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Styled akin to villas on the French Riveria or the Amalfi Coast, a 1,150 square metre oceanfront offering at Whale Beach is sure to attract keen interest. If not just because of its striking terracotta colour!
It has been listed with offers due by May 21 through LJ Hooker agents David Edwards and Amethyst McKee who are quoting $6.5 million plus.
This coastal <a href="https://palmbeach.ljhooker.com.au/2W3F6Z" target="_blank">residence</a> (pictured above), now painted in almost an Uluru ochre, holds a significant place in Northern Beaches folklore.
With prized views down over the beach, out across the ocean, and north to Cape Three Points, this was Lady (Susan) Renouf's pink palace with full length terraces framed in bougainvillea.
Of course it is just along from where the late Dame Joan Sutherland spent her time when not in Switzerland or Potts Point. It had been in the 1970s that Dame Joan Sutherland bought her occasional retreat for just $167,000.
But it was Susan Renouf who brought Rayner Road its prominence from the late 1980s given her many guests at Villa Balena included Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York who came to stay accompanied by Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. The society hostess bought the property in 1989 for $1.9 million when it was already known for its cement-rendered pink exterior.
Title Tattle recalls her purchase followed the 1988 sale of her Point Piper matrimonial home, Toison d'Or (also called Paradis sur Mer) for $19.2 million after her estrangement from her husband, New Zealand businessman Sir Frank Renouf. She also sold her Mittagong retreat, Kennerton Green that year to Marilyn Zweck-Abbott.
"I always wanted a house by the beach," Lady Renouf once told me, recalling her holidays at Whale Beach during the 1960s.
But following her London mews purchase in 1991, Susan signalled her desire to sell the home with it ending up in 1993 selling to adman Greg Daniel and Louise McBride, then a tax partner with the law firm Clayton Utz.
They purchased it for $1.85 million in December 1993, selling for $7 million in 2006 to the Allan family, reportedly expats then living in London, who are now the vendors. It seems Donald Allen, a former director of Equigroup, and wife, Margaret are downsizing closer to the city.
 
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" alt="flagtitletat" width="25" height="34" style="font-size: 14px; margin: 5px; float: left;">
It has taken four year but art dealer Roger McIlroy, the former head of Christie's in Australia, has finally sold his <a href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:BcVhkvC0y2wJ:palmbeach.ljhooker.com.au/23YF6Z+&amp;cd=3&amp;hl=en&amp;ct=clnk&amp;gl=au" target="_blank">Palm Beach retreat, Jeeda</a>.
It was initially listed with $5 million hopes, selling at an undisclosed price presumably at around its revised asking indication of $4.5 million. It had been listed through LJ Hooker Palm Beach agents David Edwards and Peter Robinson in conjunction with Christie's agent Ken Jacobs.
The 1,534 square metre Sunrise Road holding with sandstone cottage (pictured below) has been in the family since 1922, when wool broker Eldred Moser bought it for £1,025 from pioneer doctor Lucy Gullett, who had paid £100 to the Barrenjoey Company in 1917.
<img src="/images/2014/04/24/palm%20beach%20apirl%2024.jpg" alt="">
Gullett had just returned from World War I, where she served in a French Red Cross military hospital in Lyon.
Its 2010 listing followed an unsuccessful land tax challenge, which determined Melbourne-based McIlroy lived at Palm Beach only 10 percent of the time and it was therefore not his principal place of residence. 
His family happy snaps, clothes and personal possessions were there, with the Administrative Decisions Tribunal member Robin Handley ruling the evidence established that McIlroy's connection to the Palm Beach property was an enduring, long-term one, rooted in his family and personal history. But the NSW Office of State Revenue fought back hard and won a reversal. He and his sister, Jane Strang, had inherited it in 1972. 
McIlroy, who bought his first surfboard at the age of seven, was billed $161,930 for the period from 2002 until 2006. The 2009 land valuation was at $3.87 million, down on its $3.91 million valuation in 2008.
The former Shore boy McIlroy lived in Melbourne for decades while working for Christie's and was its managing director until the upmarket art auction house closed its doors in Australia in 2006.
McIlroy then went into business in Mayfair with one of the most influential figures in the London art world, the dealer Lady Angela Nevill. 
 
