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GUEST OBSERVER
One in three Queensland strata residents are concerned about apartment security from Airbnb guests, according to new research conducted by a leading Queensland body corporate company.
Archers the Strata Professionals investigated the attitudes of more than 550 Queensland unit owners and residents towards accommodation sharing services like Airbnb and Stayz, to determine how they impact unit owners in the sector.
Airbnb is an accommodation sharing service that allows property owners and residents to let their rooms or properties out to people seeking short-term lodgings. With more than 50,000 listings across Australia, the service continues to grow in popularity.
While the survey found more than 85 percent of participants were familiar with these services, many were unfazed by the platform, with 45 percent reporting they would welcome Airbnb within their complex.
Yet, despite the apparent support for such services, more than 30 percent of respondents acknowledged concerns over apartment security.
With Australia going through a widespread apartment boom, and more and more people choosing to live in strata complexes, we need to make sure that accommodation sharing services like Airbnb aren’t negatively impacting residents.
The research demonstrates some residents feel their safe, private apartment buildings are being infiltrated by a steady stream of unknown visitors, who stay for short periods of time.
Consequently, a number of strata residents are becoming uneasy about apartment security. As Queensland doesn’t have specific by-laws in place related to Airbnb and strata complexes, we encourage strata managers to work with residents to address any concerns they may have.
While Airbnb has been the topic of much controversy and debate in NSW, the heat is yet to reach Queensland. This is reflected in the research, which found almost 50 percent of Queensland strata residents would like Airbnb to be addressed by their body corporate. Developments in technology and the popularity of the sharing economy have surpassed current property legislation. 
Currently, the legislation states that, where a lot can lawfully be used for residential purposes, a bylaw cannot restrict the ‘type’ of residential use. 
Therefore, in Queensland, a body corporate doesn’t have much authority to regulate against the use of lots for private short-term letting. 
As such, we’re seeing the greatest impact in small schemes with permanent residents and no building manager. 
In those types of buildings, dealing with unplanned impacts such as increased noise, overuse of shared facilities, damage to common property and safety and security issues can be very time consuming for the volunteer committee members, and very expensive for body corporate as a whole.
Consequently, we encourage residents to work with their body corporate managers to address any concerns they may have about Airbnb, in order to find a solution to any potential issues.
 Last year, 455 Australians reported an incident of more than $1000 worth of damages from Airbnb guests. Greater education is definitely needed in this space, and we are committed to working with strata residents to mitigate their concerns.
Grant Mifsud is partner, Archers the Strata Professionals and can be contacted <a href="https://www.abcm.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Queensland strata residents concerned about Airbnb security: Grant Mifsud

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The ANZ Banking Group has closed the door on some foreign buyers wanting to invest in Australian real estate using overseas funds.
The bank insists on original copies of untranslated supporting documents required for a loan application and tightened passport scrutiny, such as foreign applicants having to provide all stamped pages. 
It comes amid concerns by property developers that a decline in bank lending to investors, capital controls imposed in China and confusion about state planning policies, particularly in Melbourne, might slow investments.
Mortgage brokers claim the moves are targeting the Chinese market, which has spent billions of dollars on Australian residential property, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney.
The bank will not accept loan applications based solely on foreign income.
"Applications based on 100 per cent foreign income will not be accepted," the bank has told mortgage brokers.
For borrowers seeking loans based on more than 50 per cent of foreign income, there are measures about the size and source of funding.
There is a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 70 per cent, no loans in a company name, no guarantor arrangements and restricted construction lending.
There are tough controls on refinancing of existing loans, which involves borrowers attempting to get better terms and conditions for their loans.
Foreign salary earner applicants must pass six stringent documentation tests that include providing comprehensive employment contracts, tax returns, current visa documentation and original, untranslated supporting documents.
The Australian Financial Review says that expatriate Australians working overseas will not be impacted by the lending restrictions but will be required to provide the extra documentation.
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ANZ introduces stricter lending rules for foreign buyers

