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MH Premium Farms has sold the Glaisnock mixed-farming enterprise.
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The billionaire hedge fund manager Sir Michael Hintze sold Glaisnock to a local family farming group at auction.
Glaisnock currently grows wheat and canola in rotation and also supports sheep, cattle and fodder enterprises.
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<div class="cq-article-content-media section">Selling agents said the land rate of $8933 per hectare achieved for Glaisnock was a district record, beating the district record by close to $350 per hectare.</div>
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Glaisnock had previously been owned by David and Lynette Whitechurch.
Sir Michael, the director of his own hedge fund, CQS Management, paid about $3.5 million for Glaisnock in 2008.
Three parties competed for Glaisnock at its auction earlier this month.
It includes an extensive reticulated water system for livestock, spraying and domestic purposes as well as a homestead and cottage.
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Located 26 kilometres from Young, it is in an area described as "blue-ribbon mixed-farming land".
Of the total landholding, 947 hectare (96%) is arable, while the remaining area is comprised of 20 hectares of grazing land and 16 hectares of support land.
<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/2018/10/24/Farma.jpg" alt="">
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Billionaire Sir Michael Hintze sells blue-ribbon Glaisnock farm for $8.8 million

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A former Wiseberry Penrith real estate agent, Christopher Black, has been convicted of trust account fraud.
He misused more than $124,000 after the sale of two homes.
Black also pleaded guilty to failing to keep deposits for the two properties, worth more than $158,000, in a trust account.
Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said Black misused the money for personal use. 
“Black had no authority to withdraw money out of the company trust account.” 
Black was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, to be served by intensive correction order, with a condition that he completes 400 hours of community service and undertakes mental health treatment.
He has the right to lodge an appeal.
Wiseberry Penrith has been under new management since March 2017.
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Former Wiseberry Penrith estate agent convicted of trust fund misappropriation

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Art Series Hotels is set to open its first new property since it joined the AccorHotels family.
The $60 million project at Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane will open in March 2019 and will be the brand's eighth in total.
The 166 room, six storey hotel will be situated close to the Story Bridge.
The brand draws its design inspiration from contemporary Australian artists and includes custom contemporary furnishings and original artworks.
Launched in 2009, it was privately owned by the Deague family until it was acquired by Mantra last year.
AccorHotels Pacific Chief Operating Officer Simon McGrath said the area’s transformation into an entertainment and lifestyle precinct will be important for the project.
“Art Series Hotels is celebrated for offering guests a unique art-inspired hotel experience like no other,” he said.
“The stunning new flagship hotel at Howard Smith Wharves is a strong sign of Accor’s belief in the much-loved brand and will kick start our plans for future growth across Australia and New Zealand.”
Deague Group CEO Will Deague said guests will be able to make reservations from November 30.
“As one of Australia’s fastest-growing capital cities with a burgeoning art culture, Brisbane continues to remain a major focus for the Group,” he said.
“With an increasing demand for accommodation, we are excited to introduce a second dedicated art led offering as part of the city’s expansion and are confident this luxury boutique development at Howard Street Wharves will only entice even more visitors to Brisbane.”
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Art Series Hotels to open at Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane next March

