<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;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Byron Bay

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With “schoolies” celebrations now over and New Year’s, spare a thought for the challenges faced by children and young people growing up in popular tourism hot spots.
Let’s take the beautiful northern New South Wales coastal town of Byron Bay as an example. At the end of each year, young school leavers flood Byron Bay in pursuit of a rite of passage experience that many of their parents would prefer not to know about.
But there is another story here that is often overlooked. How do young residents of these places negotiate the challenges of growing up in a community widely acclaimed as a “party” destination? And how do the very public narratives portrayed in the media shape the experiences of young people growing up in a place like Byron Bay?
My recent <a href="https://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/542/" target="_blank">doctoral research</a>, in which I interviewed 74 young people in Byron shire aged between 10 and 24, sheds light on young residents’ views and experiences.
It is estimated that an annual average of 1.7 million tourists <a href="https://www.tra.gov.au/research/regional-tourism/local-government-area-profiles/local-government-area-profiles" target="_blank">visit Byron Shire</a>, with 704,000 being domestic overnight visitors. While the party reputation of Byron Bay and its popularity with young backpackers and schoolies is now a given, there is little consideration about the impact of this on <a href="http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/LGA11350?opendocument" target="_blank">the 2800</a> young people who <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317281509_Growing_up_in_a_tourist_destination_negotiating_space_identity_and_belonging" target="_blank">live there</a>. Some of the issues and concerns raised in this research include safety, belonging and the environment.
<h2>Safety</h2>
The biggest concern raised by young residents is the perceived lack of safety that they often feel at times like schoolies and New Year’s Eve. The “demonstration effect” of alcohol and drug consumption, which is sensationalised in <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/schoolies-2017-hits-byron-bay-and-prompts-enormous-police-presence/news-story/672d3ea70d68bb0c357cd42de60fd7ff" target="_blank">the media</a>, has widespread implications.
Children and young people growing up in these communities are witnessing a holiday lifestyle on a regular basis, including the party frenzy and alcohol and drug-fuelled behaviours that are on display at times like schoolies.
This is confusing: they see people having fun all the time, but don’t consider that these same tourists go home to a seemingly normal life after the holiday. This may have important implications for their wellbeing in the long term, particularly when they are drawn to join the celebrations.
Isabella, 15, said:
<blockquote>
I don’t feel safe due to intoxicated people. I know that because of the reputation that it’s a party town, I’m not allowed to come to Byron at night, which I don’t want to because there are just too many people that are passing through.
</blockquote>
<h2>Belonging</h2>
The other concern raised by young people in Byron Shire is the shrinking sense of community as more and more places become overcrowded and commercialised. Young people’s sense of belonging is challenged at peak tourist times, when crowded spaces and unfamiliar faces contribute to feelings of alienation and displacement.
Many also worry about their future. Tammy, 24, said:
<blockquote>
It kind of scares me because it means that people can’t live here anymore as they can’t afford the rent and things like that! I suppose that’s just tourism, that’s how it works, it’s for the privileged.
</blockquote>
The rise of holiday-letting and AirBnb have also led to a lack of affordable housing in the area. As more and more families are forced <a href="https://www.echo.net.au/2017/06/holiday-letting-byron-councils-sights/" target="_blank">to move out of the region</a>, the social structure of the communities in the Byron Shire region is changing.
For young people still living in the area, usual neighbours are replaced by a continuous flow of visitors who book through platforms such as AirBnb. This only adds to feelings of anxiety and alienation.
<h2>The environment</h2>
Children and young people growing up in the region are also acutely aware of the impacts of tourism activity on the environment. Young people are concerned about the visible effects of tourism and the lack of respect that travellers, and in particular young school leavers, have for the environment.
Littering on the beaches, streets and parks in Byron Bay is a common problem at peak party times.
Young residents argue that these behaviours are frustrating. They actively take up stewardship of the natural environments in the community by participating in beach clean-ups and awareness campaigns to educate the visiting tourists. As 21-year-old Jack said:
<blockquote>
It’s disappointing to see people come to supposed paradise, the place where they’re expecting to be clean and beautiful and pristine, then they leave it in such a state. It’s just disrespectful.
</blockquote>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/88315/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Like other areas such as the Gold Coast, Byron Bay is a popular destination with young school leavers who consider it their “party town”. But let’s not forget that it is also the home of many young locals. More education and awareness is needed about these important issues which significantly shape young people’s lives.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/antonia-canosa-426625" target="_blank">Antonia Canosa</a>, Research Associate, Centre for Children and Young People, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160" target="_blank">Southern Cross University</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/your-party-our-home-the-challenges-of-growing-up-in-a-tourist-destination-88315" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Our home, your party: the challenges of growing up in a tourist destination

