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The County Court of Victoria judge Paul Higham, in sentencing estate agent Paul Pfeiffer to a two-year community corrections order on Friday, said the integrity of the entire real estate profession was “damaged by any rogue practitioner such as yourself”.
The Melbourne real estate agent who misappropriated client money avoided jail.
Paul Pfeiffer, 46, the sole director of Melbourne Deluxe Real Estate, withdrew client money and used it for the company’s purposes between April and June, 2016.
He and his company pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraudulent conversion and one count of fraudulently rendering an account.
The County Court of Victoria was told on Friday that Pfeiffer withdrew money - client deposits on home purchases - from the company’s trust account.
He then used the funds for his business and personal expenditure without  permission.
“The consequential shortfalls were made up from new deposits paid into the trust account. In essence ... you robbed Peter to pay Paul,” Judge Paul Higham said.
Then in July 2016, Pfeiffer told a “stream of untruths and misrepresentations” to the vendor of one of the houses he was selling in “an attempt to hold off the  inevitable day of discovery”.
The vendor then lodged a complaint with Consumer Affairs Victoria, who found deficiencies in his company’s trust account.
A shortfall of more than $69,000 still remains.
Judge Higham noted Pfeiffer had been a talented real estate agent but that “did not translate into a talent for managing a business”.
He said although Pfeiffer had netted more than $200,000 per annum in the two years before the offending, he had the pressure of maintaining an expensive  lifestyle.
“The victims of your offending are not only the vendors, whose deposits you dishonestly applied to your own purposes, but also your entire former profession, whose integrity is damaged by any rogue practitioner such as yourself.”
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Rogue deluxe estate agent Paul Pfeffer avoids jail but damages profession

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Kevin Sobels, the legendary Australian winemaker, and wife, Margaret are selling their Hunter Valley winery, as they look towards retiring.
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They hope to be staying around Pokolbin.
Sobels is a fifth generation descendant of German immigrant winemaker, Carl August Sobels.
The family name has been connected to Australian winemaking since the 1840s, beginning in South Australia’s Barossa and Clare Valley.
Kevin Sobels arrived in the Hunter in 1972 from the Barossa. 
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The current <a href="https://app.rexsoftware.com/public/ebrochure/?account_id=265&amp;listing_id=1388992&amp;listing_agent_id=1743" target="_blank">22ha Halls Road, Pokolbin offering</a>, Kevin Sobels Wines, was started in the early 1990s by Kevin and Margaret on acreage offered to them by the Ross Jones family.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/3/9/sobels1.jpg" alt="">
They formed a company with the help of a few friends with their sales door opening in 1994.
By 1996 the winemaking facility was complete so that wines could be made and bottled on-site. 
The long established brand has around 5ha of planted vines.
Its Jurds marketing agent Cain Beckett says the property would suit the establishment of a five-star country lodge with restaurant and function space.
Sobels was installed as the 2014 Hunter Valley Living Legend of Wine, joining other Hunter notables as Brian and Fay McGuigan, Bruce Tyrrell and  Don McWilliam.
The Sobels’ wine journey began with Carl August, who in 1847 quit his home in the Saxony-Anhalt town of Quedlinburg and migrated with his family to Australia. He had been trained in winemaking in Germany and in France’s Champagne region.
He made his first Australian wines for William Jacob, the government surveyor who mapped the Barossa.
This year will mark the 170th unbroken run of Australian vintages by Sobels, with their son, Jason continuing the traditional family craft.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
 
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Kevin Sobels lists Hunter Valley winery

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The Independent Hall, a former church hall in Melbourne's Fitzroy, has hit the market as a home, listed by the Alexander family.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-fitzroy-127733910" target="_blank">The iconic 1880s property </a>has previously also been Aboriginal kindergarten. It has been the setting for several television productions such as Jack Irish, Ricky &amp; Pete and The Tenderhook.
It has been renovated for family and work-from-home living since it last traded for $563,000 in 2001.
Its previous owners include the late Australian composer Peter Tahourdin.
Comrpising two bedrooms and a home office, the eclectic property features an expansive living and dining room with beamed ceilings and French doors that open to a deep brick-paved courtyard.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/3/7/fitzroy%202.jpg" alt="">
Nelson Alexander agents Rick Daniel and Luke Chisholm have a $1.9 million to $2 million price guide for its March 24 auction.
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian.
 
