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Sydney’s mid-winter auction market retained its recently renewed energy at the weekend recording yet another preliminary strong result around 77%, according to Australian Property Monitors.
The 77.1% clearance rate recorded was the third consecutive 77% plus result following a five week period of waning rates.  
"A moderation of unrealistic price expectations from vendors may be a contributing factor to rising clearance rates over recent weekends," the APM senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson suggested.
Some 506 homes were scheduled for auction at the weekend in Sydney which was well up on the prior weekend’s 404.
It was some 174 more or 52% higher than the 335 homes auctioned over the same weekend last year.
"Auction numbers will continue to gradually rise over coming weekends from its July lows as the market turns from its mid-winter trough and heads towards the spring selling season," he said.
The inner west recorded the highest clearance rate at the weekend of all the suburban regions with an exceptional 90.7% result.
"Next best was the lower north with 88.9% closely followed by the city and east with 88.7%, the upper north with 87.2% and the south with 83.1%.
"The strong upper north shore result follows last weekend’s relatively low result and reflects continuing strong underlying demand for property in that region."
The most expensive property reported sold at auction at the weekend was the five bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-croydon+park-117338283" target="_blank">23 Beaufort Street, Croydon Park</a> (pictured above) sold for $2,190,000 by Elders Inner West-Enfield agent Sebastian Bonaccorso. It came with lift servicing three levels including its basement garaging for eight cars.
Auctioneer at Property Auction Services Rocky Bartolotto told Property Observer that buyer numbers for the weekend across his Sydney auctions dropped by one buyer week to week, however the percentage of registered bidders who actually make a bid at the auction was still considerably up.
 "This traditionally is around 50% however at the moment is at approximately 70%," he said.
He noted that his auctioneers had detected a "handful of owners" had reserve prices set well above the agent opinion and what the buyer feedback has been throughout the marketing campaign. 
"These properties seemed to have lower registered bidders to bid on auction day. 
"In some cases this was evident with reserve prices set $100,000 over agent/buyer indication levels.
"It’s important for vendors that the feedback coming from agent/buyer is strongly considered for best outcomes."
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Occasional unrealistic vendor expectations hover around Sydney auctions: APM

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The Vaucluse waterfront property Green Gables has been sold to the Malek family.
The Coolong Road residence has been home to the Mayo family for 33 years having been bought for $1.15 million in 1981.
The asking price was $20 million, though no price has been revealed following the 8 July exchange of contracts.
It actually appeared as withdrawn from sale on its <a href="https://www.homehound.com.au/listing/withdrawn/nsw/sydney-region/eastern-suburbs/vaucluse-eastern-suburbs/29-coolong-road-vaucluse-nsw-2030/" target="_blank">Homehound</a> listing in May. It had been very very close to sale in 2011 at around $18 million.
Prior to the Mayo family, it was owned by the late merchant banker Frank Nugan, who paid $450,000 for it in 1976.
The 1,659 square metre property comes with 1920s five-bedroom, four-bathroom home with beach, pool and jetty.
It has been bought by Michelle Malek, the wife of Ron Malek, a co-founder of the corporate advisory firm, Caliburn Partnership who sold his stake in 2010. He remained as the joint head of the boutique corporate advisory firm Greenhill Australia, enjoying a stock windfall as part of the three year delayed payment for the sale of the Caliburn Partnership business to the Wall Street firm in 2010.
The Malek couple are based in Bellevue Hill.
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Green Gables, Vaucluse sells to Malek family

