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A striking Alex Popov-designed Hunters Hill riverfront house last traded in 2007 for $3.55 million and fetched $3.85 million at weekend auction.
With expansive Lane Cove River views, the contemporary, three-level Bonnefin Road residence comes with plunge pool and sauna.
The five-bedroom, four-bathroom property sold through <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-hunters+hill-116789471" target="_blank">Savills agents Adam Ross and Shayne Harris </a>in conjunction with BresicWhitney
It was the weekend's highest reported auction sale. Bidding kicked off at $2.9 million before a crowd of 60 attendees.  There were some 37 bids with Adam Ross of Savills the architect was a big draw card. 
“Popov is one of those architects with a cult following."
Title Tattle gathers one of the bidders missed out on his third desired Popov home.
The split-level home was built for then Vogue chief financial officer Aye-Ling Koh set on its 1,114 square metre holding.
There is floor-to-ceiling glass and wrap-around decking.
It was built in 2000 after the block was bought in 1995 for $550,000 with the home designed based around a central pavilion with a wing on each side.
Popov had the main pavilion with the kitchen and a dining area overlooking the living room.
In the eastern wing Popov placed the main bedroom with ensuite, walk-in dressing room and northerly views across the river. The level below had another bedroom with an ensuite.
The western wing had two bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry and sauna.
Nicholas McEvoy mentioned over 100 groups viewed the home. 
"It’s exciting to see homes on this side of Hunters Hill now achieving close to $4 million which is typically only seen on the peninsula, the sale is now the highest price achieved for the location.” 
The last known Alex Popov-designed waterfront house sale was last August when $3.75 million was secured in North Sydney, having passed in at its March auction.
Some 888 homes were listed to go under the hammer, the second highest number of auctions conducted on a weekend for the year next to the record-breaking pre-Easter super Saturday of auctions on April 12th when 1,111 properties were auctioned.
Sydney’s Super Saturday secured a 78.9% preliminary success rate, according to Australian Property Monitors.
Sydney had more properties auctioned and sold over the first five months of this year compared to the same period in any prior year.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Alex Popov, Hunters Hill-design tops Sydney weekend auctions

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Higham, the five bedroom <a href="/news">Hawthorn East</a> residence, was the weekend's highest auction sale.
It sold for $5.2 million through Ross Savas and Sam Wilkinson of Kay &amp; Burton.
Last sold in 1988 for around $940,000, it is a <a href="https://www.kayburton.com.au/property/6-higham-road-hawthorn-east" target="_blank">gracious English-inspired solid brick two storey home on 1,450 square metres</a> in Higham Road.
The road had two sales above $3.3 million last year.
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Higham, Hawthorn East trophy home sells for $5.2 million, weekend's highest sale

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REA Group has appointed Tracey Fellows as its new chief executive.
Fellows was previously at Australia Post and prior to that she was Microsoft vice president for the Asia-Pacific region.
“We believe that Tracey is the perfect fit for the company and we look forward to seeing her apply her leadership experience as we navigate through the next evolution of our business,” chairman Hamish McLennan said.
REA, the operator of Australia’s number one property website realestate.com.au, needed to replace Greg Ellis who left to run the German real estate business, Scout24. Ellis announced his resignation last December.
REA's market value sits at around $6 billion with News Corporation owning 61% of REA.
Fellows, who will start at REA in September, was assisting Australia Post’s plans to transition to digital as executive general manager of communication management services at Australia Post since February last year.
Previously Fellows was Microsoft vice-president for the Asia-Pacific region based in Singapore, overseeing sales, services, and marketing for 12 countries in the region.
Tracey was managing director of Microsoft in Australia and New Zealand from 2007-2010, and held the role of Microsoft Australia chief operating officer from 2004-2007.
Tracey will replace interim REA CEO Peter Tonagh who has held the role since March.
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Australia Post's Tracey Fellows to head REA Group

