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Crown Resorts has purchased the prestigious Capital Golf Club from Melbourne porperty developer Lloyd Williams for $67.6 million.
The course, considered one of the best in Australia, is in Melbourne’s south-east at Heatherton.
It is mostly frequented by Crown high-rollers, tucked away near Moorabbin behind massive wrought-iron gates. It was a par 72 course when it opened in 1997.
The 120-hectare golfing playground was reportedly modelled on the private desert golf course of the owner of the Las Vegas Mirage Casino, Steve Wynn.
Lloyd Williams’s private company, Hudson Conway, built Capital in the 1990s at an estimated $50 million cost. It has been the desire of Crown to own it outright for almost two decades.
The outright purchase was revealed in Crown’s latest results. It had been leased from the late 1990s at around $5 million a year under a leasing deal with Crown which gained an exclusive corporate membership share in Capital for around $36 million.
With a $12 million clubhouse, the course was designed by champion golfer Peter Thompson.
Lloyd Williams, a long-time friend of the Packer family, is often involved in high-rolling property deals. He recently indicated his Mount Macedon property was for sale as horse racing operations are set to relocate the Mornington Peninsula.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/rural/lloyd-williams-seeking-20-million-for-macedon-lodge-racehorse-facility/2014020567538" target="_blank">The Macedon Lodge is set for sale with $20 million hopes.</a>
He also sold <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/commercial/the-block-albert-park-warehouse-price-appreciation-in-history/2013080763873" target="_blank">the warehouse featuring in The Block</a> to the Channel 9 series production company. 
<a target="_blank" href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
     
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Lloyd Williams sells Capital Golf Club to Crown Resorts for its casino high-rollers

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It was marketed by Glen Coutinho of RT Edgar Boroondara as a home inspired by the Hungarian architecture of Visegrád Palace.
<a href="https://www.rtedgar.com.au/?pagecall=property&amp;propertyID=2547467&amp;agentID=3864&amp;realestate=29_Munro_Street_KEW_EAST_VIC_3102&amp;showGoBack=true" target="_blank">The Kew East home</a> was sold at weekend auction for $2.815 million with six bidders.
When the bidding got to $2,780,000, the next bidder put it on the market with the fresh sixth bidder stepping up.
James Buyer Advocates said it was knocked down to one of the original bidders.
The 29 Munro Street block had been bought for $1.275 million in late 2012.
Visegrád Palace (pictured below) is situated north-west of the Hungarian capital of Budapest on the banks of the Danube River.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2014/02/25/vis]}
Source: WikiCommons
{module Do you see the Visegrád Palace inspiration?}
<a target="_blank" href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
     
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Kew East home inspired by the Hungarian architecture of Visegrád Palace

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Don't think that everything is selling quickly and at huge price premiums across Sydney.
A Scotland Island waterfront property, first listed in May 2009 at $1.3 million, may have just found its next owner after 1,715 days on the market.
Melanie Marshall of PMC Hill Real Estate told Property Observer yesterday she was putting an offer to the owner for his consideration.
The Scotland Island waterfront's most recent price guidance was $900,000 plus.
<a href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:I4WCGxiEC-MJ:www.pmchill.com.au/node/244+&amp;cd=1&amp;hl=en&amp;ct=clnk&amp;gl=au" target="_blank">It was also briefly available for rent at $600 a week</a>, but the owner would prefer it sold.
After 1,715 days on the market, the property appeared in the recent SQM list on discounted long listings.
<img alt="sqm-feb-25-one" src="/images/stories/2014/02/25/sqm-feb-25-one.gif" width="470" height="156"> Source: SQM Research
The list is dominated by Queensland offerings with a relatively new one from Perth property discounted by a third of its original asking price, although only being on the market for a total of 63 days.
The Scotland Island offering last traded in 2006 at $1.1 million.
It is a two bedroom west facing waterfront home with views across to Elvina Bay.
The open plan dining, kitchen and lounge room leads out onto a wide verandah, which at high tide is right over the water.
The two bedrooms are located upstairs with the main having its own verandah overlooking Pittwater.
Timber floorboards are featured throughout plus there is a slow combustion fire for winter and ceiling fans for summer.
It comes with a deep water jetty and pontoon and sandy beach.
RP Data recently reported Sydney's typical private treaty house sale was taking just 50 days, a record since they started keeping records in 2008.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/singaporean-billionaire-philip-ng-buys-yamba-scotland-island-s-finest-heritage-home/2013110466135" target="_blank">Scotland Island notched up its highest sale price last year when a Singaporean billioniare bought Yamba</a>. 
<img alt="insights-chart-feb-25-one" src="/images/stories/2014/02/25/insights-chart-feb-25-one.gif" width="470" height="344">
Source: RP Data
<a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
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Scotland Island listing may have found buyer after 1,715 days on market

