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Housing markets had remained weak, the RBA has noted today.
The rental vacancy rate in Sydney had increased to the highest level in around 15 years and housing prices in established markets had continued to decline.
"More positively, the pace of price declines had moderated and the modest recovery in auction clearance rates since the start of the year had been sustained," it added.
Sales conditions for off-the-plan apartments and new detached housing had been difficult.
The spike in residential building approvals in February had largely been unwound in March, confirming that underlying conditions for new dwelling activity remained weak.
Data released since the previous meeting had shown that the pipeline of residential work to be done had decreased in the December quarter, but remained high.
RBA board members noted that the forecasts for dwelling investment suggested that population growth could exceed growth in the stock of housing towards the end of the forecast period.
The minutes noted housing credit growth had slowed over the preceding year, but the monthly pace of growth had stabilised over recent months.
In three-month-ended annualised terms, growth in housing lending was around 4½ per cent for owner-occupiers and ½ per cent for investors.
Loan approvals also appeared to have stabilised in recent months.
The central bank noted that, although lending practices were tighter than they had been for some time, the decline in housing credit growth over the preceding year had been driven largely by weaker demand for finance, associated with the decline in housing prices.
The average interest rate charged on outstanding variable-rate housing loans had remained broadly steady.
While banks had increased their standard variable reference rates since mid 2018, rates on new loans had remained materially below the average of those on outstanding loans.
Members noted that banks had recently reduced the rates charged on new fixed-rate loans.
Members discussed the outlook for the domestic labour market in some detail. 
As in the previous meeting, members discussed the scenario where inflation did not move any higher and unemployment trended up, recognising that in those circumstances a decrease in the cash rate would likely be appropriate. 
As noted at the previous meeting, members recognised that the effect on the economy of lower interest rates could be expected to be smaller than in the past, given the high level of household debt and the adjustment that was occurring in housing markets. 
"Nevertheless, a lower level of interest rates could still be expected to support the economy through a depreciation of the exchange rate and by reducing required interest payments on borrowing, freeing up cash for other expenditure," it noted.
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Housing markets remain weak: RBA minutes

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The Wedge House, one of Whale Beach's most identifiable properties, has hit the market.
The home, with two wedges that extend in opposite directions, <a href="https://palmbeach.ljhooker.com.au/house-in-whale-beach-nsw-2107-au-6nkf6z#.XNvPZi-B2T8" target="_blank">was designed by architect Peter Stutchbury and colleague Marika Jarv</a>.
Professor Max Irvine was the construction engineer on the Beauty Drive project.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/31/whale%202.jpg" alt="">
It has a guide of $3 million to $3.3 million through LJ Hooker Palm Beach agents David Edwards and Danielle Forde.
It was built between 1998 and 2000 for the current vendors, Deon and Kim Hubner, co-founders of Living Ocean, the not for profit organisation for ocean care and awareness.
They paid $520,000 for the 710 square metre property in 1998 before commissioning Stutchbury Architects to create the space now set in Pape Landscape gardens.
Set high above Whale Beach, the house was designed to take advantage of its position overlooking the sand and sea.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/31/whale%203.jpg" alt="">
It won the 2003 Australian Timber Design award after its build by Bryce Campbell.
The lighter, northern wedge is designed to fly beyond its anchored partner, diagonally outward.
Its cantilevered wing homes the open plan living, kitchen and dining space.
The southern wedge is nestled into the garden and courtyard.
It is made up of the master retreat with walk in wardrobe and study.
Multiple openings connect the living areas to the gardens.
Two further bedroom, a living space and bathroom sit beach the upstairs living area and deck. 
Its land value is $1.7 million.
LJ Hooker suggest is summer rental at peak season would be $1000 a night. Or $1500 a week for a long term annual rental
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian. 
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Striking Whale Beach trophy home The Wedge House listed

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Casa Sul Mare, a strikingly contemporary home on the Henley Beach promenade in Adelaide, is under offer.
The modern home with keypad entry was built in 2012 after the former two level 385 square metre home was bought for $575,000 in 2011.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-henley+beach-130212834" target="_blank">It sits on the exclusive section of the Esplanade</a>, overlooking Henley Beach west of Adelaide. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/31/hen%202.jpg" alt="">
The lower ground level of the home is the focal point, described as the party level.
