LIVE PROUD MAGAZINE SPRING/SUMMER 2021
COVER TBD
Proud pets When it comes to pets, Frasers Property communities welcome them all.
The art of community building Community Development Manager, Michelle Mrzyglocki, talks about her passion for nurturing and driving community spirit.
Back to life. From a working quarry to one of Brisbane’s most elevated new residential communities - the story of bringing a landscape back to life.
“Living at Shell Cove means we’re close to the beach, can go bushwalking whenever we want, ride our bikes everywhere, go surfing or scuba diving. It’s why they love it here and we couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.” The Jimenez family, The Waterfront, Shell Cove.
UP FRONT CONTENTS
Spring/Summer
2021
Community 3
A time for renewal
4 – 7
The art of community building
8 –11
Property people talk belonging
12 – 17
Set course for a laid-back lifestyle
18 – 21
Take me to the river
22 – 25
Back to life. Transforming a working quarry into a lush new neighbourhood
26 – 29
Faces of Fairwater
30– 31
Foundations for a better future
32 – 35
Mambourin takes shape
36– 39
First in, best addressed
8 – 11 Property people talk belonging 12 – 17 Set course for a laid-back lifestyle
Inspiring experiences; creating places for good 40 – 43
Burwood Brickworks - First of its kind
44 – 47
Sizing up sustainable placemaking
22– 25 Back to life. Transforming a working quarry into a lush new neighbourhood
Property 48 – 51
Property Management made personal
Lifestyle 52 – 53
Perth – Welcome to the oasis
54 – 57
Home Suite Home, the luxury long-stay revolution
58 – 61
Proud pets
62 – 63
2021 Milestones
40 – 43 Burwood Brickworks - First of its kind
32 – 35 Mambourin takes shape
54 – 57 Home Suite Home, the luxury long-stay revolution
58 – 61 Proud pets
Please note that while reasonable care is taken to ensure the contents of this magazine are correct, all information is to be used as a guide only. Images are conceptual only. Purchasers must rely on their own enquiries and the contract for sale.
2
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
COMMUNITY A TIME FOR RENEWAL
Ed.Square, NSW
A time for renewal Spring is here, bringing with it a renewed sense of hope and optimism. So, what better time to release this latest edition of the Live proud magazine, devoted to the themes of renewal, regeneration, and transformation. No matter the season, these themes are moreor-less constant in my role, and in the lives of my colleagues at Frasers Property Australia. Most of the projects we’re working on today had some kind of former life. Whether it’s the old brick-firing kilns of Burwood Brickworks, the saltmarshes of The Waterfront, Shell Cove, or a soon-to-be transformed granite quarry in Brisbane’s green hills — new life is being breathed into places with exciting potential.
That’s the curious thing about the suburbs and cities around us. They’re constantly changing to meet the needs of their citizens. It’s one of the great privileges we acknowledge at Frasers Property: the opportunity to help shape the places where people can live, work, thrive, and belong. I hope you enjoy this edition and the stories of the places, as well as the people - and pets! - that call them home.
Cameron Leggatt
Executive General Manager Development Frasers Property Australia
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
3
COMMUNITY THE ART OF COMMUNITY BUILDING
The art of community building Frasers Property Australia has been creating places for people to belong since 1924. At the very heart of this ethos are their Community Development Managers, people like Michelle Mrzyglocki, who are responsible for nurturing and driving community spirit. They know better than all of us that a place where community thrives is a place where people feel they truly belong.
4
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
COMMUNITY THE ART OF COMMUNITY BUILDING
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
5
COMMUNITY THE ART OF COMMUNITY BUILDING
W
hen we think of the word community, we think of a place where the people are connected. This could be your family or friends, your street, or your neighbourhood. At an instinctual level we tend to understand that a sense of connection is what drives feelings of belonging. Yet rarely do we question how this comes to be.
There’s no secret formula that goes into fostering a sense of community. It’s not something that can be Googled or a how-to guide that can be found. Rather, community is something that manifests in many different shapes and forms. It’s an intangible thing that’s unique to each and every case, differing in every neighbourhood that Frasers is responsible for.
So, what exactly is community building? Community Development Manager for Frasers Property communities in Western Australia, Michelle Mrzyglocki, sums it up as: “Creating the most fertile environment for the community to make a really great and healthy start.” A good way of thinking of it is to visualise her as a coach, networker, and team member all in one. She’s the one who is there to shape the scaffolding to best support residents, providing the opportunity for them to connect with their neighbours and the wider community. “Community building is about helping the community realise their collective vision of the kind of place they want to live in. We do this through bespoke strategy, programming, education events, and planning with the community and local stakeholders. We make sure the community has the skills, connections and setting to succeed in their vision.
6
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
Frasers Landing, WA
Which, all together, encourages and fast tracks a healthy and resilient neighbourhood within a broader community setting.”
Where it begins In the beginning of a community’s life cycle, the very first piece of the puzzle comes from the residents themselves. For Michelle, this means facilitating those big collective community vision conversations about what sort of place residents would like to live in. “The first step is simple. I’ll sit down with residents and have a chat. This is how we find out their hopes and dreams, their aspirations for where they live and the types of experiences they desire to have. From here, we can start thinking and planning about how we can help them achieve these ambitions.” In the community of Frasers Landing in Western Australia, this has manifested in a host of activities and initiatives, both within the neighbourhood and including the larger suburb of Mandurah. “They do everything from regular morning teas and community barbeques to celebrating Australia Day with their annual thong-throwing competition on the green,” shares Michelle. “We’ve also done National Tree Day, an event that helped connect Frasers Landing with the wider Mandurah community, including six local Rotary Clubs, Scouts and Girl Guides. “It’s really not about what my vision is. It must come from the people who live there. The most important part to fostering community spirit is that the drive comes from the residents. Because if they’re not excited about it and given the opportunity to participate and shape the outcome, they’re not going to be a part of it.”
COMMUNITY THE ART OF COMMUNITY BUILDING
Frasers Landing, WA
Where it ends The development of a community never finishes, it’s constantly evolving. But while the work doesn’t end, the Community Development Manager’s job there does. “We always have the vision that we’re stepping out. It’s a relatively short-term relationship. You’ve got to look at it like you’re setting them up and giving the community the tools they need to not only survive, but thrive. And doing that as quickly as we can while they have us as a resource. If I don’t do myself out of a job, I haven’t done my job.” And with their incredible community spirit, pride in where they live, as well as the drive and ability to self-organise events, Frasers Landing is almost there. “The residents have created a really welcoming, vibrant community,” Michelle notes, “I can see they feel really supported by each other and have a great understanding of what a good neighbour is. They really have that feeling of being able to go next door to get that cup of sugar.”
“At the end of the day, the most important thing is to ensure that the Frasers community we co-create, our new piece of the puzzle, fits in seamlessly with the wider neighbourhood. It’s about enabling the foundations for healthy, welcoming connections and a good culture within the community. And that never stops. It continues evolving throughout the lifespan of the community.”
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
7
COMMUNITY PROPERTY PEOPLE TALK BELONGING Hamilton Reach, QLD
Property people talk belonging The funny thing about belonging is that you know it when you feel it, even when it remains difficult to describe. It’s a good thing the Community Development team at Frasers Property Australia have the tools it takes to transform the notion of belonging from the abstract into lived experience.
8
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
COMMUNITY PROPERTY PEOPLE TALK BELONGING
The Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘belonging’ as being in “the right place” and of a state of feeling “happy or comfortable” in that place. Yet for most of us, describing what belonging means and the value it adds to our lives can be a challenge. We know we need it, but how do you get it? Where does it come from? And if belonging stems from being in the right place, what role does place play in whether we’re happy, connected, and fulfilled? If those questions hurt your brain, you’re not alone.
Writers, poets, and songwriters have been striving to capture the magic and essence of belonging since the birth of the alphabet, and yet, despite the passage of several millennia, that endeavour remains a work in progress. The good news is that there is a tireless team of people at Frasers Property Australia who think, talk, and work in the belonging space all day, every day. We sat down with them to explore how communities are created and how to build up the ties that bind.
Sarah Melody, Community Development Manager, NSW: I think it’s more of a sense. A sensation of feeling at home. And this is never more apparent than when you feel recognised and accepted.
What does the idea of ‘belonging’ mean to you?
It’s also about having your needs met. I have a background in social sciences, which keeps bringing me back to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. In this theory, the more a person feels their needs are being met within a particular group or system, the more they feel they belong. The more they feel at home. Clare Swanson, Community Development Manager, VIC: For me, belonging is feeling content, safe and happy. Feeling at home. It’s about people valuing what you bring to the party. That might be your presence, a good laugh, or maybe even your legendary chocolate ripple cake. It’s about knowing that you’re welcome and you are part of a whole.
Marion Allard, Community Development Manager, QLD: I’m French, so to me, belonging is a big, big thing. I left home when I was 19, without family or even speaking the language. Belonging is really about finding that connection with a place and its people. And to be able to fit in — which can be challenging at times — but also feel accepted for being you.
Michelle Mrzyglocki, Community Development Manager, WA: I think it’s about where you feel safe and heard. Accepted and valued, even. Belonging is about finding your tribe and feeling supported and cared about - exactly as you are; it is fundamental to our sense of happiness and wellbeing as one of our basic human needs.
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
9
COMMUNITY PROPERTY PEOPLE TALK BELONGING
Frasers Landing, WA
Tell us about a time or place where you really felt a deep sense of belonging. Sarah: I’ve lived in a few different places over the years. When I feel I belong, it’s when I feel that sense of comfort. I know where my local cafe is, the service station, and where to find all my basic needs — and that’s just the start of it. This then evolves into recognising people as you walk down the street, bumping into and saying hi to neighbours. When you’re new to somewhere, you can feel a bit like an outsider. But all of these building blocks help to bring it together, making it feel like home. Clare: Children, pets, and food are the great connectors. I don’t know who said that, but I know it to be true, because since moving into our house about four years ago, we have used all those tools to connect with our neighbours. Our kids are often out in the street, playing with other kids in the neighbourhood. And obviously, when they get together and start talking, it gives an excuse for the adults to get chatting as well. The same goes with dogs. There’s always that ‘hello’ and a bit of small talk when you cross paths with someone else while walking – it’s nice. We’ve gotten to that point now, that when we’ve had a family birthday and I’ve baked one of those bright green cakes covered in lollies that only a kid could love, it’s just second nature to pop over to our neighbours and share the love. And it’s reciprocated – we were recently invited to our neighbour’s house down the street for a slice of cake and to sing happy birthday. It’s all those little incidental conversations that have helped us build that sense of belonging. Michelle: It also depends on what hat you’re wearing. Obviously, belonging in a family setting is very different to belonging in my choir, who get together every year at Christmas time. It’s a different level of sharing that goes on in those spaces.
