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Bellevue Hill ranks as the priciest suburb with its median rent for houses at $1,875 a week.
The Rock in Sydney was the dearest location for apartment rentals, according to CoreLogic.
Sydney took all the top 10 suburbs in both lists.
There is a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bellevue+hill-422769938" target="_blank">$3800 a week rental currently on offer</a> in Bellevue Hill at Latimer Road (above).
Houses                                                                    
NSW Bellevue Hill Woollahra $5,316,587 $1,875   
NSW Northbridge Willoughby $3,811,426 $1,800    
NSW Vaucluse Woollahra $5,471,853 $1,795                
NSW Clovelly Randwick $3,160,606 $1,750                 
NSW Double Bay Woollahra $3,994,114 $1,735            
NSW Rose Bay Woollahra $3,696,415 $1,700              
NSW Dover Heights Waverley $4,133,440 $1,675         
NSW Mosman Mosman $4,041,599 $1,650                  
NSW Balgowlah Heights Manly $2,934,921 $1,573       
NSW Potts Point Sydney $5,866,920 $1,525               
 
Units
NSW The Rocks Sydney $2,025,499 $1,050
NSW Tamarama Waverley $1,564,541 $920
NSW Huntleys Cove Hunters Hill $1,370,826 $900
NSW Millers Point Sydney $1,810,199 $875
NSW Darling Point Woollahra $2,292,686 $848
NSW Haymarket Sydney $994,160 $828
NSW Milsons Point North Sydney $1,620,837 $800
NSW Cremorne Point North Sydney $1,439,944 $795
NSW Double Bay Woollahra $1,360,699 $770
NSW Pyrmont Sydney $1,153,278 $770
 
 
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Pricey Bellevue Hill ranks as Australia's dearest rental suburb

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The Administrative Appeal Tribunal (AAT) has affirmed ASIC's decision of 17 July 2015 to ban Trevor John Seymour from providing financial services for three years but set aside ASIC's decision to disqualify Mr Seymour from managing corporations for three years.
The parties have 28 days to appeal this decision to the Federal Court of Australia.
It is part of the ASIC work on the Provident Capital collapse.
Earlier ASIC work saw the AAT upheld ASIC's decision to disqualify Michael Roger O’Sullivan from managing corporations for five years and from providing financial services for seven years.
The AAT qualified the five-year disqualification decision by permitting Mr O'Sullivan to remain as a director of three private companies, provided that those companies only involve activities relating to Mr O'Sullivan's immediate family. On 30 May 2017, Mr O'Sullivan lodged an appeal against the AAT's decision in the Federal Court.  The hearing has been set down for 7-8 February 2018.
On 19 April 2016, ASIC banned former executive director and in-house legal counsel of Provident Capital, Mr Malcolm Philip Bersten of Turramurra NSW, from managing corporations and providing financial services for five years.
On 25 May 2016, Mr Bersten was granted permission to manage the trustee of his family trust and self managed superannuation fund (Caldabra Investments Pty Ltd ACN 003 958 423), as well as his incorporated legal practice (Bersten Legal Pty Ltd ACN 098 743 483).
On 17 June 2016, Mr Bersten sought a review of ASIC's decision in the AAT. ASIC has settled the proceedings brought by Mr Bersten in the AAT for a review of ASIC's decision dated 19 April 2016. Subsequently, the AAT has amended ASIC's decision by varying Mr Bersten's period of disqualification from managing corporations from five years to four years (to expire on 31 May 2020) and varying the period of Mr Bersten's banning from providing financial services from five years to three years and nine months (to expire on 29 February 2020).
On 1 July 2015, ASIC banned former non-executive director of Provident Capital, John Patrick Sweeney of Sydney, from providing financial services for  two years. 　
ASIC found that Mr Sweeney failed to comply with financial services laws. Mr Sweeney also sought a review of ASIC's decision in the AAT. The hearing concluded on 14 February 2017. On 8 November 2017, the AAT affirmed ASIC’s decision of 29 June 2015 to ban Mr Sweeney from providing financial services for two years.
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Provident Capital update as Trevor Seymour ban is upheld

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Imagine Christmas family lunch at your own boatshed.
It sold in early December for $120,000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-rye-126854538" target="_blank">6 Boat Shed, Rye</a> was listed with price hopes of $100,000 to $110,000.
<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/2017/12/22/SHED2.jpg" alt="">
It stands alone on a grassy part of the foreshore near Daly Ave nestled amid trees.
It was a recently renovated timber boatshed on the Rye Foreshore.
It was marketed as "a bright investment offering a lifestyle of family fun in the sun." 
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Rye boatshed offered as investment for fun in the sun

