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The weekend's top sale was pre-auction in Sydney's Gladesville  for 65 Wharf Road, a six bedroom riverfront (above).
It sold for at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-gladesville-122231894" target="_blank"> $7,095,000</a> through McGrath agent John Paranchi.
Melbourne's highest was when 16 Barnsbury Road, Balwyn (below) sold for $6.36 million, a five bedroom house on 1760 sqm with tennis court.
<img src="/images/2016/05/02/image2.jpg" alt="" width="653" height="490">
A Chinese buyer on a significant investor visa secured the Balwyn home.
There was a $4.29 million Brighton strata sale at 2/21 Birdwood Avenue (below), with a three bedroom, three bathroom Edgard Pirotta-designed beachfront townhouse.
<img src="/images/2016/05/02/main-1.jpg" alt="" width="641" height="481">
It last sold in 1999 at $1.54 million.
Melbourne held 1,272 auctions this week with a preliminary clearance rate of 74 percent this week. 
Some 803 Sydney auctions were held, up from 643 last week and lower than last year when 914 were held. Sydney’s clearance rate fell over the week to 74 per cent, from 77.4 per cent last week.
Preliminary results for Brisbane show a 49.5 per cent clearance rate, up from 37.6 per cent last week, which was the weakest result so far this year. 
<a href="/images/2016/05/Screen%20Shot%202016-05-02%20at%2012.04.19%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Gladesville secures weekend top sale with Balwyn next priciest, then Brighton