 
 
 
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Fitzroy's former Independent Hall converted and listed

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Many homes nowadays have a cinema room, but fresh on the market is an award-winning Canberra home complete with a fully fledged theatre.
It has been the passion of Steven Gerakedis.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-reid-127739702" target="_blank">art deco Reid home </a> with classic cottage facade reflects 1920s heritage, all the way down to the sub-ground cinema. 
Bring the popcorn! The theatre has tiered leather recliner seating, a curved wide screen projector, dedicated projector room and a separate lounge area for pre and post-movie socializing.
The walls are filled with classic movie posters.
The home set in Dirrawan Gardens on 1,300 square metres was awarded the Master Builders Association House of the Year.
"You have to see it to believe it," the judges noted.
It has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a glass reception gallery and a climate-controlled cellar.
Peter Blackshaw Manuka agents Alec Brown and Andrew Chamberlain are marketing the home until March 28.
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian. 
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The award goes to... Canberra trophy home with full theatre listed

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From Bondi Junction to Broken Hill, NSW first home buyers are "back in the game," NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet exclaimed recently.
But first home buyers aren't there to play a game, and should pay very close attention to market conditions.
They ought not dive in simply because of the government incentives on offer.
The top location for stamp duty relief under the FHB grants scheme has been Liverpool where more than 400 buyers have taken up home ownership since last July.
It has been busy too in regional NSW with Gosford having 316 buyers, Wyong (224) and Wollongong (158). Also Wagga Wagga (251), Orange (230) and Dubbo (182).
The 222 Queanbeyan buyers suggests Canberrans are moving across the border. 
Since last July, the government grants have encouraged more than 19,000 home buyers to purchase their first home across NSW.
It was up from 5400 over the corresponding prior period in 2016.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been "thrilled" that her tax changes have had such a big impact. 
She had made helping first home buyers one of her first priorities as Premier, when she took over from Mike Baird.
She concedes there is always more to do on tackling housing affordability. Indeed the Housing Industry Association executive director David Bare said the government's attempts were meagre considering that up to 40 per cent of new house purchases were made up of local, state and federal government taxes.
CoreLogic's head of research Cameron Kusher has recently warned first home buyers must be vigilant to avoid negative equity.
"Don't be lured into buying at the peak of the market because of attractive incentives," he advised.
From last July FHBs don’t have to pay stamp duty for new and existing homes for properties up to $650,000.
It represents a saving of maybe $26,000 to $34,000 depending on the purchase.
Stamp duty has also reduced for buyers paying between $650,000 and $800,000, along with incentives for new builds. 
The volume of new loans to FHBs has climbed substantially over recent months. But average loan sizes have only increased slightly which suggests FHBs are wisely not using the removal of the stamp duty barrier to borrow more. 
Kusher maintains first home buyers are the most sensitive to changes in interest rates. 
Although he expects the cash rate to be on hold until 2019, potentially higher mortgage rates should raise some alarm bells for potential buyers.
The removal of stamp duty has come at the same time as the APRA-induced decline in investor activity so the FHB fill a vital void.
Kusher maintains a better option may be for FHBs to remain on the sidelines somewhat longer "as values potentially continue to slide".
He adds it will allow more time to save an even larger deposit.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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First home buyers back in the game - but need to know the rules

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A Potts Point penthouse is set to be traded for the first time in almost seven decades.
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 last Saturday has to walk up with the lift out of order.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/28/wylde1.jpg" alt="">
The apartment has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Jane and Sam Schumann at Di Jones are asking for offers of $3 million for its March 21 auction.
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 six 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.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
 
 
 
  
  
 
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Landmark Potts Point penthouse for sale 