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Melbourne based developer, Pace Development Group, has been announced as the Victoria Racing Club’s preferred purchaser of its recently rezoned site at 550 Epsom Road, Flemington. 
Pace was awarded the contract of sale for the 10,600 square-metre parcel of land at the famed Flemington Racecourse, following a competitive tender. 
The land, which sits atop the racecourse’s 1,200 metre main straight known as the ‘Straight Six’, received approval for rezoning earlier this year under a planning scheme for 300 residential dwellings, and has undergone vigorous community consultation to ensure the future development protects the existing character and historic significance of the site. 
VRC Chairman Amanda Elliott said Pace and the VRC have agreed to collaborate throughout the design process. 
Shane Wilkinson, Managing Director of Pace Development Group, the design will be publicly revealed in early 2018.
The project’s first apartments are expected to be on the market from late 2018. 
The sales campaign for the land was managed by Peter Bremner, Trent Hobart and Hamish Burgess from Colliers International and transaction management was handled by Peter Hutchins and Tom Byrnes from Charter Keck Cramer.
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Epsom is a key development site sitting adjacent to the Flemington Racecourse and has been designated for high density residential development. The site is approximately 1ha in size and includes the heritage listed former Jockey’s Convalescent Lodge. 
Greenland was a prior envisaged developer but did not proceed.
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Pace wins VRC 550 Epsom Road, Flemington residential redevelopment tender

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An early 1900's home in Manly has been sold after a recent facelift. There had been $3.5 million price guidance.
Complete with a contemporary redesign by Environa Studio's Tone Wheeler, the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-manly-127083058?rsf=ps:facebook:dream:gal" target="_blank">Smith Street home</a> sits behind a classic panelled facade hidden away behind a large frangipani.
It was listed by Louise Crompton, the former marketing director of Expedia Australia and New Zealand, and her husband Alex.
They paid $2,060,000 in 2010. 
They could hear the waves crashing at night.
<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/2017/12/15/Manly2.jpg" alt="">
Clarke &amp; Humel agent Michael Clarke described the home as evoking the very essence of relaxed coastal style.
Set in 280 sqm of landscaped gardens near Manly Beach, the home has four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
A covered entertainers' terrace leads off the living and dining areas.
 
 
 
 
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Relaxed coastal 1900's Manly home sold