How much do you think the feeling of being connected and contented with others can be influenced by the place you’re in? What role does ‘place’ play? Sarah: There’s this theory of ‘bumping places’, which is based on the work of Jim Diers. The idea is that community is built on relationships and that people develop relationships through frequent contact with others. So, if you want to build a community, you need to create places for people to bump into each other. And I just think that’s just so brilliant; it’s so true. The more we create opportunities for people to bump into each other and say ‘hi’, the more they start feeling a connection. And the more they feel a connection, the more they feel like a part of their environment. So, I think place plays a vital role. Marion: I think the influence goes both ways. So, if you’re in France, that’s the space that you’re in. And that space in France? That becomes part of you as well. Your connection with them goes both ways because they can influence each other. It’s correlated, the place and the people, and I don’t think they can be separated. Michelle: There are two parts to this; the hardware and the software. People need places to gather, which is where the hardware comes in. Community and shared places that are well designed are, I think, wonderful contributors to how people connect. You need to make the best setting possible for people to come together. The software is the people, the effort, and the moments that bring humans together. I view my role in the community development space as the enabler. I’m not there to make stuff happen, but to create the best possible set of circumstances to help bring that community’s vision to life.
10
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
COMMUNITY PROPERTY PEOPLE TALK BELONGING
What are you proud of when it comes to creating communities with resilience and spirit? Clare: I’d say it’s enhancing people’s wellbeing. Loneliness is at its highest, they’re calling it an epidemic. If we have an opportunity to decrease loneliness by increasing connection, then that will affect mental health in our communities moving forward. And mental health affects everything from your physical and financial health to your lifestyle and success. It has so much impact. So, to me, it’s helping people improve their wellbeing. That’s what I’d be most proud of. Marion: I’m most proud when things come organically. They do it all by themselves. During COVID, for instance, at Brookhaven we had heaps of new mums. They had nowhere to go and were very limited in their movement. I’m not a storyteller, but I grabbed a book and said ‘hey, I’m just going to read a story in the park’.
Belonging together There’s no easy answer to the question of how to build belonging and stronger communities at the neighbourhood level. But people like Marion, Sarah, Clare, and Michelle prove that a nurturing mindset and a deep understanding of what makes humans tick are invaluable ingredients along the way.
For more information on community development programs and initiatives at Frasers Property communities, check our website or give us a call at 13 38 38.
Frasers Landing, WA
That was my time to give back to the community. Just seeing them sitting there, coming out and congratulating each other for leaving their house — even if they were half in their PJs. At that moment, it made me really proud that I could build a safe space and help them connect. And they’ve continued that conversation, they’ve taken it on board and have made it their own. It’s heart-warming, seeing these people continue to come together, and helping each other on the community’s Facebook groups. It’s inspiring, but it’s also more than that. It’s not even just proud. It makes you think even further about how you can continue to make a difference.
Frasers Landing, WA
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
11
COMMUNITY THE WATERFRONT, SHELL COVE
Set course for a laid-back lifestyle From saltmarsh to seaside destination, The Waterfront, Shell Cove is putting this coastal region on the map as a world-class boating and lifestyle destination and the new leisure spot. It’s a transformation that’s taken time, patience, and an unwavering vision to deliver a harbourside precinct that’s the envy of the NSW South Coast.
12
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
COMMUNITY THE WATERFRONT, SHELL COVE
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
13
COMMUNITY THE WATERFRONT, SHELL COVE
T
hey say you can’t rush perfection, and that’s certainly been the story of Shell Cove. An idea drawn up more than three decades ago by forward-thinking planners at Shellharbour City Council and brought to fruition with Frasers Property Australia, Shell Cove was designed around a singular vision to deliver jobs, homes, lifestyle amenity and tourism pull in abundance. In 2021, this ambitious project is almost ready to unveil its crown jewel and ultimate drawcard: a waterfront and harbourside precinct that oozes coastal charm with a level of laid-back luxury that’s quintessentially Australian.
For the last 20 years, the project has been largely a land sub-division project with the first land lots going on sale in 1997. And in 2013, construction began on the project’s centrepiece, a harbour and surrounding waterfront precinct.
A radical reimagining
“The vision has endured the ebbs and tides of changing market conditions, and very challenging environmental and geotechnical conditions associated with the delivery of major infrastructure,” says Simone.
Taking a quiet backwater known for its good surfing breaks and turning it into a world-class destination for boaters and beach lovers is no small feat. “It’s a radical reimagining of a place that has never been considered posh, or even as a destination,” says Emma McGill, NSW Marketing Manager.
“Shellharbour City Council have been incredibly solid in their vision to create a place that marries locally-sensitive urban development with the inclusion of a lifestyle destination that will attract visitors to the region,” says Simone. “It’s been a privilege to work with them to bring that vision to fruition.”
“A great vision for a place is usually centred on a single organising idea that has the strength to endure over time,” adds Simone Dyer, who sits at the helm of the project as Development Director. “Look at the world’s most interesting and memorable places, particularly the quintessential seaside towns and marinas scattered throughout southern Europe. These much-loved places are characterised by a strong vision to create a place with beautiful architecture, and quality amenity in public spaces.”
Now, more than 30 years on, that vision has been realised in the form of a stunning masterplanned community surrounded by beaches, parks and wetlands, with a 270-berth marina, a town centre and a waterfront dining precinct and tavern perfectly located to take in the harbour views.
“At The Waterfront, Shell Cove, the idea to create a publicly accessible, world-class boat harbour and marina that is larger than Darling Harbour in Sydney’s CBD, is the single organising idea that both contributes to the economic success of the entire region, but also creates a very desirable place to both live and visit.”
Artists’ impression
14
The idea to provide recreational marine facilities on the NSW South Coast was conceived in the late 1970’s and the result is a 347 hectare wholeof-suburb community with a 12ha boat harbour at its core and an abundance of amenity, even an 18-hole championship golf course.
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
And there’s still more to come. Shell Cove, NSW
COMMUNITY THE WATERFRONT, SHELL COVE
-
Shell Cove, NSW
Lunch with a view Looking out over Shellharbour Marina is The Waterfront Dining Precinct, where food and beverage retailers are positioned along the harbour’s edge, each one carefully considered to complement the location’s waterfront views and coastal lifestyle. Showcasing six different restaurant experiences, the dining precinct will offer the best of the region through food, wine, craft beer and brews.
Artists’ impression
The Waterfront’s crown jewel Come summer, residents and visitors alike will be able to take delight in the destination’s pride and joy – the Shell Cove boat harbour and marina precinct. Offering direct access to the Pacific Ocean, the harbour will become the new gateway and elevate Shell Cove as Australia’s newest boating destination on the eastern seaboard. “We’re very excited about the marina. I think this will be a world-class facility and there’s simply nothing like this on the South Coast,” says The Waterfront resident, Greg Sutton. “It’s amazing watching it progress. We’re looking forward to being able to walk around the waterfront. It’s definitely exciting times for us.” The harbour and precinct will boast a public boat ramp with trailer parking, marina berths and dry stack storage, as well as a variety of commercial marina facilities and services. Those on land will be able to enjoy the water from the foreshore promenade and boardwalks surrounding the harbour and marina. “This extraordinary world-class boating amenity will be opening in time for summer, creating a hot new tourist spot to visit on the South Coast,” sums up Emma. “Come 2022, this is going to be a really humming boating and lifestyle destination.”
Perhaps most prominent is The Waterfront Tavern, which will become the new place for sports, family dinners and friends. It will be a hub of energy and a place to enjoy the views over the marina or a game on the big screen inside. Directly opposite The Waterfront Tavern is Georgia Rose, the hottest new bar and dining venue to open on the South Coast. Open from 7am until late for coffees, cocktails, and everything in between, Georgia Rose will be a place to revel in laughter, fun, and catch ups with friends. Or drop by the new up-market fish and chips restaurant, The Salty Squid. Serving quality fish and chips, even new-school gourmet seafood burgers, this is fresh, convenient seafood with a stunning harbour view.
NSW’s newest destination Situated just 90kms from Sydney’s southern suburbs and 213kms from Canberra, The Waterfront, Shell Cove lends itself as a muchneeded relief from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Add in the harbour’s access to the Pacific Ocean, and you have all the makings for a world-class holiday destination.
Shell Cove, NSW
Accommodating future vacationers will be The Waterfront’s very own luxury harbourside hotel. Expected to open at the end of 2023, the hotel will offer holidaymakers contemporary hotel rooms and serviced apartments with access to resortstyle pools, a restaurant, bar, and day spa. “It will be 14 storeys, with beautiful views over the beach and marina,” says Emma. “It’s the next stage in The Waterfront’s journey from becoming a place for day trips to a weekend getaway.”
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
15
COMMUNITY THE WATERFRONT, SHELL COVE
A lifestyle like no other It’s not just holidaymakers that get to enjoy all that The Waterfront has to offer. The lucky people who call Shell Cove home get to have this incredible amenity on their doorstep all year round. “It’s somewhere that can make you feel like you’re on holiday, even if you’re a local. That you’ve escaped to the beach, or are somewhere coastal and relaxed,” Emma explains. “For Shell Cove residents, this means so much in terms of creating the heart and soul of their neighbourhood.” Greg Sutton and his wife Linda are some of those fortunate enough to call Shell Cove home. Locals to the area, the couple jumped on the opportunity to purchase one of the Nautilus release’s premium harbourfront apartments. “We love the design of the building, the architecture, and the facilities such as the heated pool and gym. But ultimately, it was the prime harbourfront position that attracted us. “It’s the best address in Shell Cove and it’s so close to the town centre. We love the idea of Woolworths being just down the road, and there are also cafes and shops. Shell Cove is like a city within itself and there’s no better place on earth, I reckon.” Their sentiment is shared with Alliera Carroll, who moved into Shell Cove in 2000 and is now on her third home in the neighbourhood. There’s nowhere else she’d rather be. “Our first place was a really nice house with an amazing view, but in 2017 my partner and I decided that we wanted to be closer to the marina and the waterfront, where the Woolies and the shops would be, so we bought a block of land in Pier Avenue and built a one-storey home on it,” says Alliera.
It would’ve been their “dream house” in what the couple reckons is “the best street in Shell Cove”. But when they fell pregnant with twins, they had to look for a bigger home. “With four kids living in the house we needed more room than what we had originally built. So, we secured a larger lot in the Catamaran release, which is closer to my parents’ house. My sister and her husband live in that area as well, so we’ll all be living around the waterfront and be within walking distance of each other,” she says. Ultimately, what’s kept Alliera and her family at Shell Cove is its unbeatable combination of lifestyle and amenity. “There are lots of nice pathways in the neighbourhood. We always see kids and families out walking and riding their bikes and we just love how it’s so lush and green everywhere,” she says. “The parks are amazing. We usually go to the park across from Woolies. There’s play equipment for our twins, who are 18 months old, and there are things our girls who are 10 and 12 can do as well. The facilities are for children of all ages, which obviously makes it easier for us.