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The former Million Dollar Listing New York star, estate agent Luis Ortiz, who quit the Bravo show unexpectedly, is coming to speak to his Sydney devotees.
His will be on tour in early March with the Altman brothers, Josh and Matt who appear on the Los Angeles version of the top rating show.
Ortiz left the show abruptly in 2016, citing it no longer made him happy.
"I didn't time or plan an exit," he told me.
"My decision was based on impulse and was immediate.
"I thought planning a way out would get in the way of my gut reaction."
The Puerto Rico-born realtor suggested there's nothing he doesn't miss about New York real estate, well, apart from the cold weather.
<div>"New York has and will always have a very special place in my heart. It was the city where I created something for myself.</div>
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<div>"What I don’t miss about New York City real estate is making deals in the cold.</div>
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<div>"Not a fan of the cold anymore."</div>
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<div>"I miss the hustle. The constant need to re-invent yourself as a person and as a professional. I miss the competition and the players."</div>
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<div>Ortiz, who in 2013 was listed as number 19 on Us Weekly's Most Stylish New Yorker list, says he has had plenty of offers to work in LA, where he is currently spending much of his time.</div>
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<div>"They sound enticing on a financial level but until there's anything I fall in love with, I won’t move forward with it."</div>
Visiting Australia for the first time, Ortiz said the one thing he always looks forward to experiencing in every place he goes is the people and their culture.
The Altman brothers will be performing <a href="https://www.milliondollarevening.com.au" target="_blank">Million Dollar Evening stage shows in Sydney and Melbourne</a> having done so last year. 
The Altman Brothers are among the top producing real estate agents in the country.
The sell top tinsel town turf in what is known as the Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, and Holmby Hills along with the famous Sunset Strip and Hollywood Hills. 
<div dir="ltr">During his time on Million Dollar Listing New York, Ortiz lived in Battery Park City near Goldman Sachs, where he had views of the Statue of Liberty and the Hudson River.</div>
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He later moved to Abington House in the northwestern corner of Chelsea and then moved to a new development in midtown Manhattan.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Former Million Dollar Listing agent Luis Ortiz heads to Australia

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A record number of new apartments set to hit the market this year in capital cities was unlikely to trigger a property price collapse, Bank of America-Merill Lynch economists say.
The already moderating property market will instead lead to fewer housing starts which will mean there was a prospect of an undersupply by 2020.
"The stage is being set for the next property cycle," BAML economists Tony Morriss and Alexandra Veroude suggested in a recent research note.
"Forget oversupply," they write, urging their clients to look beyond this year's headlines.
There are "risks of undersupply brewing" with building approvals having peaked in 2015.
The current assumed abundance of new housing will flip to scarcity by 2020, the BAML economists advised according to a report in The Australian Financial Review.
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"With population growth expected to keep underlying housing demand robust, we see underlying demand outpacing supply in Australia's largest housing markets, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, from 2020," they wrote.
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"Laws of supply and demand suggest that house price pressures would be expected to build from this time."
"Our analysis supports our view that any oversupply now, with Brisbane of greatest concern, should not create large imbalances over an extended period and present as a risk to financial stability."
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"To date, settlement defaults remain low and, given our analysis, we do not expect settlement defaults to rise significantly - particularly in an environment where the economic outlook is strengthening and the labour market is tightening," they wrote.
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Assumed apartment abundance could turn to undersupply, but Brisbane a worry: BAML