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" alt="flagtitletat" width="25" height="34">Lawyer Derek Heath and his wife Elizabeth have sold their five-bedroom Palm Beach home, which Christie's Ken Jacobs was seeking a $7.65 million asking price.
Designed by architect Simon Parsons in the mid-1990s, <a href="https://www.kenjacobs.com.au/1098244/" target="_blank">the still contemporary beachhouse</a> (pictured below) sits on the dress circle hilltop strip on a 1,000 square metre block.
They bought the Sunrise Road block in 1994 for $830,000, and it became the couple's permanent home in 2007 after they sold their 1969 Peter Hirst-designed home in Pymble for $2.8 million. It was the modernist house designed by architect Peter Hirst of Harry Seidler &amp; Associates at Pymble on Sydney's upper north shore.
It was built for the Blunt family set on a 2384-square-metre block with a heated swimming pool, level lawns and established gardens. The Pymble Avenue property was renovated in 2006 undertaken for the Heath's by Lesiuk Architects. 
<img src="/images/2014/04/24/palm%20beach%20apirl%2024%20two.jpg" alt="">
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Former Lady (Susan) Renouf's pink palace home listed at Whale Beach

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No need for the daily surf report. Looking out the window will do.
Australian pro surfer Taj Burrow has spent $2.3 million on a Tamarama investment apartment, which he will move into in a few years.
<a href="https://house.ksou.cn/house_img.php?t=0&amp;sta=nsw&amp;id=60178&amp;seq=0&amp;price=&amp;addr=2%2F22+Gaerloch+Avenue&amp;region=Tamarama&amp;img=7" target="_blank">The three-bedroom 126 square metre Gaerloch Avenue </a>top floor duplex apartment was bought from investment banker David Sutherland.
It sold through McGrath agent Damian Steele.
The Margaret River, West Australia based Burrow, who won the 2007 Rip Curl Pro at Bells, was runner up this week to Mick Fanning.
His acquisition occupies the entire top floor of the 1950s Wairakei duplex overlooking one of the world's most famous coastlines.
The three bedroom, one bathroom flat with garage last traded at $493,000 in 1988 and at $185,000 in early 1986, which Title Tattle suggests graphically highlights the amazing wave of price rises in the property boom of the time. It's a 66 square metre tandem lock up garage.
Sutherland thought about selling it in 2010 but a desired $2.5 million sale didn't eventuate. 
Sharon Marsh at Ray White Randwick and Monica Touma at Mint360 have been seeking $1,500 a week tenants.
Its past known asking rent was $1,250 a week in 2011.
The lower level of the duplex also sold last month. It also sold at $2.3 million when snapped up before its scheduled auction through Belle Bondi Junction agents Matt Douglas and Daniel Gillespie. But Taj didn't buy it, as the locals say it was sold to Midnight Juggernauts band member Daniel Stricker.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-tamarama-116178135" target="_blank">It had last sold at $198,000</a> in 1986.
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Surfer Taj Burrow spends $2.3 million on top floor Tamarama investment apartment

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OK, so you haven't got around to the household renovation wish list yet. And not wanting to spend too much, here's wise 10 tips from John McGrath on adding value to an investment property.
They all will give the place a boost, but without the likelihood of overcapitalisation.
The style and quality of the improvements together with careful budgeting will be important as to whether over capitalisation becomes an issue. 
It can certainly be minimised with reliable professional advice, careful planning, market trend assessment, along with the wise sensitive execution of the improvements.
It probably starts with buying a house or apartment with a value at or lower than the suburb's median price as that allows greater scope for capitalisation.
<ol>
<li>Paint it </li>
<li>Build a carport </li>
<li>New curtains or blinds </li>
<li>Install a skylight </li>
<li>Replace light fittings </li>
<li>Put in a barbecue </li>
<li>Steam clean carpets </li>
<li>Sand the floors </li>
<li>Replace door handles and knobs </li>
<li>Install a dishwasher</li>
</ol>
"Your goal is to add the wow factor without blowing the budget," John McGrath suggests in his <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=renting.contactus" target="_blank">Smart Guide to Property Investment</a>.
I'd reckon perhaps two of the tasks might require a phone call to the council just to check on the approval process for car ports and skylights. And if you are in an apartment block best check on the rules regarding dishwashers in the kitchen.
(Source John McGrath's "Ultimate Guide to Real Estate" HarperCollins Publishers.)
 
