according to Visible Alpha."If an economic slowdown proves worse than anticipated and bad debt provisions rise NAB and ANZ could be particularly vulnerable given their higher exposure to business lending," UBS analysts warned.ANZ faces additional risk due to its very low starting levels of bad debt provisions potentially leaving it more exposed to deteriorating economic conditions gives a third-quarter trading update on May 14 with Citi analysts expecting a slight margin decline of 2 basis points but a profit increase of up to 7%.For the first half of 2025 Westpac's net interest margin is forecast at 1.91% while NAB is expected to see margins contract to 1.69% from 1.72% ANZ's margin is projected to edge up to 1.58% from 1.56%.Reporting by Roushni Nair and Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonali Paul Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Sydney’s once-sleepy office district now buzzes with nightlife That the CBD is now a place to see and be seen is a marked change from several years ago when it was largely a ghost town on Saturday nights Buzz-seeking diners who would otherwise go out in the suburbs of Bronte or Surry Hills are thronging to downtown spots An installation by Ugo Rondinone at the Art Gallery of New South Wales I’ve been visiting Sydney regularly for decades but have never seen such a widespread public reckoning with the city’s Indigenous past From left: Andrea Veltom/Courtesy of Le Foote; Timothy Kaye/Courtesy of Capella Sydney From left: Courtesy of Jimmy's Falafel; Jiwon Kim/Courtesy of Jimmy's Falafel With a great deal of success, urban development elites have been able to sustain the illusion that Central Business Districts or downtowns are still the functional metropolitan centres they were five decades ago. In The New City’s new feature report, Rise of Luxury Urbanity as a System: Sydney CBD we set out to explain how the truth is different Opinion leaders seem content for people to assume CBDs have changed in only cosmetic ways essentially the same but with taller skylines they have drifted far from the standard functional definition proposed by geographer Raymond Murphy in 1971: a region “draw[ing] its business from the whole urban area and from all .. The mid-twentieth century was a time of tensions between booming suburban peripheries and stagnating post-industrial inner-cities these former industrial-mercantile junctions or ‘classic’ CBDs were fitted up as global high-amenity enclaves Some call this a “shift from the city as a site of production to one of consumption.” Over recent decades Sydney CBD has evolved in a more exclusive and upscale direction hosting around a tenth of metropolitan jobs compared to nearly half in the 1950s The pandemic forced some belated acknowledgement of this reality but notions of natural centrality persist the CBD’s status comes from a disproportionate share of public infrastructure rather than any inherent productivity advantage Where the spatial order of the old industrial-mercantile CBD was arranged around functions the contemporary ‘centre’ is laid out for amenities the new urban logic takes form as an upward spiral of amenity enhancements feeding off surging land values Scaled up amenities make premium grade development more feasible as they amplify the capital that developers can substitute for land on high-priced sites Luxurification is thus sweeping through most features of the CBD landscape including all types of building stock and the streetscapes in between Using concepts proposed by urban geographers at least five internal trends have been converging to make Sydney’s ‘post-CBD’: The classic CBD was functionally and socio-economically diverse In the wake of advancing post-war suburbanisation there was a surge of interest in the CBD amongst American geographers during the 1950s Based on their field work in nine mid-sized US cities researchers Raymond Murphy and James Vance conceived the Land Value Method of delimiting outer CBD boundaries They pinpointed the district’s Peak Land Value Intersection (PLVI) and traced the values of lots or blocks spreading outwards in concentric circles until values declined to five percent of PLVI value In most cases the PLVI was “located within a few hundred feet of the [district’s] geographic center” and from there “land values decrease rapidly at first as one leaves the peak intersection.” A city’s “maximum pedestrian concentration and … greatest vehicular congestion” were typically found at the PLVI Read the rest of this piece at The New City Journal John Muscat is a co-editor of The New City Journal NewGeography.com is a joint venture of Joel Kotkin and Praxis Strategy Group Joel Kotkin's newest book The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class is now available to order. Learn more about this title and Joel's other books Infinite Suburbia is the culmination of the MIT Norman B. Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism's yearlong study of the future of suburban development. Find out more As a global specialist in sectors ranging from renewables and infrastructure to technology Macquarie has deep expertise and capabilities in these areas We are a global financial services organisation with Australian heritage We offer our investors a track record of unbroken profitability We believe in a workplace where every person is valued for their uniqueness and where different views and ideas are embraced Follow the links to find the logins you’re looking for: rising into the city’s expanding skyline and encapsulating the revitalisation of its civic is the new Sydney Metro Martin Place precinct The culmination of more than 10 million hours of work by 10,000 people over six years mixed-use development integrates a key interchange station on the new world-class Sydney Metro network with two state-of-the-art office towers – Macquarie’s new global headquarters at 1 Elizabeth Street (‘1 Elizabeth’) and the 28-storey 39 Martin Place – and a vibrant new quarter of shops Catalysed by the New South Wales (NSW) Government’s announcement of the Sydney Metro project in 2015 Macquarie identified an opportunity to connect capital with community need to make a significant impact on the reinvigoration of Martin Place which has been its home for more than 25 years by developing the new Metro station and surrounding precinct future-focused redevelopment that honours both the heritage and character of the location while meeting the future needs and changing expectations for the public domain The new precinct is the culmination of 10 million hours of work by 10,000 people over six years Macquarie Group has been headquartered in Martin Place since 1999 including 3 heritage restorations and 9 new commissions 1 Elizabeth has achieved a 6 Star Green Star Design Review rating from the Green Building Council of Australia Integrating 1 Elizabeth with its existing heritage-listed 50 Martin Place building Macquarie has created a new workplace that brings together its Sydney teams – previously based across four offices in the city – in one campus for the first time in more than 25 years better supporting the Group’s future growth As with the adjoining 50 Martin Place and its central atrium and orange staircase the 1 Elizabeth atrium features an iconic staircase in ‘Sydney Blue’ taking inspiration from the city’s water and sky collaboration areas and workspaces have been designed to foster connections enhance wellbeing and promote a sense of belonging A focus on shared public and private common spaces amenities and services allows people to come together and enhance connectivity across Macquarie’s businesses Integrated workplace technology includes next-generation audio visual and video conferencing systems that digitally connect within the building and Macquarie’s global offices and one of Australia’s first fully integrated 5G wireless networks The precinct has been designed to provide accessible and purposeful spaces that have a positive impact through inclusive and welcoming gathering places that serve to integrate and amplify the stories of the communities it serves Focuses include promoting what’s on nearby providing tours and the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate occasions through lighting features and retail and dining outlets over three floors The spaces have been designed to maximise the use of natural light and feature native landscaping and public art incorporate First Nations cultural design principles and are digitally enabled hi-tech and flexible learning and event venue in 1 Elizabeth – is available to the broader Sydney community while a 65-metre public underground pedestrian tunnel complete with light and sound installations connects Martin Place to Hunter Street The public art on display in the precinct is a leading example of cultural integration within transport hubs and privately-owned public spaces and tells the story of the site’s past Visitors to 1 Elizabeth’s ground floor will experience a three-part artwork by Gamilaraay/Wonnarua/Boonwurrung – Yorta Yorta/Palawa artist Debra Beale Country and Sea is integrated into wayfinding totems an acknowledgement of Country flooring design and public seating giving prominence to the story of Saltwater Country and Gadigal culture’s connection to the site public art across the precinct includes the reinstatement of three historical artworks commissioned by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) in the 1960s which were salvaged following a commitment made at the beginning of the project and have also been carefully restored and integrated into the final design a new publicly accessible gallery in 1 Elizabeth features a curated collection of works from the Macquarie Group Collection that reflect the diversity of the Australian landscape around its longstanding theme The Land and its Psyche maximising natural light and access to green spaces have all been prioritised Integrating the station and office towers vertically the northern end of the station features a large central atrium filled with natural light The precinct has been designed with sustainability in mind and achieved the highest possible sustainability credentials: a 6 Star Green Star Design Review rating from the Green Building Council of Australia Features include the capture and re-use of rainwater enabling full electrification in normal operations temperature and ventilation based on occupancy and environmental conditions enabling efficient resource management and responsive maintenance The development of the precinct was underpinned by four guiding principles which informed how users would engage with the space as well as how it gives back to the city: Community; Sustainability; Connection to Country; and Wellbeing Macquarie consulted with the communities that surround Martin Place - from daily commuters to small business owners - to create a place that brings people together and provides shared value to all 1 Elizabeth and the broader precinct were created with life in mind – to bring people together and be a place for everyone Macquarie’s purpose of ‘empowering people to innovate and invest for a better future’ has been particularly relevant to how the precinct and 1 Elizabeth have unfolded Macquarie approached the development to inspire innovation and connectivity not only for its future users and for Macquarie staff The mixed-use development integrates a key interchange station on the new world-class Sydney Metro network with two state-of-the-art office towers and a vibrant new quarter of shops Integrating the office buildings vertically provided the opportunity to bring natural light right down to the platform levels of the station which features a large central atrium connecting the platforms to street level is designed to bring together the architecture of the natural world Located on the western wall of the public space the sculpture is over 9 metres wide and nearly 6 metres high was originally commissioned from sculptor Tom Bass in 1962 by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) for its new Australian headquarters at the former 55 Hunter Street It was salvaged when the building was demolished in 2017 to make way for the new Martin Place Metro precinct and has undergone an extensive restoration process place-based sculpture which reference shapes found in the natural world with the materials referring to the resources extracted from the ground that we rely upon to build and activate cities Shelter of Hollows was entirely hand-made by Event Engineering on Sydney’s south coast in Nowra A three-part artwork by Gamilaraay/Wonnarua/Boonwurrung – Yorta Yorta/Palawa artist Debra Beale an integrated acknowledgement of Country flooring design on 1 Elizabeth’s ground floor Shaped to reflect the curve and flow of the local waterways it features Beale’s illustrations of shellfish which are significant animals to the Gadigal Originating through the Cultural Design Principles process with Balarinji sandstone boulders removed from the precinct during excavation for the station in 2020 have been reinstated in our workplace as an acknowledgement of our ongoing respect for hi-tech meeting and event venue capable of hosting up to 800 people and available to Macquarie and broader the Sydney community This information is a general description of the Macquarie Group only you should consider the appropriateness of it having regard to your particular objectives financial situation and needs and seek advice No information set out above constitutes advice to buy or sell any security or other financial credit or lending product or to engage in any investment activity or an offer of any banking or financial service Some products and/or services mentioned on this website may not be suitable for you and may not be available in all jurisdictions All securities and financial products or instrument transactions involve risks Past performance of any product described on this site is not a reliable indication of future performance Global climate models represent our coastal cities as oceans while regional models fail to represent their true complexity posing a barrier to future planning and resilience 