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There was a late scratching amid Sydney's 600 scheduled weekend auctions.
Racing couple Gai and Rob Waterhouse withdrew their longtime Mosman family home given insufficient competitive interest was lined up to bid for their prestige offering.
The battle-axe property in the exclusive enclave Clifton Gardens was listed with a price guide of $6 million.
The Waterhouse family have had the property for 32 years ownership since paying $457,500 in 1983 but have rented it out for the past four years.
They now prefer Balmoral and their Southern Highlands retreat, Dunsinea, the 40 hectare Mittagong trophy property.
The Melbourne Cup winning trainer and her husband, Robbie Waterhouse own in Melbourne having bought a whole floor Spring Street apartment for $4.3 million in 2014.
Gai, ofcourse, was always going to be distracted today by Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes Day race meeting at Caulfield though she has just the one runner, Bonfire in the first. She has two racing at Randwick too.
The four bedroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mosman-121723666" target="_blank">Burrawong Avenue</a> home has four bedrooms with wall to wall windows highlighting the southerly Harbour views over Shark Island and beyond.
Designed as three inter-connected pavilions, the 695 sqm estate has a mosaic-tiled pool in the rear central courtyard.
The Waterhouse's do not live in the property, but made homely with their family contents, the most impressive being a Garry Shead race day painting.
The master bedroom suite comes with an impressive hat display cabinet filled with Gai's hats and fascinators from past race days.
There were more than two dozen in behind the glass display cabinet when I breezed through this week's open for inspection which was little quiet.
Apparently the week before 2088 Realty listing agent Sally-Anne Lawlor oversaw a cast of thousands with Chinese an Indian buyers and even a French family.
"It was a bit like the UN," she suggested adding she was happy to sell to anyone.
The scratching from the auction doesn't come as a huge surprise.
Although the Sydney market is recording healthy mid 70 percent clearance rates throughout February, Mosman is struggling to sell via auction at the moment, with only two sales last weekend out of its 10 auctions.
There pressure continues as there were 15 Saturday auctions scheduled in Mosman, the busiest suburb across Sydney.
Mosman's median house price is tracking at over $3 million for the first time $3 million with a recovery given a long dip following the GFC, according to CoreLogic RPData. 
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
 
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Waterhouse clan's Clifton Gardens home pulled from weekend auction

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Unswayed by the recent 60 Minutes segment forecasting a 50 percent house price crash, the national auction clearance rate edged up to 72 percent, from the prior week's 71 percent.
This weekend television news bulletins were more focused on the little ramshackle Brunswick house made famous by Beyonce in her No Angel video clip (above) that sold at auction for a silly $650,000.
The auctioneer Steven James declared the price as having a “Beyonce premium” when 20 Beith Street sold on Saturday reportedly to a neighbour. 
Not even the auction price forecasting website, realAs could anticipate the premium as it suggested a likely $539,000 sale price, as against the agent's $470,000 to $510,000 price guidance. 
Acclaimed Australian filmmakers Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin finally found a buyer for their Darlinghurst mansion, Iona on Friday evening.
It was listed for private treaty sale for $16 million last July marketed as "a once in a lifetime opportunity to possess a heritage masterpiece."
The couple, along with their two children, spend much of their time in New York so will now look for a smaller Sydney home and office as Iona is also the headquarters of Luhrmann’s production company Bazmark.
The Italianate late 1880s trophy home sits on a 2700 square metre block in the centre of Darlinghurst surrounded by established gardens. 
Luhrmann and Martin had rented Iona for nine years before purchasing it in 2006 for $10 million.
Another 1880s Sydney home - Sunnyside, a sandstone Hunters Hill riverfront residence - topped the weekend auctions with a $6.51 million result through BresicWhitney agent Nicholas McEvoy.
<a href="/images/2016/02/29/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-29%20at%209.13.44%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/29/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-29%20at%209.13.44%20AM.png" alt="">
Sunnyside, on 1900 sqm north facing square metres at 22 Vernon Street, had been in the same family for almost seven decades.
A north-west facing single storey Toorak home on half that size ranked as the second highest weekend sale when $5,795,000 was secured through Sothebys.
It had sold at $4.7 million in 2007 when bought by the late philanthropic Carlton bookseller Barbara Tucker, widow of the modernist artist Albert Tucker, who moved from Woodside, St Kilda. 
Melbourne's Murrumbeena had the nation's cheapest sale when a one bedroom, 46 sqm unit fetched $280,000. It reflected six percent annual price growth since selling at $119,000 in 2001.
Brisbane had the cheapest house sale at $301,000 when a three bedroom, late 1980s Beenleigh house sold, having traded at $259,000 in early 2013. 
Auction activity saw 2,113 offerings which continues to pick up with 2,620 auctions scheduled this week.
Last week marked the fourth consecutive week when the national capital city clearance rate sat above the 70 percent mark. 
CoreLogic RP Data noted the prior four week period when clearance rates sat higher than 70 percent was last September.
The robust rate of auction clearance, together with the moderating rate of growth through February suggest to CoreLogic that housing markets are in a controlled slowdown rather than showing any signs of a sharp correction. 
Melbourne’s preliminary clearance rate was 75 percent, up from 74 percent last week, but lower than the 77 percent of properties that sold at the same time last year.
It took the baton for strongest capital city from Sydney.
Melbourne’s top performing sub-region was the inner south, where both a high volume of auctions were held (224) and the strongest clearance rate achieved at 84 percent.
Inner Melbourne had the most auctions this week (289), however the clearance rate was the second lowest of any Melbourne subregions at 72 percent. 
Sydney’s preliminary auction clearance fell to 73 percent, following on from the previous week’s result of 76 percent.
There were 872 auctions held, rising from 800 last week, but lower than the 1,223 over the comparable week one year ago.
Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs 87 percent topped the regions. 
The number of Brisbane homes taken to auction sats at around 175, with its auction clearance rate strengthening to 58 percent.
Some 43 Gold Coast auction results were reported with a 49 percent clearance rate.
There were 118 Adelaide auctions held this week and its 72 percent the third strongest capital city result.
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Beyonce, Baz and Barbara: weekend property action