How are Australia’s states and territories performing? CommSec's Craig James

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
In making a preliminary decision on the sale of S. Kidman &amp; Co to a Chinese consortium, the Treasurer Scott Morrison has shed some light on what the government defines as being in the “national interest”.
He describes the Chinese bid as being contrary to Australia’s national interes<a href="https://sjm.ministers.treasury.gov.au/media-release/050-2016/?utm_source=wysija&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Media+Release+-+Preliminary+decision+of+foreign+investment+application+for+purchase+of+S.+Kidman+%26+Co+Limited">t</a>, because:
“the form in which the Kidman portfolio has been offered as a single aggregated asset, has rendered it difficult for Australian bidders to be able to make a competitive bid.”
The decision was rationalised not on any of the pre-existing national interest test provisions, but rather the fact that Australian companies had struggled to make a competitive bid.
By doing this, the Treasurer has articulated a new policy objective, not previously part of the national interest test: that an Australian firm should have a substantial stake in the bidding process.
<h2>How is national interest defined?</h2>
The consortium bid for Kidman, the largest private land holding in Australia, was subject to approval by the Treasurer and the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). All investments which are screened by the FIRB are subject to a “national interest test”.
The specific content of this test is not legislatively defined, and is decided on a case-by-case basis according to the judgement of the Treasurer. However, the FIRB does provide investors a set of ‘guidelines’, which outline five factors that are usually considered. These include: national security, competition policy, other Australian government policies and regulations (including environment and tax), the impact on the economy and community as a whole and the character of the investor.
There are also an additional set of six guidelines for the agricultural sector, which cover issues relevant for this industry such as land access, biodiversity, productivity and employment.
These guidelines were most recently re-issued in December 2015. However, they have remained relatively unchanged since the last major revision by the Rudd government in 2008, which was made in the wake of Chinalco’s intervention into a proposed BHP-Rio Tinto takeover. Significantly, none of these provisions express a requirement for local ownership in the agricultural sector.
In recent years, the overwhelming majority of investment applications assessed by the FIRB have passed the national interest test. In the relatively rare cases of rejection, it has consistently been for one of the above reasons. Examples include the ADM bid for GrainCorp <a href="https://jbh.ministers.treasury.gov.au/media-release/026-2013/">(</a>rejected in 2013 on competition policy grounds<a href="https://jbh.ministers.treasury.gov.au/media-release/026-2013/">)</a>, and the Singapore Stock Exchange’s attempted merger with the ASX (rejected in 2011 on financial regulatory grounds).
However, Scott Morrison’s preliminary decision to oppose Dakang Australia’s bid for S. Kidman and Co. fundamentally reinterprets these guidelines. Despite the fact the sale process was found to be open and commercially sound, it has been rejected.
The clear message is that sale process now needs to be re-run – with the assets disaggregated – to ensure less-competitive local companies can win at least some of the assets.
This is akin to moving the goalposts when the outcome is not what you desired. It is also inherently protectionist. It rewards Australian firms who will now get a second chance to pick up a part of the Kidman portfolio.
In essence, the Kidman decision is a de facto introduction of a local ownership policy for agricultural land. Outside of sensitive sectors (such as media), Australia has not maintained any formal local ownership rules since 1992. This makes the Kidman rejection was of the most significant foreign investment decisions made in several decades.
It is clear that the Treasurer sees Australian bidders as crucial to ensuring national interests are looked after, what is still not clear is definition of “foreign interest.”
<h2>How is foreign interest defined?</h2>
The Kidman decision comes as a senate inquiry examining the effectiveness of the Foreign Investment Review Framework finishes. The <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/Foreign_Investment_Review/Report">final</a> and supplementary reports from the inquiry point to a lack of consistency and transparency of foreign investment decision making between the states and the commonwealth, particularly regarding sales of agricultural land to foreign interest.
At the moment the Foreign Acquisition and Takeovers Act 1975 deals with any foreign people or corporations that are seeking to acquire or to merge with a whole or a part of an Australian business. If a transaction exceeds a certain limit (different limits are applied to different industries) it’s reviewed by the Foreign Investment Review Board(FIRB).
However this Act doesn’t have a definition of foreign interest. This is crucial because since 1975, the picture of the world has dramatically changed.
According to ABS, until late 1980s, Australia’s investing partners were mostly persons and companies from developed market economies. Therefore, there could be little concern that Australia’s foreign counterparts were different to investing domestic entities.
These companies were either seeking profit or also seeking company control as direct investors and usually didn’t report to or take directives from any government on commercial decisions.
In late 1980s, new market economies emerged in place of both former communist countries, and reforming and rapidly growing third world nations. In some of those nations, such as most counties that replaced the former USSR, as well as in China, different forms of mixed private and public ownership in companies have been established with different roles and powers of governments in companies' decision making.
Despite of large scale privatisation, state and mixed ownership is still important and increasingly so in Russia. By 2014 China has become the 7th largest foreign investor in Australia, ahead of such countries as Germany, New Zealand, France. Meanwhile, ownership is rarely straight forward in China; and the countries' 500 global companies are mostly state-owned.
However, the 1975 Act does not require that the FIRB to look into the proportion of foreign government’s ownership in a company; involvement of a foreign government in company’s decision making (particularly, through government’s representation on the board of directors); government’s orders that limit company’s commercial independence; or compliance with legislation beyond that which normally regulates commercial activities.
This issue could be addressed by including foreign interest independence test into the FIRB process. Such a test needs to deal with the magnitude of sovereign ownership and sovereign involvement in foreign company’s decision making.
The idea of such a test was suggested on one of the submissions to the review, but did not find it’s way to the report.
Gennadi Kazakevitch is deputy head, Department of Economics, Monash University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gennadi-kazakevitch-90201" target="_blank">here</a>.
Jeffrey Wilson is fellow of the Asia Research Centre, Murdoch University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jeffrey-wilson-12717" target="_blank">here</a>.
Both are authors for The Conversation.
 
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Morrison’s ruling on Kidman & Co sale redefines the national interest test

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Australia's second largest dry dock along with 14 hectares of prime Brisbane river front land at Morningside will be sold off by shipbuilder Forgacs.
It will become new apartment and commercial office developments.
It has been owned by Forgacs Engineering since 2000.
Industry sources told the Australian Financial Review the Cairnscross Quays property, at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-industrial+warehouse-qld-morningside-501849666" target="_blank">405 Thynne Road</a>, could yield a total project realisation in the order of $1 billion, which would put a land value of about $100 million.  
The property comprises the Cairnscross dry dock left from World War II, situated 4.5 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD.
There is 700 metres of Brisbane River frontage. 
JLL's national director Seb Turnbull said the property was a "generational opportunity."
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Cairnscross dry dock for sale in Brisbane