87% of our population lives along the coast most in cities that drive much of Australia’s economic activity Understanding the impact of a rapidly warming climate and changing weather on cities is of national importance – and yet the national datasets and models available to researchers are not fit for purpose Without a robust understanding of climate risks tailored to our urban settings and well-being of the millions of Australians living in towns and cities The central problem is this: well-established and highly effective global climate models were not built to capture the specific conditions within urban environments These models were designed and tested for global circulation patterns the global grids that should represent Australian cities often categorise them entirely as oceans Even inland cities (and megacities) are ignored showing that this is not just a resolution or coastal issue Regional models with higher resolutions offer some improvements but they still rely on oversimplified representations commonly modelling cities as concrete blocks or rocks This is currently what weather forecasts do – entire cities like Sydney or Brisbane are treated as uniform slabs of concrete failing to capture the complex physics and diverse landscapes of urban spaces the physics used may be too simplified to capture the interactions between complex urban surfaces construction materials and their embodied carbon are still largely simplified in regional climate models This gap in our modelling capabilities has real-world consequences How can we develop effective strategies to ensure our developments are resilient to future climates and assess the true impact of major infrastructure projects (such as greenfield developments or large-scale precincts to tackle housing shortages) if we don’t have models that accurately represent our evolving urban areas even those capable of achieving a relatively accurate kilometre-scale resolutions are unable to inform or assess the potential effect of long-term urban greening policies like those which aim to reduce urban heat by 2050 we need national climate models and datasets that understand Australian cities as they truly are To understand why this is a problem, we first need to appreciate just how urban areas significantly impact their environment along with the ways in which the climate affects urban areas One well-known example is the urban heat island effect where cities become notably warmer than their rural surroundings due to factors like concrete and asphalt absorbing heat It's important to acknowledge that cities interact with weather and climate in ways that extend beyond heat Cities can also influence local weather patterns creating updrafts that can affect cloud formation and sometimes alter rainfall patterns cities can even experience higher frequencies of hail Urbanisation also increases the intensity of surface runoff as impermeable surfaces like roads and buildings prevent rainwater from seeping into the ground often leading to a higher risk of flooding Without accounting for this it’s impossible to assess policies aimed at countering the effects of climate change Recognising the complexity of these interactions is crucial if we are to develop strategies that truly make our cities resilient to the challenges of the 21st century We can’t prepare for the challenges cities face unless we understand the problems consistent information is essential for crafting effective solutions and to reduce negative impacts as major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions can adopt various net-zero initiatives to help mitigate the production of greenhouse gas But beyond slowing the curve of climate change through mitigation These are measures that ensure cities and their residents can withstand and bounce back from damaging climate impacts these challenges translate into significant responsibilities entrusted to local councils who are increasingly expected to make decisions on their investment and livelihood or disclose climate risks for their business these risk assessments often rely on a patchwork of methods and models that are not nationally consistent many of which lack the resolution needed to accurately represent urban environments This makes it difficult for stakeholders to truly understand their risks accurately disclose their climate vulnerabilities when the available tools fail to capture the specific threats faced by cities as different as Sydney and Wagga Wagga Australia needs to develop the capability to produce nationally consistent projections of weather and climate risks that consider the unique characteristics of our cities presents a critical opportunity to create nationally consistent insight and bridge the gap between urban data and climate modelling two areas that remain largely disconnected The Insurance Council of Australia, in its Accelerating Climate Action report (2024) calls for building a national picture of climate risk as “unchecked climate change could shrink Australia’s GDP by 6 per cent by 2070” A national problem demands national leadership and a shared solution This involves enhancing our models to accurately reflect urban environments ensuring they account for the intricate interactions between urban structures and weather patterns We want to avoid making decisions based on incomplete or inaccurate information as this can lead to misguided policies and planning that ultimately diminish the liveability of our cities a multidisciplinary group focused on pressing challenges of urban climate UNSW respectfully acknowledges the Bidjigal clan of the Dharawal Nation on whose unceded lands we are privileged to learn and recognise the broader Nations with whom we walk together UNSW acknowledges the enduring connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to culture The Uluru Statement CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Top Page > Press Release 2025 > Daibiru Acquires 135 King Street Well-Located A-Grade Building in Sydney CBD (Note 1) Office buildings in Australia are classified into four grades of Premium, A, B, and C based on a guideline established by an industry association. A grade is evaluated as a building with high competitiveness due to high level of location and building specification. Clarence and Barrack streets.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe precinct would be developed in stages with the first to provide all the sites with one licensed food and beverage use.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnder the plans there would be a boutique hotel and wellness facilities as well as office spaces within the precinct.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe heritage buildings all neighbour each other and the project would retain the current heights and footprints of the buildings.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMerivale is promising no major demolition or reconstruction.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMerivale’s first major hospitality redevelopment is part of the precinct.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“We want to build on the heritage and memories of our Hotel CBD venue which we built and have operated since 1995,” Merivale chief executive Justin Hemmes said.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Sydney is entering a new and exciting era for hospitality and entertainment by creating vibrant and co-ordinated precincts and places accessible and appealing to visitors and residents alike as well as supporting night-time economy workers with greater choice and access to food beverage and entertainment amenity,” he said.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca data-mce-href=\"https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/merivale-snaps-up-kings-green-development-site\" href=\"https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/merivale-snaps-up-kings-green-development-site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eThe company bought the other buildings\u003c/a\u003e—50 King Street 71 York Street and 312-318 Clarence Street—in 2022.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach venue would open as it was completed.\u0026nbsp;Early engagement with the community and stakeholders has begun.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"74C9VGMg1DCxmz6GonKtLX\"\u003e\u003cpicture\u003e\u003cimg src=\"//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3eMfTPWMcPU3m7xjBK80nm/11b5dec86d1d591059a1ae7fc983a3f3/241002_Kings-Green-Location-Map55.jpg\" alt=\"Kings Green will sit between Clarence King and Barracks Street in the Sydney CBD.\" data-mce-src=\"//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3eMfTPWMcPU3m7xjBK80nm/11b5dec86d1d591059a1ae7fc983a3f3/241002_Kings-Green-Location-Map55.jpg\"\u003e\u003c/picture\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"opacity: 0.8;\" data-mce-style=\"opacity: 0.8;\"\u003e▲ Kings Green is planned for part of the block between Clarence King and Barracks street.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the sector’s biggest players Merivale has also been active\u003ca data-mce-href=\"https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/hemnes-lucas-melbourne-east-end-paris\" href=\"https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/hemnes-lucas-melbourne-east-end-paris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003e in the\u0026nbsp; Melbourne CBD\u003c/a\u003e and has dominated the hospitality scene including the\u003ca data-mce-href=\"https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/motel-renaissance-lures-developers\" href=\"https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/motel-renaissance-lures-developers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u0026nbsp; 2021 purchase of the Whale Inn at Narooma\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHemmes has also moved laterally one of the five heritage buildings that the company will redevelop into part of a new hospitality precinct in Sydney's CBD.\",\"alt\":\"Merivale's Hotel CBD one of the five heritage buildings that the company will redevelop into part of a new hospitality precinct in Sydney's CBD.\",\"imageDesc\":\"Merivale's Hotel CBD Lendlease’s third residential building in the Collins Wharf precinct of Victoria Harbour.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 28-storey building at 971 Collins Street in Melbourne’s Docklands will deliver 312 homes in a mix of one two and three-bedroom apartments as well as townhouses and penthouses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to Lendlease the project has already secured more than 50 per cent in presales.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHickory is the construction contractor—it completed the precinct’s first development in 2019 and is also working on LendLease’s second tower Regatta.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor Ancora Hickory is implementing several technical construction methods including various piling techniques and precast concrete solutions that enable a parallel-track construction program.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe building’s facade designed by architect Warren and Mahoney uses a three-stage design incorporating double-glazed glass and textured precast concrete with Reckli and brick finishes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe structural design transitions from a solid podium base to lighter upper levels “reflecting a maritime theme” aligned with the Collins Wharf design objectives.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAncora will connect to the neighbouring Regatta development via a podium allowing resident access to shared amenities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesigned as an all-electric building that includes electric vehicle infrastructure the development is targeting a 5 Star Green Star certification Completion is expected in 2027.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegatta including build-to-rent and build-to-sell units.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eExtensive wharf works including remediation of pre-existing wharf piles installation of raker piles and construction of the extension to Australia Walk are also part of the project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTechnical challenges include constructing on the finger wharf and co-ordinating extensive above-wharf road reserve and public parkland works.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Collins Wharf precinct will ultimately comprise six residential buildings of more than 1800 homes surrounded by over 5000sq m of parks and community space.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease is developing the parkland concurrently with the residential components including the extension of Australian Walk that forms part of the City of Melbourne’s Greenline project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease executive director of development Adam Williams said Collins Wharf “is fast becoming a sought-after address .. which took just a handful of hours to emerge on Saturday night the Coalition’s failure to sway voters has come under intense scrutiny.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts lack of policies around property that resonated with voters has been a large part of that criticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong those policies was a $5-billion infrastructure program to unlock up to 500,000 new homes was greeted with no small amount of scepticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Coalition also campaigned on its previously revealed plan to allow first home buyers to draw down on their superannuation giving access to up to $50,000 to help fund mortgage deposits.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile that proposal had won some support it got the thumbs down from many of Australia’s top economists who said the measure could prove highly inflationary among other issues.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSimilarly its plan to allow mortgage interest for first home buyers to be tax-deductible was roundly criticised for its likely inflationary and regressive effects.