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Offers close March 8 on the warehouse offering that remains listed from last year in Balaclava.
It came then with a $2,750,000 asking price.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-balaclava-121811862" target="_blank">The 31 Woodstock Street offering</a>, on the verge of St Kilda East, come with two bedrooms, three bathrooms and parking for four.
Its a triple brick warehouse from the 1930s, formerly a hat factory, a photographer's studio and residence.
It was a location in the ABC hit drama, The Time of Our Lives. 
At one point it was returning $130,000 in annual income.
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1930's hat factory home at 31 Woodstock Street, Balaclava relisted

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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has sought and been given advice from former Prime Minister John Howard on tax reform.
The former prime minister warned the Coalition to be careful about making any changes to negative gearing.
Mr Howard told Sky News negative gearing had been around "forever" and the Coalition should be careful about making any changes.
"There are a lot of modest-income people who accumulate some money and then negatively gear a property, particularly [those] who don't want to invest in the share market," Mr Howard said.
Mr Turnbull said he had been discussing the issue with Mr Howard.
"Look, it's very important to treat any changes to the tax system very carefully, indeed I had a long chat with John about negative gearing and other aspects of tax only yesterday, in fact — a long chat," he said.
The Prime Minister said Mr Howard had been "a great source of advice".
"The last time the abolition of negative gearing was tried by the Labor Party ... it was quickly reversed because of its negative impact on the housing and in particular the rental market," he said.
"Howard's advice [to] look at these things carefully — absolutely, that's exactly what I'm doing."
Some Coalition backbenchers worry any changes will expose the Government, given the Prime Minister's criticism of Labor's negative gearing plan.
The Government will unveil its tax package in the lead-up to the next budget.
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John Howard warns on negative gearing changes

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Domino’s Pizza downsizing head Don Meij has sold his Clayfield house for $3,125,000.
It cost him $3.75 million. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-clayfield-118312723" target="_blank">The Clayfield home</a> went on the market as the business offshore growth sees him spend more time overseas with 1400 stores in six countries.
“The Clayfield home is a large, historical beautiful home on a big property and does take more to upkeep," the spokesperson advised.
"As you can appreciate with Don’s travel commitments, this wouldn’t always be that easy. 
"I can confirm he still lives in Brisbane and is still very much a local ‘Brisbanite’.”
The New England style home, Plymouth in Riverton Street was bought in September 2013.
Leigh Kortilang of Ray White Ascot sold the 1,619 square metre property to buyers from Greenslopes.
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Domino's Don Meij sells Clayfield to downsize 

