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This week Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe gave <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2018/sp-gov-2018-06-13" target="_blank">one of the more revealing speeches</a> one is likely to hear from a central banker.
It touched on many of the recurring themes in this column – sluggish wage growth, crazy levels of household debt, persistently low inflation, a long period of low interest rates, and a chunk of the country feeling they are not sharing in national prosperity.
But, most strikingly, Lowe hinted that the RBA’s official interest rate – the cash rate – might not rise until wage growth returns to the long-term trend.
Lowe began with the following familiar fact:
Over recent times, wages growth around the 2% mark has become the norm in Australia. Some time back, the norm was more like 3 to 4%.
He then turned to a range of possible explanations for this sluggish wages growth. A leading factor is that there is still slack in the labour market, with unemployment stubbornly stuck around a relatively high 5.5%. Relative to what? That, of course, is the key question.
Lowe suggested that 5% is the traditional estimate used to gauge full employment in Australia. But it could be lower, noting that:
...in a number of other countries, estimates of the unemployment rate associated with full employment are being revised lower as wage increases remain subdued at low rates of unemployment.
Then there’s underemployment. Lowe observed:
… around one-third of workers work part-time, with most of these people wanting to work part-time for personal reasons [but] around one-quarter would like to work more hours than they do; on average, they are seeking an extra two days a week … This suggests an overall labour underutilisation rate of 8¾%.
Turning to technology, Lowe pointed out that recent technological advances have tended to be in information technology, rather than large new machines. Moreover, a relatively small slice of successful firms in a few sectors of the economy tend to adopt this technology.
Those firms do well – as do their workers. But lagging firms that cannot successfully adopt these technologies get put under pressure. According to Lowe’s thinking, those firms respond by keeping a lid on wages to remain competitive.
All of this has implications for the real value of debt and for consumer spending, As Lowe put it:
Many people who borrowed expected their incomes to grow at something like the old rate rather than the current rate.
Well, indeed.
The really candid part came when Lowe concluded with what this meant for monetary policy. It is worth quoting him in full:
Any increase in interest rates, however, still looks to be some time away. The [RBA] board will want to have reasonable confidence that inflation is picking up to be consistent with the medium-term target and that slack in the labour market is lessening. At this stage, a sustained pick-up in inflation to around the midpoint of the target range is likely to require faster wages growth than we are currently experiencing. There are reasonable grounds to expect that this increase in wages growth will occur. But, for the reasons I have spoken about today, this increase is likely to be only gradual. Given this, there is not a strong case for a near-term adjustment in monetary policy.
This is a striking statement. First, central bankers are usually intentionally vague about how they make policy. Not so Lowe in this speech. He essentially said there would be no rise in interest rates until wages growth is above 3%. Wow!
My first reaction, after the shock at his candidness wore off, was “that could be a while”. But if that’s how the RBA is really thinking about this, then predictions of no rate rise this year are not only solid, but you can lock in a 1.5% cash rate for 2019, too.
The factors that could boost wages growth enough to get back to historical levels are slow-moving – centred around changes in labour-market policy and technology.
This all contrasts rather starkly with the United States. On Wednesday the United States Federal Reserve <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/monetary20180613a1.pdf" target="_blank">raised official interest rates by 25 basis points</a> – the second such bump this year. The Fed also signalled two more hikes this year.
In the US unemployment is <a href="https://ycharts.com/indicators/unemployment_rate" target="_blank">down to 3.8% and inflation is picking up</a>. Fed chair Jay Powell needs to raise rates steadily to avoid inflation being too high, as opposed to too low.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/98240/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">I bet Governor Lowe wishes he had that problem to navigate.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-holden-118107" target="_blank">Richard Holden</a>, Professor of Economics and PLuS Alliance Fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414" target="_blank">UNSW</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vital-signs-poor-wage-growth-means-interest-rates-could-be-low-for-a-long-time-98240" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Poor wage growth means interest rates could be low for a long time: Richard Holden

