Sydney developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/31-41-o-hara-street-marrickville-nsw-2204">Third.i</a>&nbsp;has announced a new transport-oriented development in one of Sydney Inner West’s most sought-after metropolitan locations, delivering much needed housing within steps of world-class public transport and vibrant village life.

Located at&nbsp;31-41 O’Hara St,&nbsp;Marrickville, the proposed mixed-use development will include around 300 apartments, with up to 17 per cent dedicated to affordable housing, reinforcing Third.i’s commitment to creating inclusive, well-connected communities that support a diverse mix of residents who keep Sydney’s neighbourhoods thriving.

Located just 100 metres from the new Metro station, the development places residents within minutes of the CBD while offering seamless access to the Inner West’s cafés, retail, and local services. Anchored within a thriving local centre, the project supports everyday living without reliance on cars, while also delivering new public open space for the local community, including a new park and landscaped green areas, alongside high-quality private resident amenities.

Florian Caillon, Head of Acquisitions for Third.i Group, said the project builds on the company’s ongoing work alongside the NSW Government to deliver housing and amenity alongside major transport infrastructure. Amenity includes an activated pedestrianise retail strip that connects Illawarra Road down to the pocket park, and health and wellness facilities.&nbsp;

“Delivering housing of this scale within an established village is a rare opportunity, and few companies have achieved residential outcomes of this size at a village centre," Caillon said.

"We are excited to set a new standard for urban living in the heart of Marrickville,” he said.&nbsp;

The inclusion of affordable housing has been welcomed by frontline workers.

“We are supportive of developments which will allow essential workers like nurses, midwives and carers, the opportunity to live in the communities they care for," said&nbsp;Michael Whaites, General Secretary of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association..

“Many healthcare workers tell us they would like to live closer to where they work, but are being priced out of the market, forcing them to move further away.&nbsp;

“Dedicated apartments for essential workers will support recruitment and retention in local hospitals and aged care facilities, helping to strengthen our health system.”

The project has been declared State Significant Development (SSD) by the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA).

Joel Robinson

Third.i to deliver 300 apartments in Marrickville TOD precinct

A luxury half floor penthouse intended to be retained by Queensland developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/qm-properties">QM Properties</a> has hit the market as the final residence within <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/160-macquarie-160-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">160 Macquarie</a> apartment development, an exclusive enclave of just 33 premium apartments located on St Lucia’s riverfront.&nbsp;

The 14-storey building, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/st-lucia-qld-4067">St Lucia</a>’s first riverfront development to be completed in over a decade, smashed the suburb record in 2024 with a 12th storey, half-floor residence selling for $6.29 million, nearly $1.5 million higher than the previous highest sale of $4.8 million in 2020. &nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=25721 project_image_fid=299769]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a> Residential Director, Andrew Roubicek sold three apartments within the recently completed development in 2025 and 2026 realising increases in value averaging 65 per cent compared to the original prices of the apartments sold off-the-plan.

Andrew said these sales underscored the unparalleled desirability of 160 Macquarie, located on the riverfront in one of Brisbane’s most sought after suburbs, to the local downsizer market. &nbsp;

“Most of the residents in 160 Macquarie are like-minded western suburbs people, downsizing from large homes and attracted to the design, size and expansive aspects across the river and northeast views towards the Brisbane city skyline," Roubicek said.

“Residents of 160 Macquarie also enjoy exclusive access to a rooftop sanctuary that features a range &nbsp;of lounge and dining areas with uninterrupted panoramic views. The state-of-the-art private pool, nestled beside the Brisbane River, further enhances the luxurious lifestyle on offer."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=25721 project_image_fid=299764]

This demand for high quality, riverside residences has prompted QM Properties to release the final &nbsp;half floor penthouse, previously intended to be retained by the company, which has never been occupied. &nbsp;

The brand-new luxury 246 sqm sub-penthouse, designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>,&nbsp;has three bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a master with walk-in robe including make-up bench and ensuite with freestanding bath, open plan living and dining, built in bar and wine display, three side-by-side carparks, and an entertainers balcony with uninterrupted, never to be built out views of both the Brisbane CBD &amp; Mount Cootha.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=25721]

QM Properties have released the final half floor penthouse at 160 Macquarie, St Lucia’s first riverfront development in over a decade  

Final luxury penthouse released following 65% uplift in values at 160 Macquarie, St Lucia

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parkdale-vic-3195">Parkdale</a> may sit just south of Melbourne’s officially designated Bayside suburbs, but this small coastal pocket offers all the hallmarks of its neighbouring areas, at a considerably lower entry point to the property market.

Trains, beaches, dog parks and retail, the pillars of any Bayside lifestyle, are all thriving in Parkdale. It was these four factors, combined with a clear undersupply of new apartment developments, that drew boutique Bayside developer Lowe Living to the suburb around five years ago.

