<html><body>
<p>A Brighton beachfront reserve weekend auction offering remains for sale after being passed in at $11.2 million.</p>
<p>The indicative selling price had been given as $11,500,000 to $12,650,000 for the 6 Cole Street offering.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-brighton-126520914" target="_blank">HockingStuart auctioneer Peter Kennett</a> placed vendor bids after the one bid came at $10,500,000.</p>
<p>The vendor bids were $11 million and $11.2 million.</p>
<p>The family estate of 1,400 square metres was offered for the first time offered in 51 years.</p>
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Beachfront Brighton trophy home remains unsold 

<html><body>
<p>The grand Mornington Peninsula landmark, the 1875-built Continental Hotel is set to be listed for sale.</p>
<p>It is being marketed through CBRE and Sotheby's International with reputed $20 million hopes.</p>
<p>"‘The Continental Hotel - one of the Australia’s best mixed use development opportunities - is about to hit the market with all the hard work completed," Sotheby's agent <a href="https://ink361.com/app/users/1474484720/peninsulaproperties/photos/1634081677990916368_1474484720" target="_blank">Rob Curtain advised his Instagram followers</a>.</p>
<p>The hotel is being offered by the hotelier Julian Gerner, who acquired it for $15 million plus mid-last year.</p>
<p><span>Gerner had plans of adding a apartment building, a wellness centre and cafe, yoga deck, lap pool, along with 38 new hotel rooms, a modern public bar, an up-market restaurant, and two function rooms, aimed at the peninsula’s booming tourism, wedding, golf and winery tour markets.</span></p>
<p><span>He told the local paper earlier this year that </span>he would “absolutely see through” after approvals have been received.</p>
<p class="p2">“We took the case to VCAT and are pleased they found in our favour,” he said.</p>
<p class="p2">“I’ll have to start raising the money now but, mostly, my part is done for a while.</p>
<p class="p2">“The finance side is far too technical for me and will be done by others. Works will start when [the project] is fully funded.”</p>
<p class="p2">Gerner, who runs restaurants and a wine store opposite the Sorrento foreshore, <span>made a name at the Melbourne Pub Group before sea-changing to </span><span>Sorrento</span>.</p>
<p class="p2">The Continental Hotel closed in May for its redevelopment.</p>
<p>Prospective buyers have been advised the vendor of The Continental Hotel was interested to take up a long term lease over the hospitality and commercial components of the completed Continental development.</p>
<p>The operation would include the hotel, restaurant, cafe, car park, retail, bottle shop, wellness centre and pool facility.</p>
<div class="gmail-page" title="Page 2">
<div class="gmail-layoutArea">
<div class="gmail-column">
<p>Its indicative commencement rent was $1,800,000 plus GST and outgoings. </p>
<p><span> </span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>

Sorrento's Continental Hotel makes quick return to market with VCAT approvals

<html><body>
<p dir="ltr">Located on the shores of Victoria’s Gippsland Lakes, Bay House at Metung has sold for a record $2.8 million.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-metung-124869986" target="_blank">charming three bedroom residence</a> is on a 1888 sqm block on Bancroft Bay, at the upper end of the town's market.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It had been traded at $2.55 million in 2007, setting a record which was only bettered last year when another house on what's known as Shaving Point sold for $2.62 million.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The picturesque township, four hours east of Melbourne, comes with a $415,000 the median house price.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0ca94b4e-c18d-9622-b462-206e74c6c1e0">Bay House offered a state of the art kitchen, open-plan living area, fireplace, timber floors, and a fully fitted self-contained studio.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr">With all bedrooms complete with ensuites and water views, the Metung Road retreat sold through Castran Real Estate agent, John Castran, in conjunction with King &amp; Heath First National. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0ca94b4e-c18d-9622-b462-206e74c6c1e0">It came with landscaped gardens and lawn with 26 metres of bay frontage.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr">The property included a jetty and a private floating marina with deep water berthing for two boats up to 17m, plus additional berthing for smaller vessels. </p>
<p dir="ltr">This article was first published in The Weekend Australian.</p>
<p dir="ltr"> </p>
</body></html>

