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Douglas Farrell, managing partner of the private equity firm Quintet Partners, is selling his Darlinghurst warehouse apartment.
It is in Angus House, set on the north-west corner.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-darlinghurst-128529034" target="_blank">The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property</a> has 4.4 metre ceilings in the open-plan living spaces.
There’s a stone-topped kitchen with breakfast bar seating, a covered balcony and a car space on title.
McGrath Edgecliff have it for a July 7 auction with $2.1 million hopes.
It last sold at $1,375,000 in 2014.
The former Moran Health care head office was converted into residential by the property developer Theo Onisforou.
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Angus House, Darlinghurst warehouse style apartment listed

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A three bedroom house in Western Australia's Baldivis has been listed by mortgagees.  It is listed at $250,000 by Patrick Holmes and Louis Dickenson at Raine &amp; Horne.
It was built in 2012 at Baldivis, a semi-rural residential suburb 46 kilometres south of the central business district of Perth. The building block sold at $165,000 in 2010. 
The <a href="https://reiwa.com.au/41-chestnut-way-baldivis-4046986/" target="_blank">41 Chestnut Way, Baldivis</a> house is a 423 square metre block with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an a double lock up garage. It features an open plan kitchen, dining, and living and would suit renovators, according to the marketing.
The suburb's median house price sits on $400,000 according to CoreLogic.
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Baldivis house listed by mortgagee for $250,000

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Vacancy rates were steady in May, SQM Research has revealed.
The national residential vacancy rate was unchanged at 2.1% in May 2018, with the number of vacancies Australia-wide sitting at 69,152 properties.
The vacancy rate inched higher in Sydney and Melbourne, while it fell in Brisbane for the fifth straight month.
Sydney’s vacancy rate rose to 2.5% in May, up from 2.3% in April, and higher than 1.7% a year earlier.
Melbourne also saw its vacancy rate inch higher to 1.4%, up from 1.3% in April.
Canberra’s rate was steady at 0.8%, though down from 1.0% a year earlier.
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SQM's Louis Christopher said there was good news for property investors in Brisbane, where the vacancy rate fell to 2.9% in May, down from 3.0% in April and 3.5% in May 2017.
"The decline in Brisbane represents the fifth straight monthly decline in rental vacancies," he said.
“We have more evidence that the worse is over for Brisbane property investors with vacancies falling for five straight months and even the Brisbane CBD is now recording consistent decline in vacancies. 
"We believe that a rise in interstate migration is lifting population growth rates in Brisbane plus the peak in unit completions is creating this turnaround in the rental market,” he said.
Hobart's vacancy rate was steady at 0.7%, but up from 0.5% a year ago.
Darwin’s vacancy rate rose to 3.5% from 3.3% in April.
Perth’s vacancy rate was steady at 4.1%, but down from 5.1% a year earlier as the oversupply of rental properties eases in that city.
Adelaide’s vacancy rate was also steady at 1.3%, but down from 1.7% a year ago.
Christopher, the managing director of SQM Research, said asking rents had eased in Sydney with greater supply of rental accommodation, giving some relief to home seekers.
“There are considerably more vacancies in Sydney now compared to a year ago, so landlords have lowered their asking rents slightly, which is favouring renters," stated Mr. Christopher
Capital city asking rents for houses fell over the month to 12 June 2018 by 0.5% to $551 a week.
Unit asking rents slipped 0.2% to $444 a week.
Over the year, asking house rents rose just 0.4%, while unit asking rents rose modestly by 0.9%.
While the asking rent for a three-bedroom house in Sydney remains the highest in the nation at $715 a week, rents fell 1.6% over the month to June 12, with the upward trend in the vacancy rate easing pricing pressures.
Asking unit rents now stand at $523, down by 0.5% over the month.
Canberra is catching up to Sydney with housing asking rents now standing at $631 a week and 451 for units, after growth of 2.1% for houses and units over the month.
In Melbourne, asking rents for houses were down over the month to June 12 by 0.8% to $529 while unit asking rents rose by 0.5% to $412.
In line with the fall in vacancies, Brisbane rents registered a rise for the past 30 days with rents for houses rising by 0.8% to $450 a week and units rising by 0.4% to $369 a week.
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Brisbane vacancy rate fall for fifth straight month: SQM