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GUEST OBSERVER
When you are Malcolm Turnbull floundering in the heavy seas of tax reform, it is perhaps unfortunate that the 20th anniversary of the election of the Howard government has come around at this particular moment.
John Howard has reached near demigod status in the Liberal Party, second only to Robert Menzies. His biggest economic reform was the introduction of the GST, which naturally has him seen as the tax guru. At the time the change was fraught, and could easily have taken the government’s life. Looking back, the achievement stands out, the difficulties fade.
In his weekend interviews Howard had two pertinent messages on tax. The first was that the issue of the tax “mix” will eventually have to be revisited.
Turnbull has already retreated from the option of raising the GST to pay for mega tax cuts. But Howard doubted that “it’s snuffed out forever”, saying that for the “medium to longer term” the mix needed to be revisited.
Potentially this can feed into an ALP scare campaign claiming that while the GST might be off the table for now, a re-elected Turnbull government could put it back on.
On negative gearing, Howard was concerned about an escalation of rents and about hitting the nest eggs of people on modest incomes. Coalition backbenchers who are urging Turnbull not to fiddle with negative gearing will seize on Howard’s cautioning – although what the government appears to be considering would probably only affect richer investors.
Turnbull on Sunday said he had had “a long chat with John about negative gearing and other aspects of tax only yesterday. … He’s obviously a great source of advice.”
Turnbull shouldn’t need much advice to know he’ll need to put on the hard hat as the government on Monday goes into another character-building parliamentary week.
As talk swirls about a possible double dissolution for July 2, already skittish Coalition backbenchers are likely to be increasingly anxious about the shape of the tax blueprint.
The inclination, according to some government sources, is now to put out a comprehensive package on tax before the budget.
But other sources are more qualified, saying while something will be released prior to the budget, how much and in what form is not yet clear.
Turnbull told News Corp in a statement: “The government’s approach is to work carefully through all the elements in the tax system … That work will be completed shortly and the results will be announced in the lead-up to the budget."
The expenditure review committee is due to consider the tax package early next week. Rather strangely, considering how much pressure is on, both Treasurer Scott Morrison – who eschewed travel abroad in his first days in the portfolio – and Treasury head John Fraser were overseas in the last few days.
Howard was not the only one out and about in the tax debate at the weekend. Tony Abbott, in an extract of an essay defending his government’s record to be published in the March issue of Quadrant, wrote that he was confident he could have won this year on a program of budget savings and lower tax.
“In September last year, the Abbott government was just beginning the election policy process. The likelihood is that we would have gone to the election seeking a mandate to reduce or eliminate some of the one-off payments that seemed defensible with surpluses of $20bn but not with deficits of $40bn; and further to tighten eligibility for ongoing payments. … With further budget savings in place, I was confident that there could be income tax cuts during the next term of parliament.”
On Wednesday night in Parliament’s Great Hall the Liberal faithful will gather to honour John Howard and his government. Privately, quite a few backbenchers will be making comparisons with his successors. Abbott will be among those on the main table. It will be a night requiring from past and present leaders a certain facility for walking on eggshells. Just like the tax package.
Michelle Grattan is professorial fellow, University of Canberra and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-grattan-20316" target="_blank">here</a>.
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John Howard gives Coalition MPs ammunition about changing negative gearing

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With ambitious $13.5 million hopes, Clyde Cottage, the now restored one-time Woollahra childhood home of Dame Joan Sutherland, had it first open for inspection yesterday.
The queue which occasionally extended onto Queen Street appeared to be mostly opera and architectural buffs.
But then Atlassian tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes was spotted walking through the village.
But he walked right past the open front gate, instead heading to the newsagency of buy five copies of The Australian newspaper which featured him all over the front page.
Cannon-Brookes and wife, Annie spent $12 million last year in Centennial Park after selling in Paddington.
Clyde Cottage, which has had a makeover by studiointernationale and May+Swan Architects, is being sold by Singapore billioniare Ronald Ooi, who was educated in Sydney.
It last sold for $4 million in a dilapidated state.
The house became Sutherland's home after her father died suddenly on her sixth birthday in the early 1930's and sold by the family sold in 1951.
Several years before her death Sutherland noted: "Unfortunately, from the time my family gave up the house, the deterioration set in.”
Considered among Singapore's richest, Ooi secured $1.35 billion when his 40 year old family securities and investment broker company was sold several years ago.
The restoration and extension of Clyde Cottage retained the original residence at the front, and added two interconnected pavilions behind it that include the ultra-contemporary main living areas.
 
