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A 10th floor Robert Street, Collingwood apartment has been listed for sale with $520,000 to $560,000 hopes. 
The mortgagee auction will be held on March 3 by Leased and Sold Estate.
It last sold off the plan at $635,000 in 2014. It was leased for $450 a week in 2016.
Just over two years old, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-collingwood-127487082" target="_blank">the 1009D/21 Robert Street </a>home comes with two bedrooms, open plan kitchen and a roof top BBQ area.
Built on the Yorkshire Brewery site right in the heart of Collingwood, it is within walking distance to Smith and Brunswick Streets.
The historic 4,500 sqm historic site was given the green light in 2013 to be redeveloped into three residential towers featuring 350 apartments.
The $200 million project by SMA Projects included $6.7 million of heritage works and restoration on the historic brew tower, cellar building, silos and stables.
Collingwood's median apartment price sits on $550,900, according to CoreLogic. 
 
 
 
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Collingwood apartment listed under mortgagee instructions 

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Former Simeon Manners agent Scott Thornton and wife Jade have joined The Agency.
Scott Thornton, a 20 year veteran, left the Simeon Manners franchise where he was briefly a partner according to his LinkedIn profile.
He was previously at McGrath and LJ Hooker.
He said he is looking for to being part of the company as real estate and technology grows.
“We are in such an interesting time, we are evolving as a city, as a landscape and as an industry," Scott said.
"I think we are going through huge change and that’s exciting. To be a part of a company that is connected in understanding that change, means we can service our clients in the best possible way."
The Agency's CEO Matt Lahood said he is looking forward to working with the couple. 
“Scott and Jade are immensely talented and we are so excited to have them on the team, they are also very well known and respected in their local area.”
National sales director Thomas McGlynn says that in the new age of real estate, agents require a broad skill set and an innovative approach which is what he see's in Scott.
 
 
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Scott Thornton moves to The Agency

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A boutique freehold warehouse in Surry Hills has been listed in a prime location in the Sydney city fringe suburb.  
The property, <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/12-14-little-riley-street-surry-hills-nsw-2010-2014159716">12-14 Little Riley Street</a>, is an underdeveloped traditional two-storey warehouse spanning 217 square metres.
With clear open floor plates, it has potential for repositioning into a high quality residence, or as continued commercial office space. 
The property has been listed through Knight Frank’s Demi Carigliano and Adam Bodon.
There are $2.3 million expectations.
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 The property will be auctioned on site on March 17.  
It last sold at $480,000 in 1995.
Its proper owners include George Seper.
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Boutique Surry Hills warehouse listed for auction

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A former Brisbane real estate agent has been disqualified from the property industry by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), following an Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation.
Patricia Margaret Harper, former director of residential letting and management business Lonrae Pty Ltd operating ‘The Parc Apartments’ in Brisbane, was found to have misappropriated money received in trust, breaching her obligations as a property agent.
Ms Harper was fined $8,000 and disqualified from working in the property industry for 10 years.
The tribunal heard Lonrae went into receivership in December 2013.
In January 2014, the OFT initiated an investigation into the business after a suspected shortfall in the trust account was reported. The investigation subsequently revealed $49,869 was missing.
From November 2011, Ms Harper falsely receipted rental amounts into trust records for rent purportedly paid, for a unit Lonrae was renting, in effect using other trust money to pay her rent. She had also accepted bond payments in cash from tenants and had failed to deposit the cash into the trust account, as well as failing to pay the bond money to the Residential Tenancies Authority as required.
In its investigation, the OFT noted the trust account records (both electronic and physical) were not kept in an appropriate manner, which contributed to the business’s final state of affairs.
Fair Trading Acting Executive Director Craig Turner said under no circumstances was it proper conduct for a property agent to misuse trust money.
“Agents are held to a high standard and must deal with trust money, including bond money properly. They must only transfer it to the rightfully entitled persons and they must accurately record transactions,” Mr Turner said.
“Anyone in the industry who treats trust money as their personal moneybox will be dealt with by the OFT to the full extent of the law.”
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Brisbane letting agent disqualified after trust fund misappropriation  

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A three bedroom home in Encounter Bay, South Australia listed for sale with $730,000 hopes has gone under contract. 
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-encounter+bay-127299842" target="_blank">18 Franklin Parade</a> home has water views.
The selling agent was Beth Stratfold from Harcourts South Coast. 
It comes with three generous bedrooms, two bathrooms and two living areas. 
According to CoreLogic, the median house price of Encounter Bay sits on $351,250.
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Encounter Bay trophy home listing under offer