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Cosmetic surgeon, and Sydney to Hobart competitor, Dr Darryl Hodgkinson and wife Katherine have finally sold their Darling Point home.
The five level 1890's Queen Anne style home has been restored and renovated featuring balconies which overlook the heated pool to the City and the Sydney harbour.
The property sold through Sotheby's Double Bay agent Walter Antonelli.
It's tipped that the listing fetched $10 million plus.
It was a busy time for Darling Point after fund manager Charlie Aitken and wife Ellie secured around $10.5 million elsewhere on the peninsula through Ray White agents Richard Carwin and Elliot Placks.
They bought the four bedroom villa for $6.95 million in 2008.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Cosmetic surgeon Darryl Hodgkinson sells Darling Point home

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Professional tennis player Sam Stosur recently sold her Gold Coast investment property for $500,000.
The Heeb St, Benowa property sold at an $8,500 loss having been purchased in 2007 with her older brother Daniel for $508,500.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-qld-benowa-121597370" target="_blank">They sold the three bedroom villa</a> through The Professionals to an Ipswich couple downsizing closer to the beach.
It had been a $425 to $475 per week rental.
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Sam Stosur sells Gold Coast investment property

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GUEST OBSERVER
New statistics showing one third of older Australians in low income households are ‘asset rich’ and ‘income poor’ demonstrate the need for new policies that will help them unlock their home equity in retirement. 
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics concludes one third of older low income households have less than $5000 in cash and other liquid assets, with nearly their entire wealth locked up in the family home. 
A typical older Australian will have $600,000 in property assets but will be living day-to day on a fixed income. 
We need to put in place the right policies that help older Australians downsize. All too often, a pensioner considers downsizing only to reject it because it would mean a hit on their pension. 
Many older Australians have a desire to move to more age appropriate accommodation, like a retirement village apartment or villa, but will be hit with a reduction in their income despite owning exactly the same amount of assets if they make the move. 
The reasons for downsizing are often health related – wanting homes without steps, or big backyards to maintain, and lower rates and utility costs. 
It makes little sense, both from an economic and a health and wellbeing perspective, to trap older people in large and often unsuitable family homes, with little money available to spend. 
The Property Council is proposing an adjustment be made to the means test, to exempt some proceeds from the sale of the family home by full-rate age pensioners aged over 75. The cost to the Budget is minimal. 
This type of targeted reform that removes the current disincentive to downsize will benefit income poor pensioners, as well as make the pension system fairer and more sustainable.
Mary Wood is executive director, Retirement, Property Council of Australia and can be contacted <a href="https://www.propertycouncil.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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ABS figures prove need for downsizing help for seniors: PCA's Mary Wood