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt has also been pointed out that the Coalition’s rejection of the Green’s policies around housing supply affordable housing and help for renters did it no favours.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ALP went to the polls spruiking an extension of schemes introduced during its previous term including a $10-billion promise for its first-home buyers’ scheme to encourage 100,000 more homes.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt also had its Help to Buy shared equity scheme under which the Government pays up to 40 per cent of the house price to point to.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf it was these policies per se or the lack of detail and depth to the Coalition’s the nation's ready for the Albanese government to act.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat is clear been endorsed to follow through on its policies and fix the crisis that is crippling the Australian property sector.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Urban Taskforce Australia chief executive\u0026nbsp;Tom\u0026nbsp;Forrest has pointed out it is time for the Federal Government to get back to work.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Housing affordability and housing supply featured large during the campaign,” Forrest said.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The key now is for the Government to strike while the iron’s hot.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If legislation is needed to support the delivery of Labor’s $10-billion 100,000 new homes commitment—then pass it through the parliament now and get on with it.”\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe states have made many changes to how they enable home development The Federal Government’s support of that is crucial to its success material supply assistance or any other factor that affects getting homes out of the ground.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis has been a pivotal election Then Cities for Total Fan Immersion\",\"slug\":\"billionaire-arsenal-rams-denver-nuggets-sports-anchored-precincts\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-30T00:00+10:00\",\"tags\":[],\"summary\":\"Why your next home might be stadium-adjacent; sports are the hook A masterplan has been created to guide the development of the 16,300sq m precinct dubbed Kings Green comprising five heritage buildings with inter-venue links and connections between King The precinct would be developed in stages with the first to provide all the sites with one licensed food and beverage use Under the plans there would be a boutique hotel and wellness facilities as well as office spaces within the precinct The heritage buildings all neighbour each other and the project would retain the current heights and footprints of the buildings Merivale is promising no major demolition or reconstruction Merivale’s first major hospitality redevelopment “We want to build on the heritage and memories of our Hotel CBD venue which we built and have operated since 1995,” Merivale chief executive Justin Hemmes said “Sydney is entering a new and exciting era for hospitality and entertainment and the opening of the Sydney Metro has been revolutionary for the city by improving ease and access for everyone to the central business district and all it has to offer.” Hemmes also said it would help achieve the NSW Government’s plan to create a $91-billion visitor economy by 2035 through adding 40,000 hotel rooms “Our plans will support the NSW Government’s revised 24-Hour Economy Strategy and Vibrancy Reforms beverage and entertainment amenity,” he said The company bought the other buildings—50 King Street 71 York Street and 312-318 Clarence Street—in 2022 Early engagement with the community and stakeholders has begun Hemmes has also moved laterally, as part of a consortium tendering with Lendlease and Mirvac for the development opportunities above the Sydney Metro project on Hunter Street. What we learnt from walking Sydney with our biggest office landlordExploring the streets of its CBD with the chief executive of commercial property giant Dexus it fast becomes clear that the outlook is far from settled SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe We’re striding up Young Street in Sydney’s central business district when Dexus chief executive Ross Du Vernet makes a little confession: he’s a bit nervous about taking Chanticleer on a walking tour of Australia’s richest office property precinct Dexus might be the country’s biggest office landlord but Du Vernet rightly points out the property giant’s interests are much broader than that: industrial property infrastructure and a growing funds management business Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Reporting by Roushni Nair and Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona after a lifetime researching and explaining the Central Business District American geographer Raymond Murphy gathered his knowledge together in The Central Business District: A Study in Urban Geography Murphy defined the CBD as a region “draw[ing] its business from the whole urban area and from all .. classes of people.” But that definition would soon be redundant central areas of many world cities like Sydney have evolved from classic industrial era CBDs into more exclusive socio- economic phenomena The mid-twentieth century brought tensions between a growing suburban periphery driven by mass motorisation and a stagnating urban centres were refitted as global high-amenity enclaves These former industrial-mercantile junctions which distributed goods across whole regions now radiate little more than inflated land and property prices Some call this a “shift from the city as a site of production to one of consumption.” Disruptive events like financial crises and the recent Covid- 19 pandemic shaped the course of this evolution Sydney’s classic CBD morphology peaked in the 1970s and has been fading ever since the emerging phenomenon rates a mention in academic literature and popular journalism but there is still no consensus about its character or economic logic Many seem reluctant to concede its discontinuity from the classic CBD fearing to unmask a new stage in the concentration of privilege property developers and academics tend to downplay the CBD’s loss of functional centrality in Greater Sydney the legacy CBD’s relative share of metropolitan jobs has plummeted from almost a half to around a tenth and in today’s post-material conditions owes more to a disproportionate allocation of amenities than any unique productivity advantage The pandemic forced some recognition of reality but notions of natural centrality persist Long Live the Central Social District” proclaimed an article by former NSW Cities Minister Rob Stokes Suggestions that CBD-centric planning is bad for housing affordability commuting or small business formation are generally disputed For a better perspective it is useful to contrast features of today’s ‘post- CBD’ with elements of the classic CBD structure as identified by urban geographers in the literature While the spatial order of the old industrial-mercantile CBD was arranged around functions takes form as an upward spiral of amenity enhancements feeding off soaring peaks in the land value cycle gentrification on a global scale and ‘sustainable urbanism.’ On very high-priced sites developers will typically maximise returns by substituting capital for land Scaling up amenities in the structures and on the surrounding ground plane can augment capital Thus luxurification is sweeping through most features of the CBD landscape leisure-hospitality and residential building stock as well as the streetscapes transit facilities and public spaces in between where the CBD vacancy rate is now at a 30-year high this is commonly referred to as a “flight to quality” Read the rest of this piece at The New City Journal (PDF) The article above is excerpted from the introduction to his report Sydney Metro is Australia’s biggest public transport project – a network of four metro lines Macquarie Group had a bold vision to develop the metro’s Martin Place Station appointed our firm as the engineering lead for the three stages of the successful unsolicited proposal to show the ambitious development was feasible and would bring economic and social value to Sydney We then provided over 40 engineering disciplines for the development which includes two commercial towers above the new metro station and a pedestrian tunnel to link the two main parts of the development underneath a heritage building.Collaborating with Macquarie Group we have designed and delivered an integrated hub where people can work Guided by the City of Sydney’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan the precinct offers Sydneysiders what they want from their city – inspiring workplaces this station will facilitate low-carbon travel for generations was instrumental in delivering a project that will significantly enhance Sydney’s public transport network Our MassMotion technology analysed passenger flow to ensure safe and efficient journeys The entrance to Sydney Metro Martin Place Station © Brett Boardman Photography Public art, seating and connections to the metro station and offices © Brett Boardman Photography Platform at Sydney Metro Martin Place Station © Brett Boardman Photography We created a precinct integrating a metro station, two tower developments and retail and urban landscapes for Sydneysiders to enjoy The station has a 100-year design life and will facilitate low-carbon travel for generations Collaborating with Macquarie Group, Grimshaw Architects and Lendlease, we designed and delivered an integrated hub where people can work, shop, dine and travel Consult Australia Awards for Excellence 2025 Association of Consulting Structural Engineers Excellence Awards 2024 Engineers Australia Excellence Awards 2024 Outstanding Project of the Year: Commendation for Community Impact If you'd like to speak to one of our rail experts about any of the issues raised on this page or a potential collaboration then please get in touch by completing the form. Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Sam Holmes Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Tom Hogue and Sonali Paul I want to receive travel news and trade event update from Travel And Tour World. I have read Travel And Tour World'sPrivacy Notice. The office market is at an inflection point with modest price rises possible this year for the nation’s best CBD towers according to experts polled by The Australian Financial Review That forecast comes after two years of heavy going in the sector, as high interest rates and bond yields forced valuation writedowns while business uncertainty and flexible working trends weakened demand for space Anyone who has visited Sydney Central Business District(CBD) in the last ten days is instructed to monitor for symptoms of the potentially life-threatening Legionnaires' disease after six individuals were diagnosed Legionnaires' disease is a critical kind of pneumonia that develops once a bacteria known as Legionella pneumophila (Legionella) the diseases spread through the aerosols instead of person to person contact New South Wales Health South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit director Vicky Sheppeard stated that the six cases "have a common factor of being in the Sydney CBD during their exposure period" Those individuals who were in the CBD in the last ten days are urged to monitor any symptoms that include fever If someone has already developed symptoms during this period are urged to visit their doctor to get tested and proper treatment The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that more than 50,000 individuals are working in the CBD area Outbreaks often occur when bacteria from cooling towers in big buildings become contaminated Dr Sheppeard further stated that NSW Health was interrogating cooling towers in the city NSW Health has strongly advised building owners in the city to ensure their cooling towers are operated by safety and health guidelines Police said one of the men inside the van was assessed by paramedics but did not require treatment Two men have narrowly escaped potentially serious injury after scaffolding fell from a building in Sydney’s central business district landing on the back of an Australia Post van on the street below Roads were closed between Pitt Street and Bathurst Street in the city on Thursday with initial reports suggesting a crane lost its load New South Wales police later confirmed it was scaffolding that fell from a building The impact appeared to crush the back section of the van but the front of the vehicle did not seem to have been affected Australia Post confirmed two of its team members were inside the van at the time “Thankfully both team members were uninjured and are safe and well and we will continue to provide support,” a spokesperson said “We are working with the relevant authorities to assist in their investigation.” According to police one of the men inside the van was assessed by paramedics but did not require treatment A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson said crews were there “as a precaution” and it was not believed there were any injuries Ebony Birchall is the Deputy Director of the B&HR Access to Justice Lab at Macquarie University She has previously received research funding from the Australian Government Surya Deva is Director of the B&HR Access to Justice Lab at Macquarie University He is currently UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development He has previously received funding from the GIZ the Freedom Fund and the International Commission of Jurists He is part of the World Benchmarking Alliance's Expert Review Committee The Lab received funding from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and the World Benchmarking Alliance to cover the costs of hosting an event to launch this report Macquarie University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU