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A Djugun home near Broome in Western Australia has been sold by the mortgagee in possession for $424,000, more than $50,000 less than what it sold for brand new over a decade ago.
The 700 sqm Banicoot Loop land parcel in the Roebuck Estate traded for $144,000 in 2005 before the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-djugun-131001674" target="_blank">four bedroom home</a> was built a year later.
The home sold for $476,000 in 2006.
In 2012 it was listed with $685,000 hopes and didn't find a buyer.
Two years ago the home sought $549,000. Its most recent campaign through Ray White's Monique Bowen had it listed at $455,000.
A buyer was found in 25 days.
 
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Broome home sold by mortgagee for $50,000 less than 2006 price

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The renowned family-owned Charalambous Hardware store in Brunswick has come to market. 
The 1,531sqm property boasts a long and successful history on Sydney Road.
It houses one of the street’s original businesses, established in the 1950s when there was minimal development in the area. 
Savills Australia’s Jesse Radisich, Nick Peden and Benson Zhou are marketing the property at 836-842 Sydney Road.
They anticipated interest in the high $4 million range. 
Mr Radisich said opportunities of such size and scale along Sydney Road were very rarely offered to market. 
“With the favourable characteristics of the site, such as the extensive retail street frontage, valuable rear access and flexible planning parameters, this opportunity is sure to appeal to astute developers,” he said. 
The surrounding projects include the recently completed seven-level project delivered by Pace Development Group. 
The Pace project includes a new Woolworths supermarket, positioned just 50 metres away. 
Mr Peden said that while the property offered immediate development potential, alternate potential investment, land-banking or owner-occupation options.
The Charalambous family believes the property could be one of few remaining hardware stores of its kind in Victoria.
“The Baby Boomers are moving on and we’re entering a new chapter of investors,” a spokesperson for the family said. 
“Following the growth of retail and large-format giants such as Bunnings, this type of hardware store is just not sustainable anymore.” 
The spokesperson said that the 30-metre street frontage was a result of the family business growing and buying the neighbouring property. 
“It is set up for retail or hospitality in the short to medium term and a beautiful new development in the future,” they said.
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Brunswick Charalambous Hardware store listed for sale through Savills

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The nation has breathed a sigh of relief that the Federal election is now over and we can all start to move forward with a greater degree of certainty. But exactly what does the continued Liberal government mean for the Australian property market and our investors?
Negative gearing remaining untouched is one of the most key policies for Australian investors. Fear-mongering in the media built up over the last few months with even Prime Minister Scott Morrison predicting that ALP’s proposed changes to negative gearing would result in a housing market crash.
ALP also proposed increasing capital gains tax which was another nail in its election campaign coffin in the eyes of the investment community along with the unpopular retiree tax which would have stung self-funded retirees.
Even the sweeteners weren’t enough to save ALP with Australians seeing through the thinly veiled attempts to support construction of new property with the proposal for negative gearing to only apply to brand new property.
Sentiment will almost instantly improve in the construction and development sectors safe in the knowledge that property will remain Australia’s preferred investment class and that investor appetite for property new and old, will continue unabated.
The message to the ALP was abundantly clear - hands off our investment property policy thanks very much!
We can expect the market to continue to hum along without the changes to negative gearing for investors – but what else is in store?
The Coalition campaign relied heavily on the words “strong economy” to get it across the line, but just how strong is the Australian economy right now and what does it need to get into place to bolster it?
According to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) the economy may not be as strong as our politicians would have us believe.
RBA has scaled back its forecast for economic growth this financial year in its latest monetary policy statement to just 1.7%, over half a percentage point below its previous forecast.
In addition wages growth remains stagnant and according to commentators, has been weaker over the past six years than at any other time since World War II.
Property prices in many capitals have cooled after the period of unprecedented price hikes and inflation is at a historic low of just 1.3%, well below the RBA’s target range of 2 to 3% for more than three years.
Employment growth has been moderate but is driven by the public sector and community services while sectors considered key to driving the economy, such as manufacturing and retail, are shrinking.
While Morrison has played Mortgage Insurer for First Home Buyers, the finer details need to be fleshed out in order to deliver a great policy to stimulate the market.
ScoMo and his team really have their work cut out for him to get our domestic economy cranking.
But right now for Australian investors these conditions create a buyer’s market. Prices have come off the boil across many key markets and savvy investors can snap up some good deals that will show growth over the medium to longer term.
According to the latest HIA Affordability Index, housing affordability improved across the country by the fastest rate since September, 2013 – with the Index rising by 2.2% nationally in the March quarter. Interest rates remain low and are forecast to be reduced even further over the next 12 months.
With no changes to negative gearing policy properties both new and old will have appeal and offer different advantages for each investor’s unique circumstances.
The election is no longer looming over us all so after a “sit and wait” period over the last few months we can expect to now see greater activity in the property markets. All eyes will be on the Coalition to see if it can live up to its campaign promises now and keep the Australian economy strong.
JAMES NIHILL is the Managing Director of Patrick Leo, a Sydney based property advice and services company.
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ScoMo and the Coalition have their work out to boost the domestic economy: James Nihill

