<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

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</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

Townsville

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Townsville investors are more attracted towards housing products than units, according to a recent Herron Todd White report.
The property data firm says that the rental market continues to see an oversupply.
“Over the past few years, local and out of town investors have typically been more attracted to housing product over unit stock as the rental market, particularly for units, remains in oversupply along with ongoing buyer aversion due to high body corporate expenses.
“Local investors appear to be typically attracted to entry level stock in the sub $300,000 price bracket, whilst out of town investors are generally in the $300,000 plus price bracket.
“The rental market is continuing to indicate an excess of supply with the vacancy rate for houses as at June 2017 standing at 4.75% and units at 6.50%.
“This excess supply of property available in the rental market relative to demand over the past three to four years has been filtering through to on-going trend reductions in the level of median rents,” the report stated.
A three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-douglas-126259270" target="_blank">20 Curtin Place</a>, Douglas (above) has been listed for $349,000.
Built in 2000 it last sold in 2003 for $363,000.
Another three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-condon-126248602" target="_blank">13 Rosella Court</a>, Condon (below) was listed for $279,000. It is under contract now.
Built in 1980, it last sold for $20,000 in 1988.
<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/2017/08/25/13%20Rosella%20Court.jpg" alt="">
Median rents have fallen by 11% compared to levels in 2012, Herron Todd White warns.
“In trend terms median rents in March 2017 for both houses and units are 11.7% below their corresponding levels in March 2012.
“Investors in the current market appear to be seeking capital gains.
“With both the median house price and median rents at soft levels, this puts investors in a good position to capitalise on the upswing in market conditions.
“The latest federal budget has tinkered with property market settings to address housing affordability including the implementation of changes to residential investment property depreciation.
“These changes along with tighter financial controls for investors appear to be one size fits all adjustments applied to correct Sydney and Melbourne markets, however they have the potential to negatively affect regional markets such as Townsville, where the primary concern is consolidating a recovery process, not affordability,” the report said.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Townsville investors more attracted to houses than units: HTW

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One of Townsville’s iconic homes has sold at auction for $1.825 million.
The property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-north+ward-125936306" target="_blank">9 Cleveland Terrace, North Ward</a> has sweeping views of Pallarenda, Magnetic Island and Castle Hill.
<div id="sticky_holder_news">It was the first time the home had been on the market in 44 years after being bought by co-founding director of the North Queensland Cowboys Max Short in 1973, who died last year, aged 89.</div>
The home was purchased by a local Townsville couple.
The white house on the hill has been long admired from passersby on The Strand.
More than 100 people turned out to the auction where 12 bidders were registered to bid on the three-bedroom, two-bathroom Californian bungalow.
 
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An iconic home in Townsville auctioned for $1.825 million

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Throughout 2016 Townsville’s retail market remained patchy, according to Herron Todd White’s recent report.
The property valuation firm says that the total transactions of all properties have equalled to $5 million.
"Quality properties with strong lease covenants transacted, several high profile neighbourhood shopping centres changed hands and a number of smaller showrooms, bulky goods centres and convenience centres also transacted at around the $5 million mark," the report commented.
This indicated a strong improvement for quality assets in regional areas at investment yields of circa 7%, demonstrating the yield disparity when compared with similar style assets in the southern metro markets.
"The year ahead for the retail sector is likely to remain patchy, with quality property with strong lease covenants continuing to attract interest.
However the balance of the market is likely to remain in a holding pattern at the bottom of the market cycle," the report warned.
The Cairns retail market passed through the bottom of the cycle during the course of 2014, but the limited recovery thus far means that the retail property market remains relatively flat.
"It must also be said that retail property sales in Cairns are extremely sporadic, with most sales involving retail property of mixed use retail and office buildings or tenant buyout of single premises.
High exposure CBD retail space remains reasonably well occupied, but vacancies are more noticeable in the lesser exposure locations and on the CBD fringe.
Rents have remained generally stable, showing ranges of $600 to $800 per square metre per annum for prime CBD space and $1,000 to $1,500 per square metre per annum in key tourist precincts such as the Cairns Esplanade," the report stated.
"Blue chip retail located within the main Esplanade tourist strip as well as the central business district shows reasonably low vacancies, although there is also limited demand from new businesses.
"There remains good investor demand for well leased properties which rarely come onto the market.
"Though the economic conditions in Cairns are likely to improve through buoyant tourism activity, little change is expected in retail market conditions during 2017."
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Townsville retail market begins to improve while Cairns remains flat: HTW