The group secured a site on Como Parade East, where it launched, and has now almost sold out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kallara-house-parkdale-by-lowe-living-129-137-como-parade-east-parkdale-vic-3195">Kallara House</a>.

Now, Lowe Living has returned to Parkdale, this time with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elanora-place-parkdale-152-como-parade-west-parkdale-vic-3195">Elanora Place</a> on Como Parade West, just a few minutes’ walk from the water.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148731 project_image_fid=364174]

Designed by Jackson Clements Burrows, Elanora Place will comprise 40 two- and three-bedroom apartments.

While “large-scale” is a term often overused in project marketing, the residences at Elanora Place genuinely live up to the label. Entry-level two-bedroom apartments, priced from $1.15 million, span nearly 115 sqm. Larger two-bedroom configurations, including ground-floor residences with courtyards, exceed 150 sqm, while three-bedroom homes range from 180 sqm to more than 220 sqm. These are priced between $1.75 million and $1.815 million.

A select number of residences also feature EV charging stations within private two-car garages.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148731 project_image_fid=364176]

The design of Elanora—translated as “a home by the sea”—draws on Parkdale’s architectural legacy and bayside charm, with careful consideration given to scale, materiality and local character, according to Jackson Clements Burrows.

Resident amenity has been curated to foster a sense of community, with a rooftop terrace offering sweeping bay views, built-in barbecue areas, and tranquil garden retreats designed to bring neighbours together in a relaxed coastal setting.

Construction of the low-rise development is already underway, led by Lowe Living’s in-house arm, Lowe Construction, with completion anticipated in early 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=148731]

Lowe Living continues Parkdale preference with Elanora Place apartments

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bpg-developments">BPG Developments</a>’ Palm Beach project Liérre has raced to 35 per cent sold within its first two months on the market, as the Queensland builder-developer prepares to start construction in the coming two months.&nbsp;

The momentum adds to a strong early response for the Jefferson Lane address, which recently secured development approval for the $165 million beachfront-adjacent scheme.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149551 project_image_fid=364569]

Planned for a 1,733 sqm amalgamated site on the beach side of Gold Coast Highway,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bpg-developments">Liérre</a> will deliver 58 apartments, three townhouses and eight penthouses, bringing a scaled residential offering to one of the Gold Coast’s most in-demand coastal suburbs. The project is one block back from the beach, a position that has helped shape both its design approach and buyer appeal.

BPG Developments Co-founder Nick Parr said the project reflects the next stage of Palm Beach’s evolution. “<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bpg-developments">Liérre</a> reflects the next phase in Palm Beach’s evolution as one of the Gold Coast’s most sought-after residential markets,” Parr said.&nbsp;

“Our vision was to deliver a project of enduring quality, one that responds to its beachfront location through thoughtful design and functionality.” He said BPG’s integrated builder-developer model gives the team greater control over quality, timelines and outcomes.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149551 project_image_fid=364572]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bpg-developments">Liérre</a> draws on Palm Beach’s coastal character through what the architect describes as a calm, finely detailed response to the shoreline setting. The palette leans into raw, earthy tones such as blush and rust, paired with travertine finishes, soft curves and organic forms.&nbsp;

Plus Studio Principal Chrisney Formosa said the building was “sculpted from the rhythm of the coast,” with a shell-inspired form and sand-hued facade intended to support Palm Beach’s emergence as a design-led beachfront neighbourhood.

Residents will also have access to a substantial wellness offering, including a gym, sauna, spa, outdoor shower, and an amenities deck with pool, cabanas, sunbeds and landscaping throughout.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149551 project_image_fid=364581]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a> has continued to attract attention from both developers and buyers as the southern Gold Coast tightens in supply.

MOTIV Founder Carly Cottam said the suburb was the fourth most searched on the Gold Coast for property, citing its community feel and proximity to beaches and dining. She said Lierre would appeal to buyers seeking a luxury address at a relatively attainable price point, particularly given the rarity of a site just one block back from the beach.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149551 project_image_fid=364576]

For BPG, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bpg-developments">Liérre</a> is also part of a broader period of growth. The approval followed another recent green light for the developer’s $250 million Newstead project, taking its pipeline to around $500 million across Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Co-founder Glen Williams said Palm Beach embodied the company’s focus on refined design, craftsmanship and long-term value over volume.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149551]

BPG’s Palm Beach project Liérre races to 35 per cent sold as construction commencement nears

Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pdg-corporation">PDG</a>&nbsp;has commenced early works on its $1.5 billion One Queens Bridge development, reviving a Southbank site that has remained dormant for more than a decade.

Located on one of Melbourne’s most significant riverfront sites, the project, to be known as No.1 Queens Bridge, will deliver a 71-level mixed-use tower comprising 588 residences and a hotel, complemented by dining and wellness offerings overlooking the Yarra River.

