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A historic Windsor post office conversion has been sold ahead of auction.
The <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/level-2-153-level-2-153-albert-street-windsor/Property-Details-buy-residential-9354538" target="_blank">2/153 Albert Street</a> property had been listed with $1.8 million hopes through Emma Bloom at Kay &amp; Burton, and sold at an undisclosed price.
The 1900s property was engineered by Sir John Monash. 
The two-storey warehouse conversion, with eight metre high ceilings, has Monash's signature exposed metal trusses.
With original Jarrah floorboards and sky-high metal French doors opening to the streetscape where mail and money was winched up into the safety of vaults.
The two bedroom, two bathroom apartment has a terrace with an outdoor shower with plenty of natural light.
It last traded six years ago when designer Uschi Schwartz saw the potential of the then photographic studio.
The property, close to Chapel Street's cafes, St Kilda Beach, was scheduled for September 12 auction.
The building was built as the post master general’s office, remaining a post office until the mid-1970s, then sat empty until 2004 when it was converted into a photographic studio.
Ms Schwartz, who runs a Richmond arts studio, said she and her property developer husband, Danny saw the potential in the building immediately.
The median house price in <a href="/news">Windsor</a> is $936,000, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
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Historic John Monash Windsor post office conversion sold

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The early colonial Tasmanian sandstone residence, Dysart House has been listed for sale by Ann and Alistair Forsyth with $1.5 million asking price.
The house was meticulously restored by Leo Schofield during his decade-long Tasmanian residence. 
The Forsyths plan to return to the south of France, listing the Kempton trophy home in Tasmania’s southern Midlands, around 40 minutes north of Hobart. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://search.knightfrank.com.au/2336794" target="_blank">Dysart House, at 26 Main Street</a>, represents the best of listings in Tasmania.
The 1842 residence comes with a music room, billiard room, commercial kitchen and 10 bedrooms.
Arts supremo Leo Schofield had it as his base after departing Bronte House, with Dysart House’s previous past owners including other Sydneysiders Paul and Yvonne Maule, along with actor Reg Livermore.
The former coaching inn stands on six hectares in the historic village of Kempton, where its first occupant, ex-convict embezzler-turned-innkeeper William Ellis, is buried in the nearby cemetery.
Designed in the Greek Revival (Georgian) style, its main facade is breakfront with five bays.
The portico has square and round Tuscan columns, framing the central entrance with four-panel door, fanlight and half sidelights.
Two wings, each with attic spaces, enclose a huge flagged courtyard and caretaker's quarters.
Built in 1842, it was originally named 'The Green Ponds Hotel' and served as an inn, public house and residence until the 1860s.
During the next decade it was used as scholastic establishment for young ladies before reverting to private occupancy.
The grounds come with an 1845 coach house and stables, partially restored. It last sold at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-kempton-106789304" target="_blank">$1.15 million in 2012</a>. 
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Dysart House, Kempton Tasmania listed at $1.5 million

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Waverley Council has chosen local Waverley residents, Wes and Anna van der Gardner and family as the new tenants of Bronte House for a five year lease period.
Mayor of Waverley, Cr Sally Betts said Waverley was "so privileged to own this extraordinary 1845 property with beautiful heritage gardens...it needs a very special tenant and we’re delighted to be welcoming the van der Gardner family to this special place.”
Wes and Anna van der Gardner have two young children.
They and have experience and expertise in restoring heritage buildings, landscape design and interior design.
“We have loved Bronte House for as long as we can remember," the van der Gardner's said.
“Having previously run frequent garden open days at our family heritage property, we are very much looking forward to welcoming the community to Bronte House.”
The van der Gardner's will be partnering with council in providing open days to the public at least six times per year, the up-keep of the property and its grounds.
Council expects the van der Gardners will be taking up residence in October.
Wes van der Gardner is general manager development at the Roche Group. He had town planning background.
During the tender process <a href="/news/historic-gothic-bronte-house-listed-for-lease-by-waverley-council">Waverley Council was represented by Alex Hart at Hart Real Estate</a>.
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Bronte House's new tenants are locals

