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Designer Collette Dinnigan has sold her first ever Sydney store to a local owner-occupier who bought the 74-square-metre terrace as an office.
The property sold for nearly $23,000 a square metre in terms of land rate. 
About 100 groups enquired about the property and 14 made inspections.
It was 1992 when, in her mid-20s living above the shop, she moved into the William Street, Paddington premises.
She launched her lingerie collection which was soon being exported to the likes of Barneys New York and Harvey Nichols in London.
Dinnigan <a href="/expert-insights/investing/fashion-designer-collette-dinnigan-to-sell-flagship-paddo-store">bought the boutique space for $625,000 in 1998</a>, vacating it when she relocated to Queen Street, which closed in 2014 as she sought new adventures outside of the fashion world in property with her husband Bradley Cocks.
Dinnigan's shop had a $1,625,000 guide for its forthcoming July 7 auction <a href="https://www.bresicwhitney.com.au/buy/33-william-street-paddington-19087" target="_blank">through BresicWhitney agent Ivan Bresic</a>.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/23/dinnigan2.jpg" alt="">
<div>"Yes it is a very emotional decision and certainly marks the end of an era," Dinnigan said.</div>
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<div>"William Street was good to me and gave me the exposure I needed in the Australian market to build my brand.</div>
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<div>“It’s such a fantastic area for local artisans and up-and-coming designers and bespoke retailers.</div>
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<div>"I still drive in from the Southern Highlands and make Alimentari (the continental deli) at the bottom of William Street my first stop!</div>
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 "Interiors and home is what excites me at the moment and I am having lots of fun doing projects in both Australia and Italy.</div>
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<div>"Although it’s taking a little longer than anticipated Bradley and I hope to launch 'Dinnigan Cocks — Bespoke Homes' later in the year."</div>
Since she departed the 33 William Street space, the store's occupants have included Bailey Nelson.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/23/dinnigan3.jpg" alt="">
The fashion street's most recent arrival was fashion designer Jasmine Yarborough, the fiancé of breakfast television co-host Karl Stefanovic.
Yarborough rents a space at 76 William Street for her Mara &amp; Mine collection which she launched with best friend Tamara Ingham.
The shop they rent has been a long-term investment for the owners, who have held the shop since 1992.
There have been several recent sales including an original mixed-use Victorian terrace at 70 William Street for $1.55 million. It had a $1.4 million buyers guide.
Another commercial space at 80 William Street fetched $1.9 million, up on its $1.7 million trade in 2016.
Dinnigan's main focus now is on launching Bespoke Homes, the luxury rental platform she's developing with her husband, hotel and tourism entrepreneur Bradley Cocks.
They've already gathered a number of properties, including a <a href="/news/colette-dinnigan-secures-400-year-old-puglia-italy-farmhouse">400 year old farmhouse in Italy.</a>
There's a <a href="/news/fashion-designer-collette-dinnigan-buys-near-batemans-bay">doer-upper near Batemans Bay</a>, a Darling Point terrace and a <a href="/news/fashion-designer-collette-dinnigan-buys-in-paddington-again">property in Paddo.</a>
Dinnigan has sought to offload her <a href="/expert-insights/investing/collette-dinnigan-looks-to-sell-surry-hills-hq-to-oneil-family">long-held Surry Hills office space.</a>
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Collette Dinnigan's first ever shop in Paddington sold

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A NSW investor has acquired a Teneriffe, Brisbane retail investment property.
It was the strata ground floor retail unit that houses The Dalgety Public House at 8-9/110 Macquarie Street.
It was bought for $1.91 million under the hammer through Ray White Commercial agent Michael Feltoe.
The campaign produced 67 inquiries. 
<a href="http://www.dalgetyhouse.com.au/" target="_blank">The Dalgety Public House</a> is a country-meets city gastropub in the base of the 1950s red brick Dalgety and Co’s no 3 Woolstore in Teneriffe.
It hasn’t been vacant in over 20 years, Feltoe said.
The property on the corner of Florence St, has a total area of 257 square metres. The sale realised a 7.21% yield.
It is on the ground floor of Teneriffe Village which is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Built in the mid 1950s by Dalgety &amp; Co, the building housed Paddy’s Market in the 1980s.
The building was then converted into apartments and ground floor retail as part of an urban renewal process which saw Teneriffe officially become a suburb in 2010.
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Dalgety Public House gastropub in Teneriffe sold to NSW investor

