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The past 86% weekend auction result – and indeed the entire start to the 2014 selling season - has been extraordinary.
The property market in Sydney has lost none of its momentum, even with the third busiest February on record.
There were 775 auctions last weekend across Sydney, according to Australian Property Monitors.
This weekend, the first of autumn, there are 680 offerings significantly higher than the 455 listed over the same weekend last year.
The inner west was last weekend's busiest region with the impressive result coming in at 90% of the 131 auctions finding buyers.
But the best result was reported in Sydney’s south at 92%.
The south west another region above 90%.
The next best was the northern beaches with 85%, the lower north 85% and the upper north shore with a clearance rate of 84%.
The most affordable property reported sold at the weekend was a two bedroom unit at 20/34 Addlestone Road, Merrylands (pictured below) which fetched $315,000 through LJ Hooker Merrylands.
<img alt="merrylands_feb_28_one" height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2014/02/28/merrylands_feb_28_one.jpg">
It last sold at $255,000 in 2010 when it was made available at $310 a week rent.
The Addlestone Road block’s two sales last year of other two bedrooms were at $285,000 and $288,000.
The agency was suggesting a pre-auction price range of between $280,000 and $310,000.
Merrylands, Lane Cove and Strathfield are the most popular suburbs for auctions, each with nine listings this weekend, according to APM.
Carlingford in the north west is next busiest with eight auctions followed by Randwick, Epping, Greenacre, Yagoona and Ryde, each with seven.
The inner west is again the most popular region this weekend with 102 auctions, APM notes. The next highest is the upper north shore with 75, followed by the south with 73, the city and east 62, Canterbury Bankstown 61 and the lower north with 59 auctions listed.
"February’s record breaking Sydney weekend auction market is set to continue into March," Dr Andrew Wilson, the senior economist for Australian Property Monitors says.
Sydney’s February auction listing tally stood at 1,631, the third highest February total just behind the totals of 2011 and 2008.
"There's no sign of a let up in buyer or seller enthusiasm - in fact activity shows every sign of intensifying over the coming month with bank mortgage interest rates continuing to fall.
"Declining economic activity is however having no perceptible impact on a very very strong Sydney housing market," Dr Andrew Wilson said.
Not everything is walking out the door. This weekend's scheduled Queens Park auction has been postponed for two weekends, in part due to scheduling issues,
But the price guidance has been revised a tad down.
The Hoodoo Gurus lead guitarist Brad Shepherd - who wrote the mid-1990s classic '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Open_My_Eyes" target="_blank">You Open My Eyes</a>' - and his wife Sahara had their <a target="_blank" href="https://rwdbgroup.com/nsw/queens-park/1091901/">Rawson Avenue, Queens Park</a> home (pictured below) listed for March 1 auction with $1.7 million plus hopes through Ray White Double Bay's Annette Pollak and Kim Hayes.
It's now scheduled for Marh 15 auction with $1.6 million plus hopes.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2014/02/07/que]}
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Almost all merry among Sydney auction vendors, but keep your eyes open for Autumn opportunity

