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Just in the past few weeks there has been a rapid turnover in prestige homes holding the mantle of the USA's most expensive residential property.
The latest was over the weekend when The New York Post reported the reputed US$147 million million sale of an 18-acre East Hampton property.
Property Observer lists the top five house sales with their nine figure prices. And throws in those that just fell short.
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The East Hampton beachfront estate of the Tweedy, Browne Company head Christopher H. Browne and his landscape architect partner, Andrew Gordon has been sold for the reputed $147 million. Browne left his entire estate to Gordon following his 2009 death at the age of 62, and Gordon, his partner of 10 year, lived at the property until his death from cancer aged 52 last September.  The New York Post reports that hedge fund manager Barry Rothstein of Jana Partners bought the 18-acre East Hampton property. It was 1996 when Browne bought the oceanfront estate which then had a 1950s house on the dunes. There is now an English country house in the center of the property, surrounded by formal English gardens and only remotely connected to the sea. The garden, with apple orchard near the road, and the ponds pre-date the house as on the purchase there had been an arrangement with the property’s previous owner, by which she could stay in the house for several more summers. The couple built <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/garden/04chris?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">a temporary 35-foot-tall observation platform</a> in the middle of the property to help them formulate their ideas for the overall design.  Gordon inherited the estate but only after a dozen of Browne's relatives, staff and friends dropped their court challenges to his 2008 will, accusing Gordon of taking advantage of Browne's alcoholism and diminished mental state. One lawsuit referred to Gordon as <a href="https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/architect-andrew-gordon-control-boyfriend-260-million-estate-article-1.1267194" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">"a cross between the American Gigolo and Claus von Bulow." </a>
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The US$120 million sale of Copper Beech Farm in Greenwich, Connecticut took place two weeks ago. It had been put on the market for $190 million but failed to secure the asking price. The sale of a waterfront mansion on 50 acres (18 hectares) in Greenwich was through <a href="https://www.davidogilvy.com/property/2630/address-not-available" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">David Ogilvy &amp; Associates, the Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate</a><a href="https://www.davidogilvy.com/property/2630/address-not-available" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">.</a> The 1898 neo-French Renaissance manor at at 499 Indian Field Road in Greenwich (pictured below) was sold by real estate mogul Stanley Kroenke.  <img src="/images/2014/05/05/3.jpg" alt=""> Copper Beech Farm was the home for seven decades of the Lauder Greenway family, co-founders of US Steel. With views across Long Island Sound, it is the largest waterfront estate on the coastline between Greenwich and New York City. The New York Times reported it last traded in 1981 for US$7.55 million when it was bought by timber magnate John Rudey, a timber magnate. <a href="https://blog.ctnews.com/propertyrounds/2014/04/11/breaking-copper-beech-farm-sells-for-120-million/#16190101=0" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">The news of the sale was broken by the local paper</a>. It was featured in a 1986 coffee table book highlighting the town’s 46 most architecturally significant historic abodes. 
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The US$117.5 million nine-acre Silicon Valley estate in San Francisco sits in third place. It was bought by Softbank billionaire Masayoshi Son in late 2012. The Mountain Home Road, Woodside, California comes with 9,000-square foot <a href="https://sfluxe.com/2013/01/24/woodside-home-sells-for-117500000/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">neo-classical house</a>, a 1,117-square foot colonnaded pool house, a detached library, a retreat building, a swimming pool, a tennis court and formal gardens.  The mansion (pictured below) is roughly 9,000 square feet, and was designed by Virginia-based architect Allan Greenberg. <img src="/images/2014/05/05/woodside.jpg" alt=""> Photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.jaygraham.com/" target="_blank">Jay Graham</a>. Created by Virginia-based architect Allan Greenberg, it was featured in Extraordinary Homes California: An Exclusive Showcase of the Finest Architects, Designers and Builders in California, in 2009. Greenberg, who is a member of the Architectural Digest 100, described the house as sitting in “an elaborate hilltop garden”, and noted that, in the Palladian tradition, “it is planned around hyphens and dependencies and features a double volume, elliptical garden room.” It has a pool, nine-acres of property, and is surrounded by 360-degree views of the Woodside Mountains. The residence was never publicly listed for sale was previously owned by Tully Friedman of Friedman Fleischer and Lowe LLC, a San Francisco investment firm. 
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The US$103 million purchase of fund manager Ron Baron in 2007 for an undeveloped 40-acre estate, also on Further Lane, East Hampton ranks fourth. It is where the billionaire is building a 28,000 square foot house.  Ron Baron's purchase of the <a href="https://mlbpark.donga.com/mbs/articleV.php?mbsC=bullpen&amp;mbsIdx=175237" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Further Lane de Menil Estate</a> at 260 Further Lane in East Hampton (pictured below) through his 260 A LLC company came at the height of the market. <img src="/images/2014/05/05/east%20hamptons.jpg" alt=""> Photo courtesy of Doug Kuntz/Splash News/Newscom. Subsequent reporting suggest he has built himself a home on the western third of the property, but now hopes to divide the remaining land into two oceanfront parcels with adjacent lots for guesthomes. The street-to-ocean developed properties could fetch upwards of US$42 million each according to a local broker, using a 10 acre parcel as a model. 
