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A Penshurst, Sydney real estate agency has come under fire for using a digitally enhanced image (above) that seemingly removed a huge water tower from images that advertise a house for sale.
The 31A Penshurst Avenue, Penshurst offering has a huge water tower looming over the three bedroom property, yet just blue sky in the marketing.
But camera crews from the television stations worked out today that one spot in the front yard allowed photos that didn't contain the vast water tower in the image.
It was all about the mastery of the lens, not digital enhancing.
<img src="/images/2016/02/16/700_penshurst.jpg" alt="">
The marketing had it only <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/31a-penshurst-avenue-penshurst-nsw-2222-2012337653" target="_blank">only visible in a rear garden shot</a> (above).
The aww.com.au was told by the listing agent Jackie Li from Ray White Rockdale that <a href="https://www.google.com.au/search?q=31a+penshurst+avenue+penshurst&amp;espv=2&amp;biw=1440&amp;bih=693&amp;source=lnms&amp;tbm=isch&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwio17KW1vrKAhWKI5QKHU6aDuEQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=0hrCuxguwoXLCM%3A" target="_blank">he inherited the images</a> of the renovated 1960s home from another agency.
But it seems the agent didn't advise the aww website that no digital photoshopping had been used.
<img src="/images/2016/02/16/yx47sg75k8erchb9fehh1sa45.jpg" alt="">
But he also didn't think they were deceptive or misleading.
“The photos were taken by a previous agent and given to us by the owner, who didn’t want to pay for new images to be taken,” he said.
“The address is available and most people will search for the property on Google maps, where the water tower is very obvious."
<img src="/images/2016/02/16/maps_penshurst.jpg" alt="">
(Pic courtesy of Google Maps)
NSW Fair Trading says under the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002 it is an offence to publish, or allow to be published, any information in relation to the sale or lease of any property that is materially false, misleading or deceptive.
But strategic pics pass muster.
When it was sold for $600,000 in 2010 as a deceased estate, <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/31a-penshurst-avenue-penshurst-nsw-2222-2008228366" target="_blank">the water tower was evident in its marketing</a> (pic below).
<img src="/images/2016/02/16/w800-h533-2008228366_1_pi_150225_075156.jpeg" alt="">
It last sold at $780,000 in 2014.
Property Observer's initial story was based on the premise that there had been prior digital enhancement.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Water tower missing from Penshurst property marketing

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The property developer Lim Sen Yap and his wife Elizabeth Garbacz have sold Djirang, their restored 1940s Vaucluse trophy home to hotelier Anthony Medich for $12.8 million.
It was listed with $12 million plus expectations through Hamish Robertson at McGrath, who had the three storey Fisher Avenue home in conjunction with Christie's International agent Ken Jacobs.
The former chairman of retail property group Ipoh bought the historic F. Glynn Gilling-designed residence in 1996 for $3.4 million from restaurateur Harry Vardis. 
Ipoh Australia was the developer behind the QVB Building and Capitol Theatre restorations.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph. 
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Anthony Medich buys Djirang, the Vaucluse trophy home

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Investors overwhelmingly put money into established housing, some 90 percent plus of the recent annual total of $154 billion of property investment last year, according to CoreLogic RP Data head of research Tim Lawless.
The Sydney buyers' agent Rich Harvey, CEO of propertybuyer.com.au, suggest the Federal Labor proposal that herds investors towards buying buying brand new homes was flawed.
"It was not necessarily the best investment strategy," he told the Australian Financial Review.
"It's really hard to find good quality developments that stack up from an investment perspective,"  he said.
"For our business, it would be a very negative thing because 90-95 percent of our clients invest in established property."
His comments were backed up by Destiny investment adviser, Margaret Lomas, who said negative gearing should not be tampered with because it would reduce the ability of ordinary baby boomers to create retirement income.
"Brand new properties come at a premium, but existing property is affordable and achievable," she said.
Ms Lomas warned the Labor proposal would open the flood gates for more spruikers selling over-priced property. 
{mijopolls 129}
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New homes not necessarily for property investors: Rich Harvey

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The Sydney Eastern Suburbs agency Di Jones Real Estate has merged with LJ Hooker Wahroonga, inspired by the trend where 30 percent plus of its buyers for inner city Paddington are coming from the North Shore.
Di Jones Real Estate will be led by chief executive officer Rob Ward.
It's general manager will be Kylie Walsh, who will lead the effort to implement a strategic growth plan for the business throughout Australia.
Both companies combined in the last 12 months lay claim to in excess of $530 million worth of properties sold in last year. 
It will have $1 billion worth of properties under management.
"It is an important milestone that propels us into a future rich with opportunity for our clients, our people, and our company” said founder, Di Jones who oversaw its recent expansion into the Southern Highlands and Northern Districts late last year.
The <a href="https://www.dijones.com.au" target="_blank">Di Jones agency</a> commenced in 1992 in Woollahra and Paddington.
Robert Ward founded LJ Hooker Wahroonga in 2003, recently recognised as running one of the top 100 sales businesses in Australia by REB.
Rob Ward has personally sold in excess on $1 billion worth of real estate. 
Di Jones Real Estate launched their Southern Highlands division early September 2015.
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Di Jones expands to Sydney's North Shore

