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The hamburger restaurant Milky Lane has agreed terms on a two-year lease with options at Parramatta in Sydney's west.
It is for the ground floor 385sq m retail space at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-nsw-parramatta-500849035" target="_blank">20 Macquarie Street</a>.
The agreed gross annual rent is $380 a square metre, with a 4.5 per cent annual rental review.
Khoury Partners' Jon Race handled the leasing negotiations.
With a complete update of both the lobby and common areas, 20-22 Macquarie Street occupies a central position, only metres to Parramatta Train Station Station and Bus Services. 
The tower provides six levels of B-Grade office accommodation. Retail opportunities included ground floor retail featuring full commercial kitchen and seating for 213 diners. 
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Milky Lane lease in Parramatta

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Historic Ravenswood Run Homestead – considered the birthplace of Bendigo – remains for sale.
The property which offers 23 bedrooms and 18 bathrooms was listed for weekend auction.
The 14-hectare estate, which once had its own train station, had initial $3.6 million plus hopes.
Ravenswood Homestead was built in the late 1850s on the former sheep station known as the Mount Alexander North Run, which covered about 47,753 hectares.
It was around Bendigo’s first gold find.
<img class="size-full wp-image-47302 aligncenter" src="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ravenswood1.jpg" alt="The property has been operating as guest accommodation since the 1980s. Photo: Supplied" width="797" height="596">
The pre-Georgian property first began operating as guest accommodation in the 1980s.
The estate <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.jelliscraig.com.au/property-details-4912-Calder-Highway-Ravenswood-3453/604878" target="_blank">at 4912 Calder Highway</a> includes eight servant’s quarters, a dining room capable of seating 48, a breakfast room, cellar and gym.
<img class="size-full wp-image-47305 aligncenter" src="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ravenswood4.jpg" alt="The dining room can sit up to 48. Photo: Supplied" width="802" height="532">
It is being sold with a redevelopment permit through Jellis Craig agent Tom May. 
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Ravenswood Run remains for sale

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Wandin Valley, the Hunter Valley winery named after a fictional village in the 1980s hit TV series A Country Practice, has been listed for sale.
It last sold for $7 million, less than two years ago when bought by a director of one of China's largest animation studios, Lap Tung Tsoi.
The Lovedale property was originally known as Millstone Vineyard.
The 40-hectare property was renamed Wandin Valley by the creator of A Country Practice, James Davern, and his wife Philippa following their purchase in 1990 for $900,000.
The Davern's redeveloped the property into a winery, building the cricket pavilion-style main residence, manager's cottage, modern cellar, function rooms for weddings, and adding the tourist accommodation.
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It was sold by the couple in 2010 for $4.75 millio to the Mosman couple Katrina and Russell Leslie, who once worked as a Macquarie investment banker.
The estate’s wine history dates back to 1973 when potter-winemaker Peter Dobinson planted a vineyard, calling it Millstone.
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"It is Australian country, blending with Southern European architecture, nestled amongst 35 year old vines and olive groves creates an inspiring setting which ensures customer visitation," Jurds agent Cain Beckett said.
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Tsoi is a director in his family's international animation and toy manufacturing empire Alpha Group which was founded by his billionaire brother, Cai Dongqing, who was a co-producer of China's all-time highest box office grossing movie The Mermaid.
Tsoi owns an $11.7 million mansion in Vaucluse.
 
This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph. 
 
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Chinese list Wandin Valley vineyard

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The architecture firm The Buchan Group, has designed a retail hub located in the heart of a new Northern Territory master-planned suburb, Zuccoli at Palmerston.
Zuccoli plaza, which is now completed, comprises 3400 sqm of retail space with additional covered areas.
The shopping centre features 14 shops including a supermarket, gym, medical centre, chemist, local MP office, liquor store, newsagent, land sales office and cafe. It is located on the corner of Zuccoli Parade and Crosby Street.
The Buchan Group was appointed by The RR Morriss Group to provide master-planning, architectural, interior, graphics branding and signage design services to the project.
Buchan Group architect Rhys Maxwell said Zuccoli Plaza was "a village plaza which connected, integrated, and extended the adjoining park into the site."
“It seemed logical to integrate the surrounding parkland into the site to complement the Zuccoli masterplan concept of providing a natural edge to village life.
“A flowing and open park transition with flanking arbour structures connects the adjoining WKJ Memorial Park to the plaza to provide shade and cover to the pedestrian walkways."
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The centre was opened by the family of the late Guido Zuccoli, after whom the suburb was named. A design competition was held for local artists to paint a mural in Mr Zuccoli’s honour, on the park-facing side of Zuccoli Plaza.
 
