Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

Australia Post is one of the country’s most trusted institutions, powering one of the largest delivery networks in Australia. As online shopping continues to scale, Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online.

That scale of eCommerce activity has fundamentally changed expectations around how and when parcels arrive, and what happens when someone isn't home.

<h3>Problem solved with Parcel Lockers</h3>

The traditional alternatives to home delivery are far from ideal. Buildings can rely on reception teams to manage deliveries, which introduces ongoing staffing costs and liability concerns. Parcels can be left in common areas, which creates security and aesthetic issues. Or residents are redirected to nearby Post Offices for collection, which shifts the inconvenience rather than solving it.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dVG5ChLHf7E?si=D9hQRGCBuzlSQBqK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The data behind that frustration is significant. Nationally, around 9 per cent of deliveries are carded, meaning the recipient was not home and must collect the parcel from a Post Office. That figure reflects the national average reported between November 2025 and January 2026. In Melbourne, that figure rises to 20 per cent. In high-density living, it climbs again to 28 per cent. In other words, more than one in four deliveries in Melbourne apartment buildings results in a failed first attempt.

<h3>How Parcel Lockers work</h3>

The mechanics are simple. When a parcel arrives, the resident receives a notification either through the Australia Post app or via SMS. They scan a QR code, use their one-time PIN and the compartment opens. The parcel is secure, accessible and removed from the lobby floor.

Located in thoughtfully chosen, easily accessible areas, including external building interfaces, mixed-use precincts or shared communal zones, Parcel Lockers enhance convenience without requiring internal building access or additional operational oversight.

<h3>The scale of the network</h3>

This expansion represents Australia Post's largest investment in parcel infrastructure to date, building on momentum that began in 2011 when the first 24 Parcel Locker sites were introduced.

Today the Australia Post Parcel Locker network spans over 1,400 locations and more than 105,000 individual compartments, with major investment already underway to significantly expand the network further.

<h3>What it means for developers and building operators</h3>

A Parcel Locker bank is free to install and free for residents to use. That removes one of the primary barriers to adoption and shifts the conversation from cost to integration.

Australia Post's preference is to engage with developers during the design phase. That allows Parcel Lockers to be located in a considered, publicly accessible space that works for residents and the broader community. Retrofit is possible, and existing buildings can be assessed, but the strongest results occur when Parcel Lockers are treated as part of the core services plan rather than a bolt-on solution.

While the iconic Australia Post red is widely recognised, Parcel Lockers can also be delivered in more muted palettes such as beige or green to align with architectural intent.

For developers, they offer a tech-forward amenity that meets modern expectations, a reduction in courier congestion and building-management load supporting lower emissions and better ESG outcomes, and a meaningful marketability advantage in high-density, eCommerce-active areas, all at no cost for installation and maintenance, with Australia Post funding the program aside from power access.

<h3>Who's using them</h3>

Generational shopping behaviours show strong, sustained growth across all cohorts. Millennials (27–43) led online spend in 2024, contributing nearly $25 billion. Baby Boomers (60–78) increased their online spend by 17.6 per cent, becoming the fastest-growing adopters. Gen Z (13–26) and Gen X (44–59) continue to lean on delivery services as part of their everyday shopping habits.

Internationally, uptake is even more pronounced. Overseas markets are seeing rapid adoption by both developers and consumers, positioning Parcel Lockers as standard infrastructure in many new residential projects. For Melbourne's development community, this signals a shift in baseline expectations. Just as secure bike storage and dedicated parcel rooms have become more common, integrated Parcel Locker networks may soon be viewed as part of the essential service mix.

<h3>The bigger picture</h3>

Parcel Lockers aren't just a logistics fix. Developers invest heavily in lobby design, materials, lighting and landscaping to shape first impressions. Yet a stack of unattended parcels can undo that effort in an instant. Embedding parcel infrastructure early allows projects to respond to how people actually live today, supporting resident satisfaction, reducing operational strain and aligning with broader community and ESG outcomes.

As Belinda Quinn, Senior Transaction Manager – Retail &amp; Out of Home at Australia Post, puts it, residents increasingly expect delivery solutions that align with real life, are flexible, secure and available whenever they need them.

