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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/record-seeking-brighton-offering-kinane-to-lose-half-its-tennis-court-as-825-square-metre-block-shaved-off-for-separate-sale/2012071555582"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/4m.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/record-seeking-brighton-offering-kinane-to-lose-half-its-tennis-court-as-825-square-metre-block-shaved-off-for-separate-sale/2012071555582">price hopes for an 825-square-metre parcel of land </a>that businessman Russell Small has shaved off of his record-seeking Brighton mansion Kinane to sell separately. The Kinane estate will lose its outdoor pool and half its tennis court. The entire estate had $20 million hopes on its August listing.
 
<hr>
 
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/palm-beach-trophy-home-kaluas-record-setting-price-revealed-at-%2422-million/2012071655601"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/22m.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/palm-beach-trophy-home-kaluas-record-setting-price-revealed-at-%2422-million/2012071655601">sale price of Kalua</a>, the Joye family’s plantation-style Palm Beach trophy home, which sold to retired Sydney car dealer Laurie Sutton. Sutton and his wife will be the 1920s beach bungalow’s third owner. It was last sold by the Hordern retailing family to the more entrepreneurial Joye family, the current vendors, for $330,000 in 1978.
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/upwardly-mobile-waterloo-sydney-shows-impact-of-urban-regeneration/2012071655602"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/167percent.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/upwardly-mobile-waterloo-sydney-shows-impact-of-urban-regeneration/2012071655602">amount that weekly household income rose</a> between 2001 and 2011 in the Sydney suburb of Waterloo. The suburb has shaken off a reputation for crime and its low socio-economic profile to become a sought-after location for inner-city apartment living. 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/australias-purported-housing-shortage-of-85000-dwellings-is-complete-fiction-philip-soos/2012071655590"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/85k.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/australias-purported-housing-shortage-of-85000-dwellings-is-complete-fiction-philip-soos/2012071655590">deficit of dwellings in Australia</a>, according to a 2009 National Housing Supply Council report. Academic Philip Soos from Deakin University has rubished this figure, saying "the purported shortage of 85,000 dwellings was complete fiction". 
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/office/investor-pays-%243686-per-square-metre-for-whole-floor-in-fender-katsalidis-melbourne-office-block/2012071855629"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/3686.gif"></a>
The price per square metre an investor has paid for a 434-square-metre whole office floor in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/office/investor-pays-%243686-per-square-metre-for-whole-floor-in-fender-katsalidis-melbourne-office-block/2012071855629">Fender Katsalidis-designed 14-level office building</a> on La Trobe Street in Melbourne's CBD. 
 
<hr>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/simone-callahan-sells-arthurs-seat-home-for-%2415-million/2012071755623" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/1point5m.gif"></a>
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/simone-callahan-sells-arthurs-seat-home-for-%2415-million/2012071755623" target="_blank">sale price for Simone Callahan's four-bedroom Arthurs Seat home </a>with a tennis court and swimming pool, and guest quarters. Shane Warne's ex-wife had first put it on the market in March 2010 with a $2 million price tag. 
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/70.gif">
The number of storeys in Brookfield Residential's approved Sydney residential tower proposal for its Sydney Water Board site. It will also be the tallest residential tower in the Sydney skyline at 240 metres, beating off Meriton's 230-metre tall World Tower, which dates back to 2004.
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cknowlton-QnEa6ntUYP

The 7 must-know numbers of the week, starting with price hopes for piece of Brighton estate Kinane

