Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

IN BRIEF

<ul>
	<li>
	Just three double-storey Sky Homes sit at the top of The Waterline, each with its own private marina berth and rooftop terrace.
	</li>
	<li>
	Construction on The Waterline is complete, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.
	</li>
	<li>
	Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and are priced from $3.65 million.
	</li>
</ul>

<hr />
Lewis Land has opened the first completed sky home for inspection at Harbour Shores, giving buyers their first opportunity to step inside one of just three double-storey residences crowning The Waterline.

Each sky home comes with its own private marina berth, rooftop terrace and Broadwater views, combining the scale of a larger home with direct access to the boating lifestyle that underpins the wider <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366708]

Lewis Land Head of Development Michael Long said the inclusion of a berth with every Sky Home had become increasingly valuable as marina access across the Gold Coast tightened.

“Marina berths are becoming increasingly difficult to secure across the Gold Coast, so including one with every Sky Home makes this a genuinely rare offering,” Long said.

“The private 70-berth marina will accommodate boats up to 12 metres in length and is positioned just 2.5 kilometres from the Broadwater, placing the open ocean only 15 minutes away.

“Being able to step out of your home onto your boat is a rare luxury, and it’s something residents here can look forward to when it opens later this year.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366709]

The display opening comes as construction completes on The Waterline, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.

The three Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and each feature three bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive kitchens with butler's pantries and large balconies taking in the Broadwater outlook.

Each residence also has three secure basement car spaces and additional storage.

“This is the first opportunity the Gold Coast has had to step into Harbour Shores and see, touch and feel what we’re bringing to life here,” Long said.

“There are only three Sky Homes within The Waterline, ranging in size from 282sqm to 367sqm, with each residence featuring three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive custom-built kitchens with butler’s pantry, and large balconies capturing Broadwater views.”

<img alt="Harbour Shores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bab65e10-4fab-45e1-92d8-fc56e2ab98ff" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%202.00.16%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=XT8q76LsPkw3cYTsvN3JfFDaPLud90PN" />

Residents of The Waterline will have access to a private pool, along with Harbour Shores' wider collection of amenity including a lagoon pool, social clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga facilities and sauna.

Lewis Land partnered with Studio Collective to furnish the completed display, with the interiors designed to demonstrate how the residences could function as permanent homes rather than simply as show apartments.

Studio Collective Director Melissa Park said the surrounding waterways informed the interiors, but in a more restrained way than a traditional coastal scheme.

“We drew inspiration from the canals and coastal surrounds, but our approach was to interpret that subtly through layered materials and a grounded palette of earthy tones, rather than literal coastal references,” Park said.

“We introduced hero moments of green and teal to reference the surrounding waterways, while mirrored elements help reflect natural light.

“The result is a residence that feels elevated yet comfortable, somewhere buyers can genuinely imagine themselves living, entertaining and unwinding.”

Sky Homes are priced from $3.65 million.

Lewis Land is also offering private marina berths with The Residences, its limited collection of three and four-bedroom villas positioned directly along the Harbour Shores waterfront boardwalk.

Three-bedroom villas are priced from $2.99 million, while four-bedroom residences start from $3.19 million.

Harbour Shores is being marketed by Colliers International.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land opens sky home display as The Waterline completes at Harbour Shores

St Vincent de Paul Society Housing Australia has filed plans for a major mixed-use housing precinct on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, adding another significant proposal to a pocket around North Sydn​ey Station that is quickly becoming one of the LGA's busiest development zones.

The State Significant Development Application covers a 5,990 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1-19-mackenzie-street-lavender-bay-nsw-2060">1-19 MacKenzie Street and 211 Blues Point Road in Lavender Bay</a>, immediately south of Nor​th Sydney Station and between the commercial core and the lower-rise Lavender Bay Heritage Conservation Area.

Designed by Wardle, the proposal would deliver a new residential tower comprising 88 build-to-sell apartments and 19 affordable apartments, alongside a separate co-living building with 57 rooms and a building manager's studio.

It would also see the significant restoration and upgrade of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the adaptive reuse of the former school building, new parish facilities, retail, a new public square and around 1,000 sqm of publicly accessible open space.

<img alt="Vinnies North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d5dd7f87-a617-463e-b577-17541e01f0e9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.13%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4R8TsFN3P_LrrXO2HswTOIrx2blil8lh" />

The project is seeking a concurrent rezoning of the site to R4 High Density Residential and an increase in the maximum building height to allow a tower reaching RL120, or up to 20 storeys. The proposal was progressed through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The build-to-sell component will be weighted toward larger apartments, with just six one-bedroom apartments compared with 31 two-beds, 43 three-beds and eight four-bedroom residences.

The 19 affordable apartments will comprise two studios, 15 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments, taking the total apartment component to 107 residences before the 58 co-living rooms are included.

<img alt="Vnnies" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d568ca5-cb90-4e18-96c6-d9795dba0c56" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GY2R5M9VtQh0EKy1vajaea19PSLOPuRD" />

Wardle's design for the Vinnies site has sought to negotiate that emerging high-rise context while retaining the lower-scale character of MacKenzie Street and the adjoining heritage conservation area.

The main building adopts a three-storey podium and tower arrangement, with the podium aligned to the ridgeline and front setback of St Francis Xavier Church.&nbsp;Wardle has designed the podium with colonnades, seating, recessed entries and active ground-floor frontages, with sandstone-toned precast concrete and face brick referencing the materiality of the existing church.

The tower then steps back eight metres to the south and six metres to the north before rising in a sculpted form comprising four interlocking quadrants. Wardle has also introduced rounded forms and chamfered corners to reduce the tower's perceived bulk and improve view sharing with neighbouring development sites.

Resident facilities and outdoor areas are planned at the separation between the podium and tower at Level 3, oriented toward Sydney Harbour and the CBD skyline.

The tower itself will feature a glass reinforced concrete facade, with recessed balconies and deep reveals used both to provide shading and privacy and frame views toward the harbour and city. The lower levels take a different architectural approach, using brick and sandstone-toned finishes intended to establish a stronger relationship with St Francis Xavier Church. The Church itself will be conserved and upgraded for its continued use, while the former school building will be adaptively reused as part of the co-living component.

<img alt="Lavendar Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d4418ad-90aa-4d49-af93-c80b140aea80" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.09.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Kv4gzbsACaGvZSRuaqcfGC54jEJRXIDJ" />

&nbsp;

The proposal adds to an increasingly concentrated pipeline of residential development around Blue Street, MacKenzie Street and Lavender Bay.

Just west of the site, Central Element lodged plans earlier this year for one of the most significant residential developments proposed in Lavender Bay in recent years.

Central Element's SJB-designed scheme at 64-66 Lavender Street and 3-7 Middlemiss Street would deliver 163 apartments across two towers rising 23 and 32 storeys, replacing five existing apartment buildings containing 32 homes. The project also forms part of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-central-element-reveals-lavender-bay-apartment-plans?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">First look: Central Element reveals Lavender Bay apartment plans</a>

Immediately around North Sy​dney Station, another two significant proposals have emerged at 5 and 15 Blue Street.