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A three bedroom house in Western Australia's Beaconsfield has been sold by mortgagees.
It sold at $440,000, down on it's earlier $579,000 asking price when offered in 2015. It was sold by Mark Grljusich at Harcourts. It was built in 2012 at an estimated $298,500 cost. It had been a $500 a week rental offering in 2015. The <a href="https://reiwa.com.au/5-vickridge-close-beaconsfield-4060891/" target="_blank">5 Vickridge Close, Beaconsfield</a> house features three bedrooms - main with ensuite and WIR, modern kitchen and bathrooms, an open plan living room, private courtyard that opens from the living room, and a double lock up garage. It also features air conditioning.
It is just a short drive to South Beach and the South Fremantle cappuccino strip. The suburb's median house price sits on $670,000 according to CoreLogic. 
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$440,000 Beaconsfield, WA house sold by mortgagee

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Halo on Mount in West Perth is set to see another $4 million plus sale this year with the listing of its second penthouse.
Following on from the $4.3 million sale of the adjoining "penthouse south", Ray White Claremont agent Viven Yap seeking higher offers for "penthouse north" with its own rooftop terrace.
The ninth level apartment in the 2015 completed block spans over 450 sqm and has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It has views over the Swan River and looking out to the city skyline.
The private rooftop terrace comprises a mosaic and glass swimming pool, stainless steel barbecue kitchen and a enclosable Corradi Outdoor Room. 
There's been renewed confidence in the Perth prestige apartment market.
Earlier this year another West Perth apartment sold for $8 million, the highest sale since a South Perth apartment on the Swan River sold for $12 million.
This article was first published on Weekend Australian.
 
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Halo, West Perth prestige apartment listed for sale

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<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
The funds management company Blue Sky Alternative Investments has decided not to complete the purchase of a large-scale farm on the Queensland-NSW border, according to the Australian Financial Review.
Blue Sky held an option for the 1666-hectare Lochiel station on the Dumaresq River between Texas and Goondiwindi.
It was for $8.7 million, but Blue Sky has informed the owner it is unable to complete the deal.
The Lochiel deal included a host of water rights as well 697 megalitres of river water entitlements, 836 megalitres of bore water and 252 megalitres of overland flow.
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<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
The Lochiel property has been producing irrigated crops which are used for feed at the nearby Whyalla Feedlot, owned by Japan's Nippon Meat.
Blue Sky was also looking to buy the neighbouring farm Tarwoona.
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Blue Sky opts not to complete purchase of Lochiel Station

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CBRE Agribusiness has been appointed to sell The Greenery Garden Centre in Heidelberg.
It is being billed as Melbourne’s leading nursery brand and destination garden centre since 1976.
Located 11km from the Melbourne CBD, in the city’s growing eastern corridor, The Greenery Garden Centre is a dedicated greening specialist, providing a range of products and services, including plants, sand and soil, outdoor furniture, ornaments, homewares, water features and other accessories. 
 <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/2018/6/18/MEL_AGR_The%20Greenery.jpg" alt="">
The property, at 4 Banksia Street, comprises a 2.33ha landholding situated along the banks of the Yarra River.
CBRE Agribusiness agents Duncan McCulloch and James Beer have been appointed to handle the sale of both the freehold and the business.  
“The opportunity comprises a large scale freehold landholding and profitable business with a strong trading performance and a long-standing and dedicated customer base,” they suggest.  
The Greenery Garden Centre is being sold as a going concern.
CBRE expect to receive strong interest from both domestic and international industry participants. 
 
 
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Heidelberg's The Greenery listed for sale

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A three bedroom house in Queensland's Cloncurry has been listed by mortgagees at $135,000, down on it's earlier $280,000 asking price when offered in 2011.
It is listed by John Tully and Kieran Tully at City &amp; Country Realty.
It last sold at $230,000 in 2007.
It had been a $350 a week rental offering in 2015.
It was sold at $70,000 in 2000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-cloncurry-128397506" target="_blank">33 Gregory Street, Cloncurry</a> house starts with an open kitchen, featuring gas stove and versatile cupboard space with the main room/sun room connecting through to three bedrooms with cooling and lino/carpet flooring, and 1 bath with a vanity.
Other features include Internal laundry, Large yard, built in BBQ, rain tank, green trees, concrete covered back area, garden shed plus work shed – tin roof, concrete base, shelves and cupboards inside.
The suburb's median house price sits on $125,000, according to CoreLogic.
 
