GROWTH BY DESIGN
G R OW T H BY D E S I G N Against the backdrop of Western Australia’s continually evolving housing market, Locus Property combines disciplined investment, thoughtful design, and long-term vision to deliver communities built to last. We sit down with Cameron Alder, Director, to learn more Writer: Lily Sawyer | Project Manager: Sam Thomas
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s the property development landscape in Western Australia (WA) continues to present both challenges and opportunities, it is an exceptionally exciting time for the industry. Indeed, Perth’s combined population growth, influx of employment opportunities, and lifestyle appeal have resulted in a growing recognition that the city requires a broader range of housing choices. “A significant demand for welldesigned homes in established locations has arisen – particularly apartments and medium-density housing that allows people to remain connected to their communities as their circumstances change,” introduces Cameron Alder, Director of WA’s privately-owned,
diversified property investment and development group, Locus Property (Locus). At the same time, delivering new housing at this scale has proven complex, with construction capacity, labour availability, cost escalation, infrastructure coordination, approval timeframes, and access to development funding all influencing whether a project is commercially viable. For capable and disciplined developers like Locus, however, these conditions create opportunity. “Demand alone does not make a successful project. Developers need to select the right locations, understand their customers, maintain financial discipline, and assemble experienced teams capable of navigating the full development
process,” Alder points out. “We remain optimistic because WA has strong longterm fundamentals. Our focus is on creating developments that respond to genuine housing and community needs rather than simply following short-term market cycles,” he adds.
CREATING LASTING VALUE Established in 2015 and headquartered in Cottesloe, WA, Locus’ current portfolio spans residential, mixed-use, retail, and industrial property. Its residential portfolio includes projects such as Harbour Sorrento, Harbour Hillarys, Monument East in Fremantle, Park Lane in Stirling, Norfolk Residences in Cottesloe, and Altimo Wembley.
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“Our commercial and investment portfolio includes assets such as the Alkimos Gateway Shopping Centre, Woodvale Boulevard Shopping Centre, and Hutton Street precinct in Osborne Park,” Alder informs us. As a company that places considerable emphasis on transparency, communication, and alignment throughout the investment and development process, Locus’ clients and stakeholders include residential purchasers, private investors, wholesale investors, joint venture (JV) partners, retailers, and commercial tenants. “Our core operations are currently concentrated in WA, particularly metropolitan Perth, where we deliberately maintain a relatively focused and experienced
internal team, supported by specialist consultants, architects, builders, planners, engineers, sales professionals, and other delivery partners,” he explains. Combining the discipline of an investment business with the creativity and customer focus of a property developer, Locus seeks to be recognised for the quality of its decisions, the places it creates, and the value it delivers to investors, purchasers, and communities. The company is highly selective about the opportunities it pursues, carefully considering the location, planning environment, customer profile, capital structure, delivery risk, and long-term relevance of the proposed development before
acquiring a site. “That discipline continues through design, approvals, funding, construction, marketing, and settlement,” clarifies Alder. Placing quality before quantity, Locus is supported by three fundamental principles – daring to be different, maintaining a strong local focus, and creating lasting value. Further setting it apart from the competition is the company’s investment in high-quality design, alongside its ability to maintain close relationships with investors, customers, and project partners. “Decisions are made by people who are directly invested in the outcome and accountable for delivering it,” he confirms.
WHAT DOES SUCCESSFUL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT MEAN TO LOCUS? CAMERON ALDER, DIRECTOR: “An important part of the Locus story is that we view property as a long-term responsibility. “A development is not successful simply because it obtains approval, achieves sales, or reaches completion. The true test is how it performs over time – that residents enjoy living there, it contributes positively to the streetscape, businesses succeed within it, and investors receive the outcomes they were promised. “That perspective influences the way we approach site selection, design, funding, and delivery. We are willing to spend more time getting the fundamentals right because the consequences of poor development decisions can remain visible for generations. “We also believe developers in WA have a significant role to play in addressing the housing challenge. That does not mean delivering the same product everywhere but understanding the diverse needs of firsttime buyers, families, downsizers, renters, and investors, and providing a range of housing types in appropriate locations. “For Locus, successful development is about balancing commercial performance with design quality and genuine community benefit. “We do not see those objectives as competing with one another; when a project is properly conceived and executed, these objectives strengthen each other.”
