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<img src="/images/stories/rozelle.jpg">
Dumped Wiggle Sam Moran is in the midst of upgrading Sydney abodes. Moran, the former yellow Wiggle, his wife, Lyn, and their daughter, Eloise, are moving into their newly acquired $955,000 Rozelle cottage in inner Sydney (pictured above).
It was bought last year at auction through Sarah Lorden Real Estate agent Lynsey Kemp and according to RP Data then briefly leased at $750 a week while the couple sought to sell their Pyrmont apartment (pictured below).
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/jan20pyrmont]}
Earlier this month the sale of the Moran's two-bedroom, two-bathroom Paramount, Pyrmont apartment was recorded at the land titles office at a healthy $682,500. It cost $500,000 in 2007. The apartment walls were full of show business memorabilia including Jersey Boys posters.
Moran has overseen the recent minor renovation of the three-bedroom Rozelle cottage on a 272-square-metre block, which has been freshly painted and new carpet installed. It has three bedrooms and one bathroom and was marketed as offering “tremendous scope to refresh or renovate” and “currently in very liveable condition” with some retained period features. A formal lounge with slow combustion fireplace was the home’s focal point.
It was reported the auction of the freestanding weatherboard cottage attracted young families and older executives given with its character charm and good position.
But the home, which had been in the one family for 30 years, was built in 1880 and only partially updated 15 years ago.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Dumped yellow Wiggle Sam Moran upgrades in Sydney, with not much wiggle room: Title Tattle

