Urbis

Brisbane 2032 is more than an event – it’s a unique chance for South East Queensland to define how the world sees it, and how it sees itself. In this opinion piece for The Courier-Mail, Urbis Managing Partner James Tuma explores why the region must move as one, tell a compelling story, and back it up with action to create a unified, globally competitive identity. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g9yrauHW  

Urbis' latest Student Accommodation Benchmarks data, released today, reveals there are 40,000 new beds in development pipeline nationally. The Australian Government's mandate for public universities to increase student enrolments on the condition they also increase access to student accommodation is partly driving this growth. "In Q3 alone, we saw 3,000 approvals. Around 2,600 of those are in Inner Adelaide, while Perth experienced a surge in new applications. Melbourne also holds a significant number of projects in the approval stage," Clinton Ostwald, Partner at Urbis, said. "We're projecting approximately 7,500 completions in 2027 - indicating strong momentum in the years ahead." In partnership with the Student Accommodation Council and Property Council of Australia, Urbis' Student Accommodation Benchmarks is the first benchmarking tool that tracks the Australian student accommodation sector. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gA6igPR6 Alex Stuart Alaine Roff Mel Jones

From a much-loved local club to a world-class destination; Parramatta Live is set to transform the heart of Western Sydney. We’re proud to have helped shape the bold vision for the Parra Leagues Club, leveraging our planning, engagement, heritage and visual analysis expertise to create a place that focuses on community connection. To read more, visit here: https://lnkd.in/gGUujtdD Murray Donaldson, Anthony Kong, Anthony Kilias, Fiona Binns, Anna Mitchell, Jane Maze-Riley Image: Cox Architecture

Last night in Brisbane, we were delighted to welcome industry colleagues to the Urbis 2025 Shopping Centre Benchmarks event — part of our national series unpacking the latest retail insights. It was a valuable opportunity to connect with so many in the sector, exchanging ideas on the future of retail over canapés and drinks. This series offers an early preview of findings from our 34th annual Shopping Centre Benchmarks report, ahead of its official release next week — providing perspectives to help shape stronger, more resilient retail destinations across Australia. Our retail experts Elissa Stewart and David Wilcox shared their insights on the data, past trends, and strategies to position retail assets for success in the year ahead, as well as the consumer behaviours and growth opportunities shaping South East Queensland. A panel discussion featuring Ivan Hill (Urbis) and John Bryant (Stockland) explored the key trends influencing shopping centre performance, the drivers behind renewed investor interest, and how retail destinations are evolving to meet future needs. For 34 years, the Urbis Shopping Centre Benchmarks has been essential data for the retail and shopping centre industry. If you’d like to join us for upcoming Shopping Centre Benchmarks events in Sydney and Melbourne, please speak to one of our national retail team. Thank you to everyone who joined us in Brisbane, and to our national retail team for making this series possible: David Cresp Ian Shimmin Jeff Armstrong Elissa Stewart Hamish Coleman Melissa Griffin David Wilcox David Hoy Laura Thomas Lyn Gray David Larkin #shoppingcentres #retail #urbis #marketinsights

The release of the Bridging the Gender Pain Gap report from the Department of Health marks an important step towards improving how our healthcare system understands and responds to women’s experiences of pain. In partnership with Safer Care Victoria, we were honoured to lead the analysis of more than 13,000 survey responses, 300 written submissions, and insights from 40 focus groups. These stories, often deeply personal and challenging, have highlighted the systemic barriers faced by women and girls seeking care, and the urgent need for change. We are grateful to everyone who openly shared their experiences – their voices have shaped this inquiry and will help drive meaningful reform in pain management and women’s health across Victoria. Urbis commends the Victorian Government for its commitment to listening to women’s experiences and for taking meaningful steps to improve patient care. We are proud to have contributed to this significant inquiry and look forward to seeing its recommendations drive positive change in pain management and women’s health across Victoria. Read more about the inquiry here: https://lnkd.in/gcEYGN3R Christina Bagot, Christina Griffiths

The latest edition of our Living Sectors Market Insights report is out! We explore how retail assets may be unlocked for greater opportunity through key developments across Build-to-Rent, Co-Living, Purpose-Built Student Accommodation, and Seniors Living. As part of our commitment to shaping the future of the Living Sectors, we are also proud sponsors of the Living Sectors Summit in Sydney this week. Mark Dawson will moderate the panel 'Active Investors: Competing for Capital in the Living Sectors – Who Wins?', exploring investors' evolving interest in real estate and the key contenders emerging for capital allocation. Stephen White will lead 'Planning Pathways: Developing Nationally Consistent Design Concessions', discussing how better planning frameworks can reduce risk, attract investment, and enable new builds. Download the report: https://lnkd.in/g2UsRM8U Mark Dawson, Dylan Gray, Chehade Sakr, Alexandra Lane, Alex Stuart, Sophy Purton, Paul Riga, Billy Rebakis, Stephen White, Ben Lyons, David Hoy, Ian Shimmin, Melissa Griffin, Rajiv Mahendran, Harry Scott, Kate Gregory, Robert Cowell, Belinda Thomas, David Cresp #Housing #LivingSectors #Retail #MixedUse #MarketInsights

Infrastructure Australia has indicated its support for the business case for High Speed Rail Authority (Australia), from Newcastle to Sydney via the Central Coast. We had the privilege of working on Stage 1 of the business case last year, helping to demonstrate the viability of this nationally significant project. The opportunity is significant, with support now in place for the development phase - a two-year program to engage with contractors and confirm part of the design. This transformative city-shaping opportunity could: • Activate precincts and regional growth • Connect housing to jobs, and stimulate jobs, industry, and productivity • Support housing pathways and affordability • Reshape how Australians live, work, and access services. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gppS2k3V We are looking forward to the response from the Australian Cabinet. Kate Hudson Dr Kate Meyrick Mehra Jafari Richard Gibbs Alex Nunn Clinton Ostwald Rachana Kumar Princess Ventura Dianne Knott Elizabeth Moorhead Caroline Tomiczek Claire Falk Connor Mackenzie Michelle Santos Nathan Stribley

Today, 11 November, we mark Remembrance Day. It is a time to honour the Armistice of 1918 that ended the First World War, and to remember all who have served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations since. This day invites us to reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and service of men and women across generations, and the enduring impact on their families and communities.

The Australian Institute of Architects has awarded Kali Marnane the 2025 National Emerging Architect Prize. Awarded last night at the AIA’s gala in Canberra, the awards jury said Kali “offers a powerful example of an alternate architectural path – where strategic vision and human empathy are mobilised to create lasting impact.” At Urbis, Kali collaborates with diverse communities to turn vision into reality — from early engagement and design policy to post-project evaluations — with deep expertise in social and affordable housing, education, and precincts. Congratulations on this incredible honour, Kali! Read more: https://lnkd.in/gfeSyiKk Kali Marnane Kris Krpan Trent Forrest #cityshapers #urbisnews

What defines a placemaking precinct? In this perspective, the award-winning and recently named national #UrbanLeader, Dr Kate Meyrick, uses global examples to explore six distinct operating principles of optimal precincts: • Act purposefully, establishing and following a clear vision; • Amplify impact by aligning with other investments, such as transit; • Embed sustainability with smart, future‑focused solutions; • Lead with place capital to showcase the location’s strengths; • Maintain identity through strong governance; and • View and design the precinct as an interconnected ecosystem. Read Kate's perspective here: https://lnkd.in/gNPTjmbp