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A unit by the coast in regional Queensland has been recently sold for $57,000 by Derran Corke from Ray White Gladstone. 
The two-bedder at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-qld-west+gladstone-127535546">1/21 Charles St</a>, West Gladstone ranked the cheapest residential sale across Queensland for the week.
Back in 1989 the same unit sold for $54,959, and in 1992 it was sold again for $50,000 according to data from CoreLogic.
<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/2018/5/25/gladstone%202.jpg" alt="">
It comes with two bedrooms, combined lounge/living, and carport to the rear of the complex. 
The bathroom needs renovating with room to improve.
The unit block was built in the '70s, and although it is showing its age it has all the essentials, is close to KFC, Aldi and Gladstone West State School.
The real estate market has had a tough couple of years in Gladstone, with high vacancy rates (though they are <a href="https://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/gladstone-rental-vacancy-rates-at-lowest-point-in-/3394084/" target="_blank">on their way down</a>) and falling prices.
In the suburb of South Gladstone median house prices have dropped by 29.7 per cent over the last three years, and in West Gladstone the drop has been even harder at 42.9 per cent.
Valuers HTW noted 2017 was the most positive seen our market perform in nearly five years.
"Most property sectors have now bottomed out and stabilised and we have even seen some evidence of an increase in values," it noted recently.
It suggested sales activity has been strong with buyers very aware of the great affordability the region represents.
"Affordability is currently the driving force for the Gladstone region market. 
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"Good quality existing stock is attracting multiple offers and significantly reduced days on the market." 
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This has also led to an increase in new construction activity.
The valuers noted owners and upgraders are opting to build their forever home due to record low land values. 
Mortgagee in possession sales appear to comprise about 30% of all sales and while the number of repossessions has not declined, most stock appears to sell in a reasonable time frame providing they are priced appropriately. 
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

$57,000 West Gladstone unit sale shows little price growth

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The Reserve Bank of Australia won't lift rates until 2020, according to Macquarie Securities.
At least not while there is "a small but growing risk" that the central bank will be unable to tighten policy in this cycle, Macquarie says.
Ric Deverell and Justin Fabo joined many other economists of the opinion that it's going to take more time until the RBA begin's lifting rates from their current historic low of 1.5 per cent.
"The economy is gradually improving, supported by above-trend global growth," the economists wrote in a note to clients. "It's just not improving fast enough."
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Falling property prices and uncertainty around the outlook for housing construction activity and credit growth "also give the RBA reason to sit pat".
A much faster than anticipated drop in unemployment and a lift in the terms of trade increase the chance of a rate rise coming earlier than expected, the economists wrote.
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But equally, "the chances of a later rate hike, or no rate hike, would rise if China's deleveraging or domestic housing market developments become disorderly, or if by 2020 the US economy slows much faster than we expect".
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Macquarie's change of view comes as a result of expectations that "ample spare capacity in the economy will linger", and "continue being a key factor keeping a lid on wages growth".
Achieving average CPI inflation approaching 2.5 per cent "is highly unlikely" without average annual wages growing at a pace of 3-3.5 per cent, the economists estimate.
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"It appears likely that it won't be until 2020 that Australia's unemployment rate will firmly have a '4' in front of it," they stated.
This "persistent spare capacity will continue being a key factor keeping a lid on wages growth".
 
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RBA holding interest rates till at least 2020: Macquarie Securities

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In Richmond 10 auctions took place this Saturday and eight resulted in a sale.
A house at 10 Vesper Street sold through Biggin &amp; Scott after offers from three bidders.
Auctioneer Russell Cambridge sold the home for $1.348 million having declaring it on the market at $1.3 million.
It last changed hands for $39,000 in 1980.
Another Richmond house at 247 Coppin Street fetched $220,000 higher than its reserve on Saturday. It was the suburb's highest price on the weekend.
<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/2018/6/25/247%20Coppin%20Street.jpg" alt="">
It fetched $2.42 million after three bidders pushed the bidding on the tired Victorian (pictured above) through Hocking Stuart Richmond.
It was set on a 405sq m site opposite Barkly Gardens.
The next priciest was passed in at $1.8 million at 20 Neptune Street.
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Richmond's 80% success rate at auction last Saturday

