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The Doughboy Mountain cattle farm in the New England district has been sold by the Salter family to TA Field Estates, the Sydney-based company headed by Michael Field for $7.65 million.
TA Field also secured the neighbouring O’Connor family’s Mirrugalee paying $2.75 million.
The Doughboy farm was redundant to the Angus breeding business started by the late Salmat marketing company co-founder, Phil Salter in 2007 when Towal Creek Station on the Macleay River on the mid-north coast was bought. 
Consisting of 1,350 hectares between Armidale and Ebor, Doughboy Mountain runs pasture fed quality black Angus with carefully chosen genetics.
With lush paddocks on the Wongwibinda road, Landmark Harcourts Boulton Walcha agent Bruce Rutherford says its an opportunity to purchase the highly regarded property at a time when analysts predict much higher returns in agriculture.
The farm was bought in 2010 at $6.9 million from the pioneering Wright family.
Auctioneer Damien Cooley knocked the farms down at Friday auction.
Doughboy Mountain equated to about $5658/ha ($2290/acre) and Mirrugalee $5092/ha ($2057/acre).
TA Field has other rural holdings in the nearby Walcha district.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Doughboy Mountain sells to TA Field Estates

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GUEST OBSERVER
Average income earners largely are the people who do get to take advantage of negative gearing - nurses, policemen and women on an average wage, investing, for instance, in a property. Most of them hold only one property, which adds to the housing stock that’s available for people as well. – Assistant Treasurer and Small Business Minister Kelly O'Dwyer, speaking on ABC TV’s Insiders, October 25, 2015
Negative gearing is a tax break available for people who own at least one other property in addition to their primary place of residence. This tax break applies only if the costs associated with the investment, including interest payments and other expenses, are greater than the rental income. Any loss made on the property can be offset against other income, thus reducing personal tax.
<div class="grid-ten large-grid-nine grid-last content-body content entry-content instapaper_body">
It’s true many nurses and police officers and other middle-income (and even much lower) people have negatively geared properties. But are these occupations and incomes the typical beneficiaries of negative gearing?
<h2>Checking the data</h2>
When asked for a source to support her statement, a spokesperson for O'Dwyer sent the following statistics.
<blockquote>
• Taxation statistics show 66.5% of taxfilers who declare a net rental loss have a taxable income of A$80,000 or less.
• Those who use negative gearing include 22.6% of police officers, 19.2% of ambulance officers and paramedics, and 18.9% of train and tram drivers.
• Of the Australians who use negative gearing, the majority only hold one additional property.
• 73% of people with a rental property interest have only one property and 18% own two.
</blockquote>
A $80,000 per year is not a typical taxable income. Around 84% of non-investors have a taxable income below $80,000. This compares with the 66.5% of people with negative geared property.
It is true that a relatively high proportion of the listed occupations have negatively geared properties. While it may be the popular belief that these are low or middle income occupations, these are actually reasonably highly paid occupations. For example, 73% of train and tram operators earn more than A$80,000 per year.
In our analysis, we looked at the income distribution of people who negatively gear compared to that of people who do not invest in rental properties.
The data set we used is called the 2012–13 individuals sample file. To collect this data, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) sampled 2% of all individual tax returns filed in 2012-13.
According to this ATO data set, there are 1.26 million (10%) taxpayers who negatively gear. Their average loss was A$8,930 per year. A further 700,000 with a rental investment are positively geared (meaning their rental income was greater than their costs). About 85% of taxpayers don’t have a rental investment.
<a href="/images/2015/11/23/image-20151115-10412-1h6jg2h.PNG" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/11/23/image-20151115-10412-1h6jg2h.PNG" alt="">
 
The chart shows what statisticians call the “smoothed” probability distribution (which is a smoothed histogram of the income distribution) of taxable income for people with negatively geared properties and people without rental investment properties. Marked also on the chart are the median and top 10% (P90) income points for both people with negatively geared properties and those without property investments.
The median income for negatively geared investors is A$60,000 per year, compared with $40,000 for non-investors.
A similar gap (50%) exists at the top end of the income spectrum. The taxable incomes of the top 10% of earners with negatively geared investments is around $150,000 compared to $98,000 for non-investors.
The chart shows clearly that, typically, people with negatively geared properties have significantly higher incomes than people without property investments.
In an April 2015 analysis commissioned by GetUp! for the Australia Institute, NATSEM found that 34% of the tax benefits of negative gearing accrues to the richest top 10% of families, as this chart from the report shows.
<a href="/images/2015/11/23/image-20151119-19345-1kb57np.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/11/23/image-20151119-19345-1kb57np.png" alt="">
Only around 20% of the tax benefits go to the bottom half of the income distribution.
High-income families invest more money than low-income families. The tax system benefits high-income earners more than low-income earners due to higher marginal tax rates amplifying the effectiveness of deductions.
<h2>The role of capital gains</h2>
Negatively gearing property implies that the investor is making a loss on their investment. As the chart below shows, the tax savings are greatest among those in the higher tax brackets. However, it remains the case that these investors continue to make an overall loss on their investment, even after accounting for tax deductions.
<a href="/images/2015/11/23/image-20151119-19348-1fbe7uh.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/11/23/image-20151119-19348-1fbe7uh.png" alt="">
 