Originally constructed in the mid-1800s, the Queens Bridge Hotel will form a central part of the development, with PDG embracing and elevating the historic pub as a key arrival point into the precinct. The landmark building will anchor a new hospitality and dining offering, including a rooftop bar, a grand atrium entry, and a proposed global luxury boutique hotel integrated into the podium levels.

Crafted by internationally renowned design studio <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX</a>, in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the project draws inspiration from its riverfront setting. The architecture explores the movement and fluidity of the Yarra River, expressed through a sculptural facade composed of six vertical pleats extending the full height of the 71-storey tower.

The pleated form creates a distinctive three-dimensional expression that captures and reflects Melbourne’s changing light throughout the day, adding a dynamic presence to the city skyline.

Residents will have access to more than 5,500 sqm of amenities across multiple levels, creating an “urban village in the sky” that redefines how people live across generations.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the project represents a major milestone for both the site and Melbourne’s next wave of city-shaping developments.

“This project marks the revival of one of Melbourne’s most prominent riverfront sites and the beginning of a new chapter for Southbank," Giuliano said.

"For more than 15 years, the site has remained dormant, and the recent commencement of demolition on site is a powerful signal of our confidence in Melbourne’s future and in PDG’s ability to deliver a project of this scale and quality."

Giuliano says&nbsp;No.1 Queens Bridge has been designed to deliver something truly exceptional for Melbourne, an address that brings together heritage, architecture, hospitality and residential living in a way the city hasn’t experienced for many years."

PDG purchased the 5,059 sqm site at 1–29 Queens Bridge Street in December 2024. Plans for No.1 Queens Bridge are currently before the Department of Transport and Planning, with sales due to launch in the coming months.

PDG kicks off early works on $1.5 billion Southbank tower No.1 Queens Bridge

Supermarkets

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A standalone Coles supermarket, in the bayside suburb of Mentone, has sold on the tightest Victorian yield of 2019.
Located at 81 Mentone Parade, the recently refurbished property comprises a freestanding 2,854 square metre supermarket, with access to just over 150 council car spaces.
The standalone Coles supermarket sold for $15.3 million on a 3.4 per cent yield, the best vendor yield since Coles Clayton sold on a 2.57 per cent yield in March 2018.
The property was sold under a 10 year lease from January 2017, with a further 10 year option, to Coles at a current rental of $519,785 per annum net.
CBRE Director Mark Wizel, who managed the sale campaign with Justin Dowers and Joseph Du Rieu, said enquiry had been `through the roof’ with two Chinese investors - one the eventual purchaser - flying in for the auction.
Mr Wizel said the last three bidders – all Chinese – who took the bidding from $12 million to the close, were introduced through CBRE’s Asian Services Desk headed by Lewis Tong.
"This year we have seen yields hover around 5.5 per cent following an average closer to 4.5 per cent over 2018 but this result unambiguously indicates demand for this product remains very strong,’’ Mr Wizel said.
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Coles Mentone sold on tightest Victorian yield of 2019