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All 129 apartments in AQUA, the latest Bondi Junction project, sold out at the weekend.
The sales by developer, Leighton Properties and Qualitas secured $130 million through Colliers International.
<img src="/images/2014/06/02/bondi_0003_Salessuitebusy-.jpg" alt="">
The 20-level development is situated opposite Westfield Bondi Junction.
An 111 square metre three-bedroom 20th floor apartment sold for $2.17 million.
The development comprised one, two and three bedroom apartments designed by KANNFINCH and DC8 Studio.
The two-tower building on the corner of Oxford Street and Hollywood Avenue will have interiors designed by Koichi Takada.
There will be two rooftop gardens and lobby lounge space.
Koichi Takada said that he incorporated two distinct schemes; one called ‘Breeze’ and the other ‘Drift.’
Peter Chittenden, managing director at Colliers International, said that the development is on the most prominent site at Bondi Junction, and is one of the last high-rise opportunities for the foreseeable future.
“Residents need never use their car to get to work, do the shopping or meet friends for a drink, reducing the stress of urban life and easing pressure on the environment,” Chittenden said in the lead up to the launch.
A prospective buyer advised Property Observer that they missed out on their preferred apartment after lodging a deposit.
<a href="/news/nsw/two-20-storey-apartment-towers-aqua-to-be-launched-in-bondi-junction">The initial enquiry page had interested buyers able to select options</a> on a studio from "under $500,000" to "$600,000 plus", one-bedroom from "under $600,000" to "$800,000 plus", two-bedrooms from "under $900,000" to "$1.2 million plus" and three-bedroom properties from "under $900,000" to "$2 million plus".
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Bondi Junction AQUA off the plan sellout leaves buyers scrambling to secure apartments

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The RBA will be interested that national house values have fallen in May, as they have in each of the past three Mays.
But May's fall is the first monthly fall in values since May 2013. It was down by 1.9% in May – the biggest fall since December 2008.
Meanwhile construction is coming along nicely, with <a href="/news/victoria-loses-residential-building-crown-to-nsw-hia">NSW taking the crown from Victoria as the national's busiest new home market</a>.
That means, other than the post-budget consumer blues, there's little reason for the RBA board to do anything but issue their monthly minutes this June.
But Luci Ellis, the head of the RBA's financial stability department, was spot on when she told the CITI Residential Housing Conference last month that there will be more periods where prices are falling a little in absolute terms in future property market cycles.
<a href="https://www.finder.com.au/rba-cash-rate" target="_blank">My RBA cash rate forecast</a> gets published every month on finder.com.au.
Today's RP Data Rismark Index indicated a national fall in combined capital city dwelling values by 1.9% over the month. Only Darwin and Canberra went up in May.
<img src="/images/2014/06/02/rp-data-june-2-one.gif" alt="">
According to RP Data research director Tim Lawless, the dip can likely be attributed to both seasonality and more moderate housing market conditions.
Across most of the individual capital cities, dwelling values were also down over the month, led by Melbourne with a 3.6% reduction in values.
Sydney, which has been the stand-out performer, experienced a 1.1% fall in prices in May. Prices were up 2.2% over the past quarter.
Since the market low of May 2012, Sydney’s values have climbed 21.1%.
Over the past three months national capital city dwelling values are up 0.7% the lowest rolling quarterly rate of dwelling value appreciation since the three months ending June 2013.
In the May quarter Darwin was the strongest performer, up 5.5%. Melbourne was the weakest over the quarter. Brisbane prices were down 1.7% for the month but rose 2.2% in the quarter.
Prices in Perth and Canberra prices remain flat with little change over the May quarter.
<img src="/images/2014/06/02/rp-data-june-2-two.gif" alt="">
CommSec chief economist Craig James said after the latest data that "house prices couldn’t lift forever."
"At some point there had to be a correction and it seems the Federal Budget caused people to pause and take stock. 
"But the Reserve Bank will take the latest data on home prices in its stride. 
"Auction clearance rates were still healthy over the weekend, so the drop in home prices may just be the pause that refreshes. 
"In addition interest rates are low and there is evidence that the job market is improving. 
"The Reserve Bank can still afford to stay on the interest rate sidelines – perhaps to late 2014 or early 2015," James said
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Last month's price growth dip the first since May 2013, so RBA will be content

