Why Melbourne’s property market is suddenly so appealing
Australia’s most liveable city just became a little more attractive
2 min
Potential homebuyers may be best placed to set their sights on Melbourne, with new data revealing Australia’s largest city recorded significantly less growth than other capitals since the pandemic began.
Figures from CoreLogic show that house values rose by just 1.6 percent between March 2020 and May 2023 compared with a stronger 16.5 percent gain in Sydney prices and a whopping 45.2 percent surge in Adelaide.
The increases have started to close the value gaps between Melbourne and the smaller capitals such as Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, said CoreLogic Asia Pacific research director Tim Lawless.
“Every capital city other than Canberra – the country’s second most expensive capital for houses – has significantly closed the house value gap to Melbourne,” he said. “At the onset of COVID, Brisbane houses were 47 percent cheaper than Melbourne. That affordability gap has closed to just 15 percent.
“Melbourne was 85 percent more expensive than Adelaide at the start of COVID but the gap has narrowed to just 29 percent and in Perth, where the gap was 88 percent, Melbourne house values are now 50 percent higher.”
Like most Australian capitals, Melbourne’s values fell at the start of COVID. During 2020, values declined by -6.7 percent according to CoreLogic, followed by substantial growth of 20.6 percent. This preceded another decline of -11.7 percent, with the market finding the floor in February this year. Since then, prices have grown 1.7 percent to May this year.
Melbourne is consistently ranked Australia’s most liveable city and was last year named the third most liveable city in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global 2022 Liveability Index.
Mr Lawless said the latest data would likely make Melbourne a more attractive option for homebuyers and investors.
“With housing affordability remaining stretched, this improvement in Melbourne’s value proposition could place Australia’s second largest city in a more competitive position to attract a greater share of housing market participants,” he said.
“The city’s advertised supply level is trending lower and is -13.4 percent below levels at the same time last year and -7.0 percent below the previous five-year average.
“Melbourne’s rental vacancy rate of 0.8 percent in May is also one of the lowest in the country and yet another potential factor supporting purchasing demand for those with the financial capacity to enter the market.”
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Mirvac’s 45-level Trielle has topped out at Yarra’s Edge, pairing riverfront apartments with wellness facilities, private dining and resident services.
3 min
Mirvac has topped out Trielle at Melbourne’s Yarra’s Edge, with more than 70 per cent of the riverfront development sold and approximately 80 per cent of purchasers intending to make their apartment a home.
The figures, released on September 22, point to an owner-occupier audience for one of the precinct’s final residential towers. Mirvac began developing Yarra’s Edge in 2003, and its latest addition occupies one of the remaining absolute riverfront sites.
Mirvac CEO of Development Stuart Penklis said existing residents were among those moving up within the neighbourhood.
“Many purchasers already have a connection to Yarra’s Edge,” Mr Penklis said, describing buyers whose changing needs were encouraging an upgrade within the precinct.
“As one of the final residential towers within Yarra’s Edge, Trielle represents the culmination of more than two decades of creating one of Melbourne’s most established and sought-after waterfront communities,” Penklis said.
“Positioned on the Collins Street axis with absolute river frontage, Trielle offers residents a rare opportunity to enjoy sweeping views across the Yarra River, Melbourne skyline and Port Phillip Bay, while remaining seamlessly connected to the CBD. With Trielle now more than 70 per cent sold, we’re continuing to see strong demand from buyers seeking quality homes in established locations.”
The developer also flagged a penthouse and sub-penthouse collection with larger layouts, premium finishes and broad outlooks. The planned wellness centrepiece, The Oasis, encompasses a 900-square-metre elevated urban rainforest.
Mirvac General Manager Residential Development Victoria Elysa Anderson said Trielle had resonated strongly with buyers seeking a rare lifestyle offering in Melbourne.
“Opportunities to secure a new luxury residence on a riverfront site of this calibre are incredibly rare, particularly within a community like Yarra’s Edge,” Anderson said.
“What makes Trielle unique is the combination of exceptional views, world-class residential facilities and the lifestyle that already exists around it. Residents are buying into a mature waterfront community with parks, promenades, dining, wellness and strong community connections already in place.”
The 45-level tower brings a substantial new presence to that waterfront. Its residential offering spans one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, with Signature, Prestige and Sub-Penthouse collections accommodating different household sizes. The north-facing position connects the apartments visually to the river and city beyond.
Seven storeys above the promenade, the planned Oasis combines planting and a running stream with a Scandinavian-inspired wellness club developed with spa specialist Naomi Gregory. Facilities include a 25-metre lap pool, hot magnesium pool, sauna, hydrotherapy, a gym, yoga and Pilates room, and treatment spaces.
The amenity extends beyond exercise. Residents will have access to The Biblioteca library and workspaces, ground-floor work pods, and The Salone piano lounge. A private Chef’s Table dining room offers a setting for larger gatherings, while a cinema, games room and sports lounge broaden the entertaining options. Concierge services and a dog-wash area support everyday routines.
Trielle comprises a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences. Reflecting strong demand from owner occupiers, approximately 80 per cent of purchasers to date intend to live in their homes, highlighting the project’s appeal to those seeking a long-term waterfront lifestyle.
Mirvac has recently delivered The Albertine, a premium apartment development on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD, and is nearing completion of Prince & Parade in Brunswick, further strengthening its portfolio of thoughtfully designed apartment communities in some of Melbourne’s most sought-after urban locations.
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