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Capping off Sydney’s strongest autumn home auction market for three years, Sydney's weekend clearance rate was a 75% success rate, based on its preliminary results. 
Sydney recorded seven consecutive weekends of clearance rates above 70%, Australian Property Monitor's Dr Andrew Wilson advised.
The auction market tracked at around 20% higher than the same time last year although interestingly listing numbers remained at around last year’s levels. No rush to the exits or to upgrade it seemed.
Autumn finished with a slight pick up in the volume of the prestige market from its low base with nine homes reportedly sold over Autumn's last weekend at $2 million plus – another year-high result.
Sydney’s inner west produced an 87% success rate on Saturday and an average sale price of $1.1 million from its 58 listings.
The city and east also produced a strong result with an 80% clearance rate. It too had an average sale price of $1.1 million.
The most expensive property reported sold at the weekend was a six bedroom, four bathroom house at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.georgesellis.com.au/real-estate/buy/nsw/strathfield/ge00lt/">87 Chalmers Road Strathfield</a> (pictured below) sold by Georges Ellis and Co for $2,942,000. It was last sold in 1999 for $675,000 but with a knock-down rebuild done around 2004.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/05/may31strathfield]}
Six bedrooms are hard to come by - but highly desired by multi-generational families.
Dr Wilson dubbed the standout performer in the inner west as a six bedroom 1860s house at 98 Darling Street, Balmain East which sold for $2.9 million. However it actually last sold at $2.85 million in 2010, so reflected growth of just $50,000 over the past three years.
The most affordable Sydney property reported sold last weekend was a two bedroom unit at Leumeah sold by Richardson &amp; Wrench Campbelltown for $261,500. It had last sold for $275,000 in 2008, so another example of the cheapest becoming cheaper - an almost weekly occurance over the past few months.
A Mount Druitt unit with two bedrooms and one bathroom sold for $230,500 through Ben Price Estate Agents. The Hythe Street unit previously sold in 2003 for $250,000.
A four bedroom, one bathroom Charmhaven home sold through Raine and Horne Charmhaven for $245,000. The Pacific Highway house last sold in 2010 for $285,000.
The decline is in part because of the absence of first home buyers seeking established properties given government grants seeking to channel their interest into new houses and apartments.
None the less Dr Wilson suggests there’s "almost almost irresistible market momentum set to continue into the normally quieter winter selling season."
But RP Data have noted Autumn brought with it a cold wind blowing through the property market.
 
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With just a few days to go until the end of the month, the RP Data daily index suggests house values will decline by about 1% in May following a <a target="_blank" href="/news">0.5% drop in April.</a>
“RP Data's capital city dwelling index looking soft for May, likely to be down nearly 1% for month (-0.9% past 28 days),” tweeted RP Data national research director Tim Lawless yesterday.
This follows dwelling values posted a solid 2.8% gain over the first three months of 2013.
Its been described as a modest and bumpy recovery that began around  November last year.
But Sydney's sale pace has picked up as the time on market cut by half, according to the RP Data advisory.
With the fastest sales rate in the country, Sydney private treaty house stock is rushing out the door in just 35 days average time on market with vendors required to typically offer a 6% discount for houses.
For Sydney private treaty established unit stock is even quicker selling in just 32 days average time on market with vendors required to typically offer a 4.1% discount. The data covers the week ending May 26.
Just three months ago Sydney houses were also spending the least time on average on the market, but it was taking 70 days. Sydney units in late February were typically take 59 days to sell, <a target="_blank" href="/news">also the quickest sale type in the country</a>.
So effectively what's happened is that vendor's and buyers are now pretty much on the same page, but in most cases it's the vendor's who've had to give ground. 
 