Accessed by lift, on the floor is an infinity edge swimming pool with a space.
It's solar and electrically heated and has a fully remote controlled system with LED strip lighting.
Adjoining the pool is a home theatre lounge area with wall print of Hollywood A-listers Orlando Bloom, George Clooney and Angelina Jolie framing the projector screen.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/31/hen%203.jpg" alt="">
Also on the floor is a living and dining area, courtyard and a sauna.
On the ground level is the main kitchen, living and dining space which opens to a waterfront facing balcony complete with outdoor kitchen alfresco area.
There's a second casual living space at the rear of the home.
Upstairs on the top level sits the four bedrooms, each with their own ensuites.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/31/hen%204.jpg" alt="">
The Jarrah floored master suite comprising a private balcony, study area, bathroom and walk in wardrobe.
Toop &amp; Toop agents Bronte Manual and Anthony Toop had set a $3.5 million price guide.
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian. 
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Casa Sul Mare on Adelaide's Henley Beach under offer 

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The former Peters Ice Cream HQ in Mulgrave is set to be heritage listed.
<a href="http://heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ED-REPORT-INCLUDE-PETERSVILLE-FINAL-FINAL-.pdf" target="_blank">The classic 1960s office building</a>, with its sinuous roofline and waffle-style facade, is hip enough decades on to warrant heritage listing.
It was May 1964 when the new factory was officially opened by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe.
The term Petersville had been coined during 1962 as a quasi-geographic label for the factory site on Wellington Road, and it subsequently became the moniker of the company.
The Petersville Factory Administration Building is one of the classic post-war factory administration buildings, associated with the development of manufacturing in the 1950s and 1960s, a phase of historical importance in Victoria. 
Overall, the Petersville Factory Administration Building remains in very good condition.
Externally, most of the brickwork, concrete columns, door frames and window frames show very few signs of deterioration. There are some areas of rust to metal elements and deterioration to eaves.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/31/New%20Project%2026.jpg" alt="">
Internally, the foyer of the Administration Wing is in excellent condition with only minor defects to timber ceiling lining and area of damage to stair treads.
In April this year an Interim Protection Order was issued by the Victorian Heritage executive director who has now recommended permanent heritage listing.
The Petersville Factory Administration Building is located at 254–294 Wellington Road, Mulgrave.
It comprises a double-storey brick Administration Wing, attached single-storey Office Wing and Staff Amenities Wing to the rear.
The three wings form an asymmetrical H-plan.
The building is a freestanding element within a landscape setting that includes lawn, a row of flagpoles, paths and mature plantings.
The Administration wing’s arresting design, incorporating a full-length decorative screen and wave-form roof, presents a distinctive and highly visible street frontage. The interior of the Administration Wing has a double-height entry foyer that includes a floating staircase, terrazzo flooring, mezzanine gallery and timber-lined ceiling that reflects the wave-form roof shape. Office space lies to either side of the foyer on both levels. 
The Petersville Factory Administration Building was constructed as part of a large manufacturing complex built in 1962–63 for leading food manufacturers Peters Ice Cream (Vic) Ltd (later Petersville Australia Ltd).
The company developed the Mulgrave site, which became known as Petersville, to replace the Richmond premises that it had occupied since 1936.
During the early 1960s Peters Ice Cream had rapidly expanded to incorporate brands such as Four’n Twenty Pies, Edgell and Birdseye.
Designed by the architectural office of D Graeme Lumsden, the new complex included offices, amenities and extensive production areas.
Lumsden designed several interesting commercial and industrial buildings in Victoria, including the Nicholas Factory in Clayton (demolished) and Mitchelton Winery.
Although he and his firm contributed to the practice of architecture and commercial building design, Heritage Victoria conclude it could not be said to have made a strong or influential contribution to the course of Victoria’s history more broadly.
Architect D Graeme Lumsden had established his own practice in 1948 and was later joined by younger architects Ted Ashton and Bill Hale, who became key members of the office.
Although the office of D Graeme Lumsden (and its later incarnations) undertook a range of projects including houses, office buildings, banks and a winery, the firm’s main focus was industrial buildings. 
