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Estate agent Anthony Brancatella has pleaded guilty to misappropriation.
The amount totalled almost $2 million across 62 breaches.
The former director of the McDonald Real Estate franchise in Mulgrave pleaded guilty to 62 charges relating to fraudulently converting money he obtained from property deals.
The Victorian County Court heard Mr Brancatella cashed cheques from trust accounts where sale deposits were held for vendors, putting the money back into the firm’s business account.
The Herald Sun reported he also misappropriated deposits by never placing them into the trust account, often using them to pay off renovations to his own house, staff wages, and debts owed to other clients.
Prosecutor Daniel Porceddu said Mr Brancatella had defrauded clients of a total of $1,999,920, of which $508,000 was repaid via claims to the Victorian Property Fund, and almost $400,000 was repaid by the Brancatella.
Several victim impact statements were read out during the plea hearing which continues.
The offences occurred between December 2011 and June 2014.
The Brancatella franchise company was placed into external administration in the wake of the CAV investigation.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Musgrave estate agent pleads guilty to misappropriation

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February auction clearance rates are almost always much stronger than where December left off. But the extraordinary stock market turmoil we've seen so far this year has the potential to un-nerve the Sydney property market at least in the short term.
It is possible that the optimistic outlook that typically starts most years may not fully emerge - and even the wet deluge that dominated the holiday break could undermine the psyche necessary to secure a healthier auction start. Or at least delay listings given the odd jobs to spruce the home up for sale were put off.
We could be nervous and grumpy this February.
Ofcourse December auctions results didn't finish up that flash with a 53 per cent clearance rate.
The fatigued market saw the success rate fall over most of the spring selling season and then into early summer.
Last year February there was an 83 percent opening success rate which was well up on the December 2014 close of 69 per cent.
There have been even bigger rebounds in recent times as February 2013 had a 63 per cent success rate as against the 49 percent in December 2012.
Confident starts after the summer break are no guarantee that the year doesn't deteriorate into tougher market conditions.
And I think that will happen this year, with the early bird vendor getting the best offers before the predictable pre-Easter overload.
This is not to say 2016 won't be a healthy market. But we are not going to see prices skyrocketing month after month across all of Sydney.
We will even see in some suburbs where the inferior house down the street fetched a better price last year than the better home up for auction this year because the mood has shifted from crazy to cautious.
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<div>The RBA governor Glenn Stevens wasn't wrong in June last year when he suggested some crazy prices were being paid. </div>
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<div>After consecutive 15 percent plus price growth years, the Sydney housing market gained 11.5 percent during 2016, according to Core Logic RP Data. </div>
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<div>But Sydney was the weakest performer of any capital city, with dwelling values down by 2.3 percent during the December quarter. Houses at a $935,000 median and units at $676,000.</div>
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<div>But home buyers are still substantially wealthier from housing in Sydney.</div>
<div>
In dollar terms, Sydney home owners saw $82,000 added to their wealth during 2015. And $227,000 in the growth cycle since the end of the global financial crisis in early 2009.
When deciding just how to list your home this year, best ask your prospective listing agents not only how they went late last year but contrast their results against the overall suburban trend.
It was interesting to see CoreLogic RP Data note while Sydney’s auction clearance rate over the December quarter was 59 percent there were pockets of the Sydney market where clearance rate performance sits much stronger than the broader market.
For instance the eastern suburbs came in with the highest clearance rate at almost 75 percent, followed by the inner south and inner west at 67 percent. But Blacktown and Parramatta were in the low 40s.
BradfieldCleary director and auctioneer Bob Guth said that in his view the best time to market eastern suburbs real estate is February when there is less competition from other homes and apartments and this often leads to the best under-the-hammer results.
His eastern suburbs Sydney agency has its first eight auction scheduled for next week, so it will be interesting to see how they go.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
 
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Sydney February auctions to test the always better than December precedent

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The NSW 2016 auction season kicks off with plenty of unsold property left over from last year's unsold private treaty and auction stock.
Sydney currently has over 17,000 properties for sale - around 16 per cent up on the same time last year, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
The year ended on a 53 percent December clearance rate, with some late 2015 auction vendors six weeks on still to secure offers close enough to their desired asking price.
However new vendors are yet to swamp the market as just 3,300 fresh listings have been posted over the past four weeks. That's down around six percent.
There have been just a few dozen early bird January auction listings, with clearance rates bouncing back a bit.
There were 19 for auction on Saturday January 10, then last Saturday, January 17 there were 12 on offer across the state with agents selling 63 per cent including an $1.22 million two bedroom unit in Clovelly.
Last weekend the numbers bumped up to 82.
Last year around 30 per cent of all properties sold via auction.
But Sydney's overall clearance rates plummeted towards the end of last year from the 82 per cent March record.
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Sydney up 16 per cent on last January's listings 