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Sitting in fifth place is the recent US$102 million sale of the Fleur de Lys Estate in Los Angeles’s Holmby Hills though not to Michael Milken <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/erincarlyle/2014/03/31/fleur-de-lys-estate-in-holmby-hills-sells-for-102-million-in-billionaire-bidding-war/" style="line-height: 1.3em;"></a>who denies it is him. So maybe it's a “highly secretive French billionaire”. Either way it is the most expensive home ever sold in L.A. County,<a href="https://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-fleur-de-lys-20140331,0,7233094.story#ixzz2xZG5fDYZ" target="_blank"> the Los Angeles Times</a> reported.
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Presumably the paperwork will show it exceded the 56,500-square-foot Aaron Spelling Manor in Los Angeles that sold for US$85 million in July 2011 when The The Manor in the Holmby Hills neighbourhood sold to the heiress Petra Eccleston, daughter of Formula One racing magnate Bernie Ecclestone.
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Sold by socialite and philanthropist Suzanne Saperstein, Fleur de Lys has 12 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, a ballroom, two kitchens, a massive movie theatre, a pool, tennis courts, and a nine-car garage. It had previously been listed for US$125 million.  <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/fleur-de-lys-back-on-market-2011-7" style="line-height: 1.3em;"></a>According to the LA Times, the 4.6-acre N Carolwood Drive estate was sold after a three-way bidding war among international billionaires, and the winner closed in 10 days in an all-cash deal that included the home’s antique furnishings.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleur_de_Lys_(Los_Angeles,_California)" target="_blank"> </a>
 All available now at $40,000 a week rental
There is always a little hyperbole and mystery regarding prestige sales. There were initial reports in 2011 that the Russian investor Yuri Milner, who made money from Facebook, spent US$100 million on a Silicon Valley real estate. But the <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/real-estate-news/ci_17692966?nclick_check=1" target="_blank">local paper</a> with access to records of the Santa Clara County assessor subsequently reported it was US$75 million on the 25,500-square-foot mansion in Los Altos Hills.
The previous record was US$95 million in 2008 for Maison de L'Amitie, an estate in Palm Beach, Florida, though Dmitri Rybolovlev, the Russian billionaire who reportedly bought the former Donald Trump house had always denied owning — until conceding a linkage in his divorce deposition. His lawyer says Rybolovlev pays its taxes and upkeep expenses, but doesn’t own the beachfront house at 515 N. County Road, formerly the Gosman estate. The questions were lodged by attorneys representing Dmitri’s estranged wife, Elena. 
The Milner purchase was through La Paloma Property LLC, according to county records, a limited liability company registered in Delaware, where business laws protect the identities of the principals in companies and partnerships, but the blog TechCrunch had the buyer as Yuri Milner, the Russian venture investor who founded the investment fund Digital Sky Technologies, now known as DST Global.
Some suggested the transaction combined cash and stock. 
The seller was Evershine III's tech tycoon Fred Chan, founder of ESS Technology in Fremont, and his wife, Annie, who built the hilltop house, which sits on a main parcel of 11 acres with two adjoining parcels off La Paloma Road. The five bedroom, nine bathroom house comes with a tennis court and car wash following its 2003 construction.
Subsequent local assessor appraisals suggested it was less than the price reputedly. Santa Clara Country <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/ci_20998327/russian-mogul-yuri-milner-silicon-valley-mansion-worth-half-its-price-100-million" target="_blank">assessor Larry Stone suggested the house's fair market value </a>was US$50,270,000. William Hablinksi, the architect, described the property on his website as an interpretation of the royal Chateau de Maisons and Anet. The total square footage rounds up to 30,000 square feet when you add in the 4,613-square-foot guest house. 
There have been other sales but of ranches including the Montana's Broken O Ranch sold at an unconfirmed price to billionaire St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke, according to The Wall Street, in 2012 having been listed at US$132 million by the estate of the William Moore family, founders of Kelly-Moore Paint Co.  The sale price of this 124,000-acre operational ranch is undisclosed, but at least US$90 million plus.
Lesser sales include Gary Winnick’s US$94 million purchase of the Weber Mansion in Los Angeles in 2000 for 10644 Bellagio Road, Bel Air.
There was also a Malibu oceanfront sale of US<a class="exit_trigger_set" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/morganbrennan/2013/01/07/billionaire-howard-marks-sells-75-million-malibu-mansion-in-record-breaking-deal/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">$75 million</a> by the billionaire money manager Howard Marks to Russian billionaires in 2013 of a 20,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style villa with eight bedrooms and 14 bathrooms. Marks and his wife purchased the property for US$31 million in 2002 from the estate of late Herbalife founder Mark Hughes. Coming with more than 300 feet of ocean frontage, the Pacific Coast Highway property is one of Malibu’s largest seaside parcels.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