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Last traded for $120,000 in 1977, a stately Queen Anne, Kew home, designed by Christopher Cowper around 1907, has been listed for May 7 auction.
The deep front garden frames the four bedroom home on its corner <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-kew-122407810" target="_blank">14 Studley Avenue</a> block.
There are $3.5 million plus hope for its May 7 auction through Nelson Alexander agent Mark Verrocchi.
It comes with coffered timber ceilings and superb leadlight bay window arches in its foyer and dining room.
Kew's median house price is $2,010,000, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
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Timber ceilings lift Queen Anne, Kew home to trophy home status

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GUEST OBSERVER
The debate on negative gearing ahead of the budget and looming elections has only added to the confusion among property investors as the ultimate aim from buying property is to make money, not to lose.
It’s an outdated way of investing to focus solely on negative gearing to build a property portfolio.
To put things in perspective, Labor recently said if elected, it would restrict negative gearing deductions to only new property. The federal government opposes this, asserting that negative gearing should remain with caps being placed on its use.
All of this debate surrounding gearing and lending as the Budget looms has only highlighted the need for diversity in any property strategy. There are a lot of opportunities out there, people just need guidance.
It is important to tailor strategies on a case-by-case basis, rather than a blanket reliance on negative gearing and depreciation because any changes in circumstance, such as sudden unemployment, can turn the property into a burden.
The consulting firm says it employs a range of tactics on behalf of buyers, with opportunities including capital growth, high yield, cash-flow positive, add value, renovations, granny flats, developments and buying new or established properties in regional or capital cities.
We find this approach gives our clients the confidence to build a strong and balanced portfolio that is adaptable to changes and opportunities in the market. Regular portfolio stress checks are also important to ensure ultimate security.
In its first year, Crave has helped clients with property deals worth more than $55 million.
We just purchased a $325,000 property on behalf of a client, a corner block spanning over 790 square metres with rental return of $340 per week. They also have the opportunity to add a granny flat.
Another client recently landed a development block for $825,000, with similar properties now selling for $1 million.
Investors are also starting to look beyond local or usual purchase areas to areas that not only better suit their own financial situation but offer affordability and growth potential.
Now is the ideal time for home owners to check whether the impacts of recent government changes could increase the equity on their existing properties.
We are seeing a lot of opportunities being unlocked, with government rezoning key areas and adding infrastructure such as roads, transport and community facilities.
Debra Beck-Mewing is founder of consulting firm Crave Property Advisory and can be contacted <a href="https://www.craveproperty.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Negative gearing strategies outdated: Debra Beck-Mewing

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Melbourne's auction market sees around 1260 auctions on Saturday, which Domain economist Dr Andrew Wilson says will likely exceed the previous record for an April day of 1247 set on the pre-Easter Super Saturday earlier this month.
The inner south will host the highest number of regional auctions this weekend with 206 followed by the west 196.
Bentleigh East is the busiest suburb for auctions this weekend with 28 followed by a number of suburbs with 18 auctions scheduled including Reservoir, Craigieburn, St Kilda, East Malvern and Brighton. 
Melbourne reported a clearance rate of 74 per cent last Saturday which was just under the 76 per cent recorded the previous weekend but well below last year’s peak rate of 86 per cent result recorded over the same holiday weekend.
Domain indicate Sydney will host its second highest Saturday of auctions this year, which will fully test the local market that bounced back last weekend.
Almost 700 homes will go under the hammer this weekend, well ahead of last weekend’s Anzac Day total of 426 and similar to the 697 auctioned over the same weekend last year.
Sydney’s inner west is set to host the most number of auctions with 109, followed by the city and east with 93.
Mosman is the most popular suburb for auctions in Sydney on Saturday with 13, the next highest is Surry Hills at 10, followed by Blacktown with nine.
Sydney reported a clearance rate of 71 percent last Saturday, higher than the year-low 67 percent recorded the previous weekend.
Sydney’s average weekend auction clearance rate since Easter of 70 percent remains well below this year’s pre-Easter average of 75 percent.
<a href="/images/2016/05/Screen%20Shot%202016-05-02%20at%2012.04.19%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Record Melbourne April auctions this weekend, with Sydney busy too