Zurich Australian Insurance Properties is seeking to adaptively reuse its longstanding commercial building at 5 Blue Street, directly above North Sydney Station, rather than demolishing the structure.

Its SSDA proposes converting the building into a 14-storey mixed-use development with 62 apartments and 86 co-living rooms, together with ground-floor retail and a major refurbishment of Blue Street Plaza. The application is currently at the Response to Submissions stage.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-zurich-targets-north-sydney-office-conversion-with-148-unit-proposal-above-metro-station">First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station</a>

&nbsp;

First look: Vinnies files for 20-storey Lavender Bay apartment tower as North Sydney housing pocket heats up

When the opportunity arose for South Australian developer Palumbo to return to Kent Town, where it had previously delivered East Park Apartments and the East 
Rundle Apartments, it wasn't one the longstanding developer-builder was going to pass up.

The decision was quickly vindicated, with more than 30 apartments sold within the first month of launching <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/royal-apartments-kent-town-2-8-north-terrace-kent-town-sa-5067">Royal Apartments</a> to the market.

The 206-apartment development, which will bring significant new supply to Adelaide's tightly held eastern city fringe, also gives <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/palumbo">Palumbo</a> the opportunity to bring new life to one of Kent Town's most recognisable watering holes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376073]

Royal Apartments incorporates the historic Royal Hotel, a venue Palumbo Managing Director Daniel Palumbo said has a longstanding connection with the local community.

"Everyone in the area has history with the Royal Hotel," Palumbo told Apartments.com.au.

"It was quite an active pub and social gathering place for locals. We want to bring it back to its former glory."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376072]

The wider development will comprise two residential towers alongside the restored hotel, sitting on North Terrace opposite the Adelaide Park Lands.

For Palumbo, the project also marks a return to familiar territory.

The developer completed East Park Apartments next door more than a decade ago and jumped at the opportunity to develop in Kent Town again when the Royal Hotel site became available.

"The opportunity emerged, and we moved to secure the site," Palumbo said.

"We were approached by the previous landowner, who said they had extensive commitments in Sydney and weren't in a position to deliver the project.

"We took over the site and within six months recut the design scheme to be more in keeping with the type of development we want to bring to Adelaide.

"Now we're on the market and those changes have really resonated with local buyers."

That has translated into a strong start to sales, with 33 apartments transacting in the project's first 35 days.

Palumbo said the early purchaser profile had been consistent with the group's traditional focus on owner-occupiers rather than investor-led apartment stock.

"Local owner-occupiers have always been our market," he said.

"There are always some investors, but we've never developed what would be called traditional development stock. Owner-occupiers are very much our market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376068]

The buyer mix has been diverse so far, with downsizers and younger professionals both accounting for a significant portion of early sales.

South Australia's current stamp duty settings, which allow&nbsp;eligible homeowners in South Australia aged 60 savings of up to $103,830 on stamp duty when they downsize to a new property valued at up to $2 million,&nbsp;have helped encourage downsizer activity, while younger buyers in their late 20s and early 30s have been attracted to the opportunity to live immediately outside the CBD while still being able to walk into the city.



Location has been a major part of the proposition for both buyer cohorts.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376075]

Royal Apartments sits on North Terrace directly opposite the Adelaide Park Lands, with residents able to walk through the parklands toward the East End, Rundle Street and Rundle Mall.

Apartments have been positioned to capture views across the parklands, Adelaide skyline, Botanic Gardens and Adelaide Hills.

Palumbo believes the scarcity of developable land along this section of the Park Lands makes the site particularly difficult to replicate.

"There's very few allotments on that side that can be developed," he said.

"If this location was in New York and you were sitting on Central Park, you'd be talking about a $60 million apartments."

Royal Apartments will offer a broad mix of residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.

Current listings include one-bedroom apartments from $680,000, while larger three and four-bedroom residences are priced around $2.5 million.

Residents will have access to a swimming pool, gym, barbecue and recreation areas, residents' lounge and dining space, and a communal deck.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376067]

The apartments will feature generous balconies, while secure parking, bicycle storage and storage cages will also be provided.

A porte-cochère-style arrival and drop-off area has also resonated with buyers, particularly those attracted to being able to walk into the CBD during the day while retaining secure vehicle access at home.

Palumbo is acting as developer, architect and builder on Royal Apartments, continuing the vertically integrated model it has used across its South Australian portfolio.

The group was also behind the $150 million Sofitel Adelaide, the 251-room five-star hotel and residential tower which opened in 2021.

Palumbo said Royal's launch had come at an interesting time for the broader Adelaide apartment market.

Buyer confidence had initially been impacted by uncertainty surrounding the Federal Budget and broader economic conditions, but Palumbo believes sentiment is beginning to improve against a backdrop of significant investment flowing into South Australia.

He pointed to increased activity across defence and resources, including Olympic Dam, as potential long-term drivers of the state's economy and housing market.

"Money is starting to flow into Adeliade, significant amounts as Adelaide bucks the trend of the rest of the country.," Palumbo said.

"There's a lot of activity in the economy over the next decade. I think more investment will come into this market."

Early works on Royal Apartments are expected to commence this year, with major construction activity and cranes anticipated on site from early next year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6109]

Palumbo's return to Kent Town strikes early chord with buyers

Go-to builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/graya">GRAYA</a> is continuing to bulk out its already impressive and diverse apartment portfolio across South East Queensland. Their latest milestone is securing development approval for Silk, its boutique riverfront apartment development in St Lucia.

The approval clears&nbsp;the way for the team to begin construction planning for the 22-residence project.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/silk-st-lucia-16-18-sandford-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">Silk</a> will rise 15 levels from an 810 sqm site at 16-18 Sandford Street, occupying a prominent bend of the Brisbane River with a prized northern aspect across Orleigh Park toward the Brisbane CBD.

The approved scheme will comprise 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences, continuing GRAYA's move into larger-format apartment developments targeting Brisbane's prestige owner-occupier market.

The project has been designed around the site's broad river frontage and dual-direction views, with GRAYA prioritising larger residences, privacy and outlook over apartment yield.

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa5c2349-f96c-4914-a812-1f2cd6827af8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=WY0vEU_7vYjeRJKQHiCwFdMxu8PvFh52" />

GRAYA Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Rob Gray said the project had been shaped around local homeowners wanting to remain in St Lucia without maintaining a traditional family home.

"St Lucia is one of those suburbs people do not want to leave," Gray said.

"They know the river, the trees, UQ, the golf course, Toowong and Indooroopilly, and that familiarity is hard to replace.

"True riverfront opportunities here are exceptionally scarce. What we have designed at Silk is a way to stay in the suburb people love, with the scale and privacy of a private home and far less to maintain.

