A prominent corner in Wynnum’s central precinct could be reshaped under new plans from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/toore-developments">Torre Development</a>, with a development application now with council for a sculptural eight-storey apartment building combining residential, office, and recreation uses.

Situated at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/63-bay-terrace-wynnum-qld-4178">63 Bay Terrace</a>, the 2,014 sqm site lies at the intersection with Charlotte Street, within the Wynnum-Manly Neighbourhood Plan’s Wynnum central business district sub-precinct. The proposal seeks to deliver 78 apartments above ground-floor non-residential tenancies, with architecture by Plus Studio.

The proposed building will be a mix of 58 two-bedroom and 20 three-bedroom apartments spread across seven residential levels, crowned by a 914 sqm communal rooftop terrace featuring a pool, gym, sauna, and private dining areas.

Ground level activation is a key aspect of the design, with 771 sqm of office and indoor sport and recreation space proposed to reinforce the area’s major centre designation. The site will also deliver improved pedestrian amenity via a recessed entry plaza on Bay Terrace and a landscaped public realm along Charlotte Street.

<img alt="63 Bay Terrace, Wynnum" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4e5ef890-2f8f-4bbd-9ff1-57fa4e4360d2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Wynnum%20podium.png?VersionId=7_if97F1KAYrTX2BQrNspFInEHwXcQRd" />

In their design report, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> described the form as “sculpted into a rhythmic wave, amplifying facade dynamism while merging interior life seamlessly with the city’s texture to evoke a fluid, immersive urban living experience”.

Vehicle access will be via Bay Terrace, with four basement levels accommodating 197 car spaces, including 177 for residents. Bicycle storage is also provided for 193 bikes.

The building’s architectural character is marked by curved balconies, horizontal banding at podium level, and lush greenery integrated throughout.

“Traditional developments in Wynnum typically feature above-ground car parking, a tiered 'wedding-cake' building form, no podium-level landscaping, and no rooftop amenities,” Mewing Planning noted in the DA, positioning this proposal as a departure from the norm.

The new development is Torre's second in the area, having recently completed Catalina, a more boutique building with 28 apartments.

There are only two new developments currently on the market in Wynnum: Panorama on Bay Terrace and Adena Residences on Sorrento Street, the latter of which is nearing completion.

Joel Robinson

First look: Torre eyes sculpted mixed-use apartment tower for key Wynnum corner

“We honestly never thought we’d have penthouses.”

That was the view from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ellipse-property-group">Ellipse Property Group</a>, developer of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/carrington-place-castle-hill-36-carrington-road-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Carrington Place</a>, Cas​tle Hill’s $850 million masterplanned community. Atrium, the project’s first stage, has been one of the Hills Shire’s most successful launches, with sales cutting across almost every buyer demographic. But it was one group in particular, downsizers, that shaped the next evolution of the development.

“Our large three-bedroom apartments, anything bigger than 135 sqm, were quickly getting snapped up,” says Puja Khanna, Ellipse’s Sales, Marketing and Design Associate Director. “We had a huge amount of interest from downsizers who were living in houses and used to having extra space. Many hadn’t wanted to leave because they couldn’t see themselves in a smaller apartment.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89496 project_image_fid=353654]

That demand drove Ellipse to reconfigure layouts during the early stages of the construction phase. “At one point a buyer asked us to combine a two-bedroom and a one-bedroom into a 145 sqm three-bedroom. We applied that across the stack and created five more, they all sold very quickly.&nbsp; Then another buyer wanted something even bigger. We looked strategically at how to cater for this appetite and ended up redesigning the whole of the top level. Sixteen units became eight penthouses, each one unique in its design, configuration, or aspect.”

Ellipse’s new penthouse collection takes space and finishes to another level. Offering up to 334 sqm of indoor-outdoor living, they feature stone kitchens with central islands designed for entertaining, walk-in pantries, and a full suite of integrated Miele appliances and a Fisher &amp; Paykel fridge.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89496 project_image_fid=353655]

Living areas are anchored by luxury fireplaces, while expansive balconies and terraces include outdoor kitchens with bar fridges, sinks, and built-in barbecue benches. Bathrooms will feature large-format porcelain tiles, brushed brass fittings, frameless shower screens, and floating timber-toned vanities.

“We’ve already had a buyer secure one of the penthouses purely from a hand-sketch drawing,” Khanna says. “We worked with them for months to refine the specifications and inclusions. That consultation process has helped shape the rest of the penthouses — some even feature two separate living spaces.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89496 project_image_fid=353653]

Ellipse’s builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/decode">Decode Group</a>, an award-winning Tier 2 residential builder and one of the first to achieve a prestigious Gold iCIRT rating, is well advanced in construction at Atrium, which is expected to welcome its first residents in mid-2026.