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Do you feel lonely? If you do, you are not alone. While you may think it’s a personal mental health issue, the collective social impact is an <a href="https://www.bhg.com.au/loneliness-epidemic-australia" target="_blank">epidemic</a>.
You may also underestimate the <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)30142-9/fulltext" target="_blank">effects of loneliness</a>. The health impact of chronic social isolation is as bad as <a href="https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2016/03/15/heartjnl-2015-308790" target="_blank">smoking 15 cigarettes a day</a>.
Loneliness is <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/tania-de-jong/loneliness-is-the-global-epidemic-of-our-times_a_21544979/" target="_blank">a global issue</a>. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hikikomori-worrying-mental-health-problem-traps-japanese-at-home-2018-1/?r=AU&amp;IR=T" target="_blank">Half-a-million Japanese</a> are suffering from social isolation. The UK recently appointed a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-politics-health/britain-appoints-minister-for-loneliness-amid-growing-isolation-idUSKBN1F61I6" target="_blank">minister for loneliness</a>, the first in the world. In Australia, Victorian state MP Fiona Patten is <a href="https://fionapatten.com.au/news/loneliness-needs-portfolio/" target="_blank">calling for the same</a> here. Federal MP Andrew Giles, in a recent <a href="https://www.andrewgiles.com.au/media-centre/opinion-pieces-speeches-transcripts/address-to-the-chifley-research-centre-forum-on-loneliness-and-public-policy-responses/" target="_blank">speech</a>, said:
"I’m convinced we need to consider responding to loneliness as a responsibility of government."
What do cities have to do with loneliness?
“The way we build and organise our cities can help or hinder social connection,” reads <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/137_report_social_cities_web.pdf" target="_blank">a Grattan Institute report</a>.
Think of the awkward silence in a lift full of passengers who never communicate. Now think of a playground where parents often begin chatting. It’s not that the built environment “causes” interaction, but it can certainly either enable or constrain potential interaction.
Winston Churchill once <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palacestructure/churchill/" target="_blank">observed</a> that we shape the buildings and then <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/9780061957802/welcome-to-your-world/" target="_blank">the buildings shape us</a>. I have written <a href="https://www.urbandesignmentalhealth.com/journal2-lonelitopia" target="_blank">elsewhere</a> about how architects and planners, albeit unwittingly, are complicit in producing an urban landscape that contributes to an unhealthy mental landscape.
Can we think of different ways to be in the city, of a different architecture that can <a href="https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/letters-from-the-editor/editorial-could-architecture-play-a-role-in-curing-loneliness/10000071.article" target="_blank">“cure”</a> loneliness?
Taking this question as a point of departure, I recently conducted a graduate design studio at the Melbourne School of Design. The students, using design as a research methodology, came up with potential architectural and urban responses to loneliness.
Have you ever waited at a rail station, killing time without engaging with the person next to you? Diana Ong retrofitted the Ascot Vale rail station with multiple “social engagement paraphernalia” to promote conversations and activity. Michelle Curnow proposed to convert railway carriages into “sensory experience cabins” that attract people to explore the in-built gallery spaces and listen to other people’s stories while commuting. Who said commuting had to be boring?
Having a pet is one of the most effective ways to tackle loneliness, but often people don’t have enough time to care for one. Zi Ye came up with “Puppy Society”, an app that connects a pet with multiple owners. The dogs are housed in a shared facility where the owners come to pet the dog.
Denise Chan studied the Melbourne CBD laneways and found many of them are quite dead, despite being an icon of Melburnian liveliness. She reimagined the laneways revitalised with community plant gardens, book nooks and furniture to entice people to enter them and connect, say, during office lunch hours.
Are you one of those people who have a hard time eating alone? Fanhui Ding is, and she came up with a student-run restaurant for the University of Melbourne. Students get credit working on the aquaponic farms that supply the restaurant, which can be used to pay for a meal. People also get discounts for dining at the same table, encouraging students to interact over food. Given the many international students who suffer from loneliness, her concept used cooking, food and farming as therapeutic activity.
Beverley Wang looked at loneliness in the ageing population. She came up with a project called “Nurture”, for which she designed a kindergarten co-housed with a nursing home. Designing spaces for storytelling, she brought the elderly into the kindergarten as informal learning aides, giving them a sense of purpose.
There is an utterly different kind of loneliness that accompanies the loss of a loved one. Malak Moussaoui, taking note of this, designed an installation that grows flowers on itself to be inserted into cemeteries. Instead of just buying some flowers on the way, Malak’s design is meant to bring people together, introduce flower gardening as a therapeutic measure and give people spaces to mourn together. They might then meet other people who share similar stories of loss and connect.
Other students tackled more familiar cases, such as designing more social interaction spaces in high-rise apartment buildings and redesigning supermarkets to make them places for people to visit on a Sunday morning. The student work can be viewed <a href="https://www.thisstudioisopen.org/work/2018/10/25/the-anti-lonely-city-march-student-work-from-melbourne-school-of-design" target="_blank">here</a>.
Moving beyond merely analysing the problems, the research output shows that an alternative, less lonely future is indeed possible. Without claiming to solve loneliness, design can be a important tool in response to it.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/104853/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Tanzil Shafique, PhD Researcher in Urban Design, University of Melbourne
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/designing-cities-to-counter-loneliness-lets-explore-the-possibilities-104853" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Designing cities to counter loneliness? Let’s explore the possibilities

