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Landbanking firm KSI investments has advised the DomaCom Fund to close the fundraising for the purchase of a second parcel of land at Badgerys Creek early given strong investor interest.
It came after an influx of investment from local and overseas property investors following the announcement of a $100 million university and research precinct within 3.8kms of the land located at 60 Devonshire Road, Rossmore (pictured above).
The campaign for the land in Rossmore near Badgerys Creek was oversubscribed by 20 per cent.
Investors who missed out will be able to invest in other upcoming crowdfunded land investment which will be available over the next few months.
DomaCom is Australia's leading property crowdfunder. It allows anyone to <a href="/expert-insights/crowdfunding-into-property-domacom-explains">invest a little or a lot</a> into property investment. 
Arthur Naoumidis CEO of DomaCom Ltd, said it was very exciting to have completed the second parcel of land so quickly after the first transaction.
"It sees the realisation of what the DomaCom Fund was established for, allowing retail investors access to an asset which would not normally be accessible to this market," he said.
"We now have close to 100 investors owning a fractional interest in this asset.”
KSI investments CEO Robin Luo says there are some factors at play in the Sydney property market pushing land prices higher leading to heightened interest in crowdfunding of land near Badgerys Creek.
“As the Sydney residential property market cools, investors have been looking for alternative ways to make money in property he said.
"Appreciating the topography of Sydney is key to understanding why land prices are surging, Sydney is landlocked by mountain ranges to the west and ocean to the east, meaning flat land is limited to a 80 km radius of the CBD."
"In contrast, Melbourne has flat land for over 200kms from the CBD. The south-west Sydney region is the last frontier for land in Sydney. It’s the last opportunity for investors to buy unimproved farm land to convert into residential. Basically, everywhere else in Sydney has already been through this transformation process over the past 30 years,” Mr Luo concluded.
Endre Kollo, KSI Executive Director said the Government will break ground on the construction of Badgerys Creek airport later this year
In preparation, the State Government has already committed hundreds of millions of dollars to building new train stations and putting in new roads.
"The infrastructure support from the State Government has been wonderful for land prices in the region," Mr Kollo said.
Mr Luo said that many people want to buy in the Badgerys Creek region but few have the funds and resources to acquire the properties.
In the past, landbanking was only available to big developers however the DomaCom fund has opened this up to mum and dad investors via a crowdfunding structure.
He suggests that residential housing values will continue to fall while rural land prices will continue to rise for the next few years.  
“Given the 70 per cent price increases we’ve seen in Sydney over the past 5 years, even after a correction, prices are still higher than the long-term trend growth of 7.25 per cent and remain unattractive to most, particularly noting the still unattractive rental yields on residential property.  
"The land market in the south-west region on the other hand, is a buoyant market and we need to act quick to snap up good land otherwise it gets taken up by another developer within days”.
AFL legend <a href="/news/afl-legend-kevin-sheedy-ambassadorial-assist-in-domacoms-push-in-farm-fractional-ownership-scheme">Kevin Sheedy</a> is an ambassador for Domacom. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Domacom landbanking opportunity trumping residential decline in Sydney