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The advantages of starting your business from the comfort of your own home are clear – you keep your overheads to a minimum, you eliminate the daily commute and you can be flexible with your hours. 
But there a number of myths that surround home working. Many people can’t grasp that a serious business, rather than a hobby, can be built from your home. 
So, if you’re weighing up whether to launch your business from the spare bedroom or kitchen, here are 10 common misconceptions you must be aware of:
1. The hours are easy
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/clocksus.jpg">
It’s tempting to think that running a home-based business involves a few hours on the computer in the morning, a nice leisurely lunch, maybe a phone call or two in the afternoon before an early finish. 
However, if your business is to be anything other than a mildly diverting sideline, you will have to put in the work. 
“When you’re by yourself, you do everything – bookkeeping, marketing, sales, the lot,” says Cas McCullough, who runs social enterprise <a target="_blank" href="https://mumatopia.com/" rel="nofollow">Mumatopia</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.supportawahp.com/" rel="nofollow">Support a Work At Home Person</a> from her house. 
“All of this takes a lot of time and people underestimate this. They often take things on as a hobby and then find it is very popular and organically grows. They don’t think long term.” 
Set a strategy for your business early on, have an in-depth business plan. And consider outsourcing – it’ll save you time.
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.startupsmart.com.au/" target="_blank">StartupSmart</a>.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
2. You can sit back and get rich quickly
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/chairsus.jpg">
Despite what the endless ads tell you, there aren’t many jobs that will earn you big bucks just by staying at home making the odd phone call. 
“You look at the content behind those stupid Google ads about homeworking and it promises that you’ll be working for about seven minutes a day,” says McCullough. 
“You can be a success if you have the right business model but, if not, you’ll fall on your face.” 
“People who are pushed into home working because they lose their job or think they will get rich quick are more likely to fall over. They set up a Facebook page and wonder why no one has turned up.” 
“It’s better to start a business that you’re passionate about. You’re then more likely to be proactive and engage with people.”
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
3. You don’t need to spend money on day care
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/daycaresus.jpg">
For busy parents, working from home may seem like the ideal solution – not only do you see more of your family but you also save money on day care for your children. 
Right? 
“You will occasionally, if not regularly, need a babysitter for your children,” says McCullough. “I have regular care once a week and sometimes my husband can help out, but you need the balance as you will need to go out for meetings.” 
“Also, your business commitments won’t keep to normal working hours, when your kids may be at school.”
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
4. It’s not a real job
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/realsus.jpg">
Perhaps the most hurtful myth about home-based working is that it is somehow a lesser job. That it is a frivolous hobby for bored mothers, rather than a platform for fast-growth businesses, ignoring the fact that the likes of Google and Amazon started life as home-based start-ups. 
“A lot of people tell me that it’s not a real job and I can see the irritation that causes others who work from home,” says McCullough. 
“It has got a bit of a bad rap, but just look at the number of people who work from home. Look at what many of them go on to achieve. They are worthwhile businesses and they are contributing to the economy.”
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
5. All you’re doing is moving your job to your home
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/jobhomesus.jpg">
 If you’re moving from a corporate career to working from home, it’s natural to think that you can just supplant your previous working life and routine into your new one. 
Jane Shelton, managing director of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://marshallplace.com.au/node/41" rel="nofollow">Marshall Associates</a> and author of No Workplace Like Home, advises: “It's always nice to have a steady routine in a large corporation, where there are colleagues at hand to address the various competing demands of the clients and superiors, but when the only boss you have to blame is yourself, the rules of the game must change.” 
“Time schedules have to be modified to address your role in the value chain, the demands of business development, the schedules of family, friends and of course competitive suppliers of your products and services.” 
“A better way to respond to the time schedule and routine is to look at it as a question addressed by your business and marketing plans.” 
“You will find that the way that you go about the only real task of business – creating and corralling customers – relies on a systematic focus on staying within the decision-making cycle of your clients, customer and business communities of interest.”
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
6. You don’t have to worry about health and safety
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/healthsafesus.jpg">
If you are wallowing in a messy, potentially dangerous home-based office, you risk more than being called a slob. 
Not only is your own health and safety important if you are to keep running your business, but any staff and clients will need to be protected too, as a recent case where Telstra had to pay medical and legal costs for an injured home worker highlighted. 
“Ensuring that your home is a safe workplace doesn’t happen by chance or guesswork,” Shelton says. 
“It requires a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards and risks and any particular circumstances that apply to your home working base.” 
Shelton advises going through five key steps to get your OHS in good shape:
<ol>
<li>Finding hazards that could hurt the people who either live, work or visit your home.</li>
<li>Family forums that bring together all of these people on a regular basis to make sure that they are as safety conscious as you are and undertake the safety drills that are an essential part of hazard awareness.</li>
<li>Figuring out how the people in and around your home life could get hurt and working life hazards (the level of risk).</li>
<li>Fixing identified problems by sorting out and installing the most effective risk controls that are reasonably practicable under your circumstances.</li>
<li>Following through on your risk controls and checking that they are working to cope when things do not go according to plan.</li>
</ol>
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 7. Your home life will remain exactly the same
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/homelifesus.jpg">
Home is a nice place to relax and turn off after a long, hard day at work. Surely, if you spend all day there, you will be permanently in the comfort zone? Shelton has some words of warning. 
“Firstly, map your own interests and personal priorities and then set out how the start-up is going to help you achieve your objectives,” she says. 
“Be honest with yourself and answer these core questions: How will this venture change our way of life? What do I really like doing, and how will it shape my family's future?” 
“Who can support me while I get the business up and running? Where will all this take us and what will it cost to succeed?” 
“Then you need to set aside a fixed amount of time for your business homework, when the kids have done theirs and get partners and friends to share the burden of developing your start-up as an adjunct to your family life rather than an alternative to it.”
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 8. Clients won’t take you seriously
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/jestersus.jpg">
Many budding entrepreneurs fret about the impression left upon clients by their home office. 
Obviously, you don’t want to hold an important meeting with a key client while you are both wedged on the sofa, trying to ignore the child that is watching cartoons on the TV. 
But this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to convey a professional demeanour to clients. 
If they have to come to your house, set aside a room for meetings and ensure there aren’t any interruptions. Better still, hold the meeting at a café or at a serviced office that you can rent out by the hour. 
There are other tricks to making your business appear bigger, such as adopting a 1800 telephone number, but, ultimately, your customers will primarily care about the products or service you provide them. You working from home shouldn’t be a factor.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 9. There’s no good financial reason, other than cutting overheads
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/chestsus.jpg">
A common rationale for working from home is the money it will save you on office space, furniture and commuting. 
But don’t be fooled into thinking that there is little other financial reason to working from home other than the overheads you’ll save on. 
Australia’s tax code is fairly generous for entrepreneurs with home offices, with deductions offered for factors such as electricity, cleaning supplies, depreciation of office equipment, mortgage interest, rent, rates and insurance. 
Indeed, the Tax Office provides a “bonus deduction” of 50% for small businesses with qualifying assets.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
10. Being at home all day is awesome
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/paperworksus.jpg">
Office dwellers commonly think that working from home is an indulgent luxury that they’d give their right arm to experience. 
In reality, working from home by yourself for a long period can be quite taxing. Entrepreneurs often miss the collaboration and interaction that comes with working alongside colleagues. 
Shelton says: “You need a staged plan that lists the people who are your keys to success. This means that you identify business leaders, distributors and potential customers who you plan to meet and greet.” 
“By doing this you are proactively establishing what’s new and different and can overcome that sense of being cut off by your start-up activities.” 
“Pick up the phone, send them an email and invite their comment on what you are doing.”
This article originally appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.startupsmart.com.au/">StartupSmart</a>.
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The top 10 myths about running a business from home