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Media personality Angela Catterns has bought a retreat in the Byron Bay hinterland.
It's at Wilsons Creek, some 27 kilometres north east of Byron. She paid $1 million for the home from the Maughan family.
It sits on a vast 3300 sqm parcel.
Catterns is mostly known for her work on Australian radio ever since she presented Mornings on Triple J in the 1980s. 
For four years she did Breakfast on 702 ABC Sydney.
She shared the 1915 warehouse in Sydney with her music composer partner Charlie Chan.
Catterns and Chan bought their 278 sqm Balmain warehouse for $1.93 million and sold the empty shell for $2.5 million.
They had previously owned Glendarra, an 1897 freestanding Victorian Balmain terrace with water views which sold for $3.1 million.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph. 
 
 
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firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

Angela Catterns buys Byron Bay hinterland retreat

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Byron Bay's luxury prestige market is dominated by residences overlooking some of the best beaches in Australia.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-byron+bay-114603803" target="_blank">The White House at Byron Bay</a>, overlooking the secluded Watego's Beach, is the epitome of a classic beach house.
Set on the exclusive Marine Parade, The White House has been designed to frame the expansive ocean views from its elevated north facing location.
Four of the five bedrooms have ocean views, while the hub of the home is the second level open plan living and dining area which opens out to a large ocean facing entertaining deck.
The top floor of the striking tri-level home is occupied by the master retreat which has its own ensuite and private balcony, also facing the beach.
The house has even been rented by the likes of Kate Moss and Elle Macpherson, who paid $14,000 a week for the privilege.
The White House belongs to heirs to the iconic Arnotts biscuit family.
They paid $5.5 million for the home in 2009.  
Byron Bay Property Sales Jeremy Bennett is marketing the home with an $8.9 million price tag.
The White House sits a few houses down from the Byron Bay record breaker, which has stood since 2006.
Sydney developer Danny Goldberg paid $16 million for Watego's House, a six bedroom beachfront which he proceeded to demolish to build a new home with swimming pool.
Set on 1,500 square metres opposite the popular Rae's on Watego's restaurant, the home is far and away the most expensive in the north coast suburb.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Arnotts family heirs look to offload Byron Bay trophy home The White House

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Aussie singer-songwriter Xavier Rudd has sold his northern New South Wales retreat at New Brighton.
The popular musician waited until after a number of price reductions.
He had recently been touring the Europe, the US and Canada and listed the home before he set off on the trip. He covered 45 shows over 55 days.
It first came on the market with $2,695,000 hopes five months ago. They were reduced to $2.5 million when Katrina Beohm at Katrina Beohm Real Estate took over the listing.
The price was dropped again to $2.39 million before Rudd accepted $2.25 million.
Despite its price reductions it was still a windfall for Rudd, who paid $722,500 for the land in 2012. He commissioned Chris Walker Constructions to build the 220 sqm home on the banks of Marshall's Creek.
The home was designed to create a connection with nature and was constructed with a mix of native timbers and stone.
The stylish home of course features a soundproofed recording studio with acoustic insulation.
Rudd describes himself as an Australian surf/roots musician. He has released eight studio albums.
Late last year Rudd married holistic wellness trainer Ashley Freeman.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph. 
 
 
 
 
 
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Xavier Rudd lowers asking price to secure New Brighton sale