“I love Shell Cove and I think it is a really good place to raise children. I couldn’t imagine living and raising my family anywhere else. I don’t have to leave Shell Cove at all, as I can get pretty much everything here.” It’s a sentiment that’s echoed by Brittany and James Jimenez. Raising three young boys means needing plenty of space to let them run free. “We are so lucky to have all this beautiful natural environment around us to enjoy,” says Brittany. “We’re raising our kids to be active, independent, and safely at home in the great outdoors. Living at Shell Cove means they’re close to the beach, we can go bushwalking whenever we want, they can ride their bikes everywhere, go surfing or scuba diving. It’s why they love it here and it’s why we couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”
16
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
COMMUNITY THE WATERFRONT, SHELL COVE
-
The Waterfront, Shell Cove
by the numbers
A new masterplanned community by Shellharbour City Council, with Frasers Property Australia 3,000+ homes 145ha of public reserves 12ha boat harbour 270-berth Shellharbour Marina, plus commercial boating facilities and marina services centre The Waterfront Dining Precinct including The Waterfront Tavern and a range of restaurants Children’s beach Shell Cove Town Centre with Woolworths and speciality stores Proposed hotel, community centre, library, and visitors’ information centre 90kms from southern Sydney; 22kms from Wollongong
Live every day like a holiday The Waterfront, Shell Cove offers the best of coastal living. Where lifestyle takes centre stage, and every day feels like you’re on holiday. If you’re ready to make the move, find your ideal coastal home today. To make your enquiry, give us a call on 13 38 38. Shell Cove, NSW
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
17
COMMUNITY HAMILTON REACH HISTORY
Hamilton Reach, QLD
18
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
COMMUNITY HAMILTON REACH HISTORY
Take me to the river Over the two-hundred-year history of modern Brisbane, the river has played host to the city’s fascinating transformation. The suburb of Hamilton, including Frasers Property’s Hamilton Reach community, is no exception. We look at its remarkable history and glittering future.
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
19
COMMUNITY HAMILTON REACH HISTORY
H
amilton’s rich history can be traced back thousands of years to when First Nations people occupied the fertile banks of the Brisbane (Meeanjin) River. Since then, this place has worn many hats, from farmland and shipping yards to one of Brisbane’s most sought after suburbs.
Today, Northshore Hamilton is one of the largest urban renewal projects in the country, a $5 billion mixed-use city-within-a-city, that’s home to the premium waterfront neighbourhood by Frasers Property Australia, Hamilton Reach, as well as the future site of the Brisbane Athlete’s Village for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With its architecturally designed riverfront homes and lush parklands located just 6kms from the Brisbane CBD, Hamilton Reach represents some of the finest living to be found on the waterfront. But it wasn’t always so, according to local historian Helen Gregory. “There were two main industries here,” explains Helen. “Firstly, anything to do with shipping. Secondly, and this is probably less well known, there was also quite a lot to do with defence. During the two World Wars, U.S. soldiers were camped at the racecourse and their ships were docked here. But this area before, during and after saw a lot of defence industry work. So, if you wanted to live in a pleasant part of Hamilton you tended to avoid the area near the river because it was so industrial.”
20
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
Image sourced from the State Library of QLD Hamilton Reach, QLD
Riverside renewal But the pull of the water for Brisbane’s growing population has always been there. Opened to great fanfare in 1889, just across the river from Hamilton Reach at Hemnant, was Queensland’s first theme park including an aquarium, rollercoaster, dance hall, and zoo. The crowds who visited the Queensport Aquarium and Zoological Gardens arrived in droves by steamers costing two shillings for adults and one shilling for children. Hamilton Reach Development Director, Jamisen Rivera, says there has long been a tension between the maritime activity of the waterfront and the undeniable lifestyle appeal of river-based leisure activities. “Training walls were built up and down the river between Hamilton and Pinkenba in the early 1900s, which gave the river a more defined edge and reduced inundation in some of the swampier areas,” says Jamisen. “This gave people the opportunity to walk along the river’s edge and watch sailing regattas or go paddling and boating.” In 1920, the Royal Queensland Golf Club was established, with extensive landscaping and sand dredged from the river to transform the mangrove swamp into a course fit for Royal Charter.
COMMUNITY HAMILTON REACH HISTORY
Helen Gregory, Historian
Even the name Hamilton Reach pays homage to one of the very first housing estates in Brisbane’s history, released a little way down the river in 1885, comprising 428 “splendid allotments.” As rich as the history is of Hamilton, the future looks even brighter. With Brisbane winning the right to host the 2032 Olympics, the future Athlete’s Village will be built at the Northshore Hamilton location, overseen by Economic Development Queensland (EDQ). Its prime waterfront outlook and proximity to the CBD, as well as competition and training venues, makes it an ideal location to host more than 15,000 athletes and officials across the Olympic and Paralympic Games. When the games are over, the village will transform again into a diverse residential offering, alongside build-to-rent, retirement, aged care, and hotel accommodation.
Then, in the middle of the twentieth century, a simple invention transformed the global maritime industry forever, ushering in a new era for Brisbane’s river economy. With the ability to stack goods in large metal boxes and stack those metal boxes in ever larger quantities on bigger ships, the humble shipping container rendered most riverside wharves obsolete. Large-scale container terminals shifted to ocean ports and the industrial life of the Brisbane River shifted toward lifestyle, leisure, and high-end real estate.
Hamilton Reach, QLD Image sourced from the State Library of QLD
Colourful history, golden future In 2010, Frasers Property acquired land at Northshore Hamilton from Port of Brisbane Corporation to be redeveloped into the Hamilton Reach neighbourhood. The masterplan imagined a vision of premium waterfront homes and apartments connected by lushly landscaped walkways and sunlit viewlines to the river.
Jamisen points to 2022 as the 10-year anniversary of the first residents moving into Hamilton Reach, and the cementing of its own little slice of history in the grand narrative of Brisbane’s river life.
“If there’s one thing a project like this reveals, it’s that the best cities are the ones that are always evolving to keep pace with the desires and needs of its residents. The history of Hamilton Reach is rich and varied, and its future equally so. It’s one of the great privileges of what we do as placemakers to be part of that story.”
Today, with its thriving community and distinctive riverfront feel, Hamilton Reach pays ample homage to its local history. Reclaimed timber from the old wharves is integrated into the sensory gardens and street furniture, while apartments and homes are designed to catch the light and breezes off the river.
Liveproud proud | | Spring/Summer Spring/Summer2021 2021 Live
21 21
COMMUNITY KEPERRA, QLD
Back to life Transforming a working quarry into a lush new neighbourhood. From a working quarry to one of Brisbane’s most eligible – and elevated – new residential communities, this is a story of bringing a landscape back to life, and into its own.
22
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
COMMUNITY KEPERRA, QLD
T
he development team at Frasers Property Australia are no strangers to difficult challenges. From abandoned breweries and disused docks to former hospital grounds and even a colonial immigration building, there have been plenty of sites over the years utterly transformed by the company’s talent for urban renewal. Some, like Sydney’s Central Park, have gone on to be the most awarded projects in the country. Others, like Melbourne’s Burwood Brickworks, have achieved new global standards of sustainability. None though, offer a more dramatic contrast between former use and future vision than the Keperra Quarry in Brisbane.
Located just 9kms north-west of Brisbane’s CBD, Keperra is a suburb notable for its leafy streets and the imposing presence of Enoggera Hill, part of the heavily wooded Taylor Range escarpment that runs all the way from the D’Aguilar Range to the Gallipolli Barracks. Located on the western side of Enoggera Hill lies the Keperra Quarry, which supplies Brisbane with granite and bushrock for retaining walls, landscaping features, and road aggregate. The almost 50-hectare site is now owned by Frasers Property Australia, who have plans to create a new residential community for those seeking to live a more elevated life. Where some developers would be daunted by the quarry’s scarred and scalloped surfaces, the team from Frasers Property’s Queensland division saw the potential to do something transformative and special. “The redevelopment of the quarry is without doubt complex and challenging,” says Frasers Property’s General Manager Development, Scott Ullman. “By the same token, we love a challenge. We love a problem to solve. And we’ve been able to approach this site in a way that absolutely solves the challenges around verticality and those hard rock faces. It takes vision and determination, but I couldn’t be more excited about the possibilities we have here to create a really fantastic place to live.” Keperra, QLD
Keperra, QLD
So how do you transform a former quarry into a sought-after residential enclave for approximately 550 homes and still maintain 45% of the site for open space? The key, says Damian Thompson, Lat27 Director and the project’s landscape architect, is to bring the landscape back to life – regenerating, reforming, and reconnecting it with surrounding natural elements, including woodlands and sky. “The thing that strikes you immediately when you drive up on the site is the views. Because you’re at an elevation that’s up to 190m above sea level, there are these incredible panoramic views that take in Moreton Bay and the Glasshouse Mountains,” says Damian. “It’s just incredible that this exists so close to the city. As landscape architects, it’s really rare because we get to deploy all of our technical thinking, research, and skills to find a new way for that landscape to colonise the quarry face. What we’ve got in Australia is a very resilient, adaptable landscape. And we’re going to nurture that landscape to recolonise with this place.”
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
23
COMMUNITY KEPERRA, QLD
The plans for the project include an array of architecturally designed townhomes; land allotments with flat building pads between 100m and 170m above sea level; residents’ centre including gym, pool and community spaces; village green and ample places to exercise in the outdoors while taking in the breathtaking views. Layers of landscaping will help create thresholds through which people will move from street level to shared communal spaces to private living. Holly Nielsen, Artist
“There’ll be a welcoming central heart to the community,” says Damian. “The residents’ centre will be a place to meet and mingle with friends and neighbours, or spend some time enjoying the amenity in quiet contemplation. You’ll be able to go for a swim or stretch out and relax under the shaded dark green foliage around the pool, enjoying that beautiful subtropical landscape and superb climate we’re known for up here. And as you move out to the outer edges of the precinct, the landscape will have more of a connection back to the bigger macro eucalypt woodlands of the hill.” The vision for the landscape reformation has been captured in the irrepressible style of local Brisbane artist, Paperhands (aka: Holly Nielsen), commissioned by Frasers Property to produce an original artwork to feature in the project’s marketing material. Showcasing the many species of botanicals to be reintroduced as well as the interplay of earth, sky, and stone, the painting imagines the verdant future Frasers Property has planned for the site. “When it came to redeveloping this former quarry,” says Frasers Property Development Director Ryan McDade, “where many looked and saw only complexity, we saw a unique canvas offering unlimited potential. We think Holly has captured that beautifully, and it’ll be exciting to see the artwork come to life in the recreation centre for people to enjoy when they come up and visit us.”