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<img src="/images/stories/residences.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">The chief executive of ANZ's Australian operations, Philip Chronican, now has a Sydney bolthole, having bought in the newly completed complex The Residence overlooking Hyde Park (pictured above).  The Melbourne-based banking executive and his wife, Leanne, spent $2.35 million for the College Street apartment. The couple left for Melbourne in 2009 after the 27-year Westpac veteran accepted the senior posting with the ANZ. They then sold their Raglan Street Mosman abode for $3.1 million in 2010 and bought for about $4.5 million in a boutique Armadale apartment block, Lutetia. It was Chronican who argued the case when the ANZ moved to sever the long-standing link between Reserve Bank decisions and movements in mortgage rates, saying ANZ interest rates would now be reviewed each month, independently of the central bank. But his latest acquisition has no registered mortgage, saving him the bother of seeking out the best of the bank rates.
<img src="/images/stories/tamarama3.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">Emma Christen, the partner of Mark Fennessy, the television production entrepreneur, has spent $6.6 million to buy in Tamarama (pictured above). It’s the former home of Dan White, which was <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/title-tattle-bill-gates-rents-on-sydney-harbour/2011092351664" target="_blank">passed in on a vendor bid of $6.5 million at its Ray White onsite auction in September</a>. Fennessy’s long career in TV production includes time at Crackerjack, FremantleMedia Australia and since 2010 at Shine Australia, where he’s overseen shows including MasterChef, Junior MasterChef and The Biggest Loser. Dan White, a great-grandson of the founder of the Ray White real estate empire, and his wife, Sam, wanted close to $7 million when through Ray White Double Bay agent Elliott Placks for the house, which was completed four years ago in gardens designed by landscaper William Dangar. The house has expansive north-easterly ocean views. The couple sold to upgrade to a $13.1 million Bellevue Hill estate – some 2,460 square metres with a tennis court. Dan White was spotted attending a short course at Harvard over the break.
<img src="/images/stories/johnst.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">The art and antique dealers John and Lynette Cunnington are seeking again to sell their Woollahra residence (pictured above), with plans to spend more time in Paris. The John Street house is expected to fetch around $2.2?million at its forthcoming auction. The three-storey, three-bedroom house comes with sandstone fireplace and private courtyard. Fiona Marano at Ballard Property has the listing. It had been listed for August auction with $2.45 million hopes. The Cunningtons plan to live in the apartment they bought five years ago in the ninth arrondissement of Paris.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/november14hawkins]}
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">Jennifer Hawkins has yet to sell her Coogee home (pictured above). The former Miss Universe turned television personality and swimwear designer put in a $2.5 million vendor bid when auction last December through McGrath agent Adrian Bo. It now sits listed with price hopes around $2.5 million.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/jan19barnesy]}
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">There's always been bit of the working-class man in Jimmy Barnes. Not just in the gravelly voice, but also in the singer's taste for property. But Barnes, who formed his band Cold Chisel on the industrial outskirts of Adelaide, has decided to offload his twin Botany industrial warehouse investment spaces (pictured above). The two warehouses in the Sydney industrial precinct have residential conversion potential given their residential 2b zoning. They cost $2.3 million in 2009 when bought by Barnes and his wife, Jane. Steve Pappas at Firmstone Properties Rosebery has the listing with a $3 million hopes. The couple had engaged architects to start negotiations with the council for a multi-unit redevelopment. The 1,470-square-metre Daniel Street holding was envisaged as potentially suitable for private premises for their extended entourage given their own residence has been in the neighbourhood  since 2004 when they spent $1.6 million on a 490-square-metre holding that conveniently had a recording studio.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/jan17nicole]}
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">The Cronin Island, Surfers Paradise mansion (pictured above) of Nicole Bricknell, the ex-wife of bankrupted Billabong founder Matthew Perrin, has been listed for January 28 auction. The seven-bedroom property with 10-car garaging will be auctioned following a 27-month absence of south-east Queensland houses fetching more than $10 million. Photographs show some 30 crates, mostly unopened, of Penfolds Grange in the wine cellar. The Southern Cross Drive house with a lift between its basement and rooftop has previously been valued at $15 million. Nicole Bricknell, who has reverted to her maiden name, the daughter of one of the country's top bookmakers, Laurie Bricknell, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/nicole-perrin-joyous-but-stacey-mcivor-distraught-in-cronin-island-home-dramas/2011092051617" target="_blank">won her battle last September against the Commonwealth Bank</a>, which was seeking to repossess her family home, which sits on a 2,218-square-metre block that cost $1.45 million in 1999. The Queensland Supreme Court found the former Billabong chief repeatedly forged the signature of his wife to secure a $13.5 million loan from the Commonwealth Bank. The ruling meant the Commonwealth Bank could not enforce its mortgage over the couple's Gold Coast riverfront mansion or enforce personal guarantees against Perrin's wife. The lawyers for Bricknell returned to the courtroom last month to seek to determine the amount of costs to be paid. After a trial spanning two weeks, Walter Sofronoff, QC applied for additional costs on the ground that the matter should never have gone to trial.
Kylie Downes, SC for the bank, said the bank had every right to test the veracity of the fraud allegations in court. “Nicole trusted me with all financial matters and I have destroyed that faith and trust,'' Matthew Perrin confessed in a private gesture to his family. “No one could comprehend what I have done to her – taken her husband, faith, trust, house, family and financial security to hell without her having any idea,” he wrote in a confession, handed for safe keeping to his then father-in-law, which made its way into the court documentation. Michael Willems of Ray White Prestige Gold Coast Surfers Paradise has the listing.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/august16mcivor]}
