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Former Ladbrokes CEO Dean Shannon has sold a Queensland equestrian properties. 
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-acreage+semi-rural-qld-guanaba-127382742" target="_blank">The four hectare Guanaba estate</a> on the banks of the Coomera River in the Gold Coast hinterland had a $1.9 million asking price through Scenis Road Properties agent Drew Slack-Smith.
The 10 post and rail horse paddocks, each with their own luxury indoor outdoor stable, were added by Shannon since his $1,525,000 purchase in late 2014.
There's also a barn, super stables and an outdoor arena.
The main homestead set in gardens has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and three main living areas.
Shannon stepped down from his post at Ladbrokes last year and became managing director at new online betting company Neds.
This article was first published in the Weekend Australian.
 
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Dean Shannon sells Guanaba equestrian estate

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The Queens Park home of the now Byron Bay-based INXS drummer Jon Farriss, has been sold well before its scheduled auction.
Farriss, who is now renting a $1,250 a week estate at Newrybar in the Byron Bay hinterland, paid $3,225,000 in Queens Park in 2007.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-queens+park-127727446" target="_blank">1970s home</a> set behind a walled fore garden on York Road has views to Centennial Park from its upper level.
There's four bedrooms, a separate studio apartment, a built-in barbecue courtyard and a swimming pool on its 605 square metre parcel.
It cost Farriss $3,225,000 in 2007 and became a $3,200 a week rental when the drummer moved north.
The Agency's Ben Collier sold the home.
Farriss previously owned a Hyams Beach waterfront which he sold for a then record $2.32 million two years ago. He paid $1.78 million in 2004.
 
 
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INXS drummer Jon Farriss sells at Queens Park 

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The Surry Hills creative HQ and home of innovative food photographer Geoff Lung has sold ahead of its auction.
Lung, one of Australia's leading hotels and resorts, food, travel, interiors and lifestyle photographers, has been based in the New York style warehouse since the early 1990's.
Ivan Bresic and Shannon Whitney at BresicWhitney have the Foster Street offering with $3.2 million hopes, but it is understood to have sold at $3.5 million plus. 
The mixed-use space, which includes a two bedroom apartment that spans the entire second level, sits on the second floor of Surry Hills' iconic 1920's Edwards &amp; Co tea warehouse.
It was once the administration floor. Tea was hoisted up to the upper floors and dropped down a central chute to horse and carts for delivery.
The sign atop the facade remains in red and white glazed bricks built into the parapet.
The minimalistic property with industrial kitchen spans 210 sqm of floor space, not including mezzanines, with rows of floor to ceiling original windows. It's the only space in the building with five metre ceilings. 
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
 
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Edwards & Co tea warehouse apartment on Foster Street, Surry Hills sells

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A co-op Potts Point penthouse traded for the first time in almost seven decades fetched $4.4 million at auction last night.
The penthouse that sits atop the 1948 Aaron M. Bolot-designed <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-potts+point-127681002" target="_blank">17 Wylde Street</a> had been owned by its developer John Davis since its completion in 1951.
Family have remained in occupancy since his death in 2008.
It spans 165 sqm and has 270 degree harbour views from its ninth floor position where inspectees on several opens had to walk up with the lift out of order.
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The apartment has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Jane and Sam Schumann at Di Jones has the offering.
Regarded as one of Bolot’s best pieces of work, 17 Wylde Street's creative curvilinear design was produced in response to the site’s unusual triangular shape, forming a prominent curve.
The internal floorplans for all apartments were designed to maximise aspect and spaciousness, with kitchens and bathrooms grouped on the southern side while living rooms and bedrooms faced the north side, almost entirely glazed to maximise the breathtaking 270 degree Harbour View.
17 Wylde Street was one of the few apartment blocks developed by the Urban Cooperative Multi-Home Units building society and the building was awarded the 2017 NSW Enduring Architecture Award by the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter.
 