Keperra QLD
24
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
COMMUNITY KEPERRA, QLD
“You’ll be able to go for a swim, or stretch out and relax under the shaded dark green foliage around the pool, enjoying that beautiful subtropical landscape.”
Quarry 4054, QLD Quarry 4054, QLD
This exciting new community is under construction and expected to launch to the public in early 2022. For sales enquiries and more information, visit keperraliving.com.au or contact Frasers Property on 13 38 38.
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
25
COMMUNITY FACES OF FAIRWATER
Faces of Fairwater Walking around Fairwater, you’d never guess that just 10 years ago this thriving neighbourhood was a private golf course. Fairwater’s prosperous community spirit and abundance of greenery are the markings of a much more established neighbourhood – a testament to the passion and pride of the project’s team and residents alike. 26
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
COMMUNITY FACES OF FAIRWATER
I
t’s hard to narrow Fairwater’s charm down to just one thing. Is it the people who live there? The pride of the team who have developed it? Or maybe it’s the community’s connection to each other as well as to nature and the abundance of open green spaces? While person to person this answer may differ, there’s one thing that is in general consensus: Fairwater is truly something remarkable. Formerly the site of a private golf course, Fairwater has been transformed into a neighbourhood where nature abounds, thanks in part to the previous vegetation of the site. “We’ve been able to preserve a lot of the features that really defined the golf course,” reflects Raymond Baksmati, the project’s Development Director. “It had substantial trees but degraded waterways. We’ve been able to protect these key landscaped elements, rejuvenating them and making them a focus for our new community.” With its tranquil surrounds and 9.5 hectares of dedicated open spaces – including ponds, wetlands, and waterways – Fairwater had the makings to be something great right from the start. But it turns out, the secret ingredient was the diverse and welcoming community who would make Fairwater home. A place is nothing without its people, and the faces of Fairwater have become the heart and soul of the project. And who better to tell the story of this community’s transformation than those who witnessed it firsthand? Fairwater, NSW
Fairwater, NSW
Brahmleen Kaur – Resident From the moment Brahmleen first set foot in Fairwater, she knew she had found her future home. “We were enticed by the peaceful, calm ambience of the community. The beautiful lake right in the middle of the property seemed like an oasis. “The biggest transformation for me personally since we first moved in, was the development of the Central Park. It’s wonderful to see kids enjoying the play area and open spaces, especially in these testing times because of COVID-19. For adults, it’s a great place to exercise, go for a run or a leisurely walk too.
“This being our first home, Fairwater will always be special to us. The community really nurtures its residents, helping everyone to connect through various initiatives. This has helped to create a sense of pride and belonging in the community.” Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
27
COMMUNITY FACES OF FAIRWATER
Jason Meaden - Resident While a Facebook ad was what initially caught Jason and his partner’s attention, it was Fairwater’s location in thriving Blacktown that won them over. “What excited me was the ability to get a new house in an established suburb, as opposed to a brand-new area. Because Fairwater was built on an old golf course, a significant number of the trees have been kept, and they had the ability to really landscape the parks, gardens, and wetlands. It’s also in an area where there’s already public transport and shops established. So, while the community is still very much new, it just felt like it’s been here for a while. “Before Fairwater, I spent about 20 years living in apartments. I don’t think I ever knew any of my neighbour’s names, even those in the apartment next to me. Whereas here, it just feels like a community. People acknowledge each other while walking the dog. I probably know 20 people by sight, just from wandering around the community and from various community events.”
28
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
Kimberley Beverley - Resident When Kimberley first moved into Fairwater in 2018, she was living at her uncle’s place. Fast forward two years later, and she and her sister have moved into their own home in the community. “Initially, we were actually trying to find places outside of Fairwater. Since our uncle was already here, we didn’t want to be annoying by living so close to him. But then, everything was just leading us back to Fairwater. We love the environment and people here. We thought, since we already know this place and enjoy the area, we might as well buy our home here. “Our place is right across from Central Park. When we first moved in, there was nothing but grass and trees. Since then, the space has really come to life. There’s a playground and we even got to go and plant a tree there as well. During lockdown especially, it’s been great to see people getting outside and enjoying the area.”
Fairwater, NSW
COMMUNITY FACES OF FAIRWATER
Fairwater, NSW
Om Dhungel - Community Engagement Consultant and Resident
Raymond Baksmati – Development Director
Om is both a resident of Fairwater, as well as Fairwater’s Community Engagement Consultant. Wearing both hats gives him the opportunity to engage and help shape the neighbourhood, while each help provide a different perspective.
When it comes to the transformation of Fairwater, there’s no one more in the know than Raymond. Sitting at the helm of the project as Fairwater’s Development Director since 2014, he’s had a hand in all the milestones and successes along the way. Now, he gets to sit back and watch the fruits of his labour come to life.
“For me, the most rewarding part of working and living in Fairwater is to get to do what I am most passionate about, which is bringing people together to create a community. What started as converting strangers into neighbours by saying hello, has grown into this wonderfully connected place. It’s great, having this opportunity to work with such a diverse group of people with so many different points of view. Blacktown is so multicultural, we have residents from over 188 nationalities here. “What makes Fairwater truly special, is that rather than focusing on our differences, we come together as a group to celebrate everything. While we have different cultures, different foods, and different languages, that right there is our common denominator – our differences add to the richness of the community. And from that, many different initiatives and committees have been born — such as the Fairwater Events Committee and the Green Fairwater Committee. There are so many people here wanting to do something for the wider community.”
“We build infrastructure, like parks, waterways, cycleways, roads and homes, but without people living in those homes — using the parks and cycleways — it doesn’t mean anything. When people interact in these spaces, live, and share their experiences with each other, they create a vibrant sense of place.” “I still remember that first time we witnessed a resident young family pushing a pram with a newborn in the evening as the sun was setting. It was upon completion of the first stage of homes, the entry parks had just been completed, and the Fairwater team were packing up after a community information session. As this couple walked past the lake and sales centre window the team all turned to watch them, a little smile from them and acknowledgement from us, as they made their way across the pedestrian bridge over the lake to sit and watch the sun setting. That little moment to me was something very special. It truly highlighted the importance of designing for people and community in our projects. And if you get it right, they’re the ones creating that sense of place and belonging.” “Seeing the residents move in, their passion and pride for Fairwater neighbourhood, has been fantastic. They’re very keen to be a part of the wider community, their strength is in their diversity. I think we’ve tackled community development from a very authentic position, and I haven’t seen that level of energy and enthusiasm from a community on other projects that I’ve worked on. And that’s just testament to the amount of pride the residents have in this community. This place that we’ve created.”
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
29
COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER FUTURE
Foundations for a better future How the PIF House Program is changing the lives of Melbourne’s at-risk and homeless youth. The job of tackling youth homelessness is a big one. But with the help of friends throughout the property and construction industry donating time, materials, and expertise, the Property Industry Foundation and Frasers Property are making a difference one home at a time.
30
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
PIF House Clayton, VIC
COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER FUTURE
H
ome. House. Property. Pad. Digs. Dwelling. Residence. These are many different words, each used to describe what is in its most basic form, a shelter. The word may immediately conjure up thoughts of beach shacks built with bamboo and palm fronds, but there’s a little more to it.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a commonly referenced psychological theory that suggests having one’s basic needs met is a necessary prerequisite to pursuing a fulfilling life. In this hierarchy, shelter – along with food, water, and sleep – is positioned as the most basic need for a human being. Yet over 43,500 young Australians are spending the most critical developmental period of their lives without a safe place to lay their heads at night. It’s why Frasers Property Australia have partnered with the Property Industry Foundation (PIF) and the Lighthouse Foundation to construct a home for at-risk and homeless young people in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton. As a transitional home, the Clayton PIF House is a safe haven and stepping-stone on the path to a brighter future for young people transitioning from crisis accommodation. Having a place to call home helps with establishing a routine and getting back to school or going on to further education. It adds up to having a better chance of gaining employment and more permanent and secure housing in the long run.
“Our expertise is in building places people can call home, but we know that not everybody is able to access a safe and secure home environment,” says Sarah Bloom, General Manager Development at Frasers Property. “Rising levels of homelessness are really concerning and it’s up to those in the community, including developers like us, to be a part of the solution.” Simon Benjamin, CEO of Lighthouse Foundation says that the home’s potential impact on young lives cannot be understated. “Young people come here with nowhere to live, which means they can’t focus on things like school or employment,” explains Benjamin. “Once they’re settled here, we can then help them overcome the difficulties of their past in order to have a brighter future.” Over its lifetime, the home will see 50-60 young people pass through its doors, each one awarded the time, attention, dedication, care and opportunities they need to grow and flourish both within themselves and in society. For Development Director, Alex Newell, the project is a great example of the company’s commitment to causes it can meaningfully contribute to. “To be able to be part of a team that delivers a place for young people to feel safe in a secure and supportive home is a source of great pride to me personally. It’s a really tangible example of the Frasers Property commitment to social responsibility and giving back to the community.” PIF House Clayton is expecting to welcome residents in late 2021.
The home is the third house that Frasers Property Australia has helped to build for the Property Industry Foundation, with homes already constructed in Blacktown, NSW and Bonbeach, VIC. It’s also the second as part of the national PIF House Program, established in 2017. Beyond four walls and a roof, the home provides its residents with live-in carers and counsellors who can provide round the clock support, mentoring, and life skills to help rebuild young lives and transition residents into independent living.
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
31
COMMUNITY MAMBOURIN TAKES SHAPE
Mambourin, VIC
32
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
COMMUNITY MAMBOURIN TAKES SHAPE
Mambourin takes shape Mambourin is a community with a difference. An unprecedented level of amenity means you’ll discover everything you need to live, learn, and play right here in the neighbourhood. And the best part? Nothing is more than five minutes away.
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
33
COMMUNITY MAMBOURIN TAKES SHAPE
M
elbourne’s western growth corridor has seen the arrival of many new neighbourhoods, but none quite like Mambourin. The community’s emphasis on convenience and walkability help set it apart, marking it as a new kind of community in this fast-growing space.
A vibrant neighbourhood in the making, Mambourin will rival the amenity of an innercity suburb – 38kms from the CBD. Designed for those wanting the convenience of urban living without the accompanying hustle and bustle, the community has been designed with everything needed for residents to live a connected and active lifestyle. “In the very initial stages of masterplanning, we identified two pillars we wanted to focus on – convenience and connection,” says Frasers Property Development Director, Penny Dabner.
“Working hand-in-hand, these foundations are helping us to create a close-knit community with an unmatched level of amenity. We’re building a neighbourhood that is designed to be highly connected, both physically and socially.”
