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The league legend Steve Mortimer and wife, Karen are whispered to have snapped up a Goulburn district weekender.
Pyree Park is a blue stone cottage on a 13 hectare Chatsbury holding with established gardens.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-livestock-nsw-goulburn-7956034" target="_blank">Pyree Park</a> sold for $715,000 through Elders agent David Medina who had $650,000 plus hopes. Last sold at $530,000 in 2005, it was an old schoolhouse dating from the 1890s.
There's a two stand shearing shed with power and cattle yards along with six paddocks.
Mortimer left the Canterbury Bulldogs Leagues Club board in the recent upheaval. Born at Yagoona, in the heart of Bulldog territory, has lived at Illawong with Woronora River views since 2010.
This article first appeared in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Steve Mortimer buys Pyree Park near Goulburn

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The inner Sydney apartment of The Block judge Neale Whitaker’s failed to sell at weekend auction.
It was passed in on a vendor bid and now comes with a $1.65 million asking price.
The apartment was bought for $1,705,000 in 2016 when the inner city apartment market conditions were stronger.
The three-bedroom warehouse style unit at Birmingham St, Alexandria has 135 sqm space in a SJB-designed block. 
Whitaker and his partner, David Novak-Piper are looking to buy near Berry on the NSW South Coast and secure a smaller inner city apartment.
They put the apartment up for auction through BresicWhitney with a buyer’s guide of $1.6 million.
 
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Block judge Neale Whitaker's Alexandria apartment fails to sell in weekend auctions

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Sydney buyers are certainly spoilt for choice, but there are emerging signs the listings surge of the past year is waning.
There are 27,000 properties currently for sale by private treaty across the Sydney market.
That's a lot on offer, indeed around 25% more than last May, according to CoreLogic.
Interestingly the 7,000 fresh listings in the past month sits 10% down on the same time last year.
That suggests the last ditch rush to sell is slowing after Sydney's cooling conditions have grabbed the headlines and ebbed into realistic conversations. 
There ought be an increased realisation among prospective vendors that the chance to cash in at peak prices has likely passed.
Vendor expectations are increasingly not being met, except for premium listings across the suburbs. A-grade stock is still selling well, through private treaty and at or before auction.  
Many of the 27,000 current private treaty offerings will not be sold this time around because their vendor missed the market peak that they hoped to capitalise on.
They might linger on websites and in estate agent windows, but pointlessly if they aren't repriced to sell in the current and emerging market.
These listings will hang around making up the estate agent's expansive inventory as we head into the winter hibernation.
Stale listings are much harder to sell since the keenest knowledgable buyers have typically moved on after their initial marketing. 
These stale listings ideally need to be withdrawn to try another time.
Meanwhile the number of sales has eased according to official NSW Office of State Revenue data. 
In March there were 16,950 property transfers, the quietest for four years as buyers become pickier, taking their time without the fear of missing out.
Last March, which didn't have the Easter interruption until mid-April, had 19,500 transfers. The March stamp duty revenue for the state government was $642 million compared to $701 million.
There were 49,000 sales in the first three months of 2018, compared to 52,000 early last year, with the soon to be advised April tally to help the state government shape its upcoming budget.
If these early readings become a marked trend, there won't be anywhere near as much revenue available for the government to spend.
The discussion about the listings and sales in the market is premised that there is choice for all participants.
Certainly arrears and mortgagee sales are at low levels.
The elephant in the room is bank lending which has increasingly restrained buyer capacity.
Just this week the Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Guy Debelle indicated there was a "risk" of even further tightening in lending standards ahead.
"This may have its largest effect on the amount of funds an individual household can borrow, more than the effect on the number of households that are eligible for a loan," he noted while adding that has implications for house prices."
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 
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Sydney listings look like they're on the wane

