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Walker House, the contemporary coastal Bayview home influenced by the designs of Richard Neutra and Frank Lloyd Wright, is set to be traded for the second time in just over 12 months.
Set high within bushland with views across Pittwater, the striking five bedroom home swathed in glass has five separate living zones including a library, office, cinema and rumpus room.
Having set a street record when it sold early last year for $7.95 million, <a href="https://avalon.ljhooker.com.au/house-in-bayview-nsw-2104-au-mz8f58#.WqXNcZNuYWo" target="_blank">the Lentara Road home</a> was designed with modernist lines, synonymous with influential American architects.
The home was based largely on the groundbreaking 1946 Kaufmann House in Palm Springs, California.
It was completed in 2007 when under the ownership of the Walker family, who paid $1.4 million for the 4,140 sqm land parcel in 2001.
Greg and Karen Walker commissioned Northern Beach architect Ray Fitz-Gibbon.
The Walker's sold the newly completed home for $5 million in 2009.
A decked terrace features a 20 metre wet edge lap pool and spa, while a championship size tennis court sits on the parcel. 
There's a gym and a steam room.
LJ Hooker Avalon Claudio Marcolongo, who is taking offers until May 22, says north facing properties of this quality, dimension and pedigree are rare.
It has a guide of $8.5 million.
It has been listed surplus to its Chinese entrepreneur's needs.
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Walker House, Bayview set for second sale in just over a year

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
Both new residential building and renovation activity declined significantly in 2017, with total seasonally adjusted dwelling starts down to 52,600 by the final quarter of the year, well down from the peak of 62,300 in the first quarter of calendar year 2016.
The drop was driven by a 17% year-on-year decline in attached dwellings, with Brisbane's inner city apartment market the prime culprit. 
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Sundry indicators suggest that activity across Queensland should now trend moderately upwards, spurred on by a healthier spread of boutique developments, 'plexes, and townhomes.
But inner Brisbane's new build high-rise sector is absolutely cactus as the renters move in. 
Interestingly, despite the extremely high level of apartment starts through this cycle, total dwelling completions continued to decline for another quarter, suggesting that all is not well in developer-land. 
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxCJHA8tq6o/Ws3lYKrikcI/AAAAAAAApXY/P5ORNb1wvhQ0wojNqhZxHtnvOX-DwSl0gCLcBGAs/s1600/5.jpg"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxCJHA8tq6o/Ws3lYKrikcI/AAAAAAAApXY/P5ORNb1wvhQ0wojNqhZxHtnvOX-DwSl0gCLcBGAs/s640/5.jpg" width="640" height="386" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1338"></a>
Crunch looms for developers
By the end of the year there were still some 150,000 attached dwellings under construction. for the seventh consecutive quarter.
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Drilling down a level it's clear to see that while apartment activity was fading fast in Melbourne and Brisbane respectively, Sydney and the state New South Wales had more than 68,000 attached dwellings under construction.
To say that this is unprecedented would be an understatement; the numbers are off the charts!
Now it does take a long time to see apartment projects through from approval, but in Sydney the completions just haven't been hitting the market in the numbers expected.
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq6BLQR7lGc/Ws3krLf7-rI/AAAAAAAApW0/FofyGN3Y-BEk1VE3yTRvzAk-EzbKXW1FQCLcBGAs/s1600/2.jpg"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq6BLQR7lGc/Ws3krLf7-rI/AAAAAAAApW0/FofyGN3Y-BEk1VE3yTRvzAk-EzbKXW1FQCLcBGAs/s640/2.jpg" width="640" height="386" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1352"></a>
Total dwelling completions in 2017 for New South Wales were 61,600, with just over half of that total accounted for by attached dwellings, which on a net completions basis is barely keeping pace with demand. 
Officially, of course, everything is fine.
There are few reported defaults, and settlement valuations are holding up reasonably well despite the softening of the resale market and the total evaporation of the offshore Chinese bid.
With pre-sales flagging it's certainly hard to envisage as many new projects getting off the ground, as investors grapple for finance in the midst of a Royal Commission into banking misconduct.
It's become a vicious circle, with nervous banks requiring higher pre-sales which developers are unable to achieve, and finance for construction thus not forthcoming. 
In any case, a raft of actioned and proposed budgetary and regulatory macroprudential measures have made property investment less appealing at the margin (and totally unappealing for foreign investors). 
Another compelling indicator of troubled times ahead for developers is the sheer number of dwellings approved but not commenced at 46,400, mostly accounted for by apartments and by far the highest figure in Australia's history. 
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUWVmdnHC2E/Ws3kr6g6XAI/AAAAAAAApW8/wcRYn02NKMIyys25qx5zJ4VRnBJ_JRaZQCLcBGAs/s1600/4.jpg"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUWVmdnHC2E/Ws3kr6g6XAI/AAAAAAAApW8/wcRYn02NKMIyys25qx5zJ4VRnBJ_JRaZQCLcBGAs/s640/4.jpg" width="640" height="380" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="1385"></a>
What happens next?
Now sure, the plural of anecdote is not data, but I believe that we'll see many of Sydney's apartment projects running into trouble. 
The official line is that defaults are low, and everything is going swimmingly, but I'm not so sure. 
By the way, don't rely on anything you read here either, this is just my opinion.
Take a drive around, speak to a few sales staff, observe how apartment projects are progressing. 
In addition to the astonishing boom and collapse of Chinese investors, another potentially unique aspect of this cycle is that construction and materials costs could remain high in Sydney, even in the face of a sharp drop in apartment activity.
Forged on the back of a stamp and transfer duty bonanza from both residential housing and asset sales, the state has embarked upon an overdue thrust at tackling its infrastructure deficit, in turn propelling total construction employment to even greater heights. 
As a result construction employment surged higher than it had ever been before both in absolute terms and as a share of the workforce, squeezing developer margins.
Incidentally, I personally believe that most of the apartments approved in Sydney will be converted into dwelling starts in the fullness of time, but quite possibly at a different price and rate. 
Receivers and cashed up opportunists will stand by at the ready. 
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Receivers and cashed up opportunists are at the ready watching Sydney apartment prices: Pete Wargent