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John McGrath's top 10 ways to add value to your investment property without over capitalisation

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The consumer price index rose by 0.6% over the three months to March, which pushed Australia’s annual inflation to 2.9%.
But most economists had predicted it to edge above 3% for the first time since 2011.
The lower than expected figure decreases the prospect of imminent interest rates rises, which was previously tipped possibly in the fourth-quarter of 2014.
Economists were tipping headline inflation to grow by 0.8% and take the annual rate to 3.2%, pushing inflation above the Reserve Bank’s 2-3% comfort zone target band.
Underlying inflation, which is closely followed by the Reserve Bank of Australia, came in below expectations too.
The trimmed mean CPI rose by 0.5 percent, 2.6 percent annually, after economists had forecast a 0.7 percent jump to 2.9 percent.
ANZ economist Warren Hogan <a href="https://twitter.com/anz_warrenhogan" target="_blank">tweeted</a> "low CPI reading will be welcomed by the RBA after the high Q4 reading esp."
Hogan added the CPI data does not change our rates view.
"We expect cash rate on hold in ’14 before gradual rise in ’15," he forecast.
Economist Stephen Koukoulas <a href="https://twitter.com/TheKouk" target="_blank">tweeted</a>, however, that "Inflation no longer low. The question is whether a 2.5% cash rate is needed with inflation now locked in above 2.5%."
The Australian dollar fell half a US cent following today's softer than expected inflation data.
The ABS data showed the most significant price rises this quarter were for tobacco (+6.7%), automotive fuel (+4.1%), secondary education (+6.0%), tertiary education (+4.3%), medical and hospital services (+1.9%) and pharmaceutical products (+6.1%). 
These rises were partially offset by falls in furniture (-4.3%), maintenance and repair of motor vehicles (-3.3%), international holiday travel and accommodation (-2.4%) and domestic holiday travel and accommodation (-2.4%).
The tobacco price increase was caused by the federal excise tax rise from 1 December 2013 as well as the March 2014 biannual indexation based on the ABS' Average Weekly Ordinary Times Earnings (AWOTE) rate.
Education prices have risen with the commencement of the new school year, the ABS noted.
Rises for medical and hospital services and pharmaceutical products were a result of the cyclical reduction in the proportion of patients who qualify for subsidies under the Medicare Benefits Scheme and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme at the start of each calendar year.
 
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Lower CPI rise may delay RBA cash rate hike prospect