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Rothwell Lodge, the 1840s Georgian Regency mansion spanning three levels, has been sold for a record setting $5 million <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-glebe-nsw-2037/127001/?searchID=39160390" target="_blank">through McGrath agent Michael Glynn</a>.
With Otto Cserhalmi and Partners renovations, it is one of Glebe's oldest colonial mansions set on a 1,000 square metre block, with rear factory workspace.
With classically proportioned spaces with 3.7 metre high ceilings, it was the home and office of the heritage architect, Otto Cserhalmi.
Its wrap-around verandah overlooks almost a landscaped park.
It was among the social housing used during the Great Depression.
The Ferry Road farmhouse once enjoyed Blackwattle Bay views east toward the City. 
It was built for Rev William Boyce, the Methodist friend of Wigram Allen of Toxteth Park, whose second marriage was to Allen’s daughter, Mary.
For many years it was a lodging house with a shoe-making warehouse factory at the rear.
The Glebe Society calls Rothwell Lodge <a href="https://www.glebesociety.org.au/wordpress/?buildings=rothwell-lodge-2" target="_blank">an example of the post-Regency style</a>.<a href="https://www.glebesociety.org.au/wordpress/?buildings=rothwell-lodge-2" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.glebesociety.org.au/wordpress/?buildings=rothwell-lodge-2" target="_blank"></a>
Ernest Pederson Reserve was once the front lawn of Rothwell which was bought by Robert Hannan.
Cserhalmi has been involved with prior Glebe renovations including 19a Toxteth Road where <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-glebe-nsw-2037/64885" target="_blank">a renovated historic 1898 church hall residence</a> was sold for $4.1 million.
<img src="/images/2014/05/15/glebe%20may%2015%20one.jpg" alt="">
The suburb's previous highest sale was Bowden, the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-glebe-nsw-2037/93966" target="_blank">1886 Gothic Revival Victorian era mansion</a> (pictured below) sold through McGrath for $4.2 million in 2011.
<img src="/images/2014/05/15/glebe%20may%2015%20two.jpg" alt="">
Montana, at 36 Boyce Road, was the first sale above $4 million in 2003 when the 1892 Federation-style house built for the Whetton family, who made money from marine contracting at Blackwattle Bay, fetched $4.01 million.
Glebe's last landmark sale was the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-glebe-111881083" target="_blank">Queen Anne mansion, Hartford</a> (pictured below), though its sale price fell short of the desired $4 million plus expectations.
<img src="/images/2014/05/15/glebe%20may%2015%20three.jpg" alt="">
The home of recruitment executive Randall Maple and his wife, Erica Maple-Pols sold through Christie's Ken Jacobs at $3.85 million.
Built for a Scottish doctor, E. Randolph Magnus, it sits on a 1,115-square-metre Glebe Point Road block. Title Tattle recalls the home broke the suburb's $1 million barrier when $1.75 million was paid in 1989.
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Rothwell Lodge, 1840s Georgian Glebe mansion sells for $5 million