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">Still no sale – and therefore price comparison – from elsewhere on Cronin Island, given the abode of former Equititrust executive Mark McIvor remains for sale following its September auction. It’s a two-storey riverfront home (pictured above) designed by Sydney-based architect Alex Popovon a 1,736-square-metre block with 50-metre frontage onto the Nerang River. McIvor built the house on the $1 million block, which he bought in 1994. It sits in landscaping by international garden designer Andrew Pfieffer. The island’s highest sale was $8 million in 2004, when an older-style house on 2,300 square metres was sold.
McIvor, who founded the Gold Coast's own merchant bank, Equititrust, in 1993, also owns two other houses on the island. They cost $3.6 million in 2002 and $1.7 million in 2003. There are just 33 houses on the island. Michael Kollosche, the Ray White Broadbeach agent, has the listing. Equititrust, which became known for using a Roman voussoir arch as its marketing logo to suggest structural stability, was among the many unlisted mortgage funds to take a battering following the 2008 financial crisis.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/jan20urumbirra]}
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">Urimbirra, the imposing granite homestead (pictured above) on 40 hectares in the Tilba Valley, has been sold. It fetched $2.3 million plus for its vendor, Carol Ladd, through Julie Rutherford at Julie Ruitherford Real Estate Bermagui. Urimbirra comes with 10-metre-high beam ceilings and features forged ironwork, antique timbers and handmade terracotta tiles. Its living areas open to the courtyard swimming pool. It was designed to be run as an exclusive six-bedroom B and B guest house, previously known as the Valley Country House when operated by then tourism industry operatives Lynton Manley and Catherine McDonough, who in the early 1990s employed French stonemasons to use the property's granite boulders to build the 900-square-metre home. The buyers from Orange, NSW plan to use it as a private home.
<img src="/images/stories/gingersmart.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">More than $820,000 is being sought by the Ginger and Smart fashion label co-founder Genevieve Smart’s Avalon house (pictured above and below). Smart and her partner, Aidan Sarsfield, a producer of animated films with Animal Logic studio, had initially hopes for $850,000 for the modest home, which was gutted after it cost $590,000 in 2003.
<img src="/images/stories/gingersmart2.jpg">
Set on 650 square metres in gardens with tall palms, the Lewis Street house with black floorboards and Asian-style sliding door to the deck has been photographed for Vogue and Marie Claire magazines. It’s listed with LJ Hooker Avalon agent Nina Sokolov, given the couple are looking for a bigger house in the northern beaches.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/jan18mainbeach]}
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">Melbourne construction industry company director and horse racing enthusiast Peter Devitt has snapped up a heavily discounted Gold Coast penthouse (pictured above). It was bought late last year from Jennifer Reardon, the wife of cotton and macadamia farmer Rob Reardon, who accepted $9.2 million for the five-bedroom Liberty Panorama penthouse at Main Beach. It was initially listed in 2007 with $16.5 million hopes, then $15 million in 2008 and $14 million in 2009. Built over two levels with a private lift, it sits atop the Gold Coast's first elliptical-shaped high-rise, completed in 2001. Coming with 1,200 square metres of space, it was bought off the plan from Mirvac for $3.29 million in 2000. The shared facilities include lagoon-style pool, tennis court and indoor lap pool. The complex is only a short distance from the restaurant and boutique shopping precinct. It had been listed through Livin In Prestige Properties agent Sharon Lloyd. The last time Devitt, the LU Simon Builders managing director and former president of the Master Builders Association of Victoria, was in the news was in 2010 when he snapped up the penthouse at The Melburnian on St Kilda Road for about $15.5 million.
<img src="/images/stories/foamst.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">Former Richmond AFL footballer Nathan Brown is prepared to cop a small knock on his Elwood property (pictured above). Not surprising, really, since The Sunday Footy Show panellist only bought it at November 2010 auction. Costing $1.85 million, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom house now comes with a $1.79 million asking price through Hocking Stuart agent David Sullivan.
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">Title Tattle aims to tell you as soon as we know – often before it happens – so the word is that Mary Wong-Jenkins sold her triplex Darling Point penthouse this week, which had been listed last July. She’d been hoping for $2.65 million through 1st City Hasemer and Caldwell Eyles Double Bay in conjunction with Richardson &amp; Wrench Elizabeth Bay. It was bought in 2008 for $2.35 million by the longtime managing director of the Kyko Group, best known for its multimillion-dollar refurbishment of the Art Deco City Mutual building in the Sydney CDB and the Wondakiah redevelopment of the AGL site at Wollstonecraft Bay.
<img src="/images/stories/rozelle.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;">And don't say that Title Tattle told you, but the dumped Wiggle Sam Moran is in the midst of upgrading Sydney abodes.  Moran, the yellow Wiggle, his wife, Lyn, and their daughter, Eloise, are moving into the newly acquired $955,000 Rozelle cottage in inner Sydney (pictured above). It was bought last year at auction through Sarah Lorden Real Estate agent Lynsey Kemp and according to RP Data then briefly leased at $750 a week while the couple sought to sell their Pyrmont apartment.
Earlier this month the Morans sold the two-bedroom, two-bathroom Paragon, Pyrmont apartment for a healthy $682,500. It cost $500,000 in 2007. The apartment walls were full of show business memorabilia including Jersey Boys posters. Moran has overseen the recent renovation of the three-bedroom Rozelle cottage, which has been freshly painted and new carpet installed. It was marketed as offering “tremendous scope to refresh or renovate” and “currently in very liveable condition” with some retained period features. A formal lounge with slow combustion fireplace was the home’s focal point.
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No mortgage for ANZ chief Philip Chronican's pricey Sydney bolthole: Title Tattle