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Two much-admired trophy estates on different sides of the country failed to sell at weekend auction as buyers displayed caution in their bidding.
Both were passed in on bids less than their prior sale.
On Queensland's Sunshine Coast, an equestrian property was on offer.
Dean Shannon, the former chief of Ladbrokes Australia, and now the managing director of the Nets gambling website, and his wife Kelly, who shares his love of horses, failed to find a buyer.
The bidding at the Sunday onsite auction stopped at $5.6 million for the 42 hectare Maleny holding, marketed as one of Australia's most impressive equestrian facilities, located an hour from the Doomben race track.
The stable complex is the focal point as it features 10 double-sized broodmare boxes, two stallion boxes, wash bays, a vet room, horse scales, tack room, rug room and feed room.
There's 45 post and rail paddocks and two Olympic size dressage arenas.
The luxury is not just for horses, as the main residence spans a vast 1,800 sqm and has five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a steam room, massage room and dressing rooms.
The entertaining spaces have views of the Glass House Mountains.
Ray White Buderim agents Lew Pottinger and Nathan Nicholl marketed the equine complex with its <a id="LPlnk977626" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.montanaparkmaleny.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">own website</a>.
Since Shannon bought Montana Park in 2010 for $7 million he more than doubled the size of the original residence as well as covering one of the two show-jumping arenas.
“Montana Park is a place we love to call home, however my current business commitments with the launch, and now international expansion of Neds have seen me spend more time in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, with less opportunity to enjoy all this home has to offer,” he said prior to the auction.
<div>Across the other side of the nation, another trophy estate, albeit abandoned, failed to sell at Peppermint Grove.</div>
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<div>It was when then home building block of flamboyant billionaire tycoons, Pankaj and Radhika Oswal was passed in at Saturday auction.</div>
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<div>The top bid was $15.6 million with three of the five registered parties competing for the prize parcel.</div>
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<div>Two years ago there were $30 million hopes for the prestigious Perth offering, after the partially built so-called Taj on Swan mansion was demolished under council orders.</div>
<div>The 6582 sqm site, which could fit six homes, had reduced $19.5 million hopes last year.</div>
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<div>The mansion with Swan River views sat unfinished after the Oswals quit Australia in 2010 amid a dispute with bankers about the wind up and sale of their fertiliser business. </div>
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<div>The Oswal family had controlled WA's $700 million Burrup Fertilisers gas-processing plant.</div>
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<div id="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-container-1002" class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-container x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-portalcontainer x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-maximised x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-selected x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-fixed">
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<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-content x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-view_content x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-show">
<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-callhandler x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-copytasting">Marketed as "the most famous block in Australia" the <a id="LPlnk998012" class="x_x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-wa-peppermint+grove-202042586" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">2 Bay View Road site</a> was listed through Ray White agent Vivien Yap in conjunction with Sotheby's agent Graham Bowie. </div>
<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-callhandler x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-copytasting"> </div>
<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-callhandler x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-copytasting">The Oswals paid $22.7 million in 2007 then starting construction a year later on a "two-storey, Indian-infused luxury residence." </div>
<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-callhandler x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-copytasting"> </div>
<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-callhandler x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-copytasting">The final week of July saw 1,534 homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities, returning a preliminary auction clearance rate of 58.4 per cent.</div>
<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-callhandler x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-copytasting"> </div>
<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-callhandler x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-copytasting">Although auction volumes are slowly starting to pick up across the capital cities, CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan noted current volumes remain lower than this time last year when 1,987 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 68.7 per cent was recorded.</div>
<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-callhandler x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-copytasting">
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There were 803 auctions held in Melbourne with a preliminary clearance rate of 60.3 per cent, after last weekend saw 613 homes go under the hammer, returning a final clearance rate of 59.9 per cent. 
Over the same week last year, 956 auctions were held across the city and a clearance rate of 75.6 per cent was recorded.
Weekend sales included the Bentleigh East of the Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge and his wife Dana. <a id="LPlnk523374" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/1-fraser-street-bentleigh-east-vic/property-details-sold-residential-11917293/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Selling their home of almost 25 years</a>, the 2016 AFL premiership coach secured an undisclosed post auction sale having had price hopes of $1.4 million to $1.5 million through Nick Johnstone Real Estate director Nick Johnstone
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Sydney was host to 465 auctions with preliminary results showing a clearance rate of 56.6 per cent. 
Last week, the final auction clearance rate for Sydney was 55.2 per cent across 407 auctions after the previous week saw the clearance rate drop to just 46.9 per cent. 
Sydney had the nation's highest notified sale when 21 Waimea Road, Lindfield sold for $3,290,000.
<a id="LPlnk927041" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-lindfield-128745954" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">The three bedroom 1905 home</a> had been last sold six decades ago. 
Two local families were competing at the end. There were five bidders registered with four of them participating after the opening $2.5 million offer.
It was on the market at $3.1 million.
The highest preliminary clearance rate was in Canberra where 72.2 per cent of the 36 reported auctions were successful. Canberra was the only mainland capital city to see a weekend fall in auction volumes.
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Dream trophy home estates go unsold as auction volumes pick up