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Collette Dinnigan is looking at selling her longtime Surry Hills headquarters.
The <a href="/developments/surry-hills-nsw-2010">22-24 Hutchinson Street</a> has been proposed for a $6.9 million conversion into 11 apartments by the O'Neil eastern suburbs developer family outfit, Addenbrooke. 
She bought the business’ current headquarters for $1,225,000 in the late 1990s.
Dinnigan's main focus now is on launching Bespoke Homes, the luxury rental platform she's developing with her husband, hotel and tourism entrepreneur Bradley Cocks.
They've already gathered a number of properties, including a <a href="/news/colette-dinnigan-secures-400-year-old-puglia-italy-farmhouse">400 year old farmhouse in Italy.</a>
<a href="/news/colette-dinnigan-secures-400-year-old-puglia-italy-farmhouse">She's recently secured the sale of her </a><a href="/news/colette-dinnigan-secures-400-year-old-puglia-italy-farmhouse">flagship store on William Street.</a>
 
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Collette Dinnigan looks to sell Surry Hills HQ to O'Neil family

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Figures released today by SQM Research reveal national residential listings rose 1.9% in June 2018.
Total listings went up to 331,407 led by a jump in Brisbane properties hitting the market.
Strong rises were also posted in Sydney and Melbourne, with greater stock in those cities pushing down asking house prices.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/7/4/SQM%20.JPG" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/4/SQM%20.JPG" alt="">
Property listings rose 3.8% in Brisbane in June, while in Sydney listing rose by 3.0% from May to be up 25.0% from a year earlier.
In Melbourne, listing rose by 2.3% to be up 7.7% over the year to June 30.
In Canberra, listing rose by 1.1%, 11.0% higher than a year ago.
Listing were steady in Hobart, but they are 25.8% lower than a year earlier, with a property shortage still prevailing there.
Louis Christopher, managing director of SQM Research, said "A greater supply of properties for sale has emerged in most capital cities compared to a year ago, however, that has weighed on asking property prices, especially in Sydney and Melbourne".
“We are seeing more property being listed in Sydney and Melbourne compared to a year ago, which is pushing down asking house prices in both cities and even in Hobart, price growth has slowed despite the ongoing shortage of properties for sale there,” said Christopher.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/7/4/SQM%20%202.JPG" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/4/SQM%20%202.JPG" alt="">
Capital city average asking prices fell 1.4% for houses to $962,600 while unit asking prices rose just 0.2% to $580,600 for the month to 3 July.
Sydney led the losses, with asking house prices falling 1.4%. Over the year, asking house prices were down by 0.2% to $1.35 million, reflecting a slowdown of the property market in the nation’s largest capital city.
In Melbourne, asking price for houses fell 1.3% over the month and rose 6.4% over the year, lower than 20%-plus levels a year ago.
Hobart’s growth in asking property prices is cooling too despite a fall in listings, with house prices up by 2.4% over the month to 3 July and up just 5.7% over the year, also down from 20%-plus gains a year through 2017.
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National property listings rise while asking house prices slide in big cities : SQM