How Australia Post is solving the parcel problem for apartment living

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More home owners are undertaking renovations from savings rather than borrowing the money to do so, according to mortgage broker Loan Market.
“We're seeing many consumers saving money instead of borrowing to fix up their homes,” says Loan Market spokesperson Paul Smith.
Smith says that consumer feedback this year has largely prioritised debt reduction in uncertain economic times.
“We also suspect many Australians would be carrying out their own home renovations to cut costs,” he says.
These findings are supported by end-of-year ABS housing finance figures, which revealed a 7% decline in the value of renovation refinancings compared with 2010 despite an overall rise in the number of home loan customers refinancing their mortgages.
Property investors or owner-occupiers who are considering renovating and adding value to their property should sign up for Property Observer’s free webinar: Renovating for Profit on Wednesday, February 29 at 12.30pm
 
 
 
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Self-funded renovations on the rise: Loan Market

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Carrying out home renovation remains the main reason that borrowers refinance their mortgages, according to research by the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA).
While the percentage of borrowers who refinance to renovate has fallen from 20.9% in July 2010 to 17.1%, it is still edges the 16% who say they refinance for a more compelling deal or a better interest rate.
The other explicit reasons why people renovate are to consolidate debts (12.1%), buy a house or car (8.7%) or purchase an investment property (7.7%).
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/renovating.gif"><img src="/images/stories/renovatingthumb.gif"></a>
Readers considering undertaking a renovation should sign up for the free Property Observer webinar on Wednesday, February 29 at 12.30pm: Renovating for Profit, with tips and tricks for getting the most out of your renovation and what costly mistakes to avoid.
To ensure you make an informed decision before refinancing your mortgage <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/free-ebook-12-tips-for-refinancing-your-mortgage">download Property Observer’s free eBook: 12 tips for refinancing your mortgage – how to find the best home loan in 2012</a>.
 
 
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Renovation the main reason mortgage holders refinance: MFAA

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The trend towards slimmer and shorter building blocks has prompted the Metricon home building company to unveil 19 new home designs.
They are mostly suited to smaller frontage and depth land sizes, reflecting developer trends towards smaller, narrower blocks.
New <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/land/melbourne-median-new-lot-size-falls-below-400-square-metres-oliver-hume/2012022053455">Melbourne median residential lots sizes have fallen fell below 400 square metres</a> for the first time.
“It’s very important that current trends in land sizes don’t impact on our ability to deliver spacious, light-filled homes that offer the flexibility modern families need to really love where they live,” Metricon’s head of design Adrian Popple says.
It’s one of the largest releases ever made by Metricon, Australia’s leading home builder. The designs have been added to their Allegra, Freedom and Designer range of homes.
The new releases in the Allegra range, 12 in total, include the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.metricon.com.au/melbourne/homes/alpha">Alpha, a compact entry-level home maximising available space,</a> available from just 16 squares (149 square metres), yet with three-bedroom living.
Metricon marketing general manager Yvonne Abood described the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.metricon.com.au/melbourne/homes/breeze">Breeze home within its Freedom range</a> as “an especially remarkable achievement by our designers, as no comfort is sacrificed to create luxury two-storey living on the narrowest of home sites”.
She expects the Breeze design to be very helpful for the smallest blocks made available in large developments, but also for knockdown rebuild sites.
The Breeze, with a side portico entry, comes with three bedrooms, with the ability to fit on a narrow 8.5-metre wide block.
The company dates back to 1976.
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Smaller lot sizes prompt Metricon to maximise space in 19 new designs