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LOCUS – IN NUMBERS Locus’ current portfolio spans residential, mixed-use, retail, and industrial property, comprising:
“ O U R F I R ST R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y I S TO L I ST E N . T H I S I N C LU D E S E N G AG I N G W I T H NEIGHBOURS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES, C O M M U N I T Y R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S , A N D R E L E VA N T O R G A N I S AT I O N S D U R I N G PLANNING AND DESIGN” – C A M E R O N A L D E R , D I R E C TO R , LO C U S P R O P E R T Y
FULL DEVELOPMENT LIFECYCLE With an integrated approach that maintains continuity and accountability across the entire lifespan of a project, Locus is involved from initial site identification and due diligence through to acquisition, construction, marketing and, where relevant, asset management. “That continuity is important because decisions made at the beginning of a project can have significant consequences several years later; a planning assumption can affect construction efficiency, a design decision can affect
marketability, and a procurement decision can affect quality and cost,” Alder cautions. As Locus remains involved in the full development lifecycle, it can assess these decisions in the context of the overall project instead of treating each stage in isolation. Rather than dealing with disconnected advisors responsible for only one component, investors and project partners have access to a clear point of accountability throughout. “Our team coordinates the various disciplines and maintains the project’s strategic direction, from acquisition through to delivery,” he prides.
• Four completed projects • Eight projects under management • AUD$1.14 billion total project value • AUD$380 million assets under management across 10 property funds
Locus’ development, funds management, and syndication capabilities also allow it to structure opportunities around the particular characteristics of each project, including bringing together aligned investors, providing regular reporting, and ensuring commercial objectives remain connected to the development strategy.
MAJOR STEP FORWARD Harbour Sorrento represents a major step forward for Locus and is an important part of its long-term vision for the gateway to Hillarys Boat Harbour. APAC Outlook Issue 82 | 5
“ O U R G O A L I S N O T S I M P LY T O A C C U M U L AT E P R OJ E C TS B U T TO B U I L D A R E S P E C T E D, E N D U R I N G WA P R O P E R T Y C O M P A N Y K N O W N F O R Q U A L I T Y, I N T E G R I T Y, A N D T H E A B I L I T Y TO D E L I V E R O N CO M M I T M E N TS ” – C A M E R O N A L D E R , D I R E C TO R , LO C U S P R O P E R T Y
Comprising 83 premium residences with an estimated value of approximately AUD$166 million, the development was designed by Hillam Architects to be a high-quality coastal development offering ocean views, residential amenities, and direct connectivity to the harbour. “Our involvement has extended across the complete development process, from site acquisition through to sales and construction planning. “One of the most important elements has been ensuring the design responds sensitively to its coastal setting, with the building form, landscaping, material palette, and apartment orientation developed to create an appropriate transition 6 | APAC Outlook Issue 82
between the coast, harbour, and surrounding residential community,” Alder emphasises. Although a commercially significant property for Locus, Harbour Sorrento’s importance goes beyond monetary value, demonstrating the company’s capacity to deliver larger, design-led developments whilst establishing the foundations for the broader harbour precinct. “The strong market response to Harbour Sorrento also reinforces our view that there is genuine demand for high-quality apartment living in established coastal locations – particularly amongst people who want to downsize without leaving the area and community in which they
have built their lives,” he adds. Harbour Hillarys, meanwhile, has reached an important milestone, having recently received development approval in June this year. It comprises two multi-storey buildings containing 87 premium residences, a substantial ground floor retail and commercial complex incorporating food and beverage premises, landscaping, and public realm improvements. The project is valued at approximately AUD$220 million and expected to enter the market in 2027. Like Harbour Sorrento, the design of Harbour Hillarys has been carefully considered to optimise ocean views whilst creating a welcoming gateway to Hillarys Boat Harbour. Together, Harbour Sorrento and Harbour Hillarys represent a transformational investment, offering greater housing diversity, new retail services, and employment opportunities whilst strengthening the connection between the surrounding community and harbour. For Locus, receiving development
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approval for Harbour Hillarys is not only a significant achievement, but also the beginning of the next phase. “Our focus now turns to detailed design and project delivery to ensure the development fulfils the quality and community outcomes we set out to achieve,” details Alder.
LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS Fundamental to Locus’ daily activities are its investors, partners, and suppliers. “Property development is not an individual pursuit. Every successful project depends on the collective expertise of investors, architects, planners, engineers, builders, trades, sales teams, local authorities, community representatives, and other stakeholders,” Alder sets out. Indeed, Locus’ investors provide more than just capital – they bring long-term relationships, commercial experience, and an understanding of the WA market.
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A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO With several projects demonstrating the diversity of its portfolio, Locus is proud to present: • Monument East, Fremantle – A major urban renewal project within the evolving Knutsford precinct. The approximately AUD$89.5 million development comprises 57 two-storey homes, 24 apartments, and commercial tenancies across a 1.4-hectare site. Construction is underway, with completion currently anticipated in 2027. Monument East is particularly important because it brings new housing diversity into an established inner-urban location whilst responding to Fremantle’s distinctive character, demonstrating how former industrial land can be progressively transformed into a connected residential community. • Park Lane, Stirling – A collection of 22 premium townhouses positioned beside a park. The development reflects Locus’ sustained interest in thoughtfully designed, medium-density housing in established suburbs and is targeted for completion later this year. • Joondalup site – Yet to be announced, this development in Joondalup, Perth is set to include 300 townhouses, 150 apartments, and a mixed-use retail development. Alongside its burgeoning property development portfolio, Locus has continued to expand its commercial and investment activities, including JVs across the: • Alkimos Gateway Shopping Centre. • Woodvale Boulevard Shopping Centre. • Hutton Street precinct in Osborne Park. These investments allow Locus to apply its development and asset management expertise across different sectors whilst creating diversified opportunities for investors. Across all projects, the common theme is disciplined acquisition and active management. Whether the property is residential, retail, mixed-use, or industrial, Locus looks for opportunities where its team can improve the asset, address a genuine market need, and create sustainable value.
The company’s syndication model brings together aligned investors and seeks to create a transparent environment in which they remain informed and have confidence in the project strategy. “Local consultants and suppliers understand the characteristics of building in WA – from planning and climate considerations to construction conditions and buyer expectations. Their knowledge helps us identify risks earlier, make more informed decisions, and create projects that are appropriate to their location,” he reflects. As a company that values longterm relationships over transactional ones, Locus chooses partners who understand the way it works, enabling a more collaborative and efficient project timeline. “We also believe that supporting WA businesses allows more of the economic benefit generated by our developments to remain within the local community,” asserts Alder. With its developments becoming a central part of local neighbourhoods for many decades, community engagement is central to Locus’ approach. “Our first responsibility is to listen. This includes engaging with neighbours, local authorities, community representatives, and relevant organisations during planning and design. “Constructive engagement can identify issues that may not be apparent from a technical review alone and can help produce a better project,” he adds. Locus also seeks to support local organisations and community initiatives through sponsorship, participation, and direct contribution.
BUILDING QUALITY AND INTEGRITY Fostering a genuine and connected relationship with the places in which it operates, Locus’ goal is to create 8 | APAC Outlook Issue 82
developments that contribute positively to their surroundings. “Our published community commitment is based on transforming urban landscapes through sustainable and considered design and maintaining active involvement with local groups and initiatives,” Alder states. In this way, the company’s ambition going forward is to remain disciplined, sustainable, and consistent with its values. Recognising the significant opportunities in established metropolitan locations where new housing, retail services, and urban renewal can create lasting community value, Locus intends to expand its portfolio across residential, mixed-use, and commercial property whilst maintaining a strong focus on WA. As such, the company will continue building its funds management and investment platform, giving investors access to carefully selected opportunities supported by rigorous due diligence, transparent communication, and active management. Locus also seeks to increase the scale and complexity of the projects it can deliver, exemplified
by developments such as Harbour Sorrento and Harbour Hillarys. Growth in project size, however, will not come at the expense of attention to detail or financial discipline. “Our goal is not simply to accumulate projects but to build a respected, enduring WA property company known for quality, integrity, and the ability to deliver on commitments. “We will continue investing in our people and relationships because the strength of our business ultimately depends on the quality of our team, partners, and the confidence placed in us by our investors and customers,” Alder passionately concludes.
Tel: +61 488 333 288 Info@locusproperty.au
www.locusproperty.au
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Tel: +61 488 333 288 Info@locusproperty.au www.locusproperty.au
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