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The number of days property is lingering on the market before sale is increasing in most capitals and was higher in June 2012 than two years ago across Australia, according to Australian Property Monitors.
In Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra the average days on market figure for residential property peaked in the traditionally slow month of January this year. It took Sydney vendors an average of 95 days to sell property in January, slightly more than the 88 days it took on average in June 2012 and well up on the 62 average in June 2010.
Melbourne vendors took an average of 103 days to sell property in January this year, more than 50 days it took on average in June 2010. The number of days on market had fallen slightly to 96 by June 2012.
The number of days on market peaked in Canberra in February this year at an average of 87 days, with vendors taking an average of 82 days to secure a buyer in June. 
In Brisbane and Hobart the number of days homes lingered on the market in June 2012 was the highest it had been for more than two years. The days on market figure in Perth in June 2012 was just one day short of its April 2012 peak of 137.
Click to enlarge
<a rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2012/07/apmjuly161.gif" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/apmjuly161thumnb.gif"></a>
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Canberra still somewhat snappy, but days on market increasing in many capitals as property market cools: APM

Melbourne unit prices – how your suburb went in the 2012 June quarter: REIV

Melbourne house prices – how your suburb went in the 2012 June quarter: REIV

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Median prices rebounded in the June quarter assisted by limited top-end Melbourne house activity, but still remain 5.3% lower annually, according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria.