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Sydney topped the rankings for Australia, with Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth all falling middle of the road for the cost of construction, according to a new report. 
The International Construction Costs Report 2019 from Arcadis, the global design and consultancy for natural and built assets, found that New York was the world’s most expensive city, followed by San Francisco and Hong Kong.
Sydney was the most expensive Australian city at 34, followed by: Brisbane (56), Melbourne (61) and Perth (62). The report details the relative cost of construction in 100 of the world’s leading cities. 50 cities were added to this year’s report, including Perth, making it the largest comparison of its kind.
According to the report, the cost of construction in Australian cities was heavily impacted by the economy, which continues to lose momentum since the latter half of last year, with GDP growth expected to be around 2.6% per year for the next two years.
Matthew Mackey, National Director, Cost and Commercial Management Australia Pacific, Arcadis: ‘‘In November 2018 Construction activity levels fell at their fastest rate in nearly four years. This was largely driven by an even steeper decline in the residential sector – although this was largely concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne. However, the total value of non-residential construction is expected to increase in 2019.
“Despite the slowdown in residential construction, the industry is particularly buoyant across the Eastern Seaboard – although this is again confined predominantly to Sydney and Melbourne” said Mackey.
“Cost pressures remain high industry-wide across Australia. This is due to several factors including a robust demand for construction materials, a lack of market competition, skills shortages, increasing energy and labour costs and elevated supplier prices due to strengthening commodity prices. The gap between value and cost continues to reduce and this demonstrates that profit margins will remain tight for both contractors and developers across the construction industry.
‘‘The limited availability of resources, at all levels of the supply chain, has become a major issue – particularly in Sydney and Melbourne where construction markets are quite heated.
‘‘Whilst construction activity in apartments and housing has stalled recently, activity in other sectors such as commercial, transportation and social infrastructure means that this decline is unlikely to be a precursor to an economic downturn.
‘‘The cycle of infrastructure construction is continuing to fuel price increases whilst also creating a significant demand for tradesmen to meet the current and upcoming workload. This demand will continue to put further pressure on both trade pricing and margins. Tender pricing will therefore continue to increase over the short term.”
Top 10 most expensive cities for construction:
<ol>
<li>New York City</li>
<li>San Francisco</li>
<li>Hong Kong</li>
<li>Copenhagen</li>
<li>Geneva</li>
<li>London</li>
<li>Macau</li>
<li>Zurich</li>
<li>Tokyo</li>
<li>Boston</li>
</ol>
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Sydney is Australia’s most expensive city for construction: Arcadis report

