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Gowrie, a Moonee Ponds trophy home, has been listed for sale with $4 million plus expectations.
Gowrie sits on a 1525 square metre Ardmillan Road block.
It is a showpiece Edwardian residence, rich in 1920s period detail.
There's four bedrooms, two living zones and two dining areas.
Nelson Alexander’s Jon McKenna and Mark Britt are marketing <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-moonee+ponds-124058330" target="_blank">10 Ardmillan Road</a> which comes with a large rear garden with pool.
<img src="/images/2016/12/14/Moonee%20Ponds-2.jpg" alt="">
The home was owned by football champion Wayne Carey when sold at a record $1.15 million in 1999. It traded at $620,000 in 1995.
The Kangaroos captain owned elsewhere on Ardmillan Road selling in 2000 for $530,000 having bought for $420,000 a year earlier.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Gowrie, Moonee Ponds trophy home listed

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The Tamarama home of former fashion retail pioneer and Ingham Chicken heir Robby Ingham and wife Sarah is back on the market after a collapsed sale.
It was thought to have set a suburb record when it sold in August for close to $14 million, however an expat banker opted not to proceed with the purchase.
Pauline Goodyer at Goodyer Real Estate retains the listing that first went up for sale in April.
It now comes with $14.75 million hopes.
It is a three storey home with five bedrooms and five bathrooms.
<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/2016/12/14/Tamarama.jpg" alt="">
The ground floor features a split level design comprising a kitchen, living room and separate dining room. Each zone opens onto a terrace.
The master retreat with ensuite offers floor to ceiling windows that open onto a private ocean facing balcony.
The lower ground level has a 25 metre lap pool with a gym, family room and a self-contained studio apartment.
The oceanfront reserve Gaerloch Avenue property was redundant as the Inghams had built nearby after demolishing a block of six apartments which cost $14.45 million in 2013.
Ingham is a famous name around the Sydney fashion scene.
Ingham and his siblings received an inheritance from the family chicken business, which was sold to the private equity company TPG Capital in 2013.
This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph
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Fashionista Robby Ingham relists Tamarama record setter with $14.75 million asking price

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Markdel, the Mornington Peninsula thoroughbred training facility owned by the horse training Freedman brothers, is under offer.
The <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/160-200-sandy-road-fingal-vic-3939-2012270949" target="_blank">38 hectare Fingal property</a> that brothers Lee, Richard, Michael an Anthony designed and built in 2002 had been on the market for almost two years.
The Freedman's departed the farm in stages, with Anthony the last to go in 2012 when he moved his stables to Flemington.
It's the property that Makybe Diva prepared for two of her three Melbourne Cup triumphs.
Markdel includes an 85-box stable complex, a 1200 metre sand-based grass track, an 1800-metre rising railed sand track and a heated horse swimming pool
Apart from the Melbourne Cup triumphs, winners of the Caulfield Cup, Golden Slipper, Cox Plate and numerous Derbies and Oaks have all trained at Markdel.
Colliers International agent Shane McIntyre secured the sale, without ever offering a price guide.
But he advised the cost to replicate could be argued to be commercially unjustifiable in today’s marketplace.
This article was first published in the Weekend Australian Mansion Australia property section.
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The Freedman brothers Mornington Peninsula farm Markdel under offer

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Justin and Dom Hind, co-founders of WiTH Collective digital advertising agency, have emerged as the $9 million buyers of the Watsons Bay home of Collette Dinnigan and Bradley Cocks.
It sold just hours before its first open inspection in October.
Ben Collier and Will Manning at McGrath Estate Agents had suggested an $8 million price guidance, so the revealed figure was certainly worth taking before hitting the wider market.
And think of the savings in filling every open for inspection with the freshest flowers from Grandiflora.
The mostly white four bedroom, five bathroom home has parquetry floors from an 18th century chateaux in France's Loire Valley.
Dinnigan gained $2.75 million during her 18 months ownership of the refurbished 1920s Masonic lodge which she'd bought from James Packer's right hand man, Matthew 'Ched' Csidei and his lawyer wife Lauren Roscoe.
Since their snappy acquisition, without any registered mortgage, the Hinds have sold their modernised P&amp;O-style 1930s Mosman home.
It fetched $5.9 million when sold last month to property developer Anthony Andreatta through McGrath agent Priscilla Schonell having been bought for $5.55 million 14 months earlier. 
<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/2016/12/12/8%20Gap%20Road.jpg" alt="">
Their digital consultancy, WiTH Collective, which was started six years ago and secured clients including Qantas, Fairfax Media and Optus, was sold in September to Dentsu Aegis Network, the second largest marketing communications agency group by billings in Asia-Pacific.
They have committed to remain for at least five years.
The fashion designer Collette Dinnigan and her hotelier husband Bradley Cocks quit the classic Beaux-Arts style contemporary home for life in Italy.
After selling their Careel Bay, Palm Beach retreat for $3.2 million to actor Sophie Lee and adman Anthony Freedman, Dinnigan still retains a South Coast retreat and commercial space in Paddington.
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph
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Collette Dinnigan's Watsons Bay home bought by digital advertising agency co-founders

