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<p>There is stagnation in the industrial development market in Rockhampton.</p>
<p>Most projects in growth precincts within the industrial market in Rockhampton were undertaken during the last market boom and development of industrial land has been fairly stagnant in recent years, according to the latest report from Herron Todd White (HTW).</p>
<p>The valuers noted that the industrial precincts in Gracemere are slowly being absorbed by the market.</p>
<p>There is still development soon to be undertaken within the Gracemere Industry Park (near Toll), with land to the rear approved to be developed into medium and light impact industrial allotments.</p>
<p>It is unknown when this land will be developed.</p>
<p>The valuers stated that the Livingstone Shire Council has been releasing industrial lots to the market within its Gateway Business and Industrial Park.</p>
<p>The estate comprises six stages in total with a proposed 71 lots.</p>
<p>The lots range in size from 2,000 square metres to 1.3 hectares.</p>
<p>Stage 2 has been developed and is currently available for sale.</p>
<p>The valuers at HTW believe "this supply of industrial land will provide for Yeppoon’s industrial market for some time".</p>
<p>"Major infrastructure projects that will assist in stimulating growth of the industrial sector will be the proposed Ring Road project as well as the Rookwood Weir."</p>
<p>In general, the industrial market for the first half of 2018 has continued at a steady pace.</p>
<p>The report forecasts that recovery of the coal price and green shoots within surrounding mining towns as well as local infrastructure projects will help the "recovery of the industrial market" in Rockhampton for the remainder of the year.</p>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Stagnant industrial development market in Rockhampton: HTW 

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<p>Adjoining Melbourne buildings at 187 and 189 King Street have been sold to investors.</p>
<p>They went for $4.89 million and $5.32 million respectively.</p>
<p>Both were sold by private families who had used the properties for restaurant businesses.</p>
<p>The 187 King Street premises was double a-storey building on 187 square metres of land, sold fully leased to Hanabishi Japanese restaurant.</p>
<p>The double-storey building on the 186 square metre site at 189 King was sold vacant possession.</p>
<p>Generational changes of ownership prompted both sales, CBRE's Alex Brierley advised.</p>
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Hanabishi Japanese restaurant Melbourne premises fetch $4.89 million

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<p>Elder House in Adelaide has been sold for $26 million to an unnamed, local, private investor. </p>
<p>The five-level building was constructed in 1937 with sandstone facade, as the head office of Australian pastoral icon, Elders.</p>
<p>JLL director Roger Klem secured the sale on behalf of Challenger Life.</p>
<p>The property has 12,135 square metres of office accommodation.</p>
<p>It has 6500 square metres of modern office space partially leased to the Australian Institute of Business.</p>
<p>Klem confirmed the purchaser intended to partially occupy the building. </p>
<p>“This property will immediately benefit via the City of Adelaide’s 10-gig input and the new owner is well advanced with key tenant negotiation," he told <em>The Adelaide Advertiser</em>.</p>
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Elder House, Adelaide sells for $26 million

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<div>
<span lang="en-AU">While the RBA are likely going to leave official interest rates on hold when they meet next Tuesday, it </span>hasn’t stopped lenders hiking rates out-of-cycle. </div>
<div><span lang="en-AU"> </span></div>
<div>
<span lang="en-AU">Heritage Bank is the most recent to hike rates, joining </span>Bank of Queensland, AMP, Auswide and IMB in raising variable home loan interest rates over the last week. </div>
<div><span lang="en-AU"> </span></div>
<div><span lang="en-AU">The increased cost of funding has put the squeeze on banks’ profit margins and some lenders are choosing to pass some of the cost onto borrowers.</span></div>
<div><span lang="en-AU"> </span></div>
<div>
<a id="LPlnk206699" href="https://www.ratecity.com.au/home-loans" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span id="LPlnk206699" lang="en-AU"></span></a><span lang="en-AU">RateCity spokesperson Sally Tindall said if the bank bill swap rate (BBSW) continues to rise we will see more lenders joining the party.</span>
</div>
<div><span lang="en-AU"> </span></div>
<div><span lang="en-AU">“Banks are weighing up whether they can wear the rising costs, or hike rates and risk customer backlash."</span></div>
<div><span lang="en-AU"> </span></div>
<div><span lang="en-AU">“After months of negative press generated by the Royal Commission, our banks are treading a fine line."</span></div>
<div><span lang="en-AU"> </span></div>
<div><span lang="en-AU">“We’ve seen a handful of smaller lenders hike rates, but so far nothing from the big four."</span></div>
<div><span lang="en-AU"> </span></div>
<div><span lang="en-AU">"It will be interesting to see how long they hold out.” Sally stated.</span></div>
<div><span lang="en-AU"> </span></div>
<div><span lang="en-AU"><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/6/28/Ratecity%20graph%202.JPG" alt=""></span></div>
<div><span lang="en-AU"> </span></div>
<div>In the decade prior to 2008, Australia’s major banks moved their variable rates in line with the cash rate. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>When the RBA made a cut, so did the banks and by the same amount.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>As a result, the margin between the RBA cash rate and the major banks’ standard variable rates was consistently 1.8%, while the margin between their discounted variable rates was roughly 1.2%.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>But as the global financial crisis unfolded, the costs of funding started to climb.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In January 2008, the major banks made their first out of cycle rate hike in almost nine years, sending shock waves through the public and resetting the industry standard for how interest rates are set.</div>
<div> </div>
<div> <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/6/28/Ratecity%20graph%201.JPG" alt="">
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Over the last decade banks have been making their pricing decisions based on a wide range of competing factors, leading to an ever-growing gap between the cash rate and the banks standard and discounted variable rates.  </div>
<div> </div>
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More out-of-cycle home loan rate hikes to come: RateCIty