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Co-op 17 Wylde Street, Potts Point penthouse fetches $4.4 million 

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Key workers – such as teachers, nurses, ambulance and fire officers and the police – perform essential services.
Across the Sydney some 156,000 workers are employed in these occupations, equating to some six per cent of the workforce.
However, high property prices and high rents are placing barriers to their home ownership which were not experienced by previous generations. 
There is now a serious mismatch between where key workers live and work, according to an important report prepared by Sydney University researchers for the Teachers Mutual Bank, Firefighters Mutual Bank, Police Bank and My Credit Union.
The report found that in the decade to 2016, key areas in Sydney lost up to 20 percent of teachers, nurses, policy and emergency service workers to outer and regional areas, while areas including the Illawarra, Southern Highlands and the Hunter Valley had net gains.
In 2006 more than 20 local government areas were affordable to a police senior constable. By 2016, that number had declined to four. 
The majority of key workers now reside in outer ring suburbs, which the report advised was unlike other world cities, such as London, New York, or San Francisco.
The problem begins with the shortage of affordable rental homes near employment as this undermines the capacity to save for a deposit.
An enrolled nurse with five years experience on $57,000, requiring a one bedroom rental property, would be able to afford a median property in only 9 per cent of middle ring suburbs and in no inner ring suburbs. 
As a consequence, many key workers are commuting long distances to get to work, or are living in unaffordable rental accommodation. 
There's no doubting Sydney needs its Macquarie Street policy makers to improve key worker access to home ownership given the lack of affordable and appropriate homes.
But the report also identified one way to help restore housing options that requires innovative consideration of the plight of challenged home buyers bu the banking and superannuation sectors.
A key suggestion was the implementation of shared equity models that have long been used in the United Kingdom to help low and moderate income earners enter home ownership. 
According to the UK Council of Mortgage Lenders, there are around 200,000 shared ownership homes in the UK where eligible households can purchase a minimum of 25 per cent of a property (and up to 75 per cent) and pay a rent of 3 per cent on the remaining share.
Over time the household can purchase the remaining equity in the property from the affordable housing provider partner (who owns the balance), or repay it when the house is sold. 
We need mortgage lenders to embrace shared ownership.
It needs superannuation funds to joint venture with banks in this product. 
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Banks need to embrace shared ownership concept as way forward for home affordability

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One of Paddington's largest terrace homes has been be sold for the first time in two decades for $7 million.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-paddington-127715622" target="_blank">Underwood Street residence</a>, over nine metres wide at the end of the row, last traded for $1.55 million in 1998.
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It has a $7 million price guide through The Agency's Ben Collier, who was marketing the property for a March 24 auction.
Set on 475 sqm, the stately home has retained its original heritage.
The traditional verandahs wrapping around all three levels have views down towards Rushcutters Bay.
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The five bedroom home is set in private and mature established gardens that includes a swimming pool.
Underwood Street hasn't passed the $7 million mark since 2011 when Collette Dinnigan sold her five bedroom compound to Woollahra lawyer Tania Van Der Vegt for $7.3 million.
The average five bedroom terrace is fetching $4.65 million, CoreLogic calculate.
 
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One of Paddington's largest terraces sells for $7 million