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GUEST OBSERVER
This year many Australian households will find themselves cut off from generous incentives paid for electricity they export into the grid from rooftop solar systems. 
Between September and December, state feed-in tariff (FiT) schemes in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia will finish.
The FiTs applying to over 275,000 customers will drop from between 16 and 60 cents per kilowatt hour to between 5 and 7.2 cents per kWh.
In NSW, the replacement FiT won’t be mandatory, with retailers allowed to decide what they pay. Of course, many of those customers have already recouped their investment. 
Now that our rooftop solar industry has matured, we need to reconsider the purpose of FiTs and align them with our goals for the electricity system in the future.
<h2>Why pay solar households?</h2>
FiTs have been hugely important in getting the global solar industry to where it is now. Solar electricity costs have fallen to levels that were unimaginable just 10 years ago.
Governments have traditionally used FiTs to achieve a policy aim, such as increasing renewable energy production by bridging the gap between current costs of electricity and the cost of new sources. 
Australian states began to introduce mandated FiTs in 2008. There has never been a national FiT in Australia, and Queensland, NSW and the ACT no longer have mandated FiTs. However, many electricity retailers offer FiTs, even when not mandated by government. 
<a href="/images/2016/12/09/image-20161107-27908-bq13sc.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<h4><img src="/images/2016/12/09/image-20161107-27908-bq13sc.png" alt=""></h4>
<h4>Current state of feed-in tariffs in Australia for new customers. Authors</h4>
The costs of FiTs are recovered in different ways, depending on whether they are government-mandated or not, but ultimately they fall on all electricity consumers. As governments wind back mandated FiTs, it’s assumed that FiTs will be roughly cost-neutral. 
<h2>Have they worked?</h2>
Residential solar installations soared after the introduction of FiTs in 2008.
Installations quadrupled each year in Australia until 2012, leading to 11,600 jobs and the highest penetration of households with rooftop solar in the world.  
This boom stimulated a competitive solar market in which residential installation costs have plummeted (as you can see below).
Australia now enjoys some of the lowest installation costs for rooftop solar in the world.
The trick that state policymakers missed, however, was making FiT policies sustainable. 
Early FiTs were excessively high, especially in NSW and Queensland, causing policy fallout and sudden withdrawal.
This was partly because the rapid reduction in solar prices exceeded expectations.
For example, the NSW government was forced into a hasty reassessment of its 2010 policy in order to prevent a cost blowout after massively underestimating the level of uptake.
By October 2010, just 10 months after it began, the NSW gross FiT was slashed from 60 to 20 cents per kWh. The scheme was closed to new participants in April 2011. 
Across Australia most states cut or entirely removed FiTs within four years. Most current FiTs are now well below retail prices.
This means that customers are being encouraged to use as much as possible of their solar energy to power their own homes rather than exporting it to the grid.
This is one of the reasons why the system size for solar installations in Australia tends to be smaller than elsewhere.
The fallout from these unsustainable FiT policies has unfortunately polarised the national conversation about solar.
Hundreds of thousands of solar power system owners are facing bill shock as FiTs are withdrawn, while those who do not have solar have been told they are footing the bill for their neighbours’ systems.
Politicians have sought to capitalise on this discontent, by blaming solar tariffs for high electricity prices. In many states, the actual value of rooftop solar has been pushed out of the conversation.
<h2>The real value of solar</h2>
A recent Victorian report found that the value of solar energy depends on when electricity is fed into the grid.
Solar energy is more valuable when exported to the grid at times of peak demand. 
The report argued that the value of solar should account for the reduction in transmission losses (the losses associated with transporting electricity from large power plants over great distances) and environmental effects, primarily the reduction in greenhouse gases from displacing fossil fuel generation. 
Solar installations can potentially add value in other ways too. For example, installing battery storage along with solar systems may allow domestic solar systems to offer other network services such as frequency and voltage control. 
Encouragingly, since the report the Victorian government has bucked the national trend and announced a multi-rate FiT scheme. 
The scheme offers different rates for exporting during peak, shoulder and off-peak times.
It will also reward solar owners for the greenhouse gas offsets related to their system’s output.
The scheme is expected to raise FiTs from around 5c per kWh to an average of between 6.5c and 7c per kWh. 
<h2>What next?</h2>
Nationally, we need to refocus the conversation about the purpose and value of FiTs.
Having already established a world-leading solar industry, we need to ask what FiTs can do for us now and into the future. 
If we want our electricity system to take advantage of technological advances, such as battery storage, we need to repurpose our FiTs to reflect the benefits of these technologies.
The Victorian example is a great step forward, providing a mechanism where consumers can leverage Australia’s low installation costs to become players in a more competitive energy market. 
But there are even more benefits to distributed energy systems that could be realised with intelligently applied FiTs.
This means we need more consideration of what solar systems can do for us, and less simplistic conversations about electricity costs.
Joe Wyndham is research analyst, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joe-wyndham-296652" target="_blank">here.</a>
Jay Rutovitz is research director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jay-rutovitz-301794" target="_blank">here</a>.
Both are authors for The Conversation.
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To pay solar households fairly, we need to understand the true value of solar