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The latest Commonwealth Bank/RP Data Home Buyers Index (HBI) suggests the national property market conditions have moved to a buyer's market in March 2014 against the balanced market in December 2013.
But the most affordable localities remain regional areas as no capital cities made the top 10 buyer's markets. There are three capital cities, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, in the top seller's markets.
The top five best buyer's markets in Australia:
<ul>
<li>Wide Bay-Burnett, Qld;</li>
<li>Mersey-Lyell, Tas;</li>
<li>Far West, NSW;</li>
<li>West Moreton, Qld;</li>
<li>Central, WA.</li>
</ul>
The top five best seller's markets in Australia:
<ul>
<li>Central Highlands, Vic;</li>
<li>Sydney, NSW;</li>
<li>Melbourne, Vic;</li>
<li>Canberra, ACT;</li>
<li>Loddon, Vic.</li>
</ul>
Queensland’s Wide Bay region has regularly recorded the largest proportion of loss making resales, with 30.6% of all March 2014 quarter re-sales transacting at a price lower than what the home was purchased.
The weakness in these two regions is mostly reflective of the conditions across the lifestyle markets where the correction in home values has been more significant, Tim Lawless, national research director at RP Data, has previously advised.
"Prospective home buyers should consider the dramatically different conditions between metropolitan and regional areas," says Clive van Horen, general manager - home loans, Commonwealth Bank.
"The latest HBI shows while the metropolitan areas of Queensland and Tasmania provide good opportunities to negotiate on the sale price of a property, home buyers in the south eastern states should be cautious with their budgets and ensure they don't pay more than the true-market value when purchasing a property," he says.
He stressed the importance of all home buyers comprehensively researching the market to understand the conditions in their area and state. 
The latest HBI report noted mixed market conditions across the states and territories.
Individual state and territory market conditions on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
State/Territory: Market Conditions:
<ul>
<li>
New South Wales Balanced market - conditions stayed virtually unchanged in March 2014 as New South Wales remains a balanced market, while the Sydney market continues to strongly favour sellers. 
</li>
<li>
Victoria Balanced market - conditions in Melbourne have shifted slightly in favour of sellers in March 2014, however, conditions across the rest of the state are more balanced between buyers and sellers. 
</li>
<li>
Queensland Buyer's market - buyers still firmly have the upper hand in Queensland with Brisbane offering solid opportunities with the coastal region of Wide Bay Burnett, becoming the top buyer's market in the country in March 2014. 
</li>
<li>
South Australia Balanced market - state and capital city market conditions continue to be balanced in March 2014, with Adelaide showing a fairly equal level of power between both buyers and sellers. 
</li>
<li>
Western Australia Balanced market - while conditions in Western Australia shifted from a buyer's market in December 2013 to a balanced market in March 2014, the Perth housing market continues to remain balanced. 
</li>
<li>
Tasmania Extreme buyer's market - conditions remain unchanged in March 2014, with the state continuing to be more favourable to buyers than any other state or territory. 
</li>
<li>
Northern Territory Buyer's market - although market conditions were balanced in December 2013, in March 2014 the property market moved in favour of buyers. 
</li>
<li>
Australian Capital Territory Seller's market - with the state capital Canberra remaining one of the top five seller's markets in the country, conditions shifted from a balanced market in December 2013 to favour sellers in March 2014.
</li>
</ul>
Between December 2013 and March 2014, market conditions have remained consistent across the capital cities with the exception of Canberra, which has surprisingly moved from a balanced market to a seller's market.
The Central Highlands in Victoria also moved from the fourth best seller's market previously to the top seller's market in March 2014.
The index suggests the best buying opportunities are in regional areas of Tasmania and Queensland.
"By and large the best opportunities for home buyers are in regional areas, with particularly favourable conditions in areas outside of the metropolitan hubs of Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and West Australia," said Lawless.
Image of Bundaberg courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. 
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Regions top affordability in Commonwealth Bank/RP Data Home Buyers Index

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The premiere of Nine Network's increasingly cruel reality renovation series The Block attracted 1.374 million viewers.
Host Scott Cam toyed with the constantant teams who got a first look inside the massive 1980s office block conversion project in Prahran.
At times the lack of hard hats - especially when hastily ripping down the office bock ceiling - almost appeared close to downright dangerous.
Sunday night's Nine News sat in second place with MasterChef in third place after drawing an audience of 1.261 million, according OzTAM's figures.
The Block was possibly the highest rating program of Sunday night due to the network’s decision to simulcast the show across its multi-channel, Go! and Gem in the 6.30pm time slot against Seven’s X Factor which had an audience of 1.14 million.
Meanwhile the ABC's architectural show Grand Designs <a href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/articles/all/east-devon-suppliers" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">featuring East Devon cob-style home</a> sat strongly in sixth spot with 988,000 viewers, beating both 60 Minutes and Sunday Night.
Host Kevin McCloud was tracking the process of a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8knaVoipcGc" target="_blank">snail-shell shaped cob house </a>which used ancient building material and 21st century technology. Its made from mud, straw, water, clay and sand.
Kevin McCabe was the owner builder, wrestling houses out of mud using his bare hands for his proposed house formed of two vast curved cob roundhouses - the largest of which is inspired by the natural geometry of a snail shell.
The latest Block Glasshouse ratings sit within prior Block premiere audiences which included The Block Sky High premiere in South Melbourne of 1.312 million.
The Block All Stars at Bondi premiered with just 959,000 viewers tuning in, and the first-night set in South Melbourne with four adjoining Dorcas Street terraces rated an average 1.4 million viewers.
The Block's 2011’s Melbourne debut had 1,342,000 viewers for the Richmond cottage renovation.
The most recent Albert Park series, The Block Fans v Faves  secured a 1.14 million opening night five capital city audience.
 