Factory projects were commissioned by such high-profile manufacturers as Nicholas Ltd, Volkswagen Australia, Glaxo, Patons Brakes, Leyland Motors, Speciality Press, Murfett Publishers and Smith &amp; Nephew.
After Lumsden’s death in 1995, an obituary by Neil Clerehan described him as both ‘one of Australia’s most successful industrial architects’ and an ‘industrial design pioneer’.
In 1998, under the ownership of Nestle, the production areas of the site were substantially updated.
The Petersville Factory Administration Building was utilised until 2016 before Peters staff moved to a new administration building elsewhere on the site.
Production of Peters products continues to take place elsewhere on site in the new facilities. The Petersville Factory Administration Building is currently vacant.
In 2012, The Peters Ice Cream business, including its Mulgrave factory, was purchased by Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), with licence to produce sub-brands that were retained by Nestlé, e.g., Drumstick.
In May 2014, the European company R&amp;R Ice Cream bought Peters.
It was the American expatriate Frederick Peters who founded the Peters American Delicacy Company in Australia in 1907.
First established in Paddington in Sydney, by 1929 subsidiaries had been set up in Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria.
The Victorian branch and was based in Meyers Place in central Melbourne, before moving to a refurbished former shoe factory in Richmond in 1936.
During 1957, Peters Ice Cream (Victoria) Ltd, took over two rival ice cream producers, and between 1960 and 1963 acquired a further 10 companies.
These acquisitions included other iconic brand names including Four’n Twenty Pies, Edgell and Birds Eye.
To accommodate this growth, in 1961 Peters acquired a 35-hectare site at the south-west corner of Wellington Road and Springvale Road in what was then known as Clayton (now Mulgrave).
The decision to relocate from Richmond reflected a post-war trend towards decentralisation of industry that saw many established Melbourne manufacturers move from the inner-city to developing suburban fringes.
In 1964, Peters Ice Cream (Victoria) Ltd took on the name of the new site and became known as Petersville Australia Ltd.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/31/New%20Project%2025.jpg" alt="">
The company is notable for its high profile and longstanding promotional activities –including street signage, radio and television programs, branded small refrigerator cabinets and sponsorship of the Moomba parade.
Victoria experienced rapid industrial expansion after World War Two.
Major manufacturers developed substantial new facilities in suburban fringe locations such as Dandenong, Cheltenham and Clayton.
This form of decentralisation developed alongside the growth in car ownership and suburban housing estates.
Manufacturing facilities were built alongside major roads, often some distance from train stations, and car parking was provided for staff on site.
These new greenfields locations allowed for an expansive use of space, with administration buildings often set well in front of more utilitarian production facilities and complemented by landscaping and gardens.
Photos: Heritage Victoria 
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Peters Ice Cream 1960s Mulgrave HQ to be heritage listed

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Some economists expect a rebound in Australia's declining property markets after Labor's failed to win the election and get the chance to implement controversial changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax.
Goldman Sachs economists even forecast a "meaningful positive shock in the housing sector".
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Election day predictably saw further subdued auction numbers across already quiet autumn auction markets.
But weekend clearance rates remained solid.
With the quieter winter selling hibernation now approaching fast, hopes for a market revival, likely rest on a spring bounce.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/20/May20.jpg" alt="">
It was a close call between the top sales across the two big auction capitals.
Sydney secured a $4.65 million sale in Bronte, while the top sale in Melbourne was $4.6 million in Camberwell.
The Bronte sale was a five bedroom house <a id="LPlnk203061" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house/nsw/eastern-suburbs/bronte/400903" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">14 Blandford Avenue</a> (below) which sold through McGrath agent Chris Volpatti who had a $4.3 million price guide.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/20/Bronte1.jpg" alt="">
It was a modernised home behind its two storey art deco facade.
It had last sold at $1.78 million in 2012 before its extension.
Three of the four bidders were local families looking to upsize.
The Camberwell sale came after the property at <a id="LPlnk768860" href="https://kayburton.com.au/real-estate/house-61-prospect-hill-road-camberwell-vic-3124-1118302" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">61 Prospect Hill Road </a>(top) was passed in with just one bidder at $4.55 million.
The top bidder was assisted by the agencies' China desk, represented by Isabella Lu, an international client relationship manager.