 
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Price growth didn't emerge amid stellar Sydney autumn auction results and speedy private treaty sales

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The former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and wife Therese Rein paid $2.175 million for their home in leafy Yarralumla, Canberra in 2010.
It has now been listed for sale at $2.25 million through Shane Killalea of the Peter Blackshaw agency.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.allhomes.com.au/ah/act/sale-residential/35-mueller-street-yarralumla-canberra/1316859916511">Set behind electric gates, with double lock up car accommodation, the house (pictured below) is described as sophisticated and luxurious</a>.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/05/may31rudd]}
The difference was virtually eroded by their stamp duty acquistion costs that totalled around $130,000, along with estate agency commission and annual land tax of around $10,800 a year. 
The contemporary Mueller Street house was bought after departing The Lodge so as their son, Marcus, could finish his schooling.
The family home was leased at the end of 2011.
“The current tenants have indicated they would like to purchase another house and therefore it is an appropriate time to put the put the house on the market,” a spokesperson for Kevin Rudd told the Australian Financial Review.
The five-bedroom, four bathroom house is set on 936 square metres with a separate study, in-built sound system and pool.
While Yarralumla’s median house price is up over the past year by 7% to $1.07 million, according to RP Data Canberra’s housing market has slowed due to inpart to uncertainty around public service employment after the September federal election.
There is typically <a target="_blank" href="/news">a required 11.7% discount </a>among private treaty listings to secure a sale.
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Kevin Rudd and Therese Rein list Yarralumla, Canberra home with no profit hope

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Beachlands, the 1.19 hectare hilltop acreage site set between Gerringong and Gerroa on the NSW South Coast, has been listed for sale.
It is owned by the property developer Ron Medich who hoped the acreage would be able to be developed on the unfortunately named Crooked River Road holding.
Set 90 mins from Sydney, the slightly undulating land has views over the surrounding countryside towards Walkers Beach across the nearby (pictured within marketing ) golf course.
"This is truly a dream location to build a stunning home with plenty of room for a home business or small agricultural set up," the Dick Payne First National marketing says.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dickpaynerealestate.com.au/index.cfm?pagecall=property&amp;propertyID=2380512">It has been listed for July 6 auction</a>. The property is owned by Ron Medich Properties Pty Ltd, however the title has a 2009 caveat from the widow of Michael McGurk, Kimberley McGurk claiming a 50% legal interest in the land. 
"The site would also suit further development for farm stay or B&amp;B style accommodation," says the marketing.
"Blocks this size, this close to town are as rare as hens teeth," it says without any reference to what was once mooted as having multi-unit development potential.
It cost $2.19 million in 2007 when sold through Dick Payne First National which is directed now by Jason Stalgis. Kiama Council sold it in 2002 for $1.12 million shortly after a fire to the old homestead.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gerringong-Gerroa/256664214452323?ref=ts"> The two towns are among the more scenic on the south coast</a>, although council has allowed the encroachment of the town onto the diary cattle pastures.
In 2010 there was a five month investigation which found no evidence to support allegations of corruption against public officials, ministers, MPs, or council officials involving several properties in Medich's portfolio.
The claims were raised after the 2009 murder of the business associate Michael McGurk.
The Independent Commission against Corruption heard segments of a tape where Medich and McGurk discussed their reputed connections for obtaining development consent for the Gerroa property.
"If you think that your connections are better, then you should use your connections," Mr McGurk is heard saying.
"Yeah, but you still got to pay 'em though," Medich replied.
"They don't do it for nothing."
Medich subsequently denied he had paid anyone, or indeed even had connections with the NSW public servants whom he had actually never met.
Gerroa's last acreage sale was when 75 hectares sold earlier this year on Beirnfels Lane for $2.8 million to Warilla developer David Arapali. The farmland had sold for $2.775 million in 2003. David Arapali also spent $2.3 million this year to buy a 54 hectare Gerringong farm property previously sold for $2.8 million in 2003.
There was a $5.03 million Crooked River Road sale last year of a 21 hectare private retreat property to Code Monkey Investments, which is associated with the Richardson family of Cronulla.    
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Ron Medich lists NSW South Coast development site with claimed Michael McGurk interest