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Immigration policy will be a critical issue in forthcoming state (Victoria, NSW) and federal elections. The disproportionate impact of immigration on population growth and public infrastructure in Sydney and Melbourne is the key issue.
If we look to the example of another immigrant-friendly country, Canada, however, we can see how giving states and territories a greater role in immigration target setting and selection can help take the pressure off major cities without drastically reducing immigration rates.
Immigration certainly impacts on Australia’s population to a greater degree than most Western nations. Among OECD countries, only Switzerland and Luxembourg have a higher percentage of foreign-born people than Australia.
Today, 28% of the Australian population <a href="http://migrationcouncil.org.au/policy/#the-economic-impact-of-migration-2015" target="_blank">was born overseas</a>. The key issue for Australia is that immigrants are more likely to live in large cities than smaller cities or regional areas. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/4102.0main+features102014" target="_blank">85% of immigrants</a> live in major urban areas, compared to just 64% of Australian-born people.
Indeed, <a href="https://publications.iom.int/books/world-migration-report-2015-migrants-and-cities-new-partnerships-manage-mobility" target="_blank">according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)</a>, Sydney is now equal-fourth in the world (with Auckland and Los Angeles) with the highest percentage of foreign-born residents (39%), while Melbourne is not far behind (35%). Nearly two-thirds of residents in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/census-2016-migrants-make-a-cosmopolitan-country/news-story/da01bec138fc8600ea7bb84d1844ea80" target="_blank">have at least one parent who was born overseas</a>.
A new state-based approach?
The stress that rapid population growth has placed on Melbourne and Sydney has recently become a topic of much debate. This week, <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-prime-minister-foreshadows-cut-to-migration-settings-107262" target="_blank">Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledged</a> to reduce the annual permanent immigration cap of 190,000. Australia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jul/13/industry-brands-australias-10-migration-intake-drop-disappointing" target="_blank">accepted just 162,417 immigrants</a> last year, the lowest level in a decade.
Morrison has also called for a <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/states-in-best-position-to-determine-skilled-migrant-numbers-morrison" target="_blank">major rethink</a> of the “top-down” approach to immigration in Australia, allowing states and territories to request the number of skilled migrants they’d like to admit each year.
The states and territories currently have a limited ability to nominate applicants for <a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-nominated-190" target="_blank">certain skilled visas</a>. But state-nominated and regional visa approvals <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-13/regional-migration-approvals-stalling-five-year-bush-visa/10488204">have fallen in recent years</a> to just over 36,000 last fiscal year <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/punjabi/en/article/2018/07/02/state-nomination-changes-skilled-visas-leave-visa-seekers-lurch" target="_blank">following tighter restrictions</a>.
Morrison <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/population-plan-not-working-scott-morrison/news-story/f469e167d2e490b55c769b8a69d10c60" target="_blank">wants to see</a> a bigger role for states and territories:
"This is a blinding piece of common sense, which is: how about states who plan for population growth and the Commonwealth government who sets the migration levels, actually bring this together?"
What we can learn from Canada
The Canadian government gave provinces a say in setting targets and selecting economic immigrants – similar to Australia’s skilled migration intake – in the early 1990s. Quebec was first to <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/politique-du-quebec-immigration" target="_blank">receive a high degree of autonomy</a> in the process – it was given the right to set its own level and selection criteria for all economic immigrants. (The ability to speak French was a must.)
Quebec was also granted the right to set all of its integration programs, funded by Ottawa every year. The payments <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-quebec-to-get-50-million-boost-in-immigration-funding-even-if-it/" target="_blank">reached C$540 million this fiscal year</a>, or C$13,500 for each newcomer.
After Quebec was given this authority, the other Canadian provinces demanded the same. But they received far more limited rights than Quebec. They can <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees/works" target="_blank">nominate the number of economic migrants</a> they need as part of the national immigration target set by the federal government, but they can’t independently set their intake target and selection criteria like Quebec.
While provinces nominate – or in Quebec’s case, decide – annual intakes, all cases are still routed through Ottawa for application integrity testing and vetting for criminality, health and security. Ultimately, final approval rests with Ottawa.
Last year, the Canadian government set an <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/immigration-canada-2018-1.4371146" target="_blank">ambitious target</a> of admitting 1 million total immigrants from 2018-2020. The target for next year is 330,000 immigrants, of which about <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/supplementary-immigration-levels-2019" target="_blank">190,000 will be economic migrants</a>. The remainder will enter under the family reunification category and the refugee, humanitarian and protected category.
About one-third of the economic migrants (61,000) will be admitted through the Provincial Nominee Program. This figure excludes Quebec, which will set its numbers separately.
How the Canadian system encourages rural immigration
Giving the provinces a greater immigration policy role has helped to dramatically shift the settlement of immigrants beyond Canada’s biggest cities.
According to immigration statistics, <a href="https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/pub/annual-report-2018.pdf" target="_blank">34% of economic migrants in 2017</a> landed in destinations outside Canada’s three most populous provinces, Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia – compared to just 10% in 1997.
After immigrants arrive, the key issue for the provinces is retention, since immigrants can leave at any time. The provinces put a strong emphasis on ensuring that economic migrants receive a strong welcome on arrival and are provided with support programs, including education, access to local migrant community networks and assistance finding a job for those who are not sponsored by employers.
One of the biggest success stories of the Provincial Nominee Program is thinly populated Manitoba, which has <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/provincial-nominee-program-anniversary-immigration-manitoba-1.4907396" target="_blank">added 130,000 migrants since 1998</a>. Ninety percent have gotten a job within a year of arriving and nearly the same number has ended up staying in Manitoba permanently. New arrivals also <a href="https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/research/media/A_Manitoba_Success_Story.pdf" target="_blank">express some of the greatest feelings</a> of belonging of all immigrants in western Canada.
Why this could work in Australia
South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory – as well as other regional and rural areas across Australia – want more immigrants and refugees.
Attracting immigrants to less-populated states is the easy part: those willing to settle outside Sydney and Melbourne can receive more points if they are skilled migrants, possibly making the difference as to whether they come to Australia or not. The key issue is retention.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/refugees-are-integrating-just-fine-in-regional-australia-101188" target="_blank">My fieldwork with refugees in Australia</a> has shown that the majority of these migrants love living in regional communities and have received a warm welcome from locals. Our research also found they are willing to stay in regional areas if they can get jobs there. Another way of encouraging more immigrants to settle in regional areas could be to offer them priority in the family reunion process.
Importantly, Canada also doesn’t politicise immigration policy. Australia should follow Canada’s lead by giving the states a bigger seat at the immigration policy table and resisting the temptation to blame immigration for complex growth problems in our overcrowded cities.
Reducing the immigration intake cap will have no significant impact on reducing congestion or strain on public infrastructure in Sydney and Melbourne, but it could <a href="http://migrationcouncil.org.au/policy/#the-economic-impact-of-migration-2015" target="_blank">severely constrain economic growth</a>.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/107283/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Jock Collins, Professor of Social Economics, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-canadas-immigration-system-has-been-a-success-and-what-australia-can-learn-from-it-107283" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Why Canada’s immigration system has been a success, and what Australia can learn from it