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EXPERT OBSERVER
 
On the way home, you wander into the supermarket for a loaf of bread. But before you reach the bread aisle, you drop in your prescription at the supermarket pharmacy. Shopping done, you pick up your pills on the way out.
Across the US, UK and mainland Europe, supermarket pharmacies are becoming the norm. But in Australia, they’re banned.
The Commonwealth government is negotiating the <a href="https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/New-7th-Community-Pharmacy-Agreement" target="_blank">seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement</a> with pharmacists, which outlines how community pharmacy is delivered over the next five years, who delivers it and where.
So could pharmacies in supermarkets be an option for Australia?
<h2>How common are they?</h2>
Overseas, pharmacies have been in supermarkets for decades. In the UK, supermarkets like <a href="https://www.asda.com/about/instore/pharmacy" target="_blank">ASDA</a>, <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/56e1a52d40f0b6037900001d/Tesco_hearing_summary.pdf" target="_blank">Tesco</a>, <a href="https://my.morrisons.com/help/information/store-services/pharmacy/" target="_blank">Morrisons</a> and <a href="https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gb/groceries/get-ideas/our-instore-services/--sainsburys-pharmacy?storeId=10151&amp;langId=44&amp;krypto=3Yh4GQ%2BNdq51nNqI8mxTmkZXe9Ggb9L33GTajzfwdGXhiQftJrJArZAib4hw%2Bs8JTxwLH2HfrQCChmYTBIAbS7BEz2U5FalmUXfV%2FK4wt6OhdFjJrMlhiZMBhuu2s45yNiOQDTkMs%2BONJUT5MWYlSGhWL5pH5YQM9gRqD0wFloM%3D&amp;ddkey=https%3Agb%2Fgroceries%2Fget-ideas%2Four-instore-services%2F--sainsburys-pharmacy" target="_blank">Sainsbury’s</a> have them. And so do <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.walmart.com/cp/pharmacy-services/1088604" target="_blank">Walmart</a>, <a href="https://www.kroger.com/topic/pharmacy" target="_blank">Kroger</a> and <a href="http://www.publix.com/pharmacy-wellness/pharmacy/pharmacy-services" target="_blank">Publix</a> in the US.
Canada’s largest supermarket Loblaw <a href="https://www.thestar.com/business/2010/05/04/loblaw_plans_drugstore_expansion" target="_blank">announced plans</a> in 2010 to expand more aggressively into the pharmacy business. It later bought pharmacy chain <a href="https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/loblaw-companies-limited-completes-acquisition-of-shoppers-drug-mart-corporation-514006661" target="_blank">Shoppers Drug Mart</a>.
<h2>Arguments against</h2>
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia argues pharmacies in supermarkets means community pharmacies would be unable to compete, supermarkets would put shareholders’ interests ahead of patients, and consumer protection would be lost. Such critics argue supermarkets would push smaller players out of the market, limiting consumer choice and access.
The Guild also suggests it would be hypocritical for supermarkets to run pharmacies when <a href="https://www.guild.org.au/news-events/news/2013/12/19/supermarkets-and-health-care-don-t-mix" target="_blank">they rely on</a> cigarette and alcohol sales.
Overseas, there is public support for small, independently run community pharmacies over supermarket-owned ones.
For instance, in 2013 <a href="https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/residents-rallied-behind-helsby-pharmacy-5191264" target="_blank">almost 2,000 people petitioned against</a> supermarket giant Tesco, fearing an existing pharmacy across the road would be “bulldozed” out of business.
<h2>Arguments for</h2>
The main arguments for pharmacies in supermarkets seem to be they would offer the public a <a href="https://www.retailwire.com/discussion/would-you-go-to-walmart-to-see-a-doctor/" target="_blank">cheaper and more convenient service</a>.
For instance, <a href="https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2005/01/04/wal-mart-unveils-24-hour-pharmacies" target="_blank">Walmart</a> employs more than 10,000 pharmacists across 3,000 retail pharmacies throughout the US and launched a 24 hour pharmacy service over a decade ago. Then it began dispensing generic medications for as <a href="https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2006/09/20/wal-mart-cuts-generic-prescription-medicines-to-4" target="_blank">little as US$4</a>.
Supermarkets also seem committed to supporting pharmacies in store, despite tough times. In 2019, Tesco, which runs 300 in-store pharmacies, <a href="https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/tesco-pharmacy-staff-9000-job-cuts" target="_blank">reported</a> no pharmacy staff positions would be lost when 9,000 store positions became redundant.
There are also <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/a-chemist-can-own-a-supermarket-but-supermarkets-cant-own-a-pharmacy/news-story/fe97c42c3d2b55bbb613559cbf194cc1" target="_blank">claims of hypocrisy</a>. Why does existing Australian legislation prevent a supermarket from owning a pharmacy, but not a pharmacy from owning a supermarket?
<h2>What might work in Australia?</h2>
If Australia follows international trends, we might consider two models:
<ul>
<li>straight-out ownership, where a supermarket owns a chain of pharmacies and employs pharmacists to run them, or</li>
<li>a strategic alliance, where a pharmacy chain, like Chemist Warehouse, has smaller versions of its stores inside a supermarket.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292346/original/file-20190913-35596-1bt65lt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292346/original/file-20190913-35596-1bt65lt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a> In-store pharmacies might be convenient, but is that enough to convince policy makers they’re right for Australia? <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/pharmacy-pickup-area-237587" target="_blank">from www.shutterstock.com</a>
Examples of straight-out ownership include Sainsbury’s in the UK and Walmart in the US. This arrangement allows them to sell these assets at a later stage.
This is what happened with Sainsbury’s, which <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jul/29/sainsburys-sells-pharmacy-business-celesio-125m" target="_blank">sold its 281-store pharmacy business</a> to Celesio, the owner of the Lloyds Pharmacy chain, for £125m in 2015. Sainsbury’s indicated the move would enable further growth, while extending their pharmacy services to customers.
In an example of a strategic alliance, UK pharmacy chain Boots and supermarket Waitrose <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/experts-weigh-marketing-benefits-waitrose-boot-tie-up/941645?src_site=brandrepublic" target="_blank">agreed in 2009 to stock each other’s products</a>.
<a href="https://www.boots.com/stores/6313-lichfield-waitrse-ws13-6rx" target="_blank">Boots supplied</a> health care, pharmaceutical products and services, like flu jabs and medical check-ups to Waitrose, and Waitrose supplied food to Boots. Pharmacies in 13 Waitrose stores were also re-branded “Boots Pharmacy”.
 