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Adelaide was the only capital city to show any significant improvement in April selling times, according to Australian Property Monitors.
There was a typical 115-day selling time during May for houses and units, down from the 132 days during April for private treaty sales in Adelaide. Its the quickest sales time since May 2011.
Sydney's typical private treaty sale time improved by just a day to 79 days in May, according to the figures. So too did Canberra with a day's reduction to 76 days.
The sales' speed slowed in both Brisbane and Perth, APM research analyst Clinton McNabb noted. 
<img height="665" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/05/heatchartmay30onethumb.jpg" alt="heatchartmay30onethumb">
Source: Australian Property Monitors
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No slowing in Canberra house and unit sales speed: APM heat chart

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Donna Hay, the food queen, has sold her Woollahra homewares retail premises after deciding to concentrate on her online retailing initiatives rather than continue with the Holdsworth Street outlet.
The shop was a highly exposed corner setting close to  the <a target="_blank" href="/news">Woollahra</a> Queen Street village.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-nsw-woollahra-500742139">three-level sandstone terrace </a>had "no expense" spared in its renovation and customised high end shop fit-out  for a concept store, market-leading emporium or luxury boutique.
The Holdsworth Street, Woollahra, shop cost $1,615,000 in 2008 and Property Observer gathers it fetched around $1.5 million.
"High ones," was the initial tip on price expectations, but it didn't happen even with a change in agency to Clay Brodie and Randall Kemp at Ray White Woollahra.
It was early 2009 when Hay opened her concept store – full of Donna’s products plus homewares and gift ideas chosen from around the world.
It will all be undertaken online in future.
 
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Food queen Donna Hay sells Holdsworth Street, Woollahra shop

