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Television’s architecture darling Kevin McCloud is doing the interview circuit here in Australia to promote his upcoming appearance at Melbourne’s Grand Designs Live running this weekend (September 21-23), but he hasn’t tweeted since April 19.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/Kevin_McCloud/status/193246510379573248" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/09/mccloudtweet.jpg"></a>
He had been active over late 2010 and 2011 but somewhere along the interest his interest in the social media platform waned.
He joined in October 2010, “partly under duress”, as someone was impersonating him.
Grand Designs Live is billed as a “home show like no other”. The expo is running in Sydney and Melbourne, but McCloud will only be appearing in Melbourne.
The live show has been running an active Twitter account with a strong emphasis on Kevin McCloud.
<a href="https://twitter.com/GDLive_Aus" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/09/grandtweet.jpg"></a>
He will be speaking alongside Peter Maddison, an Australian architect, who will be hosting the Australian remake of McCloud’s popular home-building television show Grand Designs.
Staff at North Melbourne cafe Twenty&amp;Six Espresso were gushing when McCloud visited their establishment.
<a href="https://twitter.com/TwentyandSix" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/09/twentysixtweet.jpg"></a>
Peter Maddison hasn’t tweeted since June  having run his account primarily to spruik the local TV show. He tweeted 48 times between October 2010 and June this year.
<a href="https://twitter.com/P_Maddison_GDA" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/09/madisontweet.jpg"></a>
 
The Lifestyle Channel has been posting sneak peak previews for its upcoming October season of Grand Designs, which will include <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3I9fIGIMl4&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;noredirect=1" target="_blank">Mansfield</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HQALjVSQCs&amp;noredirect=1" target="_blank">Balnarring</a>.
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awalsh-7Ub9EypybQ

Kevin McCloud and the world of Twitter: Tweet of the day

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If investors want to buy a home in Adelaide for under $300,000 they have two main options, according to Herron Todd White.
They can buy a three-bedroom house 25 kilometres from the city or a two-bedroom unit five kilometres from the city, according to the September month in review report.
“For $300,000 you could purchase an older three-bedroom dwelling of around 100 square metres on around 700 square metres of land or a newer three-bedroom dwelling that is possibly a little larger on a smaller lot of around 300 square metres located within the outer northern or southern suburbs,” the report says.
“These suburbs would include Morphett Vale, AldingaBeach, and Seaford Rise in the south and in the north the suburbs of Elizabeth and Salisbury and surrounding areas.”
The report highlights <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.thehomepage.com.au/property/residential/7-rochester-drive-salisbury-heights/502338">a three-bedroom home in Salisbury Heights</a> (pictured below), which recently sold for $299,000.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/rochester.jpg" width="470">
The sale is very close to entry-level price into the Adelaide market, according to the report, with detached dwellings at between $250,000 to $300,000.
The report does warn that buying in the outer suburbs of Adelaide means a possible risk of compromising capital growth as well as a potential for rising vacancy rates.
“Often built from the 1960s to 1980s many of these homes are now dated and would respond well to upgrading allowing for the potential of value-add in the future.”
For units, $300,000 will buy a two-bedroom unit within five kilometres of the CBD or in beachside suburbs including Glenelg and Henley Beach, with a significant proportion of these being older-style units built in the 1970s and 1980s.
The report highlights a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-sa-marleston-110106501">two-bedroom Marleston unit</a> (pictured below) that recently traded for $292,000.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/barnes.jpg" width="470">
The entry price for units in the Adelaide market is around $200,000 or even slightly less, according to the report.
“It is worth noting that at this very low end of the market the price of the dwelling is directly reflective of its quality and location. This price point (and slightly higher) in the Adelaide property market is the realm of first home buyer and investor.”
The report is upbeat about the Adelaide housing market, although it is somewhat flat.
“The Adelaide property market in the short term continues to be flat and limited growth is expected in the next 24 months.”
“Both of these property types are currently yielding around 4% to 5% gross.
“Relative to other investment prospects such as shares or long term saving accounts we think that property still remains a viable long-term investment.”
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Buying for under $300,000 in Adelaide will require a compromise on space or locality: HTW

