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The Block is set for a 2019 makeover at the Oslo Hotel hostel in St Kilda, not far from their upcoming series at Gatwick hostel on Fitzroy Street.
The Herald Sun suggests it is to be recreated as five mansions.
The gold rush-era terraces are on Grey Street.
The newspaper describes the street as "seedy".
The Oslo Hotel backpacker rooms start from <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/au/oslo.en-gb?aid=356980;label=gog235jc-hotel-XX-au-oslo-unspec-au-com-L%3Aen-O%3AosSx-B%3Asafari-N%3AXX-S%3Abo-U%3AXX-H%3As;sid=0efb53c7c564864355ba9fb276fccb67;dist=0&amp;sb_price_type=total&amp;type=total&amp;" target="_blank">just $44 per night</a> and dorm rooms from $18 a night.
<img src="https://static.domain.com.au/domainblog/uploads/2018/06/07162817/2_h113sj.jpg" alt="The Oslo Hotel circa 1861, before renovations to the facade in the 1900s." width="1496" height="844">The Oslo Hotel circa 1861, before renovations to the facade . Photo: St Kilda Historical Society
The Grey Street property is estimated to have cost between $7.5 million to $10 million.
Title records show the owner recently died, leaving the estate to three beneficiaries.
The mooted purchase foreshadows a 15th season of the long-running show that began in 2003 at Bondi Beach – with the 14th series set at the Gatwick to air later this year.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

The Block is coming back to St Kilda with Grey Street hostel makeover

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The number of women in the manual trades in Australia has barely budged in the last 20 years. While lower-skilled and lower-paid jobs like hairdressing have increased the number of women being employed, manual trades like electricians, carpenters and mechanics have remained at incredibly low levels.
Women make up just 3% of those employed in the electrotechnology and telecommunications trades, and only 1% of those working in construction, engineering and automotive trades.
Governments, industries and education providers have long tried to overcome skills shortages in the manual trades by encouraging more women to pursue these careers. But the gender imbalance remains entrenched due in part to a culture that resists diversity.
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A research project that we’ve been leading at Charles Sturt University has shown that boosting the number of women in the manual trades requires cultural shifts in society as much as within the industries themselves.
Quite simply, the manual trades are perceived to be masculine professions. This means that girls generally don’t consider careers in these fields.
Moreover, many of their parents actively discourage them from doing so. They fear their daughters will be at risk in a male environment, that there is too much heavy lifting and dirty work.
Schools and other education facilities help to reinforce this gendered division of labour by sending mostly boys on school work experience programs.
Further complicating the issue is the fact that parents and schools generally do not understand career pathways in the trades. Career advisers encourage the idea that the trades are for kids without good grades – a damaging misperception. Grades and university placements are celebrated in society, while progression into the trades is not. Most people don’t realise one can become a trade specialist with further education, or some day go into management.
Many trades actively try to recruit girls and women, but due to these social stigmas and cultural norms, the recruitment pool is quite shallow.
Recruitment is only half the problem, though. Retention is another issue.
Women report that bullying, harassment, foul language and sexist jokes are common in the trades. Chauvinist attitudes are ingrained in many workplaces. Rumours that women only acquired their jobs through “sexual favours” or that they are receiving preferential treatment and need special allowances are persistent.
Some men also refuse to give women the same help they would offer their male colleagues, a problem that can be physically dangerous.
Knocking down walls
Our research has shown that in regional New South Wales, however, some women do survive – and thrive – in the trades. Programs here are helping women break through the barriers. These include mentoring programs specifically for women, buddy systems and all-female work teams. Networking initiatives connecting women to others in the trade have also been successful.
Our research shows that community education and the earlier engagement of girls can help normalise the role of the “tradie” for girls. For example, a program in NSW called Women’s Sheds teaches women of all ages how to use tools, make repairs and build things. Another highly successful program, Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen, involves qualified tradeswomen sharing their experiences with schoolchildren and women in the community.
Apprenticeship providers in regional NSW are also proving to be highly successful in placing female tradies with employers. Companies are also trying to remove gender bias from their recruitment advertisements, thereby increasing their recruitment pool and tackling the skills shortage.
And some companies are challenging the traditionally sexist attitudes that remain a problem for women on the job. Cadia Mines, for example, provides contact officers to all female employees for safety, support and training.
What’s driving this slow transformation is a growing belief that the industry is more profitable when there is diversity in the workforce. But much work remains to be done. For example, government and industry leaders need to develop stronger codes of etiquette to improve workplace culture in the manual trades. The expectation that women should just try to “fit in” and “be one of the boys” also needs to change.
Cultural and social adjustments can build on the incremental improvements that have been made. These include changing everything from the social perceptions of the trades and family expectations to the availability of school-based work experience and the advice of career counsellors.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/97091/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Another critical element is creating workplace cultures that are inclusive of women and accepting of diversity, not seeking to push this away.
Donna Bridges, Lecture of sociology, Charles Sturt University
Branka Krivokapic-Skoko, Economist and Economic Sociologist, Charles Sturt University
Elizabeth Wulff, Sessional Academic in Literature and Sociology, Charles Sturt University
Larissa Bamberry, Senior Lecturer, Charles Sturt University
Stacey Jenkins, Lecturer, Charles Sturt University
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-female-tradie-shortage-why-real-change-requires-a-major-cultural-shift-97091" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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The female tradie shortage: why real change requires a major cultural shift

