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Sydney achieved a near record 83.8% weekend auction success rate.
Property Observer notes listing volumes were up to their highest winter level, though still slim compared to the typical spring selling season.
 
The 12 top performing auction suburbs were:
1) Surry Hills      6 sold   6 notified results
2) Leichhardt      4 sold  5 notified
3) Balmain          4 sold  4 notified  3 yet to be advised
4) Epping             4 sold 4 notified
5 Croydon Park  4 sold 4 notified
5 Marrickville   3 sold 4 notified  1ytba
6 Croydon          3 sold 3 notified
7 Manly             3 sold 3 notified
8 Ashfield          3 sold 3 notified
9 Hunters Hill  3 sold 3 notified
10 Burwood      3 sold 3 notified
11 Blacktown   3 sold 3 notified  3ytba
12 Belmore      3 sold 3 notified
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/sydney-auctions-in-80-plus-overdrive-for-fifth-consecutive-weekend/2013081164077?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=news">According to Australian Property Monitors (APM), it was the fifth consecutive weekend with a preliminary 80% plus outcome.</a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/sydney-auctions-in-80-plus-overdrive-for-fifth-consecutive-weekend/2013081164077?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=news"> </a>
Source: Australian Property Monitors
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Surry Hills tops the 12 Sydney weekend auction hotspot suburbs

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Melbourne vendors notched up a clearance rate of 76% compared to 72% last weekend and 56% on the same weekend last year.
Houses outperformed apartments with a 78% success rate for houses - at an $795,000 median - compared with the 71% clearance rate for units that had a $542,500 median price.
The Jellis Craig eastern suburbs group recorded its best auction results in several years selling 38 from 42 properties, noting pent-up demand and buyer confidence.
Their sales included the weekend's top seller, the 1887 John Beswicke-designed mansion, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jelliscraig.com.au/property/CAMBERWELL-3-Fermanagh-Road/5810341/">Langi</a> (pictured below).
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/08/aug12cam]}
The Italianate Victorian mansion had been extensively renovated and restored by the vendors, former SANFL premiership player Rob Tardif and his wife, Julie Russell, who have retired from senior management positions at Origin Energy.
Property Observer recalls it sold for $805,000 in 1997. The grand home was as a girls' music school in the late 1800s, and later used as a base for the Australian Army during the Second World War.
The TOP 5 HOUSE SALES 1. 3 Fermanagh Road, Camberwell $4,700,000 post-auction 2. 3 Monash Avenue, Balwyn $3,160,000 3. 9 Lindsay Street, Brighton $2,725,000 4. 66 Wilson Street, Yarraville $2,616,000 5. 13 Bethune Street, Hawthorn East $2,560,000
The TOP 5 APARTMENT SALES 1. 701/3-7 Alma Road, St Kilda $1,410,000 2. 62 Hunter Street, Richmond $1,296,000 3. 306/65 Beach Street, Port Melbourne $1,210,000 4. 401/88 Beach Street, Port Melbourne $1,100,000 5. 4/3 St Georges Road, Toorak $1,080,000
The 5 CHEAPEST HOUSES 1. 52 Riggall Street, Broadmeadows $266,000 2. 7 Howitt Crescent, Sunshine West $310,000 3. 1 Begg Avenue, Truganina $327,500 4. 14 Getaway Drive, Doreen $342,500 5. 120 Community Hub, Hillside $360,000
The 5 CHEAPEST APARTMENTS 1. 8/20 Strathearn Avenue, Murrumbeena $244,500 2. 14/171 Kent Street, Ascot Vale $250,000 3. 5/50 Carlisle Street, St Kilda $254,000 4. 7/21 Cohuna Street, Brunswick West $260,000 5. 1/37 Nepean Highway, Elsternwick $268,000
Source: REIV 
Dr Andrew Wilson, senior economist at Fairfax-owned Australian Property Monitors, said the Melbourne market was in a ''catch-up scenario rather than moving ahead''.
He said Melbourne's top-end market was about 10% its previous price peaks.
<div class="ad adCentred" id="adspot-300x250-pos-3">''If the top of the market is further behind its previous peaks than the middle market, it makes sense to upgrade,'' he told Fairfax Media.</div>
The $1 million plus house market had possibly stopped its very strong march northwards, according to Melbourne buyers agent, Mal James.
His buyers agency James Buyer Advocates sensed bidder numbers at $1 million plus auctions in inner Melbourne and the bayside suburbs took a bit of a dip on the weekend.
They noted the average number of bidders per auction sat at 1.7, down from more than two typically seen since June. 


"We don't think it's so much because buyers are nervous, but because they have twigged that vendors are holding back their listings until after the election," buyers agent Mal James saud.
"They're saying 'I'll take my chances to wait and see what stock shows up in late September and early October'.


"Right now it is proving a little hard to work through exactly where individual properties are going to end up.
He suggested the fever pitch activity of June and before had waned.
"However there is nothing consistent," he said.
James pinpointed the sale of 49 Holyrood Street, Hampton, a family home on a 920 square metre block of land, as a strong price with six bidders taking the price to $1,795,000.