The five most expensive US house deals above $100 million

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Golfing entrepreneur Greg Norman is set design two premium golf courses in the south-west of Sydney.
The golfing champion’s company will redesign an existing Peter Thomson-designed 18-hole course in a collaboration with property developer Sekisui House and club operator, Wests Campbelltown, for the redevelopment of Wests Campbelltown’s existing 18-hole Camden Lakeside Golf Course. 
The 1993 course is the only Sydney one designed by five times British Open Winner Peter Thomson and his design partners, Ross Perrett and Mike Wolveridge.
Norman will also build a new nine-hole course within Sekisui House's 280-hectare site, <a href="https://www.sekisuihouse.com.au/nsw/Communities/Our-Communities/The-Hermitage,-NSW" target="_blank">The Hermitage at Gledswood Hills</a>, which is about 12 kilometres from Campbelltown.
Located in one of Sydney's newest suburb, Gledswood Hills, The Hermitage is Sekisui House's first masterplanned community in Australia.
The Hermitage will offer up to 1,800 premium home sites. 
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Gledswood Hills is bounded by Camden Valley Way to the west, Raby Road to the north and Gregory Hills Drive to the south. The land featured the El Caballo Blanco property along with the heritage homestead, Gledswood.
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Since its launch in 2012, more than 600 properties have sold in the masterplanned community. 
Norman’s design company was responsible for the development of Stonecutter’s Ridge Golf Club near Blacktown. 
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Sekisui House snares Greg Norman golf course for south-west Sydney estate 

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Land tax, lawn mowing and legal fees sit among the lengthy list issued by the ATO of landlord rental expense claims.
Australia's 1,895,775 property investors own 2.71 million rental investment properties, according to the latest figures from the ATO.
NSW leads with 812,000 properties, followed next by Queensland and Victoria. 
<img src="/images/2014/05/01/invesotr-may-1-one.jpg" alt="" style="line-height: 1.3em;">
The statistics for the 2011–12 income year show the extent of rental property expense claims on the properties.
Some 2 million plus properties were subject to claims by landlords for interest on loans, averaging an $11,500 claim.
The data shows council rates is the most claimed expense with 2.51 million claims from the 2.71 million rental property pool. The typical council rates were $937 a year.
Water charges averaged $530 a year, the second most utilised expense with 2.17 million properties.
The lowest number of landlord claims on the 19 expenses check list was for lawyers which was utilised by 69,590 properties at a $620 average expense. Pest control was also not that utilised, in second last place, with a typical $210 average cost.
Some 582,000 properties - 21% - were hit by land tax with the average expense being $1,270 a year.
Some 12% of tenancies were requiring advertising for new tenants at a typical cost of $230.
The highly scrutinised travel expense refund was claimed for 804,000 properties - around 30% of properties - with a typical $480 travel claim.
(Claim type                                  no of properties           $ total landlord claims)
<table style="width: 460px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
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<td valign="top" width="209">
Council Rates
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<td valign="top" width="137">
2,517,370
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$2,360,548,979
</td>
</tr>
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<td valign="top" width="209">
Water charges
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
2,170,135
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$1,155,573,028
</td>
</tr>
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<td valign="top" width="209">
Interest on loan(s)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
2,087,570
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$24,102,668,712
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Insurance                                      
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
2,086,740
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$1,062,276,520
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Repairs and maintenance
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
2,020,540
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$2,073,635,655
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Property Agent fees/commission
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
1,855,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$2,098,084,871
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Plant depreciation
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
1,780,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$2,028,038,155
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Sundry rental expenses
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
1,489,575
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$894,509,695 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Capital works deduction
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
1,054,175
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$2,139,156,047
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Stationary, telephone and postage
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
935,455
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$59,486,951
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Body Corporate Fees
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
852,805
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$1,667,073,259
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Travel expenses
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
804,925
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$388,233,963
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Borrowing Expenses
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
585,395
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$242,502,146
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Land tax
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
582,300
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$739,311,332
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Gardening/lawn mowing
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
409,145
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$165,738,793
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Cleaning Expenses
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
342,015
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$192,405,834
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Advertising for Tenants
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
331,470  
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$76,681,158
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Pest Control
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
269,325
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$57,307,475 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Legal Fees
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
69,590
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
$43,177,549
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="209">
Total Net rental income
</td>
<td valign="top" width="137">
2,696,785
</td>
<td valign="top" width="144">
-$8,034,540,412
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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The top 19 rental expenses that landlords claim from the ATO

