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Sydney had the nation's highest sale when a four-bedroom waterfront home at 78 Wrights Road, Drummoyne sold for $8.05 million.
The pre-auction price guidance was $6 million to $6.5 million. The waterfront home came with jetty, pontoon and a permanent boat mooring facility (above). 
The property was one of about 540 scheduled to go under the hammer across the city on Saturday, the first day of the spring selling season. 
Domain Group put the Sydney clearance rate at 80 percent and CoreLogic at almost 84 percent.
The number of homes taken to auction across Australia over the weekend fell slightly to 1,858, compared to the 2,153 auctions held last week and 2,297 one year ago, CoreLogic advised.
The 78 percent national clearance rate was higher than the previous week’s result of 74 per cent and up from last year, when the clearance rate was recorded at 73 percent and in decline.
The results show that Sydney's 83.9 percent rated higher than the improving Melbourne which had a 79 percent success rate.
Both cities were host to fewer auctions this week when compared to last week.
Melbourne's preliminary clearance was up from last week’s result of 77.4 percent.
The 79 percent clearance rate is the highest preliminary rate Melbourne has recorded this year.
"It also marks the ninth week in a row that Melbourne’s clearance rate has been recorded above 70 percent," CoreLogic spokesperson, Kevin Brogan said.
The preliminary clearance rate is higher than the 75 percent one year ago.
There were 826 auctions held in Melbourne, down from last week’s 1,060 auctions and lower than the 992 auctions held at the same time last year.
Of the nine sub-regions in Melbourne, the strongest performer was the Mornington Peninsula where 93 per cent of the 30 reported results were successful.
A five-bedroom 2002-extended 1930s house on 1300 sq m in Kew sold through Jellis Craig for $6.24 million ranked as Melbourne's top seller (below).
<img src="/images/2016/09/05/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-05%20at%209.05.40%20AM.png" alt="">
It last sold in 1997 at $1.27 million. More than $5.5 million was the pre-auction price guidance.
Kew also had Melbourne's second dearest sale at $4.8 million at 51 Rowland Street.
In Sydney, a preliminary clearance rate of 83.9 per cent was recorded, up on 78 percent over the prior period. There were around 540 weekend auctions and 780 across the week.
"Since the final week in April this year, Sydney has consistently recorded weekly clearance rates above the 70 per cent mark," Kevin Brogan said.
"One year ago, auction activity across Sydney was significantly higher, with 1,023 auctions held and 76.9 percent clearing."
Ryde's 95 percent and the Northern Beaches' 91 percent recorded the highest preliminary clearance rates of the sub-regions.
With 135 Brisbane homes taken to auction, Brisbane recorded their highest preliminary clearance rate for the city this year at 58 percent, up from 44 percent last week and higher than one year ago, when 42 per cent of the 130 properties taken to auction were successful.
In Brisbane, the most expensive residential property to sell was a renovated Hamptons-style, five-bedroom house at Bardon which sold for $2.5 million to a Singaporean couple (below).
<img src="/images/2016/09/05/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-05%20at%209.06.49%20AM.png" alt="">
The pre-war Queenslander at 167 Simpsons Road was transformed with an 18 month renovation had previously traded at $1,186,000 in late 2014.
Brisbane had the nation's cheapest weekend auction result which was $330,000 on Macleay Island. The 137 Beelong Street two bedroom, with water views across the bay, sold through First National Real Estate.
Adelaide saw a preliminary clearance rate of 80, across 57 reported auctions; the highest Adelaide has recorded for the year.
Over the previous week Adelaide’s clearance rate was 63 percent and 69 at the same time last year.
In Perth, auction numbers fell to 26 this week with a preliminary clearance rate of 16 percent. Just six auctions have been reported.
Last week, the final clearance rate for Perth was 34 percent across 29 auctions.
Canberra’s preliminary rate was 77 per cent this week, compared to 71 percent last week and 71 percent one year ago.
The week’s 77 percent is the highest preliminary clearance rate Canberra has seen since early March this year.
CoreLogic has captured 76 results, rising from 56 last week. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