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Rosebud always has plenty of bathing boxes on offer.
Just last month $77,000 was paid for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-rosebud-122107510" target="_blank">box 159</a>.
The rather large box 188 sold in October this year at $99,000.
A beach box at Rosebud is now for sale for $39,950.
<a href="https://www.norrisre.com.au/index.cfm?pagecall=property&amp;propertyID=3039620&amp;realestate=97_Rosebud_Foreshore_ROSEBUD_VIC_3939" target="_blank">Located at 97 Rosebud Foreshore</a>, the property (pictured above) is directly opposite a hotel close to the Motor Boat Harbour.
The property is offered by Norris Real Estate agent Gary Clode.
The freshly painted Box 122 wants $90,000. 
There was a $20,000 in 2009 of box 97.
The colourful box 164 sold for $22,000 last year. In 2015 box 153 fetched $31,000.
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Cheap Rosebud beachfront boxes for sale

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The retired St Kilda champion Lenny Hayes sold his Brighton home at weekend auction, amid the bumper pre-Christmas auction rush where buyers lapped up the offerings.
Next Saturday sees record volumes for the near-final Saturday before Christmas, though at least one Sydney vendor will be trying their luck on December 24, Christmas Eve.  
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-brighton-124136314" target="_blank">Hayes’ three-bedroom house</a> fetched $2.901 million as five bidders competed for the 1920s offering that last sold at $2.25 million in 2010.
His former teammate Nick Riewoldt was spotted by Domain among the crowd who watched the property soar $200,000 above reserve through Kay &amp; Burton agent Michael Armstrong.
It was commonly viewed as a knock down on its 700 sq m block overlooking Elsternwick Park.
Hayes returned home to Sydney to join Greater Western Sydney as an assistant coach last year.
Melbourne's top sale was $5.1 million at 13 St Vincent Place, Albert Park. The five bedroom 1870s Belgrave Terrace fetched $600,000 above reserve price at its Marshall White auction.
It last sold at $900,000 in 1996.
The top sale across Australia was $5.6 million at Russell Lea in Sydney's inner west.
The waterfront reserve home was offered for the first time in 50 years, selling agent Adrian Sereni from Warwick Williams Real Estate said.
A two bedroom Thomastown villa in Melbourne's northern suburb was the nation's cheapest with Ray White securing $262,750.
The single storey unit with courtyard and covered carport last sold at $32,750 in 1982.
The block's previous highest sale was $250,000 in 2009 and its most recent was $240,000 in 2015.
”Auction activity does not appear to be slowing through the festive period, with auction numbers reaching the highest level since March earlier this year," CoreLogic's Kevin Brogan noted.
There were 3,411 auctions held, returning a preliminary clearance rate of 74.6 per cent, up from last week’s 72.3 per cent.
 <img src="/images/2016/12/12/Brighton.jpg" alt="">
It sits substantially higher than the equivalent period last year when it dipped during December to 58 per cent.
"The combined capitals clearance rate has been tracking above 70 per cent consistently over the past 20 weeks, with the clearance rate has been higher than 75 per cent over eleven of the past twenty week’s," Kevin Brogan noted.
The last time the combined capital city clearance rate was tracking over 70 per cent over the given period was in 2009.
Across Australia’s two largest markets in Sydney and Melbourne, clearance rates rose this week, with preliminary results showing 77.4 per cent and 80.2 per cent respectively.
Melbourne's preliminary auction clearance rate of 80.2 per cent came from the 1,683 auctions compared with the week prior when the final clearance rate tally was recorded at 77.3 per cent across 1,416 auctions.
"This time last year, 1,572 properties were taken to auction across Melbourne and a clearance rate of 64.9 per cent was recorded," he noted.
The busiest Melbourne sub-regions this week were Melbourne’s Inner region and the Inner South region, where 337 and 214 auctions were held respectively.
Sydney’s preliminary clearance rate this week was 77.4 per cent across 922 auction results. There were a total of 1,157 auctions held across the city.
"This is higher than the corresponding week last year, when 891 auctions were held across Sydney and a clearance rate of 54.7 per cent was recorded."
North Sydney and Hornsby hosted the most auctions of any Sydney sub-region this week, with 177 properties taken to auction. 
There were 203 Brisbane auctions with a preliminary clearance rate of 48.1 per cent, higher than the 42.7 per cent recorded last week across 204 auctions, and also higher than one year ago when there were 180 auctions with a success rate of 41.9 per cent.
Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 66 per cent across 151 auctions.
Perth’s preliminary clearance rate sat at 26 per cent.
Canberra’s preliminary auction clearance rate of 64.9 per cent this week is higher than last week, when the final auction clearance rate was 60.6 per cent and also higher than the 48.6 per cent recorded last year. 
Next Saturday, Melbourne will host more than 1000 auctions, which will be the highest final weekend offering for the city on record.
Domain's senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson says Sydney will host well over 600 auctions next Saturday, which is also the highest final weekend offering for the city on record.
The only known December 24 auction is at Leumeah.
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Lenny Hayes' Brighton home sold amid pre-Christmas auction rush

