Summary:

<ul>
	<li>Hamton has revealed the first stage of&nbsp;Scotch Hill Gardens in Hawthorn</li>
	<li>The first stage will comprise 146 residences across three buildings</li>
	<li>Stage 1 sales are now open, with construction starting in Q3 and completion in early 2027</li>
	<li>Approved under Victoria’s Development Facilitation Program, the project was fast-tracked by 12 months</li>
</ul>

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Prominent developer <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/hamton">Hamton</a> has lit a fuse under Melbourne’s off the plan apartment market, kicking off sales at one of the capital’s most anticipated new communities in 2025.

Hamton, the developer behind the $3 billion redevelopment of the Moonee Valley Racecourse, Moonee Valley Park, has launched sales of the residences at its $550 million Scotch Hill Gardens.

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Hamton held an Open House event at the weekend to give buyers an early look at the project. Residences in the first three buildings - The Tate, The Woodburn, and The Ingleburn are now available to purchase. The trio of buildings will deliver 146 residences planned for the prime site on Robinson Road.&nbsp;

Construction of the three buildings will kick off in Q3 2025, and will be welcoming residents in early 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149097 project_image_fid=327640]

Located in the sought-after Scotch Hill precinct, Scotch Hill Gardens will comprise of one, two and three-bedroom residences designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, with views of surrounding treetops, landscaped gardens, and the city skyline.

Residents will have access to a range of amenities, including a bathhouse with wellness facilities, a gym, co-working spaces, and communal dining and lounge areas.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149097 project_image_fid=327706]

The planned revitalisation of the Bill Street Retail Village will further enhance the convenience of the location, with shops and cafés on the projects’ doorstep.&nbsp;

Scotch Hill Gardens is one of the largest projects to be approved under Victoria’s Development Facilitation Program, following a streamlined approval process which accelerated its timeline by approximately 12 months.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149097 project_image_fid=327664]

The site was formerly owned by the University of Melbourne, with Hamton securing the purchase in early 2024 following a rezoning process overseen by the Planning Minister.

Hamton’s latest project is expected to attract interest from local downsizers, professionals, families, and investors looking for high-quality residences in Melbourne’s inner east.

Hamton’s Founder and Executive Chairman, Paul Hameister OAM, said Scotch Hill Gardens will create a rare opportunity for buyers in a premium suburb that is highly sought-after.

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Construction of the three buildings will kick off in Q3 2025, and will be welcoming residents in early 2027

Joel Robinson

Hamton launches sales at Scotch Hill Gardens, Hawthorn 

The Reserve Bank has cut the official cash rate for the first time since the COVID pandemic.

The pandemic saw rates shoot down to record 0.1 per cent lows, before they were quickly increased over a short period to try and tackle rising inflation.

The hikes stopped at 4.35 per cent, where the cash rate has been since November 2023. Now inflation is returning to the RBA's two to three per cent target band, they've cut the cash rate by 0.25 per cent to 4.1 per cent.

The Big Four banks have already cut their interest rates on the back of the decision, while most believe there are several more cuts to come in 2025.

<h2>What does this mean for the off the plan market?</h2>

The off the plan market functions quite differently from the established property market. Prospective homeowners don’t take out a mortgage until the property is completed. This means that the current interest rate may become irrelevant if the building is not expected to finish for several years—your borrowing capacity will be based on the rate at the time of settlement.

That said, new developments are completed every month, and those nearing completion will see buyers settle based on the current interest rates.

Lower interest rates allow buyers to borrow more, as their ability to service a loan increases when the cost of borrowing decreases due to the lower rates.

How it will impact the off the plan apartment market is the level of demand for property as a whole. Lower interest rates increase confidence in the property market which drives demand, and demand drive price increases.

Expect to see more transactions across both the established and new property markets in 2025 and 2026 compared to the previous two years.

RBA cut interest rates amid inflation decline

The opening of Reddam House North Shore, one of Australia's most prestigious schools, is set to attract families to the heart of North Sydney as the area continues to thrive.

Located on McLaren Street, just a short walk from the newly opened Victoria Cross station on the expanded Sydney Metro, Reddam House North Shore offers a prime location for students and their families.

The school’s first-year enrolment has already reached full capacity, highlighting the high demand for premium private education in Sydney, especially in the northern suburbs. With ongoing growth expected, Reddam House North Shore plans to accommodate up to 1,350 students, solidifying its position as a leading educational institution in the region.

Spanning over 9,000 sqm, the school features state-of-the-art facilities, including science labs, multiple libraries, an auditorium, and fully equipped arts, dance, drama, and music studios. Additionally, the school boasts a dedicated VR classroom, introducing the Inspired Metaverse experience.

Reddam House caters to students from ages one to 18, providing a comprehensive education from early childhood through to senior school.