The success of negative gearing as an investment strategy is reliant upon capital gains. In a property upswing, this strategy can be highly successful with lucrative gains on often minimal equity investment. During a property downswing or period of limited price growth, these strategies are very poor investments.
A recent analysis by the Grattan Institute shows that while police and nurses do invest in property, it is the higher-income occupations, such as doctors and mining engineers, who are much more likely to invest.
<h2>Adding to the housing stock?</h2>
Property investment only improves housing affordability when the purchase adds to the stock of newly constructed dwellings in affordable housing.
According to CoreLogic RP Data, in 2014 there were just under 500,000 property transactions and ABS building completions data suggest only around a third of those were newly built dwellings. It therefore stands to reason that most property transactions each year are probably existing stock.
<h2>Verdict</h2>
O'Dwyer’s assertion is not supported by the data. <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/About-ATO/Research-and-statistics/In-detail/Tax-statistics/Taxation-statistics-2012-13/?page=40" target="_blank">ATO data</a> shows that, typically, negatively geared investors have higher incomes than people without rental investments.
The same data shows that negatively geared investors have typical incomes around 50% higher than non-investors – even after deducting their losses from negative gearing.
The top 10% of the income distribution for negatively geared investors earn around 50% more than non-investors. Incomes for this top 10% are around $150,000 per year, compared with $98,000 for non-investors, according to the ATO.
Ben Phillips is principal research fellow, National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM), University of Canberra. Cukkoo Joseph is research assistant, University of Canberra. Both are authors for The Conversation and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ben-phillips-98866" target="_blank">here</a>.
Review
While I agree with everything in the above FactCheck, I would go further in criticising Kelly O'Dwyer’s statement, particularly the reference to investors adding to the housing stock.
The figure cited above for the ratio of housing purchases for new housing stock includes owner occupiers.
The impact on housing stock is tiny, but the effect on housing affordability of all those investors bidding up the prices of existing housing is likely to be substantial. 
Warwick Smith is research economist, University of Melbourne and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/warwick-smith-95344" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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Are average earners in Australia the main beneficiaries of negative gearing?

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Chinese interests are buying the Mornington Peninsula’s Eagle Ridge Golf Club.
The reputed price is about $9 million with website marketing saying it was under offer.
The 18-hole championship course and clubhouse at <a href="/expert-insights/investing/eagle-ridge-golf-course-boneo-listed-for-sale-on-mornington-peninsula">215 Browns Road, Boneo</a> sits on 45 hectares.
The Eagle Ridge Golf Course, at 215 Browns Road, Boneo at the entrance to the Mornington Peninsula about one hour from Melbourne. 
Eagle Ridge Golf Course began as the smaller Carlogie Golf Course until March 1988 when an additional parcel of land was purchased, earthworks commenced and a new Kevin Hartley designed championship course was opened in 1989.
Kevin Hartley was the Australian amateur golf champion of 1958 and runner up to Bruce Devlin in the 1959 Australian Amateur.
He captained the Victorian state team thirteen times, was the leading amateur at three Australian Opens and represented Australia many times, including winning the 1966 Eisenhower Cup team in Mexico.
Hartley based his design vision on Eagle Ridge becoming “the Royal Melbourne of the Mornington Peninsula”.
The ownership of Eagle Ridge transferred to the Russo family in 1995 and, in 1999 Pacific Coast Design was commissioned to design a master plan for course improvements and the new clubhouse opened in 2000. The late Nick Russo was passionate about the business ensuring construction of the functions venue.
Under the management of the golf course superintendent Scott Balloch, the course master plan was completed about 10 years ago.
In 2007 Eagle Ridge closed for a summer to change all fairways to Santa-Ana couch – a more drought tolerant grass with a 45% reduction in water consumption since re-opening.
The course competes for players with the nearby Moonah Links, The Dunes and St Andrews, Fairfax Media advised.
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Eagle Ridge, Boneo golf course under offer to Chinese buyers