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Townsville had a buoyant market in the final quarter of 2016 with the median house price growing an impressive 4.6 percent to $345,000, according to REIQ's latest report.
The area is set to benefit from considerable infrastructure and government spending programs, including the $250 million football stadium.
It will also benefit from the planning for the $1.6 billion Port of Townsville project, which will help employment figures and stabilise business confidence.
The unit market held steady this quarter at $260,000 and while there was zero growth this quarter there was also zero contraction.
Unfortunately, the market has contracted 4.3 percent over the year and compared with five years ago, has contracted 16.2 percent.    
A four bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-annandale-124759510" target="_blank">15 Banyan Court</a>, Annandale (above) has been listed for $395,000.
It last sold on February 2013 for $360,000.
Similarly a four bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-south+townsville-119709151" target="_blank">45 Allen Street</a>, South Townsville (below) has been listed for $329,000.
It last sold on August 2013 for $320,000.
<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/2017/03/16/45%20Allen%20Street.jpg" alt="">
A four bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-duplex+semi+detached-qld-kirwan-124759502" target="_blank">14 Hasson Street</a>, Kirwan (below) has been listed for $375,000.
It last sold on October 2006 for $330,000.
<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/2017/03/22/14%20Hasson%20Street.jpg" alt="">
A three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-gulliver-124891462" target="_blank">19 Harvey Street</a>, Gulliver (below) has been listed for $325,000.
It last sold on November 2016 for $180,000.
<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/2017/03/22/19%20Harvey%20Street.jpg" alt="">
A four bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-mount+louisa-125021966" target="_blank">24 Gadsden Loop</a>, Mount Louisa (below) has been listed for $354,000.
It last sold on February 2013 for $419,750.
<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/2017/03/22/24%20Gadsden%20Loop.jpg" alt="">
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Townsville housing market rises by 4.6 percent: REIQ

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The newly constructed CQUniversity Building in Townsville’s CBD has sold for $12.8 million.
CQUniversity (CQUni), which is seeking to expand its Townsville footprint, commissioned Queensland developers Honeycombes to design and develop a multi-functional 2,592 square metre education facility on the CBD site.
The three-level building is located within the commercial precinct of Honeycombes’ $450 million Central development located in Townsville’s CBD.
The project was the first to be approved and completed in Townsville’s 97 hectare Waterfront Priority Development Area, which will include the city’s new $250 million sports stadium and entertainment centre.
The building accommodates between 150 and 200 students at any time and comprises a ground-level foyer and library area topped by state-of-the-art education facilities on the two upper levels.
It was designed to cater for increased student enrolments at the university with about 1,000 students expected to be using the facility by the end of the year.
CQUni’s 15-year lease has three 10-year options and returns an annual net income of more than $855,000, delivering a 6.7% yield for the purchaser.
“Since opening the new campus building, the feedback from students has been fantastic and they’re absolutely thrilled with the new space,” CQUniversity Townsville and North West Queensland associate vice-chancellor Kari Arbouin said.
 “The CBD location is very much a drawcard.”
Honeycombes Property Group managing director Peter Honeycombe (pictured below) said the building design not only took into consideration the CQUni requirements, but also contemplated future uses beyond the 15-year lease.
“It was important for us that conversion of the building back into a regular office building was possible and feasible,” Honeycombe said.
“The CQUniversity Building was one of the few construction projects under way in Townsville over the past few months.
“We’re also thrilled to have been able to deliver a much needed, state-of-the-art education facility for CQUni in the CBD as part of their expansion.”
<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/2017/03/17/Peter%20Honeycombe.jpg" alt="">
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Newly constructed CQUniversity building in Townsville sold for $12.8m