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The National Commission of Audit has recommended privatising Defence Housing Australia, which manages a portfolio of 18,300 properties valued at around $10 billion.
The DHA delivers annual profits to the Commonwealth of $100 million-plus.
The report suggests in be done in the first phase of any privatisations by the Abbott government. 
DHA currently provides housing and related services to Defence members and families in order to support the operational, recruitment and retention goals of the Department of Defence.
DHA constructs, purchases and leases houses for Defence personnel, manages dwelling allocation and tenancies and acquires and develops land to build mixed military and private communities.
Most of its funding comes from Defence, or Defence employees.
It finances additional capital investment by selling and leasing back dwellings, the sale of land and dwellings from developments and the disposal of surplus properties.
As at 30 June 2013, DHA had 18,300 houses under management, including over 3,800 it directly owned and around 12,500 leased from investors.
In 2012-13, DHA spent $305 million on a capital programme to acquire 590 new houses by construction or purchase, and $14.4 million on the acquisition of 38 apartments.
It also has a $360 million programme to upgrade and replace Defence-owned houses.
DHA currently has 12 major developments in progress, including in Sydney, Darwin, Townsville, Canberra and Brisbane. 
DHA was established to commercially manage and improve the defence housing stock as a result of criticism in 1986 of the poor standard of accommodation then available.
Since its creation, DHA has undertaken a major program to bring defence housing up to community standards.
The prior 1996 commission noted DHA has also been involved in various joint venture land developments, although only a relatively small proportion of these developments has ultimately provided defence housing.
"The Commission questions whether there is still a need for continued nationwide direct Commonwealth control of, and involvement in, defence housing," according to the 1996 report.
"There may be a need for Commonwealth ownership in remote areas or on defence bases," the then report suggested.
"However, in other locations there appears to be no reason why defence families could not be served equally well by dealing individually on the open housing market with, say, a salary based housing allowance.
"Such an arrangement would provide eligible defence personnel with more freedom of choice and would be simpler and cheaper to administer than existing arrangements," it noted.
It would also free up part of the Commonwealth's $1.6 billion investment in defence housing, the 1996 report suggested.
The 2014 commission also suggested the creation of a central register of the Commonwealth’s $25 billion in property holdings, which should be sold off in part as the commission says the government’s core expertise should not relate to the development, maintenance and leasing of office accommodation.
“This is best left to the private sector,” the commission’s report said, noting sales had been occurring since 1996.
"However, a significant number of properties remain in the Estate.”
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Defence Housing Australia privatisation on the cards after Commission of Audit

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Eling Forest Vineyard, the Southern Highlands of NSW boutique winery, has been sold.
Located just west of Sutton Forest village, the 73 hectare property has been bought by the Wang family for $5.8 million.
<a href="https://www.andrewhearn.com.au/listings/rural_sale-93411-sutton-forest/" target="_blank">It had been listed</a> by interests associated with Warwick Wainberg through Andrew Hearn at the Berrima based Andrew Hearn Real Estate.
The buyers were Wei Guo Wang, Wei Min Wang, Chen Yang Wang and Pei Hong Cao.
It last traded in 2005 at $600,000.
It highlights the Southern Highlands stature as one of Australia's most exciting new wine regions, though still not a patch on the Hunter Valley which has been attracting strong Chinese buying interest in recent years.
The Southern Highlands' first wine producer in recent times was Kim Mogine at Joadja in 1983. There were about 50 vineyards in the region by 2000 that spanned 145 hectares within Australia's newest wine region better known for its tulips.
Cool climate vineyards were first planted at Joadja Creek in the 1870s, supplying Sydney with table grapes.
Established in 1990, Eling Forest was the second modern winery to be established in the cool climate area, with its first wines produced in 1993. 
Its first vines were planted by Leslie Fritz, who was then 80, and came from a long line of winemakers in Hungary. The then 157 hectare holding had cost $1.9 million in 1989.
The grapes are handpicked and vines hand pruned in the traditional manner at the Hume Highway property, with the wine fermented in stainless steel vats, then aged in American and French oak barrels. 
<a href="https://www.elingforest.com.au/cafe-a-cellar-door/gallery" target="_blank">About 120,000 bottles are currently produced plus "Apple Thief" ciders.</a>
The cool climate vineyard produces white and red wine varieties and blends sold through is cellar door which is open seven days a week.
There is an 1840 colonial homestead - restored in 2005 during the ownership of Ron Fryer - and other living quarters that provides accommodation in picturesque gardens tendered to at one point by Clause Crowe. 
It comes with function centre that caters for up to 200.
The former boxer Fortunato "Lucky" Gattellari and his brother Frank briefly bought into Eling Forest Winery, initially securing a small stake around 2003. Their venture, which soon soured, <a href="https://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-01-22/entertainment/0301220080_1_winemaking-wine-bottle-australian" target="_blank">attracted international media interest</a>.
Other major vineyards in the highlands include the Centennial Vineyards at Bowral, established by the co-founders of Cellarmasters, John Piven Large and his partner, Mark Dowling.
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Eling Forest, Sutton Forest vineyard sold to Chinese interests