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New home sales rose 2 per cent in June, the first rise this year, according to the HIA New Home Sales report.
“Despite the monthly bounce in June, new home sales during the entire 2017/18 financial year were 5.3 per cent lower than in the previous financial year,” stated HIA’s principal economist, Tim Reardon.
The increase in sales in June is small in comparison with the fall in sales that has occurred throughout 2018.
New home sales for the first six months of this year are 2.9 per cent lower than in the last six months of 2017.
AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver noted despite the first rise this year the "moderate downtrend was continuing."
"The deterioration of sales over the financial year reflects shifts in housing market conditions," noted Mr Reardon.
The availability of credit has tightened over the past 12 months with banks responding to the decline in house prices and the Banking Royal Commission.
Although credit availability has tightened, overall building activity remains elevated when compared with building levels over the past decade.
New home sales rose in all states except Victoria, which have been in decline since February 2018 and declined a further a 0.4 per cent in June.
“Activity in the Victorian market has reached record levels over recent years and has remained elevated well above historical trends and well in excess of growth in other states," stated Mr Rearden.
“The decline in sales in Victoria is well overdue."
“A pickup in new home sales in the other states, particularly NSW, is a welcome reprieve from a year of slow sales," he added.
Sales in NSW were 13.3 per cent lower in 2017/18 than in the previous year.
Sales in NSW picked up in June 2018, by 8.3 per cent compared with the previous month, giving a positive end to an underwhelming year.
Across the other markets, new home sales also rose in Queensland (2.7 per cent) and WA (1.5 per cent) and SA (0.2 per cent).
Mr Rearden stated that “Australia’s population growth has slowed over the past three quarters in response to tighter visa requirements that have constrained inward migration."
The Sydney and Melbourne markets have seen a decline in their rates of population growth since 1 July 2017.
ABS data shows approvals for private sector detached houses fell dramatically in May 2018.
"Approvals data typically trails the new home sales data by three to six months and the dramatic fall in approvals in May is likely to be reflected in the June data,” concluded Mr Reardon.
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New home sales numbers have risen for the first time this year: HIA

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Lalor Park has tipped $1 million for the first time. 
The Heffron Road property was originally housing commission. 
The vendors had extended and renovated the house, on 613 sqm.
Set on a 613 sqm parcel of land, it is now a modern, two-storey residence featuring high ceilings, downlights, timber floors, double glazed windows and a fireplace.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-lalor+park-128481706">56 Heffron Road</a> offering sold for $1.06 million bettering the suburb’s residential record by $95,000 with a $965,000 on Lawson Street in March. 
Selling agent Alistair Agius, of Harcourts Hills Living Baulkham Hills, said it was a sign of growing buyer interest.
“Lalor Park has had such a bad rap for many years but it’s taken strides towards improvements with a lot of knockdown-rebuilds and many young families moving in,” he told The Blacktown Advocate. 
CoreLogic has its median house price at around $690,000, up 27 per cent over the past three years. 
 It sold to a large family from North Rocks.
The purchasers were unable to buy a six-bedroom house in North Rocks for $1.06 million, Agius said. 
 
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Former housing commission Lalor Park trophy home sets $1 million plus record

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A 3,321 sqm Bayswater holding containing a five bedroom, three bathroom cottage has been listed for sale, with redevelopment potential
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-bayswater-128217446" target="_blank">6 Highmore Avenue</a> (pictured above), Bayswater offering is in store for a sale that could beat out the previous record price by almost $1 million.
The previous record set at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/639-mountain-hwy-bayswater-vic-3153" target="_blank">639 Mountain Highway</a> was sold for $3.45 million in 2015, and is now a development site, the Lucea Gardens townhouse project.
The current offering has been listed by Andy Shi and Hank Guo from Buxton.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/23/BAYWATER%202.jpg" alt="">
Nestled on a 3,321 sqm allotment, the cottage comes with seven bedrooms, living/dining domain, modern kitchen/meals area, and family room.
Other features include a pool and tennis court.
It is the parcel of land set to reap the benefits of a likely redevelopment into a four level apartment complex (including basement), retail/commercial project, medical centre or childcare/aged care facility (STCA).
It is within walking distance to Bayswater Central shops, buses and train station.
The suburb's median house price sits on $813,000, according to CoreLogic.
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Bayswater house set to beat suburb record by almost $1 million