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A Portsea boatshed has been sold for close to $1 million by the Boykett family.
Changing hands for the first time in almost 70 years, boatshed 17 Fisherman’s Bend Foreshore had been listed with an asking range of $910,000 and $1 million.
<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/2018/11/30/7e2345762ceb412b91495c3088e8aa1e.jpg" alt="">
Kay &amp; Burton secured <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-portsea-129683114" target="_blank">the sale of the boatshed</a>, which is not connected to power or water.
The buyers were local holidaymakers.
The last Fisherman’s Beach sale by Kay &amp; Burton was in 1991.
<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/2018/11/30/f25892b391804c35a67d9d1c67e95106.jpg" alt="">
The last confirmed record price was when Portsea boat shed 23 fetched a record $615,000 in late 2015.
Set at the foot of the track to Shelley Beach it had been tightly held for over four decades.
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Portsea boatshed sells for just shy of $1 million

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Scammers have succeeded in securing $90,000 in proceeds from the recent sale of a $1.2 million Gold Coast investment property by Ray White Mermaid Beach.
The sale included a $120,000 deposit put in a trust account managed by the agency.
With the sale proceeding, the agency took its $30,000 commission and then told the client to email them his bank account details.
The client, Andrew Buckley, the former chief executive officer of the engineering firm Cardno, did so, but soon after, another email was sent purportedly from him.
The false email had requested the money be sent to a different, fake bank account.
The agency sent the $90,000 to that fake Westpac account, with the proceeds having not been recovered.
Buckley told the Courier Mail he was "flabbergasted" that no one called him from Ray white to check the new bank account details were true.
“As far as I’m concerned … this (email with a fake account) is a well-known scam,” he said.
The Ray White agency, in a letter to Buckley, pinned the blame on him.
“The fact that it has now come to light that it was not Mr Buckley who sent those written directions is as a result of Mr Buckley’s own failure to ensure the security of his email account,” its letter said.
Buckley acknowledged his email might have been hacked, but also it could have been a hacking on Ray White’s side.
Ultimately, he said this issue was irrelevant as he argued the real estate agent had a responsibility to verify details, especially with cash held on trust.
“You’re looking after someone else’s money,” he said.
The agency declined to answer questions from the Courier Mail, saying it was “fully co-operating” with investigations under way.
Ray White’s head office last month told agents to “never accept a change in bank account details via email without confirming its legitimacy with your client”.
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Ray White blame client for missing $90,000 Mermaid Beach sale deposit scam

