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A three bedroom house in Warragul, a town east-south east of Melbourne, has been scheduled for auction on July 28 by mortgagees with an indicative selling price of $330,000.
It was listed by Brendon Van Eyk from Harcourts and the home last sold for $220,000 in 2005.
Nestled on a 627sqm allotment in Warragul North,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-warragul-128715570" target="_blank"> 20 Montrose St</a> features master room with ensuite, two other bedrooms with BIR's, large L shape lounge, as well as separate kitchen and dining. 
It is less than 300 metres from Warragul North Primary School, 600 metres from BP Petrol Station/Convenience store and approx. 2km from the Warragul CBD. 
The suburb's median house price sits at <a href="/developments/warragul-vic-3820">$415,000</a>, according to CoreLogic. 
 
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Mortgagee Warragul home going to auction 

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A Wantirna South two bedroom unit has been listed by mortgagees with a price guide of $580,000 to $638,000.
It has been scheduled for auction on July 28 by Michael Hill and Jessica Lander from Noel Jones.
The home was last sold in 2002 for $289,500.
CoreLogic estimates its value with high confidence to be around $633,000.
Situated at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-wantirna+south-128709358" target="_blank"> 3/4 Leo Close</a>, the East Melbourne home features light-filled living room, large kitchen, generous meals area and two sizeable bedrooms.
Additions that enrich the home further are gas ducted heating, and a double garage.
The unit is within walking distance to Knox Westfield shopping centre, local buses and St Andrews College.
The suburb's median unit price sits at <a href="/developments/wantirna-south-vic-3152">$525,000</a>, according to CoreLogic. 
 
 
 
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Wantirna South two bedroom unit listed by mortgagee

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A single level resort style residence in Noosa's hinterland, has been sold.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-doonan-127671894" target="_blank">262A Sunrise Road</a>, Doonan offering, just minutes from Noosa Beaches and Eumundi, was sold for $3,250,000 last month. 
The last sale price for the holding was $920,000 was some five years ago.
The home was marketed as an "elegant yet contemporary living space."
The master bedroom, in the five bedroom two bathroom home, opens to a private terrace and landscaped water garden with goldfish swimming under mini waterfalls near a 20 metre infinity edge swimming pool.
A historic cottage is also located on the property set in its own private paddock.
Features on the 30 acre holding include a 55 sqm cabana and a large lagoon with a jetty. 
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Sanaa in the Noosa Hinterland has sold

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<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
House price falls in Sydney and Melbourne "will get worse before they get better", Deloitte Access Economics says.
The increasingly higher cost and lower availability of credit will generate a "mini-credit crunch."
"The nation's immigration intake will be cut – perhaps severely – thereby undercutting many of the 'most likely' forecasts underpinning the growth of domestic markets," the report says.
There would also be a "fear-of-fear-itself" momentum, the report adds.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">"Lending is down, it's amidst its longest dry spell since the global financial crisis, and investor loans have dropped to a six-year low," the Deloitte report, reported in The Australian Financial Review, says.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">"That says housing price falls – now infecting Melbourne – will get worse before they get better," said Deloitte adding they still expect a pretty benign construction cycle.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
"That benign nature owes much to what we don't see in the next couple of years.
"We don't see China falling over and Australian unemployment jumping. And we don't see global and local interest rates rising fast.
"That still sees the current downswing bottoming out in late 2019 but, thanks to continuing population gains, bottoming at levels that are solid compared with the depths plumbed in past cycles."
Deloitte’s latest Business Outlook report projects that state and federal budgets will be hit hard by falling house prices and commodity prices.
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NSW will bear the brunt of the housing downturn because it has had the biggest rise in house prices among capital cities.
Expensive homes will struggle to sell but there will be "less damage at the lower end", which benefits from first home buyer concessions, the report says.
“House prices are essentially a function of how much people can borrow,” Deloitte economists led by Chris Richardson wrote in their 155-page quarterly report released today.
“Big banks are now running scared,” it suggests.
“Their sudden surge of caution means borrowers with the same characteristics would now get a smaller loan than they would have 18 months ago.”
They predict the current house price falls in Australia will “keep on keeping on”.
 