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The founder of the mamamia website, Mia Freedman and her husband, Jason Lavigne have snappily found a buyer for their redundant Bellevue Hill home.
It was listed just two weeks ago with hopes of more than $4.8 million following their recent move to the nearby trophy residence, Fintry.
Their former Bellevue Road home sold through D’Leanne Lewis of Laing+Simmons Double Bay was bought in 2004 for $3.175 million.
The entrepreneurial independent digital media couple briefly listed it in 2008 with $4.4 million hopes before withdrawing it from sale. 
Fintry, the starkly white exterior home with Blainey North interiors, was sold to the couple for around $12.5 million by vendor, Somna Kumar and her partner, Macquarie banker Joseph Jayaraj who are now London-based. 
It last traded at $10.2 million in late 2007 when offloaded by the McWilliam family who had bought it from the Heinze family in 1995 for $2.06 million.
It had been longtime home of the late conductor Sir Bernard Heinze, complete with miniature 12-seat theatre fitted out by his son Adrian with Capitol Theatre furnishings.
It was bought in 1957 for 22,000 pounds by Sir Bernard and his wife, Lady (Valerie) Heinze following his move from Melbourne to succeed Sir Eugene Goossens at the NSW Conservatorium.
Set among Sydney´s most prestigious hillside dress-circle residences, the 1930s Fintry comes with panoramic north-easterly harbour, district and ocean views.
It has been a busy time for prestige offerings atop Bellevue Hill where whispers suggest Jamie Douglas, chief executive of Man Investments Australia, and wife, Heather will emerge as the nearby buyer of Godsall House, the home of Bondi Beach bound architect Nick Tobias and his author wife, Miranda Darling.
The Professor Leslie Wilkinson-designed late 1920s bungalow sold on delayed settlement terms through Ashley Bierman and Elliott Placks, of Ray White Double Bay, ahead of its March auction.
Douglas is the former managing director at JP Morgan London’s chief investment office before he joined Man’s hedge fund outfit. 
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Mamamia's Mia Freedman secures snappy Bellevue Hill sale

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Sydney's most affordable property reported sold at the weekend was a two-bedroom unit at 19/60-62 Speed Street, Liverpool sold for $355,000 through Prudential Liverpool.
Agent Simon Perri was quoting $320,000 plus.
Sales this year<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/sold/19-60-62-speed-street-liverpool-nsw-2170-2012172159" target="_blank"> in the block had hit $350,000</a>.
The likely rent by the investor buyer is estimated at between $300 and $320 a week.
There were four registered bidders, with it sold soon after auction.
Liverpool had three of the eight sub-$500,000 weekend sales.
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Sydney's most affordable at $355,000 in Liverpool

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Canada has sold its consul-general’s ­residence in pricey Vaucluse, the one with the heritage-listed light beacon dating back to the 1880s in its front yard. 
More than $9.5 million was the initial price tag, then selling agents, the French Canadian Jeannine Yates and Ray White Double Bay colleague Elliott Placks were telling buyers more than $10 million.
It sold to a local young family. 
Canada’s consul-general’s residence on Wentworth Road was bought back in the mid-1960s for £35,000. It comes with a maple leaf in the tiled pool. 
It was listed after the Canadian government ruled that official expats must downsize. 
The six-bedroom 1920 house on 1800 sqm at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-120255833" target="_blank">12 Wentworth Road</a> has been home to consul-general Mario Ste-Marie and his family since 2011. 
The Vaucluse Bay range rear light is the active lighthouse is one of four lighthouses designed by architect Maurice Festu in a style now sometimes called "Disney Castle", the others being Grotto Point Light, Parriwi Head Light and Vaucluse Bay Range Front Light.
The light is operated by the Sydney Ports Corporation. 
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Canada sells its Vaucluse, Sydney residence with lighthouse