"This is not typical apartment product. It is a proper home on the river, and that is exactly what this market has been missing."

The approval comes as new apartment development continues to increase across the St Lucia and neighbouring Toowong corridor, although direct riverfront sites remain considerably more tightly held.

GRAYA Co-founder and Managing Director Andrew Gray said securing the approval had removed a significant element of development risk from Silk.

"Genuine riverfront sites of this quality in St Lucia are not something that comes up regularly," Gray said.

"The approval removes a substantial layer of execution risk, and the location underwrites demand in a way very few inner-city sites can.

"The fundamentals here are as strong as anything we have assessed in Brisbane."

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d0f3d734-65e1-48e8-8ed3-2e0715ffcdd9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sOLSs_jdHkXLWbBKzRyayf5BfTb2vPsD" />

Silk will see GRAYA return to a stretch of the Brisbane River where it already has recent construction experience. The vertically integrated group recently completed ARC in neighbouring Toowong as builder for developer Spyre, delivering the riverfront project on a constrained site.

GRAYA will take a different role at Silk, controlling the project from design and development through construction and aftercare under its vertically integrated model.

The development will include a gym and resident leisure areas at ground level, integrated with the river's edge.

Silk joins a growing pipeline for GRAYA across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which includes Enclave, The Gallery, Coral and Ripple.

The developer-builder has also recently lodged plans for its largest project to date, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-silo-19-chester-street-newstead-qld-4006">The Silo</a>, a proposed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/graya-buys-frasers-newstead-site-plans-the-silo-between-james-street-and-gasworks-precincts">$700 million mixed-use development</a> in Brisbane's James Street precinct.

Silk is expected to predominantly target local owner-occupiers and prestige buyers seeking a permanent riverfront home in Brisbane's inner west.

Registrations of interest are now open, with further details on the project and construction program to be released as it progresses.

<hr />
<h2>SILK PROJECT FACTS</h2>

Developer-builder: GRAYA

Project: Silk

Location: 16-18 Sandford Street, St Lucia

Apartments: 22

Built form: 15 levels

Site: 810 sqm riverfront holding

Mix: 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences

Status: Development approved

Next step: Construction planning underway

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152168]

GRAYA greenlit for riverfront St Lucia apartment development, Silk

Sydney off the plan apartments

Since the near year-long downturn ended, which was a few months ago according to most property data analytics firms, Sydney has flown out of the traps following double digit declines.

CoreLogic's Home Value Index showed a further 1.3 per cent growth in dwelling values (houses and units) over April, following 1.4 per cent gains in March.

Now houses are -12 per cent down over the last 12 months, with units back -7.2 per cent. Both markets have shown a considerable bounce back over the last two months, each posting gains of over one per cent month on month.

The end of the downturn is&nbsp;bringing buyers back to an increasingly undersupplied market. Sydney held 570 auctions over last weekend, well down on the 914 held last year. The preliminary clearance rate was just over 70 per cent, the seventh consecutive week the preliminary clearance rate was above 70 per cent.

Off the plan agents are saying the tight supply is assisting in the strong results being achieved all across Sydney, everywhere from St Leonards to Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.

CBRE Residential Projects Managing Director, David Milton, says there’s some strong data out there which is improving market sentiment.

"With the RBA approaching a holding phase, and the huge immigration forecasts, there’s set to be a lot more demand in the market," Milton says.

"People are thinking now is the time to buy. They aren’t wanting to wait another 12 months."

Milton says enquiry hasn't necessarily increased, but the quality of the enquiry and the intentions of those enquiring has been much higher, which is leading to improved conversion rates.

CBRE sold out&nbsp;The Cambrian in Paddington by Robby Ingham on the launch day, all 15 apartments. Now they're readying the full launch of the equally rare Woollahra Collection by Fortis, which Milton says will appeal to the Sydney high-end market.

CBRE are also preparing to launch The Landmark Quarter, the next St Leonards project for New Hope Group.

The three-tower project on Marshall Avenue features a range of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, as well as a handful of terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139897 project_image_fid=212572]

St Leonards has had solid demand in recent months, evidenced in Top Spring's The Newlands, just off Newlands Park.

The Colliers project marketing team recorded a 104 per cent increase in sales in Q1 compared to the same time last year, notably due to the $60 million in sales recorded over a VIP weekend held at Top Spring's The Newlands in April.

Colliers National Director of Residential&nbsp;Blake Schulze says despite mixed market sentiment, the residential market across Sydney’s off-the-plan market has continued to yield strong results.&nbsp;

"We have found that there is strong market participation from local owner occupiers who are opting to purchase in projects close to where they are currently living or working," Schulze says, noting that over 20 per cent of purchasers currently live within five kilometres of the site.&nbsp;

"We are experiencing strong market demand for premium oversized apartments across Sydney, dominated by local owner occupiers and downsizers," Schulze says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24509 project_image_fid=203623]

"Over 45 per cent of the three-bedroom stock at The Newlands has sold. These apartments are appealing to young families as the generous bedrooms and living spaces are a key consideration for buyers, in addition to the well curated amenity offering."

The lack of supply in Sydney's eastern suburbs has seen strong enquiry already for The Centennial Collection, the new Bondi Junction project from local developer Stargate.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136076 project_image_fid=212615]

Ray White Projects Managing Director Eddie Mansour says there's a number of buyers ready to transact even ahead of the public launch on May 4.

"Buyers will be transacting at levels above what Bondi Junction has ever seen, which highlights both the lack of future supply in the area and the high quality product Stargate and SJB Architects have put together," Mansour says.

The lack of supply for anything new in Bondi Beach has seen&nbsp;numerous offers on the AYA Penthouse, the $26 million apartment crowning the Koichi Takada-designed Aqualine in Bondi Beach.

<img alt="AYA penthouse" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d70bef9e-f3ee-4fff-a472-906530802c82" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-03-21%20at%208.25.10%20am.png?VersionId=Rk74nsTTvh24dazQQoUNoEqsiovrJ638" />

Mansour says the majority of buyer interest has been from expats who are familiar with Bondi Beach.

"There was some scepticism in launching such a rare, potentially record-breaking priced apartment, in the current economic climate, but the marketing has gone really well."

In Western Sydney, Ray White Projects Western Sydney Managing Director Mark Bernberg says we're now moving into a stabilisation phase for both property values and interest rates.

"Stabilization is a huge thing in property," Bernberg says.

"It removes the fear of the unknown and the fear of change. That will bring more buyers back into the market in the near term, and after a period of holding, barring external circumstances globally, the RBA will cut interest rates as inflation starts to noticeably come down. Rates coming down always results in prices going up.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27460 project_image_fid=195123]

"Buyers have more money in their pockets as borrowing capacity pops up. That will in turn see more stock come to the market as developers realise there are more buyers transacting."

McGrath Projects Associate Director Adam Sparkes says they are seeing a strong return of the investor.