Reversing a trend of the past year, top-end Melbourne house prices rebounded 6.7% in the June quarter, according to the REIV. 
Overall, Melbourne house prices rose 2.9% to a median of $535,000 in the June quarter, with the lowest-priced quartile rising 2.6%.
Median prices sit at 5.3% lower over the year.
In the year to March, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/victorian-median-house-prices-and-quarterly-and-annual-changes-reiv/2012041354262" target="_blank">house prices fell furthest in more affluent suburbs</a>, but in the June quarter house prices in the priciest 5th percentile rose from a median price of $1,406,500 to a median of $1,500,250.
This trend was reversed for unit prices, with prices for the most expensive units (those in the 95th percentile) falling an average of 3.3%, from a median of $950,900 to $920,000.
The REIV chief Enzo Raimondo said that a combination of broader economic factors, slowing population growth and continuing low levels of consumer confidence had resulted in no real capital growth in the residential market over the past year. 
But the REIV chief Enzo Raimondo noted while the overall median price had fallen 5.3% over the past 12 months the overall median had not changed in the past six months.
“Both buyers and sellers are approaching the market in a conservative manner. This is translating into a lower number of sales than is present in a strong market and as a result, no real price growth has been recorded.
“The real estate market moves in cycles and, after the initial price falls in 2011, it is now in a period of stability marked by low activity.
Raimondo noted the median price had fallen 5.3% over the past 12 months but the overall median had not changed in the past six months.
The affluent suburb of East Melbourne had Melbourne's greatest increase in unit prices during the June 2012 quarter, according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria and Toorak had the highest house price growth.
But agents caution that it's not likely that the approximnate 50% hikes in their median represented an actual shift in prices, but rather the predominance of pricey sales within the fewer than 30 actual sales.
It more likely reflected the dominence of a particular pricey market segment or even new development amid limited sales activity, rather than a dramatic price shift.
in the median represented an actual shift in prices, but rather the predominance of pricey unit sales within the fewer than 30 actual sales. The same goes with significant downwards shifts, which again reflect the dominence of a particular market segment amid limited sales activity, rather than a dramatic price shift.
Regional dwelling prices slid in the June quarter. At the same time last year <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/victorian-regional-centres-outperforming-melbourne-reiv/2011072550898" target="_blank">regional Victorian suburbs outperformed their Melbourne peers</a>, but after a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/regional-victorian-property-prices-going-nowhere/2012042654439" target="_blank">flat March quarter</a> regional house and unit prices fell in the June quarter. 
Regional Victorian house prices fell an average of 1.6% in the June quarter, with unit prices faring even worse, with a 4.5% fall. 
Melbourne 
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="73" nowrap valign="top">
House Prices
</td>
<td width="77" valign="top">
Jun-12 Q
</td>
<td width="62" valign="top">
% chg to last q
</td>
<td width="84" valign="top">
Mar-12 Q
</td>
<td width="50" valign="top">
% chg to q last year
</td>
<td width="84" valign="top">
Jun-11 Q
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="73" nowrap valign="top">
Lower Quartile
</td>
<td width="77" nowrap valign="top">
$400,000
</td>
<td width="62" nowrap valign="top">
2.6%
</td>
<td width="84" nowrap valign="top">
$390,051
</td>
<td width="50" nowrap valign="top">
-3.6%
</td>
<td width="84" nowrap valign="top">
$415,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="73" nowrap valign="top">
Median
</td>
<td width="77" nowrap valign="top">
$535,000
</td>
<td width="62" nowrap valign="top">
2.9%
</td>
<td width="84" nowrap valign="top">
$520,000
</td>
<td width="50" nowrap valign="top">
-5.3%
</td>
<td width="84" nowrap valign="top">
$565,050
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="73" nowrap valign="top">
Upper Quartile
</td>
<td width="77" nowrap valign="top">
$750,000
</td>
<td width="62" nowrap valign="top">
2.7%
</td>
<td width="84" nowrap valign="top">
$730,000
</td>
<td width="50" nowrap valign="top">
-6.1%
</td>
<td width="84" nowrap valign="top">
$798,750
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="73" nowrap valign="top">
85th Percentile
</td>
<td width="77" nowrap valign="top">
$940,000
</td>
<td width="62" nowrap valign="top">
5.0%
</td>
<td width="84" nowrap valign="top">
$895,000
</td>
<td width="50" nowrap valign="top">
-4.2%
</td>
<td width="84" nowrap valign="top">
$981,650
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="73" nowrap valign="top">
95th Percentile
</td>
<td width="77" nowrap valign="top">
$1,500,250
</td>
<td width="62" nowrap valign="top">
6.7%
</td>
<td width="84" nowrap valign="top">
$1,406,500
</td>
<td width="50" nowrap valign="top">
-0.7%
</td>
<td width="84" nowrap valign="top">
$1,510,000
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 Source: <a href="https://www.reiv.com.au/" target="_blank">REIV</a>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="75">
Unit Prices
</td>
<td valign="top" width="79">
Jun-12 Q
</td>
<td valign="top" width="74">
% chg to last q
</td>
<td valign="top" width="81">
Mar-12 Q
</td>
<td valign="top" width="59">
% chg to q last year
</td>
<td valign="top" width="81">
Jun-11 Q
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="75">
Lower Quartile
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="79">
$357,500
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="74">
2.1%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="81">
$350,000
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="59">
-2.1%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="81">
$365,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="75">
Median
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="79">
$450,000
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="74">
1.9%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="81">
$441,500
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="59">
-4.1%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="81">
$469,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="75">
Upper Quartile
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="79">
$580,000
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="74">
-1.5%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="81">
$589,000
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="59">
-4.9%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="81">
$610,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="75">
85th Percentile
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="79">
$680,000
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="74">
-1.1%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="81">
$687,350
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="59">
-4.9%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="81">
$715,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="75">
95th Percentile
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="79">
$920,000
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="74">
-3.3%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="81">
$950,900
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="59">
-7.1%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="81">
$990,000
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
 Source: <a href="https://www.reiv.com.au/" target="_blank">REIV</a>
Regional Victoria
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
House Prices
</td>
<td width="76" valign="top">
Jun-12 Q
</td>
<td width="44" valign="top">
% chg to last q
</td>
<td width="76" valign="top">
Mar-12 Q
</td>
<td width="70" valign="top">
% chg to q  last year
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top">
Jun-11 Q
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
Lower Quartile
</td>
<td width="76" nowrap valign="top">
$231,000
</td>
<td width="44" nowrap valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="76" nowrap valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="70" nowrap valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="79" nowrap valign="top">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
Median
</td>
<td width="76" nowrap valign="top">
$305,000
</td>
<td width="44" nowrap valign="top">
-1.6%
</td>
<td width="76" nowrap valign="top">
$310,000
</td>
<td width="70" nowrap valign="top">
-4.7%
</td>
<td width="79" nowrap valign="top">
$320,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
Upper Quartile
</td>
<td width="76" nowrap valign="top">
$402,750
</td>
<td width="44" nowrap valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="76" nowrap valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="70" nowrap valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="79" nowrap valign="top">
 
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
  Source: <a href="https://www.reiv.com.au/" target="_blank">REIV</a>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="67">
Unit Prices
</td>
<td valign="top" width="91">
Jun-12 Q
</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">
% chg to last q
</td>
<td valign="top" width="77">
Mar-12 Q
</td>
<td valign="top" width="80">
% chg to last year
</td>
<td valign="top" width="70">
Jun-11 Q
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="67">
Lower Quartile
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="91">
$200,000
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="77">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="80">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="67">
Median
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="91">
$247,250
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
-4.5%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="77">
$259,000
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="80">
-1.1%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
$250,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="67">
Upper Quartile
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="91">
$289,000
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="72">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="77">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="80">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="70">
 