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Teska Carson is still marketing a prime, mixed-use, investment at Oakleigh in Melbourne’s south-east.
Located at 40-42 Atherton Road within Oakleigh’s retail and commercial precinct, the property comprises an 829 square metre building.
It incorporates a double fronted, 278 square metre shop and three brand new apartments over two levels, each with balconies and two car spaces.
The Commercial 1 zoned, 424 square metre site, which is located in a precinct that includes Woolworths, Coles, Liquorland, all major banks, and Chemist Warehouse, has 10.5 metres frontage to tree-lined Atherton Street.
The retail component is currently leased to ANZ Bank on a ten year term at circa $133,705 per annum.
The three apartments, including one with three bedrooms and study, one with three bedrooms and one with two bedrooms, will be offered with vacant possession but with a 12 month rental guarantee bringing the total return to $235,105.
Teska Carson’s George Takis and Michael Taylor are offering the property for the first time in 20 years.
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Oakleigh investment with ANZ lease for sale

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Teska Carson is marketing a warehouse/showroom property leased to Carpet Call on the Nepean Highway at Bentleigh in Melbourne’s south-eastern bayside suburbs.
The property will be auctioned on June 29 on site at 909 Nepean Highway.
The property comprises a single level, solid brick, 435 square metre facility with rear roller door access and eight designated car spaces within a 46 space car park.
It is located on a very well established showroom strip with Autobarn.
Bob Jane T-Marts, Forty Winks, Beacon Lighting, Kennards Hire and Hungry Jacks among others, the property is commercial 2 zoned.
The property will be sold subject to a three year lease from April 2017 to Carpet Call at $122,620 per annum net.
According to marketing agents, Teska Carson’s Luke Bisset and Michael Ludski, the high profile location is exposed to approximately 60,000 passing cars per day, making it an ideal position for showroom businesses.   
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Carpet Call, Bentleigh premises listed for sale

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The Block has opened a pop up store opposite the St Kilda location for series 14 at 79 Fitzroy Street.
The shop opened with a party, attended by a host of ex-contestants, including Elyse (below, last year’s winner).
The Fitzroy Street premises will eventually be the Pride Centre where the council have spent $13 million to buy the former Monroe’s Restaurant site with plans to turn it, and the carpark next door, into the Pride Centre, based on San Francisco’s LGBT Community Centre.
The premises previously sold in 1978 at $365,000.
<img src="https://www.theblockshop.com.au/images/blog/The_Blockshop-184.jpg" alt="">
The Block Shop operators are Emma Garland and Sarah Armstrong, the partner of the television show producer, Julian Cress.
The shop launch was filmed as part of this year’s show.
The space had been a restaurant with a disco ball hanging from the ceiling.
The Block Shop Pop Up will service the contestants working across the road at The Gatwick.
It’s also open to the general public.
Having the shop open opposite The Gatwick is helping to regenerate a once tired and run-down stretch of street.
“Lots of neighbours come in, and they are in shock,” the store manager says. “They say, ‘We are so happy you’re around.’
“Hopefully we can give the street a bit of life back - they’ve asked us to stick around for as long as we can, which is nice.”
It’s been set up to service this year’s contestants, providing them with stylish homeware and interior options during filming.
The contestants are under no obligations to use anything in our shop.
Sharing the Block Shop space is Nood Co, the concrete homewares company set up by ex-contestant Matt Di Costa (of ‘Matt and Kim’ fame, The Block Sky High).
His gorgeous concrete sinks were featured in Ronnie and Georgia’s perfect-score guest bathroom last year.
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The Block opens pop up store opposite The Gatwick 