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Developer Tim Gurner has acquired his fifth development site in Collingwood.
His plans are for about 170 luxury apartments will be targeted at owner-occupiers.
Mr Gurner acquired 23-33 Johnston Street in a $12 million off-market deal struck with the Martino Family.
Angelo Martino of Martino Properties will stay on as a joint venture partner of the 1800 sqm site.
It is the third Melbourne acquisition for the BRW Young Richlister this year.
He has also acquired sites in Fitzroy North and one in Prahran in partnership with the Smorgon family.
The latest acquisition adds $130 million in end value to Gurner's $2.6 billion development pipeline split between Melbourne and Brisbane.
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Tim Gurner to joint venture in Collingwood residential project

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The Como Centre in South Yarra has attracted the attention of the boutique funds manager Newmark Capital, which is led by Chris Langford, the former star of AFL club Hawthorn.
The Australian newspaper reports Newmark is looking at the purchase of the Como Centre, listed by Mirvac for close to $230 million.
The group secured the nearby Jam Factory for about $165 million last year from financial services company Challenger.
The Como is a two-hectare site with street frontage to Chapel Street, Toorak Road and River Street.
The property generates more than $14 million of net income from more than 25,000 sqm of office space and 6600 sqm of retail space.
There is a 113-room hotel operated by Accor on a lease expiring in June 2021, with a five-year option.
The centre has a car park for 614 vehicles.
Newmark Capital was founded in 2011.
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Newmark consider adding Como Centre after Jam Factory acquisition

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Jack Brand, the author of the popular childrens' Freddy Tangles series, didn't get to sell his Balmain home at weekend auction.
It was an 1870s cottage on Palmer Street that now has an $1,825 million asking price.
Brand and his wife, conveyancer Sarah Merrick, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-balmain-122268914" target="_blank">bought the three-bedroom cottage</a> in 2011 for $1.1 million from psychic medium Kate St Clair.
It was renovated in 2012.
They are heading east to be closer to schools.
The 380-square-metre property was offered through Belle Property Balmain agent Lynsey Kemp and Monique Dower.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Children's author Jack Brand stuck with Balmain home

A who's who of Australian surfing, business and entertainment has emerged on title records following the completion of Esprit Rainbow Bay, the latest boutique beachfront apartment development by former professional surfer Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects.

The completed project has attracted an enviable collection of owners, many with long-standing ties to the southern Gold Coast and the surf culture that has helped define Rainbow Bay and neighbouring Kirra for generations.

Given Gedoun's own background in surfing, it perhaps comes as little surprise that some of Australia's most recognisable surfers have chosen to buy into the development overlooking one of the country's most celebrated stretches of coastline.

Pezet Matheson directors Jayde Pezet and Todd Matheson launched the project in late 2021, and have managed the sales campaign all the way through to its sell-out and recent completion.

<img alt="Esprit" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="08fc6261-b84e-4b09-8a44-66d3067fd0d1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-29%20at%208.51.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4AOcb6ETZwNUnMPdTtz1B3pZAIB_jgZ2" />

Former world champion Mick Fanning, who grew up in Coolangatta, secured an apartment in 2023. He paid&nbsp;$2.07 million. Last year he sold his Bilinga home for over $16 million.

Three-time world champion Joel Parkinson also purchased in the development, alongside big wave surfer Mark Mathews. Mathews bought the most expensive apartment in the building, spending just over $4 million.

Joining them is Rip Curl founder Doug Warbrick, whose company helped shape Australia's global surfing industry over the past five decades.

The appeal of Rainbow Bay has extended well beyond the surfing community.

International DJ Paul Fisher purchased an apartment through his investment vehicle, YLB Developments, an abbreviation of his trademark phrase "You Little Beauty".

The purchase comes as Fisher and his wife Chloe are developing their own luxury apartment project further north in Palm Beach. Their boutique beachfront development, Pescado, comprises just seven apartments on Jefferson Lane, which start from just shy of $6 million. The couple intend to retain the two-level penthouse as their Australian base between international touring commitments.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy and his wife Wendy have also invested in Esprit, purchasing two apartments after spending decades holidaying on the southern Gold Coast. They also have a luxury apartment in Joe Adsett's Rockpool, less than 400m away from Esprit.

