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Cloyne, the landmark Toorak residence, has been seemingly sold again through Sotheby's International agents Greg Herman and Robert Curtain.
Other interested buyers have been advised there is a conditional contract on the property following an undisclosed accepted price offer.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-toorak-116643555" target="_blank">five bedroom, five bathroom Harold Desbrowe-Annear-designed house</a>, with prominent porte cochere on Toorak Road, last sold in 2014 at $3.8 million to a Chinese businessman who had a quick change of mind.
Its last disclosed asking price was around $4.3 million.
Back in 2011 it fetched $3.5 million. 
Cloyne is one of the few substantially intact homes designed in the 1920s by Harold Desbrowe Annear.
It was built at 611 Toorak Road, Toorak in 1926 for Louis Nelken, reputedly a former Royal family butler, who married into the establishment.
Louis Nelken married Lesley Chrystal Madden, the daughter of chief justice Sir John Madden, in 1921 dressed "in girlish frocking of white satin with georgette over-scallops and a bodice strewn with pearls."
Brother Guy Madden did the giving away, and a handful of relatives saw the knot tied in the Madden Cliveden flat parlour. The party then motored to the Alexandra Club. 
They finally left Cloyne with a swell party in 1955 attended by members of the Victorian establishment families, Baillieu, Hordern, Myer, Manifold, Chirnside and also the Dekyvere's from Sydney.
In the 1960s Coyne was owned by the then flamboyant playboy Don Busch, who commissioned an extensive refurbishment which was carried out over eight years. The tycoon, but inexperienced polite, died in early 1970 in a Mustang plane crash at Bendigo in country Victoria.
It sold in 1971 for $145,000 to Toorak hotelier William Drever at an auction by Ernest Trebilcock. Drever, who was accompanied by his lawyer Rodney Davidson, sold in 1992 to the Dutton family for $1.11 million. They resold in 1999 for $1.47 million. It was 
Long describe as one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Melbourne, Sothebys agent Greg Herman it was "truly a Melbourne landmark".
Comprising grand entrance, formal sitting room, informal sitting/dining room and kitchen, they open north via French doors to the swimming pool and cabana.
There is a paneled study, ballroom and private guest quarters.
Other owners of the historic home were the luxury car dealer Jeff Dutton and his wife, Gay, who sold in 1999 for $1.47 million.
The Australian Dictionary of Biography write that after World War I, Annear prepared several fine, simple designs which freely used the classical vocabulary.
"Notable among these are the graceful Church Street bridge, Richmond (1924), and Cloyne at 609 Toorak Road (1929), which has a jewel-like quality and is unified by the judicious repetition of a Venetian window motif.
"Such excellent buildings as Cloyne have unjustly been presented as an embarrassment by some of Annear's later admirers, but he believed those who argued for a utilitarian architecture were asking for a non-architecture: they 'did not know definitely what architecture consists of'.
"In fact he pursued throughout a tempered eclecticism," <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/annear-harold-desbrowe-5036">it suggested</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Cloyne, Toorak sells again through Sotheby's

