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Land in Clyde North’s newest community – Berwick Waters, 50 kilometres southeast of the Melbourne CBD – will be released this Saturday with allotments starting from $235,000. 
The Macumba land release comprises eight allotments within the Heritage Hills precinct.
<a target="_blank" href="/news">Berwick</a> Waters – an estate by Australand and Mondous Property Australia – is made up of two precincts, Heritage Hills and Waterfront.
The eight allotments range in size from 444 square metres to 545 square metres.
The 310-hectare community estate boasts extensive wetlands, shared walking and bike trails and will be complemented by three proposed state schools and a town centre.
Purchasers of the Macumba land release will be required to pay 5% of the purchase price to secure the allotment.
The median house price in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Clyde North</a>, which grew 0.35% in the quarter to February 2013, is $397,000.
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Berwick Waters Macumba land to be released this weekend

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A 45-room guesthouse recently sold in Sydney's Burwood for $3.74 million reflecting an approximate rental yield of 13.9%. 
Located at 33 Angelo Street, the two-storey Burwood Guest House has a gross annual revenue of $522,640.
Featuring 30 single rooms and 15 double rooms, the property also includes four commercial style stainless steel equipped kitchens.
The property has a total of nine bathrooms, with some located in communal areas.
Situated on an 834-square-metre lot, guests can also enjoy a north-facing courtyard.
The <a href="https://www.burwoodguesthouse.com.au/" target="_blank">guesthouse</a> is marketed as 'quality budget accommodation' with weekly rates starting from $230.
The property sold at auction through <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/financial/properties/229210" target="_blank">Joe Vigorito of Raine and Horne Burwood</a>.
Vigorito says it's quite common for inner-west rental properties to have such a high rental yield.
"There's a shortage of rental properties and a lot of people looking for budget accommodation," says Vigorito.
Another budget accommodation property at 90 Shaftesbury Road Burwood sold in 2010 for $2.75 million.
It was advertised with a 10% yield, reflecting an approximate gross annual intake of $275,000.
The property featured 22 lettings, including two self-contained units.
It was also sold through <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/properties/61681" target="_blank">Joe Vigorito of Raine and Horne.</a>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/properties/61681"></a>The median house price in <a href="/news">Burwood</a> is $1,177,500, a price growth of 47.2% in five years, according to RP Data.
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A Burwood, Sydney guesthouse sells with a high rental yield of 13.9%

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A ground floor shop with an upstairs dwelling has sold at auction on Burke Road, Camberwell, for $2.11 million – $360,000 above the reserve price. 
The sale was closed by Fitzroys director Chris Kombi, with the price reflecting a yield of 4.1%.
The <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/2010256689/for-sale/vic/camberwell/retail" target="_blank">two-storey brick building</a> is approximately 168 square metres and is situated on a 184-square-metre lot.
<img alt="camberwellmarch20one" height="305" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/camberwellmarch20one.jpg">
The ground floor – with a 5.5-metre frontage to Burke Road – is occupied by New Zealand-owned brand Ziera Shoes on a five-year term from October 2011.
There is separate access to the first level, which features an un-renovated two-bedroom residence.
Kombi says there was heavy interest throughout the campaign and a large <a target="_blank" href="/news">auction</a> crowd on the day.
He says the strong sale price was further proof of improving sentiment among buyers.
The property is currently returning $88,484 per annum plus outgoings and GST.
Burke Road, <a href="/news">Camberwell</a>, boasts an array of Australian retailers including Sportsgirl, Witchery, Sussan and Just Jeans.
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Two-storey Burke Road Camberwell property sells for $360,000 above reserve

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A circa-1900 double-storey brick Victorian terrace in South Yarra will go to auction this weekend with a price guide of $1.6 million-plus.
It is listed by general manager of GE Capital David Gelbak.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-south+yarra-112978239">The property on Wilson Street</a> was renovated by Williams Boag Architects. The home boasts four bedrooms and two baths and an Ilve and Smeg appointed kitchen with stone bench tops.
The main bedroom features a marble fireplace and French doors that open to a scenic verandah.
A landscaped courtyard surrounded by ivy-covered walls is accessed through large bi-folding doors.
With landscaping by Urban Edge Landscaping Architects, the property has been featured in many lifestyle magazines, including Outdoor Space Magazine.
Gelbak and his wife have lived in the property for eight years but are selling to move closer to their daughter's school in Hawthorn.
"We are still struggling with the concept of leaving <a target="_blank" href="/news">South Yarra</a>, we have been in the area for 13 years and just love the lifestyle the house provides and the way the indoor and outdoors integrate in the home," says Gelbak.
Gowan Stubbings and Mark Williams of Kay and Burton South Yarra have listed the Wilson Street property.
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South Yarra terrace listed with $1.6 million-plus weekend hopes