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Estate agent John McGrath took whole page ads in weekend Queensland newspapers to step up the campaign against legislation that bans agents from volunteering price guides on residential auction properties.
</div>
The Property Occupations Bill and the Agents Financial Administration Bill 2013 is before the Queensland Parliament.
John McGrath, chief executive of McGrath Estate Agents which operates seven Queensland agencies including in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, says banning price guides would damage the state’s residential auction market.
"Every buyer I have ever met in 32 years wants price guides," a passionate John McGrath recently told the Queensland P0arliamentary Committee reviewing the extraordinary regressive proposal.
"We are now in the age of information where the internet has broken down barriers between business and the consumer.
"Common sense already tells us...buyers want information to help them evaluate their options," he wrote in a critic of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland proposal.
The legislation comes despite no known REIQ formal industry or consumer survey.
John McGrath strongly challenges the REIQ view that the majority of the industry are for the ban.
"The feedback from buyers and sellers following our open letter last Saturday has been tremendous in large supporting our view," he said.
It is understood the committee has recommendation is that price guides should be banned in Queensland despite the submissions by relevant parties including REA, McGrath and News Ltd.
John McGrath outlined what the proposed legislation will mean for consumers including:
* No auction property will ever be able to be advertised with a price indication nor can the agent representing the property make any comment on price whatsoever.
* Buyers will no longer be able to search for auction properties by price on the internet. There will be no price filter on any Queensland auction searches.
*Property editorials in newspapers will never be able to mention a price expectation.
*Price estimates provided by data companies that can assist buyers in determining the likely price range will also be banned under this proposal.
*As a seller you will no longer have the right to sell by auction with a price guide. As a buyer you will no longer be able to discuss price with an agent selling at auction.
"It does the people of Queensland a great disservice, in my opinion, to deny them such a fundamental right when it comes to the most important financial asset that any of us will ever own.
"The banning of price guides will be a barrier to business for this great state. We should be open for business. Making it easy for others to research our property and invest in Queensland," he said.
"There is no other jurisdiction in the world that bans such information being provided like price guides on properties."
He encouraged emails to lacsc@parliament.qld.gov.au.
"We only have a few days as Parliament is due to determine this proposal early next week," he said in an open letter published in two Queensland newspapers, The Courier-Mail and The Gold Coast Bulletin.
Click to enlarge
<a rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2014/02/25/mcgrath-feb-25-three.gif" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2014/02/25/mcgrath-feb-25-two.gif"></a>
John McGrath is also a director of REA Group, which owns online portal realestate.com.au.
"I am very passionate. I am very frustrated. I am very concerned that this could take us back 50 years, and for what purpose? It benefits no-one. In fact, it is detrimental to all parties involved, in my opinion," <a target="_blank" href="/news">John McGrath told the committee</a>.
news@propertyobserver.com.au
   
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Dark ages descending on Queensland as auction price guide ban defies common sense: John McGrath

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Tasmania's historic 2,154-hectare farm, Norton ­Mandeville in the Derwent Valley, has been sold for $6.5 million.
Norton Mandeville, which dates back to 1820 when pioneer William Orr built the first homestead, sold through <a href="https://colliers.realestate.com.au/property-cropping-tas-gretna-7537715" target="_blank">Colliers International agents Tim Altschwager and Jesse Manuel</a>.
They suggested the sale was a stand-out in a tough ­Tasmanian market where values have dropped slightly in the past few years.
A local Tasmanian farmer has bought the it from a US investor who bought the property in 2007 for $8.1 million. 
Located at <a href="/news">Gretna</a>, which is less than an hour’s drive from Hobart, Norton Mandeville farms poppy and lucerne crops and grazes sheep.
“This transaction is a stand out in a tough Tasmanian market,” Tim Altschwager said. 
The property attracted substantial interest from a wide range of parties including parties looking at the property for dairy conversion, as well as Chinese investors looking to break into the market because they like the Tasmanian brand.
Pioneer pastoralist Joseph Clarke and his wife Caroline <a href="https://www.loretotoorak.vic.edu.au/about/mandevillehall/earlyhistory/" target="_blank">who were associated with a Toorak mansion</a> had owned the farm in the mid-1800s.
<a target="_blank" href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
    
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Gretna's Norton Mandeville farm sells for $6.5 million