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There is more stock making its way to the Sydney market, however there's still plenty left over from last year.
New listings in Sydney are up over 1,000 from CoreLogic's update last week, while Melbourne's have also spiked roughly the same amount.
There are 21 percent more listings in Sydney than this time last year.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/2/12/CORE%202.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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Hobart's thriving market is finding buyers the quickest for house and apartments.
Darwin houses and units take the longest to shift, nearly triple the time that they take to sell in Hobart.
Melbourne outstrips Sydney for the median time on market for houses by 15 days, but just three days separates the apartment market.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/2/12/CORE%205.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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Fresh Sydney stock emerging but still 2017 supply overhang: CoreLogic

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The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says there had been 5400 more first-home buyers in greater Sydney since her government introduced stamp duty concessions in July 2017.
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Stamp duty for first-home buyers purchasing a new or existing property valued up to $650,000 was eliminated last July, and discounts were offered to buyers with purchases valued between $650,000 and $800,000.
"I made helping first-home buyers one of my first priorities as Premier, so I'm thrilled that our stamp duty reforms are driving real outcomes for people in NSW," Ms Berejiklian said.
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<div class="cq-article-content-media section">"While we know there is always more to do on tackling housing affordability, the results so far clearly show that we are turning the tide for first-home buyers."</div>
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Western and southwestern suburbs including Mr Druitt, Liverpool, Camden, Oran Park and Penrith had big increaseS in first-home buyers.
Regional Gosford and Wyong also had a rise in buyers.
The current brackets of discounts for purchases up to $850,000 was not enough to help many buyers even for western Sydney, HIA executive director David Bare said.
An influx of first-home buyers has also been recorded in Victorian municipalities including Melton, Wyndham, Hume and Casey since concessions were rolled out on July 1 last year by the Andrews Government, coinciding with continued strong price growth for houses and units. 
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First home-buyer numbers well up in Sydney

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The APRA benchmark of no more than 30 per cent of new lending by Australian banks being on interest-only terms was not overly restrictive for borrowers who genuinely need the form of finance.
While roughly 1-in-3 loans granted can still be on an interest-only basis, APRA boss Wayne Byres advised last week that data for the last quarter of 2017 shows that only about 1-in-5 loans were interest-only.
Byres said it had required the major interest-only lenders to establish strategies that incentivise more borrowers to repay their principal.
"The industry has been quite successful in doing so:, and the number of interest-only loans with high LVRs continued to fall to quite low levels.
"All of that is positive for the quality of loan portfolios," he told the A50 Australian Economic Forum dinner.
"While the direction in asset quality is positive, we’re not declaring victory just yet.
"We still want to see that the improvements the industry has made are truly embedded into industry practice.
"And we can modify our interventions as more permanent measures come into play.
"That will include, amongst other things, further strengthening of borrower serviceability assessments by lenders, strengthened capital requirements for mortgage lending imposed by us, and comprehensive credit reporting being mandated by the Government.
"Through these initiatives, we are laying the platform to make sure prudent lending is maintained on an ongoing basis," he said.
Lending restrictions put in place by APRA on interest-only loans cost borrowers $500 million a year, according to the Productivity Commission.
In its draft report released following its review into competition in the Australian financial system, the PC has suggested that macro-prudential measures introduced to reduce IO lending were “blunt interventions."
“We estimated that the cost borne by taxpayers as a result of changes in home loan investor rates following APRA’s intervention on interest-only loans in 2017 was up to $500 million per year,” the PC report reads.
The PC claimed that the regulator’s measures boosted lender’s profits, reduced market competitiveness and hiked interest rates.
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APRA says IO loans now sit at 1 in 5 loans

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A three bedroom home in bushland at Kewarra Beach, Queensland with ocean views has been listed for sale with over $2 million hopes.
Marketed as achieving the balance of functionality and aesthetics, the contemporary pavilion style home blends into the landscape of its natural setting. 
Set in an elevated cul-de-sac at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-kewarra+beach-126008822" target="_blank"> 13-15 Waterview Close</a>, the house comes with multiple indoor and outdoor living spaces.
<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/kerrara.jpg" alt="">
There is a timber deck with wet-edge pool.
The listing agents are Nicholas Slatyer and Renae Young from Belle Property. 
It had last sold for $565,000 in 2008.
The suburb's median house price sits on $456,500 according to CoreLogic. 
 