Take five Mambourin is billed as a 5-minute community. Or in other words, a self-contained neighbourhood where everything residents need in their day- today lives can be found just five minutes from home. This means public transport, a future town centre, a school and local business district, residents’ club and parks are all just a short walk away. “Australia’s response to COVID-19 has really put a spotlight on local neighbourhoods and an emphasis on the need for walkable amenity, local connections and support,” adds Penny. “The five minute community concept resonates even more in this new environment.” The community is fortunate to be adjoining a future train station on the Regional Rail Link, which will connect residents to Melbourne’s CBD and surrounding areas via an integrated transport network of buses and trains. This, paired with the recently opened Barrabool Park and Club Mambourin – as well as so much more to come – means Mambourin is right on track to achieving exactly what it set out to do – creating a neighbourhood where nothing is more than five minutes away.
The year Mambourin takes shape 2021 has been Mambourin’s biggest year yet, as the community starts to take shape. There are more than 200 homes currently under construction, with most of these residents expected to move in by the end of the year. The completion and opening of Club Mambourin and Barrabool Park are providing unparalleled leisure and recreation opportunities for the community’s very first residents. “We wanted to have great recreational spaces available for residents to use, right from the day they move in,” says Penny. “Delivering early amenity means there are places where new residents can meet and socialise with neighbours, which is vital for a sense of community to start to flourish.”
34
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
COMMUNITY MAMBOURIN TAKES SHAPE
Perhaps one of the biggest drawcards for the neighbourhood, Club Mambourin has been modelled on best-in-class wellness and recreation centres to offer residents a place to focus on health and wellbeing. Including a kids splash pool, lap pool and spa, multi-sports courts, cafe, gymnasium and function room, residents will have no trouble fitting plenty of exercise and a little bit of leisure into their everyday routines. Elevating this amenity even further, Barrabool Park provides a place for the community to meet, enjoy open spaces and entertain the whole family outdoors. With a range of activities to suit all ages, residents are spoilt for choice with play towers, flying foxes, a basketball court, skate areas and even a water play splash zone. It’s the perfect spot for lazy afternoon picnics, while the park’s natural amphitheatre provides the setting for future popup cinemas and community events.
That’s only the beginning As a 5-minute community, Mambourin will eventually be host to everything residents need in their day-to-day lives. This includes a future town centre that’s poised to become the community’s beating heart. Its offerings will include a shopping centre, a Council library, performing arts centre and kindergarten, as well as maternal and child health facilities. Children won’t have far to walk to get to school either, thanks to the future prep-12 school located not far from their front door. Linking it all together will be an integrated network of walking and bike paths. “Every home will connect to the town centre and the future train station via a network of footpaths, shared paths and bike paths connected throughout the community,” says Penny.
Community at heart Once complete, Mambourin will be home to 1,200 residents and an unparalleled level of amenity for those who live there. “While the community may be small, the level of amenity is significant and will rival that of many well-established suburbs in Melbourne,” states Penny. “It’s really rewarding to see the community starting to come to life,” she further adds. “There’s no greater feeling than watching people enjoy the amenity and build their lives in a neighbourhood you’ve helped to deliver.”
With a range of opportunities currently available, you too could be living a connected lifestyle at Mambourin. To make your enquiry, give us a call on 13 38 38.
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
35
COMMUNITY BURWOOD BRICKWORKS
First in, best addressed There’s a general acceptance that when you move into a new community there’s going to be a wait before it all comes to life. But at Burwood Brickworks, Frasers Property is challenging that assumption by doing things the other way around.
Burwood Brickworks, VIC
36
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
COMMUNITY BURWOOD BRICKWORKS
W
hen the very first residents moved into Burwood Brickworks in Melbourne’s east, there was more than just their brand-new home awaiting them. Thanks to the frontloading of amenity undertaken by Frasers Property Australia, residents were greeted with the convenience of a shopping centre and entertainment precinct right on their doorstep. It meant that even just moments from moving in, they were already in a place they could be proud to call home.
This approach is far from typical though. Traditionally, in most new communities, the people move in first while amenity comes second. And while this works for some, Frasers Property prefers to do it differently. Relentlessly focussed on creating a sense of belonging in the places it creates, delivering lifestyle amenity and everyday conveniences from day one was the core of its vision for Burwood Brickworks. Not only has it given new neighbours the places and spaces to meet, welcome their friends, and enjoy a great meal or a night out with the family, it has also meant residents have been able to move in with less construction disruption around them.
Burwood Brickworks, VIC
Burwood Brickwork’s new residents enjoy the convenience of having the Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre – which recently achieved the Living Building Challenge® Petal Certification and became recognised as the world’s most sustainable shopping centre – right on their doorstep. From shopping for staples, catching a movie at Reading Cinemas, or stretching in a yoga class, it’s all available just moments from home. And it’s that fact that’s creating real momentum for the project, explains Sarah Bloom, General Manager Development for Frasers Property. “With the shopping centre open, apartments settling and residents moving into their new homes, buyers are able to come to Burwood Brickworks and get a real taste for what the lifestyle offers,” says Sarah. “We’ve reached that point now, far earlier than I think we ever anticipated, where the community sells itself by virtue of the fact it already feels so established. That’s a rare feat given the project was only launched three years ago.”
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
37
COMMUNITY BURWOOD BRICKWORKS
First impressions Burwood Brickworks welcomed around one hundred of its first residents last March. Here’s what they’re saying about being some of the first to move into an already well-established neighbourhood.
“With a husband and two kids, the thing I really like about my apartment is its functionality. It’s just a really clever use of space. And I love how integrated the community is. It’s definitely got that homely, local-neighbourhood vibe to it.” “I’ve really enjoyed my experience with Frasers. We’ve actually recommended this particular development to a couple of friends. The shops are thoughtful shops. You’ve got Woolies, a beautiful butcher, a chemist and a yoga and wellness centre. I can walk out my door and be in green spaces, grab a good coffee, have lunch, and be upstairs in the gardens. I feel like I’m in the country, while not actually being in the country. It’s just so nice.” “It’s very convenient, there are Chinese grocery stores, butcher shops, liquor shops and so on. The Woolworths supermarket on the ground floor also boasts a green concept, which is rare in Victoria. I was very happy when I settled on my property, the apartment was better than I thought. It’s very beautiful and the landscape is also extremely elegant. I’m very satisfied with it.” Burwood residents, welcome event
38
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
“It doesn’t matter where you go, you run into somebody you know. It’s very community spirited. It’s got great schools, great parks, and the most sustainable shopping centre in the world. It’s just a fantastic place to live.”
COMMUNITY BURWOOD BRICKWORKS
Burwood residents, welcome event
Burwood residents, welcome event
“I lived on a farm, so having garden trees, flowers, those things are really important. It’s fantastic to have that right outside the front door. When it started to transition into something real, it was so exciting for the neighbourhood too. It just changes the whole place.” “I really like the location. We’ve enjoyed living here and it was an easy decision to make. But it was also nice to see all the discussions around sustainability, plans for open spaces, and building a community. They’re all really important things, reinforcing the message that Burwood Brickworks is all about community.”
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
39
PLACES FOR GOOD BURWOOD BRICKWORKS - FIRST OF ITS KIND
First of its kind Shopping centres are not typically considered as being synonymous with sustainability. But at Burwood Brickworks, Frasers Property has delivered not only the world’s most sustainable retail centre, but a blueprint for an entire industry.
40
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
PLACES FOR GOOD BURWOOD BRICKWORKS - FIRST OF ITS KIND
B
ack in 2019, Live proud magazine published a story about Frasers Property Australia’s quest to create the world’s most sustainable shopping centre. An ambitious undertaking — requiring a reimagining of everything from orientation, materiality, store layout, energy and water use and reuse, ambience, and accessibility — Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre set out to achieve the world’s most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment: Living Building Challenge® certification.
And earlier this year, it did it. The International Living Future Institute (ILFI), the global authority which administers the LBC®, has granted Living Building Challenge® Petal Certification to the one-of-a-kind shopping centre in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs — the first retail building in the world to be recognised.
Shared experience Frasers Property Australia’s Living Building Challenge Manager, Stephen Choi, says that like all new endeavours, many orthodoxies had to be challenged and discarded along the way, not least a preparedness to share intellectual property with others in the industry. “When we set out to do this project, we had a fairly robust conversation internally about what we would share with others,” says Stephen, “Because, with all the time, money, and effort that was going in to create a net-positive centre, there was intrinsic value in those learnings, and did we really want to give it away? In the end, we have opted to be open because if we can give our competitors or others in the retail industry the benefit of what we’ve learned, and they start doing it too, it gets easier, cheaper, and more efficient for these kinds of projects to become the norm.”
Since the Burwood Brickworks shopping centre opened in late 2019, Stephen has given more than 70 talks and tours to colleagues and industry players curious to know more about this benchmark-setting project. As a result, the influence of Burwood Brickworks is being felt in some unusual places. “We’ve had approaches from hotels, community centres, other developers and major retailers, intrigued by what’s been done here,” says Stephen. “And often they come away with a larger sense of what’s possible.” “For instance, I did a tour with the management team of a major Australasian retailer — people who’d flown in from all over Australia and New Zealand to see Burwood Brickworks — and ostensibly they came to talk about rooftop solar. But after seeing how the Living Building Challenge® had led us to rethink everything from single-use takeaway containers to natural ventilation to non-toxic materials, they left with a determination to re-engineer their store designs right down to the packaging.” At Frasers Property’s Rhodes Corporate Park in Sydney, the lessons of Burwood Brickworks are also being taken up. “We’re working with commercial tenancies at Rhodes Corporate Park for new fit-outs that utilise some of the learnings from Burwood Brickworks. As they contemplate a return to the office in 2022, they’re looking at ways to make the environment more natural and more comfortable for their employees, and there’s a great deal of the technical research and data from the Living Building Challenge® that informs that approach. So that’s hugely gratifying to see, and a testament to the shift toward more sustainable buildings.”
Burwood Brickworks, VIC
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
41
PLACES FOR GOOD BURWOOD BRICKWORKS - FIRST OF ITS KIND
Local worth travelling for For all its technical marvel and arresting beauty, from the naturally ventilated sawtooth roof to the edible blooms of the roof-top garden, it’s the human experience of Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre that speaks the loudest. “We have received hundreds, if not thousands, of comments and feedback from shoppers since we opened,” says Stephen. “And while some people do focus on the technical, such as solar energy and water or the recycling bins and waste reduction, overwhelmingly what people describe is their emotional response. They talk about the beauty and spirit of the place, its tranquillity and comfort.” A lot of that is to do with good design that focuses on bringing fresh air into the centre and an abundance of natural light. Combined with green open space, both indoors and out, employees experience higher job satisfaction and employers have reported lower staff turnover. “It’s simple things that make so much difference,” explains Stephen. “When staff have a beautiful area to go to in their breaks, instead of out on a noisy loading dock, their sense of wellbeing is just so much higher.”