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A clearance rate of 77 percent was recorded this weekend compared to 73 percent last weekend across Melbourne, and 72 percent this weekend last year.
There were 429 auctions reported to the REIV, with 332 selling and 97 being passed in, 39 of those on a vendor bid.
"The auction market has started strongly with far higher clearance rates than this time last year," Enzo Raimondo, the REIV chief noted.
 
<div class="title">
<h2 class="title pull-left">REIV Top House Sales</h2>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md-6">
<div class="content-body">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<table class="table table-striped">
<thead><tr>
<th>Location</th>
<th>Price</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>13 Yarra St HAWTHORN</td>
<td>$2,625,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3 Dendy St BRIGHTON</td>
<td>$2,220,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13 Stanley Gr CANTERBURY</td>
<td>$2,217,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10 Wallis Av GLEN IRIS</td>
<td>$2,205,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20 Smith Rd CAMBERWELL</td>
<td>$2,180,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md-6">
<div class="content-body">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<h4 class=" header-title text-center">Top Apartment Sales</h4>
<table class="table table-striped">
<thead><tr>
<th>Location</th>
<th>Price</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1/6 Davis Av CAMBERWELL</td>
<td>$1,860,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3/38 Lawrence St BRIGHTON</td>
<td>$1,647,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7A Denman Av GLEN IRIS</td>
<td>$1,310,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2/251 Barkly St ST KILDA</td>
<td>$1,220,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1/22 The Highway MOUNT WAVERLEY</td>
<td>$1,200,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
 
<div class="row">
<div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md-6">
<div class="content-body">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<h4 class=" header-title text-center">Bargain House Sales</h4>
<table class="table table-striped">
<thead><tr>
<th>Location</th>
<th>Price</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>9 Charles St NEWCOMB</td>
<td>$265,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15 Hakea Av ROSEBUD WEST</td>
<td>$330,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7 Joules Ct DEER PARK</td>
<td>$356,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8 Chelmsford Ct CRAIGIEBURN</td>
<td>$385,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>345 Sandy Rd ST ANDREWS BEACH</td>
<td>$385,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md-6">
<div class="content-body">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<h4 class=" header-title text-center">Bargain Apartment Sales</h4>
<table class="table table-striped">
<thead><tr>
<th>Location</th>
<th>Price</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1030/43 Therry St MELBOURNE</td>
<td>$170,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22/151 Princes Hwy DANDENONG</td>
<td>$179,800</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4/49 Potter St DANDENONG</td>
<td>$203,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23/294 Nicholson St SEDDON</td>
<td>$215,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15/37 Osborne Av GLEN IRIS</td>
<td>$282,500</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
 
<div>
SOURCE REIV 
</div>
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Hawthorn Edwardian home takes top price: REIV

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For the first time since its settlement, the Collins family’s Oakhurst at Bega is being offered for sale.
The 388-hecatre (960 acre) property has been in the family for around 150 years.
The property is priced at $1.4 million through LJ Hooker Bega agent Gerry Tarlinton.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-nsw-bemboka-7794666" target="_blank">Oakhurst </a>was chosen by John Collins in the 1870s, originally 740 acres, but The Land reported the purchase of “the front paddock” in 1939 took the farm to its current size.
The family ran the farm as a dairy farm until 1964 but in recent years the focus of the family’s operation has been on finishing prime cattle for the Bega and Cooma markets.
The land has the capacity to carry 250 head of breeders.
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Bega's Oakhurst for sale for first time in 150 years or so

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Childcare entrepreneur Stephanie Wakefield's lavishly renovated Hampton property fetched $1.66 million at weekend auction.
The Banks Avenue home was listed with $1.5 million plus hopes, which were then revised up to $1.6 million plus by Wakefield who developed her business, My Super Nanny, five years ago while studying. 
Her company, which connects nannys and babysitters with families, is soon set to launch in the US. 
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-hampton-121597286" target="_blank">The two-storey, three bedroom home</a> comes with a study. There's timber flooring, high ceilings, swish fixtures and a rear deck at the 2012 built house that traded at $1.385 million in early 2014.
Justin Follett, of Follett &amp; Co, secured the weekend result.
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Hampton home sells at $1.66 million