More capital cities secure year high clearance rates 

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GUEST OBSERVER
The continuing question of what return a rural property can demonstrate has been the source of many discussions between valuers, investment managers and accountants involved in financial modelling of rural assets.
Buyer motivation, data access and credibility, commodity and seasonal fluctuations are among the variables that influence a decision about how much someone will pay for an asset.
So while a complex calculation can be built, I asked my research guy Rick, if he could simply overlay the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) and Queensland Cow Market Indicator (QCMI) across the Queensland Grazing Property Index (QGPI) as reported annually by Herron Todd White and see what came up.
The result is per the graphic below and it reveals a very interesting story.
EYCI and QCMI with the QGPI for settled ales over 2,000 hectares
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For the period 1997 to 2004 the result reflected that  the land values moved in line with, but six months behind the underlying commodity movements with a high conviction.
From 2004 to 2009 however the value of rural land growth to the peak of the market in 2009 was significant with values increasing 62% on the median price in the five years, the ECYI decreasing 15.5% and the QCMI decreasing 10.6%. In other words the driver of land value was not reflective of the commodity return. This disconnect was also highlighted in the QRAA Rural debt surveys in 2009 and 2011.
From 2009 to 2013 the conviction between the land value and commodity return come back into relative alignment, but largely because of the fall in values not the rise in commodity prices.
2014 and 2015 then show the impact of the significant shift in the beef pricing and subsequent impact on land values. The rate of growth in the curve for the EYCI and QCMI is as sharp as at any point in the past 20 years which is no surprise for those in the industry. The jump in land values however is possibly more of a surprise.
So the question then moving forward for all stakeholders is what is the sustainability of the commodity market pricing relative to current sale yard, processor grids and live export pricing? There are potential risks out there (Indian frozen buffalo, Brazil exports etc) that could place a cap on prices and possibly see a reduction in the market place. If this were to occur, the logical view would be that the land values if still following the lag period would adjust accordingly or at least flatten out.
I have recently presented to a few banks and corporate clients and commented that the rapid rise in values in some sense has actually in my mind brought time forward. Where we thought the values may get to in say 2018 have been achieved in 2015 and 2016. The shift has been good for vendors and agents are reporting across the country that it is harder to find or list assets relative to the demand currently. Does the market settle a bit to draw breath or does demand see another level of value shift in land? Only time will tell.
Conclusion: Forecasting the land value movements based on the commodity price overlay which has a six month lag may be a good guide to looking at least into the short term land market values. This assumes the conviction between the commodity outlook and the land values remains high. Of course valuers are not there to forecast or predict the future. They deal with settled sales evidence in a consistent manner of analysis so that our clients have a consistent reference for the conclusions drawn.
The Australian Farm Institute has for its winter edition sought to investigate this question and I was fortunate enough to be asked to contribute to the discussion.
For those interested in reading the five articles from industry and educational institutions, go to the website <a href="https://www.farminstitute.org.au" target="_blank">www.farminstitute.org.au</a> and you can subscribe to the journal. The process of writing this article was good in that it really challenged me to look nationally for information and data to see where the value relationship to land and returns sits based on settled sales over many years. 
Tim Lane the national rural director at HTW and can be contacted <a href="https://www.htw.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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Rural returns and land values: HTW's Tim Lane

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GUST OBSERVER
We have compared some sales data on Airlie Beach and Cannonvale units against Mackay units. 
When looking at the Mackay unit sales (not Mackay Harbour),  the number of sales has dropped from a high 215 sales in 2013 to financial year 2016 only recording 40 sales (median price $283,000). Mackay Harbour achieved 7 sales throughout the 2016 financial year, which was down from 30 sales in the 2011 financial year (median price $465,000). Cannonvale units have bounced back a little in the number of sales with 78 recorded sales, up from 52 sales in the 2015 financial year (median price $290,000 – up from $250,000).
<a href="/images/2016/09/02/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-02%20at%201.09.48%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/09/02/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-02%20at%201.09.48%20PM.png" alt="">
Airlie Beach unit sales have been reasonably consistent last year with 72 sales, which is down from 84 in the previous year. 
The median price has dropped to $348,000. It is interesting to see the difference in the median prices for the units at Mackay comparing to Airlie Beach. In my mind, the units in Airlie Beach still represent great value for money when you can get an excellent ocean view starting as low as $230,000. The tourism numbers coming into the region are still going very strong and this is reflecting on the gross income on the holiday let apartments. 
Stephanie Bacon from our sales team has a severely reduced apartment at the Port of Airlie for only $635,000 which has income statements of an identical unit in the complex that is 100 percent holiday let for well over $80,000 per annum.
<a href="/images/2016/09/02/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-02%20at%201.11.28%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/09/02/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-02%20at%201.11.28%20PM.png" alt="">
 
On a net basis this is around 4 percent which is very unusual for holiday letting properties in Airlie Beach. 
Most holiday let apartments return between 2 percent and 3 percent nett. 
Add the fact that the complex is one of the highest rated complexes in the area and it could be the best buy in your portfolio. <a href="https://campaign.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=9GxQQ+FJ4ndpBD8fNX7G8KClk3SSuzTl45qNoLo6BuasQ/3DOXSINysEh1ywyRwxrIldNM9w6T4ciReJKplyDA==&amp;rh=ff0096295de6c5cc6f21e214cf46a47315f84bb7" target="_blank"></a>
 Mark Beale is principal of Ray White Whitsunday and can be contacted <a href="https://raywhitewhitsunday.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Whitsunday price performance compared to Mackay