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Kevin's Devon snail shell house sneaks up behind The Block Glasshouse in ratings

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Figures from NAB confirm its customers ­continue to maintain previous ­payments and pay down debt faster during the current low interest rate period.
Customers paying back more than the minimum are ahead by an average of 13 months, compared with 12 months a year earlier, NAB told the Australian Financial Review.
NAB has about 16% of the mortgage market.
Owner-occupiers accounted for 70% of customers who were ahead, with 16% of investors and 14% being first home buyers.
The NAB executive general manager of lending and deposits, Antony Cahill, said the figures showed customers were taking advantage of record low interest rates by putting away extra income.
“These are themes that point to the Australian consumer being a little bit more careful, a little bit more prudent in terms of understanding debt and ensuring they keep that under control,” he told Fairfax Media.
NAB also said consumers were paying off credit card debt faster, with accounts paid in full up 6% in the last year.
Of the loans that were ahead on payments, 32% are held in Victoria, followed by 31% in New South Wales and 21% in Queensland. 
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NAB home loan borrowers' payments typically ahead by 13 months

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The dream of late Gold Coast developer Keith Williams at Port Hinchinbrook in north Queensland, has been listed for sale.
Liquidators FTI Consulting have engaged CBRE to sell the Hinchinbrook Island Resort and Port Hinchinbrook assets.
The high profile Cardwell properties, located at the halfway point between Cairns and Townsville, were developed by the late Keith Williams. 
CBRE’s Danny Betros and Rem Rafter will steer the sales campaign with offers closing 26 August.
The Hinchinbrook Island Resort closed in 2010, just prior to Cyclone Yasi, while the commercial tenancies at Port Hinchinbrook were closed in 2011, as a result of damage caused by the cyclone.
Cardwell is situated on the Bruce Highway, 171 kilometres north of Townsville and 203 kilometres south of Cairns at the gateway to the Cassowary Coast Region. 
The FTI offering comprises two distinct assets: Port Hinchinbrook, comprising circa 94.5 hectares of land at Cardwell, and the Hinchinbrook Island Resort situated 8 kilometres off the Cardwell coast.
Port Hinchinbrook was developed in the 1990s, with marina basins and boat channels formed at Oyster Point. Developer Williams Corp created more than 200 single residential, medium density residential and commercial lots adjacent to the marina.
Current improvements include a tavern, a marina office and a single level commercial building. There is also capacity to rebuild the 200-250-berth Port Hinchinbrook Marina, which was substantially destroyed by Cyclone Yasi.
Also up for sale is the Hinchinbrook Island Resort, which was developed under a special crown lease on 8.26ha of waterfront site with frontage to Turtle Beach.
Improvements include 22 accommodation units, a lodge which was used for dining and recreational purposes, staff accommodation, water, electricity, sewerage infrastructure, a pool and a jetty/mooring site.
However, Mr Betros said the resort had suffered extensive damage since Cyclone Yasi.
<a href="https://www.porthinchinbrook.com.au/about/developer" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Keith Williams</a> was a visionary who for well over four decades built Queensland’s major tourist attractions starting with Sea World on the Southport Spit in the 1970s, then Hamilton Island Resort and Harbour in the 1980s.
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Keith Williams' Port Hinchinbrook dream for sale

