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Trelawney at Berrima has been listed for the first time since it was built.
The one level home sits on <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-berrima-128454290" target="_blank">the 40 hectare property</a>.
It was built in 2016 after the holding traded for $950,000 in 2011.
It has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a media room.
The open plan dining and lounge rooms feature a double sided stone wood fire.
The alfresco and outdoor entertainers terraces overlook the rolling countryside.
Di Jones agent Lisa-Marie Cauchois advises the infrastructure on the property will appeal to buyers looking to farm on the land.
There's five well maintained paddocks, three dams, a two bay shed plus a stable.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Southern Highlands trophy home Trelawney listed for first time

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Fairfield House, the 1833 Georgian mansion built by the pioneer William Cox at Windsor, is on the market for the first time in nearly three decades.
It has been listed by karate champion turned professional poker player Joe Meissner.
He was last in the news in 2009 with his Western Sydney A-League proposal.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-windsor-128664230" target="_blank">Fairfield House</a> in its heyday sported a cricket oval with a pavilion and a racetrack.
A test match between a Hawkesbury 11 and an all-England Eleven was played on the oval. 
There's direct access to the 18 hole Championship Golf Course next door.
Offers are due August 1 with ReMax Parramatta agents Morris and Melissa Short.
It is advertised as a "yearning for yesteryear which can be found in this unique Hawkesbury property that simply cries out for a commercial operator to step in refurbish, restore and re-purpose a truly magnificent piece of Sydney history".
The property located at 21 Fairfield Avenue could suit a commercial operator looking to open a boutique hotel, day spa, convention centre, aged care facility or wedding reception venue.
Zoned R2 &amp; RE2, the site allows for multiple uses.
Upon entering through the large cedar door with acid-etched, monogrammed glass, the home comes with tiled corridor which opens into the reception room with its own elevated central skylight.
It was here that Henry McQuade, manager of Her Majesty's Theatre in Sydney, entertained his theatrical celebrities in 1866.   Australian cedar runs in window frames, architraves and skirting boards. 
A fireplace of white Italian Carerra marble (pictured below) is a central feature.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/6/27/Castle%202.JPG" alt=""> 
This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph. 
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Day spa mooted for William Cox's Windsor trophy mansion for sale

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Creative workspace provider Spaces, has been named the winner of the best co-working space in Australia at the 2018 Qantas Business Travel Awards. 
This is the first year that the Qantas Business Travel Awards have given an award for co-working environments. 
CEO &amp; co-founder of Spaces, Martijn Roordink (picutred below) said that "to receive an award from one of the highest rated worldwide and the most popular airline in Australia is very meaningful for us".
<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/2018/7/11/Spaces%20CEO.jpg" alt="">
The award-winning office, X street Richmond, Melbourne, was one of the first co-working offices to be opened outside the Spaces headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The integrated working environment of the award-winning office consists of desks, tables and booths in an open-plan design with caffeine coming from locally roasted single-origin beans.
Damien Sheehan, head of IWG Australia &amp; New Zealand says that he sees a shift in the workspace landscape in Australia and businesses are now looking closely at what this means for their corporate real estate portfolios.
“We are entering the era of the mobile workforce and it is hugely exciting, not just for individual employees, but for businesses too, there is a workspace revolution underway in Australia and businesses are waking up to the strategic and financial benefits that flexible office space can provide," stated Sheehan.
Today almost 70% of Australian employees are working at least one day a week somewhere other than the office, while 46% of Australian employees work remotely for half of the week or more and one in 10 people also work outside of their company’s main office location five times a week.
Spaces has locations in Europe, Canada, the United States, Latin America, Africa, Australia and Asia.  
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Richmond's X street Spaces wins QANTAS' co-working space award