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The Lodge, 1 Gahan Court, Toorak, sold at weekend auction for $2.72 million.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/trophy-homes/1960s-toorak-home-built-for-general-motors-holden-to-go-to-auction-this-weekend/2014021867872">It was built in the 1960s for General Motors Holden (GMH)</a>.
Kait Davis of William Batters South Yarra had given a $2.5 million to $2.7 million initial price guidance which proved highly reliable for the modernist style home.
One buyer's agent thought that it was "conservative" but then it attracted an unattributed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/dumps-in-best-suburbs-still-cost-home-buyer-a-million-dollars/story-fndba8uq-1226834051689">Herald Sun $4 million price estimate</a>, potentially debilitating on the morning of the auction.
The tabloid also called it an "ugly duckling".
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.williamsbatters.com.au/?pageCall=property&amp;propertyID=2579520&amp;realestate=1_Gahan_Court_TOORAK_VIC_3142">The four bedroom house on a 579 cul de sac block</a> was noted by the <a href="https://www.modernistaustralia.com" target="_blank">Modernist Australia</a> website as one of "only a handful which truly croon Hollywood glamour pad".
"Every now and then a listing will come along which captures our imagination," it noted.
"Seemingly untouched it requires only the most simple of reconditioning to make it a living dream," the website suggested of one of Melbourne's remaining mid-century houses.
Title Tattle also hoped it would be retained by the new owner, certainly the overall facade and footings, but remains unaware of the intentions of its lawyer buyer.
I would suggest <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/holgar-holgar-architects-sell-1960s-modernist-eaglemont-homebase/2013102965988" target="_blank">Melbourne's heritage authorities are unappreciative of the architecture of the 1960s</a> when it comes to preservation.
Land title documents show GMH bought the <a target="_blank" href="/news">Toorak</a> property in 1968 and sold it in 1981.
It last traded at $237,500 in 1983 when bought by motel proprietor George Crocombe.
Little is known of the Gahan Court house's GMH connections, but Max E. Wilson was appointed managing director in 1966, taking over from David L. Heglund.
But there were long links between GMH and Toorak. Onetime GMH chief Harold E Bettle lived in Toorak as his Holden was stolen from his then home in 1948. In 1949 GMH bought Whernside, the Toorak mansion, selling it in 1954 to Myer.
news@propertyobserver.com.au
    
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The Lodge, Toorak, sells for $2.72 million - ugly duckling or stylish MCM design?

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Melbourne notched up a preliminary 75% clearance rate after 1044 auctions were reported to the REIV today. Some 1320 auctions were scheduled.
It compared to the revised 70 per cent tally for last weekend - down from the initial 72% figure - and 72 per cent the same  weekend last year.
Enzo Raimondo, the REIV chief, said next weekend the REIV expects around 1,290 auctions.
APM reported a preliminary 86% success rate across Sydney, from 537 results. There were 775 plus scheduled Sydney auctions.
For the third successive weekend Sydney's revised prior weekend tally dipped to just below 80%, a none-the-less remarkable result. 
There are 666 scheduled auctions next weekend, March 1 across Sydney, according to APM senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson.
Melbourne's dearest sale was 29 Sussex Street, Brighton at $3,600,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/12-buyers-and-special-kirribilli-penthouse-just-add-%241325-million-above-reserve/2014022267963?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=newsplus" target="_blank">Sydney's was a bullish Kirribilli apartment result</a>.
Melbourne's cheapest sale was $150,000 for 1957-1963 Western Highway, Rockbank, near Melton.
A two bedroom unit at 20/34 Addlestone Road, Merrylands selling at $318,000 was Sydney's cheapest recorded sale.
It was the first Sydney-Melbourne super Saturday combo for 2014 so media interest was intense. More than 700 auctions in Sydney and 1000 in Melbourne constitutes a so-called super Saturday.
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<a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/9NewsSyd" data-user-id="171802941" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;">Nine News Sydney ?@9NewsSyd </a> <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/9NewsSyd/status/437116655131316224" class="tweet-timestamp js-permalink js-nav js-tooltip" title="5:48 PM - 22 Feb 2014" style="color: #8899a6; text-decoration: none;">1h</a>
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New auction season sees fierce bidding on first Super Saturday. <a href="https://twitter.com/SylviaJeffreys" class="twitter-atreply pretty-link" dir="ltr" style="color: #0084b4; text-decoration: none;">@SylviaJeffreys</a> has more <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%239NewsAt6&amp;src=hash" data-query-source="hashtag_click" class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" dir="ltr" style="color: #0084b4; text-decoration: none;">#9NewsAt6</a> <a href="https://t.co/RmTjdLuClL" class="twitter-timeline-link" data-pre-embedded="true" dir="ltr" title="https://t.co/RmTjdLuClL Cmd+Click to follow link" style="color: #0084b4; text-decoration: none;">pic.twitter.com/RmTjdLuClL</a>
 