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Woollahra Council has made an eleventh hour attempt to avoid the proposed merger with Randwick and Waverley municipalities.
It had told the Local Government Boundaries Commission of inquiry it was best suited to instead merge with the City of Sydney should the State Government insist on forced amalgamations.
"While our communities are against being forced, if the government is hell bent then the majority of my councillors support a merger with city of sydney as opposed to this government proposal of a merger with Randwick and Waverley where there is no community of interest or synergy," the Woollahra mayor, Councillor Toni Zeltzer said yesterday.
"We are of the view that City of Sydney would protect what we value most, better than Randwick and Waverley.
"Like City of Sydney we are a habourside council not a coastal council.
"We value our trees and our heritage just like they do.
"We have legible, discernable precincts just like they do at Sydney.
"Waverley on the other hand has a highrise belt in Bondi Junction, Bondi Beach on the coast and everything in between is a homogenised mess with little legiblity or precinct character."
Another key reason was to see the emergence of a strong heritage Oxford Street shopping precinct in response to international shopping tourism trends.
It currently has both Sydney and Woollahra control.
Woollahra have previously refrained from nominating any merger preferences in its submissions to the State Government because the IPART report provided confirmation that the amalgamation of Woollahra Council with neighbouring councils would result in a significant net cost to the Woollahra community. 
"It makes better sense to leave Woollahra Council well alone,” the Woollahra mayor, Councillor Toni Zeltzer has long said.
But on 18 December the NSW Government released its plan for Woollahra Council to be merged with Randwick and Waverley Councils to form a new eastern suburbs council.
Passing on the Global City Council, the state government agreed the City of Sydney had sufficient scale and capacity to remain a stand-alone council without any boundary changes. 
The likely to be displaced Woollahra community have until 28 February to lodge submissions on the merger plan with the Government’s appointed delegate, Dr Robert Lang, as part of the public inquiry into the merger.
"The vast majority - some 80% - have told us loud and clear that they don’t want to merge with Randwick and Waverley," said Woollahra mayor, Councillor Toni Zeltzer.
Woollahra Council has waged a campaign to stay as a stand-alone council, while Randwick and Waverley have volunteered to merge.
The possibility that Woollahra ratepayers would pay up to $17 million more in annual rates under an amalgamation with Waverley and Randwick Councils due to high land values in Woollahra has been a key issue.
Woollahra’s average residential property value of $1.061 million is 1.7 times more than Waverley’s average of $620,000 and 2.2 times more than Randwick’s $477,000 average residential property value. 
It has volunteered to fund an assessment of the cost benefit of any merger with the City of Sydney.
The City of Sydney was excluded from amalgamations although an initial ILGRP report recommended an amalgamation of Botany Bay, Randwick, Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra councils.
The City was forcibly amalgamated with South Sydney in 2004, which mayor Clover Moore said was enormously disruptive.
Under the Act, Dr Lang has been delegated the function of examining and reviewing the Minister’s proposal into the amalgamation of Randwick City, Waverley and Woollahra Municipal councils, taking into consideration the views of the public and the factors outlined within the Local Government Act through verbal and written submissions. 
Under the Act, consideration of other merger suggestions are not within the scope of Dr Lang’s delegated responsibilities.
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Woollahra seeks refuge within City of Sydney as mandatory mergers near

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The number of residential property listings dropped 0.2% in January across Australia, driven by a large fall in Sydney. 
The number of listed properties fell to 342,899 in January 2016, decreasing 0.2% from December 2015.
Residential property listings were up in every capital city except Sydney and Melbourne over January, according to figures from SQM Research.
Sydney had the largest fall in available properties with listings down 5.2%.
Melbourne listings were down 2.6% over the month. 
Brisbane had the largest month-on-month increase in residential property listings, up 3% over January, followed by Perth up 2.5% and Canberra up 1.6%.
However, year-on-year results indicate that residential property listings are up for most capital cities.
Property listings in Sydney and Canberra are higher than this time last year with Sydney experiencing a yearly rise of 13.7% and Canberra recording a rise of 11.2%.
Year-on-year, Melbourne and Hobart were the only two capital cities to record a drop in properties available for sale. Melbourne listing dropped 8.9% while Hobart listings dropped 7.7%.
SQM Research managing director Louis Christopher says the figures are further proof that the Sydney market is beginning to cool.
“As we enter into the new property season it’s clear that our latest indicators are suggesting a continued mixed market across the nation.
“On the one hand there is an overhang of stock on the market in Sydney, which is a symptom of the slowdown in the market there that started the second half of last year.
"While on the other hand Melbourne does not appear to have any overhang, and so will be entering the new season less stock on the market than what has been the average for the past five years."
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SQM sees overhang in Sydney's 2016 listings