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GUEST OBSERVER
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When an empty train pulls in to Flinders Street Station, the first thing people look for is a place to sit down for their journey home. 
If they are lucky enough, they will score a seat before there is no longer any sitting space available. As much as prolonged sitting isn't great for our health, most of us would prefer to sit than to stand. This is not just on the train ride home; we prefer to sit to eat lunch, socialise, soak up the sun, or read a book. 
Sittable space is something that is easily overlooked in urban planning. It is one of the most important traits of great urban spaces according to William H. Whyte, a seminal figure in urban design thinking. Most of Whyte’s findings come from observing pedestrians going about their daily activities in the streets of New York City. In his film entitled “The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces”, Whyte describes what he means by sittable space and why it is so crucial. 
Federation Square is a large urban space in Melbourne, one in which there are always plenty of people sitting, despite the fact there are few proper chairs. People are adaptable; we can turn most surfaces into a seat if we want to. According to Whyte, good urban design does not make sitting an effort. 
Whyte recommends a minimum of one linear foot of sitting space for every 30 square feet of open space, which is approximately 6-10% of the total area. 
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He has identified the many forms of seating, and how to best design them: 
1. Chairs 
Chairs should not be fixed. They serve a pleasant social ritual because people simply like to move chairs, despite having no apparent practical function for doing so. Fixed chairs, while preventing theft, don’t work well as distances are usually uncomfortable. 
2. Benches 
These should not be placed in isolation, as is often a mistake made in many public squares to “punctuate architectural photographs", according to Whyte. Benches must also be deep enough to fit two people, as smaller ones can become socially awkward and make it difficult for sitters to feel relaxed. The primary reason for having wider benches is not to increase 
the number of people sitting, but to give them more choice, which directly influences their perception of crowding or not crowding. 
3. Ledges 
These are commonly found at the corners of buildings, elevated platforms or around planter boxes. They should be at the right height, dry, flat and unobstructed. Stepped ledges are particularly useful in creating many options for sitting. 
4. Steps 
Whyte recommends that steps, in order to be ‘sittable', be low and easy. This also makes going up and down a simple task. 
5. Grass 
Not much needs to be explained here - walk by the State Library of Victoria on any given day to see how grass is the perfect seat (or bed) for a sunny day. 
Urban spaces that provide an infinity of seating combinations invites more people to use them. If you think that increasing the number of seats in a space will result in overcrowding - think again. Based on Whyte’s observations, people have an “instinctive feel for the number that’s right for a place”. This is called its effective capacity, and even during peak hours the number of sitters will never exceed this, despite having plenty of room for more people. 
The next time you take a seat in a public space, pay attention to the people around you - does the number of happy, comfortable sitters reflect the overall success of the area? 
For more information, <a href="https://secretagent.com.au/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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The importance of sittable space: Secret Agent

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CoreLogic's head of research Tim Lawless said that Sydney gross rental yields for units was the lowest across the capitals at 3.9 percent. 
<div>Melbourne was not that far behind.</div>
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<div>Sydney's units median price now sits at $665,500.</div>
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<div data-canvas-width="34.800000000000004">Rental markets continued to run soft, with capital city rents falling a further -1.1 percent over the past three months to be -0.5 percent lower over the year.</div>
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<div data-canvas-width="34.800000000000004">The weakest rental conditions are being experienced in Darwin and Perth, where dwelling rents fell by -9.4 percent and -14.1 percent respectively over the past twelve months.</div>
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<div data-canvas-width="34.800000000000004">Most of the capitals recorded rental falls over the year, however rents have shown some subtle growth in Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart.</div>
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<div data-canvas-width="34.800000000000004">The gross rental yield profile in Sydney and Melbourne has once again pushed to a new record low in August.</div>
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<div data-canvas-width="34.800000000000004">Sydney and Melbourne have each recorded the lowest gross rental yields across the capitals for houses at 2.8 percent, both of which are record lows for the cities.</div>
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<div data-canvas-width="34.800000000000004">Gross rental yields on units tend to be higher compared with houses, however the gross yield for attached housing product is also at a record low, averaging 4.1 percent across the capital cities and ranging from 3.9 percent in Sydney to 5.4 percent in Hobart.</div>
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<div data-canvas-width="34.800000000000004">Mr Lawless said, “The disparity in the performance of housing markets across the capital cities and from region-to-region highlights the diverse economic and demographic factors around the country. “Such diversity, not only regionally, but also across housing types, makes reading the housing market more challenging than ever.</div>
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<div data-canvas-width="34.800000000000004">"Complicating this is the fact that a record amount of new housing construction is under way, with more in the pipeline.</div>
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<div data-canvas-width="34.800000000000004">“With so much new supply being delivered to the market in the form of units, we are already seeing significantly slower growth rates for units compared to houses in a number of cities.</div>
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<div data-canvas-width="34.800000000000004">"As these unit projects come to completion and ultimately settlement, the underperformance of new unit stock could create headwinds for the market in certain geographies.”</div>
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Record low yields for Sydney and Melbourne: CoreLogic