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HTW is seeing new signs of a property market turnaround in Townsville following a year where its economy hit bottom and the property market travelled sideways at best, according to its February 2017 update.
The valuation firm says the residential property market has stabilised and confidence is now starting to improve.
However, it cautions that the market right now is fragile and remains positioned at the bottom of the cycle.
The firm predicts that throughout 2017 the residential market is likely to continue ticking over with purchases being made by intending owner occupiers, with some signs of activity re-emerging in the investor market.
“We are likely to see further stabilisation in transactions with the market poised to enter a recovery phase during 2017 as confidence increases,” the report says.
“The housing market has seen a stabilisation in volumes and median sale price and this is likely to continue throughout 2017.”
Townville’s unit market is predicted to remain stable for the first part of the year at least, reflecting ongoing buyer aversion, low levels of investor activity and a lack of new units being brought to market with supply of new developer units now at a seven year low.
The land market is tipped to slow with a lack of new home buyer confidence and the economics of new versus existing housing continuing to retard new home construction.
“The rental market remains in an over-supply situation with the latest survey indicating an overall trending vacancy rate of 5.6%,” HTW says.
“The year ahead will hopefully bring some relief to the rental market seeing the vacancy rate return to a more balanced situation.”
A four bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-kelso-121501894" target="_blank">2 Doyles Circuit</a>, Kelso (above) has been listed for $270,000.
Similarly a two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-south+townsville-124530190" target="_blank">42/38 Morehead Street</a>, South Townsville (below) has been listed for $285,000.
<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/2017/02/20/42_38%20Morehead%20Street.jpg" alt="">
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Market turnaround underway in Townsville: HTW

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Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and wife Kirilly have paid $760,000 for a commercial investment property in Townsville.
He's bought three retails spaces in <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-qld-wulguru-501840974" target="_blank">Edison Plaza</a>, a retail shopping centre in Wulguru.
He's sought tenants for all three spaces.
The property came with $1.1 million price hopes and had been on the market for over 500 days.
<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/2017/02/14/Peter1.jpg" alt="" width="514" height="228">
Elders Real Estate Townsville agent Glenm Adair sold the property.
The investment property takes his total portfolio up to five rental properties.
The most notable is the four bedder at Queensland's Palm Beach that cost the couple $2.3 million early last year.
They have two properties in the Sunshine State and another in Canberra. They live at Camp Mountain, north-west of Brisbane.
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Immigration Minister Peter Dutton buys Townsville retail investment property