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Sydney is nearing the point of the property cycle where after years as a sellers' market, it's becoming a buyers' market.
The shift to the buyer's favour comes because there's plenty of stock for sale, accompanied by a flailing auction success rate, and vendors prepared to drop their prices to secure their sale. Last month Sydney property values sat in negative annual growth territory, according to CoreLogic, albeit down 3.4% after around 75% growth since 2012.
Cooley Auctions' auctioneer Damien Cooley recently suggested a healthy auction market, where both sellers and buyers had equal bargaining positions, was between 50% and 60%.
That's where the market currently sits.
Cooley suggests it becomes a buyers' markets should clearance rates become less than 50%.
Buyers certainly are acting like the tide has turned.
It is not that buying has frozen due to any fears, just that home buyers have turned tough in their negotiations.
They are having to lower their buying expectations since they are discovering the banks won't lend everything they yearn for.
Sellers who engage inexperienced agents who've never dealt with a weakened market will be especially exposed as a buyers market puts sellers in an especially vulnerable position if they need to sell because they have already bought elsewhere.
It is not a time for sales' gimmicks, just realism.
It is a time for strong marketing so there's the increased prospect of the property being seen by the reduced numbers of active buyers, plus those potentials who have basically tuned out through months, or maybe years, of missing out.
There's also those passive buyers who don't consider themselves in the market, but could be tempted by what they see on offer.
It's likely fewer listings during the winter hibernation will slow the downward price momentum, but setting the right asking price is crucial for vendors who want to sell before spring volumes pickup.
Overall there's 26,000 offerings across Sydney - around 26% more stock than this time last year - which means buyers have more choice.
There were 22,000 listings at the start of last spring.
Discounting on asking prices is normal, however in an emerging slowing or falling market, the mismatch between asking and paid prices is likely to be at its highest, possibly due to pride or naivety.
CoreLogic currently puts the required discount before sale at 6.2% for private treaty listings that are taking around 40 days. In March it was at a 5.6% discount and 31 days, and in March last year it was a 4.1% after just 27 days on market. 
Little wonder buyers reckon the market is finally trending their way, so wise vendors might move to marginally underprice the market to get ahead of the emerging curve.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 
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Sydney market is changing from sellers' market to buyers' market 

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Elizabeth Gaines, now the chief of Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest's Fortescue Metals, and husband Kevin Manuel, have traded up in Perth, while staying in Cottesloe.
Having sold their luxury apartment for $3.35 million a few months ago, they've spent around $5.75 million on a nearby new home.
The five bedroom home with office, gym and lift was built in 2016. 
The now sold apartment (above) cost the couple $3.57 million in 2016 when they bought it from the Hughes car dealership family, shortly after Gaines was made CFO at the company.
The three level Cottesloe apartment was in a block of just four designed by the architect Blane Brackenridge. 
It became their WA base after they sold on Sydney northern beaches for $5.2 million early last year.
They resided there in the former home of model and Myer ambassador Jennifer Hawkins and builder husband Jake Wall at North Curl Curl.
Sydney's glamorous property developer couple sold their 2010 built home to Gaines for $4.1 million in 2014, in the Windy Dropdown gated community, having bought the building block for $1,375,000 in 2009.
This article was first published in the Weekend Australian.
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Elizabeth Gaines, Fortescue Metals boss, trades up in Cottesloe