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The receivership sale of Heritage Golf and Country Club in the Yarra Valley’s Chirnside Park, north-east of Melbourne, has secured $17.8 million, just over half its over-inflated $30 million book value.
The two golf course, 230 hectare property has been bought by HGC Properties, a company directed by Melbourne accountant Sam Cimino, with its only shareholder being, Fly Group Limited, an entity without any directorial paperwork which is understood to have origins in China.
Scott Callow and Mark Wizel of CBRE Hotels negotiated the sale on behalf of the receivers PKF Lawler in conjunction with Michael Hede of Knight Frank. 
"We are certainly in a different cycle of commercial property when golf courses are quickly selling," Mark Wizel told Property Observer.
"Banks have an increased preparedness to lend on non-core assets.
"There is Chinese buying appetite for leisure property, not just the residential projects that have been the dominant desire to date," Mark Wizel said.
The Jack Nicklaus-designed St John golf course ranks among the best golf courses in Australia. The property is located on the Yarra River near Chirnside Park and has two 18 hole golf courses (the St John Course, south side designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1996) along with the Henley Course, on its north side designed by Tony Cashmore in 2002.
The property included townhouse development land and residential lots (STCA). 
Heritage Golf &amp; Country Club has a strong established membership base with 1,394 members. It hosted the Victorian PGA Tournament in February this year. 
There were about 47,500 golf rounds by played annually.
<a href="https://cbre.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-chirnside+park-501095227" target="_blank">Heritage Golf and Country Club</a> was under the control of the Melbourne businessman and property developer Guo Zhao “Sunny” Sun.
Mr Sun acquired the golf estate around 2011 at just short of $15 million. But he subsequently became embroiled in a Victorian Supreme Court dispute with business partner Wang Hua, China’s 790th richest person, over control of the country club, as reported by Fairfax Media.
A court ordered followed that Heritage Golf and Country Club Pty Ltd be wound-up with the creditors owed $13.8 million, according to a News Ltd report which suggested one creditor, the Alter family, through its Austpac Funds Management, unsuccessfully proposed a deed of company arrangement.
Sun had purchased the property from receivers to the Letten Schemes, a series of property investment funds established by Mark Letten that fell apart during the global financial crisis.
Wang Hua and Mr Sun founded residential development company Kingsland Group, which has built small-scale townhouse and apartment developments in Melbourne since around 2003.
Wang Hua, from the Jeshing Group, was <a href="/news/offshore-buyer-secures-16-st-georges-road-toorak-from-peter-devitt-in-circa-20-million-sale">the mystery buyer who spent $18.58 million last year</a> on the Toorak estate of the director of construction company L.U. Simon Peter Devitt through Kay &amp; Burton agent Ross Savas (pictured below), in the name of his wife, Xiao "Kylie" Yan Bao, who received an Australian visa in 2001. She had bought a mansion on Irving Road, Toorak for $3,399,000 in 2003.
<img src="/images/stories/flexicontent/l_toorak-sept-23-breakout.jpg" alt="Offshore buyer secures 16 St Georges Road, Toorak from Peter Devitt in circa $20 million sale">
Private homes overlooking the course have been sold over the years, with Fletchers currently having a three bedroom townhouse offering on Turnberry Lane (pictured below). <a href="https://www.1turnberrylanechirnsidepark.com" target="_blank">It had $1.3 million hopes</a>, after being passed in at $1.05 million at auction last month. Its vendor is not connected to the golf course ownership.
<img src="/images/2014/04/23/chirnside%20april%2023%20one.jpg" alt="">
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Jack Nicklaus-designed St John course at Heritage Golf and Country Club, Chirnside Park sold

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International soccer player Nick Carle has listed his investment apartment overlooking Manly Beach with a $2.049 million asking price that has been reduced to $1.9 million plus.
The Sydney FC midfielder bought the <a href="https://www.onsideproperty.com.au/index.php/residential/for-sale#205" target="_blank">three-bedroom Whistler Street apartment</a> off the plan in 2009 for $1.73 million.
The third floor 145 square metre apartment currently rents for $1350 a week, having been leased through Onside Property agent Anthony Doumanis who after a career in professional football moved into real estate.
Carle currently resides at Luddenham, in western Sydney. He signed with Sydney FC in 2010 for a reported $1.95 million over three years, but in his first season, Nick struggled with form and injuries. Just weeks before the 2012–13 A-League season, Sydney FC loaned Carle to the UAE club Baniyas for a year, returning during the 2013–14 season. 
Carle signed a one-year extension for the 2014/15 season, but the marquee signee has not played since he was suspended by coach Frank Farina for disobeying tactical orders during the 3-0 defeat against Adelaide United in early February.
It has been listed by Ralf Baumann at Onside Property.
The apartment is among the 25 apartments in the Latitude 33 complex developed by Laing O’Rouke.
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Sydney FC's Nick Carle lists Sydney investment apartment overlooking Manly Beach