Record waterfront Metung beach house sale

<html><body>
<p>An ocean-view Coorabell house has been listed for sale with $3.6 million to $3.8 million price guidance.</p>
<p>Located at 600 Coolamon Scenic Drive, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-coorabell-126427438" target="_blank">the 2.3 acre property</a> has a commanding position on the Coolamon Scenic ridgeline.</p>
<p>It last sold for $1.775 million in 2013.</p>
<p>It features an entry foyer with a Victorian Ash staircase just as you enter while two bedrooms, one with a walk-in robe, are also on this level.</p>
<p>Upstairs is the living area with fireplace and kitchen as well as dining area with views of the hinterland and ocean.</p>
<p><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/09/20/600%20Coolamon%20Scenic%20Drive-2.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Master suite has views as well as its own walk-in robe while at the end of the hallway is either a home office or fourth bedroom.</p>
<p>Outside features gardens with established strees as well as stone walling and small spring fed dam and saltwater pool.</p>
<p>Mullumbimby township and Bangalow are all within a short drive of the property.</p>
<p>The property is offered through First National agents Paul Prior and Su Reynolds.</p>
</body></html>

Ocean view Coorabell house listed for sale

<html><body>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
<p>The longtime Melbourne apartment developer Michael Yates is seeking to sell his 55 Claremont Street project site after only getting buyers for 20 of the 37 apartments in the planned development.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-south+yarra-502602942" target="_blank">boutique project</a> failed to get traction with buyers, he admitted to Fairfax Media.</p>
<p>"Sales were slow," Mr Yates candidly said. "We didn't reach the required numbers for finance. Building costs have also blown out."</p>
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">It is reportedly the last site he owns, so he will be stepping out of the apartment industry.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">His desperate sale pitch came with an offer<span> of a shared electric BMW i3 for residents of the 37 apartments,</span> but it wasn't enough to tempt buyers. </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">The unsuccessful marketing campaign came from <a href="https://www.grenade.com.au/55-claremont/" target="_blank">Grenade</a>. It was marketed as the last of its kind to offer panoramic, never-to-be built out views of the Yarra River and Melbourne CBD.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/10/30/Yates2.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Ausin, the company that promotes Australian property to the Chinese foreigners, was engaged to find an overseas demand, that also failed to emerge.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">The 50 year veteran, now 73, says he's not leaving development, but he has sub-leased his office.</p>
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">He hopes to "take it easy for a year or so".</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">The Claremont Street site has joined with a neighbouring one owned by cleaning company AES Services boss George Haritos to make the current 969-square-metre site offering.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">It is not just uncertainty about the apartment market - but his age and health - that had prompted him to take a break, noting "all cycles come to an end."</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
<p>Mr Yates's son Toby left the business last year after ten years as sales and marketing manager.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">On its 2015 launch, construction was due for completion by the end of 2017. When CBRE was engaged to sell the apartment, it was suggesting a late</span> 2018 completion, but again unable to find sufficiently boost buyer numbers.</p>
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">Now Mark Wizel is selling the entire 49-55 Claremont Street site with its view towards the river and city skyline over the Melbourne High School oval.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">He claims there had been "solid" interest in the "early 30 [million]s" for the site but that the expectations of Yates and Haritos "might be a little north of that".</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">Fairfax Media described the site as "spectacularly located" that "some sources are tipping could make way for the city's most exclusive apartment tower."</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/10/30/Yates1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">It anticipated a tower of possibly more than 30 storeys.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">The site is along from<span> his previously constructed Yarra House. </span>
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"><span> </span></div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">
<span><span>The </span></span>Michael L Yates &amp; Co. project was set to continue their longstanding relationship with architects Bird de la Coeur and interior designers Hassell.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">On its early 2016 launch The Urban Developer claimed Melbourne’s luxury apartment market was set to strengthen during 2016, driven predominantly by the baby-boomer cohort demanding high quality, spacious apartments in inner city pockets.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">Yates, said on launch the past few years had seen the makings of the “boomer-boom”, with his nearby development Yarra House in South Yarra selling more than 70 percent of apartments to owner occupiers in the over-50 bracket.
<p class="p1">According to Mr Yates, the baby-boomer demand for Yarra House was a shift from previous projects in the area where at least 40 percent of stock was purchased by investors.</p>
<p class="p1">“We have ensured 55 Claremont ticked the boxes for baby-boomers – spacious and flexible floorplans, a boutique development in a prime location and a dress circle view of Melbourne,” he suggested at the time of launch.</p>
<p class="p1">Industry observers noted the ignominy of his retreat in 2017 is that the name and the <span lang="EN-US">Michael <span id="0.6253933730188266" class="highlight">Yates</span> brand was built around the fact that he "lives and breathes South Yarra."</span></p>
<div class="page" title="Page 2">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<p><span>Known as the </span><span>Forrest Hill Precinct</span><span>, it is located between and includes the west side of Chapel Street through to Yarra Street, running north from Toorak Road through to Alexandra Avenue. </span></p>
<p><span>The precinct was brought to the attention of the market in 2005, when a large portion was acquired by Michael L Yates &amp; Co, with its subsequent re-zoning following and development commenced. From the outset, the Precinct had potential for </span>50 development sites, of which 30 have now been fully developed providing in total around 3000 apartments.</p>
<p>Last year it was suggested 15 sites remained suitable for development, with a potential to produce a further 2,500 apartments. </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="p1"><span lang="EN-US">Yates' devotion to the area over four decades resulted in numerous developments that have included award winning projects such as </span><span lang="NL">7 &amp; 9 Yarra Street, 50 <span id="0.3287032112429862" class="highlight">Claremont</span> Street, and One Yarra Lane.</span></p>
<p class="selectionShareable">Previously Yates was proud of the high-end Georges Apartments on Little Collins Street in the Melbourne CBD.</p>
<p class="selectionShareable">Earlier in his career, Yates developed office buildings on Collin Street, including 400 Collins St, 414 Collins St and 454 Collins St.</p>
</div>
</body></html>