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A development site in Queensland's Scarborough, a suburb of the Moreton Bay region, has been listed by mortgagees. 
It is listed for sale through Stephanie Williams at Raine &amp; Horne.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-scarborough-126723826" target="_blank">425-429 Scarborough Road, Scarborough</a> site is an 2,024 sqm of prime development site, three separate titles, four lots, 40.4m frontage x 50.3m depth approximately.
It has water in 3 directions, potential views from 3rd level, current DA approved site for 28 units, comprising of two and three bedroom units.   It is well designed floor plans to enhance saleability.
The suburb's median house price sits on <a href="/news">$541,500</a>  according to CoreLogic.
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Scarborough site with DA approval listed by mortgagee

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Dean Shannon, the former chief of Ladbrokes Australia, and now the managing director of the Neds gambling website, and his wife Kelly, who shares his love of horses, failed to find a buyer.
The bidding at the Sunday onsite auction stopped at $5.6 million for the 42 hectare Maleny holding, marketed as one of Australia's most impressive equestrian facilities, located an hour from the Doomben race track.
The stable complex is the focal point as it features 10 double-sized broodmare boxes, two stallion boxes, wash bays, a vet room, horse scales, tack room, rug room and feed room.
There's 45 post and rail paddocks and two Olympic size dressage arenas.
The luxury is not just for horses, as the main residence spans a vast 1,800 sqm and has five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a steam room, massage room and dressing rooms.
The entertaining spaces have views of the Glass House Mountains.
Ray White Buderim agents Lew Pottinger and Nathan Nicholl marketed the equine complex with its <a id="LPlnk977626" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.montanaparkmaleny.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">own website</a>.
Since Shannon bought Montana Park in 2010 for $7 million he more than doubled the size of the original residence as well as covering one of the two show-jumping arenas.
“Montana Park is a place we love to call home, however my current business commitments with the launch, and now international expansion of Neds have seen me spend more time in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, with less opportunity to enjoy all this home has to offer,” he said prior to the auction.
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Neds boss Dean Shannon knocks back $5.6 million for Maleny equestrian estate

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A three bedroom timber cottage in Western Perth has been listed by the mortgagee with a price guide of low $1 million.
It was listed by Jon Bahen from Abel Property.
It last sold for $1,350,000 in 2010.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-nedlands-128825882" target="_blank">24 Loch Street</a>, Nedlands, the house comes with the original features including wide central hallway, good size bedrooms, open fireplaces and soaring ceilings.
The contemporary extension features open plan kitchen, dining and lounge flowing onto elevated terrace, gardens and pool setting. 
Additional features include BIR's, abundant storage and basement workshop.
Set on a 697sqm block, it is within walking distance to the train station and cafes. 
The suburb's median house price sits at<a href="/developments/nedlands-wa-6009"> $1.64 million</a>, according to CoreLogic. 
 
 
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$1 million plus Nedlands cottage listed by mortgagee

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<div>The abandoned home building block of flamboyant billionaire tycoons, Pankaj and Radhika Oswal was passed in at Saturday auction in Perth.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The top bid was $15.6 million with three of the five registered parties competing for the prize parcel at Peppermint Grove.</div>
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<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-body">
<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-content x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-view_content x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-show">
<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-callhandler x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-copytasting">Marketed as "the most famous block in Australia" the <a id="LPlnk998012" class="x_x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-wa-peppermint+grove-202042586" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">2 Bay View Road site</a> was listed through Ray White agent Vivien Yap inconjuction with Sotheby's agent Graham Bowie. </div>
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<div>Two years ago there were $30 million hopes for the prestigious Perth offering, after the partially built so-called Taj on Swan mansion was demolished under council orders.</div>
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<div>The 6582 sqm site, which could fit six homes, had reduced $19.5 million hopes last year.</div>
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<div>The mansion with Swan River views sat unfinished after the Oswals quit Australia in 2010 amid a dispute with bankers about the wind up and sale of their fertiliser business.</div>
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<div>The Oswal family had controlled WA's $700 million Burrup Fertilisers gas-processing plant</div>
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<div id="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-desktop">
<div id="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-container-1002" class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-container x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-portalcontainer x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-maximised x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-selected x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-fixed">
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<div class="x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-callhandler x_m_-1811097286691781784gmail-x_gmail-m_911874124497874327gmail-m_-7358536583359574638gmail-copytasting">The Oswals paid $22.7 million in 2007 then starting construction a year later on a "two-storey, Indian-infused luxury residence." </div>
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<div>Auctioneer Mack Hall received an opening bid of $10 million, with offers quickly jumping up in $1 million increments before proceedings paused for negotiation at around the $14 million mark. </div>
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Taj on Swan auction stops with $15.6 million offer

