<html><body>
Sydney’s Double Bay is closer a $110 million redevelopment of Kiaora Lands, with joint-venture partners Woolworths and Woollahra Council agreeing on commercial plans.
The plans, which were first discussed in 2008, include shops, a Woolworth’s supermarket, a library and a car park built.
The agreement comes after stalls in talks between the two parties in council meetings where three councillors voted to prolong discussions.
The Wentworth Courier reports that the deal includes two loans totalling more than $75 million from Woolworths, with $25 million to be funded through the council’s property reserve.
The Double Day project does not include the neighbouring Sheaf Hotel, which has been a long mooted addition to the project.
The Solotel hotel group is currently trying to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/new-south-wales/double-bay-s-sheaf-comes-with-golden-expectations/2011071350797" target="_blank">sell the neighbouring heritage-listed 1936 Sheaf Hotel</a> with $80 million hopes through John Musca of Jones Lang LaSalle.
 
 
</body></html>

awalsh-7Ub9EypybQ

Double Bay Kiaora Lands project progresses

<html><body>
The Reserve Bank is unlikely to reduce interest rates again in December, according to ANZ.
Based on minutes from the RBA’s November 1 meeting, during which the board cut rates by 0.25%, ANZ’s Ivan Colhoun says there is no sign the RBA would cut rates again soon.
“There is little in the text or the construct of the RBA's arguments to suggest that the RBA will cut interest rates again as early as December,” Colhoun says.
He says he can foresee only five situations where the RBA might ease rates, including a collapse of global growth from a possible global credit event.
Other events that might encourage the RBA to cut rates would a reduction in the forecast of inflation rates, a cut in forecasts for Australian economic growth independently from global economic developments, substantial cuts by the government in its forthcoming mid-year economic and fiscal outlook, or if the RBA decided that the downside risks to growth continued to increase and was a little less restrictive in terms of its policy settings.
“Our conclusion is that the RBA will likely ease policy a little more but still probably not as quickly as market pricing, abstracting from a significant financial collapse emerging in Europe,” he says.
“The risks to this view still seem tilted to the downside at the present time, but are emerging more slowly than during the GFC.”
 
 
</body></html>

December rate cut unlikely: ANZ

<html><body>
Six Melbourne artists have hung 36 paintings that portray six homeless teenagers painted progressively over the past three years, during which time the bonding has encouraged some of the subjects to find their way off the streets.
The exhibition is now a fundraising effort for Melbourne Citymission, which is raising money for a new education academy.
<img src="/images/stories/toseeasmile.jpg">
To See a Smile from Someone, by Joseph Attard
Dubbed Fusion6, the collective of six artists worked with the clients of Melbourne Citymission’s Frontyard program, which addresses the physical, emotional and social needs of homeless young people.
All the artists have children or grandchildren and had been meaning to do a project on teenage identity for a long time when artist Helen Edwards met the CEO of Melbourne Citymission by chance and the project was born.
“The synergy between the two people was amazing,” says Ivor Edwards, Helen’s husband and project spokesman.
<img src="/images/stories/melissa-by-terrianne.jpg">
Melissa, by Terrianne Murray
Over the three years some of the six subjects have found their feet and have achieved independence.
“The exhibition shows that despite the terrors and the darkness there can be a positive outcome,” Ivor Edwards says.
“It’s about the humanity that exists in all of us.”
<img src="/images/stories/cristel-by-terrianne.jpg">
Cristal by Terianne Murray
The subjects stayed with project for the full three years, initially volunteering out of a desire to return something to Melbourne Citymission.
“They were incredibly brave. Given the nature of their problems, to be able to talk to the artist about their lives took a lot of courage. And to stick with it for that amount of time was amazing,” says Citymission spokesperson Joni Tooth.
The six artists involved in the exhibition are Joseph Attard, Helen Edwards, Regina Hona, Lyn Mellady, Terrianne Murray and Raelene Sharp.
<img src="/images/stories/a-heavy-load--raelene_sharp1.jpg">
A Heavy Load by Raelene Sharp
Each artist painted one portrait of each subject, resulting in 36 paintings.
All of the paintings are up for sale with prices ranging from $4,200 to $15,000, and 80% of each sale goes to Melbourne Citymission.
Ivor Edwards says many of the paintings would look great in a boardroom or a corporate lobby.
Detour: Portraits from a Hard Road runs until December 3 at Gallery 15 on 15 William Street. 
Donations can be made at <a href="https://www.melbournecitymission.org.au">www.melbournecitymission.org.au</a>
 