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Sotheby’s has appointed a new head to its operation in the Whitsundays.
<a href="https://queenslandsothebysrealty.com/team/wayne-singleton" target="_blank">Hamilton Island Realty principal Wayne Singleton</a> has been recruited.
Singleton has represented buyers and sellers of property in Hamilton Island since 2002 having transacted over 350 property sales on Hamilton Island totalling $300 million in property sales on Hamilton Island alone.
He has personally bought and sold five properties on the island.
“I’m really excited to bring Sotheby’s International Realty to the Whitsundays,” he said.
“The global network will provide un-precedented international exposure for the region’s lifestyle and real estate – putting us on the world stage.
“Couple this with our local expertise and knowledge and we are now able to provide a service to our clients like no other.”
Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty CEO Paul Arthur said the Whitsunday region had always featured in the company’s growth plans.
“Our own Carol Carter has done an amazing job servicing the high end from our Gold Coast office, but in addition we always wanted a physical presence and that takes the right person,” Arthur said.
“We believe we have that with Wayne who brings his immense experience to the region, and specifically Hamilton Island.”
Arthur said the company had achieved numerous significant sales in the past 12 months, including including <a href="https://queenslandsothebysrealty.com/1P0009/383-mandalay-road-whitsundays" target="_blank">Mandalay House</a>, <a href="https://queenslandsothebysrealty.com/19498662/4-383-mandalay-road-whitsundays" target="_blank">Aqua</a> and <a href="https://queenslandsothebysrealty.com/1P1063/119b-botanica-drive-woodwark" target="_blank">Botanica</a>.
“Our ability to attract buyers to the region is unsurpassed, pulling from our private clients across our offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, New Zealand, and our 970 offices across the globe,” Arthur said.
“We bring a different value proposition and capability to the region. Our expansion into the Whitsunday region complements our office in Port Douglas which has enjoyed great success since opening.”
It follows the recent opening of the company’s Port Douglas office. 
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Sotheby's appoint new Hamilton Island head of operations 

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New research has identified a sharp decline in the number of home buyers intending to take out a home loan.
The data from Roy Morgan shows that in the three months to October 2018, 1.21 million people said that they intended to take out a home loan in the next 12 months. This represents a decline of 260,000 or 17.7% from the 1.47 million recorded over the same period last year and is a major challenge to banks in achieving new lending volumes over the coming 12 months.
These are the latest findings from Roy Morgan’s Single Source Survey (Australia) which is based on in-depth personal interviews conducted face-to-face with over 50,000 Australians per annum in their own homes, including details on over 2,500 people who intend to take out a home loan in the next 12 months.
2018 shows deteriorating level of intentions 
In the January quarter 2018, the level of home loan intentions was a very positive 7.3% of the population, representing 1.48 million people. This deteriorated significantly in the April quarter to 6.3% (1.29 million), a decline of 190,000 or 12.8%. The July and October quarters in 2018 fell further to 5.9% (1.21 million), representing an overall decline of 17.7% since the October 2017 quarter.
Intention to take out home loan in next 12 months
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/19/home%20loan%201.png" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/19/home%20loan%201.png" alt="">
Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia). 15 months to October 2018, n = 62,413. Base: Australians 14+.
First home borrowers a drag on intention levels
The reason that home loan intention levels have fallen over the past year is due to the decline in first home intenders. In the October 2018 quarter only 411,000 first home borrowers intend to take out a loan in the next 12 months, this is down by 44.5% on the 740,000 recorded a year earlier.
The largest group currently of intenders are those existing borrowers who plan to switch their home loan to a different provider. This segment accounts for 549,000 people or 45.4% of all intenders and has held steady, having recorded 544,000 at the same time last year.
The biggest gain over the last 12 months was in the group that have had a loan in the past but wish to move and take out a loan. They number 249,000 currently, an increase of 64,000 or 34.6% over the year
Intention to take out home loan in next 12 months – By type of intender
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/19/home%20loan%202.png" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/19/home%20loan%202.png" alt="">
Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia). 3 months to October 2017, n=12,054; 3 months to October 2018, n=12,327.
Base: Australians 14+.
Norman Morris, Industry Communications Director, Roy Morgan says: 
“The decline in home loan intenders over the last year is likely to have a major impact on banks in the coming year, particularly as the drop has come from first home buyers who are major generators of increasing volumes. The reduction in first home buyers is likely to come from a number of potential reasons, including uncertainty as a result of declining housing values, likely interest rate movements, mortgage stress and job risks. 
“The current high level of negative publicity given to borrowing by the Finance Royal Commission is also likely to be impacting on both the supply and demand for home loans. The potential for the tightening of lending criteria and issues relating to mortgage brokers are just some of the likely issues to have a negative impact in this market.
“Data used in this release covers only a small part of what is available from Roy Morgan regarding understanding home loan borrowers and those who intend to borrow in the near future. To find out more regarding long term trends, brands and in-depth profiling, simply ask Roy Morgan.”
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Big drop in home loan intentions: Roy Morgan