View all partners In our complex, interconnected world, there are risks of human rights violations throughout global supply chains Examples include not only modern slavery and child labour but also gender discrimination and violations of land Many people care deeply about whether the companies they support are monitoring and addressing these issues how do some of the biggest Australian companies measure up To answer this question, we analysed the human rights commitments of 25 of the top companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) including some of our largest banks and mining companies We found Australian companies have a long way to go in “knowing and showing” a commitment to respect human rights One response could be for Australia to follow the European Union’s lead and create a mandatory human rights due diligence regime Our analysis used the World Benchmarking Alliance’s Corporate Human Rights Benchmark Core UNGP Indicators This benchmark uses 12 indicators that draw on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) The indicators are grouped into three themes: Companies score between zero and two points on each indicator depending on how they satisfy its requirements It’s important to understand that the aim of our study was not to assess whether these companies have been violating human rights it was to evaluate whether companies have disclosed their policies and processes to respect human rights The UN Guiding Principles expect companies to have suitable due diligence processes in place and make these publicly available in an accessible form companies should clearly state that they respect all human rights This includes rights such as nondiscrimination They should outline in detail the mechanisms in place to identify and address actual or potential abuses detail which officials in the company hold responsibility for managing these issues The better companies would even disclose examples of human rights abuses that they discovered in their operations such as modern slavery or a gender pay gap Our research covered the 25 largest Australian companies by market capitalisation that had not previously been assessed under this benchmark This included some of the leading Australian companies from a range of sectors – mining The best-performing company scored eight out of a possible 24 points Many companies were found to be making vague or ambiguous human rights commitments or only focusing on a narrow set of modern slavery risks No company disclosed all of the human rights due diligence processes needed to identify Nor did any disclose how they consulted with relevant stakeholders such as workers or displaced communities to help them understand and identify relevant human rights risks in company operations Only ten of the 25 companies provided a mechanism for external individuals and communities to raise human rights complaints or concerns Companies scored particularly poorly on the second group of indicators: embedding respect through ongoing human rights due diligence Many companies only focused on identifying and addressing modern slavery in their operations to the exclusion of other human rights risks such as sexual harassment or environmental pollution It was also concerning that companies we assessed often passed the burden of compliance to suppliers they established higher expectations for suppliers’ conduct than they set for their own Our research found that companies scored well in making human rights commitments where there was a legal obligation to do so Every company, for example, scored the point available for hosting a grievance mechanism for workers to raise concerns about the company. This is because Australia’s Corporations Act requires companies to create a whistleblower mechanism Similarly, most companies disclosed elements of their modern slavery due diligence process, because this is legally required under the Modern Slavery Act It is clear from our research that many large Australian companies are not operating in line with international standards That means they also aren’t ready to comply with the ripple effects of the mandatory human rights due diligence laws recently introduced in Europe These laws will require large Australian companies that do significant business in Europe to conduct comprehensive human rights due diligence Australian companies must take proactive steps to comply with international standards This means making a public commitment to respect all human rights establishing and publicly disclosing their human rights due diligence process It will also mean involving everyone who is affected by or has an interest in the company’s activities throughout the due diligence process This includes making sure they have a way to raise concerns and seek remedies The Australian government has a vital role in ensuring that companies take their human rights responsibilities seriously. The current reporting regime under the Modern Slavery Act has proven very weak, confirmed under a recent formal review Our findings suggest the government should enact a stronger and broader mandatory human rights due diligence law covering all human rights Office vacancy rates across capital cities have remained steady over the last six months following a supply increase The January 2025 edition of the twice-yearly Office Market Report showed that both the central business district (CBD) and non-CBD office markets across Australia have remained steady for the past six months to January 2025 If you check the box above before you log in you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return even if you close your browser and come back later Australia’s CBD office vacancy increased by 0.1 per cent over the same period while the non-CBD office vacancy rate held steady at 17.2 per cent Property Council of Australia chief executive said the new supply added over the last six months was key in stabilising the office vacancy rate nationwide The Office Market Report showed that over 220,000 square metres of new supply were added just below the historical average of over 237,000 square metres “We have continued to see the supply of new office space above or near the historical average high-quality office space in our cities,” Zorbas said “Vacancy levels continue to be driven by this large level of supply positive demand for office space in our CBDs has been recorded in five of the last seven reporting periods Adelaide and Canberra saw positive demand for office space above their historical averages in the last six months,” Zorbas noted While the office sector remained consistent overall vacancy rates in the five major capital cities varied: Adelaide and Perth experienced declines and Sydney and Brisbane saw increases in line with the rise in new supply Sydney’s office saw the highest vacancy rate rising from 11.6 per cent to 12.8 per cent driven by 164,552 square metres of new supply well above the historical average of 74,361 square metres said the Sydney leasing market is experiencing a trend towards higher-quality and more cost-effective spaces across key precincts “Tenants are carefully deliberating their decisions as many plan for their workforce to return to the office three to five days per week,” Vincent said She noted that while CEOs recognise the benefits of having their team together to build culture and collaboration which companies have to consider when deciding where to rent Vincent said the Sydney office sector also faces challenges when it comes to renewing office leases as rents are increasing and tenants have to decide whether it is worth relocating “Landlords are now further incentivised to retain existing tenants to maintain portfolio value and avoid vacancy spikes “Higher vacancy rates provide tenants with a wider range of options leading to a more deliberate decision-making process “Landlords and tenants alike are adopting strategic approaches to navigate this competitive landscape,” Vincent said Brisbane witnessed a rise in office vacancy rates from 9.5 per cent to 10.2 per cent Melbourne’s vacancy rate remained stable at 18 per cent said while Melbourne’s occupancy levels are currently the lowest among major Australian capital cities “With occupancy rates poised to grow from their current low base of 59 per cent and white-collar employment growth expected to grow at the highest rate nationally until 2030 we are optimistic about the Melbourne CBD office market’s prospects,” Buller said “The significant rightsizing of office space over the past four years has normalised workspace requirements Hobart recorded the lowest vacancy rate in the country recording an increase from 2.8 per cent to 3.6 per cent Darwin saw the largest vacancy rate decrease with vacancy rates dropping from 17.5 per cent to 16.4 per cent while Perth saw a 0.4 per cent drop from 15.5 per cent to 15.1 per cent Canberra’s office vacancy rates fell from 9.5 per cent to 9.2 per cent CBRE head of office and capital markets research said national vacancies are forecast to peak in 2025 before beginning to decline “The supply outlook has declined due to feasibility issues from high construction costs and interest rates there will be above-average supply delivered in 2025 in markets like Brisbane and Canberra,” Broderick said He remarked while sublease availability is at its lowest since 2019 office occupancy is expected to rise further this year Despite potential leasing uncertainty from the upcoming Australian federal election Broderick said growth is projected in key sectors for 2025 “We expect Sydney and Brisbane to lead the country from a rental growth perspective this year,” he said other markets should record some moderate growth given the high new development rents are making existing buildings look relatively affordable,” Broderick concluded A landmark $800 million development is poised to become Sydney’s newest icon blending modern architecture with historic grandeur in the heart of the city’s central business district a 50-storey mixed-use premium apartment and luxury hotel complex will soon grace the skyline at 196-204 Pitt Street The project is a joint venture between Singapore-listed First Sponsor Group Limited and Melbourne-based developer ICD Property Sydney House will offer 241 premium residences atop a 136-room luxury hotel providing residents with seamless access to premium amenities and lifestyle services emphasised the development’s unique offering stating: “Sydney House will offer a sophisticated expression of modern CBD living capturing panoramic vistas to Sydney’s most beloved icons including the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as Hyde Park out to the north and south heads.” The development will also restore and reinterpret the former City Tattersalls Club’s site owned by a consortium led by First Sponsor Group highlighted that the heritage podium levels will feature an elegant bar and restaurant along with luxurious hotel and function facilities Senior Director at CBRE Residential Projects noted the project’s prime location: “Pitt Street is arguably the most significant street in all of Sydney “Just a stone’s throw from Circular Quay Sydney House offers [a] seamless connection with the CBD and beyond.” The development is surrounded by premium shopping centres and an array of sophisticated dining and entertainment venues Residents will also benefit from easy access to the newly opened Sydney Metro Pitt Street Station Construction of Sydney House commenced in early 2023 The project is being built by Richard Crookes a leading residential construction company known for its meticulous quality and exceptional delivery of premium off-the-plan luxury residences Sydney House stands poised to set a new standard for luxury urban living in the heart of Australia’s largest city You must be logged in to post a comment Construction industry ready as Queensland hospital expansion review concludes Boroondara opens nominations for 2025 Urban Design Awards Construction industry leaders to take part in 2025 Vinnies CEO Sleepout New leadership team appointed to overhaul QLD’s construction regulator Engineers Australia calls for target of 60,000 additional engineering graduates by 2035 Willmott Dixon selected to lead construction of Northern Roots Visitor Centre in Oldham New York state launches US$16.6m road resurfacing initiative on Long Island Foster + Partners unveils design for luxury green community on Laheq Island Victoria Tower Adelaide celebrates topping out milestone Plus Architecture secures DA approval for landmark build-to-rent project in West Melbourne Why concrete carbon sequestration could revolutionise the construction industry Adoption of AI in construction remains low with widespread concerns CFMEU investigation uncovers bad behaviour in building industry Sector hones in on sustainable building elements to meet efficiency standards Concrete surface treatments still improving after decades of innovation Shop 7.07 and 7.08, 25 Martin Place, CBD, Sydney, NSW, 2000 AustraliaChevron New South WalesChevron SydneyChevron To be in a hyper-gloss setting on the edge of Sydney’s central business district While Darling Harbour itself can feel somewhat tired with its chain restaurants and tourist-heavy sites like Madame Tussauds and Sydney Aquarium, the spot also puts you on the edge of Sydney’s bustling central business district and Chinatown and within walking distance to the city’s best restaurants and top boutiques. Friendly and relaxed. W Hotels is known for its approachable service, and this hotel is no exception. Children of all ages are welcome, and extra beds can be arranged. Kids are also allowed on the rooftop Wet Deck infinity pool, which is heated from 6a.m. to 5p.m., from 5 p.m., the rooftop turns into a bar and is strictly for guests over the age of 18. No plastic packaging or bottles, and there are plastic straw alternatives. The main restaurant uses 70 percent local suppliers, and the hotel’s water supply is harnessed from rainwater tanks. Part of the appeal of this hotel is its proximity to both tourist sites and in-the-know city and Chinatown restaurants—so do make use of the