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The luxury cruise ship, the World of ResidenSea arrives in Sydney next week after visiting Milford, Doubtful and Dusky sounds in New Zealand.
And with more Sydneysiders than ever now among the privately, proud owners on the 12-deck, 196-metre vessel that first set sail in 2002, and officially sold out four years later.
Continuously sailing the seas, and docking where the owners’ corporation want: that's life aboard <a href="https://aboardtheworld.com" target="_blank">The World</a>, the still-unique floating permanent home to wealthy residents.
Owned by those who live on board, The World circles the globe every two to three years under the Bahamas flag with the 43,524-tonne ship travelling at a maximum 18 knots.
Australians, especially Sydneysiders and Gold Coasters, are seriously over-represented among the owners, which might explain the frequency of the trips Down Under.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2014/05/02/The_World_in_Melbourne.JPG" alt="">
The World docked in Melbourne. Courtesy of Wikipedia/Creative Commons.
This time matriarch Ros Packer will be at home, overseeing the last of her renovations. It was a gift from son James.
The local Sydney Rothschild Australia executive chairman Trevor Rowe has been among the recent buyers. He'll possibly get slightly obscured glimpses of the ship when it berths at White Bay from the recently acquired 22nd floor Observatory Tower apartment which cost him and wife, Janine $1.94 million after selling in Mosman last year for $3.3 million on Parriwi Road. Not sure what ever happened to his 100 footer, the good ship Lady Janine which replaced his earlier stink boat, Mabuhuay. 
Prestige Darling Point property developers Bob and Margaret Rose will no doubt be aboard, and get terrific views from their porthole especially when it is relocated at the Point Piper buoy mid-May, as was initially scheduled but now not to take place. The couple typically spend three months aboard. Not sure which side of the ship the Roses are, starboard or port, but of course on a prior Sydney Circular Quay berthing, The World reversed out of Sydney Cove and swung around between the Opera House and Waruda Street Wharf at Kirribilli, returning to the dock to equalise viewing opportunities for all its owners.
Other Australians who've owned on The World included the late engineer Bob Sparke from Belvedere estate at Burradoo in the NSW Southern Highlands. Sparke's acquaintanceship with mining tycoon Gina Rinehart had blossomed and they regularly followed the sunsets from a ninth-floor apartment. Gina, who of course can’t help working, has had government ministers aboard for dinner.
Motivational speaker John Demartini and his late wife, Australian astrologer Athena Starwoman, outlaid $3 million on their glamorous cabin, a one-bedroom apartment into which they moved after selling their Trump Tower apartment, unnerved after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Bill and Imelda Roche, the developers of the Hunter Valley gardens estate, one of Australia's largest privately owned gardens, have long enjoyed their stern apartment on The World, although it was quite a surprise to see them counted as crew in the ship’s manifest when it left Port Melbourne last time in 2012. Formerly of Nutrimetics fame, the Roche's had made the priciest acquisition among the handful of initial Australian buyers for their eighth-floor apartment, possibly until the recent Packer family double apartment purchase.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/stories/roche.jpg" target="_blank" title="Click to enlarge"><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/stories/rochethumb.jpg"></a>
The Scottish-born Levin Wine founder David Levin, and his Australian wife, Lynne, were also aboard in 2012. David Levin, owner of The Capital Hotel in London, started growing his own grapes in the Loire Valley, France in 1985 to produce his own private label wines for his luxury hotels and restaurants. The Levins were great mates of the late Len Evans and during their numerous trips to Australia they were introduced to many advances in viticulture that they've now adopted at their Loire vineyard.
Fitness First founder Tony de Leede, and co-owner of the Komune resort near Keramas, one of Bali's most renowned surf breaks, wasn't shy about his ownership, though Title Tattle gleans he may have sold. But as its many owners don't wish to be named as owners, ascertaining continued ownership is a little tricky.
So we wonder who bought from the late Sydney stockbroker Michael Toltz.
Richard Penn, the one-time Gutbuster entrepreneur, and his wife, Heather, are among the reputed owners who can access the facilities that include two pools, a tennis court, virtual golf, gym, library, chapel, deli and even House of Graff jewellers.
From NSW's Southern Highlands, Ken and Susan Cooper, who own the Sutton Forest, Rotherwood estate are among the owners too.
Built at a cost of US$262 million, The World was conceived in 1997 by Norwegian shipping magnate Knut Kloster jnr, whose father started the Norwegian Caribbean Line in 1966. 
The idea was to establish an exclusive floating resort whose residents would circumnavigate the world, visiting desirable destinations and attending global events. 
Initially boasting a one-to-one guest/staff ratio, the ship's exclusivity stemmed from the original requirement that owners have a $5 million-plus net worth. It is now a net worth of at least $10 million required to join The World, to ensure not only the capability to purchase, but to honor all commitments, even in uncertain economic times. It means that, collectively, all residents can breathe easy, knowing that all of their neighbors are able to keep their end of the bargain. 
So the World is viewed by some as an inviation-only Noah's Ark for the filthy rich. Two letters of recommendation from existing residents onboard The World other than the seller are required before buying approval is given. 
Apparently the average annual combined stay is four months, but a few residents remain on board all year. When it comes to whether there are tax advantages of being a resident onboard The World, the response is that each potential buyer is advised to consult his or her own advisers regarding questions of tax and domicile. 
After Sydney it's off to Brisbane around May 19, then Hamilton Island, Port Douglas and Cairns, then north east over to the Solomon Islands before PNG, East Timor and West Timor, then a lengthy Indonesian sojourn including Bali and Surabaya and Krakatoa.
