerable senior citizens.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a> Queensland agents Brendan Hogan and Troy Linnane sold 424 Bowen Terrace,&nbsp;alongside Gallus Partners agent John Shepherd, the cleared and vacant site at

Hogan said the site attracted strong interest from &nbsp;local, national and international developers, drawn by the site’s scale and location in best luxury &nbsp;residential precincts. The EOI campaign was hotly contested with well over 100 enquiries and eight offers received at the close of the process.&nbsp;

“As the only residential development site of this scale offered in New Farm for more than a decade, the &nbsp;property attracted significant interest from premium developers,” Hogan said.&nbsp;

“Fortis presents a compelling vision for a high-quality project that responds to the growing demand &nbsp;from local owner-occupiers seeking larger, design-led apartments. This is a major opportunity to create &nbsp;something truly exceptional in Brisbane’s most prestigious suburb.”&nbsp;

Fortis has lodged development plans with Brisbane City Council for the site, proposing a landmark residential project designed by DKO Architecture. The scheme comprises 74 luxury apartments and four freehold homes.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/fortis-files-bowen-terrace-new-farm-apartment-plans">Fortis files Bowen Terrace, New Farm apartment plans</a>

Strong demand for expansive Bowen Terrace site signals resurgence of Brisbane’s apartment market 

Fortis settles on record $37.5 million New Farm site

In Brighton, where detached homes and long-settled streetscapes remain the norm,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/elema-brighton-155-157-north-road-brighton-vic-3186">ELEMA</a> introduces a different model for high-quality housing.&nbsp;

Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/kervale">Kervale</a>, this new collection of 12 townhomes is underpinned by the four classical elements, earth, water, air, and light, not as styling cues, but as structural and spatial drivers across architecture, interiors, and landscape.

Designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/martinoleah">Martino Leah</a>&nbsp;with interiors by Brahman Perera and landscaping by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/acre">Acre</a>, the project responds to what Kervale identifies as a gap in the local Brighton housing market: mid-sized homes with character, amenity, and a genuine sense of community.&nbsp;

ELEMA’s configuration reflects this intent, with a horseshoe-shaped layout wrapped around a central garden, promoting passive ventilation and privacy without isolating residents.

Each home spans three levels and includes three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a study, and two car spaces, with internal areas up to 182 sqm and external zones up to 95 sqm.

Two of the twelve townhomes include private plunge pools with heated spa functionality in addition to pre-provisioning for internal passenger lifts. Prices start from $1.7 million, targeting aspirational Bayside owner-occupiers in their mid-30s to 60s seeking entry into Brighton’s tightly held upper market.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145418 project_image_fid=300804]

‘Earth’ is expressed in the project’s grounded material palette and connection to site. Natural stone, granites and timber finishes in earthy hues are used consistently throughout, anchoring the homes in their context while supporting thermal mass.&nbsp;

Landscaped courtyards and native planting schemes featuring predominantly Australian Native species, developed by Acre, extend the concept beyond built form, using layered, low-maintenance vegetation to root the development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/brighton-vic-3186">Brighton</a>’s coastal ecology.

The site layout follows a horseshoe configuration, creating a central communal courtyard that provides both visual outlook and passive environmental benefits. This arrangement improves daylight access, facilitates cross-ventilation, and introduces a shared green space without compromising individual privacy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145418 project_image_fid=300809]

‘Water’ is introduced subtly but purposefully. Select townhomes include private plunge pools, integrated into rear terraces without visual dominance. These pools are designed for quiet retreat, and their placement reinforces the project’s broader focus on functional outdoor spaces that support private use rather than spectacle.

‘Air’ is enabled through architectural planning. The horseshoe site layout creates generous setbacks and enables cross-ventilation through each residence.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145418 project_image_fid=300803]

‘Light’ is a defining component of both the architecture and interiors. Large-format glazing opens living areas to courtyards and terraces, while the façade screening filters daylight to reduce glare and soften internal environments.&nbsp;

Internally, Perera’s palette of muted tones and tactile finishes is designed to respond to natural light conditions, shifting in tone and texture throughout the day.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145418 project_image_fid=300810]

ELEMA reflects a broader shift in how high-value suburbs are adapting to changing housing needs - away from uniformity, toward diversity in form, scale and function.