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Nick and Chris, the Channel 7 Melbourne House Rules brothers handed over the keys to fellow renovation contestants of their Californian bungalow in Preston which had cost them $555,000 last August.
It comes with a mortgage of $524,000 which will be wiped off by Channel 7 if they win the renovation stress competition series hosted by Johanna Griggs.
The 1930s bungalow (pictured below) went to July 2012 Ray White auction without success, subsequently listed at $580,000.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/05/may30houserules]}
The brothers paid $555,000 in August for the 1930s bungalow on its 475 square metre block.
"A lot of our money went into our deposit," the Stavropoulos brothers told the House Rules viewers. 
There was a subsequent $49,000 development application with Darebin Council earlier this year.
Property Observer gathers it was in the Dwyer family hands for four decades prior to the sale of  the three bedroom, one bathroom house.
Its close to Plenty Road trams, Bell station and every Preston attraction. The suburb's median house price is $584,000, according to RP Data.
Despite the renovation being undertaken during 36 degree plus days, three of the room renovation judges' results were deemed as perfect in next Monday night's house reveal.
There house rules to the renovating contestants was: ''Give us Mad Men cool Colour our palate moody and murky Put a retro divider between the entrance and lounge Style our kitchen bold and dramatic Take some risks.''
They never set out to buy a home together, but after Chris discovered Nick was about to fork out $60,000 on a “hero tradie car” he convinced his brother to invest with him.
Initially, they looked at buying apartments off the plan, but settled on a three-bedroom house they could fix themselves utilising Nick’s skills as a carpenter. 
While the pair couldn’t wait to move into their new home, their mother Sue was devastated.
“When we told her we’d bought the house, there was no congratulations,” Nick, 21, said. “She was like, ‘You’re leaving me!’ And she started bawling her eyes out.”
They live just a short 15 minute drive away from their parents who instilled in them the importance of owning property as a foundation for the future.
“I always wanted to own a house before I was 28,” Chris says. “I bought it when I was 26, so that’s not a bad effort.”
There's a $545,000 mortgage repayment prize at stake at House Rules Perth renovation.
The newlyweds Jemma Blenkinsop, who runs a spray-tan business and builder, Ben Van Ryt were first-home buyers in late 2011, but with the Perth property market the way it is, they couldn't afford to renovate their 1950s Melville home.
The Perth house cost $555,000.
The couple revealed their mortgage size during the first week's programs as $545,000.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/05/may10houserules]}
The Channel 7 series prize is the payment of the winning couple's entire mortgage.
House Rules premiered this month competing for audience against the Channel 9 perennial, The Block.
The six contestant couples have put their entire home on the line promising an emotional return to their new homes after the seven-day renovation.
The teams have to work independently on their own zone within each house but they also have to work as a team to ensure each room complements the other when it's completed.
The six teams competing are: <a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802165/michelle-steve-nsw/" rel="nofollow"></a>
<a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802165/michelle-steve-nsw/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michelle &amp; Steve</a> (Collaroy Plateau, New South Wales) <a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802279/nick-chris-vic/" rel="nofollow"></a>
<a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802347/amy-sean-qld/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Amy &amp; Sean</a>(Queensland)
<a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802523/carly-leighton-sa/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carly &amp; Leighton</a> (Warradale, South Australia) <a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802965/jemma-ben-wa/" rel="nofollow"></a>
<a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802965/jemma-ben-wa/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jemma &amp; Ben</a> (Melville, Western Australia)
<a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16803037/jane-plinio-tas/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jane &amp; Plinio</a> (New Town, Tasmania)
<a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802279/nick-chris-vic/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nick and Chris</a> (Preston, Victoria)
Each of the House Rules teams hand over the keys to their homes and allow their competitors free reign to transform their house, so the host Johanna Griggs expects lots of passion and pride in the way teams tackle the renovations.
"It's a bunch of likeable Australians with amazing back stories," Griggs said.
Apparently the teams have longed to be able to renovate, but not been able to accomplish it until now because of large mortgages.
The Tasmanian couple paid $355,000 in 2010 for a house initially listed at $380,000-plus.
The so-called Sydney battlers Steve and Michelle Ball who live at Collaroy Plateau on the northern beaches paid $650,000 for their house in March 2012.
The South Australian couple paid $450,000 for the house which had been listed with $485,000 hopes in May 2012.
Johanna Griggs, the presenter of Better Homes and Gardens, is herself a keen home renovator, currently building her fourth home with husband, builder Todd Huggins.
“I’ve been in this industry for 20 years now and this is the first time I’ve had a go at this style of show."
Chester Drife is the House Rules building supervisor.
House Rules airs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7.30 pm on Seven.
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Preston House Rules renovation with $524,000 mortgage after $555,000 brotherly purchase

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The Annandale Hotel is set to remain an entertainment venue.
Leichhardt Council has advised confirmation from the selling agent that its being sold to an undisclosed publican, not a residential developer. The hotel is on a 638 square metre Parramatta Road holding.
The Mayor of Leichhardt Councillor Darcy Byrne said that the news that the Annandale has been saved from redevelopment vindicated Council’s ongoing campaign to transform Parramatta Road into Sydney’s first live music precinct.
The live music precinct plan involves Leichhardt, Marrickville and Sydney City councils presenting a proposal to the state government asking Parramatta Road to be rezoned to allow live music.
The Minister Brad Hazzard has indicated his in-principle support.
“Saving the Annandale, Sydney’s most iconic live music venue, is a mighty victory for music lovers across Sydney,” Darcy Byrne said.
“I am proud that we have fought to keep the doors of the Annandale hotel open and we have prevailed.
“This victory must be the turning point for Sydney’s struggling live music scene.
“We will now accelerate our campaign to transform Parramatta Road into Sydney’s first live music zone
“The thousands of young people who have joined this campaign have put live music on the political agenda.
“I am calling on music lovers across Sydney to join our fight to save live music in this city before it is too late," he said.
Expressions of interest for the hotel sale closed in early May through Knight Frank.
The 1930s hotel last traded in 1998 at $2.1 million when bought by Matt and Dan Rule.
It became a live music venue in the 1980s launching the careers of acts including Jet and the Living End.
It has been periodically threatened with closure by Leichhardt Council over noise compliance.
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Annandale Hotel to be live music venue, not redeveloped for residential apartments