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Kevin Sobels, the legendary Australian winemaker, and wife, Margaret have their Hunter Valley winery, as they look towards delaying their retirement.
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The developer Romeciti has acquired the family-run winery in Pokolbin for $7.3 million, with plans to upgrade and convert the property into a luxury resort.
The winery, which has a vineyard and a wine making facility, will continue to operate as normal, led by Kevin, Margaret and son Jason Sobels.  
This year marks the 170th unbroken run of Australian vintages by Sobels, with their son, Jason continuing the traditional family craft.
Sobels is a fifth generation descendant of German immigrant winemaker, Carl August Sobels.
The family name has been connected to Australian winemaking since the 1840s, beginning in South Australia’s Barossa and Clare Valley.
Kevin Sobels arrived in the Hunter in 1972 from the Barossa. 
The 22ha Halls Road, Pokolbin offering, Kevin Sobels Wines, was started in the early 1990s by Kevin and Margaret on acreage offered to them by the Ross Jones family.
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They formed a company with the help of a few friends with their sales door opening in 1994.
By 1996 the winemaking facility was complete so that wines could be made and bottled on-site. 
The long established brand has around 5ha of planted vines.
<a href="/news/kevin-sobels-lists-hunter-valley-winery">Its March marketing</a> suggested the property would suit the establishment of a five-star country lodge with restaurant and function space, with Fairfax Media suggesting it will soon be a key venue for the Romeciti's "Green Life" community hub, bringing together landscaped gardens, eateries and more.
The accommodation set to open to Romeciti customers in late 2019. 
Sobels was installed as the 2014 Hunter Valley Living Legend of Wine, joining other Hunter notables as Brian and Fay McGuigan, Bruce Tyrrell and  Don McWilliam.
The Sobels’ wine journey began with Carl August, who in 1847 quit his home in the Saxony-Anhalt town of Quedlinburg and migrated with his family to Australia. He had been trained in winemaking in Germany and in France’s Champagne region.
He made his first Australian wines for William Jacob, the government surveyor who mapped the Barossa.
 
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Kevin Sobels sells Hunter Valley winery to Romeciti, but will stay on

Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

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Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

The apartment feature many buyers don't think about, until their first missed delivery

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hg-developments">HG Developments</a> is doubling down on Maud Street in Newstead, filing plans for a new apartment tower just a few doors down from its under-construction Aire Newstead development.

Recently submitted to Brisbane City Council, the proposal is for an 18-storey building designed by bureau^proberts, which has drawn heavily on Brisbane's subtropical design principles while referencing the suburb's industrial heritage.

A total of 64 apartments are planned for the amalgamated 1,518 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-21-maud-street-newstead-qld-4006">17–21 Maud Street</a>, a short walk from the Brisbane River and Newstead Riverwalk.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a400c7fd-bd15-48f8-a63b-10ede92efe00" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20bldg.png?VersionId=.0vPmjpbC7CNP7kqGWa6L7rGIwsNExaw" />

"The building is defined by a series of vaulted motifs that reinterpret the arches, colonnades and layered facades evident throughout Newstead's historic built fabric," the Urban Design Report states.

"Combined with recessed glazing and generous balconies, these elements create a layered building envelope that provides shade, weather protection and opportunities for natural ventilation whilst establishing a distinctive architectural identity."

The proposal comprises 64 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 18 residential levels, positioning it alongside a growing number of taller residential projects transforming Newstead's northern precinct. The tower incorporates extensive subtropical landscaping, with cascading planter boxes, deep planting at street level and a landscaped rooftop recreation area.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d8140f4-8b98-45cd-b1b8-1efe8c8e266b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=VAZtbCoD44YCJ57N99fQCAKeSJx7ldZs" />

Bureau Proberts has prioritised passive environmental design throughout the project, with generous balconies, recessed glazing and operable façades helping reduce solar heat gain while maximising natural ventilation. River views become available from the upper levels, while the building has been orientated to capture prevailing breezes from both the Brisbane River and the west.