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
 Source: <a href="https://www.reiv.com.au/" target="_blank">REIV</a>
 
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Surprise Melbourne median house price rebound - 2.9% in June quarter, with biggest growth in the top end: REIV

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13 Caird Place, Seven Hills, NSW 2147
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/caird.jpg">
An extra-large six-bedroom house in a quiet cul-de-sac could appeal to investors, as its current tenants pay $550 per week. It is within walking distance of Seven Hills North Public and Seven Hills High School and also close to the train station, M2 and M7. The tenants are on an expired lease but are keen to stay on. It also includes a two-car garage and a pergola and barbecue area.
John Law Property agent Jay Chaudhary<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-seven+hills-110761767" target="_blank"> is marketing the property</a> with price hopes of $350,000 plus, and if it sells for that price that would secure an investor a remarkable gross rental yield of 8.2% at its current rent, well above the gross rental yield for Seven Hills houses of 5%, according to RP Data. The gross rental yield does not consider the costs of maintaining the property, including council rates and other fees such as water bills and managing agent fees.
The median house price in Seven Hills fell 1.7% in the past year but rose 21.4% in the past five years, according to RP Data.
<a href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT" target="_blank">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $7,000 and over five years to be $21,000.
The property will go to auction Saturday, July 14 at 1pm.
For more information about prices and yields in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Seven Hills, see the RP Data suburb page.</a>
For another investment prospect open for inspection this weekend, see pages 2 and 3.
<hr>
4/808 Humffray Street, Mount Pleasant, Vic 3350
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/07/humffray.jpg">
In a boutique block of four, this two-bedroom villa unit in the Ballarat suburb of Mount Pleasant has been recently re-carpeted and repainted. It is currently tenanted until September for below-market rent, but listing agent Simon Lee of Ray White says it could be expected to fetch $195 per week. Lee says the tenants would be willing to move out before September. The property is close to public transport.
Lee<a href="https://www.raywhite.com/vic/mount-pleasant/803871/" target="_blank"> is marketing the property</a> with price hopes of $180,000 plus, and if it sells for $180,000 and is let at $195 per week, that would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 5.6%, above the indicative gross rental yield of 5.2% for Mount Pleasant houses, according to RP Data. The gross rental yield does not consider the costs of maintaining the property, including council rates and other fees such as water bills and managing agent fees.
The median house price in Mount Pleasant rose 2% in the past year and 47.1% in tha past five years, according to RP Data.
<a href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT" target="_blank">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $3,000 and over five years to be $6,000.
The property will be open for inspection Saturday, July 14 at noon and will go to auction Saturday, July 21 at 1pm.
For more about prices and yields in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Mount Pleasant, see the RP Data suburb page.</a>
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
13b Nullaburra Road, Newport, NSW 2106
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/nullaburra.jpg" width="470">
This four-bedroom duplex on 550 square metres of land is currently tenanted at $860 per week, and the rent is set to go up to $900 per week in the next few months. The current tenants are on a six-month lease that is due to expire around the end of the year. There are ocean glimpses from the second level, and the property includes a double garage and a low-maintenance backyard. Domain Residential agent Dushan Prica describes the property in its marketing as "a great investment opportunity for those heading towards the stock market exits!".<a href="https://www.raywhite.com/vic/mount-pleasant/803871/" target="_blank"></a>
Dushan Prica<a target="_blank" href="https://www.raywhite.com/vic/mount-pleasant/803871/"> is marketing the property</a> with price hopes of $949,000 plus, and if it sells for $949,000 that would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 4.7% at its current rent, above the indicative gross rental yield of 3.8% for Newport houses, according to RP Data. It would secure a gross rental yield of 4.96% at $900 per week. The gross rental yield does not consider the costs of maintaining the property, including council rates and other fees such as water bills and managing agent fees.
The median house price in Newport fell 3.2% in the past year but rose 7% in tha past five years, according to RP Data.
<a href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT" target="_blank">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $15,000 and over five years to be $48,000.
The property will be open for inspection Saturday, July 14 at noon and will go to auction Saturday, July 21 at 1pm.
For more about prices and yields in Newport, see the RP Data suburb page.
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Friday form guide: Yields of up to 8.2% in Seven Hills

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<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/85percent.gif">
The percentage of loans by collapsed fund management and mortgage lender Provident Capital that were six months or more in arrears.
 
<hr>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/barangaroo-south-construction-set-to-begin-as-lend-lease-raises-%242-billion/2012070955478" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/2b.gif"></a>
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/barangaroo-south-construction-set-to-begin-as-lend-lease-raises-%242-billion/2012070955478" target="_blank">amount of money developer Lend Lease has raised towards the Barangaroo South redevelopment</a>. The funding forms part of a new commercial wholesale open-ended property trust, which Lend Lease will manage. “Now all we have to do is build it,” says Lend Lease CEO Steve McCann.
 