Plenty of Americans were the early buyers including Jim Blair, a retired Silicon Valley property developer, and William Scott, a retired New York adman. Switzerland-based American Anne Weedon, one of the first to buy a cabin on board the ResidenSea, launched the ship with the champagne bottle in 2002 in Venice.
The Colorado-based health-club industry and software entrepreneur, Richard Reed headed the residents' committee after paying US$21,000 per square metre for his 126 square metre apartment. Any buyers of the what were the initial 50-year-long leaseholds must prove a net worth of US$5 million and have no criminal record. 
The residents comprise around 130 families from 19 different countries – from North America (49%), Europe (36%), Asia, Australia, South America and South Africa (15%). The current average age is around 64 years with many owners still actively involved in their own businesses.
Back in 2003 its wealthy apartment owners were beginning to mutiny, as The World was overrun by rowdy short-stay tourists invited aboard by the ship's financially challenged operator to help fill the many unsold apartments, given 88 apartments had been retained as rentable guest accommodation.
Apparently the last straw for the owners aboard was when 20 top-selling Ford Australia dealers dressed in their company-logo T-shirts partied aboard during its 2003 Sydney docking.
Soon after things changed with the militant owners making it pricer with $1,000-plus a night voyages, and with a six-day minimum which helped clear the renting riff raff from the ship. But even that pricier rental option has now gone - around the time the last of the 165 lavish apartments with decor by <a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/decor/archive/ship_slideshow_102000" target="_blank">Juan Pablo Molyneux and Nina Campbell</a> were sold to private owners, after the 88 syndicate stock finally sold. The initial mix was 106 two- and three-bedrooms units, 18 one- and two-bedroom homes, and the 39 studios.
Wirg paying guests are no longer taken, the only way aboard now is as an approved potential buyer. 
And that will currently cost anywhere between US$800,000 to $7.7 million (plus annual maintenance fees pay annual fees of 10% to 15% of the purchase price).
The initial sales were anywhere from $20,000 to the $42,000 a square metre mark. In 2002 Americans Robert and Janet Sabes paid US$2.8 million for a 134 square metre, two-bedroom, two-bath unit on the World in 2002 but the best the 73-year-old Las Vegas-based restaurant developer, whose latest project is a vodka ice bar in Manhattan, and his wife could do on their 2008 exit was around the same price.
In 2011 there were 19 residences sold. The World suggest residences purchased in 2002 aboard The World for $2 million have generally held their value, and some have increased in value. They suggest similar travel experience, with the same level of luxury lodging, dining, private car service and first-class flights could cost upwards of $500,000 over a six to nine month period. 
HE SAID:<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/2014/03/28/jc-silhouette-7.jpg" alt="" style="float: right;">
I was aboard The World of ResidenSea the first time it sailed into Sydney Harbour in 2003, bunked down in a 30 square metre studio apartment among the then $850 a night paying guests. Yes down on the lowest deck, but it was classy as the comparable cruise liners would offer berths to approximately 1,200 travellers over the same ship dimensions.
I enjoyed the cruise, albeit on the rather quick Melbourne to Sydney voyage. Back then I recall the familiar faces among the owners included the language translation business entrepreneurs Nicola Chapman and Andrew McLeay – who played the doctor in the murder mystery night during that cruise. Hardly the monotonous atmosphere that Margie (below) suggests. And I see Thomas McAlpin, now president of The World, spent 14 years at Disney Cruise Line, responsible for the successful launch of Disney’s entry into the cruise industry, so surely he'd ensure The World was entertaining for residents, as required when they'd read the 4000 books in its library. 
And there'd always been something onboard that would capture my inquisitive attention. Indeed I'd love to get to the bottom of the 2012 preliminary court case, <a href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:shRDF28BiGUJ:ny.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20121026_0000907.SNY.htm/qx+&amp;cd=2&amp;hl=en&amp;ct=clnk&amp;gl=au" target="_blank">Overseas Ventures versus ROW Management, Ltd., d/b/a ResidenSea Management, Ltd., and Shetland International Investments, Ltd, a Switzerland company</a>. Overseas Ventures owned adjoining apartments 601 and 603, and after failing to sell them together thought they'd just sell 603 for US$1 million, only to find the buyer, Shetland International Investments, Ltd had actually bought both apartments.
There's yet to be any competitive ship launched, though often envisaged. There's Four Seasons Oceans Residences, which had asking prices between US$3.8 million to US$39 million, but never floated further than the concept and a few now abandoned off the plan sales. I also recall the Orphalese, which was set to combine 200 private residences, plus 265 suites for cruise passengers, a project by Don Allen, who has since filed for bankruptcy with the project which has now been relabelled <a href="https://utopiaresidences.com" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">utopiaresidences.com</a> with a scheduled 2016 launch by entrepreneur David Robb. <a href="https://www.utopiaresidences.com/about/media.php" target="_blank">Forbes</a> magazine had put the initial revised launch by Robb as being in time to see the running of the Melbourne Cup 2013. Don Allen had it scheduled to launch in 2008, with the name inspired by Kahlil Gibran's book The Prophet about a prophet who ironically spent twelve years waiting for his ship to arrive in the city of Orphalese to return him to his home. There was also the Magellan, the time-share floating ship of Randall B. Jackson, an Arizona real-estate tycoon who envisioned fractional ownerships, but it has yet to come to fruition, seemingly sunk in the sands of its 2009 United Arab Emirites marketing campaign.  
Down the track I'd worry about buying on the World now given it's presumably depreciating at a rapid rate given the limited life of any cruise ship. And then there would be the latent issue of just where it would spend its final landlocked years. Lastly the average length of time to sell an apartment is around 12 months. 
 