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Half price $135,000 Cloncurry house listed by mortgagee

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A four bedroom house in Western Australia's Secret Harbour has been sold by mortgagees. It was sold for $620,000, down on it's earlier $799,000 asking price when offered in 2017. It was sold by Philip Davies at Century 21. It was built in 2004 and last sold at $122,500 in 2003.
It had been a $650 a week rental offering in 2017. The <a href="https://reiwa.com.au/51-miltona-drive-secret-harbour-4065478/" target="_blank">51 Miltona Drive, Secret Harbour</a> approximately 2117 sqm block house features four bedrooms, two bathrooms, study &amp; rumpus rooms, resort style pool, huge garden area, double garage/shopper entry, and a large powered workshop/shed. The suburb's median house price sits on $430,000 according to CoreLogic.
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$650 a week rental sold as $620,000 Secret Harbour mortgagee offering

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Sue Gibson, who is seeking $50 million for her Dalkeith, Swan River trophy home, has bought Crossways Farm in the the NSW Southern Highlands.
She paid $5.55 million on extended settlement terms for the Robertson property, which was sold by Louise Zavattaro.
The five-bedroom residence in Robertson is surrounded by a mature garden, a tennis court, two self-contained apartments, seven dams, eight hectares of rainforest and equestrian facilities. 
<img class="attachment-full size-full" src="https://static.domain.com.au/domainblog/uploads/2018/06/16001635/2_h119at.jpg" alt="Crossways Farm was previously owned by rag traders Lisa Ho and Philip Smouha." width="1500" height="843">
The property has been on and off the market since early 2014 when it was initially offered for $6.9 million.
It was most recently marketed by Angus Campbell-Jones, of Campbell Jones Property.
It was previously owned by rag traders Lisa Ho and her former husband Philip Smouha, who bought it in 2005 for $4.5 million and sold to the Zavattaro family for $4.8 million in 2009.
The 49-hectare property is reportedly to become her permanent residence, coming four years after she and West Australian mining magnate Steve Wyatt ended their 27-year relationship.
Following the split, Gibson is now sole owner of the Perth mansion that was built for the late Alan Bond.
The Wyatt's had paid $39 million in 2011.
 
 
 
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Owner of one of Perth's priciest homes buys in the Southern Highlands

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Trelawney Farm, the 130 year old farmhouse in Mudgee, has been listed for sale.
The property at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-other-nsw-mudgee-7971010" target="_blank"> 428 Henry Lawson Drive</a> is currently an award-winning accomodation, but the listing advises it would suit as a family home.
It can be dual self-contained residences or one complete home.
<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/2018/6/18/MUD2.jpg" alt="">
The iconic country homestead features fresh white bricked facade, colonial architraves and a wrap around porch with views over Pipeclay Creek.
There's five bedrooms, two bathrooms, two open plan living and dining areas and a formal library.
It sits on over 10 hectares in the heart of the Mudgee wine trail.
McGrath Central Tablelands agent Adam Woods is asking $1.2 million.
Last month's Mudgee's landmark residence Woodlands sold for just under $2.1 million.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Mudgee's 130 year old Trelawney Farm for sale

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The dispersal sale of one of Tasmania’s premier fine wool Merino sheep studs on the East Coast saw more than a thousand buyers from throughout the state turned up at the Okehampton Merino stud at Triabunna.
The stud was wound up after Paul Weeding passed away in October.
About 4000 sheep were on offer along with farm equipment.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-livestock-tas-triabunna-7960090" target="_blank">The 1385ha Okehampton property</a>, with 9km of coastline, was recently sold for more than $8 million to a family consortium.
It had been listed through Michael Warren at Harcourts.
Okehampton had been in the Weeding family since 1956.
The property comprises Cape Bougainville, the nearest land mass to Maria Island National Park, and includes two private white sandy beaches.
Stud genetics was Paul’s passion.
The Okehampton stud reportedly produced big-framed and heavy-cutting Merinos.
Okehampton was land granted to Maria Island penal settlement commandant Major Thomas Lord, one of the first Europeans to settle the area, in 1825.
Lord named his property Okehampton. His tomb is on the property.
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Okehampton on Tasmania's Tribune coastline sold for $8 million plus

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

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

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

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

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

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

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

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

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

Staff reporter

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