However, existing legislation prevents either option in Australia unless changes are made in the new Community Pharmacy Agreement. This is because <a href="https://www.guild.org.au/news-events/news/forefront/v08n16/ownership-a-foundation-stone" target="_blank">current pharmacy ownership rules</a> prevent supermarkets or anyone (other than a pharmacist) from owning a pharmacy.
If ownership rules were lifted, but <a href="https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/DDB409EBB18FCE8FCA257BF0001D3C0C/%24File/Pharmacy%20Location%20Rules%20Applicants%20Handbook%20December%202018.pdf" target="_blank">location</a> rules remained, supermarkets would be prevented from operating pharmacies opening within 1.5km of one another.
This means if Coles had an in-store pharmacy, then Woolworths across the road, could not operate one, and vice versa. And if there was already a pharmacy in the neighbourhood, neither could open one, even if ownership rules were relaxed.
<h2>Are we set for regulation or liberalisation?</h2>
The <a href="https://www.guild.org.au/" target="_blank">Pharmacy Guild of Australia</a>, which represents owners of community pharmacies, and the <a href="https://www.psa.org.au/" target="_blank">Pharmaceutical Society of Australia</a>, which represents individual pharmacists, both support current ownership rules — strong regulation over ownership and location.
However, pharmacy giant Chemist Warehouse and Ramsay Health Care (which owns pharmacies as well as private hospitals), <a href="http://competitionpolicyreview.gov.au/files/2015/03/Competition-policy-review-report_online.pdf" target="_blank">say</a> ownership rules are redundant and ineffective. And they’re not alone.
Critics of the current Community Pharmacy Agreement <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/208-2016-09-23-grattan-institute-submission.pdf" target="_blank">argue</a> over-regulation of pharmacies, particularly surrounding ownership and location, limits competition and growth.
And in 2015 the <a href="http://competitionpolicyreview.gov.au/final-report/" target="_blank">Harper Report</a> into competition policy recommended:
[…] pharmacy ownership and location rules should be removed in the long-term interests of consumers. They should be replaced with regulations to ensure access to medicines and quality of advice regarding their use that do not unduly restrict competition.
European countries seem to be moving towards deregulation. In 2017 Italy <a href="https://www.hlregulation.com/2017/08/02/italy-opens-the-door-to-corporate-ownership-of-pharmacies-a-revolution-for-the-italian-pharma-distribution/" target="_blank">passed legislation</a> to allow corporate entities to own a pharmacy business, and also increased the number of pharmacies a proprietor may own.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292339/original/file-20190913-190044-1tczc4s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292339/original/file-20190913-190044-1tczc4s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a> In the US, in-store pharmacies in supermarkets are common, convenient and can offer cheaper products. But current Australian pharmacy ownership rules ban them. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/shopping-basket-pills-concept-buying-drugs-1289871286?src=-1-2" target="_blank">from www.shutterstock.com</a>
So what are the impacts of deregulation? If we look at <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168851009002875" target="_blank">evidence</a> from Europe, when the UK relaxed ownership and location rules, pharmacies operated more efficiently. Pharmacies also had more freedom to set prices for over-the-counter products and offered a wider range of services.
Yet, the same research also found where there was stronger regulation, such as in Spain, consumer access to pharmacy improved, as new pharmacies were opened based on geographic, demographic or needs-based criteria. Simply, if there was already one pharmacy servicing a neighbourhood, they didn’t need another.
<h2>Is Australia likely to see supermarket pharmacies?</h2>
Whether Australia is likely to see supermarket pharmacies any time soon is open to debate.
In a speech to the Pharmacy Guild’s national conference in 2019, federal health minister Greg Hunt <a href="https://www.guild.org.au/news-events/news/2019/minister-hunt-delivers-support-for-community-pharmacy" target="_blank">said</a> there would be no change to the ban on locating pharmacies within supermarkets.
However, other powerful groups are calling for change. These include the <a href="https://ama.com.au/media/new-working-group-look-pharmacy-agreement" target="_blank">Australian Medical Association</a>, which wants the regulations changed to allow broader ownership of pharmacy businesses.
If supermarkets were to guarantee <a href="https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/New-7th-Community-Pharmacy-Agreement" target="_blank">sufficient controls</a> — such as to ensure the safe use of medicines, staff were properly trained and there were safeguards to ensure equitable access for elderly patients, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly people living in rural and remote areas — it would be hard to argue for existing rules about pharmacy ownership and location.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/122640/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gary-mortimer-1322" target="_blank">Gary Mortimer</a>, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847" target="_blank">Queensland University of Technology</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-grimmer-212082" target="_blank">Louise Grimmer</a>, Lecturer in Retail Marketing, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888" target="_blank">University of Tasmania</a>
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-loaf-of-bread-and-a-packet-of-pills-how-supermarket-pharmacies-could-change-the-way-we-shop-122640" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Main photo: www.shutterstock.com
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

A loaf of bread and a packet of pills: how supermarket pharmacies could change the way we shop