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In the dress circle of Bellevue Hill, Sydney’s most prestigious non-waterfront suburb, two magnificent heritage homes are on the market. Known as Rovello and Barford, both residences are designed by Wilson, Neave and Berry, the leading architectural firm of the 1920s and 1930s era.
With double digit millions price tags, these grand residences have fascinating histories linked to prominent Australian families. Their hertitage status doesn't preclude further contemporary living renovations.
Our property contrarians, Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok, discuss their pick of the pair.
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/stories/2013/09/06/jc-silhouette-5.jpg" alt="jc-silhouette-5" width="100" height="150" style="float: right;">
Rovello is my choice. The superbly proportioned circa 1937 two-storey residence is described by the Australian Heritage Commission as "probably Wilson, Neave and Berry’s finest extant piece of architecture” – and I agree.
A few years younger than Barford, Rovello is classified by the National Trust as an item of heritage significance.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2014/02/28/bell1]}
Set on the highest point of <a href="/news">Bellevue Hill</a> and facing north over Sydney Harbour, Rovello was built for Dr Vincent Flynn and wife, Jean Flynn, a great-niece of George Adams, the founder of Tattersall’s Sweepstake. A trust fund established some years after the 1881 introduction of Tattersall’s sweepstake generated vast wealth for the Adams family.
Flynn chose a site on Ginahgulla Road, considered one of the suburb’s finest streets, as the location for her new home. And then she commissioned Wilson, Neave and Berry to design the house in the colonial Georgian revival style favoured by Hardy Wilson who was the company’s leading architect. Apparently, Flynn requested the architects to design the house to somewhat resemble Barford. The old timers tell me it was Neave who was mostly responsible for it.
Next door, built in the same year, is a house designed by Professor Leslie Wilkinson for the Hordern family. It was therefore among the new crop of homes on the hill taken up by the pioneers at Leura, Rona, Trahlee and Carlyeon. On the other side is a house designed by Espie Dodds for the Alberts.
Rovello remained in the hands of Flynn’s family until it was bought by the property developer John Lyons who sold it in the mid-1980s to the merchant banker James Yonge for $3.45 million in 1986. Yonge sold it for $8.24 million in 1991 through eastern suburbs estate agent Jane Ashton to the current owners, Michael Darling and his wife Manuela Darling-Gansser.
{qtube vid:=g4O35hoeyQw}
Centred around a courtyard modelled on the colonnaded Roman atriums, the house stands on more than 2,800 square metres of grounds with a tennis court, swimming pool, sweeping lawns and sun-drenched terraces. From the property are panoramic northerly views to Manly and The Heads, as well as westerly views to the Harbour Bridge. I am told the main sitting room has comfortably accommodated 70 people at cocktail parties and with the use of the adjoining library that number rises to over 100.
Echoing its Mediterranean name, the traditional Italian-style villa has two wings enclosing a large pergola and an enclosed loggia.  Featuring wide windows framed with elegant external shutters, Rovello has an impressive two-storey entrance hall and 675 square metres of living space including stately living, dining and entertaining areas opening onto the north-facing terrace. Howard Tanner oversaw its last renovation.
Featuring a gracious provincial-style marble kitchen, the five bedroom, five bathroom residence also has a self-contained apartments, a state of the art pilates studio and a steam room. The  exercise area and steam room was added in the last five years designed by architect Nick Tobias.
Not surprisingly, the cooking and food storage areas are a feature of the house as Manuela is a food author.
I love the unusual feature on a ground floor flower room - which was apparently a fashionable inclusion of the time.
Also reflecting Mediterranean style are the gardens, which were re-designed in 2006 by leading landscape architect, Myles Baldwin. Featuring old stone walls, a parterre garden and a vegetable garden, the grounds have wide terraces leading to sweeping lawns and the tennis court. I am told the garden now follows the traditional pattern for major Italian houses with a sequence of terraces - the main living terrace outside the house, the parterre below it, the water garden (in this case a swimming pool) and then the park.
With price expectations around $20 million, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bellevue+hill-116195747" target="_blank">Rovello is for sale</a> by expressions of interest closing March 28 through Ray White Double Bay agents, Elliott Placks and Ashley Bierman.
<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/2013/09/06/mb-silhouette-4.jpg" alt="mb-silhouette-4" width="100" height="150" style="float: left;">SHE SAID:
It’s Barford for me - but I think the $60 million price hopes are extremely ambitious. The agents say the interest has already been $50 million plus in the first week of local marketing.
On the Register of the National Estate, <a href="https://www.ballardproperty.com.au/Buying/Search/residentialresult/residentialdetail.aspx?id=WOOLLAHRA%202012236&amp;wlid=a377ef22-7919-4fbc-8bd3-3783704585b6" target="_blank">Barford</a> is the grand dame of Bellevue Hill.
Owned by businessman Ian Joye, the Barford estate occupies a 5,527 square metres holding with a front entrance on Victoria Road, and rear access from Rupertswood Avenue.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2014/02/28/bell2]}
Named after a village beside the River Leam in Warwickshire, England, Barford was built in 1931 for Sir Warwick Fairfax, shortly after his marriage to his first wife Marcie Elizabeth ('Betty') Wilson. It was the childhood home of their children, James Fairfax and Caroline Simpson.
The elegantly proportioned two-storey house is strongly influenced by the Georgian Revival style of the 1920s. Its design shows the influence of William Hardy Wilson, a partner of Wilson, Neave and Berry who retired from the architectural firm in 1927.
The house is built on an L-shaped plan with a sandstone columned courtyard and fountain. The entrance, which is central to the almost symmetrical main elevation, is elaborately highlighted with Tuscan columns and front door with sidelights and a large fanlight. A side entrance has a porte cochere.
Sir Warwick Fairfax resided at Barford until the late 1960s when he sold the property to former Melbourne car salesman, Emmanuel Margolin. In 1980 Margolin sold it for just under $2 million to property traders, Maurice Bernhardt (a former Double Bay estate agent) and Max Franks.
During the early 1980s Bernhardt and Franks sold Barford to Barry and Wendy Loiterton who operated their tourist-marketing business, Leisuremark, from the property. The Loitertons sold it in late 1986 for $9,875,000 to Ian Joye. The deal made headline news in January 1987 for it was near enough Sydney’s first $10 million sale.
Entered through a a timber-panelled foyer, the elegantly proportioned two storey Georgian style mansion has seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, elegant living and dining rooms (both formal and casual), a library, cinema, billiard room, white-marble kitchen and a caterer's kitchen featuring a walk-in cool room.
With panoramic district views to the harbour, the estate’s expansive grounds have a tennis court, 20-metre heated swimming pool, separate three-bedroom cottage and two one-bedroom apartments.
Long a preferred rental property for celebrities seeking a luxury mansion with exceptional privacy, Barford was rented to actor Will Smith in 2001. He reportedly paid $4,000 a week during the time he was here to support his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, who was in Sydney to work on the movie The Matrix Reloaded.
Pop star Bono was among the more recent renters – in 2010 he reputedly paid the advertised price of $40,000 a week for the Bellevue Hill property.
Barford is for sale through Ryan Watsford of Ballard Property, and Christopher Joye, a son of Ian Joye, is understood to be controlling the sale on behalf of his father.
Ryan Watsford even describes the property as like Buckingham Palace, which is a bit of a stretch.
<a href="mailto:news@propertyoberver.com.au" target="_blank">news@propertyoberver.com.au</a>
                     