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Kryal Castle, the mediaeval-themed property set on the slopes of Mt Warrenheip about two hours' drive west of Melbourne, has been sold after several unsuccessful marketing campaigns.
Built in 1972 as a life's dream by the vendor, Keith Ryall, the tourist attraction and function centre is east of Ballarat, visible in the distance to commuters taking the Western Highway.
It’s been bought by Castle Tourism and Entertainment Pty Ltd, which is headed by Ballarat district publican Gary Browning. Its other directors include John Hatherley, a former Glencore operative, currently the chairman of Tadcaster Holdings in Singapore, the tourism and entertainment company that operates Molly Malone's, Singapore's first Irish pub. The other Castle Tourism directors are Melbourne regional tourism advisor Erin Joyce and the Singapore-based Mark Hinkley.
The consortium is said to be gaining inspiration from Britain's Camelot Theme Park and Alton Towers Resort, with plans for mediaeval-inspired rides, 3D theatres, jousting and other arena-style entertainment.
In mid-2010 Ryall and wife Joyce were approached with a flighty offer in the lead-up to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theage.com.au/victoria/brothel-owners-10m-plan-for-kryal-castle-20100721-10k5s">castle’s July 2010 auction from a Brunswick businessman</a> who planned to convert the 22-bedroom, 30-bathroom fortress into an adults-only entertainment venue.
The Leigh Creek vendors own farmland abutting the fortress, which comes with bluestone castle, moat, drawbridge, tavern and maze.
It has operated as a tourist attraction since 1974.
The official price of the sale of the 10.9-hectare property has yet to be registered, but price expectations were upwards of $1.5 million.
Late last year interested parties were being advised that $1.7 million would be needed to outbid the highest offer.
The property no longer appears on the website of Gerard Cosgrave of Harcourts Ballarat following its sale.
A call to the castle had a recorded message saying it is due to re-open for general admissions in mid to late 2012 after a refurbishment of exhibits and displays.
It remains available for specific events, such as this weekend, when INXS, fronted by Northern Ireland singer-songwriter Ciaran Gribbin, will perform at the castle in their Red Hot Summer regional tour along with Vanessa Amorosi and James Reyne.
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Kryal Castle white knights hope to revive Ballarat tourism destination after lengthy sales campaign