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Rental growth across the capital cities over the past twelve months has reduced further, with dwelling rents unchanged over the year. 
According to CoreLogic RP Data's Tim Lawless, with a rental series that extends back to 1996, these are the weakest rental markets conditions ever seen. 
“In fact there hasn’t previously been a twelve month period when rents didn’t rise across our combined capitals index.” he says. 
Darwin and Perth are dragging the broader capital cities’ rental indicators down with weekly rents down 13.4% over the past year in Darwin and 8.6% lower in Perth. 
Dwelling rents were also down in Brisbane (-0.7%) and Adelaide (-0.4%). 
The largest rental increases were in Sydney and Melbourne where weekly rents rose 1.4% higher, and 2.1% higher respectively over the past twelve months. 
Mr Lawless said with dwelling values rising substantially more than rents in Sydney and Melbourne, this ongoing effect has created a compression in gross rental yields to the extent that gross yields in these cities are now only marginally higher than record lows.”
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Weakest rental conditions for decades: Core Logic RP Data

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Sydney vendors secured a 45.2% clearance rate from a total of 59 auctions for the week ending January 31, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
Melbourne's clearance rate sat at 71.3% from a total of 151 auctions.
Brisbane had a 50% clearance rate from a total of 60 auctions and Perth 55.6% from 29 auctions.
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Sydney secures 45.2% clearance rate, Melbourne 71.3%: CoreLogic RP Data

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Dwelling values across Australia’s capital cities were 0.9% higher in January driven partially by a small rebound in Sydney and Melbourne.
The recent growth conditions have pushed the Melbourne market into first place for annual growth in dwelling values with an 11% rise compared with Sydney where values are 10.5% higher over the past twelve months.
But both major capitals are down over the quarter.
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According to the January 2016 CoreLogic RP Data Hedonic Home Value Index results released today, dwelling values across Australia’s combined capital cities showed a 0.9 per cent rise in January after recording no change in December and a 1.5 per cent drop in November. 
CoreLogic RP Data head of research Tim Lawless noted this month on month rise wasn’t quite enough to pull the rolling quarterly rate of growth back into the black, with capital city dwelling values remaining 0.6% lower over the past three months.
Hobart led the monthly figures with a 4.7% jump in values, followed by Melbourne where values were 2.5% higher and Canberra with a 2.8% lift.
Sydney values also showed a rise of 0.5%, while the remaining four capital cities showed dwelling values to be either flat or down.
The rolling quarterly trend was looking similarly diverse, with four of Australia’s eight capital cities recording negative dwelling value movements over the past three months, with Sydney dwelling values showing the largest fall, down 2.1 per cent. Values are down over the rolling quarter in Darwin (-1.4%), Adelaide (-0.9%) and Melbourne (-0.1%) as well.
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The strongest growth in home values over the quarter across the capital cities was found in Hobart with a 3% capital gain.
Despite recording the largest annual decline in home values (-4.1%), Perth dwelling values posted a 1.7 per cent rise over the three months to the end of January.
Other capital cities to record a rise over the rolling quarter were Brisbane (+0.8%) and Canberra (+1.2%).
Over the past twelve months, capital city dwelling values have risen by 7.4% with Sydney’s capital gains of 10.5% no longer the highest annual rate across the capitals.
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“While still a high rate of annual growth, Sydney’s annual rate of capital gain is now at a 29 month low and has been progressively softening since peaking at 18.4% in July last year,” Mr Lawless said.
“Melbourne’s housing market has been more resilient to slowing growth conditions which has propelled the annual growth rate to the highest of any capital city, with dwelling values 11.0% higher over the past twelve months.
 
"Previously, during the height of the growth phase, there was a large separation between Sydney’s housing market, which was streaking ahead, and Melbourne’s, where the rate of capital gain was substantial but still well below the heights being recorded in Sydney.
"Over the past six months, the performance gap between Sydney and Melbourne is stark.
"Sydney dwelling values have reduced by 0.6 percent between July last year and the end of January 2016, compared with a 3.0 percent rise across Melbourne dwelling values.
"The last six months have also seen both Brisbane and Canberra dwelling values rise by 2.0 percent while Hobart values are 1.3 percent higher and Adelaide dwelling values have been virtually flat with a 0.1 percent rise,” Mr Lawless said. 
 