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Eastlakes Live has taken top gong for development marketing at the 2019 Asia Pacific Property Awards. 
Crown Group won the prestigious international industry award in the Five Star Development Marketing Australia category, up against competitors from all around the globe. 
Marketing launched last year for the landmark project, which is set to create an exciting new lifestyle destination close to Sydney’s best beaches and the eastern suburbs.
Eastlakes Live by Crown Group will transform the area into an urban village with a new retail and dining precinct.  
The development aims to set a new standard for retail excellence with two major supermarkets offering fresh food that reflects the cultural diversity of the neighbourhood.
There will also be a restaurant promenade, street cafes, a medical centre and landscaped gardens and children’s play areas. 
Stage one of Eastlakes Live will include 133 luxury apartments ranging from one-bedroom apartments to penthouses and 12 retail outlets below.
Resort-style health and fitness facilities include a 25 metre swimming pool, gym, barbeque facilities, function rooms, water feature, landscaped gardens, rooftop lounge and entertainment facilities.
Stage two will complete the new town centre with a mix of residential and retail components.  
<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/2019/5/21/Eastlakes%20Live%20by%20Crown%20Group_S040_EXT_POOL_FINAL2000-2.jpg" alt="">
Crown Group’s Marketing &amp; Communications Director, Ellie Cashman, said the award recognised the marketing team’s ability to think outside the box. 
“Crown Group is proud to have been the award winner in the 2019 Asia Pacific Property Awards for Five Star Development Marketing Australia category,” Cashman said. 
“The strategic use of digital marketing, guerrilla signage, social media and glamorous unveiling events have showcased this unique world-class development which captured the attention of people from around the world.” 
Designed by architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt), Eastlakes Live by Crown Group has also won the DRIVENxDESIGN 2018 Melbourne Design Awards in the “Graphic Design – Identity and Branding – Lifestyle” category.  
The 2019 Asia Pacific Property Awards are open to residential and commercial property professionals from around the globe. 
A premium range of apartments is now available for sale at Eastlakes Live by Crown Group, from $679,400 to $1,948,000.
Penthouses are priced from $2,520,220 to $2,713,000.
Construction started in 2018.  
The display centre is now open daily from 10am to 4pm, located at 19a Evans Avenue, Eastlakes. 
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Eastlakes Live by Crown Group wins international marketing award

How the global picture affects the economic outlook and monetary policy: RBA Governor Philip Lowe

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A dryland cropping holding spanning almost 4,000 hectares in Moree in northern New South Wales has been listed for sale.  
Located 30 kilometres north-east of Moree, the holding comprises two non-contiguous landholdings totalling 3,844 hectares. Some 3,632 hectares is arable. 
The adjoining properties Wallam and Roydon are situated on the eastern side of the Newell Highway – a region renowned for producing high yielding, dryland cotton, sorghum, chickpeas, wheat and barley. 
The properties feature the hallmarks of a highly productive broadacre cropping platform, benefiting from scale, operational efficiency, fertile soils, idyllic climate and desirable location. 
Improvements include a four-bedroom homestead with pool, grain storage of 8,500 tonnes, workshop, machinery shed and cattle yards. 
CBRE Agribusiness’ Simon Cudmore and Col Medway have been appointed to market the property for sale on behalf of its owners, Roger and Annette Turnbull. 
“This location offers a significant premium in terms of value that we expect will ignite strong interest from both local land owners and corporate investment funds,” Cudmore said.  
The property is being offered for sale via private treaty for $7,413 per hectare ($3,000 per acre), which calculates to a total of about $28.5 million.
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Moree cropping enterprise listed for sale

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One of Adelaide’s premier office and carpark landmarks, 80 Flinders Street, has been listed for sale.
Completed in 2006 and comprehensively refurbished in 2019, the 12,154 square metre office building is located on a 4,387 square metre site.
It is 100% leased to industry leading tenants, including BAE Systems, IAG and Beach Energy, providing a WALE of 4.78 years.
The multi-deck car park, consisting of 694 spaces, is leased to Wilson Australia.  
CBRE and Knight Frank have been appointed to market the property on behalf of Lendlease's Australian Prime Property Fund Commercial. 
Thomas said South Australia’s strengthening economy was providing a platform for greater investment in the state. 
"Investment confidence in the state continues to rise, with investors increasingly attracted to the state’s diverse and sustainable economic base, which is unlike the boom/bust market cycle experienced in other states," Thomas said. 
"South Australia is in a growth phase, which is having a positive impact on office space demand – and subsequent investment in the sector. We’re seeing increased activity in range of sectors, including defence, resources, technology, education, and healthcare."
<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/2019/5/21/80%20Flinders%20St.jpg" alt="">
Bennett said the asset would command wide appeal from buyers seeking 100% leased and multi-tenanted office buildings with a WALE of 4.78 years by income (as at 1 August 2019). 
"80 Flinders Street is one of the most desirable office towers in Adelaide and boasts the highest car park ratio for an office building in the CBD," Bennett said.
The floor plates are greater than 1,070 square metres, which is very popular in our market.
The asset also boasts two super floors of over 3,200 square metres each, which are the largest in Adelaide. In addition, an opportunity exists on level one, where the existing carparks can be converted to office space, adding approximately 1,000 square metres. 
Offers for 80 Flinders Street close June 20.
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Lendlease property fund to sell Adelaide office and carpark complex