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The US Case-Shiller index of house prices rose 10.2% in the year to March, the fastest rate of increase in seven years.
<div>The S&amp;P/Case-Shiller home price index released Tuesday followed the 9% gain in February. Las Vegas, Phoenix, and San Francisco all posted appreciation rates of 20% or higher. Even the smallest gain -- 2.6% in New York - was characterized as quite substantial <a target="_blank" href="https://www.standardandpoors.com/indices/sp-case-shiller-home-price-indices/en/us/?indexId=spusa-cashpidff--p-us----">in the report</a>.</div>
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US house prices fell by around 35% from their 2006 price peak. "The recent rebound is, in the context of the US banking and economic performance, good news," the Business Spectator economic columnist Stephen Koukoulas said.
"Despite the gains over the past year, house prices are still around 28%down from the peak. "It is an essential element helping consumers to rebuild their otherwise shattered balance sheets.
"From the banking sector’s perspective, rising house prices now, after the carnage of the 2008 to 2011 period, are also a positive development given the massive overhang of bad debts, low quality borrowers and their inability to boost credit given the absence of credit worthy borrowers," Stephen Koukoulas said.
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US housing market bouncing back: S&P Case Shiller

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The Princeton, Double Bay penthouse of the late interior design doyen Leslie Walford has been relisted for sale after its contents were sold off and its been restyled on an estimated $10,000 package.
The decluttering of the Princeton, Double Bay penthouse may help its sale giving buyers some relief from the distinctive Walford style.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/09/oct3penthouse]}
It was initially listed for sale with $4.95 million-plus hopes through Christies International agent Ken Jacobs, but now the apartment comes with a $4 million-plus hopes through Christies inconjunction with Paul Biller and Brad Caldwell-Eyles at 1st City-Hasemer+Caldwell.Eyles.
It has been listed by Walford's partner, Colin Davies.
<a href="https://www.kenjacobs.com.au/570519/" target="_blank">The penthouse </a>with 279-square-metre garden terracing sits atop the 1939 Art Deco Double Bay complex with northerly views across the harbour to Manly.
The apartment now has furniture installed by Kris and Greg Leveson who were among the pioneers of the Sydney property styling industry some 25 years ago after the then antique dealer couple discovered the business opportunity when they were selling their own family home.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/05/may21walford]}
The Princeton interiors previously showcased the tastes of Walford, who retired just six years ago after an international career spanning five decades. The bones of the apartment remain - polished timber floorboards, high vaulted ceilings, ornate cornices, curved bay windows and french doors - and Walford devotees would see  a few remnants amid the decor.
The funeral of the doyen of Sydney interior decorators Leslie Walford was held at St Marks, Darling Point in February 2012 after he died peacefully at the Sacred Heart Hospice, Darlinghurst.
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/walford.jpg">The Society of Interior Designers suggests Walford was one of the best-known figures in Australia in interior design having worked at the top levels of design for several decades, not only in Australia but also in Europe, Asia and the UK.
His business, Walford and Horgan Interiors – regarded by many as a byword for excellence in design – had many wealthy clients that included the media tycoons Reg Grundy and the Fairfax, Murdoch and Packer families.
He was described this week as “the man who 70 years ago began the slide away from drab interiors filled with Victorian brown furniture,” by John Furphy at the Australian Art Sales Digest.
"A good antique can be more of a friend than an object that doesn't have a past," Walford repeatedly suggested.
Surrounded by an eclectic collection of furniture and artwork, he celebrated his 85th birthday in January 2012 at his Double Bay penthouse, but abandoned his regular sojourn to <a href="/news">his Sri Lanka villa</a> due to his deterioriating health.
His entertaining tips were published in <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&amp;dat=19830206&amp;id=gp1WAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=BucDAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=6419,1954543" target="_blank">a 1983 interview piece</a>.
His funeral notice acknowledged he was the dear friend of Richard (Dick) Keep and of Colin Davies.
 
