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Commercial

Yesterday

Chehab joined Blackstone’s Sydney real estate team in 2015.

Blackstone real estate operative jumps to Wentworth

Real estate debt strategies managing director Issa Chehab has left the US private capital giant after a decade.

Australia’s second biggest storage business is jammed between a controlling shareholder and a bid to take full control.

The billionaire, his $80b gorilla mate and Storage King’s clean-up job

An offshore giant is trying to use structural issues at the No.2 self-storage player to get set in Australia. The local leader is pushing back. Who will win?

This Month

On hold: Civil infrastructure construction, coming off a boom period, is likely to slow.

Construction pins its turnaround hopes on defence spending boost

The slump across construction – with some key exceptions – will stay until the two largest states resume spending.

Public Hospitality Group founder Jon Adgemis, pictured at the Australian Open last year. He is living at the home of Caledonia’s Will Vicars.

Adgemis fights bankruptcy while holed up in a billionaire’s Bondi pad

The former KPMG dealmaker turned pub owner has lost a key court battle and is trying to stave off eviction from his family’s home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

The Pillars, a new tech-focussed networking club in Sydney with  co-founders (left to right) Steve Grace, and Bradley Delamare and (centre) Rosie Cardoe, head of memberships.  Thursday 24th April 2025 AFR photo Louie Douvis .

A new $25k members’ club opens in Sydney

The Pillars aims to connect entrepreneurs and investors over ice baths, fancy dinners and all-hours parties on a hidden terrace.

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April

Billionaire Harry Stamoulis sizes up Collins Street tower

Cash-up private players such as the Rich Lister Stamoulis family are bargain-hunting for deals in Melbourne’s soft office market.

Crystal Palace Hotel has sold for about $35 million to pub group JDA Hotels.

Feros family swoops on Sydney’s Crystal Palace Hotel for $35m

The Feros family’s JDA Hotels has big plans for the faded but popular pub in Sydney’s Haymarket area.

Storage King at St Leonards in Sydney’s northern suburbs.

Pressure builds for better offer in battle for Abacus Storage King

Rival operator has taken up a small stake in Abacus Storage, which could potentially block a proposed takeover or force a higher offer.

It’s not clear when construction on Amazon’s four-level warehouse in Melbourne’s Craigieburn will resume after halting in March.

Investa eyes June to restart stalled Roberts Co housing project

Following the collapse of building contractor Roberts in Victoria, some clients want the Rich List former owner to help restart their projects.

Abacus Property Group, is spinning off its Storage King properties into a separate Australian Securities Exchange-listed real estate investment trust

Tycoon’s $1.9b takeover bid for Abacus Storage faces threat

National Storage REIT’s purchase of a small stake in its rival seems designed to thwart a takeover that could turn Abacus Storage into a bigger competitor.

Behind on bills: Tim Roberts.

Billionaire Tim Roberts falls behind on his bills

Perhaps the Multiplex heir was just surprised to get an invoice from a business other than Mineral Resources.

The Tulmur, Tranby and Owens Creek aggregation in central west Queensland spans close to 75,000 hectares.

Cattle baron Sterling Buntine puts $20m central Qld run up for grabs

Buntine’s is a big name in northern Australia, with a portfolio that stretches from the Kimberley, across the Northern Territory to central Queensland.

Roberts CEO Emma Shipley.

Roberts will expand into residential builds: CEO Emma Shipley

The latest shake-up in Australian construction adds a new player to the building pool, but does little to reduce risks of the sector with razor-thin margins.

Andrew Roberts.

Roberts Co NSW to be acquired by UAE builder Arada

Owner Andrew Roberts, whose family started Multiplex, is likely to end a long association with construction when the deal is completed.

JLL’s capital markets business is sans debt advisory in Australia and New Zealand.

Commercial property group JLL shutters local debt advisory unit

Street Talk understands at least three staff have left the commercial real estate giant to “pursue new opportunities”.

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‘Rebound is here’: Office funds post first positive return in 2 years

Signs of a recovery are emerging for the battered office sector where high interest rates and the popularity of hybrid work have dragged down valuations.

Warakirri snares $33m orchards deal from Hong Kong tycoon

With about $3.5 billion under management, the investment manager is among a busy group steering domestic and foreign capital into agriculture.

A render of the Harry Seidler-designed Hilton Brisbane building at 190 Elizabeth Street building in the CBD, which will reopen in July as an Intercontinental Hotel and will then undertake an extensive two-year refurbishment. 

ISPT to plug a gap with Brisbane’s first Intercontinental hotel

The super fund-backed developer and fund manager is pairing with operator IHG for the first part of its 1ha transformation of central Brisbane.

Hunters Hills Private Hospital

This investor prefers hospitals to offices in $28m Hunters Hill buy

April Group has acquired Hunters Hill Private Hospital for $28 million on the basis it will deliver stable rents and rising land values.

Zac Fried is opening “a retail store on steroids”.

Spotlight’s new Anaconda will teach shoppers to fish

The privately owned large-format retail group will also offer tinnies moored to a life-sized jetty and a cold room for Queenslanders to try on puffer jackets.

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There’s a buying opportunity in commercial property, but it won’t last

Cashed-up commercial property investors that act fast can pick up assets at good prices.

MRCB International has secured development approval for Maris, a $200 million, 20-storey, 192-unit apartment tower at 20 Queen Street in Southport, QLD. 

Gold Coast developers ‘right-sizing’ projects amid construction crunch

MRCB International is focusing on a high-end 20-storey project which it says will be easier to get off the ground at a time when builders are harder to find.

David Shelton & New Agriculture head, Bruce King .

New Forests’ agriculture arm launches $750m raising

Previously, the fund manager has landed mega deals on cropping and cattle properties backed by Canadian giant AIMCo. Now it’s throwing the net wider.

Prominent cropping and sheep farm up for grabs at $50m

On Western Australia’s favoured south coast, The Oaks is controlled by descendants of a famed British tea entrepreneur.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/property/commercial