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Buying a house in the cheapest suburb within 20 kilometres of the CBD will still cost at least $420,000 in Sydney, Darwin and Canberra, according to an RP Data report.
Granville, south of Parramatta, is the cheapest suburb within 20 kilometres of Sydney’s CBD, with a median house price of $445,424.
In Canberra, the cheapest suburb within 20 kilometres is Richardson, in the south, with a median house price of $452,540.
In Darwin, the cheapest suburb is Moulden in the south-west, with a median house price at $423,007.
Prices are significantly lower within 20 kilometres of the other capital cities, with Melbourne’s Dallas, in the north, at $288,702; Brisbane’s Gailes, in the south-west, at $239,700; Adelaide’s Salisbury North, in the north, at $229,601; Perth’s Maddington, in the south-east, at $298,297; and Hobart’s Bridgewater, in the north-west, at $174,464.
RP Data’s Cameron Kusher says unlike the unit market, house prices do tend drop in price the further out from the city buyers look.
“The most highly sought after areas of the city tend to be those which are close to the city centre as well as the most expensive in which to purchase a home,” Kusher says.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/afford2.gif">
Source: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.myrp.com.au/">RP Data</a>
Within five kilometres of the CBD, buying a house costs more than $500,000 across every capital city except Adelaide and Hobart.
Within five kilometres of the CBD, the cheapest suburb in Sydney is Waterloo, with a median house price of $607,518. This is followed by Melbourne’s Flemington at $599,785, Canberra’s Downer at $579,932, Brisbane’s Morningside at $533,066, Darwin itself at $508,292, Perth’s Carlisle at $506,339, Adelaide’s Renown Park at $387,573, and Hobart’s Warrane at $231,267.
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No suburbs with house prices under $420,000 within 20 kilometres of Sydney, Canberra and Darwin: RP Data

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Forget chic Bondi Minimalism, Australia’s most extravagantly gaudy home has been discovered, given it's been listed for sale.
With peacocks, mermaids, statues and chandeliers aplenty, one Bondi chiropractor turned a late 1800s four-bedroom home into a real-life house of almost hallucinatory showiness.
And it can be bought in one line!
Over the past 35 years, vendor Kevin Du Val has pumped more than $1 million of trinketry, tack, pomp and artifacts into this cabinet of curiosities.
The former saddlery, butcher's shop and grocery store now includes a 270-year-old chandelier, various taxidermies, painted leadlight windows and an impressive collection of assorted gaudy antiques.
In the courtyard, a statue of Poseidon looms over a heated spa, which is festooned with crude ocean scenes.
Inside the pink and purple lounge room, a cast iron spiral staircase leads up to a cosy attic bedroom dominated by what looks like a fox fur-covered bed.
Du Val has been using the home as a part residence, part studio for his osteopathy, iridology (diagnosing ailments from the shape and colour of a person's eyes) and chiropractor business.
The ostentatiously ornamented property is being listed for sale by Troy Deviesseux from Ray White Wentworth Point.
“You’d be hard pressed to find another property like this,” Deviesseux says.
He is looking to sell the property for upwards of $2.5 million, not including the furnishings.
“That doesn’t include the furnishings and the various artworks which give the property its character.”
“The first preference would be for it to sell as one package, which would be worth in the high $3 million.
He insists the property has had strong interest for its October 12 auction.
“The interest comes from collectors mainly. People who have an art collection and people who are just looking for something a little bit different.”
Du Val has set the 205-square-metre property up as a three-bedroom house, with the fourth used as his practice.
Pressed metal front doors lead into a formal entry. Downstairs is a formal lounge with a mahogany bar, a formal dining room and an eat-in kitchen.
Upstairs are three bedrooms, a TV rooms and a main bathroom. There is an upstairs terrace that looks down onto the courtyard.
There are four open fireplaces spread throughout the property.
The sale includes parking for up to three vehicles.
Du Val says he created the home around his artworks.
The decision to sell had been a difficult one, Du Val told News Limited
"It's fairly emotional, probably more so than I'm letting on. But sometimes you just need a change and it's just time. They say the two most difficult things you can go through in life are selling a home and getting divorced, and this is like both."
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Australia’s most extravagantly gaudy home for sale