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GUEST OBSERVATION
In the north-east corner of Australia’s most populous state of New South Wales is a small former dairying and banana farming community. Today, however, that village is unrecognisable.
Nimbin is now widely acknowledged as Australia’s counter-cultural capital, a sister city to both Woodstock in New York State and Freetown Christiania in Denmark.
Among Nimbin’s tourist attractions today are its Hemp Embassy and the annual Mardi Grass festival in early May, which argues for the legislation of marijuana for personal and medicinal use.
The village’s transformation from a rural farming community to its present form can be traced to 1973, when Nimbin became the unlikely host of the Aquarius Festival – a counter-culture arts and music gathering presented by the radical Australian Union of Students.
Why is Nimbin the way it is?
These social and political origins of the commodified hippie culture on display today in Nimbin have become less apparent to visitors and more recent migrants to the region.
Visitors, especially those arriving on bus tours, tend to shop, buy coffee and leave again. To counter this, the Nimbin Tourism Office commissioned me in 2016 to produce an app-based <a href="http://soundtrails.com.au/nimbin-soundtrail-2/" target="_blank">audio walk</a> to promote a deeper engagement for tourists with the town and help answer the question: why is Nimbin the way it is?
Here’s a snippet:
<audio width="300" height="32" preload="metadata" controls="controls" data-duration="64" data-image="" data-title="Local voices on how the 1973 Aquarius Festival changed Nimbin forever" data-size="2563028" data-source="Jeanti St Clair" data-source-url="" data-license="CC BY" data-license-url="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"><source src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/audio/1568/final-snippet-01.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"></source></audio>
<div class="audio-player-caption">Local voices on how the 1973 Aquarius Festival changed Nimbin forever. Jeanti St Clair, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>2.44 MB <a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/audio/1568/final-snippet-01.mp3" target="_blank">(download)</a></div>
The audio walk, an adapted version of which features on today’s episode of Essays On Air, was published onto the GPS-enabled mobile phone app <a href="http://soundtrails.com.au/nimbin-soundtrail-2/" target="_blank">Soundtrails</a>. Soundtrails is owned by <a href="http://www.thestoryproject.org.au/" target="_blank">The Story Project</a>, an Australian organisation focusing on oral history-based audio walks and they’ve published more than a <a href="http://soundtrails.com.au/explore/" target="_blank">dozen such walks in regional Australia</a>.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/271413/original/file-20190429-194620-7m4bqg.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/271413/original/file-20190429-194620-7m4bqg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
A scene from the Aquarius Festival in Nimbin, 1973. <a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryws/4509202611/in/album-72157623828646000/" target="_blank">Flickr/Harry Watson Smith/harryws20</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>
Anyone with a smartphone can access it by downloading the app and the Nimbin audio walk and following the route through the village’s streets and parklands. Headphones provide the best experience.
The stories I share with you today are excerpts from the Nimbin Soundtrail and are drawn from consultations and interviews with more than 60 Nimbin residents, Aquarius Festival participants and Indigenous elders.
Here, I’ve tried to reconnect the past and the present to make clear how Nimbin became the counter-cultural capital that it is. And the caveat is that many of the events in this documentary walk happened more than 40 years ago. I’ve recognised that memories have merged with other retellings that evolved over the years and the definitive truth is perhaps unavailable. Any version of Nimbin’s counter-culture will be an incomplete history.
The nine months it took me to gather these stories and make some sense of how they fitted together were rewarding.
And while there are some who might dispute the accounts of what happened in these stories, others agree that it’s a fair record of Nimbin contemporary history. The full Nimbin soundtrack can be heard by downloading the <a href="http://soundtrails.com.au/" target="_blank">Soundtrails</a> app and listening <a href="http://soundtrails.com.au/explore/" target="_blank">here</a>. And if you are ever in the area, I invite you to take a day out, visit and listen to the stories in town.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/271383/original/file-20190429-194616-xhtyri.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/271383/original/file-20190429-194616-xhtyri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
A crowd at the Nimbin Hotel during the Aquarius Festival, Nimbin, 1973. <a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryws/4509270669/in/album-72157623828646000/" target="_blank">Flickr/Harry Watson Smith</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>
Jeanti St Clair, Lecturer in Journalism, Southern Cross University
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/nimbin-before-and-after-local-voices-on-how-the-1973-aquarius-festival-changed-a-town-forever-116520" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Main photo: A scene from the Aquarius Festival in Nimbin, 1973. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryws/4509795046/in/album-72157623828646000/" target="_blank">Flickr/harryws20/Harry Watson Smith</a>, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>
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Nimbin before and after: local voices on how the 1973 Aquarius Festival changed a town forever