 
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Buchan Group's design of Zuccoli Plaza, Darwin

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A Little Collins Street space in Melbourne’s CBD has attracted strong demand from a range of operators. 
Fitzroys agent Terence Yeh leased the 38 sqm Shop 3, 188 Little Collins Street to Little Temperance café on a 5+5-year deal at $90,000 per annum net, with 4% annual increases. 
Yeh said the typical rate for a similar space would be around $1,800 per sqm, but a rate of $2,368 per sqm was achieved. 
“More than 60 enquiries were received from hospitality, fashion and service retail operators, looking to capitalise on the CBD worker population and the rapidly growing residential catchment in central Melbourne,” he said. 
Yeh negotiated the deal on behalf of a private investor. 
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 Little Temperance cafe leases Little Collins Street space 

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Mirvac Group's A-grade office development 664 Collins Street in Melbourne is 100 per cent pre-leased following the signing of leading energy provider, AGL. 
AGL has committed to over 6,000 square metres across two floors.
It joining tenants, Pitcher Partners and Fujitsu in the 26,000 square metre office tower. 
Mirvac’s Campbell Hanan said, “664 Collins Street is now 100 per cent leased ahead of practical completion this year."
“The changing forces of work and employee experience are demanding more from the built form than ever before. 
"Mirvac is working with tenants to create workplaces and assets, like 664 Collins Street.
He said <a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=644+Collins&amp;entry=gmail&amp;source=g">644 Collins</a> was designed to incorporate leading smart technology and real-time data collection to improve workforce utilisation and efficiencies, "while creating an intuitive working environment.” 
The executive general manager group Operations at AGL, Doug Jackson said AGL was utilising this space to accommodate our digital transformation projects and Melbourne-based operations. 
At 664 Collins Street, Pitcher Partners will occupy over 9,000 square metres across 3.5 levels, with a 12-year lease commencing in June 2018. 
Fujitsu and AGL will take up occupancy in September 2018. 
Upon practical completion, which is expected mid this year, 664 Collins Street will be the final stage of the Southern Cross Station complex. It will target a 5 Star Green Star Design and 5 Star NABERS Energy rating.
In June last year, Mirvac successfully sold down 50 per cent of the building to an investment vehicle sponsored by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI).
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After AGL Mirvac¹s 664 Collins Street 100 percent pre-leased