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The former Australian basketball star turned businessman Damian Keogh has bought an impressive Cronulla apartment.
Keogh has paid $2.85 million for the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-cronulla-121147990" target="_blank">three bedroom, two bathroom beachfront apartment</a> which sold through Highland Property agents David Highland and Mitchell Wynn.
The apartment is located in the award winning Tiana which was built by the highly regarded property developers Bezzina Group in 1995.
A wrap around balcony with dining and entertaining areas looks over the ocean.
The property last sold in 2013 for $1.925 million. 
Regarded as one of Australia's greatest ever basketballers, Keogh stayed in the sportsworld becoming involved in the Sydney Olympic Games bid team. 
He was then recruited by the Seven Network as the Head of Olympic Marketing, focusing on the promotion of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. 
After Keogh worked in the television sales and marketing, he was announced as the chief executive of cinema advertising company Val Morgan in 2013 before being made the CEO at the Hoyts Group.
Keogh is also the chairman of the Cronulla Sharks NRL team.
Keogh had long lived in the shire having bought a five bedroom Lilli Pilli house back in 1997 for $800,000.
The long time Sydney Kings captain represented Australia at three Olympic Games and played 207 times for the national team.
Keogh married fellow basketballer Maree White in 1986 and have four children.
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Damian Keogh scores Tiana, Cronulla apartment

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Australia’s largest industry, the property industry, has warned politicians that changes to negative gearing will exacerbate Australia’s undersupply of housing, harm average income earners and potentially see the politicians lose their seats.
Their data revealed that over 430,000 Australians who negative gear an investment property live in marginal seats held by the Government and the Opposition. The ten most marginal Coalition seats have an average of 8,181 investment property owners and the ten most marginal Labor seats have an average of 8,357 property owners.
Of the 632,000 landlords who own an investment property across Sydney and New South Wales, 375,000 use negative gearing, the Property Council of Australia says.
A snapshot across New South Wales and Victoria reveals the prevalence of negatively-geared homes in the outer suburbs and regional towns further afield. 
<a href="/images/2016/02/05/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-05%20at%209.37.06%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/05/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-05%20at%209.37.06%20AM.png" alt="">
“Mums and dads see owning an investment property as a way of securing their long term prosperity”, said Property Council Chief Executive Ken Morrison.
“Two million Australians own an investment property. These people are doing the right thing and investing for their retirement or putting away for a rainy day.
“To play with negative gearing is to play with the financial futures of 430,000 people who live in the most marginal seats.
"That’s enough voters to swing all of these seats eight and half times over, a big political risk to take with people with a lot at stake.
“Limiting interest deductibility will make investments more expensive. In turn, this will exacerbate Australia’s undersupply of housing and infrastructure. This is the wrong approach for the challenges we have to face.
“Australians already pay $72 billion a year in property taxes – and property owners don’t want government’s hands reaching even deeper into their pockets.”
<a href="/images/2016/02/05/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-05%20at%209.37.17%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/05/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-05%20at%209.37.17%20AM.png" alt="">
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The vunerable Federal politicians who could lose their seats over negative gearing fallout: PCA

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The Turnbull government has rejected Labor's policy to restrict negative gearing to new properties.
It now plans to target high-end investors by either capping the number of properties that can be geared or limiting the annual tax deductions of which can be claimed.
The Coalition is now pursuing negative gearing, superannuation and tax deductions for savings after plans for an increased GST were ditched.
"We've seen that they've converted tax reform into a cupcake process. The big reform is off the table. Clearly they're looking at options," Property Council chief executive Ken Morrison said.
Master Builders of Australia chief executive Wilhelm Harnisch took aim at Labor's policy saying it was a populist response.
"Investing in new private rental housing is not evil," he said.
Labor says its policy will raise $32 billion over 10 years, but just $570 million in the first four.
Treasurer Scott Morrison told The Australian Financial Review on Sunday that Labor's policy would focus all investors into the new housing market, making it harder for so-called "everyday mum and dad investors" to buy new houses or units off the plan.
This, he said, would intensify the inequity caused by negative gearing in which first homebuyers struggle to compete against cashed-up investors.
"Labor thinks all people who negatively gear are property barons to be fleeced."
On Saturday, Bill Shorten announced that a Labor government, if elected, would move change the rules so that only new homes purchased after July 1, 2017, could be negatively geared.
<a href="/images/2016/02/15/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-05%20at%209.37.06%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/15/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-05%20at%209.37.06%20AM.png" alt="">
There would be no limit on the number of new properties that could be geared. Existing investors would not be affected by the changes.
Labor will also halve from 50 percent to 25 percent the capital gains tax deduction for investors who sell a property after holding it for at least 12 months.
On Sunday, shadow treasurer Chris Bowen reinforced Labor's reasoning that its policy would cause a boom in new home construction.
<a href="/images/2016/02/15/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-05%20at%209.37.17%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/15/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-05%20at%209.37.17%20AM.png" alt="">
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Scott Morrison targets high end negative gearing residential property investors

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.

&nbsp;

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

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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