Set on the corner of Kingsley Street, the 1886 Victorian residence sits on 1672sqm without pool.
Listed with $5 million hopes, it had last traded in 1949.
Concerned neighbours handed out a flier to the onsite auction attendees saying "local residents will strongly resist any plans to demolish the house, or any development plans that are not appropriate."
In Melbourne there was a preliminary auction clearance rate of 62.9 per cent making it the best performing auction market with 427 auctions.
There were fewer homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities, as the nation stopped amidst the Federal election hype.
Of the 917 homes that did go to auction across Australian in the past week, the preliminary national result saw a 57 percent success rate..
The week prior saw 1,218 homes auctioned across Australia with the final 54 percent auction clearance rate the highest final result since September last year, according to CoreLogic.
Comparing results from the same week last year, 2,100 homes were taken to auction returning a 56.8 per cent final clearance rate.
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Sydney’s final clearance rate has come in at the high 50 per cent range for the last two weeks.
"The last time Sydney’s clearance rate was in the high 50’s was mid-May last year," CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan said.
There were 270 auctions this week held in Sydney, with just under 200 on Saturday, returning a preliminary clearance rate of 60.7 per cent.
Last week, a higher 445 homes were taken to auction returning a 59 per cent final Sydney auction clearance rate.
There are more than 550 scheduled for next Saturday, and 490 currently scheduled for the first auction day of winter, according to Domain.
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Looking at the smaller auction markets, Canberra came in with the strongest preliminary result with 56 per cent of homes selling at auction this week, while only 25 per cent of homes in Perth sold.
Canberra's top sale was $1.02 million when the four bedroom house at <a id="LPlnk433386" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://raywhitecanberra.com.au/properties/residential-for-sale/act/cook-2614/house/2099782" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">9 Grylls Crescent, Cook</a> was sold through Ray White.
The three level home came with spacious gourmet kitchen with Corian and stainless steel bench tops and quality Miele appliances.
Canberra's cheapest was $550,000 when the three bedroom at <a href="https://www.luton.com.au/7356492/37-livingston-avenue-kambah" target="_blank">37 Livingston Avenue, Kambah</a> was sold.
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It last sold at $220,000 in 2002.
The 858 sqm holding was marketed as a RZ2 redevelopment block or first home.
Brisbane' had the cheapest sale across the nation, with <a id="LPlnk376948" href="https://pinnacle.harcourts.com.au/Property/788045/QAP34762/16-9-Houghton-Street" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">16/9 Houghton Street, Petrie</a> sold at $240,000 through Harcourts.
It was a 2017 built one bedroom apartment with 78 sqm space.
It had been on and off the market since 2017 when it was listed at $285,000 and a $275 a week rental.
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Subdued election weekend auction offerings see Bronte and Camberwell vie for top spot

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Noosa's newest apartment project to hit the market is Infinity.
<a href="https://www.offermann.com.au/217-219-gympie-terrace-noosaville-qld-4829888/" target="_blank">Infinity is a boutique three level block</a> with just the three apartments, located on Gympie Terrace 100 metres from the Noosa Boathouse Restaurant.
They are being marketed as house-sized, penthouse-style offerings by Tom Offermann Real Estate agent Nic Hunter.
The three apartments each span a whole floor which open to a full-width terrace complete with their own private glass walled pool.
They have three bedrooms and three bathrooms and full-height glass windows and doors to take advantage of the water views.
Infinity was designed by Chris Clout with floor plates ranging in size from 368 square metres to 445 square metres.
"The floor plan was designed to direct the eye out to the spectacular wide views of the Noosa River and beyond," Clout said.
He said privacy is retained by directing the focus to the core of the apartment and outward to the north.
"The design from north to south as well as the ability to completely open-up the centre section, gives exemplary natural cross ventilation," Clout added.
"The northerly orientation and tall ceilings allow drenching of natural light, whilst large eaves especially over the wrap-around terraces, provide protection during the hotter months." 
Hunter is asking $4.5 million for each of the apartments. Included in the complex is a gym and sauna.
Hunter says the location of the development is just as good as the product.