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Australia's population increased by 1.4% – or 320,800 people – to 22.6 million people, for the year to June 2011.
Net overseas migration accounted for 53% of the growth, with the remaining 47% due to natural increase – births minus deaths.
But the preliminary net overseas migration estimate of 170,300 people was 9% lower than the 198,000 estimate for the year ended June 30, 2010.
The ABS says the recent decline in migration was due to both a decrease in arrivals and an increase in departures.
Migration arrivals decreased by 5% (22,900 persons) between the years ended June 30, 2010 (446,800 persons) and June 30 2011 (423,900 persons).
This reflected a continuing decline in arrivals since the peak of 536,000 people recorded for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Migration departures increased by 2% (5,200 persons) between the years ended June 30, 2010 (248,400 persons) and June 30, 2011 (253,600 persons).
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Australia's population up 1.4% in 2010-11 as migration slows

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Residential land sales remain at low levels, but sales look to be climbing off the mat, which may flow through to improved retail conditions, according to the HIA-RP Data Residential Land Report.
“It’s a long climb back, but at least we have now seen three consecutive quarters in which land sales volumes have increased, although there is no avoiding the fact that overall levels remain low,” says HIA senior economist Andrew Harvey.
The report found the volume of land sales increased by 1.3% in the September 2011 quarter although volumes were 16.8% lower than in the September 2010 quarter and substantially lower than the September 2009 peak.
“Land sales are an early leading indicator so an upturn in trajectory is essential to the prospect for an eventual recovery in new home building activity – although we really do need much higher sales levels to make a material difference,” Harvey says.
“Having land sales still at less than half the September 2009 peak speaks for itself in terms of how far the market has come off and adds to the already strong case for stimulatory policy, both in terms of further rate cuts and fiscal measures to stimulate new home building,” Harvey adds.
“Any improvement in land sales is an encouraging development for the housing construction industry, while there are also positive flow-on affects,” RP Data senior research analyst Cameron Kusher says
“When people build a new home they typically purchase furniture and homewares, buy new electrical goods and spend money on hardware. Should the improvement in land sales continue it is likely to provide a much needed boost for retailers,” Kusher says.
The weighted median land value in Australia grew by 0.5% in the September 2011 quarter to be 1.7% higher than in 2010.
The median value for capital cities land rose by 1% in the September 2011 quarter to $213,718, or 2.5% higher than one year earlier.
The median value for regional land eased 0.7% in the quarter to $154,989, to be up by 0.2% on the same time in 2010.
Kusher says the result is encouraging, but he cautions that the market still has a long way to go.
“Following the low point in sales activity in the December 2010 quarter there has been a noticeable improvement in the number of vacant land transactions.
“It is also important to remember that the improvement commenced at a time when many expected that official interest rates would climb higher.
“With successive 25 basis point cuts to interest rates in November and again in December 2011, we would expect that a steady improvement in sales activity which commenced in the December 2010 quarter is likely to continue and perhaps gather further pace.
“However, we believe the market still has a long way to go to return to healthy levels,” Kusher says.
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Small uptick in residential land sales activity might bouy retail: HIA- RP Data

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There's always been bit of the working-class man in Jimmy Barnes. Not just in the gravelly voice, but also in the singer's taste for property.
But Barnes, who formed his band Cold Chisel on the industrial outskirts of Adelaide, has decided to offload his twin Botany industrial warehouse investment spaces.
The two warehouses in the Sydney industrial precinct have residential conversion potential given their residential 2b zoning.
They cost $2.3 million in 2009 when bought by Barnes and his wife, Jane.
Steve Pappas at Firmstone Properties Rosebery has the listing with a $3 million hopes.
The couple had engaged architects to start negotiations with the council for a multi-unit redevelopment.
The 1,470-square-metre Daniel Street holding was envisaged as potentially suitable for private premises for their extended entourage given their own residence has been in the neighbourhood  since 2004 when they spent $1.6 million on a 490-square-metre holding that conveniently had a recording studio.
Recording studios aren't always included, but warehouses traditionally offer flexible floor plans, vaulted ceilings, timber trusses and high walls that encourage the imagination to soar.
They also offer open-plan living spaces that are usually alive with tactile and textured energy – blank spaces aplenty for contemporary artworks to be displayed with an ease not familiar to older homes.
And warehouses can be special internally without regard to their dull street presence.
As inner-city land values rose in the late 1970s and companies were tempted to move further out, the warehouse fad took off.
Celebrity manager Harry M. Miller was a pioneer of the trend. He made his home in Woolloomooloo after paying $122,000 for a 512-square-metre inner-city block.
Miller's three-storey warehouse was described by the international architecture photographer Tim Street-Porter as a contemporary palazzo with French-walled garden set into the busy urban landscape. It included an internal glass lift that whisked visitors from the foyer.
Miller left the warehouse with polo practice pit after 20 years, selling to the Melbourne recording supremo Michael Gudinski in 1999.
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Jimmy Barnes lists his Botany industrial investment: Title Tattle 

