Aqualand&nbsp;has broken the North Shore record for the highest sales revenue achieved in one week at its recently completed North Sydney apartment development, AURA by Aqualand.

The integrated developer-builder has sold $40 million worth of apartments in the luxury Walker Street building that was <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/nsw/aqualand-officially-opens-landmark-north-sydney-apartment-development-aura-by-aqualand">officially completed in late June</a>.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a> expects to break the record again in the coming weeks as sales momentum continues to ramp up. They saw over $100 million in sales in February 2024, the most in a single month since the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> tower was launched in December 2021.

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Aqualand has been a record-setter in the North Shore before, at its luxury&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/blue-at-lavender-bay-61-lavender-street-milsons-point">BLUE at Lavender Bay</a>&nbsp;development where they sold a penthouse for around $9 million in 2018, the highest price paid for an apartment at the time in the region. That was then broken a few weeks later with a $10.5 million sale.

Aqualand’s Head of Sales and Marketing, Alex Adams, said contracts were exchanged across all configurations at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/aura-by-aqualand-north-sydney-168-walker-street-north-sydney">AURA by Aqualand</a>,&nbsp;including one, two, three and four-bedroom residences.

“It’s been interesting that no particular product has outperformed the others, with sales evenly spread across all apartment types," Adams said.

"Every aspect of the building is selling extremely well, which proves our product offering perfectly reflects buyer demand."

Adams believes the increase in buyer commitment that week reflected the building’s recent completion, as well as the ongoing evolution of North Sydney, with the long-awaited opening of the Victoria Cross Station and broader Sydney Metro, as well as the opening of AURA’s four world-class hospitality outlets in the new Walker Street Precinct; Genzo, Sol Bread and Wine, Una Providore and Soluna.

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“Our market campaign was also amplified leading up to AURA’s completion, resulting in enquiries over the past six months from potential buyers who weren’t yet ready to transact, reengaging with the project and returning to buy," Adams added.

“We also know the change to our buyer journey moving our display showroom into the completed building, was well worth the significant investment, as they can now directly experience the completed building firsthand. They can see the build quality in the new showroom, and when we take them up into the stunning display apartments, the build quality and high-level of finishes is reinforced in their mind, instils confidence in us leading to increased conversion. These apartment tours have been heavily booked, and with all the amenities finished, they can see it offers the best quality in the Sydney market.

“Given most buyers are owner-occupiers, with downsizers being overtaken by more and more families leading the buyer demographic, there is a select number of luxury buyers less likely to transact on off-the-plan projects and wait until they can experience the build quality, materials and attention to detail firsthand. They’re conscious they’ll experience the building on a daily basis, so they need reassurance the quality and lifestyle offering we’ve delivered is exactly as promised."

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Adams said there are more families choosing to right-size into a three-bedroom apartment, and now downsizers,&nbsp;who initially led the charge of sales, are starting to come back, resulting in more four-bedroom sales around the $7 million mark.

“We know one main reason downsizers held back is because they had to sell their family home with little security around what they could sell for. However, the housing market has been more stable recently and values have increased, so this has provided more confidence, especially with interest rates stabilising as well. This provided more time to list their homes until they got the price they wanted.

“There’s still also a distinct lack of competition, with the ongoing shortage of project approvals due to council rejections, and hence other developers not submitting plans, which results in fewer options for purchasers of luxury property."

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Towering 28 storeys above the streetscape, and commanding extensive views of Sydney Harbour, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>-designed mixed-use residential community comprises 386 luxury apartments above a community precinct that includes a two-level curated food and beverage podium with four world-class venues operated by their hospitality business, Etymon Projects.

Residents are set to benefit from an elevated luxury lifestyle with amenities including a dedicated concierge service, wellness centre with gym equipped with world-leading fitness technology brand TechnoGym, pool and spa, as well as a rooftop with a sun deck, private dining spaces, and a barbecue and kitchen space.

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Aqualand’s Head of Sales and Marketing, Alex Adams, said contracts were exchanged across all configurations at AURA by Aqualand, including one, two, three and four-bedroom residences

Joel Robinson

AURA by Aqualand sees record sales week as Sydney's luxury new apartment market ramps up

Perth is set for one of Australia's largest urban renewal projects with the landmark $3.8 billion development of the Belmont Racecourse Precinct.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/golden-sedayu">Golden Sedayu</a>&nbsp;recently revealed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/burswood-point-saintly-entrance-burswood">Burswood Point</a>, a 38-hectare masterplan that will bring 4,500 apartments and a significant amount of amenity and hospitality to the immediate area surrounding the racecourse.