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A time-warp in Sydney's Paddington is for sale, but only after a bizarre court case.
The dilapidated Paddington terrace at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-paddington-121762078" target="_blank">45 Iris Street</a> isn't difficult to spot with it's faded yellow facade drawing the eye.
<img src="/images/2016/02/08/p.jpg" alt="">
The quirky interior walls are filled with quirky designs, some of which are hand drawn by the previous owner Christina Coombes who was an artist.
Christina passed away in 2013 and had owned the property for the last 40 years.
She bought the property with her late butcher husband Kenneth Coombes in 1965 for £3,200.
The terrace was in the limelight last year when an Iraqi refugee tried to claim the dank hovel, suggesting he was Christina's lover, cat minder and dancing partner for 17 years.
<img src="/images/2016/02/08/image4.jpg" alt="">
Christina's neighbours told the New South Wales Supreme Court that he was nothing more than a fruit and junk salesman who occasionally sold items to her.
It was discovered Waleed Sadiq never had a key, did not visit her in hospital, and failed to attend her funeral. He has been confirmed as living in Woolloomooloo.
The home is now under control of the NSW Trustee and Guardian who have had to seek a new certificate of title due to the last one being lost.
Christina was described as a bit of a recluse, which was no surprise considering the state of the home.
The advice from listing agent Adam McKay of the Di Jones agency is to bring a builder and an architect, because this property will need a lot of work.
There are two bedrooms, one bathroom and a rear courtyard.
Adam has said that he has received huge amounts of enquiry and had a great number of buyers through the first open on Saturday. 
He set a guide of $750,000 for the property which goes to auction on February 24.
<img src="/images/2016/02/08/main-1.jpg" alt="">
"It is a very difficult terrace to put a price on as there will be a large variation as to what each buyer thinks it is worth.
"For instance, for those who are looking at the property to renovate and sell, they will be factoring in the cost of the works associated in order to get it ready for sale.
"However for the first home buyers who are excited at getting hold of a Paddington terrace at a discounted price, we may find that they push themselves further to secure the home and complete the renovations over a number of years," he said.
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Paddo time warp… check out the wallpaper

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GUEST OBSERVER
ME’s ninth biannual Household Financial Comfort Report shows the gap in financial comfort between younger and older generations has widened significantly since the first survey in 2011.
While the comfort of ‘builders’ (aged 75+) and ‘baby boomers’ (aged 50-74) has improved by 16% to 6.38 and 14% to 5.85, respectively since October 2011, the comfort of ‘Gen Y’ (aged 18-34) and ‘Gen X’ (aged 35-49) has remained broadly unchanged over the same period, up only 2% to 5.56 and 3% to 5.16, respectively.
Digging deeper, the Report indicates ownership of assets including property, superannuation, shares and managed funds, is largely fuelling the divergence.
The recent gains in the macroeconomic and financial environment including significant rises in property and equity values, has disproportionately lifted the financial comfort of older generations who tend to have higher levels of asset ownership or investments.
The findings add to recent policy debates around housing ownership and affordability, and the generosity of superannuation tax concessions for wealthier Australians..
They highlight the importance of housing and superannuation as important wealth generators with both contributing to higher levels of financial comfort. They suggest that wealthier Australians may be better able to manage any windback to super tax concessions, while remaining at a relatively high level of financial comfort.
The disparity in financial comfort between generations is largely due to older generations enjoying substantial improvements in their investments and income primarily through real estate and superannuation.
Gen X and Y have smaller investments and continue to struggle with property ownership, so have benefited to a much lesser extent.
Younger generations are more likely to rent, reflecting the increased difficulty when it comes to getting on the property ladder. He said the issue is exacerbated for the younger generations as prices and rents have grown faster than incomes, particularly in capital cities.
Overall ME’s Household Financial Comfort Index rose 3% to 5.59 out of 10 in the 6 months to December 2015, equivalent to about 65% of Australian households reporting mid-to-high financial comfort. This result reverses half of the fall from the previous 6 months and is the second highest financial comfort result recorded since ME started the survey in late 2011 (about 3% above the historical average of 5.45).
The overall rise in the Household Financial Comfort Index was largely driven by an 8% increase in comfort with ‘ability to cope with a financial emergency (loss of income for 3 months)’, arguably boosted by the strengthening of the labour market and in particular, strong job gains and a significant fall in unemployed persons over the past year or so.
Those stating ‘it would be easy to get a job within two months’ increased 2 points to 40% of the workforce during the six months to December 2015, while those reporting ‘it would be difficult’ decreased 3 points to 53%. J
ob security increased 2 points to 73% and insecurity fell 1 point to 25% (see Report pages 20-21). Modest increases in income also contributed to the improvements in ‘ability to cope with a financial emergency (loss of income for 3 months)’.
The proportion of households reporting annual income gains, increased by 4 points in the past six months to 38%, compared to the proportion who reported lower income, fell 2 points to 24%, with a further 38% reported unchanged household income.
Improved employment and income also contributed to increases in both comfort with cash savings (up 3% to 5.06) and across a range of savings indicators including an increase in the proportion of households saving each month, up 3 points to 50% in December 2015, versus spending all of their income and no more, down 3 points to 41% (see Report pages 25, 27).
Stand-out states:
The effects of a weakening mining industry are showing in WA, the only state where financial comfort deteriorated (down a further 2%) to a record low of 5.11 in December 2015 – the lowest household financial comfort by far across Australia. In contrast, South Australia/Northern Territory recorded the greatest gains in household financial comfort (up 14% to 5.57).
A regional/metro divide remained prevalent, with households living in metropolitan areas reporting higher levels of financial comfort (up 4% to 5.72) in December 2015, compared to households living in regional areas (up 2% to 5.29) in December 2015. Melbourne is the stand-out city, with the highest level of financial comfort (up 4% to 5.92), followed by Sydney (up 3% to 5.81).
On the other hand, Perth fell 8% to 5.12 – the lowest of all capital cities.
Self-employed:
After a very big rise of 18%, self-employed persons (typically, sole proprietors and small business owners) are the most comfortable segment of the workforce reporting financial comfort of 5.91 in December 2015. Recent policy announcements may be a contributing factor – in addition to labour market improvements and some signs of a pick up in business conditions (see Report page 15).
Household differences:
Couples with children – both older and younger in age – reported significant improvements – up 7% to 5.85 and up 6% to 5.55, respectively. In contrast, singles and couples with no children reported the biggest drop. Households were most comfortable with their ability to ‘manage their current living expenses’ (6.52 out of 10) and ‘level of debt’ (6.29 out of 10).
 