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House prices on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast have generally moved in tandem with Brisbane.
The same drivers of population growth present in the capital are present in these regions, primarily net interstate migration inflows and, to a lesser extent, overseas migration, according to the latest report from BIS Oxford Economics.
However, both the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast have experienced significantly stronger price growth than Brisbane since 2012.
The economists noted that, "These markets experienced a larger post-mining boom downturn", this caused a slump in new dwelling construction in these markets creating significant under-supply, with vacancy rates of 1.1 per cent and 1.0 per cent recorded in each of these markets respectively in March quarter 2018.
However, after average median house price growth of 6.3 per cent per annum in the five years to June 2017 in Brisbane, price growth has now slowed to an estimated two per cent in 2017/18 based on economic data.
In contrast on the Sunshine Coast, median house price growth has averaged 5.4 per cent per annum, although the upturn has continued with an estimated seven per cent rise in 2017/18.
"The local economies are also relatively strong, driven by a growing tourism sector, and several large construction projects," noted the report.
"However, a number of projects on the Gold Coast are now complete after a push to have them finished by the Commonwealth Games."
Similarly, the next round of projects on the Sunshine Coast are not as large as recent work, such as the expansion of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
The economists suggested that, in addition to these other factors supply has been rising in both markets and this will alleviate some of the price pressures in place.
The strong recent price growth relative to Brisbane will also make it less attractive for Brisbane seachangers to move north or south.
The report forecasts that, these factors are expected to slow price growth to a total six per cent in both the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast over the three years to June 2021.
For a look at our take on the BIS Oxford Economics report for the national market check out, "Melbourne house prices forecast to tread water through to 2020/21".
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Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast housing market's price growth outstripping Brisbane's: BIS Oxford Economics

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The Townsville market hasn’t recovered since peaking in 2008, with the median house price falling by 13 per cent to June 2017.
Vacancy rates in Townsville remain relatively high, at 3.8 per cent in March quarter 2018, although are well down from a peak of 7.1 per cent eighteen months earlier, according to a report released this week by BIS Oxford Economics.
Reflecting this improvement, it appears that the downturn has stabilised, with the median house price on track to rise by two per cent in 2017/18.
The Cairns market has shown more upside, having not experienced the mining boom/bust of Townsville.
Vacancy rates have remained in the 2–3 per cent range since 2012, with a total 21 per cent growth in the median house price coming through over 2012 to 2017 the report stated.
The economists temper this by noting that, "price growth has slowed in 2017/18 and is on track to be flat according."
"In real terms, Townsville’s estimated median house price at June 2018 is 30 per cent below its December 2017 peak in real terms, suggesting there would be little more downside."
The local unemployment rate has improved, although this appears to be on the back of lower participation rates, rather than higher, meaning that "hidden unemployment" could become problematic.
Population growth is weak and as such, minimal price growth is expected over 2018/19 and 2019/20, before some signs of an upturn emerge by 2020/21 with vacancy rates tightening, and some economic recovery coming through as rising tourist arrivals underpin the upgrade of existing tourism infrastructure the economists suggested.
Cumulative growth of nine per cent is forecast in the three years to June 2021 for Townsville.
Whereas the BIS Oxford economists forecast that the Cairns market will begin running out of steam after steady, albeit moderate, price growth to 2017.
Population growth remains slow and, apart from growth in tourism, there remain few other drivers in the local economy that can help employment growth and push through price rises.
As a result, only modest growth is forecast for Cairns, totaling four per cent over the three years to June 2021.
For a look at our take on the BIS Oxford Economics report for the national market check out, "Melbourne house prices forecast to tread water through to 2020/21".
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Townsville housing market's downturn stabilises: BIS Oxford Economics

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A one per cent decline over the year in Perth’s median house price leaving it at an estimated $520,000 this June, according to a report released this week from BIS Oxford Economics.
This was the lowest since the market peaked in 2013/14.
Between June 2014 and June 2018, Perth’s median house price declined by 13 per cent.
The report notes that , in real terms the Perth median house price is 24 per cent below its peak in March 2007, which highlights the extent of the weakness in the Perth market over the past decade.
“House prices in the Perth market appear to be bottoming out,” said Angie Zigomanis, head of BIS Oxford Economics' residential research unit.
“The rate of price decline has slowed, net overseas migration inflows have returned to growth, while the interstate migration outflow has peaked and is now improving.”
Perth’s vacancy rate peaked at 7.1 per cent in June quarter 2017 and remains high at 5.1 per cent in March quarter 2018, well above the generally accepted balanced market rate of around three per cent.
According to the BIS oxford economists, rental prices have also collapsed with the median three-bedroom house rent, and median two-bedroom unit rent falling by 31 per cent and 29 per cent respectively, from their 2013 peaks.
As well as rising population growth, employment growth looks to have returned in 2017/18 after declines in the prior two years.
Successive years of price declines means that affordability has improved.
Nevertheless the report suggests that despite these positives, any recovery in the Perth market will be a long, slow, grind as the city has to work through a significant oversupply as well as a modest economic recovery.
As a result, minimal growth is forecast in 2018/19 and 2019/20, before some stronger growth emerges toward the end of the forecast period in 2020/21, with total growth in the median house price of ten per cent forecast in the three years to June 2021, or just keeping up with inflation.
A lower rise of five per cent is expected for the median unit price, or a three per cent real decline (factoring inflation).
For a look at our take on the BIS Oxford Economics report for the national market check out, "<a href="/expert-insights/buying/melbourne-house-prices-forecast-to-tread-water-through-to-2020-21-bis">Melbourne house prices forecast to tread water through to 2020/21</a>".
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Perth's decreasing housing prices doggedly slog towards improvement: BIS Oxford Economics