Michael Yates quits South Yarra apartment site after failing to secure finance

<html><body>
<div>Sportsbet chief executive Cormac Barry secured the sale of his three-bedroom South Yarra offering, amid Melbourne's record auction spree ahead of the Spring racing carnival interlude.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Barry's punt of putting it up for auction on Super Saturday paid off handsomely when <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-south+yarra-126560498" target="_blank">the double fronted Victorian-era home on Nicholson Street</a> (above) fetched $2.4 million.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It was $175,000 over reserve after keen competition between three homebuyers.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Last traded at $1.48 million in 2011, it had come with a pre-auction price guide of $2.1 million to $2.3 million.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The listing had a celebrity connection too as fashion designer Bettina Liano had previously owned the charming Victorian home, selling it in 2007 at $1.35 million.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Melbourne had the nation's cheapest weekend offering when $237,000 secured a Brunswick West one bedroom apartment.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The top floor 38 sq m 1970s apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/17-558-moreland-rd-brunswick-west-vic-3055" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">17/558 Moreland Road</a> had been tipped to fetch $235,000.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The unit last sold at $235,500 in 2010. It had been listed for most of the past year with $265,000 hopes, having been rented at $285 a week. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The top sale across the nation was a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-waverton-126499226" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$7,168,000 Waverton sale</a> in Sydney through McGrath Estate Agents.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The 30 Larkin Street five bedroom home was built on a 560 sq m block bought in 2006 for $2.2 million.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>A three-storey house in Strathfield, sold for $6.6 million, some $600,000 over the reserve.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Melbourne's dearest result was a $6.4 million pre-auction sale of an Edwardian home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-toorak-126554194" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">659 Orrong Road, Toorak</a> followed by another five bedroom home at 33 Grant Street, Malvern East which fetched $6,125,000.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It was a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-malvern+east-126555914" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">three-year old Canny-built</a> home.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Canberra took the baton as the capital city with the strongest weekend auction clearance rate of 77.1 percent sold under the hammer.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Prices ranged between $330,000 at Belconnen and $2,235,000 at O'Connor.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/3-syme-cres-oconnor-act-2602" target="_blank">Syme Crescent five bedroom house</a> (below) was a modern home with pool on its 960 sq m block.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/10/30/Canberra1.jpg" alt=""> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The one bedroom cheapie at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-act-belconnen-126644962" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">231/41 Chandler Street</a> had been tipped to fetch $359,000 plus.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The 17th floor Altitude apartment enjoyed water and mountain views.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Canberra’s clearance rate was 77.1 per cent this week across 128 auctions, up from 68.2 per cent last week across 71 auctions.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Melbourne recorded its busiest auction week on record, securing a 71.7 percent success rate from 1,983 auctions. It was down on the prior preliminary 73.3 percent tally.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Melbourne's bumper auction volume surpassed the previous peak in late November 2015 when 1,876 auctions were held, Corelogic calculated amid nascent signs of Spring listings overload.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Sydney also saw a substantially higher volume of auctions with 1,196 homes taken to auction, though recording a weakening clearance rate of 64.1 per cent.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"Sydney’s clearance rate has been consistently below 65 per cent since the first week of October," according to CoreLogic's auction commentator Kevin Brogan.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Super Saturday saw zero auction commentary before or after from Domain's senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson, who has been with the soon to float group since October 2010.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The usually prolific Dr Wilson has not tweeted since the prior weekend when he was duly undertaking official duties at the Sydney Property Expo.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Australian Financial Review coverage relied, unusually, just on CoreLogic. Domain's Sydney auction coverage came from a Melbourne correspondent, amid their gushing Block coverage.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>This week, the combined capital cities saw the number of auctions held reach a new year-to-date high according to CoreLogic, with a total of 3,690 held, surpassing the previous 2017 high recorded over the week prior to Easter when 3,517 auctions were held.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The higher volumes returned a national auction clearance rate of 67.8 per cent.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"Historically auction volumes have peaked around late November/early December; so if this trend holds true this year, we could see new records being set for auction volumes as the Spring season concludes," Brogan suggested.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The other capital city auction markets were mixed with Brisbane recording the lowest clearance rate of just 47.1 percent.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>There were 188 Brisbane auctions, virtually unchanged from 47 percent last week across 174 auctions and similar to one year ago when there were 192 auctions with a success rate of 46.6 per cent.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Brisbane's unsuccessful auctions included a classic Queenslander which was passed in at $2.05 million in Paddington.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-paddington-125561114" target="_blank">The five bedroom Tooth Avenue home</a> (below) came with polished timber floors, high ceilings and VJ walls.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/10/30/BRISBANE1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>A total of 143 Adelaide homes were taken to auction with a preliminary clearance rate of 70 per cent. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Adelaide's cheapest result was $246,000 at Para Hills.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-para+hills-126532846" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The three bedroom 1962 brick home</a> had last sold at $180,000 in 2008.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>There were 46 Perth auctions, with 54.5 per cent clearing, rising from last week when 44 auctions were held and 40 per cent cleared.</div>
</body></html>