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<div class="column">Changing local market and regulatory conditions resulted in a dramatic slowdown in outbound Chinese investment in Australian commercial property during 2017, falling further from its 2015 peak.</div>
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<div class="column">But despite these weaker investment levels, Australia remains a firm favourite among Mainland Chinese investors, ranking second for the third consecutive year behind the United States, the Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s annual investor intentions research noted.</div>
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<div class="column">Australia ranked as the 7th most popular global destination for Chinese CRE investment in 2017</div>
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<div class="column">The investment challenges are driven by supply constraints and regulatory changes.</div>
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<div class="column">The report noted sentiment among Chinese investors towards Australian CRE ranks 2nd globally, although its has decreased from 2016.</div>
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<div class="column">Inbound investment from Hong Kong rises by $200m year-on-year to $1.1Bn with NSW offices accounting for almost 50% of Chinese CRE investment into Australia (excluding development sites).</div>
<div class="column">It reported 73% of deals transacted by Chinese investors during 2017 were in the sub-$50m category.</div>
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<div class="column">Total Chinese outbound investment into Australian commercial property has fallen from $6.97bn in 2016 to $2.83bn in 2017, a 60% decline overall, and ranking as the 7th most popular destination for China investment worldwide. Total 2017 investment comprised $1.97bn invested into standing assets and $853m in developments sites, a decline of 60% and 72% respectively.</div>
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 While mainland Chinese investment has decreased, investment from Hong Kong Kong has increased by 20% last year, rising from $918m to $1.1Bn in 2017. This is expected to increase further during 2018 as Mainland Chinese investors seek to reallocate capital via Hong Kong.</div>
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A recent survey of top Mainland Chinese Real Estate Investors Overseas (‘MCREIO’) conducted by the Cushman &amp; Wakefield Research team also shows that MCREIO’s sentiment towards Australian commercial property had dropped from 22% in 2016 to 17% in 2017. This was in line with the decrease in overall investment, however it still placed Australia in second position overall - behind the 31% of investors that intend to invest in the United States (also down from 44% in 2016). 
From the survey, the most significant declines in sentiment were experienced in Canada, Singapore and Japan where allocations fell to 1% or less of the available MCREIO global real estate capital as investors backed away from expensive markets and stabilised assets. 
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While there is expected to be greater scrutiny of offshore investment by the Chinese Government, Cushman &amp; Wakefield Research also shows that only 50% of mainland investors have been significantly impacted by the latest guidelines. The remaining half felt limited or no impact. 
Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s Head of Capital Markets Australia and New Zealand, James Quigley, said while there had been a significant drop in China outbound investment into Australian real estate over the past year, Australia remains as one of the top global destinations of choice for Chinese investors. 
“Top Chinese investors are telling us that they still greatly favour the Australian market, but with regulatory changes and fierce competition for top assets, deal activity is expected to weaker. That said, we are seeing rising investment volumes from Hong Kong with further growth expected as Mainland Chinese investors look at alternative avenues to invest. 
“Nonetheless, some investors are likely to be less impacted by recent policy changes, and so are expected to remain active purchasers. As investors change strategies and potentially lower volumes, this also presents near term opportunity for local capital partnering,” Mr Quigley said. 
While Chinese investment into larger Australian assets with sale prices of $200m+ have transacted, they have only accounted for just 4% of deals by number since 2013 (and 37% of dollar value). Conversely, 73% of deals by number have been completed in the sub-$50m range, accounting for 25% of total deal value. 
Outside the development site market, Chinese investors have a sharp focus on the Australian office market, and New South Wales offices in particular, which have averaged 48% and 45% of total investment by value respectively since 2011, and 40% during 2017. 
With many of Sydney’s largest transactions in 2017 undertaken by domestic entities, this is in part contributing to the decline in investment, but also driving greater diversification into other sectors such as retail and mixed use and geographically into metropolitan Sydney and Victoria. 
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Since 2015, there have been three major policy developments that have impacted Chinese investment into the Australian real estate sector. The China Australia Free Trade Agreement (CHAFTA, the Belt and Road Initiative, and most recently, the updated guidance on foreign investment (Circular 74). While the CHAFTA is designed to make trade more efficient, the Belt and Road and Circular 74 are expected to have broader reaching implications for commercial real estate.
According to Cushman &amp; Wakefield research, the expected impact of these policy frameworks will include lower investment volumes and fewer Chinese investors in the market, also driving opportunities for capital partnering and local asset management services.
Realignment of real estate strategies to Belt and Road criteria is likely to benefit the development and industrial sector, especially logistics, production space and R&amp;D sites. Over the longer term, there is an anticipated uplift in demand for space as Chinese occupiers continue to expand into international markets. 
 
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Chinese investment into Australian commercial property falls further from its 2015 peak

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Fraud at Aussie Home Loans will be examined by the banking royal commission’s first public hearing later this month.
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The financial services royal commission is targeting lenders over alleged cases of home loan fraud, along with unsuitable credit card limit increases and their car financing practices.
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The big four banks will all feature prominently in the inquiry's first round of public hearings focusing on inappropriate or unsuitable lending in home loans.
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The commission's target will be "fraudulent brokers and broker arrangements" at Aussie Home Loans.
It will look at the Commonwealth Bank's "accreditation of brokers and broker arrangements".
It will look at NAB's "Introducer Program and fraudulent loan applications".
The Introducer Program was rewarding "introducers" who successfully referred people to the bank for a loan, despite many of the applications being submitted with false information including doctored payslips. 
The bank issued 2300 home loans, which mainly went to foreign buyers of Australian property sold via "introducers."
Twenty bankers were caught breaching lending policies.
The hearings will be held in Melbourne from March 13 until March 23.
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NAB and Aussie Home Loans fraud to be examined by banking royal commision

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Melbourne's North East was the region that had the highest weekend clearance rate in Melbourne, according to CoreLogic.
The clearance rate was 77.3% across 207 auctions in the week ending February 25.
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A Doreen four bedroom house has been sold at auction for $670,000 (pictured above).
It was sold by Millership &amp; Co on February 24.
Easily accessing to schools, transport and shops,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-doreen-127505714" target="_blank"> the </a><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-doreen-127505714" target="_blank">13 Kossatz Terrace house </a>features three living areas, Blanco equipped kitchen and an open study. 
A three bedroom townhouse in Bundoora, another North East suburb in Melbourne, has been sold at auctions for $628,000.
It was sold by Mary Ali from Raywhite on February 24.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-bundoora-127378218" target="_blank">The 6 Greenwich Crescent</a> home (pictured below) comes with three bedrooms with BIR, study nook, and a lock up garage with car space.
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Melbourne's North East the weekend auction hotspot: CoreLogic