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<div>
The sale of Australian agricultural land, including cattle stations, hobby and commercial farms hit $16.79 billion in the year to August.
The Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison has now approved another big sale - the Kidman cattle empire for around $380 million to the syndicate of mining magnate Gina Rinehart and a Chinese company.
The sales process too around 20 months.
"I have decided that the acquisition of Kidman as proposed would not be contrary to the national interest and will be permitted to proceed," his statement advised.
It is the third attempt by Chinese interests to buy into Australia's largest private landholder with Mrs Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting to own 67 per cent of S Kidman and Co with partner Shanghai CRED .
Their joint-venture company Australian Outback Beef (AOB) acquistion will not include the defence-sensitive Anna Creek Station or The Peake which will be sold to a local South Australian grazier family.
The 117-year-old family company, founded by Sir Sidney Kidman, has pastoral leases covering 101,000 square kilometres across Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia.
In a video released by Hancock Prospecting, Mrs Rinehart said it was an "exciting day" as she had long wanted to diversify.
"Right now all our eggs are in the iron ore basket," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfXPaWdDLOk" target="_blank">she said</a>.
"Now to become the third largest producer of cattle in Australia I think it's just great.
"I see an ongoing need for meat particularly in the Asina region and most of our cattle from Australia, three quarters, we export.
"And of course the value of the land over decades is going to keep increasing and increasing."
Hancock Prospecting CEO Gary Korte said the herd size will be increased from the current 150,000 head to its full carrying capacity of 185,000.
Agricultural property sales in NSW totalled $8.2 billion over the period, an increase of 3.8 per cent according to the Landmark Harcourts' quarterly Benchmark Report with some 12,519 agricultural property sales.
One of the biggest deals included the Deltroit Station in the Gundagai district of NSW when MH Premium Farms, the Australian agricultural operation of global fund manager Sir Michael Hintze, bought the 2573 hectare holding.
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<div>
In Victoria the total value of agricultural property sales came in at $3.7 billion over the year, down 13.3 per cent on the total value of sales achieved in the 12 months to August last year.
</div>
<div>In Queensland, agricultural property sales totalled $1.7 billion over the year with lower volumes, though the value of sales was 3 per cent higher than the prior year.</div>
<div>
Queensland has has spring sales including cattleman Peter Hughes buying Tumbar station south of Jericho in central Queensland for about $57 million. In SA, the total value of agricultural sales was $964 million over the 12 months to August 2016, 14.5 per cent higher than the 12 months to August. 
In WA, the total value of the agricultural sales was $1.7 billion, 2.9 per cent  above the previous year.
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<div>
In Tasmania, agricultural property sales totalled $526 million over the year, 9.5 per cent lower than the previous year.
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Gina Rinehart secures Kidman cattle empire for $380 million

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The Angus Wagyu cattle farm, Towal Creek Station Currently in the Macleay Valley in Northern NSW, sold for $4.9 million at auction last week.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-livestock-nsw-comara-7854422" target="_blank">The 2,305 ha Comara farm</a> is currently running a cattle herd of 700 female breeders.
The comes with renovated homestead and 6km frontage to the Macleay River.
There is a guest cottage and managers home.
It has a fully formed 900m airstrip at the Kempsey location.
It sold through Webster Nolan agent David Nolan.
Comara's top sale was $5 million in 2014 when the Huang family secured their North Coast grazing property from the Fernandes.
Comprising 5567 hectares (13,757ac), Comara Station overlooks Five Day Creek.
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Towal Creek Station in the Macleay Valley sold

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The former Coles boss John Fletcher and wife Noela have sold their luxury Mermaid Beach penthouse.
It sold at almost a $2 million loss as the Fletchers bought on Hedges Ave in 2007 for $6.7 million, just before the global financial crisis.
It sold last week to a Sydney buyer for $4.8 million through Tolemy Stevens, of Harcourts Coastal, who told the local newspaper, The Gold Coast Bulletin that it was "only 27 per cent away from the peak of the market in 2007.”
With sweeping views of the Coast, the two-level 758sq m four-bedroom skyhome at 701/252 has a rooftop terrace with a 15 metre lap pool and spa.
Mr Fletcher ran the supermarket giant from 2001 to 2007 before it was acquired by Wesfarmers.
He was appointed chairman of ports operator DP World Australia earlier this year.
<img src="/images/2016/12/12/702_252%20Hedges%20Avenue.jpg" alt="">
The block’s neighbouring 701/252 apartment sold in October for $5.4 million through Michael Kollosche, of Kollosche Prestige Agents.
Spanning across 743sq m, vendor Sandy Cowell had it listed for sale at $5.95 million in July.
It had traded at $4,485,000 in 2005.
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John Fletcher sells Mermaid Beach penthouse at $2 million loss

Investors may soon find themselves with fewer reasons to buy established property and more incentives to look towards the new apartment market.

Proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions would see new and off-the-plan apartments retain access to the tax benefits, while established properties would miss out, creating a clear advantage for buyers purchasing newly built housing.

The policy direction aligns with what many developers have been saying for several years. Australia needs more housing supply, and governments are increasingly looking for ways to encourage investment into new stock rather than existing homes.

The challenge for investors is that suitable product is becoming harder to find.

For much of the last decade, one-bedroom apartments were the cornerstone of investor demand. They offered a lower entry price, strong rental appeal, and were a common feature across most apartment developments.

Today, the development pipeline looks very different.

Across both New South Wales and South East Queensland, developers are increasingly targeting owner-occupiers and downsizers, delivering larger two, three and four-bedroom apartments in response to changing buyer preferences. While one-bedroom apartments still exist, they now form a much smaller portion of many new projects.

That shift has created a shortage of investor-friendly stock, particularly in well-located projects close to transport, employment hubs and lifestyle amenity.

At the same time, rising apartment prices have pushed many new developments beyond the reach of traditional investors. On the Gold Coast and across South East Queensland, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find new apartments priced around the $1 million mark, particularly those offering strong rental fundamentals and long-term growth prospects.

We've rounded up four new apartment developments where investors can still secure a foothold in the market for around $1 million or less.

<h2 data-end="1140" data-start="844">Flourish Soleira</h2>

<h2>Priced from: $1.07 million</h2>

Popular Palm Beach developer Sherpa is soon to officially launch its newest local apartment development, Flourish Soleira.

The one-bedroom apartments in the building were only offered to first home buyers rather than investors, and all of those have been snapped up. The two-bedroom apartments will start from $1.07 million, and the three-bedrooms, still a good investment given the popularity of Palm Beach for owner-occupiers, starting at $2,045,000.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370964]

Flourish Soliera will comprise 153 apartments across two buildings, connected by a skybridge, the first ever delivered in the suburb.

True to Sherpa's booming Flourish brand of apartment projects, Flourish Soleira will have extensive rooftop amenity across both buildings including a&nbsp;wellness centre with gym, work from home, yoga, pilates, a&nbsp;heated pool, private dining rooms, pizza oven and barbecues, basketball court, and golf simulator.

<h2>Corallo, Palm Beach</h2>

Priced from: $841,500

Nearby Flourish Soleira is Changfa Group's beachfront-inspired Corallo development. They still have some one-bedroom apartments remaining, priced from $841,500.

The 105-apartment project on Palm Beach Avenue is otherwise dominated by larger two and three-bedroom residences, many of which are aimed at owner-occupiers and downsizers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112194 project_image_fid=808]

For investors, the appeal lies in Palm Beach's continued transformation from a laid-back beachside suburb into one of the Gold Coast's most sought-after residential markets. Residents at Corallo will be within walking distance of Palm Beach's surf beaches, the recreational amenity of Tallebudgera Creek, and the increasingly popular collection of cafes, restaurants and boutique retailers along the suburb's central dining precinct.

<h2>Corner House, Stones Corner</h2>

<h2>Priced from: $880,000</h2>

One of only two Brisbane apartment developments to make the list with prices under $1 million is DeMartini Fletcher's Corner House development in Stones Corner.

One-bedroom apartments start from $880,000 within the 88-apartment development, providing investors with exposure to one of Brisbane's most established inner-south locations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149098 project_image_fid=330594]

Stones Corner has long been supported by strong tenant demand due to its proximity to major employment and education destinations. The suburb sits less than five kilometres from Brisbane's CBD and is within easy reach of the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Queensland Children's Hospital and several university campuses.

The project's location within a walkable urban village environment, surrounded by retail, dining and public transport infrastructure, continues to attract both professionals and healthcare workers seeking accommodation close to work.

Parkdrive Apartments, Chermside

Priced from: $749,000

The most affordable apartments across Brisbane's new and off the plan market are in Chermside where developer AusDev is selling one-bedroom apartments from $749,000, and two-beds from $929,000, at its recently launched Parkdrive development.

The development is strategically positioned in one of Brisbane's largest employment and retail precincts, placing residents within easy walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside and the suburb's major bus interchange.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Already under construction and scheduled for completion in early 2028, Parkdrive benefits from Chermside's ongoing evolution into Brisbane's northern metropolitan centre. The suburb continues to attract significant public and private investment, supporting population growth and underpinning long-term rental demand.