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Scott Pape's new television show is called Under The Hammer, which he says follows everyday people going through one of the most stressful events of their lives — buying and selling their family home at auction.
"Throughout the series you’ll see people who make huge sums of money — but importantly you’ll also see people who lose a fortune too — because that’s the truthful reality of real estate," he says.
The footage look captivating.
All the triumphs and terrors were filmed over the spring 2013 selling season. Last December, the filming by Scott Pape – better known as The Barefoot Investor - included a Surrey Hills, Melbourne auction through <a href="https://timheavyside.com/2013/12/13/under-the-hammer/" target="_blank">Tim Heavyside at Fletchers Real Estate</a>.
<img src="/images/2014/04/23/tim-heavyside_under-the-hammer.jpg" alt="">
Tim Heavyside (left) with The Barefoot Investor, Scott Pape (right). Picture courtesy of Tim Heavyside. 
They look pretty happy with themselves, but Property Observer won't share or spoil the auction outcome.
Scott Pape has come up with 12 tips for "not getting screwed" as a buyer or seller, with some analysis below by the Property Observer editor at large, Jonathan Chancellor.
<div><ol>
<li>
Don’t believe your bank  A pre-approval for a loan from a bank doesn’t mean they’ll give it to you. It’s a lot like getting a number from an attractive woman at a nightclub. You’re a long way from being invited back for coffee — and it may turn out she gave you a wrong number just to blow you off.  Jonathan Chancellor says Scott Pape is a overly cautious with this tip, and while pre-approval isn't always going to come through, especially the longer you leave the purchase, it does provide some comfort and an indication of your borrowing capacity. 
</li>
<li>
The agent is lying to you  An agent’s job is to drum up as many people to an auction as possible, which is why they under-quote what the price the property will sell for. Don’t fall for it. Instead, do your own research. For $25 you can order a property report online with RP Data that will estimate the value of the home based on recent sales.  Jonathan Chancellor says understanding estate agents and particularly step price auction marketing — with the estimate rising at successive open for inspections — is of key importance. It is not that the agent is lying, rather just coming to a better understanding of where and what the market place is at varying periods of time. There are obligations for the agent to tell the vendor and the buyer the same thing, but agents are of course working for the vendor. Research is crucial for buyers so start as early as you can. 
</li>
<li>
It’s street theatre, and you’re the lead actor.  Act as if you’re Donald Trump (who himself acts as if he’s really a billionaire). The best way to get into character is to stand next to the auctioneer and eyeball the crowd (and your competitors). Pay no attention to the auctioneer -- in fact, flick your comb-over like the Donald, and fire him up. Throw in randomly priced, hard to calculate bids that stop the auctioneer’s flow. Let everyone know that you’re in charge.  Jonathan Chancellor says don't act as if you are the Trumpster. Yes, do position yourself so you can watch the competition at the auction. But you don't need to let everyone know that you are in charge, unless there are other bidders with the same silly intimidation idea. 
</li>
<li>
Shut your mouth  When the agent announces that the property “is on the market”, you’re actually in the box seat. You now know the seller's lowest selling price — but they don’t know your highest price. If you’re bidding aggressively the agent’s representatives will rush over to you and try to work out your level of interest. Keep your mouth shut.  Jonathan Chancellor agrees that the on the market announcement is the pivotal moment in any auction, but it's best to just concentrate on beginning your bidding — and liaising with you partner — so you secure the prize. No time now to be cute about your intent, but definitely don't blow everyone else of the water with a huge offer, as none might follow you, and you will forever be left wondering. 
</li>
<li>
No peanuts, no monkeys  Make sure you cough up and pay to get good legal advice, before you sign anything. An experienced conveyancer is worth their weight in gold, and may suggest additions or variations to the agreement.  Jonathan Chancellor says having the contract checked pre-auction is the wise thing to do. And don't overlook the building inspection report. 