"Investors such as sophisticated institutional purchasers and private investors buying through a SMSF through to first time investors are all seeing now is an excellent time to buy into a high quality development for a medium to long term hold," Sparkes says.

"The consumer is now more researched than they ever have been – we treat all new enquiry (owner occupiers or investors), coming to our team as a ‘white hot lead’," Sparkes says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=197738]

"As a general theme all are seeking high quality construction and a strong track record from the team behind a given development – both seen as crucial elements when considering buying a brand new or off-the-plan dwelling."

Sparkes is marketing Grand Reve by Kassis Homes, who are offering purchasers a 10-year structural defect policy,&nbsp;one of the first apartment towers in NSW in more than two decades to be given an insurance policy against building defects.

"This provides a genuine level of comfort for the consumer and has resulted in new sales from older enquiry now recognising quality will prevail – not only from the team behind the development, but the added safety of such an Insurance policy," Sparkes says.

City Beat May 2023: Sydney sees strong off the plan sales activity 

Urban Property Group (Urban) have expanded their $2.5 billion residential apartment pipeline, purchasing The Halston, the <a href="/developments/north-strathfield-nsw-2137">North Strathfield</a> apartment project.

The development approved, 145-unit project will be Urban's first project in <a href="/developments/north-strathfield-nsw-2137">North Strathfield</a>. It has a forecasted end value of $150 million.

The Australian-owned development company, who operate all over Sydney with projects from Little Bay to Penrith, bought the George Street development from Piety Group.

Laver Residential Projects Director&nbsp;Dennis Vertzayias says Urban's one-stop-shop as a developer builder breeds confidence in the off the plan market.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29396 project_image_fid=195578]

"It gives us as agents, and the prospective buyers, assurances that the project is going to get built, which is particularly important in this current environment of high labour and construction costs,"&nbsp;Vertzayias says.

"There's a certainty behind the time frame, as well as quality control, when the developer is also in charge of the build."

Vertzayias says there's not a lot of brand new apartment stock in the area.

"The Halston is the only project under construction, and is the only choice for brand new living, in a precinct close to transport, retail, and with all of the Olympic Park amenity also close by."

Demolition on site has commenced, with completion slated for the end of 2024. Laver Residential Projects Project Director Sam Elbanna is handling the sales at The Halston.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29396 project_image_fid=195557]

Designed by FUSE Architects and Sydney-based architecture studio Jackson Teece, The Halston offers a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments across three buildings.

The site occupies a well-serviced area referred to as “the triangle of hubs” between Rhodes, Olympic Park and Burwood with proximity to Sydney’s CBD, as well as restaurants, parks, schools and Westfield Burwood.

Urban Property Group Chief Operating Officer Mark Elias, said the team are excited with the acquisition and to continue to expand their development pipeline.

"The opportunity to acquire a site as strategically located as the Halston, inclusive of its development approval, was one we couldn’t pass up," Elias said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29396 project_image_fid=195577]

"With units already selling, we are aiming to deliver the project on an accelerated timeline with construction commencing in April 2023 and expected completion at the end of 2024.

“We are proud to continue to expand Urban’s residential portfolio of developments with market-leading design and amenity, while also catering to those across the socio-economic spectrum with an affordable housing offering.”

<h3>About the developer</h3>

Urban is a progressive, family-owned property company with a passion for market-leading design and has a proud legacy of development in Western Sydney.

As a family business with over three decades of experience, Urban has grown into a&nbsp;multi-disciplinary organisation&nbsp;with the capacity to fund, design, develop, and build its own projects, and brings this unique set of experience and values to the project.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=29396]

The Australian-owned development company, who operate all over Sydney with projects from Little Bay to Penrith, bought the George Street development from Piety Group

Exclusive: Urban Property Group buy The Halston, North Strathfield apartment project

Sydney apartment developer Central Element and their joint venture partner Develotek are heading to Sydney's Inner West region for their next project.

They've lodged plans for a boutique development on the waterfront in Drummoyne, which will be the first project in decades to be released on Drummoyne Bay.

The project, dubbed Bianca Drummoyne at&nbsp;2C – 2D Wolseley Street, will comprise just 12 three and four-bedroom apartments, designed to take in expansive views of the water and city skyline through the&nbsp;floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The resident amenity has been focused around the rare waterfront location, with an outdoor swimming pool and communal gardens all fronting the water.

Award-winning multi-disciplinary architecture and design firm SJB have been appointed to lead the creative vision for the project – handling both architecture and interiors. A long-standing partner of Central Element, Principal Adam Haddow and the team having worked tirelessly on projects including Pienza Neutral Bay and Ethos Chatswood.

<img alt="Drummoyne" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="324f1c2e-2d2a-4855-bba3-de59657f85e7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-04-18%20at%2011.22.29%20am.png?VersionId=ZZTD28wwgPfA.LOloM8IHZaLw1TBxU0x" />

Nathan Chivas, Managing Director of Central Element, expressed his enthusiasm regarding the company's expansion and increasing momentum in the Sydney market.

“The Drummoyne site will mark the company's first project in the Inner West, an area known for its unique location on the peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, and only six kilometres away from the Sydney CBD," Chivas said.

"This strategic move aligns with the company's vision of seeking out exceptional sites in premium suburbs to build luxurious living spaces of the highest quality.

“We are delighted to be working with Develotek, and our trusted creative team at SJB on the design and interiors for this truly exclusive new project in Sydney’s inner west.”

Develotek is an Australian property development and investment group specialising in the design and development of apartment living across Sydney.

John Fernandes, Director of Develotek, said they are&nbsp;excited to deliver the rare project with Central Element.

"This exceptional project will offer a unique combination of direct North-facing waterfront living and a breath-taking aspect to the city and the Drummoyne Peninsula.

"The seamless fusion of these features not only promises a lavish living experience but will also provide a range of health benefits associated with waterfront living and natural sunlight exposure.

"Residents can relish in the luxurious lifestyle that comes with living on the water’s edge while enjoying the added advantage of improved health and wellbeing”

Drummoyne is expected to launch to market in the second half of 2023.

Central Element is currently selling Pienza in Neutral Bay and Ethos Chatswood. They're also expected to launch their $100 million Hyde Park project this year.

The project, dubbed Bianca Drummoyne at 2C – 2D Wolseley Street, will comprise just 12 three and four-bedroom apartments, designed to take in expansive views of the water and city skyline

First look: Central Element and Develotek lodge plans for Bianca Drummoyne

Sydney unit values continued their upward trajectory over March, posting the strongest gains of any capital city across the country.

Following the end of the downturn over February when values rose 0.3 per cent, March saw increasingly improved value rise, up one per cent. That made unit values flat over the quarter.

Annually unit values are down -8.7 per cent, to a new median of $776,780. Hosue values across Sydney also posted gains (1.5 per cent). Their median is now $1.23 million, down -13.3 per cent annually.

Colliers Director Ian Bennett says the price gaps shows how much room there is to grow in the apartment market.