concierge. All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. another major component of the Australian market are expected to register a strong first-half on an uptick in household spending with interest rate cuts in the second-half of the year potentially further boosting spending."We expect the rate sensitive sectors of tech consumer discretionary and real estate stocks to attract investors in the latter six months of the year," said Grady Wulff a market analyst at Bell Direct.Reporting by Sneha Kumar in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Aaditya Govind Rao in Bengaluru; Editing by Sameer Manekar and Jamie Freed welcome to the Harbour City’s most stylish suburbs Camperdown Memorial Rest Park is just one sprawling green space in a city famed for its harbour and imposing skyscrapers | © Alana Dimou / Culture Trip A huge city split by a sparkling harbour Sydney is divided into a string of distinct enclaves The grungy breweries of Marrickville have a totally different vibe to Balmain’s chic boutiques and sultry CBD speakeasies feel miles away from Bondi’s brilliant beach reckons Sydney nightlife kingpin Mark Gerber with obviously the most incredible harbours in the world,” Gerber says “but all the different precincts that come together Gentrification hasn’t entirely bleached out the rough-and-tumble roots of Surry Hills, though – this suburb still contains the highest concentration of quality watering holes in the Harbour City. Grab a schooner of Resch’s at pubs like the Shakespeare Hotel, The Forresters and the newly renovated Keg & Brew Hotel for a taste of old-school Sydney “I love our eclectic mix of customers and sense of community,” says Em Smith from the Shakespeare Hotel “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from if you’re nice you’ll always make friends at ‘the Shakey’.” I have seen many changes over the years,” says Baz Scott “We love the neighbourhood as it’s never boring There’s always something that you will see and that will amaze you Nepography / Unsplash Surry Hills’ next-door neighbour evolved from a similarly gritty suburb into the heart of Sydney’s LGBTQ community. Darlinghurst defined by its rainbow-coloured Oxford Street precinct hosts Sydney’s epic Mardi Gras celebration every March and keeps the party going 12 months a year And Darlinghurst has only gotten cooler since the government relaxed the lockout laws that crippled Sydney’s after-dark economy between 2014 and 2019 Owner of Darlinghurst nightclub Oxford Art Factory says: “The area’s nightlife scene has been on an incredible journey of exploration giving the LGBTQ community the opportunity to put themselves firmly on the map.” Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy and the streets sloping down the sand are brimming with salubrious bars boutiques and cafés where visitors can grab a kale smoothie or breakfast bowl with the activewear-clad locals “Bondi is all about the beach,” says Craig Wachholz from Let’s Go Surfing “You’re in the middle of a cosmopolitan city of five million people but when you get into the water for a surf or swim you feel like you’re a million miles away.” Mark Hansen / Unsplash Like most suburbs on this list Balmain had a long blue-collar history – the Australian Labor Party was founded here in 1891 – before it became one of Sydney’s most salubrious postcodes in the new millennium This harbourside patch of the inner west is a web of leafy streets lined with historic terraces The big Italian community infuses Balmain with a Mediterranean flavour – the cafés and restaurants along Darling Street are testament to that. And while the neighbourhood’s many pubs would have been filled with grizzled wharfies or dockworkers a century ago, swanky venues such as The Balmain Hotel and the East Village Hotel are now well populated by fashionable young professionals “Balmain is a community of small shops and locals that support us,” says Samara Golding-Piper formerly of Wilhelmina’s “I personally love getting to know people that come through the doors Wilhelmina’s is a place for family and friends.” The Balmain’s Leah Hartley continues: “We love Balmain for its quirky houses village vibe and array of quality pubs and eateries all within walking distance” Gabrielle Henderson / Unsplash CBD Tours The thousands of commuters that flood Sydney’s central business district Monday to Friday aren’t particularly cool But the sheer volume of world-class bars and restaurants that sit beneath their offices certainly are The centre of Sydney is naturally the centre of Sydney’s culinary scene and the CBD buzzes with life long after the lawyers and bankers have caught their trains home in the evening “Sydney was previously leading the forefront from a fine dining capacity over many years and Melbourne always had a lot wider variety in terms of the European offering but also the accessible price point,” Hastie says “But now Sydney’s taken that on board and it’s got a lot more to offer at all levels It’s given Melbourne a pretty good run for its money in the last few years.” © Alana Dimou / Culture Trip Marrickville Tours This industrial-chic quarter of the inner west has become more chic than industrial in recent years Working-class Marrickville welcomed large groups of Greek immigrants post World War II then Vietnamese refugees a couple of decades later and those flavours are imbued in the great-value diners along Illawarra Road Sydney’s quintessential sporting experience and from that you get some really great people and things happening in the area,” says Andrew Fineran from the Batch brewery and there’s always something interesting and inspiring happening I’m proud to live and work in Marrickville.” One of the most traditional restaurants in the neighbourhood you can be guaranteed an authentic experience Sip on freshly brewed Chinese tea and choose from steamed and pan-fried and finish off with their divine mango pancakes Jamie Davies / Unsplash Australia Trips and Tours Planning for an adventure of a lifetime in Australia Enlist the help of a friendly local with expert insights and recommendations on a guided multi-day tour of the Land Down Under From major cities like Sydney and Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road you’ll be sure to find the dream Australian trip for you Tom is a travel writer with a focus on East Asia and Australia He has contributed to Culture Trip since 2014 and has plenty of recommendations to share Guides & Tips The Best Non-Touristy Things To Do in Perth See & Do Unique Things To Do in Sydney Architecture The Most Impressive Buildings in Sydney Guides & Tips The 11 Weirdest Animals in Australia and Where To See Them See & Do Awesome Things to do in the Blue Mountains See & Do The 10 Cutest Animals in Australia and Where To See Them See & Do 9 Things You Can Only Do And See In South Melbourne Guides & Tips A Two-Week Itinerary to South Australia See & Do The 10 Best Ecotourism Experiences in Australia See & Do 24 Must-Visit Attractions in Queensland See & Do The Best Aquariums and Marine Parks in Australia See & Do 10 Greatest Things To Do In Fremantle US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd. All Rights Reserved. , opens new tab was up 0.2%.Citi analysts said in a research note that while the result had met market expectations "we don't see anything to justify the recent share price run."CBA which has a quarter of the country's A$2.2 trillion mortgage market said costs jumped 6% in the six-month period as it spent to improve its technology infrastructure and enhance its generative AI and data infrastructure capabilities.The lender's net interest margin the gap between loan interest and the interest paid to depositors rose 2 basis points from last year to 2.08%.($1 = 1.5886 Australian dollars)Reporting by Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru; Editing by David Gregorio and Edwina Gibbs Byron Kaye is the Reuters chief companies correspondent for Australia, based in Sydney. Over 10 years at Reuters he has covered banks, retail, healthcare, media, technology and politics, among other topics. He can be reached at +612 9171 7541 or on Signal via username byronkaye.01 Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time The City of Sydney is pushing ahead with plans to allow venues in inner-city areas to trade later under proposed changes aimed at boosting nightlife and allaying residents’ concerns about noise Tasked with reviving Sydney’s struggling 24-hour economy the council sought the public’s feedback on multiple changes to planning rules that manage sound at entertainment and live music venues The changes would make it easier for venues in the inner city It also released a proposal to create “special entertainment precincts” in some existing late-night trading areas to make it easier for businesses to operate later without a development application Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the council received more than 450 submissions which councillors debated at a meeting on Monday night “It’s fantastic to have community endorsement both for special entertainment precincts which will make it easier and more cost-effective for venues to trade later and our new plans to better balance the sound management needs of businesses and residents.” the council would designate existing late-night trading areas across much of the CBD as “special entertainment precincts” This would unlock state government incentives including making entertainment venues eligible for a two-hour extension on liquor trading on performance nights restaurants and retailers to stay open until 2am without any changes to their licence Similar venues in areas such as Barangaroo and Broadway would also mean the vast majority of nightclubs along Oxford Street and in Kings Cross could apply to operate 24 hours Under the council’s proposed changes to the rules that govern entertainment noise existing venues and residents would be protected by a council policy that would mandate acoustic testing and soundproofing in new residential developments or new and substantially changed venues The changes would apply to much of Sydney’s central business district.Credit: City of Sydney Supporters said in their submissions the changes would encourage tourism and boost the economy enabling a “rich and diverse range of restaurants Opponents expressed safety concerns and worried noise from venues would disrupt their sleep saying they “already live in a noisy city” and citing “dogs barking and car hooning” “There is already too much noise with people screaming playing loud music on their phones outside residences,” one submission said Another thought the plans for designated late-night areas struck the right balance: “If you choose to live in these areas you cannot expect them to be as quiet as a suburban area.” Moore hoped applying the changes to precincts meant many businesses would benefit “while avoiding the safety and economic impacts of saturation” The proposals were tweaked in response to feedback including removing a residential section of Crown Street from the late-night trading precinct The refined plans will go back on exhibition Committee for Sydney head of corporate affairs and culture policy Matt Levinson said: “What we’ve seen so far of this proposal promises to expand the options for places to go out whether it’s in the city centre or closer to home and that can only be a good thing for Sydney.” Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. The City of Sydney is pushing ahead with plans to allow venues in inner-city areas to trade later under proposed changes aimed at boosting nightlife and allaying residents\\u2019 concerns about noise. Tasked with reviving Sydney\\u2019s struggling 24-hour economy, the council sought the public\\u2019s feedback on multiple changes to planning rules that manage sound at entertainment and live music venues. It also released a proposal to create \\u201Cspecial entertainment precincts\\u201D in some existing late-night trading areas to make it easier for businesses to operate later without a development application. Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the council received more than 450 submissions, 70 per cent of which were positive, on the proposed changes, which councillors debated at a meeting on Monday night. \\u201CIt\\u2019s fantastic to have community endorsement both for special entertainment precincts, which will make it easier and more cost-effective for venues to trade later and our new plans to better balance the sound management needs of businesses and residents.\\u201D Under the proposed changes, the council would designate existing late-night trading areas across much of the CBD as \\u201Cspecial entertainment precincts\\u201D. This would unlock state government incentives, including making entertainment venues eligible for a two-hour extension on liquor trading on performance nights. The changes would allow small bars, clubs, restaurants and retailers to stay open until 2am without any changes to their licence. Similar venues in areas such as Barangaroo and Broadway, with more residential development, could operate until 1am. The varied rules, if approved, would also mean the vast majority of nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and shops in the city centre, along Oxford Street and in Kings Cross could apply to operate 24 hours. Under the council\\u2019s proposed changes to the rules that govern entertainment noise, existing venues and residents would be protected by a council policy that would mandate acoustic testing and soundproofing in new residential developments or new and substantially changed venues. Supporters said in their submissions the changes would encourage tourism and boost the economy, enabling a \\u201Crich and diverse range of restaurants, bars and clubs to succeed\\u201D. Opponents expressed safety concerns and worried noise from venues would disrupt their sleep, saying they \\u201Calready live in a noisy city\\u201D and citing \\u201Cdogs barking and car hooning\\u201D. \\u201CThere is already too much noise with people screaming, yelling, playing loud music on their phones outside residences,\\u201D one submission said. Another thought the plans for designated late-night areas struck the right balance: \\u201CIf you choose to live in these areas, you cannot expect them to be as quiet as a suburban area.