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A Chinese-owned, South Australian-based company has paid about $15.5 million for the Yaldara Winery, one of the most picturesque and attractive wine tourist destinations in South Australia.
Two senior winemakers will be retained to help retain the quality of vineyard’s ports and sherries during the transition.
The sale is reliant on new owners, 1847 Winery, receiving a liquor licence for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chateau_Yaldara" target="_blank">chateau</a>.
It was founded by the Hermann Thumm in 1947 after he emigrated in 1946.
The Lyndoch location was chosen on the banks of the North Para River at an old flour mill dating back to 1867.
 The winery was named Yaldara after the local aboriginal word meaning "sparkling". After over 50 years ownership Hermann Thumm sold the winery in 1999 to the wine company McGuigan Wines, the latest vendors.
The 1847 company reportedly secured its initial SA operation from the former international businessman, John Curnow, and his wife, Sue. It was at Rowland Flat in the Barossa, with the niche brand 1847 Fine Wines, named after the original survey date of the property.
<div class="page" title="Page 5">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The Curnow's pursued the Chinese investor market through the Gaetjens Langley Guangzhou office before its 2011 sale.
Arthur Wang, a resident of Sydney with property interests in both Sydney and Qingdao, struck a deal for the walk in-walk out sale of 1847 <a href="https://www.wineryforsale.com.au/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ed-6-Newsletter-July-2011.pdf" target="_blank">which was featured on the cover of Valuer &amp; Broker in mid-2011</a>.
John Curnow family continues to consult to the business. 
</div>
</div>
</div>
Officially 1847 is owned by Zhitai Wang and Kuifen Wang from Adelaide’s sister city Qingdao, in Shandong province in China.
The McGuigan's will concentrate on building sales in its McGuigan, Tempus Two and Nepenthe brands.
Picture courtesy of <a class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/30659367@N00" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Graeme Churchard</a>a/ <a class="mw-mmv-license cc-license" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0" target="_blank">CC BY 2.0</a>. 
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Chinese snap up Barossa Valley Chateau Yaldara winery

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The REA Group has paid $106 million for 17.2% of iProperty Group, the digital property advertising website in Malaysia, Singapore and South East Asia.
REA bought the stake in iProperty from the French real estate business SeLoger.com.
The $3.40 per share price is a substantial premium to the last closing price of $3.12, but appeared to be well accepted by the stockmarket.
Its 52 week trading range has been between $1 and $4.04.
The ASX listed shares of IPP jumped 16% this morning on the announcement. It closed the day up 18% at $3.69.
“This acquisition provides us with a strategic stake in one of the fastest growing real estate markets in the world and complements our existing business in Hong Kong, and the recent launch of MyFun.com and our partnership with Soufun.com in China,” REA interim chief executive Peter Tonagh told the stock exchange.
REA’s international reach already included <a href="https://www.athome.lu/" target="_blank">Luxembourg</a>, <a href="https://www.casa.it/" target="_blank">Italy</a>, <a href="https://www.squarefoot.com.hk/" target="_blank">Hong Kong</a>, <a href="https://www.athome.de/" target="_blank">Germany</a>, <a href="https://myfun.com/" target="_blank">China </a>and <a href="https://www.immoregion.fr/" target="_blank">France</a>.
iProperty has online property portals in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong, as well as investments in India and the Philippines.
The iProperty Group has Georg Chmiel as its chief executive.
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Premium paid as REA expands in Asia with 17% of iProperty website

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Ant Deague, the son of hotel entrepreneur David Deague, has his resort-style Toorak home listed for sale.
It is an elegant single-level home at 1 Eldene Court.
Kay &amp; Burton expect offers of $5 million.
Ant Deague replaced the house on the 590 square metre block (pictured below) which cost $2.26 million in 2012.
<img src="/images/2014/07/28/toorak%20july%2028%20two.jpg" alt="">
It has been listed as he's now off to St Georges Road, Toorak which he bought at weekend auction for $2.7 million at RT Edgar auction.
It's an art deco maisonette (pictured in the gallery at the top of page) which had five interested parties when offered by <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/52-saint-georges-road-toorak/Property-Details-buy-residential-7319039" target="_blank">agents Ivan Galjar and Warwick Anderson</a>.
The original condition 1937 mansion four-bedroom house was lived owned by the late society couple Patricia and Gordon Jackson for five deacdes. 
Ant's brother, Jono recently sold in South Yarra.
Property entrepreneur Jono Deague and his wife, photographer Ella had $5 million plus hopes<a href="https://www.kayburton.com.au/property/99-millswyn-street-south-yarra" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> through Kay &amp; Burton agents Michael Armstrong and Michael Gibson</a>.
The couple undertook a major renovation on the Millswyn Street property when they moved into the Botantic Gardens precinct.
Jono (Jonathan) Deague is the executive director at Asia Pacific Group, which owns the Art Series Hotel Group, a collection of boutique hotels that includes the Blackman Hotel on St Kilda Road, Cullen Hotel in Prahran, and Olsen Hotel in South Yarra. 
<img src="/images/2014/07/28/south%20yarra%20july%2028.jpg" alt="">
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Ant Deague swapping Toorak mansion for masionette