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Three towns in Queensland, Moura, Blackall and Ingham, have been ranked the slowest locations in Queensland.
All three locations' house listings are typically for sale for over 900 days, according to CoreLogic. 
It suggests postcode 4718's median house price sits at $200,000, and its median rent sits at $250 per week, both without any change over the past 12 months.
The rental yield sits at 6.5%.
Postcode 4472's median house price sits at $150,000, with 14.3% decline over the past year.
Its median rent sits at $150 per week, which has decreased 6.3% over the past year.
The rental yield sits at 5.2%.
Postcode 4850's median house price sits at $182, 500, which has dropped 16.1% over the past year.
Its median rent sits at $215 per week, with 4.5% decrease over the past year.
The rental yield sits at 6.1%.
An Ingham three bedroom house has been recently sold for $171,500 after spending 840 days on the market.
Last traded for $105,000 in 2003, the home initially sought $250,000, before the price steadily dropped to $219,000.
Donna Serra from Landmark Harcourts sold the home.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-ingham-122675602" target="_blank">Located at 22 Burke Street</a> (pictured top), the two storey home comes with open plan kitchen/dining, upstairs living rooms, and three good sized bedrooms.
On a 1222 square metre block, other features of the house include timber floors, air conditioning and new roof.
A Moura three bedroom house has been listed for $175,000 by Steve Paton from Moura Real Estate. It last traded for $134,000 in 2009.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-moura-128504062" target="_blank">Located at 3 Clarke Close</a>, a house on Dawson View Estate comes with three bedrooms, open plan kitchen, lounge/dining flowing to the patio and back yard and double garage. 
On a 710 square metre block, the yard is fully fenced with double gate access.
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Moura, Blackall and Ingham ranked as the slowest selling towns in Queensland

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An unusual school conversion has been listed at Woodend for $1.9 million.
The house is quite elevated, and appears to float on the gentle slope, courtesy of its unique sub-floor.
The 3857 square metre allotment is undulating. 
It's not your Victorian or Edwardian brick or timber building.
The former Catholic primary school was built in 1974 to an innovative design by a priest who was also an architect.
It has an external frame.
It has been repurposed as a family home with huge interconnected living areas.
<a href="http://www.joangladman.com.au/properties-detail.asp?ID=572" target="_blank">Joan Gladman Real Estate</a> agent Joan Gladman has the listing.
Separate from the main residence, is an elegant and sizeable studio, workshop and double garage.
Some 8kW of solar panels make an eco-contribution to the energy needs of the house. 
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Unusual 1970s Woodend school conversion turned trophy home listed

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Hotel developer and operator Paul Fischmann will market rooms in his recently acquired Surry Hills hotel through Airbnb.
He says its because it's a "hell of a lot cheaper than using online travel agents".
Airbnb charges commission rates of about 3%, while online travel agents like Expedia and Booking.com can take up to 20% of a hotel booking.
Fischmann's 8Hotels will develop a new 40-room boutique Surry Hills hotel, after acquiring a 329 square metre site off-market from Colin Rahim and Peter Sukkar, the founders of construction firm Growbuilt.
The new hotel will have a "Lower East Side New York" feel, The Australian Financial Review reported.
The site at 202-210 Elizabeth Street will be developed into a $30 million hotel. It is next to the Triple Ace Bar.
<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-nsw-surry+hills-502478770" target="_blank">The site</a> had a permit for a boarding house with approval for 38 self-contained boarding house rooms including private bathrooms and kitchens and two ground floor retail shops fronting Elizabeth Street.
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Hotel developers turning to Airbnb over more expensive Expedia

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Sydney's upper North Shore and Hills District has seen a number of strong results over the last 12 months, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White.
"When most people think prestige property their attention is always drawn to the eastern suburbs or lower north shore of Sydney," HTW's latest housing report suggested.
They said that while the wider market has begun to cool, there are still cashed up buyers hunting for prime real estate.
A Dural home fetched $8.8 million last year, a record for the area.
The property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-dural-124185582" target="_blank">654 Old Northern Road</a> (above) has eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms.
It sits in over two hectares of landscaped grounds featuring a swimming pool, tennis court and district views. 
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HTW did cite the difficulty to sell property at that price, with it taking over a year to sell.
They said the length of the marketing campaign was not unusual for homes of this calibre.
"It highlights the difficulties in selling property at this price point, because if you have circa $9 million to spend in this area you are able to purchase an older home, knock down and rebuild your home to your preferred design and specifications," the report said.
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"The prestige market can be a little fickle at times due to the limited stock available of high calibre property and the length of time taken finding the right buyer at the right time."
Herron Todd White said they find that the biggest home in the suburb is not always the best.
"What appeals to the north shore market may not appeal to the acreage market," they said.
"Transactions at this level of the market are often dependant on personal preferences, what appeals to one buyer at this end of the market, may not appeal to the next.
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There are always exceptions to the rule, an example includes a property in Wahroonga selling for $7,800,000 in October 2017 after only 11 days on the market.
"This highlights that if a property ticks all of the boxes for the area then they have the ability to get snapped up quite quickly," HTW said.
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The renovated family home (below) with pool and tennis court sits on half an acre of landscaped grounds.
The home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-wahroonga-126632698" target="_blank">3 Stuart Street</a> has with five bedrooms, open plan living and casual meals, separate banquet-sized formal dining, and multiple alfresco areas.
 