Rather than replicate detached housing models, ELEMA proposes an alternative built around balance, between public and private, built form and natural, permanence and flexibility. In doing so, it reframes the townhome as a highly resolved housing type capable of responding to both environmental and lifestyle needs.

ELEMA also targets an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating, supported by solar panels, drought-tolerant landscaping and high-spec energy-efficient appliances.

Three-bedroom townhomes at ELEMA Brighton are priced from $1,700,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145418]

Urban Editorial

Inside ELEMA Brighton: Designing with the elements

Studio

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A studio in Melbourne has been listed by mortgagees at $240,000., down on its recent $260,000 asking price.
It started on the market last last year at $295,000.
It last sold at $180,000 in 2009 and initially at $228,000 in 2004.
Located in the heart of the CBD, the studio apartment in the Oaks on Collins building is only 500 metres from Southern Cross Station and tram stops.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-studio-vic-melbourne-127153462" target="_blank">The 907/480 Collins Street</a> studio comes with the open-plan bedroom and living with views, kitchen with breakfast bar and a sleek bathroom.
Other features include reverse cycle split-system air-conditioner and built in robes.
It has been a $400 a week rental offering.
The median unit price sits on $469,000 according to CoreLogic.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

$240,000 Melbourne CBD studio listed by mortgagee

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Ipswich, the urban district south west of Brisbane, provided the nation's cheapest weekend buying opportunity.
It <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-north+booval-127367070" target="_blank">was a $155,000 sale</a> of a three bedroom house on 1047 sqm (above).
But it was only for the brave renovator or buyer prepared to start from scratch after its demolition.
Buyers who could "look past first impressions" and "know value when they see it" were encouraged to inspect, LJH agent Nick Ryan suggested.
The sale price represented a loss as it had last traded at $172,500 in 2006.
Its price was just above its $139,000 official land value. 
Meanwhile the national auction clearance rate edged up to 69.1 per cent across the capital cities as auction activity ramped up this week.
CoreLogic calculated some 1,963 homes were taken to auction, increasing from the 1,490 auctions held the prior week when 63.7 per cent of offerings found buyers under the hammer.
"Volumes are increasing at a slower pace," CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan said, noting on the same weekend last February there had been 2,291 offerings.
Sydney’s success rate soared back into the 70s with a 74.3 per cent clearance rate. 
"It was well above the trend over the final quarter of 2017 where auction clearance rates were tracking in the low 50 per cent range," Brogan said.
But it was on subdued volume as the 718 offerings was down on the 856 at the same time last year.
Sydney had the nation's top sale when $5,390,000 was paid in Strathfield for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-strathfield-127278270" target="_blank">12 Elwin Street</a>. Devine selling agent Greg Emerton said it had been in the same family for 48 years. It was a solid two storey double five bedroom brick home on 1347 sqm.
A six-bedroom Hunters Hill home of health cookbook author Martyna Angell and her husband Matthew Candrick was another pricey Sydney sale (below).
<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/2018/2/19/hunters.jpg" alt="">
It fetched $3.685 million after the architect-designed<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-hunters+hill-127359002" target="_blank"> Park Road</a> home was called on the market at $3.65 million.
Redesigned by Mark Armstrong in 2008, the home had previously traded at $2.22 million in 2013.
Sydney's cheapest result was an eastern suburbs studio apartment, for the second consecutive week.
The 28 square metre studio apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-studio-nsw-centennial+park-127301106" target="_blank">7E/105 Cook Rd, Centennial Park</a> fetched $390,000 pre-auction (below).
<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/2018/2/19/cent.jpg" alt="">
"It was an undercapitalised property easily accessible to Bondi Junction and the CBD," selling agent Felice Cotroneo said. 
There had been a $506,000 at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-studio-nsw-paddington-127322498" target="_blank">11/339 Oxford Street</a> on the prior weekend for a 21 square metre offering.
Melbourne's cheapest sale was also a studio apartment which sold at $230,000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-studio-vic-elwood-127378518" target="_blank">22/131 Glen Huntly Rd, Elwood</a> offering had been tipped to fetch between $220,000 to $240,000.
Melbourne, where 923 properties went to auction, up from 619 on the prior weekend, recorded a steady 70.7 per cent preliminary clearance rate. 
"This was the first week in some time where Sydney has outperformed Melbourne," Kevin Brogan noted.
Melbourne's top sale was a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-toorak-127385682" target="_blank">32A St Georges Road, Toorak</a> that sold for its reserve price of $3.2 million.
It had been marketed as having a $2.9 million to $3.19 million price guidance.
There were two bidders with an Australian investor living offshore securing the offering against bidding from a locally based Chinese family, Domain advised.
It was a 1930s Geoffrey Sommers designed residence with more recent renovations by Nicholas Day.
A knockdown four bedroom weatherboard home on <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-south+yarra-127393726" target="_blank">a 436 sqm block in South Yarra</a> fetched $3.03 million.
It had been tipped to fetch between $2.4 million and $2.6 million.
Adelaide recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 67.3 per cent. Prices ranged from $265,000 in Morphett Vale to $1,316,999 at Rose Park.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-rose+park-127469594" target="_blank">The 16 Grant Av, Rose Park result</a> was well above the $1.1 million expectations for the four bedroom 1900 sandstone offering.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Studio apartments and knockdowns popular at weekend auctions