"It has the dress circle address of Gympie Terrace which runs parallel to the dog-friendly Noosa River foreshore and gazebo-dotted park, is steps away to some of Noosa's best cafes, restaurants also boutiques; and 10 minutes away is Noosa Heads' famous Hastings Street and the Noosa National Park."
Down the road on Gympie Terrace, Century 21 Noosaville agent Sam Walker and David Conolly are marketing the final apartment in Kalani, another boutique three bedroom development facing the water.
He secured sales of the penthouse apartment, as well as the ground floor.
He is asking $3.5 million for the sub-penthouse in the block which is slated for completion next month.
Designed by Stephen Kidd, each of the whole floor apartments have three ensuited bedrooms and a separate media room and home office.
New developments in Noosa have been in short supply since the building boom of the 1980s and 1990s.
One of the earliest developments in Noosa was Fairshore on Hastings Street. The 27 two bedroom units were sold for around $70,000 in 1976. 
Today the 90 square metre apartments sell for over $3 million as Hastings Street has developed into Noosa's bustling premium tourist strip.
Apartment development was in full swing into the 1980s and 1990s.
Around 50% of Noosa's units were built in the decade after the 1982 Building Units and Group Titles act passed parliament.
Tom Offermann said it prompted a building boom.
"I recall lawyers waiting rooms being packed in the 1980s," he said.
Some of the most notable blocks built around that era were built on the riverfront Quamby Place.
The A.V. Jennings Culgoa Point development of 65 units were selling for around $60,000. One of its apartment has recently broken through the $1 million barrier.
Next door Noosa Harbour Resort was being built by Devine Erby Mazlin, a 69 unit complex and across the road Sun Lagoon's 30 unit development followed soon after.
Offermann says he remembers selling a three bedroom beachfront in La Mer which was developed by a South Australian developer for $225,000.
He suggests today a buyer would have no change out of $7 million.
Noosa's planning laws have aimed to keep the village as a charming beachside tourist spot.
There would be no high-rise buildings, as well as no traffic lights and billboards.
The apartment complexes are limited to two to four storeys. 
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Infinity units for sale in Noosa's limited new development market

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The first residents have moved into the riverfront Yungaba House estate, the repurposing of a heritage building at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane.
Built just two decades after Queensland became a separate colony to New South Wales, the 130 year old building recently underwent its residential conversion by Frasers Property. 
With its 3,000 square metre private heritage gardens, the building has been reconfigured to have 10 house-sized residences.
The home’s combine history and luxury with original woodwork, high ceilings, chandeliers, large wooden doors, modern kitchen and bathrooms, and high-tech security.
The grounds feature a 25 metre infinity lap pool, a gym and a covered barbecue entertaining area with private access to the river.
The Residences were priced from $1,795,000 to $4.25 million.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/5/16/L1005950%20copy.jpeg">
A young family from neighbouring suburb Bulimba has paid $3.6 million for Residence Five, one of the flagship homes of The Residences, following the highly-anticipated project’s official launch last month.
Spanning four levels, the three-bedroom home can be considered one of The Residence’s ‘penthouses’, incorporating its own turret with stunning CBD and Story Bridge views and an expansive basement level.
Residence five was the second most expensive offering, surpassed only by residence six, which was priced at $4.25 million at the east-facing riverfront site only 800 metres to the CBD.
The sales were off the plan two years ago, with two residences up for sale.
Place Kangaroo Point agent Simon Caulfield is asking for offers in the high $2 millions for Residence 10.
Spanning 425 square metres, the home features painted exposed brickwork walls, raked timber ceilings, solid hardwood timber flooring and a galley style kitchen.
Each of the four ensuited bedrooms opens to covered decks. The main living space flows to a wraparound balcony with views of the Brisbane River underneath the Storey Bridge. 
Residence 1 has been put up for lease by the owners, a couple who are involved in architecture and interior design.
After committing to a long-term project in New South Wales, the couple who split their time between Sydney and Brisbane, have sought a $2,250 a week tenant. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/5/16/YungabaHouse%20QLD%20copy.jpeg">
North South Real Estate Brisbane leasing agent Tom Kralikas said the enquiry had been varied.
"Interest has been quite varied, with several local enquiries from downsizers looking to sell their current larger residences and move in to an exclusive, heritage listed property," Kralikas said.