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Dream Island, designed as the first large-scale leisure destination in Russia, is set to create new opportunities for family recreation in Russia.
There will be an indoor amusement park, the riverfront scheme provides a regional shopping centre, outdoor leisure facilities, a 400-key 4-Star hotel, a concert hall and a yacht club.
Details were presented at the international investment exhibition MIPIM in Cannes last week.
The Dream Island city resort includes the world's largest indoor theme park with 29 most modern amusement rides, a city promenade with more than 200 shops and 50 restaurants and cafes, cinema and a concert hall, and a spacious landscape park with a sports area. 
The opening of the first stage of the project is planned in 2019 in Moscow, in the picturesque Nagatinskaya bottomland. 
Dream Island is a socially significant project not only for Moscow, but for all Russia, representatives advised.
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 It will improve the quality of the urban environment, investment attractiveness and competitiveness of Moscow against the background of foreign megacities.
In 2017 Dream Island won several Russian and international awards at once: “Best Project in Field of Commercial Real Estate" according to PROESTATE AWARDS 2017 federal prize, the best project in the nomination "Public Areas" in Good Innovations 2017 competition, as well as the victory in the regional stage of the prestigious international European Property Awards in the nomination “Leisure Development”. 
Theme parks around the world are powerful drivers for development of the tourism industry. 
It is expected that their role will increase in the future, so key principles of their deployment will have an increasing impact on both regional and international tourism.
 The Dream Island family city resort will become one of the most visited sights of the capital. 
It is expected to host about 50 million people annually, including flows of the local tourism (the Moscow metropolitan area), internal and external tourism. 
The opening of the Dream Island Park is supposed to increase tourist flows to Moscow by 16%, which is about 3 million new tourists annually, and the share of tourism consumption in the gross regional product (GRP) of Moscow – by 70 billion rubles, Amiran Mutsoev, Chairman of the Board of Dream Island holding company, said.
<a href="http://www.chapmantaylor.com/projects/nagatino-theme-park" target="_blank">Chapman Taylor</a> provided the masterplan and concept design.
Architecturally the building expresses its purpose of amusing children by appearing as a wonderland. 
The concept design is loosely related to historic Kremlin architecture that can be found in many ancient Russian cities. It is also inspired by imposing Gothic buildings of Western Europe.
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Russia's Kremlin-inspired Dream Island amusement park aims for 50 million annual visitors

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The Red Mountain Resort, designed for Festir ehf, in Iceland has been awarded a commendation in the Retail &amp; Leisure category at the recent 2018 MIPIM/Architectural Review Future Project Awards.
<a href="http://johannestorpe.com/projects/the-red-mountain-resort" target="_blank">The Red Mountain Resort resort </a>promises a sensory escape into breathtaking Icelandic nature resort for the modern spiritual traveler, the judging panel noted.
"Its architecture seduces visitors through an exploration of the interplay between nature and visitor.” 
The designer Johannes Torpe Studios markets itself as an advocate for "an unrestrained and fearless approach to design."
The Red Mountain Resort is the studio’s very first large-scale architectural project. 
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Situated on the Western peninsula of Snæfellsness, at the point where the river mouth runs out to the sea, the resort faces Seæfellsjokull, a majestic glacier covered stratovolcano. The mountain is home to the Icelandic saga about Barður Snæfellsás, who is said to have left the chaotic world of men behind to live in solitude. 
Snæfellsjökull, a 700,000-year-old glacier covered stratovolcano, inspired Jules Verne who made the volcano the passage way to the centre of the earth in his science fiction novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth from 1864.
The studio's lead architect Kit Sand Ottsen explored the tradition of Icelandic turf houses built by the first Norwegian settlers, experimenting with ways of creating a modern interpretation.
"The emerging idea was to turn the construction inside-out," he explained.
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Turf houses are wooden structures insulated by a thick wall of turf - in other words, a light structure with a very heavy base.
The studio inverted this structure by creating a heavy concrete structure enclosed by a light base of glass. As a natural extension, the relationship between positive and negative space has been explored, and throughout the building there is a clear contrast between light-weight and more heavy building volumes.
The building itself is an industrial interpretation of the rocky landscape with heavy geometric shapes shooting up from the ground like sculptural rock formations and tall steam-chimneys that are an architectural take on geysers.
Concrete is chosen as the primary material and is treated with a red pigment that mimics the hue of the surrounding landscape.
The concrete is applied to create layers of contrasting rough and smooth textures and form patterns inspired by those found in the layers of the turf houses. Selected parts of the rooftops are covered with grass like the traditional building techniques of the area.
"This both intensifies the notion of a building that is closely related to the history of the site, and adds to the sense of a hidden destination that discreetly rises from the landscape," the project brief advised.
The use of reflecting glass on the building’s exterior creates a mirror effect, evoking the illusion of a building that disappears into the landscape. Portals and tunnels are additionally dispersed throughout the building to enhance this otherworldly and magical atmosphere.
The local geology is made up of caves, craters, peculiar rock formations, volcanic plugs and the moss covered lava fields.
It replicates wind tunnels, fire baths and ice pools that represent the unpredictable extremes of Icelandic weather.
 