"But there have also been some surprise disappointments, such as the pass in result for 155  Clarke Street Northcote, a picture postcard Victorian home with a great city view on Ruckers Hill  that was passed in following the sole vendor bid of $1,850,000."
'The market has very much turned into a steady-as-she-goes one.
"We think that for now prices have stopped the very strong march northwards we were seeing just two months ago.
"Not that there has been a big shift in the market, but the market has moved from dynamic to steady. 


"Given that three out of the next four weeks will have less than 100 $1 million plus auctions in Bayside and Inner East, it really won’t be until the end of September before we will be able to say with certainty whether this year’s Spring market is noticeably different from what was a very strong Melbourne Autumn market," he said.
There were 548 auctions reported to the REIV this weekend, with 414 selling and 134 being passed in, 71 of those on a vendor bid.
Next weekend the REIV expects around 620 auctions.
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Melbourne's weekend $1 million plus market steadies as upgrader buyers await a plentiful spring

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At near peak levels, Sydney managed an 83.8% weekend auction clearance rate, according to Australian Property Monitors (APM), the fifth consecutive weekend with a preliminary 80% plus outcome.
The result came from bumper stock levels of around 399 offerings, which was well up on the lowest winter weekend this year of 280 auctions on a Saturday in early July.
It's still early days on the full tally as the initial APM advisory tallied 277 results, with another 122 auction outcomes yet to be advised by the listing agents. Leading Sydney auctioneers, Cooley Auctions reported a clearance rate of 71% with the sale of 40 of their 56 auctions, suggesting a revision might be in the offing. <a data-query-source="hashtag_click" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/search?q=%23auctions&amp;src=hash" class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" dir="ltr"></a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/sanssouci/properties/290658">Sabiha, a Sandringham stunner</a> (pictured below), with lighthouse-like tower with a 360 glass-encased view of Botany Bay, was the weekend's top reported seller at $3.2 million. Designed by architect Renaldo Gaiety, the five bedroom home sold through Raine &amp; Horne Sans Souci.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/08/aug12sand]}
Blacktown in Sydney's west, the inner city Surry Hills and Balmain in the inner west all had six auctions followed by Ryde, Leichhardt, Marrickville and Bella Vista all with five offerings. APM noted three Blacktown sales, with three results unadvised.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/hotspots/surry-hills-tops-the-12-sydney-weekend-auction-hotspot-suburbs/2013081164080?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=newsplus">All six Surry Hills offerings were sold </a>with prices ranging between $525,000 for a two bedroom Goodlet Street unit to $1,525,000 for a three bedroom terrace at 42 Ridge Street which sold pre-auction. More than $450,000, then upwards to $475,000 plus was being sought for the 20/2 Goodlet Street unit in the block where the last two bedder offered sold earlier this year at $522,000. More than $1.35 million was being tipped initially for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/london-expat-milliner-sells-in-surry-hills/2013081163352">the Ridge Street offering</a>.
All five Leichhardt results were advised with four sales priced between $770,000 for 2 Bungay Street to $850,000 for 30 Allen Street. 
There were four sales among the four notified Balmain sales including 100 Curtis Road which fetched $1,435,000, up on its $1.3 million Cobden &amp; Hayson reserve price. 
"Sydney records an astonishing 83.6% (sic) clearance rate this weekend nearing all time record. How hot can this market get?," APM's senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson tweeted.
The upper north real estate market topped the weekend listings at 73 listings, according to Australian Property Monitors. Its sales included two in Cheltenham at $1.16 million and $1.17 million. 
The normal Saturday hive of activity, the inner west had 66 auctions followed by Sydney’s south with 36, the west with 34 and the city and east with 33 auctions.
There was an $896,000 median house price and a $640,000 median unit price from the weekend sales.
Pre-auction sales were at very high levels including landscaper William Dangar's house at Bondi Beach which sold through the GoodyerDonnelley estate agency.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/landscaper-will-dangar-secures-strong-bondi-beach-price-well-ahead-of-the-spring-season/2013080163821">William Dangar, one of Australia’s leading landscape designers, and his wife Julia</a>, were expecting to sell for $1.6 million plus and secured $1.7 million.
Some 49 of the notified sales - around 20% - were sold pre-auction suggesting vendors were comfortable with the offers. Over expectation prices aren't necessarily the rationale behind pre-auction results as witnessed when $630,000 was accepted pre-auction for a three bedroom Castle Hill townhouse which had been listed with $650,000 plus hopes.
Seller activity Sydney rose sharply this July compared to July last year as vendors unsurprisingly decided to take advantage of the strongest winter housing market experienced on record.
Australian Property Monitors data showed a 75.9% July success rate - the highest July ever – and the second-highest ever recorded for any month, apart from April 2002 which was 78.3%, APM senior economist Andrew Wilson noted.
Including mid-week auctions the most popular region for auction listings in Sydney over July was the city and east with 315 followed by the inner west with 270 and the upper north shore with 206, according to APM's Dr Andrew Wilson.
He noted seller activity Sydney rose sharply this July compared to July last year as vendors "unsurprisingly" decided to take advantage of the strongest winter housing market experienced on record.
Sydney July auction listings were up 16.5% over the year to 1577 compared to last July’s 1344 listings.
The biggest rise in listings came from the south, the lower north, the inner west and the northern beaches suburban regions.
The south had an increase over July of last year of 48%, with the lower north up 34%, the inner west 30% and the northern beaches up 25%.
Dr Wilson noted seller activity continues to increase with auction listings up by 32% over the first two weeks of August compared to the same period last year.
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Sydney auctions in 80% plus overdrive for fifth consecutive weekend