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The latest luxury Balwyn North offering – five bedrooms and five bathrooms at 4 Walnut Road – has $3 million plus expectations for Jellis Craig auction next weekend.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-balwyn+north-120511369" target="_blank">trophy mansion</a> includes the solar-heated indoor swimming pool accessible from the formal and informal lounge and dining zones. A big difference on what was there before. (below).
<img src="/images/2015/09/07/Screen%20Shot%202015-09-07%20at%2011.59.03%20AM.png" alt="" width="515" height="321">
 
<img src="/images/2015/09/07/Screen%20Shot%202015-09-07%20at%2012.00.47%20PM.png" alt="">
There's an elegant kitchen features extensive walnut-wood panels, custom-made stone bench tops and a walk-in pantry amid its 420sqm internal space.  
The 730 sqm block cost $975,000 in 2012. 
Melbourne's latest weekend clearance rate of 76% compared to 77% last weekend and 76% the same weekend last year.
There were 841 auctions reported to the REIV with Melbourne’s south-east and eastern suburbs remaining popular with buyers in the past month.
Bentleigh had the highest clearance rate in August (95%), followed by Glen Iris and Caulfield South (both 91%).
 
REIV TOP 5 HOUSES
1. 8 Mcevoy Street, Kew $4,200,000
2. 45 Wentworth Avenue, Canterbury $3,360,000
3. 8 Elm Grove, Brighton $3,185,000
4. 386 Beach Road, Beaumaris $2,925,000
5. 13 Moody Street, Balwyn North $2,910,000
 
REIV TOP 5 BARGAIN HOUSES
1. 13 Stipa Street, Delahey $311,000
2. 5 Spurr Street, Craigieburn $355,000
3. 2 The Glen, Carrum Downs $360,500
4. 22 Stillman Drive, Mill Park $367,500
5. 15 Thoresby Circuit, Craigieburn $368,000
 
REIV TOP 5 APARTMENTS
1. 4/103 Mathoura Road, Toorak $2,900,000
2. 6/20 Airlie Bank Lane, South Yarra $2,380,000
3. 9A Hazeldean Avenue, Brighton East $2,100,000
4. 1B Daly Road, Sandringham $1,645,000
5. 30 Highett Road, Hampton $1,540,000
 
REIV TOP 5 BARGAIN APARTMENTS
 
1. 2/47 Curlew Avenue, Altona $256,500
2. 8/190 Murrumbeena Road, Murrumbeena $265,000
3. 2/107 Clow Street, Dandenong $284,000
4. 2/9 Gerald Street, Murrumbeena $285,000
5. 8/83-85 Mickleham Road, Tullamarine $285,000
 
Source <a href="https://www.reiv.com.au" target="_blank">REIV</a>
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Balwyn North trophy home offering as Melbourne clearance rates hover