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The empty late-Victorian, double fronted home that Raine &amp; Horne auctioned this weekend was sold for $1.42 million to north shore downsizers who will make the move to Leichhardt following extensive renovations.
Graffiti artists had left their mark, but the now well fenced property on the corner of Thornley and Cary Streets still retains elegant period details including ceiling roses, bay windows, cornices and blue gum floorboards throughout the remaining four rooms of the original 1883 house.
There were 20 registered bidders seeking <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-leichhardt-117443451" target="_blank">the i</a><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-leichhardt-117443451" target="_blank">nner west offering</a>, with many owner builders among the nine who got to lodge bids at the onsite auction. But it was buyers from Pymble who secured the prize after bidding began at $1 million.
"Yes you will be going to Bunnings Hardware," auctioneer Tom Panos said seeking the opening bid.
"It was an ideal canvas with potential to build one of the area's finest homes," Jonathan Hammond, the Raine &amp; Horne Montano selling agent said of the 360 square metre block.
The pre-auction price estimate was $1.2 million plus. It last traded in 1981 for $177,500.
A $2.19 million Croydon Park result was the top sale.
With 388 results in by Saturday evening, the Domain Group's APM put the preliminary Sydney clearance rate at 77.1%.
It was 73% in Melbourne. The top Melbourne sale amid the 492 results was a $3 million Brighton sale.
The prior Saturday's results were revised down a tad to 73% in Sydney and 70% in Melbourne.
 
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Renovator's delight at 54 Thornley Street Leichhardt sells to north shore downsizers

Kew has long been regarded as one of Melbourne's premier residential suburbs. It's a location defined by its grand period homes, leafy streets and some of the city's most prestigious schools, yet it has often sat just outside the spotlight cast on neighbouring Hawthorn and Camberwell.

Increasingly, however, buyers are recognising that Kew offers much of what draws people to those suburbs, with a quieter residential setting, exceptional amenity and long-term owner-occupier appeal.

Within a few minutes' walk, residents can access Kew Junction, one of Melbourne's most established village centres. Cafés, bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets, boutique retailers and everyday services are all on the doorstep, with local favourites including Centonove, Adeney Milk Bar Cafe, and Frank &amp; Harri creating the type of walkable lifestyle that has become increasingly difficult to find in Melbourne's inner east. Beyond the immediate neighbourhood, Glenferrie Road's renowned shopping and dining precinct in Hawthorn and the retail, dining and entertainment offerings of Camberwell Junction are both just a short drive or tram ride away.

The suburb is equally well connected. Tram routes 48 and 109 provide direct access to the CBD, while High Street and Cotham Road connect residents to the wider inner east.&nbsp;Nearby access to the Eastern Freeway also places the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne Airport within easy reach, adding another layer of convenience for weekend travel.&nbsp;It's a rare combination of connectivity and tranquillity, where quiet residential streets sit just moments from some of Melbourne's most established shopping and lifestyle precincts.

For families, Kew remains one of Melbourne's most tightly held addresses. Carey Baptist Grammar School, Xavier College, Methodist Ladies' College, Trinity Grammar, Ruyton Girls' School and Genazzano FCJ College are all nearby, while the Yarra River parklands, walking trails and sporting clubs provide another layer of lifestyle appeal.

It's within this established pocket that developer Ricdanic is delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/wimba-ave-kew-9-11-wimba-avenue-kew-vic-3101">Wimba Ave</a>, a boutique collection of just 13 residences across two buildings named after its location on the tree-lined Wimba Avenue,&nbsp;within one of Kew's most prestigious pockets where homes have been known to sell up to and above $8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=354809]

The residences prioritise the space that buyers are increasingly searching for but struggling to find in established suburbs. Living areas extend beyond five metres in width, ceiling heights range from three to five metres, and apartments open onto private gardens averaging around 125 sqm. Selected residences also feature balconies of approximately 60 sqm, while premium inclusions include Miele appliances, double-glazed windows, EV readiness, fully electric systems and a 7.2 NatHERS energy rating.