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Restaurateurs Matt Moran and Peter Sullivan are immersed in the final renovations of the old Prunier’s building in Woollahra’s lovely Chiswick Gardens before its March 7 reopening.
<img src="/images/stories/moranwork6.jpg">
Moran recently tweeted that operation Chiswick will have a ceiling-to-floor white-tiled Parisian bistro-style bar plus a wood-fired oven.
<img src="/images/stories/moranwork5.jpg">
A kitchen garden, with a dedicated gardener, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.chiswickrestaurant.com.au/the-garden/recipes">will produce seasonal goodies</a> for the “sharing” menu. Apparently the radishes (pictured above) and cucumbers are doing well.
<img src="/images/stories/moranwork3.jpg">
Art director Vince Frost, who created chic packaging for Donna Hay and Ceramica di Manfredi and produced a beautiful book for Damien Pignolet, is also working to create the restaurant theme. The wine list is designed by ARIA sommelier Matthew Dunne with diners enjoying views over the council garden on Ocean Street. 
The space is believed to have been part of the stables of an old house called Chiswick, which occupied the land. Woollahra Council bought it from a Mrs L.F.Holmes in 1938 for seven thousand pounds.
From 1953 the restaurant was called The Kiosk. In 1970 it was Dimitris, and Pruniers moved there in late 1972 from the Al Corso, in Double Bay, where it had opened in 1947.
<img src="/images/stories/moranwork4.jpg">
Chris Grinham from Humphrey and Edwards Design worked with Moran and Sullivan  on the restaurant’s design and interiors.
<img src="/images/stories/moranwork7.jpg">
The restaurant is set to open March 7.
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Celebrity chefs Matt Moran and Peter Sullivan have a taste for design with restaurant and kitchen garden in Woollahra

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New Melbourne median residential lots sizes have fallen fell below 400 square metres for the first time, according to December 2011 quarterly research by Oliver Hume.
The median lot size in the first stage of eight new residential communities’ projects launched during the quarter dropped below 400 square metres to a median of 396 square metres.
Lots less than 400 square metres now comprise 32% of the retail supply compared to around 10% in 2008.
In its recent 2012 interim results, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/higher-price-for-less-land-stockland/2012020953317">Stockland reported that it was charging a higher price for smaller property lots in its residential developments.</a>
The eight new communities will comprise more than 10,900 lots when fully developed. There were three new projects each in Casey and Melton, and two in Wyndham.
The eight new projects lifted the total number of projects launched this calendar year to 34, a combined fully developed yield of 24,400 lots, the highest on record both in terms of projects and lots.
The median land price across the eight new projects was $193,000 or $188,000 including incentives. 
The most affordable lot released during the quarter was offered for $138,400 in Melton.
During the December quarter, land prices in Melbourne’s growth areas declined by $3,000 or about 1.4% to $215,000 – the fourth consecutive quarter that prices have declined.
Over the past 12 months, land prices are down 4.8% or $10,000 from their peak of $225,750.
According to Oliver Hume there are currently 3,200 lots available for sale, a five-year high and equal to for five months of supply at current sales rates.
The emergence of smaller lot product is well documented and highlighted in the following graphic:
<img src="/images/stories/oliverhume.gif">
Land supply is now edging close to the industry benchmark of around six months, which was last experienced in the September quarter of 2006.
Casey, Whittlesea and Wyndham dominate supply, with 21%, 20% and 19% market shares respectively.
Mitchell (Beveridge-Wallan), the most recent addition to the six initial metropolitan local government growth areas, is the smallest market, with just under 7% of retail supply.
“Despite recent downward movements during the quarter in the official cash rate, projects sales rates continue their downward spiral – to their lowest levels since 2006,” the report says.
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Melbourne median new lot size falls below 400 square metres: Oliver Hume

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Channel Nine’s The Block will compete with Channel Ten’s The Renovators as well as 21 other reality television shows for the title of best reality program at this year’s Logie Awards.
In terms of viewer numbers The Block was a much more successful show drawing 3 million viewers to its series final while The Renovators managed just 1.26 million.
In the category of most popular factual program the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV)-backed <a href="https://melbournepropertytv.com/MPTV/index" target="_blank">Melbourne Property TV</a>, which runs on Channel 31 is nominated alongside Channel Nine’s Hot Property show, hosted by The Castle’s Michael Caton.
In the lifestyle program category, three popular property shows are competing for the title, these being Channel 7’s Better Homes and Gardens and two Lifestyle Channel shows Relocation, Relocation Australia and Selling Houses Australia Extreme.
You can vote for your favourite property show of the year at the <a href="https://surveys.asteroid.com.au/bvbin/bvgate.exe?noj=1&amp;sid=917190" target="_blank">TV Week’s 2012 Logie Awards site.</a> Voting closes Sunday.
The 2012 Logie Awards will take place in Melbourne on Sunday, April 15.
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The Block and The Renovators to square off, and Channel 31's Melbourne Property TV hopes to get a Logies look-in 