Jeff Oughton is ME’s consulting economist and can be contacted <a href="https://www.mebank.com.au/?gclid=CPu_uvLW5soCFQF-vQodaiAF9w" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Financial comfort gap widens between younger, older Australians: ME's Jeff Oughton

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The weekend Hobart auction at Battery Point saw a $680,000 sale.
Located in the much sort after Arthur Circus precinct, the piece of Tasmanian maritime history was a quaint 1850s whalers’ cottage on offer through Brian Watchorn at Charlotte Peterswald Real Estate.
The local paper reported Geoff and Marian Brookes of Brisbane purchased the Georgian-style home on Runnymede Street. He is a Weipa mining project manager. They are now on the lookout for a Tasmanian vineyard to buy.
The auctioneer Brian Watchorn took a $600,000 opening bid for the two-bedroom, one-bathroom home with 84 sqm space.
The Runnymede Street property had last traded at $460,000 in 2008 and put up for rent at $340 a week.
It was one of eight auctions, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
The first week of February had national auction market activity continuing to bounce back from the festive period slowdown, with almost twice the number of auctions held this week compared with last week.
CoreLogic RP Data was tracking 854 auctions this week, compared with 987 auctions over the same week one year ago.
 
<a href="/images/2016/02/08/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-08%20at%208.42.21%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/08/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-08%20at%208.42.21%20AM.png" alt="">
The lower number of auctions was mostly due to a low auction numbers in Sydney where there were only 255 auctions held over the week compared with 421 at the same time last year. Sydney notched up a 70 percent plus success rate.
The lower number of homes put up for auction highlights that vendors haven’t been as willing to put their homes into the auction market as they were a year ago.
Auction numbers were actually higher than a year ago across Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Despite the lower number of auctions compared with last year, the preliminary auction clearance rate, based on the 621 auction results reported so far, was recorded at 71 per cent across the combined capital cities.
This week’s clearance rate was higher than at the same time last year (67.3%) however the clearance rate in Sydney continued to track lower than at the same time last year.
This week, 262 Melbourne auctions were held and so far 206 results have been reported.
The preliminary auction clearance rate of 80.1 per cent is higher than last week, when across just 151 auctions, 69.9 per cent were successful. One year ago, Melbourne’s auction clearance rate was 60.7 per cent across 255 auctions. Across Melbourne, the busiest region for auctions this week was the Outer East, where 40 homes went under the hammer. Of the 30 reported results so far, 83.3 per cent have been successful. Melbourne’s Inner East recorded the strongest preliminary clearance rate at 93.8 per cent, however there were only 19 auctions held within the region and 16 results reported so far. 
The Sydney auction market was substantially weaker over the final months of last year when compared to earlier in 2015. Clearance rates fell from the high 80 per cent mark to the mid-50 per cent mark towards the end of the year. Given this, it is likely that a lack of vendor confidence is currently being reflected with only 265 auctions held this week, compared to 421 at the same time last year. Although auction volumes across the city were low, this week Sydney’s preliminary clearance rate was 70.2 per cent, a strong result compared to 44.9 per cent last week (across just 61 auctions), but not reflective of the 80.6 per cent last year. The best performing Sydney sub-regions this week were Inner South West (85.7 per cent across 21 results) and North Sydney and Hornsby, with a clearance rate of 80 per cent across 35 results. In Brisbane the preliminary clearance rate was 55.8 per cent this week across 77 auction results.