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Many factors have driven this upturn, culminating in growth totaling 35 per cent in a period of 3 years.
Resulting in the estimated median house price of $485,000 at June 2018, according to a report released this week by BIS Oxford Economics.
Population growth has accelerated as net interstate migration outflows became net inflows, with Hobart gaining the lion’s share of this reversal the economists found.
Vacancy rates are tight and were at a of low 1.4 per cent at December 2017.
Economic conditions have also strengthened, with the lower dollar in this period driving strong growth in export sectors such as tourism and agriculture.
“In previous periods of net interstate migration inflows, the population movement has come from the demographic of people over 50 looking to downsize and experience a ‘tree change’,” noted Angie Zigomanis head of BIS Oxford Economics' residential research unit.
“However, the current migration inflows largely comprise younger adults and families with children, suggesting people moving for Hobart’s affordability or expats coming back to raise a family.”
With Hobart still having lowest median house price of the state capitals, this suggests that prices remain affordable, although price growth is unlikely to be as strong as it has been, suggests this report.
This report forecasts that, the median house price in Hobart will rise by five per cent in 2018/19, although it will slow in subsequent years as rising supply begins to take some of the pressure off prices.
Total growth of eight per cent is forecast in the three yeas to June 2021, with a similar rise forecast for units given the overall tightness in the market.
This equates to flat prices in real terms, i.e. factoring inflation.
For a look at our take on the BIS Oxford Economics report for the national market check out, "<a href="/expert-insights/buying/melbourne-house-prices-forecast-to-tread-water-through-to-2020-21-bis">Melbourne house prices forecast to tread water through to 2020/21</a>".
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Hobart housing price growth is unlikely to be as strong as it has been: BIS Oxford Economics

Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

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

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hg-developments">HG Developments</a> is doubling down on Maud Street in Newstead, filing plans for a new apartment tower just a few doors down from its under-construction Aire Newstead development.

Recently submitted to Brisbane City Council, the proposal is for an 18-storey building designed by bureau^proberts, which has drawn heavily on Brisbane's subtropical design principles while referencing the suburb's industrial heritage.

A total of 64 apartments are planned for the amalgamated 1,518 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-21-maud-street-newstead-qld-4006">17–21 Maud Street</a>, a short walk from the Brisbane River and Newstead Riverwalk.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a400c7fd-bd15-48f8-a63b-10ede92efe00" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20bldg.png?VersionId=.0vPmjpbC7CNP7kqGWa6L7rGIwsNExaw" />

"The building is defined by a series of vaulted motifs that reinterpret the arches, colonnades and layered facades evident throughout Newstead's historic built fabric," the Urban Design Report states.

"Combined with recessed glazing and generous balconies, these elements create a layered building envelope that provides shade, weather protection and opportunities for natural ventilation whilst establishing a distinctive architectural identity."

The proposal comprises 64 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 18 residential levels, positioning it alongside a growing number of taller residential projects transforming Newstead's northern precinct. The tower incorporates extensive subtropical landscaping, with cascading planter boxes, deep planting at street level and a landscaped rooftop recreation area.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d8140f4-8b98-45cd-b1b8-1efe8c8e266b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=VAZtbCoD44YCJ57N99fQCAKeSJx7ldZs" />

Bureau Proberts has prioritised passive environmental design throughout the project, with generous balconies, recessed glazing and operable façades helping reduce solar heat gain while maximising natural ventilation. River views become available from the upper levels, while the building has been orientated to capture prevailing breezes from both the Brisbane River and the west.