"The traditional price gap between existing houses and apartments sits at around 40 per cent, with the number currently at around 70 per cent this year. At one point in 2022 it sat at 100 per cent, but there is still a very long way to go to get close to any normal levels.

"This in turn shows how much room there is to grow in the apartment market.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=21170 project_image_fid=210274]

"Our experience this year has shown the bottom of the market seemed to be at the end of 2022, with statistics revealing our three-bedroom stock increasing in value in the last 3 months by 14 per cent.

"The price growth achieved over the last three years increased dramatically, giving owners large equity within their homes. This made it less likely for owners to want to reduce pricing or sell at a loss, putting more pressure on the supply.

"People who purchased three years ago are still better off than they were even after the loss of the last 10 months by at least 15 per cent from when they purchased."

Ray White Projects Western Sydney Managing Director Mark Bernberg saw strong demand continue through March,&nbsp;consistent with the whole of the first quarter of 2023.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112005 project_image_fid=191253]

"Lead generation has been strong," Bernberg says, although says what isn't changing is buyers' appetite to buy.

"There’s no urgency in the market and people are still not sure what their borrowing capacity will be.

"The RBA needs to get the cash rate to the peak, and quickly, so buyers can have confidence in what they can spend and what their repayments will be."

Bernberg says Labor raising the stamp duty concessional rate to $800,000 was also a strong move for the market.

Across the country, values were up 0.6 per cent in March, the first rise since April 2022.

Dwelling values were higher across the four largest capital cities and most of the broad ‘rest-of-state’ regions, led by a 1.4 per cent gain in Sydney.&nbsp;The lift in housing values has been most evident across the upper quartile of Sydney’s housing market, CoreLogic note.

House values within the most expensive quarter of Sydney’s market were up two per cent in March and the upper quartile of the Sydney unit market was 1.4 per cent higher over the month.

“Sydney upper quartile house values fell by -17.4% from their peak in January 2022 to a recent low in January 2023, the largest drop from the market peak of any capital city market segment."

CoreLogic’s Research Director, Tim Lawless, put the rise down to a combination of low advertised stock levels, extremely tight rental conditions and additional demand from overseas migration.

“Although interest rates are high and there is an expectation the economy will slow through the year, it’s clear other factors are now placing upwards pressure on home prices,” Lawless said.

“Advertised supply has been below average since September last year, with capital city listing numbers ending March almost -20% below the previous five-year average. Purchasing activity has also fallen but not as much as available supply; capital city sales activity was estimated to be roughly -7% below the previous five-year average through the March quarter.

“With rental markets this tight, it’s likely we are seeing some spillover from renting into purchasing, although, with mortgage rates so high, not everyone who wants to buy will be able to qualify for a loan. Similarly, with net overseas migration at record levels and rising, there is a chance more permanent or long-term migrants who can afford to, will skip the rental phase and fast track a home purchase simply because they can’t find rental accommodation.”

<a href="/news/nsw/city-beat-sydney-unit-market-insights-for-february">Read more:&nbsp;City Beat: Sydney unit market insights for February</a>

Colliers Director Ian Bennett says the price gaps shows how much room there is to grow in the apartment market

City Beat: Sydney unit market insights for March

High-end property developer Fortis, who are creating striking projects across Sydney and Melbourne's bluechip suburbs, have launched their latest project.

Following the largest site amalgamations in the affluent suburb of Woollahra, Fortis has launched The Woollahra Collection, just 25 residences, a mix of apartments and terraces.

MHN Design Union have been appointed as the lead architects on the project, with landscaping by Wyer &amp; Co. The 1900s terrace interiors are being redesigned by local Phoebe Nicol. On offer will be a collection of two and three bedroom homes with north-facing gardens and secure car parking.

The buildings on the site date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s and will be architecturally restored as part of the $170 million project. Alongside the refurbished buildings, Woollahra Collection will also feature newly built luxury residences, comprising two, three and four-bedroom apartments.

<img alt="The Woollahra Collection" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="208f26cf-789c-4da0-9e83-96376985b301" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-04-11%20at%209.58.53%20am.png?VersionId=sCHfQq_qWqPA__nvwPnGpGoNqJhbcMgx" />

The interiors of the luxury new residences are being undertaken by Alexander &amp; Co. The new build will comprise north facing, two, three and four-bedroom residences with large entertaining areas and ample outdoor space.

Part of the project is the restoration of the&nbsp;1880s theatre, which will be restored by Mim Design and converted into a single trophy residence, with an expected end value of around $15 million. The interiors will be an ode to the historic grandeur of the original property, complete with its own basement, tunnel cellar, internal landscaped courtyards and pool.

<img alt="The 1880s Theatre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8dd2d4a2-2fa4-454d-9526-a73a497a2bfe" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-04-11%20at%209.58.14%20am.png?VersionId=HTcwoaXhABydNbLuTLPgNmfz7JsFKN1g" />

Fortis Director Charles Mellick said the team are&nbsp;grateful to the wider community for supporting us in our vision for this site.

"Our work at the nearby Pallas House Sydney and Gaden House demonstrates our commitment towards retaining Sydney’s architectural heritage, and we feel privileged to have the opportunity to lovingly restore and reinvigorate this site, bringing it back to life," Mellick says.

"We will be preserving the best architectural elements of the site for it to be enjoyed by future generations.

“This is the first time off the plan apartments of this scale are being offered in Woollahra, also marking the biggest sqm regeneration in this suburb."

Mellick says the&nbsp;aim is to be sympathetic to its heritage and context, ensuring that the existing buildings are restored.

"A new build on the site will feature a collection of premium apartments, bringing together unparalleled quality and premium amenities in a location where new residences are few and far between.”

<img alt="The Woollahra Collection" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1852336b-55d0-4677-9427-8499a659c17c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-04-06%20at%206.35.05%20pm.png?VersionId=cko6xSV7hP3vvuWsuKTI6EDRVrGcsHCa" />

Fortis secured the 14 lots, now 2A James Street, for around $50 million, an amalgamation making a 3,500 sqm mega block.

Ben Stewart from Stewart Residential and CBRE is handling the sales.

&nbsp;

“There is a clear demand from buyers to secure well-designed homes in exclusive, tightly held Eastern suburbs - and Woollahra is no exception," Stewart says.

"Just two weeks ago CBRE launched a development 200 metres away (Robby Ingham's The Cambrian in Paddington) which sold out in five hours, which was due to the rarity of the offering and an overall lack of approvals for new developments in the area.

"We have already received an unprecedented level of early enquiries for Woollahra Collection, as the development offers an unrivalled combination of new build residences and terrace homes, fitted out with high-end finishes by an acclaimed design team, all on the doorstep of the Queen Street shopping village."

Construction of The Woollahra Collection is expected to be completed by Q4 of 2024.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=138969]

MHN Design Union have been appointed as the lead architects on the project, with landscaping by Wyer & Co


alisonwarters@gmail.com

Fortis launch The Woollahra Collection

National developer Goldfields has secured approval for its 24-level Chatswood tower, The Bryson.

