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Data released by SQM Research calculates the national residential vacancy rate fell to 2.3% in January 2018, with the number of vacancies Australia-wide falling to 74,113, down from 2.5% in December 2017, as renters secured homes for the start of the new year. 
In the big cities, Melbourne’s vacancy rate dropped to 1.8% from 2.1% while Sydney’s dropped to 2.3% from 2.6%. But that vacancy rate is still up from 1.9% a year earlier, reflecting slightly easier rental conditions in Sydney. The vacancy rate dropped in Canberra to 0.9% down from 1.3% in December.
Hobart's vacancy rate hovered just above a record low at 0.4%, reflecting a severe shortage of rental properties in that city.
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<td>
City
</td>
<td>
January 2017 Vacancies
</td>
<td>
Vacancy Rate
</td>
<td>
December 2017 Vacancies
</td>
<td>
Vacancy Rate
</td>
<td>
January 2018 Vacancies
</td>
<td>
Vacancy Rate
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Adelaide
</td>
<td>
3,375 
</td>
<td>
1.9%
</td>
<td>
2,772 
</td>
<td>
1.5%
</td>
<td>
2,793 
</td>
<td>
1.5%
</td>
</tr>
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<td>
Perth
</td>
<td>
9,953 
</td>
<td>
5.1%
</td>
<td>
9,264 
</td>
<td>
4.6%
</td>
<td>
8,909 
</td>
<td>
4.4%
</td>
</tr>
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<td>
Melbourne
</td>
<td>
10,170 
</td>
<td>
1.9%
</td>
<td>
11,478 
</td>
<td>
2.1%
</td>
<td>
9,744 
</td>
<td>
1.8%
</td>
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<td>
Brisbane
</td>
<td>
11,314 
</td>
<td>
3.6%
</td>
<td>
12,240 
</td>
<td>
3.8%
</td>
<td>
11,505 
</td>
<td>
3.6%
</td>
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<td>
Canberra
</td>
<td>
621 
</td>
<td>
1.0%
</td>
<td>
807 
</td>
<td>
1.3%
</td>
<td>
569 
</td>
<td>
0.9%
</td>
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<td>
Sydney
</td>
<td>
12,228 
</td>
<td>
1.9%
</td>
<td>
17,404 
</td>
<td>
2.6%
</td>
<td>
15,775 
</td>
<td>
2.3%
</td>
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Darwin
</td>
<td>
1,086 
</td>
<td>
3.7%
</td>
<td>
1,035 
</td>
<td>
3.5%
</td>
<td>
941 
</td>
<td>
3.1%
</td>
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<td>
Hobart
</td>
<td>
186 
</td>
<td>
0.6%
</td>
<td>
96 
</td>
<td>
0.3%
</td>
<td>
126 
</td>
<td>
0.4%
</td>
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<td>
National
</td>
<td>
78,364 
</td>
<td>
2.5%
</td>
<td>
80,092 
</td>
<td>
2.5%
</td>
<td>
74,113 
</td>
<td>
2.3%
</td>
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Elsewhere, the vacancy dropped in Perth to 4.4% from 4.6% in December, but it is still the highest of any capital city. Darwin’s vacancy rate fell to 3.1% from 3.5% over the month as the surplus of rental properties eases in that city.
Managing Director of SQM Research, Louis Christopher, said the vacancy numbers highlighted tighter rental markets in most capital cities, which was to be expected in the first month of the year as renters found new rental homes. 
 “We’ve seen falls across all cities, as students prepare for their first semester of study and lease new homes, and workers also secure new rentals, especially in Canberra which has a transient workforce and Sydney too. We are seeing very tight rental conditions in Hobart, which is putting strong upward pressure on rents. 
“While Sydney’s vacancy rate has dropped, it is still well up on levels this time last year. If the vacancy rate holds at this level in coming months, Sydney will be more of a tenant’s market in 2018 and rental growth could continue to ease,” Christopher said.
Capital city asking rents over the month to 20 February 2018 rose 0.2% to $562 a week for houses. Unit asking rents rose 0.5% to $443 a week. Over the year, asking house rents rose by 1.3% while asking rents for units increased by 2.8%. 
Reflecting a shortage of rental properties, asking rents rose the most in Hobart over the month, by 5.1% and 5.3% for houses and units, respectively. 
The asking rent for a three-bedroom house in Sydney remains the highest in the nation at $745 a week while for units it stands at $525. Canberra follows at $616 a week for houses and $436 for units. Asking rents for houses rose in Melbourne by 0.4% over the month to $528 while unit asking rents rose 1.2% over the month to $402 a week.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/20/sqm.jpg" alt="">
SQM’s calculations of vacancies are based on online rental listings that have been advertised for three weeks or more compared to the total number of established rental properties. 
New reiwa.com data suggests Perth’s rental market has stabilised. 
REIWA President Hayden Groves said results for the December 2017 quarter suggests Perth’s rental market officially found its floor in 2017. 
“After a prolonged period of falling rents, soaring listings and record high vacancy rates, the market has strengthened. The December 2017 quarter results signal a stable market, which is welcome news for landlords and property investors,” Mr Groves said. 
Perth’s overall median rent price remained at $350 per week during the December 2017 quarter. 
Mr Groves said this was the third consecutive quarter Perth’s median rent price has held at $350 per week. 
“Perth’s median rent stabilised considerably in 2017. Where rents were once declining every quarter, we’ve now observed nine months of steady prices,” Mr Groves said. 
On an annual basis, reiwa.com data shows the median rent declined $10 per week. 
“Although there was a small decline between the December 2017 and December 2016 quarters, this is still a significant improvement on the year prior when Perth’s overall median rent declined $40 per week between the December 2016 quarter and the December 2015 quarter.
"Annually, the rate of decline has slowed considerably which is pleasing,” Mr Groves said. 
While the overall median rent price is stable, reiwa.com data shows a number of suburbs saw an improvement in rent prices over the quarter. 
“The top five suburbs for median rent price growth in the December 2017 quarter were Mindarie ($565 per week), Attadale ($455 per week), Bicton ($370 per week), Shelley ($430 per week) and Shoalwater ($295 per week),” Mr Groves said.
There were 13,555 rental properties leased in the December 2017 quarter. 
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“Despite the traditional lull of the festive season, leasing activity only declined 1.6 per cent during the December 2017 quarter. Tenants remain very active and it’s good to see that leasing activity hold up well throughout the holiday season,” Mr Groves said. 
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Madeley, Kingsley, Inglewood, Piara Waters and Cooloongup had the biggest improvement in leasing activity volumes in the December 2017 quarter. 
There were 8,912 properties for rent in Perth at the end of the December 2017 quarter. Mr Groves said rental listings in Perth have declined substantially since their peak of 11,300 in 2016.
“Listings have declined 8.4 per cent on a quarterly basis and are down 13.9 per cent compared to the December 2016 quarter. 
“These considerable declines are likely due to new dwelling commencements slowing which has resulted in stock being soaked up. Another contributing factor is the improvement in population growth into the state, which lifted to 0.84 per cent in the year to June 2017. The rental market is generally the first place to feel the effect of population growth, as new entrants into the state soak up rental stock first,” Mr Groves said. 
Average leasing days 
It took 49 days on average to find a tenant in the December quarter - five days faster than it did in the September 2017 quarter. 
Mr Groves said average leasing days had also improved by three days compared to the December 2016 quarter. 
“Healthy leasing activity and declining listings has increased demand, which means tenants are needing to act faster to secure a rental. It also shows landlords are listening to the advice of their property managers and pricing their properties competitively from the start,” Mr Groves said. 
Perth’s December 2017 quarter vacancy rate is 5.5 per cent - the lowest level since the September 2015 quarter. 
Perth’s vacancy rate is the lowest it has been in more than two years. It is now down from 6.9 per cent in the September 2017 quarter and from 6.4 per in the December 2016 quarter, which is significant” Mr Groves said. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Perth has highest rental vacancy rate at 4.4%, but down from 5.1% a year ago last January