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The south-west Sydney suburbs of Cecil Hills and Casula were the two Sydney suburbs with the biggest median house price rises over the first half of 2012, according to Australian Property Monitors.
Median house prices in the south-west region of Sydney rose 4.5% over the first half of 2012.
It was the strongest-performing region in Sydney. All suburban Sydney regions recorded median house price growth, with the exception of the northern beaches, where prices fell 2.2%.
Sydney suburban areas were the strongest-performing areas in the country over the first six months of 2012, according to APM senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson.
Results for house listings in Cecil Hills are dominated by off-the-plan houses in Mirvac’s master-planned Elizabeth Hills development.
The 56-hectare development will eventually include 650 sites over the next two to three years.
The development consists of land from $315,000 to $430,000, and three- and four-bedroom homes from $460,000 to $590,000 respectively.
There have been 196 lots released since November 2011, of which 129 had sold by August 1.
The next stage of 10 detached homes was released on September 15.
Agent Mark Nejasmic from United Realty West Hoxton has worked in the area for the last 10 years and says inquiry levels have been very high over the past year.
“To say you live in that area is quite a good thing. It’s a lovely little pocket. And there’s a shortage of stock there. Anything that goes on the market gets good enquiry, and they get over market value.”
Nesjamic is selling <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-cecil+hills-110905763" target="_blank">42 Athlone Street</a>, a four-bedroom house on 519 square metres.
“The property is quite indicative of the area certainly.”
“That particular property we’ve just got a new buyer for. People doorknocked and offered more than the asking price.
“The property was valued at $550,00 to $580,000 and yet we’ve achieved more than $600,000, with  three or four buyers interested.”
He says the area is attracting a mix of younger families and older couples.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
Raine &amp; Horne Cabramatta agent Van Nguyen says prices have risen in the last three months.
“There was a six-month period where things were quiet and it really picked up in July, August and now September. I’d agree with rises of 4% to 5%."
Nguyen is selling a four-bedroom house for $569,000.
In Casula, LJ Hooker agent Alen Toma says prices haven’t actually changed much at all over the last 12 months.
“I’ve seen a bit of activity in Casula, with more buyers in the area not a shift in prices.”
“I feel prices have been steady for the last 12 months.”
There are a number of developments coming in around Casula, which Toma says hasn’t affected prices much at all.
Toma is selling <a target="_blank" href="https://casula.ljhooker.com.au/4RJGRH">50 Roth Street </a>at auction with an expected price of $450,000 to $480,000.
He says the property is a very typical house in the area.
Toma says most people buying in the area are young families and first-home buyers.
He predicts prices will stay steady in the next year, with a possible uptick in buyer inquiry in line with Spring.
Agent David Farrugia from Macquarie Real Estate Casula agrees that prices haven’t changed much.
“If anything they’ve come down. We haven’t really seen an increase in prices in the higher bracket at all.
“The increase is probably in the lower bracket of Casula. Anything under the $400,000 mark – townhouses or villas or older-style homes.”
“A lot of first time home buyers are getting into the market before the grant finishes. I think people might be paying more than market value just to get in before the grant ends.”
“But anything over $500,000 and you’re struggling.”
He says he’s surprised more investors aren’t buying in the area considering the high rents.
“The yields are quite high. Although a lot of people have quite high incomes, a lot of them can’t afford to get a deposit together.”
“There’s basically a vacancy rate of zero as banks are getting tighter with their lending.”
Farrugia is selling <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-casula-111404543" target="_blank">16 Plum Close</a> for $619,000. The price has been revised down from $639,950.
He says the home is one of the nicer ones in the area and is not necessarily indicative of the average property in Casula.
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Sydney's Cecil Hills and Casula top price growth in last six months: APM