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Noarlunga Downs, a metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, has experienced the biggest stock increase in South Australia over the last 12 months, according to Investar.
Investar says its sales stock has grown by 81%, from 21 houses this time a year ago to its current 38 offerings.
The suburb's median house price sits on $320,000, according to CoreLogic.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/4/6/SA%20BIGGEST%20STOCK%20INCREASE%20.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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A Noarlunga Downs offering currently on the market is a three bedroom house priced at $319,000 to $339,000 (pictured above).
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-noarlunga+downs-125498554" target="_blank">20 Peppermint Grove</a> (pictured above), the South Australian home comes with three bedrooms, spacious formal living room, modern kitchen and private courtyard.
Other features include covered entertaining area,  split system heating and cooling, and single garage.
It is situated close to the Noarlunga transport hub, Colonnades Shopping Centre and only a short walk to Cardijn College.
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Noarlunga Downs sees SA's biggest stock increase

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A luxury riverside home in one of Brisbane’s priciest suburbs has been listed.
Receivers have listed the 1927 Spanish mission style abode of Margaret Batt, wife of bankrupt whiskey and cattle baron Keith Batt who founded Nant Distilling Company.
It had been listed by Margaret Batt late last year, but now receivers have taken over.
Dubbed El Nido, the stunning three-level home hugs the Hamilton hillside with river and city views.
The home at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-hamilton-128023366" target="_blank"> 19 Hillside Crescent, Hamilton</a>, is Spanish mission style.
The house is perched on the hill between Kingsford Smith Drive and Hillside Crescent.
Batt had tried to sell the Hamilton home in December without success.
It has been set for auction for Saturday April 28 through Place agent Tristan Rowland.
The four bedroom home comes with a riverview pool and games room.
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Former Nant owner's riverside Hamilton abode set for mortgagee auction

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Melbourne's Carrum Downs has emerged as the strongest auction market in the country during the March quarter.
Its achieved a 95.2% success rate from its 21 scheduled auctions.
Northbridge's 90.5% was the next best with 21 auctions too.
Next week there's just one scheduled auction in Carrum Downs, a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-carrum+downs-127903422" target="_blank">three bedroom home on O'Gradys Road</a> (above) that has a $550,000 to $580,000 price guidance.
CoreLogic put its median house price as $520,000.
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Across the non-capital city markets monitored by CoreLogic, Geelong was the best performing region in terms of clearance rates, with 83.3 per cent of auctions recording a successful result, while the Gold Coast recorded the lowest clearance rate the quarter (40.6 per cent), despite being the busiest region in terms of auction volumes (770). 
Auction volumes fell across all regions except the Gold Coast, with Geelong host to 261 fewer auctions over the quarter, while Wollongong volumes fell by 196. The Hunter region saw 159 fewer auctions, while the Sunshine Coast was down 75 auctions.
Wollongong was the only region to record a fall in the auction clearance rate over the March quarter, while the Hunter region saw the biggest increase in clearance rates when compared to the previous quarter.
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Carrum Downs ranked the 2018 auction hotspot: CoreLogic 