Architect Chris Idle says opportunities to deliver homes of this scale within established suburbs have become increasingly uncommon.

"There are very few opportunities to do these kinds of developments in leafy, established suburbs," he says. "To get this level of amenity, natural light, and architectural freedom in such a setting is extremely rare."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=366267]

The architecture draws on Kew's established character through the use of handmade Krause bricks, while landscaping by John Patrick introduces 23 plant species, including nine native varieties, creating an environment which focuses just as much on nature as it does the building.

Construction on Wimba Ave is well underway by renowned high-end builder Sinjen, with completion expected in late 2027. Prices start from $2.22 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140755]

Joel Robinson

The enduring appeal of Kew's tree-lined streets and village lifestyle

"For me, it's the location." That was the first thing Chris pointed to when reflecting on why he and his wife Marita decided to purchase at Candela Ivanhoe, the under-construction new apartment development by Salter Brothers in the heart of the north-eastern M​elb​ourne​ suburb. ​

"We've lived here before… everything is here," Chris said.

"Our doctor is around the corner, there's dentists, pilates, everything we need, restaurants, fast food places, two train stations, Ivanhoe and Darebin, both in walking distance. You don't need anything else."

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X8K0Bozug7A?si=Puwc6vx_ZO0qQZF8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Just 10 kilometres from Melbo​urn​e's CBD, Ivanhoe combines direct city connectivity with the amenity of an established village community. Residents have access to highly regarded schools, expansive parklands, public transport, and a thriving retail and hospitality precinct centred around Upper Heidelberg Road, all within a neighbourhood that has retained its leafy character despite its proximity to the city.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/candela-ivanhoe-40-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Candela Ivanhoe</a> sits within the heart of this established landscape, positioned just moments from Ivanhoe Village and within walking distance of many of the suburb's most sought-after amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=364553]

From Candela, residents can access cafés, grocers, wine bars, restaurants and essential services on foot, while Ivanhoe Station and Darebin Station provide direct connectivity across Mel​bour​ne. The development is also surrounded by some of the suburb's best-known lifestyle destinations, including Pinkie, Laurent, Enni, Docasa and Woodfire Pizza e Cucina, alongside Ivanhoe Plaza, Woolworths, pharmacies and specialty retailers.

Green space is another defining feature of the suburb. Darebin Parklands, Ivanhoe Park, Nellie Ibbot Park and the Yarra River trail network provide extensive opportunities for recreation, while Ivanhoe Golf Course and Ivanhoe Tennis Club continue to underpin the area's long-established lifestyle appeal.

The suburb's education offering further strengthens demand. Ivanhoe Grammar School, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School, Mary Immaculate Primary School and Ivanhoe Primary School have helped establish the area as one of Melbou​​rne's most sought-after schooling precincts, attracting families and downsizers alike who want to remain connected to the area.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357510]

While location was the priority for Marita and Chris, the project itself also needed to meet their expectations.

"Whilst location was paramount, I was also looking at design of the environment and Candela ticked every box," Marita said.

"We're just thrilled with our choice."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=336455]

Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>, Candela Ivanhoe has been designed to complement its village setting, with an emphasis on generous floorplans, natural light and practical everyday living.

Residents will have access to a range of shared amenities, including a communal rooftop garden and dedicated residential lounge, complemented by a ground-floor café and lifestyle wellbeing centre, helping foster the sense of community already emerging among future owners.

That approach has resonated strongly with the market. More than 90 per cent of purchasers at Candela Ivanhoe are owner-occupiers, with buyers ranging from downsizers and second-home buyers to young families and first home buyers, creating a genuinely multi-generational community of grandparents, parents and children. It reflects a broader shift across Melbo​​urne's apartment market, where buyers are increasingly prioritising neighbourhood quality, lifestyle amenity and long-term liveability.

Currently under construction by Ironside, Candela Ivanhoe comprises 58 apartments. Candela Ivanhoe is scheduled for completion in the coming months, and residents can move in from September. One to four bedroom residences, prices from $649,000 and limited opportunities remaining.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=342]

Location and lifestyle drive demand at Candela Ivanhoe

As apartment buyers increasingly look beyond the four walls of their residence, the quality and depth of shared amenity has become a defining factor in how developments are designed and experienced, particularly in the high-rise, new apartment development space.