Melbourne hands reins to Canberra as weekend auction success rate weakens in gallop to list

<html><body>
<p>Musk Farm, the much-admired central Victorian cottage masterpiece, has found its next owner in pre-auction negotiations.</p>

<p>They paid $2.41 million.</p>

<p>The home was associated with the late interior designer Stuart Rattle when it came with a derelict garden overrun with blackberries on its 1.2 hectare parcel.</p>

<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;"><img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/10/30/Musk2.jpg"></span></p>

<p>Rattle transformed the home before his untimely death, in 2013, with it then sold through executors for $1.59 million in 2014.</p>

<p>This time round Paul Caine of Caine Real Estate had initially expected a sale of around $2 million.</p>

<p>Stuart Rattle had actually been reluctant to buy the property in the late 1990s when he and good mate, the landscape gardener Paul Bangay undertook their first inspection.</p>

<p>He thought it looked like a municipal park with too much asphalt, but returning at twilight Rattle sensed the potent opportunity.</p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/10/30/Musk3.jpg"></p>

<p>He arrived at the later opinion that the home was at its best in late afternoons. </p>

<p>He created a compact cottage after installing lower ceilings and its paintwork created the rich, moody and broody feel that he had once seen at florist Kevin O'Neill's Mount Macedon retreat.  </p>

<h2><strong>Homes in VIC you may like:</strong></h2>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=2743]</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=3385]</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=3494]</p>
</body></html>