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<div class="x_column">
In Melbourne, Australia’s largest auction market, a preliminary auction clearance rate of 61.2 per cent was recorded across 1,090 auctions this week, down from 63.7 per cent across 1,144 auctions last week.
One year ago, the clearance rate was a stronger 75 per cent across 1,098 auctions.
A private weekend auction saw a $9 million Glen Iris sale, a record price for the suburb which has stood at $6.55 million since 2011.
It had been listed with $7 million to $7.7 million price guidance through RT Edgar Mark Wridgway who did the Saturday auction ahead of Monday's scheduled expression of interest closing deadline.
Word of the price leaked out given the attendance of buyers' agents representing some of the six active bidders.
<a id="LPlnk182762" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-glen+iris-128112762" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The 4 Fairview Grove, Glen Iris offering</a> (top) was a Christopher Doyle-built period home, renovated around a decade ago, on its 2000 sqm block with tennis court.
The property last sold 20 years ago at $1,178,000.
“The pre-auction shenanigans and the auction itself was a masterclass in manipulation, momentum and marvel,” one buyers' agent said.
There was also a public Glen Iris weekend auction of the trophy home at <a id="LPlnk80854" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/36-howard-street-glen-iris-vic/property-details-buy-residential-11805148/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">36 Howard Street</a>, which was passed in of a $3.3 million vendor bid.
The two storey sandstone residence now comes with a $3.65 million asking price.
Melbourne's highest officially notified result was $4.58 million for <a id="LPlnk937753" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-middle+park-127945682" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">390 Richardson Street, Middle Park</a> (below).
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/14/middle.jpg" alt="">
The double fronted unrenovated four bedroom house had been listed with $4 million to $4.4 million price guidance. 
There was a $4.22 million sale in Brighton when 6 Bagley Street was sold.
There were 767 auctions held in Sydney returning a preliminary auction clearance rate of 62.5 per cent, compared to 63.1 per cent across 797 last week, and 74.5 per cent across 960 auctions one year ago.
Sydney's top sale was <a id="LPlnk375535" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-randwick-128134494" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">30-32 Glebe St, Randwick</a> which fetched $4.5 million pre-auction through BresicWhitney.
At Turramurra there was a pre-auction sale at $4.35 million (below).
<a id="LPlnk39726" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-turramurra-128161110" target="_blank">The custom-designed five bedroom Meadowbank residence</a> was set on a 1138 sqm Boomerang Street block framed by established gardens.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/14/turra.jpg" alt="">
The Di Jones agent Tim Fraser was initially suggesting it could fetch $3.9 million with the higher price secured after some eight contracts were issued to the 130 plus inspections attendees.
Sydney sales also included $875,000 when a young builder bought a dilapidated Marrickville terrace.
The <a id="LPlnk35800" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-marrickville-128113218" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">14 Middle St, Marrickville offering</a> (below) was under instructions from NSW Trustee and Guardian.
Agents suggested it was probably the cheapest house sold in the inner west for five years.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/14/marrick.jpg" alt="">
David Diamantopolous of Devine Real Estate told The Sunday Telegraph it was so cheap as he was prevented from offering buyers a price guide due to the government rules surrounding NSW Trustee and Guardian sales.
CoreLogic calculated there were 2,245 homes taken to auction across the capital cities, returning a waning preliminary auction clearance rate of 61 per cent.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/5/14/cap-May14.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/14/cap-May14.jpg" alt="">
In the prior weekend's results there had been 2,311 auctions with a final clearance rate of 62.1 per cent. 
Over the same week last year, auction volumes were higher with 2,409 homes going under the hammer with the clearance rate at a stronger 72.8 per cent.
CoreLogic's Kevin Brogan noted units outperformed houses with 63.6 per cent of units selling at auction, while 59.8 per cent of houses found buyers.
"Once clearance rates are finalised early next week, its highly likely they will be revised lower, with both Sydney and Melbourne clearance rates potentially falling below the 60% mark," CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan noted.
</div>
<div class="x_column">
CoreLogic had collated 586 Sydney results with its preliminary 62.5 percent success rate from the past six days.
While Domain's Australian Property Monitors put the weekend clearance rate at 56.4 per cent clearance rate, taken from 333 reported Saturday results. Sydney real estate agents withdrew 89 properties from auction on Saturday and are still to report results for 155 scheduled auctions.
Canberra was again the best performing capital with a 77.1 per cent success rate across its 80 auctions.
Brisbane saw a 50 percent success rate with the top offering, Bengtson, a modernised East Brisbane Queenslander.
But the <a id="LPlnk139657" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-east+brisbane-128147518" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4 Didsbury Street</a> home, built in 1896, was passed in on a $1.65 million vendor bid by Shane Hicks from Place Bulimba. 
The top Brisbane sale was a ninth floor apartment <a id="LPlnk592883" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.domain.com.au/93-23-griffith-street-new-farm-qld-4005-2014303677" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">93/23 Griffith Street, New Farm</a> (below) offered for the first time since new in 1973.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/14/new-farm.jpg" alt="">
The spacious 200 sqm apartment in Gemini Towers fetched $1.41 million with riverfront views.
<div class="x_wp-caption">An $182,000 sale in Brisbane's Ipswich region was the nation's cheapest result.</div>
<div class="x_wp-caption"> </div>
<div class="x_wp-caption">The <a id="LPlnk459871" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-brassall-128100166" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">5 Melbourne Street, Brassall offering</a> was three bedrooms on stilts on an 810 sqm block.</div>
"It's big, ugly and neglected but very recoverable and could be a real steal," was the marketing pitch.
The Raine &amp; Horne agent had notified interested parties that council planning indicates that some flood water did come onto a portion of the block in 2011 - about ankle deep at the lowest point of the block. 
Council records indicated that the flood water was 5.2 meters below the eaves of the home which had sold at $199,000 in 2013.
The official land value was recently put at $125,000.
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Hastily called private auction triggered $9 million Glen Iris sale