Australian banking needs to start preparing for a rainy day: APRA's Wayne Byres

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Cities are seeing a growing number of shared working, or co-working, spaces. They include spaces where individuals and businesses can flexibly rent desks or rooms, or do shared work in “third spaces” such as libraries and cafes.
Co-working spaces offer a range of benefits and risks to the local economy. Our research looked at the role policy-makers, regulators and city planners can play in ensuring that these spaces make a positive contribution to our cities.
We found shared work spaces emerging in regulatory voids left by outdated policy frameworks. To exist, they are relying on the forward thinking of local innovators seeking to revitalise urban centres.
Types of spaces
Shared work spaces vary by the type of work they facilitate, from knowledge work (such as IT and professional services) to small-scale manufacturing. Some are purpose-built for co-working, whereas others (such as cafes) are informally used as such.
Some also target particular markets by offering additional services such as a crèche for childcare, seminars for professional development and events for networking.
Shared working spaces also differ in their models of ownership. These range from privately owned and managed, to government subsidised and cooperatively managed community resource centres.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/217491/original/file-20180503-153884-q4pery.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Pubs, such as this one in London, can become informal shared work spaces. Carey Curtis
The ownership and funding of individual co-working spaces may also change through time, as they may receive new sources of government funding, attract new types of clients or relocate to new facilities.
What are the benefits?
There are many potential benefits for sharing a working space, including access to common spaces, equipment, tools, and technologies. Some people may only need a space for a few hours a day or on one occasion for a special project, so they can hire spaces in desirable locations without high rental charges.
Shared working spaces also offer social benefits through greater opportunities to interact, network and collaborate with like-minded workers.
A co-working space can be a good use of unused spaces in buildings and be birthing places of new enterprises. They can also support local businesses by hosting large groups of potential customers.
And they may afford people a place to work closer from home, reducing the need for long commutes.
What are the downsides?
Big players in the sharing economy – such as Uber, Lyft and Airbnb – have had a disruptive effect on existing markets by reducing opportunities for less advantaged people and workers in the market, and confusing regulators.
A similar scale of disruption may be on the horizon with the rapid growth of big players in co-working spaces such as WeWork. These could threaten existing shared work spaces by absorbing customers and competitively leasing out available buildings.
Shared work spaces could potentially contribute to the gentrification of older neighbourhoods by pushing up the price of real estate, and displacing established small businesses and residential tenants.
Co-working spaces has also been seen as representative of an increasing casualised workforce, as such spaces may host short-term contractors doing work that was previously performed by full-time internal staff members.
What we found
We analysed planning and economic development policy and interviewed founders and users of shared working spaces in Western Australia.
We identified around 20 shared work spaces in Perth and regional Western Australia. Many were in retrofitted older and under-used buildings such as an old department store, maternity hospital or converted office space.
Most founders told us that shared working spaces needed to be accessible to be viable. Many also identified the quality and intensity of activities around the area as essential to attracting workers to their space.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/217489/original/file-20180503-138586-nkkep4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Shared work spaces can facilitate knowledge work, as well as manufacturing (like this one in Fremantle, WA). Carey Curtis
But founders identified regulatory frameworks, including land use permission controls, as significant barriers to establishing these spaces. For instance, a shared work space where people repair furniture or make jewellery could be considered as being used for manufacturing.
This type of activity may not be permitted in a disused department store that falls within a retail zone.
We found that often, local councillors and economic developers, have thrown their hat in the ring to help establish shared work spaces in their area. They would do so by helping founders secure required approvals, such as building accessibility certifications and emergency management plans.
Knowing the potential contribution of such spaces to the economy, they’ve also helped founders navigate regulations and planning controls intended for more permanent use of spaces.
But we found that town planners were rarely engaged in early conversations with shared work space founders. Planners generally didn’t identify or facilitate opportunities to host shared working spaces in unused buildings.
Planning policy documents and city planning departments didn’t actively recognise co-working spaces as a major new way people use buildings in cities.
Sharing spaces better
Technologies are creating new ways to match a mobile and flexible workforce with work spaces. This is leaving regulators to manage the impacts from the temporary uses of many shared work spaces.
City planners should be prepared to recognise and plan for the benefits these spaces bring, while minimising possible negative impacts on users, neighbours, and the broader community.
Planning strategies that seek to regenerate urban places and provide economic and social opportunities in urban growth areas will need to prompt more engagement with shared work space proponents, users, neighbouring businesses and residents, and local government divisions.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/95923/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Shared work spaces have a positive role to play in Australian cities and regional centres. However, it seems planners are at risk of missing the boat when it comes to using shared work space to achieve more socially and economically viable planning outcomes.
Courtney Babb, Lecturer in Urban &amp; Regional Planning, Curtin University
Carey Curtis, Professor of City Planning and Transport, Curtin University
Sam McLeod, Urban Planning Researcher, Curtin University
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/co-working-spaces-are-part-of-the-new-economy-so-town-planners-better-get-with-the-times-95923" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Co-working spaces are part of the new economy, so town planners better get with the times