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Kaufland, the German supermarket chain, is applying to open a 'Hypermarket', one of its first Australian stores, in Toowoomba.
The Toowoomba Chronicle reported that the company submitted a DA to the Toowoomba Regional Council last Friday.
The proposed site for the Hypermarket, which is just a supermarket by another name, is 353-359 Anzac Avenue.
It will be located on the corner of Anzac Avenue and Carrel Drive at Harristown next to Bunnings Warehouse.
Kaufland is a subsidiary of the Schwarz Group, the world's fourth largest retailer and plans to open its first Australian store in 2021, with around a 12 locations planned around the country.
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It has previously secured store locations in South Australia and Victoria.
In Melbourne local businesses protested the development applications filed by the company.
The application is described as a “shopping centre hotel and food and drink outlet”.
It already has more than 1,200 locations in Europe.
Kaufland is known as a key rival for Aldi overseas, driving speculation its launch in Australia will be bad news for the German chain, which controls just over 10% of the local grocery market.
Initial estimates of Kaufland’s likely impact on Australia’s $103 billion supermarket industry suggest the retailer could amass $480 million in local revenue, according to Morgan Stanley analysts<a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/industries/retail/make-fortune-dick-smith-warns-kaufland-giant-injects-another-60-million-expansion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> </a>
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German supermarket chain Kaufland set to break into Toowoomba

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The Milson Point's QE Foodstores premises have been sold for $6 million.
QE has other stores in Balmain, Camperdown, Darlinghurst, Newtown, Randwick, Waterloo and Waverley.
The shopfront at <a href="http://commercialpropertysearch.savills.com.au/0bbda22c-73bc-e811-80e6-005056816353/Sale/Milsons-Point/88-Alfred-Street" target="_blank">88 Alfred Street</a> was listed with $5.5 million hopes in November, through Savills agents David Hickey, Tom Tuxworth and Nick Tuxworth.
They expected interest from local, interstate and offshore investors.
<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/2019/4/11/QE2.jpg" alt="">
The property has a new 10 year lease, with two five-year options.
On its listing Hickey said the lease and strong annual increases will attract buyers looking for secure, super-prime investments in the sub $10 million category. 
“Throughout 2018, we have seen a weight of capital chasing retail properties in prime locations, particularly in highly populated and affluent inner-urban and suburban areas," Hickey said.
“Investors are certainly looking for quality over quantity in the current market, and 88 Alfred Street fits that category.”  
“QE Foodstores took a strategic view on the local Milsons Point, Kirribilli, McMahons Point and Blues Point precinct when they noticed the community had been starved of a quality supermarket for a very long period of time,” Hickey said.
“The business decided to venture to Sydney’s North Shore and open its ninth grocery store to cater to this pent-up demand for fresh, quality and artisan produce.
<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/2019/4/11/QE3.jpg" alt="">
“At 88 Alfred Street, the store benefits from being situated in Sydney’s second most-liveable suburb, only a 10-minute walk from the Sydney CBD and North Sydney.” 
Hickey said QE Foodstores appealed directly to a growing number of affluent Baby Boomer and Millennial shoppers, “who shop more frequently with smaller basket sizes”. 
“These shoppers demand personalisation, special services and quality products, which is what QE Foodstores has strived to deliver since opening its first store 16 years ago,” he said.
“The owners’ goal is to keep growing and provide a great range of products and services to many more Sydney neighbourhoods.
“They are constantly on the lookout for new sites in the inner city and east, and they’re now very seriously considering additional sites on the Lower North Shore.”
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Boutique grocer QE Foodstores premises sold by Savills in Milsons Point

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A recently opened boutique grocer in Sydney’s Milsons Point has been listed with $5.5 million hopes.
The property at 88 Alfred Street is run by QE Foodstores and is the group’s ninth offering, with other stores in Balmain, Camperdown, Darlinghurst, Newtown, Randwick, Waterloo and Waverley.
It is set to go under the hammer in early November.
Interest is expected from local, interstate and offshore investors, said Savills Australia’s David Hickey, Tom Tuxworth and Nick Tuxworth.
<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/2018/10/10/88%20Andrew%20Street%20Milsons%20Point%20-%20internal%203.jpg" alt="">
“The new 10-year lease with two five-year options to renew and strong annual increases will attract buyers from local, national and international markets looking for secure, super-prime investments in the sub-$10 million category,” Hickey said.
“Throughout 2018, we have seen a weight of capital chasing retail properties in prime locations, particularly in highly populated and affluent inner-urban and suburban areas.
“Investors are certainly looking for quality over quantity in the current market, and 88 Alfred Street fits that category.” 
<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/2018/10/10/88%20Andrew%20Street%20Milsons%20Point%20-%20internal%202.jpg" alt="">
He said QE Foodstores owners had recognised a gap in the Lower North Shore retail market for a boutique grocery store.
“QE Foodstores took a strategic view on the local Milsons Point, Kirribilli, McMahons Point and Blues Point precinct when they noticed the community had been starved of a quality supermarket for a very long period of time,” Mr Hickey said.
“The business decided to venture to Sydney’s North Shore and open its ninth grocery store to cater to this pent-up demand for fresh, quality and artisan produce.
“At 88 Alfred Street, the store benefits from being situated in Sydney’s second most-liveable suburb, only a 10-minute walk from the Sydney CBD and North Sydney.
“These shoppers demand personalisation, special services and quality products, which is what QE Foodstores has strived to deliver since opening its first store 16 years ago,” he said.
“The owners’ goal is to keep growing and provide a great range of products and services to many more Sydney neighbourhoods.
“They are constantly on the lookout for new sites in the inner city and east, and they’re now very seriously considering additional sites on the Lower North Shore.”
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Boutique Milson's Point supermarket set for auction 