 
 
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Iceland spa project for the modern spiritual traveller scoops MIPIM 2018 commendation

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Philippe Starck has revealed plans for a 14-storey hotel in the French city of Metz, with an 18th-century-style house on the roof.
Metz mayor Dominique Gros, the internationally acclaimed creator <a href="http://www.starck.com/en?i=maison-heler-an-out-of-scale-phantasmagoric-architecture-in-the-dynamic-city-of-metz" target="_blank">Philippe Starck</a> and Hilton unveiled their plans for the distinctive, <a href="https://maison-heler.com" target="_blank">Maison Heler Metz</a>, Curio Collection by Hilton at last week's MIPIM.
Located on Metz’s former freight station, Maison Heler Metz is the most ambitious urban planning development launched in the region for a century. 
 The 14-story hotel has secured a €22.5 million investment led by Yvon Gérard and a consortium of investors. 
“Maison Heler Metz is a unique property, the design of which perfectly captures the spirit of our handpicked Curio Collection by Hilton hotels. 
"This will be Metz’s first high-end hotel opening in a number of years, and an impressive addition to our portfolio in France, which continues to be the most visited country in the world,” said Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton. 
Curio Collection by Hilton is made up of hotels selected for their unique character. 
Maison Heler Metz joins more than 20 Curio Collection by Hilton hotels, trading or under construction properties in Europe.
In the heart of the newly developed Quartier de l'Amphithéâtre, Maison Heler Metz will be the first hotel entirely created and developed from the ground up by the famed French creator.
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Starck imagined a habitable, surreal and poetic work of art, which he antiquates becoming a strong symbol for the region. 
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“This project is an ‘out-of-scale’ phantasmagoric architecture,” said Philippe Starck.
“It's a game about uprooted roots, a symbolic construction of the Lorraine region.”
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The monolithic and monochromatic building will be topped by an 18th century traditional Alsatian home. 
The house atop the 14th floor will include a rooftop terrace and garden, peppered with local trees.
The house will hold a restaurant and lounge bar. 
There will be 119 guest rooms and suites. 
“Philippe Starck is a pioneer of international design and we are very proud to be working with him on this project,” said Yvon Gerard, co-founder of Maison Heler and leader of the project. 
The hotel is part of the social, ecological and economic development of Metz, in a new neighborhood dedicated to culture, housing and business. 
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Philippe Starck's first hotel for France

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A deal has been agreed to begin work on the world’s largest apartment towers built using modular construction.
The twin-tower scheme of build-to-rent flats in Croydon, London will on completion have 550 apartments.
Set at <a href="http://101georgestreet.co.uk/" target="_blank">101 George Street</a>, it will comprise two towers at 44-storeys and 38-storeys.
Tide Construction is set to team with investors, Greystar, the US multi-family giant and investment company Henderson Park.
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The part-38, part 44-storey tower will reach 442ft, from nearly 1,500 modules, and take just 24 months to build.
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Tide’s associate company Vision Modular Systems will build the scheme. VMS is one of the UK’s largest providers of volumetric construction modules, manufactured at its factory in Bedford. 
Tide and Vision recently completed Apex House in Wembley, the tallest modular tower in Europe, for Scape. At 29 storeys the student development uses 679 modules for 580 student beds. It was built in less than 12 months.
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Simon Bayliss, managing partner at HTA, said the technological advances made in modular construction mean that projects of this size are possible in London.
"The towers at George Street show that choosing to go modular doesn’t mean you must sacrifice great design," he said. 
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The towers scheme, drawn up by HT Design, will be worth over £150 million.
Presently, the tallest prefabricated building in the world is a 32-storey block in New York.
Tide is both a development and contracting company.
101 George Street is the fourth project Greystar and Tide Construction have delivered using modular construction and, once complete, will bring the total number of units the partnership has delivered in London to 1,700 units.
Modular construction is highly suited to rental developments as investors and operators can welcome residents into their homes sooner and open the revenue streams earlier.
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44 storey London apartment block set for modular construction 

<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;

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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.

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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;

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<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;

Jonathan Chancellor

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