42
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
That increased job satisfaction has posed some tricky situations though. According to Stephen, some staff who have transferred from other stores to cover shifts for their colleagues, have shown some resistance in returning to their original place of work, so attractive are the working conditions at Burwood Brickworks. “It’s a good problem to have,” laughs Stephen. When it comes to the shopper experience, there have also been unanticipated benefits. Stephen points to the redesign of supermarket refrigeration as a technical response to save energy consumption that has led to increased dwell time and shopper patronage.
Burwood Brickworks, VIC
PLACES FOR GOOD BURWOOD BRICKWORKS - FIRST OF ITS KIND
Burwood Brickworks, VIC
“If you look at the average shopping centre, half of the building’s energy usage could be refrigeration, because it never switches off. And that makes the supermarket generally a colder environment to be in. In winter, you need to pump hot air in to heat the space and it becomes this hugely expensive drain on energy. “So, we worked with Woolworths to put doors on the fridges, capturing and pumping the heat from the back of the fridges to warm the store instead. It means the ambient temperature in the aisles is much more comfortable to linger in. “In fact, I was chatting to a customer the other day and he was remarking that Burwood Brickworks is just a much more comfortable and pleasant place to shop. I asked him if he was a local and he said no, he was from Doncaster East. I remarked that there must be at least five supermarkets that would be closer to where he lives, and he said, ‘yes, but I prefer to shop at this one.’ So, that increased catchment area and dwell time in the store wasn’t why we redesigned the fridges to have doors, but that turned out to be one of the ancillary benefits of that decision.”
It takes a village Achieving Living Building Challenge® Petal Certification at Burwood Brickworks took perseverance and partnership collaboration, not least of all with the centre retailers. “We’re grateful to our family of retailers at Burwood Brickworks for embracing the Living Building Challenge®,” says Frasers Property Australia CEO, Anthony Boyd. “For some, the requirements of the Living Building Challenge® necessitated a complete re-imagining of their fitout and operations. And then, a few months after the centre’s opening, COVID-19 hit.”
“And yet, our retailers showed inspirational perseverance and a commitment to collaboration that has been instrumental in Burwood Brickworks fulfilling its potential to become the world’s most sustainable shopping centre. “The lessons we’ve learned through the Living Building Challenge® process, and the knowledge we’ve committed to sharing throughout the industry, will reveal new paths to better sustainability outcomes not only for our projects, but the industry at large.” One tenant that plays a key role in meeting the Living Building Challenge® is acre Burwood, one of the largest urban agricultural projects in Australia. Managing Director of acre, Luke Heard, says to be part of this major global sustainability achievement is a source of immense professional and personal satisfaction. “This project is an example of individuals and organisations being willing to push the boundaries to unlock new sustainable possibilities. What we’ve learned on this journey will help not only our business, but other business operators and property development companies to make a positive impact on the places they occupy and the communities they’re a part of.”
To learn more about Burwood Brickworks and its Living Building Challenge® Certification visit: frasersproperty.com.au/LivingBuilding-Challenge
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
43
PLACES FOR GOOD SIZING UP SUSTAINABLE PLACEMAKING
Sizing up sustainable placemaking Rory Martin has been in the sustainability space long enough to observe the word come in and out of vogue several times. As Sustainability Manager for Frasers Property Australia, he sees the company’s global commitment to ‘inspiring experiences, creating places for good’ as the core to a culture of innovation and collaboration with the potential to reshape placemaking as we know it.
44
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
PLACES FOR GOOD SIZING UP SUSTAINABLE PLACEMAKING
W
hen it comes to addressing the big environmental issues of our time, it’s easy for individuals to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem. But for Frasers Property Sustainability Manager Rory Martin, the path to creating smarter, greener, more resilient communities is best travelled with like-minded others.
“You know the saying ‘If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,’ that’s how I see the challenge ahead,” says Rory. “And while people may assume – quite fairly – that property development is a pretty competitive sector; in the sustainability sphere we tend to be much more interested in the bigger picture. If I come up with a way to design a carbon neutral home, for example, it makes more sense for me to share that technology with other builders, than keep it to myself and limit the ability to affect change at a more significant scale.” The recent recognition of Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre as the most sustainable shopping centre in the world is a case in point. Since launching its audacious goal of achieving the International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge® and recently achieving Petal Certification, the phone has rung hot from industry peers keen to peek under the hood and understand how Frasers Property are bringing their vision to life. “I don’t think there’s any bigger compliment or confirmation of your leadership position than to have industry colleagues want to learn and emulate the successes we’ve achieved,” says Rory. “And the reality is that we don’t achieve any of this on our own. We have always collaborated with the best partners, consultants, governments and authorities to continually push the envelope. Places like Burwood Brickworks raise the bar in terms of what’s possible, but if there’s only ever one like it, we probably haven’t done our job that well.”
A focus on building resilient neighbourhoods through technical innovation in the sustainability sphere is nothing new for Frasers Property. The company has a long history of leading the conversation at an industry level and in recent years has pledged an ambitious target to become a fully carbon zero business by 2050. A culture of experimentation has meant Rory and other members of the Frasers Property sustainability team have had the licence and latitude to test new ideas and technologies across the range of Frasers Property projects. “There’s no question that never settling for the thing we did yesterday is a huge part of Frasers DNA,” explains Rory. “We were one of the first in the industry to make a concerted commitment to delivering 5 and 6 Star Green Star buildings, and as a result we’re recognised as one of the most prolific developers of Green Star properties in the country. But we’ve never accepted Green Star as the beginning and end of our obligation. We’ve always stretched ourselves to do and achieve so much more.” With a view that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, Rory points to a range of Frasers Property projects that achieve sustainability at various scales. Taking a leaf from a concept that’s familiar to the architecture world, he calls it the Small, Medium, Large and Extra-Large approach to designing neighbourhoods that balance environmental outcomes with inspiring experiences for the humans who live, work, shop, and belong there.
Minnippi Quarter, QLD
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
45
PLACES FOR GOOD SIZING UP SUSTAINABLE PLACEMAKING
Sustainability is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Small: Point Cook’s Passivhaus Situated within one of Frasers Property Australia’s most popular neighbourhoods in south-west Melbourne, there stands a house that’s designed to be comfortable to live in most of the year round, with very little heating and cooling intervention required. With a design based on German Passivhaus principles, the Life, Point Cook home uses features such as double-glazed windows, continuous thermal insulation and airtight measures to reduce air leakage, better regulate temperature control in the house and drastically reduce heating and cooling costs, while improving air quality. As the first Passivhaus built by a volume builder in the country, the performance of the home based on its design, orientation, and fabrication could make new homes much more energy efficient and comfortable to live in if the design principles are adopted en masse by the building industry. “It’s a pretty exciting moment for us,” says Rory. “We designed two virtually identical homes at Life, Point Cook – one being a standard house and the other built with Passivhaus principles. Using little monitors around the homes, we’ll collect data about the energy performance over the next 12 months and be able to measure the reductions in energy usage and the home’s ability to retain and regulate a more natural internal climate without the everyday need for heating or air conditioning. What we learn we’ll feed back to our colleagues in the industry so that future home building can benefit from what we’ve learned.”
Medium: Minnippi Quarter’s Build Neutral initiative Taking its cues from the airline industry, Frasers Property’s sustainability team recently trialled a new carbon offset initiative, ‘Build Neutral’ at their Minnippi Quarter community in Brisbane. In addition to on-site solar generation and the opportunity to buy renewable energy through Frasers Property-owned Real Utilities power network, purchasers of new homes at Minnippi Quarter were given the opportunity to purchase an offset equivalent to the carbon impact of the materials and construction of their homes. “This one was a simple little initiative with a really positive result,” says Rory. “As this was a trial, we had fairly modest goals for uptake but well exceeded those. And even better, it opened up some great conversations with buyers about what they were trying to achieve in their own lives when it came to living with a lighter footprint. I recall one guy that told us that he and his partner opted into offsetting their home, not because they’re hard-core greenies, but because he wanted to create a legacy for his daughter and teach her through the new home what was going on in the world. And if that’s not combining sustainable living with creating an experience that can inspire the next generation, I don’t know what is.” Passivhaus, VIC
Artists’ impression
46
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
PLACES FOR GOOD SIZING UP SUSTAINABLE PLACEMAKING
Ed.Square, NSW
Extra Large: Ed.Square And then there are the extra large-scale, fully self-contained urban villages like Ed.Square in Sydney’s south west. A 6 Star Green Star-rated community, the neighbourhood is emblematic of Frasers Property’s dedication to sustainable and wellbeing initiatives that directly benefit the residents that live there. These include water efficiency through dual plumbing, smart fixtures, and use of reclaimed water; solar energy captured from the roofs of the town centre and new homes; an entirely walkable design where every home is within 400 metres of Ed.Square Town Centre, and parks and bushland are dotted through and around the community to encourage walking and community connections.
Large: Central Place Sydney At the larger end of the scale are the ambitious plans for renewal of the Railway Square precinct adjacent to Sydney’s Central Station, by Frasers Property Australia in partnership with Dexus. Christened Central Place Sydney, the redevelopment will transform the southern end of the CBD into a world-class business and technology precinct. The $2.5 billion project, with jaw-dropping architectural designs by international design team Fender Katsalidis and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, will be one of the most sustainable commercial developments in Australia with a workplace environment that will benefit from a ‘breathable’ building design. “Central Place Sydney is really a perfect project that encapsulates ‘inspiring experiences, creating places for good,’ says Rory. “The way the workspaces and retail spaces will be connected by indoor gardens and terraces, the way the building will relate to the environment to maximise natural light while at the same time protecting it from heat gain, it’s really smart and innovative architectural thinking. The experience and wellbeing of the tech workers that will work there will be a world away from sitting in a dark little cubicle, starved of light and atmosphere. Watch this space.”
“Ed’s always been a project that’s been pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” says Rory. “To bring that much self-contained amenity and walkability to that part of Sydney was already a game-changer. But then add to that the sustainability initiatives and the partnership we’ve established with ARENA (the Australian Renewable Energy Agency) to deliver 51 net zero energy homes at Ed.Square, and the community is a real benchmark for how to do this kind of thinking at scale.” Dubbed Balanced Energy Homes (BE.Homes), the zero energy initiative aims to expand the industry knowledge of renewable energy technology so these innovations can be refined and developed to elevate the energy performance of Australian housing. “It might sound a bit geeky,” concedes Rory, “but the data we’re able to capture from initiatives like BE.Homes at Ed.Square, Build Neutral at Minnippi Quarter, Passivhaus at Point Cook, thermal heating and cooling at Fairwater, rooftop solar at Burwood Brickworks, plus all the other projects where we have sustainability actions in place, we have this incredible dataset at our fingertips. For those of us working in sustainability, it’s like being given the keys to the toy chest, and something we’ll be looking to share lessons about with the wider industry.”