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NFL San Francisco 49ers rookie Jarryd Hayne, currently chasing his American dream, has a property investment portfolio back home in Sydney.
The priciest is a terrace in Darlinghurst that cost $1.58 million in 2013.
He recently rented it out with a $1,100 weekly asking rent through the Our Estates agency. 
What caught my attention was prior attempts to lease the West Avenue property at $1,700 a week.
There was a simple reason for the sharp rental difference - Hayne had bought it fully furnished and until recently had continued its short term rental setup.
Only trouble was the $1,700 short term tenants were few and far between - and it needed higher attendance to maintenance than the typical six or 12 month rental agreement.
His gross investment rental return now equates to around 3.6% - which sits between the median yield range of Sydney houses and apartments. 
Gross rental yields are trending lower, according to the CoreLogic RP Data, with Sydney's gross rental yield currently at 3.1% for houses and apartments at 4.1%.
CoreLogic's head of research Tim Lawless noted Sydney rents had increased by around 2.5% over the past year while values have climbed 17.6 per cent higher.
"It is easy to see how yields are getting squashed," Tim Lawless said.
Investors seeking yields will be likewise challenged if they head to other capital cities, as the Melbourne house yield sits even lower at 3% and at 4.1% for apartments.
Risky Darwin ranks as the highest capital on offer at 5.5% yield for houses and for units. National gross rental yields sitting at 7.8% in 1996 are now at a low of 3.5% for houses. 
It is not to say rents aren't constantly rising across Sydney.
Onthehouse calculates house rental growth in Sydney has averaged 4.75% over the past 25 years, putting the typical rental income for a Sydney house at $680 a week and $560 for an apartment. It is $400 outside of Sydney for NSW houses and $345 for NSW units, both reflecting around 5% gross yields.
The REINSW’s latest vacancy rate sits at 1.9% with population growth helping to fill vacant Sydney homes and potentially greater upwards pressure on rents. 
This is especially likely in those suburbs where newly constructed dwelling supply is in short supply. 
The inner-city had Sydney’s highest rate at 2.1% as plenty of newly constructed apartments are completed.
The middle-city sits at 1.7% and the outer-city fell at 1.6%. 
"The low yield scenario has largely been overlooked by investors who appear to be more focused on chasing future anticipated capital gains rather than aiming for cash flow," Lawless noted this week.
After such strong recent price growth there must inevitably come a pause, possibly lengthy.
I'm thinking after three years with around 15% annual price growth, that the investment focus on bricks and mortar ought sensibly shift to being a bit more about the yield.
It is though a rare occurrence for weekly rents to outpace dwelling values for growth as Tim Lawless says since 1996 there have been only two periods - around 2008 and 2011.
I don't see capital city yields returning to the highs of the 1990’s, but is reasonable to presume upcoming improvements in yields. 
The emergence of the more professional longterm SMSFs investors and their retirement income purpose might help shift the focus towards the rental side of the investment.
Then what would be terrific was if it also triggers a shift to long tenure European-style rental agreements. Short term rentals aren't the best foundation for improving anyone's housing situation.  
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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49ers rookie Jarryd Hayne reaping Sydney rental yield

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Celebrity renovator Cherie Barber didn't secure her desired record Leichhardt price at weekend auction. It was passed in on a vendor bid of $3.05 million after two attendees had bid.
The reserve was set at $3.2 million.
She’d paid $950,000 in 2008 for <a href="/news/cherie-barber-lists-1890s-leichhardt-record-setter">the unliveable double-fronted 1890s house at 93 Hill Street</a> since converting it into a five-bedroom family home.
The project she’d reportedly expected would bring her a $1 million profit.
 “I’m confident it will sell by Wednesday and if not, I’ll rent it out for $2000 to $2500 a week,” said Ms Barber.
The star of Channel Ten’s show, The Living Room, said she’d knocked back a pre-auction offer of $3,075,000 from a buyer who couldn’t attend on Saturday because he was on holiday in Uluru. 
The celebrity renovator had just flown in from Minnesota where she has been filming her Five Day Flip renovation series for US television.
Some 800 auctions were scheduled for the first Saturday of spring, with the inner west having 121 set to go under the hammer.
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Cherie Barber fails to sell at weekend auction