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A Broome industrial facility leased to a Midalia Steel has come to market through CBRE.
Located at 3 Archer Street, Minyirr, the 800 square metre warehouse/office facility is situated on an 8,122 square metre site. 
It is currently being leased to Midalia Steel, a subsidiary of the parent company Liberty One Steel, on a new 10-year lease with a further three five-year options available. 
CBRE’s Geoff Fraser is managing the sale campaign via offers to purchase. “This is an outstanding leased industrial investment, providing the opportunity to secure a footprint in one of Broome’s strongest industrial precincts, and with the guarantee of fixed income from a renowned operator,” Fraser said.  He added that as it is being leased to a blue-chip tenant for a substantial period.
"The property is expected to attract interest from local, Perth and interstate buyers looking to acquire a secure investment in a growing location.” 
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Opportunity in Broome's growing industrial market 

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Adelaide's Davaar House, built for wine and spirit merchant William Johnston in 1876 at a £4000 cost, has been listed for sale.
It features 14 rooms, pantries, cellars, larder and bathrooms.
It was being restored as part of the $35 million apartment project on the corner of South Terrace and Hutt Street, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-sa-adelaide-128570242" target="_blank">August Towers</a>.
<a href="http://www.awesomeadelaide.com/tag/davaar-house/" target="_blank">The heritage listed building</a> had most recently served as headquarters of the TPI Association.
<a href="http://www.awesomeadelaide.com/disused-abandoned-buildings-ruins/urban-exploring-davaar-house-tpi/attachment/awesome_adelaide_urban_exploring_davaar_house_tpi_dsc7682/" target="_blank">The partially restored, two-storey mansion</a> is among the properties being sold to recoup some of the $29 million debts owed by developer Salvatore “Sam” Sgherza.
The Advertiser newspaper reported that CEG Direct Securities had taken control of the August Towers apartment building.
Photo courtesy of Awesome Adelaide. 
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Adelaide's historic Davaar House listed

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The American Dive-Bar styled, leasehold pub in Redfern featuring the popular House of Crabs restaurant, on the market.
The pub and restaurant featuring a ground floor bar, bistro, beer garden and function room located on 305 Cleveland Street, is being sold via a Ray White expressions of interest campaigns that ends July 25.
<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/2018/7/4/Crab%20Corner.jpg" alt="">
Located close to CBD, universities, transport and amongst high density neighbourhood is has a strong lease until 2033 (including options).
It is marketed as "an excellent opportunity for a hands on operator to improve the operational efficiency of a popular business".
<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/2018/7/4/Crab%20Right.jpg" alt="">
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Redfern's Norfolk Hotel looking for new owner

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EXPERT OBSERVER
The value of Australian housing finance commitments rose slightly in May, but not by enough to offset recent weakness.
The value of monthly approvals is more than five per cent lower than a year ago. Investors are the main driver of this weakness, edging down another 0.1% m/m, while the owner-occupier segment is performing better (+0.8% m/m). 
The fall in investor demand is clearly related to APRA’s macroprudential policies.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/11/ANZ-1.JPG" alt="">
In 2015, the 10% speed limit on investor borrowing saw a sharp drop in the presence of investors, and the subsequent limit on interest only loans in 2017 has had a similar impact.
Even the removal of the 10% growth limit, announced at the end of April 2018, is unlikely to drive renewed strength.
As a result, the share of new lending going toward investors is at the lowest level in several years. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/11/ANZ-2.JPG" alt="">
The fall in investor borrowing is also seen in finance for the construction and purchase of new dwellings, which continues to fall.
This provides further evidence that we have moved past the peak in building approvals.
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/11/ANZ-3.JPG" alt="">
A central feature of our view on the housing market is that credit conditions continue to tighten through the remainder of 2018.
This is expected to result in further weakness in housing finance going forward, which will in turn weigh on housing prices and building approvals.
Daniel Gradwell is a Senior Economist at ANZ Research
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Australian housing finance up in April, unlikely to be sustained: Daniel Gradwell

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JLL has negotiated two lease deals at 82 Eagle Street, as Brisbane’s office activity shows signs of recovery.
A 12 storey office building situated in the Brisbane CBD, 82 Eagle Street has gained two new tenants, the first, Bryant and Co and the second, Jereh Group.
Bryant and Co, a local accounting and auditing firm, will relocate from Wharf Street to lease 110 square metres on level seven at the market rate of $525 per square metre.
Jereh Group an international group specializing in oil and gas, power, and environmental management and has taken 122 square metres on level three, also at the market rate.
Both levels featured a fully-fitted office space.
Leasing agent Brandon Ciocca said the Brisbane CBD market was heading in the right direction with an increase in tenant demand set to offset recent office vacancy. 
“Brisbane’s office market will continue to see a notable fall in office vacancy as a result of the improving economic conditions and positive sentiment around tenant demand with lower-grade stock owners investing in new fit outs to attract tenants,” he said.
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Brisbane office lease may be sign of city's office market recovery

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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