Taking full advantage of its proximity to Reddam House North Shore is <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/aura-by-aqualand-north-sydney-168-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">AURA by Aqualand</a>, the recently completed luxury apartment development. Located directly across the street from the school, AURA is one of the few new apartment buildings in North Sydney. Its larger apartments are perfect for families with busy parents who work locally or in the CBD and seek the convenience of living near a top-tier private school before heading to the office.

Several residents at AURA have already secured their enrolment at Reddam.

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Reddam House is also not the only exclusive school in proximity to AURA. Directly behind the building is&nbsp;Wenona School, an independent, secular day and boarding school for girls, offering junior and middle school through to college.

Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College is another independent girls' school, only five minutes from AURA by&nbsp;Aqualand. Monte is the oldest independent girls' school on Sydney's North Shore. It is a Roman Catholic single-sex secondary day school for girls years 7-12 founded by Sisters of Mercy in 1875.&nbsp;

Two academically selective secondary day schools nearby are the government-funded North Sydney Boys High School and North Sydney Girls High School, known for their rigorous admissions process and academic excellence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292866]

On top of the excellent schooling matched with the proximity of schools, AURA is also just a short walk to St Leonards Park, a popular spot for families.

The 15-hectare park has a custom kids playground, barbecue areas, and large expanses of open lawn space perfect for children. The park is also home to the famous <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> Oval, the Bon Andrews Oval and Cunningham Pavilion, as well as netball courts, cricket nets, and bowling greens. The North Sydney Oval complex also has commercial and retail outlets, as well as a childcare centre.

Less than a 20-minute walk from the front doors of AURA by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia" target="">Aqualand</a>&nbsp;is also Forsyth Park and&nbsp;Anderson Park, the latter not far from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/neutral-bay-nsw" target="">Neutral Bay</a>&nbsp;village.

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While the location of AURA is ideal for families, Aqualand placed a strong emphasis on designing spacious living areas to accommodate their needs.

In collaboration with the architecture firm Woods Bagot, Aqualand revised the building's design, reducing the number of apartments from 448 to 386 to allow for larger living spaces. As a result, AURA’s apartments significantly exceed North Sydney Council’s minimum building requirements.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292878]

While the typical two-bedroom apartment in the area is 80 sqm, AURA’s two-bedroom apartments are 95 sqm, plus a wintergarden, bringing their total area to well over 100 sqm. Many of the apartments also feature a multi-purpose room that can be adapted as a media room, home office, or kids' living area and homework space.

AURA by Aqualand apartments are now complete and ready for immediate move-in.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=30959]

Reddam House North Shore opening to lure families to North Sydney

Developers are set to queue up to grab the opportunity to redevelop the former <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/albion-qld-4010">Albion</a> Flour Mill site in Brisbane's inner-ring.

There are approved plans for 456 studio, one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments above a full-line Woolworths. Woolworths development arm, Fabcot, is selling the 5,586 sqm site at 60-78 Hudson Road, opposite the train station, through Colliers.

The project, dubbed <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/60-hudson-road-albion">The Albion</a>, has been designed by Cottee Parker and comprises two 18-level towers which will share a podium that will home retail spaces and give direct public access to the adjoining train station. There will be a BWS next to the Woolworths, as well as a cafe and several recreational and communal spaces.

<img alt="Albion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4fd6ad52-3389-4740-bf7a-fa2a55deac1e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-02-18%20at%209.32.13%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=1LdgSqb72Zbe_vI1ssy7K.vVuz.1Y862" />

Colliers Queensland Residential Director Troy Linnane said the record population growth being experienced in SEQ is driving exceptional demand into Brisbane’s apartment market making development site opportunities in key inner city locations highly sought after.

“Brisbane is now Australia's second most expensive capital city housing market, with limited new apartment supply despite acceptance of higher prices,” Linnane said.

“We are expecting to see strong interest from local, interstate and offshore developers, with a compelling opportunity for both build to rent and build to sell outcomes, as well as investors and high net worth individuals.

“The development site market in Brisbane has excellent fundamentals which are seen as having the best growth prospects of any city on the eastern seaboard of Australia. The average sale price for&nbsp;inner-city new apartment stock soared to a new peak of $2,083,000 in Q2 2024."

<img alt="Albion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a933b1bd-8e9e-4870-956e-3d0156ad3af1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-02-18%20at%209.32.18%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=TNYTE_I0dAc2BjL6DRokzVAQTaTh.0jI" />

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Colliers Head of Retail Middle Markets James Wilson said the site offered further retail amenity to the growing area, and on completion would offer a new Woolworths supermarket.

“Upon completion, the retail will comprise a full line 4,000m2 Woolworths Supermarket, BWS and a café that will provide much needed amenity to the rapidly evolving Albion precinct,” James Wilson said.

“Colliers recently transacted another Fabcot owned development site at Kangaroo Point for $18.25 million to Mosaic Property Group which has reported strong sales since it launched in late 2024, highlighting demand for these mixed use development sites underpinned by Woolworths supermarkets remain highly sought after.”