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Strength in the prestige market north of Sydney 

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Dwelling values across Brisbane look to have seen the worst of their declines, suggests CoreLogic-Moody’s Analytics Australia Home Value Index Forecast.
House price values performed steadily last year across Greater Brisbane, with average gains of between three and four percent.
They are expected to continue to remain steady over 2018 and 2019, with small gains of around two to three percent.
The much publicised apartment oversupply affected apartment values last year, with most areas recording three to four percent losses.
But there's good news on the horizon for apartment values, with a sharp increase predicted in 2019, some areas even seeing increases of nearly seven percent. 
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After a lull in 2012, house prices in Greater Brisbane have seen strong gains as a result of strong local economies, partly tied to strong activity in finance, retail, construction and other sectors.
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In Brisbane-South, comprising Carindale, Holland Park and Sunnybank, house values have risen 40 percent since mid 2012.
Incomes per capita have risen a much smaller 6.7 percent over the period.
The number of houses approved for building reached 5,468 in mid 2016, more than double its 2010 to 2012 average, although approvals have since nearly halved.
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The effects of higher supply of houses and muted income growth mean that home values in Brisbane south are forecast to decline 1.5% in 2018, followed by a 1.2% recovery in 2019.
Overall, apartment values across Greater Brisbane are expected to recover 0.8% in 2018.
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The second housing area comprises more ‘lifestyle’ areas, including Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay, and Cairns.
Areas here are expected to perform better over the forecast period, as income growth remains robust and the degree of supply increase is not as great as in areas of Brisbane.
Housing markets in Queensland outside of Brisbane have also not seen the degree of price growth over the past few years. 
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/6/21/rest-of-qld.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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The Sunshine Coast’s housing market has seen its value increase 32% since a slump in 2012.
Housing values are forecast to rise 5.7% in 2018, and close to 2% in 2019. The relatively stable housing market is a result of low unemployment (at 4.4% it is well below the national and state averages) and good income growth.
Building approvals across the Sunshine Coast have risen over the past two years, but at 5,000 annually they remain within historical averages and well below their rate in prior cycles 2002 and 1995. Similarly, home values in the Gold Coast are forecast to rise nearly 4% in 2018 and 6% in 2019.
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The third housing market region in Queensland is in commodity-producing areas. These include Central Queensland, Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday, and Darling Downs-Maranoa.
Housing markets here have seen significant value declines over the past few years partly as a result of the end of the mining boom.
In Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday, house values have declined 32% since June 2012. The reduction in mining investment pushed up unemployment to 9% by 2015 and reduced incomes, which per capita have fallen about 16% since 2010.
Slower population growth has also reduced a source of demand, although this is also working to reduce unemployment.
Further declines in house values are expected before a recovery. 
Sydney's biggest drops are predicted to be in Ryde and the inner city and south areas, while in Melbourne it's the inner south values that are going to take a hit.
Nationally there's set to be a cool, but no crash.
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Brisbane's property values have seen off the worst with price falls: Moody's Analytics