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Move over Sydney, Melbourne takes over as the best performing capital city 

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A bathing box on Brighton’s foreshore has sold for a record $285,000.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-brighton-121606234" target="_blank">It was one of two newly built Dendy Beach boxes</a> – 76E and 76F – to go under the hammer at weekend auction through Hodges.
There were four bidders for the bathing box. 
Both were constructed by council in December.
Their prices bettered the previous benchmark of $260,000, set in 2011.
Brighton local Walter Gibson, 87, and his wife Helen, 85, have been locals for 60 years, but told The Age they only decided three days prior to buy the record-breaking box, 76E.
<img class="attachment-full" src="https://static.domain.com.au/domainblog/uploads/2016/01/30154208/2_gmhnbg.jpg" alt="Record sales: 76E and 76F Beach Box, Dendy Beach Brighton" width="747" height="422">
It is set to be enjoyed by their 16 grandchildren.
Neighbouring box 76F sold for $280,000 to another local family.
Only Bayside City Council residents are eligible to own a Dendy Beach box.
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Brighton bathing box sells to locals at record $285,000

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Historic Wavendon at 100 Walsh Street, South Yarra has been sold for around $18 million.
But the official selling price and buyer have yet to emerge.
It has had a who's who of former owners including film director Fred Schepisi and golfing champion Peter Thomson. The property has also been home to former CRA Ltd managing director Sir Roderick Carnegie and businessman Robert Kirby.
A purchaser’s caveat has been lodged on its title by a recently established nominee company, Lansell Nominees through the Malvern accountancy firm, Ibbotson &amp; Moscatelli. There are no details on its beneficial owner.
Greg Hargrave of the Skilled Group listed last May the grand gothic mansion <a href="/news/time-ripe-for-record-south-yarra-walsh-streets-wavendon">at 100 Walsh Street reportedly came with hefty price expectations</a>. 
The Age suggested Wavendon came with $24 million record setting prospects, though these were never confirmed by the listing agency. Later $18 million plus was being suggested, according to CoreLogic RP Data. 
The land at 100 Walsh St was first occupied in 1845 by Baron von Mueller, the German-Australian physician and botanist who designed the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens.
The five bedroom 1888 mansion is surrounded by lush subtropical gardens, with a tennis court and a pool.
Businessman Greg Hargrave, of the Skilled Group, bought the tri-level Walsh Street home from Schepisi in November 2006 for $11,250,000 in an off-market deal.
Its subsequent contemporary renovation was undertaken by the designer Don McQualter, of Sydney-based firm Meacham Nockles McQualter.
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Greg Hargrave sells South Yarra trophy home, Wavendon

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Chinese group Union Agriculture has paid $11 million for Kyabra Station, the 5200 hectare sheep and cattle-breeding Kentucky property north of Tamworth.
Union Agriculture previously paid $13.8 million for 4500 hectares of farmland at Galong and Binalong in southern NSW and $7 million for 2840 hectares in Greg Greg east of Wodonga.
The property was bought in 1995 by the Lytton-Hitchins family from T.A. Field Estates, when it was known as Standbye Station.
The property has 93 paddocks and an international reputation for its superfine wool.
The New England district was listed by Meares and Associates of Sydney and Landmark Harcourts Armidale,
They marketed Kyabra Station as a highly regarded superfine wool property, having produced 1PP bales and a top wool price of $22,200 for 2 bales of 14 mic wool, a rare feat. 
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Chinese buy New England farm, Kyabra Station

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Billionaire Harry Triguboff's Meriton Group has made its first apartment site purchase in almost a year, paying around $67 million for the property at Mascot near the airport.
It has development approval for 242 units and the potential to increase it to 299.
The 671- 683 Gardeners Road site is adjacent to Meriton's Mascot Central development on Kent Road.
The property was sold with a short-term leaseback to the vendor Jewel Fine Foods. Jewel bought 683 in 2004 at $2.79 million from the Townson Property Group, then 671 in 2010 for $7.5 million having traded at $7.6 million five years earlier. 
The Australian Financial Review advise the sale was negotiated by Meriton's group acquisitions manager Angelo Mantsis and Colliers International's James Bellew and William Gathercole.
His last known purchase was in April last year with $90 million for the six hectare balance of British American Tobacco’s Pagewood property.
C
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Harry Triguboff buys a Mascot site for $67 million

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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[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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