<hr>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/oversupply-figures-paint-distorted-housing-picture-of-outer-melbourne-suburb-of-clyde-amid-melbournes-55000-listings/2012070955476" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/316percent.gif"></a>
The<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/oversupply-figures-paint-distorted-housing-picture-of-outer-melbourne-suburb-of-clyde-amid-melbournes-55000-listings/2012070955476" target="_blank"> increase in the number of residential listings in postcode 3978 </a>(Clyde, Clyde North and Cardinia) in the year to June, according to figures compiled by SQM Research. However, Clyde is not the epicentre of a so-called oversupply of houses in the city’s outer suburbs, but instead the result of new housing projects coming to market at the same time in what was farmland just two years ago.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/995.gif">
The asking rent for Katrina and Amie's The Block 2011 renovated Richmond cottage, which hit the rental market this week. Its asking rental reflects around 4.7% rental growth over the past year.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="/news"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/25m.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="/news">approximate price hopes for the site for a proposed sister skyscraper to the post-modern Eureka Tower</a>, which was listed for sale. The proposed 226-metre, 72-storey tower is designed by Nonda Katsalidis, and the 2,642-square-metre site at 70 Southbank Boulevard is directly across the road from the Eureka Tower.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/parliaments-youngest-federal-mp-wyatt-roy-now-a-22-year-old-home-owner-as-on-the-beach-bribie-island-prices-fall/2012071055509"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/340k.gif"></a>
The amount <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/parliaments-youngest-federal-mp-wyatt-roy-now-a-22-year-old-home-owner-as-on-the-beach-bribie-island-prices-fall/2012071055509">Federal Parliament's youngest MP, Wyatt Roy, spent on his first home</a>, which he recently bought. The 22-year-old MP bought a unit in a Bribie Island, Queensland, complex where prices have been falling for the past eight years.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="/news"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/120k.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="/news">asking price for an ivy-clad streetfront 18-square-metre Point Piper lock-up garage </a>in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. There are no body corporate fees or rates for the garage given it does not come with its own title. 
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The 7 must-know numbers of the week, starting with the percentage of Provident Capitals loans in arrears

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The percentage of first-home buyers purchasing off-the-plan units has increased since March this year, according to NAB's Residential Property Survey.
At the same time, the percentage of non-first-home owner-occupiers buying off the plan has decreased.
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2012/07/nabjuly125.gif"><img src="/images/stories/2012/07/nabjuly125thumb.gif"></a>
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More first-home buyers purchasing new properties: NAB June Residential Property Survey

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An imitation Gothic castle in Paradise Point that sold for $5,325,000 at auction was this week’s top reported sale, according to RP Data.
With seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/imitation-gothic-castle-on-sovereign-islands-loses-its-crown-at-auction-as-buyers-have-less-kingly-inclinations/2012070455420">the Paradise Point property</a> had a $20 million tag when it first listed in 2010.
It was finished in 2009 on a 1,458-square-metre block bought for $3.75 million in 2007.
This week’s second place spot was taken by a five-bedroom house in the Sydney suburb of Burwood, which sold for $3.02 million at its Saturday auction.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/07/july11burwood]}
This was $520,000 above the reserve, according to Richard Matthews Agent Matthew Everingham.
The 2,340-square-metre property includes three bathrooms, leadlight detail, high ceilings and a tennis court.
No Victorian properties made the top 10 list this week, with seven of the top 10 in NSW and the rest in Queensland. 
1. <a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/55-knightsbridge-parade-west-paradise-point-qld-4216/myrp-490?propertyId=6753124">55 Knightsbridge Parade West, Paradise Point, QLD, 4216</a>, seven-bedroom house, sold at auction on June 3 by Ray White The Runaway Bay Group for $5.325,000
2. <a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/8-minna-street-burwood-nsw-2134/myrp-490?propertyId=1653802">8 Minna Street, Burwood, NSW, 2134</a>, five-bedroom house, sold at auction on June 7 by Richard Matthews Real Estate for $3.02 million
3. <a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/66-evans-street-rozelle-nsw-2039/myrp-490?propertyId=5982687">66 Evans Street, Rozelle, NSW, 2039</a>, five-bedroom house, sold at auction on June 7 by Belle Property Annandale for $2.4 million
4. <a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/58-milroy-avenue-kensington-nsw-2033/myrp-490?propertyId=3291870">58 Milroy Avenue, Kensington, NSW, 4670</a>, six-bedroom house, sold after auction on June 7 by Ray White Maroubra for $1.92 million
5. <a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/47-phillip-road-putney-nsw-2112/myrp-490?propertyId=5635153">47 Phillip Road, Putney, NSW, 2112</a>, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on June 7 by McGrath Estate Agents for $1.91 million
6. 90 Little Chester Street, Newstead, QLD, 2360, three-bedroom house, sold at auction on June 7 by Ray White New Farm for $1.9 million
7. <a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/32-heeley-street-paddington-nsw-2021/myrp-490?propertyId=5268768">32 Heeley Street, Paddington, NSW, 2021</a>, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on June 3 by Bradfield Cleary Real Estate for $1.84 million
8. <a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/20-radio-avenue-balgowlah-heights-nsw-2093/myrp-490?propertyId=1231236">20 Radio Avenue, Balgowlah Heights, NSW, 2093</a>, four-bedroom house, sold on June 6 by Richardson &amp; Wrench Seaforth for $1.805 million
9. <a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/16-snowbell-close-stretton-qld-4116/myrp-490?propertyId=14183033">16 Snowbell Close, Stretton, QLD, 4116</a>, five-bedroom house, sold at auction on June 7 by L J Hooker Sunnybank Hills for $1.8 million
10. <a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/n/18-darvall-road-eastwood-nsw-2122/myrp-490?propertyId=2206597">18 Darvall Road, Eastwood, NSW, 2122</a>, five-bedroom house, sold at auction on June 7 by McGrath Estate Agents for $1.75 million
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Paradise Point castle takes out top sale of the week, with five-bedroom Burwood property next at $3.02 million: RP Data