Central Victoria's cutest cottage, Musk Farm sold pre-auction

<html><body>
<p>Sydney has a record 350 cranes constructing mostly residential apartments around the city.</p>
<p>Melbourne sits a distant second with around 150 cranes on the skyline, according to the RLB Crane index, published bi-annually by Rider Levett Bucknall.</p>
<p>Some 109 suburbs in Sydney currently have residential cranes. </p>
<p data-removed-style="letter-spacing:0.001em;">“Every single crane in the sky is more evidence of another home, another school, another hospital, another business in our capital,” NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said.</p>
<p>Epping leads the Sydney residential count with 16, followed by Wolli Creek with 13, Parramatta with 10 and Burwood's nine. Mascot, Homebush, Lane Cove, Lewisham, Zetland, Leichhardt, Surry Hills, Ashfield, Auburn, Flemington, Meadowbank, Mosman, Ryde and Waterloo make up the top 18 construction localities. </p>
<p>Apartment buyers are going to be spoilt for choice across NSW as the number of units under construction hits all time highs.</p>
<p>The number of new units under construction sits at 64,470 in NSW, up on the 17,100 long term average.</p>
<p>Until five years ago, the most apartments being built in NSW at any one time was 25,000.</p>
<p>There are also 17,845 new houses currently under construction in NSW, slightly higher then the 13,500 long-term average.</p>
<p>The volume of new housing stock under construction sits at "dizzying heights," the CoreLogic analyst Cameron Kusher suggested, noting the surge in stock is clearly being driven by units. </p>
<p>"This is probably to do with the fact that many property purchasers in NSW can simply no longer afford houses particularly in Sydney so units become their only housing purchase option, Kusher added. </p>
<p>This current construction surge is not confined to NSW as the Australian Bureau of Statistics calculated around 215,000 dwellings are under construction nationally, against the 10 year average of 153,000.</p>
<p>The national figure sees around 63,000 houses and 152,000 units under construction nationally against the long-run average of 48,000 houses and 39,000 units.</p>
<p>The building activity data coincides with data showing the large increase in population fuelling housing demand.  </p>
<p>It has been calculated 1650 new people have been calling Sydney home every week since 2011.</p>
<div title="Page 5">
<div>
<div>
<p>Over the past two years the Reserve Bank has regularly highlighted the potential risks posed by the large pipeline of apartment construction, but interestingly only in Melbourne and Brisbane where new apartments have represented a larger proportionate addition to supply.</p>
<p>Last week the RBA's latest Financial Stability Review did however note reports of small declines in prices in "a few" Sydney apartment development projects. </p>
<div title="Page 1">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p>Substantial additions to the stock of apartments in particular locations certainly raise the possibility of price falls or subdued growth as the new stock gets absorbed. </p>
<p>So off the plan buyers approaching settlement will need to realise that tighter financing conditions are sometimes seeing valuations below the purchase contract price.</p>
<p>They will need to look around for finance and come up with a bigger deposit, possibly as much as 30 percent.</p>
<p>There are going to be suburbs that fare better than others when it comes to holding their value.</p>
<p>It is important to note the surge in unit stock takes time to build and the delivery of more stock can be slowed considerably.</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>

Epping leads Sydney crane count followed by Wolli Creek 

<html><body>
<p>Peter Higgins, the entrepreneurial mortgage broker and his wife Rebecca, have sold a small part of their Richmond Lowlands polo estate.</p>
<p>The sale was finalised just before the World Polo Championships, which kicked off on the weekend  at spectacular riverfront location.</p>
<p>There's speculation the UK Royals could turn up as Higgins, has remained in touch since he played polo with the princes in the UK.</p>
<p>Teams from Argentina, United Kingdom, New Zealand, India, Chile and Spain, and Australia will be competing.</p>
<p>The recently sold home, dubbed <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/7-ridges-lane-richmond-lowlands-nsw-2753" target="_blank">Hawkesbury House</a>, has been bought by champion polo player Hugh Parry-Okeden and his wife, Gendy, who are returning to the riverfront lane after about a decade's absence. </p>
<p>They paid $4.3 million for the 12.3 hectare estate.</p>
<p>Given the timber master craftsman Parry-Okeden established the hardwood building company, Giddiup and his wife, Gendy was co-founder of Hickory Hill Home, the sleepwear and lifestyle brand,gthey no doubt they will makeover the five bedroom homestead.</p>
<p>It looks over the park-like surroundings and grazing paddocks which come with an Argentinian inspired stable block of eight. </p>
<p><span>Higgins, who started playing polo in the early 1990s, starred 12 years ago on the entrepreneurial television investment show Dragons Den.</span></p>
<p class="first-para">Higgins, a co-founder of Mortgage Choice, began to buy in the Windsor district in 2002, consolidating arounds 50 hectares of alluvial land overlooking the Hawkesbury River during the following six years.</p>
<p>In 2010 he was seeking $20 million for much of the estate when it was offered by veteran agent Bill Bridges in conjunction with Ryan Watsford.</p>
<p><span>He subsequently endeavoured to hold weddings on the expansive holding but in 2015 <span>Hawkesbury City Council were taken to court by the nearby Marshall Rural Pty Ltd, aka as Kurri Burri Polo Club. </span></span></p>
<p>The country estate with polo fields at the base of the Blue Mountains were featured in the opening scenes of Australian made blockbuster, The Great Gatsby.</p>
<p>No doubt holding of the world championship on the estate would enhance its cache among Chinese trophy estate acquirers. </p>
<p>Cutcliffe Properties agent Paul Cutliffe sold Hawkesbury House which spent nearly 300 days on the market.</p>
<p>The Parry-Okedens had recently sold their heritage-listed home Ukamurra at Cattai on the Hawkesbury River.</p>
<p>The sandstone home, which was bought for $1.5 million run down in 2008, fetched $7.3 million last year when sold to a company headed up by a syndicate of Chinese buyers.</p>
<p>This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.</p>
</body></html>