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The marketing of Yougawalla Station in Western Australia's Kimberley is set to kick off after a decision by its owners' syndicate headed by media buyer Harold Mitchell and former Seven West Media director Doug Flynn.
The partners have appointed ANZ Banking Group and KPMG Corporate Finance to sell the 1.4 million hectare farm with 44,000 head of cattle with around $70 million tipped. It come with <a href="https://modscape.com.au/projects/kimberley/" target="_blank">Modscape’s sustainable residential designed home</a>.
ANZ's global head of advisory Martin Hanrahan alongside KPMG Corporate Finance partner Sam McClure have the sales task, according to The Australian Financial Review. The Australian suggest $80 million. Harold Mitchell bought Yougawalla in 2008 along with Doug Flynn and the Sale family who expect the Yougawalla sales process will not suffer the same fate at the S.Kidman sale given it does not own land critical to Australia's defence interests. 
Harold Mitchell has criticised Treasurer Scott Morrison's decision to block the sale of Australia's largest cattle property portfolio to foreign buyers calling on local investors to take a greater interest in the country's agricultural sector.
"There are real problems. It shouldn't be handled in this way," he told The Australian Financial Review. 
"We are short on capital and have been for a century and we rely on international co-operation." 
"I am confident that the government would allow us to proceed if the acquirer was a Chinese company or individual," he said.
"[However] they would be concerned if it was a state-owned enterprise but I think that's wrong. The Chinese economy is driven by state-owned enterprises and China is looking out to the world."
Chinese investment firm Genius Link Asset Management is believed to have been the highest bidder for Kidman after rival company Shanghai Pengxin made a $350 million bid for the company. 
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$70 million tipped for Yougawalla Station

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Making your property stand out, and giving it the best possible chance to sell in early 2016, relies on smart preparation now. 
Getting your property sale ready can be the difference between securing an ordinary price and that great price. 
While you might only sell your home every decade or so, it is all too often left to the last panicked days to set things right.
All at the most stressful of times especially if you have bought and need to sell.
Unlike the past, buyers these days can be found almost all year round, though with the slowest sales period still being over the early days of the new year.
But the internet makes the marketing easier, so that buyers can spot the offering well in advance of the signboard going up at the property after the summer break.
This option of signalling a forthcoming February auction is a wise move.
Especially as there will be a few keen expatriates buyers back in Sydney over the Christmas break, who might just want to sign up then and there.
I sense in most years the early bird typically catches the worm, so listing for February auction (and also early spring September auction) stands the offering in better stead given its before the oversupply deluge that comes around at Easter (and late November).
The time required to sell property that is accurately priced to meet the market will vary anywhere between two and eight weeks, and in many cases as soon as the listing agent lets the listing be known to their data base. After all agents should have buyers on their books who have missed out on homes over recent weeks in the lead up to Christmas.
Prior to placing your property on the market, allow two weeks to prepare the marketing and legal material.
Presentation of your property is critical in achieving the highest price, starting with street precence. 
Staging can be done by professionals or yourself by simply decluttering and placing furniture to maximize the feelings of space and light throughout your home, with a smart eye to how the rooms flow into each other.
Be sure all the potential turn offs for buyers have been acted on including no animal odours in the house; removal of stained carpets and damp in the walls, along with fixing the cracked glass and doors that stick.
I reckon you should also think ahead - even if you aren't an immediate likely seller.
Especially when it comes to understanding just when your house and garden look the best.
During 2016 start noting when the sun makes the key rooms that bit extra special. That's when you'd ideally like to schedule the open for inspections and onsite auction.
Do the same in the garden - taking photos before the last jacaranda falls this season - so that your eventual marketing can show the garden year round. Maybe not within the major marketing, but showing the garden will work on facebook and twitter.
Best don't include the Christmas decorations in any marketing photos - as that is just naff especially if it is still for sale long after Santa has been.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Planning your early 2016 property auction listing

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The Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison is canvassing tax reforms that will persuade retirees to downsize into smaller homes in a move to boost the housing supply for younger families.
The bold plan - revealed in The Australian - would need state government support as it would include a one-off exemption from stamp duty on the purchase of the smaller home.
It speculates as an extra incentive, profits from the sale of the family home would be excluded from the Age Pension assets test provided they are channelled into an ­approved retirement product such as life annuities and aged-care bonds.
The Treasurer's tax white paper team are expected to have the reform proposal included in the draft to be released next year.
Mr Morrison will begin discussing stamp duty exemptions at his next meeting with state and territory treasury ministers in December.
The ACT introduced a discounted stamp duty for pensioners downsizing in 2008, and the commonwealth hopes other states follow.
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Downsizing stamp duty tax reform on Federal Treasurer's agenda 