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Canberra landlords, capitalising on the housing supply shortage, increased asking rents rising 6.4% in the final three months of 2011.
Data from Australian Property Monitors shows asking rents for Canberra houses rose $30 to a median of $500 a week.
The four other capital cities to notch house rental rises over the quarter were Brisbane, up 2.7% to $380, Perth, up 2.6% to $400, Adelaide, up 1.5% to $340, and Sydney, up 1% to a $500 median weekly asking rental for houses.
<img src="/images/stories/rentapm1.jpg">
Melbourne, Darwin and Hobart recorded no increases in median asking weekly house rentals over the December quarter.
<img src="/images/stories/rentapm2.jpg">
APM concluded that nationally rentals had resumed upward growth after flat results over the previous two quarters.
The national median weekly asking rents for houses rose by 1.1% in the December quarter, with rents for units rising by 1.4%.
The increased rentals over the December quarter for both houses and units indicated increased competition for accommodation particularly from first-home buyers struggling to secure property in the marketplace, APM senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson says.
<img src="/images/stories/rentapm3.jpg">
“The Sydney, Perth and Canberra rental markets have been characterised by chronically low vacancy rates and, with ongoing low levels of new construction, this situation is expected to continue with upward pressure on rentals.
“The Brisbane rental market also remains highly competitive for tenants reflecting ongoing consequences of the devastating floods of early 2011 and the slow progress of reconstruction.
“Melbourne continues to be Australia’s most tenant-friendly rental market with a wider choice of properties courtesy of nation-leading dwelling construction and no growth in rentals for both units and houses over the December quarter.”
<img src="/images/stories/rentapm4.jpg">
APM notes that rising rentals combined with a general softening in prices has resulted in increases in gross rental yields for most capitals over 2011.
Units continue to provide higher gross rental returns compared with houses in all the mainland capitals despite units generally outperforming houses in the sales market.
Capital city house rental yields range between 3.95% in Melbourne to 5.09% in Hobart.
Unit yields range from 4.44% in Melbourne to 5.38% in Canberra. 
Canberra rental agents report there is always a much higher demand for properties over the November to February months, hence the increase in rents due to demand. 
“This demand falls over the winter months, so there is a delicate balancing act with respect to price,” one managing agent suggests.
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Canberra landlords seek higher rents in response to housing shortage

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Anton Kardash has been appointed the new chief of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland.
He was most recently at the helm of Aged Care Queensland and has a long history of working in the not-for-profit sector.
“I am looking forward to the challenges that the current market conditions have brought to everyone working within the real estate profession,” he says.
The institute’s website, <a href="https://www.reiq.com/" target="_blank">reiq.com</a>, has 68,000 property listings for sale.

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Anton Kardash new chief executive of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland

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Encouraging signs for the housing market have emerged in the January Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment.
The sub-index tracking responses on “whether now is a good time to buy a dwelling” jumped by 6.5%, representing a 14.1% gain in sentiment over the past year.
But with pessimists outnumbering optimists for six out of the last seven months, overall consumer sentiment edged up only slightly in January. The survey was conducted from January 9 to January 12.
Despite rising expectations about the broader economy through 2012, economists say European debt woes and concerns over the labour market took the shine off falling interest rates.
A 2.4% increase took the Westpac-Melbourne Institute of Consumer Sentiment index to 97.1, still below the long-term average of 101.8 and well below the 120.1 result this time last year. The index is calculated from the results of several subindexes.
The rise in the overall index was largely due to an almost 10-point jump in the subindex measuring expectations of economic conditions over the next 12 months.
However, the subindex measuring family finances in 2011 suffered a 2.5-point drop, and the subindex measuring expectations of family finances over the next year rose only 0.7 points.
The release noted divergence between the sentiments of consumers regarding their own spending and their views of the wider economy – it says economic behaviour is more likely to be influenced by the latter.
"We've been resilient to external shocks, and that's become part of the way Australian consumers see Australia and our economy," Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan says.
"There may be a disconnect between the mining-driven broader economy and what consumers are actually seeing."
The bank describes the result as "disappointing", as it showed the two interest rate cuts had only a minor effect on consumer sentiment.
"We've had quite an abrupt shift on interest rates," says Hassan.
"The RBA went from a tightening bias to cutting rates, with an expectation of further rate cuts on the way."
"Ordinary, if you move like that, you hope to get a sustained bounce in consumer sentiment."
"We have seen a rise, but the level of the index suggests the initial bump may be starting to fade."
Hassan says the steady drip of bad news from Europe may have played a role in the weaker-than-expected result, as might ongoing concerns around labour markets.
The RBA board will next meet on Tuesday February 7. Westpac expects the board to again cut rates by 0.25 percentage points.
Additional reporting by Myriam Robin of<a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php"> SmartCompany</a>.
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Time to buy a dwelling index jumps in January: Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index