Polo offering in Richmond Lowlands sold by Peter Higgins

<html><body>
<p class="x_description">Jockey Brad Rawiller’s trackside Ascot Vale townhouse was among the Melbourne weekend offerings that just got across the line.</p>
<p class="x_description">Rawiller and his wife Carolyn secured $980,000 post-auction for their <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-ascot+vale-126399910" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">three-bedroom riverside townhouse</a> (picture above) located just across the road from the Flemington Racecourse.</p>
<p class="x_description">It was sold by the upsizing couple shortly after being passed in at $970,000, having been their home for 17 years. It last traded at $380,000 in 2000, reflecting 5.6 percent annual price growth.</p>
<p class="x_description">Rawiller was at Caulfield where he rode Burning Front into second place in the Moonga Stakes.</p>
<p class="x_description">Next weekend Melbourne get's its traditional spike in pre-Derby Day-Cup Day Super Saturday listings.</p>
<p class="x_description"><span class="contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_670_784">There are around 1700 homes set to go under the hammer, which will be an all-time record for a Melbourne Saturday.</span></p>
<p class="x_description">Saturday will present buyers with the biggest choice of homes since the pre-Easter 2016 Super Saturday when 1598 homes went under the hammer.</p>
<p><span class="contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_929_1040">With more than 1000 homes up for auction next weekend, Sydney will have its second biggest weekend of the year.</span></p>
<p>"The market will be well and truly tested next weekend," Domain chief economist Dr Andrew Wilson said.</p>
<p>A total of $500 million worth of property was reported sold across Melbourne over the weekend, with Sydney buyers wagering around $300 million on their property outlays.</p>
<p>The national preliminary auction clearance rate sat below 70 percent, according to CoreLogic.</p>
<p>The combined capital cities returned a preliminary auction clearance rate of 69.4 per cent this weekend.</p>
<p>The trend towards softer auction market conditions has been led by the Sydney market, Kevin Brogan, the CoreLogic auction analyst said.</p>
<p>Auction volumes were similar week-on-week, with 2,471 properties taken to auction, compared to 2,525 last week.</p>
<p>This time last year a clearance rate of 78.1 per cent was recorded.</p>
<p>Melbourne had the priciest declared weekend sale across the nation when a Parkville terrace fetched $5.6 million.</p>
<p class="x_description">It was the grand two storey home of architect Roger Wood, the co-founder of Wood Marsh, and his wife Shelley Lasica.</p>
<p class="x_description">The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-parkville-126461554" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">108 Park Drive</a> property, an 1880s charmer had a $3.8 million reserve with Nelson Alexander Carlton North agent Peter Stephens who told the Herald Sun four bidders pursued the three-bedroom house.</p>
<p>The couple paid $965,000 in 2002 before the renovation which included putting in a 12m-long wine cellar.</p>
<p>There was also a $6.56 million undisclosed sale in Hawthorn. The 10 Riversdale Court offering had three bidders, with just the two after it was announced on the market at $5.8 million. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-hawthorn-126512186" target="_blank">Yarrayum</a>, was is a split-level contemporary brick family home with views of the Yarra and the city skylines through a beautiful rare Tulip tree on a 803sqm block.</p>
<p>There was also the undisclosed $6.4 million sale at 18 Coleridge Street, Kew. There were the five bidders after a $6,050,000 bid saw Marshall White auctioneer James Tostevin announce that the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-kew-126484438" target="_blank">five bedroom, five bathroom property</a> was on the market.</p>
<p><span>The <span>private rear garden comes with solar heated in-ground pool designed by Dave Franklin from Franklin Design.</span></span></p>
<p>Melbourne's 73.3 per cent success rate across 1,030 results remained the mainland's strongest market.</p>
<p>There were 1,224 properties taken to auction across the city, up from 1,223 last week when the final clearance rate was recorded at 73.2 per cent.</p>
<p>Over the same week last year, 1,377 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 80.6 per cent was recorded.</p>
<p>Sydney was host to 806 auctions this week with a preliminary clearance rate of 68.8 per cent, up from the final 63.3 per cent tally last week across 928 auctions.</p>
<p>One year ago, 897 auctions were held across Sydney and 82.6 per cent were successful.</p>
<p>The strongest of the 15 sub-regions were the Northern Beaches (83.1 per cent), Eastern Suburbs (78.4 per cent), City and Inner South (78.2 per cent) and North Sydney and Hornsby (74.4 per cent) regions. </p>
<p>But the highest sale came from the Sutherland Shire when $5,020,000 <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-burraneer-126473982" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a Burraneer Bay waterfront</a> was sold.</p>
<p>It was a three bedroom home at 10 Wren Place.</p>
