The coolest projects in Australia in 2023 were not all in the country’s biggest cities as sizable and creative developments were put forward across the nation last year. There were significant opportunities in Adelaide, Perth, Port Macquarie, Canberra and the Gold Coast—and developers were listening. Western Australia was the best performing location for relative population growth, wage growth and house price growth, which rose 15.2 per cent according to Corelogic’s home value index. The jump in house prices for the year was reflected in developer appetite with 1095 houses approved in WA in the November, Australian Bureau of Statistics data reported.  This compared to 1838 in NSW and 1691 in Queensland, However, apartment approvals in WA lagged behind other states. This coincided with a whopping 21.3 per cent growth in the value of construction work done, which reached $9.56 billion in the year to September. Meanwhile, on the Gold Coast, a sizeable proportion of buyers were looking for apartments, leading to bigger projects as well as a jump in home prices, particularly in the premium end of the market. However, the hype surrounding Australia’s biggest projects did not make them the most surprising, engaging or inspired.  Here’s a list of the 10 coolest projects to cross our desk this year outside Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Port Kembla Developer: Bluescope  Architect: Bjarke Ingels Group This masterplan will guide the development of 200ha of excess land in Wollongong to bring life back into the former steelworks site. It also includes a ‘super TAFE’ within the multi-industrial precinct 95km south-west of Sydney. Ibbott Lane, Belconnen Developer: Elanor Investors  Architect: Unlisted, awaiting confirmation The real estate funds manager is working up plans for 300 build-to-rent apartments and a 50-key hotel in Canberra, and was in pre-consultation for the project in October.  The group reportedly snapped up Belconnen Markets, now known as Capital Food Market, a carpark and vacant development land for $44 million in 2018. 12-22 Albert Avenue, Broadbeach Developer: Iris Capital Architect: DBI The billion-dollar mixed-use development on the Gold Coast got even bigger in plans filed in October. The residential development dubbed V&A Broadbeach increased by eight storeys from 56 to 64 storeys creating 425 apartments and a four level podium with two lap pools and ample space for families. 81 Myers Street, Geelong Developer: HR Investments Aus Architect: Trethowan Architecture This is project involves the adaptive reuse of The Star Hotel, a two-storey, round-corner brick building that dates to the 1850s, which will be partially demolished to make way for a 12-storey tower at its rear.  HR Investments Aus filed the application with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning in October. 6 Charles Street, South Perth Developer: Grange Development Architect: Fraser & Partners A bid to build the world’s tallest hybrid timber tower in Perth won approval in September after years in limbo. The $350-million carbon-negative timber tower project comprises 237 apartments, a 437sq m public park, fully electric building and a bank of 80 communal Teslas.  15 Nexus Way, Southport Developer: Northwest Healthcare Properties Architect: DWP and Suter Architects The RDX Lumina Life Sciences Centre is part of the Health and Knowledge Precinct Gold Coast, which is owned by Economic Development Queensland. The vertical helix atrium is the main design feature of the eight-storey life sciences centre that has an estimated development value of $154 million. 81 Trinity Point Drive, Morisset Park Developer: Johnson Property Group Architect: Koichi Takada The developer gained approval for the $600-million Trinity Point development at Lake Macquarie in October.  The masterplanned premium resort which will comprise 180 apartments , a 218-key hotel, function centre, serviced apartments and two 300-seat restaurants.  237 Grote Street, Adelaide Developer: Gurner and Kennards Self Storage Architect: Elenberg Fraser Tim Gurner launched his billion-dollar Adelaide play, filing plans along with joint-venture partner Kennards Self Storage to redevelop the former Australia Post site in the centre of the city in November. It included five towers up to 27 storeys, with 600 apartments, a luxury hotel, offices, shops, bars, restaurants, a public plaza and wellness centre. 126 Railway Street, Cottesloe Developer: AMB Holdings Architect: Fitzpatrick + Partners Angela Bennett’s private company filed plans for a three-storey residential and commercial building in Perth in September. The plan would accommodate up to 80 employees while a four-bedroom apartment would be used to house country-based staff who needed to stay in Perth for an extended period. Pacific Motorway, Oxenford  Developer: Village Roadshow Theme Parks  Architect: DBI and BurlingBrown Gold Coast councillors gave the nod to plans for a $333-million, 600-room hotel development at Movie World in August. The move—heralded as a potential catalyst for the rise of a California Anaheim-like integrated amusement precinct—is a game-changer for the tourist and film-making mecca.