<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/2014/03/28/mb-silhouette-6.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">SHE SAID:
Although The World sails to fascinating places, holidaying on the same ultra luxurious and extremely large ship with the same uber well-heeled crowd, year in year out, would be too confining and one dimensional for me. Variety is the spice of life, and with money to burn, I’d instead opt for voyages on a wide range of vessels offering soft-adventure journeys in all corners of the world. 
My bucket list of boating excursions includes:
<ul>
<li>
Mekong River Cruises (which sails small and beautiful teak boats along the Upper Mekong river through Laos), 
</li>
<li>Compagnie du Ponant (a fleet of four luxury vessels drawing a decidedly European crowd), </li>
<li>Star Clippers (a tall ship line with vessels driven by the power of winds and currents), </li>
<li>Fandango (a deluxe barge cruising the Canal du Midi across the Languedoc from the Lauragais valleys to the Minervois wine region in France) </li>
<li>and Nomads of the Seas (aboard MV Atmosphere for wilderness fly fishing excursions in Chile and Patagonia).</li>
</ul>
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Aussie seafarers reign as The World of ResidenSea due for Sydney berthing

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Manly-Warringah fullback Brett Stewart has sold his Balgowlah house having achieved his hopes of $1.35 million-plus.
The four-bedroom townhouse, with water glimpses, sold this week pre-auction.
It cost $1.33 million in late 2011.
It had been scheduled for 4 May auction through Anthony Calacoci of Belle Property Manly.
<a href="https://www.belleproperty.com/12P4661" target="_blank">The three storey Nield Avenue townhouse duplex</a> was built five years ago.
The News Ltd local paper, The Manly Daily reported its sale.
The Sea Eagles says the sale was about downsizing, with the likelihood he would be remaining in Balgowlah.
 