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Melbourne construction industry company director and horse racing enthusiast Peter Devitt has snapped up a heavily discounted Gold Coast penthouse.
It was bought late last year from Jennifer Reardon, the wife of cotton and macadamia farmer Rob Reardon, who accepted $9.2 million for the five-bedroom Liberty Panorama penthouse at Main Beach.
It was initially listed in 2007 with $16.5 million hopes, then $15 million in 2008 and $14 million in 2009.
Built over two levels with a private lift, it sits atop the Gold Coast's first elliptical-shaped high-rise, completed in 2001.
Coming with 1,200 square metres of space, it was bought off the plan from Mirvac for $3.29 million in 2000.
The shared facilities include lagoon-style pool, tennis court and indoor lap pool.
The complex is only a short distance from the restaurant and boutique shopping precinct. It had been listed through Livin In Prestige Properties agent Sharon Lloyd.
The last time Devitt, the LU Simon Builders managing director and former president of the Master Builders Association of Victoria, was in the news was in 2010 when he snapped up the penthouse at The Melburnian on St Kilda Road for about $15.5 million.
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Peter Devitt snaps up heavily discounted $9.2 million Main Beach Gold Coast penthouse: Title Tattle

ASX-listed developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/stockland">Stockland</a>&nbsp;is continuing its push back into the new apartment market, filing plans for a prominent gateway site between Collingwood and East Melbourne.

The development giant, which moved back into the new apartment space when it announced Stanton Place in Sydney's Rosebery and have since filed plans for a 50-storey tower, are jumping into the off the plan Melbourne market.

They are hoping to create a mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/79-81-victoria-parade-collingwood-vic-3066">79-81 Victoria Parade</a>, replacing an existing commercial building with a scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/john-wardle-architects">Wardle</a>&nbsp;for 478 apartments,&nbsp;ground-floor retail, new public open spaces and a publicly accessible pedestrian laneway.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="72dbbca9-3918-4073-afad-a0c0c35be8e7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20pers.png?VersionId=bzMVUKKxvwuNK1m0v_td126Rgct32uk_" />

The design report identifies the public realm as a central driver of the proposal.

"Collingwood has limited access to high-quality parks and public open space, and the proposal delivers valuable new areas for respite, social interaction and fine-grain retail activity."

The development would deliver a diverse mix of housing, including studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments alongside townhouse-style residences. Two basement levels are proposed beneath the development, providing resident and retail parking as well as extensive bicycle facilities.

Wardle's design draws heavily on Collingwood's industrial character, using articulated building forms, brickwork and robust materials inspired by the suburb's warehouse and manufacturing heritage. The built form has been broken into a series of smaller volumes to better respond to the surrounding streetscape while extensive communal gardens, rooftop amenities and shared resident spaces are integrated throughout the project.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b2135ed-65df-4253-ad53-f216f06bd467" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20podium.png?VersionId=l1B6Hqn8zs772VxH6L1fDPg0KHshan9v" />

The planning documents describe the existing office building as offering little engagement with the public realm, with the redevelopment intended to create a more permeable and active neighbourhood destination.

"The proposed scheme presents a significant opportunity to deliver a vibrant retail plaza and a local neighbourhood hub serving both existing and future Collingwood residents."

The 79–81 Victoria Parade site occupies a strategic location about 1.5 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD, at the threshold between Collingwood and East Melbourne. It is well served by tram services along Victoria Parade and sits within walking distance of St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy Gardens, the Fitzroy activity centre and a broad range of employment, retail and hospitality destinations.

Joel Robinson

Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site

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.

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.

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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]

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]

Jonathan Chancellor

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