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The Sydney developer Yuhu Group has been confirmed as the buyer of the two Australian property jewels being developed by the Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda.
The company have paid a reported $1.13 billion for the Sydney and Gold Coast residential and hotel mixed-used projects.
Yuhu struck its deal in Hong Kong on January 18.
"Yuhu has faith that these two projects will inject new employment and boost the local economy," Yuhu founder and chairman Huang Xiangmo told Fairfax Media, where two reporters claimed to have broken the news exclusively.
Yuhu was the reported buyer in The Australian two weeks ago.
Yuhu is a local developer which is committed to investing in real estate and other developments in Australia, the group confirmed overnight.
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<div class="cq-article-content-media section"><img class="lazy620x0" src="https://www.afr.com/content/dam/images/g/y/w/u/p/q/image.imgtype.afrArticleInline.620x0.png/1507503772918.jpg" alt="In one the apartments at One Circular Quay. " width="620" height="378" data-src="https://www.afr.com/content/dam/images/g/y/w/u/p/q/image.imgtype.afrArticleInline.620x0.png/1507503772918.jpg"></div>
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<div class="cq-article-content-media section">The purchase price for the two highly desirable real estate assets is made up of a cash component of $315 million alo with the presumed debt of $815 million.</div>
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Forty-five per cent of the Gold Coast project Jewel was owned by Chinese-backed group Ridong. It has also sold its interests in the sale to Yuhu.
An independent valuation of the two projects put them at a total value of $1.12 billion, Dalian Wanda said in a release to the Hong Kong Exchange on Monday night.
Dalian Wanda came under pressure by the Chinese government to crimp its overseas investments. 
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Forty per cent of the Jewel apartments have sold, with the joint venture struggling to achieve similar sales rates achieved by many developers during the housing boom in the past five years, according to the Australian Financial Review 
Yuhu is in no rush to complete the sales of apartments.
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">The company has extensive developments and investments in Sydney.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">They include the Eastwood shopping centre, which it has plans to redevelop.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">There is also the North Sydney residential tower, The Miller, which it is developing, and the Bakehouse Quarter in Sydney's inner west which it bought for $380 million last year. </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
Mr Huang says the residential market in Sydney continues to show strong fundamentals.
It also advised its plans to retain the penthouse atop the Circular Quay residential tower, which Dalian Wanda was said to have received an expression-of-interest offer of $100 million.
As a local company Yuhu did not require Foreign Investment Review Board approval.
Yuhu is controlled by Mr Huang - an Australian permanent resident - and his family members, who are Australian citizens.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Yuhu Group scores Dalian Wanda's Sydney and Gold Coast jewels for $1.13 billion

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Campsie was the second suburb in the CoreLogic list of the top 10 Sydney suburbs with the lowest median value with 10 kilometres of the CBD. 
There was a median value of $608,394 in the inner west suburbs.
There were an annualised 339 sales over the period.
A two Campsie apartment that has just gone under contract was priced at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-campsie-117803103" target="_blank">$629,000</a> (pictured above). It last traded for $548,000 in 2014.
Another two bedder on Hill Street sold at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-nsw-campsie-126805262" target="_blank"> $639,000 </a>earlier this month. That last sold for $386,000 in 2013.
<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/2018/1/22/SYD%206.jpg" alt="">
A two bedroom apartment has been sold for $583,000 in January. The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-nsw-campsie-126949770" target="_blank">32 Dryden Street top floor apartment</a> sold tenanted at $480 per week having last traded for $330,000 in 2003.
Another Campsie apartment was sold by Peter Kassas and George Arrage from Raine &amp; Horne last year for $605,000, taking just seven days to sell.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-campsie-126807930" target="_blank">Claremont Street unit</a> came with two bedrooms and one bathroom. It has rapid access to Sydney airport and the Inner West.
 