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Last year's Archibald prizewinner Tim Storrier will auction off his historic Bathurst district home.
<a target="_blank" href="https://professionalsbathurst.com.au/real-estate/property/597451/lifestyle/nsw/bathurst-2795/"> Blackdown farm estate </a>will go to auction on April 11.
Property Observer first <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/tim-storrier-lists-blackdown-at-bathurst-with-%244-million-plus-hopes/2012100156900">reported</a> on the house listing in October last year, when Storrier was asking for $4 million-plus.
Failing to secure a buyer, the 56-hectare holding will be auctioned with a price guide of $3 million to $4 million.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/09/octblacktown]}
The estate boasts seven bedrooms, four bathrooms and three cottages. It also includes a library, guest accommodation and two studies.
Blackdown cost $2.5 million in 2008 when bought from the haircare product pioneer Anton Starling, who had sought more than $3.5 million.
Storrier and his wife Janet have since reportedly spent $1.5 million on extensive renovations of the homestead and developing gardens.
The 56-hectare property is four kilometres from the Bathurst city centre, at <a target="_blank" href="/news">Eglinton</a>.
The house was built for commissariat storekeeper Thomas Hawkins, his wife, Elizabeth, and their eight children after a land grant by Governor Thomas Brisbane.
Thomas Hawkins, a former British naval officer, had been appointed commissarial storekeeper at Bathurst in 1822.
Hawkins had spent 18 days to get across the Blue Mountains to <a target="_blank" href="/news">Bathurst</a>, where he selected the holding on the Macquarie River.
The Ian Stapleton-renovated homestead comes with a tennis court, pool, dressage arena, stable complex, and a recently constructed artist's studio in its grounds.
The estate is listed for auction through Meares and Associates and James Thompson from Professionals Bathurst.
The marketing agents say the farm can be developed as a corporate retreat or a boutique resort.
In November last year, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/fairfax-media-director-michael-anderson-sells-hopewood-house-in-southern-highlands/2012103157501">Storrier’s purchased Hopewood House</a> – a Southern Highlands mansion owned by Fairfax Media director Michael Anderson and his wife – for around $6 million on delayed settlement terms.
Hopewood House was initially listed with $9 million price hopes over two years ago.
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Artist Tim Storrier to auction Blackdown Estate at Bathurst

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Marketing for the $60 million Botanic Lane Cove project in Sydney is well underway with 40% of the apartments having sold since its launch in late February.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://botaniclanecove.com.au/">79-apartment project</a> is a joint venture between White Private, builder developer Icon Construction and the Greenbush Group.
Located less than <a href="/news">10 kilometres</a> from the Sydney CBD, Botanic offers one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments as well as seven penthouses.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/botanicmarch19four.jpg" width="470" height="217" alt="botanicmarch19four">
One bedrooms start from $500,000 and range internally in size from 55 square metres to 66 square metres.
Two-bedroom apartments range in size from 88 square metres to 93 square metres and start from $831,000.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/botanicmarch19one.jpg" width="470" height="228" alt="botanicmarch19one">
The three-bedroom apartments start from $1,107,000 and range in size from 110 square metres to 143 square metres.
The seven penthouses range in size from 112 square metres to 143 square metres and range in price from $1.35 million to $1.7 million.
Peter Walsh of White Private says four of the penthouses have sold to local buyers and the majority of the purchases they have seen so far are owner-occupier.
The apartments boast oak floors and Carrara marble in both the kitchen and bathrooms.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/botanicmarch19three.jpg" width="470" height="207" alt="botanicmarch19three">
The project is designed by Mijollo International with interiors designed by SJB Interiors.
Walsh says the name Botanic was chosen due to the complex being bound by large mature trees and landscaped gardens.
"We wanted to achieve a sense of garden by tying in the name," says Walsh.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/botanicmarch19two.jpg" width="470" height="240" alt="botanicmarch19two">
Nearby is an aquatic centre and gym and the <a target="_blank" href="/news">Lane Cove</a> Village is just around the corner, comprising more than 200 shops, services and dining options.
Icon Constructions will start work in June this year and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
Located at 14-20 Finlayson Street, the land site is currently home to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/dunkeld-uniting-church-for-auction-with-%24125000-hopes/2013031759749">Uniting Church</a> and three residential houses.
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Botanic Lane Cove one-bedders priced from $500,000