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Yellow Brick Road is poised to appoint former the Westpac Banking Corp executive Adam Youkhana as general manager of its wealth unit.
The Australian Financial Review's Street Talk column said Youkhana, former head of Westpac Private Bank's financial planning arm will join the Mark Bouris-led diversified financial services group next week.
He will replace Matt Lawler who resigned in July.
Youkhana joined Westpac in 2010 after a stint at National Australia Bank. 
The appointment comes after a sweeping restructure at YBR which included a shift to a franchise model.
Yellow Brick Road's annual loss rose to $9.5 million from $2.6 million despite annual revenue increasing 31 per cent.
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Adam Youkhana set to join Yellow Brick Road

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GUEST OBSERVER
Retail sales disappointed in July coming in flat vs expectations of a 0.3 percent gain. Annual growth slowed to 2.7 percent with the monthly trend estimate tracking a very weak 1.1 percent annualised pace.
There are some caveats to the July number however. In particular, the storetype breakdown showed an unusually large fall in department store sales – down 6.2 percent in the month in seasonally adjusted terms, coming off a decent 4.5 percent gain in June.
That volatility may reflect shifts in the timing of sales which can be exaggerated by seasonal adjustment (we had similar issues in 2013 and 2012 with a strong June followed by a sharp fall in July that mostly reversed in August).
Weather conditions may also have played a part with an abnormally mild July (the 5th warmest on records back to 1961 according to the Bureau of Meteorology) although this did not stop clothing retailers from posting a 0.3 percent gain.
Ex department stores, retail sales were up a much more respectable 0.4 percent mth, 3.1 percent yr.
Looking across other categories: basic food retail bounced back with a 0.7 percent gain following a very weak June (–0.5 percent mth, the second biggest monthly decline in the last six years); household goods disappointed again with a 0.7 percent fall, ‘other’ retail rose 0.2 percent and cafes and restaurants saw a robust 1.2 percent gain.
As noted in previous reports, some of the ‘mixed messages’ from retail at the moment likely reflect widely diverging performances by state with consumers in the growth centres in the south-east boosting discretionary spend but those in mining states cutting back.
For total sales this pattern reversed somewhat in July with sales softer in Vic (–0.6 percent mth) and NSW (–0.2 percent mth) vs modest gains in Qld (0.5 percent mth) SA (0.5 percent mth) and WA (0.3 percent mth).
Note that all sales figures are in dollar value terms so include any price effects from discounting.
Matthew Hassan is senior economist with <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/" target="_blank">Westpac</a>.
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Australian July retail sales flat: Westpac's Matthew Hassan

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A three level five-bedroom mansion in Point Piper has been confirmed as sold at $6.45 million.
The sale at 2 Wunulla Road had been previously reported by Fairfax Media as "sold for about $8 million." 
The property was marketed as exuding European elegance.
Records show Cobra Equity Investments, a company linked to the diversified group, Cobra Group founded by the Canadian-born, London based Chris Niarchos sold the home at a closed auction. The main shareholder in the company is Michael Hogg, a director in Cobra's subsidiary, the marketing company Appco based in Surry Hills. 
The property last sold in 2006 for $5.1 million. 
The Agency's Michelle Andrewartha and Daniel Baran had the listing.
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Point Piper price was $6.45 million