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Perth property developer Nigel Satterley has been tipped as the likely $17.5 million buyer of a Peppermint Grove residence, Chiritta, which dates back to the late 1890s.
It was built by Augustus Roe, the former police magistrate of Western Australia and the son of John Septimus Roe, WA's original surveyor-general, and sold 52 years ago by the Roe family to the current vendors.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/03/march11chiritta]}
It has a grand formal drawing and dining rooms, a study, two offices, a sunroom, a family room, an informal dining room and a five-car garage.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/western-australia/peppermint-grove-home-set-to-shatter-price-record/2013031059772">All on 4080 square metres on The Esplanade opposite the Swan River</a>. 
The rumoured purchase was published in the weekend Australian Financial Review.
The vendors, Channel Nine Perth founders Denis and Ann Cullity held reported initial $25 million expectations for the heritage-listed, seven-bedroom home. In 2002, the head of Satterley Property Group Nigel Satterley secured his  Peppermint Grove property with a two lots acquistion costing $7.5 million.
Chiritta's adjoining 2276 square metre residence is reportedly also under offer to Marcus Plunkett at around $9 million.
Its still listed on Mack Hall's website. The 1912 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/?adid=2010579137">Swanbrae</a> was listed for the first time in five decades. The Queen Anne Revival home was renovated and extended two years ago.
It has elevated northerly river views over Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and city as a backdrop.
 
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Whispers Nigel Satterley paying $17.5 million for Peppermint Grove mansion, Chiritta

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Celebrity couple Tom Williams and Rachel Gilbert have sold their Freshwater house for $1,775,000 as the expectant parents seek out a new home.
The four-bedroom home was listed with Clark and Humel Property with a guide price of $1.7 million plus.
Williams, who worked as a builder before beginning a career in radio and television, purchased the property in 2010 for $1.29 million and renovated it himself while writing a book about it.
It now boasts high ceilings, timber floorboards, plantation shutters, a deluxe kitchen with European appliances and a solar heated pool.
The property comes complete with storage under the house, a wine cellar, security cameras, and even a panic room.
After years doing up home on the northern beaches, the couple want to live closer to Gilbert’s family in Cronulla.
Williams and Gilbert were married in November last year and met at the Cleo Bachelor of the Year party in 2011.
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Tom Williams and Rachel Gilbert sell Freshwater house

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The US-based Reading Cinema chain is yet to sell the former 1.34 hectare Moonee Ponds market site which has been a car park since bought 15 years ago.
It was bought with the hope of becoming a landmark entertainment complex. Reading has concept plans, but no permit, for a $250 million mixed-use development with three apartment towers, the tallest at 26 levels.
With six street frontages the site is tipped to sell for about $20 million plus through <a href="https://rca.colliers.com.au/property-land+development-vic-moonee+ponds-500716083" target="_blank">Colliers International</a>'s<a href="https://rca.colliers.com.au/property-land+development-vic-moonee+ponds-500716083" target="_blank"> </a>Peter Bremner and Jeremy Gruzewski inconjunction with CBRE's Justin Clarkson, Scott Orchard and Ari Petrovs.
Expressions of interest closed July 11, with interest coming from Moonee Valley Council among other parties who are still undertaking their due diligence.
The land was permitted in 1997 to become a 12-screen cinema complex which rival Hoyts went to VCAT to prevent being built.
Last August, after not receiving any formal building application, the Moonee Valley Council demanded Reading sell the site.
The suburb ranks in the former state government's Melbourne 2030 planning policy as an activity centre.
Reading bought the market from Adamco, a developer since rebranded Hallmarc.
At the time the New York-based Reading was planning to build 50 screens in centres that include the Gold Coast and Dubbo. Reading was then a niche player in the US, with 50 screens in Puerto Rico, 20 in New York and eight in Houston.
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Reading Cinemas yet to sell Moonee Ponds market site for reputed $20 million plus