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GUEST OBSERVER
A few years ago, similar to views about future electricity demand, forecasters thought gas demand in Australia would keep rising. As it turns out, gas demand peaked in 2012 and may halve by 2025 - as we showed in our recently published University of Melbourne Energy Institute (MEI) report.
Step by step, householders are making economic decisions that will eventually lead to many completely disconnecting from the gas grid, as they find gas to be an increasingly costly secondary source of home energy.
This is particularly true when it comes to space-heating. When the cost of operating a modern reverse cycle air conditioner (known in Tasmania and elsewhere around the world as a heat pump) can be one-third the cost of heating with gas, why wouldn’t a householder have a look at the possibilities?
Another attraction is that heating with a reverse cycle air conditioner is largely renewable. Our research has quantified that reverse cycle air conditioners in Australia recover more renewable energy than do all of the millions of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. Who knew?
Gas demand declining
The following chart illustrates how gas demand will decline in eastern Australia in all sectors: in the electricity generation sector, in industry and also in buildings as householders and building managers switch to efficient electric heating devices.
<a href="/images/2015/09/07/image-20150904-28914-1x3dun3.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/09/07/image-20150904-28914-1x3dun3.jpg" alt="">
Previously we qualitatively described how in this “second electrification” of the Australian home, people will economically fuel-switch to induction cooktops, hot water heat pumps and reverse cycle air conditioners, resulting in their homes becoming gas-free.
As shown in the following chart, the money that householders can save when economically fuel-switching from gas to electricity can amount to hundreds and even over a thousand dollars per year.
Some of this change will occur very rapidly. In up to one million homes in eastern Australia, householders have already installed reverse cycle air conditioners for summer cooling but have never attempted to use them for heating. Why not? Time and time again I have been told by friends, acquaintances and those writing on social media, “Oh, I have always thought that gas must be cheaper.”
As shown in the following chart, analysis done by the Alternative Technology Association (ATA) indicates that using reverse cycle air conditioners to heat a large Melbourne home can amount to A$658 per year. But how is this possible?
<a href="/images/2015/09/07/Screen%20Shot%202015-09-07%20at%209.18.23%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/09/07/Screen%20Shot%202015-09-07%20at%209.18.23%20AM.png" alt="" width="782" height="491">
<h2>Heat pumps: global renewable energy giants</h2>
The biggest reason behind these new home economics is that reverse cycle air conditioners produce far more energy than they consume. Operating at efficiencies of up to 600%, they use a small amount of purchased electricity to capture free renewable heat from the outside air. For ducted gas heating, which can operate at efficiencies of less than 50%, the opposite is true.
The following diagram shows that a ducted gas system will consume 34.02 megajoules of energy (including gas and electricity for the air blower: the sum of the two blue figures on the left) in order to produce just 10 megajoules of useful delivered heat. The rest of the gas energy purchased is immediately, in a sense, thrown away.
<a href="/images/2015/09/07/image-20150904-28894-9yjaso.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/09/07/image-20150904-28894-9yjaso.jpg" alt="">
This compares to an efficient reverse cycle air conditioner that requires only 2.55 megajoules of purchased electricity (the sum of the blue figures on the right) to extract an additional 9.53 megajoules of free, renewable, ambient heat from the air outside your house, and then produce the same 10 megajoules of useful delivered heat.
In other words, in this comparison, in order to get the same amount of heat from a reverse cycle air conditioner, the householder must purchase only 1/13th of the energy needed to operate ducted gas. This efficiency advantage wipes out the traditionally lower cost of gas energy versus electrical energy when those commodities are compared on a dollar-per-megajoule or per-kilowatt-hour basis.
In 2014, reverse cycle air conditioners were such significant harvesters of renewable energy in Australia that our research found they recovered twice as much renewable energy as did rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV). The following chart compares these 2014 figures and also shows the future potential of reverse cycle air conditioners as more people learn of their capabilities.
In the United Kingdom, the renewable-energy-harvesting power of reverse cycle air conditioners is recognised and they are even eligible for renewable energy certificates in that jurisdiction.
In Australia, where governments have not been interested in rewarding people for buying air conditioners, no similar scheme exists. However, in an application of the same technology, hot water heat pumps do receive renewable energy credits here.
<h2>Gas stays in the ground – for longer</h2>
One consequence of falling gas demand in eastern Australia is that it will take longer to deplete already-developed conventional gas resources. As shown in the following figure, the Australian Energy Market Operator’s recent gas demand forecast results in the depletion of 10,000 petajoules of gas by 2032. In the Melbourne Energy Institute scenario (also plotted below), which projects that less gas is used in buildings, the same volume of gas lasts for more than an extra decade.
<a href="/images/2015/09/07/image-20150904-28914-alh1ow.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/09/07/image-20150904-28914-alh1ow.jpg" alt="">
Using less gas in buildings, thanks to economic fuel-switching, energy efficiency measures (such as insulation, draught-proofing and improved window treatments) and other factors, means that a significant volume of gas can be freed up for higher-value industrial uses, as illustrated in the following chart.
<a href="/images/2015/09/07/image-20150904-28878-nvgpub.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/09/07/image-20150904-28878-nvgpub.jpg" alt="">
 