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A Campbelltown home belonging to South Australian cricket legend Andrew Sincock has been listed for the first time in 30 years.
The three bedroom property at <a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1K1KeXrM4kTa7t6vEO6Dj4NQit3Rhkkn8Qh/5PCLh2dikg9bs6gLbI0p5vQmupxjwEcV5B2G01nDuCTY7fI8auFBObtSEHkW4eVk+a12hn98HZVQP7x3V8A=&amp;rh=ff00438cc1a8907bb9b3a763574db04f4ac5258c">3 Osborne Street</a> was designed by Carlo Dotorre.
It is being offered by Ray White Semaphore Sales Consultant Samantha Hirniak.
<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/2018/11/19/RWS-3%20Osborne%20St-105e.jpg" alt="">
Sincock was a key figure of the state cricket system as both a player and administrator.
He is the third highest wicket-taker in the Adelaide club system, a Sheffield Shield winner with South Australia in 1982 and a proud holder of the Order of Australia Medal.
Sincock won two Bradman Medals, is a former Vice President of the South Australian Cricket Association and the inaugural Chairman of the Adelaide Strikers.
“We have such wonderful memories in this house. It really has been the hub of so much fun and laughter for family and friends alike,” he said.
“I have three children as well as grandchildren and they’ve all loved taking advantage of the vast amount of space this home has. I’ve lost count of how many cricket and football matches we’ve had in the yard.
“Aside from family, the property has also hosted a number of famous sporting stars, with England cricketer Alex Hales and his father a real highlight.
“We’ve been blessed to have a home with such an exceptional open area that’s perfect for entertaining with lots of parking available for the numerous dinner parties we’ve hosted.
“There’s an external veranda and decking at the rear, and decking out the front, and we’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy the South Australian weather on those areas many times.
“There’s also a huge garage and work area so anyone wanting their own ‘man cave’ or work space will delight in how much room there is to do so.
“Unfortunately, memorable moments like taking a hat trick for South Australia against India in a tour game in Adelaide has taken its toll on the body, so it’s time for a new family to come in and begin creating similar incredible memories to the ones we’ve had.”
<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/2018/11/19/RWS-3%20Osborne%20St-12e.jpg" alt="">
Hirniak said the property would appeal to a wide array of potential buyers with its character, potential and location.
“This home really does offer the astute buyer a house with immense character and exciting future potential,” she said.
“It has a commanding facade and elevated street position and this impressive family home offers a wonderful amount of living space across multiple levels.
“The flexible floorplan boasts three bathrooms and three bedrooms, with the main bedroom offering a walk-in robe and a renovated ensuite.
“Entertainment is a real selling point with a formal lounge and a separate dining/family room with its own built-in bar that offers beautiful views.
“An abundance of fruit trees including fig, nectarine, apple, mandarins, olive trees and manicured gardens complete the package.
“Sited on approximately 869 square metres of land, it's located adjacent East Marden School within walking distance to the Paradise interchange, shopping centres and all the culinary delights this culturally diverse area has to offer.
“And if that wasn’t enough, the seller is one of South Australia’s true cricket legends. As a buyer, can you imagine telling family and friends you just bought the home of an Order of Australia Medal holder? This is such a rare opportunity.”
The property is scheduled to go under the hammer on site on Saturday 1 December at 10.30am.
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Former South Australian cricket legend's Campbelltown home hits the market 

