Aria Sells $519 Million to Database at Sanctuary Residences Before Launching

The biggest launch in Queensland’s history, Aria’s next South Brisbane development has sold over half a billion dollars of apartments without a public launch. Final apartments are released on 19 October. Sales were achieved throughout September without a public launch or advertising. 

Three and four bedroom apartments, comprising 165 of the 231 residences were the strongest performers.

“The pattern is very clear. People are not trading down in size when they move out of a house, they are trading sideways and asking for more,” says Brent Liddell of Aria Property Group. “We designed Sanctuary for that buyer and the response has been beyond expectations.”

Downsizers have led the charge, alongside young professionals and families drawn from South Brisbane, surrounding suburbs and interstate.

Apartments start from $1,990,000 for two bedrooms, $2,720,000 for three and $4,010,000 for four.

Sanctuary Residences, designed by award-winning Bates Smart architects is the first of three towers to launch within Aria’s Sanctuary precinct.

Apartments reflect Brisbane’s climate with 2.9 metre ceilings, deep recessed balconies, operable glazing and naturally ventilated front doors and lobbies.

“We wanted every journey through the residences to feel immersed in nature and unmistakably Brisbane,” says Guy Lake, Director at Bates Smart. “The arrival sequence moves from landscaped forecourt to a hotel-inspired lobby via naturally ventilated corridors, so residents feel & touch air and greenery throughout.

What sits beneath the tower is as much a part of the proposition as the apartments themselves.

Sanctuary is a master-planned precinct on one of the last major undeveloped sites on Melbourne Street, incorporating a public park beneath large-scale trees, five new laneways, twelve retail and dining tenancies and two restored heritage buildings – the former Bonds sweet factory and the old Malouf’s fruit shop.

The ground plane, designed by Richards + Spence, is laid in roughly 240,000 red bricks in homage to the South Brisbane brickworks and achieves an extraordinary green plot ratio of approximately 76%.

“The opportunity was to mend the streetscape and build a cohesive precinct identity, held together at street level,” says Ingrid Richards, director of Richards + Spence.

Residents also have seven levels of private amenity within the tower, from a Residents’ Retreat at ground level through to a wellness and bathhouse club, rooftop club and sky bar.

Aria amalgamated the Melbourne Street site over eight years across multiple titles.

Civil works began in April 2024, well ahead of the sales campaign with savings carried into pricing. Prices will increase on 19 October, when remaining apartments are released.

Aria Property Group has been building in Brisbane for 23 years delivering over 3,000 residences across 33 projects and winning an unprecedented 7 National and 13 Queensland UDIA awards.

Aria is a fully integrated business including construction, building management, retail leasing and management through to apartment resales. Every touchpoint for customers being carefully managed. 
Across its three most recently completed buildings completed in 2023, resales have averaged a 91.5% increase above launch prices.

Sanctuary is being delivered in partnership with Metrics Credit Partners – as an equity investor.

Sanctuary Residences is due for completion mid to late 2029, well ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Aria’s display suite is open at Level 2, 56 Boundary Street, South Brisbane. Enquiries to Chris Houston on 0403 731 437 or at sanctuarybyaria.com.au.

Sanctuary Residences: at a glance

• More than $500 million sold ahead of the public release
• Three and four bedroom apartments the strongest sellers
• 231 apartments: 65 four bedroom, 100 three bedroom, 66 two bedroom
• Prices from $1,990,000 (two bedroom), $2,720,000 (three bedroom) and $4,010,000 (four bedroom); prices increase 19 October
• Internal areas from 100sqm to 204sqm, plus balconies of 14sqm to 33sqm\ 2.9 metre ceilings
• Architecture and interiors by Bates Smart, precinct public realm by Richards + Spence, landscape design by Subtropic Design
• 164–190 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane; display suite at Level 2, 56 Boundary Street
• Seven levels of residents’ amenity spanning over 4,600m², plus a new public park, five laneways, twelve retail and dining tenancies and two restored heritage buildings
• Completion mid to late 2029; precinct due to open ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Games