Plenty of people in Australia are talking about disconnecting from the electricity grid. However, the costs and technicalities of battery storage and the possibility of needing to resort to a back-up petrol generator will convince many to stay connected to that often-reliable electricity grid.
On the other hand, we’ve shown the gas network is different. Households are making, and will continue to make, economics-based decisions to reduce gas use.
When planning the future of our energy grids, we think it is time that energy planners move away from decades of focusing strictly on supply-side options, and now consider gas and electricity demand-management options as well.
 
Tim Forcey is energy advisor, Melbourne Energy Institute at University of Melbourne and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tim-forcey-104740" target="_blank">here</a>.
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The cheapest way to heat your home with renewable energy – just flick a switch

The Gold Coast economy has grown by 25 per cent since 2020/21 to surpass $55 billion, but perhaps the more significant story is what sits behind the headline number.

For decades, the Gold Coast has been viewed through the lens of tourism, lifestyle and population growth. The latest State of the City Report suggests that perception is increasingly out of step with reality.

Released by Invest Gold Coast, the report ranks the Gold Coast as Australia's largest non-capital city economy and, perhaps more notably, second nationally behind Sydney for Economic Complexity, a measure that assesses the diversity and sophistication of an economy.

It's a result that places the Gold Coast ahead of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, highlighting the extent to which the city's economic base has broadened beyond its traditional industries.

Today, the Gold Coast supports more than 350,000 jobs, is home to over 83,000 businesses and generates $19 billion in annual exports. Manufacturing now accounts for 62 per cent of international export growth, while sectors including health, education, advanced manufacturing, technology and professional services are becoming increasingly important contributors to the local economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the report confirmed the city's evolution into one of Australia's most significant economies.

"The Gold Coast economy continues to grow at an incredible pace. This is no surprise to those of us who have watched the evolution up close," Mayor Tate said.

"As one of the most entrepreneurial, investment driven and opportunity focused economies in the country our ambition has been realised and possibilities are endless.

"The Gold Coast has built a reputation as the city that says yes. We say yes to investment, yes to opportunity and yes to people who want to build something.

"It's this mindset helping us drive major growth across health, advanced manufacturing, screen production, marine, technology and the knowledge economy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

While population growth has been one of the defining stories of the past decade, the report points to a broader economic transformation taking place.

The city's knowledge economy now contributes $7.9 billion annually and supports around 31,000 jobs, while the health and wellbeing sector contributes $5.2 billion and employs more than 42,000 people. Together, the six priority sectors identified in the report account for almost $24 billion in economic output and more than 145,000 jobs.

One of the strongest examples is the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct at Southport. The 200-hectare precinct now contains more than $5 billion worth of health, education, research and innovation infrastructure and supports over 16,000 jobs.

The report also highlights the growing role of advanced manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, defence and modular construction.

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies recently became the first Australian commercial company to attempt an orbital launch, while companies including Modscape and ModnPods are helping establish the Yatala-Stapylton corridor as one of Australia's fastest-growing advanced manufacturing hubs.

The city's entrepreneurial culture is also translating into business growth.

Since 2019/20, the number of businesses operating on the Gold Coast has increased by 22 per cent, while firms employing more than 200 people have grown by 80 per cent. The report suggests the next challenge is converting more local start-ups and medium-sized businesses into nationally significant companies.