The architects say landscape is intended to be integral to the building rather than an applied element.

"Vertical greenery, cascading planter boxes and elevated gardens are woven throughout the architecture, softening the built form and strengthening the connection between residents and the subtropical environment."

"Through the integration of landscape, high-quality materials and passive design principles, the development delivers a refined residential address that celebrates Newstead's heritage character while contributing positively to Brisbane's evolving subtropical identity."

Newstead has remained one of Brisbane's most active apartment markets in recent years, with a number of developers continuing to back the inner-city suburb.

HG Developments is currently delivering the 40-apartment Aire Newstead at 25 Maud Street. Fortis recently launched the 65-apartment <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> on Kyabra Street, while builder-developer BPG and Don O'Rorke's Consolidated Properties are both expected to launch their respective Newstead projects before the end of the year.

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

Walk past a new apartment development promoting its sustainability credentials and it's easy to picture rooftop gardens, mature trees, landscaped courtyards and residents surrounded by nature.

But in many cases, that's not actually what those sustainability ratings guarantee.

Australia's leading environmental rating tools have played a significant role in improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of buildings. Yet despite their focus on reducing emissions, many don't require developers to include trees, biodiversity or meaningful green space.

In other words, a building can achieve one of the country's highest sustainability ratings while containing little more than concrete, glass and hard landscaping.

That disconnect has led to the emergence of a new movement across Australia's property industry: nature-based cities.

The concept goes beyond designing buildings that consume less energy. Instead, it encourages developers to treat nature as essential infrastructure, integrating biodiversity, tree canopy, living landscapes and green spaces into projects from the earliest stages of planning.

Research has consistently linked access to nature with better physical and mental health, cooler neighbourhoods, improved biodiversity, stronger climate resilience and more connected communities. As Australia's cities continue to become denser, advocates say those outcomes should be considered just as important as energy efficiency.

Nature Based Cities (NBC) was established in 2022 to help accelerate that shift.

Founded by Hamton Executive Chairman Paul Hameister OAM, the not-for-profit was created after research highlighted a significant gap in Australia's sustainability framework. While existing environmental rating tools rewarded energy performance and emissions reductions, they placed little emphasis on the inclusion of living landscapes.

"We've always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren't there," Hameister says.

"In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that's concrete and glass with not a blade of grass.

"The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn't been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities."

Since its launch, NBC has developed independent design guidelines and accreditation frameworks that encourage developers to prioritise ecology, biodiversity, tree canopy, walkability and living landscapes alongside traditional sustainability measures. The organisation first focused on medium and high-density residential developments before recently expanding into precinct-scale communities and masterplanned neighbourhoods.

Jan Talacko, founder of sustainability consultancy Ark Resources and a member of the Nature Based Cities Advisory Council, says the initiative addresses an area that has largely been overlooked by the property industry.

"Throughout my 25 years of working collaboratively with all stakeholders in the property sector, I've always favoured a pragmatic approach to sustainable design which encourages initiatives that not only meet environmental expectations but also improve amenity," Talacko says.

"Whilst we are making steady progress in relation to energy and carbon emissions from buildings, there has been much less emphasis on encouraging biodiversity and tackling the urban heat island effect.

"The Nature Based Cities initiative responds to a gap in the suite of tools currently used by the property development sector, which don't provide sufficient incentive, or recognition, for the integration of landscaping and greenery."

For apartment buyers, the shift is also changing the questions worth asking.

Rather than assuming a sustainable building will naturally include abundant green space, buyers are increasingly being encouraged to look beyond environmental ratings and ask what nature is actually being delivered. How much tree canopy will the development create? Has biodiversity been considered? Are landscaped spaces designed for people as well as appearance?

As Australia's cities continue to grow upwards and outwards, the next generation of sustainability may not simply be measured by lower emissions, but by how successfully developments bring nature back into everyday urban life.

Staff reporter

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