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Campsie among Sydney's top 10 cheapest unit values within 10km of CBD

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Beecroft ranked fourth last year in the CoreLogic top 10 Sydney suburbs with the greatest annual change for units.
There was a median value of around $1.03 million in the upper North Shore suburb. There were an annualised 33 sales over the period.
The 12-month change was 31.7%.
Townhouses styles offerings are currently on the market off the plan on Copeland Road priced at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-beecroft-127235354" target="_blank"> $1.03 million</a>.
They are designed by Paul Meyer.
<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/2018/1/22/SYD%208.jpg" alt="">
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Beecroft units prices rocketed into Sydney's top 10 suburbs in 2017 

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Set at Southside, near Gympie, a four bedroom home has been sold by mortgagees for $295,000. 
The Queensland home had been on and off the market for several years with initial $350,000 hopes.
It was sold by the agent Rob Nimmo of The Professionals who marketed it as in the popular Willow Grove estate.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-southside-126972326">The Willow Grove Road house</a> came with four bedrooms, optional office, two living areas, large kitchen and double garage.
It came with solar hot water and eight solar panels. It last sold as a vacant building block at $125,000 in 2008 when it took just 18 days to find its buyer.
The building cost was $175,000.
Schools including Gympie South State School and Cooloola Christian College are a short car trip away.
According to CoreLogic, the median Southside house price is $327,475, still well down on the boom that ended in 2011.
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Willow Grove estate, Southside home sold by mortgagee

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More than 100 registered bidders attended an auction event in Canberra last week.
There were 29 properties for auction with 22 selling under the hammer, reflecting a 76% clearance rate.
Out of the offering only one came without a registered bidder.
Five of the homes had more than seven registered bidders after more than 1000 inspections of the auctioned Ray White homes were undertaken.
Prices ranged from $430,000 to $1,452,500 including 15 Hakea Crescent, O’Connor (pictured above) with the four-bedroom 2009 home the highest result.
The $430,000 sale was a 150 sqm three bedroom Narrabundah apartment that had previously sold in 2003 at $285,000.
It was sold as a $420 a week rental until September. It had been initially listed with $475,000 hopes last year.
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Canberra auctions off to a flier

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One of only five apartment residences in the harbourside Kurraba Point, Wallaringa Mansions ranked as the week's top sale after a sale on Australia Day eve.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-neutral+bay-127352910" target="_blank">McGrath agent Claudia Portale</a> secured $3,325,000 for the semi style apartment with leafy harbour views. 
It last sold in 2014 at $2.36 million, so reflecting 10% annual growth.
It sold at $2.2 million in 2007.
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Kurraba Point, Wallaringa Mansions ranks as the week's top sale through McGrath

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Melbourne and Sydney housing prices face a one-in-five risk of price correction, with JP Morgan saying there's little chance of a correction in the next five years.
It ranks as 19% for Melbourne and 18% for Sydney, JP Morgan economist Henry St John said after prices have been rising faster against wages.
The chance of steep price falls in Brisbane or Adelaide is rated at 8%, while the odds of a further 15%-plus slide in Perth prices is 7%.
The ABC advised St John arrived at his estimates by examining not only absolute price growth but also price-to-income and price-to-rent ratios to calculate how far out of whack the current real estate market is with historical averages.
"The fact that those valuation ratios in Melbourne haven't ever really had a deep pull-back means price gains have persistently dominated income and rental rate growth for a very long history," St John said.
This time last year the JP Morgan team forecast "major risks" for the listed property companies in Brisbane and Melbourne apartment settlements during 2017, which did not happen.
 
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80 percent chance there will be no property crash: JP Morgan 

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The lowest price paid at big weekend auction, The Event was $136,000 for a one-bedroom furnished hotel room at Surfers Paradise.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-surfers+paradise-127261054" target="_blank">1417 Mantra on View unit</a> is holiday let though on-site managers with owners allowed to stay for 28 days per year.
It last sold in 2009 at $219,500 to a WA investors.
“The strong contingent of local buyers was the big surprise of the day,” said Andrew Bell, the CEO of Ray White Surfers Paradise Group. 
Among the properties passed in was a grand three-storey historic home at Warwick known as The Abbey. The property boasts 50 rooms, a chapel, grand dining room and function rooms.
A five-bedroom waterfront home with Florida-style architectural elements at 80 Admiralty Drive, Paradise Waters, was passed in at $4 million. It had been on and off the market for two years without success.
“We’re expecting to secure sales for a number of properties passed in over the weekend over the coming weeks,” Mr Bell said.
Strong interest from interstate buyers didn’t translate to strong bidder numbers at Ray White Surfers Paradise’s The Event on Sunday.  </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Some 41 properties worth $35.4 million sold at the auction where 170 registered bidders, mainly from the Gold Coast and Brisbane, registered to bid.</div>
<div>Ten properties sold prior to auction among the 80 plus offerings.</div>
</div>
RWSP Group CEO Andrew Bell said they had over 2000 inspections on properties over the last four weeks," Mr Bell said.
Bell had tipped interest from southern buyers to lead sales.
Mantra's resales have been loss making for some time. A sale last November was at $148,000 having sold at $320,000 in 2006, according to CoreLogic. 
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Surfers Paradise Mantra unit liquidation sale cheapest weekend result