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House values in Melbourne's inner south are set for the biggest price drop over the next two years, according to Moody's Analytics CoreLogic's Hedonic House Value Index.
The latest figures suggest the area will see a 2.5 percent house price value drop, followed by a 5.5 percent decrease in 2019.
House values in the inner south area fell in April for the first time since the end of 2012.
Housing supply has ramped up significantly in recent years and remains elevated by historical standards, with a strong pipeline of completions ahead.
This correction in the housing demand/supply balance is likely to see home values in Melbourne’s inner suburbs continue to decline, CoreLogic suggest. 
The weakness is expected to be most acute in the inner south, where home values are projected to fall until mid-2020.
Similarly, apartment prices in the Inner South are projected to start falling from mid-2018, before firming by mid-2019.
For Melbourne-Inner and the Inner East, home values are expected to fall until the first half of 2019, after which a modest recovery is likely to take hold.
Apartment prices there are expected to hold up relatively well, with the price gains likely to continue.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/6/21/vic-home-value.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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Melbourne's house price growth has slid for 11 consecutive months and fell in April to a 62-month low of 3.1 percent y/y.
The slowdown is most pronounced in Melbourne’s inner suburbs. House values in Melbourne's inner east edged up just 0.3% y/y, a 11⁄2-year low.
Apartment price growth is also cooling. Apartment values in Greater Melbourne were up 5.7% y/y in April, a 15-month low, with the Inner South leading the slowdown.
The downswing has not been confined just to Melbourne’s inner suburbs, with house values across Victoria generally rising at a slower pace.
In Melbourne’s outer suburbs, where house prices recorded stellar double-digit growth through 2017, growth has also decelerated markedly.
Annual house price growth is down at a 38-month low in the North East; a 35-month low in the North West; a 19-month low in the Outer East; a 16-month low in the South East; a 34-month low in the West, and a 20-month low in the Mornington Peninsula.
Geelong is bucking the trend in the rest of Victoria. 
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It saw a 10.6 percent house price value increase in 2017, and is set to see those prices soar another 12.3 percent this year and then a further 11.2 percent in 2019.
Ballarat is set to see consistent house price growth, as is the north west region.
Sydney's biggest drops are predicted to be in Ryde and the inner city and south areas while Brisbane has seen off the worst of its price falls.
Nationally there's set to be a cool, but no crash.
 
 
 
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Melbourne's inner south property values to fall the most: Moody's Analytics

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Ryde and Sydney's inner city suburbs are set to be the hardest hit in the housing downturn, according to Moody Analytics CoreLogic's Hedonic Home Value Index. 
After experiencing a 15.6 percent increase in house value in 2017, Ryde has a forecasted median house price drop of 9.2 percent.
The value drop is expected to carry on in to 2019, with declines of just over three percent predicted.
Sydney city and inner south suburbs, which have seen house value increases of over 70 percent since 2013, saw nearly the same percentage of house value increase as Ryde last year.
The house values are expected to drop 8.7 percent this year.
Unlike Ryde however, the house values in the city and inner south suburbs are expected to rebound in 2019, with a predicted jump back of 7.6 percent.
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CoreLogic's latest release suggests the Sydney housing market 'remains in a funk.'
The dwelling price drop in April was a ninth consecutive month of falls.
The prior upward cycle began around 2013, and from there to mid-2017 dwelling values across Greater Sydney increased 70%, according to the CoreLogic Hedonic Home Value Index. Since then, values have declined 4.2%. 
The strong dwelling price growth was borne out of the upbeat state of the economy, low unemployment figures, public infrastructure investment and the prevalence of interest-sensitive industries such as hospitality and construction.
Incomes in NSW have grown faster than the national average and underpin some of the recent gains in home values (see below). 
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/6/21/chart11.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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However, housing values have grown even faster and thus are overvalued relative to equilibrium value.
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CoreLogic expect house prices across Greater Sydney to fall by 4.7% y/y in 2018, after a 12.8% gain in 2017.
They expect apartments to also slow but not as sharply, with a 0.6% y/y expansion expected in 4 2018, from the 9.8% growth in 2017.
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By 2019, the correction is expected to have largely passed, with house and apartment values forecast to increase by 0.9% and 2.2. 
Apartment values in Sydney have not experienced the same degree of growth as houses in recent years, and so are not expected to correct as sharply over 2018. 
Historically, apartment values are less volatile than houses. 
Supply constraints factor heavily in Sydney’s housing market and contributed to the strong runup in prices in prior years. 
A high level of supply has now come on line for apartments in the inner city and surrounding areas as well as dwellings in suburban areas via land releases and removing some development restrictions. This will contribute to the forecast price slowdown in 2018. 
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Outside Sydney, the story of the housing markets in rest of the New South Wales is a little different.
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As potential homebuyers’ incomes have not kept pace with the Sydney housing market, demand for areas outside Sydney has risen, as affordability is better.
This is especially so for areas such as the Central Coast, where house values are forecast to grow 4.3% in 2018, after a 13.4% increase in 2017.
Illawarra and Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas have a similar story. Robust local economic conditions are driving house values in these areas
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However, regional areas farther away from Sydney where population growth is slower and supply constraints are reduced, such as New England and North West or Hunter Valley, have lagged. 
House values in New England and North West grew a tamer 1% in 2016 and in 2017 and are forecast to increase 5.5% in 2018 and 4.5% in 2019.
Melbourne's biggest drops are predicted to be in the inner south, while Brisbane has seen off the worst of its price falls.
Nationally there's set to be a cool, but no crash.
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Ryde and Inner city Sydney values to be hardest hit: Moody's Analytics 

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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