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The electronic property settlements provider PEXA aim to list on the ASX, has reportedly seen it asking investment banks to "pre-qualify" for a role in its slated $1 billion-plus initial public offering. 
The Australian Financial Review's Street Talk wrote PEXA's adviser, CITIC-CLSA, last week invited selected investment banks to express interest in running the IPO.
The PEXA chairman is Alan Cameron, founding head of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
The ownership group includes the big four banks, Macquarie Group, Link Administration Holdings, three state governments, and the former Toll Holdings boss Paul Little
Macquarie is PEXA's biggest shareholder with around a 25 per cent stake.
One-in-five settlements are now completed online via PEXA.
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The float is slated for the December quarter.
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E-conveyancer PEXA float re-scheduled for late 2018

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A new property survey by lender ME reveals 22% of home buyers exceed their spending limit when they purchased their property.
Almost half, some 46% exceeded it by $30,000 or more.
Some 30% exceeded their budget by $50,000 or more.
There were 10% exceeded their budget by $150,000 or more. 
The most common reasons for exceeding their self-imposed limit were:
+ falling in love with the property (52%);
+ underestimating the budget required (28%);
+ impatience (20%);
+ underquoting by an agent (15%);
and getting caught up in a bidding war (12%). 
Some two thirds of those who went over their budget admitted some kind of negative consequence as a result, either financial or emotional.
ME Head of Home Loans, Patrick Nolan, said it was important "to stick to your spending limits.”
He added banks were legally obligated to only lend an amount you can afford to repay over the life of the loan, including at a higher interest rate.
ME’s survey is based on a representative sample of 1,000 Australian property buyers; completed in March 2018.
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Underquoting by estate agents blamed by 15 percent of buyers for exceeding their property purchasing budget

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A four bedroom on an 818 sqm block in Alexander Heights, a suburb of Perth, has been sold for $410,000 by the mortgagees. 
It was sold by Jim McConnell from Ray White.
The Western Australian property last sold at $275,000 in 2016.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-wa-alexander+heights-126458186" target="_blank">Located at 4 Chancery Lane</a>, Alexander Heights, it comes with four bedrooms, multiple tiled living areas, and studio room in the rear yard. 
It is less than 2km from shops, public transport, parks and primary school. 
The suburb's median house value sits on $420,000, according to CoreLogic. 
 
 
 
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Alexander Heights four bedroom house sold by mortgagee

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Olio Mio, the Hunter Valley Pokolbin estate, has been listed by Jurds agent John Edmundson.

The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-nsw-pokolbin-7957218" target="_blank">24 hectare property</a> features a 10 hectare olive grove and an olive process plant, as well as a two hectare vineyard and garden.

The estate completed with southern European style six bedroom homestead last traded for $2.75 million in 2002.

The olive grove was established in 1997 and has produced premium extra virgin olive oil, made from olives harvested and processed on-site within 24 hours of picking.

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Iis is being run by Bob and Denise Whalan after purchasing Olio Mio Estate in 2002. 

Their first project was to plant a further 4,600 vines of Verdehlo and Tempranillo and to manage the two acres of Shiraz, which produced its first vintage in 2004.

Olio Mio Estate wines are bottled under the Stormy Ridge label.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29359]

In 1998 the Estate was planted with 2,500 olive trees. The grove has Italian, Spanish and Greek varieties for oil and table fruit. The Olio Mio range of unfiltered oil has a wonderful array of aromas and flavours in keeping with this award-winning region.

Olive farms on the market are seeing a spike in activity.

In the Mornington Peninsula the award-winning L'Uliveto Verde has hit the market.

 
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Olio Mio olive estate in the Hunter Valley listed

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Sydney’s residential vacancy rate "continues to support those seeking rental accommodation," according to the REINSW President Leanne Pilkington.
She based her interpretation on its on the March 2018 REINSW Vacancy Rate Survey seeing availability fall 0.1 percentage points to 2.2 per cent for the Sydney metropolitan area. 
“A vacancy rate above 2 per cent is positive for those seeking rental properties,” Ms Pilkington said, in an apparent shift on the historic sentiment that a market is considered to be evenly balance between renters and landlords at a 3 percent vacancy rate, with anything above 3 percent favouring renters.
Middle Sydney and Inner Sydney rose 0.1 percentage points to 2.6 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/4/16/vacancyrates.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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Outer Sydney, the vacancy rate remained steady.
In the Hunter, vacancy rates rose 0.1 percentage points to 1.6 per cent with Newcastle up 0.4 percentage points. The Illawarra also remained stable for the third month in a row with vacancy rates at 1.9 per cent. Wollongong was down 0.1 percentage points at 2.2 per cent. 
Across regional areas, Northern Rivers rose 0.2 percentage points at 1.2 per cent, Murrumbidgee increased 0.2 percentage points at 1.0, while New England dropped 0.9 percentage points at 1.9 per cent.
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REINSW says Sydney vacancy rate favours tenants 

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.

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The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

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

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

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

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

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

Staff reporter

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