Buyers have now been given the first chance to buy in Burswood Point, with the release of apartments in the first two towers, Somerset East and Somerset West.

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Part of the first two towers is a suite of amenities&nbsp;including a 20-metre infinity pool with views towards the Swan River, an observation deck with private views of the racetrack and Optus Stadium, and a wellness centre.&nbsp;

The first tranche of retail and hospitality will also feature in this stage.

With everything going on at Burswood Point, we went to visit the display suite at 1 Saintly Entrance, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/burswood-wa-6100">Burswood</a>, to delve into the first stage of this 20-year project.

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Inside Burswood Point: Urban's display suite tour

Buyers have jumped at the opportunity to become among the first to secure an apartment in the first apartment release at Melrose Central, the new multi-stage masterplan by Deicorp and PAYCE in the transformative Melrose Park urban renewal project.

CBRE took 40 deposits on the opening launch of the display suite at <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/melrose-central-melrose-park-657-661-victoria-road-melrose-park-nsw-2214">Melrose Central</a>&nbsp;which will deliver a new community in the heart of the new Melrose Park Town Centre, on the edge of the Parramatta River. It will comprise around 500 apartments set above 30,000 sqm of retail and commercial space.

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CBRE Residential Project Managing Director, David Milton, says Melrose Central represents great value for buyers.

"Our two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments are priced under $1 million. If you go to any of the neighbouring suburbs, you can't get that kind of value," Milton suggests.

Milton says the buyer pool has been diverse, with first home buyers, local owner-occupiers, and even investors purchasing.

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Since the bumper sales day at the weekend, CBRE has signed several more contracts, taking sales closer to 50.

Designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/interior-designers/turner-studio">TURNER STUDIO</a>, the $700 million Melrose Central is a key component of the 55-hectare Melrose Park North Urban Renewal Precinct near the Parramatta River.

Melrose Central is positioned to offer residents the convenience of living near a major shopping centre, parks, and open spaces, all within proximity to the planned Parramatta Light Rail.&nbsp;

The development will include six buildings, each with its unique design elements, rising above a five-level podium that will house a Coles supermarket, specialty stores, health and wellness facilities, and various retail and hospitality venues.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134220 project_image_fid=289887]

Work on the site has already begun in February, and stage one will see the construction of the podium and three of the six buildings, with completion expected by mid-2027.&nbsp;

The remaining three buildings will follow, culminating in a development that will contribute to the broader Melrose Park precinct which in total will deliver around 6,000 apartments to Sydney's chronically undersupplied housing market.

The Melrose Park urban renewal project has been eight years in the making, with initial planning discussions dating back to 2016.&nbsp;

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CBRE Residential Project Managing Director, David Milton, says Melrose Central represents great value for buyers.

Melrose Central apartments fly off the shelves at weekend launch

Lendlease&nbsp;has confirmed to its shareholders that it will again team up with&nbsp;Mitsubishi Estate Asia on a new development in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.

The much-publicised site at 1 Darling Point Road had been owned by international development company Anka Property, who for years had&nbsp;been in discussion with the Woollahra Council for the 1,748 sqm site opposite the Edgecliff Centre and Edgecliff Station.

Despite initially being refused by the council back in 2021, they backflipped on the design earlier this year, paving the way for the tower which is nearly four times the area height limited.

Anka then decided to sell the 1,700 sqm site, on the corner of New South Head Road and Darling Point Road.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/lendlease-development">Lendlease</a> and&nbsp;Mitsubishi Estate Asia is now planning a&nbsp;mixed-use, residential-led scheme with associated amenities and commercial and retail spaces, subject to planning approval. Anka had planned a 12-level building with around 40 apartments.

<img alt="Darling Point" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b7c41d4-3b7b-4cf2-8100-e94d25637f13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202024-08-22%20at%2011.24.27%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=T_YTjahY9OLlek8EvfkfjTUkoQudWOAl" />

The 50/50 joint venture marks the sixth project <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/lendlease-development">Lendlease</a> and Mitsubishi Estate Asia&nbsp;have undertaken together. Previous ventures include <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/one-sydney-harbour-6-watermans-quay-barangaroo">One Sydney Harbour</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/one-circular-quay-1-alfred-street-sydney">One Circular Quay</a>, Sydney Place, and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/east-tower-melbourne-quarter-628-flinders-street-docklands">Melbourne Quarter’s East Tower</a>.&nbsp;

Construction is earmarked to start on the development in 2026.