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<div align="left">The quickest path for first time buyers to purchasing a house in Greater Brisbane is Ipswich, according to a report released this week by Domain.</div>
<div align="left"> </div>
<div align="left"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b16c0b957ea98f662ab985606/images/18487925-426b-4b11-a5cb-c5dddfbaa68c.png"></div>
<div align="left"> </div>
<div align="left">The report noted first home buyer numbers have risen in Queensland, likely stimulated by the First Home Owners’ Grant, an incentive available for new homes valued under $750,000, providing a first home buyer $20,000.</div>
<div align="left"> </div>
<div align="left">Introduced in 2016, this measure was only meant to last for six months but was extended due to its popularity and as of 1 July, Queensland is set to reduce this grant to $15,000.</div>
<div align="left"> </div>
<div align="left"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/6/28/IPSWICH.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div align="left"> </div>
<div align="left">Indicative of Ipswich price potential, 3 Quarry Lane, Ipswich (pictured above) a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom sold for $315,000 three months ago.</div>
<div align="left"> </div>
<div align="left">“In Greater Brisbane, the time needed to save for an entry level deposit on a house has increased by one month from last year, bringing the total time to 4.2 years, while the time to save for an entry level deposit for units fell by three months, to 3.3 years,” Domain noted.</div>
<div align="left"> </div>
<div align="left"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b16c0b957ea98f662ab985606/images/b9eac2bc-b23a-4645-922e-628d7c43b03e.png"></div>
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Ipswich ranked the quickest FHB path to house ownership in Greater Brisbane: Domain

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<p><span>Entry level home buyers in Greater Melbourne experienced jump in the time taken to save for a house, adding an extra eight months from last year according to a report released this week by Domain. </span></p>
<p><span>"This is likely an impact of the influx of first home buyers increasing demand at the lower end of the market</span><span> since the Victorian government abolished stamp duty for first home buyers, an increase of 37 per cent compared to last year”, stated the report </span><br><br><span>“Those looking to purchase quickly can look to areas like Melton, where the entry house price is $424,000 and the time to save a deposit is 4.3 years."</span></p>
<p><span><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b16c0b957ea98f662ab985606/images/665a9107-e074-4cb3-b1dc-722845f7c7e4.png"></span></p>
<p><span>There was a indicative sale at 3 Cassia Road, Melton (pictured below), a three bedroom, two bathroom house, which sold for $448,000 last month.</span></p>
<p><span><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/6/28/Melton%203%20Cassia%20Road.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>"For house hunters looking to be closer to the CBD, areas like Maribyrnong, approximately nine kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD, are a strong option with unit entry prices at $360,000 and a time to save of 3.7 years."</span></p>
<p><span><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b16c0b957ea98f662ab985606/images/c895e225-6bae-40f5-8561-a14da31ee6a7.png"></span></p>
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Melton ranked as the quickest FHB path to house ownership in Greater Melbourne: Domain

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<p>According to Domain's latest first home buyer report, the most expedient path to purchase for first home buyers in Greater Sydney is purchasing at Wyong. </p>
<p><span>The report states for first home buyers looking to purchase in Greater Sydney, there are a variety of options depending on budget and lifestyle priorities, "but the average time of saving required to purchase a house in Greater Sydney is 6.7 years" </span></p>
<p>"For buyers who want a quick entry to market, areas like Wyong on the Central Coast offer a relatively low entry price at $483,000, and the time to save a 20 per cent deposit of 4.7 years." </p>
<p><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b16c0b957ea98f662ab985606/images/e4706e4a-25e8-4de4-b58a-32a801eefa73.png" width="600" height="700" data-imagetype="External"></p>
<p>An example of a house selling at this price point is 6 Harvey St Wyong, (pictured below) which sold for 465,000 on the fourth of June this year.</p>
<p><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/6/28/Wyong%20465000.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Wyong is also the location to buy the cheapest apartment apartments on offer.</p>
<p><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b16c0b957ea98f662ab985606/images/e4706e4a-25e8-4de4-b58a-32a801eefa73.png"></p>
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Wyong is the quickest path to FHB purchasing in Greater Sydney: Domain