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Rovello v Barford, showdown of 1930s Wilson, Neave and Berry-designed Bellevue Hill trophy homes

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Snezna Kerekovic, the owner of Launch Pad Publicity, wants $1.7 million for her Tennyson Point house - which will be recognised as the location from the TV show, All Saints.
The Kemp Street was the house of Dr Charlotte Beaumont (Tammy MacIntosh) for several seasons of the Channel 7 television series.
After that came a string of commercials and advertising shoots at the four bedroom Federation home with the wrap-around balcony and the classical facade.
<a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-tennyson-point-nsw-2111/191233/?searchID=37005136" target="_blank">John Paranchi and Tracey Dixon of McGrath Hunters Hill listed it for auction last weekend </a>expecting more than $1.5 million.
It was passed in at $1,625,000.
It comes with a colourful Beverly Hills inspired pool area and cabana.
It last traded at $430,000 in 1996. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Tennyson Point</a>'s median house price is around $1.4 million, according to RP Data.
The series debuted on 1998 and concluded in 2009 after becoming one of Australia's highest rating dramas and also achieving popularity in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, and Iran.
news@propertyobserver.com.au
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Dr Charlotte's home on All Saints listed for $1.7 million

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Tennis champion Lleyton Hewitt is selling his Palm Beach weekender on Sydney’s northern beaches.
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Hewitt and wife Bec have hopes of fetching $5.5 million plus.
The couple are selling the five bedroom, four bathroom, three storey house at 9 Palm Beach Road through an April 2 expressions of interest campaign.
<a href="https://www.palmbeachrealestate.com.au/property.php?propID=149" target="_blank">It is listed through Raine &amp; Horne Palm Beach agent Glenn Lee</a>.
“Lleyton, Bec and their three children have loved living in this stunning Palm Beach residence." Glenn Lee told the local paper.
“The family is now based in the Bahamas, where they spend the majority of their time as the island is a more convenient destination for them to jump on and off the hectic tennis circuit,” he said.
It cost $4.4 million in 2005.
"Delivering a rare mix of space, tranquillity and upscale dcor, this stunning designer home offers an incredible opportunity to enjoy an unparalleled lifestyle of luxury," the advertising says.
They retain an acreage home at Kenthurst on Sydney's northern beaches.
His long-vacated $3 million West Lakes house in Adelaide returned to the market last October.
The home in Adelaide’s west (pictured below) remains listed through <a href="https://www.harcourts.com.au/Property/534402/SSM081008/29-Martin-Court" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Harcourts Aqua agent Steve von der Borch</a> who also had it for sale in 2011.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/10/01/west]}
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Lleyton Hewitt lists Palm Beach weekender