"Additionally, I am working with several interstate business people who are relocating to Brisbane and are specifically looking for something unique."
Kralikas says there are very few comparable buildings to Yungaba House and the design of the property is truly stunning, with the modern touches complementing the heritage structure extremely well. 
The building on its construction in 1887 by colonial architect John James Clark was known then as Yungaba Immigration.
On arrival on the river, immigrants were ferried to Yungaba by way of smaller tugs where they were then accommodated before settling elsewhere.
During the late 1800’s Yungaba House was used to house and accommodate bush children.
<div>In 1901 Yungaba House was temporarily for Australian troops returning from the Boer War in South Africa.</div>
It was added to Queensland's Heritage Register in 1992.
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian. 
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First residents move into repurposed historic Yungaba House at Kangaroo Point 

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Zetland, an intact Hawthorn home that dates back to its design by architect William J. Ellis in the 1870s, has been sold.
In need of a full scale renovation, it reportedly fetched between $3.4 million and $3.7 million, which was its price guidance. 
It was bought by a local family with four bidders at its private auction.
Set under a slate roof, Zetland is a Victorian villa that contributed to the standing of Hawthorn's river-side precinct.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-hawthorn-130958986" target="_blank">The Yarra Street home </a>was an early sign of the affluent housing push which consolidated Hawthorn as a most desirable garden suburb.
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Zetland was heritage listed on the Victorian Heritage Register in 1980 and on the national register in 1991.
The 1870s were a busy time for Ellis, who was putting the finishes to the Fitzroy Town Hall tower.
There were also alterations for Studley House, Kew for James McEvoy, the Riverina squatter.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/29/hawt%203.jpg" alt="">
Ellis, who was also working for brewer Edward Latham on the Carlton brewery site, ran a successful architectural practice until the 1880s, concluding with the design of the Italianiate Queenscliff hotel, Ozone formerly known as Baillieu House, and Manresa, the Catholic presbytery at the Church of Immaculate Conception on Burwood Road, Hawthorn.
He also designed Bankside, the home next door to Zetland, which last sold in 2005 at $1.76 million. It had an $900,000 renovation approved in 2012.
Zetland, that sits on 980 square metres, comes with rare seven-arch arcaded ornamental ironwork verandah and balustrading.
Its seven rooms, including four bedrooms, come with all its period features, including wide arched hallway, marble open fireplaces, timber floors and even the servants bells.
At the rear of the property is the original Hawthorn brick stable which has been converted to a garage.
The Yarra Street subdivision, one of the earliest streets in Hawthorn, saw two adjoining allotments pass from the subdivision entrepreneur George Coppin to police detective Charles Black, who commissioned two similar houses.
It was the Lerwick, Shetland Island-born accountant John Robertson who bought the home in 1876 following Black's death and named it Zetland. He and wife, Robina had eight children. 
Zetland, which was then valued at 60 pounds on completion, remained in the Robertson name until 1914, when it was valued at 66 pounds. It had peaked at 95 pounds in the late 1880s before the depression.
Elberfeld, another early Victorian villa, secured an award in the 2018 Boroondara Urban Design Awards. 
Located on Lisson Grove, architect Jane Riddell redesigned the 1876 home for her client with a rear floating pavilion to sit in John Patrick landscaped gardens with a low-maintenance Japanese aesthetic.
The council records showed the renovations were costed at $1.3 million after its $3.1 million purchase in 2014.
Its names reflected the Püttmann family's German origins.
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1870s heritage Hawthorn home Zetland sold

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The Mornington Peninsula developer Nicholas Smedley has reportedly paid $950,000 to walk away from settling on his $9 million home acquisition in Glen Iris.
Smelly had handed over his $900,000 deposit and more recently an additional $50,000 to cancel the 12 month delayed settlement deal, Nine Entertainment has reported.
It was accompanied by another buyer agreeing to purchase the Fairview Grove house for $8,050,000 – which ensured the vendor still received the originally contracted sum of $9 million.
It was sold at a private auction last May setting a record price for the suburb which had stood at $6.55 million since 2011.
It had been listed with $7 million to $7.7 million price guidance through RT Edgar Mark Wridgway who did the Saturday auction ahead of its Monday's scheduled expression of interest closing deadline.