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Baltimore, a five bedroom, 2010-built home in Adelaide's prestigious suburb, Springfield sold for $3.26 million at weekend auction.
It came with twin garages for up to 17 cars. There is one garage space that is 16.5 metres by 12.6 metres wide, and another space at 11.4 metres by 5.2 metres wide.
The 1584 square metre grounds had swimming pool and tennis court.
The home has a commercial-grade eight person lift which leads down to a garage with its polished Italian stone tiles. 
"A car collector's paradise," was how <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-springfield-112472467" target="_blank">John Williams at Harcourts Brock Williams marketed the property</a> for its May 31 auction, offered under bank instructions.
There were around 30 bids from the five registered bidders.
The property had previously transferred at $4.25 million in mid-2012, before it was initially listed with $4.5 million hopes in late 2012. Last November there were $3.9 million hopes through Jamie Brown at Bernard H Booth.  
<a href="https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/realestate/lavish-living-with-built-in-batcave-at-17-elmglade-rd-springfield/story-e6frefdl-1226532422618" target="_blank">The 2012 buyer, then vendor was reportedly George Nowak from the Charterhill Group who suggested "</a><a href="https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/realestate/lavish-living-with-built-in-batcave-at-17-elmglade-rd-springfield/story-e6frefdl-1226532422618" target="_blank">it feels like you have your own David Jones carpark."</a> 
"There is a home theatre in the garage so it's almost like a Batcave style and has a magnificent feel and amazing acoustics," he also said when it was offered in late 2012.
But Nowak, whose SA accountancy firm specialising in SMSF property collapsed last year, had bought the Springfield property via a family member, according to the SA Today Tonight program. <a href="https://www.todaytonightadelaide.com.au/stories/charterhill" target="_blank">There was $500,000 vendor finance, the Today Tonight reporter Frank Pangallo said</a>.
The house sits behind electric entrance gates.
<a href="https://www.brockwilliams.net.au/selling/SA/Eastern-Suburbs/SPRINGFIELD/House/1P0845" target="_blank">The property traded in 2008 at $1.2 million</a> with an eight bedroom Georgian style home.
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Springfield's 17 car garage trophy mansion sells for $1 million less

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Musk Farm sold at its overcast onsite weekend auction for $1.59 million through the Pat Rice &amp; Hawkins agency.
The late interior designer Stuart Rattle and cattle farmer Michael O'Neill, partners for 16 years, paid $93,000 in 1998 with a $76,000 mortgage, for what was to become their expanded renovated Musk Farm, Daylesford masterpiece.
Selling agent Matt Childs had anticipated the <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/11-school-road-musk/Property-Details-buy-residential-7025401" target="_blank">cottage</a> on 1.2 hectares would <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/11-school-road-musk/Property-Details-buy-residential-7025401" target="_blank">fetch $1 million plus</a>, with it announced on the market at $1.14 million.
<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/2014/06/02/musk-june-2-two.jpg" alt="">
There were six bidders who pushed the final sale price well above expectation after the $850,000 opening bid by the eventual buyer. Property Observer gathers the East Melbourne buyers will have Musk Farm as their weekender.
The auction attracted 350 plus attendees to the Victorian central highlands offering. The underbidder, standing with glasses (pictured below), congratulated the buyer in the sienna orange jumper.
<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/2014/06/02/musk-june-2-four.jpg" alt="">
 <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/2014/06/02/musk-june-2-one.jpg" alt="">
A clearance rate of 73% was recorded this weekend compared to 71% last weekend, from the bumper 1,057 auctions reported to the REIV. More than 10,000 homes have been sold at auction so far this year.
The Rattle estate included an adjoining 30 hectare cattle farm lot in the acclaimed Daylesford district expected to fetch $550,000 plus, sold for $660,000 to other buyers. Subject to council approval, the holding could get a residence since it qualified above the 20 hectare minimum block size.
<a href="/news/vic/musk-farm-the-stuart-rattle-michael-oneill-garden-estate-listed-for-auction">The former school property</a> started as a derelict garden overun with blackberries. 
<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/2014/06/02/musk-june-2-three.jpg" alt="">
But taking their inspiration from the English Arts and Crafts movement of Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll, the couple set about its restoration starting with the planting of hydrangeas outside the 1880s old school house.
It comes with chinese tea house and a garden with 16 distinct garden rooms, joined by interconnecting walkways, and separated by large clipped hedges, English Box (Buxus sempervirens) and viburnum (Viburnum spp) and Ligustrum vulgare (Privet).
The garden, especially the pond, was not to its usual amazing high open day standard, looking slightly unkempt given the constraint on funds since the events of last December.
Attendees could partake in scones, iced yo-yos and Lavazza coffee with Peter Rowland catering.
Mossgreen auctioned the contents having set a pre-sale estimate of $299,000, but strong interest from around 600 registered bidders secured a sales tally of $711,000. A portrait of James, Duke of York, sold for $26,840, including buyers' premium. The family will donate a statue called The Thorn Boy from the gardens to the Wombat Botanical Gardens as a memorial for Stuart Rattle.
<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/2014/06/02/musk-june-2-five.jpg" alt="">
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Musk Farm sale draws big crowd to Stuart Rattle garden estate auction