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Australia’s landscapes are dotted with mature eucalypts that were standing well before Captain Cook sailed into Botany Bay. These old trees were once revered as an icon of the unique Australian landscape, but they’re <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0099403" target="_blank">rapidly becoming collateral damage</a> from population growth. Mature eucalypts are routinely removed to make way for new suburbs.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/224873/original/file-20180626-112604-f000n7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""> Good planning can ensure many more mature eucalypts are retained in urban developments. 
This has a considerable impact on our native fauna. Unless society is prepared to recognise the value of our pre-European eucalypts, urban growth will continue to irrevocably change our unique Australian landscape and the wildlife it supports. 
Why are old eucalypts worth saving?
In urban landscapes, many consider large and old eucalypts a dangerous nuisance that drop limbs, crack footpaths and occupy space that could be used for housing. But when we remove these trees they are effectively lost forever. It takes at least <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/3010/" target="_blank">100-200 years</a> before a eucalypt reaches ecological maturity.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/224870/original/file-20180626-112604-1lg07d7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Birds use old eucalypts as places to perch or nest. 
As trees mature, their branches become large and begin to grow horizontally rather than vertically, which is more attractive to many birds as perches and platforms where they can construct a nest.
Wildlife also use cavities inside ageing eucalypts. These are formed as the heartwood – the dead wood in the centre – decays. When a limb breaks it exposes cavities where the heartwood once occurred.
This is such a ubiquitous process in our forests that around <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/3010/" target="_blank">300 of Australia’s vertebrate species</a>, such as possums, owls, ducks, parrots and bats, have evolved to use these cavities as exclusive places to roost or nest.
Mature trees also support high concentrations of food for animals that feed on nectar, such as honeyeaters, or seed, such as parrots.
<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1755-263X.2011.00216.x" target="_blank">One study</a> found that the number of native birds in an urban park or open space declines by half with the loss of every five mature eucalypts. 
How can we keep old trees?
Decaying heartwood in older eucalypts leads to some large branches falling. This is when most eucalypts are removed from urban areas. So we remove trees at the exact point in time when they become more attractive to wildlife.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/224868/original/file-20180626-112634-j0si21.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Plantings around the base of a mature eucalypt discourage pedestrian traffic or parked cars. 
A well-trained arborist knows that old — or even dead — eucalypts don’t need to be removed to make them safe. A tree is only dangerous if it has what arborists call a target. Unless there is a path, road or structure under a tree, then the probability of something or someone being struck by a falling branch is often below the <a href="http://unri.org/ECO%20697U%20S14/quantified_tree_risk_assessment-_ellison.pdf" target="_blank">threshold of acceptable risk</a>.
Progressive arborists first focus on eliminating targets. For example, they might plant shrubs around the base of dead or rapidly ageing trees to minimise pedestrian traffic, rather than eliminating trees.
Where targets can’t be managed, trimming trees can remove branches that have a high risk of falling. Trees can also be structurally supported (braced) to remain stable. Such trees remain suitable as habitat for many native species.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/225442/original/file-20180629-117371-k61l05.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/225442/original/file-20180629-117371-k61l05.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Developers can plan around old trees.
How to design around trees
The removal of mature eucalypts is, in part, due to urban developers not considering these trees early in the planning process.
I have worked with one <a href="https://ginninderry.com/not-just-tree-home/" target="_blank">developer</a> on the outskirts of Canberra to identify important trees. The developer then planned around, rather than in spite of, these trees.
The outcome has been <a href="https://ginninderry.com/not-just-tree-home/" target="_blank">around 80%</a> of mature trees have been retained. This is much greater than the proportion of mature trees retained in other new urban developments in Canberra.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/98632/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Australia’s population is <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/3222.0main+features52012%20(base)%20to%202101" target="_blank">projected to double in 50 years</a>, so our suburbs will continue to infill and expand. This will result in the continued loss of our mature eucalypts unless our approach to planning changes.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/philip-gibbons-4587" target="_blank">Philip Gibbons</a>, Associate professor, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877" target="_blank">Australian National University</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/smart-city-planning-can-preserve-old-trees-and-the-wildlife-that-needs-them-98632">original article</a>.
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Smart city planning can protect flora and fauna