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GUEST OBSERVER
Australia’s largest listed, carbon intensive companies say management lost focus on carbon matters, abandoned energy projects and didn’t have the commercial imperative to produce long-term strategic action on reducing emissions after the carbon tax was repealed, new research finds.
Our research looked at the comparative views of emitters before and after the repeal of the carbon tax legislation, in interviews with 18 senior managers from nine carbon-intensive listed companies.
Two years have passed since Australia’s carbon tax was repealed. It was introduced by the Labor government and came into effect in 2012.
The carbon pricing scheme asked big emitters to pay for each tonne of emissions above a threshold of 25,000 tonnes, in carbon units, and these were at a fixed charge of: $23 a tonne in 2012, $24.15 a tonne in 2013 and $25.40 a tonne in 2014.
The Swinburne research found the financial pressure exerted by the carbon tax forced companies to take action to manage emissions. As one senior executive observed at the time:
“…the threat is our operating costs will increase, and we won’t be able to pass that cost on through to our customers, and, therefore, our earnings suffer as a result”.
In July 2014, the coalition government repealed the carbon tax by replacing it with the “Direct Action” plan which works primarily by providing funding to companies to incentivise emission reduction activities. The government has spent A$1.7 billion on 143 million tonnes of emissions, at an average cost of A$12 a tonne.
Many of the companies interviewed for our research said Direct Action was not as effective as a carbon tax in driving companies to act urgently and manage emissions. The carbon tax gave companies incentives to act because it increased utilities prices, adding financial burden for some companies, in addition to these companies being liable under the tax.
One manager said:
“The scheme [carbon tax] now obviously having a cost associated with those emissions, it was a case of trying to understand where the costs were and essentially how we capture that information and how we track it.”
The existing National Greenhouse Energy Reporting Act 2007 (which requires high emitters to report emissions) does not provide the same incentives because it’s only a compliance measure with no direct financial burden.
Our research found the carbon tax created not only financial pressure but also a reputation threat for high emitting companies.
When the carbon tax was repealed, the focus on carbon emissions in these companies shifted. In some cases this showed up in the form of changes to staff hiring, away from environmental or technical specialists and towards legal staff. One manager explained it as:
“Even though we may not have the technical background in some respects, I think there’s a lot of interest in the legal profession into climate issues, you know, the social issues.”
This shift in focus was partly due to a lack of top management attention to the issue and partly because the financial justification for having dedicated personnel to tackle emissions decreased.
Some companies postponed or abandoned energy management projects after the repeal of the carbon tax. For example, one manager observed that his company had postponed A$1.5 billion worth of long term renewable investment projects due to the carbon tax repeal and the political uncertainty around the Renewable Energy Target.
Another factor is the lower use of techniques such as provision of incentives and setting targets for emissions management compared with the period of the carbon tax. One manager stated his company was no longer investing in target setting as there was no financial return for doing so.
Almost all interviewees in our research agreed that the carbon tax had been an effective mechanism when it was in place. Certain companies have a clear expectation a carbon price will re-emerge. They are proactively monitoring this issue. One manager described it as:
“We shadow in a carbon price across our portfolio of assets, determine what the potential impact is for [company name] and how we would manage that. We’ve continued to invest in carbon reduction…The business now looks at it as a cost-of-doing business opportunity."
Overall, the research provided mixed evidence about achieving Australia’s commitment, made at the Paris climate change summit, to reduce emissions to 26-28% on 2005 levels by 2030. Some companies are acting as though the carbon tax never left us, while for others carbon emission management is no longer a strategic issue.
The financial pressure exerted from the carbon tax was a strong motivation for all sample companies to take urgent action on emissions management. So the challenge for the current government is whether Australia’s current policy incentives for corporate constraint of carbon are strong enough to deliver.
Jayanthi Kumarasiri is lecturer in Accounting, Swinburne University of Technology and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jayanthi-kumarasiri-292785" target="_blank">here</a>.
Christine Jubb is professor of Accounting, Associate Director Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christine-jubb-296433" target="_blank">here</a>.
Keith Houghton is emeritus professor Australian National University, and holds a part-time position at, Swinburne University of Technology and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/keith-houghton-296537" target="_blank">here</a>.
All are authors for The Conversation.
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Direct Action not as motivating as carbon tax say some of Australia’s biggest emitters

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A second Palm Beach house designed by the internationally acclaimed architect Peter Muller has quietly hit the market. 
It is the redundant weekender of the fashion industry veteran Peter Weiss and his wife Doris.
They have listed their hillside pavilion style architectural gem following their recent purchase on the Pittwater waterfront, a Walter Barda-designed designed home. It seems Peter and Doris have always wanted a sandy west facing weekender on the peninsula so they spent $10 million plus for the home which was built for another rag trader Gordon Smith and his wife, Julianne.
Peter Robinson, of LJ Hooker Palm Beach, has been asked to sell the redundant Bynya Road 1960s Muller designed home that they bought in 2010 for $3.5 million.
It has been owned by a who's who - especially in the 1990s - including ad man John Nankervis and then wife Amanda who bought it from another adman Michael Magnus in 1995 for $500,000. The model agent Peter Chadwick, spotted as dapper as ever at the mid-week launch of the Aladdin musical, paid $680,000 to buy it in 1997 selling it in 2002 at $1.9 million.
The other Muller currently for sale is just two doors away. It is the 1954 family home of the Muller family who owned it for a decade.
The hilltop bushland home, with views towards Pittwater, has just had a two year refurbishment. It has been listed by the Martin family who bought it for $1.8 million in 2013 from the real estate agent Peter Thane who had paid $265,000 in 1986.
It is being marketed by the Modern House agency as 'the seminal mid-century family home of one of Australia's most influential architects."
Muller was an architect in private practice from 1952 until retiring aged 80 in 2007.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
 
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Peter Muller designed Palm Beach home listed by Peter Weiss

A landmark former orphanage site in Surrey Hills could be transformed into a new residential community under plans lodged by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/antipodean-land-developments">Antipodean Land Developments</a> that would deliver 76 apartments and townhouses while restoring some of the suburb's most significant heritage buildings.