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The National Capital Authority is seeking expressions of interest for the sale of The Lobby restaurant.
The Canberra landmark has been closed for more than a year.
The authority said it would ensure that its heritage values are protected after the sale, NCA chief planner Andrew Smith said.
"Once sold, the NCA and the Commonwealth will remain committed to protecting and preserving the heritage values of The Lobby as well as the Commonwealth Heritage listed landscape which it forms part of," the authority's chief planner, Andrew Smith, said in a statement.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/21/lobby2.jpg" alt="">
Development of The Lobby would need parliamentary approval.
Smith expects that The Lobby be a hospitality venue, remaining as a restaurant or possibly becoming a bar or cafe.
The restaurant opened in 1968, mostly for politicians who wanted somewhere to dine near Old Parliament House.
The tender process is through Civium Property Group until March 15.
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The Lobby, Canberra for sale

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A long-term lease has become available for the heritage Bridge Hotel building in Werribee.
Rick Berry and Stuart Kennett of Fitzroys are handling the campaign, closing March 21, on behalf of Wyndham City Council.
The two-storey Art Deco heritage building was built in 1926.
It comprises five main ground-floor bar and function areas across 602 square metres and 10 first-floor rooms over 186 square metres.
A 40 year-lease of two 20-year terms is available.
It is next to the newly constructed West End Car Park that provides 200 free public parking spaces.
Werribee has been further enhanced by the $275 million Wyndham Harbour marina and ecologically sustainable residential community project.
The development of four Catalyst Sites at Riverbend, Gateway and Cherry Street will bring to the Werribee City Centre $250 million of private investment, 600 new jobs, 700 new apartment residents, 100 serviced apartments to accommodate visitors, 1,400 new public and private parking spaces, 150 room Holiday Inn hotel, and a new Werribee Library and Integrated Community Learning Hub of more than 8,000 square metres. 
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Bridge Hotel, Werribee available for long-term lease