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Sydney Olympic Park Authority is seeking to lease 1,500sqm retail floor space which is suitable for a supermarket.
Situated within the new Pavilions by Mirvac development at 2 Figtree Drive, the site is currently under development.
It will deliver a total of 705 apartments across four residential buildings with frontage onto Australia Avenue.
Sydney Olympic Park currently has a community of over 10 million visitors, 19,000 workers and 3,000 residents, which is set to increase as an additional 2,000 apartments are expected to be delivered over the next five years.
<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/2018/7/5/Olympic%20park2.jpg" alt="">
Future growth as outlined in the Sydney Olympic Park Master Plan 2030 will see a daily community of 23,500 residents and 34,000 workers.
The open tender seeks a tenant to occupy the premises for a minimum fifteen years.
The tender closes on 31 July 2018.
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Sydney Olympic Park Authority looking to lease space to a supermarket

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GUEST OBSERVATION
If you think your local supermarket is shrinking, you might be right.
Coles has announced that it will open smaller-sized supermarkets in more locations. This follows the lead taken by other large retailers such as Woolworths, Harris Scarfe and Target.
Australia’s growing population may mean more customers, but it is also putting pressure on available real estate for retailers. As population density increases, mostly in urbanised areas, many retailers are shrinking to grow.
The blame for recent store closures has fallen mainly on Amazon and other global players entering the Australian market.
However, high rents, a lack of prime real estate, and rising inventory costs and wages have also contributed to the need to downsize.
Shrinking to grow
Retailers have responded to increased costs and competition in two ways: either by “rightsizing” - closing underperforming and unprofitable locations as Myer has done, or by “downsizing” - shrinking their store footprints.
Smaller store formats allow retailers to maintain a bricks-and-mortar presence at a more affordable cost.
Several established firms, as well as retail start-ups, are taking the small store trend a step further by opening “micro” stores.
Some retailers are also cleverly using smaller shopfronts as “click and collect” points for their online customers.
Smaller stores equal smaller rents. Retail rents are charged per square metre, meaning the bigger the store, the higher the rent.
To put it in perspective, while global retailers seek retail sites from anywhere between 7,500 square metres (Lululemon Athletica) to 40,000 square metres (Uniqlo), smaller stores typically measure around 600 square metres which is around a quarter of the size of the average supermarket.
Prime location retail rents continue to increase due to lack of available space and strong demand from overseas retailers such as Zara and H&amp;M, who are happy to pay up to A$20,000 per square metre per year to shore up key inner city locations.
Industry reports indicate that the Sydney CBD remains the most expensive for retailers, with an average of A$13,335 per square metre per year. Melbourne’s CBD is half the cost at A$6,670, Brisbane is A$4,704, Adelaide is A$4,000-5,000 and Perth is nearly A$4,000 per square metre per year.
Annual average rents in trendy inner-city suburbs, like Surry Hills and Wooloomooloo in Sydney, come in at almost A$14,000 per square metre.
So if you have a very small 80 square metre convenience store in a prime Sydney CBD location, your annual rent bill will be a little over A$1 million.
Going smaller can open up new, and often better, locations. As some real estate analysts noted last year, “with the current environment characterised by a lack of premium retail investment offerings” retailers are increasingly finding it difficult to snap up prime locations.
Going smaller therefore opens up more opportunities) for retailers to capitalise on prime locations, particularly in highly populated and affluent inner-urban and suburburban areas.
But there are other benefits too, such as less inventory, which also means less discounting. Smaller stores also require fewer staff, and less cleaning and maintenance.
What are the benefits for consumers?
Research shows that customers are increasingly suffering from choice overload, also known as the “tyranny of choice”.
This is particularly so for online shoppers and for those browsing the aisles in superstores, department stores and large chain stores. A limited product offering, in a much smaller space, helps consumers make decisions more easily, and appeals to those shoppers who are primarily looking for “convenience”.
Small stores appeal directly to a growing number of affluent baby boomers and millennials who shop more frequently with smaller basket sizes. These shoppers demand personalisation, special services and quality products.
Because small retailers have less inventory, they are able to turn stock over, replenish and refresh products at a much faster pace than their larger rivals. They can promise new items arriving in store at shorter intervals. The lure of “newness” is a very attractive prospect for shoppers.
Are smaller stores here to stay?
In 2018 and beyond, retailing will continue to evolve. Retailers have always had to adapt to meet changing consumer demands, advances in technology and the like.
A sure sign that physical retail is still alive and well is evident in the growing number of online retailers and established brands that are opening physical stores to complement their online offerings.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/98246/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Just as pop-up retailing has cemented itself in the retail landscape, smaller stores are also likely to become a significant long-term strategic proposition for the retail industry, where it is now “big to be small”.
Louise Grimmer, Lecturer in Marketing, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania
Gary Mortimer, Associate Professor in Marketing and International Business, Queensland University of Technology
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/honey-i-shrunk-the-store-why-your-local-supermarket-is-getting-smaller-98246" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Why your local supermarket is getting smaller