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Big cities and places with internationally renowned attractions have long been the most popular tourist destinations. Even today, Chinese tour companies in Australia, for instance, mostly <a href="https://epubs.scu.edu.au/tourism_pubs/2219/" target="_blank">focus on the biggest cities</a> – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane – and landmarks like Uluru. But modern tourism is starting to take a slightly different path, regional travel, which creates economic benefits for towns and also leaves tourists with a better impression of a country.
Unpublished research undertaken by one of us (Elizabeth Turenko) while working as a tour leader in Ukraine in 2013-2014 confirmed this. Feedback from guests travelling on a group tour to Europe showed 80% preferred to visit “well-known” large cities, mostly capitals, when it came to choosing a tour.
Most of the time, though, these tourists were disappointed because the cities did not live up to their expectations. But, the study revealed, 75% of tourists enjoyed travelling to smaller towns when they did decide to visit them as part of a tour.
<h2>Big cities are losing their local flavour</h2>
There is no doubt the major cities are attractive and are still perceived as the essence of a country for many tourists. Yet the question remains: are these cities actually showing the “real country”? At a time of globalisation and global cities, to what extent do the larger cities still give tourists “the taste” of local culture.
Rural Tourism Marketing Group CEO <a href="http://ruraltourismmarketing.com/" target="_blank">Joanna Steele</a> <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.cfra.org/node/2504" target="_blank">writes</a>:
<blockquote>
In the past five years tourism has seen some big changes. Large numbers of travellers have lost interest in cookie-cutter restaurants, lodging and attractions. Instead, they want local food, local attractions and connection to the lifestyles of local people.
</blockquote>
The best places to experience that are often small local towns and villages. Here life hasn’t yet been adapted to tourist needs and the authenticity feels right.
Turenko also investigated the tourists’ preferences during a group bus tour in Europe. The main program involved a one-day visit to Amsterdam and a second day on which tourists could spend their free time in Amsterdam or go on a group trip to <a href="https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/plan-your-trip/day-trips/old-holland/smalltown-harbours/volendam" target="_blank">Volendam</a>, a small town 20km away. The 90% of the group who opted for the town visit were very satisfied with their decision.
So, was there anything special about Volendam? Not really.
Much like many small towns in the Netherlands, Volendam has limited tourist attractions, these being mostly its built heritage (wooden buildings) and cultural assets (a museum and a cheese factory). When surveyed, the visitors explained they enjoyed the glimpse into the local culture and the routine life of the locals.
The tourists appreciated going to local shops and eating at local restaurants far away from standardised brands and international franchises. They felt they could feel the “soul” of the country.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198072/original/file-20171207-31532-jx8b4o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198072/original/file-20171207-31532-jx8b4o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
What does Volendam have that Amsterdam doesn’t? It probably comes down to everyday local character.
At the time of this 2014 survey, cities and holidays at the coast were the <a href="https://www.nbtc.nl/web/file?uuid=7361722f-011d-4714-b98b-8ced3eee1bb2&amp;owner=388ad020-d235-4624-86a4-d899f855a216&amp;contentid=48712" target="_blank">main attractions for visitors to the Netherlands</a> (36% and 22%, respectively). But interest in the countryside and touring the Netherlands (12% and 10%, respectively) has been increasing.
<h2>Finding a local tourism niche</h2>
Let’s be frank: smaller towns and villages have not been dormant, and many have jumped at the opportunities offered by tourism. We all have heard about farm holidays, horse riding, wine tasting tours, nature guided walks and so on.
Building on this, innovative regional tourism practices have been recognised worldwide for displaying a breadth of approaches and end products. A good example in Ireland is <a href="http://visitballyhoura.com/" target="_blank">Ballyhoura</a>, “a world where the little pleasures of sharing everyday things with the locals in Ballyhoura – talking with them, walking with them and sharing a joke – is possibly the greatest attraction of them all!”
Despite a lack of outstanding tourism resources, the area became a successful tourism destination thanks to a very personalised marketing method. Visitors even received a welcoming letter. The focus on “<a href="http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/%24Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/csi13476/%24FILE/Rural-Tourism.pdf" target="_blank">promoting a genuine rural experience and warm welcome</a>” creates an incentive for more local start-up enterprises and for a co-operative, closing-the-loop process of quality control.