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GUEST OBSERVATION 
RiskWise Property Research has significantly downgraded the risks to the property market, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, following the shock results of the Federal election.
Labor’s loss has eliminated the number one risk to the property market and this, combined with the high likelihood of interest rate cuts by the RBA this year and the first home buyers’ scheme, will support the bottoming of the market by the end of the year and then a gradual recovery.  
Fears of a Labor win, and with it its proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, had a major impact on buyer sentiment, particularly investors, who saw residential properties as depreciating assets.  
RiskWise’s April Quarterly Risks &amp; Opportunities Report identified two key factors that would have major impact on the market, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, being the proposed taxation changes and interest rate cuts by the RBA.  
The number one risk of a Labor win has been eliminated.
What we saw happening was the ALP’s proposed changes have, rightfully, had a major, and tangible, impact on buyer confidence, which RiskWise identified in its report, Impact Analysis: Negative Gearing, CGT and Australia’s Residential Property Market.
Those, jointly with APRA’s credit restrictions and the banks’ scrutiny of loan applications as a result of the Royal Commission, lead to major price reductions, uncertainly and impacted buyer sentiment, according to the Westpac Consumer Report, which found house price expectations were extremely low.  
This meant even before an actual ALP win, the high possibility of these taxation changes had impacted the property market.
The Coalition win has eliminated the uncertainty and complexity in the market associated with the taxation changes, as well as significantly mitigated the property downturn, given it can be demonstrated the price reductions were, in part, due to fears of the proposed taxation changes. 
In addition, with the other key factor we identified in our Quarterly Risks &amp; Opportunities Report that RBA are extremely likely to undertake two interest rate cuts by the end of the year, we should expect the market to bottom by the end of 2019 followed by gradual price increases.  
While the impact is likely to be lower than the impact of interest rate cuts in a higher interest rate environment, this will still have a very positive impact on the market, as rental returns in Sydney and Melbourne are, generally, very low. Therefore, interest rate cuts will materially reduce the ‘out-of-pocket’ costs for property investors. 
Interest rate cuts will increase dwelling demand, decrease price reductions in weaker markets, support the recovery in Sydney and Melbourne markets, and increase prices in areas that enjoy good demand and show resilience.  
In addition, on May 11, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a first home buyers’ scheme, which will allow those eligible to buy with only a 5% deposit rather than the standard 20% and help stimulate the market.
Overall, there would be major improvement in comparison to the situation in April, there were still risks associated with the property market.
Tighter lending standards, the findings of the Banking Royal Commission, restrictions on foreign investors, unit oversupply and large falls in dwelling commencements still all had a material impact on the market.  
Weak markets with continuous price reductions, weak economies and poor population growth will take longer to recover and will require a more conservative and risk aware investment strategy.
While there has been a reduction in dwelling commencement, sale of new units are still very low and, therefore, in some areas it could take a longer period of time for the stock to be absorbed into the market meaning the risk is still high in many areas.
DORON PELEG is the CEO of <a href="#" target="_blank">RiskWise Property Research</a>
RiskWise will publish a Special Edition of the updated Risks &amp; Opportunities report, in the light of the election results, in the next few days.
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RiskWise downgrades property risk as Labor loses the unlosable election: Doron Peleg 

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Staff reporter

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