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It’s the year of the apartment as more Australians opt for high density living
2 min
Apartments are now outperforming houses as a source of investment in the Australian property market.
New research released by property advisory service Hotspotting reveals that the apartment market has gained new ground in recent years as more people seek flexible, affordable housing options closer to existing infrastructure. As a result, the high density market was seeing stronger returns in both yield and capital growth.
Hotspot has released a National Top 10 Apartment report, identifying specific Australian suburbs with the greatest potential for investors. The Brisbane suburb of Annerley was the top pick, followed by Belconnen in Canberra, Clayton in Monash, Victoria and Dicky Beach on the Sunshine Coast.
The Sydney suburbs of Gymea and Stanmore were the only NSW areas to make the top 10 while Mitchell Park in the South Australian city of Marion was the sole entry from that state.
Hotspotting director Terry Ryder said the growing popularity of apartments for both homeowners and investors was complex.
“It’s not just about affordability – although that plays a big role in our largest cities – but our population is simply embracing apartment living more because of the opportunity to reside in more desirable locations as well as having easy access to lifestyle precincts,” Mr Ryder.
“Developers have also been constructing more owner occupier stock, such as three- and four-bedroom apartments, as well as offering superior resident facilities such as rooftop and barbecue areas, infinity pools and spas, private dining rooms and even the complimentary use of vehicles for those who don’t have transport.”
Hotspotting general manager Tim Graham said there was still plenty of room for growth, as evidenced by the apartment market in Europe and Asia.
“In London, apartments comprise 94 per cent of dwellings, while in Singapore it’s 93 per cent and in Hong Kong it’s 84 per cent,” Mr Graham said.
“In comparison, about 46 per cent of residences in Sydney are apartments, while in some smaller cities such as Hobart that percentage drops to just 15 per cent.
“More than 50 per cent of new dwellings currently under construction are higher density, however, this figure still falls short of the supply needed for our booming population, which is likely to push apartment prices higher over the medium-term.”
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A McLaren Vale Shiraz has beaten more than 100 global rivals to be crowned the world’s best at one of the wine industry’s most respected competitions.
2 min
A $25 bottle of Shiraz from South Australia has achieved something few wines ever do: it has claimed the top spot in a prestigious international competition and outperformed rivals many times its price.
The 2023 Classic Shiraz from Beresford Estate in McLaren Vale was awarded the International Syrah Trophy at the 2026 International Wine Challenge, one of the wine industry’s most respected judging events.
The wine also received 97 points, a Gold Medal and four major trophies, making it the highest-scoring Australian trophy winner in this year’s competition.
The result placed the wine first among 111 Shiraz entries from around the world and ahead of several highly regarded Australian trophy-winning wines.
For wine lovers, the award is notable not only for the competition’s standing but also for the price. At a recommended retail price of just $25, the Beresford Classic Shiraz sits firmly in the everyday-drinking category rather than the rarefied world of collector wines.
Head winemaker Natalie Cleghorn said the result reflected the quality of fruit produced in McLaren Vale.
“This result is a genuine reflection of what McLaren Vale is capable of. When you let the fruit and the site do the talking, the quality speaks for itself.”
According to the tasting notes, the wine opens with blueberry and plum aromas alongside floral notes and spice, while the palate delivers red cherry, plum, dried fruit, eucalyptus, and savoury spice, supported by bright acidity and fine-grained tannins.
The accolade adds to the growing reputation of Beresford Estate, which was founded in 1985 and has accumulated more than 2,000 medals and 200 trophies globally. The estate is located on a 70-acre vineyard in McLaren Vale and produces a range of wines including Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
While luxury wine collectors often chase bottles costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars, Beresford’s latest success is a reminder that world-class wine does not always come with a world-class price tag.
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