</li>
<li>
Just Walk Away, Renee  When the bidding goes over your limit, take your bat and ball and head home — the last thing you want to do is go over your limit. Don’t get sucked in, there’s plenty of fish-fingers in the sea.  Jonathan Chancellor agrees that you should walk away, although after possibly allowing a little leeway for your pre-supposed limit if it's really your dream home. Investors ought be showing no such similar emotion.  And for the sellers… 
</li>
<li>
Apply Some Lipstick  Buying a home is a lot like the Tinder dating app: a lot of snap judgments are made on looks alone. That’s why the best bang for your buck isn’t always in renovating. Spending a little time and money improving the curb side appeal of your home, can make people come inside and check it out.  Jonathan Chancellor agrees with Scott Pape that curb side appeal can often be crucial in getting potential buyers out of their cars. 
</li>
<li>
Ditch the Beauty Parade  When it comes time to sell, most homeowners ring up a couple of local real estate agents and arrange a time for them to come over and give a valuation. Don’t do it — not yet anyway. Most agents have spent many hours perfecting their listing pitch — they have all the right closing techniques designed to get you to sign on the dotted line. Keep them out of your home.  Jonathan Chancellor agrees, but when the time comes, make sure you work them down a tad on their sales commission or incentivise their commission with higher price hurdles. It's not a sign of their weak negotiating skills if the agent agrees to an altered commission from their submission, just the way the increasingly savvy vendors improve their cost situation. 
</li>
<li>
Catch them in the Act  Instead, find a similar home to yours that’s for sale in your area. Then, ring the agent and ask about buying the property. Do they pick up? Are they really enthusiastic about the home? If they pass that test, head off to one of their open-for-inspections. Are they on time? Do they take the time to get to know the prospective buyers — who are the potential buyers of your home?  Jonathan Chancellor says Scott has nailed it with this advice, though it only works if you have the time. I also think once the agent has been selected to also send someone into your own home open for inspection to get feedback on what is being advised to the potential buyers! 
</li>
<li>
Don’t Pay for Glossy Advertising  Once you’ve found the right real estate agent, don’t let them talk you into paying for advertising. The truth about glossy advertising is that it’s more about promoting the agency than it is about promoting the property. Honestly, to sell a house all you need is three things: a website<a href="redir.aspx?C=YEH-wRtNZEKpWiNkC3Li00qjg5MrL9EIXP1V3AhNaADtd7E5_LViAvxD4bJ_bVxzZLCD0nfXfAE.&amp;URL=https%3a%2f%2fbvs89594.infusionsoft.com%2fapp%2flinkClick%2f16231%2f9f6fdd5591ec792d%2f16225931%2f07526857f5b20392" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </a>listing, a sign out the front of your house, and a good agent.  Jonathan Chancellor is inclined to agree with Scott Pape, as gone are the days of the oversized vendor paid print ads. There is a dwindling place for smaller glossy print presence in select localities, but let's face, it most buyers get their website alerts these days as the prompt to look further, rather than the randomness of coming across something in print. Vendors will still need to spend up on their website listing. 
</li>
<li>
Crunch or Be Crunched  After the agent has told you how much they believe they can sell your place for — and before you sign with them — look them straight in the eye and say: “if you make me lower my final price, do you agree to lower your final commission?  Good point, but Jonathan Chancellor says this goes back to the suggestion to incentivise the agent's commission. 
</li>
<li>
Sell, then Buy  Don’t buy a home before you’ve sold. It almost always ends badly.  Jonathan Chancellor says yes, this is the ideal scenario, but it is not always possible. Much depends on the individual circumstances surrounding your own situation, and how you cope with pressure. There's ertainly more pressure when buying first, but it doesn't have to end badly.
</li>
</ol></div>
<div>
Under the Hammer is on Channel 7 at 8pm on Thursday night.</div>
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Assessing Scott Pape's 12 tips for auction bidding and listings