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Construction of what will be the highest residences in the Southern Hemisphere when completed, has hit its first major milestone, with the first residents set to move into Australia 108 in Southbank, Melbourne, in June.
Builder Multiplex has handed over the first portion of the building, comprising 277 apartments located between levels 14 and 30.
Construction of the remaining floors above continues to progress rapidly.
The early residents will have access to some of Australia 108’s extensive amenities, with construction of its lap pool and gym area on level 11 having been completed, along with two levels of car parking.
Residents will access their luxury apartments via a fully completed private lobby, with workers accessing the building through separate entrances not visible to residents.
Multiplex envisaged multiple staged handovers, which will see the building completed in several portions.
World Class Global CEO David Ng said it was a historic moment for his iconic project, which is not only on its way to becoming Melbourne’s tallest building but will also house the highest residences in the Southern Hemisphere.
“We extend a warm welcome to all of our inaugural residents who will now call this iconic address home.”
Multiplex regional managing director Graham Cottam said the project was on track for completion in the next two years following a rapid construction process, with the core structure up to level 59 and slabs at level 53.
He noted the glass façade was around 2,500 tonnes of glass spanning 47,000 square metres.
Commencing construction in November 2015, foundation works on Australia 108 took almost nine months to complete, with some of the most substantial piling works undertaken in Melbourne to date.
Drilling went 46 metres deep, with 1950 millimetre thick core walls used in order to strengthen the cloud-breaking building.
The tower’s eye-catching golden Starburst, which will house two full floors of private amenity including two pools 210 metres above street level, is expected to be lifted into place early next year.
Ng said there were only a small number of apartments left in the tower, and opportunities to purchase a home at the iconic address were limited.
To date more than $872 million in sales have been made, with the first handover providing World Class Global with approximately $147 million in recognised revenue.
Priced from $1,957,000, the group of 19 apartments are all located above level 71, offering some of the best views in Melbourne over the CBD and out to Port Phillip Bay.
Launched for sale in November 2014, Australia 108’s 1,103 apartments sold rapidly, with the 750-square metre penthouse setting the record for Australia’s most expensive apartment when it sold to a Chinese national for $25 million in April 2015.
This July, the public will have a chance to see inside Australia 108, with the building included in this year’s Open House Melbourne program. Fender Katsalidis will be hosting tours of the site on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 of July.
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First occupants set to move into Australia 108, highest residences in the Southern Hemisphere

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Glenbank, a 236-hectare property on Darling Downs has sold for $2.52 million to a local businessman, equating to about $10,640 per hectare.
The prior nearest price for similar size and quality property in the Brookstead area was about $9880 per hectare, Ray White noted.
Ray White Rural Pittsworth's James Croft said there was "exceptional competition" <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-mixed+farming-qld-brookstead-7963674" target="_blank">at the auction</a> after 20 inquiries, 12 inspections and 11 registered bidders.
"The bidding was frenzied," Croft told Fairfax Media.
It was fuelled by commodity prices with sorghum at $400 a tonne and cotton at $600 a bale.
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Glenbank on the Darling Downs sells for $2.52 million

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Another Doncaster East two bedroom apartment has been listed for mortgagee sale.
It comes with an indicative selling price of $410,000 to $440,000.
It was offered by Mehron Mashayekh and Danial Reza Ali from Ray White.
The auction of the low rise Santorini complex has been scheduled for June 23. 
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-doncaster+east-128436226" target="_blank">The 105/927 Doncaster Road apartment</a> comes with two bedrooms, living and dining zone, and alfresco terrace adjoining a kitchen.
Other features include a concealed laundry, video intercom, security entrance and single basement car space plus storage unit. 
It is situated opposite parkland. 
The suburb's median unit price sits on $720, 000, according to CoreLogic.
Another Doncaster East apartment in the Santorini Complex has been listed by mortgagees with an indicative selling price of $440,000 to $480,000.
The second floor apartment is offered by Danial Reza Ali from Ray White for June 23 auction.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-doncaster+east-128436866%20https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-doncaster+east-128436866" target="_blank">Located at 201/927 Doncaster Road, Doncaster East</a>, the apartment comes with main bedrooms with built-in, a second robed bedroom, living and dining zones connecting to the large alfresco terrace.
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Another Doncaster East apartment listed by mortgagee