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
47
PROPERTY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT MADE PERSONAL
Property Management made personal
The words ‘property management’ — like ‘insurance policy’ or ‘financial planning’ — don’t tend to spark excitement in our everyday language. Largely viewed as a necessary evil for landlords and renters alike, Frasers Property Australia’s Richard Kemp says the key to successful property management is to understand it’s less about property and more about relationships. 48
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
PROPERTY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT MADE PERSONAL
I
f you’re an investor, renter, or interested bystander, it’s no secret that the property market has been on a wild ride in the last two years. The onset of COVID-19 created enough uncertainty for the market to stall and catch its breath for a minute. Then take off again in a truly astonishing trajectory that defied all predictions. For investors and renters, the game changed in unexpected ways. With the flight of international students and expats back to their home countries, rents in the capital cities declined. Conversely, rents in the regions grew off the back of a migration of folks out of the cities and into smaller towns during a time when commuting for work became redundant. For those left managing the relationship between landlords and renters, the bumpy conditions separated the wheat from the chaff. Richard Kemp has been at the helm of Frasers Property Australia Property Management division since its inception in 2012. He says, despite the ups and downs in the property market, the last two years have been unprecedented growth years for the company’s property management business. Key to that has been an end-toend service relationship with a single brand focused on life-long value, rather than the shortterm transactional nature of most property management functions.
“When we opened our doors nine years ago, it was largely a response to growth in our investor business,” explains Richard. “Frasers has always had a healthy customer base of investors, including those that were themselves residents of our communities and trusted the Frasers brand. A lot were looking for an end-to-end service that just took the hassle out of managing their investment properties.” And for Omar Marial, an investor at Frasers Property’s Ed.Square, his experience has been exactly that. “Frasers essentially look after everything from top to bottom for me. It’s very straightforward in that I’m covered in every aspect – the only thing I need to worry about is making sure my payments are on time. It’s very easy for anyone to start their property investment journey with Frasers in that respect.”
Specialised knowledge and care While building up a modest property portfolio is the dream of many Australians, the excitement and potential of investing can quickly be dampened with the amount of work that has to go into finding a trusted property manager. One that will work hard to ensure landlords have the right tenants, rents are properly optimised, and that their properties are being cared for as if they were their own.
Ed.Sqaure, NSW
Richard Kemp, National Property Manager, Frasers Property
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
49
PROPERTY Residential and Community PROPERTY BURWOODMANAGEMENT BRICKWORKSMADE PERSONAL
“This is where we thrive,” says Richard. “Because many of the properties we represent have been our own at some stage, we know the ins and outs better than anyone. It also means we can sell the benefits of living in these Frasers Property communities in a way that most others can’t, because we have levels of detail about design, delivery, amenity, and future plans that comes from being part of this larger residential property business.” “I know I’m in good hands,” Omar adds, “the service is under Frasers’ name, so the company carries on that reputation as well. The team’s in-depth knowledge of the community ensures that the right person is placed as a tenant and Lina, my property manager, has been so helpful throughout the whole process.” For Richard, property management success is about customer care and nurturing strong relationships. “To us, the property management service is more about taking care of customers and less about any profit involved. The last thing you want to do when you sell someone a property is say ‘alright you’re on your own now’, so this service is a natural extension of what we already do. And we don’t mind if they go somewhere else. So long as they know they have the option with Frasers Property,” says Richard. Burwood Brickworks,VIC
50
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
Richard and his property management team weren’t phased by the pandemic, because of the enduring appeal of Frasers Property communities. “The marketplace changed dramatically when COVID hit and we saw investors disappear for a bit. Yet we still managed to grow,” he says. “Ed. Square in Sydney’s south-west is one of those success stories that defied the market trend. With one of their buildings finishing right at the height of the second wave, we picked up 100 apartments under management, with over 250 registrations of interest from renters, and around 60 being leased in the first month they were available.” One of the reasons for this strong result is the changing calculus of inner-city living to outer suburban lifestyle. As people have commuted less for work, the attractions of more space and more amenity for the dollar have moved the needle for renters and investors alike. “Although rents across the board have dropped because of COVID-19, we’ve remained positive both financially and in spirit, and we’ve actually been able to grow during that same period,” explains Richard. “It comes down to the calibre of Frasers developments. We’re lucky we’ve got a strong pipeline of properties coming through, and new communities that people are very keen to live in and work from.”
PROPERTY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT MADE PERSONAL
Queens Riverside, WA
Peace-of-mind through our end-to-end service Despite the impacts of the last two years on the rental market, a bounceback is already on the wind. National rents are 6.6% higher than a year ago, the highest annual growth rate recorded in 12 years, according to CoreLogic’s June 2021 Rental Review. So, where to next? With the property market showing a healthy resurgence in most capital cities, and a renewed interest in high-quality masterplanned communities, Richard and the team plan to go from strength-to-strength, offering fully integrated re-sale options to those looking to move onward and upward. The end goal being, those who buy with Frasers Property will have the full in-house experience, from buying to building to renting to selling. “It’s all about long-term relationships built on trust,” says Richard. “We’re in it with our customers for the long haul.”
Ed.Sqaure, NSW
Liveproud proud| Spring/Summer | Spring/Summer2021 2021 Live
5151
LIFESTYLE PERTH - WELCOME TO THE OASIS
Perth – Welcome to the oasis Dreaming of the perfect international trip that seems further and further away these days? It’s time to stop dreaming — Perth is the ultimate panacea for a case of wanderlust.
52
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
LIFESTYLE PERTH - WELCOME TO THE OASIS Fraser Suites, Perth
The Caribbean coast
M
ore than 2,100km stretch between Perth and the nearest population centre, acting as the lush oasis at the end of the mighty Gibson Desert. This makes Perth a unique oddity on the world stage.
But in isolation, Perth has found its own strength. Seeing as ‘a quick plane trip’ is all but impossible from the oasis of the west, Perth has forged a distinctive culture where the best of why we travel overseas can be found in our own western wonderland. For those with a year and a half of pent-up wanderlust, there’s nowhere like Perth from which to experience a little bit of South Africa to the backstreets of Soho in just one day. The best part is you can do it all from the luxury of Fraser Suites Perth.
Echoes of South Africa The ‘Humpback Highway’ runs straight through the waters of Perth, meaning that over 35,000 humpback whales migrate along the Western Australian coastline each spring. Better yet, the cruise industry running out of Perth can put you face to face with the gentle giants of the ocean, placing Perth among the greatest whale watching destinations on earth — alongside Hermanus in South Africa and Canada’s Hudson Bay. The friendly staff at Fraser Suites can even help you organise your whale watching cruise for the most seamless experience possible.
The stretch of coastline surrounding Perth offers white sand beaches, calm waters, snorkelling sites, surf breaks and quaint cafes rivalling the beautiful coasts of the Caribbean. Why wait for Antigua or the Bahamas when you can head to Perth now? The many idyllic escapes just minutes from the city make it easy to get out and about from dawn to dusk and still make it back to Fraser Suites with enough time for dinner.
Bohemian urban villages Soho. Venice Beach. The Bazaars of Istanbul. When it comes to bohemian style, Perth can match it with the best of the best. Venture outside of Perth’s city centre to its eclectic neighbourhoods. From hipster pubs to weekend farmers markets, you’ll find a few unexpected gems in Perth’s suburbs. Local honey, handmade clothing, organic ingredients and more, make the city’s markets a true adventure while laneways conceal hidden gems and local secrets that are begging to be explored. All of this, moments away from your front door.
The vineyards of Bordeaux Now look, while there’s nowhere in the world quite like Bordeaux in France, the Swan Valley wine region is no slouch. A 25-minute drive from Perth, this is one of the closest wine regions to a capital city in the world, so give in to the temptation of an indulgent day trip exploring the wineries, breweries, and gourmet produce that can be found in the area.
Explore it all from Fraser Suites Perth. Overlooking the spectacular Swan River, world-renowned WACA and Optus Stadium, Fraser Suites Perth is the perfect base to enjoy the region’s varied entertainment and dining offerings.
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
53
LIFESTYLE HOME SUITE HOME, THE LUXURY LONG-STAY REVOLUTION
Home Suite Home The luxury long-stay revolution
54
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
LIFESTYLE HOME SUITE HOME, THE LUXURY LONG-STAY REVOLUTION
Fraser Suites, Perth
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
55
LIFESTYLE HOME SUITE HOME, THE LUXURY LONG-STAY REVOLUTION
T
he term ‘resort-style living’ is usually reserved for exotic beachside holidays, but what if you could live in an actual urban resort all year round? A seductive space where days are bookended with sumptuous morning meals at an onsite restaurant and long R&R sessions in the property’s spa and sauna.
What if home — for a little while, at least — was a centrally-located luxury residence mere moments from the city’s top attractions, yet designed to offer refuge and silence when required? A stay, no matter how long or short, expertly curated to take shape around your particular set of needs and desires. Enter a new long-stay accommodation offering by Frasers Property Australia’s hospitality sister company, Fraser Suites – dubbed Home Suite Home. Offering up that endless holiday feeling, Frasers Home Suite Home is a long stay initiative available in Perth and Sydney, boasting a well-equipped leisure centre featuring a heated indoor pool, spa, sauna and gym; a dedicated Home Suite Home concierge, a wealth of dining options onsite and nearby and welcome amenities to make your stay feel like home. While traditionally this kind of offering has appealed to long term workers relocating their lives for set periods of time, some travellers are opting for extended stay options and longer holidays after so much of the last 18 months in and out of lockdown.
56
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
Country General Manager Australia, Frasers Hospitality, Matt Rubie, says more and more people are seeking to meld the experience of home with the excitement and luxury of holidays. “It’s all about the difference between staying and residing,” explains Matt. “Living in a place as opposed to just spending time in a place actually feels different, regardless of the amount of time you spend. We always talk in terms of clients living with us, not just staying with us, and for us this means one simple thing — finding and delivering connection. Regardless of whether it’s before, during, or after their stay, we find clients are happier and more appreciative when they connect to their city, connect with our staff, and connect with their accommodation in a deeper way.”
LIFESTYLE HOME SUITE HOME, THE LUXURY LONG-STAY REVOLUTION
This sense of deeper connection and more immersive experiences brings to mind the success of Airbnb, which revolutionised the travel market by offering opportunities to live with a host or rent a lodging reflective of the city or place in which it was located. Frasers Home Suite Home takes this a step further, offering luxury you’d normally expect from a 5-star hotel. Combine that with the feeling of home-away-from-home comfort and concierge service, and it’s a winning combination. For Jon Cover, a long-stay resident with Home Suite Homes in Perth, one of the biggest heartaches of living away from home is the feeling of impermanence. But at Fraser Suites, the sense of connection with staff and other long-stay travellers created a truly memorable experience to be returned to again and again.
Overlooking the spectacular Swan River, Fraser Suites Perth is located right by the WACA Ground, Convention Centre and Optus Stadium, making it the base to enjoy Perth’s varied entertainment and dining offerings. Meanwhile, soaring high above the Sydney skyline sits Fraser Suites Sydney offering a range of luxury residences, from sumptuous 1-bedroom suites to luxury split-level penthouse apartments.