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John Cornell, the comedian-turned-entrepreneur, has spent $3,375,000 on a Byron Bay purchase.
It seems he’s intent on creating a family compound in the hinterland.
The purchase expands his McLeods Shoot holding by just the 1.4 hectare.
The property sits adjacent to the 18-hectare parcel that Cornell has owned since the 1980s.
Previously Cornell and his wife Delvene Delaney owned what was the biggest compound on the beach at Belongil. But a few years back the couple offloaded it all.
Their sales included the Don Street beachfront to Harvey Norman heir Glen Norman for $10 million in 2015.
Cornell is best known for his comedic work with Paul Hogan.
While he was working as a producer for A Current Affair, he recognised the talents of the Sydney Harbour Bridge rigger and became his manager. He often appeared alongside the actor in The Paul Hogan Show, along with his wife Delvene. 
The latest hinterland acquisition looks a savvy purchase for Cornell, with the property last trading for $3,825,000 10 years ago.
It had been on the market for six years most recently through LJ Hooker Byron Bay agent Glen Irwin.
The single-level home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a number of large timber verandas that open to the swimming pool.
The 1.4 hectare estate was advertised as having more than enough room for a cricket pitch, music to the ears of the businessman who was instrumental in the introduction of World Series Cricket in 1977.
Cornell was highly sucessful with his ventures in Byron Bay commercial and tourism property investment including the Beach Hotel which was sold in 2007 to the Melbourne businessman Max Twigg, who is rumoured to have found a $70 million buyer following its relisting in 2016.
The couple’s actor daughter, Liana, recently sold her Georgian-inspired Woollahra home for $3.9 million which cost $2.8 million in 2013.
Liana, who splits most of her time between Byron Bay and LA, is set to star in Sky’s new historical series Britannia, which draws comparisons with Games of Thrones, paid $2.8 million.
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Comedian-turned-entrepreneur John Cornell buys more in Byron hinterland

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The Beach Hotel in Byron Bay has sold for $70 million to a Melbourne-based private equity firm backed by the wealthy Liberman family.
The rumoured sale was first reported in <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/byron-bay-expansion-no-laughing-matter-for-john-strop-cornell/" target="_blank">The Sunday Telegraph</a>.
The vendor, racing car driver Max Twigg, then denied to The Australian last week that he was selling the pub in the iconic northern NSW township, adding: “I am a happy owner, I have been for ten years.”
But it has since been confirmed by The Australian the hotel, overlooking Byron’s Main Beach, has sold under a long settlement agreement.
It’s gone to the Impact Investment Group, in a record-breaking deal.
Mr Twigg paid about $44 million for the hotel a decade ago.
The hotel in Bay Street was developed by John Cornell about 25 years ago.
Cornell built the hotel in Byron’s Bay Street for about $9 million in 1990.
The hotel’s licensee, Melbourne restaurateur John van Haandel, has exercised his option to continue running the popular hotel under the remainder of his long-term lease arrangements.
The hotel, Byron Bay’s largest venue, hit the market mid last year with price expectations of between $75 million and $80 million.
Impact Investment Group has more than $400 million in funds under management. Investors include wealthy individuals, families, institutional investors, corporations and foundations.
The 6.3 per cent yield struck for the famous hotel's freehold title also reportedly set a new benchmark, with recent major metro pub deals struck on yields around 8 to 8.5 per cent
According to an information memorandum prepared for last year's sales campaign, the pub brought in annual revenue of about $4.3 millon from its multiple bars, bistro, beer garden, bottle shop, gaming room, 25 hotel rooms and conference facilities
Impact joins the push by private equity groups into the pub sector after White &amp; Partners, the private investment arm of the White real estate family, snapped up the Allawah and General Gordon pubs in Sydney for a combined $48 million.
Pub values have surged in the past 18 months with yields compressing by 50-100 basis point over the past year.
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Beach Hotel, Byron Bay, sold for $70 million

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Chloe Brookman, one half of global home décor brand emporium Olli Ella, has bought in the Byron Bay hinterland having flipped her Balmain park-side home.
She and husband, Charlie Wheeler paid $920,000 for a four bedroom home on 4,000 sqm in McLeods Shoot, set in what the advert describes as the 'golden triangle of the Byron Bay hinterland'.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-23%20at%209.26.11%20AM.png" alt="">
Since Byron Bay First National agent Helen Huntly-Barratt sold the home, the couple have set about renovating the 1970s brown brick home.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-23%20at%209.26.53%20AM.png" alt="">
The extensive renovations were finished last last month.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-23%20at%2010.49.05%20AM.png" alt="">
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-23%20at%2010.47.31%20AM.png" alt="">
They flipped their Balmain semi earlier this year pre-auction for $1.85 million through Cobden Hayson agent Matthew Hayson, having paid $1.4 million for the dilapidated Federation-era home.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-23%20at%209.27.59%20AM.png" alt="">
The couple and their three kids moved to Australia four years ago after Chloe and her Clerkenwell-based sister Olivia set up Olli Ella when they were both living in London.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-23%20at%209.28.53%20AM.png" alt="">
The cool children's nursery store has spread globally with Chloe heading the company in Australia.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-23%20at%209.29.29%20AM.png" alt="">
Since moving her family and base for the global home décor brand Olli Ella to the Byron Bay hinterland, the couple has embraced a simpler life, all the time blogging their progress.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-23%20at%209.30.14%20AM.png" alt="">
The brand was picked up by the department store, Harrods soon after its 2010 launch, and Olli Ella now turns over $4 million annually, stocked in 2,000 stores worldwide.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/23/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-23%20at%209.30.55%20AM.png" alt="">
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Chloe Brookman buys in the Byron Bay hinterland