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The Bendel family have listed their bold and bright 1950s Potts Point studio apartment investment. 
Its colour scheme was inspired by Mighty Mouse, the animated super hero.
It was the work of industrial designer Nicholas Gurney at 22/147 Brougham Street for which he got a shortlisted commendation at the Australian Interior Design Awards in 2013.
The top floor 27 sqm space comes with views of the city skyline and the Harbour Bridge.
Last traded $406,000 in June 2013, it goes to May 23 auction through Richardson &amp; Wrench.
The highest recorded studio apartment price in Potts Point over the past year sits at $635,000 on nearby Victoria Street.
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The brightest 27 sqm studio in Potts Point 

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Quest Apartment Hotels has opened the first of its three new New South Wales properties planned for 2016 – the Quest St Leonards at 10 Atchison Street in the lower North Shore suburb of Sydney.
One of Sydney’s suburban skyscraper clusters, St Leonards has 79 studio apartments, gymnasium, swimming pool and a car park.
The building is five kilometres from the CBD. 
Quest CEO Zed Sanjana emphasised the importance of the Sydney market in the company’s growth strategy. 
“According to STR Global data from the September quarter 2015, occupancy in Greater Sydney increased to almost 86% – positioning the city as the top performer in Australia’s hotel market. This demand is simply not being met by supply – an issue we are addressing with the three properties scheduled to open this year,” he said. 
“Quest St Leonards is located within a triangle of prominent commercial centres of Sydney – the CBD, North Sydney, and Chatswood – with a growing number of national and international companies choosing to base themselves in these areas.
“I am looking forward to considerably growing Quest’s presence in Sydney, expanding our offering in 2016 to include St Leonards, Bella Vista and Macquarie Park,” he said.
Bella Vista will follow in June and Macquarie Park in December
St Leonards’ own commercial centre continues to expand, providing one of the largest office markets in metropolitan Sydney.
Quest has a strong pipeline of property openings this year, opening in 11 new locations. In addition to St Leonards, this includes: West Perth, Mounts Bay Road, East Perth and Fremantle (WA); Newcastle West, Bella Vista and Macquarie Park (NSW); Port Adelaide (SA); Dandenong Central (VIC); and Petone (New Zealand). 
 
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Studio

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