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Quest Apartment Hotels has reopened its doors in Toowoomba, following nine months of restoration work.
The hotel was damaged by fire last June, after a blaze broke out at an adjacent property. 
Building owner FKG commenced the $5 million restoration works after the blaze, replacing soft furnishings, broken windows and glass, electrical, plumbing and wiring along with fresh paint and carpet throughout, after smoke and heat ravaged the entire eastern face of the hotel.
Quest Toowoomba franchisee, Cynthia Rice has been with Quest since 2003.
“The former Church of Christ building is of significant cultural value to the local community, representing part of Toowoomba’s history, while having a wonderful aesthetic. We couldn’t be happier to have restored the property back to its former glory,” she said.
Located at 133 Margaret Street, the property features 74 apartments in total – a combination of studio apartments with kitchenettes, along with one, two and three bedroom apartments with kitchen and laundry facilities and a separate living/dining area. 
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Quest Toowoomba officially reopens its doors

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A retail investment on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy has sold at a floor rate of $15,260 per square metre.
Fitzroys agents Ervin Niyaz and David Bourke negotiated the $1.45 million sale.
The sale of 360A Brunswick Street was at a 5.3% yield.
The fully self-contained ground floor premises of 95 square metres sold with a new 5+5-year lease to convenience store Select 7, returning $77,000 per annum plus outgoings.
Bourke said the boom in medium and high-density development had grown the immediate catchment and attracted more young professionals to the archetypal stylish inner-north location.
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Brunswick Street retail investment sells at 5.3% yield

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Abbotsford’s The Retreat Hotel, best known for featuring in The Sullivans television series, will go under the hammer March 2.
It is expected to fetch over $2.5 million.
The historic pub at 226 Nicholson Street is being sold as freehold vacant possession by the Fermanis family.
CBRE’s Will Connolly and Scott Callow suggest The Retreat Hotel is one of the most affordable freehold pub opportunities currently available.
Built in 1915, the federation styled two-storey pub is situated on a 308 square metre corner block.
It has heritage overlay restrictions. 
CBRE recently sold the freehold investment in The Montague Hotel on a tight sub 4.5% yield. The property was sold off market, with CBRE acting on behalf of the Fermanis family.
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Historic Abbotsford hotel, The Retreat listed

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An Elanora four bedroom house has been sold by mortgagees for $290,000.
It was marketed as "perfect for the builder, developer or owner occupier".
It was sold by Neil Trewin and Dean Trewin from Frist National Real Estate.
The house is partly finished on a 938 square metre block of land.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-elanora-127009506" target="_blank">Located at 36 Boab Street</a><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-elanora-127009506" target="_blank">,</a> the house is close to shops and schools, five minutes to the Gold Coast's beaches and 10 minutes to Coolangatta Airport.
According to CoreLogic, the suburb's median house price sits on $655,000.
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Half-built Elanora, Gold Coast house sold by mortgagee

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A Malvern five bedroom trophy home has been listed for sale by RT Edgar.
The auction has been scheduled for March 17.
The renovated 1930s family residence blends many original features with a contemporary extension.
It features large main rooms, north-west facing rear garden with in-ground pool and spa and double lock up garage.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-malvern-127574522" target="_blank">The 13 Wilks Avenue home </a>also comes with two formal lounges, separate dining and kitchen, and study.
According to CoreLogic, the suburb's median house price sits on $2.5 million.
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1930s Malvern trophy home listed

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Erskineville ranks first when it comes to the biggest stock for sale increase in NSW.
Investar suggests that the stock growth is up to 21%, from 18 units this time last year to its current 56 offerings.
A two-bedroom apartment<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-erskineville-126108662"> </a>(pictured below) currently on the market is a Mitchell Road offering which is priced at $839,500.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-erskineville-126108662" target="_blank">The 11303/177-219 Mitchell Road</a> apartment was recently renovated.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/12/Erskineville.jpg" alt="">
City transport and Newtown's entertainment precinct are within short walking distance. 
Another two-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-erskineville-126838926" target="_blank">177 Mitchell Road</a> sold at $829,000 last year.
A one-bedroom unit at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-erskineville-423036538"> 177-219 Mitchell Road </a>(below) for rent is priced at $620 per week. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/1/31/erskineville%203.jpg" alt="">
Investar put its median rental at $625 a week.
According to CoreLogic, the median unit price sits on $855,000.
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Erskineville sees big jump in apartment stock levels

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A Toorak home on the corner of two of Melbourne's most expensive streets has hit the market.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-toorak-126716050" target="_blank">grand manor, built in the 1930's,</a> has $13 million to $14.3 million hopes.
Hidden away from the street behind green walls, the vine draped, European-style home was purpose built to entertain.
The grand entrance foyer with marble tiling leads through to the formal sitting and dining rooms with marble surround fireplace.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/8/orrong2.jpg" alt="">
A refined private study overlooks the front garden.
Up the curved staircase there's three bedrooms. The large master retreat has a marble ensuite and dressing room.
In the 1995 sqm established gardens there's a tennis court, swimming pool and heated spa.
The gardens are overlooked by an alfresco dining terrace.
Marshall White agents Marcus Chiminello and Nicole French are marketing the Orrong Road home.
  
 
 
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1930s Orrong Road, Toorak home with $13 million plus hopes

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."

&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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