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SPONSORED POST
An Australian property developer’s latest residential tower is poised to become the centrepiece of one of Sydney’s next urban activation precincts. 
Fully-integrated property developer TOGA is set to unveil One Twenty Macquarie, a residential tower located on Herring Road; Macquarie Park’s thriving central-Boulevard under NSW Government’s Urban Activation Precinct program. 
Due to launch in 2016, One Twenty Macquarie is a23-storey residential tower designed by award-winning Surry Hills architects Turner and will comprise approximately 200 luxury residences, landscaped gardens, parking and a stylish retail café at its ground level.
Perhaps One Twenty Macquarie’s most impressive feature is its urban-backyard; a 460sqm landscaped resident’s garden boasting outdoor seating, a striking timber pergola, barbeque facilities, a reflection pond and break-out leisure spaces.
TOGA Chief Executive Fabrizio Perilli said the design of One Twenty Macquarie utilised the site’s prime location to offer buyers a sophisticated lifestyle at the heart of a convenient CBD precinct.  
“One Twenty Macquarie captures the changing face of Sydney – sleek apartment living with the convenience of shops, restaurants and transport on your doorstop,” Mr Perilli said.
“The strong demand for this postcode reflects Macquarie Park’s tremendous growth,” he said.     
Located at 120 Herring Road, the building is positioned 16 kilometres from Sydney CBD and 450 metres from Macquarie University, Macquarie Shopping Centre and Macquarie University railway station. 
“This is convenient, carefree living at its best,” Mr Perilli added.
Residences at One Twenty Macquarie will boast generous balconies capturing sweeping views to Sydney CBD and across the North Sydney, Chatswood and Homebush districts as well as views overlooking sprawling Lane Cove National Park.
Turner Associate Director Kevin Driver said One Twenty Macquarie was designed to unite city life with nature.
“One Twenty Macquarie sits as a pavilion in a parkland setting, offering high level amenity, coupled with a proximity to both a vibrant centre and lush, verdant nature,” Mr Driver said.
The building’s exterior design presents a tapered façade characterised by white linear ribbons and a distinctive angled ‘floating’ roof form.
Macquarie Park is the second largest business district in NSW, boasts the largest suburban shopping centre in NSW and is projected to be Australia’s fourth largest CBD by 2030. Pointing to Macquarie Park’s growth, TOGA has a significant portfolio of more than 800 apartments completed and under construction in the area.
One Twenty Macquarie’s market debut is highly anticipated following TOGA’s sold out (completed) 618-apartment development Macquarie Central and Macquarie Green; an 80 per cent sold 164-apartment development launched in October this year.  
Established in 1963, TOGA is a fully-integrated Australian owned and operated property developer and hotelier with a portfolio across Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
For over 50 years TOGA has successfully completed world-class developments across Australia and currently has four major projects under construction; Highpoint,a 448-apartment development in Hurstville, Macquarie Green, a 164-dwelling apartment and townhouse development in North Ryde, The Chatswood, a 156-apartment development in Sydney’s Lower North Shore and Harbourfront Balmain, a 121-apartment development on 150 metres of prestige waterfrontage.
Construction of One Twenty Macquarie is expected to complete in late-2018.
TOGA is now accepting registrations of interest for One Twenty Macquarie <a href="https://www.onetwentymacquarie.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Toga leads the residential renaissance at Macquarie Park

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GUEST OBSERVER
Few older Australians actually live in non-private housing such as nursing homes. Data from the 2011 Census reveals that 94% of Australians who are 65 or older still live in private housing. More than half live with a partner and another quarter live alone.
Life expectancy is nearly double what it was a century ago. And since the 1950s, a new group of young-old has evolved. These people are fit and healthy, and have little need for specialised housing.
This does not mean, however, that Australia’s current housing options are future-proofed for its ageing population. Architects, developers and clients should be designing new homes that have the agility to adapt to suit the changing needs of occupants. With the number of people aged 65 and above expected to more than double by 2055, homes being built now for young families may eventually be accommodating empty-nester couples or singles.
<h2>Why the need for change?</h2>
Building agility into a house design is not difficult. Zoned houses or houses that can be easily subdivided should be encouraged within planning frameworks along with designs that allow easy retrofitting with technology, devices or design strategies to support ageing in one place.
With housing affordability at crisis level, agile housing designs would enable more efficient use of housing stock as children leave home and occupants find they have rooms to spare. Houses designed to be easily subdivided into two dwellings would benefit older people by providing an income stream or space for a carer.
Alternatively, retirees may downsize as they become empty nesters. But this isn’t happening enough.
A significant majority of Australians live in detached suburban houses of three or more bedrooms. More than half of the detached houses in the inner and middle suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne are occupied bypeople aged 50 and above.
A recent review into downsizing outlined the complex reasons behind housing choices.
Even though family houses are not necessarily well suited to retirees, are retirement villages releasing family homes back to rental or buyers’ markets? Not many. Currently, only around 200,000 of the 3.3 million Australians aged 65 and above live in retirement villages.
Some are located in sea-change locations and others are in suburban locations where land is more affordable. Only now are higher-density, high-rise retirement villages in central city locations springing up.
<h2>What are the options?</h2>
Canada’s laneway housing is an interesting precedent that Australia might consider to increase housing options and densification close to services. The NSW model of granny flats is one that all states could adopt.
Australian examples of co-housing are beginning to appear based on the European model of shared ownership and equity. Co-housing is collaborative housing in which residents actively participate in the design and operation of their neighbourhoods in an attempt to balance privacy with community.
Well-located, well-designed apartments close to community facilities are another option for Australia’s ageing population. Apartment choices should ideally be available across suburbs to enable people to stay within the community they know if they wish. These may become the Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC) of tomorrow.
NORCs are well recognised in the US but less so in Australia. There are early examples in Australia, where concentrations of aged people living in a community are linked to a virtual network of support, based on a membership fee.
Spaces should be accessible and adaptable. Housing requires changes as physical functioning declines with age.
However, design is not necessarily just about wheelchair accessibility but also how the community and houses can work for the frail elderly, particularly in terms of mobility and safety. This needs some forethought when designing houses to ensure bathrooms, entries and kitchens are suitable for retrofitting.
Accessibility also needs to be considered when designing public buildings and spaces. Unfortunately, the Australian Standard on Design for Access is based on empirical data for 18-to-60-year-olds. It is not necessarily suitable for the very old and frail.
Both public and private spaces should cater for the rich diversity within Australia’s ageing population. A useful concept developed in Canada is the 8 80 Cities. If a city is designed to suit the needs of eight- and 80-year-olds then it will suit all people.
As mobility reduces, proximity becomes more important. Services and civic infrastructure are becoming increasingly centralised. The corner shop, the local council and other services are being grouped into larger entities. Housing suitable for the aged should be focused near these centres, and mobility to and from them should be considered as this is important for those who can no longer drive.
Access to parks and recreation facilities within distances that the frail elderly can manage is also ideal – with seating en route and well-lit paths, which are safe from cars and safe for mobility scooters and walkers.
With a booming life expectancy, there is a need for collective, intergenerational discussion and ideas about how to better design housing in Australia’s communities and cities.
 