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Aussie singer songwriter Xavier Rudd has repriced his northern NSW retreat, dropping the price over recent weeks.
The popular songwriter, who is currently touring the USA and Canada, was asking $2,695,000 for his<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-new+brighton-125606986" target="_blank"> New Brighton home</a> in the Northern Rivers region.
It was knocked down to $2.5 million, then to $2.39 million, with Katrina Beohm at Katrina Beohm Real Estate taking over the listing.
Rudd paid $722,500 for the land in 2012 before engaging Chris Walker Constructions to build the 220 sqm home on the banks of Marshall's Creek.
Built with a mix of native timbers and stone and designed to create a connection with nature, the homes oversized sliding glass doors open to a large deck that offers creek views.
The stylish home of course comes with a soundproofed recording studio with acoustic insulation.
Rudd has shared the four bedroom home with new wife, holistic wellness trainer Ashley Freeman. They wed in late 2016 in a Byron Bay Australian Aboriginal Ceremony.
Born near Torquay in Victoria, Rudd, who is described as an Australian surf/roots musician on his website, has released eight studio albums and has just completed his tour across 13 countries in Europe.
He began in Copenhagen in Denmark and finished in Madrid in Spain.
Rudd has always had a love for the Northern Rivers region.
He previously co-owned a home with now ex-wife, artist Marci Lutken-Rudd, in Burringbar before selling in 2007 for $850,000. They paid $595,000 in 2004.
Rudd also had a 20 hectare parcel in Wilsons Creek in the same region. He sold for $785,000, having paid $820,000 a year earlier.
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Songwriter Xavier Rudd reprices northern NSW retreat

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Sydney Roosters forward Aidan Guerra has paid $830,000 for a Byron Bay retreat.
It's an investment for Guerra, who is set to join the struggling Newcastle Knights in 2018 having signed a three year deal last month.
He's secured an $850 a week rental, reflecting a near 5.5 percent yield. It income falls just short of the median Byron Bay weekly rental price of $900.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-byron+bay-124418502" target="_blank">1985 built home</a> is set in 620 sqm of landscaped gardens and has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large private yard on its 620 sqm block.
It has been renovated since last sold for $556,000 in 2013.
The much traded home has had six different owners since the turn of the century including Saint Philomena Crystal Rainbow Tear Freedom Sword Martin-Wild-Ocean-Dreamtime.
It went backwards in price in 2005 when it was picked up for $387,000, having previously sold for $440,000 in 2002.
Byron Bay Ray White agent Michael Gudgeon sold the home pre-auction.
It's Guerra's second investment, his first a lot closer to home. His first purchase was a one bedroom garden apartment in Queens Park, close to the Roosters Allianz Stadium.
That cost $965,000 in 2015 and was leased last year at $600 a week. 
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
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Sydney Roosters forward Aidan Guerra buys in Byron

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Richard Johnston, the co-founder of TripADeal, one of Australia's leading travels deals site, and wife Claire Alexander have spent $2.31 million in Byron Bay.
The exclusive waterfront beach house, that had previously acted as a B&amp;B, is set in expansive tropical gardens with uninterrupted nature reserve views.
Comprising four bedrooms and two bathrooms, the home on a large 1,207 sqm double block overlooks the tranquil Belongil Creek.
The garden paths wind past the fish pond and the lawns to the waters edge where there's a jetty and gazebo.
It was sold by Ed Silk Byron Bay agent Ed Silk.
Johnston and best mate Norm Black came up with the idea of TripADeal when in Bali in 2010.
Little did they know the company would turn them into multi-millionaires and chance the face of Australia's travel industry.
The Bangalow-based Richard Johnstone had previously owned a surf shop up on the NSW north coast, while Norm had a retro clothing store. 
Johnston had also worked on surf films during his 20s and 30s and was a freelance writer for surfing magazines.
The couple have been based in one of Bangalow's cutest heritage cottages.
The business pair credit much of their success to starting their multimillion-dollar global business in a town better known for board shorts rather than boardrooms.
The group employs 56 people in Byron, overtaking the local chicken processing factory as the biggest ­employer in town.
This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph.
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