 
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Dame Joan Sutherland's childhood Woollahra home is up for grabs

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Melbourne's Warrandyte topped the list of suburbs in December 2015 quarterly growth, according to latest REIV stats. 
Nearly all (98%) of dwellings in Warrandyte were houses, according to RP Data.
<a href="/images/2016/02/26/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-26%20at%201.13.02%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/26/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-26%20at%201.13.02%20PM.png" alt="">
 
*Only suburbs with at least 50 sales in the relevant quarter are included
Property Observer looked up recent sales in Warrandyte on <a href="https://realestateview.com.au/" target="_blank">www.realestateview.com.au</a> and came up with these:
<img src="/images/2016/02/25/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-25%20at%202.51.43%20PM.png" alt="" width="608" height="377">
1. A four-bedroom house with a landscaped native garden at <a href="https://realestateview.com.au/real-estate/15-west-end-road-warrandyte-vic/property-details-sold-residential-9801293" target="_blank">15 West End Road</a> (above) sold for $1,060,000.
<img src="/images/2016/02/25/700_w1.jpg" alt="" width="547" height="391">
2. A five-bedroom two-storey house on <a href="https://realestateview.com.au/real-estate/60-lynette-avenue-warrandyte-vic/property-details-sold-residential-9734801" target="_blank">60 Lynette Avenue</a> (above) fetched $1,070,000. 
<img src="/images/2016/02/25/w2.jpg" alt="" width="521" height="316">
3. A three-bedroom dwelling at <a href="https://realestateview.com.au/real-estate/230-heidelberg-warrandyte-road-warrandyte-vic/property-details-sold-residential-9715454" target="_blank">230 Heidelberg-Warrendyte Road</a> (above) went for $990,000.
 
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Warrandyte tops Melbourne median price growth in December quarter

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The Oporto burger business co-founder Gary Linz is thinking of upgrading on Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. Presumably into his brother's Allen's recently completed joint development, the Bondi Pacific.
So he's selling his eastern suburbs prestige property portfolio.
His 155 sqm Bondi apartment is for sale through Barry Goldman and Martine Harvey of Raine &amp; Horne.
They sold his neighbouring apartment sold for $2.7 million late last year.
Last weekend his <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-tamarama-121783190" target="_blank">luxury Tamarama property sold</a> prior to auction having been listed with $4 million plus hopes.
Linz bought the house for $3.52 million in 2010 and briefly leased it with a $4,000 a week asking price.
Architecturally designed, the freestanding home has been converted from four bedrooms to three, the master retreat now including a sitting room, sandstone terrace and marble spa ensuite.
Set on 266 sqm, the property features an entertainer's cabana beside the heated mosaic tiled pool and jacuzzi.
Gary is the son of Sam Linz who founded Barbecues Galore.
Gary's newest venture, Monsters in Darlinghurst which slow cooks its burger meats for 12 hours and has the marketing tagline 'the fastest slow food in town'.
He other endeavours since Oporto included Kings Cross rib and chicken restaurant SGT. Sams.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Oporto co-founder Linz selling prestige property portfolio

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An apartment in the Art Deco block Kayora is on the market in Carlton.
Listed for between $800,000 to $880,000, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-carlhttps://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-carlton+north-121822470ton+north-121822470" target="_blank">148 Pigdon Street</a> has been renovated to retain its Art Deco appeal.
The apartment previously traded for $750,000 in 2009, but more recently another traded in the building for $870,000 in 2013.
Polished timber cabinetry, stained floor boards, curved Moderne walls and headlight glass in particular are the classic interiors that have been maintained.
The sleek 1930's style ground floor apartment also features a central bathroom with original fittings and a private north facing courtyard.
The property is available through Nicholas West and Charlie Barham of Nelson Alexander Real Estate.
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Art Deco apartment offering at 148 Pigdon Street, Carlton North

Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

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Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<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/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

The apartment feature many buyers don't think about, until their first missed delivery

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hg-developments">HG Developments</a> is doubling down on Maud Street in Newstead, filing plans for a new apartment tower just a few doors down from its under-construction Aire Newstead development.

Recently submitted to Brisbane City Council, the proposal is for an 18-storey building designed by bureau^proberts, which has drawn heavily on Brisbane's subtropical design principles while referencing the suburb's industrial heritage.

A total of 64 apartments are planned for the amalgamated 1,518 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-21-maud-street-newstead-qld-4006">17–21 Maud Street</a>, a short walk from the Brisbane River and Newstead Riverwalk.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a400c7fd-bd15-48f8-a63b-10ede92efe00" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20bldg.png?VersionId=.0vPmjpbC7CNP7kqGWa6L7rGIwsNExaw" />

"The building is defined by a series of vaulted motifs that reinterpret the arches, colonnades and layered facades evident throughout Newstead's historic built fabric," the Urban Design Report states.

"Combined with recessed glazing and generous balconies, these elements create a layered building envelope that provides shade, weather protection and opportunities for natural ventilation whilst establishing a distinctive architectural identity."