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The Sydney weekend auction market has 404 offerings this weekend - well up on last weekend’s 331 and the 308 auctioned on the same weekend last year.
Excepting holiday weekends, the lowest winter weekend this year was 280 auctions on a Saturday in early July.
The upper north real estate market tops the regions at 73 listings, according to Australian Property Monitors.
The normal Saturday hive of activity, the inner west has 66 auctions followed by Sydney’s south with 36, the west with 34 and the city and east with 33 auctions.
Blacktown in Sydney's west and Balmain in the inner west both have six auctions followed by Ryde, Leichhardt, Marrickville and Bella Vista all with five offerings.
Pre-auction sales continue including landscaper William Dangar's house at Bondi Beach which sold through the GoodyerDonnelley estate agency.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/landscaper-will-dangar-secures-strong-bondi-beach-price-well-ahead-of-the-spring-season/2013080163821">William Dangar, one of Australia’s leading landscape designers, and his wife Julia</a>, were expecting to sell for $1.6 million plus and secured $1.7 million.
Seller activity Sydney rose sharply this July compared to July last year as vendors unsurprisingly decided to take advantage of the strongest winter housing market experienced on record.
Australian Property Monitors data showed a 75.9% July success rate - the highest July ever – and the second-highest ever recorded for any month, apart from April 2002 which was 78.3%, APM senior economist Andrew Wilson noted.
Including mid-week auctions the most popular region for auction listings in Sydney over July was the city and east with 315 followed by the inner west with 270 and the upper north shore with 206, according to APM's Dr Andrew Wilson.
He noted seller activity Sydney rose sharply this July compared to July last year as vendors "unsurprisingly" decided to take advantage of the strongest winter housing market experienced on record.
Sydney July auction listings were up 16.5% over the year to 1577 compared to last July’s 1344 listings.
The biggest rise in listings came from the south, the lower north, the inner west and the northern beaches suburban regions.
The south had an increase over July of last year of 48%, with the lower north up 34%, the inner west 30% and the northern beaches up 25%.
Dr Wilson noted seller activity continues to increase with auction listings up by 32% over the first two weeks of August compared to the same period last year.
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Spring in the step as Sydney winter weekend auction numbers move above 400 offerings

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The Alex Popov-designed Bellevue Hill home of the philanthropic art collector Ray Wilson has been listed for September 9 auction. Its listing comes six years after the death of his partner, James Agapitos.
The house, <a href="https://www.alisoncoopes.com/" target="_blank">listed with $4.5 million plus hopes through Alison Coopes</a>, was designed to showcase the pair's substantial art collection. Wilson and Agapitos bought the 930 square metre Bellevue Road property in 1994 for $1.06 million.
Popov designed a two-storey house with whole-floor guest retreat. Wilson and Agapitos’s first collection was broadly based 20th century Australian art after they purchased their first James Gleeson painting.
It's quite an arts precinct too in the neighbourhood as last year the new Art Gallery of NSW chief, Michael Brand, and his wife Tina, bought for $3.2 million for a five-bedroom house on a 700 square metre block.
It, as the then authorative SMH Title Deeds columnist Margie Blok noted, had previously traded for $4.16 million in 2007. And being a know-all, she added it’s not far from the longtime Bellevue Hill home of the former AGNSW boss Edmund Capon and his wife Joanna. 
<img style="font-size: 14px; margin: 5px; float: left;" alt="flagtitletat" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" width="25" height="34">
Addenbrooke, the stately Bellevue Hill mansion, is set to be Sydney's inland trophy home listing for spring.
Its being listed through Sydney Sotheby's International Realty agent Michael Pallier. Property Observer gathers it's set to come with $33 million hopes by the downsizing vendors, Denis and Charlotte O'Neil. There's also a vacant adjacent grassed block of land available for any buyer.
<img style="max-width: 480px;" alt="bellevue-hill-aug-6-new-white-line" src="/images/stories/2013/08/bellevue-hill-aug-6-new-white-line.jpg" width="470" height="313">
Addenbrooke last traded at its 1988 auction for $5.375 million having been the home of the late Sir Lionel Coppleson, the former hire purchase Custom Credit c0-founding chairman, for close to five decades. He and his surgeon brother, Sir Victor, who was an author of a 1933 book on Australian shark attacks, had grown up in Wee Waa on the Namoi River in northern NSW. Sir Lionel was knighted in 1969.
An earlier auction was <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/16694832" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">in 1930</a> when it was noted Addenbrooke adjoined the homes of Sir William Vicars and surgeon Sir Charles Clubbe.
The 850-square-metre Cranbrook Road lot that adjoins the property is a level block with a northerly aspect and harbour views. It was purchased in 1994 for $1.25 million from the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea. On its May listing it was noted the land had been valued at $5.75 million. 
There have been 17 house sales above $10 million in Bellevue Hill since 2008, but only one officially recorded last year, according to RP Data, and two this year.
<img style="max-width: 480px;" alt="bellevue-hill-aug-6-two-pic" src="/images/stories/2013/08/bellevue-hill-aug-6-two-pic.jpg" width="470" height="238">
 
<img style="font-size: 14px; margin: 5px; float: left;" alt="flagtitletat" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" width="25" height="34">
Elsewhere on Cranbrook Road, there is a two level residence designed by renowned 1960s architect Henry Pollack listed through Ray White.
 