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<p>A new freestanding residence with views over Berrys Bay has been sold for $4.5 million, well above the suburb's median price.</p>
<p>Designed by Corben Architects, the home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mcmahons+point-124560798" target="_blank">29 Dumbarton Street, McMahons Point</a> sits opposite the Sawmillers Reserve.</p>
<p>It spent over 520 days on the market before being sold by Stone Real Estate</p>
<p><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/6/16/mcmahons2.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p><span>The three bedroom house was built by Gartner Rose with w</span><span>ater views from all living areas including the master suite and the study area.</span></p>
<p><span>It comes with a breakfast bar opening to a private courtyard, along with an elevated garden/BBQ entertaining area.</span></p>
<p><span>Gartner Rose paid $1,125,000 for the home on 215 sqm in 2006.</span></p>
<p> </p>
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Freestanding McMahons Point residence sells $700,000 above suburb median

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<p>Featuring the nation’s only rooftop skystand overlooking a major sports stadium, a new residential development in Woolloongabba has begun marketing.</p>
<p>Adjacent to Brisbane’s Gabba stadium, the Silk One project will boast a rooftop terrace 20 stories high, providing residents views of the ground.</p>
<p>The development is just 300 metres from the planned Woolloongabba Cross River Rail train station, 350 metres from Woolloongabba Busway and within two kilometres of major lifestyle and entertainment developments including Queens Wharf, Howard Smith Wharves and Dexus Waterfront,</p>
<p>"Silk One will combine lifestyle, access and amenity" suggests the developer.</p>
<p>Sarazin managing director Darren Dougan said the developer chose the Woolloongabba site, as it’s in prime position to take advantage of a changing Brisbane market.</p>
<p>“Contrary to the gloom portrayed by oversupply a couple of years ago, the proof is in the data - Brisbane’s off the plan prices are flat, not falling, and are forecasted to grow,” Mr Dougan said.</p>
<p>“Queensland’s interstate migration is the nation’s highest , the affordability gap between 1 Brisbane and Sydney is now at 66 per cent plus the jobs market is surging - with 130,000 2 net new jobs within the past year ,” he said.</p>
<p>CBRE Brisbane Managing Director Paul Barratt confirmed the confidence in Brisbane’s inner-city residential apartment market, “Brisbane not only offers premium value at attainable prices, but with the market due for a natural correction - the Queensland capital is ahead of its southern counterpart when it comes to long-term financial return.”</p>
<p>“Smart money follows infrastructure, and Brisbane’s infrastructure is at an all time high, in fact, there is over $12 billion in projects planned or under construction in the CBD alone,” he said.</p>
<p>The project will deliver 178 residencies comprising a mix of one, two and three bedroom open plan apartments with prices starting from $369,000 (including one car park).</p>
<p>Strategically designed to maximise the birds-eye views of the Gabba stadium, the unique Silk One skystand rooftop will offer an outdoor dining and BBQ space, resort-style pool, gym and spa as well as a big screen TV near the bar to ensure not a minute of the action is missed.</p>
<p>For those wanting to enjoy Brisbane’s glorious weather privately, each of the varying orientations benefit from deep balconies all northerly facing apartments on level eight and above benefit from stunning city skyline views.</p>
<p>Registrations and expressions of interest are now <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-woolloongabba-128459410" target="_blank">open</a> ahead of the global launch on 23 June 2018</p>
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Australian first Skystand provides new views for Brisbane apartment buyers

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<p>A two bedroom house in Western Australia's Falcon has been listed by mortgagees. <br><br>It is listed at $189,000 in the near seaside <span>southern suburb of Mandurah, located southwest of Mandurah's central area</span>.</p>
<p>It has been listed by Kathryn Fiorenza at Peard Real Estates.<br><br>Built in 1968, it last sold at $185,000 in 2004.  </p>
<p>It was listed unsuccessfully in 2010 at $319,000 and in 2011 at $259,000.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://reiwa.com.au/45-cobblers-street-falcon-4095291/" target="_blank">45 Cobblers Street, Falcon</a> house is on a large 999m2 block and has a basic 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom dwelling with an enclosed garage. </p>
<p>It is close to the ocean and the popular Falcon Bay.<br><br> It is also near Falcon shopping precinct, medical facilities, public transport restaurants and schools. <br><br>The suburb's median house price sits on $340,000 according to CoreLogic.</p>
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$5000 gain sought after 14 years for Falcon, WA mortgagee house listing

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]</p>

<p>Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]</p>


Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p><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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]</p>

<p><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.</p>

<p>"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.</p>

<p>WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.</p>

<p>"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]</p>


Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

<p>When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.</p>

<p>But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.</p>

<p><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></p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.</p>

<p>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.</p>


The apartment feature many buyers don't think about, until their first missed delivery

<p><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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p><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" /></p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p><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" /></p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The architects say landscape is intended to be integral to the building rather than an applied element.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>


HG Developments doubles down in Newstead with second Maud Street apartment development

<p>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.</p>

<p>But in many cases, that's not actually what those sustainability ratings guarantee.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>That disconnect has led to the emergence of a new movement across Australia's property industry: nature-based cities.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Nature Based Cities (NBC) was established in 2022 to help accelerate that shift.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that's concrete and glass with not a blade of grass.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>For apartment buyers, the shift is also changing the questions worth asking.</p>

<p>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?</p>

<p>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.</p>


Staff reporter

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