The mixed-use tower, which will offer 70 apartments and commercial spaces, is one of the first approved&nbsp;first approved developments under the Chatswood CBD Planning and Urban Design Strategy.

Colliers are already fielding wide-ranging demand, with onsite demolition due to commence April.

Designed by Make Architects to strike a balance between city living and quiet retreat, <a href="/new-apartments/the-bryson-of-chatswood-871-877-pacific-highway-chatswood">The Bryson</a> will incorporate a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, each with open plan living spaces that open to balconies.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=21170 project_image_fid=210274]

CEO of <a href="/developers/goldfields-group">Goldfields</a>, Lachlan Thompson, said approval of The Bryson marked a significant milestone for the increasingly diversified developer and its growing pipeline of projects.

“Sydney’s Lower North Shore has become one of the most sought-after places to live and work in Australia and we see this trend continuing well into the future,” Thompson said.

“We saw an unmissable opportunity to bring high-quality mixed-use residential space to an area that is demanding it.”

Chatswood sits at the commercial and residential heart of Sydney’s Lower North Shore, eight kilometres north of Sydney’s CBD.

The Bryson is situated 400 metres from Chatswood Railway Station and the Westfield Chatswood shopping centre. The Willoughby City Council population forecast for 2023 is 78,783, and is forecast to grow to 87,415 by 2036 – representing 10.96 per cent growth.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=21170 project_image_fid=210275]

Ian Bennett, Director of Residential at Colliers, said the <a href="/new-apartments/chatswood-nsw-2067">Chatswood</a> market was going from strength to strength.

“With the launch of The Bryson, this has been the first time in about five years that an apartment project of this scale and calibre has been brought to the Chatswood market from an off the plan perspective,” Bennett said.

Around 30 per cent of The Bryson sold at launch, equating to $25 million in sales. Bennett said the success was an indication of the strong demand for apartments in the Chatswood market.

He said in the last 18 months, sales activity was driven by downsizers and families purchasing three-bedroom, premium apartment stock as an alternative to increasingly expensive existing residential housing.

But early activity in 2023 has seen one-and two-bedroom apartments proving just as popular, with sales at The Bryson spanning a diverse range of product purchased by a wide range of local buyers including first homebuyers, young executives, downsizers and investors. There has even been early interest from FIRB purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=21170 project_image_fid=210265]

“At one stage last year, the price gap between existing houses and apartments was over 100 per cent,” Bennett said, suggesting that traditionally that number is around 40 per cent.

"It has probably come back to about a 70 per cent gap this year, but still there is a long way to go for that gap to get back to what we would call normalcy. This shows just how much value for money there is in off-the-plan at the moment compared to existing residential and we are seeing this on the ground in Chatswood.”

Current and prospective buyers were drawn to Chatswood’s close proximity to the CBD and major universities, strong transport connections and growing infrastructure pipeline.

“A lot of the people that we are speaking to are wanting to upgrade, or right-size I guess is more accurate because they’re not of retiree age,” Bennett said.

“These are people who currently live a little further up the train line, up the Pacific Highway in places like Pymble, Turramurra or Lynfield, and they are looking to be more central. Chatswood is almost like a city now, so they see the area as being almost the town centre. The new Metro coming through is seen as a real 
advantage too.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=21170 project_image_fid=210267]

Simon Lincoln, Asia Pacific Director at Make, said The Bryson’s striking vertical form would be “a great addition to the Chatswood skyline and deliver beautiful living spaces, prioritising wellbeing for residents with a real focus on space and amenity”.

Exclusive Skyhome and Penthouse residences will feature walls of operable glazing between expansive open plan living spaces and generous balconies, providing panoramic views while retaining privacy.

A pool terrace with rooftop gardens, outdoor furniture, barbecue facilities and sweeping views across the surrounding Chatswood CBD enhances the feel of an urban resort. Ground floor retail will act as a threshold between the vibrant Chatswood neighbourhood and the private residences above. Strata office suites will be located on level 2 and 3.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=21170]

Ian Bennett, Director of Residential at Colliers, said the Chatswood market was going from strength to strength

Goldfields secure approval for Chatswood apartment development, The Bryson

Compromise isn’t a word used to describe the apartments in AURA by Aqualand, the new $1 billion tower in North Sydney.

The lack of need to compromise is what’s driven a large number of local downsizers to the luxury development, given the combination of both size and design offered in the larger apartments towards the top of the 28-level building.

Roseville residents Henry and Sandra Rolley are downsizing from their family home for the last two decades to take up residency in a sub-penthouse on level 24 of the Walker Street tower.

While technological advancements and the internet have changed the way we market real estate, it was the trusted letterbox drop which alerted the couple to the project.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=202995]

"We visited the display showroom and spoke to Domenic (AURA by Aqualand's Sales Consultant), and everything fell into place from there," Henry says.

Continuing their due diligence so they could get a true feel for what it would be like to live at AURA by Aqualand, Henry and Sandra visited the hotel behind the project and took in the views from the 11th level.

One of Sandra's highest priorities on her wish list was to overlook water.

"The extensive terracing in the sub penthouse, paired with 180 degree views from inside which take in the water, will create a very calming environment for us," Sandra says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=202994]

It was important for the couple to stay within the local area, and AURA by Aqualand offered the best apartment for quality finishes, size, and location. The couple recently bought a share in a boat which is being moored in Bayview, across from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron in Kirribilli.

The location was a big tick for the couple, who wanted to remain north of the bridge so they could still keep in touch with their friends who live on the North Shore. They're planning to use the new metro, to be accessed by the future Victoria Cross Station next door, to get around the majority of the time, while the penthouse also offers two parking spaces.

"It's easy to get everywhere from the location," Henry says, adding that he's excited to see the extensive redevelopment of North Sydney when the government infrastructure projects kick off.

"The alfresco dining strips and the regenerated areas of North Sydney on our doorstep have a massive appeal for us.

"We get the best of both worlds with the exciting lifestyle precinct planned for the base of the building, but a calming oasis to come home to above it all."

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="/news/nsw/what-penthouse-buyers-are-looking-for-in-today-s-market-a-look-into-aura-by-aqualand-s-penthouse-collection">What penthouse buyers are looking for in today’s market; a look into AURA by Aqualand’s penthouse collection</a>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=202986]

Henry has been able to watch the project come out of the ground from the greens at Northbridge Golf Course.

"I've seen the cranes come and I can see the movement on site, which is great," Henry says.

"Soon enough we'll be able to see the level our apartment will sit on which will be an exciting milestone for us."

Coincidentally, a friend who knows one of Aqualand's internal construction team members, is part of Henry and Sandra's Saturday morning riding group, and he can't speak more highly of <a href="/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a> and their efficiency, which Henry says gives him confidence that the delivery timeframe will be achieved.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=202656]

Construction of the $1 billion project commenced early last year and is over half way through, with completion slated for mid-2024.