\\u201D Moore hoped applying the changes to precincts, rather than individual streets, meant many businesses would benefit \\u201Cwhile avoiding the safety and economic impacts of saturation\\u201D. The proposals were tweaked in response to feedback, including removing a residential section of Crown Street from the late-night trading precinct. The refined plans will go back on exhibition. Committee for Sydney head of corporate affairs and culture policy Matt Levinson said: \\u201CWhat we\\u2019ve seen so far of this proposal promises to expand the options for places to go out, whether it\\u2019s in the city centre or closer to home, and that can only be a good thing for Sydney.\\u201D Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. . Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Sonali Paul Immersed in the heart of the Sydney Central Business District Fraser Suites Sydney is an impressive jumping-off point for small to large conferences – with a twist Fraser Suites Sydney is a five-star property popular with long-stay clients Here’s The Nibbler’s verdict luxurious apartments of Fraser Suites Sydney that feature city-scape views across the CBD the property proves itself deserving of its five stars But what really stands out are the unique opportunities available for events in Fraser Suites’ Penthouse Suite and two floors of event spaces and the meticulousness of the hotel’s in-house menu designed by chef Kris Wilkinson who delivers a fresh take on traditional conference foods a boon for day conferences is the hotel’s supply of natural light throughout the facility – a rare commodity in inner-city hotel event spaces – and the exquisite in-house events menu that features a wide selection of small and delicious eats I was also impressed by the lack of wastage at Fraser Suites Sydney I was later told that Fraser Hospitality Australia’s (FHA) four properties – of which Fraser Suites Sydney is one of – have taken the pledge to be 100 per cent paperless by late 2019 Alongside a convenient and smooth check-in was a prior Fraser Suites Sydney is just minutes from the Queen Victoria Building and Darling Harbour Fraser Suites is next to Sydney’s “ethnic restaurant hub” with the hotel’s 10th floor equipped with direct access to it I must confess after sampling the food on Fraser Suites’ event menus during my visit the hotel’s proximity to the restaurant hub seems superfluous – I can’t think of a reason why I would ever eat out And each of these is inclusive of a fully-furnished and separate lounge/dining area so expect these details to be refreshed and updated The hotel was unable to provide further details on the planned refurbishment Although the hotel’s main configuration is one bedroom Studio apartments are flexible between one and two bedrooms while the penthouse suite of many-a-hotel is usually considered ‘off limits’ to most customers the two- to three-bedroom Penthouse Suite (featured image) can be repurposed as a conference or events area There is enough available space to accommodate long-table conferences Topping that off is the best view in the hotel from the top floor with a nearly 360-degree view over Sydney’s CBD available from each of the hotel’s rooms were frequently compared to those of New York – which are sure to be as regularly admired by business or leisure travellers as well I’ve said it more than once in one way or another but to reiterate – the food at Fraser Suites is exceptional Serving the perfect balance of nutritious and enticing working style lunches along with indulgent morning and afternoon treats Wilkinson’s conference menus – sampled during The Nibbler’s tour – were delightful Fraser Suites also offers buffet breakfast on its 10th floor and a selection of in-room dining crafted from local ingredients and hand-selected by the hotel’s on-site resident chef Conference planners also have the added option of having a bespoke menu designed whether it be for their next special event In addition to offering complimentary WiFi access Fraser Suites Sydney comes complete with a range of amenities These include on-site parking and valet service an indoor swimming pool and 24-hour gym with personal trainers If you’re planning a meeting or event in Sydney, Fraser Suites Sydney has a range of sophisticated meeting rooms and function spaces available that boast high ceilings, an abundance of natural light and contemporary design style. With six conference rooms to choose from, small boardroom meetings to large-scale events catering up to 140 delegates can be accommodated. Furthermore, the hotel’s architecturally designed spaces are coupled with complimentary high-speed WiFi throughout the hotel and integrated audio-visual capabilities in meeting rooms. Alternatively, event planners can opt for a booking in one of Fraser Suites’ two split-level penthouses, which feature panoramic skyline views and separate spacious living/dining areas, contributing to an ideal location for boardroom meetings, product launches or stand up cocktail functions. With five-star hospitality, a wonderful conference menu and in-house cuisine, alongside dynamic event spaces with an abundance of natural light, Fraser Suites Sydney is a classy choice for your next business conference or leisure event. What’s more, the hospitality company’s stance on removing paper from its hotels shows it is not interested in being left behind the times. And with the announcement of a soft refurbishment, signs point to the quality of Fraser Suites Sydney only improving. Credit: Thomas Jastram from stock.adobe.com each neighborhood of Sydney has so much to offer When planning to visit  Sydney – Australia's largest city – there's no shortage of suburbs to stay in With a large population and plenty of sights to see across the whole city (and beyond) you can't go wrong when picking your accommodation in any of the most popular spots in Sydney and some may be more favourable to some groups than others Because of the diversity of Sydney's suburbs it's essential to consider the experience you aim to get Your answers will help dictate the best accommodation options for you Below is a brief overview of the top places to stay in Sydney as well as what makes them stand out from each other Read our full guide below for a more detailed dive into each location including specific hotel recommendations for each spot and circumstance Seat selection and checked baggage are not included in Economy Lite fares Payment surcharge and travel periods may apply Credit: Taras Vyshnya from stock.adobe.com Circular Quay and The Rocks are perfect for first-time visitors interested in Sydney's rich history  There are plenty of sights to see and activities to do in Circular Quay and The Rocks and choosing between them can take time and effort Some of the top-rated things to do in these suburbs include:  Circular Quay and The Rocks have many places to stay and reservations go fast due to their popularity Darling Harbour and Pyrmont are vibrant areas just west of the Sydney CBD These neighbouring suburbs are about a 20-minute drive from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport Darling Harbour is best known for its family-friendly attractions and expansive dining options families can have an enjoyable day and parents can experience a more bustling nightlife later on Both Pyrmont and Darling Harbour offer close proximity to many of Sydney’s top attractions and offer easy access to many public transport options This area is great for active days in Sydney museums as well as shopping opportunities to satisfy everyone Darling Harbour and Pyrmont are prime locations due to their proximity to Sydney's best activities and attractions We recommend booking in advance to secure your spot at one of these great locations:  the opportunities to experience unique attractions in Sydney CBD are endless accommodation here is best for people looking to be at the centre of all the hustle and bustle of Sydney Bondi Beach is an iconic suburb in Sydney due to its beach culture and vibrant atmosphere - no matter the time of year or Sydney's weather, Bondi is always busy and energetic It’s famous for its stunning coastline and surf scene and has all the amenities of a great beach suburb It’s located about 25-30 minutes by car from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport Ideal for beach lovers and outdoor enthusiasts and numerous beachside cafes and restaurants It also has a lively nightlife with the local bars coming to life each night While it tends to attract a younger crowd due to its vibrant atmosphere and groups of friends flock to the famous destination as it has something for everyone Most activities in Bondi Beach revolve around its beautiful coastline but there are also great shopping and dining options nearby Accommodations in Bondi Beach tend to fill quickly due to its popularity If you want to stay near both the city and beach with the benefit of a major shopping centre and a transport hub you can't go wrong with choosing to stay in Bondi Junction Due to its proximity to Bondi Beach and home to one of Sydney’s most popular shopping centres (Westfield Bondi Junction) it offers the ideal mix of indoor and outdoor activities Driving from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport to Bondi Junction typically takes 20-25 minutes depending on the traffic Bondi Junction offers a range of activities and attractions It’s worth noting that Bondi Junction is a convenient area to stay Credit: Afonso Farias from stock.adobe.com picturesque suburb on Sydney’s Northern beaches renowned for its coastline and lively community Located farther away from the Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport the 30 to 45 minute drive will be worth it when you take in the ocean views This area is ideal for those who love to relax on the beach and partake in outdoor activities It’s also easy to get into Sydney city via the ferry – which is one of the best things to do in Sydney especially to experience the glittering harbour Because Manly is predominantly a beach area most of the activities and sites to see are related to the ocean there are still great coastal shopping and dining options Accommodations in Manly tend to fill quickly due to its prime location on the waterfront of Sydney Two of the trendiest suburbs in Sydney are Surry Hills and Darlinghurst there are also historical influences to enjoy throughout your visit These areas are just over a 20-minute drive from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport and are great for visitors interested in having fun during the day and at night when visiting Sydney and who want a more local experience rather than typical tourist attractions Surry Hills and Darlinghurst have a good mix of historical Some of the places to go while you're there include:  Finding a place to stay in Surry Hills and Darlinghurst can be challenging because there’s so much choice and it's a popular location for many group types Consider staying at one of the following accommodations:  Credit: Andre & Dominique for Destination NSW and Woolloomooloo are great places to visit if you're in Sydney and looking for a dose of fun on the town While all in close proximity to each other (and only 20 minutes from the airport) each area offers something a bit different It's also a popuar location for budget and hostel accommodation appealing to young travellers and backpackers quaint cafes and upscale dining experiences and is a bit more suitable for those looking for boutique hotels delicious cafes and offers beautiful accommodation options right on the wharf There's always something fun and exciting to do in Kings Cross and Woolloomooloo and due to their lively atmosphere these neighbourhoods are less suited for families seeking a quieter stay there's something for everyone in Kings Cross The options of places to stay in these neighbourhoods are endless Some of the best accommodation options for all groups or singles include:  trendy cafes and charming terrace-lined streets  Located between Darlinghurst and Bondi Junction Paddington is a quaint suburb known for its boutique shopping and Victorian-era style architecture terrace houses It's also home to many cultural attractions and art galleries historical arts and window shopping are up your alley Paddington is a great spot to stay in Sydney Situated 15-20 minutes from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport Paddington is also close to other popular Sydney areas you're sure to find something that you truly enjoy It's a very diverse neighbourhood with many offerings but it's a reasonably small area with limited accommodation options You may have to look at something in the surrounding suburbs like Darlinghurst or Bondi Junction but if you want to stay in the heart of Paddington Newtown is one of the more unique suburbs in Sydney It is known for its eclectic and artistic atmosphere This neighbourhood is located approximately 15 minutes by car from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is close to Sydney CBD and is close to public transport options it tends to not have as many family-friendly accommodation options and is better for younger travellers backpackers and groups of friends who want to be in the thick of Sydney's social scene Newtown has many fun and upbeat things to do that often centre around performance Central and Chippendale are nieghbouring suburbs right near Sydney city Located approximately 20 minutes from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport these neighbourhoods offer a blend of cultural richness and urban vitality making them ideal for travellers keen on exploring Sydney's dynamic city life These suburbs are closely connected to one another there's still plenty of things to do and see while in Central and Chippendale There are plenty of accommodations located in Central and Chippendale typically better suited to yonger travellers or visitors looking for a more eclectic area to stay in Sydney The only downside would the limited range of accommodation options however the options available are suitable for all kinds of travellers Staying in the CBD, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Darling Harbour or Pyrmont is another great option for those travelling to Sydney for the first time or only visiting for a weekend and want easy access to the most touristy things to do in Sydney. Darling Harbour is the best area to stay in Sydney when travelling with your family. There are many family-friendly activities and attractions, including the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Wildlife Sydney Zoo, and the Australian National Maritime Museum. Darling Harbour also features kid-friendly dining options, playgrounds, and entertainment venues. However, there are also options for adults to enjoy, too - especially if you choose a hotel with in-house entertainment facilities and bars.  