Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<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/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

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

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

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

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

What does it really mean for a building to be 'green'?

Purchasing

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I grew up in a household which held more ‘traditional’ and certainly outdated values. My mother particularly, believed that education was wasted on women and that our purpose was best served by being ‘barefoot and pregnant’ as soon as possible. 
This experience only made me more determined to secure an education and build a solid financial foundation for myself which led me to establish a system which helped me to purchase my first home when I was 21. By the time I turned 30, I had managed to buy 4 more houses which I did independently and all without the need to skip avocado on toast! Sorry Bernard! 
There are a few crucial elements to the ‘set and forget’ system I established which enabled me to still maintain a reasonable lifestyle without, as millennials now say, FOMO. The below system is one I’d recommend for first timers thinking about entering the property market but feel overwhelmed by the daunting task of saving the initial deposit. 
Here are my tips to save for your first home while still being able to indulge in your favourite brunch a couple of times per week!  
Set a goal
I’m a naturally task focused person so operate best when I have something to work towards. I set a goal when I was 18 to buy my first place by the time I was 25 which gave me 7 years to save the house deposit. I wrote the goal and the approximate deposit amount on a piece of A4 paper and put it somewhere I’d see it regularly.
Research
I had chosen Armadale as my ‘suburb of choice’ and chose to do a lot of ‘in person research’ which heightened my emotional attachment to the area. My ‘research’ consisted of me driving up and down the streets, attending random auctions and poring over the real estate section of the newspaper every weekend. This also proved useful as I learnt about the area before making a massive financial commitment so I was able to ascertain if the fantasy would live up to the reality. 
Budget Budget Budget!
While budgeting is not fun, it is necessary and being diligent is key. I calculated my ongoing expenses such as rent, utilities, food, university fees and textbooks, petrol, gym and medical costs. I assessed what I absolutely couldn’t live without and what I could. I cancelled my gym membership, started shopping at markets, started taking public transport and increased the number of shifts I was working around my university classes. This also allowed me to gain clarity on whether I could practically afford to buy in this suburb before overcommitting to a mortgage I couldn’t reasonably afford.   
Systemise the banking process
Being a university student, I didn’t always have a clear idea of the incomings or more importantly, outgoings of my bank account. I would often spend frivolously without really considering if it was something I absolutely needed. For this reason, I knew I had to establish a banking system which I could ‘set and forget’ and this ended up being pivotal to my success. 
I set up a system of bank accounts which included a savings account (for my deposit), a spendings account, a rent and bills account and an account which my pay would go into which gave me four in total. I was paid on the same day each week so I set up automatic transfers from my main account to the other three on payday, based on my budget allocations. This meant I could only spend the money I had in my ‘spendings’ account while the rest was allocated for rent, bills, university, petrol and most importantly, my deposit. Trust me, if you set up an automatic direct deposit into a savings account and don’t touch it, it starts to add up very quickly! 
By following this system, I was able to buy my first house in Armadale when I was 21. I had five by the time I was 30 purely because I kept to the system and didn’t deviate. Yes I had to make some sacrifices and miss out on big ticket items such as holidays, big nights out and new clothes, but for me, the goal of securing my financial independence, was worth it. 
Anna Thomas is the chief operating officer and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.stockdaleleggo.com.au/agent/529" target="_blank">Stockdale &amp; Leggo</a>.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

How I bought five houses by the time I was 30: Anna Thomas

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Getting the signature on the property sales contract is the major focus of estate agents.
They and their vendors have only ever had peripheral interest in the money trail, and even less regard for the buyer's country of origin.
Some agents suggest under the Privacy Act they actually have no authority to ask for such details of a prospective purchaser.
And honest buyers are often shy in being forthcoming, while others simply set out to be outright deceptive.
But the civil fines estate agents soon face under proposed Federal Government legislation will change some of that disregard.
Foreigners are barred by law from buying established residential property unless they are temporary residents, and in that case, must sell when they leave the country. 
But illegal residential property sales and retention have been inevitable - and mostly under the radar - under the current negligible enforcement system, the Foreign Investment Review Board chairman Brian Wilson recently admitted, saying a national register for property transactions was needed.
Be it a $265,000 illegal purchase, as identified by Treasurer Joe Hockey, or the recently sold $39 million Point Piper trophy home.
Some are bought by overseas buyers whose children typically call the vast mansion their home while studying, but more often these home are just left empty, much to the neighbourhood's consternation.
Keeping track won't ever be easy as there are about 11 million residential dwellings in Australia, and about 600,000 property transfers every year.
Soon estate agents and and perhaps more significantly, solicitors will be at the frontline of surveillance.
Rather than turn a blind eye, they will incur fines in the face of illegality.
Not all estate agents will be worse off.
After-all the new penalties regime includes stronger re-sale powers - even capturing any capital gain made - which means another estate agent is set for the ensuing extra commission. 
This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Estate agents will soon be on frontline of FIRB surveillance