<h2>Boutique project draws owner-occupiers</h2>

Esprit launched in 2021 and sold strongly, with buyers drawn to its boutique scale, beachfront position and contemporary design.

The completed development comprises 94 apartments across 11 levels, offering expansive floorplans designed primarily for owner-occupiers rather than the investor market.

Crowning the building is Club Esprit, pitched as being the Gold Coast's first residential rooftop wellness centre. The roof features a&nbsp;25 metre magnesium lap pool, which is surrounded by wet daybeds and poolside cabanas,&nbsp;multiple barbecue areas,&nbsp;a yoga and relaxation play lawn, and a private dining room with a kitchen scullery, bar, lounges, and an outdoor terrace.

The wellness centre is&nbsp;fully equipped with a Technogym, ice bath, infra-red sauna, steam room, thermal room, and treatment room. The roof has views spanning&nbsp;Rainbow Bay, Snapper Rocks and the Pacific Ocean.

<h2>S&amp;S Projects continues to shape Rainbow Bay</h2>

S&amp;S Projects founder Paul Gedoun has become one of the key figures behind Rainbow Bay's evolution over the past several years.

After establishing S&amp;S Projects, Gedoun has focused on delivering lifestyle-driven apartment developments designed primarily for owner-occupiers seeking a permanent coastal home.

Esprit is Gedoun's third completed project in Rainbow Bay, following Flow and Awaken, both of which achieved record prices for the suburb.

He is now delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, a 38-apartment development on Boundary Street that is currently selling, and has no plans to leave the precinct anytime soon. S&amp;S Projects has also lodged plans for its fifth Rainbow Bay development, an 88-apartment project on Boundary Street featuring a strong wellness focus.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">First look: S&amp;S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street</a>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Joel Robinson

Who's who of buyers revealed as Esprit Rainbow Bay settles

Nature Based Cities (NBC), the not-for-profit organisation focused on improving biodiversity and nature outcomes in urban development, has launched its latest industry design guidelines and accreditation framework, this time targeting precinct-scale residential communities.

The move extends NBC’s influence beyond its initial focus on medium and high-density residential developments. Several projects have already achieved NBC accreditation since the launch of its Medium &amp; High-Density Residential Guidelines in early 2025.

The expansion into masterplanned communities and new residential precincts reflects the growing need for stronger nature-positive benchmarks as Australia’s outer suburban growth corridors continue to expand at pace.

Paul Hameister OAM, NBC Founder and the Executive Chairman of Melbourne developer Hamton who itself leans heavily into nature and biodiversity in its developments, says the&nbsp;nature-first approach to mitigate the effects of climate change has become standard in other parts of the world such as the UK, but Australia is lagging.&nbsp;Australia’s environmentally sustainable design (ESD) rating tools have no minimum mandatory requirements for living landscapes.

“We’ve always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren’t there,” Hameister says. “In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that’s concrete and glass with not a blade of grass. 
 
“The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn’t been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities.”

He says that having now&nbsp;made good progress in supporting developers of medium and high-density residential projects, NBC is now looking to bolster better nature-based decision-making and recognise developers of greenfield projects in the outer ring and large inner-ring brownfield precincts, who want to champion nature and living landscape as a defining feature.

Since 2022, the not-for-profit has sought to remove the roadblocks preventing developers from incorporating nature and living landscapes into their projects, shifting the conversation from the reduction of emissions and grey infrastructure, toward recognising nature as an essential infrastructure.

The New Communities Design Guidelines and Scorecard arm developers with the tools needed to deliver a nature positive outcome for their new communities. Intended to be adopted at the outset of the planning process, the guidelines are designed to help create communities that are cooler, healthier and more resilient while also enhancing social wellbeing and long-term economic value.&nbsp;

New Communities developers seeking accreditation will be independently assessed across a range of key criteria including ecology, tree canopy, biodiversity, and walkability. Once the masterplan is complete and submitted for approval, the scorecard is formalised based on proposed outcomes. Projects that meet the NBC criteria will receive either Commended or Exemplary accreditation outcomes, creating a clear benchmark for nature-positive new communities in Australia.&nbsp;

Janis Fischer, Director at Tract and NBC Advisory Council member, said the development of new communities in our suburbs can have a substantial impact on nature and biodiversity.