The burgeoninng Melbourne-based developer has submitted plans for the 9,158 sqm site at 1 Kent Road and 24 Durham Road, home to the former St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children, a historic institutional complex dating back to the late 19th century. The proposal seeks to adaptively reuse several heritage buildings while introducing two new four-storey residential buildings set within extensive landscaped grounds.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> and Kerstin Thompson Architects, the project has been conceived as a contemporary residential village embedded within a restored heritage precinct. The development team describes the design approach as "The Village in the Garden," with new buildings positioned among mature landscaping by OCULUS and significant heritage structures.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44ec8c1b-c0b6-44ae-859e-5811b3e6a023" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.png?VersionId=p.p1_KFh4iQoV4nisdnPfQBAsWNi7m79" />

The proposal would deliver 76 dwellings comprising a mix of apartments and duplex-style residences, significantly increasing housing supply on one of the largest privately held residential landholdings in Surrey Hills. The development includes 127 car spaces, 24 bicycle spaces and more than 1,000 sqm of communal amenity, with the existing chapel building earmarked for conversion into resident facilities.

According to the planning submission, the project centres on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the site's most significant heritage assets, including the original c.1889 St Joseph's building, the chapel designed by architect Augustus Andrew Fritsch, and the historic brick perimeter walls and entry gates. The proposal also incorporates the retention of other contributory buildings including the former infirmary and school building.

Tract Consultants, in the planning report accompanying the application, said the scheme had been shaped through extensive heritage analysis and design development.

"The shared vision for the Site by the project team has culminated in a scheme which successfully breathes life back into a historic site while delivering upon the objectives of Victoria's Housing Statement in a carefully curated and contextually responsive manner."

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7263b7d8-95ea-400f-9531-6ca7d22c3c33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29.png?VersionId=4cR1tiWOsDpgxEOwZi5vVFcyvvOsYkIE" />

The proposal is being assessed under Victoria's Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway. As part of the application, three per cent of the project's residential development cost would be contributed to the Social Housing Growth Fund. The development would also provide a diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences targeting a broader range of buyers than typically found in Surrey Hills' detached housing market.

Sustainability initiatives include an anticipated 66 per cent BESS score, natural cross-ventilation to 80 per cent of apartments, 28 per cent deep soil landscaping and a canopy cover outcome exceeding local planning requirements. The proposal also sets aside more than 1,083 sqm for communal indoor and outdoor resident amenity spaces.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33fad46f-fe26-4d0a-acfd-6b776e1c6a3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design.png?VersionId=D9F6WVSyYCtGvSUmith35LRp6R7PQkw_" />

Planning documents describe the property as one of the largest underutilised residential sites in Surrey Hills, arguing it presents a rare opportunity to introduce "missing middle" housing in an established inner-eastern suburb while preserving and revitalising a significant heritage precinct.

Antipodean Land Developments has built a reputation for design-focused residential projects across Melbourne, particularly in the medium-density sector. Previous developments include Neighbourhood in Brunswick East, delivered with Breathe Architecture, and Balfe Park Lane, designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

They've been very active in site acquisition as they build out their future development pipeline. They recently launched Thornubury House, 45 apartments above a mix of commercial, retail, and food and beverage tenancies, and have plans for a boutique project in Fitzroy and another <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/antipodean-plan-apartments-for-deepdenes-missing-middle-on-whitehorse-road">"missing middle" project</a> on Deepdene's Whitehorse Road.

Joel Robinson

First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/auyin-property-development">Auyin</a> is the latest to turn to the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program in an effort to secure approval for its long-planned, mixed-use project in Elsternwick.

In 2018, Auyin lodged plans with Glen Eira City Council for a 14-storey building, however Council approved a reduced eight-storey scheme. A subsequent VCAT appeal in 2019 upheld the eight-storey height limit.

The project was later amended to nine storeys, but Auyin is now seeking to revive something closer to its original vision. The developer argues that the planning context has evolved significantly over the past decade, particularly within the Elsternwick Activity Centre, where higher-density development has increasingly been encouraged along Glen Huntly Road.

The proposal would transform the 1,239 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/7-12-horne-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">7-15 Horne Street</a>, opposite Elsternwick Railway Station, into a 13-storey residential and retail development designed by CBG Architects, with 40 apartments

The site currently comprises three commercial properties.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5f465dd4-509b-4082-a669-0253b313914b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20podium.png?VersionId=72frWi0SmQ5AVJ3ARRhX5ILUYObhTm7x" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 25 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom residences above 200 sqm of retail space at ground level. Residents would have access to a 90 sqm wellness facility, a 351 sqm communal indoor and outdoor terrace on the third level, and extensive landscaped areas throughout the development. A publicly accessible 135 sqm plaza would be created on the north-east corner of the site, providing seating, landscaping, and a new gathering space adjoining Horne Street.