There will be four stages to Carrington Place, delivering over 800 apartments alongside 20,000 sqm of outdoor recreation space. Plans include a one-kilometre boardwalk connecting to Fred Caterson Reserve, along with extensive landscaping and community amenity. Ellipse has recently launched Carrington Place’s second stage, Lily Lane, which will deliver 220 new apartments across two new buildings.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=89496]

Ellipse Property unveils Atrium Penthouse Collection at Carrington Place, Castle Hill

Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) is rapidly becoming a must-have in the New South Wales new development market, with more developers than ever adopting the rigorous insurance policy that brings confidence to the market like no other.

While LDI has been long established in Europe and the Americas, it only entered the Australian market in 2022 when Resilience Insurance was approved to offer the cover. It arrived against a backdrop of high-profile defects cases that had dented confidence in the apartment sector.

Latent Defects Insurance is secured by the developer and protects the building—and, more importantly, the apartments within it, from any structural or waterproofing defects that may arise within the first 10 years of the building's completion.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent says developers have quickly realised its importance.

“The overarching feedback from prospective buyers in the new development space is that they have an inherent lack of confidence,” Nugent says. “That has been the number one factor in buyers transacting. Latent Defects Insurance not only gives them complete peace of mind for 10 years, but it shows the developer they are buying from is standing by their product by taking out the insurance.”

Nugent says there has been a marked uptick in new projects with LDI in the last 12 months.

“There are now over 3,200 apartments in the pipeline that have, or will have, the Latent Defects Insurance policy. Developers understand the value it gives to buyers while also recognising that if they don’t offer it, others will—and that makes a competing development much more appealing to a buyer.”

Nugent says we are now seeing a real shift in the culture of development. The policy doesn’t just protect purchasers; it encourages better standards during construction because independent inspections are part of the process. “That’s the real long-term benefit.”

Builder-developers have been particularly active in driving adoption of the policy. Deicorp was among the earliest adopters, setting a precedent that many others have followed. Builder-developer DASCO has taken out LDI across its two new projects, Danks Street District in Waterloo and Senso in Epping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=111820 project_image_fid=344699]

Fellow prolific builder-developer ALAND has taken out its first Latent Defects Insurance policy at The Walden, the newest apartment development in North Sydney. ALAND Founder Andrew Hrsto said offering the policy was a natural decision.

“With a project like The Walden, buyers expect certainty,” Hrsto says. “For us, LDI ensures that confidence is built in from the start, and that’s exactly what purchasers in this part of Sydney are looking for.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6384]

Newcastle builder-developer GWH has just taken out the policy at its newest development, ERA, one of the only new developments in the region with Latent Defects Insurance.

GWH Director Jonathan Craig said the policy is a “win for everyone.” “As a builder and developer, we take great pride in our work. Having third-party inspections throughout construction gives us confidence and delivers peace of mind for the buyer.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Longstanding, diversified developer Northland Group is offering the only LDI-insured apartments in Merrylands in Sydney’s growing west. Their under-construction Pitt Street development, Central Quarter, will comprise 194 apartments above a full new commercial and retail precinct.

Chris Williams, Operations Director at Home789, who is selling Central Quarter in conjunction with Stone Projects, says buyers are seeing LDI as both a value-add and protection.

“LDI is helping first home buyers and investors feel more confident, especially with all the negative publicity around off-the-plan apartments,” Williams says. He adds that buyers also appreciate the strict requirements and scheduled inspections throughout construction. “That adds another layer of credibility to the project and gives them extra confidence in the build quality.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5660 project_image_fid=1673]

Developments with LDI are subject to the Technical Inspection Service program, an independent third-party review process that monitors and evaluates a building’s design and construction. By integrating regular inspections and detailed assessments into every stage of construction, the TIS significantly reduces the likelihood of latent structural defects—issues that only become apparent after project completion.

Resilience Insurance is working with the NSW Government and expects Latent Defects Insurance to be mandatory by 2028.

“There are now over 3,200 apartments in the pipeline that have, or will have, the Latent Defects Insurance policy."

Resilience Latent Defect Insurance protection runs hot in New South Wales

The builder-developer model has become a widely discussed strategy in the new development space in recent years, particularly in the face of rising labour costs, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and a shortage of high-quality builders. Many developers who built their own projects were able to mitigate these challenges and continue delivering new apartments relatively unscathed.