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Joel Robinson

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments

Seasoned Victorian apartment developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-equity">Central Equity</a> has logged more than $400 million in sales in its luxury apartment project Palmera Residences at Northcliffe on the Gold Coast.&nbsp;

Central Equity Director Karl Kutner said the sales result reflected a combination of location, product quality and delivery certainty with the project already under construction by building powerhouse Multiplex.&nbsp;

"Surpassing $400 million in sales since launch is a significant milestone and an outstanding endorsement of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/palmera-residences-gold-coast-18-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Palmera Residences</a>,” he said.&nbsp;

"We believe one of the key reasons for this strong result is the confidence purchasers have in knowing the project is under construction with Multiplex. Buyers are increasingly looking for certainty. They want to know that the project they commit to today will be delivered by an experienced team with a proven track record."&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365782]

Kutner said it was clear there was still high demand for luxury projects that offered certainty of delivery.&nbsp;

“We are in a market where many residential developments have faced delays due to rising construction costs, labour shortages and financing challenges,” said Kutner.&nbsp;

"But having construction underway has provided our buyers with resounding confidence backed by more than 40 years of development delivery by Central Equity combined with construction by one of Australia's most respected construction companies."&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365785]

Central Equity is one of Australia's most experienced privately-owned property developers. Over more than four decades, the company has delivered in excess of 85 residential developments including 10,000 apartments and many thousands of stand alone homes.&nbsp;

Located on Garfield Terrace at Northcliffe, between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, Palmera Residences occupies one of the Gold Coast's most sought after beachside locations. The development has been designed to appeal to owner occupiers seeking premium residences that combine generous living spaces and resort style amenities.&nbsp;

Palmera Residences will feature an exceptional collection of resort style amenities, including two swimming pools: a generously sized family pool with safe shallow zones for relaxed recreation, and a 20 metre lap pool positioned to maximise all day sunlight.&nbsp;

Residents will also enjoy exclusive access to wellness and recreational facilities including a magnesium pool, sauna, yoga studio, expansive fitted gymnasium, resident lounge, outdoor BBQ’s&nbsp;and indoor and outdoor dining areas, together with a dedicated concierge and luxurious hotel inspired entrance foyer.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365767]

A unique feature at Palmera Residences has been designed to enhance the Gold Coast lifestyle which includes both indoor and outdoor gymnasium facilities, together with thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor dining and entertaining areas. A corner café has also been incorporated to provide residents with a destination for their everyday needs.&nbsp;

Kutner said buyer demand had been broad based with purchasers attracted from interstate as well as throughout South East Queensland.&nbsp;

"We're seeing strong interest from owner occupiers, lifestyle buyers and people relocating to the Gold Coast. Many purchasers have been searching for a premium beachside residence where quality, design and delivery are equally important."&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365771]

Kutner said the sales milestone was an important achievement, but the focus remained firmly on delivering an exceptional development.&nbsp;

"While reaching $400 million in sales is an important milestone, our priority remains delivering a project that exceeds purchaser expectations,” he said.&nbsp;

"Palmera Residences has been designed to become one of the Gold Coast's landmark residential addresses, and we look forward to welcoming our purchasers to their new homes."&nbsp;

There are a limited number of residences remaining in selected configurations with pricing from $2,950,000 to $8,950,000. Palmera Residences is also crowned by expansive penthouses with wrap around views.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108274]

Construction certainty and strong buyer demand drive major sales result for luxury Gold Coast development

Palmera Residences fly out the door as sales pass $400 million

National property developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/goldfields-group">Goldfields</a> has appointed BINAH as its construction partner for Quartet, its new Brisbane apartment development in the undersupplied suburb of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/milton-qld-4064">Milton</a>.