For investors focused on yield and tenant depth, the combination of healthcare, retail and transport infrastructure within close proximity provides a strong foundation for occupancy and rental performance.

Joel Robinson

Investors to turn to new apartments after Federal Government changes spark hunt for Queensland's best $1 million apartments

A mix of Gold Coast locals, fly-in, fly-out purchasers from Sydney and Melbourne, and Brisbane-based families has driven early sales success at Broadbeach's newest apartment tower, Lumara.

The 26-level project, a joint venture between builder-developer 5Point Projects and Bourke Projects, comprises just 37 luxury residences and is attracting a buyer profile that is looking for exclusivity, above the most amenity-rich suburb on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=364156]

Jamie Bourke, Director of Bourke Projects, says every buyer secured so far intends to use Lumara as a lock-up-and-leave residence, combining holiday use with the ability to work remotely when required.

“The size of the apartments, both half- and full-floor options, and the different zones within the floorplans, lends itself perfectly to dedicated home office setups and multi-generational family holidays,” Bourke says.

That flexibility has become a key drawcard for affluent buyers seeking a second residence on the Gold Coast without sacrificing the ability to conduct business away from their primary home base.

The absence of holiday letting within the building has also resonated strongly with purchasers.

“This type of buyer doesn't need to generate holiday rental income,” Bourke says. “They're paying for exclusivity, privacy and certainty around who their neighbours are.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366491]

The strong demand comes amid broader shifts in the high-end apartment market following the Federal Budget announcements in May.

“We were already seeing strong enquiry from high-net-worth buyers, but that has only accelerated since the policy changes,” Bourke says.

“A lot of those buyers are looking to place more capital into premium lifestyle assets rather than investment-grade stock that has been targeted by the Federal Government.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366486]

Designed by Cottee Parker, Lumara adopts a slender, sculpted form with an emphasis on natural materials suited to its beachfront setting. The architectural approach draws on coastal influences, with a palette of stone, timber and concrete selected for durability and the ability to weather over time.

Apartments are limited to three and four-bedroom configurations, with a maximum of two residences per floor through the mid-levels and a selection of full-floor and dual-level homes in the upper levels. All apartments are oriented to the north to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and views across the ocean, city skyline and hinterland.

A two-level amenity offering is positioned high within the building on levels 20 and 21, conceived as a sky wellness retreat. Facilities include a magnesium pool, spa, sauna and steam rooms, alongside more social spaces such as a private dining room, resident lounge, workspaces and outdoor barbecue areas integrated with landscaped greenery.

The uppermost levels are reserved for larger-format residences, including several full-floor homes and a dual-level penthouse with its own private wellness features and recreational spaces.

&nbsp;

To give buyers confidence, 5Point and Bourke commenced construction ahead of the apartments launching to the market, a sure-fire way to prove they mean business, and the building will be delivered. They are targeting a 2028 completion date.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150454]

Locals, interstate holiday makers, drive early sales at Lumara, Broadbeach's newest luxury apartment tower

Often when it comes to purchasing property, the biggest barrier to entry is the deposit. Buyers of established homes typically aim for a 20 per cent deposit to avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance, while most property transactions require around a 10 per cent deposit when contracts are exchanged.

The off-the-plan market works differently, with buyers typically paying a deposit during construction and settling the balance upon completion. As completion approaches at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/fabbrica-fitzroy-369-gore-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">Fabbrica Fitzroy</a>, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pace-development-group">Pace</a> is making it easier for buyers to secure a residence through a deposit-matching incentive. Purchasers need only contribute a five per cent deposit*, with Pace matching the remaining five per cent.

The offer comes as Pace unveils a completed display apartment and townhouse, now available for inspection by appointment ahead of the project's Spring completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371009]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/winwood-mckenzie-architecture">Winwood Mckenzie</a> and landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/acre">Acre</a>, Fabbrica draws on Fitzroy’s industrial and manufacturing history, incorporating references to the former Argyle Shirt Factory and Life Savers Confectionery Company that once occupied the site.

The development comprises 85 residences, spanning low-maintenance apartments through to larger-format townhouses with private street access and double lock-up garages, a relatively uncommon offering in Fitzroy’s higher-density apartment market.

Pace says the project has been designed to appeal to buyers seeking inner-city convenience without sacrificing space, flexibility, or amenity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371016]

Inside the residences, Winwood Mckenzie has focused on adaptable layouts and integrated detailing, with features including custom joinery, and concealed storage solutions. The material palette leans into warm, tactile finishes intended to complement the building’s industrial architectural language.

Fabbrica’s rooftop amenity is a key part of the project offering. Spanning around 800 sqm, the communal rooftop includes a private dining room, communal kitchen, lounge spaces, work-from-home zones, and outdoor dining areas overlooking the Melbourne CBD skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371017]

Landscape architecture studio Acre has introduced a layered rooftop garden designed to soften the urban setting while creating a more communal environment for residents.