In Newcastle, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> stands out as the city’s only local builder-developer. While operating relatively quietly for decades, the diversified developer is now becoming a major player in a city that is traditionally deemed a “regional market”, but has grown to be anything but. Increased interest from Sydney-based buyers, driven by remote working trends and the search for affordability that often lies well outside of Greater Sydney, has only heightened GWH’s visibility.

Their strength lies in their fully integrated business model and the local reputation they’ve built. This has helped them navigate challenges like the pandemic as well as any developer in the country, and continues to guide their growing pipeline of projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Jonathan Craig, GWH’s Managing Director, has been with the business for nearly 30 years. He stepped out of school and straight onto a construction site with his father, a structural engineer.

“I was straight on site in Cardiff, where I met Hilton Grugeon (one of GWH’s founders). Within a week, I was working for him and Grahame Chevalley (the other founder),” Jonathan recalls.

GWH was founded in 1995, initially focusing on industrial units and then moving into bulky goods retail developments, particularly in Newcastle and Maitland. In the early 2000s, the company began developing Coles neighbourhood shopping centres. They soon built out a construction team capable of delivering larger-scale projects, paving the way for their entry into multi-residential development.

While the builder-developer model isn’t necessarily new, GWH could arguably boast one of the most vertically integrated businesses in the country. Under the umbrella of the Hunter Construction Group, GWH has access to an in-house supply chain that includes a ready-mixed concrete provider, and structural steel, aluminium windows and doors and precast panel manufacturing businesses.

“We very literally deliver the developments from the ground up,” Jonathan says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24247 project_image_fid=325758]

Jonathan reflects on GWH’s “bold move” to buy a residential development site in Newcastle West over a decade ago. “People thought we were mad. At the time, it was Newcastle’s tallest building at around 13 storeys.”

Apartment living wasn’t the norm in Newcastle back then.

“The city and surrounds were predominantly made up of single blocks with weatherboard cottages, even in the centre of the city,” he says.&nbsp;

But fast forward a decade, and the landscape has shifted dramatically.

“The market is now incredibly well-educated and much more open to what apartment living can offer.”

One of the most noticeable market shifts Jonathan has noticed in the past five to seven years has been the demand for resident facilities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24247 project_image_fid=325760]

“We started with a residential rooftop in 2018, and then added a pool and gym. Now our developments include all of the above plus cinemas, steam rooms and multiple rooftop entertaining areas.” The residential rooftop space is an amenity GWH has double-downed on in recent years. It has become one of their signature offerings, with no other developer in the area dedicating the rooftop to residents.

Another major shift over the last five years is the buyer pool. Previously, about 75 per cent of GWH’s buyers were local downsizers from within a 40-kilometre radius. Today, the buyer demographic is much more varied, with younger professionals and investors who see long-term growth in the Newcastle area becoming more prevalent.

This diversification has led GWH to design developments with a wider range of apartment configurations and sizes to meet evolving demand.

GWH has delivered over 700 apartments since entering the multi-residential sector, and will add a further 193 apartments in the coming months with the completion of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/one-apartments-newcastle-west-1-national-park-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ONE Apartments</a> in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>. GWH focused on larger floorplans at ONE, which are around 20 per cent larger than what is typically available in both the new development and established apartments sectors in the region. The taller of the two towers in the building, at 80m high, will become the tallest tower in Newcastle.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351103]

Just 650 metres away, GWH will soon break ground on their next project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a>. Another two-tower development, ERA will comprise 281 apartments, an open-air swimming pool on the shared podium level, a gym with a dedicated fitness studio and a dry sauna, and a rooftop terrace crowning each building.

ERA will be GWH’s first development to include Latent Defects Insurance by Resilience Insurance, which protects buyers from structural and waterproofing defects for 10 years post-completion.

“The policy is a win for everyone,” Jonathan says.

“As a builder and developer, we take great pride in our work. Having third-party inspections throughout construction gives us confidence, and delivers peace of mind for the buyer.”

GWH plans to take out Latent Defects Insurance on all future projects.

One of GWH’s most ambitious upcoming projects will reshape the west end of Newcastle. The developer recently secured The Cambridge Hotel, situated on a prized 1,942 sqm site, along with an adjoining 4,096 sqm parcel. Together, they form a 6,038 sqm megasite set to become a mixed-use precinct, featuring significant retail and hospitality on the ground floor, and several residential towers above.