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Clayton Coles in Melbourne's south east has sold for $17,115,000, record a new record yield of 2.57 percent.
The previous record was held by Woolworths Middle Brighton which sold for $32 million on a 3.8% yield, and more recently Dan Murphys, Alphington which sold for $22.5 million on a yield of 3.2% via CBRE’s Premium Property Portfolio Auction Platform.
CBRE agents Mark Wizel, Justin Dowers, Kevin Tong and Dylan Kilner negotiated the sale on behalf of the deceased estate, which had been owned by the same family for over 20 years.
It was a local private investor who beat out a host of high profile investors, Asian investors and developers.
Coles Clayton was the first Victorian supermarket offered to the market in 2018.
The property on the corner of Centre Road and Cooke Street has a freestanding, 2850 sqm supermarket which has been trading since 1998.
It was sold subject to an estimated net annual income of $440,552.
CBRE's Mark Wizel said whilst the vendors had every intention of taking the property to auction, the offer was compelling enough for the estate trustee to sell prior.
“Although there was over 15 years of tenure to Coles, the buyer took a longer term view on the opportunity of owning a prominent Commercial 1 Zoned allotment within Metropolitan Melbourne,’’ Mr Wizel said.
 
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Coles Clayton sells for new supermarket record yield

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The supermarket wars are set to set up as Kaufland has secured its first site in Melbourne.
Kaufland, a discount German retailer, has purchased an empty Bunnings site in Dandenong for $16.4 million.
Kaufland is part of the Schwarz Group, the fourth-biggest retailer in the world.
Its “hypermarket” stores are typically four to five times bigger than a Coles or Woolworths.
The Gladstone Road, Dandenong property in Melbourne’s south-east includes 12,000 square metres of retail space on 3.3 hectares of land.
The Herald Sun said Spanish-born Jon Ruiz del Portal was appointed to the Kaufland Australia board this week.
It spent $25 million to buy a major site in the fringe of the Adelaide central business district last month.
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Kaufland hits Melbourne as supermarket wars step up

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A neighbourhood centre anchored by Woolworths and Aldi in Brisbane’s northern suburb of Warner has been listed for sale.
MarketPlace Warner is a ‘best in class’ shopping centre, with the Woolworths supermarket believed to be one of the best performing Woolworths in Queensland by MAT, with turnover well above Urbis benchmarks for a double supermarket anchored shopping centre.
It is being marketed by JLL through an expressions of interest campaign closing July 27. 
The listing agents are JLL’s Jacob Swan and Sam Hatcher.
Swan said neighbourhood shopping centres remained tightly held with only $347.6 million transacted this year, compared to a total of $1.6 billion in 2016. 
“Interestingly, of the 15 transactions that have occurred this year, nine have been in Queensland, highlighting investor confidence within Queensland’s retail market,” he said.  
He said private investors, syndicators and funds management groups were still actively seeking to invest in neighbourhood shopping centres, with competition for quality centres remaining strong.
“The defensive nature of these non-discretionary-based assets continues to appeal to the market.”
“The low-volatility of the spending profile within prime neighbourhood centres presents an ideal vehicle for capital preservation, while also providing a stable and attractive running yield.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/28/Woolies1.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/06/28/Woolies1.png" alt="">
The shopping centre was redeveloped in 2014 to include an upgraded Woolworths supermarket spread on 4,485 sqm, a new Aldi supermarket and 37 other stores.
The site area is about 6.5 ha. 
The offering also includes a freestanding development pad site of 2,456 sqm, freestanding Goodstart Early Learning Child care and an adjoining balance land component of 4,305 sqm.  The centre provides a total combined GLA of 11,477 sqm.
JLL’s Sam Hatcher said there was significant growth to be had locally.
“We see growth in the retail spend and rental profile being realised through a large population of almost 70,000 in the Main Trade Area, projected to increase at 1.7% to 87,280 persons by 2036. In addition there are a total of 712 new dwellings under construction in the catchment/region, due to be completed in 2020.”
Total trade area retail expenditure is estimated at $905.5 million and is projected to grow to $2.3 billion by 2036, an average growth rate of 4.6%, he added.
 
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