For more information on short or long-stay options, contact Fraser Suites today, or visit: perth. frasershospitality.com/en
“Everything about Fraser Suites was fantastic,” says Jon. “I’m in the mining industry and I was shifted on to a long project in Perth at short notice. Over the 12 months I stayed at Fraser Suites Perth, what stood out to me the most was the staff and the care they put in to making us belong. They created a home-away-from-home for me, even throwing a party for me before I left. For anyone looking to visit Perth, both for short and long stays, I couldn’t recommend it more highly. The staff and culture there is second to none and they truly make you feel so welcomed.”
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
57
LIFESTYLE PROUD PETS
Proud pets Big or small. Winged, four-legged, or scaled. When it comes to pets, Frasers Property communities welcome them all.
58
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
LIFESTYLE PROUD PETS
P
ets are our chosen family, and for most of us play a huge role in our lives. They’re the ones who bring a smile to our face at the end of a long day. Make us laugh with their constant demand for scratches and, more recently, disrupt our Zoom calls with their need to be the centre of everyone’s attention.
Hamilton Reach, QLD
As a country with one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, the chances are, you’re a pet owner yourself — just like many Frasers Property residents around the country. We recently caught up with some of them to discover more about the proud pets who call our neighbourhoods home. Hamilton Reach, QLD
And while all these joys alone would make anyone proud to be a pet owner, studies have shown that owning a furry friend can also work wonders for your mental and physical health. Their moodboosting benefits can include reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, and, as any pet owner would tell you, they help encourage exercise and playfulness too. It’s no wonder then that you’ll find a pet in approximately 61% of Australian homes, according to data from the RSPCA. This makes them both an important member of our households, and of our Frasers Property communities as well. From 210 Brunswick Street’s proposed rooftop dog park to Burwood Brickwork’s pet-friendly shopping centre, our neighbourhoods are created to help our furry friends thrive. Captain Ferret, Frasers Landing, WA
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
59
LIFESTYLE PROUD PETS
Ashes FAIRWATER
Barry the axolotl BROOKHAVEN
Ashes loves to act as Fairwater’s neighbourhood watch. According to owner, Gabriella, this cat loves to “poke my nose into everything and yell at the birds when they come too close to my catdom.” This kitty is not camera shy either, as proven by this model-perfect pic!
Did you know an axolotl can grow new limbs in as little as two weeks? Neither did we until we had the pleasure of meeting Barry and his owner Chelsea. Known as the dog of the sea, this axolotl has found a much-loved home with his family Brookhaven. “A cool thing about him is that you can hand feed him, and he will jump up for it,” laughs Chelsea. “My favourite thing about Barry is that he is crazy, like me. He likes to run around in his tank. He’s really, really cool, and everyone should get one.”
Daisy BERWICK WATERS This photogenic pooch struts the streets of Berwick Waters like they’re her very own runway. To owner Aline, “Daisy was born a model. She knows how to work the camera, has those supermodel long legs and even has her own Instagram”. We’re looking forward to seeing her grace the cover of Vogue one day!
CC BERWICK WATERS It’s one thing to be able to balance on top of a rocking horse. It’s another thing entirely to be able to pose for the camera while doing it. CC has successfully managed both, a feat that in our minds, makes her one very talented pug!
60
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
Captain Ferret FRASERS LANDING It’s not every day you meet a paddle boarding puppy. Then again, there aren’t too many dogs like Ferret. He’s a regular sight on Frasers Landing’s Serpentine River, cruising along with his owner, Naomi. “From the second he first saw the paddleboard, he just jumped on. He wants to be where I want to be. And if that’s on the board, he’s there as well.”
LIFESTYLE PROUD PETS
Vader BROOKHAVEN
Robin FAIRWATER
Ted and Isla ED.SQUARE
Don’t let this photo of Vader fool you. While he may look like his namesake, according to owner, Cameron, this pup is full of love. Says Cameron, “He doesn’t really have a dark side, which is what makes him awesome. He doesn’t have a tail either, but that’s just due to a lightsabre training accident before we saved him from the Sith when he was a pup.”
Not only has Robin won the heart of mum, Guneeta, but of the whole Fairwater community as well. “Robin has taught us the importance of self-respect and how to chillax at Fairwater. He’s always there for warm comforting hugs, which are especially needed during current challenging times.”
Little brothers are annoying at the best of times – something Amilee knows all too well, thanks to her two pups, Ted and Isla. According to Amilee, “Ted’s favourite seat in the house is his big sister Isla!”
A long-term Star Wars fan, Cameron and Vader are a duo that was meant to be. “During lockdown, me and my partner were looking for a rescue dog. We applied for a few but didn’t get them. And then all of a sudden, this dog called Vader popped up and I went, well, this is definitely the dog for me.”
Twig, Wattle, Crowny and Browny BERWICK WATERS Twig, Wattle, Crowny and Browny reside in Berwick Waters with their owner, 7-year-old Atharva. Atharva tells us that “they are crowned stick insects and are unusual because they can easily camouflage with branches.” And their peculiarities don’t end there. “Female stick insects can produce eggs without the help of male insects. They also have wings to scare off their predators. Stick insects are very cute looking pets.”
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
61
LIFESTYLE 2021 MILESTONES
2021 Milestones WA
VIC
Baldivis Parks
Berwick Waters
The community came together for their Blokes’ BBQ in June, proudly presented by the City of Rockingham and Baldivis Parks, and for the Plant a Seed, Grow a Community event in May. Baldivis Parks also launched their PARX Townhomes in September.
Baldivis Grove
Baldivis Grove’s Plant a Seed, Grow a Community event got residents involved with the Baldivis Community Garden. And for the neighbourhood’s littlest members, was the Baldivis Grove Eggs-cellent Easter.
East Green East Green achieved an impressive sell-out within 7 months of launch.
Frasers Landing
Helping contribute to Frasers Landing’s strong community spirit was a number of resident events, including a Craft Beer and Pizza Night, the Emergency Preparedness 101 Workshop and the 2021 Frasers Landing Neighbour Day.
Port Coogee
Residents of Port Coogee lent a hand on World Ocean Beach Clean Up Day to help keep their coastline looking pristine.
The community re-launched earlier this year, with construction recommencing as well. The Berwick Waters parkrun has been going strong, with over 70 runners and walkers from around the community participating every week to smash their personal bests.
Burwood Brickworks
Burwood Brickworks’ very first residents moved in this year. Welcoming them into the community was the Meet Your Neighbour event, held onsite at Acre Farmhouse Restaurant in May. Burwood Brickworks achieved Petal Certification from the Living Building Challenge.
Encompass, Carlton
Parkville, Parkside
Five Farms
The Parkside Gardens Resident Association’s Picnic in the Park brought the community together in September.
The community re-launched in June. Five Farms launched publicly with its first precinct Hillsmeade in October. The community’s Sales & Display Centre also opened in the second half of the year, with more works currently underway on site.
The Grove
International Women’s Day celebrations were held at The Grove in March. Throughout the year, the Bush Bus has provided a place for parents and young children to meet neighbours and connect with nature.
Life, Point Cook
Easter came early to Life, Point Cook on World Neighbour Day.
Mambourin
The much-anticipated Club Mambourin opened its doors to the community’s first residents in August. Burwood Brickworks, VIC
62
Spring/Summer 2021 | Live proud
Wallara Waters The Wallara Waters community came together for an early Easter celebration and to support the Good Friday Appeal. Also keeping residents and their little ones busy is The Bush Bus, a nature-based playgroup held weekly in the community.
Ed.Square, VIC
LIFESTYLE 2021 MILESTONES
QLD Brookhaven
Jack Stone from Bee One Third Honey ran a workshop for current and future residents of Brookhaven. Residents also came together for Meet the Developer Day, Clean up Brookhaven Day and the Easter Driveway Chalk Competition.
Brunswick & Co.
Brunswick & Co. is Frasers Property’s first Build-to-Rent project and will be taking shape in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.
Minnippi Quarter
Now sold out, Minnippi Quarter welcomed its first residents to their new homes.
Hamilton Reach
From level 10 of Hamilton Reach’s brand new Riverlight North building, Queensland’s Deputy Premier Steven Miles and Beach Volleyball Olympian, Nat Cook, announced Northshore Hamilton as the home of the 2032 Olympic Games’ Athletes’ Village.
Newstead
This new community will span over 3,016 sqm when complete, comprising of a mix of high-quality apartments and terrace homes
Fairwater Fairwater’s tremendous community spirit saw events like Clean Up Fairwater Day, the Fairwater Central Park Tour and the International Women’s Day Celebration take place, as well as the renovation of the Fairwater Community Herb Garden.
Midtown MacPark
NSW Central Park
You may have spotted Central Park on Play School’s ‘Green Team’ series this year.
Eastern Creek Quarter
Within this project’s first year, it has achieved both the highest Green Star rating and has been certified by the GBCA with a 6 Star Green Star Design & As-Built rating - marking the centre as a world leader in sustainability. Construction has started on stage 2 of the project, ECQ XL, with the first sod turning occurring earlier this year.
Ed.Square
The Ed.Square Town Centre came to life in April and has since been a hit with locals and residents alike.
Communities we’re creating NSW
Ed.Square Fairwater Midtown MacPark The Waterfront, Shell Cove VIC
Berwick Waters Burwood Brickworks Encompass Carlton Five Farms Found Carlton The Grove Mambourin Parkside Parkville Wallara Waters QLD
Construction of Sydney’s next great urban neighbourhood is now well underway, with Stage 2 design of the village green and community centre progressing. Midtown also celebrated its 400th sale since launching in October 2020.
Brookhaven Hamilton Reach Brunswick & Co Minnippi Quarter Keperra (coming soon) Newstead (coming soon)
Putney Hill
WA
The Waterfront, Shell Cove
Baldivis Grove Baldivis Parks Frasers Landing East Green Port Coogee Queens Riverside
A project spanning a decade has come to a close. The community’s final home has been settled, marking Putney Hill as officially completed. Approximately 2,000 residents now call the neighbourhood home. 2021 has been a huge year for The Waterfront, Shell Cove. The Shell Cove Boat Harbour officially opened to the ocean, while Shellharbour Marina, The Waterfront Dining Precinct and Tavern will come to life later this year. Shell Cove experienced incredible sales success achieving well over 200 sales and recently welcomed the first apartment residents to the community.
Live proud | Spring/Summer 2021
63
“Our role as placemakers isn’t just confined to the streets where people live. It extends into the places they shop, work and learn, as well as the social bonds people have in their communities, and the opportunities they have to grow and prosper there.”
Anthony Boyd
Chief Executive Officer, Frasers Property Australia
Find out more Liveproud.com.au Frasers Property Australia
LIVE PROUD MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2021