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Most people jump into markets when they hear they’re booming. Few will buy in a down market, with an eye to the future.
They’ll wait until a newspaper report tells them prices have jumped in the past year, which means they’re too late to maximise the best opportunities to buy well.
Perth is the most depressed of the capital city markets and buyers are staying away in droves. The real estate industry is working hard to talk up the market, claiming buyers should dive in before prices rise. Such claims are among real estate’s greatest clichés, but they will be right in the not too distant future – at the right time Perth will represent great buying, after 3-4 years of falling prices. But most won’t make a move until they read there’s a new boom on.
Another example of this conundrum is provided by Townsville. The North Queensland city has had a lot of negative publicity recently and you wouldn’t buy there on the current numbers.
But I rate locations on their future prospects, often in defiance of the current situation, to alert investors to areas poised for growth. Townsville is a classic case.
It’s among the sturdiest regional economies in Australia. I rate economic diversity and Townsville has more than most regional centres, with strong elements of government admin, education, defence, resources, health, tourism and manufacturing – plus an export port.
Its property market had a run of strong annual growth up to 2011 – and, after decline in the past few years, is ready to resume its forward progress. Its comeback will be boosted by major events, including retail projects, CBD commercial and infrastructure spending. It is also receiving economic impetus from the expansion of its military economy and will benefit from the $22 billion Adani mining project.
Townsville is forecast to be one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities, reaching a population of 340,000 by 2050, according to demographer Bernard Salt in a 2015 report.
Townsville has over 100 education facilities, including the James Cook University, where around 12,000 students are enrolled.
It’s close to the Barrier Reef and tourism is a big industry. The city received 1.2 million domestic visitors in the year to September 2016, injecting $925 million (up 35 percent on the previous year). Around 12,000 cruise ship passengers visit Townsville each year and, following a Cruise Ship Terminal upgrade, larger numbers are expected in the future.
Trade through the Port of Townsville often tops one million tonnes per month and it is now Queensland’s third largest port. Examples of the port’s growth include an $85 million export facility opened by Glencore in 2015 and Puma Energy’s $150 million fuel import terminal.
The Townsville house market was one of the strongest among the Queensland regional cities over the five years to 2011, with median prices rising 50 percent. In recent years, there have been few signs of growth and many suburbs remain in decline as a result of recent economic reversals.
News of Clive Palmer’s nickel refinery closing in 2016 has not helped the market.
But Hotspotting expects an economic revival in 2017 and better results in the property market, a sentiment shared by Herron Todd White. In the October 2016 edition of its In Focus report, HTW said conditions in the residential market were starting to stabilise.
A core problem for Townsville has been oversupply, bringing an adjustment in rents. Despite that, yields remain attractive and are generally in the 5-6 percent range for houses. Some of the unit markets have median yields close to 7 percent.
So it’s a good time to consider Townsville as it gears for a growth phase. Job-generating projects are set to get under way in 2017, headed by a $1.9 billion CBD makeover. The Townsville City Waterfront Priority Development Area plan is designed to create a modern city space where 30,000 people are expected to be living and working in the CBD by 2030.
New developments will include bars, restaurants and shops. This will also be the site of a sports stadium, convention centre, arts precinct and a redevelopment of the North Yards railway sheds.
Townsville will thrive on the Adani coal project, which will have its HQ in Townsville, if the miner’s undertakings are kept. But nothing is certain in the resources sector and Townsvillemay have to fight to maximise the benefits because other regional cities can sniff the opportunities. Hence this headline in the local paper on 10 February: “Townsville declares war on Rocky.”
In a story on the front page of the Townsville Bulletin, Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the gloves were off in beating out other regional cities for Adani's FIFO hub.
Townsville is likely to benefit from other mining activity in Central Queensland, despite being hundreds of kilometres from the mine sites, in many cases. As one example of how major mining companies approach staffing these days, reports suggest BHP Billiton “has turned to Townsville locals to fill 200 fly-in, fly-out jobs in the Bowen Basin”.
There are 270 jobs on offer at the company’s Peak Downs and Saraji mines near Moranbah and a spokesman for BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) says they are advertising FIFO roles from Townsville.
Townsville is also likely to benefit from plans for Singaporean Armed Forces to train at Shoalwater Bay Training Area and Townsville Field Training Area. Up to 14,000 Singapore personnel will conduct unilateral army training for up to 18 weeks a year by 2021. Land will be used for tank training and $300 million will be spent on new facilities. This is the plan that became contentious recently when rural landholders claimed their properties would be forcibly resumed to make way for the military manoeuvres.
Then there’s a $225 million solar farm planned in the Upper Ross, with the project attracting federal funding and a solar power purchase agreement reported to be the biggest in the country. Under a 13-year contract, EnergyAustralia will buy 80 per cent of the electricity generated by the 142MW facility, enough power for 52,000 homes.
With so many large-scale projects in its future, Townsville is poised to return to growth and tuned-in investors will be looking around for opportunities.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can  <a href="mailto:%20%3Cscript%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20var%20prefix%20=%20'ma'%20+%20'il'%20+%20'to';%20var%20path%20=%20'hr'%20+%20'ef'%20+%20'=';%20var%20addy38821%20=%20'ryder'%20+%20'@';%20addy38821%20=%20addy38821%20+%20'hotspotting'%20+%20'.'%20+%20'com'%20+%20'.'%20+%20'au';%20document.write('%3Ca%20'%20+%20path%20+%20'/''%20+%20prefix%20+%20':'%20+%20addy38821%20+%20'/'%3E');%20document.write(addy38821);%20document.write('%3C//a%3E');%20//--%3E/n%20%3C/script%3E%3Cscript%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20document.write('%3Cspan%20style=/'display:%20none;/'%3E');%20//--%3E%20%3C/script%3EThis%20email%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spambots.%20You%20need%20JavaScript%20enabled%20to%20view%20it.%20%3Cscript%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20document.write('%3C/');%20document.write('span%3E');%20//--%3E%20%3C/script%3E">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting">Twitter.</a>
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Tuned in investors turning towards Townsville

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The balanced Townsville property market was beginning to show signs of an oversupply of houses relative to demand, according to Herron Todd White’s latest report.
The property advisory firm says that Townsville’s rental vacancy trend is steady while there is a fair demand for new houses.
<a href="/images/2016/12/06/HTW%20-%20QLD%20Houses.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/12/06/HTW%20-%20QLD%20Houses.jpg" alt="">
Both the trend in new houses being built and the volume of houses being sold remain steady.
Currently Townsville’s housing market is at the bottom while new properties are almost never sold at prices that exceed their potential resale value.
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Townsville's house rental vacancy trend remains steady: HTW

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Compulsory land acquisitions are set to begin for the expansion of Defence Field Training Areas around Townsville and Rockhampton.
It is as part of the Singapore-Australia defence agreement which will see the High Range Field Training Area upgraded to accommodate 14,000 Singaporean troops for 18 weeks every year.
The existing training areas can only accommodate a limited number of troops.
The Defence Department has written to landholders who may be impacted, with some landholders willingly sell their land during the next five years.
The Land newspaper suggests about 20 landholders are affected in the Townsville region acquisitions.
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