<img style="font-size: 14px; margin: 5px; float: left;" alt="flagtitletat" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" width="25" height="34">
Former Challenger Financial chief executive and Orica director Mike Tilley secured $8.5 million for his Bellevue Hill home, exactly $100,000 more than the $8.4 million price he paid in 2005 for the 1,286 square metre property. The AFR suggested he spent around $3?million on upgrades to the property. TItle Tattle recalls the former Toorak banker who came up from Melbourne to work for the Packer family had renovated the residence showcasing French Moderne interiors by designer Sally Greenaway. Its been bought by American software guru Jim Clody after reportedly selling his 138 Victoria Road property for $5.45?million. Clody had paid $5?million in 2007 to the McWilliam family.
<img style="font-size: 14px; margin: 5px; float: left;" alt="flagtitletat" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" width="25" height="34"> Drumalbyn Road has been among the most active roads with a $10.3 million sale recently to the Kaye family by the quick exiters, the Scali family - Nicodemo and Johanna - who'd spent $9.5 million to buy it from the Malouf family in early 2012.  Designed by Bruce Stafford Architects, the 1,143 sq m holding comes with northerly harbour views.<a href=""></a> Drumalbyn's latest intending departees are the Hammerschlag family.
<img style="font-size: 14px; margin: 5px; float: left;" alt="flagtitletat" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" width="25" height="34">
The biggest sale so far this year was when the neighbouring Cranbrook School paid $15.501 million to secure the former Bellevue Hill matrimonial home of the late transport tycoon Sir Peter Abeles. The 2549 square metre land was originally part of the Cranbrook estate -- now home to the private school for boys -- which was subdivided in 1917. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/sir-peter-abeles-former-bellevue-hill-mansion-fetches-%2415501000/2013052261579" target="_blank">Sundorne, the 1925 house </a>(pictured below) sold at $15,501,000 when offered at its onsite auction after being listed with $11 million-plus hopes. There was only competition from a North Shore family after the 2A zoned property was announced on the market at around $11.5 million.
<img alt="abelesmay23four" src="/images/stories/2013/05/abelesmay23four.jpg" width="470" height="283">
The school council president Dr Helen Nugent and treasurer Geoff Kimpton were in attendance at the very damp invitation only auction, accompanied by Sydney lawyer, Bruce McWilliam. They seemed to adopt the school motto, Esse Quam Videri which translates from Latin to "to be rather than to seem to be".
The acquisition (see red below) with crown land portion (green triangle) is across the road from the school (large green space below) on the corner of Victoria Road and Rose Bay Avenue, which was known as Gallipoli Avenue until 1926.
<img alt="abelesmapmay23three" src="/images/stories/2013/05/abelesmapmay23three.jpg" width="470" height="302">
Cranbrook School (pictured below) was founded in 1918 through the generous benefaction of a small number of supporters. On 1 December 1917, the former private home and vice-regal residence, Cranbrook, was listed by the NSW Government and bought at auction by an agent for Samuel Hordern, the main financial benefactor of a group of businessmen and churchmen aiming to establish an Anglican boys' school in the Eastern Suburbs.
<img alt="abelesmay23five" src="/images/stories/2013/05/abelesmay23five.jpg" width="470" height="357">
The 1859 sandstone <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranbrook,_Bellevue_Hill" target="_blank">Cranbrook</a> residence built for the Tooth brewery family and then owned by the White pastoralist family from 1873.
It served as the abode of the NSW Governor between 1900 and 1917.
The first headmaster, Rev. F T Perkins opened the school in July 1918.
The property presented a rare opportunity as it last sold 45 years ago, had also been sold in the 1917 government subdivision sell-off.
Sundorne, the well-hidden Tudor style six-bedroom Victoria Road mansion, was bought from the well-connected establishment Simpson lawyer family in 1958 through Sir Peter's company P.A. Holdings Pty Ltd for about £60,000.
The block was purchased in 1917 by Edward Percy Simpson, who commissioned architect CA Millyard to build Sundorne in 1925 as a wedding present for his son, Edward Telford Simpson.
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Alex Popov-designed trophy home listing amid cloudy Bellevue Hill prestige outlook

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The Gold Coast City Council is one of the few councils that paint house numbers on the street curbs.
But the council's engineering committee has suggested council could save $150,000 a year by scrapping the hired contractors.
Its been suggested community groups could become involved in the practice that's primarily used by emergency services to identify houses.
The Queensland Ambulance Service and Queensland Fire and Rescue Service apparently rely on global positioning systems to locate an incident.
Home owners are supposed to have their house number visible on their letterbox, but many visitors have become accustomed to rely of the curbside numbering to get to the homes of friend or relatives.
Its been mooted stencils could be provided for free to groups such as Neighbourhood Watch to carry out the painting where it was wanted or necessary.
The Gold Coast is one of only a few councils in Australia to still have the service.
{module Should councils continue or reinstate curbside street house numbers?}
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Should councils continue or reinstate curbside street house numbers?