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GUEST OBSERVER
Consumers lose out when a real estate agent acts fraudulently. This includes actions such as false and misleading advertising, deceptive conduct and misappropriation of trust funds.
So what is behind the increase in white-collar crime and fraudulent behaviour? And are there are any preventative measures that could be implemented to reduce the impact on consumers?
<h2>The scale of the problem</h2>
There are various property agency laws and codes of ethics that set out appropriate standards of behaviour for property agents.
In New South Wales, occupational licensing for property agents and certificates of registration are mandatory if working in the property industry. Occupational licensing for this category is managed under the auspices of individual state and territory Fair Trading offices.
My research concluded that education plays a pivotal role, coupled with industry experience, in combating white-collar crime in the property industry.
From 2003, the NSW regulator diminished the existing higher educational requirements and abolished the need for industry experience. This has been followed by significant increases in consumer and trader complaints in real-estate transactions.
These complaints include non-disclosure of a vested interest, misrepresentation, unethical conduct and fraud.
<a href="/images/2016/04/01/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-01%20at%209.00.35%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/01/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-01%20at%209.00.35%20AM.png" alt="">
The table above indicates an increase in complaints from 1756 to 3754 in a decade.
In 2012-13 Fair Trading reported only 1,444 complaints, which represented a decrease of 17.77 percent. However, there does appear to be an anomaly with the following year, which reported an increase of 113.78 percent. Therefore, it is possible that the complaints for 2012-13 could have been partly accounted for in the following financial year – hence the disparity.
If this is the situation, then an average calculation would indicate that complaints increased in 2012-13 and 2013-14 by an average of 48% for each year. This appears more in line with trends during the earlier years.
My 2013 study identified ten randomly selected court cases from 2010 to 2013 that related to trust accounting fraud. Of these, five cases disclosed the amounts misappropriated – which totalled A$2,107,261.
I undertook further research on five court cases that occurred during the 2013-14 financial year. The misappropriation of trust funds ranged from $813,936.00 to $1,434,111.43. The penalties ranged from jail sentences, extending from a bond for good behaviour to 18 months’ imprisonment, to disqualification from holding a licence or certificate and working in the property industry.
<h2>The way forward</h2>
Consumer complaints and trust accounting fraud continue to increase. Over the last decade, the property industry has continuously lobbied the regulator for an improvement in the educational requirements for the certificate of registration and licence categories.
My research developed a model of occupational corruption. Based on this, it recommends the following preventative measures be implemented:
A major overview of the educational course curriculum and associated mandated qualifications. All certificate of registration holders should complete a Certificate IV qualification. All licensed holders should complete a diploma qualification, both within the property services training package and the relevant category of employment.
An increase in the mandated units and training hours required before starting work in the property industry. The previous industry experience of a minimum of two years should be reintroduced.
A points system where agents must submit their business and personal financial details to Fair Trading in order to obtain or renew their property licence. This will identify the agents whose businesses are not trading profitably and who might be considered high risk in trust accounting ethics and processes. The issuing of the licence should be linked back to obtaining a nominated minimum point score that reflects the financial viability of the licence holder or business.
An interview system, where agents applying for their licence are required to undertake an oral examination. In Australia, the Australian Property Institute and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have for decades successfully applied this method of assessment to the valuation profession.
 
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hera-antoniades-229521" rel="author">Hera Antoniades</a> is senior lecturer, School of Built Environment, University of Technology Sydney and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hera-antoniades-229521" target="_blank">here</a>.
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How can we arrest the rise in white-collar crime in Australia’s property industry?

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GUEST OBSERVER
So far, the early parts of this year have been impacted by public holidays; this has reduced listing numbers and overall choice, which have been strong contributors to healthy clearance rates and strong competition by bidders.
Overall prices were down at the start of 2016 relative to the end of last year, which is mostly due to the cyclical nature of the property market. The month of March alone reveals signs of the trend reversing and property prices swinging up again. Many suburbs have left the “Bust” list, with only CBD apartments experiencing four consecutive rolling quarters of negative price growth.
Similar to last month, average house prices in the inner suburbs were down 2 percent over the rolling quarter. However, compared to March 2015, all inner regions saw increases in real prices: 8 percent in the inner South, 8.5 percent in the inner North and 14 percent in the inner West. Due to several multimillion dollar property sales in the inner East this month, real median prices are up over 33 percent since this time last year. As pointed out in Secret Agent’s recent blog post, these large fluctuations show the limitations of analysis using medians and averages within concentrated areas.
Prices of townhouses remained nearly unchanged this quarter compared to last, dropping by less than half a per cent. The average price per square metre was also identical to last month’s figure of $6,300, but is still well below levels seen towards the end of last year. Standalone houses on the other hand are closing the gap, with their median price per square metre nearing $5,900.
Median apartment prices are about 4 percent lower than at the end of 2015, while total listings are down slightly, remaining at over 3,200 combined across all inner regions. The market for apartments did not adjust correctly to the much lower demand for property at the start of the new year, which means the price decline is most likely due to an oversupply.
Compared to March last year, CBD apartments have gained a slither of real value, with median prices up 0.16 percent. Northcote and West Melbourne have seen two consecutive rolling quarters of negative growth. Collingwood was the only area to buck the trend, with apartment prices rising consecutively since November last year.
Secret Agent still believes that value in the property market is easier to leverage at the top end of the market and many buyers seem to share this sentiment: nearly 16 percent of all houses sold this quarter had a price tag of $2 million or more, with $7 million and $5 million value properties in South Yarra and Hawthorn having no trouble finding a buyer happy to exchange fortunes for keys. However, true value may still be much harder to find. For properties above $3 million, buyers on average paid $7,200 per square metre, which is well above the average for houses in the inner suburbs. Larger homes are increasingly being sold to developers who are optimistic about creating further value on these sites. Secret Agent plans to investigate true capital growth more deeply.
We believe that many figures that can be found readily on the web do not offer home buyers the real insights into the property market. Whenever a property undergoes change between sales, the price reflects the value added by the owners as well as the appreciation of the property itself. We’re excited to bring these findings to you over the coming few months.
Quarterly Scorecard
JAN - MAR 2016
<a href="/images/2016/03/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-31%20at%202.58.58%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/03/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-31%20at%202.58.58%20PM.png" alt="" width="793" height="678">
For more information, <a href="https://secretagent.com.au/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Melbourne townhouse price largely unchanged: Secret Agent