The Fitzroy location also positions residents within walking distance of Brunswick Street, Smith Street, parks, cafés, galleries, and public transport, while remaining only minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. The project has an enviable Walk Score of 96.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371025]

Pace, which is also delivering the project as builder, has developed more than 100 projects across Melbourne over the past three decades. The vertically integrated approach has become increasingly common among developers seeking greater control over construction delivery amid broader market pressures affecting the apartment sector.

The strikingly contemporary Gore Street development is now around 70 per cent complete, with purchasers expected to move into their new homes in Spring 2026. A limited number of residences remain available under the current deposit match offer.

*Conditions apply in relation to the deposit match offer.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=139552]

Pace offers five per cent deposit match at Fabbrica Fitzroy ahead of Spring completion

Sydney developer Hyecorp's roots on the Lower North Shore stretch back three generations, and that deep understanding of the market continues to shape where and how it develops today.

From high-rise towers to boutique apartment projects, the family-run developer has built its reputation by focusing on a part of Sydney it knows intimately. Founded by Michael Abolakian in the early 1990s, Hyecorp is now led by his sons Stephen, Troy and Patrick.

Stephen Abolakian, joint managing director alongside Troy, has spent more than two decades in the business, overseeing development, planning, finance, marketing and sales.

Abolakian says the developer's disciplined focus on where it chooses to operate has been, and continues to be, one of Hyecorp's greatest strengths.

“We know the buyer profile exceptionally well,” Abolakian says.

“The demographics between places like Willoughby, Chatswood, St Leonards and Roseville are very similar. There are nuances between suburbs and projects, but culturally and from a buyer perspective, there’s a strong overlap.”

That buyer has historically been overwhelmingly owner-occupier driven.

Unlike many Sydney apartment developers that have traditionally relied heavily on investor demand, Hyecorp’s projects have typically attracted downsizers, upsizers, rightsizers and family owner-occupiers seeking long-term homes rather than short-term investments.

“Historically, investors have been a much smaller portion of our demand profile,” Abolakian says.

“We design for owner-occupiers. We don’t design for yield, we design for comfort, amenity, family living and long-term usability.”

That philosophy extends well beyond apartment layouts.

From landscaping and communal gardens to shared amenities and circulation spaces, Hyecorp’s developments are designed around how people actually live, something Abolakian believes has become increasingly important in Sydney’s apartment market.

“There was probably a period where having an approved project in market was enough,” he says.

“There wasn’t as much competition and if you built it, buyers would come. That’s no longer the case.”

“There’s more supply in the pipeline now, particularly with TOD precincts and low and mid-rise reforms opening up opportunities across Sydney. Buyers have more choice, so if you get the product wrong, they’ll simply go elsewhere.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110379 project_image_fid=311393]

The shift has forced developers to become more sophisticated in how they approach apartment design, particularly as owner-occupier expectations continue to rise.

For Hyecorp, that means thinking beyond who the buyer is today and designing for who they may become in five or 10 years' time.

“People buying now often aren’t moving in for several years,” Abolakian says.

“You might have a young couple buying today, but by the time they move in they may have children, older children, or changing lifestyle needs. You’ve got to think about how families evolve.”

That thinking also shapes Hyecorp’s approach to amenity, which positions wellness at the forefront.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362634]

While resort-style facilities have become increasingly common marketing tools across Sydney apartment developments, Abolakian says the challenge is ensuring amenities are genuinely usable and appropriate for the scale of the project.

“If amenities are done right, they can materially improve the living experience,” he says, adding however that if you&nbsp;overdo it or get it wrong, you can end up with facilities nobody uses that simply create ongoing strata costs.”

That balance is something Hyecorp is aiming to strike with projects like Roseville Avenue, one of the group's upcoming Lower North Shore developments, which Abolakian describes as bringing a resort-style living experience into a metropolitan setting.

“It’s about creating something that feels special without being excessive,” he says.

“Good gardens, quality apartments, thoughtful amenity. Creating that resort feeling in a metro location.”

<img alt="Hyecorp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="13c4c0f3-b1b7-44cf-9344-0b3d1d07797a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-02%20at%2012.14.57%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=9OLWjyj2bYkDV35F78WJnyMSPfc2bJ2z" />

The focus on owner-occupier product comes as Sydney’s apartment market continues to navigate a difficult development environment.&nbsp;For Hyecorp, maintaining an in-house operating model across construction, sales, marketing and development management has become increasingly important in navigating that environment.

“We’ve always believed in keeping a lot of the process in-house,” Abolakian says.

“It creates efficiencies, but it also creates quality control. You can make faster decisions and ensure the end product stays aligned with the original vision.”

Despite the challenges, Abolakian believes demand for quality owner-occupier apartments across Sydney remains strong beneath the surface, particularly across established Lower North Shore suburbs where downsizers continue to seek new housing options close to existing communities.

“There are definitely people waiting,” he says.

“Once some of the broader uncertainty settles, whether that’s the global environment or some of the local economic noise, I think the right projects will perform very strongly.”