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A private weekend auction saw a $9 million Glen Iris sale, a record price for the suburb which has stood at $6.55 million since 2011.
It had been listed with $7 million to $7.7 million price guidance through RT Edgar Mark Wridgway who did the Saturday auction ahead of Monday's scheduled expression of interest closing deadline.
Word of the price leaked out given the attendance of buyers' agents representing some of the six active bidders who took the price well beyond the prior record price for the suburb which has stood at $6.55 million since 2011.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/14/glen2.jpg" alt="">
<a id="LPlnk182762" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-glen+iris-128112762" target="_blank">The 4 Fairview Grove, Glen Iris offering</a> (above and top) was a Christopher Doyle-built period home, renovated around a decade ago, on its 2000 sqm block with tennis court.
The property last sold 20 years ago at $1,178,000.
“The pre-auction shenanigans and the auction itself was a masterclass in manipulation, momentum and marvel,” one buyers' agent said.
There was also a public Glen Iris weekend auction of the trophy home at <a id="LPlnk80854" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/36-howard-street-glen-iris-vic/property-details-buy-residential-11805148/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">36 Howard Street</a>, which was passed in of a $3.3 million vendor bid.
The two storey sandstone residence now comes with a $3.65 million asking price.
 
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Glen Iris trophy home sells for $9 million

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Wynyate, a Hawthorn East estate dating back to 1910, has been listed for sale by the company director Dawn Oldham and her landscape gardener partner Jens-Peter Coombes.
The greens surrounding tuck point brick Edwardian on its 1,195 square metre holding have been maintained by Coombes.
<a href="https://www.marshallwhite.com.au/property/27-ryeburne-avenue-hawthorn-east-643721/">The home</a> has four bedrooms and a fitted study for Oldham who sits on a number of listed company boards including financial investment company IOOF.
The original period features have been retained, including large verandahs, coloured leadight glass, timber fretwork and stained timber woodwork.
Marshall White agents Sally O'Connell and James Tostevin have set a May 19 auction with a guide of $4.2 million to $4.6 million.
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian.
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Century old Hawthorn East estate Wynyate listed