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GUEST OBSERVER
Although 90% of our population lives in cities, Australia lacks a national urban policy and our government provides insufficient funding for urban sustainability projects.
Good urban planning is important for a number of reasons. Australian cities face the possibility of significant disasters due to climate change. Air pollution kills 3,000 people a year. A housing price crisis has taken hold. Reports on the energy and oil vulnerability of Australian cities are disquieting. And food and water security often seem like policy afterthoughts.
Despite these major concerns, little funding has been provided for urban planning research, and the distribution of this funding is uneven.
Lean funding for urban planning research
Australia has a total of 48 accredited planning degrees at 24 universities, staffed by 196 planning academics. We assessed Australian Research Council (ARC) grants to urban and regional planning. The ARC is the largest and most prestigious public research funding body in Australia. It provides the lion’s share of funding for planning research, which is very little.
A total of A$31.7 million was provided for 91 planning projects between 2010 and 2018. To place these sums in perspective, consider the funding in some related fields: human geography research received A$58.8 million for 151 projects; demography research attracted A$88.7 million for 76 projects; and political science collected A$88.7 million for 229 projects.
On average, A$17,970 per academic per year was provided for planning projects. Unfortunately, this amount of funding does not go very far. For instance, conducting a travel survey of 500 participants costs about A$50,000. Hiring a part-time research assistant costs about A$50 an hour.
Meanwhile, several universities have set minimum grant funding expectations or “aspirations” for planning staff. A quick survey of our colleagues suggests these vary between A$20,000 and A$80,000 per year.
We found that departments with more staff win more research grants (as teams typically submit their proposals). But planning programs in Australia are minuscule. On average they are staffed by only six or seven academics. This is another reflection of the meagre funding provided to the planning profession.
In contrast, North American and European countries provide much more financial support to planning academics through government grants for research and salaries for staff. Departments with 15 to 20 planning academics are common. On both sides of the Atlantic, the planning discipline is more consolidated and has a longer history than in Australia.
We still plan our cities without considering planning research. Traditionally, the government has demonstrated little interest in funding planning research, possibly because the development industry is a source of income for the major political parties. This industry has often viewed planning as a constraint on its activities. As Professor Patrick Troy puts it, there is fear that rigorous research into urban Australia might reveal “too many inconvenient truths”.
And some studies suggest that few practitioners read planning research. Grant proposals involving early career planning researchers and collaborations between academic planners and industry partners have become more successful in recent years.
Big fish dominate small funding pool
While 59% of planning academics did not attract any ARC grants between 2010 and 2018, the likelihood of being awarded an ARC grant increases considerably for more senior planning academics. Professors receive more than twice as many grants as associate professors. Associate professors in turn receive about twice as many grants as senior lecturers. However, most planning programs expect junior academics to successfully lead ARC grant applications.
Senior planning academics may be more successful winning grants because they are more experienced at grant writing. They may also have larger networks of academic colleagues (with whom to form bidding teams) and industry colleagues (who might help locate matching funds).
But these data also imply that ARC grants “snowball” (holding one grant substantially affects the chances of winning another) and tend to cluster around certain individuals. Grant acquisition rates are more closely correlated with publication and citation rates in earlier career stages. The concern here is that an “old boy network” effect may be in place.
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Timeline of planning research funding: 2002-2015.
Significant gender differences in grant acquisition rates appear to confirm this. While males were the lead investigators on 59 ARC grants between 2010 and 2018, females led only 32 grants. Although differences are small among lecturers, the “funding gender gap” broadens considerably at the professorial levels. Male professors hold 6.4 times as many ARC grants as female professors, although there are only 2.7 times more male professors than female professors.
Why the gender gap? International research has suggested that male-dominated grant review committees generally evaluate women, especially younger women, more harshly. In the ARC College of Experts, which evaluates grant applications, only 70 of the 176 members – 40% – are female.
Inequitable allocation of ARC research funding occurs in other disciplines too. But in planning it is more problematic due to the sexism inherent in urban development. Virtually everything in our cities – streets, squares, parks, buildings – has been designed and shaped by men. Nearly all of the references for urban best practices, as taught in Australian universities, are written by men.
What would urban planning research and practice be like if it were female-led? Might women rewrite the rulebook? Might cities become less car-dependent and more cycling-friendly? Might they have fewer dark alleys and more sunlit parks and kindergartens?
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/91651/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">We could begin to answer some of these questions if planning research was prioritised.
Dorina Pojani, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, The University of Queensland.
Jaime Olvera-Garcia, PhD Candidate at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland.
Jason Byrne, Professor of Human Geography and Planning, University of Tasmania.
Neil Sipe, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, The University of Queensland.
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-cities-are-crying-out-for-better-planning-but-the-research-funding-is-missing-91651" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Australian cities are crying out for better planning, but the research funding is missing

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.

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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."

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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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