The design adopts a four-storey podium that references the finer-grain character of the surrounding streetscape, with the upper tower recessed behind generous setbacks on all boundaries.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e637e763-2abc-4c34-a0aa-5c7ad36fae18" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20open.png?VersionId=J1AoOpZgTyaF.KeeFSX6lMjEScX8KKRi" />

A key element of the proposal is the reconfiguration and widening of the surrounding laneways. Vehicle access would be retained from Lois Lane, with upgraded pedestrian connections linking Ross Street and Horne Street. The development would provide 58 residential car spaces, two retail car spaces, and 52 bicycle spaces across two basement levels and ground-floor facilities.

Architecturally, the building draws inspiration from the established character of Elsternwick Village. The façade combines dark charcoal brickwork, textured concrete, bronze-toned metal detailing, and extensive planting integrated into podium and tower levels. The design also incorporates a chamfered corner treatment and publicly accessible plaza intended to strengthen pedestrian activity around the station precinct.

Elsternwick's last new development completion was&nbsp;EVA Elsternwick by Pitard late last year. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/milieu-property">Milieu</a> is working away on its nature-led neighbourhood, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elsternwick-gardens-by-milieu-8-gordon-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick Gardens</a>, on Gordon Street, with its first stage expected to complete next year.

First look: Auyin seeks mixed-use apartment project in growing Elsternwick Activity Centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/otium-parkdale-123-125-como-parade-east-parkdale-vic-3195">Otium Parkdale</a>, the 13-residence boutique development by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/huxtable-property">Huxtable Property</a>, has entered its final stages of delivery, with completion expected within the coming month and more than half of the residences sold.

The Como Parade East project is nearing the finish line at a time when opportunities to purchase new apartments in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parkdale-vic-3195">Parkdale</a> remain exceptionally limited. Fewer than 10 per cent of dwellings in the bayside suburb are apartments, making developments like Otium a relatively rare addition to a market traditionally dominated by detached housing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5427]

The three-level development comprises 13 residences, including ten two-bedroom apartments and three larger three-bedroom homes, all positioned above a secure basement car park.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/almeida-architects">Almeida Architects</a> with a strong connection to its coastal surroundings, Otium combines red brick, exposed concrete and dark metal detailing with integrated landscaping and greenery. Expansive glazing, generous balconies and terraces have been incorporated throughout the design to maximise natural light and reinforce indoor-outdoor living.

Inside, the residences feature engineered European oak flooring, natural and reconstituted stone benchtops, Bosch kitchen appliances, ducted heating and cooling, lift access and secure entry systems. The larger three-bedroom residences on the upper level have been designed with house-like proportions, while the two-bedroom apartments prioritise functionality, flexibility and low-maintenance living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5421]

The project is now in its final stages, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/labco">Labco</a> completing the remaining landscaping and external finishing works following the completion of the residences' interiors.

Otium's location within the heart of Parkdale continues to underpin its appeal. Residents will be just steps from local cafés, restaurants, shops and the newly elevated Parkdale Station, while the beach is less than a kilometre away.

With the project tracking ahead of schedule, buyers can currently secure a residence with a five per cent deposit and benefit from settlement terms of up to eight months. The advanced stage of construction also provides buyers with the opportunity to walk through the near-complete residences and experience the quality and finishes firsthand ahead of completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134974]

Otium Parkdale enters final month before completion as rare apartment opportunity nears sellout

A new boutique apartment development is entering the market in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chermside-qld-4032">Chermside</a>, with Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ausdev">Ausdev</a> bringing 33 residences to a well-connected pocket of Brisbane's north.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/parkdrive-apartments-chermside-25-sammells-drive-chermside-qld-4032">Parkdrive Apartments</a>, at 25 Sammells Drive, will comprise a mix of one- and two-bedroom residences positioned within walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, and Bradbury Park.

Established in 1989, Ausdev has a long-standing presence across both development and construction, with Parkdrive Apartments representing its latest residential project in Brisbane's northern suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363778]

The development has been designed around open-plan living and natural light, with residences featuring stone benchtops, timber cabinetry, BOSCH appliances, and private balconies that extend the living areas outdoors.

Kitchens are positioned as the centrepiece of the homes, incorporating natural material palettes and integrated appliances, while bathrooms have been designed with a focus on functionality and understated finishes.

Residents will have access to a communal barbecue and entertaining area on Level 3, providing shared outdoor space within the development. Secure parking and lift access are also incorporated into the building.