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Geelong premiership player Tom Hawkins has sold his restored 1920s investment property at Geelong West.
Belafonte, the three bedroom 146 Hope Street house had rear open-plan living and dining, deck and landscaped yard.
It sold through Lee Botsios and Brock Grainger of Fletchers, who while quoting $460,000 to $480,000, secured a $452,000 sale price.
Property Observer understands that Tom Hawkins paid around $410,000 in 2009.
After the sale, the property became available earlier this year for lease at $410 a week asking rental through Release Property Management Geelong, reflecting a 4.7% rental yield.
Hawkins' last asking rental, when it came available in late 2012, was $370 a week. 
RP Data puts <a href="/news">the suburb's median house price</a> at a record $442,500.
The house was marketed as conserving its many vintage interior features, while adding contemporary polished concrete floors to make a house with well-proportioned rooms and indoor and outdoor living/entertaining spaces.
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Geelong forward Tom Hawkins sells Geelong West investment house

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The Prince of Wales stables at Fingal in Tasmania remain listed for sale with a $145,000 asking price.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-fingal-112656971" target="_blank">The Tasmanian heritage listed building adjoined the Prince of Wales Hotel</a> which burnt down in the 1920s.
Set on the island's north east, the colonial sandstone stables date back to the 1840s.
William Augustus Solomon was the licensee in the 1870s.
"The Prince of Wales stables are a fantastic link with our Tasmanian heritage," the Roberts Longford agents David Headlam and Jeff Carins note.
The 170 square metre at 57 Talbot Street, Fingal is an untouched example of colonial craftsmanship with the unrestored property coming with cobbled floors, horse stalls, feedbins and with a feed loft upstairs. There's also small stable hands accommodation.
"Truly a project in the view of Grand Designs," the marketing says. The 3,845 square metre property comes with a separate two room timber cabin, ruins and a winter creek.
The property has been listed since late 2010 with no change in its asking price.
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The Prince of Wales stables, 1840s Tasmanian heritage sandstone stables

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Longitude 131°, overlooking Uluru, is at Australia’s spiritual heart.
The Philip Cox -designed <a href="https://longitude131.com.au" target="_blank">Longitude 131° luxury wilderness camp at Uluru</a> has won acclaim for its eco-friendly intention, with tent-like suites dotted across the red dirt in the Northern Territory.
Its ownership sits within the indigenous-owned Ayers Rock Resort, that comprises five hotels bought by the Indigenous Land Corp from the listed GPT Group in late 2010 for $300 million.
It wasn't a straight sale but rather by instalments:
<ul>
<li>$81 million payment on settlement; 
</li>
<li>$81 million 12 months after settlement; and 
</li>
<li>$138 million five years after settlement.</li>
</ul>
The additional terms of the sale included GPT contributing $25 million towards capital expenditure to assist in the achievement of a higher value in which GPT may share. GPT will share in 46% of the increase in capital value of Ayers Rock Resort over $300 million.
GPT had opened it in 2002, with 12 of the 15 tents at the $9.4 million safari-style camp, then lost in a bushfire just 15 months after its launch.
Longitude 131°, on the edge of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (UKTNP), 10 kilometres from Uluru, had just been named by US magazine The Robb Report as among the world's top 10 new hotels.
It is now on a long-term management lease deal with Baillie Lodges, owned by entrepreneur Dick Smith’s daughter Hayley and her husband, James Baillie.
Prices have been at $2,200 per couple for a two-night food, drinks and accommodation package
Last year the Indigenous Land Corp’s tourism management arm managing director, Voyages' Koos Klein, the former Hilton executive, told the AFR that the Baillies "can do it better than we can do it. This gives us the opportunity to concentrate on our main resort where we employ 700 to 800 people, and where our focus is on indigenous employment and training."
After a downturn in tourism into the Northern Territory, the value of the resort was cut by $62 million last year, prompting the head of the Indigenous Land Corporation Dawn Casey to question the purchase of the Ayers Rock Resort telling Fairfax Media it was ''perhaps the largest single evaporation of public money in the indigenous policy domain, ever''.
Statistics from Parks Australia show visitors to Uluru declined by about nine per cent in 2011 to about 273,000 people. 
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<div>
The majority of visitors to UKTNP surveyed were domestic visitors, while 31% of visitors were from overseas. 
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International visitors were predominately from Germany; USA; other European markets including the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Switzerland; and New Zealand. 
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Before the Windsors visit, Longitude has hosted celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey. 
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<div>Tourism to Ayers Rock began as an informal activity around the mid 1950s , when a series of unofficial camps evolved at the base, followed by a rough airstrip and eventually some low quality hotels and hostels. By the early 1970's visitor numbers were estimated to be close to 50,000 a year.</div>
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<div>Visitor numbers hits over 75,000 per annum around the early 1980s when construction of Ayers Rock Resort commenced under the direction of the Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory.</div>
<div>
The existing hotels were compulsorily acquired by the Commonwealth Government, replaced on the new site by the new hotel.
The estimated costs of development were $600 million.
By 1984, visitor numbers had reached in excess of 130,000 a year.
Despite being operated by Sheraton and Four Seasons, the properties traded poorly.
In late 1997, General Property Trust purchased Ayers Rock Resort for $220 million. 
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The Baillie Lodges collection of luxury lodges in wilderness destinations includes Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island which launched the portfolio.
SA's Southern Ocean Lodge is also in the Baillie stable.
Last month James and Hayley Baillie abandoned plans to <a href="/expert-insights/investing/baillie-lodges-reveal-ribbed-modernist-addition-to-proposed-boutique-hotel-in-victorian-era-the-rocks-in-sydney">develop a $1400-a-night hotel in The Rocks in Sydney</a>, citing a threefold increase in construction costs.
Construction costs had an initial quote of $8 million but we tipped to blow out to up $23 million, making it impossible to make the nine-suite hotel stack up financially.
“The hard, sad reality is we have become such an expensive country, where the cost of construction has gone through the roof, especially at the quality end of the market,” he told The Australian.
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Longitude 131° at Uluru - glamping boost to follow Prince William and Kate visit