Woolworths to sell another prime Brisbane development site with apartment approval

TOGA has been a synonymous name in Sydney’s new development industry since its founding in the early 1960s. As one of the city’s most notable builder-developers, the company has left its mark with landmark projects across the Eastern Suburbs and all the way to Macquarie Park. A key philosophy for <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/toga-group">TOGA</a> is fostering a sense of community within its apartment developments.

"We focus on bringing residents together, creating more than just a place to live," says Tony Falas, TOGA's Executive General Manager – Sales &amp; Property Management. “As a developer, TOGA puts a major emphasis on convenience."

"We actively seek opportunities that not only allow us to benefit from surrounding amenities, but also to create new ones that serve both the wider community and our residents, providing them with ultimate doorstep convenience. Our aim is for buyers to proudly say, ‘We live above it’ when referring to the popular restaurants or cafes below."

A prime example of TOGA’s approach is its recently completed Surry Hills mixed-use precinct, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/surry-hills-village-redfern-6-14-baptist-street-redfern-nsw-2016">Surry Hills Village</a> (SHV).

[smartcode_project:default project_id=9302 project_image_fid=306319]

The retail and dining precinct, Wunderlich Lane, on the ground level has already become one of the talk-of-the-town spots. TOGA handpicked the hospitality tenants for this destination at the corner of Crown Street, where Surry Hills meets Redfern. Among the standout venues are Regina La Pizzeria by the Lumi Dining Group, Island Radio by House Made Hospitality, and Olympus Dining—owned by the same team behind the renowned Apollo restaurants in Potts Point.

“We took a lot of inspiration from Boheme Bondi when planning SHV,” Falas says. “At Boheme, residents take the lift directly down to Harris Farm and Lulu. I’m sure those living at SHV are already enjoying the vibrant offerings at Wunderlich Lane—some of the best food and hospitality Sydney has to offer, right on their doorstep.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=9302 project_image_fid=306320]

There are only 122 apartments and townhouses in SHV, and most were snapped up quickly when the project first launched. Only a handful remain, with the penthouse recently selling for $7.375 million—one of the highest sales in the Surry Hills/Redfern area.

While SHV is a rare, once-in-a-decade opportunity—due to its unique size and location—TOGA’s placemaking efforts continue to be evident in its other developments across Sydney. The developer is currently working on The Kensington, located on Anzac Parade, where apartments sit above seven planned hospitality venues and retail stores, directly across from a light rail stop and within walking distance to the growing UNSW and Randwick health precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110959 project_image_fid=307651]

“The site where The Kensington sits is more suited to a traditional shop-top housing development,” Falas says. “But with seven retail spaces, we’re giving back a lot of space, offering a diverse mix of amenities that residents will love.”

TOGA is selective in choosing retail tenants, often opting to lease spaces to hospitality operators rather than sell them.

"By retaining control of the retail offerings, we can ensure that our buyers have access to high-quality services,” says Falas. "We’re not interested in tacky convenience stores or laundromats; that doesn't elevate the living experience for our residents."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110959 project_image_fid=307654]

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/the-kensington-147-151-anzac-parade-kensington">The Kensington</a>, being built by the iCIRT-rated DASCO, will feature 142 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments—particularly popular with those in the medical and academic fields due to its proximity to Randwick's health precinct and UNSW. Investors are also eyeing the apartments, knowing they’ll likely attract quality tenants from these sectors and see strong capital growth in a limited supply area.

Another development currently under construction is <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/macquarie-rise-122-herring-road-macquarie-park">Macquarie Rise</a> in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a>, where TOGA has once again pushed boundaries with an activated ground plane that blends nature and landscaping with more doorstep amenities.

“We’re creating a Macquarie Rise Village—a village green at the base of three towers that will combine nature with increased convenience,” Falas explains. “There will be several retail spaces, handpicked by TOGA, as well as a softening of the streetscape on Herring Road with extensive lawns and alfresco spaces.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89243 project_image_fid=242695]

With higher density compared to developments like SHV and The Kensington, Macquarie Rise is designed to offer an exclusive community experience. Club Rise will feature a heated pool set amid lush landscaping, a gym with a yoga room, a resident lounge with communal dining areas, a karaoke room, and a bookable private dining room.

TOGA’s community-building approach has expanded to <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/marrickville-nsw-2204">Marrickville</a>, where they’ve recently completed <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/wicks-place-marrickville-186-victoria-road-marrickville">Wicks Place</a>—a development of 272 apartments above a cafe-centric precinct and a new green park, both of which are key features of the inner west’s culture.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27691 project_image_fid=308947]

Only a few one and two-bedroom apartments remain in the building, which is located in the Victoria Road Precinct. This area was recently rezoned by the Inner West Council, and several developers are now planning large mixed-use projects that will continue to transform the once industrial zone into a more vibrant community, comparable to the neighbouring Newtown.

A prime example of TOGA’s philosophy of building communities is its recently completed Surry Hills mixed-use precinct, Surry Hills Village



Melbourne stock surge: Pete Wargent

Pete Wargent

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