“There’s such an opportunity to deliver something really special for this part of the city. “It’s one we, as a whole business, are very much looking forward to bringing to the people of Newcastle.”

Building from the ground up: GWH takes fully-integrated development model to new heights

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/bellevue-hill-nsw-2023">Bellevue Hill</a> has long been one of Sydney’s premier suburbs. With having the highest median house value in the nation exceeding $10 million, it’s home to some of Australia’s most prestigious schools and The Royal Sydney Golf Club. What the suburb lacks, however, is new apartments which meet the needs of local downsizers and families.

Most units in the area date back to the 1960s, with layouts that no longer suit modern lifestyles, particularly for the downsizer market that dominates Bellevue Hill. As the downsizer trend sweeps through Sydney’s eastern suburbs, many long-time residents are looking for low-maintenance living options without leaving the suburb they love.

When new developments do emerge, they’re typically full-floor residences in boutique buildings, which work for some downsizers, but don’t speak for the whole demographic who might want more amenity, generous open spaces. These types of apartments can also be out of reach for many downsizers.

That’s where developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/kew">Kew</a> identified an opportunity with its fourth project in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-palm-house-bellevue-hill-84-88-birriga-road-bellevue-hill-nsw-2023">Kew Palm House</a>. The team amalgamated three sites to create a generous 3,000 sqm block on Birriga Road, bordering the Royal Sydney Golf Club. The result is a design that feels more like a resort hotel with lush landscaped gardens and traditional harbour-view homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=133966 project_image_fid=352223]

While downsizers and families are expected to make up the majority of buyers, Kew is offering a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom apartments among the 16 residences. The two-bedroom layouts, rare for Bellevue Hill, are ideal for lock-and-leave downsizers, while the larger residences are tailored for more permanent owner-occupiers.

Architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> was engaged to design Kew Palm House with a brief to create “a modern interpretation of a classic townhome nestled within a resort.” The project comprises two separate four- and five-level buildings, surrounded by extensive landscaping by renowned firm <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/dangar-barin-smith">Dangar Barin Smith</a>.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=133966 project_image_fid=352220]

Communal gardens weave through secluded tree-lined paths leading to a pool house and alfresco spaces, amenities designed to bring neighbours together for communal functions and family events.

To be in keeping with what the market expects in Bellevue Hill, interiors will feature high-end fixtures and finishes such as expanses of travertine, natural stone, engineered timber, and luxury appliances by V-ZUG in the kitchens.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=133966 project_image_fid=352219]

Kew Co-Founder and CEO Ali Mohammed spent two years researching the local real estate market in Bellevue Hill to understand what buyers were looking for.

“What we found is that the majority of the homes in Bellevue Hill are very grand, with generous open spaces and established gardens,” Mohammed said. “We wanted to create that grandiosity in an apartment development, not just focussing on the building but creating plenty of open space to move around.”

Ali Mohammed says he was inspired to create garden-led developments after a trip to London’s Kew Gardens in 2009. “Just as plants thrive under optimal conditions, Kew believes humans flourish in well-designed environments. The residences blend architectural innovation with sustainability, fostering a harmonious connection between people and nature.”

Kew is part of Positive Investment Enterprise, a development and investment group founded in 2011. The company has taken a particular interest in Bellevue Hill, with Kew Palm House being the first in a succession of upcoming projects in the area. They have previously completed Kew Bondi, one of the most architecturally striking buildings on Bondi Road.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=133966]

Kew takes a shine to Bellevue Hill as Palm House launches

Wesley Park

<html><body>
Charter Hall Group has announced it has been granted planning approval for a new 5,000 square metre public space at its Wesley Place precinct in Melbourne’s CBD.
Designed by landscape architects OCULUS, in collaboration with Cox Architects, the complex will be available to the public from mid-2020.
The 5,000 square metre public space will include food and beverage retail offering, and 520 square metres of lawn and native flora to complement the existing heritage-listed olive and elm trees onsite.
“The receipt of this approval for the public space is another exciting milestone for this transformative $1.5 billion precinct. When it opens in mid-2020, the space will create a sanctuary in the heart of the Melbourne CBD, providing the community and our Wesley Place tenants with a diverse, future-ready and tech-enabled space for people to collaborate, converge and communicate on a daily basis,” said Charter Hall Regional Development Director, Simon Stockfeld.
The space will reportedly be technology enabled, with features such as outdoor power outlets with USB charging ports, digital maps for wayfinding and solar powered ‘smart bins’ that self-compact and alert maintenance staff when they require emptying.
 
</body></html>

Wesley Park

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Wesley Park

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.