Hyecorp currently has three residential developments on the market across Sydney’s Lower North Shore.&nbsp;Audrey, St Leonards, positioned opposite Newlands Park, is nearing completion and preparing to welcome its first residents, with the project now almost sold out.

Hyecorp has also recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celine-chatswood-37-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">Celine Chatswood</a>, an architectural tower, while continuing to deliver&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/juliet-roseville-64-pacific-highway-roseville-nsw-2069">Juliet Roseville</a>, a more boutique scale of development with just 34 apartments.

Why Hyecorp continues to back Sydney's Lower North Shore apartment market

South East Queensland’s apartment market is entering a new phase defined by rising prices, constrained affordability, and mounting pressure on the construction pipeline, according to RPM Group’s latest SEQ Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report.

The May 2026 report highlights a widening divide between what buyers can afford and what developers can viably deliver, with detached house prices continuing to push more buyers toward apartments across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.

RPM says Brisbane’s median house price has reached around $1.5 million, accelerating the shift toward higher-density housing as buyers are increasingly priced out of the detached market.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135094 project_image_fid=356540]

Median unit prices rose across all three major SEQ markets in the March quarter. Brisbane City recorded the strongest annual growth, with median unit prices climbing 21 per cent to $862,000, while the Gold Coast reached the highest overall median at $950,000, up 17 per cent year-on-year. The Sunshine Coast followed at $870,000, representing annual growth of nine per cent.

RPM noted the affordability gap between houses and units remains significant, with detached homes commanding premiums of 67 per cent in Brisbane and 68 per cent on the Gold Coast relative to apartments.

The report suggests this price disparity is increasingly consolidating buyer demand within the apartment market, particularly among downsizers and owner-occupiers.

“Demand is real. Supply is moving. But they’re operating on different timelines and the gap between what’s being built and what buyers can afford is the defining tension in this market right now,” RPM Queensland and NSW Managing Directors Peter Neale and Clinton Trezise said in the report.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150787 project_image_fid=366230]

While approvals and commencements are strengthening, RPM argues the delivery pipeline remains constrained by construction costs, labour shortages, and extended build timelines.

Apartment approvals across Queensland increased 86 per cent over the year to February 2026, reaching 12,682 approvals, the highest level recorded since 2016. Brisbane overtook the Gold Coast as the state’s most active apartment approval market, with nearly 5,000 apartments approved over the past 12 months.

Unit commencements also strengthened considerably, rising 48 per cent year-on-year to 5,453 commencements in the December 2025 quarter, the highest level since 2018.

However, RPM’s research found apartment delivery timeframes have expanded sharply compared to the previous cycle. Projects are now averaging around 30 months from approval to completion, compared to roughly 20 months a decade ago.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143932 project_image_fid=367515]

The number of units under construction has climbed to approximately 31,530 dwellings, nearing the previous 2016 peak, though projects are remaining in the pipeline for considerably longer.

Construction costs continue to weigh heavily on feasibility. RPM found the average apartment construction cost in Greater Brisbane reached $630,000 per dwelling in 2025, exceeding both Sydney and Melbourne. Coastal Queensland markets, including the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, were even higher at an average of $817,418 per apartment due to the prevalence of larger premium product.

The report also points to increasing pressure from Olympic-related infrastructure spending ahead of Brisbane 2032, with labour competition expected to intensify over the next several years.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370960]

ANZ Associate Director of Property Daniel Gradwell said the underlying demand drivers across South East Queensland remain strong, supported by interstate migration, downsizers, and population growth.

“The challenge is bringing enough supply to market to meet that demand, and nothing on the horizon makes that straightforward,” Gradwell said.

RPM’s analysis found the affordability challenge is becoming more pronounced in the new apartment market itself, with only three per cent of surveyed new apartments priced below $1 million.

Instead, the market is increasingly concentrated in higher price brackets, with the most common new apartment price band across SEQ sitting between $1.5 million and $1.75 million. Around half of all new apartment stock surveyed is priced below $2 million.

The report suggests developers are not necessarily avoiding lower price points by choice, but because current construction economics make delivering affordable apartments increasingly difficult at scale.

Rental conditions also remain tight across the region. Median rents for one-bedroom apartments rose 12 per cent in Brisbane over the past year to $580 per week, while Gold Coast one-bedroom rents increased nine per cent to $630.

Despite rising rents, RPM noted bond lodgements have generally trended downward over the past five years, indicating more apartments are being absorbed by owner-occupiers rather than retained as investor-held rental stock.

Looking ahead, RPM expects projects targeting the mid-market owner-occupier segment between $1.25 million and $2 million to remain the most viable part of the market, while premium projects in highly constrained coastal or riverfront locations continue to attract demand.

“Construction costs are rewriting the feasibility rulebook across Greater Brisbane, and with little relief in sight, only projects in the right price band, right location, and with presales secured early will make it through,” the report concludes.

Jonathan Chancellor

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