In Southbank, where high-density living continues to evolve, developers are placing greater emphasis on creating environments that support wellbeing, connection, and convenience as part of everyday life.

That approach sits at the heart of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aura-at-melbourne-square-7-hoff-boulevard-southbank-vic-3006">AURA</a>, the latest residential tower in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/osk-property">OSK Property</a>’s $3.5 billion Melbourne Square precinct. Rising 67 storeys above Hoff Boulevard, the 673-apartment development has been conceived around what OSK describes as a “vertical wellness ecosystem”, a layered collection of amenities that extends throughout the building rather than being confined to a single podium level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370263]

The amenity offering begins on the seventh level within the AURA Club, a dedicated resident hub focused on health, relaxation, and daily convenience. Here, residents will have access to an indoor swimming pool, cold plunge, spa, sauna, and steam room, alongside a fully equipped gym, reformer Pilates studio, and yoga room.

The wellness facilities are complemented by a range of spaces that acknowledge the changing ways people live and work. Work-from-home lounges and co-working areas sit alongside a library, music room, games room, cinema facilities, and open-air terrace spaces, providing residents with flexible environments that can adapt throughout the day.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367468]

Beyond the internal amenity, AURA introduces a series of Japanese-inspired gardens that form a quieter counterpoint to the tower’s social spaces.

Landscaped retreats feature curated outdoor dining, tranquil courtyard seating, fire pit, and a tea house pavilion. Rather than functioning as simple recreational areas, the gardens have been designed as places for reflection and informal gathering, drawing on principles of balance, nature, and calm that underpin the project's broader design philosophy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367810]

The social amenity continues to evolve as residents move higher through the building. Levels 49 and 50 house the Meridian Club, where a lounge bar, conservatory spaces, and private dining rooms take advantage of elevated city views. At the summit of the tower, the exclusive Cumulus Club spans Levels 66 and 67, offering additional lounges, private dining, and meditation and treatment rooms positioned above Melbourne’s skyline.

For OSK Property, the extensive amenity offering reflects a broader focus on wellbeing as a core component of apartment living rather than an added feature.

“Aura stands tall as an exemplar of holistic wellness – its focus on social, physical and mental health culminate in a building that is calming, restorative and relaxing, where residents will have their own sanctuary within the well-connected and sought-after Southbank,” says OSK Property CEO Chong Boon Woon.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367796]

AURA’s amenity strategy extends beyond the tower itself through its integration with the wider Melbourne Square precinct.

Residents will have direct access to Kennedy Park, Southbank’s 3,745 sqm landscaped public park, alongside a full-line Woolworths supermarket, childcare centre, hospitality venues, and approximately 1,600 sqm of additional retail planned within AURA’s lower levels. Together, these elements create a highly connected residential environment where daily needs, recreation, and wellness are woven into the fabric of the community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370253]

As Melbourne’s apartment market continues to mature, developments are increasingly judged by the lifestyle they provide beyond individual residences.

Through its combination of wellness facilities, landscaped retreats, social clubs, and precinct-wide amenity, AURA represents a shift toward a more comprehensive model of vertical living, one where shared spaces play as significant a role as the homes themselves.

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AURA elevates amenity living at Melbourne Square

Builder-developer Scion is the latest to target Sydney's booming Hills Showground Metro precinct, filing plans for more than 100 apartments within walking distance of the station.

Scion has lodged a concurrent rezoning and State Significant Development Application for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/27-33-middleton-avenue-castle-hill-nsw-2154">27–33 Middleton Avenue</a>, where it plans to replace four existing homes with an 11 and 14-storey mixed-use development comprising 109 apartments, six affordable housing dwellings, and a ground-floor café.

Designed by BHK Architects, the proposal includes three levels of basement parking with 174 spaces, more than 1,200 sqm of communal open space, and extensive landscaping across the 3,791 sqm site.

The development has been designed as two buildings connected by a recessed wintergarden spine, with the 14-storey building positioned to the south and the 11-storey building to the north.

<img alt="Scion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="64dc359d-736b-43b8-87a8-70a8285cab47" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-25%20at%208.47.01%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=PXh.m8id_aevBPHEckPf88wQ2RQThPos" />

The apartment mix has been weighted towards owner-occupiers, with 13 one-bedroom apartments, 55 two-bedroom residences, 31 three-bedroom apartments, six three-bedroom lofts, and four four-bedroom homes. Six apartments will be dedicated as affordable housing in line with the NSW Housing SEPP.