Clare Newton is associate professor in Learning Environments, University of Melbourne and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clare-newton-10370" target="_blank">here</a>.
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How can we best design housing for Australia’s ageing population?

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GUEST OBSERVER
Fires in Western Australia this week have killed four people after catastrophic fire conditions in the region near Esperance. All the victims reportedly died in vehicles.
This fire season is shaping up to one of the of the most serious in a long time, after an exceptionally dry and warm spring, amid a strong El Niño and a cool southern Indian Ocean that is choking off rain-bearing westerly winds. Much of eastern Australia from Queensland to Tasmania, and much of Western Australia, is facing above normal fire risk.
Australians are still underprepared for bushfires. And with fire seasons getting longer thanks to climate change we need to look at why people are still dying in fires, and what you can do to get prepared.
<h2>Prepare, act, survive</h2>
Each Australian state fire service issues its own bushfire planning guide. These are all based on a national policy to “prepare, act, survive”. Last week the Tasmanian Fire Service released and updated plan for the current fire season.
Plans such as these are critical to help people avoid serious injury and possible death, and to protect homes and businesses from destruction.
However, one troubling message from these plans is that many communities in bushland settings across southern Australia are primed for disaster because they do not meet the basic levels of preparedness. Let me explain why.
At the core of the prepare-act-survive policy are two related concepts:
<ul>
<li>
creating defensible space around a house so it can survive a bushfire
</li>
<li>
getting individuals to predetermine a well thought-through trigger as to when they should leave an area because of bushfire threat.
</li>
</ul>
The reason these concepts are related is because the state of preparedness of your home affects when you need to evacuate. Each state has slightly different interpretations of the national policy, so be sure to check your local guide: Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, and Northern Territory.
<h2>Preparing your home</h2>
The standards for preparing defensible spaces depend on where you live and each state provides slightly different advice so check your State agency website
For example, in Tasmania on flat land in grassland areas it is recommended that a house should be surrounded by a 10-metre buffer where there are no flammable materials.
By contrast, a house in a forest area on flat land in Tasmania is recommended to have a 20 m non-flammable buffer, surrounded by a further 15 m of well-maintained parkland, making a combined area about that of a typical suburban house block.
Terrain also matters. On steep terrain (greater than 20 degree slope) in forest a home in Tasmania is recommended to have a 40 m edge of non-flammable materials surrounded by 50 m of parkland, which combined make up an area of about 0.8 hectares.
To enable fire-fighting vehicles to access the property, a wide, well-maintained access road with a turning circle suitable for a truck is also required. Without this, the Tasmanian Fire Service will not attempt to defend a property given the risk to fire fighters.
An inspection of Google Earth makes it obvious that that many homes in southern Australia, including large areas of the suburban-rural interface such as the suburbs surrounding Hobart, have grossly inadequate defensible space and are thus at high risk from bushfires.
Also concerning is that many older homes in southern Australia lack features such as guards to stop embers entering buildings via small cracks and vents. Further, many homes have insufficient water supplies available for fire fighting, and water pumps that are dependent of mains power which is likely to fail in a bushfire disaster.
<h2>When to leave</h2>
The level of preparation of homes also influences the trigger for people to evacuate their homes.
Under Catastrophic fire conditions all residents in fire prone areas are advised to leave hours before any threat and be prepared to remain away for up to 24 hours.
This is because under these conditions the risk to life is so great given the destructive potential of bushfires and their unpredictability. Another reason to evacuate early is because strong winds present the additional hazard of fallen trees blocking escapes routes.
Dangerous but less destructive bushfires (during the Extreme, Severe and Very High fire danger categories) also demand residents decide whether to attempt to defend their property or leave. These decision points are context specific and hinge of the mental and physical capacities of residents and how well their defendable spaces and structures have been prepared. Where there has been no preparation the advice is to leave early.
The question of exactly when to leave is also context specific. Because of the unpredictability of bushfires and their potentially rapid escalation there is a real chance that official warnings may not be provided at all, or provided just before a bushfire is threatening a residential area when it is too dangerous to leave.
For this reason the guidelines highlight the need for residents to have high levels of situational awareness during the bushfire using a wide variety of information (website, media) and cues (smell of smoke, strong winds and high temperatures). Therefore residents need to make there own informed decision about when it is safe to leave.
One consequence of this is that it is likely residents of fire prone areas will need to accept “false alarms” several times each summer. This could involve staying away from their homes for up to 24 hours at a time regardless of whether a bushfire starts in their community.
Fire agencies appreciate the challenge of getting community traction on the bushfire threat, and are deploying diverse strategies and technologies to up skill the community and prod people into action.
Nonetheless it is clear that Australians are lagging in the necessary preparations during this current bushfire season. I suspect the disconnection between the official advice and the on ground implementation results from a combination of time pressure, economic costs, misjudging the threat, and a naïve belief it will work out.
One solution may be to introduced training for people living in bushfire-prone areas to help them work through the decision-making process inherent in prepare-act-survive policies. Ultimately if bushfire weather conditions continue to deteriorate under climate change it may be necessary to introduce licenses for people living in fire-prone landscapes, much as we would for people driving cars.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-bowman-4397" rel="author"> </a>
David Bowman is professor, environmental change biology, University of Tasmania and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-bowman-4397" target="_blank">here</a>.
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How to prepare your home for a bushfire – and when to leave