The Rolley's weren't the only local downsizers buying a premium apartment in the project.

A couple of empty nesters departing their Northern Beaches home of 45 years recently secured one of the four-bedroom apartments in AURA by Aqualand. They intend to turn one of the bedrooms into a home office.

It will be a big change for the retiring couple, who bought the house when they were 20. Out with the old and in with the new, as they intend to leave the house and sell their furniture and antiques. They'll be buying all new furniture to better match the space, as well as new art.

The couple will be splitting their time between the apartment, which will be their city base, and their two holiday houses.

They said the whole process of buying off the plan with Aqualand has been a great experience.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="/news/nsw/how-aura-by-aqualand-adds-a-new-jewel-in-north-sydney-s-crown">How AURA by Aqualand adds a new jewel in North Sydney’s crown</a>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=203003]

“It was our first time buying off the plan, and Aqualand’s professionalism and high degree of organization and knowledge helped us through the buying journey,” they said.

“We constantly get updates on the project and where it’s up to with construction which is important in this sector of the property market. Everything has been smooth sailing in our first off the plan purchase.”

The extensive community-building curated amenity which Aqualand are developing (a providore, bakery, café and wine bar, an all-day diner and a contemporary Japanese restaurant), were a big drawcard for the retiring couple, who are looking forward to being part of a community and meeting new people.&nbsp;

They're excited to explore the city and immerse themselves in the culture, having lived in the Northern Beaches all their lives.

They'll be constantly entertaining, with kids and grandkids, as well as overseas visitors, all expected to come and stay at the apartment, which effectively has two kitchens with the butler's pantry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=202655]

Aqualand Head of Sales and Marketing Alex Adams calls AURA by Aqualand “an heirloom of a building, providing truly rare and unique homes.”

“What was once a beautiful concept is forming into a truly remarkable destination set to be a new masterpiece in North Sydney,” Adams says.

“The elegant forms and curves of the building are taking shape and the installation of the glass frame facade is making its way up level by level.

“A new release of residences, including a selection from our breathtaking penthouse collection is available and now selling, providing a once in a generation opportunity.”

With construction well underway, the main tower will start climbing to its peak at level 28, with the residential levels forming individual apartments with services, internal walls, and bathroom and kitchen fitouts to commence.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=30959]

Roseville residents Henry and Sandra Rolley are downsizing from their family home for the last two decades to take up residency in a sub-penthouse on level 24 of the Walker Street tower

AURA by Aqualand offers exciting new phase for downsizers

Cronulla's beachside is set to receive an influx of new apartments, with two new development applications filed on the beachside.

The two new developments are on Gerrale Street, which has seen a number of new apartment developments since the&nbsp;introduction of the Sutherland Shire Council Local Environment Plan 2015 (SSC LEP).

The most recent application is at 97-105 Gerrale Street, a $30 million shoptop development pictured main and below comprising 30 apartments across a nine-level building and above two retail spaces.

Those plans have been filed by GerDev Pty Ltd, an entity tied to Sahara Projects owner Nick Colys and a Chinese investor.&nbsp;There will be just two two-bed apartments on offer, and 28 three-bedroom units.

Vic Lake Architects Director and Founder Victor Lake noted in the Design Verification Statement submitted to the Sutherland Shire Council that the project&nbsp;sits at a key junction in Cronulla, a gateway to the peninsula.

"The prominent corner position and heritage items make for a challenging and exciting reinvention," the report noted.

To be notified when the project hits sales, <a href="/new-apartments/97-105-gerrale-street-cronulla">enquire here</a>.

<a data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="25f7c0f3-4c28-4dfb-9586-09565748b4a7" href="/new-apartments/97-105-gerrale-street-cronulla"><img alt="Gerrale Street" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-03-28%20at%208.45.15%20am.png?VersionId=9wD1RMfZZSI3WoKI7pLPPhenPe5gA5Yb" /></a> 
The plans for&nbsp;97-105 Gerrale Street. Image credit: Vic Lake

Lake said that, like most areas in the Sutherland Shire, Cronulla is in a transitional phase due to the adoption of the SSC LEP 2015, adding that over time most older housing stock will be replaced with new ADG compliant developments.

"Gerrale Street in particular has several new residential and mixed development that extend from The Kingsway to the north extending along South Cronulla Park to the round-about to the east," Lake wrote.

"Since the adoption of Council’s LEP2015 assisted by the age of the existing housing stock and the rising price of new apartments there has been a number of larger site amalgamations along Gerrale Street that have forms the new context. All new developments compete with one another to attract greater returns and many with expensive and novel visual solutions, however all strive to provide for essential needs of the end users."

A Heritage Impact Statement was undertaken by Andrew Starr and Associates Heritage Consultants given the building at 97-99 Gerrale Street is a locally registered heritage item.

The new development will retain the facades and some internal fabric of the heritage, but some demolition of heritage fabric is necessary to&nbsp;achieve the outcome of the proposal for the development of the apartments. The plan is to demolish the freestanding shop built in the 1980s and a 1970s apartment building which are currently on the 1,438 sqm, four-site amalgamation.

A more boutique project has been filed up the road at 79-81 Gerrale Street, a revision of a previous proposal which was rejected in 2020 due to the projects bulk, scale and design issues.

Now the developer, TomTome Group Pty Ltd, has filed for 18 apartments across nine levels on a 918 sqm block which has a western frontage to Monro Park and an eastern frontage facing Cronulla Beach and Cronulla Park. It will replace a three-level apartment building.

To be notified when the project hits sales, <a href="/new-apartments/79-81-gerrale-street-cronulla">enquire here</a>.

<a data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ebad1ea8-40d7-4776-bf16-ed3dee638d0e" href="/new-apartments/79-81-gerrale-street-cronulla"><img alt="CGI of the proposed development " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ebad1ea8-40d7-4776-bf16-ed3dee638d0e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-03-23%20at%204.18.07%20pm.png?VersionId=lG2Qr.Vo9kIa7OPtmnhy.g8ZsOAR0NN7" /></a> 
The proposed 79-81 Gerrale St building. Credit: IDA Design Group.

The landscaping and architectural design have been developed by Design Collective and IDA Design Group.

The new design includes chamfered corners and a setback that mirrors that of the neighbouring buildings to better integrate with the surrounding area.

One one-bedroom apartment will be on offer, along with eight two-bed and nine three-bedroom residences, in addition to 35 car spaces and four bicycle spaces.&nbsp;

<a data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d7657a90-8975-4391-a7a1-1849346431b8" href="/new-apartments/79-81-gerrale-street-cronulla"><img alt="CGI of the proposed Gerrale St building. Credit: IDA Design Group." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d7657a90-8975-4391-a7a1-1849346431b8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-03-23%20at%204.18.21%20pm.png?VersionId=cUwtrDmCQymWX7tiSl8wNN0k843ZjfIM" /></a> 
The proposed 79-81 Gerrale St building. Credit: IDA Design Group.