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The Federal Court in Melbourne has ordered that a land banking scheme known as the Realestate Equity Investment Trust (REIT) and an associated company, Timeline Project Management Pty Ltd (Timeline), be wound up. 
REIT is a managed investment scheme that owns land located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/490-flinders-ave-lara-vic-3212" target="_blank">Flinders Avenue in Lara in Victoria</a> (below).
At least 82 investors have invested approximately $800,000 into the REIT scheme.
ASIC advise a large amount of the money paid to Timeline has been withdrawn and the balance of that account is now approximately $45,000.
<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/2017/12/21/land.jpg" alt="">
The Lara Property was purportedly mortgaged in favour of a Shariah law lender known as Equitable Financial Solutions Pty Ltd (EFSOL) without the consent of the custodian of the Lara Property, Perpetual, and without that mortgage being registered with the land titles office.
ASIC advised the court the land had purportedly been mortgaged in favour of EFSOL for an amount of between $400,000 and $507,000.
The 2016 agreement, made under Shariah law, contemplates the transfer of the Lara Property to EFSOL and Lotus jointly, with EFSOL owning a 52 per cent share and Lotus owning at 48 per cent share.
The value of EFSOL’s share is expressed to be “consideration of $507,000” with $400,000 being paid into a solicitor’s trust account and $107,000 stated to be for services provided by EFSOL to Lara, including “back office support, front office support and underwriting of any financial costs to Lara if REIT is unable to fund it. 
It is not clear to ASIC where or why most of that money has gone as contrary to its legal obligations, no financial statements have been prepared for the REIT scheme for 5 years, ASIC advise. 
Since 2013, investors have been making payments in respect of their investment to Timeline. The Court orders have been issued in English, Arabic and Somali given the source of the investors.
ASIC’s concerns included that:
<ul>
<li>REIT had been operating despite it not having a validly appointed responsible entity;</li>
<li>REIT appeared unviable given there had been no progress in, nor prospect of, developing the Land;</li>
<li>financial statements for REIT had not been prepared or lodged with ASIC since 2012; and</li>
<li>the interests of investors appeared to have been prejudiced by the operators of the scheme, including the dissipation of investors’ money by management to entities unrelated to the scheme.</li>
</ul>
ASIC Commissioner John Price said, ASIC will take action against unlawful managed investment schemes and the parties that run such schemes.
"Unlawful schemes such as land banking put investors' money at risk and investors should be very careful in checking whether schemes are legitimate before putting up their hard-earned money," John Price said.
Nicholas John Martin and Andrew Thomas Sallway of BDO Australia have been appointed as receivers of the property of REIT, liquidators of Timeline and to ensure that REIT is wound up in accordance with its constitution and the Court’s orders. 
Mr Martin and Mr Sallway are required to undertake a range of investigations into the affairs of REIT and Timeline, including to:
<ul>
<li>identify any assets and creditors;</li>
<li>identify unitholders in REIT and verify the amount invested by each unitholder;</li>
<li>determine the validity and value of any claims on the Land;</li>
<li>determine the nature of any potential claims against Timeline or REIT; and</li>
<li>once the pool of available funds has been determined, calculate the distributions that may be made to unit holders in REIT and any other creditors.</li>
</ul>
The orders also provide that Mr Martin and Mr Sallway are to take all reasonable steps to procure an enforceable offer to purchase the Land from another company, Equitable Financial Solutions Pty Ltd.
Mr Martin and Mr Sallway will report to the Court by 9 March 2018 with its listed for a case management hearing on 20 March 2018.
ASIC filed an application to wind up REIT and Timeline on 25 July 2017.
This followed the cancellation of the Australian financial services licence held by Lotus Securities Pty Ltd (Lotus), the responsible entity that managed the REIT scheme until 21 September 2016. Lotus was placed into liquidation on 14 December 2016, on the application of a creditor.
Lotus had secured debts totalling $700,000 and unsecured debts totalling $150,000.
Half the purchase price of $975,000 in 2010 was funded by private investors. 
ASIC said John Isaacs, who was investigated by ASIC, has been involved with the management of REIT and Lotus and is connected with other entities involved in the scheme. The management of REIT, Lotus and Timeline includes Mr Isaacs, who has been involved with the management of REIT and Lotus and is connected with other entities involved in the scheme and Natalie McKeown, Mr Isaacs’ partner. Mr Sharmarke Mohamed Ahmed, a friend of Mr Isaacs, was the purchaser under the original contract of sale of the Lara property.
From around 2011, the REIT investors purchased units in the Lara Syndicate for at least $7,000 each as an initial deposit and paid a minimum of $300 per month under a “savings plan.”
Investor monies were being paid into Timeline’s account from June 2013 up until at least June 2017, notwithstanding that Timeline was deregistered on 25 January 2015 and Lotus had its AFSL cancelled on 21 September 2016.
An amount of $308,212.90 was received through the Paygate system from June 2013 to June 2017, from investors in REIT, by way of recurring deposits. 
ASIC is concerned that no steps have been taken to develop the Lara property and on current information it appears that the development of the property cannot go ahead.
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ASIC has been told by the Greater Geelong Council that  the Lara property is located in a farming zone;  the Council does not support the rezoning of the property for development.
These proceeding are part of ASIC's wider and ongoing investigation into land banking schemes.
 
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Shariah law loan emerges as Timeline's $800,000 Lara land banking scheme wound up by Federal Court

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The family of the late magnate Nathan Werdiger, who founded Juilliard, are selling down.
The Australian reported the anticipated move could see more than $1 billion worth of real estate put in play.
Juilliard Group invests in the Australian commercial property market, specialising in CBD office spaces.
The company owns and manages a number of Melbourne CBD and suburban office buildings, certain semi-industrial sites and a regional shopping centre.
Some of the Juilliard Group's buildings in Melbourne CBD include 440 Collins Street (above) 535 Bourke Street, 459 Collins Street, and 574 St Kilda Road. 
The Werdiger family's Juilliard Group is ranked as one of the largest private landlords in Melbourne.
Philippa Kelly is the chief operating officer at the Juilliard Group. The business has been run by Nathan's eldest son Shlomo since the early 2000s.
Nathan Werdiger, who died in 2015, established himself as one of Australia's most successful businessmen in textiles and later property. He died aged 93.
Polish-born, Mr Werdiger and his brother Nechemia, two of six children, were the only family members to survive the Auschwitz "selection" process run by infamous Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, the "Angel of Death".
<div>
In 1945 he was rescued, close to death, by the Allied forces from another notorious concentration camp, Buchenwald.
Werdiger recounted his times in Carolyn Ford's book Who Brought the Luck to the Lucky Country? 
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Werdiger arrived in Melbourne in 1949, aged 23, as a humanitarian migrant, joining his maternal uncle's family.
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Juilliard family property jewels for sale