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The Federal Government will block the sale of Australia's largest cattle property portfolio, S. Kidman &amp; Co, to foreign buyers.
Treasurer Scott Morrison said in a statement he had decided that an acquisition of the company by a foreign buyer would be contrary to the national interest and he would not authorise it.
The family-owned S. Kidman &amp; Co is Australia's largest private landholder with properties covering 101,000 square kilometres in Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Around $350 million had been sought.
Founded in 1899 by Sir Sidney Kidman, it is now one of the country's largest beef producers with a herd of 185,000 cattle, supplying markets in Japan, the United States and South-East Asia.
"Consistent with the recommendation from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), I have decided that the acquisition by foreign investors of S. Kidman and Co. Limited would be contrary to the national interest and shall not be authorising the sale to proceed as currently proposed," he said.
"Importantly, around 50 per cent of the Anna Creek pastoral lease is located in the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) in South Australia.
"The WPA weapons testing range makes a unique and sensitive contribution to Australia's national defence and it is not unusual for governments to restrict access to sensitive areas on national security grounds.
"Given the size and significance of the total portfolio of Kidman properties along with the national security issues around access to the WPA, I have determined, after taking advice from FIRB, that it would be contrary to Australia's national interest for a foreign person to acquire S. Kidman and Co. in its current form.
"I note that following communication of my decision all bidders to acquire S. Kidman and Co. Limited have elected to withdraw their FIRB applications prior to my Final Order being formalised."
S. Kidman &amp; Co's managing director, Greg Campbell told the ABC he was surprised by the Government's decision to block the sale.
"To be honest I didn't think this would be the outcome.
"I knew there would be concerns, however cyber espionage around the world seems to operate quite successfully in its own right without the need to acquire an outback cattle property like Anna Creek."
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Foreigners banned from buying $350 million S.Kidman farm

Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.

Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.

The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]

Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.

"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.

"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]

Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.

A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.

The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.

Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

Joel Robinson

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.

Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.

At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.

Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.

“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.

The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.

Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.

“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]

A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.

The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.

The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

The Walden pairs house-scale living with North Sydney connectivity

The ACT will become the first jurisdiction in Australia to abolish stamp duty for all first home buyers, with no income caps and no property price thresholds from 1 July.

The move, announced as part of the ACT Budget, completes a key election commitment from the Barr Government and removes what Chief Minister Andrew Barr described as one of the biggest barriers to entering the housing market. The reform forms part of the ACT's long-running transition away from transaction taxes and towards a broader-based property tax system.