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Amid a somewhat lacklustre environment for the new housing sector, home builder Peet Limited has secured its 100th sale in its Aston development, in the outer-Melbourne suburb of Craigieburn.
Aston launched in June 2011, and the 100th buyer, the Singh family, purchased a block of land in late January. The Singhs plan to begin construction next winter.
The family have lived in Craigieburn, about 30 kilometres north of Melbourne, for most of 2011 and they are glad to have secured a home in the area.
“It’s a nice, quiet area close to everything we want and it’s an easy 20-minute trip in to work for me,” Rupinder Singh says.
But not many Australian families are following the Singhs’ example, with detached new home sales falling 7.7% in the December quarter, according to the Housing Industry Association.
“Weakness in the new home building sector reflects a combination of subdued demand and an excessive cost base driven by high and inefficient taxation, the latter of which was further highlighted in 2011 by the modest decline in existing property values,” HIA chief economist Harley Dale says.
Victoria was hit particularly hard in the December 2011 quarter, with a 10.5% decline in new detached home sales.
Land sales are not doing much better, according to HIA-RP Data. Although land sales increased by 1.3% in the September 2011 quarter, they were 16.8% lower than in the September 2010 quarter and substantially lower than their September 2009 peak.
But despite hard times for the sector as a whole, Aston has proven popular with buyers. It will offer residents a total of 20 hectares of parkland and open space, including three sports fields.
<img src="/images/stories/aston.jpg">
December was the best month for sales in the development since its launch.
Land it set aside for an onsite retail sector and a school, and the development is close to several primary and secondary schools and is within a short drive of Greenvale, Craigieburn and Roxburgh Park Shopping Centres.
Blocks in the development range from 315 square metres through to 494 square metres, with frontages varying from 14 metres to 17.6 metres. Prices range from $180,000 through to $220,000.
The median house price in Craigieburn increased 3.2% last year, according to RP Data.
The median value for capital cities land rose by 1% in the September 2011 quarter to $213,718, or 2.5% higher than one year earlier.
 
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Buyers snapping up vacant land in Peet's Aston development, despite lacklustre sector

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The total value of the 59,810 properties in the Wyong area in July 2011 was $13.063 billion, according to NSW Valuer-General Philip Western.
The figure was down 7% from the last valuation of $14.063 billion in 2008.
The Valuer-General found that residential land values had generally shown a slight decrease over the past three years, with medium-density and larger more valuable sites experiencing a slight to moderate decrease.
Residential properties in the low and middle price ranges remained steady or increased slightly, but higher-value properties, including waterfront and beachfront properties, experienced a strong decrease in land values.
In 2011 median residential values decreased 2% from $160,000 in 2010.
Commercial land had a slight decrease overall. Tuggerah experienced a strong decrease while Budgewoi remained stable and Wyong CBD increased significantly over the three years.
Industrial land had a slight decrease in land value overall. Larger sites and more valuable sites traditionally purchased by institutional investors had a moderate decrease in value while parts of Berkeley Vale showed a slight increase.
Year on year, median 2011 industrial land values in Wyong decreased 0.5% from $397,000 in 2010.
Rural and lifestyle properties had a slight to moderate decrease in Wyong. Rural residential properties close to major suburban areas were the most stable while unimproved, ecologically affected land without a designated building envelope had a strong decrease in value.
Since 2010 median rural land prices decreased 0.7% from $413,000.
Landowners and rate-paying lessees received a notice of valuation this month.
The valuations are used to determine rates and land taxes on investment properties.
 