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The 5000-plus enquiries by prospective buyers of the first luxury apartments at Barangaroo South has delighted the developers, Lend Lease.
There are just the 159 off the plan apartment offerings in the first two buildings which are due for completion by late 2015.
There's a nine-storey 77 apartment building called Alexander that will sit on the waterfront promenade at the southern end of the Barangaroo site. Designed by PTW architect Andrew Andersons, the building is draped in vertical gardens.
 The second building, Anadara, is designed by  Richard Francis-Jones of FJMT. It has 82 apartments including a two-level penthouse that will top the 11-storey building. The penthouse is in the curvaceous design feature known as The Cloud.
The 60 square metre one bedders will be price at about $1 million; the 100 square metre two bedders about $2 million and three-bedders about $3 million, the CBRE director of residential projects, Murray Wood said. The prices are averaging around $20,000 a square metre.
Overlooking the new public square and harbour cove, CBRE says the Barangaroo apartments development is Sydney’s last significant CBD waterfront residential offering.

The development, set 30 metres from the water's edge, has been billed as part of the urban architectural movement towards mixed-use developments that are set to replace the former focus of the commercial business district.
The strong preliminary registration interest emerged earlier this year while the planning applications were under consideration.
The apartments go on sale later this month with CBRE as the lead selling agent for the residential community which is dubbed the most significant Sydney CBD waterfront residential offerings since the release of apartments at Circular Quay and Woolloomooloo in the 1990s.
The level of enquiry is above anything Lend Lease have seen globally in the last two decades for new apartments at any of their international projects, Ben Christie, the national sales and marketing manager at Lend Lease told Property Observer.
Buyer interest has come from the UK, the USA and Asia, with $10,000 refundable deposits being lodged by enthusiast  buyers.
Lend Lease expect a strong owner occupier take-up, with some local buyers having the apartment as a passive occupancy while maintaining a property elsewhere in Sydney
Rentals as unfurnished are tipped to start from $1600 a week for the two bedders, with strong demand expected from the forecast 23,000 new neighbourhood workforce. 
Property Observer first <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/every-apartments-has-harbour-views-as-lend-lease-unveils-two-barangaroo-apartment-blocks/2012112057997">reported</a> on the two apartment buildings in November last year.
Interested parties can make an appointment to view the sales display suite overlooking the Barangaroo site by <a target="_blank" href="https://apartmentsbaranga-px.rtrk.com.au/?utm_source=MetropolisAgency&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=Search">contacting CBRE</a>. James Hall at CBRE Hong Kong is overseeing the launch of the Barangaroo offering in Hong Kong and Singapore on the August 31, 2013 weekend.
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Harbourfront Barangaroo apartment developments stoke significant anticipatory interest

Buying into a masterplanned community often means committing to a vision still years from taking shape. At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>, that vision is already visible.

Residents have moved into the completed first stage, landscaped spaces are established, and the next chapter is now underway. Stage 1 has been completed and settled, with Stage 2 now selling off-the-plan.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pbd-architects">PBD Architects</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> combines attainable apartment living with sustainability initiatives rarely seen at this price point, including rooftop solar, battery storage and a resident EV-sharing program.

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Located on Schofi​elds Road, just moments from Tal​lawong Metro Station and Schof​ields Train Station, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been designed to appeal to a broad mix of buyers, from first-home purchasers looking for a foothold in Sy​dney's property market to downsizers seeking a connected, low-maintenance lifestyle.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been conceived as a thoughtfully planned masterplanned community that will evolve over multiple stages, with buyers now able to secure one, two and three-bedroom apartments within a neighbourhood that is already beginning to establish its identity.

One of the project's defining features is its focus on sustainability. Solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure have been incorporated throughout the development, reflecting a long-term approach to both environmental performance and everyday convenience.

Sustainability sits at the centre of the development's vision, with solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure integrated throughout the community.

That emphasis on future-ready living extends beyond the technology. Landscaped communal gardens, outdoor gathering spaces and plans for a future retail precinct aim to create a neighbourhood where residents can access daily conveniences without travelling far from home.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351027]

The apartments themselves have been designed with liveability front of mind. Rather than chasing maximum density, the focus has been placed on creating practical homes with generous natural light, usable layouts and strong connections to outdoor space.

Importantly, these design principles have been applied consistently across the one, two and three-bedroom apartment offerings.

The appeal of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> is also closely linked to its location within Syd​ney's rapidly evolving north-west growth corridor. Over the past decade, major infrastructure investment has transformed the area, with new transport links, business precincts and community facilities reshaping suburbs like Talla​wong and Schofiel​ds.

The agent says buyers are increasingly recognising the area's long-term potential.

"Typical buyers that we're finding across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> especially are your first-home buyers, your investors, your upsizers as well as your downsizers," Hawes says.

Connectivity remains one of the project's strongest drawcards. Residents have access to both Tallaw​ong Metro Station and Schofi​elds Train Station, providing links to the Sydn​ey CBD, Norw​est Business Park, Macquari​e Park and other major employment hubs. Retail centres including Rous​e Hill Town Centre and Sch​ofields Village are also nearby, alongside schools, parks and future healthcare infrastructure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351031]

For Stage 1 resident Roji, it is the balance between convenience and comfort that has defined the experience of living at Kew.