Tom Mackellar, CEO of Development Lendlease, said the&nbsp;acquisition supports the strategic growth of their development pipeline in Australia.

“We look forward to working alongside our trusted development partner, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, to deliver high-quality housing to this highly connected and sought-after neighbourhood in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.”&nbsp;

Head of Australia, Mitsubishi Estate Asia Head of Australia,&nbsp;Yuzo Nishiyama, said the&nbsp;highly strategic investment that Mitsubishi Estate Asia has made with Lendlease will capitalise and extend on the strong success they have shared together in Sydney’s luxury residential market. &nbsp;

It also reinforces our commitment to do more with our partners in sectors that deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns for our Australian business. We look forward to making more investments in Australia’s residential market to help address the prevailing supply shortage.”

Tom Mackellar, CEO of Development Lendlease, said the acquisition supports the strategic growth of their development pipeline in Australia

Lendlease and Mitsubishi Estate Asia confirm new Darling Point apartment development

A decade of construction that will deliver homes for thousands of Gold Coast residents commenced this week as ceremonial shovels hit soil at Lewis Land’s visionary Harbour Shores community.&nbsp;

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, Councillor Mark Hammel and Councillor Shelley Curtis were among the guests celebrating the milestone, which will deliver up to 5,000 new construction jobs over the next 10 years, a new community parkland, public boardwalk, and the most sustainable homes in the city’s history.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/lewis-land-group">Lewis Land</a> Chief Executive Officer Brett Draffen said the vacant 16-hectare site, which has been held by the group for more than 40 years, would be transformed into a vibrant ‘village of villages’ that will ultimately be home to more than 4,000 people.&nbsp;

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“<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters">Harbour Shores</a> represents the largest and most dynamic community development in Lewis Land’s 65-year history, delivering architectural homes and apartments immersed in nature and world-class amenities,” &nbsp;Mr Draffen said.&nbsp;

“From the outset, we assembled a first-class team of architects, landscape designers, planners and placemaking experts and set an ambitious sustainability goal for Harbour Shores to become the group’s first completely fossil-fuel-free development."

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Harbour Shores has received a 6 Star Green Star Communities rating from the Green Building Council of &nbsp;Australia, a world leadership standard, making it the most sustainable development in the history of the Gold Coast.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

“More than 200,000 new native and tropical plants will immerse the residential spaces in nature, while rainwater harvesting and retention tanks, solar power, and electric vehicle charging stations will ensure &nbsp;Harbour Shores is built for the future.&nbsp;

“Respected local builder <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/builders/greyburn">Greyburn</a> has been appointed to deliver the first collection of boutique buildings &nbsp;and we’re thrilled to have their expertise on this project.”&nbsp;

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Lewis Land has a long-standing history on the northern Gold Coast, pioneering the creation of the &nbsp;Sovereign Islands, Ephraim Island, Paradise Point Keys, Huntington Harbour and Harbour Town, redefining luxury, lifestyle and destination retail.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA architects</a>, Harbour Shores will evolve over the next decade to deliver a mix of boutique apartments and villas, communal open spaces and parklands, a 1.2-kilometre waterfront boardwalk, private marina berths, and a range of resort-style resident amenities.&nbsp;

Mr Draffen said the first residential releases at Harbour Shores include a collection of waterfront villas known as The Residences, and the boutique apartment collection The Waterline, connected by extensive landscaping, green spaces and pedestrian networks.&nbsp;

“The majority of buyers in our first release are local which is a fantastic endorsement of our vision for &nbsp;Harbour Shores,” he said. “More than 40% of the first release is already under contract and based on the &nbsp;current timeline, the first residents will be welcomed to Harbour Shores in mid-2026.”&nbsp;

The collection of three and four-bedroom waterfront villas at The Residences, each with their own private &nbsp;plunge pools, are priced from $3,050,000. Apartments within The Waterline, which enjoys water and park &nbsp;views, start from $1,220,000 for a two-bedroom apartment and $1,620,000 for a three-bedroom apartment. &nbsp;

Harbour Shores is being marketed by Colliers International.

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Macquarie takes Homeloans stake

Jonathan Chancellor

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