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A prominent office block in Parramatta has been listed for sale.
Savills agents Simon Fenn and Graeme Russell are marketing the building at <a href="http://commercialpropertysearch.savills.com.au/9d29caa3-3fc7-e611-80c4-005056816dfc/Sale/Parramatta/91-Phillip-Street" target="_blank">91 Phillip Street</a> as an Grade A trophy asset, in conjunction with Inc RE.
They say heightened tenant demand and a substantial amount of private and public sector investment in Parramatta has 91 Phillip Street placed to take advantage of the re-emergence of the Parramatta office market as it transitions into Sydney’s second CBD.
Positioned on a prominent corner site comprises 6,100 square metres of net lettable area and is anchored by ground floor retail and four levels of secure basement parking.
Fully leased, the 1985 building has a 4.5 Star NABERS Energy Rating and an estimated net income of around $2.9 million.
It last traded for $30 million in 2015 and is being sold via an expressions of interest campaign that ends on the 8th of August.
Corelogic recently reported the commercial property market in Parramatta was "gaining strength" with $757 million worth of sales reported in the year to March 2018. 
It included the sale of 1-3 Fitzwilliam Street at $82 million by Raffles Education Corporation Ltd, which has its headquarters in Singapore and is listed on the Singapore Exchange.
The purchaser, the Propertylink Group, is a leading investment manager of Australian investment grade property. 
According to Parramatta Cityscope 1-3 Fitzwilliam Street is a seven-storey office building with basement car parking for 106 vehicles plus a roof-top sports floor, tennis court and sauna.
Raffles bought the building for $29 million in 2014.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Prominent Parramatta office block listed through Savills

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A commercial office space in the Lifestyle Building in the Docklands has been listed for sale.
The 73 square metre office at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-docklands-502835530" target="_blank">838 Collins Street</a>, offered with vacant possession, last traded for $569,745 in 2013.
Savills agents Mark Stafford and Jesse Radisich say thousands of workers are relocating the Docklands each year.
Similarly, two adjoining office level suites on <a href="http://www.colliers.com.au/206637/" target="_blank">level 4</a> of the Lifestyle Building on 838 Collins Street are on the market for $880,000.
They say the Lifestyle Building is in the 'booming Docklands office precinct'.
Signs of this boom are similar sales such as an office component of a Waterfront City commercial development at 425 Docklands Drive.
The 14 fully-leased strata offices had a combined area of 1,494 sqm and a weighted average lease expiry of 2.5 years.
The office is being offered with vacant possession with Southern Cross Station less than 700 metres away.
The Lifestyle Building won the 2013 BPN sustainable buildings award for a major commercial building.
It has 137 individual commercial suites, retails spaces and sits opposite the new ANZ Centre and adjacent to the Myer national support office. 
The building is a composition of rectangular boxes on different axes with a courtyard connecting Collins Street to Victoria Green to the north. 
The facades are comprised of full height “clear” shop front glazing with glass louvre and sun-shading elements to the exterior, maximizing solar access and indoor air quality. 
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Strata office for sale in 'booming' Docklands precinct

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The Clifton Hill commercial premises of national pet retailer Petstock has been sold by Savills.
Petstock has a new five plus five year lease signed late last year for the 460 square metre building at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-vic-clifton+hill-502833266" target="_blank">592-596 Smith Street</a>.
They pay around $126,500 per annum for the Smith Street space which is passed by 74,000 vehicles per day.
Savills selling agents Jesse Radisich, Nick Peden, Mark Stafford and Julian Heatherich were marketing the property as an opportunity to acquire a prominent asset leased to a secure tenants in the blue-chip city fringe suburb of Clifton Hill.
Petstock have over 155 locations across Australia.
 