"By incorporating nature-based design principles at the inception of a project, developers and their design teams can achieve nature positive outcomes that are good for both people and the planet.’’&nbsp;

NBC accredited New Community projects will gain access to NBC branding and marketing tools to help communicate their nature-based credentials to purchasers and the broader market.&nbsp;

Nature Based Cities: A new Australian benchmark for developing nature-positive new communities

Apartment buildings are increasingly being designed around how people actually live day to day, not just how they want a building to look.

For buyers, that shift is showing up in practical inclusions that respond to changing habits. Work-from-home spaces, EV charging, wellness amenities, secure bike storage and parcel management are becoming part of the broader apartment conversation, reflecting a move toward buildings that reduce friction in everyday life.

Online shopping has become one of the clearest examples of that change.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online. That has made parcel delivery a regular part of apartment living, rather than an occasional inconvenience.

For apartment residents, however, the delivery process can be less straightforward than it is for detached homes. Parcels may be left in lobbies, redirected to Post Offices, missed entirely, or placed under the responsibility of building managers and concierge teams.

That is why secure parcel infrastructure is increasingly being considered alongside more familiar apartment amenities.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-VjjLwoViX0?si=A3k7ws9NX35Uac7_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Australia Post Parcel Lockers offer one way to address the issue. When a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS, then collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN. The parcel is kept secure, accessible and removed from common areas.

The broader Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations across Australia, positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and other accessible locations.

For new apartment projects, the relevance is clear. A building’s amenity offering is no longer only about lifestyle spaces, but also about convenience, security and functionality.

As buyer expectations evolve, secure parcel delivery is becoming part of the same design conversation as flexible working, sustainable transport and resident wellbeing.

It is one less thing for residents to worry about, and another example of apartment design adapting to the way Australians now live.

Apartment design is adapting to the way Australians shop

While school holidays and trips to Europe tend to define the winter property market, there's been no cold snap at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> in North Sydney.

Developer-builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a> sold more than $35 million worth of apartments throughout June, including a $6.8 million apartment that now ranks among the highest apartment sales ever recorded in North Sydney.

SRM Residential agent Ben Stewart said buyer demand throughout June reflected a mix of improving market confidence and longer-term thinking from owner-occupiers.

"We're seeing strong demand from owner-occupiers who are taking a longer-term view," Stewart said.

"Many recognise the opportunity to secure an apartment in an iconic building and premium location while values remain attractive. They may initially lease the property, but the intention is to eventually move in themselves, rather than purchasing purely as an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=367129]

Located at 177 Walker Street, The Walden will deliver 161 one, two, three and four-bedroom residences across a 30-storey tower designed by Rothelowman. Every apartment occupies a corner position, maximising natural light, cross ventilation and views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Sydney Heads and the northern districts.

Rather than a traditional balcony, the residences feature winter gardens that seamlessly extend the open plan living areas, creating versatile spaces for relaxing or entertaining throughout the year. Floor-to-ceiling glazing draws in natural light while showcasing sweeping views from the building's elevated Walker Street position.

Every apartment features high-end Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, and fully integrated appliances.

The larger residences have been planned with distinct entertaining and private zones, with many master suites positioned on corners to capture natural light and harbour views. Walk-in dressing rooms, freestanding baths and refined stone finishes reinforce the house-like feel that has resonated with downsizers and owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6393]

Rothelowman Principal Ben Pomroy said the project was designed to make the most of its unique position overlooking the harbour.

"The Walden is a celebration of all things beautiful, curated for those who expect nothing less than exceptional," Pomroy says.

"Meticulously designed entertaining spaces and light-filled living areas that capitalise on capturing the natural beauty of Sydney's iconic harbour."

Residents will also have exclusive access to The Pavilion, a dedicated amenity building featuring a rooftop pool, wellness studio, gymnasium, sauna, concierge service, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and work-from-home facilities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6402]

The project marks ALAND's first major luxury apartment development in Sydney's inner-city market after more than two decades delivering residential communities across Greater Sydney.