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One of only four newly constructed townhouses on Tara Avenue, Kew is available for purchase seeking offers in excess of $2.9 million.
Located only six kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, the townhouse measures 464 square metres (50 squares) over three levels with a lift accessible to all floors.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kayburton.com.au/property/1-tara-avenue-kew">townhouse</a> is on its own title and comprises of four bedrooms and four bathrooms.
Also included is a cellar, outdoor pool and a large carpeted leisure area ideal for a home cinema, gym or studio.
The <a target="_blank" href="/news">Kew</a> townhouses are designed by Coy and Yiontis Design and landscaped by Julian McCarthy Landscapes.
A four-bedroom plus study townhouse has already sold for a price in the mid- to high- $3 millions.
The other two townhouses will soon be released.
Michael Armstrong and Tim Picken from Kay and Burton have listed the property for expression of interest, closing March 26.
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Tara Avenue, Kew townhouse available for $2.9 million-plus

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<div>
Everton Park – eight kilometres north of the Brisbane CBD - experienced the highest median price growth in 2012 for units and townhouses, according to the latest Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) data.
The median unit and townhouse price for Everton Park for the 12 months up until December is $430,000 – a 22.9% increase on the median price of $349,813 in 2011.
However suggesting some volatility in the suburb, it experienced a December quarterly fall of 16.1% to $390,000.
A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-qld-everton+park-112899555">three bedroom, two bathroom townhouse </a>is currently listed and under offer on Lackeen Street for $449,000 plus.
The tri-level townhouse boasts high ceilings, timber floors and a modern kitchen.
It is currently tenanted for $490 a week on a periodic tenancy and last sold in February 2007 for $365,000.
It has been listed by Fiona McVilly from Urban Property Agents Paddington.
A new two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit sold in Ashmore Street in Everton Park in November last year for $420,000.
In the same month, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit on Sizer Street sold for $425,000.
Local estate agents were not convinced about the growth figures for the suburb.
Pauline Downie from First National Everton Park says it was not a genuine price growth, but mostly new townhouses and units being sold, rather than resales.
Judy Latham from Judy Latham Real Estate says 2012 was a quiet year, with not as much turnover but 2013 is proving to be strong with sales above the asking price.
Sherwood – 9 kilometres south west of the CBD - comes in second place, experiencing an 18.0% annual growth from $372,500 to $439,500.
Chermside was the weakest performing suburb in the Brisbane city, falling 15.8% annually from $431,000 in December 2011 to $363,000 in December 2012.
<table width="463" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
Region
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
Median sale 12 months December 2012
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
Median Sale 12 months December 2011
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
One year change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Everton Park</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$430,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$349,813
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
22.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Sherwood</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$439,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$372,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
18.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Stafford</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$407,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$360,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
13.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">St Lucia</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$479,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$425,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
12.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Hamilton</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$477,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$427,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
11.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Taringa</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$434,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$390,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
11.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Teneriffe</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$555,938
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$512,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
8.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">West End</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$523,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$483,550
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
8.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Balmoral</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$465,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$431,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
7.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Bulimba</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$549,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$510,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
7.7%
<div></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
 
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Everton Park, the top performing Brisbane suburb for apartments over 2012