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Furniture maker Nicholas Dattner has listed his redundant 1862 Collingwood kiln warehouse apartment.
It was fitted out in 1999, with copper fronted kitchen benches after it was bought for $280,000.
It has been leased for the past six years given his move to Castlemaine.
The three bedroom 16/26 Wellington Street apartment is tipped to fetched $1.35 million to $1.45 million at its <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-collingwood-115320547" target="_blank">21 June hockingstuart auction</a>.
Dattner thought about selling in 2007 but wanted $1.7 million for the apartment which was part of the sprawling former Carlton United Breweries operation that stretched from Victoria Parade to Gipps Street.
The brewery stopped work in the early 1990s.
Dattner long maintained a property at Chewton, near Castlemaine, then buying 60 hectares nearby, at Harcourt where he built an ultra-modern place inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright.
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Furniture maker Nicholas Dattner lists Collingwood kiln apartment

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The great Sydney weather and the five Saturdays in May before the June long weekend, have all assisted the record auction listing volumes.
And while there has been some buyer caution, certainly more evident than pre-Easter, the buyers have still put their hands up so that there have been record sales.
The have mostly maintained the revised auction clearance rate in the 70s.
It was running in the 80s pre-Easter especially on the preliminary results.
With bidding a little more cautious, the price growth has slowed a bit too.
Price are still rising, at around 2% a quarter, so down on the 15% annual rate of last year for Sydney.
One of the continued strong points has been the Chinese and Australian/Chinese buying.
It's remained especially strong in the off the plan offerings, and there are continued pockets of intensity in some established home markets, but I don't sense it is in the first home buyer segment.
This weekend is possibly the last big hurrah before the traditional winter hibernation. There are some 888 offerings, according to Australian Property Monitors.
Dr Andrew Wilson, the APM senior economist, notes Sydney’s inner west will host the most number of auctions this weekend with 160 followed by the city and east with 120.
The most popular suburbs listed for auction at the weekend in Sydney are <a href="/news">Mosman</a> on the lower north and <a href="/news">Epping</a> on the upper north shore, each with 12 homes scheduled to go under the hammer. 
Next most popular is <a href="/news">Randwick</a> in the city and east, <a href="/news">Blacktown</a> in the west, <a href="/news">Chatswood</a> on the upper north shore, <a href="/news">Maroubra</a> in the city and east and <a href="/news">Alexandria</a> in the inner west each with 11 homes listed for auction.
"Sydney will record its hottest ever autumn selling season with significantly more properties auctioned and sold over the first five months of this year compared to the same period in any other year," he advised.
The Sydney volumes have been at 100% higher than the same weekends last year on at least two weekends.
Sydney agents more than ever have been running campaigns this year urging vendors to consider winter listing.
They seem to have at least succeeded for the next fortnight as the long weekend has 380 scheduled auctions, which is 50% up on last year. 
Then some 570 offerings on the 14 June weekend, which is 25% busier than the same weekend last year.
Melbourne hasn't been too dis-similar although overcoming its early autumn waning, Melbourne's clearance rate is on the rise and the volumes have been running at around 50% higher listings  than last year.
However Melbourne’s weekend auction market will smash three records this weekend as the autumn selling season reaches a grand finale crescendo.
This weekend’s Super Saturday of auctions has 1,159 properties scheduled to going under the hammer which will be the third highest weekend for auctions this year, according to Dr Wilson.
"This year will not only break the record for the highest number of auctions ever conducted in the Melbourne metro area over a May with 4,450 listed, but will also likely break the record for the most number of auction sales recorded in the month of May.
"Melbourne has conducted more auctions over the first five months of this year than over the same period in any previous year," he said.
Melbourne’s inner suburbs dominate this weekend's auction listings with the inner east having 189 homes scheduled to go under the hammer, closely followed by the inner city with 188.
The most popular suburb for auction listings at the weekend in metro Melbourne is <a href="/news">Glen Iris</a> and <a href="/news">Richmond</a> each with 22.
With 18 auctions are <a href="/news">Brighton</a>, <a href="/news">Northcote</a> and <a href="/news">Camberwell</a>.
APM has 250 scheduled auctions on the long weekend, then 820 so that's slightly busier than the same time last year.
Picture courtesy of Tim J Keegan/Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>.
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Last weekend auction hurrah before winter hibernation?