"For me, it's a balance of quality and convenience," she says. "Everything I need is right here."

"If I wanted to catch the train, Scho​fields Station is just around the corner. Tallaw​ong Metro connects me to the city."

More importantly, she says, the development has delivered something that cannot be measured in floorplans or specifications.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> feels like home."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351024]

As Stage 2 enters the market, that lived experience may be one of the project's strongest selling points. Buyers are not purchasing into an untested concept or a future promise. They are joining a community that is already taking shape.

Ongoing investment in transport, retail, healthcare and public open space continues to strengthen the appeal of Syd​ney's north-west growth corridor, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>'s established first stage provides buyers with a tangible sense of the community's future direction.

For a limited time, buyer can secure a new home at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> with just a $10,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149637]

Joel Robinson

Kew Tallawong: A growing community taking shape in Sydney's north-west

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/freecity">Freecity</a> has received development approval for its 51-storey mixed-use tower at 153-157 Walker Street, North Sydney, set to be one of the tallest mixed-use residential-led buildings in one of Sydney’s most sought-after commercial and residential addresses.

Lodged as a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) through the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway and approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure following a comprehensive public exhibition and submissions process, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/153-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">the project</a> will deliver 296 apartments, alongside a 170-room, luxury hotel, activated retail and significant public domain improvements.

Situated just 200 metres from Victoria Cross Metro Station, on one of the largest developable sites in North Sydney, the development will rise to 234 metres, making it one of the tallest buildings in the suburb. With an end value of approximately $1.5 billion, the project responds directly to the NSW Government’s mandate to accelerate housing delivery in well-located, transit-connected areas.

<img alt="Freecity gets green light for mixed-use residential and hotel tower in North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="192ec455-94bf-4e01-83ef-922b1b269d67" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Freecity%20-%20Walker%20Street%20North%20Sydney%201%20RESIZED%20.jpg?VersionId=Bzqp0SBHCDvLAHjA4QXkjuGoOEIh73Jl" />

The apartment mix will cater to a broad range of buyers, with 65 studio and one-bedroom apartments, 139 two-bedroom residences, 35 three-bedroom apartments, 48 four-bedroom homes, and nine penthouses. Residents will have access to a dedicated amenity level on Level 33, featuring a swimming pool with views towards the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and North Sydney CBD, as well as a gym, library, shared kitchen, lounge and outdoor entertaining areas.

The hotel will occupy the lower six levels of the building and include meeting and function spaces, a wellness centre with gym, yoga studio, swimming pool and sauna, further strengthening North Sydney's growing hospitality offering.

At ground level, the development has been designed to improve pedestrian connections through the precinct. More than 700 sqm of retail space will activate the street frontage, while a landscaped through-site link connecting Walker Street, Little Walker Street and Doris Fitton Park will provide new public open space with seating, paving and extensive native landscaping.

Freecity Group Co-Founder and Joint CEO Tony Sun said the project represents one of the most significant development opportunities currently available in North Sydney.

"This is one of the most significant development sites in North Sydney and it comes at a pivotal moment for the precinct," Sun said.

"North Sydney is undergoing a genuine transformation, and this project will contribute housing the city urgently needs while creating a landmark destination."

Executive Director of Development Michael Romano said demand for both residential and hotel accommodation would continue to strengthen as the Metro precinct matures.

"The structural demand for high-quality housing and hotel accommodation in North Sydney is compelling, and will only grow as the precinct continues to evolve around the new Metro station," Romano said.

Architectus has designed the tower, orientating the apartments to maximise views towards Sydney Harbour while introducing a sculpted façade intended to respond to light, wind and the surrounding skyline.

Architectus Principal Marko Damic said the design sought to create a tower that contributes to the public realm as much as the skyline.

"We wanted to design a tower that doesn't just sit in the skyline but actively participates and contributes to city life," Damic said.

First look: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use apartment and hotel tower in North Sydney

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

Abadeen, PERIFA, top out Putney Wharf harbourfront precinct

Kew has long been regarded as one of Melbourne's premier residential suburbs. It's a location defined by its grand period homes, leafy streets and some of the city's most prestigious schools, yet it has often sat just outside the spotlight cast on neighbouring Hawthorn and Camberwell.

Increasingly, however, buyers are recognising that Kew offers much of what draws people to those suburbs, with a quieter residential setting, exceptional amenity and long-term owner-occupier appeal.

Within a few minutes' walk, residents can access Kew Junction, one of Melbourne's most established village centres. Cafés, bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets, boutique retailers and everyday services are all on the doorstep, with local favourites including Centonove, Adeney Milk Bar Cafe, and Frank &amp; Harri creating the type of walkable lifestyle that has become increasingly difficult to find in Melbourne's inner east. Beyond the immediate neighbourhood, Glenferrie Road's renowned shopping and dining precinct in Hawthorn and the retail, dining and entertainment offerings of Camberwell Junction are both just a short drive or tram ride away.