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Grand final day is one of the biggest days in Melbourne’s calendar.  Statistically, one in 40 Melburnians will be in attendance at the MCG, with many more glued to screens around the city’s pubs and homes.
Bounce is at 2.30pm, Saturday September 29, with celebrations and commiserations continuing all through the night.
So how many vendors are game enough to risk their luck trying to sell a house on that one day in September? Apparently just 33, according to Australian Property Monitors.
The weekend before there are about 700 auctions scheduled, according to APM, and 500 on the following weekend.
Last year there were 50 auctions on grand final day and 50 the year before.
It's not an interruption in Sydney given the NRL grand final is at 5pm on Sunday, September 30, although school holidays has a lightening impact in both major capital cities.
Anthony Orellana from YPA Estate Agents Taylors Lakes is taking a four-bedroom Sydenham house to auction at 12.30pm on the day.
He says he’s not worried about losing interest to the big game.
“If you have something that people want they’ll come regardless,” Orellana says.
“How many times do you buy a house throughout your lifetime? It doesn’t happen that often.
“I’m not worried about missing the game. Carlton isn’t playing anyway.”
He hopes to sell the property for $320,000 to $350,000. He says he has four registered bidders who will be there on the day.
Property Observer has tracked down 29 of the auction listings:
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-vermont-111442015">14 McDonough Lane, Vermont, Vic 3133</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-glen+waverley-111469283">25 Cappella Court, Glen Waverley, Vic 3150</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-fitzroy+north-111477839">2 Percy Street, Fitzroy North, Vic 3068</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-essendon+north-111499339">1/36 Prince Street, Essendon North, Vic 3041</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://propertyobserver.com.au/administratorhttp:/www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-northcote-111499407">50 Brooke Street, Northcote, Vic 3070</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-malvern+east-111467779">1/42 Webster Street, Malvern East, Vic 3145</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-armadale-111488335">11 Mount Pleasant Grove, Armadale, Vic 3143</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-rowville-111390015">2 Shearer Drive, Rowville, Vic 3178</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-oakleigh+east-111431195">85 Clayton Road, Oakleigh East, Vic 3166</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-oak+park-111440351">232 Waterloo Road, Oak Park, Vic 3046</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-reservoir-111468871">91 Barry Street, Reservoir, Vic 3073</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-lilydale-111492527">2/10 Deschamps Street, Lilydale, Vic 3140</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-oakleigh+south-111390595">2/7 Dalgan Street, Oakleigh South, Vic 3167</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-kensington-111416827">18/1 Gatehouse Drive, Kensington, Vic 3031</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-hughesdale-111481915">23 Paget Street, Hughesdale, Vic 3166</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-blackburn+south-111492543">12 Holroyd Court, Blackburn South, Vic 3130</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-box+hill-111582287">13 Bass Street, Box Hill, Vic 3128</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-brunswick+east-111474835">202B Edward Street, Brunswick East, Vic 3057</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-mitcham-111487255">U1/8 Coppin Close, Mitcham, Vic 3132</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-clayton-111531659">5/1438 Centre Road, Clayton, Vic 3168</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-sunshine+north-110301917">100 Phoenix Street, Sunshine North, Vic 3020</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-burnside+heights-111414943">4 Albert Court, Burnside Heights, Vic 3023</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-springvale+south-111354183">4 Woodstock Place, Springvale South, Vic 3172</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-mount+waverley-111491775">118 Huntingdale Road, Mount Waverley, Vic 3149</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-meadow+heights-111421027">2 Eucalyptus Place, Meadow Heights, Vic 3048</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-sydenham-111418859">41 Bungarim Wynd, Sydenham, Vic 3037</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-hadfield-111460511">1/27 Larlac Street, Hadfield, Vic 3046</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-broadmeadows-111419063">106 Cuthbert Street, Broadmeadows, Vic 3047</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-caroline+springs-111392743">5 Osterley Close, Caroline Springs, Vic 3023</a>
The REIV’s Robert Larocca says there aren’t many auctions compared with other weekends, and they’re almost all in the morning.
"It is traditional that there is a low number of auctions on grand final day.
"Those that do have an auction always ensure it’s before the ball is bounced,” Larocca says.
"Overall it has no impact on the state of the market as everyone just avoids the afternoon for auctions, and those that are interested in one in the morning make the effort to turn up."
Melbourne's weekend clearance rate was 60% from the 619 auction results reported to the RIEV over the September 15 and 16 weekend. It was 57.5% in Sydney, according to APM.
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AFL grand final day auction avoidance, with few vendors willing to risk missing the bounce