"This budget marks a major milestone in our long-term tax reform program," Barr said, adding that the government had maintained a sustained focus on removing barriers to home ownership. He said stamp duty had long been one of the largest upfront hurdles facing buyers and that from July, "that barrier is gone" for first home buyers in the Territory.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=350986]

The changes come alongside a range of measures designed to encourage new housing supply, including support for the delivery of so-called "missing middle" housing such as terraces, townhouses and low-rise multi-unit developments.

The announcement has renewed debate around whether the ACT's approach could provide a blueprint for improving housing affordability nationally.

New research from OurTop10.com.au, conducted by Primara Research, suggests the Territory's decade-long reform agenda has produced outcomes unmatched elsewhere in Australia.

While stamp duty costs have increased by an average 67 per cent nationally over the past decade, the ACT has recorded growth of just 15 per cent, the lowest increase of any jurisdiction.

The Territory has also emerged as one of the strongest performers on housing delivery. Based on population-weighted housing targets, the ACT is sitting less than one per cent behind its target. Victoria is the next closest at seven per cent behind, while the national average sits 25 per cent below target. New South Wales is tracking 39 per cent behind.

The latest reform removes one of the final barriers facing first home buyers in Canberra.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=359152]

The average Australian home buyer currently pays $61,714 in stamp duty. In the ACT, that figure is $38,399 despite the Territory having the third-highest median house price in the country.

Until now, the ACT's first home buyer concession scheme only applied to purchases up to $1.02 million, around $51,000 below Canberra's median house price of $1.071 million. In practical terms, many first home buyers were unable to access the median-priced home without losing the concession.

From July, those restrictions disappear.

Every first home buyer in the ACT will pay no stamp duty, regardless of income or purchase price.

Canberra remains one of Australia's most expensive housing markets, with dwelling values increasing 82 per cent over the past decade. However, that growth ranks only 11th among Australia's 15 major housing markets, suggesting affordability pressures have been less severe than in many other parts of the country.

Simon Ma, CEO of OurTop10.com.au, said the latest reforms recognise that many first home buyers have simply outgrown thresholds set years ago.

"Many first home buyers aren't just looking for a way onto the ladder, they want a home their family can actually live in," Ma said.

"In a market where the median house price is over a million dollars, a concession scheme that cuts out at $1.02 million was never going to get them there.

"Removing the ceiling entirely means ACT first home buyers can now pursue the home they actually want, rather than limiting themselves to a price point designed for a very different market."

Whether other states follow remains to be seen. But at a time when most jurisdictions are struggling to improve affordability while also increasing housing supply, the ACT has quietly become the national test case for both.

15% stamp duty growth. Just 1% off the national housing target. Zero stamp duty for FHBs. Is the ACT the blueprint for the great Australian dream?

ACT abolishes stamp duty for first home buyers

A rooftop pool and spa overlooking the Brisbane CBD, private dining spaces, expansive landscaped gardens and a residents' lounge are set to crown <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/callista-on-park-west-end-49-mollison-street-west-end-qld-4101">Callista on Park</a>, the final residential building within Brisbane's West Village precinct.

The rooftop amenity collection has been designed as an extension of the lifestyle already established throughout West Village, providing residents with a series of indoor and outdoor spaces that capitalise on the building's elevated position above West End.

A swimming pool and heated spa form the centrepiece of the rooftop offering, surrounded by landscaped gardens developed through a collaboration between developer Sekisui House and ASPECT Studios. The design incorporates expansive lawn areas surrounded by English garden-inspired planting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=370648]

Residents will also have access to two barbecue and outdoor dining areas positioned to take advantage of views across Brisbane's skyline, neighbouring Mollison Park, and the surrounding inner-city landscape.

For larger gatherings, the rooftop includes a private dining room centred around a substantial stone island bench, complete with a full kitchen and a 10-seat dining table set beneath four-metre-high ceilings. The space has been designed to overlook both the rooftop gardens and the Brisbane CBD skyline.

A separate residents' lounge provides an additional indoor retreat connected to the broader rooftop amenity offering, creating another space for residents to work, relax or entertain guests.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=370647]

The attention to detail extends beyond the rooftop.

Upon arrival, residents will enter through a lobby featuring a bespoke ceiling light installation developed in collaboration between Sekisui House and Alcorn Middleton Architecture. The arrival experience is complemented by private resident mailboxes and carefully considered interior finishes designed to reflect the premium positioning of the building.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=372541]

The amenity offering forms part of Callista on Park, the final residential release within the decade-long transformation of the former Peters Ice Cream Factory site into West Village, one of Brisbane's most established mixed-use communities.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hutchinson-builders">Hutchinson Builders</a>, Callista represents the most premium residential offering within the masterplanned precinct.