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Brett Stewart finds pre-auction Balgowlah buyer

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Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan has sold his longtime Bangor home. There were seven registered bidders at the mid-week Ray White auction that secured a $1,075,000 price.
Having spent $2.3 million on a contemporary five-bedroom house in Caringbah South, it had been listed for 30 April auction <a href="https://raywhitemenai.com.au/nsw/bangor/1122210/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">through Ray White Menai agent Matt Debreczen</a> who expected about $1 million.
The two level 1980s built house was bought for $330,000 in 1994 with wife, Cathie.
<a href="/news/cronulla-sharks-coach-shane-flanagan-spends-2-3-million-in-caringbah-south">His next architecturally designed property</a> (pictured below) overlooking Burraneer Bay was recently sold through John Schwarzer, of Highland Property Agents.
<img src="/images/2014/04/04/caringbah%20south_0000_1.jpg.jpg" alt="Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan spends $2.3 million in Caringbah South">
Shane Flanagan took over the lead coaching role from Ricky Stuart, who after quitting the Parramatta Eels is now with the Canberra Raiders.
The former plumber, Flanagan, a Sutherland Shire resident for the past 29 years, had been Stuart's right-hand man for six years previously at the Roosters and the Sharks.
Flanagan, who has signed on with the club for another three years, has been suspended by the NRL following the ASADA investigation for its part in the 2011 supplements scandal.
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Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan sells longtime Bangor home

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Model Lara Bingle is listing her Darling Point home for sale.
It is the stylish one bedroom Goomerah Court company title apartment that was bought from interior designer Blainey North for $882,000 in 2010 through Brad Pillinger Real Estate, soon after her break-up with the test cricketer Michael Clarke.
There might have been a premium in that price as it's now up with more than $825,000 being sought through McGrath agent Richard Bonouvrie who advised Title Tattle the marketing will begin later this month.
Set in an art deco apartment complex, there are city and harbour views (pictured above from prior marketing campaign) from most of its 65 square metre space. It was not the apartment that Lara lived in while filming her reality television series, which was based on Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach.
<img src="/images/2014/05/02/darling-point-may-2-panorama.jpg" alt="">
It has American oak parquetry floors. It had been traded at $700,000 when bought by Blainey North.
There have been two other McGrath sales in the block when $925,000 was secured for <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/apartment-darling-point-nsw-2027/76865" target="_blank">a two bedroom unrenovated listing</a> and then a <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/apartment-darling-point-nsw-2027/193910/?searchID=38820498" target="_blank">renovated two bedroom sale last October</a> at around $800,000 which Title Tattle suggests would explain the latest pricing estimate.
RP Data puts the current apartment median in <a href="/news">Darling Point</a> at $1.3 million.
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" alt="flagtitletat" width="25" height="34" style="font-size: 14px; margin: 5px; float: left;">
Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has reportedly spent $8.5 million on a five-bedroom viewless Vaucluse home with wife Kyly.
Currently live in Lilli Pilli in the Sutherland Shire, the new abode was bought from the Curtis family through Sotheby’s agents James McCowan and Michael Pallier, with the news reported only this week after its March 21 sale. 
The Australian Financial Review Rear Window columnist Joe Aston reported the couple will take possession of the Fitzwilliam Road house in early this month. 
The five bedroom, six bathroom house set over 1,236 square metres<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-116004807" target="_blank"> </a>was built in 2009.
The Stephen Gergely-designed home sits in gardens designed by Marcia Hosking.
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Lara Bingle listing her Blainey North-designed Darling Point apartment, Michael Clarke moving to Vaucluse

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The tennis champion Pat Rafter has listed his Woollahra terrace with $2.6 million plus hopes for June 7 auction through Paul Ephron of Run Property.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-woollahra-116801671" target="_blank">The contemporary Wallis Street three-bedroom terrace</a> cost $2.35 million in 2007.
The Noosa-based sportsman previously had his Sydney home on Hopetoun Avenue, Mosman which was sold in 2007 for $7.75 million.
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Pat Rafter lists Woollahra terrace

<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.

[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]

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.

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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.

[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.

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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.

[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.

Jonathan Chancellor

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