 
 
</body></html>

Artists capture the lives of young homeless

<html><body>
The Reserve Bank will need to cut interest rates a second time for the mortgage market to fully recover, says outgoing Commonwealth Bank CEO Ralph Norris.
Norris says mortgage lending increased in the lead-up to the RBA’s 0.25% cash rate cut on Melbourne Cup Day and further cuts would help encourage that trend.
Norris says while demand for loans is sluggish as consumer and business confidence remains shaky with the global economic slump, the home loan market is showing early signs of improvement.
“We are starting to see in this quarter that the mortgage market is a little more active,” he says.
“It is a little early to say if it is purely seasonal or if there is some impact from the recent rate reduction.
“But typically, we would expect that really to be supported by a second rate reduction to see a bounce [in the mortgage market].”
He stopped short of demanding these cuts, saying the governor of the Reserve Bank is “more than adequately qualified to make that those calls”.
The November 1 rate cut to 4.5% was the first reduction by the RBA since 2009.
 
 
</body></html>

Second rate cut needed to help mortgage market: CBA's Ralph Norris

<html><body>
Australian construction industry profits are due to slip as the number of construction projects diminishes and construction costs increase in 2012, according to the latest report by Rider Levett Bucknall.
“Risk-averse banks and lending institutions continue to demand high levels of pre-sales in order to satisfy their stringent risk criteria. Consequently, there are still large numbers of projects unable to gain access to finance,” says RLB head of global research Roger Hogg.
Levels of construction in the Darwin and Canberra markets began to ease in the third quarter of 2011 and currently tenders in the marketplace are being keenly contested.
Darwin is hardest hit, with tender prices predicted to fall 11.4% and construction costs due to increase 5.3%, according to RLB.
In Adelaide tender prices will fall 3.4% and costs will increase 4% in 2012.
Tender prices increased moderately in other cities but labour and material costs are expected to exceed these price rises.
In Brisbane tender prices will increase 1% but costs are expected to rise 4%. In Canberra tender prices will increase 2.4% as costs increase 3.5%, in Melbourne prices will increase 2.7% as costs increase 3.5% and in Sydney prices will increase 2.2% as costs increase 3.5%.
Hogg says the private sector has failed to take in the slack from government stimulus projects.
“With the private sector failing to replace the government stimulated construction and infrastructure programs, contractor concerns regarding diminishing workloads will increase through the remainder of 2011 and into 2012,” he says.
The report found that residential construction work done for the June quarter was down 8% year-on-year and the national housing sector down 12% as house prices continued to fall in most capital cities.
National apartment construction slipped 2% although Melbourne bucked this trend, growing 11% by volume.
It also found that total non-residential construction work fell 24% for the June quarter year on year, thanks to weakening demand and low levels of consumer and investor confidence.
Hogg says as construction work falls, competition increases and to add to the pain costs are increasing at the same time.
“Margins are still being placed under pressure as competition for work is elevated. In the context of general levels of CPI, continued stable labour, materials and fuel costs will further enhance the cost competitiveness of building in Australia,” he says.
“It is difficult to say when these conditions will ease, but much depends on the strength and speed of the global recovery and the confidence this will provide the larger lenders.”
However, the outlook is not entirely grim. A number of projects have been awarded in Adelaide, including the $800 million Southern Expressway. National office construction increased 6.8% and industrial construction increased 20.8%.
 