The project will deliver a limited collection of 33 apartments, with one-bedroom residences priced from $749,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Beyond the building itself, the location places residents within easy reach of several of Chermside's key amenities. Bradbury Park is around 350 metres away, while Westfield Chermside is approximately 1.3 kilometres from the site. The Prince Charles Hospital is located within 750 metres, and the Chermside Bus Interchange is around 1.5 kilometres away, providing connections across Brisbane.

Parkdrive Apartments adds to the growing residential pipeline in Chermside, a suburb that continues to evolve as a major retail, healthcare, and transport hub for Brisbane's north.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152125]

Ausdev introduces boutique Parkdrive Apartments to Chermside's growing centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skymark-group">Skymark</a>'s boutique Cronulla development Solis has secured a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy through Resilience Insurance, providing buyers of the 16-residence building on Ewos Parade with structural and waterproofing protection that extends a decade beyond the building's completion.

Currently under construction and due for completion in late 2027, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/solis-cronulla-8-ewos-parade-cronulla-nsw-2230">Solis</a> is one of a small number of new developments in the Sutherland Shire to carry Resilience LDI coverage, a distinction that carries increasing weight as buyer confidence in the off-the-plan sector continues to be shaped by how developers stand behind their product.

Latent Defects Insurance, which entered the Australian market in 2022 when Resilience Insurance was approved to offer the cover, protects buyers against major structural or waterproofing defects for ten years post-completion. Unlike traditional statutory warranties, it operates as a first-resort policy, if a covered defect arises, the insurer responds directly, without the buyer needing to pursue the builder or developer through a lengthy claims process.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent has noted that the product addresses something fundamental to the new apartment market.

"The overarching feedback from prospective buyers in the new development space is that they want more confidence and assurances around the quality of the build," Nugent says.

"Resilience Insurance Latent Defects Insurance not only gives them complete peace of mind for 10 years, but it shows the developer they are buying from is standing by their product."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370898]

For Solis, the Resilience LDI policy adds a meaningful layer of accountability to an already considered project. The development comprises nine two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom residences, including one dual-level three-bedroom apartment, across a five-storey building on Ewos Parade, positioned between Shelly Beach and South Cronulla.

Garden apartments connect directly to private landscaped courtyards, while upper-level homes capture beach views to the east from level four and above.&nbsp;

All 16 residences include at least one balcony or courtyard, and select apartments on the upper floors feature bar areas and secondary flexible living spaces.

Hiba Sander, Managing Director of Skymark, says Solis offers a rare balance, nestled between the quiet beauty of secluded beaches and the lively charm of South Cronulla's esplanade.

"It's a place to choose your pace and live gracefully, seaside'," Sander says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370900]

The architecture, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ida-design-group">IDA Design Group</a>'s Michael Trinh, draws from the natural erosion patterns of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/cronulla-nsw-2230">Cronulla</a>'s sandstone headlands, translating the organic forms of the coastline into soft curves, pavilion-style massing, and a material palette chosen for longevity in a salt-tinged environment.&nbsp;

Textured natural stone, soft renders, and timber-look battens reference the tones of the surrounding cliffs, while the building has been oriented to maximise natural light and passive ventilation, with primary living spaces facing north and east to capture morning sun and sea breezes.

"At Solis, our aim was to create architecture that feels quietly confident, grounded in natural materials like stone and timber, and elevated by light and landscape," Trinh says.&nbsp;

"The buildings are designed to sit gently within their coastal surrounds, with expansive glazing and abundant greenery creating a seamless dialogue between inside and out."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370897]

Interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hot-black">Hot Black</a> carry the same material language through to every room. Kitchens feature integrated Gaggenau appliances, sculpted stone benchtops, and Lo &amp; Co joinery, while bathrooms feature natural stone, timber, and brushed metal finishes.&nbsp;

Hot Black Founder and Design Director Sophie Safrin describes the intent as one of considered restraint: "At Solis, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to create a timeless coastal retreat, calm, refined, and effortlessly liveable. From natural finishes to seamless indoor-outdoor flow, Solis offers a quiet elegance that's deeply connected to its surroundings.

The landscape, designed by Julian Brady of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/sitedesignstudios">Site Design Studios</a>, treats green space as an integral part of the resident experience rather than an afterthought.&nbsp;

"Gentle curves and layered native plantings mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean," Julian Brady says, "creating a serene connection between architecture and place."&nbsp;

Coco Republic has provided bespoke furniture packages tailored to the project's coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370899]

Skymark has an established track record in the Sutherland Shire, with a portfolio spanning Cronulla, Woolooware and Burraneer that includes Isla, Sylva, Bask, Shells, Sula and Mist. Securing LDI on Solis reflects a broader shift in how the developer is positioning its buildings to buyers, at a time when Resilience Insurance expects the policy to become mandatory in New South Wales by 2028.

Sales at Solis are launching soon through Ray White Projects, with an official event scheduled for 11 June. Enquire for more information.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150499]

Jonathan Chancellor

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