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When he was two years old Walford’s father died and his mother took him from Sydney to England for his schooling, and from there he went to Paris to study design.
It was in Paris that he developed a passion for period furniture, returning to Australia aged 27. In 1957 he established an antiques and decorating business in Double Bay's Knox Street.
Walford, who was proud his parents had convict ancestors, grew up with a love of Sydney.
He was a foundation member of the Society of Interior Designers and its national president from 1965 to 1966 and again from 1978 to 1979.
He was very much tapped into the Sydney social set – and for many years wrote <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ef1jAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=JOcDAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=1549,8720788&amp;dq=leslie+walford&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">a weekly Sunday paper column</a>, Our Town.
The bits and pieces that he’s sold to clients over the years turns up occasionally at auction, such as a <a href="https://www.mossgreen.com.au/auctions/artwork-detail.asp?idImage=3267" target="_blank">1957 acquisition</a> of an American feather picture of the eagle and flag.
In recognition of his contribution to the profession Walford was made a life fellow of the Design Institute of Australia, and in 2008 he was inducted into the DIA Design Hall of Fame.
Some of his collection was auctioned on his retirement in 2007 by auctioneer Mossgreen.
The contents of the Walford apartment were sold at another auction through Mossgreen last November. The sales tally suggest around $540,000 was grossed, including the buyer's premium, from about 400 household items.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/walford1.jpg">
The items represented five decades of accumulation by the noteworthy decorator to old Sydney money – and some later arrivistes.
They were listed by Walford's partner, Colin Davies.
<a href="https://www.kenjacobs.com.au/570519/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The penthouse </a>with 279-square-metre garden terracing sits atop the 1939 Art Deco building with northerly views across the harbour to Manly.
The interiors showcased the tastes of Walford, who retired just five years ago after an international career spanning five decades.
It was built with polished timber floorboards, high vaulted ceilings, ornate cornices, curved bay windows and french doors.
 
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The initial Double Bay purchase cost $125,000 in 1975 from Sabrina Van der Linden.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/walford4.jpg">
The apartment, which comes with 500 square metres of space, was consolidated with another purchase in 1978 from the photographer Ann Riddell.
Born to parents who celebrated with two bottles of 1918 Bollinger, after his 1927 birth, Walford was sent off at the age of 11 to England. (The champers bottles, below, went unsold with a $100-150 estimate.)
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/walford3.jpg">
After time in the British Army, he studied interior design in Paris. He had self-deprecating pretensions, often joking he was conceived at the Ritz. Then hastening to add it was the <a href="https://www.photosau.com.au/BlueMountains/scripts/ExtSearch.asp?SearchTerm=004039" target="_blank">Ritz Leura, Blue Mountains guesthouse </a>rather than the Paris hotel one he loved so much.
His penthouse apartment ceiling was painted with a bamboo and foliage pattern and suspended from this was a large Fortuny silk lantern from Venice.
"This traditional Chinoiserie effect is rather lovely in European decorating," Walford once told then SMH Sydney Magazine home decor columnist Margie Blok.
She was among the auction crowd that watched the Fortuny fabric tiered ceiling light (below) fetch $3,172.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/walford2.jpg">
Among the dearest items was a pair of Louis XV carved walnut fauteuil, signed Blanchard, French 18th-century armchairs that fetched $26,840.
A pair of Italian Blackamoor figures of two Nubian men, 19th-century, sold for $23,180.
A 19th-century French white porcelain and gilt bronze mounted elephant and pagoda form clock century fetched $7,320.
One of the cheapies appeared to be the Ross Watson painting, James II and youth, 1986 oil on canvas which fetched $3,416. His works are in significant private collections including Sir Elton John, James Wolfensohn and the British peer Lord Cholmondeley. <a href="https://www.rosswatson.com/index" target="_blank">Watson</a> was a 1990 Moet &amp; Chandon finalist.
The Historic Houses Trust (HHT) has become the home of some papers from the archive of the late Leslie Walford.
The Sydney Morning Herald's then Title Deeds columnist Margie Blok delivered a tribute at Walford's funeral.
"To a sparkling and beautiful star.
"He was the saviour of the most ordinary dinner party, for he could weave wonderful tales and rivet an audience," she said.
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Princeton, Double Bay penthouse of the late interior design doyen Leslie Walford relisted after re-styling