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Unit prices in Logan, Queensland, have dropped 15% over the last quarter despite a yearly rise of 10.9%, according the Real Estate Institute of Queensland.
The quarterly price drop was the biggest drop for any area in Queensland, according to REIQ statistics, though the yearly gain was the highest as well.
Local agents say the price fluctuations are due in part to developments in the area, but prices are down.
Agent John Ahern from John Ahern Real Estate Slacks Creek says prices have dropped by about 15%, but he says this drop has been over the last 12 months or more, rather than the last quarter.
“The peak of the market was in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and then prices started trending slightly downwards during 2010, and by 2011 and 2012 prices tended to drop a little further,” Ahern says.
“They’ve dropped about 15% from their peak over the last 18 months or so.”
He says the 11% rise in prices is likely due to new developments in the area.
“The trouble with statistics is you take a bunch of sales prices and unless you dig deep you don’t really know if there were some new developments in the area, which can bump up the median.”
“You might have brand-new two- and three-bedroom upmarket apartments which are being sold to interstate investors and possibly overseas, and that can move the average up. An established property in the area has not gone up in the last four years. It’s gone down.”
There have been a number of new developments coming to market recently.
Ahern says prices have likely bottomed out and are due to bounce back.
“It’s a mixture of people buying. We are getting investors coming back in because the prices have dipped. Some investors sold over the last few years, and we’re seeing an influx back into the market because the returns are so good.”
“You can rent around the $250, $260 mark and they’re being sold from $155,000 to $165,000 in that bracket."
He says there has a slight rush in buyers hoping to cash in on the first home owners' grant before new changes roll in.
Ahern recently sold <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-logan+central-111031379">unit 27 at 279 KIngston Road, Logan Central</a> for close to $155,000 in a mortgagee possession sale.
REIQ chief Anton Kardash says winter is traditionally a low point in sales.
“We do know that the winter quarter is in fact historically the quitest time of year and there are a lot of variables that affect confidence,” Kardash says.
The REIQ notes the figures were more influenced by an increase in lower-price unit sales rather than any drop in values.
Agent Marian Grimsey from Professionals Logan Lifestyles Browns Plains and Marsden says prices are desperately down from two years ago.
“I just sold a block for $169,000 which originally went for $230,000.”
“I feel sorry for these people, the owners. It’s better for them to sell than to end up having the bank take it and them not getting anything.”
Grimsey says tighter lending conditions are pushing first home buyers into the unit market.
“They’re having to take another look at what they can borrow.”
Grimsey is selling <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-loganlea-111551515">unit 8 at 46 Monash Road</a>, Loganlea for $289,000.
The median price for units and townhouses in Logan is currently at $262,500, according to RP Data.
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Unit prices in Logan drop most over quarter in Queensland: REIQ