The apartments will benefit from direct ocean views to Cronulla Beach, as well as direct access to Monro Park and Cronulla Park.

Drawing inspiration from the nearby coastline for the design, balcony planters and verdant greenery will also help connect the building to the neighbouring parks.

The prominent Sutherland Shire developer <a href="/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> is planning a $100 million project at 67 Gerrale Street.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="/news/nsw/sammut-group-spend-38-million-at-cronulla-for-apartment-development-site">Sammut Group spend $38 million at Cronulla for apartment development site</a>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=137595]

The two new developments are on Gerrale Street, which has seen a number of new apartment developments since the introduction of the Sutherland Shire Council Local Environment Plan 2015 (SSC LEP)

Cronulla apartment pipeline grows with two new beachside developments planned

The tightly held Kirribilli Avenue, which runs from the Harbour Bridge through to the Prime Minster’s Kirribilli House, is set for a rare new luxury apartment development.

Plans have been filed for eight high-end apartments, which will see a the restoration of an inter-war building at 77 Kirribilli Avenue adjoin a new three-level flat building at 75 Kirribilli Avenue. The latter was one of the first buildings in the area, according to town planner Urbis.

That will be demolished and make way for a new five-level building which will home a communal gym, wine room, and five of the eight apartments, including a two-level penthouse which features a rooftop terrace with spa. Next door will be a cinema on the ground level, and a further three units.

There will be seven three-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom unit on offer in the $9.3 million development designed by EMBECE Studio, in collaboration with GMU Urban Design and Architecture. It will front the&nbsp;the heritage-listed Mary Booth Reserve, which means views of the Harbour Bridge can never be built out. Views of the Opera House are limited, due to the longstanding building next door.

<img alt="Kirribilli" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0cc3b19f-2f56-4187-aebc-4a92fd8270fd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-03-24%20at%209.31.03%20am.png?VersionId=IHL6Maj3O95aY7NDRmIk0QqQSQY2qX6l" />

In their plans submitted to the North Sydney council, EMBECE said the the&nbsp;ambitions of the project is to provide eight new high end apartments which are a respectful and elegant addition to the local conservation area, the street and the harbour front.&nbsp;

"A unique site location on the harbour which creates distinctive opportunities for the built form and residential amenity&nbsp;

"The site is a waterfront site and bounded by two distinctively different urban conditions of Kirribilli Avenue and Mary Booth Reserve. These interfaces in the broader context of the harbour location create important considerations for how the building character and residential amenity respond to its setting.

<img alt="Kirribilli" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1c81ebc8-4d11-4b39-9a31-20eda3370434" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-03-24%20at%209.27.25%20am_0.png?VersionId=8pPGgJBpprEEuaYyVk3keVzRWn.HN3RK" />

The Urban Design Report submitted by&nbsp;GMU Urban Design and Architecture&nbsp;said the&nbsp;proposal seeks to deliver elegant, contemporary architectural outcomes that are contextually appropriate, to complement the site and desirable neighbourhood characteristics.

"To the street, the proposed development presents as an existing inter-war building adjacent to a new three-storey residential flat building with high-quality integrated landscape outcomes to complement the streetscape setting.

"The new building at No. 75 presents to the street with simple, elegant contemporary forms paraphrasing the proportions of neighbouring inter-war walk-ups with decorative masonry details, expressed bays and vertical articulation.

"The copper roof is a visual reference to the pitched roof forms found in the area with its profile carefully sculpted to maintain a contemporary elegant expression and minimise visual bulk to the public domain and neighbouring sites."

Town planner Urbis found that 75 Kirribilli Avenue was originally a part of an estate containing the early Victorian cottage, ‘The Dingle’.

"This building was one of the first buildings in the area and was constructed in a vernacular fashion of salvaged metal and other building materials from the Crimean War in the 1850s5 resulting in the colloquial name, the ‘Iron House’. By the late 1800s, the Dingle had its own underground water reservoir, wharf, boathouse, and bathing-house."

Urbis said overall the proposed redevelopment of the subject site will respect the significance of the Kirribilli HCA and will ensure that there are no negative impacts on the vicinity heritage items in the area.

The landscaping has been handled by FORM Architects, who say the&nbsp;landscape design unifies the two buildings through a cohesive garden setting which extends from Kirribilli Avenue and down into the borrowed landscape of the Reserve and the Harbour.

Kirribill Avenue, which is lined with original apartment blocks with gun-barrel views of the Harbour Bridge, has only seen one apartment sale this year and just seven in 2022, which included a $13.5 million sale of a three-bed, 2000-built sub-penthouse with Opera House and Harbour Bridge views.

<h2>Fast Facts:</h2>

<ul>
	<li>Address: 75 Kirribilli Avenue, Kirribilli NSW 2061</li>
	<li>Land size: 1038.1 sqm</li>
	<li>Building Height: 12m</li>
	<li>LGA: North Sydney Council</li>
	<li>Apartments: 8</li>
	<li>1 x 2-bedroom apartment</li>
	<li>7 x 3-bedroom apartment</li>
	<li>Parking spaces: 14</li>
	<li>Estimated cost of work: $9,383,106</li>
</ul>

Plans have been filed for eight high-end apartments, which will see a the restoration of an inter-war building adjoin a new five-level flat building.



First look: New luxury Sydney Harbour apartments planned for Kirribilli

Prominent Sydney developer Coronation Property has been short-listed in the Australian Institute of Architects' National Architecture Awards for their Liverpool-based development, The Foundry.

Nominated in the Multiple Housing category, The Foundry forms part of their award-winning The Paper Mill precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5847 project_image_fid=211760]

Comprising 200 apartments, including high-rise residences and ground floor laneway apartments, the SJB designed development is fused with generous ground-level landscaping sitting beneath a light-filled central atrium that stretches 17-storeys through its core.

Maximising its frontage onto the Georges River, the tower opens up to a 1,200 sqm resort-style rooftop terrace featuring a private pool and landscaped gardens, providing residents with opportunities to connect with neighbours and enjoy river and district views.&nbsp;

The building's facade blends contemporary elements with a nod to the precinct’s rich history. Constructed using a combination of brick and precast concrete, SJB’s design pays homage to the nearby heritage-listed brick structure that Coronation transformed into Paper Mill Food, a vibrant central dining hub enjoyed by residents and the wider Liverpool community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5847 project_image_fid=211761]

The ready-to-move-in apartments at The Foundry feature entertainer’s balconies, engineered floors, double-sized bedrooms, premium joinery, spacious built-in robes, internal laundries, and quality European appliances.

All of the two and three-bedroom apartments have now been sold, with spacious one-bedroom plus study floor plans remaining.&nbsp;

Ideal for first home buyers, investors or young families, these oversized one-bed-plus multi-purpose room apartments, including car space, are priced from $497,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5847]

Nominated in the Multiple Housing category, The Foundry forms part of their award-winning The Paper Mill precinct.

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