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Stockland has agreed to acquire 184 hectares of land in Marsden Park, the heart of Sydney’s strong north west growth centre, for $398 million on deferred terms over five years. 
The site is located on the northern side of Richmond Road within the North West Priority Growth Area. 
The agreement, which is conditional on land rezoning and additional terms, gives Stockland exclusive rights over prime land adjacent to Stockland’s existing Marsden Park masterplanned community, Elara.
Subject to rezoning, this acquisition will allow the development of approximately 2,000 new residential lots. 
Stockland’s CEO Mark Steinert said Stockland has over $6 billion invested across NSW, with over half of this in western Sydney where 50 per cent of its sales are to first home buyers. 
Stockland’s Group Executive and CEO, Residential Andrew Whitson said Marsden Park is one of Sydney’s fastest growing areas adding Elara ranked as one of its most successful residential developments.  
“The area is fast becoming an employment hub with an existing large commercial precinct on Richmond Road and the nearby Sydney Business Park, which is estimated to provide more than 13,000 jobs, just three kilometres from Riverstone train station and the potential future rail extension to the airport."
Located just 15 minutes from Blacktown’s centre, Stockland’s existing Elara community is currently home to more than 1,000 people and on completion will include close to 4,000 homes, more than 10,000 residents, a town centre, several playgrounds, a community centre, sports fields, childcare centre and schools.
 
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Stockland add 184 hectares at Marsden Park

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CoreLogic have looked at the change in dwelling values over the past year across the sub-regions of each capital city and examine how the performance compared to changes over the previous year and the average over the past five years.
SA4 regions are part of the Australian standard geographic hierarchy and in capital cities they typically have populations of between 300,000 and 500,000.  For this reason looking at data at this level provides more detailed insight than just looking at capital city figures.    Across the capital cities there are 46 SA4 regions with the number across each capital city recorded at: 15 in Sydney, 9 in both Melbourne and Brisbane, 4 in Adelaide and 6 in Perth.  The capital city regions of Hobart, Darwin and Canberra are equivalent to an SA4 region.
<h3 class="text-align-center">Change in dwelling values over the past 12 months, previous 12 months and annually for the past five years across capital city SA4 regions to Nov-17</h3>
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/styles/article_image_570w_/public/2017-12/2107-12-15-pulse_img1.jpg" alt="2017-12-15--propertypulseimg1" width="570" height="772">
Over the 12 months to November 2017, six capital city sub-regions recorded value falls and all of these regions were located in Perth or Darwin.  
Cameron Kusher at CoreLogic noted while only six of these regions recorded annual value falls, 17 of these regions recorded value changes which were lower than at the same time a year ago.  
"Of the regions which have recorded a lower rate of value growth compared to the previous year, 7 are in Sydney, 2 are in Melbourne, 4 are in Brisbane and there are 2 each in Adelaide and Perth," he said.
Given this, more than half of the regions in each capital city except Adelaide have recorded stronger annual value growth this year compared to last.
Usher says the story is somewhat different if a comparison is done between value growth over the past 12 months and the compound annual rate over the past 5 years.  All 15 SA4 regions of Sydney have recorded value growth over the past year which is lower than the 5 year annual rate.  
Elsewhere, the number of SA4 regions which have underperformed the rate of growth over the past 5 years over the past year are: 3 in Melbourne, 7 in Brisbane, 2 in Adelaide, 5 in Perth and Darwin.  
Based on these figures, almost all of the regions of Sydney and Perth and more than half of the regions in Brisbane are underperforming relative to growth over the past five years.  
Data over a shorter timeframe (month and quarter) shows that values are now falling in Sydney, slowing in most capital cities and increasing moderately in Perth.  Given this, the data points to changing conditions over the coming year.  It is anticipated that in 2018, the rate of growth in Sydney and Melbourne SA4 regions will generally be slower than the pace of growth over the past 12 months.  
In Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra growth is likely to be similar, potentially slightly softer in Hobart and a little stronger elsewhere.  Meanwhile, with the recent uptick in growth in Perth the performance next year could be stronger as the market emerges from an 11% correction.  
"Finally, Darwin values have continued to fall however, next year we could see Darwin follow the lead of Perth with the housing market moderately stronger," Kusher said.
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NSW Central Coast still strong, but all of the regions of Sydney underperformed in 2017 relative to growth over the past five years: CoreLogic

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John Schaeffer pulled his prized 1930s Dover Heights home from its recent auction through Ric Serrao, of Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay-Bondi Beach. The art collector will try again in the new year to sell the Art Deco home which came with hopes of around $10 million.
Schaeffer and his film producer partner Bettina Dalton bought its two years ago for $4.85 million from locksmith Jason and Haley Carr, then gutted it leaving only the original brickwork.
It returned to the market with new wiring, flooring, plumbing along with high-end finishes throughout, installed by Thomas Hamel.
Around five years ago its top level was added in keeping with its 1930s origins.
The Kippara Road property was the reportedly the Chinese embassy until World War II.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Art collector John Schaeffer pulls Dover Heights home from auction

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.

&nbsp;

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

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

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

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

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

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

Staff reporter

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