South East Queensland’s apartment market is entering a new phase defined by rising prices, constrained affordability, and mounting pressure on the construction pipeline, according to RPM Group’s latest SEQ Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report.

The May 2026 report highlights a widening divide between what buyers can afford and what developers can viably deliver, with detached house prices continuing to push more buyers toward apartments across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.

RPM says Brisbane’s median house price has reached around $1.5 million, accelerating the shift toward higher-density housing as buyers are increasingly priced out of the detached market.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135094 project_image_fid=356540]

Median unit prices rose across all three major SEQ markets in the March quarter. Brisbane City recorded the strongest annual growth, with median unit prices climbing 21 per cent to $862,000, while the Gold Coast reached the highest overall median at $950,000, up 17 per cent year-on-year. The Sunshine Coast followed at $870,000, representing annual growth of nine per cent.

RPM noted the affordability gap between houses and units remains significant, with detached homes commanding premiums of 67 per cent in Brisbane and 68 per cent on the Gold Coast relative to apartments.

The report suggests this price disparity is increasingly consolidating buyer demand within the apartment market, particularly among downsizers and owner-occupiers.

“Demand is real. Supply is moving. But they’re operating on different timelines and the gap between what’s being built and what buyers can afford is the defining tension in this market right now,” RPM Queensland and NSW Managing Directors Peter Neale and Clinton Trezise said in the report.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150787 project_image_fid=366230]

While approvals and commencements are strengthening, RPM argues the delivery pipeline remains constrained by construction costs, labour shortages, and extended build timelines.

Apartment approvals across Queensland increased 86 per cent over the year to February 2026, reaching 12,682 approvals, the highest level recorded since 2016. Brisbane overtook the Gold Coast as the state’s most active apartment approval market, with nearly 5,000 apartments approved over the past 12 months.

Unit commencements also strengthened considerably, rising 48 per cent year-on-year to 5,453 commencements in the December 2025 quarter, the highest level since 2018.

However, RPM’s research found apartment delivery timeframes have expanded sharply compared to the previous cycle. Projects are now averaging around 30 months from approval to completion, compared to roughly 20 months a decade ago.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143932 project_image_fid=367515]

The number of units under construction has climbed to approximately 31,530 dwellings, nearing the previous 2016 peak, though projects are remaining in the pipeline for considerably longer.

Construction costs continue to weigh heavily on feasibility. RPM found the average apartment construction cost in Greater Brisbane reached $630,000 per dwelling in 2025, exceeding both Sydney and Melbourne. Coastal Queensland markets, including the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, were even higher at an average of $817,418 per apartment due to the prevalence of larger premium product.

The report also points to increasing pressure from Olympic-related infrastructure spending ahead of Brisbane 2032, with labour competition expected to intensify over the next several years.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370960]

ANZ Associate Director of Property Daniel Gradwell said the underlying demand drivers across South East Queensland remain strong, supported by interstate migration, downsizers, and population growth.

“The challenge is bringing enough supply to market to meet that demand, and nothing on the horizon makes that straightforward,” Gradwell said.

RPM’s analysis found the affordability challenge is becoming more pronounced in the new apartment market itself, with only three per cent of surveyed new apartments priced below $1 million.

Instead, the market is increasingly concentrated in higher price brackets, with the most common new apartment price band across SEQ sitting between $1.5 million and $1.75 million. Around half of all new apartment stock surveyed is priced below $2 million.

The report suggests developers are not necessarily avoiding lower price points by choice, but because current construction economics make delivering affordable apartments increasingly difficult at scale.

Rental conditions also remain tight across the region. Median rents for one-bedroom apartments rose 12 per cent in Brisbane over the past year to $580 per week, while Gold Coast one-bedroom rents increased nine per cent to $630.

Despite rising rents, RPM noted bond lodgements have generally trended downward over the past five years, indicating more apartments are being absorbed by owner-occupiers rather than retained as investor-held rental stock.

Looking ahead, RPM expects projects targeting the mid-market owner-occupier segment between $1.25 million and $2 million to remain the most viable part of the market, while premium projects in highly constrained coastal or riverfront locations continue to attract demand.