The suburb is equally well connected. Tram routes 48 and 109 provide direct access to the CBD, while High Street and Cotham Road connect residents to the wider inner east.&nbsp;Nearby access to the Eastern Freeway also places the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne Airport within easy reach, adding another layer of convenience for weekend travel.&nbsp;It's a rare combination of connectivity and tranquillity, where quiet residential streets sit just moments from some of Melbourne's most established shopping and lifestyle precincts.

For families, Kew remains one of Melbourne's most tightly held addresses. Carey Baptist Grammar School, Xavier College, Methodist Ladies' College, Trinity Grammar, Ruyton Girls' School and Genazzano FCJ College are all nearby, while the Yarra River parklands, walking trails and sporting clubs provide another layer of lifestyle appeal.

It's within this established pocket that developer Ricdanic is delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/wimba-ave-kew-9-11-wimba-avenue-kew-vic-3101">Wimba Ave</a>, a boutique collection of just 13 residences across two buildings named after its location on the tree-lined Wimba Avenue,&nbsp;within one of Kew's most prestigious pockets where homes have been known to sell up to and above $8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=354809]

The residences prioritise the space that buyers are increasingly searching for but struggling to find in established suburbs. Living areas extend beyond five metres in width, ceiling heights range from three to five metres, and apartments open onto private gardens averaging around 125 sqm. Selected residences also feature balconies of approximately 60 sqm, while premium inclusions include Miele appliances, double-glazed windows, EV readiness, fully electric systems and a 7.2 NatHERS energy rating.

Architect Chris Idle says opportunities to deliver homes of this scale within established suburbs have become increasingly uncommon.

"There are very few opportunities to do these kinds of developments in leafy, established suburbs," he says. "To get this level of amenity, natural light, and architectural freedom in such a setting is extremely rare."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=366267]

The architecture draws on Kew's established character through the use of handmade Krause bricks, while landscaping by John Patrick introduces 23 plant species, including nine native varieties, creating an environment which focuses just as much on nature as it does the building.

Construction on Wimba Ave is well underway by renowned high-end builder Sinjen, with completion expected in late 2027. Prices start from $2.22 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140755]

The enduring appeal of Kew's tree-lined streets and village lifestyle

"For me, it's the location." That was the first thing Chris pointed to when reflecting on why he and his wife Marita decided to purchase at Candela Ivanhoe, the under-construction new apartment development by Salter Brothers in the heart of the north-eastern M​elb​ourne​ suburb. ​

"We've lived here before… everything is here," Chris said.

"Our doctor is around the corner, there's dentists, pilates, everything we need, restaurants, fast food places, two train stations, Ivanhoe and Darebin, both in walking distance. You don't need anything else."

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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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=364553]

From Candela, residents can access cafés, grocers, wine bars, restaurants and essential services on foot, while Ivanhoe Station and Darebin Station provide direct connectivity across Mel​bour​ne. The development is also surrounded by some of the suburb's best-known lifestyle destinations, including Pinkie, Laurent, Enni, Docasa and Woodfire Pizza e Cucina, alongside Ivanhoe Plaza, Woolworths, pharmacies and specialty retailers.

Green space is another defining feature of the suburb. Darebin Parklands, Ivanhoe Park, Nellie Ibbot Park and the Yarra River trail network provide extensive opportunities for recreation, while Ivanhoe Golf Course and Ivanhoe Tennis Club continue to underpin the area's long-established lifestyle appeal.

The suburb's education offering further strengthens demand. Ivanhoe Grammar School, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School, Mary Immaculate Primary School and Ivanhoe Primary School have helped establish the area as one of Melbou​​rne's most sought-after schooling precincts, attracting families and downsizers alike who want to remain connected to the area.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357510]

While location was the priority for Marita and Chris, the project itself also needed to meet their expectations.

"Whilst location was paramount, I was also looking at design of the environment and Candela ticked every box," Marita said.

"We're just thrilled with our choice."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=336455]

Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>, Candela Ivanhoe has been designed to complement its village setting, with an emphasis on generous floorplans, natural light and practical everyday living.

Residents will have access to a range of shared amenities, including a communal rooftop garden and dedicated residential lounge, complemented by a ground-floor café and lifestyle wellbeing centre, helping foster the sense of community already emerging among future owners.

That approach has resonated strongly with the market. More than 90 per cent of purchasers at Candela Ivanhoe are owner-occupiers, with buyers ranging from downsizers and second-home buyers to young families and first home buyers, creating a genuinely multi-generational community of grandparents, parents and children. It reflects a broader shift across Melbo​​urne's apartment market, where buyers are increasingly prioritising neighbourhood quality, lifestyle amenity and long-term liveability.

Currently under construction by Ironside, Candela Ivanhoe comprises 58 apartments. Candela Ivanhoe is scheduled for completion in the coming months, and residents can move in from September. One to four bedroom residences, prices from $649,000 and limited opportunities remaining.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=342]

Jonathan Chancellor

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