Founder and CEO Andrew Hrsto previously said the rarity of the Walker Street site made it an opportunity the company could not overlook.

"This is a rare opportunity to bring a truly exceptional project to life in one of Sydney's most iconic locations, and to showcase our craftsmanship and design expertise at a world-class level," Hrsto said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6383]

The Walden has been introduced to the market at a time when demand for living in North Sydney is at an all-time high. Billions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure, including the recently opened Victoria Cross Metro station, located just 300 metres from The Walden, providing residents with direct access to the Sydney CBD in just minutes.

Private investment has also transformed the area through the arrival of new retail and dining destinations, elevating the lifestyle offering in what was once considered primarily a commercial precinct rather than an aspirational residential address.

The Walden is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

ALAND records $35 million in sales in North Sydney as The Walden bucks quiet winter selling season

The long-awaited redevelopment of the former Eastlakes Shopping Centre site has reached a major milestone, with Conquest's plans for a new mixed-use precinct officially placed on public exhibition.

The State Significant Development Application would transform the 1.7-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/19a-evans-avenue-eastlakes-nsw-2018">19A Evans Avenue</a> into one of Sydney's largest urban renewal projects, delivering 736 apartments above a new shopping centre anchored by Woolworths, alongside specialty retail, dining, commercial space and new public open spaces.

The public exhibition marks the next chapter for the project after <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/conquest">Conquest</a> acquired the stalled Stage Two development from Crown Group, who completed the first stage across the road prior to their voluntary liquidation.

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5fca22c5-d1ed-4e2c-8801-03f7df1eafc8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland%20podium.png?VersionId=uomwr41nF8CmLUZRDcu3mHQechlbxucS" />

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Designed by DKO Architecture, the proposal comprises four residential buildings ranging from 14 to 18 storeys above a two-level retail podium. The development would deliver 736 apartments, including 74 affordable homes, 215 Build-to-Rent apartments and 521 market residences. Provision has also been made for dual-key apartments, which could increase the total number of dwellings to 877.

At ground level, the shopping centre has been designed as the suburb's new meeting place, anchored by a full-line Woolworths and complemented by a curated mix of fresh food retailers, cafés, restaurants, health services and everyday convenience shopping. Generous pedestrian links and landscaped public spaces will connect the retail precinct through to Jack Mundey Reserve, creating a more walkable and connected neighbourhood.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

"Eastlakes has been overlooked for too long, and this is the community’s moment. We are building a shopping centre and homes, a genuine heart for the suburb, and we genuinely want locals to help shape it."

"We enrich communities through the creation of homes, places, and experiences designed for life, built to last, and owner for generations. That starts with listening, so we warmly encourage everyone with a connection to Eastlakes to view the plans and share their thoughts."

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="22f6fb20-54fb-4bd7-8a92-48fafdd00608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland.png?VersionId=cugp7s9hrMHGJJdYzkeAkrFoQgnF4GXf" />

DKO said the design had been shaped by the site's landscape setting and surrounding open space.

"Our vision for the site embraces its unique Bidjigal identity by blending the residential living with generous landscaping and a material palette inspired by the Bidjigal locality, and celebrating the panoramic views to Botany Bay and the wetlands reserves."

"Taking cues from Country, we seek to harmonise built form with the landscape and lightly touch the earth. By reconnecting, retaining and regenerating existing ecology, and weaving in natural elements, we can deepen our connection to Country."

The landscape strategy extends across the podium and rooftops, incorporating communal gardens, children's play areas, lawns, community gardens, family gathering spaces and extensive tree planting. New landscaped links will also strengthen the connection between the precinct and Jack Mundey Reserve, while publicly accessible open spaces have been integrated throughout the development.

The proposal builds on Conquest's broader placemaking strategy for the site. Through an ongoing partnership, local artist Joe Rashbrook has been appointed Urban Art Curator, working alongside young residents to transform the project's site hoardings into a public art gallery that allows the community to engage with the redevelopment before construction is complete.

Conquest has rapidly expanded its development pipeline since acquiring the Eastlakes site, with more than $6 billion worth of mixed-use projects now in planning across Sydney, including Stanmore, Castlecrag and Waterloo.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

Jonathan Chancellor

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