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Canada's recent policy shift on immigration along with its previous foreign ownership outlook will ensure there is more interest from Chinese buyers in Australian property. 
In the short to medium term, the Chinese investor will increasingly consider the safe haven destination of Australia.
But there will inevitably be fallout here too, after the fillip.
For many years Canada ranked among the top choice for Chinese investor-immigrants given its relaxed immigration policies and generous health and education systems.
But this month Canada scrapped its longstanding Immigrant Investor Program, which allowed individuals to effectively buy permanent residency. 
The most recent data shows Chinese immigration constitutes around 11.5% of all immigrants to Canada. It has been suggested the scheme has enabled more than 130,000 people to migrate to Canada since 1986.
While the IIP was aimed at all nationalities, immigration consultants have suggested the message arising from this month's policy adjustment was Canada doesn't want the Chinese investment. It's not entirely the case as while they have cancelled its visa program that granted permanent residency to those who committed 800,000 Canadian dollars to a five-year zero-interest loan to one of the country's provinces, it is set to be replaced with a program requiring immigrants to invest money, rather than just loan it.
It appears the program which began in 1986 saw applicants achieving residency but many staying in China which was causing the undercurrent of community consternation.
Also putting a chill on Chinese investment in Canada, the Canadian government astopped Chinese state-owned acquisitions of energy assets in 2012.
Soe 46,000 applications for the Canadian visa are now going no-where.
Australia's significant investor visa program only dates back to 2012 allowing immigrants a residency visa if they invest $5 million into a local business or approved managed funds, including state government infrastructure funds.
So far, the slow-burning SIV program has attracted around 600 applicants, of which around 90% have been Chinese nationals. 
Despite the difference in applications, Australia sits as one of the most sought-after property investment markets globally among affluent Asians, and not just among the Chinese, according to recent HSBC research.
Click to enlarge
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HSBC’s international property investment research looked as affluent individuals across seven Asian countries to understand their international property investment appetite.
Alice Del Vecchio, head of mortgages for HSBC in Australia, said the research found that more than a third (37%) of affluent Asians currently own an investment property overseas with many of them looking to invest further in the next 12 months.
"Looking ahead, interest in Australia is expected to remain strong so our economy is set to be a key beneficiary as foreign investment activity can help increase the supply of new housing by stimulating construction," she said.
According to the research, Australia is currently the number one destination for offshore property investment among wealthy Indonesians, while Malaysians and Singaporeans ranked Australia second.
For the rest of Asia, 9% of affluent Chinese, 10% of those from Hong Kong and 18% from India are currently invested in Australian property.
Del Vecchio credits Australia’s appeal amongst Asian investors to its proximity, quality education and lifestyle.
"It’s no surprise that Australia is highly regarded among affluent investors from Asia.
"Close to 70% of Australia’s international students are from Asia, many of which stay in Australia long-term to work or reside.
"We know from our own customer base that a large proportion of international mortgages in the past year have been located near universities."
Interestigly HSBC’s research indicates that investors across the region are broadening their scope from traditional property markets like Sydney and Melbourne to Queensland and ACT.
Of the affluent Asians looking to buy in Australia in the next year, 25% intend to buy in Queensland, 23% in ACT, compared to 20% in Victoria, 18% in New South Wales followed by 16% in Western Australia.
The HSBC report had over 7,000 respondents with at least $44,000 cash deposit in the bank, spread over seven Asian countries.
<a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
                              
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Cashing in on Canada's Chinese immigration policy shift: Australia's fillip then the fallout