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Eco Trendee Homes, the developer of a recently purchased Bribie Island site, has lodged development plans with Moreton Bay Council.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/bribie2.jpg">
Ty Wardner, the Sunshine Coast-based developer, recently<a href="https://www.realtor.com.au/cgi-bin/vgmsg/vgqld/propview.p"> </a>paid about $4 million in a receivership sale for the 42-hectare block of land on Bribie Island, 50 kilometres north of Brisbane.
The subdivision site was bought with preliminary development approval for 544 lots.
The $100 million plans, which date back to 2007, include 10 proposed stages of traditional housing lots, medium-density and retirement developments.
<img style="margin: 5px; float: left;" width="300" src="/images/stories/2012/09/bribie.png">
The existing approval for the development will lapse in 2013.
The Eco Trendee plans were drafted by urban planners and architects The Helibronn Group.
The site, at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-qld-bongaree-200165486">69 Coolgarra Avenue in Bongaree</a>, attracted formal offers from nine groups when offered through a public tender campaign by Ray White Special Project Queensland directors Mark Creevey and Tony Williams.
Williams says there was strong interest from developers before its sale earlier this year.
"There is definite demand for developers looking for good sites to acquire.
"Broadly across south-east Queensland there’s a limited quantum of sites a reasonable distance from Brisbane with a capacity and size like this. There are a handful in hands of larger developers."
"It varies from asset to asset, but by and large with a stereotypical site with advanced planning you’ll get good interest," Williams says.
It was sold under instructions of McGrathNicol, the receivers and managers of Dux Property Group.
Williams says the land is close to the surf beach and golf courses.
“The area is well serviced with amenities, with the Bribie Island Shopping Centre containing Woolworths and 30 specialty shops.
The proposed development includes a 7.65-hectare lake as a central water feature.
The 148-square-kilometre island is the most northern of the three major islands forming the coastline sheltering Moreton Bay and is the only island linked to the mainland by bridge.
In 2009 Dux Property Group took exception to the government’s 2004 valuation of the site at $17.35 million and took the Department of Natural Resources and Water to the Land Court of Queensland.
By  June 2012 the site was valued at $8 million.
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Eco Trendee Homes lodges development plans for Bribie Island block

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Hotspot, a Campbellfield brothel and strip club, has been for listed for sale with hopes of up to $3 million.
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/09/brothel.jpg">
The vendor, Donna Murdoch, is selling the property because licensing laws prevent madams from operating more than one brothel.
Murdoch, the madam of the Main Course in North Melbourne, had previously tried to sell the property in 2007, around the time the law was passed limiting brothel ownership.
Agent John Castran from John H Castran Pty Ltd says Murdoch was unmotivated to sell back then with hopes the laws would be changed.
It has been sitting idle for the last 18 months as the laws were enforced.
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/09/brothel3.jpg">
Despite sitting idle, the property has been extensively renovated in that time.
“If you and I went down there now and flicked the lights on you would not believe it,” Castran says.
“You couldn’t spend money renovating it if you tried.
“It’s absolutely bloody unbelievable.”
The new renovated property is being sold fully furnished and comes with all required liquor and sex licences.
It is being marketed as a three-way investment, comprising the brothel, strip club and bar operations.
“It’s a three in one. A one-stop shop,” says Castran.
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/09/brothel2.jpg">
They have been operated as separate businesses, allowing it to be one of the few brothels in Melbourne with a drinking venue.
The brothel is located upstairs and has six bedrooms, three with spas. With ground-floor entry, the brothel has a foyer, office and reception waiting area.
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/09/brothel5.jpg">
The ground floor of the venue has a fully fitted bar lounge, which is licensed for explicit entertainment, a sports bar, kitchen, office and outdoor beer garden. The lounge bar has several load-bearing poles.
Close to the Hume Highway, it comes with secure fencing and 24 carparks.
Castran has been marketing the property towards potential owner-operators, saying very few brothels are actually rented premises.
“I’ve learnt a lot about the industry.”
“I haven’t made a call about the rent. These days basically all brothels are owner-operators. They used to be landlord and operator deal, but that’s rare now.”
He says there has been significant interest in the property.
The liquor licence allows a maximum of 300 people from 11am to 6am on Sunday to Thursday and from 11am to 7am on Friday and Saturday.
“It’s got a pretty amazing liquor licence.  You just can’t get them anymore.”
“They’re hard to get now. There’s more shutting down than being opened.”
The 1,178-square-metre property goes to auction on September 28 at noon, and it sounds like an auction not to miss.
“We’ve got some dancing girls coming in for the auction.”
“It’ll definitely be open for inspection, so to speak.”
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Campbellfield, Melbourne, brothel listed for auction with $3 million hopes