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The Kelly fashionista family are upgrading homes on exclusive Kutti Beach in Vaucluse.
Its one of just the seven beachfront houses in the scenic location with postcard perfect images across Sydney Harbour.
Nick and Susie Kelly, founders of Industrie clothing, will soon be moving into the Goymour family (below) home having bought the reputed $20 million property on May 20, just a week ago. The 2004 Graham Jahn-designed house is two storey instead of three like the neighbouring homes using natural products that have weathered well over time and blend with the surrounding planting.
The Kellys were in the news earlier this month as they are seeking redress against entertainment industry couple Toni Collette and David Galafassi over their failure to proceed with their $6.35 million purchase of the Kellys' Stewart Street, Paddington double terrace.
The Kutti Beach house was listed only last month with a June expression of interest marketing campaign with $20 million expectations. It had been listed in 2011 with $25 million hopes.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/05/may29vaucluse]}
It's the house where architect Graham Jahn's design divided the property into summer and winter living spaces.
The two zones were linked by a bridge crossing pools and courtyards which forms a "transition zone" that "captures sunlight and provides one of many private relaxing getaways".
The property has lawns and landscaped gardens, is 1,200sqm, has garage space for two cars and includes the sandy beach on the title.
The house has 650 square metres of living space and has a Northerly aspect but is sheltered from prevailing winds.
There's a restored cedar boat-house providing entertaining space on the waterfront.
"Of the thousands of properties I've inspected through the years, this place is an absolute standout," the then SMH Domain property writer Margie Blok wrote on its 2011 listing.
Title Tattle seems to recall it was the 2004 Belle magazine House of the Year award winner.
The Kellys had bought on Kutti Beach only in March 2011 from Michael and Julianne Maxwell paying $15.5 million for the matrimonial home of the former property chief of the Babcock &amp; Brown group. Maxwell snared the harbourfront residence of Multiplex executive Andrew Roberts and wife Andrea, who were off to Gladswood Gardens, Double Bay.
The 1191 square metre beachfront of Philip and Tanya Goymour had $20 million hopes on its listing last month through Savills agent Adam Ross inconjunction with Ben Collier of McGrath Estate Agents.
It was built after the block was bought from Warwick Negus for $4.175 million in 1999. It had been with the Joris diamond family previously.
<img height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/05/vauclusemay29three.jpg" alt="vauclusemay29three">
The Kelly house with extensive lawn (above and below) reputedly fetched close to the $15.5 million price paid in 2011.
<img height="350" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/05/vauclusemay29two.jpg" alt="vauclusemay29two">

Philip and Tanya Goymour are semi-retired from their innovative nautical engineering technology company with plans to spend more time at their Church Point property.
The neighbour inbetween the two sold houses is investment banker Ben Brazil and his partner, Diana Saw, who spent $16,126,000 to buy Mirridong from David Mickler, the former Yahoo! Asia director of sales in 2007.
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Kutti Beach upgrade for the industrious Kelly family into $20m Graham Jahn-designed Vaucluse harbourfront

An 1880s timber cottage that has survived Kangaroo Point's transformation from riverside suburb to high-density apartment precinct is set to become the centrepiece of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/zephyr">Zephyr Group</a>'s proposed Banksia development.