For a weekend stay in Sydney, The Rocks is hard to beat—especially because it has both modern and historic charm. It's centrally located and close to attractions like the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, so you can enjoy plenty of activities right at your hotel doorstep. The area is also pedestrian-friendly, perfect for exploring boutique shops and enjoying harborside views.  It's time to explore all that Sydney has to offer! Virgin Australia offers direct flights to Sydney from major Australian cities, including: In the spirit of reconciliation Virgin Australia acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, sky and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Kim Coghill Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Jamie Freed and Stephen Coates North-western Sydney has emerged as one of Australia’s most prosperous regions as new data shows five of the nation’s 10 most advantaged suburbs in that area 45 kilometres north-west of Sydney’s central business district has been ranked the city’s most advantaged suburb by a Bureau of Statistics index based on the latest census figures Almost 65 per cent of households in that neighbourhood were in the top quarter of the index’s measure of economic advantage Four other suburbs in north-western Sydney were among Australia’s 10 most advantaged suburbs: Box Hill-Nelson (63.8 per cent in most advantaged category) North Kellyville (61.8 per cent) and Castle Hill West (61.6 per cent) Seven localities in north-western Sydney ranked higher than suburbs in traditional hotspots of affluence on the north shore and in the eastern suburbs Castle Cove-Northbridge and Frenchs Forest-Oxford Falls all ranked among the city’s 20 most advantaged neighbourhoods Two of Sydney’s five highest-ranked suburbs are within the Blacktown City Council area The Index of Household Advantage and Disadvantage (IHAD) rates suburbs using a range of variables including household income It does not take account of household wealth (including property values) which is not measured by the census Throsby in northern Canberra was ranked the most advantaged neighbourhood Schofields West-Colebee was second and Forde in northern Canberra third a low share of residents aged over 65 and a low share of single-parent households KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley said many well-educated dual-income families had been drawn to the north-west by larger and this trend had boosted the number of highly advantaged households in that region over time “The north-west has good access to jobs by road good access by rail plus lots of good jobs within a 10 or 20 minute kind of commute as well,” he said “This is definitely showing that the advantage that existed in places like Sydney’s north shore for long time has moved to the north-west with a new generation.” The development of transport links, especially the M7 motorway and Sydney metro, have underpinned the transformation of north-western Sydney; the city’s five most advantaged neighbourhoods are near those key road and rail corridors a demographer and social researcher based in the Hills district said the region was highly entrepreneurial The Hills Shire alone has more than 24,000 businesses “Sydney’s north-west is very socio-economically dynamic,” he said Simran Dhaliwal at Rouse Hill metro station in north-western SydneyCredit: Janie Barrett North-western Sydney also performs well on measures of education including a high share of residents with a bachelors qualification or higher a 28-year-old lawyer who grew up in north-western Sydney and went to school in the region said education was highly valued in her community “We had good networks and role models around us because the entire community was focused on education,” she said “These networks reinforce economic and educational advantages across generations.” hold masters degrees and her brother recently qualified as a doctor Her family home at The Gables is within the Box Hill-Nelson neighbourhood which was ranked Sydney’s second most advantaged Sydney also has many suburbs where a high share of households were in the most disadvantaged category In Ashcroft-Busby-Miller near Liverpool 56.6 per cent of households were in the most disadvantaged quartile More than half the population in the nearby suburb of Fairfield also had a high share of disadvantaged households (54.3 per cent in the most disadvantaged quartile) The index showed some suburbs with high rates of advantage were located very close to some of the city’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods Marsden Park-Shanes Park was ranked Sydney’s third most advantaged neighbourhood with 62.2 per cent of households in the most advantaged quartile Bidwill-Hebersham-Emerton was ranked the third most disadvantaged neighbourhood with 51.4 per cent in the most disadvantaged category The number of families in the index’s lowest quartile increased by more than 14,000 in 2021 compared to 2016 (849,632 vs 835,442) increased by 95,906 in the five years to 2021 Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter North-western Sydney has emerged as one of Australia\\u2019s most prosperous regions as new data shows five of the nation\\u2019s 10 most advantaged suburbs in that area 45 kilometres north-west of Sydney\\u2019s central business district has been ranked the city\\u2019s most advantaged suburb by a Bureau of Statistics index based on the latest census figures Almost 65 per cent of households in that neighbourhood were in the top quarter of the index\\u2019s measure of economic advantage Four other suburbs in north-western Sydney were among Australia\\u2019s 10 most advantaged suburbs: Box Hill-Nelson (63.8 per cent in most advantaged category) Castle Cove-Northbridge and Frenchs Forest-Oxford Falls all ranked among the city\\u2019s 20 most advantaged neighbourhoods Two of Sydney\\u2019s five highest-ranked suburbs are within the Blacktown City Council area The rates suburbs using a range of variables including household income The findings draw attention to changing patterns of prosperity in Sydney tend to have a high share of married couples with children a high share of adults with a bachelors degree (or higher) a high rate of workforce participation and a high proportion of relatively large detached houses \\u201CThe north-west has good access to jobs by road good access by rail plus lots of good jobs within a 10 or 20 minute kind of commute as well,\\u201D he said \\u201CThis is definitely showing that the advantage that existed in places like Sydney\\u2019s north shore for long time has moved to the north-west with a new generation.\\u201D especially the M7 motorway and Sydney metro ; the city\\u2019s five most advantaged neighbourhoods are near those key road and rail corridors \\u201CSydney\\u2019s north-west is very socio-economically dynamic,\\u201D he said \\u201CWe had good networks and role models around us because the entire community was focused on education,\\u201D she said \\u201CThese networks reinforce economic and educational advantages across generations.\\u201D which was ranked Sydney\\u2019s second most advantaged The index showed some suburbs with high rates of advantage were located very close to some of the city\\u2019s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods Marsden Park-Shanes Park was ranked Sydney\\u2019s third most advantaged neighbourhood with 62.2 per cent of households in the most advantaged quartile The number of families in the index\\u2019s lowest quartile Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories Restaurant chain Din Tai Fung has ended its operations across Australia after it was fined by the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) for underpaying employees The head office of the restaurant chain in Taiwan told 7News that it had "terminated its franchise rights in Australia."  "Any future plans regarding the Australian market are still under evaluation," the head office told the news outlet.  The closure of Din Tai Fung restaurants across Australia comes after the FWO fined the food chain and two of its former officials over $4 million for "deliberately" underpaying employees.  Among those penalised was Sinthiana Parmenas which employed Din Tai Fung workers at the World Square shopping centre in the Sydney Central Business District (CBD) as well as the Chatswood and Emporium shopping centres in the Melbourne CBD.  "The total penalties are the second highest ever secured by the Fair Work Ombudsman," the FWO previously noted in its media release.  it has recovered and distributed a total of $197,316 of the fine which was imposed on Parmenas and former general manager Hannah Handoko.  that the remaining $3.89 million in fines has yet to be recovered.  "DTF World Square Pty Ltd and Selden Farlane Lachlan Investments Pty Ltd are both in liquidation and proofs of debt in respect of the penalties imposed by the Court have been lodged by the FWO," an FWO spokesperson told the news outlet.  no distribution has been made by the liquidators in respect of debts owed to unsecured creditors of the companies."  Following the closure of Din Tai Fung outlets bearing many similarities to the Taiwanese food chain The new restaurant is called Double Chin Eats, which records show shares the same address for service of documents, according to 7News Both restaurants are also listed under the business name column of Skylar Finch Nien Investment Pty Ltd's ABN Lookup page.  One of the Double Chin Eats employees interviewed by 7News also revealed that they used to be employed by Din Tai Fung.  with a broader range of Asian cuisine," the employee told the outlet.  clarified that it’s not the same company.  "These are two different companies," the employee told 7News "The new company bought everything from the old one The rise of the second restaurant that bore many similarities to Din Tai Fung has raised concerns that it could be a potential phoenix activity.  happens when an organisation's directors abandon the company or transfer the business of an existing company to a new company without paying true or market value according to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).  "Once the assets have been transferred, the old company is placed in liquidation or abandoned. If the liquidator is appointed, there are no assets to recover, which means creditors cannot be paid," ASIC said on its website.  "Once the assets are transferred to a new company the directors continue to operate the business This gives the new business an unfair advantage when competing for work because they have less debt and lower operating costs."  Jason Harris, a professor of corporate law at the University of Sydney told 7News that he cannot confirm if Din Tai Fung committed a phoenix activity he noted that the opening of Double Chin Eats at former Din Tai Fung locations is a pattern "frequently" used in phoenix activity.  "Companies can fail and then their owners can start up a new company doing the same business in the same place and not be liable for the debts of the old company," Harris told 7News.  "The problem arises when the owners/directors try to strip the old company of its assets by transferring them to the new company for less than market value (or for free). That is illegal, but the liquidator could then sue the new company and the old company directors for this conduct."  The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has previously warned that the total cost of illegal phoenix activity can reach $4.89 billion annually Cost to business from unpaid creditors of $3,300 million  Cost to employees through unpaid entitlements of $155 million  Cost to government of $1,440 million.  According to the ATO the phoenix activity may also harm the community because:  Other businesses are put at a competitive disadvantage.  Suppliers or sub-contractors are left unpaid.  The community misses out on revenue that could have contributed to community services.  "If your business is insolvent or struggling to pay its debts it's important to seek specialist advice from a qualified and registered insolvency practitioner," the ATO said "Registered liquidators and trustees will provide you with sound legal advice that you can rely on Be wary of other insolvency advisers who suggest actions designed to help directors avoid paying their creditors."  The ATO said suspected cases of illegal phoenix activity may be reported to them "You can help us stop illegal phoenix activity by reporting it," the ATO said "We take all reports seriously."  Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries here are the must-do experiences in Sydney Sydney is one of those cities that grabs your attention long before you get to experience it Bodyboarding at Bondi Beach, zipping under the Sydney Harbour Bridge on a ferry or catching a show at the incredible Sydney Opera House are just a few of the incredible Sydney experiences you’ll want to tick off on your big trip Down Under it’s time to explore what else the city has to offer whether you’re visiting for the first time or the tenth Sydney's dining scene has never been more inventive and exciting Restaurants serving food from across the globe it may be a little faddish and perhaps a bit too obsessed with big-name chefs but it wouldn't be Sydney if names weren't being dropped Thankfully the food scene manages to balance style with substance a takeaway Sri Lankan or a cheap noodles night with BYO wine could just as easily be your Sydney dining highlight Bondi is one of the world’s most famous beaches, with consistently good waves and warm sea temperatures. It’s also a great place to learn to surf – Let's Go Surfing is a well-established surf school based in North Bondi offering lessons catering to practically everyone There are classes for young surfers (nicknamed locally as grommets) aged 7 to 15 you can book a private tutor between a couple of people – prices are lower outside the summer peak be respectful of other surfers and swimmers – Australians are pretty forgiving but not on the water so pay attention to the etiquette of local surfers Planning tip: In the cooler months, you can forgo the water and dine with epic views while watching winter swimmers take the plunge Planning tip: You can now book a trip with a First Nations storyteller who'll share their perspective on the city and country while you look over Sydney’s magnificent harbor from on high Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, this eye-catching building is one of Australia's most iconic landmarks commanding presence that comprises five performance spaces for dance You can wander around the outside to your heart's content but the best way to experience the interior is to attend a performance. Taking a guided tour is also highly recommended (and available in several languages) There are a variety of tours on offer including backstage tours a food-focused tour and one that zones in on the architectural talent that created the building On the ocean side, The Gap is a dramatic clifftop lookout. On the harbor side, closer to Watsons Bay ferry, you'll find the sheltered Camp Cove beach to take a dip Detour: If you’ve forgotten to pack your swimsuit, Lady Bay Beach is a clothing-optional nudist beach on the west side of the bluff just before you arrive at Hornby lighthouse Studded with photogenic industrial relics, convict architecture and art installations, fascinating UNESCO-listed Cockatoo Island/Wareamah opened to the public in 2007 and has regular ferry services Information boards and audioguides explain the island's time as a brutal convict prison A spooky tunnel passes clear through the middle of the island and you can explore the remains of the old prison most of the original sandstone buildings were stripped of their roofs and converted into bomb shelters Solitary confinement cells were unearthed here after being filled in and forgotten in the 1890s Planning tip: A range of tours can be booked at the visitor center from straight-up heritage tours to ghost tours and convict prison tours There are a number of tours exploring Newtown’s street art and murals, or you can do it yourself with Google Maps and an app. However, Local Sauce has developed a self-guided tour that goes the extra mile and puts the spotlight on female artists who are often overlooked As well as covering the artists behind the works they provide recommendations for cafes where you can re-caffeinate along the way Their street art and food tours also take you to some top Newtown eateries Sydney is Australia’s self-professed LGBTIQ+ capital so don't miss the chance to take in a drag show Since RuPaul popularized the art of drag on the hit show Drag Race a more mainstream audience has discovered the subverting performances of drag queens and kings popular queens can command queues around the block In Sydney, you can dine out while enjoying a show or head to a bingo, trivia or competition night with a drag theme. The city's Inner West and Eastern suburbs are where you’ll find most of Sydney’s LGBTIQ+ venues, from the Universal nightclub on Oxford Street to the more alternative Bearded Tit in Redfern It may come as a surprise to stumble across an ancient art form in such a modern city but Sydney is built on top of a giant gallery of Aboriginal art not much attention was paid to it and many works were covered over or destroyed Today, with dot paintings from distant deserts being celebrated, Sydneysiders have started to wake up to the treasure trove in their own backyard. Look for rock art by the original custodians of this place on the headlands around the harbor, on the coast and in nearby national parks such as Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park With its neoclassical Greek frontage and a 2022 modern expansion that doubled the gallery’s original size, this much-loved institution plays a prominent and sociable role in Sydney society Blockbuster international touring exhibitions arrive regularly While the permanent collection has a substantial amount of 19th and 20th-century European and Australian art the highlights are the newer north building’s extensive contemporary Indigenous gallery and a special exhibitions gallery inside an underground World War II fuel tank Considered by many to be Sydney's best contemporary art gallery, White Rabbit is tucked away behind the Central Park development in Chippendale It's the project of billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson who has amassed one of the world's largest collections of cutting-edge contemporary Chinese art (works produced since 2000) The gallery has so many pieces that only a fraction can be displayed at one time An on-site cafe does specialty teas and dumplings Sydney’s city shopping is concentrated around George Street and Pitt Street spilling into arcades and side streets from there Among the many glimmering places to indulge in some intense retail therapy there are several ornate Victorian-era arcades to admire while you browse The magnificent Queen Victoria Building (QVB for short) takes up a whole city block and boasts nearly 200 shops including well-known international brands across its five levels The building itself is a High Victorian neo-Gothic masterpiece – undoubtedly Sydney’s most beautiful shopping center the tinkling baby grand piano (available to play) and the hyper-kitsch animated Royal Clock featuring the Battle of Hastings and an hourly beheading of Charles I the Strand Arcade is home to a host of Aussie designers as well as an old-school branch of JB Hi-Fi in the basement selling electronics Sydney's nocturnal calendar kicks off with a spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks display over the harbor and doesn't calm down for months. As soon as the Sydney Festival's myriad openings and events finish, the lights come up on the biggest party of them all – the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras from late February to early March Winter brings fashion, literature,and film festivals to Sydney, with opening nights, cocktail parties and literary soirées, plus the spectacular Vivid Sydney from late May to mid-June lighting up the town with projections and lights Spring is football finals time – whether it's rugby or Aussie Rules try to get to a night game for the friendly atmosphere and epic crowds A hidden jewel not far from Manly, magical Store Beach can only be reached by water. Hire a boat or kayak from Manly Kayak Centre then cruise around (it’ll take approximately half an hour to 45 minutes) to the sheltered 200m (656ft) cove beach fringed by trees The views of the bushy North Harbour give the impression you’ve left the city entirely As this is a breeding ground for little blue penguins when the birds waddle in to settle down for the night Visitors are also implored to leave the beach in the same condition they found it (or better) It emerges in Clontarf and winds its way to the Spit Bridge Southeast of the Opera House, this garden was established in 1816 and features plant life from around the world. Within the gardens are hothouses with palms and ferns, as well as The Calyx a striking exhibition space featuring a curving glasshouse gallery with a wall of greenery and temporary plant-themed exhibitions Grab a park map at any of the main entrances to the gardens The garden includes the site of the colony's first paltry European vegetable patch, but its history goes back much further than that. Long before the convicts arrived, this was an initiation ground for the Gadigal people; book ahead for a tour with a First Nations guide sharing their knowledge of Indigenous bush foods Long, lovely Palm Beach is a crescent of bliss that's famous as the setting for the cheesy TV soap Home and Away. The 1881 Barrenjoey Lighthouse punctuates the northern tip of the headland in an annex of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park The suburb of Palm Beach has two sides – the magnificent ocean beach and a pleasant strip on Pittwater where the calmer strands are suitable for young kids you can get ferries to other picturesque Pittwater destinations you've got two options on foot – shorter stairs or a winding track – for the steep hike to the top but majestic views across Pittwater and down the peninsula are worth the effort It’s also a perfect spot for whale watching in winter Scratched out of the sand in 1888 in grand Victorian style, Sydney’s biggest park is a rambling 189-hectare (467-acre) expanse with wide formal avenues The park is busy in the warmer months with joggers You’ll also find an equestrian center offering trail rides for kids and adults. Prior riding experience is not required, but bookings are essential. If a pony ride isn't their thing, children will also love the adventures to be had at the Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden Australia's convict history began in the district known as The Rocks with a squalid canvas shanty town on a rocky shore Its raucous reputation lives on in atmospheric lanes lined with historic buildings with more than a few still operating as pubs The simply sensational 6km (3.7 miles) Bondi to Coogee walk leads south from Bondi Beach along the clifftops past the inlets at Tamarama waterside parks and plaques recounting Aboriginal history and stories The trail begins at the end of Notts Ave and spits you out at the north end of Coogee Beach where you have a choice of three ocean pools to swim in if the waves at the beach are ferocious Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Stephen Coates and Kim Coghill Reporting by Stella Qiu and Wayne Cole; Editing by Tom Hogue and Jamie Freed Global investment manager BGO has pushed into the Australia’s office market with the purchase of a tower in Sydney’s central business district for about $580m The move marks BGO’s entry into the office sector here and also signals the return of US capital to the sector the institutional alternatives and traditional asset management business of Sun Life The group bought the prestigious 10-20 Bond St from joint owners Mirvac and Morgan Stanley Real ­Estate Investing and the deal was finalised last week at about the listed group’s book value It had held its 50 per cent stake at $291m at the end of June but the parties declined to comment with Mirvac’s stake valued on a capitalisation rate of about 6.25 per cent BGO’s move builds on its existing holdings in developed markets of the Asia Pacific The latest play is a bet on the revival of CBD offices as more firms instruct workers to return to their desks The building is viewed as attractive partly due to transport links including the opening of the city’s new Metro train system The new links have made city towers more accessible even at the expense of some suburban markets and tenants are vying for space in towers like the multi-tenanted 10-20 Bond St The move is significant as it signals that core office investors particularly as returns are higher than on logistics and residential property The move shows that large institutional investors are keen to benefit from Australia’s population surge which will drive white-collar growth at a time when there is a lack of large new office buildings due to a spike in costs Sydney-based Cliffbrook Capital is working with BGO on its Australian investment strategy and advised it on the acquisition of 10-20 Bond St founded by Paul Heller who was formerly head of Blackstone Australia McVay Real Estate head of office Rob Sewell worked with the US firm on identifying the high-quality office complex as one of the few undervalued core Sydney CBD opportunities available He expects economic rents in the city core will provide Bond St with significant tailwinds for rental growth over the medium term The deal is a coup for the Investa office platform which will take an ongoing role as investment manager of the complex Mirvac five years ago ­introduced Morgan Stanley’s real estate arm to a half stake in the tower when it was carved out of the former Investa Office Fund portfolio That resulted in Mirvac taking full control of the block Investa will now again take control of the Bond St tower. It has also been offering stock in this period, and is selling a 50 per cent stake in 135 King St. The group, led by Peter Menegazzo, has been an early mover in the office cycle’s recovery and has taken full control of another tower – 388 George St – in a $460m deal alongside Singapore-listed Singapore Land and UOL Group. The 38,318sq m Bond St property consists of neighbouring A-grade buildings and a ground floor retail plaza. 10 Bond Street has seven levels of ­office space, while 20 Bond St offers 31 levels of office space, with the upper floors having views of Sydney Harbour. realcommercial.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Investa will now again take control of the Bond St tower. It has also been offering stock in this period, and is selling a 50 per cent stake in 135 King St has been an early mover in the office cycle’s recovery and has taken full control of another tower – 388 George St – in a $460m deal alongside Singapore-listed Singapore Land and UOL Group The 38,318sq m Bond St property consists of neighbouring A-grade buildings and a ground floor retail plaza 10 Bond Street has seven levels of ­office space while 20 Bond St offers 31 levels of office space with the upper floors having views of Sydney Harbour.