Across Sydney’s prestige property market, buyers are rethinking what apartment living can offer them.
Downsizing has long been part of the Australian property journey, but luxury property seekers are looking for homes that do more than offer a more manageable footprint.
Instead, they’re looking to ‘rightsize’ and find homes that fit their lifestyle. Not just in terms of space, but also in terms of design, comfort, convenience, and amenities.
Many Sydney buyers are finding these right-sized homes in modern apartments, with McGrath’s Rightsizing 2026 report finding that new prestige apartments in the city have increased by 34% over the past five years compared to established stock.
Location is just as important, with suburbs in the inner east like Darling Point and Edgecliff quickly becoming tightly held hotspots for some of the city’s most refined luxury residential developments.
Darling Point, for example, is now ranked as the second-most expensive suburb for apartments nationally according to the McGrath report.
These prized apartment precincts, as well as the residences being built there, are quickly becoming the epicentres of the modern rightsizing trend, meeting the lifestyle needs of discerning buyers.
Sydney's prestige property buyers are turning to luxury apartments that balance space with convenience.
Inside the new generation of Sydney’s large luxury apartments
A project that’s setting the standard for what high-end rightsizers are looking for is One Darling Point in Sydney.
A collection of 41 three‑ and four‑bedroom residences located in Edgecliff, One Darling Point was created by Lendlease in partnership with Tzannes and interior designers Alexander &CO.
From the beginning, this rare partnership between three of Australia’s leading names in property and design has been guided by a shared philosophy: that great architecture should be shaped by its setting.
“Our intention was to create architecture shaped directly by its place – by the harbour, the sandstone, and the shifting light,” says Tzannes Founder Alec Tzannes.
“The architecture is conceived to be inseparable from its context, optimising the special qualities of living in this part of Sydney.”
Tzannes' gently curved brick forms echo the surrounding landscape, while Alexander &CO.’s interiors introduce warmth, texture and a sense of quiet grandeur.
The result is a building that feels both timeless and contemporary, one that sits confidently within its neighbourhood rather than competing with it.
One Darling Point is exceeding the expectations of modern apartment buyers.
What rightsizers really want from a move to the harbour
The McGrath Rightsizing 2026 report finds that rightsizers are expecting more space from their new luxury apartments.
With prestige buyers used to large family homes, many are unwilling to forgo the comfort and entertaining capability that more space offers.
Separate living zones, expansive kitchens, and considered storage are all becoming critical parts of the rightsizing equation.
According to McGrath’s report, the average prestige three‑bedroom apartment in Sydney is expected to reach 166sqm by 2028, a clear signal that buyers are prioritising space even as they opt for more considered floorplans.
One Darling Point has been conceived with this trajectory firmly in mind.
Its residences offer generous internal footprints that meet this benchmark, allowing rooms to function as genuine living spaces rather than token extras.
McGrath’s Rightsizing report also found that even in the city, parking is also a major consideration for prestige buyers.
The report highlights that homes with multiple car parks can command a price premium of up to 62% in the Sydney market.
At One Darling Point, this expectation is met as standard, reinforcing the project’s appeal to buyers who want apartment living without logistical trade‑offs.
Discerning downsizers are expecting their apartments to be larger than ever before.
Location, lifestyle, and long-term value
While the apartments themselves are designed as calm, elevated retreats, the lifestyle beyond the front door is equally compelling.
While Darling Point might be the nation’s second-most expensive suburb for apartments, neighbouring Edgecliff is quickly making a name for itself as a rising star for Sydney buyers.
According to realestate.com.au data, the suburb’s median apartment price increased by 6.4% in the past year to March 2026.
This growth is driven by Edgecliff’s connectivity, with the CBD only minutes away, and Rushcutters Bay Park, Double Bay’s café culture, Woollahra’s galleries and Paddington’s dining and fashion institutions all within easy reach.
For buyers embracing rightsizing, Edgecliff is a highly desirable location and One Darling Point represents a clear evolution of prestige living in the suburb.
It offers rightsizers more of what they’re looking for: generous space, architectural integrity, and a location that continues to rank among the nation’s most coveted.
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