Typical residential land values were:
<ul>
<li>531 square metres at Dening Street, The Entrance valued at $375,000 </li>
<li>654 square metres at Fishburn Crescent, Watanobbi valued at $130,000 </li>
<li>620 square metres at Iluka Avenue, San Remo valued at $125,000 </li>
<li>790 square metres at Lakedge Avenue, Berkeley Vale valued at $258,000 </li>
<li>556 square metres at Robertson Road, Killarney Vale valued at $160,000 </li>
<li>613 square metres at Soldiers Point Drive, Norah Head valued at $304,000 </li>
<li>677 square metres at Surf Street, Long Jetty valued at $195,000 </li>
<li>753 square metres at Werrina Parade, Blue Bay valued at $1,774,000</li>
</ul>
 
Typical commercial land values were:
<ul>
<li>518 square metres at Canton Beach Road, Toukley valued at $325,000 </li>
<li>2,098 square metres at Pacific Highway, Tuggerah valued at $669,000 </li>
<li>278 square metres at Pacific Highway, Wyong valued at $255,000 </li>
<li>524 square metres at The Entrance Road, The Entrance valued at $494,000 </li>
</ul>
 
Typical industrial land values were:
<ul>
<li>3,274 square metres at Catamaran Road, Fountaindale valued at $491,000 </li>
<li>2,363 square metres at Joule Place, Tuggerah valued at $270,000 </li>
<li>5,828 square metres at Reliance Drive, Tuggerah valued at $665,000 </li>
<li>4,002 square metres at Naples Place, Wyong valued at $488,000</li>
</ul>
 
Typical rural residential land values were:
<ul>
<li>4 hectares at Cams Boulevard, Summerland Point valued at $406,000 </li>
<li>1.1 hectares at Hansens Road, Tumbi Umbi valued at $457,000 </li>
<li>1 hectare at Holloway Drive, Jilliby valued at $365,000</li>
</ul>
 
Typical hobby farm land values were:
<ul>
<li>8.7 hectares at Finns Road, Kulnura valued at $617,000 </li>
<li>10 hectares at Beaven Lane, Jilliby valued at $530,000</li>
</ul>
 
 
<ul></ul>
 
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Beachfront land values fall sharply in Wyong in past three years

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Investors returning to the market, not first-home buyers, helped Villa World secure 209 sales across 11 projects during the past six months.
The tally compared with 288 in the previous corresponding period.
First-home buyers constituted about 10% of buyers, with the bulk being upgraders.
<img src="/images/stories/villawood.gif">
Projects in Queensland, including the resource-strong market of Gladstone, notched up a 29% increase in sales success.
But Villa World reported the Victorian market continued to be “very challenging.”
Victorian sales and price growth continued to soften, with Villa World noting over the last six to nine months that Victoria’s previously strong population and migration growth had stalled.
“Consistent price growth over recent years has put pressure on affordability,” the company notes.
Villa World’s Victorian operations will carry forward 161 lots sold worth $29.8 million.
Across all states, an average gross margin of 24.5% per lot was achieved across all its sales, up from 18.8%, with the 2011 first half result affected by the sale of non-core projects.
The group recorded 343 settlements in the six-month period.
The group has total net lots under control of 4,897, including proportional joint-venture ownership.
Villa World indicates the group’s strategy remains unchanged with its focus of developing affordable residential communities, “combined with prudent capital management and maintenance of strong leverage and gearing ratios.”
 
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Investors and upgraders, not first-home buyers, behind Villa World’s building lot sales in past six months

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The Ten Network is seeking applications from hopeless husband renovators for its new lifestyle series, which offers to help home owners in desperate need of renovating.
But unlike the unwieldy, expensive 2011 reality series The Renovators, the next crop of willing participants must own their own homes and make a financial contribution to the renovation they oversee.
Ten <a target="_blank" href="https://ten.com.au/competitions-homemakeovercallout.htm">promises</a> to provide the "design expertise, manpower and materials" to turn a do-it-yourself dud or a house seeking inspiration into a "triumph".
Television industry sources suggest the announcement casts doubt as to whether there will be a second season of The Renovators.
Ten had originally revealed that The Renovators would return in 2012, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/the-renovators-will-not-return-in-same-format-and-possibly-not-at-all-lachlan-murdoch/2011102752103">but it has been vague about the show's precise future</a>.
"Obviously there's been a lot of discussion back and forth on The Renovators, and we obviously have a new chief executive on board who is actively involved and just terrific and wanting to be involved in building brands and content," Ten's chief programming officer David Mott said in an interview with David Know at TV Tonight.
“There’s no decision on Renovators at this point in time,” Mott said.
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