Development activity remains another key indicator of confidence.

There are currently more than $23 billion worth of major projects underway across the Gold Coast, supported by a record 75 active cranes, a figure that now exceeds Brisbane and represents a 150 per cent increase since 2016.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=343235]

Importantly, the report notes the next phase of investment will need to extend beyond residential development.

While 93 per cent of crane activity is currently tied to housing, Invest Gold Coast argues future investment will increasingly need to focus on cultural, civic, infrastructure and industry-enabling projects that strengthen the city's long-term economic resilience.

Invest Gold Coast Chair Will Hodgman said the city was now benefiting from years of economic diversification.

"What is happening on the Gold Coast is the result of the city's economic base broadening, fuelled by industries with long-term, high-growth potential," Mr Hodgman said.

"This is no longer a secondary Australian economy, the Gold Coast is becoming a globally connected city with deeper capability across health, knowledge and creative industries, advanced manufacturing, technology and exports."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365786]

Looking ahead, the Gold Coast's population is projected to exceed one million residents by 2046.

For a city that was once largely defined by tourism and lifestyle, the latest figures suggest the Gold Coast is becoming something more significant, one of Australia's most diverse and economically sophisticated urban economies, and increasingly one that national and international investors can no longer afford to overlook.

Joel Robinson

75 cranes, $23 billion pipeline and a $55 billion economy: Inside the Gold Coast economic boom

Ron Bakir's Homecorp has sold more than 75 per cent of the apartments in its wellness-driven Florence Residences in Surfers Paradise following its first weekend release.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/florence-residences-24-monte-carlo-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">26-storey project on Monte Carlo Avenue</a>, which commenced construction earlier this year, has seen a flurry of buyers secure their slice of the Gold Coast's latest wellbeing-focused offering in one of the nation's most competitive property markets.

Since the pandemic, the Gold Coast's population has grown by more than 11 per cent, a rate approximately four times faster than Sydney's, driven largely by lifestyle changes and interstate migration. While buyer activity has moderated in some markets nationally, demand for newly built dwellings on the Gold Coast continues to gain momentum as purchasers increasingly prioritise lifestyle, amenity, wellbeing, liveability and long-term investment potential.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372743]

Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir says buyers today are looking for more than just a home.

"What we are seeing is a shift in how people define value in property," Bakir says.

"What attracts residents to new developments is a desire for more than just a residence. They are looking for a place that complements their lifestyle, supports their wellbeing and reflects the way they want to live into the future.

"Lifestyle, longevity, proactive health, wellbeing, connection and a sense of community are increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, particularly on the Gold Coast, where these factors continue to be a major drawcard."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372744]

Bakir says Homecorp is responding to this shift through an approach that places greater emphasis on design, amenity and experience working together to create places that feel considered, connected and enduring in value.

Inspired by Eastern European design, Florence Residences will comprise 120 apartments alongside a private residents-only wellness club featuring a resort-style rooftop pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a spa retreat, contemporary gymnasium, and a spacious yoga and Pilates studio.

The development will also feature a residents-only lounge with private dining facilities and a rooftop bar, premium outdoor entertaining areas, a hotel-style lobby lounge, generous bike parking, and pet-friendly amenities including a heated dog wash.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372742]

A limited number of apartments remain available, with an exclusive collection of four-bedroom sub-penthouses set to be released in the coming months.

Florence is one of the latest additions to Homecorp's expanding multi-billion-dollar property portfolio, which also includes plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/homecorp-lodges-plans-for-260-million-moroccan-bathhouse-inspired-tower-in-budds-beach">$260 million development in Budds Beach</a> tailored to the growing wellness market.

A development application has been lodged for a 27-storey, 156-residence tower at 8–10 Acacia Avenue and 25–27 Oak Avenue, featuring a residents-only Moroccan spa-inspired sanctuary.