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Brisbane’s inner city apartment precinct saw 5336 residential new and off the plan sales worth about $3.19 billion in 2015.
It was a 30 percent up on 2014 - and four times 2010, according to Place Projects’ 2015 analysis of the CBD apartment market.
The report found there were 18 new projects in the inner Brisbane precinct in 2010 compared with 26 last year.
There was only a 4 percent growth in average weighted sales price to $595,000.
Place Advisory director Lachlan Walker said one factor driving prices has been a recent shift from one-bedroom to two-bedroom apartments, which accounted for 56 percent of the market, compared with 39 percent in 2010.
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Brisbane apartment sales volume record

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One of Melbourne's most iconic trophy homes, Lalor House is under contract having been listed with $5 million plus hopes.
It's being sold to a local family for $5.55 million after 10 offers were lodged.
The house, on the market for the first time in five decades, was built in 1888 for Joseph Lalor, the doctor son of Eureka Stockade rebellion leader and politician Peter Lalor, who died in the house a year later.
Designed by American architect William George Woolf, 293 Church Street has a classical Italiante facade and Jellis Craig Richmond agent Andrew Macmillan thinks it could be a private hotel, office or art gallery.
Set on 1135 sqm, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jelliscraig/photos/pb.223320834501948.-2207520000.1456006561./529830753850953/?type=3&amp;theater" target="_blank">the five bedroom brick mansion</a> has been home of the Morton's and was used as a medical practice up until 1973.
Expressions of interest closed March 22 with Jellis Craig Richmond saying it would set a new price benchmark for the suburb. 
The current record of $5.13 million is held by Araluen, a five-bedroom 1856 mansion at 207 Lennox Street, which sold in 2015.
 
 
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Lalor House, Richmond under contract after $5 million plus offering

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The investment banker Nick Garling and his wife, Sam have relisted their renovated 1940s-era dairy cottage estate near Gerringong.   The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.conlonandco.com.au/rural-for-sale/0000291045" target="_blank">21 hectare Willow Vale grounds</a> come with Tony Lameri-designed gardens as well as a tennis court, swimming pool, a separate contemporary cottage and guest quarters in the converted cedar-clad shed.
Garling bought Jerrymara Farm for $1.37 million with Shari-Lea Hitchcock as the underbidder at its 2001 auction.
Jerrymara Farm is listed for $4.4 million through Conlon &amp; Co’s Julia Conlon, having been initially listed in late 2014.
Heavily utilised as a weekender resort, it is located just off the Princes Highway on Willow Vale Road.
The property currently generates annual income of circa $150,000 from holiday lettings with potential to make further improvements such as luxury cabins which may be permissible under the new Kiama Council LEP.
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Jerrymara Farm, Gerringong relisted

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;

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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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