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<div id="story-description">
Luxury apartments at the One Barangaroo casino, hotel and residential project on Sydney Harbour will start at $9.5 million.
Making it Australia’s most expensive apartment tower, Crown Resorts executive vice-president strategy Todd Nisbet told The Australian that already a quarter of the 82 apartments had been “spoken for” ahead of its launch.
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Sale agreements include tycoon James Packer’s record $60 million purchase of two-storey apartment midway through the 30 levels.
The $2.2 billion complex is being built by the James Packer-backed Crown Resorts.
The apartments start at level 30 below which is the six-star hotel
The largest is the top duplex penthouse at 800sq m.
The tower’s marketing director, Erin Van Tuil, said the apartments had been benchmarked against projects in global cities such as London, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore.
"The residences are very international," the sales' marketing suggests.
The architect suggests 10 years ago a development like One Barangaroo would have been nearly impossible. 
"That’s mainly because of the technology – it’s quite advanced. 
"We’ve got a lot of double curvature surfaces, which you couldn’t have done in the past."
The only other reported sale was to the former bookmaker Bob Blann at more than $40 million for a whole-floor apartment.
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<div id="adspot-1x1-pos-5" data-google-query-id="CJq8t9HpxNkCFQfFvQodkGcNpQ">
<div id="google_ads_iframe_/31694718/domain.com.au/news/prestige_4__container__"><iframe title="3rd party ad content" name="google_ads_iframe_/31694718/domain.com.au/news/prestige_4" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="1" height="1" data-integralas-id-5dc8e320-3c30-edaf-f7cf-6a51ef3b58dc=""></iframe></div>
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<img src="https://static.domain.com.au/domainblog/uploads/2018/02/24001648/2_h0wh4b.jpg" alt="An artist's impression of an apartment in One Barangaroo, which is part of Crown's casino development." width="1500" height="843">
Blann has exchanged on a 515-square-metre apartment on level 61, equating to a bullish $77,670 per square metre for the western corridor apartment location.
<img src="https://static.domain.com.au/domainblog/uploads/2018/02/24001652/2_h0wh4a.jpg" alt="An artist's impression of a bathroom in the 70-level casino development." width="1500" height="842">
Of the 80 residential apartments on offer, only three are whole-floor offerings, including Blann’s on level 61 and two immediately above it.
Each successively higher apartment is an average of 20 square metres smaller than the one below.
James Packer’s apartment is understood to be between level 40 and 50 of the 70-level tower.
Both sales have smashed the previous national apartment price record of $27 million set in late 2016 for one of the penthouses in the Opera Residences development at Circular Quay.
 
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Luxury apartments at One Barangaroo to start at $9.5  million

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The recent slowing in price growth, and even sizeable price declines, provides some Sydney first time buyers with opportunist purchasing prospects.
But while intense competition from investors has dropped off, there has been renewed demand arising from the overseas migration into Sydney.
Accordingly decentralisation should be more seriously on the agenda of all government as a means of addressing the affordability and liveability issues that young Sydneysiders confront.
We need to develop regional hubs where people can live, own, work and play without being expected to endure undue mortgage stress.
I'm old enough to recall the beginnings of what became the failed Albury-Wodonga decentralisation experiment. 
It was the 1973 vision of Premiers Sir Robert Askin and Sir Rupert Hamer overseen by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
“Whitlamabad” as the soon-gone Prime Minister often jested.
Divided by more than a river, the scheme tried to undo state borders with the ensuing rivalry a recipe for disaster.
I was thinking of the failure when I veered off the Hume Highway for a quick lunch while recently driving between Sydney and Melbourne.
My prawns, crisp lettuce and avocado with a squeeze of farm gate lemon was superb. 
Here I was five hours inland on a stinking hot day over the Christmas break. Nothing that I couldn't have had at the seriously overcrowded Westfield Bondi Junction.
Lunch was doable because there's no tyranny of distance with food anymore, so why not our lifes.
What is so unpalatable to our smart youthful generations about living outside the big smoke?
Our entrenched public service bureacracies have a mindset which holds back the embrace of decentralisation.
Indeed it was public servants in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne who were horrified at the prospect of any forced move to Albury-Wodonga decades ago.
That self interest ensured the current crushing commutes are the daily outcome for much of the Sydney population.
But there are now bigger influences at work through globalisation. The emerging gig economy will certainly enable the great shift out - and cheaper travel and accomodation from the distruptive economy will assist those who have to occasionally come back into the rat race.
While the forces of disruption make their way through most industries, the antiquated public service mentality remains intact.
The recently unveiled vision of the Greater Sydney Commission of a ‘metropolis of three cities’ – Eastern Harbour City (the current CBD), the Central City (Parramatta and surrounds) and the ‘Western Parkland City’ (clustered around the Badgerys Creek Airport, Penrith and Campbelltown) - didn't inspire me.
The need is for increased housing supply incentives outside our key centres.
Decentralising will also assist in making urban life better for those who remain, not just the smashed avocado generation who really do aspire to home ownership, and a lifestyle somewhere, without too much stress.
This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph. 
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Decentralisation should be a key home affordability response by government

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Jonathan Chancellor

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