According to the Architectural Design Report by BKH, the proposal seeks to create "a place-responsive architecture" inspired by the natural landscape surrounding Cattai Creek, while strengthening the public domain through landscaping, active frontages and a neighbourhood café.

Atlas Urban, in its Urban Design Report, says the proposal takes a different approach to increasing density around Hills Showground Station by favouring a more slender, vertically articulated built form over a conventional mid-rise outcome. The report argues this allows for greater deep soil planting, improved solar access and a better public domain outcome, while still delivering additional housing close to rapid public transport.

The site sits around 500 metres from Hills Showground Metro Station, within a precinct earmarked for significant residential intensification following the opening of the Sydney Metro Northwest line. Planning documents accompanying the application note that Greater Sydney's population has grown by more than one million people since planning for the precinct first began, reinforcing the need to accelerate housing delivery around existing transport infrastructure.

Scion is expanding its development pipeline which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/chatham-west-ryde-2-6-chatham-road-west-ryde-nsw-2114">Chatham in West Ryde</a>, 62 apartments which are approaching completion. They also have a State Significant Development Application with the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/96-anzac-avenue-west-ryde-nsw-2114">145 apartments on Anzac Avenue</a>, also in West Ryde.

First look: Scion plots Castle Hill apartment development near Hills Showground Metro Station

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>&nbsp;has unveiled its scaled-back plans for a pair of towers rising up to 49 storeys directly opposite Bella Vista Metro Station.

The builder-developer will deliver 674 apartments and a new mixed-use hub at the gateway to the station precinct.

The State Significant Development Application has been lodged under the Housing Delivery Authority pathway for the 6,979 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/9-11-mawson-avenue-bella-vista-nsw-2153">9-11 Mawson Avenue</a>, with the apartments sitting above a mixed-use podium. Initial plans were for closer to 900 apartments across two 40-storey towers.

Located around 30 metres from the Bella Vista Metro Station entrance, the development is intended to act as a catalyst for the long-planned Bella Vista Station Precinct, transforming a vacant site into a transit-oriented residential and commercial destination.

Planning documents describe the project as delivering "a high-density mixed use destination that combines housing, retail and community-serving uses in a highly accessible setting."

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 674-apartment Bella Vista towers opposite Metro station" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="21c08216-589e-490d-ad08-2d88b6fa62d9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bella%20vista%20podium.png?VersionId=3TnwjjQCNwTsmyQRaWnFrLTSAF0CJeka" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/turner-studio">Turner</a>, with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, the project comprises 674 apartments, including 102 affordable housing dwellings representing 15 per cent of the residential floor space. The housing mix spans studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, alongside a collection of townhouse-style residences integrated into the podium levels. The development also includes specialist disability accommodation and an elevated provision of adaptable and liveable housing.

The mixed-use podium has been designed to create an active urban centre around the Metro station, incorporating a 1,423 sqm supermarket, a 3,029 sqm gym, specialty retail spaces, a 100-place childcare centre and a publicly accessible "city room" community space. A secondary laneway, active frontages and landscaped public areas are intended to improve pedestrian connectivity through the site and strengthen links between the station precinct and surrounding neighbourhood.

In the project's design report, Turner said the proposal responds to Bella Vista's emerging role as a higher-density centre within Sydney's north-west growth corridor.

"The project transforms a strategically located site into a high-density mixed use destination that combines housing, retail and community-serving uses in a highly accessible setting," the report states.

"Active frontages, a publicly accessible city room, a secondary laneway and a mix of uses including a local supermarket, child care centre and gym create a more complete and socially useful urban environment for residents, workers and the wider community."

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 674-apartment Bella Vista towers opposite Metro station" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0fde6220-82de-4f6a-9b63-d0fd8157acc9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bella%20vista%20da.png?VersionId=7hEmuSutH8plTd_RqqdmPu055F6qe554" />

Urban Property Group has been one of the busiest developers across Greater Sydney this year.

The developer is progressing around 1,000 apartments across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-urban-property-group-plans-next-major-wollongong-tower">two projects in Wollongong</a>, with several thousand more homes in the pipeline across Newcastle, Castle Hill, Little Bay and Penrith.

Jonathan Chancellor

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