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An iconic 1910 Newtown, Geelong, warehouse has sold for more than $950,000 after auction.
The property– set close to Corio Bay – passed in at $950,000 and later sold for “significantly more”. The price guide leading into the auction was mid-$900,000 to $1.05 million. It was listed by Robert Creece and Tony Young from Robert Creece Real Estate  Manifold Heights.
The Edwardian building was originally built for Collins Bros Pty Ltd Woollen Manufacturers with a second-level Early Modernist extension added in 1934.
The Latrobe Boulevard building has been under renovation for the last five years. One renovation project was finished the day before it went to auction. Parts of the property remain to be renovated.
The heritage-listed building is considered historically significant as a representative embodiment of industrial practice and the woollen processing industry in Newtown before the Second World War.
Heritage documents describe the building as “a two-storey symmetrical red brick industrial building with later two-storey additions”.
“The three-bay front is divided by flat piers, becoming semi-octagonal section over window-head height on foliate corbels.”
The leadlight windows are Art Nouveau influenced, and there is an “unusual” nine-panel door and knocker.
The manganese brown brick first floor is adorned with a massive sans serif sign in a recessed panel.
At the left of the property is an Edwardian timber veranda with an arched palisade valence and a picket fence at one side.
A 1946 obituary of Basil N. M. Collins, a member of the firm of Collins Bros Pty. Ltd, says he was a former player and president of the Geelong Football Club. He was also a Grand Lodge officer of the Masonic Lodge.
The renovation has yielded 570 square metres of internal space. The building sits on a 945-square-metre block of land.
The lower level is currently set up as an office or showroom or retail area that leads through to a open space, which is marketed as ideal for an art gallery or cafe or conference room.
That room opens through to a private paved courtyard and the rear yard.
The upstairs portion of the property is currently set up as a residential area with two bedrooms, an open plan living and dining room, kitchen and bathroom.
The former power room has undergone partial renovation towards a two level apartment.
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Geelong 1910 woollen warehouse sells for more than $950,000

For most new apartment buildings, the Owners Corporation starts life with little more than a bank account and the first quarterly strata levies.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/9-gay-street-castle-hill-9-gay-street-castle-hill-nsw-2154">9 Gay Street</a> in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a>, it starts with around $7 million in reserve.

It's an unusual legacy of what was once one of Sydney's highest-profile apartment remediation projects. When the development, originally known as Skyview and built by disgraced developer Top Place, came under scrutiny by then NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, an $11 million remediation bond was negotiated to ensure any building defects could be fully rectified.

The building underwent an 18-month remediation program, during which around $4 million of that bond was spent bringing the building up to the standard it should have been in from the outset.

After extensive inspections, all active rectification orders have been lifted. What's more, around $7.2 million remains secured for the Owners Corporation for the next 15 years.

In a twist few would have predicted, what began as a significant concern for purchasers has left the building with something almost unheard of in the apartment market: a multi-million-dollar financial reserve from day one.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359136]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a> Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said the structure offers buyers a level of certainty that is difficult to replicate.

"The $11 million bond established for the Skyview Castle Hill development represents exceptional value, providing genuine financial security for purchasers," Huxley said.

"Unlike a standard insurance policy, this bond consists of real funds held in trust for the Owners Corporation, offering a tangible layer of protection and added peace of mind."

The apartments themselves have been designed with a focus on practical, contemporary living. Interiors feature Smeg appliances, stone benchtops, tiled living areas, carpeted bedrooms, 2.7-metre ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and ducted heating and cooling throughout.

Residents also have access to a range of shared amenities, including two rooftop barbecue areas, a swimming pool, children's playgrounds, secure building access, storage cages, and visitor parking.

The location continues to be one of the project's strongest drawcards. Castle Hill Metro Station sits virtually on the doorstep, providing direct connections across Sydney's expanding Metro network, while Castle Towers offers extensive retail, dining, entertainment, and service amenities within walking distance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359127]

The building, now named after its location at 9 Gay Street, comprises a diverse mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments starting from just under $600,000.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett said demand in the Hills District continues to be driven by buyers seeking convenience and connectivity.

"Interest from both owner-occupiers and investors in Castle Hill remains exceptionally strong, with buyers consistently prioritising developments in close proximity to the Metro station and Castle Towers Shopping Centre," Hamblett said.

"There is a clear trend in the market, with purchasers seeking convenient access to transport and lifestyle amenities that support a seamless, low-maintenance way of living."

On top of the long-term protection afforded by the remaining $7.2 million bond, Equitifund is offering a limited-time stamp duty rebate on selected apartments.