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GUEST OBSERVER
The Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index rose by 7.8% in August from 92.2 in July to 99.5 in August. 
This is a very surprising result. Movements of the Index of this magnitude are unusual and generally associated with highly significant events such as interest rate moves or Commonwealth Budgets. There is no comparable event they may have triggered this response although the solution may lie with international issues and housing.
Last month we conjectured that the main reason behind the 3.3% fall in the Index related to concerns around global issues associated with Greece and the Chinese equity market. That fall had followed a fall in June of 7.1% (also influenced by concerns around Europe in particular) from the big increase in May (8.0% jump) which was most likely associated with the Reserve Bank’s rate cut in early May and a positive response to the Commonwealth Budget.
It seems that with the tensions in Greece and the Chinese equity market no longer dominating the media consumers are feeling more relaxed. However, the Index remains below 100 and is therefore the 16th reading out of the last 18 where the Index has been below 100 indicating that pessimists have consistently outnumbered optimists.
Ongoing positive news around house prices may also have buoyed confidence. Certainly there was a much larger lift in the confidence levels of those respondents who wholly own a property (up 6.2%) or who hold a mortgage (up 11.0%) than those who are out of the housing market (up 4.3%).
 
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However confidence is not being boosted by the expectation of more interest rate relief. In our special question around the outlook for mortgage rates 55% of respondents expect mortgage rates to rise over the next 12 months; 35% expect rates to be steady; and 5% expect further rate cuts (5% with no opinion)
Over that 18 month period there have been two months (following the RBA’s rate cuts in February and May) when Confidence has rallied but this has not proved to be sustained.
I expect that this current “rally” will equally prove to be unsustainable particularly given a resurgence of concerns around China and the evidence last week that the unemployment rate lifted to 6.3%.
The rise in the overall Index was associated with a modest improvement in respondents’ confidence around the labour market. The Westpac Melbourne Institute Index of Unemployment Expectations fell by 2.1% following a 1.3% fall in July (a lower level indicates that respondents are more confident with the labour market outlook). However the Index is still above the level in May and 6% above the level in October 2011 immediately before the Reserve Bank began its easing cycle.
Not surprisingly, all components of the Index increased. Possibly reflecting the house price theme we saw a huge lift in “family finances compared to a year ago” of 15.5% while “family finances over the next 12 months” rose by 3.9%.
Prospects for the economy, possibly influenced by a more settled global outlook, also lifted. “Economic conditions over the next 12 months” rose by 13.4% and “economic conditions over the next five years” was up by 5.8%. However note that these two components are still down on a year ago: –8.7% and –2.1% respectively.
“Whether now is a good time to buy a major household item” rose by 3.7% but is also still down 1.6% on last year.
Sentiment towards housing improved. “Whether now is a good time to purchase a dwelling” increased by 8.2%. But that really only represents a recovery from the precipitous fall last month of 15.4%. The level in August is still 8.5% below the level in June and still represents the second lowest print for this Index since November 2010 – the aftermath of the Reserve Bank’s rate hike cycle. There was only one state, New South Wales, where the Index fell further (– 3.3%) from the July level. The Index for New South Wales is now 22% below its level two months ago. This sentiment is probably being driven by concerns around both affordability and prospects for prices.
Respondents were less confident about the outlook for house prices. The Westpac–Melbourne Institute Index of House Price Expectations fell by 5.6% (to 137.7) from its level in July (145.8) and is now down by 10.3% over the year. 
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BILL EVANS is chief economist of <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/" target="_blank">Westpac</a>.
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