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House price falls in Sydney and Melbourne "will get worse before they get better"

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The ARCO fund manager George Colman is warning of a "slow-motion property market crash" as credit gets harder to secure.
"Broadly speaking, we think that the game has changed in terms of consumer behaviour," he told The Australian Financial Review.
"Bank credit is creating a steep change."
Property borrowers moving from interest-only to the more expensive fixed-rate mortgages was another source of market stress, Colman suggests.
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Colman believes the economy now suffers from declining breadth after a years-long narrowing of focus on housing and related sectors.
"We might limp along," he says.
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Arco was formed in 2008 at the height of the global financial crisis by Mr Colman and Peter Whiting and the Melbourne-based investment management firm had $147 million of assets under management in its long-short Absolute Trust at the end of June.
The fund returned 6.5 per cent over the 2018 financial year.
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"Slow-motion property market crash" coming: ARCO 

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Parkmore, a historic 1891 Victorian mansion in Rosebud, the seaside town on the Mornington Peninsula, failed to sell at weekend auction.
McEwing &amp; Partners Mornington agent Quentin McEwing saw two bidders compete for the property before it was passed in at $3.175 million
The heritage listed manor had an initial guide of $2.7 million to $3 million which was amended to a price guidance of $3.2 million to $3.5 million..
It was listed last year with $3 million to $3.3 million price guidance.
It now comes with a price guidance of $3.2 million to $3.5 million.
It last sold at $2,825,000 in 2016 when bought by the property developer Robert Kampf.
Directly opposite a long sandy stretch of beach, the<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-rosebud-128521190" target="_blank"> 741-743 Point Nepean Road</a> house comes with three living/dining rooms, a modern kitchen, wine cellar/cantina, six bedrooms, and an array of verandas and patios.
<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/2018/6/4/rosebud%202.jpg" alt="">
Other features include heated swimming pool &amp; spa, fireplaces, sash windows and ducted heating &amp; cooling. 
It is within short walking distance to the McCrae Plaza, the yacht club, restaurants and cafes.
<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/2018/6/4/rosebud%203.jpg" alt="">
It is listed by Quentin McEwing and Marcus Gollings from McEwing &amp; Partners Real Estate.
The suburb's median house price sits around <a href="/news">$560,000</a>, according to CoreLogic. 
Rosebud was raked in late 2017 as the cheapest place to buy on the Mornington Peninsula. 
<div class="moveable_w" data-element-id="chart_141926523" data-object-id="3366395c-65ce-4feb-b3cf-42e7f3cc3640" data-object-type="chart" data-content-type="19">
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<table class="igc-table __dynamic">
<thead><tr>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort" rowspan="1" colspan="1"> </th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Median house</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Annual growth</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort" rowspan="1" colspan="1">5 year growth</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Dromana</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">$685,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">18%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">84%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Blairgowrie</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">$856,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">15%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">84%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Tootgarook</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">$553,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">16%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">86%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Sorrento</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">$1.3m</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">30%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">92%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Safety Beach</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">$720,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">16%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Rye</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">$643,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">18%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Rosebud</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">$526,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">17%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">83%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Portsea</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">$1.86m</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">0%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">82%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Mount Martha</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">$935,750</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">19%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">91%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Mount Eliza</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">$1.1m</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">22%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">91%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">Mornington</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">$805,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">17%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell" rowspan="1" colspan="1">91%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="moveable_w" data-element-id="particle_6b398acf-3a27-423b-83fb-663f2e9e0fac" data-object-id="6b398acf-3a27-423b-83fb-663f2e9e0fac" data-object-type="particle" data-content-type="captiontext">
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<div class="innertext" data-placeholder=""> </div>
<div class="innertext" data-placeholder="">Source: Domain Group House Price Report, December quarter 2017 </div>
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Historic Rosebud offering Parkmore fails to sell