Word of the price leaked out given the attendance of buyers' agents representing some of the six active bidders.
The 4 Fairview Grove, Glen Iris offering was a Christopher Doyle-built period home, renovated around a decade ago, on its 2000 square metre block with tennis court.
The property last sold 20 years ago at $1,178,000.
“The pre-auction shenanigans and the auction itself was a masterclass in manipulation, momentum and marvel,” one buyers' agent said, as reported by Property Observer last May.
Work recently stopped at the Continental Hotel project in Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula as developer Steller, headed by Nicholas Smedley and Simon Pitard sought funding to continue the joint-venture project it started last year with hotelier Julian Gerner.
The developer behind the $80 million project to restore the 143-year-old heritage-listed limestone hotel noted initial site works had recently been completed, "with further works slated to commence later this year", the company said in a statement.
"Continental Hotel Group is currently in the process of securing senior construction funding to finance the next stage of construction and is in discussions with major funders to secure this finance. Funding is expected to be secured by Q3."
The project will create a 100-room luxury hotel, dining and events centre.
"Construction funding for the Continental Hotel redevelopment has not fallen through," the company said.
Steller said the crane erected on site would remain in place for the next stage of work.
"Continental Hotel Group is committed to delivering the Continental Hotel as a world-class luxury hotel and hospitality venue that will attract visitors to the Peninsula year-round despite the shift in initial project timelines due to the current market," the company said.
It has been reported Smedley and Pitard are set to dissolve their business partnership having boasted a $4.2 billion pipeline of residential, mixed-use and commercial projects.
A spokesman said there was no connection between the abandoned house purchase and the plan by Smedley, a son of the late business leader Peter Smedley, to dissolve the partnership with Pitard.
"It is unrelated to what is going on with Steller," the spokesman said.
"He decided not to proceed for personal reasons and has retained the (exisiting) family home.
"The decision not to proceed was not based on a lack of funding."
Stellar was founded in 2006 by Smedley and Pitard.
Wridgway confirmed the Glen Iris property had resold before the 12-month settlement that was due to happen this week.
"Purchaser A wanted to get out to pursue other opportunities," Wridgway said.
"I found Purchaser B. We reduced the price due to market forces."
The alternative purchase happened at an unspecified date earlier this year.
Smedley removed a caveat placed over the Fairview Grove home in February.
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$9 million Glen Iris record setting trophy home resold at $8.05 million

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With all April's interruptions, Ray White offices recorded $3.2 billion in sales, some 14% down on April 2018. 
It was a bigger drop than March when there were $3.75 billion in sales – down 11% on the prior March.
NSW was down from around $960 million in April last year to $806 million this April.
But the bigger drop was in Victoria from around $587 million to $406 million last month.
In NZ, total sales fell around $30 million to $758 million. 
Tasmania was up slightly to $13 million.
With $664 million sales, Queensland was off only marginally, just 2% on last year which helped cushion the larger declines in other states, Ray White board director Dan White noted.
"Looking back on April, it was a tough month and we are actually glad it’s now behind us given all the public holidays, school holidays and the federal election campaign getting underway," White said.
White noted the Queensland CEO Tony Warland detecting from far north Queensland to the southern border that "there was a definite sign of a stronger real estate economy".
He said everyone in Townsville had a very positive belief of recovery after the floods, and life is returning to normality there.
"The Central Coast is steady and enjoying the prospects of improvement, while the Sunshine Coast is actually going gangbusters with our Kawana office recording three PBs in a row," White said.
"The whole Sunshine Coast has the lifestyle that the market is looking for while the Gold Coast is enjoying a strong economy in real estate transactions compared to the rest of the country.
"In Brisbane, many of our vendors are putting up high quality properties for high quality returns.
"So while there’s a lot of stock in many other markets, there’s no reports of stock in abundance in Brisbane but days on market are still being tested.
White also noted the group had a solid month across the group with some 1200 auctions conducted, with almost 40,000 people attending auctions across Australia and New Zealand.
Average bidders slipped back to 2.5 people per auction.
In May last year Ray White sold more than $4.1 billion of property across Australasia, which was 6% shy of May 2017.
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Ray White sees 14% year on year sales tally decline in April 2019

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

Jonathan Chancellor

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