Longreach and Winton are Australian towns that have taken advantage of distinctive local histories and features such as old mines and fossil beds. Longreach has the <a href="http://outbackheritage.com.au/" target="_blank">Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame</a> and the <a href="https://qfom.com.au/" target="_blank">Qantas Founders Museum</a>, while Winton’s <a href="http://www.australianageofdinosaurs.com/" target="_blank">Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum</a> offers “products” of the natural environment such as dinosaur stamps and bones.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/196454/original/file-20171127-2004-xmtv11.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Nowhere else has one: the Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach, Queensland. James Shrimpton/AAP
Yet all attempts have not been met with success. Many smaller towns are slowly disappearing in Australia. Main streets with closed shops and abandoned business are not uncommon.
The combination of lack of employment and population ageing and loss is a chicken-and-egg situation. The various levels of government are acutely aware of this, and tourism offers a possible way out of the dilemma facing these towns. Several recent initiatives have shown how tourism can contribute to the development of these areas when innovation, expertise and community participation are brought together.
Charleville in far west Queensland offers a great example of this, with the outback town working on making the most of its clear nighttime skies, far from the city lights. An extension to the <a href="http://www.cosmoscentre.com/" target="_blank">Cosmos Centre and Observatory</a>, <a href="https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/index.php/regional-development/regional-economic-development/building-our-regions/remote-communities-infrastructure-fund/1385-charleville-cosmos-centre-planetarium-stage-1" target="_blank">funded by state and local governments</a>, has boosted visitor numbers in just one year. The extension displays fun and serious facts about planets and life in space, enhanced by interactive media.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/87997/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">For the town of fewer than 4,000 people, the growth in tourism is like a nice spring rain after a long dry season. It’s another reminder of why rural tourism can be “<a href="https://www.conversational.com/rural-tourism-the-perfect-small-town-business-idea/" target="_blank">the perfect small town business idea</a>”.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/elizabeth-turenko-424627" target="_blank">Elizabeth Turenko</a>, PhD Candidate, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828" target="_blank">Griffith University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karine-dupre-252059" target="_blank">Karine Dupré</a>, Associate Professor in Architecture, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828" target="_blank">Griffith University</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/tourists-are-happy-when-taken-off-the-beaten-track-and-smaller-cities-and-towns-can-tap-into-that-87997" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Tourists are happy when taken off the beaten track

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<div>
A Cross Street, Double Bay property - that once housed one of Sydney's shopping mecca Hampshire &amp; Lowndes - has been listed with estimated $15 million hopes.
The 329 sq m site at <a href="http://www.onthehouse.com.au/11744095/2_12_cross_st_double_bay_nsw_2028" target="_blank">12 Cross Street</a> has been held for more than 20 years.
The shop was long run by Jilly Hampshire and Susan Lowndes. It now consists of five retail tenancies and five commercial tenancies.
Sarah Lowndes has been a director of the vendor company since 1976. The current shareholders are listed as Hugh Norton and Clive Mansell.
The commercial property is fully leased to 11 retail and commercial tenants.
Colliers International has the offering of the first Double Bay freehold commercial property set to be auctioned in many years, Fairfax Media advised.
</div>
<div>The street has seen two development projects unveiled by two major developers on the street, Toga and SJD.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Toga is developing the site at 16-18 Cross Street into a 13-unit project called The Hunter, while SJD has a double landholding at 20-26 Cross Street and 28-34 Cross Street for units.</div>
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Hampshire & Lowndes's former Cross Street, Double Bay listed

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.

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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.

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"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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