The proposal comprises 64 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 18 residential levels, positioning it alongside a growing number of taller residential projects transforming Newstead's northern precinct. The tower incorporates extensive subtropical landscaping, with cascading planter boxes, deep planting at street level and a landscaped rooftop recreation area.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d8140f4-8b98-45cd-b1b8-1efe8c8e266b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=VAZtbCoD44YCJ57N99fQCAKeSJx7ldZs" />

Bureau Proberts has prioritised passive environmental design throughout the project, with generous balconies, recessed glazing and operable façades helping reduce solar heat gain while maximising natural ventilation. River views become available from the upper levels, while the building has been orientated to capture prevailing breezes from both the Brisbane River and the west.

The architects say landscape is intended to be integral to the building rather than an applied element.

"Vertical greenery, cascading planter boxes and elevated gardens are woven throughout the architecture, softening the built form and strengthening the connection between residents and the subtropical environment."

"Through the integration of landscape, high-quality materials and passive design principles, the development delivers a refined residential address that celebrates Newstead's heritage character while contributing positively to Brisbane's evolving subtropical identity."

Newstead has remained one of Brisbane's most active apartment markets in recent years, with a number of developers continuing to back the inner-city suburb.

HG Developments is currently delivering the 40-apartment Aire Newstead at 25 Maud Street. Fortis recently launched the 65-apartment <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> on Kyabra Street, while builder-developer BPG and Don O'Rorke's Consolidated Properties are both expected to launch their respective Newstead projects before the end of the year.

HG Developments doubles down in Newstead with second Maud Street apartment development

Walk past a new apartment development promoting its sustainability credentials and it's easy to picture rooftop gardens, mature trees, landscaped courtyards and residents surrounded by nature.

But in many cases, that's not actually what those sustainability ratings guarantee.

Australia's leading environmental rating tools have played a significant role in improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of buildings. Yet despite their focus on reducing emissions, many don't require developers to include trees, biodiversity or meaningful green space.

In other words, a building can achieve one of the country's highest sustainability ratings while containing little more than concrete, glass and hard landscaping.

That disconnect has led to the emergence of a new movement across Australia's property industry: nature-based cities.

The concept goes beyond designing buildings that consume less energy. Instead, it encourages developers to treat nature as essential infrastructure, integrating biodiversity, tree canopy, living landscapes and green spaces into projects from the earliest stages of planning.

Research has consistently linked access to nature with better physical and mental health, cooler neighbourhoods, improved biodiversity, stronger climate resilience and more connected communities. As Australia's cities continue to become denser, advocates say those outcomes should be considered just as important as energy efficiency.

Nature Based Cities (NBC) was established in 2022 to help accelerate that shift.

Founded by Hamton Executive Chairman Paul Hameister OAM, the not-for-profit was created after research highlighted a significant gap in Australia's sustainability framework. While existing environmental rating tools rewarded energy performance and emissions reductions, they placed little emphasis on the inclusion of 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."

Since its launch, NBC has developed independent design guidelines and accreditation frameworks that encourage developers to prioritise ecology, biodiversity, tree canopy, walkability and living landscapes alongside traditional sustainability measures. The organisation first focused on medium and high-density residential developments before recently expanding into precinct-scale communities and masterplanned neighbourhoods.

Jan Talacko, founder of sustainability consultancy Ark Resources and a member of the Nature Based Cities Advisory Council, says the initiative addresses an area that has largely been overlooked by the property industry.

"Throughout my 25 years of working collaboratively with all stakeholders in the property sector, I've always favoured a pragmatic approach to sustainable design which encourages initiatives that not only meet environmental expectations but also improve amenity," Talacko says.

"Whilst we are making steady progress in relation to energy and carbon emissions from buildings, there has been much less emphasis on encouraging biodiversity and tackling the urban heat island effect.

"The Nature Based Cities initiative responds to a gap in the suite of tools currently used by the property development sector, which don't provide sufficient incentive, or recognition, for the integration of landscaping and greenery."

For apartment buyers, the shift is also changing the questions worth asking.

Rather than assuming a sustainable building will naturally include abundant green space, buyers are increasingly being encouraged to look beyond environmental ratings and ask what nature is actually being delivered. How much tree canopy will the development create? Has biodiversity been considered? Are landscaped spaces designed for people as well as appearance?

As Australia's cities continue to grow upwards and outwards, the next generation of sustainability may not simply be measured by lower emissions, but by how successfully developments bring nature back into everyday urban life.

Jonathan Chancellor

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