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Apartments purchased off-the-plan four years ago for about $670,000 in Parramatta, are now selling for around $630,000, according to the valuation firm, HTW.
The market commentary comes as Parramatta ranks has having the largest apartment future supply pipeline of Sydney.
Urbis director of property economics and research, Princess Ventura, highlighted <a href="http://urbis.com.au/app/uploads/2018/05/The-Sydney-Apartment-Market-URBIS-15%20May-2018-LR.pdf" target="_blank">Parramatta is a prime candidate for a Central City</a>, exhibiting trends found in other apartment hotspots such as a high proportion of overseas-born apartment residents and young families, as well as transport amenity, population growth and housing growth.
Young families are occupying 35 percent of Parramatta apartments.
The majority of the apartment dwellers at Parramatta are overseas born.
Parramatta would receive the most substantial supply of new apartments with 11,000-plus new dwellings scheduled with two-bedroom apartments making the majority of the future supply.
An off-the-plan three-bedroom, four-bathroom penthouse in the 8 Phillip Street development holds the Parramatta apartment record selling mid-last year for $3,325,000.
 
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Recently completed Parramatta apartment prices edge downwards: HTW

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Strong sales and rental growth is making Hobart the capital city with the fastest price growth, with double-digit returns for inner and middle ring suburbs during 2018, according to Andrew Peck, the HTW Tasmanian director.
"Both house and apartment markets continue to be fuelled by a lack of stock," the valuer said.
Figures released this week by SQM Research revealed listings fell again in Hobart exacerbating the shortage of properties available for sale in that city. Property listings fell 4.7 percent in Hobart in May from April and remain down sharply or 26 percent from a year earlier, SQM calculated.
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Double digit returns on offer in Hobart: HTW

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Investa Office Fund has secured Mills Oakley Lawyers as tenants at Barrack Place.
The firm will take 5,673sqm at 151 Clarence Street, Sydney across levels 7 to 12.
It is for an 11 year term commencing 1 January 2019.
Mills Oakley is a top 10 national law firm with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth.
The AFL to Mills Oakley represents 26% of the building’s Net Lettable Area on completion.
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The pre-commitment at Barrack Place now stands at 83% of total NLA with a weighted average lease term of 9.8 years.
Mills Oakley will join multinational professional services firm ARUP (35% of NLA) and leading biopharmaceutical company Pfizer (21% of NLA) in this prime grade building.
Penny Ransom, IOF Fund Manager said securing a third major tenant, the calibre of Mills Oakley, was an "outstanding outcome" for the fund 
Practical completion remains on target for October this year.
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Investa secure Mills Oakley Lawyers at Barrack Place

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United Development Sydney has appointed Hutchinson Builders as construction partner for its flagship $380 million luxury residential development in Sydney’s CBD, Castle Residences.
It was launched last August as a showpiece for heritage, design and culture in a redevelopment of the heritage listed Porter House.
It will be a luxury 121-room boutique AccorHotels operation.
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Located at 203 Castlereagh Street, United Development Sydney have enagaged award-wining architects Candalepas Associates and interior designers, Studio Aria.
All residences will have access to the 5 star hotel services – this includes room service, catering, housekeeping, laundry and maintainenane access to all hotel facilities (restaurants, bars, gym, pool and business centre), 24 hour security, concierge and valet parking.
Hutchinson is Australia's largest privately owned construction company which has been building since 1912.
Excavation and demolition has started onsite. Construction will commence in August 2018.
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United Development Sydney appoints Hutchinson as builder for Castle Residences

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Landcom has partnered with Transport for NSW to develop government land around Sydney Metro Northwest stations to create new places for families, businesses and communities.
The Castle Hill site is the first within the Hills Showground Project.
Landcom is calling for expressions of interest to deliver a mixed use local centre next to the future Hills Showground metro station.
Landcom chief executive John Brogden said it was seeking suitably qualified developers to deliver the first mixed use superlot adjacent to the future Hills Showground Station.
The site is at 1-5 Carrington Road, Castle Hill.
“The broader project will see potential for more than 1,600 dwellings and 10,000m2 of retail, commercial, and spaces for community use right next to the new Hills Showground Station. 
“This will enable residents to live, work, shop and relax within the precinct," he said adding the development will include an Affordable Housing component.
The Hills Showground development was the second site of a wider program to transform government land around the new metro stations of Tallawong, Kellyville, Bella Vista, Norwest, Castle Hill and Cherrybrook.
An Expression of Interest was called for the Cudgegong Road Station South site, recently renamed Tallawong Station, in March 2018.
Sydney Metro Northwest Places is a 10-year program.
The development is being marketed through Knight Frank with offers due July 16. with an Invitation to Tender is expected to be issued late this year, with a contract to be awarded early next year.
Sydney Metro services start in Sydney’s north west in the first half of 2019.
 
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Landcom calls interest for mixed use development at Hills Showground metro station

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.

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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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