Rather than see the locally heritage-listed Alpha Cottage as an obstacle to navigate, plans integrate the landmark home into a new 18-storey residential tower, giving one of the suburb's oldest surviving residences a new role as the project's communal hub.

The development application covers a 1,177 sqm amalgamated site at 127-133 Lambert Street and 30 Shafston Avenue, where Zephyr Group plans to deliver 64 apartments above three basement levels. Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/joe-adsett-architects">Joe Adsett Architects</a>, the proposal carefully weaves the retained heritage cottage into a contemporary residential scheme, with the tower elevated above the historic building to preserve its presence within the Lambert Street streetscape.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f9dc5bdb-d691-4c60-bf2b-c3ed405a3e75" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Banksia.png?VersionId=Jh4bjlewU.o8HXWt0V4KaFA_lPcF7KWM" />

Named after the native Australian Banksia flower, the project draws inspiration from its distinctive form through curved balconies, sculpted planter boxes and cascading subtropical landscaping that soften the building's profile.

As the design report explains: "The tower's identity is defined by its feature facade, drawing direct inspiration from the Banksia wildflower. The building departs from traditional rigidity through the use of elegant, GRC-moulded planter boxes that appear as if shaped by the breeze."

Plans propose 64 apartments, comprising 32 two-bedroom and 32 three-bedroom residences, across an 18-storey tower. Residents would have access to rooftop amenities including a swimming pool, spa, gym, sauna, private cinema, dining spaces and landscaped recreation areas, while more than half the site is dedicated to planting and open space.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16041b5f-033e-47fa-8fbe-9886e072c1f2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pool.png?VersionId=kpx5w4EbLx0_TdWfDoD1vrSs0_cZ5Ao1" />

The heritage component is the defining feature of the proposal. Constructed in the early 1880s and occupied from at least 1883, Alpha Cottage is recognised by Brisbane City Council as an important surviving example of Kangaroo Point's nineteenth-century residential development and as a representative transverse-gable timber cottage. Despite extensive redevelopment across the peninsula, the building has retained a high degree of its original form and internal fabric.

As part of the redevelopment, the cottage will be carefully relocated a short distance within its original allotment to facilitate construction before being returned to a prominent position along Lambert Street. Original verandah elements will be dismantled, catalogued and reinstated, while significant internal features, including timber flooring, wall linings, joinery, doors, windows and hardware, will be retained. Later additions, including the enclosed rear verandah, will be removed to better reveal the building's original form.

Once restored, Alpha Cottage will accommodate the building manager's office, mail room and parcel facilities, providing an active everyday use that supports its long-term conservation rather than preserving it as a static display. The heritage strategy also maintains landscaped space around the building, allowing it to remain visually distinct beneath the new tower.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="43b027e1-576e-4624-a66c-7cc54ea8b7be" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/banksia%20tower.png?VersionId=2W6E2yfkj2AQlWlLeV986grA5zB9f817" />

The Heritage Impact Assessment concludes that "the proposal secures the ongoing occupation, maintenance and conservation of Alpha Cottage," finding the development would result in "no more than a minor impact on the cultural heritage significance" of the building while ensuring its long-term future.

Joe Adsett Architects have designed the tower to sit above the heritage building rather than overwhelm it, creating a clear visual separation between old and new. The development's flowing balconies, integrated planting and organic façade respond to Brisbane's subtropical climate while complementing the restored cottage below.

Banksia occupies a prominent corner in Kangaroo Point within walking distance of the Kangaroo Point Bridge, Brisbane River, ferry services, QUT, the CBD and the Woolloongabba precinct. The site also benefits from direct access to active transport infrastructure and sits within an area earmarked for continued higher-density residential growth.

Joel Robinson

Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage

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.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6RNt3AvtBpI?si=JUhuCV2ZRXsYaoJZ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

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]

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]

Jonathan Chancellor

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