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February 2014 auction sales strength sustained through Sydney and Melbourne's super Saturday

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The $3 million reserve on the harbourfront Kirribilli apartment with rooftop terrace (pictured above) was quickly reached after the $2.8 million opening offer.
But then two of the 12 registered bidders at the Laing &amp; Simmons North Sydney onsite auction went way beyond even the $4 million mark for the 177 square metre seventh floor penthouse.
Auctioneer David Gray of Cooley Auctions knocked down the offering through Laing &amp; Simmons North Sydney agent Catherine O'Neill at $4,325,000.
"There were no offers before, so the buyers were keeping things close," Catherine O'Neill told Property Observer.
It was the first time offered to the market given the Stewart family had built the Waruda Avenue block in the mid-1900s.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.lsns.com.au/residential-for-sale/0000165095">It came with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and two carspaces</a>.
The true waterfront penthouse in the world class location needed renovation given its somewhat dated 1990s styling. Some observers thought it probable to fetch around $3.5 million given a 137 square metre third floor apartment had been listed, without sale, last February with $3.1 million hopes after architectural redesign.
Today's Adelaide buyer - who fought off London expatriate interest - signed the $432,500 deposit cheque and then went straight onto buy the Stewart's one bedroom offering (pictured below) which fetched $690,000. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.lsns.com.au/residential-for-sale/0000166433">It was 59 square metres, also on the top floor</a>, with $650,000 plus price guidance.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2014/02/24/kir2]}
 "Brilliant by day and truly spectacular by night, this apartment enjoyed uninterrupted breathtaking 180 degree views of all Sydney Harbour's icons - the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Botanic Gardens and the magic of the City's lights," Catherine O'Neill's marketing said.
<a target="_blank" href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
    
But not all the prestige lower north shore weekend auction offerings found buyers. At Neutral Bay, a Hayes Street harbourfront offering was passed in at $4.8 million. Its price guidance had been $4.75 million plus.
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12 buyers and special Kirribilli penthouse - makes for $1.325 million above reserve!

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<div>
Expressions of interest from developers interested in transforming the AAMI Stadium precinct close today.
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Submissions are being sought for the purchase of all or portions of the 23 hectare site, which encompasses AAMI Stadium and surrounding lands.
The land was rezoned to allow for housing and apartments from two to eight storeys surrounding the stadium.
The SANFL executive commissioner Leigh Whicker says the proceeds from the sale would provide financial security for local football.
The opportunity suits a range of developments including potentially a retirement village and affordable housing.
The football oval has been promised to the Adelaide Football Club for the next 15 years for training and practice matches, although the stadium will be dismantled over the next decade.
The SANFL has been part of the West Lakes precinct since 1974.
The Adelaide Football Club will remain as a tenant with its current lease agreement keeping the club on the site until 2048.
The process is being conducted by Realtycorp Property Solution acting under instructions from the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), 
The land which is located 11 kilometres north-west of the Adelaide CBD comprises 23 hectare. 
As from March 2014 the "home" of South Australian football will be transferred to the newly redeveloped Adelaide Oval.
 
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AAMI Stadium redevelopment offers due today

<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.

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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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=366267]

The architecture draws on Kew's established character through the use of handmade Krause bricks, while landscaping by John Patrick introduces 23 plant species, including nine native varieties, creating an environment which focuses just as much on nature as it does the building.

Construction on Wimba Ave is well underway by renowned high-end builder Sinjen, with completion expected in late 2027. Prices start from $2.22 million.

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The enduring appeal of Kew's tree-lined streets and village lifestyle

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

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