“Construction costs are rewriting the feasibility rulebook across Greater Brisbane, and with little relief in sight, only projects in the right price band, right location, and with presales secured early will make it through,” the report concludes.

Joel Robinson

SEQ apartment demand outpacing affordable supply as construction timelines stretch: RPM

Camberwell Junction has long been the epicentre of amenity in Melbourne’s Boroondara region.

For nearly a century, it has drawn both locals and visitors, anchored by the Camberwell Sunday Market, which first operated in 1929 and quickly became a fixture of the suburb’s identity. Over time, the Junction evolved into one of Melbourne’s most established retail and lifestyle precincts, now comprising more than 400 stores and over 300 commercial businesses.

Despite that depth of amenity, one thing has remained notably limited: the supply of new apartments.

In a suburb defined by its heritage streetscapes and tightly held residential stock, new development opportunities have been scarce, particularly within the core of the Junction itself. That lack of supply has left a gap in the market for larger, design-led apartments suited to downsizers and owner-occupiers wanting to remain in the area.

Boutique developer Above Zero identified that gap when it secured a prime site on Burke Road, in the heart of Camberwell Junction.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368543]

The site has a long planning history. Various proposals have been put forward over more than a decade, many of which were knocked back by the City of Boroondara, with initial applications dating back to 2015. Above Zero acquired the site in 2022 and returned with a revised scheme, refining both the building’s height and its ground-level interface to better align with Council expectations.

That process has culminated in approval for Camberwell House.

The Cera Stribley-designed development will deliver 57 residences on a 1,950 sqm site within the Camberwell Activity Centre, placing it directly within one of Melbourne’s most established retail and transport hubs.

It is expected to be one of the only new apartment developments to launch in the Junction in recent years, reinforcing the rarity of new supply in the precinct. Currently, there are just a handful of projects on the market in Camberwell, underscoring the significance of a development of this scale and positioning.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368544]

Camberwell House has been conceived with a clear focus on larger-format apartments. The project will offer a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom residences, alongside a limited number of penthouses, targeting owner-occupiers seeking scale rather than volume-driven product.

The building’s vertical presence will also set it apart.

Positioned on Burke Road, the development is set to become one of the taller buildings in its immediate context, allowing for elevated outlooks across Melbourne’s CBD skyline and toward the Dandenong Ranges. In a precinct characterised by lower-scale built form, that height provides a point of differentiation, particularly for buyers seeking outlook and natural light.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368568]

Architecture has been led by Cera Stribley, with interiors by GOLDEN and landscape design by Florian Wild. The design approach centres on material consistency and restraint, with residences oriented to maximise light, ventilation and connection to outdoor spaces.

Full-height glazing and generous terraces form a key part of that strategy, allowing apartments to extend beyond their internal footprint and engage with the surrounding environment.

Beyond the private residences, a significant component of the project is its amenity offering.

Above Zero has positioned Camberwell House as a “complete living environment”, incorporating a full floor dedicated to resident facilities. At the centre of that is a wellness zone, including a 12.5-metre lap pool, spa, sauna and treatment spaces, alongside a gym and recovery-focused amenities.

This level of amenity is more commonly associated with inner-city developments, rather than established middle-ring suburbs like Camberwell.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368588]

Additional shared spaces include a private library lounge, dining and entertaining areas, and an indoor golf simulator. A self-contained guest suite has also been incorporated, allowing residents to accommodate visiting family or friends without impacting their primary living space.

The inclusion of these facilities reflects a broader shift in buyer expectations.

As more downsizers look to transition from larger family homes into apartments, there is increasing demand for developments that offer not just a residence, but a lifestyle. That includes access to wellness, social and entertaining spaces within the building itself, reducing the reliance on external amenity while still maintaining proximity to established precincts.

Camberwell House is positioned to benefit from both.

Its location places it within immediate walking distance of Camberwell Junction’s retail and dining offering, as well as public transport connections, including tram and train services. That combination of internal amenity and external convenience is central to its appeal.

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-150" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:55d7c6ac-8e6d-4881-ad49-0ed9bf66d1cc-74" dir="auto">
Jellis Craig Projects Director Stephen Bowtell is handling sales for the project and says Camberwell House offers a rare entry point into one of Melbourne’s most tightly held markets.

“Buyers are recognising that Camberwell House offers something they simply haven’t seen before in Boroondara,”&nbsp;Bowtell&nbsp;says.

“It combines a level of resident amenity and service typically associated with Melbourne’s premium inner-city developments, while being positioned right in the heart of Camberwell Junction.

“The response to the concierge offering has been particularly strong. Buyers appreciate not only the convenience, but also the sense of security and peace of mind that comes from having a dedicated presence in the building every day.

“When you combine that with the wellness facilities, the exceptional arrival experience, and panoramic views across both the CBD skyline and the Dandenong Ranges, it creates a lifestyle proposition that is genuinely unique within the local market.”
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4896]

Above Zero launches Camberwell House in undersupplied Camberwell Junction precinct

<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, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, 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]

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;

Cassidy Knowlton

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