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Petstock premises at Clifton Hill sold

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Cricket Victoria has sold its East Melbourne headquarters for $15 million.
It is a low-rise office on a 1,114 square metre block at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-east+melbourne-502769314" target="_blank">86-90 Jolimont Street.</a>
It was listed through Colliers International.
The cricket body hopeD to attract investors willing to spend above $10 million.
Cricket Australia has occupied its Jolimont site for around three decades.
It moved to the Citipower Centre at the Junction Oval in St Kilda on Lakeside Drive in St Kilda earlier this year.
The development opportunity is opposite a public park next to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The property has been listed in conjunction with transaction advisors Charter Keck Cramer.
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Cricket Victoria sells East Melbourne HQ

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The corporate headquarters of 7-Eleven, Starbucks and the Withers Group is set to relocate from Mt Waverley to Richmond.
The move to Building 2 at PodCo and Terraplex’s 658 Church Street (pictured above) will come in 2019 after a leasing deal negotiated by Colliers International.
The 7-Eleven, Starbucks and Withers Group offices will move to 7,400 square metre vacated by Just Group, which has moved to St Kilda Road after 21 years in Richmond.
“It was our expectation that Just Group’s departure would pave the way for the building to be multi-tenanted over a number of floors but we are thrilled 7-Eleven, Starbucks and the Withers Group are moving into the whole building giving us the opportunity to undertake a full refurbishment of the asset over six levels and reposition the building for the next 20 years,” PodCo/Terraplex’s Anthony Wilson said.
Travis Myerscough one of the agents who negotiated the deal said 7-Eleven, Starbucks and the Withers Group would join a growing number of businesses gravitating towards Richmond from the outer suburbs including MYOB, Fonterra and Reece Plumbing.
“We’ve seen a shift in demand with the rag traders who have historically been the key occupiers in Cremorne, such as Just Group, Country Road and Colorado, now vacating and making way for an increasingly diverse mix with groups such as Disney, Tesla and Iveo Group recently moving into the area,” Myerscough said.
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7-Eleven, Starbucks, Withers Group moving HQ to Richmond in 2019

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The ACT Government is releasing two city centre sites located on Northbourne Avenue, Braddon and Turner.
With a combined 39,000 square metres of prime mixed-use land, these blocks are the last of the former multi-unit public housing sites on Northbourne Avenue being sold by the ACT Government.
 “The ACT Government wants to ensure there is an integrated design that unites the two sites," Colliers International Associate Director Residential, Josh Reid said.
Proposals will need to provide a masterplan for the two sites that considers the location; its constraints; interface with adjacent Haig Park; and a site design, known as the Weave Design, that was the winner of a design competition in 2011.
They also need to demonstrate how they will adopt a "people focused approach to the redevelopment; and include a place proposition plan and community consultation plan".
Colliers International is leading the sales campaign for Braddon and Turner on Northbourne in conjunction with JLL.
These sites are being sold through tender and tenders close October 4.
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Former Canberra public housing block sites for sale

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Blue at Lavender Bay, Aqualand Australia’s pinnacle project, has seen another penthouse sale.
The last remaining penthouse at Blue in Milsons Point has been sold $10.5 million.
Last month, Aqualand sold its another penthouse in its flagship Blue at Lavender Bay development for $9 million to a Northbridge couple, which was the highest price paid for an apartment in the locale.
Alex Adams, Aqualand’s head of sales and marketing, said Aqualand was extremely pleased to have secured buyers for both penthouses "illustrating the resilience of the north shore prime property market".
The three-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse totals 170 square metres of internal space and boasts panoramic views across Sydney Harbour, the Eastern suburbs and the North Sydney skyline from its grand wrap around balcony. The sale was brokered by CBRE reportedly to orthopaedic surgeon and human rights activist Munjed Al Muderis.
Construction of the development of 129 luxury residential apartments and four retail lots has recently commenced with its scheduled completion in mid 2020.
Sub-penthouses with three-bedrooms and three bathrooms are still available for sale and priced from $4.1 million. 
It was marketed as the last residential conversion development in the Milsons Point area with views to the city and Harbour Bridge.
Of the 72 apartments sold on initial marketing in September 2017, the highest sale result was the $8 million sub-penthouse, which equated to a bullish $55,000 per square metre.
Located at 61 Lavender Street, Milsons Point, it was once an 18-level commercial office building.
The architectural firm PTW included premium Gaggenau appliances, natural stone kitchens, stone floors, extensive joinery, larger open-plan living areas and generous sized bedrooms and ensuites.
Aqualand bought the Samsung office building in 2016 for $140 million.
It initially contemplated offering a 550 square metre penthouse which was expected to carry a $20 million asking price.
Aqualand is a subsidiary of the Shanghai-based property developer Shenglong, billed as one of China’s top 50 property developers.
Ir recently appointed a head of construction, Tom Catalovski, who was previously the construction director of Probuild Constructions.
Aqualand Property, and the boutique tier-one construction firm, Roberts Pizzarotti recently "mutually agreed" not to proceed with a joint venture partnership for building Blue.
Under the direction of new CEO, John Carfi, Aqualand has instead chosen to develop the intended JV project with its in-house building team, Aqualand Constructions.
A key objective of the Aqualand Roberts Pizzarotti construction joint venture (“ARP”) was to provide construction capabilities as an interim.
The injection of John Carfi into the helm of the Aqualand business boosted the company’s strategic trajectory and allowed Aqualand to bring forward the timing for their first self-delivered major project.
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Both of Aqualand's Blue at Lavender Bay penthouses now sold