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Three unlikely Melbourne suburbs have appeared on  the Real Estate Institute of Victoria's (REIV) million-dollar suburbs list, but share very few characteristics with well-known $1 million-plus hotspots like inner-suburban East Melbourne and the coastal enclave of Brighton.
In the year ending February 28, REIV’s $1 million suburbs list contained 39 suburbs, including Kangaroo Ground, Warrandyte South and Red Hill South.
Kangaroo Ground is located 26 kilometres northeast of Melbourne’s CBD and has a median house price of $1,062,500.
The average size home is four bedrooms and the suburb population is 1,014.
Not far from Kangaroo Ground is Warrandyte South – 24 kilometres northeast of Melbourne CBD – which has a median house price of $1,325,000.
The average size home is five bedrooms and the population of the suburb is 647 persons.
Towards the Mornington Peninsula sits Red Hill south, with a median house price of $1,687,500.
The average size home is four bedrooms and the population of the suburb is 1,170 persons.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reiv.com.au/">REIV</a>’s Robert Larocca says each of these suburbs are on the edge of the metropolitan area, meaning that proximity to the CBD is not a factor underpinning their high prices.
Larocca says it’s a lifestyle choice to purchase in these suburbs, as buyers could live much closer to the CBD for the same price.
Characteristics that differ from their inner-city counterparts include larger dwellings – four to five bedrooms are the average – and larger blocks.
The average size block in Kangaroo Ground is 14-acres and the median age of residents are 40 years old.
“The higher average age underpins very high levels of home ownership, between 41% to 52%, compared to the city wide average of 33%,” says Larocca.
The three suburbs don’t appear in the quarterly median price series due to their small sizes and their low volume of sales.
Larocca says the trend will likely continue as the city becomes more dense and suburbs in green wedges become comparatively scarce, desirable and expensive.
A five-bedroom, four-bathroom home on Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Road is listed for sale for over $2.3 million.
The 40-square-metre home sits on approximately 2.45 hectares.
It has been listed by Morrison Kleeman Estate Agents Eltham and last sold in 2009 for $1.3 million.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-warrandyte+south-112762831" target="_blank">A four-bedroom home on Green Ridge</a> in Warrandyte South (pictured below) sold on March 8 for around $1.5 million.
<img alt="warrandytemarch13one" height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/warrandytemarch13one.jpg">
It boasts two bathrooms, a heated outdoor pool and spa and a Balinese hut with a wet bar.
The house was built in 2000 and sits on just over 0.4 hectares of land.
A <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-vic-red+hill-112842655" target="_blank">four-bedroom, two-bathroom home</a> on Paringa Road, Red Hill South (picture below), is currently on the market for offers over $1.7 million.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/redhillmarch13one.jpg" width="470" height="351" alt="redhillmarch13one">
Situated on a 5.6-hectare block, the property boasts a tennis court and an orchard.
It has been listed by Blane Paton from Paton Estate Agents Balnarring. 
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Kangaroo Ground among little-known $1 million Melbourne suburbs: REIV

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House prices in Sydney's most expensive suburb, Bellevue Hill, in the eastern suburbs, fell 12% over 2012, figures compiled by the REINSW reveal.
The median house price as of December 2012 is $2,945,000 compared to $3,345,500 in December 2011.
Real estate  agent Leon Jacques of 1 to 1 Realty Double Bay says the annual figure has likely fallen due to vendors now meeting the market and becoming more realistic.
The median price dropped by a steep 17% in the last quarter of the year according to the REINSW.
Jacques says the quarterly drop in the median price may be due to properties at the lower end of the market accounting for majority of sales.
Jacques says cheaper homes have the ability to skew the figures but the quarterly drop is not a complete indication of how the suburb is fairing.
CEO of REINSW Tim McKibbin says the more affordable part of the market weathered the property storm of the past few years but the more expensive suburbs went through something of a correction.
McKibbin says that has now bottomed and prices will begin to firm up.
"During the last couple of years, not only did prices of properties in less affordable areas decline but sales also declined."
McKibbin is quietly confident about 2013 and expects prices to strengthen.
"Less affordable areas will always lag the affordable areas," says McKibbin.
A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestateredefined.com.au/Buying/Search/Detail.aspx?id=48&amp;wlid=843a1aad-a6e2-43cc-82a4-066b0efd0256">four-bedroom, two-bathroom</a> home on Bellevue Road (pictured below) sold at its February 26 auction for $2,755,000.
<img height="313" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/bellevuemarch13oneone.jpg" alt="bellevuemarch13oneone">
Situated on 738 square metres of land, the home boasts two levels of living space and has DA plans for an additional storey.
It last sold in July 2010 for $2.7 million.
The listing was held by Real Estate Redefined Double Bay.
A three-bedroom home on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bellevue+hill-112862879">Lennox Street</a> (pictured below) sold at its February 23 auction for $2,275,000.
<img height="349" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/bellevuemarch13two.jpg" alt="bellevuemarch13two">
Built in 1900, the home boasts two bathrooms, a double living room with French doors, high ceilings and cast iron fireplaces.
The sale was secured by Sydney Sothebys International Realty Double Bay.
Meanwhile, the vendors of a Bunyula Road property sold prior to auction for $2.33 million.
The property comprises of three bedrooms, two baths and sits on 639 square metres of land.
The sale was closed by Bradfield Cleary Double Bay.
There have been 15 house sales above $10 million in Bellevue Hill since 2008, but only one officially recorded in the past year, according to RP Data.
Vaucluse is Sydney’s second priciest suburb with a median house price of $2,475,000. It remained stable in the last quarter, however  dropped 21.4% annually.
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Bellevue Hill prices down 12% over 2012 but still Sydney's priciest suburb

<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;

Nicola Trotman

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