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A Sydney couple in their 90s are the latest victim of conveyancing fraud.
The couple's $672,000 sales proceed were diverted into three different bank accounts by the fraudster as they capitalised on the flaws in the new world of e-conveyancing which seeks to avoid the perils of email phishing in the digital space. 
Digital platforms now allow property settlements to be completed electronically rather than with face to face paper documentation.
The fraud followed former <a href="/news/masterchefs-dani-venn-gets-funds-back-after-accusing-pexa-of-blackmail-after-conveyancing-scam">MasterChef contestant Dani Venn and her husband Chris Burgess</a> who were caught in a fraud involving $250,000 from the proceeds of their Melbourne home sale after a cyber criminal set up a false user account.
The e-conveyancer PEXA have since announced they will cover any lost funds for Dani and Chris and are introducing a new consumer guarantee for all transactions conducted on its platform.
It will also endeavour to provide greater safeguards to property buyers and sellers through the introduction of multi-factor verification.
The Sydney fraud involved the settlement last month of a $750,000 property sale where the proceeds were to go toward the vendor's nursing home needs.
Banks quickly froze the bulk of the funds, but not before the fraudsters transferred some to Thailand.
The scammers had the funds deposited into their accounts at ANZ, CBA and NAB after hacking the emails of the estate agent and conveyancers.
At this stage it is calculated the vendor will be $126,000 short after the banks get around to depositing the funds back to the vendor.
"We were frantically and immediately trying to find out where things went wrong," the victim's son advised.
"These funds are their life savings," he said.
It was found the hacker's email addresses embedded in the emails of both the estate agent and conveyancer.
It was reported to the police fraud department, but the vendor was told it was firstly a matter for the banks.
"We're assisting the conveyancers and lawyers who use our platform to uphold the highest possible security standards," James Ruddock, the acting PEXA CEO advised.
"We understand the importance of security to the industry as a whole, and as a result PEXA will be introducing a new consumer guarantee for transactions conducted on our platform."
"We know that buying and selling a home is an emotional time and understand the stress that can be felt when things don’t go to plan. "We clearly regret the distress felt by those impacted," Ruddock said. 
"These are extremely isolated incidents," he added.
But nearly 600 conveyancers have signed a petition to delay the rollout of Australia's new online property transfer platform after the breaches.
The electronic platform is owned by state governments and Australia's big banks.  
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Conveyancers seek delay the rollout of PEXA's new online property transfer platform after breaches

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The May building approvals data support ANZ's view that the peak in new housing approvals has past.
Weak housing finance results and the ongoing tightening of credit availability are likely to see approvals continue to ease.
From an investment point of view, the backlog of work will keep activity elevated over the near term, but construction is expected to fall through the end of this year and 2019.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/3/ANZ%20Past%20Peak%20Approval.JPG" alt="">
Australian residential building approvals were slightly weaker than market expectations in May, falling 3%, after a 5% decline in the previous month.
Queensland was the main driver of this weakness.
Apartment approvals in the state fell 35%, to the lowest level in four years.
The historically stable segment of detached houses saw a 20% fall in approvals.
While these falls follow quite strong results in the last two months, the 2,700 dwellings approved in Queensland in May is the weakest monthly result since June 2013.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/3/ANZ%20Detached%20House.JPG" alt="">
Detached house approvals also recorded a significant decline in Victoria, down 10%.
However, strength in the unit/apartment segment (+15% m/m) meant that Victorian approvals were overall unchanged.
These results are consistent with ANZ's view that Australia is past the peak in housing approvals.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/3/ANZ%20weak%20housing%20finance.JPG" alt="">
Looking forward, the decline in housing finance for the construction and purchase of new dwellings suggests that building approvals will continue to trend lower.
The tighter credit environment appears to be impacting the construction side, as well as prices, but a large backlog of work will support investment in the near term.
Daniel Gradwell is the senior economist for <a href="https://www.anz.com.au/">ANZ</a>.
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New housing approvals past peak with further weakness likely: ANZ

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A three bedroom home in Stratton, east of Perth, has been sold by the mortgagee in possession for $265,000.
The home, built in 2000, has gone back over $100,000 in two years.
It last traded for $369,000 in 2016. Before that it sold for $315,000 in 2012.
This time round it initially sought $315,000, before its price was reduced incrimentally to $275,000.
Set on 490 sqm, the 120 sqm home at 7 Chungking Grove has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a full length gable roof patio.
Jim McConnell and Aneta Anthony at Ray White Bursmac sold the home after 160 days.
The suburb's median house price sits on <a href="/developments/stratton-wa-6056">$330,000</a> according to CoreLogic.
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Mortgagee's sell Western Australia home at big loss