 
 
</body></html>

Slower times predicted for construction industry in 2012 given risk-averse banks 

<html><body>
“Global economic headwinds” have slowed the growth of rents and capital values of offices in the Asia Pacific region in the third quarter of 2011, according to CBRE’s global chief economist.
The Asia Pacific Office Rent Index, which measures office rent, rose 12.9% year-over-year, “reflecting a continued strong rebound from the global recession,” says CBRE global chief economist Robert McGrath.
But there was just a 2.2% increase for the third quarter, “indicating that even in the region with the strongest growth, the recovery has moderated”.
It was the same story with the Asia Pacific Capital Value Index, which measures office capital, which increased 1.1% for the quarter 16.5% year on year.
“[The] quarterly increase was well below the average quarterly growth of 3.7% since Q3 2009,” McGrath writes.
However, Asia Pacific fared better than the rest of the world. The global quarterly growth of office rent was just 0.9% with a year-on-year increase of 5.1% while the average quarterly growth of office capital was 1.1% with a year-on-year increase of 10.7%.
“Although both rents and capital values continued to rise, quarterly growth rates lost momentum,” says CBRE global chief economist Raymond Torto.
“Even in Asia – which continues to propel both indices higher – activity slowed due to global economic headwinds.”
America fared poorly in Office Rent Index, with a year-on-year increase of just 1.5% and a stunted quarterly growth of 0.4%.
“Although the Americas Rent Index reached its trough in Q2 2010, Q3 2011 marks only the third quarter of notable rental growth, reflecting the lingering strains in the aftermath of the global financial crisis as well as the uncertainty arising from employment, consumer confidence and debt-related challenges,” says McGrath.
Despite Its feeble rent performance, the Office Capital Value Index for America was stronger, with quarterly growth increasing 1.5% and a year-on-year growth of 10.5%.
“[The increases demonstrate] that investor demand remains strong despite economic uncertainty,” says McGrath.
 
 
</body></html>

Asia Pacific office rents growing more slowly due to 'global economic headwinds': CBRE

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/investorsbirds.jpg"><div></div>
<div></div>
<div>
 <div></div>
<div>- Afghan property dealer Haji Baqi, who <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15334158" target="_blank">says he has lost nearly $300,000 (£191,500) in the past four weeks</a> due to suicide attacks in the Afghan capital.</div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
</div>
</body></html>