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Kewarra Beach three bedroom house

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The auction of a two-storey, three-bedroom Richmond townhouse - set inside Channel 9’s former Melbourne television studios - failed to draw more than a curious audience, with the offering passed in on a $1.85 million vendor bid.
But Melbourne regained its mantle as the hottest auction market, when some 72.5 per cent of the 520 reported auctions sold, followed by Adelaide at 68.9 per cent.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-richmond-127327718" target="_blank">The Richmond offering</a> (pictured above) comes with a $1.95 million asking price having been listed by the boss of First National Real Estate, Ray Ellis.
The townhouse with soaring ceilings was bought by Ellis at $1,725,000 in 2014.
Originally built in the 1900's by the Wertheim piano manufacturers, it went on to become the Heinz soup factory before General Televsion Corporation bought the site in 1955.
The Herald Sun reported former Hey Hey It’s Saturday star John Blackman was among the onlookers, having worked in the building. 
The residential conversion of the former television studio lot was undertaken by Lend Lease as part of the $400 million housing village, dubbed Studio Nine. The offering sits directly under the Television City sign etched onto the front red brick facade on the tree-lined Bendigo Street.
Jellis Craig auctioneer Jonathon O’Donoghue placed two vendor bids before the property passed in at $1.85 million.
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This week across the nation's capital cities, auction volumes continued to increase with 1,464 homes returning a preliminary clearance rate of 67.7 per cent.
It was up from the 62 per cent across 790 auctions last week, as listings grow after the summer break.
CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan noted over the same week last year 1,591 auctions were held with a stronger 73.2 percent clearance rate. 
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Sydney secured the nation's top auction result, but it was a close contest.
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There was a $3,028,000 apartment sale at Kirribilli which edged out a $3 million Abbotsford house sale in Sydney's inner west.
The three bedroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-kirribilli-127332762" target="_blank">61/29 Carabella Street</a> offering (above) had been listed with $2.5 million expectations through Nigel Mikhi at McGrath.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-abbotsford-127142554" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">14 Irene Street Abbotsford offering</a> was a three bedroom single storey home on 700 sqm. It last sold in 2003 at $1,052,000.
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Sydney was host to 517 auctions this week and a preliminary clearance rate of 68.7 per cent was recorded, rising from 57.1 per cent last week across 216 auctions.
The strongest of Sydney's 15 sub-regions were the Eastern Suburbs (85.2 per cent), the Northern Beaches (79.1 per cent) and the Inner West (75 per cent) regions. 
The lowest clearance rate was across the Sutherland Shire where 46.7 per cent of the 30 reported auctions were successful.
Melbourne's strongest clearance was recorded across the Mornington Peninsula, where 85 per cent of the 20 reported auctions were successful. 
Melbourne's top sale was on the peninsula when $2.45 million was paid at McCrae. The 3610 sqm corner lot set over three titles cam with an updated three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-mccrae-127336210" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1-7 Burrell Street offering</a>, 200 metres from the beach, was marketed by Hockingstuart for its development potential. It was listed for the first time in more than 30 years when the blocks fetched around $100,000 each.
The preliminary clearance rate in Brisbane was 53.8 per cent, up from 45.6 per cent last week. 
An Ipswich offering at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-rosewood-127285694" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">38 Bassett Lane, Rosewood</a> was the nation's cheapest capital city result. The five bedroom house on 1320 sqm sold for $200,000. It had traded at $315,000 in pre-gfc 2008.
Meanwhile the Gold Coast secured a 65.4 per cent success rate of its 26 reported auctions.<img src="file:///page1image89720" alt="page1image89720" width="228.801620" height="0.648885" data-imagetype="External"> 
In Adelaide, a 68.9 per cent preliminary result was recorded across 78 auctions. Last week, 98 Adelaide auctions returned a clearance rate of 70.2 per cent.
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The top sale was $1,405,000 for a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-st+peters-127269766" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1925s classic sandstone-fronted bungalow on 935 sqm at St Peters </a>(pictured below). The 16 Ninth Avenue home was marketed as ideal canvas for an ambitious renovator or home builder.
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Perth’s clearance rate of 29 per cent across 31 auction results was lower than last week, when 30 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 47.4 per cent was recorded. 
Over the same week last year Perth was 25 per cent, and 74 auctions were held.
Perth sales included <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-marangaroo-127270702" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a $452,000 result for a home</a> at Marangaroo, described as a four bedroom, two bathroom plus study, quality built Peter Stannard home that was a first home buyers dream.
Across Canberra, 73 homes were taken to auction. Preliminary results show a clearance rate of 67.7 per cent, up from 62.2 per cent the previous week.
Tasmania was host to 11 auctions this week and of the eight reported some five successful sales. 
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-south+burnie-127314854" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A three bedroom South Burnie home</a> (pictured below) was passed on on a $500,000 vendor bid. It had been transformed onto a modern home since selling at $200,000 in 2015.
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Melbourne auctions strongest of the nation in early results

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."

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

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

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

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

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

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

Staff reporter

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