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Australian supermarkets phasing out single-use plastic bags is just one example of how retailers are fiercely engaged in a race to be “green”. Other examples are dumping plastic straws, buying back used products and reducing unnecessary packaging.
Rather than competing on price or time, green credentials offer a way for retailers to differentiate themselves. Encouraging customers to make overtly good moves also has a psychological effect, allowing them to excuse poor behaviour elsewhere – such as buying a product that may not be ethically sourced.
Having a strong green record also helps create a buffer for when events like plastic bags killing whales or sweatshop abuse hit the headlines.
Way back in April Woolworths announced the removal of all single-use bags across the country by the end of June. Although, after some backlash, Woolworths has said it will give bags to customers until the 8th of July.
Coles will also ban single-use bags from July 1.
Woolworths has since announced further strategies for “a greener future”. These include reducing unnecessary packaging and linking with “food waste diversion partners”.
However, sustainability is bigger than just food waste and plastics.
Ikea Australia recently announced it will “buy back” used furniture to resell. IKEA has been doing this in other markets, like Hong Kong, for some time.
Buying ‘green’ makes us feel good
The consumer market for green products and services was estimated at US$230 billion in 2009 and predicted to grow to $845 billion by 2015.
While consumers are increasingly engaging in shopping activities that support the environment, such as reusing shopping bags, buying local and supporting local farmers and producers, at the same time many are still tempted by A$4 T-shirts from Kmart.
This behaviour can perhaps be explained by the effect of “moral self-licensing”. This is where consumers do something good to offset their bad behaviour.
In the context of shopping, a good deed, a customer putting reusable bags in the boot of the car, will be followed by a not-so-good deed, such as driving to the shops in our gas-guzzling 4WD.
In this way, the first choice gives us a positive self-concept, which negates or “licenses” the subsequent more self-indulgent choice.
A slippery (green) slope
The only concern for companies is that they might be accused of “greenwashing” – using marketing to create the perception that their policies, purpose or products are environmentally friendly, when that’s not really the case.
Despite consumer awareness of the practice of greenwashing, the number of companies making green claims has escalated sharply in recent years as organisations strive to meet escalating consumer demand for greener products and services.
According to one advertising consultancy, there were 2,219 products making green claims in 2009 alone, a 79% increase over two years earlier.
Research shows that when consumers are sceptical about a retailer’s corporate social responsibility practices, this can damage the retailer’s brand, increase sensitivity to negative information and stimulate unfavourable word of mouth.
Over the past couple of years, we have seen exactly these phenomena play out again and again.
Several years ago, Walmart faced scrutiny about its corporate social responsibility claims relating to renewable energy, the industrialisation of food systems and its cheaply made, disposable products.
Starbuck’s green credentials were met with scepticism when it was reported some stores left taps running all day to clear pipes.
Other retailers like Bed Bath &amp; Beyond, Nordstrom, JC Penney and Backcountry.com have faced fines for making misleading environmental claims.
Banning the single-use plastic bag alone will not save the environment. Sadly, it is not as simple as that. Research shows lightweight plastic shopping bags make up around 1.6% of litter in Australia or less than 2% of landfill.
However, despite some backlash, banning the bag is certainly a step in the right direct.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/99073/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Remembering to bring reusable shopping bags is a fairly significant change in shopping behaviour, but the practice has been successfully implemented in states such as Tasmania, which banned single use bags several years ago.
Louise Grimmer, Lecturer in Marketing, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania
Gary Mortimer, Associate Professor in Marketing and International Business, Queensland University of Technology
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/green-is-the-new-black-why-retailers-want-you-to-know-about-their-green-credentials-99073" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Why retailers want you to know about their green credentials

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A vacant New Farm block of land with one of the best views in Brisbane has fetched $11.3 million in a deal secured through Place Projects.
The site cost $255,000 some 32 years ago in 1986.
The Courier-Mail reports the buyer of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-residential+land-qld-new+farm-202138222" target="_blank">33 Moray Street</a> is expected to build Brisbane’s most expensive family home on the site.
The property had been on the market for over a year.
It reflected about $10,000 through Place Projects agent Syd ­Walker.
The vacant block looks across the river towards the city skyline with views over the iconic Story Bridge. 
"This property has been on the watch list of countless developers over the years," the marketing said.
The 1,103sq m lot was sold by Jane Gibson, the widow of celebrated Brisbane architect Robin Gibson, who acquired the site in 1986 for just $200,000.
Gibson designed some of Brisbane’s most well-known civic buildings including the Queensland Cultural Centre at South Bank.
 
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Vacant New Farm building block fetches $11.3 milion

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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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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