There were 111 auctions held in Brisbane this week, compared to 60 last week, with a clearance rate of 52.7 per cent and 109 last year when 47.6 per cent of auctions were successful. Further south, across the Gold Coast there were 33 auctions reported this week with 13 sales.
Adelaide’s preliminary clearance rate was 79.4 per cent this week, higher than last week at 61.1 per cent and also higher than one year ago (58.2 per cent). There were 104 Adelaide auctions this week, 97 last week and 94 held over the comparable week last year.
In the westernmost city, Perth’s preliminary clearance rate was 35 per cent this week and there were 37 auctions held. Last week, 29 Perth auctions were held and 44.9 per cent were successful, while one year ago 31 Perth auctions were held with a clearance rate of 40 per cent.
Across Canberra 67 auctions were held this week, compared to 27 last week and 69 one year ago. Based on preliminary results this week’s clearance rate is 72.9 per cent, higher relative to last year (67.9 per cent).
CoreLogic RP Data has recorded just 2 auction results across Tasmania this week with one sale.
 
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Battery Point, Hobart whalers' cottage fetches $680,000

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Some auction listings will now be marketed with price guide ranges under new auction marketing laws.
Banned are the open ended $500,000 plus/offers over $500,000 estimates that the state government deemed as potentially misleading.
Instead there's a permissible strict 10 percent band, such as $500,000 to $550,000 that can be put to potential buyers by estate agents. 
Our legislators concluded $500,000 plus guides were likely to mislead that the property could be bought for the minimum figure.
NSW Fair Trading was right that intentional understating causes interested buyers to waste time and money on inspecting properties, getting reports and attending auctions. But the government won't come at any trial of the vendor-provided pest and building inspection reports.
I actually didn't mind the $500,000 plus system, but I guess being well practiced I intuitatively added something like 10% anyway to estimate where the hammer was likely to fall.
Ofcourse super successful selling prices are more about emotional outcomes, rather than any 10% mathematical formula in my mind or government regulations. 
It is apparent many agents don't like the price range as it introduces a potential price ceiling which discourages buyers from going any further. 
A review of the auctions held on the last weekend in January suggests an understandable slow uptake of the new price band system with the vast majority of agents not giving any public price guidance in their marketing.
I calculated just 15 percent of the listings having a published range along with a half dozen where agents hadn't yet cottoned onto the over $500,000 ban. 
But no underquoting alarm bells so far with the price ranges that were on public offer.
At Erskineville there was a one bedroom apartment listed with the price guide of $650,000 to $700,000. It sold at $708,000, so hopefully no-one's running off to NSW Fair Trading claiming this was anything akin to under-quoting.
These rules went through parliament amid heightened claims of underquoting as prices escalated at a frenetic pace in the then crazy Sydney market, but I'd expect this year to actually see the opposite trap of overquoting emerge as inexperienced agents grapple with trickier market conditions.
There was one weekend offering passed in at well under the price range estimate at Elderslie. With a pre-auction guidance of $725,000 to $795,000, it was passed in at $650,000.
Getting agent estimates that are publicly consistent with their true belief is commendable. But if the state government really wanted transparency - and the buyers right to know - then the tighten laws ought have made the figure in the agency agreement, which the vendor signs on formal listing with the agent, the mandatory public price guide.
Instead we have a system that could leave the public less informed.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
 