Quote of the week: Hard to be an Afghan property developer

<html><body>
The skyline of Brisbane could reach new heights with a 90-storey CBD tower approved by the council and set for 2015 completion.
<img src="/images/stories/111inside.jpg">
Developer Billbergia intends to build the 274-metre tower named 111+222 on the site of an abandoned Vision project bounded by Mary and Margaret streets.
It will stand 31 metres above Harry Triguboff’s Meriton Soleil tower, which was officially opened two weeks ago.
Billbergia bought the site for $40 million in 2010 in a liquidation sale of Austcorp’s failed $1 billion tower, which had been due for May 2012 completion before it went nowhere during the global financial crisis, leaving a water-logged eight-storey pit. The site previously sold for $24 million in 2004.
Billbergia has secured funding from AMP Capital.
The Bates Smart-designed development proposal was for two towers: a 36-level, 45,000-square-metre commercial office building at 111 Mary Street and a 92-level, 297-metre, 112,900-square-metre tower at 222 Margaret Street.
But aviation issues prompted Brisbane City Council to seek a cut in the height by 23 metres to 274 metres given concerns it would block radar signals from Brisbane Airport.
Billbergia spokesman Rick Graf said the company would appeal the decision to cut 23 metres.
The council approved the plans for the floor space.
<img src="/images/stories/111inside2.jpg">
The larger tower will be a commercial and residential development and will include a 380-room five-star hotel and 800 apartments. It will have room for 1,000 car parks across eight basement levels.
Spokesman Rick Graf confirms four major hotels are vying for rights to run the hotel in the mega tower.
Bates Smart has promoted the development as environmentally friendly with the north-facing rooftop of 111 Mary Street angled to incorporate a photovoltaic array, while the roof of 222 Margaret Street will incorporate wind turbines. It will come with a gas-fired trigeneration plant, which will provide on-site power generation.
As approved the project will come in as the fourth tallest building in Australia, although there are mooted plans to build a 280-metre tower on the former CUB brewery site in Melbourne, as well as a planned Southbank Tower that might peak out at 276 metres.
Currently Melbourne has four of the 10 tallest buildings in Australia, though Gold Coast takes position one.
The tallest building in Australia is Gold Coast’s Q1 tower, with its antenna reaching 323 metres. Completed in 2005, it’s the world’s third-tallest residential tower. The 80 level colossus was designed by Atelier SDG and Innovarchi and inspired by the Sydney Olympic Torch.
Second is Sydney’s iconic 309-metre Sydney Tower structure. Construction finished in 1981, and it cost $36 million. The tower features the Skywalk at 268 metres, which lets visitors walk around on a glass floor. It was designed by Donald Crone and Associates.
Third is Melbourne’s 297-metre Eureka tower in Southbank. Finished in 2006, the 91-storey building <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/fender-katsilidis-ever-changing-place-in-melbourne-s-skyline/2011101351927" target="_blank">was designed by Fender Katsalidis</a>. The tower features the Eureka Sky Deck, which extends out of the building so visitors can look into the void.
Melbourne takes fourth place too with the 265-metre 120 Collins Street. The 52-level Hassell- designed building was completed in 1991. The postmodern building features a granite façade.
Collins Street again takes fifth place with the 260-metre 101 Collins. The 57-level office building was completed in 1991. Designed by Denton Corker Marshall, the lobby of the building features rows of imposing columns.
Melbourne’s 251-metre Rialto towers take sixth place in Australia. Designed by Gerard de Preu and Partners and Perrott Lyon Mathieson, the towers were finished in 1986. The construction was built on the former sight of the Victorian era Robb’s Buildings. Rialto became part of sporting history with its annual 242-metre stair race.
Perth gets a spot at number seven with the 249-metre Central Park Tower. Designed by Forbes and Fitzhardinge, the 51-level building was completed in 1992. The office block towers over Perth and includes a landscaped park.
Just behind is Perth’s latest 244-metre skyscraper, which has just topped out and is expected to open soon at number eight. Construction began in 2008 and it’s due to become to the global head office for BHP Billiton. It 46-level façade is a wall of glass.
The Gold Coast comes in on the list again at equal ninth with the 243-metre Soul tower. The 77-level tower has topped out and it is expected to open in 2012. The residential building in Surfers Paradise cost $850 million.
And at equal ninth Brisbane has the 243-metre Soleil Meriton building. The 76-level tower is set to open very soon as a series of serviced apartments with 10 levels of underground car parks.
 
</body></html>

Brisbane tower set to be third tallest in Australia and loom over Harry Triguboff’s Soleil

<html><body>
Farm income during 2011 and 2012 is expected to be double the average of the previous two decades due to a combination of high food prices and bumper crops, according to Philip Lowe, assistant economic governor with the Reserve Bank.
Speaking at Australian Farm Institute Agriculture Roundtable Conference, Lowe said in an uncertain global financial environment the outlook for Australian agriculture was good.
According to IMF figures, global food prices have increased 40% since 2004 and other figures show commodities such as wool, beef, wheat and sugar experienced similar boosts.
These increases have had an impact on the costs of inputs for farming, like fuel fertiliser and seed, but overall Lowe says the rise in prices is good news for domestic producers.
Lowe says the near-record-breaking expected winter wheat crop of around 40 million tonnes follows a good harvest last year. Farm output has increased by about 70% since the mid-1990s.
“This combination of generally high prices and high output has provided a substantial boost to aggregate income of the farming sector over the past financial year, and another favourable outcome is expected this year,” Lowe says.
“After adjusting for inflation, farm incomes over these two years are expected to be almost double the average of the previous two decades.”
Lowe says the increase in global demand for food comes from the rising food consumption in Asia as well increased meat consumption, which demands large amounts of grain, as well as an increase in the use of foods for non-consumption purposes like bio-fuels. This comes with a modest expansion in the global supply due to urbanisation in Asia and an increase in extreme weather.
Ivan Colhoun from ANZ Research says: “While the speech is mainly focused on the medium-term positive outlook for agriculture, there was some guidance about monetary policy. It's currently neutral, and it seems increasingly dependent on how things play out in Europe.”
“The European situation remains grim… there is likely to be considerable uncertainty about the global economy for an extended period.
“Encouragingly, the US economic data has generally been better than expected recently, corporate balance sheets remain strong and there are few signs that the financial turbulence has led to the significant deferral of spending on capital goods that caused so much damage in 2008 and 2009. At the same time, while Asian growth has slowed, growth remains firm and is increasingly domestically sourced (something that needs to continue to increase across time),” he says.
He also notes: “The downward trend for global food prices over the past 100 years appears to have ended.”
 