Located just two kilometres from the Brisbane CBD and moments from key 2032 Olympic precincts, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/quartet-milton-33-manning-street-milton-qld-4064">Quartet</a> will deliver 131 one, two, three, and four-bedroom apartments priced from $1 million to $4.2 million, combining elevated design with a wellness-focused lifestyle offering.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108736 project_image_fid=368000]

Goldfields’ Chief Executive Officer, Lachlan Thompson, said the appointment of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/binah-constructions">BINAH</a> marked an important milestone for the project.&nbsp;

“Bringing BINAH on board as our construction partner will allow us to bring our vision for Quartet forward with a team that has a proven track record of delivering high-quality residential projects,” Thompson said.&nbsp;

“We’ve taken a considered approach to progressing the site because we wanted to deliver the whole package. Buyers ultimately back great developers, great projects and great builders, and with Quartet, we’ve made sure all three line up.

“People want certainty, they want to know the project will be built, that the homes will be delivered as promised, and that the developer stands behind the quality of what they create. That’s something Goldfields has built its reputation on over many years.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108736 project_image_fid=367993]

BINAH’s Managing Director, Khalil Hafza, said the company was proud to be partnering with Goldfields to deliver Quartet.&nbsp;

“Quartet is an exciting project to bring to life, particularly given the level of detail in the residences and the extensive rooftop amenity planned for the building,” Mr Hafza said.&nbsp;

“Our focus is on delivering a high-quality build that brings that design vision to life and creates homes residents will enjoy for many years.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108736 project_image_fid=367999]

The facilities at Quartet have been feared towards the roof, with a&nbsp;25 metre lap pool, spa, sauna and cold plunge, and a communal barbecue area and alfresco.

Town planning was designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and brought to life by Melbourne-based architecture firm Cera Stribley.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/cera-stribley">Cera Stribley</a> Co-Founder and Managing Principal, Dom Cerantonio, said the project responds to both its riverside setting and Brisbane’s evolving urban character.&nbsp;

“Quartet has been designed to sit comfortably within its riverside context, offering a refined take on urban living through well-planned, generously proportioned residences that will stand the test of time,” Mr Cerantonio said.&nbsp;

“An emphasis on natural light, natural textures and carefully selected finishes from timber and marble to premium appliances, creates calm, considered interiors designed for comfort and long-term liveability.”&nbsp;

Construction of Quartet will commence in July 2026, with completion anticipated in Q4 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108736]

Construction to commence on 131-residence tower designed around wellness-focused living

Goldfields appoints BINAH for Quartet apartments in Milton

The first partnership between national developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis">Fortis</a> and Adelaide-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> has made a strong start, with the pair securing $21 million in unconditional sales at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/one-four-four-hutt-adelaide-144-hutt-street-adelaide-sa-5000">One Four Four Hutt</a>&nbsp;on the edge of the Adelaide CBD.

Over a third of apartments have been snapped up in the boutique 44-apartment project on the corner of Hutt Stret and Wakefield Road. Local downsizers and owner-occupiers wanting to remain in Adelaide's tightly-held southeast quarter have been the most prominent purchasers.

The DKO-designed, mixed-use development is one of the few new apartment projects in the precinct, an area where new housing supply has remained limited despite continued demand from buyers wanting to stay close to the CBD, Victoria Park and Adelaide's established east-end amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151233 project_image_fid=375378]

Fortis Head of Development SA Arthur Dendrinos said the early sales reflected both the strength of the local owner-occupier market and confidence in the Hutt Street location.

"The level of early commitment reflects the confidence local buyers have in the Hutt Street precinct," Dendrinos said.

"Many purchasers are long-term east-end residents who love the area and want to stay connected to the neighbourhood. They recognise the value of a well-designed, well-located development.

"Our partnership with Otello has been central to this success, and the number of unconditional sales at this stage only strengthens our confidence in the South Australian market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151233 project_image_fid=375379]

Otello Director Daniel Harris said the sales result also highlighted the lack of new apartment opportunities within the Hutt Street precinct.

"One Four Four Hutt has clearly resonated with buyers, with strong early sales reflecting both the appeal of the Hutt Street corridor and the lifestyle on offer," Harris said.

"The activated ground-floor retail has also been a key drawcard, with purchasers responding to the vision of a more vibrant and connected streetscape, not just the residences themselves."

One Four Four Hutt will deliver 44 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, alongside a collection of penthouses, above a ground-floor retail offering designed to further activate the Hutt Street precinct.

Construction is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of this year, with completion anticipated in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151233]

Fortis Head of Development SA Arthur Dendrinos said the early sales reflected both the strength of the local owner-occupier market and confidence in the Hutt Street location.

Staff reporter

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