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Meadow Lea, the grand five-bedroom East Lindfield art deco estate, has been relisted for sale by Victoria's Basement co-founder Daniel Kalanderian. 
<a href="https://www.vanguarde.com.au/buying/NSW/North-Shore-Upper/East-Lindfield/Apartment/1P1019" target="_blank">It comes with $10 million expectations</a>.
The Sydney Road residence last traded in 1996 when bought by Daniel Kalanderian for $1.415 million.
It's a trophy residence on a 4,230 square metre holding, built in the early 1940s for the prominent margarine industrialist James Armstrong.
Its initial sale was in 1948 when bought for 17,000 pounds by Azzalin Romano, who for decades ran one of Sydney's most stylish nightclub restaurants, Romanos.
The Romanos purchase was aided by the winnings of his racehorse <a href="https://www.racingvictoria.net.au/p_Bernborough_Fact_Sheet.aspx" target="_blank">Bernborough</a>, which he sold to Hollywood mogul Louis B. Mayer in 1946 for a record £93,000.
The property resold in 1955 for £25,000 to the Wainbergs who ordered customised furniture, which were sold off in 1996 by Dalia Stanley.
The home, with private central courtyard, now comes with lap pool, tennis court with lights and a pavilion.
Inside boasts a grand foyer, opulent formal dining room and a sprung-floor ballroom which is now the media room.
The modern kitchen and a thermostatically controlled two-zoned cellar that can hold 2,500 bottles.
Meadow Lea was listed with $7.5 million hopes in 2010.
The home has 1,200 square metre internal space.
With such expansive grounds on offer, the property also presents potential for further development of the site, with development approval for a separate house on a 1,162 square metre block.
It has been listed through Vanguarde agent Travis Reeve.
<a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
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Spread the word: Meadow Lea, Lindfield East home built for margarine industrialist listed

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Built by Canny Builders with resort style living in mind, the four year old award winning <a href="/news">Canterbury</a> contemporary residence of Lynette and Alan Knights was sold post-auction on Saturday afternoon.
The vendors were seeking $3 million plus for the <a href="https://www.jelliscraig.com.au/property/CANTERBURY-1-Dryden-Street/6620833/#.Uwu-bOOSx8E" target="_blank">1 Dryden Street</a> offering listed through Kay &amp; Burton agent Scott Patterson in conjunction with Jellis Craig agent Paul Williamson.
James Buyer Advocates reported auction bidding began with a $3 million vendor bid. With three in the race, bidding got to $3.25 million when the agents went inside to seek instructions from their vendor.
A subsequent fresh bidder offered $10,000 helping the bidding along until the property was passed in at $3.3 million.
It was bought soon after auction for an undisclosed higher amount. Alan Knights recently retired from the position of chief financial officer with silver mining company Cobar Consolidated Resources.
<a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank"></a><a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
        
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Four bidders in $3.3 million plus contemporary Canterbury sale

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The Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia says in the current strong sales market it is important to keep your emotions in check.

Their top five smart tips for buying in a rising market include:
* Get your finance pre-approved so you know your limits you show potential sellers that you are serious about buying.
* Don’t carelessly speed up the research and buying process to take advantage of a perceived deal.
* Avoid low-ball offers for a property, as this will result in you not being taken seriously.
* Act decisively when you know it’s the right property and have done your research, or others are likely to jump ahead of you.
* Avoid asking for favours or adding complications to the deal. That may work in a falling market, but not a rising one.
And they add just because property prices are rising doesn’t mean you’re going to be left behind.
I'd add make sure you are capable of the long hold as many of these extraordinary sale prices will be hard to match on the inevitiable dip.
<a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
             
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Five smart tips for buying in boomtime conditions