The architects say landscape is intended to be integral to the building rather than an applied element.

"Vertical greenery, cascading planter boxes and elevated gardens are woven throughout the architecture, softening the built form and strengthening the connection between residents and the subtropical environment."

"Through the integration of landscape, high-quality materials and passive design principles, the development delivers a refined residential address that celebrates Newstead's heritage character while contributing positively to Brisbane's evolving subtropical identity."

Newstead has remained one of Brisbane's most active apartment markets in recent years, with a number of developers continuing to back the inner-city suburb.

HG Developments is currently delivering the 40-apartment Aire Newstead at 25 Maud Street. Fortis recently launched the 65-apartment <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> on Kyabra Street, while builder-developer BPG and Don O'Rorke's Consolidated Properties are both expected to launch their respective Newstead projects before the end of the year.

HG Developments doubles down in Newstead with second Maud Street apartment development

Walk past a new apartment development promoting its sustainability credentials and it's easy to picture rooftop gardens, mature trees, landscaped courtyards and residents surrounded by nature.

But in many cases, that's not actually what those sustainability ratings guarantee.

Australia's leading environmental rating tools have played a significant role in improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of buildings. Yet despite their focus on reducing emissions, many don't require developers to include trees, biodiversity or meaningful green space.

In other words, a building can achieve one of the country's highest sustainability ratings while containing little more than concrete, glass and hard landscaping.

That disconnect has led to the emergence of a new movement across Australia's property industry: nature-based cities.

The concept goes beyond designing buildings that consume less energy. Instead, it encourages developers to treat nature as essential infrastructure, integrating biodiversity, tree canopy, living landscapes and green spaces into projects from the earliest stages of planning.

Research has consistently linked access to nature with better physical and mental health, cooler neighbourhoods, improved biodiversity, stronger climate resilience and more connected communities. As Australia's cities continue to become denser, advocates say those outcomes should be considered just as important as energy efficiency.

Nature Based Cities (NBC) was established in 2022 to help accelerate that shift.

Founded by Hamton Executive Chairman Paul Hameister OAM, the not-for-profit was created after research highlighted a significant gap in Australia's sustainability framework. While existing environmental rating tools rewarded energy performance and emissions reductions, they placed little emphasis on the inclusion of living landscapes.

"We've always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren't there," Hameister says.

"In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that's concrete and glass with not a blade of grass.

"The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn't been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities."

Since its launch, NBC has developed independent design guidelines and accreditation frameworks that encourage developers to prioritise ecology, biodiversity, tree canopy, walkability and living landscapes alongside traditional sustainability measures. The organisation first focused on medium and high-density residential developments before recently expanding into precinct-scale communities and masterplanned neighbourhoods.

Jan Talacko, founder of sustainability consultancy Ark Resources and a member of the Nature Based Cities Advisory Council, says the initiative addresses an area that has largely been overlooked by the property industry.

"Throughout my 25 years of working collaboratively with all stakeholders in the property sector, I've always favoured a pragmatic approach to sustainable design which encourages initiatives that not only meet environmental expectations but also improve amenity," Talacko says.

"Whilst we are making steady progress in relation to energy and carbon emissions from buildings, there has been much less emphasis on encouraging biodiversity and tackling the urban heat island effect.

"The Nature Based Cities initiative responds to a gap in the suite of tools currently used by the property development sector, which don't provide sufficient incentive, or recognition, for the integration of landscaping and greenery."

For apartment buyers, the shift is also changing the questions worth asking.

Rather than assuming a sustainable building will naturally include abundant green space, buyers are increasingly being encouraged to look beyond environmental ratings and ask what nature is actually being delivered. How much tree canopy will the development create? Has biodiversity been considered? Are landscaped spaces designed for people as well as appearance?

As Australia's cities continue to grow upwards and outwards, the next generation of sustainability may not simply be measured by lower emissions, but by how successfully developments bring nature back into everyday urban life.

Staff reporter

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