New force in Melbourne property: buyer momentum behind female-led developers

As buyer expectations evolve, a growing cohort of female-founded and female-led developers is quietly reshaping the city’s built environment, challenging long-held norms and redefining what quality development looks like. 

Among them is Sonia Taskovska, founder of Soliana, a female-led Melbourne developer with a growing portfolio across Brighton, South Yarra, and Elwood.

In an industry long driven by scale, speed, and yield, Sonia and her business represent a new kind of ambition - one that prioritises quality, lifestyle, and long-term value. 

Her company, Soliana, is part of a new wave of developers delivering projects that feel more personal, purposeful, and connected to the way people actually live.

“I didn’t want to build homes that just looked impressive on paper,

"I wanted to create spaces that respond to real lives — homes that are refined, intelligent, and grounded in the details that make living easier,” Sonia said.

Across her four current projects, Sonia’s approach blends design sophistication with practical consideration - a combination that’s gaining traction with buyers seeking homes that go beyond aesthetics.

From Brighton’s coastal calm to South Yarra’s urban sophistication, each Soliana development reflects an understanding of how modern families want to live: fluid spaces, intuitive layouts, and an emphasis on craftsmanship that endures.

Leonard Teplin, director of Marshall White Stonnington, said this shift in perspective is redefining the competitive edge in Melbourne’s premium residential market.

“Developers like Sonia are infusing Melbourne’s property landscape with a refined new energy,

"One grounded in pragmatism, deliberate design and a heightened sensitivity to how spaces should function, 

"What they should offer and how a home can truly elevate everyday living,” he said.

“Discerning buyers can immediately recognise when a building has been crafted with intention rather than ego,

"This is what sets Soliana’s work apart in Melbourne’s saturated market - an uncompromising dedication to detail, 

"Considering everything from where shoes are stored to the placement of linen and luggage,” he continued.

Leonard believes the change isn’t just cultural - it’s commercial.

“The market is evolving,

"Buyers are more sophisticated than ever; and the developments that harmonise beauty, function and purpose are the ones resonating."

"A new generation of developers - many of them women- is redefining leadership in the industry and setting a new benchmark for thoughtful, elevated design,” Leonard concluded. 

For Sonia Taskovska, that evolution is personal.

“I entered this industry to challenge the idea that bigger is better.” 

“For me, success isn’t about scale — it’s about substance," she explained. 

"The future of development lies in creating homes that reflect real lives, not just real estate metrics.” Sonia concluded. 

With one Brighton project nearing completion and three others underway, Soliana is proof that a fresh perspective — one that blends design intelligence with lived experience — is exactly what the Melbourne market has been waiting for.

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