 
</body></html>

Bumper crops and increased demand to increase farm income to near record levels: RBA 

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/vicwarehouse_0005_rouse.jpg.jpg">
One of Melbourne’s most interesting warehouse conversion offerings is a four-bedroom <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-port+melbourne-108350811">Rouse Street abode</a> (pictured above) in Port Melbourne with a sweet pedigree. Owner Richard O’Bryan has a history of converting industrial buildings for residential use. He cut his teeth on the Hat Factory in Prahran and went onto warehouses in Collingwood and Kensington. Also worked on the Melbourne Central Shot Tower conversion as a trainee construction manager. He’s also been responsible for the Swallow and Ariel factory in Port Melbourne and the Red Tulip development in Prahran.
He put his 30 years of experience into the Port Melbourne development converting two adjoining buildings that had been built for the Australasian Sugar Refining Company in the 1890s and Robert Harper and Company in 1900. The seven apartments were finished and sold in 2007 and since then O’Bryan combined two of the apartments into one townhouse of more than 210 square metres and kept it as his family home.
With plans to head to Bondi, the four-bedroom residence with huge entertaining and living areas, gym and its own courtyard has been listed for November 19 auction. The three-storey property has expectations for more than $1.8 million through Gerald Betts from RT Edgar in Albert Park.
“This property is unique. It’s hard to put a price on it,” says Betts.
<img src="/images/stories/vicwarehouse_0001_palmer.jpg.jpg">
In Fitzroy a grand conversion gives little away with its imposing red brick façade. Past the discreet entrance of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-fitzroy-108339686">Palmer Street property </a>(pictured above)– and its more than 185 square metres of space with a very high-roofed interior. None of the industrial past interior remains, but it has kept the wide-open spaces associated with conversion. It’s scheduled for November 12 auction with $1.1 million plus hopes through Simon Shrimpton with Jellis Craig in Clifton Hill.
<img src="/images/stories/vicwarehouse_0002_penny.jpg.jpg">
In South Yarra the work of artist Stephen Bram and architect James Brearley remains in a 1995 conversion. The 250-square-metre <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-south+yarra-108294126">Penny Lane property</a> (pictured above) is on a 112-square-metre block and is being sold as part of a liquidation sale under instruction by Rodgers Reidy Chartered Accountants. Estate agent Michael Major from Sutherland Farrelly East Melbourne is expecting $1.2 million plus at the November 12 auction.
<img src="/images/stories/vicwarehouse_0000_mollison.jpg.jpg">
An Abbotsford conversion has kept its rustic charm. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-abbotsford-108566011">Mollison Street property</a> (pictured above) has three bedrooms and two bathrooms spread over three floors. It’s been listed with Sarah Case through RT Edgar in Toorak and the property is tipped for around $2 million.
<img src="/images/stories/vicwarehouse_0004_rossmoyne.jpg.jpg">
A Thornbury two-level warehouse conversion has been listed with a $1.09 million asking price. The three-bedroom <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-thornbury-107560897">Rossmoyne Street</a> home (pictured above) boasts three outdoor areas including one with a pond. Jonathan West from Nelson Alexander Real Estate in Northcote has the listing for the 335-square-metre abode, which sits on a 317-square-metre block.
For stylish warehouse conversions in Sydney, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/eight-residential-warehouse-offerings-in-sydney/2011110852267?source=flicker2?source=flicker2">click here.</a>
 
</body></html>

Port Melbourne tops list of five special residential warehouse offerings in Melbourne

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Alistair Walsh

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News