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A three bedroom house in Alkimos, a coastal suburb of Perth, has been recently listed for $310,000 by mortgagees. 
It was listed by Josh Douglas from Professionals, and was last sold in 2013 as a vacant lot for $177,000.
Located in the Trinity private estate of Alkimos,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-alkimos-128773246" target="_blank"> the 24 Grado Way cottage</a> comes with three large bedrooms, two modern bathrooms, kitchen with stainless fittings, and separate courtyard. 
Other features include high ceilings, tiled flooring throughout living, and double lock up garage.
It is just a short stroll away from schools, shops and other amenities, and just 5 minutes from the pristine WA beaches.
 
 
 
 
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Alkimos three bedroom house listed by mortgagee

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Buoyed by the rising value of water, irrigated cropping and grazing holdings continue to be strong performers with agents reporting good demand and prices regularly exceeding vendor expectations, according to the latest Herron Todd White rural report.
This has been a continuing trend for nearly 12 months, the valuation firm advised.
:As one vendor recently noted, they anticipated to realize in excess of $1.1 million when the property was offered to market.
"After 24 hours, the property sold to several neighbours for an amount in excess of $2 million."
Discussions with an agent indicated a selling price 10% to 15% in excess of the initial list price (three months ago) albeit with a significant water component.
Recent sales include a Lockington mixed farming enterprise situated between Echuca and Lockington in Northern Victoria.
It was sold for $1 million in May.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-mixed+farming-vic-lockington-7543867" target="_blank">Located at 2361 Whinfield Rd</a> (pictured above), the property comprises 144 hectares on three separate titles. 
The home block on 32 hectares has three bedrooms, and Lot 2 has a brick home on 64 hectares.
The third Lot is 47 acres of lasered cropping and grazing country. 
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Echuca market exceeding vendor expectations: HTW

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Bruce Gunning of Ray White Rural International, says Ballandry Station Farming Aggregation at Griffith, represents what could be one of the last “big ticket” buying opportunities for Riverina broadacre cropland.
With most of the large holdings now in either corporate or other institutional ownership, investors will have few chances in the future to secure agricultural holdings on the scale of Ballandry, he told The Land's Peter Austin.
Ballandry is a total land package of 27,735 hectares (68,535ac), comprising a cropping of 19,436ha and an irrigation development block of 8298ha.
Offers are due July 31, either as a whole or in two portions, along with 45,455 Murrumbidgee Irrigation delivery entitlements.
Set 24 kilometres north of Griffith, it has been listed by David Bartter, who is winding up his agricultural interests.
Bartter and his brother, Peter, previously owned and operated the huge Bartter Enterprises poultry business at Griffith, before selling that in 2009 to Baiada Poultry.
The property has been built up by the Bartter family over a period of 35 years.
It incorporates 17 individual properties, the largest being Ballandry Station of 5165 ha.
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Bartter family list Riverina aggregation Ballandry

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A 1,590 hectares (3928 acres) rural property in North Territory has been listed for $595,000.
It is located adjacent to the Finniss River near Dundee Downs in the Bynoe area.
It has been offered by Gunter Trnka from N.T. Realty Pty Ltd. 
This Freehold title lot is on offer 12/130 share with approx 7 other owners, the owners have fenced off approx 14 acres they use privately as their living area.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-nt-dundee+downs-128604694" target="_blank">Positioned at Sec 9 Hundred of Milne</a>, Dundee Downs,  it comes with three bedroom accommodation, house stales, lock-up shed, shipping container and carports for four vehicles.
The property has solar power, septic and unlimited water supplied from the river for stock and domestic use.
Located near Sandpalm's Motel in the Dundee Bynoe area, it is just 40 minutes to Palmerston, 35 minutes to Coolalinga.
Fisherman's treat with Bynoe &amp; Dundee boat-ramps is nearby.
 
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Dundee Downs rural property listed for sale 

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.

Staff reporter

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