<p>Highlands Property Cronulla selling agent David Highland said there had been 80 inspections over the four week marketing campaign withy four contracts issued.</p>
<p>Canberra is closing in on Sydney's spot as the typically second strongest market.</p>
<p>Across Canberra, 72 homes were taken to auction this weekend. Preliminary results show a clearance rate of 68.3 per cent, down from 72.2 per cent the previous week. </p>
<p>Canberra prices ranged between $478,000 at Bonner and $1.399 million in Turner.</p>
<p>The $478,000 sale was a three bedroom townhouse in the Motown complex at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-bonner-126599102" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">15/29 Muriel Stewart Cct</a>.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-act-turner-126524470" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1/12 Gould Street, Turner</a> triplex four bedroom townhouse offering had sold at 41 million in 2008.</p>
<p>The preliminary clearance rate in Brisbane this week rose to 51.5 per cent, from 46.1 per cent last week. Auction volumes were unchanged week-on-week with 171 homes taken to auction.</p>
<p>Brisbane's outskirts had the cheapest house sale when a three bedroom at Woodridge in Logan City was sold for $225,000.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-woodridge-126498734" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">9 Claverton Street </a>offering had sold in 2014 at $229,000.</p>
<p>In Adelaide, a 66.1 per cent preliminary result was recorded this week across 147 auctions. Last week, 93 Adelaide auctions returned a clearance rate of 65.9 per cent for the city, while at the same time last year, 100 homes were taken to auction, with 71.3 per cent recording a successful result.</p>
<p>Adelaide sales included a sandstone and brick home that <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/22-grant-ave-rose-park-sa-5067" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fetched $1.146 million at Rose Park</a>.</p>
</body></html>

Galloping to sell: Melbourne auction levels at all-time high

<p><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.</p>

<p>VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“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;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]</p>

<p>“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;</p>

<p>The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]</p>


Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

<p>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.</p>

<p>Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.</p>

<p>That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>


How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

<p>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.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>“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;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]</p>

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]</p>

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

<p>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.</p>

<p>David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.</p>

<p>“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;</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]</p>

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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”.</p>

<p>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;</p>


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

<p><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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.</p>

<p>“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.</p>

<p>“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.”</p>

<p><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" /></p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.</p>

<p>“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.”</p>

<p><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" /></p>

<p>Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.</p>

<p>“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.</p>

<p>The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.</p>

<p>“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.”</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>


Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

<p>Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.</p>

<p>“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.</p>

<p>“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.”</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>“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.”</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>“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.”</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>“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.</p>

<p>Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.</p>

<p>“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.</p>

<p>“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”</p>

<p>The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.</p>

<p>“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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Jonathan Chancellor

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News