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Melbourne-based property investment companies PodCo and Terraplex have continued the sell down of their Emerald Hill Terrace portfolio.
There have been two sales with a third property confirmed for July auction.
A local investor purchased 338-340 Clarendon Street in South Melbourne (pictured above) at an onsite auction for $3.95 million.
The 276 square metre property has a short-term lease in place to Bendigo Bank.
<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/2018/7/9/Claremont%202.jpg" alt="">
Meanwhile, in an off-market process, a 184 square metre retail/residential property at 342 Clarendon Street (pictured above) was purchased by a local investor for $2.175 million, reflecting a return of 3.8%.
PodCo and Terraplex acquired the portfolio in early 2015, and over the course of three years have subdivided the landholding into 15 separately titled retail/residential offerings.
CBRE’s negotiated the latest transactions, and will be selling the third property conjunctionally with Dixon Kestles with the agents suggesting confidence in Clarendon Street as "one of Melbourne’s top performing retail strips".
<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/2018/7/9/Claremont%203.jpg" alt="">
The next property to come to market as part of the portfolio sell down is 350-352 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne (pictured above).
It is a double fronted, multi-tenanted retail/residential property, comprising four apartments and two retail shops.
The auction is projected to achieve a sale result in the high $3 million range.
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PodCo and Terraplex continue South Melbourne terrace sales

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A two bedroom solid brick veneer 1980s house in Cobram, a town on the Murray River, has been traded for $170,000 by mortgagees.
It was sold by Andrew Jenkins and Brendan Mustica from Andrew Jenkins &amp; Co.
It last sold $180,000 in 2011.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-cobram-127687954" target="_blank">Located at 3 Wills Street</a>, the house comprises of two generous bedrooms, spacious open living area, kitchen with wall oven and four vehicle lockup carport plus another carport.
Nestled on a 960 square metre block, additional features of the house include timber floating floors, reverse cycle split system air conditioning and large entertaining area.
The suburb's median house price sits at<a href="/developments/cobram-vic-3644"> $245,000</a>, according to CoreLogic. 
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Cobram two bedroom house sold by mortgagee

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Macquarie Bank has raised their variable mortgage rates.
Its higher variable rates will come into effect on July 13 for new customers and 10 days later for existing customers.
The bank joins a host of other smaller lenders including AMP, Pepper Group, Bank of Queensland, IMB, ME Bank and Suncorp in making rate changes.
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
It will raise owner occupied variable rates for those paying principal and interest by six basis points.
Those paying only interest will have their rate upped by 10 basis points as will variable rate loans for investment and self managed super funds.
<div id="article-inline-ad" class="adWrapper">However for three-year fixed rate mortgages, Macquarie is cutting its pricing by 10 basis points.</div>
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Macquarie accounts for about two per cent of the nation's mortgage market, according to the Australian Financial Review.
Macquarie recently said the RBA will <a href="/expert-insights/finance/rba-holding-interest-rates-till-at-least-2020-macquarie-securities">hold its rates until 2020 at the least.</a>
Recently Pepper Group have <a href="/expert-insights/finance/pepper-group-raises-rates-for-construction-loans">raised rates for its construction loans</a>, while Bank of Queensland has <a href="/expert-insights/finance/bank-of-queensland-raise-io-investor-rates">raised its rates for both investors and owner-occupiers.</a>
Rate City have suggested there are <a href="/expert-insights/finance/bank-of-queensland-raise-io-investor-rates">more out-of-cycle loan hikes to come. </a>
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Macquarie Bank raises its mortgage rates

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."

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[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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