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Adelaide was the best performing weekend auction capital with its affordable prices ranging between $330,000 and $1.45 million.
It scored a 75 per cent clearance rate from its 107 auctions.
Perth returned the lowest preliminary auction clearance rate of 52 per cent.
Auction volumes surge well past 3,000 for the first time this year returning a strong national preliminary auction clearance rate of 70 per cent.
There are two more so-called Super Saturdays squeezed in before the Easter break.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/2/26/capitals.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/26/capitals.jpg" alt="">
Upcoming Melbourne sellers include AFL champion Bryce Gibbs.
His former Ascot Vale home (above) before moving interstate to join the Crows has been listed for March 17 auction. 
The former Carlton player bought the two-storey, three-bedroom townhouse at <a id="LPlnk679169" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-ascot+vale-127607706" target="_blank">67c St Leonards Rd </a>in 2008.
The cheapest weekend result across the capital cities was when a student studio apartment sold pre-auction in Footscray at $120,000.
The sale of <a id="LPlnk308525" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-studio-vic-footscray-127480502" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">224/133 Droop Street offering</a> was a $220 a week rental.
It was listed with a $105,000 to $110,000 price guidance.
The low rise apartment with around 40 sqm had previously traded at $122,000 in 2015. It sold at $127,000 in 2013. 
Across the combined capital cities there was a a total of 3,275 homes taken to auction, up from the prior week's 1,992 auctions when some 66.1 per cent were sold.
It remains down on the same week one year ago when agents secured a 78.4 per cent success rate across a slightly higher volume of 3,301 auctions. 
"Units outperformed the house market, with 72.9 per cent of units selling at auction, while 69.5 per cent of houses sold across the combined capitals," Kevin Brogan, auction analyst at CoreLogic said. 
The highest national sale was in Melbourne when <a id="LPlnk703549" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-middle+park-127461722" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">33 Canterbury Road, Middle Park</a> (below) fetched $5.75 million shortly after its auction which had a $5.45 million top bid.
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It was Eumeralla, a five bedroom Victorian terrace home on a 50 metre deep allotment. It had soaring ornate ceilings, marble fireplaces, arched entrance hall, gracious sitting room and main bedroom with full width balcony.
Marshall White secured the sale of the home which last sold at $2.5 million in 2006.
There were two bidders.
The highest Sydney sale under the hammer was the five bedroom <a id="LPlnk905843" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-strathfield-127449738" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">29 Cotswold Road Strathfield</a> which sold for $4,810,000.
It last sold in 2003 at $2 million.
There was a pre-auction sale of <a id="LPlnk767615" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-bronte-127339282" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4 Bayview Street, Bronte</a> for $7.5 million (below).
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/26/bronte.jpg" alt="">
Melbourne and Sydney both secured auction clearance rates of 71.7 per cent.
Melbourne's was up on the 69.8 per cent final result from the prior weekend.
Its volume jumped to 1,610 auctions held, up from 932 auctions.
In Sydney, 1,221 homes were taken to auction, up from the 737 offered over the prior week. 
Its preliminary result of 71.7 percent, was up on last week’s final clearance rate of 67.8 per cent.
Brisbane had a 53.3 percent clearance rate from 164 auctions listed. Its top sale was $5 million at Chelmer. <a id="LPlnk17197" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-chelmer-127332058" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The 127 Laurel Avenue sale</a> was a five bedroom Knowlman McDonald-built home on a 3122 sqm river frontage sold through Adcock Prestige. 
Adelaide's dearest was a tight finish between <a id="LPlnk946036" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-henley+beach-127482362" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a four bedroom $1.42 million Henley Beach offering</a> and <a id="LPlnk429905" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-glenelg+east-127505126" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a five bedroom $1.42 million Glenelg East house</a>. 
Adelaide's cheapest was <a id="LPlnk416596" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-semaphore+park-127547786" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a $330,000 Semaphore Park two bedroom apartment</a> that looked over Point Malcolm Reserve to the sea.
The 12/403 Esplanade offering was a two storey 80 sqm late 1960s apartment with a rental estimate of $320 to $340 per week.
 
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National clearance rates heads above 70 percent on summer's last hurrah

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A Fitzroy residential conversion that was once home the Victorian Movie Makers' Society has been listed for sale.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-fitzroy-127659062" target="_blank">clean-edged 1950s building</a> - where 8mm amateur film sessions was all the rage - has been converted into a contemporary three bedroom home.
Set near the Gertrude Street design precinct, there's a $3.5 million to $3.7 million price guide through Nelson Alexander Fitzroy agents Arch Staver and Luke Chisholm for its March 17 auction.
Centred around an open plan living room with soaring nine metre ceilings, the home features a master bedroom retreat with ensuite.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/26/film2.jpg" alt="">
The second living room flows to a landscaped alfresco entertaining terrace.
It last traded for $2.85 million in 2014.
The Victorian Movie Makers signage is still etched on to the facade, despite the group selling the property for $571,000 in 2002.
This article was first published in the Weekend Australian property section. 
 
 
 
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Former Fitzroy home of Victorian Movie Makers' Society listed

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

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

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

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

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

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

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

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

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

Jonathan Chancellor

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