Eligible purchasers can also secure finance options, including a 3.99 per cent two-year variable rate, loan-to-value ratios of up to 90 per cent, and interest-only lending options through EquitiCredit.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=147685]

Joel Robinson

Why this Castle Hill apartment building starts with a $7 million advantage

For much of the past few years, conversations about Australia's property market have centred on the rapid growth seen in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3004">Melbourne</a> has followed a different trajectory.

That relative underperformance is now encouraging some buyers to reassess the city, particularly those willing to look beyond short-term market movements and focus on quality property in established locations, along with the long-term growth prospects of a city expected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous.

John Bekiaris, Research &amp; Market Insights at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Projects by Equitifund</a>, said Melbourne's current position is attracting increasingly sophisticated purchasers.

"Melbourne continues to present one of Australia's strongest long-term investment stories," Bekiaris says.

"While other capital cities have experienced stronger recent growth, that relative underperformance is exactly what's attracting sophisticated counter-cyclical investors."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363268]

Equitifund isn't just commenting on Melbourne's property market, it's investing in it.

The Sydney-headquartered capital partner has taken over the remaining apartments at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/victoriana-melbourne-20-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">Victoriana</a>, the recently completed glass-encased development opposite Albert Park Lake in Melbourne's tightly held St Kilda Road precinct.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hickory">Hickory</a>, Victoriana places residents between one of Melbourne's most recognised parklands and the CBD, offering oversized two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at owner-occupiers seeking a genuine alternative to a traditional family home.

The development comprises 232 completed residences alongside a suite of resident amenities, including a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, landscaped entertaining areas, resident lounges, EV charging, secure basement parking and a concierge-style arrival experience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363229]

The apartments have been designed with owner-occupiers firmly in mind.&nbsp;Open-plan living and dining areas flow onto generous balconies framing views across Albert Park Lake, Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne skyline.

Kitchens feature Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and generous preparation space. Bedrooms include built-in robes, while bathrooms feature full-height textured tiling. Hardwood flooring and ducted air conditioning complete residences designed for long-term living.

Rothelowman's architecture takes its cues from the landscape opposite the site. Sweeping horizontal glazing references the movement of Albert Park Lake, while generous balconies and expansive glazing strengthen the connection between the apartments and the surrounding parklands. The result is a building designed to deliver the scale and amenity expected of luxury apartment living, while offering the larger floorplans increasingly sought by owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363284]

The location is one of Victoriana's defining characteristics. Positioned on Queens Road, residents are directly opposite Albert Park Lake and within easy reach of Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, South Melbourne, St Kilda Road and the CBD. With few comparable development opportunities remaining in the precinct, buyers are increasingly placing value on outlooks that are unlikely to be interrupted by future construction.

Greg Huxley, Founder of Equitifund, believes those qualities become even more valuable over time.

"Premium real estate has always rewarded buyers who take a long-term view," Huxley said.

"Victoriana represents the kind of asset that's increasingly difficult to recreate today, particularly in an established location like Queens Road."

He said rising construction costs are also changing the way buyers assess completed developments.

"When you combine an irreplaceable location with thoughtful architecture and premium finishes, you create something that becomes increasingly difficult to reproduce as construction costs continue to rise."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363228]

According to National Sales Director Ben Hamblett, enquiry has been driven largely by Melbourne downsizers and buyers upgrading from smaller apartments.

"Interest in Victoriana continues to build, with strong buyer focus on the larger owner-occupier residences within the development," Hamblett says.

"Enquiry is increasingly driven by local buyers who recognise the rarity of what's on offer: park-facing apartments in an established neighbourhood where new development opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. At Victoriana, the view is not just a feature; it's an appreciating asset in its own right."

He said interstate enquiry has also strengthened as buyers reassess Melbourne's position within the national property cycle.

"Melbourne currently stands as the most compelling entry point of any major Australian capital, and discerning buyers are beginning to recognise what those who move early always understand: the best opportunities are taken before the price rise confirms them."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=1979]

Why now is the time to buy in Melbourne's premium apartment market

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

Alistair Walsh

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