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Karin Upton Baker's Elizabeth Bay dormer pied-a-terre, has been sold four years after the collapse of her husband Gary Baker's speculative property development empire. 
Title Tattle gleans it has been bought for just a little more than $5 million by a company directed by Phillip Wolanski, along with Melbournites, Stewart Baron and Sam Alter in a mortgagee sale by the lenders previously known as Challenger Managed Investments. The exchange took place earlier this month, with no settlement details yet available. The purchasing company, 27 Billyard Pty Ltd was only set up in mid-April by the veteran developers. Wolanski is known in the prestige neighbourhood for his Belltrees project.
The Bakers' then home, a mansard-roofed Billyard Avenue, Elizabeth Bay penthouse, had been initially listed for sale in 2010 as the couple fought litigation from lenders who claimed they were owned $18 million.
Upton Baker remains the managing director of French luxury-goods house Hermes's Australian operations where she has been for a dozen or so years. The indefatigable Karin Upton Baker was previously viewed as the magazine editor from Central Casting with her designer wardrobe, the Joh Bailey, Double Bay blow dry along with an apparent charm that had magazine advertisers eating out of her gloved hands. Hearst Magazines even had her fill in when Liz Tilberis, editor of US Harper's Bazaar, died in the late 1990s.
Gary Baker's three year bankruptcy concluded this week, his regularly sighted Rolls Royce driving seemingly just one of the quirks of the bankruptcy system.
Spotted around Camperdown in recent times, Gary Baker burst onto the eastern suburbs property scene in the brash late 1980s heydays when directing the aptly named Dynasty Pty Ltd, before adding Dredge &amp; Barge Pty Ltd, followed by Pile &amp; Bucket Pty Ltd.
The delayed sale was in part due to trying to align the strata plan in the sales contract with the final design of the neo-classical multi-levelled apartment that was their ever-enlarging home for two decades.
Gossip columnist Annette Sharp wrote in 2007 that the couple had then quietly put their Elizabeth Bay property on the market seeking $16 million for the three-level penthouse apartment through agent Jennine Leonarder-Collins before withdrawing it days later.
It came with rooftop garden, lap pool, billiards room, three bedrooms, Roman-style bathhouse and fleet parking. There was also Karin's department-store style wardrobe.
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Gary Baker and Karin Upton Baker's Elizabeth Bay penthouse abode finally sells

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> have celebrated the topping out of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf,</a> marking a significant milestone in the delivery of one of Syd​ney's most anticipated waterfront communities.

Located on Sydney's harbourfront at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a>, the project has now reached its highest structural point, with construction progressing strongly towards completion in 2027. 
&nbsp; 
The milestone was celebrated on-site with project partners Phoenix Property Investors, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Versatile Construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, consultants and stakeholders, to recognise the collective effort behind the transformation of the historic waterfront site into a vibrant new residential, marina and lifestyle destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362240] 
&nbsp; 
<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will deliver a mix of waterfront residences and terraces, complemented by a private 36-berth marina, waterfront dining opportunities and a revitalised foreshore designed to reconnect the community with the river's edge. 
&nbsp; 
Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said the project represented a rare opportunity to create the next chapter in Sydn​ey's long history of successful waterfront precincts. 
&nbsp; 
"Throughout Sydney, some of the city's most sought-after addresses have emerged from carefully considered waterfront precincts such as Woolloom​ooloo Wharf, Walsh Bay and Breakfast Point," Brown said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362566] 
&nbsp; 
"What makes these places so successful is that they become much more than residential developments," Brown said.

"They bring together homes, hospitality, marina facilities, public spaces and a strong sense of community in locations where future supply is incredibly limited."

Brown has long described absolute waterfront land in Sy​dney as "finite."

"Once these opportunities are developed, they are rarely replicated. That's why Syd​ney's waterfront precincts have consistently demonstrated strong demand and long-term value growth over many decades. 
&nbsp; 
"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is one of the few remaining opportunities to secure a residence within a masterplanned waterfront community that combines direct water access, marina ownership opportunities and a genuine village lifestyle just moments from the Sy​dney CBD."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362564] 
&nbsp; 
PERIFA Founder and Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said the project reflected a shared commitment to delivering exceptional places that create long-term value for residents and the broader community. 
&nbsp; 
"The topping out milestone is a significant achievement for the Versatile Group and a testament to the collaboration between all project partners, consultants and contractors involved," Perilli said. 
&nbsp; 
"Beyond the residences themselves, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will establish a new waterfront destination that celebrates the history, character and lifestyle of this unique location while creating a lasting legacy for future generations."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=291195] 
&nbsp; 
Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=13962]

Joel Robinson

Abadeen, PERIFA, top out Putney Wharf harbourfront precinct

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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Jonathan Chancellor

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