<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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=364553]

From Candela, residents can access cafés, grocers, wine bars, restaurants and essential services on foot, while Ivanhoe Station and Darebin Station provide direct connectivity across Mel​bour​ne. The development is also surrounded by some of the suburb's best-known lifestyle destinations, including Pinkie, Laurent, Enni, Docasa and Woodfire Pizza e Cucina, alongside Ivanhoe Plaza, Woolworths, pharmacies and specialty retailers.

Green space is another defining feature of the suburb. Darebin Parklands, Ivanhoe Park, Nellie Ibbot Park and the Yarra River trail network provide extensive opportunities for recreation, while Ivanhoe Golf Course and Ivanhoe Tennis Club continue to underpin the area's long-established lifestyle appeal.

The suburb's education offering further strengthens demand. Ivanhoe Grammar School, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School, Mary Immaculate Primary School and Ivanhoe Primary School have helped establish the area as one of Melbou​​rne's most sought-after schooling precincts, attracting families and downsizers alike who want to remain connected to the area.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357510]

While location was the priority for Marita and Chris, the project itself also needed to meet their expectations.

"Whilst location was paramount, I was also looking at design of the environment and Candela ticked every box," Marita said.

"We're just thrilled with our choice."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=336455]

Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>, Candela Ivanhoe has been designed to complement its village setting, with an emphasis on generous floorplans, natural light and practical everyday living.

Residents will have access to a range of shared amenities, including a communal rooftop garden and dedicated residential lounge, complemented by a ground-floor café and lifestyle wellbeing centre, helping foster the sense of community already emerging among future owners.

That approach has resonated strongly with the market. More than 90 per cent of purchasers at Candela Ivanhoe are owner-occupiers, with buyers ranging from downsizers and second-home buyers to young families and first home buyers, creating a genuinely multi-generational community of grandparents, parents and children. It reflects a broader shift across Melbo​​urne's apartment market, where buyers are increasingly prioritising neighbourhood quality, lifestyle amenity and long-term liveability.

Currently under construction by Ironside, Candela Ivanhoe comprises 58 apartments. Candela Ivanhoe is scheduled for completion in the coming months, and residents can move in from September. One to four bedroom residences, prices from $649,000 and limited opportunities remaining.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=342]

Location and lifestyle drive demand at Candela Ivanhoe

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

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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