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A timber cabin high above Wisemans Ferry at <a href="/news">Spencer</a> has become NSW's lengthiest most discounted property offering.
Despite the often intense market, pockets are emerging where buyers and sellers just aren't on the same page.
This one is a cabin on six hectares with views of a creek that leads to the Hawkesbury River.
There is an asking price of $229,000 for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.domain.com.au/property/for-sale/vacant-land/nsw/spencer/?adid=2007790316">4586 Wisemans Ferry Road</a>, which data supplier SQM says came onto the market at $380,000 some 1,717 days ago.
<img alt="sqm-feb-26-one" height="208" width="470" src="/images/stories/2014/02/26/sqm-feb-26-one.gif">
Source: SQM Research
It had $259,000 hopes in January of this year.
It's within walking distance of the local store/cafe, school and wharf, the Michael Kidd Property Sales marketing says.
The sloping, lightly timbered land has a cabin.
There has been a survey assessment for a proposed private jetty.
It last sold at $121,000 in 2001.
The SQM is topped by a $249,000 offering at Lamb Island, Queensland which has been on the market for 1296 days.
<a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
             
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Spencer, Hawkesbury district slowcoach seller takes spot on SQM's most discounted list

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Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood has told staff that Fairfax had ''no plans'' to float Domain, its second-ranked property portal.
It followed a News Ltd report in The Australian yesterday saying that rival Fairfax was priming the Domain site for sale. It lead to shares in Fairfax rising to a 27-month high.
The Australian reported that Domain was ''considering joining a heady rush for floats with a $500 million listing of Domain on the local stockmarket in early 2015''.
Greg Hywood's ensuing email advised that Fairfax had ''no plans'' to float Domain which dampened growing expectations that initially arose after Fairfax Media put Domain into a separate business unit in April 2013.
''We appointed Antony Catalano as CEO because we wanted to accelerate the growth of Domain. The business is gaining a strong competitive foothold,'' the Greg Hywood email reportedly said.
Domain reported a 33 percent rise in online revenue, and 50 percent growth in digital earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation in the six months to December 31.
Fairfax Media upped the Domain value today reporting Macquarie valued Domain at $974 million, the bulk derived from its digital operations. Fairfax's dating site RSVP was valued at $72 million.
It suggested its radio assets were worth $145 million.
There had been renewed talk of a $200 million joint venture between Macquarie Radio Network and Fairfax Radio's stations, but it's not likely to happen.
Macquarie Radio major shareholder John Singleton says he will never embark on a joint venture with the Fairfax Media chairman Roger Corbett and chief executive Greg Hywood. 
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/singo-has-news-for-incompetent-fairfax/story-e6frg996-1226836394337">The tirade against Fairfax was published in today's The Australian</a>.
"They (Fairfax) are selling all their future assets to prop up their dead assets," with Singleton saying there had been disastrous leadership from the Fairfax board.
"Here we have what was a No. 2 media company in Australia and we've watched it disappear before our very eyes," he told the paper's new media editor Sharri Markson and the veteran columnist Mark Day.
"We've had to put up with Fred Hilmer, Conrad Black -- and just when you think you can't make matters worse, you get Roger Corbett.
"He goes in and he hires Greg Hywood. Where from? From Tourism Victoria. And does he make a decision? No. He hires management consultants."
Singleton attacked Fairfax's business operations, saying the only decent asset they had was Domain.
"There are third-rate wankers in charge of destroying Fairfax," Singleton said.
"They will both (Corbett and Hywood) be gone in a year."
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/fairfaxs-500m-domain-float-plan/story-e6frg996-1226835405904">The initial article in The Australian  </a>suggested Kerry Stokes’ Seven West Media proposed buying half of Domain in late 2012, but the deal fell down amid frustration at the pace of talks and resistance from some Fairfax board members.
News holds 62 per cent of REA, which owns websites including realestate.com.au, which is now capitalised at $6.5 billion.
The News Ltd article headlined the Fairfax float as a $500 million offering. 
News Ltd quoted Fairfax sources as saying the Domain business was internally valued at $350 million in mid-2013.
Morgan Stanley attached an equity value of between $232 million and $464 million when it ran the numbers in late 2013.
The agitator Fairfax shareholder Simon Marais was quoted yesterday by The Australian as urging Fairfax to focus on building Domain’s revenues for two more years before a float or sale.
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No plans for Domain float by Fairfax Media as Catalano drives growth

<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] 
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<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. 
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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. 
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"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.

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"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. 
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"<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."

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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. 
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"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. 
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"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."

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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. 
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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. 
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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.

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Joel Robinson

Abadeen, PERIFA, top out Putney Wharf harbourfront precinct

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

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

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

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

Jonathan Chancellor

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