Construction is now entering its final stages, with scaffolding beginning to come down and completion expected in the first quarter of 2027.

Prices for the three-bedroom plus MPR apartments start from just over $2.6 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=351535]

Callista will mark the final opportunity to purchase within West Village, where residents have direct access to more than 35 retail, dining, wellness and medical operators including Harris Farm Markets, Woolworths, Function Well and Goodlife Health Clubs, Metro Arts, and a growing collection of restaurants and cafés.

Located just 800 metres from the Brisbane CBD, the precinct also places residents within walking distance of South Bank, West End's dining scene, riverfront parklands and major public transport connections.

For Sekisui House, which has delivered more than two million homes globally, Callista serves as the concluding piece of the West Village masterplan, bringing together the precinct's heritage character, parkland setting and emphasis on walkability in a final collection of larger-format residences.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134800]

Rooftop pool, private dining and skyline gardens to crown West Village's final apartment release, Callista on Park

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/wahroonga-nsw-2076">Wahroonga</a>’s enduring appeal has long been tied to its balance of bushland, established amenity, and access to some of Sydney’s most respected education and healthcare institutions.

Along Fox Valley Road, that combination is becoming increasingly sought after by buyers looking to remain connected to the Upper North Shore lifestyle while prioritising walkability, wellbeing, and convenience.

Developer Capital Corporation's initial vision of a 62-hectare site on Fox Valley Road was that they could create their own walkable community, bordered by&nbsp;more than 25 hectares of bushland and adjoining Coups Creek.

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b84917a1-0d75-49b9-888c-ddf7ebfd6692" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/NEW2026_Wahroonga_Walkway.gif?VersionId=Gk3_xi5ssYfalmwuQQ5umQakddceC31j" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate-169-fox-valley-road-wahroonga-nsw-2076">The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a> draws directly on the area’s natural landscape, with walking trails and green corridors linking into sections of Lane Cove National Park. The surrounding network of bushwalks, cycling tracks, and reserves reinforces the suburb’s long-standing reputation as one of Sydney’s most nature-oriented residential pockets, while still maintaining close ties to village retail and transport infrastructure.

The address places residents within minutes of Wahroonga and Turramurra villages, where cafés, local grocers, boutiques, and everyday services support a highly localised lifestyle. Popular nearby venues including The Fox Café and Breeze Valley Café provide easy options for morning coffee or casual dining, while longstanding retailers such as IGA Wahroonga Fresh and Novella Fine Books continue to anchor the area’s village character.

&nbsp;

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c4a950f7-4f05-4370-b360-b106359788e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/2026_Wahroonga_Entry_Gates.gif?VersionId=7n5kh9ymu.azYEYDemJkPgiIAfSw44oj" />

Healthcare access remains one of the defining locational advantages of the estate. Sydney Adventist Hospital, known locally as The San, sits directly adjacent and is one of the largest and most respected private hospitals in New South Wales. The hospital precinct incorporates specialist medical services, radiology, physiotherapy, and outpatient care, contributing to growing buyer demand from downsizers and owner-occupiers seeking long-term convenience and peace of mind.

Research commissioned by Capital Corporation found that health and wellbeing considerations are increasingly influencing downsizing decisions, particularly among buyers wanting to remain within familiar neighbourhoods while accessing medical infrastructure more easily.

Education has also historically underpinned demand across Wahroonga and the broader Upper North Shore. The estate sits close to several of Sydney’s leading private and independent schools, including Knox Grammar, Abbotsleigh, Barker College, Pymble Ladies’ College, Ravenswood School for Girls, and Loreto Normanhurst. Co-educational options including Wahroonga Adventist School and Sydney Adventist School further strengthen the area’s appeal to established families looking for long-term schooling pathways within a tightly held catchment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=262183]

Transport connectivity supports the suburb’s liveability without compromising its quieter residential character. Wahroonga and Turramurra train stations provide direct rail access into the Sydney CBD, while the nearby Pacific Highway and M1 motorway strengthen links across the North Shore and broader metropolitan area. At the same time, the heavily treed streetscape and low-density character continue to distinguish the precinct from more urbanised parts of Sydney.

The Residences at Wahroonga Estate forms the first stage of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/capital-corporation">Capital Corporation</a>’s broader masterplanned vision for the precinct, delivered alongside the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=364995]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/group-gsa">GroupGSA</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/coco-republic-interior-design">Coco Republic</a>, the development integrates landscaped communal spaces including a pet-friendly Green Spine, resident lounge, BBQ pavilion, and direct bushland access, reinforcing the project’s focus on outdoor connection and community-based living.

Now under construction by Gold Star iCIRT-rated builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/dasco-australia">DASCO</a>, The Residences at Wahroonga Estate will deliver a collection of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments priced from $990,000, with completion anticipated in 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135247]

Jonathan Chancellor

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