{mijopolls 128}
 
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Price guide ranges - not yet the new norm for NSW auctions

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David Murray, who headed the financial system inquiry, has spent $7.35 million on adjoining sheep and cattle farms in the Upper Hunter Valley.
His purchases included historic Dales homestead on 1110 hectares at Merriwa for $4.7 million, along with the adjoining 640 hectare Ersyldene property for $2.95 million.
Murray, the inaugural chairman of the Future Fund, and former Commonwealth Bank chief bought through Lyndcote Pty Ltd, which is the name of his longtime Hunters Hill trophy home.
<a href="https://www.maccalluminglis.com.au/properties.php?id=13787185" target="_blank">The bluestone 1930s Dales homestead </a>was originally part of Brindley Park.
The Dales sale ends 178 years of ownership by the pioneering Bettington family.
MacCallum Inglis agent Michael Burke negotiated the sale, Fairfax Media reported.
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David Murray buys bluestone Upper Hunter homestead farm from the Bettinghams

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A Portsea's bathing box still sits on the market, but is quite close to sale.
Listed for the first time in 25 years with $600,000 hopes, there's been one strong offer coming late summer. 
It came on the market in November with the boat shed being unusually constructed of concrete.
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/no-1-boat-shed-portsea-front-beach-point-franklin-portsea-vic-3944-2012482650" target="_blank">Boat Shed No.1</a> was originally built as a bunker during World War II below Fort Franklin.
It measures about 12 sqm in size with a large deck.
It was last on sale 25 years ago to Rob Pitt who owns the Sorrento Hotel with wife Anne. Family members have been reluctant to let it go, Title Tattle gleans.
There have been <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H95umF81E_U" target="_blank">35,000 plus youtube </a>views.
The listing agent Rob Curtain of Peninsula Sotheby’s International Realty said he was confident the bathing would fetch a higher sale price than the last boat shed to change hands.
It was a 20 sqm timber shed on nearby Shelley Beach which fetched a record $615,000 at auction late last year.
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Portsea boatshed No 1 still on the market

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The hockingstuart head office is currently working through allegations made by Consumer Affairs Victoria concerning its Richmond franchised office conduct in regard to auction price guidance.
"We are not in a position to discuss the specific details until further progress has been made," the estate agency has advised.
Hockingstuart in Richmond has been taken to court over its auction practices, accused of underquoting on 11 properties in 2014 and 2015, the Channel 7 News reporter Laurel Irving reported.
The properties were in Richmond and one in Kew. According to court documents, a detached Victorian in Mary Street, Richmond; a two-bedroom apartment in Coppin Street, Richmond; a two-bedroom apartment in Docker Street, Richmond were pinpointed.There was also an Edwardian home in Barkers Road, Kew.
The agency said under the current law, while vendors may seek the advice of agents, they are not required to disclose their reserve to agents until the day of auction.
"It can be higher than the advertised price if the interest is strong." the agency noted.
hockingstuart advised it was "a global issue" for the real estate industry.
"hockingstuart head office is willing to work with Consumer Affairs Victoria on a solution that will ensure accurate pricing across the industry as a whole.
"Our head office takes its responsibility to prospective buyers seriously.
"We have a range of measures in place to ensure accurate pricing of our portfolio of properties across the group, including undertaking annual audits at each office and providing regular, rigorous training to new and existing offices.
"Furthermore, we actively encourage vendors to advertise their properties with a price guide to ensure transparency for buyers and sellers alike."
The agency lawyers told the hearing that there had been a "dynamic market."
The agency recently, in unrelated matters, lost its chief executive, Nigel O'Neil, described as a passionate leader with over 25 years experience in growing and developing businesses.
The hockingstuart CEO, Nigel O'Neil was at the helm for eight years.
hockingstuart was the first Victorian real estate agency to present its properties for sale in a magazine format. hockingstuart's red magazine currently has a weekly distribution of 15,000 copies. 
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Underquoting claims sees hockingstuart Richmond office in Consumers Affairs Victoria court proceedings

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

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

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

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

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

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

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

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

Jonathan Chancellor

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