Apartments at Florence Residences are priced from $1,249,000, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150414]

Buyers rush to Homecorp's Florence Residences as Gold Coast wellness trend gains momentum

The NSW Government has expanded its $1 billion Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program, broadening access for affordable housing providers and smaller residential developments as it seeks to accelerate housing delivery across the state.

The Minns Government says the program has already helped bring forward more than 600 homes across Sydney and regional NSW since launching in September 2025, with similar models now adopted in South Australia and Western Australia.

The latest changes, announced by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, are designed to improve access to finance for projects that have planning approval but are struggling to secure funding.

Among the key changes is an expansion of support for community housing providers. The program will now support up to 100 per cent affordable housing projects valued at up to $30 million when delivered by not-for-profit providers, while support for larger affordable housing developments will increase for projects worth up to $80 million.

The government says the changes will help accelerate the delivery of housing for low-income workers, older people, people living with disability, and those at risk of homelessness, while reducing reliance on direct grants or subsidised loans to bridge funding gaps.

The eligibility criteria for smaller residential developments have also been broadened. The previous $5 million minimum project value threshold has been removed and replaced with a requirement that projects deliver at least four homes.

Support has also increased for projects delivering fewer than 20 homes, with the guarantee now able to cover up to 75 per cent of dwellings in a development, capped at $30 million per project.

The changes are expected to particularly benefit smaller-scale and regional developments, which often face greater challenges meeting pre-sale requirements imposed by lenders.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the scheme demonstrates how government can use its balance sheet to stimulate housing supply without relying solely on taxpayer-funded grants.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee shows how this Government is using its balance sheet to reduce risk and unlock private investment, enabling new homes to move from design to construction faster," Mookhey said.

"This landmark reform allows us to deliver homes for working families at a lower cost to taxpayers, while also maintaining strong financial discipline."

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the program had already proven effective in bringing stalled projects to market.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee has already proven it can unlock stalled projects and accelerate housing delivery by giving lenders the confidence they need to back good developments," Scully said.

"These changes will allow more affordable housing and smaller developments to access support so more homes can be built faster where communities need them most."

Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the expansion would help community housing providers overcome financing barriers that often delay projects.

"We know community housing providers are ready to build more homes, too often they're held back by barriers to finance," Jackson said.

"Expanding the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee helps remove those barriers so more affordable homes can get off the ground sooner."

The announcement was welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, which has long advocated for measures aimed at improving project feasibility and access to finance.

Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson described the expansion as a practical intervention that addresses one of the most immediate constraints on housing delivery.

"This is exactly the kind of practical intervention we need right now, focused on getting projects out of the ground, not just approved," Stevenson said.

"It builds on a model the Property Council has worked closely with government to develop following calls for such a scheme ahead of last year's NSW Budget, so it's great to see it being expanded."

Stevenson said the reforms would help unlock projects that are ready to proceed but have been delayed by financing challenges. However, she noted that broader feasibility issues remain a significant barrier to increasing housing supply.

"The biggest challenge in NSW housing today is delivery. Too many projects have planning approval but are simply not financially viable to proceed under current settings," she said.

Speaking at the Property Council's NSW Housing Summit, Housing Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged that feasibility and financing pressures continue to constrain housing delivery, while reaffirming the government's commitment to work with industry on solutions.

Stevenson said the government's recognition of those challenges was encouraging ahead of next week's state budget.

"It's positive to see the government clearly recognising that feasibility pressures are now a binding constraint on supply," she said.

"With the Budget just days away, the focus must be on backing delivery, making sure projects stack up, finance can flow, and more homes can move from approval to construction."

The expanded Pre-sale Finance Guarantee forms part of the NSW Government's broader housing agenda, which also includes planning reforms, the NSW Housing Pattern Book, and a series of rezonings intended to increase housing capacity across the state.

NSW expands Pre-sale Finance Guarantee to unlock more affordable and regional housing

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.

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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.

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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]

Jonathan Chancellor

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